bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Giant Pediatric Craniopharyngiomas: Technical Note and Case Series
Authors: Bao YouYuan , Pan LaiSheng , Fu Jun , Wu Xiao , Xie ShenHao , Tang Bin , Hong Tao 
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Giant pediatric craniopharyngiomas are rare tumors whose clinical and surgical management is extremely challenging. A variety of open transcranial approaches has been used to resect these lesions. Although there has been an increasing acceptance of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for the resection of pediatric craniopharyngiomas in recent years, many surgeons continue to recommend against the use of the EEA for giant pediatric craniopharyngiomas. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of extended EEA for giant craniopharyngiomas in the pediatric population.

METHODS:
All consecutive pediatric patients with giant craniopharyngiomas (diameter >4 cm) who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographic information, preoperative assessment, imaging features, surgical results, complications, and recurrences were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS:
A total of 16 pediatric patients with an average age of 12 years were identified. The mean maximum diameter and volume of the tumors were 4.35 cm and 24.1 cm3, respectively. Gross total resection was achieved in 13 patients (81.3%) and subtotal resection in 3 patients (18.7%). Postoperatively, partial or complete anterior pituitary insufficiency occurred in 100% of patients, and 62.5% developed new-onset diabetes insipidus. Visual function improved in 9 patients (56.3%) and remained stable in 7 patients (43.7%). Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 2 patients and was successfully repaired through the EEA. During a mean follow-up of 44.3 months, 18.8% of patients had a >9% increase in body mass index, and 93.8% of patients successfully returned to school or work. Two patients (12.5%) suffered a recurrence. Disease control was achieved in 16 patients (100%) at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION:
The extended EEA allows adequate access to this challenging tumor and enables complete resection and visual improvement with a reasonable approach-related complication rate.
The Incremental Clinical Benefit of Adding Layers of Complexity to the Planning and Execution of Adult Spinal Deformity Corrective Surgery
Authors: Pierce Katherine E. , Mir Jamshaid M. , Dave Pooja , Lafage Renaud , Lafage Virginie , Park Paul , Nunley Pierce , Mundis Gregory , Gum Jeffrey , Tretiakov Peter , Uribe Juan , Hostin Richard , Eastlack Robert , Diebo Bassel , Kim Han Jo , Smith Justin S. , Ames Christopher P. , Shaffrey Christopher , Burton Douglas , Hart Robert , Bess Shay , Klineberg Eric , Schwab Frank , Gupta Munish , Hamilton D. Kojo , Passias Peter G. ,   on behalf of the International Spine Study Group
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
For patients with surgical adult spinal deformity (ASD), our understanding of alignment has evolved, especially in the last 20 years. Determination of optimal restoration of alignment and spinal shape has been increasingly studied, yet the assessment of how these alignment schematics have incrementally added benefit to outcomes remains to be evaluated.

METHODS:
Patients with ASD with baseline and 2-year were included, classified by 4 alignment measures: Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)–Schwab, Age-Adjusted, Roussouly, and Global Alignment and Proportion (GAP). The incremental benefits of alignment schemas were assessed in chronological order as our understanding of optimal alignment progressed. Alignment was considered improved from baseline based on SRS-Schwab 0 or decrease in severity, Age-Adjusted ideal match, Roussouly current (based on sacral slope) matching theoretical (pelvic incidence–based), and decrease in proportion. Patients separated into 4 first improving in SRS-Schwab at 2-year, second Schwab improvement and matching Age-Adjusted, third two prior with Roussouly, and fourth improvement in all four. Comparison was accomplished with means comparison tests and χ2 analyses.

RESULTS:
Sevenhundredthirty-two. patients met inclusion. SRS-Schwab BL: pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis mismatch (++:32.9%), sagittal vertical axis (++: 23%), pelvic tilt (++:24.6%). 640 (87.4%) met criteria for first, 517 (70.6%) second, 176 (24%) third, and 55 (7.5%) fourth. The addition of Roussouly (third) resulted in lower rates of mechanical complications and proximal junctional kyphosis (48.3%) and higher rates of meeting minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for physical component summary and SRS-Mental (P < .05) compared with the second. Fourth compared with the third had higher rates of MCID for ODI (44.2% vs third: 28.3%, P = .011) and SRS-Appearance (70.6% vs 44.8%, P < .001). Mechanical complications and proximal junctional kyphosis were lower with the addition of Roussouly (P = .024), while the addition of GAP had higher rates of meeting MCID for SRS-22 Appearance (P = .002) and Oswestry Disability Index (P = .085).

CONCLUSION:
Our evaluation of the incremental benefit that alignment schemas have provided in ASD corrective surgery suggests that the addition of Roussouly provided the greatest reduction in mechanical complications, while the incorporation of GAP provided the most significant improvement in patient-reported outcomes.
Adaptations of membrane trafficking in cancer and tumorigenesis
Authors: Evergren Emma , Mills Ian G. , Kennedy Grace 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Membrane trafficking, a fundamental cellular process encompassing the transport of molecules to specific organelles, endocytosis at the plasma membrane and protein secretion, is crucial for cellular homeostasis and signalling. Cancer cells adapt membrane trafficking to enhance their survival and metabolism, and understanding these adaptations is vital for improving patient responses to therapy and identifying therapeutic targets. In this Review, we provide a concise overview of major membrane trafficking pathways and detail adaptations in these pathways, including COPII-dependent endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi vesicle trafficking, COPI-dependent retrograde Golgi-to-ER trafficking and endocytosis, that have been found in cancer. We explore how these adaptations confer growth advantages or resistance to cell death and conclude by discussing the potential for utilising this knowledge in developing new treatment strategies and overcoming drug resistance for cancer patients.
Microtubule reorganization during mitotic cell division in the dinoflagellate Ostreospis cf. ovata
Authors: Velasquez-Carvajal David , Garampon Flavie , Besnardeau Lydia , Lemée Rodolphe , Schaub Sebastien , Castagnetti Stefania 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Dinoflagellates are marine organisms that undergo seasonal proliferation events known as algal blooms. Vegetative cell proliferation is a main contributing factor in these events. However, mechanistical understanding of mitosis and cytokinesis in dinoflagellates remains rudimentary. Using an optimized immunofluorescence protocol, we analysed changes in microtubule organization occurring during the mitotic cycle of the toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata. We find that the flagella and the cortical microtubule array persist throughout the mitotic cycle. Two cytoplasmic microtubule bundles originate from the ventral area, where the basal bodies are located – a cortical bundle and a cytoplasmic bundle. The latter associates with the nucleus in the cell centre before mitosis and with the acentrosomal extranuclear spindle during mitosis. Analysis of tubulin post-translational modifications identifies two populations of spindle microtubules – polar acetylated microtubules, whose length is constant, and central tyrosinated microtubules, which elongate during chromosome segregation. During cell division a microtubule-rich structure forms along the dorsal–ventral axis, associated with the site of cytokinesis, consistent with a cytokinetic mechanism that is independent of the actomyosin ring typical of animal and yeast cells.
Risk Management with Variable Capital Utilization and Time-Varying Collateral Capacity
Authors: Chen Guojun , Lu Zhongjin , Vij Siddharth 
Published: May 2024

We build a risk management model that incorporates variable capital utilization and time-varying collateral capacity. The former lets firms optimally choose capital utilization, and hence production, which affects capital depreciation and risk exposure. The latter means firms’ ability to borrow and hedge increases with expected earnings and thus utilization. Calibrated solutions show both ingredients matter for firm value. We test the novel model predictions using a new data set of oil and gas producers. Consistent with model predictions, we find utilization is negatively correlated with firm liquidity, while hedging is positively correlated with liquidity and expected profitability. This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance. Funding: Lu and Vij acknowledge financial support from the Terry-Sanford Research Award, University of Georgia. Supplemental Material: The online appendices and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.00415 .
Intangible Capital in Factor Models
Authors: Gulen Huseyin , Li Dongmei , Peters Ryan H. , Zekhnini Morad 
Published: May 2024

The transition from a traditional manufacturing-based economy to a knowledge- and service-based economy over recent decades resulted in a considerable rise in intangible capital, most of which is not reported on companies’ balance sheets. As a result, balance sheet-based valuation ratios, investment measures, and other firm characteristics that do not incorporate off-balance sheet (OBS) intangible capital suffer from significant measurement error problems. We incorporate a new measure of OBS intangible capital into firm characteristics, such as book to market, investment, and profitability, to address these measurement errors. These OBS intangible adjustments improve the performance of the Fama–French three- and five-factor models and the q-factor model, especially during recent decades. We further find that the value factor is no longer redundant in these empirical factor models. This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance. Funding: The authors are grateful for financial support from the 2019 EDHEC Scientific Beta “Advanced ESG & Factor Investing” Research Chair. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01261 .
Twenty-nine million intrinsic Q-factor monolithic microresonators on thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Zhu Xinrui , Hu Yaowen , Lu Shengyuan , Warner Hana K. , Li Xudong , Song Yunxiang , Magalhães Letícia , Shams-Ansari Amirhassan , Cordaro Andrea , Sinclair Neil , Lončar Marko 
Published: May 2024

The recent emergence of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) has extended the landscape of integrated photonics. This has been enabled by the commercialization of TFLN wafers and advanced nanofabrication of TFLN such as high-quality dry etching. However, fabrication imperfections still limit the propagation loss to a few dB/m, restricting the impact of this platform. Here, we demonstrate TFLN microresonators with a record-high intrinsic quality (Q) factor of twenty-nine million, corresponding to an ultra-low propagation loss of 1.3 dB/m. We present spectral analysis and the statistical distribution of Q factors across different resonator geometries. Our work pushes the fabrication limits of TFLN photonics to achieve a Q factor within 1 order of magnitude of the material limit.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in alcoholics
Authors: Kessel Klaus , Forsblom Erik , Ruotsalainen Eeva , Järvinen Asko 
Published: May 2024

Background
Alcoholism associates with increased Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia incidence and mortality. The objective was to compare disease progression, treatment and prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics.

Methods
The study design was a multicenter retrospective analysis of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with 90-day follow-up. Patients were stratified as alcoholics or non-alcoholics based on electronic health record data. Altogether 617 Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia patients were included of which 83 (13%) were alcoholics.

Results
Alcoholics, versus non-alcoholics, were younger, typically male and more commonly had community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. No differences in McCabe´s classification of underlying conditions was observed. Higher illness severity at blood culture sampling, including severe sepsis (25% vs. 7%) and intensive care unit admission (39% vs. 17%), was seen in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics. Clinical management, including infectious disease specialist (IDS) consultations and radiology, were provided equally. Alcoholics, versus non-alcoholics, had more pneumonia (49% vs. 35%) and fewer cases of endocarditis (7% vs. 16%). Mortality in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics was significantly higher at 14, 28 and 90 days (14% vs. 7%, 24% vs. 11% and 31% vs. 17%), respectively. Considering all prognostic parameters, male sex (OR 0.19, p = 0.021) and formal IDS consultation (OR 0.19, p = 0.029) were independent predictors of reduced mortality, whereas ultimately or rapidly fatal comorbidity in McCabe´s classification (OR 12.34, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of mortality in alcoholics.

Conclusions
Alcoholism deteriorates Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia prognosis, and our results suggests that this is predominantly through illness severity at bacteremia onset. Three quarters of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia patients we studied had identified deep infection foci, and of them alcoholics had significantly less endocarditis but nearly half of them had pneumonia.
An interactive, online decision aid assessing patient goals and preferences for treatment of aortic stenosis to support physician-led shared decision-making: Early feasibility pilot study
Authors: Coylewright Megan , Otero Diana , Lindman Brian R. , Levack Melissa M. , Horne Aaron , Ngo Long H. , Beaudry Melissa , Col Hannah V. , Col Nananda F. 
Published: May 2024

Background
Guidelines recommend shared decision making when choosing treatment for severe aortic stenosis but implementation has lagged. We assessed the feasibility and impact of a novel decision aid for severe aortic stenosis at point-of-care.

Methods
This prospective multi-site pilot cohort study included adults with severe aortic stenosis and their clinicians. Patients were referred by their heart team when scheduled to discuss treatment options.
Outcomes included shared decision-making processes, communication quality, decision-making confidence, decisional conflict, knowledge, stage of decision making, decision quality, and perceptions of the tool. Patients were assessed at baseline (T0), after using the intervention (T1), and after the clinical encounter (T2); clinicians were assessed at T2.
Before the encounter, patients reviewed the intervention, Aortic Valve Improved Treatment Approaches (AVITA), an interactive, online decision aid. AVITA presents options, frames decisions, clarifies patient goals and values, and generates a summary to use with clinicians during the encounter.

Results
30 patients (9 women [30.0%]; mean [SD] age 70.4 years [11.0]) and 14 clinicians (4 women [28.6%], 7 cardiothoracic surgeons [50%]) comprised 28 clinical encounters Most patients [85.7%] and clinicians [84.6%] endorsed AVITA. Patients reported AVITA easy to use [89.3%] and helped them choose treatment [95.5%]. Clinicians reported the AVITA summary helped them understand their patients’ values [80.8%] and make values-aligned recommendations [61.5%]. Patient knowledge significantly improved at T1 and T2 (p = 0.004). Decisional conflict, decision-making stage, and decision quality improved at T2 (p = 0.0001, 0.0005, and 0.083, respectively). Most patients [60%] changed treatment preference between T0 and T2. Initial treatment preferences were associated with low knowledge, high decisional conflict, and poor decision quality; final preferences were associated with high knowledge, low conflict, and high quality.

Conclusions
AVITA was endorsed by patients and clinicians, easy to use, improved shared decision-making quality and helped patients and clinicians arrive at a treatment that reflected patients’ values.

Trial registration
Trial ID: NCT04755426, Clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04755426.
The relationship between dietary total flavonoids and thyroid function in U.S.adults, NHANES 2007–2010
Authors: Wu Jie , Jia Chuyu , Zhang Zirui , Hou Zebin , Cui Yanhua 
Published: May 2024

Background
Although small studies have shown that flavonoids can affect thyroid disease, few epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between dietary total flavonoids (TFs) intake and serum thyroid function. The aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship between TFs and serum thyroid function.

Methods
Our study included 4,949 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010. Multivariable linear regression, subgroup analyses, and interaction terms were used to explore the relationships between TFs and thyroid function. And we also used restricted cubic splines (RCS) to investigate possible nonlinear relationships.

Results
After adjusting for covariates, we found that log10-transformated dietary total flavonoids intake (LgTFs) was negatively associated with total thyroxine (TT4) (β = -0.153, 95% CI = -0.222 to -0.084, P<0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger and statistically supported association in subjects with high annual family income (β = -0.367, P<0.001, P for interaction = 0.026) and subjects with high poverty to income ratio (PIR) (β = -0.622, P<0.001, P for interaction = 0.042). And we found a U-shaped curve association between LgTFs and free triiodothyronine (FT3) (inflection point for LgTFs: 2.063).

Conclusion
The results of our study demonstrated that a higher intake of total flavonoids in the diet was negatively associated with a lower TT4. Furthermore, the associations were more pronounced in high annual family income and high PIR adults. And we found a U-shaped relationship between LgTFs and FT3. These findings provided guidance for future thyroid dysfunction diet guidelines.
Gender Gap in Business Angel Financing
Authors: Bellucci Andrea , Gucciardi Gianluca , Locatelli Rossella , Schena Cristiana-Maria 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This study explores the impact of gender on entrepreneurial finance, analyzing both the supply and demand sides of early-stage equity financing through Business Angel (BA) investments. The research investigates the probability of men and women-owned businesses securing BA investments and assesses whether the gender of BA investors influences financial transaction magnitudes, potentially disadvantaging women-owned businesses. Additionally, the study explores the intersection between the gender of BA investors and investees to test for the presence of any potential heterogenous behaviors in terms of average invested amounts by men (women) Business Angels towards women-(men-) owned target companies. Results reveal that women entrepreneurs receive less equity financing than men, with a lower probability of securing larger investments from men BAs. Notably, this bias is absent when women BAs invest in men-owned businesses. These patterns persist regardless of information availability and consideration of unobservable factors, suggesting a connection between this disadvantage and taste-based prejudice among men BAs.
The analytical assessment of metal contamination in industrial soils of Saudi Arabia using the inductively coupled plasma technology
Authors: Alnuwaiser Maha Abdallah 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn response to significant demand for evaluating the presence of heavy elements in diverse industrial areas of Saudi Arabia, the study sought to analyze the concentration ratios of 16 elements across 11 different artificial soil types in the industrial zones situated in Riyadh, Sudair, and Al-Ahsa. To achieve this objective, the research utilized the wet digestion technique and employed an ICPE-9000 spectrophotometer for quantifying element concentrations. The study had a dual focus: initially, it sought to gauge the pollution attributed to heavy metals arising from enrichment processes, and second, it evaluated the geographical accumulation of pollutants in the soil. The results revealed varying concentration levels of heavy metals across the industrial areas under study. Specifically, the soil in the Yanbu region exhibited the highest concentration values for iron, manganese, zinc, chromium, nickel, copper, cobalt, cadmium, and beryllium. In contrast, the soil in the industrial area of Riyadh had the highest concentration values for lead, mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and arsenic (As). Furthermore, the highest concentration of Cd was recorded in the soil of the Jubail region. Conversely, the soil in the Al-Ahsa region displayed the lowest concentration levels for these heavy metals. The conductivity of the synthetic soil ranged from 0.47 to 6.07 μS·cm−1, accompanied by a pH range of 6.6–8.6. The results emphasized the fluctuations in element concentrations, indicating significant implications for both environmental and human health. Notably, around 20% of the gathered samples showed concentrations of heavy elements like Mo, As, Hg, and Se that surpassed the allowable limits.
Airlift bioreactors for bioremediation of water contaminated with hydrocarbons in agricultural regions
Authors: Sandoval-Herazo Elber José , Rodríguez-Torres Israel , Espinosa-Reyes Guillermo , Lizardi-Jiménez Manuel Alejandro 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The superficial gas velocity (Ug) values of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm s−1 showed a diesel consumption of 59.70, 58.20 and 65.20 %, respectively. The productivity of the airlift bioreactors (ALBs) was 0.030, 0.026 and 0.034 g L−1 d−1, respectively. During 10 days of operation, the emulsification index (E
24 %) values for Ug 1.0, 2.0 and 2.0 cm s−1 were 15.79, 15.07 and 12.85 %, respectively. Likewise, an increase in the degradation and suspended solids was observed when increasing the Ug from 1.0 to 2.0 cm s−1 of the ALBs, whereas a decrease in emulsification index E
24 % was observed for an Ug of 2.0 cm s−1. According to the results, the Ug of 2.0 cm s−1 was the most effective for increasing the degradation of diesel and growth of the consortium among the Ug evaluated. Furthermore, the reduction of E
24 % in this Ug suggests that the consortium uses a mixed form of hydrocarbon consumption, both by direct contact and in emulsified form.
Mark Ups and Pass-Through in Small and Medium Retailers for Rice, Tomato Sauce and Oil
Authors: Blanchard Pablo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
In this paper, we recover and decompose markups, and estimate the pass-through rates from cost to prices in small and medium retail stores for oil, tomato sauce, and rice in Uruguay using a structural model of demand and assumptions about the competitive behavior of producers. The market power for these products has been under study by the Commission of Promotion and Defense of Competition since 2016, and the proposed methodology allows for a deeper exploration of the measurement and understanding of the origin of that market power. In addition to providing a fundamental input for competition defense policies in Uruguay, this study enhances the international academic literature by contributing evidence on cost-to-price pass-through in a developing economy with potentially greater market power than that found in developed countries. About 65 % of the market power under the Nash Bertrand assumption is explained by the ability of firms to differentiate products and 35 % by the ownership structure in the case of oil and sauce. In the case of rice, 49 % is explained by differentiation and 51 % for ownership structure. Finally, the pass-through rates are low for the three products, being under both behavioral assumptions lower than 55 % for the three products.