bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic gradients of adverse birth outcomes and related maternal factors in rural and urban Alberta, Canada: a concentration index approach
Authors: Ospina Maria , Osornio-Vargas Álvaro Román , Nielsen Charlene C , Crawford Susan , Kumar Manoj , Aziz Khalid , Serrano-Lomelin Jesus 
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveUsing a summary measure of health inequalities, this study evaluated the distribution of adverse birth outcomes (ABO) and related maternal risk factors across area-level socioeconomic status (SES) gradients in urban and rural Alberta, Canada.DesignCross-sectional study using a validated perinatal clinical registry and an area-level SES.SettingThe study was conducted in Alberta, Canada. Data about ABO and related maternal risk factors were obtained from the Alberta Perinatal Health Program between 2006 and 2012. An area-level SES index derived from census data (2006) was linked to the postal code at delivery.ParticipantsWomen (n=3 30 957) having singleton live births with gestational age ≥22 weeks.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe estimated concentration indexes to assess inequalities across SES gradients in both rural and urban areas (CIdxRand CIdxU, respectively) for spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, smoking and substance use during pregnancy and pre-pregnancy weight >91 kg.ResultsThe highest health inequalities disfavouring low SES groups were identified for substance abuse and smoking in rural areas (CIdxR−0.38 and −0.23, respectively). Medium inequalities were identified for LGA (CIdxR−0.08), pre-pregnancy weight >91 kg (CIdxR−0.07), substance use (CIdxU−0.15), smoking (CIdxU−0.14), gestational diabetes (CIdxU−0.10) and SGA (CIdxU−0.07). Low inequalities were identified for PTB (CIdxR−0.05; CIdxU−0.05) and gestational diabetes (CIdxR−0.04). Inequalities disfavouring high SES groups were identified for gestational hypertension (CIdxR+0.04), SGA (CIdxR+0.03) and LGA (CIdxU+0.03).ConclusionsABO and related maternal risk factors were unequally distributed across the socioeconomic gradient in urban–rural settings, with the greatest concentrations in lower SES groups of rural areas. Future research is needed on underlying mechanisms driving SES gradients in perinatal health across the rural–urban spectrum.
Dissemination of trial results to participants in phase III pragmatic clinical trials: an audit of trial investigators intentions
Authors: Raza M Zulfiqar , Bruhn Hanne , Gillies Katie 
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of Phase III clinical trials given a favourable opinion by a research ethics committee in the UK that provided trial results to those who participated.DesignAudit of records.SettingPhase III clinical trials registered on the UK’s research permissions system (Integrated Research Application System) between the 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017.Main outcome measuresProportion of trial investigators that intended to provide results to trial participants compared against what trials reported to ethics committees at the end of study.ResultsOut of 1404 Phase III trials, 87.7% (n=1231) trials stated they intended to disseminate results to participants while 12.3% (n=173) trials stated they would not. Out of these 1231 trials, 18.8% (n=231) trials intended to actively communicate trial results or a means of accessing results to their participants, a further 80.5% (n=991) reported passive intention to disseminate and for the remainder (n=9) the process was unclear. Of the 370 End of Study reports (30% of all included studies) that could be accessed 10 (2.7%) explicitly mentioned activities related to dissemination of findings to participants with the majority (74.9%) having no mention and a further 22.4% of reports not being accessible. Of the 10 which did report dissemination of results to participants the majority (n=6) were through a lay summary or letter.ConclusionsReported intention to disseminate results to trial participants among trial investigators is high, however, reporting of feedback methods is lacking. In addition, mechanisms to ensure intentions to disseminate trial results are translated into actual behaviour need to be put in place to ensure those who participate in trials have the opportunity to find out about the results.
CDK5RAP2primary microcephaly is associated with hypothalamic, retinal and cochlear developmental defects
Authors: Nasser Hala , Vera Liza , Elmaleh-Bergès Monique , Steindl Katharina , Letard Pascaline , Teissier Natacha , Ernault Anais , Guimiot Fabien , Afenjar Alexandra , Moutard Marie Laure , Héron Delphine , Alembik Yves , Momtchilova Martha , Milani Paolo , Kubis Nathalie , Pouvreau Nathalie , Zollino Marcella , Guilmin Crepon Sophie , Kaguelidou Florentia , Gressens Pierre , Verloes Alain , Rauch Anita , El Ghouzzi Vincent , Drunat Severine , Passemard Sandrine 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundPrimary hereditary microcephaly (MCPH) comprises a large group of autosomal recessive disorders mainly affecting cortical development and resulting in a congenital impairment of brain growth. Despite the identification of >25 causal genes so far, it remains a challenge to distinguish between different MCPH forms at the clinical level.Methods7 patients with newly identified mutations inCDK5RAP2(MCPH3) were investigated by performing prospective, extensive and systematic clinical, MRI, psychomotor, neurosensory and cognitive examinations under similar conditions.ResultsAll patients displayed neurosensory defects in addition to microcephaly. Small cochlea with incomplete partition type II was found in all cases and was associated with progressive deafness in 4 of them. Furthermore, the CDK5RAP2 protein was specifically identified in the developing cochlea from human fetal tissues. Microphthalmia was also present in all patients along with retinal pigmentation changes and lipofuscin deposits. Finally, hypothalamic anomalies consisting of interhypothalamic adhesions, a congenital midline defect usually associated with holoprosencephaly, was detected in 5 cases.ConclusionThis is the first report indicating thatCDK5RAP2not only governs brain size but also plays a role in ocular and cochlear development and is necessary for hypothalamic nuclear separation at the midline. Our data indicate that CDK5RAP2 should be considered as a potential gene associated with deafness and forme fruste of holoprosencephaly. These children should be given neurosensory follow-up to prevent additional comorbidities and allow them reaching their full educational potential.Trial registration numberNCT01565005.
Evaluation of a fellowship abroad as part of the initial training of the French military surgeon
Authors: Choufani Camille , Barbier O , Demoures T , Mathieu L , Rigal S 
Published: February 2020

IntroductionMilitary surgery requires skills that in general cannot be easily learnt in civilian training. Participation in a fellowship abroad adapted to the particular operating conditions of the foreign deployment is one route that might secure the necessary supplementary training. We therefore assessed the relevance of such a fellowship in the preparedness of young military surgeons in their first deployment.MethodsThis study included all active military surgeons who had completed a fellowship abroad during their initial training from 2004 to 2017 in Tchad or Senegal or Djibouti. The collection of data was performed using a questionnaire. The main judgement criterion was the rate of positive answers awarded to the relevance of this fellowship in the preparedness of respondents’ first foreign deployment.ResultsSixty-nine of 73 surgeons answered. Sixty-one estimated the fellowship had allowed them to feel more operational during their first mission, with 83.61% rating this feeling as important. Also, 61 recommended the use of a fellowship for war surgery training. The grade assigned to the surgical benefit was 8.48/10.ConclusionA fellowship abroad permits one to become familiar with surgical practice under austere circumstances and the particularities of the surgical structures at the front. Current trainees’ feedback confirms its relevance.
Confidence of veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom in treating and diagnosing exotic pet species
Authors: Wills Alison , Holt Susan 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundWith exotic pet species commonplace in the UK, owners are increasingly seeking veterinary advice regarding the health and welfare of their small mammals and reptiles. This study aimed to assess the confidence of veterinarians in the UK in treating and diagnosing rabbits, guinea pigs, small mammals and reptiles.MethodsA 41‐question survey was promoted via social media, including on interest groups focused specifically at veterinary professionals. A total of 131 practising veterinarians in the UK completed the questionnaire.ResultsFrequency of presentation of exotic pets to a practice had a significant effect (P<0.01) on the confidence of veterinarians in treating them. Veterinarians who were presented with exotics more frequently had increased self‐reported knowledge of their health and disease and were more confident in treating, diagnosing and anaesthetising them. Knowledge of and confidence in diagnosing and treating exotic pets were significantly less than for dogs and cats (P<0.001). There was a significant effect of length of time qualified on confidence in treating exotic pet species (P<0.01).ConclusionsIncreased provision and engagement with continuing professional development may increase veterinary confidence in diagnosing, treating and anaesthetising exotic pet species that are less commonly encountered in practice.
Fabrication of Infrared Opacifiers Loaded Al2O3 Aerogel-SiO2 Fiber Mat Composites with High Thermal Resistance
Authors: Wen Shangyan , Zhu Jiayi , Yin Qiang , Bi Yutie , Ren Hongbo , Zhang Lin 
Published: February 2020

The infrared opacifiers loaded Al2O3 aerogel-SiO2 fiber mat composites were fabricated by the sol–gel process. The effects of the content of the TiO2 and SiC particles on thermal insulation performance of the Al2O3 aerogel-SiO2 fiber mat composites were studied. The results showed that the optimum doping content of TiO2 and SiC for Al2O3 aerogel-SiO2 fiber mat composites were 10[Formula: see text]mol.% and 0.5[Formula: see text]mol.%, respectively. The optimum TiO2-Al2O3 aerogel-SiO2 fiber mat composite had the low thermal conductivity of 0.021[Formula: see text]W/(m[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K) at 35∘C and 0.031[Formula: see text]W/(m[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K) at 600∘C. Meanwhile, the SiC-Al2O3 aerogel-SiO2 fiber mat composite also had the low thermal conductivity of 0.022[Formula: see text]W/(m[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K) at 35∘C and 0.025[Formula: see text]W/(m[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K) at 600∘C.
Low Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake and Persistent Disparities in an Underserved Urban Population
Authors: Ni Katherine , O'Connell Kelli , Anand Sanya , Yakoubovitch Stephanie C. , Kwon Simona C. , de Latour Rabia Ali , Wallach Andrew B. , Sherman Scott E. , Du Mengmeng , Liang Peter S. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Colorectal cancer screening has increased substantially in New York City in recent years. However, screening uptake measured by telephone surveys may not fully capture rates among underserved populations. We measured screening completion within 1 year of a primary care visit among previously unscreened patients in a large urban safety-net hospital and identified sociodemographic and health-related predictors of screening.
We identified 21,256 patients ages 50 to 75 who were seen by primary care providers (PCP) in 2014, of whom 14,425 (67.9%) were not up-to-date with screening. Because PCPs facilitate the majority of screening, we compared patients who received screening within 1 year of an initial PCP visit to those who remained unscreened using multivariable logistic regression.
Among patients not up-to-date with screening at study outset, 11.5% (1,658 patients) completed screening within 1 year of a PCP visit. Asian race, more PCP visits, and higher area-level income were associated with higher screening completion. Factors associated with remaining unscreened included morbid obesity, ever smoking, Elixhauser comorbidity index of 0, and having Medicaid/Medicare insurance. Age, sex, language, and travel time to the hospital were not associated with screening status. Overall, 39.9% of patients were up-to-date with screening by 2015.
In an underserved urban population, colorectal cancer screening disparities remain, and overall screening uptake was low. Because more PCP visits were associated with modestly higher screening completion at 1 year, additional community-level education and outreach may be crucial to increase colorectal cancer screening in underserved populations.
Immunotherapy of Pediatric Solid Tumors: Treatments at a Crossroads, with an Emphasis on Antibodies
Authors: Casey Dana L. , Cheung Nai-Kong V. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Over the last decade, immunotherapy has rapidly changed the therapeutic landscape and prognosis for many hematologic malignancies and adult solid tumors. Despite this success, immunotherapy for pediatric solid tumors remains in the early stages of development, and significant clinical benefit has yet to be realized, with anti-GD2 for neuroblastoma being the exception. The limited neoepitope expression and paucity of T-cell infiltration into the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment have hampered current established immunotherapies. Emerging approaches to recruit T cells, to convert phenotypically “cold” into “inflamed” tumors, and to vastly improve therapeutic indices hold exceptional promise. Here, we review these approaches, highlighting the role of the tumor microenvironment and novel antibody platforms to maximize the full clinical potential of immunotherapy in pediatric oncology.
Macrophages Instruct Aberrant Glycosylation in Colon Cancer by Chemokine and Cytokine Signals
Authors: Bronte Vincenzo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Myeloid cells can alter diverse molecular and metabolic pathways in cancer cells, contributing to their survival, migration, and resistance to chemotherapy and immune attack. The results by Kvorjak and colleagues unveil a novel circuit whereby altered glycosylation in epithelial cells promotes the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer, via the production of IL13 and CCL17 by M2-polarized macrophages.
See article by Kvorjak et al., p. 167
Pathogenic and Uncertain Genetic Variants Have Clinical Cardiac Correlates in Diverse Biobank Participants
Authors: Pottinger Tess D. , Puckelwartz Megan J. , Pesce Lorenzo L. , Robinson Avery , Kearns Samuel , Pacheco Jennifer A. , Rasmussen‐Torvik Laura J. , Smith Maureen E. , Chisholm Rex , McNally Elizabeth M. 
Published: February 2020

Background
Genome sequencing coupled with electronic heath record data can uncover medically important genetic variation. Interpretation of rare genetic variation and its role in mediating cardiovascular phenotypes is confounded by variants of uncertain significance.

Methods and Results

We analyzed the whole genome sequence of 900 racially and ethnically diverse biobank participants selected from a single
US
center. Participants were equally divided among European, African, Hispanic, and mixed races/ethnicities. We evaluated the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics medically actionable list of 59 genes, focusing on the cardiac genes. Variation was interpreted using the most recent reports in ClinVar, a database of medically relevant human variation. We identified 19 individuals with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in cardiac actionable genes (2%) and found evidence of related clinical correlates in the electronic health record. Participants of African ancestry, compared with those of European ancestry, had more variants of uncertain significance in the medically actionable genes including the 30 cardiac actionable genes, even when normalized to total variant count per person. Longitudinal measures of left ventricle size from ≈400 biobank participants (1723 patient‐years) were correlated with genetic findings. The presence of ≥1 uncertain variant in the actionable cardiac genes and a cardiomyopathy diagnosis correlated with increased left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and in systole. In particular,

MYBPC
3

was identified as a gene with excess variants of uncertain significance.

Conclusions
These data indicate that a subset of uncertain genetic variants may confer risk and should not be considered benign.
NOAA’s Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) Experiment Observations and Forecast Impacts
Authors: Wick Gary A. , Dunion Jason P. , Black Peter G. , Walker John R. , Torn Ryan D. , Kren Andrew C. , Aksoy Altug , Christophersen Hui , Cucurull Lidia , Dahl Brittany , English Jason M. , Friedman Kate , Peevey Tanya R. , Sellwood Kathryn , Sippel Jason A. , Tallapragada Vijay , Taylor James , Wang Hongli , Hood Robbie E. , Hall Philip 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) project evaluated the ability of observations from high-altitude unmanned aircraft to improve forecasts of high-impact weather events like tropical cyclones or mitigate potential degradation of forecasts in the event of a future gap in satellite coverage. During three field campaigns conducted in 2015 and 2016, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Global Hawk, instrumented with GPS dropwindsondes and remote sensors, flew 15 missions sampling 6 tropical cyclones and 3 winter storms. Missions were designed using novel techniques to target sampling regions where high model forecast uncertainty and a high sensitivity to additional observations existed. Data from the flights were examined in real time by operational forecasters, assimilated in operational weather forecast models, and applied postmission to a broad suite of data impact studies. Results from the analyses spanning different models and assimilation schemes, though limited in number, consistently demonstrate the potential for a positive forecast impact from the observations, both with and without a gap in satellite coverage. The analyses with the then-operational modeling system demonstrated large forecast improvements near 15% for tropical cyclone track at a 72-h lead time when the observations were added to the otherwise complete observing system. While future decisions regarding use of the Global Hawk platform will include budgetary considerations, and more observations are required to enhance statistical significance, the scientific results support the potential merit of the observations. This article provides an overview of the missions flown, observational approach, and highlights from the completed and ongoing data impact studies.
A Unified Nonlinear Multiscale Interaction Model of Pacific–North American Teleconnection Patterns
Authors: Luo Dehai , Ge Yao , Zhang Wenqi , Dai Aiguo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
In this paper, reanalysis data are first analyzed to reveal that the individual negative (positive)-phase Pacific–North American pattern (PNA) or PNA− (PNA+) has a lifetime of 10–20 days, is characterized by strong (weak) westerly jet stream meanders, and exhibits clear wave train structures, whereas the PNA− with rapid retrogression tends to have longer lifetime and larger amplitude than the PNA+ with slow retrogression. In contrast, the wave train structure of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is less distinct, and the positive (negative)-phase NAO shows eastward (westward) movement around a higher latitude than the PNA. Moreover, it is found that the PNA wave train occurs under a larger background meridional potential vorticity gradient (PVy) over the North Pacific than that over the North Atlantic for the NAO. A unified nonlinear multiscale interaction (UNMI) model is then developed to explain why the PNA as a nonlinear wave packet has such characteristics and its large difference from the NAO. The model results reveal that the larger background PVy for the PNA (due to its location at lower latitudes) leads to its larger energy dispersion and weaker nonlinearity than the NAO, thus explaining why the PNA (NAO) is largely a linear (nonlinear) process with a strong (weak) wave train structure, though it is regarded as a nonlinear initial-value problem. The smaller PVy for the PNA− than for the PNA+ leads to lower energy dispersion and stronger nonlinearity for PNA−, which allows it to maintain larger amplitude and have a longer lifetime than the PNA+. Thus, the difference in the background PVy is responsible for the asymmetry between the two phases of PNA and the difference between the PNA and NAO.
A Climatology and Extreme Value Analysis of Large Hail in China
Authors: Ni Xiang , Muehlbauer Andreas , Allen John T. , Zhang Qinghong , Fan Jiwen 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Hail size records are analyzed at 2254 stations in China and a hail size climatology is developed based on gridded hail observations for the period 1960–2015. It is found that the annual percentiles of hail size records changed sharply and national-wide after 1980, therefore two periods, 1960–79 and 1980–2015, are studied. There are some similarities between the two periods in terms of the characteristics of hail size such as the spatial distribution patterns of mean annual maximum hail size and occurrence week of annual maximum hail size. The 1980–2015 period had higher observation density than the 1960–79 period, but showed smaller mean annual maximum hail size, especially in northern China. In the majority of grid boxes, the annual maximum hail size experienced a decreasing trend during the 1980–2015 period. A Gumbel extreme value model is fitted to each grid box to estimate the return periods of maximum hail size. The scale and location parameter of the fitted Gumbel distributions are higher in eastern China than in western China, thereby reflecting a greater likelihood of large hail in eastern China. In southern China, the maximum hail size exceeds 127 mm for a 10-yr return period, whereas in northern China maximum hail size exceeds this threshold for a 50-yr return period. The Gumbel model is found to potentially underestimate the maximum hail size for certain return periods, but provides a more informed picture of the spatial distribution of extreme hail size and the regional differences.