bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
National hospital quality measures for surgical site infections in South Korea: a survey among 20 expert physicians
Authors: Ryu Mikyung , Yoo Hyerim , Choi Yun-Kyoung 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Surgical site infection (SSI) is recognized as an important quality indicator for patient safety. In Korea, the use of prophylactic antibiotics for surgery is conducted as a national quality measures related to SSI prevention. The objective of the present study was to investigate physicians’ perceptions of hospital quality measures for SSI as well as identify obstacles that might hinder its implementation in South Korea.

Method
Online-based questionnaires were administered twice. Twenty physician experts who were members of the Healthcare Review and Assessment Committee that was constituted for the “Assessment of prophylactic use of antibiotics for surgery” participated in the study. The first survey comprised open-ended questions that were designed to elicit the physician who could hinder the implementation of SSI indicators. The second survey, which was developed on the basis of the initial survey’s results, consisted of 10 closed-ended questions about the feasibility of objective perception and the need for subjectivity, with regard to SSI.

Results
From among the 20 physicians, we collected data from 16 respondents in the first survey (response rate of 80%) and 15 respondents in the second survey (response rate of 75%).Thirty-one percent of the respondents supported hospital SSI evaluations, and 69% expressed objections. The obstacles that were perceived as being able to hinder hospital SSI evaluations pertained to difficulties in collecting data, unavailability of information, possibility of underreporting, and redundancy of the inquiry undertaken by the Korean National Healthcare-associated Infections Surveillance System-SSI. Physician experts provide significantly higher ratings for the clinical indicator, rate of readmission due to SSI, both in terms of feasibility and need, when evaluating the results of SSI prevention in hospitals.

Conclusion
The results of this study show that physicians perceive the need for QI development of hospital SSI measurements to prevent nation-wide SSIs in Korea. However, the feasibility of hospital SSI measurements is low. To develop QIs of hospital SSIs using health insurance claims data, it is necessary to develop a methodology for claims data-based surveillance systems and a data collection system in order to increase the sensitivity and validity of post-operative SSI detection.
Feasibility of the Archercise biofeedback device to strengthen foot musculature
Authors: Latey Penelope J. , Eisenhuth John , McKay Marnee J. , Hiller Claire E. , Sureshkumar Premala , Nightingale Elizabeth J. , Burns Joshua 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundFoot muscle weakness can produce foot deformity, pain and disability. Toe flexor and foot arch exercises focused on intrinsic foot muscle strength and functional control may mitigate the progression of foot deformity and disability. Ensuring correct exercise technique is challenging due to the specificity of muscle activation required to complete some foot exercises. Biofeedback has been used to improve adherence, muscle activity and movement patterns. We investigated the feasibility of using a novel medical device, known as “Archercise”, to provide real‐time biofeedback of correct arch movement via pressure change in an inflatable bladder, and foot location adherence via sensors embedded in a footplate during four‐foot exercises.MethodsThirty adults (63% female, aged 23–68 years) performed four‐foot exercises twice on the Archercise sensor footplate alone and then with biofeedback. One‐way repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise comparisons were computed to assess the consistency of the exercise protocol between trial 1 and trial 2 (prior to biofeedback), and the effectiveness of the Archercise biofeedback device between trial 2 and trial 3 (with biofeedback). Outcome measures were: Arch movement exercises of arch elevation and lowering speed, controlled arch elevation, controlled arch lowering, endurance of arch elevation; Foot location adherence was determined by percentage of time the great toe, fifth toe and heel contacted footplate sensors during testing and were analysed with paired sample t‐tests. Participant survey comments on the use of Archercise with biofeedback were reported thematically.ResultsSeventeen (89%) arch movement and foot location variables were collected consistently with Archercise during the foot exercises. Archercise with biofeedback improved foot location adherence for all exercises (p = 0.003–0.008), coefficient of determination for controlled arch elevation (p < 0.0001) and endurance area ratio (p = 0.001). Twenty‐nine (97%) participants reported Archercise with biofeedback, helped correct exercise performance.ConclusionsArchercise is a feasible biofeedback device to assist healthy participants without foot pathologies perform foot doming exercises.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): 12616001559404. Registered 11 November 2016, http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12616001559404p.aspx
Correlation between functional ability, toe flexor strength, and plantar pressure of hallux valgus in young female adults: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yokozuka Mieko , Okazaki Kanako , Sakamoto Yuko , Takahashi Koko 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of hallux valgus (HV) increases with age in females. Several studies have investigated the relationship between foot problems, including HV, and falls in older individuals. This study aimed to examine whether HV causes a decline in functional activity in young females and also evaluate the relationship between HV angle, functional activity, toe flexor strength, and plantar pressure.MethodsWe assessed 94 females (mean age, 19.6 ± 1.3 years; mean body mass index, 21.2 ± 2.0 kg/m2) not currently receiving treatment for lower limb disease. HV angle was determined using their footprint. Functional reach (FR) and maximum step length (MSL), toe flexor strength, and plantar pressure were measured. Plantar pressure was measured during walking. We also calculated FR and the pressure in eight regions (first toe, second through fifth toes, first metatarsal, second through fourth metatarsals, fifth metatarsal, midfoot, medial heel, and lateral heel).ResultsThere were 39 and 55 participants in the HV and no HV groups, respectively. FR and MSL did not differ significantly between the HV and no HV groups. Toe flexor strength was significantly different between the HV and no HV groups (26.69 ± 9.68 vs. 32.19 ± 8.55, respectively) (p = 0.002, β = 0.206). During walking, plantar pressure was significantly lower in the second through fifth toes in the HV group (p = 0.005, β = 0.187). During FR, plantar pressure was significantly greater in the first metatarsal in the HV group (p = 0.016, β = 0.338). HV angle was negatively correlated with toe flexor strength (r = − 0.315, p = 0.002, β = 0.121) and plantar pressure during walking in the second through fifth toes (r = − 0.362, p < 0.001, β = 0.047), and positively correlated with plantar pressure during FR in the first metatarsal (r = 0.308, p = 0.002, β = 0.137). Toe flexor strength was negatively correlated with plantar pressure during FR in the second through fourth metatarsals (r = − 0.318, p = 0.002, β = 0.115), and there was a positive correlation with MSL (r = 0.330, p = 0.001, β = 0.092).ConclusionsThis study confirmed that HV reduces toe flexor strength and affects forefoot pressure during walking and FR in young females. Moreover, the toe flexor strength affects MSL. Efforts to prevent the onset and deterioration of HV from a young age might help reduce the risk of falling when older.
National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) on admission predicts severe disease and in-hospital mortality from Covid-19 – a prospective cohort study
Authors: Myrstad Marius , Ihle-Hansen Håkon , Tveita Anders Aune , Andersen Elizabeth Lyster , Nygård Ståle , Tveit Arnljot , Berge Trygve 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
There is a need for validated clinical risk scores to identify patients at risk of severe disease and to guide decision-making during the covid-19 pandemic. The National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) is widely used in emergency medicine, but so far, no studies have evaluated its use in patients with covid-19. We aimed to study the performance of NEWS2 and compare commonly used clinical risk stratification tools at admission to predict risk of severe disease and in-hospital mortality in patients with covid-19.

Methods
This was a prospective cohort study in a public non-university general hospital in the Oslo area, Norway, including a cohort of all 66 patients hospitalised with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from the start of the pandemic; 13 who died during hospital stay and 53 who were discharged alive. Data were collected consecutively from March 9th to April 27th 2020. The main outcome was the ability of the NEWS2 score and other clinical risk scores at emergency department admission to predict severe disease and in-hospital mortality in covid-19 patients. We calculated sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NEWS2 scores ≥5 and ≥ 6, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥ 2, ≥2 Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria, and CRB-65 score ≥ 2. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for the clinical risk scores were compared using DeLong’s test.

Results
In total, 66 patients (mean age 67.9 years) were included. Of these, 23% developed severe disease. In-hospital mortality was 20%. Tachypnoea, hypoxemia and confusion at admission were more common in patients developing severe disease. A NEWS2 score ≥ 6 at admission predicted severe disease with 80.0% sensitivity and 84.3% specificity (Area Under the Curve (AUC) 0.822, 95% CI 0.690–0.953). NEWS2 was superior to qSOFA score ≥ 2 (AUC 0.624, 95% CI 0.446–0.810, p < 0.05) and other clinical risk scores for this purpose.

Conclusion
NEWS2 score at hospital admission predicted severe disease and in-hospital mortality, and was superior to other widely used clinical risk scores in patients with covid-19.
Risk factors and intestinal microbiota: Clostridioides difficile infection in patients receiving enteral nutrition at Intensive Care Units
Authors: Wang Daosheng , Dong Danfeng , Wang Chen , Cui Yingchao , Jiang Cen , Ni Qi , Su Tongxuan , Wang Guanzheng , Mao Enqiang , Peng Yibing 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN) in the intensive care unit (ICU) are potentially at high risk of CDI. In the present study, we assessed the risk factors and intestinal microbiome of patients to better understand the occurrence and development of CDI.

Methods
Patients were screened for C. difficile every week after starting EN, and their clinical records were collected for risk factor identification. Fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing to evaluate the intestinal microbiota.

Results
Overall incidence of CDI was 10.7% (18/168 patients). History of cerebral infarction was significantly associated with CDI occurrence (OR, 9.759; 95% CI, 2.140–44.498), and treatment with metronidazole was identified to be protective (OR, 0.287; 95% CI, 0.091–0.902). Patients with EN had lower bacterial richness and diversity, accompanied by a remarkable decrease in the abundance of Bacteroides, Prevotella_9, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. Of these patients, acquisition of C. difficile resulted in a transient increase in microbial diversity, along with consistent alterations in the proportion of some bacterial taxa, especially Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Upon initiation of EN, patients who were positive for C. difficile later showed an enhanced load of Bacteroides, which was negatively correlated with the abundance of C. difficile when CDI developed.

Conclusion
ICU patients receiving EN have a high prevalence of CDI and a fragile intestinal microbial environment. History of cerebral infarction and prior treatment with metronidazole are considered as vital risk and protective factors, respectively. We propose that the emergence of CDI could cause a protective alteration of the intestinal microbiota. Additionally, Bacteroides loads seem to be closely related to the occurrence and development of CDI.
Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 regulates lipid homeostasis and drives oncogenic signaling resulting in breast cancer progression
Authors: Asperger Hannah , Stamm Nadia , Gierke Berthold , Pawlak Michael , Hofmann Ute , Zanger Ulrich M. , Marton Annamaria , Katona Robert L. , Buhala Andrea , Vizler Csaba , Cieslik Jan-Philipp , Ruckhäberle Eugen , Niederacher Dieter , Fehm Tanja , Neubauer Hans , Ludescher Marina 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
PGRMC1 (progesterone receptor membrane component 1) is a highly conserved heme binding protein, which is overexpressed especially in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms by which PGRMC1 drives tumor progression. The aim of our study was to investigate the involvement of PGRMC1 in cholesterol metabolism to detect new mechanisms by which PGRMC1 can increase lipid metabolism and alter cancer-related signaling pathways leading to breast cancer progression.

Methods
The effect of PGRMC1 overexpression and silencing on cellular proliferation was examined in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model.
Next, we investigated the interaction of PGRMC1 with enzymes involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway such as CYP51, FDFT1, and SCD1. Further, the impact of PGRMC1 expression on lipid levels and expression of enzymes involved in lipid homeostasis was examined. Additionally, we assessed the role of PGRMC1 in key cancer-related signaling pathways including EGFR/HER2 and ERα signaling.

Results
Overexpression of PGRMC1 resulted in significantly enhanced proliferation. PGRMC1 interacted with key enzymes of the cholesterol synthesis pathway, alters the expression of proteins, and results in increased lipid levels. PGRMC1 also influenced lipid raft formation leading to altered expression of growth receptors in membranes of breast cancer cells. Analysis of activation of proteins revealed facilitated ERα and EGFR activation and downstream signaling dependent on PGRMC1 overexpression in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Depletion of cholesterol and fatty acids induced by statins reversed this growth benefit.

Conclusion
PGRMC1 may mediate proliferation and progression of breast cancer cells potentially by altering lipid metabolism and by activating key oncogenic signaling pathways, such as ERα expression and activation, as well as EGFR signaling. Our present study underlines the potential of PGRMC1 as a target for anti-cancer therapy.
Unrevealing model compounds of soil conditioners impacts on the wheat straw autohydrolysis efficiency and enzymatic hydrolysis
Authors: Wu Xinxing , Tang Wei , Huang Chen , Huang Caoxing , Lai Chenhuan , Yong Qiang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Soil-derived exogenous ash (EA) poses a challenge toward lignocellulosic autohydrolysis due to its buffering capacity. Previous works focusing on this phenomenon have failed to also investigate the role that soluble salts, and organic matter plays in this system. Herein, sodium phosphate and sodium humate were employed as model buffering compounds representing soluble salts and organic matter and dosed into a de-ashed wheat straw (DWS) autohydrolysis process to show the potential impacts of WS attached soil conditioners on the WS autohydrolysis efficiency which would further affect the enzymatic digestibility of autohydrolyzed WS.

Results
Results showed that with the increasing loadings of sodium phosphate and sodium humate resulted in elevated pH values (from 4.0 to 5.1 and from 4.1 to 4.7, respectively). Meanwhile, the reductions of xylan removal yields from ~ 84.3–61.4% to 72.3–53.0% by loading (1–30 g/L) sodium phosphate and sodium humate during WS autohydrolysis lead to a significant decrease of cellulose accessibilities which finally lead to a reduction of the enzymatic digestibility of autohydrolyzed WS from ~ 75.4–77.2% to 47.3–57.7%.

Conclusion
The existence of different types soil conditioner model compounds results in various component fractions from autohydrolyzed WS in the process of autohydrolysis. A lack of sufficient xylan removal was found to drive the significant decrease in enzymatic accessibility. The results demonstrated the various effects of two typical tested soil conditioners on WS autohydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis.
Associations between ethnicity, place of residence, hearing status of family and habilitation of children with hearing impairment
Authors: Goldblat Ester , Rivkin Dori , Konstantinov Viacheslav 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Hearing parents tend to have a strong preference for their deaf and hard-of-hearing children to acquire adequate speech, as opposed to use of sign language. Research reports the contribution of many variables to speech acquisition by children with hearing loss (HL). Yet, little is known about the association between ethnicity, place of residence, and hearing status of family members and mode of communication of young people with HL. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether mode of communication of young people with HL is associated with ethnicity, place of residence, and hearing status of family members.

Method
Participants were young adults with sensory-neural severe to profound HL, either congenital or acquired prior to age 3. Only participants without additional disabilities were included. The data on participants were extracted from records of the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services in Israel. The data for each participant in the study included mode of communication, gender, use of assistive device, ethnicity, geographic place of residence, and presence of first-degree relatives with HL. Regarding participants with a cochlear implant (CI), age at implantation was documented as well.

Results
Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between mode of communication and all of the study variables. In addition, all the study variables made a significant contribution to mode of communication. Regarding ethnicity, most of the ultra-Orthodox participants used oral language, while the majority of Israeli-Arab participants used sign language. Regarding geographical place of residence, lower rates of oral language use were found in the northern and southern districts of Israel.

Conclusions
The findings of the present study underline the need for better monitoring of Israeli-Arab children with HL and children residing in peripheral areas in Israel and for improving access to habilitation services.
Quantitative Measurement of Water Absorption of Coarse Lightweight Aggregates in Freshly-Mixed Concrete
Authors: Kim Yong-Hyok , Park Cho-Bum , Choi Byoung Il , Shin Tae Yong , Jun Yubin , Kim Jae Hong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe high water-absorption of lightweight aggregate causes a high slump loss and poor workability of concrete. A prewetting process is usually recommended to compensate for the workability problem, but its application needs more delicate consideration in field. A method is proposed to measure the additional water absorption of lightweight aggregate, and its application in cement paste and concrete mixes confirms the absorption amount remaining unaffected by the mix proportion. The additional water absorption in cement-based materials can be considered as a material property, and its value is smaller than the water absorption measured by a standard test method (water-soaking). Compensating the additional water absorption finally allows to use dry lightweight aggregates for concrete, which is more robust and stabler than taking a saturated surface-dry lightweight aggregates.
Solar wind parameter and seasonal variation effects on the South Atlantic Anomaly using Tsyganenko Models
Authors: Girgis Kirolosse M. , Hada Tohru , Matsukiyo Shuichi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe studied the space weather effects on the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) magnetic response using Tsyganenko models. For the physical parameters characterizing the SAA, the study considered the minimum magnetic field, the location (longitude and latitude) of the SAA center, and the area of the SAA. Regarding the space weather parameters, we considered the solar wind dynamic pressure, the interplanetary magnetic field components, $$B_{yIMF}$$

B

yIMF

and $$B_{zIMF}$$

B

zIMF

, the Dst index, and the geodipole tilting angle. To study the magnetic field response of the SAA, several different versions of the Tsyganenko models, namely, T96, T01, and TS05, were used to describe the external magnetic field contributions. The main internal magnetic field was calculated by the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF-12). The magnetic field study of the SAA was realized in long- and short-term (seasonal and diurnal) variations. We found that the Dst index and the geodipole tilting angle were the strongest influencing parameters on the SAA magnetic field response at all altitudes. Moreover, it was revealed that both magnetic poles might be a possible cause of the SAA magnetic field response, resulting from the space weather conditions. Furthermore, the magnetic field behavior of the SAA was affected by hourly variations, where the largest changes occurred at dayside.
Pathogenic effects of Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis on the population dynamics of Ephestia Kuehniella
Authors: Bahmani Negar , Latifian Masoud , Ostovan Hadi , Hesami Shahram 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The most dominant pest of date stored in Khuzestan Province is Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In this study, the effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki bacteria and Beauveria bassiana pathogenic fungi on the population dynamics of E. kuehniella date stock pest were investigated. To fulfill this, insectariums were kept in vitro at an average temperature of 27 ± 5 °C and a RH of 40 ± 5% for a duration of 6 months, equivalent to the maximum permitted shelf life of date. For sampling from 3 heights in 3 rows, one hole was randomly selected and a sample equal to 20 g of date was taken. Three samples were taken from each insectarium. During 25-week storage period of date treated with B. bassiana and Btk, 6 outbreaks occurred in the population of E. kuehniella. The mechanism of the epidemic is in the way that, once the population has increased to a certain threshold, the incidence of the pathogenic epidemic will be mass-dependent, leading to a decreasing trend in the pest population. Therefore, population reduction was estimated to be at 6 to 32 times that of the control. The highest disease mortality rate occurred at the egg and larval developmental stages, so the pathogens caused the highest mortality before the population entered the reproductive stage. Gradually, from the egg growth stage to the complete insect stage, a reduction was observed in the number of individuals which entered the subsequent growth stage. At all stages, the reduction in the treatment population group was faster than the control population. The highest reduction in the number of individuals entering the next developmental stage was associated with the larval developmental stage, followed by developmental stages of the adult, pupal, and egg. Regarding the highest potential of B. bassiana and BtK in reducing the stock pest population, it is very possible to exploit this interaction for biocontrol.

Graphical abstract