bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unprecedented heat mortality of Magellanic Penguins
Authors: Holt Katie A , Boersma P Dee 
Published: October 2021

AbstractExtreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, leading to an increase in direct, adverse thermoregulatory impacts on wildlife. Here, we document an unprecedented, single-day, heat-related mortality event of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at Punta Tombo, Chubut Province, Argentina, one of the largest breeding colonies for this species. We found 264 dead adults and 90 dead chicks in the breeding colony and along the beaches after recording the highest temperature in the shade (44°C on January 19, 2019) since the study started in December 1982. We found dead adults and chicks in postures used to release heat (i.e. lying prone with flippers and feet extended away from the body and/or bills open). We found no evidence for other causes of mortality other than heat (e.g., disease, toxic algae, starvation). Adults potentially died of dehydration, because dead adults were in significantly worse body condition than adults that survived. Dead adults had either empty stomachs or &lt;50 g of food, and 27% of the dead adults died traveling between the nesting area and the water. More males died than females (83% male and 17% female; n = 94). In one section of the colony, ~5% of 1,153 adults died in the heat. Mortality rates of adults were unevenly distributed across the colony, suggesting that the presence of microclimates or easier beach access was an important factor to penguin survival. The body condition indices of dead and live chicks were similar and chicks that died from heat had food in their stomachs (mean = 405 ± 128 g; n = 14), suggesting that food likely inhibited their ability to thermoregulate. Documenting the effects of extreme weather events on populations is crucial to predicting how they will respond to climate change because these events, although rare, are expected to become more frequent and could have severe impacts on populations.
Mutual upregulation of HY5 and TZP in mediating phytochrome A signaling
Authors: Li Cong , Qi Lijuan , Zhang Shaoman , Dong Xiaojing , Jing Yanjun , Cheng Jinkui , Feng Ziyi , Peng Jing , Li Hong , Zhou Yangyang , Wang Xiaoji , Han Run , Duan Jie , Terzaghi William , Lin Rongcheng , Li Jigang 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Phytochrome A (phyA) is the far-red (FR) light photoreceptor in plants that is essential for seedling de-etiolation under FR-rich environments, such as canopy shade. TANDEM ZINC-FINGER/PLUS3 (TZP) was recently identified as a key component of phyA signal transduction in Arabidopsis thaliana; however, how TZP is integrated into the phyA signaling networks remains largely obscure. Here, we demonstrate that ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), a well-characterized transcription factor promoting photomorphogenesis, mediates FR light induction of TZP expression by directly binding to a G-box motif in the TZP promoter. Furthermore, TZP physically interacts with CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1), an E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting HY5 for 26S proteasome-mediated degradation, and this interaction inhibits COP1 interaction with HY5. Consistent with those results, TZP post-translationally promotes HY5 protein stability in FR light, and in turn, TZP protein itself is destabilized by COP1 in both dark and FR light conditions. Moreover, tzp hy5 double mutants display an additive phenotype relative to their respective single mutants under high FR light intensities, indicating that TZP and HY5 also function in largely independent pathways. Together, our data demonstrate that HY5 and TZP mutually upregulate each other in transmitting the FR light signal, thus providing insights into the complicated but delicate control of phyA signaling networks.
SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY: DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY—ISSUES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE 2020S
Authors: Hooshmand Sahand , Reed Warren M , Suleiman Mo'ayyad E , Brennan Patrick C 
Published: October 2021

AbstractDiagnostic efficacy in medical imaging is ultimately a reflection of radiologist performance. This can be influenced by numerous factors, some of which are patient related, such as the physical size and density of the breast, and machine related, where some lesions are difficult to visualise on traditional imaging techniques. Other factors are human reader errors that occur during the diagnostic process, which relate to reader experience and their perceptual and cognitive oversights. Given the large-scale nature of breast cancer screening, even small increases in diagnostic performance equate to large numbers of women saved. It is important to identify the causes of diagnostic errors and how detection efficacy can be improved. This narrative review will therefore explore the various factors that influence mammographic performance and the potential solutions used in an attempt to ameliorate the errors made.
The launch of EMU and German export interests
Authors: Tober Tobias 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
In this paper, I examine the support of German businesses—especially exporters—for the Economic and Monetary Union before 1999. I argue that the support of the German export sector for the EMU depends crucially on its implications for export competitiveness. If exporters conclude that the EMU will improve their competitive position, they will likely support monetary integration. In contrast, other business actors should be more skeptical about the prospects of a European currency union. I therefore expect that the major export enterprises will use their dominant position in the business community to assert their interests. The empirical analysis is based on enterprise surveys and a detailed qualitative study of the role of export interests in Germany’s peak industrial association. I close by discussing how my results provide important insights for various scholarly debates, including the debate on Germany’s role in the Eurozone.
BRAF mutations in thyroid cancer
Authors: Scheffel Rafael Selbach , Dora Jose Miguel , Maia Ana Luiza 
Published: October 2021

Purpose of review
Activating mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway play an important role in papillary (PTC) and anaplastic (ATC) thyroid cancer. The aim of this review is to discuss the impact of BRAF mutations on clinical features and treatment of patients with thyroid cancer.

Recent findings
Despite the unfavorable course associated with PTCs harboring BRAF V600E mutation, its prognostic role remains debated. BRAF V600E-driven tumors exhibit high Extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, leading to unregulated cell proliferation and inhibition of the required genes for radioiodine responsiveness in thyroid cancer. The mechanism associated with the variable BRAF-mutant tumor aggressiveness remains unclear and other pathways are likely to co-operate to promote cancer progression. Overexpression of the Notch signaling and loss of individual switch/ sucrose non-fermentable chromatin-remodeling complexes subunits might be involved. The combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor trametinib has shown remarkable results in clinical trials of patients with BRAF-mutated ATCs.

Summary
The impact of BRAF mutations on the clinical outcomes of PTC remains debatable. In ATCs, in turn, BRAF mutations identify patients eligible for targeted therapy, which is now considered in two settings: as neoadjuvant for unresectable tumors and as a treatment for metastatic or unresectable disease.
Symptoms of Pediatric Feeding Disorders Among Individuals with 3q29 Deletion Syndrome: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Wawrzonek Addam J. , Sharp William , Burrell Teresa Lindsey , Gillespie Scott E. , Pollak Rebecca M. ,   The Emory 3q29 Project,, Murphy Melissa M. , Mulle Jennifer G. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT:

Objective:
The goal of this study was to evaluate symptoms of pediatric feeding disorder in a sample of individuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome (3q29Del). Previous research has found that individuals with 3q29Del may experience elevated feeding concerns in early childhood; however, the specificity of these feeding concerns is not well understood.

Methods:
We compared individuals with 3q29Del (N = 83) with controls (N = 59) using an 11-item survey that assessed commonly reported symptoms associated with pediatric feeding disorders. An exploratory analysis also examined individuals with 3q29Del with and without a comorbid global developmental delay (GDD) or an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

Results:
Caregivers of 3q29Del cases reported higher incidences of feeding concerns on 10 of the 11 items included in the survey. This included statistically significant differences in food refusal behaviors, rejection of 1 or more food groups, and a history of failure to thrive. Parents of children with comorbid GDD were more likely to report concerns regarding food selectivity and problem behaviors during mealtime.

Conclusion:
The results suggest individuals with 3q29Del experience increased symptoms of pediatric feeding disorder that may require targeted evaluation and intervention for optimal outcomes. Future research should include a more thorough multidisciplinary evaluation to further elucidate symptom severity and optimal treatment strategies.
Children's Attention and Self-Regulatory Behavior Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Raghunathan Radhika S. , Musci Rashelle J. , Voegtline Kristin M. , Chambers Thomas Tracey , Johnson Sara B. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT:

Objective:
The goal of this study was to investigate changes in children's self-regulatory behavior before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method:
Participants were parents of children aged 4 to 13 years (n = 45, mean 7.5, SD: 2.6) who participated in the Baltimore Generations Study before the pandemic. They reported on their child's self-regulation (SR) using the Parent Observation of Child Adaptation. During the pandemic, they were recontacted to report on child SR, disruptions to family life (Coronavirus Impact Scale), and parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index). Prepandemic to pandemic changes in SR were compared with repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results:
There were significant decreases in child SR (poorer concentration, attention, task engagement and persistence, and greater impulsivity) prepandemic to pandemic. During the pandemic, parenting stress was correlated with lower child SR (r range = −0.52 to −0.34, p < 0.05). Pandemic-related family disruptions were associated with changes in children's impulsivity (F [1, 42] = 5.28, p = 0.03); children with 4 or more disruptions (67%) showed less ability to wait their turn during the pandemic compared with prepandemic (M [SD] = 3.34 [0.93] vs. 4.41 [1.21], t [28] = 3.93, p < 0.001). There was no change in SR for children with fewer than 4 disruptions.

Conclusion:
Results highlight modest pandemic-associated decreases in child attention, task persistence, and task engagement alongside increases in impulsivity. We did not find evidence of broad or severe impacts; however, children whose families have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic may need focused support in school and at home to avoid widening prepandemic health and educational disparities.
Postoperative ICU admission following major elective surgery
Authors: Ohbe Hiroyuki , Matsui Hiroki , Kumazawa Ryosuke , Yasunaga Hideo 
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND
Whether the routine use of the ICU after major elective surgery improves postoperative outcomes is not well established.

OBJECTIVES
To describe the association between use of postoperative ICU admission and clinical outcomes for patients undergoing major elective surgery.

DESIGN
Observational study.

SETTING
Nationwide inpatient database in Japan, July 2010 to March 2018.

PATIENTS
Patients undergoing one of 15 major elective orthopaedic, gastrointestinal, neurological, thoracic or cardiovascular surgical procedures.

INTERVENTION
ICU admission on the day of surgery. ICU was defined as a separate unit providing critical care services with around-the-clock physician staffing and nursing, the equipment necessary for critical care and a nurse-to-patient ratio at least one to two.

MAIN OUTCOME
In-hospital mortality. Patient-level and hospital-level analyses were performed.

RESULTS
Overall, 2 011 265 patients from 1524 hospitals were assessed. The cohort size ranged from 38 547 patients in 467 hospitals for surgical clipping for cerebral aneurysms to 308 952 patients in 599 hospitals for spinal fixation, laminectomy or laminoplasty. In the patient-level analyses, there were no significant mortality differences among patients undergoing the 12 major noncardiovascular surgical procedures, whereas postoperative ICU admission was associated with trends towards lower in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, risk difference −1.0% (95% CI −1.8 to −0.1) open aortic aneurysm repair, risk difference −0.6% (95% CI −1.3 to 0.1), and heart valve replacement, risk difference −0.7% (95% CI − 1.6 to 0.1). In the hospital-level analyses, similar to the results of the patient-level analyses, a higher proportion of postoperative ICU admission at hospital level was associated with trends toward lower in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing the three cardiovascular surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION
This nationwide observational study showed that postoperative ICU admission was associated with improved survival outcomes among patients undergoing three types of cardiac surgery but not among patients undergoing low-risk elective surgery.
A predictive model of choosing pessary type for women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Xu Hainan , Wu Wenjing , Wang Xinlu , Xia Zhijun 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Objective:
To investigate clinical factors including translabial ultrasound parameters, which are predictive for choosing pessary type (Ring or Gellhorn) in the fitting trial, and to establish a predictive model.

Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted on symptomatic women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) at the Pelvic Floor Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center (Liaoning Province, China) between May 2018 and December 2020 who were successfully fitted with pessaries. This retrospective study was supplemented with a prospective cohort study on women seeking pessary for first-line treatment of POP at the above tertiary center between December 2020 and April 2021 for validation. Enrolled participants were grouped by their fitted type of pessary. Demographic and clinical parameters between groups, including pelvic organ prolapse quantification and translabial ultrasound, were analyzed using logistic regression. A receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated using predictive values obtained by regression as the predictor for choosing pessary type in the pessary fitting trial.

Results:
The 181 participants included in the retrospective analysis were randomly divided into the “Development” and “Validation” datasets. In the “Development” set, multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that a younger age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.950; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.995; P = 0.026), a larger hiatal circumference on Valsalva (OR: 1.348; 95% CI: 1.103-1.647; P = 0.004), and a higher POP-Q stage (OR: 2.963; 95% CI: 1.210-7.255; P = 0.017) were independent predictors for successful fitting with the Gellhorn pessary. The predictive model was P = exp(Z)/[1 + exp(Z)], Z = −0.051 × Age (y) + 0.298 × hiatal circumference on Valsalva (cm) + 1.086 × pelvic organ prolapse stage (2, 3, or 4) − 5.490. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) was 0.776 (P < 0.001) and 0.705 (P < 0.001) based on the “Development” dataset and “Validation” datasets, respectively. The AUC was 0.815 (P < 0.001) based on the prospective cohort validation.

Conclusions:
For severe POP, women with younger age and larger hiatal circumference, Gellhorn pessaries should be their first choice instead of ring ones in pessary fitting trials.
Treatment of menopausal symptoms: concomitant modification of cortisol
Authors: Cagnacci Angelo , Xholli Anjeza , Fontanesi Francesca , Neri Isabella , Facchinetti Fabio , Palma Federica 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Objectives:
To evaluate whether change in menopausal symptoms is related to modification of 24-hour urinary cortisol.

Methods:
Sixty-nine postmenopausal women were treated for their menopausal symptoms with either estrogen progestin therapy (0.3 mg conjugate equine estrogens and 1.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate; n = 25), phytoestrogens (75 mg isoflavones, twice daily; n = 21) or acupuncture (once a week; n = 23). Baseline and treatment-induced changes of total and subscale scores (vasomotor, depression, anxiety, somatization, sexuality) of the Greene's Climacteric Scale and of 24-hour urinary cortisol were evaluated.

Results:
At baseline, 24-hour urinary cortisol was related to Greene's Climacteric Scale score (P < 0.0001). Independent determinants (R2 = 0.319) were the Greene's subscales scores of depression (with a mean difference of 24-h cortisol for score unit expressed as beta coefficient of regression (b) of 4.91, 95% CI 2.14-7.7; P = 0.0007), and of somatization (b 3.04 95% CI 0.69-5.4; P = 0.012). The Greene's Climacteric Scale score (−5.67 ± 6.8; P = 0.0001) and 24-hour cortisol (−23.6 ± 45.7 μg/24 h; P = 0.0001) declined after 3 months of treatment. Changes of 24-hour cortisol values were linearly related to changes of total Greene's Climacteric Scale score with a mean change for unit score (b) of 2.10, 95% CI 0.47-3.73; P = 0.012).

Conclusions:
Present data indicate that greater reduction in menopausal symptoms is associated with a larger decrease in cortisol levels. Possible implication of this finding on the long-term consequences for women's health needs to be explored.
Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 up to 15 months after infection
Authors: Marcotte Harold , Piralla Antonio , Zuo Fanglei , Du Likun , Cassaniti Irene , Wan Hui , Kumagai-Braesh Makiko , Andréll Juni , Percivalle Elena , Sammartino Josè Camilla , Wang Yating , Vlachiotis Stelios , Attevall Janine , Bergami Federica , Ferrari Alessandro , Colaneri Marta , Vecchia Marco , Sambo Margherita , Zuccaro Valentina , Asperges Erika , Bruno Raffaele , Oggionni Tiberio , Meloni Federica , Abolhassanni Hassan , Bertoglio Federico , Schubert Maren , Calzolai Luigi , Varani Luca , Hust Michael , Xue Yintong , Hammarström Lennart , Baldanti Fausto , Pan-Hammarström Qiang 
Published: October 2021

SummaryBackgroundInformation concerning the longevity of immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following natural infection may have considerable implications for durability of immunity induced by vaccines. Here, we monitored the SARS-CoV-2 specific immune response in convalescent coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients up to 15 months after symptoms onset.MethodsThe levels of anti-spike and anti-receptor binding domain antibodies and neutralizing activities were tested in a total of 188 samples from 136 convalescent patients who experience mild to critical COVID-19. Specific memory B and T cell responses were measured in 76 peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples collected from 54 patients. Twenty-three vaccinated individuals were included for comparison.FindingsFollowing a peak at day 15-28 post-infection, the IgG antibody response and plasma neutralizing titers gradually decreased over time but stabilized after 6 months. Plasma neutralizing activity against G614 was still detected in 87% of the patients at 6-15 months. Compared to G614, the median neutralizing titers against Beta, Gamma and Delta variants in plasma collected at early (15-103 days) and late (9-15 month) convalescence were 16- and 8-fold lower, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B and T cells reached a peak at 3-6 months and persisted in the majority of patients up to 15 months although a significant decrease in specific T cells was observed between 6 and 15 months.ConclusionThe data suggest that antiviral specific immunity especially memory B cells in COVID-19 convalescent patients is long-lasting, but some variants of concern, including the fast-spreading Delta variant, may at least partially escape the neutralizing activity of plasma antibodies.FundingEU-ATAC consortium, the Italian Ministry of Health, the Swedish Research Council, SciLifeLab, and KAW.
Persistent Activity in Human Parietal Cortex Mediates Perceptual Choice Repetition Bias
Authors: Urai Anne E. , Donner Tobias H. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractHumans and other animals tend to repeat or alternate their previous choices, even when judging sensory stimuli presented in a random sequence. It is unclear if and how sensory, associative, and motor cortical circuits produce these idiosyncratic behavioral biases. Here, we combined behavioral modeling of a visual perceptual decision with magnetoencephalographic (MEG) analyses of neural dynamics, across multiple regions of the human cerebral cortex. We identified distinct history-dependent neural signals in motor and posterior parietal cortex. Gamma-band activity in parietal cortex tracked previous choices in a sustained fashion, and biased evidence accumulation toward choice repetition; sustained beta-band activity in motor cortex inversely reflected the previous motor action, and biased the accumulation starting point toward alternation. The parietal, not motor, signal mediated the impact of previous on current choice and reflected individual differences in choice repetition. In sum, parietal cortical signals seem to play a key role in shaping choice sequences.
Is there magnocellular facilitation of early neural processes underlying visual word recognition? Evidence from masked repetition priming with ERPs
Authors: Huang Xin , Wong Wai Leung , Tse Chun-Yu , Sommer Werner , Dimigen Olaf , Maurer Urs 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAn influential theory in the field of visual object recognition proposes that fast magnocellular (M) information facilitates neural processing of spatially more fine-grained but slower parvocellular (P) information. While written words can be considered as a special type of visual objects, it is unknown whether magnocellular facilitation also plays a role in reading. We used a masked priming paradigm that has been shown to result in neural facilitation in visual word processing and tested whether these facilitating effects are mediated by the magnocellular system. In two experiments, we manipulated the influence of magnocellular and parvocellular systems on visual processing of a contextually predictable target character by contrasting high versus low spatial frequency and luminance versus color contrast, respectively. In addition, unchanged (normal) primes were included in both experiments as a manipulation check. As expected, unchanged primes elicited typical repetition effects in the N1, N250 and P3 components of the ERP in both experiments. In the experiment manipulating spatial contrast, we obtained repetition effects only for the N1 component for both M- and P-biased primes. In the luminance versus color contrast experiment, repetition effects were found in N1 and N250 for both M- and P- biased primes. Furthermore, no interactions were found between M- vs. P-biased prime types and repetition. Together these results indicate that M- and P- information contributes jointly to early neural processes underlying visual word recognition.