bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic accuracy of somatic and excretory−secretory antigens from Strongyloides venezuelensis infective larvae for the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis
Authors: Roldán Gonzáles William Henry , Meisel Dirce Mary Correia Lima , de Paula Fabiana Martins , Gryschek Ronaldo Cesar Borges 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three types of antigenic preparations from Strongyloides venezuelensis infective larvae for detection of serum IgG anti-Strongyloides antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Soluble somatic fractions (SSF) and membrane somatic fractions (MSF) and excretory−secretory (E/S) products from S. venezuelensis infective larvae were evaluated against 71 sera from individuals with strongyloidiasis, 105 sera from healthy individuals, and 84 sera from individuals with other helminth infections. Using an ELISA cut-off for 100% sensitivity, E/S products were 97.88% specific followed by MSF (93.12%) and then by SSF (85.2%). The occurrence of cross-reactivity with other helminths was 4.76% (4/84) with E/S products, 8.33% (7/84) with MSF, and 17.86% (15/84) with SSF. For a cut-off for 100% specificity, E/S products showed a sensitivity of 88.73% whereas MSF and SSF showed sensitivities of 59.15% and 53.52%, respectively. In conclusion, E/S products were the best antigenic option for the serodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis.
Innovation, on-the-job learning, and labor contracts: an organizational equilibria approach
Authors: Dughera Stefano , Quatraro Francesco , Vittori Claudia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAn established tenet of the literature is that the use of flexible labor leads to less innovation. Yet, less attention has been paid to the possibility that it is the decision to innovate that generates the incentive to hire on a permanent basis. The goal of this paper is to show the existence of interlocking complementarities between the firm's technological and hiring strategies. To do so, we develop a simple model where the workers’ decision to invest in human capital is affected by the type of employment contract (temporaryversuspermanent) and by the type of technological investments (routineversusinnovative). When the firm is unable to coordinate its actions across these different domains, two equilibria simultaneously exist: in the ‘high-road’ equilibrium, firms invest more in innovative projects and hire on a permanent basis; in the ‘low-road’ equilibrium, they invest more in routine projects and hire on a temporary basis.
Convolutional neural network for 2D adaptive beamforming of phased array antennas with robustness to array imperfections
Authors: Sallam Tarek , Attiya Ahmed M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAchieving robust and fast two-dimensional adaptive beamforming of phased array antennas is a challenging problem due to its high-computational complexity. To address this problem, a deep-learning-based beamforming method is presented in this paper. In particular, the optimum weight vector is computed by modeling the problem as a convolutional neural network (CNN), which is trained with I/O pairs obtained from the optimum Wiener solution. In order to exhibit the robustness of the new technique, it is applied on an 8 × 8 phased array antenna and compared with a shallow (non-deep) neural network namely, radial basis function neural network. The results reveal that the CNN leads to nearly optimal Wiener weights even in the presence of array imperfections.
Limited Influence of Nutrient Additions to the Transformation of Dissolved and Particulate Organic Matter From a Peatland Headwater
Authors: Moody C. S. , Worrall F. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPeatlands are typically rich in labile dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) but poor in nutrients; as these peatland waters flow through a catchment they mix with more nutrient‐rich but organic matter (OM) poor waters. These new sources of nutrients may lead to increased OM degradation, driving further release of CO2 to the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to discover if the addition of nutrients changed the rates of peat‐derived dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) degradation, or if the additional nutrients were incorporated into the OM structure. The DOM and POM extracted from a peatland stream was characterised at the beginning of the experiment, and after 70‐h and 10‐days, from water with and without additional nutrients. Results showed adding nutrients to the water had no significant impact on the rate of degradation of DOC or POC over a 10 day period. There were significant differences in the N content and C:N ratios, as well as other composition variables, of the DOM in the treatments with additional nutrients showing that N was incorporated into the DOM structure, but that nutrient addition did not stimulate significant extra DOM or DOC loss. The N content of POM was not impacted, and isotope analysis, supported the conclusion that DOM turnover was occurring even if there was no net change in DOC concentration due to nutrient addition.
Further confirmation of the association of SLC12A2 with non-syndromic autosomal-dominant hearing impairment
Authors: Adadey Samuel M. , Schrauwen Isabelle , Aboagye Elvis Twumasi , Bharadwaj Thashi , Esoh Kevin K. , Basit Sulman , Acharya Anushree , Nouel-Saied Liz M. , Liaqat Khurram , Wonkam-Tingang Edmond , Mowla Shaheen , Awandare Gordon A. , Ahmad Wasim , Leal Suzanne M. , Wonkam Ambroise 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCongenital hearing impairment (HI) is genetically heterogeneous making its genetic diagnosis challenging. Investigation of novel HI genes and variants will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and to aid genetic diagnosis. We performed exome sequencing and analysis using DNA samples from affected members of two large families from Ghana and Pakistan, segregating autosomal-dominant (AD) non-syndromic HI (NSHI). Using in silico approaches, we modeled and evaluated the effect of the likely pathogenic variants on protein structure and function. We identified two likely pathogenic variants in SLC12A2, c.2935G>A:p.(E979K) and c.2939A>T:p.(E980V), which segregate with NSHI in a Ghanaian and Pakistani family, respectively. SLC12A2 encodes an ion transporter crucial in the homeostasis of the inner ear endolymph and has recently been reported to be implicated in syndromic and non-syndromic HI. Both variants were mapped to alternatively spliced exon 21 of the SLC12A2 gene. Exon 21 encodes for 17 residues in the cytoplasmatic tail of SLC12A2, is highly conserved between species, and preferentially expressed in cochlear tissues. A review of previous studies and our current data showed that out of ten families with either AD non-syndromic or syndromic HI, eight (80%) had variants within the 17 amino acid residue region of exon 21 (48 bp), suggesting that this alternate domain is critical to the transporter activity in the inner ear. The genotypic spectrum of SLC12A2 was expanded and the involvement of SLC12A2 in ADNSHI was confirmed. These results also demonstrate the role that SLC12A2 plays in ADNSHI in diverse populations including sub-Saharan Africans.
Genomic methods reveal independent demographic histories despite strong morphological conservatism in fish species
Authors: Neves Jessika M. M. , Nolen Zachary J. , Fabré Nidia N. , Mott Tamí , Pereira Ricardo J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHuman overexploitation of natural resources has placed conservation and management as one of the most pressing challenges in modern societies, especially in regards to highly vulnerable marine ecosystems. In this context, cryptic species are particularly challenging to conserve because they are hard to distinguish based on morphology alone, and thus it is often unclear how many species coexist in sympatry, what are their phylogenetic relationships and their demographic history. We answer these questions using morphologically similar species of the genus Mugil that are sympatric in the largest coastal Marine Protected Area in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic marine province. Using a sub-representation of the genome, we show that individuals are assigned to five highly differentiated genetic clusters that are coincident with five mitochondrial lineages, but discordant with morphological information, supporting the existence of five species with conserved morphology in this region. A lack of admixed individuals is consistent with strong genetic isolation between sympatric species, but the most likely species tree suggests that in one case speciation has occurred in the presence of interspecific gene flow. Patterns of genetic diversity within species suggest that effective population sizes differ up to two-fold, probably reflecting differences in the magnitude of population expansions since species formation. Together, our results show that strong morphologic conservatism in marine environments can lead to species that are difficult to distinguish morphologically but that are characterized by an independent evolutionary history, and thus that deserve species-specific management strategies.
Adiponectin as a novel biomarker of disease severity in alopecia areata
Authors: Stochmal Anna , Waśkiel-Burnat Anna , Chrostowska Sylwia , Zaremba Michał , Rakowska Adriana , Czuwara Joanna , Rudnicka Lidia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe frequent coexistence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in patients with alopecia areata may indicate the common pathogenetic pathway in these conditions with an important role of adipokines. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum level of adiponectin, resistin and leptin in patients with alopecia areata in comparison to healthy controls. The study included 65 patients with alopecia areata and 71 healthy controls. The concentration of adipokines was determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean concentrations of adiponectin and resistin were significantly lower in the sera of patients with alopecia areata when compared to healthy controls (7966 $$\pm$$
±
4087 vs 9947 $$\pm$$
±
5692 ng/ml; p = 0.0312 and 11.04 $$\pm$$
±
3.88 vs 14.11 $$\pm$$
±
8.69 ng/ml; p = 0.0176, respectively). A negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score was observed (r = − 0.26; p < 0.05). The concentration of adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with alopecia universalis than in patients with patchy alopecia areata (4951 $$\pm$$
±
2499 vs 8525 $$\pm$$
±
4085 ng/ml; p = 0.0135). No significant difference in the serum concentration of leptin was observed between patients with alopecia areata and healthy controls. The negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and hair loss severity indicates that adiponectin may be considered a marker of hair loss severity in alopecia areata. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of resistin in patients with alopecia areata and its decreased level irregardless of severity or activity of the disease.
The impact of infection complications after trauma differs according to trauma severity
Authors: Komori Akira , Iriyama Hiroki , Kainoh Takako , Aoki Makoto , Naito Toshio , Abe Toshikazu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe impact of infection on the prognosis of trauma patients according to severity remains unclear. We assessed the impact of infection complications on in-hospital mortality among patients with trauma according to severity. This retrospective cohort study used a nationwide registry of trauma patients. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with blunt or penetrating trauma who were admitted to intensive care units or general wards between 2004 and 2017 were included. We compared the baseline characteristics and outcomes between patients with and without infection and conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis to investigate the impact of infection on in-hospital mortality according to trauma severity, which was classified as mild [Injury Severity Score (ISS) < 15], moderate (ISS 15–29), or severe (ISS ≥ 30). Among the 150,948 patients in this study, 10,338 (6.8%) developed infections. Patients with infection had greater in-hospital mortality than patients without infection [1085 (10.5%) vs. 2898 (2.1%), p < 0.01]. After adjusting for clinical characteristics, in-hospital mortality differed between trauma patients with and without infection according to trauma severity [17.1% (95% CI 15.2–18.9%) vs. 2.9% (95% CI 2.7–3.1%), p < 0.01, in patients with mild trauma; 14.8% (95% CI 13.3–16.3%) vs. 8.4% (95% CI 7.9–8.8%), p < 0.01, in patients with moderate trauma; and 13.5% (95% CI 11.2–15.7%) vs. 13.7% (95% CI 12.4–14.9%), p = 0.86, in patients with severe trauma]. In conclusion, the effect of infection complications in patients with trauma on in-hospital mortality differs by trauma severity.
Risk factors associated with progression of diabetic retinopathy in eyes treated with panretinal photocoagulation
Authors: Baek Sung Uk , Park Min Seon , Cho Bum-Joo , Park In Won , Kwon Soonil 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUncontrolled diabetes has been associated with progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in several studies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate systemic and ophthalmic factors related to worsening of DR even after completion of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). We retrospectively reviewed DR patients who had completed PRP in at least one eye with a 3-year follow-up. A total of 243 eyes of 243 subjects (mean age 52.6 ± 11.6 years) were enrolled. Among them, 52 patients (21.4%) showed progression of DR after PRP (progression group), and the other 191 (78.6%) patients had stable DR (non-progression group). The progression group had higher proportion of proliferative DR (P = 0.019); lower baseline visual acuity (P < 0.001); and higher platelet count (P = 0.048), hemoglobin (P = 0.044), and hematocrit, (P = 0.042) than the non-progression group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis for progression of DR, baseline visual acuity (HR: 0.053, P < 0.001) and platelet count (HR: 1.215, P = 0.031) were identified as risk factors for progression. Consequently, we propose that patients with low visual acuity or high platelet count are more likely to have progressive DR despite PRP and require careful observation. Also, the evaluation of hemorheological factors including platelet counts before PRP can be considered useful in predicting the prognosis of DR.
Tuning the electronic structures of self-supported vertically aligned CoFe LDH arrays integrated with Ni foam toward highly efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation
Authors: Li Meng-Yang , Zhang Jun-Jun , Li Xiang , Bao Wei-Wei , Yang Chun-Ming , Jin Chang-Qing , Li Meng , Wang Su-Min , Zhang Nan-Nan 
Published: July 2021

The developed Ni/CoFe LDH as an anode can provide a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 1.532 V vs. RHE, as well as remarkable operational stability, representing the best yet reported noble-metal-free water oxidation electrode.
Thoraxchirurgie ohne Thoraxdrainage – aktuelle Situation in Deutschland
Authors: Broschewitz Johannes , Metelmann Isabella , Steinert Matthias , Krämer Sebastian 
Published: July 2021

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund In den letzten Jahrzehnten wurde eine Vielzahl von Techniken in den klinischen Alltag eingeführt, um die Invasivität thoraxchirurgischer Operationen zu reduzieren.
Thoraxdrainagen stellen eine bedeutende Ursache für postoperativen Schmerz dar. Der Verzicht auf eine Thoraxdrainage (Tubeless-Technik) kann zu geringeren postoperativen Schmerzen und einer
verkürzten Krankenhausverweildauer führen. Welchen Stellenwert die Tubeless-Technik in Deutschland hat, ist jedoch unklar.
Material und Methoden Mit einer bundesweiten Befragung, die von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Thoraxchirurgie (DGT) unterstützt wurde, sollte die Anwendung der Tubeless-Technik
evaluiert werden. Im Zeitraum von Juli bis September 2020 wurden alle leitenden Thoraxchirurgen mit DGT-Mitgliedschaft aufgerufen, einen digitalen Fragebogen zu beantworten.
Ergebnisse 63 von 161 Angefragten sendeten den Fragebogen ausgefüllt zurück, was einer Rücklaufquote von 39% entspricht. Im Erfassungszeitraum von 1 Jahr wurden an den 63 Kliniken
mindestens 30 930 thoraxchirurgische Eingriffe durchgeführt, wovon 593 Eingriffe (1,9%) in Tubeless-Technik vorgenommen wurden. In 37 Kliniken (59%) wurden bisher Eingriffe in
Tubeless-Technik ausgeführt, wovon 15 (24%) ebenfalls Lungenresektionen durchführten. 42 Befragte (67%) sehen unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen eine Indikation für die Tubeless-Technik und 7
(11%) sehen eine Vergesellschaftung mit einem hohen Komplikationsrisiko. Für 50 Teilnehmer (79%) verursacht die Tubeless-Technik weniger Schmerzen und 10 (16%) geben an, dass die
Tubeless-Technik keinen Vorteil bietet. Neben anderen Kontraindikationen wird ein Pleuraerguss am häufigsten angeben (48 Befragte, 76%). Bei den Anwendern besteht Konsens (100%), dass eine
fehlende Luftfistel Voraussetzung für die Durchführung der Tubeless-Technik ist. Der Großteil der Anwender führt zum Ausschluss einer Luftfistel eine „Fahrradschlauchprobe“ (73%) und/oder
eine Kontrolle am digitalen Drainagesystem (53%) durch, teilweise unter druckkontrolliert ventilierter Lunge. 17 Anwender der Tubeless-Technik (46%) gaben an, bisher keine Komplikationen
beobachtet zu haben.
Schlussfolgerung Die Vorteile der Tubeless-Technik sind wissenschaftlich gut belegt und in deutschen Kliniken bekannt. Gleichwohl wird sie in Deutschland nur von 59% der befragten
thoraxchirurgischen Einrichtungen durchgeführt. Eine Verbesserung der Evidenz hinsichtlich der Selektionskriterien durch randomisierte klinische Studien könnte helfen, eine breitere
Anwendung zu befördern.
Endovascular Therapy for the Management of Acute Ilio-femoral Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Dumantepe Mert 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIlio-femoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has a high rate of long-term morbidity in the form of the postthrombotic syndrome (PTS). Therefore, management of acute thrombosis should not only focus on the prevention of acute complications such as propagation or embolisation of the initial clot but also on preventing recurrent thrombosis and PTS. Contemporary catheter-based treatments of deep vein thrombosis have proven to be safe and effective in selected patients. Current guidelines recommend medical therapy with anticoagulation alone for all but the most severe, limb-threatening thrombosis. They additionally allow for consideration of endovascular catheter-based treatment in selected patients with acute proximal ilio-femoral DVT and low risk of bleeding complications to prevent PTS. Imaging-guided, catheter-based endovascular therapy has been used in selected patients to alleviate these sequelae, but important questions remain about their optimal use. In this article, we review the available evidence and summarize the rationale for use of catheter-based therapy in specific patient groups with acute iliofemoral DVT.
Circulating Cytokines and Growth Factors in Acute Cerebral Large Vessel Occlusion—Association with Success of Endovascular Treatment
Authors: Falk Christine S. , Weissenborn Karin , Schuppner Ramona , Grosse Gerrit M. , Werlein Christopher , Blume Nicole , Abu-Fares Omar , Götz Friedrich , Gabriel Maria M. , Ernst Johanna , Leotescu Andrei , Worthmann Hans , Kühnel Mark P. , Jonigk Danny D. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a highly efficient treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, in a relevant proportion of LVO, no sufficient recanalization can be achieved. The composition of cerebral thrombi is highly heterogeneous and may constitute a relevant factor for insufficient reperfusion. We hypothesized that circulating cytokines and growth factors involved in thromboinflammation and platelet activation may be associated with reperfusion status and thrombus composition in patients undergoing MT. An according biomarker panel was measured in plasma specimens taken prior to MT and at a 7-day follow-up. The reperfusion status was categorized into sufficient or insufficient. The composition of retrieved thrombi was histologically analyzed. Differences of baseline biomarker concentrations between insufficient and sufficient reperfusions were highest for interferon (IFN)-γ, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB/BB, and IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10). After applying correction for multiple comparisons and logistic regression analysis adjusting for stroke etiology, intravenous thrombolysis, and vascular risk factors, PDGF-AB/BB was identified as an independent predictor of reperfusion status (odds ratio: 0.403; 95% confidence interval: 0.199–0.819). Histological analysis revealed that the majority of thrombi had a mixed composition. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that cytokines and growth factors are potential effectors in patients undergoing MT for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
The Asterion-to-Transverse Process of the Atlas Line as a Surgical Landmark
Authors: Basma Jaafar , Mahoney Dom E. , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Michael L. Madison , Sorenson Jeffrey M. , Porter David G. , Pichierri Angelo 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction Proposed landmarks to predict the anatomical location and trajectory of the sigmoid sinus have varying degrees of reliability. Even with neuronavigation technology, landmarks are crucial in planning and performing complex approaches to the posterolateral skull base. By combining two major dependable structures—the asterion (A) and transverse process of the atlas (TPC1)—we investigate the A-TPC1 line in relation to the sigmoid sinus and in partitioning surgical approaches to the region.
Methods We dissected six cadaveric heads (12 sides) to expose the posterolateral skull base, including the mastoid and suboccipital bone, TPC1 and suboccipital triangle, distal jugular vein and internal carotid artery, and lower cranial nerves in the distal cervical region. We inspected the A-TPC1 line before and after drilling the mastoid and occipital bones and studied the relationship of the sigmoid sinus trajectory and major muscular elements related to the line. We retrospectively reviewed 31 head and neck computed tomography (CT) angiograms (62 total sides), excluding posterior fossa or cervical pathologies. Bone and vessels were reconstructed using three-dimensional segmentation software. We measured the distance between the A-TPC1 line and sigmoid sinus at different levels: posterior digastric point (DP), and maximal distances above and below the digastric notch.
Results A-TPC1 length averaged 65 mm and was posterior to the sigmoid sinus in all cadaver specimens, coming closest at the level of the DP. Using the transverse-asterion line as a rostrocaudal division and skull base as a horizontal plane, we divided the major surgical approaches into four quadrants: distal cervical/extreme lateral and jugular foramen (anteroinferior), presigmoid/petrosal (anterosuperior), retrosigmoid/suboccipital (posterosuperior), and far lateral/foramen magnum regions (posteroinferior). Radiographically, the A-TPC1 line was also posterior to the sigmoid sinus in all sides and came closest to the sinus at the level of DP (mean, 7 mm posterior; range, 0–18.7 mm). The maximal distance above the DP had a mean of 10.1 mm (range, 3.6–19.5 mm) and below the DP 5.2 mm (range, 0–20.7 mm).
Conclusion The A-TPC1 line is a helpful landmark reliably found posterior to the sigmoid sinus in cadaveric specimens and radiographic CT scans. It can corroborate the accuracy of neuronavigation, assist in minimizing the risk of sigmoid sinus injury, and is a useful tool in planning surgical approaches to the posterolateral skull base, both preoperatively and intraoperatively.