bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management and early outcomes of children with appendicitis in the UK and Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of surgeons and observational study
Authors: Bethell George S , Rees Clare M , Sutcliffe Jonathan R , Hall Nigel J 
Published: October 2020

ObjectivesAcute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition in children. In the UK, appendicectomy is the most common treatment with non-operative management unusual. Due to concerns about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during surgical procedures, surgeons were advised to consider non-operative treatment and avoid laparoscopy where possible. This study aims to report management and outcomes, to date, of children with appendicitis in the UK and Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignSurvey of consultant surgeons who treat children with appendicitis that informed a prospective multicentre observational cohort study.SettingData were collected from centres in the UK and Ireland for cases admitted between 1 April and 31 May 2020 (first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic) at both general surgical and specialist paediatric surgical centres.ParticipantsThe study cohort includes 838 children with a clinical and/or radiological diagnosis of acute appendicitis of which 527 (63%) were male.Main outcomes measuredPrimary outcome was treatment strategy used for acute appendicitis. Other outcomes reported include change in treatment strategy over time, use of diagnostic imaging and important patient outcomes to 30 days following hospital admission.ResultsFrom very early in the pandemic surgeons experienced a change in their management of children with appendicitis and almost all surgeons who responded to the survey anticipated further changes during the pandemic. Overall, 326/838 (39%) were initially treated non-operatively of whom 81/326 (25%) proceeded to appendicectomy within the initial hospital admission. Of cases treated initially surgically 243/512 (48%) were performed laparoscopically. Diagnostic imaging was used in 445/838 (53%) children. Cases treated non-operatively had a shorter hospital stay than those treated surgically but hospital readmissions within 30 days were similar between groups. In cases treated surgically the negative appendicectomy rate was 4.5%. There was a trend towards increased use of surgical treatment and from open to laparoscopic appendicectomy as the pandemic progressed.ConclusionNon-operative treatment of appendicitis has been widely used for the first time in children in the UK and Ireland and is safe and effective in selected patients. Overall patient outcomes do not appear to have been adversely impacted by change in management during the pandemic thus far.
Abortion regulation in Europe in the era of COVID-19: a spectrum of policy responses
Authors: Moreau Caroline , Shankar Mridula , Glasier Anna , Cameron Sharon , Gemzell-Danielsson Kristina 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundUnprecedented public health actions restricting movement and non-COVID related health services are likely to have affected abortion care during the pandemic in Europe. In the absence of a common approach to ensure access to this essential health service, we sought to describe the variability of abortion policies during the outbreak in Europe in order to identify strategies that improve availability and access to abortion in times of public health crises.MethodsWe collected information from 46 countries/regions: 31 for which country-experts completed a survey and 15 for which we conducted a desk review. We describe abortion regulations and changes to regulations and practice during the pandemic.ResultsDuring COVID-19, abortions were banned in six countries and suspended in one. Surgical abortion was less available due to COVID-19 in 12 countries/regions and services were not available or delayed for women with COVID-19 symptoms in eleven. No country expanded its gestational limit for abortion. Changes during COVID-19, mostly designed to reduce in-person consultations, occurred in 13 countries/regions. Altogether eight countries/regions provided home medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol beyond 9 weeks (from 9 weeks+6 days to 11 weeks+6 days) and 13 countries/regions up to 9 weeks (in some instances only misoprostol could be taken at home). Only six countries/regions offered abortion by telemedicine.ConclusionsThe lack of a unified policy response to COVID-19 restrictions has widened inequities in abortion access in Europe, but some innovations including telemedicine deployed during the outbreak could serve as a catalyst to ensure continuity and equity of abortion care.
Trends and disparities in American Indian/Alaska Native unintentional injury mortality from 1999 to 2016
Authors: Kerr William C , Ye Yu , Williams Edwina , Mulia Nina , Cherpitel Cheryl J 
Published: October 2020

IntroductionAlcohol and drug use are significant problems in the US, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and individuals are known to be among the most affected. This study evaluates disparities in unintentional injury mortality causes since 1999.MethodsAnalyses in 2020 of unintentional injury mortality rate disparities between AI/ANs and white population over the 1999–2016 period with attention to motor vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning, drug poisoning and all other cause types. Rates in each of the 10 states with the largest AI/AN populations were also investigated to account for geographical concentration.ResultsMotor vehicle mortality rates declined for both AI/AN and white groups, but a large racial disparity was maintained. Conversely, poisoning mortality rates rose substantially in both groups, with a jump in rates in 2007 due to a coding change, resulting in a large disparity that was maintained through 2016. Comparison of alcohol and drug poisonings showed that the AI/AN alcohol poisoning rate was about eight times the white rate, whereas drug poisoning rates were similar. For ‘all other’ unintentional injuries, the highest rates were seen for AI/AN men, with rates generally rising over the study period. State-specific analyses found substantial variation in AI/AN rates, with few or no disparities in New York and Texas.ConclusionsResults indicate substantial and persisting disparities in unintentional injury mortality, with especially large differences in alcohol poisoning. The absence of disparities in New York and Texas suggest the importance of situational factors.
Bringing industry back to conferences, and paying for results
Authors: Patterson David , Bugayenko Yegor 
Published: October 2020

The
Communications
Web site, http://cacm.acm.org, features more than a dozen bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish selected posts or excerpts.

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Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blogCACM
http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm
David Patterson wants to boost industry submissions to conferences, while Yegor Bugayenko suggests productivity should govern coders' pay when they work from home.
Trap Density Assessment on Multilayer WS2 using Power-Dependent Indirect Photoluminescence
Authors: Leonhardt A. , Nuytten T. , de la Rosa C. J. Lockhart , Sergeant S. , Mootheri V. K. , Huyghebaert C. , De Gendt S. 
Published: October 2020

Material or interface defectivity assessment of 2D materials remains a challenge, specifically in terms of simple techniques which can be integrated in a CMOS process line. Here we demonstrate an optical technique that assesses interface trap densities, based on the indirect photoluminescence emission. We achieved that by demonstrating the modulation of the indirect/direct photoluminescence peak intensity ratio by the exciton concentration and then linking the modulation to the trap-sensitive non-radiative Auger recombination. Calibration is achieved through theoretical modeling of the recombination mechanisms and, as an example of the methodology, a trap density between 1.6 × 1010 cm−2 and 1.2 × 1011 cm−2 is extracted from (hBN/)WS2/SiO2 structures.
Prostate Cancer Biomarker Development: National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network Prostate Cancer Collaborative Group Review
Authors: Liss Michael A. , Leach Robin J. , Sanda Martin G. , Semmes Oliver J. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Prostate cancer remains the most common non-skin cancer and second leading cause of death among men in the United States. Although progress has been made in diagnosis and risk assessment, many clinical questions remain regarding early identification of prostate cancer and management. The early detection of aggressive disease continues to provide high curative rates if diagnosed in a localized state. Unfortunately, prostate cancer displays significant heterogeneity within the prostate organ and between individual patients making detection and treatment strategies complex. Although prostate cancer is common among men, the majority will not die from prostate cancer, introducing the issue of overtreatment as a major concern in clinical management of the disease. The focus of the future is to identify those at highest risk for aggressive prostate cancer and to develop prevention and screening strategies, as well as discerning the difference in malignant potential of diagnosed tumors. The Prostate Cancer Research Group of the National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network has contributed to the progress in addressing these concerns. This summary is an overview of the activities of the group.
See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “NCI Early Detection Research Network: Making Cancer Detection Possible.”
HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) and ApoA-1 (Apolipoprotein A-1) Potentially Modulate Pancreatic α-Cell Glucagon Secretion
Authors: Mancuso Elettra , Mannino Gaia Chiara , Fuoco Anastasia , Leo Antonio , Citraro Rita , Averta Carolina , Spiga Rosangela , Russo Emilio , De Sarro Giovambattista , Andreozzi Francesco , Sesti Giorgio 
Published: October 2020

Objective:
Subjects with low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and ApoA-1 (apolipoprotein A-1) have increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes. HDL levels are an independent predictor of β-cell function and positively modulate it. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by defects in both β and α-cell function, but the effect of HDL and ApoA1 on α-cell function is unknown.

Approach and Results:

We observed a significant negative correlation (
r
=−0.422,
P
<0.0001) between HDL levels and fasting glucagon in a cohort of 132 Italian subjects. In a multivariable regression analysis including potential confounders such as age, sex, BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting and 2-hour postload glucose, and fasting insulin, the association between HDL and fasting glucagon remained statistically significant (β=−0.318,
P
=0.006). CD1 mice treated with HDL or ApoA-1 for 3 consecutive days showed a 32% (
P
<0.001) and 23% (
P
<0.05) reduction, respectively, in glucagon levels following insulin-induced hypoglycemia, compared with controls. Treatment of pancreatic αTC1 clone 6 cells with HDL or ApoA-1 for 24 hours resulted in a significant reduction of glucagon expression (
P
<0.04) and secretion (
P
<0.01) after an hypoglycemic stimulus and increased Akt (RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase) and FoxO1 (forkhead/winged helix box gene, group O-1) phosphorylation. Pretreatment with Akt inhibitor VIII, PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002, and HDL receptor SCARB-1 (scavenger receptor class B type 1) inhibitor BLT-1 (block lipid transport-1) restored αTC1 cell response to low glucose levels.

Conclusions:
These results support the notion that HDL and ApoA-1 modulate glucagon expression and secretion by binding their cognate receptor SCARB-1, and activating the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling cascade in an in vitro α-cell model. Overall, these results raise the hypothesis that HDL and ApoA-1 may have a role in modulating glucagon secretion.
Autumn Arctic Pacific Sea Ice Dipole as a Source of Predictability for Subsequent Spring Barents Sea Ice Condition
Authors: Liang Yu-Chiao , Kwon Young-Oh , Frankignoul Claude 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study uses observational and reanalysis datasets in 1980–2016 to show a close connection between a boreal autumn sea ice dipole in the Arctic Pacific sector and sea ice anomalies in the Barents Sea (BS) during the following spring. The September–October Arctic Pacific sea ice dipole variations are highly correlated with the subsequent April–May BS sea ice variations (r = 0.71). The strong connection between the regional sea ice variabilities across the Arctic uncovers a new source of predictability for spring BS sea ice prediction at 7-month lead time. A cross-validated linear regression prediction model using the Arctic Pacific sea ice dipole with 7-month lead time is demonstrated to have significant prediction skills with 0.54–0.85 anomaly correlation coefficients. The autumn sea ice dipole, manifested as sea ice retreat in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and expansion in the East Siberian and Laptev Seas, is primarily forced by preceding atmospheric shortwave anomalies from late spring to early autumn. The spring BS sea ice increases are mostly driven by an ocean-to-sea ice heat flux reduction in preceding months, associated with reduced horizontal ocean heat transport into the BS. The dynamical linkage between the two regional sea ice anomalies is suggested to involve positive stratospheric polar cap anomalies during autumn and winter, with its center slowly moving toward Greenland. The migration of the stratospheric anomalies is followed in midwinter by a negative North Atlantic Oscillation–like pattern in the troposphere, leading to reduced ocean heat transport into the BS and sea ice extent increase.
Dynamical Structures of Cross-Domain Forecast Error Covariance of a Simulated Tropical Cyclone in a Convection-Permitting Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean Model
Authors: Chen Xingchao , Nystrom Robert G. , Davis Christopher A. , Zarzycki Colin M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the dynamics of the flow-dependent forecast error covariance across the air–sea interface is beneficial toward revealing the potential influences of strongly coupled data assimilation on tropical cyclone (TC) initialization in coupled models, and the fundamental dynamics associated with TC air–sea interactions. A 200-member ensemble of convection-permitting forecasts from a coupled atmosphere–ocean regional model is used to investigate the forecast error covariance across the oceanic and atmospheric domains during the rapid intensification of Hurricane Florence (2018). Forecast uncertainties in both atmospheric and oceanic domains, from an Eulerian perspective, increase with forecast lead time, mainly from TC displacement errors. In a storm-relative framework, the ensemble forecast uncertainties in both domains are predominantly caused by differences in the simulated storm intensity and structure. The largest ensemble spread in the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind fields can be found within the TC inner-core region. Alternatively, the largest ensemble spread in the upper-ocean currents and temperature fields are located along the cold wake behind the storm. Cross-domain ensemble correlations between simulated atmospheric (oceanic) observations and oceanic (atmospheric) state variables in the storm-relative coordinates are highly anisotropic, variable dependent, and ultimately driven by the dynamics of TC air–sea interactions. Meaningful and dynamically consistent cross-domain ensemble correlations suggest that it is possible to use atmospheric and oceanic observations to simultaneously update state variables associated with the coupled ocean–atmosphere prediction of TCs using strongly coupled data assimilation. Sensitivity experiments demonstrate that at least 60–80 ensemble members are required to represent physically consistent cross-domain correlations and minimize sampling errors.
Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing in Breastfeeding Infants With Laryngomalacia: Observed Clinical and Endoscopic Changes With Alteration of Infant Positioning at the Breast
Authors: Mills Nikki , Keesing Melissa , Geddes Donna , Mirjalili Seyed Ali 
Published: October 2020

Objectives: This retrospective cohort study uses endoscopic assessment of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing in infants with laryngomalacia, to ascertain the impact of infant positioning on airway compromise and fluid dynamics during breastfeeding. The study aims to identify whether modification of infant positioning at the breast may improve the possibility of safe, successful breastfeeding in infants with laryngomalacia and concurrent breastfeeding difficulty. Methods: Twenty-three infants referred for noisy breathing and difficulty feeding were assessed with flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) during breastfeeding. All had endoscopically confirmed laryngomalacia. During FEES, observations were made of clinical signs of airway compromise as well as endoscopically observable anatomical features and swallowing dynamics during breastfeeding, including tongue base position, view of laryngeal inlet and vocal folds, dynamic supraglottic soft tissue collapse, timing of milk flow into pyriform fossae/hypopharynx relative to sucking, and presence of penetration and/or aspiration. If airway and/or swallowing compromise was present, the infant’s initial position at the breast was altered from supine or semi lateral decubitus position to semi-prone, with a description of the clinical and endoscopically observable changes that subsequently occurred. Results: Signs of dynamic airway obstruction and/or compromised airway protection with swallowing were present in 20 of the 23 infants (87%) in their initial supine or semi lateral decubitus position. These 20 infants were repositioned to semi-prone, with improvement and/or resolution of stridor and an improved ability to maintain latch in all infants. Continued endoscopic evaluation following positional change was possible in 16 infants, identifying anterior positioning of the tongue base, reduced dynamic supraglottic tissue collapse, reduced volume of milk flow into pyriform fossae during pauses in sucking and resolution of penetration and aspiration. Conclusion: This study has shown how alteration of breastfeeding position to semi-prone may improve dynamic airway obstruction and reduce aspiration risk in infants with laryngomalacia.
Causes of Vocal Fold Paralysis
Authors: Wang Hsing-Won , Lu Cheng-Chieh , Chao Pin-Zhir , Lee Fei-Peng 
Published: October 2020

Background: Vocal fold paralysis (VFP) can result from a variety of diseases or surgeries and has various causes. This study determined concurrent etiologies in patients who were treated in a teaching hospital (tertiary medical center). Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients with VFP from September 2010 to December 2019 was performed to determine the etiology. Patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal malignancies, those with incomplete examination and follow-up data were excluded from the study. During the follow-ups, cases involving recovery were also excluded. Results: One hundred and ninety-four patients with a determined etiology were included: 113 males and 81 females. Unilateral VFP was present in 178 patients, and 16 presented with bilateral VFP. The causes of unilateral VFP were surgical for 61.3%, neoplastic for 17.5%, idiopathic for 10.3%, traumatic for 1.5%, central for 4.7%, cardiovascular for 2%, radiation-induced for 1.5%, and inflammatory for 1%. Thyroidectomy was the most common surgery for unilateral VFP and was the cause for 54 patients. Lung cancer was responsible for 15 cases and was the most common neoplastic etiology of unilateral VFP. For those who presented with bilateral VFP, surgery was the most common cause and accounted for 56.3% of the incidences. In terms of gender, surgery was the most common cause for both sexes, accounting for 62 of 113 male patients and 57 of 81 female patients. Four cases recovered during the follow-ups and these were excluded. Conclusion: Surgery and in particular, thyroidectomy, was the most common cause of VFP for these series. Central nervous system disorders were the cause of VFP (4.5%). Central nervous system disorders, especially cerebrovascular accidents that induced VFP, could not be neglected. Radiation-induced cranial nerve paralysis in the head and neck cancer was possible causes. The percentage for the causes of unilateral VFP, surgery increased and the percentage for neoplasm decreased for Taiwan.
Feasibility, Acceptability and Usage Patterns of a 24-Hour Mobile Phone Helpline Service for Women Discharged from a Mother-Baby Psychiatry Unit (MBU) in India
Authors: Ragesh G , Ganjekar Sundarnag , Thippeswamy Harish , Desai Geetha , Hamza Ameer , Chandra Prabha S 
Published: October 2020

Background: For women with perinatal mental illness, phone helplines may be a useful way of accessing help. This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, limitations, and usage patterns of a helpline service for mothers discharged from a mother-baby psychiatry unit. Methods: Mothers discharged from a mother baby unit during an 18-month period were provided with a helpline number. A social worker answered the calls. Details of the calls, including the reasons and the interventions provided, were recorded. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by calling all users and nonusers. Satisfaction with the helpline was recorded among users, and reasons for not calling were assessed among nonusers. Results: Among 113 mothers, 51 (45%) made 248 calls. Calls were regarding medication, sleep problems, planning pregnancies, symptom exacerbation, appointments, and suicidal ideation. Some calls were related to domestic violence ( n = 13, 5.24%), and infant health and breastfeeding ( n = 11, 4.44%). Seventy-six (67%, 44 callers and 32 noncallers) were contacted. The majority (41/44) of the callers found it useful: 91% said they got help, and 95% said they would recommend it to others. However, language difficulties (9%) and technical problems (5%) were reported. Among the noncallers, the majority reported having experienced no problem related to mental health or had contacted a doctor. However, of the noncallers, one woman died of suicide, did not have access to a phone, and the family did not choose to call. Conclusions: Helpline phone service appears to be feasible and acceptable and can be adapted in other mother-baby psychiatry units in low and middle-income countries. However, in some women, the nonavailability of a phone may be a limiting factor.