bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health professional and patient perspectives of factors associated with potentially avoidable hospitalisations in a rural Australian setting: a qualitative study
Authors: Glenister Kristen , Archbold Tessa , Kidd David , Wilson Sue , Disler Rebecca 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

Potentially avoidable hospitalisations are a proxy measure of effective primary care at a population level. Hospitalisations for the chronic health conditions of diabetes, congestive cardiac failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease account for half of the potentially avoidable hospitalisations for chronic diseases. These hospitalisations are higher in rural areas and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Scarce qualitative research has focussed on the identification of factors associated with potentially avoidable hospitalisation from the perspectives of health professionals or patients. This study sought to identify factors associated with potentially avoidable hospitalisations in a rural context from the perspectives of patients and health professionals.
Methods

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive cardiac failure or type 2 diabetes, admitted to a rural hospital in Australia, and health professionals involved in the care of patients with these conditions, were invited to participate in interviews between September and October 2019. Conversations were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results

Nine patients and 16 health professionals participated in semi-structured interviews. Five themes were identified (representing factors associated with potentially avoidable hospitalisation); namely General Practitioner involvement, individual patient factors, the influence of the rural locality, medication awareness and health service access. Within these themes, inter-related subthemes emerged including sub-optimal disease management plans, barriers to accessing general practice, poor mental health, patients living alone, healthcare costs, sub-optimal communication and poor connectivity between patients and beneficial services.
Conclusion

Factors associated with potentially avoidable hospitalisation in this rural area were complex and inter-related. These factors encompassed health service access and disease management, as well as socioeconomic disadvantage. Results suggest that improved indicators of access to effective health services, including primary care, are necessary to address potentially avoidable hospitalisation.
Predictors of Patient Safety Activities among Registered Nurses and Nurse Aides in Long-term Care Facilities
Authors: Lee Youran , Cho Eunhee 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

In Korea, registered nurses (RNs) and nurse aides (NAs) are legally permitted as substitutes for long-term care (LTC) facilities, even though they have very different levels of education and standards of qualifications. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence patient safety activities of the RNs and NAs working in LTC facilities and to identify the relationship between patient safety culture (PSC) and patient safety activities.
Methods

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The study participants were 88 RNs and 71 NAs who worked at 33 LTC facilities for more than three months. The questionnaires were collected by e-mail or mobile application and kept confidential. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results

The mean scores of PSC and patient safety activities were 4.03 ± 0.51 points, 4.29 ± 0.49 points out of 5, respectively. There was significant correlation between PSC and patient safety activities (r = .23, p = .004). Factors influencing patient safety activities among RNs and NAs in LTC facilities were registered nurse (β = .377, p < .001), organizational system of PSC (β = .314, p < .010), and work sift type (fixed night shift, on-call, 24-hour shift) (β = − .264, p = .004), which explained about 36.0% of total variance (F = 5.69, p < .001).
Conclusion

The findings indicate the need for the mandatory placement of RNs by improving current domestic regulations that can be replaced without distinctions between the level of education and qualifications of RNs and NAs to strengthen patient safety activities at LTC facilities. Additionally, the importance of an organizational safety system and effective working shift types to prevent residents’ safety accidents in LTC facilities is indicated.
Edge states of Floquet-Dirac semimetal in a laser-driven
semiconductor quantum-well
Authors: Zhang Boyuan , Maeshima Nobuya , Hino Ken-ichi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Band crossings observed in a wide range of condensed matter systems are recognized as a key to understand low-energy fermionic excitations that behave as massless Dirac particles. Despite rapid progress in this field, the exploration of non-equilibrium topological states remains scarce and it has potential ability of providing a new platform to create unexpected massless Dirac states. Here we show that in a cw-laser driven semiconductor quantum-well, the optical Stark effect conducts bulk-band crossing, and the resulting Floquet-Dirac semimetallic phase supports an unconventional edge state in the projected one-dimensional Brillouin zone. Further, we reveal that this edge state mediates a transition between topological and non-topological edge states that is caused by tuning the laser intensity. The existence of the respective edge states and the related topological numbers are understood in a
unified manner in terms of the laser-induced polarization reflecting parity hybridization in the bulk Brillouin zone.
Extraction and detection of guanosine 5'-diphosphate-3'-diphosphate in Clavibacter michiganensis cells
Authors: Bai Kaihong , Chen Xing , Jiang Na , Lyu Qingyang , Li Jianqiang , Luo Laixin 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Guanosine 5’-diphosphate-3’-diphosphate (ppGpp) is a small molecule nucleotide alarmone that can accumulate under the amino acid starvation state and trigger the stringent response. This study reported the extraction of ppGpp from the Gram-positive bacteria Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm) through methods using formic acid, lysozyme, or methanol. Following extraction, ppGpp was detected through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The methanol method showed the highest extraction efficiency for ppGpp among the three methods tested. Amino acid starvation was induced in C. michiganensis cells during logarithmic phase using serine hydroxamate (SHX). ppGpp was extracted and detected at 0 min, 15 min, 30 min and 1 h. When using the methanol extraction method, the results show that ppGpp concentrations in SHX-treated samples were 15.645 nM, 17.656 nM, 20.372 nM and 19.280 nM at 0 min, 15 min, 30 min and 1 h, respectively, when detected using LC-MS/MS. This is the first report on ppGpp extraction and detection in Clavibacter providing a new idea and approach for nucleotide detection and extraction in bacteria.
Utility of Platelet Indices in Assessing the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Khatoon Ayesh , Yadav Shakti Kumar , Singh Sompal , Singh Harsh Vardhan , Sarin Namrata 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Platelet volume indices (PVI) such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), are the indicators of increased platelet activity which may play a role in development of vascular complications in diabetic patients. This study was performed to evaluate and compare the platelet volume indices such as MPV, PDW, P-LCR in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without manifested coronary artery disease in order to identify their usefulness in determining the risk for development of coronary complications.Methods: Analytical cross - sectional study included 150 patients of which 100 patients were diagnosed as type 2 DM and 50 apparently healthy controls. The study cases were divided into two groups based on presence or absence of coronary artery disease. Group A included 50 cases of type 2 DM without manifested coronary artery disease and group B included 50 cases of type 2 DM with manifested coronary artery disease. PVI was obtained using automated cell counter.Results: MPV, PDW, P-LCR were significantly higher in diabetics as compared to controls subjects (P < 0.001 for all). However, no statistically significant difference was found between diabetics with and without manifested coronary artery disease.Conclusions: The study showed higher PVI in diabetic subjects when compared to control subjects, but no difference between patients with and without manifested coronary artery disease suggesting that various other factors might be associated with the pathogenesis of CAD in patients of DM.
Unravelling the modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during a nursing home outbreak: looking beyond the church super-spread event
Authors: Voeten Helene ACM , Sikkema Reina S , Damen Marjolein , Munnink Bas B Oude , Arends Carla , Stobberingh Ellen , Hoogervorst Ellen , Koopmans Marion P.G. , Fanoy Ewout 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundAn outbreak of COVID-19 in a nursing home in the Netherlands, following an on-site church service held on March 8, 2020, triggered an investigation to unravel sources and chain(s) of transmission.MethodsEpidemiological data were collected from registries and through a questionnaire among church visitors. Symptomatic residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS). Sequences from a selection of people from the same area were included as community reference.ResultsAfter the church service, 30 of 39 visitors (77%) developed symptoms; 14 were tested and were positive for COVID-19 (11 residents and 3 non-residents). In the following five weeks, 62 of 300 residents (21%) and 30 of 640 HCWs (5%) tested positive for COVID-19; 21 of 62 residents (34%) died. The outbreak was controlled through a cascade of measures. WGS of samples from residents and HCWs identified a diversity of sequence types, grouped into eight clusters. Seven resident church visitors all were infected with distinct viruses, four of which belonged to two larger clusters in the nursing home.ConclusionsAlthough initial investigation suggested the church service as source of the outbreak, detailed analysis showed a more complex picture, most consistent with widespread regional circulation of the virus in the weeks before the outbreak, and multiple introductions into the nursing home before the visitor ban. The findings underscore the importance of careful outbreak investigations to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission to develop evidence-based mitigation measures.
Comparative Analysis of the Diagnostic Value of Several Methods for the Diagnosis of Patent Foramen Ovale
Authors: liu Fangfang , Kong Qingyu , Zhang Xiaojun , Li Yan , Liang Shimin , Han Shuang , Li guishuang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: In recent years, patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been reported to be strongly associated with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS), including cryptogenic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), migraine, and so on.The aim of this research was to compare the sensitivity and positive predictive value of contrast transcranial Doppler (c-TCD), contrast- transthoracic echocardiography (c-TTE) versus contrast- transesophageal echocardiography (c-TEE), to find which is the best method to diagnose patent foramen ovale (PFO), provides reference for the further improvement of clinical. Methods: We investigated 161 patients who suffered from migraine, cryptogenic stroke, TIA, and cerebral infarction of unknown cause, all patients underwent the transcatheter examination, and put the results of the right heart catheterization (RHC) as the gold standard for PFO diagnosis. A chi-square test was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity between the three methods. A P value of <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: The present study revealed that c-TTE with the Valsalva maneuver yielded a higher sensitivity in detecting PFO-RLS, but the rate of misdetection might be higher than c-TCD. Conclusions: For the suspected patients, can examine with c-TCD first, if we get the positive results, then c-TTE and c-TEE should be taking to further confirmed. These findings may be helpful in the diagnosis of patent foramen ovale in practice.
The Intensive Care Outcome of Patients with a Solid Malignancy in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A prospective Intensive Care Unit Registry Study
Authors: Rugaan Asia , Iqbal Masood , Almadani Asma , Bugis Elham , Rawah Ahlam , Radi Rwan , Radwan Enshrah , Damanhouri Elaf , Alhazmi Maher 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Aim: There is a paucity of research on the factors predicting mortality and prolonged stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critically ill patients with a solid malignancy. We aimed to assess the characteristics and outcomes of these patients who admitted to a medical ICU in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia, and determine the predictors of ICU mortality and ICU prolonged stay. Method: Clinical data from patients with solid tumors extracted from a comprehensive prospective ICU registry. We used logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors influencing ICU mortality and ICU prolonged stay. Results: Of 2883 patients admitted to the ICU, 364 patients identified with solid tumor were enrolled in this study. The most common solid tumor types were: breast (15.9%), colorectal (11.5%) and lung (9.9%) cancers. The ICU mortality rate was (32.4%), and there were 50 (13.7%) patients had a prolonged stay of ≥ 21 days. In the multivariate analysis, three factors were the independent predictors for the ICU mortality: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (P <.001), mechanical ventilation (P=.004) and inotropic/vasopressor agents (P=.018), and four variables were independent predictors for the prolonged stay in ICU: ICU acquired infection (P<.001), SOFA score (P <.001), mechanical ventilation (P<.001) and bilirubin (P=.049).Conclusion: In patients with solid tumour the ICU mortality is 32.4%, and 13.7% had a prolonged ICU stay. The reported outcome in this study indicate benefit from ICU care in this category of cases The identified predictors of ICU mortality and prolonged stay of patients would help in assessing the potential benefit of ICU admission, and prognostication.
Relationship between miR-92b expression and hypertension, the degree of heart disease and cerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Tang Zi-Jun , Zhang Jing , Zeng Jun-yi , Zheng Ze-qi , Zhang Wan , Ding Lu , Wen Tong , Yi Da-Song 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective: To delve into the correlation between miR-92b expression in peripheral plasma and hypertension, heart disease and cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: We enrolled 204 patients hospitalized in our institution from March 2016 to May 2017, including patients with hypertension (group B), hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN-LVH) (group C), HTN-LVH complicated heart failure (group D), with 68 cases each group, and recruited another 60 healthy volunteers as control group (group A). Our team compared miR-92b level in peripheral plasma, and ultrasound indexes among the four groups and inquired into their correlation. The patients were followed up to assay miR-92b level in the peripheral plasma, cerebral edema volume and cerebral hematoma volume before and after treatment. Results: (1) In contrast to group B, the LVDs and LVMI in group C, D waxed, whereas LVEF and E/A waned (P<0.05). In contrast to group C, group D owned increased LVDs and LVMI, and decreased LVEF (all P<0.05). (2) In contrast to group A, miR-92b expression decreased in groups B, C and D, among which group D were the lowest and group B were the highest (all P<0.05). (3) miR-92b held negative relationship with SBP, DBP, LVDd and LVMI (all P<0.001), and had positive link with LVEF (r=0.649, P<0.001). (4) In contrast to before treatment, miR-92b expression in plasma was up-regulated after treatment (P<0.05). miR-92b level in plasma after treatment possessed negative association with brain edema volume and hematoma volume (P<0.001), and no correlation with the edema/hematoma ratio. Conclusion: miR-92b expression in peripheral plasma of patients with hypertension, myocardial hypertrophy and cerebral hemorrhage is down-regulated. miR-92b probably harbors a defensive impact and participates in the pathophysiological process of hypertension, heart disease and cerebral hemorrhage.
Drivers learn city-scale dynamic equilibrium
Authors: Zhang Ruda , Ghanem Roger 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Understanding collective human behavior and dynamics at urban-scale has drawn broad interest in physics, engineering, and social sciences. Social physics often adopts a statistical perspective and treats individuals as interactive elementary units, while the economics perspective sees individuals as strategic decision makers. Here we provide a microscopic mechanism of city-scale dynamics, interpret the collective outcome in a thermodynamic framework, and verify its various implications empirically. We capture the decisions of taxi drivers in a game-theoretic model, prove the existence, uniqueness, and global asymptotic stability of Nash equilibrium. We offer a macroscopic view of this equilibrium with laws of thermodynamics. With 870 million trips of over 50k drivers in New York City, we verify this equilibrium in space and time, estimate an empirical constitutive relation, and examine the learning process at individual and collective levels. Connecting two perspectives, our work shows a promising approach to understand collective behavior of subpopulations.
Individuals With Upper Limb Loss Require Minimal Training to Achieve Robust Motion Classification Using Sonomyography
Authors: Engdahl Susannah , Dhawan Ananya , Bashatah Ahmed , Diao Guoqing , Mukherjee Biswarup , Monroe Brian , Holley Rahsaan , Sikdar Siddhartha 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Although surface electromyography is commonly used as a sensing strategy for upper limb prostheses, it remains difficult to reliably decode the recorded signals for controlling multi-articulated hands. Sonomyography, or ultrasound-based sensing of muscle deformation, overcomes some of these issues and allows individuals with upper limb loss to reliably perform multiple motion patterns. The purposes of this study were to determine 1) the effect of training on classification performance with sonomyographic control and 2) the effect of training on the underlying muscle deformation patterns.Methods: A series of motion pattern datasets were collected from five individuals with transradial limb loss. Each dataset contained five ultrasound images corresponding each of the following five motions: power grasp, wrist pronation, key grasp, tripod, point. Participants initially performed the motions for the datasets without receiving feedback on their performance (baseline phase), then with visual and verbal feedback (feedback phase), and finally again without feedback (retention phase). Cross-validation accuracy and metrics describing the consistency and separability of the muscle deformation patters were computed for each dataset. Changes in classification performance over the course of the study were assessed using linear mixed models. Associations between classification performance and the consistency and separability metrics were evaluated using Pearson correlations.Results: The average cross-validation accuracy for each phase was 92% or greater and there was no significant change in cross-validation accuracy throughout training. Misclassifications of one motion as another did not persist systematically across datasets. Few of the correlations were significant, although many were moderate or greater in strength and showed a positive association between accuracy and improved consistency and separability metrics.Conclusions: Participants were able to achieve high classification rates upon their initial exposure to sonomyography and training did not affect their performance. Thus, motion classification using sonomyography may be highly intuitive and is unlikely to require a structured training protocol to gain proficiency.
Association between social capital and loneliness among older adults: A cross-sectional study in Anhui Province, China
Authors: Bai Zhongliang , Wang Zijing , Shao Tiantai , Qin Xia , Hu Zhi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Although the relationship between social capital and loneliness in later life has been widely researched in western countries, this evidence is largely lacking in China. We aimed to examine the association between social capital and experienced loneliness in Anhui Province, China.
Methods
Data were collected from a cross-sectional study using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy. Data on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, social capital, and loneliness in 1810 older adults (aged 60 years and older) were used for analysis. Binary logistic regression models and a classification and regression tree model were performed.
Results
Our results indicated that social capital in terms of social participation (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.10–1.74), social connection (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.18–1.93), and reciprocity (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.13–1.90) were associated with loneliness. We noted the interactive effect of different social capital dimensions on loneliness, suggesting that the risk for suffering loneliness was greatest in older people limited in functional ability, with less trust, less social connection, and less social participation.
Conclusions
Our findings show that social capital is associated with loneliness in older adults. This implies that social capital, especially in terms of trust, social connection, and social participation may be significant for alleviating loneliness among older adults.
One-day combined botulinum toxin injections and pulsed radiofrequency of greater occipital nerve for treatment refractory chronic migraine
Authors: Voloshin Alexey , Moiseeva I.V. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of combined the greater occipital nerve’s (GON) pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) with botulinum toxin therapy procedures for treatment the refractory chronic migraine.Methods. We had 6 patients, all female, from 33 to 57 years old suffering from refractory chronic migraine (RCM) according to the European Headache proposed criteria. All patients had migraine from 5 to 44 years and refractory migraine from 1 to 10 years. Simultaneous one-day treatments were undertaken: first step - botulinum toxin type A injections in accordance with the PREEMPT protocol. Second step - the PRF stimulation on the bilateral GONs was performed under the guidance of ultrasound. The follow-up duration after the procedure was 6 months.Results. We had a positive response to treatment from all patients. As a result, we observed a dramatic reduction of pain intensity from 7±1 to 2±2 on NRS scale and, most importantly, a significant decrease in the number of days with headache from 22±5 to 4±4 during first month after treatment, with two patients (30% of patients) recording a complete regression of migraine attacks. None of the patients had any adverse effects.Conclusion. The simultaneous one-day use of PRF GON with botulinum toxin therapy may be a useful option for the treatment of refractory chronic migraine. The combined interventional procedures are effective, minimally invasive, inexpensive, safe, well tolerated and can be performed on an outpatient basis.