bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trans-hiatal herniation following esophagectomy or gastrectomy: retrospective single-center experiences with a potential surgical emergency
Authors: Oppelt P. U. , Askevold I. , Hörbelt R. , Roller F. C. , Padberg W. , Hecker A. , Reichert M. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Trans-hiatal herniation after esophago-gastric surgery is a potentially severe complication due to the risk of bowel incarceration and cardiac or respiratory complaints. However, measures for prevention and treatment options are based on a single surgeon´s experiences and small case series in the literature.

Methods
Retrospective single-center analysis on patients who underwent surgical repair of trans-hiatal hernia following gastrectomy or esophagectomy from 01/2003 to 07/2020 regarding clinical symptoms, hernia characteristics, pre-operative imaging, hernia repair technique and perioperative outcome.

Results
Trans-hiatal hernia repair was performed in 9 patients following abdomino-thoracic esophagectomy (40.9%), in 8 patients following trans-hiatal esophagectomy (36.4%) and in 5 patients following conventional gastrectomy (22.7%). Gastrointestinal symptoms with bowel obstruction and pain were mostly prevalent (63.6 and 59.1%, respectively), two patients were asymptomatic. Transverse colon (54.5%) and small intestine (77.3%) most frequently prolapsed into the left chest after esophagectomy (88.2%) and into the dorsal mediastinum after gastrectomy (60.0%). Half of the patients had signs of incarceration in pre-operative imaging, 10 patients underwent emergency surgery. However, bowel resection was only necessary in one patient. Hernia repair was performed by suture cruroplasty without (n = 12) or with mesh reinforcement (n = 5) or tension-free mesh interposition (n = 5). Postoperative pleural complications were most frequently observed, especially in patients who underwent any kind of mesh repair. Three patients developed recurrency, of whom two underwent again surgical repair.

Conclusion
Trans-hiatal herniation after esophago-gastric surgery is rare but relevant. The role of surgical repair in asymptomatic patients is disputed. However, early hernia repair prevents patients from severe complications. Measures for prevention and adequate closure techniques are not yet defined.
Prevention of incisional hernia at the site of stoma closure with different reinforcing mesh types: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Peltrini Roberto , Imperatore Nicola , Altieri Gaia , Castiglioni Simone , Di Nuzzo Maria Michela , Grimaldi Luciano , D’Ambra Michele , Lionetti Ruggero , Bracale Umberto , Corcione Francesco 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate safety and efficacy of a mesh reinforcement following stoma reversal to prevent stoma site incisional hernia (SSIH) and differences across the prostheses used.

Methods
A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Cochrane databases was conducted to identify comparative studies until September 2020. A meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes and a network meta-analysis for a multiple comparison of the prostheses with each other were performed.

Results
Seven studies were included in the analysis (78.4% ileostomy and 21.6% colostomy) with a total of 1716 patients with (n = 684) or without (n = 1032) mesh. Mesh placement was associated with lower risk of SSIH (7.8%vs18.1%, OR0.266,95% CI 0.123–0.577, p < 0.001) than no mesh procedures but also with a longer operative time (SMD 0.941, 95% CI 0.462–1.421, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of Surgical Site infection (11.5% vs 11.1%, OR 1.074, 95% CI 0.78–1.48, p = 0.66), seroma formation (4.4% vs 7.1%, OR 1.052, 95% CI 0.64–1.73, p = 0.84), anastomotic leakage (3.7% vs 2.7%, OR 1.598, 95% CI 0.846–3.019, p = 0.149) and length of stay (SMD − 0.579,95% CI − 1.261 to 0.102, p = 0.096) between mesh and no mesh groups. Use of prosthesis was associated with a significant lower need for a reoperation than no mesh group (8.1% vs 12.1%, OR 0.332, 95% CI 0.119–0.930, p = 0.036). Incidence of seroma is lower with biologic than polypropylene meshes but they showed a trend towards poor results compared with polypropylene or biosynthetic meshes.

Conclusion
Despite longer operative time, mesh prophylactic reinforcement at the site of stoma seems a safe and effective procedure with lower incidence of SSIH, need for reoperation and comparable short-term outcomes than standard closure technique. A significant superiority of a specific mesh type was not identified.
Combination of vegetable soup and glucan demonstrates synergistic effects on macrophage-mediated immune responses
Authors: Lee Ha-Nul , Choi Joo-Hee , Park Ji-Yeon , Ahn Jae-Hun , Jang Da Eun , Shim Jae Gun , Park Jong-Hwan , Kim Young-Min 
Published: March 2021

AbstractVegetable soup (VS), a plant-based functional food, has been used as a traditional folk medicine and is attracting attention for its ability to enhance the immune response. β-Glucan, a well-established and effective immunomodulator, has synergistic effects when used in combination with some bioactive compounds. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of the combination of VS and β-glucan on macrophage-mediated immune responses. β-Glucan was demonstrated to synergistically enhance the VS-stimulated immune response, including the production of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide, mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in macrophages. In addition, this combination has the potential for further development in functional foods with immune-enhancing activity.
If horses had toes: demonstrating mirror self recognition at group level in Equus caballus
Authors: Baragli Paolo , Scopa Chiara , Maglieri Veronica , Palagi Elisabetta 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMirror self-recognition (MSR), investigated in primates and recently in non-primate species, is considered a measure of self-awareness. Nowadays, the only reliable test for investigating MSR potential skills consists in the untrained response to a visual body mark detected using a reflective surface. Here, we report the first evidence of MSR at group level in horses, by facing the weaknesses of methodology present in a previous pilot study. Fourteen horses were used in a 4-phases mirror test (covered mirror, open mirror, invisible mark, visible colored mark). After engaging in a series of contingency behaviors (looking behind the mirror, peek-a-boo, head and tongue movements), our horses used the mirror surface to guide their movements towards their colored cheeks, thus showing that they can recognize themselves in a mirror. The analysis at the group level, which ‘marks’ a turning point in the analytical technique of MSR exploration in non-primate species, showed that horses spent a longer time in scratching their faces when marked with the visible mark compared to the non-visible mark. This finding indicates that horses did not see the non-visible mark and that they did not touch their own face guided by the tactile sensation, suggesting the presence of MSR in horses. Although a heated debate on the binaryversusgradualist model in the MSR interpretation exists, recent empirical pieces of evidence, including ours, indicate that MSR is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon that appeared once in phylogeny and that a convergent evolution mechanism can be at the basis of its presence in phylogenetically distant taxa.
A unified approach for a 1D generalized total variation problem
Authors: Lu Cheng , Hochbaum Dorit S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe study a 1-dimensional discrete signal denoising problem that consists of minimizing a sum of separable convex fidelity terms and convex regularization terms, the latter penalize the differences of adjacent signal values. This problem generalizes the total variation regularization problem. We provide here a unified approach to solve the problem for general convex fidelity and regularization functions that is based on the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions. This approach is shown here to lead to a fast algorithm for the problem with general convex fidelity and regularization functions, and a faster algorithm if, in addition, the fidelity functions are differentiable and the regularization functions are strictly convex. Both algorithms achieve the best theoretical worst case complexity over existing algorithms for the classes of objective functions studied here. Also in practice, our C++ implementation of the method is considerably faster than popular C++ nonlinear optimization solvers for the problem.
Trifluridine/tipiracil in patients with metastatic gastroesophageal junction cancer: a subgroup analysis from the phase 3 TAGS study
Authors: Mansoor Wasat , Arkenau Hendrik-Tobias , Alsina Maria , Shitara Kohei , Thuss-Patience Peter , Cuffe Sinead , Dvorkin Mikhail , Park David , Ando Takayuki , Van Den Eynde Marc , Beretta Giordano D. , Zaniboni Alberto , Doi Toshihiko , Tabernero Josep , Ilson David H. , Makris Lukas , Benhadji Karim A. , Van Cutsem Eric 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Patients with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC) have poor survival outcomes, and GEJC-specific data from trials evaluating agents in gastric cancers (GCs) as a whole are lacking. Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) was approved for previously treated metastatic GC or GEJC (mGC/mGEJC) based on results of the phase 3 TAGS trial. Subgroup analyses by primary tumor type (GC or GEJC) in TAGS are reported here.

Methods
Pa
tients with mGC/mGEJC treated with  ≥ 2 prior chemotherapy regimens were randomized (2:1) to receive FTD/TPI or placebo, plus best supportive care. A pre-planned sub-analysis was performed to evaluate efficacy and safety outcomes by primary tumor type (GEJC or GC).

Results
Of 507 randomized patients, 145 (29%) had GEJC and 360 (71%) had GC as the primary disease site. Baseline characteristics were generally similar between the GEJC and GC subgroups, except that more patients in the GEJC subgroup had received  ≥ 3 prior regimens (72 vs. 59% in the GC subgroup). Survival benefit with FTD/TPI was observed in both subgroups. The overall survival hazard ratio for FTD/TPI vs placebo was 0.75 (95% CI 0.50–1.11) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.52–0.87) in the GEJC and GC subgroups, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events of any cause were reported in 75 (77%) and 192 (81%) FTD/TPI-treated patients in the GEJC and GC subgroups, respectively. No new safety concerns were noted with FTD/TPI.

Conclusion
As in patients with GC, FTD/TPI showed an efficacy benefit in patients with GEJC in the TAGS trial, along with demonstrating a manageable safety profile.
Betting on bitcoin: a profitable trading between directional and shielding strategies
Authors: De Angelis Paolo , De Marchis Roberto , Marino Mario , Martire Antonio Luciano , Oliva Immacolata 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we come up with an original trading strategy on Bitcoins. The methodology we propose is profit-oriented, and it is based on buying or selling the so-called Contracts for Difference, so that the investor’s gain, assessed at a given future time t, is obtained as the difference between the predicted Bitcoin price and an apt threshold. Starting from some empirical findings, and passing through the specification of a suitable theoretical model for the Bitcoin price process, we are able to provide possible investment scenarios, thanks to the use of a Recurrent Neural Network with a Long Short-Term Memory for predicting purposes.
Is dealing with errors in the classroom specific for school subjects? A study of the error climate in mathematics, German, and English
Authors: Steuer Gabriele , Tulis Maria , Dresel Markus 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA frequent observation in the school context is that opportunities to learn from errors are often missed. However, a positive error climate may support learning from errors. For the school subject of mathematics, some findings about characteristics of the error climate already exist. But, a comparison of the error climate between different school subjects is still pending. In the present study, it is analyzed whether the error climate differs in different school subjects and whether the same interrelations between the ways in which individuals deal with errors can be found in these different school subjects. In a study with 937 students from 48 classrooms from grades 5 to 7, in different secondary schools in Germany and Austria, we assessed the error climate and individual reactions following errors in mathematics, German, and English. Small mean differences between mathematics and the two language subjects were yielded. In addition, we found medium-sized correlations between the error climate measures in the three school subjects. However, the same pattern of interrelations between error climate and the way individuals deal with errors for all three school subjects could be shown. The results suggest that the perception of the error climate is rather similar in different school subjects. This has implications, for instance, for interventions that aim at fostering the error climate.
Win – and stay, but not too long: cavity selection by Boreal Owls to minimize nest predation by Pine Marten
Authors: Sonerud Geir A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSite fidelity after successful nesting and site shift after nest predation (win–stay, lose–shift) is a well-documented adaptation to spatially heterogeneous and temporally auto-correlated predation risk. However, site shift even after a successful nesting (win–shift) may become a better tactic than site fidelity (win–stay), if a successful nest site becomes more risky until the next nesting opportunity, and if new low-risk nest sites regularly appear. Correspondingly, selecting a new non-used nest site may become a better tactic than selecting one previously used successfully by a conspecific. I studied this dynamic by focusing on nest cavities that may be available for many years, and using nest boxes to allow an experimental design. At localities where Boreal Owls (Aegolius funereus) had nested successfully, a dyad of nest boxes was made available each year, one box in the original nest tree and one in a new tree for the season, each containing either old nest material from the successful nesting or new wood shavings. Boreal owls were more likely to select the box in the new tree when more years had elapsed since the successful nesting and since a box was installed in the original nest tree, independent of box content. The pattern of selection differed between young and old individuals for males, but not females. Young males based their selection of nest tree mainly on box content, while old males based it on time elapsed since the successful nesting in the original nest tree and how long a box had been present there. The probability of depredation of Boreal Owl nests by Pine Marten (Martes martes) has previously been found to increase with cavity age and number of nesting seasons elapsed since the previous successful nesting. This pattern of nest predation thus predicted the pattern of nest site selection found.
Release mechanisms of major DAMPs
Authors: Murao Atsushi , Aziz Monowar , Wang Haichao , Brenner Max , Wang Ping 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDamage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are endogenous molecules which foment inflammation and are associated with disorders in sepsis and cancer. Thus, therapeutically targeting DAMPs has potential to provide novel and effective treatments. When establishing anti-DAMP strategies, it is important not only to focus on the DAMPs as inflammatory mediators but also to take into account the underlying mechanisms of their release from cells and tissues. DAMPs can be released passively by membrane rupture due to necrosis/necroptosis, although the mechanisms of release appear to differ between the DAMPs. Other types of cell death, such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and NETosis, can also contribute to DAMP release. In addition, some DAMPs can be exported actively from live cells by exocytosis of secretory lysosomes or exosomes, ectosomes, and activation of cell membrane channel pores. Here we review the shared and DAMP-specific mechanisms reported in the literature for high mobility group box 1, ATP, extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, histones, heat shock proteins, extracellular RNAs and cell-free DNA.
A novel approach to quantifying trophic interaction strengths and impact of invasive species in food webs
Authors: Calizza Edoardo , Rossi Loreto , Careddu Giulio , Sporta Caputi Simona , Costantini Maria Letizia 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMeasuring ecological and economic impacts of invasive species is necessary for managing invaded food webs. Based on abundance, biomass and diet data of autochthonous and allochthonous fish species, we proposed a novel approach to quantifying trophic interaction strengths in terms of number of individuals and biomass that each species subtract to the others in the food web. This allowed to estimate the economic loss associated to the impact of an invasive species on commercial fish stocks, as well as the resilience of invaded food webs to further perturbations. As case study, we measured the impact of the invasive bassMicropterus salmoidesin two lake communities differing in food web complexity and species richness, as well as the biotic resistance of autochthonous and allochthonous fish species against the invader. Resistance to the invader was higher, while its ecological and economic impact was lower, in the more complex and species-rich food web. The percidPerca fluviatilisand the whitefishCoregonus lavaretuswere the two species that most limited the invader, representing meaningful targets for conservation biological control strategies. In both food webs, the limiting effect of allochthonous species againstM. salmoideswas higher than the effect of autochthonous ones. Simulations predicted that the eradication of the invader would increase food web resilience, while that an increase in fish diversity would preserve resilience also at high abundances ofM. salmoides. Our results support the conservation of biodiverse food webs as a way to mitigate the impact of bass invasion in lake ecosystems. Notably, the proposed approach could be applied to any habitat and animal species whenever biomass and diet data can be obtained.
Repeat breast-conserving treatment of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence: a nationwide survey amongst breast surgeons and radiation oncologists in the Netherlands
Authors: Walstra Coco J. E. F. , Schipper Robert-Jan , van Riet Yvonne E. , van der Toorn Peter-Paul G. , Smidt Marjolein L. , Sangen Maurice J. C. vd , Voogd Adri C. , Nieuwenhuijzen Grard A. P. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
In line with the paradigm to minimize surgical morbidity in patients with primary breast cancer, there is increasing evidence for the safety of a repeat breast-conserving treatment (BCT) of an ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) in selected patients. The conditions for the feasibility of a repeat BCT vary widely in literature. In clinical practice, many physicians have ongoing concerns about the oncological safety and possible toxicity of repeat BCT.

Aim
To investigate the attitude of Dutch breast surgeons and radiation oncologists towards repeat BCT and to report on their experiences with, objections against and perceived requirements to consider a repeat BCT in case of IBTR.

Patients and methods
An online survey consisting of a maximum of 26 open and multiple-choice questions about repeat BCT for IBTR was distributed amongst Dutch breast surgeons and radiation oncologists.

Results
Forty-nine surgeons representing 49% of Dutch hospitals and 20 radiation oncologists representing 70% of Dutch radiation oncology centres responded. A repeat BCT was considered feasible in selected cases by 28.7% of breast surgeons and 55% of radiation oncologists. The most important factors to consider a repeat BCT for both groups were the patient’s preference to preserve the breast and surgical feasibility of a second lumpectomy. Arguments against a repeat BCT were based on the perceived unacceptable toxicity and cosmesis of a second course of radiotherapy. The technique of preference for re-irradiation would be partial breast irradiation (PBI) according to all radiation oncologists. Differentiating between new primary tumours (NPT) and true recurrences (TR) was reported to be done by 57.1% of breast surgeons and 60% of radiation oncologists. The most important reason to differentiate between NPT and TR was to establish prognosis and to consider whether a repeat BCT would be feasible.

Conclusion
An increasing number of Dutch breast cancer specialists is considering a repeat BCT feasible in selected cases, at the patient’s preference and with partial breast re-irradiation.
A Non-inferiority, Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Versus New-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents on Angiographic Outcomes for Coronary De Novo Lesions
Authors: Yu Xue , Wang Xinyue , Ji Fusui , Zhang Wenduo , Yang Chenguang , Xu Feng , Wang Fang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Drug-coated balloon (DCB) has been proved efficacy for coronary small vessel disease, but data regarding outcomes of DCB in common de novo lesions (including reference vessel diameter more than 3.0mm) compared with new-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) are lacking. We hypothesized that a DCB-only strategy for coronary de novo lesions would be non-inferior to DES treatment on angiographic outcomes.

Methods
In this randomized controlled trial, we compared the effect of DCB with DES on late lumen loss (LLL) at 9-month angiographic follow-up and 12-month major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Results
From July 2017 to July 2018, 288 consecutive patients with reference vessel diameter (RVD) between 2.25 and 4.0mm were screened. After proper pre-dilation, 170 patients were enrolled and randomized to the DCB and the DES groups at 1:1 ratio. Seven patients withdrew the consent forms during hospital stay (1 in DCB group, 6 in DES group). Two patients in DCB group underwent bailout stenting due to severe dissection after DCB release. The primary endpoint of 9-month LLL was −0.19±0.49mm with the DCB versus 0.03±0.64mm with the DES. The one-sided 97.5% upper confidence limit of the difference was −0.04mm, achieving non-inferiority of the DCB compared with the DES (P=0.019). The 12-month cumulative MACE rate was similar in the DCB and DES groups (2.44% vs. 6.33%, P=0.226).

Conclusions
In this prospective study, the DCB only strategy for de novo lesion was non-inferior to the new-generation DES in terms of 9-month late lumen loss.