bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geoclimatic risk factors for childhood asthma hospitalization in southwest of Iran
Authors: Kanannejad Zahra , Shomali Mohammad , Esmaeilzadeh Hossein , Nabavizadeh Hesamedin , Nikaein Koorosh , Ghahramani Zahra , Ghatee Mohammad Amin , Alyasin Soheila 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is a chronic respiratory disease resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Among environmental factors, climatic and geographical variations have an important role in increasing asthma hospitalization. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of geoclimatic factors on the occurrence of childhood asthma hospitalization in Fars province, southwest Iran.MethodWe mapped the addresses of 211 hospitalized patients with childhood asthma (2016−2019) and investigated the effects of different temperature models, mean annual rainfall and humidity, number of frosty and rainy days, evaporation, slope, and land covers on the occurrence of childhood asthma hospitalization using a geographical information system. The Kriging and Spline methods have been used for generating interpolated models. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsIn the multivariate model, urban setting was recognized as the most important childhood asthma hospitalization predictor (p < 0.001, odds ration [OR] = 35.044, confidence interval [CI] = 9.096−135.018). The slope was considered the determinant of childhood asthma hospitalization when analyzed independently and its increase was associated with decreased childhood asthma hospitalization (p  = 0.01, OR = 0.914, CI = 0.849−0.984).ConclusionIn the current study, the urban setting was the most important risk factor associated with increased childhood asthma hospitalization.
A pilot study of respiratory motion characterization in the abdomen using a fast volumetric 4D‐MRI for MR‐guided radiotherapy
Authors: Wong Oi Lei , Law Max Wai Kong , Poon Darren Ming Chun , Yung Raymond Wai Hung , Yu Siu ki , Cheung Kin yin , Yuan Jing 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACTPurposeThis pilot study explored the use of fast volumetric four‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D‐MRI) for motion characterization in the abdomen, ultimately aiming for the translation to future MR‐guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) applications.MethodsNine healthy subjects and four patients underwent shallow free‐breathing abdominal scans on a 1.5 T MR simulator using a fast volumetric 4D‐MRI sequence with a temporal resolution up to three frames per second. The reference left/right liver and gross target volume (GTV) were segmented on the first frame, and the following consecutive dynamic images were nonlinearly registered to the reference to create the dynamic binary masks. Respiratory probabilistic volumes (rPPVj,i%), which correspond to the probability of being occupied by a volume of interest (VOI), were generated by summating the dynamic binary masks. Subject‐specific rPPV144,0% and rPPV144,5% of the GTV were quantitatively compared to the 4D computed tomography (CT)‐determined internal target volume (ITV) using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC), volumetric difference, and Hausdorff distance (HD).ResultsThe results showed slightly smaller rPPV144,0% and rPPV144,5% but larger DSC and small HD compared to the 4D‐CT‐determined ITV, which preliminarily demonstrates the feasibility and capability of characterizing abdominal respiratory motion using the volumetric 4D‐MRI‐derived rPPV approach.ConclusionThe potential usefulness of fast volumetric 4D‐MRI for personalized motion management in future MRgRT is proposed.
An open‐label randomized study of the relative absorption of gastro‐resistant risedronate taken fasted or with food versus immediate‐release risedronate
Authors: Kleinermans Diane , Joyson Andrew , Wray Heather 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPatients with osteoporosis often take oral bisphosphonates with food, rendering these medications ineffective. This study compared the relative absorption of four formulations of gastro‐resistant (GR; formulations 1–4) risedronate 35 mg versus immediate‐release (IR) risedronate 35 mg taken fasted. Secondarily, it compared the relative absorption of GR formulations administered fed and fasted, and determined the site of disintegration. Healthy participants (N = 160) were randomized to one of nine treatment groups: IR risedronate taken fasted (group A) or formulations 1–4 taken fasted or fed (groups B–I). Fasted groups fasted for 8 h pre‐dose and 4 h post‐dose. Fed groups fasted for 7.5 h, then took risedronate with breakfast. Urine was collected until 72 h post‐dose and analyzed using liquid chromatography. From each group, up to seven participants underwent scintigraphic monitoring to assess tablet disintegration. The percentage of total dose recovered in urine (A’e) was ~0.5% for group A. The A’e of formulations 1–4 taken fasted was 0.220% (90% confidence interval 0.124–0.389), 0.298% (0.122–0.730), 0.154% (0.090–0.264), and 0.108% (0.051–0.231), respectively. With food, the A’e of formulation 1 decreased least versus fasted (−27%) compared with the A’e of formulations 2, 3, and 4 (−73%, −80%, and −65%, respectively). Formulations 1–3 disintegrated in the small intestine, formulation 4 closer to the large intestine. All GR formulations were well tolerated and in line with the known safety profile for IR risedronate. Formulation 2 had the highest absorption when taken fasted, whereas the absorption of formulation 1 was least affected by food.
Rash Morphology as a Predictor of COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review of the Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19
Authors: Holmes Zack , Courtney Ashling , Lincoln Marc , Weller Richard 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Approximately 6% of those with COVID-19 will experience cutaneous manifestations. Examining data from this cohort could provide useful information to help with the management of COVID-19. To that end, we conducted a systematic review primarily to assess rash morphologies associated with COVID-19 and their relationship with disease severity. Secondary outcomes include demographics, distribution, dermatological symptoms, timeline, diagnostic method and medication history. The literature was searched for all patients with skin manifestations thought to be related to suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Patients with a history of dermatological, rheumatological or occupational skin disorders were excluded. Of the 2056 patients selected, the most common morphologies were chilblain-like lesions (54.2%), maculopapular (13.6%) and urticaria (8.3%). Chilblain-like lesions were more frequent in the younger population (mean age 21.5, standard deviation ± 10.8) and were strongly linked with milder disease, not requiring an admission (odds ratio [OR] 35.36 [95% confidence interval {CI} 23.58, 53.03]). Conversely, acro-ischaemia and livedo reticularis were associated with worse outcomes, including a need for ICU (OR 34.01 [95% CI 16.62, 69.57] and OR 5.57 [95% CI 3.02, 10.30], respectively) and mortality (OR 25.66 [95% CI 10.83, 60.79] and OR 10.71 [95% CI 4.76, 24.13], respectively). Acral lesions were the most common site (83.5%). 35.1% experienced pruritus, 16.4% had pain and 4.7% reported a burning sensation. 34.1% had asymptomatic lesions. Rash was the only symptom in 20.9% and occurred before or alongside systemic symptoms in 12.4%. 28.3% had a positive polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab and 5.4% had positive antibodies, while 21.9% tested negative and 45.1% were not tested. In conclusion, COVID-19 causes a variety of rashes, which may cause symptoms and add to morbidity. Rash type could be helpful in determining COVID-19 prognosis.
Ex situ breeding programs benefit from science‐based cooperative management
Authors: Putnam Andrea S. , Ferrie Gina M. , Ivy Jamie A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractScience‐based management confers a variety of benefits to wildlife populations that are cooperatively managed by zoos and aquariums, including those managed through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Briefly, when management strategies are successful, they result in reproductively robust populations that better retain genetic diversity and limit inbreeding than unmanaged populations. Although the benefits of demographic and genetic management have been well documented throughout both the scientific and popular literature, it has also been established that the majority of managed populations in zoos and aquariums are not meeting the minimum criteria believed to convey long‐term biological viability. For most of these populations, an inability to meet viability criteria is not an inherent failure of how cooperative management is implemented. Furthermore, in recent years, we have perceived that the need to meet specific viability goals sometimes has obscured the benefits that these populations receive from rigorous, science‐based management. To better clarify the conversation surrounding population viability in zoos and aquariums, we seek to decouple viability measures and how they predict population persistence from the benefits conferred to populations through science‐based management. A primary goal of population management is to facilitate the persistence of priority species for longer than would be expected if no such management were implemented. Although current viability measures and future projections of viability are important tools for assessing the likelihood of population persistence, they are not indicators of which populations may most benefit from science‐based management. Here, we review the history and purpose of applying science‐based management to zoo and aquarium populations, describe measures of population viability and caution against confusing those measures of viability with population management goals or long‐term population sustainability, and clearly articulate the benefits conferred to zoo and aquarium populations by science‐based management.
Bayesian Interpretation of Regularization
Authors: Pillonetto Gianluigi , Chen Tianshi , Chiuso Alessandro , De Nicolao Giuseppe , Ljung Lennart 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn the previous chapter, it has been shown that the regularization approach is particularly useful when information contained in the data is not sufficient to obtain a precise estimate of the unknown parameter vector and standard methods, such as least squares, yield poor solutions. The fact itself that an estimate is regarded as poor suggests the existence of some form of prior knowledge on the degree of acceptability of candidate solutions. It is this knowledge that guides the choice of the regularization penalty that is added as a corrective term to the usual sum of squared residuals. In the previous chapters, this design process has been described in a deterministic setting where only the measurement noises are random. In this chapter, we will see that an alternative formalization of prior information is obtained if a subjective/Bayesian estimation paradigm is adopted. The major difference is that the parameters, rather than being regarded as deterministic, are now treated as a random vector. This stochastic setting permits the definition of new powerful tools for both priors selection, e.g., through the maximum entropy principle, and for regularization parameters tuning, e.g., through the empirical Bayes approach and its connection with the concept of equivalent degrees of freedom.
A Pipeline for Automated Coordinate Assignment in Anatomically Accurate Biventricular Models
Authors: Pankewitz Lisa , Abdala Laryssa , Bussooa Aadarsh , Arevalo Hermenegild 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThere is an increased interest, in the field of cardiac modeling, for an improved coordinate system that can consistently describe local position within a heart geometry across various distinct geometries. A newly designed coordinate system, Cobiveco, meets these requirements. However, it assumes the use of biventricular models with a flat base, ignoring important cardiac structures. Therefore, we extended the scope of this state-of-the-art biventricular coordinate system to work with various heart geometries which include basal cardiac structures that were previously unaccounted for in Cobiveco. First, we implemented a semi-automated input surface assignment for increased accessibility and reproducibility of assigned coordinates. Then, we extended the coordinate system to handle more anatomically accurate biventricular models including the valve planes, which are of great interest when modeling diseases that manifest themselves in the basal area. Furthermore, we added the functionality of mapping vector data, such as myocardial fiber orientations, which are crucial for replicating the anisotropic electrical propagation in cardiac tissue.
3D Simulations of Fetal and Maternal Ventricular Excitation for Investigating the Abdominal ECG
Authors: Uv Julie Johanne , Myklebust Lena , Rudsari Hamid Khoshfekr , Welle Hannes , Arevalo Hermenegild 
Published: May 2022

AbstractCongenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of infant death. To diagnose CHD, recordings from abdominal fetal electrocardiograms (fECG) can be used as a non-invasive tool. However, it is challenging to extract the fetal signal from fECG recordings partly due to the lack of data combining fECG recordings with a ground truth for the fetal signal, which can be obtained by using a scalp electrode during delivery. In this study, we present a computational model of a pregnant female torso, in which we simulate fetal and maternal ventricular excitation during sinus rhythm to derive fECGs, so as to enable isolated measurement of the fetal and maternal signal contributions. To extract the fetal contribution from a combined signal, we apply an adaptive filtering algorithm to wavelet transformed signals. Further development of the model may enable improvements in the recording and processing capabilities for fECGs, the reliable estimation of fetal heart rates, and possibly interpretation of fetal signal morphologies that could improve the overall diagnostic significance of abdominal fECGs.
Ordinary Differential Equation-based Modeling of Cells in Human Cartilage
Authors: Yamamoto Kei , Fischer-Holzhausen Sophie , Fjeldstad Maria P , Maleckar Mary M 
Published: May 2022

AbstractChondrocytes produce the extracellular cartilage matrix required for smooth joint mobility. As cartilage is not vascularised, and chondrocytes are not innervated by the nervous system, chondrocytes are therefore generally considered non-excitable. However, chondrocytes do express a range of ion channels, ion pumps, and receptors involved in cell homeostasis and cartilage maintenance. Dysfunction in these ion channels and pumps has been linked to degenerative disorders such as arthritis. Because the electrophysiological properties of chondrocytes are difficult to measure experimentally, mathematical modelling can instead be used to investigate the regulation of ionic currents. Such models can provide insight into the finely tuned parameters underlying fluctuations in membrane potential and cell behaviour in healthy and pathological conditions. Here, we introduce an open-source, intuitive, and extendable mathematical model of chondrocyte electrophysiology, implementing key proteins involved in regulating the membrane potential. Because of the inherent biological variability of cells and their physiological ranges of ionic concentrations, we describe a population of models that provides a robust computational representation of the biological data. This permits parameter variability in a manner mimicking biological variation, and we present a selection of parameter sets that suitably represent experimental data. Our mathematical model can be used to efficiently investigate the ionic currents underlying chondrocyte behaviour.
Computational Prediction of Cardiac Electropharmacology - How Much Does the Model Matter?
Authors: Dawson John , Gams Anna , Rajen Ivan , Soltisz Andrew M , Edwards Andrew G 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAnimal data describing drug interactions in cardiac tissue are abundant, however, nuanced inter-species differences hamper the use of these data to predict drug responses in humans. There are many computational models of cardiomyocyte electrophysiology that facilitate this translation, yet it is unclear whether fundamental differences in their mathematical formalisms significantly impact their predictive power. A common solution to this problem is to perform inter-species translations within a collection of models with internally consistent formalisms, termed a “lineage”, but there has been little effort to translate outputs across lineages. Here, we translate model outputs between lineages from Simula and Washington University for models of ventricular cardiomyocyte electrophysiology of humans, canines, and guinea pigs. For each lineage-species combination, we generated a population of 1000 models by varying common parameters, namely ion conductances, according to a Guassian log-normal distribution with a mean at the parameter’s species-specific default value and standard deviation of 30%.We used partial least squares regression to translate the influences of one model to another using perturbations to calculated descriptors of resulting electrophysiological behavior derived from these parameter variations. Finally, we evaluated translation fidelity by performing a sensitivity analysis between input parameters and output descriptors, as similar sensitivities between models of a common species indicates similar biological mechanisms underlying model behavior. Successful translation between models, especially those from different lineages, will increase confidence in their predictive power.
Investigating the Multiscale Impact of Deoxyadenosine Triphosphate (dATP) on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Induced Heart Failure
Authors: Garcia Kristen , Hock Marcus , Jaltare Vikrant , Uysalel Can , McCabe Kimberly J , Teitgen Abigail , Valdez-Jasso Daniela 
Published: May 2022

Abstract2-deoxy-ATP (dATP) is a myosin activator known to improve cardiac contractile force [1]. In vitro studies have shown that dATP alters the calcium transient profile in addition to the kinetics of the cross-bridge cycle [2]. Furthermore, in vivo studies of transgenic mice with increased production of dATP show elevated left ventricular systolic function [3]. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease of the pulmonary vasculature in which pressure overload in the right ventricle results in reduced contractile function and right heart failure [4]. We hypothesize that dATP may have a therapeutic effect on PAH-induced heart failure, by improving contractile function and restoring cardiac output and ejection fraction. However, because the effects of dATP cannot easily be assessed experimentally, we propose using a computational multiscale modeling approach to predict cardiac function. By altering parameters in an existing multiscale biventricular cardiac model [5], we were able to reproduce end-systolic and end-diastolic pressures and volumes that reflect the PAH condition, as well as healthy hearts. dATP was simulated by adjusting parameters in the model at the molecular and cellular levels based on experimental data [1], allowing us to predict the effects of dATP on PAH at the organ level. Our results show that the molecular effects of dATP can increase cardiac output and restore ejection fraction in PAH conditions, though at the cost of elevated mean arterial pressure, and may provide a new approach to treating this disease. Our multiscale modeling approach paves the way for further studies mapping out cardiovascular mechanics. As novel therapeutics continue to be discovered, their application and mechanism can be further explored through these computational models.
Identifying Ionic Channel Block in a Virtual Cardiomyocyte Population Using Machine Learning Classifiers
Authors: Singstad Bjørn Jostein , Dalen Bendik Steinsvåg , Sihra Sandhya , Forsch Nickolas , Wall Samuel 
Published: May 2022

AbstractImmature cardiomyocytes, such as those obtained by stem cell differentiation, have been shown to be useful alternatives to mature cardiomyocytes, which are limited in availability and difficult to obtain, for evaluating the behaviour of drugs for treating arrhythmia. In silico models of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) can be used to simulate the behaviour of the transmembrane potential and cytosolic calcium under drug-treated conditions. Simulating the change in action potentials due to various ionic current blocks enables the approximation of drug behaviour. We used eight machine learning classification models to predict partial block of seven possible ion currents $$ (\textit{I}_{\textit{CaL}},\textit{I}_{\textit{Kr}},\textit{I}_{\textit{to}},\textit{I}_{\textit{K1}},\textit{I}_{\textit{Na}},\textit{I}_{\textit{NaL}} and \textit{I}_{\textit{Ks}}) $$ in a simulated dataset containing nearly 4600 action potentials represented as a paired measure of transmembrane potential and cytosolic calcium. Each action potential was generated under 1 $$ \textit{H}_{\textit{z}} $$ pacing. The Convolutional Neural Network outperformed the other models with an average accuracy of predicting partial ionic current block of 93% in noise-free data and 72% accuracy with 3% added random noise. Our results show that $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{CaL}} $$ and $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{Kr}} $$ current block were classified with high accuracy with and without noise. The classification of $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{to}} $$ , $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{K1}} $$ and $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{Na}} $$ current block showed high accuracy at 0% noise, but showed a significant decrease in accuracy when noise was added. Finally, the accuracy of $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{NaL}} $$ and $$ \textit{I}_{\textit{Ks}} $$ classification were relatively lower than the other current blocks at 0% noise and also showed a significant drop in accuracy when noise was added. In conclusion, these machine learning methods may present a pathway for estimating drug response in adult phenotype cardiac systems, but the data must be sufficiently filtered to remove noise before being used with classifier algorithms.
Finanzierungs- und Organisationsmodelle zur Sicherung gesellschaftlicher Dienste im Quartier
Authors: Dahlbeck Elke , Jochimsen Kerstin , Esch Dajana 
Published: May 2022

ZusammenfassungDas Wegbrechen gesellschaftlicher Dienste in Quartieren, Neben- und Ortszentren bedingt Versorgungslücken und den Funktionsverlust als Ort sozialer Integration. Ihr Erhalt und Aufbau erfordern neue Dienstleistungsarrangements verschiedener gesellschaftlicher Akteure und neue Finanzierungsmodelle. Neben klassischen Förderinstrumenten können mit alternativen Finanzierungsmodellen weniger rentierliche Vorhaben gesellschaftlicher Dienste umgesetzt werden. Kommunen können diese Vorhaben initiieren, begleiten, aber müssen diese dort, wo notwendig, auch ggf. dauerhaft übernehmen.
Potenziale der Stadtaneignungskultur für eine gemeinsame Quartiersentwicklung
Authors: Esch Dajana , Brückner Felix 
Published: May 2022

ZusammenfassungHeterogene Akteurslandschaften prägen ein dynamisches und diversifiziertes Geschehen in der Quartiersentwicklung: Neben kommunalen Akteur*innen und „klassischem“ Bürger*innenengagement ist zunehmend auch eine Form von zivilgesellschaftlichem Engagement zu erkennen, in Zuge dessen sich die aktiven Personen unmittelbar Stadt(räume) aneignen. Vor dem Hintergrund zahlreicher Herausforderungen gilt es, diese parallel verlaufenden Anstrengungen für und im Quartier – zum einen Maßnahmen, die von öffentlicher Seite auf den Weg gebracht werden, zum anderen Bürger*innen, die ihr Quartier eigenständig aktiv gestalten – zusammenzuführen, um Potenziale zu heben und Synergien zu nutzen.