bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of DOTATATE‐PET/CT in preoperative assessment of phaeochromocytoma and paragangliomas
Authors: Gild Matti L. , Naik Nikita , Hoang Jeremy , Hsiao Edward , McGrath Rachel T. , Sywak Mark , Sidhu Stan , Delbridge Leigh Walter , Robinson Bruce Gregory , Schembri Geoff , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick John 
Published: May 2018

SummaryContextDiagnosis of paragangliomas (PGL) and phaeochromocytomas (PC) can be challenging particularly if the tumour is small. Detection of metastatic disease is important for comprehensive management of malignant PC/PGL. Somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) agents have high sensitivity for these tumours, particularly the DOTA family of radiopharmaceuticals labelled with 68Gallium.ObjectiveTo describe the utility of SRI in primary assessment (ie before surgery) for PC/PGL and whether measures of maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) could be used to distinguish between adrenal adenomas and PCs.DesignRetrospective analysis of patients with PC and PGL between 2012 and 2017.PatientsSomatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) was performed for suspected PC (n = 46) or PGL (n = 27) of which 36 were during primary assessment and 37 during secondary assessment (follow‐up after surgery). For comparison of adrenal SUVmax, scans from 30 patients without suspected PC/PGL (20 with normal adrenals; 10 with incidental adenomas) were evaluated.MeasurementsBaseline description, sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index.ResultsSensitivity of DOTATATE‐PET was 88% for PC and 100% for PGL. False‐negative scans were seen in 2/10 PCs < 28 mm and in 1/14 PCs > 28 mm which had features of cystic degeneration. SUVmax of PCs and PGLs was more than double compared to adrenal adenomas (P > .001).ConclusionSomatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) has high sensitivity in primary assessment for PC and PGL. We recommend that SRI should be performed as part of primary assessment in all suspected PGLs (due to higher risk of multifocal lesions) and in PCs suspected to be associated with hereditary syndromes or metastases.
Alteration of layer thickness in the choroid of diabetic patients
Authors: Endo Hiroaki , Kase Satoru , Takahashi Mitsuo , Yokoi Masahiko , Isozaki Chisato , Katsuta Satoshi , Kase Manabu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractImportanceChoroidal thickness changes in diabetic retinopathy improve the understanding of the pathophysiology and managements of this disease.BackgroundTo examine the choroidal layer thickness in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and normal individuals, and to compare the findings based on medical history of systemic DM treatments, and stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR).DesignCase control study.ParticipantsTwo hundred and sixty‐eight eyes of 134 DM patients and age‐matched 72 healthy controls of 92 eyes.MethodsCentral choroidal layer thickness (total, inner and outer layers) was measured using enhanced depth imaging OCT. DM patients were divided into two groups; the DM‐treated group (88 cases), and the untreated group (46 cases). These two groups were further classified into four groups; no DR (NDR), mild/moderate non‐proliferative DR (mNPDR), severe NPDR and PDR.Main Outcome MeasuresComparison of subfoveal choroid layer thickness in control and diabetic patient groups.ResultsChoroidal thickness measurements of diabetic eyes had strong correlation between masked raters in choroidal layers, proving high reproducibility. The total and outer choroid thicknesses in mNPDR in the DM‐untreated group were significantly thinner than normal controls (each P < 0.05). Choroidal outer layer thickness of the severe NPDR in the DM‐untreated group was significantly thicker than normal controls (P < 0.05). In the DM treatment group, there were no significant differences from the control group regarding choroidal layer thicknesses and all stages of DR.Conclusions and RelevanceThe choroidal thickness significantly changed in the DM‐untreated group, and the main anatomical changes might result from the outer layer.
A mobile health technology enabled home‐based intervention to treat frailty in adult lung transplant candidates: A pilot study
Authors: Singer Jonathan P. , Soong Allison , Bruun Allan , Bracha Ayana , Chin Greg , Hays Steven R. , Kukreja Jasleen , Rigler Julia , Golden Jeff A. , Greenland John R. , Garvey Chris 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundFrailty is prevalent in lung transplant candidates (LTC) and is associated with waitlist delisting or death. We performed a pilot study to assess the safety and feasibility of a home‐based, mobile health technology‐facilitated intervention to treat frailty in LTC.MethodsWe performed an 8‐week, nonrandomized, home‐based exercise and nutrition intervention in LTC with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) frailty scores of ≤11. The intervention utilized a customized, mobile device application (“app”) enabling monitoring and progression of the intervention in real time. We aimed to evaluate key process measures. Secondarily, we tested whether the intervention could improve frailty scores quantified by the SPPB and Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP).ResultsA total of 15 subjects enrolled were 63 ± 5.7 years old; oxygen requirements ranged from 3 to 15LPM. Thirteen subjects completed the intervention. Over 108 subject‐weeks, there were no adverse events. Subjects found the app engaging and easy to work with. SPPB frailty improved in 7 (54%) and FFP improved in 8 (62%). There was a strong trend toward improved frailty scores (SPPB change 1.0 ± 1.9; P = .08; FFP change −0.6 ± 1.0; P = .07).ConclusionIn this pilot study, we found that a home‐based prehabilitation program that leverages mobile health technology to target frailty in LTC is well received, safe, and capable of improving physical frailty scores.
Fatigue of engineering structures under combined nonproportional loads: An overview
Authors: Vormwald M. , Hertel O. , Zerres P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNonproportionality in fatigue is a matter of loading sequences acting on structures. In such loading cases, a life assessment‐based search of the initiation site is required. This means that for a variety of potential sites, their stress‐strain sequences must be determined and the corresponding fatigue lives have to be calculated. For the determination of local stress‐strain sequences, a superposition of the action of loads at all times for all potential sites must be performed. The superposition has not only to be performed at a particular time of a load reversal but also for a sufficiently large number of intermediate points in time. For the assessment of crack initiation under local nonproportional stress‐strain sequences, a multiaxial fatigue damage hypothesis must be specified. Due to the superiority with respect to accuracy, critical plane approaches are the favourite ones when dealing with nonproportional fatigue of ductile metals. For describing fatigue crack growth, the time sequences for the stress intensity factors corresponding to the 3 opening modes must be obtained by superposition. A mixed‐mode hypothesis must be applied to predict both the direction and the increment of crack growth at each crack front point. A first prediction trial should be based on an appropriate extension of the maximum tangential stress hypothesis. An application of a variant of the maximum shear stress hypothesis might be an amendment. Especially in the case of crack turning, the consideration of crack face contact is mandatory.
New challenges and best practices for the laboratory monitoring of factor VIII and factor IX replacement
Authors: Van den Bossche D. , Peerlinck K. , Jacquemin M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSeveral recombinant factor VIII and factor IX concentrates with extended half‐life (EHL) have recently been validated by clinical studies. The availability of these novel concentrates is expected to significantly facilitate the treatment of patients with hemophilia A and B. However, the modification applied to these molecules has introduced variations in their activity measurement in routine coagulation assays. Depending on the assays, underestimations of up to 10‐fold or overestimations of up to approximately 30‐fold in the measurements of the recovery have been reported in some factor concentrates. Such biases in monitoring may lead to major under‐ or overtreatment, as well as unnecessary searching for inhibitor antibodies. In this review, we discuss the guidelines and recommendations that allow the selection of optimal strategies to monitor patients treated with these novel factor concentrates. Based on the specificities of the assays and on local regulations, different chromogenic substrate assays in addition to one‐stage clotting assays may be validated to allow the accurate measurement of all novel products. An efficient communication between the clinical laboratory and the clinicians is essential to ensure that the appropriate assays are carried out in laboratories and that the clinicians correctly evaluate the data. Further laboratory and clinical studies are still required for the optimization of the laboratory assays that can be used in the measurement of novel factor VIII and factor IX concentrates with EHL.
Antimicrobial prescription in patients dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Taverner John , Ross Lauren , Bartlett Claire , Luthe Marco , Ong Jeffrey , Irving Louis , Smallwood Natasha 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundDespite rising antimicrobial resistance, treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are frequently ignored. Patients with terminal conditions are often prescribed antimicrobials despite the goal of care to reduce burdensome treatments. The appropriate use of antimicrobials in patients who die from an exacerbation of COPD is unknown.AimTo review antimicrobial prescription during the final admission in patients who died from an acute exacerbation of COPD.MethodsA retrospective medical record audit was performed for 475 patients who died over 12 years (2004–2015). Patients were analysed within three groups: Group 1 – pneumonia on chest radiograph, Group 2 – infective exacerbation of COPD +/− raised inflammatory markers (white cell count, C‐reactive protein) and Group 3 – non‐infective exacerbation of COPD.ResultsA total of 221 patients died from COPD. The median age was 80 years, and 136 (60%) were male. Median respiratory function: forced expiratory volume in 1 s 0.8 L (41.0%), forced vital capacity 2.0 L (74.0%) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 8 (40.5%). A total of 109 (49.3%) patients used home oxygen and 156 (70.6%) were ex‐smokers.Of the cohort, 90.5% received antimicrobials. In Groups 1, 2 and 3, 68 (94.4%), 108 (92.3%) and 24 (75.0%) patients received antimicrobials respectively. Guideline‐concordant therapy was administered to 31.7% of patients (Group 1: 79.2%, Group 2: 4.3%, Group 3: 25.0%), 60.2% of patients received ceftriaxone and 44.8% received azithromycin. The median duration of therapy was 4 days and 27.1% received antimicrobials at the time of death.ConclusionAntimicrobials are overprescribed, and non‐guideline antimicrobials are overused in patients who die from COPD. Further education of medical staff, regular medication reviews and the use of disease severity scores or clinical pathways may improve antimicrobial stewardship.
Hospitalisation and morbidity due to adverse drug reactions in elderly patients: a single‐centre study
Authors: Ognibene Silvia , Vazzana Natale , Giumelli Claudio , Savoldi Luisa , Braglia Luca , Chesi Giuseppe 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundAdverse drug reaction (ADR) is a leading but under‐recognised cause of illness, particularly in frail subjects with multiple comorbidities.AimTo investigate the frequency, patterns and outcomes of ADR as a cause of hospitalisation in elderly patients admitted to an internal medicine ward.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational study including every patient aged over 65 years who was admitted to our department during a 12‐month period. Patients admitted to short‐stay (<24 h) observation unit were excluded.ResultsADR accounted for 106 of total 1750 recorded admissions, which constituted a proportion of 6.1% (95% confidence interval 5.0–7.3%). The median age of patients was 83.5 (78.0–87.0) years and 56.6% were on polypharmacy. A total of 170 ADR was recorded with 45.3% of subjects experiencing concomitantly more than one ADR from a single molecule. Diuretics were the most commonly imputed molecules (30 events, 17.6%), followed by antithrombotics (25 events, 14.7%) and central nervous system‐active drugs (16 events, 9.4%). Interactions were judged responsible for 39 cases of ADR (36.8%). An unfavourable outcome was observed in about one‐third of patients (37.7%). Among those subjects, 11 (10.4%) died and 29 (27.4%) had residual disability.ConclusionADR are a common cause of hospital admission in elderly patients and are often associated with adverse outcomes. Our data underline the need of appropriate strategies aimed at identifying high‐risk patients and avoiding potentially preventable drug toxicities.
Universal social protection in Tunisia: Comparing the effectiveness and cost‐efficiency of food and energy subsidies with a proposed universal child allowance programme
Authors: Györi Mario , Soares Fabio Veras 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article compares the effectiveness and efficiency of a food and energy subsidy programme, which is currently implemented by the Tunisian government, and a universal child allowance programme that is discussed as an alternative to these subsidies. The empirical analysis is based on microsimulations on the poverty impact and the costs of both programmes based on Tunisian household survey data. Our results suggest that a universal child allowance is approximately twice as efficient (i.e. the cost of lifting one person out of poverty under a universal child allowance is half of the cost of lifting one person out of poverty using subsidies) in reducing poverty than the current food and energy subsidies. The article concludes that efficiency‐enhancing social protection reforms are possible based on a universal approach. Such reforms can be achieved without resorting to narrow poverty‐targeting as an alternative to the subsidies whose negative side‐effects (e.g. non‐negligible exclusion errors, incentives to informality and social tensions) and costs (both public and private costs related to intensive data collection to improve targeting) are usually overlooked or underestimated.
Can youth activation policies be central to social policies in MENA countries?
Authors: Barsoum Ghada 
Published: May 2018

AbstractYouth unemployment is a major socio‐political issue in the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). However, active labour market programmes (ALMPs) in support of youth employment remain less prevalent and are generally outside the purview of social policies in the region's countries. This article addresses this inconsistency. The article provides an overview of such programmes and identifies the challenges to their inclusion as a central part of the region's social policy mix. Internationally, the article notes that successful models for the integration of ALMPs into social policies have been part of long‐term reforms targeting inclusive social security systems. This has not been the case in Arab countries where access to contributory social security systems is limited and where labour markets are characterized by large informal economies and a majority of workers are without social protection. Further contributing factors pertain to limited state budgets and a limited knowledge base about the effectiveness of ALMPs in the region.
A revised sales rebate contract with effort‐dependent demand: a channel coordination approach
Authors: Heydari Jafar , Asl‐Najafi Javad 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn this paper, simultaneous coordination of order quantity and sales effort (SE) decisions in a supplier/retailer system with stochastic effort‐dependent demand is investigated. The main aim of the proposed model is to attain an optimal balance that results in a Pareto‐efficient solution for both channel members. A revised sales rebate (RSR) contract is developed to achieve channel coordination. In addition to the usual incentive approach of sales rebate schemes, a punitive approach is designed for the new proposed contract as a stockout penalty. Furthermore, some numerical experiments are examined to analyze the performance of the presented model under three decision‐making scenarios (i.e., decentralized, centralized, and RSR). Additionally, some in‐depth sensitivity analyses are conducted to examine the behavior of the supply chain performance under alteration of different parameters. The results show that the proposed RSR contract leads to channel coordination, while both channel members experience a Pareto improving situation. Moreover, it is proved that the RSR contract has significant potential on neutralizing adverse impacts of demand fluctuations on channel performance indicators.
Spark plasma sintering of structure‐tailored ultrahigh‐temperature components: First step to complex net shaping
Authors: Wei Xialu , Izhvanov Oleg , Back Christina , Haines Christopher D. , Martin Darold G. , Vecchio Kenneth S. , Olevsky Eugene A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe net‐shaping capability in spark plasma sintering (SPS) of ultrahigh‐temperature ceramics has been explored in this study. The annular or ring‐like shape is considered here as the first step to a more complex geometry compared to a solid cylinder or disk. ZrC powders have been SPS processed in specially designed graphite tooling to achieve the annular shape geometry. Experimental runs have been carried out to determine the optimal processing parameters for producing highly dense ZrC specimens in this geometry. Finite‐element modeling framework has been constructed to determine the internal stress evolution, as well as densification, during the SPS of the annular‐shaped ZrC. The formulated processing schemes for ZrC have been adapted to process SiC/ZrB2 composite powder with the purpose of making tooling components for SPS applications. The applicability of the obtained composite SPS tooling has been evaluated at high temperature and high pressure associated with SPS regimes.
Benefits of team participative decision making and its potential to affect individual creativity
Authors: Wong Yin Yee , Chow Irene Hau‐Siu , Lau Victor P. , Gong Yuanyuan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHow does team participative decision‐making affect individual creative performance? Building on team climate theory (Anderson & West, 1998; West 1990, 2002; West & Sacramento, 2012), this study investigates the indirect effect of team participative decision making on employee creativity through individual perception of cognition team diversity and psychological safety. Results from 256 supervisor–subordinate dyads in 45 teams show that team participative decision making is positively associated with cognitive team diversity and psychological safety. For the mediating effects, team participative decision‐making climate is positively indirectly related to creative performance via psychological safety but not via cognitive team diversity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Euro Area Membership and the Probability of a Sudden Stop: An Empirical Assessment
Authors: De Freitas Miguel Lebre , Nunes Luis Catela , Rodrigues Madalena Sampaio 
Published: May 2018

AbstractUsing quarterly data from 1995 until 2014, we investigate whether Euro Area (EA) membership influences the probability of a European Union Member State going through an episode of sudden stop or through an episode of bonanza, after controlling for a number of push and pull factors. Overall, our results do not support the claim that EA membership constituted a weakness during the recent financial crisis. On the contrary, we find that EA membership decreases the probability of a sudden stop, all else equal. We find no evidence that being part of the EA has a direct effect on the probability of bonanza. When allowing for interaction effects, our results suggest that EA membership might have mitigated the risk perception arising from higher government debt in the case of bonanzas.
The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part II
Authors: Engelmeier Robert L. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis second part of a four‐part series concerned with the development of nonanatomic denture occlusion follows nonanatomic tooth design from the time of Victor Sears’ first nonanatomic tooth patent through the mid‐1930s. Many of the designs featured in this series exhibit genius, while others are pure nonsense. Sears claimed that a new nonanatomic tooth design appeared every 9 months on average during the first 30 years of nonanatomic tooth production. Many current nonanatomic tooth patents are further refinements of those earlier designs. Part II reviews pioneering designs that appeared during the first dozen or so years of this paradigm shift in denture occlusion philosophy.
Biotreatment of paper mill effluent using alkaliphilic Rhizobium sp. NCIM 5590 isolated from meteoric alkaline Lonar Lake, Buldhana District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Raut Avinash A. , Phugare Swapnil S. , Kalyani Dayanand C. , Bajekal Shyam S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBacterial strain Rhizobium sp. was isolated from littoral soil of meteoric alkaline Lonar Lake and used to treat paper mill waste water. The bacterium was found to fix 125.7 nmol of C2H4 formed ml−1 culture media in 72 hr by ARA (acetylene reduction assay). The optimum pH for its growth was 12, whereas the optimum temperature was 40°C. The bacterium could tolerate salt concentrations up to 4%. The collected paper mill effluent used two dyes in combination, namely Acid Orange 7 (AO) and Acid Yellow 17 (AY) to produce brown paper, eventually producing coloured effluent containing unbound AO and AY. Rhizobium sp. was found to be efficient for decolorization of both AO and AY individually, as well as in a mixture of AO and AY, suggesting the ability of this strain for treating paper mill effluent. The strain was found to be efficient in reducing up to 85% of the colour from undiluted paper mill effluent within 18 hr. In addition, biotreatment also was effective in reducing COD, metals and toxicity from the waste water. Induction in the enzymes azo reductase and DCIP reductase indicated their possible involvement in biotreatment of paper mill effluent. The effluent toxicity before and after treatment was studied using Allium cepa root cells, evaluating various biochemical parameters to assess the toxicity, including lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, antioxidant enzyme status (catalase, superoxide dismutase) and genotoxicity assays using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).