bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repeat ablation of refractory ventricular arrhythmias in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy: Impact of midmyocardial substrate and role of adjunctive ablation techniques
Authors: Tzou Wendy S. , Rothstein Peter A. , Cowherd Michael , Zipse Matthew M. , Tompkins Christine , Marzec Lucas , Aleong Ryan G. , Schuller Joseph L. , Varosy Paul D. , Borne Ryan T. , Mathew Jehu , Tumolo Alexis , Sandhu Amneet , Nguyen Duy T. , Sauer William H. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntroductionMultiple ablations are often necessary to manage ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients. We assessed characteristics and outcomes and role of adjunctive, nonstandard ablation in repeat VA ablation (RAbl) in NICM.Methods and resultsConsecutive NICM patients undergoing RAbl were analyzed, with characteristics of the last VA ablations compared between those undergoing 1 versus multiple‐repeat ablations (1‐RAbl vs. >1RAbl), and between those with or without midmyocardial substrate (MMS). VA‐free survival was compared. Eighty‐eight patients underwent 124 RAbl, 26 with > 1RAbl, and 26 with MMS. 1‐RAbl and > 1‐RAbl groups were similar in age (57 ± 16 vs. 57 ± 17 years; P = 0.92), males (76% vs. 69%; P = 0.60), LVEF (40 ± 17% vs. 40 ± 18%; P = 0.96), and amiodarone use (31% vs. 46%, P = 0.22). One‐year VA freedom between 1‐RAbl vs. > 1RAbl was similar (82% vs. 80%; P = 0.81); adjunctive ablation was utilized more in >1RAbl (31% vs. 11%, P = 0.02), and complication rates were higher (27% vs. 7%, P = 0.01), most due to septal substrate and anticipated heart block. >1‐RAbl patients had more MMS (62% vs. 16%, P < 0.01). Although MMS was associated with worse VA‐free survival after 1‐RAbl (43% vs. 69%, P = 0.01), when >1RAbl was performed, more often with nonstandard ablation, VA‐free survival was comparable to non‐MMS patients (85% vs. 81%; P = 0.69). More RAbls were required in MMS versus non‐MMS patients (2.00 ± 0.98 vs. 1.16 ± 0.37; P < 0.001).ConclusionFor NICM patients with recurrent, refractory VAs despite previous ablation, effective arrhythmia control can safely be achieved with subsequent ablation, although >1 repeat procedure with adjunctive ablation is often required, especially with MMS.
Acceptance of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Lung Cancer Role by Healthcare Professionals and Patients: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Serena Andrea , Dwyer Andrew A. , Peters Solange , Eicher Manuela 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the acceptance of a novel role, the advanced practice nurse in lung cancer (APNLC), from the perspective of patients and healthcare professionals in a country lacking a regulatory oversight for advanced practice nursing (APN) roles.Methods and DesignThis study utilized a qualitative methodology using focus groups and semistructured interviews. Participants were purposively sampled in a Swiss academic medical center. Two focus groups were conducted: the first included nurses (n = 5) and the social worker, while the second targeted physicians (n = 6). The APNLC and patients (n = 4) were interviewed using semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.FindingsThree main themes were identified: APNLC role identification, APNLC role‐specific contributions, and APNLC flexible service. Physicians and patients clearly recognized the APNLC role, noting contributions to continuity of care, psychosocial support, and enabling symptom self‐management. Nurses perceived the APNLC role as overlapping with the oncology nurse role. Flexibility in providing care was seen as the strength of the APNLC role, yet this also posed organizational challenges.ConclusionsThe new role appears to be well accepted by patients and physicians, yet barriers posed by nursing colleagues remain challenging.Clinical RelevanceBased on existing literature and the present findings, we propose a model to guide future implementation and enhance acceptance of the APNLC role. This model comprises three actions: (a) formalizing nursing role expectations, (b) providing appropriate support and resources, and (c) promoting a national plan for APN regulation.
Forest seedling community response to understorey filtering by tree ferns
Authors: Brock James M. R. , Perry George L. W. , Burkhardt Tynan , Burns Bruce R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractQuestionsLarge pteridophytes frequently co‐occur with conifers and angiosperms in the understorey of temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forests but interactions between them are poorly understood. We evaluated the impact of tree ferns on the regeneration niche of vascular woody species to determine whether tree ferns function as biotic filters and influence seedling occurrence. We asked the following questions: (i) do understorey tree ferns influence the woody seedling bank, and (ii) which potential mechanisms drive any such influence?LocationAuckland and Waikato regions, northern New Zealand.MethodsWe measured woody seedlings in 164 1‐m2 plots in northern New Zealand temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forest and used multivariate analyses and modelling to assess the relative contributions of abiotic and biotic effects on community composition and seedling abundance. We manipulated the environments beneath 160 tree fern individuals by removing fronds and/or macro‐litter in a balanced factorial design, and recorded the response of the seedling community over 1 year. We then assessed the relative influences of shading and litter depth on the seedling community response.ResultsDistance to the nearest tree fern was the best predictor of understorey seedling abundance; seedling abundance decreased beneath tree ferns. There was no strong evidence, however, that tree ferns influence seedling community composition; although the palm Rhopalostylis sapida, was consistently present away from tree fern micro‐sites. Removal of tree fern shading and macro‐litter both influenced the local seedling community; conifers responded positively, and most consistently to frond removal. Frond‐shading and deep litter reduced seedling species richness and seedling abundance.ConclusionsTree ferns influence the woody seedling bank in temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forest through increased shading and macro‐litter accumulation, both of which reduce the abundance of angiosperm and conifer seedlings. A tree fern‐dominated understorey is likely to reduce conifer establishment and may limit direct competition among woody plants by reducing densities and regeneration opportunities immediately beneath tree fern canopies.
On selection of an appropriate logistic model to determine the risk factors of childhood stunting in Bangladesh
Authors: Bhowmik Kakoli Rani , Das Sumonkanti 
Published: July 2018

AbstractStunting is the core measure of child health inequalities as it reveals multiple dimensions of child health and development status. The main focus of this study is to show the procedure of selecting the most appropriate logistic regression model for stunting by developing and comparing several plausible models, which ultimately helps to identify the predictors of childhood stunting in Bangladesh. This study utilizes child anthropometric data collected in the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Valid height‐for‐age anthropometric indices were available for a total of 6,931 children aged 0–59 months, of which about 36% were stunted. Ordinary logistic, survey logistic, marginal logistic, and random intercept logistic regression models were developed assuming independence, sampling design, cluster effect, and hierarchy of the data. Based on a number of model selection criteria, random intercept logistic model is found the most appropriate for the studied children. A number of child, mother, household, regional, and community‐level variables were included in the model specification. The factors that increased the odds of stunting are children older than 11 months, short birth interval, recent morbidity of children, lower maternal education, young maternity, lower maternal body mass index, poor household wealth, urban residential place, and living in Sylhet division. Findings of this study recommend to utilize an appropriate logistic model considering the issues relevant to the data, particularly sampling design and clustering for determining the risk factors of childhood stunting in Bangladesh.
Differences Between Short‐ and Long‐Term Risk Aversion: An Optimal Asset Allocation Perspective
Authors: Gonzalo Jesus , Olmo Jose 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper studies the long‐term asset allocation problem of an investor with different risk aversion attitudes to the short and the long term. We characterize investor's preferences with a utility function exhibiting a regime shift in risk aversion at some point of the multiperiod investment horizon that is estimated using threshold nonlinearity methods. Our empirical results for a portfolio of cash, bonds and stocks suggest that long‐term risk aversion is higher than short‐term risk aversion and increases with the investment horizon. The exposure of the investment portfolio from stocks to bonds and cash increases with the degree of risk aversion.
Does the Media Help the General Public in Understanding Inflation?
Authors: Jansen David‐Jan , Neuenkirch Matthias 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper studies whether media information helps the general public in understanding inflation. We combine detailed Dutch household survey data on media usage, inflation perceptions, and inflation expectations. We find no evidence that more‐often informed members of the general public do better in understanding inflation. In fact, more frequent readership of popular newspapers is associated with slightly less accurate inflation perceptions. There is also no evidence that usage of non‐print media leads to more accurate of views on inflation. One implication of these results is that central banks might need to consider more direct ways of engaging with the general public.
Correlation between minute carbon dioxide elimination and pulmonary blood flow in single‐ventricle patients after stage 1 palliation and 2‐ventricle patients with intracardiac shunts: A pilot study
Authors: Al‐Subu Awni , Jooste Edmund , Hornik Christoph P. , Fleming Gregory A. , Cheifetz Ira M. , Ofori‐Amanfo George 
Published: July 2018

SummaryBackgroundAssessment of pulmonary blood flow and cardiac output is critical in the postoperative management of patients with single‐ventricle physiology or 2‐ventricle physiology with intracardiac shunting. Currently, such hemodynamic data are only obtainable by invasive procedures, such as cardiac catheterization or the use of a pulmonary artery catheter. Ready availability of such information, especially if attainable noninvasively, could be a valuable addition to postoperative management.AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the correlation between volume of CO2 elimination obtained by volumetric capnography and pulmonary blood flow in pediatric patients with single‐ventricle physiology after stage 1 palliation as well as in patients with other cardiac lesions associated with intracardiac shunting.MethodsThis prospective cohort study included children with congenital or acquired heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization as part of clinical care. Cardiac output, pulmonary blood flow, and volume of CO2 elimination were simultaneously collected. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to assess correlation between measurements after controlling for minute ventilation.ResultsThirty‐five patients were enrolled and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 8) included single‐ventricle patients after stage 1 palliation. Group 2 (n = 10) patients had structural heart disease with 2 ventricles and intracardiac shunting. Group 3 (n = 17) had structurally normal hearts. Among Group 1 patients, the correlation coefficients (R2) between volume of CO2 elimination and pulmonary blood flow and volume of CO2 elimination and cardiac output were 0.60 (P = .02) 95% CI [0.01‐0.79] and 0.29 (P = .74) 95% CI [−0.91 ‐ 0.86], respectively. In patients with 2 ventricles associated with intracardiac shunts (Group 2), the correlation coefficients between volume of CO2 elimination and pulmonary blood flow and volume of CO2 elimination and cardiac output were 0.86 (P = .001) 95% CI [0.53 ‐ 0.97] and 0.73 (P = .001) 95% CI [0.29 ‐ 0.95], respectively. Among Group 3 patients, the correlation coefficient between volume of CO2 elimination and pulmonary blood flow was 0.66 (P = .038) 95% CI [0.29 ‐ 0.87].ConclusionVolume of CO2 elimination may be a surrogate marker of pulmonary blood flow in single‐ventricle patients and patients with biventricular physiology with intracardiac shunting. Also, among patients with normal cardiac anatomy, volume of CO2 elimination may be a marker of cardiac output.
Dorsal penile nerve block for circumcision in pediatric patients: A prospective, observer‐blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial for the comparison of ultrasound‐guided vs landmark technique
Authors: Teunkens An , Van de Velde Marc , Vermeulen Kristien , Van Loon Philippe , Bogaert Guy , Fieuws Steffen , Rex Steffen 
Published: July 2018

SummaryBackground and aimsCircumcision is a frequently performed procedure in day case pediatric surgery. Dorsal penile nerve block has proven its effectiveness for the management of acute postoperative pain after circumcision. We investigated if the ultrasound‐guided placement of a dorsal penile nerve block could reduce opioid requirement as compared to a landmark‐based technique.MethodsThree hundred and ten prepubertal children, aged between 52 weeks postconception and 11 years, were included in this prospective, observer‐blinded, randomized controlled trial and received either a landmark‐ or an ultrasound‐guided dorsal penile nerve block, using a caudal needle and injecting 0.1 mL/kg levobupivacaine 0.5% bilaterally. A single, experienced investigator performed all blocks. The primary endpoint was the number of patients in need of piritramide postoperatively as triggered by the Objective Pain Scale. Secondary outcome parameters included the cumulative dose of postoperatively administered opioids, the requirement to administer fentanyl intraoperatively, the need for paracetamol and ibuprofen during the first 24 postoperative hours, postoperative pain scores, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, the anesthesia induction time, and the time to discharge.ResultsThe proportion of patients requiring postoperative piritramide did not differ significantly between both groups (Landmark: 38% vs Ultrasound: 47%, with a difference in proportion between both conditions (95% CI): 0.09 (0.2 to 0.02); P = .135). In addition, the cumulative doses of postoperative piritramide and intraoperative fentanyl, the postoperative need for paracetamol or ibuprofen, pain scores, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and the time to discharge were not different either. However, the anesthesia induction time was significantly longer in the ultrasound‐guided dorsal penile nerve block (median time [IQR]: Landmark: 11[9; 13] min vs Ultrasound: 13[11; 15] min, P < .001).ConclusionCompared with the landmark‐guided, the ultrasound‐guided dorsal penile nerve block did not reduce the need for postoperative analgesia after circumcision in children, but was associated with an increase in the procedural time.
Intraoperative anesthetic management of an infant with a bridging bronchus: A case report
Authors: Shakuo Tomoharu , Oe Katsunori , Shimura Yuko , Awakura Hanae , Yamada Arata 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA newborn infant was diagnosed with an imperforate anus, and colostomy was performed one day after birth. He exhibited repeated episodes of poor oxygenation during intubation, and a CT scan revealed a bridging bronchus. He was scheduled to undergo sacroperineal repair in the prone position 8 months later. A tracheal tube, with its tip modified to widen the opening, was inserted through the nose. This led to normal oxygenation, even while in the prone position. The surgery was completed without any complications.
Market effects of farmer field schools in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The case for cocoa
Authors: Tsiboe Francis , Luckstead Jeff , Nalley Lawton L. , Popp Jennie S. , Dixon Bruce L. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBillions of dollars are invested in development programs, all of which have a monitoring and evaluation component and consider only the programs’ intended effects while ignoring their market effects on prices. This study analyzes the market effects of the Cocoa Livelihood Program (CLP) in Ghana. To evaluate both the benefits to cocoa farmers and market outcomes of CLP on cocoa and other noncocoa markets, this study simulates a partial‐equilibrium farm household model. The analysis shows that CLP participating households benefit by U.S.$154 per household, while nonparticipating households benefit (through market outcome) by only U.S.$21 per household, at the 2016 participation rate of 6 percent. The net welfare changes in staple food markets (maize, rice, cassava, and yam) attributable to CLP, is estimated at U.S.$850 per household. A rise in the CLP participation rate leads to a decline in the Ghanaian cocoa price. However, net gains from the program become negative at participation rates of more than 60 percent, as supply increases and the cocoa price falls. This result suggests that CLP participation could be expanded up to 60 percent of Ghana's cocoa producing households. However, expanding cocoa demand is equally as important as expanding production if participation rates exceed 60 percent.
Firm heterogeneity and international trade in services
Authors: Morikawa Masayuki 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study, using panel data on Japanese firms, analyses the relationship between services trade and firm heterogeneity. It finds that the number of firms engaged in services trade is far less than that engaged in goods trade. Further, the productivity of services traders is higher than that of domestic firms and goods trading firms, whereas the productivity of firms that export services beyond the boundary of their firm groups is higher than that of those that export services only to their affiliate firms. These results suggest that only productive firms can engage in services trade by incurring the relatively large fixed costs.
Firm strategies in expanding and diversifying exports
Authors: Lawless Martina , Siedschlag Iulia , Studnicka Zuzanna 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper provides novel empirical evidence on the patterns and dynamics of exports by Irish firms over the past two decades from a highly detailed data set of export records at the firm‐product‐destination level. We identify patterns of export concentration and specialisation and how these evolved over time. Firms’ strategies for export growth along product and destination markets mixes are then examined and the contributions of intensive (average sales) and extensive (number of products or markets) margins to overall exports and to export growth are calculated. We find that most exporting firms are quite small, selling a few products to a small number of destinations while export values are dominated by a relatively small group of highly globalised large firms selling many products to many destinations. Continuing exporters frequently introduce new products, drop products and enter and exit markets. Export growth in the case of Irish‐owned exporters appears largely driven by the extensive margin of product and destination changes. However, the opposite pattern holds for foreign‐owned firms with growth mainly coming from the intensive margin.
Transposon Insertion Sequencing Elucidates Novel Gene Involvement in Susceptibility and Resistance to Phages T4 and T7 in
Escherichia coli
O157
Authors: Cowley Lauren A. , Low Alison S. , Pickard Derek , Boinett Christine J. , Dallman Timothy J. , Day Martin , Perry Neil , Gally David L. , Parkhill Julian , Jenkins Claire , Cain Amy K. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT

Experiments using bacteriophage (phage) to infect bacterial strains have helped define some basic genetic concepts in microbiology, but our understanding of the complexity of bacterium-phage interactions is still limited. As the global threat of antibiotic resistance continues to increase, phage therapy has reemerged as an attractive alternative or supplement to treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Further, the long-used method of phage typing to classify bacterial strains is being replaced by molecular genetic techniques. Thus, there is a growing need for a complete understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms underpinning phage-bacterium interactions to optimize phage therapy for the clinic as well as for retrospectively interpreting phage typing data on the molecular level. In this study, a genomics-based fitness assay (TraDIS) was used to identify all host genes involved in phage susceptibility and resistance for a T4 phage infecting Shiga-toxigenic
Escherichia coli
O157. The TraDIS results identified both established and previously unidentified genes involved in phage infection, and a subset were confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and phenotypic testing of 14 T4 and 2 T7 phages. For the first time, the entire
sap
operon was implicated in phage susceptibility and, conversely, the stringent starvation protein A gene (
sspA
) was shown to provide phage resistance. Identifying genes involved in phage infection and replication should facilitate the selection of bespoke phage combinations to target specific bacterial pathogens.

IMPORTANCE
Antibiotic resistance has diminished treatment options for many common bacterial infections. Phage therapy is an alternative option that was once popularly used across Europe to kill bacteria within humans. Phage therapy acts by using highly specific viruses (called phages) that infect and lyse certain bacterial species to treat the infection. Whole-genome sequencing has allowed modernization of the investigations into phage-bacterium interactions. Here, using
E. coli
O157 and T4 bacteriophage as a model, we have exploited a genome-wide fitness assay to investigate all genes involved in defining phage resistance or susceptibility. This knowledge of the genetic determinants of phage resistance and susceptibility can be used to design bespoke phage combinations targeted to specific bacterial infections for successful infection eradication.