bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eczema and subsequent suicide: a matched case–control study
Authors: Drucker Aaron Mark , Thiruchelvam Deva , Redelmeier Donald A 
Published: November 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the association of eczema with a patient’s subsequent risk of death from suicide. We hypothesised that persistent eczema would be associated with an increased risk for death from suicide.DesignDouble matched case–control study.SettingGeneral population of Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsPatients 15–55 years old. We identified cases of suicide from coroners’ reports between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2014 and matched 1:2 with alive controls based on age, sex and socioeconomic status.ExposureThe primary predictor was a history of persistent eczema, defined as five or more physician visits for the diagnosis over the preceding 5 years.Main outcome and measureLogistic regression to estimate the association between eczema and death from suicide.ResultsWe identified 18 441 cases of suicide matched to 36 882 controls over the 21-year accrual period. Persistent eczema occurred in 174 (0.94%) suicide cases and 285 (0.77%) controls yielding a 22% increased risk of suicide associated with persistent eczema (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.48, p=0.037). In mediation analyses, this association was largely explained through major suicide risk factors. Two-thirds of patients with eczema who died from suicide had visited a physician in the month before their death and one in eight had visited for eczema in the month before their death. Among patients who died by suicide, jumping and poisoning were relatively more frequent mechanisms among patients with eczema.ConclusionsPatients with persistent eczema have a modestly increased subsequent risk of death from suicide, but this is not independent of overall mental health and the absolute risk is low. Physicians caring for these patients have opportunities to intervene for suicide prevention.
Characterising Arm Recovery in People with Severe Stroke (CARPSS): protocol for a 12-month observational study of clinical, neuroimaging and neurophysiological biomarkers
Authors: Hayward Kathryn S , Lohse Keith R , Bernhardt Julie , Lang Catherine E , Boyd Lara A 
Published: November 2018

IntroductionIn individuals with early (indexed ≤7 days poststroke) and severe upper limb paresis (shoulder abduction and finger extension score of <5 out of 10), our objectives are to: (1) determine if biomarkers of brain structure and function collected at <1 month poststroke explain who will experience clinically important recovery over the first 12 months poststroke; (2) compare stroke survivors’ perceptions of personally meaningful recovery to clinically important recovery; and (3) characterise the trajectory of change in measures of motor function, brain structure and function.Methods and analysisProspective observational study with an inception cohort of 78 first-time stroke survivors. Participants will be recruited from a single, large tertiary stroke referral centre. Clinical and biomarker assessments will be completed at four follow-up time points: 2 to 4 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months poststroke. Our primary outcome is achievement of clinically important improvement on two out of three measures that span impairment (Fugl-Meyer Upper Limb, change ≥10 points), activity (Motor Assessment Scale item 6, change ≥1 point) and participation (Rating of Everyday Arm-use in the Community and Home, change ≥1 point). Brain biomarkers of structure and function will be indexed using transcranial magnetic stimulation and MRI. Multilevel modelling will be performed to examine the relationship between clinically important recovery achieved (yes/no) and a priori defined brain biomarkers related to the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum. Secondary analyses will compare stroke survivor’s perception of recovery, as well as real-world arm use via accelerometry, to the proposed metric of clinically meaningful recovery; and model trajectory of recovery across clinical, a priori defined biomarkers and exploratory variables related to functional connectivity.Ethics and disseminationApproved by the hospital and university ethics review boards. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration numberNCT02464085.
Namaste Care in nursing care homes for people with advanced dementia: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial
Authors: Froggatt Katherine , Patel Shakil , Perez Algorta Guillermo , Bunn Frances , Burnside Girvan , Coast Joanna , Dunleavy Lesley , Goodman Claire , Hardwick Ben , Kinley Julie , Preston Nancy J , Walshe Catherine 
Published: November 2018

IntroductionMany people living with advanced dementia live and die in nursing care homes. The quality of life, care and dying experienced by these people is variable. Namaste Care is a multisensory programme of care developed for people with advanced dementia. While there is emerging evidence that Namaste Care may be beneficial for people with dementia, there is a need to conduct a feasibility study to establish the optimum way of delivering this complex intervention and whether benefits can be demonstrated in end-of-life care, for individuals and service delivery. The aim of the study is to ascertain the feasibility of conducting a full trial of the Namaste Care intervention.Methods and analysisA feasibility study, comprising a parallel, two-arm, multicentre cluster controlled randomised trial with embedded process and economic evaluation. Nursing care homes (total of eight) who deliver care to those with advanced dementia will be randomly allocated to intervention (delivered at nursing care home level) or control. Three participant groups will be recruited: residents with advanced dementia, informal carers of a participating resident and nursing care home staff. Data will be collected for 6 months. Feasibility objectives concern the recruitment and sampling of nursing homes, residents, informal carers and staff; the selection and timing of primary (quality of dying and quality of life) and secondary clinical outcome measures (person centredness, symptom presence, agitation, quality of life, resource use and costs and residents’ activity monitored using actigraphy). Acceptability, fidelity and sustainability of the intervention will be assessed using semistructured interviews with staff and informal carers.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by NHS Wales Research Ethics Committee 5 (ref: 17/WA0378). Dissemination plans include working with a public involvement panel, through a website (http://www.namastetrial.org.uk), social media, academic and practice conferences and via peer reviewed publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN14948133; Pre-results.
Fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa: a 7-year retrospective, epidemiological study
Authors: Saunders Colleen Jayne , Adriaanse Robyn , Simons Abigail , van Niekerk Ashley 
Published: November 2018

IntroductionDrowning is a neglected public health threat in low-income and middle-income countries where the greatest drowning burden is observed. There is a paucity of drowning surveillance data from low-resource settings, particularly in Africa. Understanding local epidemiological factors will enable the development of context-specific drowning prevention initiatives and the appropriate allocation of resources.AimThe primary aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa.MethodThis retrospective study describes fatal drowning incidents captured in the Western Cape vital registration system between 2010 and 2016. Data were obtained from the Forensic Pathology Services of the Western Cape Government. One-way analysis of variance was performed to detect a trend in mean drowning mortality rates between 2010 and 2016. χ2tests for independence were performed to detect differences in the distribution of variables between groups.ResultsA total of 1391 fatal drownings occurred in the Western Cape between 2010 and 2016, with an age-adjusted drowning mortality rate of 3.2 per 100 000 population. Rates were fourfold higher in men compared with women. Children, particularly young children aged 0–4 years, and young adult men between 20 and 34 years of age were identified to be at high risk of fatal drowning. Drowning occurred predominantly in large, open bodies of water with concentrations in summer and public holidays.ConclusionsThe Western Cape drowning prevention strategy should prioritise interventions to reduce drowning in children and young adult men, with a targeted focus on festive periods such as public holidays.
Biallelic disruption ofPKDCCis associated with a skeletal disorder characterised by rhizomelic shortening of extremities and dysmorphic features
Authors: Sajan Samin A , Ganesh Jaya , Shinde Deepali N , Powis Zöe , Scarano Maria I , Stone Jennifer , Winter Susan , Tang Sha 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundDuring mouse embryonic development the protein kinase domain containing, cytoplasmic (Pkdcc) gene, also known asVlk,is expressed in several tissues including the ventral midbrain, with particularly strong expression in branchial arches and limb buds. HomozygousPkdccknockout mice have dysmorphic features and shortened long bones as the most obvious morphological abnormalities. The humanPKDCCgene has currently not been associated with any disorders.ObjectiveTo use clinical diagnostic exome sequencing (DES) for providing genetic diagnoses to two apparently unrelated patients with similar skeletal abnormalities comprising rhizomelic shortening of limbs and dysmorphic features.MethodsPatient–parents trio DES was carried out and the identified candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsEach patient had a homozygous gene disrupting variant inPKDCCconsidered to explain the skeletal phenotypes shared by both. The first patient was homozygous for the nonsense variant p.(Tyr217*) (NM_1 38 370 c.651C>A) expected to result in nonsense-mediated decay of the mutant transcripts, whereas the second patient was homozygous for the splice donor variant c.639+1G>T predicted to abolish the donor splice site by three in silico splice prediction algorithms.ConclusionsBiallelic gene disrupting variants inPKDCCin humans, just like in mice, cause dysmorphic features and rhizomelic shortening of limbs.
Effects of different wheat straw returning modes on soil organic carbon sequestration in a rice–wheat rotation
Authors: Hu Naijuan , Shi Hang , Wang Baojun , Gu Zehai , Zhu Liqun 
Published: November 2018

Straw ditch-buried returning is a new straw returning mode; however, the different effect of straw ditch-buried returning and frequently used straw returning modes on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is still unclear. A 2 yr field experiment was conducted and four treatments (CK: no straw returning; WR: wheat straw returning with rotary tillage; WP: wheat straw returning with plowing; WD: wheat straw ditch-buried returning) were set to assess the effects on SOC fractions and sequestration in rice–wheat rotation. Results indicated that WD had significantly higher total organic carbon than did WP and CK in wheat season. Soil dissolved organic carbon and easily oxidizable carbon contents were significantly increased by 21.3%, 24.3%, 38.6%, and 43.5% under WR than that under CK in rice and wheat seasons, respectively. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content was highest under WP in rice season, but in wheat season, WR had significantly higher MBC than WP and WD. Soil carbon pool management index was significantly higher in WR than CK, with the increase of 41.0% and 108.6%. After 2 yr rotation, WD had a significant higher SOC stock and sequestration than WP. Therefore, WD could be an available mode to increase SOC sequestration in rice–wheat rotation system.
Optimization of Wet Cylinder Liner Designs for High Thermal Loadings
Authors: Bertodo R. , Razdan D. 
Published: November 2018

The paper outlines the optimization of wet cylinder liner designs for high thermal loads, with special reference to medium speed diesel engine applications in the bore range 180–500 mm (∼ 7–20 in). It is shown that a flake graphite nickel–copper–molybdenum alloyed cast iron with a well developed vanadium matrix combines the best properties for liner manufacture. For quality control reasons, centrifugal castings are often preferred, although the resultant graphite form is unfavourable for thermal stress resistance. Consequently, recourse to plain steels is sometimes required, leading naturally to the adoption of chromed finishes for wear and corrosion resistance. For a given thermal rating, the thermal stresses can be reduced by a judicious choice of air–fuel ratio, but a limiting value exists beyond which the thermal stresses remain unaffected. Reductions in stress level are also possible by optimizing the wall thickness and coolant flow. This leads inevitably to thin sections susceptible to distortion under firing and impact loads, thus impairing both the strength of the component and its wear properties. A planned degree of restraint can be adopted to control both distortion and stress level; such measures are not always conducive to economic design and serviceability, and may actually degrade the reliability when applied to steel liners. The surrounding structure can have a first order effect on the stress levels in the liner; these manifest themselves as applied loads to the liner supports or flange. The design details are thus important, and the influence of parameters such as bolting load, location of sealing spigot and block deflection are discussed in relation to the evolution of successful designs. Any structurally sound design must be capable of operating for periods of 20 000 h or more without excessive wear. It is shown that the wear process is essentially exponential; the factors affecting its absolute value are discussed, and attempts made to quantify their contribution.
A Fixed-Head Concept Diesel Engine
Authors: Smith J. M. 
Published: November 2018

This high-speed automotive diesel engine was designed to achieve the greatest possible reliability in operation, low operating and maintenance costs and maximum versatility of component and auxiliary arrangements, based on long experience of large-scale manufacture of engines for commercial vehicles and the increases in power output and time between overhauls made possible by improvements in design, materials, manufacturing processes, fuels and lubricants. Elimination of the cylinder high-pressure joint was a radical departure from current practice and promised considerable advantages in cooling, reducing thermal stress and freeing restrictions in cylinder-head porting layout. Thus the potential for operating at the highest rating now in use and for future development was improved. This paper deals with the design aims, describes the engine and outlines the development work with single and multi-cylinder engines that has been undertaken to ensure that each commercial variant meets the requirements of its rating. Vertical and horizontal configurations are used in naturally aspirated and pressure-charged versions. For automotive work, using mechanical transmissions, the drooping characteristic of the normal turbocharged engines torque curve at low speed is a serious disadvantage. Measures taken to overcome this are described. These included variations in camshaft timing, automatic variable control of injection timing and boost pressure control of fuel injection quantity to avoid undesirable smoke in the exhaust emission in addition to the normal development work of ensuring the highest practicable standards of mechanical, volumetric and combustion efficiency. Other methods such as special turbocharger matchings, including the waste-gate system of turbine by-pass, the system of auxiliary hydraulic drive of the turbocharger at low engine speeds and, as alternative to turbocharging, pressure charging by an aerodynamic pulse-converter are discussed. At the other end of the scale, considerable attention has been paid to increasing the maximum engine output by turbocharging with intercooling which promises to increase naturally aspirated power by over 100 per cent, if in road vehicles the problem of the intercooler, air/air or air/water, can be dealt with satisfactorily.
Evaluation of the Method of Characteristics Applied to a Pressure Transient Analysis of the B.A.C./S.N.I.A.S. Concorde Refuelling System
Authors: Doyle T. J. , Swaffield J. A. 
Published: November 2018

The pressure transient analysis of the Concorde refuelling system is designed to predict pressure variation within the aircraft system during tank inlet valve closure on completion of refuelling and during an emergency isolation of the aircraft system from the refuelling supply. The comparison between the predicted and observed pressure variations, recorded on a full scale fuel system test rig, was found to be at worst, within 10 per cent, during tank inlet valve closures, although the programme underestimated some peak pressures. Closer agreement was achieved during emergency system isolation.
Second Paper: Post-Processors for General Purpose N.C. Processors
Authors: Ashmall S. 
Published: November 2018

This paper sets out to explain to non-specialist computer programmers what a post-processor is and where it fits into a complete N.C. system. The input to an APT-like post-processor and the control tape output are described, and it is shown how these determine the general structure of the post-processor. The operation of the main sections of the post-processor is discussed. Also considered is the way in which standardization, both within the total N.C. task and in the post-processor, can reduce the cost and effort needed to produce a new post-processor.
Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis: a propensity-score analysis
Authors: Annaniemi J. A. , Pere J. , Giordano S. 
Published: November 2018

Background and Aims: Intra-articular injections of viscosupplements have been an option in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Platelet-rich plasma is an experimental treatment in osteoarthritis. Previous studies have shown that platelet-rich plasma reduces osteoarthritis symptoms in similar proportions as viscosupplements. The aim of this study was to compare platelet-rich plasma versus viscosupplements in terms of symptoms’ relief and time to arthroplasty. Material and Methods: A total of 190 patients included in this retrospective study received either intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (94 patients) or hyaluronic acid (86 patients) between January 2014 and October 2017. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Visual Analogue Scale, and range of motion were measured before injection, at 15 days, 6 months, 12 months, and at last follow-up. We compared outcomes between these two groups using propensity score analysis for risk adjustment in multivariate analysis and for one-to-one matching. Results: Hyaluronic acid–treated patients experienced a higher arthroplasty rate (36.0% vs 5.3%, p < 0.001), lower range of motion, worse Visual Analogue Scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, and increased risk of any arthroplasty occurrence (log-rank < 0.001) than platelet-rich plasma patients. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a tendency to decrease the risk of knee arthroplasty for the patients treated by platelet-rich plasma (hazard ratio = 0.23, 95% confidence interval, 0.05–1.05, p = 0.058). When the treatment method was adjusted for propensity score in the propensity score–matched pairs (n = 78), we found that platelet-rich plasma group still showed significant improvement over the hyaluronic acid group in arthroplasty rate (12.8% vs 41.0%, p = 0.010), Visual Analogue Scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, but not in the range of motion, during the mean follow-up of 16.7 months. Conclusion: Intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma associated with better outcomes than hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis. Platelet-rich plasma might prolong the time to arthroplasty and provide a valid therapeutic option in selected patients with knee osteoarthritis not responding to conventional treatments. Further larger studies are needed to validate this promising treatment modality.
Epidemiology of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the United States: Athletic and Nonathletic Injuries From 2012 to 2016
Authors: Lemme Nicholas J. , Li Neill Y. , DeFroda Steven F. , Kleiner Justin , Owens Brett D. 
Published: November 2018

Background: Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures are one of the most common tendon ruptures, but there have been no studies investigating these injuries in the United States (US) using data representative of the entire US population. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for AT ruptures in the US. We hypothesized that male sex, older age, and sport participation would increase the risk for AT ruptures. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: All patients presenting to an emergency department with ruptured AT in the US from 2012 through 2016 were selected from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. Incidence was calculated for sex, race, and age. AT ruptures were characterized based on the mechanism of injury, with subanalyses performed on sport-related AT ruptures to examine sex-, race-, and age-related differences. Results: From 2012 to 2016, a significant increase in the incidence of AT ruptures was observed, from 1.8 per 100,000 person-years in 2012 to 2.5 per 100,000 person-years in 2016 ( P < .01), for an overall incidence of 2.1 per 100,000 person-years. The majority of AT ruptures occurred in male compared with female patients, with an incidence rate ratio of 3.5 ( P < .01). The largest overall incidence of AT ruptures occurred in those aged 20-39 years for male patients (5.6/100,000 person-years) and in those aged 40-59 years for female patients (1.2/100,000 person-years). The largest rise in the incidence of AT ruptures during the study period was observed in patients aged 40-59 years (78% increase). The most common injury mechanism was participation in a sport or recreational activity (81.9% of all injuries), with basketball being the most common overall cause of AT ruptures. Conclusion: While AT ruptures in the US most commonly occur in young male patients (20-39 years old), the largest rise in the incidence was observed in middle-aged patients (40-59 years old), with participation in recreational sports being the most likely mechanism. Recognizing high-risk patients can help physicians counsel them and recommend strategies for injury prevention.