bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conduction system pacing versus biventricular pacing: Reduced repolarization heterogeneity in addition to improved depolarization
Authors: Gupta Anshul , Pavri Behzad B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionHis‐bundle pacing (HBP) and left‐bundle‐area pacing (LBAP) are conduction system pacing (CSP) modalities increasingly used as alternatives to conventional biventricular pacing (BiVP). While effects of CSP on ventricular depolarization have been reported, effects on ventricular repolarization have not.MethodsQRS duration (QRSd) and validated ECG parameters of ventricular repolarization associated with arrhythmic risk (T‐peak‐to‐T‐endTransmural, T‐peak‐to‐T‐endTotal, T‐peak dispersion, QTc, QTc dispersion) were analyzed post‐implant in 107 patients: 60 with CSP (HBP: n = 35, LBAP: n = 25) and 47 with BiVP. T‐wave memory resolution and QTc shortening were analyzed on ECGs obtained ≥25 days post‐implant. Twenty blinded measurements were obtained by both authors to assess Interobserver variability.ResultsAlthough QRSd was shorter with HBP versus LBAP (119 ± 7 ms vs. 132 ± 9 ms, p = .02), there were no significant differences in any repolarization parameters between these methods of CSP. However, when comparing CSP (HBP + LBAP) to BiVP, both QRSd (125 ± 5 ms vs. 147 ± 7 ms, p < .0001) and repolarization parameters (T‐peak‐to‐T‐endTransmural: 83 ± 5 ms vs. 107 ± 8 ms; T‐peak‐to‐T‐endTotal: 110 ± 7 ms vs. 137 ± 10 ms; QTc: 470 ± 12 ms vs. 506 ± 12 ms; all p ≤ .0001) were significantly shorter with CSP. Improved T‐peak‐to‐T‐end values were unrelated to pre‐implant QRSd or LV function. Interobserver variability was 4.6 ± 1.9 ms. Frontal QRS‐T angle narrowing (132° to 104°, p = .001) and QTc shortening (483 ± 13 ms to 464 ± 12 ms, p = .008) were seen only with CSP.ConclusionsIn addition to improved depolarization, CSP reduced repolarization heterogeneity and provided greater T‐wave memory resolution as compared to BiVP. Both modalities of CSP (HBP + LBAP) resulted in comparably reduced repolarization heterogeneity regardless of baseline QRSd and LV function. These observations may confer lower arrhythmogenic risk and warrant further study.
Mortality benefit of catheter ablation versus medical therapy in atrial fibrillation: An RCT only meta‐analysis
Authors: Ravi Venkatesh , Poudyal Abhushan , Lin Li , Larsen Timothy , Wasserlauf Jeremiah , Trohman Richard G. , Krishnan Kousik , Sharma Parikshit , Huang Henry D. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionCatheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in comparison to medical therapy alone is known to improve freedom from arrhythmia and quality of life, but the benefit regarding mortality is unclear. The publication of several recent large randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing ablation with medical therapy has warranted an updated meta‐analysis.MethodsWe sought to compare the effectiveness of catheter ablation versus medical therapy only in patients with AF. MEDLINE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception until 04/30/2021. Relevant RCTs comparing catheter ablation versus medical therapy in patients with AF were selected.ResultsA total of 24 RCTs involving 5730 adult patients were included (2992 in catheter ablation and 2738 in medical therapy). There was a reduction in all‐cause mortality with catheter ablation compared with medical therapy only (risk ratio (RR) 0.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55–0.89]; p = .003). Catheter ablation also demonstrated a reduction in hospitalizations (RR 0.50 [95% CI 0.36–0.70]; p < .001), improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (mean difference [MD] + 5.94% [95% CI 0.40–11.48] p = .04), greater freedom from atrial arrhythmia (RR 2.23 [95% CI 1.79–2.76]; p < .001), and AF (RR 1.95 [95% CI 1.44–2.66]; p < .001). In subgroup analysis, catheter ablation demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality and hospitalizations among patients with reduced LVEF, and when ablation was compared with antiarrhythmic drug use.ConclusionsIn comparison to medical therapy only, catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation reduces mortality, hospitalizations, and increases freedom from arrhythmia.
The prospective association between periodontal disease and brain imaging outcomes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study
Authors: Adam Hamdi S. , Lakshminarayan Kamakshi , Wang Wendy , Norby Faye L. , Mosley Thomas , Walker Keenan A. , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Meyer Katie , Hughes Timothy M. , Pankow James S. , Wong Dean F. , Jack Clifford R. , Sen Souvik , Lutsey Pamela L. , Beck Jim , Demmer Ryan T. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAimWe investigate if periodontal disease is prospectively associated with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative markers of dementia and Alzheimer's pathology.Materials and MethodsN = 1306 participants (Visit 5 mean age = 76.5 [standard deviation = 5.4] years) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study with completed dental exams at Visit 4 underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans at Visit 5 while N = 248 underwent positron emission tomography scans. Participants were classified as edentulous or, among the dentate, by the modified Periodontal Profile Class. Brain volumes were regressed on periodontal status in linear regressions. Cerebrovascular measures and β‐amyloid positivity were regressed on periodontal status in logistic regressions.ResultsPeriodontal disease was not associated with brain volumes, microhaemorrhages, or elevated β‐amyloid. Compared with periodontally healthy individuals, odds ratios [95% confidence interval] for all‐type infarcts were 0.37 [0.20, 0.65] for severe tooth loss and 0.56 [0.31, 0.99] for edentulous participants.ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this study, periodontal disease was not associated with altered brain volumes, microhaemorrhages, or β‐amyloid positivity. Tooth loss was associated with lower odds of cerebral infarcts.
A mechanistic model to link technical specifications of vehicle end‐of‐life treatment with the potential of closed‐loop recycling of post‐consumer scrap alloys
Authors: Tu Qingshi , Hertwich Edgar G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractClosed‐loop recycling of scrap from end‐of‐life (EoL) vehicles could reduce the demand for virgin material production and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, current modeling frameworks for closed‐loop recycling lack a mechanistic representation of the linkage between the changes in scrap quality (i.e., alloying element composition) and the EoL treatment practices, demonstrating a challenge to comprehensively assess the merits of closed‐loop recycling. The Vehicle Recycling LCA model (VehiReLCA) was developed to address this challenge by parameterizing the key factors involved in the EoL treatment steps, quantifying their influences on the alloying composition of resulting scrap ingots and ultimately, the associated closed‐loop utilization ratios and life cycle GHG emissions. A series of scenarios were investigated, representing a wide range of results that originated from different assumptions of scrap mixing, sorting efficiency, and remelting for six vehicle archetypes. Based on the prevailing assumption of constant closed‐loop utilization ratios in the literature, the life cycle GHG emissions for conventional (lightweight) internal combustion engine vehicle, plug‐in electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle were 3788 (4598), 4136 (4799), and 3327 (4166) kg CO2‐eq per vehicle, respectively. In comparison, explicitly correlating the alloy compositions with random sorting error and/or cross‐mixing of vehicle components often led to an order of magnitude decrease in scrap utilization ratios. Accordingly, the increase in GHG emissions, compared to those estimated using constant utilization ratios, varied from 15%–47% (for all archetypes when 2% random sorting error was considered) to 64%–71% (for lightweight archetypes when the most heterogeneity of EoL treatment steps was assumed). This revealed a significant range of uncertainty regarding the GHG reduction benefits of closed‐loop recycling that was not previously identified in the literature.
A robust framework for characterising diffusion metrics of the median and ulnar nerves: Exploiting state‐of‐the‐art tracking methods
Authors: D'Souza Arkiev , Wang Chenyu , Tu Sicong , Soligo Domenic J. , Kiernan Matthew C. , Barnett Michael , Calamante Fernando 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDiffusion‐weighted imaging has been used to quantify peripheral nerve properties; however, traditional post‐processing techniques have several limitations. Advanced neuroimaging techniques, which overcome many of these limitations, have not been applied to peripheral nerves. Here, we use state‐of‐the‐art diffusion analysis tools to reconstruct the median and ulnar nerves and quantify their diffusion properties. Diffusion‐weighted MRI scans were obtained from eight healthy adult subjects. Constrained spherical deconvolution was combined with probabilistic fibre tracking to compute track‐weighted fibre orientation distribution (TW‐FOD). The tensor was computed and used along with the tracks to estimate TW apparent diffusion coefficient (TW‐ADC), TW fractional anisotropy (TW‐FA), TW axial diffusivity (TW‐AD), and TW radial diffusivity (TW‐RD). Variability of TW measurements was used to estimate power size information. The population intersession mean (± SD) measurements for the median nerve were TW‐FOD 1.30 (±0.17), TW‐ADC 1.16 (±0.13) × 10−3 mm2/s, TW‐FA 0.60 (±0.05), TW‐AD 2.05 (±0.16) × 10−3 mm2/s, and TW‐RD 0.72 (±0.12) × 10−3 mm2/s. The corresponding measurements for the ulnar nerve were TW‐FOD 1.25 (±0.14), TW‐ADC 1.13 (±0.10) × 10−3 mm2/s, TW‐FA 0.56 (±0.06), TW‐AD 1.93 (±0.01) × 10−3 mm2/s, and TW‐RD 0.74 (±0.12) × 10−3 mm2/s. Based on these measurements, a sample size of 37 would be sufficient to detect a 10% difference in any of the measured TW metrics. A sample size of 20 would be large enough to detect within‐subject differences as small as 2.9% (TW‐AD, ulnar nerve) and between‐subject differences as small as 3.8% (TW‐AD, ulnar nerve).
Understanding consumer stockpiling: Insights provided during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Amaral Nelson Borges , Chang Bin , Burns Rachel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis article examines data collected early in the COVID‐19 pandemic to uncover the underlying factors that are related to consumer stockpiling in response to a global pandemic. A survey of 1325 American consumers from March 27, 2020 to March 29, 2020 revealed that 55.5% of respondents stockpiled. Locus of control (LOC), the extent to which a person believes the environment is controllable and responsive, is associated with the stockpiling decision. More specifically, after controlling for demographic characteristics, consumers with internal LOC are less likely to stockpiling than those with external LOC. We also find that consumers with higher health risk are more likely to stockpile. Together, our results provide valuable insight for practitioners and policy makers who are concerned with understanding and reducing consumer stockpiling during health‐related crises.
Shadow Conversations and the Citational Practices of a Journal
Authors: Das Sonia N. 
Published: December 2021

Drawing on the resonances between Judith T. Irvine’s (1996) writings about “shadow conversations” and the broader linguistic anthropological literature on citational practices (Goodman et al. 2014; Nakassis 2013; Rhodes 2020), I explore how the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology has sought to and continues to engage with the politics of inclusion and diversity in the construction of disciplinary knowledge, focusing in particular on publishing in academic journals. Following an earlier attempt to include an inclusion criterion on the journal’s Scholar One review portal, I now instead endorse the views of my colleagues to adopt a variety of strategies to showcase the work of underrepresented yet critical voices in the discipline. I conclude by highlighting the influential role that linguistic anthropologists play in promoting dialogue about the interdiscursive dimensions of knowledge production in the academy.
Lower serotonin levels in severe sleep bruxism and its association with sleep, heart rate, and body mass index
Authors: Smardz Joanna , Martynowicz Helena , Wojakowska Anna , Wezgowiec Joanna , Danel Dariusz , Mazur Grzegorz , Wieckiewicz Mieszko 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundSleep bruxism (SB) is a complex behaviour that seems to be associated with the serotoninergic pathway.ObjectivesThis exploratory research aimed to evaluate the levels of serotonin in individuals with sleep bruxism diagnosed by video polysomnography. The study also evaluated whether the levels of serotonin were associated with body mass index, heart rate, and sleep parameters.MethodsThe study participants were adults hospitalised in the Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology at the Wroclaw Medical University. They underwent a single‐night video polysomnography during which sleep and SB parameters and heart rate were evaluated. Additionally, body mass index and blood serotonin levels were evaluated for each patient.ResultsA total of 105 patients were included in this study (80 women and 25 men). All the patients were Caucasians aged 18–63 years, with a mean age ± (standard deviation) of 33.43± 10.8 years. Seventy‐five patients (71.43%) presented sleep bruxism (bruxism episodes index ≥2) and 30 (28.57%) did not. Fifty patients (47.62%) presented severe sleep bruxism (bruxism episodes index >4). The results showed that lower blood serotonin levels were associated with severe sleep bruxism; increased bruxism episodes index, rapid eye movement sleep, and body mass index; and decreased maximal pulse.ConclusionSevere sleep bruxism and the associated phenomena seem to co‐occur with lower blood serotonin levels. The study supports the hypothesis on the relationship between the serotoninergic pathway and sleep bruxism.
Trends in Asthma‐Related School Health Policies and Practices in the US States *
Authors: Qin Xiaoting , Zahran Hatice S. , Leon‐Nguyen Michelle , Kilmer Greta , Collins Pamela , Welch Paige , Malilay Josephine 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDAsthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. Schools can play an important role in coordinating asthma care. The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of asthma‐related school health policies and practices across states and how they have changed over time.METHODSData were analyzed from 36 states that conducted School Health Profiles surveys during 2008 to 2018. Trends in 6 topics were analyzed by logistic regression and JointPoint trend test.RESULTSTrends in efforts to identify and track students with asthma and improve students' and parents' knowledge about asthma were stable or increased. Interest among lead health education teachers in receiving professional development on asthma trended downward in 35 of 36 states.CONCLUSIONSStable to upward trends suggest that a majority of schools have maintained or improved their efforts to identify and track students with asthma and increase the knowledge of students and parents about asthma. However, further improvement is needed in referral of students with asthma to health care professionals and encouraging asthma‐related professional development of lead health education teachers.
Preparation of antioxidant‐rich tricolor pasta using microwave processed orange pomace and cucumber peel powder: A study on nutraceutical, textural, color, and sensory attributes
Authors: Kaur Maninder , Dhaliwal Muskan , Kaur Harpreet , Singh Manpreet , Punia Bangar Sneh , Kumar Manoj , Pandiselvam Ravi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe by‐products obtained from orange and cucumber industries, such as pomace and peel, are usually discarded after primary processing. In this study, orange pomace and cucumber peel were microwave dried (180 W for 40 min) to prepare powders and incorporated at varying levels (5%–20%) to prepare tricolor pasta. The prepared pasta was evaluated for its nutraceutical, cooking, textural, and sensory characteristics. The viscoelastic behavior of orange pomace (OPP) and cucumber peel (CPP) powder enriched pasta dough was also analyzed. The elastic modulus (G′) and viscous modulus (G″) of dough increased with the incorporation of the higher proportion of pomace and peel powder. The total dietary fiber in pasta incorporated with OPP increased from 10.30% to 20.19%, while it was increased to 24.91% upon the incorporation of CPP. These powders also contributed to the natural orange and green color of pasta. The antioxidant activity of OPP pasta increased from 10.64% to 31.9% and 10.64% to 20.29% in CPP (at a 20% level). Total phenolic content, carotenoid content, and chlorophyll content of OPP and CPP enriched pasta were determined, which progressively increased with increased levels of both the powders. The firmness of OPP increased from 0.29 to 1.54 N and 0.29 to 1.87 N in CPP at their highest level (20%) of addition. Therefore, orange pomace and cucumber peel waste from industries can be efficiently used to prepare pasta with improved nutritional characteristics.
Compliance with and acceptability of two fortified balanced energy protein supplements among pregnant women in rural Nepal
Authors: Lama Tsering P. , Moore Katie , Isanaka Sheila , Jones Leslie , Bedford Juliet , de Pee Saskia , Katz Joanne , Khatry Subarna K. , LeClerq Steven C. , Tielsch James M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSome evidence suggests that balanced energy protein (BEP) supplements taken during pregnancy and lactation can have positive effects on birth outcomes such as small‐for‐gestational age and birthweight, but more evidence is needed on the long‐term use and acceptability of such supplements. We conducted a mixed‐methods formative research study to assess and compare compliance with and acceptability of two BEP supplements, a lipid‐based peanut paste and a biscuit, to identify BEP supplements for subsequent inclusion in an efficacy trial. We conducted an 8‐week feeding trial of daily supplementation among two groups of 40 pregnant women each in rural Nepal. Compliance data were collected and supplements distributed at the weekly visits. Sensory properties of the supplements were assessed using a 7‐point Likert scale. In addition, in‐depth interviews with women (n = 16), family members (n = 6) and health workers (n = 6) and focus group discussions (FGDs) (n = 4) were conducted to explore themes related to general use and intention of future use of the supplement. Overall self‐reported compliance was high: medians of 91.1% in the lipid‐based peanut paste group and 96.4% in the biscuit group. Both supplements were rated highly on overall likability (median score 6/7) and sensory properties. Qualitative findings showed that sustained use of the supplements was attributed to expected health benefits, favourable sensory attributes, and family support. The FGDs suggested providing the option to choose between more than one type/flavour of supplements to improve compliance. Sharing was mostly evident in the first week with higher sharing reported in the biscuit group.
When tropical and subtropical congeners met: Multiple ancient hybridization events within Eriobotrya in the Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau, a tropical‐subtropical transition area in China
Authors: Chen Sufang , Milne Richard , Zhou Renchao , Meng Kaikai , Yin Qianyi , Guo Wei , Ma Yongpeng , Mao Kangshan , Xu Kewang , Kim Young‐Dong , Do Truong Van , Liao Wenbo , Fan Qiang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractGlobal climate changes during the Miocene may have created ample opportunities for hybridization between members of tropical and subtropical biomes at the boundary between these zones. Yet, very few studies have explored this possibility. The Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau (YGP) in Southwest China is a biodiversity hotspot for vascular plants, located in a transitional area between the floristic regions of tropical Southeast Asia and subtropical East Asia. The genus Eriobotrya (Rosaceae) comprises both tropical and subtropical taxa, with 12 species recorded in the YGP, making it a suitable basis for testing the hypothesis of between‐biome hybridization. Therefore, we surveyed the evolutionary history of Eriobotrya by examining three chloroplast regions and five nuclear genes for 817 individuals (47 populations) of 23 Eriobotrya species (including 19 populations of 12 species in the YGP), plus genome re‐sequencing of 33 representative samples. We concluded that: (1) phylogenetic positions for 16 species exhibited strong cytonuclear conflicts, most probably due to ancient hybridization; (2) the YGP is a hotspot for hybridization, with 11 species showing clear evidence of chloroplast capture; and (3) Eriobotrya probably originated in tropical Asia during the Eocene. From the Miocene onwards, the intensification of the Eastern Asia monsoon and global cooling may have shifted the tropical‐subtropical boundary and caused secondary contact between species, thus providing ample opportunity for hybridization and diversification of Eriobotrya, especially in the YGP. Our study highlights the significant role that paleoclimate changes probably played in driving hybridization and generating rich species diversity in climate transition zones.
Collective identities amid war and displacement: Syrians and Syrian refugees re‐imagine their country
Authors: Bachleitner Kathrin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis article is interested in Syrian and Syrian refugees' ties of belonging to their country in times of war and displacement. By looking at individuals, the paper follows a micro‐level approach to research societal ties of belonging to a country that has slipped into war. It argues that during conflicts, the meaning and boundaries of national identity are grasped in individuals' re‐imagination of their country in either more “civic” or “ethnic” terms. As a result of this process, national identity may gain an inclusive, civic meaning based on the idea of citizenship or a more exclusive content based on the narrower confines of ethnicity and sect. Empirically, 100 Syrians and 100 Syrian refugees provided their vision of a future Syrian state in online interviews. The findings show that the majority of respondents' visions of Syria follows a civic rationale, with most survey participants linking their belonging to a future Syria with the broader ideas of citizenship, political rights and participation, rather than identifying the country in ethnic/sectarian terms. Combined with the theories, these results offer a glimpse into the societal formation of a new Syrian “we” amid an ongoing war and continuing waves of displacement.