bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
As technology disrupts equity, advocates take action: Where do evaluators fit in?
Authors: Lynn Jewlya , Mehta Twisha 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAdvocacy is rapidly evolving for many different reasons, ranging from increasing polarization and existential threats reaching crisis points to shifts in whose voices are heard and how much advocates focus on building power. One of the seismic changes in advocacy that cuts across all of these issues, and influences governance practices more broadly, is the rate of technological advance, which is faster than ever before. Some advocates are shifting their practices, staying abreast of technological advances, attending to how they are influencing equity, and even using emerging technologies as part of their strategies. If evaluation is to remain relevant and useful as advocates are increasingly responding to technological advances, evaluators must be aware of these shifts, understand how to think differently about measurement, have the skills to use some of the emerging technologies themselves, and be ready to help advocates learn, adapt, and iterate their strategies.
A radical arc in systematically documenting political context in advocacy evaluation
Authors: Robinson Nicole 
Published: September 2021

AbstractTen major global forces are fixed within the current political context: racial capitalism, neo‐slavery, neoliberalism, white supremacy, neofascism, neocolonialism, neo‐feudalism, imperialism, corporatism, and radical imagination. These forces have been underexamined in the current advocacy evaluation practice, creating missed opportunities for evaluation as a tool for liberation. Attending to these forces and the logics underpinning them should be a new arc within the advocacy evaluation field. Expanded evaluator skills, tools, and methodologies are needed to fully assess advocacy theories of change, campaign activities, and their results in context vis‐à‐vis these 10 global forces. Several regressive field‐level processes inhibiting radical portrayals of the political context and the creation and use of liberatory metrics in advocacy evaluation are discussed.
Radical rerouting: New roads for advocacy evaluation
Authors: Schlangen Rhonda , Coe Jim 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis article discusses the evolution of evaluation of advocacy and its alignment with different parties’ interests in rigor, participation, and usefulness. We then explore responses to our paper, No Royal Road: Finding and Following the Natural Pathways of Advocacy Evaluation, which sought to reframe advocacy evaluation concepts and analytic frames in ways that take into account the complex contexts in which advocacy takes place. We suggest that a narrow conception of power is acting as a fundamental barrier to evaluation approaches that enable and support transformative advocacy. The article concludes with an argument to fully embrace complexity and power issues, noting that this points to radically different implications for future evaluation practices. This argument is, in many ways, anti‐paradigmatic to the current evaluation field, but it draws on a thread of thinking going back to the pioneers in the field.
The art and science of developmental and advocacy evaluation
Authors: Taddy‐Sandino Sonia , Saltzman Anna , Spilker Shayla 
Published: September 2021

AbstractOver the past 15 years, the field of advocacy and policy change (APC) evaluation has evolved considerably in terms of refining the purpose and methods of this type of evaluation. At the same time, the dynamic nature of APC work requires evaluators to draw upon a range of evaluation approaches, including systems thinking, developmental evaluation, and participatory evaluation, among others. Developmental evaluation is particularly well‐suited for an APC context given its focus on documenting complexity and establishing frequent feedback loops. Previous research has highlighted the value of APC and developmental evaluation approaches and the methods that can be used for each one (i.e., the science of these types of evaluations). However, less guidance exists on how evaluators can navigate the dance between APC and developmental evaluation methods and the mindset needed to simultaneously draw upon the strengths of each one (i.e., the art of doing APC and developmental evaluations simultaneously). This chapter fills that gap by exploring the interplay between APC and developmental evaluation through the lens of one case study. In 2017, Engage R+D embarked on an evaluation of an initiative—funded by The California Endowment—to defend and protect the health and well‐being of Californians, particularly immigrants and other vulnerable populations. The chapter includes an overview of this case example; a description of how we applied developmental evaluation principles; considerations for methods, data collection, and analysis; and a description of how we approached utilization of evaluative information. It concludes with considerations for the field.
A learning agenda for the advocacy evaluation field's future
Authors: Coffman Julia , Stachowiak Sarah , Raynor Jared 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis volume set out to document, illustrate, and critique the progress and innovation that has occurred during the advocacy evaluation field's first phase of development. This final chapter identifies how the context in which advocacy evaluation plays out is shifting. It describes how these shifts impact how advocates, advocacy funders, and advocacy evaluators think about what works, and what has value. Given this context, and lifting up the ideas of other chapter authors, the chapter concludes with a learning agenda for the field's next phase of development—four questions to help guide future field innovation and collective learning.
River reversal of the Parlung River at Songzong Town in the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Hu , Deng Lin , Li Kaijin 
Published: September 2021

Revealing reorganization patterns of major rivers and their drainage basins have great implications for understanding evolution of mountainous landforms. Drainage reversal, as an important river process, has been widely considered to be directly associated with stream capture highlighting river erosion. As such, few study reported any other mechanisms for explaining formation of drainage reversal. However, its mechanism still remains open due to infrequent occurrence or lacking clear field evidence. Here, we first show that glacial damming highlighting river aggradation can also induce river reversal. Based on geomorphic analysis, measurements of terrace cobbles, and dating results, we suggest that two river reversals occurred at Songzong along the Parlung River in the south‐eastern region of the Tibetan Plateau. Specifically, the river reversed eastward due to a glacier damming event prior to ~23.7 ± 2.0 ka BP and then reversed to flow westward at 20.4 ± 2.7 ka BP due to the break of the glacier dam. Moreover, all the reaches upstream of the glacier deposits along the two rivers at Songzong have smaller channel steepness compared with the corresponding segments downstream, indicating that glacier deposits significantly influenced river incision process of the Parlung River. Combined with previous studies, our results may indicate that glaciers might be an important factor to influence river evolution and fluvial landform of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis of the Tibetan Plateau.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 is selectively sequestered into Schwann cell extracellular vesicles where it functions as a TNFα decoy
Authors: Sadri Mahrou , Hirosawa Naoya , Le Jasmine , Romero Haylie , Martellucci Stefano , Kwon Hyo Jun , Pizzo Donald , Ohtori Seiji , Gonias Steven L. , Campana Wendy M. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSchwann cells (SCs) are known to produce extracellular vesicles (EV) that participate in cell–cell communication by transferring cargo to target cells, including mRNAs, microRNAs, and biologically active proteins. Herein, we report a novel mechanism whereby SC EVs may regulate PNS physiology, especially in injury, by controlling the activity of TNFα. SCs actively sequester tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 (TNFR1) into EVs at high density, accounting for about 2% of the total protein in SC EVs (~1000 copies TNFR1/EV). Although TNFR2 was robustly expressed by SCs in culture, TNFR2 was excluded from SC EVs. SC EV TNFR1 bound TNFα, decreasing the concentration of free TNFα available to bind to cells and thus served as a TNFα decoy. SC EV TNFR1 significantly inhibited TNFα‐induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation in cultured SCs. When TNFR1 was proteolytically removed from SC EVs using tumor necrosis factor‐α converting enzyme (TACE) or neutralized with antibody, the ability of TNFα to activate p38 MAPK in the presence of these EVs was restored. As further evidence of its decoy activity, SC EV TNFR1 modified TNFα activities in vitro including: (1) regulation of expression of other cytokines; (2) effects on SC morphology; and (3) effects on SC viability. SC EVs also modified the effects of TNFα on sciatic nerve morphology and neuropathic pain‐related behavior in vivo. By sequestering TNFR1 in EVs, SCs may buffer against the potentially toxic effects of TNFα. SC EVs provide a novel mechanism for the spatial and temporal regulation of neuro‐inflammation.
Immediate and informative feedback during a pandemic: Using stated preference analysis to predict vaccine uptake rates
Authors: Vásquez William F. , Trudeau Jennifer M. , Alicea‐Planas Jessica 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn response to an emerging pandemic, there is urgent need for information regarding individual evaluation of risk and preferences toward mitigation strategies such as vaccinations. However, with social distancing policies and financial stress during an outbreak, traditional robust survey methodologies of face‐to‐face, probabilistic sampling, may not be feasible to deploy quickly, especially in developing countries. We recommend a protocol that calls for a sensitive survey design, acceptance of a web‐based approach and adjustments for uncertainty of respondents, to deliver urgently needed information to policymakers as the public health crisis unfolds, rather than in its aftermath. This information is critical to tailor comprehensive vaccination campaigns that reach critical immunity thresholds. We apply our recommendations in a regional study of 16 Latin American countries in the month following index cases of COVID‐19. We use a split‐sample, contingent valuation approach to evaluate the effects of cost, duration of immunity and effectiveness of the vaccine. Our results show that cost and duration of immunity are significant factors in the decision to vaccinate, while the degree of effectiveness is insignificant, unless the vaccine is 100% effective. Income as well as perceived risk and severity of the virus are important determinants also.
HBcrAg Levels Are Associated With Virological Response to Treatment With Interferon in Patients With Hepatitis Delta
Authors: Sandmann Lisa , Yurdaydin Cihan , Deterding Katja , Heidrich Benjamin , Hardtke Svenja , Lehmann Patrick , Bremer Birgit , Manns Michael P. , Cornberg Markus , Wedemeyer Heiner , Maasoumy Benjamin ,   for the HIDIT‐II Study Group
Published: September 2021

Standard treatment of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection remains pegylated‐interferon alfa (peg‐IFNα) in most centers, which is not only associated with rather low efficacy but several adverse events. Hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) is linked to intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA levels and has previously been suggested as response predictor in IFN‐based treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) mono‐infection. This study aimed to investigate the value of HBcrAg in the management of patients with HBV/HDV co‐infection undergoing peg‐IFNα treatment. The Hep‐Net‐International‐Delta‐Hepatitis‐Intervention Trial‐2 study included 120 patients co‐infected with HBV/HDV. Patients were treated for 96 weeks with peg‐IFNα and either tenofovir or placebo. Ninety‐nine patients with HDV‐RNA results 24 weeks after end of treatment (FU24) were included in this analysis, of whom 32 patients (32.3%) had undetectable HDV RNA at FU24. HBcrAg was measured at baseline, week 12, 24, 48, 96, and FU24. HBcrAg levels showed no significant correlation with HDV RNA but were significantly linked to treatment outcome. HBcrAg levels < 4.5 log IU/mL at baseline, week 24, and week 48 had high negative predictive value (NPV) for achieving undetectable HDV RNA at FU24 (81.8%, 87.1% and 95.0%, respectively). Similarly, HBcrAg levels at week 96 were significantly higher in patients with viral relapse until FU24 (3.0 vs. 3.63 log IU/mL; P = 0.0089). Baseline, week 24, and week 48 HBcrAg levels were also associated with the likelihood of achieving HBsAg level < 100 IU/mL at FU24 (HBcrAg < 3.0 log IU/mL: NPV 91.7%, 90.4% and 92.3%, respectively). Test statistics improved when combining HBcrAg with additional viral and clinical parameters. Conclusion: HBcrAg is linked to treatment response to peg‐IFNα in patients with HBV/HDV co‐infection and could be a promising marker to determine treatment futility.
Quantifying the impact of landscape changes on hydrological variables in the alpine and cold region using hydrological model and remote sensing data
Authors: Jin Zizhen , Zhao Qiudong , Qin Xiang , Zhang Jingtian , Zhang Hui , Qin Jia , Qin Yu , Li Hongyuan , Chen Jizu , Liu Yushuo , Li Yanzhao , Wang Lihui 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuantifying the impact of landscape on hydrological variables is essential for the sustainable development of water resources. Understanding how landscape changes influence hydrological variables will greatly enhance the understanding of hydrological processes. Important vegetation parameters are considered in this study by using remote sensing data and VIC‐CAS model to analyse the impact of landscape changes on hydrology in upper reaches of the Shule River Basin (URSLB). The results show there are differences in the runoff generation of landscape both in space and time. With increasing altitude, the runoff yields increased, with approximately 79.9% of the total runoff generated in the high mountains (4200–5900 m), and mainly consumed in the mid‐low mountain region. Glacier landscape produced the largest runoff yields (24.9% of the total runoff), followed by low‐coverage grassland (LG; 22.5%), alpine cold desert (AL; 19.6%), mid‐coverage grassland (MG; 15.6%), bare land (12.5%), high‐coverage grassland (HG; 4.5%) and shrubbery (0.4%). The relative capacity of runoff generation by landscapes, from high to low, was the glaciers, AL, LG, HG, MG, shrubbery and bare land. Furthermore, changes in landscapes cause hydrological variables changes, including evapotranspiration, runoff and baseflow. The study revealed that HG, MG, and bare land have a positive impact on evapotranspiration and a negative impact on runoff and baseflow, whereas AL and LG have a positive impact on runoff and baseflow and a negative impact on evapotranspiration. In contrast, glaciers have a positive impact on runoff. After the simulation in four vegetation scenarios, we concluded that the runoff regulation ability of grassland is greater than that of bare land. The grassland landscape is essential since it reduced the flood peak and conserved the soil and water.
Clinical performance of methylation as a biomarker for cervical carcinoma in situ and cancer diagnosis: A worldwide study
Authors: Banila Cristiana , Lorincz Attila T. , Scibior‐Bentkowska Dorota , Clifford Gary M. , Kumbi Birhanu , Beyene Dereje , Wheeler Cosette M. , Cuschieri Kate , Cuzick Jack , Nedjai Belinda 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe shift towards primary human papillomavirus (HPV)‐based screening has necessitated the search for a secondary triage test that provides sufficient sensitivity to detect high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer, but also brings an improved specificity to avoid unnecessary clinical work and colposcopy referrals. We evaluated the performance of the previously described DNA‐methylation test (S5) in detecting CIN3 and cancers from diverse geographic settings in high‐, medium‐ and low‐income countries, using the cut‐off of 0.80 and exploratory cut‐offs of 2.62 and 3.70. Assays were performed using exfoliated cervical specimens (n = 808) and formalin‐fixed biopsies (n = 166) from women diagnosed with cytology‐negative results (n = 220), CIN3 (n = 204) and cancer stages I (n = 245), II (n = 249), III (n = 28) and IV (n = 22). Methylation increased proportionally with disease severity (Cuzick test for trend, P < .0001). S5 accurately separated women with negative‐histology from CIN3 or cancer (P < .0001). At the 0.80 cut‐off, 543/544 cancers were correctly identified as S5 positive (99.81%). At cut‐off 3.70, S5 showed a sensitivity of 95.77% with improved specificity. The S5 odds ratios of women negative for cervical disease vs CIN3+ were significantly higher than for HPV16/18 genotyping at all cut‐offs (all P < .0001). At S5 cut‐off 0.80, 96.15% of consistently high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)‐negative cancers (tested with multiple hrHPV‐genotyping assay) were positive by S5. These cancers may have been missed in current primary hrHPV‐screening programmes. The S5 test can accurately detect CIN3 and malignancy irrespective of geographic context and setting. The test can be used as a screening and triage tool. Adjustment of the S5 cut‐off can be performed considering the relative importance given to sensitivity vs specificity.
Oncologic safety of laparoscopic surgery for women with apparent early‐stage uterine serous carcinoma: A multi‐institutional retrospective cohort study
Authors: Xu Yu , Shen Juan , Zhang Qianwen , He Yuedong , Chen Cheng , Tian Yong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the long‐term survival outcomes of patients with apparent early‐stage uterine serous carcinoma (USC) who underwent laparoscopic staging surgery with those who underwent open surgical staging.MethodsA total of 295 patients from four Chinese teaching hospitals were included. Overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were estimated and compared using the Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test among patients after laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to adjust for potential confounding factors.ResultsFor patients with apparent early‐stage USC, laparoscopic surgery was associated with deteriorated DFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–2.93, P = 0.012), and there was no significant difference in OS between the two groups (HR 1.74, 95% CI 0.99–3.08, P = 0.056). However, after adjusting for confounding factors, the surgical approach was not an independent prognostic factor for DFS (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.63–2.12, P = 0.636) and OS (adjusted HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.52–2.38, P = 0.794) in apparent early‐stage USC.ConclusionFor apparent early‐stage USC, laparoscopic surgery is safe. This needs to be confirmed by future prospective clinical trials.
Association of vaginal dysbiosis and gestational diabetes mellitus with adverse perinatal outcomes
Authors: Rafat Dalia , Singh Sunita , Nawab Tabassum , Khan Fatima , Khan Asad U. , Khalid Shamsi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and is an independent risk factor for vaginal dysbiosis. Understanding the vaginal microbiota in health and disease is essential to screen, detect, and manage complications of pregnancy. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess and compare vaginal dysbiosis in pregnancy in women with and without GDM and examine its impact on perinatal outcomes in our population.MethodsThe present study was a prospective cohort study recruiting pregnant women. The subjects were divided into two groups (GDM and non‐GDM) and were followed until delivery to assess fetomaternal outcomes. Vaginal samples were collected at 24–28 weeks and 34–38 weeks for Nugent scoring and determination of bacterial and fungal species.ResultsThe study recruited 502 pregnant women, with a final assessment of 320 mother–infant pairs (GDM n = 134; non‐GDM n = 186). We found a significant association of vaginal dysbiosis with GDM and adverse perinatal outcomes. Significant differences were also seen in status of infection and its trimester‐wise changes in relation to hyperglycemia.ConclusionBy defining an association of vaginal dysbiosis with GDM and its correlation with perinatal outcomes, the present study calls for exploitation of this potential association as a new target in the prevention and treatment of GDM and in alleviating their undesired maternal and infant outcomes.
Prediction of vaginal birth after cesarean for labor dystocia by sonographic estimated fetal weight
Authors: Levin Gabriel , Tsur Abraham , Tenenbaum Lee , Mor Nizan , Zamir Michal , Meyer Raanan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the association of the weight difference between the index trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) sonographic estimated fetal weight (sEFW) and prior delivery birth weight with TOLAC success rate among women with previous labor dystocia and no prior vaginal delivery.MethodsA retrospective cohort study including all women with prior cesarean for labor dystocia and no prior vaginal delivery undergoing TOLAC during between March 2011 and June 2020 with a sEFW within 1 week from delivery.ResultsOverall, 168 women were included, of those 107 (63.7%) successfully delivered vaginally. The mean sEFW and mean birth weight were lower in the TOLAC success group (P = 0.010 and P = 0.013, respectively). The rate of higher sEFW in the current delivery compared with the previous delivery did not differ between study groups. The rate of higher TOLAC birth weight was lower in the TOLAC success group (odds ratio 0.30; 95% confidence interval 0.15–0.58). In multivariable regression analysis, maternal age older than 30 years, induction of labor, and higher birth weight were independently negatively associated with TOLAC success (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.27 [0.10–0.70], 0.27 [0.08–0.90], and 0.43 [0.19–0.94]; P = 0.008, P = 0.034, and P = 0.035, respectively).ConclusionssEFW characteristics did not predict the success or failure of TOLAC among women with prior labor dystocia and no previous vaginal delivery.
Mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate diagnosed after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy
Authors: Shimizu Kosuke , Inoue Ryo , Tomochika Shinobu , Isoyama Naohito , Yamamoto Yoshiaki , Matsumoto Hiroaki , Shiraishi Koji , Yoshino Shigefumi , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Matsuyama Hideyasu 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionMucin‐producing adenocarcinoma of the prostate is a rare disease that includes prostate adenocarcinoma with mucus production, secondary adenocarcinoma from the bladder or colorectum, and adenocarcinoma from the urothelium of the prostatic urethra. We describe prostate‐specific antigen‐negative mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate.Case presentationThe patient had urinary retention and a serum prostate‐specific antigen level of 0.74 ng/mL. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a prostate tumor with a mucous component. We diagnosed adenocarcinoma by prostate biopsy and subsequently performed robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy. Mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate was diagnosed by pathological examinations. Lung metastasis, developing within 3 months after surgery, was treated using chemotherapy.ConclusionEndocrine therapy is ineffective for mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate diagnosis requires pathological and immunohistochemical analyses. It is important to surgically remove the primary lesion, and robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy may provide an effective approach. Multimodal therapy is essential to treat for mucin‐producing urothelial‐type adenocarcinoma of the prostate.