bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal variation of refractive error change among young schoolchildren in a population-based cohort study in Taipei
Authors: Tsai Der-Chong , Huang Nicole , Fang Shao-You , Hsu Chih-Chien , Lin Pei-Yu , Chen Shing-Yi , Liou Yiing-Mei , Chiu Allen Wen-Hsiang , Liu Catherine Jui-Ling 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
To investigate the relationship between seasonal variation of daylight length and spherical equivalent (SE) progression among the schoolchildren participating in the Myopia Investigation Study in Taipei.

Methods
We used the first-year data from grade 2 schoolchildren who completed all the baseline and two follow-up examinations (n=6790). There were two 6-month intervals between visits over winter and summer, respectively. For each interval, we calculated average daily daylight length using data from Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau and measured 6-month SE progression rate based on right eye cycloplegic autorefraction data. The midpoint month was defined as the month midway between two consecutive visits.

Results
By the midpoint month, average daily daylight length was the shortest in December (671±7 min/day) and the longest (785±7 min/day) in June, and SE progression rate was the fastest (−0.23±0.48 D) in December and the slowest (−0.17±0.51 D) in June. Significant variation of SE progression rate with season can be observed only among the schoolchildren (n=1905) whose midpoint months for the winter and summer intervals were December and June (winter rate, −0.25±0.47 D; summer rate, −0.17±0.49 D; p<0.001). Of those, the summer progression rate was approximately 80%, 65% and 61.5% of that measured in winter for myopic (p=0.252), emmetropic (p=0.012) and hyperopic (p=0.012) schoolchildren, respectively.

Conclusion
Our data demonstrate a seasonal variation of minus shift in refractive error among Taipei schoolchildren who had significant daytime fluctuation during the 1-year follow-up. Of those, non-myopic children had significant and more pronounced variation of SE progression than myopic children.
Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Papua New Guinea: a nationwide survey
Authors: Lee Ling , D'Esposito Fabrizio , Garap Jambi , Wabulembo Geoffrey , Koim Samuel Peter , Keys Drew , Cama Anaseini T , Limburg Hans , Burnett Anthea 
Published: May 2018

Objective
To estimate the prevalence and main causes of blindness and vision impairment in people aged 50 years and older in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Design
National cross-sectional population-based survey in National Capital District (NCD), Highlands, Coastal and Islands regions.

Methods
Adults aged 50 years and above were recruited from 100 randomly selected clusters. Each participant underwent monocular presenting and pinhole visual acuity (VA) assessment and lens examination. Those with pinhole VA<6/12 in either eye had a dilated fundus examination to determine the primary cause of reduced vision. Those with obvious lens opacity were interviewed on barriers to cataract surgery.

Results
A total of 4818 adults were examined. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness (VA <3/60), severe vision impairment (SVI, VA <6/60 but ≥3/60), moderate vision impairment (MVI, VA <6/18 but ≥6/60) and early vision impairment (EVI, VA <6/12 but ≥6/18) was 5.6% (95% CI 4.9% to 6.3%), 2.9% (95% CI 2.5% to 3.4%), 10.9% (95% CI 9.9% to 11.9%) and 7.3% (95% CI 6.6% to 8.0%), respectively. The main cause of blindness, SVI and MVI was cataract, while uncorrected refractive error was the main cause of EVI. A significantly higher prevalence of blindness, SVI and MVI occurred in the Highlands compared with NCD. Across all regions, women had lower cataract surgical coverage and spectacle coverage than men.

Conclusions
PNG has one of the highest reported prevalence of blindness globally. Cataract and uncorrected refractive error are the main causes, suggesting a need for increased accessible services with improved resources and advocacy for enhancing eye health literacy.
Possible connection of short posterior ciliary arteries to choroidal neovascularisations in eyes with pathologic myopia
Authors: Ishida Tomoka , Watanabe Takashi , Yokoi Tae , Shinohara Kosei , Ohno-Matsui Kyoko 
Published: May 2018

PurposeTo determine the connection between myopic choroidal neovascularisations (CNVs) and intrascleral vessels examined by swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsThe data of 124 eyes of 112 consecutive patients with myopic CNVs were retrospectively analysed. A myopic CNV was defined as a CNV occurring in eyes with pathologic myopia based on the META-PM study classification. The images obtained by swept-source OCT were analysed to determine the relationship between perforating scleral vessels and CNVs. The continuity of the scleral vessels and the CNV was also analysed. The OCT angiographic (OCTA) characteristics of the myopic CNVs at the active, scar and atrophic phases were also analysed.ResultsOCTA images showed that CNVs had blood flow in the active, scar and atrophic phases. Scleral perforating vessels were detected just below or around the CNV in 93 eyes (75%). In 10 of the 93 eyes, the scleral vessels and CNV appeared to be continuous through a defect of Bruch’s membrane in the OCT images. Indocyanine green angiography showed that these perforating vessels were intrascleral arteries originating from the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs).ConclusionsSwept-source OCT showed that some of the myopic CNVs were continuous with scleral vessels mainly the SPCA. Further studies to confirm angiographical continuity between these two components are necessary.
What is the effect of secondary (high) schooling on subsequent medical school performance? A national, UK-based, cohort study
Authors: Mwandigha Lazaro M , Tiffin Paul A , Paton Lewis W , Kasim Adetayo S , Böhnke Jan R 
Published: May 2018

ObjectivesUniversity academic achievement may be inversely related to the performance of the secondary (high) school an entrant attended. Indeed, some medical schools already offer ‘grade discounts’ to applicants from less well-performing schools. However, evidence to guide such policies is lacking. In this study, we analyse a national dataset in order to understand the relationship between the two main predictors of medical school admission in the UK (prior educational attainment (PEA) and performance on the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)) and subsequent undergraduate knowledge and skills-related outcomes analysed separately.MethodsThe study was based on national selection data and linked medical school outcomes for knowledge and skills-based tests during the first five years of medical school. UKCAT scores and PEA grades were available for 2107 students enrolled at 18 medical schools. Models were developed to investigate the potential mediating role played by a student’s previous secondary school’s performance. Multilevel models were created to explore the influence of students’ secondary schools on undergraduate achievement in medical school.ResultsThe ability of the UKCAT scores to predict undergraduate academic performance was significantly mediated by PEA in all five years of medical school. Undergraduate achievement was inversely related to secondary school-level performance. This effect waned over time and was less marked for skills, compared with undergraduate knowledge-based outcomes. Thus, the predictive value of secondary school grades was generally dependent on the secondary school in which they were obtained.ConclusionsThe UKCAT scores added some value, above and beyond secondary school achievement, in predicting undergraduate performance, especially in the later years of study. Importantly, the findings suggest that the academic entry criteria should be relaxed for candidates applying from the least well performing secondary schools. In the UK, this would translate into a decrease of approximately one to two A-level grades.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in patients with endometriosis
Authors: Butnor Kelly J , Rueckert Justin , Pavlisko Elizabeth N , Sporn Thomas A , Roggli Victor L 
Published: May 2018

AimsFlorid mesothelial hyperplasia is known to result from endometriosis. Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma and multiloculated peritoneal inclusion cysts have also been described in women with endometriosis. To our knowledge, peritoneal diffuse malignant mesothelioma (MM) arising in the setting of endometriosis has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to report the clinicopathological characteristics of women with MM and endometriosis.MethodsThe surgical pathology files of a tertiary academic medical centre and the consultation files of one of the study authors were reviewed for cases of MM in females with and without endometriosis.ResultsSix women with MM and endometriosis ranging in age from 29 to 55 years (median=45 years) were identified. All had peritoneal MM and endometriosis involving the peritoneum and/or adnexa. Five had epithelioid MM and one had biphasic MM. Two had paraoccupational exposure to asbestos. The median age of women with MM and endometriosis (44.5 years) was significantly less than the median age of cases without endometriosis (58.0 years) (p value=0.01).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of MM in women with endometriosis. Interestingly, MM in the setting of endometriosis has only been observed in the peritoneum and not in other serosal cavities. The findings in the present study suggest that chronic serosal inflammation secondary to endometriosis may be an inducing factor in rare cases of MM of the peritoneum.
Mass wasting along the NW African continental margin
Authors: Krastel S. , Li W. , Urlaub M. , Georgiopoulou A. , Wynn R. B. , Schwenk T. , Stevenson C. , Feldens P. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The NW African continental margin is well known for the occurrence of large-scale but infrequent submarine landslides. The aim of this paper is to synthesize the current knowledge on submarine mass wasting off NW Africa with a special focus on the distribution and timing of large landslides. The described area reaches from southern Senegal to the Agadir Canyon. The largest landslides from south to north are the Dakar Slide, the Mauritania Slide, the Cap Blanc Slide, the Sahara Slide and the Agadir Slide. Volumes of individual slides reach several hundreds of cubic kilometres; run-outs are up to 900 km. In addition, giant volcanic debris avalanches are widespread on the flanks of the Canary Islands. All headwall areas are complex with clear indications of multiple failures. The most prominent similarity between all investigated landsides is the existence of widespread glide planes that follow the stratigraphy, which points to weak layers as most important preconditioning factor for the failures. Landslides with volumes larger than 100 m
3
are close to being evenly distributed over time, contradicting previous suggestions that landslides off NW Africa occur at periods of low or rising sea level. The risk associated with the landslides off NW Africa, however, is relatively low due to their long recurrence rates.
Programming programming languages, and analyzing Facebook's failure
Authors: Guzdial Mark , Landau Susan 
Published: May 2018

The
Communications
Web site, http://cacm.acm.org, features more than a dozen bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish selected posts or excerpts.

twitter

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blogCACM
http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm
Mark Guzdial considers an idea with significant educational implications, while Susan Landau looks into the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal.
Metabolic and Physiologic Imaging Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment Predict Treatment Outcome with Radiation or a Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug in Mice
Authors: Matsumoto Shingo , Kishimoto Shun , Saito Keita , Takakusagi Yoichi , Munasinghe Jeeva P. , Devasahayam Nallathamby , Hart Charles P. , Gillies Robert J. , Mitchell James B. , Krishna Murali C. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by hypoxic niches that lead to treatment resistance. Therefore, studies of tumor oxygenation and metabolic profiling should contribute to improved treatment strategies. Here, we define two imaging biomarkers that predict differences in tumor response to therapy: (i) partial oxygen pressure (pO2), measured by EPR imaging; and (ii) [1-13C] pyruvate metabolism rate, measured by hyperpolarized 13C MRI. Three human PDAC xenografts with varying treatment sensitivity (Hs766t, MiaPaCa2, and Su.86.86) were grown in mice. The median pO2 of the mature Hs766t, MiaPaCa2, and Su.86.86 tumors was 9.1 ± 1.7, 11.1 ± 2.2, and 17.6 ± 2.6 mm Hg, and the rate of pyruvate-to-lactate conversion was 2.72 ± 0.48, 2.28 ± 0.26, and 1.98 ± 0.51 per minute, respectively (n = 6, each). These results are in agreement with steady-state data of matabolites quantified by mass spectroscopy and histologic analysis, indicating glycolytic and hypoxia profile in Hs766t, MiaPaca2, and Su.86.86 tumors. Fractionated radiotherapy (5 Gy × 5) resulted in a tumor growth delay of 16.7 ± 1.6 and 18.0 ± 2.7 days in MiaPaca2 and Su.86.86 tumors, respectively, compared with 6.3 ± 2.7 days in hypoxic Hs766t tumors. Treatment with gemcitabine, a first-line chemotherapeutic agent, or the hypoxia-activated prodrug TH-302 was more effective against Hs766t tumors (20.0 ± 3.5 and 25.0 ± 7.7 days increase in survival time, respectively) than MiaPaCa2 (2.7 ± 0.4 and 6.7 ± 0.7 days) and Su.86.86 (4.7 ± 0.6 and 0.7 ± 0.6 days) tumors. Collectively, these results demonstrate the ability of molecular imaging biomarkers to predict the response of PDAC to treatment with radiotherapy and TH-302.
Significance: pO2 imaging data and clinically available metabolic imaging data provide useful insight into predicting the treatment efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation, and a hypoxia-activated prodrug as monotherapies and combination therapies in PDAC tumor xenograft models. Cancer Res; 78(14); 3783–92. ©2018 AACR.
Re-Operative Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Challenges and Outcomes
Authors: Bhandare Manish S. , Mehta Nikhil , Chaudhari Vikram , Kumar Naveena An , Pai Esha , Goel Mahesh , Shrikhande Shailesh V. 
Published: May 2018

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) is a high-volume centre for pancreatic tumour resections. We found a continually increasing referral of pancreatic tumours for re-evaluation for surgery, after an initial unsuccessful attempt at resection. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> To evaluate reasons of initial in-operability, the feasibility of re-operative pancreatico-duodenectomy (R-PD) and short- and long-term outcomes after R-PD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data was collected from a prospective database of GI and hepato-pancreato-biliary service, TMC, Mumbai from January 2008 to December 2016. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Forty patients with periampullary/pancreatic head tumours were referred to us after exploration. Thirty were planned for re-exploration, of whom 25 patients underwent successful R-PD, either upfront (<i>n</i> = 12) or after neo-adjuvant therapy (<i>n</i> = 13). Twenty were adenocarcinomas, 5 had other histologies. Majority of the patients were deemed inoperable in view of suspected vascular involvement at the time of initial surgery (68%). R0 resection was achieved in 90% of adenocarcinoma cases (<i>n</i> = 18). Postoperative major morbidity was 20% and mortality was 4% (<i>n</i> = 1). The estimated 1-, 2- and 5-year survival for those with adenocarcinoma was 83, 71.2, and 29.9% respectively. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> R-PD is safe and should be performed in experienced centres and can achieve long-term outcomes, comparable to conventional PD. The most common reason for denying resection at initial surgery was suspected or perceived vascular involvement.
A Simple, Evidence-Based Approach to Help Guide Diagnosis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Reddy Yogesh N.V. , Carter Rickey E. , Obokata Masaru , Redfield Margaret M. , Borlaug Barry A. 
Published: May 2018

Background:
Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is challenging in euvolemic patients with dyspnea, and no evidence-based criteria are available. We sought to develop and then validate noninvasive diagnostic criteria that could be used to estimate the likelihood that HFpEF is present among patients with unexplained dyspnea to guide further testing.

Methods:
Consecutive patients with unexplained dyspnea referred for invasive hemodynamic exercise testing were retrospectively evaluated. Diagnosis of HFpEF (case) or noncardiac dyspnea (control) was ascertained by invasive hemodynamic exercise testing. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the ability of clinical findings to discriminate cases from controls. A scoring system was developed and then validated in a separate test cohort.

Results:

The derivation cohort included 414 consecutive patients (267 cases with HFpEF and 147 controls; HFpEF prevalence, 64%). The test cohort included 100 consecutive patients (61 with HFpEF; prevalence, 61%). Obesity, atrial fibrillation, age >60 years, treatment with ≥2 antihypertensives, echocardiographic E/e’ ratio >9, and echocardiographic pulmonary artery systolic pressure >35 mm Hg were selected as the final set of predictive variables. A weighted score based on these 6 variables was used to create a composite score (H
2
FPEF score) ranging from 0 to 9. The odds of HFpEF doubled for each 1-unit score increase (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.74–2.30;
P
<0.0001), with an area under the curve of 0.841 (
P
<0.0001). The H
2
FPEF score was superior to a currently used algorithm based on expert consensus (increase in area under the curve of 0.169; 95% CI, 0.120–0.217;
P
<0.0001). Performance in the independent test cohort was maintained (area under the curve, 0.886;
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions:

The H
2
FPEF score, which relies on simple clinical characteristics and echocardiography, enables discrimination of HFpEF from noncardiac causes of dyspnea and can assist in determination of the need for further diagnostic testing in the evaluation of patients with unexplained exertional dyspnea.
Perceived Social Isolation and Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Manemann Sheila M. , Chamberlain Alanna M. , Roger Véronique L. , Griffin Joan M. , Boyd Cynthia M. , Cudjoe Thomas K. M. , Jensen Daniel , Weston Susan A. , Fabbri Matteo , Jiang Ruoxiang , Finney Rutten Lila J. 
Published: May 2018

Background
Perceived social isolation has been shown to have a negative impact on health outcomes, particularly among older adults. However, these relationships have not been fully examined among patients with heart failure.

Methods and Results

Residents from 11 southeast Minnesota counties with a first‐ever
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
(
ICD‐9
) code 428 for heart failure between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015 (N=3867), were prospectively surveyed to measure perceived social isolation. A total of 2003 patients returned the survey (response rate, 52%); 1681 patients completed all questions and were retained for analysis. Among these patients (53% men; mean age, 73 years), ≈19% (n=312) had moderate perceived social isolation and 6% (n=108) had high perceived social isolation. After adjustment, patients reporting moderate perceived social isolation did not have an increased risk of death, hospitalizations, or emergency department visits compared with patients reporting low perceived social isolation; however, patients reporting high perceived social isolation had >3.5 times increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 3.74; 95% confidence interval [
CI
], 1.82–7.70), 68% increased risk of hospitalization (hazard ratio, 1.68; 95%
CI
, 1.18–2.39), and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits (hazard ratio, 1.57; 95%
CI
, 1.09–2.27). Compared with patients who self‐reported low perceived social isolation, patients reporting moderate perceived social isolation had a 16% increased risk of outpatient visits (rate ratio, 1.16; 95%
CI
, 1.03–1.31), whereas those reporting high perceived social isolation had a 26% increased risk (rate ratio, 1.26; 95%
CI
, 1.04–1.53).

Conclusions
In patients with heart failure, greater perceived social isolation is associated with an increased risk of death and healthcare use. Assessing perceived social isolation during the clinical encounter with a brief screening tool may help identify patients with heart failure at greater risk of poor outcomes.
The Prism of Expanding Peasants’ Rights: A Critical Investigation of Diverse Frames Applied to La Vía Campesina’s Human Rights Engagements
Authors: Raghu Pratik 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSince its foundation in 1993, La Vía Campesina has surged to the forefront of the global alter-globalization movement of movements, mobilizing human rights discourse to promote small-scale sustainable agriculture as a key component of social justice, equity, dignity, and autonomy everywhere. This literature review argues that food sovereignty—La Vía Campesina’s best known, rights-based innovation—inflects a range of other interrelated but distinct frames that variously foreground peasants’ rights, “peasantness,” land, cultural recognition, and collective emancipation, prefiguring an array of prospects for the expansion of human rights to peasants and other marginalized populations confronting the failures of capitalist globalization.
Description of female of Titidius urucu Esmerio &amp; Lise, 1996 (Araneae: Thomisidae)
Authors: AMANDA NAILA , SALVATIERRA LIDIANNE , ALMEIDA MARLUS QUEIROZ , DE MORAIS JOSÉ WELLINGTON 
Published: May 2018

The genus Titidius Simon, 1895 belongs to the family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833 and can be easily identified from the related genera Tmarus Simon, 1875 and Acentroscelus Simon, 1886 by the high carapace, anterior eye row straight and posterior eye row recurve-;pd in dorsal view, carapace smooth with moderate setation, abdomen longer than wide, legs long, slender and setose and clypeus vertical (Esmerio & Lise 1996). It is currently composed of 20 species, all occurring in Brazil with exception of Titidius ignestii Caporiacco, 1947 from Guyana (World Spider Catalog 2017). Eight species are distributed in the Amazon region (Esmerio & Lise 1996): T. caninde Esmerio & Lise, 1996, T. gurupi Esmerio & Lise, 1996, T. multifasciatus Mello-Leitão, 1929 and T. rubrosignatus (Keyserling, 1880) from Pará; T. galbanatus (Keyserling, 1880) from Amazonas and Pará; T. quinquenatus Mello-Leitão, 1929 and T. urucu from Amazonas; and T. rubescens Carporiacco, 1947 from Amazonas and Roraima.