bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time to benefit for stroke reduction after blood pressure treatment in older adults: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ho Vanessa S. , Cenzer Irena S. , Nguyen Brian T. , Lee Sei J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundHypertension treatment in older adults can decrease mortality, cardiovascular events, including heart failure, cognitive impairment, and stroke risk, but may also lead to harms such as syncope and falls. Guidelines recommend targeting preventive interventions with immediate harms and delayed benefits to patients whose life expectancy exceeds the intervention's time to benefit (TTB). Our objective was to estimate a meta‐analyzed TTB for stroke prevention after initiation of more intensive hypertension treatment in adults aged ≥65 years.MethodsStudies were identified from two Cochrane systematic reviews and a search of MEDLINE and Google Scholar for subsequent publications until August 31, 2021. We abstracted data from randomized controlled trials comparing standard (untreated, placebo, or less intensive treatment) to more intensive treatment groups in older adults (mean age ≥ 65 years). We fit Weibull survival curves and used a random‐effects model to estimate the pooled annual absolute risk reduction (ARR) between control and intervention groups. We applied Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to determine the time to ARR thresholds (0.002, 0.005, and 0.01) for a first stroke.ResultsNine trials (n = 38,779) were identified. The mean age ranged from 66 to 84 years and study follow‐up times ranged from 2.0 to 5.8 years. We determined that 1.7 (95%CI: 1.0–2.9) years were required to prevent 1 stroke for 200 persons (ARR = 0.005) receiving more intensive hypertensive treatment. Heterogeneity was found across studies, with those focusing on tighter systolic blood pressure control (SBP < 150 mmHg) showing longer TTB. For example, in the SPRINT study (baseline SBP = 140 mmHg, achieved SBP = 121 mmHg), the TTB to avoid 1 stroke for 200 patients treated was 5.9 years (95%CI: 2.2–13.0).ConclusionsMore intensive hypertension treatment in 200 older adults prevents 1 stroke after 1.7 years. Given the heterogeneity across studies, the TTB estimates from individual studies may be more relevant for clinical decision‐making than our summary estimate.
Estimating a Nonlinear New Keynesian Model with the Zero Lower Bound for Japan
Authors: IIBOSHI HIROKUNI , SHINTANI MOTOTSUGU , UEDA KOZO 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWhich type of monetary policy rule best describes the policy conducted by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) during the period when the nominal interest rate is constrained at the zero lower bound (ZLB)? What are the economic fundamentals that explain Japan's prolonged stagnation? How important is incorporating nonlinearities in the analysis? We answer these questions by estimating a small‐scale nonlinear dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. We find that: the BOJ conducted a threshold‐based forward guidance policy; adverse demand shocks explain Japan's experience; and nonlinear models are very useful in the analysis of the Japanese economy during the ZLB period.
COVID‐19 and the peripheral nervous system. A 2‐year review from the pandemic to the vaccine era
Authors: Taga Arens , Lauria Giuseppe 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIncreasing literature has linked COVID‐19 to peripheral nervous system (PNS) diseases. In addition, as we move from the pandemic to the vaccination era, literature interest is shifting towards the potential association between COVID‐19 vaccines and PNS manifestations. We reviewed published literature on COVID‐19, COVID‐19 vaccines and PNS manifestations between 1 January 2020 and 1 December 2021. For Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), isolated cranial neuropathy (ICN) and myositis associated with COVID‐19, the demographic, clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological and imaging features were included in a narrative synthesis. We identified 169 studies on COVID‐19‐associated complications, including 63 papers (92 patients) on GBS, 29 papers (37 patients) on ICN and 11 papers (18 patients) on myositis. Additional clinical phenotypes included chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, vasculitic neuropathies, neuralgic amyotrophy, critical care‐related complications, and myasthenia gravis. PNS complications secondary to COVID‐19 vaccines have been reported during randomized clinical trials, in real‐world case reports, and during large‐scale surveillance programs. These mainly include cases of GBS, Bell's palsy, and cases of neuralgic amyotrophy. Based on our extensive review of the literature, any conclusion about a pathophysiological correlation between COVID‐19 and PNS disorders remains premature, and solely supported by their temporal association, while epidemiological and pathological data are insufficient. The occurrence of PNS complications after COVID‐19 vaccines seems limited to a possible higher risk of facial nerve palsy and GBS, to a degree that widespread access to the ongoing vaccination campaign should not be discouraged, while awaiting for more definitive data from large‐scale surveillance studies.
SARM1 knockout does not rescue neuromuscular phenotypes in a Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease Type 1A mouse model
Authors: Moss Kathryn R. , Johnson Anna E. , Bopp Taylor S. , Yu Andrew T. , Perry Ken , Chung Tae , Höke Ahmet 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCharcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease Type 1A (CMT1A) is caused by duplication of the PMP22 gene and is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy. Although CMT1A is a dysmyelinating peripheral neuropathy, secondary axon degeneration has been suggested to drive functional deficits in patients. Given that SARM1 knockout is a potent inhibitor of the programmed axon degeneration pathway, we asked whether SARM1 knockout rescues neuromuscular phenotypes in CMT1A model (C3‐PMP) mice. CMT1A mice were bred with SARM1 knockout mice to generate CMT1A/SARM1−/− mice. A series of behavioral assays were employed to evaluate motor and sensorimotor function. Electrophysiological and histological studies of the tibial branch of the sciatic nerve were performed. Additionally, gastrocnemius and soleus muscle morphology were evaluated histologically. Although clear behavioral and electrophysiological deficits were observed in CMT1A model mice, genetic deletion of SARM1 conferred no significant improvement. Nerve morphometry revealed predominantly myelin deficits in CMT1A model mice and SARM1 knockout yielded no improvement in all nerve morphometry measures. Similarly, muscle morphometry deficits in CMT1A model mice were not improved by SARM1 knockout. Our findings demonstrate that programmed axon degeneration pathway inhibition does not provide therapeutic benefit in C3‐PMP CMT1A model mice. Our results indicate that the clinical phenotypes observed in CMT1A mice are likely caused primarily by prolonged dysmyelination, motivate further investigation into mechanisms of dysmyelination in these mice and necessitate the development of improved CMT1A rodent models that recapitulate the secondary axon degeneration observed in patients.
Management of proximal metaphyseal curvilinear tibial fractures in 25 skeletally immature dogs (2009 to 2020)
Authors: Winter J. , Meeson R. L. , Egan P. , Langley‐Hobbs S. , Belch A. 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesTo describe the occurrence, management and outcome of proximal metaphyseal curvilinear tibial fractures in skeletally immature dogs.Materials and MethodsA multi‐centre retrospective review was conducted, searching for skeletally immature dogs presenting with proximal metaphyseal curvilinear tibial fractures between January 2009 and September 2020. Signalment, fracture description and case management data were retrieved. Outcome was assessed by retrospectively evaluating follow‐up radiographs, hospital records and an owner questionnaire.ResultsTwenty‐five dogs met the inclusion criteria. All but one fracture was a result of minimal trauma. Twenty fractures were managed with internal fixation, two with external fixation and three conservatively. All 25 fractures healed. Eight major complications occurred in seven of 25 (28%) dogs. Twelve minor complications occurred in 10 of 25 (40%) dogs. Owner questionnaire data were available for 12 of 25 dogs; 11 of 12 were reported as having full function and one of 12 as having acceptable function at the time of questioning (median 34.5 months following presentation). At final follow‐up, either by clinical examination or owner questionnaire, full function was achieved in 22 of 25 patients and acceptable function in three of 25.Clinical SignificanceThis study reported a series of proximal metaphyseal tibial fractures in skeletally immature dogs. The most common fixation method was internal fixation, which frequently resulted in full limb function at final follow‐up. Owners reported outcome as fully functional in all dogs that underwent surgery at first presentation and had owner follow‐up available, though positive outcomes may have been affected by participation bias.
Structural peculiarities, mineral inclusions, and point defects in yakutites—A variety of impact‐related diamond
Authors: Shiryaev Andrei A. , Pavlushin Anton D. , Pakhnevich Alexei V. , Kovalenko Ekaterina S. , Averin Alexei A. , Ivanova Anna G. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAn unusual variety of impact‐related diamond from the Popigai impact structure—yakutites—is characterized by complementary methods including optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, radiography and tomography, infrared, Raman, and luminescence spectroscopy providing structural information at widely different scales. It is shown that relatively large graphite aggregates may be transformed to diamond with preservation of many morphological features. Spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction data indicate that the yakutite matrix represents bulk nanocrystalline diamond. For the first time, features of two‐phonon IR absorption spectra of bulk nanocrystalline diamond are interpreted in the framework of phonon dispersion curves. Luminescence spectra of yakutite are dominated by dislocation‐related defects. Optical microscopy supported by X‐ray diffraction reveals the presence of single crystal diamonds with sizes of up to several tens of microns embedded into nanodiamond matrix. The presence of single crystal grains in impact diamond may be explained by chemical vapor deposition–like growth in a transient cavity and/or a seconds‐long compression stage of the impact process due to slow pressure release in a volatile‐rich target. For the first time, protogenetic mineral inclusions in yakutites represented by mixed monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO2 are observed. This implies the presence of baddeleyite in target rocks responsible for yakutite formation.
COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis in ICU patients in a German reference centre: Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates
Authors: Kirchhoff Lisa , Braun Lukas Miles , Schmidt Dirk , Dittmer Silke , Dedy Jutta , Herbstreit Frank , Stauf Raphael , Steckel Nina Kristin , Buer Jan , Rath Peter‐Michael , Steinmann Joerg , Verhasselt Hedda Luise 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19‐associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is associated with increased mortality. Cases of CAPA caused by azole‐resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains have been reported.ObjectivesTo analyse the twelve‐month CAPA prevalence in a German tertiary care hospital and to characterise clinical A. fumigatus isolates from two German hospitals by antifungal susceptibility testing and microsatellite genotyping.Patients/Methods.Retrospective observational study in critically ill adults from intensive care units with COVID‐19 from 17 February 2020 until 16 February 2021 and collection of A. fumigatus isolates from two German centres. EUCAST broth microdilution for four azole compounds and microsatellite PCR with nine markers were performed for each collected isolate (N = 27) and additional for three non‐COVID A. fumigatus isolates.Resultswelve‐month CAPA prevalence was 7.2% (30/414), and the rate of azole‐resistant A. fumigatus isolates from patients with CAPA was 3.7% with detection of one TR34/L98H mutation. The microsatellite analysis revealed no major clustering of the isolates. Sequential isolates mainly showed the same genotype over time.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate similar CAPA prevalence to other reports and a low azole‐resistance rate. Genotyping of A. fumigatus showed polyclonal distribution except for sequential isolates.
Relationship between genetic distance based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers and hybrid performance in Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora)
Authors: Akpertey Abraham , Padi Francis Kwame , Meinhardt Lyndel , Zhang Dapeng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe choice of parents is a vital first step in any variety development process. This is particularly imperative in tree crops that require minimally 15–20 years to complete a varietal development. The present study was conducted to determine genetic distances (GDs) between parental clones of Robusta coffee hybrids and assess the relationship between GD and hybrid performance. The experimental material consisted of 64 parental clones and 56 hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated over 11 years, planted in a randomized complete block design with six replications. GD among parental clones was determined based on 120 SNP markers. The results revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.351, p < 0.0082) between GD of parental clones and yield performance of their hybrids. Posterior selection of highest GD hybrids revealed an increase in yield gain over general mean with increasing GD between parental clones of hybrids. Furthermore, comparison of inter‐ and intra‐population hybrids classified using Bayesian clustering analysis revealed consistent outcome where inter‐group hybrids outperformed intra‐group hybrids for cumulative yield. These results supported the hypothesis that GD is related to the yield performance of Robusta coffee hybrids and is an efficient predicator of hybrid performance for yield.
Management alters drought‐induced mortality patterns in European beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) forests
Authors: Meyer P. , Spînu A. P. , Mölder A. , Bauhus J. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTThe high tree mortality during the dry and hot years of 2018–2019 in Europe has triggered concerns on the future of European beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) forests under climate change and raised questions as to whether forest management may increase tree mortality. We compared long‐term mortality rates of beech between managed and unmanaged stands including the years 2018‐2019 at 11 sites in Hesse, Germany.We hypothesized that mortality would increase with climate water deficits during the growing season, initial stand density, decreasing dominance of trees, and decreasing intensity of tree removals. Initial stand density, tree removals, the climate water balance and the competitive status of trees were used as predictor variables.Mean annual natural mortality rates ranged between 0.5% and 2.1%. Even in the drought years, we observed no signs of striking canopy disintegration. The significantly higher mortality (1.6–2.1%) in unmanaged stands during the drought years 2018 and 2019 was largely confined to suppressed trees. There was no significant increase of mortality in managed stands during the drought years, but a shift in mortality towards larger canopy trees.Our study did not confirm a general influence of management, in the form of tree removals, on mortality rates. Yet, we found that during drought years, management changed the distribution of mortality within the tree community. To analyse the effects of management on mortality rates more comprehensively, a wider gradient in site moisture conditions, including sites drier than in this study, and longer post‐drought periods should be employed.
SediRate‐Fischer plots as a tool to illustrate relative sea‐level and lake‐level changes in subaqueous terrigenous deposits
Authors: Yang Daming , Huang Yongjian , Wang Chengshan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractFor more extensive and efficient sea‐level and lake‐level reconstructions and correlations in siliciclastic systems, this paper presents a new tool called SediRate‐Fischer plot (SR‐Fischer plot). In SR‐Fischer plots, the linear‐corrected sedimentary rate of each terrigenous sedimentary cycle is plotted from the top of the previous cycle to the top of the current cycle. This process is repeated cycle by cycle, constructing curves of cumulative departure from mean sedimentary rate (CDMR). Based on the assumption that relative sea‐level and lake‐level changes may control sedimentary rates of subaqueous terrigenous sediments within basins, the CDMR could change inversely with relative sea or lake level. Thus, this tool could be interpreted as an indicator of relative sea‐level and lake‐level changes in terrigenous successions. SediRate‐Fischer plots can be obtained from either lithological or proxy cycles formed by sea‐level and lake‐level changes in the case of availability of orbitally tuned data. The SR‐Fischer plots constructed based on different materials are compared with other methods in two cases, as follows: first for the lacustrine Mingshui Formation of the Songliao Basin in China; and second for the deep‐marine Arcillas de Gibraleón Formation of the Guadalquivir Basin in Spain. The SR‐Fischer plots of the Mingshui Formation exhibit low and high CDMR values for shallow‐lake intervals and lakeshore intervals, respectively, and vary inversely with the lake‐level curves derived from changes in sedimentary facies. For the Arcillas de Gibraleón Formation, the CDMR values illustrated by the SR‐Fischer plots exhibit opposite variations with sea‐level curves indicated by dinocyst/pollen ratios. The negative Z‐scores derived from runs tests indicate that these SR‐Fischer plots are not randomly stacked and are minimally influenced by different cycle‐splitting strategies. Thus, the results of comparison with other methods and runs tests demonstrate the validity of this method. Nonetheless, the other allogenic inflows (tectonics and climates) may limit interpretations of SR‐Fischer plots.
Exporting costs and multi‐product shipments*
Authors: Gomtsyan David , Tarasov Alexander 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this paper, employing transaction‐level data for Russian imports, we explore the role of multi‐product shipments in explaining shipping patterns across countries. In our data, an average shipment includes five different products. We document that firms from higher‐income countries on average include a larger number of different products into a single shipment and have a larger number of shipments per period with a lower average quantity and value. We then propose a mechanism that reconciles both facts. Specifically, multi‐product shipments allow firms to split fixed costs per shipment across many products and, therefore, reduce total shipment costs. As a result, higher‐income countries tend to have lower fixed costs per shipment. Finally, we construct a simple partial equilibrium model that enables us to quantify the potential increases in trade volumes and welfare created by the multi‐product shipment option.
Epidemiological changes, demographic drivers, and global years of life lost from suicide over the period 1990–2019
Authors: Zheng Yan , Molassiotis Alex , Tyrovolas Stefanos , Yip Paul S. F. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo quantify the contributions of epidemiological changes (age‐ and gender‐specific suicide rates) and demographic forces (population growth and aging) to global changes in years of life lost (YLLs) from suicide over the last 30 years.MethodA decomposition analysis was used to assess the impacts of population growth, population aging, and suicide prevalence on global changes in YLLs from suicide between 1990 and 2019.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, global YLLs from suicide reduced by 2,073,714 years (5.9%), from 35,246,316 years to 33,172,602 years. This was mainly due to the decline in age‐specific suicide rates, which reduced the overall YLLs from suicide by 20,185,691 years (973.4%). However, this decline was offset by the impacts of population growth and population aging, which increased global YLLs from suicide by 14,949,110 years (−720.9%) and 3,442,074 years (−166.0%), respectively. The combined effects of epidemiological and demographic drivers were also reflected in different trends in YLLs from suicide across genders and World Bank income level regions, with particularly notable increases in low‐ income and lower‐middle income countries and the aging population.ConclusionsWith the significant effects of epidemiological and demographic drivers, global and regional YLLs from suicide may be expected to change greatly in the future. Efforts to reduce the burden of suicide require appropriate allocation of resources for suicide‐prevention strategies and further consideration of demographic factors.
Optimized Load-Independent Hyperelastic Microcharacterization of Human Brain White Matter
Authors: Ramzanpour Mohammadreza , Hosseini-Farid Mohammad , Ziejewski Mariusz , Karami Ghodrat 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
A micromechanical methodology combined with genetic algorithm (GA) as a global optimization method is used to find the material properties of axons and extracellular matrix (ECM) in corpus callosum which is a part of human brain white matter. Studies have shown that axons are highly oriented in the ECM which enables us to approximate brain white matter as a unidirectional fibrous composite model. Using the one-term Ogden hyperelastic constitutive equations for the constituents and knowing the mechanical response of corpus callosum, GA optimization procedure is used in conjunction with finite element (FE) micromechanical analysis to find optimal material parameters for axon and ECM in three uniaxial loading scenarios of tension, compression, and simple shear. Moreover, by simultaneous fitting to the three loading modes' responses and applying Nelder–Mead simplex optimization method, best-fit parameters are found. The best-fit parameters can be used to approximate the behavior of axons and ECM in different uniaxial loading conditions with the minimum error and hence, can be interpreted as load-independent parameters. Micromechanical simulations by best-fit parameters show maximum stress increase of 2% and 29% for tension and shear and less than 1% reduction for compression mode compared to the case where optimal parameters are used. The findings and the methodology of this study can be employed for constitutive modeling of axonal fibers and its implementation in human head FE model where load-independent parameters are needed for simulating different loading scenarios.