bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Same but different. Incidental and symptomatic lower grade gliomas show differences in molecular features and survival
Authors: Demetz Matthias , Krigers Aleksandrs , Moser Patrizia , Kerschbaumer Johannes , Thomé Claudius , Freyschlag Christian F. 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Data on differences in overall survival and molecular characteristics between incidental (iLGG) and symptomatic lower grade Glioma (sLGG) are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between patients with iLGG and sLGG.

Methods
All adult patients with a histologically proven diffuse (WHO°II) or anaplastic (WHO°III) glioma who underwent their first surgery at the authors’ institution between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Tumor volume on pre- and postoperative MRI scans was determined. Clinical and routine neuropathological data were gained from patients’ charts. If IDH1, ATRX and EGFR were not routinely assessed, they were re-determined.

Results
Out of 161 patients included, 23 (14%) were diagnosed as incidental findings. Main reasons for obtaining MRI were: headache(n = 12), trauma(n = 2), MRI indicated by other departments(n = 7), staging examination for cancer(n = 1), volunteering for MRI sequence testing(n = 1). The asymptomatic patients were significantly younger with a median age of 38 years (IqR28-48) vs. 50 years (IqR38-61), p = 0.011. Incidental LGG showed significantly lower preoperative tumor volumes in T1 CE (p = 0.008), FLAIR (p = 0.038) and DWI (p = 0.028). Incidental LGG demonstrated significantly lower incidence of anaplasia (p = 0.004) and lower expression of MIB-1 (p = 0.008) compared to sLGG. IDH1-mutation was significantly more common in iLGG (p = 0.024). Incidental LGG showed a significantly longer OS (mean 212 vs. 70 months, p = 0.005) and PFS (mean 201 vs. 61 months, p = 0.001) compared to sLGG.

Conclusion
Our study is the first to depict a significant difference in molecular characteristics between iLGG and sLGG. The findings of this study confirmed and extended the results of previous studies showing a better outcome and more favorable radiological, volumetric and neuropathological features of iLGG.
Opportunities and conditions to learn (OCL): A conceptual framework
Authors: Perry Laura B. , Thier Michael , Beach Paul , Anderson Ross C. , Thoennessen Niklas-Max , Roberts Philip 
Published: April 2023

Abstract“Opportunity to learn” has evolved into an umbrella phrase for describing a large range of settings, resources, structures, and processes. The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual framework that can accommodate a wide range of opportunities to learn, not just those provided by teachers in classrooms. An inclusive framework can bring together diverse studies about opportunity to learn, increasing synergies and uncovering interconnections, and making more visible marginalized forms of learning. It can also be used as a framework for holding governments, education authorities, and policy makers accountable for providing equitable opportunities and conditions to learn. This article presents a three-dimensional conceptual framework of opportunities and conditions to learn (OCL) that captures (a) notions of what opportunities exist and where those opportunities exist and opportunities offered by whom, as well as (b) a spate of conditions that can shape those opportunities.
Using web archives for an explorative study of the web presence of German parties during the European election 2019
Authors: Ertel Florence , Donig Simon , Eckl Markus , Gassner Sebastian , Göler Daniel , Rehbein Malte 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn the digital age, political science is faced with a shift of election campaigns and political discourse to digital or virtual arenas. Because the internet is a highly volatile medium and online content can become inaccessible after the campaign season, new challenges for research arise as well as the need for the preservation of online content. Moreover, the sheer volume of data researchers have to deal with has reached levels where traditional methods are being highly challenged. This paper puts forth a web harvesting workflow with a strong focus on granular extraction of unstructured information (publication dates) for automated analysis. As our approach is methodological, we would like to point out the benefits that researches in political science may draw from adapting our methodology. We demonstrate this by analysing an event-based web crawl of German parties participating in the election campaign for the European Parliamentary Election in 2019. We employ distant reading methods to generate topic models, which are subsequently evaluated by hermeneutic analysis of a subset of the data.
Fundamentals, real-time uncertainty and CDS index spreads
Authors: Audzeyeva Alena , Wang Xu 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe high level of economic uncertainty linked to the pace of the recovery process can persist after a crisis and has implications for the market pricing of firms’ credit risk reflected in credit default swap (CDS) spreads. This paper examines the role of key proxies for the economic state and its real-time uncertainty in determining Northern American CDX index spreads. Focusing on the recovery period following the 2007–2009 global financial crisis, we find that measures of economic output, employment, inflation, and economic uncertainty, all significantly influence CDX spreads, beyond the impact of conventional determinants. Furthermore, our results provide evidence that the sensitivity of investment-grade and high-yield CDX differs across economic aspects. Moreover, our out-of-sample predictive analysis identifies indicators and uncertainty measures with significant predictive content for quarter-ahead CDX spreads. Taken together, our findings indicate that academic modelers and practitioners employing more accurate representations of the macroeconomy in CDS modeling and analysis can improve upon the models that rely solely on the typically employed economic output variables or on broad data aggregation.
A Defense and Development of the Volitional Self-Contradiction Interpretation
Authors: Kleingeld Pauline 
Published: April 2023

AbstractKant’s Formula of Universal Law (FUL) is generally believed to require you to act only on the basis of maxims that you can will without contradiction to become universal laws. In “Contradiction and Kant’s Formula of Universal Law” (2017), I have proposed to read the FUL instead as requiring that, for any maxim on which you act, you can will two things simultaneously, without volitional self-contradiction: (1) willing the maxim as your own action principle and (2) willing that it become a universal law. In the present essay, I reply to comments by Mark Timmons, Michael Walschots, Paola Romero, and Stefano Lo Re. In response to their comments concerning the application of the FUL, I expand the interpretive framework of the Volitional Self-Contradiction Interpretation. I argue that Kant also constructs the diagnostic volitional self-contradiction as a contradiction between (1) willing a tested maxim to become a universal law and (2) willing what humans, qua finite rational beings, necessarily will, namely the means to their actual and possible future ends. I also clarify how the two ways in which Kant specifies the test are related. Furthermore, I clarify the relation between the Volitional Self-Contradiction interpretation and other interpretations of the FUL, in particular the ‘Practical Contradiction’ and ‘Logical Contradiction’ interpretations, as well as its difference from the Golden Rule. I also address the objection that the volitional self-contradiction is superfluous, clarify the relation between the Formula of Universal Law and the Formula of the Law of Nature, and explain why the will of an immoral agent does not contain a volitional self-contradiction of the type at issue.
Von Real-World-Daten zur Real-World-Evidenz: eine praktische Anleitung
Authors: Schneeweiss Sebastian 
Published: April 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Die Real World Evidence (RWE) liefert Erkenntnisse über die Wirksamkeit von Behandlungen im klinischen Versorgungsalltag auf Basis von patientenindividuellen Längsschnittdaten, die im Routinebetrieb des Gesundheitssystems anfallen und ergänzt Erkenntnisse aus randomisierten kontrollierten Studien.

Fragestellung
Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, aufzuzeigen, wie robuste und handlungsrelevante RWE generiert werden.

Material und Methode
Bewährte Methoden wurden in einem umfassenden und dennoch prägnanten Überblick zusammengefasst.

Ergebnisse
Die Durchführung von RWE-Studien folgt einem strukturierten Ansatz: (1) Die Designebene verbindet die Forschungsfrage mit dem geeigneten Studiendesign, (2) die Messebene wandelt den longitudinalen Datenstrom auf Patientenebene in Variablen um, der die Studienpopulation, die Patientenmerkmale vor der Exposition, die Behandlung und die Ergebnisse identifiziert, und (3) eine Analyseebene konzentriert sich auf die Schätzung der kausalen Behandlungseffekte.

Schlussfolgerung
Sorgfältig geplante und durchgeführte RWE-Studien ergänzen den Erkenntnisgewinn von randomisierten Studien.
Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease Following Acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 Based on South Carolina Statewide Data
Authors: Mathew Roy O. , Zhang Jiajia , Yang Xueying , Chen Shujie , Olatosi Bankole , Li Xiaoming 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with severe acute illness including multiple organ failure. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a common finding, often requiring dialysis support.

Objective
Define the incidence of new clinically identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with COVID-19 and no pre-existing kidney disease.

Design Participants
The South Carolina (SC) Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) COVID-19 mandatory reporting registry of SC residents testing for COVID-19 between March 2020 and October 2021 was included.

Design Main Measures
The primary outcome was a new incidence of a CKD diagnosis (N18.x) in those without a pre-existing diagnosis of CKD during the follow-up period of March 2020 to January 14, 2022. Patients were stratified by severity of illness (hospitalized or not, intensive care unit needed or not). The new incidence of CKD diagnosis was examined using logistic regression and cox proportional hazards analyses.

Key Results
Among patients with COVID-19 (N = 683,958) without a pre-existing CKD diagnosis, 8322 (1.2 %) were found to have a new diagnosis of CKD. The strongest predictors for subsequent CKD diagnosis were age ≥ 60 years hazard ratio (HR) 31.5 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 25.5–38.8), and intervening (between COVID-19 and CKD diagnoses) AKI diagnosis HR 20.7 (95%CI 19.7–21.7). The presence of AKI was associated with an HR of 23.6, 95% CI 22.3–25.0, among those not hospitalized, and HR of 6.2, 95% CI 5.7–6.8 among those hospitalized, for subsequent CKD. COVID-19 was not significantly associated with subsequent CKD after accounting for the severity of illness and comorbidities.

Conclusion
Among SC residents, COVID-19 was not associated with CKD independent from indicators of the severity of illness, especially AKI diagnosis. Kidney-specific follow-up testing may be reserved for those high-risk for CKD development. Further prospective registries should examine the long-term kidney consequences to confirm these findings.
The Effects of Democratic and Nondemocratic Institutions on CO2 Emissions
Authors: Escher Romy , Walter-Rogg Melanie 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDemocratic institutions that coordinate diffuse interests might be beneficial for climate protection. Because the implementation of democratic institutions varies among democracies as well as among autocracies, this study examines whether institutional aspects of different models of democracy affect CO2emissions in democraciesandautocracies. Similar studies have assumed uniform effects of democratic aspects in regimes of both types. The extent of the dependence of autocratic leaders on the support of the ruling party, the military, and/or a hereditary council might make them less responsive to incentives generated by democratic institutions to reduce CO2emissions. This article, therefore, examines data on CO2emissions from 1990 to 2020 in 66 democracies and 69 autocracies separately and analyses whether nondemocratic institutions limit the effects of democratic institutions. As democratic institutions might affect climate outcomes only in the long term, we examine cross-national variation in the long-term development of CO2emissions and short-term changes in CO2emissions within countries. In democracies, civil society participation and social equality contribute to a decrease in the long-term development of CO2emissions. In autocracies, local and regional democracy contributes to lower CO2emissions in the long term, and social equality decreases annual changes in CO2emissions. Military influence limits these effects. In contrast, the dependence of the executive on a ruling party strengthens the negative effect of social equality on annual changes in CO2emissions.
The Clinical Value of Rodent Models in Understanding Preeclampsia Development and Progression
Authors: Ramdin Sapna , Baijnath Sooraj , Naicker Thajasvarie , Govender Nalini 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPurpose of ReviewPreeclampsia (PE) is a leading global cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The heterogeneity of this disorder contributes to its elusive etiology. Due to the ethical constraints surrounding human studies, animal models provide a suitable alternative for investigation into PE pathogenesis and novel therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this review is to compare and contrast the various rodent models used to study PE, in order to demonstrate their value in investigating and identifying different characteristics of this disorder.Recent FindingsSeveral approaches have been employed to create an appropriate animal model of PE, including surgical, genetic manipulation, and pharmacological methods in an attempt to mimic the maternal syndrome. Despite the absence of a model to completely model PE, these models have provided valuable information concerning various aspects of PE pathogenesis and novel therapeutic strategies and have led to the discovery of potential predictive markers of PE.SummaryRodent and murine models have contributed significantly to the study of the pathology associated with specific aspects of the disorder. As a single fully encompassing animal model of PE remains absent, the use of a combination of models has potential value in understanding its etiology as well as in new treatment and management strategies.
Exploring the Causal Relationship Between Telomere Biology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kuan Xi-Yuen , Fauzi Nurul Syahira Ahmad , Ng Khuen Yen , Bakhtiar Athirah 
Published: April 2023

Abstract Telomeres, also known as the “protective caps” of our chromosomes, shorten with each cell cycle due to the end replication problem. This process, termed telomere attrition, is associated with many age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite the numerous studies conducted in this field, the role of telomere attrition in the onset of the disease remains unclear. To investigate the causal relationship between short telomeres and AD, this review aims to highlight the primary factors that regulate telomere length and maintain its integrity, with an additional outlook on the role of oxidative stress, which is commonly associated with aging and molecular damage. Although some findings thus far might be contradictory, telomere attrition likely plays a crucial role in the progression of AD due to its close association with oxidative stress. The currently available treatments for AD are only symptomatic without affecting the progression of the disease. The components of telomere biology discussed in this paper have previously been studied as an alternative treatment option for several diseases and have exhibited promising in vitro and in vivo results. Hence, this should provide a basis for future research to develop a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.Graphical Abstract(Created with BioRender.com)
Assessment of land suitability for irrigation in West Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Tolera Abera Misgana , Haile Mesfin Mamo , Merga Tadesse Fufa , Feyisa Gemta Abdisa 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe assessment of land suitability is the key to sustained agricultural output. Thus, the study aimed to assess the land suitability for irrigation development in the West Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A GIS-based analytical hierarchy process was applied to evaluate a multi-criteria land suitability analysis. The key factors such as soil (depth, drainage, texture, pH, organic carbon, available water content, and salinity), slope, land use/cover, proximity to the river, proximity to the road, proximity to urban areas, and rainfall deficit were considered. These factors were reclassified, weighted, and then overlaid using the weighted overlay tool of ArcGIS software. The study classified the agricultural lands in the area from highly suitable to permanently unsuitable for irrigation to determine the suitability of the classes. The results showed that 10.27% (1419.87 km2) was highly suitable, 73.23% (10,128.97 km2) was moderately suitable, 16.34% (2259.95 km2) was marginally suitable, and 0.16% (22.16 km2) was not suitable. The area in all woredas was mainly moderately suitable for irrigation. However, Metarobi had the most highly suitable land, followed by Elfata with the most moderately suitable land, and Abuna Gindeberet with the most marginally suitable land. The results revealed huge potential for irrigation development in the West Shewa zone. As a result, it can serve as the basis for zonal-level planning and future irrigation development. Therefore, the study helps to improve the community’s lifestyle in the study area by increasing agricultural production.
Seismic Hazard Analysis of China’s Mainland Based on a New Seismicity Model
Authors: Xu Weijin , Wu Jian , Gao Mengtan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBased on the seismic source model in the Fifth Generation Seismic Ground Motion Parameters Zonation Map of China (FGSGMPZMC), a new seismic fault model, the new zonation of seismic risk areas (SRAs), and the estimation of seismicity rates for 2021–2030, this study constructed a new time-dependent seismic source model of China’s mainland, and used the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis method to calculate seismic hazard by selecting the ground motion models (GMMs) suitable for seismic sources in China. It also provided the probabilities of China’s mainland being affected by earthquakes of modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) VI, VII, VIII, IX, and ≥ X in 2021–2030. The spatial pattern of seismic hazards presented in this article is similar to the pattern of the FGSGMPZMC, but shows more details. The seismic hazards in this study are higher than those in the FGSGMPZMC in the SRAs and fault zones that can produce large earthquakes. This indicates that the seismic source model construction in this study is scientific and reasonable. There are certain similarities between the results in this study and those of Rong et al. (2020) and Feng et al. (2020), but also disparities for specific sites due to differences in seismic source models, seismicity parameters, and GMMs. The results of seismic hazard may serve as parameter input for future seismic risk assessments. The hazard results can also be used as a basis for the formulation of earthquake prevention and mitigation policies for China’s mainland.
Conceptualizing Business Process Standardization: A Review and Synthesis
Authors: Goel Kanika , Bandara Wasana , Gable Guy 
Published: April 2023

Abstract‘Business Process Standardization’ (BPS) is a practice intended to achieve consistency across underlying organizational processes, in support of service-delivery excellence and optimization of costs and benefits. Given the growing importance of BPS, there is need in both research and practice for clearer conceptual understanding of the notion. Following a systematic literature review approach, prior work on Business Process Standardization is synthesized and extended using tool-supported qualitative data analysis techniques, to derive an evidence-based, holistic conceptualization of BPS. We distil seven stages of BPS execution, propose a refined definition for BPS, and identify measures that gauge the several conceptual themes of BPS. The findings provide solid theoretical foundations, and practicable guidelines for future BPS researchers and practitioners.
Excavation pits—progress estimation and cause of delay identification
Authors: Vierling Axel , Groll Tobias , Meckel Dennis , Heim Kristina , Walter Daniel , Körkemeyer Dr. Karsten , Berns Dr. Karsten 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThis work presents a method for automated excavation speed and progress estimation. First, a measure for the progress speed of an excavation pit is taken from the literature and evaluated regarding the possibility of automation. For each possible parameter, an automated extraction algorithm is presented. The used system is an autonomous excavator arm of a backhoe loader where the used hardware and software system is described. An experimental evaluation of the presented approach has been done with the autonomous system for a small trench, including multiple digging cycles. The resulting measurements seem to include some systematic errors which could be identified and suitable sanity checks could be implemented, removing the erroneous measurements. The remaining measurements were used to determine the excavation speed of the autonomous excavator arm and compared to the values of experienced and amateur operators. The resulting speed and the relevant parameters are then sent to a web application called “DiBa” to notice a potential delay. If a measurement is smaller or larger than expected a fault identification is done in the DiBa.