bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors in patients with complete response of the tumour (ypT0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection of rectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Hang , Sun Ge , Zheng Kuo , Lou Zheng , Gao Xian H. , Meng Rong G. , Furnée Edgar J. B. , Zhang Wei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere are only a few studies on the prognosis of patients with complete response of the tumour (ypT0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and radical resection of rectal cancer. The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors with regard to oncological outcome in ypT0 patients after NCRT and radical resection.MethodsAll ypT0 patients with rectal cancer after NCRT and radical resection between January 2010 and June 2019 were included. Cox univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the prognostic factors of these patients.ResultsSeventy‐six patients with ypT0 rectal cancer were included. In nine patients (11.8%), lymph node metastasis was identified. Age, gender, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and ypN+ were risk factors associated with a worse 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rate in univariate analysis (P = 0.08, 0.14, 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). In multivariate analysis, ypN+ and elevated CEA before NCRT were independent risk factors for worse 5‐year DFS (P = 0.005 and 0.021, respectively). Elevated CEA before NCRT, post‐operative chemotherapy and ypN+ were risk factors associated with worse overall survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.14, 0.002 and 0.17, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, none of these three factors were independent risk factors for worse overall survival (P = 0.20, 0.34 and 0.06, respectively).ConclusionypN+ and elevated CEA before NCRT were found to be independent risk factors for an unfavourable DFS in ypT0 patients with complete response of the tumour after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.
Prognostic impact of tumour sidedness in patients with stage II colon cancer: a single‐centre retrospective study
Authors: Iguchi Kenta , Mushiake Hiroyuki , Fukushima Tadao , Rino Yasushi , Masuda Munetaka 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe search for high‐risk factors in stage II colon cancer (CC) is ongoing and several high‐risk factors for stage II CC have been identified; however, the effects of tumour sidedness on prognosis are not clear. This study aims to determine whether tumour sidedness could be identified as another high‐risk factor for stage II CC.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 189 patients with stage II CC and compared clinicopathological findings and long‐term outcomes between the patients with right colonic cancer (RCC) and with left colonic cancer (LCC). Prognostic factors for survival were determined using univariate and Cox proportional regression analyses.ResultsA total of 72 patients were diagnosed with RCC and 117 patients were diagnosed with LCC. Patients with RCC were significantly older (P < 0.001), and the number of harvested lymph nodes was greater in the RCC group (RCC: 25 versus LCC: 19; P = 0.003). The overall survival (OS) was worse in the RCC group than the OS in the LCC group (5‐year survival rate – RCC: 81.3% versus LCC: 90.4%; P = 0.025). Cox proportional regression analysis showed that tumour sidedness was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (hazard ratio (HR) 3.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61–8.85, P = 0.022) and DFS (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.33–4.99, P = 0.005).ConclusionPatients with RCC have more negative prognostic factors and worse long‐term outcomes than those with LCC in stage II CC. Tumour sidedness is a high‐risk factor in stage II CC patients.
Differences in clinical presentation of primary open‐angle glaucoma between African and European populations
Authors: Bonnemaijer Pieter W. M. , Lo Faro Valeria , Sanyiwa Anna J. , Hassan Hassan G. , Cook Colin ,   GIGA study group, Van de Laar Suzanne , Lemij Hans G. , Klaver Caroline C. W. , Jansonius Nomdo M. , Thiadens Alberta A. H. J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposePrimary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) has been reported to occur more frequently in Africans, and to follow a more severe course compared to Europeans. We aimed to describe characteristics of POAG presentation and treatment across three ethnic groups from Africa and one from Europe.MethodsWe ascertained 151 POAG patients from South African Coloured (SAC) and 94 South African Black (SAB) ethnicity from a university hospital in South Africa. In Tanzania, 310 patients were recruited from a university hospital and a referral hospital. In the Netherlands, 241 patients of European ancestry were included. All patients were over 35 years old and had undergone an extensive ophthalmic examination. Patients were diagnosed according to the ISGEO criteria. A biogeographic ancestry analysis was performed to estimate the proportion of genetic African ancestry (GAA).ResultsThe biogeographic ancestry analysis showed that the median proportion of GAA was 97.6% in Tanzanian, 100% in SAB, 34.2% in SAC and 1.5% in Dutch participants. Clinical characteristics at presentation for Tanzanians, SAB, SAC and Dutch participants, respectively: mean age: 63, 57, 66, 70 years (p < 0.001); visual acuity in the worse eye: 1.78, 1.78, 0.3, 0.3 LogMAR (p < 0.001); maximum intraocular pressure of both eyes: 36, 34, 29, 29 mmHg (panova < 0.001); maximum vertical cup to disc ratio (VCDR) of both eyes: 0.90, 0.90, 0.84, 0.83 (p < 0.001); mean central corneal thickness: 506, 487, 511, 528 μm (p < 0.001). Fourteen percent of Tanzanian patients presented with blindness (<3/60 Snellen) in the better eye in contrast to only 1% in the Dutch.ConclusionIn this multi‐ethnic comparative study, Sub‐Saharan Africans present at a younger age with lower visual acuity, higher IOP, larger VCDR, than SAC and Dutch participants. This indicates the more progressive and destructive course in Sub‐Saharan Africans.
The effect of trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation on postural intraocular pressure changes in glaucomatous eyes
Authors: Belkin Avner , Dar Nimrod , Pillar Shani , Tempelhof Ortal F. , Barkana Yaniv , Sheiman Vadim , Naftali Ben Haim Liron , Geffen Noa 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the effect of trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation on posture related intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in glaucomatous eyes.MethodsEyes in this prospective study were divided into three groups: those that underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (Ahmed group), those that underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (trabeculectomy group) and those treated medically (medication group). IOP was measured in the sitting position, and after 15 min in the left lateral decubitus position using a Tonopen XL, and a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). For GAT measurements in the left lateral decubitus position, we used a specialized system comprised of a motorized bed attached to a modified slit‐lamp table.Results111 eyes of 64 glaucoma patients were included in the analysis: 19 in the Ahmed group, 46 in the trabeculectomy group and 46 in the medication group. The difference in IOP between the sitting and supine positions was significant in the medication (2.23 mmHg) and trabeculectomy (1.48 mmHg) groups, but not in the Ahmed group (0.53 mmHg). This significance was reached with the GAT, but not with the Tonopen. A rise of 5 mmHg or more between the sitting and supine positions was documented in 5.2%, 4.3% and 15.2% of eyes in the Ahmed, trabeculectomy and medication groups, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient for IOP measurements in the supine position demonstrated good correlation between the two tonometers.ConclusionsAhmed valve surgery significantly reduces postural IOP response as compared with medically treated controls. There was no significant difference between Ahmed valve and trabeculectomy in terms of their effect on the postural IOP change.
Longitudinal changes in the ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness of age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Kim Ju Mi , Lee Min‐Woo , Lim Hyung Bin , Won Yeo Kyoung , Shin Yong‐il , Lee Woo‐Hyuck , Kim Jung‐Yeul 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposeTo determine longitudinal changes of the ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer (GC‐IPL) thickness in patients with non‐exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) without other ophthalmic disease.MethodsThirty‐three eyes of 33 patients with early and intermediate non‐exudative AMD (non‐exudative AMD group) and 33 normal control eyes were followed for 2 years, and GC‐IPL thickness was measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography at 1‐year intervals. The mean rate of GC‐IPL reduction was estimated using a linear mixed model and compared between two groups.ResultsThe mean age of patients in the non‐exudative AMD group and control groups were 68.82 ± 6.81 years and 67.73 ± 5.87 years, respectively (p = 0.488). The mean GC‐IPL thickness at the first visit was 76.61 ± 16.33 μm in the non‐exudative AMD and 81.76 ± 3.69 μm in control group (p = 0.387), and these values significantly decreased over time, with an average reduction rate of average GC‐IPL −0.86 μm/year in the non‐exudative AMD group and −0.32 μm/year in the control group. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001), and there was also a significant interaction between group and duration in linear mixed models in mean GC‐IPL thickness (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe reduction rate of the GC‐IPL thickness was greater in non‐exudative AMD eyes, even at relatively early stages of the disease. Physicians should maintain awareness of the presence of non‐exudative AMD in various cases of ophthalmic diseases where GC‐IPL thickness evaluation is necessary.
Warning signal: Political trust, typhoons and the myth of the ‘Li's field’ in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Mathew Y.H. , Kwong Ying‐ho 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis article examines the discourse of ‘Li's Field’ in Hong Kong, named after tycoon Li Ka‐shing and used to satirically denounce the government‐business political nexus. The discourse challenges the apparent reluctance of the weather agency to decide that a typhoon is strong enough to warrant a city‐wide suspension of business activities, which would obviously be detrimental to capitalist interests. In comparison to the earlier period characterised by political trust, institutional and political factors in recent decades have intensified the impression of government‐business collusion and the erosion of political trust. Li's Field is a case illustrating how political distrust can spill over into bureaucracy, challenging the traditions of bureaucratic neutrality and meritocratic and scientific policymaking. This article provides an analysis of the ‘field’ with primary interview data, media discourse analysis and secondary data. This study contributes by exploring political trust in politicians and bureaucrats, and how the former spills over into the latter.
Some considerations on the terminology applied to dung beetle functional groups
Authors: Tonelli Mattia 
Published: February 2021

1. Dung beetles are an important group of insects that use excrement for feeding and reproductive purposes. The interest of the scientific community in dung beetles is highlighted by the increasing number of investigations that use them as the focal group.2. In the last few years, several studies have used dung beetles as bioindicators and to study ‘biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning relationships’ using functional traits. One of the most widely used functional traits in dung beetle studies is their reproductive behaviour.3. In order to evaluate the use of relevant terminology regarding dung beetle nesting behaviour I analysed 1143 articles published between 1969 and 2020.4. The analysis brought to light the following four broad issues regarding dung beetle functional groups: (i) the interchangeable use of terms; (ii) overgeneralizations; (iii) the equating of nesting and trophic behaviour and (iv) misspellings. After reviewing these issues, I propose a solution.
Ending Bretton Woods: evidence from the Nixon tapes†
Authors: Butkiewicz James L. , Ohlmacher Scott 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRichard Nixon's August 1971 announcement of a set of policies known collectively as the New Economic Policy (NEP), or the ‘Nixon shock’, effectively terminated the Bretton Woods system (BWS) of fixed exchange rates that had governed the international monetary system since 1944. While there are many accounts of Nixon's decision to end the BWS, the secret Nixon White House tapes provide unique insights into the decision‐making process and Nixon's struggle with this decision. Using the tapes as evidence, we find that Nixon resisted ending the BWS for political reasons and did not fully understand the NEP's strategy, particularly the fact that the domestic policies were designed to provide cover for the international policies. The tapes also clarify that the decision to adopt the NEP was made prior to the Camp David Summit of 13–15 August 1971 in response to general speculative pressure. While the US reacted to pressure on the dollar, Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally attempted to appear to be driving decisions for the domestic electorate. The temporary float of exchange rates as part of the NEP inevitably became permanent as a result of Nixon's choice of advisors and his preferences for open capital flows and stimulative monetary policy.
Biases and their impact on opinions of transgender bathroom usage
Authors: Clements Zakary A. , Munro Geoffrey D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe relationship between personality traits and biased assimilation, evaluating arguments, and persuasive messages more favorably if supporting pre‐existing attitudes, lacks adequate research. Research suggests that higher narcissistic traits are associated with biased reactions. Additionally, research suggests that people with greater scientific reasoning abilities have more biased reactions to information that challenges their attitude, as they more easily locate flaws on topics that oppose their beliefs. Participants (N = 260) completed measures to identify their views on trans bathroom use, as well as other personality and attitude measures. They were randomly assigned to read one of the two articles using fake scientific data that either supported trans people using a bathroom reflecting their gender identity or that they should use a bathroom matching their sex‐assigned at birth. Participants rated the quality of the article significantly higher when their opinion on bathroom use was congruent with the article than when it was incongruent. We used regression analyses with participants' perceptions of the quality of the article as the outcome variable and scientific reasoning scores, narcissism personality index scores, open‐mindedness scores as predictor variables. In the mismatch group, the higher the scores on scientific reasoning, the lower the ratings of the quality of the opinion incongruent article. In the match group, the higher the scores on open‐mindedness, the lower the ratings of the quality of the opinion congruent article. This research suggests that bias reduction is necessary to function in a world where scientific facts are called into question on a consistent basis.
Late‐gadolinium enhancement properties associated with atrial fibrillation rotors in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Nakamura Toshihiro , Kiuchi Kunihiko , Fukuzawa Koji , Takami Mitsuru , Watanabe Yoshiaki , Izawa Yu , Suehiro Hideya , Akita Tomomi , Takemoto Makoto , Sakai Jun , Yatomi Atsusuke , Sonoda Yusuke , Takahara Hiroyuki , Nakasone Kazutaka , Yamamoto Kyoko , Negi Noriyuki , Kono Atsushi , Ashihara Takashi , Hirata Ken‐ichi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundA computational model demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) rotors could be distributed in patchy late‐gadolinium enhancement (LGE) areas and play an important role in AF drivers. However, this was not validated in humans.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the LGE properties of AF rotors in patients with persistent AF.MethodsA total of 287 segments in 15 patients with persistent AF (long‐standing persistent AF in 9 patients) that underwent AF ablation were assessed. Non‐passively activated areas (NPAs), where rotational activation (AF rotor) was frequently observed, were detected by the novel real‐time phase mapping (ExTRa Mapping). The properties of the LGE areas were assessed using the LGE heterogeneity and the density which was evaluated by the entropy (LGE‐entropy) and the volume ratio of the enhancement voxel (LGE‐volume ratio), respectively.ResultsNPAs were found in 61 (21%) of 287 segments and were mostly found around the pulmonary vein antrum. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded an optimal cutoff value of 5.7% and 10% for the LGE‐entropy and LGE‐volume ratio, respectively. The incidence of NPAs was significantly higher at segments with an LGE‐entropy of >5.7 and LGE‐volume ratio of >10% than at the other segments (38 [30%] of 126 vs. 23 [14%] of 161 segments;p = .001). No NPAs were found at segments with an LGE‐volume ratio of >50% regardless of the LGE‐entropy. Of five patients with AF recurrence, NPAs outside the PV antrum were not ablated in three patients and the remaining NPAs were ablated, but their LGE‐entropy and LGE‐volume ratio were low.ConclusionAF rotors are mostly distributed in relatively weak and much more heterogenous LGE areas.
Meiotic drive does not cause condition‐dependent reduction of the sexual ornament in stalk‐eyed flies
Authors: Finnegan Sam Ronan , Mondani Matteo , Fowler Kevin , Pomiankowski Andrew 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMeiotic drive systems are associated with low‐frequency chromosomal inversions. These are expected to accumulate deleterious mutations due to reduced recombination and low effective population size. We test this prediction using the ‘sex‐ratio’ (SR) meiotic drive system of the Malaysian stalk‐eyed fly Teleopsis dalmanni. SR is associated with a large inversion (or inversions) on the X chromosome. In particular, we study eyespan in males carrying the SR chromosome, as this trait is a highly exaggerated, sexually dimorphic trait, known to have heightened condition‐dependent expression. Larvae were raised in low and high larval food stress environments. SR males showed reduced eyespan under the low and high stress treatments, but there was no evidence of a condition‐dependent decrease in eyespan under high stress. Similar but more complex patterns were observed for female eyespan, with evidence of additivity under low stress and heterosis under high stress. These results do not support the hypothesis that reduced sexual ornament size in meiotic drive males is due to a condition‐dependent response to the putative increase in mutation load. Instead, reduced eyespan likely reflects compensatory resource allocation to different traits in response to drive‐mediated destruction of sperm.
Enhancing clinical judgement in virtual care for complex chronic disease
Authors: Prasad G.V. Ramesh 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has transformed traditional in‐person care into a new reality of virtual care for patients with complex chronic disease (CCD), but how has this transformation impacted clinical judgement? I argue that virtual specialist‐patient interaction challenges clinical reasoning and clinical judgement (clinical reasoning combined with statistical reasoning). However, clinical reasoning can improve by recognising the abductive, deductive, and inductive methods that the clinician employs. Abductive reasoning leading to an inference to the best explanation or invention of an explanatory hypothesis is the default response to unfamiliar or confusing situations. Deductive reasoning supports a previously established goal, but deductive accuracy requires sound premises leading to a valid conclusion. Inductive reasoning uses efficient data sorting, data interpretation, and plan creation without a previously established goal, and allows assessing inferential accuracy over time. In all cases, communication remains the backbone of the clinical encounter. Virtual care for CCD challenges clinical judgement by reducing available information, so even experienced specialists who use induction might default to deduction or abduction. The visit might shorten, decreasing narrative competence and in‐turn management quality. Clinical judgement in virtual encounters can be enhanced by allowing sufficient time, employing allied health staff, using an advance script, avoiding dogmatic commitment to either virtual or in‐person encounters, special training in virtual care, and conscious awareness of abductive, deductive, and inductive reasoning processes. Clinical judgement in virtual encounters especially calls for Gestalt cognition to assess a situational pattern irreducible to its parts and independent of its particulars, so that efficient data interpretation and self‐reflection are enabled. Gestalt cognition integrates abduction, deduction, and induction, appropriately divides the time and effort spent on each, and can compensate for reduced available information. Evaluating one's clinical judgement for those components especially vulnerable to compromise can help optimize the delivery of virtual care for patients with CCD.
How perceptions of others’ work and impression management motives affect leader–member exchange development: A six‐wave latent change score model
Authors: Chen Ziguang , Huo Yuanyuan , Lam Wing , Luk Roger Chun‐To , Qureshi Israr 
Published: February 2021

Grounded on attribution theory, we propose a dynamic development model to examine the influence of subordinates’ and leaders’ perceptions of one another’s work and impression management (IM) motives on leader–member exchange (LMX) over time in newly formed teams. We test our hypotheses using a two‐level bivariate latent change score model to investigate how changes in the quality of LMX from t − 1 to t relate to perceptions of the subordinate’s work motives at t − 1 while controlling for unobserved individual differences. The implications of our findings for research, method, and practice are discussed.Practitioner points

For individual subordinates, strong perceptions of work motives help to build good leader–follower relationships, which in turn should enhance such motives.

‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression’; employees and managers at all organizational levels should recognize the importance of how their behaviour is perceived at the beginning of their interaction. However, if subordinates are continuously perceived as having high IM motives, this may negatively influence LMX.
Brandom's Leibniz
Authors: Gartenberg Zachary Micah 
Published: February 2021

AbstractI discuss an objection by Margaret Wilson against Robert Brandom's interpretation of Leibniz's account of perceptual distinctness. According to Brandom, Leibniz holds that (i) the relative distinctness of a perception is a function of its inferentially articulated content and (ii) apperception, or awareness, is explicable in terms of degrees of perceptual distinctness. Wilson alleges that Brandom confuses ‘external deducibility’ from a perceptual state of a monad to the existence of properties in the world, with ‘internally accessible content’ for the monad in that state. Drawing on Leibniz, I develop a response to Wilson on Brandom's behalf.