bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cingulate transcranial direct current stimulation in adults with HIV
Authors: Jiang Xiong , Dahmani Sophia , Bronshteyn Margarita , Yang Fan Nils , Ryan John Paul , Gallagher R. Craig , Damera Srikanth R. , Kumar Princy N. , Moore David J. , Ellis Ronald J. , Turkeltaub Peter E. 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundNeuronal dysfunction plays an important role in the high prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in people with HIV (PWH). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—with its capability to improve neuronal function—may have the potential to serve as an alternative therapeutic approach for HAND. Brain imaging and neurobehavioral studies provide converging evidence that injury to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is highly prevalent and contributes to HAND in PWH, suggesting that ACC may serve as a potential neuromodulation target for HAND. Here we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, partial crossover pilot study to test the safety, tolerability, and potential efficacy of anodal tDCS over cingulate cortex in adults with HIV, with a focus on the dorsal ACC (dACC).MethodsEleven PWH (47–69 years old, 2 females, 100% African Americans, disease duration 16–36 years) participated in the study, which had two phases, Phase 1 and Phase 2. During Phase 1, participants were randomized to receive ten sessions of sham (n = 4) or cingulate tDCS (n = 7) over the course of 2–3 weeks. Treatment assignments were unknown to the participants and the technicians. Neuropsychology and MRI data were collected from four additional study visits to assess treatment effects, including one baseline visit (BL, prior to treatment) and three follow-up visits (FU1, FU2, and FU3, approximately 1 week, 3 weeks, and 3 months after treatment, respectively). Treatment assignment was unblinded after FU3. Participants in the sham group repeated the study with open-label cingulate tDCS during Phase 2. Statistical analysis was limited to data from Phase 1.ResultsCompared to sham tDCS, cingulate tDCS led to a decrease in Perseverative Errors in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), but not Non-Perseverative Errors, as well as a decrease in the ratio score of Trail Making Test—Part B (TMT-B) to TMT—Part A (TMT-A). Seed-to-voxel analysis with resting state functional MRI data revealed an increase in functional connectivity between the bilateral dACC and a cluster in the right dorsal striatum after cingulate tDCS. There were no differences in self-reported discomfort ratings between sham and cingulate tDCS.ConclusionsCingulate tDCS is safe and well-tolerated in PWH, and may have the potential to improve cognitive performance and brain function. A future study with a larger sample is warranted.
Alocação dos recursos públicos federais em infraestrutura turística realizada pelo Ministério do Turismo - MTur: relações entre os critérios institucionais e a influência política
Authors: Yamamoto Jun Alex , Ardigó Carlos Marcelo , Limberger Pablo Flôres 
Published: June 2022

No Brasil, não é incomum observar que os interesses políticos se sobrepõem aos aspectos técnicos e científicos. Esse quadro se avoluma quando se trata da alocação de recursos públicos. O presente artigo analisa se alocação dos recursos públicos em infraestrutura turística, realizada pelo Ministério do Turismo – MTur atende aos critérios institucionais ou é impactada pela influência política. Como base teórica, estudou-se sobre influência política, governança pública no turismo e a Teoria da Agência. Como objeto de estudo, foram definidos os investimentos realizados no período de 2008 a 2018, nos 65 Destinos Indutores, à época. Os investimentos foram mapeados, categorizados e verificados, para se entender de que forma e como foram alocados. Para se analisar se a alocação dos recursos atendeu aos critérios estabelecidos pela política nacional de turismo, à época a Categorização e o Índice de Competitividade, foi adotada a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais. A partir da construção do diagrama de caminho da relação causal, da verificação da consistência dos dados e dos testes de hipóteses, seus resultados confirmaram que os investimentos em infraestrutura turística realizados pelo MTur ainda são moderados pela influência política, porém adotaram, em parte, os critérios indicados nas diretrizes da política nacional de turismo.
To Assess the Awareness and Knowledge about Glaucoma in Patients Attending Ophthalmology OPD of a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Deanne Mendoza  , Nitin Batra  , Arun Bhatti  
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated it can lead to complete blindness. The management of glaucoma involves controlling the disease process to minimize the damage to the optic nerve, an essential part of which is early diagnosis and early treatment. The symptoms develop so slowly that unless the patient is aware and has knowledge about the disease, its early diagnosis is very difficult. Heightened public awareness about glaucoma may increase the chance of identifying undetected cases early. We wanted to assess the awareness and knowledge about glaucoma in patients coming to ophthalmology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in this study.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study conducted for one month among patients aged 18 years and above. A total of 205 patients were randomly selected from the ophthalmology OPD. A questionnaire was given to each patient and the responses were noted. Based on the responses given by the patients for each question, scores were given, and a conclusion was drawn. It was cross analysed with the patient’s demographic data.
RESULTS
Among the subjects, 109 (53.17 %) were males and 96 (46.8 %) were females. Out of 205 subjects, only 144 (70.2 %) subjects had heard of the term glaucoma. There were statistically significant differences between different age groups and their awareness of glaucoma (P < 0.001). Yet only 33.9 % had accurate knowledge of the disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma are low. An efficient strategy needs to be designed to increase the awareness and knowledge levels of glaucoma.
To Evaluate Diagnostic Efficacy of Nucleated Red Blood Cells (NRBCs) in Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Monika Kochhar  , Seema Acharya  , Ragini Singh  
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of sepsis in neonates is cardinal. The isolation of the organism from the body fluids is time-consuming and does not reliably exclude the infection even if it is negative. Nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) are immature erythrocytes that are elevated in association with foetal distress, hypoxia, and inflammation. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in the detection of neonatal sepsis.
METHODS
This was a prospective study which was conducted in the section of haematology, Department of Pathology of Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. A total of 92 term neonates admitted to NICU with clinical features and risk factors of sepsis from October 2020 to March 2021 were included in the study. All study neonates were classified into proven sepsis, probable clinical sepsis and no sepsis groups. The NRBC count and haematological parameters were obtained by a fully automated analyzer SYSMEX XN1000 and corroborated with a peripheral blood smear. The data obtained were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD multiple comparison tests or t-test using GraphPad Prism 7 software. A P-value of 0.001 was taken to be statistically significant.
RESULTS
Among the 92 cases studied, 23 were culture-positive sepsis, 31 were of probable clinical sepsis or were culture-negative and the rest 38 cases had no sepsis. In the present study, the difference in NRBC count between the sepsis and no sepsis group was statistically significant (P-value < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of NRBC count for sepsis were found to be 77. 78 %, 60.52 %, 73.68 % and 65.71 % respectively. The average NRBC count in the mortality group was higher than in live neonates.
CONCLUSIONS
The NRBC count showed comparable or higher sensitivity than haematological parameters. Higher NRBC counts in the mortality group correlated with adverse neonatal outcomes, hence carrying a prognostic value.
Cardiovascular Mapping in Cirrhosis From the Compensated Stage to Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Magnetic Resonance Study
Authors: Danielsen Karen Vagner , Wiese Signe , Busk Troels , Nabilou Puria , Kronborg Thit Mynster , Petersen Claus Leth , Hove Jens Dahlgaard , Møller Søren , Bendtsen Flemming 
Published: June 2022

INTRODUCTION:
Arterial vasodilation and hyperdynamic circulation are considered hallmarks of the pathophysiological mechanisms of decompensation in cirrhosis. However, detailed characterization of peripheral, splanchnic, renal, and cardiac hemodynamic have not previously been published in a spectrum from healthy stage to advanced decompensated liver disease with hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI).

METHODS:
We included 87 patients with cirrhosis and 27 healthy controls in this prospective cohort study. The population comprised patients with compensated cirrhosis (n = 27) and decompensated cirrhosis (n = 60); patients with decompensated cirrhosis were further separated into subsets of responsive ascites (33), refractory ascites (n = 16), and HRS-AKI (n = 11). We measured portal pressure and assessed regional blood flow by magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS:
Patients with compensated cirrhosis experienced higher azygos venous flow and higher hepatic artery flow fraction of cardiac index than controls (P < 0.01), but other flow parameters were not significantly different. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis experienced significantly higher cardiac index (P < 0.01), higher superior mesenteric artery flow (P = 0.01), and lower systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.001) compared with patients with compensated cirrhosis. Patients with HRS-AKI had the highest cardiac output and lowest renal flow of all groups (P < 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). Associations of single hemodynamic parameters were stronger with model for end-stage liver disease than with portal pressure.

DISCUSSION:
The regional cardiocirculatory changes seem closely linked to clinical symptoms with 3 distinguished hemodynamic stages from compensated to decompensated cirrhosis and, finally, to HRS-AKI. The attenuated renal perfusion despite high cardiac output in patients with HRS-AKI challenges the prevailing pathophysiological hypothesis of cardiac dysfunction as a causal factor in HRS-AKI. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging seems an accurate and reliable noninvasive method to assess hemodynamics and has potential as a diagnostic tool in patients with cirrhosis.
Hepatic Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Smooth Muscle Tumor in a Heart and Liver Transplant Recipient
Authors: Johnson Brett M. , Iskandar Jean-Pierre , Farha Natalie , Yerian Lisa , Modaresi Esfeh Jamak , Lindenmeyer Christina 
Published: June 2022

ABSTRACT
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumors (SMT) have been described in immunosuppressed states, including in post-transplant patients. Here, we discuss a heart-liver transplant recipient who was found to have multifocal hepatic EBV-SMT. His immunosuppression was initially transitioned from tacrolimus to sirolimus because of the proposed benefits of the mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors on EBV-SMT. Unfortunately, he suffered acute rejection of his liver allograft while on sirolimus therapy, which ultimately led to consideration of retransplantation.
Acute glycogenic hepatopathy in pregnancy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Abuzeid Omar , Heiligenstein Mia , Noureddine Lama , Heiselman Cassandra , Bernasko James 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Acute glycogenic hepatopathy (AGH) is a rare complication of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. This is the first report in the English literature describing accurate diagnosis and management of AGH during pregnancy.

Case presentation
A 46 year-old gravida 4 para 2 presented at 30 weeks gestation with uncontrolled diabetes, ketoacidosis, and severe hypertension. Euglycemia and normotension were achieved within 24 h of admission but serum transaminase levels which had been normal on admission increased to a very high level over several days, and then resolved spontaneously.

Conclusions
AGH may occur during pregnancy and should be considered in the context of chronic poorly controlled overt diabetes, rapid normalization of maternal blood glucose levels following high dose insulin therapy, and unexplained new-onset serum transaminase levels elevation. Accurate diagnosis is important because the correct treatment is conservative management, not delivery.
Estimators for the value of the optimal dynamic treatment rule with application to criminal justice interventions
Authors: Montoya Lina M. , van der Laan Mark J. , Skeem Jennifer L. , Petersen Maya L. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Given an (optimal) dynamic treatment rule, it may be of interest to evaluate that rule – that is, to ask the causal question: what is the expected outcome had every subject received treatment according to that rule? In this paper, we study the performance of estimators that approximate the true value of: (1) an a priori known dynamic treatment rule (2) the true, unknown optimal dynamic treatment rule (ODTR); (3) an estimated ODTR, a so-called “data-adaptive parameter,” whose true value depends on the sample. Using simulations of point-treatment data, we specifically investigate: (1) the impact of increasingly data-adaptive estimation of nuisance parameters and/or of the ODTR on performance; (2) the potential for improved efficiency and bias reduction through the use of semiparametric efficient estimators; and, (3) the importance of sample splitting based on the cross-validated targeted maximum likelihood estimator (CV-TMLE) for accurate inference. In the simulations considered, there was very little cost and many benefits to using CV-TMLE to estimate the value of the true and estimated ODTR; importantly, and in contrast to non cross-validated estimators, the performance of CV-TMLE was maintained even when highly data-adaptive algorithms were used to estimate both nuisance parameters and the ODTR. In addition, we apply these estimators for the value of the rule to the “Interventions” study, an ongoing randomized controlled trial, to identify whether assigning cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to criminal justice-involved adults with mental illness using an ODTR significantly reduces the probability of recidivism, compared to assigning CBT in a non-individualized way.
Accuracy assessment of available airborne gravity data in the central western desert of Egypt
Authors: Zaki Ahmed , Younes Ebtehal , El Ghrabawy Osama , Azab Islam Hassan , Rabah Mostafa 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
In the current study, the accuracy of airborne gravity data is evaluated based on the most recent Global Geopotential Models (GGM) and terrestrial gravity data to find out to what extent these data are acceptable to be used in multi-applications (e. g., geodesy and geophysics). To achieve this goal, the remove-compute-restore (RCR) scheme, upward, and downward continuation operational methods (least square collocation and fast Fourier transform procedures) are applied. The airborne gravity data had been acquired by the Egyptian Nuclear Material Authority (ENMA) in the central-western desert for geological applications. Firstly, three GGMs models (EGM2008, EIGEN-6C4 and XGM2019e up to various degrees) are used to compare with the free-air airborne gravity anomaly, The EGM2008 model up to degree 720 produces the smallest mean and STD difference values with 2.59 and 3.07 mGal, respectively. The terrestrial gravity data are compared with the airborne gravity anomaly at both flight and ground levels. In-flight level, the terrestrial gravity data are upward continued to the flight level and compared with the airborne gravity anomaly. The statistical results show that the mean and STD differences are about 4.2 and 0.75 mGal, respectively. While in-ground level evaluation, two operational techniques are used to downward continue the airborne gravity data (Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Least Squares Collocation (LSC)). The combined Satellite model EGM2008 up to degree 720 and SRTM 30 m are used to remove and restore the long and short-wavelength information. It is observed that the collocation gives better statistical results than FFT with mean and STD difference values are about 3.13 and 1.13 and mGal, respectively.
Revelation’s Entrenchment in Pure Reason in Fichte’s Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung
Authors: Kravitz Amit 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
According to Kant’s dictum, morality leads inescapably to religion. Notably, this implies two unavoidable shifts: From ‘morality’ to the ‘religion of reason’ and from the ‘religion of reason’ to ‘positive religions’ (‘revelation’). I explain the grounds for each shift, focusing on the different kinds of necessity involved. I then analyze Fichte’s Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung (1792), which mainly addresses the second shift, discussed only briefly by Kant. As I show, whereas for Kant revelation is conditioned by a prior free determination of the will, for Fichte it obtains a primordial status. I explain how Fichte’s approach fills in the Kantian gap between the concept of God, which seems to exclude the possibility of revelation, and the unavoidable human need to assume such an occurrence.
A robust association test with multiple genetic variants and covariates
Authors: Lee Jen-Yu , Shen Pao-Sheng , Cheng Kuang-Fu 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Due to the advancement of genome sequencing techniques, a great stride has been made in exome sequencing such that the association study between disease and genetic variants has become feasible. Some powerful and well-known association tests have been proposed to test the association between a group of genes and the disease of interest. However, some challenges still remain, in particular, many factors can affect the performance of testing power, e.g., the sample size, the number of causal and non-causal variants, and direction of the effect of causal variants. Recently, a powerful test, called T

REM
, is derived based on a random effects model. T

REM
has the advantages of being less sensitive to the inclusion of non-causal rare variants or low effect common variants or the presence of missing genotypes. However, the testing power of T

REM
can be low when a portion of causal variants has effects in opposite directions. To improve the drawback of T

REM
, we propose a novel test, called T

ROB
, which keeps the advantages of T

REM
and is more robust than T

REM
in terms of having adequate power in the case of variants with opposite directions of effect. Simulation results show that T

ROB
has a stable type I error rate and outperforms T

REM
when the proportion of risk variants decreases to a certain level and its advantage over T

REM
increases as the proportion decreases. Furthermore, T

ROB
outperforms several other competing tests in most scenarios. The proposed methodology is illustrated using the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study.
The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review
Authors: Persaud Nikita S. , Cates Hannah M. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAnxiety is one of the most common psychiatric disorders diagnosed in the United States today. Like all mental illnesses, anxiety pathology includes genetic, molecular, somatic, and behavioral characteristics. Specific brain regions implicated in anxiety include the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Together, these regions regulate fear-related learning and memory processes, and are innervated by neuronal projections that use glutamate and GABA as neurotransmitters. Neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are also implicated in anxiety. This review discusses the neuroepigenetics of the anxiety phenotype. While studying such changes is limited to postmortem brain studies or peripheral tissue acquisition in humans, the use of animals to model anxiety phenotypes has made epigenetic research possible. In this review, we summarize and discuss a plethora of DNA methylation, histone modification, and associated gene expression differences underscoring the anxiety phenotype. The findings we outline include expression changes of various DNA methyltransferases and changes in histone modifications that affect the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and stress response as well as GABA, glutamate, and BDNF signaling in the PFC, amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Furthermore, there have been studies showing that anxiety behaviors and biological scars from stress can be reversed using histone deacetylase inhibitors, and we discuss ideas for the future of treatment. In this review, we hope that by compiling much of the data pertaining to DNA methylation and histone modificationsin vivoanimal studies we are able to highlight potential avenues for future research despite existing limitations.
Equine-Assisted Therapies for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Heussen Nicole , Häusler Martin 
Published: June 2022

CONTEXT
Equine-assisted therapy in different facets aims to improve the clinical condition of children with cerebral palsy. A more comprehensive overview on the overall effects and on the differences between different treatment modalities seems desirable.

OBJECTIVE
We compared the effectiveness of various equine-assisted treatments on motor capabilities and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy.

DATA SOURCES
We conducted systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

STUDY SELECTION
Randomized and nonrandomized controlled parallel-group or crossover studies on equine-assisted therapies in comparison with standard of care were included.

DATA EXTRACTION
Data on motor function assessed by different instruments were considered as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included global, social, physical, and emotional scores of quality of life.

RESULTS
Strong evidence for a positive effect of equine-assisted therapies, particularly hippotherapy, on global gross motor function and motor capabilities during walking in children with cerebral palsy was identified (SMD 0.24, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.43, P = .01, t2 = 0.00, I2 = 15%; SMD 2.68, 95% CI 1.02 to 4.34, P = .002, t2 = 0.0, I2 = 0%). No evidence for the improvement in quality of life could be shown in the global assessment, nor in any subscore.

CONCLUSIONS
Equine-assisted therapy, particularly hippotherapy, can be a therapeutic tool for children who are learning to walk.

LIMITATION
The heterogeneity of tools used in different studies and the low number of studies addressing quality of life issues limited the number of studies available for distinct analyses.