bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory biomarker analysis confirms reduced disease severity in heterozygous patients with familial Mediterranean fever
Authors: Elhani Inès , Backes Stefan , Kallinich Tilmann , Amaryan Gayane , Belot Alexandre , Berendes Rainer , Berger Thomas , Dressler Frank , Foell Dirk , Fühner Sabrina , Giese Arnd , Hinze Claas , Hitzegrad Anna Lisa , Horneff Gerd , Jansson Annette , Klotsche Jens , Lainka Elke , Niehues Tim , Oommen Prasad , Haas Johannes-Peter , Rietschel Christoph , Theodoropoulo Katerina , Vinit Caroline , Weissbarth-Riedel Elisabeth , Hentgen Véronique , Wittkowski Helmut 
Published: November 2024

IntroductionFamilial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disease leading to recurrent episodes of inflammation. Two pathogenic variants are required for classical disease, but the disease can occur in heterozygous patients. Patients are treated continuously with colchicine to prevent amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, including heterozygous patients who display a moderate form of FMF and rarely develop AA amyloidosis. The need for lifelong colchicine treatment in heterozygous FMF is therefore controversial. We aimed to characterise genotype-specific levels of inflammatory biomarkers, and to focus on heterozygous patients who discontinued colchicine.MethodsAll patients with FMF from the European databases AIDnet and JIRcohort who received colchicine during follow-up were included. Demographics, C reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), S100A8/A9 and S100A12 levels, leucocyte and neutrophil counts were extracted. Visits were classified as active, subclinical or inactive according to symptoms, CRP and SAA levels.ResultsData from 747 patients were extracted (233 homozygous, 201 compound heterozygous, 224 heterozygous patients, 49 heterozygous with one class III variant and 40 compound heterozygous with two class III variants). During active visits, all biomarker levels were higher compared with inactive visits (p<0.001). Heterozygous patients showed lower levels of CRP, SAA, S100A8/A9 and S100A12 during inactive and subclinical visits than patients with two class IV-V variants. Colchicine was discontinued in 52 heterozygous patients and reintroduced in 23 of them (44%).ConclusionS100A8/A9 and S100A12 proteins are biomarkers that can be used to assess disease activity. Heterozygous patients have lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers and some of them can sustainably discontinue colchicine treatment.
Stability of symptom-based subtypes in Sjogren’s disease
Authors: Berry Joe Scott , Tarn Jessica , Casement John , Lendrem Dennis , Thompson Kyle , Mariette Xavier , Gottenberg Jacques-Eric , Ng Wan-Fai 
Published: November 2024

ObjectivesThe Newcastle Sjogren’s Stratification Tool (NSST) stratifies Sjogren’s disease patients into four subtypes. Understanding the stability of the subtypes is vital if symptom-based stratification is to be more broadly adopted. In this study, we stratify patients longitudinally to understand how symptom-based subtypes vary over time and factors influencing subtype change.Methods274 patients from the United Kingdom Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Registry (UKPSSR) with data permitting NSST subtype assignment from two study visits were included. The French Assessment of Systemic Signs and Evolution of Sjogren’s Syndrome (ASSESS) cohort (n=237) acted as an independent comparator. Group analyses of significant differences were performed, with logistic regression models used to assess covariates of subtype stability.ResultsUKPSSR and ASSESS cohorts showed a broadly similar proportion of subjects in each subtype and similar baseline clinical characteristics except body mass index (BMI). Several baseline characteristics differ significantly between the subtypes, most notably anti-Ro status and BMI. Subtype membership was reasonably stable in both cohorts with 60% and 57% retaining subtype. The high-symptom burden subtype was the most stable over time with 70% and 67% retaining subtype. Higher baseline probability score was the greatest predictor of subtype stability with higher C4 levels, antidepressant use, and a higher CCI score also predicting increased stability.ConclusionNSST subtype membership remains stable over time in a large proportion of patients. When subtype transition is associated with factors at baseline, it is most strongly associated with an uncertain subtype allocation. Our findings support the hypothesis that symptom-based subtypes reflect genuine pathobiological endotypes and therefore maybe important to consider in trial design and clinical management.
Gradient boosting MUST taggers for highly-boosted jets
Authors: Aguilar-Saavedra J. A. , Arganda E. , Joaquim F. R. , Sandá Seoane R. M. , Seabra J. F. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe Mass Unspecific Supervised Tagging (MUST) method has proven to be successful in implementing generic jet taggers capable of discriminating various signals over a wide range of jet masses. We implement the MUST concept by using eXtreme Gradient Boosting () classifiers instead of neural networks (NNs) as previously done. We build both fully-generic and specific multi-pronged taggers, to identify 2, 3, and/or 4-pronged signals from SM QCD background. We show that -based taggers are not only easier to optimize and much faster than those based in NNs, but also show quite similar performance, even when testing with signals not used in training. Therefore, they provide a quite efficient alternative machine-learning implementation for generic jet taggers.
Stage Motion Control: Nonlinear Integrators Revisited
Authors: Heertjes Marcel F. , Hoogeveen Thomas P. , Eijnden Sebastiaan J.A.M. van den 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Linear integrators are well known for their ability to counter static forces and improve low-frequency disturbance rejection properties in control systems. However, linear integrators introduce phase lag, which is a frequency-dependent time shift or delay. Since the early introduction of the Clegg integrator, nonlinear integrators have held the promise of providing phase advantages over linear integrators when evaluated from the perspective of a describing function. This could potentially reduce delay and therefore provide the means to surpass linear design limitations; for example, overshoot and settling times can be reduced or even avoided. In addition, loop gains can be increased, which improves the low-frequency disturbance rejection properties. For five nonlinear integrators—the Clegg integrator, a generalized first-order reset integrator called the constant-in-gain–lead-in-phase (CgLp) element, a hybrid integrator–gain system, a variable gain integrator, and a split-path integrator—this article provides a comparison and overview of recent developments in stage motion control. Benchmark examples are taken from the industrial practice of wafer scanners, which form the pivotal machines used in the manufacturing of computer chips.
Perception of Medical Students Regarding Clinical Trials and Its Impact After Educational Intervention – A Questionnaire-Based Study
Authors: Dharmendra Mehta Yash , Bhavsar Bhumika , Prajapati Vipul Dhanjibhai , Malhotra Supriya 
Published: November 2024

Background and Aims: Clinical trials are gold standard for research and evaluating the efficacy and safety of healthcare interventions. Teaching about clinical trials is part of the pharmacology curriculum for undergraduate medical students. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) of undergraduate medical students towards clinical trial. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college of Ahmedabad, using standardised self-administered questionnaires having total 25 questions regarding KAP, prepared by the authors. The pre- and post-KAP questionnaires (after educational intervention) were offered to the participants after taking an informed consent. Analysis was done using SPSS software, version 26. P value <.05 was considered as significant. Results: We surveyed 212 medical students; there was an improvement in the overall scores of knowledge domain from 79.67 to 92.19%, about 31.44% improvement in the attitude toward clinical trial and 78.17-91.12% improvement in the perception. There was improvement in median score of 84.76% in having ‘sufficient’ knowledge, 91.18% in having ‘positive’ attitude and 91.63% of respondents having ‘favourable’ perception, regarding clinical trials. Conclusion: The results of this study depict the intervention has enhanced KAP regarding clinical trial among the medical students. The medical undergraduates are future innovators, clinicians and scientific explorers. It would be better if they are trained at earlier days of learning about clinical trials/research and medical ethics to ensure that future medical students receive better training in understanding and conducting clinical trials.
Educational gradients in the quality of mortality data: a nationwide, registry-based study on heart failure listed incorrectly as underlying cause of death in Norway
Authors: Sulo Gerhard , Knudsen Ann Kristin , Baravelli Carl , Lycke Ellingsen Christian , Sulo Enxhela 
Published: November 2024

Aim: In the context of mortality, heart failure (HF) represents an intermediate factor and should not be used to describe underlying cause of death (UCoD). We explored the potential educational gradients in use of HF to describe UCoD using national data spanning more than 30 years from Norway. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we linked data from the Cause of Death Registry and the National Education Database. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between highest attained education and the odds of HF being listed as the UCoD: odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Results: HF was listed as UCoD in 46,331 (3.7%) of 1,254,249 deaths analyzed. Compared to primary education, secondary and tertiary education were associated with 10% (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88–0.92) and 17% (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80-0.86) lower odds of HF incorrectly listed as UCoD, respectively. We observed no significant differences for the association between education and study outcomes between men and women and across place of death categories. However, educational gradients were greater among younger compared to older individuals ( pinteraction, = 0.002). Similar educational gradients were observed in the analyses restricted to cardiovascular deaths (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91–0.94 for secondary vs. primary education, and OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.88–0.95 for tertiary vs. primary education). Conclusions: Education was inversely associated with the use of HF to incorrectly describe UCoD. Addressing the observed educational gradients, would improve the quality of mortality data and allow for less biased descriptions of cause-specific mortality.
Comparison of survival, function and complication between intercalary frozen autograft versus massive allograft reconstruction after malignant bone tumors resection
Authors: Li Zhuoyu , Guo Haoyu , Deng Zhiping , Yang Yongkun , Zhang Qing , Liu Weifeng 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of intercalary frozen autograft and allograft reconstruction for primary malignant bone tumors.

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on 144 patients who underwent intercalary biological reconstruction for primary malignant bone tumors at a single institution between January 2012 and July 2023. Seventy-two patients underwent intercalary liquid nitrogen-frozen autograft reconstruction, and 72 patients underwent intercalary allograft reconstruction in this study. A modified International Society of Limb Salvage classification system was used to evaluate the complications.

Results
The mean follow-up time was 60.2 ± 32.1 (range, 12–149) months. The mean union time was 9.6 months in the frozen autograft group and 15.9 months in the allograft group (p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survivorship was 86.8% in the frozen autograft group and 73.2% in the allograft group (p = 0.017). The average MSTS-93 score was comparable between the two groups (89.7% by autograft versus 87.6% by allograft, p > 0.05). Of the patients, 48.6% (70/144) had at least one complication. The most common complications were bone nonunion (20.8%, 30/144), followed by structural failure (17.4%, 25/144), tumor progression (10.4%, 15/144), infection (10.4%, 15/144), and soft tissue failures (5.6%, 8/144). Higher rates of bone nonunion (type 4B; p = 0.002) and structural failure (type 3B; p = 0.004) were obtained in the allograft group than in the frozen autograft group.

Conclusions
The intercalary frozen autografts had shorter union time and lower complication rates than allograft reconstruction. Therefore, we recommend that frozen autograft reconstruction be considered when the tumor bone has not suffered severe osteolytic injury or pathological fracture.
Level of evidence: level III, case–control study.
Fournier's gangrene mortality: peri-umbilical cutaneous involvement as a crucial clinical indicator
Authors: Ouanes Yassine , Chaker Kays , Marrak Mahdi , Gharbia Nader , Mosbahi Boutheina , Rahoui Moez , Bibi Mokhtar , Nouira Yassine 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a severe urological emergency characterized by high mortality and requiring intensive management. Our objective was to ascertain the clinical and biological determinants of mortality in cases of FG, assessed one month following the initial surgical intervention.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of male patients treated surgically for urologically-originating Fournier's gangrene, diagnosed through physical examination, from January 2002 to December 2022. We analyzed clinical predictors by dividing affected skin into nine zones: scrotal, penile, perineal, hypogastric, right inguinal, left inguinal, right flank, left flank, and peri-umbilical regions.

Results
Our study included 118 patients, average age 58.97 years (± 13.84). Among them, 60.2% had diabetes, 27.1% were hypertensive, and 51.7% had a performance status of ≥ 2. At admission, 70% had a quick SOFA score of 0. The one-month postoperative mortality rate was 12.7%. In univariate analysis, all predefined cutaneous areas were significant except the scrotal region, with higher odds ratios for upper abdominal involvement. Independent predictive factors for one-month postoperative mortality were a heart rate ≥ 89 bpm (p = 0.001; OR = 6.96; 95% CI 2.16–22.40), systolic blood pressure ≤ 115 mmHg (p = 0.009; OR = 4.24; 95% CI 1.34–13.41), and peri-umbilical involvement (p < 0.001; OR = 216.67; 95% CI 33.06–1420.20). Peri-umbilical involvement had a notably stronger predictive effect on one-month postoperative mortality.

Conclusion
Fournier's gangrene prognosis worsens with more abdominal skin involvement. Key factors for one-month postoperative mortality are heart rate ≥ 89 bpm, systolic blood pressure ≤ 115 mmHg, and peri-umbilical involvement, which is notably linked to higher mortality.
Acute retinal pigment epitheliitis using adaptive optics imaging: a case report
Authors: Heutinck P.A.T. , Wooning S. , Liman K. , Durand M. , Sanchez Brea L. , Klaver C.C.W. , Verhoeven V.J.M. , Andrade De Jesus D. , Thiadens A.A.H.J. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Acute Retinal Pigment Epitheliitis (ARPE, Krill’s disease) is a rare inflammatory retinal disorder commonly affecting young adults. It often presents unilaterally with central vision disruption, and typically resolves with vision restoration within 6 to 12 weeks. The pathogenesis of ARPE remains a subject of ongoing debate. Adaptive Optics Flood Illumination Ophthalmoscopy (AO-FIO) imaging has emerged as a valuable tool capable of detecting early cone photoreceptor changes and recovery. This case study presents two patients with ARPE, with longitudinal follow-up using multimodal imaging, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and AO-FIO.

Case presentations
A 30-year-old male presented with sudden vision loss in both eyes. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/33 and 20/40 Snellen in the right and left eye, respectively. OCT showed interruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) band and outer nuclear layer (ONL) in both eyes; AO-FIO imaging revealed a foveal lesion and diminished parafoveal cone density in both eyes compared to two age-matched controls. After 6 months, BCVA was restored to 20/20, and OCT showed recovery of the ONL and EZ. On AO-FIO, the foveal lesion was still present and the parafoveal cone density increased but remained reduced even up to 15 months after onset when compared to the controls. The second patient, a 30-year-old woman, presented with a unilateral drop in vision to 20/63 Snellen. OCT showed discontinuation of the EZ and hyperreflectivity within the ONL and retinal pigment epithelium in the affected eye. The unaffected eye showed no abnormalities. After 3 months, the BCVA improved to 20/16 Snellen and OCT showed recovery of the EZ. AO-FIO was conducted 9 months after onset and revealed reduced parafoveal cone density in the affected and non-affected eye compared to the controls while OCT still showed recovery of all retinal layers.

Conclusions
ARPE is a self-limiting disease with recovery of BCVA and OCT retinal layers within 6 months. However, our 2 cases showed that parafoveal cone density recovered during follow-up but did not reach levels observed in controls. AO-FIO is an imaging modality that enhances sensitivity in measurements and can therefore be used as a complementary tool for follow-up.
“I am putting my fear on them subconsciously”: a qualitative study of contraceptive care in the context of abortion bans in the U.S.
Authors: Zia Yasaman , Somerson Erica , Folse Connie , Alvarez Alejandra , Albergate Davis Kathryn , Comfort Alison B. , Brown Katherine , Brandi Kristyn , Moayedi Ghazaleh , Harper Cynthia C. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Since the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022, providers throughout the U.S. have been navigating the shifting legal landscape of abortion bans, which diminish the delivery of evidence-based healthcare. The Dobbs decision has had a detrimental impact on medical training, the physician–patient relationship, and provision of medical care. However, few studies have captured the effects on providers in adjacent fields, including contraceptive care. Our objective was to examine the impact of Dobbs on contraceptive care.

Methods
We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews (August 2022–July 2024), with 41 contraceptive healthcare providers across the US, with the majority (63%) in abortion restrictive states. We utilized deductive thematic analysis to assess providers’ practice changes and experiences related to contraceptive services.

Results
In reaction to the Dobbs decision, providers noted increased requests for contraception, especially for highly effective methods. Providers worried that certain methods, such as IUDs or emergency contraception, would become restricted, and mentioned advance provision of pills and other ways that they would try to ensure supplies. Providers also discussed that their patients were worried about threats to contraception, including for adolescents. Some expressed concern, however, that the abortion bans may prompt providers to overemphasize high-efficacy methods with directive counseling. Providers shared that it was stressful to practice in contexts of uncertainty, with shifting abortion policies affecting contraceptive care, including emergent needs such as providing contraceptive services to out-of-state patients before they go home. Several providers shared that they felt an increased importance of their role in their communities, and a deepened commitment to advocate for their patients.

Conclusions
Abortion restrictions profoundly impact providers’ contraceptive counseling and care. The effects of Dobbs on providers and their clinical practices underscore providers' legally precarious position in today’s reproductive health landscape. Attention to contraceptive access and person-centered care has become a salient public health need across the U.S. The long-term impacts of limited reproductive rights may stretch an already under-resourced healthcare system and further emphasize moral pressures.
A high-throughput approach for quantifying turgor loss point in grapevine
Authors: Martin Adam R. , Li Guangrui , Cui Boya , Mariani Rachel O. , Vicario Kale , Cathline Kimberley A. , Findlay Allison , Robertson Gavin 
Published: November 2024

AbstractQuantifying drought tolerance in crops is critical for agriculture management under environmental change, and drought response traits in grape vine have long been the focus of viticultural research. Turgor loss point (πtlp) is gaining attention as an indicator of drought tolerance in plants, though estimating πtlp often requires the construction and analysis of pressure-volume (P-V) curves which are very time consuming. While P-V curves remain a valuable tool for assessing πtlp and related traits, there is considerable interest in developing high-throughput methods for rapidly estimating πtlp, especially in the context of crop screening. We tested the ability of a dewpoint hygrometer to quantify variation in πtlp across and within 12 clones of grape vine (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera) and one wild relative (Vitis riparia), and compared these results to those derived from P-V curves. At the leaf-level, methodology explained only 4–5% of the variation in πtlp while clone/species identity accounted for 39% of the variation, indicating that both methods are sensitive to detecting intraspecific πtlp variation in grape vine. Also at the leaf level, πtlp measured using a dewpoint hygrometer approximated πtlp values (r2 = 0.254) and conserved πtlp rankings from P-V curves (Spearman’s ρ = 0.459). While the leaf-level datasets differed statistically from one another (paired t-test p = 0.01), average difference in πtlp for a given pair of leaves was small (0.1 ± 0.2 MPa (s.d.)). At the species/clone level, estimates of πtlp measured by the two methods were also statistically correlated (r2 = 0.304), did not deviate statistically from a 1:1 relationship, and conserved πtlp rankings across clones (Spearman’s ρ = 0.692). The dewpoint hygrometer (taking ∼ 10–15 min on average per measurement) captures fine-scale intraspecific variation in πtlp, with results that approximate those from P-V curves (taking 2–3 h on average per measurement). The dewpoint hygrometer represents a viable method for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in πtlp, and potentially greatly increasing replication when estimating this drought tolerance trait in grape vine and other crops.