bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Procedural performance and outcome after pulsed field ablation for pulmonary vein isolation: comparison with a reference radiofrequency database
Authors: De Becker Benjamin , El Haddad Milad , De Smet Maarten , François Clara , Tavernier Rene , le Polain de Waroux Jean-Benoit , Knecht Sébastien , Duytschaever Mattias 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a promising ablation technique for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with appealing advantages over radiofrequency (RF) including speed, tissue selectivity, and the promise of enhanced durability. In this study, we determine the procedural performance, efficacy, safety, and durability of PFA and compare its performance with a dataset of optimized RF ablation.

Methods and results
After propensity score matching, we compared 161 patients who received optimized RF-guided PVI in the PowerPlus study (CLOSE protocol) with 161 patients undergoing PFA-guided PVI for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF; pentaspline basket catheter). The median age was 65 years with 78% paroxysmal AF in the PFA group (comparable characteristics in the RF group). Pulsed field ablation–guided PVI was obtained in all patients with a procedure time of 47 min (vs. 71 min in RF, P &lt; 0.0001) and a fluoroscopy time of 15 min (vs. 11 min in RF, P &lt; 0.0001). One serious adverse event [transient ischaemic attack] occurred in a patient with thrombocytosis (0.6 vs. 0% in RF). During the 6-month follow-up, 24 and 27 patients experienced a recurrence with 20 and 11 repeat procedures in the PFA and the RF groups, respectively (P = 0.6 and 0.09). High-density mapping revealed a status of 4 isolated veins in 7/20 patients in the PFA group and in 2/11 patients in the RF group (35 vs. 18%, P = 0.3).

Conclusion
Pulsed field ablation fulfils the promise of offering a short and safe PVI procedure, even when compared with optimized RF in experienced hands. Pulmonary vein reconnection is the dominant cause of recurrence and tempers the expectation of a high durability rate with PFA.
The feasibility of population screening for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using hand-held electrocardiogram devices
Authors: Mant Jonathan , Modi Rakesh N , Charlton Peter , Dymond Andrew , Massou Efthalia , Brimicombe James , Freedman Ben , Griffin Simon J , Hobbs F D Richard , Lip Gregory Y H , McManus Richard J , Williams Kate 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
There are few data on the feasibility of population screening for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) using hand-held electrocardiogram (ECG) devices outside a specialist setting or in people over the age of 75. We investigated the feasibility of screening when conducted without face-to-face contact (‘remote’) or via in-person appointments in primary care and explored impact of age on screening outcomes.

Methods and results
People aged ≥65 years from 13 general practices in England participated in screening during 2019–20. This involved attending a practice nurse appointment (10 practices) or receiving an ECG device by post (three practices). Participants were asked to use a hand-held ECG for 1–4 weeks. Screening outcomes included uptake, quality of ECGs, AF detection rates, and uptake of anticoagulation if AF was detected. Screening was carried out by 2141 (87.5%) of people invited to practice nurse-led screening and by 288 (90.0%) invited to remote screening. At least 56 interpretable ECGs were provided by 98.0% of participants who participated for 3 weeks, with no significant differences by setting or age, except people aged 85 or over (91.1%). Overall, 2.6% (64/2429) screened participants had AF, with detection rising with age (9.2% in people aged 85 or over). A total of 53/64 (82.8%) people with AF commenced anticoagulation. Uptake of anticoagulation did not vary by age.

Conclusion
Population screening for paroxysmal AF is feasible in general practice and without face-to-face contact for all ages over 64 years, including people aged 85 and over.
Relatedness coefficients and their applications for triplets and quartets of genetic markers
Authors: Ritland Kermit 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Relatedness coefficients which seek the identity-by-descent of genetic markers are described. The markers are in groups of two, three or four, and if four, can consist of two pairs. It is essential to use cumulants (not moments) for four-marker-gene probabilities, as the covariance of homozygosity, used in four-marker applications, can only be described with cumulants. A covariance of homozygosity between pairs of markers arises when populations follow a mixture distribution. Also, the probability of four markers all identical-by-descent equals the normalized fourth cumulant. In this article, a “genetic marker” generally represents either a gene locus or an allele at a locus. Applications of three marker coefficients mainly involve conditional regression, and applications of four marker coefficients can involve identity disequilibrium. Estimation of relatedness using genetic marker data is discussed. However, three- and four-marker estimators suffer from statistical and numerical problems, including higher statistical variance, complexity of estimation formula, and singularity at some intermediate allele frequencies.
Linkage mapping of root shape traits in two carrot populations
Authors: Vega Andrey , Brainard Scott H , Goldman Irwin L 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This study investigated the genetic basis of carrot root shape traits using composite interval mapping in two biparental populations (n = 119 and n = 128). The roots of carrot F2:3 progenies were grown over 2 years and analyzed using a digital imaging pipeline to extract root phenotypes that compose market class. Broad-sense heritability on an entry-mean basis ranged from 0.46 to 0.80 for root traits. Reproducible quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified on chromosomes 2 and 6 on both populations. Colocalization of QTLs for phenotypically correlated root traits was also observed and coincided with previously identified QTLs in published association and linkage mapping studies. Individual QTLs explained between 14 and 27% of total phenotypic variance across traits, while four QTLs for length-to-width ratio collectively accounted for up to 73% of variation. Predicted genes associated with the OFP-TRM (OVATE Family Proteins—TONNEAU1 Recruiting Motif) and IQD (IQ67 domain) pathway were identified within QTL support intervals. This observation raises the possibility of extending the current regulon model of fruit shape to include carrot storage roots. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms through which this pathway operates in roots characterized by secondary growth originating from cambium layers remain unknown.
Prediction of immunocyte infiltration and prognosis in postoperative hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Song Chenyu , Huang Mengqi , Zhou Xiaoqi , Chen Yuying , Li Zhoulei , Tang Mimi , Chen Meicheng , Peng Zhenpeng , Feng Shiting 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
The immune microenvironment (IME) is closely associated with prognosis and therapeutic response of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables non-invasive assessment of IME and predicts prognosis in HBV-HCC. We aimed to construct an MRI prediction model of the immunocyte-infiltration subtypes and explore its prognostic significance.

Methods
HBV-HCC patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China) with radical surgery (between 1 October and 30 December 2021) were prospectively enrolled. Patients with pathologically proven HCC (between 1 December 2013 and 30 October 2019) were retrospectively enrolled. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the immunocyte-infiltration counts and MRI parameters. An MRI prediction model of immunocyte-infiltration subtypes was constructed in prospective cohort. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to analyse its prognostic significance in the retrospective cohort.

Results
Twenty-four patients were prospectively enrolled to construct the MRI prediction model. Eighty-nine patients were retrospectively enrolled to determine its prognostic significance. MRI parameters (relative enhancement, ratio of the apparent diffusion coefficient value of tumoral region to peritumoral region [rADC], T1 value) correlated significantly with the immunocyte-infiltration counts (leukocytes, T help cells, PD1+Tc cells, B lymphocytes). rADC differed significantly between high and low immunocyte-infiltration groups (1.47 ± 0.36 vs 1.09 ± 0.25, P = 0.009). The area under the curve of the MRI model was 0.787 (95% confidence interval 0.587–0.987). Based on the MRI model, the recurrence-free time was longer in the high immunocyte-infiltration group than in the low immunocyte-infiltration group (P = 0.026).

Conclusions
MRI is a non-invasive method for assessing the IME and immunocyte-infiltration subtypes, and predicting prognosis in post-operative HBV-HCC patients.
Surprise billing in intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations
Authors: Kannan Sneha , Song Zirui 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Intensive care unit (ICU) care is expensive for patients and providers, and utilization and spending on ICU resources have increased. The No Surprises Act, passed in 2022, specifically prohibits balance billing by ICU specialists (intensivists) for emergency and most non-emergency care. The potential economic impact of this remains unclear, given few data exist on the magnitude of balance billing in the ICU. Using the MarketScan Commercial (IBM) database, we studied hospitalizations in which ICU care was provided (“ICU hospitalizations”) between 2010 and 2019. Hospitalizations were characterized as fully in-network, fully out-of-network, or “mixed” (contained both in- and out-of-network services). The share of “mixed” hospitalizations among all ICU hospitalizations rose from 26% to 33% over the study period. Over half of these mixed hospitalizations contained out-of-network services specifically delivered within the ICU. Total hospitalization spending averaged $81 047, with ICU spending averaging $15 799. On average, 11% of ICU spending within these hospitalizations was out-of-network. Patients were plausibly balance-billed in approximately one-third of ICU hospitalizations, for thousands of dollars per hospitalization. Given that the No Surprises Act prevents this type of balance billing, the portended revenue loss may lead to changes in provider negotiations with insurers concerning network status and prices, which could affect the care patients receive.
Association of licensure and relationship requirement waivers with out-of-state tele-mental health care, 2019–2021
Authors: Koumpias Antonios M , Fleming Owen , Lin Lewei Allison 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states waived in-state licensure and pre-existing patient–physician relationship requirements to increase access to care. We exploit this state telehealth policy variation to estimate the association of in-state licensure requirement waivers and pre-existing patient–physician relationship requirement waivers with out-of-state tele-mental health care utilization of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Using claims from January 2019 until December 2021 of 2 037 977 commercially insured individuals in 3 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) straddling Midwestern state borders, we found increased out-of-state telehealth utilization as a share of out-of-state mental health care by 0.1411 and 0.0575 visits per month or 1679.76% and 467.48% after licensure and relationship waivers, respectively. Within-MSA analyses illustrate an urban–rural digital divide in out-of-state utilization as a share of total or telehealth mental health care. Our findings indicate waivers primarily enhance access to care of established patients by enabling the transition of in-person out-of-state health care online. Interstate medical licensure compact participation may provide broader access to out-of-state tele-mental health care than emergency waivers.
Sea-ice melt determines seasonal phytoplankton dynamics and delimits the habitat of temperate Atlantic taxa as the Arctic Ocean atlantifies
Authors: Oldenburg Ellen , Popa Ovidiu , Wietz Matthias , von Appen Wilken-Jon , Torres-Valdes Sinhue , Bienhold Christina , Ebenhöh Oliver , Metfies Katja 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The Arctic Ocean is one of the regions where anthropogenic environmental change is progressing most rapidly and drastically. The impact of rising temperatures and decreasing sea ice on Arctic marine microbial communities is yet not well understood. Microbes form the basis of food webs in the Arctic Ocean, providing energy for larger organisms. Previous studies have shown that Atlantic taxa associated with low light are robust to more polar conditions. We compared to which extent sea ice melt influences light-associated phytoplankton dynamics and biodiversity over two years at two mooring locations in the Fram Strait. One mooring is deployed in pure Atlantic water, and the second in the intermittently ice-covered Marginal Ice Zone. Time-series analysis of amplicon sequence variants abundance over a 2-year period, allowed us to identify communities of co-occurring taxa that exhibit similar patterns throughout the annual cycle. We then examined how alterations in environmental conditions affect the prevalence of species. During high abundance periods of diatoms, polar phytoplankton populations dominated, while temperate taxa were weakly represented. Furthermore, we found that polar pelagic and ice-associated taxa, such as Fragilariopsis cylindrus and Melosira arctica, were more common in Atlantic conditions, while temperate taxa, such as Odontella aurita and Proboscia alata, were less abundant under polar conditions. This suggests that sea ice melt may act as a barrier to the northward expansion of temperate phytoplankton, preventing their dominance in regions still strongly influenced by polar conditions. Our findings highlight the complex interactions between sea ice melt, phytoplankton dynamics, and biodiversity in the Arctic.
A polyphasic molecular approach to characterize a collection of grapevine endophytic bacteria with bioprotective potential
Authors: Bertazzoli Giulia , Nerva Luca , Chitarra Walter , Fracchetti Fabio , Campedelli Ilenia , Moffa Loredana , Sandrini Marco , Nardi Tiziana 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
The work presented here was conducted to characterize the biodiversity of a collection of bacterial isolates, mainly wood endophytes, as part of a research project focused on exploring their bioprotective potential for postharvest biological control of fruits.

Methods and results
This work was the basis for the development of a tailored method combining 16S rDNA sequencing and Rep-PCR to differentiate the isolates and identify them to genus level or below. More than one hundred isolates obtained from wood and roots of different grapevine genotypes were cultured on appropriate growth media and then subjected to the specified multistep molecular identification.

Conclusions
We have obtained good dereplication for grapevine-endophytic bacteria, together with reliable genetic identification. Both are essential prerequisites to properly characterize a biome bank and, at the same time, beneficial prerequisites to subsequently perform a correct bioprotection assessment.
Early prediction of end-stage kidney disease using electronic health record data: a machine learning approach with a 2-year horizon
Authors: Petousis Panayiotis , Wilson James M , Gelvezon Alex V , Alam Shafiul , Jain Ankur , Prichard Laura , Elashoff David A , Raja Naveen , Bui Alex A T 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objectives
In the United States, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is responsible for high mortality and significant healthcare costs, with the number of cases sharply increasing in the past 2 decades. In this study, we aimed to reduce these impacts by developing an ESKD model for predicting its occurrence in a 2-year period.

Materials and Methods
We developed a machine learning (ML) pipeline to test different models for the prediction of ESKD. The electronic health record was used to capture several kidney disease-related variables. Various imputation methods, feature selection, and sampling approaches were tested. We compared the performance of multiple ML models using area under the ROC curve (AUCROC), area under the Precision-Recall curve (PR-AUC), and Brier scores for discrimination, precision, and calibration, respectively. Explainability methods were applied to the final model.

Results
Our best model was a gradient-boosting machine with feature selection and imputation methods as additional components. The model exhibited an AUCROC of 0.97, a PR-AUC of 0.33, and a Brier score of 0.002 on a holdout test set. A chart review analysis by expert physicians indicated clinical utility.

Discussion and Conclusion
An ESKD prediction model can identify individuals at risk for ESKD and has been successfully deployed within our health system.
Statute of limitations rules in patent infringement litigation in China
Authors: Song Defeng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This article examines the statute of limitations applicable to patent infringement actions in China, highlighting open questions that will require legislative and judicial clarification over the coming years. In 2020, the fourth amendment to the Chinese Patent Law introduced a 3-year limitation period, resolving the pre-existing discrepancy with the Civil Code. However, several issues remain open to interpretation and in need of further clarification. These include the commencement of the limitation period, proof of actual or constructive knowledge of the infringement and of the identity of the infringer(s) and the applicable statute of limitations for acts of infringement occurred before the 2020 amendment.
Retroperitoneal sarcoma: a 10-year follow-up analysis using hospital-based cancer registry data in Japan
Authors: Nitta Satoshi , Kandori Shuya , Takahashi Reo , Suzuki Shuhei , Hamada Kazuki , Tanuma Kozaburo , Shiga Masanobu , Kojo Kosuke , Sakka Shotaro , Nagumo Yoshiyuki , Hoshi Akio , Mathis Bryan J , Negoro Hiromitsu , Okuyama Ayako , Higashi Takahiro , Nishiyama Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objectives
We sought clinical characteristics, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors for overall survival of retroperitoneal sarcoma in Japan.

Methods
A Japanese hospital-based cancer registry database with a pivotal 10-year follow-up was used to identify and enroll patients, registered from 106 institutions, diagnosed with retroperitoneal sarcoma in 2008–2009. Treating hospitals were divided by hospital care volume; high-volume hospitals and low-volume hospitals were defined as ≥ 4 and &lt; 4 cases/year, respectively.

Results
A total of 91 men and 97 women were included, with a median age of 64 years. The most common histological type was liposarcoma in 101 patients, followed by leiomyosarcoma in 38 patients. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 44.1 and 28.3%. The majority of patients (n = 152, 80.9%) were treated at low-volume hospitals. High-volume hospital patients had higher 10-year overall survival rates than low-volume hospital patients (51.2% vs 23.2%, P = 0.026). Multivariate analysis revealed age over 60 years, treatment in low-volume hospitals and chemotherapy were independent predictors of unfavorable survival while treatment with surgery was an independent predictor of favorable survival.

Conclusions
The possibility of surgical removal was suggested to be the most important prognostic factor for retroperitoneal sarcoma. Better survival was shown in patients treated at high-volume hospitals in our series.
Development of an integrated high-voltage electron microscope–gas chromatograph–quadrupole mass spectrometer system for the operando analysis of catalytic gas reactions
Authors: Tang Longshu , Higuchi Tetsuo , Arai Shigeo , Tanaka Hiromochi , Muto Shunsuke 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This paper describes the development of a gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry system attached to a differential-pumping-type environmental cell of the reaction science high-voltage electron microscopy instrument at Nagoya University to distinguish unambiguously between different gas species with the same mass-to-charge ratio. Several model experiments were used to verify the efficacy of the newly proposed system, confirming its ability to analyse the atomic-level structural changes during heterogeneous catalysts and the associated gas-reaction kinetics simultaneously, providing new insights into operando measurements in the field of environmental transmission electron microscopy.
Graphical Abstract
Assessing racial, ethnic, and nativity disparities in US cancer mortality using a new integrated platform
Authors: Yu Mandi , Liu Lihua , Gibson James (Todd) , Campbell Dave , Liu Qinran , Scoppa Steve , Feuer Eric J , Pinheiro Paulo S 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Foreign-born populations in the United States have markedly increased, yet cancer trends remain unexplored. Survey-based Population-Adjusted Rate Calculator (SPARC) is a new tool for evaluating nativity differences in cancer mortality.

Methods
Using SPARC, we calculated 3-year (2016-2018) age-adjusted mortality rates and rate ratios for common cancers by sex, age group, race and ethnicity, and nativity. Trends by nativity were examined for the first time for 2006-2018. Traditional cancer statistics draw populations from decennial censuses. However, nativity-stratified populations are from the American Community Surveys, thus involve sampling errors. To rectify this, SPARC employed bias-corrected estimators. Death counts came from the National Vital Statistics System.

Results
Age-adjusted mortality rates were higher among US-born populations across nearly all cancer types, with the largest US-born, foreign-born difference observed in lung cancer among Black women (rate ratio = 3.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.37 to 4.00). The well-documented White–Black differences in breast cancer mortality existed mainly among US-born women. For all cancers combined, descending trends were more accelerated for US-born compared with foreign-born individuals in all race and ethnicity groups with changes ranging from –2.6% per year in US-born Black men to stable (statistically nonsignificant) among foreign-born Black women. Pancreas and liver cancers were exceptions with increasing, stable, or decreasing trends depending on nativity and race and ethnicity. Notably, foreign-born Black men and foreign-born Hispanic men did not show a favorable decline in colorectal cancer mortality.

Conclusions
Although all groups show beneficial cancer mortality trends, those with higher rates in 2006 have experienced sharper declines. Persistent disparities between US-born and foreign-born individuals, especially among Black people, necessitate further investigation.