bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcomes after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty over a period of 7 years at a tertiary referral center: endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness, and visual acuity
Authors: Bayyoud Tarek , Gelisken Faik , Rohrbach Jens Martin , Blumenstock Gunnar , Bartz-Schmidt Karl Ulrich , Thaler Sebastian 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
To better assess clinical trajectories of patients with or without ocular comorbidity after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. Background: To report on the outcomes of eyes with differing starting conditions following surgery. Design: Retrospective study at a University Eye Hospital. Participants: 361 eyes separated into group 1 (n=229; eyes with endothelial disease only) and group 2 (n=132; eyes with additional ocular comorbid conditions, such as herpetic eye disease 18/132 (13.6%), glaucoma 16/132 (12.1%), dry age-related macular degeneration 14/132 (10.6%), epiretinal membranes 10/132 (7.6%), and wet age-related macular degeneration 9/132 (6.8%)).

Methods
Consecutive eyes that underwent Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty over a follow-up period of up to 7 years at a tertiary referral center were reviewed. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, postoperative complications, graft survival, central corneal thickness, and endothelial cell density.

Results
Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity at year 1 improved in both groups significantly (Wilcoxon signed rank test: group 1, p =.002; .63 to .23 logMAR; group 2, p <.001; 1.15 to .87 logMAR) with a group difference in favor of group 1 (p =.009, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon). A decrease of the endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness was noted at postoperative year 1 for both groups (paired t-tests (group 1, p <.001; group 2, p =.045) and paired t-tests (group 1, p <.001; group 2, p =.003). Complications were less common, and graft longevity was superior in group 1.

Conclusion
Eyes with different starting conditions might experience a visual improvement and benefit from surgery. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty is a valid treatment for endothelial disorders in manifold of eyes. Further long-term studies are required.
Cultural differences in vocal emotion recognition: a behavioural and skin conductance study in Portugal and Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Cosme Gonçalo , Tavares Vânia , Nobre Guilherme , Lima César , Sá Rui , Rosa Pedro , Prata Diana 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCross-cultural studies of emotion recognition in nonverbal vocalizations not only support the universality hypothesis for its innate features, but also an in-group advantage for culture-dependent features. Nevertheless, in such studies, differences in socio-economic-educational status have not always been accounted for, with idiomatic translation of emotional concepts being a limitation, and the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms still un-researched. We set out to investigate whether native residents from Guinea-Bissau (West African culture) and Portugal (Western European culture)—matched for socio-economic-educational status, sex and language—varied in behavioural and autonomic system response during emotion recognition of nonverbal vocalizations from Portuguese individuals. Overall, Guinea–Bissauans (as out-group) responded significantly less accurately (corrected p < .05), slower, and showed a trend for higher concomitant skin conductance, compared to Portuguese (as in-group)—findings which may indicate a higher cognitive effort stemming from higher difficulty in discerning emotions from another culture. Specifically, accuracy differences were particularly found for pleasure, amusement, and anger, rather than for sadness, relief or fear. Nevertheless, both cultures recognized all emotions above-chance level. The perceived authenticity, measured for the first time in nonverbal cross-cultural research, in the same vocalizations, retrieved no difference between cultures in accuracy, but still a slower response from the out-group. Lastly, we provide—to our knowledge—a first account of how skin conductance response varies between nonverbally vocalized emotions, with significant differences (p < .05). In sum, we provide behavioural and psychophysiological data, demographically and language-matched, that supports cultural and emotion effects on vocal emotion recognition and perceived authenticity, as well as the universality hypothesis.
The impact of lockdown on pediatric ED visits and hospital admissions during the COVID19 pandemic: a multicenter analysis and review of the literature
Authors: Kruizinga Matthijs D. , Peeters Daphne , van Veen Mirjam , van Houten Marlies , Wieringa Jantien , Noordzij Jeroen G. , Bekhof Jolita , Tramper-Stranders Gerdien , Vet Nienke J. , Driessen Gertjan J. A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has enormous impact on society and healthcare. Countries imposed lockdowns, which were followed by a reduction in care utilization. The aims of this study were to quantify the effects of lockdown on pediatric care in the Netherlands, to elucidate the cause of the observed reduction in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions, and to summarize the literature regarding the effects of lockdown on pediatric care worldwide. ED visits and hospital admission data of 8 general hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2016 and June 2020 were summarized per diagnosis group (communicable infections, noncommunicable infections, (probable) infection-related, and noninfectious). The effects of lockdown were quantified with a linear mixed effects model. A literature review regarding the effect of lockdowns on pediatric clinical care was performed. In total, 126,198 ED visits and 47,648 admissions were registered in the study period. The estimated reduction in general pediatric care was 59% and 56% for ED visits and admissions, respectively. The largest reduction was observed for communicable infections (ED visits: 76%; admissions: 77%), whereas the reduction in noninfectious diagnoses was smaller (ED visits 36%; admissions: 37%). Similar reductions were reported worldwide, with decreases of 30–89% for ED visits and 19–73% for admissions.Conclusion: Pediatric ED utilization and hospitalization during lockdown were decreased in the Netherlands and other countries, which can largely be attributed to a decrease in communicable infectious diseases. Care utilization for other conditions was decreased as well, which may indicate that care avoidance during a pandemic is significant.

What is Known:• The COVID-19 pandemic had enormous impact on society.• Countries imposed lockdowns to curb transmission rates, which were followed by a reduction in care utilization worldwide.

What is New:• The Dutch lockdown caused a significant decrease in pediatric ED utilization and hospitalization, especially in ED visits and hospital admissions because of infections that were not caused by SARS-CoV-2.• Care utilization for noninfectious diagnoses was decreased as well, which may indicate that pediatric care avoidance during a pandemic is significant.
Local stationarity in exponential last-passage percolation
Authors: Balázs Márton , Busani Ofer , Seppäläinen Timo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe consider point-to-point last-passage times to every vertex in a neighbourhood of size $$\delta N^{\nicefrac {2}{3}}$$

δ

N

2
3

at distance N from the starting point. The increments of the last-passage times in this neighbourhood are shown to be jointly equal to their stationary versions with high probability that depends only on $$\delta $$
δ
. Through this result we show that (1) the $$\text {Airy}_2$$

Airy
2

process is locally close to a Brownian motion in total variation; (2) the tree of point-to-point geodesics from every vertex in a box of side length $$\delta N^{\nicefrac {2}{3}}$$

δ

N

2
3

going to a point at distance N agrees inside the box with the tree of semi-infinite geodesics going in the same direction; (3) two point-to-point geodesics started at distance $$N^{\nicefrac {2}{3}}$$

N

2
3

from each other, to a point at distance N, will not coalesce close to either endpoint on the scale N. Our main results rely on probabilistic methods only.
Prehabilitation with wearables versus standard of care before major abdominal cancer surgery: a randomised controlled pilot study (trial registration: NCT04047524)
Authors: Waller Ellen , Sutton Paul , Rahman Seema , Allen Jonathan , Saxton John , Aziz Omer 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Prehabilitation aims to improve post-operative outcomes by enhancing pre-operative fitness but is labour-intensive. This pilot study aimed to assess the efficacy of a tri-modal prehabilitation programme delivered by smartwatches for improving functional fitness prior to major abdominal cancer surgery.

Methods
A single-centre, randomised controlled pilot study, in which 22 patients were randomised to: (a) a prehabilitation group (n = 11), comprising of home-based exercise, nutritional, and dietary advice delivered using a wrist-worn smartwatch connected to a smartphone application; or (b) a control group (n = 11) receiving usual care, with patients given a smartwatch as a placebo. Eligible participants had over two weeks until planned surgery. The primary outcome was pre-operative physical activity including 6-min walk test (6MWT) distance, with secondary outcomes including change in body weight and hospital anxiety and depression score (HADS).

Results
Recruitment was 67% of eligible patients, with groups matched for baseline characteristics. The prehabilitation group engaged in more daily minutes of moderate [25.1 min (95% CI 9.79–40.44) vs 13.1 min (95% CI 5.97–20.31), p = 0.063] and vigorous physical activity [36.1 min (95% CI 21.24–50.90) vs 17.5 min (95% CI 5.18–29.73), p = 0.022] compared to controls. They also had significantly greater improvements in 6MWT distance compared to controls [+ 85.6 m (95% CI, + 18.06 to + 153.21) vs + 13.23 m (95% CI − 6.78 to 33.23), p = 0.014]. HADS scores remained unchanged from baseline in both groups.

Conclusion
Prehabilitation in the colorectal cancer care setting can be delivered using smartwatches and mobile applications. Furthermore, this study provides early indicative evidence that such technologies can improve functional capacity prior to surgery

Trial registration
NCT04047524.
Comparison between Abbott m2000 RealTime and Alinity m STI systems for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma genitalium
Authors: Herrmann Björn , Malm Karin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe new Abbott Alinity m STI Assay was compared with Abbott m2000 RealTime PCR. For Chlamydia trachomatis, 26 (7.5%) of 347 samples were positive in the Alinity assay and 24 (6.9%) in the m2000 assay. Corresponding figures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae were 23 (6.6%) and 17 (4.9%). For Mycoplasma genitalium, 22 (7.9%) of 279 samples were positive in the Alinity assay and 18 (6.5%) in the m2000 assay, for which DNA extraction was performed on an m2000sp instrument combined with in-house real-time PCR. The Alinity assay has at least the same sensitivity as the m2000 assay. The specificity was evaluated by discrepancy analysis.
Stigma mastery in people living with HIV: gender similarities and theory
Authors: Namisi Charles Patrick , Munene John C. , Wanyenze Rhoda K. , Katahoire Anne R. , Parkes-Ratanshi Rosalinda M. , Kentutsi Stella , Nannyonga Maria M. , Ssentongo Robina N. , Ogola Mabel K. , Nabaggala Maria Sarah , Amanya Geofrey , Kiragga Agnes N. , Batamwita Richard , Tumwesigye Nazarius M. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Aims
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, factors associated with, and to build a theoretical framework for understanding Internalsed HIV-related Stigma Mastery (IHSM).

Methods
A cross-sectional study nested within a 2014 Stigma Reduction Cohort in Uganda was used. The PLHIV Stigma Index version 2008, was used to collect data from a random sample of 666 people living with HIV (PLHIV) stratified by gender and age. SPSS24 with Amos27 softwares were used to build a sequential-mediation model.

Results
The majority of participants were women (65%), aged ≥ 40 years (57%). Overall, IHSM was 45.5% among PLHIV, that increased with age. Specifically, higher IHSM correlated with men and older women “masculine identities” self-disclosure of HIV-diagnosis to family, sharing experiences with peers. However, lower IHSM correlated with feminine gender, the experience of social exclusion stress, fear of future rejection, and fear of social intimacy. Thus, IHSM social exclusion with its negative effects and age-related cognition are integrated into a multidimensional IHSM theoretical framework with a good model-to-data fit.

Conclusion
Internalised HIV-related Stigma Mastery is common among men and older women. Specificially, “masculine identities” self-disclose their own HIV-positive diagnosis to their family, share experiences with peers to create good relationships for actualising or empowerment in stigma mastery. However, social exclusion exacerbates series of negative effects that finally undermine stigma mastery by young feminine identities. Thus, stigma mastery is best explained by an integrated empowerment framework, that has implications for future practice, policy, and stigma-related research that we discuss.
Strategies Towards Improving Clinical Outcomes of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy
Authors: Minczeles N.S. , Hofland J. , de Herder W.W. , Brabander T. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose of Review
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu-DOTA0,Tyr3] octreotate is an effective and safe second- or third-line treatment option for patients with low-grade advanced gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). In this review, we will focus on possible extensions of the current use of PRRT and on new approaches which could further improve its treatment efficacy and safety.

Recent Findings
Promising results were published regarding PRRT in other NENs, including lung NENs or high-grade NENs, and applying PRRT as neoadjuvant or salvage therapy. Furthermore, a diversity of strategic approaches, including dosimetry, somatostatin receptor antagonists, somatostatin receptor upregulation, radiosensitization, different radionuclides, albumin binding, alternative renal protection, and liver-directed therapy in combination with PRRT, have the potential to improve the outcome of PRRT. Also, novel biomarkers are presented that could predict response to PRRT.

Summary
Multiple preclinical and early clinical studies have shown encouraging potential to advance the clinical outcome of PRRT in NEN patients. However, at this moment, most of these strategies have not yet reached the clinical setting of randomized phase III trials.
Politics and the Academic Social Scientist; The Record of Talcott Parsons
Authors: Lidz Victor 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe decline of interest among sociologists in the works of Talcott Parsons over the last several decades has been driven in substantial respects by a belief that he was personally conservative in his political views and that his theoretical formulations were rigidly tied to a conservative view of social order. The present paper reviews Parsons’ major political involvements through the course of his career from his student days through the last decade of his life. The review demonstrates that Parsons was a typical academic liberal of his time and that his liberalism was expressed especially in several major applied essays. In the 1930s, he was an early and active opponent of Nazism. During World War II, he taught professionals to administer occupied territories and nations effectively. After the war, he advocated for government support of the social sciences, citing the important contributions they had made to the war effort. In the 1950s, he wrote a famous critical analysis of the Joseph McCarthy movement in American politics. In the 1960s, he contributed supportive essays to the Civil Rights movement. Later in the decade and in the 1970s, he contributed to the protection of academic freedoms while also proposing accommodations to the demands of the student movement for more “relevant” teaching and greater participation in university governance. Throughout his career, he taught and worked closely with students of various political views and sought to protect their rights of freedom of political expression.
Thrombocytopenia Complicating Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Differences Between Two New-Generation Devices
Authors: Corcione Nicola , Romano Simona , Morello Alberto , Ferraro Paolo , Cimmino Michele , Albanese Michele , Tufano Martina , Capasso Daniela , Buonpane Salvatore , Giordano Salvatore , Pepe Martino , Biondi-Zoccai Giuseppe , Romano Maria Fiammetta , Giordano Arturo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThrombocytopenia after TAVI is common and clinically detrimental. Retrospectively, we observed Portico recipients had a more profound platelet drop than Evolut recipients. We thus investigated periprocedural platelet damage and/orpro-inflammatory state in 64 TAVI recipients at baseline and after implantation. Platelet damage was assessed by annexin V staining and monocyte-phagocytic phenotype was assessed according to CD14/CD36 expression. Serum cytokines were measured in 20 patients. The formaldehyde-based storage solution altered platelets. When, before being loaded onto the delivery system, Portico underwent one additional flushing to those recommended, the receiving patients showed thrombocytopenia, platelet damage, and CD36-monocyte count were mitigated. A general increase in IL-6 was recorded in overall TAVI recipients, but a high serum level of IL-8, a potent thrombocytopenia inducer, was measured in Portico recipients only, including those with extra-rinsed valve. Our study suggests a platelet-injury effect by storage-solution and generates the hypothesis of a role for the biomaterial in stimulating innate-immunity. Larger prospective studies are needed.
Rediscovering Lutra lutra from Grotta Romanelli (southern Italy) in the framework of the puzzling evolutionary history of Eurasian otter
Authors: Mecozzi Beniamino , Iannucci Alessio , Bona Fabio , Mazzini Ilaria , Pieruccini Pierluigi , Sardella Raffaele 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA river otter hemimandible has been rediscovered during the revision of the historical collections of G.A. Blanc from Grotta Romanelli, complementing the ongoing multidisciplinary research fieldwork on the site. The specimen, recovered from the level G (“terre rosse”; early Late Pleistocene or late Middle Pleistocene), is here assigned toLutra lutra. Indeed, morphological and morphometric comparisons with other Quaternary Lutrinae fossils from Europe allow to exclude an attribution to the relatively widespread and olderLutra simplicidens, characterized by distinctive carnassial proportions. Differences withCyrnaonyx antiqua, which possessed a more robust, shellfish-feeding dentition, support the view of a successful niche repartition between the two species during the late Middle to Late Pleistocene of Europe. The occurrence ofLutra lutrafrom the “terre rosse” of Grotta Romanelli suggests deep modifications of the landscapes due to the ecological adaptation of the taxon, and indicates that the Eurasian otter spread into Europe at the Middle–Late Pleistocene transition.
Erfahrungen mit kombinierten digitalen Lernhilfen bei Datenbank-Vorlesungen
Authors: Lenz Richard , Haller David , Probst Dominik , Wahl Andreas 
Published: March 2021

ZusammenfassungIm vorliegenden Beitrag berichten wir über die Erfahrungen mit digitalen Lernhilfen und Selbsttests zur Verständnisprüfung am Beispiel einer einführenden Datenbankvorlesung mit weitgehend traditionellen Lehrinhalten. Basierend auf den Rückmeldungen der Studierenden wurde das Angebot an kombinierten digitalen Lernhilfen mit Hilfe der Lernplattform StudOn schrittweise erweitert. Um nicht nur auswendig gelerntes Wissen, sondern auch das Verständnis von Modellen und Konzepten mit automatisch korrigierbaren Fragen prüfen zu können, wurden spezielle Fragetypen entwickelt, die im Wesentlichen auf einfachen kombinatorischen Schlussfolgerungen basieren. Zum Selbsttest für SQL wurde zusätzlich eine Browserübung mit integrierter Datenbank und automatischer Korrektur entwickelt. Die Nutzung der automatisierten Selbsttests konnte deutlich gesteigert werden, indem die Selbsttests zur Zulassungsvoraussetzung für eine freiwillige Probeklausur gemacht wurden. In der Folge konnten hohe Durchfallquoten in der Klausur substantiell gesenkt werden. Im Sommersemester 2020 wurde die Vorlesung auf der Basis der bereits verfügbaren digitalen Lernhilfen vollständig online angeboten und durch virtuelle Vorlesungsbesprechungen im Sinne des Flipped Classroom Modells ergänzt. Aus dem breiten Spektrum der angebotenen digitalen Lernhilfen wurden vor allem die automatisierten Selbsttests stark genutzt und sehr gut bewertet. Die Vorlesungsbesprechungen wurden zwar auch gut bewertet, aber vergleichsweise wenig genutzt. Trotz fehlender Präsenzveranstaltungen haben sich die Klausurergebnisse nicht verschlechtert.
Honeybee workers with higher reproductive potential have a greater learning ability
Authors: Kuszewska Karolina , Rojek Wiktoria 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLearning ability, which allows individuals to adjust their behaviour to changing environmental conditions, has a considerable positive impact on individual fitness. However, in addition to benefits, learning also incurs a cost, which means that investment in learning and maintaining learned skills can lead to trade-offs impacting other biological functions. Here, we tested whether a trade-off exists between learning skills and reproductive potential in honeybee workers. For this purpose, we compared learning ability between two groups of workers that differed in reproductive potential—normal and rebel workers. The results showed that workers with high reproductive potential (rebels), measured according to the number of ovarioles in the ovary, learned faster than normal workers with low reproductive potential. Moreover, by performing separate regression analyses within the rebel and non-rebel worker groups, we found that the reproductive potential of workers was positively correlated with their learning ability. The results show that in honeybees, there is no trade-off in resource allocation between two costly biological functions, learning and reproduction.
Elevated recapping behaviour and reduced Varroa destructor reproduction in natural Varroa resistant Apis mellifera honey bees from the UK
Authors: Hawkins George Peter , Martin Stephen John 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Varroa destructor mites remain a major threat to Apis mellifera honey bees, yet many populations across the world have naturally evolved survivorship to infestation. Here, we investigated the roles of recapping and mite reproduction in natural Varroa resistant (NVR) colonies in the UK. Recapping frequency was higher in NVR colonies and targeted mite-infested cells in which the recapped diameters were larger. Mite reproduction was lower in NVR colonies due to increased offspring mortality, although recapping is unlikely the primary mechanism responsible. In an additional small experiment, infested brood removal was immediately present in naïve colonies, and recapping increased rapidly following initial mite exposure. Targeted recapping behaviour is a common trait in NVR colonies and may provide a useful indicator for mite resistance. In addition, reduced mite reproduction is a key resistance mechanism in NVR colonies in the UK, as also found in Europe, S. Africa, Brazil and Mexico.