bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short‑to‑mid‑term follow‑up results of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in patients older than 60 years
Authors: Le Tuyen K. , Nguyen Minh N. , Hoang Truong H. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: Chronological benefits of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in elderly patients (≥60 years) are unclear with remaining residual pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in some patients. This study aims to assess short‑to‑mid‑term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes and identify factors associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in these patients.Methods: Retrospective single-center study of 51 consecutive patients [mean age 63,3 ± 3,2 years, 76% females] undergoing percutaneous ASD closure. Functional status, right ventricular (RV) remodeling and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was assessed before and 24 hours after the procedure, at 6 months and 12 months. Logistic regression and Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to identify factors associated with PAH.Results: The mean ASD size was 21.8 ± 4.4 mm. Compared to before procedure, at 24 hours a significant improvement of NYHA class [NYHA II-III 7 (13.7%) vs. 34 (66.7%) patients, p < 0.0001, respectively], RV size [26.9 ± 5.7 vs. 31,3 ± 5,7 mm, p < 0.0001, respectively] and PASP [26.9 ± 5.7 vs. 50,4 ± 14,2 mm Hg, p<0.001] was detected. At 1 year, RV size and PASP decreased to 22 ± 4.6 mm, p<0.0001 and 33.8 ± 10.8 mmHg, p<0.0001 respectively compared to before ASD closure, residual shunt remained in 9 (17.7%) patients. No deaths were recorded. Age, pre-intervention RV size, pre-intervention PASP and severe tricuspid regurgitation were associated with residual PAH at 1 year in univariate analysis. Pre-intervention PASP ≥ 57.5 mmHg was an independent predictor of residual PAH at 1 year (odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.67, p=0.024; c-statistic 0.939, 95% CI 0.865-1.0, p<0.001, sensitivity 80%, specificity 92.6%). Conclusion: Percutaneous ASD closure can be performed safely in older patients and is associated with regression of RV size and PASP as well as symptomatic improvement in the short- and medium-term. Pre-intervention PASP was an independent predictor associated with residual PAH after one year.
Characterization of Online Support Group Resources for Patients with Dermatologic Conditions
Authors: Kaundinya Trisha , El-Behaedi Salma , Bilimoria Sara , Choi Jennifer N 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Dermatologic conditions can have significant quality of life effects on patients. The internet is a first-line accessible resource for patients to seek support and community in managing dermatologic diagnoses. The accessibility and content of online support resources for patients with dermatologic conditions is unclear so we sought to characterize these resources. We conducted online searches utilizing incognito Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines and identified a total of 36 support group resources. 9 links were for single dermatology support groups and 27 links were for databases of support groups for different dermatologic conditions. Analysis of resources indicated wide variability of material in terms of content, coverage, and readability. Furthermore, analysis of content showcased an imbalance in representation of resources for certain dermatologic conditions as opposed to others, further highlighting the strong need for the creation of easy-to-access support groups for patients across the spectrum of dermatological disease.
Systematic review of metabolomics approaches in identifying biomarkers of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity among breast cancer patients
Authors: Bakhtyar Maham , Jun Se-Ran , Boerma Marjan , Su L. Joseph , Makhoul Issam , Hsu Ping-Ching 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackground.While anthracyclines are well known to cause cardiotoxicity, no validated biomarkers that can predict the early development of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) currently exist. Therefore, early biomarkers of AIC are urgently needed. Metabolomics approaches have been used to elucidate this relationship. However, differences in pre-clinical model systems making it challenging to draw conclusions from the discoveries and translate into clinical development.Aim of Review.A systematic literature review on metabolomics studies of AIC in breast cancer was conducted with the goal to identify and compare study results reported using cell culture models, animal models, tumor-bearing animal models, and clinical patients. We further pooled metabolites identified from all studies to identify biologically meaningful patterns that are significantly enriched in the data. Lastly, pooled metabolites perturbed by AIC were mapped to metabolic pathways for potential pathological implications.Key Scientific Concepts of Review.Altogether, metabolomics studies suggest metabolic alterations in AIC, albeit little overlap between studies especially with breast cancer patients. Attempts at intercepting these pathways have shown that intervention in AIC may be possible. Optimal study design to accurately mimic the human breast cancer condition taking cancer metabolism into consideration will play key role to translate animal models to clinical studies to identify biomarkers in the early diagnosis of AIC and point to new targets for intervention.
Stress and recovery of American bullfrog after biometry management: biochemistry and erythrogram responses
Authors: Santos Nayara Netto , Alves Adriana Xavier , Reis Gean Paulo Andrade , Pawlowski Victor Ramos , Braga Núbia Gomes , Silva Jéssica Almeida da , Brabo Marcos Ferreira , Campelo Daniel Abreu Vasconcelos , Veras Galileu Crovatto 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the recovery of bullfrog homeostasis after biometry, a routine management. An experiment in a completely randomized design was conducted with six treatments and 10 repetitions: the bullfrog being the experimental unit. Five treatments consisted of evaluating the bullfrog recovery times after biometry (0 - immediately after biometry, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h) and a control (animals in homeostasis in the pen before biometry). Sixty bullfrogs (285.33 ± 10.00 g) were subjected to a 12-h fasting. Subsequently, 50 animals underwent biometry and 10 were used for blood collection before biometry (control). A significant increase was observed in all variables analyzed for animals subjected to density stress, except for total proteins, globulin, and hemoglobin. There was a significant increase in blood glucose and erythrocyte numbers in the subjects immediately after biometry. Total proteins and globulin had no significant difference in any of the groups that underwent biometry. Lactate, albumin, and triglycerides levels were significantly elevated in animals shortly after biometry and remained elevated until 12 h after management. The results showed that 24 h after biometry stress, all the analyzed variables were already at similar levels as to the levels of animals in homeostasis.
Near-real-time estimation of fossil fuel CO2 emissions from China based on atmospheric observations at Hateruma and Yonaguni Islands, Japan
Authors: Tohjima Yasunori , Niwa Yosuke , Patra Prabir K. , Mukai Hitoshi , Machida Toshinobu , Sasakawa Motoki , Tsuboi Kazuhiro , Saito Kazuyuki , Ito Akihiko 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
We developed a near-real-time estimation method for temporal changes in fossil fuel CO2 (FFCO2) emissions from China for three months (January, February, March, (JFM)) based on atmospheric CO2 and CH4 observations on Hateruma Island (HAT, 24.06°N, 123.81°E) and Yonaguni Island (YON, 24.47°N, 123.01°E), Japan. These two remote islands are in the downwind region of continental East Asia during winter because of the East Asian monsoon. Previous studies have revealed that monthly averages of synoptic-scale variability ratios of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 (ΔCO2/ΔCH4) observed at HAT and YON in JFM are sensitive to changes in continental emissions. From the analysis based on an atmospheric transport model with all components of CO2 and CH4 fluxes, we found that the ΔCO2/ΔCH4 ratio was linearly related to the FFCO2/CH4 emission ratio in China because calculating the variability ratio canceled out the transport influences. Using the simulated linear relationship, we converted the observed ΔCO2/ΔCH4 ratios into FFCO2/CH4 emission ratios in China. The change rates of the emission ratios were calculated relative to those for the preceding 9-year period (2011–2019), during which relatively stable ΔCO2/ΔCH4 ratios were observed. These changes in the emission ratios can be read as FFCO2 emission changes under the assumption of no interannual variations in CH4 emissions and biospheric CO2 fluxes for JFM. The resulting average changes in the FFCO2 emissions in January, February, and March 2020 were 17 ± 8%, − 36 ± 7%, and − 12 ± 8%, respectively, (− 10 ± 9% for JFM overall) relative to 2011–2019. These results were generally consistent with previous estimates. The emission changes for the two most recent JFM were 18 ± 8%, − 2 ± 10%, 29 ± 12%, respectively, in 2021 (15 ± 10% for JFM overall) and 20 ± 9%, − 3 ± 10%, − 10 ± 9%, respectively, in 2022 (2 ± 9% for JFM overall). These results suggest that the FFCO2 emissions from China rebounded to the normal level or set a new high in early 2021 after the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition, the estimated reduction in March 2022 might be attributed to the influence of a new wave of COVID-19 infections in Shanghai.
Small Family, Happy Family? Fertility Preferences and the Quantity-Quality Trade-off in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: HOYWEGHEN Kaat VAN , BEMELMANS Janne , FEYAERTS Hendrik , BROECK Goedele VAN DEN , MAERTENS Miet 
Published: September 2022

AbstractTo attenuate the adverse effects of high population growth in low-income countries and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, knowledge on rural fertility preferences and the existence of a quantity-quality trade-off between the number of children and child-raising quality is key. To tackle this, we implement a choice experiment in Senegal and Uganda. We include three quality and one quantity aspect of child-raising, and three socio-economic drivers of fertility, resulting in a comprehensive assessment. We show that rural households prefer to have many children, but women and non-poor respondents demonstrate a lower preference for many children than men and poor respondents. We find that the quantity-quality trade-off is a two-sided story. On the one hand, for most of the quality attributes, we confirm the existence of a trade-off. On the other hand, quantity and quality are complementary when all children in the household can attain a lower secondary school diploma. Our results imply that broadening the currently narrow focus on contraceptive uptake in family planning programs, and more specific targeting of such programs to people with low fertility preferences, could improve their effectiveness. JEL codes J10, J13, J19
Numerical Simulation and Stability Analysis Method of Sliding Failure in an Embankment Reinforced by piles in cement-improved soil
Authors: Shang Zhiheng , Zhang Dingwen , Du Guangyin , Xia Han , Wang Anhui 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This paper proposed a stability analysis method suitable for embankments reinforced by piles in cement-improved soil through 3D finite element numerical simulation. First, the failure mode of piles in cement-improved soil in each part of the sliding range was explored. Then, based on the existing research on rigid pile calculations, the contribution of piles in cement-improved soil to resistance in different failure modes was determined appropriately through the plane analytical calculation method of the safety factor. Finally, the accuracy of the calculation method proposed in this paper was verified. The research shows that the sliding mode transitions from linear sliding in the slope to circular sliding in the foundation. The possible failure modes inside the ground are divided into two types according to location: pile bending failure inside the slope foot and soil sliding upward by overcoming the friction force at the pile‒soil interfaces, which results in excessive deformation outside. Increasing the thickness of the outer cement piles helps to delay the increase in the inner pile bending moment, which leads to tensile damage. Compared with the calculation methods that consider only a single failure mode, the safety factors calculated by the method presented in this paper are closer to those obtained via numerical simulation.
Predicting cascading extinctions and efficient restoration strategies in plant-pollinator networks via generalized positive feedback loops
Authors: Nasrollahi Fatemeh Sadat Fatemi , Campbell Colin , Albert Réka 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The extinction of a species in a plant-pollinator mutualistic community can cause cascading effects and lead to major biodiversity loss. The ecologically important task of predicting the severity of the cascading effects is made challenging by the complex network of interactions among the species. In this work, we analyze an ensemble of models of communities of plant and pollinator species. These models describe the mutualistic inter-species interactions by Boolean threshold functions. We show that identifying generalized positive feedback loops can help pinpoint the species whose extinction leads to catastrophic and substantial damage to the whole community. We compare these results with the damage percentage caused by the loss of species identified as important by previously studied structural measures and show that positive feedback loops and the information gained from them can identify certain crucial species that the other measures fail to find. We also suggest mitigation measures for two specific purposes: 1. prevent the damage to the community by protecting a subset of the species, and 2. restore the community after the damage by restoring a subset of species. Our analyses indicate that the generalized positive feedback loops predict the most efficient strategies to achieve these purposes. The correct identification of species in each category has important implications for conservation efforts and developing community management strategies.
Trends in collaboration with patient organizations on cancer-related clinical trials: Collaborative relationship with existing stakeholders and the characteristics of their co-sponsored studies in the United States
Authors: Lee Yesup , Sengoku Shintaro 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background

In recent years, the importance of patient centricity in drug development has been recognized, affecting the stakeholders conducting clinical trials. In this context, end users, patients and patient organizations are becoming increasingly involved in the development process to address their unmet medical needs. However, there is a lack of research on environmental trends in which patient organizations collaborate with incumbent stakeholders in drug development. This study aimed to understand the current status of clinical trials regarding patient organization involvement as sponsors and collaboration with different types of sponsors in cancer-related clinical trials. This cross-sectional study also examined the characteristics of clinical trials involving patient organizations as new stakeholders by analyzing the environmental factors that promote collaboration with existing stakeholders.

Methods

A total of 14,830 interventional clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020, were categorized and analyzed by target cancer types and five different sponsor types: 1. patient organization co-sponsored (PO-co), 2. academia (ACD), 3. governmental (GOV), and 4. industry co-sponsored (IND-co) and 5. industry only (IND).

Results

PO-Co studies accounted for 2% (289 of 14,830) of the total studies, ACD 5%, IND-Co 21%, GOV and IND 36%. When the 289 PO-Co studies were analyzed by cancer type and eligible study population, we found that the proportion of pediatric studies was significantly higher for PO-Co studies (30% (88 of 289)) than for total studies (9% (1,378 of 14,830); P < .001), and we also found that collaboration with PO was more common for certain cancer types compared with the total study. Regarding collaboration with POs, more than half of the PO-GOV collaborative studies were conducted at the Nation cancer center comprehensive cancer centers, and even particular investigators actively engaged in collaboration with POs.

Conclusions

A cross-sectional analysis of cancer-related clinical trials revealed that the involvement of patient organizations as sponsors in clinical trials did not increase significantly over time. However, some organizations have become actively engaged in certain cancers and pediatric populations that are less prioritized by incumbent sponsors. We also found that governmental sponsors and selected principal investigators played an important role in collaborating with patient organizations. These findings provide a basis for understanding the current status of patient organizations and for considering further contributions.
Metabolomics Reveals Metabolic Alterations in Membranous Nephropathy and IgA nephropathy
Authors: Qu Yuchen , Wang Yueyuan , Hu Zhanhong , Su Cunjin , Qian Chenyue , Pan Jie , Zhu Ye , Shi Aiming 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are the most common primary glomerulopathies worldwide. The systemic metabolic changes in the progression of MN and IgAN are not fully understood.
Methods: 87 MN patients, 70 IgAN patients, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Untargeted metabolomics was performed to explore the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in the early stage of MN and IgAN. ROC curve analyses were performed to judge the diagnostic ability of biomarkers.
Results: PCA and OPLS-DA analysis suggested that obvious separation trend was obversed in both MN and IgAN patients from the healthy controls. 155 and 148 metabolites were identified significantly altered in MN and IgAN groups. Of these, 70 metabolites were markedly altered in both disease groups and 6 metabolites showed the opposite tendency, including L-tryptophan, L-kynurenine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), indoleacetaldehyde, 5-hydroxyindoleacetylglycine, and N-alpha-acetyllysine. The most affected metabolic pathways includes the amino acid metabolic pathways, citrate cycle, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and hormone signaling pathways.
Conclusion: Great metabolic disorders had happened during the progression of MN and IgAN. L-tryptophan, L-kynurenine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), indoleacetaldehyde, 5-hydroxyindoleacetylglycine, and N-alpha-acetyllysine may show potential as biomarkers for for identification of MN and IgAN.
Evaluating the generalizability of deep learning image classification algorithms to detect middle ear disease using otoscopy
Authors: Habib Al-Rahim , Xu Yixi , Bock Kris , Mohanty Shrestha , Sederholm Tina , Weeks William B. , Dodhia Rahul , Ferres Juan Lavista , Perry Chris , Sacks Raymond , Singh Narinder 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the generalizability of artificial intelligence (AI)-otoscopy algorithms to identify middle ear disease using otoscopic images.
Methods
1842 otoscopic images were collected from 3 independent sources: a) Van, Turkey, b) Santiago, Chile, and c) Ohio, USA. Diagnostic categories consisted of (i) normal or (ii) abnormal. Deep and transfer learning-based methods were used to develop models to evaluate internal and external performance, using area under the curve (AUC) estimates. A pooled assessment was performed by combining all cohorts together with 5-fold cross validation.
Results
AI-otoscopy algorithms achieved high internal performance (mean AUC: 0.95, 95%CI: 0.80–1.00). However, performance was reduced when tested on external otoscopic images not used for training (mean AUC: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.61–0.91). Overall, external performance was significantly lower than internal performance (mean difference in AUC: -0.19, mean standard error: 0.02, p≤0.04). Combining cohorts achieved a substantial pooled performance (AUC: 0.96, standard error: 0.01).
Conclusion
Internally applied AI-otoscopy algorithms performed well in identifying middle ear disease from otoscopy images. However, external performance was reduced when applied to new test cohorts. Further efforts are required to explore data augmentation and pre-processing techniques that might improve external performance and develop a robust, generalizable algorithm for real-world clinical applications.
Outdoor fibre link between two telescopes and the lab of the CHARA array at 810 nm. Demonstration of the optical path servo control.
Authors: Magri Julie , Grossard Ludovic , Reynaud François , Fabert Marc , Delage Laurent , Krawczyk Rodolphe , Duigou Jean-Michel Le 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
In the framework of the ALOHA (Astronomical Light Optical Hybrid Analysis) project, dedicated to high resolution imaging in the L-band using optical fibre and nonlinear optics, we have implemented a servo controlled hectometric outdoor fibre link between two telescopes and the recombination beam facility of the CHARA telescope array. A two-stage servo system using optical fibre modulator, fibre delay line, and a metrology laser at 1064 nm allows to stabilise the optical path difference within 3 nm RMS over a 3000 s record. Using an internal source at 810 nm, the signal-to-noise ratio of the fringe modulation peak is enhanced by a factor better than two when the servo control is switched on. This study can be also considered as a seminal work towards very long base fibre linked telescope arrays and allows to scale the perturbative environment of an outdoor fibre link.
50 years and counting: Indian Wildlife Protection Act through the lens of marine fishers
Authors: Shalu Kannan , Ramvilas Ghosh , Arjun Charambilly Purushothaman , Raghavan Rajeev , Ranjeet Kutty 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Fishers’ awareness and attitudes towards conservation policies may vary, but can serve as important pointers towards assessing their on-ground implementation and success. We conducted a questionnaire survey across six coastal states and two island territories of India, with an aim to critically evaluate the socio-demographic factors that influence knowledge, perception and conservation attitudes of fishers towards protected marine species. Using gorgonians, seahorses and pipefishes as proxies, we assessed the differences in the fishers’ awareness and conservation attitudes towards marine taxa protected through the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) 1972. Our observations revealed divergent perceptions among respondents (fishers) with greater awareness towards seahorses, followed by gorgonians and pipefishes, respectively. The low level of awareness on legal status of the focal taxa among the fishers is also a direct indication of how key stakeholders are largely misinformed on WLPA. Nevertheless, our results also showed that a better awareness on the focal taxa tends to influence the positive conservation attitudes of fishers. Based on fishers’ perceptions and conservation attitudes, we constructed a priority matrix to identify priority areas that could help strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing conservation policies. Despite existing conservation and management strategies such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the WLPA, all locations along the coast of Tamil Nadu and Odisha were identified as priority areas. Thus, we contend on the importance of improving stakeholder awareness on management policies for better compliance and conservation engagement. Also, we advocate for holistic management strategies that should look beyond the currently-known legal framework (WLPA) that appears to be largely ineffective for several protected marine taxa in India.