bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Device-Related Thrombosis Following Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
Authors: Korsholm Kasper , Jensen Jesper Møller , Nørgaard Bjarne Linde , Nielsen-Kudsk Jens Erik 
Published: September 2019

Background:
Device-related thrombosis (DRT) following left atrial appendage occlusion is a rare but feared complication. The diagnostic value of cardiac compute tomography (CT) for detection of DRT is unknown. This study sought to evaluate the clinical value of cardiac CT for detection of DRT using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the reference standard and to provide insights into the causes, natural history, and risk of DRT.

Methods:
We reviewed 301 consecutive patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, between 2010 and 2017. Of these, 248 patients had cardiac CT and TEE imaging available at 8-week follow-up; 139 had complete 12-month imaging. A blinded investigator analyzed all images. On TEE, an echo-dense mass attached to the device was defined as DRT. Cardiac CT was analyzed for presence of hypoattenuated thickening (HAT) on the device, which was subclassified as low grade or high grade. High-grade HAT was considered as definite DRT.

Results:
At 8 weeks, TEE detected 5 (2%) cases with DRT; and cardiac CT 6 (2.4%) cases with high-grade HAT. At 12 months, both TEE and cardiac CT detected 2 (1.4%) cases with DRT or high-grade HAT, respectively. Cardiac CT demonstrated low-grade HAT in 9 (3.6%) cases at 8 weeks; and 13 cases (9.4%) at 12-months. High-grade HAT/DRT was associated with thromboembolism in 2 cases, whereas low-grade HAT was not related to embolic events. Low-grade HAT resolved spontaneously over time.

Conclusions:
Cardiac CT seems equally good as TEE for detection of DRT. In addition, cardiac CT demonstrates cases with low-grade HAT, not visualized by TEE. The clinical significance hereof requires further investigation.
Ballot Measures and Subversion of Direct Democracy: Initiatives to Outlaw Aerial Wolf Killing in Alaska
Authors: Simon Alexander , Clark Steven C. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Activists often utilize ballot measures to protect wildlife. However, state executive branches may employ a variety of means to subvert direct democracy. We examine some of these tactics via a case study of two nearly identical ballot initiatives that were intended to outlaw the aerial killing of wolves in Alaska. In the first case, the language that appeared on the ballot was created by an executive branch sympathetic to the measure. In the second case, the ballot language was created by an executive branch opposed to the measure. In the first case, the ballot language accurately communicated the intent of the initiative and it passed. In the second case, it did not communicate the intent of the initiative or pass. Moreover, in the second case, the Palin administration utilized public funds to persuade voters not to support the initiative.
Work in the Teachings of R. Ẓvi Yehudah Kook
Authors: Mashiach Amir 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
R. Ẓvi Yehudah ha-Kohen Kook (RẒiYah, 1891–1982), the head of the yeshivah at “Merkaz ha-Rav” in Jerusalem, was one of the most prominent religious Zionist leaders of the twentieth century. He was also the son of R. Abraham Isaac ha-Kohen Kook, a relationship that had a decisive impact on his thought and work throughout his life. The purpose of the present study is to shed light on RẒiYah’s attitude toward work. Did he see work as a basic human obligation spelled out by the physical need for survival? Did he associate an ideological value with work, as part of a worldview integrating religious values with extra-religious ones, similar to socialism? Or did he see work as a religious value, one that stemmed from his theology?
Discretion and Disparity under Sentencing Guidelines Revisited: The Interrelationship between Structured Sentencing Alternatives and Guideline Decision-making
Authors: Painter-Davis Noah , Ulmer Jeffery T. 
Published: September 2019

Objectives: We argue that the reasons court actors conform to or depart from sentencing guideline recommendations likely vary depending on whether the decision involves an alternative sanction or incarceration and that these reasons may have consequences for ethnoracial disparities in the sentencing of defendants and how these disparities are understood. Method: We use recent (2012–2016) Pennsylvania sentencing data to examine (1) the relationship between defendant race/ethnicity and court actors’ decisions to depart downward and upward from the guidelines and (2) whether such relationships vary depending on whether they involve an alternative sanction, namely intermediate punishments (IPs). Results: We find that the association of defendant race/ethnicity with decisions to conform to the guidelines or to depart is greatly impacted by whether the sentence involves an IP. Blacks and, to a lesser extent, Latinos experienced greater disadvantage in guideline decision-making, whether conformity or departures, when the sentence involved an IP. Conclusions: Results suggest that the integration of IP into guideline systems may have (1) mobilized ethnoracial disparities in sentencing, (2) focused the location of sentencing disparities to sentences involving IP, and (3) changed the applicability of common interpretations of guideline decisions and disparities in their imposition.
A Comparison of User Behaviors for a Fertility-Tracking App: Does Training in an NFP Method Improve Persistence and Use?
Authors: Manhart Michael D. 
Published: September 2019

This study explores differences in the use of CyclePro Go™ (CPG), a fertility-tracking app developed by Couple to Couple League (CCL), between those exposed to it as a part of natural family planning (NFP) instruction versus those who find it on their own. An anonymous data set of 17,543 CPG accounts opened between April 2013 and June 2016 was used for analysis. Nonmember users opened the most accounts (58 percent, n = 10,134), CCL members represented 38 percent ( n = 6,758) of new accounts, and 207 CCL teachers (4 percent) were using CPG for personal charting. Significantly more nonmember accounts had zero days of use after the initial opening compared to CCL member accounts (61 percent vs. 23 percent, respectively, χ2 = 2,405.9, p < .001). Conversely, significantly more CCL member accounts were used for ninety days or longer than nonmember accounts (47 percent vs. 13 percent, respectively, χ2 = 2,404.2, p < .001). CCL students—those who began using the app as part of a formal NFP teaching curriculum—were more likely to use the app for > six cycles compared to nonmembers. In accounts with at least one complete cycle, CCL students were the most diligent at daily recording (95 percent of cycle days with observation recorded) followed by CCL members (88 percent) and nonmembers (76 percent). CCL teachers had the lowest frequency of cycle days with a recorded observation (73 percent). Within each cohort, accounts with > six recorded cycles had a lower proportion of cycle days with an observation recorded, likely reflecting increasing knowledge of their personal fertility patterns. Long-term users who had no known formal training in NFP still had the lowest proportion cycle days with a fertility observation. We conclude formal NFP instruction increases the probability of long-term app use, and regardless of training, long-term users will likely record observations on about 70 percent of cycle days. Summary: “CyclePro Go™ users with NFP training were more persistent and diligent about daily data input than those without training.”
Health Practitioner Regulation: Has the National Law Produced National Outcomes in Serious Disciplinary Matters?
Authors: Millbank Jenni 
Published: September 2019

AbstractSince 2010, a national scheme regulates the registration, accreditation and discipline of health professionals in Australia (the ‘National Law’). This research examines disciplinary cases from tribunals nationwide to address the question: Has the national regulation of health professionals produced consistency in outcomes in serious cases of professional misconduct? All publicly available Australian tribunal-level decisions concerning complaints of serious misconduct and/or impairment brought against the five most populous regulated health professions (nurses and midwives, doctors, psychologists, pharmacists and dentists) were analysed for the period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2017. Each case was coded by reference to a typology of misconduct, practitioner characteristics and outcome, allowing for comparisons to be drawn both as between the professions and as between jurisdictions. Major disparities were identified in outcomes across the professions, with doctors being subject to less severe outcomes than other professions, in particular in comparison with nurses, even when the same main head of misconduct was in issue. Marked disparities were also identified between outcomes in different states and territories, suggesting that the National Law is not being applied in a uniform manner. This article examines these disparities and explores possible contributing factors.
Consumers’ Information-Seeking Behaviors on Dietary Supplements
Authors: Nathan Joseph P. , Kudadjie-Gyamfi Elizabeth , Halberstam Leah , Wright Josephine T. 
Published: September 2019

Background Consumers are advised to seek information about dietary supplements (DS) before using them; little is known concerning whether this recommendation is heeded. Objective The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate whether users of DS seek information about these products before using them and particularly whether such information is sought from health-care professionals (HCPs). Methods Surveys administered face-to-face to adult consumers at three venues in New York City. Results Between November 2017 and October 2018, 199 consumers were surveyed. Of the 139 (70%) DS users, 104 (75%) used at least one DS that was not prescribed/recommended by an HCP. Of those, 88 (85%) reported seeking information about DS before using them and two (2%) noted that for some they do and for some they do not. The source of information most frequently used was the Internet (76; 84%). Pharmacists, dietitians/nutritionists, and medical doctors were reported to be a source of information by seven (8%), six (7%), and five (6%) of the respondents, respectively. DS were most commonly purchased at a pharmacy (76; 54%). Of the 199 participants, 111 (56%) perceived DS to be “very safe” or “safe,” while 20 (10%) reported that DS were “unsafe” or “very unsafe”; 60 (30%) participants were “neutral.” Conclusion Although most DS users sought information prior to using them, the majority did so by using the Internet and only a few consulted with an HCP. HCPs should be proactive in educating consumers about the importance of consulting with them prior to using these products.
Value of transoral surgery for human papillomavirus-mediated oropharyngeal cancer: validation of a new staging system in Japanese patients
Authors: Kimura Eiko , Araki Koji , Tomifuji Masayuki , Tanaka Yuya , Uno Kosuke , Yamashita Taku , Shiotani Akihiro 
Published: September 2019

Objective This study aimed to validate new staging of Japanese patients with human papillomavirus-mediated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+-OPC) and the effectiveness of transoral surgery. Methods Fifty-three patients with HPV+-OPC were classified according to the seventh and eighth editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, along with assessment of prognosis, smoking and alcohol status, and treatment outcome. Transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery (TOVS) was performed as transoral surgery. Results The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 77.3% in all patients. Five-year OS rates of seventh edition staging were as follows: II, 100%; III, 100%; IVa, 75.9%; and IVb and IVc, 0%. Five-year OS rates of the eighth edition clinical staging were as follows: I, 89.3%; II, 88.9%; III, 46.3%; and IV, 0%. In non-smoking and smoking patients with HPV+-OPC, the 5-year OS rates were 90.9% and 70.7%, respectively. TOVS was used for treating 20 smokers with HPV+-OPC (5-year OS: 85.7%), while 12 were treated with chemoradiotherapy (5-year OS: 75.0%). Conclusions The eighth edition of the AJCC determines the prognosis of HPV+-OPC more accurately than the seventh edition in clinical staging. Smokers with HPV+-OPC have a poor prognosis, but TOVS might improve the prognosis.
Illumina-based sequencing analysis of pathogenic microorganisms in dental caries patients of different Chinese ethnic groups
Authors: Yun Chen , Zhiyan Li , Chong Zhao , Jing Liu , Xin Zhang , Derui Zhu 
Published: September 2019

Objective To analyze the pathogenic community diversity of dental caries patients from Tu, Hui, Tibetan, and Han Chinese ethnic groups. Methods Forty saliva samples were collected from the following patients with dental caries: Tu from Huzhu County (n = 10), Hui from Ping’an County (n = 10), Han from Xining city (n = 10), and Tibetan from Yushu (n = 10). High-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes (V3-V4) was performed using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Results Based on 97% similarity clustering, operational taxonomic units of Tu, Hui, Tibetan, and Han ethnic groups were 181, 210, 38, and 67, respectively. In Tu patients, 11 phyla, 19 classes, and 89 genera were identified, compared with 13 phyla, 21 classes, and 113 genera in Hui patients, two phyla, four classes, and 21 genera in Tibetan patients, five phyla, nine classes, and 34 genera in Han patients, and four phyla, five classes, and 12 genera from the control group. The main pathogens of dental caries included Veillonella, Aggregatibacter, Leptotrichia, Bacteroides, Granulicatella, Streptococcus, and Prevotella. Conclusion The pathogenic microorganisms of dental caries differ greatly among Tu, Hui, Tibetan, and Han ethnic groups. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the effective prevention and treatment of dental caries in different Chinese populations.
Combination therapy for rapid treatment of severe obsessive–compulsive disorder: a case report
Authors: Feng Lan , Feng Bin , Luo Li-yuan 
Published: September 2019

Objective A 29-year-old male from Guizhou, China, had been suffering from obsessive–compulsive disorder since graduation from junior high school at 14 years. He was afraid of putting glass substances in his mouth. His main symptoms were repetitive thoughts, inquiries and examinations for more than 6 hours a day. He dropped out of school and stayed at home. He had been taking 60 mg/day paroxetine for 7 consecutive years. Over the past 2 years, his obsessive–compulsive symptoms had increased and were present for 12 hours a day. Methods The patient was treated using a combination of drugs, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation–exposure and response prevention therapy (TEAS–ERP) and parental involvement. Results After 28 days, his Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score dropped from 40 to 11 points. After 1 month, telephone follow-up showed that he was able to do housework and was ready to go to work. After 6 months, he was able to easily work, and his compulsive behaviour only occurred 1 to 2 times each day for about 0.5 minutes each time. Conclusions The combination of TEAS–ERP, sertraline and clomipramine had a rapid effect. There was no resumption of obsessive–compulsive symptoms during post-treatment follow-up.
Evaluation of endothelial microparticles as a prognostic marker in hemolytic disease of the newborn in China
Authors: Zhu Xiao-jing , Wei Jin-kai , Zhang Cong-min 
Published: September 2019

Objective This study aimed to evaluate endothelial microparticles (EMPs) as a potential prognostic marker in hemolytic disease of the Chinese neonate. Methods We compared 29 newborns with ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn (ABO HDN), 22 newborns with Rh HDN, and 21 healthy newborns with matched mother and infant blood groups (controls). Markers of hemolysis and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF Ag) were analyzed. EMP (CD144+) levels were measured before and after therapy. Results vWF Ag and pretherapy EMP levels were higher in the ABO HDN and Rh HDN groups than in the control group. Additionally, vWF Ag and pretherapy EMP levels were significantly higher in the ABO HDN group than in the Rh HDN group. Posttherapy EMP levels were decreased compared with pretherapy levels in the ABO HDN and Rh HDN groups. Moreover, hemoglobin and indirect bilirubin levels were independently correlated with pretherapy EMP levels in the ABO HDN group. Conclusion Our findings indicate that EMP measurement in neonates with HDN may provide a novel method of monitoring possible severe vascular dysfunction in patients in China. An external validation in larger datasets is necessary for further study.
Effectiveness of interventions to improve participation outcomes for children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review
Authors: O’Dea Áine , Robinson Katie , Coote Susan 
Published: September 2019

IntroductionDevelopmental coordination disorder affects a child’s motor abilities and participation across environments. This study aimed to review systematically the effectiveness of interventions using a motor, cognitive or psychological approach on participation outcomes in children with developmental coordination disorder.MethodA systematic review of the literature published between 2001 and November 2017 was conducted. Eight electronic databases were searched: Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Education Full Text (H. W. Wilson databases), SPORTDiscus (all via EBSCO) and Scopus (Web of Science).ResultsIn total, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria: seven randomised controlled trials, two quasi-experimental and three case series. Systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis was not possible given the heterogeneity of research designs, interventions and outcome measures. Limited evidence for participation outcomes was found. The cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance intervention found a between-group effect on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) outcome measure performance, g = 1.0 (0.02, 1.9), and COPM satisfaction, g = 1.4 (0.4, 2.3), in favour of the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance for one randomised controlled trial. Large significant within-group effects were found for the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance intervention on the COPM outcome measure COPM satisfaction, d = –2.1 (–5.2, –0.2).ConclusionMore high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base regarding occupational therapy interventions to improve participation outcomes for children with developmental coordination disorder.
Comparative Effectiveness of Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Propensity Score Analysis From the ROW Cohort
Authors: Jain Nitin B. , Ayers Gregory D. , Fan Run , Kuhn John E. , Warner Jon J.P. , Baumgarten Keith M. , Matzkin Elizabeth , Higgins Laurence D. 
Published: September 2019

Background: The evidence to support operative versus nonoperative treatment for rotator cuff tears is sparse and inconclusive. Purpose: To assess pain and functional outcomes in patients undergoing operative and nonoperative treatments for rotator cuff tears. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: From March 2011 to February 2015, a multicenter cohort of patients with rotator cuff tears undergoing operative and nonoperative treatments was recruited. Patients completed a detailed history questionnaire, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) standardized form and underwent magnetic resonance imaging. In addition to baseline assessments, patients received follow-up questionnaires at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Propensity score weighting was used to balance differences in characteristics of the operative and nonoperative groups. Results: Adjusted for propensity scores, the operative (n = 50) and nonoperative (n = 77) groups had similar characteristics, as evidenced by the small standardized mean differences between the groups. Adjusted mean differences in the SPADI and ASES scores between the operative and nonoperative groups were –22.0 points (95% CI, –32.1 to –11.8) and –22.2 points (95% CI, –32.8 to –11.6) at 18 months, respectively. The operative group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who showed ≥30% ( P = .002) and ≥50% ( P < .0001) improvement in SPADI and ASES scores as compared with the nonoperative group. Conclusion: In this prospective cohort study, patients undergoing operative treatment had significantly better pain and functional outcomes as compared with patients undergoing nonoperative treatment for rotator cuff tears. Differences between the 2 groups in SPADI and ASES scores at the 6- to 18-month time points met the minimal clinically important difference (depending on the threshold used). A large randomized controlled trial is needed to answer this question more definitively.
Advancing Nutrition in the International Food Assistance Agenda: Progress and Future Directions Identified at the 2018 Food Assistance for Nutrition Evidence Summit
Authors: Green Lindsey Ellis , Cliffer Ilana R. , Suri Devika J. , Caiafa Kristine R. , Rogers Beatrice L. , Webb Patrick J. R. 
Published: September 2019

Background: Global food insecurity persists despite continued international attention, necessitating evidence-based food assistance interventions that adequately address nutritional concerns. In June 2018, the US Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace through the Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) project sponsored a “Food Assistance for Nutrition Evidence Summit” to share evidence relevant to policy and programmatic decision-making and to identify critical evidence gaps. Objective: This article presents 4 priority areas to advance nutrition in the international food assistance agenda generated through presentations and discussions with the food assistance community at the Evidence Summit. Methods: Priority areas were identified after the Evidence Summit using a combination of FAQR team discussions, review of presentations and official notes, and supporting literature. Results: Key priority areas to advance nutrition in the international food assistance agenda are as follows: (1) increase research funding for food assistance in all contexts, paying particular attention to emergency settings; (2) research and adopt innovative ingredients, technology, and delivery strategies in food assistance products and programs that encourage long-term well-being; (3) redefine and expand indicators of nutritional status to capture contextual information about the outcomes of food assistance interventions; and (4) augment communication and collaboration across the food assistance ecosystem. Conclusions: These priorities are critical in a time of increased humanitarian need and will be key to fostering long-term resilience among vulnerable groups.