bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
External validity of Adult Sepsis Event’s simplified eSOFA criteria: a retrospective analysis of patients with confirmed infection in China
Authors:   for the China Critical Care Clinical Trials Group (CCCCTG), Dong Run , Tian Hongcheng , Zhou Jianfang , Weng Li , Hu Xiaoyun , Peng Jinmin , Wang Chunyao , Jiang Wei , Du Xueping , Xi Xiuming , An Youzhong , Duan Meili , Du Bin 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released simplified eSOFA organ dysfunction criteria of Adult Sepsis Event for sepsis surveillance in the US. Our study aimed to compare the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of sepsis patients identified by eSOFA criteria versus Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score (Sepsis-3) and assess the external validity of eSOFA criteria in China.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult residents of Yuetan Subdistrict, Beijing, China, who were hospitalized from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014. Among patients with infection, sepsis was identified if there was a concurrent rise in SOFA score by 2 or more points (Sepsis-3) or the presence of 1 or more eSOFA criteria: vasopressor initiation, mechanical ventilation initiation, doubling in creatinine, doubling in bilirubin to 2.0 mg/dL or above, 50% or greater decrease in platelet count to less than 100 cells/μL, or lactate equal to or above 2.0 mmol/L. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) for in-hospital mortality were compared between sepsis patients detected by the two criteria, adjusting for baseline characteristics.

Results
Of 1716 hospitalized patients with infection, 935 (54.5%) met Sepsis-3 criteria, 573 (33.4%) met eSOFA criteria, while 475 (27.7%) met both criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics of sepsis patients meeting Sepsis-3 or eSOFA criteria were similar. In-hospital mortality was higher with eSOFA criteria versus Sepsis-3 (46.6% vs. 32.0%, p < 0.001). eSOFA criteria had high PPV (82.9%), but low sensitivity (50.8%) for the diagnosis of Sepsis-3. Patients meeting both criteria had the highest in-hospital mortality rate (52.8%, all p < 0.001), while patients who only met eSOFA criteria had higher mortality rate than those meeting Sepsis-3 alone (16.3% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.097). The predicted probability for in-hospital mortality was higher with eSOFA criteria versus Sepsis-3 (AUROC 0.830 vs. 0.795, p = 0.001) adjusting for baseline characteristics.

Conclusions
The CDC Adult Sepsis Event’s eSOFA criteria identify a smaller, more severely ill cohort of sepsis patients with similar demographic and clinical characteristics as the more complex Sepsis-3 SOFA score. These results suggest similar performance of eSOFA criteria across diverse populations, with low sensitivity and high specificity for the diagnosis of Sepsis-3.
Fast matrix inversion methods based on Chebyshev and Newton iterations for zero forcing precoding in massive MIMO systems
Authors: Hashima Sherief , Muta Osamu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn massive MIMO (mMIMO) systems, large matrix inversion is a challenging problem due to the huge volume of users and antennas. Neumann series (NS) and successive over relaxation (SOR) are two typical methods that solve such a problem in linear precoding. NS expands the inverse of a matrix into a series of matrix vector multiplications, while SOR deals with the same problem as a system of linear equations and iteratively solves it. However, the required complexities for both methods are still high. In this paper, four new joint methods are presented to achieve faster convergence and lower complexity in matrix inversion to determine linear precoding weights for mMIMO systems, where both Chebyshev iteration (ChebI) and Newton iteration (NI) are investigated separately to speed up the convergence of NS and SOR. Firstly, joint Chebyshev and NS method (ChebI-NS) is proposed not only to accelerate the convergence in NS but also to achieve more accurate inversion. Secondly, new SOR-based approximate matrix inversion (SOR-AMI) is proposed to achieve a direct simplified matrix inversion with similar convergence characteristics to the conventional SOR. Finally, two improved SOR-AMI methods, NI-SOR-AMI and ChebI-SOR-AMI, are investigated for further convergence acceleration, where NI and ChebI approaches are combined with the SOR-AMI, respectively. These four proposed inversion methods provide near optimal bit error rate (BER) performance of zero forcing (ZF) case under uncorrelated and correlated mMIMO channel conditions. Simulation results verify that the proposed ChebI-NS has the highest convergence rate compared to the conventional NS with similar complexity. Similarly, ChebI-SOR-AMI and NI-SOR-AMI achieve faster convergence than the conventional SOR method. The order of the proposed methods according to the convergence speed are ChebI-SOR-AMI, NI-SOR-AMI, SOR-AMI, then ChebI-NS, respectively. ChebI-NS has a low convergence because NS has lower convergence than SOR. Although ChebI-SOR-AMI has the fastest convergence rate, NI-SOR-AMI is preferable than ChebI-SOR-AMI due to its lower complexity and close inversion result.
Multiple positive solutions for nonlinear high-order Riemann–Liouville fractional differential equations boundary value problems with p-Laplacian operator
Authors: Zhou Bibo , Zhang Lingling , Addai Emmanuel , Zhang Nan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we study the existence of multiple positive solutions for boundary value problems of high-order Riemann–Liouville fractional differential equations involving the p-Laplacian operator. Not only new existence conclusions of two positive solutions are obtained by employing functional-type cone expansion-compression fixed point theorem, but also some sufficient conditions for existence of at least three positive solutions are established by applying the Leggett–Williams fixed point theorem. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the main result by using an example.
The value of teachable moments in surgical patient care and the supportive role of digital technologies
Authors: Robinson Anna , Slight Robert , Husband Andrew , Slight Sarah 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEvidence strongly supports improved outcomes following surgery when patients are more physically active, have better dietary intake, or are generally fitter prior to surgery. Having an operation is a major life event for patients, and many are not educated around what they can do as individuals to aid a speedier and more successful recovery following their operation. What if there was a time point before surgery where clinicians could inspire patients to adjust their lifestyles for the better, in order to see fewer complications after surgery? This is where the concept of teachable moments comes into play.This commentary explores the concept of teachable moments and their value in surgical patient care and discusses the potentially under-utilized opportunities on hand to the surgical multidisciplinary team to remotely support patients using digital health technologies.
Companies profitability under economic instability: evidence from the manufacturing industry in Russia
Authors: Spitsin Vladislav , Ryzhkova Marina , Vukovic Darko , Anokhin Sergey 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis study analyzes factors affecting the efficiency (profitability) of enterprises in foreign, joint and domestic ownership in countries with unstable economy. The novelty of the study is that for the first time this kind of analysis has been carried out for the manufacturing industry in Russia, whose economy is characterized by the instability (crisis), external sanctions, and the internal trend for import substitution. Using a panel data on 6134 enterprises operating across several industries in Russia over the period of 2012–2016, the article suggests that generally production efficiency and scale efficiency positively affect profitability, whereas the share of borrowed capital, share of fixed assets and rising interest rates exert negative effects. The contribution of external financial factors is minimal, except for foreign and jointly owned firms. Production efficiency has a particularly pronounced effect for the automotive industry, machinery and equipment manufacturing, and in the metal industry. In contrast, in the chemical, electrical and optical manufacturing, and in food processing industries, internal financial factors emerge as a powerful predictor of performance. Firm ownership does not exert a significant effect on the relationship between the variables of interest when the share of borrowed funds is below 50%. When the share of borrowed capital exceeds 50%, internal financial factors emerge as a particularly prominent predictor of profitability.
Checkpoint inhibitor therapy in preclinical sepsis models: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Busch Lindsay M. , Sun Junfeng , Cui Xizhong , Eichacker Peter Q. , Torabi-Parizi Parizad 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Animal studies reporting immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) improved host defense and survival during bacterial sepsis provided one basis for phase I CPI sepsis trials. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the benefit of CPI therapy in preclinical studies, and whether variables potentially altering this clinical benefit were investigated. Studies were analyzed that compared survival following bacteria or lipopolysaccharide challenge in animals treated with inhibitors to programmed death-1 (PD-1), PD-ligand1 (PD-L1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), or B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) versus control.

Results
Nineteen experiments from 11 studies (n = 709) were included. All experiments were in mice, and 10 of the 19 were published from a single research group. Sample size calculations and randomization were not reported in any studies, and blinding procedures were reported in just 1. Across all 19 experiments, CPIs increased the odds ratio for survival (OR, 95% CI) [3.37(1. 55, 7.31)] but with heterogeneity (I2 = 59%, p < 0.01). After stratification by checkpoint molecule targeted, challenge site or type, or concurrent antibacterial treatment, CPIs had consistent effects over most experiments in the 9 that included antibacterial treatment [OR = 2.82 (1.60, 4.98), I2 = 6%, p = 0.39 with versus 4.01 (0.89, 18.05), I2 = 74%, p < 0.01 without]. All 9 antibiotic experiments employed cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP) bacterial challenge while 6 also included a Candida albicans challenge 3–4 days after CLP. In these six experiments (n = 322), CPIs were directed at the fungal challenge when CLP lethality had resolved, and were consistently beneficial [2.91 (2.41, 3.50), I2 = 0%, p = 0.99]. In the three experiments (n = 66) providing antibiotics without fungal challenge, CPIs were administered within 1 day of CLP and had variable and non-significant effects [0.05 (0.00, 1.03); 7.86 (0.28, 217.11); and 8.50 (0.90, 80.03)]. No experiment examined pneumonia.

Conclusions
Preclinical studies showing that CPIs add benefit to antibiotic therapy for the common bacterial infections causing sepsis clinically are needed to support this therapeutic approach. Studies should be reproducible across multiple laboratories and include procedures to reduce the risk of bias.
Developing and validating a nestling photographic aging guide for cavity-nesting birds: an example with the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Authors: Costa Joana S. , Rocha Afonso D. , Correia Ricardo A. , Alves José A. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Accurate estimation of nestlings’ age is essential in avian demography studies as well as in population ecology and conservation. For example, it can be useful for synchronizing nest visits with events of particular interest, such as the age at which young can be safely ringed, or in choosing the best period to attain the most accurate calculation of laying or hatching dates.

Methods
We constructed a photographic guide for aging European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) nestlings to 3-day age classes and evaluated the aging method by performing a validation exercise with several observers with no previous experience in aging bee-eater nestlings.

Results
The aging guide for bee-eater nestlings allowed estimating age to within 3 days with an average accuracy of 0.85. We found the optimal period for aging nestlings was between days 13‒18 (with accuracy between 0.94 and 0.99), during which the status of feather development was more easily distinguishable from the preceding and subsequent age classes. During the first 3 days after hatching, nestlings could also be aged with high accuracy (0.93). The small size of the nestling in relation to the eggs and the nestling’s inability to raise its head during these first days allowed for good discrimination from the subsequent age class. Between days 25 and 28, nestlings were correctly aged in only half of assignments (0.55 sensitivity) and nestlings belonging to class 7 (days 7‒9) were the least correctly identified (0.38 sensitivity). However, by visiting the nests at 12 days intervals it is possible to achieve the highest accuracy in age estimation with the smallest disturbance and logistic investment.

Conclusions
This study highlighted how indirect methods and a simple protocol can be established and employed to quickly estimate nestling age in cases where handling nestlings is challenging or impossible, while minimizing disturbance in and around the nest.
Tree diametric-species diversity is affected by human impact in old Scots pine dominated forest in boreal Fennoscandia
Authors: de Quesada Gonzalo , Kuuluvainen Timo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundForest structural and compositional variability is of fundamental importance for forest ecosystem functioning and species diversity. The purpose of this research was to examine how human impact has affected the compositional-structural diversity of mature pine-dominated boreal forest in boreal Fennoscandia. For this a new approach was used, based on the classification of tree sizes by the diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree species, resulting in a new variable, the diametric-species, the variation of which describes the compositional-structural diversity of the forest. This variable was used to compare the structural-compositional diversity among three forest classes with different degree of human influence, using rarefaction as the main tool of analysis, complemented by analyses based on common diversity indices.ResultsThe results showed that the near-natural forest was the most diverse and the managed forest the least diverse. On the other hand, the diversity of near-natural and selectively logged forests were similar, suggesting that selectively logged forests are equal to the natural forest in their compositional-structural diversity. The analysis solely on tree species showed no significant differences among the forest classes of different human impact. The Shannon diversity index showed no significant difference between the forest classes for the diametric-species and tree species classifications only, but the Simpson index signaled a slight difference between the selectively logged and managed forest classes for the diametric-species classification. Furthermore, the Sorensen index detected a difference among forest classes in the diametric-species classification.ConclusionsForest utilization had an adverse impact on forest compositional-structural diversity of mature Scots pine forests. The analysis also shows that the novel approach based on diametric-species classification could be a useful tool for forest diversity analysis and comparison, especially in species-poor forests such as the boreal forest.
Electrochemical biosensors: perspective on functional nanomaterials for on-site analysis
Authors: Cho Il-Hoon , Kim Dong Hyung , Park Sangsoo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Background
The electrochemical biosensor is one of the typical sensing devices based on transducing the biochemical events to electrical signals. In this type of sensor, an electrode is a key component that is employed as a solid support for immobilization of biomolecules and electron movement. Thanks to numerous nanomaterials that possess the large surface area, synergic effects are enabled by improving loading capacity and the mass transport of reactants for achieving high performance in terms of analytical sensitivity.

Main body
We categorized the current electrochemical biosensors into two groups, carbon-based (carbon nanotubes and graphene) and non-carbon-based nanomaterials (metallic and silica nanoparticles, nanowire, and indium tin oxide, organic materials). The carbon allotropes can be employed as an electrode and supporting scaffolds due to their large active surface area as well as an effective electron transfer rate. We also discussed the non-carbon nanomaterials that are used as alternative supporting components of the electrode for improving the electrochemical properties of biosensors.

Conclusion
Although several functional nanomaterials have provided the innovative solid substrate for high performances, developing on-site version of biosensor that meets enough sensitivity along with high reproducibility still remains a challenge. In particular, the matrix interference from real samples which seriously affects the biomolecular interaction still remains the most critical issues that need to be solved for practical aspect in the electrochemical biosensor.
Treatment of large, chronic and persistent macular hole with internal limiting membrane transposition and tuck technique
Authors: Fung Nicholas S. K. , Mak Anthony K. H. , Yiu Rachel , Wong Ian Y. H. , Lam Wai Ching 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Large, chronic full thickness macular holes which failed previous treatments are difficult to manage and even left untreated due to poor prognosis. A retrospective review of consecutive cases with chronic (at least 1 year) full thickness macular holes and internal limiting membrane (ILM) free flap transposition with tuck technique, after previously failed vitrectomy.

Methods
This was a retrospective and interventional study conducted in a single centre by a single surgeon. Patients with full thickness macular hole for at least 1 year and at least one previously failed vitrectomy with ILM peeling were recruited. A 25G vitrectomy with ILM free flap transposition was done without assistance of PFCL, viscoelastic or autologous blood. The free flap was manually tucked into the macular hole free space and gas fluid exchange was performed with 20% SF6 as tamponade. The patients were postured prone for 2 weeks postoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity, macular hole duration, previous surgeries, optical coherence tomography (OCT) appearance, hole size and closure rate were recorded.

Results
8 consecutive patients were included from May 2016 to Feb 2018. Transposition surgery was performed an average of 1481 days (SD 1096) after diagnosis of macular hole and average of 1226 days (SD 1242) after first vitrectomy. Macular hole mean size was 821 μm (SD 361.3), preoperative VA was logMAR 1.038 (SD 0.19), postoperative VA was logMAR 0.69 (SD 0.19) at 3 months. There were 1.13 lines gained and a significant improvement of logMAR 0.33 (p = 0.0084) at 6 months. Hole closure was seen in 7 out of 8 eyes (87.5%). The OCT with failed closure showed ILM flap within a flat hole, however no overlying neurosensory layers was seen. The duration from diagnosis to surgery was 2349 days in this case.

Conclusion
Free flap ILM transposition tuck without the use of additional intraoperative tamponade is an effective technique in treating large chronic macular holes with previously failed primary macular hole surgeries.
Trial registration (IRB of the Hong Kong University and Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster, ref UW19-440), June 17, 2019.
Value of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography in imaging of symptomatic patients after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Bassiouny Reem Hassan , Chalabi Nivine abdel Moneim 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
To assess the role of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the assessment of symptomatic patients following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Results
We reviewed the studies of 129 cases and found complications in 113 patients: 55 early complications and 48 late complications. All of these complications were diagnosed with intravenous contrast-enhanced MDCT. Statistically significant difference was found between UGIS and MDCT in the diagnosis of many cases.

Conclusion
The rate of complications in bariatric surgery is high and the associated mortality is not negligible. The interpreting radiologists should know the normal postoperative findings and be aware of possible complications.
Plasma Circulating Tumor HPV DNA for the Surveillance of Cancer Recurrence in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Chera Bhishamjit S. , Kumar Sunil , Shen Colette , Amdur Robert , Dagan Roi , Green Rebecca , Goldman Emily , Weiss Jared , Grilley-Olson Juneko , Patel Shetal , Zanation Adam , Hackman Trevor , Blumberg Jeff , Patel Samip , Thorp Brian , Weissler Mark , Yarbrough Wendell , Sheets Nathan , Mendenhall William , Tan Xianming M. , Gupta Gaorav P. 
Published: February 2020

PURPOSEPlasma circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA (ctHPVDNA) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). We investigated whether longitudinal monitoring of ctHPVDNA during post-treatment surveillance could accurately detect clinical disease recurrence.METHODS AND MATERIALSA prospective biomarker clinical trial was conducted among patients with nonmetastatic HPV-associated (p16-positive) OPSCC. All patients were treated with curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Patients underwent a 3-month post-CRT positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan and were thereafter clinically evaluated every 2-4 months (years 1-2), then every 6 months (years 3-5). Chest imaging was performed every 6 months. Blood specimens were collected every 6-9 months for analysis of plasma ctHPVDNA using a multianalyte digital polymerase chain reaction assay. The primary endpoint was to estimate the negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of ctHPVDNA surveillance.RESULTSForty-five patients were enrolled, and 509 blood samples were analyzed. After a median follow-up time of 19.2 months (range, 14.1-30.6 months), 4 patients (9%) developed disease recurrence. Thirty-seven patients had undetectable ctHPVDNA at all post-treatment time points, and none developed recurrence (NPV, 100%; 95% CI, 91% to 100%). Eight patients developed a positive ctHPVDNA during post-treatment surveillance, 4 of whom were diagnosed with biopsy-proven recurrence. Four patients had 2 consecutively positive ctHPVDNA blood tests, all 4 of whom developed biopsy-proven recurrence. Two consecutively positive ctHPVDNA blood tests had a PPV of 100% (95% CI, 51% to 100%). Median lead time between ctHPVDNA positivity and biopsy-proven recurrence was 6.6 months (range, 3.3-12.9 months).CONCLUSIONDetection of ctHPVDNA in two consecutive plasma samples during post-treatment surveillance has high PPV and NPV for identifying disease recurrence in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and may facilitate earlier initiation of salvage therapy.