bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave on the care and treatment situation of intravitreal injections in a German metropolitan region
Authors: Stemplewitz Birthe , Luethy Joel , Eddy Mau-Thek , Spitzer Martin , Brocks Ulrike , Kieckhoefel Julie , Schneemann Christa , Schaudig Ulrich , Schargus Marc 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the impact of the first coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) wave in 2020 on patients scheduled for intravitreal injections (IVI) in a German metropolitan region.

Methods
We performed a multicentre prospective survey and retrospective analysis of the records of patients treated with intravitreal injections during the 20-week period from March to July 2020 in all four hospital eye departments in the city of Hamburg using a questionnaire (on treatment adherence, SarsCoV2-related personal, familial and social data) and treatment data.

Results
A total of 1038 patients (2472 IVI, 1231 eyes) and 818 questionnaires were evaluated. Longer duration of therapy, lower visual acuity (VA) of the treated and higher VA of the fellow untreated eye was were associated with a higher probability of visit cancellation. Every additional year of life posed a 2.6% lower risk of noncompliance. A COVID-19 infection in the family environment displayed a 5.5-fold chance of visit cancellation. Patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) had a 36% reduced risk of visit cancellation compared to patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME).

Conclusion
A long preceding treatment period, low VA of the treated eye, high VA of the untreated eye, COVID-19 in the family and DME were identified as risk factors for IVI visit cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compliance to treatment might be improved in the future by taking these risk factors into account when scheduling patients for IVI during the exceptional circumstances of a pandemic.
Efficacy and safety of P11-4 for the treatment of periodontal defects in dogs
Authors: Bommer Claudine , Waller Tobias , Hilbe Monika , Wiedemeier Daniel , Meyer Nina , Mathes Stephanie , Jung Ronald 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objectives
This study’s aim was to investigate the safety and performance of a self-assembling peptide matrix (SAPM) P11-4 for the treatment of periodontal disease in a controlled pre-clinical study.

Materials and methods
Acute buccal bony dehiscence defects (LxW: 5 × 3 mm) were surgically created on the distal root of four teeth on one mandible side of 7 beagle dogs followed by another identical surgery 8 weeks later on the contralateral side. SAPM P11-4 (with and without root conditioning with 24% EDTA (T1, T2)), Emdogain® (C) and a sham intervention (S) were randomly applied on the four defects at each time point. Four weeks after the second surgery and treatment, the animals were sacrificed, the mandibles measured by micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) and sections of the tissue were stained and evaluated histologically.

Results
Clinically and histologically, no safety concerns or pathological issues due to the treatments were observed in any of the study groups at any time point. All groups showed overall similar results after 4 and 12 weeks of healing regarding new cementum, functionality of newly formed periodontal ligament and recovery of height and volume of the new alveolar bone and mineral density.

Conclusion
A controlled clinical study in humans should be performed in a next step as no adverse effects or safety issues, which might affect clinical usage of the product, were observed.

Clinical relevance
The synthetic SAPM P11-4 may offer an alternative to the animal-derived product Emdogain® in the future.
Handgrip strength and risk of cognitive outcomes: new prospective study and meta-analysis of 16 observational cohort studies
Authors: Kunutsor Setor K. , Isiozor Nzechukwu M. , Voutilainen Ari , Laukkanen Jari A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractHandgrip strength (HGS), a measure of muscular strength, might be a risk indicator for cognitive functioning, but the evidence is not consistent. Using a new prospective study and meta-analysis of published observational cohort studies, we aimed to evaluate the prospective associations of HGS with poor cognitive outcomes including cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Handgrip strength, measured using a Martin-Balloon-Vigorimeter, was assessed at baseline in a population-based sample of 852 men and women with good cognitive function in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease cohort. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for cognitive outcomes. Relevant published studies were sought in MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science from inception until October 2021 and pooled using random effects meta-analysis. During a median follow-up of 16.6 years, 229 dementia cases were recorded. Comparing extreme tertiles of HGS, the multivariable adjusted HR (95% CI) for dementia, AD and vascular dementia was 0.77 (0.55–1.07), 0.75 (0.52–1.10) and 0.49 (0.16–1.48), respectively. In a meta-analysis of 16 population-based prospective cohort studies (including the current study) comprising 180,920 participants, the pooled multivariable adjusted relative risks (95% CIs) comparing the top vs bottom thirds of HGS levels were as follows: 0.58 (0.52–0.65) for cognitive impairment; 0.37 (0.07–1.85) for cognitive decline; 0.73 (0.62–0.86) for dementia; 0.68 (0.53–0.87) for AD; and 0.48 (0.32–0.73) for vascular dementia. GRADE quality of evidence ranged from low to very low. Meta-analysis of aggregate prospective data suggests that HGS may be a risk indicator for poor cognitive outcomes such as cognitive impairment, dementia and AD. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2021: CRD42021237750.
Power Ultrasound-Assisted Impregnation of Apple Cubes with Vitamin B12
Authors: Vasile Franco Emanuel , Simal Susana , Rosselló Carmen , Eim Valeria Soledad 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis work explores the use of ultrasound (US) as a means of intensifying the impregnation of apple cubes with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). The effect of different US power densities (90 and 200 WL−1) and treatment times (5, 10, and 15 min) was evaluated, on vitamin load, vitamin stability, and physicochemical and microstructural properties of the fruit matrix. The US enhanced the impregnation producing high cyanocobalamin content products (0.12–0.19 mg vitamin/g db.). Vitamin losses in the sonication medium due to US application were not significant. Impregnated samples exhibited higher moisture and lower soluble solids with respect to the untreated fruit. Changes in chromatic coordinates were well correlated to vitamin uptake. Only at the highest treatment intensities (200 WL−1, 10, and 15 min) was a marked softening observed, which agreed with the microstructural changes observed in fruit tissues. Results permit US-assisted impregnation to be considered a promising technology in the preparation of vitamin B12 fortified apple cubes.
Taiwan’s Road to an Asylum Law: Who, When, How, and Why Not Yet?
Authors: Kironska Kristina 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTaiwan is considered to be one of the most progressive countries in Asia but has no asylum law. Does it need one? Many in Taiwan, including officials and politicians, claim that the regulations that are currently in place are sufficient. There are, however, some people in Taiwan who require protection, and the government is not able to respond effectively in the absence of an asylum law. The author has identified several different groups in Taiwan that would benefit from an asylum law — from Hong Kong protesters facing persecution, through Chinese dissidents or descendants of the ROC army from the Thai-Myanmar border region, to Turkish people with revoked passports; grouped into two major categories — persons from the PRC, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau (group 1) and persons from other countries (group 2). The draft of the asylum law has been sitting in the Parliament for 14 years, and the reason for it not yet having passed is the “China Factor.” The Taiwan-China relationship thus cannot be disconnected from this issue, and the article discusses the three most common concerns with regard to this in the Taiwanese society. While these are legitimate concerns, they could be solved by adopting a dual asylum system dealing with group 1 and group 2 separately. Compared to UN member countries, Taiwan is on its own when it comes to the asylum issue, although adopting an asylum law is part of a broader push to bring Taiwan’s legal system in line with international human rights law. The article provides a comprehensive description and analysis of the refugee situation in Taiwan; it is based on document studies and interviews conducted in Taipei in autumn 2020.
Chancen-Risiko-Klassifizierung eines Portfolios aus staatlich geförderten Altersvorsorgeprodukten und Empfehlungen für die Kundenberatung
Authors: Diez Franziska , Horsky Roman , Korn Ralf 
Published: January 2022

ZusammenfassungUm die Möglichkeiten der Nutzung der Chancen-Risiko Klassen (CRK) für staatlich geförderte Altersvorsorgeprodukte durch die Produktinformationsstelle Altersvorsorge gGmbH (PIA) bei der Kundenberatung zu maximieren, entwickeln wir ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der CRK verschiedener Portfolios solcher Produkte, so dass die CRK des Portfolios nicht größer ist als die Risikopräferenz des zu beratenden Kunden. Dafür betrachten wir zum einen ein Portfolio aus zwei neu zu erwerbenden Produkten und zum anderen eines aus einem bereits beim Kunden vorhandenen Produkt und einem Neuprodukt. Wir untersuchen die Eigenschaften der verschiedenen Chancen- und Risikoparameter samt zugehöriger Abbildungen und zeigen, dass ein Diversifikationseffekt bei der Klassifizierung vorliegt. Aufbauend auf den Eigenschaften erhalten wir als Ergebnis, dass als Obergrenze der CRK des Portfolios die gemittelten Endvermögen heranzuziehen sind und übersetzen dies in Empfehlungen für die Kundenberatung.
Antibiotics in early life and childhood pre-B-ALL. Reasons to analyze a possible new piece in the puzzle
Authors: Cardesa-Salzmann T. M. , Simon A. , Graf N. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer with precursor B-cell ALL (pB-ALL) accounting for ~ 85% of the cases. Childhood pB-ALL development is influenced by genetic susceptibility and host immune responses. The role of the intestinal microbiome in leukemogenesis is gaining increasing attention since Vicente-Dueñas’ seminal work demonstrated that the gut microbiome is distinct in mice genetically predisposed to ALL and that the alteration of this microbiome by antibiotics is able to trigger pB-ALL in Pax5 heterozygous mice in the absence of infectious stimuli. In this review we provide an overview on novel insights on the role of the microbiome in normal and preleukemic hematopoiesis, inflammation, the effect of dysbiosis on hematopoietic stem cells and the emerging importance of the innate immune responses in the conversion from preleukemic to leukemic state in childhood ALL. Since antibiotics, which represent one of the most widely used medical interventions, alter the gut microbial composition and can cause a state of dysbiosis, this raises exciting epidemiological questions regarding the implications for antibiotic use in early life, especially in infants with a a preleukemic “first hit”. Sheading light through a rigorous study on this piece of the puzzle may have broad implications for clinical practice.
Comparative Studies of Cerebral Reperfusion Injury in the Posterior and Anterior Circulations After Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Bower Matthew M. , Suzuki Shuichi , Golshani Kiarash , Lin Li-Mei , Shafie Mohammad , Abcede Hermelinda G. , Shah Jay , Stradling Dana , Yu Wengui 
Published: January 2022

AbstractCerebral reperfusion injury is the major complication of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Contrast extravasation (CE) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) are the key radiographical features of cerebral reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to investigate CE and ICH after MT in the anterior and posterior circulation, and their effect on functional outcome. This is a retrospective study of all consecutive patients who were treated with MT for AIS at University of California Irvine Medical Center between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017. Patient characteristics, clinical features, procedural variables, contrast extravasation, ICH, and outcomes after MT were analyzed. A total of 131 patients with anterior circulation (AC) stroke and 25 patients with posterior circulation (PC) stroke underwent MT during the study period. There was no statistically significant difference in admission NIHSS score, blood pressure, rate of receiving intravenous tPA, procedural variables, contrast extravasation, and symptomatic ICH between the 2 groups. Patients with PC stroke had a similar rate of favorable outcome (mRS 0–2) but significantly higher mortality (40.0% vs. 10.7%, p < 0.01) than patients with AC stroke. Multivariate regression analysis identified initial NIHSS score (OR 1.1, CI 1.0–1.2, p = 0.01), number of passes with stent retriever (OR 2.1, CI 1.3–3.6, p < 0.01), and PC stroke (OR 9.3, CI 2.5–35.1, p < 0.01) as independent risk factors for death. There was no significant difference in functional outcomes between patients with and without evidence of cerebral reperfusion injury after MT. We demonstrated that AC and PC stroke had similar rates of cerebral reperfusion injury and favorable outcome after MT. Cerebral reperfusion injury is not a significant independent risk factor for poor functional outcome.
Aggregate-based Training Phase for ML-based Cardinality Estimation
Authors: Woltmann Lucas , Hartmann Claudio , Habich Dirk , Lehner Wolfgang 
Published: January 2022

AbstractCardinality estimation is a fundamental task in database query processing and optimization. As shown in recent papers, machine learning (ML)-based approaches may deliver more accurate cardinality estimations than traditional approaches. However, a lot of training queries have to be executed during themodel training phaseto learn a data-dependent ML model making it very time-consuming. Many of those training or example queries use the same base data, have the same query structure, and only differ in their selective predicates. To speed up the model training phase, our core idea is to determine a predicate-independent pre-aggregationof the base data and to execute the example queries over this pre-aggregated data. Based on this idea, we present a specificaggregate-based training phasefor ML-based cardinality estimation approaches in this paper. As we are going to show with different workloads in our evaluation, we are able to achieve an average speedup of 90 with ouraggregate-based training phaseand thus outperform indexes.
Sensitive-stage embryo irradiation affects embryonic neuroblasts and adult motor function
Authors: Wagle Ram , Song Young-Han 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background
Cranial radiation therapy for treating childhood malignancies in the central nervous system or accidental radiation exposure may result in neurological side effects in surviving adults. As tissue homeostasis is maintained by stem cells, understanding the effect of radiation on neural stem cells will provide clues for managing the neurological effects. Drosophila embryos were used as a model system whose sensitivity to irradiation-induced cell death changes from the sensitive to resistant stage during development.

Objective
Drosophila embryos at the radiation-sensitive stage were irradiated at various doses and the radiation sensitivity was tested regarding the appearance of apoptotic cells in the embryos and the embryonic lethality. Cell fates of the neural stem cells called neuroblasts (NBs) and adult motor function after irradiation were also investigated.

Result
Irradiation of Drosophila embryos at the radiation-sensitive stage resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the number of embryos containing apoptotic cells 75 min after treatment starting at 3 Gy. Embryonic lethality assayed by hatch rate was induced by 1 Gy irradiation, which did not induce cell death. Notably, no apoptosis was detected in NBs up to 2 h after irradiation at doses as high as 40 Gy. At 3 h after irradiation, as low as 3 Gy, the number of NBs marked by Dpn and Klu was decreased by an unidentified mechanism regardless of the cell death status of the embryo. Furthermore, embryonic irradiation at 3 Gy, but not 1 Gy, resulted in locomotor defects in surviving adults.

Conclusion
Embryonic NBs survived irradiation at doses as high as 40 Gy, while cells in other parts of the embryos underwent apoptosis at doses higher than 3 Gy within 2 h after treatment. Three hours after exposure to a minimum dose of 3 Gy, the number of NBs marked by Dpn and Klu decreased, and the surviving adults exhibited defects in locomotor ability.
Identification of bacterial blight resistance genes in rice landraces from Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Zhao Caimei , Yin Fuyou , Chen Ling , Li Dingqin , Xiao Suqin , Zhong Qiaofang , Wang Bo , Ke Xue , Fu Jian , Li Xiang , Chen Yue , Wang Lingxian , Zhang Dunyu , Zhang Yun , Huang Xingqi , Cheng Zaiquan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBacterial blight (BB), a serious bacterial disease caused by pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) affects rice growth and yield. Yunnan Province is regarded as a center of rice diversity in China and indeed the world, and has abundant rice landrace resources, which may offer prospective candidate donors in rice improvement and breeding. In this study, a set of 200 rice landraces were evaluated to determine their resistance to 10 pathogenic Xoo strains resistance by the leaf-clipping method. The results indicated that the tested rice landraces had different resistance levels against different Xoo strains. Multiple comparisons showed that the Xoo strain PXO99 was virulent to the tested rice landraces. Sixty-six rice landraces conferred resistance against at least one Xoo strain. These resistant rice landraces screened were then performed the presence of 14 cloned BB resistance genes by closely linked molecular markers and designed specific primers. The results showed that none of these resistant accessions contained xa13, Xa21, Xa27, and Xa45(t) homologous fragments, while 9, 24, 4, 7, 9, 15, 1, 5, 4 and 27 accessions contained Xa1, Xa2/Xa31(t), Xa14, Xa3/Xa26, Xa4, xa5, Xa7, Xa10, Xa23 and xa25 homologous fragments, respectively. Sequence analysis further revealed that nucleotide variations around functional nucleotide polymorphisms region were observed within these accessions containing the Xa1, Xa2/Xa31(t), Xa14, Xa3/Xa26, Xa4, xa5, Xa10, Xa23 and xa25 homologous fragments. These results along with phenotypic resistance spectrum supported that these accessions carried nine resistance homologous genes. Only one accession (Qishanggu_Wenshan) carried the Xa7 resistance gene. We also found that some resistant rice landraces, especially Xilandigu_Baoshan, and Laoyaling_Lincang without the above resistance genes, which mediated broad spectrum resistance to multiple Xoo strains, were identified as potential sources for breeding rice lines resistance to BB.
Data collection protocols for VANETs: a survey
Authors: Gillani Maryam , Niaz Hafiz Adnan , Farooq Muhammad Umar , Ullah Ata 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe live in the era of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which is an extension of Vehicular AdHoc Networks (VANETs). In VANETs, vehicles act as nodes connected with each other and sometimes with a public station. Vehicles continuously exchange and collect information to provide innovative transportation services; for example, traffic management, navigation, autonomous driving, and the generation of alerts. However, VANETs are extremely challenging for data collection, due to their high mobility and dynamic network topologies that cause frequent link disruptions and make path discovery difficult. In this survey, various state-of-the-art data collection protocols for VANETs are discussed, based on three broad categories, i.e., delay-tolerant, best-effort, and real-time protocols. A taxonomy is designed for data collection protocols for VANETs that is essential to add precision and ease of understandability. A detailed comparative analysis among various data collection protocols is provided to highlight their functionalities and features. Protocols are evaluated based on three parametric phases. First, protocols investigation based on six necessary parameters, including delivery and drop ratio, efficiency, and recovery strategy. Second, a 4-D functional framework is designed to fit most data collection protocols for quick classification and mobility model identification, thus eradicating the need to read extensive literature. In the last, in-depth categorical mapping is performed to deep dive for better and targeted interpretation. In addition, some open research challenges for ITS and VANETs are discussed to highlight research gaps. Our work can thus be employed as a quick guide for researchers to identify the technical relevance of data collection protocols of VANETs.
Plant immunity inducers: from discovery to agricultural application
Authors: Yang Bo , Yang Sen , Zheng Wenyue , Wang Yuanchao 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWhile conventional chemical fungicides directly eliminate pathogens, plant immunity inducers activate or prime plant immunity. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of immune regulation in plants. The development and application of plant immunity inducers based on the principles of plant immunity represent a new field in plant protection research. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of plant immunity inducers in terms of plant immune system activation, summarize the various classes of reported plant immunity inducers (proteins, oligosaccharides, chemicals, and lipids), and review methods for the identification or synthesis of plant immunity inducers. The current situation, new strategies, and future prospects in the development and application of plant immunity inducers are also discussed.
Effect of mechanical damage on the quality characteristics of banana fruits during short-term storage
Authors: Pathare Pankaj B. , Al-Dairi Mai 
Published: January 2022

AbstractFresh fruits like bananas are very susceptible to mechanical damage during postharvest handling which can result in a substantial decline in quality. The study aims to evaluate the effect of bruise damage and storage temperatures on the quality of banana fruits after 48 h storage. Each ‘Grand Naine’ banana fruit was impacted once by using a drop impact test using three different heights (10, 30, and 50 cm) and storage temperatures (13 and 22 °C) after 48 h of storage. Different quality analyses were measured like bruise measurements (impact energy, bruise area, bruise volume, and bruise susceptibility), weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), color (L*, a*, b*, hue°, chroma, yellowness index, yellowness value) headspace gases (respiration and ethylene production rate). The results showed that bruise measurements (bruise area, bruise volume, and bruise susceptibility) were highly affected by drop height. The quality parameters like weight, color, total soluble solids and headspace gases were affected by drop height and storage condition. Weight loss, total soluble solids, respiration rate, and ethylene production rate increased as drop height and storage temperature rise. Storage at ambient conditions (22 °C) accelerated bruising occurrence in banana fruits. Fewer changes were observed after 48 h of storage. The least value of yellowness index was observed on the non-bruised banana fruits (84.03) under 13 °C storage conditions. The findings of the study can provide baseline data to understand the mechanical damage mechanism on fruit quality, hoping to create awareness and educate farming communities and consumers. Storage temperature management is another approach that needs to be followed to reduce the occurrence of mechanical damage in fresh produce.