bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robustness of the Comparative Observational Evidence Supporting Class I and II Cardiac Surgery Procedures
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Hameed Irbaz , Robinson N. Bryce , Naik Ajita , Weidenmann Viola , Ruan Yongle , Tam Derrick , Girardi Leonard N. , Fremes Stephen 
Published: August 2020

Background
Current cardiac surgery guidelines give Class I and II recommendations to valve‐sparing root replacement over the Bentall procedure, mitral valve (MV) repair over replacement, and multiple arterial grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery based on observational evidence. We evaluated the robustness of the observational studies supporting these recommendations using the E value, an index of unmeasured confounding.

Methods and Results
Observational studies cited in the guidelines and in the 3 largest meta‐analyses comparing the procedures were evaluated for statistically significant effect measures. Two E values were calculated: 1 for the effect‐size estimate and 1 for the lower limit of the 95% CI. Thirty‐one observational studies were identified, and E values were computed for 75 effect estimates. The observed effect estimates for improved clinical outcomes with valve‐sparing root replacement versus the Bentall procedure, MV repair versus replacement, and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery versus single internal thoracic artery could be explained by an unmeasured confounder that was associated with both the treatment and outcome by a risk ratio of more than 16.77, 4.32, and 3.14, respectively. For MV repair versus replacement and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery versus single internal thoracic artery, the average E values were lower than the effect sizes of the other measured confounders in 33.3% and 60.9% of the studies, respectively. For valve‐sparing root replacement versus the Bentall procedure, no study reported effect sizes for associations of other covariates with outcomes.

Conclusions
The E values for observational evidence supporting the use of valve‐sparing root replacement, MV repair, and grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery over the Bentall procedure, MV replacement, and grafting with single internal thoracic artery are relatively low. This suggests that small‐to‐moderate unmeasured confounding could explain most of the observed associations for these procedures.
Weather Generator–Based Downscaling of EAWM Strength Prediction to the Climate of a Korean Basin
Authors: Kim Moosup , Kim Seon Tae , Jeong Yeomin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a downscaling method that statistically describes a local-scale climate from large-scale circulations using the case of a Korean basin during boreal winter. Specifically, since the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) affects the climate of the Korean Peninsula, we make a weather generator model describing the response of the basin climate to the monsoon strength. Moreover, it operates on the basis of a tercile probabilistic prediction of the EAWM strength to generate diverse scenarios of daily weather sequence during the season, which can be utilized in evaluation of the climate impact. We evaluate the prediction skills of operational hindcasts for several existing EAWM indices by applying a multinomial logistic regression method to choose the most suitable index for the downscaling. In the weather generator model, the precipitation model part is designed to be fully parametric. Its parameter values are allowed to vary according to the monsoon strength so that they can represent the climate variability of precipitation. In the temperature model part, the daily temporal variations of the temperature over the Korean basin are decomposed into several oscillations with different frequencies. Since the slowly varying oscillations significantly respond to the monsoon strength, the proposed downscaling scheme is based on the statistical simulation of oscillations according to the monsoon strength. The proposed downscaling scheme is evaluated in terms of the reproducibility of the climate characteristics for a given EAWM strength and the informativeness for predicting monthly climate characteristics.
Predictive Skill Assessment for Land Water Storage in CMIP5 Decadal Hindcasts by a Global Reconstruction of GRACE Satellite Data
Authors: Jensen Laura , Eicker Annette , Stacke Tobias , Dobslaw Henryk 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe evaluation of decadal climate predictions against observations is crucial for their benefit to stakeholders. While the skill of such forecasts has been verified for several atmospheric variables, land hydrological states such as terrestrial water storage (TWS) have not been extensively investigated yet due to a lack of long observational records. Anomalies of TWS are globally observed with the satellite missions GRACE (2002–2017) and GRACE-FO (since 2018). By means of a GRACE-like reconstruction of TWS available over 41 years, we demonstrate that this data type can be used to evaluate the skill of decadal prediction experiments made available from different Earth system models as part of both CMIP5 and CMIP6. Analysis of correlation and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) reveals that for the global land average the initialized simulations outperform the historical experiments in the first three forecast years. This predominance originates mainly from equatorial regions where we assume a longer influence of initialization due to longer soil memory times. Evaluated for individual grid cells, the initialization has a largely positive effect on the forecast year 1 TWS states; however, a general grid-scale prediction skill for TWS of more than 2 years could not be identified in this study for CMIP5. First results from decadal hindcasts of three CMIP6 models indicate a predictive skill comparable to CMIP5 for the multimodel mean in general, and a distinct positive influence of the improved soil–hydrology scheme implemented in the MPI-ESM for CMIP6 in particular.
Climatology and Variability of the Evaporative Stress Index and Its Suitability as a Tool to Monitor Australian Drought
Authors: Nguyen Hanh , Otkin Jason A. , Wheeler Matthew C. , Hope Pandora , Trewin Blair , Pudmenzky Christa 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe seasonal cycle of the evaporative stress index (ESI) over Australia, and its relationship to observed rainfall and temperature, is examined. The ESI is defined as the standardized anomaly of the ratio of actual evapotranspiration to potential evapotranspiration, and as such, is a measure of vegetation moisture stress associated with agricultural or ecological drought. The ESI is computed using the daily output of version 6 of the Bureau of Meteorology’s landscape water balance model [Australian Water Resource Assessment Landscape (AWRA-L)] on a 5-km horizontal grid over a 45-yr period (1975–2019). Here we show that the ESI exhibits marked spatial and seasonal variability and can be used to accurately monitor drought across Australia, where ESI values less than negative one indicate drought. While the ESI is highly correlated with rainfall as expected, its relationship with temperature only becomes significant during the warmer seasons, suggesting a threshold above which temperature may affect vegetation stress. Our analysis also shows that the ESI tends to be strongly negative (i.e., indicating drought) during El Niño and positive phases of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), when conditions tend to be anomalously hot and dry. A negative phase of the southern annular mode also tends to drive negative ESI values during austral spring with a one-month delay.
Cluster Analysis Tailored to Structure Change of Tropical Cyclones Using a Very Large Number of Trajectories
Authors: Kremer Tobias , Schömer Elmar , Euler Christian , Riemer Michael 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMajor airstreams in tropical cyclones (TCs) are rarely described from a Lagrangian perspective. Such a perspective, however, is required to account for asymmetries and time dependence of the TC circulation. We present a procedure that identifies main airstreams in TCs based on trajectory clustering. The procedure takes into account the TC’s large degree of inherent symmetry and is suitable for a very large number of trajectories . A large number of trajectories may be needed to resolve both the TC’s inner-core convection as well as the larger-scale environment. We define similarity of trajectories based on their shape in a storm-relative reference frame, rather than on proximity in physical space, and use Fréchet distance, which emphasizes differences in trajectory shape, as a similarity metric. To make feasible the use of this elaborate metric, data compression is introduced that approximates the shape of trajectories in an optimal sense. To make clustering of large numbers of trajectories computationally feasible, we reduce dimensionality in distance space by so-called landmark multidimensional scaling. Finally, k-means clustering is performed in this low-dimensional space. We investigate the extratropical transition of Tropical Storm Karl (2016) to demonstrate the applicability of our clustering procedure. All identified clusters prove to be physically meaningful and describe distinct flavors of inflow, ascent, outflow, and quasi-horizontal motion in Karl’s vicinity. Importantly, the clusters exhibit gradual temporal evolution, which is most notable because the clustering procedure itself does not impose temporal consistency on the clusters. Finally, TC problems are discussed for which the application of the clustering procedures seems to be most fruitful.
Do Socioeconomic Disparities Exist in Postoperative Opioid Prescription and Consumption?
Authors: Srinivasan Maya Lakshmi , Zaveri Shruti , Nobel Tamar , Khetan Prerna , Divino Celia M. 
Published: August 2020

Background Since 1999, >200 000 people in the United States have died from a prescription opioid overdose. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is one important risk factor. This study investigates socioeconomic disparities in postoperative opioid prescription and consumption. Methods September 2018-April 2019, 128 patients were surveyed postoperatively regarding opioid consumption. The neighborhood disadvantage was calculated using area deprivation index (ADI). The top 3 quartiles were “high SES” and the bottom quartile “low SES.” Results The study population included 96 high SES patients, median ADI 6 (2-12.3) and 32 low SES, median ADI 94.5 (81.3-97.3). For both, median Oxycodone 5 mg prescribed was 20 pills. 29.2% of high SES consumed 0 pills, 40.6% consumed 1-9 pills, and 27.1% consumed 10+ pills. 25.0% of low SES consumed 0 pills, 46.9% consumed 1-9 pills, and 18.8% consumed 10+ pills. No significant difference in opioid prescription ( P = .792) or consumption ( P = .508) between SES groups. Discussion Patients of all SES are prescribed and consumed opioids in similar patterns with no significant difference in postoperative pain following ambulatory surgery.
Gangbangin on the [Face]Book: Understanding Online Interactions of Chicago Latina/o Gangs
Authors: Leverso John , Hsiao Yuan 
Published: August 2020

Objectives: This study examines gang group processes on the digital street to understand if gang processes in the online environment mimic those on geographic street corners. Specifically, this paper examines what conditions influence whether gangs interact negatively or positively in online spaces and how online interactions relate to geographic proximity of gangs. Methods: This study uses digital trace data web scraped from a public Facebook about Chicago Latina/o gangs combined with geographic locations of gang territories. Negative binomial regression models are used to investigate the conditions under which gangs interact with one another. Results: This study finds that interactions among gangs are conditional on the type of post displayed and negative gang interactions in online spaces are moderately correlated with geographic proximity. Conclusions: The tendency to show identification with the gang group or hostility to rival groups is not always evident. Rather, interactions are contextualized in the situation of the online environment. In addition, in our sample geographic proximity is not a primary condition of gang interactions. The digital street enables gang members to interact with other gangs in faraway locales and individuals in close geographic proximity. We find gang members take the opportunity to interact with both groups.
Visibility and image quality of peripheral pulmonary arteries in pulmonary embolism patients using free-breathing combined with a high-threshold bolus-triggering technique in CT pulmonary angiography
Authors: Liu Daliang , Cai Xiansheng , Che Xiaoshuang , Ma Yong , Fu Yucun , Li Lin 
Published: August 2020

Objective To investigate the visibility of peripheral pulmonary arteries by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and image quality using a free-breathing combined with a high-threshold bolus triggering technique and to explore the feasibility of this technique in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients who cannot hold their breath. Methods Patients with suspected PE who underwent CTPA (n=240) were randomly assigned to two groups: free-breathing (n=120) or breath-holding (n=120). Results The mean scanning time or visible pulmonary artery distal branches were not different between the groups. Mean CT main pulmonary artery (MPA) values, apical segment (S1), and posterior basal segment (S10) in the free-breathing group were higher compared with the breath-holding group. The subjective image quality score in the free-breathing group was higher compared with the breath-holding group. In the free-breathing group, no respiratory artifact was observed. In the breath-holding group, obvious respiratory artifacts were caused by severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dyspnea, or other diseases that preclude patients from holding their breath. Conclusion The free-breathing mode CTPA combined with a high-threshold bolus triggering technique can provide high quality images with a lower incidence of respiratory and cardiac motion artifacts, which is especially valuable for patients who cannot hold their breath.
Bone and joint tuberculosis in patients undergoing dialysis: clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes in 17 patients
Authors: Wu Xuehua , Liu Jing , Wang Guorong , Wu Fengfeng 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study was performed to investigate the clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes of bone and joint tuberculosis in patients undergoing dialysis. Methods We systematically reviewed the medical records of 17 patients with bone and joint tuberculosis undergoing dialysis who were admitted to our hospital from January 2009 to January 2019. Results Seventeen patients with bone and joint tuberculosis undergoing dialysis were identified in this retrospective study, and 13 patients were undergoing hemodialysis. The mean age of the 17 patients was 61.3 years (range, 32–82 years), and 10 (58.9%) patients were male. Most of the patients had a low CD4+ cell count and low hemoglobin and albumin levels. Surgery was performed in 6 patients (35.3%), and 13 of the 17 patients (76.4%) were cured. Three patients had bone or spine sequelae, mainly because of a delayed diagnosis, and one patient died of heart failure. Conclusion These findings indicate that older age, a low CD4+ cell count, and low hemoglobin and albumin levels are possible risk factors for bone and spine tuberculosis in patients undergoing dialysis. If diagnosed early, most patients should have a good outcome after anti-tubercular therapy with or without surgery.
Clearing heat and resolving phlegm for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the syndrome of phlegm-heat obstruction of the lung
Authors: Yang Jia , Yang Junchao 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of clearing heat and resolving phlegm for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the syndrome of phlegm-heat obstruction of the lung. Methods This was a real-world retrospective cohort study of inpatients at our institution from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received oral traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for clearing heat and resolving phlegm or routine treatment (controls). Efficacy and safety indicators were analyzed. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors. Results Among 488 patients, 164 (82 pairs) were successfully matched. The changes in neutrophils (%) and C-reactive protein levels were more significant in the TCM group than in the control group. The duration of fever was significantly shorter in the TCM group than in the control group. Conclusions The therapy of clearing heat and resolving phlegm might effectively control the inflammatory reaction of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with the syndrome of phlegm-heat obstruction of the lung, especially for those with fever. Nevertheless, large-scale and prospective studies are required to provide a higher quality of evidence.
Role of biomarkers of cardiac remodeling, myofibrosis, and inflammation in assessment of disease severity in euvolemic patients with chronic stable heart failure
Authors: Andreasová Táňa , Vránová Jana , Vondráková Dagmar , Sedláčková Lenka , Zákostelská Zuzana Jirásková , Neužil Petr , Málek Filip 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study aimed to determine the importance of biomarkers of chronic heart failure (CHF) for assessing disease severity in euvolemic stable patients. Patients and methods N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, galectin-3, cystatin-C, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), tissue type inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and ceruloplasmin levels were measured in euvolemic patients with stable CHF. Severity of CHF was defined by echocardiographic and biochemical parameters. Results In 160 patients (123 men and 37 women, mean age: 65.8±12.2 years), we found strong associations between NT-proBNP and bilirubin levels ( r = 0.434) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r = −0.321). GDF-15 and cystatin-C levels were significantly correlated with parameters of kidney function. In multivariable regression analysis, NT-proBNP levels were associated with the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-systolic volume (coefficient of determination R2 = 0.777). Additionally, GDF-15 levels were correlated with urea levels (R2 = 0.742), and cystatin C levels were correlated with urea and bilirubin levels (R2 = 0.732). Conclusion Besides NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and cystatin C are promising biomarkers for establishing the severity of disease in euvolemic patients with stable CHF.
Derecruitment volume assessment derived from pressure–impedance curves with electrical impedance tomography in experimental acute lung injury
Authors: Sun Xiu-Mei , Chen Guang-Qiang , Wang Yu-Mei , Zhou Yi-Min , Chen Jing-Ran , Cheng Kun-Ming , Yang Yan-Lin , Zhang Lin-lin , Li Hong-Liang , Zhou Jian-Xin 
Published: August 2020

Objective To investigate the accuracy of derecruitment volume (VDER) assessed by pressure–impedance (P-I) curves derived from electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Methods Six pigs with acute lung injury received decremental positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) from 15 to 0 in steps of 5 cmH2O. At the end of each PEEP level, the pressure–volume (P-V) curves were plotted using the low constant flow method and release maneuvers to calculate the VDER between the PEEP of setting levels and 0 cmH2O (VDER-PV). The VDER derived from P-I curves that were recorded simultaneously using EIT was the difference in impedance at the same pressure multiplied by the ratio of tidal volume and corresponding tidal impedance (VDER-PI). The regional P-I curves obtained by EIT were used to estimate VDER in the dependent and nondependent lung. Results The global lung VDER-PV and VDER-PI showed close correlations (r = 0.948, P<0.001); the mean difference was 48 mL with limits of agreement of −133 to 229 mL. Lung derecruitment extended into the whole process of decremental PEEP levels but was unevenly distributed in different lung regions. Conclusions P-I curves derived from EIT can assess VDER and provide a promising method to estimate regional lung derecruitment at the bedside.
Antiplatelet therapy may be safe in ischemic stroke patients with cerebral microbleed
Authors: Meng Ningqin , Zhang Wei , Su Ying , Ye Ziming , Qin Chao 
Published: August 2020

Objective We examined whether antiplatelet therapy is safe for ischemic stroke patients with cerebral microbleed. Methods We retrospectively analyzed ischemic stroke patients admitted to our hospital from 2015 to 2018. Baseline information was extracted from the computerized database. Adverse events, including symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage, recurrent cerebral infarction, and death, were collected by phone. Results A total of 184 ischemic stroke patients were examined, including 106 with and 78 without cerebral microbleed. No patient experienced symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage after discharge. Patients with cerebral microbleed had a higher prevalence of hypertension (92% vs 74%) and suffered from more serious leukoaraiosis (3.0 ± 1.7 vs 1.3 ± 1.4 points on the Fazekas scale). Leukoaraiosis scores were correlated with the number of cerebral microbleeds (r = 0.42). Conclusions Antiplatelet therapy may be safe for ischemic stroke patients with cerebral microbleed. The risk-benefit ratio should be carefully evaluated before withholding antiplatelet therapy.
Capitalism in Australia: New histories for a reimagined future
Authors: Huf Ben , Rees Yves , Beggs Michael , Brown Nicholas , Flanagan Frances , Palmer Shannyn , Ville Simon 
Published: August 2020

Capitalism is back. Three decades ago, when all alternatives to liberal democracy and free markets appeared discredited, talk of capitalism seemed passé. Now, after a decade of political and economic turmoil, capitalism and its temporal critique of progress and decline again seems an indispensable category to understanding a world in flux. Among the social sciences, historians have led both the embrace and critique of this ‘re-emergent’ concept. This roundtable discussion between leading and emerging Australian scholars working across histories of economy, work, policy, geography and political economy, extends this agenda. Representing the outcome of a workshop convened at La Trobe University in November 2018 and responding to questions posed by conveners Huf and Rees, five participants debate the nature, utility and future of the new constellation of ‘economic’ historical scholarship. While conducted well before the outbreak of COVID-19, the ensuring discussion nevertheless speaks saliently to the crises of our times.