bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired Dynamic Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca Buffering in Autosomal Dominant CPVT2
Authors: Wleklinski Matthew J. , Kryshtal Dmytro O. , Kim Kyungsoo , Parikh Shan S. , Blackwell Daniel J. , Marty Isabelle , Iyer V. Ramesh , Knollmann Bjӧrn C. 
Published: September 2022

Background:

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia syndrome triggered by catecholamines released during exercise, stress, or sudden emotion. Variants in the calsequestrin-2 gene (
CASQ2
), encoding the major calcium (Ca) binding protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), are the second most common cause of CPVT. Recently, several
CASQ2
gene variants, such as
CASQ2
-K180R, have been linked to an autosomal dominant form of Casq2-linked CPVT (CPVT2), but the underlying mechanism is not known.

Methods:
A K180R mouse model was generated using CRIPSR/Cas9. Heterozygous and homozygous K180R mice were studied using telemetry ECG recordings in vivo. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated and studied using fluorescent Ca indicators and patch clamp. Expression levels and localization of SR Ca-handling proteins were evaluated using Western blotting and immunostaining. Intra-SR Ca kinetics were quantified using low-affinity Ca indicators.

Results:
K180R mice exhibit an autosomal dominant CPVT phenotype following exercise or catecholamine stress. Upon catecholamine stress, K180R ventricular cardiomyocytes exhibit increased spontaneous SR Ca release events, triggering delayed afterdepolarizations and spontaneous beats. K180R had no effect on levels of Casq2, Casq2 polymers, or other SR Ca-handling proteins. Intra-SR Ca measurements revealed that K180R impaired dynamic intra-SR Ca buffering, resulting in a more rapid rise of free Ca in the SR during diastole. Steady-state SR Ca buffering and total SR Ca content were not changed. Consistent with the reduced dynamic intra-SR buffering, K180R causes reduced SR Ca release refractoriness.

Conclusions:

CASQ2-K180R
causes CPVT2 via a heretofore unknown mechanism that differs from
CASQ2
variants associated with autosomal recessive CPVT2. Unlike autosomal recessive
CASQ2
variants, K180R impairs the dynamic buffering of Ca within the SR without affecting total SR Ca content or Casq2 protein levels. Our data provide insight into the molecular mechanism underlying autosomal dominant CPVT2.
Wearable Seismocardiography‐Based Assessment of Stroke Volume in Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Ganti Venu G. , Gazi Asim H. , An Sungtae , Srivatsa Adith V. , Nevius Brandi N. , Nichols Christopher J. , Carek Andrew M. , Fares Munes , Abdulkarim Mubeena , Hussain Tarique , Greil F. Gerald , Etemadi Mozziyar , Inan Omer T. , Tandon Animesh 
Published: September 2022

Background
Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for the development of low cardiac output and other physiologic derangements, which could be detected early through continuous stroke volume (SV) measurement. Unfortunately, existing SV measurement methods are limited in the clinic because of their invasiveness (eg, thermodilution), location (eg, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging), or unreliability (eg, bioimpedance). Multimodal wearable sensing, leveraging the seismocardiogram, a sternal vibration signal associated with cardiomechanical activity, offers a means to monitoring SV conveniently, affordably, and continuously. However, it has not been evaluated in a population with significant anatomical and physiological differences (ie, children with CHD) or compared against a true gold standard (ie, cardiac magnetic resonance). Here, we present the feasibility of wearable estimation of SV in a diverse CHD population (N=45 patients).

Methods and Results

We used our chest‐worn wearable biosensor to measure baseline ECG and seismocardiogram signals from patients with CHD before and after their routine cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and derived features from the measured signals, predominantly systolic time intervals, to estimate SV using ridge regression. Wearable signal features achieved acceptable SV estimation (28% error with respect to cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging) in a held‐out test set, per cardiac output measurement guidelines, with a root‐mean‐square error of 11.48 mL and
R
2
of 0.76. Additionally, we observed that using a combination of electrical and cardiomechanical features surpassed the performance of either modality alone.

Conclusions
A convenient wearable biosensor that estimates SV enables remote monitoring of cardiac function and may potentially help identify decompensation in patients with CHD.
Plasma Human Cartilage Glycoprotein‐39 Is Associated With the Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Xu Tian , Zhang Kaixin , Zhong Chongke , Zhu Zhengbao , Zheng Xiaowei , Yang Pinni , Che Bizhong , Lu Yaling , Zhang Yonghong 
Published: September 2022

Background
To evaluate the prognostic value of plasma YKL‐40 (human cartilage glycoprotein‐39) for acute ischemic stroke.

Methods and Results

We measured plasma YKL‐40 levels in 3377 participants from CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke). Study outcome data on death, major disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3), and vascular diseases were collected at 3 months after stroke onset. The primary outcome was defined as a combination of death and major disability. During the 3‐month follow‐up, 828 participants (24.5%) experienced major disability or died. After multivariate adjustment, the highest YKL‐40 quartile was associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome (odds ratio, 1.426 [95% CI, 1.105–1.839];
P
trend
=0.01) compared with the lowest quartile. Each SD increase in log‐transformed YKL‐40 level was associated with a 15.5% (95% CI, 5.6–26.3%) increased risk of the primary outcome. The multivariable‐adjusted spline regression models showed a linear dose–response relationship between YKL‐40 and clinical outcomes. Adding YKL‐40 to a model containing conventional risk factors significantly improved the reclassification power for the primary outcome (net reclassification improvement: 15.61%,
P
<0.001; integrated discrimination index: 0.37%,
P
=0.004) and marginally significantly improved the discriminatory power for the primary outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve improved by 0.003,
P
=0.099).

Conclusions
A higher YKL‐40 level in the acute phase of ischemic stroke was associated with an increased risk of mortality and major disability at 3 months after stroke, indicating that YKL‐40 may play an important role as a prognostic marker of ischemic stroke.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01840072.
Preliminary evidence of tool use in an Australian magpie?
Authors: Johnsson Robin D. , Connelly Farley , Lesku John A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
We investigated tool use in twelve wild-caught Australian magpies. When presented with a tool use apparatus consisting of two transparent walls with a food reward placed in-between, seven magpies pulled the stick out of the apparatus acquiring the food within. On one occasion, one magpie manipulated the removed stick, carried it back to the apparatus, dropped it between the two walls and proceeded to rake out the food within reach of its beak. We believe this observation is important for the field of comparative cognition as it (1) is the first study to report stick tool use in Australian magpies, and (2) shows a novel behaviour in a ground foraging bird that, as far as we know, do not naturally use tools for food extraction. This study provides preliminary evidence that Australian magpies may be added to the list of bird species that can use tools.
Pakistani Literature Festivals and a Scopaesthesiac Consciousness
Authors: Bilal Mushtaq 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This paper seeks to understand and theorize Pakistani literature festivals. In order to do so, I study the programs and schedules of the Karachi Literature Festival from 2010–2020 and the Lahore Literary Festival from 2013–2020. Using Andrew Shryock’s idea of Other-consciousness and building on Ammara Maqsood’s anthropological work done in urban Pakistan, I argue that the conception, programming, and execution of festivals like the Karachi and the Lahore festivals are governed by a “scopaesthesiac consciousness” – a consciousness of being observed and judged by an imagined outsider. As a result, the organizers and producers of these festivals are less interested in showcasing an organic literary production and more interested in portraying a “soft image of Pakistan” to an imagined outsider.
From Remote Prisons to Global Readership
Authors: Kivrak Pelin 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This article examines the complex strategies of composition, translation, and outreach that Behrouz Boochani and Selahattin Demirtaş used while producing works of literature in prison. Whereas Demirtaş has been writing in Turkish and within a prison in Istanbul, Boochani asked for his writing to be published in English when he was detained as a stateless person in a multinational non-space – an offshore center where refugees from all over the world were detained. Instead of categorizing these works as extensions of their authors’ ethnic or national identities, this article reveals how they position themselves vis-à-vis different forms of oppression by producing transnational pieces of world literature.
Kitāb al-aṣwāt: suoni, voci e versi nella lessicografia araba tra VIII e IX secolo
Authors: Bellino Francesca 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This article is devoted to sounds, voices, calls and cries as defined and conceived in the early Arabic lexicographic tradition (8th–9th century). It discusses the first evidence for the use of the Arabic term ṣawt (pl. aṣwāt) in the Qurʾān and early lexicons. It then examines direct and indirect accounts of the transmission of the Kitāb al-aṣwāt—especially those attributed to Quṭrub (d. 206/821), al-Aṣmaʿī (d. 216/831) and Ibn al-Sikkīt (d. 244/858)—as well as some chapters devoted to the subject in coeval multi-thematic lexicographical works such as those of Abū ʿUbayd al-Qāsim ibn Sallām (d. 244/838) and of the later Ibn Qutayba (d. 276/889). Taken together, the information that emerges from all these texts displays the many shades of meaning that the aṣwāt have taken at the beginning of Arab-Islamic cultural history.
Sensitivity of Traffic Speed to Rainfall
Authors: Salvi Kaustubh Anil , Kumar Mukesh , Hainen Alexander M. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Hazardous weather conditions can pose a threat to the functioning of transportation systems. While the impacts of extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes/tornadoes and flooding) on transportation disruptions have received significant attention, minor transient disturbances in traffic and transport systems due to rainfall events have remained understudied. Given that a road network experiences rainfall events on a regular basis, which in turn likely reduces its efficiency through short-term disruptions, it is imperative to assess the influence of variations in rainfall intensity on the traffic speed. By synergistically using crowdsourced probe vehicle speed data and spatially explicit meteorological data, this study quantifies the sensitivity of traffic speed to rainfall events of different intensities over 1151 road sections within Alabama. It is observed that instead of variations in the rainfall intensity, traffic speed sensitivity is primarily influenced by a road section’s free-flow speed (uninterrupted speed during dry pavement conditions) and antecedent traffic volume. Relative sensitivity of road sections exhibits high consistency over different rainfall intensities across all road sections, thus underscoring the possibility of assessing sensitivities based only on speed data collected during rainfall intensities that are much more frequent. These results may be used to identify road sections and time periods with high sensitivity to rainfall, thus helping in prioritization of mitigation measures.

Significance Statement
To safeguard against hazardous driving conditions during rainfall events, from either compromised visibility or reduced friction between tires and pavement, drivers often reduce vehicle speed. However, the influence of rainfall intensity on traffic speed reduction remains unclear. This study analyzes the sensitivity of traffic speed to rainfall intensity. Our results indicate that, while rainfall indeed leads to traffic speed reductions, the extent of reduction is predominantly influenced by free-flow speed (uninterrupted vehicle speed) of the road section and the traffic volume on it instead of the rainfall intensity. These results may be used to identify high-sensitivity time periods and locations and guide prioritization of mitigation measures.
Daylight Saving Time transitions and Cardiovascular Disease in Andalusia: Time Series Modeling and Analysis Using Visibility Graphs
Authors: Rodríguez-Cortés Francisco José , Jiménez-Hornero Jorge E. , Alcalá-Diaz Juan Francisco , Jiménez-Hornero Francisco José , Romero-Cabrera Juan Luis , Cappadona Rosaria , Manfredini Roberto , López-Soto Pablo Jesús 
Published: September 2022

The present study aimed to determine whether transitions both to and from daylight saving time (DST) led to an increase in the incidence of hospital admissions for major acute cardiovascular events (MACE). To support the analysis, natural visibility graphs (NVGs) were used with data from Andalusian public hospitals between 2009 and 2019. We calculated the incidence rates of hospital admissions for MACE, and specifically acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke during the 2 weeks leading up to, and 2 weeks after, the DST transition. NVG were applied to identify dynamic patterns. The study included 157 221 patients diagnosed with MACE, 71 992 with AMI (42 975 ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 26 752 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)), and 51 420 with ischemic stroke. Observed/expected ratios shown an increased risk of AMI (1.06; 95% CI (1.00–1.11); P = .044), NSTEMI (1.12; 95% CI (1.02–1.22); P = .013), and acute coronary syndrome (1.05; 95% CI (1.00–1.10); P = .04) around the autumn DST. The NVG showed slight variations in the daily pattern of pre-DST and post-DST hospitalization admissions for all pathologies, but indicated that the increase in the incidence of hospital admissions after the DST is not sufficient to change the normal pattern significantly.
Positive Psychological Changes at High Altitude Shown by the Low Landers after the Yoga Intervention—Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY)
Authors: Gupta Sheetal J. , Pradhan Balaram , Bhanushali Disha , (Nitin Limaye) Rishi Nityapragya 
Published: September 2022

Background Immediate assent to high altitude affects the cognitive performance and mood of an individual, which is followed by depression and anxiety. It also affects the sleep quality, general health, and happiness quotient of an individual. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a cyclical breathing technique, which has been proven successful in managing stress, depression, anxiety, and helps in the improvement of sleep quality. Purpose The current study was to understand the role of SKY meditation on psychological parameters, happiness quotient of low landers at high altitude (Leh). Methods It is a two-armed pre–post study with experimental and control group both are lowlanders, and their psychological parameters are being assessed when they immediately assent to high altitude (Leh). There are two groups experimental group (SKY) was from AOL SKY–AMP and has prior SKY meditation experience. The control group does not have any yoga or meditation experience. SKY–AMP is a 4 days protocol done at high altitude by the SKY group. Both groups reach Leh through air mode transportation. Results Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) showed a significant result in the SKY group with P ≤ .001, whereas it is nonsignificant in the control group. We also observed anthropometric and physiological changes in the participants showing significant effects on weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure; with no significant effect in the control group. It is one of the first studies done with both two groups, where yoga and meditation are done at high altitude and then seen the changes in the groups at physical and psychological level. Conclusion Yogic practices can be helpful in having positive psychological change in the lowlanders at high altitude.
The Effect of Tele-palliative Care on Patient and Caregiver Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chen Yiping , Qiao Caihong , Zhang Xianhui , Li Wei , Yang Hui 
Published: September 2022

Objectives: To describe the use of tele-palliative care in patients with advanced disease and assess its effectiveness on quality of life (QOL), symptom burden and other outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Methods: We searched for randomised controlled trials to assess the outcomes of tele-palliative care on patients with advanced disease and their caregivers. Eight databases were searched for studies published in Chinese or English from inception to November 27, 2021. Data from the included trials were extracted independently by 2 reviewers and evaluated independently for methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. A narrative synthesis of the results of all trials was performed. Results: Thirty trials were included ultimately with more than one half of the studies were moderate to high quality, including, which involved 19 665 patients and 1153 caregivers. Results from 10/15 included trials (reporting patient QOL), 5/14 trials (reporting patient symptoms), 1/3 trials (reporting survival), 8/13 trials (reporting patient mood), 3/6 trials (reporting ACP related indicators), 3/7 trials (reporting resource utilization) showed statistically significant between tele-palliative care and control care groups. Of 30 trials, 8 measured caregiver outcomes, 1/4 trials (reporting caregiver QOL) showed statistically significant, and results from 3/3 trials (reporting caregiver mood), 3/4 trials (reporting caregiver burden) showed benefit in at least 1 domain at 1 or more time points. Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that although tele-palliative care can improve patient physical, patient and caregiver psychological health outcomes to some extent, there is still a lack of sufficient evidence to substantiate its application effects. Moreever, regional and cultural characteristics should also be taken into account when tele-palliative care interventions are carried out.
The association of AGER and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms with diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Gouliopoulos Nikolaos , Gazouli Maria , Karathanou Katerina , Moschos Marilita M 
Published: September 2022

Purpose To evaluate the possible associations between AGER (rs1051993, rs2070600) and ALDH2 (rs671) gene polymorphisms with nonproliferative (NPDR) and proliferative (PDR) diabetic retinopathy, in a well-defined Greek population. Materials 66 NPDR patients and 57 PDR patients participated in our study, along with 156 age- and gender-matched healthy-control subjects (CL). All the participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, while clinical and demographic data were collected. Furthermore, they were genotyped for the studied polymorphisms. Results No significant differences were detected among the studied groups regarding the participants’ age and gender status. We found that the ALDH2 AA genotype was significantly more frequent in PDR patients than in CL ( p = 0.014). Furthermore, between NPDR and PDR groups, the AGER rs1051993 GT and TT genotype frequencies were significantly elevated in PDR patients ( p < 0.0001 and 0.04, respectively). Moreover, we demonstrated that the heterozygous GT genotype in DR patients is accompanied by 71.11 times higher risk of developing PDR (OR = 71.11: 95% CI- 4.14–1215.2), while the homozygous TT genotype is associated with 12.71 times elevated risk for PDR development (OR = 12.71: 95% CI- 0.63–254.1). Conclusions We documented that the ALDH2 AA and AGER rs1051993 GT and TT genotypes were observed significantly more frequently in PDR Greek diabetic patients. Our findings also support the genetic theory, suggesting that heritability is significantly implicated in the development of DR, providing additional evidence in the understanding of DR pathogenesis.
Direct carotid artery puncture for acute ischemic stroke: Local experience and systematic review
Authors: Yin Chun , Ding Yasuo , Chang Hao 
Published: September 2022

Background To establish surgical access during endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke, femoral artery puncture is most commonly performed followed by a small number of radial artery access procedures. However, there are few reports of carotid artery puncture. Methods We report the case of an 87-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital with hemiplegia of the left limb and loss of consciousness for 40 min, accompanied by urinary incontinence. After complicated transfemoral and transradial attempts, the patient underwent emergency direct carotid artery puncture (DCAP) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. We reviewed the literature on this topic over a 7-year period (September 2014 to April 2022), including 202 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent emergency DCAP and endovascular surgery. Results The average age of these patients was 80.5 years. The left DCAP accounted for 52.5% (106/202) of the cases. Local anesthesia was utilized in 33.9% (64/189) of the cases. Angio-Seal was utilized for closure in 53.7% (79/147) of the patients. About half (105/199) of the patients recovered or improved their limb function after DCAP. Postoperative complications were mainly neck hematoma and one of these patients died due to a fatal neck hematoma. Conclusion We describe the detailed procedure of the rare case of an emergency DCAP performed at our institution. DCAP provides an alternative treatment method in cases where thrombus removal access cannot be established through traditional methods.
COVID-19 pandemic and minority health disparities in New York City: A spatial and temporal perspective
Authors: Li Rui , Huang Youqin 
Published: September 2022

New York City (NYC) was the epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic for a long time, and the government introduced a city-wide lockdown policy to mitigate the spread of virus. Minority communities, however, suffered disproportionally high percentage of infection and mortality rates, a disturbing phenomenon that deserves scrutiny. Adopting a spatial and temporal perspective, this study aims to investigate health disparities in this pandemic by focusing on mobility in the city. Considering both public transit and the lockdown policy essential factors that impact infection and mortality, this study introduced a measure indicating mobility-restricted transit as the spatial factor. Additional factors include ethnic minorities based on their nativity and three categories of social vulnerability: socioeconomic status, household composition, and housing type. This study selects eight phases, each of which consists of 2 weeks to derive infection and mortality rates to investigate the impacts of those factors. As infection and mortality data are published based on ZIP code, this study further estimates the infection and mortality rates at a finer level of census tract through spatial apportionment. Results reveal the significant impact of mobility-restricted transit on both infection and mortality and show certain clusters of neighborhoods being highly impacted. In addition, this study identifies neighborhoods where native-born and foreign-born of each ethnic minority (Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians) have high risk of infection and mortality. Through a spatial and temporal perspectives, this study identifies the complexity of patterns in minority health disparities in COVID-19 pandemic, which can inform policy makers for localized support to vulnerable neighborhoods to alleviate minority health disparities.