bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic assessment of atrial, ventricular, and valvular function in patients with atrial fibrillation—an expert proposal by the german working group of cardiovascular ultrasound
Authors: Hagendorff Andreas , Stöbe Stephan , Helfen Andreas , Knebel Fabian , Altiok Ertunc , Beckmann Stephan , Bekfani Tarek , Binder Thomas , Ewers Aydan , Hamadanchi Ali , ten Freyhaus Henrik , Groscheck Thomas , Haghi Dariush , Knierim Jan , Kruck Sebastian , Lenk Karsten , Merke Nicolas , Pfeiffer Dietrich , Dorta Elena Romero , Ruf Tobias , Sinning Christoph , Wunderlich Nina C. , Brandt Roland , Ewen Sebastian 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation is challenging due to the varying heart rate. Thus, the topic of this expert proposal focuses on an obvious gap in the current recommendations about diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)—the peculiarities and difficulties of echocardiographic imaging. The assessment of systolic and diastolic function—especially in combination with valvular heart diseases—by echocardiography can basically be done by averaging the results of echocardiographic measurements of the respective parameters or by the index beat approach, which uses a representative cardiac cycle for measurement. Therefore, a distinction must be made between the functionally relevant status, which is characterized by the averaging method, and the best possible hemodynamic status, which is achieved with the most optimal left ventricular (LV) filling according to the index beat method with longer previous RR intervals. This proposal focuses on left atrial and left ventricular function and deliberately excludes problems of echocardiography when assessing left atrial appendage in terms of its complexity. Echocardiography of the left atrial appendage is therefore reserved for its own expert proposal.
Modern heart failure treatment is superior to conventional treatment across the left ventricular ejection spectrum: real-life data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry 2013–2020
Authors: Karlström Patric , Pivodic Aldina , Dahlström Ulf , Fu Michael 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Objectives
This study is aimed to compare the effectiveness of modern therapy including angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) with conventional heart failure treatment in the real world.

Background
Since ARNI and SGLT2i were introduced to treat heart failure (HF), its therapeutic regimen has modernized from previous treatment with beta-blocker (BB) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) as added-on in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, a comparison between conventional and modern treatment strategies with drugs in combination has not been performed.

Methods
This observational study (2013–2020), using the Swedish HF Registry, involved 20,849 HF patients. Patients received either conventional (BB, ACEi/ARB, with/without MRA, n = 20,140) or modern (BB, ACEi/ARB, MRA, SGLT2i or BB, ARNI, MRA with/without SGLT2i, n = 709) treatment at the index visit. The endpoints were all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality.

Results
Modern HF therapy was associated with a significant 28% reduction in all-cause mortality (adjusted HR [aHR], 0.72 (0.54–0.96); p = 0.024) and a significant 62% reduction in CV mortality (aHR, 0.38 (0.21–0.68); p = 0.0013) compared to conventional HF treatment. Similar results emerged in a sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching. The interaction analyses did not reveal any trends for EF (< 40% and ≥ 40%), sex, age (< 70 and ≥ 70 years), eGFR (< 60 and ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), and etiology of HF subgroups.

Conclusion
In this nationwide study, modern HF therapy was associated with significantly reduced all-cause and CV mortality, regardless of EF, sex, age, eGFR, and etiology of HF.

Graphical abstract
Over-the-scope clip for closure of persistent gastrocutaneous fistula after gastrostomy tube removal: a multicenter pediatric experience
Authors: Corsello Antonio , Antoine Matthieu , Sharma Shishu , Bertrand Valérie , Oliva Salvatore , Fava Giorgio , Destro Francesca , Huang Andrew , Fong Wei S. W. , Ichino Martina , Thomson Mike , Gottrand Frederic 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is commonly used for enteral nutritional access, but gastrocutaneous fistulae (GCF) may persist after tube removal, posing clinical challenges. The use of endoscopic closure devices, including over-the-scope clips (OTSC), has shown promise in managing non-healing fistulae, although data in the pediatric population are limited.

Methods
A retrospective multicenter study analyzed pediatric patients who underwent GCF closure following gastrostomy tube removal. Data from seven centers across multiple countries were collected, including patient demographics, procedural details, complications, and outcomes. Closure techniques were compared between OTSC and surgical closure.

Results
Of 67 pediatric patients included, 21 underwent OTSC closure and 46 had surgical closure. Surgical closure demonstrated a higher success rate (100%) compared to OTSC closure (61.9%, P < 0.001). While procedural duration was shorter for OTSC closure (25 vs. 40 min, P = 0.002), complications, and scar quality were comparable between techniques. A subsequent sub-analysis did not reveal differences based on center experience.

Conclusion
OTSC closure is feasible and safe in pediatric patients, but surgical closure remains superior in achieving sustained GCF closure, although OTSC offers benefits, such as shorter procedural duration, potentially reducing the duration of general anesthesia exposure. Non-operative approaches, including OTSC, may be a valuable alternative to surgical closure.

Graphical abstract
Comparative analyses of immune cells and alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells under the immunological microenvironment between with and without dense fibrosis in primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Takei Jun , Maeda Miku , Fukasawa Nei , Kawashima Masaharu , Miyake Misayo , Tomoto Kyoichi , Nawate Shohei , Teshigawara Akihiko , Suzuki Tomoya , Yamamoto Yohei , Nagashima Hiroyasu , Mori Ryosuke , Fukushima Ryoko , Matsushima Satoshi , Kino Hiroyoshi , Muroi Ai , Tsurubuchi Takao , Sakamoto Noriaki , Nishiwaki Kaichi , Yano Shingo , Hasegawa Yuzuru , Murayama Yuichi , Akasaki Yasuharu , Shimoda Masayuki , Ishikawa Eiichi , Tanaka Toshihide 
Published: August 2024

AbstractHistopathologic examinations of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) reveal concentric accumulation of lymphocytes in the perivascular area with fibrosis. However, the nature of this fibrosis in “stiff” PCNSL remains unclear. We have encountered some PCNSLs with hard masses as surgical findings. This study investigated the dense fibrous status and tumor microenvironment of PCNSLs with or without stiffness. We evaluated by silver-impregnation nine PCNSLs with stiffness and 26 PCNSLs without stiffness. Six of the nine stiff PCNSLs showed pathological features of prominent fibrosis characterized by aggregation of reticulin fibers, and collagen accumulations. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-positive spindle cells as a cancer-associated fibroblast, the populations of T lymphocytes, and macrophages were compared between fibrous and control PCNSLs. Fibrous PCNSLs included abundant αSMA-positive cells in both intra- and extra-tumor environments (5/6, 87% and 3/6, 50%, respectively). Conversely, only one out of the seven control PCNSL contained αSMA-positive cells in the intra-tumoral area. Furthermore, the presence of extra-tumoral αSMA-positive cells was associated with infiltration of T lymphocytes and macrophages. In conclusion, recognizing the presence of dense fibrosis in PCNSL can provide insights into the tumor microenvironment. These results may help stratify patients with PCNSL and improve immunotherapies for these patients.
Framing Collective Moral Responsibility for Climate Change: A Longitudinal Frame Analysis of Energy Company Climate Reporting
Authors: Feeney Melanie , Ormiston Jarrod , Gijselaers Wim , Martens Pim , Grohnert Therese 
Published: August 2024

AbstractResponding to climate change and avoiding irreversible climate tipping points requires radical and drastic action by 2030. This urgency raises serious questions for energy companies, one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), in terms of how they frame, and reframe, their response to climate change. Despite the majority of energy companies releasing ambitious statements declaring net zero carbon ambitions, this ‘talk’ has not been matched with sufficient urgency or substantive climate action. To unpack the disconnect between talk and action, this paper draws on the literature on framing, organisational hypocrisy, and collective moral responsibility. We conduct a longitudinal qualitative content analysis of the framing of climate change used by the ten largest European investor-owned energy companies and the actions they have taken to shift their business practices. Our findings reveal three main categories of energy companies: (i) deflecting, (ii) stagnating, and (iii) evolving. We show key differences in the relationship between framing and action over time for each category, revealing how deflecting companies have larger and persistent gaps between green talk and concrete action and how stagnating companies are delaying action despite increased green talk, while evolving companies exhibit a closer link between talk and action that tends to be realised over time. Our analysis reveals how competing approaches to framing collective moral responsibility help understand the trajectories of talk and action across the different categories of energy companies. This research makes several contributions to the literature on organisational hypocrisy and collective moral responsibility in the context of climate change. Our analysis highlights the complex relationship between collective moral responsibility, organisational hypocrisy and climate action, revealing how different collective framings—diffuse, teleological, or agential—can both enable and offset substantive climate action. The study also enriches our understanding of the performative nature of collective moral responsibility by examining its temporal dimensions and showing how an agential, backward-looking focus is associated with more meaningful climate action.
Mapping temperate old-growth forests in Central Europe using ALS and Sentinel-2A multispectral data
Authors: Adiningrat Devara P. , Schlund Michael , Skidmore Andrew K. , Abdullah Haidi , Wang Tiejun , Heurich Marco 
Published: August 2024

AbstractOld-growth forests are essential to preserve biodiversity and play an important role in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change. However, their existence across Europe is vulnerable due to the scarcity of their distribution, logging, and environmental threats. Therefore, providing the current status of old-growth forests across Europe is essential to aiding informed conservation efforts and sustainable forest management. Remote sensing techniques have proven effective for mapping and monitoring forests over large areas. However, relying solely on remote sensing spectral or structural information cannot capture comprehensive horizontal and vertical structure complexity profiles associated with old-growth forest characteristics. To overcome this issue, we combined spectral information from Sentinel-2A multispectral imagery with 3D structural information from high-density point clouds of airborne laser scanning (ALS) imagery to map old-growth forests over an extended area. Four features from the ALS data and fifteen from Sentinel-2A comprising raw band (spectral reflectance), vegetation indices (VIs), and texture were selected to create three datasets used in the classification process using the random forest algorithm. The results demonstrated that combining ALS and Sentinel-2A features improved the classification performance and yielded the highest accuracy for old-growth class, with an F1-score of 92% and producer’s and user’s accuracies of 93% and 90%, respectively. The findings suggest that features from ALS and Sentinel-2A data sensitive to forest structure are essential for identifying old-growth forests. Integrating open-access satellite imageries, such as Sentinel-2A and ALS data, can benefit forest managers, stakeholders, and conservationists in monitoring old-growth forest preservation across a broader spatial extent.
A Comprehensive Review of Convolutional Neural Networks based Disease Detection Strategies in Potato Agriculture
Authors: Gülmez Burak 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis review paper investigates the utilization of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for disease detection in potato agriculture, highlighting their pivotal role in efficiently analyzing large-scale agricultural datasets. The datasets used, preprocessing methodologies applied, specific data collection zones, and the efficacy of prominent algorithms like ResNet, VGG, and MobileNet variants for disease classification are scrutinized. Additionally, various hyperparameter optimization techniques such as grid search, random search, genetic algorithms, and Bayesian optimization are examined, and their impact on model performance is assessed. Challenges including dataset scarcity, variability in disease symptoms, and the generalization of models across diverse environmental conditions are addressed in the discussion section. Opportunities for advancing CNN-based disease detection, including the integration of multi-spectral imaging and remote sensing data, and the implementation of federated learning for collaborative model training, are explored. Future directions propose research into robust transfer learning techniques and the deployment of CNNs in real-time monitoring systems for proactive disease management in potato agriculture. Current knowledge is consolidated, research gaps are identified, and avenues for future research in CNN-based disease detection strategies to sustain potato farming effectively are proposed by this review. This study paves the way for future advancements in AI-driven disease detection, potentially revolutionizing agricultural practices and enhancing food security. Also, it aims to guide future research and development efforts in CNN-based disease detection for potato agriculture, potentially leading to improved crop management practices, increased yields, and enhanced food security.
Comorbidities and Angiogenic Regulators Affect Endothelial Progenitor Cell Subtype Numbers in a Healthy Volunteer Control Group
Authors: Rakkar Kamini , Kadir Rais Reskiawan A. , Othman Othman A. , Sprigg Nikola , Bath Philip M. , Bayraktutan Ulvi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractEndothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are stem cells that can repair injured blood vessels through neovascularisation. This is achieved through secretion of growth factors and endothelial maturation. EPC numbers and function have been studied to determine their diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential in many ischaemic diseases such as stroke. However their activation homing and migration is not definitively understood in stroke patients. In this study, we profiled the non-stroke control group recruited into the Dunhill Medical Trust Endothelial Progenitor Cell Study. Demographic, clinical and plasma levels of angiogenic regulators of participants were analysed to determine if there was any correlation with EPC numbers, subtypes and function. Participants with diabetes had significantly supressed EPC numbers (CD45-CD34 + CD133 + KDR+) and CD34 + KDR + and KDR + EPC subtypes. Male participants had significantly lower EPC numbers compared to female participants and the proliferative capacity of endothelial colony forming cells significantly decreased with increasing participant age. Pro-angiogenic proteins such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stromal cell-derived factor were positively correlated with both undifferentiated and endothelial-committed EPC subtype numbers (CD133+, KDR+, CD34 + CD133+, CD34 + KDR+), whereas anti-angiogenic proteins such as thrombospondin-1 showed a negative correlation with undifferentiated EPC subtypes (CD133+, CD34 + CD133+) but a positive correlation with endothelial-committed EPC subtype numbers (KDR+, CD34 + KDR+). These results show that EPC numbers and subtypes are affected by many factors and larger studies which can analyse and deconvolute the interactions between comorbidities, plasma biomarker levels and EPC are needed.
Graphical Abstract
Theory of planned behavior and fast fashion purchasing: an analysis of interaction effects
Authors: Magwegwe Frank M. , Shaik Abdulla 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe fast fashion industry, characterized by its reliance on rapid consumption cycles, and short-lived garment use, has raised major environmental concerns. This industry generates over 92 million tons of waste and consumes 79 trillion liters of water annually, driven by rising consumer demand for fast fashion. As such, there is a pressing need to transition from the current wasteful fast fashion purchasing behavior to more sustainable behavior. Despite extensive research on sustainable purchasing behavior, there is still a gap in our understanding of the predictors of consumers’ sustainable fast fashion purchasing behavior. To address this gap, our study utilized a survey questionnaire to collect data from a convenience sample of 123 South African consumers. We expanded the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by incorporating sustainability awareness as a background factor in the hypothesized theoretical model. We also investigated the relationships among the TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control), sustainability awareness, and sustainable fast fashion purchasing behavior. By employing hierarchical regression within the extended TPB framework, we found that perceived behavioral control mediated the relationship between sustainability awareness and sustainable fast fashion purchasing behavior. Further, perceived behavioral control and its interaction with attitude significantly predicted sustainable fast fashion purchasing behavior, while sustainability awareness significantly predicted perceived behavioral control. Notably, our findings reveal that lower perceived behavioral control is associated with a stronger positive relationship between attitude and sustainable fast fashion purchasing behavior. These findings have important implications for theory and practice, and provide suggestions for future research directions.
Sensing physical properties for subjective meanings: Putting Emergent Consumer Perceived Value (ECPV) into the marketers’ toolbox
Authors: Forsman Laura J. , Luomala Harri 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Marketers need to understand consumers in both theory and practice to create offerings that are valuable to them. Hence, the marketing discipline has conceptualized consumers’ subjectively perceived value in various ways, using multiple paradigms. Nevertheless, its constituents remain unclear. We argue that this is because the ontological and epistemological premises are both vague and narrow. Consequently, consumers’ value perceptions are still difficult to study or manage. With the aim of making a conceptual leap, our paper is the first to apply a critical realist (CR) approach to the phenomenon. CR’s stratified ontology and subjectivist/pluralist epistemology reconcile the positivist and interpretivist/constructionist paradigms, allowing the simultaneous existence of external socio-natural and internal subjective realities. Using these premises, we examine, from a marketer’s perspective, how consumers perceive value, which is a subjective, phenomenological, and socially constructed act embedded in the natural world. Our CR theorizing deploys Bhaskar’s (2010) RRREIC schema and includes a review of the extant subjective value conceptualizations (consumer perceived value, value-in-use, value-in-experience) and retroduction of the key mechanisms generating the phenomenon: meaning-making and sensory perception. Finally, we propose a novel conceptualization for Emergent Consumer Perceived Value formation (ECPV) as an open system. As its integral component, we introduce the concept of Sensory Value Affordance, explaining how consumers transform physical properties into subjective meanings. These conceptual tools cater especially to B2C managers and account for both the phenomenological and sociocultural as well as the corporeal and perceptual. Finally, we present broader implications for value research, the field of marketing, and society.
Association of ACE and AGTR1 variants with retinopathy of prematurity: a case–control study and meta-analysis
Authors: Durska Anna , Szpecht Dawid , Gotz-Więckowska Anna , Strauss Ewa 
Published: August 2024

AbstractRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of childhood blindness worldwide, linked to gene variants in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1). This study aims to evaluate the association between ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) and AGTR1 rs5186A > C variants with the occurrence and progression of ROP in a Polish cohort. A total of 377 premature infants were enrolled in the study. The ACE variant was evaluated using PCR, and AGTR1 was assessed using TaqMan probes. Clinical characteristics, including risk factors and comorbidities, were documented. A meta-analysis of the effects of the studied variants on ROP was also conducted. The AGTR1 rs5186C allele was significantly associated with both the progression of ROP and treatment outcomes. Homozygotes exhibited a 2.47-fold increased risk of developing proliferative ROP and a 4.82-fold increased risk of treatment failure. The impact of this allele increased at low birth weight. A meta-analysis, including 191 cases and 1661 controls, indicated an overall risk of 1.7 (95%CI 1.02–2.84) for the recessive effect of the rs5186C allele. The ACE variant did not show a significant association with ROP in our population; however, a meta-analysis of 996 cases and 2787 controls suggested a recessive effect of the insertion allele (an odds ratio of 1.21 (95%CI 1.00–1.60)). These results indicate that gain-of-function AGTR1 variants may play a crucial role in the development of ROP, potentially by promoting angiogenesis and pro-inflammatory effects. Screening for these variants could facilitate the development of personalized risk assessment and treatment strategies for ROP.