bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Placenta accreta spectrum disorders—experience of management in a German tertiary perinatal centre
Authors: Bluth Anja , Schindelhauer Axel , Nitzsche Katharina , Wimberger Pauline , Birdir Cahit 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders can cause major intrapartum haemorrhage. The optimal management approach is not yet defined. We analysed available cases from a tertiary perinatal centre to compare the outcome of different individual management strategies.

Methods
A monocentric retrospective analysis was performed in patients with clinically confirmed diagnosis of PAS between 07/2012 and 12/2019. Electronic patient and ultrasound databases were examined for perinatal findings, peripartum morbidity including blood loss and management approaches such as (1) vaginal delivery and curettage, (2) caesarean section with placental removal versus left in situ and (3) planned, immediate or delayed hysterectomy.

Results
46 cases were identified with an incidence of 2.49 per 1000 births. Median diagnosis of placenta accreta (56%), increta (39%) or percreta (4%) was made in 35 weeks of gestation. Prenatal detection rate was 33% for all cases and 78% for placenta increta. 33% showed an association with placenta praevia, 41% with previous caesarean section and 52% with previous curettage. Caesarean section rate was 65% and hysterectomy rate 39%. In 9% of the cases, the placenta primarily remained in situ. 54% of patients required blood transfusion. Blood loss did not differ between cases with versus without prenatal diagnosis (p = 0.327). In known cases, an attempt to remove the placenta did not show impact on blood loss (p = 0.417).

Conclusion
PAS should be managed in an optimal setting and with a well-coordinated team. Experience with different approaches should be proven in prospective multicentre studies to prepare recommendations for expected and unexpected need for management.
Comparative ultrastructure of the radiolar crown in Sabellida (Annelida)
Authors: Tilic Ekin , Rouse Greg W. , Bartolomaeus Thomas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThree major clades of tube-dwelling annelids are grouped within Sabellida: Fabriciidae, Serpulidae and Sabellidae. The most characteristic feature of these animals is the often spectacularly colorful and flower-like radiolar crown. Holding up such delicate, feathery appendages in water currents requires some sort of internal stabilization. Each of the above-mentioned family-ranked groups has overcome this problem in a different way. Herein we describe the arrangement, composition and ultrastructure of radiolar tissues for fabriciids, sabellids and serpulids using transmission electron microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry. Our sampling of 12 species spans most of the phylogenetic lineages across Sabellida and, from within Sabellidae, includes representatives of Myxicolinae, Sabellinae and the enigmatic sabellin Caobangia. We further characterize the ultrastructure of the chordoid cells that make up the supporting cellular axis in Sabellidae and discuss the evolution of radiolar tissues within Sabellida in light of the recently published phylogeny of the group.
Robotic radical prostatectomy: analysis of midterm pathologic and oncologic outcomes: A historical series from a high-volume center
Authors: Asimakopoulos Anastasios D. , Annino Filippo , Mugnier Camille , Lopez Laurent , Hoepffner Jean Luc , Gaston Richard , Piechaud Thierry 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Identifying predictors of positive surgical margins (PSM) and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) may assist clinicians in formulating prognosis. Aim of the study was to report the midterm oncologic outcomes, to identify the risk factors for PSM and BCR and assess the impact of the PSM on BCR-free survival following robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).

Methods
From 2005 to 2010, 1679 consecutive patients underwent transperitoneal RALP. Data was retrospectively collected by an independent statistical company and analyzed in 2014. Median postoperative follow-up was 33.5 mo. BCR was defined as any detectable serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 0.2 ng/mL in two consecutive measurements. BCR-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to identify risk factors for PSM and BCR.

Results
In pN0/pNx cancers, pathologic stage was pT2 in 1186 patients (71.8%), pT3 in 455 patients (27.6%), and pT4 in 11 patients (0.6%). PSM rate was 17.4% and 36.9% of pT2 and pT3 cancers, respectively. Pathologic Gleason score was < 7, = 7 and > 7 in 42.1%, 53% and 4.9% of the patients, respectively. Overall BCR-free survival was 73.1% at 5 years; the 5-year BCR-free survival was 87.9% for pT2 with negative surgical margins. PSA, Gleason score (both bioptic and pathologic), pathologic stage (pT) and surgeon's volume were significant independent predictors of PSM. PSA, pathologic Gleason score, pT and PSM were significant independent predictors of BCR-free survival. Seminal vesicle-sparing, nerve-sparing approach and the extent of nerve-sparing (intra vs interfascial dissection) did not negatively affect margin status or BCR rates.

Conclusions
PSMs are a predictor of BCR. Being the only modifiable factor influencing the PSM rate, surgical experience is confirmed as a key factor for high-quality oncologic outcomes.
Improved second-order unconditionally stable schemes of linear multi-step and equivalent single-step integration methods
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Zhang Runsen , Masarati Pierangelo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSecond-order unconditionally stable schemes of linear multi-step methods, and their equivalent single-step methods, are developed in this paper. The parameters of the linear two-, three-, and four-step methods are determined for optimal accuracy, unconditional stability and tunable algorithmic dissipation. The linear three- and four-step schemes are presented for the first time. As an alternative, corresponding single-step methods, spectrally equivalent to the multi-step ones, are developed by introducing the required intermediate variables. Their formulations are equivalent to that of the corresponding multi-step methods; their use is more convenient, owing to being self-starting. Compared with existing second-order methods, the proposed ones, especially the linear four-step method and its alternative single-step one, show higher accuracy for a given degree of algorithmic dissipation. The accuracy advantage and other properties of the newly developed schemes are demonstrated by several illustrative examples.
Is MRI a viable alternative to CT/CBCT to identify the course of the inferior alveolar nerve in relation to the roots of the third molars?
Authors: Beck Florian , Austermann Stephanie , Bertl Kristina , Ulm Christian , Lettner Stefan , Toelly Andrea , Gahleitner André 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Objectives
To assess the reliability of judging the spatial relation between the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and mandibular third molar (MTM) based on MRI or CT/CBCT images.

Methods
Altogether, CT/CBCT and MRI images of 87 MTMs were examined twice by 3 examiners with different degrees of experience. The course of the IAN in relation to the MTM, the presence/absence of a direct contact between IAN and MTM, and the presence of accessory IAN were determined.

Results
The IAN was in > 40% of the cases judged as inferior, while an interradicular position was diagnosed in < 5% of the cases. The overall agreement was good (κ = 0.72) and any disagreement between the imaging modalities was primarily among the adjacent regions, i.e., buccal/lingual/interradicular vs. inferior. CT/CBCT judgements presented a very good agreement for the inter- and intrarater comparison (κ > 0.80), while MRI judgements showed a slightly lower, but good agreement (κ = 0.74). A direct contact between IAN and MTM was diagnosed in about 65%, but in almost 20% a disagreement between the judgements based on MRI and CT/CBCT was present resulting in a moderate overall agreement (κ = 0.60). The agreement between the judgements based on MRI and CT/CBCT appeared independent of the examiner’s experience and accessory IAN were described in 10 cases in MRI compared to 3 cases in CT/CBCT images.

Conclusions
A good inter- and intrarater agreement has been observed for the assessment of the spatial relation between the IAN and MTM based on MRI images. Further, MRI images might provide advantages in the detection of accessory IAN compared to CT/CBCT.

Clinical relevance
MRI appears as viable alternative to CT/CBCT for preoperative assessment of the IAN in relation to the MTM.
Shade-Tree Rehabilitation in Vanilla Agroforests is Yield Neutral and May Translate into Landscape-Scale Canopy Cover Gains
Authors: Martin Dominic Andreas , Wurz Annemarie , Osen Kristina , Grass Ingo , Hölscher Dirk , Rabemanantsoa Thorien , Tscharntke Teja , Kreft Holger 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAgroforestry can contribute to an increase in tree cover in historically forested tropical landscapes with associated gains in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, but only if established on open land instead of underneath a forest canopy. However, declines in yields with increasing shade are common across agroforestry crops, driving shade-tree removal in forest-derived agroforests and hindering tree regrowth in open-land-derived agroforests. To understand trajectories of change in tree cover in forest- and open-land-derived agroforests, and the impacts of tree cover on vanilla yields, we studied 209 vanilla agroforests along an 88-year chronosequence in Madagascar. Additionally, we used remotely sensed canopy cover data to investigate tree cover change in the agricultural landscape. We found yields to vary widely but independently of canopy cover and land-use history (forest- vs. open-land-derived), averaging at 154.6 kg ha−1 year−1(SD = 186.9). Furthermore, we found that forest- and open-land-derived vanilla agroforests gained canopy cover over time, but that only open-land-derived agroforests gained canopy height. Canopy cover increased also at the landscape scale: areas in the agricultural landscape with medium initial canopy cover gained 6.4% canopy cover over 10 years, but canopy cover decreased in areas with high initial canopy cover. These opposing trends suggest tree cover rehabilitation across areas covered by vanilla agroforests, whereas remnant forest fragments in the agricultural landscape were transformed or degraded. Our results indicate that yield-neutral tree rehabilitation through open-land-derived agroforestry could, if coupled with effective forest protection, provide benefits for both ecosystem functions and agricultural production in a smallholder-dominated agricultural landscape.
Terrestrial and semi-aquatic scavengers on invasive Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) carcasses in a riparian ecosystem in northern Norway
Authors: Dunlop Kathy M. , Wipfli Mark , Muladal Rune , Wierzbinski Grzegorz 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) invasions, thought to originate from populations introduced and established in Russia, occurred along the Norwegian coast in 2017 and 2019. Despite several thousand pink salmon entering and establishing in northern Norwegian rivers, current understanding of the ecological effect of the species in northern Europe is limited. Scavengers feeding on pacific salmon carcasses are important vectors for the transport of marine derived energy and nutrients to terrestrial ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, North America, where the salmon naturally occur. However the role of terrestrial and aquatic scavengers in the consumption and removal of pink salmon beyond the salmon’s native range is unknown. This study has identified terrestrial and sub-aquatic vertebrate scavengers on pink salmon carcasses in a sub-arctic river in northern Norway. Avian scavengers filmed by a camera placed near sites baited with pink salmon carcasses included the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), hooded crow (Corvus cornix), common raven (Corvus corax), the European herring gull (Larus argentatus), redwing (Turdus iliacus) and goosander (Mergus merganser). However, the largest carcass weight was removed by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Carcasses entering Vesterelv River in 2019 were estimated to provide energy and nutrients to the river ecosystem an order of magnitude lower than in the Pacific Northwest. This study provides some of the first information in northern Europe on the mechanisms and quantification of energy and nutrient transfer from the ocean to riparian environments via introduced Pacific pink salmon. Results help to begin to determine the ecological effect of pink salmon and the development of appropriate management strategies.
Metal cations promote α-dicarbonyl formation in glucose-containing peritoneal dialysis fluids
Authors: Gensberger-Reigl Sabrina , Auditore Andrea , Huppert Jochen , Pischetsrieder Monika 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHeat sterilization of peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs) leads to the formation of glucose degradation products (GDPs), which impair long-term peritoneal dialysis. The current study investigated the effects of metal ions, which occur as trace impurities in the fluids, on the formation of six major α-dicarbonyl GDPs, namely glucosone, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, 3-deoxyglucosone, 3-deoxygalactosone, and 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene. The chelation of metal ions by 2-[bis[2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl]amino]acetic acid (DTPA) during sterilization significantly decreased the total GDP content (585 μM vs. 672 μM), mainly due to the decrease of the glucose-oxidation products glucosone (14 μM vs. 61 μM) and glyoxal (3 μM vs. 11 μM), but also of methylglyoxal (14 μM vs. 31 μM). The glucose-dehydration products 3-deoxyglucosone, 3-deoxygalactosone, and 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene were not significantly affected by chelation of metal ions. Additionally, PDFs were spiked with eleven different metal ions, which were detected as traces in commercial PDFs, to investigate their influence on GDP formation during heat sterilization. Iron(II), manganese(II), and chromium(III) had the highest impact increasing the formation of glucosone (1.2–1.5 fold increase) and glyoxal (1.3–1.5 fold increase). Nickel(II) and vanadium(III) further promoted the formation of glyoxal (1.3 fold increase). The increase of the pH value of the PDFs from pH 5.5 to a physiological pH of 7.5 resulted in a decreased formation of total GDPs (672 μM vs 637 μM). These results indicate that the adjustment of metal ions and the pH value may be a strategy to further decrease the content of GDPs in PDFs.
A comprehensive approach to intergovernmental grants’ tactical allocation. Theory and estimation guidelines
Authors: Fiorillo Fabio , Merkaj Elvina 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPolitical economy literature highlights the tactical use of intergovernmental grants for electoral purposes; however, it provides different mechanisms and explanations behind these patterns. In this paper, we propose a model that includes 3 branches of the literature in order to provide a comprehensive explanation behind the tactical allocation by central governments. We identify 3 key parameters that shape the tactical allocation of grants: the electoral rule, the relative importance of the objective of the central government with respect to the local government, and the extent to which citizens attribute local expenditure to the direct action of the local government vs the central government (local political appropriability). In addition, our model also provides a guideline for designing and interpreting empirical results on the tactical allocation of grants distribution.
The Accuracy of Retrospective Recall of Childhood ADHD: Results from a Longitudinal Study
Authors: von Wirth Elena , Mandler Janet , Breuer Dieter , Döpfner Manfred 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset condition that may continue into adulthood. When assessing adult patients, clinicians usually rely on retrospective reports of childhood symptoms to evaluate the age-of-onset criterion. Since inaccurate symptom recall may impede the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, knowledge about the factors influencing retrospective reports is needed. This longitudinal study investigated (a) the accuracy of retrospective symptom ratings by adult participants with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD (self-ratings) and parents or significant others (proxy ratings), and (b) the influence of current ADHD symptom severity and ADHD-associated impairments on retrospective symptom ratings. Participants (N = 55) were members of the Cologne Adaptive Multimodal Treatment (CAMT) study who had been referred and treated for ADHD in childhood and were reassessed in adulthood (average age 27 years). Participants’ retrospective self-ratings were substantially lower than, and did not correlate with, parents’ ADHD symptom ratings provided at study entry, while retrospective symptom ratings provided by proxy respondents correlated moderately with parents’ childhood ratings. In addition, participants were more likely to underreport childhood symptoms (79%) and more frequently denied the presence of three or more childhood symptoms (17%) compared to proxy respondents (65% underreporting, 10% false-negative recall). Proxy respondents’ symptom recall was best predicted by childhood ADHD, while participants’ symptom recall was best predicted by current ADHD symptom severity. ADHD-associated impairments were not correlated with symptom recall after controlling for childhood ADHD. Together, these findings suggest a recall bias in adult patients and question the validity of retrospective reports, even in clinical samples.
Better survival after transcatheter aortic valve replacement by process improvements
Authors:   NHR THI Registration Committee, van Steenbergen G. J. , van Veghel D. , Schulz D. N. , Soliman-Hamad M. , Tonino P. A. , Houterman S. , Dekker L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the effects on procedural, 30-day, and 1‑year all-cause mortality by a newly introduced quality improvement strategy in patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).MethodsIn October 2015, a coherent set of quality improving interventions with respect to patient geriatric screening, general diagnostic examination and safety of the procedure was implemented at a single centre in the Netherlands. Patients undergoing TAVR in 2013–2018 were included for retrospective analysis. Mortality was assessed in the pre-quality improvement strategy cohort (January 2013 to October 2015; cohort A) and in the post-quality improvement strategy cohort (November 2015 to December 2018; cohort B). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the influence of patient and procedural characteristics on the results of the quality improvement strategy in terms of procedural, 30-day, and 1‑year all-cause mortality.ResultsIn total, 806 patients were analysed with 274 patients in cohort A and 532 patients in cohort B. After introduction of the quality improvement strategy, procedural (4.4% to 1.3%,p < 0.01), 30-day (8.4% to 2.7%,p < 0.01) and 1‑year (16.4% to 8.5%,p < 0.01) all-cause mortality significantly decreased. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the quality improvement strategy also significantly reduced 30-day (odds ratio [OR] 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.42) and 1‑year (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24–0.61) all-cause mortality if corrected for patient characteristics.ConclusionStructural meetings on evaluation of outcomes highlight potential areas for improvement and subsequent outcome-based quality improvement initiatives can result in lower procedural, 30-day, and 1‑year all-cause mortality.
Study on mechanism of spontaneous imbibition and pressurized imbibition in shale oil reservoirs
Authors: Yao Lanlan , Yang Zhengming , Li Haibo , Cai Bo , He Chunming , Xia Debin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractImbibition is one of the important methods of oil recovery in shale oil reservoirs. At present, more in-depth studies have been carried out on the fracture system and matrix system, and there are few studies on the effect of energy enhancement on imbibition in shale oil reservoirs. Therefore, based on the study of pressurized imbibition and spontaneous imbibition of shale oil reservoirs in Qianjiang Sag, Jianghan Basin, nuclear magnetic resonance technology was used to quantitatively characterize the production degree of shale and pore recovery contribution under different imbibition modes, and analyze the imbibition mechanism of shale oil reservoirs under the condition of energy enhancement. The experimental results showed that with the increase in shale permeability, the recovery ratio of pressurized imbibition also increased. The rate of pressurized imbibition was higher than spontaneous imbibition, and pressurized imbibition can increase the recovery ratio of fractured shale. Spontaneous imbibition can improve the ultimate recovery ratio of matrix shale. Pressurized imbibition can increase the recovery contribution of macroporous and mesoporous.
Replicating Silicon Valley? Law and Human Capital in the Making of China's Tech Startups
Authors: LIN Li-Wen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe rise of China's tech companies in the global economy raises an urgent need to understand how China incubates its tech startups. China's tech startup ecosystem presents two puzzling legal arrangements for human capital in light of Silicon Valley's experience, the co-existence of enforceable non-compete agreements and the high-velocity labour market, and the common use of stock options with a buyback norm. This article delves into the peculiarities of China's legal and political institutions to resolve these legal puzzles. This article also speaks to a global policy debate about the replicability of Silicon Valley and the necessity of such replication. The Chinese experience offers opposite examples showing the replication complexity: replication yet with deformed practices, and non-replication yet with similar outcomes. The findings suggest that there is unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all model for creating an innovation economy.
Quantifying the effects of passenger-level heterogeneity on transit journey times
Authors: Singh Ramandeep , Graham Daniel J. , Anderson Richard J. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this paper, we apply flexible data-driven analysis methods on large-scale mass transit data to identify areas for improvement in the engineering and operation of urban rail systems. Specifically, we use data from automated fare collection (AFC) and automated vehicle location (AVL) systems to obtain a more precise characterisation of the drivers of journey time variance on the London Underground, and thus an improved understanding of delay. Total journey times are decomposed via a probabilistic assignment algorithm, and semiparametric regression is undertaken to disentangle the effects of passenger-specific travel characteristics from network-related factors. For total journey times, we find that network characteristics, primarily train speeds and headways, represent the majority of journey time variance. However, within the typically twice as onerous access and egress time components, passenger-level heterogeneity is more influential. On average, we find that intra-passenger heterogeneity represents 6% and 19% of variance in access and egress times, respectively, and that inter-passenger effects have a similar or greater degree of influence than static network characteristics. The analysis shows that while network-specific characteristics are the primary drivers of journey time variance in absolute terms, a nontrivial proportion of passenger-perceived variance would be influenced by passenger-specific characteristics. The findings have potential applications related to improving the understanding of passenger movements within stations, for example, the analysis can be used to assess the relative way-finding complexity of stations, which can in turn guide transit operators in the targeting of potential interventions.