bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Five-year-outcome of new-onset perioperative atrial fibrillation after left atrial appendage amputation concomitant with cardiac surgery
Authors: Gerçek Mustafa , Börgermann Jochen , Gummert Jan , Gerçek Muhammed 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Recent data demonstrated the benefit of left atrial appendage (LAA)-amputation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the long-term impact of LAA-amputation for patients with new-onset perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is still unknown.

Methods
Patients with no history of AF undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting by off-pump technique (OPCAB) between 2014 and 2016 were retrospectively examined. Cohorts were divided by the concomitant execution of LAA-amputation. Propensity score (PS) matching was applied by all available baseline characteristics. The composite of all-cause mortality, stroke and rehospitalization in patients with POAF and patients maintaining sinus rhythm posed as the primary endpoint.

Results
A total of 1522 patients were enrolled, of whom 1208 and 243 were included in the control and the LAA-amputation group, respectively and were matched to 243 patients in each group. In total, patients with POAF without LAA-amputation showed a significantly higher rate of the composite endpoint (17.3% vs 32.1%, p = 0.007). However, patients with LAA-amputation showed no significant difference in the composite endpoint (23.2% vs 26.7%, p = 0.57). The significantly higher occurrence of the composite endpoint was driven by all-cause mortality (p = 0.005) and rehospitalization (p = 0.029). Subgroup analysis revealed a CHA2DS2-VASc-score of ≥ 3 to be associated with the high rate of the primary endpoint (p = 0.004).

Conclusion
POAF is associated with a higher rate of the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, stroke and rehospitalization. The composite endpoint in patients with LAA-amputation concomitant with OPCAB surgery developing new-onset POAF in a 5-year follow-up was not increased compared to a control cohort maintaining sinus rhythm.

Graphical abstract
Five-year outcome of patients with POAF and LAA-amputation; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval, CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ECLS, extracorporeal life support, HR, hazard ratio, IABP, intra-aortic balloon pump, LAA, left atrial appendage, OPCAB, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, PAPs, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, SR, sinus rhythm, VT, ventricular tachycardia.
Metals and metalloids in high-altitude Pyrenean lakes: sources and distribution in pre-industrial and modern sediments
Authors: Rodriguez-Iruretagoiena Azibar , Gredilla Ainara , de Vallejuelo Silvia Fdez-Ortiz , Arana Gorka , Meaurio Maite , Madariaga Juan Manuel , Auguet Jean Christophe , González Aridane González , Pokrovsky Oleg S. , Camarero Luis , de Diego Alberto 
Published: July 2023

AbstractHigh-altitude Pyrenean lakes are ecosystems far from local pollution sources, and thus they are particularly sensitive to the atmospheric deposition of metals and metalloids. This study aims to quantify the effect of human activity in 18 lakes located in both side of the France–Spain frontier. Sediment cores were collected in summer 2013, sampled at a 1cm resolution and the concentration of 24 elements was measured by ICP-MS. Statistic and chemometric analysis of the results highlights the influence of the geographical position and lithogenic features of each lake basin on trapping pollutants. More than the 80% of the lakes showed values of enrichment factor (EF) above 2 for at least one of the elements investigated in at least one core interval, which corroborates the existence of historical anthropogenic inputs of elements in the studied area. The results demonstrate the natural origin of As and Ti in Pyrenees, together with the significant anthropogenic inputs of Cd, Pb, Sb and Sn from ancient times. The data set points mining activities as the main historical source of pollution and illustrate the large impact of the industrial revolution. The regional variability could reflect also differential long-range transport, followed by dry or wet deposition.
The role of foreign direct investments, urbanization, productivity, and energy consumption in Finland’s carbon emissions: an ARDL approach
Authors: Georgescu Irina , Kinnunen Jani 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of productivity, energy consumption, foreign direct investments, and urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) in Finland during 2000–2020 using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. The results show that (i) there is evidence of cointegration among variables; (ii) energy consumption has a positive effect on CO2 emissions in the long run; (iii) labor productivity and urbanization have a negative effect on CO2 emissions in the long run; (iv) foreign direct investments are not a significant explainer of CO2 emissions. The results are discussed with some policy implications and suggested future research.
Current approaches to secondary prevention after hip fracture in England and Wales — an analysis of trends between 2016 and 2020 using the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD)
Authors: Mohsin Zaineb , Javaid M. Kassim , Johansen Antony 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Summary
Hip fractures are strong risk factors for further fractures. However, using the National Hip Fracture Database, we observed that in England and Wales, 64% of patients admitted on oral bisphosphonates were discharged on the same and injectable drug use varies from 0–67% and 0.2%-83.6% were deemed “inappropriate” for bone protection. This variability requires further investigation.

Introduction
A key aim for the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) is to encourage secondary fracture prevention of the 75,000 patients who break their hip annually in the UK, through bone health assessment and appropriate provision of anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM). We set out to describe trends in anti-osteoporosis medication prescription and examine the types of oral and injectable AOMs being prescribed both before and after a hip fracture.

Methods
We used data freely available from the NHFD www.nhfd.co.uk to analyse trends in oral and injectable AOM prescription across a quarter of a million patients presenting between 2016 and 2020, and more detailed information on the individual type of AOM prescribed for 63,705 patients from 171 hospitals in England and Wales who presented in 2020.

Results
Most patients (88.3%) are not taking any AOM when they present with a hip fracture. Half of all patients (50.8%) were prescribed AOM treatment by the time of discharge, but the proportion deemed ‘inappropriate for AOM’ varied hugely (0.2–83.6%) in different hospitals. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of those previously taking an oral bisphosphonate were simply discharged on the same type of medication. The total number of patients discharged on oral medication fell by over a quarter in these five years. The number discharged on injectables increased by nearly three-quarters to 14.2% over the same period, but remains hugely variable across the country, with rates ranging from 0–67% across different units.

Conclusion
A recent hip fracture is a strong risk factor for future fractures. The huge variability in approaches, and in particular the use of injectables, in different trauma units across England and Wales requires further investigation.
Reworking Geometric Morphometrics into a Methodology of Transformation Grids
Authors: Bookstein Fred L. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractToday’s typical application of geometric morphometrics to a quantitative comparison of organismal anatomies begins by standardizing samples of homologously labelled point configurations for location, orientation, and scale, and then renders the ensuing comparisons graphically by thin-plate spline as applied to group averages, principal components, regression predictions, or canonical variates. The scale-standardization step has recently come under criticism as unnecessary and indeed inappropriate, at least for growth studies. This essay argues for a similar rethinking of the centering and rotation, and then the replacement of the thin-plate spline interpolant of the resulting configurations by a different strategy that leaves unexplained residuals at every landmark individually in order to simplify the interpretation of the displayed grid as a whole, the “transformation grid” that has been highlighted as the true underlying topic ever since D’Arcy Thompson’s celebrated exposition of 1917. For analyses of comparisons involving gradients at large geometric scale, this paper argues for replacement of all three of the Procrustes conventions by a version of my two-point registration of 1986 [originally Galton’s of 1907 (Nature 76:617–618, 1907)]. The choice of the two points interacts with another non-Procrustes concern, interpretability of the grid lines of a coordinate system deformed according to a fitted polynomial trend rather than an interpolating thin-plate spline. The paper works two examples using previously published midsagittal cranial data; there result new findings pertinent to the interpretation of both of these classic data sets. A concluding discussion suggests that the current toolkit of geometric morphometrics, centered on Procrustes shape coordinates and thin-plate splines, is too restricted to suit many of the interpretive purposes of evolutionary and developmental biology.
Unintended consequences of state action: how the kingpin strategy transformed the structure of violence in Mexico’s organized crime
Authors: Velasco Oscar Contreras 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis paper builds on social network analysis and structural balance theory to analyze, with a novel approach, some of the unintended consequences of Mexico’s kingpin strategy on the network of criminal organizations. I use data on violent conflicts between Mexico’s criminal organizations, between 2004 and 2020, from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), and a combination of statistics, social network analysis, GIS, and archival methods to understand the patterns and geography of violent conflicts and alliances before and after the war on drugs. The goal of this paper is threefold: first, to show that the kingpin strategy is associated with the fragmentation of criminal organizations in Mexico; second, to show that criminal organizations developed a set of structurally balanced arrangements before the government waged a war against them and that the kingpin strategy disrupted such arrangements, which led to an increase in the number of violent conflicts; third, I will argue that the fragmentation of criminal organizations also produced a process of clustering of violence, where sets of organizations started fighting each other in specific regions of the country, increasing the levels of violence in those geographical spaces.
Implications of environmental constraints in hydropower scheduling for a power system with limited grid and reserve capacity
Authors: Schäffer Linn Emelie , Korpås Magnus , Bakken Tor Haakon 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe negative impacts of power systems on biodiversity have to be mitigated, while simultaneously ensuring affordable and secure electricity supply for the future. This may lead to trade-off situations where ecological, recreational or social needs are weighted against the need for flexible power supply. This paper explores the interaction between the security of electricity supply and environmental constraints on the operation of flexible hydropower plants in the Norwegian renewable-based power system. A long-term, stochastic scheduling model of a wind- and hydropower-dominated power system is used to assess the implications of environmental constraints and reserve capacity requirements in combination. The model is used for a representative case study where three types of environmental constraints are imposed on the operation of the hydropower plants in a region of the congested Norwegian power system. In addition, requirements for spinning and non-spinning reserve capacity have to be met. The case study results demonstrate varying impacts on the operation of the hydropower plants, curtailment of demand and provision of reserve capacity depending on the type of environmental constraint being imposed.
Financial Literacy, Financial Innovation, and Financial Inclusion as Mitigating Factors of the Adverse Effect of Corruption on Banking Stability Indicators
Authors: Jungo João , Madaleno Mara , Botelho Anabela 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to examine the ability of financial literacy, financial innovation, and financial inclusion to mitigate the adverse effect of corruption on banks’ credit risk, profitability, and financial stability, with this joint inclusion being the novelty explored. Furthermore, we aim to compare the results across four different groups of countries, namely African, Asian, American, and European countries. The Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) estimation results indicate that corruption increases credit risk, reducing profitability and bank stability, being these effects mitigated by financial literacy, financial innovation, and financial inclusion. Furthermore, we find that financial literacy, financial innovation, and financial inclusion reduce credit risk while increasing bank profitability and stability. These results enable policymakers and managers to promote inclusion, innovation, and financial literacy to achieve banking sector stability while combating corruption.
Category Mistakes Electrified
Authors: Mankowitz Poppy 
Published: July 2023

AbstractOccurrences of sentences that are traditionally considered category mistakes, such as ‘The red number is divisible by three’, tend to elicit a sense of oddness in assessors. In attempting to explain this oddness, existing accounts in the philosophical literature commonly claim that occurrences of such sentences are associated with a defect or phenomenology unique to the class of category mistakes. It might be thought that recent work in experimental psycholinguistics—in particular, the recording of event-related brain potentials (patterns of voltage variation in the brain)—holds the potential to shed new light on this debate. I review the relevant experimental results, before arguing that they present advocates of accounts of category mistakes with a dilemma: either the uniqueness claims should be rejected, or the experimental technique in question cannot be used to test existing accounts of category mistakes in the manner that philosophers might hope.
Bioethanol production from Eucalyptus grandis using novel low-cost nutrient supplements in fermentation
Authors: Vancov T. , Palmer J. , Keen B. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe conversion of Eucalyptus biomass to ethanol via fermentation is beset with challenges including efficient sugar utilisation, the presence of inhibitors, expensive nutrients, and low yields. To address some of these challenges, this study evaluated Thermosacc Dry® and GSF335 xylose recombinant yeast in fermentations using acid pretreated Eucalyptus grandis fibre and hydrolysates. These fermentations were supplemented with novel and low-cost nutrients. Contrary to previous reports, the inclusion of trace metals in saccharification and hydrolysis fermentations of whole slurries did not eliminate the inhibitory effects of acetic acid. Elevated levels of xylitol and acetic acid suggested a redirection of carbon flux to redress redox imbalances in both yeast types. Using GSF335 propagated in xylose-enriched liquors, and Nutri-Plex Plus™, diammonium phosphate, or crude dried spent yeast as nitrogen sources, saccharification and hydrolysis fermentations produced ethanol yields ranging from 141.4 to 145.6 kg t−1 dry weight E.grandis. Inclusion of yeast hulls and trace metals in simultaneous saccharification and fermentations yielded 175.6 kg ethanol t−1 dry weight E.grandis, corresponding to a 64.4% conversion efficiency. Results from this study support the use of novel low-cost waste by-products as nutrient supplements in bioethanol production from Eucalyptus biomass. Furthermore, they have implications for the production of bioethanol from other lignocellulosic materials and warrant further investigation.
Assessing economic sustainability of mining in Kazakhstan
Authors: Atakhanova Zauresh , Azhibay Seribolat 
Published: July 2023

AbstractKazakhstan is a leading producer of uranium and chromium and has significant reserves of critical raw materials. We assess economic sustainability of Kazakhstan’s mining, focusing on its labor productivity, a key factor in counteracting the effects of resource depletion and increasing costs. We find that during 2000–2021, labor productivity continued improving in mining of non-ferrous metals and industrial minerals. Our firm-level analysis demonstrates that domestic non-ferrous mining firms were able to achieve productivity level comparable to that of modern mining industries. They reduced energy intensity, increased efficiency of processing plants, and accessed higher-quality reserves. In addition, managerial innovations, engaging with the workforce, and introduction of advanced technologies were prominent in analyzed firms. However, following a period of rapid growth during the early 2000s, productivity stagnated in Kazakhstan’s coal mining while it decreased in iron ore mining. We relate such performance to iron ore depletion from underinvestment in exploration. In coal mining, stagnating productivity reflects this sector’s protected status and substantial fossil fuel subsidies.
Effect of water salinity on properties of multipass underwater wet manual metal arc welded joints
Authors: Tomków Jacek , Fydrych Dariusz , Łabanowski Jerzy 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe weldability of steel under the water is limited due to the influence of the environment. Water causes limited visibility, presence of the residual stresses, increasing the cooling rate, and increasing the diffusible hydrogen content in deposited metal, leading to the formation of brittle microstructures in heat-affected zone (HAZ). The paper presents the results of mechanical properties testing of S420G2+M steel welded joints made with covered electrodes in the water with salinity values: 0‰, 7.5‰, and 35‰. The non-destructive tests: ultrasonic (UT) and radiographic (RT), and destructive tests: Vickers HV10 measurements, Charpy impact, and bending and metallographic macro- and microscopic tests were performed. Moreover, the diffusible hydrogen content in deposited metal by the mercury method was measured. It was observed that water salinity has an influence on the stability of the welding arc and the properties of joints. In particular, it was found that increasing the water salinity provides to: decreasing the hardness of HAZ (from 211 HV10 to 193 HV10), increasing the impact strength (from 82.5 to 101.3 J/cm2). Additionally, a slight increase in the diffusible hydrogen content in deposited metal (up to 65 ml/100g) was observed. The number of microcracks in the joints decreased with increasing the water salinity.
Relevance of sonographic parameters for inflammatory bowel disease in children
Authors: Dell’Era Alessandra , Cannatelli Rosanna , Ferretti Francesca , Manzotti Cristina , Dilillo Dario , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Meneghin Fabio , Ardizzone Sandro , Maconi Giovanni 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is widely used as the first exam in patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the accuracy of several IUS parameters, including increased bowel wall thickening (BWT), in detecting IBD in a paediatric population.

Methods
The study included an unselected series of 113 patients aged 2–18 years (mean age 10.8 years, 65 male), referred for recurrent abdominal pain or altered bowel habits, without known organic diseases, to perform an IUS as first investigation of a diagnostic workup. Patients with full systematic IUS examination, clinical and biochemical exams, and ileocolonoscopy or an uneventful follow-up at least one year follow up were eligible.

Results
23 IBD patients (20.4%; 8 ulcerative colitis, 12 Crohn’s disease and 3 indeterminate colitis) were diagnosed. We found that increased BWT > 3 mm (OR 5.4), altered IUS bowel pattern (IUS-BP, OR 9.8) and mesenteric hypertrophy (MH, OR 5.2) accurately identified IBD at the multivariate analysis. IUS-BP, MH and BWT > 3 mm had a sensitivity of 78.3%, 65.2% and 69.6% and a specificity of 93.3%, 92.2% and 96.7%, respectively. The combination of these three alterations increased the specificity up to 100%, whilst decreased sensitivity to 56.5%.

Conclusion
Among several US parameters suggestive of IBD, the increased BWT, MH and altered echopattern are independent predictors of IBD. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of IBD could be more accurate if relied on combination of different sonographic parameters, than on the sole BWT evaluation.
"Three-in-One" Multi-Scale Structural Design of Carbon Fiber-Based Composites for Personal Electromagnetic Protection and Thermal Management
Authors: Zhou Ming , Tan Shujuan , Wang Jingwen , Wu Yue , Liang Leilei , Ji Guangbin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWearable devices with efficient thermal management and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are highly desirable for improving human comfort and safety. Herein, a multifunctional wearable carbon fibers (CF) @ polyaniline (PANI) / silver nanowires (Ag NWs) composites with a “branch-trunk” interlocked micro/nanostructure were achieved through "three-in-one" multi-scale design. The reasonable assembly of the three kinds of one-dimensional (1D) materials can fully exert their excellent properties i.e., the superior flexibility of CF, the robustness of PANI, and the splendid conductivity of AgNWs. Consequently, the constructed flexible composite demonstrates enhanced mechanical properties with a tensile stress of 1.2 MPa, which was almost 6 times that of the original material. This is mainly attributed to the fact that the PNAI (branch) was firmly attached to the CF (trunk) through polydopamine (PDA), forming a robust interlocked structure. Meanwhile, the composite possesses excellent thermal insulation and heat preservation capacity owing to the synergistically low thermal conductivity and emissivity. More importantly, the conductive path of the composite established by the three 1D materials greatly improved its EMI shielding property and Joule heating performance at low applied voltage. This work paves the way for rational utilization of the intrinsic properties of 1D materials, as well as provides a promising strategy for designing wearable electromagnetic protection and thermal energy management devices.
Metal powder feedstock evaluation and management for powder bed fusion: a review of literature, standards, and practical guidelines
Authors: Gibbons Duncan W. , Govender Preyin , van der Merwe Andre F. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMetal powders are key to metal additive manufacturing technologies such as powder bed fusion. These powder feedstocks experience a range of forces and physical phenomena both during the powder bed fusion process and additional post-processing stages that can alter their composition and material properties. To evaluate such effects, these powders need to be characterized, tested, and analyzed at critical stages of their lifecycles. This paper provides a review of the current state of the art for powder evaluation methods and their applicability for powder bed fusion production. Methods are categorized by the properties they evaluate, either particulate or bulk properties. Industry standards are identified for each method if applicable and the advantages and disadvantages of each are defined. Effects of these properties on the flowability and spreadability of powders are synthesized and practical management guidelines are defined. This paper aims at providing an overview of powder evaluation for powder bed fusion, practical considerations for the development of powder test and evaluation programs, and provide insights for future research undertakings in the field.