bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Preoperative Antithrombin Supplementation in Patients at Risk for Antithrombin Deficiency After Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Moront Michael George , Woodward Michael K. , Essandoh Michael K. , Avery Edwin G. , Reece T. Brett , Brzezinski Marek , Spiess Bruce , Shore-Lesserson Linda , Chen Junliang , Henriquez Waleska , Barceló Miquel , Despotis George , Karkouti Keyvan , Levy Jerrold H. , Ranucci Marco , Mondou Elsa ,   on behalf of the Clinical Thrombate Study Group
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND:
Antithrombin (AT) activity is reduced during cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which is associated with adverse outcomes. Preoperative AT supplementation, to achieve >58% and <100% AT activity, may potentially reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality in cardiac operations with CPB. This prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative treatment with AT supplementation in patients at risk for low AT activity after undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

METHODS:
A total of 425 adult patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either a single dose of AT (n = 213) to achieve an absolute increase of 20% above pretreatment AT activity or placebo (n = 212) before surgery. The study duration was approximately 7 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was the percentage of patients with any component of a major morbidity composite (postoperative mortality, stroke, acute kidney injury [AKI], surgical reexploration, arterial or venous thromboembolic events, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and infection) in the 2 groups. Secondary end points included AT activity, blood loss, transfusion requirements, duration of intensive care unit (ICU), and hospital stays. Safety was also assessed.

RESULTS:
Overall, 399 patients (men, n = 300, 75.2%) with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 66.1 (11.7) years, with the majority undergoing complex surgical procedures (n = 266, 67.9%), were analyzed. No differences in the percentage of patients experiencing morbidity composite outcomes between groups were observed (AT-treated 68/198 [34.3%] versus placebo 58/194 [29.9%]; P = .332; relative risk, 1.15). After AT infusion, AT activity was significantly higher in the AT group (108% [42–143]) versus placebo group (76% [40–110]), and lasted up to postoperative day 2. At ICU, the frequency of patients with AT activity ≥58% in the AT group (81.5%) was significantly higher (P < .001) versus placebo group (43.2%). Secondary end point analysis did not show any advantage of AT over placebo group. There were significantly more patients with AKI (P < .001) in the AT group (23/198; 11.6%) than in the placebo group (5/194, 2.6%). Safety results showed no differences in treatment-emergent adverse events nor bleeding events between groups.

CONCLUSIONS:
AT supplementation did not attenuate adverse postoperative outcomes in our cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.
Csf1rb regulates definitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish
Authors: Dai Yimei , Wu Shuting , Cao Canran , Xue Rongtao , Luo Xuefen , Wen Zilong , Xu Jin 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT
In vertebrates, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are capable of self-renewal and continuously replenishing all mature blood lineages throughout life. However, the molecular signaling regulating the maintenance and expansion of HSPCs remains incompletely understood. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is believed to be the primary regulator for the myeloid lineage but not HSPC development. Here, we show a surprising role of Csf1rb, a zebrafish homolog of mammalian CSF1R, in preserving the HSPC pool by maintaining the proliferation of HSPCs. Deficiency of csf1rb leads to a reduction in both HSPCs and their differentiated progenies, including myeloid, lymphoid and erythroid cells at early developmental stages. Likewise, the absence of csf1rb conferred similar defects upon HSPCs and leukocytes in adulthood. Furthermore, adult hematopoietic cells from csf1rb mutants failed to repopulate immunodeficient zebrafish. Interestingly, loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays suggested that the canonical ligands for Csf1r in zebrafish, including Csf1a, Csf1b and Il34, were unlikely to be ligands of Csf1rb. Thus, our data indicate a previously unappreciated role of Csf1r in maintaining HSPCs, independently of known ligands.
Διερεύνηση και θεμελίωση της διαχρονικής συγκρισιμότητας των βασικών εννοιών των ερευνών Οικογενειακών Προϋπολογισμών για την Ελλάδα
Authors: Οικονομάκη Μαρία 
Published: July 2022

Ο έλεγχος της δυνατότητας διαχρονικών συγκρίσεων αλλά και συγκρίσεων μεταξύ χωρών δεδομένων δειγματοληπτικών ερευνών συνιστά προϋπόθεση για την ανάλυσή τους. Στην παρούσα μελέτη διερευνάται η διαχρονική συγκρισιμότητα των βασικών εννοιών – και των αντίστοιχων μετρήσεών τους – για τις Ελληνικές Έρευνες Οικογενειακών Προϋπολογισμών (1957/1958-2020).
Τα ευρήματα καταδεικνύουν ότι η χρήση περισσότερο λεπτομερών και περιοριστικών κοινών ορισμών για το νοικοκυριό και τα μέλη του, οι οποίοι εφαρμόστηκαν στις πλέον πρόσφατες έρευνες, διασφαλίζουν την συγκρισιμότητα των δεδομένων διαχρονικά. Η εισαγωγή του προσώπου αναφοράς καταδεικνύει μια μετατόπιση στον ορισμό του υπεύθυνου του νοικοκυριού από την ανάληψη των ευθυνών λόγω φύλου σε κυρίως οικονομικά κριτήρια, η οποία θέτει ως όριο το έτος εφαρμογής αυτού του ορισμού για τη διαχρονική συγκρισιμότητα των δεδομένων. Αυτή η μεθοδολογική μελέτη συμβάλλει στην έρευνα για τα ζητήματα των διαχρονικών συγκρίσεων δεδομένων από δειγματοληπτικές έρευνες, που χρησιμοποιούνται εκτενώς στην κοινωνική έρευνα.
Low back pain and associated risk factors among medical students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sany Shabbir Ahmed , Tanjim Taukir , Hossain Md Ikbal 
Published: July 2022

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Different studies showed the high prevalence of LBP among medical students. However, no study has been conducted on Bangladeshi medical students to estimate the prevalence of LBP. This study determined the prevalence, characteristics, and associated risk factors of LBP among medical students in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020 among randomly selected 270 medical students and medical interns in Faridpur Medical College, Bangladesh, using an online questionnaire. In data analysis, chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed, and a p-value of < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: A total of 207 participants responded fully to the survey, and were included in the analysis. The mean age of the participants was 22.4 ± 1.9 years. The point, 6-month, and 12-month prevalence of LBP was 25.6%, 46.9%, and 63.3%, respectively. In most participants, LBP was localized (53.2%), recurrent (64.9%), non-specific (70.8%), affected for a short period (55%), and relieved without receiving any treatment (60.4%). Participants who had a significantly higher 12-month prevalence of LBP included females (72.2% vs 52.2%), with BMI >25 kg/m2 (73.2% vs 56.7%), those who performed physical activity at low to moderate frequency (72.4% vs 29.5%), those who spent > 6 hours/day by sitting (71.3% vs 45.3%), and those who did not have enough rest time (92.7% vs 56%). Ergonomic features of chairs, such as having back support, adjustable back support, and adjustable sitting surface, significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the outcomes. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP among medical students in Bangladesh was high, and most of the risk factors associated with the high prevalence of LBP were modifiable. Hence, LBP can be prevented by implementing preventive strategies and providing ergonomic training and physical activity facilities.
Mathematical modelling of activation-induced heterogeneity in TNF, IL6, NOS2, and IL1β expression reveals cell state transitions underpinning macrophage responses to LPS
Authors: Dey Shoumit , Boucher Dave , Pitchford Jon , Lagos Dimitris 
Published: July 2022

Background: Despite extensive work on macrophage heterogeneity, the mechanisms driving activation induced heterogeneity (AIH) in macrophages remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed to develop mathematical models to explore theoretical cellular states underpinning the empirically observed responses of macrophages following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Methods: We obtained empirical data following primary and secondary responses to LPS in two in vitro cellular models (bone marrow-derived macrophages or BMDMs, and RAW 264.7 cells) and single-cell protein measurements for four key inflammatory mediators: TNF, IL-6, pro-IL-1β, and NOS2, and used mathematical modelling to understand heterogeneity. Results: For these four factors, we showed that macrophage community AIH is dependent on LPS dose and that altered AIH kinetics in macrophages responding to a second LPS challenge underpin hypo-responsiveness to LPS. These empirical data can be explained by a mathematical three-state model including negative, positive, and non-responsive states (NRS), but they are also compatible with a four-state model that includes distinct reversibly NRS and non-responsive permanently states (NRPS). Our mathematical model, termed NoRM (Non-Responsive Macrophage) model identifies similarities and differences between BMDM and RAW 264.7 cell responses. In both cell types, transition rates between states in the NoRM model are distinct for each of the tested proteins and, crucially, macrophage hypo-responsiveness is underpinned by changes in transition rates to and from NRS. Conclusions: Overall, we provide a mathematical model for studying macrophage ecology and community dynamics that can be used to elucidate the role of phenotypically negative macrophage populations in AIH and, primary and secondary responses to LPS.
Treatment of bilateral staghorn nephrolithiasis using percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in a patient chronically infected with Proteus mirabilis: a case report with literature review
Authors: Rudziński Gracjan , Brzuszkiewicz Kinga , Kusak Natalia , Pożarowska Kinga , Cholewa Krystian , Niezabitowska Ewa 
Published: July 2022

Although urolithiasis is a common disease in the European population, bilateral staghorn stones are a relatively rare variant of nephrolithiasis. It is often associated with a chronic urinary tract infection or a metabolic disorder.
The aim of this paper is to show an example of the treatment of bilateral staghorn stones in a patient chronically infected with a resistant strain of Proteus mirabilis. Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) is currently the gold standard of treatment. And this is the way the patient was managed.
In the following section, the authors sought to describe new reports on this treatment method and how it could be improved. Conservative treatment does not appear to be a safe alternative. And of the other surgical treatments, PCNL has the greatest benefits.
Nearly 68% of patients with bilateral staghorn stones have some underlying metabolic disorder in a small sample of patients. It seems reasonable, therefore, to introduce genetic and metabolic diagnosis in younger patients with the aim of prevention through diet or pharmacotherapy.
Graves’ Disease Caused by SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Sousa Bruno , Pestana Santos Catarina , Gonçalves Ferreira Ana , Judas Tiago 
Published: July 2022

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in hyperthyroidism, caused by autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) stimulating thyroid hormone synthesis, giving rise to a variety of systemic manifestations such as goitre, dermatopathy and orbitopathy. The authors present the case of a 28-year-old man admitted to hospital for a 3-week history of fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations and diffuse goitre, after recent mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Laboratory investigation revealed hyperthyroidism with TRAbs elevation. Thyroid ultrasound confirmed a diffusely heterogeneous and irregular thyroid gland and a nodular image below the sternal notch. Thyroid scintigraphy excluded the nodule and confirmed a Graves’ disease pattern. Following the initiation of methimazole, the patient had complete resolution of symptoms and normalization of thyroid values. The results suggest a possible association between Graves’ disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection acting as a trigger. Graves’ disease is an important differential diagnosis to keep in mind when patients present with hyperthyroidism after COVID-19 disease.
Stabilization and enhancement of soft and hard tissues around dental implants: a surgical perspective
Authors: Romeed Shihab 
Published: July 2022

This article discusses the surgical considerations for stabilizing and enhancing soft and hard tissues around dental implants. Recession is one of the recognized complications around dental implants, especially in the aesthetic zone. The novelty of computed dental implantology has widened the practice of dental implants with increased predictability and better safety margins. However, case selection is paramount to fulfil patients' functional and aesthetic expectations in the short and long term. 3D surgical planning for dental implant placement is key to ensure maximum stability of the soft and hard tissues around dental implants and reduce the risks of biological and mechanical complications. Holistic treatment planning needs to be formulated to achieve the expected aesthetic and functional treatment outcomes and ensure that there is no soft tissue or bone loss.CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of the surgical considerations in placing dental implants is essential for achieving a good aesthetic and functional outcome.
Experimental Investigation on Traction, Mobility, and Energy Usage of a Tracked Autonomous Ground Vehicle on a Sloped Soil Bin
Authors: Badgujar Chetan M. , Flippo Daniel , Brokesh Edwin , Welch Stephen 
Published: July 2022

HighlightsLaying the groundwork for AGV mobility models for high slope terrain operations.AGV drawbar pull performance was evaluated on a level terrain, uphill, and downhill slopes up to 18° on a soil bin.AGV generates the optimum power efficiency with enough drawbar pull to perform a range of agricultural operations on uphill and downhill slopes up to 18°.Explored the suitability and established the boundary conditions of small size ground vehicles on the high slope farming.Generated sloped traction data would empower the multi-AGV system on sloped terrain.Abstract. Excessive steepness of grasslands, hills, or uneven terrain presents difficulties for farming with large conventional equipment. Therefore, a fleet of Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGV) is proposed to perform primary agricultural operations on high sloped hills or terrain. However, it is imperative to understand how an individual AGV functions on sloping terrain under varying load and speed. Hence, this study aims to investigate the traction, mobility, and energy consumption characteristics of AGV on a sloped soil bin environment. A drawbar pull performance of the prototype AGV was evaluated on a level terrain and variable slope of 10° and 18°, both uphill and downhill, at varying drawbar pull (P) and AGV speed. The AGV’s performance metrics include power efficiency (PE), travel reduction (TR), and power number (PN) which relates to AGV’s traction, mobility, and energy usage, respectively. The AGV generated drawbar pull equivalent to its weight only on downhill run for reduced PE. On a level terrain (0°), the peak PE was 0.20 and was found to be 108.3% and 328.6% higher on 10° and 18° downhill run than uphill with 55.5% and 133% increase in drawbar pull, respectively. Both applied drawbar pull and uphill operation caused the AGV’s TR. The TR, corresponding to a peak PE, increased from 10% to 30%, respectively, on 0° and both 10° and 18° uphill. The optimum values of power number ranged from 2 to 4. The AGV delivers the optimum PE and generates enough drawbar pull with an optimum TR to perform a range of agricultural operations on a slope up to 18°. This study explored the suitability and established the boundary conditions of small size ground vehicles for high-sloped farming. Besides this, the study also aims to generate an AGV’s slope traction database to optimize its control variables, design optimization, and develop a mobility model for sloped terrain. Keywords: Drawbar pull, Ground vehicle, Multi-AGV fleet, Power efficiency, Slope, Travel reduction.
Optimization of Induction Charging of Water Droplets to Develop an Electrostatic Spray Scrubber Intended for Poultry Particulate Matter Mitigation
Authors: Knight Reyna Madison , Li Xiaochuan , Hocter Jeb Stuart , Zhang Bo , Zhao Lingying , Zhu Heping 
Published: July 2022

HighlightsInduction charging of water droplets by an ESS showed greatest CMRs using an 80° tapered edge flat spray nozzleCMR of 0.578 mC kg-1 achieved with a water mass flow rate of 0.397 kg min-1 and an applied voltage of -11.6 kVChanges in water conductivity did not significantly affect measured droplet CMRsAbstract. Particulate matter (PM) is a prominent air pollutant in poultry facilities. One promising technology for PM mitigation in poultry facilities is the electrostatic spray scrubber (ESS). However, there is a significant lack of information on the charging characteristics of an ESS to promote efficient droplet charging and poultry PM collection. This study quantified the effects of applied voltage, water mass flow rate, water conductivity, and spray pattern on the charge-to-mass ratio (CMR) of droplets charged by a ring-shape electrode during induction. Voltages from -5 to -14 kV were applied to a 100 mm diameter, cylindrical copper electrode ring to charge droplets sprayed from different nozzles using 80° hollow cone, 80° tapered edge flat, and 110° tapered edge flat spray patterns. It was found that CMRs increased with greater negative voltages up to a point, after which greater negative voltages would decrease the CMR. A similar trend was observed for the effects of water mass flow rate on CMR. Water conductivity showed inconsistent effects on CMR across spray patterns and was deemed a statistically significant but practically insignificant factor. The 80° tapered edge flat spray pattern was found to produce the greatest CMRs. A linear regression model (R2 = 0.865) was developed and optimized to find the ESS configuration resulting in the greatest droplet CMR. The optimal CMR was 0.578 mC kg-1, produced using an 80° tapered edge flat spray nozzle at a water mass flow rate of 0.397 kg min-1, a conductivity of 0.05 S m-1, and an applied voltage of -11.6 kV. Keywords: Droplet charging, Electrostatic scrubber, Electrostatic sprayer, ESS, Induction charging, Spray charging, Spray nozzle.
Evaluation of Bioaerosol Samplers for Airborne Escherichia Coli Carried by Poultry Litter Particles
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Dung , Zhao Yang , Evans Jeffrey Dwayne , Lin Jun , Schneider Liesel , Voy Brynn , Hawkins Shawn , Purswell Joseph L. 
Published: July 2022

HighlightsThe study demonstrated a methodology to evaluate bioaerosol samplers on collecting Escherichia coli (E. coli) carried by airborne dust.A dry-base aerosolization system was developed for the study.The sampling efficiency of Andersen six-stage impactor and AGI-30 outperformed that of ACD-200 Bobcat.Airborne E. coli might be preferentially aggregated on large particles (&gt; 7.0 µm).Abstract. Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) are frequently recovered in poultry litter and may be transmitted through the air after bird activities create airborne dust. To assess risks of airborne transmission of E. coli carried by dust, efficient bioaerosol samplers under dry aerosolization conditions are required. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of three commonly used bioaerosol samplers, which included an Andersen six-stage impactor, an all-glass impinger (AGI-30), and an ACD-200 Bobcat (Bobcat), for collecting the airborne E. coli carried by dust particles under dry aerosolization condition in a bio-safety chamber. A dry aerosolization system was designed to generate dry bioaerosols for the study. Under the same airborne E. coli concentration with stable environmental conditions including temperature and relative humidity (RH), the E. coli concentrations determined by the three samplers were 5.05±2.08 log10 colony-forming units (CFU) m-3, 5.69±1.92 log10 CFU m-3, and 2.69±0.81 log10 CFU m-3 for Andersen six-stage impactor, AGI-30, and Bobcat, respectively. The results showed that there is no significant difference between Andersen six-stage impactor and AGI-30, while there was a sizeable decrease in the bacteria concentration determined by the Bobcat sampler. The results also showed that airborne E. coli were preferentially aggregated on large particles (&gt; 7.0 µm). This study demonstrated a methodology to evaluate bioaerosol sampler efficiency using dry-base carriers of biological agents which are predominant in poultry houses. The optimal sampler can be used to determine the airborne E. coli loading in commercial poultry houses. Keywords: Airborne transmission, Bioaerosol samplers, Dry aerosolization, E. coli, Poultry.
Radially polarized 33  W emission from a double-pass Ho:YAG thin-slab amplifier
Authors: Barber Matthew J. , Shardlow Peter C. , Smith Callum R. , Clarkson W. Andrew 
Published: July 2022

The generation of a 33.7 W radially polarized output is demonstrated by way of double-pass amplification in a Ho:YAG thin-slab crystal. The amplifier system was seeded with the radially polarized output beam from a continuous-wave 13.2 W, 2.1 µm Ho:YAG rod laser, which exploited gain medium bifocusing and a ring-shaped pump spot to promote preferential lasing on the radially polarized Laguerre–Gaussian mode. By compensating for both the thermally induced stress birefringence in the thin-slab crystal and the Gouy phase shift resulting from astigmatic focusing of the 13.2 W seed, only marginal beam degradation was observed across the 95 W range of pump power into the amplifier.