bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Propensity score methods in real‐world epidemiology: A practical guide for first‐time users
Authors: Loke Yoon Kong , Mattishent Katharina 
Published: April 2020

AbstractReal‐world epidemiology gives us the unique opportunity to observe large numbers of people, and the actions and events that characterize their encounters with healthcare providers. However, the heterogeneity and sheer diversity of the population and healthcare systems makes it impossible for researchers to compare “like with like” when attempting to draw causal inferences about interventions and outcomes. The critical issue in epidemiological datasets relates to high risk of bias due to confounders that stem from baseline differences between groups. Propensity score (PS) techniques are statistical approaches that have been used to tackle potential imbalance in the comparison groups. The PS is the estimated probability (based on measured baseline covariates) that the patient receives a particular intervention. Patients that share similar PS will most likely have the same distributions of underlying covariates included in the PS. Implementation of PS methods may achieve better balance of covariates, but there is no consensus on the best way of capturing all relevant confounders for incorporation into the PS model. Should covariates be selected by clinical or epidemiological experts, or would data‐driven algorithms (machine learning) offer more efficient and reliable methods of estimating PS and controlling for confounding? The PS can be incorporated into the analysis in different ways, each with its own strengths and limitations, and researchers must choose the best fit for their study objectives. PS methods are particularly advantageous in situations where there are large numbers of measured covariates but relatively few outcome events captured in healthcare administrative databases.
Emerging opportunities to harness real world data: An introduction to data sources, concepts, and applications
Authors: O'Leary Colin P. , Cavender Matthew A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWhile randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for comparative effectiveness research, they are unable to provide the answers to all pertinent clinical and research questions. Real world evidence (RWE), that is, clinical evidence obtained outside RCTs and often through routine clinical practice, offers the potential to conduct observational studies that accelerate advances in care, improve outcomes for patients, and provide important insights that can answer important questions. Once appropriate information technology is available, real world data can be cost‐effective to generate. RWE serves a vital role in the evaluation of treatment strategies for which there are no RCTs and for describing patterns of care. RWE also serves as an important adjunct to RCTs and can be used to determine if benefits seen in RCTs extend to clinical practice, provide insight into the findings of RCTs, generate hypotheses for future RCTs, and inform the design of future RCTs. These potential benefits must be balanced against some of the important limitations of RWE, including variable data quality, lack of granularity for important clinical variables, and the potential for bias and confounding. By using appropriate analytic techniques and study design, these limitations can be minimized but not eliminated. Going forward, RWE studies may be enhanced by using rigorous data quality standards, incorporating randomization, developing more prospective registries, and better leveraging data from electronic health records.
Behaviour and survival of wild versus stocked fingerling walleye
Authors: Weber Robert E. , Weber Michael J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWalleye Sander vitreus Mitchill have been progressively raised in hatcheries to larger sizes under the paradigm that larger stocked fish have higher survival. However, extended time in hatcheries may result in domestication, with stocked individuals lacking behaviours that promote survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate behaviour and survival of wild versus stocked fingerling (>200 mm) walleye in two Iowa reservoirs. Radio telemetry was used to evaluate walleye movement rates, depth use, home range size, habitat selection and apparent survival. Depth use increased with days since stocking and varied between lake‐years but was similar between walleye groups. Daily movement rates varied by the interaction between group and day, with rates declining through time. Home ranges did not differ between groups but were significantly greater in Big Creek than Brushy Creek. Walleye in both lakes generally used habitat in proportion to availability, with few differences between groups detected. Weekly apparent survival ranged from 0.948 to 1.000, varied across lakes, years and seasons, and was higher for stocked than wild walleye in Big Creek but not Brushy Creek. The results indicate that hatchery‐reared fingerling walleye behave similar to but can have higher survival than wild fish, suggesting that domestication may not be occurring and that stocking autumn fingerling walleye may help supplement year‐class strength.
Latitudinal patterns in tachinid parasitoid diversity (Diptera: Tachinidae): a review of the evidence
Authors: Burington Zelia L. , Inclán‐Luna Diego Javier , Pollet Marc , Stireman John O. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractInsect parasitoids may be an exception to the typical biogeographic pattern of increasing species richness at lower latitudes exhibited by most taxa. Evidence for this ‘anomalous’ latitudinal gradient has been derived from observations of hymenopteran parasitoids and it has been argued that other parasitoid groups should show a similar pattern of diversity. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this disparity, most notably the nasty host and resource fragmentation hypotheses.We review and evaluate these hypotheses with respect to tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae), and bring to the argument evidence from eight trapping surveys from temperate and tropical regions in the Americas including the United States, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. We find no evidence that tachinid fly diversity is lower in the tropics than in the temperate region. Our results, along with other lines of evidence, rather suggest that New World Tachinidae likely conform to the same negative relationship between latitude and richness as their largely phytophagous host taxa.We discuss geographic patterns of tachinid diversity in relation to ecological and evolutionary processes, and why they may differ from their hymenopteran parasitoid counterparts. Parasitoid taxa appear to vary strongly in their diversity responses to latitude and we concur with previous researchers that more survey data are necessary to reach strong conclusions about parasitoid latitudinal diversity patterns.
Reproductive Justice: The Role of Community‐Based Organizational Participation in Reproductive Decision‐Making and Educational Aspirations among Women in Nicaragua
Authors: Grabe Shelly , Rodríguez Ramírez Daniel , Dutt Anjali 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAcross the world, women experience violations to their reproductive health and threats to their educational aspirations that limit their achievement. Reproductive health and education are examples of women's human rights that are connected by systemic gender inequalities that lead millions of women to experience discrimination and stereotyping that threaten these basic rights. The current study uses a reproductive justice framework to examine how a community‐based organization led by a group of women in rural Nicaragua challenges gendered psychosocial processes related to women's rights violations. In partnership with a grassroots local organization, we used structural equation modeling to demonstrate, in a sample of almost 300 women, that organizational participation was positively related to women's reproductive decision‐making and educational aspiration, in part due to relationships with women's self‐esteem and sense of powerlessness in sociopolitical matters. Given the persistent role of gendered inequities in the reproductive decision‐making and educational aspirations of girls and women, considering the social‐structural contexts that enable or limit rights is imperative to creating viable routes to gender justice.
Support needs of Canadian adult siblings of brothers and sisters with intellectual/developmental disabilities
Authors: Redquest Brianne K. , Tint Ami , Ries Helen , Goll Eric , Rossi Becky , Lunsky Yona 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundIt is becoming more common for siblings to fulfill a caregiving role for their brother or sister, particularly because people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) are often living longer and outliving their parents. However, most of what we know about siblings of people with IDD is based on research with children, and limited studies on the adult sibling experiences in Canada have been published. To meet the support needs of Canadian adult siblings, “The Sibling Collaborative”, a grass‐roots initiative, conducted a needs assessment.Specific AimsThe purpose of this study was to better understand the current challenges siblings experience and how requested resources may differ across three age groups: adults between the ages of 20 and 29 years, 30 to 49 years, and 50 years of age and older.MethodA total of 260 siblings of individuals with IDD from across Ontario completed an online survey.FindingsSiblings endorsed a relatively low rating of intensity of support that they provided for their brothers or sisters with IDD at the time of survey completion; however, the majority indicated that they intended to take a greater caregiving role in the future. Ratings of support differed by sibling age groups, as did challenges related to supporting brothers or sisters with IDD. Overall, participants reported a range of desired resources and preferred methods of accessing resources.DiscussionSiblings' caregiving relationships with their brothers and sisters with IDD differed across age groups. Results from the current study indicate different supports may be needed for different age groups. As policies around the world continue to encourage continued family involvement in caregiving for adults with IDD, it is important to understand how systems can better support sibling caregivers.
Comparative repeatability of pancreatic lipase assays in the commercial and in‐house laboratory environments
Authors: Cridge Harry , Mackin Andrew J. , Lidbury Jonathan A. , Suchodolski Jan S. , Steiner Jörg M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundSensitivity and specificity for commercial and in‐house pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) assays have been reported, but repeatability under routine clinical conditions is unknown.ObjectivesTo determine:
Coefficient of variation (CV) between replicates of a commercial assay (Spec cPL) and 2 in‐house assays (VetScan cPL, Vcheck cPL) under routine conditions.
Effects of sample condition or personnel on results.
Potential directional bias between assays.
AnimalsSerum from 12 canine clinical patients.MethodsProspective study. Serum Spec cPL, VetScan cPL, and Vcheck cPL (6 aliquots each) were measured, and CVs were calculated, effects of sample condition and personnel were assessed using a linear mixed model, and direction of bias was assessed using least square mean cPLI concentration.ResultsMean %CVs for Spec cPL, VetScan cPL, and Vcheck cPL were 5.5, 17.0, and 23.7%. Three of 6 VetScan cPL samples and 5/9 Vcheck cPL samples had an unacceptably high %CV (>20%). Transportation (Spec cPL) and sample condition or personnel (VetScan cPL, Vcheck cPL) did not affect repeatability. Least square mean cPL was higher for Spec cPL (807.9 μg/L) than for VetScan cPL (558.5 μg/L) or Vcheck cPL (399.8 μg/L).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFor clinical use, the commercial Spec cPL has the highest repeatability, and Vcheck cPL has significantly lower repeatability. Both in‐house assays evaluated may provide discrepant categorical results (“pancreatitis” versus “equivocal” versus “not pancreatitis”) for the same sample. In‐house pancreatic lipase concentrations may be lower than those determined by the Spec cPL assay.
Host stimuli and operator binding sites controlling protein interactions between virulence master regulator ToxR and ToxS in Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Lembke Mareike , Höfler Thomas , Walter Ada‐Natsuko , Tutz Sarah , Fengler Vera , Schild Stefan , Reidl Joachim 
Published: April 2020

AbstractProtein–protein interactions (PPIs) are key mechanisms in the maintenance of biological regulatory networks. Herein, we characterize PPIs within ToxR and its co‐activator, ToxS, to understand the mechanisms of ToxR transcription factor activation. ToxR is a key transcription activator that is supported by ToxS for virulence gene regulation in Vibrio cholerae. ToxR comprises a cytoplasmic DNA‐binding domain that is linked by a transmembrane domain to a periplasmic signal receiver domain containing two cysteine residues. ToxR‐ToxR and ToxR‐ToxS PPIs were detected using an adenylate‐cyclase‐based bacterial two‐hybrid system approach in Escherichia coli. We found that the ToxR‐ToxR PPIs are significantly increased in response to ToxR operators, the co‐activator ToxS and bile salts. We suggest that ToxS and bile salts promote the interaction between ToxR molecules that ultimately results in dimerization. Upon binding of operators, ToxR‐ToxR PPIs are found at the highest frequency. Moreover, disulfide‐bond‐dependent interaction in the periplasm results in homodimer formation that is promoted by DNA binding. The formation of these homodimers and the associated transcriptional activity of ToxR were strongly dependent on the oxidoreductases DsbA/DsbC. These findings show that protein and non‐protein partners, that either transiently or stably interact with ToxR, fine‐tune ToxR PPIs, and its associated transcriptional activity in changing environments.
Orthopaedic and brain injuries over last 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL): number and effect on missed playing time
Authors: Sheth Suril B , Anandayuvaraj Dharun , Patel Saumil S , Sheth Bhavin R 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveTo examine trends in number and seriousness of major injuries in the National Football League (NFL) over seasons 2010–2019 and the effect of rule changes to injuries to the leg, back, arm and head.MethodsWe calculated, from publicly available weekly injury reports, the number of players that were injured and playing time missed, that is, the number of weeks on average that an injured player had to sit out, as a function of injury to a specific body part. Using classical time series analysis techniques, we fitted injury data with linear and non-linear functions.ResultsThe number of major injuries to the leg, back, arm and head has not declined over the last 10 years. During this time period, time missed because of injuries to the head has shown a significantly increasing trend. Rule changes designed specifically to protect arm or head have, respectively, succeeded in shortening the time that the injured player misses, but the impact lasts only over a single season.ConclusionsOverall, our data support the argument that new, well-intentioned rules adopted every season by the NFL have been proven to be too weak to make the NFL game safer. Broad-based management of brain and orthopaedic injuries and adoption of preventative measures to reduce the number of players injured and the seriousness of their injuries are required in the modern NFL.
Sleep quality, anxiety and depression in advanced lung cancer: patients and caregivers
Authors: He Yuan , Sun Li-Yue , Peng Kun-Wei , Luo Man-Jun , Deng Ling , Tang Tao , You Chang-Xuan 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical implications of sleep quality, anxiety and depression in patients with advanced lung cancer (LC) and their family caregivers (FCs).MethodsA total of 98 patients with advanced LC and their FCs (n=98) were recruited from the Oncology Department in Nanfang Hospital. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), consisting of seven components that evaluate subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, duration of sleep, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication usage and daytime dysfunction, was used to assess sleep quality. Using the tool of Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), we tested the patients’ status of anxiety and depression, respectively.ResultsThe prevalences of poor sleep quality, anxiety and depression in patients were 56.1%, 48.9% and 56.1%, respectively, while those in FCs were 16.3%, 32.6% and 25.5%, respectively. Patients had higher PSQI, SAS and SDS scores than did FCs (p<0.05). Significant correlations were found between the patients’ and FCs’ scores of PSQI/SAS/SDS (p<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that sleep disturbances in patients (HR 0.413, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.80, p=0.01) and the global PSQI score of FCs (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.71, p=0.00) were independent risk factors for patients’ first-line progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, patients’ sleep latency (HR 2.329, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.96, p=0.00) and epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (HR 1.953, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.38, p=0.01) were significant prognostic factors for their overall survival (OS).ConclusionsWe demonstrated that presence of sleep disturbances in patients with advanced LC and the global PSQI Score of their FCs may be risk predictors for patients’ poor first-line PFS. Patients’ sleep latency was a potential risk factor for their OS.
Utility of collagen-derived peptides as markers of organ injury in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Nagao Kazuya , Tamura Akinori , Sato Yukihito , Hata Reo , Kawase Yuichi , Kadota Kazushige , Horie Takahiro , Sowa Naoya , Nishiga Masataka , Ono Koh , Inada Tsukasa , Tanaka Masaru 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the time-dependent prognostic utility of two fibrosis markers representing organ fibrogenesis (N-terminal propeptide of procollagen III (PIIINP) and type IV collagen 7S (P4NP 7S)) in patients with acute heart failure (HF).Methods390 patients with acute HF were dichotomised based on the median value of fibrosis markers at discharge. The primary outcome measure was a composite of cardiac death and HF hospitalisation.ResultsP4NP 7S significantly declined during hospitalisation, whereas PIIINP did not. The cumulative 90-day and 365-day incidence of the primary outcome measure was 16.6% vs 16.0% (p=0.42) and 33.3% vs 28.4% (p=0.34) in the patients with high versus low PIIINP; 19.9% vs 13.0% (p=0.04) and 32.3% vs 29.0% (p=0.34) in the patients with high and low P4NP 7S, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, high P4NP 7S correlated with significant excess risk relative to low P4NP 7S for both 90-day and 365-day primary outcome measure (adjusted HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.21; p=0.04 and adjusted HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.11 to 3.26; p=0.02, respectively), which was driven by significant association of high P4NP 7S with higher incidence of HF hospitalisation. Furthermore, P4NP 7S exhibited an additive value to conventional prognostic factors for predicting 90-day outcome (p=0.038 for net reclassification improvement; p=0.0068 for integrated discrimination improvement). High PIIINP did not correlate with significant excess risk for both 90-day and 365-day outcome.ConclusionsThis study suggests a possible role of P4NP 7S in the risk stratification of patients with acute HF.
Equivalence of the phenomenological Tsallis distribution to the transverse momentum distribution of q-dual statistics
Authors: Parvan A. S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn the present work, we have found that the phenomenological Tsallis distribution (which nowadays is largely used to describe the transverse momentum distributions of hadrons measured in pp collisions at high energies) is consistent with the basis of the statistical mechanics if it belongs to the q-dual nonextensive statistics instead of the Tsallis one. We have defined the q-dual statistics based on the q-dual entropy which was obtained from the Tsallis entropy under the multiplicative transformation of the entropic parameter $$q\rightarrow 1/q$$q→1/q. We have found that the phenomenological Tsallis distribution is equivalent to the transverse momentum distribution of the q-dual statistics in the zeroth term approximation. Since the q-dual statistics is properly defined, it provides a correct link between the phenomenological Tsallis distribution and the second law of thermodynamics.
Phase I Trial of Trametinib with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Wu Christina , Williams Terence M. , Robb Ryan , Webb Amy , Wei Lai , Chen Wei , Mikhail Sameh , Ciombor Kristen K. , Cardin Dana B. , Timmers Cynthia , Krishna Somashekar G. , Arnold Mark , Harzman Alan , Abdel-Misih Sherif , Roychowdhury Sameek , Bekaii-Saab Tanios , Wuthrick Evan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPurpose:The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is critical to the development of colorectal cancers, and KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations foster resistance to radiation. We performed a phase I trial to determine the safety of trametinib, a potent MEK1/2 inhibitor, with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Patients and Methods:Patients with stage II/III rectal cancer were enrolled on a phase I study with 3+3 study design, with an expansion cohort of 9 patients at the MTD. Following a 5-day trametinib lead-in, with pre- and posttreatment tumor biopsies, patients received trametinib and CRT, surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Trametinib was given orally daily at 3 dose levels: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. CRT consisted of infusional 5-FU 225 mg/m2/day and radiation dose of 28 daily fractions of 1.8 Gy (total 50.4 Gy). The primary endpoint was to identify the MTD and recommended phase II dose. IHC staining for phosphorylated ERK (pERK) and genomic profiling was performed on the tumor samples.Results:Patients were enrolled to all dose levels, and 18 patients were evaluable for toxicities and responses. Treatment was well tolerated, and there was one dose-limiting toxicity of diarrhea, which was attributed to CRT rather than trametinib. At the 2 mg dose level, 25% had pathologic complete response. IHC staining confirmed dose-dependent decrease in pERK with increasing trametinib doses.Conclusions:The combination of trametinib with 5-FU CRT is safe and well tolerated, and may warrant additional study in a phase II trial, perhaps in a RAS/RAF-mutant selected population.