bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic impact of safety protocols for processing peritoneal washing specimens during the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019: A comparative study from 195 cytological samples
Authors: Santoro Angela , Angelico Giuseppe , Mastrosimini Maria Gaia , Inzani Frediano , Cianfrini Federica , Straccia Patrizia , Arciuolo Damiano , D'Alessandris Nicoletta , Scaglione Giulia , Spadola Saveria , Rossi Esther Diana , Zannoni Gian Franco 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 represents a major concern for health services worldwide, and has also induced major changes in cytopathology practice.AimWe aimed to verify the diagnostic performance of cytological evaluation under a new safety protocol during the pandemic compared to the standard pre‐pandemic procedure. We also aimed to assess how cytological diagnoses and sampling were impacted during the pandemic period compared to the pandemic‐free period in 2019.Materials and methodsCytological samples of peritoneal washings taken during the first 10 months of the pandemic emergency in Italy (March 11, 2020 to January 11, 2021) were compared to samples from the preceding 10‐month time frame (May 11, 2019 to March 10, 2020).ResultsOne hundred ninety‐five specimens were analysed in the present study. We observed no noticeable differences in cytological diagnoses during the pandemic period compared to the pre‐pandemic period. The case numbers by diagnostic category for the pre‐pandemic vs pandemic periods, respectively, were as follows: non‐diagnostic, 0 vs 0 cases; negative for malignancy, 86 vs 52 cases; atypia of uncertain significance, 7 vs 1 cases; suspicious for malignancy, 0 vs 2 cases; malignant, 42 vs 4 cases.ConclusionWhile a consistent reduction in the number of cytological examinations has been observed during the COVID‐19 period, our institutional safety protocol for processing cytological samples did not affect the diagnostic reliability of peritoneal washing cytology.
Vascular origin in acute transient visual disturbance: A prospective study
Authors: Obadia Michael , Lamirel Cedric , Meseguer Elena , Seners Pierre , Zuber Kevin , Rosenheim Michel , Yavchitz Amelie , Bidot Samuel , Hage Rabih , Sabben Candice , Savatovsky Julien , Lavallée Philippa C. , Gout Olivier , Vignal Catherine , Amarenco Pierre 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeThis study was undertaken to validate a clinical score of vascular origin in patients with acute transient visual disturbances (TVDs) without diplopia.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study in an ophthalmology emergency department and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) clinic. Patients underwent clinical evaluation including a tailored questionnaire, brain, vascular, and ophthalmologic investigations, and 3‐month follow‐up. TVDs were classified according to vascular or nonvascular origin by three independent experts based on all clinical, cerebrovascular, and ophthalmologic investigations, but blind to the questionnaire results. A clinical score was derived based on clinical variables independently associated with a vascular origin, and was externally validated in an independent cohort.ResultsAn ischemic origin of TVD was found in 45% (67/149) of patients in the derivation cohort. Age and six questions were independently associated with an ischemic origin. A nine‐point score (≥70 years old = 2; monocular visual loss = 2; black or white vision = 1; single episode = 1; lack of headache = 2; diffuse, constricted, altitudinal, or lateralized visual loss pattern on drawings = 1) showed good discriminative power in identifying ischemic origin (c‐statistic = 0.82) and was replicated in the validation cohort (n = 130, 25% of ischemic origin, c‐statistic = 0.75). With a score ≥ 4, sensitivity was 85% (95% confidence interval = 68−95) and specificity was 52% (95% confidence interval = 41−62). In both cohorts, ophthalmologic evaluation found a vascular cause in 4% and was noncontributive in 85%. After 3 months, no patients had a stroke, TIA, or retinal infarct.ConclusionsOur score may assist in predicting a vascular origin of TVD. Ophthalmologic evaluation, when not readily available, should not delay the neurovascular evaluation.
Gas permeation and thermomechanical properties for macroporous alumina focused on necking size at grain boundaries
Authors: Honda Sawao , Jia Pengfei , Daiko Yusuke , Hashimoto Shinobu , Nait‐Ali Benoît , Smith David S. , Iwamoto Yuji 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe gas permeation and thermomechanical properties of macroporous alumina used as a support substrate for microporous ceramic permselective membranes were investigated. The porosity, pore size, and apparent necking size between grains of macroporous alumina were systematically varied, and the relationships between the porous microstructure and material properties were examined. The grain necking size at alumina grain boundaries was evaluated by microstructural observations. The nitrogen gas permeance of the porous alumina increased with increasing pore size. All the measured thermal and mechanical properties decreased with increasing porosity. The properties of porous alumina samples with extensive grain necking showed higher values even in samples with the largest pore size. The high thermal conductivity of porous alumina with extensive grain necking was due to the low interfacial thermal resistance at grain boundaries. Porous alumina with extensive grain necking had high thermal shock strength due to the higher thermal conductivity. It was demonstrated that a porous structure combining high gas permeability and excellent fracture resistance could be successfully achieved.
Effect of resveratrol and curcumin on formation of N‐Carboxymethyl lysine and its intracellular oxidative stress
Authors: Golchinfar Zahra , Tabibiazar Mahnaz , Abdi Fardin , Taghvimi Arezou , Roufegarinejad Leila 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe effect of resveratrol (Res) and curcumin (CU) on glycation and oxidation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) – Glucose (Glu) to form N‐Carboxymethyl lysine (CML) was assessed. The CML content in BSA‐Glu samples 3:3% w/w was around 180 µg mL−1 after heating at 120 C for 20 min, measured using RP‐HPLC with fluorescence detector. The CML content in Res and CU‐containing samples (240 µmol L−1) decrease to zero and around 19 µg mL−1, respectively. The grafting degree of BSA in Res and CU‐containing samples was only 5% and 16% in comparison of BSA‐Glu with 43% grafting. The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) level with fluorescence properties in CU‐containing heated samples considerably decreased. The results of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) and Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) confirmed that the interaction of Res and CU with BSA significantly decreased the glycation rate of BSA. The level of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) when cells are exposed to Res and CU‐containing heated BSA‐Glu were significantly lower than that of cells exposed to alone BSA‐Glu. The results indicated that Res and CU can play an important role in increasing the safety of heated foods and reducing harmful substances in them.
Gender differences in patients with structural heart disease undergoing VT ablation
Authors: Darma Angeliki , Bertagnolli Livio , Torri Federica , Lurz Julia A. , König Sebastian , Ueberham Laura , Bollmann Andreas , Dagres Nikolaos , Hindricks Gerhard , Dinov Borislav , Arya Arash 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIntroductionThis study sought to examine gender differences in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) referred for ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT).BackgroundFemale patients are often underrepresented in large studies. Significant differences in the clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of female patients have been described in previous studies.Methods and ResultsWe investigated 88 female patients with SHD undergoing VT ablation (mean age 59 years, 56% nonischemic cardiomyopathy, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 35%, 82% in electrical storm). A case‐control study with 88 male patients was performed and the results regarding clinical and procedural characteristics, acute and long‐term results of the two groups were compared. The female patients had more arrhythmogenic substrate, as they more commonly presented with electrical storm (p = .016) and had a higher number of inducible VT morphologies during the procedure (p = .018). Moreover, the female patients were less likely to have an optimized heart failure medical treatment at baseline (p = .030) and required more time from the first manifestation of the VT to ablation referral (p = .034). Although fewer epicardial ablations were performed in female patients (p = .019), the two groups showed similar results regarding VT noninducibility as ablation endpoint (p = .844), major procedure‐related complications (p = .719) and freedom from VT during follow‐up (p = .268). Moreover, the overall mortality in the two groups was similar (p = .176). Advanced NYHA class was associated with worse transplant and assist‐device‐free survival in the female group.ConclusionFemale patients presenting for VT ablation had more arrhythmogenic substrate and were less likely to have an optimized heart failure medical treatment. Nevertheless, the procedural acute and long‐term outcomes between the two genders were similar.
Rapid visual detection of Aeromonas salmonicida by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification with hydroxynaphthol blue dye
Authors: Zhou Shun , Huang Qing , Yu Mingming , Li Ying , Zheng Xujia , Xiu Yunji 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTo make crucial prevention, reduce fish losses and minimize the economic damage of diseases on the fish farm owners, a rapid detection of fish pathogens is mandatory. In this study, a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay combined with hydroxynaphthol blue dye (LAMP‐HNB) was developed and used for the rapid detection of Aeromonas salmonicida that caused significant economic losses in fish farming. Firstly, a pair of outer and inner primers specific for conserved fragment of vapA gene in A. salmonicida were designed and synthesized. Secondly, by optimizing the reaction conditions including reaction temperature, time, Mg2+ concentration, dNTP concentration and primer ratio, a LAMP‐HNB assay was successfully established for the detection of A. salmoncida. Thirdly, the assay showed good specificity with no false‐positive and false‐negative results, and good sensitivity with the detection limit of 3.077 × 10–6 ng/μl, which was 102 times more sensitive than the conventional PCR. Finally, the LAMP‐HNB assay was validated by the fish samples inoculated with different concentrations of A. salmoncida. This is the first development of rapid visual detection of A. salmonicida based on LAMP‐HNB assay, which has great application prospect and market for diagnostic testing, health certification and active surveillance programmers.
Potential benefits of immunomodulator use with vedolizumab for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Naganuma Makoto , Watanabe Kenji , Motoya Satoshi , Ogata Haruhiko , Matsui Toshiyuki , Suzuki Yasuo , Ursos Lyann , Sakamoto Shigeru , Shikamura Mitsuhiro , Hori Tetsuharu , Fernandez Jovelle , Watanabe Mamoru , Hibi Toshifumi , Kanai Takanori 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackground and AimThis study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab treatment with or without concomitant immunomodulator use in Japanese patients with moderate‐to‐severe ulcerative colitis.MethodsAmong enrolled patients in a phase 3 study conducted in Japan (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02039505), data from patients allocated to 300‐mg intravenous vedolizumab for induction and maintenance phases were used for this exploratory analysis. Efficacy endpoints were clinical response, clinical remission, and mucosal healing at week 10 and clinical remission and mucosal healing at week 60, and disease worsening and treatment failure during the maintenance phase.ResultsAt week 10, the differences in clinical response, clinical remission, and mucosal healing rates between the subgroups (those with concomitant immunomodulator use minus those without) were 0.7 (95% confidence interval: −14.3, 15.7), 3.3 (95% confidence interval: −8.5, 15.2), and 1.8 (95% confidence interval: −13.0, 16.5), respectively. At week 60, the differences in clinical remission and mucosal healing between the subgroups with and without concomitant immunomodulator use were 26.1 (95% confidence interval: −3.5, 55.6) and 29.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 58.4), respectively. The proportions of patients without treatment failure at day 330 of the maintenance phase were 90.7% with concomitant immunomodulator use and 73.7% without. No marked differences in incidence of infections were observed between subgroups.ConclusionsThis study suggested the possibility that concomitant immunomodulator use may be beneficial to maintain the clinical efficacy of vedolizumab.
The ScCas9++ variant expands the CRISPR toolbox for genome editing in plants
Authors: Liu Taoli , Zeng Dongchang , Zheng Zhiye , Lin Zhansheng , Xue Yang , Li Tie , Xie Xianrong , Ma Genglu , Liu Yao‐Guang , Zhu Qinlong 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe development of clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐associated protein (Cas) variants with a broader recognition scope is critical for further improvement of CRISPR/Cas systems. The original Cas9 protein from Streptococcus canis (ScCas9) can recognize simple NNG‐protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) targets, and therefore possesses a broader range relative to current CRISPR/Cas systems, but its editing efficiency is low in plants. Evolved ScCas9+ and ScCas9++ variants have been shown to possess higher editing efficiencies in human cells, but their activities in plants are currently unknown. Here, we utilized codon‐optimized ScCas9, ScCas9+ and ScCas9++ and a nickase variant ScCas9n++ to systematically investigate genome cleavage activity and cytidine base editing efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.). This analysis revealed that ScCas9++ has higher editing efficiency than ScCas9 and ScCas9+ in rice. Furthermore, we fused the evolved cytidine deaminase PmCDA1 with ScCas9n++ to generate a new evoBE4max‐type cytidine base editor, termed PevoCDA1‐ScCas9n++. This base editor achieved stable and efficient multiplex‐site base editing at NNG‐PAM sites with wider editing windows (C−1–C17) and without target sequence context preference. Multiplex‐site base editing of the rice genes OsWx (three targets) and OsEui1 (two targets) achieved simultaneous editing and produced new rice germplasm. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ScCas9++ represents a crucial new tool for improving plant editing.
The pathogenesis of melasma and implications for treatment
Authors: Artzi Ofir , Horovitz Tamir , Bar‐Ilan Efrat , Shehadeh Waseem , Koren Amir , Zusmanovitch Lior , Mehrabi Joseph N. , Salameh Fares , Isman Nelkenbaum Gila , Zur Eyal , Sprecher Eli , Mashiah Jacob 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundMelasma is a complex and poorly understood disorder, with high rates of treatment failure and recurrences.ObjectivesWe aimed to review the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of melasma and apply this knowledge to clinical implications on relevant therapeutic interventions.MethodsA systematic PubMed search was performed using the search term “((melasma[Text Word]) OR facial melanosis[Text Word]) AND (pathogenesis OR causality[MeSH Terms])” for articles published between 1990 and 2020. Included articles were then evaluated by two authors and assessed for relevant pathomechanistic pathways, after which they were divided into groups with minimal overlap. We then reviewed current treatment modalities for melasma and divided them according to the involved pathomechanistic pathway.ResultsA total of 309 search results were retrieved among which 76 relevant articles were identified and reviewed. Five main pathomechanisms observed in melasma were identified: (1) melanocyte inappropriate activation; (2) aggregation of melanin and melanosomes in dermis and epidermis; (3a) increased mast cell count and (3b) solar elastosis; (4) altered basement membrane; and (5) increased vascularization. Treatment modalities were then divided based on these five pathways and detailed in 6 relevant tables.ConclusionThe pathophysiology of melasma is multifactorial, resulting in treatment resistance and high recurrence rates. This wide variety of pathomechanisms should ideally be addressed separately in the treatment regimen in order to maximize results.
Acute hepatic porphyria and maternal health: Clinical and biochemical follow‐up of 44 pregnancies
Authors: Vassiliou Daphne , Sardh Eliane 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPregnancy in women with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) has historically been associated with significant morbidity. Clinical outcomes have been the focus of previous reports on porphyria and maternal health, with little data available on the levels of heme precursors during pregnancy. We present the results of a follow‐up program for women with AHP in the Swedish cohort who were pregnant between 2001 and 2020.MethodsThirty‐three women with AHP were monitored during 44 pregnancies resulting in 44 single births. Seven of 33 women had a clinical history of acute attacks that required hospitalization.ResultsFour women experienced acute porphyria attacks during pregnancy and one during the puerperium. Seven women developed hypertension and four pregnancies ended with pre‐eclampsia. There were no maternal or fetal pre‐ or postnatal deaths. One infant had a congenital cardiac anomaly. In 32 of the 38 pregnancies in which we measured heme precursors in the urine during pregnancy, the levels increased.ConclusionOur observations align with contemporary reports that pregnancy in patients with AHP is frequently uncomplicated. Excretion of heme precursors increased during pregnancy, but this did not manifest as a higher frequency of clinical porphyria manifestations. The involvement of porphyria specialists in the patients’ maternal care is recommended for reducing risk and improving the probability of good pregnancy outcomes.
Nightmare content during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Influence of COVID‐related stress and sleep disruption in the United States
Authors: Kennedy Kathryn E. R. , Bastien Célyne H. , Ruby Perrine M. , Killgore William D. S. , Wills Chloe C. A. , Grandner Michael A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractNightmares are often associated with psychiatric disorders and acute stress. This study explores how the COVID‐19 pandemic may have influenced the content of nightmares. A sample ofN = 419 US adults completed online surveys about sleep and COVID‐19 experiences. Participants were asked about the degree to which they agreed with statements linking greater general stress, worse overall sleep and more middle‐of‐the‐night insomnia with the COVID‐19 pandemic. They were also asked if, during the pandemic, they experienced nightmares related to various themes. Logistic regression analyses examined each nightmare content as outcome and increased stress, worse sleep and more middle‐of‐the‐night insomnia as predictors, adjusted for age, sex and race/ethnicity. Those who reported greater general COVID‐related stress were more likely to have nightmares about confinement, failure, helplessness, anxiety, war, separation, totalitarianism, sickness, death, COVID and an apocalypse. Those who reported worsened sleep were more likely to have nightmares about confinement, oppression, failure, helplessness, disaster, anxiety, evil forces, war, domestic abuse, separation, totalitarianism, sickness, death, COVID and an apocalypse. Those who reported worsened middle‐of‐the‐night insomnia were more likely to have nightmares about confinement, oppression, failure, helplessness, disaster, anxiety, war, domestic abuse, separation, totalitarianism, sickness, death, COVID and an apocalypse. These results suggest that increased pandemic‐related stress may induce negatively‐toned dreams of specific themes. Future investigation might determine whether (and when) this symptom indicates an emotion regulation mechanism at play, or the failure of such a mechanism.
Determinants of female labour force participation: Evidence from Greece
Authors: Petrakis Ioannis 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe present study investigates long‐term trends in female participation in the Greek labour market. The analysis presented decomposes the growth in the female participation rate between 1992 and 2020. The dataset used is the Greek Labour Force Survey (GLFS). The model type used is a binary age‐period‐cohort Probit model and a multinomial choice Probit model. A number of assumptions are made to identify the three effects separately. Model I use lagged unemployment as a proxy variable for the period effects and cohort fixed effects – where cohort is a proxy variable for year of birth – together with separate specifications for an interaction term of cohort and region and a linear trend. Model II uses a multinomial Probit model in order to examine whether the decision of a female to enter or not the labour market interacts with the type of work she is choosing, with a number of assumptions again used to identify the three effects separately. The results suggest that the increasing female participation rate is mostly due to cohort effects, when there are also observable age and period effects. Regarding the choice model, results suggest that the period effect has a higher significance on job choice compared with the cohort effect. Age effects are observable and significant in both models.
Steamship to Argentina and Runaways: The principle of movement in the poetics of the new literary world
Authors: Danilina Galina , Khromova Ekaterina 
Published: August 2021

AbstractToday’s world is changing rapidly, and writers are sensitive to these dynamics in their work. This article examines the principle of movement in the poetics of two modern novels: Steamship to Argentina (2014) by the Russian‐German writer Alexei Makushinsky and Runaways (2007) by Polish novelist and Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk. As the literary analysis demonstrates, the principle of movement is a constitutive element of the artistic whole of these novels. It defines the image of the character, plot, spatial and temporal coordinates, and figurative dimension. The very titles—Steamship to Argentina and Runaways—are metaphorical and esthetically significant. To reflect this significance, the authors of this article offer an alternative translation of the title of Olga Tokarczuk's novel. When published in English, it was titled Flights. However, Runaways is semantically closer to the original Polish Bieguni and, as the article demonstrates, correlates more strongly with the semantic level of the text. Drawing on M. M. Bakhtin's ideas on the historical poetics of the novel, this study concludes that the poetics of Steamship to Argentina and Runaways is a form of representation of the new picture of the world, dynamic and transitional. This new literary world is recreated through the mobile chronotope and translingualism.