bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Longitudinal Investigation of Posttraumatic Growth and Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Gangeri Laura , Scrignaro Marta , Bianchi Elisabetta , Borreani Claudia , Bhoorie Sherrie , Mazzaferro Vincenzo 
Published: June 2018

Background: What does it mean to adjust to a liver transplant? Quality of life research has offered an impairment model, defining adjustment as the absence of diagnosed psychological disorder or of limitations in physical functioning. Recently emerging research on posttraumatic growth testifies the prevalence of positive life changes following the life-threatening illnesses. The present study aimed to verify the presence of the posttraumatic growth process in liver transplant patients and its relationship with traditional quality of life. Methods: The research was a longitudinally descriptive study. A sample of 233 liver transplant patients were assessed with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy General. Results: Over 50% of patients showed moderate-high levels in all dimensions of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Further posttraumatic growth is correlated with the functional and social dimensions of quality of life construct and not with physical and emotional functioning. Conclusion: These results confirmed that posttraumatic growth is related to a different definition of well-being than the one traditionally used in the assessment of quality of life. Adjustment to liver transplant is a complex and systemic process, which requires a multidisciplinary approach to be able to support and encourages adaptation through all the needed functional elements. An interesting perspective is offered by the narrative medicine approach, that highlighted the importance to pay specific attention to the words and expression used by patients related to changes in life and not only to traditional words reporting physical status.
The Association Between Lung Recipient Travel Distance and Posttransplant Survival
Authors: Tsuang Wayne M. , Lin Songhua , Valapour Maryam , Udeh Belinda L. , Budev Marie , Schold Jesse D. 
Published: June 2018

Introduction: Recipient travel distance may be an unrecognized burden in lung transplantation. Design: Retrospective single-center cohort study of all adult (≥18 years) first-time lung-only transplants from January 1, 2010, until February 28, 2017. Recipient distance to transplant center was calculated using the linear distance from the recipient’s home zip code to the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Results: 569 recipients met inclusion criteria. Posttransplant graft survival was 85%, 88%, 91%, and 91% at 1 year and 49%, 52%, 57%, and 56% at 5 years posttransplant for recipient travel distances of ≤50, >50 to ≤250, >250 to ≤500, and >500 miles, respectively ( P = .10). Discussion: We found no significant relationship between recipient travel distance and posttransplant graft survival. In carefully selected recipients, travel distance is not a significant barrier to successful posttransplant outcomes which may be important for patient decision-making and donor allocation policy. These data should be validated in a national cohort.
Development of a gait module to complement the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale: a mixed methods study
Authors: Strzok Sara , Cleanthous Sophie , Pompilus Farrah , Cano Stefan J , Marquis Patrick , Cohan Stanley , Goldman Myla D , Kresa-Reahl Kiren , Petrillo Jennifer , Castrillo-Viguera Carmen , Cadavid Diego , Chen Shih-Yin 
Published: June 2018

Background and objective The 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) is a patient-reported outcome instrument that quantifies the progressive loss of walking ability from the patient perspective. However, previous psychometric analyses indicated floor and ceiling effects across the multiple sclerosis severity spectrum. This study aimed to address floor effects by creating a gait module that can be used in conjunction with the MSWS-12 for better measurement of treatment benefit in the higher functioning multiple sclerosis population. Methods We used a step-wise mixed methods study design, with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients (wave 1, n=88; wave 2, n=30), combining qualitative (concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing interviews) and quantitative (Rasch Measurement Theory) data collection and analytical techniques and consultation interviews with three neurologists specializing in multiple sclerosis. Results Thirty-seven walking ability concepts were identified, and a five-domain conceptual framework was created. Draft items were generated and refined with patient and neurologist input. Draft items covered gait-related concepts such as dragging, shuffling, limping, tripping and falling. Rasch measurement theory psychometric analysis indicated administering MSWS-12 plus gait items improved measurement precision in targeted populations with better walking ability. Conclusion Study findings indicate that new gait items could improve sensitivity to detect clinical change in walking ability for higher functioning multiple sclerosis patients.
Similar Interstage Outcomes for Single Ventricle Infants Palliated With an Aortopulmonary Shunt Compared to the Norwood Procedure
Authors: Pizzuto Matthew , Patel Mehul , Romano Jennifer , Retzloff Lauren , Yu Sunkyung , Lowery Ray , Gelehrter Sarah 
Published: June 2018

Background: Interstage outcomes for single ventricle infants following Norwood operation have been well studied, showing significant mortality. Other single ventricle infants require only an aortopulmonary shunt. The aim of the study was to describe the interstage outcomes of this group compared to Norwood patients and identify risk factors for mortality. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort review was performed in patients who underwent a Norwood operation (Norwood) or aortopulmonary shunt (Shunt) during 2000 to 2011 and survived to discharge. Hybrid or pulmonary artery banding patients were excluded. Univariate comparison was made between Norwood and Shunt patients as well as a Shunt subgroup analysis. Results: A total of 486 patients (368 Norwood and 118 Shunt) were included. Norwood and Shunt patients were similar in terms of preterm birth, surgery weight, and stage 1 complications. Shunt patients were more likely to be female, have an extracardiac or genetic anomaly, and have a shorter hospital length of stay compared to the Norwood patients (all P < .0001). No significant difference in interstage mortality was seen between the Shunt and Norwood patients (6.8% vs 11.1%, respectively; P = .17). Stage 2 mortality was also similar (Shunt 4.6% vs Norwood 7.8%; P = .25). In the Shunt patients, those who died during interstage weighed less at surgery (2.7 [0.7] kg vs 3.3 [0.7] kg, P = .03) and were more likely to have arrhythmias (50% vs 12%, P = .01), compared to survivors. Conclusions: Shunt patients have an interstage mortality that is not significantly less than Norwood patients. Lower weight at surgery and arrhythmias are risk factors for interstage death in Shunt patients.
Interim Futility Monitoring Assessing Immune Therapies With a Potentially Delayed Treatment Effect
Authors: Korn Edward L. , Freidlin Boris 
Published: June 2018

Purpose Introduction of new immune therapies that may have a delayed beneficial effect necessitates re-evaluation of traditional clinical trial designs in oncology. A key design feature of randomized trials is interim futility monitoring, which allows stopping early if the accruing data convincingly demonstrate that the experimental treatment is detrimental or is unlikely to be shown superior to the standard treatment. The appropriateness of futility monitoring is frequently questioned when the effect of the experimental treatment may be delayed (eg, in trials of many immune agents). We examine the advisability of using futility monitoring when there is potential for a delayed treatment effect and make recommendations concerning its use. Methods We evaluated the loss of statistical power when using some common futility interim monitoring rules and a new proposed conservative rule via simulation under varying amounts of treatment-effect delay and varying accrual periods. We also considered scenarios where the experimental treatment starts out being worse than the standard treatment but ends up being better, as may sometimes be the case when an immune therapy is compared with an active standard therapy. Results Some standard methods of futility monitoring can result in an unacceptable loss of power when there is a delayed treatment effect, especially if the accrual period is rapid or the experimental treatment is initially worse. The proposed conservative futility rule has a negligible loss of power in the situations considered. Conclusion Although care must be taken with the choice of futility monitoring when there is a delayed treatment effect, inclusion of appropriate rules can reduce the exposure of patients to ineffective therapies without reducing the probability of correctly identifying effective treatments.
High monocyte to lymphocyte ratio is associated with impaired protection after subcutaneous administration of BCG in a mouse model of tuberculosis
Authors: Zelmer Andrea , Stockdale Lisa , Prabowo Satria A. , Cia Felipe , Spink Natasha , Gibb Matthew , Eddaoudi Ayad , Fletcher Helen A. 
Published: June 2018

Background:The only available tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), has variable efficacy. New vaccines are therefore urgently needed. Why BCG fails is incompletely understood, and the tools used for early assessment of new vaccine candidates do not account for BCG variability. Taking correlates of risk of TB disease observed in human studies and back-translating them into mice to create models of BCG variability should allow novel vaccine candidates to be tested early in animal models that are more representative of the human populations most at risk. Furthermore, this could help to elucidate the immunological mechanisms leading to BCG failure. We have chosen the monocyte to lymphocyte (ML) ratio as a correlate of risk of TB disease and have back-translated this into a mouse model.Methods: Four commercially available, inbred mouse strains were chosen. We investigated their baseline ML ratio by flow cytometry; extent of BCG-mediated protection from Mycobacterium tuberculosisinfection by experimental challenge; vaccine-induced interferon gamma (IFNγ) response by ELISPOT assay; and tissue distribution of BCG by plating tissue homogenates.Results:The ML ratio varied significantly between A/J, DBA/2, C57Bl/6 and 129S2 mice. A/J mice showed the highest BCG-mediated protection and lowest ML ratio, while 129S2 mice showed the lowest protection and higher ML ratio. We also found that A/J mice had a lower antigen specific IFNγ response than 129S2 mice. BCG tissue distribution appeared higher in A/J mice, although this was not statistically significant.Conclusions:These results suggest that the ML ratio has an impact on BCG-mediated protection in mice, in alignment with observations from clinical studies. A/J and 129S2 mice may therefore be useful models of BCG vaccine variability for early TB vaccine testing. We speculate that failure of BCG to protect from TB disease is linked to poor tissue distribution in a ML high immune environment.
Preparation of organotypic brain slice cultures for the study of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Croft Cara L. , Noble Wendy 
Published: June 2018

Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by amyloid-beta deposits in extracellular plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of aggregated tau, synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death.Transgenic rodent models to study Alzheimer’s mimic features of human disease such as age-dependent accumulation of abnormal beta-amyloid and tau, synaptic dysfunction, cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration. These models have proven vital for improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD and for identifying promising therapeutic approaches. However, modelling neurodegenerative disease in animals commonly involves aging animals until they develop harmful phenotypes, often coupled with invasive procedures.We have developed a novel organotypic brain slice culture model to study Alzheimer’s disease using 3xTg-AD mice which brings the potential of substantially reducing the number of rodents used in dementia research from an estimated 20,000 per year. Using a McIllwain tissue chopper, we obtain 36 x 350 micron slices from each P8-P9 mouse pup for culture between 2 weeks and 6 months on semi-permeable 0.4 micron pore membranes, considerably reducing the numbers of animals required to investigate multiple stages of disease. This tractable model also allows the opportunity to modulate multiple pathways in tissues from a single animal. We believe that this model will most benefit dementia researchers in the academic and drug discovery sectors.We validated the slice culture model against aged mice, showing that the molecular phenotype closely mimics that displayedin vivo, albeit in an accelerated timescale. We showed beneficial outcomes following treatment of slices with agents previously shown to have therapeutic effectsin vivo,and we also identified new mechanisms of action of other compounds. Thus, organotypic brain slice cultures from transgenic mouse models expressing Alzheimer’s disease-related genes may provide a valid and sensitive replacement forin vivostudies that do not involve behavioural analysis.
Fast Determination of Copper Content in Tobacco (Nicotina tabacum L.) Leaves Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with Univariate and Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Peng Jiyu , Ye Lanhan , Shen Tingting , Liu Fei , Song Kunlin , He Yong 
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Fast and effective measures to determine heavy metals play an important role in ensuring food quality and safety. In this experiment, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to detect copper content (Cu) in tobacco ( L.) leaves. The experimental parameters for detection, including laser energy, delay time, and camera gate width, were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, including partial least squares regression (PLSR) and extreme learning machine (ELM), were used to establish calibration models. In addition, different preprocessing methods were used to eliminate the signal variations and further improve the calibration performance, including baseline correction, background normalization, area normalization, and standard normal variate (SNV) normalization. The results showed that LIBS combined with both univariate and multivariate methods could be used to detect copper content in tobacco leaves. SNV and area normalization were efficient in dealing with signal variations and improving the calibration performance. The ELM model with SNV normalized variables in the spectral region of 324.02 to 325.98 nm achieved the best performance (R2 = 0.9552 and RMSE = 4.8416 mg kg-1 in the testing set). The results provide the first proof-of-principle data for fast determination of copper content in tobacco leaves. Keywords: Copper content, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Multivariate calibration, Response surface methodology, Tobacco leaves, Univariate calibration.
A Weather Generator-Based Statistical Downscaling Tool for Site-Specific Assessment of Climate Change Impacts
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhang Xunchang John , Li Xiangquan 
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Statistical downscaling approaches are usually used to bridge the gap between climate model outputs and data requirements of impact models such as crop and soil erosion models. This study synthesizes, integrates, and standardizes a statistical downscaling method that was initially developed in 2005 and subsequently evaluated and improved during the last decade. A new downscaling software program, Generator for Point Climate Change (GPCC), has been developed to automate and visualize the method to assist end users with detailed technical and user documentation. GPCC readily generates daily time series of climate change scenarios for local and site-specific climate change impact studies using monthly projections from global climate models or regional climate models. The downscaled variables include precipitation and maximum and minimum temperatures. This software provides a simple but effective climate downscaling tool for assessing the impacts of climate change on crop production, soil hydrology, and soil erosion at a field scale. The tool can also provide an alternative downscaling method to facilitate the international collaborative efforts of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) for simulation of world food production and food security assessment. The detailed downscaling methods, their scientific bases, and the advantages of GPCC over other commonly used downscaling methods are presented. GPCC is written in the Matlab language, and a standalone version can be run on Windows XP or above without Matlab software. The tool has a graphical user interface that is simple and easy to generate downscaled climates as well as to visualize downscaled outputs. Each interface tab and key button and their functions are described to facilitate its widespread application. Keywords: Agricultural system models, Climate change impacts, Generator for point climate change, Interface, Statistical downscaling, Stochastic weather generator.
Ammonia Emissions from Dairy Lagoons in the Western U.S.
Authors: Leytem April B. , Bjorneberg David L. , Rotz C. Al , Moraes Luis E. , Kebreab Ermias , Dungan Robert S. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Ammonia (NH3) emissions from dairy liquid storage systems can be a source of reactive nitrogen (N) released to the environment, with a potential to adversely affect sensitive ecosystems and human health. However, little on-farm research has been conducted to estimate these emissions and determine the factors that may affect these emissions. Six lagoons in south-central Idaho were monitored for one year using open-path Fourier transform spectrometry, with NH3 emissions estimated using inverse dispersion modeling (WindTrax software). Lagoon physicochemical characteristics thought to contribute to NH3 emissions were also monitored over this period. Average total emissions from the lagoons ranged from 12 to 43 kg NH3 ha-1 d-1, or 5.4 to 85 kg NH3 d-1. Emissions from the settling basin on one dairy were 30% of the total emissions from the liquid storage system, indicating that basins are important sources of on-farm NH3 emissions. Emissions generally trended greater during the summer, when temperatures were greater. High wind events and agitation of the lagoons created temporary increases in NH3 emissions irrespective of temperature. Lagoon physicochemical characteristics, such as total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN), were highly correlated with emissions (r = 0.52 and 0.55, respectively). Regression models were developed to predict on-farm NH3 emissions and indicated that TKN, TAN, wind speed, air temperature, and pH were the main drivers of these emissions. An on-farm N balance suggested that lagoon NH3-N losses represented 9% of total N lost from the facility, 65% of total lagoon N, and 5% of dairy herd N intake. A process-based model (Integrated Farm System Model) estimated values for N excretion and NH3-N loss from the lagoon within 5% of that measured on-farm. More on-farm research is needed to better refine both process-based models and emission factor estimates to more accurately predict NH3 emissions from lagoons on dairies in the western U.S. Keywords: Ammonia, Emission, Inverse dispersion, Manure.
Detecting Changes in Support Needs Over Time
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Thompson James R. , Shaw Leslie A. , Grandfield Elizabeth M. , Hagiwara Mayumi 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Assessment of support needs has received significant attention in the disability field, however, little is known about the stability of support needs scores over time. Data from 82 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who were reassessed with the Supports Intensity Scale—Adult (SIS—A) version as well as the SIS—A Annual Review Protocol (SIS—A ARP) were analyzed. The findings suggest stability of SIS—A scores over a one- to three-year period in adults with IDD. Several sections of the SIS—A ARP showed discriminative power, particularly sections that asked if there had been changes in a subset of specific life activities assessed on the SIS—A and in medical and behavioral needs. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
Inference From Facial Expressions Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Down Syndrome
Authors: Goldman Karen J. , Shulman Cory , Burack Jacob A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe focus of this study was the ability of adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome to infer meaning from facial expressions in the absence of emotion labels and use this inference in order to adjust their behavior. Participants with Down syndrome (N = 19, mean nonverbal mental age of 5.8 years) and 4- to 7-year-old typically developing children performed a novel task in which happy and angry faces were provided as feedback for a choice made by the participants. In making a subsequent choice, the participants with Down syndrome performed similarly to the 4 year olds, indicating a difficulty using angry faces as feedback. Individual differences within the group were also apparent. Implications for the development of social competence are discussed.
Competencias parentales positivas y Smartphones. Diagnóstico en el contexto familiar
Authors: Ramírez-García Antonia , González-Fernández Natalia , Salcines-Talledo Irina 
Published: June 2018

La introducción de Internet y los dispositivos móviles, como el Smartphone en los hogares, ha tenido una gran repercusión en el seno familiar, modificando muchos de los hábitos comunicativos y relacionales establecidos hasta el momento. En este nuevo contexto, la parentalidad positiva se convierte en el ideal para asegurar y potenciar unas relaciones paterno-filiales óptimas. Con esta investigación, se trata de establecer las competencias parentales que los progenitores deberían promover de cara a asegurar un buen uso y consumo de contenidos digitales a través del Smartphone en el marco de la parentalidad positiva. Para ello, se presenta una investigación cualitativa bibliográfica, en la que se ha realizado una revisión y análisis documental de investigaciones nacionales e internacionales actuales sobre la temática. Los resultados presentan una propuesta de competencias parentales positivas en torno al cuidado y protección del menor, la orientación y organización doméstica, el reconocimiento del menor, la educación, la agencia personal y la competencia para toda la vida.