bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Platelet transfusions and thrombocytopenia in intensive care units: Protocol for an international inception cohort study (PLOT‐ICU)
Authors: Anthon Carl Thomas , Pène Frédéric , Perner Anders , Azoulay Elie , Puxty Kathryn , Van De Louw Andry , Barratt‐Due Andreas , Chawla Sanjay , Castro Pedro , Povoa Pedro , Coelho Luis , Metaxa Victoria , Munshi Laveena , Kochanek Matthias , Liebregts Tobias , Kander Thomas , Hästbacka Johanna , Møller Morten Hylander , Russell Lene ,   PLOT‐ICU Investigators and the Nine‐I Study Group
Published: July 2022

AbstractIntroductionThrombocytopenia is frequent in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and has been associated with worse outcome. Platelet transfusions are often used in the management of ICU patients with severe thrombocytopenia. However, the reported frequencies of thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion practices in the ICU vary considerably. Therefore, we aim to provide contemporary epidemiological data on thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion practices in the ICU.MethodsWe will conduct an international inception cohort, including at least 1000 acutely admitted adult ICU patients. Routinely available data will be collected at baseline (ICU admission), and daily during ICU stay up to a maximum of 90 days. The primary outcome will be the number of patients with thrombocytopenia (a recorded platelet count < 150 × 109/L) at baseline and/or during ICU stay. Secondary outcomes include mortality, days alive and out of hospital, days alive without life‐support, the number of patients with at least one bleeding episode, at least one thromboembolic event and at least one platelet transfusion in the ICU, the number of platelet transfusions and the indications for transfusion. The primary and secondary outcomes will be presented descriptively. In addition, we will assess risk factors for developing thrombocytopenia during ICU stay and the association between thrombocytopenia at baseline and 90‐day mortality using logistic regression analyses.ConclusionThe outlined international PLOT‐ICU cohort study will provide contemporary epidemiological data on the burden and clinical significance of thrombocytopenia in adult ICU patients and describe the current platelet transfusion practice.
Sleep and circadian differences between light and heavy adult alcohol drinkers
Authors: Burgess Helen J. , Rizvydeen Muneer , Kikyo Fumitaka , Kebbeh Nema , Tan Michael , Roecklein Kathryn A. , Hasler Brant P. , King Andrea C. , Cao Dingcai 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundNumerous studies have reported that eveningness is associated with increased alcohol consumption. However, biological markers of circadian timing, such as dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) and circadian photoreceptor responsivity (post‐illumination pupil response, PIPR), have rarely been assessed in the context of habitual alcohol consumption. This study aimed to examine sleep, circadian timing, and photoreceptor responsivity in adult alcohol drinkers.MethodsParticipants (21 to 45 years) included 28 light and 50 heavy drinkers. The 8‐day study consisted of a week of ad lib sleep monitored with wrist actigraphy, followed by a 9‐h laboratory session with a photoreceptor responsivity and circadian phase assessment.ResultsThe heavy drinkers obtained on average 28 more minutes of sleep (p = 0.002) and reported more eveningness than the light drinkers (p = 0.029). There was a trend for a shorter DLMO‐midsleep interval (p = 0.059) in the heavy drinkers, reflecting a tendency for them to sleep at an earlier circadian phase. The PIPR in the heavy drinkers was significantly smaller than in the light drinkers (p = 0.032), suggesting reduced circadian photoreceptor responsivity in the heavy drinkers. A larger PIPR was significantly associated with a later DLMO in the light drinkers (r = 0.44, p = 0.019), but this relationship was absent in the heavy drinkers (r = −0.01, p = 0.94).ConclusionsThese results are consistent with earlier reports of more eveningness and a shorter DLMO‐midsleep interval being associated with heavier alcohol drinking. The novel finding of reduced circadian photoreceptor responsivity in heavy drinkers is consistent with prior rodent studies. Future studies should explore the impact of habitual alcohol consumption on other measures of circadian photoreceptor responsivity.
Association between second mesiobuccal canal and apical periodontitis in retrospective cone‐beam computed tomographic images
Authors: Colakoglu Gizem , Kaya Buyukbayram Isil , Elcin Mehmet Ali , Garip Berker Yildiz , Ercalik Yalcinkaya Sebnem 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis retrospective cone‐beam computed tomography study aimed to investigate the possible associations of apical periodontitis (AP) with missed/unmissed second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals. MB2 canals and AP were investigated in 257 endodontically treated and 673 untreated maxillary molars, and the former were analyzed regarding missed/unmissed MB2 canals. The chi‐squared test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistics. The prevalence of MB2 canals in maxillary first molars was higher than that in second molars (p = 0.001). MB2 canals were 1.751 times more common in males than in females (OR: 1.751; 95% CI: 1.334–2.297), with a significant difference in the 18–39 age groups (p = 0.005). The risk for AP was 5.5 times greater in endodontically treated maxillary molars with missed MB2 canals than in those with unmissed MB2 canals (p = 0.012) (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.549–19.527). The findings of this study reveal that the likelihood of the MB2 canal is higher in the maxillary first molars of young adult males.
Comparative morphology and morphometry of the mesencephalic tectum in the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus)
Authors: Ogbonnaya Obioma , Ibe Samuel Chikera , Ikpegbu Ekele 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe caudal colliculus serves as an integrative station and switchboard, controlling nucleus of lower auditory pathway and motor‐auditory reflex production. The rostral colliculus coordinates reflexive movement of the head, neck, eye and focus the lens for visual tracking of objects. There is no information comparing mesencephalic tectum among neonates, juveniles and adults of African giant rat (AGR). Hence, this study aimed to compare the gross features and morphometric parameters of mesencephalic tectum postnatally in AGR. The following were found and reported: (a) Paired dorsal tips of caudal colliculi were observed through transverse fissure of the intact brain and so, corpora quadrigemina were partly occluded by cerebral cortex in neonates and juveniles. (b) The lateral and medial geniculate bodies were visible, though the lateral was grossly bigger than the medial in adults and juveniles but, only the lateral was distinguishable in neonates. (c) Live body weight, absolute brain weight, caudal colliculus width, nose–rump and tail lengths increased as AGRs developed with age; mean values of rostral colliculus weight, caudal colliculus height and weight of caudal colliculus in neonates and juveniles were statistically same; while midbrain weight and rostral colliculus height tends to decrease as rats aged. (d) The mean weight of caudal colliculi and width of rostral colliculi were not affected by age. (e) Caudal colliculi were grossly wider than rostral in juveniles and adults, but not neonates. Established regression formulae are necessary to avoid future sacrifice of this rodent.
Geometric analysis of otoliths in Cyprinion kais and Cyprinion macrostomus
Authors: Dörtbudak Muhammed Yaşar , Demiraslan Yasin , Demircioğlu İsmail 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCyprinion macrostomus and Cyprinion kais are species that inhabit in the Tigris River. These fishes, formerly considered as the same species, have been listed as different species by taking differences in jaw and mouth structures into consideration. The mouth shape of C. kais is distinct and small. The mouth is convex and has broad lateral lobes. The mouth of C. macrostomus is wider, is convex and lacks lateral lobes. This study aimed to determine the shape‐dependent variability in the breed and sex factors of otoliths of the fish species C. kais and C. macrostomus. For this purpose, 30 right otoliths from both species were used. Geometric morphometric analyses were performed by marking semilandmarks on the otoliths. When examining the results of the analysis, it was found that the first base component accounted for the total shape difference by 26.871% and the first three base components accounted for the total shape difference by 52.235%. In the regression analysis of shape on dimension, it was found that 2.1020% of shape could be estimated in terms of size according to the groups. In the wire‐frame wrap graph showing group‐based shape differences, it was found that C. kais was wider than C. macrostomus at the level of the dorsal margin and the rostrum region of C. macrostomus was larger and sharply pointed. Consequently, it is believed that the data of the study can be reference for many disciplines, especially for taxonomic classification of species.
Women on boards and corporate environmental performance in Italian companies: The importance of nomination background
Authors: De Masi Sara , Słomka‐Gołębiowska Agnieszka , Paci Andrea 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe relationship between women on boards and corporate environmental performance is puzzling because of the inconclusiveness of previous research. We study this association in light of the homophily and self‐construct theories. Based on data on Italian FTSE‐MIB companies from 2008 to 2017, we investigate how the significance of women directors in enhancing environmental performance varies with the nature of their nomination background. To understand the mechanisms behind the role of women on boards in environmental performance, we differentiate women according to their nomination background (family vs. non‐family). Our panel regression results document that, upon reaching a threshold of three women on boards (the so‐called critical mass), family women directors affect negatively corporate environmental performance. Breaking down the environmental performance powered by subsequential companies' actions into (1) firm environmental technology use, (2) firm resource use efficiency, and (3) corporate emission reduction, we also provide evidence for the negative effect of family women directors. This may suggest that family women directors do not reveal their communal characteristics; thus, they are not as sensitive to environmental issues as non‐family women directors.
Companies to promote CSR impact on employees: High‐performance work systems as a moderator
Authors: Liang‐Chih Huang , Tzeng‐Tian Huang , Chien‐Bin Hsu 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has been of much public concern in recent years. This study uses the Conservation of Resources Theory to discuss the measures that organizations can take to ensure that resources are not lost when they face institutional pressures. We distributed questionnaires to Taiwanese small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in two phases. The results reveal the following measures pertinent to enterprise management bodies: (1) SMEs faced with external institutional pressure must promote CSR strategies to secure existing organizational resources; (2) spreading awareness on and taking actions for CSR promotion by SMEs, in response to changes in the external institutional environment, can improve corporate image and increase employees' intention to stay; and (3) measures concerning high‐performance work systems can help unleash the full potential of human resource management and facilitate enterprises to introduce CSR. Some important theoretical implications emerge in this study. Based on the Conservation of Resources Theory, we argue that the stressor faced by SMEs is not a threat, but a factor that creates or preserves organizational resources. Through the application of this theory, we enrich the CSR model. Further, the feasibility of high‐performance work systems, as a moderator of institutional pressure, is determined.
The recurrent TCF4 missense variant p.(Arg389Cys) causes a neurodevelopmental disorder overlapping with but not typical for Pitt‐Hopkins syndrome
Authors: Popp Bernt , Bienvenu Thierry , Giurgea Irina , Metreau Julia , Kraus Cornelia , Reis André , Fischer Jan , Bralo María Palomares , Tenorio‐Castaño Jair , Lapunzina Pablo , Almoguera Berta , Lopez‐Grondona Fermina , Sticht Heinrich , Zweier Christiane 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTCF4 haploinsufficiency by deletions, truncating variants or loss‐of‐function missense variants within the DNA‐binding and protein interacting bHLH domain causes Pitt‐Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). This neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is characterized by severe intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, hyperbreathing and a typical facial gestalt. Only few aberrations of the N‐terminus of TCF4 were associated with milder or atypical phenotypes. By personal communication and searching databases we assembled six cases with the novel, recurrent, de novo missense variant c.1165C > T, p.(Arg389Cys) in TCF4. This variant was identified by diagnostic exome or panel sequencing and is located upstream of the bHLH domain. All six individuals presented with moderate to severe ID with language impairment. Microcephaly occurred in two individuals, epilepsy only in one, and no breathing anomalies or myopia were reported. Facial gestalt showed some aspects of PTHS but was rather non‐specific in most individuals. Interestingly, the variant is located within the AD2 activation domain next to a highly conserved coactivator‐recruitment motif and might alter interaction with coactivator proteins independently from the bHLH domain. Our findings of a recurrent missense variant outside the bHLH domain in six individuals with an ID phenotype overlapping with but not typical for PTHS delineate a novel genotype–phenotype correlation for TCF4‐related NDDs.
Determining the effect of enzymatic pretreatment on the low temperature dyeability of polyamide fabrics
Authors: Atav Rıza , Soysal A. Burak , Çağman F. Nilay , Karadağ N. Gökçe 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn this study, by pretreating polyamide 6/elastane knitted fabrics with serine‐type protease enzyme, the aim was to reduce dyeing temperatures. It is known that the elasticity of elastane fibres is damaged in dyeing at high temperatures. On the other hand, to enable efficient dyeing, it is necessary to use boiling temperatures in synthetic fibres such as polyamide, or even mild high temperature conditions, to support more uniform dyeing. Protease enzymes are enzymes that hydrolyse amide bonds, and consequently, new amine and carboxyl groups are released in fibre macromolecules, resulting in an increase in the functional group content to which anionic dyes can bind. In this study, to compensate for the loss of colour yield caused by lowering the dyeing temperature, an increase in the functional groups was provided by enzymatic pretreatment. For this purpose, the fabrics were pretreated with a commercial serine‐type protease enzyme then dyed with 1:2 metal complex dyes at different temperatures. The effects of enzymatic pretreatment on colour, fastness, fibre surface characteristics and fabric strength were investigated.
Becoming In‐visible: Family Farms in Rural Latvia in the Framework of theEUCommon Agricultural Policy
Authors: Thiemann André , Rolle Kristīne 
Published: July 2022

AbstractHistorically, Latvia has been integrated into several (multi‐) national state formations that have shaped agricultural practices. Beginning in 1991, newly independent Latvia reintroduced a family farming model and prepared to join the European Union. The ability of small farmers to adapt to and implement the new EU regulations that support farming either as efficient food production or alternatively as cultural landscaping has been contingent upon many socio‐economic and cultural factors. Today, most family farmers have only reluctantly formalized their practices to satisfy the requirements of the EU, while others have readily embraced the current discourses, policies, and laws to strategically access agricultural funds and scale up operations. We discuss these agricultural tensions by contrasting two forms of selective formalization: the reluctant “projectification” of a subsistence farm by founding a cultural NGO vs. the strategic founding of an “entrepreneurial” cooperative of sea buckthorn producers to access transnational markets and development subsidies.
(Un)sustainabilities in a Viticulture Region (El Penedès): Market Economy, Public Policies, and Territorial Model
Authors: Homs Ramírez de la Piscina Patricia 
Published: July 2022

AbstractEl Penedès is a traditional viticulture area, and this activity has been essential to the region's economic development and the construction of its identity. Throughout the last three centuries, family and subsistence farming became a market‐oriented economy, characterized by significant mechanization, grape monocultures, and dependence on chemical inputs. Small‐scale agriculture therefore shifted from being the centre of household economies to a job or a supplementary source of income for a small number of family members. In the summer of 2019, grape prices dropped to levels that jeopardized the sustainability of many small farms, whose final selling prices were not even sufficient to cover production costs. In this context, I have observed through two years of fieldwork (participant observation and interviews) how the viticulture sector suffers aggressive intrusion by agribusiness, positioning farmers at the confluence of a market economy monopolized by three large companies, regulation at different scales that has proved inefficient in ensuring the sustainability of small‐scale agriculture, and a territorial model that reallocates agricultural land to logistics infrastructure. This article concludes that despite farmers' demands for just prices to ensure economic viability and dignity, the sustainability of small farms is effectively under threat today in El Penedès. Indeed, farmers are entangled in a capitalist moral economy that impedes the possibility of imagining real non‐exploitative socioeconomic relations and thereby reproduces and reinforces existing patterns of capital accumulation.
From Goliath to David: Interventricular fibroma
Authors: Negri Francesco , Burelli Massimo , Collini Valentino , Pavoni Daisy , Puppato Michela , Imazio Massimo 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe describe an interventricular septum mass in 1 years old child, followed during 14 years. The mass did not grow up over time, the patient did not experienced any arrythmia, and did not developed heart failure. A complete diagnosis of interventricular Fibroma was made at the age of 14 years old when the patient underwent to cardiac MRI. A close follow up was in this case the winner strategy, saving him from an early unnecessary cardiac surgery.
Unsupervised machine learning demonstrates the prognostic value of TAPSE/PASP ratio among hospitalized patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Jani Vivek , Kapoor Karan , Meyer Joseph , Lu Jim , Goerlich Erin , Metkus Thomas S. , Madrazo Jose A. , Michos Erin , Wu Katherine , Bavaro Nicole , Kutty Shelby , Hays Allison G. , Mukherjee Monica 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is a validated index of right ventricular‐pulmonary arterial (RV‐PA) coupling with prognostic value. We determined the predictive value of TAPSE/PASP ratio and adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19.MethodsTwo hundred and twenty‐nine consecutive hospitalized racially/ethnically diverse adults (≥18 years of age) admitted with COVID‐19 between March and June 2020 with clinically indicated transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) that included adequate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocities for calculation of PASP were studied. The exposure of interest was impaired RV‐PA coupling as assessed by TAPSE/PASP ratio. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints comprised of ICU admission, incident acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and systolic heart failure.ResultsOne hundred and seventy‐six patients had both technically adequate TAPSE measurements and measurable TR velocities for analysis. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, race/ethnicity, diabetes mellitus, and smoking status, log(TAPSE/PASP) had a significantly inverse association with ICU admission (p = 0.015) and death (p = 0.038). ROC analysis showed the optimal cutoff for TAPSE/PASP for death was 0.51 mm mmHg–1 (AUC = 0.68). Unsupervised machine learning identified two groups of echocardiographic function. Of all echocardiographic measures included, TAPSE/PASP ratio was the most significant in predicting in‐hospital mortality, further supporting its significance in this cohort.ConclusionImpaired RV‐PA coupling, assessed noninvasively via the TAPSE/PASP ratio, was predictive of need for ICU level care and in‐hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 suggesting utility of TAPSE/PASP in identification of poor clinical outcomes in this population both by traditional statistical and unsupervised machine learning based methods.
Elevated fasting insulin results in snoring: A view emerged from causal evaluation of glycemic traits and snoring
Authors: Yi Minhan , Fei Quanming , Liu Kun , Zhao Wangcheng , Chen Ziliang , Zhang Yuan 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundSnoring and impaired glucose metabolism are common clinical manifestations and associated. The purpose of our study is to estimate the causal associations between snoring and glycemic traits.MethodsWe compared the weighted mean differences (WMD) for fasting insulin (FINS), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2 h‐glucose post‐challenge (2hGlu) levels between snorers and non‐snorers by meta‐analysis. Then, we obtained summary statistics from published GWAS of snoring and glycemic traits to perform bidirectional two‐sample MR. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was applied as major estimate while MR Egger, Weighted median and MR‐Robust Adjusted Profile Score (RAPS) played a subsidiary role.ResultsSnoring participants had higher FBG (WMD = 0.14 mmol/L, 95%CI = [0.10,0.19]), HbA1c (WMD = 0.10%, 95%CI = [0.07,0.13]), FINS (WMD = 0.92μIU/mL, 95%CI = [0.59,1.26]) and 2hGlu (WMD = 0.30 mmol/L, 95%CI = [0.06,0.55]) levels than non‐snorers. Further, elevated FINS levels shown robust causal effect on snoring (IVW: OR = 1.07, 95%CI = [1.02,1.12], p = 2.2 × 10−3), which was consistent by complementary methods of MR Egger (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = [1.01–1.30], p = 4.72 × 10−2), Weighted median (OR = 1.11, 95%CI = [1.07,1.15], p = 1.53 × 10−7) and MR RAPS (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = [1.05,1.10], p = 2.81 × 10−9). Such causal situation was stable after identifying and removing the outliers in sensitivity analysis. However, there was no causality of snoring on increasing FINS levels. Additionally, there were no causal associations between snoring and other three traits of FBG, HbA1c and 2hGlu levels from either direction.ConclusionsSnorers are subjected to higher FBG, HbA1c, FINS and 2hGlu levels, and elevated FINS levels further provides robust causality on snoring, suggesting that behind common snoring may lie hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance.