bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Avoiding oversizing in sutureless valves leads to lower transvalvular gradients and less permanent pacemaker implants postoperatively
Authors: Szecel Delphine , Lamberigts Marie , Rega Filip , Verbrugghe Peter , Dubois Christophe , Meuris Bart 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of changing the sizing strategy in aortic valve replacement using the Perceval sutureless prosthesis on haemodynamic outcomes and postoperative pacemaker implantation.

METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients implanted with the Perceval valve between 2007 and 2019 was performed by comparing patients implanted before the modification of sizing strategy (OLD group) and after (NEW group). The outcome parameters evaluated were the implanted prosthesis size, haemodynamical profile and postoperative pacemaker implantation.

RESULTS
The entire patient cohort (784 patients) consisted of 52% female patients, with a mean age of 78.53 [standard deviation (SD): 5.8] years and a mean EuroSCORE II of 6.3 (range 0.7–76). In 55.5% of cases, surgery was combined. The NEW cohort had more male patients (54.6% vs 43.4%) (P = 0.002). Mean implanted valve size, corrected for body surface area, was significantly lower in the NEW cohort (13.1, SD: 1.4 vs 13.5, SD: 1.4 mm/m2, P &lt; 0.001). The 30-day mortality was 3.4%. Peak and mean transvalvular gradients at discharge were significantly lower in the NEW versus OLD groups: 24.4 mmHg (SD: 9.2) versus 28.4 mmHg (SD: 10.3) (P &lt; 0.001) and 13.6 mmHg (SD: 5.3) versus 15.5 mmHg (SD: 6.0) (P &lt; 0.001). The mean effective opening area and the indexed effective opening area, respectively, increased from 1.5 cm2 (SD: 0.5) and 0.85 cm2/m2 (SD: 0.27) in the OLD group to 1.7 cm2 (SD: 0.5) and 0.93 cm2/m2 (SD: 0.30) in the NEW group (P &lt; 0.001). No difference was found in paravalvular leakage ≥1/4. Centrovalvular leakage ≥1/4 significantly decreased from 18% to 7.9% (P &lt; 0.001). With the new sizing, the new postoperative pacemaker implantation rate decreased significantly from 11% to 6.1% (P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS
Correct sizing of sutureless aortic valves is crucial to obtain the best possible haemodynamics and avoid complications.
Different ascending aortic phenotypes with similar mutations in 2 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 2
Authors: Heck Roland , Fischer-Zirnsak Björn , Photiadis Joachim , Horn Denise , Gehle Petra 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Our goal was to present 2 infants with confirmed Loeys-Dietz syndrome. The missense mutations in exon 7 of the TGFBR2 gene are only 5 codons apart (c.1597T&gt;C and c.1582C&gt;G). Phenotypically, the aneurysms of the ascending aorta were restricted to different segments of the aorta: the suprajunctional segment in 1 patient and the aortic root in another. These cases highlight the complexity of signaling pathways and gene expression in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms.
An alpaca single-domain antibody (VHH) phage display library constructed by CDR shuffling provided high-affinity VHHs against desired protein antigens
Authors: Tsukahara Narutoshi , Murakami Akikazu , Motohashi Maiko , Nakayama Hiroshi , Kondo Yoshiro , Ito Yuji , Azuma Takachika , Kishimoto Hidehiro 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Antigen-combining sites of the camelid heavy-chain antibody variable domain (VHH) are constructed by three complementarity-determining regions (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3). We prepared cDNA using mRNA extracted from peripheral lymphocytes of alpacas that had been non-immunized or immunized with human serum albumin (HSA). The VHH gene fragments encoding the amino-terminal half-containing CDR1 as well as CDR2 and the carboxy-terminal half-containing CDR3 were amplified independently by PCR, and then full-length VHH gene fragments were generated by overlap extension PCR and cloned into the phagemid vector. This protocol, referred to as CDR shuffling, allowed us to construct an alpaca VHH phage display library possessing repertoires different from those naturally occurring in animals. We asked, first, whether this library was able to provide the functional VHH fragments against HSA, an immunized antigen, and obtained 29 anti-HSA VHH clones, 41% possessed KD values of lower than 10−8 M, 5 of which had KD values of 10−10 M. We also obtained VHH clones against non-immunized protein antigens such as cardiac troponin T and I, Ebola virus glycoprotein 1 and human immunoglobulin G by biopanning. We compared the amino acid sequences and affinities and found that 43% of VHHs had KD values of less than 10−8 M, although those having KD values of 10−10 M were unavailable. These results suggested that the CDR-shuffled VHH phage display library could potentially provide VHHs against non-immunized protein antigens with similar levels of affinities to those against immunized antigens.
The cellular and molecular basis of CD69 function in anti-tumor immunity
Authors: Koyama-Nasu Ryo , Wang Yangsong , Hasegawa Ichita , Endo Yukihiro , Nakayama Toshinori , Kimura Motoko Y 
Published: June 2022

AbstractCancer immunotherapy utilizes our immune system to attack cancer cells and is an extremely promising strategy for cancer treatment. Although immune-checkpoint blockade, such as anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death 1) antibody, has demonstrated significant enhancement of anti-tumor immunity and has induced notable clinical outcomes, its response rates remain low, and adverse effects are always a matter of concern; therefore, new targets for cancer immunotherapy are always desired. In this situation, new concepts are needed to fuel the investigation of new target molecules for cancer immunotherapy. We propose that CD69 is one such target molecule. CD69 is known to be an activation marker of leukocytes and is also considered a crucial regulator of various immune responses through its interacting proteins. CD69 promotes T-cell retention in lymphoid tissues via sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) internalization and also plays roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders through interacting with its functional ligands Myl9/12 (myosin light chains 9, 12a and 12b). In anti-tumor immunity, CD69 is known to be expressed on T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). We revealed that CD69 negatively regulates the effector function of intratumoral T cells and importantly controls the ‘exhaustion’ of CD8 T cells. In addition, we and others showed that either CD69 deficiency or the administration of anti-CD69 monoclonal antibody enhances anti-tumor immunity. Thus, CD69 is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy.
Effectiveness of clinical dashboards as audit and feedback or clinical decision support tools on medication use and test ordering: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xie Charis Xuan , Chen Qiuzhe , Hincapié Cesar A , Hofstetter Léonie , Maher Chris G , Machado Gustavo C 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Background
Clinical dashboards used as audit and feedback (A&F) or clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are increasingly adopted in healthcare. However, their effectiveness in changing the behavior of clinicians or patients is still unclear. This systematic review aims to investigate the effectiveness of clinical dashboards used as CDSS or A&F tools (as a standalone intervention or part of a multifaceted intervention) in primary care or hospital settings on medication prescription/adherence and test ordering.

Methods
Seven major databases were searched for relevant studies, from inception to August 2021. Two authors independently extracted data, assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB II scale, and evaluated the certainty of evidence using GRADE. Data on trial characteristics and intervention effect sizes were extracted. A narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the findings of the included trials.

Results
Eleven randomized trials were included. Eight trials evaluated clinical dashboards as standalone interventions and provided conflicting evidence on changes in antibiotic prescribing and no effects on statin prescribing compared to usual care. Dashboards increased medication adherence in patients with inflammatory arthritis but not in kidney transplant recipients. Three trials investigated dashboards as part of multicomponent interventions revealing decreased use of opioids for low back pain, increased proportion of patients receiving cardiovascular risk screening, and reduced antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections.

Conclusion
There is limited evidence that dashboards integrated into electronic medical record systems and used as feedback or decision support tools may be associated with improvements in medication use and test ordering.
Lactose Concentration in Low-Lactose and Lactose-Free Milk, Milk Products, and Products Containing Dairy Ingredients by High Sensitivity Enzymatic Method (K-LOLAC), Collaborative Study: Final Action 2020.08
Authors: Ivory Ruth , Mangan David , McCleary Barry V 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Background
The AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Strategic Food Analytical Methods issued a call for methods in 2018 for the measurement of lactose in low-lactose and lactose-free products under Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2018.009. Megazyme’s Lactose Assay Kit (K-LOLAC) was reviewed and accepted as a First Action Official MethodSM in 2020 (2020.08).

Objective
A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the to evaluate the reproducibility of AOAC Official MethodSM2020.08 for the measurement of lactose concentration in low-lactose and lactose-free milk, milk products, and products containing dairy ingredients.

Method
Samples are deproteinated and clarified by treatment with Carrez reagents, and then free glucose is removed using a glucose oxidase and catalase treatment system. Quantification of lactose is based on the hydrolytic activity of β-galactosidase, which hydrolyses lactose to glucose and galactose. Any remaining free D-glucose is first measured using a hexokinase (HK)/glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PDH)/6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH) based assay procedure, and then β-galactosidase is added to hydrolyze the lactose in the same reaction vessel with concurrent measurement of the released D-glucose. The samples analyzed included a number of lactose-free and low-lactose milk samples, lactose-free infant formula, lactose-free milkshake, lactose-free adult nutritional drink, lactose-free cream, and lactose-free cheese.

Results
All materials had repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) &lt;7%. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) varied from 3.8 to 14.9% with seven of the 10 test samples having an RSDR of &lt;10%.

Conclusions
The Lactose Assay Kit (K-LOLAC) meets the requirements for reproducibility set out under SMPR 2018.009.

Highlights
The Lactose Assay (K-LOLAC) is a robust, simple, and reproducible method for analysis of lactose in foodstuffs and beverages.
Killer citiesandindustrious cities? New data and evidence on 250 years of urban growth
Authors: Gindelsky Marina , Jedwab Remi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn the historical literature, cities of the Industrial Revolution (IR) are portrayed as having a demographic penalty: killer cities with high death rates and industrious cities with low birth rates. To econometrically test this, we construct a novel data set of almost 2000 crude demographic rates for 142 large cities in 35 countries for 1700–1950. Mortality actually decreased faster than fertility during the IR era and rates of natural increase rose in the cities of industrializing countries, especially large cities. This implies a declining, not rising, demographic penalty thanks to the IR. To explain the puzzle, we posit that negative health and industriousness effects of industrial urbanization might have been outweighed by positive effects of increased income and life expectancy.
Lithology prediction method of coal-bearing reservoir based on stochastic seismic inversion and Bayesian classification: a case study on Ordos Basin
Authors: Liu Wei , Du Wenfeng , Guo Yinling , Li Dong 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
The Upper Palaeozoic coal measures in the Ordos Basin are rich in unconventional natural gas resources; however, the reservoir heterogeneity is relatively strong, which majorly restricts the accuracy of lithology prediction. Stochastic seismic inversion can synthesize the geological–geophysical information and establish high-resolution reservoir models based on geostatistical theory to obtain good inversion results; moreover, it can characterize reservoir lithology and fluid-bearing properties. The present study aimed to propose a high-precision lithology classification method for coal-bearing strata in the Ordos Basin, using Bayesian classification and stochastic seismic inversion. Initially, the reservoir geological model was established on the basis of the sequential Gaussian simulation algorithm, and stochastic seismic inversion was performed in combination with rock physics analysis, thereby obtaining a high-resolution elastic parameter data volume. Thereafter, the probability density function (PDF) and the probability density confusion matrix (PDF confusion matrix) were introduced to quantitatively analyse the ability of sensitive elastic parameters to distinguish lithology. Eventually, a logging lithology-fluid classification template was established based on the Bayesian classification technology; furthermore, a 3D lithology-fluid prediction was completed in combination with the inversion results. The prediction results are in good accordance with the logging data, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the method.
Sequence Diversity and Differences at the Highly Duplicated MHC-I Gene Reflect Viral Susceptibility in Sympatric Pinniped Species
Authors: Gigliotti Alayna K , Bowen W Don , Hammill Michael O , Puryear Wendy B , Runstadler Jonathan , Wenzel Frederick W , Cammen Kristina M 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDifferences in disease susceptibility among species can result from rapid host–pathogen coevolution and differences in host species ecology that affect the strength and direction of natural selection. Among 2 sympatric pinniped species that differ in sociality and putative disease exposure, we investigate observed differences in susceptibility through an analysis of a highly variable, duplicated gene family involved in the vertebrate immune response. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we characterize diversity at the 2 exons that encode the peptide binding region of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) gene in harbor (N = 60) and gray (N = 90) seal populations from the Northwest Atlantic. Across species, we identified 106 full-length exon 2 and 103 exon 3 sequence variants and a minimum of 11 duplicated MHC-I loci. The sequence variants clustered in 15 supertypes defined by the physiochemical properties of the peptide binding region, including a putatively novel Northwest Atlantic MHC-I diversity sublineage. Trans-species polymorphisms, dN/dS ratios, and evidence of gene conversion among supertypes are consistent with balancing selection acting on this gene. High functional redundancy suggests particularly strong selection among gray seals at the novel Northwest Atlantic MHC-I diversity sublineage. At exon 2, harbor seals had a significantly greater number of variants per individual than gray seals, but fewer supertypes. Supertype richness and private supertypes are hypothesized to contribute to observed differences in disease resistance between species, as consistently, across the North Atlantic and many disease outbreaks, gray seals appear to be more resistant to respiratory viruses than harbor seals.
Quantile Spectral Beta: A Tale of Tail Risks, Investment Horizons, and Asset Prices
Authors: Baruník Jozef , Nevrla Matěj 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
This article investigates how two important sources of risk—market tail risk (TR) and extreme market volatility risk—are priced into the cross-section of asset returns across various investment horizons. To identify such risks, we propose a quantile spectral (QS) beta representation of risk based on the decomposition of covariance between indicator functions that capture fluctuations over various frequencies. We study the asymptotic behavior of the proposed estimators of such risk. Empirically, we find that TR is a short-term phenomenon, whereas extreme volatility risk is priced by investors in the long term when pricing a cross-section of individual stocks. In addition, we study popular industry, size and value, profit, investment, or book-to-market portfolios, as well as portfolios constructed from various asset classes, portfolios sorted on cash flow duration, and other strategies. These results reveal that tail-dependent and horizon-specific risks are priced heterogeneously across datasets and are important sources of risk for investors.
Small Area Estimation in Diverse Timber Types Using Multiple Sources of Auxiliary Data
Authors: Green P Corey , Hogg Dale W , Watson Brian , Burkhart Harold E 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Informed forest management requires reliable information. As the demand for finer scale estimates has increased, so has the cost for obtaining them from design-based ground sampling. Small area estimation (SAE) is an estimation technique that leverages ancillary information to augment design-based samples with the goal of increasing estimate precision without increasing ground-based sample intensities. This work presents three case studies spanning an industrial timberland ownership in the United States making use of SAE techniques in operational forest inventories. Case studies include an inventory of pre-thin plantation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands that had achieved crown closure in Alabama and Mississippi, a mixed pine–hardwood inventory in Alabama, and pre-thinning plantation Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in Washington State. Using area-level SAE techniques, vegetation indices derived from 10 m Sentinel imagery were shown to reduce estimate uncertainty for common stand parameters. Additionally, when available, lidar and age were shown to offer additional improvements in estimate precision. The results of this study indicate the operational potential for using commonly available auxiliary data for producing forest parameter estimates with enhanced precision. The implications of these findings span multiple inventory objectives including, for example, commercial forest management, carbon accounting, and wildfire fuel assessments.
Study Implications: Forest management requires reliable quantitative information for informed decisions. Data from ground-based forest inventories are commonly used to construct design-unbiased direct estimates. Due to logistical and cost constraints, samples often do not provide estimates with sufficient precision for making confident decisions. The statistical estimation procedure, small area estimation, is able to leverage linearly related ancillary data across areas of interest to form composite estimates that have less uncertainty than direct estimates alone. This study shows how combining ground-based data with auxiliary data from remote sensing and stand records produced more precise estimates of forest stand parameters in three distinct timber types spanning a large ownership in the United States. Results indicate that significant inventory efficiency and confidence can be realized by incorporating commonly available auxiliary data into the estimation of forest characteristics.
The discovery of rubisco
Authors: Sharkey Thomas D 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Rubisco is possibly the most important enzyme on Earth, certainly in terms of amount. This review describes the initial reports of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylating activity. Discoveries of core concepts are described, including its quaternary structure, the requirement for post-translational modification, and its role as an oxygenase as well as a carboxylase. Finally, the requirement for numerous chaperonins for assembly of rubisco in plants is described.
Floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis requires the combined activities of three TALE homeodomain transcription factors
Authors: Crick Jennifer , Corrigan Laura , Belcram Katia , Khan Madiha , Dawson Jeff W , Adroher Bernard , Li Sibei , Hepworth Shelley R , Pautot Véronique 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Floral organ abscission is a separation process in which sepals, petals, and stamens detach from the plant at abscission zones. Here, we investigated the collective role of three amino-acid-loop-extension (TALE) homeobox genes ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX GENE1 (ATH1), KNAT6 (for KNOTTED LIKE from Arabidopsis thaliana) and KNAT2, which form a module that patterns boundaries under the regulation of BLADE-ON-PETIOLE 1 and 2 (BOP1/2) co-activators. These TALE homeodomain transcription factors were shown to maintain boundaries in the flower, functioning as a unit to coordinate the growth, patterning, and activity of abscission zones. Together with BOP1 and BOP2, ATH1 and its partners KNAT6 and KNAT2 collectively contribute to the differentiation of lignified and separation layers of the abscission zone. The genetic interactions of BOP1/2 and ATH1 with INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) were also explored. We showed that BOP1/2 co-activators and ATH1 converge with the IDA signalling pathway to promote KNAT6 and KNAT2 expression in the abscission zone and cell separation. ATH1 acts as a central regulator in floral organ abscission as it controls the expression of other TALE genes in abscission zone cells.
A simple technology for plastid transformation with fragmented DNA
Authors: Ren Kang , Xu Wenbo , Ren Bailing , Fu Jinqiu , Jiang Chunmei , Zhang Jiang 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Plastid engineering has several unique advantages such as high expression of transgenes due to high polyploidy of plastid genomes and environmental biosafety because of maternal inheritance of transgenes, and has become a promising tool for molecular farming, metabolic engineering, and genetic improvement. However, there are no standard vectors available for plastid transformation. Moreover, the construction of plastid transformation vectors containing long operons or genes encoding proteins that are toxic to Escherichia coli was tedious or difficult. Here, we developed a simple plastid transformation technology without the need for in vitro vector construction by using multiple linear DNA fragments which share homologous sequences (HSs) at their ends. The strategy is based on homologous recombination between HSs of DNA fragments via endogenous recombination machinery in plastids, which subsequently are integrated into the plastid genome. We found that HSs of 200 bp or longer were sufficient for mediating the integration into the plastid genome with at least similar efficiency to that of plasmid DNA-based plastid transformation. Furthermore, we successfully used this method to introduce a phage lysin-encoding gene and a long operon into a tobacco plastid genome. The establishment of this technology simplifies the plastid transformation procedure and provides a novel solution for expressing proteins, which are either toxic to the cloning host or large operons in plastids, without need of vector cloning.