bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of traditional statistical quality control using commercially available control materials and two patient‐based quality control procedures for the ADVIA 120 Hematology System
Authors: Vanyo Lourdes C. , Freeman Kathleen P. , Meléndez‐Lazo Antonio , Teles Mariana , Cuenca Rafaela , Pastor Josep 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundQuality control procedures are an important part of the overall quality assurance for production of accurate and reliable hematologic results.ObjectivesThis study aimed to validate a quality control material‐based procedure and assess two patient‐based quality control procedures (repeat patient testing [RPT] and average of normals [AoN]) with the ADVIA 120 Hematology System.MethodsRequirements for quality control procedures were obtained with the computerized statistical and quality program, EZRules3. The procedures were evaluated comparing the probability of error detection (Ped), probability of false rejection (Pfr), and sigma metrics.ResultsAll three of the quality control procedures could be applied with 1‐3s control rules, achieving the desired quality requirements. Validation of the quality control materials achieved values for Ped and Pfr of ≥90% and 0%, respectively. Patient‐based procedures obtained a ≥85% Ped and a 0% Pfr, except for platelets in the AoN procedure, which achieved a 77% Ped. The RPT achievable total errors were similar to those of the traditional quality control materials and the AoN procedures, except for platelets, which had an achievable total error of 75%.ConclusionsPatient‐based procedures are suitable for veterinary laboratories. The RPT approach may benefit laboratories with limited budgets and low hematology caseloads. The AoN procedure may benefit laboratories with higher hematology caseloads.
Palliative care is effective: but hospital symptom outcomes superior
Authors: Eagar Kathy , Clapham Sabina Petranella , Allingham Samuel Frederic 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesTo explore differences in severe symptom outcomes for palliative care patients receiving hospital care compared with those receiving care at home.MethodsChange in symptom distress from the start of an episode of palliative care to just prior to death was measured for 25 679 patients who died under the care of a hospital or home-based palliative care team between January 2015 and December 2016. Logistic regression models controlled for differences between hospital and home and enabled a comparison of the number of severe symptoms just prior to death.ResultsAll symptoms improved and over 85% of all patients had no severe symptoms prior to death. Pain control illustrates this with 7.4% of patients reporting severe pain distress at episode start and 2.5% just prior to death. When comparing all symptom outcomes by place of death, hospital patients are 3.7 times more likely than home patients to have no severe symptoms.Conclusion Symptom outcomes are better for hospital patients. Patients at home have less improvement overall and some symptoms get worse. Reasons for the difference in outcomes by hospital and home are multifactorial and must be considered in relation to the patient’s right to choose their place of care.
Encapsulated protamine-hyaluronic acid particles for targeting carboplatin directed by radiation
Authors: Segawa T. , Harada S. , Ehara S. , Ishii K. , Sato T. , Kamiya T. , Sera K. , Goto S. 
Published: August 2018

Encapsulated protamine-hyaluronic acid particles containing carboplatin were prepared and their ability to release carboplatin was tested in vivo. Protamine–hyaluronic acid particles containing carboplatin were prepared by mixing protamine (1.6 mg) and hyaluronic acid (1.28 mg) into a 5 mg/mL carboplatin solution for 30 min at room temperature. A 1 mL solution of protamine–hyaluronic acid particles was poured into an ampule of COATSOME[Formula: see text] EL-010 (Nichiyu, Tokyo, Japan), shaken three times by hand, and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 15 min. Following that, 10 or 20 Gy of 100 kiloelectronvolt (KeV) soft X-ray was applied. The release of carboplatin was imaged using a microparticle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) camera. The amount of carboplatin released was expressed as the amount of platinum released and measured via quantitative micro-PIXE analysis. The diameter of the generated encapsulated particles measured [Formula: see text] nm (mean ± standard error). The release of carboplatin from the encapsulated protamine–hyaluronic acid particles was observed under a micro-PIXE camera. The amount of carboplatin released was [Formula: see text] under 10 Gy of radiation, and [Formula: see text] under 20 Gy of radiation, which was a sufficient dose for cancer treatment. However, 10 or 20 Gy of radiation is much greater than the dose used for clinical cancer treatment (2 Gy). Further research to reduce the radiation dose to 2 Gy in order to release sufficient carboplatin for cancer treatment is required.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Relationship between Aspirin Use and Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Risk and Survival
Authors: Erickson Patricia , Gardner Lisa D. , Loffredo Christopher A. , St. George Diane Marie , Bowman Elise D. , Deepak Janaki , Mitchell Khadijah , Meaney Claire L. , Langenberg Patricia , Bernat Debra H. , Amr Sania , Ryan Bríd M. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Background:
African Americans (AA) experience higher incidence and mortality of lung cancer as compared with European Americans (EA). Inflammation is associated with lung cancer, many aspects of which differ between AA and EA. We investigated whether use, frequency, and duration of the anti-inflammatory drug aspirin were associated with lung cancer risk and survival, separately among AA and EA populations.

Methods:
Using data from the Maryland Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Case–Control Study (1,220 cases [404 AA and 816 EA] and 1,634 controls [1,004 EA and 630 AA]), we estimated the adjusted odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the associations between aspirin use and NSCLC risk and survival, respectively.

Results:
Any aspirin use (OR: 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49–0.89), daily use of ≥ 1 tablet (OR: 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50–0.90), and use for ≥ 3 years (OR: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.44–0.85) was associated with lower NSCLC risk only among men, even after adjustment for covariates including body mass index and global genetic ancestry. These variables were also associated with improved survival, but only among AA (HR: 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46–0.91; HR: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42–0.90; and HR: 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.92, respectively). Tylenol and other NSAIDs were either associated with elevated or no NSCLC risk.

Conclusions:
Aspirin use is associated with lower risk of NSCLC among men and improved survival among AA.

Impact:
Preventive regular aspirin use could be considered among men and AA.
Lnc-C/EBPβ Negatively Regulates the Suppressive Function of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells
Authors: Gao Yunhuan , Sun Wei , Shang Wencong , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Dan , Wang Tianze , Zhang Xipeng , Zhang Shiwu , Zhang Yuan , Yang Rongcun 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are regulators of immune responses in cancer. The differentiation and function of these MDSCs may be regulated through multiple factors, such as microRNAs. However, the effect of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) on the differentiation and function of MDSCs is poorly understood. We identified a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) named lnc-C/EBPβ in MDSCs, which may control suppressive functions of MDSCs. Lnc-C/EBPβ could be induced in in vitro and in vivo tumor and inflammatory environments. It regulated a set of target transcripts, such as Arg-1, NOS2, NOX2, and COX2, to control immune-suppressive function and differentiation of MDSCs. This lncRNA was also able to bind to the C/EBPβ isoform LIP to inhibit the activation of C/EBPβ. We also found that the conserved homologue lnc-C/EBPβ has a similar function to murine lnc-C/EBPβ. These findings suggest a negative feedback role for lnc-C/EBPβ in controlling the immunosuppressive functions of MDSC in the tumor environment. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(11); 1352–63. ©2018 AACR.
Transforming an Environmentally Pernicious Holiday into an Environmentally Healthy Festival
Authors: Kerret Dorit , Tal Alon 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
While the environmental impacts of religious and secular holidays are increasingly characterized, interventions to reduce their effects are modest and poorly understood. Israel’s L’ag B’omer holiday has emerged as a major air pollution source due to the common practice of lighting bonfires. We implemented and evaluated an intervention amongst Israeli school children in which they were challenged to design and adopt alternative “environmentally friendly” celebrations that maintained the holiday spirit. The interventions were observed and a mixed method approach applied to study implementation involving, interviews with teachers, parents and students as well as an ex-post questionnaire answered by participants. Children supporting environmental celebrations displayed higher levels of environmental behavior, and environmental hope than those preferring bonfires. Those who voted for an environmental alternative, against the majority, also displayed higher levels of self-control skills. The study confirms the potential of well-designed, environmentally friendly holiday celebrations to replace environmentally deleterious ones.
Sponge grounds of Artemisina (Porifera, Demospongiae) in the Iberian Peninsula, ecological characterization by ROV techniques
Authors: RÍOS PILAR , AGUILAR RICARDO , TORRIENTE ANA , MUÑOZ ARACELI , CRISTOBO JAVIER 
Published: August 2018

Artemisina Vosmaer, 1885 is a poecilosclerid microcionoid sponge genus with 20 valid species, seven of which have been recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.The present study describes Artemisina sponge grounds in Iberia Peninsula. A. transiens is a sponge described in 1890 by Topsent in Galicia (Spain); A. hispanica was also collected in the north of Spain by Ferrer-Hernández (1917); World Porifera Database (WPD) considers at the moment both mushroom-shaped species as synonyms (van Soest et al., 2018), but we have only been able to check the types of A. hispanica. The studied samples were collected in Somos Llungo station and they correspond clearly to those described as A. hispanica by Ferrer-Hernández (1917) and it presents differences in the skeleton with respet to description of A. transiens in the literture. There are no more records after 1917 and there are no data of ecological characterisation nor is there a detailed description of its skeletal composition with Scanning Electron Microscopy. In the previous records the formation of sponge grounds of these species was not known. Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on protecting the world’s oceans, has recorded the habitat of Artemisina in Atlantic and Cantabrian waters during a series of ROV cruises for the identification of marine areas with high ecological value that need protection. Its life conditions and associated fauna are described from direct observations for the first time.
A Comparative Study of Fog and Low Ceilings at the Portland, Ore., (Swan Is.) Airport and the New Portland-Columbia Airport*
Authors: Williams Philip 
Published: August 2018

Summary
The present Portland airport located on Swan Is. in the Willamette River is to be moved in the near future to the larger and more spacious Portland Columbia Airport on the Columbia River. Since terminal forecasts will soon be made for this new airport, comparative weather conditions, especialy fog, are of interest.
In the study, Portland Columbia was found to have 31% more hours per year with visibility equal to or less than ½ mile, and also slightly more hours with ceilings equal to or less than 600 feet. This makes Portland Columbia somewhat less favorable for airline operations. Portland Columbia also has 23% more days per year, on the average, with visibility equal to or less than ½ mile and/or ceilings equal to or less than 600 ft. However, the strong easterly winds of the Columbia River Gorge are a factor which frequently keep Portland Columbia relatively fog free while Swan Is. has dense fog.
Portland Columbia airport has the advantage of being so located as to have considerably less city smoke, and because of this, less hours of instrument weather.
Examples and Outline of Certain Modifications in Upper-Air Analysis*
Authors: Montgomery R. B. , Spilhaus Athelstan F. 
Published: August 2018

The first part deals with methods of isentropic analysis on the scaled values of data transmitted for the purpose by the United States Weather Bureau. The practical application of shear-stability ratio vectors is demonstrated. A logical order of analysis is presented, designed to make the fullest possible use of all data available. The preferred isopleths for direct representation are those of temperature, acceleration potential and specific humidity; a system of isopleth spacing convenient in conjunction with surface weather maps is employed.
In the second part the properties of various surfaces for upper-air analysis are systematically studied. It is found that severe restrictions exist in the use of surfaces of constant entropy or potential temperature. All the properties discussed are however adequately satisfied by a surface of constant potential virtual temperature, a quantity newly introduced and defined as the potential temperature of matter of standard composition, in this case dry air, at the same pressure and density as the sample. The thermodynamic configuration of this surface is described by isotherms of virtual temperature.
Pressure Changes And “Tornadoes” (Squalls) On the West Coast Of Africa*
Authors: Regula H. 
Published: August 2018

SYNOPSIS
Forecasting the weather on the west coast of Africa is made difficult by the inaccurate pressure reports of ships at sea and of land stations whose elevation are not definitely known. However, from reliable reports of coastal stations a relation between pressure changes and wind variations is demonstrated, (see fig. 2–4). In each example a 24–48 hour pressure fall with onshore winds all along the coast was followed by a 24–48 hour pressure rise with off-shore winds. Two examples of pressure variations on a ship's barogram when a “tornado” occurred are given in fig. 5–6. Each diagram shows a falling pressure tendency followed by a rising tendency, with the “tornado” at the minimum pressure in the first case and 10 hours after the minimum in the second case. Evidently whenever these tendencies are observed together thunderstorms should be forecasted. This is born out for the statistics July to October 1934 which show 15 thunderstorms on the 22 days when the pressure was rapidly rising, and only 10 thunderstorms for the other 61 days!
WRF Model Study of the Great Plains Low-Level Jet: Effects of Grid Spacing and Boundary Layer Parameterization
Authors: Smith Elizabeth N. , Gibbs Jeremy A. , Fedorovich Evgeni , Klein Petra M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model often underpredicts the strength of the Great Plains nocturnal low-level jet (NLLJ), which has implications for weather, climate, aviation, air quality, and wind energy in the region. During the Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (LABLE) conducted in 2012, NLLJs were frequently observed at high temporal resolution, allowing for detailed documentation of their development and evolution throughout the night. Ten LABLE cases with observed NLLJs were chosen to systematically evaluate the WRF Model’s ability to reproduce the observed NLLJs. Model runs were performed with 4-, 2-, and 1-km horizontal spacing and with the default stretched vertical grid and a nonstretched 40-m vertically spaced grid to investigate which grid configurations are optimal for NLLJ modeling. These tests were conducted using three common boundary layer parameterization schemes: Mellor–Yamada Nakanishi Niino, Yonsei University, and Quasi-Normal Scale Elimination. It was found that refining horizontal spacing does not necessarily improve the modeled NLLJ wind. Increasing the number of vertical levels on a non-stretched grid provides more information about the structure of the NLLJ with some schemes, but the benefit is limited by computational expense and model stability. Simulations of the NLLJ were found to be less sensitive to boundary layer parameterization than to grid configuration. The Quasi-Normal Scale Elimination scheme was chosen for future NLLJ simulation studies.
A study of the influence of cognitive complaints, cognitive performance and symptoms of anxiety and depression on self-efficacy in patients with acquired brain injury
Authors: Brands Ingrid MH , Verlinden Inge , Ribbers Gerard M 
Published: August 2018

Objective: To examine the relationship between self-efficacy for managing brain injury–specific symptoms and cognitive performance, subjective cognitive complaints and anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Design: Clinical cohort study. Setting: General hospitals, rehabilitation centres. Subjects: A total of 122 patients with newly ABI (mean age = 54.4 years (SD, 12.2)) were assessed at discharge home from inpatient neurorehabilitation or at start of outpatient neurorehabilitation after discharge home from acute hospital. Mean time since injury was 14.1 weeks (SD, 8.6). Main measures: Self-efficacy was measured using the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEsx), mean score = 82.9 (SD, 21.8). Objective cognitive performance was measured with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), mean z-score = −1.36 (SD, 1.31). Anxiety and depression symptoms were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), cognitive complaints with the self-rating form of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX-P). Results: Higher levels of subjective cognitive complaints and higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly associated with lower self-efficacy (β = −0.35; P = .001 and β =−0.43; P < .001, respectively). Objective cognitive performance was not significantly associated with self-efficacy (β = 0.04, P = .53). DEX-P scores accounted for 42% and HADS scores for 7% of the total 57% variance explained. Objective cognitive performance did not correlate significantly with subjective cognitive complaints (r = −.13, P = .16). Conclusion: Control over interfering emotions and mastery over brain injury–associated symptoms seems important in the development of self-efficacy for managing brain injury–specific symptoms.
Prompt admission to intensive care is associated with improved survival in patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock
Authors: Li Qiang , Wang Jiajiong , Liu Guomin , Xu Meng , Qin Yanguo , Han Qin , Liu He , Wang Xiaonan , Wang Zonghan , Yang Kerong , Gao Chaohua , Wang Jin-cheng , Zhang Zhongheng 
Published: August 2018

Objective To investigate the association between time from hospital admission to intensive care unit (ICU) admission (door to ICU time) and hospital mortality in patients with sepsis. Methods This retrospective observational study included routinely collected healthcare data from patients with sepsis. The primary endpoint was hospital mortality, defined as the survival status at hospital discharge. Door to ICU time was calculated and included in a multivariable model to investigate its association with mortality. Results Data from 13 115 patients were included for analyses, comprising 10 309 survivors and 2 806 non-survivors. Door to ICU time was significantly longer for non-survivors than survivors (median, 43.0 h [interquartile range, 12.4, 91.3] versus 26.7 h [7.0, 74.2]). In the multivariable regression model, door to ICU time remained significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.006, 1.017) and there was a significant interaction between age and door to ICU time (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99, 1.00). Conclusion A shorter time from hospital door to ICU admission was shown to be independently associated with reduced hospital mortality in patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock.
Effect of the H1-antihistamine clemastine on PACAP38 induced migraine
Authors: Vollesen Luise Haulund , Guo Song , Andersen Malene Rohr , Ashina Messoud 
Published: August 2018

Objective To investigate the effect of the H1-antihistamine clemastine on the migraine-inducing abilities of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38. Methods We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled two-way cross-over study. Twenty migraine without aura patients were randomly allocated to receive bolus clemastine 2 mg (1 mg/ml) or bolus saline 2 ml intravenously over 2 min on two study days. Following each bolus injection, 10 pmol/kg/min of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38 was administered intravenously over 20 min. We recorded migraine/headache characteristics every 10 min until 90 min after the start of infusion, and collected blood to investigate mast cell degranulation and the inflammation markers tryptase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha before and after infusion of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38. Results After clemastine pretreatment, five out of 20 participants developed a migraine-like attack in response to a pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38 infusion compared to nine out of 20 after placebo pretreatment ( p = 0.288). Following clemastine pretreatment, 15 out of 20 participants reported headache in response to a pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38 infusion, whereas 19 out of 20 participants did so following placebo pretreatment ( p = 0.221). We found no difference in area under the curve 12 h for headache intensity between the two experimental days ( p = 0.481). We found no difference in area under the curve 180 min for tryptase ( p = 0.525) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( p = 0.487) between clemastine and placebo pretreatment days. Conclusion H1-antihistamine, clemastine, failed to prevent migraine or headache after pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38 infusion, thus making a role for histamine release or mast cell degranulation in pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-38-induced migraine less likely.