bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Semitendinosus tendons are commonly contaminated with skin flora during graft harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Offerhaus Christoph , Jaecker Vera , Shafizadeh Sven , Müller Leonard , Hahne Heiko , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Jazmati Nathalie 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the rate of bacterial contamination of semitendinosus (ST) tendons during graft harvest in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), in order to precisely specify the underlying pathogens and obtain data on their susceptibility to potential antibiotics.MethodsIn a prospective study, a total of 59 consecutive patients undergoing primary ACLR were recruited from one centre. No patient had history of previous surgery to the knee or showed clinical signs of infection. Four tissue samples of harvested ST tendons for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) autografts (case group; ST) were examined for evidence of bacterial colonisation and compared to four tissue samples of the native ACL as negative controls (control group; ACL). Three of the respective samples were subjected to cultural microbiological examination and one to 16S rRNA‐PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for each pathogen that was identified.ResultsA total of 342 samples were analysed by culture. Significantly more patients showed a positive culture of the ST (33.9%; n = 20/59) compared to 3.4% of patients (n = 2/59) with positive culturing of the ACL (p < 0.0001). Including 16S rRNA‐PCR, in a total of 42.4% (25/59) of patients, bacteria were detected in at least one ST sample either by PCR and/or culture. All species found (n = 33) belong to the typical skin flora with Staphylococcus epidermidis (39.4%; n = 13/33) being the most common species, followed by Staphylococcus capitis (24.2%; n = 8/33). All tested isolates (n = 29) were susceptible to vancomycin (29/29, 100%), 69% (n = 20/29) to oxacillin and 65.5% (n = 19/29) to clindamycin.ConclusionST autografts for ACLR were commonly contaminated with skin commensal bacteria during harvest. One‐third of the isolates showed resistance to typical perioperative intravenous antibiotics, whereas all isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Therefore, routine prophylactic decontamination of all hamstring autografts before implantation should be recommended, preferably with topical vancomycin.Level of evidenceLevel III.
Tibial bone defect prediction based on preoperative artefact‐reduced CT imaging is superior to standard radiograph assessment
Authors: Brenneis Marco , Flevas Dimitrios A. , Bornes Troy D. , Braun Sebastian , Meurer Andrea , Sculco Peter K. , Quevedo‐González Fernando J. , Boettner Friedrich 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of preoperative CT‐based Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI)‐grading and to correlate Computed tomography (CT)‐based volumetric defect measurements with intraoperative AORI findings.Methods99 patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) with preoperative CT‐images were identified in an institutional revision registry. CT‐image segmentation with 3D‐Slicer Software was used to create 3D tibial bone defects which were then graded according to the AORI‐classification. The AORI classification categorizes tibial defects into three types: Type I has healthy cortical and cancellous bone near the joint line, Type II involves metaphyseal bone loss affecting one or both condyles, and Type III indicates deficient metaphyseal bone with distal defects and potential damage to the patellar tendon and collateral ligament attachments. These 3D‐CT gradings were compared to preoperative X‐ray and intraoperative AORI grading. The Friedman test was used to investigate differences between AORI values of each measurement method. Volumetric 3D‐bone defect measurements were used to investigate the relationship between AORI classification and volumetric defect size in the three anatomic zones of the tibia.ResultsSubstantial agreements between preoperative 3D‐CT AORI and intraoperative AORI (kappa = 0.663; P < 0.01) and fair agreements between preoperative X‐ray AORI and intraoperative AORI grading (kappa = 0.304; P < 0.01) were found. Moderate correlations between volume of remaining bone and intraoperative AORI grading were found in epiphysis (rS = – 0.529; P < 0.001), metaphysis (rS = – 0.557; P < 0.001) and diaphysis (rS = – 0.421; P < 0.001). Small volumetric differences between AORI I vs. AORI II defects and relatively large differences between AORI II and AORI III defects in each zone were detected.ConclusionTibial bone defect prediction based on preoperative 3D‐CT segmentation showed a substantial agreement with intraoperative findings and is superior to standard radiograph assessment. The relatively small difference in defect volume between AORI I, IIa and IIb suggests that updated CT‐based classifications might hold benefits for the planning of rTKA.Level of evidenceRetrospective Cohort Study; III
Positron emission tomography in the diagnosis and follow-up of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy patients: A systematic review
Authors: Tingen H. S. A. , Tubben A. , van ’t Oever J. H. , Pastoor E. M. , van Zon P. P. A. , Nienhuis H. L. A. , van der Meer P. , Slart R. H J. A. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive protein misfolding disease with frequent cardiac involvement. This review aims to determine the value of PET in diagnosis, assessment of disease progression or treatment response and its relation to clinical outcome in follow-up of ATTR amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) patients.

Methods
Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched, from the earliest date available until December 2022, for studies investigating the use of PET in ATTR-CM patients. Studies containing original data were included, except for case reports. Risk of bias was assessed by QUADAS-2.

Results
Twenty-one studies were included in this systematic review, investigating five different tracers: carbon-11 Pittsburgh compound B ([11C]PIB), fluorine-18 Florbetaben ([18F]FBB), fluorine-18 Florbetapir ([18F]FBP), fluorine-18 Flutemetamol ([18F]FMM) and fluorine-18 Sodium Fluoride (Na[18F]F). In total 211 ATTR amyloidosis patients were included. A majority of studies concluded that [11C]PIB, [18F]FBP and Na[18F]F can distinguish ATTR amyloidosis patients from controls, and that [11C]PIB and Na[18F]F, but not [18F]FBP, can distinguish ATTR-CM patients from patients with cardiac light chain amyloidosis. Evidence on the performance of [18F]FBB and [18F]FMM was contradictory. No studies on the use of PET in follow-up were found.

Conclusion
[11C]PIB, Na[18F]F and [18F]FBP can be used to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis, although [18F]FBP may not be suitable for the distinction of different types of amyloid cardiomyopathy. No studies on PET in the follow-up of ATTR amyloidosis patients were found. Future research should focus on the use of these PET tracers in the follow-up of ATTR amyloidosis patients.
Self-aggregation of cationic gemini surfactants with amide groups in the spacer and variable alkyl chain length
Authors: Pisárčik Martin , Bajcura Martin , Lukáč Miloš , Devínsky Ferdinand , Bilková Andrea , Bilka František , Horváth Branislav 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSynthesis, aggregation parameters and antimicrobial activity of novel cationic gemini surfactants with two amide groups in gemini spacer structure and a variable number of carbon atoms in alkyl tails ranging from 12 to 15 are reported. The critical micelle concentration of gemini surfactants was determined using surface tension and electrical conductivity methods. The cmc values were found in the range 0.83 to 0.06 mM. The interfacial area, micelle ionisation degree and the Gibbs free energy per molecule and alkyl chain were calculated from the surface tension and conductivity curves. Particle size analysis using the dynamic light scattering method confirmed the formation of small spherical micelles 6–7 nm large in size for gemini surfactants with 12 and 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. A large size above 50 nm was found for the aggregates composed of long-chain gemini molecules with 14 and 15 carbon atoms. The zeta potential of gemini surfactants shows a continuous increase with the increasing alkyl chain length. Micelle aggregation number of gemini surfactants correlates well with the hydrodynamic size data. Small aggregation number values were found for short-chain gemini molecules with 12 and 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Long-chain gemini molecules with 14 and 15 carbon atoms exhibit aggregate growth represented by an increase in the aggregation number values while maintaining the spherical or spheroidal shape of micelles. The investigations of antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast indicate the increasing antimicrobial efficiency towards the short-chain surfactant with 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. A possible cut-off effect presence is proposed to explain the dependence of antimicrobial activity on the surfactant alkyl tail length.
Aging impairs the ability of vascular endothelial stem cells to generate endothelial cells in mice
Authors: Shimizu Shota , Iba Tomohiro , Naito Hisamichi , Rahmawati Fitriana Nur , Konishi Hirotaka , Jia Weizhen , Muramatsu Fumitaka , Takakura Nobuyuki 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTissue-resident vascular endothelial stem cells (VESCs), marked by expression of CD157, possess long-term repopulating potential and contribute to vascular regeneration and homeostasis in mice. Stem cell exhaustion is regarded as one of the hallmarks of aging and is being extensively studied in several types of tissue-resident stem cells; however, how aging affects VESCs has not been clarified yet. In the present study, we isolated VESCs from young and aged mice to compare their potential to differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report that the number of liver endothelial cells (ECs) including VESCs was lower in aged (27–28 month-old) than young (2–3 month-old) mice. In vitro culture of primary VESCs revealed that the potential to generate ECs is impaired in aged VESCs isolated from liver and lung relative to young VESCs. Orthotopic transplantation of VESCs showed that aged VESCs and their progeny expand less efficiently than their young counterparts when transplanted into aged mice, but they are equally functional in young recipients. Gene expression analysis indicated that inflammatory signaling was more activated in aged ECs including VESCs. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data from the Tabula Muris Consortium, we show that T cells and monocyte/macrophage lineage cells including Kupffer cells are enriched in the aged liver. These immune cells produce IL-1β and several chemokines, suggesting the possible involvement of age-associated inflammation in the functional decline of VESCs with age.
Binary and Non-binary Gender Identities, Internalizing Problems, and Treatment Wishes Among Adolescents Referred to a Gender Identity Clinic in Germany
Authors: Herrmann Lena , Barkmann Claus , Bindt Carola , Fahrenkrug Saskia , Breu Franziska , Grebe Jörn , Becker-Hebly Inga 
Published: August 2023

AbstractClinical research on transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents has focused on binary individuals or often not differentiated among gender identities. Recent studies suggest that a considerable proportion of TGNC adolescents identify as non-binary and that these youth report more internalizing problems as well as different transition-related medical treatment wishes than binary adolescents. However, the results are inconclusive, and data for the German-speaking area are lacking. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the percentage of binary and non-binary gender identities in a German sample of clinically referred TGNC adolescents and examine associations of gender identity with internalizing problems and transition-related medical treatment wishes. The sample consisted of 369 adolescents (11–18 years, Mage = 15.43; 305 birth-assigned female, 64 birth-assigned male) who attended the Hamburg Gender Identity Service for children and adolescents (Hamburg GIS) between 2013 and 2019. Gender identity and treatment wishes were assessed using study-specific items and internalizing problems using the Youth Self-Report. In total, 90% (n = 332) of the sample identified as binary and 10% (n = 37) as non-binary. Having a non-binary gender identity was significantly associated with more internalizing problems and with wishing for no transition-related medical treatment or only puberty-suppressing hormones. The results underscore that non-binary adolescents represent a specifically vulnerable subgroup within TGNC adolescents with unique mental health needs and treatment wishes. Future research should differentiate among various gender identities. In clinical practice, it is crucial to create an inclusive space for non-binary youth and provide mental health care if needed.
Competition and Innovation in the Financial Sector: Evidence from the Rise of FinTech Start-ups
Authors: Caragea Doina , Cojoianu Theodor , Dobri Mihai , Hoepner Andreas , Peia Oana , Romelli Davide 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis paper provides new evidence on the effects of entry on incumbents’ incentives to innovate by examining the rise of FinTech innovations over the period 2000-2016. We employ machine learning algorithms to classify a large sample of patent applications into five types of FinTech innovations. We then show that greater competition from innovators outside the financial sector increases the probability that incumbent financial firms will innovate. Our identification strategy exploits the variation over time in the share of FinTech patent applications by non-financial start-ups relative to incumbent financial firms, as a proxy for competitive pressures from outside the financial industry. We also find that this increased competition results in a higher number of FinTech patent applications by financial incumbents relative to non-financial ones, especially when the FinTech innovations are more important, as proxied by the number of their future patent citations.
Improved analytical workflow for prompt gamma activation analysis
Authors: Szentmiklósi László , Révay Zsolt , Östör József , Maróti Boglárka 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe analysis workflow of Prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) at the Budapest Neutron Centre’s PGAA and NIPS-NORMA facilities, at the MLZ FRM II PGAA station, and other centers worldwide relied on the use of the Hypermet-PC gamma spectrometry software and the ProSpeRo concentration calculation Excel macro. The sustained interest of our user community amid the reduced availability of multiple large-scale neutron sources worldwide called for more efficient utilization of the operational PGAA facilities. The present paper addresses both measurement and data evaluation bottlenecks of the analysis procedure to achieve higher productivity and superior spectroscopic performance.
Diabetes detection based on machine learning and deep learning approaches
Authors: Wee Boon Feng , Sivakumar Saaveethya , Lim King Hann , Wong W. K. , Juwono Filbert H. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe increasing number of diabetes individuals in the globe has alarmed the medical sector to seek alternatives to improve their medical technologies. Machine learning and deep learning approaches are active research in developing intelligent and efficient diabetes detection systems. This study profoundly investigates and discusses the impacts of the latest machine learning and deep learning approaches in diabetes identification/classifications. It is observed that diabetes data are limited in availability. Available databases comprise lab-based and invasive test measurements. Investigating anthropometric measurements and non-invasive tests must be performed to create a cost-effective yet high-performance solution. Several findings showed the possibility of reconstructing the detection models based on anthropometric measurements and non-invasive medical indicators. This study investigated the consequences of oversampling techniques and data dimensionality reduction through feature selection approaches. The future direction is highlighted in the research of feature selection approaches to improve the accuracy and reliability of diabetes identifications.
Smaller World Models for Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Robine Jan , Uelwer Tobias , Harmeling Stefan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractModel-based reinforcement learning algorithms try to learn an agent by training a model that simulates the environment. However, the size of such models tends to be quite large which could be a burden as well. In this paper, we address the question, how we could design a model with fewer parameters than previous model-based approaches while achieving the same performance in the 100 K-interactions regime. For this purpose, we create a world model that combines a vector quantized-variational autoencoder to encode observations and a convolutional long short-term memory to model the dynamics. This is connected to a model-free proximal policy optimization agent to train purely on simulated experience from this world model. Detailed experiments on the Atari environments show that it is possible to reach comparable performance to the SimPLe method with a significantly smaller world model. A series of ablation studies justify our design choices and give additional insights.
Assessing health state utilities for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Australia using the EQ-5D-5L, AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L-psychosocial instruments
Authors: Orji Nneka C. , Cox Ingrid A. , Jason Leonard A. , Chen Gang , Zhao Ting , Rogerson Melissa J. , Kelly Ryan M. , Wills Karen , Hensher Martin , Palmer Andrew J. , de Graaff Barbara , Campbell Julie A. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic condition with a constellation of symptoms presenting as severe and profound fatigue of ≥ 6 months not relieved by rest. ME/CFS affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which can be measured using multi-attribute health state utility (HSU) instruments. The aims of this study were to quantify HSUs for people living with ME/CFS, and to identify an instrument that is preferentially sensitive for ME/CFS.

Methods
Cross-sectional national survey of people with ME/CFS using the AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L. Additional questions from the AQoL-8D were used as ‘bolt-ons’ to the EQ-5D-5L (i.e., EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial). Disability and fatigue severity were assessed using the De Paul Symptom Questionnaire-Short Form (DSQ-SF). HSUs were generated using Australian tariffs. Mean HSUs were stratified for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Bland–Altman plots were used to compare the three HSU instruments.

Results
For the 198 participants, mean HSUs (95% confidence intervals) were EQ-5D-5L: 0.46 (0.42–0.50); AQoL-8D: 0.43 (0.41–0.45); EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial: 0.44 (0.42–0.46). HSUs were substantially lower than population norms: EQ-5D-5L: 0.89; AQoL-8D: 0.77. As disability and fatigue severity increased, HSUs decreased in all three instruments. Bland–Altman plots revealed interchangeability between the AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5LPsychosocial. Floor and ceiling effects of 13.5% and 2.5% respectively were observed for the EQ-5D-5L instrument only.

Conclusions
ME/CFS has a profound impact on HRQoL. The AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial can be used interchangeably: the latter represents a reduced participant burden.
On the reduced Bernstein-Sato polynomial of Thom-Sebastiani singularities
Authors: Castaño Domínguez A. , Narváez Macarro L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractGiven two holomorphic functions f and g defined in two respective germs of complex analytic manifolds (X, x) and (Y, y), we know thanks to M. Saito that, as long as one of them is Euler homogeneous, the reduced (or microlocal) Bernstein-Sato polynomial of the Thom-Sebastiani sum $$f+g$$

f
+
g

can be expressed in terms of those of f and g. In this note we give a purely algebraic proof of a similar relation between the whole functional equations that can be applied to any setting (not necessarily analytic) in which Bernstein-Sato polynomials can be defined.
Biomarker characteristics of the heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the crude oils from West Siberian Basin, Russia: an implication for correlation with organic matter input, depositional environment and maturity
Authors: Hakimi Mohammed Hail , Saeed Shadi A. , Al-Muntaser Ameen A. , Varfolomeev Mikhail A. , Feoktistov Dmitriy A. , Suwaid Muneer A. , Djimasbe Richard , Rahim Afikah , Asiwaju Lanre , Yelwa Nura Abdulmumini 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe distribution of aromatic hydrocarbon in sediments and oils is known to be affected by thermal maturity, source input and depositional conditions. Hence, the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction of four oil samples from different wells of the West Siberian Basin (central Russia) was investigated to determine the source of organic matter (OM), depositional environment and maturity of their source rocks. Biomarker ratios and parameters of aromatic compounds indicate that the studied oils were generated from clay-rich source rocks containing a mixed organic matter of marine and terrestrial origin, which were deposited in freshwater/deltaic to marine environmental settings under suboxic to relatively oxic conditions. Furthermore, the maturity-sensitive aromatic hydrocarbon parameters indicate that the source rocks are thermally mature, and in the peak to late maturity stage of the oil generation window. Oil–oil correlation results of various established aromatic biomarker proxies for organic matter origin, depositional environment and lithology suggests that the analyzed west Siberian Basin’s oils were generated from a variety of geological sources and can be grouped into two distinct oil families. The first oil family (group I) was generated from clay-rich source rock containing mixed organic matter with relatively high amounts of terrestrial plant input and deposited in a non-marine (freshwater/deltaic) environment under relatively oxic conditions, while the second oil family (group II) was derived from mixed organic matter with high marine OM input that was deposited in marine environment under suboxic conditions. The findings of the heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatics highlighted in this study can help for better understanding of the genetic ties between oils and their sources and have an impact on traditional hydrocarbon development in the Basin.
Gender, Militarized Masculinity, and Hungarian Illiberalism
Authors: Lehotai Orsolya 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe article explores how gendered relations of power and masculinity are articulated in the Hungarian illiberal government’s rhetorical, legal, and spatial marking of borders and surrounding right-wing discourses in relation to categories of “East”/“West.” After the Hungarian government declared and gradually normalized its illiberal regime, particularly in response to the European refugee crisis in 2015, it passed various anti-migration, anti-gender, and anti-minority laws and policies in the name of defending Hungarians against both the influence of the “feminine” West and the “hyper-masculine” Eastern Other seeking refuge in Hungary. This article examines how the Hungarian government constructs the illiberal state, negotiates its geopolitical position, and propagates illiberal values as “masculine” to articulate and assert its sovereignty against spheres of the “feminized” international, particularly against the West. In parallel with these processes, subnational competing discourses of masculinized sovereignty emerged between the Hungarian government and the mayor of Ásotthalom. By utilizing an intersectional analytical framework, this article maps how these competing discourses of masculinized sovereignty operate at the national and local levels, against the unfolding of the 2015 humanitarian crisis and its aftermath.