bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presumed tuberculosis-related scleritis
Authors: Sainz de La Maza Maite , Hernanz Ines , Moll-Udina Aina , Mesquida Marina , Adan Alfredo , Martinez Jose Antonio , Espinosa Gerard , Llorenç Víctor 
Published: November 2021

AimsTo evaluate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcome of patients with recurrent scleritis of unknown demonstrable aetiology and positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT).MethodsRetrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic outcome data of 15 patients. Clinical characteristics as well as remission rate after standard antituberculous therapy (ATT) were assessed.ResultsThere were 9 men and 6 women with a mean age of 48.9 years (range, 32–73). Scleritis was diffuse in 10 patients (66.6%) and nodular in 5 patients (33.3%), 1 of them with concomitant posterior scleritis. It was bilateral in 7 patients (46.6%) and recurrent in all of them. Scleritis appeared after prior uveitis (10 patients, 66.6%) and/or with concomitant uveitis (5 patients, 33.3%) or peripheral keratitis (5 patients, 33.3%). Previous ocular surgery was found in 7 patients (46.6%). Previous extraocular tuberculosis (TB) infection or previous TB contact was detected in 11 patients (73.3%). No radiologic findings of active extraocular TB were detected. ATT was used in 15 patients, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids (5 patients) and methotrexate (1 patient); 14 patients achieved complete remission (93.3%).ConclusionPresumed TB-related scleritis may appear in recurrent scleritis of unknown origin and positive QFT. It may occur after prior uveitis and/or concomitantly with uveitis or peripheral keratitis, and it may be triggered by previous ocular surgery. No patients had evidence of concurrent active extraocular infection, although many had previous TB infection or TB contact. ATT was effective, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids and methotrexate.
Injury incidence within male elite New Zealand cricket from the early T20 era: 2009–2015
Authors: Dovbysh Timofei , Reid Duncan , Shackel Dayle 
Published: November 2021

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the injury epidemiology of domestic and international level male New Zealand cricketers from seasons 2009–2010 to 2014–2015 across all match formats given the increasing popularity of T20 cricket.MethodsMatch exposure and injury surveillance data collected prospectively by New Zealand Cricket was analysed using international consensus recommendations for injury surveillance and reporting in cricket. Relationships between playing level, role and injury were statistically analysed.ResultsA total of 268 elite male New Zealand cricketers from seasons 2009–2010 to 2014–2015 were analysed from the New Zealand Cricket injury surveillance system. Total new match injury incidence rates were 37.0 and 58.0 injuries per 10 000 player hours in domestic and international cricket, respectively. Total new and recurrent match injury incidence in international cricket was approximately 1.7 times higher than domestic cricket (277.6 vs 162.8 injuries per 1000 player days). Injury prevalence rates were 7.6% and 10.0% in domestic and international cricket. The hamstring (8.2%) in domestic cricket and the groin (13.5%) in international cricket were the most injured body sites. Most match days lost in domestic cricket were to the lumbar spine (417 days), and groin in international cricket (152 days). There were statistically significant differences in injury between domestic and international level cricketers (χ2=4.39, p=0.036), and playing role (χ2=42.29, p<0.0001).ConclusionsTotal injury incidence rates in elite New Zealand cricket increased in 2009–2015 compared with previous data. International-level players and pace bowlers were the most injured individuals.
Association of disability with mortality in the Spanish adult non-institutionalised population
Authors: Damián Javier , Padron-Monedero Alicia , Almazán-Isla Javier , García López Fernando J , de Pedro-Cuesta Jesús , Pastor-Barriuso Roberto 
Published: November 2021

BackgroundThere are scant studies focused on measuring the association between disability and all-cause mortality based on large representative national samples of the community-dwelling adult population; moreover, the number of such studies which also include cause-specific mortality is yet lower.MethodsLongitudinal cohort study that used baseline data from 162 381 adults who participated in a countrywide disability survey (2008). A nationally representative sample was selected and interviewed in their homes. We present data on people ≥18 years. Disability was considered as any substantial limitation found on a list of 44 life activities that have lasted or are expected to last more than 1 year and originate from an impairment. Cause-specific mortality data were obtained from the Spanish Statistical Office. Subjects contributed follow-up time from baseline interview until death or the censoring date (31 December 2017). We computed standardised rate ratios (SRRs), with age, sex, living with a partner and education level distribution of the total group as standard population.ResultsAdults with disability (11%) had an adjusted mortality rate more than twice as high as adults without disability (SRR 2.37, 95% CI 2.24 to 2.50). The increased mortality risk remained over the 10-year follow-up period. Mortality due to diseases of the nervous system (SRR 4.86, 95% CI 3.93 to 6.01), diseases of the musculoskeletal system (SRR 3.45, 95% CI 2.18 to 5.47), infectious diseases (SRR 3.38, 95% CI 2.27 to 5.01) and diabetes mellitus (SRR 3.56, 95% CI 2.71 to 4.68) was particularly high in those with disability.ConclusionsAll-cause mortality rates are markedly higher among adults with disability. Preventive measures and health promotion initiatives are needed to reduce mortality risk in this population. Special attention should be paid to disabled people with certain specific diseases.
Impact of using different predictive equations on the prevalence of chronic byssinosis in textile workers in Pakistan
Authors: Nafees Asaad Ahmed , Muneer Muhammad Zia , De Matteis Sara , Amaral Andre , Burney Peter , Cullinan Paul 
Published: November 2021

ObjectiveByssinosis remains a significant problem among textile workers in low/middle-income countries. Here we share our experience of using different prediction equations for assessing ‘chronic’ byssinosis according to the standard WHO classification using measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1).MethodsWe enrolled 1910 workers in a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve the health of textile workers in Pakistan. We included in analyses the 1724 (90%) men who performed pre-bronchodilator spirometry tests of acceptable quality. We compared four different equations for deriving lung function percentage predicted values among those with symptoms-based byssinosis: the third US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III, with ‘North Indian and Pakistani’ conversion factor); the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI, ‘other or mixed ethnicities’); a recent equation derived from survey of a western Indian population; and one based on an older and smaller survey of Karachi residents.Results58 men (3.4%) had symptoms-based byssinosis according to WHO criteria. Of these, the proportions with a reduced FEV1 (<80% predicted) identified using NHANES and GLI; Indian and Pakistani reference equations were 40%, 41%, 14% and 12%, respectively. Much of this variation was eliminated when we substituted FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (<lower limit of normality) as a measure of airway obstruction.ConclusionAccurate measures of occupational disease frequency and distribution require approaches that are both standardised and meaningful. We should reconsider the WHO definition of ‘chronic’ byssinosis based on changes in FEV1, and instead use the FEV1/FVC.
Brand-switching and tobacco taxation in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Anh , Nguyen The Hoang , Nguyen Nuong Ai 
Published: November 2021

BackgroundThe government of Vietnam is embarking on a radical tobacco excise tax reform, switching from the current pure ad valorem scheme to a mixed system by adding a specific component. There have been concerns raised by state-owned tobacco companies against this initiative that switching to a mixed scheme may shift consumption away from cheaper, domestic brands to more expensive, foreign brands (produced locally by joint ventures between multinational tobacco companies and domestic firms) and to illicit cigarettes, thus impairing the domestic industry, rather than reducing cigarette consumption effectively. Unfortunately, although this concern has been one of the biggest obstacles to the tobacco tax reform in the country, no study thus far has attempted to address it due mostly to the unavailability of relevant micro-market data with detailed information on brand choice.ObjectivesThis research attempts to study cigarette brand substitution patterns and quantify the potential effect of the proposed tax structure change on cigarette brand choice to inform tax policy discussions in Vietnam.MethodsA discrete choice experiment is conducted to collect data on smokers’ stated brand choice when cigarette prices change exogenously. Combined with data on their current cigarette consumption, random parameter logit models were estimated and then used to calculate brand-level price semielasticities as well as numerically simulate the impact of tax reforms on smoking.ResultsSmokers are more likely to substitute a low-priced domestic brand with another domestic brand than either with a foreign brand or with an illicit brand, both of which are more expensive. Furthermore, the opt-out is one of the closest substitutes to low-priced brands and also the most sensitive to a change in their prices, implying that smokers of low-priced brands are more likely to buy none of the studied brands when cigarette prices increase. This provides strong suggestive evidence that they appear more likely to stop smoking when faced with higher cigarette prices. Imposing a specific tax tends to reduce the market share for both low-priced and high-priced licit brands, although the estimated market share reduction is larger for the former. In response to specific tax increases, a large share of current smokers do not intend to switch to illegal cigarette brands, but rather choose none of the experimented brands, suggesting their intention to quit. Finally, the magnitude of substitution to illicit brands tends to be negatively related to change in their prices as a result of the specific excise tax hike.ConclusionContrary to the raised concern, smokers are more likely to substitute a domestic brand with another domestic brand than with a foreign brand. Moreover, the threat of illicit trade should not be exaggerated, and there are actions that the government of Vietnam can take to mitigate the threat effectively.
Morphophysiological dormancy and germination ecology in diaspores of the subtropical palmPhoenix canariensis
Authors: He Lanlan , Jaganathan Ganesh K. , Liu Baolin 
Published: November 2021

The timing of germination is a crucial event in a plant’s life cycle. Seed dormancy and germination mechanisms are important factors regulating seedling emergence. Since detailed experimental evidence of the germination pattern of Phoenix canariensis Chabaud colonizing sub-tropical climates is scarce, we investigated seed dormancy and germination ecology of P. canariensis. We found that the embryo is underdeveloped at the time of dispersal and doubles in size before the cotyledonary petiole (CP) protrudes through the operculum. The primary root and plumule emerge from the elongated CP outside the seed. In light/dark cycles of 30/25 °C, the CP emerged from 8% of the diaspores within 30 days and from 76% within 14 weeks. Thus, 8% of the diaspores have morphological dormancy and the others have morphophysiological dormancy. Removal of the pericarp and operculum resulted in 100% germination within five days in a light/dark cycle of 30/25 °C. Cold and warm stratification as well as treatment with GA3significantly increased the germination speed but the final germination percentage was not significantly increased. Seed germination was synchronized in early summer when seed dormancy was released by cold stratification in the soil over winter. A remote-tubular germination type and intricate root system provide an ecological advantage to seedling establishment.
Contact interactions II; Gross-Pitaewskii equation, Bose-Einstein condensate, Fermi sea
Authors: Dell’Antonio G. F. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn Dell’Antonio (Eur Phys J Plus 13:1–20, 2021), we explored the possibility to analyse contact interaction in Quantum Mechanics using a variational tool, Gamma Convergence. Here, we extend the analysis in Dell’Antonio (Eur Phys J Plus 13:1–20, 2021) of joint weak contact of three particles to the non-relativistic case in which the free one particle Hamiltonian is $$ H_0 = - \frac{\Delta }{2M} $$

H
0

=
-

Δ

2
M

. We derive the Gross–Pitaevskii equation for a system of three particles in joint weak contact. We then define and study strong contact and show that the Gross–Pitaevskii equation is also the variational equation for the energy of the Bose–Einstein condensate (strong contact in a four-particle system). We add some comments on Bogoliubov’s theory. In the second part, we use the non-relativistic Pauli equation and weak contact to derive the spectrum of the conduction electrons in an infinite crystal. We prove that the spectrum is pure point with multiplicity two and eigenvalues that scale as $$ \frac{1}{log {n}}$$

1

logn

.
Seamless Genetic Recording of Transiently Activated Mesenchymal Gene Expression in Endothelial Cells During Cardiac Fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Shaohua , Li Yan , Huang Xiuzhen , Liu Kuo , Wang Qing-Dong , Chen Alex F. , Sun Kun , Lui Kathy O. , Zhou Bin 
Published: November 2021

Background:
Cardiac fibrosis is a lethal outcome of excessive formation of myofibroblasts that are scar-forming cells accumulated after heart injury. It has been reported that cardiac endothelial cells (ECs) contribute to a substantial portion of myofibroblasts through endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndoMT). Recent lineage tracing studies demonstrate that myofibroblasts are derived from the expansion of resident fibroblasts rather than from the transdifferentiation of ECs. However, it remains unknown whether ECs can transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts reversibly or EndoMT genes were just transiently activated in ECs during cardiac fibrosis.

Methods:
By using the dual recombination technology based on Cre-loxP and Dre-rox, we generated a genetic lineage tracing system for tracking EndoMT in cardiac ECs. We used it to examine if there is transiently activated mesenchymal gene expression in ECs during cardiac fibrosis. Activation of the broadly used marker gene in myofibroblasts, αSMA (α-smooth muscle actin), and the transcription factor that induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition, Zeb1 (zinc finger E-box–binding homeobox 1), was examined.

Results:

The genetic system enables continuous tracing of transcriptional activity of targeted genes in vivo. Our genetic fate mapping results revealed that a subset of cardiac ECs transiently expressed
αSMA
and
Zeb1
during embryonic valve formation and transdifferentiated into mesenchymal cells through EndoMT. Nonetheless, they did not contribute to myofibroblasts, nor transiently expressed
αSMA
or
Zeb1
after heart injury. Instead, expression of
αSMA
was activated in resident fibroblasts during cardiac fibrosis.

Conclusions:
Mesenchymal gene expression is activated in cardiac ECs through EndoMT in the developing heart, but ECs do not transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts, nor transiently express some known mesenchymal genes during homeostasis and fibrosis in the adult heart. Resident fibroblasts that are converted to myofibroblasts by activating mesenchymal gene expression are the major contributors to cardiac fibrosis.
Dietary Fatty Acids, Macronutrient Substitutions, Food Sources and Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease: Findings From the EPIC‐CVD Case‐Cohort Study Across Nine European Countries
Authors: Steur Marinka , Johnson Laura , Sharp Stephen J. , Imamura Fumiaki , Sluijs Ivonne , Key Timothy J. , Wood Angela , Chowdhury Rajiv , Guevara Marcela , Jakobsen Marianne U. , Johansson Ingegerd , Koulman Albert , Overvad Kim , Sánchez Maria‐José , van der Schouw Yvonne T. , Trichopoulou Antonia , Weiderpass Elisabete , Wennberg Maria , Zheng Ju‐Sheng , Boeing Heiner , Boer Jolanda M. A. , Boutron‐Ruault Marie‐Christine , Ericson Ulrika , Heath Alicia K. , Huybrechts Inge , Imaz Liher , Kaaks Rudolf , Krogh Vittorio , Kühn Tilman , Kyrø Cecilie , Masala Giovanna , Melander Olle , Moreno‐Iribas Conchi , Panico Salvatore , Quirós José R. , Rodríguez‐Barranco Miguel , Sacerdote Carlotta , Santiuste Carmen , Skeie Guri , Tjønneland Anne , Tumino Rosario , Verschuren W. M. Monique , Zamora‐Ros Raul , Dahm Christina C. , Perez‐Cornago Aurora , Schulze Matthias B. , Tong Tammy Y. N. , Riboli Elio , Wareham Nicholas J. , Danesh John , Butterworth Adam S. , Forouhi Nita G. 
Published: November 2021

Background
There is controversy about associations between total dietary fatty acids, their classes (saturated fatty acids [SFAs], monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids), and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Specifically, the relevance of food sources of SFAs to CHD associations is uncertain.

Methods and Results
We conducted a case‐cohort study involving 10 529 incident CHD cases and a random subcohort of 16 730 adults selected from a cohort of 385 747 participants in 9 countries of the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study. We estimated multivariable adjusted country‐specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs per 5% of energy intake from dietary fatty acids, with and without isocaloric macronutrient substitutions, using Prentice‐weighted Cox regression models and pooled results using random‐effects meta‐analysis. We found no evidence for associations of the consumption of total or fatty acid classes with CHD, regardless of macronutrient substitutions. In analyses considering food sources, CHD incidence was lower per 1% higher energy intake of SFAs from yogurt (HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.88–0.99]), cheese (HR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96–1.00]), and fish (HR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.75–1.00]), but higher for SFAs from red meat (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.02–1.12]) and butter (HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00–1.04]).

Conclusions
This observational study found no strong associations of total fatty acids, SFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with incident CHD. By contrast, we found associations of SFAs with CHD in opposite directions dependent on the food source. These findings should be further confirmed, but support public health recommendations to consider food sources alongside the macronutrients they contain, and suggest the importance of the overall food matrix.
Direct Transfer to Angiosuite Triage Strategy for Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Rural Setting
Authors: Mendez Aldo A. , Farooqui Mudassir , Dajles Andres , Zevallos Cynthia B. , Quispe‐Orozco Darko , Mendez‐Ruiz Alan , Vivanco‐Suarez Juan , Samaniego Edgar A. , Limaye Kaustubh , Dandapat Sudeepta , Jovin Tudor G. , Ortega‐Gutierrez Santiago 
Published: November 2021

Background
A direct admission to angiosuite (DAA) strategy in transfer patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) is considered to decrease stroke time metrics and benefit functional outcomes. However, feasibility and effectiveness of DAA have not been established in rural settings. Fast door‐to‐reperfusion times and high‐quality reperfusion are key predictors of outcome in patients with LVO. To reduce treatment times in transferred patients with suspected LVO, we initiated a DAA triage protocol in 2017.

Methods
We conducted a nested interventional cohort study of adult patients with anterior LVO from January 2015 to August 2019 transferred to our center from an outside hospital. Patients were divided into DAA for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and patients directly admitted to the emergency department (DAED). DAED was subdivided into patients undergoing MT and patients who did not. Workflow times and clinical and radiographic outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Forty‐five DAA patients and 241 DAED patients (DAED patients undergoing MT=134 patients and DAED patients not undergoing MT=107 patients) were identified. DAA patients had significantly shorter median door‐to‐arterial‐puncture times (15 versus 71 minutes) and puncture‐to‐recanalization times (27 versus 42.5 minutes). At discharge, DAA patients had a significant decrease in median admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (ΔNIHSS score 10 versus 4;
P
=0.02), and higher rate of dramatic clinical improvement (ΔNIHSS score >10; 48.9% versus 23.5%;
P
<0.001). Both groups had comparable rates of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale; mRS 0–2; 36.1% versus 29.2%;
P
=0.52), and mortality at 90 days (
P
=0.63). When mortality was excluded, DAA patients showed a significant proportion of excellent functional outcome (mRS 0–1; 50% versus 26%) before (
P
=0.04) and after (
P
=0.02) adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions
DAA is feasible and can safely reduce reperfusion times in transferred patients with LVO to MT centers in a rural setting. Reducing workflow times may impact the functional recovery of patients undergoing MT.
Quantifying Social Biases in NLP: A Generalization and Empirical Comparison of Extrinsic Fairness Metrics
Authors: Czarnowska Paula , Vyas Yogarshi , Shah Kashif 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Measuring bias is key for better understanding and addressing unfairness in NLP/ML models. This is often done via fairness metrics, which quantify the differences in a model’s behaviour across a range of demographic groups. In this work, we shed more light on the differences and similarities between the fairness metrics used in NLP. First, we unify a broad range of existing metrics under three generalized fairness metrics, revealing the connections between them. Next, we carry out an extensive empirical comparison of existing metrics and demonstrate that the observed differences in bias measurement can be systematically explained via differences in parameter choices for our generalized metrics.
Sex and age differences in skull size in Myodes glareolus from Slovakia
Authors: Csanády Alexander , Mošanský Ladislav 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
The results of a craniometric analysis of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) were evaluated in this study. Twenty cranial variables were measured and evaluated on 149 skulls (78 males, 71 females) with respect to sex and age. The main aim of this study was to test the sexual dimorphism in skull size. Overall, our results showed that on average, the values for adult and subadult females of M. glareolus were higher than for males. Results presented here thus reveal sexual differences in the measured cranial traits, most expressed for the length of the mandible and the height of the mandible. The effect size was very large for the length of the first upper molar. Comparison of our results with those from other countries confirmed that there are regional differences. These findings highlight the need for craniometric analysis of species also at the regional level.