bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interplay between natriuretic peptides and left atrial mechanics and the relation to recurrence of atrial fibrillation following catheter ablation
Authors: Olsen Flemming Javier , Darkner Stine , Goetze Jens Peter , Chen Xu , Henningsen Kristoffer , Pehrson Steen , Svendsen Jesper Hastrup , Biering-Sørensen Tor 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe relationship between natriuretic peptides and atrial distension is not fully understood. We sought to examine their interrelationship and how they relate to atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following catheter ablation. We analyzed patients enrolled in the AMIO-CAT trial (amiodarone vs. placebo for reducing AF recurrence). Echocardiography and natriuretic peptides were assessed at baseline. Natriuretic peptides included mid-regional proANP (MR-proANP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP). Atrial distension was assessed by left atrial strain measured by echocardiography. The endpoint was AF recurrence within 6 months after a 3-month blanking period. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between log-transformed natriuretic peptides and AF. Multivariable adjustments were made for age, gender, randomization, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Of 99 patients, 44 developed AF recurrence. No differences in natriuretic peptides nor echocardiography were observed between the outcome groups. In unadjusted analyses, neither MR-proANP nor NT-proBNP were significantly associated with AF recurrence [MR-proANP: OR = 1.06 (0.99–1.14), per 10% increase; NT-proBNP: OR = 1.01 (0.98–1.05), per 10% increase]. These findings were consistent after multivariable adjustments. However, atrial strain significantly modified the association between MR-proANP and AF (p for interaction = 0.009) such that MR-proANP was associated with AF in patients with high atrial strain [OR = 1.24 (1.06–1.46), p = 0.008, per 10% increase] but not in patients with low atrial strain. In patients with high atrial strain, an MR-proANP > 116 pmol/L posed a fivefold higher risk of AF recurrence [HR = 5.38 (2.19–13.22)]. Atrial natriuretic peptide predicts AF recurrence in patients with preserved atrial distension. Assessing atrial strain may assist the interpretation of natriuretic peptides.
Graphical abstract
Challenges of deep learning diagnosis for COVID-19 from chest imaging
Authors: Alaufi Rawan , Kalkatawi Manal , Abukhodair Felwa 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide for over 2 years now. The pandemic raises a significant threat to global health due to its transmissibility and high pathogenicity. The current standard detection method for COVID-19, namely, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), is slow and inaccurate to help fight the pandemic. RT–PCR takes hours to days to report a single test result and has a high false-negative rate. As a result, an infected person with a negative test result may unknowingly continue to spread the virus. Thus, better detection methods are required to improve the control of COVID-19. With technology advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, deep-learning diagnostic studies to detect COVID-19 infection using medical chest imaging have emerged. In this paper, we review these studies by analyzing their approaches and highlighting their major challenges. These challenges include dataset cleanness, public dataset availability, capability to differentiate COVID-19 from unrelated viral pneumonia, and the difficulty in dealing with images from multiple points of view. Finally, we discuss various ideas and solutions to address the highlighted challenges in the reviewed papers.
Unlabelled landmark matching via Bayesian data selection, and application to cell matching across imaging modalities
Authors: Forsyth Jessica E. , Al-Anbaki Ali H. , Plusa Berenika , Cotter Simon L. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWe consider the problem of landmark matching between two unlabelled point sets, in particular where the number of points in each cloud may differ, and where points in each cloud may not have a corresponding match. We invoke a Bayesian framework to identify the transformation of coordinates that maps one cloud to the other, alongside correspondence of the points. This problem necessitates a novel methodology for Bayesian data selection, simultaneous inference of model parameters, and selection of the data which leads to the best fit of the model to the majority of the data. We apply this to a problem in developmental biology where the landmarks correspond to segmented cell centres, where potential death or division of cells can lead to discrepancies between the point-sets from each image. We validate the efficacy of our approach using in silico tests and a microinjected fluorescent marker experiment. Subsequently we apply our approach to the matching of cells between real time imaging and immunostaining experiments, facilitating the combination of single-cell data between imaging modalities. Furthermore our approach to Bayesian data selection is broadly applicable across data science, and has the potential to change the way we think about fitting models to data.
Glossar zu Prozesszeiten und Kennzahlen im Herzkatheterlabor
Authors: Dörr Oliver , Schuster Martin , Gaede Luise , Ghanem Alexander , Schmitz Thomas , Hamm Christian 
Published: July 2023

ZusammenfassungDer demografische Wandel sowie innovative Fortschritte in der interventionellen Kardiologie führen zu Veränderungen in der Qualität der medizinischen Versorgung von Patienten mit kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen. Ein erfolgreiches Management von Herzkatheterlaboren kann hier eine effizienzorientierte Organisation der medizinischen Leistungsprozesse sowie ein belastbares Berichtswesen realisieren, wobei die Medizin und Ökonomie nicht im Widerspruch stehen müssen. Durch die Etablierung und Standardisierung von Prozessschritten können Prozesskennzahlen abgeleitet werden, die die Qualität der Versorgung von Patienten mit kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen verbessern sollen.
Inappropriate prescribing in geriatric rural primary care: impact on adverse outcomes and relevant risk factors in a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Tampaki Maria , Livada Alexandra , Fourka Maria-Niki , Lazaridou Elli , Kotsani Marina , Benetos Athanase , Sfikakis Petros P. , Kravvariti Evrydiki 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Several tools have revealed an association between potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and adverse outcomes, but the one most fitted for the rural population has not been determined.

Aims
We investigated the performance of the Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to the Right Treatment (START) in identifying inappropriate prescribing and its association with adverse outcomes among older rural primary health care users.

Methods
A cohort of consenting outpatients aged ≥ 65 years in a rural Greek primary care center was assessed for PIM and potential prescribing omissions (PPO) using the START/STOPP version 2 criteria. Medications, comorbidities, functional status, and laboratory data were recorded along with 6-month incidence of emergency department visits, hospitalization, and death prospectively.

Results
Among 104 participants (median age 78 years, 49.1% women, receiving a median of 6 drugs), PPO was found in 78% and PIMs in 61%. PIM was multivariately correlated with multimorbidity (p = 0.029) and polypharmacy (p < 0,001), while drug-PPO was only associated with multimorbidity (p = 0.039). The number of PIM predicted emergency department visits and hospitalizations at 6-month follow-up (p value 0.011), independent of age, sex, frailty, comorbidities, and total medication number.

Discussion
The START/STOPP tool is useful in identifying inappropriate prescribing patterns leading to increased utilization of acute care services in older adults followed at a rural primary care setting.

Conclusion
Inappropriate prescribing as identified by the START/STOPP criteria is prevalent among older adults with multimorbidity in rural primary care, and independently associated with future acute care visits.
On a Simple Sufficient Condition for the Uniform Starlikeness
Authors: Wiśniowska-Wajnryb Agnieszka 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to prove the theorem which generates many examples of functions belonging to a geometrically defined class of uniformly starlike functions introduced by Goodman in 1991. Only a very few explicit uniformly starlike functions were known until now. Next we obtain inclusion relations between some subclasses of convex functions and the class of uniformly starlike functions.
“What Are You Doing Here?”: Examining Minoritized Undergraduate Student Experiences in STEM at a Minority Serving Institution
Authors: Flores Glenda Marisol , Bañuelos Maricela , Harris Pheather R. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPrior research has demonstrated that women and racial minority undergraduate students experience stereotype threat in unwelcoming STEM classrooms in predominantly White institutions. Drawing from focus group and journal entry data with Latinx and African American undergraduate students (N = 52) majoring in a STEM field at an institution that holds both Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and AANAPISI designations in Southern California, we find that Latinx and Black undergraduate students narrate exclusion from faculty and peers in four main ways: (1) exclusionary STEM classroom culture fomented by faculty, (2) study group stereotype threat, (3) nuances in Black student undergraduate experiences, and (4) unaddressed gendered discrimination. We find that Latinx and African American undergraduates enrolled at a minority serving institution highlight that STEM faculty foment stereotype threat in their classroom culture, which trickles down to students and negatively impacts their ability to develop the necessary social capital networks with both faculty and peers to succeed.
„Sie würden dann fast übergriffig in der Nähe, die Sie herstellen“ – Pädagogische Beziehungen und der Lebensweltbezug
Authors: Leonhard Melanie 
Published: July 2023

ZusammenfassungPädagogische Beziehungen spielen in der Lehrpersonenbildung der Schweiz eine wichtige Rolle. Sie sind dort sowohl als Thema in Lehrveranstaltungen als auch in der interaktiven Gestaltung präsent.Im qualitativ-rekonstruktiven Beitrag wird untersucht, welche Positionen und Vorstellungen zur Gestaltung pädagogischer Beziehungen Studierenden in einer Lehrveranstaltung zum Sachunterricht nahegelegt werden, die u. a. den ‚Lebensweltbezug‘ thematisiert. Die Rekonstruktion zeigt eine Spannung zwischen der Thematisierung pädagogischer Beziehungen und der performativ realisierten Beziehung des Dozenten zu den Studierenden. Im Beitrag werden das methodische Vorgehen und die Rekonstruktion dargestellt, bevor die Ergebnisse in ihrer Bedeutung und ihren Limitationen diskutiert werden.
Multi-objective medical supplies distribution open vehicle routing problem with fairness and timeliness under major public health emergencies
Authors: Zheng Fanfan , Du Lijing , Li Xiaohuan , Zhang Jianna , Tian Bingwei , Jallad Ra’fat 
Published: July 2023

AbstractFair and timely delivery of supplies plays a critical role under major public health emergencies. In this paper, aiming at fairness and timeliness, an optimization model of open vehicle routing problem for medical supplies distribution is established considering the urgency of the demand. We adopt a differential evolutionary algorithm with fast non-dominated solution sorting to solve the proposed model, obtaining an approximate Pareto optimal solution set. Through the comparison of algorithms, the results showed that the differential evolutionary algorithm with non-dominated sorting is superior with a shorter runtime and more diverse solutions, while the epsilon constraint method has more accurate solutions. In the case verification, the quality of the solutions of both algorithms was within the acceptable range, but the runtime of the epsilon constraint method was too long to be applicable. The results can provide theoretical suggestions and practical guidance for decision-makers in emergency supplies distribution.
Assessment of health risks associated with contaminants in groundwater in the catchment area of selected dumpsites in Abuja north central Nigeria
Authors: Omali A. O. , Arogundade J. T. , Snow D. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe human health risk assessment associated with heavy metals contained in sources of drinking water within the catchment area of some dumpsites in FCT Abuja were carried out. Surface and groundwater samples collected within the catchment area of the selected dumpsites were subjected to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in order to obtain the required analytes for the assessment. Parameters like Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI) and Carcinogenic Risk Index (CR) that are needed for the assessment were computed. HQ and HI were computed for non-carcinogenic risk assessment while (CR) was computed for carcinogenic risk assessment. The estimated HI for adults via ingestion across all the investigated dumpsites, ranges from 2.38 to 11.6 which is considered unacceptable. The estimated HI value for adults via dermal absorption across all the investigated dumpsites, ranges from 0.026 to 0.07, which is interpreted to be acceptable. The estimated HI for children via ingestion across all the investigated dumpsites, ranges from 8.051 to 29.868, which is interpreted to be unacceptable. The estimated HI value for Children via dermal absorption across all the investigated dumpsites, ranges from 0.3820 to 1.237 in which about 80% are considered acceptable. The CR ranges from 0.0021 to 0.0109 and 0.004940 to 0.026 for adults and children respectively. This results according to USEPA indicate that both children and adults taking the investigated water via ingestion, are at high risk of contracting cancer.
A pilot study: Comparing a novel noninvasive measure of cerebrovascular stability index with an invasive measure of cerebral autoregulation in neonates with congenital heart disease
Authors: Merkel Carlin A. , Brady Kenneth M. , Votava-Smith Jodie K. , Tran Nhu N. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) may have impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA) associated with cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE). We conducted a pilot study in nine CHD neonates to validate a noninvasive CA measure, cerebrovascular stability index (CSI), by eliciting responses to postural tilts. We compared CSI to an invasive measure of CA and to FTOE collected during tilts (FTOESpot). FTOESpot correlated with CSI, as did the change in FTOE during tilts, but CSI’s correlation with impaired CA did not reach significance. Larger trials are indicated to validate CSI, allowing for noninvasive CA measurements and measurements in outpatient settings.
Preparing clinicians to be site investigators in multicenter clinical trials: A training program at an academic medical center
Authors: Loucks Tammy L. , Lee-Chavarria Diana , Harvey Jillian , Paranal Rechelle , Denmark Signe , Flume Patrick A. , Chimowitz Marc , Turan Tanya N. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Clinical trials are essential in the translation of biomedical discoveries to new clinical interventions and therapeutics. Successful multisite clinical trials require qualified site investigators with an understanding of the full spectrum of processes and requirements from trial identification through closeout. New site investigators may be deterred by competing demands on their time, the complexity of administrative and regulatory processes for trial initiation and conduct, and limited access to experienced mentor networks. We established a Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) and complimentary Clinical Trials Bootcamp at our institution to address these barriers and increase the number of local site investigators enabled to lead successful clinical trials. An initial cohort of four CTTP scholars received salary support with protected time, didactic training, assistance with study identification and start-up navigation, and quarterly progress meetings. By the end of the 12-month program, this initial cohort identified 33 new trials, utilized feasibility assessments, and reported being on target to sustain their protected time from new clinical trials. Bootcamp attendees demonstrated increased knowledge of resources, offices, and processes associated with clinical trial conduct. Our results support providing compensated protected time, training, and access to experienced clinical research professionals to enable clinicians to become successful site investigators.
On Epistemically Useful Physical Computation
Authors: Schmitz Timothy 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPiccinini’s usability constraint states that physical processes must have “physically constructible manifestation[s]” to be included in epistemically useful models of physical computation. But to determine what physical processes can be implemented in physical systems (as parts of computations), we must already know what physical processes can be implemented in physical systems (as parts of processes for constructing computing systems). We need additional assumptions about what qualifies as a building process. Piccinini implicitly assumes a classical computational understanding of executable processes, but this is an assumption imposed on physical theories and may artificially limit our picture of epistemically useful physical computation.
Cultural Racism and Ethnic Cleansing: The Islamic Republic of Iran and Minority Rights
Authors: Shams Said 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe phenomenon of “political Islam” has been explored in several social theories. These accounts have mainly concentrated on the forms of violence that Islamists have instigated, but the racist drive that is often embedded within political Islam has remined overlooked and unexplored, that is, at least until recently when the brutal crimes by ISIS against Yazidis and Christians in northern Iraq were widely documented and broadcasted. Even so, this tendency has only been attributed to ISIS and extreme Jihadi groups, while states infused with Islamist ideology have remained relatively untouched by such critical analyses.This article argues that most extant theoretical frameworks on political Islam do not adequately explain the often-latent racist trend in Islamist political ideology. By building off of Foucault's theory of biopolitics and genealogy of racism, it takes the Islamic Republic of Iran's policy against the Kurds as a case study to demonstrate how power shifts in favor of Islamist factions in early-1980s Iran legitimized a racist policy toward minorities in general and the Kurds in particular.
Association between consumption of sweeteners and endometrial cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Li Huiping , Zhang Yeyuan , He Yujing , Huang Jianing , Yao Jie , Zhuang Xieyan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to further investigate the relationship between sweetener exposure and the risk of endometrial cancer (EC). Up until December 2022, a literature search in an electronic database was carried out utilizing PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, and Scopus. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the results. Sweeteners were divided into nutritional sweeteners (generally refers to sugar, such as sucrose and glucose) and non-nutritional sweeteners (generally refers to artificial sweeteners, such saccharin and aspartame). Ten cohort studies and two case-control studies were eventually included. The study found that in 12 studies, compared with the non-exposed group, the incidence rate of EC in the sweetener exposed group was higher (OR = 1·15, 95 % CI = [1·07, 1·24]). Subgroup analysis showed that in 11 studies, the incidence rate of EC in the nutritional sweetener exposed group was higher than that in the non-exposed group (OR = 1·25, 95 % CI = [1·14, 1·38]). In 4 studies, there was no difference in the incidence rate of EC between individuals exposed to non-nutritional sweeteners and those who were not exposed to non-nutritional sweeteners (OR = 0·90, 95 % CI = [0·81, 1·01]). This study reported that the consumption of nutritional sweeteners may increase the risk of EC, whereas there was no significant relationship between the exposure of non-nutritional sweeteners and the incidence of EC. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to reduce the intake of nutritional sweeteners, but it is uncertain whether use of on-nutritional sweeteners instead of nutritional sweetener.
Does Party-System Fragmentation Affect the Quality of Democracy?
Authors: Valentim Vicente , Dinas Elias 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIs the quality of democracy undermined or enhanced by party-system fragmentation? Addressing this question would help us better assess normative claims about electoral reforms. Yet, doing so is difficult because of endogeneity issues: party systems are endogenous to many other dynamics in a polity. We overcome this problem by putting forward an instrument for the number of parties in a system, based on the level of fragmentation added by parties that narrowly make it to parliament. We then test the effect of party-system fragmentation on the quality of democracy, drawing upon an extensive battery of outcomes. Against previous literature, we find that a higher number of parties leads to more fractionalized governments, but has no impact on other democratic outcomes. Subsample analyses suggest that fragmentation may have some effect in contexts of very high polarization, but we find no effect in other theoretically meaningful subsamples. Our results indicate that party-system fragmentation may have fewer normative implications than previously assumed.
First record of a benthic ctenophore in the Mexican Atlantic:Vallicula multiformis(Platyctenida, Coeloplanidae)
Authors: Puente-Tapia Francisco Alejandro , Ortigosa Deneb , Vital Xochitl G. , Palomino-Alvarez Lilian Abigaid 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCtenophores are one of the least known invertebrate phyla in Mexico, especially the benthic forms in which studies are incomplete and infrequent, lacking information about their ecology and diversity. As part of the environmental monitoring project ‘Biodiversidad Marina de Yucatán’ conducted in the southern Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean Sea, the benthic ctenophoreVallicula multiformis(Coeloplanidae) was identified in association with green algae in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and on an autonomous reef monitoring structure in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. This finding represents the first record of the occurrence of a benthic ctenophore species in Mexican waters. We provide morphological characteristics ofV. multiformisin both reef areas. Recording this species increases the known number of Mexican ctenophore fauna from 33 to 34 taxa and represents baseline information for the continuous study of the ecology and diversity of benthic ctenophores in Mexico.