bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prediction of cardiac worsening through to cardiogenic shock in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Beer Benedikt N. , Kellner Caroline , Sundermeyer Jonas , Besch Lisa , Dettling Angela , Kirchhof Paulus , Blankenberg Stefan , Magnussen Christina , Schrage Benedikt 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsAcute heart failure (AHF) can result in worsening of heart failure (WHF), cardiogenic shock (CS), or death. Risk factors for these adverse outcomes are not well characterized. This study aimed to identify predictors for WHF or new‐onset CS in patients hospitalized for AHF.Methods and resultsProspective cohort study enrolling consecutive patients with AHF admitted to a large tertiary care centre with follow‐up until death or discharge. WHF was defined by the RELAX‐AHF‐2 criteria. CS was defined as SCAI stages B–E. Potential predictors were assessed by fitting logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex. N = 233 patients were enrolled, median age was 78 years, and 80 were women (35.9%). Ischaemic cardiomyopathy was present in 82 patients (40.8%). Overall, 96 (44.2%) developed WHF and 18 (9.7%) CS. In‐hospital death (8/223, 3.6%) was related to both events (WHF: OR 6.64, 95% CI 1.21–36.55, P = 0.03; CS: OR 38.27, 95% CI 6.32–231.81, P < 0.001). Chronic kidney disease (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.25–3.93, P = 0.007), logarithmized serum creatinine (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.51–5.82, P = 0.002), cystatin c (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.27–2.77, P = 0.002), tricuspid valve regurgitation (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.11–3.94, P = 0.023) and logarithmized pro‐adrenomedullin (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.75–5.38, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of WHF. Chronic kidney disease (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.16–9.58, P = 0.03), cystatin c (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.00–3.53, P = 0.045), logarithmized pro‐adrenomedullin (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.19–7.19, P = 0.019), and tricuspid valve regurgitation (OR 10.44, 95% CI 2.61–70.00, P = 0.003) were significantly with new‐onset CS.ConclusionsHalf of patients admitted with AHF experience WHF or new‐onset CS. Chronic kidney disease, tricuspid valve regurgitation, and elevated pro‐adrenomedullin concentrations predict these events. They could potentially serve as early warning signs for further deterioration in AHF patients.
NORSE seasonality may vary geographically in adults
Authors: Bolle Andrea Enerstad , Gaist Thomas , Kuljis Anna Maria Eleonora , Blaabjerg Morten , Beier Christoph Patrick 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe mechanisms causing new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) are often unknown. Recently, a seasonal variation with NORSE peaking during the summer was described in a mixed cohort of adults and children why we here studied the seasonal variation in a Danish status epilepticus (SE) cohort. This retrospective cohort study comprised SE patients aged ≥18 diagnosed and treated 2008–2017 at the Odense University Hospital. Clinical characteristics and seasonality of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for NORSE were compared with patients with refractory SE (RSE) due to other reasons and with the seasonal variation of autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis in the Danish autoimmune encephalitis register. In this cohort, 26 patients met NORSE criteria. As compared to RSE patients not fulfilling NORSE criteria (n = 152), NORSE patients were more likely to have symptoms of systemic inflammation (C‐reactive protein concentrations ≥10 mg/L or fever ≥38°C) at admission; nine fulfilled the criteria for febrile infection related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES). In contrast to the even seasonal distribution of patients with RSE not fulfilling the NORSE criteria, admissions due to NORSE peaked during the winter (46.1%, p = 0.04 as compared to non‐NORSE RSE); six out of nine FIRES episodes occurred in the winter season. The seasonal variation was not explained by a seasonal variation of the detection rates of autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis (incl. NMDAR, LGI1, CASPR2, GABAR, GFAP) in a Danish nationwide register (n = 259). In conclusion, we confirm the seasonality of NORSE in a Danish cohort, however, with a peak during winter suggesting a geographical variation not solely explained by autoimmune encephalitis associated with known autoantibodies.Plain Language SummaryThe study investigated the seasonal patterns of new‐onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), i.e. severe seizures that occur without an obvious cause and require very intensive treatment. In contrast to the previously observed peak frequency in summer, this Danish study found that NORSE cases peak in winter. Furthermore, the seasonal variation in NORSE cases was not found to be associated with autoimmune encephalitis caused by known autoantibodies. Together with the high rate of patients showing symptoms of systemic inflammation compared to other status epilepticus patients, the data suggest a link between misdirected immune system responses and NORSE. The study can therefore help in the further search for the currently unknown causes of NORSE.
Acid‐etching induced metal cation competitive lattice occupancy of perovskite quantum dots for efficient pure‐blue QLEDs
Authors: Zhu Hanwen , Tong Guoqing , Li Junchun , Tao Xuyong , Shen Yang , Sheng Yuanyuan , Shi Lin , Xie Fengming , Tang Jianxin , Jiang Yang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLow efficiency and spectral instability caused by the surface defects have been considerable issues for the mixed‐halogen blue emitting perovskite quantum dots light‐emitting diodes (PeQLEDs). Here, an in situ surface passivation to perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) is realized by introducing the metal cations competitive lattice occupancy assisted with acid‐etching, in which the long‐chain, insulating and weakly bond surface ligands are removed by addition of octanoic acid (OTAC). Meanwhile, the dissolved A‐site cations (Na+) compete with the protonated oleyl amine and are subsequently anchored to the surface vacancies. The preadded lead bromide, acting as inorganic ligands, demonstrates strong bonding to the uncoordinated surface ions. The as‐synthesized PeQDs show the boosted photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and superior stability with longer lifetime. As a result, the PeQLEDs (470 nm) based on the OTAC‐Na PeQDs exhibit an external quantum efficiency of 8.42% in the mixed halogen PeQDs (CsPb(BrxCl1−x)3). Moreover, the device exhibits superior spectra stability with negligible shift. Our competition mechanism in combination with in situ passivation strategy paves a new way for improving the performance of blue PeQLEDs.
Treatment strategies for pelvic organ prolapse and postoperative outcomes in older women with long‐term care needs: A population‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wada Yoshimitsu , Takei Yuji , Sasabuchi Yusuke , Matsui Hiroki , Yasunaga Hideo , Kohro Takahide , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Yamana Hayato 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate treatment options for older women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and postoperative outcomes based on their long‐term care (LTC) status.MethodsWe used the medical and LTC insurance claims databases of Tochigi Prefecture in Japan, covering 2014 to 2019. We included women 65 years and older with POP and evaluated their care status and treatment, excluding women with an observation period <6 months. Among women with a postsurgical interval ≥6 months, we compared care level changes and deaths within 6 months and complications within 1 month postoperatively between those with and without LTC using Fisher exact test.ResultsWe identified 3406 eligible women. Of the 447 women with LTC and 2959 women without LTC, 16 (3.6%) and 415 (14.0%), respectively, underwent surgery. Among 393 women with a postsurgical interval ≥6 months, 19 (4.8%) required LTC at surgery. Two of the 19 women with LTC (10.5%) and eight of 374 women without LTC (2.1%) experienced worsening care–needs level. No deaths were recorded. Urinary tract infection (UTI) was significantly more frequent in women with LTC than in women without LTC (36.8% vs 8.6%). Other complications were rare in both groups.ConclusionThe proportion of patients who underwent surgery for POP was lower in women with LTC than in women without LTC. Postoperative UTI was common and 11% had a worsening care–needs level postoperatively, whereas other complications were infrequent. Further detailed studies would contribute to providing optimal treatment to enhance patients' quality of life.
Constructing density forecasts from quantile regressions: Multimodality in macrofinancial dynamics
Authors: Mitchell James , Poon Aubrey , Zhu Dan 
Published: April 2024

SummaryQuantile regression methods are increasingly used to forecast tail risks and uncertainties in macroeconomic outcomes. This paper reconsiders how to construct predictive densities from quantile regressions. We compare a popular two‐step approach that fits a specific parametric density to the quantile forecasts with a nonparametric alternative that lets the “data speak.” Simulation evidence and an application revisiting GDP growth uncertainties in the United States demonstrate the flexibility of the nonparametric approach when constructing density forecasts from both frequentist and Bayesian quantile regressions. They identify its ability to unmask deviations from symmetrical and unimodal densities. The dominant macroeconomic narrative becomes one of the evolution, over the business cycle, of multimodalities rather than asymmetries in the predictive distribution of GDP growth when conditioned on financial conditions.
Quality of financial reporting in the Indian insurance industry: Does corporate governance matter?
Authors: Goyal Barkha , Gulati Rachita 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study explores the relationship between financial reporting quality and insurer governance, with the hypothesis that robust governance procedures exert better control over managers’ opportunistic behavior. The analysis is based on a dataset of insurer firms from 2014 to 2021. The econometric results obtained using the two‐step system GMM technique reveal that the overarching influence of corporate governance on enhancing financial reporting quality is evident, with board and risk governance matters the most. Among individual governance attributes, the optimal board size, a higher proportion of independent directors, audit and risk committees’ size, and risk committee independence play a significant role in governing discretionary accruals. The efficacy of governance mechanisms considerably differs across life and non‐life insurers, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics within the Indian insurance market. The results lend empirical support to resource dependency and agency theories within the Indian insurance sector. The implications suggest potential avenues for amending or redesigning governance norms with specificities of insurers and the ultimate goal of fostering an environment conducive to enhancing the reporting quality of Indian insurance firms.
Does social capital matter to stock price crash risk? Evidence from the US listed firms
Authors: Sun Liang , Yu Huaibing 
Published: April 2024

AbstractUsing a dataset comprised of US publicly traded firms from 2002 to 2018, this paper reveals a significantly negative relationship between social capital and stock price crash risk. Firms located in regions with higher levels of social capital tend to have lower stock price crash risk. This result holds after addressing potential endogeneity. The negative association is more prominent for firms located in rural areas, with greater R&D expenditure, with higher default risk, and during the time periods of non‐financial crisis, respectively. The results of this study are robust to alternative measurements of stock price crash risk, index interpolation, index aggregation, and additional controls.
Association between postoperative fall history and toe grip strength in patients after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective observational study
Authors: Mawarikado Yuya , Inagaki Yusuke , Fujii Tadashi , Kubo Takanari , Kido Akira , Tanaka Yasuhito 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundFactors associated with falls after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the incidence of falls after TKA, focusing on toe grip strength (TGS) in particular, which has been associated with falls in older adults.Methods217 patients who underwent TKA were included and followed up for 1 year. Main study outcome measures were the presence or absence of falls within 1 year after TKA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used with postoperative falls as the dependent variable and preoperative falls and postoperative TGS on the affected sides as independent variables.Results170 (43 and 127 in the fall and non‐fall groups) patients were included in the analysis. The presence of a preoperative falls history before TKA and a weak postoperative affected TGS indicated an increased susceptibility of the patient to fall postoperatively.ConclusionsResults of the current study revealed the association between postoperative TGS and postoperative falls. We highlight the importance of preoperative fall monitoring and postoperative TGS evaluation to prevent falls after TKA.
Plant biomass of grasses in actively restored grasslands shows stronger association with eco‐physiological properties than in degraded native grasslands
Authors: Xu Danghui , Wang Xiejun , Tang Yuxin , Mou Wenbo , Yao Guangqian , Yuan Jianli , Fang Xiangwen 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGrassland degradation levels determine plant eco‐physiological properties, and thus influences ecosystem function. However, how land degradation affects the relationship between plant biomass and eco‐physiological properties of native and artificially restored grasslands is insufficiently understood. Here, we evaluated aboveground biomass (AGB), plant photosynthetic capacity, as well as soil texture, in a series of native grasslands (non‐degraded, slightly degraded, moderately degraded, heavily degraded, and extremely degraded) and artificially restored grasslands with different growth times (5, 9, 11, 14 and 17 years) within the alpine grassland ecosystem of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau during the plant growing season. Results showed that, in native grasslands, land degradation significantly decreased the nitrogen (N) concentration and AGB of grasses but did not impact the phosphorus (P) concentration. In actively restored grasslands, the AGB, photosynthetic rate (Pn), N and P of grasses decreased significantly after 9 years or longer of replanting time. Furthermore, the AGB of grasses in actively restored grasslands showed stronger association with eco‐physiological properties than in native grasslands. In native grasslands, degradation affected AGB directly, but also indirectly through Pn. In actively restored grasslands, degradation affected AGB directly, but also indirectly through Pn, N and P. Our findings suggest that the mechanisms by which grass species respond to degradation differ between native and actively restored grasslands. Also, compared to native grasslands, the eco‐physiological properties of grasses are more sensitive to changing environmental conditions in actively restored grasslands. More importantly, the differing response mechanisms are likely to alter the plant community dynamics and future ecosystem stability.
Tunable On‐Chip Electro‐Optic Frequency‐Comb Generation at 8 μm$\umu {\rm m}$ wavelength
Authors: Turpaud Victor , Nguyen Thi Hao Nhi , Koompai Natnicha , Peltier Jonathan , Frigerio Jacopo , Calcaterra Stefano , Coudevylle Jean‐René , Bouville David , Alonso‐Ramos Carlos , Vivien Laurent , Isella Giovanni , Marris‐Morini Delphine 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe development of compact systems operating in the long‐wave infrared wavelength range is of high interest for spectroscopic and sensing applications. There is currently a wide interest toward the development of optical frequency‐combs to enhance the performances of these systems. Amongst the different techniques to obtain optical frequency‐combs, electro‐optic frequency‐comb generation presents major advantages thanks to the tunable repetition rate only limited by the bandwidth of the used electro‐optical modulator. However, the development of integrated and efficient electro‐optical modulators operating in a wide long‐wave infrared spectral band is still at its infancy, and electro‐optical frequency‐comb has not been demonstrated so far beyond 3 wavelength. In this work, a Schottky‐based modulator embedded in a Ge‐rich graded SiGe waveguide is used for electro‐optic frequency‐comb generation. Considering the limited efficiency of the modulator, harmonically‐rich RF signals are used to enhance the generation of comb lines around the optical carrier. Interestingly, this allows us to demonstrate the generation of electro‐optical combs spanning over 2.4 GHz around 8 wavelength. This paves the way toward fully integrated and tunable mid‐infrared electro‐optic frequency‐comb generation systems.
Scalable Nanophotonic Structures Inside Silica Glass Laser‐Machined by Intense Shaped Beams
Authors: Datta Srijoyee , Clady Raphaël , Grojo David , Utéza Olivier , Sanner Nicolas 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAll‐dielectric nanophotonic devices are usually fabricated by engraving arrays of nanoholes at the surface of high‐index materials, to engineer dedicated optical functions. However, their direct 3D integration in the volume of a material is challenging, inaccessible to current planar nanolithography methods. Here is introduced an ultrafast laser‐machining method that opens the possibility to realize scalable arrays of hollow nanochannels directly inside the bulk of silica glass within a single‐step, maskless, and digital approach. Using a custom‐shaped micro‐Bessel beam and by tuning laser pulse durations from femtoseconds to picosecond to boost processing versatility, dense assemblies of nanochannels with adjustable lengths (up to 30 µm), and submicron lattice periodicity (down to 0.7 µm) are achieved. As a proof‐of‐principle demonstration, a gradient‐index metaphotonic structure is realized and its performance is experimentally characterized, demonstrating its relevancy for imprinting phase functions with magnitude up to in the short‐wave infrared spectral range. Results show that the unique flexibility and scalability provided by individual control of each channel opens a new realistic alternative approach for 3D fabrication of monolithic integrated nanophotonic devices inside a wide range of low‐index standard optical materials.
Metasurface Empowered Compact Non‐Paraxial Optical Vortex Mode Sorter
Authors: Wang Baiming , Wu Lixun , Lin Zhongzhen , Zhong Weihang , Zhu Zhaoxiang , Chen Yujie 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe optical coordinate transformation based on the ray model can flexibly and efficiently complete the manipulation of complex light fields through a pair of phase plates, and is successfully used to sort orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light. Generally, the phase modulation required by the optical coordinate transformation is derived analytically under the paraxial approximation, however, this would induce the phase modulation error, and thus worsen the quality of the transformed beam. Here, a non‐paraxial design for the spiral coordinate transformation is proposed, where the phase of the unwrapper is obtained by numerically solving the partial differential equations on the coordinate mapping and the phase corrector is obtained by the angular spectrum diffraction integral method. Due to more accurate phase modulation, the non‐paraxial spiral transformation effectively improves the beam quality, and realizes the demultiplexing of OAM modes with higher efficiency and lower cross‐talk. The proposed approach is verified with a compact metasurface‐based optical vortex mode sorter, which is extensible toward OAM‐based multi‐mode systems involving classical and quantum optical information processing.
Are asymptomatic carriers of OTC deficiency always asymptomatic? A multicentric retrospective study of risk using the UCDC longitudinal study database
Authors: Sen Kuntal , Izem Rima , Long Yuelin , Jiang Jiji , Konczal Laura L. , McCarter Robert J. ,   Members of the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC), Gropman Andrea L. , Bedoyan Jirair K. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundOrnithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) due to an X‐linked OTC mutation, is responsible for moderate to severe hyperammonemia (HA) with substantial morbidity and mortality. About 80% of females with OTCD remain apparently “asymptomatic” with limited studies of their clinical characteristics and long‐term health vulnerabilities. Multimodal neuroimaging studies and executive function testing have shown that asymptomatic females exhibit limitations when stressed to perform at higher cognitive load and had reduced activation of the prefrontal cortex. This retrospective study aims to improve understanding of factors that might predict development of defined complications and serious illness in apparent asymptomatic females. A proband and her daughter are presented to highlight the utility of multimodal neuroimaging studies and to underscore that asymptomatic females with OTCD are not always asymptomatic.MethodsWe review data from 302 heterozygote females with OTCD enrolled in the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC) longitudinal natural history database. We apply multiple neuroimaging modalities in the workup of a proband and her daughter.ResultsAmong the females in the database, 143 were noted as symptomatic at baseline (Sym). We focused on females who were asymptomatic (Asx, n = 111) and those who were asymptomatic initially upon enrollment in study but who later became symptomatic sometime during follow‐up (Asx/Sym, n = 22). The majority of Asx (86%) and Asx/Sym (75%) subjects did not restrict protein at baseline, and ~38% of Asx and 33% of Asx/Sym subjects suffered from mild to severe neuropsychiatric conditions such as mood disorder and sleep problems. The risk of mild to severe HA sometime later in life for the Asx and Asx/Sym subjects as a combined group was ~4% (5/133), with ammonia ranging from 77 to 470 μM and at least half (2/4) of subjects requiring hospital admission and nitrogen scavenger therapy. For this combined group, the median age of first HA crisis was 50 years, whereas the median age of first symptom which included neuropsychiatric and/or behavioral symptoms was 17 years. The multimodal neuroimaging studies in female heterozygotes with OTCD also underscore that asymptomatic female heterozygotes with OTCD (e.g., proband) are not always asymptomatic.ConclusionsAnalysis of Asx and Asx/Sym females with OTCD in this study suggests that future evidence‐based management guidelines and/or a clinical risk score calculator for this cohort could be useful management tools to reduce morbidity and improve long‐term quality of life.