bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety of a compression stocking for patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Authors: Stücker Markus , Danneil Olivia , Dörler Martin , Hoffmann Maren , Kröger Elena , Reich‐Schupke Stefanie 
Published: February 2020

SummaryBackgroundWith increasing age, it is increasingly common for patients to develop both chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). While there are special compression bandage systems commercially available for individuals thus affected, appropriate compression stockings have previously not been available. In the present study, we investigated the safety and effectiveness of a type of compression stocking specifically designed for this patient group (VenoTrain® angioflow, Bauerfeind Germany, German compression class 1 with high stiffness).Patients and MethodsIn a prospective case series, we included patients with both CVI (C3–C5 disease according to CEAP classification) and PAD (ankle‐brachial index of < 0.9 and > 0.5; absolute ankle systolic pressure of > 60 mmHg). Primary outcome measures consisted of 1) safety in terms of PAD, as determined by measuring acral pressure using acral photoplethysmography (APPG), and 2) effectiveness in terms of CVI symptoms, as assessed by using a suitable questionnaire (VVSymQ).ResultsFifty patients were evaluated (mean age: 67.1; mean ankle‐brachial index: 0.75 ± 0.77). Fifteen patients had stage IIa PAD (according to Fontaine); 15, stage IIb; the remainder, stage I disease. Thirty‐one patients had stage C3 CVI (according to CEAP classification); 16 patients, stage C4; and three patients, stage C5 disease. Immediately after donning the medical compression stocking, systolic arterial pressure in the big toe increased significantly (from 83.3 mmHg ± 27.6 mmHg to 90.8 mmHg ± 24.1 mmHg) (p = 0.026). The VVSymQ score dropped significantly from 5.0 ± 4.95 points to 1.4 ± 2.26 points (p < 0.001), thus reflecting an improvement in CVI symptoms.ConclusionsThe compression stocking tested herein is safe for individuals with an ankle brachial index ≥ 0.5. Skin damage was not observed.
Adding Objectivity to Standard Setting: Evaluating Consequence Using the Conscious and Subconscious Weight Methods
Authors: Leventhal Brian C. , Grabovsky Irina 
Published: February 2020

AbstractStandard setting is arguably one of the most subjective techniques in test development and psychometrics. The decisions when scores are compared to standards, however, are arguably the most consequential outcomes of testing. Providing licensure to practice in a profession has high stake consequences for the public. Denying graduation or forcing remediation has high‐impact consequences for students. Unfortunately, tests that classify individuals are subjected to false positive and false negative misclassifications. When determining a standard, standard setting panelists implicitly consider the negative consequences of the decisions made from test use. We propose the conscious weight method and subconscious weight method to bring more objectivity to the standard setting process. To do this, these methods quantify the relative harm of the negative consequences of false positive and false negative misclassification.
Performance Measures in Dose‐Finding Experiments
Authors: Flournoy Nancy , Moler José , Plo Fernando 
Published: February 2020

SummaryIn the first phase of pharmaceutical development, and assuming that the probability of positive response increases with dose, the main statistical goal is to estimate a percentile of the dose–response function for a given target value . We compare the Maximum Likelihood and centred isotonic regression estimators of the target dose and we discuss several performance criteria to assess inferential precision, the amount of toxicity exposure and the trade‐off between them for a set of some exemplary adaptive designs. We compare these designs using graphical tools. Several scenarios are considered using simulation, including the use of several start‐up rules, the change of slope of the dose‐toxicity function at the target dose and also different theoretical models, as logistic, normal or skew‐normal distribution functions.
Measuring the impact of a blended learning model on early literacy growth
Authors: Wilkes Shani , Kazakoff Elizabeth R. , Prescott Jen Elise , Bundschuh Kristine , Hook Pamela E. , Wolf Raffaela , Hurwitz Lisa B. , Macaruso Paul 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the context of trying to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students, this study investigated the use of digital technology as part of a blended learning program, Core5, in kindergarten and first grade classes. A quasi‐experimental design compared 283 treatment students instructed in schools using Core5 with 237 control students in schools using traditional instruction in an urban school district. At the beginning of the school year, all students were pretested with Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), a commonly used reading assessment. During the school year, the treatment schools implemented Core5, which includes the online component and offline teacher‐led lessons. The English Language Arts curriculum was evaluated and found to be similar across treatment and control schools. At the end of the school year, all students were post‐tested with DIBELS. Results from propensity score analyses showed that treatment students outperformed control students and that the discrepancy between treatment and control groups on post‐test scores was more pronounced when students had lower pretest scores. These outcomes point to the value of using Core5 for reading instruction in early elementary grades.
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors improved time‐in‐range without increasing hypoglycemia in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes: A retrospective, single‐center, pilot study
Authors: Suzuki Daisuke , Yamada Hodaka , Yoshida Masashi , Funazaki Shunsuke , Amamoto Misato , Morimoto Jun , Hara Kazuo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAims/IntroductionStudies have shown that sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors increased time‐in‐range (TIR; percentage of time glucose level remains between 3.9 and 10.0 mmol/L [70–180 mg/dL]) and decreased glycemic variability in patients with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on TIR, glycemic variability and glucose control in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes in a real clinical setting.Materials and MethodsWe designed a single‐arm, retrospective cohort study to analyze data from patients starting to use ipragliflozin or dapagliflozin and who used a sensor‐based flash glucose monitoring system between February 2019 and August 2019. We measured TIR, time above range >180 mg/dL (percentage of time with glucose level of >180 mg/dL or >10.0 mmol/L), time below range <70 mg/dL (percentage of time with glucose level of <70 mg/dL or <3.9 mmol/L), mean glucose and standard deviation, and coefficient of variation for glycemic variability, and then compared the data before and after SGLT2 inhibitors treatments.ResultsWe enrolled 15 patients in the study. The total dosages of basal insulin decreased significantly, but the total doses of bolus insulin did not change significantly. TIR increased significantly by approximately 11.6%; the time below range <70 mg/dL remained unchanged; and the mean glucose and standard deviation decreased significantly, whereas the coefficients of variation did not.ConclusionsSGLT2 inhibitors improved TIR and the mean glucose level and standard deviation without increasing the time below range <70 mg/dL in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Water temperature, time of exposure and population density are key parameters in Enteromyxum leei fish‐to‐fish experimental transmission
Authors: Picard‐Sánchez Amparo , Estensoro Itziar , Del Pozo Raquel , Palenzuela Oswaldo R. , Piazzon Maria Carla , Sitjà‐Bobadilla Ariadna 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEnteromyxum leei is a myxozoan histozoic parasite that infects the intestine of several teleost fish species. In gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), it provokes a chronic disease, entailing anorexia, delayed growth, reduced marketability and mortality. Direct fish‐to‐fish transmission, relevant in aquaculture conditions, has been demonstrated for E. leei via effluent, cohabitation, and oral and anal routes. However, the minimum time of exposure for infection has not been established, nor the possible effect on the fish immune response. Two effluent trials were performed at different temperatures (high: average of 25.6°C; and low: constant at 18°C), different times of exposure to the effluent (1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks) and different population densities. The results showed that 1 week was enough to infect 100% of fish at high temperature and 58.3% at low temperature. High temperature not only increased the prevalence of infection in posterior intestine, but also induced a higher production of specific antibodies, limiting the progression of the infection along the intestine. Longer time of exposure to the parasite and higher fish densities facilitated E. leei infection. These results show that effective diagnosis, lowering animal density and removal of infected fish are key aspects to manage this disease in aquaculture facilities.
The Many Faces of Rural Capitalism
Authors: Clark Christopher 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe territorial growth and capitalist development of the United States that began in the late eighteenth century entailed ‐‐ among other things ‐‐ a massive expansion of agriculture that continued until the 1920s. Though based on private, freehold property in land there was no single pattern to this agrarian growth or to agriculture's integration into national and global flows of commodities, finance, and labor. Slave and non‐slave systems expanded in parallel until 1860, but even the destruction of slavery during the Civil War and the subsequent emergence of industrial and finance capitalism did not impose uniformity on American agriculture or undermine independent, household‐based farming.
‘Couldn't You Have Got a Computer Program to Do That for You?’ Reflections on the Impact that Machines Have on the Ways We Think About and Undertake Qualitative Research in the Socio‐Legal Community
Authors: Mulcahy Linda , Wheeler Sally 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis article addresses the role that computer software programs play in the sort of textual analysis that has typically been the preserve of the qualitative researcher. Drawing on two distinct research projects conducted separately by the authors, it considers the transformation of social science software from a competent assistant that can help to sort and retrieve data, to an intelligent assistant capable of independently finding trends and counter‐arguments, to a co‐investigator capable of doing things that human researchers cannot. In addition to challenging some of the claims of ‘siliconistas’, this article considers the impact of new technology on the aesthetics of research and the professional identity of qualitative researchers. In doing so, it raises some important questions about how well we are training early‐career academics for the challenges that they are likely to face in the future world of socio‐legal empirical research.
Ripple effect of a clinical teaching fellow programme in an Australian paediatric hospital
Authors: van Heerden Carolyn , Uahwatanasakul Wonie , Vaughan Brett , Delany Clare 
Published: February 2020

AimBedside teaching performed by experienced clinicians is an expected component of medical student training. As clinicians often have high clinical demands and a lack of formal training in teaching methods, clinical teaching fellowships have been established. In clinical teaching fellowships, clinicians with an interest and expertise in medical education provide medical students with standardised teaching. Studies about the impact of clinical teaching fellowships have demonstrated benefits for both clinical teaching fellows (CTFs) and medical students. However, studies have not evaluated the impact of these fellowships on other clinicians or learning relationships within the institution. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by gathering data on the perspectives of CTFs, medical students and hospital consultants.MethodA mixed‐method design was used, utilising a combination of surveys for CTFs, medical students and hospital consultants and semi‐structured telephone interviews for CTFs. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained.ResultsThe combination of data from CTFs, medical students and consultants enabled a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the CTF programme within the institution. Although benefits were identified for CTFs and medical students, the consultant group noted that they were less involved in teaching medical students and that the CTFs were not well integrated into the ward team.ConclusionThis research highlights the importance of considering not only direct outcomes of teaching and learning but broader influences on more implicit teaching opportunities and relationships within hospital teams.
Parent perspectives on children and young people's mental health services in Victoria – What's wrong and how to fix it: A multi‐site qualitative study
Authors: Hiscock Harriet , Connolly Ann‐Siobhan , Dunlop Katie , Perera Prescilla , O'Loughlin Rachel , Brown Stephanie J , Krieser David M , West Adam , Chapman Pauline , Lawford Robyn , Cheek John A 
Published: February 2020

AimThe number of children and young people presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with anxiety and depression is increasing. We aimed to determine parent perspectives on: (i) barriers to accessing non‐ED mental health services; and (ii) improving access in the paediatric mental health service system.MethodsQualitative study with parents of children and young people aged 0–19 years who attended one of four EDs across Victoria between October 2017 and September 2018 and received a primary diagnosis of anxiety or depression. Exclusion criteria: child or young person without a parent/guardian, or presented with self‐harm or suicide attempt. Eligible participants completed semi‐structured phone interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcripts were coded and analysed using content analysis.ResultsA total of 72 parents completed interviews. The average child age was 14 years (standard deviation 2.5) and two thirds identified as female (64%). A total of 57% of children and young people presented with a primary diagnosis of anxiety. Parents reported barriers in accessing care including: service shortages and inaccessibility, underresourced schools, lack of clinician mental health expertise, lack of child‐clinician rapport, inconsistent care, financial constraints, lack of mental health awareness among parents, and stigma. Parents want expanded and improved access to services, more respite and support services, supportive schools, and improved mental health education for parents.ConclusionsParents of children and young people attending the ED for anxiety and depression are generally dissatisfied with services for child mental health. Solutions that enable parents to better care for their child in the community are needed to improve care.
The endogenous decisions of unionization and international trade: A general oligopolistic equilibrium model analysis
Authors: Sano Hosaki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis paper presents a multi‐sectoral general oligopolistic equilibrium trade model in which unionized and non‐unionized sectors interact. In our model, the proportion of unionized sectors is endogenously determined. We show that this proportion depends on exogenous parameters such as productivity, population, number of firms, union costs and labor union formation. We also show that trade openness between symmetric countries raises the competitive wage and lowers the proportion of unionized sectors.
Risk factors for progression of age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Heesterbeek Thomas J , Lorés‐Motta Laura , Hoyng Carel B , Lechanteur Yara T E , den Hollander Anneke I 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPurposeAge‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative disease of the macula, often leading to progressive vision loss. The rate of disease progression can vary among individuals and has been associated with multiple risk factors. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature investigating phenotypic, demographic, environmental, genetic, and molecular risk factors, and propose the most consistently identified risk factors for disease progression in AMD based on these studies. Finally, we describe the potential use of these risk factors for personalised healthcare.Recent findingsWhile phenotypic risk factors such as drusen and pigment abnormalities become more important to predict disease progression during the course of the disease, demographic, environmental, genetic and molecular risk factors are more valuable at earlier disease stages. Demographic and environmental risk factors such as age and smoking are consistently reported to be related to disease progression, while other factors such as sex, body mass index (BMI) and education are less often associated. Of all known AMD variants, variants that are most consistently reported with disease progression are rs10922109 and rs570618 in CFH, rs116503776 in C2/CFB/SKIV2L, rs3750846 in ARMS2/HTRA1 and rs2230199 in C3. However, it seems likely that other AMD variants also contribute to disease progression but to a lesser extent. Rare variants have probably a large effect on disease progression in highly affected families. Furthermore, current prediction models do not include molecular risk factors, while these factors can be measured accurately in the blood. Possible promising molecular risk factors are High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL‐C), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), zeaxanthin and lutein.SummaryPhenotypic, demographic, environmental, genetic and molecular risk factors can be combined in prediction models to predict disease progression, but the selection of the proper risk factors for personalised risk prediction will differ among individuals and is dependent on their current disease stage. Future prediction models should include a wider set of genetic variants to determine the genetic risk more accurately, and rare variants should be taken into account in highly affected families. In addition, adding molecular factors in prediction models may lead to preventive strategies and personalised advice.
Disturbance of floral colour pattern by activation of an endogenous pararetrovirus, petunia vein clearing virus, in aged petunia plants
Authors: Kuriyama Kazunori , Tabara Midori , Moriyama Hiromitsu , Kanazawa Akira , Koiwa Hisashi , Takahashi Hideki , Fukuhara Toshiyuki 
Published: February 2020

SummaryWhite areas of star‐type bicolour petals of petunia (Petunia hybrida) are caused by post‐transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) of the key enzyme of anthocyanin biosynthesis. We observed blotched flowers and a vein‐clearing symptom in aged petunia plants. To determine the cause of blotched flowers, we focused on an endogenous pararetrovirus, petunia vein clearing virus (PVCV), because this virus may have a suppressor of PTGS (VSR). Transcripts and episomal DNAs derived from proviral PVCVs accumulated in aged plants, indicating that PVCV was activated as the host plant aged. Furthermore, DNA methylation of CG and CHG sites in the promoter region of proviral PVCV decreased in aged plants, suggesting that poor maintenance of DNA methylation activates PVCV. In parallel, de novo DNA methylation of CHH sites in its promoter region was also detected. Therefore, both activation and inactivation of PVCV occurred in aged plants. The accumulation of PVCV transcripts and episomal DNAs in blotched regions and the detection of VSR activity support a mechanism in which suppression of PTGS by PVCV causes blotched flowers.
Association between cardiac troponin I concentrations and electrocardiographic abnormalities in dogs with blunt trauma
Authors: Biddick Allison A. , Bacek Lenore M. , Fan Shirley , Kuo Kendon W. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether a normal cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration and normal ECG on entry rule out the development of a clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia (CSCA, defined as an arrhythmia requiring anti‐arrhythmic treatment) in dogs that have sustained blunt trauma.DesignProspective, observational study. Client‐owned dogs were enrolled between January 2015 and November 2016.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsForty‐seven client‐owned dogs with a history of witnessed or suspected blunt trauma within 24 hours prior to presentation to the hospital.InterventionsOn admission to the emergency service, dogs had a standard 3‐lead ECG and cTnI concentration (using a veterinary point‐of‐care device*) performed. Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) scores, Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS), and the details regarding the nature and timing of the injury were recorded. The patients were monitored in the ICU for a minimum of 24 hours on continuous ECG telemetry. Cardiac rhythm was monitored every hour, and any abnormalities were noted. The need for anti‐arrhythmic therapy was recorded. There were no treatment interventions.Measurements and main resultsFive of 47 dogs (10.6%) developed a CSCA during hospitalization after sustaining blunt trauma. A normal entry ECG and normal cardiac troponin concentration on entry had a 100% negative predictive value (NPV) for ruling out the development of a CSCA, although a normal cardiac troponin concentration alone also had an NPV of 100%. A normal entry ECG had an NPV of 95.3%. The prognosis for survival to discharge was 89.4% in this study population (42/47 dogs).ConclusionsIn dogs with blunt trauma, an entry cTnI concentration or a combination of cTnI and ECG on entry may be useful in determining which patients are at a higher risk for the development of CSCA during the first 12 to 24 hours after the trauma.
Construction cost minimisation of the stepped spillway using improved particle swarm optimisation and artificial bee colony algorithms
Authors: Jazayeri Pedram , Moeini Ramtin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the improved artificial bee colony (IABC) and improved particle swarm optimisation (IPSO) have been used for the optimal design of stepped spillway with the minimisation of construction cost as the energy dissipater structure for a dam project. Generally, the construction cost of this structure is the most expensive part of the project. However, traditional designing methods of stepped spillway such as the Vittal and Porey (VP) approach cannot find optimal dimensions of the stepped spillway with minimum cost. Therefore, the optimisation methods such as meta‐heuristic algorithms have been used. As a case study, Tehri dam’s stepped spillway in India has been considered here and the optimal dimensions of this spillway have been obtained using IPSO, IABC algorithms and the results have been compared with VP approach and other available results. Comparison of the results shows that when the three‐stepped spillway is considered, the results of IABC and IPSO algorithms are improved by 17.72% in comparison with VP results. In addition, when the four‐stepped spillway is considered, the results of IABC, IPSO algorithms are, respectively, improved by 16.47% and 16.53% in comparison with the VP results.