bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of reporting of cranial irradiation techniques in randomized controlled trials of primary brain tumors: A systematic review
Authors: Tan Teng Hwee , Chen Desiree , Soon Yu Yang , Chee Seong Tey Jeremy 
Published: November 2020

BackgroundTo assess the quality of reporting of cranial irradiation (CR) techniques in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of primary brain tumors.MethodsWe searched PubMed and EMBASE for RCTs of primary brain tumors, published from January 1999 to November 2019 which included CR as one of the intervention arms. We assessed the initial RCTs report on whether they reported the prespecified ten criteria for CR technique adequately. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the factors that were predictive of adequate quality of reporting.ResultsWe found 85 eligible trial reports. There was significant variability in the quality of reporting among the included studies. Total radiotherapy (RT) dose and fractionation schedule were reported adequately in more than 90% of the included trials. The organs at risk dose constraints, treatment verification procedures and presence or absence of deviations in RT treatment planning and delivery were reported adequately in less than 30% of included trials. Twenty-three trials (27%) reported seven criteria or more adequately. Multivariable analysis showed that trials conducted by cooperative groups, published RT quality assurance results and having a low risk of bias in the methodological quality have higher odds of having adequate quality in reporting of CR technique (judged as adequate reporting in seven criteria or more).ConclusionsThe quality of reporting on CR techniques in the RCTs of primary brain tumors is variable and suboptimal. Guidelines should be introduced to improve clarity and ensure consistency in the quality of reporting.
Empirical evaluation of the presence of a label containing standard drinks on pour accuracy among US college students
Authors: Brunk Eric , Becker Mark W. , Bix Laura 
Published: November 2020

PurposeAlcohol concentration has traditionally been labeled in the form of alcohol by volume (ABV). This format can cause difficulty in evaluating accuracy of a pour because it doesn’t directly connect with recommendations related to “standard drinks,” the approach used by the US CDC and others organizations which intend to facilitate responsible drinking behaviors. Strategies which more directly connect guidelines related to healthy drinking behaviors to alcohol labeling are needed.ObjectiveAssess how a label identifying the number of standard drinks per container impacts the ability of undergraduate students to accurately pour a standard drink.DesignThis study employed a 3 x 2 x 2 experimental design. Undergraduates were asked to pour a standard drink from mock products from three alcohol categories (beer, wine and liquor); products were presented in two types of label (traditional ABV vs. standard drinks/container) at two concentrations of alcohol content (high and low).ResultsWe calculated standardized pour errors (pour errors in standard drink units). Analysis of these standardized pour errors suggested that 1) people tended to underpour beverages of low concentration across product categories and overpour those high in concentration. 2) When the standard drink label was present, pour accuracy was improved, when compared with pours from containers affixed with ABV labels in low alcohol concentrations across all product categories (beer, wine and liquor). 3) For treatments that comprised high concentrations of alcohol, the standard drink label significantly increased accuracy only for beer. However, it is worth noting that beer with an ABV label was the condition with the most dramatic overpours, and these problematic overpours were dramatically reduced by the addition of a standard drink label.ConclusionsOur work empirically supports the notion that Undergraduate students are better able to accurately assess and pour a standard drink of alcohol from bottles incorporating a label which includes standard drinks/container vs. those with traditional ABV labeling. That said, the effect is quite different for each alcohol category: beer, wine, and liquor and depends on whether the product is high or low in concentration of alcohol for its category; as such, policy makers should consider alcohol categories and concentrations from a public health perspective when recommending changes to labeling.
Assessing the health status and mortality of older people over 65 with HIV
Authors: Turrini Gina , Chan Stephanie S. , Klein Pamela W. , Cohen Stacy M. , Dempsey Antigone , Hauck Heather , Cheever Laura W. , Chappel Andre R. 
Published: November 2020

Background
Nearly half of people with HIV in the United States are 50 years or older, and this proportion is growing. Between 2012 and 2016, the largest percent increase in the prevalence rate of HIV was among people aged 65 and older, the eligibility age for Medicare coverage for individuals without a disability or other qualifying condition. Previous work suggests that older people with HIV may have higher rates of chronic conditions and develop them more rapidly than older people who do not have HIV. This study compared the health status of older people with HIV with the older US population not living with HIV by comparing: (1) mortality; (2) prevalence of certain conditions, and (3) incidence of these conditions with increasing age.

Methods and findings
We used a sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older from the Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File for the years 2011 to 2016, including 100% of individuals with HIV (N = 43,708), as well as a random 1% sample of individuals without diagnosed HIV (N = 1,029,518). We conducted a survival analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model to assess mortality and to determine the need to adjust for differential mortality in our analyses of the incidence of certain chronic conditions. These results showed that Medicare beneficiaries living with HIV have a significantly higher hazard of mortality compared to older people without diagnosed HIV (3.6 times the hazard). We examined the prevalence of these conditions using logistic regression analysis and found that people with HIV have a statistically significant higher odds of depression, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), osteoporosis, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, chronic hepatitis, end-stage liver disease, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. To look at the rate at which older people are diagnosed with conditions as they age, we used a Fine-Gray competing risk model and showed that for individuals without diagnosis of a given condition at age 65, the future incidence of that condition over the remaining study period was higher for people with HIV even after adjusting for differential hazard of mortality and for other demographic characteristics. Many of these results also varied by personal characteristics including Medicaid dual enrollment, sex, and race and ethnicity, as well as by condition.

Conclusions
Increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people with HIV is a critical goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2020. It is important for clinicians and policymakers to be aware that despite significant advances in the treatment and care of people with HIV, older people with HIV have a higher odds of having multiple chronic conditions at any point in time, a higher incidence of new diagnoses of these conditions over time, and a higher hazard of mortality than Medicare beneficiaries without HIV.
Comparison of clinical outcomes of intravascular ultrasound-calcified nodule between percutaneous coronary intervention with versus without rotational atherectomy in a propensity-score matched analysis
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Sakakura Kenichi , Taniguchi Yousuke , Yamamoto Kei , Seguchi Masaru , Tsukui Takunori , Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Wada Hiroshi , Momomura Shin-ichi , Fujita Hideo 
Published: November 2020

Objectives
This study aimed to compare the mid-term clinical outcomes of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-calcified nodules between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with and without rotational atherectomy (RA).

Background
There has been a debate whether to use RA for the revascularization of calcified nodule. Although RA can ablate the calcified structure within calcified nodule and may facilitate adequate stent expansion, RA may provoke severe coronary perforation, because calcified nodule typically shows eccentric calcification.

Methods
We included 204 lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule, and divided into 73 lesions treated with RA (RA group) and 131 lesions without RA (non-RA group). After propensity-score matching, 42 lesions with RA (matched RA group) and 42 lesions without RA (matched non-RA group) were selected. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes between the 2 groups before and after propensity-score matching. The primary endpoint was ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) within 1 year.

Results
Acute lumen area gain on IVUS was comparable between the matched RA group and matched non-RA group (3.9 ± 2.1 mm2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.6 mm2, p = 0.18). The stent malapposition at calcified nodules was frequently observed in both groups. The ischemia-driven TVR was not different between the 2 groups before (p = 0.82) and after propensity score-matching (p = 0.87).

Conclusions
The use of RA could not reduce the incidence of ischemia-driven TVR in lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule. Our results do not support the routine use of RA for lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule.
Cross-sectional relationship among different anthropometric parameters and cardio-metabolic risk factors in a cohort of patients with overweight or obesity
Authors: Lampignano Luisa , Zupo Roberta , Donghia Rossella , Guerra Vito , Castellana Fabio , Murro Isanna , Di Noia Carmen , Sardone Rodolfo , Giannelli Gianluigi , De Pergola Giovanni 
Published: November 2020

Background
Body fat distribution influences the risk of cardio-metabolic disease in people with overweight. This study was aimed at identifying the anthropometric parameters more strongly associated with the majority of cardio-metabolic risk factors.

Methods
This study included 1214 subjects (840 women), with a body-mass-index (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2, aged 39.2 ± 13 years. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, uric acid, vitamin D, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), smoking habit and snoring were evaluated as cardio-metabolic risk factors.We also included the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) to estimate cardiovascular risk in our study population. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR) and neck circumference (NC) were evaluated as anthropometric parameters.

Results
All four anthropometric parameters were positively associated to SBP, DBP, TG, FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, WBC, and snoring (p<0.001), and negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.001). NC showed a positive association with LDL-cholesterol (β = 0.76; p = 0.01; 95% C.I. 0.19 to 1.32), while vitamin D was negatively associated to WC (β = -0.16; p<0.001; 95% C.I. -0.24 to -0.09), BMI (β = 0.42); p<0.001; 95% C.I. -0.56 to -0.28) and WHtR (β = -24.46; p<0.001; 95% C.I. -37 to -11.9). Hs-CRP was positively correlated with WC (β = 0.003; p = 0.003; 95% C.I. 0.001 to 0.006), BMI (β = 0.01; p = 0.02; 95% C.I. 0.001 to 0.012) and WHtR (β = 0.55; p = 0.01; 95% C.I. 0.14 to 0.96). SCORE was associated to NC (β = 0.15; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.18; p<0.001), BMI (β = -0.18; 95% CI -0.22 to 0.14; p<0.001) and WHtR (β = 7.56; 95% CI 5.30 to 9.82; p<0.001).

Conclusions
NC, combined with BMI and WC or WHtR could represent an essential tool for use in clinical practice to define the cardio-metabolic risk in individuals with excess body weight.
Monitoring life expectancy levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: Example of the unequal impact of the first wave on Spanish regions
Authors: Trias-Llimós Sergi , Riffe Tim , Bilal Usama 
Published: November 2020

Background
To provide an interpretable summary of the impact on mortality of the COVID-19 pandemic we estimate weekly and annual life expectancies at birth in Spain and its regions.

Methods
We used daily death count data from the Spanish Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), and death counts from 2018, and population on July 1st, 2019 by region (CCAA), age groups, and sex from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. We estimated weekly and annual (2019 and 2020*, the shifted annual calendar period up to 5 July 2020) life expectancies at birth as well as their differences with respect to 2019.

Results
Weekly life expectancies at birth in Spain were lower in weeks 11–20, 2020 compared to the same weeks in 2019. This drop in weekly life expectancy was especially strong in weeks 13 and 14 (March 23rd to April 5th), with national declines ranging between 6.1 and 7.6 years and maximum regional weekly declines of up to 15 years in Madrid. Annual life expectancy differences between 2019 and 2020 also reflected an overall drop in annual life expectancy of 0.9 years for both men and women. These drops ranged between 0 years in several regions (e.g. Canary and Balearic Islands) to 2.8 years among men in Madrid.

Conclusions
Life expectancy is an easy to interpret measure for understanding the heterogeneity of mortality patterns across Spanish regions. Weekly and annual life expectancy are sensitive and useful indicators for understanding disparities and communicating the gravity of the situation because differences are expressed in intuitive year units.
China and India in the Beginning of the 21st Century: Between Rivalry and Cooperation
Authors: Muratshina K.G. 
Published: November 2020

The relationship between such Asia-Pacific powers, as India and China, has recently become a significant factor of how regional security is being maintained and how efficient the regional multilateral cooperation can be. The two states are close neighbours, possessing a long border, and both are presented in high-profile international institutions, e. g. the BRICS. At the same time, they are involved in a long-term border controversy, which sometimes pushes the relations to the verge of war. In addition, India and China are diverged by contradictions in other areas, primarily in economic aspects, and their competition for influence at the international level and in various regions of the Global South.
The aim of this paper is to trace, how the Sino-Indian conflict, on the one hand, and their cooperation, on the other hand, developed throughout the recent 20 years, and try to answer the question, how it all shaped their status for each other, namely, the one of a partner, a rival or an enemy. The author consequently studies the landmark events in border conflict since the beginning of the 21st century, the political exchanges between China and India meanwhile, and the basic trends of economic and military cooperation and competition between the two countries. In conclusion, the results of the research are presented, and the possible impact of Sino-Indian ambivalent relationship on Russian policy towards them and on the work of international institutions involving both countries, is discussed.
Sixteen new species of Bulbophyllum section Polymeres (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea
Authors: Vermeulen Jaap J. , Schuiteman André , De Vogel Edward F. 
Published: November 2020

Sixteen new species of Bulbophyllum section Polymeres (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Papua Province of Indonesia) are described. Four informal series in this speciose section are distinguished as an aid to identification and a key for these is provided. The sixteen species belong to two series, sharing one character: new shoots arise from a node along the rhizome or from the basal node of the pseudobulb, without being fused to it any further than the node from which they arise. The first group (with ten new species: Bulbophyllum cerastes, B. dologlossum, B. ischyron, B. nannae, B. orthoraphe, B. schistopogon, B. stagmatoglossum, B. subium, B. teinodragma, B. trivenosum) comprises plants with creeping rhizomes, the second (with six new species: Bulbophyllum farciminiferum, B. gymnothema, B. lipochilum, B. nudicaule, B. radula, B. squamiplectum) comprises plants with patent rhizomes.
Key Words: Bulbophyllum section Polymeres informal series, new species, Papua New Guinea
A CASE STUDY IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE RAND LEASES MINE TAILINGS DUMP
Authors: Sithole J. , Lethlage D. , Mphati D. , Jood V. , Malahlela J. 
Published: November 2020

Community complaints about the negative impact of dust fall-out from a nearby mine tailings dump led residents of Meadowlands, a suburb of Soweto, to join in a monitoring network together with NACA, scientific institutions,NGO's and the mining company involved.
Both indoor and outdoor samples showed high fall-out rates. A community-driven initiative to resolve the conflict with the mininghouse concerned led to public involvement and a subsequent commitment by the mining house to implement and maintain dust control measures. Monitoring will continue to measure the success of these measures.
Quantification of Emissions Generated from Domestic Burning Activities from Townships in Johannesburg
Authors: Naidoo S. , Piketh S. , Curtis C. 
Published: November 2020

Domestic burning activities, specifically in informal settlements, contribute greatly to the air quality problems experienced by most developing urban centres. Low-income households that exist within townships in South Africa house a large portion of the South African population. These households burn vast quantities of coal, wood and other substances to provide for their energy needs. Pollutants emitted as a result of domestic burning are estimated to be one of the leading causes of respiratory illnesses in inhabitants of townships. To better understand the relationship that exists between domestic burning and the resultant pollutants, a method of quantifying these pollutants has been developed for a completely un-electrified settlement, near Johannesburg, using the quantities and type of fuel consumed. Seasonality, availability, price and cultural aspects all have a bearing on the fuel source choice and the quantity consumed. The most significant temporal observations identified for domestic burning are seasonal ones.
Extreme and exposed points of L(^n l^2_∞ ) and L_s (^n l^2_∞)
Authors: Kim Sung Guen 
Published: November 2020

For every n ≥ 2 this paper is devoted to the description of the sets of extreme and exposed points of the closed unit balls of L(n l2∞ ) and Ls(n l2∞ ), where L(n l2∞ ) is the space of n-linear forms on R2 with the supremum norm, and Ls(n l2∞ ) is the subspace of L(n l2∞ ) consisting of symmetric n-linear forms. First we classify the extreme points of the closed unit balls of L(n l2∞ ) and Ls(n l2∞ ) correspondingly. As corollaries we obtain |ext BL(n l2∞ ) | = 2(2n) and =|ext BLs(n l2∞ ) | =2n+1. We also show that exp BL(n l2∞ ) =ext BL(n l2∞ ) and exp BLs(n l2∞ ) =ext BLs(n l2∞ ) .
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE MANUFACTURING TIME OF DENTAL PROSTHESES CREATED USING TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Vokulova Yuliya , Zhulev Evgenij 
Published: November 2020

Subject. Modern digital technologies allow us to significantly automate the process of creating prosthetic devices. First, digital images of the patient's dental rows are obtained, then the future prosthesis is virtually modeled and made using a subtractive method using CAD/CAM, or an additive method using a 3D-printer.
Objective ― conducting a comparative assessment of the time spent by an orthopedic dentist and a dental technician for the production of artificial dental crowns obtained using digital and traditional technologies. Methodology. The patients were divided into four groups according to the method of manufacturing temporary artificial crowns-from a composite material Protemp 4 using a silicone key, using the CAD/CAM-system KaVo ARCTIC from polymethylmethacrylate VITA CAD-Temp multicolor, using a 3D-printer Asiga Max UV from a biologically compatible photopolymer material NextDent C&B MFH and a laboratory method of cold plastic polymerization. For statistical analysis of the results obtained, the Kraskel―Wallis H-test and the Mann―Whitney W-test were used. In total, 40 medicinal artificial crowns were made, 10 in each group.
Results. Based on the data obtained, it was found that for the manufacture of a dental artificial crown using the 3D-printer Asiga Max UV dentist orthopedist and dental technician should spend 38.8 ± 4.104 minutes, using CAD/CAM KaVo ARCTICA-29.0 ± 3.162 minutes, using the laboratory method ― 71.6 ± 4.502 and using a silicone key ― 62.8 ± 5.613.
Conclusions. The obtained data allowed us to conclude that the production of a temporary artificial crown with the use of modern digital technologies (CAD/CAM-systems, intraoral laser scanning and 3D-printer) requires less time compared to traditional methods of manufacturing a prothesis (p<0.0166667).
FEATURES OF CLINICAL AND LABORATORY PARAMETERS AT THE PATIENS WITH RECURRENT ORAL AFTS AND CONDOMITANT ACID-DEPENDENT DISEASES OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
Authors: Galimova Irina , Yunusova Rita , Usmanova Irina , Gerasimova Larisa , Granot Yigal , Bortsova Yulia , Ishmukhametova Amina , Kuznetsova Lilia , Muratov Emil , Usmanova Diana 
Published: November 2020

Subject. Some features of the clinical picture, hygienic and microbiological state of the oral cavity, acidity and free-radical oxidation of the oral fluid in patients with recurrent aphthates on the background of acid-dependent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are considered.
The aim is to assess the relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with recurrent oral aphthae associated with acid-dependent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Methodology. A comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination of 58 young people with revealed recurrent aphthae of the oral cavity against the background of acid-dependent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract was carried out. The level of oral hygiene was assessed using the ONI-s index, the state of free-radical oxidation of the oral fluid - the "Chemilumimer-003" device, individual representatives of the normal flora were identified by inoculating the contents from the surface of aphthous elements on special differential diagnostic media of the HiCrome series. The acidity of the oral fluid was determined using a universal indicator litmus paper pH-1-14, short-term intragastric pHmetry was performed directly during fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Results. In 46.4 % of those examined, recurrent aphthae were found on the oral mucosa. In persons with chronic gastritis and duodenitis, the frequency of recurrences once a year was 37.9 %, 2-3 times a year ― 62.0, with the presence of chronic pancreatitis against the background of hyperacid gastric secretion ― 44.8 and 55.2, respectively. In patients with recurrent aphthae, a low level of oral hygiene, a violation of its microbiome, and a change in the acidity of the oral fluid were revealed.
Conclusions. The presence of recurrent aphthae complicates individual oral hygiene, because accompanied by severe pain and paresthetic symptoms. This is manifested by an increase in the ONI-S index and a disturbance in the state of the normobiome in the form of an increase in the growth of resident microflora against the background of changes in the acidity of the oral fluid. Chemiluminescence indices correlate with the hygienic state of the oral cavity, qualitative changes in the normobiota and pH of the oral fluid in the studied clinical groups.