bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prioritizing the health problems of slum residents using social determinants of health: A case study in a developing country
Authors: Nekoei‐Moghadam Mahmood , Heidari Narges , Amiresmaeili Mohammadreza , Heidarijamebozorgi Majid 
Published: May 2019

SummaryIntroductionToday, countries are faced with the fact that despite unlimited human needs, resources are limited. The health sector has the same limitations as other sectors. Therefore, this study aimed to prioritize the health problems of the Kerman residents slums by using the social determinants of health.MethodsThe present study was carried out using a hierarchical analysis. The study population included experts of the deputy of social affairs, experts of the research center for SDH, experts of deputy of health, experts of social welfare in governing board of Kerman, and community health practitioners. Sixteen of these experts were selected using purposeful and snowball sampling methods. Expert Choice software was used to analyze the information.ResultsIn this study, the health problems were prioritized. The highest priority among the main themes and subtheme was related to early childhood development and child labor, respectively.ConclusionThe early years of life are the most important years of life, and the experiences of these years will be the foundation of the future life of every human being. Therefore, if their needs and developmental areas are not answered properly during this period, their health will be compromised.
Image registration‐based brain tumor detection and segmentation using ANFIS classification approach
Authors: Nagarathinam Ezhilmathi , Ponnuchamy Thirumurugan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAbnormal cells in human brain lead to the development of tumors. Manual detection of this tumor region is a time‐consuming process. Hence, this paper proposes an efficient and automated computer‐aided methodology for brain tumor detection and segmentation using image registration technique and classification approaches. This proposed work consists of the following modules: image registration, contourlet transform, and feature extraction with feature normalization, classification, and segmentation. The extracted features are optimized using genetic algorithm, and then an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system classification approach is used to classify the features for the detection and segmentation of tumor regions in brain magnetic resonance imaging. A quantitative analysis is performed to evaluate the proposed methodology for brain tumor detection using sensitivity, specificity, segmentation accuracy, precision, and Dice similarity coefficient.
Dodecenylsuccinic anhydride modified collagen hydrogels loaded with simvastatin as skin wound dressings
Authors: Olivetti Christian E. , Alvarez Echazú María I. , Perna Oriana , Perez Claudio J. , Mitarotonda Romina , De Marzi Mauricio , Desimone Martín F. , Alvarez Gisela S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSkin wound healing presents a unique challenge because of its complex healing process. Herein, we developed a hydrophobic wound dressing to incorporate simvastatin, which has potential application in the treatment of ulcers and prevention of wound infection. For that matter, collagen hydrogels were grafted with dodecenylsuccinic anhydride (DDSA). The chemical modification was confirmed by FTIR and solid state 13C‐NMR spectroscopies while the ultrastructure was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. In contact angle measurements, a higher water droplet angle in DDSA‐collagen gels was observed. This was consistent with the swelling assay, in which water absorption was 5.2 g/g for collagen and 1.9 g/g for DDSA‐collagen. Additionally, viability and adhesion studies were performed. Cell adhesion decreased ~11% in DDSA‐collagen and the number of viable cells showed a tendency to decrease as DDSA concentration increased but it was only significantly lower above concentrations of 12%. Modified gels were loaded with simvastatin showing higher adsorption capacity and lower release. Lastly, the antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activity of DDSA‐collagen materials were assessed. DDSA‐collagen hydrogels, either unloaded or loaded with simvastatin showed sustained antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus for 72 hr probably due to the hydrophobic interaction of DDSA chains with bacterial cell walls. The antimicrobial activity was stronger against S. aureus. Collagen hydrogels also presented a prolonged antibacterial activity when they were loaded with simvastatin, confirming the antimicrobial properties of statins. Finally, it was observed that these materials can stimulate resident macrophages and promote an M2 profile which is desirable in wound healing processes.
Ex vivo pregnant‐like tissue model to assess injectable hydrogel for preterm birth prevention
Authors: Raia Nicole R. , Bakaysa Stephanie L. , Ghezzi Chiara E. , House Michael D. , Kaplan David L. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCervical insufficiency (CI) is an important cause of preterm birth, which leads to severe newborn complications. Standard treatment for CI is cerclage, which has variable success rates, resulting in a clinical need for alternative treatments. Our objective was to develop an ex vivo model of softened cervical tissue to study an injectable silk‐based hydrogel as a novel alternative treatment for CI. Cervical tissue from nonpregnant women was enzymatically treated and characterized to determine tissue hydration, collagen organization, and mechanical properties via unconfined compression. Enzymatic treatment led to an 86 ± 7.9% decrease in modulus, which correlated to a decrease in collagen organization as observed by differences in collagen birefringence. The softened tissue was injected with a crosslinked silk‐hyaluronic acid composite hydrogel. After injection, the mechanical properties and volume increase of the hydrogel‐treated tissue were measured resulting in a 54 ± 16% volume increase with minimal effect on tissue mechanical properties. In addition, cervical fibroblasts on silk‐hyaluronic acid hydrogels remained viable and exhibited increased proliferation and metabolic activity over 5 days. Overall, this study developed an ex vivo pregnant‐like human tissue model to assess cervical augmentation and showed the potential of silk‐based hydrogels as an alternative treatment for cervical insufficiency.
Performance of FRAX in Women with Breast Cancer Initiating Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy: A Registry-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Leslie William D , Morin Suzanne N , Lix Lisa M , Niraula Saroj , McCloskey Eugene V , Johansson Helena , Harvey Nicholas C , Kanis John A 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACT
FRAX was developed to predict 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture in the general population. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) used in breast cancer induce loss in bone mineral density (BMD) and are reported to increase fracture risk. AI exposure is not a direct input to FRAX but is captured under “secondary osteoporosis”. To inform use of FRAX in women treated with AI, we used a population-based registry for the Province of Manitoba, Canada, to identify women aged ≥40 years initiating AI for breast cancer with at least 12 months’ AI exposure (n = 1775), women with breast cancer not receiving AI (n = 1016), and women from the general population (n = 34,205). Among AI users, fracture probability estimated without BMD (AI use coded as secondary osteoporosis) significantly overestimated risk (10-year observed/predicted ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–0.68; 10-year hip fracture observed/predicted ratio 0.33, 95% CI 0.18–0.49). However, when BMD was included in the fracture probability, there was no significant difference between observed and predicted fracture risk. In Cox proportional hazards models, FRAX stratified risk of MOF, hip, and any fracture equally well in all subgroups (p-interaction &gt;0.1). When adjusted for FRAX score without BMD, with AI use coded as secondary osteoporosis, AI users were at significantly lower risk for MOF (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.95), hip fracture (HR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.29–0.73) and any fracture (HR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.89). AI use was no longer significantly associated with fractures when AI use was not entered as secondary osteoporosis in FRAX without BMD or when BMD was included in the FRAX calculation. In conclusion, FRAX scores stratify fracture risk equally well in women receiving AI therapy as in non-users, but including secondary osteoporosis as a risk factor for AI users overestimates fracture risk. Our results call this practice into question. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Do wealthy economies have better accounting quality? International evidence
Authors: Pirveli Erekle , Zimmermann Jochen 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this article is to empirically test whether wealthy economies have better accounting quality (AQ) compared to their “poor” counterparts.Design/methodology/approachTo test the formulated hypothesis, this article examines accounting and market data of 40 countries' capital markets, obtained from Compustat Global and Compustat North America, and spanned throughout the last quarter of century, from 1992 to 2016. Country wealth and controlling‐ and valuation‐usefulness of accounting information are proxied by gross domestic product per capita, conditional accounting conservatism and value relevance of earnings and book values, respectively.FindingsDescriptive analysis, consistent with the prior literature, reveals that controlling‐usefulness and valuation‐usefulness of accounting information significantly negatively correlate with each other, putting them as alternative (rather than compatible) objectives of the accounting system. The major finding shows that wealthy economies report significantly more controlling‐useful but about equally valuation‐useful accounting information compared to their poor counterparts.Practical implicationsThe findings are interesting from investors as well as standard setters' perspective.Originality/valueAccording to Ball (Journal of International Accounting Research (2016), 15(2), 1–6), wealthy economies are likely to invest more in the establishment and development of a country‐level reporting infrastructure such as accounting, financial, legal and political systems, which should ultimately lead to better AQ. This article argues that wealthy economies are likely to report more controlling‐useful, but not necessarily more valuation‐useful accounting information compared to the poor ones. This argument is based on the fact that on the one hand decision makers within the wealthy economies' capital markets are likely to intensively utilize various alternative sources of information, implying a lower demand on accounting information as a source of valuation decisions. On the other hand, demand for controlling‐useful accounting information would exist even while utilizing other (external) sources of information as the inside (managerial) information helps the management to efficiently control and plan the firm activities.
Effects of regulation on audits: A Canadian example
Authors: Lelkes Anne‐Marie T. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe increase in regulation has caused the number of publicly traded Canadian public companies to decline. This study analyzes audit fee data from Audit Analytics from 2002 through 2015 for Canadian companies to determine if they have moved away from using Big 4 auditors. Charts and regression are used to analyze the data. Results show that there is a decline in the number of public audits from 2002 to 2015 that seems to correspond to the decline of Canadian public companies due to increased regulation. In spite of the decline in the number of publicly traded companies, the results of this study show that, of the total audits, the proportion done by Big 4 auditors is increasing, possibly due to the need for higher audit quality and more experienced auditors for the companies to be listed on stock exchanges. This leads to higher audit fees. As a result, many executives have decided to fund their companies with private equity. This decline in the number of publicly traded companies is not healthy for the Canadian market. Perhaps more incentives can be given to attract more public issuers, which will give investors more opportunities to invest, and thus, further strengthen the economy.
Shire/Takeda: How deal risks create M&A opportunities
Authors: Tournier Florence 
Published: May 2019

AbstractM&A activity in 2018 has been concentrated––in terms of news flow, deal length, spread width, size and volume––around two main mega‐deals, the competing bids of Fox and Comcast for Sky and Takeda's acquisition of Shire, which both ended successfully. The US‐China trade war and European‐wide political concerns, including the uncertainty and lack of visibility around Brexit and the Italian budget, may have discouraged large transactions. Overall deal risk has also increased with enhanced regulatory scrutiny over national interest in sensitive sectors. In this article, we will focus on one of them: Takeda's acquisition of Shire, whose interest lies in the number and nature of issues involved, as well as the attractiveness of the trade until the very end.
Dilatation of left portal vein after right portal vein embolization: a simple estimation for growth of future liver remnant
Authors: Park Hyo Jung , Kim Kyoung Won , Choi Sang Hyun , Lee Jeongjin , Kwon Heon‐Ju , Kwon Jae Hyun , Song Gi‐Won , Lee Sung‐Gyu 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate correlation between growth rate of left portal vein (LPV) and future liver remnant (FLR) after right portal vein embolization (PVE), and to design models predicting FLR growth rate and volume using LPV area measurements on computed tomography (CT).MethodsA total of 134 patients (59.6 ± 10.2 years; 103 men) who underwent right PVE with contrast‐enhanced CT before and 3–5 weeks after PVE were retrospectively identified. Kinetic hypertrophy ratio (KHR) and kinetic degree of hypertrophy (KDH) served as growth rate parameters. Correlations between LPV growth rate and FLR growth rate and volume change were evaluated by linear regression analysis. The agreements between actual volumetrically determined growth rates and volume of FLR and those estimated from regression equation using LPV measurements were assessed by Bland–Altman plots.ResultsGrowth rates of LPV and FLR correlated significantly (P < 0.001). The mean difference between actual and estimated value was 0.1% for KHR‐FLR (actual, 9.5 ± 6.0%; estimated, 9.4 ± 3.8%), 0.0% for KDH‐FLR (actual, 3.3 ± 1.4%; estimated, 3.3 ± 0.7%), −3.8 cm3 for FLR volume (actual, 642.5 ± 167.8 cm3; estimated, 646.4 ± 156.5 cm3), and −0.1% for proportion of FLR volume (actual, 48.7 ± 7.8%; estimated, 48.9 ± 7.8%).ConclusionsAfter right PVE, FLR growth rate and volume can be simply estimated from the change in LPV area.
Combination of Plaque Characteristics, Pial Collaterals, and Hypertension Contributes to Misery Perfusion in Patients With Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis
Authors: Liu Song , Luo Yu , Wang Chen , Tang Ruowei , Sheng Zhiguo , Xie Weiwei , Chai Shengting , Guo Yu , Chai Chao , Yang Qi , Fan Zhaoyang , Chang Binge , Xia Shuang 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundAtherosclerotic plaque in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is linked to ischemic stroke events, but the relationship between plaque characteristics and cerebral perfusion is unclear.PurposeTo investigate MCA plaque characteristics between intracranial atherosclerotic patients with and without hypoperfusion area, and to identify the variables affecting hypoperfusion volume.Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationSeventy‐one patients with MCA stenosis (>50%), and all with ischemic onset in recent 2 weeks.Field Strength/Sequence3.0T MRI / diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF‐MRA), inversion‐recovery prepared sampling perfection with application‐optimized contrast using different flip angle evolutions (IR‐SPACE), dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion‐weighted imaging (DSC‐PWI).AssessmentPlaque characteristics including eccentric index (EI), eccentricity, plaque length, and enhancement on MCA were measured on IR‐SPACE. Pial collaterals (PCs) were evaluated on axial TOF‐MRA source images. Time‐to‐maximum (Tmax) maps with a threshold more than 6 seconds were assessed by rapid processing of perfusion and diffusion (RAPID) software.Statistical TestsTwo independent‐samples t‐tests, Mann–Whitney U‐test, chi‐square test, Z test, univariate and multivariate logistic analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used.ResultsPatients with hypoperfusion had fewer eccentric plaque, lower EI, longer plaque length, and poor PCs compared with those without (P = 0.002, 0.016, 0.003, and 0.001). Eccentricity, plaque length, PCs, and hypertension were the factors independently associated with the occurrence of hypoperfusion after adjustment for risk factors of cerebrovascular disease (P = 0.014, 0.017, 0.035, and 0.018). The area under the curve (AUC) (95% confidence interval) was 0.865 (0.763–0.934) for a combination of the above four variables, which was significantly higher than any variable alone (P < 0.001, 0.016, < 0.001, and < 0.001). Patients with lower EI, concentric morphology, and grade 2 enhancement trended to have larger hypoperfusion volume (P = 0.028, 0.037, and 0.009).Data ConclusionPlaque eccentricity, plaque length, PCs, and hypertension showed an association with the occurrence of hypoperfusion.Level of Evidence: 4Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:195–204.
Standardized Evaluation of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations Using Flow Distribution Network Graphs and Dual‐venc 4D Flow MRI
Authors: Aristova Maria , Vali Alireza , Ansari Sameer A. , Shaibani Ali , Alden Tord D. , Hurley Michael C. , Jahromi Babak S. , Potts Matthew B. , Markl Michael , Schnell Susanne 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundCerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are pathological connections between arteries and veins. Dual‐venc 4D flow MRI, an extended 4D flow MRI method with improved velocity dynamic range, provides time‐resolved 3D cerebral hemodynamics.PurposeTo optimize dual‐venc 4D flow imaging parameters for AVM; to assess the relationship between spatial resolution, acceleration, and flow quantification accuracy; and to introduce and apply the flow distribution network graph (FDNG) paradigm for storing and analyzing complex neurovascular 4D flow data.Study TypeRetrospective cohort study.Subjects/PhantomScans were performed in a specialized flow phantom: 26 healthy subjects (age 41 ± 17 years) and five AVM patients (age 27–68 years).Field Strength/SequenceDual‐venc 4D flow with varying spatial resolution and acceleration factors were performed at 3T field strength.AssessmentQuantification accuracy was assessed in vitro by direct comparison to measured flow. FDNGs were used to quantify and compare flow, peak velocity (PV), and pulsatility index (PI) between healthy controls with various Circle of Willis (CoW) anatomy and AVM patients.Statistical TestsIn vitro measurements were compared to ground truth with Student's t‐test. In vivo groups were compared with Wilcoxon rank‐sum test and Kruskal–Wallis test.ResultsFlow was overestimated in all in vitro experiments, by an average 7.1 ± 1.4% for all measurement conditions. Error in flow measurement was significantly correlated with number of voxels across the channel (P = 3.11 × 10−28) but not with acceleration factor (P = 0.74). For the venous‐arterial PV and PI ratios, a significant difference was found between AVM nidal and extranidal circulation (P = 0.008 and 0.05, respectively), and between AVM nidal and healthy control circulation (P = 0.005 and 0.003, respectively).Data ConclusionDual‐venc 4D flow MRI and standardized FDNG analysis might be feasible in clinical applications. Venous‐arterial ratios of PV and PI are proposed as network‐based biomarkers characterizing AVM nidal hemodynamics.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1718–1730.
Novel approach to enhance sensitivity in surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging using deposited organic‐inorganic hybrid matrices
Authors: Nozaki Kazuyoshi , Nakabayashi Yuji , Murakami Tatsuya , Miyazato Akio , Osaka Issey 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSample pretreatment is key to obtaining good data in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI). Although sublimation is one of the best methods for obtaining homogenously fine organic matrix crystals, its sensitivity can be low due to the lack of a solvent extraction effect. We investigated the effect of incorporating a thin film of metal formed by zirconium (Zr) sputtering into the sublimation process for MALDI matrix deposition for improving the detection sensitivity in mouse liver tissue sections treated with olanzapine. The matrix‐enhanced surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (ME‐SALDI) method, where a matrix was formed by sputtering Zr to form a thin nanoparticle layer before depositing MALDI organic matrix comprising α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) by sublimation, resulted in a significant improvement in sensitivity, with the ion intensity of olanzapine being about 1800 times that observed using the MALDI method, comprising CHCA sublimation alone. When Zr sputtering was performed after CHCA deposition, however, no such enhancement in sensitivity was observed. The enhanced sensitivity due to Zr sputtering was also observed when the CHCA solution was applied by spraying, being about twice as high as that observed by CHCA spraying alone. In addition, the detection sensitivity of these various pretreatment methods was similar for endogenous glutathione. Given that sample preparation using the ME‐SALDI‐MSI method, which combines Zr sputtering with the sublimation method for depositing an organic matrix, does not involve a solvent, delocalization problems such as migration of analytes observed after matrix spraying and washing with aqueous solutions as sample pretreatment are not expected. Therefore, ME‐Zr‐SALDI‐MSI is a novel sample pretreatment method that can improve the sensitivity of analytes while maintaining high spatial resolution in MALDI‐MSI.