bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amitriptyline for post-COVID headache: effectiveness, tolerability, and response predictors
Authors: Gonzalez-Martinez Alicia , Guerrero-Peral Ángel Luis , Arias-Rivas Susana , Silva Lorenzo , Sierra Álvaro , Gago-Veiga Ana Beatriz , García-Azorín David 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Headache is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in post-COVID patients. The clinical phenotype of COVID-19 headache combines phenotypic features of both tension-type headache (TTH) and migraine. We aimed to assess the effectiveness, side effects and predictors of amitriptyline (AMT) response in a real-world study setting.

Methods
We performed an observational multicentric study with a retrospective cohort. All consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection who received AMT for post-COVID headache from March 2020 to May 2021 were included. Response was evaluated by the reduction in the number of headache days per month (HDM) between weeks 8 and 12, compared with the baseline. We explored which variables were associated with a higher probability of response to AMT.

Results
Forty-eight patients were eligible for the study, 40/48 (83.3%) females, aged 46.85 (SD: 13.59) years. Patients had history of migraine 15/48 (31.3%) or TTH 5/48 (10.4%). The mean reduction of HDM was 9.6 (SD: 10.9; 95% CI 6.5, 12.7) days. Only 2/48 (5%) of patients discontinued AMT due to poor tolerability. History of TTH (10.9, 95% CI 1.3, 20.6) and nausea (− 8.5, 95% CI − 14.6, − 2.5) were associated with AMT response.

Conclusions
This study provides real-world evidence of the potential benefit of AMT in patients with post-COVID-19 headache, especially in patients with history of TTH and without concomitant nausea.
Minimal matchings of point processes
Authors: Holroyd Alexander E. , Janson Svante , Wästlund Johan 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSuppose that red and blue points form independent homogeneous Poisson processes of equal intensity in $${{\mathbb {R}}}^d$$

R

d

. For a positive (respectively, negative) parameter $$\gamma $$
γ
we consider red-blue matchings that locally minimize (respectively, maximize) the sum of $$\gamma $$
γ
th powers of the edge lengths, subject to locally minimizing the number of unmatched points. The parameter can be viewed as a measure of fairness. The limit $$\gamma \rightarrow -\infty $$

γ
→
-
∞

is equivalent to Gale-Shapley stable matching. We also consider limits as $$\gamma $$
γ
approaches 0, $$1-$$

1
-

, $$1+$$

1
+

and $$\infty $$
∞
. We focus on dimension $$d=1$$

d
=
1

. We prove that almost surely no such matching has unmatched points. (This question is open for higher d). For each $$\gamma <1$$

γ
<
1

we establish that there is almost surely a unique such matching, and that it can be expressed as a finitary factor of the points. Moreover, its typical edge length has finite rth moment if and only if $$r<1/2$$

r
<
1
/
2

. In contrast, for $$\gamma =1$$

γ
=
1

there are uncountably many matchings, while for $$\gamma >1$$

γ
>
1

there are countably many, but it is impossible to choose one in a translation-invariant way. We obtain existence results in higher dimensions (covering many but not all cases). We address analogous questions for one-colour matchings also.
An efficient hardware implementation of CNN-based object trackers for real-time applications
Authors: El-Shafie Al-Hussein A. , Zaki Mohamed , Habib S. E. D. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe object tracking field continues to evolve as an important application of computer vision. Real-time performance is typically required in most applications of object tracking. The recent introduction of Convolutional Neural network (CNN) techniques to the object tracking field enabled the attainment of significant performance gains. However, the heavy computational load required for CNNs conflicts with the real-time requirements required for object tracking. In this paper, we address these computational limitations on the algorithm-side and the circuit-side. On the algorithm side, we adopt interpolation schemes which can significantly reduce the processing time and the memory storage requirements. We also evaluate the approximation of the hardware-expensive computations to attain an efficient hardware design. Moreover, we modify the online-training scheme in order to achieve a constant processing time across all video frames. On the circuit side, we developed a hardware accelerator of the online training stage. We avoid transposed reading from the external memory to speed-up the data movement with no performance degradation. Our proposed hardware accelerator achieves 44 frames-per-second in training the fully connected layers.
ANS-based compression and encryption with 128-bit security
Authors: Camtepe Seyit , Duda Jarek , Mahboubi Arash , Morawiecki Paweł , Nepal Surya , Pawłowski Marcin , Pieprzyk Josef 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe bulk of Internet interactions is highly redundant and also security sensitive. To reduce communication bandwidth and provide a desired level of security, a data stream is first compressed to squeeze out redundant bits and then encrypted using authenticated encryption. This generic solution is very flexible and works well for any pair of (compression, encryption) algorithms. Its downside, however, is the fact that the two algorithms are designed independently. One would expect that designing a single algorithm that compresses and encrypts (called compcrypt) should produce benefits in terms of efficiency and security. The work investigates how to design a compcrypt algorithm using the ANS entropy coding. First, we examine basic properties of ANS and show that a plain ANS with a hidden encoding table can be broken by statistical attacks. Next, we study ANS behavior when its states are chosen at random. Our compcrypt algorithm is built using ANS with randomized state jumps and a sponge MonkeyDuplex encryption. Its security and efficiency are discussed. The design provides 128-bit security for both confidentiality and integrity/authentication. Our implementation experiments show that our compcrypt algorithm processes symbols with a rate up to 269 MB/s (with a slight loss of compression rate) 178 MB/s.
Bacteria related to tick-borne pathogen assemblages in Ornithodoros cf. hasei (Acari: Argasidae) and blood of the wild mammal hosts in the Orinoquia region, Colombia
Authors: Carvajal-Agudelo Juan D. , Ramírez-Chaves Héctor E. , Ossa-López Paula A. , Rivera-Páez Fredy A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractInterest in research on soft ticks has increased in recent decades, leading to valuable insight into their role as disease vectors. The use of metagenomics-based analyses have helped to elucidate ecological factors involved in pathogen, vector, and host dynamics. To understand the main bacterial assemblages present in Ornithodoros cf. hasei and its mammalian hosts, 84 ticks and 13 blood samples from bat hosts (Chiroptera) were selected, and the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was sequenced in five pools (each one related to each host-tick pairing). Bacterial taxonomic assignment analyses were performed by comparing operational taxonomic units (OTUs) shared between ticks and their host blood. This analysis showed the presence of Proteobacteria (38.8%), Enterobacteriaceae (25%), Firmicutes (12.3%), and Actinobacteria (10.9%) within blood samples, and Rickettsiaceae (39%), Firmicutes (25%), Actinobacteria (13.1%), and Proteobacteria (9%) within ticks. Species related to potentially pathogenic genera were detected in ticks, such as Borrelia sp., Bartonella tamiae, Ehrlichia sp. and Rickettsia-like endosymbiont, and the presence of these organisms was found in all analyzed bat species (Cynomops planirostris, Molossus pretiosus, Noctilio albiventris), and O. cf. hasei. About 41–48.6% of bacterial OTUs (genera and species) were shared between ticks and the blood of bat hosts. Targeted metagenomic screening techniques allowed the detection of tick-associated pathogens for O. cf. hasei and small mammals for the first time, enabling future research on many of these pathogens.
Development and psychometric properties of a brief generic cancer knowledge scale for patients (BCKS-10)
Authors: Klein J. , Kofahl C. , Ziegler E. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to introduce the development and psychometric properties of a brief generic cancer knowledge scale for patients (BCKS-10) that includes different elements of knowledge and skills (terminology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and numeracy). Although cancer knowledge is a central dimension of cancer literacy, most previous studies either investigated cancer knowledge among the general population, or among patients with a specific cancer diagnosis.

Methods
Qualitative interviews (n = 11) and a quantitative survey (n = 267) among peer support group leaders were conducted to further develop the BCKS-10 after literature screening. n = 500 patients with cancer were recruited across Germany between October 2020 and February 2021. Construct validity, item discrimination and reliability were tested.

Results
ANOVA revealed no significant differences of the knowledge score between various cancer sites, a significant positive association with education, and a negative association with migration background by trend supporting construct validity. In terms of item discrimination, the corrected item-total correlation of 8 out of 10 items were above the threshold of 0.3. Cronbach’s alpha of about 0.68 revealed an acceptable internal consistency as the tool is brief and consists of different dimensions.

Conclusion
Overall, the findings show that the BCKS-10 is a suitable tool to briefly assess cancer knowledge among patients independent of cancer site. However, further surveys have to be conducted to validate the psychometric properties and enhance the BCKS-10.
Influence of hydroxyethyl and carboxymethyl celluloses on the rheology, water retention and surface tension of water-suspended microfibrillated cellulose
Authors: Kokol Vanja 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWater-soluble polymers have been shown to improve the flow rigidity and water retention ability of highly-branched (flocculated) and polydisperse water-suspended MFC, thereby also modifying and controlling their rheological behaviour. The addition of hydroxyethyl (HEC) and carboxymethyl (CMC) celluloses of different content (5–10–20 w/w%), molecular weights (MW, 90.000–1.300.000 g/mol) and degrees of substitutions (DS, 0.7–1.2) to 1.5 wt% MFC suspension, have thus been studied by evaluating their microstructure (SEM imaging), strength and rheological properties, i.e. the yield stress and flow under rotational (viscosity vs. shear rate) and oscillatory (viscoelastic) regime, using cone-plate measuring geometry at a rather low truncation gap. The pure MFC suspension showed high-viscosity at lower shear stress and shear-thinning behaviour at higher rates, with two yielding zones, indicating a secondary deflocculation of smaller and more stiffly packed fibril structures and their orientation/aligning in the direction of flow. This behaviour was reduced substantially by the addition of high-MWHEC, or almost eliminated completely by medium-MWCMCs with higher DS, yielding suspensions with higher and stability-prolonged zero-shear viscosity, as well as a more linearly decreased and irreversible viscosity profile after the shear load removal at higher shear stresses. The carboxylic groups at CMC additionally decreased the interactions between the fibrils, and subsequently reduced the fibrils’ flocks, or formed larger aggregates with their integrations, while increasing the MFC suspension gel-strength, improving its flow and viscoelastic behaviour through higher water retention ability and surface tension properties, and also its recovery after deformation.
Universality in Anisotropic Linear Anelasticity
Authors: Yavari Arash , Goriely Alain 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn linear elasticity, universal displacements for a given symmetry class are those displacements that can be maintained by only applying boundary tractions (no body forces) and for arbitrary elastic constants in the symmetry class. In a previous work, we showed that the larger the symmetry group, the larger the space of universal displacements. Here, we generalize these ideas to the case of anelasticity. In linear anelasticity, the total strain is additively decomposed into elastic strain and anelastic strain, often referred to as an eigenstrain. We show that the universality constraints (equilibrium equations and arbitrariness of the elastic constants) completely specify the universal elastic strains for each of the eight anisotropy symmetry classes. The corresponding universal eigenstrains are the set of solutions to a system of second-order linear PDEs that ensure compatibility of the total strains. We show that for three symmetry classes, namely triclinic, monoclinic, and trigonal, only compatible (impotent) eigenstrains are universal. For the remaining five classes universal eigenstrains (up to the impotent ones) are the set of solutions to a system of linear second-order PDEs with certain arbitrary forcing terms that depend on the symmetry class.
Applications of a micro-structured brittle damage model to laboratory tests on rocks
Authors: De Bellis M. L. , Pandolfi A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA multiscale microstructured brittle damage model is used to describe the behavior of confined rock materials. Plane strain and triaxial tests conducted at the laboratory scale are simulated in terms of boundary value problems. Simulations reveal good predictive qualities of the model to describe the macroscopic features of specimens at failure. The microstructures, oriented in different directions, allow the localization of the macroscopic strain along straight lines, emerging at the macroscale in the form of shear bands. The microstructured material model, characterized by recursive equidistant parallel cohesive-frictional faults, is fully defined by six elastic and inelastic material constants. The model was originally developed in a finite kinematics framework to simulate the dynamic behavior of confined brittle materials (Pandolfi et al. in J Mech Phys Solids 54:1972–2003, 2006). In linearized form, it has been extended and used for the simulation of in-field excavations (De Bellis et al. in: Eng Geol 215:10–24, 2016). The performance of the model in predicting the behavior of small scale rock tests in the laboratory, the object of the present study, has never been investigated. Numerical simulations show that the model is able to capture several important features observed in rocks, in particular the reduction of the overall stiffness for increasing deterioration of the material, fragile to ductile transition, strain localization, shear band formation, and more general size-effect.
Trivalent chromium supplementation ameliorates adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis through up-regulation of FOXP3 and decrease in synovial Cathepsin G expression
Authors: Hassouna Sally S. , Sheta Eman , Zaki Inass , Harby Sahar A. , Allam Eman A. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known debilitating autoimmune disease. Immune-suppressants that are used for disease treatment have serious side effects, therefore, trivalent chromium (Cr (III)); which has shown evidence of its influences on some inflammatory pathways and cytokines; was used in this study for the first time to be assessed for its therapeutic effect in RA rat model and was compared to prednisolone in a trial to find a treatment with lesser side effects.

Methods
Adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, untreated RA, prednisolone treated RA (1.25 mg/kg/day) and Cr (III) treated RA groups (80 μg/kg/day), induction of RA was done by subcutaneous complete Freund adjuvant injection. Study duration was 4 weeks throughout which arthritis scoring and weight measurement were pursued. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical FOXP3 assessment were done for joint biopsies. Serum inflammatory markers (interleukin 17, interleukin 10, CRP) and synovial erosive arthritis marker (Cathepsin G) were measured. HDL and non-HDL cholesterol were estimated as well.

Results
Cr (III) treatment showed marked clinical and histopathological improvement, also astonishing anti-inflammatory effects (increase in FOXP3 expression and interleukin 10, with decrease in interleukin 17, CRP and synovial Cathepsin G) to the extent that Cr (III) effects on inflammation abolishment were comparable to that of prednisolone and even better at some aspects. Moreover, Cr (III) was protective from side effects, i.e., weight gain and dyslipidemia that were seen with prednisolone treatment.

Conclusions
Cr (III) is promising in treating RA and it lacks some side effects of accustomed immune-modulatory agents including prednisolone. Further experimental studies and clinical trials should be held to see the efficacy of Cr (III) in different doses and to assess its long term side effects when used for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases treatment.
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator after transvenous lead extraction: safety, efficacy and outcome
Authors: Giacomin Enrico , Falzone Pasquale Valerio , Dall’Aglio Pietro Bernardo , Pittorru Raimondo , De Lazzari Manuel , Vianello Riccardo , Bertaglia Emanuele , Tarzia Vincenzo , Iliceto Sabino , Gerosa Gino , Migliore Federico 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is a suitable alternative for transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) patients who have undergone transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Limited data are available on the outcome of S-ICD patients implanted after TLE. We assessed the safety, efficacy, and outcome of S-ICD implantation after TLE of TV-ICD.

Methods
The study population consisted of 36 consecutive patients with a median age of 52 (44–66) years who underwent S-ICD implantation after TLE of TV-ICD.

Results
Indications for TLE were infection (63.9%) and lead malfunction (36.1%). During a median follow-up of 31 months, 3 patients (8.3%) experienced appropriate therapy and 7 patients (19.4%) experienced complications including inappropriate therapy (n = 4; 11.1%), isolated pocket erosion (n = 2; 5.5%), and ineffective therapy (n = 1; 2.8%). No lead/hardware dysfunction was reported. Premature device explantation occurred in 4 patients (11%). Eight patients (22.2%) died during follow-up, six of them (75%) because of refractory heart failure (HF). There were no S-ICD-related deaths. Predictors of mortality included NYHA class ≥ 2 (HR 5.05; 95% CI 1.00–26.38; p = 0.04), hypertension (HR 22.72; 95% CI 1.05–26.31; p = 0.02), diabetes (HR 10.64; 95% CI 2.05–55.60; p = 0.001) and ischemic heart disease (HR 5.92; 95% CI 1.17–30.30; p = 0.01).

Conclusion
Our study provides evidences on the use of S-ICD as an alternative after TV-ICD explantation for both infection and lead failure. Mortality of S-ICD patients who underwent TV-ICD explantation does not appear to be correlated with the presence of a prior infection, S-ICD therapy (appropriate or inappropriate), or S-ICD complications but rather to worsening of HF or other comorbidities.
Alcoholate and Mixed Alcoholate/Iodide Supported Hexanuclear Niobium Cluster Compounds with a Mixed Face-Bridged/Edge-Bridged Cluster Pair Example
Authors: Schröder Florian , Köckerling Martin 
Published: July 2022

AbstractChemical reactions of ball-mill activated [Nb6I11] with alcohol solutions of Mg alcoholates result in the formation of the three new hexanuclear Nb cluster compounds [Nb6I8(HOCH3)6][Nb6(OCH3)18]·2CH3OH (1), (PPh4)2[Nb6(OC2H5)12I6]·C2H5OH (2) and (PPN)2[Nb6(OC2H5)12I6] (3). They contain cluster anions, which have the edges of the Nb6 octahedra, i.e. the inner coordination sites, μ2-bridged by the O atoms of methanolato or ethanolato ligands. Thereby, they represent further characterized members of the so far very small group of hexanuclear cluster alcoholates. The terminal metal sites are bonded to further methanolato (1) or iodido ligands (2 and 3). Sterically demanding organic cations (PPh4+, PPN+, 2 and 3) or a cationic Nb6 cluster complex with terminal methanol ligands [Nb6I8(HOCH3)6]2+ in 1 compensate the negative charges of the cluster anions. Compound 1 is the first example of a M6 cluster ion pair of both the text-book known edge-bridged [M6X12] and face-bridged [M6X8] cluster units. The structures of the three title compounds were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.
Graphical Abstract
Stateless neural meta-learning using second-order gradients
Authors: Huisman Mike , Plaat Aske , van Rijn Jan N. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMeta-learning can be used to learn a good prior that facilitates quick learning; two popular approaches are MAML and the meta-learner LSTM. These two methods represent important and different approaches in meta-learning. In this work, we study the two and formally show that the meta-learner LSTM subsumes MAML, although MAML, which is in this sense less general, outperforms the other. We suggest the reason for this surprising performance gap is related to second-order gradients. We construct a new algorithm (named TURTLE) to gain more insight into the importance of second-order gradients. TURTLE is simpler than the meta-learner LSTM yet more expressive than MAML and outperforms both techniques at few-shot sine wave regression and 50% of the tested image classification settings (without any additional hyperparameter tuning) and is competitive otherwise, at a computational cost that is comparable to second-order MAML. We find that second-order gradients also significantly increase the accuracy of the meta-learner LSTM. When MAML was introduced, one of its remarkable features was the use of second-order gradients. Subsequent work focused on cheaper first-order approximations. On the basis of our findings, we argue for more attention for second-order gradients.
Lithium surveillance by community pharmacists and physicians in ambulatory patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Brouwer Jurriaan M. J. L. , Risselada Arne J. , de Wit Marinka , Lubberts Janniek , Westerhuis Henrieke , Doornbos Bennard , Mulder Hans 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Shared care agreements between clinical pharmacists and physicians can improve suboptimal lithium monitoring in in- and outpatient settings. However, it is unknown whether incorporating community pharmacists in such agreements can also improve lithium monitoring in an outpatient setting.

Aim
To assess the necessity for a shared care agreement for lithium monitoring in our region by investigating: intervention rates by community pharmacists and whether those are sufficient; lithium monitoring by physicians in ambulatory patients; the extent of laboratory parameter exchange to community pharmacists.

Method
Patient files of lithium users were surveyed in a retrospective cohort study among 21 community pharmacies in the Northern Netherlands. Outcome was the intervention rate by community pharmacists and whether those were deemed sufficient by an expert panel. Additionally, we investigated both the percentages of patients monitored according to current guidelines and of laboratory parameters exchanged to community pharmacists.

Results
129 patients were included. Interventions were performed in 64.4% (n = 29), 20.8% (n = 5), and 25.0% (n = 1) of initiations, discontinuations, and dosage alterations of drugs interacting with lithium, respectively. The expert panel deemed 40.0% (n = 14) of these interventions as “insufficient”. Physicians monitored 40.3% (n = 52) of the patients according to current guidelines for lithium serum levels and kidney functions combined. Approximately half of the requested laboratory parameters were available to the community pharmacist.

Conclusion
Intervention rates by community pharmacists and lithium monitoring by physicians can be improved. Therefore, a shared care agreement between community pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, and physicians is needed to improve lithium monitoring in ambulatory patients.