bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethnicity and Other Determinants of Quality of Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Chen Xiaoying , Wang Xia , Delcourt Candice , Li Jingwei , Arima Hisatomi , Hackett Maree L. , Robinson Thompson , Lavados Pablo M. , Lindley Richard I. , Chalmers John , Anderson Craig S. ,   for the ENCHANTED Investigators
Published: December 2019

Background and Purpose—
Patient-centered outcomes are important. We aimed to determine predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and develop utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores in thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients from both arms of ENCHANTED (Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study).

Methods—
ENCHANTED was an international quasi-factorial clinical trial of different doses of intravenous alteplase and intensities of blood pressure control in acute ischemic stroke patients, with outcomes on the 5-Dimensional European Quality of Life Scale and mRS assessed at 90 days post-randomization. Logistic regression models were used to identify baseline predictors of poor HRQoL (≤mean 5-Dimensional European Quality of Life Scale utility scores). Ordinary least squares regression derived utility-weighted mRS scores.

Results—
In 4016 acute ischemic stroke patients with complete 5-Dimensional European Quality of Life Scale and mRS data, independent predictors of poor HRQoL were older age (odds ratio, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.12–1.27], per 10-year increase), non-Asian ethnicity (1.91 [1.61–2.27]), greater stroke severity on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (1.11 [1.09–1.12]), diabetes mellitus (1.41 [1.18–1.69]), premorbid disability (mRS score 1 versus 0; 1.62 [1.33–1.97]), large vessel atheromatous pathogenesis (1.32 [1.12–1.54]), and proxy respondent (2.35 [2.01–2.74]). Sensitivity analyses indicate the ethnicity influence on HRQoL was driven by the high proportion of Chinese (62.9% of Asian) participants with better HRQoL compared with non-Chinese or other Asian groups. Derived utility values across mRS scores 0 to 5 were 0.977, 0.885, 0.748, 0.576, 0.194, and −0.174, respectively. Correlations between mRS and 5-Dimensional European Quality of Life Scale scores were stronger in Asians.

Conclusions—
HRQoL is worse after thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke in the elderly, non-Asians, with greater initial severity, diabetes mellitus, premorbid disability, due to large vessel atheroma, and proxy assessment. The broader significance of better HRQoL in Asians is tempered by Chinese participants dominating analyses. From utility-weighted mRS scores indicating the greatest steps in mRS scores are between 5 and 3, treatments to avoid major disability provide the greatest benefits for patients.

Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01422616.
Analysis of the relationship between daylight illuminance and cognitive, affective and physiological changes in visual display terminal workers
Authors: Öner M , Kazanasmaz T , Leccese F , Salvadori G 
Published: December 2019

This study explored the impact of daylight illuminance on cognitive load during visual display terminal use by means of various physiological, performance and subjective measures. Repeated-measures design was adopted to identify the impact of variations in daylight levels that were manipulated through the shading system configurations (shading-on; shading-off). A total of 30 subjects performed visual and cognitive demanding tests. Performance measures were supported by subjective data and eye-related measures during the experimental analysis. Results revealed that the use of a shading system had positive impact on sustained attention. Concerning ocular measures, percentage of eye closure values showed opposite tendencies among vigilance and sustained attention demanding tests. Eye aspect ratio-max and blink duration were significantly correlated with reported glare sensation. In all tests, eye aspect ratio-max was found significantly higher in lower illuminances. Search velocity was significantly correlated with ocular variables in higher illuminances whereas sustained attention showed an opposite trend. This, initially, explains that even slight differences in daylight illuminance might have distinctive effects on the relationship between different groups of assessment variables while measuring cognitive load. Secondly, it proves the significance of carrying out sensitive experiments in terms of both light levels and test characteristics. Practical application: The findings of this study could suggest that a practical application, the use of a shading device, might deliver an efficient solution on such a multifaceted question about the potential effects of luminous environment on the evaluation of cognitive load. Work environments might be considered as cognitively efficient if only the harmony of less mental effort, more satisfaction and less health problems exist, which together ultimately deliver higher work performance. In real-world work environments, application of such shading devices involves advantages not only for avoiding excessive daylight exposure or optimizing energy consumption, but also facilitating cognitive, affective and physiological processes of individuals.
The effects of ankle-foot orthoses on walking speed in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Shahabi Saeed , Shabaninejad Hosein , Kamali Mohammad , Jalali Maryam , Ahmadi Teymourlouy Ahmad 
Published: December 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ankle-foot orthoses on speed walking in patients with stroke. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL, PEDro, RehabData, RECAL, and ProQuest were searched from inception until 30 September 2019. Review methods: This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline statement. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Begg’s test and Egger’s regression method were used to assess the publication bias. Trim and fill analysis was also used to adjust any potential publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of individual studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Results: Overall, 14 studies were included with a total of 1186 participants. A small-to-moderate and non-significant improvement in favor of the ankle-foot orthosis versus without ankle-foot orthosis (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval = −0.15 to 0.96), similar effects of ankle-foot orthosis and functional electrical stimulation (SMD = 0.00, 95% confidence interval = −0.16 to 0.16), and a small and non-significant improvement in favor of ankle-foot orthosis versus another type of ankle-foot orthosis (SMD = 0.22, 95% confidence interval = −0.05 to 0.49) in walking speed were found. However, the quality of evidence for all comparisons was low or very low. Conclusion: Despite reported positive effects in some studies, there is no firm evidence of any benefit of ankle-foot orthoses on walking speed.
Absolute Meniscal Extrusion After Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Does Not Progress During Long-term Follow-up: Average of 10.3 Years’ Follow-up Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Lee Sang-Min , Bin Seong-Il , Kim Jong-Min , Lee Bum-Sik , Park Jun-Gu 
Published: December 2019

Background: Long-term outcomes after lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) are not completely understood. Purpose/Hypothesis: We investigated changes in meniscal extrusion in the coronal and sagittal planes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after lateral MAT through long-term follow-up. We hypothesized that meniscal extrusion would progress during follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Patients subjected to lateral MAT were followed up by MRI evaluation in both planes at 1, 4 to 6, and >8 years after MAT. Meniscal extrusion and entire meniscal widths in the coronal plane and anterior (ACMD) and posterior (PCMD) cartilage meniscal distances in the sagittal plane were measured, and values were compared at each time point. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Lysholm score. Results: A total of 27 lateral MATs were included with a mean MRI follow-up period of 10.3 years (range, 8.1-15.3 years). The mean absolute meniscal extrusion (coronal plane) was not significantly different at each time point. However, the relative value differed (0.27 ± 0.04 at 1 year; 0.33 ± 0.06 at >8 years after MAT) owing to entire meniscal width reduction. There was no difference in the mean absolute value of the ACMD in the sagittal plane. However, relative values differed (0.21 ± 0.01 at 1 year; 0.27 ± 0.06 at >8 years) owing to entire meniscal width reduction. Absolute and relative values of the PCMD remained unaffected at each time point. The Lysholm score increased after surgery but did not differ postoperatively. Conclusion: During the long-term follow-up of extrusion after lateral MAT using MRI, absolute extrusion remained unchanged across all planes. Relative extrusion in the coronal plane and of the ACMD in the sagittal plane significantly increased, with no differences in the PCMD on follow-up. Clinical outcomes after surgery improved compared with those before surgery and were maintained throughout the long-term follow-up period.
A Generalized Exposition of Money Creation in the Money and Banking Course
Authors: Guse Eran , Brasfield David W. 
Published: December 2019

Since the Great Recession, monetary policy conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks has changed. However, the discussion regarding money creation and the money multiplier has not been altered in undergraduate money and banking textbooks. We suggest a change to the presentation of money creation by first removing the use of T-accounts and replacing them with a visual representation known as the money production diagram. We then present a money production function that is much like a standard production function as described in principles courses. The money multiplier is replaced by the average product of the monetary base in this production function. We use this production function to explain changes to the money supply from exogenous shocks or changes to policy. JEL classification: A22, E51, E52
Radically Rethinking Social Work in the Criminal (in)Justice System in Australia
Authors: Jarldorn Michele 
Published: December 2019

Historically, research on prisons and prisoners privileges an individualizing framework, when in fact the prison experience is strongly tied to social stratification and collective identities. Informed by the data created for a Photovoice project with former prisoners in South Australia, I contend that contemporary “criminological” knowledge tends to individualize crime through its own privileged view of the world. This individualizing approach seeps into the ways in which criminalized women experience release into the community after a prison sentence, confirming that society does not believe that imprisonment furnishes any form of “rehabilitation.” There can be no separation between capitalism, the prison industrial complex (PIC), and the violence present in carceral settings. This violence, although to a lesser extent than prisoners, is experienced by social workers selling their labor power within the PIC who are co-opted into believing that they can “make a difference.” Yet, social workers, whose codes of ethics are grounded in a framework of human rights, are witness to abuses of human rights on a daily basis within the PIC. Instead of making a difference, they are coerced into silence and roles of social control. The argument proposed here suggests that social workers must radically rethink the place and purpose of prisons by considering them as a violent response by the state to structural social problems that are experienced as politically perpetrated misery and oppression.
Outcomes and survivorship after conversion of failed hip hemiarthroplasty to total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Sarpong Nana O , Grosso Matthew J , Lakra Akshay , Herndon Carl L , Jennings Emma , Shah Roshan P , Geller Jeffrey A , Cooper H John 
Published: December 2019

Background: Arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. When compared to total hip arthroplasty (THA), higher revision rates have been reported for hemiarthroplasty (HA). Conversion of failed HA to THA can be complex, especially in the elderly population at risk for revision surgery complications. We report a single institution’s experience with conversion of failed HA to THA at mid-term follow-up. Methods: We identified patients converted from failed HA to THA from 2006 to 2016. Clinical data including indication for index and conversion surgery, maintenance or revision of femoral component during conversion, operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, and need for revision surgery were collected. Descriptive statistics were analysed in SPSS. Results: The cohort included 21 men and 39 women (mean age of 74.5 years). The mean follow-up after conversion HA to THA was 2.8 years. During conversion surgery, the femoral component was revised in 75.0% and retained in 25.0% of cases. After conversion HA to THA, the rate of major complications and re-revision at 2 years was 11.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Femoral revision versus retention did not affect complication rates (11.1% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.31) or re-revision rates (8.9% vs. 13.3%; p = 1.0). Conclusions: In this high-risk population, mid-term follow-up demonstrated tolerable complication and re-revision rates, the majority of which were for instability. We observed high rates of femoral component revision during conversion THA, although this did not increase the likelihood of postoperative complications or need for future surgery.
Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Ala Nasi: A Case Report
Authors: Mouzali Amina , Lameche Samia , Slimani Assia , Zemirli Omar 
Published: December 2019

Objectives: Pleomorphic adenomas are benign tumors that rarely involve nonsalivary glands. We report an uncommon case of ala nasi pleomorphic adenoma. We discuss the clinical and histopathologic characteristics, and review the literature on nasal pleomorphic adenoma. Method: A 20-year-old man presented with a painless slow growing lobulated mass located on the right ala nasi extending into the nasal vestibule. Results: Complete surgical excision was performed. Histologic examination found a mixed cellular component: epithelial and myoepithelial cells with chondromyxoid stroma. This was consistent with the diagnosis of a typical pleomorphic adenoma. There was no evidence of recurrence at 18 months after the surgery. Conclusions: Pleomorphic adenomas located in the external nose are extremely rare. In such case, pleomorphic adenoma could originate from ectopic minor salivary gland. Complete surgical excision with long-term follow-up is recommended due to the potential risk of recurrence and malignant transformation.
Evaluation of clinical and anatomical outcome of staged stenting after acute coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Mine Benjamin , Bonnet Thomas , Vazquez-Suarez Juan Carlos , Ligot Noémie , Lubicz Boris 
Published: December 2019

Introduction Stent-assisted coiling has widened indications and improved stability of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, stent-assisted coiling is usually not used to treat acutely ruptured intracranial aneurysms to avoid antiplatelet therapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate a strategy of staged endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms including coiling at the acute phase with complementary stenting with or without coiling at the subacute phase. Material and methods Between 2012 and 2017, we retrospectively identified, in our prospectively maintained database, all patients treated for a ruptured intracranial aneurysm based on this staged stenting strategy. Clinical charts and imaging follow-up were analyzed to assess the procedural safety and feasibility as well as clinical and anatomical outcome. Results We identified 23 patients with 23 intracranial aneurysms including 15 (65.2%) women with a mean age of 50 years (range 24–69 years). No rebleeding occurred during the mean delay of 24.3 days between initial coiling and stenting. All procedures were successful and additional coiling was performed in 5/23 procedures (21.7%). Clinical status was unchanged in all patients. At follow-up, the modified Rankin scale was graded 0 in 19/23 (82.6%), 1 in 2/23 (8.7%), and 2 in 2/23 (8.7%) patients, respectively. The rate of complete occlusion rose from 30.4% before the stenting procedure to 52.2% immediately after and 72.7% at follow-up. Conclusion This strategy of early staged stenting in selected patients is safe and improves immediate intracranial aneurysm occlusion and long-term stability in this population at high risk of intracranial aneurysm recurrence with coiling alone.
Endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage: a multicenter retrospective experience of a technique slowly gaining acceptance in Egypt
Authors: Altonbary Ahmed Youssef , Galal Ahmed , El-Nady Mohamed , Hakim Hazem 
Published: December 2019

Background and aim: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is an alternative to failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Unfortunately, this procedure remains relatively less explored in Egypt due to its high cost, lack of adequate training, and the perception of increased risk. This study is the first multicenter Egyptian experience of an endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 15 patients (10 men and five women) with malignant biliary obstruction who from October 2013 to May 2019, following a failed or inaccessible endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, underwent an endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy, endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy, or endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous. Their mean age was 57.4 years and mean bilirubin was 18.2 mg/dL. The outcome parameters included technical and clinical success. Technical success was defined as the successful placement of a stent in the biliary system, while clinical success was defined as a greater than 50% decrease in the bilirubin levels 2 weeks after the procedure. Patients were monitored for complications during and after the procedure. Results: In total, 15 patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (eight underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy, five underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy, and two underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous). The technical and clinical success rates were 100% (15/15 patients) and 93.3% (14/15 patients), respectively. The complication rate was 26.6% (4/15 patients). All complications were mild and self-limited, and included fever, mild biliary peritonitis, pneumoperitoneum, and a slight migration of one plastic stent during insertion. Conclusion: Although slowly gaining acceptance in Egypt, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is an effective and safe procedure in patients with a malignant biliary obstruction after a failed or inaccessible endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Gradual transition from mosaic to global DNA methylation patterns during deuterostome evolution
Authors: Okamura Kohji , Matsumoto Kazuaki A , Nakai Kenta 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
DNA methylation by the Dnmt family occurs in vertebrates and invertebrates, including ascidians, and is thought to play important roles in gene regulation and genome stability, especially in vertebrates. However, the global methylation patterns of vertebrates and invertebrates are distinctive. Whereas almost all CpG sites are methylated in vertebrates, with the exception of those in CpG islands, the ascidian genome contains approximately equal amounts of methylated and unmethylated regions. Curiously, methylation status can be reliably estimated from the local frequency of CpG dinucleotides in the ascidian genome. Methylated and unmethylated regions tend to have few and many CpG sites, respectively, consistent with our knowledge of the methylation status of CpG islands and other regions in mammals. However, DNA methylation patterns and levels in vertebrates and invertebrates have not been analyzed in the same way.

Results
Using a new computational methodology based on the decomposition of the bimodal distributions of methylated and unmethylated regions, we estimated the extent of the global methylation patterns in a wide range of animals. We then examined the epigenetic changes in silico along the phylogenetic tree. We observed a gradual transition from fractional to global patterns of methylation in deuterostomes, rather than a clear demarcation between vertebrates and invertebrates. When we applied this methodology to six piscine genomes, some of which showed features similar to those of invertebrates.

Conclusions
The mammalian global DNA methylation pattern was probably not acquired at an early stage of vertebrate evolution, but gradually expanded from that of a more ancient organism.
Robust and accurate prediction of noncoding RNAs from aligned sequences
Authors: Saito Yutaka , Sato Kengo , Sakakibara Yasubumi 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Computational prediction of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is an important task in the post-genomic era. One common approach is to utilize the profile information contained in alignment data rather than single sequences. However, this strategy involves the possibility that the quality of input alignments can influence the performance of prediction methods. Therefore, the evaluation of the robustness against alignment errors is necessary as well as the development of accurate prediction methods.

Results
We describe a new method, called Profile BPLA kernel, which predicts ncRNAs from alignment data in combination with support vector machines (SVMs). Profile BPLA kernel is an extension of base-pairing profile local alignment (BPLA) kernel which we previously developed for the prediction from single sequences. By utilizing the profile information of alignment data, the proposed kernel can achieve better accuracy than the original BPLA kernel. We show that Profile BPLA kernel outperforms the existing prediction methods which also utilize the profile information using the high-quality structural alignment dataset. In addition to these standard benchmark tests, we extensively evaluate the robustness of Profile BPLA kernel against errors in input alignments. We consider two different types of error: first, that all sequences in an alignment are actually ncRNAs but are aligned ignoring their secondary structures; second, that an alignment contains unrelated sequences which are not ncRNAs but still aligned. In both cases, the effects on the performance of Profile BPLA kernel are surprisingly small. Especially for the latter case, we demonstrate that Profile BPLA kernel is more robust compared to the existing prediction methods.

Conclusions
Profile BPLA kernel provides a promising way for identifying ncRNAs from alignment data. It is more accurate than the existing prediction methods, and can keep its performance under the practical situations in which the quality of input alignments is not necessarily high.