bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation and Feasibility of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) Data Entry in the PRAEGNANT Real-Time Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer Registry
Authors: Wallwiener Markus , Heindl Felix , Brucker Sara , Taran Florin-Andrei , Hartkopf Andreas , Overkamp Friedrich , Kolberg Hans-Christian , Hadji Peyman , Tesch Hans , Ettl Johannes , Lux Michael , Rauh Claudia , Blum Simon , Nabieva Naiba , Brodkorb Tobias , Faschingbauer Cornelia , Langemann Hanna , Schulmeyer Carla , Volz Bernhard , Rübner Matthias , Lüftner Diana , Müller Volkmar , Belleville Erik , Janni Wolfgang , Fehm Tanja , Wallwiener Diethelm , Ganslandt Thomas , Beckmann Matthias , Schneeweiss Andreas , Fasching Peter , Gass Paul
Published: December 2017

Purpose Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been incorporated into clinical trials for many symptoms and medical conditions. A transition from paper-based capture of PROs to electronic PROs (ePROs) has recently started. This study reports on the feasibility of ePRO assessment in a prospective registry including molecular data for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Methods As part of the PRAEGNANT network, patients were invited by clinical trial staff, physicians, and nurses to complete three standardized Internet-based questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L, CES-D and IPAQ). Feasibility was assessed by the staff members who assigned the user accounts by the patients. The completeness of the questionnaires was also assessed.

Results Fifteen of 17 patients who were asked agreed to participate to complete the PRO questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L and CES-D). However, the IPAQ (physical activity) questionnaire was only validly completed by 9 patients. Feasibility was ranked better by the physicians and dedicated clinical trial staff than by the nursing staff.

Conclusions Incorporating ePRO questionnaires into an advanced breast cancer registry is feasible, and no major hurdles were reported. Involving stakeholders from the start, the application is tailored to the capacities and abilities of both patients and clinical staff. The patients’ compliance was better with some questionnaires, butothers may present difficulties.
LiFePO4 battery charging strategy design considering temperature rise minimization
Authors: Chen Zheng , Shu Xing , Li Xiaoyu , Xiao Renxin , Shen Jiangwei
Published: December 2017

The temperature rise of lithium-ion batteries during the charging process is a significant factor that can influence battery capacity degradation and produce potential safety hazards. In this paper, an optimal charging strategy for LiFePO4 batteries is proposed to minimize the charging temperature rise. First, a battery charging temperature rise model is employed to simulate the temperature variation, and a first-order equivalent circuit model is established to identify the model parameters. Then, the genetic algorithm is applied to search the optimal charging current profiles considering different initial state of charge values and different control intervals. Experimental results prove that the proposed charging strategy not only features a lower temperature rise but also shows less charging time compared to the constant current charging method.
Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with NF3
Authors: Song Mi-Young , Yoon Jung-Sik , Cho Hyuck , Karwasz Grzegorz P. , Kokoouline Viatcheslav , Nakamura Yoshiharu , Hamilton James R. , Tennyson Jonathan
Published: December 2017

Cross section data are compiled from the literature for electron collisions with nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) molecules. Cross sections are collected and reviewed for total scattering, elastic scattering, momentum transfer, excitations of rotational and vibrational states, dissociation, ionization, and dissociative attachment. For each of these processes, the recommended values of the cross sections are presented. The literature has been surveyed until end of 2016.
Magnetic properties of nickel carbide nanoparticles with enhanced coercivity
Authors: Xing Meiying , Mohapatra Jeotikanta , Zeng Fanhao , Ping Liu J.
Published: December 2017

Rhombohedral nickel carbide (Ni3Cx, x=0.7, 1.2 and 1.5) nanoparticles (∼ 110 nm) with enhanced magnetic coercivity (HC up to 1.3 kOe) at temperature below the spin-glass freezing (Tf) have been demonstrated. The presence of spin-glass state, which is seen at ∼17 K, is evident by the field dependence of the freezing temperature following the de Almeida–Thouless (AT) relationship and frequency dependence of Tf. Moreover, the spin-glass state is irreversible to the sweeping applied field and results in high HC at 10 K. With increases of the carbon content, we have found a gradual increasing trend in the saturation magnetization (MS: 6.6 to 9.2 emu/g) and coercivity (350 Oe to 1.3kOe) at 10 K. This is attributed to the increase of spin-glass contribution and the weak ferromagnetic phase.
Single-stage aging behaviour and precipitate evolution in a high Zn-containing Al–9.78Zn–2.02Mg–1.76Cu alloy
Authors: Wen Kai , Xiong Baiqing , Zhang Yongan , Li Zhihui , Li Xiwu , Huang Shuhui , Yan Lizhen , Yan Hongwei , Liu Hongwei
Published: December 2017

Property evolution in a high Zn-containing Al–9.78Zn–2.02Mg–1.76Cu alloy treated at 120°C, with the microstructure subjected to under-aging (UA), peak-aging (PA) and over-aging (OA), is investigated. Precipitate size distributions and distances between neighbouring precipitates are determined. Results indicate that a certain time is required to reach peak hardness and yield strength, and that peak values can be sustained for a relatively long time. As the aging time increases, the conductivities increase persistently. As the alloy temper varies from UA to PA to OA, the main matrix precipitates change from ‘GPI zone and GPII zone and η′ phase’ to ‘GPII zone and η′ phase’ and then to η′ phase. Meanwhile, the precipitate size distribution becomes broader, and the average precipitate size increases.
Genetic Engineering and Risk in Varietal Selection of Potatoes
Authors: Fuller Kate Binzen , Brester Gary W , Boland Michael A
Published: December 2017

The objective of this case study is to examine the farm management decision of whether to adopt a new, genetically engineered potato variety. We describe the potato supply chain from seed production to final consumer products and explore how price and production risk interact to influence decision making at each link in that chain. We provide extensive supplemental material as well, including a teaching note with assignment and/or discussion questions, an introduction to and application of stakeholder theory, and a tool that assists students in calculating expected and simulated actual returns from their choice of potato variety.
GIGI-Quick: a fast approach to impute missing genotypes in genome-wide association family data
Authors: Kunji Khalid , Ullah Ehsan , Nato Alejandro Q , Wijsman Ellen M , Saad Mohamad
Published: December 2017

Genome-wide association studies have become common over the last ten years, with a shift towards targeting rare variants, especially in pedigree-data. Despite lower costs, sequencing for rare variants still remains expensive. To have a relatively large sample with acceptable cost, imputation approaches may be used, such as GIGI for pedigree data. GIGI is an imputation method that handles large pedigrees and is particularly good for rare variant imputation. GIGI requires a subset of individuals in a pedigree to be fully sequenced, while other individuals are sequenced only at relevant markers. The imputation will infer the missing genotypes at untyped markers. Running GIGI on large pedigrees for large numbers of markers can be very time consuming. We present GIGI-Quick as a method to efficiently split GIGI’s input, run GIGI in parallel and efficiently merge the output to reduce the runtime with the number of cores. This allows obtaining imputation results faster, and therefore all subsequent association analyses.

Availability and and implementation

GIGI-Quick is open source and publicly available via: https://cse-git.qcri.org/Imputation/GIGI-Quick.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Sustaining the ‘Good Life’: Buen Vivir as an alternative to sustainable development
Authors: Chassagne Natasha
Published: December 2017

This article analyses the ways the Latin American concept of Buen Vivir has been discussed by postdevelopment scholars as a possible alternative to development that goes beyond the traditional anthropocentric development model towards sustainability and wellbeing. Instituted as a reaction to the need for development to consider the biophysical limits of the environment, sustainable development (SD) critics argue that it has not achieved its aims of ensuring social wellbeing and protecting the world’s natural resources for future generations. There is now an impetus towards alternatives to the status quo. Rather than becoming a radically opposing ideology, Buen Vivir provides the opportunity to meet the core aims of SD through a plural, yet alternative approach. This conceptual article is a critical review of academic, policy and popular discourse on the concept of Buen Vivir as an alternative to development. It analyses its strengths and weaknesses as an alternative to SD discourse, examining its core principles and contested definitions, discussing its viability to translate from an emergent alternative discourse to a plural and practical resource for communities to achieve the common aims for sustainability and wellbeing.
Thom Polynomials and the Green–Griffiths–Lang Conjecture for Hypersurfaces with Polynomial Degree
Authors: Bérczi Gergely
Published: December 2017

Green and Griffiths [25] and Lang [29] conjectured that for every complex projective algebraic variety X of general type there exists a proper algebraic subvariety of X containing all nonconstant entire holomorphic curves $f:{\mathbb{C}} \to X$. We construct a compactification of the invariant jet differentials bundle over complex manifolds motivated by an algebraic model of Morin singularities and we develop an iterated residue formula using equivariant localisation for tautological integrals over it. Using this we show that the polynomial Green–Griffiths–Lang conjecture for a generic projective hypersurface of degree $\deg (X)>2n^{9}$ follows from a positivity conjecture for Thom polynomials of Morin singularities.
The immune checkpoint molecule VISTA regulates allergen-specific Th2-mediated immune responses
Authors: Ohno Tatsukuni , Zhang Chenyang , Kondo Yuta , Kang Siwen , Furusawa Emi , Tsuchiya Kimitake , Miyazaki Yasunari , Azuma Miyuki
Published: December 2017

V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a novel immune checkpoint receptor and ligand that regulates T-cell activation. We investigated the functional involvement of VISTA in Th2 cell-mediated immune responses using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model. Treatment with an anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody (mAb) during allergen sensitization increased the production of antibodies, including total IgE, OVA-specific IgG1 and IgG2a and allergen-specific IL-5 and IL-13; it also increased the expression of IL-13 by splenic CD4+ T cells. However, treatment with the anti-VISTA mAb during sensitization did not accelerate asthmatic responses, including airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) or the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. In contrast, treatment with the anti-VISTA mAb during allergen challenge significantly augmented AHR and BAL fluid eosinophilia. This treatment also increased the production of IL-5 and IL-13 in BAL fluid and the expression of IL-13 by CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. These results suggest that VISTA is involved in the regulation of Th2 cell generation and Th2 cell-mediated antibody production and regulates asthmatic responses, especially in the effector phase.
Residual Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Shave Biopsy in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Ilyas Muneeb , Zhang Nan , Sharma Amit
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

After histopathological confirmation of a biopsy sample, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is often treated surgically; yet, residual tumor within the excision sample is not always found. The prevalence of residual cSCC after shave biopsy in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the prevalence of residual cSCC after shave biopsy in SOTRs.

METHODS

A retrospective case-controlled review was performed from a single center. Data were collected for 117 SOTRs and 117 age-matched nonimmunosuppressed controls diagnosed with shave biopsy–proven cSCC who underwent subsequent wide local excision from January 2004 to December 2016. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to determine variables associated with residual tumor in the combined population. Univariate logistic regression was used to investigate if transplant-related variables were associated with residual tumor in the SOTR group.

RESULTS

Of the 117 SOTRs, 57 (48.7%) had residual tumor within the excisional specimen. Of the 117 controls, 31 (26.5%) had residual tumor within the excisional specimen. Solid organ transplant recipients have 2.59 times greater odds of having residual cSCC after shave biopsy (95% confidence interval: 1.29–5.22, p = .0076).

CONCLUSION

Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher prevalence of residual cSCC after shave biopsy when compared with nonimmunosuppressed controls and should be prioritized for margin-controlled surgery.
Intraoperative Immunostaining for Cytokeratin-7 During Mohs Micrographic Surgery Demonstrates Low Local Recurrence Rates in Extramammary Paget's Disease
Authors: Damavandy Ali A. , Terushkin Vitaly , Zitelli John A. , Brodland David G. , Miller Christopher J. , Etzkorn Jeremy R. , Shin Thuzar M. , Cappel Mark A. , Mitkov Mario , Hendi Ali
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial malignancy with high recurrence rates following standard surgical treatments, ranging from 22% to 60% in large retrospective reviews.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the local recurrence rate of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) supplemented with intraoperative immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin-7 (MMS + CK-7) for primary and recurrent EMPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective, multi-center, cross-sectional study of patients treated using MMS + CK-7. Demographic, clinicopathologic, treatment, and follow-up data were obtained by chart review.

RESULTS

The observed local recurrence rate for MMS + CK-7 is 3.3% (2/61 tumors) with a mean follow-up of 43.5 months (1–120 months). Local recurrence occurred in 2.3% (1/43) of primary tumors and 5.6% (1/18) of recurrent tumors. Kaplan–Meier 5-year tumor-free rates are 94.6% overall, 97.1% for primary tumors, and 80.0% for recurrent tumors. The Kaplan–Meier 5-year tumor-free rates for all EMPD tumors treated with MMS + CK-7 versus a historical cohort of MMS alone are 94.6% versus 72.0% (p = .012).

CONCLUSION

MMS + CK-7 is an effective treatment for EMPD, demonstrating improved outcomes compared with historical controls.
Static and Dynamic Balance Performance and Balance Confidence in Individuals With and Without Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Ozcan Kahraman Buse , Ozsoy Ismail , Savci Sema , Acar Serap , Ozpelit Ebru , Sevinc Can , Akdeniz Bahri
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

Assessment of balance performance is important for both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons in clinical practice. Although the ideal exercise prescription is unknown for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), balance training may be effective for this population if they have balance impairments, such as other patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate static and dynamic balance performance and balance confidence in individuals with and without PAH.

Methods:

Eighteen participants with PAH and 12 apparently healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Balance performance was assessed by Balance Master System. Static balance performance was assessed by the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance and unilateral stance test. Limits of stability was used for the assessment of dynamic balance performance. Balance confidence was determined using the Activities Balance Confidence scale.

Results:

There was no significant difference in age, gender, and body mass index between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance and unilateral stance variables between the patients and healthy controls. Reaction time (forward), movement velocity (backward), directional control (backward), endpoint excursion (backward), and maximum excursion (backward) variables that were the subgroups of limits of stability were significantly different between the 2 groups (P < .05). Balance confidence was significantly lower in patients with PAH (P < .001).

Conclusion:

This study suggests that although static balance performance was preserved, patients with PAH had decreased dynamic balance performance and balance confidence without a significant fall history compared with healthy controls.
SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY ASSESSMENT OF FELLOW EYES IN COATS DISEASE
Authors: Stanga Paulo E. , Romano Francesco , Chwiejczak Katarzyna , Tsamis Emmanouil , Stringa Francesco , Biswas Susmito , Bento Goncalo , Arrigo Alessandro , Parodi Maurizio Battaglia , Bandello Francesco
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

To assess foveal and parafoveal vasculature at superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus, and choriocapillaris using optical coherence tomography angiography in the fellow eyes of patients with Coats disease.

Methods:

Observational and prospective case series. Thirteen patients with unilateral Coats and 14 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were consecutively recruited at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and the Department of Ophthalmology of San Raffaele Hospital. Both groups underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography angiography (Topcon Corp) 3 mm × 3 mm scans. Images were imported into ImageJ software and binarized; foveal avascular zone area was manually outlined and vessel density analyzed in inner (foveal) and outer (parafoveal) areas of SCP, deep capillary plexus, and choriocapillaris.

Results:

Fellow eyes disclosed a significant increase in the foveal vessel density of SCP (P= 0.04); in particular, superior and temporal quadrants showed more marked alterations (P= 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). Analysis of foveal avascular zone area revealed a significant enlargement in the SCP (P= 0.04). No correlation was found between fellow eyes and the stage of affected eyes.

Conclusion:

Fellow eyes of Coats patients carry quantitative foveal vascular alterations at SCP. These may represent markers of altered inner blood–retinal barrier, due to a bilateral defect in midcapillary angiogenesis.
LONG-TERM OBSERVATION OF MULTIFOCAL METASTATIC INTRAOCULAR CARCINOID WITH ACQUIRED IRIS HETEROCHROMIA
Authors: Wolkow Natalie , Jakobiec Frederick A. , Gragoudas Evangelos S.
Published: December 2017

Background/Purpose:

To report a unique case of a pulmonary carcinoid tumor unilaterally metastatic to the iris and ciliary body and bilaterally to the choroid that was conservatively followed.

Methods:

A 46-year-old woman presented with bilateral choroidal lesions and a left iris tumor. Ultrasound biomicroscopy disclosed a ciliary body component. A diagnosis of metastatic carcinoid tumor was made based on the clinical features. Rather than an excision, photodynamic therapy, or radiation treatment, as has been reported in all previous cases of carcinoid tumor metastatic to the iris, the patient was observed.

Results:

Excellent vision was maintained for 8 years. The iris tumor gradually enlarged, but the choroidal lesions remained unchanged. The iris with the carcinoid tumor gradually acquired a brown pigmentation; this is the first reported case of acquired iris heterochromia in the setting of carcinoid tumor.

Conclusion:

We conclude, in cases of metastatic carcinoid in which visual acuity is excellent and the patient is asymptomatic, that observation of the ocular lesions is an acceptable course of action. The iris heterochromia is believed to have been caused by secretory factors produced by the tumor.
The Clinical Implication of Transcranial Doppler Detection of Microembolic Signals in Patients with Heartmate II
Authors: Fukuma Kazuki , Seguchi Osamu , Saito Kozue , Kuroda Kensuke , Nakajima Seiko , Sato Takuma , Yanase Masanobu , Matsumoto Yorihiko , Fukushima Satsuki , Fujita Tomoyuki , Kobayashi Junjiro , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki , Fukushima Norihide
Published: December 2017

We aimed to elucidate the clinical relevance of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in the detection of microembolic signals in patients with Heartmate II (HM-II). Twenty patients with HM-II underwent TCD examinations, and microembolic signals were rarely detected in stable patients. However, they were detected in patients with hemolysis and/or thromboembolic events. Further, TCD examination under oxygen inhalation revealed that, both, solid emboli and gaseous emboli exist in patients with HM-II.
The Effect of Perioperative Cimetidine Administration on Time to Colorectal Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Ali Ahmad H. , Hale Laurie , Yalamanchili Bindu , Ahmed Mashrafi , Ahmed Marwa , Zhou Rixin , Wright Stephen E.
Published: December 2017

Background:

Studies have reported that the perioperative use of cimetidine, a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, in addition to chemotherapy in patients with lymph node–positive colorectal cancer (CRC) improves the survival.

Study Question:

To determine if time to CRC recurrence could be prolonged with cimetidine.

Study Design:

Cimetidine was prescribed to American Joint on Cancer Committee (AJCC) stage III CRC patients perioperatively. Tumor recurrence was defined as the time (in days) between tumor resection and CRC recurrence. Medical charts of patients diagnosed with CRC between 1996 and 2006 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients with (a) AJCC stage III CRC, (b) who had undergone surgical resection of the tumor, and (c) who received chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil).

Measures and Outcomes:

AJCC stage III CRC patients who did and did not receive cimetidine as part of the treatment regimen were compared with respect to their clinical outcomes using univariate analysis and Kaplan–Meier modeling.

Results:

Between 1996 and 2006, 38 patients met our inclusion criteria. Twenty-six percent (10/38) received perioperative cimetidine (mean daily dose, 750 mg; mean duration, 369 days; mean total cumulative cimetidine dose, 274,070 mg/d) in addition to chemotherapy. Time to recurrence and cancer deaths were prolonged in the chemotherapy plus cimetidine group compared with the group that received chemotherapy alone (mean ± SD: 1078 ± 290 vs. 446 ± 62; P = 0.03). In addition, we found a significant positive relationship between the duration of cimetidine therapy (days) and survival duration (correlation coefficient = 0.94, P = 0.02) and time until cancer recurrence (correlation coefficient = 0.99, P = 0.04). Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between the total cumulative cimetidine dose and survival duration (correlation coefficient = 0.92, P = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Prolonged duration of cimetidine may be superior to shorter courses in prolonging recurrence of CRC and thus survival.
Iranian Women’s Breast Health–Seeking Behaviors
Authors: Mazloomy-Mahmoodabad Seyed Saeed , Khodayarian Mahsa , Morowatisharifabad Mohammad Ali , Lamyian Minoor , Tavangar Hossein
Published: December 2017

Background

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer among Yazdi women in Iran. Thus, it is necessary to encourage these women to participate in breast health–seeking behaviors. In this regard, husbands can play an effective role.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore women’s perceptions about the effect of their husband’s role on breast health–seeking protection motivation.

Methods

This study used a directed qualitative content analysis approach based on the Protection Motivation Theory. Participants were selected using purposive sampling; in-depth semistructured interviews with 14 Yazdi women were completed.

Results

One major category named “motivator role of husband” emerged from the analysis. The following subcategories underlying this category were “indifference and a lack of support as long as the women can continue with expected duties,” “what women want for support,” “facilitating and restrictive factors of husband’s supportive role,” “public health education needed,” and “husband’s agreement with preventive actions.”

Conclusions

Voluntary participation in breast health–seeking behaviors is a culturally sensitive topic. The qualitative methodology allowed this sensitive topic and its different aspects to be explored. The findings indicated that the major source of support for women was their husband’s behavior toward breast health–seeking actions. Family cohesion and love among couples were identified as strong determinant factors pertaining to husband’s supportive behaviors.

Implications for Practice

The study findings provided deeper understanding about the effective factors related to a husband’s role in motivating a wife to practice breast cancer prevention. These new findings are relevant for health educators and practitioners to develop culturally based interventions.
A Patient-Centered Antipsychotic Medication Adherence Intervention
Authors: Pyne Jeffrey M. , Fischer Ellen P. , Mittal Dinesh , Owen Richard
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a patient-centered and sustainable antipsychotic medication adherence intervention. The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Data from 61 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were analyzed. The intervention included a checklist of barriers, facilitators, and motivators (BFM) for taking antipsychotic medications. The results of the checklist were summarized and a note was placed in the electronic medical record (EMR) and a hard copy was given to the patient. However, less than half of the BFM progress notes were placed in the EMR before the clinician visit as planned. The intervention significantly improved adherence at 6 months but not at 12 months and the intervention's effect on total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores was not statistically significant. The BFM intervention is promising, but future studies are needed to improve the integration of the BFM intervention into typical clinic workflow.
Effect of a Rapid Test Algorithm on Linkage to Medical Care and Viral Suppression Among New Jersey Residents, 2007 to 2015
Authors: Mohammed Debbie Y. , Davidow Amy , Martin Eugene , Ibrahim Abdel , Paul Sindy , Ryan John , Bolden Barbara
Published: December 2017

Background

Efforts to identify and link human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons to medical care are the first steps to achieving viral suppression. In the United States, the goals are to link 85% of newly diagnosed persons to medical care in 30 days or less and for 80% to become virally suppressed by 2020. Among newly diagnosed residents from 2007 to 2015, in New Jersey, we evaluated the impact of a rapid testing algorithm (RTA) on linkage to medical care and viral suppression.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of data from New Jersey’s Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System for residents, newly diagnosed at 13 years or older, from 2007 to 2015. We used survival analysis methods to estimate the proportion of residents and time to linkage to medical care and viral suppression.

Results

Of 8508 newly diagnosed residents, 60.3% and 72.3% were linked to medical care in 30 days or less and 90 days or less, respectively; 45.7% achieved viral suppression in 365 days or less. Linkage to medical care in 90 days or less and viral suppression in 365 days or less were more likely among those tested by RTA than laboratory testing. The adjusted hazard ratios for linkage to medical care, in clinical sites were 1.41, (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–1.63 and 1.08, 95% CI, 0.97–1.2 in community sites. The adjusted hazard ratios for viral suppression in clinical sites were 1.25 (95% CI, 1.05–1.47 and 1.16, 95% CI, 1.01–1.32, in community sites.

Conclusions

Implementation of a RTA may eliminate barriers to linkage to medical care and viral suppression leading to decreased morbidity, mortality, and transmission.
Pretreatment 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Standardized Uptake Values and Tumor Size in Medically Inoperable Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Is Prognostic of Overall 2-Year Survival After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Authors: Kocher Madison R. , Sharma Anand , Garrett-Mayer Elizabeth , Ravenel James G.
Published: December 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine prognostic value of tumor size and metabolic activity on survival for patients with early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the patients who underwent positron emission tomography–computed tomography scan before stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment. Tumor diameter, tumor volume, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), standardized uptake value (SUV) average, and SUV volume were obtained. Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between tumor characteristics and survival.

Results

The patients with large tumors and high SUVmax have worse survival than patients with small tumors and low SUVmax (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.47, P = 0.007). Patients with small tumors and high SUVmax (HR = 1.80; P = 0.24) and large tumors and low SUVmax (HR = 1.55; P = 0.43) had increased risk of death compared with patients with small tumors and low SUVmax.

Conclusions

Both increased tumor size and metabolic activity are associated with increased risk of death. Combining size and metabolic activity together is superior for predicting 2-year survival and identifying patients for whom survival is statistically worse.
Early identification of patients requiring massive transfusion, embolization or hemostatic surgery for traumatic hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tran Alexandre , Matar Maher , Lampron Jacinthe , Steyerberg Ewout , Taljaard Monica , Vaillancourt Christian
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Delays in appropriate triage of bleeding trauma patients result in poor outcomes. Clinical gestalt is fallible and objective measures of risk stratification are needed. The objective of this review is to identify and assess prediction models and predictors for the early identification of traumatic hemorrhage patients requiring massive transfusion, surgery, or embolization.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases through to September 31, 2016, for studies describing clinical, laboratory, and imaging predictors available within the first hour of resuscitation for identifying patients requiring major intervention for hemorrhage within the first 24 hours.

RESULTS

We included 84 studies describing any predictor-outcome association, including 47 multivariable models; of these, 26 (55%) were specifically designed for prediction. We identified 35 distinct predictors of which systolic blood pressure, age, heart rate, and mechanism of injury were most frequently studied. Quality of multivariable models was generally poor with only 21 (45%) meeting a commonly recommended sample size threshold of 10 events per predictor. From 21 models meeting this threshold, we identified seven predictors that were examined in at least two models: mechanism of injury, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin, lactate, and focussed abdominal sonography for trauma. Pooled odds ratios were obtained from random-effects meta-analyses.

CONCLUSION

The majority of traumatic hemorrhagic prediction studies are of poor quality, as assessed by the Prognosis Research Strategy recommendations and Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Modeling Studies checklist. There exists a need for a well-designed clinical prediction model for early identification of patients requiring intervention. The variables of clinical importance identified in this review are consistent with recent expert guideline recommendations and may serve as candidates for future derivation studies.
Persistent injury-associated anemia and aging: Novel insights
Authors: Loftus Tyler J. , Kannan Kolenkode B. , Carter Christy S. , Plazas Jessica M. , Mira Juan C. , Brakenridge Scott C. , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Efron Philip A. , Mohr Alicia M.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Hypercatecholaminemia and bone marrow dysfunction have been implicated in the pathophysiology of persistent injury-associated anemia. The elderly may be more vulnerable to bone marrow dysfunction due to high basal and peak catecholamine levels and impaired hematopoietic progenitor growth. We hypothesized that aging would adversely affect persistent injury-associated anemia.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 8 to 9 weeks and F344-BN rats aged 25 months were randomized to naive controls, lung contusion plus hemorrhagic shock (LCHS), and LCHS plus daily chronic restraint stress (LCHS/CS). Urine norepinephrine was measured on Days 1 and 7. Mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), bone marrow colony-forming units–erythroid growth, and peripheral blood hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) were assessed on Day 7 (*p< 0.05 young vs. aged counterpart by one-way analysis of variance).

RESULTS

Aged rats had higher norepinephrine levels at naive baseline (97* vs. 27 ng/mL) and 7 days following LCHS/CS when compared with young (359* vs. 127 ng/mL). Following LCHS/CS, HPC mobilization was greater among young rats when compared with aged (5.4 vs. 2.5%). Colony-forming units–erythroid growth was lower among aged animals for each group (naive: 47* vs. 65; LCHS: 40* vs. 50; LCHS/CS: 38* vs. 44 cells/plate). Aged naive rats had higher initial hemoglobin (15.2* vs. 14.3 g/dL) but lower MCV (48* vs. 59 fL/cell) and larger RDW at baseline and greater differences 7 days after LCHS/CS (MCV: 46* vs. 60 fL/cell; RDW: 17.4* vs. 16.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with young rats, aged rats had less HPC mobilization despite elevated basal and peak norepinephrine. Aged rats were disproportionately affected by impaired hematopoietic progenitor growth and an iron-restricted red blood cell phenotype at baseline, which persisted 7 days after injury. Further research is needed to assess how the clinical approach to persistent injury-associated anemia should differ for elderly trauma patients.
A study on the predictability of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia response to treatment using a hybrid oncosimulator
Authors: Ouzounoglou Eleftherios , Kolokotroni Eleni , Stanulla Martin , Stamatakos Georgios S.
Published: December 2017

Efficient use of Virtual Physiological Human (VPH)-type models for personalized treatment response prediction purposes requires a precise model parameterization. In the case where the available personalized data are not sufficient to fully determine the parameter values, an appropriate prediction task may be followed. This study, a hybrid combination of computational optimization and machine learning methods with an already developed mechanistic model called the acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) Oncosimulator which simulates ALL progression and treatment response is presented. These methods are used in order for the parameters of the model to be estimated for retrospective cases and to be predicted for prospective ones. The parameter value prediction is based on a regression model trained on retrospective cases. The proposed Hybrid ALL Oncosimulator system has been evaluated when predicting the pre-phase treatment outcome in ALL. This has been correctly achieved for a significant percentage of patient cases tested (approx. 70% of patients). Moreover, the system is capable of denying the classification of cases for which the results are not trustworthy enough. In that case, potentially misleading predictions for a number of patients are avoided, while the classification accuracy for the remaining patient cases further increases. The results obtained are particularly encouraging regarding the soundness of the proposed methodologies and their relevance to the process of achieving clinical applicability of the proposed Hybrid ALL Oncosimulator system and VPH models in general.
Intima heterogeneity in stress assessment of atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Akyildiz Ali C. , Speelman Lambert , van Velzen Bas , Stevens Raoul R. F. , van der Steen Antonius F. W. , Huberts Wouter , Gijsen Frank J. H.
Published: December 2017

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is recognized as the primary cause of cardiac and cerebral ischaemic events. High structural plaque stresses have been shown to strongly correlate with plaque rupture. Plaque stresses can be computed with finite-element (FE) models. Current FE models employ homogeneous material properties for the heterogeneous atherosclerotic intima. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of intima heterogeneity on plaque stress computations. Two-dimensional FE models with homogeneous and heterogeneous intima were constructed from histological images of atherosclerotic human coronaries (
n
= 12). For homogeneous models, a single stiffness value was employed for the entire intima. For heterogeneous models, the intima was subdivided into four clusters based on the histological information and different stiffness values were assigned to the clusters. To cover the reported local intima stiffness range, 100 cluster stiffness combinations were simulated. Peak cap stresses (PCSs) from the homogeneous and heterogeneous models were analysed and compared. By using a global variance-based sensitivity analysis, the influence of the cluster stiffnesses on the PCS variation in the heterogeneous intima models was determined. Per plaque, the median PCS values of the heterogeneous models ranged from 27 to 160 kPa, and the PCS range varied between 43 and 218 kPa. On average, the homogeneous model PCS values differed from the median PCS values of heterogeneous models by 14%. A positive correlation (
R
2
= 0.72) was found between the homogeneous model PCS and the PCS range of the heterogeneous models. Sensitivity analysis showed that the highest main sensitivity index per plaque ranged from 0.26 to 0.83, and the average was 0.47. Intima heterogeneity resulted in substantial changes in PCS, warranting stress analyses with heterogeneous intima properties for plaque-specific, high accuracy stress assessment. Yet, computations with homogeneous intima assumption are still valuable to perform sensitivity analyses or parametric studies for testing the effect of plaque geometry on PCS. Moreover, homogeneous intima models can help identify low PCS, stable type plaques with thick caps. Yet, for thin cap plaques, accurate stiffness measurements of the clusters in the cap and stress analysis with heterogeneous cap properties are required to characterize the plaque stability.
Fractals in Action: An fMRI study on the Generation of new Hierarchical Levels in Motor Sequences
Authors: Martins Mauricio J.D. , Bianco Roberta , Sammler Daniela , Villringer Arno
Published: December 2017

Generation of hierarchical structures, such as the embedding of subordinate elements into larger structures, is a core feature of human cognition. Discrimination of well-formed hierarchies is thought to rely on lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the brain bases underlying the active generation of new hierarchical levels remain poorly understood. Here, we created a new motor paradigm to isolate this active generative process. In fMRI, participants planned and performed (identical) movement sequences based on three previously learned rules: (1) a hierarchical ‘fractal’ rule that involved generation of new levels, (2) a linear ‘iterative’ rule adding items to existing hierarchical levels, and (3) simple ‘repetition’. We found that generation of new hierarchical levels (using the fractal rule) activated a bilateral motor planning-and imagery network, but did not involve lateral PFC. Conversely, adding items to existing hierarchical levels required M1 directly during execution. These results show that the generation of new hierarchical levels can be achieved without involvement of putative domain-general systems such as those ascribed to lateral PFC. We hypothesize that these systems might be important to parse hierarchical sequences in a multi-domain fashion but not necessarily to generate new hierarchical levels.
Skilled lipreaders read and listen to lips
Authors: Saalasti S. , Alho J. , Lahnakoski J.M. , Bacha-Trams M. , Glerean E. , Jääskeläinen I.P , Hasson U. , Sams M.
Published: December 2017

Only a few of us are skilled lipreaders while most struggle at the task. To illuminate the poorly understood neural substrate of this variability, we estimated the similarity of brain activity during lipreading, listening, and reading of the same 8-min narrative with subjects whose lipreading skill varied extensively. The similarity of brain activity was estimated by voxel-wise comparison of the BOLD signal time courses. Inter-subject correlation of the time courses revealed that lipreading and listening are supported by the same brain areas in temporal, parietal and frontal cortices, precuneus and cerebellum. However, lipreading activated only a small part of the neural network that is active during listening/reading the narrative, demonstrating that neural processing during lipreading vs. listening/reading differs substantially. Importantly, skilled lipreading was specifically associated with bilateral activity in the superior and middle temporal cortex, which also encode auditory speech. Our novel results both confirm previous results from few previous studies using isolated speech segments as stimuli but also extend in an important way understanding of neural mechanisms of lipreading.
Reticular adhesions: A new class of adhesion complex that mediates cell-matrix attachment during mitosis
Authors: Lock John G. , Jones Matthew C. , Askari Janet A. , Gong Xiaowei , Oddone Anna , Olofsson Helene , Göransson Sara , Lakadamyali Melike , Humphries Martin J. , Strömblad Staffan
Published: December 2017

Adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) persists during mitosis in most cell types. Yet, classical adhesion complexes (ACs), such as focal adhesions and focal complexes, do and must disassemble to enable cytoskeletal rearrangements associated with mitotic rounding. Given this paradox, mechanisms of mitotic cell-ECM adhesion remain undefined. Here, we identify ‘reticular adhesions’, a new class of AC that is mediated by integrin αvβ5, formed during interphase and preserved at cell-ECM attachment sites throughout cell division. Consistent with this role, integrin β5 depletion perturbs mitosis and disrupts spatial memory transmission between cell generations. Quantitative imaging reveals reticular adhesions to be both morphologically and dynamically distinct from classic focal adhesions, while mass spectrometry defines their unique composition; lacking virtually all consensus adhesome components. Indeed, remarkably, reticular adhesions are functionally independent of both talin and F-actin, yet are promoted by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P2). Overall, the distinct characteristics of reticular adhesions provide a unique solution to the problem of maintaining cell-ECM attachment during mitotic rounding and division.
Prevalence, mechanisms and comparison of detection methods of fosfomycin resistance inE. colifrom urinary tract infections
Authors: Cottell Jennifer L. , Webber Mark A.
Published: December 2017

As numbers of bacterial isolates resistant to first line antibiotics rise there has been a revival in the use of older drugs such as fosfomycin. Fosfomycin is a cell wall inhibitor with a unique mode of action, increasingly used in the treatment of urinary tract infections. In this study, the prevalence of fosfomycin resistantE. coliin a panel of 1000 urine isolates was investigated. Three different clinically used fosfomycin susceptibility testing methods were assessed and genome sequencing used to characterise resistant isolates.

Of the 1000 isolates, 676 wereE. coliof which initial susceptibility testing with the MAST Uri®system suggested 81 (12%) were fosfomycin resistant. Of these, 62 were subsequently confirmed as beingE. coli.However, using micro-broth dilution, agar dilution and E-test strips, a lower rate of 1.3% (8/62) ofE. coliisolates were robustly identified as being truly fosfomycin resistant; a prevalence comparable with other similar studies. The use of E-test and 96-well breakpoint plates gave results that were inconsistent and hard to interpret. Resistant isolates ofE. colibelonged to diverse MLST types and each had a unique set of chromosomal alterations in genes associated with fosfomycin resistance. Changes in GlpT and UhpT/UhpA transport systems were commonly identified, with 6/8 of the resistant isolates possessing amino-acid changes or deletions absent in susceptible strains. Fosfomycin resistant isolates were not multiply drug resistance and did not carry plasmidic fosfomycin resistance genes. Therefore, the use of fosfomycin may be unlikely to drive selection of a particular clone or movement of transferrable resistance genes.

Fosfomycin remains a viable option for the treatment ofE. coliin uncomplicated UTIs, different susceptibility testing platforms can give very different results regarding the prevalence of fosfomycin resistance with false positives a potential problem that may unnecessarily limit use of this agent.
Review and bibliometric analysis of Chinese agricultural economics research: 2006-2015
Authors: Chen Qiuhong , Geng Ning , Zhu Kan
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the distributional characteristics and evolutional patterns in source periodicals, topics, authors, funding, and institutes of research papers in Chinese Agricultural Economics so as to understand the current situations and developmental tendency of Chinese agricultural economics research over the past decade.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the citation analysis method, this paper analyzed the distributional characteristics and evolution of source periodicals, fields, authors and topics of 2,203 highly cited journal papers from the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and 189 cited journal papers from database of Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) in agricultural economics first-authored by Chinese scholars from 2006 to 2015.

Findings

First, over the past decade, agricultural economics research in China has seen a rapid development. Specially, 103 scholars and 42 institutes have played key roles in the development, and 12 Chinese periodicals and 3 international journals have been the most influential outlets. Second, the coverage of the topics in Chinese agricultural economics research is broad and has expanded over the past decade. The rural land issue has been the most popular topic, while the issues regarding rural institutional arrangements and industrialization in rural areas have been explored extensively. However, issues in other fields, such as agricultural markets and trade, rural labor, food safety, etc. have to be further studied. Third, the improvements of economic theory and quantitative analytic techniques, the supports from research funding, and an increase in the collaboration between Chinese scholars and those from other countries have made great contribution to the rapid development of Chinese agricultural economics research over the past decade.

Originality/value

This paper is an original work that identifies the most influential journal papers including highly cited journal papers from CNKI and cited journal papers from SSCI, using citation frequency and standard Essential Science Indicators method. This is a contribution relative to the methods used by previous studies, which did not account for frequency of citation of a paper. Moreover, this study is based on data from two databases, CNKI and SSCI, suggesting that the coverage of sample papers is broader compared to those of previous studies.