bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Informing thresholds for paediatric transfusion in Africa: the need for a trial
Authors: Maitland Kathryn , Ohuma Eric O. , Mpoya Ayub , Uyoga Sophie , Hassall Oliver , Williams Thomas N. 
Published: August 2019

Background: Owing to inadequate supplies of donor blood for transfusion in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) World Health Organization paediatric guidelines recommend restrictive transfusion practices, based on expert opinion. We examined whether survival amongst hospitalised children by admission haemoglobin and whether this was influenced by malaria infection and/or transfusion. Methods: A retrospective analysis of standardised clinical digital records in an unselected population of children admitted to a rural hospital in Kenya over an 8-year period. We describe baseline parameters with respect to categories of anaemia and outcome (in-hospital death) by haemoglobin (Hb), malaria and transfusion status. Results: Among 29,226 children, 1,143 (3.9%) had profound anaemia (Hb <4g/dl) and 3,469 (11.9%) had severe anaemia (Hb 4-6g/d). In-hospital mortality rate was 97/1,143 (8.5%) if Hb<4g/dl or 164/2,326 (7.1%) in those with severe anaemia (Hb ≥4.0-<6g/dl). Admission Hb <3g/dl was associated with higher risk of death versus those with higher Hbs (OR=2.41 (95%CI: 1.8 - 3.24; P<0.001), increasing to OR=6.36, (95%CI: 4.21–9.62; P<0.001) in malaria positive children. Conversely, mortality in non-malaria admissions was unrelated to Hb level. Transfusion was associated with a non-significant improvement in outcome if Hb<3g/dl (malaria-only) OR 0.72 (95%CI 0.29 - 1.78), albeit the number of cases were too few to show a statistical difference. For those with Hb levels above 4g/dl, mortality was significantly higher in those receiving a transfusion compared to the non-transfused group. For non-malarial cases, transfusion did not affect survival-status, irrespective of baseline Hb level compared to children who were not transfused at higher Hb levels. Conclusion: Although severe anaemia is common among children admitted to hospital in sSA (~16%), our data do not indicate that outcome is improved by transfusion irrespective of malaria status. Given the limitations of observational studies, clinical trials investigating the role of transfusion in outcomes in children with severe anaemia are warranted.
Bring a Friend! Privately or Publicly?
Authors: Carroni Elias , Pin Paolo , Righi Simone 
Published: August 2019

We study the optimal referral strategy of a seller and its relationship with the type of communication channels among consumers. The seller faces a partially uninformed population of consumers, interconnected through a directed social network. In the network, the seller offers rewards to informed consumers (influencers) conditional on inducing purchases by uninformed consumers (influenced). Rewards are needed to bear a communication cost and to induce word of mouth (WOM) either privately (cost per contact) or publicly (fixed cost to inform all friends). From the seller’s viewpoint, eliciting Private WOM is more costly than eliciting Public WOM. We investigate (1) the incentives for the seller to move to a denser network, inducing either Private or Public WOM, and (2) the optimal mix between the two types of communication. A denser network is found to be always better not only for information diffusion but also for seller’s profits, as long as Private WOM is concerned. Differently, under Public WOM, the seller may prefer an environment with less competition between informed consumers, and the presence of highly connected influencers (hubs) is the main driver to make network density beneficial to profits. When the seller is able to discriminate between Private and Public WOM, the optimal strategy is to cheaply incentivize the more connected people to pass on the information publicly and then offer a high bonus for Private WOM. This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Choosing Between Growth and Glory
Authors: Belenzon Sharon , Chatterji Aaron K. , Daley Brendan 
Published: August 2019

Prior work has established that the financing environment can impact firm strategy. We argue that this influence can shape the earliest strategic choices of a new venture by creating a potential trade-off between two objectives: rapid growth and reaping the benefits of a positive reputation (glory). We leverage a simple reputation-building strategic choice—naming the firm after the founder (eponymy)—that is associated with superior profitability. Next, we argue via a formal model that the availability of/dependence on external financing can explain why high-growth firms are rarely eponymous. We find empirical support for the model’s predictions using a large data set of 1 million European firms. Eponymous firms grow considerably more slowly than similarly profitable firms. Moreover, eponymy varies in accordance with the firm’s financing environment in a pattern consistent with our model. We discuss implications for the literature on new-venture strategy.This paper was accepted by Bruno Cassiman, business strategy.
A low-cost intervention to promote immediate skin-to-skin contact and improve temperature regulation in Northern Uganda
Authors: Nissen Eva , Svensson Kristin , Mbalinda Scovia , Brimdyr Kajsa , Waiswa Peter , Odongkara Beatrice Mpora , Hjelmstedt Anna 
Published: August 2019

Background Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns during the first hour after birth has been reported to be 2% in Uganda. Aims To investigate if a low-cost intervention targeting the behaviors of hospital staff would increase skin-to-skin contact and to investigate whether skin-to-skin contact stabilised temperature in the newborn. Methods The study had a quasi-experimental, before and after design. The sample included 110 in the pre-intervention group, and 93 in the post-intervention group. Data collection included observations of skin-to-skin contact and temperature measurements. Data were also collected from medical records and interviews. Findings No infants had skin-to-skin contact before the intervention, whereas the proportion was 54.8% after the intervention. Infants who received skin-to-skin contact (n=51) and infants who did not receive skin-to-skin contact (n=146) increased in temperature; however, infants who received skin-to-skin contact were significantly warmer after 5 minutes and remained so at 60 minutes. Conclusions The intervention increased the practice of skin-to-skin contact, which was found to be safe in regard to temperature stabilisation.
Machine Learning Methods in Algorithmic Trading Strategy Optimization – Design and Time Efficiency
Authors: Ryś Przemysław , Ślepaczuk Robert 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The main aim of this paper was to formulate and analyse the machine learning methods, fitted to the strategy parameters optimization specificity. The most important problems are the sensitivity of a strategy performance to little parameter changes and numerous local extrema distributed over the solution space in an irregular way. The methods were designed for the purpose of significant shortening of the computation time, without a substantial loss of strategy quality. The efficiency of methods was compared for three different pairs of assets in case of moving averages crossover system. The problem was presented for three sets of two assets’ portfolios. In the first case, a strategy was trading on the SPX and DAX index futures; in the second, on the AAPL and MSFT stocks; and finally, in the third case, on the HGF and CBF commodities futures. The methods operated on the in-sample data, containing 16 years of daily prices between 1998 and 2013 and was validated on the out-of-sample period between 2014 and 2017. The major hypothesis verified in this paper is that machine learning methods select strategies with evaluation criterion near the highest one, but in significantly lower execution time than the brute force method (Exhaustive Search).
Judging Popular Novels as Creative Products: Which Creative Attributes Contribute to their Success?
Authors: Form Sven , Aue Judith , Kaernbach Christian 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The purpose of the present study was threefold. First, to explore whether a German version of the Creative Product Semantic Scale can be applied to novels, a hitherto poorly investigated creative product. Second, to determine which of the emerging attributes might affect the potential for success of a novel. Third, to check whether the novels judged are distinguishable in terms of their creative attributes. In an online study, participants judged four popular novels from recollection: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Hobbit, Twilight, and Inkheart. A factor analysis of items based on the Harry Potter subsample indicated four major dimensions: Resolution, Novelty, Style and Complexity. Among the dimensions, Resolution was the only dimension predicting potential for commercial success in a multiple regression. Novels were not distinguishable on the basis of the dimensions judged, indicating that the present CPSS did not have enough discriminatory power to detect differences among novels from the same genre. Additional measures indicated judgments had been relatively stable since the reading experience. Furthermore, a large proportion of participants was presumably biased in their memory, due to having watched the respective movie adaptation. This was suggested by a false memory check. Surprisingly however, there were no detectable differences in judgment between those who passed and those who failed the false memory check.
Women’s Everyday Creative Activities: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Elisondo Romina Cecilia , Vargas Ana 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe objective is to analyze manifestations of everyday creativity from the perspective of a group of women. We are interested in recovering the voices of the participants to understand constructed meanings regarding the actions, emotions, relations and contexts to unfolding processes of everyday creativity. We conducted a qualitative study, in which 20 Argentine women aged between 21 and 69 years participated. The sampling was not probabilistic, intentional and for convenience. The participants reside in cities of intermediate size, namely Córdoba, San Luis and Mendoza (Argentina). They reported daily, during one week, on the creative activities in which they were engaged in their lives. The process of data collection was done through WhatsApp; participants sent texts, audios, videos and photographs. We codified and analyzed the data with the QDA MINER LITE program. We constructed four categories of analysis:doing creative things; others and creative contexts; emotions in play and creative self-belief.The results indicate that people relate creativity to different types of work (cooking, handicrafts, academic activities, artistic workshops, solving daily problems, etc.). Others play an important role in creativity as the recipients of creative work, collaborative co-workers or helpers that facilitate creative tasks. The development of everyday creative activities is also linked to well-being and positive emotions (pleasure, passion, desire, satisfaction, self-realization and personal expression). We highlight the importance of creative identity as a complex construction of expectations, self-evaluations and metacognitive processes. The research contributes to the understanding of everyday creativity as a factor that promotes health and the empowerment of women.
Barbed suture and gastrointestinal surgery. A retrospective analysis
Authors: Manigrasso Michele , Velotti Nunzio , Calculli Federica , Aprea Giovanni , Di Lauro Katia , Araimo Enrico , Elmore Ugo , Vertaldi Sara , Anoldo Pietro , Musella Mario , Milone Marco , Maria Sosa Fernandez Loredana , Milone Francesco , Domenico De Palma Giovanni 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Although minimally invasive surgery is recognized as the gold standard of many surgical procedures, laparoscopic suturing is still considered as the most difficult skill in laparoscopic surgery.
The introduction of barbed sutures facilitates laparoscopic suturing because it is not necessary to tie a knot. The efficacy of this method has been evaluated in different types of surgery; however, less is known about general surgery.
We retrospectively analysed data from 378 patients who had undergone bariatric or surgical treatment for colic or gastric malignancy requiring a closure of gastroentero, entero-entero or enterocolotomy from January 2014 to January 2019, admitted to the General Surgery Unit and Operative Unit of Surgical Endoscopy of the University Federico II (Naples, Italy).
We registered 12 anastomotic leaks (3.1%), 16 anastomotic intraluminal bleedings (4.2%) and 7 extraluminal bleedings. Other complications included 23 cases of postoperative nausea and vomit (6%), 14 cases of postoperative ileus (3.7%) and 3 cases of intra-abdominal abscess (0.8%). Overall complications rate was 19.8% (75/378). No postoperative death was registered.
Thus, by pooling together 378 patients, we can assess that barbed suture could be considered safe and effective for closure of holes used for the introduction of a branch of mechanical stapler to perform intracorporeal anastomosis.
L-655,708 does not prevent isoflurane-induced memory deficits in old mice
Authors: Gao Teng , Liu Yue , Zhao Zifang , Luo Yuan , Wang Lifang , Wang Yongan , Yin Yiqing 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Background
General anesthesia and increasing age are two main risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Effective agents for the prevention or treatment of POCD are urgently needed. L-655,708, an inverse agonist of α5 subunit-containing γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A (α5GABAA) receptors, can prevent anesthesia-induced memory deficits in young animals. However, there is a lack of evidence of its efficacy in old animals.

Methodology
Young (3- to 5-month-old) and old (18- to 20-month-old) mice were given an inhalation of 1.33% isoflurane for 1 hour and their associative memory was evaluated 24 hours after anesthesia using fear-conditioning tests (FCTs). To evaluate the effect of L-655,708, mice received intraperitoneal injections of L-655,708 (0.7 mg/kg) or vehicle 30 minutes before anesthesia.

Results
Old mice exhibited impaired memory and lower hippocampal α5GABAA levels than young mice under physiological conditions. Pre-injections of L-655,708 significantly alleviated isoflurane-induced memory decline in young mice, but not in old mice.

Conclusions
L-655,708 is not as effective for the prevention of POCD in old mice as it is in young mice. The use of inverse agonists of α5GABAA in preventing POCD in old patients should be carefully considered.
Using Imagery to Enhance Performance in Powerlifting: A Review of Theory, Research, and Practice
Authors: Alexander Danielle M. , Hutt Eric A. , Lefebvre Jordan S. , Bloom Gordon A. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACT
Imagery is a frequently used mental performance skill that has been advocated as an invaluable tool by athletes, coaches, and sport psychology professionals. As such, athletes competing in powerlifting can benefit from the use of imagery toward the improvement of individualized mental and physical skills. To provide coaches and athletes with a theoretical and practical understanding of the imagery–performance relationship; this article (a) provides an overview of the PETTLEP model, (b) reviews the benefits of imagery on both the physical and psychosocial outcomes for powerlifting athletes, and (c) provides recommendations for practical use in strength and conditioning contexts.
Distinct Roles of Dopamine and Noradrenaline in Incidental Memory
Authors: Hauser Tobias U. , Eldar Eran , Purg Nina , Moutoussis Michael , Dolan Raymond J. 
Published: August 2019

Episodic memory is sensitive to the influence of neuromodulators, such as dopamine and noradrenaline. These influences are considered important in the expression of several known memory biases, though their specific role in memory remains unclear. Using pharmacological agents with relatively high selectivity for either dopamine (400 mg amisulpride) or noradrenaline (40 mg propranolol) we examined their specific contribution to incidental memory. In a double-blind placebo-controlled human study (30 females, 30 males in total), we show that a memory selectivity bias was insensitive to propranolol but sensitive to amisulpride, consistent with a dominant influence from dopamine. By contrast, a putative arousal-induced memory boosting effect was insensitive to amisulpride but was sensitive to propranolol, consistent with a dominant noradrenaline effect. Thus, our findings highlight specific functional roles for dopamine and noradrenaline neurotransmission in the expression of incidental memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhy some information is preferentially encoded into memory while other information is not is a central question in cognitive neuroscience. The neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline are often assumed critical in influencing this selectivity, but their specific contributions remain obscure. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects drug study, we investigate the contributions of noradrenaline and dopamine to episodic memory. Using an incidental memory task, we find that blocking dopamine (400 mg amisulpride) eliminates a neural-gain related memory selectivity bias. Blocking noradrenaline function (40 mg propranolol), in contrast, abolishes an arousal-related memory enhancement. In this assessment of dopamine and noradrenaline neuromodulatory effects we reveal their specific contributions to episodic memory.
Dopamine Enhances Item Novelty Detection via Hippocampal and Associative Recall via Left Lateral Prefrontal Cortex Mechanisms
Authors: Clos Mareike , Bunzeck Nico , Sommer Tobias 
Published: August 2019

The involvement of fronto-striatal circuits in item and associative memory retrieval as well as in the stabilization of memories by retrieval practice suggests that both retrieval and re-encoding of stored memories might rely on dopaminergic mechanisms in humans. We tested these hypotheses in a placebo-controlled pharmacological fMRI study using 2 mg of the D2 antagonist haloperidol administered acutely before a cued associative recall task of previously encoded picture–word pairs in 53 healthy humans of both sexes. The cued associative recall was moreover repeated 3 d later outside the scanner without pharmacological intervention. Dopaminergic modulation significantly improved associative recall performance and recognition accuracy of verbal items. Moreover, we observed a significant dopamine effect on re-encoding in terms of increased specificity of associative memories from the first to the second cued associative recall. Better association memory under haloperidol was linked with higher activity in the left lateral prefrontal cortex and right parietal cortex, suggesting that dopamine facilitates associative retrieval through increased recruitment of frontoparietal monitoring processes. In contrast, improved recognition of verbal items under haloperidol was reflected by enhanced novelty detection in the hippocampus and increased activity in saliency networks. Together, these results show distinct but concomitant positive effects of dopamine on associative recall and item recognition and suggest that the specificity of associative recall through re-encoding mechanisms is likewise augmented by dopamine.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAlthough the neurotransmitter dopamine has been linked with learning and memory for a long time, dopaminergic effects on item recognition in humans were demonstrated only recently. The involvement of fronto-striatal monitoring processes in association retrieval suggests that associative memory might be particularly affected by dopamine. Moreover, fronto-striatal dopaminergic signals have been hypothesized to determine the updating and re-encoding of previously retrieved memories. We here demonstrate clear facilitative effects of dopamine on associative recall and item recognition mediated by prefrontal and hippocampal mechanisms respectively. Additionally, effects on re-encoding were reflected by increased specificity of associative memories. These results augment our understanding of dopaminergic processes in episodic memory retrieval and offer new perspectives on memory impairments in dopamine-related disorders and their treatment.
Holistic Recollection via Pattern Completion Involves Hippocampal Subfield CA3
Authors: Grande Xenia , Berron David , Horner Aidan J. , Bisby James A. , Düzel Emrah , Burgess Neil 
Published: August 2019

Episodic memories typically comprise multiple elements. A defining characteristic of episodic retrieval is holistic recollection, i.e., comprehensive recall of the elements a memorized event encompasses. A recent study implicated activity in the human hippocampus with holistic recollection of multi-element events based on cues (Horner et al., 2015). Here, we obtained ultra-high resolution functional neuroimaging data at 7 tesla in 30 younger adults (12 female) using the same paradigm. In accordance with anatomically inspired computational models and animal research, we found that metabolic activity in hippocampal subfield CA3 (but less pronounced in dentate gyrus) correlated with this form of mnemonic pattern completion across participants. Our study provides the first evidence in humans for a strong involvement of hippocampal subfield CA3 in holistic recollection via pattern completion.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMemories of daily events usually involve multiple elements, although a single element can be sufficient to prompt recollection of the whole event. Such holistic recollection is thought to require reactivation of brain activity representing the full event from one event element (“pattern completion”). Computational and animal models suggest that mnemonic pattern completion is accomplished in a specific subregion of the hippocampus called CA3, but empirical evidence in humans was lacking. Here, we leverage the ultra-high resolution of 7 tesla neuroimaging to provide first evidence for a strong involvement of the human CA3 in holistic recollection of multi-element events via pattern completion.