bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complement activation in individuals with previous subclinical Lyme borreliosis and patients with previous Lyme neuroborreliosis
Authors: Carlsson Hanna , Sandholm Kerstin , Haddish Haben Woldu , Brudin Lars , Ekdahl Kristina Nilsson , Tjernberg Ivar 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLyme borreliosis (LB) is caused byBorrelia burgdorferiand infection may lead to not only a large variety of clinical manifestations but also a subclinical outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate if there is a constitutional difference in complement activation between individuals with previous subclinical Lyme borreliosis (SB) and patients previously diagnosed with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB).Lepirudin plasma for activation studies was collected from 60 SB individuals and from 22 patients pre-diagnosed with LNB. The plasma was incubated with liveBorreliaspirochetes of two strains (complement sensitiveB. gariniiLu59 and complement resistantB. afzeliiACA1).Complement factor C3 was measured in non-activated lepirudin plasma with immune-nephelometry and C3a and sC5b-9 generated during complement activation were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.We found that the complement sensitive Lu59 induced higher complement activation than the complement resistant ACA1 when measuring activation products C3a and sC5b-9 in SB and LNB patients,p < 0.0001. No significant difference was found between SB and LNB patients in systemic levels of C3. Furthermore, SB individuals generated a higher activation of C3 cleavage to C3a (C3a/C3 ratio) than LNB patients after activation with ACA1,p < 0.001, but no significant differences were found in response to Lu59. In conclusion, Lu59 induced higher complement activation than ACA1 and individuals with previous SB showed increased generation of C3a compared with patients with previous LNB. In our study population, this mechanism could lead to less elimination of spirochetes in LNB patients and thereby be a factor contributing to the clinical outcome.
Technology innovation: advancing capacities for the early detection of and rapid response to invasive species
Authors: Martinez Barbara , Reaser Jamie K. , Dehgan Alex , Zamft Brad , Baisch David , McCormick Colin , Giordano Anthony J. , Aicher Rebecca , Selbe Shah 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe2016–2018National Invasive Species Council(NISC)Management Planand Executive Order 13751 call for US federal agencies to foster technology development and application to address invasive species and their impacts. This paper complements and draws on an Innovation Summit, review of advanced biotechnologies applicable to invasive species management, and a survey of federal agencies that respond to these high-level directives. We provide an assessment of federal government capacities for the early detection of and rapid response to invasive species (EDRR) through advances in technology application; examples of emerging technologies for the detection, identification, reporting, and response to invasive species; and guidance for fostering further advancements in applicable technologies. Throughout the paper, we provide examples of how federal agencies are applying technologies to improve programmatic effectiveness and cost-efficiencies. We also highlight the outstanding technology-related needs identified by federal agencies to overcome barriers to enacting EDRR. Examples include improvements in research facility infrastructure, data mobilization across a wide range of invasive species parameters (from genetic to landscape scales), promotion of and support for filling key gaps in technological capacity (e.g., portable, field-ready devices with automated capacities), and greater investments in technology prizes and challenge competitions.
Big Data, Big Waste? A Reflection on the Environmental Sustainability of Big Data Initiatives
Authors: Lucivero Federica 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis paper addresses a problem that has so far been neglected by scholars investigating the ethics of Big Data and policy makers: that is the ethical implications of Big Data initiatives’ environmental impact. Building on literature in environmental studies, cultural studies and Science and Technology Studies, the article draws attention to the physical presence of data, the material configuration of digital service, and the space occupied by data. It then explains how this material and situated character of data raises questions concerning the ethics of the increasingly fashionable Big Data discourses. It argues that attention should be paid to (1) the vocabulary currently used when discussing the governance of data initiatives; (2) the internal tension between current data initiatives and environmental policies; (3) issues of fair distribution. The article explains how taking into account these aspects would allow for a more responsible behaviour in the context of data storage and production.
Assumptions of authority: the story of Sue the T-rex and controversy over access to fossils
Authors: Jones Elizabeth D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAlthough the buying, selling, and trading of fossils has been a principle part of paleontological practice over the centuries, the commercial collection of fossils today has re-emerged into a pervasive and lucrative industry. In the United States, the number of commercial companies driving the legal, and sometimes illegal, selling of fossils is estimated to have doubled since the 1980s, and worries from academic paleontologists over this issue has increased accordingly. Indeed, some view the commercialization of fossils as one of the greatest threats to paleontology today. In this article, I address the story of “Sue”—the largest, most complete, and most expensive Tyrannosaurus rex ever excavated—whose discovery incited a series of high-profile legal battles throughout the 1990s over the question of “Who owns Sue?” Over the course of a decade, various stakeholders from academic paleontologists and fossil dealers to Native Americans, private citizens, and government officials all laid claim to Sue. In exploring this case, I argue that assumptions of authority are responsible for initiating and sustaining debates over fossil access. Here, assumptions of authority are understood as assumptions of ownership, or expertise, or in some cases both. Viewing the story from this perspective illuminates the significance of fossils as boundary objects. It also highlights the process of boundary-work by which individuals and groups constructed or deconstructed borders around Sue (specifically) and fossil access (more generally) to establish their own authority. I draw on science studies scholarship as well as literature in the professionalization, commercialization, and valuation of science to examine how assumptions of authority facilitated one of the most divisive episodes in recent paleontological history and the broader debate on the commercial collection of vertebrate fossil material in the United Sates.
Dating and romantic relationships of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Authors: Heifetz Marina , Lake Johanna , Weiss Jonathan , Isaacs Barry , Connolly Jennifer 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTIntroductionAdolescents with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are at high risk for sexual exploitation, yet there is a paucity of research on their romantic relationships. The objectives of this study were to examine the romantic understanding and experiences of youth with IDD.MethodsThirty‐one adolescents (16–19 years; 21 males and 10 females) with IDD (12 participants with additional diagnosis of ASD) were recruited from a community health clinic. Individual interviews and questionnaires assessed cross‐sectionally these youths’: (1) romantic conceptualizations; (2) romantic awareness (knowledge of: romantic relationships, sexual behaviours, initiating relationships); (3) involvement; (4) social competence; and (5) expectations for autonomy. Parent perspectives on these topics were also captured through questionnaires.ResultsWhile 85% reported an immediate desire for a romantic relationship, only 35% were currently in a relationship. Qualitative findings indicated that 14% of youth were unable to differentiate between a romantic relationship and a friendship. Among those who could make this distinction, romantic relationships were conceptualized as serious, commitment for life, and primarily for companionship. Adolescents with ASD, compared to those without ASD, showed weaker social competence and lower romantic awareness. Parents were adolescents’ primary source of information about relationships. Finally, parents and adolescents differed in their perception of the age at which they were ready to date.ConclusionsThis study contributes to our understanding of the romantic experiences of youth with IDD. Prevention efforts focused on education may be important to help ensure these youth develop safe and healthy relationships.
OP26 Search Approaches In Information Retrieval Presented In HTAi SuRe Info
Authors: Hausner Elke , Waffenschmidt Siw 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionIt is a challenge to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in information retrieval for health technology assessment (HTA). Summarized Research in Information Retrieval for HTA (SuRe Info) is a well-established open-access website with a selection of up-to-date key papers presented in summarized overviews. SuRe Info is maintained by the HTAi Interest Sub-Group on Information Resources; its main target group are information specialists. SuRe Info is updated twice a year by experienced information specialists. Publications on information retrieval methods are identified by running topic-specific search strategies in relevant databases. Publications fulfilling the SuRe Info inclusion criteria receive a structured abstract together with a brief critical appraisal prepared by one SuRe Info information specialist and checked by another. The key messages from the appraisals are summarized in topic-specific chapters.MethodsThe structure and work of SuRe Info is presented on the basis of the chapter “Value of using different search approaches”.ResultsThe chapter “Value of using different search approaches” was last updated in September 2018. It examines various alternative search approaches in bibliographic databases beyond the conventional Boolean search. According to this chapter, the most well-known approach, offering the most evidence, is citation searching (direct or indirect citation relationships). In contrast, little research has so far been conducted on other approaches such as full-text searches, automated retrieval methods or hand searching.ConclusionsSuRe Info is an important resource for information specialists to keep up-to-date with the literature on information retrieval. In particular when information specialists work alone and not within a larger team, it is necessary to rely on collaboration projects such as SuRe Info.
OP58 Developing An Evaluation Based Taxonomy For mHealth Apps
Authors: Goddard Kate , Erskine Jamie 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionMobile Health (mHealth) apps offer potential to promote greater public engagement in health, improve efficiency and open up new care pathways and models of care. However, the volume and heterogeneity of apps has led to uncertainty and lack of standardization around app definitions. Some mobile apps carry minimal risks to consumers, but others can carry significant risks. Work has been carried out to develop a framework for assessment (for example, for the NHS app library [beta version]). We discuss work helping to inform a preliminary framework of categorizing mHealth apps for proportionate assessment and validation, and the challenges involved.MethodsA literature review was carried out to identify different types of categorizations used to define health apps and the most important dimensions for their assessment. A taxonomy of apps and a process for routing them towards appropriate methods of evaluation was developed through iterative review, discussion and refinement.ResultsFourteen types of mHealth apps were established which were categorized by app function and by the potential risk involved with use. Subsequently, this research suggested a method of routing apps towards the most appropriate and proportionate method of evaluation, by using four example dimensions of impact (population size, disease burden, priority of clinical condition, and innovation), and four levels of risk.ConclusionsThe outcome of an evaluation framework should be to enable healthcare professionals and patients to select and use safe and effective mHealth apps with greater confidence. A preliminary taxonomy and method of routing apps towards appropriate assessment are presented. Both need larger scale discussion, iterative testing and refining. This research faced significant challenges, including a high volume of heterogeneous apps with poorly standardized app definitions and associated nomenclature.
OP136 Provision Of A Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Program: A Rapid Review
Authors: Carey Niamh , Harte Marie , Gorry Claire , McCullagh Laura 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionThe recent European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel, means the imminent arrival of health technology assessment (HTA) submissions to HTA agencies. HTA requires identification of all resources and organizational impacts pertaining to an intervention. Rapid review is a form of knowledge synthesis that abbreviates certain methodological aspects of systematic reviews to produce information in a timelier manner. Considering the time-sensitive nature of CAR T-cell HTAs, the aim of this research was to conduct a rapid review to identify the institutional requirements for the provision of a CAR T-cell program.MethodsA Rapid Review protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO. Electronic databases, EMBASE and MEDLINE, and grey literature were searched. All study designs published in English after the year 2000 were included. Studies pertained to the use of CAR T-cells in adult and pediatric patients with solid and hematological malignancies. No restrictions were placed on the comparators or study setting. Primary outcomes were organized into two categories: (i) resource use, (ii) processes relating to implementation of CAR T-cell programs. Secondary outcomes included associated costs of implementation and barriers to successful implementation. Screening, review, and extraction of relevant data was conducted by a single reviewer. Extracted data included publication details, population and setting, study characteristics, outcomes and outcome measures, and strengths and limitations of research. Data was synthesized by means of thematic analysis.ResultsResults indicate that the provision of a CAR T-cell program in Ireland will require the establishment of bespoke infrastructural support. This includes additional outpatient facilities, ICU resources, and nursing capacity. Close relationships will need to be formed between hematology, ICU and neurology.ConclusionsThe findings of this Rapid Review will inform the assessment of organizational impacts associated with the introduction of a CAR T-cell program, ensuring a robust HTA assessment.
PP35 Valuing Intersectoral Costs And Benefits Of Interventions
Authors: Drost Ruben , Paulus Aggie , Ruwaard Dirk , Evers Silvia 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionThere is a lack of knowledge about methods for valuing health intervention-related costs and monetary benefits in the education and criminal justice sectors, also known as ‘inter-sectoral costs and benefits’ (ICBs). The objective of this study was to develop methods for obtaining unit prices for the valuation of ICBs.MethodsBy conducting an exploratory literature study and expert interviews, several generic methods were developed. The methods' feasibility was assessed through application in the Netherlands. Results were validated in an expert meeting, which was attended by policy makers, public health experts, health economists and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) experts, and discussed at several international conferences and symposia.ResultsThe study resulted in four methods, including the opportunity cost method and valuation using available unit prices, self-constructed unit prices or hourly labor costs.ConclusionsThe methods developed can be used internationally and are valuable for the broad international field of HTA.
PP57 Outcomes On Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Soares dos Santos Augusto Cesar , Horta Maria da Glória Cruvinel , Carvalho Lélia Maria de Almeida , Rodrigues Luíza , Avelar Sandra de Oliveira Sapori , Fernandes Mariana , Scherrer Luciano Rios , Biscione Fernando Martin , Kelles Silvana Marcia 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionSevere aortic stenosis with symptoms or left ventricular dysfunction has commonly a poor prognosis and therefore, aortic valve replacement is usually performed for patients aiming at improving their functional class and survival rate.MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated a convenience sample of patients at high risk for open surgery for the correction of aortic valve dysfunction treated with TAVI from 2013 to 2018. Data from a private healthcare organization in Belo Horizonte, Brazil were used to assess all-cause mortality. Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation. Cox proportional regression model and Log-Rank test were used to adjust the survival curve.ResultsFifty-two patients were included in the study (mean 83 ± 5.7 years of age, range 67 to 93 years; female 55.8 percent). Patients were characterized by: left ventricular ejection fraction (n = 30; mean 52.9 percent, range 26 to 81 percent); aortic valve area (n = 36; mean 0.68 cm2, range 0.4 to 1.2 cm2); left atrium size (n = 14; range 30 to 61 ml/m2); pulmonary artery pressure (n = 20; mean 53 mmHg, range 31 to 70 mmHg). Death occurred in 19 patients during the follow-up period (mean 8.4 months, range 0 to 60 months). Nine deaths occurred within the first 30 days of follow-up (17.3 percent) and 14 (26.9 percent) in the first year. Stroke occurred in three patients (5.8 percent) in the post-implant period. A pacemaker device was required for nine patients (17.3 percent).ConclusionsTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients at high risk for surgery. Real-world studies might result in a better understanding of the local team expertise on TAVI utilization.
PP70 Identification Of Prostheses With Worse Than Expected Outcomes
Authors: Arias de la Torre Jorge , Martínez Olga , Smith Kayla , Pons-Cabrafiga Miquel , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Valderas Jose , Martin Vicente , Evans Jonathan , Marcos Raul , Esteban Marta , Villabrille Susana , Espallargues Mireia 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionMonitoring the effectiveness of knee and hip arthroplasties could be useful at the clinical, economic, and patient levels. In Catalonia, there is currently no systematic monitoring of the different prostheses available. The aims of this study were to propose an approach for the systematic identification of knee and hip prostheses with the highest revision rates, and to identify those with the poorest outcomes.MethodsData recorded from January 2005 to December 2016 were considered from 53 out of the 61 public hospitals in Catalonia included in the Catalonian Arthroplasty Register (RACat). Specific prostheses were classified by joint, type, fixation, and, in total hip prostheses, the bearing surface. Prostheses with the worst outcomes were identified using a three-step approach, based on previous literature: (i) screening using Poisson models; (ii) comparison of prostheses using adjusted Cox models; and (iii) consensus-based review by a panel of orthopedic surgeons to detect possible sources of bias. After this process, selected prostheses were provisionally labeled as having the poorest outcomes. This process will be repeated periodically within the RACat to definitively classify the prostheses.ResultsAfter first two steps, ten knee prostheses and eight hip prostheses were identified. After the panel discussion (third step), one knee and one hip prosthesis were excluded from the final list. The knee prosthesis was excluded because it was a unicompartmental implant, while the hip prosthesis was excluded because it was a monoblock implant. Finally, nine knee prostheses and seven hip prostheses were provisionally identified as having the worst results relative to other available prostheses. These results await confirmation in subsequent analyses.ConclusionsThis study contributed to the current need to identify hip and knee prostheses whose outcomes might be worse than expected. This identification could have an impact at the patient, surgeon, industry, and stakeholder levels.
PP131 Omalizumab And Ciclosporin For Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Authors: Tan Gloria Wan Hui , Pearce Fiona , Ng Kwong 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionOmalizumab and ciclosporin are recommended in international clinical guidelines for treating antihistamine-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate their comparative efficacy and safety to inform local treatment practices in Singapore.MethodsThe PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to October 2018 involving omalizumab or ciclosporin as an add-on therapy to H1-antihistamines for CSU. Key outcomes were changes in weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7), adverse events, and health-related quality of life. Pairwise meta-analysis was conducted for each outcome. Owing to differences in trial designs and patient characteristics across the studies, a random effects model was employed. In the absence of head-to-head trials, the Bucher method of adjusted indirect comparison was used to estimate the comparative effectiveness between omalizumab and ciclosporin, with placebo as the common comparator.ResultsEight omalizumab and two ciclosporin placebo-controlled RCTs comprising 1,740 patients were selected. The magnitude of treatment effect for omalizumab was dose-dependent across all efficacy outcomes: 300 mg was superior to 150 mg. Omalizumab 300 mg, although statistically significantly better than placebo for all efficacy outcomes at week 12, did not achieve clinical significance for all measures. The mean change in UAS7 was statistically better for ciclosporin than for placebo (one RCT) at week 4. The indirect comparison between omalizumab and ciclosporin showed no statistically significant differences for mean change in UAS7. Omalizumab had a more favorable short-term safety profile than ciclosporin, but long-term safety data were lacking.ConclusionsBoth omalizumab and ciclosporin were effective in treating CSU, compared with placebo. However, results of the indirect comparison should be interpreted with caution. On the basis of limited available evidence, and taking into account the similar place in therapy of omalizumab and ciclosporin, the results may be considered acceptable to confirm the clinical comparability of the drugs an add-on to H1-antihistamines for CSU.