bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructural observations suggest that lipid material of lizard digital pads derives from degenerating cells in the inter‐scale region
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: January 2023

AbstractUltrastructural observations suggest that lipid material of lizard digital pads derives from degenerating cells in the inter‐scale region. Acta Zoologica (Stockholm). Production of epidermal lipids in lizards occurs in mesos‐ and alpha‐layers, including those present in gecko adhesive pads. Lipid material is present over the setae and spatulae of adhesive pads where adhesion takes place. Lipids are hypothesized to influence the process of adhesion keeping hydrophobic the spatula that contacts the substrate. The origin of lipids in pad lamellae that are lost as footsteps during gecko movements is unknown. To maintain setae lipid‐coated requires a large and continuous supply of lipids and the most likely source is an epidermal region rich in lipids. Ultrastructural observations show that lipid material is released from sloughed mesos and alpha‐cells in the inter‐scale region of the lamellae. It is hypothesized that lipids passively move from the hinge region and reach the outer lamella surface. Lipids may also derive from frictional damage of the thin alpha‐cells located in the hinge regions during pad extension for climbing or moving on the substrate. The discharged lipid material is likely pushed out from the hinge region by progressive accumulation of secreted material. The present hypothesis presents a simple model illustrating lipid movement from inter‐scale regions that coat the setae, contributing to the indicated influence of lipids on spatula adhesion.
Increased workload without clinical benefit: Results following implementation of the ACR‐TIRADS system for thyroid nodules
Authors: Bolland Mark J. , Grey Andrew 
Published: January 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe ACR‐TIRADS system for stratifying thyroid nodule malignancy risk has been widely promoted and implemented. We audited its introduction at a large public hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.DesignAudit of outcomes following thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration (FNA) before/after ACR‐TIRADS.PatientsIndividuals undergoing thyroid FNA 2017−2019.MeasurementsFrom medical records, we obtained details from the pre‐FNA ultrasound (nodule size, TIRADS points/levels, radiologist recommendation for FNA), Bethesda (B) cytology classification, histology and post‐FNA follow‐up.ResultsFour hundred and twenty‐two individuals had 564 FNAs, 163 had surgery and 54 (13%) had cancer in the primary nodule. 37/54 (69%) cancers were papillary thyroid carcinoma (median size 25 mm, 87% ≥10 mm, 61% ≥20 mm). Following ACR‐TIRADS introduction, FNA recommendations increased greater than twofold, FNAs performed by 71%−83%, and the monthly rate of FNAs and operations by 60% and 40%, respectively. However, the proportion of cancers/FNA remained similar (9.9% post‐TIRADS vs. 8.7% pre‐TIRADS). The proportions of FNA results remained stable for B2−B4 categories, but doubled (11% vs. 5%) for B5−B6: 15 FNAs were needed to identify an additional B5/B6 lesion. TIRADS‐5 nodules had a higher proportion of B5/B6 (20%) and a lower proportion of B2 (30%) than TIRADS‐3 (2%, 57%, respectively) and TIRADS‐4 (9%, 56%) nodules. About 5 additional cancers/year were diagnosed, but they were more often small (49% vs. 8% <2 cm, 17% vs. 0% <1 cm).ConclusionACR‐TIRADS introduction increased workload (FNAs and operations), without increasing the proportion of cancers/FNA. It led to a few more cancers being diagnosed, but many were small and of uncertain clinical significance.
Current landscape of kidney allocation: Organ procurement organization perspectives
Authors: Concepcion Beatrice P. , Harhay Meera , Ruterbories Jay , Finn Jan , Wiseman Alex , Cooper Matthew , Mohan Sumit , Doshi Mona D. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractOrgan procurement organizations (OPOs) play a central role in the recovery, preservation, and distribution of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation in the United States. We conducted a national survey to gather information on OPO practices and perceived barriers to efficient organ placement in the face of the new circle‐based allocation and asked for suggestions to overcome them. Of the 57 OPOs, 44 responded (77%). The majority of OPOs (61%) reported barriers to obtaining a kidney biopsy, including lack of an available pathologist. Most OPOs (55%) indicated barriers to pumping owing to a lack of available staff and transportation. Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the new allocation system has worsened transportation challenges (85%), increased provisional acceptances of kidneys (66%), increased communication challenges with transplant centers (68%), and worsened the efficiency of organ allocation (83%). OPO‐suggested solutions include making transplant centers more accountable for inefficient selection practices, developing reliable transportation options, and removing the requirement for national sharing. These findings underscore the need to examine closely the trade‐offs of the new allocation system with respect to costs, organ ischemia, and discard. These findings may help inform practice and policy for overcoming transportation barriers and improving the efficiency of organ placement.
Monitoring of mitral‐ and tricuspid valve interventions with CardioMEMS: Insights beyond imaging
Authors: Dannenberg Varius , Koschutnik Matthias , Donà Carolina , Nitsche Christian , Spinka Georg , Heitzinger Gregor , Mascherbauer Katharina , Kammerlander Andreas , Schneider‐Reigbert Matthias , Winter Max‐Paul , Bartko Philipp , Goliasch Georg , Hengstenberg Christian , Mascherbauer Julia , Gwechenberger Marianne 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundMitral‐ and tricuspid regurgitation are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and are increasingly treated interventionally. CardioMEMS is a transcutaneously implanted pressure sensor placed in the pulmonary artery that allows invasive measurement of pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac output.MethodsThis proof‐of‐concept study aimed to observe hemodynamic changes as determined by CardioMEMS after transcatheter atrioventricular valve interventions, assess the additional value of CardioMEMS on top of echocardiography, and investigate a potential effect of CardioMEMS on outcome. Patients treated with transcatheter mitral‐ or tricuspid valve interventions (mitral: TMVR, tricuspid: TTVR) or bicaval valve implantation (bi‐CAVI) were recruited. All patients were followed for 12 months.ResultsThirty‐six patients were included (4 with CardioMEMS, 32 controls). Patients with CardioMEMS were monitored prior to intervention and 3–12 months thereafter (one received TMVR, one bi‐CAVI, one both TMVR and TTVR, and one isolated TTVR). CardioMEMS group: In both patients with TMVR and in the patient with bi‐CAVI, mean pulmonary artery pressures decreased (all p < .001) and cardiac output increased significantly (both TMVR p < .001 and bi‐CAVI p = .006) while functional parameters, echocardiography, and NT‐proBNP were difficult to interpret, unreliable, or both. Changes after TTVR remained inconclusive.ConclusionInvasive monitoring using CardioMEMS provides important information after mitral‐ and tricuspid valve interventions. Such data pave the way for a deeper understanding of the prerequisites for optimal patient selection and management for catheter‐based interventions.
Effect of magnifying loupes on tooth preparation of complete coverage crown: A quantitative assessment using a digital approach
Authors: Murbay Sukhdeep , Neelakantan Prasanna , Li Kar Yan , Pow Edmond Ho Nang 
Published: January 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of magnifying loupes (×2.5) on the quality of tooth preparation for complete coverage crowns; performed by predoctoral students using an objective and quantitative digital method.Materials and MethodsForty‐two predoctoral students were randomly assigned into 2 groups to perform tooth preparation for a complete coverage crown on a mandibular first molar in a manikin, with and without the use of magnifying loupes. All preparations were digitally evaluated by PrepCheck 3.0 (Dentsply Sirona). Parameters including tooth reduction, total occlusal convergence (TOC), undercut, margin quality and surface quality were assessed. Continuous data were analysed using Paired t‐tests or Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests. Ordinal data were analysed by McNemer's tests. To further detect the majority pattern ( > 50%) in each group (with and without loupes), one‐sample t‐test or one‐sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was performed. The level of significance was set at p = .001 after Bonferroni adjustments for multiple testing.ResultsNo significant differences in the measured outcomes were found between the groups with or without the use of magnifying loupes (p > .002). The majority (>50%) of both groups had no undercuts (99.3% and 99.4% both p < .001) and the preparation type was within tolerance (81.6% and 85.3%, both p < .001) with acceptable margin (86.4% and 86.3%, both p < .001) and acceptable surface quality (99.0% and 99.1%, both p < .001). However, the majority of both groups underprepared occlusally (96.0% and 95.4%, both p < .001) and axially (65.3% and 67%, both p < .001). Only 30.0%–42.1% of the participants achieved the TOC within 0–20°.ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this study, the use of magnification loupes does not appear to significantly improve the quality of tooth preparation for complete coverage crown. The TOC was also found to be overprepared and occlusally underprepared.
Role of reflectance confocal microscopy for in vivo investigation of oral disorders: White, red and pigmented lesions
Authors: Franceschini Chiara , Mandel Victor Desmond , Peterson Gary , Manciocco Valentina , Guitera Pascale , Rajadhyaksha Milind , Ardigò Marco 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIn vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is poorly investigated in oral pathology due to the peculiar anatomical and topographical oral mucosa features. A dedicated handheld confocal microscope with an intra‐oral probe was developed for oral mucosa imaging. The main objective was to describe the healthy oral mucosa and the cytoarchitectural findings detectable in different oral disorders by means of the newly designed handheld confocal microscope. Secondary aim was to identify the main RCM criteria that differentiate oral lesions in order to provide algorithm for a rapid non‐invasive evaluation. This observational retrospective study included all consecutive patients with oral disorders and volunteers with healthy oral mucosa who underwent RCM examination in our outpatient clinic from September 2018 to December 2021. Three different investigators examined together the RCM images to detect the key features and secondary criteria for each type of oral lesion collected. The study population included 110 patients affected by oral lesions and seven volunteers with healthy oral mucosae. A total of 15 oral disorders were imaged and divided in three main groups: white, red and pigmented lesions. Key features and secondary criteria were identified for every single type of oral disease. RCM permits a cytoarchitectural evaluation of the oral mucosae affected by inflammatory, dysplastic and neoplastic diseases, thus orienting the clinicians towards non‐invasive diagnosis and enhancing the diagnostic management. The “tree diagrams” proposed allow a schematic and simplified view of confocal features for each type of oral disease, thus drastically reducing the diagnostic timing.
The Stable Low‐Conflict Index: A policy‐relevant outcome in government‐funded relationship education efforts
Authors: Stanley Scott M. , Barton Allen W. , Ritchie Lane L. , Allen Maggie O. T. , Rhoades Galena K. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractObjectiveWe posit that evaluators of relationship education interventions can explore a policy relevant outcome by assessing relationship stability and conflict in a single index that is based on the literature on the effects of divorce and marital distress on children. We provide an empirical example from a randomized trial.BackgroundThe U.S. Administration for Children and Families funds community‐based projects using relationship education with a foundational goal of fostering stable and healthy relationships. Assessing this outcome requires an approach different from separately analyzing stability and relationship quality.MethodWe used data (N = 1,156 couples) from a randomized trial of Family Expectations to test the Stable Low‐Conflict Index, comparing couples assigned to the intervention to couples assigned to an untreated control group at a follow‐up 8 to 9 months postintervention.ResultsIntervention couples were more likely to be in a stable, low‐conflict relationship at the follow up than control couples (b = .36, SE = .15, odds ratio = 1.44, p = .014).ConclusionAn index based on empirical precedence showed evidence of an intervention impact in a community‐based program.ImplicationsEvaluators of family policy linked interventions may advance the field by exploring outcomes that encapsulate aspects of both relationship stability and quality.
Effects of Soil Type and Thermal Boundary on Predicting Temperature Profiles and Groundwater Fluxes
Authors: Chang Chia‐Hao , Lin Ying‐Fan , Shiau Yo‐Jin , Tsai Yi‐Zhih , Tsai Jui‐Pin 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIn the last few years, several articles have studied heat as a groundwater tracer and developed analytical geothermal solutions to predict the subsurface temperature and groundwater fluxes. These solutions can be sorted into steady‐state and transient solutions. The steady‐state solutions cannot describe the time‐varying subsurface temperature, while the transient solutions ignore subsurface thermal boundary effects. Moreover, soil type may be another crucial factor significantly affecting the prediction results. This study compares six existing classical analytical solutions to examine the effects of soil types and subsurface thermal boundaries on simulating temperature‐depth profiles and estimating groundwater fluxes. Several synthetic cases are built by considering the common soil types, sand and clay, to demonstrate their effects on predicting the profiles. A field case is used to show the effect of subsurface thermal boundaries on the groundwater flux estimated by an inverse approach. The study results indicate that the soil types have significant influences on simulating the profiles, and the influences grow with time. Some existing solutions may give inaccurate estimations of the field groundwater flux since they merely consider the heat source from the temperature variations on the ground surface but ignore possible thermal boundary effects in the subsurface. These findings will be valuable to those applying heat as a tracer to investigate infiltration.
Sodium hyaluronates applied in the face affects the diversity of skin microbiota in healthy people
Authors: He Chen , Yue YingXue , Li Ruilong , Huang Yiping , Shu Luan , Lv Huixia , Wang Jing , Zhang Zhenhai 
Published: January 2023

AbstractObjectiveA healthy and stable microbiome has many beneficial effects on the host, while an unbalanced or disordered microbiome can lead to various skin diseases. Hyaluronic acid is widely used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries; however, specific reports on its effect on the skin microflora of healthy people have not been published. This study aimed to determine the effect of sodium hyaluronate on the facial microflora of healthy individuals.MethodsFace of 20 healthy female volunteers between 18 and 24 years was smeared with sodium hyaluronate solution once per day. Cotton swabs were used to retrieve samples on days 0, 14, and 28, and high‐throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA was used to determine the changes in bacterial community composition.ResultsFacial application of HA can reduce the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as Cutibacterium and S. aureus, and increase the colonization of beneficial bacteria.ConclusionThis is the first intuitive report to demonstrate the effect of hyaluronic acid on facial microflora in healthy people. Accordingly, sodium hyaluronate was found to have a positive effect on facial skin health.
Factors that affect the outcomes of root canal treatment and retreatment—A reframing of the principles
Authors: Gulabivala Kishor , Ng Yuan Ling 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis paper undertakes a broad and comprehensive synthesis of relevant clinical, biological, biomechanical, technical and healthcare services data to understand the factors affecting outcomes of periapical healing after root canal (re)treatment. The medical and dental evidence‐based era (1980–present) is contextualized with the earlier evidence drive in endodontics (1911–1940) triggered by the focal infection era. The current evidence‐based approach has a sharper focus on evidence quality and derivation of practice guidelines. Contrary views question whether guideline‐driven, or expertise‐development‐driven endeavours would best serve outcome improvement in society. The endodontic discipline functions in a broad healthcare framework and sustains industrial, economic and trend pressures that may be deemed to influence outcomes. The nature of root canal treatment and the challenges in determining the factors that affect its outcomes is discussed. The factors potentially affecting periapical healing after root canal treatment are classified into pre‐operative, intra‐operative and postoperative groups. These categories subsume multiple elements with interactive influences, creating a complex picture, further confounded by some apparently surprising, counter‐intuitive and contradictory findings. The technical versus biological conundrum in root canal treatment continues to cause cognitive dissonance. However, due reflection and cross‐discipline‐synthesis resolve the apparent data conflicts into a very simple, consistent and plausible picture of how root canal treatment works and the key factors that affect periapical healing. Root canal retreatment is considered mainly in the context of its differences from primary treatment as the majority of factors influencing outcomes are common to both. The exceptional difference is that retreatments have a proportionately reduced probability of healing by virtue of compromised apical root canal ramification access or modified host/infection interactions. Root canal (re)treatment outcomes are dominantly influenced by the nature of prior dynamic host/infection interaction (pre‐operative patient factors) and how the direction of this dynamic is influenced by two factors: (1) the active efficacy of the operators' root canal treatment protocol to sustain a microbial ecological shift (intra‐operative treatment factors) and dampen periapical inflammation; and (2) the passive ability of the functional tooth (and its restoration margin) to maintain its integrity to resist infection reversal (postoperative restorative factors).
YSZ/Ni double‐shell powder via surface electroless deposition tuned by an active kinetic model
Authors: Yan Kang , Meijun Liu , Lin Chen , Guanjun Yang 
Published: January 2023

AbstractYttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder with surface Ni plating has promising application in many fields due to its large surface area, low density and excellent high temperature performance. In this study, YSZ/Ni double‐shell powder was fabricated via electroless deposition method, and an active surface kinetic model was developed to tune the surface area and nuclei loading quantitatively. A novel concept, active surface ratio (ASR, the ratio of active deposition surface area to projected area of ceramic powder), is proposed to intrinsically correlate deposition rate with nuclei topology on ceramic surface. The intrinsic relationship between microstructure of metallized ceramic surface and deposition duration was clarified. The active surface kinetic model reveals the correlation between the ASR and instantaneous deposition rate and provides necessary theoretical basis for effective control of ceramic surface modification process by electroless deposition.
Dimensions of emigration policy: An indexing exercise for polities across three regions
Authors: Pedroza Luicy , Palop‐García Pau 
Published: January 2023

AbstractSpecialized indices of immigration, immigrant integration policies, and citizenship policies are expanding the confines of our knowledge in the field of comparative migration policies. Emigration policies, however, have garnered less attention. We address this gap in the literature, by using a new data set to create an index that measures contemporary emigration regulations of 32 polities across three regions in the world (Asia, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean). Based on this exploratory exercise, we examine the assumptions about emigration controls and policies being a matter of the past or belonging to non‐democratic regimes. We find that emigration policies go beyond the mere regulation of the right to exit. Different components across a continuum from restriction to encouragement of emigration suggest different rationales and purposes of states, even if the hardest forms of emigration control, such as exit bans are absent in the studied sample.
Clinical and economic burden of benign and malignant skin lesions in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Thet Zaw , Lam Alfred K. , Pham Tony , Ng Shu‐Kay , Steel Jason C. , Sawhney Sirena , Arellano Carolina T. , Aung Soe Yu , Han Thin , Ranganathan Dwarakanathan , John George , Pepito Christina , Rautenberg Tamlyn , Khoo Tien K. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundStudies evaluating the economic burden of dermatological care in the transplant setting are currently not available in Australia.AimsTo evaluate the clinical and economic burden of benign and malignant skin lesions in renal transplant recipients in Central Queensland.MethodsA bottom‐up approach was used to determine the clinical burden and direct costs from patient‐level Medicare data obtained from Service Australia for skin lesions.ResultsSeventy‐six percent of the renal transplant population in Central Queensland participated in this study. The median age was 57.0 years (standard deviation ± 13.6) and the majority (61.8%) of participants were men. The mean duration after transplant surgery was 99.9 months (interquartile range, 73.2–126.6 months). During a 2‐year follow‐up, 22 (40%) patients were diagnosed with benign skin lesions, 21 (38%) with nonmelanoma skin carcinoma (NMSC) and one (2%) with melanoma. There was a total of 231 visits to clinicians for diagnostic and therapeutic skin procedures and the direct costs to Medicare was $48 806 Australian Dollars (AUD) or $30 427 US Dollars (USD). Approximately 86% of the total direct costs was spent for nonNMSC and mean direct costs for NMSC was $763 AUD (or $476 USD).ConclusionThis Medicare data‐based study provides further insight into the burgeoning clinical and economic burden of the care for benign and malignant skin lesions in the renal transplantation setting in Australia.