bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus on Stainless-Steel Surfaces: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 022102
Authors: Mehl Martin , Meinhardt Patricia , Lorenzen Erika , Knoll Caroline , Howaldt Patrizia , Geister Jennifer , Mergemeier Steffen , Lacorn Markus 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Background
The SureFast® SARS-CoV-2 PLUS Test is a reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) assay for the direct, qualitative detection of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) RNA from stainless-steel environmental sample swabs.

Objective
To validate the SureFast SARS-CoV-2 PLUS Kit as part of the AOAC Research Institute’s Emergency Response Validation Performance Tested Method(s)SM program.

Method
The SureFast SARS-CoV-2 PLUS Kit was evaluated for specificity using in silico analysis of 15 764 SARS-CoV-2 sequences and 65 exclusivity organisms (both near neighbors and background organisms) using the ThermoBLAST program. The candidate method was evaluated in an unpaired study design for one environmental surface (stainless steel) and compared to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel, Instructions for Use (Revision 4, Effective 6/12/2020).

Results
Results of the in silico analysis demonstrated 99.99% selectivity of the method in being able to detect target sequences of the known CoV-2 genomes and discriminate them from near neighbors. In the matrix study, the candidate method demonstrated statistically significant better recovery of the target analyte than the PCR detection reference method.

Conclusions
The SureFast SARS-CoV-2 PLUS Kit is a rapid and accurate method that can be utilized by food producers to detect the causative agent of COVID-19 on stainless-steel contact surfaces.

Highlights
SureFast SARS-CoV-2 PLUS test method is highly specific for primer/probe binding to the E target genome region for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 99.99% binding specificity using in silico analysis.
Incidence of Benign Meningiomas in the United States: Current and Future Trends
Authors: Bhala Sonia , Stewart Douglas R , Kennerley Victoria , Petkov Valentina I , Rosenberg Philip S , Best Ana F 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Background
Benign meningiomas are the most frequently reported central nervous system tumors in the United States, with increasing incidence in past decades. However, the future trajectory of this neoplasm remains unclear.

Methods
We analyzed benign meningioma incidence of cases identified by any means (eg, radiographically with or without microscopic confirmation) in US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registries among groups aged 35 to 84 years during 2004-2017 by sex and race and ethnicity using age-period-cohort models. We employed age-period-cohort forecasting models to glean insights regarding the etiology, distribution, and anticipated future (2018-2027) public health impact of this neoplasm.

Results
In all groups, meningioma incidence overall increased through 2010, then stabilized. Temporal declines were statistically significant overall and in most groups. JoinPoint analysis of cohort rate-ratios identified substantial acceleration in White men born after 1963 (from 1.1% to 3.2% per birth year); cohort rate-ratios were stable or increasing in all groups and all birth cohorts. We forecast that meningioma incidence through 2027 will remain stable or decrease among groups aged 55-84 years but remain similar to current levels among groups aged 35-54 years. The case count of total meningioma burden in 2027 is expected to be approximately 30 470, similar to the expected case count of 27 830 in 2018.

Conclusions
Between 2004 and 2017, overall incidence of benign meningioma increased and then stabilized or declined. For 2018-2027, our forecast is incidence will remain generally stable in younger age groups but decrease in older age groups. Nonetheless, the total future burden will remain similar to current levels because the population is aging.
Restriction, Simplification, and Externalization: How German Refugee Accommodation Centres Deal with Diversity Related Uncertainty
Authors: Nagel Alexander-Kenneth 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Since the very beginning of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ European debates about the reception and accommodation of refugees have circled around religious issues: Some (of the most secularized) post-socialist countries rediscovered their Christian cultural heritage as an argument against the immigration of Muslims, and in Germany, reports on interreligious conflicts nurtured claims for a separation of refugees along with religious lines. The article draws from an extensive case study on religious diversity and practice in refugee accommodation centres in Lower Saxony. It focuses on the administrative staff and the social workers in these centres who face a high degree of uncertainty due to the multi-religious and multicultural constellations they encounter. To cope with this religious illiteracy and to transform uncertainty into certainty, they apply three kinds of strategies, namely Restriction of the scope of legitimate religious expression, Simplification of religious and cultural heterogeneity through culturalist stereotypes, and an Externalization of responsibilities to deal with religious differences, such as dietary needs.
Micra leadless pacemaker for bridge use after explantation of infected permanent pacemaker system: a case report
Authors: Narita Masahiko , Kunioka Shingo , Shirasaka Tomonori , Kamiya Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The extraction of a pacemaker (PM) lead may cause tricuspid regurgitation; however, in cases of device infection, surgical intervention or immediate PM system replacement is undesirable in the short term to prevent reinfection. We describe a case where Micra leadless PM was used as a bridge procedure to ensure an adequate period for antibacterial therapy and later replaced with a permanent PM system in the setting of PM pocket infection.
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains among diarrhoeagenicEscherichia coli—prospective traveller study with literature review
Authors: Kantele Anu , Lääveri Tinja 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundAntibiotics are no longer the primary approach for treating all travellers’ diarrhoea (TD): most cases resolve without antibiotics and using them predisposes to colonization by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Data are accumulating on increasing resistance among TD pathogens, yet research into the most common agents, diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC), remains limited.MethodsA total of 413 travellers to the (sub)tropics were analyzed for travel-acquired diarrhoeal pathogens and ESBL-PE. To identify ESBL-producing DEC, ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) isolates were subjected to multiplex qPCR for various DEC pathotypes: enteroaggregative (EAEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli.For a literature review, we screened studies among travellers and locals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on the frequency of ESBL-producing DEC, and among travellers, also DEC with resistance to ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and rifamycin derivatives.ResultsOur rate of ESBL-EC among all DEC findings was 2.7% (13/475); among EAEC 5.7% (10/175), EPEC 1.1% (2/180), ETEC 1.3% (1/80) and EHEC (0/35) or EIEC 0% (0/5). The literature search yielded three studies reporting ESBL-EC frequency and thirteen exploring resistance to TD antibiotics among travel-acquired DEC. For EAEC and ETEC, the ESBL-EC rates were 10–13% and 14–15%, resistance to fluoroquinolones 0–42% and 0–40%, azithromycin 0–29% and 0–61%, and rifaximin 0% and 0–20%. The highest rates were from the most recent collections. Proportions of ESBL-producing DEC also appear to be increasing among locals in LMICs and even carbapenemase-producing DEC were reported.ConclusionESBL producers are no longer rare among DEC, and the overall resistance to various antibiotics is increasing. The data predict decreasing efficacy of antibiotic treatment, threatening its benefits, for disadvantages still prevail when efficacy is lost.
Chaos at the Gates: The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and energy price shocks on South Korea’s gas industry amid energy transition
Authors: Sassi Francesco , Frassineti Francesca 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
South Korea was one of the first countries to be hit by the coronavirus infections. Having rapidly contained the health emergency in the immediate period, Seoul arguably mitigated the economic fallouts more successfully than the majority of advanced economies but could not avoid substantial losses. The far-reaching fallout of COVID-19 has been testing the country’s energy transition pathway, as actors involved are facing difficult decisions amid more stringent financial constraints to deliver their ambitious targets, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Amid the combined effects of the pandemic and the global energy prices shocks, addressing the nexus between energy security on the supply side, affordability, and the safety of people’s lives and property, has become even more pressing. Against this backdrop, natural gas has tailored a special role to bridge the low carbon re-alignment of the entire Korean energy system, also in the face of the current and future challenges to Korea’s energy security. But long-drawn hurdles stemming from rather unsuccessful efforts to reform the gas system risk weakening its ability to cope with present uncertainties and heightened volatilities.
Above Time: Rabbi Nachman’sTzaddikand Enlightened Temporal Experience
Authors: Solomyak Olla 
Published: April 2021

AbstractRabbi Nachman of Bratslav describes the tzaddik (righteous person of spiritual enlightenment) as experiencing time in a distinctive, enlightened way: What is seventy years for the rest of us feels like a mere fifteen minutes for the tzaddik. Furthermore, even higher levels of enlightenment are possible—for a tzaddik on a higher level, what feels like seventy years for the first tzaddik is again but a mere fifteen minutes. This pattern continues, approaching a limit point which Rabbi Nachman calls “above time,” and which is the perspective on time of the Divine. How might Rabbi Nachman’s claims about enlightened temporal experience be understood? In this paper, my aim is to examine some ways of understanding what it might mean to ‘experience time more quickly’ or to ‘experience 70 years as 15 minutes’ in light of contemporary theories of the structure of temporal experience. I then present a novel interpretation of Rabbi Nachman’s claims which appeals to the contemporary notion of the specious present—a nonzero temporal interval experienced in a unified way as present.
The effect of herbs and spices on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases: a review of human clinical trials
Authors: Gupta Kunal , Testa Hannah , Greenwood Tara , Kostek Megan , Haushalter Keally , Kris-Etherton Penny M , Petersen Kristina S 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHerbs and spices are recommended to increase flavor and displace salt in the diet. Accumulating evidence suggests herbs and spices may improve risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. In this narrative review, an overview of evidence from human clinical trials examining the effect of herbs and spices on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases is provided. Human clinical trials examining supplemental doses of individual spices and herbs, or the active compounds, have yielded some evidence showing improvements to lipid and lipoprotein levels, glycemic control, blood pressure, adiposity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, cautious interpretation is warranted because of methodological limitations and substantial between-trial heterogeneity in the findings. Evidence from acute studies suggests intake of mixed herbs and spices as part of a high-saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meal reduces postprandial metabolic impairments, including lipemia, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Limited studies have examined the postprandial metabolic effects of incorporating mixed herbs and spices into healthy meals, and, to our knowledge, no trials have assessed the effect of longer-term intake of mixed herbs and spices on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. To inform evidence-based guidelines for intake of herbs and spices for general health and cardiometabolic disease risk reduction, rigorously conducted randomized controlled trials are needed, particularly trials examining herb and spice doses that can be incorporated into healthy dietary patterns.
What are the overall implications of rising demand for organic fruits and vegetables? Evidence from theory and simulations
Authors: McFadden Brandon R , Bovay John , Mullally Conner 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
US consumers currently eat less fruits and vegetables (FV) than recommended by dietary guidelines. Inadequate FV consumption exists alongside rapid growth in demand for organic FV. Since the viable production area of FV is finite, organic and conventional FV are linked in production while serving as substitutes in consumption. Rising purchases of organic FV may have important implications for prices and quantities consumed in the conventional FV market. In this paper, we analyze the implications of rising demand for organic FV when organic and conventional FV are linked in supply and demand. More specifically, we use a multi-market equilibrium displacement model to examine the impact of rising demand for organic produce on prices and total quantities consumed of conventional and organic FV under two scenarios: product differentiation (i.e. organic versus conventional produce) while assuming that consumers have identical preferences that can be represented by a single market demand function for each good; and product differentiation with segmented markets, which allows for two types of consumers with unique demand functions. Both scenarios were simulated with and without an offsetting shift in demand for conventional FV. Our simulation results indicate that the increasing demand for organic FV may result in decreased consumption of combined conventional and organic FV, and that the direction of changes in FV consumption may vary by consumer segment. Under the most realistic assumptions, when one segment of consumers increases its demand for organic FV, this segment's overall consumption of organic plus conventional FV falls; the other segment's overall consumption rises. We provide sensitivity analyses and discuss caveats and directions for future research.
Management of MDA-5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease—an Auckland case series
Authors: Dick Michael , Martin Julia , Tugnet Nicola 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Objective
The aim was to present our experience of managing six cases of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA-5) DM with associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), presenting between June 2017 and October 2020.

Methods
The electronic notes were reviewed for six patients being followed up by the Rheumatology service at Auckland District Health Board. Three patients were initially diagnosed and treated in neighbouring Counties Manukau District Health Board and later transferred to Auckland District Health Board. All had different initial treating clinicians at a time before any predefined treatment algorithm. Emphasis was placed on initial diagnosis and treatment, subsequent disease activity and changes in management. Local management was compared retrospectively with existing evidence relating to the treatment of anti-MDA-5 DM with ILD. Ethical approval was not obtained, according to the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee exemption for audits and related activities.

Results
Six patients with a variety of clinical presentations were identified appropriately as having anti-MDA-5 DM with ILD. They were commenced on different immunosuppressive regimens, with treatment adjusted according to response and on-going disease activity. Four have achieved clinical and biochemical remission, a fifth has improving active disease, and the sixth is in the early stages of their illness.

Conclusion
Anti-MDA-5 DM is commonly associated with ILD. This can be rapidly progressive, with a poor prognosis in spite of treatment, particularly among Asian patients. Disease activity can seemingly be monitored with serum ferritin. The most effective management of this condition remains poorly researched; however, increasing retrospective evidence favours early aggressive multi-agent immunosuppression and a low threshold for escalation of therapy.
Cooperation without Consensus: Midwives’ Collaborations across Political Distance
Authors: Goldensher Liora O’Donnell 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWhat happens when people not only talk to one another but collaborate closely and form strong relationships in conditions of political heterogeneity? This article analyzes data from ethnographic research in seven states with homebirth midwives who, reflecting the “strange coalition” of feminists and traditionalists that analysts have long described in this community, self-identify with a wide range of partisan political affiliations and with divergent positions on the key issue of professional midwifery licensure. Results show that this community’s use of a shared model of care as a boundary object to facilitate collaboration without consensus relies upon a focus on sameness and a bracketing of the ideological commitments that undergird practitioners’ investment in the model of care. When difference is directly engaged, collaboration across political difference becomes difficult to sustain. I argue that bridging ideological divides using boundary objects is politically costly. Collaborative relationships and coalitions are made precarious and risk depoliticizing shared concerns when they are bound by a weakly structured, network-level object whose use demands the allocation of attention to sameness and the bracketing of difference and political disagreement.
Grazing behavior and production for lactating cows differing in residual feed intake while grazing spring and summer rangeland
Authors: Sprinkle James E , Ellison Melinda J , Hall John B , Yelich Joel V , Willmore Carmen M , Brennan Jameson R 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The objectives were to determine if previously classified, efficient (LRFI, low-residual-feed intake, n = 12 × 2 yr) vs. inefficient (HRFI, high-residual-feed intake, n = 12 × 2 yr) lactating 2-yr-old Hereford × Angus cows differed in grazing behavior, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and calf weaning weight while grazing rugged rangeland pastures. Cows were fitted with grazing halters containing both an accelerometer and a global positioning system (GPS) data logger during June 14 to July 4, 2016, August 2 to 25, 2016, May 23 to June 12, 2017, and August 5 to 28, 2017. GPS data were recorded at 7-min intervals in 2016 and 4-min intervals in 2017 and accelerometer data recorded at 25 times/s. Grazing time (GT), resting, walking, bite rate (BR), daily travel distance (DTD), elevation, and slope were analyzed with a mixed model that included fixed effects of RFI group, day, and RFI group × day and cow within treatment as the random effect. Cow BW, BCS, and calf weaning weight were analyzed by analysis of variance with treatment as the main effect. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.10) due to RFI detected for BW, BCS, or calf weaning weights. During periods of mild heat load (MHL), HRFI cows spent more (P &lt; 0.05) time resting during the day at lower elevations (P &lt; 0.05) than LRFI cows. During a 6-d period in spring with only 2 h MHL, HRFI cows grazed 1.7 h/d longer than LRFI cows (P &lt; 0.05); commencing grazing earlier in the morning and extending the grazing bout later. During the summer with &gt; MHL, LRFI cows grazed more than HRFI cows 18% of the time (P &lt; 0.10). The HRFI cows had greater GT than LRFI cows only 3% of the time (P &lt; 0.10) during summer. There was no difference (P &gt; 0.10) in BR between HRFI and LRFI cattle. The DTD tended (P &lt; 0.10) to be greater for LRFI cattle during summer 2017. Over all sample periods, HRFI had greater walking than LRFI 15% of the time and LRFI exceeded HRFI cattle for walking 3% of the time (P &lt; 0.10). The greater walking for HRFI was assumed to be associated with more search grazing. Metabolic heat load on hot summer days for HRFI cattle is presumed to have contributed to differences observed in grazing behavior. These results suggest that lactating cows with low-RFI phenotypes appear to be better adapted to grazing rugged rangelands in late summer during periods of MHL.
Dynamic Stabilization Surgery in Patients with Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Jung Jong-myung , Hyun Seung-Jae , Kim Ki-Jeong , Jahng Tae-Ahn 
Published: April 2021

Study Design.
Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term results for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) treated with dynamic stabilization (DS) and to consider how we can improve the results.

Summary of Background Data.
Few studies have reported long-term outcomes of DS surgery for LSS with or without spondylolisthesis.

Methods.
A single-center, single-surgeon consecutive series of LSS patients who underwent DS surgery with at least 5 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-seven patients were included in the LSS group and 38 patients in the spondylolisthesis group. Patient characteristics, operative data, radiographic parameters, clinical outcomes, and complications were analyzed at baseline and follow-up.

Results.
In the LSS group, all radiographic parameters (e.g., disc height, segmental lordosis, segmental range of motion [ROM] at the index level and proximal adjacent level, global lordosis, and global ROM) were maintained well until the last follow-up. In the spondylolisthesis group, global lordosis decreased from 36.5° ± 8.2° to 32.6° ± 6.0° at the last follow-up (P = 0.039), and global ROM decreased from 22.1° ± 6.9° to 18.8° ± 7.1° at the last follow-up (P = 0.012). In both groups, back pain, leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index scores showed significant and sustained improvements. Screw loosening occurred in three patients (11.1%) in the LSS group and five patients (13.2%) in the spondylolisthesis group. Symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) occurred in two patients (7.4%) in the LSS group and three patients (7.9%) in the spondylolisthesis group.

Conclusion.
Decompression and DS surgery for LSS with or without spondylolisthesis showed favorable long-term surgical outcomes with an acceptable rate of complications and ASD. However, an improved physiological DS system should be developed.

Level of Evidence: 4