bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical factors associated with early and persistent hypocalcaemia after parathyroidectomy in patients on dialysis with severe hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Fonseca‐Correa Jorge I. , Nava‐Santana Carlos , Tamez‐Pedroza Luis , Paz‐Cortes Armando , Santillan‐Ceron Airy , Rojas‐Concha Luis J. , Pantoja‐Millán Juan Pablo , Sierra‐Salazar Mauricio , Velazquez‐Fernández David , Herrera Miguel F. , Correa‐Rotter Ricardo , Ramirez‐Sandoval Juan C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimSevere hypocalcaemia following parathyroidectomy for secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT/THPT) is scarcely studied. We aimed to describe and identify risk factors for early and persistent hypocalcaemia after parathyroidectomy.MethodsRetrospective pair‐matched cohort study. We assessed 87 dialysis patients with SHPT (n = 73) or THPT (n = 14) paired with 146 subjects with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) who underwent parathyroidectomy and were followed for 12 months. Early severe hypocalcaemia was defined as a free Ca ≤0.8 mmol/L [3.2 mg/dl] or corrected Ca ≤1.87 mmol/L [7.5 mg/dl] within 48 h. After parathyroidectomy and persistent hypocalcaemia, as an elemental Ca intake >3.0 g/day to achieve corrected Ca >2 mmol/L [8.0 mg/dl].ResultsEarly severe hypocalcaemia occurred in 77% (67/87) versus 6.8% (10/146) of subjects with SHPT/THPT and PHPT, respectively (p < .001). In SHPT/THPT cases, persistent hypocalcaemia occurred in 77% (49/64) and 64% (35/54) after 6 and 12 months of parathyroidectomy, respectively. In PHPT cases, persistent hypocalcaemia occurred in 6.8% (10/146) after 4–12 months of parathyroidectomy. Preoperative serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was the only risk factor associated to early severe hypocalcaemia (OR 7.3, 95% C.I. 1.7–10.9, p = .006) and persistent hypocalcaemia (OR 7.1, 95% C.I: 2.1–14.2, p = .011). Subjects with persistently low intact parathormone (iPTH) (<5.3 pmol/L [50 ng/ml]), suggestive of adynamic bone disease) showed higher Ca increases and less oral calcium requirements compared to those who progressively increased iPTH after parathyroidectomy.ConclusionEarly and persistent hypocalcaemia after parathyroidectomy in severe HPT were a common event associated directly to preoperative ALP levels. Subjects with persistently low postoperative iPTH normalized serum Ca more frequently after 1 year of follow up.
Early predictors of acute kidney injury in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Yildirim Cigdem , Ozger Hasan Selcuk , Yasar Emre , Tombul Nazrin , Gulbahar Ozlem , Yildiz Mehmet , Bozdayi Gulendam , Derici Ulver , Dizbay Murat 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimThis study aims to determine the frequency of COVID‐19 related AKI and to identify the early predictors of AKI.MethodsThis study is a single‐center, retrospective, observational study. Hospitalized COVID‐19 patients between 24/03/2020 and 31/05/2020 were included in the study. All patients were evaluated for renal dysfunctions with urine dipstick, protein/creatinine ratio, albumin/creatinine ratio in spot urine, serum cystatin C, serum creatinine level on hospital admission, and 28th day of hospital admission. To assess the utility of these parameters to predict AKI, a receiver‐operating characteristic curve was generated and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.Results348 patients were included. The average incidence of AKI was 4.9% (n = 17). The incidence of AKI in mild, moderate and severe COVID‐19 cases was 1.3% (n = 4), 9.0% (n = 3) and 76.9% (n = 10), respectively. Proteinuria was detected in 7.8% (n = 27) of patients with a urine dipstick test. In spot urine analysis, proteinuria was found in 20.1% (n = 70) of patients. The frequency of persistent proteinuria was 5.2% (n = 18). The AUC alue of serum cystatin C, D‐dimer and albumin/creatinine ratio to predict COVID‐19 related AKI were 0.96 (0.90 to 1.0), 0.94 (0.89–0.98), and 0.95 (0.91–0.98).ConclusionIn COVID‐19 patients with normal serum creatinine levels on hospital admission, albuminuria, serum cystatin C and D‐dimer levels may be an early predictor of COVID‐19 related AKI and these patients should be monitored closely for AKI. Since the sample size in the AKI group was small, our study results should be confirmed with larger cohort studies.
Race and major pulmonary complications following inpatient pediatric otolaryngology surgery
Authors: Sivak Erica , Mpody Christian , Willer Brittany L. , Tobias Joseph , Nafiu Olubukola O. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundCompared to their white peers, black children are more likely to experience serious respiratory complications in the perioperative period. Whether a racial difference exists in the occurrence of late postoperative respiratory complications is largely unknown. Here, we evaluated a multi‐institutional cohort of children who underwent various elective otolaryngology procedures to examine the racial differences in major postoperative pulmonary complications.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of elective inpatient otolaryngology cases from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2012–2018). We used propensity score matching of black to white patients to compare the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, defined as the occurrence of either pneumonia, unplanned reintubation, or prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation.ResultsThe matched cohort was comprised of 4786 black and white patients (2 393 of each race). Black children were more likely to develop postoperative pulmonary complications compared to white peers (29.3% vs. 24.2%; odds ratio: 1.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.20, 1.59; P‐value < .001). Furthermore, black children were almost two times more likely to require unplanned postoperative reintubation, relative to their white peers (2.6% vs. 1.3%; odds ratio: 2.07; 95% confidence interval: 1.33, 3.22; P‐value < .001). Similarly, black children were estimated to have 37% relative greater odds of requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (28.6% vs. 23.7%; 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 1.58; P‐value < .001). Finally, being of black race conferred greater odds of requiring prolonged hospital length of stay, relative to being of white race (38.6% vs. 34.5%; odds ratio:1.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 1.42; P‐value = .004).ConclusionBlack children undergoing elective otolaryngological surgery are more likely to develop major postoperative pulmonary complications.
An early experience of COVID‐19 disease in pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients
Authors: Solomon Sonia , Pereira Tanya , Samsonov Dmitry 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 is caused by a novel form of coronavirus known as SARS‐CoV‐2. Patients can present with a wide variety of symptoms from fever to severe respiratory distress. Immunocompromised patients, including solid organ transplant recipients, may present with atypical symptoms, making the diagnosis of COVID‐19 more difficult to make. New reports have been emerging about the management of COVID‐19 disease in adult renal transplant recipients. However, very little is known in pediatric renal transplant recipients.MethodsHere, we describe a case report of four pediatric renal transplant recipients who presented with mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 disease.ResultsAll patients presented with upper respiratory infection symptoms, with one requiring hospitalization for hypoxia. Patients were treated mostly with supportive care. Two of the patients developed AKI which resolved four to eight weeks after illness. All four patients developed COVID IgG antibodies one to two months after becoming infected.ConclusionThis case series demonstrates that immunocompromised renal transplant recipients have comparable outcomes compared with immunocompetent children.
Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation: A new and serious foliar disease of Eucalyptus caused by Elsinoe necatrix sp. nov.
Authors: Pham Nam Q. , Marincowitz Seonju , Solís Myriam , Duong Tuan A. , Wingfield Brenda D. , Barnes Irene , Slippers Bernard , Muro Abad Jupiter I. , Durán Alvaro , Wingfield Michael J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn 2014, a new and serious leaf and shoot disease of unknown aetiology appeared in Eucalyptus plantations of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The disease is characterized by black necrotic spots that initially appear on young leaves and petioles, which become scab‐like as the lesions age. Infected trees respond to infection by producing shoots with small leaves that commonly appear feathered. Fruiting structures typical of most foliar pathogens are not seen, but using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fungal spores are evident and associated with the scab‐like structures. Using culture‐dependent methods, cultures resembling a species of Elsinoe were isolated from the lesions. DNA sequence comparisons for four gene regions, as well as morphological observations, showed that the fungus is an undescribed species in Elsinoe, for which the name Elsinoe necatrix sp. nov. is provided. Pathogenicity trials on a Eucalyptus clone with the Elsinoe species resulted in scab‐like structures similar to those observed under field conditions and the fungus was easily reisolated from the resulting lesions. This study includes a description of the pathogen and characterization of the disease, for which the name Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation is suggested.
Risk preference and child labor: Econometric evidence
Authors: Frempong Raymond Boadi , Stadelmann David 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHouseholds may invest in the human capital development of their children not only for altruistic reasons but also as insurance against future income shocks. Therefore, the allocation of the child's time between school and work is a function of the risk preference of the household head. This paper analyzes the relationship between parental risk preferences and child labor decisions using recall information on child labor and a risk elicitation question. Results reveal that risk‐averse households are more likely to send their children to work. Endogeneity issues are addressed by employing instrumental variables. These results suggest that child labor may be driven by the need to maximize the household's expected income from the child. Regarding heterogeneity, we find that the child labor effect of risk‐aversion is higher for older children. Furthermore, the father's risk‐aversion matters for the probability of child labor, while the intensity of child labor increases with the mother's risk‐aversion. The findings call for an understanding of the behavioral context of the affected households and how risk preferences can affect the success of proposed policies to reduce child labor.
Grading foreign aid agencies: Best practices across traditional and emerging donors
Authors: Palagashvili Liya , Williamson Claudia R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDespite the rapid growth of non–Development Assistance Committee (DAC) emerging donors, these non‐traditional donors are historically left out of the discussion on aid effectiveness. In this paper, we provide the first full evaluation of aid agency best practices across multiple agency categories. We rank and compare DAC donors, emerging non‐DAC donors, and multilateral and UN agencies in the following five best practice categories: transparency, overhead costs, aid specialization, selective allocation, and effective delivery channels. Contrary to public impressions that emerging donors engage in worse practices, we find that non‐DAC agencies rank similarly to DAC donors: Both groups are equally poor performers. Emerging donors engage in less aid fragmentation across countries and use fewer ineffective delivery channels. Traditional DAC donors, however, provide more transparent reporting. Overall, we find that multilateral agencies and UN donors outperform both DAC and non‐DAC bilateral agencies. Collectively, our results suggest that most aid donors do not meet their own standards for best practices, and this finding is not unique to emerging donors. We highlight how our results reflect the broader political economy of aid allocation.
Inclusive health and life insurance adoption: An empirical study in Guatemala
Authors: Roa Maria Jose , Di Giannatale Sonia , Barboza Jonathan , Arbelaez Juliana Gamboa 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we analyze the decision to buy inclusive health and life insurance in Guatemala within a theoretical framework driven by new personality and cognition theories combined with traditional insurance theory. We designed and conducted a survey of samples of both non‐insured individuals and clients of Seguros Universales, one of the principal inclusive insurance providers in Guatemala. Our results show that personality traits and time preferences are strongly associated with an individual's decision to hold an insurance contract. We also find evidence that certain combinations related to health habits and personality traits can have an impact on such a decision.
The rise and fall of cave pearl pools: Highly variable growth, recrystallization and demise of a mine pearl site
Authors: Melim Leslie A. , Spilde Michael N. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSpeleothems form layered archives of the climate and local cave conditions during their formation. The origin of layering in cave pearls, however, is not well‐understood. Cave pearls grown in two adjacent mine sites between 2006 and 2014 elucidate the complexity of speleothem growth and recrystallization. Site A cave pearls grew under an active drip, while Site B cave pearls grew in small rimstone‐dam pools that filled with reverse‐graded fitted pearls between about 2009 and 2014. Despite the variation in pool setting, all samples are layered in grey and/or brown laminations and dendrites. The order and number of these layers varies widely, even between pearls growing millimetres apart in the same pool. However, stable isotope values reflect homogenized local precipitation. The variability between adjacent samples supports control by very local factors within each pool, likely related to CO2degassing at the water–air interface and water flow within the confined space of each pool. Recrystallization of calcite to calcite occurs resulting in triangular microspar patches and much less obvious bladed calcite. Laminations of brown or grey 1 to 5 µm calcite crystals recrystallize to bladed calcite up 100 µm long, all the while retaining a memory of the original layers in the form of ‘ghost’ layers, as revealed by gentle acid etching. Pearls at the top of rimstone‐dam pools grew faster than those just a few millimetres deeper, resulting in reverse grading. This model is applicable to reverse grading in marine and lacustrine pisolites. This study suggests that cave pearls in active flow regimes (drips or currents) are similar and largely abiogenic, in contrast to other locations with less flow, where more biological input is common. Recrystallization of calcite to calcite proceeds not only to equant spar (classic Ostwald ripening), but also to bladed calcite. Thus, bladed calcite in speleothems needs to be carefully evaluated for recrystallization even when aragonite is absent.
Social policy in the face of a global pandemic: Policy responses to the COVID‐19 crisis in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Aidukaite Jolanta , Saxonberg Steven , Szelewa Dorota , Szikra Dorottya 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis article documents and compares the social policies that the governments in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) implemented to combat the first wave of COVID‐19 pandemic by focusing on Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. Our findings show that governments in all four countries reacted to the COVID‐19 crisis by providing extensive protection for jobs and enterprises. Differences arise when it comes to solidaristic policy responses to care for the most vulnerable population, in which CEE countries show great variation. We find that social policy responses to the first wave of COVID‐19 have largely depended on precious social policy trajectories as well as the political situation of the country during the pandemic.
Soil quality and fertility in sustainable agriculture, with a contribution to the biological classification of agricultural soils
Authors: Sofo Adriano , Zanella Augusto , Ponge Jean‐François 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSoils and crops are particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental stresses. In many agrosystems, soil biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by soils are under threat from a range of natural and human drivers. Agricultural soils are often subject to agronomic practices that disrupt soil trophic networks and make soils less productive in the long term. In this scenario, sustainable soil use aimed at improving plant/root status, growth and development plays a crucial role for enhancing the biological capacity of agricultural soils. This commentary paper is divided into the following four main sections: (i) the contentious nature of soil organic matter; (ii) soil biological quality/fertility; (iii) soil classification; and, (iv) which agricultural practices can be defined as sustainable? The published literature was analyzed within a holistic framework, with agrosystems considered as living systems where soil, vegetation, fauna and microorganisms co‐evolve and are reciprocally influenced. Ultimately, this article will suggest a better stewardship of agricultural soils as a natural capital.
Leibniz on Intellectual Pleasure, Perception of Perfection, and Power
Authors: Parvizian Saja 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLeibniz is unclear about the nature of pleasure. In some texts, he describes pleasure as a perceptionofperfection, while in other texts he describes pleasure as beingcausedby a perception of perfection. In this article, I disambiguate two senses of “perception of perfection”, which clarifies Leibniz's considered position. I argue that pleasure is a perception of anincrease in a substance's powerwhich is caused by a substance'sknowledge of a perfectionof the universe or God. This reading helps clarify the nature of Leibnizian happiness. Happiness is acognitive process(akin to amood), constituted fundamentally out of pleasure, which is grounded in increases in a substance's power. A rational substance will sustain its happiness so long as it is more powerful than it is weak, and it is engaging in activities that increase its power.
Phylogeny of Meloini blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) and patterns of island colonization in the Western Palaearctic
Authors: Sánchez‐Vialas Alberto , Recuero Ernesto , Jiménez‐Ruiz Yolanda , Ruiz José L. , Marí‐Mena Neus , García‐París Mario 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFlightless, phoretic insects of the tribe Meloini include several widespread species able to inhabit both mainland and oceanic and continental islands. Relationships between phoretic and non‐phoretic species of Meloini are unclear, precluding broad evolutionary and biogeographic analyses within the group. We provide a robust molecular phylogenetic framework for Meloini, with finer sampling in the Western Palaearctic, by analysing two nuclear (Wg, 18S) and two mtDNA (cox1, 16S) gene fragments of 24 species representing eight subgenera of Meloe and Physomeloe. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that Meloe, as currently recognized, is paraphyletic. Our phylogenetic hypothesis clarifies several controversial relationships within the group. We provide a new taxonomic framework that better reflects the evolutionary relationships of the group by raising to genus all previously considered subgenera: Afromeloe Schmidt, 1913, Alveomeloe Pripisnova, 1987, Chiromeloe Reitter, 1911, Desertimeloe Kaszab, 1964, Eurymeloe Reitter, 1911, Lampromeloe Reitter, 1911, Lasiomeloe Reitter, 1911, Listromeloe Reitter, 1911, Meloegonius Reitter, 1911, Mesomeloe Reitter, 1911, Meloenellus Reitter, 1911, Micromeloe Reitter, 1911, Taphromeloe Reitter, 1911 and Treiodous Dugès, 1869; while Anchomeloe Iablokoff‐Khnzorian, 1983, is recovered as subgenus of Meloe. In addition, we conducted an extensive intraspecific sampling for four phoretic taxa (Meloe proscarabaeus, Meloe autumnalis, Eurymeloe mediterraneus and Eurymeloe tuccia) and used mtDNA phylogeographic analyses to unveil patterns of overseas dispersal. Our phylogeographic analyses revealed a high level of geographically unstructured haplotype diversity within taxa, suggesting that transmarine dispersal events have occurred multiple times along the evolutionary history of phoretic species of blister beetles. Larval phoresy may explain the existence of idiosyncratic biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns in these flightless organisms.
Mobilities of a Spherical Particle Straddling the Interface of a Semi-Infinite Brinkman Flow
Authors: Faltas Mukhtar S. , Sherief Hany H. , Allam Allam A. , Ahmed Baraa A. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The motion of a spherical particle straddling the flat interface of a semi-infinite Brinkman flow is considered under the conditions of low Reynolds number and zero capillary number regime. The analysis is applied in the case of 90 deg contact angle and when the viscosity of the constituent fluid in the Brinkman region is much more than that of the adjacent fluid. Analytical expressions for the hydrodynamic scalar resistance coefficients are obtained and represented graphically as a function of the slip parameter at the surface of the particle and the permeability parameter of the porous region. The hydrodynamic mobilities are also obtained and represented in tables. The limiting cases of Stokes clear fluid and Darcy's flow are recovered.
The Relationship Between Fear Avoidance Beliefs, Muscle Strength, and Short-Term Disability After Surgical Repair of Shoulder Instability
Authors: Gottlieb Uri , Springer Shmuel 
Published: January 2021

Context: Arthroscopic surgical repair of the shoulder is recommended when conservative treatment for shoulder instability (SI) fails. However, many patients undergoing this procedure do not return to same level of activity. Psychological factors and muscle strength have been shown to be associated with postoperative outcomes in other musculoskeletal conditions. Objective: To investigate the association between fear avoidance, muscle strength, and short-term function in patients after surgical SI repair. Methods: Twenty-five male patients who underwent shoulder surgery following at least one event of SI were included in this study. Evaluations of fear avoidance related to physical activity and disability were performed at baseline (during the first encounter with the physical therapist) and 7 to 8 weeks postsurgery. Fear avoidance beliefs were assessed using the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. Disability was assessed using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and the Western Ontario SI index. The follow-up evaluation (weeks 7–8) included measurement of maximal isometric strength of the internal and external rotators. Nonparametric Kendall tau was used to determine the correlations between baseline fear avoidance, muscle strength, and disability at follow-up. Results: Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire at follow-up was significantly correlated with baseline Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (τ = .520, P < .001), baseline fear avoidance (τ = .399, P = .008), and both internal rotator (τ = −.400, P = .005) and external rotator strength (τ = −.353, P = .014). Western Ontario SI index at follow-up was moderately correlated with baseline Western Ontario SI index (τ = .387, P = .007), internal rotator (τ = −.427, P = .003), and external rotator (τ = −.307, P = .032), but not with baseline Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (τ = .22, P = .145). Conclusions: The results indicate a possible association between fear avoidance beliefs and short-term disability. Further studies are warranted to better explore and understand these relationships.