bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bladder neck and urethral erosions after Macroplastique injections
Authors: Rodríguez Dayron , Jaffer Ata , Hilmy Mustafa , Zimmern Philippe 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the presentation, risk factors, diagnostic workup, management, and outcomes of Macroplastique (MPQ) erosions.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of women experiencing MPQ erosion at two tertiary care centers (United States and United Kingdom). Data collected included age, presenting symptoms, parity, comorbidities, hormone replacement therapy, sexual activity, and smoking status. Previous surgical history, time from MPQ injection, urine culture results, and cystoscopic and imaging findings were also reviewed. Development of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after MPQ removal and subsequent SUI treatments were recorded.ResultsFrom 2012 to 2018, 18 patients were identified with a median follow‐up time of 24 months (interquartile range [IQR] 8‐33). All patients presented with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) and had cystoscopic evidence of MPQ erosion. The most common location of erosion was the bladder neck area (72%). Median time to presentation since MPQ injection was 14 months (IQR 11‐35). The majority of patients (72%) had a previous history of anti‐incontinence surgery. The overall success rate of endoscopic management defined as resolution of presenting symptoms including rUTI was 80%. The majority of patients (80%) developed recurrent SUI following MPQ resection with 33% requiring a subsequent autologous fascial sling placement.ConclusionMPQ erosions present predominantly with UTI, sometimes years after the original injection, and may necessitate endoscopic management with satisfactory results in most patients. Following excision of MPQ, these patients are highly likely to experience SUI recurrence and need to be appropriately counseled. Some may require additional subsequent autologous fascial sling placement for treatment of their SUI symptoms.
Lost and found: Frogs in a biodiversity hotspot rediscovered with environmental DNA
Authors: Lopes Carla Martins , Baêta Délio , Valentini Alice , Lyra Mariana Lúcio , Sabbag Ariadne Fares , Gasparini João Luiz , Dejean Tony , Haddad Célio Fernando Baptista , Zamudio Kelly Raquel 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDeclines and extinctions are increasing globally and challenge conservationists to keep pace with biodiversity monitoring. Organisms leave DNA traces in the environment, e.g., in soil, water, and air. These DNA traces are referred to as environmental DNA (eDNA). The analysis of eDNA is a highly sensitive method with the potential to rapidly assess local diversity and the status of threatened species. We searched for DNA traces of 30 target amphibian species of conservation concern, at different levels of threat, using an environmental DNA metabarcoding approach, together with an extensive sequence reference database to analyse water samples from six montane sites in the Atlantic Coastal Forest and adjacent Cerrado grasslands of Brazil. We successfully detected DNA traces of four declined species (Hylodes ornatus, Hylodes regius, Crossodactylus timbuhy, and Vitreorana eurygnatha); two locally disappeared (Phasmahyla exilis and Phasmahyla guttata); and one species that has not been seen since 1968 (putatively assigned to Megaelosia bocainensis). We confirm the presence of species undetected by traditional methods, underscoring the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring at low population densities, especially in megadiverse tropical sites. Our results support the potential application of eDNA in conservation biology, to evaluate persistence and distribution of threatened species in surveyed habitats or sites, and improve accuracy of red lists, especially for species undetected over long periods.
Therapeutic response time of topical voriconazole 1% and intrastromal voriconazole 0.05% versus topical natamycin 5% monotherapy in Fusarium keratitis in rabbit
Authors: Edwar Lukman , Janna Yulia M. , Rozaliyani Anna , Louisa Melva 
Published: August 2020

SummaryBackgroundFungal keratitis can be more difficult to treat than bacterial keratitis with worse outcomes.ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic response time of topical voriconazole combined with intrastromal voriconazole, and topical natamycin on Fusarium keratitis.MethodsThe stroma of corneas of twelve New Zealand White rabbits was inoculated with Fusarium sp spores. Seven days after inoculation, they were divided into 2 groups randomly. Group A was treated with topical natamycin 5% for 21 days. Group B was treated with intrastromal voriconazole 0.05% single injection at the beginning of treatment, continued with topical voriconazole 1% for 21 days. Clinical evaluations for epithelial defect size and clinical scores in each group were performed on 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th and 21st days after treatment. Mycological examinations were performed before and after the treatment.ResultsAfter treatment, there was no statistically significant difference between natamycin and voriconazole in reducing epithelial defect size at first, second or third week after treatment (P = .15; P = .39; and P = .90). The clinical scores on both groups also showed no statistically significant differences at first, second and third weeks after treatment (P = .24; P = .09; and P = .32). Qualitative mycological evaluation before and after the treatment showed no statistically significant difference in KOH examination (P = 1; P = 1) and culture in Sabouraud dextrose agar (P = 1; P = 1).ConclusionIntrastromal voriconazole injection combined with topical voriconazole seems to give similar response time but not earlier in improving clinical presentation of Fusarium keratitis as topical natamycin.
Alteration of the pattern of regenerative corneal subbasal nerves after laser in‐situ keratomileusis surgery
Authors: Chao Cecilia , Lum Edward , Golebiowski Blanka , Stapleton Fiona 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPurposeCorneal nerves exhibit high plasticity, which allows successful reinnervation after nerve damage caused by laser in‐situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. This study aimed to examine corneal subbasal nerve orientation during regeneration after LASIK.MethodsThis study involved 20 healthy, myopic subjects who had undergone bilateral Femto‐LASIK 12–16 months prior with a superior hinge position. The corneal subbasal nerve plexus at the central, mid‐temporal and mid‐superior cornea on the right eye were imaged using in vivo confocal microscopy. Global nerve fibre orientation (indicating the overall pattern) and variation of nerve fibre orientation (indicating the consistency of the orientation) was determined using customised MATLAB™ software (www.mathworks.com/products/matlab.html). Differences in nerve orientation variables between groups were examined using the Mann‐Whitney U test. Linear mixed models with Bonferroni adjustment were conducted to examine differences between corneal regions, and over time, after LASIK.ResultsThere were no differences between post‐LASIK and control groups in global nerve orientation at any of the examined corneal regions. The post‐LASIK subjects had a greater variation of nerve orientation at the central (p = 0.007) and temporal (p = 0.049) cornea than the controls. There was a difference in global nerve fibre orientation between corneal regions (p < 0.001) in the controls but not in the post‐LASIK group. The variation of nerve fibre orientation was higher at the central, compared to the temporal and superior cornea after LASIK (p < 0.001), although there were no differences between corneal regions in controls.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that there was an increased variability in the corneal subbasal innervation patterns following LASIK when compared to controls.
Influence of early extubation on post‐operative outcomes after pediatric lung transplantation
Authors: Labarinas Sonia , Coss‐Bu Jorge A. , Onyearugbulem Chinyere , Heinle Jeffery S , Mallory George B , Gazzaneo Maria C. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLung transplantation has become an accepted therapeutic option for a select group of children with end‐stage lung disease. We evaluated the impact of early extubation in a pediatric lung transplant population and its post‐operative outcomes. Single‐center retrospective study. PICU within a tertiary academic pediatric hospital. Patients <22 years after pulmonary transplant between January 2011 and December 2016. A total of 74 patients underwent lung transplantation. The primary pretransplantation diagnoses included cystic fibrosis (58%), pulmonary fibrosis (9%), and surfactant dysfunction disorders (10%). Of 60 patients, 36 (60%) were extubated within 24 hours and 24 patients after 24 hours (40%). A total of seven patients (11.6%) required reintubation within 24 hours. Median length of stay for the early extubation group was shorter at 3 days ([(IQR) 2.2‐4.7]) compared to 5 days (IQR, 3‐7) (P = .02) in the late extubation group. Median costs were lower for the early extubation group with 13,833 US dollars (IQR, 9980‐22,822) vs 23 671 US dollars (IQR, 16 673‐39 267) (P = .043). Fourteen patients were in the PICU prior to their transplantation; this did not affect their early extubation success. Neither did the fact of requiring invasive or non‐invasive mechanical ventilation before transplantation. Early extubation appears to be safe in a pediatric population after lung transplantation and is associated with a shorter LOS and decreased hospital costs. It may prevent known complications associated with mechanical ventilation.
Bloodstream infections by gram‐negative bacteria in kidney transplant patients: Incidence, risk factors, and outcome
Authors: Tsikala‐Vafea Maria , Basoulis Dimitrios , Pavlopoulou Ioanna , Darema Maria , Deliolanis John , Daikos George L. , Boletis John , Psichogiou Mina 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundKidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at increased risk of infections.MethodsThe aims of this study were to describe the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) by gram‐negative bacteria in a cohort of KTRs, the risk factors for BSI due to multi‐drug–resistant (MDR) gram‐negative bacteria, and the predictors for unfavorable outcome, defined as death or nephrectomy or return to dialysis, within 30 days from BSI. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at the renal transplant unit of a tertiary care hospital in Athens, Greece.ResultsIn a total of 1962 KTRs, we recorded 195 BSI episodes in 182 single patients (male/female = 97/85), with a median (interquartile range) age of 57.2 (44‐64.9) years. The incidence was 1.393/100 patient‐years. The most common source of infection was urinary tract (70.9%), and Escherichia coli (63.7%) was the most common pathogen. 19.2% of the infecting organisms were MDR; previous antibiotic use (OR 8.2; CI 2.1‐32.9) and previous stay in the intensive care unit (OR 34.2; CI 1.6‐730.2) were associated with MDR BSIs. 6% of patients died, and 2.2% underwent nephrectomy, while no patients had to return to dialysis. Diabetes mellitus (OR 8.1; 95% CI 1.3‐50.3), Pseudomonas aeruginosa BSI (OR 46.1; 95% CI 3.9‐552.3), and septic shock (OR 46.7; 95% CI 1.7‐1304.9) were independent predictors of unfavorable outcome.ConclusionBloodstream infections in KTRs have a significant impact on allograft and patients outcome.
Analysis of Bitcoin prices using market and sentiment variables
Authors: Kapar Burcu , Olmo Jose 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper proposes an empirical model for analysing the dynamics of Bitcoin prices. To do this, we consider a vector error correction model over two overlapping periods: 2010–17 and 2010–19. Price discovery is achieved through the Gonzalo–Granger permanent‐transitory decomposition. The pricing factors are endogenous linear combinations of the S&P 500 index, gold price, a Google search variable associated to Bitcoin and a fear index proxied by the FED Financial Stress Index. Our empirical analysis shows that during the first period, a linear combination of four pricing factors describes the efficient Bitcoin price. The S&P 500 index and Google searches have a positive effect whereas gold prices and the fear index have a negative effect. In contrast, during the second period, the efficient price behaves idiosyncratically and can be only rationalised by individuals' search for information on the cryptocurrency. These findings provide empirical evidence on the presence of a correction in Bitcoin prices during the period 2018–19 uncorrelated to market fundamentals. We also show that standard empirical asset pricing models perform poorly for explaining Bitcoin prices.
Impact of a Formal Educational Skill‐Building Program Based on the ARCC Model to Enhance Evidence‐Based Practice Competency in Nurse Teams
Authors: Gorsuch Col (ret) Penelope F. , Gallagher Ford Lynn , Koshy Thomas Bindu , Melnyk Bernadette Mazurek , Connor Linda 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundImplementation of evidence‐based practice (EBP) is necessary for healthcare systems to improve quality, safety, patient outcomes, and costs. Yet, EBP competency is lacking in many nurses and clinicians across the country.AimThe purpose of this initiative was to determine whether nursing teams (Executive Leader, Clinical/Mid‐level Leader, and Direct Care Nurse) attending a 5‐day EBP continuing education skill‐building program (immersion) was an effective strategy to build EBP competence, practice, and culture sustainability over time. The Advancing Research and Clinical Practice Through Close Collaboration Model was used to guide this initiative.MethodsA project team was assembled, including leaders with EBP expertise from the Air Force Medical Service and The Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for EBP in Nursing and Healthcare at The Ohio State University. Five survey instruments were used to evaluate outcomes, including Organizational Culture and Readiness for System‐Wide Implementation of Evidence‐Based Practice, Evidence‐Based Practice Beliefs, Evidence‐Based Practice Implementation, and Evidence‐Based Practice Competencies, as well as the Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire test. Nursing teams were invited to participate and complete the program with the implementation of EBP projects over the following year.ResultsParticipants’ EBP knowledge, skills, competencies, and beliefs were significantly improved and sustained over 12 months.Linking Evidence to ActionA team‐based EBP skill‐building program was an effective strategy for building EBP competence, practice, and culture. This initiative demonstrated that the direct involvement of leadership and infrastructure to support EBP were crucial factors for building and sustaining an EBP culture.
Network Effects on Adolescents’ Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity
Authors: Prochnow Tyler , van Woudenberg Thabo J. , Patterson Megan S. 
Published: August 2020

Background: Adolescent physical activity (PA) is widely linked to positive health outcomes. Unfortunately, 80% of adolescents do not meet recommendations, which may be due to perceived barriers to PA. Peer interactions significantly affect adolescent PA behaviors. This study aims to analyze distribution of PA barriers throughout adolescent friendship networks and barriers’ associations with PA. Methods: Adolescents (N = 383, mean = 10.77 y, SD = 1.30 y, 51.4% male) reported frequency of experiencing PA barriers (body related, social, fitness, convenience, and resource) and names of their friends. Average steps and minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA per day were measured using accelerometers. Linear network autocorrelation models determined if friends perceived barriers similarly when compared with nonfriends and analyzed relationships between barriers and objective PA measures while controlling for network effects. Results: Moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA, steps per day, body-related barriers, and social barriers displayed significant network effects, suggesting significant association with the scores of their friends. Average steps per day were significantly associated with age, sex, and social barriers, while inversely associated with fitness barriers. Conclusions: This research suggests adolescents’ perceived PA barriers are significantly associated with those of their friends. Researchers and practitioners aiming to reduce barriers to PA among adolescents may wish to assess peer reinforcing effects.
Evaluating Relationships Between Sleep and Next-Day Physical Activity in Young Women
Authors: Bailey Bruce W. , Deru Landon S. , Christensen William F. , Stevens Andrew J. , Ward Stephen Tanner , Starr Matthew L. , Bartholomew Ciera L. , Tucker Larry A. 
Published: August 2020

Background: To evaluate the relationship between sleep and next-day physical activity (PA) under free-living conditions in women. Methods: Sleep and PA were measured objectively for 7 consecutive days by accelerometry in 330 young adult women (aged 17–25 y). A structural equation model was used to evaluate the relationship between the driving factor of sleep (total sleep or morning wake time) and the amount of nonsleep sedentary (SED) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day. Results: With sleep duration as the driving factor, the estimates of βSED and βMVPA were −0.415 and −0.093, respectively (P ≤ .05). For every hour slept, a 24.9-minute reduction in SED time and a 5.58-minute reduction in MVPA were observed. With wake time as the driving factor, the estimates of βSED and βMVPA were −0.636 and −0.149, respectively. For every wake time that was 1 hour later, a 38.2-minute decrease in SED and a 8.9-minute decrease in MVPA (P ≤ .05) were observed. Conclusions: Women who wake later or who sleep longer tend to get less MVPA throughout the day. Getting up earlier and going to bed earlier may support behaviors that improve PA and lifestyle.
Second-generation antipsychotics and the risk of chronic kidney disease: a population-based case-control study
Authors: Højlund Mikkel , Lund Lars Christian , Herping Jonas Leander Emming , Haastrup Maija Bruun , Damkier Per , Henriksen Daniel Pilsgaard 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesTo examine the association between use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).DesignPopulation-based case-control study.SettingRoutinely collected laboratory, prescription and diagnostic information on all inhabitants with creatinine measurements residing on the island of Funen, Denmark (2001 to 2015).Participants21 434 cases with incident CKD matched with 85 576 CKD-free population controls by risk-set sampling using age, sex and calendar year.Primary and secondary outcome measuresCKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in a period longer than 3 months. Information on drug exposure and comorbidities were obtained from the Danish National Prescription Register and the Danish National Patient Register. We calculated OR for the association between SGA use and CKD using conditional logistic regression.ResultsUse of SGAs was associated with increased risk of CKD among ever users (OR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.37) and current users (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.42). We found no clear evidence of dose-response relationship. Both short duration (one to two antipsychotic prescriptions; OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.48) as well as long-term use (>30 prescriptions; OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.76) were associated with an increased risk of CKD. Both use of SGAs with mild and high risk of metabolic disturbances was associated with increased risk of CKD (OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.39 and OR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.68, respectively). Recent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prior use of lithium, hypertension or prior acute kidney injury were not clearly associated with development of CKD connected to SGA exposure. The highest risk of CKD was found for clozapine (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.69).ConclusionUse of SGA is associated with a small-to-moderately increased risk of incident CKD. All investigated SGAs, except for aripiprazole, were associated with an increased risk of CKD.
Concussion symptomology and recovery in children and adolescents with pre-existing anxiety
Authors: Martin Alexia K , Petersen Ashley J , Sesma Heather W , Koolmo Mary B , Ingram Katherine M , Slifko Katie B , Nguyen Victoria N , Doss Robert C , Linabery Amy M 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveTo examine pre-existing anxiety disorders as a risk factor for increased concussion symptomology and prolonged recovery in children and adolescents.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we abstracted medical record data for 637 children/adolescents (5–17 years) presenting to three tertiary concussion clinics between April 2018 and March 2019. Primary outcomes were mean concussion symptom and vision symptom severity scores measured at clinic visits. Linear mixed-effects regression models were employed to investigate differences in average symptom load, vision symptom score and symptom recovery trajectories across anxiety strata, adjusted for random effects (time), age and sex. Secondary outcomes, time to concussion symptom recovery and time to return to academics and sports, respectively, were examined via log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression.ResultsAmong 637 eligible concussion patients, 155 (24%) reported pre-existing anxiety. On average, patients with anxiety reported an additional 2.64 (95% CI 1.84 to 3.44) concussion symptoms and 7.45 (95% CI 5.22 to 9.68) higher vision symptom severity scores throughout recovery versus those without, after adjusting for age and sex. There was no evidence that concussion or vision symptom trajectories varied over time between those with/without anxiety after accounting for baseline dissimilarities in symptom scores (all pinteraction>0.05). Anxiety was significantly associated with delayed symptom recovery (adjusted HR 3.34, 95% CI 2.18 to 5.12), return to school (adjusted HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.59 to 2.53) and return to physical activity (adjusted HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.37).ConclusionsPre-existing anxiety disorders were associated with more severe symptomology and prolonged recovery after concussion in children and adolescents. These results can be referenced by providers to manage patients’ recovery expectations.
Path-space differentiable rendering
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Miller Bailey , Yan Kai , Gkioulekas Ioannis , Zhao Shuang 
Published: August 2020

Physics-based differentiable rendering, the estimation of derivatives of radiometric measures with respect to arbitrary scene parameters, has a diverse array of applications from solving analysis-by-synthesis problems to training machine learning pipelines incorporating forward rendering processes. Unfortunately, general-purpose differentiable rendering remains challenging due to the lack of efficient estimators as well as the need to identify and handle complex discontinuities such as visibility boundaries.
In this paper, we show how path integrals can be differentiated with respect to arbitrary differentiable changes of a scene. We provide a detailed theoretical analysis of this process and establish new differentiable rendering formulations based on the resulting differential path integrals. Our path-space differentiable rendering formulation allows the design of new Monte Carlo estimators that offer significantly better efficiency than state-of-the-art methods in handling complex geometric discontinuities and light transport phenomena such as caustics.
We validate our method by comparing our derivative estimates to those generated using the finite-difference method. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique, we compare inverse-rendering performance with a few state-of-the-art differentiable rendering methods.