bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What's the score? A comparison of deceased donor kidney scoring systems and correlation with graft outcome
Authors: Jackson Kyle R. , Munivenkatappa Raghava B. , Wesson Russell N. , Garonzik‐Wang Jacqueline , Massie Allan , Philosophe Benjamin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundA number of deceased donor kidney scoring systems have been developed to predict post‐transplant graft failure. However, studies comparing the predictive ability of these scoring systems to each other are lacking.MethodsWe used single‐center histopathologic and UNOS data from 140 marginal deceased donor kidneys and transplant recipients to compare the predictive accuracy of the Maryland Aggregate Pathology Index (MAPI), Kidney Donor Risk Index (KDRI), Remuzzi, and Nyberg scoring systems for 2‐year graft survival using time‐dependent receiver operating curves and Kaplan‐Meier analysis.ResultsMAPI had the highest predictive accuracy (area under curve [AUC] = 0.81) compared to KDRI (AUC = 0.45), Remuzzi (AUC = 0.59), and Nyberg (AUC = 0.63) for 2‐year graft survival. Furthermore, when analyzing each score according to its pre‐defined risk strata, MAPI was the only scoring system for which 2‐year graft survival was significantly different across strata (84.3% for low risk, 56.5% for intermediate risk, and 50% for high risk, P < .001). Additionally, MAPI was the only risk score significantly associated with 2‐year graft survival (hazard ratio per point: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01‐1.23, P = .03).ConclusionsIn a single‐center cohort of biopsied marginal kidneys used for transplantation, MAPI had the best predictive ability of these four scoring systems. When biopsy data are available for kidneys considered for transplantation, the MAPI score may provide additional information that could be used to better identify kidneys likely to have longer graft survival.
Cultural influences on willingness to donate organs among urban native Americans
Authors: Bongiovanni Tasce , Rawlings James E , Trompeta Joyce A , Nunez‐Smith Marcella 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe need for organ donation is substantial among Native Americans, driven by the disproportionate burden of ESRD. Due to the dearth of knowledge about willingness to donate (WTD) among urban Native Americans, a group that represents over half of the US Native population, we aimed to examine factors affecting donation.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional survey of a convenience sample, using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study using community‐based participatory research. The questionnaire was designed to be culturally relevant to the Native community, based on questions from three previously validated instruments and developed through one‐on‐one interviews. We performed logistic regression to associate survey answers with WTD.ResultsSeventy percent of our 183 respondents stated that they would be willing to have their organs donated after death; however, only 41% were already registered as an organ donor on their driver's license. Logistic regression analysis found specific items in domains of trust of the medical community and spirituality most closely associated with WTD. Sixty‐two percent of Native Americans surveyed reported they would not donate organs because they distrust the medical community.DiscussionOur findings suggest multiple areas of focus for increasing organ donation within this subset of the diverse Native community. Efforts to promote donation should be aimed at building trust in the medical community.
Marked differences in prediabetes‐ and diabetes‐associated comorbidities between men and women—Epidemiological results from a general population‐based cohort aged 6‐80 years—The LEAD (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy) study
Authors: Breyer Marie‐Kathrin , Ofenheimer Alina , Altziebler Julia , Hartl Sylvia , Burghuber Otto C. , Studnicka Michael , Purin Daniela , Heinzle Christine , Drexel Heinz , Franssen Frits M. E , Wouters Emiel F. M , Harreiter Jürgen , Kautzky‐Willer Alexandra , Breyer‐Kohansal Robab 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundBased on biological and behavioural diversity sex and gender may affect comorbidities associated with prediabetes and diabetes. Besides evaluating the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes (using fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels), the primary aim of the study is to investigate sex and gender differences in the prevalence of comorbidities in subjects with prediabetes and diabetes and to identify possible risk factors associated with prediabetes and diabetes.DesignThis observational, population‐based cohort study included 11.014 subjects aged 6‐80 years. Examinations included blood samples, ankle‐brachial index, ECG, dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan and an interviewer‐administered questionnaire.ResultsAcross all ages, prevalence of prediabetes was 20.2% (male 23.6%; female 17.1%), and 5.4% for diabetes (male 7.3%; female 3.7%). The prevalence of prediabetes ranged from 4.4% (6‐<10 years) up to 40.4% (70+ years) in men and from 4.8% up to 42.3% in women. Comorbidity profile was markedly different between male and female, particularly in those with prediabetes: women more often suffered from arrhythmia, noncoronary artery disease, osteoporosis, increased systemic inflammatory biomarkers and depression, while men with prediabetes more often showed angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and media sclerosis.ConclusionsThe unexpected 4.6% prevalence of prediabetes in children aged 6‐10 underscores the need for population‐based studies across all ages and the onset of prevention of diabetes at a young age. Marked differences have been found in comorbidities as men with prediabetes and diabetes more often suffer from cardiovascular disease, while women more often show arrhythmia, noncoronary artery disease, increased systemic inflammatory biomarkers and depression.
Efficacy and safety of pixantrone for the treatment of multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non‐Hodgkin B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Sancho Juan‐Manuel , Navarro Belén , Soler Campos Joan Alfons , de Oteyza Jaime Pérez , de Barrenetxea Lekue Cristina , Bregni Marco , Grasso Cicala Silvina , Spione Mario , Mombiedro Cristina , Soler Begoña , Zinzani Pier Luigi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackground and objectiveFew treatment options exist for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who fail first‐ and second‐line therapies. Pixantrone is a novel aza‐anthracenedione agent with reduced potential for cardiotoxicity but maintained anti‐tumour activity relative to anthracyclines. The current retrospective, observational, real‐life study was undertaken in 79 patients who received pixantrone monotherapy for multiply R/R aggressive B‐cell NHL in Spain and Italy.ResultsBefore pixantrone, patients had received a median of 3 prior therapies and 84.6% of them were refractory to the last regimen. Median progression‐free survival (mPFS) was 2.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1‐3.6) and median overall survival (mOS) was 4.0 months (95%CI 5.6‐7.9), with an objective response rate (ORR) of 29% (complete remission [CR]: 13.2%, partial remission [PR]: 15.2%). Patients receiving ≥2 cycles of pixantrone showed mPFS and mOS of 3.1 and 6.0 months, respectively, and an ORR of 36.8% (CR: 17.5%, PR: 19.3%). Overall, 63.3% of patients reported ≥1 adverse event (AE), most commonly haematological AEs. One patient developed grade 2 sinus tachycardia.ConclusionPixantrone was effective and well tolerated in a real‐world population of multiply R/R patients with aggressive B‐cell NHL, many of whom had very poor prognostic factors.
Bypass and hyperbole in soil research: A personal view on plausible causes and possible remedies
Authors: Baveye Philippe C. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe literature of the past couple of decades, related to soils, contains many instances of bypass, that is, the deliberate avoidance of part of the older literature in spite of its direct relevance to the topics being covered, and hyperbole, that is, exaggerated claims that are not supported either by existing knowledge or by experimental observations. Regardless of one's epistemological perspective, it would seem self‐evident that both of these practices are bound to be detrimental in the long term to the pursuit of scientific research, whose best chances of success are when one stands on the shoulders of those who preceded us, and when we present accurately the true extent of progress that is achieved. In the present opinion piece, I try to present my perspective on what may have encouraged researchers working on soils to resort to bypass or hyperbole. The premise of this piece is that only if one has some idea, as personal and hence subjective as it may be, of the roots of an ailment, can one hope to ever find a cure. Different avenues that could be pursued by institutions as well as individuals (even at the onset of their careers) to curb these worrisome practices are outlined.Highlights
A broken publication and reward system may explain the extent of bypass and hyperbole in science.
An analysis is provided of specific factors that encourage bypass and hyperbole in soil research.
Several possible remedies are discussed, at individual and institutional levels.
A fuzzy‐clustering‐based hierarchical i‐vector/probabilistic linear discriminant analysis system for text‐dependent speaker verification
Authors: Laskar Mohammad Azharuddin , Laskar Rabul Hussain 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn the i‐vector/probabilistic linear discriminant analysis (PLDA) technique, the PLDA backend classifier is modelled on i‐vectors. PLDA defines an i‐vector subspace that compensates the unwanted variability and helps to discriminate among speaker‐phrase pairs. The channel or session variability manifested in i‐vectors are known to be nonlinear in nature. PLDA training, however, assumes the variability to be linearly separable, thereby causing loss of important discriminating information. Besides, the i‐vector estimation, itself, is known to be poor in case of short utterances. This paper attempts to address these issues using a simple hierarchy‐based system. A modified fuzzy‐clustering technique is employed to divide the feature space into more characteristic feature subspaces using vocal source features. Thereafter, a separate i‐vector/PLDA model is trained for each of the subspaces. The sparser alignment owing to subspace‐specific universal background model and the relatively reduced dimensions of variability in individual subspaces help to train more effective i‐vector/PLDA models. Also, vocal source features are complementary to mel frequency cepstral coefficients, which are transformed into i‐vectors using mixture model technique. As a consequence, vocal source features and i‐vectors tend to have complementary information. Thus using vocal source features for classification in a hierarchy tree may help to differentiate some of the speaker‐phrase classes, which otherwise are not easily discriminable based on i‐vectors. The proposed technique has been validated on Part 1 of RSR2015 database, and it shows a relative equal error rate reduction of up to 37.41% with respect to the baseline i‐vector/PLDA system.
Are fishers poor? Getting to the bottom of marine fisheries income statistics
Authors: Teh Lydia C. L. , Ota Yoshitaka , Cisneros‐Montemayor Andrés M. , Harrington Lucy , Swartz Wilf 
Published: January 2020

AbstractFishers’ economic status is hard to assess because fisheries socio‐economic data, including earnings, are often not centrally available, standardized or accessible in a form that allows scaled‐up or comparative analyses. The lack of fishing income data impedes sound management and allows biased perceptions about fishers’ status to persist. We compile data from intergovernmental and regional data sets, as well as case‐studies, on income earned from marine wild‐capture fisheries. We explore the level and distribution of fishers’ income across fisheries sectors and geographical regions, and highlight challenges in data collection and reporting. We find that fishers generally are not the poorest of the poor based on average fishing income from 89 countries, but income levels vary widely. Fishing income in the large‐scale sector is higher than the small‐scale sector by about 2.2 times, and in high‐income versus low‐income countries by almost 9 times. Boat owners and captains earned more than double that of crew and owner‐operators, while income from fisheries is greater than that from agricultural work in 63% of countries in this study. Nonetheless, incomes are below national poverty lines in 34% of the countries with data. More detailed fishing income statistics is needed for quantitative scientific research and for supporting socio‐economic policies. Key gaps to address include the lack of a centralized database for fisheries income statistics and the coarse resolution at which economic statistics are reported internationally. A first step to close the gap is to integrate socio‐economic monitoring and reporting in fisheries management.
Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes epithelial‐mesenchymal transiton through regulation of the lncRNA MIR4435‐2HG/miR‐296‐5p/Akt2/SNAI1 signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Shuwei , Li Chen , Liu Junchao , Geng Fengxue , Shi Xiaoting , Li Qian , Lu Ze , Pan Yaping 
Published: January 2020

Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic oral opportunistic pathogen associated with periodontitis, has been considered to be associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the initial host molecular alterations induced by F. nucleatum infection which may promote predisposition to malignant transformation through epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we monitored the ability of F. nucleatum to induce EMT‐associated features, and our results showed that F. nucleatum infection promoted cell migration in either noncancerous human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOECs) or the two OSCC cell lines SCC‐9 and HSC‐4, but did not accelerate cell proliferation or cell cycle progression. Mesenchymal markers, including N‐cadherin, Vimentin, and SNAI1, were upregulated, while E‐cadherin was decreased and was observed to translocate to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, FadA adhesin and heat‐inactivated F. nucleatum were found to cause a similar effect as the viable bacterial cells. The upregulated lncRNA MIR4435‐2HG identified by the high‐throughput sequencing was demonstrated to negatively regulate the expression of miR‐296‐5p, which was downregulated in F. nucleatum‐infected HIOECs and SCC‐9 cells. The binding of MIR4435‐2HG and miR‐296‐5p was validated via a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, knockdown of MIR4435‐2HG with siRNA leads to a decrease in SNAI1 expression, while miR‐296‐5p could further negatively and indirectly regulate SNAI1 expression via Akt2. Therefore, our study demonstrated that F. nucleatum infection could trigger EMT via lncRNA MIR4435‐2HG/miR‐296‐5p/Akt2/SNAI1 signaling pathway, and EMT process may be a probable link between F. nucleatum infection and initiation of oral epithelial carcinomas.
Effectiveness of the Non‐Medical Surgical Assistant measured by patient outcome assessment
Authors: Hains Toni , Rowell David , Strand Haakan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAimsTo investigate effectiveness of the nurse clinician as a Non‐Medical Surgical Assistant compared with the Medical Surgical Assistant.BackgroundNon‐Medical Surgical Assistants are clinicians who are not medical practitioners. The surgical assistant works directly with the primary surgeon intraoperatively.DesignA pragmatic, retrospective, observational study on patients undergoing Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair or Primary Unilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.Each patient received intraoperative care from a consultant surgeon and a Medical Surgical Assistant or Non‐Medical Surgical Assistant. All surgical assistants were registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.MethodsData were collected between 01/07/2014 and 30/06/2017. The effect that surgical assistant choice had on patient outcomes was estimated using regression statistical models. Six dependent variables, including length of stay, for clinical outcome assessment were specified.Results/FindingsThe groups were equivalent in age, gender, and American Society of Anaesthesiologists scores. There were more emergency procedures in the Medical Surgical Assistant group and more hip surgery in the Non‐Medical Surgical Assistant group. Patient outcome assessment showed no statistically significant differences for surgical assistant types.ConclusionThe nurse clinician in the role of Non‐Medical Surgical Assistant was shown to be effective with equivalent patient outcomes compared with the Medical Surgical Assistant.
Toward hard and highly crack resistant magnesium aluminosilicate glasses and transparent glass‐ceramics
Authors: Ke Xuefei , Shan Zhitao , Li Zihuang , Tao Yunhang , Yue Yuanzheng , Tao Haizheng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHigh hardness and high crack resistance are usually mutually exclusive in glass materials. Through the aerodynamic levitation and laser melting technique, we prepared a series of magnesium aluminosilicate glasses with a constant MgO content, and found a striking enhancement of both hardness and crack resistance with increasing Al2O3. The crack resistance of the magnesium aluminosilicate glass is about five times higher than that of the binary alumina‐silica glass for the similar [Al]/([Al] + [Si]) molar ratio (around 0.6). For the selected magnesium aluminosilicate glass with R = 0.32, when subjected to isothermal treatment at 1283K, we observed a further drastic enhancement of both hardness and crack resistance by extending the heating time. Based on the structural analyses, we propose an atomic‐scale model to explain the mechanism of synergetic enhancement in hardness and crack resistance for the magnesium aluminosilicate glasses and glass‐ceramics.
Elevated serum glycated albumin and glycated albumin : hemoglobin A1c ratio were associated with hippocampal atrophy in a general elderly population of Japanese: The Hisayama Study
Authors: Ohara Tomoyuki , Furuta Yoshihiko , Hirabayashi Naoki , Hata Jun , Hirakawa Yoichiro , Honda Takanori , Yoshida Daigo , Shibata Mao , Kitazono Takanari , Ninomiya Toshiharu 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAims/IntroductionTo investigate the association of alternative glycemic measures – namely, serum glycated albumin (GA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the GA : HbA1c ratio – with global brain and hippocampal atrophy in a general elderly Japanese population.Materials and MethodsA total of 1,278 Japanese individuals aged ≥65 years in a community participated in brain magnetic resonance imaging scanning and screening examination of health status in 2012. We measured total brain volume (TBV), hippocampal volume (HV) and intracranial volume (ICV) using the data from the magnetic resonance imaging examination. The association of each glycemic measure with the ratios of TBV : ICV (an indicator of global brain atrophy) and HV : ICV (an indicator of hippocampal atrophy) was examined by analysis of covariance.ResultsThe mean values of the TBV : ICV and HV : ICV ratios decreased significantly with elevating serum GA levels and GA : HbA1c ratio levels (all P for trend < 0.05), but not with higher HbA1c levels, after adjusting for age, sex, low education, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, diabetes mellitus, serum total cholesterol, electrocardiogram abnormalities, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol drinking habits and regular exercise. These significant associations were still observed in the sensitivity analysis after excluding individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. In addition, increased serum GA levels and the GA : HbA1c ratio levels, but not HbA1c, were closely associated with lower mean values of the TBV : ICV and HV : ICV ratios, irrespective of the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that higher serum GA and higher GA : HbA1c ratio are significantly associated with global brain and hippocampal atrophy.
The Roles of Chinese CEOs in Managing Individualistic Cultures in Cross‐border Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Zhu Hong , Zhu Qi , Ding Zhiwen 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe individualism‐collectivism culture represents an important and well‐researched distinction across cultures. Yet research is less clear about how the different levels of individualistic cultures in host countries affect the success of an increasingly important firm strategy – cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs). This study addresses this key research question in the context of Chinese firms’ CBMAs, as Chinese firms are increasingly acquiring targets outside of China in the New Normal global business landscape. This study further theorizes and tests how the Chinese acquirer CEOs’ characteristics moderate the wealth creation relationship. In an analysis of 404 Chinese firms’ CBMAs, we found that an individualistic culture in the host country is negatively associated with Chinese acquirers’ CBMA wealth creation. We also demonstrate that Chinese CEOs’ exposure to foreign culture and female gender weaken that negative relationship, while CEO duality strengthens this negative relationship. Our research thus suggests that culture in host countries can negatively affect acquirers’ CBMA performance, but CEOs may be able to manage the effects of the culture to increase their CBMA performance.
Negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia severity and marijuana problems in college students
Authors: Yurasek Ali M. , Miller Mary Beth , Pritschmann Ricarda K. , Curtis Ashley F. , McCrae Christina S. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractInsomnia symptoms have been linked to problematic marijuana use among young adults, but the mechanism underlying this association and whether sex differences exist, remains unclear. Using cross‐sectional data, this study examined negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems among male and female college students. Undergraduate students (n = 267; 61% female) reporting marijuana use in the past month completed an online survey assessing insomnia symptoms, negative mood and marijuana problems. Controlling for relevant covariates, negative mood was examined as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems using bootstrapped significance tests for indirect effects (n‐boot = 1,000). Results indicated that higher levels of insomnia were associated with greater levels of negative mood (regardless of sex), which in turn were associated with greater marijuana‐related problems. In conclusion, insomnia symptoms are associated with more negative mood among college students who use marijuana, and this effect on negative mood accounts for a large part of the association of insomnia symptoms with marijuana‐related problems. Research is needed to determine if these associations are maintained prospectively.