bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discriminant Ability, Concurrent Validity, and Responsiveness of PROMIS Health Domains Among Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disease Undergoing Decompression With or Without Arthrodesis
Authors: Purvis Taylor E. , Neuman Brian J. , Riley Lee H. , Skolasky Richard L. 
Published: April 2018

Study Design.
A prospective cohort study.

Objective.
The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) health domains to discriminate between levels of disease severity and to determine the concurrent validity and responsiveness of PROMIS relative to “legacy” measures.

Summary of Background Data.
PROMIS may measure recovery after lumbar spine surgery. Concurrent validity and responsiveness have not been compared with legacy measures in this population.

Methods.
We included 231 adults undergoing surgery for lumbar degenerative disease. Discriminant ability of PROMIS was estimated for adjacent categories of disease severity using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Concurrent validity was determined through correlation between preoperative legacy measures and PROMIS. Responsiveness was estimated using distribution-based and anchor-based criteria (change from preoperatively to within 3 months postoperatively) anchored to treatment expectations (North American Spine Society Patient Satisfaction Index) to determine minimal important differences (MIDs). Significance was accepted at P < 0.05.

Results.
PROMIS discriminated between disease severity levels, with mean differences between adjacent categories of 3 to 8 points. There were strong to very strong correlations between Patient Health Questionnaire-8, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and PROMIS anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance; between ODI and PROMIS fatigue, pain, and physical function; between the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical component and PROMIS pain and physical function; and between the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) pain interference and PROMIS depression and pain. BPI back pain and leg pain intensity showed weak or no correlation with PROMIS. Distribution-based MIDs ranged from 3.0 to 3.5 points. After incorporating longitudinal anchor-based estimates, final PROMIS MID estimates were anxiety, −4.4; depression, −6.0; fatigue, −5.3; pain, −5.4; physical function, 5.2; satisfaction with participation in social roles, 6.0; and sleep disturbance, −6.5.

Conclusion.
PROMIS discriminated between disease severity levels, demonstrated good concurrent validity, and was responsive to changes after lumbar spine surgery.

Level of Evidence: 2
Impact of Concomitant Urologic Intervention on Clinical Outcomes After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Authors: Saxena Akshat , Liauw Winston , Virk Sohaib A. , Morris David L. 
Published: April 2018

Introduction:
The impact of concomitant urologic procedures (UPs) on perioperative and long-term outcomes after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is uncertain.

Methods:
In total, 935 consecutive CRS/HIPEC procedures were performed between 1996 and 2016 in Sydney, Australia. Among these, 73 (7.8%) involved concomitant UP. The association of concomitant UP with 21 perioperative outcomes and overall survival was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:
In-hospital mortality was 1.8%. Patients requiring UP were more likely to require transfusion of ≥5 units of red blood cells (P=0.031) and have a complete cytoreduction (79% vs. 60%, P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, UP was not associated with in-hospital mortality (2.7% vs. 1.7%, P=0.407) or grade III/IV morbidity (52% vs. 41%, P=0.376). The incidence of ureteric fistula (4% vs. 1%, P=0.004), return to theater (26% vs. 14%, P=0.005) and digestive fistula (22% vs. 11%, P=0.005) was higher in the UP group. The addition of a UP did not significantly impact overall survival for appendiceal cancer (P=0.162), colorectal cancer (P=0.315), or pseudomyxoma peritonei (P=0.120).

Conclusions:
Addition of a UP was not associated with an increased risk of grade III/IV morbidity or poorer long-term survival after CRS/HIPEC.
ImPACT Normative Data of Ethnically Diverse Adolescent Athletes
Authors: Tsushima William T. , Tsushima Vincent G. , Murata Nathan M. 
Published: April 2018

Objective:
The aim of this research was to develop preliminary norms for the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) administered to a large sample of adolescent athletes from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Design:
A retrospective records review.

Setting:
Middle and high school athletic departments.

Participants:
A total of 5741 male and female adolescent athletes in Hawaii, aged 13 to 18 years, in grades 9 to 12 were included in the study.

Independent Variables:
Age, sex, ethnicity, and sport.

Main Outcome Measures:
ImPACT Composite scores (Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Visual Motor Speed, Reaction Time, and Impulse Control) and Total Symptom score from baseline testing.

Results:
The results indicated statistically significant differences between age and sex groups, as well as between ethnic and sport groups.

Conclusions:
The findings support the continued use of stratified norms for age and sex for ethnically diverse adolescent athletes. Comparisons of ethnic and sport groups deserve further investigation. When baseline scores are not available for postconcussion comparison, present observations tentatively support the cautious use of standard ImPACT norms with ethnically diverse athletes.
Impact of Oxygen on Pancreatic Islet Survival
Authors: Komatsu Hirotake , Kandeel Fouad , Mullen Yoko 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Pancreatic islet transplantation is a promising treatment option for individuals with type 1 diabetes; however, maintaining islet function after transplantation remains a large challenge. Multiple factors, including hypoxia associated events, trigger pretransplant and posttransplant loss of islet function. In fact, islets are easily damaged in hypoxic conditions before transplantation including the preparation steps of pancreas procurement, islet isolation, and culture. Furthermore, after transplantation, islets are also exposed to the hypoxic environment of the transplant site until they are vascularized and engrafted. Because islets are exposed to such drastic environmental changes, protective measures are important to maintain islet viability and function. Many studies have demonstrated that the prevention of hypoxia contributes to maintaining islet quality. In this review, we summarize the latest oxygen-related islet physiology, including computational simulation. Furthermore, we review recent advances in oxygen-associated treatment options used as part of the transplant process, including up-to-date oxygen generating biomaterials as well as a classical oxygen inhalation therapy.
In-Home Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Urban Children With Asthma: Contrasting Households With and Without Residential Smokers
Authors: Wu Tianshi David , Eakin Michelle N. , Rand Cynthia S. , Brigham Emily P. , Diette Gregory B. , Hansel Nadia N. , McCormack Meredith C. 
Published: April 2018

Context:
Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) affects up to half of all children in the United States. Many studies have identified factors associated with in-home SHSe, but few have contrasted these factors between households with and without residential smokers. In the latter case, exposure occurs from only external sources that enter the home, such as visitors or environmental incursion.

Objective:
Among children with SHSe at home, to examine demographic and psychosocial differences between households with and without residential smokers.

Design:
Baseline analysis of an observational cohort.

Setting:
Baltimore City, Maryland.

Participants:
A total of 157 children with asthma, aged 5 to 12 years.

Measures:
At-home airborne nicotine, caregiver-reported depression, asthma-related quality of life, functional social support, and demographics. Univariable comparisons were performed between SHS-exposed households with and without residential smokers. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to examine associations between measured factors and absence of residential smokers.

Results:
Children (78.3%) had at-home SHSe. Of these, 40.7% lived in households without residential smokers. Compared with households with residential smokers, these caregivers endorsed stronger beliefs in SHS harms and also worse functional social support and asthma-related stress, despite no differences in asthma morbidity. In adjusted models, SHS-exposed children with caregivers in the lowest tertile of functional social support (adjusted odds ratio, 3.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-10.99), asthma-related quality of life (2.90; 1.06-7.95), and those living alone (5.28; 1.26-22.15) had at least twice higher odds of having exclusively external SHSe than the highest tertile (P trends < .05).

Conclusions:
In-home SHS exposure remains alarmingly high in urban environments. However, a substantial proportion of this exposure appears to be occurring only from external sources that enter the home. Caregivers in these homes had higher desire but lower agency to avoid SHSe, driven by lack of functional support and physical isolation. Public policies targeting these factors may help remediate exposure in this especially vulnerable population.
Enhancing Access to Quality Online Training to Strengthen Public Health Preparedness and Response
Authors: Wood Suzanne J. , Rogers Megan H. , Frost Madeline C. , Revere Debra , Rose Barbara A. , D'Ambrosio Luann 
Published: April 2018

Objectives:
To improve access to quality online training materials developed from 2010 to 2015 by 14 Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLCs) by creating quality standards and enhancing searchability through a new Web-based public health training catalog.

Methods:
The PERLC-developed training materials (n = 530) were evaluated for their capability to support development of preparedness competencies as established by 2 evidence-based competency frameworks. Inclusion/exclusion criteria and evaluation guidelines regarding training quality (design, technology, and instructional components) were systematically applied to PERLC products to create a training catalog. Twenty emergency preparedness professionals pilot tested content and provided feedback to improve catalog design and function.

Results:
Seventy-eight percent of PERLC resources (n = 413) met our quality standards for inclusion in the catalog's searchable database: 358 self-paced courses, 55 informational briefs, and other materials. Twenty-one training bundles were curated.

Discussion:
We established quality guidelines, identified strengths and weaknesses in PERLC resources, and improved accessibility to trainings. Guidelines established by this work can be generalized to trainings outside the preparedness domain. Enhancing access to quality training resources can serve as a valuable tool for increasing emergency preparedness competence.
Leveraging Phylogenetics to Understand HIV Transmission and Partner Notification Networks
Authors: Pasquale Dana K. , Doherty Irene A. , Sampson Lynne A. , Hué Stephane , Leone Peter A. , Sebastian Joseph , Ledford Sue L. , Eron Joseph J. , Miller William C. , Dennis Ann M. 
Published: April 2018

Background:
Partner notification is an important component of public health test and treat interventions. To enhance this essential function, we assessed the potential for molecular methods to supplement routine partner notification and corroborate HIV networks.

Methods:
All persons diagnosed with HIV infection in Wake County, NC, during 2012–2013 and their disclosed sexual partners were included in a sexual network. A data set containing HIV-1 pol sequences collected in NC during 1997–2014 from 15,246 persons was matched to HIV-positive persons in the network and used to identify putative transmission clusters. Both networks were compared.

Results:
The partner notification network comprised 280 index cases and 383 sexual partners and high-risk social contacts (n = 131 HIV-positive). Of the 411 HIV-positive persons in the partner notification network, 181 (44%) did not match to a HIV sequence, 61 (15%) had sequences but were not identified in a transmission cluster, and 169 (41%) were identified in a transmission cluster. More than half (59%) of transmission clusters bridged sexual network partnerships that were not recognized in the partner notification; most of these clusters were dominated by men who have sex with men.

Conclusions:
Partner notification and HIV sequence analysis provide complementary representations of the existent partnerships underlying the HIV transmission network. The partner notification network components were bridged by transmission clusters, particularly among components dominated by men who have sex with men. Supplementing the partner notification network with phylogenetic data highlighted avenues for intervention.
Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Costs of a Rheumatology Telemedicine Program
Authors: Wood Patrick R. , Caplan Liron 
Published: April 2018

Objectives
Rural veterans with inflammatory arthritis (IA) lack medical access because of geographic barriers. Telemedicine (TM) holds great promise in relieving these disparities. We have prospectively measured patient-centered data surrounding a TM care program at a federal health system and compared these with usual care (UC).

Methods
Veterans with previously established IA were enrolled in TM follow-up. Data collected longitudinally before and after entering the program included Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3), out-of-pocket visit costs and distances traveled, and patient satisfaction instruments. Demographics were recorded. Similar data were collected on a convenience sample of concurrent IA patients receiving UC.

Results
Eighty-five patients were observed, including 25 receiving TM care and 60 receiving UC. No differences in demographics, satisfaction scores, or RAPID-3 were noted at baseline between groups. Univariate linear regression of cross-sectional baseline data suggests satisfaction instrument scores were predicted by RAPID-3 (β = −0.64/10 points, p = 0.01), as well as distance (β = −0.19/100 miles, p = 0.02) and cost (β = −0.37/$100, p = 0.05). A multivariate model indicates both distance (β = −0.17/100 miles, p = 0.02) and RAPID-3 (β = −0.47/10 points, p < 0.03) were predictors for visit satisfaction. In longitudinal follow-up via TM, satisfaction (Δ = 0.03, p = 0.94) and RAPID-3 (Δ = 0.27, p = 0.89) remained similar to baseline among TM patients, whereas distance traveled (Δ = −384.8 miles/visit, p < 0.01) and visit costs (Δ = −$113.8/visit, p < 0.01) were reduced.

Conclusions
Patient-reported outcomes for care delivered via TM were similar to UC, with significant cost and distance savings. Patient-centered factors such as distance to care should be considered in design care delivery models, as they appear to drive patient satisfaction in conjunction with disease control.
Presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody in Addition to Hepatitis B Core Antibody Confers Protection Against Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen–negative Patients Undergoing Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Jeon Jae Wan , Kim So Mi , Cho Hyungjin , Baek Chung Hee , Kim Hyosang , Shin Sung , Kim Young Hoon , Han Duck Jong , Kim Soon Bae 
Published: April 2018

Background
The American Gastroenterological Association and European Association for the Study of the Liver recommend that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)–positive patients who receive immunosuppression should be monitored for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection regardless of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) status. However, anti-HBs may provide protection against infection. To investigate whether the presence of anti-HBs in addition to anti-HBc confers protection, we classified HBsAg(−) kidney transplantation (KT) patients into 4 groups according to anti-HBc and anti-HBs status, and compared the HBV infection rate between the anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(+) group and the other 3 groups.

Methods
In this single-center retrospective study, we classified 1959 patients into 4 groups: anti-HBc(−)anti-HBs(−) (n = 356), anti-HBc(−)anti-HBs(+) (n = 652), anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(−) (n = 142), and anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(+) (n = 809).

Results
Hepatitis B virus infection was noted in 31 (1.6%) patients after KT. There was a significant difference in HBV infection rate between anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(+) (1.2%) and anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(−) (5.6%) (P < 0.001), but not between anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(+) and anti-HBc(−)anti-HBs(−) (1.1%) or anti-HBc(−)anti-HBs(+) (1.4%). There was a significant difference in HBV infection rate according to anti-HBs titer, but no difference according to the donor viral profile. Hepatic failure occurred in 1 anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(−) patient and 1 anti-HBc(+)anti-HBs(+) patient, both of whom died. Hepatocellular carcinoma was noted in 4 anti-HBc(−) patients, but not in anti-HBc(+) patients.

Conclusions
The presence of anti-HBs confers protection against HBV infection. We recommend monitoring for HBV infection after KT in HBsAg(−) anti-HBc(+) anti-HBs(−) patients, but not in HBsAg(−) anti-HBc(+) anti-HBs(+) patients.
eOceans dive-logs for science and conservation: a case study of sharks in Thailand
Authors: Ward-Paige C. A. , Westell A. , Sing B. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMany marine animals around the world are threatened by a variety of anthropogenic activities, yet there is often a paucity of data to monitor patterns in abundance and distribution or to evaluate human interventions. The new citizen science program eOceans helps to fill this gap by gathering observations of various marine animals from worldwide ocean explorers. In 2012, a dedicated Thailand-wide census of sharks, and other animals, began as collaboration between eOceans scientists and the dive tourism industry. Using the observations from 9,524 dives (9,357 hours underwater) logged by >169 divers on 153 sites, we describe the spatial and temporal patterns of sharks in coastal Thailand. A total of 12 shark species were encountered, most commonly (67%) as individuals, and were observed on 11% of all dives, on 59% of sites, in all months and years. The two most frequently encountered species were blacktip reef (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and leopard sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum). Many species had peak encounter rates in summer, but aggregated in various seasons in different years. Mating events and nursery sites were observed rarely, and only for blacktip reef and whitetip reef (Triaenodon obesus) sharks. These results could be of value to species-or region-specific biologists, ecologists and fisheries scientists, as well as to managers and policy makers that could use the findings to monitor future trends and prioritize conservation strategies. Moreover, this study highlights the value that collaborative eOceans citizen science projects could have in support of marine science, management and conservation efforts worldwide.
Accurate differential analysis of transcription factor activity from gene expression
Authors: Amin Viren , Cobanoglu Murat Can 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe present EPEE (Effector and Perturbation Estimation Engine), a method for differential analysis of transcription factor (TF) activity from gene expression data. EPEE addresses two principal challenges in the field, namely incorporating context-specific TF-gene regulatory networks, and accounting for the fact that TF activity inference is intrinsically coupled for all TFs that share targets. Our validations in well-studied immune and cancer contexts show that addressing the overlap challenge and using state-of-the-art regulatory networks enable EPEE to consistently produce accurate results. (Accessible at: https://github.com/Cobanoglu-Lab/EPEE)
Environmental sources of bacteria and genetic variation in behavior influence host-associated microbiota
Authors: Mushegian Alexandra A. , Arbore Roberto , Walser Jean-Claude , Ebert Dieter 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn many organisms, host-associated microbial communities are acquired horizontally after birth. This process is believed to be shaped by a combination of environmental and host genetic factors. We examined whether genetic variation in animal behavior could affect the composition of the animal’s microbiota in different environments. The freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna is primarily planktonic, but exhibits variation in the degree to which it browses in benthic sediments. We performed an experiment with clonal lines of D. magna showing different levels of sediment-browsing intensity exposed to either bacteria-rich or bacteria-poor sediment or whose access to sediments was prevented. We find that the bacterial composition of the environment and genotype-specific browsing intensity together influence the diversity and composition of the Daphnia-associated bacterial community. Exposure to more diverse bacteria did not lead to a more diverse microbiome, but greater abundances of environment-specific bacteria were found associated with host genotypes that exhibited greater browsing behavior. Our results indicate that individual behavior can mediate genotype-by-environment interaction effects on microbiome composition.Summary statementGenetic differences in Daphnia behavior contribute to the amount of environmental bacteria present in their microbiome
Convolutional neural network models of V1 responses to complex patterns
Authors: Zhang Yimeng , Lee Tai Sing , Li Ming , Liu Fang , Tang Shiming 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, we evaluated the convolutional neural network (CNN) method for modeling V1 neurons of awake macaque monkeys in response to a large set of complex pattern stimuli. CNN models outperformed all the other baseline models, such as Gabor-based standard models for V1 cells and various variants of generalized linear models. We then systematically dissected different components of the CNN and found two key factors that made CNNs outperform other models: thresholding nonlinearity and convolution. In addition, we fitted our data using a pre-trained deep CNN via transfer learning. The deep CNN’s higher layers, which encode more complex patterns, outperformed lower ones, and this result was consistent with our earlier work on the complexity of V1 neural code. Our study systematically evaluates the relative merits of different CNN components in the context of V1 neuron modeling.