bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of BabesiaRNA and DNA in whole blood samples from US blood donations
Authors: Stanley Jean , Stramer Susan L. , Erickson Yasuko , Cruz Julie , Gorlin Jed , Janzen Mark , Rossmann Susan N. , Straus Todd , Albrecht Patrick , Pate Lisa Lee , Galel Susan A. ,   the cobas Babesia IND study group
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundHuman babesiosis is a zoonotic infection caused by an intraerythrocytic parasite. The highest incidence of babesiosis is in the United States, although cases have been reported in other parts of the world. Due to concerns of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended year‐round regional testing for Babesia by nucleic acid testing or use of an FDA‐approved device for pathogen reduction. A new molecular test, cobas Babesia (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.), was evaluated for the detection of the four species that cause human disease, Babesia microti, Babesia duncani, Babesia divergens, and Babesia venatorum.Study design and methodsAnalytical performance was evaluated followed by clinical studies on whole blood samples from US blood donations collected in a special tube containing a chaotropic reagent that lyses the red cells and preserves nucleic acid. Sensitivity and specificity of the test in individual samples (individual donation testing [IDT]) and in pools of six donations were determined.ResultsBased on analytical studies, the claimed limit of detection of cobas Babesia for B. microti is 6.1 infected red blood cells (iRBC)/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.0, 7.9); B. duncani was 50.2 iRBC/mL (95% CI: 44.2, 58.8); B. divergens was 26.1 (95% CI: 22.3, 31.8); and B. venatorum was 40.0 iRBC/mL (95% CI: 34.1, 48.7). The clinical specificity for IDT was 99.999% (95% CI: 99.996, 100) and 100% (95% CI: 99.987, 100) for pools of six donations.Conclusioncobas Babesia enables donor screening for Babesia species with high sensitivity and specificity.
International capital markets and domestic employment: Evidence from worldwide publicly listed large firms
Authors: Hou Fangfang , Magnani Elisabetta , Xu Xinpeng 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe study how access to the international capital market affects domestic employment. Using a large firm‐level panel data set that covers over 60 countries between 1982 and 2014, we find that access to the international capital market positively affects firm‐level employment, and the magnitude of this impact is economically significant. This causal effect is identified through a generalised triple‐differences identification strategy that exploits variations in both external financial dependence and the progress of capital account openness. We also show that there are substantial heterogeneous effects across countries and firms; the effect is more pronounced for firms in industries that depend more on external finance and those in countries with weaker employment protection legislation. In addition, financially constrained firms respond more positively to international capital market access. Overall, our findings suggest that a strategy of gradually opening international capital markets will support employment.
The origin of rest-mass energy
Authors: Melia Fulvio 
Published: August 2021

AbstractToday we have a solid, if incomplete, physical picture of how inertia is created in the standard model. We know that most of the visible baryonic ‘mass’ in the Universe is due to gluonic back-reaction on accelerated quarks, the latter of which attribute their own inertia to a coupling with the Higgs field – a process that elegantly and self-consistently also assigns inertia to several other particles. But we have never had a physically viable explanation for the origin of rest-mass energy, in spite of many attempts at understanding it towards the end of the nineteenth century, culminating with Einstein’s own landmark contribution in his Annus Mirabilis. Here, we introduce to this discussion some of the insights we have garnered from the latest cosmological observations and theoretical modeling to calculate our gravitational binding energy with that portion of the Universe to which we are causally connected, and demonstrate that this energy is indeed equal to$$mc^2$$mc2when the inertiamis viewed as a surrogate for gravitational mass.
High efficiency Doherty power amplifier based on asymmetrical matching network
Authors: Mabrok Mussa , Zakaria Zahriladha , Sutikno Tole 
Published: August 2021

Doherty power amplifier (DPA) with high efficiency at the output power back off is highly demanded for modern wireless communication systems to achieve high data rates and reduce the power consumption and operation costs. This paper presents a new design strategy for enhancing DPA’s back-off efficiency. New design strategy called asymmetrical matching network is used to achieve asymmetric operation, which helps to compensate for the low power delivered by the peaking stage in the conventional DPA. The simulation results showed an enhancement in the back-off efficiency, where the proposed design is able toachieve 46-52% drain efficiency at 8 dB output power back-off while maintains high efficiency of 73-80 % at saturation over the designed bandwidth of 3.4-3.6 GHz. The proposed design is suitable for high efficiency sub-6 GHz fifth-generation wireless applications.<br /><div> </div>
Effects of Aging on Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Transcriptional Changes in Pathways of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Clearance
Authors: Rizvi Farhan , Preston Claudia C. , Emelyanova Larisa , Yousufuddin Mohammed , Viqar Maria , Dakwar Omar , Ross Gracious R. , Faustino Randolph S. , Holmuhamedov Ekhson L. , Jahangir Arshad 
Published: August 2021

Background
Age‐related heart diseases are significant contributors to increased morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence indicates that mitochondria within cardiomyocytes contribute to age‐related increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that plays an essential role in aging‐associated cardiac diseases.

Methods and Results

The present study investigated differences between ROS production in cardiomyocytes isolated from adult (6 months) and aged (24 months) Fischer 344 rats, and in cardiac tissue of adult (18–65 years) and elderly (>65 years) patients with preserved cardiac function. Superoxide dismutase inhibitable ferricytochrome
c
reduction assay (1.32±0.63 versus 0.76±0.31 nMol/mg per minute;
P
=0.001) superoxide and H
2
O
2
production, measured as dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluorescence (1646±428 versus 699±329,
P
=0.04), were significantly higher in the aged versus adult cardiomyocytes. Similarity in age‐related alteration between rats and humans was identified in mitochondrial‐electron transport chain‐complex‐I‐associated increased oxidative‐stress by MitoSOX fluorescence (53.66±18.58 versus 22.81±12.60;
P
=0.03) and in 4‐HNE adduct levels (187.54±54.8 versus 47.83±16.7 ng/mg protein,
P
=0.0063), indicative of increased peroxidation in the elderly. These differences correlated with changes in functional enrichment of genes regulating ROS homeostasis pathways in aged human and rat hearts. Functional merged collective network and pathway enrichment analysis revealed common genes prioritized in human and rat aging‐associated networks that underlay enriched functional terms of mitochondrial complex I and common pathways in the aging human and rat heart.

Conclusions
Aging sensitizes mitochondrial and extramitochondrial mechanisms of ROS buildup within the heart. Network analysis of the transcriptome highlights the critical elements involved with aging‐related ROS homeostasis pathways common in rat and human hearts as targets.
Transmethylamine‐N‐Oxide Is Associated With Diffuse Cardiac Fibrosis in People Living With HIV
Authors: Colaco Nalini A. , Wang Teresa S. , Ma Yifei , Scherzer Rebecca , Ilkayeva Olga R. , Desvigne‐Nickens Patrice , Braunwald Eugene , Hernandez Adrian F. , Butler Javed , Shah Svati H. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Hsue Priscilla Y. 
Published: August 2021

Background
People living with HIV are at increased risk of developing diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death, all of which have been characterized by higher levels of myocardial fibrosis. Transmethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO), a dietary gut metabolite, is linked to the development of myocardial fibrosis in animal models. However, it is unclear whether TMAO plays a role in the development of myocardial fibrosis in people living with HIV.

Methods and Results

The study population consisted of participants enrolled in the multisite cross‐sectional study called CHART‐HIV (Characterizing Heart Function on Anti‐Retroviral Therapy). Participants underwent echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, biomarker analysis, and targeted assessment of gut‐related circulating metabolites; diastolic dysfunction was determined by study‐specific criteria. Multivariable linear regression models were performed to examine the relationship of gut‐related metabolites with serum and imaging measures of myocardial fibrosis. Models were adjusted for traditional cardiovascular, inflammatory, and HIV‐related risk factors. Diastolic dysfunction was present in 94 of 195 individuals (48%) in CHART‐HIV; this cohort demonstrated higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic kidney disease as well as higher plasma levels of both TMAO and choline. TMAO levels were associated with parameters reflecting increased left ventricular filling pressures and with a marker of the innate immune system. TMAO levels correlated with diffuse myocardial fibrosis (
R
=0.35;
P
<0.05) as characterized by myocardial extracellular volume fraction as well as biomarkers reflective of myocardial fibrosis.

Conclusions
In this study of people living with HIV, the gut metabolite TMAO was associated with underlying diffuse myocardial fibrosis and found to be a potential marker of early structural heart disease. The mechanistic role of the gut microbiome in HIV‐associated cardiovascular disease warrants further investigation.

Registration

URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02860156.
Vitamin K Intake and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the Danish Diet Cancer and Health Study
Authors: Bellinge Jamie W. , Dalgaard Frederik , Murray Kevin , Connolly Emma , Blekkenhorst Lauren C. , Bondonno Catherine P. , Lewis Joshua R. , Sim Marc , Croft Kevin D. , Gislason Gunnar , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Tjønneland Anne , Overvad Kim , Hodgson Jonathan M. , Schultz Carl , Bondonno Nicola P. 
Published: August 2021

Background

Dietary vitamin K (K
1
and K
2
) may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk via several mechanisms. However, studies linking vitamin K intake with incident ASCVD are limited. We aimed to determine the relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and ASCVD hospitalizations.

Methods and Results

In this prospective cohort study, participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, with no prior ASCVD, completed a food‐frequency questionnaire at baseline and were followed up for hospital admissions of ASCVD; ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intakes of vitamin K
1
and vitamin K
2
were estimated from the food‐frequency questionnaire, and their relationship with ASCVD hospitalizations was determined using Cox proportional hazards models. Among 53 372 Danish citizens with a median (interquartile range) age of 56 (52–60) years, 8726 individuals were hospitalized for any ASCVD during 21 (17–22) years of follow‐up. Compared with participants with the lowest vitamin K
1
intakes, participants with the highest intakes had a 21% lower risk of an ASCVD‐related hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.74–0.84), after multivariable adjustments for relevant demographic covariates. Likewise for vitamin K
2
, the risk of an ASCVD‐related hospitalization for participants with the highest intakes was 14% lower than participants with the lowest vitamin K
2
intake (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81–0.91).

Conclusions

Risk of ASCVD was inversely associated with diets high in vitamin K
1
or K
2
. The similar inverse associations with both vitamin K
1
and K
2
, despite very different dietary sources, highlight the potential importance of vitamin K for ASCVD prevention.
Colchicine in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Kofler Thomas , Kurmann Reto , Lehnick Dirk , Cioffi Giacomo Maria , Chandran Sujay , Attinger‐Toller Adrian , Toggweiler Stefan , Kobza Richard , Moccetti Federico , Cuculi Florim , Jolly Sanjit S. , Bossard Matthias 
Published: August 2021

Background
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in coronary artery disease (CAD). The anti‐inflammatory drug colchicine seems to reduce ischemic events in patients with CAD. So far there is equipoise about its safety and impact on mortality.

Methods and Results

To evaluate the utility of colchicine in patients with acute and chronic CAD, we performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and conference abstracts were searched from January 1975 to October 2020. Randomized trials assessing colchicine compared with placebo/standard therapy in patients with CAD were included. Data were combined using random‐effects models. The reliability of the available data was tested using trial sequential analyses . Of 3108 citations, 13 randomized trials (n=13 125) were included. Colchicine versus placebo/standard therapy in patients with CAD reduced risk of myocardial infarction (odds ratio [OR] 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46–0.90;
P
=0.01;
I
2
41%) and stroke/transient ischemic attack (OR 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31–0.81;
P
=0.005;
I
2
0%). But treatment with colchicine compared with placebo/standard therapy had no influence on all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.65–1.41;
P
=0.83;
I
2
24%; and OR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.55–1.22;
P
=0.45;
I
2
0%, respectively). Colchicine increased the risk for gastrointestinal side effects (
P
<0.001). According to trial sequential analyses, there is only sufficient evidence for a myocardial infarction risk reduction with colchicine.

Conclusions
Among patients with CAD, colchicine reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, but has a higher rate of gastrointestinal upset with no influence on all‐cause mortality.
Diabetes, disability, and dementia risk: Results from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE)
Authors: Vásquez Elizabeth , Gadgil Meghana A , Zhang Weihui , Angel Jacqueline L 
Published: August 2021

Background: Emerging research has elucidated pathophysiological relationships among diabetes, disability, cognitive impairment, and incident dementia. However, the relationships between diabetes, disability, and dementia have been largely underexamined in Latino populations, which have a disproportionate prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Aims: This study examines diabetes as a risk factor for subsequent disability and dementia risk in a Mexican-origin older adult sample. Methods: The data are drawn from eight waves (1993–2013) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (HEPESE; N = 3,050, mean age at baseline = 73.6 (±6.8)). Respondents’ diabetes status at baseline was ascertained by self-report. Disability was assessed using eight functional domains assessed through the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale. Dementia risk was assessed using a Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score below 18 and the need for aid with at least two IADLs. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to predict the relation between diabetes and time to disability, cognitive impairment, and incident dementia, adjusting for age at migration, socioeconomic status, acculturation, and health status. Results: At baseline, diabetes prevalence was 28.1%, and 37.7% had IADL disability. Diabetes was associated with a higher risk of developing dementia (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.22, p < .001) over the approximetely 20 year study period. In addition, immigrants who migrated at age 50 or older had a higher dementia risk (HR = 1.35, p = .01) when compared to their US-born counterpart. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of better characterizing the role of diabetes and nativity in the co-occurrence of disability and dementia risk.
In vivo performance of decellularized tracheal grafts in the reconstruction of long length tracheal defects: Experimental study
Authors: Villalba-Caloca Jaime , Sotres-Vega Avelina , Giraldo-Gómez David M , Gaxiola-Gaxiola Miguel O , Piña-Barba Maria C , García-Montes Jazmín A , Martínez-Fonseca Sergio , Alonso-Gómez Marcelino , Santibáñez-Salgado J Alfredo 
Published: August 2021

Background: The repair of long-segment tracheal lesions remains an important challenge. Nowdays no predictable and dependable substitute has been found. Decellularized tracheal scaffolds have shown to be a promising graft for tracheal transplantation, since it is non-immunogenic. Objective: Evaluate in vivo decellularized tracheal allografts performance to replace long tracheal segment. Methods: Forty-five swines underwent surgery as follows: Fifteen trachea donors and 30 receptors of decellularized trachea allografts. The receptors were randomly divided in five groups ( n = 6). In groups I and II, donor trachea segment was decellularized by 15 cycles with sodium deoxycholate and deoxyribonuclease, in group II, the allograft was reinforced with external surgical steel wire. Groups, III, IV, and V decellularization was reduced to seven cycles, supplemented with cryopreservation in group IV and with glutaraldehyde in group V. A 10 rings segment was excised from the receptor swine and the decellularized trachea graft was implanted to re-establish trachea continuity. Results: Both decellularization cycles caused decreased stiffness. All trachea receptors underwent euthanasia before the third post-implant week due to severe dyspnea and trachea graft stenosis, necrosis, edema, inflammation, hemorrhage, and granulation tissue formation in anastomotic sites. Histologically all showed total loss of epithelium, separation of collagen fibers, and alterations in staining. Conclusions: Both decellularization techniques severely damaged the structure of the trachea and the extracellular matrix of the cartilage, resulting in a no functional graft, in spite of the use of surgical wire, cryopreservation or glutaraldehyde treatment. An important drawback was the formation of fibrotic stenosis in both anastomosis.
Municipal solid waste collection systems: An indicator to assess the reusability of products
Authors: Degli Esposti Anna , Magrini Chiara , Bonoli Alessandra 
Published: August 2021

The paper illustrates a model to support waste management (WM) operators of municipal solid waste (MSW) services. This study proposes a framework to evaluate the potential of preparation for reuse (PfR) as strategy to jointly decrease social, environmental and economic impacts and meet the legal targets on waste management. As general indicators to evaluate the reusability of products do not exist yet, the aim of this study is the definition of a comprehensive indicator, which may be calculated for each product category by waste collection operators. The proposed reusability indicator includes one coefficient evaluating the potential for reuse, and three impact indicators for the assessment of social, environmental and economic performances. The indicator can be calculated by using real data, gathered by the waste collection operators in collaboration with reuse centres and referred to previous years. Hence, the proposed methodology allows waste collection operators to evaluate the potential consequences of the reuse strategy on their MSW collection system to monitor and disclose to public the impacts related to reuse activities, facilitating the achievement of sustainability in the WM sector. Graphical abstract [Formula: see text]
Macro and microangiopathy related to retinopathy and choroidopathy in type 2 diabetes
Authors: de Asís Bartol-Puyal Francisco , Isanta Carlos , Calvo Pilar , Abadía Beatriz , Ruiz-Moreno Óscar , Pablo Luis 
Published: August 2021

Purpose: To describe the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and choroidal thickness (CT), and systemic macro and microangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Cross-sectional study enrolling 200 eyes (100 T2D naïve patients) without macular edema. DR was graded and swept-source optical coherence tomography Triton DRI (Topcon) was used to measure CT, which gave automatic measurements in ETDRS grid. An endocrinologist examined all the patients and searched in their medical records for data about macro and microangiopathy: ischemic cardiopathy (IC), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), peripheral artery disease (PAD), nephropathy, and peripheral polyneuropathy (PPN). Results: Mean age was 67.38 ± 8.15 years, mean axial length was 23.26 ± 0.09 mm, and mean IOP was 16.75 ± 3.06 mmHg. Sixty eyes had no DR, 46 had mild, 64 had moderate, 20 had severe, and 10 had proliferative DR. IC was correlated with horizontal choroidal zones ( p < 0.05 and η between 0.16 and 0.21) but not with DR ( p = 0.16). CVA was neither correlated with CT ( p > 0.05) nor with DR ( p = 0.39). PAD was not correlated with CT ( p > 0.05) but it was with DR ( p = 0.03). The type of nephropathy was correlated both with CT in vertical sectors ( p < 0.05 and η between 0.15 and 0.27) and DR ( p = 0.01, τ = 0.24). PPN was not correlated with CT ( p > 0.05) but it was with DR ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: DR is correlated with microangiopathy (nephropathy and PPN) but not with macroangiopathy (IC, CVA, and PAD). CT is mildly correlated with nephropathy and IC. Some choroidal regions are more sensitive than others to each diabetic macro and microvascular manifestation.
Parallel Wiring Using a Single Intravascular Ultrasound Catheter with Double Rapid Exchange Lumens Technique for Chronic Total Occlusions in Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Tan Michinao , Urasawa Kazushi , Sato Yusuke , Miwa Takashi , Hayashi Taichi 
Published: August 2021

Purpose: To describe a parallel wiring using a single intravascular ultrasound catheter with double rapid exchange lumens (PASSABLE) technique for peripheral CTOs. Technique: The technique is demonstrated in a 73-year-old patient with CTOs of the superficial femoral and popliteal artery. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination revealed the first guidewire was advanced to the intramedial space of the popliteal artery. Following insertion of the first guidewire into only the distal rapid exchange lumen of the IVUS catheter and a second guidewire into the proximal rapid exchange lumen, a guidewire torquer was passed over it and tightened close to an exit port of the proximal rapid exchange lumen to prevent it from exiting an entry port while advancing the IVUS catheter. The IVUS catheter was advanced to the intraplaque region using only the distal rapid exchange lumen and the second guidewire was then advanced to the intraplaque region under IVUS guidance. The IVUS-guided wiring using the second guidewire on both the distal and proximal rapid exchange lumen was continued and resulted in a successful guidewire crossing into the distal true lumen. Conclusion: This novel technique may prove beneficial in enabling operators to perform IVUS-guided parallel wiring more easily and efficiently.