bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II receptor blockers on insulin sensitivity in hypertensive patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yao Jia , Fan Simin , Shi Xiaoyan , Gong Xiayu , Zhao Jia , Fan Guanjie 
Published: July 2021

Introduction
This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available evidence to compare angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on improving insulin sensitivity in hypertensive patients.

Methods
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ACE inhibitors versus ARBs published with outcomes on homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), glucose infusion rate (GIR), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) composite, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were searched through 5 databases. Data were searched from their inception to July 5, 2020. Stata 14.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis.

Results
Eleven RCTs (n = 1015) were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analysis of studies showed no significant difference in HOMA-IR between ARBs and ACE inhibitors (WMD = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.69 to 0.50, P = 0.755); however, subgroup analysis of therapeutic duration showed a significant difference in HOMA-IR between ARBs and ACE inhibitors among the long-term intervention subgroup (>12 weeks) (WMD = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.76, P = 0.022) and hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus subgroup (WMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.61, P < 0.001); results showed no significant difference between ARBs and ACE inhibitors on QUICKI score (WMD = -0.00, 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.03, P = 0.953) in hypertensive patients; however, the efficacy of ACE inhibitors on improving GIR and ISI composite was significantly better than that of ARBs (WMD = -1.09, 95% CI: -1.34 to -0.85, P < 0.001; WMD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.24 to -0.36, P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, no significant differences were noted on FPG (WMD = 0.72, 95% CI: -1.39 to 2.83, P = 0.505), FPI (WMD = -0.48, 95% CI: -1.60 to 0.64, P = 0.398), SBP (WMD = -0.65, 95% CI: -1.76 to 0.46, P = 0.254), and DBP (WMD = -0.30, 95% CI: -1.70 to 1.10, P = 0.675) between ARBs and ACE inhibitors.

Conclusion
Results from this meta-analysis showed that ACE inhibitors resulted in more effective improvement of HOMA-IR compared with ARBs among the long-term intervention and hypertensive patients with DM subgroup; furthermore, the efficacy of ACE inhibitors on improving GIR and ISI composite was significantly better than that of ARBs in hypertensive patients. However, ARBs had no significant difference in QUICKI score, FPG, FPI, SBP, and DBP compared with ACE inhibitors. Larger and better-designed studies are needed to further verify this conclusion.
Sex- and age-specific reference intervals for diagnostic ratios reflecting relative activity of steroidogenic enzymes and pathways in adults
Authors: Rousson Valentin , Ackermann Daniel , Ponte Belen , Pruijm Menno , Guessous Idris , d’Uscio Claudia H. , Ehret Georg , Escher Geneviève , Pechère-Bertschi Antoinette , Groessl Michael , Martin Pierre-Yves , Burnier Michel , Dick Bernhard , Bochud Murielle , Vogt Bruno , Dhayat Nasser A. 
Published: July 2021

Objective
Diagnostic ratios calculated from urinary steroid hormone metabolites are used as a measure for the relative activity of steroidogenic enzymes or pathways in the clinical investigation of steroid metabolism disorders. However, population-based sex- and age-specific reference intervals and day-night differences in adults are lacking.

Methods
Sixty-five diagnostic ratios were calculated from steroid metabolites measured by GC-MS in day- and night-time and in 24-hour urine from 1128 adults recruited within the Swiss Kidney Project on Genes in Hypertension (SKIPOGH), a population-based, multicenter cohort study. Differences related to sex, age and day- and night-time were evaluated and reference curves in function of age and sex were modelled by multivariable linear mixed regression for diagnostic ratios and were compared to values from the literature.

Results
Most ratios had sex- and age-specific relationships. For each ratio, percentiles were plotted in function of age and sex in order to create reference curves and sex- and age-specific reference intervals derived from 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were obtained. Most ratios reflected a higher enzyme activity during the day compared to the night.

Conclusions
Sex- and age-specific references for 24 hours, day and night urine steroid metabolite ratios may help distinguishing between health and disease when investigating human disorders affecting steroid synthesis and metabolism. The day-night differences observed for most of the diagnostic ratios suggest a circadian rhythm for enzymes involved in human steroid hormones metabolism.
Ambient light level varies with different locations and environmental conditions: Potential to impact myopia
Authors: Bhandary Shashank Kishore , Dhakal Rohit , Sanghavi Vishwa , Verkicharla Pavan Kumar 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
Considering that time spent outdoors is protective for myopia, we investigated how ambient light levels reaching the eye varies across 9 outdoor and 4 indoor locations in 5 different environmental conditions.

Methods
Illuminance (lux) was recorded using a lux meter under conditions of weather (sunny/cloudy), time of a day (7:00,10:00,13:00, and 16:00 hours), seasons (summer/winter), and sun protection (hat and cap) in outdoor and indoor locations. Nine outdoor locations were “open playground”, “under a translucent artificial-shade”, “under a porch facing east”, “under a porch facing south”, “under a big tree”, “between three buildings”, “within 4 buildings”, and “canopy”. As a ninth outdoor location, “Under a glass bowl” in the outdoor location was used as a simulation for “glass classroom model” and measurement was taken at the floor level only to determine in overall the illuminance conditions with glass covered on all sides. The 4 indoor locations included “room with multiple large windows”, “room with combination light source”, “room with multiple artificial lights”, and “room with single artificial light”.

Results
The overall median illuminance level (median; Q1-Q3) recorded in 9 outdoor locations was 8 times higher than that of all indoor locations (1175;197–5400 lux vs. 179;50–333 lux). Highest illuminance in outdoor locations was recorded in “open playground” (9300;4100–16825 lux), followed by “under a translucent artificial shade (8180;4200–13300 lux) and the lowest in “within 4 buildings” (11;6–20 lux). Illuminance under ‘Canopy’, ‘between three buildings’ and ‘within four buildings’ was similar to that of indoor locations (<1000 lux). Time of the day, weather, season, sensor position and using sun protection did not alter illuminance to change from high to low level (>1000 to <1000 lux). Among indoor locations, illuminance in “room with multiple large windows” crossed 1000 lux at a specific time points on both sunny and cloudy days.

Conclusions
Illuminance levels in outdoors and indoors varied with location type, but not with other conditions. Given the variation in illuminance in different locations, and the impact it may have on myopia control, appropriate detailed recommendations seems necessary while suggesting time outdoors as an anti-myopia strategy to ensure desired outcomes.
Radiocapitellar incongruity of the radial head in magnetic resonance imaging correlates with pathologic changes of the lateral elbow stabilizers in lateral epicondylitis
Authors: Kim Yeun Soo , Kim Sung Taeck , Lee Kyoung Hwan , Ahn Joong Mo , Gong Hyun Sik 
Published: July 2021

Objective
Post-traumatic posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) can be shown as radiocapitellar incongruity or posterior translation (PT) of the radial head in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We aimed to evaluate whether PT correlated with pathologic changes of lateral elbow stabilizers in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Materials and methods
In MRIs of 160 patients with lateral epicondylitis, we measured PT of the radial head in the sagittal images. We qualitatively graded five lesions of the lateral elbow structures that included common extensor tendon (CET) lesion (grade 1–3), lateral collateral ligament complex (LCLC) insufficiency (grade 0–2), and absence or presence of bone marrow signal change, osteochondral lesion, and calcification. We analyzed whether the PT correlated with pathologic changes of the lateral elbow stabilizers and evaluated the diagnostic value of the PT for severe lesions.

Results
The average PT was 1.9 mm. The PT correlated with both the CET lesion (p < 0.001) and LCLC insufficiency (p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff values of the PT for grade 3 CET lesion and grade 2 LCLC lesion were 2.6 and 2.8 mm, respectively. When potential PLRI was defined as the PT of > 3.4mm as suggested for post-traumatic PLRI, 21 patients had potential PLRI. The positive predictive values of the PT > 3.4mm were 76% for grade 3 CET lesions and 67% for grade 2 LCLC insufficiency.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates that PT of the radial head correlates with pathological changes of the lateral elbow stabilizers. As radiocapitellar incongruity is easy to measure quantitatively, it can be used for screening potential PLRI in patients with lateral epicondylitis.
Converting from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to the Mini-Mental State Examination-2
Authors: Yang Hwabeen , Yim Daehyuk , Park Moon Ho 
Published: July 2021

Objective
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (MMSE-2) are useful psychometric tests for cognitive screening. Many clinicians want to predict the MMSE-2 score based on the MoCA score. To facilitate the transition from the MoCA to the MMSE-2, this study developed a conversion method.

Methods
This study retrospectively examined the relationship between the MoCA and MMSE-2. Overall, 303 participants were evaluated. We produced a conversion table using the equipercentile equating method with log-linear smoothing. Then, we evaluated the reliability and accuracy of this algorithm to convert the MoCA to the MMSE-2.

Results
MoCA scores were converted to MMSE-2 scores according to a conversion table that achieved a reliability of 0.961 (intraclass correlation). The accuracy of this algorithm was 84.5% within 3 points difference from the raw score.

Conclusions
This study reports a reliable and easy conversion algorithm for transforming MoCA scores into converted MMSE-2 scores. This method will greatly enhance the utility of existing cognitive data in clinical and research settings.
Association of blood pressure after peritoneal dialysis initiation with the decline rate of residual kidney function in newly-initiated peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Kuroki Yusuke , Hori Kei , Tsuruya Kazuhiko , Matsuo Dai , Mitsuiki Koji , Hirakata Hideki , Nakano Toshiaki , Kitazono Takanari 
Published: July 2021

Background
Lower blood pressure (BP) levels are linked to a slower decline of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) without kidney replacement therapy. However, there are limited data on this relation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Here we evaluated the association of BP levels with the decline of residual kidney function (RKF) in a retrospective cohort study.

Methods
We enrolled 228 patients whose PD was initiated between 1998 and 2014. RKF was measured as the average of creatinine and urea clearance in 24-hr urine collections. We calculated the annual decline rate of RKF by determining the regression line for individual patients. RKF is thought to decline exponentially, and thus we also calculated the annual decline rate of logarithmic scale of RKF (log RKF). We categorized the patients’ BP levels at 3 months after PD initiation (BP3M) into four groups (Optimal, Normal & High normal, Grade 1 hypertension, Grade 2 & 3 hypertension) according to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension.

Results
The unadjusted, age- and sex-adjusted, and multivariable-adjusted decline rate of RKF and log RKF decreased significantly with higher BP3M levels (P for trend <0.01). Compared to those of the Optimal group, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the faster side of the median decline rate of RKF and log RKF were 4.04 (1.24–13.2) and 5.50 (1.58–19.2) in the Grade 2 and 3 hypertension group, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusions
Higher BP levels after PD initiation are associated with a faster decline in RKF among PD patients.
A phenomenological study on the experiences of patient transfer from the intensive care unit to general wards
Authors: Lee Eun-Young , Park Jin-Hee 
Published: July 2021

Objectives
This study aimed to derive an in-depth understanding of the transfer experience of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in South Korea through a phenomenological analysis.

Methods
Participants were 15 adult patients who were admitted to a medical or surgical ICU at a university hospital for more than 48 hours before being transferred to a general ward. Data were collected three to five days after their transfer to the general ward from January to December 2017 through individual in-depth interviews and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological data analysis method, phenomenological reduction, intersubjective reduction, and hermeneutic circle. Data analysis yielded eight themes and four theme clusters related to the unique experiences of domestic ICU patients in the process of transfer to the general ward.

Results
The four main themes of the patients’ transfer experiences were “hope amid despair,” “gratitude for being alive,” “recovery from suffering,” and “seeking a return to normality.”

Conclusion
Our findings expand the realistic and holistic understanding from the patient’s perspective. This study’s findings can contribute to the development of appropriate nursing interventions that can support preparation and adaptation to the transfer of ICU patients.
A Companion to Curation, Brad Buckley and John Conomos (eds), Dana Arnold (series ed.) (2020)
Authors: Sekules Veronica 
Published: July 2021

Review of: A Companion to Curation, Brad Buckley and John Conomos (eds), Dana Arnold (series ed.) (2020)
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 520 pp.,
ISBN 978-1-11920-685-9, h/bk, 53 b/w illustrations, £148.00
Prisme 7, Bright and Game Society (2020)
Occupy White Walls (OWW), StikPixels (2020)
Authors: Wang Li-Yan 
Published: July 2021

Prisme 7, Bright and Game Society (2020)
Centre Pompidou, Paris, PEGA3 (Free) https://prisme7.io/

Occupy White Walls (OWW), StikPixels (2020)
(Free) https://www.oww.io/
Pain Experience in Pancreatitis: Strong Association of Genetic Risk Loci for Anxiety and PTSD in Patients With Severe, Constant, and Constant-Severe Pain
Authors: Dunbar Ellyn K. , Greer Phil J. , Amann Stephen T. , Alkaade Samer , Banks Peter , Brand Randall , Conwell Darwin L. , Forsmark Christopher E. , Gardner Timothy B. , Guda Nalini M. , Lewis Michele D. , Machicado Jorge D. , Muniraj Thiruvengadam , Papachristou Georgios I. , Romagnuolo Joseph , Sandhu Bimaljit S. , Sherman Stuart , Slivka Adam , Wilcox C. Mel , Yadav Dhiraj , Whitcomb David C. ,   for the NAPS2 Consortium
Published: July 2021

INTRODUCTION:
Recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are progressive inflammatory syndromes with variable features. Pain is the primary feature that contributes to low physical and mental quality of life with a third of patients reporting severe pain. Pain experience is worsened by depression. Here, we tested the hypothesis that genetic risk of the psychiatric conditions of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with pain in CP and RAP + CP subjects.

METHODS:
The study cohort included phenotyped and genotyped RAP and CP patients from the North American Pancreatitis Study II of European Ancestry. Candidate genetic association studies were based on the absence of pain vs pain that is constant, constant-severe, or severe. Twenty-eight candidate genetic loci for anxiety and PTSD risk were identified in the literature and were the focus of this study.

RESULTS:
We identified 24 significant pain-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms within 13 loci across the 3 pain patterns in CP and RAP + CP (P < 0.002). Thirteen anxiety or PTSD genes were within these pain loci indicating nonrandom associations (P < 4.885 × 10−23). CTNND2 was associated with all pain categories and all pancreatitis etiologies. Implicated systems include neuronal signaling (HTR2A, DRD3, NPY, and BDNF), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (NR3C1 and FKBP5), and cell-cell interaction (CTNND2 and THBS2).

DISCUSSION:
A component of constant and severe pain in patients with RAP and CP is associated with genetic predisposition to anxiety and PTSD. Identification of patients at risk eligible for trials of targeted treatment as a component of a multidisciplinary pain management strategy should be formally evaluated.
Gastropancreatic Fistula: A Rare Complication of Peptic Ulcer Disease
Authors: Dhruv Samyak , Gurala Dhineshreddy , Philipose Jobin , Gumaste Vivek 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACT
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has a significant health burden. Penetration is a rare complication of PUD, where an ulcer erodes into another organ. To the best of our knowledge, we present the fourth case in the literature where a gastric ulcer has penetrated the pancreas. A 67-year-old man with a history of PUD presented to the emergency department for epigastric pain. Endoscopy revealed a large gastric ulcer at the incisura with magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating gastropancreatic fistula. Our case emphasizes on the importance of timely identification and treatment strategies for gastropancreatic fistula, the rarest complications of PUD.
Can Contingency Fee Reforms Improve Maternal & Infant Health? Evidence from Nevada
Authors: DeCicca Philip , Malak Natalie 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Contingency fee laws are intended to reduce the amount of defensive medicine practiced by physicians, but their impact on such behavior is theoretically ambiguous. While nearly half of all states have adopted some type of contingency fee laws, very little empirical evidence exists with respect to related impacts, and no rigorous studies examine their potential impacts on health. We examine the impact of a particular contingency fee reform that occurred in Nevada in 2004 using synthetic control methods. Consistent with our expectations, we find a systematic increase in the C-section rate of less-educated mothers in Nevada after implementation of the reform. However, we find no systematic effect on infant mortality, suggesting that contingency reforms contribute to an increase in defensive medicine without a corresponding improvement in health.
Modeling Short-Range Interactions in Concentrated Newtonian Fiber Bundle Suspensions
Authors: Meyer N. , Hrymak A. N. , Kärger L. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) offer a cost efficient way to enhance mechanical properties of a polymer with long discontinuous fibers, while maintaining formability to integrate functions, such as ribs, beads or other structural reinforcements. During SMC manufacturing, fibers remain often in a bundled configuration and the resulting fiber architecture determines part properties. Accurate prediction of this architecture by simulation of flow under consideration of the transient rheology and transient fiber orientations can speed up the development process. In particular, the interaction of bundles is of significance to predict molding pressures correctly in a direct simulation approach, which resolves individual fiber bundles. Thus, this work investigates the tangential short-range lubrication forces between fiber bundles with analytical and numerical techniques. A relation between the effective sheared gap between bundles and the bundle separation distance at the contact point is found and compared to experimental results from literature. The result is implemented in an ABAQUS contact subroutine to incorporate short-range interactions in a direct bundle simulation framework.
Nanoclay Migration and the Rheological Response of PBAT/LDPE Blends
Authors: Nofar M. , Mohammadi M. , Carreau P. J. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Blends of a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and a low density polyethylene (LDPE) (80 wt%/20 wt%) were prepared through a twin screw extruder while incorporating 3 wt% Cloisite 30B (C30B) nanoclay that possessed a much higher affinity with PBAT. The blends were processed through three melt mixing strategies: ( i) direct mixing of all three components, (ii) mixing C30B and PBAT followed by mixing with LDPE, and (iii) mixing C30B and LDPE followed by mixing with PBAT. The rheological properties of each system were determined in small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) experiments. The migration of C30B nanoparticles from the LDPE minor phase towards the PBAT matrix was then monitored in the blend nanocomposites prepared through strategy (iii) via SAOS time sweep experiments. It was firstly understood that the C30B migration could be detected during time sweep SAOS experiments. The migration time was observed to be frequency dependent due to the smaller length scales probed at larger frequencies. Such migration occurred even faster when the SAOS time sweep experiments were conducted at a higher temperature due to the viscosity reduction.
Analyzing trends in the aural decoding errors of Japanese EFL learners
Authors: Lange Kriss , Matthews Joshua 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Japanese EFL learners’ difficulty with accurately decoding connected English speech motivated this mixed methods study. The aural decoding capacities of 63 first-year Japanese university students, with low to intermediate level English proficiency, were first measured with a battery of paused transcription tests (PTT). The transcriptions were clusters of three-words that each possessed attributes typical of co-articulated speech. In addition, after each test, a subgroup of 10 participants individually listened to the same PTT and recounted introspective self-observations of their perceived difficulties with the aural decoding tasks in their L1. These quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify four trends in decoding errors which were categorized as follows: limited collocation familiarity, syntactic knowledge constraints, difficulties utilizing co-text, and L1 phonological influence. This study investigates some of the difficulties associated with aural decoding, highlights the challenges of identifying the origins of decoding errors and suggests that more focus is needed on developing decoding skills as well as knowledge of formulaic language in L2 listening education.
Philosophy and Digitization: Dangers and Possibilities in the New Digital Worlds
Authors: Pedersen Esther Oluffa , Brincker Maria 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Our world is undergoing an enormous digital transformation. Nearly no area of our social, informational, political, economic, cultural, and biological spheres are left unchanged. What can philosophy contribute as we try to understand and think through these changes? How does digitization challenge past ideas of who we are and where we are headed? Where does it leave our ethical aspirations and cherished ideals of democracy, equality, privacy, trust, freedom, and social embeddedness? Who gets to decide, control, and harness the powers of digitization and for which purposes? Epistemologically, do most of us understand these new mediations – and thus fabrics – of our new world? Lastly – how is the new technological landscape shaping not only our living conditions but also our collective imaginary and our self-identities?