bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regional Parliaments and Democratic Crises: The Performance of ECOWAS and MERCOSUR Parliaments in the Democracy Protection Agenda
Authors: Luciano Bruno Theodoro , Ramanzini Júnior Haroldo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis article aims to examine regional parliaments of two prominent regional organisations in South America (Southern Common Market) and Western Africa (Economic Community of West African States), by focusing on their performance in the agenda of democracy protection. We comparatively assess the performance of regional parliamentary agents in contributing to the mediation and conflict resolution in cases of democratic breakdown as well as the conditions and factors that affect parliamentary performance. We argue that regional parliaments have exerted relevant agency in democratic crises, despite their low decision-making competencies and the strong intergovernmental features of Global South regional organisations.
The miRNome function transitions from regulating developmental genes to transposable elements during pollen maturation
Authors: Oliver Cecilia , Annacondia Maria Luz , Wang Zhenxing , Jullien Pauline E , Slotkin R Keith , Köhler Claudia , Martinez German 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Animal and plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for the spatio-temporal regulation of development. Together with this role, plant miRNAs have been proposed to target transposable elements (TEs) and stimulate the production of epigenetically active small interfering RNAs. This activity is evident in the plant male gamete containing structure, the male gametophyte or pollen grain. How the dual role of plant miRNAs, regulating both genes and TEs, is integrated during pollen development and which mRNAs are regulated by miRNAs in this cell type at a genome-wide scale are unknown. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of miRNA dynamics and activity during pollen development in Arabidopsis thaliana using small RNA and degradome parallel analysis of RNA end high-throughput sequencing. Furthermore, we uncover miRNAs loaded into the two main active Argonaute (AGO) proteins in the uninuclear and mature pollen grain, AGO1 and AGO5. Our results indicate that the developmental progression from microspore to mature pollen grain is characterized by a transition from miRNAs targeting developmental genes to miRNAs regulating TE activity.
Origins of the Opioid Crisis and its Enduring Impacts
Authors: Alpert Abby , Evans William N , Lieber Ethan M J , Powell David 
Published: November 2021

AbstractOverdose deaths involving opioids have increased dramatically since the 1990s, leading to the worst drug overdose epidemic in U.S. history, but there is limited empirical evidence about the initial causes. In this article, we examine the role of the 1996 introduction and marketing of OxyContin as a potential leading cause of the opioid crisis. We leverage cross-state variation in exposure to OxyContin's introduction due to a state policy that substantially limited the drug's early entry and marketing in select states. Recently unsealed court documents involving Purdue Pharma show that state-based triplicate prescription programs posed a major obstacle to sales of OxyContin and suggest that less marketing was targeted to states with these programs. We find that OxyContin distribution was more than 50% lower in “triplicate states” in the years after the drug's launch. Although triplicate states had higher rates of overdose deaths prior to 1996, this relationship flipped shortly after the launch and triplicate states saw substantially slower growth in overdose deaths, continuing even 20 years after OxyContin's introduction. Our results show that the introduction and marketing of OxyContin explain a substantial share of overdose deaths over the past two decades.
AGE-DEPENDENT DOSE DUE TO INTAKE OF 40K, 228RA, 226RA IN SPRING WATER IN PETRA DISTRICT, JORDAN
Authors: Qwasmeh Ahmed Ali Husein 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
A HpGe detector was used to measure radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 228Ra and 226Ra in spring water from villages in Petra district in southern Jordan. The concentrations of 40K, 228Ra, 226Ra were 0.64–2.72 Bq/l, 0.05–0.08 Bq/l and 0.15–0.22 Bq/l, respectively. These values were compared to the concentrations of the corresponding radionuclides in studies from Jordan and near countries. The annual effective doses (${D}_{\mathrm{eff}}$) due to the intake of 40K, 228Ra and 226Ra, for the different age groups were calculated. The highest ${D}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ values due to the intake of 226Ra and 228Ra were found in the infants age group, whereas the lowest were found in the adults age group in every site. The annual effective doses in this study were compared to the committed annual effective doses from ingestion in UNSCEAR. The annual effective doses in this study were much higher than the committed values in UNSCEAR. The life time risk for radiation-induced cancer for the whole population was calculated for every sample and it revealed no extra risk over the one recommended by WHO.
Development and Internal Validation of Novel Risk Tools to Predict Subsequent Shoulder Surgery After Proximal Humerus Fractures
Authors: Nowak Lauren L. , Hall Jeremy , Davis Aileen M. , McKee Michael D. , Mamdani Muhammad , Beaton Dorcas , Schemitsch Emil H. 
Published: November 2021

Objective:
To (1) identify predictors of subsequent surgery after initial treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) and (2) generate valid risk prediction tools to predict subsequent surgery.

Methods:
We identified patients ≥50 years with PHF from 2004 to 2015 using health data sets in Ontario, Canada. We used procedural codes to classify patients into treatment groups of (1) surgical fixation, (2) shoulder replacement, and (3) conservative. We used procedural and diagnosis codes to capture subsequent surgery within 2 years after fracture. We developed regression models for two-thirds of each group to identify predictors of subsequent surgery and the regression equations to develop risk tools to predict subsequent surgery. We used the final third of each cohort to evaluate the discriminative ability of the risk tools using c-statistics.

Results:
We identified 20,897 patients with PHF, 2414 treated with fixation, 1065 with replacement, and 17,418 treated conservatively. Predictors of reoperation after fixation included bone grafting and nail or wire fixation versus plate fixation, whereas poor bone quality was associated with reoperation after initial replacement. In conservatively treated patients, more comorbidities were associated with subsequent surgery, whereas age 70+ and discharge home after presentation lowered the odds of subsequent surgery. The risk tools were able to discriminate with c-statistics of 0.75–0.88 (derivation) and 0.51–0.79 (validation).

Conclusions:
Our risk tools showed good to strong discriminative ability for patients treated conservatively and with fixation. These data may be used as the foundation to develop a clinically informative tool.

Level of Evidence:
Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Association Between Migraine and Dry Eye: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis
Authors: Chen Hanlin , Chen Aiming , Wang Shibin , Zou Minjie , Young Charlotte Aimee , Zheng Danying , Jin Guangming 
Published: November 2021

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess whether migraine might be associated with the increased risk of dry eye disease and to determine the strength of the association between migraine and dry eye disease.

Methods:
We searched EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science databases and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and VIP databases for studies that investigated the association between dry eye and migraine from inception to September 8, 2020. Relevant data were extracted by 2 investigators independently. Publication bias and heterogeneity were evaluated. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed by metaanalysis using random-effects models.

Results:
Of the 565 studies identified, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this metaanalysis. Patients with migraine had significantly higher morbidity of dry eye compared with the control group (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.32–1.82; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between dry eye and migraine was stronger in hospital-based studies (OR = 1.97, P = 0.036) than population-based studies (OR = 1.42, P < 0.001). In addition, differences in geographic location and diagnostic criteria have no effect on the results.

Conclusions:
There was a significant association between dry eye and migraine. Patients with migraine are more prone to suffer from dry eye than subjects without migraine, and the association strength varies among populations studied.
Cytokeratin 13 Is a New Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
Authors: Liang Qingfeng , Le Qihua , Wang Leying , Cordova Daniel , Baclagon Elfren , Garrido Sheyla González , Levin Mary , Jin Yusheng , Tseng Chi-hong , Rao Jianyu , Deng Sophie X. 
Published: November 2021

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of cytokeratin (K) 13 on the corneal surface and to validate its application in the diagnosis of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Methods:
This prospective comparative study included 26 corneal impression cytology (IC) specimens from patients diagnosed with LSCD. Twenty-three IC specimens from normal donors served as controls. K12 and K13 expression were detected on the IC specimens by immunohistochemistry study. The number of K12+ or K13+ cells in all areas of the IC was quantified using ImageJ software.

Results:
The epithelial cells harvested from IC specimens from control corneas were all K12+. In eyes with LSCD, K13+ and K12+/K13+ cells accounted for 93.8% and 2.6%, respectively, in the cornea. In eyes with sectoral LSCD, the median number of K13+ cells in the clinically affected area was higher than that in the unaffected area (810.0 vs. 115.0 cells/mm2; P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the LSCD severity and the number of K12+ cells (r = −0.284, P = 0.16) or K13+ cells (r = −0.011, P = 0.95). The presence of at least 16 K13+ cells/mm2 was suggestive of LSCD.

Conclusions:
Identification of K13+ cells on IC specimens provides a simple and reliable method to detect conjunctival epithelial cells on the cornea. K13 is a marker for diagnosing LSCD and localizing the involved area in sectoral LSCD.
Conjunctival Myxoma: High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography Findings of a Rare Tumor
Authors: Alvarado-Villacorta Rosa , Davila-Alquisiras Jesus H. , Ramos-Betancourt Nallely , Vazquez-Romo Kristian A. , Hernández-Ayuso Ivette , Ríos y Valles-Valles Dolores , Rodríguez-Reyes Abelardo A. 
Published: November 2021

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to describe 2 cases of biopsy-proven conjunctival myxomas and present their optical signs on high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) with clinical and histopathological correlations.

Methods:
Two middle-aged female patients with a clinical diagnosis of conjunctival cysts were referred for surgical treatment. Clinical assessment, photographs, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and HR-OCT images were obtained. Excisional biopsies were performed, and specimens were sent for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results:
Clinically, these patients presented with a well-circumscribed, semitranslucent, yellow–pinkish mass. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a dome-shaped epibulbar mass with medium-to-high internal reflectivity. No compromise of the underlying sclera was noted. HR-OCT showed a normal conjunctival epithelium, a subepithelial nonhomogeneous mass with hyperreflective and hyporeflective areas lined by a highly hyperreflective band, and mild posterior shadowing. Histopathological findings and immunoreactivity for CD34 and vimentin confirmed the diagnosis of conjunctival myxoma.

Conclusions:
The HR-OCT optical signs found in our 2 cases strongly correlated with the microscopic findings. Disclosing the optical signs observed on HR-OCT can help clinicians diagnose and differentiate this lesion, guiding its management. However, more studies with a larger number of patients comparing conjunctival myxoma and other ocular surface tumors are needed to enlighten readers about the unique pattern observed by HR-OCT.
A Meta-analysis of the Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Stroke Patients
Authors: Qiqi Ni , Hangting Li , Jia Wu , Jiaoni Shen , Xinrui Wan , Guijuan He 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Motivational interviewing has become a popular approach for relieving mood disturbances. We aimed to investigate whether motivational interviewing can effectively improve depression, anxiety, and quality of life among stroke patients. METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to March 15, 2021. Other potentially related studies were identified through manually searching the reference lists of empirical articles and relevant review articles. Randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of motivational interviewing on stroke patients with mood disturbances were deemed eligible. The Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analyses were conducted using the Review Manager Version 5.3. RESULTS: Six articles with 1419 participants were included. The subgroup analysis revealed that motivational interviewing was associated with improvement of depression (P < .00001) and quality of life (P = .0007) among patients having stroke at less than 12 months of follow-up. No significant differences were detected for improving depression (P = .40) and quality of life (P = .38) at 12 months of follow-up. Furthermore, the meta-analysis showed that motivational interviewing was not associated with alleviation of anxiety (P = .81) among stroke patients. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated that motivational interviewing might have beneficial effects on depression and quality of life in stroke patients at less than 12 months of follow-up. However, large and well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
“But it feels swollen!”: the frequency and clinical characteristics of people with knee osteoarthritis who report subjective knee swelling in the absence of objective swelling
Authors: Tanaka So , Nishigami Tomohiko , Ohishi Koji , Nishikawa Kazutaka , Wand Benedict M. , Stanton Tasha R. , Yamashita Hirofumi , Mibu Akira , Tokunaga Masami , Yoshimoto Takaaki , Ushida Takahiro 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Introduction:
There are complex interactions between pain and perceptions of the painful body part in musculoskeletal disorders, and disruption of various body representations in people with chronic pain.

Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to investigate how frequently people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) complain of swelling without objective evidence of swelling, and describe the clinical characteristics of this population.

Methods:
Forty-six people with knee OA (68.1 ± 8.8 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Subjective and objective swelling was evaluated by knee-specific body perception questionnaire and ultrasonography, respectively. Pain intensity, disability, pain-related beliefs, 2-point discrimination threshold, and quadriceps muscle strength were also evaluated.

Results:
Approximately 1/3 of participants (n = 15) had subjective feelings of knee swelling in the absence of objective swelling (S only). Fifteen participants had both subjective and objective knee swelling (S + O group) and 16 had neither subjective nor objective knee swelling (No S/O group). Participants in the S only group had similar pain or disability as those in the S + O group but had more severe pain or disability than those with in the No S/O group. Those in the S only group also had larger 2-point discrimination distance threshold at the medial knee (impaired tactile acuity) than those in the S + O group and had more dysfunctional pain catastrophizing and pain-related self-efficacy than both other groups.

Conclusion:
Our results suggest that about 30% of people with knee OA perceive swelling of the knee in the absence of any objective swelling and that this is accompanied by severe pain and functional disability. Considering altered body image of the knee may reveal relevant treatment-based subgroups in people with knee OA.
Utility of Metabolomic Biomarkers to Identify Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Mowry Christopher J. , Alonso Cristina , Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta Marta , Ortiz Pablo , Levitsky Josh , Rinella Mary 
Published: November 2021

Background.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising indication for liver transplantation (LT). Identification of NAFLD recurrence and those at risk for more progressive disease after LT remains elusive as the diagnosis requires biopsy, which is invasive and impractical for serial monitoring. We therefore aimed to identify metabolites in the blood associated with recurrent NAFLD that could potentially be used for detection and monitoring.

Methods.
This cross-sectional pilot study included 37 LT recipients who underwent simultaneous liver biopsy and plasma collection for metabolomic analysis. Metabolic profiles were compared between patients with recurrent NAFLD, normal liver (negative control), and acute rejection (rejection control).

Results.
Univariate analysis revealed 14 metabolites that were significantly altered in patients with recurrence of NAFLD compared with negative controls and 19 compared with rejection controls (P < 0.05). In addition, metabolomic profiling identified 16 metabolites that distinguished nonalcoholic fatty liver versus nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Metabolite class trends among patients with recurrent NAFLD following LT were consistent with prior metabolomics data in patients with NAFLD in the non-LT setting.

Conclusions.
In conclusion, we identified candidate metabolites that could be used in the clinical setting to noninvasively identify recurrent NAFLD and differentiate NAFL from the more progressive nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Further investigation with a larger sample size is warranted to validate these results.
The Ecology of Palm Genomes: Repeat-associated genome size expansion is constrained by aridity
Authors: Schley Rowan J. , Pellicer Jaume , Ge Xue-Jun , Barrett Craig , Bellot Sidonie , S. Guignard Maïté , Novák Petr , Suda Jan , Fraser Donald , Baker William J. , Dodsworth Steven , Macas Jiří , Leitch Andrew R. , Leitch Ilia J. 
Published: November 2021

SummaryGenome size varies 2,400-fold across plants, influencing their evolution through changes in cell size and cell division rates which impact plants’ environmental stress tolerance. Repetitive element expansion explains much genome size diversity, and the processes structuring repeat ‘communities’ are analogous to those structuring ecological communities. However, which environmental stressors influence repeat community dynamics has not yet been examined from an ecological perspective.We measured genome size and leveraged climatic data for 91% of genera within the ecologically diverse palm family (Arecaceae). We then generated genomic repeat profiles for 141 palm species, and analysed repeats using phylogenetically-informed linear models to explore relationships between repeat dynamics and environmental factors.We show that palm genome size and repeat ‘community’ composition are best explained by aridity. Specifically,EnSpm CACTArepeats were more abundant in palm species from wetter environments, which generally had larger genomes (>2.15Gbp/1C), suggesting amplification. In contrast,Ty1-copia Angelaelements were more abundant in drier environments.Our results suggest water stress inhibits the expansion of repeats through selection on upper genome size limits. However,Ty1-copia Angelaelements, which may associate with stress-response genes, have amplified in arid-adapted palm species. Overall, we provide novel evidence of climate influencing the assembly of repeat ‘communities’.
Epidemiological Analysis of Lower Limb Revascularization for Peripheral Arterial Disease over 12 years in the Public Health System in Brazil
Authors: Wolosker Nelson , da Silva Marcelo Fiorelli Alexandrino , Cassino Portugal Maria Fernanda , Stabellini Nickolas , Zerati Antônio Eduardo , Szlejf Claudia , Amaro Edson , Teivelis Marcelo Passos 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTObjectivesWorldwide, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disorder with high morbidity, affecting more than 200 million people. Our objective was to analyse the surgical treatment for PAD performed in the Unified Health System of Brazil over 12 years based on publicly available data.MethodsThe study was conducted with data analysis available on the DATASUS platform of the Brazilian Health Ministry, assessing procedure technique distribution throughout the years, mortality and cost.ResultsA total of 129,424 procedures were analysed (either for claudicants or critical ischemia, proportion unknown). The vast majority of procedures were Endovascular (65.49%), with a tendency for increase in this disproportion (p<0.001). There were 3,306 in-hospital deaths (mortality of 2.55%), with lower mortality in the Endovascular group (1.2% vs. 5.0%, p=0.008). The overall governmental investment for these procedures was U$ 238,010,096.51, and Endovascular Procedures were on average significantly more expensive than Open Surgery (U$ 1,932.27 v. U$ 1,517.32; p=0.016).ConclusionsIn the Brazilian Public Health System, lower limb revascularizations occurred with gradual growing frequency between 2008 and 2019. Endovascular procedures were vastly more common, and related to lower in-hospital mortality rates, but higher procedural costs.
CPTAC Pancancer Phosphoproteomics Kinase Enrichment Analysis with ProKAP Provides Insights into Immunogenic Signaling Pathways
Authors: Calinawan Anna , Ma Weiping , Evangelista John Erol , Reva Boris , Petralia Francesca , Ma’ayan Avi , Wang Pei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) initiative has generated extensive phosphoproteomics and proteomics data for tumor and tumor-adjacent normal tissue across multiple cancer types. This dataset provides an unprecedented opportunity to systematically characterize pan-cancer kinase activities, which is essential for coupling tumor subtypes with kinase inhibitors as potential treatment. In this work, we performed Kinase Enrichment Analysis (KEA) using a CPTAC phosphoproteomics dataset to identify putative differences in kinase state between tumor and normal tissues within and across five types of cancer. We then implemented an interactive web-portal, the ProTrack Kinase Activity Portal (ProKAP), for querying, visualizing, and downloading the derived pan-cancer kinase activity scores together with the corresponding sample metadata, and protein and phosphoprotein expression profiles. To illustrate the usage of this digital resource, we analyzed the association between kinase activity scores and immune subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) derived from the CPTAC ccRCC study. We found multiple kinases, whose inhibition has been suggested to have therapeutic effect in other tumor types, are highly active in CD8+-enriched ccRCC tumors. The ProTrack Kinase Activity Portal (ProKAP) is available at: https://pancan-kea3.cptac-data-view.org.