bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment and outcomes of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma: a three-decade monocentric experience with 151 patients
Authors: Casadei Beatrice , Argnani Lisa , Morigi Alice , Lolli Ginevra , Broccoli Alessandro , Pellegrini Cinzia , Nanni Laura , Stefoni Vittorio , Coppola Paolo Elia , Carella Matteo , Cavo Michele , Zinzani Pier Luigi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPrimary mediastinal B cell lymphoma is a rare entity and often should be promptly treated as a hematological emergency: The initial treatment decision is crucial for the management of this disease. An observational retrospective study was conducted with the aim to improve information on treatment and outcomes of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma in real practice. After 12 cycles of MACOP-B regimen (methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, bleomycin, and prednisone) with or without rituximab, 120 patients out of 151 (79.5%) achieved a complete response and 12 (7.9%) a partial response leading to a global response of 87.4%. The 21-year overall survival is 82.6%; progression-free and disease-free survivals are 69.3% and 86.4%, respectively. Regarding the role of radiotherapy (RT), patients with a negative PET scan after MACOP-B did not undergo RT: One out of these 48 (2.1%) showed a relapse at 11 months. All relapsed/refractory patients who achieved a response with checkpoint inhibitors are still in continuous complete response with a median follow-up of 14 months. Data that we have gathered over a 30-year experience in the treatment of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma patients clearly indicate that a third-generation chemotherapy regimen such as MACOP-B is feasible and easily deliverable on an outpatient basis. Regarding the unmet medical need of relapsed/refractory patients, new encouraging results occurred with the advent of the checkpoint inhibitors.
Hemolymph of molluscan origin: from biochemistry to modern biomaterials science
Authors: Machałowski Tomasz , Jesionowski Teofil 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMolluscan hemolymph is a unique kind of body fluid, which in many respects is analogous to human blood, although there are several crucial differences. Here, for the first time, we critically analyze the prospects for applications of this fluid in modern biomaterials science. Particular attention is paid to the biochemistry and chemistry of molluscan hemolymph, as well as to hemocytes and hemocyanins as key functional players within this unique biological fluid. We focus on hemocytes as multifunctional hemolytic cells involved in immune response, and especially in the biomineralization process. The next part of the review contains a discussion of molluscan shell formation and regeneration from different points of view. Finally, we consider the challenges, solutions, and future directions in the application of molluscan hemolymph for bioinspired material chemistry and biomedicine.
Recursive Scheme for Angles of Random Simplices, and Applications to Random Polytopes
Authors: Kabluchko Zakhar 
Published: December 2020

AbstractConsider a random simplex $$[X_1,\ldots ,X_n]$$

[

X
1

,
…
,

X
n

]

defined as the convex hull of independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) random points $$X_1,\ldots ,X_n$$

X
1

,
…
,

X
n

in $$\mathbb {R}^{n-1}$$

R

n
-
1

with the following beta density: "Equation missing" Let $$J_{n,k}(\beta )$$

J

n
,
k

(
β
)

be the expected internal angle of the simplex $$[X_1,\ldots ,X_n]$$

[

X
1

,
…
,

X
n

]

at its face $$[X_1,\ldots ,X_k]$$

[

X
1

,
…
,

X
k

]

. Define $${\tilde{J}}_{n,k}(\beta )$$

J
~

n
,
k

(
β
)

analogously for i.i.d. random points distributed according to the beta$$'$$

′

density $${\tilde{f}}_{n-1,\beta } (x) \propto (1+\Vert x\Vert ^2)^{-\beta }, x\in \mathbb {R}^{n-1}, \beta > ({n-1})/{2}.$$

f
~

n
-
1
,
β

(
x
)

∝

(
1
+
‖
x
‖

2

)

-
β

,
x
∈

R

n
-
1

,
β
>

(

n
-
1

)

/
2
.

We derive formulae for $$J_{n,k}(\beta )$$

J

n
,
k

(
β
)

and $${\tilde{J}}_{n,k}(\beta )$$

J
~

n
,
k

(
β
)

which make it possible to compute these quantities symbolically, in finitely many steps, for any integer or half-integer value of $$\beta $$
β
. For $$J_{n,1}(\pm 1/2)$$

J

n
,
1

(
±
1
/
2
)

we even provide explicit formulae in terms of products of Gamma functions. We give applications of these results to two seemingly unrelated problems of stochastic geometry: (i) We compute explicitly the expected f-vectors of the typical Poisson–Voronoi cells in dimensions up to 10. (ii) Consider the random polytope $$K_{n,d} := [U_1,\ldots ,U_n]$$

K

n
,
d

:
=

[

U
1

,
…
,

U
n

]

where $$U_1,\ldots ,U_n$$

U
1

,
…
,

U
n

are i.i.d. random points sampled uniformly inside some d-dimensional convex body K with smooth boundary and unit volume. Reitzner (Adv. Math. 191(1), 178–208 (2005)) proved the existence of the limit of the normalised expected f-vector of $$K_{n,d}$$

K

n
,
d

: $$ \lim _{n\rightarrow \infty } n^{-{({d-1})/({d+1})}}{\mathbb {E}}{\mathbf {f}}(K_{n,d}) = {\mathbf {c}}_d \cdot \Omega (K),$$

lim

n
→
∞

n

-

(

d
-
1

)
/
(

d
+
1

)

E
f

(

K

n
,
d

)

=

c
d

·
Ω

(
K
)

,

where $$\Omega (K)$$

Ω
(
K
)

is the affine surface area of K, and $${\mathbf {c}}_d$$

c
d

is an unknown vector not depending on K. We compute $${\mathbf {c}}_d$$

c
d

explicitly in dimensions up to $$d=10$$

d
=
10

and also solve the analogous problem for random polytopes with vertices distributed uniformly on the sphere.
Density Estimates of 1-Avoiding Sets via Higher Order Correlations
Authors: Ambrus Gergely , Matolcsi Máté 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe improve the best known upper bound on the density of a planar measurable set A containing no two points at unit distance to 0.25442. We use a combination of Fourier analytic and linear programming methods to obtain the result. The estimate is achieved by means of obtaining new linear constraints on the autocorrelation function of A utilizing triple-order correlations in A, a concept that has not been previously studied.
Bias and Precision of Parameter Estimates from Models Using Polygenic Scores to Estimate Environmental and Genetic Parental Influences
Authors: Kim Yongkang , Balbona Jared V. , Keller Matthew C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn a companion paper Balbona et al. (Behav Genet, in press), we introduced a series of causal models that use polygenic scores from transmitted and nontransmitted alleles, the offspring trait, and parental traits to estimate the variation due to the environmental influences the parental trait has on the offspring trait (vertical transmission) as well as additive genetic effects. These models also estimate and account for the gene-gene and gene-environment covariation that arises from assortative mating and vertical transmission respectively. In the current study, we simulated polygenic scores and phenotypes of parents and offspring under genetic and vertical transmission scenarios, assuming two types of assortative mating. We instantiated the models from our companion paper in the OpenMx software, and compared the true values of parameters to maximum likelihood estimates from models fitted on the simulated data to quantify the bias and precision of estimates. We show that parameter estimates from these models are unbiased when assumptions are met, but as expected, they are biased to the degree that assumptions are unmet. Standard errors of the estimated variances due to vertical transmission and to genetic effects decrease with increasing sample sizes and with increasing $$r^2$$

r
2

values of the polygenic score. Even when the polygenic score explains a modest amount of trait variation ($$r^2=.05$$

r
2

=
.
05

), standard errors of these standardized estimates are reasonable ($$< .05$$

<
.
05

) for $$n=16K$$

n
=
16
K

trios, and can even be reasonable for smaller sample sizes (e.g., down to 4K) when the polygenic score is more predictive. These causal models offer a novel approach for understanding how parents influence their offspring, but their use requires polygenic scores on relevant traits that are modestly predictive (e.g., $$r^2>.025)$$

r
2

>
.
025
)

as well as datasets with genomic and phenotypic information on parents and offspring. The utility of polygenic scores for elucidating parental influences should thus serve as additional motivation for large genomic biobanks to perform GWAS’s on traits that may be relevant to parenting and to oversample close relatives, particularly parents and offspring.
Glutathione and the intracellular labile heme pool
Authors: O’Keeffe Rosemary , Latunde-Dada Gladys Oluyemisi , Chen Yu-Lin , Kong Xiaole L. , Cilibrizzi Agostino , Hider Robert C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOne candidate for the cytosolic labile iron pool is iron(II)glutathione. There is also a widely held opinion that an equivalent cytosolic labile heme pool exists and that this pool is important for the intracellular transfer of heme. Here we describe a study designed to characterise conjugates that form between heme and glutathione. In contrast to hydrated iron(II), heme reacts with glutathione, under aerobic conditions, to form the stable hematin–glutathione complex, which contains iron(III). Thus, glutathione is clearly not the cytosolic ligand for heme, indeed we demonstrate that the rate of heme degradation is enhanced in the presence of glutathione. We suggest that the concentration of heme in the cytosol is extremely low and that intracellular heme transfer occurs via intracellular membrane structures. Should any heme inadvertently escape into the cytosol, it would be rapidly conjugated to glutathione thereby protecting the cell from the toxic effects of heme.
Not all group members are created equal: heterogeneous abilities in inter-group contests
Authors: Fallucchi Francesco , Fatas Enrique , Kölle Felix , Weisel Ori 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCompetition between groups is ubiquitous in social and economic life, and typically occurs between groups that are not created equal. Here we experimentally investigate the implications of this general observation on the unfolding of symmetric and asymmetric competition between groups that are either homogeneous or heterogeneous in the ability of their members to contribute to the success of the group. Our main finding is that relative to the benchmark case in which two homogeneous compete against each other, heterogeneity within groups per se has no discernable effect on competition, while introducing heterogeneity between groups leads to a significant intensification of conflict as well as increased volatility, thereby reducing earnings of contest participants and increasing inequality. We further find that heterogeneous groups share the labor much more equally than predicted by theory, and that in asymmetric contests group members change the way in which they condition their efforts on those of their peers. Implications for contest designers are discussed.
Thymosin β4 dynamics during chicken enteroid development
Authors: Acharya Mohan , Liyanage Rohana , Gupta Anamika , Arsi Komala , Donoghue Ann M. , Lay Jackson O. , Rath Narayan C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe sheared avian intestinal villus-crypts exhibit high tendency to self-repair and develop enteroids in culture. Presuming that this transition process involves differential biomolecular changes, we employed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF–MS) to find whether there were differences in the spectral profiles of sheared villi versus the enteroids, assessed in the mass range of 2–18 kDa. The results showed substantial differences in the intensities of the spectral peaks, one particularly corresponding to the mass of 4963 Da, which was significantly low in the sheared villus-crypts compared with the enteroids. Based on our previous results with other avian tissues and further molecular characterization by LC-ESI-IT-TOF–MS, and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), the peak was identified to be thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a ubiquitously occurring regulatory peptide implicated in wound healing process. The identity of the peptide was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry which showed it to be present in a very low levels in the sheared villi but replete in the enteroids. Since Tβ4 sequesters G-actin preventing its polymerization to F-actin, we compared the changes in F-actin by its immunohistochemical localization that showed no significant differences between the sheared villi and enteroids. We propose that depletion of Tβ4 likely precedes villous reparation process. The possible mechanism for the differences in Tβ4 profile in relation to the healing of the villus-crypts to developing enteroids is discussed.
Treatment of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Good-Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Any Role for Invasive Neuromonitoring?
Authors: Veldeman Michael , Albanna Walid , Weiss Miriam , Conzen Catharina , Schmidt Tobias Philip , Clusmann Hans , Schulze-Steinen Henna , Nikoubashman Omid , Temel Yasin , Schubert Gerrit Alexander 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundGood-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt and Hess 1–2) is generally associated with a favorable prognosis. Nonetheless, patients may still experience secondary deterioration due to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), contributing to poor outcome. In those patients, neurological assessment is challenging and invasive neuromonitoring (INM) may help guide DCI treatment.MethodsAn observational analysis of 135 good-grade SAH patients referred to a single tertiary care center between 2010 and 2018 was performed. In total, 54 good-grade SAH patients with secondary deterioration evading further neurological assessment, were prospectively enrolled for this analysis. The cohort was separated into two groups: before and after introduction of INM in 2014 (pre-INMSecD:n = 28; post-INMSecD:n = 26). INM included either parenchymal oxygen saturation measurement (ptiO2), cerebral microdialysis or both. Episodes of DCI (ptiO2 < 10 mmHg or lactate/pyruvate > 40) were treated via induced hypertension or in refractory cases by endovascular means. The primary outcome was defined as the extended Glasgow outcome scale after 12 months. In addition, we recorded the amount of imaging studies performed and the occurrence of silent and overall DCI-related infarction.ResultsSecondary deterioration, impeding neurological assessment, occurred in 54 (40.0%) of all good-grade SAH patients. In those patients, a comparable rate of favorable outcome at 12 months was observed before and after the introduction of INM (pre-INMSecD14 (50.0%) vs. post-INMSecD16, (61.6%);p = 0.253). A significant increase in good recovery (pre-INMSecD6 (50.0%) vs. post-INMSecD14, (61.6%);p = 0.014) was observed alongside a reduction in the incidence of silent infarctions (pre-INMSecD8 (28.6%) vs. post-INMSecD2 (7.7%);p = 0.048) and of overall DCI-related infarction (pre-INMSecD12 (42.8%) vs. post-INMSecD4 (23.1%);p = 0.027). The number of CT investigations performed during the DCI time frame decreased from 9.8 ± 5.2 scans in the pre-INMSecDgroup to 6.1 ± 4.0 (p = 0.003) in the post-INMSecDgroup.ConclusionsA considerable number of patients with good-grade SAH experiences secondary deterioration rendering them neurologically not assessable. In our cohort, the introduction of INM to guide DCI treatment in patients with secondary deterioration increased the rate of good recovery after 12 months. Additionally, a significant reduction of CT scans and infarction load was recorded, which may have an underestimated impact on quality of life and more subtle neuropsychological deficits common after SAH.
Five-year outcome of peripherally inserted central catheters in adults: a separated infectious and thrombotic complications analysis
Authors: González Samuel , Jiménez Pedro , Saavedra Pedro , Macías Desiré , Loza Ana , León Cristóbal , López Magdalena , Pallejá Elena , Hernández-Socorro Carmen Rosa , Ruiz-Santana Sergio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:To assess infectious and thrombotic complications of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in adults.Design:A 5-year prospective cohort study.Setting:Tertiary-care teaching hospital in Seville, Spain.Patients:Adult patients undergoing PICC insertion.Methods:Catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) including catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), primary bacteremia (PB), and upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) were recorded. Independent predictors of complications were assessed by multivariate analysis.Results:In total, 1,142 PICCs were inserted, with 153,191 catheter days (median, 79). Complications included 66 cases of CABSI (5.78%; 0.43‰ catheter days), 38 cases of CRBSI (3.33%; 0.25‰ catheter days), 28 cases of PB (2.45%; 0.18‰ catheter days), and 23 cases of UEDVT (2.01%; 0.15‰ catheter days). The median times to infection were 24, 41, and 60 days for CRBSI, PB, and UEDVT, respectively. Parenteral nutrition (odds ratio [OR], 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77–6.52) and admission to the hematology ward (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.25–10.71) were independently associated with CRBSI and PB, respectively. Admission to the hematology ward (OR, 12.46; 95% CI, 2.49–62.50) or to the oncology ward (OR, 7.89; 95% CI, 1.77–35.16) was independently associated with UEDVT. The crude mortality rate was 24.8%. Only 2 patients died of complications.Conclusions:PICCs showed a low rate of thrombotic and infectious complications. Compared to PB, CRBSI showed significantly different risk factors, a higher incidence density per catheter days, and a shorter median time to infection. Separate analyses of CRBSI and PB are more specific and clinically useful when analyzing infectious complications.
Clinical consequences of contaminated blood cultures in adult hospitalized patients at an institution utilizing a rapid blood-culture identification system
Authors: Liaquat Sidra , Baccaglini Lorena , Haynatzki Gleb , Medcalf Sharon J. , Rupp Mark E. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:To assess the clinical impact of contaminated blood cultures in hospitalized patients during a period when rapid diagnostic testing using a FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panel was in use.Design:Retrospective cohort study.Setting:Single academic medical center.Participants:Patients who had blood culture(s) performed during an admission between June 2014 and December 2016.Methods:Length of hospital stay and days of antibiotic therapy were assessed in relation to blood-culture contamination using generalized linear models with univariable and multivariable analyses.Results:Among 11,474 patients who had blood cultures performed, the adjusted mean length of hospital stay for patients with contaminated blood-culture episodes (N = 464) was 12.3 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–13.2) compared to 11.5 days (95% CI, 11.0–11.9) for patients (N = 11,010) with negative blood-culture episodes (P = .032). The adjusted mean durations of antibiotic therapy for patients with contaminated and negative blood-culture episodes were 6.0 days (95% CI, 5.3–6.7) and 5.2 days (95% CI, 4.9–5.4), respectively (P = .011).Conclusions:Despite the use of molecular-based, rapid blood-culture identification, contamination of blood cultures continues to result in prolonged hospital stay and unnecessary antibiotic therapy in hospitalized patients.
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence in healthcare personnel in northern California early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
Authors: Rosser Joelle I. , Röltgen Katharina , Dymock Melissa , Shepard John , Martin Andrew , Hogan Catherine A. , Blomkalns Andra , Mathew Roshni , Parsonnet Julie , Pinsky Benjamin A. , Maldonado Yvonne A. , Boyd Scott D. , Chang Sang-ick , Holubar Marisa 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:We assessed the magnitude of unidentified coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in our healthcare personnel (HCP) early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and we evaluated risk factors for infection to identify areas for improvement in infection control practice in a northern California academic medical center.Methods:We reviewed anti–severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG serologic test results and self-reported risk factors for seropositivity among 10,449 asymptomatic HCP who underwent voluntary serology testing between April 20 and May 20, 2020.Results:In total, 136 employees (1.3%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG. This included 41 individuals (30.1%) who had previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) between March 13 and April 16, 2020. In multivariable analysis, employees of Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–3.46) and those working in environmental services, food services, or patient transport (OR, 4.81; 95% CI, 2.08–10.30) were at increased risk for seropositivity compared to other groups. Employees reporting a household contact with COVID-19 were also at higher risk for seropositivity (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.47–6.44), but those with a work, exposure alone were not (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.58–2.47). Importantly, one-third of seropositive individuals reported no prior symptoms, no suspected exposures, and no prior positive RT-PCR test.Conclusion:In this study, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among HCP early in the northern California epidemic appeared to be quite low and was more likely attributable to community rather than occupational exposure.
Dynamics of Buyer-Seller Relations in Norwegian Wine Imports
Authors: Landazuri-Tveteraas Ursula , Asche Frank , Straume Hans-Martin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAs for all traded products, aggregated wine imports build on numerous trades at the firm level. To ensure consumers access to a variety of wines with different qualities, importers need to connect to different wine exporters. Some of these relationships will last for a long time, while the duration of others may be short. In this article, we employ transaction-level data to analyze the duration of trade relationships in wine imports to Norway from 2004 to 2014. We find that most relationships are short-lived, as more than 75% of trade relationships end after less than two years. Furthermore, we find that higher-quality wines, as indicated by the import price, increase trade duration. Deeper firm-to-firm trade relationships for more exclusive wines are likely due to higher search costs for high-quality products. The results also show that the size of the initial trade between the partners, or degree of commitment, is a positive determinant for persistent relationships. (JEL Classifications: C41, F14, Q27)
The Significance of the Declaration of Ethnic Minority Status for Irish Travellers
Authors: Haynes Amanda , Joyce Sindy , Schweppe Jennifer 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIrish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic ethnic minority indigenous to Ireland. Although recognized as an ethnic minority in adjacent jurisdictions, the Irish state persistently and explicitly denied recognizing Travellers’ separate ethnicity and pursued assimilationist policies designed to eradicate Travellers’ differences. However, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the state recognized the structural disadvantage and social stigma to which Travellers are subjected, naming them as a protected group in equality legislation, as well as laws addressing incitement to hatred. Through these interventions, the state afforded Travellers rights on the basis of their collective identity as Travellers, while continuing to deny their ethnicity. After sustained campaigning, Traveller ethnicity was recognized by the prime minister of Ireland in 2017. This article explores the reasoning behind, and legal significance of, that statement of recognition in Ireland.1 We outline the evidence in support of ethnic recognition as a prelude to addressing the question of whether recognition is likely to afford the community any additional rights. We conclude that this is unlikely given the protections afforded to the group prior to ethnic recognition, though we argue that recognition may give the community a firmer basis for arguing for the activation of these preexisting rights.