bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining a threshold measurement of endometrial thickness for asymptomatic postmenopausal women: A tertiary centre case series
Authors: Stewart Amy , Gill Gurjot , Readman Emma , Grover Sonia R. , Mooney Samantha S. 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundAn incidental finding of a thickened endometrium on ultrasound in the postmenopausal patient without bleeding is a common presentation to gynaecological services; however there is limited evidence to guide clinical practice as to when hysteroscopic evaluation and endometrial sampling is required.AimsTo determine the endometrial thickness at which endometrial sampling is indicated in asymptomatic postmenopausal women referred with thickened endometrium on ultrasound.Materials and MethodsA single‐centre retrospective case series of postmenopausal women without bleeding undergoing hysteroscopy was conducted. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between a range of variables and pre‐malignant or malignant pathology and endometrial thickness. The optimal endometrial thickness threshold was identified to maximise model sensitivity.ResultsA total of 404 postmenopausal women were included in this study, having undergone a hysteroscopy at the study site between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2018. The mean (SD) age of patients at presentation was 65 (9.09) years and the mean body mass index was 29.86 kg/m2 (6.52). Of these women, nine (2.2%) were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and seven (1.7%) had endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. The most common histopathological finding was of a benign endometrial polyp (153: 37.9%). When including hyperplasia with or without atypia in histopathology of interest, a cut‐off of ≥9 mm provides the greatest sensitivity (83.3%) and specificity (63.8%) for a diagnosis of pre‐malignant or malignant pathology (classification accuracy of 64.8%; area under the receiver operating characteristic: 0.7358, 95% CI: 0.6439, 0.8278) in this cohort.ConclusionsUsing an endometrial thickness of ≥9 mm can be used as a cut‐off for endometrial sampling in postmenopausal women without bleeding.
Examining the patient profile and variance of management and in‐hospital outcomes for Australian adult burns patients
Authors: Tracy Lincoln M. , Darton Anne , Gabbe Belinda J. , Heath Kathryn , Kurmis Rochelle , Lisec Carl , Lo Cheng , Singer Yvonne , Wood Fiona M. , Cleland Heather J. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundBurn injuries are a common subtype of trauma. Variation in models of care impacts clinical measures of interest, but a nation‐wide examination of these measures has not been undertaken. Using data from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ), we explored variation between Australian adult burn services with respect to treatment and clinical measures of interest.MethodsData for admissions July 2016 to June 2020 were extracted. Clinical measures of interest included intensive care admission, skin grafting, in‐hospital death, unplanned readmissions, and length of stay (LOS). Estimated probabilities, means, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each service.ResultsThe BRANZ recorded 8365 admissions during the study period. Variation between specialist burn services in admissions, demographics, management, and clinical measures of interest were observed. This variation remained after accounting for covariates. Specifically, the adjusted proportion (95% CI) of in‐hospital mortality ranged from 0.15% (0.10–0.21%) to 1.22% (0.9–1.5%). The adjusted mean LOS ranged from 3.8 (3.3–4.3) to 8.2 (6.7–9.7) days.ConclusionsA decade after its launch, BRANZ data displays variation between Australian specialist burn services. We suspect differences in models of care between services contributes to this variation. Ongoing research has begun to explore reasons underlying how this variation influences clinical measures of interest. Further engagement with services about models of care will enhance understanding of this variation and develop evidence‐based guidelines for burn care in Australia.
The diversity and distribution of poroid wood‐inhabiting fungi of Chile is influenced by climate and host species
Authors: Acevedo Brandon M. , Naulin Paulette I. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe diversity and distribution of poroid wood‐inhabiting fungi in South America are relatively well known. However, the information from Chile is scarce and scattered. The host preference differs among fungi in this group, as some species depend on a specific host, whereas others are associated with multiple hosts. At the same time, their occurrence is influenced by climatic conditions. Thus, information about the host‐fungi relationship and climatic conditions of this group is needed to understand their distribution. Chile has 83 poroid wood‐inhabiting fungal species in six orders and 21 families, mainly Polyporales and Hymenochaetales, distributed from 30°S in Fray Jorge National Park to 56°S in Cape Horn, but Polyporales grow predominantly in forests with a higher precipitation range than Hymenochaetales. The biggest diversity resides in deciduous forests and sclerophyll forests in warm climates. Many species are specialist and mostly associated with angiosperms rather than gymnosperms. Poroid Gloeophyllales, Agaricales and Russulales are narrowly distributed.
Functional brain‐wide network mapping during acute stress exposure in rats: Interaction between the lateral habenula and cortical, amygdalar, hypothalamic and monoaminergic regions
Authors: Durieux Laura , Herbeaux Karine , Borcuk Christopher , Hildenbrand Cécile , Andry Virginie , Goumon Yannick , Barbelivien Alexandra , Mathis Chantal , Bataglia Demian , Majchrzak Monique , Lecourtier Lucas 
Published: August 2022

AbstractUpon stress exposure, a broad network of structures comes into play in order to provide adequate responses and restore homeostasis. It has been known for decades that the main structures engaged during the stress response are the medial prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus, the monoaminergic systems (noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin) and the periaqueductal gray. The lateral habenula (LHb) is an epithalamic structure directly connected to prefrontal cortical areas and to the amygdala, whereas it functionally interacts with the hippocampus. Also, it is a main modulator of monoaminergic systems. The LHb is activated upon exposure to basically all types of stressors, suggesting it is also involved in the stress response. However, it remains unknown if and how the LHb functionally interacts with the broad stress response network. In the current study we performed in rats a restraint stress procedure followed by immunohistochemical staining of the c‐Fos protein throughout the brain. Using graph theory‐based functional connectivity analyses, we confirm the principal hubs of the stress network (e.g., prefrontal cortex, amygdala and periventricular hypothalamus) and show that the LHb is engaged during stress exposure in close interaction with the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral septum and the medial habenula. In addition, we performed DREADD‐induced LHb inactivation during the same restraint paradigm in order to explore its consequences on the stress response network. This last experiment gave contrasting results as the DREADD ligand alone, clozapine‐N‐oxide, was able to modify the network.
Species dynamics in natural bacterial communities over multiple rounds of propagation
Authors: Groenenboom Anneloes E. , van den Heuvel Joost , Zwaan Bas J. , Smid Eddy J. , Schoustra Sijmen E. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractOur experimental work illustrates how microbial ecosystems can be shaped by selective pressures over long‐term ecological time scales. Natural microbial ecosystems generally consist of various co‐existing species, where community composition describes the frequency at which species or types are present. Overall functionality of the system is achieved by interacting species. Upon short‐term selection, for instance by transfer to a novel environment, community composition and functionality may change in a process referred to as species sorting. Various factors, such as initial community composition and selective pressures from the environment, may influence this change. Mabisi is a traditional fermented food from Zambia that naturally contains a bacterial community of around twenty unique bacterial types. We used six comparable but different natural bacterial Mabisi communities, each split into five identical replicates, for 16 propagation cycles in a novel, common laboratory environment. Composition of the bacterial communities changed upon propagation. The influence of four main factors on community composition, i.e. initial composition (history), impact of the environment (adaptation), changes due to interaction between species and random processes (chance) in species dynamics, was tested using maximum likelihood ratios. Initial community composition seemed to determine the change in community composition, followed by random processes. Interestingly, we observed convergence at the level of ecosystem functionality, which was measured as profiles of metabolic output. This suggests different combinations of species or types can achieve similar eco‐system functionality.
TIME GARDENS, TIME FIGURES, AND TIME REGIMES
Authors: Jansen Harry 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTIn Zeitgärten: Zeitfiguren in der Geschichte der Neuzeit, Lucian Hölscher distinguishes between an embodied time and an empty time. Simply put, an embodied time includes histories, while its counterpart includes only dates and chronologies. He prefers the latter, for it offers an alternative to Reinhart Koselleck's idea of different layers of time. According to Hölscher, historians can achieve more unity in history through his empty temporality than through Koselleck's time of various speeds. Hölscher connects time with space to form a framework that, in addition to eras, chronologies, years, dates, and so on, especially includes time patterns, which he calls Zeitfiguren. These time figures form the infrastructure of all kinds of historiography, as Hölscher shows through his analysis of the studies of twenty German and four non‐German authors. He exposes patterns such as progress, acceleration, and discontinuity, which form the building blocks of a philosophy of history based on the aforementioned empty time. Despite his criticism of Koselleck's ideas about time layers, Hölscher continues to follow in his footsteps, especially concerning his time of two levels, his future‐oriented time, and his analytical, nonlinguistic method, which neglects absolute presuppositions. That's a pity, but what is positive is Hölscher's invention and thorough explanation of time figures.
Home as a risk environment: Negotiating the boundaries of homes and social relationships in services for people using illicit drugs
Authors: Ranta Johanna , Räsänen Jenni‐Mari , Raitakari Suvi , Juhila Kirsi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study focuses on how clients using illicit drugs are supported in managing the boundaries of their homes to avoid the risks that social relationships may have on their daily lives at home. The data consist of 14 client–worker encounters audio‐recorded in 2017 in a Finnish home‐based service for people using drugs. Discursive interaction analysis and geographies of home were applied to examine how boundaries of homes are negotiated in relation to social relationships and how the home is constructed as a risk environment in the interactions of the service. The results highlight that the tensions between home and social relationships can be complex in the context of illicit drug use. Managing the boundaries of the home and social relationships deserves special attention among welfare services to promote their client's right to privacy and attachment to a home environment. This is also important for preventing the risk of homelessness.
Portfolio selection: should investors include crypto‐assets? A multiobjective approach
Authors: Youssef Meriem , Naoua Bouthaina Ben , Abdelaziz Fouad Ben , Chibane Messaoud 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper analyzes the diversification benefits of adding alternative crypto‐assets in a traditional portfolio, from the perspective of an investor who seeks to achieve multiple objectives. Our analysis is based on daily and weekly return data for eight different assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, for the crypto‐assets and NASDAQ, S&P500, Dow‐Jones, Crude‐Oil, and Gold, for traditional assets. We use both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample estimation procedures to analyze these data sets. We apply the weighted sum of deviations goal programming method to solve a bi‐objective optimization problem where investors optimize simultaneously portfolio risk and return. For a variety of investor characteristics, ranging from risk‐seeking to risk‐averse, we show that augmenting portfolios with alternative crypto‐currencies improves portfolio performance and the efficiency frontier, compared to standard portfolios. This improvement is even more observable for risk‐seeking investors, for both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample estimation procedures.
How exposure to real conspiracy theories motivates collective action and political engagement? Τhe moderating role of primed victimhood and underlying emotional mechanisms in the case of 2018 bushfire in Attica
Authors: Gkinopoulos Theofilos , Mari Silvia 
Published: August 2022

AbstractConspiracy theories concern milestone events, mobilizing various explanations. However, there is still emerging research on how conspiracy beliefs mobilize normative and nonnormative collective action, as well as political engagement and what the emotional underpinnings of such effects are. We conducted two experimental studies (Study 1, N = 301 and Study 2, N = 328) on exploring the relationship between exposure to conspiracy theories and normative, nonnormative collective action and political engagement, moderated by primed victimhood and mediated by fear/anxiety and anger emotional indices. Results in Study 1 showed that exposure to conspiracy theories decreases normative collective action, but increases nonnormative collective action, negative emotions of anger and fear/anxiety and political engagement. In Study 2 we confirmed findings of Study 1, but these effects were moderated by primed victimhood. Study 2 also showed that anger index, but not fear/anxiety index, significantly mediated the moderating interaction effect between exposure to conspiracy theories and primed victimhood on the (non)normative collective action and political engagement. Results are discussed in light of the broader impact of circulation of conspiracy theories and their effective tackle amidst societal traumas.
Causes and predictors of immediate and short‐term readmissions following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure procedure
Authors: Murthi Mukunthan , Vardar Ufuk , Sana Muhammad Khawar , Shaka Hafeez 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIntroductionPercutaneous left atrial appendage device closure has been offered as an alternative to anticoagulation for high‐risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Given the relative novelty of the procedure, we aimed to analyze the rates and causes of immediate (30 days) and short‐term (90 days) readmission after the procedure.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database for 2018. We studied 29 449 hospitalizations for percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) device closure.ResultsIn both the 30‐ and 90‐day cohorts, the most common causes of readmissions were gastrointestinal bleeding (16.1% and 14.8%), heart failure exacerbation (11.1% and 11.6%), and atrial fibrillation (6.2% and 7.2%). Female sex, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease, presence of heart failure, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome status, and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with higher odds of readmission in both cohorts.ConclusionOur study highlights the need for further deliberation on the choice and duration of anticoagulation periprocedurally after percutaneous LAA closure, especially among those with high bleeding risk. It also highlights the need for optimization of heart failure status periprocedurally to avoid readmissions for exacerbations.
Factors associated with emergency readmissions after acute stroke: A retrospective audit of two hospitals
Authors: Gordon Clare , Davidson Hannah , Dharmasiri Michelle , Davies Tanya 
Published: August 2022

AbstractRationale, Aims and ObjectivesEmergency hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge from hospital are considered a marker for the quality of hospital care, patient experience, the discharge process and integration with community services. This paper describes the frequency and variations in cause of emergency readmissions at 30 and 90 days following discharge after acute stroke from two stroke units.MethodsRetrospective data collection of Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) and Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) of consecutive acute stroke hospital discharges over 24 months from 2017 to 2019 from two specialist stroke units in England. HES data were used to calculate the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Covariates were analysed for their association with readmission rate, including: age; gender; CCI; length of stay for first stroke admission; living alone; discharge to a care home; discharge receiving stroke specialist early supported discharge (ESD) rehabilitation and stroke severity as determined by National Institute for Health Stroke Scale on stroke admission.ResultsFrom 2017 to 2019 there were 1999 live discharges with a primary diagnosis of stroke. Both hospitals had a trend of increasing readmission rates with increasing stroke severity and comorbidity. Longer length of stroke admission, especially for patients with increasing stroke severity, and patients receiving ESD rehabilitation after discharge reduced 90‐day readmissions. This association was stronger at 90 days than at 30 days. Different readmission event rates were found at 30 and 90 days and when events were compared between the two hospitals.ConclusionUnderstanding differences in readmission event rates between hospitals at 30 and 90 days can support local planning of patient needs in the first weeks after stroke discharge and to investigate ways for hospital to reduce the impact of readmission. It is recommended that stroke services use both 30 and 90‐day readmissions to inform service evaluation and improvement.
Evaluation of Edwardsiella piscicida basS and basR mutants as vaccine candidates in catfish against edwardsiellosis
Authors: Sayed Mohamed , Griffin Matt , Ware Cynthia , Ozdemir Ozan , Tekedar Hasan C. , Essa Manal , Karsi Attila , Lawrence Mark L. , Abdelhamed Hossam 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCatfish farming is the largest aquaculture industry in the United States and an important economic driver in several southeastern states. Edwardsiella piscicida is a Gram‐negative pathogen associated with significant losses in catfish aquaculture. Several Gram‐negative bacteria use the BasS/BasR two‐component system (TCS) to adapt to environmental changes and the host immune system. Currently, the role of BasS/BasR system in E. piscicida virulence has not been characterized. In the present study, two mutants were constructed by deleting the basS and basR genes in E. piscicida strain C07‐087. Both mutant strains were characterized for virulence and immune protection in catfish hosts. The EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR mutants were more sensitive to acidic environments and produced significantly less biofilm than the wild‐type. In vivo studies in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) revealed that both EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR were significantly attenuated compared with the parental wild‐type (3.57% and 4.17% vs. 49.16% mortalities). Moreover, there was significant protection, 95.2% and 92.3% relative percent survival (RPS), in channel catfish vaccinated with EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR against E. piscicida infection. Protection in channel catfish was associated with a significantly higher level of antibodies and upregulation of immune‐related genes (IgM, IL‐8 and CD8‐α) in channel catfish vaccinated with EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR strains compared with non‐vaccinated fish. Hybrid catfish (channel catfish ♀ × blue catfish ♂) challenges demonstrated long‐term protection against subsequent challenges with E. piscicida and E. ictaluri. Our findings demonstrate BasS and BasR contribute to acid tolerance and biofilm formation, which may facilitate E. piscicida survival in harsh environments. Further, our results show that EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR mutants were safe and protective in channel catfish fingerlings, although their virulence and efficacy in hybrid catfish warrant further investigation. These data provide information regarding an important mechanism of E. piscicida virulence, and it suggests EpΔbasS and EpΔbasR strains have potential as vaccines against this emergent catfish pathogen.
Hydrological model preselection with a filter sequence for the national flood forecasting system in Kenya
Authors: Wanzala Maureen A. , Stephens Elisabeth M. , Cloke Hannah L. , Ficchi Andrea 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe choice of model for operational flood forecasting is not simple because of different process representations, data scarcity issues, and propagation of errors and uncertainty down the modeling chain. An objective decision needs to be made for the choice of the modeling tools. However, this decision is complex because all parts of the process have inherent uncertainty. This paper provides a model selection with a filter sequence for flood forecasting applications in data scarce regions, using Kenya as an example building on the existing literature, concentrating on six aspects: (i) process representation, (ii) model applicability to different climatic and physiographic settings, (iii) data requirements and model resolution, (iv) ability to be downscaled to smaller scales, (v) availability of model code, and (vi) possibility of adoption of the model into an operation flood forecasting system. In addition, we review potential models based on the proposed criteria and apply a decision tree as a filter sequence to provide insights on the possibility of model applicability. We summarize and tabulate an evaluation of the reviewed models based on the proposed criteria and propose the potential model candidates for flood applications in Kenya. This evaluation serves as an objective model preselection criterion to propose a modeling tool that can be adopted in development and operational flood forecasting to the end‐users of an early warning system that can help mitigate the effects of floods in data scarce regions such as Kenya.