bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Porous tantalum-composited gelatin nanoparticles hydrogel integrated with mesenchymal stem cell-derived endothelial cells to construct vascularized tissue in vivo
Authors: Zhao Zhenhua , Wang Mang , Shao Fei , Liu Ge , Li Junlei , Wei Xiaowei , Zhang Xiuzhi , Yang Jiahui , Cao Fang , Wang Qiushi , Wang Huanan , Zhao Dewei 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The ideal scaffold material of angiogenesis should have mechanical strength and provide appropriate physiological microporous structures to mimic the extracellular matrix environment. In this study, we constructed an integrated three-dimensional scaffold material using porous tantalum (pTa), gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) hydrogel, and seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived endothelial cells (ECs) for vascular tissue engineering. The characteristics and biocompatibility of pTa and GNPs hydrogel were evaluated by mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy, cell counting kit, and live-cell assay. The BMSCs-derived ECs were identified by flow cytometry and angiogenesis assay. BMSCs-derived ECs were seeded on the pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Four weeks after the operation, the scaffold material was evaluated by histomorphology. The superior biocompatible ability of pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold was observed. Our in vivo results suggested that 28 days after implantation, the formation of the stable capillary-like network in scaffold material could be promoted significantly. The novel, integrated pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold is biocompatible with the host, and exhibits biomechanical and angiogenic properties. Moreover, combined with BMSCs-derived ECs, it could construct vascular engineered tissue in vivo. This study may provide a basis for applying pTa in bone regeneration and autologous BMSCs in tissue-engineered vascular grafts.
Liquidity Risk and Long-Term Finance: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
Authors: Choudhary M Ali , Limodio Nicola 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Banks in low-income countries face severe liquidity risk due to volatile deposits, which destabilize their funding, and dysfunctional liquidity markets, which induce expensive interbank and central bank lending. Such liquidity risk dissuades the transformation of short-term deposits into long-term loans and deters long-term investment. To validate this mechanism, we exploit a Sharia-compliant levy in Pakistan, which generates unintended and quasi-experimental variation in liquidity risk, with data from the credit registry and firm imports. We find that banks with a stronger exposure to liquidity risk lower their supply of long-term finance, which reduces the long-term investment of connected firms.
Country Risks and Brain Drain: The Emigration Potential of Japanese Skilled Workers
Authors: HORIUCHI Yusaku , OISHI Nana 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
While most existing research attributes contemporary Japanese emigration to the pursuit of a better lifestyle, recent qualitative studies point out that concern about country risks is a significant driver . We explore Japan’s brain-drain potential and factors shaping Japanese skilled workers’ interest in emigrating to other countries based on our original survey with an experimental component. We first undertake descriptive analysis using respondents in the (baseline) control group and examine what types of Japanese skilled workers are interested in emigration. We then use respondents in the control and treatment groups to test our preregistered hypotheses regarding the impact of information about Japan’s country risks on their attitudes. The results of our descriptive analysis show that respondents with overseas experience and younger respondents are particularly motivated to consider emigration. Another notable finding is that respondents who distrust the government and media are also more likely to consider leaving Japan than those who do not. Furthermore, through our randomized survey experiment, we find that exposure to information about long-term economic risk encourages people to consider living abroad in the future. These results suggest that the brain drain from Japan is likely to continue, pointing to a need for policy actions to tackle it.
Factors associated with adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular disease prevention among HIV clinicians
Authors: Galaviz Karla I , Colasanti Jonathan A , Kalokhe Ameeta S , Ali Mohammed K , Ofotokun Igho , Fernandez Alicia 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Integrating cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in routine HIV care remains a challenge. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adherence to guideline-recommended CVD preventive practices among HIV clinicians. Clinicians from eight HIV clinics in Atlanta were invited to complete an online survey. The survey was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and assessed the following: clinician CVD risk screening and advice frequency (never to always), individual characteristics (clinician beliefs, self-efficacy, and motivation), inner setting factors (clinic culture, learning climate, leadership engagement, and resources available), and outer setting factors (peer pressure and patient needs). Bivariate correlations examined associations between these factors and guideline adherence. Thirty-eight clinicians completed the survey (82% women, mean age 42 years, 50% infectious disease physicians). For risk screening, clinicians always check patient blood pressure (median score 7.0/7), while they usually ask about smoking or check their blood glucose (median score 6.0/7). For advice provision, clinicians usually recommend quitting smoking, controlling cholesterol or controlling blood pressure (median score 6.0/7), while they often recommend controlling blood glucose, losing weight, or improving diet/physical activity (median score 5.5/7). Clinician beliefs, motivation and self-efficacy were positively correlated with screening and advice practices (r = .55−.84), while inner setting factors negatively correlated with lifestyle-related screening and advice practices (r = −.51 to −.76). Peer pressure was positively correlated with screening and advice practices (r = .57–.89). Clinician psychosocial characteristics and perceived peer pressure positively influence adherence to guideline-recommended CVD preventive practices. These correlates along with leadership engagement could be targeted with proven implementation strategies.
Machine Learning Technique Reveals Prognostic Factors of Vibrant Soundbridge for Conductive or Mixed Hearing Loss Patients
Authors: Koyama Hajime , Mori Anjin , Nagatomi Daisuke , Fujita Takeshi , Saito Kazuya , Osaki Yasuhiro , Yamasoba Tatsuya , Doi Katsumi 
Published: September 2021

Objectives:
Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) was developed for treatment of hearing loss, but clinical outcomes vary and prognostic factors predicting the success of the treatment remain unknown. We examined clinical outcomes of VSB for conductive or mixed hearing loss, prognostic factors by analyzing prediction models, and cut-off values to predict the outcomes.

Study design:
Retrospective chart review.

Setting:
Tertiary care hospital.

Patients:
Thirty patients who underwent VSB surgery from January 2017 to December 2019 at our hospital.

Intervention:
Audiological tests were performed prior to and 3 months after surgery; patients completed questionnaires 3 months after surgery.

Main outcome measures:
We used a multiregression and the random forest algorithm for predictions. Mean absolute errors and coefficient of determinations were calculated to estimate prediction accuracies. Coefficient values in the multiregression model and the importance of features in the random forest model were calculated to clarify prognostic factors. Receiver operation characteristic curves were plotted.

Results:
All audiological outcomes improved after surgery. The random forest model (mean absolute error: 0.06) recorded more accuracy than the multiregression model (mean absolute error: 0.12). Speech discrimination score in a silent context in patients with hearing aids was the most influential factor (coefficient value: 0.51, featured value: 0.71). The candidate cut-off value was 36% (sensitivity: 89%, specificity: 75%).

Conclusions:
VSB is an effective treatment for conductive or mixed hearing loss. Machine learning demonstrated more precise predictions, and speech discrimination scores in a silent context in patients with hearing aids were the most important factor in predicting clinical outcomes.
Incision Location Predicts 30-Day Major Adverse Events after Cosmetic Breast Augmentation: An Analysis of the Tracking Outcomes and Operations for Plastic Surgeons Database
Authors: Valente Denis S. , Pannucci Christopher J. , King Timothy W. , Gutowski Karol A. , Gusenoff Jeffrey A. , Rodby Katherine A. , Zanella Rafaela K. , Friji M.T. , Day Kristopher M. , Kaye Alison E. 
Published: September 2021

Background:
Enhanced understanding of early postoperative adverse events will improve patient counseling and preoperative risk modification to decrease complications in implant-based breast augmentation. This study seeks to evaluate the early major adverse events following cosmetic breast augmentation.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort analysis of the Tracking Outcomes and Operations for Plastic Surgeons database was performed to identify any women undergoing augmentation mammaplasty with an implant between 2008 and 2016.

Results:
A total of 84,296 patients were studied. Major adverse events were identified in 0.37 percent. Seroma requiring drainage was observed in 0.08 percent, hematoma requiring drainage was observed in 0.15 percent, deep wound disruption was observed in 0.09 percent, and implant loss was observed in 0.11 percent. The authors identified multiple independent predictors of major adverse events, including body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 (relative risk, 2.05; p < 0.001), tobacco use (relative risk, 2.25; p < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (relative risk, 1.8; p < 0.05). Use of a periareolar incision significantly increased the risk of developing an early postoperative complication (relative risk, 1.77; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The findings of this study indicate an early major adverse event rate following cosmetic breast augmentation with implants of 0.37 percent. The authors identified multiple independent predictors of major adverse events, including body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, tobacco use, and diabetes mellitus. In addition, when controlling for other factors, periareolar incision significantly increased the risk for major adverse events, when compared to an inframammary incision.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, III.
Leveraging the Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons Database for Plastic Surgery Research: A “How-To” Guide
Authors: Valente Denis Souto , Kaye Alison E. , Simmons Christopher J. , Zanella Rafaela K. , Pannucci Christopher J. 
Published: September 2021

Summary:
The Plastic Surgeries Registry Network supported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Plastic Surgery Foundation offers a variety of options for procedural data and outcomes assessment and research. The Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS) database is a registry created for and used by active members of ASPS to monitor all types of procedural outcomes. It functions as a way for individual or group practices to follow surgical outcomes and constitutes a huge research registry available to ASPS members to access for registry-based projects. The TOPS registry was launched in 2002 and has undergone several iterations and improvements over the years and now includes more than 1 million procedure records. Although ASPS member surgeons have proven valuable assets in contributing their data to the TOPS registry, fewer have leveraged the database for registry-based research. This article overviews the authors’ experience using the TOPS registry for a database research project to demonstrate the process, usefulness, and accessibility of TOPS data for ASPS member surgeons to conduct registry-based research. This article pairs with the report of the authors’ TOPS registry investigation related to 30-day adverse events associated with incision location for augmentation mammaplasty.
Robust clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by RT-PCR/MALDI-TOF multi-target approach
Authors: Hernandez Matthew M. , Banu Radhika , Gonzalez-Reiche Ana S. , van de Guchte Adriana , Khan Zenab , Shrestha Paras , Cao Liyong , Chen Feng , Shi Huanzhi , Hanna Ayman , Alshammary Hala , Fabre Shelcie , Amoako Angela , Obla Ajay , Alburquerque Bremy , Helena Patiño Luz , Ramírez Juan David , Sebra Robert , Gitman Melissa R. , Nowak Michael D. , Cordon-Cardo Carlos , Schutzbank Ted E. , Simon Viviana , van Bakel Harm , Sordillo Emilia Mia , Paniz-Mondolfi Alberto E. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic sparked rapid development of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. However, emerging variants pose the risk for target dropout and false-negative results secondary to primer/probe binding site (PBS) mismatches. The Agena MassARRAY® SARS-CoV-2 Panel combines RT-PCR and MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry to probe for five targets across N and ORF1ab genes, which provides a robust platform to accommodate PBS mismatches in divergent viruses. Herein, we utilize a deidentified dataset of 1,262 SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens from Mount Sinai Health System (New York City) from December 2020 through April 2021 to evaluate target results and corresponding sequencing data. Overall, the level of PBS mismatches was greater in specimens with target dropout. Of specimens with N3 target dropout, 57% harbored an A28095T substitution that is highly-specific for the alpha (B.1.1.7) variant of concern. These data highlight the benefit of redundancy in target design and the potential for target performance to illuminate the dynamics of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Is sensor space analysis good enough? Spatial patterns as a tool for assessing spatial mixing of EEG/MEG rhythms
Authors: Schaworonkow Natalie , Nikulin Vadim V. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAnalyzing non-invasive recordings of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) directly in sensor space, using the signal from individual sensors, is a convenient and standard way of working with this type of data. However, volume conduction introduces considerable challenges for sensor space analysis. While the general idea of signal mixing due to volume conduction in EEG/MEG is recognized, the implications have not yet been clearly exemplified. Here, we illustrate how different types of activity overlap on the level of individual sensors. We show spatial mixing in the context of alpha rhythms, which are known to have generators in different areas of the brain. Using simulations with a realistic 3D head model and lead field and data analysis of a large resting-state EEG dataset, we show that electrode signals can be differentially affected by spatial mixing by computing a sensor complexity measure. While prominent occipital alpha rhythms result in less heterogeneous spatial mixing on posterior electrodes, central electrodes show a diversity of rhythms present. This makes the individual contributions, such as the sensorimotor mu-rhythm and temporal alpha rhythms, hard to disentangle from the dominant occipital alpha. Additionally, we show how strong occipital rhythms rhythms can contribute the majority of activity to frontal channels, potentially compromising analyses that are solely conducted in sensor space. We also outline specific consequences of signal mixing for frequently used assessment of power, power ratios and connectivity profiles in basic research and for neurofeedback application. With this work, we hope to illustrate the effects of volume conduction in a concrete way, such that the provided practical illustrations may be of use to EEG researchers to in order to evaluate whether sensor space is an appropriate choice for their topic of investigation.
What pushed Israel out of herd immunity? Modeling COVID-19 spread of Delta and Waning immunity
Authors: De-Leon Hilla , Aran Dvir 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTFollowing a successful vaccination campaign at the beginning of 2021 in Israel, where approximately 60% of the population were vaccinated with an mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine, it seemed that Israel had crossed the herd immunity threshold (HIT). Nonetheless, Israel has seen a steady rise in COVID-19 morbidity since June 2021, reaching over 1,000 cases per million by August. This outbreak is attributed to several events that came together: the temporal decline of the vaccine’s effectiveness (VE); lower effectiveness of the vaccine against the current Delta (B.1.617.2) variant; highly infectiousness of Delta; and temporary halt of mandated NPIs (non-pharmaceutical interventions) or any combination of the above. Using a novel spatial-dynamic model and recent aggregate data from Israel, we examine the extent of the impact of the Delta variant on morbidity and whether it can solely explain the outbreak. We conclude that both Delta infectiousness and waning immunity could have been able to push Israel below the HIT independently, and thus, to mitigate the outbreak effective NPIs are required. Our analysis cautions countries that once vaccines’ will wane a highly infectious spread is expected, and therefore, the expected decline in the vaccine’s effectiveness in those countries should be accompanied by another vaccination campaign and effective NPIs.
A Cross-Sectional Examination of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures of Physician-Authors Publishing in High-Impact US Medical Journals
Authors: Baraldi James H. , Picozzo Steven A. , Arnold Jacob C. , Volarich Kathryn , Gionfriddo Michael R. , Piper Brian J. 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the accuracy of self-reported financial conflict-of-interest (COI) disclosures in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) within the requisite disclosure period prior to article submission.DesignCross-sectional investigation.Data SourcesOriginal clinical-trial research articles published in NEJM (n = 206) or JAMA (n = 188) from January 1 to December 31, 2017; self-reported COI disclosure forms submitted to NEJM or JAMA with the authors’ published articles; Open Payments website (from database inception; latest search: August 2019).Main outcome measuresFinancial data reported to Open Payments from 2014 to 2016 (time period that included all subjects’ requisite disclosure windows) were compared to self-reported disclosure forms submitted to the journals. Payments were defined as those not associated with a research study or formal research funding. Payment types were categorized as “disclosed,” “undisclosed,” “indeterminate,” or “unrelated.”ResultsThirty-one articles from NEJM and 31 articles from JAMA met inclusion criteria. The physician-authors (n = 118) received a combined total of $7.48 million. Of the 106 authors (89.8%) who received payments, 86 (81.1%) received undisclosed payments. The top 23 most highly compensated received $6.32 million, of which $3.00 million (47.6%) was undisclosed. Disclosure rates were the equivalent between the top 23 and the entire sample.ConclusionsHigh payment amounts, as well as high proportions of undisclosed financial compensation, regardless of amount received, comprised potential COIs for two influential US medical journals. Further research is needed to explain why such high proportions of general payments were undisclosed and whether journals that rely on self-reported COI disclosure need to reconsider their policies.
Insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation induced by a high-fat diet are attenuated in the absence of hepcidin
Authors: James Jithu Varghese , Varghese Joe , John Nikhitha Mariya , Deschemin Jean-Christophe , Vaulont Sophie , McKie Andrew T. , Jacob Molly 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTIncreased body iron stores and inflammation in adipose tissue have been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying basis of these associations are unclear. In order to assess this, we studied how IR and associated inflammation in adipose tissue developed in the presence of increased body iron stores. Male hepcidin knock-out (Hamp1-/-) mice, which have increased body iron stores, and wild-type (WT) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 and 24 weeks. Development of IR and metabolic parameters linked to this, insulin signaling in tissue, and inflammation and iron-related parameters in visceral adipose tissue were studied in these animals. HFD-feeding resulted in impaired glucose tolerance in both genotypes of mice. In response to the HFD for 24 weeks, Hamp1-/- mice gained less body weight and developed less IR than corresponding WT mice. This was associated with less lipid accumulation in the liver and decreased inflammation and lipolysis in the adipose tissue in the knock-out mice, than in the WT animals. Fewer macrophages infiltrated the adipose tissue in the knockout mice than in wild-type mice, with these macrophages exhibiting a predominantly anti-inflammatory (M2-like) phenotype. These observations suggest a novel role of hepcidin (central regulator of systemic iron homeostasis) in the development of inflammation in adipose tissue and insulin resistance, in response to a high-fat diet.CLINICAL PERSPECTIVESElevated body iron stores and inflammation in adipose tissue have been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms linking them are unclear.In response to high-fat diet (HFD)-feeding (to induce IR), mice that lacked hepcidin (Hamp1-/-) (and hence had elevated body iron stores) gained less body weight and developed less insulin resistance than wild-type (WT) mice. Inflammation and infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue of HFD-fed Hamp1-/- mice were less than in WT mice, with the macrophages exhibiting an anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype.These findings suggest a novel role of iron and hepcidin in HFD-induced inflammation in adipose tissue and development of insulin resistance. They raise the possibility that modulation of body iron may represent a potential way to inhibit these processes.