bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“When offered to participate”: A systematic review and meta-analysis of patient agreement to participate in cancer clinical trials.
Authors: Unger Joseph M. , Hershman Dawn L. , Till Cathee , Minasian Lori M. , Osarogiagbon Raymond U , Fleury Mark , Vaidya Riha 
Published: October 2020

92 Background: Patient participation in clinical trials (CTs) is vital for knowledge advancement and outcomes improvement. The rate of CT participation for adult cancer patients is between 5%-8%; many CTs fail due to poor accrual. Although patient decision-making is a common focus of studies examining barriers to CT participation, the rate of trial participation for patients actually offered a CT is unknown. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid Medline search engines to identify studies over 20 years (1/1/2000-1/1/2020) that examined CT participation. Studies must have been conducted in the United States and specified the number of patients offered a CT and the number enrolled. We conducted a meta-analysis of single proportions using random effects. Rates were examined for both treatment trials and cancer control (CC) studies. We also compared the rates of enrollment between Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients versus White patients. Clinical care setting (academic vs community) was examined as a potential moderator. Results: We screened 3,241 unique citations and identified 35 (30 treatment and 5 CC) studies among which n = 9,759 patients were offered CT participation. Overall, 55.0% (95% CI: 49.4%-60.5%) of patients offered a CT agreed to enroll. Trial participation rates did not differ between treatment (55.0%, 95% CI: 48.9%-60.9%) and CC trials (55.3%, 95% CI: 38.9%-71.1%, p = .98); however, participation rates were significantly higher at academic centers (58.4%, 95% CI: 52.2%-64.5%) versus community centers (45.0%, 95% CI: 34.5%-55.7%, p = .04). In common studies, Black patients agreed to participate at similar rates (58.4%, 95% CI: 46.8%-69.7%) compared to White patients (55.1%, 95% CI: 44.3%-65.6%, p = .88). Results were also similar comparing White versus Hispanic or Asian patients. The main reasons for non-participation were treatment choice or lack of interest. Conclusions: More than half of all cancer patients who are offered CTs do participate; results were consistent between major race/ethnicity groups. This finding upends several conventional beliefs about cancer clinical trial participation, including that Black patients are less likely to agree to participate and that patient decision-making is the primary barrier to participation. Policies and interventions to improve CT participation should focus more on modifiable systemic structural and clinical barriers, such as improving access to existing trials and broadening trial eligibility.
Access to palliative care services for limited English proficient patients with advanced NSCLC.
Authors: Leung Bonnie , Wong Selina , Malli Kiran , Ho Cheryl 
Published: October 2020

99 Background: More than a quarter of people living in British Columbia, Canada speak languages other than English in their homes. Immigrants often encounter communication challenges with their health care providers (HCPs), have poor health literacy, and have a limited understanding on navigating the health care system. NSCLC patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) may receive less palliative care services despite high symptom burden and significant needs due to these factors. The study goals were to observe the difference in access to community palliative home care (CPHC) and rate of completing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form between NSCLC patients who are English proficient (EP) and LEP. Methods: All patients with advanced NSCLC referred to BC Cancer–Vancouver Centre in 2016 and received medical care were included (N=176). Patients seen with a medical interpreter were considered to be LEP. Demographics and clinical information were collected retrospectively. UVA using X2 test and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare EP and LEP patients. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the median time from CPHC referral and signed DNR to death between EP and LEP patients. Results: Language of communication: English 65%, Cantonese 22%, Mandarin 6%, Korean 1%, Tagalog 1%, and other 5%. Baseline characteristics: median age 69 EP vs 76 LEP, female 44% EP vs 65% LEP, non-squamous 68% EP vs 72% LEP and squamous 14% EP vs 6% LEP. There was no difference in the rate of CPHC referral (87% EP vs 80% LEP, p=0.342) and signed DNR form (92% EP vs 89% LEP, p=0.549). The median time from CPHC referral to death was 10 weeks EP vs 15 weeks LEP (p=0.039). The median time from signed DNR to death was 5 weeks EP vs 6 weeks LEP (p=0.806). There was no statistically significant difference in location of death between the two groups: acute care 20% EP vs 24% LEP, home 27% EP vs 13% LEP, hospice 36% EP vs 39% LEP, and tertiary palliative care unit 17% EP vs 24% LEP (p=0.251). Conclusions: EP and LEP patients with NSCLC had similar rates of CPHC service referrals and end of life planning. This suggests assistance of medical interpreters at the time of oncology visits help message delivery between LEP patients and HCPs. LEP patients had earlier referrals to CPHC prior to death which may reflect an enhanced awareness and effort by HCPs to have earlier conversations with patients who may have language and cultural barriers with discussing goals of care. Good communication improves patients and their family’s understanding of the goals and scope of palliative care services and allow HCPs to better understand the patients’ wishes.
Ras, PI3K and mTORC2 – three's a crowd?
Authors: Smith Stephen F. , Collins Shannon E. , Charest Pascale G. 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT
The Ras oncogene is notoriously difficult to target with specific therapeutics. Consequently, there is interest to better understand the Ras signaling pathways to identify potential targetable effectors. Recently, the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) was identified as an evolutionarily conserved Ras effector. mTORC2 regulates essential cellular processes, including metabolism, survival, growth, proliferation and migration. Moreover, increasing evidence implicate mTORC2 in oncogenesis. Little is known about the regulation of mTORC2 activity, but proposed mechanisms include a role for phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate – which is produced by class I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks), well-characterized Ras effectors. Therefore, the relationship between Ras, PI3K and mTORC2, in both normal physiology and cancer is unclear; moreover, seemingly conflicting observations have been reported. Here, we review the evidence on potential links between Ras, PI3K and mTORC2. Interestingly, data suggest that Ras and PI3K are both direct regulators of mTORC2 but that they act on distinct pools of mTORC2: Ras activates mTORC2 at the plasma membrane, whereas PI3K activates mTORC2 at intracellular compartments. Consequently, we propose a model to explain how Ras and PI3K can differentially regulate mTORC2, and highlight the diversity in the mechanisms of mTORC2 regulation, which appear to be determined by the stimulus, cell type, and the molecularly and spatially distinct mTORC2 pools.
Construction of Structure-Controlled Perovskite Ultra-Thin Layers on Au(100) Single-Crystal Surface via Self-Assembled Monolayer of 4-Aminothiophenol
Authors: Takahari Mami , Kondo Toshihiro 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
In order to control a crystal configuration of MAPbBr3 (MA = CH3NH3+) perovskite ultra-thin layers, the Au(100) single-crystal, the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP), and the layer-by-layer alternating immersion were employed as a substrate, a linker between the perovskite thin layer and gold substrate, and a preparation method, respectively. Structure and crystal configuration of the constructed MAPbBr3 perovskite ultra-thin layers on 4-ATP SAM modified Au(100) were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and grazing incidence surface X-ray diffraction (GISXRD). As a result, we succeeded to construct the structure-controlled MAPbBr3 perovskite ultra-thin layers on the 4-ATP SAM modified Au(100) surface with an atomic dimension.
Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg Management Is Changing: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
Authors: Nwakibu Uzoma , Schwarzman Garrett , Zimmermann Wes O. , Hutchinson Mark R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractChronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is one of the wide range of causes of exercise-related leg pain in athletes. It is defined as a transient increase in compartment pressures during activity, which causes pain, because of the inability of the fascial compartments to accommodate and is usually relieved by cessation of exercise. Exercise-induced leg pain in the athletic population is a common complaint, with reports of up to 15% of all runners arriving to initial evaluation with this presentation. Often, this lower-extremity exertional pain is grouped into the common term of “shin splints” by athletes, which is a nondiagnostic term that implies no specific pathology. It may, however, encompass much of the differential for CECS, including medial tibial stress syndrome, muscle strain, and stress fracture. Improving diagnostic techniques, as well as treatments, will continue to help athletes and patients with leg pain in the future.
Australian state influenza notifications and school holiday closures in 2019
Authors: Scott Anna Mae , Bakhit Mina , Clark Justin , Vermeulen Melanie , Jones Mark , Looke David , Del Mar Chris , Glasziou Paul 
Published: October 2020

Background: The impact of school holidays on influenza rates has been sparsely documented in Australia. In 2019, the early winter influenza season coincided with mid-year school breaks, enabling us the unusual opportunity to examine how influenza incidence changed during school holiday closure dates. Methods: The weekly influenza data from five Australian state and one territory health departments for the period of week 19 (mid-May) to week 39 (early October) 2019 were compared to each state’s public-school holiday closure dates. We used segmented regression to model the weekly counts and a negative binomial distribution to account for overdispersion due to autocorrelation. The models’ goodness-of-fit was assessed by plots of observed versus expected counts, plots of residuals versus predicted values, and Pearson’s Chi-square test. The main exposure was the July two-week school holiday period, using a lag of one week. The effect is estimated as a percent change in incidence level, and in slope. Results: School holidays were associated with significant declines in influenza incidence in three states and one territory by between 41% and 65%. Two states did not show evidence of declines although one of those states had already passed its peak by the time of the school holidays. The models showed acceptable goodness-of-fit. The first decline during school holidays is seen in the school aged (5-19 years) population, with the declines in the adult and infant populations being smaller and following a week later. Conclusions: Given the significant and rapid reductions in incidence, these results have important public health implications. Closure or extension of holiday periods could be an emergency option for state governments.
Occupational structure of bearers of Jewish rabbinical, occupational and generic surnames
Authors: Vidgop Alexander Jonathan , Norton Nelly , Rosenberg Nechama , Haguel-Spitzberg Malka , Fouxon Itzhak 
Published: October 2020

We study choice of profession in three groups of Russian-speaking Jewish families with different occupational distributions of the ancestors. This study continues exploration of the persistence of social status of families over centuries that was initiated in recent years. It was found previously that in some cases professions remain associated with the same surnames for many generations. Here the studied groups are defined by a class of the surname of individuals composing them. The class serves as a label that indicates a professional bias of the ancestors of the individual. One group are the bearers of the class of surnames which were used by rabbinical dynasties. The other group is constituted by occupational surnames, mostly connected to crafts. Finally, the last group are generic Jewish names defined as surnames belonging to neither of the above groups. We use the self-collected database that consists of 858 and 1057 of the first two groups, respectively, and 7471 generic Jewish surnames. The statistics of the database are those of individuals drawn at random from the considered groups. We determine shares of members of the groups working in a given type of occupations together with the confidence interval. The occupational type’s definition agrees with International Standard Classification of Occupations. It is demonstrated that there is a statistically significant difference in the occupational structure of the three groups that holds beyond the uncertainty allowed by 95% confidence interval. We quantify the difference with a numerical measure of the overlap of professional preferences of different groups. We conclude that in our study the occupational bias of different population groups is preserved at least for two centuries that passed since the considered surnames appeared.
Maternal lipid levels in pregnant women without complications in developing risk of large for gestational age newborns: a meta-analysis
Authors: Mahindra Muhammad Pradhiki , Sampurna Mahendra Tri Arif , Mapindra Muhammad Pradhika , Sutowo Putri Apriska Mega 
Published: October 2020

Background: Circulating into foetal circulation across the placental barrier, abnormal maternal serum lipids predispose neonates to metabolic dysfunction and thereafter affect the steroid metabolism and functions of extra-embryonic foetal tissues. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed–MEDLINE and the Cochrane library between January 2010 and January 2020. The included studies were English case control studies that described original data on at least one raw lipid measurement during pregnancy in healthy women who delivered large for gestational age (LGA) newborns and in healthy women with non-LGA newborns. The data extracted from 12 studies were pooled, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) in lipid levels was calculated using random effects models. A meta-analysis was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity and to describe the significant value of the collected studies. Results: Of 643 publications identified, a total of 12 met the inclusion criteria. Compared with women who had non-LGA newborns, those who had LGA newborns had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD = 0.28, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.54) and lower high density lipoprotein cholestrol (HDL-C) levels (WMD = 0.08, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.03), but not have significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Moreover, the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were inconsistent between both groups. Conclusions: High levels of TG and low levels of HDL-C could cause births of LGA newborns whereas maternal serum of TC, LDL-C and VLDL-C cannot be used as predictor of LGA.
Seroepidemiology of maternally-derived antibody against Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Mulago/Kawempe Hospitals Uganda - PROGRESS GBS
Authors: Kyohere Mary , Davies Hannah Georgia , Musoke Philippa , Nakimuli Annettee , Tusubira Valerie , Tasimwa Hannington Baluku , Nsimire Juliet Sendagala , Heath Paul , Cose Stephen , Baker Carol , Le Doare Kirsty , Sekikubo Musa 
Published: October 2020

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major contributor to the high burden of neonatal and young infant infectious disease in resource- limited settings. As disease protection during the first six months of life is provided via placental transfer of maternal antibodies, a maternal GBS vaccine may provide an effective strategy to reduce infectious death and disability. An efficacy study may be difficult because of the large sample size required and alternative approaches such as serocorrelates of protection based on natural antibody concentration are being considered. Such studies would need to be undertaken in high burden settings such as Uganda. We therefore aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a GBS sero-epidemiology study in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: This is a prospective cohort and nested case-control study, conducted across two-centres with two entry points. A) consecutive women and their infants at birth, with collection of maternal swab, cord and maternal blood, and follow up by telephone until the infant is 3 months old; B) any infant under 3 months of age, presenting with signs of sepsis to any of the paediatric units, with collection of blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid and nasopharyngeal swabs. Any infants identified as having GBS disease (defined as GBS isolated from a normally sterile site) will be recruited and followed up for two years to assess their neurodevelopment. A nested qualitative study will investigate stakeholder (pregnant women and their families, healthcare workers and community leaders) opinions of sampling for such a study and understanding and potential uptake of vaccines in pregnancy. Discussion: The primary aim is to determine anti-GBS antibody concentration in infants with GBS disease compared to healthy controls. Secondary outcomes include stillbirth and all-cause infection and acceptance of sample methods and vaccination. The findings will inform scalability and sustainability of the programme in Uganda.
Mortality during and following hospital admission among school-aged children: a cohort study
Authors: Ngari Moses M , Obiero Christina , Mwangome Martha K , Nyaguara Amek , Mturi Neema , Murunga Sheila , Otiende Mark , Iversen Per Ole , Fegan Gregory W , Walson Judd L , Berkley James A 
Published: October 2020

Background: Far less is known about the reasons for hospitalization or mortality during and after hospitalization among school-aged children than under-fives in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to describe common types of illness causing hospitalisation; inpatient mortality and post-discharge mortality among school-age children at Kilifi County Hospital (KCH), Kenya. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children 5−12 years old admitted at KCH, 2007 to 2016, and resident of the Kilifi Health Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS). Children discharged alive were followed up for one year by quarterly census. Main outcomes were inpatient and one-year post-discharge mortality. Results: We included 3,907 admissions among 3,196 children with a median age of 7 years 8 months (IQR 74−116 months). Severe anaemia (792, 20%), malaria (749, 19%), sickle cell disease (408, 10%), trauma (408, 10%), and severe pneumonia (340, 8.7%) were the commonest reasons for admission. Comorbidities included 623 (16%) with severe wasting, 386 (10%) with severe stunting, 90 (2.3%) with oedematous malnutrition and 194 (5.0%) with HIV infection. 132 (3.4%) children died during hospitalisation. Inpatient death was associated with signs of disease severity, age, bacteraemia, HIV infection and severe stunting. After discharge, 89/2,997 (3.0%) children died within one year during 2,853 child-years observed (31.2 deaths [95%CI, 25.3−38.4] per 1,000 child-years). 63/89 (71%) of post-discharge deaths occurred within three months and 45% of deaths occurred outside hospital. Post-discharge mortality was positively associated with weak pulse, tachypnoea, severe anaemia, HIV infection and severe wasting and negatively associated with malaria. Conclusions: Reasons for admissions are markedly different from those reported in under-fives. There was significant post-discharge mortality, suggesting hospitalisation is a marker of risk in this population. Our findings inform guideline development to include risk stratification, targeted post-discharge care and facilitate access to healthcare to improve survival in the early months post-discharge in school-aged children.
Demand-Aware Career Path Recommendations: A Reinforcement Learning Approach
Authors: Kokkodis Marios , Ipeirotis Panagiotis G. 
Published: October 2020

A skill’s value depends on dynamic market conditions. To remain marketable, contractors need to keep reskilling themselves continuously. But choosing new skills to learn is an inherently hard task: Contractors have very little information about current and future market conditions, which often results in poor learning choices. Recommendation frameworks could reduce uncertainty in learning choices. However, conventional approaches would likely be inefficient; they would model previous (often poor) observed contractor learning behaviors to provide future career path recommendations while ignoring current market trends. This work proposes a framework that combines reinforcement learning, Bayesian inference, and gradient boosting to provide recommendations on how contractors should behave when choosing new skills to learn. Compared with standard recommender systems, this framework does not learn from previous (often poor) behaviors to make future recommendations. Instead, it relies on a Markov decision process to operate on a graph of feasible actions and dynamically recommend profitable career paths. The framework uses market information to identify current trends and project future wages. Based on this information, it recommends feasible, relevant actions that a contractor can take to learn new, in-demand skills. Evaluation of the framework on 1.73 million job applications from an online labor market shows that its implementation could increase (1) the marketplace’s revenue by up to 6%, (2) contractors’ wages by 22%, and (3) the diversity of new skill acquisitions by 47%. A comparison with alternative recommender systems highlights the limitations of approaches that make recommendations based on previously observed learning behaviors. This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
What do advocates want from policy research? Evidence from elite surveys
Authors: Haselswerdt Jake , Rigby Elizabeth 
Published: October 2020

Background: Policy advocates play a key role linking the separate worlds of research and policymaking – often serving as research brokers who increase the use of research and promoting more informed decision making. Yet this group is often overlooked in studies of research utilisation.
Methods: We undertook two surveys of state-level advocates in the United States in order to better understand the views of these ‘research brokers’ on the utility of research and the characteristics of research most needed in the policymaking process.
Findings: The advocates we surveyed report that research plays an important, if limited, role in shaping the policy outcomes in their state. They value objective and unbiased research, as evidenced by the credibility of the source, and relevance to their state context. At the same time, advocates were not particularly interested in novel research on unfamiliar outcomes in other policy domains, instead preferring studies that stick to the familiar framing of the issue dominant in the policy community in which they work. Advocates use research findings primarily as justification for their policy positions.
Discussion and conclusion: Perceived impartiality and objectivity are a major asset of academic researchers seeking to influence the policy process. Advocates value this credibility and other sources of information that they can use to justify their policy positions. At the same time, their preference for familiar rather than novel findings may limit the degree to which policy advocates can serve as intermediary for such results, hampering the ability of research to reframe policy debate.