bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Head and neck cancers: Monitoring quality and reporting outcomes
Authors: Chilkuri Madhavi , Vangaveti Venkat , Smith Justin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionHead and neck cancers (HNC) require high level multidisciplinary care to achieve optimal outcomes. Reporting of quality indicators (QIs) has been instigated by some health services in an effort to improve quality of care. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of care provided to patients with HNC at a single institution by analysing compliance with QIs and to explore the feasibility and utility of collecting this data.MethodsThis was a single institution retrospective chart review of all patients with squamous cell HNC at Townsville Hospital who were treated with curative intent between June 2011 and June 2019. Data was entered into a RedCap database and then exported to Stata V16 for analysis.ResultsA total of 537 patients were included in the overall study, with six patients who had a synchronous non‐HNC and two patients who received previous radiotherapy (RT) to the head and neck region excluded from the outcome analysis. Overall, compliance with pre‐treatment, treatment and post‐treatment QIs was high, with the exception of smoking cessation support (66%), post‐treatment dental review and time to post‐operative RT (33% of patients within 6 weeks). The 5‐year overall survival was 69.4% (CI; 64–73.2%). The cumulative incidence of locoregional relapse for the overall study cohort was 18% (CI; 14.8–21.4%).ConclusionCollecting and evaluating quality metrics is feasible and helps identify areas for improvement. Centres treating HNC patients should strive towards monitoring quality against benchmarks and demonstrate transparency in outcome data.
A generalizable speech emotion recognition model reveals depression and remission
Authors: Hansen Lasse , Zhang Yan‐Ping , Wolf Detlef , Sechidis Konstantinos , Ladegaard Nicolai , Fusaroli Riccardo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveAffective disorders are associated with atypical voice patterns; however, automated voice analyses suffer from small sample sizes and untested generalizability on external data. We investigated a generalizable approach to aid clinical evaluation of depression and remission from voice using transfer learning: We train machine learning models on easily accessible non‐clinical datasets and test them on novel clinical data in a different language.MethodsA Mixture of Experts machine learning model was trained to infer happy/sad emotional state using three publicly available emotional speech corpora in German and US English. We examined the model's predictive ability to classify the presence of depression on Danish speaking healthy controls (N = 42), patients with first‐episode major depressive disorder (MDD) (N = 40), and the subset of the same patients who entered remission (N = 25) based on recorded clinical interviews. The model was evaluated on raw, de‐noised, and speaker‐diarized data.ResultsThe model showed separation between healthy controls and depressed patients at the first visit, obtaining an AUC of 0.71. Further, speech from patients in remission was indistinguishable from that of the control group. Model predictions were stable throughout the interview, suggesting that 20–30 s of speech might be enough to accurately screen a patient. Background noise (but not speaker diarization) heavily impacted predictions.ConclusionA generalizable speech emotion recognition model can effectively reveal changes in speaker depressive states before and after remission in patients with MDD. Data collection settings and data cleaning are crucial when considering automated voice analysis for clinical purposes.
Spectral fundus autofluorescence peak emission wavelength in ageing and AMD
Authors: Schultz Rowena , Schwanengel Linda , Klemm Matthias , Meller Daniel , Hammer Martin 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTPurposeTo investigate the spectral characteristics of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in AMD patients and controls.MethodsFundus autofluorescence spectral characteristics was described by the peak emission wavelength (PEW) of the spectra. Peak emission wavelength (PEW) was derived from the ratio of FAF recordings in two spectral channels at 500–560 nm and 560–720 nm by fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy. The ratio of FAF intensity in both channels was related to PEW by a calibration procedure. Peak emission wavelength (PEW) measurements were done in 44 young (mean age: 24.0 ± 3.8 years) and 18 elderly (mean age: 67.5 ± 10.2 years) healthy subjects as well as 63 patients with AMD (mean age: 74.0 ± 7.3 years) in each pixel of a 30° imaging field. The values were averaged over the central area, the inner and the outer ring of the ETDRS grid.ResultsThere was no significant difference between PEW in young and elderly controls. However, PEW was significantly shorter in AMD patients (ETDRS grid centre: 571 ± 26 nm versus 599 ± 17 nm for elderly controls, inner ring: 596 ± 17 nm versus 611 ± 11 nm, outer ring: 602 ± 16 nm versus 614 ± 11 nm). After a mean follow‐up time of 50.8 ± 10.8 months, the PEW in the patients decreased significantly by 9 ± 19 nm in the inner ring of the grid. Patients, showing progression to atrophic AMD in the follow up, had significantly (p ≤ 0.018) shorter PEW at baseline than non‐progressing patients.ConclusionsPeak emission wavelength (PEW) is related to AMD pathology and might be a diagnostic marker in AMD. Possibly, a short PEW can predict progression to retinal and/or pigment epithelium atrophy.
Longitudinal assessment of adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 at steady state and during vaso‐occlusive crises in sickle cell disease
Authors: White Jennell , Callaghan Michael U. , Gao Xiufeng , Liu Ke , Zaidi Ahmar , Tarasev Michael , Hines Patrick C. 
Published: December 2021

SummarySickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by frequent and unpredictable vaso‐occlusive crises (VOCs). Sickle erythrocytes (SSRBCs) contribute to VOCs by participating in a series of adhesive events with blood cells and the vascular endothelium. Adhesion assays have been used to evaluate the relationship between SSRBC adhesion and SCD severity. We developed a standardized, clinical flow adhesion assay of whole blood to vascular cell adhesion molecule (FA‐WB‐VCAM). The objective of this study was to assess the variability and clinical predictive value of FA‐WB‐VCAM in a six‐month longitudinal, observational study (ELIPSIS) in SCD subjects during at‐home, steady‐state and self‐reported VOCs, and following VOC resolution. We observed a strong relationship between FA‐WB‐VCAM and SCD severity. Adhesion indices were significantly lower in SCD subjects on hydroxycarbamide and increased during VOCs; at‐home VOCs had significantly higher FA‐WB‐VCAM than steady‐state and contact VOCs. SCD subjects with a high frequency of self‐reported VOCs had a pro‐adhesive phenotype at steady state and were stratified into a high‐adhesive phenotype cohort; two years prospectively we observed a higher frequency of VOCs in the high‐adhesion cohort. This study supports stratifying SCD subjects based on steady‐state FA‐WB‐VCAM and suggests that FA‐WB‐VCAM may be a plausible surrogate end‐point for SCD severity.
Airway complications in lung transplant recipients with telomere‐related interstitial lung disease
Authors: Choi Bina , Messika Jonathan , Courtwright Andrew , Mornex Jean François , Hirschi Sandrine , Roux Antoine , Le Pavec Jérôme , Quêtant Sébastien , Froidure Antoine , Lazor Romain , Reynaud‐Gaubert Martine , Borgne Aurélie Le , Houlbracq Mathilde Phillips , Goldberg Hilary , El‐Chemaly Souheil , Borie Raphael ,   French Group of Lung Transplantation
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionPatients with short telomere‐related interstitial lung disease (ILD) have worse outcomes after lung transplantation. We hypothesized that post‐transplant airway complications, including dehiscence and bronchial stenosis, would be more common in the short telomere ILD lung transplant population.MethodsWe conducted a multi‐institutional (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Groupe de Transplantation de la SPLF) retrospective cohort study of 63 recipients between 2009 and 2019 with ILD and short telomeres, compared to 4359 recipients from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients with ILD and no known telomeropathy.ResultsIn the short telomere cohort, six recipients (9.5%) developed dehiscence and nine recipients (14.3%) developed stenosis, compared to 60 (1.4%) and 149 (3.4%) in the control, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and bilaterality, the presence of short telomeres was associated with higher odds of dehiscence (odds ratio (OR) = 8.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.34 20.29, p < .001) and stenosis (OR = 4.63, 95% CI 2.21 9.69, p < .001).ConclusionThe association between the presence of short telomeres and post‐transplant dehiscence and stenosis suggest that airway complications may be a contributor to increased morbidity and mortality in patients with telomere‐related ILD.
Does aggressive tweeting by the government help to control the COVID‐19 outbreak? Evidence from China
Authors: Zheng Shilin , Li Mengdan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper estimates the role of the usage of the largest social media platform in China, Sina Weibo, by the Chinese government for controlling the COVID‐19 pandemic. Manually collected governmental microblogs about the COVID‐19 outbreak were analysed, which showed that a 10 per cent increase in the number of microblogs resulted in a 1.38 per cent decrease of confirmed COVID‐19 cases. This effect was more pronounced in areas with less restrained travel restrictions. The effect relies primarily on two mechanisms: encouraging home quarantine and promoting knowledge about COVID‐19 prevention.
Identification of a 16SrIX‐B phytoplasma strain associated with Daphne mucronata phyllody in Iran
Authors: Babaei Ghobad , Esmaeilzadeh‐Hosseini Seyyed Alireza , Shirmardi Hamzeh Ali , Bertaccini Assunta 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDuring surveys from 2017 to 2018, a phyllody disease was observed in Daphne mucronata plants located in Lordegan and Ahmadliveh areas in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province (west of Iran). The main symptoms were yellowing, little leaf, phyllody and flower sterility. Total DNA was extracted from midrib tissue of fresh leaves from 30 symptomatic and five asymptomatic plants. DNA samples were subjected to nested PCR, using primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2. PCR amplicons of 1.8 and 1.25 kb, respectively, were obtained from all samples from symptomatic plants whilst no amplification was observed in samples from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of R16F2n/R16R2 amplicons using MseI, HhaI, AluI, HaeIII, RsaI, HpaII, TaqI, KpnI, ThaI and BfaI enzymes showed identical RFLP patterns in all the samples that were also identical to the profiles of the 16SrIX‐B phytoplasma subgroup. Sanger sequencing of five randomly selected amplicons confirmed that they were 100% identical to each other and had >99% identity with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’‐related strains as also confirmed by the clustering in phylogenetic analysis. This is the first report of 16SrIX‐B phytoplasma presence in a non‐Prunus species, D. mucronata, also highlighting its possible role as reservoir species for this phytoplasma that is severely affecting stone fruits in the Middle East regions.
Fetal health classification from cardiotocographic data using machine learning
Authors: Mehbodniya Abolfazl , Lazar Arokia Jesu Prabhu , Webber Julian , Sharma Dilip Kumar , Jayagopalan Santhosh , K Kousalya , Singh Pallavi , Rajan Regin , Pandya Sharnil , Sengan Sudhakar 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHealth complications during the gestation period have evolved as a global issue. These complications sometimes result in the mortality of the fetus, which is more prevalent in developing and underdeveloped countries. The genesis of machine learning (ML) algorithms in the healthcare domain have brought remarkable progress in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. This research deploys various ML algorithms to predict fetal health from the cardiotocographic (CTG) data by labelling the health state into normal, needs guarantee, and pathology. This work assesses the influence of various factors measured through CTG to predict the health state of the fetus through algorithms like support vector machine, random forest (RF), multi‐layer perceptron, and K‐nearest neighbours. In addition to this, the regression analysis and correlation analysis revealed the influence of the attributes on fetal health. The results of the algorithms show that RF performs better than its peers in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, F1‐score, and support. This work can further enhance more promising results by performing suitable feature engineering in the CTG data.
Sustainability evolution and factors based on ecological footprint: A case study of Rizhao, China
Authors: Sun Wei , Li Junli , Qu Wenxi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEcological footprint (EF) focuses on exploring regional sustainable development, thereby making the evaluation of sustainability an important part of academic research. However, few efforts have been made into investigating EF’s influencing factors. This study explores the changes of EF and its influencing factors in Rizhao, a coastal city in China, and verifies the changes of EF through EKC. The results are as follows: (a) The rapid growth of EF is an important cause of ecological deficit. The evolution of EF shows obvious stage characteristics. (b) In terms of composition, the EF of fossil fuel‐rich land contributes greatly to the growth of EF; the EFs of cultivated land and water area also always account for a large proportion. (c) The EF is driven by the proportion of the secondary and tertiary industries, which has an inhibitory effect. Moreover, different influencing factors determine the stage change of EF. (d) EF is used to indicate the degradation of the environment. EKC shows that Rizhao City is in a negative correlation between economic development and environmental quality, confirming the change of EF. Based on the empirical results, suggestions have, hence, been made in this study to achieve sustainable development targets.
Tragedy of the facilitated commons: A multiple‐case study of failure in systematic horizontal logistics collaboration
Authors: Sternberg Henrik , Linan Isidro , Prockl Günter , Norrman Andreas 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHorizontal logistics collaboration can increase environmental sustainability and reduce shipping costs. Given these benefits—and the fact that few shippers actually opt to collaborate—public sector agencies and industry associations have attempted to sponsor and support the facilitation of horizontal logistics collaboration projects over the past 20 years. The literature, however, has yet to reveal the fact that these efforts have largely failed. Here, we introduce systematic horizontal logistics collaboration and apply Ostrom's theory of the commons and agency theory to extract antecedents on why these projects failed. We present a multiple‐case study on unsuccessful horizontal logistics collaboration projects in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. We address a gap in supply chain literature with regard to systematic collaboration; we also demonstrate the utility of commons theory in the supply chain domain and contribute to the literature on supply chain collaboration with facilitators. Finally, we discuss managerial implications, both for the practitioners attempting systematic horizontal logistics collaboration and for the policymakers seeking to promote it.
Older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Kikuchi Mami , Kamishima Tamotsu , Abe Hiroki , Onishi Ryuta , Takashima Risa , Hirano Michiyo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractConnectedness among older people is essential for healthy communities, especially among rural populations where limited social interaction and associated health effects may be cause for concern. In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application. The study assessed 10 participants (mean age = 76.2 years) living in rural Japan who regularly participated in a senior citizens' club. From July 2019 to January 2020, the participants used a social media application developed by our research team to meet the needs of older people. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted. Six themes representing older rural people's perception of connectedness were identified: (1) thoughtful consideration for members strengthened even without them meeting face‐to‐face, (2) encouragement received from familiar members, (3) joy in sharing daily routine with neighbors, (4) courage to advance through face‐to‐face interaction, (5) willingness to continue club membership, and (6) fear of disrupting club's harmony. Participants who used the application felt compensated for the lack of social interaction opportunities in rural settings and strengthened their existing relationships.
Device‐detected nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in adult congenital heart disease without tetralogy of fallot
Authors: Doctor Pezad , Aggarwal Sanjeev , Lawrence David K. , Gupta Pooja , Singh Gautam K. , Madhavan Malini , Sriram Chenni S. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate any association between non‐sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) detected by intra‐cardiac device and clinical outcomes in repaired adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) without tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).BackgroundNSVT portends a higher risk of serious ventricular tachyarrhythmia in TOF. However its clinical significance when incidentally detected by implantable cardiac device is not well elucidated in non‐TOF ACHD cohort.MethodsWe performed a single center, retrospective, longitudinal follow‐up study in repaired ACHD (≥18 years) patients without TOF who hosted a pacemaker or automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (AICD). The cohort was divided based on presence/absence of device detected NSVT. The primary end‐point was a composite of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), or sudden cardiac death (SCD).ResultsOne hundred fifty eight patients (male 56.3%, median [IQR] age of 35 [28–43] years at last follow‐up] with longitudinal post‐implant follow‐up duration of 8 (5–12) years were included. NSVT was detected in 52 (33%) patients. The primary composite end‐point was more frequent in NSVT group [11.5% vs. 2.8%; p = .04]. Patients with NSVT were (i) older at the time of initial implant (age 25 vs. 18 years, p = .011) and more frequently demonstrated (ii) systemic ventricular dysfunction (44% vs. 26%; p = .015), as well as (iii) history of ventriculotomy (38% vs. 21%; p = .017).ConclusionsIn our repaired ACHD cohort, we noted a significant association between device‐detected‐NSVT and the primary composite end‐point of sustained VT/VF or SCD. Systemic ventricular dysfunction and history of ventriculotomy were more frequent in the NSVT group and likely constituted the clinical milieu.
Shoot: root ratio of seedlings is associated with species niche on soil moisture gradient
Authors: Mašková T. , Maternová J. , Těšitel J. 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT

Surviving the seedling phase is crucial for the establishment of plant individuals and populations. In ecosystems with dynamic water availability such as temperate grasslands, seedlings should adjust their growth strategy not only to match the current conditions but also to secure resource acquisition in the future. Here, we explored evolutionary adaptations determining plant early growth strategies in herbaceous species of temperate grasslands differing in their requirements for soil water availability.

We chose 15 plant genera, within which we selected species differing in their Ellenberg indicator values for moisture. We cultivated the seedlings under standard conditions with sufficient water supply for 4 weeks. Subsequently, we measured length‐based and mass‐based shoot:root ratio to investigate seedling growth strategy and its association with species ecological niche. Seed size and content of soil‐borne nutrients were considered as potential covariates affecting this association.

Linear mixed‐effect models identified the length‐based shoot:root ratio of seedlings was positively associated with soil moisture requirements in a congeneric species comparison. Nitrogen and phosphorus seed concentrations had an additional negative effect on the shoot:root ratio. Neither of these trends was found for the mass‐based shoot:root ratio.

We demonstrated for the first time that there might be a general adaptation modifying the seedling shoot:root ratio according to the species niche position on the soil moisture gradient in temperate grassland species across a broad range of angiosperm phylogeny. This adaptation seems to be affected by seed mineral nutrient reserves and may operate in parallel to the well‐known phenotypic plasticity.
Sickle cell disease patients in two London trusts: Genotyping including RH variants
Authors: Hui Yee Man Tracy , Gurung Kamala , Layton David Mark , Ibidapo Mercy , Grimsley Shane , Regan Fiona 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundAll SCD patients need extended RBC antigen typing (by serology or genotyping) for provision of extended RH, K matched blood and to guide RBC selection in those with complex transfusion requirements. Genotyping can also identify RH variants which can cause sensitisation even when extended RH phenotypically matched blood is provided and alloantibodies associated with RH variants can cause HTRs.ObjectivesTo review the use of RBC genotyping in SCD patients at two London trusts (ICHNT, LNWH) with a focus on RH variants.MethodsRetrospective review with data collected from clinical notes, local and national pathology reporting systems.ResultsA 311/482 (64%) ICHNT patients and 181/346 (52%) LNWH patients had extended genotyping. Of genotyped patients, 68 (22%) ICHNT and 31 (17%) LNWH patients had RH variants. Eight ICHNT patients had RH variants and corresponding antibodies associated with RH variants; 4/8 received multiple transfusions with antigen positive RBCs but had no evidence of haemolysis. One LNWH patient had a RH variant with corresponding alloantibody but could not be investigated further for possible HTR.ConclusionsMost patients (59%) had genotyping and a significant number had RH variants (99, 20%). A small proportion (9, 9%) had antibodies associated with RH variants, but with no evidence of clinically significant HTRs despite transfusions in four of them with antigen positive RBCs. All SCD patients should have RBC genotyping including RH variants (preferentially over extended phenotyping) to guide better selection of RBC units. However, where antigen negative blood cannot be provided, the risk of alloimmunisation is not inevitable and subsequent HTRs from antibodies associated with RH variants might not always occur.