bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interdependent response of three critical infrastructures in a South American megacity
Authors: Cárdenas-Mamani Ursula , Kahhat Ramzy , Magallanes Jose Manuel 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Critical infrastructures (CIs) are key for the functionality of urban areas. Their failure due to natural disasters or manmade disruptive events could severely obstruct normal city activities, producing considerable social and economic impacts. Understanding CI performance and interdependence during these events is imperative. This study aims to comprehend the independent and interdependent response of three CIs in a South American megacity: Lima, Peru. Topological indicators were used to study three CIs: potable water distribution, electricity distribution and natural gas distribution; five disruption scenarios were modeled. Results show that, compared to the other CIs, the potable water system has the highest redundancy, while the electricity network has the best capacity to connect among all elements. The structure of the natural gas system makes it fragile and susceptible to failures, generating the lowest values across indicators. Regarding the interdependence analysis, certain elements (e.g., medium- and high-voltage substations, water treatment plant, pressure stations) with a high degree of connectivity influence the entire performance of the systems; the interdependent effect exposes some CIs to damage more than others. Earthquakes have a comparatively more negative impact on the CIs studied than manmade disruptive events. In order to reduce vulnerability factors in the three systems, an important mitigation action would be to reduce the centralization of the systems.
Less Is More: Evaluation of Gross Examination Protocol for Cystectomy Specimens Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Saunders Katherine E , Cody Craig J , Hoerres Derek L , Maygarden Susan J , Wobker Sara E 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) confers a survival advantage for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and is now recommended for chemotherapy-eligible patients. NAC may result in absent gross tumor, and current cystectomy gross examination protocols do not specify approach for these cases.

Methods
We included cystectomies performed from 2010 to 2018, capturing a period pre- and post-NAC recommendations. Gross descriptions were reviewed and slides of patients who received NAC were evaluated for microscopic tumor, number of blocks with tumor, and location of those blocks.

Results
We identified 239 radical cystectomies for bladder cancer (147 NAC, 92 non-NAC). Gross lesions were not identified for 91 cases. NAC cases had more total blocks submitted (mean, 17.5) compared with non-NAC cases (mean, 16.6). More NAC cases had additional blocks submitted (20 cases) compared with non-NAC cases (2), which were more frequently additional random sections. Of 108 NAC cases with residual carcinoma, only 2 (1.9%) were upstaged on additional random sections.

Conclusions
At our institution, NAC and non-NAC cases are grossed with similar numbers of initial blocks; however, NAC cases are more likely to submit additional sections of gross lesions and random bladder without significant changes in stage. Our data suggest current gross examination protocols are sufficient for NAC cystectomies.
The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Hormones on Responses to Varenicline and Naltrexone Among Female Heavy Drinking Smokers
Authors: Green ReJoyce , Roche Daniel J O , Ray Lara A 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Aims
Women often experience poorer smoking cessation outcomes in comparison to men. Menstrual cycle phase and sex hormones may influence smoking behavior and alter response to opioid antagonist medications. Less is known about the effects of sex hormones in response to pharmacotherapy for female heavy drinking smokers.

Methods
This study is a secondary analysis of premenopausal female heavy drinking smokers who completed a 12-week randomized clinical trial comparing varenicline plus placebo versus varenicline plus naltrexone for smoking cessation and drinking reduction. Participants (n = 26; total observations = 66) provided saliva samples for assays of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) post-randomization at Weeks 4, 8 and 12. We examined the effects of P4/E2 ratio and medication on smoking and drinking outcomes.

Results
For drinking outcomes, there was a significant interaction for percent days abstinent (b = 0.017, P = 0.05), suggesting that greater P4/E2 ratio is associated with greater percent days abstinent for women assigned to the varenicline plus naltrexone condition. There were no interaction effects for the remaining drinking outcomes (P’s ≥ 0.12). Results found no significant interaction effect of P4/E2 ratio and medication on smoking abstinence (P = 0.19).

Conclusion
Our results imply that when women show a greater P4/E2 ratio, typically observed during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, they experience an added benefit of naltrexone, versus placebo, for drinking outcomes as shown by greater percent days abstinent. Additional studies in larger samples are warranted as sex hormones offer important information above and beyond comparing women versus men.
Preoperative Short-term High-Carbohydrate Diet Provides More High-Quality Transplantable Fat and Improves the Outcome of Fat Grafts in Mice
Authors: Niu Xingtang , Zhang Yuchen , Lai Zhuhao , Huang Xiaoqi , Gao Jianhua , Lu Feng , Chang Qiang , Yuan Yi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundPatients with a low BMI may have inadequate high-quality adipose tissue for transplantation. The influence of high-energy diets on adipose tissue and graft retention remains unknown.ObjectivesThe authors explored inguinal fat pad alternation in mice fed on a short-time high-fat diet (HFD) or a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) preoperatively and the morphological and histological differences after transplantation.MethodsMice were fed HFD (60% kcal from fat, 20% from carbohydrate), HCD (9.3% kcal from fat, 80.1% from carbohydrate), or normal (12% kcal from fat, 67% kcal from carbohydrate) diets for 2 or 4 weeks. Histological analyses were carried out following hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as CD34 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining. The uncoupling protein-1 expression was determined by western blotting. Fat pads from each group were grafted into the dorsal region of the recipient mice, and morphological and histological changes were determined 4, 8, and 12 weeks posttransplantation. Vascular endothelial growth factor-α and platelet-derived growth factor-α expression were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe inguinal fat pad volume increased in the HFD and HCD groups. The presence of multilocular adipocytes in inguinal fat of HCD-fed mice, combined with the increased uncoupling protein-1 content, suggested adipocyte browning. HCD grafts showed higher volume retention and reduced oil cyst formation, possibly attributed to better angiogenesis and adipogenesis.ConclusionsHCD enlarged adipose tissue and improved graft survival rates, which may be due to the browning of fat before grafting and enhanced angiogenesis after grafting.
Exposure to elevated temperature during development affects bumblebee foraging behavior
Authors: Gérard Maxence , Cariou Bérénice , Henrion Maxime , Descamps Charlotte , Baird Emily 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBee foraging behavior provides a pollination service that has both ecological and economic benefits. However, bee population decline could directly affect the efficiency of this interaction. Among the drivers of this decline, global warming has been implicated as an emerging threat but exactly how increasing temperatures affect bee foraging behavior remains unexplored. Here, we assessed how exposure to elevated temperatures during development affects the foraging behavior and morphology of workers from commercial and wild Bombus terrestris colonies. Workers reared at 33 °C had a higher visiting rate and shorter visiting time than those reared at 27°C. In addition, far fewer workers reared at 33 °C engaged in foraging activities and this is potentially related to the drastic reduction in the number of individuals produced in colonies exposed to 33 °C. The impact of elevated developmental temperature on wild colonies was even stronger as none of the workers from these colonies performed any foraging trips. We also found that rearing temperature affected wing size and shape. Our results provide the first evidence that colony temperature can have striking effects on bumblebee foraging behavior. Of particular importance is the drastic reduction in the number of workers performing foraging trips, and the total number of foraging trips made by workers reared in high temperatures. Further studies should explore if, ultimately, these observed effects of exposure to elevated temperature during development lead to a reduction in pollination efficiency.
deepHPI: a comprehensive deep learning platform for accurate prediction and visualization of host–pathogen protein–protein interactions
Authors: Kaundal Rakesh , Loaiza Cristian D , Duhan Naveen , Flann Nicholas 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Host-pathogen protein interactions (HPPIs) play vital roles in many biological processes and are directly involved in infectious diseases. With the outbreak of more frequent pandemics in the last couple of decades, such as the recent outburst of Covid-19 causing millions of deaths, it has become more critical to develop advanced methods to accurately predict pathogen interactions with their respective hosts. During the last decade, experimental methods to identify HPIs have been used to decipher host–pathogen systems with the caveat that those techniques are labor-intensive, expensive and time-consuming. Alternatively, accurate prediction of HPIs can be performed by the use of data-driven machine learning. To provide a more robust and accurate solution for the HPI prediction problem, we have developed a deepHPI tool based on deep learning. The web server delivers four host–pathogen model types: plant–pathogen, human–bacteria, human–virus and animal–pathogen, leveraging its operability to a wide range of analyses and cases of use. The deepHPI web tool is the first to use convolutional neural network models for HPI prediction. These models have been selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of protein features and neural network architectures. The best prediction models have been tested on independent validation datasets, which achieved an overall Matthews correlation coefficient value of 0.87 for animal–pathogen using the combined pseudo-amino acid composition and conjoint triad (PAAC_CT) features, 0.75 for human–bacteria using the combined pseudo-amino acid composition, conjoint triad and normalized Moreau-Broto feature (PAAC_CT_NMBroto), 0.96 for human–virus using PAAC_CT_NMBroto and 0.94 values for plant–pathogen interactions using the combined pseudo-amino acid composition, composition and transition feature (PAAC_CTDC_CTDT). Our server running deepHPI is deployed on a high-performance computing cluster that enables large and multiple user requests, and it provides more information about interactions discovered. It presents an enriched visualization of the resulting host–pathogen networks that is augmented with external links to various protein annotation resources. We believe that the deepHPI web server will be very useful to researchers, particularly those working on infectious diseases. Additionally, many novel and known host–pathogen systems can be further investigated to significantly advance our understanding of complex disease-causing agents. The developed models are established on a web server, which is freely accessible at http://bioinfo.usu.edu/deepHPI/.
Barrier materials for prevention of surgical adhesions: systematic review
Authors: Waldron Michael Gerard , Judge Conor , Farina Laura , O’Shaughnessy Aoife , O’Halloran Martin 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative surgical adhesions constitute a major health burden internationally. A wide range of materials have been evaluated, but despite constructive efforts and the obvious necessity, there remains no specific barrier widely utilized to prevent postoperative adhesion formation. The aim of this study was to highlight and characterize materials used for prevention of postoperative surgical adhesions in both animal and human studies.MethodsA systematic review was performed of all original research articles presenting data related to the prevention of postoperative adhesions using a barrier agent. All available observational studies and randomized trials using animal models or human participants were included, with no restrictions related to type of surgery. PubMed and Embase databases were searched using key terms from inception to August 2019. Standardized data collection forms were used to extract details for each study and assess desirable characteristics of each barrier and success in animal and/or human studies.ResultsA total of 185 articles were identified for inclusion in the review, with a total of 67 unique adhesion barrier agents (37 natural and 30 synthetic materials). Desirable barrier characteristics of an ideal barrier were identified on review of the literature. Ten barriers achieved the primary outcome of reducing the incidence of postoperative adhesions in animal studies followed with positive outputs in human participants. A further 48 materials had successful results from animal studies, but with no human study performed to date.DiscussionMultiple barriers showed promise in animal studies, with several progressing to success, and fulfilment of desirable qualities, in human trials. No barrier is currently utilized commonly worldwide, but potential barriers have been identified to reduce the burden of postoperative adhesions and associated sequelae.
Varicose veins treatment in England: population-based study of time trends and disparities related to demographic, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographical factors
Authors: Michaels Jonathan A , Nawaz Shah , Tong Thaison , Brindley Paul , Walters Stephen J , Maheswaran Ravi 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Varicose vein (VV) treatments have changed significantly in recent years leading to potential disparities in service provision. The aim of this study was to examine the trends in VV treatment in England and to identify disparities in the provision of day-case and inpatient treatments related to deprivation, ethnicity, and other demographic, and geographical factors.

Method
A population-based study using linked hospital episode statistics for England categorized VV procedures and compared population rates and procedure characteristics by ethnicity, deprivation quintile, and geographical area.

Results
A total of 311 936 people had 389 592 VV procedures between 2006/07 and 2017/18, with a further 63 276 procedures between 2018/19 and 2020/21. Procedure rates have reduced in all but the oldest age groups, whereas endovenous procedures have risen to more than 60 per cent of the total in recent years. In younger age groups there was a 20–30 per cent reduction in procedure rates for the least-deprived compared with the most-deprived quintiles. Non-white ethnicity was associated with lower procedure rates. Large regional and local differences were identified in standardized rates of VV procedures. In the most recent 5-year interval, the North-East region had a three-fold higher rate than the South-East region with evidence of greater variation between commissioners in overall rates, the proportion of endovenous procedures, and policies regarding bilateral treatments.

Conclusions
There are substantial geographical variations in the provision of treatment for VVs, which are not explained by demographic differences. These have persisted, despite the publication of guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and many commissioners, and providers would seem to implement policies that are contrary to this guidance. Lower rates of procedures in less-deprived areas may reflect treatments carried out in private practice, which are not included in these data.
The medial orbitofrontal cortex governs reward-related circuits in an age-dependent manner
Authors: Loh Maxine K , Rosenkranz J Amiel 
Published: April 2022

AbstractNucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons integrate excitatory inputs from cortical and limbic structures, contributing to critical cognitive functions, including decision-making. As these afferents mature from adolescence through adulthood, incoming signals to the NAc may summate differently between age groups. Decision-making evaluates both reward and risk before action selection, suggesting an interplay between reward- and risk-related circuits. Medial orbitofrontal cortex (MO)-NAc circuits permit risk assessment behaviors and likely underlie risk information incorporation. As adolescents make reward-centric choices regardless of risk, we hypothesized the impact of MO activity alters reward-related NAc circuits in an age-dependent manner. To test this hypothesis, we used single-unit electrophysiology to measure MO train stimulation’s effect on reward-related pathways, specifically the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-NAc circuit, in adult and adolescent rats. MO train stimulation altered the strength but not the timing of BLA–NAc interactions in a frequency-dependent manner. In adults, MO train stimulation produced a frequency-dependent, bidirectional effect on BLA-evoked NAc AP probability. Contrastingly, MO train stimulation uniformly attenuated BLA-NAc interactions in adolescents. While the mature MO can govern reward-related circuits in an activity-dependent manner, perhaps to adapt to positive or negative decision-making outcomes, the adolescent MO may be less able to bidirectionally impact reward-related pathways resulting in biased decision-making.
Geometric sampling of networks
Authors: Barkanass Vladislav , Jost Jürgen , Saucan Emil 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Motivated by the methods and results of manifold sampling based on Ricci curvature, we propose a similar approach for networks. To this end, we make an appeal to three types of discrete curvature, namely the graph Forman-, full Forman- and Haantjes–Ricci curvatures for edge-based and node-based sampling. The relation between the Ricci curvature of the original manifold and that of a Ricci curvature driven-discretization is studied, and we show that there is a strong connection between the Forman–Ricci curvatures of the resulting network and the Ricci curvature of the given smooth manifold. We also present the results of experiments on real-life networks, as well as for square grids arising in image processing. Moreover, we consider fitting Ricci flows, and we employ them for the detection of networks’ backbone.
Unloading the right to fill the left: vasodilation to treat hypotension: a case report
Authors: Ezzeddine Fatima M. , Bois Melanie C. , Borlaug Barry A. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Management of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the setting of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) can be challenging. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with HFpEF and combined pre- and post-capillary PH who showed striking improvement with sildenafil.

Case summary
A 74-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea and near-syncope. He underwent a hemodynamic exercise study that showed evidence of HFpEF with pre- and post-capillary PH. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy showed interstitial fibrosis and mild hypertrophy, with no evidence of infiltrative or storage diseases. The patient was treated with sildenafil 20 mg three times daily, which resulted in significant symptomatic and functional improvement in 12 years of follow-up.

Discussion
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors are currently not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of PH in heart failure and are used off-label in patients with heart failure. This case illustrates the importance of unloading the right ventricle to improve cardiac output in patients with diastolic dysfunction and combined pre- and post-capillary PH. Although promising, future studies are needed to validate these findings.
Gender disparity in speakers of the European Orthodontic Society conferences held between 2015 and 2020: a cross-sectional report
Authors: Koletsi Despina , Papadopoulou Alexandra K 
Published: April 2022

Summary

Objectives
To assess the representation of female scientists as speakers of blindly selected oral presentations or invited speakers in the latest European Orthodontic Society (EOS) conferences between 2015 and 2020. To examine the association with a number of study- and author-related characteristics.

Materials and methods
Abstract books and programmes of the EOS conferences held between 2015 and 2020, were electronically searched to identify the gender of all speakers. The following predictor variables were assessed: year, continent of authorship, number of centres, number of authors involved, study design, study topic, and presentation as a WJB Houston Award nominee.

Results
A total of 312 oral presentations were recorded with almost even distribution of female/male gender. In the majority of oral presentations, a European-origin speaker affiliation was confirmed (208/312; 66.7%), with a relatively equal representation of women (P = 0.05). Seniority in authorship of oral presentations belonged to male scientists (209/312; 67%). Furthermore, a total of 84 invited speakers were identified, of which only 15 (17.9%) were female, indicating a substantial gender gap. No more than four women were invited to lecture annually, compared to a minimum of 10 male scientists. Overall, a significant difference was recorded for the odds of a female scientist to be invited as a speaker in the EOS conference (range of odds across years: 0.20–0.36), compared to the odds for conducting an oral presentation in the same context and timescale (range of odds across years: 0.75–1.45) (Mantel–Haenszel test for homogeneity, P-value &lt; 0.001).

Limitations
Findings were based solely on the annual orthodontic conference of the EOS, without further insights on national conferences, or identification of wide-range timescale effects.

Conclusions and implications
Gender disparity related to invited speakers at the EOS 2015–20 annual conferences was unequivocally confirmed. Nevertheless, gender differences were not identified in oral presentations. Firm efforts to ensure female scientist’s voice is equally represented are needed including a move from theory to practice.