bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carpentier-Edwards Magna Ease bioprosthesis: a multicentre clinical experience and 12-year durability
Authors: Piperata Antonio , Fiocco Alessandro , Cavicchiolo Andrea , Ponzoni Matteo , Pesce Rita , Gemelli Marco , Evangelista Giuseppe , Gastino Elisa , Michelotti Sara , Mazzaro Enzo , Garufi Luigi , DePaulis Ruggero , Zanella Luca , Nadali Matteo , Mangino Domenico , Lorenzoni Giulia , Gregori Dario , Jorgji Vjola , Gerosa Gino , Bottio Tomaso 
Published: December 2021

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe goal of this multicentre retrospective study was to compare long-term clinical and haemodynamic outcomes of the Carpentier-Edwards Magna Ease (CEME) bioprosthesis by patient age.METHODSWe included consecutive patients who underwent isolated and combined surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) with CEME valve between January 2008 and March 2020 at 4 cardiac surgery centres in Italy. Survival distribution was evaluated at follow-up according to age and surgery type (combined or isolated AVR), together with freedom from structural valve deterioration (SVD), reoperation and combined events, i.e. SVD, reoperation, endocarditis and thromboembolic events.RESULTSA total of 1027 isolated and 1121 combined AVR were included; 776 patients were younger than 65 years whereas 1372 were 65 years or older. The 30-day Valve-Academic-Research-Consortium mortality was 2% (&lt;65 years) and 6% (≥ 65 years) (P &lt; 0.001), whereas it was 3% for isolated AVR and 7% for combined AVR (P &lt; 0.001). The 12-year survival was 81% for those younger than 65 years vs 45% for those equal to or older than 65 years (P &lt; 0.001), whereas they were 61% vs 49% for isolated and combined AVR (P = 0.10). The 12-year freedom from combined events, excluding death, was 79% for those younger than 65 years vs 87% for those equal to or older than (P = 0.51), whereas they were 83% for isolated and 86% for combined AVR (P = 0.10). The 12-year freedom from SVD was 93% and 93% in patients younger than 65 and those equal to or older than 65 years (P = 0.63), and the results were comparable even in cases with isolated and combined AVR (92% vs 94%, P = 0.21). A multivariable Cox analysis including gender, presence of patient–prosthesis mismatch, isolated AVR and age showed that only the age was an independent risk factor for the incidence of SVD (P = 0.029).CONCLUSIONSOutcomes from this large multicentre analysis demonstrated that a CEME bioprosthesis provides good clinical results and long-term durability even in patients younger than 65 years. Furthermore, the hazard for SVD has been shown to be lower for older age.Clinical trial registration number105n/AO/21.
Risk factors for incidence of dementia in primary care practice: a retrospective cohort study in older adults
Authors: Pham Anh N Q , Lindeman Cliff , Voaklander Don , Wagg Adrian , Drummond Neil 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
The dementias are long-term, chronic conditions caused by progressive neurological degeneration. Current literature suggests that cardiovascular disease risk factors may contribute to the onset of dementia; however, evidence of these associations is inconsistent.

Objectives
This study aimed to examine the impact of risk factors on dementia onset in older adults diagnosed and managed in Canadian primary care settings.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study was employed utilizing electronic medical records data in the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN). Patients aged 65+ years with no dementia diagnosis at baseline who were followed from 2009 to 2017 with a run-in year to exclude existing undiagnosed dementia cases. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate risk.

Results
Age was associated with an increased incidence risk of dementia in both examined age groups: 65–79 years (13%) and 80+ years (5%). History of depression increased dementia risk by 38% and 34% in the age groups. There were significant associations with lower social deprivation area quintile, smoking history, osteoarthritis, and diabetes mellitus in patients aged 65–79 years but not in those aged 80+ years. Sex, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and the use of antihypertensive medications and statins were not associated with risk of incident dementia diagnosis.

Conclusions
The association between chronic health conditions and dementia onset is complicated. Primary care electronic medical record data might be useful for research in this topic, though follow-up time is still relatively short to observe a clear causal relationship. Future studies with more complete data may provide evidence for dementia preventive strategies within primary care practice.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity and Development of Vaccine-Related Adverse Events: Results From PREVENT-COVID
Authors: Weaver Kimberly N , Zhang Xian , Dai Xiangfeng , Watkins Runa , Adler Jeremy , Dubinsky Marla C , Kastl Arthur , Bousvaros Athos , Strople Jennifer A , Cross Raymond K , Higgins Peter D R , Ungaro Ryan C , Bewtra Meenakshi , Bellaguarda Emanuelle , Farraye Francis A , Boccieri Margie E , Firestine Ann , Kappelman Michael D , Long Millie D 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination is recommended for all individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including those on immunosuppressive therapies; however, little is known about vaccine safety and efficacy in these patients or the impact of vaccination on IBD disease course.

Methods
We evaluated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine–related adverse events (AEs) and the effect of vaccination on IBD disease course among participants in the PREVENT-COVID (Partnership to Report Effectiveness of Vaccination in populations Excluded from iNitial Trials of COVID) study, a prospective, observational cohort study. Localized and systemic reactions were assessed via questionnaire. Disease flare was defined by worsening IBD symptoms and change in IBD medications. Outcomes were stratified by vaccine type and IBD medication classes.

Results
A total of 3316 individuals with IBD received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine. Injection site tenderness (68%) and fatigue (46% dose 1, 68% dose 2) were the most commonly reported localized and systemic AEs after vaccination. Severe localized and systemic vaccine-related AEs were rare. The mRNA-1273 vaccine was associated with significantly greater severe AEs at dose 2 (localized 4% vs 2%, systemic 15% vs 10%; P &lt; .001 for both). Prior COVID-19 infection, female sex, and vaccine type were associated with severe systemic reactions to dose 1, while age &lt;50 years, female sex, vaccine type, and antitumor necrosis factor and vedolizumab use were associated with severe systemic reactions to dose 2. Overall rates (2%) of IBD flare were low following vaccination.

Conclusions
Our findings provide reassurance that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine is safe and well tolerated among individuals with IBD, which may help to combat vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine confidence.
The effect of labor market institutions and macroeconomic variables on aggregate unemployment in 1990–2019: Evidence from 22 European countries
Authors: Perone Gaetano 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper investigates the long-run effect of a wide set of labor market institutions (LMIs) and macroeconomic variables on aggregate unemployment for a panel of 22 European countries over the period 1990–2019. First-difference feasible generalized least squares model, Prais-Winsten regression with panel-corrected standard errors, two-step generalized method of moments estimation of the fixed effects, and fixed-effects regression with Driscoll and Kraay standard errors are estimated. The results suggest that employment protection legislation, wage bargaining coordination and centralization, minimum wage, and immigration inflows are significantly and negatively associated with the aggregate unemployment rate. Conversely, union density, product market regulation (PMR), and tax wedge have a positive and significant correlation with unemployment rate. The impact of corporate tax rate and government size is mostly positive. Moreover, the interaction between LMIs does matter and may sometimes change the interpretation of some reforms taken in isolation. Stronger wage-setting institutions may offset the negative impact of PMR and the tax wedge. Macroeconomic variables are generally consistent with the major literature and do not change LMIs interpretation. Among macroeconomic factors, capital accumulation plays the most important role in reducing the unemployment rate. Finally, my findings suggest the implementation of economic policies consistent with Keynesian theory and all those economists—such as Solow (1990)—who look at the labor market as a social institution.
Limiting Directions for Random Walks in Classical Affine Weyl Groups
Authors: Aas Erik , Ayyer Arvind , Linusson Svante , Potka Samu 
Published: December 2021

AbstractLet $W$ be a finite Weyl group and $\widetilde W$ the corresponding affine Weyl group. A random element of $\widetilde W$ can be obtained as a reduced random walk on the alcoves of $\widetilde W$. By a theorem of Lam (Ann. Prob. 2015), such a walk almost surely approaches one of $|W|$ many directions. We compute these directions when $W$ is $B_n$, $C_n$, and $D_n$ and the random walk is weighted by Kac and dual Kac labels. This settles Lam’s questions for types $B$ and $C$ in the affirmative and for type $D$ in the negative. The main tool is a combinatorial two row model for a totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) called the $D^*$-TASEP, with four parameters. By specializing the parameters in different ways, we obtain TASEPs for each of the Weyl groups mentioned above. Computing certain correlations in these TASEPs gives the desired limiting directions.
Knowledge and insights from a maturing international clinical quality registry
Authors: Sampurno Fanny , Kowalski Christoph , Connor Sarah E , Nguyen Anissa V , Acuña Àngels Pont , Ng Chi-Fai , Foster Claire , Feick Günter , Boronat Olatz Garin , Dieng Sebastian , Brglevska Silvana , Ferrante Stephanie , Leung Steven , Villanti Paul , Moore Caroline M , Graham Ian D , Millar Jeremy L , Litwin Mark S , Papa Nathan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Since 2017, the TrueNTH Global Registry (TNGR) has aimed to drive improvement in patient outcomes for individuals with localized prostate cancer by collating data from healthcare institutions across 13 countries. As TNGR matures, a systematic evaluation of existing processes and documents is necessary to evaluate whether the registry is operating as intended. The main supporting documents: protocol and data dictionary, were comprehensively reviewed in a series of meetings over a 10-month period by an international working group. In parallel, individual consultations with local institutions regarding a benchmarking quality-of-care report were conducted. Four consensus areas for improvement emerged: updating operational definitions, appraisal of the recruitment process, refinement of data elements, and improvement of data quality and reporting. Recommendations presented were drawn from our collective experience and accumulated knowledge in operating an international registry. These can be readily generalized to other health-related reporting programs beyond clinical registries.
Chemical approach to generating long-term self-renewing pMN progenitors from human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Zhang Guan-Yu , Lv Zhu-Man , Ma Hao-Xin , Chen Yu , Yuan Yuan , Sun Ping-Xin , Feng Yu-Qi , Li Ya-Wen , Lu Wen-Jie , Yang Yu-Dong , Yang Cheng , Yu Xin-Lu , Wang Chao , Liang Shu-Long , Zhang Ming-Liang , Li Hui-Liang , Li Wen-Lin 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Spinal cord impairment involving motor neuron degeneration and demyelination can cause lifelong disabilities, but effective clinical interventions for restoring neurological functions have yet to be developed. In early spinal cord development, neural progenitors of the motor neuron (pMN) domain, defined by the expression of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2), in the ventral spinal cord first generate motor neurons and then switch the fate to produce myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. Given their differentiation potential, pMN progenitors could be a valuable cell source for cell therapy in relevant neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury. However, fast generation and expansion of pMN progenitors in vitro while conserving their differentiation potential has so far been technically challenging. In this study, based on chemical screening, we have developed a new recipe for efficient induction of pMN progenitors from human embryonic stem cells. More importantly, these OLIG2+ pMN progenitors can be stably maintained for multiple passages without losing their ability to produce spinal motor neurons and oligodendrocytes rapidly. Our results suggest that these self-renewing pMN progenitors could potentially be useful as a renewable source of cell transplants for spinal cord injury and demyelinating disorders.
Explaining pre-emptive acclimation by linking information to plant phenotype
Authors: Aphalo Pedro J , Sadras Victor O 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe review mechanisms for pre-emptive acclimation in plants and propose a conceptual model linking developmental and evolutionary ecology with the acquisition of information through sensing of cues and signals. The idea is that plants acquire much of the information in the environment not from individual cues and signals but instead from their joint multivariate properties such as correlations. If molecular signalling has evolved to extract such information, the joint multivariate properties of the environment must be encoded in the genome, epigenome, and phenome. We contend that multivariate complexity explains why extrapolating from experiments done in artificial contexts into natural or agricultural systems almost never works for characters under complex environmental regulation: biased relationships among the state variables in both time and space create a mismatch between the evolutionary history reflected in the genotype and the artificial growing conditions in which the phenotype is expressed. Our model can generate testable hypotheses bridging levels of organization. We describe the model and its theoretical bases, and discuss its implications. We illustrate the hypotheses that can be derived from the model in two cases of pre-emptive acclimation based on correlations in the environment: the shade avoidance response and acclimation to drought.
Singing Repentance In Lutheran Germany During The Thirty Years War (1618–1648)
Authors: Marks Thomas 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
During the Thirty Years War (1618–48), it was widely understood within Germany that sin had brought the wrath of God to the Empire in the form of war. In order to instil peace, Christendom needed to demonstrate its repentance; this article illustrates the role that music played in this process. Focusing on Lutheran Saxony and the free-imperial city of Nuremberg, I analyse music’s liturgical role in specially mandated Days of Prayer and Repentance alongside newly composed penitential works by local composers such as Melchior Franck and Johann Staden. I argue that music played a vital role in the penitential project that consumed Lutheran Germany during the Thirty Years War: (1) it conveyed orthodox messages about the urgent need for repentance; (2) it fostered the affective dimensions of sincere repentance; and (3) it demonstrated faithful Christians’ repentant attitudes to God.
Chemo-dynamics and asteroseismic ages of seven metal-poor red giants from the Kepler field
Authors: Alencastro Puls Arthur , Casagrande Luca , Monty Stephanie , Yong David , Liu Fan , Stello Dennis , Aguirre Børsen-Koch Victor , Freeman Ken C 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
In this work, we combine information from solar-like oscillations, high-resolution spectroscopy, and Gaia astrometry to derive stellar ages, chemical abundances, and kinematics for a group of seven metal-poor red giants and characterize them in a multidimensional chrono-chemo-dynamical space. Chemical abundance ratios were derived through classical spectroscopic analysis employing 1D LTE atmospheres on Keck/HIRES spectra. Stellar ages, masses, and radii were calculated with grid-based modelling, taking advantage of availability of asteroseismic information from Kepler. The dynamical properties were determined with galpy using Gaia EDR3 astrometric solutions. Our results suggest that underestimated parallax errors make the effect of Gaia parallaxes more important than different choices of model grid or – in the case of stars ascending the red giant branch – mass-loss prescription. Two of the stars in this study are identified as potentially evolved halo blue stragglers. Four objects are likely members of the accreted Milky Way halo, and their possible relationship with known accretion events is discussed.
Mode changing in J1909 − 3744: the most precisely timed pulsar
Authors: Miles M T , Shannon R M , Bailes M , Reardon D J , Buchner S , Middleton H , Spiewak R 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
We present baseband radio observations of the millisecond pulsar J1909 − 3744, the most precisely timed pulsar, using the MeerKAT telescope as part of the MeerTime pulsar timing array campaign. During a particularly bright scintillation event the pulsar showed strong evidence of pulse mode changing, among the first millisecond pulsars and the shortest duty cycle millisecond pulsar to do so. Two modes appear to be present, with the weak (lower signal-to-noise ratio) mode arriving 9.26 ± 3.94 μs earlier than the strong counterpart. Further, we present a new value of the jitter noise for this pulsar of 8.20 ± 0.14 ns in one hour, finding it to be consistent with previous measurements taken with the MeerKAT (9 ± 3 ns) and Parkes (8.6 ± 0.8 ns) telescopes, but inconsistent with the previously most precise measurement taken with the Green Bank telescope (14 ± 0.5 ns). Timing analysis on the individual modes is carried out for this pulsar, and we find an approximate $10\, \mathrm{per\,cent}$ improvement in the timing precision is achievable through timing the strong mode only as opposed to the full sample of pulses. By forming a model of the average pulse from templates of the two modes, we time them simultaneously and demonstrate that this timing improvement can also be achieved in regular timing observations. We discuss the impact an improvement of this degree on this pulsar would have on searches for the stochastic gravitational wave background, as well as the impact of a similar improvement on all MeerTime PTA pulsars.
Standardizing Dainotti-correlated gamma-ray bursts, and using them with standardized Amati-correlated gamma-ray bursts to constrain cosmological model parameters
Authors: Cao Shulei , Khadka Narayan , Ratra Bharat 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
We show that each of the three Dainotti-correlated gamma-ray burst (GRB) data sets recently compiled by Wang et al. and Hu et al., that together probe the redshift range 0.35 ≤ z ≤ 5.91, obey cosmological-model-independent Dainotti correlations and so are standardizable. We use these GRB data in conjunction with the best currently available Amati-correlated GRB data, that probe 0.3399 ≤ z ≤ 8.2, to constrain cosmological model parameters. The resulting cosmological constraints are weak, providing lower limits on the non-relativistic matter density parameter, mildly favouring non-zero spatial curvature, and largely consistent with currently accelerated cosmological expansion as well as with constraints determined from better-established data.
Long-term FRII jet evolution in dense environments
Authors: Perucho Manel , Martí José-María , Quilis Vicent 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
We present long-term numerical three-dimensional (3D) simulations of a relativistic outflow propagating through a galactic ambient medium and environment, up to distances ∼100 kpc. Our aim is to study the role of dense media in the global dynamics of the radio source. We use a relativistic gas equation of state, and a basic description of thermal cooling terms. In previous work, we showed that a linear perturbation could enhance the jet propagation during the early phases of evolution, by introducing obliquity to the jet reverse shock. Here, we show that this effect is reduced in denser media. We find that the dentist-drill effect acts earlier, due to slower jet propagation and an increased growth of the helical instability. The global morphology of the jet is less elongated, with more prominent lobes. The fundamental physical parameters of the jet generated structure derived from our simulations fall within the estimated values derived for FRII jets in the 3C sample. In agreement with previous axisymmetric and 3D simulations in lower density media, we conclude that shock heating of the interstellar and intergalactic media is very efficient in the case of powerful, relativistic jets.
Near-infrared spectroscopy of extreme BAL QSOs from the QUBRICS bright quasar survey
Authors: Cupani Guido , Calderone Giorgio , Selvelli Pierluigi , Cristiani Stefano , Boutsia Konstantina , Grazian Andrea , Fontanot Fabio , Guarneri Francesco , D’Odorico Valentina , Giallongo Emanuele , Menci Nicola 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
We report on the spectral confirmation of 18 quasi-stellar object (QSO) candidates from the QUasars as BRIght beacons for Cosmology in the Southern hemisphere (QUBRICS) survey, previously observed in the optical band, for which we acquired new spectroscopic data in the near-infrared band with the Folded-port InfraRed Echellette (FIRE) spectrograph at the Magellan Baade telescope. In most cases, further observations were prompted by the peculiar nature of the targets, whose optical spectra displayed unexpected absorption features. All candidates have been confirmed as bona fide QSOs, with average emission redshift z ≃ 2.1. The analysis of the emission and absorption features in the spectra, performed with astrocook and QSFit, reveals that the large majority of these objects are broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs, with almost half of them displaying strong Fe ii absorption (typical of the so-called FeLoBAL QSOs). The detection of such a large fraction of rare objects (which are estimated to account for less than 1 per cent of the general QSO population) is interpreted as an unexpected (yet favourable) consequence of the particular candidate selection procedure adopted within the QUBRICS survey. The measured properties of FeLoBAL QSOs observed so far provide no evidence that they are a manifestation of a particular stage in active galactic nucleus (AGN) evolution. In this paper, we present an explorative analysis of the individual QSOs, to serve as a basis for a further, more detailed investigation.