bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructural examination of lung “cryobiopsies” from a series of fatal COVID-19 cases hardly revealed infected cells
Authors: Cortese Katia , Holland Gudrun , Möller Lars , Gagliani Maria Cristina , Barisione Emanuela , Ball Lorenzo , Pelosi Paolo , Grillo Federica , Mastracci Luca , Fiocca Roberto , Laue Michael 
Published: March 2022

AbstractUltrastructural analysis of autopsy samples from COVID-19 patients usually suffers from significant structural impairment possibly caused by the rather long latency between death of the patient and an appropriate sample fixation. To improve structural preservation of the tissue, we obtained samples from ventilated patients using a trans-bronchial “cryobiopsy” within 30 min after their death and fixed them immediately for electron microscopy. Samples of six COVID-19 patients with a documented histopathology were systematically investigated by thin section electron microscopy. The different samples and areas inspected revealed the ultrastructural correlates of the different phases of diffuse alveolar damage, including detachment of the alveolar epithelium, hyperplasia of type 2 cells, exudates, and accumulation of extracellular material, such as the hyaline membranes and fibrin. Macrophages and neutrophilic granulocytes were regularly detected. Structural integrity of endothelium was intact in regions where the alveolar epithelium was already detached. Aggregates of erythrocytes, leukocytes with fibrin, and thrombocytes were not observed. Coronavirus particles were only found in and around very few cells in one of the six patient samples. The type and origin of these cells could not be assessed although the overall structural preservation of the samples allowed the identification of pulmonary cell types. Hence, the observed alveolar damage is not associated with virus presence or structural impairment due to ongoing replication at later stages of the disease in fatal cases, which implies that the lung damage in these patients is at least propagated by alternative mechanisms, perhaps, an inappropriate immune or stress response.
Clinical Outcomes and Patient Safety of Nasogastric Tube in Acute Stroke Patients
Authors: Rabaut Jodie , Thirugnanachandran Tharani , Singhal Shaloo , Martin Julie , Iievliev Svitlana , Ma Henry , Phan Thanh G. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNasogastric tube (NGT) is often used in stroke patients who are dysphagic (deglutition disorders) or have decreased conscious state. This method of feeding is assumed to have minimal complications. The aim of this study is to analyze complications associated with NGT and variables associated with mortality. Retrospective analysis of 250 acute stroke patients requiring NGT feeding between 2003 and 2020. There were 250 patients (median age 76 (IQR 68–83), 56.4% males, median time to NGT 1 day (IQR 0–3). Discussion with family prior to insertion of NGT recorded in 46 (18.4%). There were 123 cases (49.2%) of aspiration pneumonia. There were 188 (75.2%) NGT associated complications: 67 patients (26.8%) had failed insertion, 31 required multiple attempts, 129 patients (51.6%) pulled out NGT, 107 patients (42.8%) had NGT placed in wrong positions and require reinsertion, 20 cases in the lung, 5 pneumothorax cases, 97 in the gastro oesophageal junction or hiatus hernias, 1 case of oesophageal ulceration, 37 coiled, kinked or resistance. 78 cases the tips were not seen on chest X-ray (CXR), gastrointestinal bleeding in 9 cases, epistaxis in 6 cases), 96 patients (38.4%) required restrain. There were 91 death (36.4%) with 73 patients occurring during hospital admission and a further 18 died within 6 months. Death was more frequent in those age > 60 (72 of 216 patients versus 1 of 33 patients, p < 0.01). The median National Institute of Health Stroke Score/NIHSS of those with aspiration pneumonia was higher than those without (19.5 versus 15, p < 0.01). Decision tree analysis first split at age (≤ 59 versus > 59, p = 0.03), NIHSS (≤ 16 or > 16, p = 0.02), post-stroke pneumonia (p = 0.04) and multiple NGT insertion (p = 0.01). The area under the ROC curve was for this model was 0.75 (95% CI 0.69–0.80). Complications were common among patients with NGT complications. These findings may be used to inform discussions with families regarding NGT.
Cardiac biomarkers in pediatric CKD—a prospective follow-up study
Authors: Lindblad Ylva Tranæus , Vavilis Georgios , Chromek Milan , Quershi Abdul Rashid , Löwbeer Christian , Bárány Peter 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background
The N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitive cardiac-specific troponin T (hs-cTnT) are associated with abnormal cardiac structure and function and an increased risk of cardiovascular death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. There is limited knowledge about these cardiac markers in pediatric CKD patients.

Methods
Longitudinal levels of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were analyzed in 48 pediatric patients, 22 with CKD (GFR range 8.8–68 mL/min/1.73 m2) and 26 transplanted patients (CKD-T; GFR range 30–99 mL/min/1.73 m2). Follow-up was scheduled after 1 and 3 years. Longitudinal patterns and associations to kidney function, cardiovascular risk markers, and echocardiographic parameters were assessed.

Results
High NT-proBNP was present in 27% of CKD and 11% of CKD-T patients. Similarly 32% of CKD and 8% of CKD-T patients had elevated hs-cTnT levels. In longitudinal multivariate analyses, high log NT-proBNP was associated with low GFR (β =  − 0.01, p = 0.01) and elevated left ventricular mass index (LVMI; β = 0.02, p = 0.05). The strong association to LVMI remained when using GFR-adjusted NT-proBNP in similar analysis. Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) also had higher NT-proBNP (235 [146–301] ng/L) than patients without LVH (86 [11–477] ng/L), p = 0.02. High hs-cTnT over-time was also associated with low GFR (β =  − 0.007, p = 0.01) and a low cc-TDI e´/a´, indicating a worse LV diastolic function (β =  − 0.09, p = 0.05). This association did not persist for GFR-adjusted hs-cTnT.

Conclusions
NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT are elevated in pediatric CKD and CKD-T patients. GFR-adjusted NT-proBNP was associated with longitudinal levels of elevated LVMI suggesting this might be a marker for early subclinical myocardial damage.

Graphical abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.
The preventive care of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ): a position paper by Italian experts for dental hygienists
Authors: Mauceri Rodolfo , Coniglio Rita , Abbinante Antonia , Carcieri Paola , Tomassi Domenico , Panzarella Vera , Di Fede Olga , Bertoldo Francesco , Fusco Vittorio , Bedogni Alberto , Campisi Giuseppina 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Purpose

The prevention and early diagnosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is fundamental to reducing the incidence and progression of MRONJ. Many in the field believe that dental hygienists should play an integral role in primary and secondary MRONJ prevention. However, to date, very few publications in the literature have proposed standardised MRONJ protocols, which are dedicated to dental hygienists. The aim of this study was to provide guidance to the health care providers managing MRONJ.

Methods
The expert opinion in this study was developed by dental hygienists from the main Italian technical-scientific associations (Italian Dental Hygienists Association, AIDI and National Union of Dental Hygienists, UNID) and authors of the latest Italian recommendations regarding MRONJ from the field of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.

Results
The oral care protocol outlined in this position paper is focused on the role of dental hygienist in patients at risk or affected by MRONJ, and it regards 3 main issues: primary prevention, secondary prevention and supporting the treatment of MRONJ. Each issue contains easy-to-apply indications and procedures, as described by the authors, regarding the role of the dental hygienist.

Conclusion
Referring to the main issues under consideration (primary prevention, secondary prevention and the treatment of MRONJ), a clinical examination of periodontal tissue is critical in preventing MRONJ. It is the opinion of the authors of this study that the application of a periodontal screening score is fundamental in defining personalised strategies for patients at risk of MRONJ. By means of these basic procedures, a protocol for assisting the health care provider and the presentation of a practical approach for patients at risk or affected by MRONJ are described in this study.
Evading behavioral classifiers: a comprehensive analysis on evading ransomware detection techniques
Authors: De Gaspari Fabio , Hitaj Dorjan , Pagnotta Giulio , De Carli Lorenzo , Mancini Luigi V. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractRecent progress in machine learning has led to promising results in behavioral malware detection. Behavioral modeling identifies malicious processes via features derived by their runtime behavior. Behavioral features hold great promise as they are intrinsically related to the functioning of each malware, and are therefore considered difficult to evade. Indeed, while a significant amount of results exists on evasion of static malware features, evasion of dynamic features has seen limited work. This paper examines the robustness of behavioral ransomware detectors to evasion and proposes multiple novel techniques to evade them. Ransomware behavior differs significantly from that of benign processes, making it an ideal best case for behavioral detectors, and a difficult candidate for evasion. We identify and propose a set of novel attacks that distribute the overall malware workload across a small set of independent, cooperating processes in order to avoid the generation of significant behavioral features. Our most effective attack decreases the accuracy of a state-of-the-art classifier from 98.6 to 0% using only 18 cooperating processes. Furthermore, we show our attacks to be effective against commercial ransomware detectors in a black-box setting. Finally, we evaluate a detector designed to identify our most effective attack, as well as discuss potential directions to mitigate our most advanced attack.
Absence of endogenous carnosine synthesis does not increase protein carbonylation and advanced lipoxidation end products in brain, kidney or muscle
Authors: Wang-Eckhardt Lihua , Becker Ivonne , Wang Yong , Yuan Jing , Eckhardt Matthias 
Published: March 2022

AbstractCarnosine and other histidine-containing dipeptides are expected to be important anti-oxidants in vertebrates based on various in vitro and in vivo studies with exogenously administered carnosine or its precursor β-alanine. To examine a possible anti-oxidant role of endogenous carnosine, mice lacking carnosine synthase (Carns1−/−) had been generated and were examined further in the present study. Protein carbonylation increased significantly between old (18 months) and aged (24 months) mice in brain and kidney but this was independent of the Carns1 genotype. Lipoxidation end products were not increased in 18-month-old Carns1−/− mice compared to controls. We also found no evidence for compensatory increase of anti-oxidant enzymes in Carns1−/− mice. To explore the effect of carnosine deficiency in a mouse model known to suffer from increased oxidative stress, Carns1 also was deleted in the type II diabetes model Leprdb/db mouse. In line with previous studies, malondialdehyde adducts were elevated in Leprdb/db mouse kidney, but there was no further increase by additional deficiency in Carns1. Furthermore, Leprdb/db mice lacking Carns1 were indistinguishable from conventional Leprdb/db mice with respect to fasting blood glucose and insulin levels. Taken together, Carns1 deficiency appears not to reinforce oxidative stress in old mice and there was no evidence for a compensatory upregulation of anti-oxidant enzymes. We conclude that the significance of the anti-oxidant activity of endogenously synthesized HCDs is limited in mice, suggesting that other functions of HCDs play a more important role.
The added value of a micro-level ecological approach when mapping self-regulatory control processes and externalizing symptoms during adolescence: a systematic review
Authors: Urben Sébastien , Constanty Lauriane , Lepage Caroline , Rosselet Amoussou Joëlle , Durussel Julie , Turri Fiorella , Wouters Emilie , Mürner-Lavanchy Ines , Plessen Kerstin Jessica 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDeficits in self-regulatory control (SRC) represent a core characteristic of externalizing (EXT) symptoms (e.g., rule-breaking behavior or aggressive behaviors) in adolescents. This review aims to specify the added value of ecologically valid assessments at a micro-level when examining the associations between SRC and EXT symptoms in adolescents. This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020. The search strategy addressed the added value of (1) naturalistic assessment for the understanding of the relationship between (2) SRC and (3) EXT symptoms in (4) adolescents. We conducted comprehensive searches in bibliographic databases. An additional search was conducted in Google Scholar and supplementary studies were identified through backward and forward citation tracking. Twenty-four studies (n = 4071 adolescents) met the inclusion criteria. The methods used to assess naturalistic aspects included the experience sampling method (ecological momentary- or ambulatory assessment) and the time-course approach (i.e., real-time assessment of SRC processes referring to situations approximating real-life experience where SRC are to be engaged such as in frustrating situations). Micro-level ecological assessments, when mapping the intra-individual relationships between SRC processes and EXT symptoms over time in adolescents within their natural context (i.e., real world) of expression in real time, added a finer-grained observation alongside with a higher ecological validity. Micro-level approaches may enhance the understanding of the complex interplay between SRC and EXT symptoms in adolescence, especially in interventional studies, allowing for the acquisition of endpoints with a higher relevance for everyday functioning.
Star finches Neochmia ruficauda have a visual preference for white dot patterns: a possible case of trypophilia
Authors: Mizuno Ayumi , Soma Masayo 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMany animals have polka dot patterns on their body surface, some of which are known to have signalling functions; however, their evolutionary origins remain unclear. Dot patterns can trigger a fear response (trypophobia) in humans and are known to function as aposematic signals in non-human animals, suggesting that dots may deserve attention for biological reasons. Interestingly in many birds, plumage dot patterns serve for social/sexual signalling. To understand their evolution, we have focused on the sensory bias hypothesis, which predicts the role of pre-existing sensory preference driven by natural selection in shaping signal design. Our previous phylogenetic comparative study supported the hypothesis and showed that diet-driven visual preference promoted the evolution of plumage patterns, as there was an evolutionary correlation between termite-eating (white roundish gregarious prey) and the presence of plumage dot patterns in species of the family Estrildidae. This suggests that these species possess an intrinsic preference for dots. To test this, we compared the responses of an Estrildid species with dot plumage pattern (star finch Neochmia ruficauda) towards simultaneously presented monochrome-printed white dot vs white stripe patterns under both food-deprived and -supplied conditions. Overall, star finches preferred dots to stripes. They showed foraging-like behaviours almost only toward dots when hungry and gazed at dots frequently even when food was available, suggesting both hunger-related and hunger-neutral dot preferences. These results are rather surprising, given how strongly the subjects were attracted to abstract dot patterns without organic structure, but provided good support for the sensory bias hypothesis.
Scaled-up and economic assessment approach of the split-phase glycolysis process for the recycling of flexible polyurethane foam wastes
Authors: Del Amo J. , Simón D. , Ramos M. J. , Rodríguez J. F. , De Lucas A. , Borreguero A. M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe economic viability of the split-phase glycolysis process for the recycling of any kind of flexible polyurethane foam waste employing crude glycerol as cleavage agent has been demonstrated. First, experiments at pilot plant scale were carried out to check that the process can be extrapolated to larger scales. With the goal of scaling-up the process from laboratory scale to pilot plant, geometric similarity criteria were applied together with dynamic similarity for laminar flow in agitated tank reactors. Hence, a pilot plant installation was designed with geometrically similar equipment to those used for lab scale, obtaining analogous results in terms of recovered polyol properties. Then, the basic design of a split-phase glycolysis industrial plant with a capacity for treating 270 Tm per year of flexible PU foams scraps was proposed. Finally, the economic feasibility of such recycling process was confirmed because of the obtention of a Net Present Value (NPV) of 1,464,555€, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 27.99%, and a payback time between 4 and 5 years.
Protective Performance of Helmets and Goggles in Mitigating Brain Biomechanical Response to Primary Blast Exposure
Authors: Yu Xiancheng , Ghajari Mazdak 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe current combat helmets are primarily designed to mitigate blunt impacts and ballistic loadings. Their protection against primary blast wave is not well studied. In this paper, we comprehensively assessed the protective capabilities of the advanced combat helmet and goggles against blast waves with different intensity and directions. Using a high-fidelity human head model, we compared the intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cavitation, and brain strain and strain rate predicted from bare head, helmet-head and helmet-goggles-head simulations. The helmet was found to be effective in mitigating the positive ICP (24–57%) and strain rate (5–34%) in all blast scenarios. Goggles were found to be effective in mitigating the positive ICP in frontal (6–16%) and lateral (5–7%) blast exposures. However, the helmet and goggles had minimal effects on mitigating CSF cavitation and even increased brain strain. Further investigation showed that wearing a helmet leads to higher risk of cavitation. In addition, their presence increased the head kinetic energy, leading to larger strains in the brain. Our findings can improve our understanding of the protective effects of helmets and goggles and guide the design of helmet pads to mitigate brain responses to blast.
Enhancing agricultural and industrial productivity through freshwater withdrawals and management: implications for the BRICS countries
Authors: Egbo Obiamaka P. , Ezeaku Hillary Chijindu , Okolo Victor O. , Anisiuba Chika A. , Ibe Godwin Imo , Okeke Onuora M. , Igwe Paul Agu 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis paper analysed the effect of freshwater withdrawals and management on agricultural and industrial sectors productivity in the emerging market economies. The auto-regressive distributed lag model and the panel analyses were employed in our estimations. Our result revealed that Brazil had better water use efficiency in agricultural production with annual withdrawals which contribute significantly and positively to the increase in crop and livestock index. In contrast, annual withdrawals for agriculture were considered to be least efficient in Russia, followed by China and India, although, in South Africa, the result suggested an insignificant positive effect in the incremental index. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that freshwater withdrawals have a significant positive impact on industrial outputs in South Africa. Similarly, water withdrawals were positively related to industrial sector productivity in China and Russia. Brazil and India appear to be the least efficient countries where withdrawals impacted negatively (and significantly for Brazil) on industrial sector outputs. Our panel analyses showed that freshwater withdrawals were positively associated with crop and livestock production index and industrial outputs in the BRICS economies. However, the magnitude of the impacts was only significant for the industrial sector. Moreover, investments and private participation in water and sanitation projects impacted significantly and positively in productivity in both sectors.
Accretion and outflows in young stars with CUBES
Authors: Alcalá J. M. , Cupani G. , Evans C. J. , Franchini M. , Nisini B. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe science case on studies of accretion and outflows in low-mass (<1.5$$M_{\odot }$$

M
⊙

) young stellar objects (YSOs) with the new CUBES instrument is presented. We show the need for a high-sensitivity, near-ultraviolet (NUV) spectrograph like CUBES, with a resolving power at least four times that of X-Shooter and combined with UVES via a fibrelink for simultaneous observations. Simulations with the CUBES exposure time calculator and the end-to-end software show that a significant gain in signal-to-noise can be achieved compared to current instruments, for both the spectral continuum and emission lines, including for relatively embedded YSOs. Our simulations also show that the low-resolution mode of CUBES will be able to observe much fainter YSOs (V $$\sim$$
∼
22 mag) in the NUV than we can today, allowing us extend studies to YSOs with background-limited magnitudes. The performance of CUBES in terms of sensitivity in the NUV will provide important new insights into the evolution of circumstellar disks, by studying the accretion, jets/winds and photo-evaporation processes, down to the low-mass brown dwarf regime. CUBES will also open-up new science as it will be able to observe targets that are several magnitudes fainter than those reachable with current instruments, facilitating studies of YSOs at distances of $$\sim$$
∼
kpc scale. This means a step-change in the field of low-mass star formation, as it will be possible to expand the science case from relatively local star-forming regions to a large swathe of distances within the Milky Way.