bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A physical activity intervention to improve the quality of life of patients with a stoma: a feasibility study
Authors: Hubbard Gill , Taylor Claire , Watson Angus J. M. , Munro Julie , Goodman William , Beeken Rebecca J. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
We hypothesise that a physical activity (PA) intervention will improve the quality of life (QoL) of people with a stoma. A feasibility study of the intervention and trial parameters is necessary to inform a future main trial.

Methods
Participants received a weekly PA consultation by telephone, video conferencing, or face-to-face for 12 weeks with a PA instructor who prescribed physical activities and supported participants by addressing stoma-related concerns and using behaviour change techniques. A feasibility study of the intervention and trial parameters was conducted in three UK sites using mixed methods.

Results
The number of eligible patients consenting to the study was 30 out of 174 (17%). Most participants were female (73%); 73% had an ileostomy and 27% a colostomy; mean time since diagnosis was 6 months. A total of 18 (64%) participants completed pre- (baseline) and post-intervention (follow-up) measures. Results show an improvement on all scales measuring QoL and disease-specific fatigue. The median PA consultation rate per participant was eight sessions. Participants reported completing 75% or more of the prescribed PA each week. Eight stoma-related themes were identified from qualitative interviews: fear of hernia, bending down, fatigue, pain, prolapse, surgical wounds, stoma appliance, and stigma. The intervention appeared to address these issues.

Conclusion
This feasibility study demonstrated that a novel manualised PA intervention for people with a stoma is safe, feasible, and acceptable, and shows promise for improving outcomes. However, difficulties with recruitment will need to be carefully considered to ensure the success of future studies in this area.

Trial registration
ISCTN, ISRCTN58613962; Registered 14/9/2017.
Does the EVA valuation model explain the market value of equity better under changing required return than constant required return?
Authors: Behera Sujata 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThrough the Economic-Value-Added (EVA) valuation model, the expected market value of equity can be determined by adding the book value of equity with the present value of expected EVAs under the assumption of constant required return and constant return on equity. The equation of EVA valuation model has taken its shape under the assumption of constant required return and constant return on equity. However, a large body of empirical evidence indicates that required rate of return never remain constant. The EVA- valuation model formulated under constant required return cannot be implemented under the scenario of changing required return. In this study, we explored whether the EVA valuation model could be implemented under changing required return by making any changes in the model and found that it could be implemented under the scenario of changing required return by replacing the book value of the equity of the existing model with the present value of required earnings or normal market earnings. We further examined whether the explanatory ability of the EVA valuation model under the assumption of changing required return is better than that of the valuation model under the assumption of constant required return. Relative information content analyses were conducted by considering sample of the intrinsic value of equities determined by valuation models and the market value of equities of 69 large-cap, 88 mid-cap, and 79 small-cap companies. The results showed that the EVA-based valuation model with changing normal market return outperformed the EVA-based valuation model with constant required return.
Reconfigurable control as actuator fault-tolerant control design for power oscillation damping
Authors: Nair Digvijay V. , Murty MSR 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis paper presents design of an self contained actuators unit in wide area damping control of power system in stabilizing system response for both nominal system condition and during actuator faults. First it is presented that use of multiple actuators in wide area control aid in improving damping in power system. A wide area damping controller feeding multiple actuators to satisfy multiple objectives in wide area damping control of power system is designed. Minimization of infinity norm of closed loop transfer function of power system with wide area controller in feedback path & closed loop poles placement techniques are used in controller synthesis. Second a reconfigurable control on the lines of fault hiding principle is added to the controller design to maintain system damping to pre-fault level in case of actuator faults. A reconfiguration component(RC) is activated on occurrence of actuator fault thereby reconfiguring system dynamics and redistributing wide area control signal among remaining active actuators. RC together with remaining active actuators and under same wide area damping controller maintains system damping to pre-fault level thereby preserving system dynamic response. In the reconfigurable control design presented here no new actuators outside the unit of actuators designed for wide area damping control is required. This makes for an self contained actuators unit in wide area damping control of power system both for nominal system condition and for system affected by actuator faults. A two area power system model is considered here for demonstrating effectiveness of designed robust damping controller with multiple outputs feeding multiple actuators in wide area control and illustrating the idea of self contained actuators unit for maintaining system damping in case of actuator faults.
Textural radiomic features and time-intensity curve data analysis by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for early prediction of breast cancer therapy response: preliminary data
Authors: Fusco Roberta , Granata Vincenza , Maio Francesca , Sansone Mario , Petrillo Antonella 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
To investigate the potential of semiquantitative time-intensity curve parameters compared to textural radiomic features on arterial phase images by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for early prediction of breast cancer neoadjuvant therapy response.

Methods
A retrospective study of 45 patients subjected to DCE-MRI by public datasets containing examination performed prior to the start of treatment and after the treatment first cycle (‘QIN Breast DCE-MRI’ and ‘QIN-Breast’) was performed. In total, 11 semiquantitative parameters and 50 texture features were extracted. Non-parametric test, receiver operating characteristic analysis with area under the curve (ROC-AUC), Spearman correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction were applied.

Results
Fifteen patients with pathological complete response (pCR) and 30 patients with non-pCR were analysed. Significant differences in median values between pCR patients and non-pCR patients were found for entropy, long-run emphasis, and busyness among the textural features, for maximum signal difference, washout slope, washin slope, and standardised index of shape among the dynamic semiquantitative parameters. The standardised index of shape had the best results with a ROC-AUC of 0.93 to differentiate pCR versus non-pCR patients.

Conclusions
The standardised index of shape could become a clinical tool to differentiate, in the early stages of treatment, responding to non-responding patients.
Painting image browser applying an associate-rule-aware multidimensional data visualization technique
Authors: Kaneko Ayaka , Komatsu Akiko , Itoh Takayuki , Wang Florence Ying 
Published: February 2020

AbstractExploration of artworks is enjoyable but often time consuming. For example, it is not always easy to discover the favorite types of unknown painting works. It is not also always easy to explore unpopular painting works which looks similar to painting works created by famous artists. This paper presents a painting image browser which assists the explorative discovery of user-interested painting works. The presented browser applies a new multidimensional data visualization technique that highlights particular ranges of particular numeric values based on association rules to suggest cues to find favorite painting images. This study assumes a large number of painting images are provided where categorical information (e.g., names of artists, created year) is assigned to the images. The presented system firstly calculates the feature values of the images as a preprocessing step. Then the browser visualizes the multidimensional feature values as a heatmap and highlights association rules discovered from the relationships between the feature values and categorical information. This mechanism enables users to explore favorite painting images or painting images that look similar to famous painting works. Our case study and user evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the presented image browser.
Prevalence updates of substance use among Egyptian adolescents
Authors: Rabie Menan , Shaker Nermin M. , Gaber Eman , El-Habiby Mahmoud , Ismail Dalia , El-Gaafary Maha , Lotfy Amina , Sabry Noha , Khafagy Wael , Muscat Richard 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
The problem of substance use is becoming one of the most serious and rapidly growing phenomena all over the world. Efficient and well-designed prevalence studies for mental illnesses including substance use problems need to be regularly updated, in order to rearrange the prevention and management plans on a scientific basis. The aim of the study is to detect the prevalence of substance use and dependence among secondary school students, as they are one of the high-risk populations for drug use, targeting a representative sample of 10,648 of students.

Results
The most commonly used substance was nicotine during lifetime (9%), last 12 months (4.9%), and last month (2.4%). After the exclusion of nicotine, benzodiazepines was the commonest substance abused (5.1%) followed by alcohol (3.3%) and organic solvents (3.1%). The most commonly used during the last 12 months was alcohol (2.9%) followed by organic solvents (2.7%) and cannabis (2.6%). The prevalence of the regular use of any substance was 1.5%, while the prevalence of the dependence syndrome was 0.9% (excluding nicotine dependence). The prevalence of intake, regular use, and dependence were all higher among males.

Conclusion
The results of this study attract attention towards the substance abuse problem among adolescents in Egypt. Tobacco is the most commonly used substance followed by benzodiazepines which seemed to be used on a regular basis. Alcohol, organic solvents, and cannabis are also commonly used. Preventive services should be directed towards youth to combat these phenomena.
Generating value with mental health apps
Authors: Powell Adam C. , Torous John B. , Firth Joseph , Kaufman Kenneth R. 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundAlthough apps are increasingly being used to support the diagnosis, treatment and management of mental illness, there is no single means through which costs associated with mental apps are being reimbursed. Furthermore, different apps are amenable to different means of reimbursement as not all apps generate value in the same way.AimsTo provide insights into how apps are currently generating value and being reimbursed across the world, with a particular focus on the situation in the USA.MethodAn international team performed secondary research on how apps are being used and on common pathways to remuneration.ResultsThe uses of apps today and in the future are reviewed, the nature of the value delivered by apps is summarised and an overview of app reimbursement in the USA and other countries is provided. Recommendations regarding how payments might be made for apps in the future are discussed.ConclusionsCurrently, apps are being reimbursed through channels with other original purposes. There may be a need to develop an app-specific channel for reimbursement which is analogous to the channels used for devices, drugs and laboratory tests.
Structural Studies of Thyroid Peroxidase Show the Monomer Interacting With Autoantibodies in Thyroid Autoimmune Disease
Authors: Williams Daniel E , Le Sarah N , Hoke David E , Chandler Peter G , Gora Monika , Godlewska Marlena , Banga J Paul , Buckle Ashley M 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a critical membrane-bound enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of multiple thyroid hormones, and is a major autoantigen in autoimmune thyroid diseases such as destructive (Hashimoto) thyroiditis. Here we report the biophysical and structural characterization of a novel TPO construct containing only the ectodomain of TPO and lacking the propeptide. The construct was enzymatically active and able to bind the patient-derived TR1.9 autoantibody. Analytical ultracentrifugation data suggest that TPO can exist as both a monomer and a dimer. Combined with negative stain electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, these data show that the TR1.9 autoantibody preferentially binds the TPO monomer, revealing conformational changes that bring together previously disparate residues into a continuous epitope. In addition to providing plausible structural models of a TPO-autoantibody complex, this study provides validated TPO constructs that will facilitate further characterization, and advances our understanding of the structural, functional, and antigenic characteristics of TPO, an autoantigen implicated in some of the most common autoimmune diseases.
Computer-aided diagnosis system for osteoporosis based on quantitative evaluation of mandibular lower border porosity using panoramic radiographs
Authors: Nakamoto Takashi , Hatsuta Seina , Yagi Shotaro , Verdonschot Rinus Gerardus , Taguchi Akira , Kakimoto Naoya 
Published: February 2020

Objectives: A new computer-aided screening system for osteoporosis using panoramic radiographs was developed. The conventional system could detect porotic changes within the lower border of the mandible, but its severity could not be evaluated. Our aim was to enable the system to measure severity by implementing a linear bone resorption severity index (BRSI) based on the cortical bone shape. Methods: The participants were 68 females (>50 years) who underwent panoramic radiography and lumbar spine bone density measurements. The new system was designed to extract the lower border of the mandible as region of interests and convert them into morphological skeleton line images. The total perimeter length of the skeleton lines was defined as the BRSI. 40 images were visually evaluated for the presence of cortical bone porosity. The correlation between visual evaluation and BRSI of the participants, and the optimal threshold value of BRSI for new system were investigated through a receiver operator characteristic analysis. The diagnostic performance of the new system was evaluated by comparing the results from new system and lumbar bone density tests using 28 participants. Results: BRSI and lumbar bone density showed a strong negative correlation (p < 0.01). BRSI showed a strong correlation with visual evaluation. The new system showed high diagnostic efficacy with sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 64.7%, and accuracy of 75.0%. Conclusions: The new screening system is able to quantitatively evaluate mandibular cortical porosity. This allows for preventive screening for osteoporosis thereby enhancing clinical prospects.
Solubility and stability of melatonin in propylene glycol, glycofurol, and dimethyl sulfoxide
Authors: Zetner Dennis , Rosenberg Jacob 
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Local administration of melatonin might prove useful in future clinical studies. Melatonin possesses poor solubility and stability in aqueous solutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the solubility and stability of melatonin when dissolved in glycofurol, propylene glycol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Methods: Two experiments were performed: solubility and stability. In the solubility experiment, we dissolved melatonin in 20% propylene glycol and 20% glycofurol solutions, respectively. For the stability experiment, we prepared three different formulations: melatonin and glycofurol (20% w/w, 10 mg/g); melatonin, glycofurol, and DMSO (20%, 40% w/w, 10 mg/g); and melatonin and DMSO (50% w/w, 1 mg/g). All three solutions were stored at 25°C for 45 days. Concentrations of melatonin in all solutions were measured through high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Melatonin demonstrated poor solubility in propylene glycol (3.6–3.8 mg/g) and better solubility in glycofurol (10.5–11.1 mg/g). All three formulations of the stability experiment showed no degradation of melatonin over 45 days. Discussion: Glycofurol and DMSO provide better solubility and stability than aqueous solutions. The formulations used in this experiment have adequate stability to be used in clinical trials.
A systematic review of non-randomised evaluations of strategies to improve participant recruitment to randomised controlled trials
Authors: Gardner Heidi R , Albarquoni Loai , El Feky Adel , Gillies Katie , Treweek Shaun 
Published: February 2020

Background: Recruitment to trials can be challenging. Currently, non-randomised evaluations of trial recruitment interventions are rejected due to poor methodological quality, but systematic assessment of this substantial body of work may inform trialists’ decision-making about recruitment methods. Our objective was to quantify the effects of strategies to improve participant recruitment to randomised trials evaluated using non-randomised study designs. Methods: We searched relevant databases for non-randomised studies that included two or more interventions evaluating recruitment to trials. Two reviewers screened abstracts and full texts for eligible studies, then extracted data on: recruitment intervention, setting, participant characteristics, number of participants in intervention and comparator groups. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias. The primary outcome was the number of recruits to a trial. Results: We identified 92 studies for inclusion; 90 studies aimed to improve the recruitment of participants, one aimed to improve the recruitment of GP practices, and one aimed to improve recruitment of GPs. Of the 92 included studies, 20 were at high risk of bias due to confounding; the remaining 72 were at high risk of bias due to confounding and at least one other category of the ROBINS-I tool. The 20 studies at least risk of bias were synthesised narratively based on seven broad categories; Face to face recruitment initiatives, postal invitations and responses, language adaptations, randomisation methods, trial awareness strategies aimed at the recruitee, trial awareness strategies aimed at the recruiter, and use of networks and databases. The utility of included studies is substantially limited due to small sample sizes, inadequate reporting, and a lack of coordination around deciding what to evaluate and how. Conclusions: Careful thought around planning, conduct, and reporting of non-randomised evaluations of recruitment interventions is required to prevent future non-randomised studies contributing to research waste. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42016037718
Maternal and neonatal data collection systems in low- and middle-income countries: scoping review protocol
Authors: Berrueta Mabel , Bardach Ariel , Ciaponni Agustin , Xiong Xu , Stergachis Andy , Zaraa Sabra , Buekens Pierre ,   Scoping Review Collaboration Group
Published: February 2020

Background: Pregnant women and neonates represent one of the most vulnerable groups, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A recent analysis reported that most vaccine pharmacovigilance systems in LMICs consist of spontaneous (passive) adverse event reporting. Thus, LMICs need effective active surveillance approaches, such as pregnancy registries. We intend to identify currently active maternal and neonatal data collection systems in LMICs, with the potential to inform active safety electronic surveillance for novel vaccines using standardized definitions. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted based on established methodology. Multiple databases of indexed and grey literature will be searched with a specific focus on existing electronic and paper-electronic systems in LMICs that collect continuous, prospective, and individual-level data from antenatal care, delivery, neonatal care (up to 28 days), and postpartum (up to 42 days) at the facility and community level, at the national and district level, and at large hospitals. Also, experts will be contacted to identify unpublished information on relevant data collection systems. General and specific descriptions of Health Information Systems (HIS) extracted from the different sources will be combined and duplicated HIS will be removed, producing a list of unique statements. We will present a final list of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health systems considered flexible enough to be updated with necessary improvements to detect, assess and respond to safety concerns during the introduction of vaccines and other maternal health interventions. Selected experts will participate in an in-person consultation meeting to select up to three systems to be further explored in situ. Results and knowledge gaps will be synthesized after expert consultation.
Barriers and facilitators to palliative care education in nursing and residential homes: a rapid review
Authors: Manson Jane , Gardiner Clare , McTague Laura 
Published: February 2020

Background: There is insufficient high-quality evidence to suggest that palliative care education can impact care home settings. Aims: To identify, appraise and synthesise all available evidence on the barriers and facilitators to providing palliative care education in residential and nursing care homes and to generate recommendations to increase the effectiveness of future palliative care education programmes in care homes. Methods: A rapid review searching CINAHL, Medline and ProQuest. One author screened full-text articles for inclusion. Any uncertainties were discussed with a second author. Findings: Twenty-two articles were included in the full review. Analysis of the included articles revealed the following overlapping themes: structural systems; cultural and personal issues; and knowledge translation issues with interaction. Conclusion: Addressing the barriers and facilitators when designing palliative care education programmes for care homes will lead to more successful outcomes.