bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supplier selection: comparison of DEA models with additive and reciprocal data
Authors: Dobos Imre , Vörösmarty Gyöngyi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSupplier evaluation is one of the most important fields of application for data envelopment analysis (DEA). Criteria may include negative data in both input and output factors. Data translation can solve this problem, but interpretation is not evident from the literature. Use of an additive model is one method of managing the problem of negative data. This paper addresses this issue in relation to the supplier ranking problem. It describes the development of a ranking with cross-efficiency that incorporates negative data into the additive model. The additive model we describe is compared with previously used DEA models in which data is replaced with reciprocal values when necessary. We present a supplier-evaluation-related example of this case. After the efficiency evaluation, a supplier ranking system is constructed. To do this, we use the cross-efficiencies obtained from the additive model. Aggregate efficiencies help display the suppliers in descending order of efficiency. Finally, the paper compares self- and peer-appraisal indicators for reciprocal and additive DEA models.
Predicting the risk of postoperative recurrence and high-grade histology in patients with intracranial meningiomas using routine preoperative MRI
Authors: Spille Dorothee Cäcilia , Adeli Alborz , Sporns Peter B. , Heß Katharina , Streckert Eileen Maria Susanne , Brokinkel Caroline , Mawrin Christian , Paulus Werner , Stummer Walter , Brokinkel Benjamin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRisk factors for prediction of prognosis in meningiomas derivable from routine preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) remain elusive. Correlations of tumor and edema volume, disruption of the arachnoid layer, heterogeneity of contrast enhancement, enhancement of the capsule, T2-intensity, tumor shape, and calcifications on pMRI with tumor recurrence and high-grade (WHO grade II/III) histology were analyzed in 565 patients who underwent surgery for WHO grade I (N = 516, 91%) or II/III (high-grade histology, N = 49, 9%) meningioma between 1991 and 2018. Edema volume (OR, 1.00; p = 0.003), heterogeneous contrast enhancement (OR, 3.10; p < 0.001), and an irregular shape (OR, 2.16; p = 0.015) were associated with high-grade histology. Multivariate analyses confirmed edema volume (OR, 1.00; p = 0.037) and heterogeneous contrast enhancement (OR, 2.51; p = 0.014) as risk factors for high-grade histology. Tumor volume (HR, 1.01; p = 0.045), disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 2.50; p = 0.003), heterogeneous contrast enhancement (HR, 2.05; p = 0.007), and an irregular tumor shape (HR, 2.57; p = 0.001) were correlated with recurrence. Multivariate analyses confirmed tumor volume (HR, 1.01; p = 0.032) and disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 2.44; p = 0.013) as risk factors for recurrence, independent of histology. Subgroup analyses revealed disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 9.41; p < 0.001) as a stronger risk factor for recurrence than high-grade histology (HR, 5.15; p = 0.001). Routine pMRI contains relevant information about the risk of recurrence or high-grade histology of meningioma patients. Loss of integrity of the arachnoid layer on MRI had a higher prognostic value than the WHO grading, and underlying histological or molecular alterations remain to be determined.
Accounting for Heterogeneity: Mixed-Effects Models in Resting-State EEG Data in a Sample of Tinnitus Sufferers
Authors: Riha Constanze , Güntensperger Dominik , Kleinjung Tobias , Meyer Martin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn neuroscience, neural oscillations and other features of brain activity recorded by electroencephalography (EEG) are typically statistically assessed on the basis of the study’s population mean to identify possible blueprints for healthy subjects, or subjects with diagnosable neurological or psychiatric disorders. Despite some inter-individual similarities, there is reason to believe that a discernible portion of the individual brain activity is subject-specific. In order to encompass the potential individual source of variance in EEG data and psychometric parameters, we introduce an innovative application of linear mixed-effects models (LMM) as an alternative procedure for the analysis of resting-state EEG data. Using LMM, individual differences can be modelled through the assumptions of idiosyncrasy of all responses and dependency among data points (e.g., from the same subject within and across units of time) via random effects parameters. This report provides an example of how LMM can be used for the statistical analysis of resting-state EEG data in a heterogeneous group of subjects; namely, people who suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ear/s). Results from 49 participants (38 male, mean age of 46.69 ± 12.65 years) revealed that EEG signals were not only associated with specific recording sites, but exhibited regional specific oscillations in conjunction to symptom severity. Tinnitus distress targeted the frequency bands beta3 (23.5–35 Hz) and gamma (35.5–45 Hz) in right frontal regions, whereas delta (0.5–4 Hz) exhibited significant changes in temporal-parietal sources. Further, 57.8% of the total variance in EEG power was subject-specific and acknowledged by the LMM framework and its prediction. Thus, a deeper understanding of both the underlying statistical and physiological patterns of EEG data was gained.
Does the EQ-5D usual activities dimension measure what it intends to measure? The relative importance of work, study, housework, family or leisure activities
Authors: Gamst-Klaussen Thor , Lamu Admassu N. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
The EQ-5D is the most widely used generic preference-based health-related quality of life measure. It comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The usual activities dimension asks respondents to evaluate the severity of problems in their usual activities, such as work, study, housework, family or leisure activities. The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether the EQ-5D (five-level) usual activities dimension captures those activities that it intends to capture. We further assess the relative importance of each of these activities for the usual activities dimension.

Methods
Data include 7933 respondents from six countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US. Logistic regression and ordinary least square regression models investigate the relationship between the usual activities dimension and its main predictors (work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities). A Shapley value decomposition method was applied to measure the relative importance of each predictor.

Results
Work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities were all significant (p < 0.001) determinants of usual activities dimension. The respective marginal contribution (in %) of housework, leisure, work/study and family to UA dimension (as a share of goodness-of-fit) is 28.0, 26.2, 20.8 and 14.7 in the logistic regression model. This finding is consistent when linear regression is used as an alternative model.

Conclusions
The usual activities dimension in EQ-5D reflects the specific activities described to respondents. Therefore, the usual activities dimension measures what it really intends to measure.
Associations between model-predicted rivaroxaban exposure and patient characteristics and efficacy and safety outcomes in the prevention of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Reinecke Isabel , Solms Alexander , Willmann Stefan , Spiro Theodore E. , Peters Gary , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Mueck Wolfgang , Garmann Dirk , Schmidt Stephan , Zhang Liping , Fox Keith A. A. , Berkowitz Scott D. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAnticoagulant plasma concentrations and patient characteristics might affect the benefit–risk balance of therapy. The study objective was to assess the impact of model-predicted rivaroxaban exposure and patient characteristics on outcomes in patients receiving rivaroxaban for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis (VTE-P) after hip/knee replacement surgery. Post hoc exposure–response analyses were conducted using data from the phase 3 RECORD1–4 studies, in which 12,729 patients were randomized to rivaroxaban 10 mg once daily or enoxaparin for ≤ 39 days. Multivariate regression approaches were used to correlate model-predicted individual rivaroxaban exposures and patient characteristics with outcomes. In the absence of measured rivaroxaban exposure, exposure estimates were predicted based on individual increases in prothrombin time (PT) and by making use of the known correlation between rivaroxaban plasma concentration and dynamics of PT. No significant associations between rivaroxaban exposure and total VTE or major bleeding were identified. A significant association between exposure and a composite of major or non-major clinically relevant (NMCR) bleeding from day 4 after surgery was observed. The relationship was shallow, with an approximate predicted absolute increase in a composite of major or NMCR bleeding from 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76–1.54] to 2.18% (95% CI 1.51–3.17) at the 5th and 95th percentiles of trough plasma concentration, respectively. In conclusion, based on the underlying data and analysis, no reliable target window for exposure with improved benefit–risk could be identified within the investigated exposure range. Hence, monitoring rivaroxaban levels is unlikely to be beneficial in VTE-P.
Isolation and characterization of new Puumala orthohantavirus strains from Germany
Authors: Binder Florian , Reiche Sven , Roman-Sosa Gleyder , Saathoff Marion , Ryll René , Trimpert Jakob , Kunec Dusan , Höper Dirk , Ulrich Rainer G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOrthohantaviruses are re-emerging rodent-borne pathogens distributed all over the world. Here, we report the isolation of a Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) strain from bank voles caught in a highly endemic region around the city Osnabrück, north-west Germany. Coding and non-coding sequences of all three segments (S, M, and L) were determined from original lung tissue, after isolation and after additional passaging in VeroE6 cells and a bank vole-derived kidney cell line. Different single amino acid substitutions were observed in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) of the two stable PUUV isolates. The PUUV strain from VeroE6 cells showed a lower titer when propagated on bank vole cells compared to VeroE6 cells. Additionally, glycoprotein precursor (GPC)-derived virus-like particles of a German PUUV sequence allowed the generation of monoclonal antibodies that allowed the reliable detection of the isolated PUUV strain in the immunofluorescence assay. In conclusion, this is the first isolation of a PUUV strain from Central Europe and the generation of glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibodies for this PUUV isolate. The obtained virus isolate and GPC-specific antibodies are instrumental tools for future reservoir host studies.
Inference and computation with generalized additive models and their extensions
Authors: Wood Simon N. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRegression models in which a response variable is related to smooth functions of some predictor variables are popular as a result of their appealing balance between flexibility and interpretability. Since the original generalized additive models of Hastie and Tibshirani (Generalized additive models. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton, 1990) numerous model extensions have been proposed, and a variety of practically useful computational strategies have emerged. This paper provides an overview of some widely applicable frameworks for this type of modelling, emphasizing the similarities between the different approaches, and the equivalence of smoothing, Gaussian latent process models and Gaussian random effects. The focus is particularly on Bayes empirical smoother theory, fully Bayesian inference via stochastic simulation or integrated nested Laplace approximation and boosting.
Enumeration of CD34+ blasts by immunohistochemistry in bone marrow biopsies from MDS patients may have significant impact on final WHO classification
Authors: Saft Leonie , Timar Botond , Porwit Anna 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe percentage of blasts cells in the bone marrow (BM) of MDS patients is one of the key parameters for MDS classification and for the differential diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Currently, the gold standard to determine the blast percentage is conventional cytomorphology. To assess the possible impact of blast cell enumeration in BM biopsies from MDS patients on the final WHO classification using CD34 immunohistochemistry (IHC) a total of 156 BM samples from MDS and MDS-AML patients were studied and compared to blast counts by cytomorphology (CM). Eighty-nine BM aspirates were also studied by flow cytometry (FCM). Percentages of CD34+ blasts by IHC were determined blindly by two hematopathologists. Automated CD34-cell count was performed in 25 cases. Good overall agreement was found for CM and FCM with respect to critical blast thresholds (5%, 10%, 20%) (p < 0.05). However, in 17% of patients, CD34+ blast counts by IHC were higher as compared to CM with possible impact on MDS subclassification. In 7 of 21 AML patients, diagnosis was established on BM histology, while the blast percentage by CM was below the AML threshold. The assessment of CD34+ cells by IHC showed high interobserver agreement (Spearman R 0.95, p < 0.01), while automated CD34 counts were not optimal due to interference with other cellular and stromal elements. BM histology including CD34 IHC improves the diagnostic accuracy in MDS and AML. The quantification of blast cells should be based on the integration of all three methods for reliable disease classification and risk assessment.
Well-controlled dynamic hydrocarbon reserves calculation of fracture–cavity karst carbonate reservoirs based on production data analysis
Authors: Lyu Xinrui , Zhu Guiliang , Liu Zhongchun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFracture–cavity karst carbonate reservoirs have multiple storage space with irregular geometry and various scales, and this caused strong heterogeneity and complex flow characteristics. Accurately calculating the well-controlled dynamic reserves of this kind reservoir effectively is the basis to optimize oil field development plan and making the transformation measures of production well. In order to solve the problem that conventional well-controlled dynamic hydrocarbon reserves calculation method is not suitable for such type reservoirs, we applied a method based on production data analysis. Classification standard of oil well types is established based on the fracture–cavity reservoirs geological static and production dynamic characteristics. Conceptual characteristics of geological model and fluid flow pattern for different types of production wells are assumed. Calculation workflow for well-controlled reserves of fracture–cavity reservoir is established. In the process, some technical key points are proposed to improve accuracy of curve fitting, such as converting the bottom hole pressure from wellhead pressure, correcting the well control range and converting the PVT parameters at the pseudo-steady state. We verified correctness of this method by comparing the calculated results with numerical simulation results of actual production well. This method is well used to Tahe Oil field of Tarim Basin in China. The result shows that the well-controlled reserves quantitative calculation results through this method are in conformity with oil field actual understanding, and the remaining dynamic reserves mainly exist in the drainage area of the wells that drilled different reservoir bodies with good connectivity, especially at the top of large karst caves, and that is the target of further adjusting.
Phase Transformations in Thermally Treated Gas-Atomized Al 7075 Powder
Authors: Walde Caitlin , Tsaknopoulos Kyle , Champagne Victor , Cote Danielle 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAl 7075 is a heat-treatable Al–Mg–Zn alloy widely used in the aerospace industry. Recently, it has found application as feedstock for metal additive manufacturing (MAM). It has been shown that wrought alloy compositions in powder form differ in microstructure and properties from their conventional form. Given this, it is important to understand the microstructure of the powders prior to use in MAM processes. This work studies as-atomized gas-atomized Al 7075 powders and the effect of thermal treatments on microstructure. Extensive electron microscopy revealed the presence of T-phase, Al7Cu2Fe, and Mg2Si in the as-atomized condition. Thermal treatments were performed at 465 °C and 480 °C to homogenize the microstructure; however, S-phase was unexpectedly present in the samples treated at 465 °C. In both 465 °C and 480 °C treatments, T-phase was not fully dissolved after the 60-min treatment. Guided by thermodynamic modeling, these results indicate a shift in local equilibria in these powders.
When Lithics Hit Bones: Evaluating the Potential of a Multifaceted Experimental Protocol to Illuminate Middle Palaeolithic Weapon Technology
Authors: Smith Geoff M. , Noack Elisabeth S. , Behrens Nina Maria , Ruebens Karen , Street Martin , Iovita Radu , Gaudzinski-Windheuser Sabine 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRecent zooarchaeological and isotope analyses have largely settled the debate surrounding Neanderthal hunting capacities, repeatedly demonstrating their successful acquisition of large ungulates. Nevertheless, the functional identification of individual tools as hunting weapons remains a methodological challenge. In-depth studies have focussed mainly on small subsets of lithic artefacts from selected assemblages assessing features of breakage patterns, retouch, shape and use wear. Studies focussing on associated hunting lesions are rarer and often focus on reconstructing very specific bone surface marks encountered in the archaeological record. This study aims to add to our understanding of the formation and characteristics of projectile impact marks (PIMs) on bone through a series of highly monitored, replicative experiments, using thrusting and throwing spears with replica Levallois points into two wild pig carcasses. In total, 152 shots were made, and for each a series of attributes was recorded, including velocity and location of impact. Subsequent quantitative analyses focussed on understanding the various factors underlying the formation of different types of projectile impact marks. These experiments demonstrate that PIM formation results from the properties of both the impacting projectile and bone element. PIMs can signal impacts caused by different delivery methods but only on some parts of the skeleton. These results are contextualised in relation to the occurrence and recognition of Palaeolithic PIMs and patterns of Neanderthal behaviour. These experiments are only a first step in improving the recognition of these signatures in the archaeological record and providing better insights into understanding of the mechanisms of Neanderthal hunting.
Neoadjuvant therapy strategies for advanced gastric cancer: Current innovations and future challenges
Authors: Zhu Zhi , Gong Ying‐Bo , Xu Hui‐Mian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGastric cancer, which has a high incidence and poor prognosis, remains a therapeutic challenge. Recently, neoadjuvant therapy has attracted increasing attention due to high recurrence rate and low survival rate after resection in most patients with advanced stage. Clinical trials show that neoadjuvant approaches confer a significant survival advantage for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer. The specific advantages of chemoradiotherapy compared with chemotherapy have not been clarified; optimal regimens and cycles, particularly in the preoperative setting, should be studied further; and trials aimed at determining the role of targeted and immunological therapies should be conducted.
Sexual Inactivity During the Last 4 Weeks in Long-Term Cervical Cancer Survivors: Prevalence and Associated Factors
Authors: Dahl Alv A. , Bentzen Anne Gry , Fosså Sophie D. , Hess Siri Lothe , Steen Rita , Vistad Ingvild , Kiserud Cecilie E. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background
Most studies of cervical cancer (CC) survivors describe sexual inactivity in relation to treatment modalities, but few consider that inactivity varies with age and partner status.

Aim
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual inactivity in long-term CC survivors according to age and partner status, and to examine cancer-related, health, demographic, and psychological factors related to sexual inactivity.

Methods
All 974 women treated for CC from 2000 through 2007 in 2 areas of Norway, who were alive and cancer-free by the end of 2013, received a mailed questionnaire. Among them, 523 delivered valid data on current sexual activity (response rate 57%). The prevalence rates of sexual inactivity in relation to age groups and partner status were compared to normative sample (NORMs).

Main Outcome Measure
Sexual inactivity during the 4 weeks before the survey was administered.

Results
Median age of the sample at survey was 53 years (range 32–77) and median time since diagnosis was 11 years (range 6–15). Of the survivors aged 35–69 years, 39% (95% CI 35–44%) were sexually inactive at survey compared to 36% (95% CI 32–38%) in the NORMs. Compared with sexually active survivors, inactive ones were significantly older, more frequently had single partner status, and had less frequently been childbearing. Inactive survivors more frequently had low education, did not hold paid work at survey, had poorer self-rated health, and were more often obese. They also had higher prevalence of depression, high neuroticism, and chronic fatigue. On most cancer-related quality of life measures, sexually inactive survivors had significantly lower mean scores than sexually active ones. They significantly more often had been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation than with conization or major surgery. In multivariable regression analysis, only older age, no prior childbearing, and single partner status remained significantly associated with sexual inactivity.

Clinical implications
Sociodemographic variables may be more relevant than clinical and cancer-related variables concerning sexual inactivity in long-term CC survivors.

Strengths & Limitations
Our study had a considerable sample size and used instruments with established psychometric qualities. The moderate response rates of the study and of the NORMs imply risks for selection biases.

Conclusion
Close to 4 in 10 survivors were sexually inactive which is similar to the rate among NORMs. Demographic factors were most strongly associated with sexual inactivity. Some other significant factors are eventually amenable to treatment and should be checked by the health-care providers.