bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of voice therapy on voice‐related handicap: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Barsties v. Latoszek Ben , Watts Christopher R. , Neumann Katrin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundTreatment approaches for voice therapy are diverse, yet their differential effects are not well understood. Evaluations of treatment effects across approaches are important for clinical guidance and evidence‐based practice.Objective of reviewTo quantify the evidence of treatment effectiveness on the outcome measure Voice Handicap Index with the 30‐items (VHI‐30) from existing randomised controlled/clinical trials (RCT) of voice therapy using the statistical approach of a network meta‐analysis (NMA) with a random effects model.Type of reviewMeta‐analysis.Search strategyWe searched in MEDLINE (PubMed, 1950 to 2019), Embase (1974 to 2019) and Science Citation Index (1994 to 2019) using five key terms. The inclusion criteria were reports of randomised controlled/clinical trials (RCTs) published in English or German which evaluated the effectiveness of a specific voice therapy treatment using VHI‐30 as an outcome measure in adult participants with non‐organic or organic voice disorders. Studies were excluded if participants had been diagnosed with neurological motor speech disorders or who were vocally healthy. Furthermore, no medical, pharmacological or instrumental (eg voice amplification) treatments were considered.Evaluation methodThe primary outcome variable was VHI‐30 with a score from 0 to 120. The pre‐post treatment change in VHI‐30 scores was an average score of 13 points related to various VHI‐30 test‐retest results.ResultsWe retrieved 464 publications (ie with duplicates) and included 13 RCTs, which evaluated nine interventions, in the final analysis. The most effective intervention with a significant and clinically relevant effect was Stretch‐and‐Flow Phonation (SFP) (mean pre‐post difference −28.37, 95% confidence interval [CI], −43.05 to‐13.68). Resonant Voice (RV), the Comprehensive Voice Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) and Vocal Function Exercises (VFE) also demonstrated significant improvements.ConclusionsOf the nine voice interventions identified with the present NMA, SFP, RVT, CVRP, and VFE effectively improved VHI‐30 scores from pre‐ to post‐treatment. SFP proved to be the most significant and clinically relevant treatment. Further contributions of high‐quality intervention studies are needed to support evidence‐based practice in vocology.
Health and quality of life among a cohort of patients having lateral internal sphincterotomy for anal fissures
Authors: Sutherland J. M. , Karimuddin A. , Liu G. , Crump T. , Akbar H. , Phang T. , Redfern K. , Manoharan S. , Brown C. J. , Raval M. J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimThe aim of this study is to report changes in health‐related quality of life attributable to lateral internal sphincterotomy for treatment of anal fissure. There is very little evidence on whether the overall health‐related quality of life of patients is detrimentally affected by the condition, or which aspects of self‐perceived health status improve after lateral internal sphincterotomy. This study will articulate which aspects of health tend to improve and guide postoperative expectations appropriately. Knowledge gained from this study may also identify gaps in an individual patient's episode of care.MethodPatients were prospectively identified when they consented to surgical treatment of their anal fissure and were contacted by phone to participate. Participants completed a number of patient‐reported outcomes preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Faecal incontinence‐related quality of life, pain and depression were measured at both time points. The severity of faecal incontinence was measured at both times.ResultsParticipants reported high levels of pain preoperatively. Postoperatively, improvement in pain exceeded the threshold of clinical relevance (P < 0.01). Thirty‐five per cent of participants reported significant effects of faecal incontinence preoperatively, while 26% did so postoperatively. Participants with multiple comorbidities were more likely to report faecal incontinence postoperatively than preoperatively.ConclusionThis study reports that lateral internal sphincterotomy improved pain symptoms without adverse effects on continence. Not all domains of health‐related quality of life were similarly positively affected by anal fissure repair.
Water‐body segmentation from satellite images using Kapur's entropy‐based thresholding method
Authors: Aalan Babu A , Mary Anita Rajam V 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWater body segmentation helps in extracting water bodies like lake, pond, river, and reservoir from high resolution satellite images. This also helps in discovering new water bodies. But, extraction of water bodies from satellite images is much complicated, mainly due to the severe disparity in size, shape, and appearance of the water bodies. In this article, Kapur's entropy‐based thresholding method is proposed for the segmentation of water bodies from Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite images. The dataset used in this article is AIRS (Aerial Imagery for Roof Segmentation) dataset, with VHR satellite images, from which only the images with water bodies are considered. Experimental results show that the proposed method yields better segmentation performance with an overall accuracy of 98.43% and Structural Similarity Index rate of 0.9712.
Combined mechanistic modelling predicts changes in species distribution and increased co‐occurrence of a tropical urchin herbivore and a habitat‐forming temperate kelp
Authors: Castro Louise C. , Cetina‐Heredia Paulina , Roughan Moninya , Dworjanyn Symon , Thibaut Loic , Chamberlain Matthew A , Feng Ming , Vergés Adriana 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimIdentify climate change impacts on spawning and settlement of a tropical herbivore (Tripneustes), optimal habitat of a temperate kelp (Ecklonia) and implications for these species regions of interaction under future climate.LocationAlong eastern Australia and into the Tasman Sea including Lord Howe Island (LHI).Time periodA contemporary scenario (2006–2015) and future “business as usual” RCP 8.5 climate change scenario (2090–2100).Major taxa studiedThe tropical sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla, and the temperate kelp, Ecklonia radiata.MethodsWe combined mechanistic models to create a predictive map of Ecklonia and Tripneustes distributions, and their future potential to co‐occur. We use 3D velocity and temperature fields produced with a state‐of‐the‐art configuration of the Ocean Forecasting Model version 3 that simulates the contemporary oceanic environment and projects it under an RCP 8.5 climate change scenario. We map the contemporary and future Ecklonia's realized and fundamental thermal niche; and simulate Tripneustes larval dispersal under both climate scenarios.ResultsBased on the thermal affinity of kelp and increases in projected temperatures, we predict a poleward range contraction of ~530 km by 2100 for kelp on Australia's east coast. Climate‐driven changes in dispersal of Tripneustes lead to its range expansion into Bass Strait and poleward, ~340–650 km further into Ecklonia's habitat range inducing new areas of co‐occurrence in the future. We find warming decreases spawning and settlement of Tripneustes in the tropics by 43%, and causes significant connectivity changes for LHI with future reliance on self‐recruitment.Major conclusionsWe predict novel regions of co‐occurrence between a temperate Ecklonia and tropical Tripneustes species which may lead to greater loss of kelp. Our results provide a new modelling approach for predicting species range shifts that is transferable to other marine ecosystems; it considers species response to abiotic change, predicts spatial spread and anticipates new regions for species interactions.
Declining human pressure and opportunities for rewilding in the steppes of Eurasia
Authors: Baumann Matthias , Kamp Johannes , Pötzschner Florian , Bleyhl Benjamin , Dara Andrey , Hankerson Brett , Prishchepov Alexander V. , Schierhorn Florian , Müller Daniel , Hölzel Norbert , Krämer Roland , Urazaliyev Ruslan , Kuemmerle Tobias 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimLarge and ecologically functioning steppe complexes have been lost historically across the globe, but recent land‐use changes may allow the reversal of this trend in some regions. We aimed to develop and map indicators of changing human influence using satellite imagery and historical maps, and to use these indicators to identify areas for broad‐scale steppe rewilding.LocationEurasian steppes of Kazakhstan.MethodsWe mapped decreasing human influence indicated by cropland abandonment, declining grazing pressure and rural outmigration in the steppes of northern Kazakhstan. We did this by processing ~5,500 Landsat scenes to map changes in cropland between 1990 and 2015, and by digitizing Soviet topographic maps and examining recent high‐resolution satellite imagery to assess the degree of abandonment of >2,000 settlements and >1,300 livestock stations. We combined this information into ahuman influence index(HI), mapped changes in HI to highlight where rewilding might take place and assessed how this affected the connectivity of steppe habitat.ResultsAcross our study area, about 6.2 million ha of cropland were abandoned (30.5%), 14% of all settlements were fully and 81% partly abandoned, and 76% of livestock stations were completely dismantled between 1990 and 2015, suggesting substantially decreasing human pressure across vast areas. This resulted in increased connectivity of steppe habitat.Main conclusionsThe steppes of Eurasia are experiencing massively declining human influence, suggesting large‐scale passive rewilding is taking place. Many of these areas are now important for the connectivity of the wider steppe landscape and can provide habitat for endangered megafauna such as the critically endangered saiga antelope. Yet, this window of opportunity may soon close, as recultivation of abandoned cropland is gaining momentum. Our aggregate human influence index captures key components of rewilding and can help to devise strategies for fostering large, connected networks of protected areas in the steppe.
Focal epilepsy in SCN1A‐mutation carrying patients: is there a role for epilepsy surgery?
Authors: Vezyroglou Aikaterini , Varadkar Sophia , Bast Thomas , Hirsch Edouard , Strobl Karl , Harvey A Simon ,   Epilepsy Surgery in SCN1A Study Group, Scheffer Ingrid E , Sisodiya Sanjay M , Cross J Helen 
Published: June 2020

Variants in the gene SCN1A are a common genetic cause for a wide range of epilepsy phenotypes ranging from febrile seizures to Dravet syndrome. Focal onset seizures and structural lesions can be present in these patients and the question arises whether epilepsy surgery should be considered. We report eight patients (mean age 13y 11mo [SD 8y 1mo], range 3–26y; four females, four males) with SCN1A variants, who underwent epilepsy surgery. Outcomes were variable and seemed to be directly related to the patient’s anatomo‐electroclinical epilepsy phenotype. Patients with Dravet syndrome had unfavourable outcomes, whilst patients with focal epilepsy, proven to arise from a single structural lesion, had good results. We conclude that the value of epilepsy surgery in patients with an SCN1A variant rests on two issues: understanding whether the variant is pathogenic and the patient’s anatomo‐electroclinical phenotype. Careful evaluation of epilepsy phenotype integrated with understanding the significance of genetic variants is essential in determining a patient’s suitability for epilepsy surgery. Patients with focal onset epilepsy may benefit from epilepsy surgery, whereas those with Dravet syndrome do not.What this paper adds

Patients should not automatically be excluded from epilepsy surgery evaluation if they carry an SCN1A variant.

Patients with focal epilepsy may benefit from epilepsy surgery; those with Dravet syndrome do not.
Endovascular treatment of intracranial vascular malformations in children
Authors: Lubicz Boris , Christiaens Florence 
Published: June 2020

Paediatric intracranial vascular malformations are rare and different from adult ones in vascular anatomy, pathophysiology, and symptoms. Their impact on the brain and their symptoms will differ in the antenatal period, in neonates, infants, and children. Clinical presentation includes seizures, focal neurological deficit, haemorrhage, congestive heart failure, hydrovenous disorder, and developmental delays. These malformations are thus associated with a poor prognosis if left untreated. Therefore, aggressive management is generally recommended and must be performed by a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience. Endovascular treatment is the first‐choice treatment for most paediatric intracranial vascular malformations. Indication and timing for treatment should be decided on the basis of a careful assessment of neurological symptoms, growth and development, cardiac and other systemic manifestations, and imaging of the malformation and the brain tissue.What this paper addsPaediatric intracranial vascular malformations are rare, but their prognosis is poor if left untreated.Improved clinical, anatomical, and pathophysiological understanding of these complex lesions has improved prognosis.
Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS‐IP) Clinical Guideline Inpatient care of the frail older adult with diabetes: an Executive Summary
Authors: Sinclair A. J. , Dashora U. , George S. , Dhatariya K. ,   JBDS‐IP Writing Group
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe present an Executive Summary of a guideline produced by a Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care Writing Group for managing frail older inpatients with diabetes. This represents a multidisciplinary stakeholder consensus document providing more than 100 recommendations in eight areas: functional assessment and detection of frailty; preventative care: assessing risk factors and avoiding hospital admissions; general inpatient management principles; managing therapy choices for the frail older inpatient with diabetes; managing associated comorbidities and concerns; pre‐operative assessment and care; discharge planning and principles of follow‐up; and end of life care. The document is intended to guide effective clinical decision‐making in an inpatient setting and is supported by four appendices: Appendix 1, STOPPFRAIL criteria; Appendix 2, Acute care toolkit 3—Royal College of Physicians; Appendix 3, a description of physical performance and frailty measures for routine NHS application; and Appendix 4, Inpatient Frailty Care Pathway—template. This document is expected to enhance clinical outcomes and overall health status for this vulnerable inpatient population of older people with diabetes. The full version of the guideline, including the appendices, can be found at https://abcd.care/sites/abcd.care/files/resources/Inpatient_Care_of_the_Frail_Older_Adult.pdf
Postprandial hyperglycaemia following insulin suspensions by the artificial pancreas: Implications for bolus calculators
Authors: Major Sandrine , El Fathi Anas , Palisaitis Emilie , Kearney Robert , Von Oettingen Julia E. , Krishnamoorthy Preetha , Legault Laurent , Haidar Ahmad 
Published: June 2020

AbstractConventional bolus calculators apply negative prandial corrections when premeal glucose levels are low. However, no study has evaluated the need for this negative correction with closed‐loop systems. We analysed data retrospectively from a cohort study evaluating a closed‐loop artificial pancreas system conducted in a diabetes camp over a period of 11 days. Meal boluses with negative correction (n = 98) of 47 participants aged 8 to 22 years were examined. If there was no insulin‐on‐board from previous boluses at mealtime, the postprandial hyperglycaemia rate increased with increased duration of insulin suspension (P = .03), with odds ratios being exaggerated by 17% per 10 minutes of suspension. However, if there was insulin‐on‐board from previous boluses, the hyperglycaemia rate did not change with increased duration of insulin suspension (P = .24). When there was no insulin‐on‐board, the rate of hyperglycaemia after meals preceded by no suspension was 21% (3/14), compared with 52% (12/23) and 64% (9/14) after meals preceded by suspensions of ≥50 and ≥70 minutes, respectively. Meal size did not influence these results. We conclude that, in the absence of insulin‐on‐board, negative prandial corrections may not be necessary following long insulin suspensions.
Household responsibility system and China's agricultural Growth revisited: Addressing endogenous institutional change
Authors: Sun Shengmin , Chen Qiang 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe rise of the Household Responsibility System has been widely viewed as a significant contribution to China's agricultural growth. However, this empirical conclusion is rested upon a convenient but doubtful presumption that the process of institutional change, also known as decollectivization, is exogenous. We contribute to this literature by explicitly recognizing the endogeneity of institutional changes, and exploit exogenous variations in lagged weather shocks and initial fixed assets for consistent estimation. With improved data on irrigation, mechanization, weather and institutional changes in a provincial panel data during 1970–1987, the results of panel instrumental estimations reveal that the Household Responsibility System had a significantly positive effect on China's agricultural growth, which was larger than indicated by OLS estimates that suffer from adverse selection and attenuation biases.
Managing the phase‐down of amalgam amongst Nigerian dental professionals and students: A national survey
Authors: Makanjuola John O. , Umesi Donna C. , Ndukwe Anne N. , Enone Lillian L. , Sotunde Olawale A. , Omo Julie O. , Idon Paul I. , Alalade Olusegun , Adebayo Gbenga E. , Ekowmwnhenhen Uyi I. , Arotiba Godwin T. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundAmalgam is one of the most reliable dental restorative materials. Health and environmental concerns associated with the mercury content of amalgam have necessitated an amalgam phase‐down in clinical practice.ObjectivesThis study investigated the level of awareness and preparedness for the planned amalgam phase‐down recommended by the Minamata Convention amongst Nigerian dental students and dentists.MethodsThis cross‐sectional national survey was performed across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Data regarding awareness, practice and level of preparedness for amalgam phase‐down were obtained using a questionnaire that was distributed amongst clinical dental students and dentists of different cadres, who routinely place dental restorations, in public and private practice. The questionnaires were administered online or were hand delivered. Data were analysed using the chi‐square test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsNotably, 845 dental students and dentists participated in the survey. Mean age (±standard deviation) of participants was 30.15 ± 7.67 years, 33.8% were students, and 66.2% were dentists (most dentists [77.1%] were employed at public hospitals). A significant percentage of respondents had poor knowledge of the Minamata Convention (87.7%) and lacked training in the use of alternatives to amalgam (72.0%). Amalgam continues to be commonly used by 39.1% and 31.3% of dental students and dentists, respectively. Only 4.7% of the respondents admitted to following good amalgam phase‐down practices. Awareness (P = 0.013) and amalgam phase‐down practices (P = 0.011) were significantly higher amongst dentists than amongst dental students.ConclusionWe observed low levels of awareness regarding the Minamata Convention, amalgam phase‐down, mercury hygiene practices and training in alternatives to amalgam use amongst Nigerian dental professionals and students.
Neural networks of different species, brain areas and states can be characterized by the probability polling state
Authors: Xu Zhi‐Qin John , Gu Xiaowei , Li Chengyu , Cai David , Zhou Douglas , McLaughlin David W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCortical networks are complex systems of a great many interconnected neurons that operate from collective dynamical states. To understand how cortical neural networks function, it is important to identify their common dynamical operating states from the probabilistic viewpoint. Probabilistic characteristics of these operating states often underlie network functions. Here, using multi‐electrode data from three separate experiments, we identify and characterize a cortical operating state (the “probability polling” or “p‐polling” state), common across mouse and monkey with different behaviors. If the interaction among neurons is weak, the p‐polling state provides a quantitative understanding of how the high dimensional probability distribution of firing patterns can be obtained by the low‐order maximum entropy formulation, effectively utilizing a low dimensional stimulus‐coding structure. These results show evidence for generality of the p‐polling state and in certain situations its advantage of providing a mathematical validation for the low‐order maximum entropy principle as a coding strategy.
What is a good level of soil organic matter? An index based on organic carbon to clay ratio
Authors: Prout Jonah M. , Shepherd Keith D. , McGrath Steve P. , Kirk Guy J. D. , Haefele Stephan M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSimple measures of appropriate levels of soil organic matter are needed for soil evaluation, management and monitoring, based on readily measurable soil properties. We test an index of soil organic matter based on the soil organic carbon (SOC) to clay ratio, defined by thresholds of SOC/clay ratio for specified levels of soil structural quality. The thresholds were originally delineated for a small number of Swiss soils. We assess the index using data from the initial sampling (1978–83) of the National Soil Inventory of England and Wales, covering 3,809 sites under arable land, grassland and woodland. Land use, soil type, annual precipitation and soil pH together explained 21% of the variance in SOC/clay ratio in the dataset, with land use the most important variable. Thresholds of SOC/clay ratio of 1/8, 1/10 and 1/13 indicated the boundaries between “very good”, “good”, “moderate” and “degraded” levels of structural condition. On this scale, 38.2, 6.6 and 5.6% of arable, grassland and woodland sites, respectively, were degraded. The index gives a method to assess and monitor soil organic matter at national, regional or sub‐regional scales based on two routinely measured soil properties. Given the wide range of soils and land uses across England and Wales in the dataset used to test the index, we suggest it should apply to other European soils in similar climate zones.Highlights
We assess the use of SOC/clay ratios as guidelines for soil management in England and Wales.
We use data from 3,809 sites to assess thresholds based on work for Polish, French and Swiss soils.
SOC/clay threshold values can indicate degraded and good soil structural condition.
The thresholds show the effect of land use and provide an index for use in England and Wales.