bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review and appraisal of clinical practice guidelines on pelvic organ prolapse using the AGREE II tool
Authors: Tsiapakidou Sofia , Nygaard Christiana Campani , Falconi Gabriele , Pape Janna , Betschart Cornelia , Doumouchtsis Stergios K ,   CHORUS: An International Collaboration for Harmonising Outcomes, Research and Standards in Urogynaecology and Women's Health (i-chorus.org)
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsTo systematically evaluate the content and quality of national and international clinical guidelines on pelvic organ prolapse (POP).MethodsWe searched medical databases and organizations websites, to identify national and international guidelines on diagnosis and management of POP. Five authors independently assessed guidelines using the validated AGREE II tool. Its six domains include (1) scope and purpose, (2) stakeholder involvement, (3) rigor of development, (4) clarity of presentation, (5) applicability, and (6) editorial independence.ResultsEight guidelines met the inclusion criteria. Three hundred and thirteen different recommendations were identified. One hundred and ninety‐nine recommendations were comparable across guidelines. Thirty‐one recommendations were not supported by research evidence. Assessment by history and physical examination using the POP quantification system and consideration of imaging were recommendations featuring in all guidelines. Conservative treatment recommendations namely pelvic floor muscle training and vaginal pessaries were also found in all guidelines. Regarding surgical management, patient counseling, treating only symptomatic POP, consideration of apical fixation during surgical treatment, and use of biological or synthetic implants in recurrent cases were recommendations in all guidelines. Overall, the highest median scores were in the domains “scope and purpose” and “rigor of development”. The lowest median score was for applicability (28.3%). Although the median score of “editorial independence” was high (85.4%), variability was also substantial (interquartile range: 12.5–100).ConclusionWe identified variations in quality and deficiencies in certain areas, especially “applicability” and “editorial independence.” Improvements in these key domains may enhance the quality and clinical impact of clinical practice guidelines.
Urodynamic characterization of giggle incontinence in children
Authors: Mohan Kunnath Sharon , Clothier Joanna , Solomon Eskinder , Wright Anne J. , Taghizadeh Arash 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsGiggle incontinence is a rare condition resulting in excessive urinary incontinence with laughter, where bladder function is otherwise “normal.” Urodynamic descriptions of the condition to date are limited. We believe that giggle incontinence has characteristic urodynamic findings. We tested this hypothesis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the urodynamic investigations of patients with giggle incontinence managed in a tertiary regional bladder unit between February 2014 and November 2019.ResultsWe identified the studies of seven patients, median age 13.5 years (10.4–15.7) of whom 6 were female. All had videourodynamics. Two went on to have further invasive investigation; one had urethral pressure profile and one had ambulatory urodynamics.Detrusor overactivity (DO) was observed in six. DO was asensate in all. In five DO was triggered by laughter and was associated with laughter induced incontinence in four. Six had DO that was not provoked by laugher. In one amplitude of DO was proportional to vigour of laughter. In three patients there was identification of sudden pelvic floor relaxation during laughter resulting in incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence was not observed in any.ConclusionsGiggle incontinence is a complex phenomenon. Urodynamic diagnosis is challenging and is dependent on eliciting laughter. We present the first urodynamic demonstration that giggle incontinence is associated with laughter‐induced, asensate DO and concurrent, momentary pelvic floor relaxation. We hope this will provide a more consistent basis for defining this condition in the future.
Comparative effectiveness of liquid human milk fortifiers: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bridges Kayla M. , Newkirk Melanie , Byham‐Gray Laura , Chung Mei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of liquid human milk fortifiers (HMFs) derived from exclusive HM or hydrolyzed protein on growth, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), or late‐onset sepsis in North American very low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants compared with powder HMFs (control).MethodsProspective trials published between 2009 and 2020 were systematically reviewed, and meta‐analysis was conducted by using a random‐effects model.ResultsFive studies were identified for up to 591 participants across 39 centers. Study treatments included whey or casein hydrolysate HMF and exclusive HM HMF. Infants fed whey or casein hydrolysate HMF had growth differences compared with the control. No differences were found across treatments in regard to NEC or sepsis.ConclusionVery low‐quality evidence suggests greater linear growth in VLBW infants fed whey hydrolysate liquid HMF, as well as greater weight gain in those fed casein hydrolysate HMF, compared with the control. Additional prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these estimates because of sparsity of evidence. There is insufficient evidence to support HMF decisions regarding NEC or late‐onset sepsis prophylaxis.
Postpartum depression and family function in Chinese women within 1 year after childbirth: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Guan Ziyao , Wang Yuwei , Hu Xin , Chen Jiarui , Qin Chunxiang , Tang Siyuan , Sun Mei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractFamily‐related factors are reported to influence the development of postpartum depression (PPD), but limited studies have considered the role of family function in this condition. This study aimed to describe the proportion of people with probable or suspected PPD and to determine the relationships among PPD, family function, and obstetric factors. A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 630 women who attended six integrated teaching and scientific research communities in Changsha, China. Instruments included the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of PPD. The prevalence of probable or suspected PPD was 37% in this sample. We found communication (odds ratio [OR] = 3.795, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.619–8.897), affective responsiveness (OR = 2.685, 95% CI = 1.642–4.301), role (OR = 2.483, 95% CI = 1.041–5.922), and general functioning (OR = 5.704，95% CI = 2.233–14.569) dimensions of FAD, and type of feeding (OR = 2.700, 95% CI = 1.285–5.671) influenced PPD in the context of Chinese culture. To decrease the prevalence of PPD, interventions such as health education programs and cognitive behavior therapy to strengthen family function are recommended among couples during and after pregnancy.
Foraminifera—A new find in the microtaphonomical characterization of bones from marine archaeological excavations
Authors: Guareschi Edda E. , Haig David W. , Tobe Shanan S. , Nicholls Philip K. , Magni Paola A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractForaminifera are marine single‐celled organisms, ubiquitous in marine environments, present in brackish waters and absent in terrestrial locations. Their presence has been associated with archaeological and forensic studies only rarely and just once and superficially with bones of terrestrial mammals. In this study, a new association is presented between foraminifera enclosed in the dissolving trabecular spaces of terrestrial mammalian bones, recovered in underwater archaeological excavations between 1968 and 1980.Research on the new association aims to detail the micro‐characterization of bone in underwater environments, leading to a better understanding of bone taphonomic trajectories, the chronological sequences of changes occurring between death and the incorporation of the remains of an organism within the depositional environment. The analysis of taphonomic trajectories is known to hold relevance in distinct disciplines, such as archaeology, paleontology, and forensic sciences.Different foraminiferal taxa are linked to different marine environments, characterized by specific ranges of water depth, amount of light and oxygen, temperature, and composition of sediment. The association between foraminifera and terrestrial mammalian bones indicates deposition in a marine or brackish environment; thus, the analysis of the specific ecology of the identified foraminiferal taxa can point to a specific environment, adding information to paleontological, archaeological, or forensics casework.
Identification of anti‐Parkinson's Disease Lead Compounds from Aspergillus ochraceus Targeting Adenosin Receptors A2A
Authors: Hu Linzhen , Tian Shuying , Wu Rongrong , Tong Zhou , Jiang Wen , Hu Ping , Xiao Xueyang , Zhang Xueke , Zhou Hui , Tong Qingyi , Lu Yuanyuan , Huang Zhiyong , Chen Yong , Zhang Yonghui 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTwo novel alkaloids compounds together with fifteen know metabolites were identified from Aspergillus ochraceus. The stereochemistry features of the new molecules were determined via HRESIMS, NMR, ECD, and XRD analyses. Amongst these, compounds two compounds exhibited potential efficacy as anti‐Parkinson's disease with the EC50 values of 2.30 and 2.45 μM, respectively. ADMET prediction showed that these compounds owned favorable drug‐like characteristics and safe toxicity scores towards CNS drugs. Virtual screening analyses manifested that the compounds exhibited not only robust and reliable interactions to adenosine receptors A2A, but also higher binding selectivity to A2A receptors than to A1 and A3 receptors. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated the reliability of molecular docking results and the stability of the complexes obtained with the novel compounds and A2A receptors in natural environments. It is the first time that anti‐PD lead compounds have been identified from Aspergillus ochraceus and targeting adenosine A2A receptors.
Cardiac time intervals and myocardial performance index for prediction of twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Gijtenbeek Manon , Eschbach Sanne J. , Middeldorp Johanna M. , Klumper Frans J. C. M. , Slaghekke Femke , Oepkes Dick , Haak Monique C. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo explore whether intertwin discordance in myocardial performance index (MPI) or cardiac time intervals enables the prediction of twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies with amniotic fluid discordance.MethodsProspective cohort study of MCDA pregnancies with amniotic fluid discordance ≥4 cm. Serial ultrasound examinations consisted of evaluation of amniotic fluid, fetal Dopplers and fetal cardiac function.ResultsWe included 21 “future‐TTTS” (group I), 18 selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR; group II) and 20 uncomplicated MCDA twin pairs (group III). Group I had a higher intertwin difference in left ventricle (LV) MPI and right ventricle (RV) MPI compared to group II and III. The intertwin difference in global heart relaxation time was significantly higher in group I compared to group III. Future recipient twins had significantly higher contraction times of the global heart and RV and lower relaxation times of the global heart and RV compared to the “expected recipients” in group II and III.ConclusionIntertwin discordance in LV‐MPI and RV‐MPI differentiate between TTTS and MCDA pregnancies with transient discordant amniotic fluid volume. Cardiac time intervals identify future recipient twins. The clinical utility of cardiac time intervals and MPI should be investigated in large prospective studies.
Chitosan‐based nanocomposites for medical applications
Authors: Murugesan Selvakumar , Scheibel Thomas 
Published: June 2021

AbstractChitosan as a biobased polymer is gaining increasing attention due to its extraordinary physico‐chemical characteristics and properties. While a primary use of chitosan has been in horticultural and agricultural applications for plant defense and to increase crop yield, recent research reports display various new utilizations in the field of advanced biomedical devices, targeted drug delivery, and as bioimaging sensors. Chitosan possesses multiple characteristics such as antimicrobial properties, stimuli‐responsiveness, tunable mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and water‐solubility. Further, chitosan can be processed into nanoparticles, nano‐vehicles, nanocapsules, scaffolds, fiber meshes, and 3D printed scaffolds for a variety of applications. In recent times, nanoparticles incorporated in chitosan matrices have been identified to show superior biological activity, as cells tend to proliferate/differentiate faster when they interact with nanocomposites rather than bulk or micron size substrates/scaffolds. The present article intents to cover chitosan‐based nanocomposites used for regenerative medicine, wound dressings, drug delivery, and biosensing applications.
The governance of the Kafala system and the punitive control of migrant domestic workers
Authors: Parreñas Rhacel Salazar , Silvey Rachel 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn the United Arab Emirates, the kafala system binds migrant domestic workers to employment with one employer‐sponsor. While various studies have identified the labour conditions elicited by the kafala system, research has paid less attention to the forces that underpin workers' interest in accommodating the constraints of the kafala. This article examines the effects of two punitive legal mechanisms that discipline domestic workers to remain within the kafala: cancellation and illegalisation. To be cancelled means to have one's contract revoked by one's employer‐sponsor and consequently be forcibly deported; illegalisation is the consequence that migrants face if they choose to “abscond” from their sponsor‐employer without permission. By examining the punitive legal system in which the kafala system is embedded, this article contributes to understanding the legal mechanisms that discipline migrant domestic workers into servitude in the UAE.
Scientific and regulatory evaluation of mechanistic in silico drug and disease models in drug development: Building model credibility
Authors: Musuamba Flora T. , Skottheim Rusten Ine , Lesage Raphaëlle , Russo Giulia , Bursi Roberta , Emili Luca , Wangorsch Gaby , Manolis Efthymios , Karlsson Kristin E. , Kulesza Alexander , Courcelles Eulalie , Boissel Jean‐Pierre , Rousseau Cécile F. , Voisin Emmanuelle M. , Alessandrello Rossana , Curado Nuno , Dall’ara Enrico , Rodriguez Blanca , Pappalardo Francesco , Geris Liesbet 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe value of in silico methods in drug development and evaluation has been demonstrated repeatedly and convincingly. While their benefits are now unanimously recognized, international standards for their evaluation, accepted by all stakeholders involved, are still to be established. In this white paper, we propose a risk‐informed evaluation framework for mechanistic model credibility evaluation. To properly frame the proposed verification and validation activities, concepts such as context of use, regulatory impact and risk‐based analysis are discussed. To ensure common understanding between all stakeholders, an overview is provided of relevant in silico terminology used throughout this paper. To illustrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we have applied it to three real case examples in the context of drug development, using a credibility matrix currently being tested as a quick‐start tool by regulators. Altogether, this white paper provides a practical approach to model evaluation, applicable in both scientific and regulatory evaluation contexts.
Input‐response space‐filling designs
Authors: Lu Lu , Anderson‐Cook Christine M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTraditional space‐filling designs are a convenient way to explore throughout an input space of flexible dimension and have design points close to any region where future predictions might be of interest. In some applications, there may be a model connecting the input factors to the response(s), which provides an opportunity to consider the spacing not only in the input space but also in the response space. In this paper, we present an approach for leveraging current understanding of the relationship between inputs and responses to generate designs that allow the experimenter to flexibly balance the spacing in these two regions to find an appropriate design for the experimental goals. Applications where good spacing of the observed response values include calibration problems where the goal is to demonstrate the adequacy of the model across the range of the responses, sensitivity studies where the outputs from a submodel may be used as inputs for subsequent models, and inverse problems where the outputs of a process will be used in the inverse prediction for the unknown inputs. We use the multi‐objective optimization method of Pareto fronts to generate multiple non‐dominated designs with different emphases on the input and response space‐filling criteria from which the experimenter can choose. The methods are illustrated through several examples and a chemical engineering case study.
Machine learning prediction of the optimal carrier concentration and band gap of quaternary thermoelectric materials via element feature descriptors
Authors: Wan Zhongyu , Wang Quan‐De , Liu Dongchang , Liang Jinhu 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWhile the thermoelectric (TE) materials have attracted significant attention in recent years, the design and discovery of new TE materials with optimal carrier concentration and band gap remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the development of machine learning (ML) methods to predict TE materials with introducing physically meaningful simple descriptors. Specifically, we use the number of electrons, Pauling electronegativity and relative atomic mass as the basic physical variables and compute 242 descriptors in 64 categories to characterize the molecular information of a TE material. Multiple stepwise regression is employed to reduce the dimensionality in the developed ML models, and 5 and 4 important features for the band gap and carrier concentration is selected, respectively. The important features are used as input of a total number of 19 ML methods to select the optimal ML models for the prediction of band gap and carrier concentration, respectively. It is shown that the least square support vector machines method is the best model for the prediction of the band gap, while the back propagating artificial neutral network model exhibits the best performance in predicting the carrier concentration values. This work provides novel theoretical guidance for the rapid prediction properties of TE materials. The simple descriptors we defined can accurately predict the band gap and carrier concentration of quaternary TE materials.
Fatal cytomegalovirus pneumonia in a critically ill patient with COVID‐19
Authors: Amiya Saori , Hirata Haruhiko , Shiroyama Takayuki , Adachi Yuichi , Niitsu Takayuki , Noda Yoshimi , Enomoto Takatoshi , Hara Reina , Fukushima Kiyoharu , Suga Yasuhiko , Miyake Kotaro , Koide Moe , Uchiyama Akinori , Takeda Yoshito , Kumanogoh Atsushi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) can cause severe lymphopenia and respiratory failure requiring prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). COVID‐19 patients with severe lymphopenia or respiratory failure are at risk of developing secondary infections. Here, we present the needle autopsy findings of a critically ill patient with COVID‐19 who required reintubation and prolonged MV, and eventually died of secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia. This case highlights the potential risk of long‐term steroid use and the need for routine monitoring for CMV infection in critically ill patients with COVID‐19.
H∞ optimal control of unknown linear systems by adaptive dynamic programming with applications to time‐delay systems
Authors: Jiang Huai‐Yuan , Zhou Bin , Liu Guo‐Ping 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this paper, a new value iteration (VI) based method is proposed to solve the H∞ control problem of continuous‐time linear systems. The problem is transformed into solving a nonlinear differential equation, and the local stability of its solution is proved. Then a VI based iteration scheme for getting the approximation of the H∞ optimal controller is proposed. Compared with the existing results, the proposed scheme does not need any special initial matrix or extra condition to solve the problem and provides a relatively small disturbance attenuation bound. The related result is also applied to the quadratic guaranteed cost control of linear time‐delay systems. Simulation examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Design of saturating state feedback control laws for discrete‐time linear parameter varying systems through homogeneous polynomial parameter‐dependent functions
Authors: Figueiredo Larissa S. , Lacerda Márcio J. , Leite Valter J. S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis article investigates the local stabilization problem for the class of discrete‐time linear parameter varying (LPV) systems subject to saturating actuators. The main contributions are new convex conditions for synthesizing rational parameter‐dependent state feedback gain controllers, ensuring the local stability of the closed‐loop system for a set of initial conditions. We propose two design conditions for the local stabilization of the considered class of systems, which may lead to complementary results. We use a homogeneous polynomial parameter‐dependent (HPPD) based structure on the matrices variables. Thanks to a level set defined from an HPPD based Lyapunov function, we get less conservative estimates of the region of attraction. We provide a generalization of previous formulations from the literature to compute the intersection of parameter‐dependent ellipsoidal sets through finite‐dimensional conditions. The parameter‐dependent controller gains may assume rational structures on the time‐varying parameters, yielding better estimates of the region of attraction, as well as a broad set of stabilizable systems. Two examples illustrate the numerical aspects of the proposed conditions and give the reader a perspective of the relations concerning the conservatism and the degree of the HPPD functions.