bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of the use of new technologies on farmers’ wheat yield in Ethiopia: evidence from a randomized control trial
Authors: Abate Gashaw Tadesse , Bernard Tanguy , de Brauw Alan , Minot Nicholas 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn 2013, Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation Agency introduced the Wheat Initiative to increase smallholder productivity. In this article, we measure the impacts of the Wheat Initiative package of technologies, and its marketing assistance component alone, on yields among a promotional group of farmers. The package includes improved techniques, improved inputs, and a guaranteed market for the crop. Relying on crop‐cut measures and farmers’ own assessments, we find that full package led to an average 14% higher yields. Implementation of the Wheat Initiative was successful in making certified seed and fertilizer accessible to farmers and increasing their uptake, though only 61% of the intervention group adopted row planting and few farmers received marketing assistance. The measured yield difference may underestimate the true yield difference associated with the technology because of incomplete adoption of the recommended practices by intervention farmers and adoption of some practices by control farmers.
Does mixed crop‐livestock farming lead to less diversified diets among smallholders? Evidence from Laos
Authors: Parvathi Priyanka 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMalnourishment continues to remain a challenge in developing countries. As the undernourished are largely smallholder farmers, it is widely assumed that farm diversification and mixed crop‐livestock agricultural systems can help alleviate this problem. However, empirical evidence in this context is limited. Hence, we use a two‐year panel's data from Laos to examine whether farm production diversity as well as a mixed crop‐livestock farming system improves household dietary diversity among smallholder farmer. The results from the fixed effects regression indicate that although farm production diversity does lead to a higher dietary diversity, the effect diminishes with continued farm diversification. The counterfactual analysis from the endogenous switching regression reveals that mixed crop‐livestock farming systems do not necessarily enhance dietary diversity. However, we further find that purchasing food from the markets plays an important role in enhancing the dietary diversity of rural smallholder farmers.
Gender disparities in preterm neonatal outcomes
Authors: O'Driscoll David N. , McGovern Matthew , Greene Catherine M. , Molloy Eleanor J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAimFrom birth to old age, males generally have poorer disease outcomes compared to females. Preterm infants display a marked gender disparity in disease outcomes, and the underlying mechanisms are not well delineated. Our aim was to review the literature on clinical outcomes between preterm infants of different genders and discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the differences observed.MethodsA literature review was undertaken for experimental and clinical research related to gender differences in preterm outcomes.ResultsPreterm male infants appear to have consistently worse outcomes compared to females, and the aetiology of these differences, while mostly undetermined, is likely multifactorial.ConclusionThe male disadvantage in preterm outcomes is likely multifactorial with hormonal, genetic and immunological differences likely playing key roles. Gender is an important variable in preterm outcome and should be considered when designing clinical and experimental research.
Rapid systematic review shows that using a high‐flow nasal cannula is inferior to nasal continuous positive airway pressure as first‐line support in preterm neonates
Authors: Conte Francesca , Orfeo Luigi , Gizzi Camilla , Massenzi Luca , Fasola Salvatore 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAimWe reviewed using a high‐flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as first‐line support for preterm neonates with, or at risk of, respiratory distress.MethodsThis rapid systematic review covered biomedical databases up to June 2017. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English. The reference lists of the studies and relevant reviews we included were also screened. We performed the study selection, data extraction, study quality assessment, meta‐analysis and quality of evidence assessment following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.ResultsPooled results from six RCTs covering 1227 neonates showed moderate‐quality evidence that HFNC was associated with a higher rate of failure than nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm neonates of at least 28 weeks of gestation, with a risk ratio of 1.57. Low‐quality evidence showed no significant differences between HFNC and NCPAP in the need for intubation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rate. HFNC yielded a lower rate of nasal injury (risk ratio 0.50). When HFNC failed, intubation was avoided in some neonates by switching them to NCPAP.ConclusionHFNC had higher failure rates than NCPAP when used as first‐line support. Subsequently switching to NCPAP sometimes avoided intubation. Data on the most immature neonates were lacking.
Sparse Generalized Eigenvalue Problem with Application to Canonical Correlation Analysis for Integrative Analysis of Methylation and Gene Expression Data
Authors: Safo Sandra E. , Ahn Jeongyoun , Jeon Yongho , Jung Sungkyu 
Published: May 2018

Summary
We present a method for individual and integrative analysis of high dimension, low sample size data that capitalizes on the recurring theme in multivariate analysis of projecting higher dimensional data onto a few meaningful directions that are solutions to a generalized eigenvalue problem. We propose a general framework, called SELP (Sparse Estimation with Linear Programming), with which one can obtain a sparse estimate for a solution vector of a generalized eigenvalue problem. We demonstrate the utility of SELP on canonical correlation analysis for an integrative analysis of methylation and gene expression profiles from a breast cancer study, and we identify some genes known to be associated with breast carcinogenesis, which indicates that the proposed method is capable of generating biologically meaningful insights. Simulation studies suggest that the proposed method performs competitive in comparison with some existing methods in identifying true signals in various underlying covariance structures.
Body composition, fatigue and exercise in patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen‐deprivation therapy
Authors: Newton Robert U. , Jeffery Emily , Galvão Daniel A. , Peddle‐McIntyre Carolyn J. , Spry Nigel , Joseph David , Denham James W. , Taaffe Dennis R. 
Published: May 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) with fatigue and vitality before and after exercise in patients with prostate cancer already undergoing androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT).Subjects and MethodsCross‐sectional associations between LM and FM with fatigue and/or vitality measures were examined in 229 patients (aged 43–90 years). Prospective analysis was undertaken in 129 patients who underwent a supervised 3–6 months exercise programme (predominantly resistance + aerobic). Whole body and appendicular LM, and total and trunk FM were assessed by dual X‐ray absorptiometry. Fatigue was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30 (EORTC QLQ‐30) and vitality using the Short Form‐36.ResultsBased on the EORTC QLQ‐30, 19% of patients had clinically relevant fatigue. There was no association between LM and fatigue; however, total (P = 0.013), trunk (P = 0.015) and percentage (P = 0.008) FM were higher in fatigued than not fatigued patients, with total and trunk FM 5.0 and 2.6 kg higher, respectively. For quartiles of vitality, a similar pattern emerged for FM with those in the lowest quartile of vitality having the highest FM values (P = 0.014–0.034). In contrast, following supervised exercise, change in fatigue and vitality were associated with change in total LM (r = −0.182, P = 0.042 and r = 0.309, P = 0.001, respectively) but not FM. Patients fatigued at baseline but not fatigued following the exercise programme gained a median (interquartile range) of 2.1 (0.7–3.2) kg LM.ConclusionIn patients with prostate cancer treated with ADT, body composition is associated with fatigue, with higher total and trunk FM in those with clinically relevant fatigue. However, following exercise those no longer fatigued had an accompanying substantial increase in LM. Modifying body composition, both LM and FM, in patients with prostate cancer may favourably alter cancer‐related fatigue levels and should be a target of exercise medicine in this population.
Laparoscopic vs robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy for renal tumours of >4 cm: a propensity score‐based analysis
Authors: Gu Liangyou , Ma Xin , Wang Baojun , Xie Yongpeng , Li Xintao , Gao Yu , Lyu Xiangjun , Huang Qingbo , Fan Yang , Yao Yuanxin , Wang Yunpeng , Li Hongzhao , Zhang Xu 
Published: May 2018

ObjectivesTo compare perioperative data, functional and oncological outcomes between laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for renal tumours of >4 cm.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent either LPN or RAPN between 2008 and 2015. To adjust for potential baseline confounders, propensity score matching (1:1) was performed. Perioperative data, functional and oncological outcomes were reviewed. Disease‐free survival, cancer‐specific survival and overall survival were analysed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves with log‐rank tests.ResultsIn all, 197 patients underwent LPN and 96 underwent RAPN during the study period. After matching, there was no significant difference between the groups for baseline characteristics. Within the matched cohort, the LPN group was associated with significantly higher estimated blood loss (150 vs 100 mL; P < 0.001), longer renal artery clamp time (25 vs 20 min; P < 0.001), longer postoperative hospital stay (7 vs 5 days; P < 0.001), and lower rate of Margin, Ischaemia, and Complications (MIC) achievement (30.2% vs 46.9%; P = 0.018). The postoperative percentage of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline was higher in the LPN group (11.3% vs 5.5%; P = 0.018). Complication and surgical conversion outcomes were similar between LPN and RAPN. There was no significant difference in oncological outcomes between the groups.ConclusionsFor patients with renal tumours of >4 cm, RAPN is more favourable than LPN in terms of perioperative outcomes (i.e. estimated blood loss, renal artery clamp time and postoperative hospital stay) and early renal functional preservation.
Extensional models for the development of passive‐margin salt basins, with application to the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Curry Magdalena A. E. , Peel Frank J. , Hudec Michael R. , Norton Ian O. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRecent subsalt petroleum discoveries associated with rifted‐margin salt basins have piqued interest in the presalt geology of the Gulf of Mexico margin. Available subsurface data does not uniquely constrain the subsalt geometry, so creating an interpretation of the crustal architecture requires the application of geological models for crustal extension and breakup. However, published interpretations of the nature of the transition from continental rifting to seafloor spreading range from magma‐rich to magma‐poor. To address this uncertainty, we present 2D forward kinematic models for crustal configurations generated by diverse models (symmetric extension, depth‐dependent extension, and volcanic extension). Through a series of conceptual balanced cross‐sections grounded in a ~600 km 2D seismic line from the NE Gulf of Mexico, we demonstrate the implications of each model for the limit of oceanic crust, basement morphology, crustal architecture, and hydrocarbon prospectivity. We discuss evidence for the dominant crustal processes, including geodynamic factors and structural and stratigraphic observations. Based on our observations and the geologic history, we favour an asymmetric, magma‐poor to ‐intermediate margin interpretation for the NE Gulf of Mexico, but suggest that the degree of volcanic input and width of the ocean‐continent transition zone may vary along strike. The along‐strike variability highlights the importance of understanding all potential presalt crustal configurations, their key features, and their implications. With increased data availability on the presalt geology in the Gulf of Mexico the relevance of these scenarios can be assessed, allowing development of comprehensive geodynamic and tectonic models of the margin and consideration of petroleum system elements in the presalt sequence.
Adaptation through bricolage: Indigenous responses to long‐term social‐ecological change in the Saskatchewan River Delta, Canada
Authors: Abu Razak , Reed Maureen G. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSocial and ecological change in Canada's north challenges Indigenous communities to develop responses that secure the continuation of their livelihoods. Although there is significant evidence that effective response and adaptation opportunities exist in Indigenous communities, understanding of how such locally developed adaptations are constructed remains limited. This paper develops and applies the concept of bricolage to demonstrate how Indigenous societies build their adaptive capacity to address long‐term social‐ecological change. Our concept bridges institutional and productive forms of bricolage to explain how individuals and households make conscious decisions and adjustments to retain their livelihoods. The results of long‐term engagement with residents of Cumberland House, Saskatchewan through field observations, oral histories, and semi‐structured interviews demonstrate that Indigenous peoples improvise, hybridize, contest, and negotiate existing practices to create different kinds of adaptive arrangements. We find, further, that whereas certain livelihood practices have changed, cultural norms such as respect and reciprocity have remained. Our findings strengthen the argument that Indigenous peoples are well‐positioned to take direct roles in adaptation; hence, decision makers should consider them equal partners in adaptation decisions and learn from locally developed responses to focus adaptation planning on the relevant needs of Indigenous communities.
Sex‐specific associations of insulin‐like peptides in cord blood with size at birth
Authors: van Poppel Mireille NM. , Eder Martina , Lang Uwe , Desoye Gernot 
Published: May 2018

SummaryObjectiveInsulin‐like peptides (insulin, IGF‐1, IGF‐2) are essential regulators of foetal growth. We assessed the role of these peptides for birth size in a sex‐specific manner.DesignCross‐sectional cohort analysis.Patients and MeasurementsIn 369 neonates, cord blood insulin, C‐peptide, IGF‐1 and IGF‐2 levels were measured. Outcomes were placenta weight, birthweight, length and ponderal index. In linear regression models, the association of insulin‐like peptides with growth outcomes was assessed, adjusted for gestational age and delivery mode. Interaction between insulin‐like peptides and neonatal sex was assessed.ResultsNo sex differences in levels of insulin‐like peptides were observed. Significant interactions were found of sex with IGF‐1 for birthweight, and of sex with C‐peptide for all outcomes, except ponderal index. The association of IGF‐1 (ng/mL) with birthweight was stronger and only significant in males (beta coefficient 3.30 g; 95%CI 1.98‐4.63 in males and 1.45 g; −0.09‐2.99 in females). Associations of C‐peptide (ng/mL) with growth outcomes were stronger and only significant in females (placenta weight females: 181.3 g; 109.3‐253.3; P < .001, males: 29.8 g; −51.5‐111.1; P = .47, birthweight females: 598.5 g; 358.3‐838.7: P < .001, males: 113.7 g; −154.0‐381.4; P = .40). Associations of IGF2 with birthweight were similar in males and females. No associations were found with ponderal index.ConclusionsC‐peptide and IGF‐1 in cord blood associate with birthweight, length and placenta weight in a sex‐specific manner, with stronger associations of C‐peptide levels with placenta weight, birthweight and length in females and stronger associations of IGF‐1 levels with birthweight in males.
Clinical translation of recommendations from randomized trials for management of herpes simplex virus keratitis
Authors: Cabrera‐Aguas Maria , Robaei Dana , McCluskey Peter , Watson Stephanie 
Published: May 2018

AbstractImportanceTo standardize initial anti‐viral therapy for herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).BackgroundTo determine prescribing trends for the management of HSK and compare the trends to available clinical trial evidence.DesignRetrospective review of patients at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Australia.ParticipantsThree hundred and one eyes of 296 patients prescribed anti‐virals for HSK aged 18 years and above, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013.MethodsPatients were identified from viral swab results, pharmacy records and International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD‐10) coding data.Main Outcome MeasureInitial anti‐viral therapy.ResultsAnti‐viral therapy was given for therapeutic and prophylactic indications at presentation in 256 (85%) and 45 (15%) eyes, respectively. Overall, anti‐virals prescribed included valaciclovir 500–1000 mg 1–3 times daily, aciclovir 200–400 mg 1–5 times daily, topical aciclovir 2–5 times daily and topical trifluorothymidine two hourly or as needed daily or combined oral and topical anti‐virals. Indication and dose of prescribed anti‐virals aligned with clinical evidence in 125 of 141 eyes (89%) with epithelial HSK, 2 of 22 eyes (9%) with stromal without ulceration HSK, 6 of 18 (28%) eyes with endothelial HSK and 31 of 45 (69%) eyes with HSK prophylaxis. Overall, 164 eyes (54%) received ‘evidence‐based’ anti‐viral therapy.Conclusions and RelevancePrescribing patterns for anti‐viral therapy to treat and prevent recurrence of HSK were diverse. Local guidelines are needed to standardize the indications and dose of initial anti‐viral therapy for HSK. Implementation of these guidelines will likely improve patient care and rationalize the use of health resources.
FitConnect: Connecting Noisy 2D Samples by Fitted Neighbourhoods
Authors: Ohrhallinger S. , Wimmer M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe propose a parameter‐free method to recover manifold connectivity in unstructured 2D point clouds with high noise in terms of the local feature size. This enables us to capture the features which emerge out of the noise. To achieve this, we extend the reconstruction algorithm HNN‐Crust, which connects samples to two (noise‐free) neighbours and has been proven to output a manifold for a relaxed sampling condition. Applying this condition to noisy samples by projecting their k‐nearest neighbourhoods onto local circular fits leads to multiple candidate neighbour pairs and thus makes connecting them consistently an NP‐hard problem. To solve this efficiently, we design an algorithm that searches that solution space iteratively on different scales of k. It achieves linear time complexity in terms of point count plus quadratic time in the size of noise clusters. Our algorithm FitConnect extends HNN‐Crust seamlessly to connect both samples with and without noise, performs as local as the recovered features and can output multiple open or closed piecewise curves. Incidentally, our method simplifies the output geometry by eliminating all but a representative point from noisy clusters. Since local neighbourhood fits overlap consistently, the resulting connectivity represents an ordering of the samples along a manifold. This permits us to simply blend the local fits for denoising with the locally estimated noise extent. Aside from applications like reconstructing silhouettes of noisy sensed data, this lays important groundwork to improve surface reconstruction in 3D. Our open‐source algorithm is available online.
Extemporaneous formulations in Germany – relevance for everyday clinical practice
Authors: Staubach Petra , Salzmann Stefan , Peveling‐Oberhag Adriane , Weyer Veronika , Zimmer Sebastian , Gradl Gabriele , Lang Berenice M. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBackgroundExtemporaneous formulations broaden the spectrum of therapeutic options for topical treatment in particular and thus improve patient care. The latest amendment to the Regulation on the Operation of Pharmacies issued in 2012 brought about changes in prescribing and manufacturing practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the relevance of extemporaneous formulations in everyday clinical practice.MethodsWe used data from the German Institute for Drug Use Evaluation (DAPI) to analyze the prescribing practice for compounded preparations in Germany between the fourth quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2014. In doing so, we determined the total cost associated with extemporaneous formulations covered by statutory health insurance funds in the outpatient setting.ResultsApproximately three out of ten prescriptions (30.54 %) by German dermatologists during the observation period were extemporaneous formulations. While dermatologists make up only 2.7 % of physicians working in the statutory health care system in Germany, they prescribe more than half of all compounded preparations (53.6 %). Each dermatologist prescribed an average of 270.4 formulations per quarter; that number was 13.5 (1.3 %) for all other medical specialties. On average, 1,983,687 extemporaneous formulations overall (1.3 % of all prescriptions) were prescribed per quarter, corresponding to a total cost of € 40,944,982 (0.55 %).ConclusionsApart from finished medicinal products, extemporaneous formulations play a key role in outpatient care. Based on the principles of evidence‐based and patient‐oriented medicine, the quality of compounded preparations and the prescribing practice of physicians (standardized vs. individual formulations) should be further investigated to optimize the quality of these preparations.
Dermatologische Rezepturen in Deutschland – Relevanz für die Versorgung
Authors: Staubach Petra , Salzmann Stefan , Peveling‐Oberhag Adriane , Weyer Veronika , Zimmer Sebastian , Gradl Gabriele , Lang Berenice M. 
Published: May 2018

ZusammenfassungHintergrundRezepturen sind Verordnungsoptionen, die die Patientenversorgung besonders in der topischen Therapie sinnvoll ergänzen und damit optimieren. Bedingt durch die letzte Apothekenbetriebsordnung (2012) ergaben sich Änderungen in der Verschreibungs‐ sowie Herstellungspraxis. Zielsetzung dieser Untersuchung ist es, die Relevanz von Rezepturen im aktuellen klinischen Alltag in Deutschland zu ermitteln.MethodikIm Untersuchungszeitraum 4. Quartal 2011 bis 3. Quartal 2014 wurden mit Daten des Deutschen Arzneiprüfungsinstitutes e. V. (DAPI) die Verordnungsgewohnheiten für Rezepturen in Deutschland untersucht. Dabei wurden Abgaben ermittelt, die zu Lasten der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherungen im ambulanten Sektor rezeptiert wurden.ErgebnisseEtwa drei von zehn Verordnungen (30,54 %) durch Dermatologen in Deutschland waren im Untersuchungszeitraum Rezepturen. Dermatologen stellen im deutschen kassenärztlichen Versorgungssystem 2,7 % aller Ärzte und rezeptieren mehr als die Hälfte (53,6 %) aller Rezepturen. Pro Quartal und Arzt wurden im Fachbereich Dermatologie durchschnittlich 270,4 Rezepturen verordnet, in allen anderen Arztgruppen durchschnittlich 13,5 (1,3 %). Während des Untersuchungszeitraums wurden pro Quartal im Mittel 1 983 687 Rezepturen (1,3 %) im Wert von 40 944 982 € (0,55 %) verordnet.SchlussfolgerungenRezepturen spielen in der Praxis neben Fertigarzneimitteln eine bedeutende Rolle. Im Sinne der evidenzbasierten und patientenindividuellen Medizin sollten die Rezepturqualität und das Verschreibungsverhalten der Ärzte (Magistral‐ und Individualrezepturen) näher ermittelt werden, um die Qualität der Rezepturen zukünftig zu optimieren.