bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in the dissection properties of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms
Authors: Tong Jianhua , Abudupataer Mieradilijiang , Xu Xiaojuan , Zhang Zhi , Li Jun , Lai Hao , Wang Chunsheng , Zhu Kai 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Presentation, management and outcomes in the aortic dissection (AD) of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) differ in gender and age. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dissection properties of male and female ATAAs.

METHODS
Peeling tests were performed to quantitatively determine the delamination strength and dissection energy of 41 fresh ATAA samples (22 males and 19 females) in relatively young (≤65 years) and elderly (&gt;65 years) patients. The delamination strength of the ATAAs was further correlated with patient ages for males and females. The histological investigation was employed to characterize the dissected morphology.

RESULTS
For elderly patients, circumferential and longitudinal delamination strengths of the female ATAAs were statistically significantly lower than those of the males (circumferential: 31 ± 6 vs 42 ± 6 mN/mm, P &lt; 0.01; longitudinal: 35 ± 7 vs 49 ± 10 mN/mm, P = 0.02). No significant differences were found in the delamination strength between males and females for relatively young patients. The circumferential and longitudinal delamination strengths were significantly decreased and strongly correlated with patient ages for females. However, these correlations were not present in males. Dissection routes propagated in the aortic media to create ruptured surfaces for all specimens. Peeling tests of the male ATAAs generate rougher surfaces than females.

CONCLUSIONS
There is a higher propensity of AD occurrence for the elderly females as compared to males with matched ages. Surgeons should be cognizant of the risk of AD onset later in life, especially in females.
Clinical interventions to improve adherence to urate-lowering therapy in patients with gout: a systematic review
Authors: Sinnappah Klarissa A , Stocker Sophie L , Chan Jian Sheng , Hughes Dyfrig A , Wright Daniel F B 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study was to systematically review and compare the quantitative effect of clinical interventions designed to improve adherence to urate-lowering therapy. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for interventional studies reporting quantitative adherence to urate-lowering therapy information as an endpoint. Intervention details, quantitative adherence information, clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness data were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed. From 4721 records, 11 studies (3 randomised and 8 observational) met the inclusion criteria. Pharmacist- and nurse-led interventions were described, involving a mixture of patient education, telephone or mobile texting reminders, and medication blister packing. Quantitative adherence information was obtained using methods such as patient self-reporting and pharmacy-dispensing data. Most studies had a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Two of the three randomised studies reported improvement in adherence between the intervention and control groups, including a 13% increase in the mean proportion of days covered &gt;0.8 [341/681 participants (50%) versus 289/782 participants (37%)] and an 88% increase in achieving a high Medicine Taking Behaviour questionnaire score [37/42 participants (88.1%) versus 0/40 participants (0%)]. Four of the eight observational studies reported improved adherence from baseline (ranging from 33% to 91% based on the longitudinal change in adherence metrics reported). A comparison of the different types of interventions was not feasible due to the heterogeneity between study designs and adherence metrics used. These findings support the need for more interventional studies to be conducted to aid adherence management.
Transportation of therapeutic and controlled drugs across international borders: a descriptive analysis of information available to travellers
Authors: Kissane Jack R , Flaherty Gerard T 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background
Transportation of medications across borders can present challenges for international travellers. We investigated the provision of official country-specific information available to individuals travelling with medications.

Methods
Data from official government sources relating to restrictions on the transportation of medications for personal use were analysed to determine compliance with international recommendations and identify variation in practice between countries.

Results
Schedule 1 drug classifications and import restrictions for narcotic and psychotropic drugs varied widely between countries. Some countries do not conform to recommendations from the International Narcotics Control Board.

Conclusions
Healthcare professionals should be broadly aware of country-specific restrictions on therapeutic drug transportation and be able to direct travellers to definitive sources of information.
Technical Note: Validation of the effectiveness of electric stunning for euthanasia of mature swine (Sus scrofa domesticus)
Authors: Kramer Scott A , Wagner Brooklyn K , Moeller Steve J , Bowman Andrew S , Kieffer Justin D , Gonçalves Arruda Andréia , Cressman Michael D , Pairis-Garcia Monique D 
Published: March 2022

AbstractElectrocution and the use of a penetrating captive bolt gun (PCBG) are both acceptable methods of euthanasia for market weight swine. Research has demonstrated that a PCBG is effective in both growing and mature swine. Given limited to no published research base on electrocution in mature swine, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of a two-stage (head only followed by head to heart, 10 s contact for each) mobile electric stunner (E-STUN, Hubert HAAS TBG 96N) and to assess euthanasia outcomes when comparing E-STUN with the frontal placement of a heavy-duty PCBG (Jarvis, In-line Cylinder Style) when applied to heavy-weight (&gt;200 kg) mature boars and sows. Effectiveness of the E-STUN and PCBG was evaluated first in unconscious anesthetized mature swine (n = 7 boars and sows per treatment; average weight 282 ± 48 kg, n = 28) to reduce the risk of failure in a conscious animal and then in conscious mature swine (n = 3 boars and sows per treatment; average weight 282 ± 63 kg, n = 12). Data from both stages were combined for analyses. Treatment efficacy was defined as any pig that achieved cardiac and respiratory arrest within 10 min after treatment application. A three-point traumatic brain injury score (0 = normal; 1 = some abnormalities; and 2 = grossly abnormal, unrecognizable) was used to evaluate six neuroanatomical structures (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, pons, and brain stem), and the presence of intracranial hemorrhage was also noted. All animals were immediately rendered insensible with E-STUN and PCBG, and no difference was noted between treatments for the detection of corneal reflex following treatment application (P = 0.11). Rhythmic breathing was absent following the administration of either E-STUN or PCBG. When evaluating the time to last heartbeat, there was a significant interaction between sex and treatment. Boars euthanized via E-STUN had a 346.8-s decrease in time to last heartbeat compared with boars euthanized via PCBG (P &lt; 0.001), and females euthanized via E-STUN had a 479.3-s decrease in time to last heartbeat compared with females euthanized via PCBG (P &lt; 0.001). Intracranial hemorrhage was common for both methods, and visible disruption of neural tissue was evident due to the physical nature of the PCBG. This study demonstrated that a mobile E-STUN system is as effective as a heavy-duty PCBG in inducing insensibility and death and shows promise as an alternative method for euthanizing mature pigs on-farm.
Energy value of hydrolyzed feather meal and flash-dried poultry protein for broiler chickens and pigs
Authors: Osunbami Opeadura T , Adeola Olayiwola 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Three experiments were conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) and nitrogen-corrected ME (MEn) contents of hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) and flash-dried poultry protein (FDPP) for broiler chickens and to determine their digestible energy (DE) and ME for pigs. The energy-yielding ingredients in a reference diet (RD) were replaced at 0, 75, or 150 g/kg by HFM in experiment (Exp.) 1; at 0, 75, or 150 g/kg by FDPP in Exp. 2; and at 0, 150 g/kg HFM, or 150 g/kg FDPP in Exp. 3. Birds were fed a standard broiler starter diet from hatch to days 18 and 17 for respective Exp. 1 and 2, following which 144 birds (8 replicate cages of 6 birds per cage) were assigned to the three experimental diets in a randomized complete block design with body weight as the blocking factor. Experimental diets were fed for 5 d, and excreta were collected during the last 3 d. Twenty-four 20-kg barrows, individually housed in metabolic crates equipped with a feeder and drinker, were used in Exp. 3. The barrows were assigned to the three experimental diets in a randomized complete block design with body weight as a blocking factor. Following a 5-d adaptation period, feces and urine were collected for 5 d in a total collection method. Data were used to determine the regression-derived ME and MEn of HFM and FDPP for broiler chickens in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. The DE and ME of HFM and FDPP for pigs in Exp. 3 were determined using the difference procedure. In Exp. 1, the inclusion of HFM linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) ME from 3,231 to 3,368 kcal/kg DM for 0 to 150 g/kg replacement of RD. The total tract retention of DM and metabolizability of energy linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) as replacement of RD with FDPP increased from 0 to 150 g/kg in Exp. 2. Inclusion of FDPP linearly increased (P &lt; 0.01) ME from 3,425 to 3,591 kcal/kg DM. In Exp. 3, the diets containing 150 g/kg HFM or FDPP induced greater (P &lt; 0.05) fecal DM and energy losses than the RD; however, the digestibility of energy across the three experimental diets was not different. The respective regression-derived ME and MEn of hydrolyzed feather meal for broiler chickens in the current study were 4,250 and 3,745 kcal/kg DM with corresponding values of 4,710 and 4,081 kcal/kg DM for flash-dried poultry protein. In pigs, 4,783 and 4,405 kcal/kg DM were the respective DE and ME of hydrolyzed feather meal, and 4,553 and 4,320 kcal/kg DM were the corresponding estimates for flash-dried poultry protein.
Early dynamical evolution of rotating star clusters in a tidal field
Authors: Tiongco Maria A , Vesperini Enrico , Varri Anna Lisa 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT
In order to explore how the early internal rotational properties of star clusters are affected by the external potential of their host galaxies, we have run a suite of N-body simulations following the early dynamical evolution and violent relaxation of rotating star clusters embedded in a tidal field. Our study focuses on models for which the cluster’s rotation axis has a generic orientation relative to the torque of the tidal field. The interaction between the violent relaxation process, angular momentum of the cluster, and the external torque creates a complex kinematic structure within the cluster, most prominently a radial variation in the position of the rotation axis, along both the polar and azimuthal directions. We also examine the cluster’s velocity dispersion anisotropy and show that the projected anisotropy may be affected by the variation of the rotation axis directions within the cluster; the combination of projection effects and the complex kinematical features may result in the measurement of tangential anisotropy in the cluster’s inner regions. We also characterize the structural properties of our clusters as a function of their initial rotation and virial ratio and find that clusters may develop a triaxial morphology and a radial variation of the minor axis not necessarily aligned with the rotation axis. Finally, we examine the long-term evolution of these complex kinematic features.
A multi-instrument investigation of the frequency stability of oscillations above the acoustic cut-off frequency with solar activity
Authors: Kosak K , Kiefer R , Broomhall A-M 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT
Below the acoustic cut-off frequency, oscillations are trapped within the solar interior and become resonant. However, signatures of oscillations persist above the acoustic cut-off frequency, and these travelling waves are known as pseudo-modes. Acoustic oscillation frequencies are known to be correlated with the solar cycle, but the pseudo-mode frequencies are predicted to vary in antiphase. We have studied the variation in pseudo-mode frequencies with time systematically through the solar cycle. We analysed Sun-as-a-star data from Variability of Solar Irradiance and Gravity Oscillations (VIRGO), and Global Oscillations at Low Frequencies (GOLF), as well as the decomposed data from Global Oscillation Network (GONG) for harmonic degrees 0 ≤ l ≤ 200. The data cover over two solar cycles (1996–2021, depending on instrument). We split them into overlapping 100-d long segments and focused on two frequency ranges, namely 5600–$6800\, \rm \mu Hz$ and 5600–$7800\, \rm \mu Hz$. The frequency shifts between segments were then obtained by fitting the cross-correlation function between the segments’ periodograms. For VIRGO and GOLF, we found no significant variation of pseudo-mode frequencies with solar activity. However, in agreement with previous studies, we found that the pseudo-mode frequency variations are in antiphase with the solar cycle for GONG data. Furthermore, the pseudo-mode frequency shifts showed a double-peak feature at their maximum, which corresponds to solar activity minimum, and is not seen in solar activity proxies. An, as yet unexplained, pseudo-periodicity in the amplitude of the variation with harmonic degree l is also observed in the GONG data.
Effect of surface H2 on molecular hydrogen formation on interstellar grains
Authors: Zhao Gang , Chang Qiang , Zhang Xia , Quan Donghui , Zhang Yong , Li Xiao-Hu 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT
We investigate how the existence of hydrogen molecules on grain surfaces may affect H2 formation efficiency in diffuse and translucent clouds. Hydrogen molecules are able to reduce the desorption energy of H atoms on grain surfaces in models. The detailed microscopic Monte Carlo method is used to perform model simulations. We found that the impact of the existence of H2 on H2 formation efficiency strongly depends on the diffusion barriers of H2 on grain surfaces. Diffuse cloud models that do not consider surface H2 predict that H atom recombination efficiency is above 0.5 over a grain temperature (T) range 10 and 14 K. The adopted H2 diffusion barriers in diffuse cloud models that consider surface H2 are 80${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ H2 desorption energies so that H2 can be trapped in stronger binding sites. Depending on model parameters, these diffuse cloud models predict that the recombination efficiency is between nearly 0 and 0.5 at 10 ≤T≤ 14 K. Translucent cloud model results show that H2 formation efficiency is not affected by the existence of surface H2 if the adopted average H2 diffusion barrier on grain surfaces is low (194 K) so that H2 can diffuse rapidly on grain surfaces. However, the recombination efficiency can drop to below 0.002 atT≥ 10 K if higher average H2 diffusion barrier is used (255 K) in translucent cloud models.
Quasar photometric redshifts from incomplete data using deep learning
Authors: Curran S J 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT
Forthcoming astronomical surveys are expected to detect new sources in such large numbers that measuring their spectroscopic redshift measurements will not be practical. Thus, there is much interest in using machine learning to yield the redshift from the photometry of each object. We are particularly interested in radio sources (quasars) detected with the Square Kilometre Array and have found Deep Learning, trained upon a large optically selected sample of quasi-stellar objects, to be effective in the prediction of the redshifts in three external samples of radio-selected sources. However, the requirement of nine different magnitudes, from the near-infrared, optical, and ultra-violet bands, has the effect of significantly reducing the number of sources for which redshifts can be predicted. Here, we explore the possibility of using machine learning to impute the missing features. We find that for the training sample simple imputation is sufficient, particularly replacing the missing magnitude with the maximum for that band, thus presuming that the non-detection is at the sensitivity limit. For the test samples, however, this does not perform as well as multivariate imputation, which suggests that many of the missing magnitudes are not limits, but have indeed not been observed. From extensive testing of the models, we suggest that the imputation is best restricted to two missing values per source. Where the sources overlap on the sky, in the worst case, this increases the fraction of sources for which redshifts can be estimated from 46 per cent to 80 per cent, with &gt;90 per cent being reached for the other samples.
[18F]-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET/MRI hypoxic fraction distinguishes neuroinflammatory pseudoprogression from recurrent glioblastoma in patients treated with pembrolizumab
Authors: Barajas Ramon F , Ambady Prakash , Link Jeanne , Krohn Kenneth A , Raslan Ahmed , Mallak Nadine , Woltjer Randy , Muldoon Leslie , Neuwelt Edward A 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Response assessment after immunotherapy remains a major challenge in glioblastoma due to an expected increased incidence of pseudoprogression. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard for monitoring therapeutic response, however, is markedly limited in characterizing pseudoprogression. Given that hypoxia is an important defining feature of glioblastoma regrowth, we hypothesized that [18F]-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET) could provide an additional physiological measure for the diagnosis of immunotherapeutic failure. Six patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who had previously received maximal safe resection followed by Stupp protocol CRT concurrent with pembrolizumab immunotherapy were recruited for FMISO PET and Gd-MRI at the time of presumed progression. The hypoxic fraction was defined as the ratio of hypoxic volume to T1-weighted gadolinium-enhancing volume. Four patients diagnosed with pseudoprogression demonstrated a mean hypoxic fraction of 9.8 ± 10%. Two with recurrent tumor demonstrated a mean hypoxic fraction of 131 ± 66%. Our results, supported by histopathology, suggest that the noninvasive assessment of hypoxic fraction by FMISO PET/MRI is clinically feasible and may serve as a biologically specific metric of therapeutic failure.
Sex-Dependent Effects of Inhaled Nicotine on the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Whitehead Anna K , Meyers Margaret C , Taylor Christopher M , Luo Meng , Dowd Scot E , Yue Xinping , Byerley Lauri O 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Introduction
The impact of nicotine, the addictive component of both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, on many physiological processes remains poorly understood. To date, there have been few investigations into the impact of nicotine on the gut microbiome, and these studies utilized oral administration rather than inhalation. This study aimed to establish if inhaled nicotine alters the gut microbiome and the effect of sex as a biological variable.

Methods
Female (n = 8 air; n = 10 nicotine) and male (n = 10 air; n = 10 nicotine) C57BL6/J mice were exposed to air (control) or nicotine vapor (12 hour/day) for 13 weeks. A fecal sample was collected from each mouse at the time of sacrifice, and the gut microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. QIIME2, PICRUSt, and STAMP were used to detect gut bacterial differences and functional metabolic pathways.

Results
Sex-specific differences were observed in both alpha and beta diversities in the absence of nicotine. While nicotine alters microbial community structure in both male and female mice as revealed by the beta diversity metric, nicotine significantly reduced alpha diversity only in female mice. A total of 42 bacterial taxa from phylum to species were found to be significantly different among the treatment groups. Finally, analysis for functional genes revealed significant differences in twelve metabolic pathways in female mice and ten in male mice exposed to nicotine compared to air controls.

Conclusions
Nicotine inhalation alters the gut microbiome and reduces bacterial diversity in a sex-specific manner, which may contribute to the overall adverse health impact of nicotine.

Implications
The gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in the well-being of the host, and traditional cigarette smoking has been shown to affect the gut microbiome. The effects of nicotine alone, however, remain largely uncharacterized. Our study demonstrates that nicotine inhalation alters the gut microbiome in a sex-specific manner, which may contribute to the adverse health consequences of inhaled nicotine. This study points to the importance of more detailed investigations into the influence of inhaled nicotine on the gut microbiota.
Increased Risk of Herpes Zoster in Adults ≥50 Years Old Diagnosed With COVID-19 in the United States
Authors: Bhavsar Amit , Lonnet Germain , Wang Chengbin , Chatzikonstantinidou Konstantina , Parikh Raunak , Brabant Yves , Servotte Nathalie , Shi Meng , Widenmaier Robyn , Aris Emmanuel 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background
Case reports have described herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, this constitutes low-quality evidence for an association. We therefore performed a retrospective cohort study to assess the risk of developing HZ following a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods
We compared the HZ incidence in ≥50-year-olds diagnosed with COVID-19 vs those never diagnosed with COVID-19. We used data from the US MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental (3/2020–2/2021) and Optum Clinformatics Data Mart (3–12/2020) databases. Individuals with COVID-19 were exact-matched 1:4 to those without COVID-19 by age, sex, presence of HZ risk factors, and health care cost level. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) were estimated by Poisson regression.

Results
A total of 394 677 individuals ≥50 years old with COVID-19 were matched with 1 577 346 individuals without COVID-19. Mean follow-up time after COVID-19 diagnosis and baseline characteristics were balanced between cohorts. Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 had a 15% higher HZ risk than those without COVID-19 (aIRR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.07–1.24; P &lt; .001). The increased HZ risk was more pronounced (21%) following COVID-19 hospitalization (aIRR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03–1.41; P = .02).

Conclusions
We found that COVID-19 diagnosis in ≥50-year-olds was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing HZ, highlighting the relevance of maintaining HZ vaccination.