bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A retrospective cohort study of adverse event assessment during anesthesia‐related procedures for cochlear implant candidacy assessment and cochlear implantation in infants and toddlers
Authors: Bruijnzeel Hanneke , Wammes Emily , Stokroos Robert J. , Topsakal Vedat , de Graaff Jurgen C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundCochlear implantation in children with sensorineural hearing loss is preferably performed at youngest age because early auditory input is essential to prevent neural plasticity decline. In contrast, the rate of anesthetic adverse events is increased during infancy. Therefore, to provide recommendations regarding an optimal pediatric implantation age, these possible anesthetic risks in infants need to be taken into account.AimsThis study aimed at assessing the relation between the age at cochlear implant surgery and anesthetic and surgical adverse events. Secondary aims were to evaluate anesthetic and surgical adverse events in relation to (a) the number of preoperative anesthesia‐related procedures for cochlear implant candidacy assessment and (b) the anesthetic maintenance agent (total intravenous anesthesia versus inhalation anesthesia) during implantation.MethodsWe executed a retrospective cohort study to evaluate cochlear implantation performed in infants and toddlers between January 2008 and July 2015 in a tertiary pediatric center. We compared anesthetic and surgical adverse events between age‐at‐implantation (0‐12 and 12‐24 months of age) groups. Furthermore, we assessed whether anesthetic adverse events occurred during preoperative anesthesia‐related procedures for cochlear implant candidacy assessment.ResultsForty‐six cochlear implantations were performed in 43 patients requiring 42 preoperative anesthesia‐related procedures. Nineteen cochlear implantations (41.3%) were performed during infancy. During implantation, the maintenance agent was either sevoflurane (n = 22) or propofol (n = 24). None of the patients encountered major anesthetic adverse events, whereas minor adverse events occurred during 34 cochlear implantations. Those attributed to surgery occurred following six implantations. Neither the age at implantation nor the anesthetic maintenance agent was significantly related to the occurrence of both types of adverse events.ConclusionsAdverse events occur independent of the age at implantation, the number of anesthetic preoperative procedures, and the type of anesthetic maintenance agent in patients who received a cochlear implant before 24 months of age.
Characteristics of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen analysed with flow cytometry combined with fertility results
Authors: Kowalczyk Artur , Łukaszewicz Ewa , Strzała Tomasz , Partyka Agnieszka , Rosenberger Joanna 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn order to increase the reproductive indices of capercaillie kept in closed breeding facilities, it is necessary to constantly expand the methods of better understanding the characteristics of sperm and their fertilizing potency. The aim of the study was to analyse selected features of capercaillie sperm using flow cytometry and their connection with fertility results. The study included five males, three of which were kept in a family group with eight females and two were kept alone. For sperm viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial potential and DNA defragmentation were assessed. Paternity analyses were performed in order to confirm the paternity of the individual and to link the evaluated semen traits with reproductive success. Analyses carried out in the flow cytometer showed any significant differences between males in sperm characteristics. In the semen of male No. 101, the father of all chicks from the analysed family group, 91.3% of live sperm, 91.5% with intact acrosome, 83.6% with active mitochondria and 2.0% with DNA defragmentation were observed. The average fertility rate was 71.0%, and chick hatchability was 100%. Using flow cytometry in the analysis of capercaillie semen and its connection with the results of natural mating, we were able to obtain deeper knowledge about new sperm characteristics that were not examined before and which in the future may be helpful in selecting males for the reproductive flocks and developing assisted reproduction techniques.
An Integrated Approach for Assessing the Impact of Large‐Scale Future Floods on a Highway Transport System
Authors: Wang Weiping , Yang Saini , Gao Jianxi , Hu Fuyu , Zhao Wanyi , Stanley H. Eugene 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe negative impact of climate change continues to escalate flood risk. Floods directly and indirectly damage highway systems and disturb the socioeconomic order. In this study, we propose an integrated approach to quantitatively assess how floods impact the functioning of a highway system. The approach has three parts: (1) a multi‐agent simulation model to represent traffic, heterogeneous user demand, and route choice in a highway network; (2) a flood simulator using future runoff scenarios generated from five global climate models, three representative concentration pathways (RCPs), and the CaMa‐Flood model; and (3) an impact analyzer, which superimposes the simulated floods on the highway traffic simulation system, and quantifies the flood impact on a highway system based on car following model. This approach is illustrated with a case study of the Chinese highway network. The results show that (i) for different global climate models, the associated flood damage to a highway system is not linearly correlated with the forcing levels of RCPs, or with future years; (ii) floods in different years have variable impacts on regional connectivity; and (iii) extreme flood impacts can cause huge damages in highway networks; that is, in 2030, the estimated 84.5% of routes between provinces cannot be completed when the highway system is disturbed by a future major flood. These results have critical implications for transport sector policies and can be used to guide highway design and infrastructure protection. The approach can be extended to analyze other networks with spatial vulnerability, and it is an effective quantitative tool for reducing systemic disaster risk.
Supply Constraint from Earthquakes in Japan in Input–Output Analysis
Authors: Yagi Michiyuki , Kagawa Shigemi , Managi Shunsuke , Fujii Hidemichi , Guan Dabo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDisasters often cause exogenous flow damage (i.e., the [hypothetical] difference in economic scale with and without a disaster in a certain period) to production (“supply constraint”). However, input‐output (IO) analysis (IOA) cannot usually consider it, because the Leontief quantity model (LQM) assumes that production is endogenous; the Ghosh quantity model (GQM) is considered implausible; and the Leontief price model (LPM) and the Ghosh price model (GPM) assume that quantity is fixed. This study proposes to consider a supply constraint in the LPM, introducing the price elasticity of demand. This study uses the loss of social surplus (SS) as a damage estimation because production (sales) is less informative as a damage index than profit (margin); that is, production can be any amount if without considering profit, and it does not tell exactly how much profit is lost for each supplier (upstream sector) and buyer (downstream sector). As a model application, this study examines Japan's largest five earthquakes from 1995 to 2017 and the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) in March 2011. The worst earthquake at the peak tends to increase price by 10–20% and decrease SS by 20–30%, when compared with the initial month's prices/production. The worst damage tends to last eight months at most, accumulating 0.5‐month‐production damage (i.e., the sum of [hypothetical] differences in SS with and without an earthquake [for eight months] is 50% of the initial month production). Meanwhile, the GEJE in the five prefectures had cumulatively, a 25‐month‐production damage until the temporal recovery at the 37th month.
Multilevel Network Meta-Regression for Population-Adjusted Treatment Comparisons
Authors: Phillippo David M. , Dias Sofia , Ades A. E. , Belger Mark , Brnabic Alan , Schacht Alexander , Saure Daniel , Kadziola Zbigniew , Welton Nicky J. 
Published: June 2020

SummaryStandard network meta-analysis (NMA) and indirect comparisons combine aggregate data from multiple studies on treatments of interest, assuming that any effect modifiers are balanced across populations. Population adjustment methods relax this assumption using individual patient data from one or more studies. However, current matching-adjusted indirect comparison and simulated treatment comparison methods are limited to pairwise indirect comparisons and cannot predict into a specified target population. Existing meta-regression approaches incur aggregation bias. We propose a new method extending the standard NMA framework. An individual level regression model is defined, and aggregate data are fitted by integrating over the covariate distribution to form the likelihood. Motivated by the complexity of the closed form integration, we propose a general numerical approach using quasi-Monte-Carlo integration. Covariate correlation structures are accounted for by using copulas. Crucially for decision making, comparisons may be provided in any target population with a given covariate distribution. We illustrate the method with a network of plaque psoriasis treatments. Estimated population-average treatment effects are similar across study populations, as differences in the distributions of effect modifiers are small. A better fit is achieved than a random effects NMA, uncertainty is substantially reduced by explaining within- and between-study variation, and estimates are more interpretable.
Estimating The Binary Endogenous Effect of Insurance on Doctor Visits by Copula-Based Regression Additive Models
Authors: Marra Giampiero , Radice Rosalba , Zimmer David M. 
Published: June 2020

SummaryThe paper estimates the causal effect of having health insurance on healthcare utilization, while accounting for potential endogeneity bias. The topic has important policy implications, because health insurance reforms implemented in the USA in recent decades have focused on extending coverage to the previously uninsured. Consequently, understanding the effects of those reforms requires an accurate estimate of the causal effect of insurance on utilization. However, obtaining such an estimate is complicated by the discreteness inherent in common measures of healthcare usage. The paper presents a flexible estimation approach, based on copula functions, that consistently estimates the coefficient of a binary endogenous regressor in count data settings. The relevant numerical computations can be easily carried out by using the freely available GJRM R package. The empirical results find significant evidence of favourable selection into insurance. Ignoring such selection, insurance appears to increase doctor visit usage by 62% but, adjusting for it, the effect increases to 134%.
International normalized ratio (INR) values in patients receiving oral vitamin K antagonists and undergoing oral surgery: A clinical audit
Authors: Lombardi Niccolò , Varoni Elena M. , Sorrentino Daniela , Lodi Giovanni 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionDental extractions can be safely carried out on patients under vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) therapy, without stopping or changing the dosage, but the international normalized ratio (INR) needs to be monitored on the day of the intervention, showing adequate rates before proceeding.ObjectivesThis study aims at evaluating INR values, measured before oral surgery procedures, to assess the rate of patients, under VKAs therapy, outside the therapeutic range.Materials and methodsA clinical audit was carried out involving patients under VKAs, who needed minor oral surgery procedures, over a period of 18 months. The patient was instructed to not modify or suspend VKAs prior to the intervention. Before surgery, each patient fulfilled a questionnaire on dietary and oral hygiene habits, and a blood sample was collected for INR assessment (cut‐off value for surgical procedure ≤3.5).ResultsOne hundred twenty‐two patients were enrolled: 69 (56.6%) had an INR value within the established therapeutic range, 53 (43.4%) were out of range. No intra‐ or postsurgical major bleeding was recorded.ConclusionsINR, measured on the same day of oral surgery, has the potential to prevent bleeding complications by the identification of those patients out of range, who may require adjusting the drug therapeutic dosage.
Immunodeficiency in cartilage‐hair hypoplasia: Pathogenesis, clinical course and management
Authors: Vakkilainen Svetlana , Taskinen Mervi , Mäkitie Outi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCartilage‐hair hypoplasia (CHH) is an autosomal recessive syndromic immunodeficiency with skeletal dysplasia, short stature, hypotrichosis, variable degree of immune dysfunction and increased incidence of anaemia, Hirschsprung disease and malignancy. CHH is caused by variants in the RMRP gene, encoding the untranslated RNA molecule of the mitochondrial RNA‐processing endoribonuclease, which participates in for example cell cycle regulation and telomere maintenance. Recent studies have expanded our understanding of the complex pathogenesis of CHH. Immune dysfunction has a major impact on clinical course and prognosis. Clinical features of immune dysfunction are highly variable, progressive and include infections, lung disease, immune dysregulation and malignancy. Mortality is increased compared with the general population, due to infections, malignancy and pulmonary disease. Several risk factors for early mortality have been reported in the Finnish CHH cohort and can be used to guide management. Newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency can possibly be of prognostic value in CHH. Regular follow‐up by a multidisciplinary team should be implemented to address immune dysfunction in all patients with CHH, also in asymptomatic cases. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can cure immune dysfunction, but its benefits in mildly symptomatic patients with CHH remain debatable. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind the variability of clinical features, to search for potential molecular treatment targets, to examine and validate risk factors for early mortality outside the Finnish CHH cohort and to develop management guidelines. This review focuses on the pathogenesis, clinical course and management of CHH.
Cycling‐specific isometric resistance training improves peak power output in elite sprint cyclists
Authors: Kordi Mehdi , Folland Jonathan P , Goodall Stuart , Menzies Campbell , Patel Tejal Sarika , Evans Martin , Thomas Kevin , Howatson Glyn 
Published: June 2020

IntroductionThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of a 6‐week cycling‐specific, isometric resistance training program on peak power output (PPO) in elite cyclists.MethodsTwenty‐four elite track sprint cyclists were allocated to EXP (n = 13, PPO, 1537 ± 307 W) and CON (n = 11, PPO, 1541 ± 389 W) groups. All participants completed a 6‐week training program; training content was identical except participants in the EXP group replaced their usual compound lower body resistance training exercise with a cycling‐specific, isometric resistance training stimulus. Cycling PPO, knee extensor and cycling‐specific isometric strength, and measures of muscle architecture were assessed pre‐ and post‐training.ResultsIn EXP, absolute and relative PPO increased (46 ± 62 W and 0.8 ± 0.7 W/kg, P < .05), and the change in relative PPO was different to CON (−0.1 ± 1.0 W/kg, group × time interaction P = .02). The increase in PPO was concurrent with an increase in extrapolated maximal torque in EXP (7.1 ± 6.5 Nm, P = .007), but the effect was not different from the change in CON (2.4 ± 9.7 Nm, group × time P = .14). Cycling‐specific isometric strength also increased more in EXP (group × time P = .002). There were no other between‐group differences in response to training.ConclusionA 6‐week novel, cycling‐specific isometric resistance training period improved PPO in a group of elite sprint cyclists by 3%‐4%. These data support the use of a cycling‐specific isometric resistance training stimulus in the preparation programs of world‐class cyclists.
Uncharitable Acts in Charity: Socioeconomic Drivers of Charity‐Related Fraud
Authors: Goel Rajeev K. 
Published: June 2020

ObjectiveThis article examines determinants of charity‐related crimes, focusing on socioeconomic influences. Charity crimes have proliferated in recent years but formal research on their causes is limited.MethodEstimation methods using robust regression and two‐stage least squares are used, employing data across states in the United States obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government sources.ResultsThe estimation results show that states with heightened cases of identity theft have greater charity‐related crimes. However, I found no contagion from border identity theft or border charity crimes. With regard to other social factors, race and ethnic homogeneity were associated with charity crimes. Among economic factors, economic prosperity and economic disparity did not matter, but unemployment was associated with more charity crimes. Different dimensions of charity markets did not significantly matter.ConclusionThe findings show that other white‐collar crimes such as identity theft might be crucially driving charity crimes.
Geological control on dinosaurs’ rise to dominance: Late Triassic ecosystem stress by relative sea level change
Authors: Klausen Tore G. , Paterson Niall W. , Benton Michael J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe Late Triassic is enigmatic in terms of how terrestrial life evolved: it was the time when new groups arose, such as dinosaurs, lizards, crocodiles and mammals. Also, it witnessed a prolonged period of extinctions, distinguishing it from other great mass extinction events, while the gradual rise of the dinosaurs during the Carnian to Norian remains unexplained. Here we show that key extinctions during the early Norian might have been triggered by major sea‐level changes across the largest delta plain in Earth's history situated in the Triassic Boreal Ocean, northern Pangea. Fossil and rock records display extensive marine inundations with floral turnover, demonstrating how susceptible widespread low‐gradient delta plains were to transgressions. Landward shoreline translocation implies decrease in important coastal regions and ecological stress on the dominant Archosauria, thriving in these habitats, and we argue that these unique geological factors played an important role in dinosaurs gradual rise to dominance.
Prevalence of multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tengan Fátima M , Figueiredo Gerusa M , Leite Olavo HM , Nunes Arielle KS , Manchiero Carol , Dantas Bianca P , Magri Mariana C , Barone Antonio A , Bernardo Wanderley M 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence of multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) in individuals living in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).MethodsWe searched the MEDLINE, Embase and Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) databases until 08 August 2019 for all studies on the subject, without time or language restrictions. Original studies reporting the prevalence of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin simultaneously (MDR) in LAC, the prevalence of resistance in cases with no previous treatment (new cases) and the prevalence of resistance in previously treated cases were selected. Considering the expected heterogeneity between studies, all analyses were performed using the random effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.ResultsWe included 91 studies from 16 countries. The estimated overall prevalence was 13.0% (95% CI 12.0–14.0%), and the heterogeneity between studies was substantial (I2 = 96.1%). In the subgroup analyses, it was observed that the prevalence of MDR‐TB among new cases was 7.0% (95% CI 6.0–7.0%) and in previously treated cases was 26.0% (95% CI 24.0–28.0%).ConclusionsThis review highlights multidrug resistance to antituberculosis drugs in LAC, indicating that prevention strategies have not been effective. Government institutions should invest heavily in strategies for early diagnosis and the rapid availability of effective treatments and prioritise adequate protection for health professionals. In addition, screening programmes should be adopted to prevent secondary cases.
Analysis of DNA methylation and TP53 mutational status for differentiating feline oral squamous cell carcinoma from non‐neoplastic mucosa: A preliminary study
Authors: Renzi Andrea , Morandi Luca , Lenzi Jacopo , Rigillo Antonella , Bettini Giuliano , Bellei Emma , Giacomini Alessandra , Tinto Debora , Sabattini Silvia 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFeline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is characterized by high local invasiveness and early bone lysis. The late diagnosis largely limits the efficacy of therapy and increases treatment‐related morbidity. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the methylation pattern of 10 candidate genes and TP53 mutational status in histologic samples of FOSCC. Results were compared with normal oral mucosa and oral inflammatory lesions, in order to establish a gene panel for FOSCC detection. For 10 cats, the above analyses were also performed on oral brushing samples, in order to explore the utility of these methods for screening purposes. Thirty‐one FOSCC, 25 chronic inflammatory lesions and 12 controls were included. TP53 mutations were significantly more frequent in the FOSCC (68%) than in the non‐neoplastic oral mucosa (3%; P <.001). Based on lasso regression analysis, a step‐wise algorithm including TP53, FLI1, MiR124‐1, KIF1A and MAGEC2 was proposed. The algorithm allowed to differentiate FOSCC with 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity (accuracy, 97%). When applying the proposed algorithm on 10 brushing samples, accuracy decreased to 80%. These results indicate that the altered DNA methylation of specific genes is present in FOSCC, together with a significant proportion of TP53 mutations. Such alterations are infrequent in normal oral mucosa and chronic stomatitis in cats, suggesting their involvement in feline oral carcinogenesis and their utility as diagnostic biomarkers. Further studies on a high number of brushing samples will be needed to assess the utility of a screening test for the early detection of FOSCC.
Exploring the Englishes of world politics
Authors: Bhatia Aditi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis issue intends to open the gates to unexplored areas of research and analysis in world Englishes from the prism of critical discourse analysis, by exploring how political discourse can take on the unique linguistic properties of the cultural contexts in which it is conceived and, accordingly, sculpt the identities of all those addressed or involved. As such, the issue borrows data from different parts of the world, including Ghana, Turkey, Britain, Singapore, America, India, and the Middle East, to investigate how political parties, political leaders, and socio‐political movements are most persuasively narrativized when they play on local sentiment and language features representative of local communities and audiences, despite often common, populist aims.
Xenotransplantation in Australia: Development of the regulatory process
Authors: Hawthorne Wayne J. , Cowan Peter J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this commentary, we present a brief history of the development of a national regulatory framework for xenotransplantation clinical research in Australia, including the reasons behind the imposition of a 5‐year moratorium in 2005 and its subsequent lifting. We conclude with a summary of current relevant guidelines and standards.