bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage: The value of real time 3D transesophageal echocardiography and the intraoperative change in the size of the left atrial appendage
Authors: Zhang Lizi , Cong Tao , Liu Ansheng 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the value of real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3DTEE) in percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAAC). In addition, this study also explored the change in the size of the left atrial appendage (LAA) from 24 hours before the operation to just before implantation during the operation.Methods and resultsIn a retrospective study, 32 patients underwent two‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) and RT3DTEE 24 hours prior to operation and during operation. The maximal LAA orifice diameter (by 2DTEE, 22.7 ± 2.7 vs 24.6 ± 2.2 mm, P < 0.01; by RT3DTEE, 24.2 ± 2.9 vs 25.8 ± 2.7 mm, P < 0.01), the maximal landing zone diameter (by 2DTEE, 19.0 ± 2.8 vs 20.4 ± 2.8 mm, P < 0.01; by RT3DTEE, 20.4 ± 2.7 vs 22.6 ± 3.0 mm, P < 0.01), and the maximal depth diameter (by 2DTEE, 25.2 ± 3.2 vs 26.5 ± 3.0 mm, P < 0.01; by RT3DTEE, 26.4 ± 3.2 vs 27.5 ± 3.7 mm, P < 0.01) all increased significantly during the operation. The highest correlation (R) between the maximal landing zone diameter and the compressed occluder diameter was determined for RT3DTEE measurements during the operation (R = 0.90), whereas the landing zone diameter (R = 0.80) measured by 2DTEE was less correlated. In addition, our study showed that RT3DTEE was of great value in discriminating the LAA orifice shape, allowing differentiation of the LAA morphology and identification of the number of LAA lobes.ConclusionsA certain amount of intravenous rehydration just before and during operation increased the LAA size significantly. The measurements by RT3DTEE showed a closer correlation to LAA occluder size than those by 2DTEE. The LAA displayed by RT3DTEE was more visible than that by 2DTEE.
Fungaemia in haematological malignancies: SEIFEM‐2015 survey
Authors: Criscuolo Marianna , Marchesi Francesco , Candoni Anna , Cattaneo Chiara , Nosari Annamaria , Veggia Barbara , Verga Luisa , Fracchiolla Nicola , Vianelli Nicola , Del Principe Maria Ilaria , Picardi Marco , Tumbarello Mario , Aversa Franco , Busca Alessandro , Pagano Livio ,   the SEIFEM Group (Sorveglianza Epidemiologica Infezioni nelle Emopatie)
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundFungal infections are still a relevant challenge for clinicians involved in the cure of patients with cancer. We retrospectively reviewed charts of hospitalized patients with haematological malignancies (HMs), in which a documented fungaemia was diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2015 at 28 adult and 6 paediatric Italian Hematology Departments.MethodsDuring the study period, we recorded 215 fungal bloodstream infections (BSI). Microbiological analyses documented that BSI was due to moulds in 17 patients (8%) and yeasts in 198 patients (92%), being Candida spp identified in 174 patients (81%).ResultsMortality rates were 70% and 39% for mould and yeast infections, respectively. Infection was the main cause of death in 53% of the mould and 18% of the yeast groups. At the multivariate analysis, ECOG ≥ 2 and septic shock were significantly associated with increased mortality, and removal of central venous catheter (CVC) survival was found to be protective. When considering patients with candidemia only, ECOG ≥ 2 and removal of CVC were statistically associated with overall mortality.ConclusionsAlthough candidemia represents a group of BSI with a good prognosis, its risk factors largely overlap with those identified for all fungaemias, even though the candidemia‐related mortality is lower when compared to other fungal BSI. Management of fungal BSI is still a complex issue, in which both patients and disease characteristics should be focused to address a personalized approach.
Juvenile river residence and performance of Snake River fall Chinook salmon
Authors: Chittaro Paul M. , Hegg Jens C. , Kennedy Brian P. , Weitkamp Laurie A. , Johnson Lyndal L. , Bucher Cynthia , Zabel Richard W. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAn animal's performance during its early life stage can greatly influence its survival to adulthood. Therefore, understanding aspects of early life history can be informative, particularly when designing management plans to rebuild a population. For a threatened population of fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Snake River of Idaho, we reconstructed the early life history for 124 returning wild and hatchery adults using information recorded in their otoliths. Of our sampled wild adults (n = 61), 43% and 49% reared within the Snake River and Clearwater/Salmon rivers. We also found that only 21% of our sampled wild adults exhibited the historically common subyearling out‐migration strategy, in which juveniles exit freshwater shortly after hatching, while the remaining wild adults exhibited the yearling out‐migration strategy (i.e., individuals delay their freshwater exit). As expected, yearlings had, on average, a significantly larger body size than subyearlings at ocean entry. However, 35% of wild yearlings overlapped in size with wild subyearlings suggesting that spending more time in freshwater might not necessarily result in a larger body size. Lastly, we observed that variability in fork length at Snake River egress and ocean entry were best explained by migration strategy and where it reared, followed by hatch year and sex. Results from this study highlight the utility of adult otoliths in providing details about early life history, an understanding of which is critical to the conservation of Snake River fall Chinook salmon.
An investigation of dental students’ perceptions about the characteristics of effective instructors and their related factors
Authors: Nazir Muhammad Ashraf , Al‐Ansari Asim , Farooqi Faraz Ahmed 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe characteristics of effective teachers can be used to improve student learning, support their academic achievement outcomes and promote faculty development and career advancement.ObjectivesTo assess dental students’ perceptions about the characteristics of effective instructors and related factors.Materials and MethodsThis cross‐sectional study analysed data collected from students at a dental college in Saudi Arabia. A pilot‐tested questionnaire with satisfactory internal consistency was distributed amongst all students. The questionnaire contained 21 items related to the characteristics of effective instructors on a 5‐point Likert‐type scale. Student's t test was performed to analyse the association of factors like gender, last year's GPA, academic year, paternal income, education and employment with three highly rated items of the characteristics of effective teachers.ResultsThe response rate was 85.4%. There were 53.6% female and 46.4% male students in the study. The provision of learning resources (mean 4.3 ± 1.06), demonstration of honesty, ethics and integrity (mean 4.28 ± 0.99) and showing respect and caring attitude (mean 4.24 ± 0.94) were three most highly rated characteristics of effective instructors. Using the latest technology, acting as a role model and maintaining class discipline were the least rated traits of good teachers. A significantly higher percentage of female students considered these three items more important than male students (P < 0.05). The students with last year GPA > 4 considered providing learning material as an attribute of effective teacher significantly more important than the students with GPA ≤ 4 (P < 0.001). In addition, the characteristics of effective instructors (75.1%) were considered more important in providing students with rewarding learning experience than their teaching experience (15.4%) and educational attainment (9.5%).ConclusionThe most important attributes of effective teachers included providing learning resources, demonstrating honesty/integrity and showing respect/care.
Assessment of hydraulic properties of technosols using Beerkan and multiple tension disc infiltration methods
Authors: Yilmaz Deniz , Bouarafa Sofia , Peyneau Pierre‐Emmanuel , Angulo‐Jaramillo Rafael , Lassabatere Laurent 
Published: February 2019

The increasing global urban sprawl requires large amounts of materials, putting huge pressure on numerous natural resources. In particular, vast quantities of soils are used to create infrastructures or green spaces associated with new developments. Alternative solutions aimed at alleviating soil consumption are thus being encouraged. Creating urban soils by recycling waste from industrial and construction activities is feasible, but apart from their support function the resulting technosols should also be able to provide some ecosystem services such as the capacity to infiltrate water and filter contaminants. Various methods are routinely used for in situ characterization of the hydraulic behaviour of natural soils, but their ability to assess the hydraulic properties of technosols remains unclear. Indeed, technosols formed from recycled waste differ markedly from natural soil because they often contain a considerable proportion of coarse artefacts that affect their structure. In this study, results obtained by two distinct methods (ponding and tension infiltrometry), associated with two data processing methods (Beerkan estimation soil transfer (BEST) and numerical inversion), on a set of infiltration data measured on experimental plots made of technosols have been compared with each other. Both methods provided similar results and thus proved to be reliable when applied to technosols.Highlights

Reuse of by‐products from anthropogenic activities is crucial to alleviate the consumption of natural soil.
Hydraulic properties of technosols must be monitored to assess some of the ecosystem services they can provide.
BEST and numerical inversion of multiple tension disc infiltration data gave consistent results.
Reliability of the hydraulic characterization methods used for technosols deserves further inquiry.
A multiperiod hybrid decision support model for medical diagnosis and treatment based on similarities and three‐way decision theory
Authors: Yang Yan , Hu Junhua , Liu Yongmei , Chen Xiaohong 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPatients always want a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment advice when they are diagnosed with a disease. Furthermore, the original information about certain features and symptoms appears in different forms, and the effect of time is always ignored in the process of diagnosis. To overcome these defects, this paper develops a systematic multiperiod hybrid decision support model, which combines the similarity measurement and three‐way decision theory to provide prediction and treatment advice for patients under the fuzzy environment. This multiperiod hybrid decision support model, which considers the effect of time, including transformation module, multiperiod integration module, similarity module, prediction module, and three‐way decision module, provides disease prediction and advice on treatment based on similarities and three‐way decision theory. To validate this model, we construct an illustration composed of four cases, and this ultimately shows that MPH‐SDM can effectively support patients' disease diagnoses and treatment.
Supporting Father Involvement: An Intervention With Community and Child Welfare–Referred Couples
Authors: Pruett Marsha Kline , Cowan Philip A. , Cowan Carolyn Pape , Gillette Peter , Pruett Kyle D. 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveTo expand the evidence base of the Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) intervention to include child welfare families.BackgroundTaking a preventive father‐inclusive approach, SFI aims to strengthen coparenting, parent–child relationships, and child outcomes. This study replicates 4 prior iterations of the program using the same 32‐hour curriculum facilitated by clinically trained staff, case managers, and onsite child care and family meals.MethodParticipants (N = 239) included low‐income (median = $24,000) coparenting pairs, typically mothers and fathers/father figures, half of whom were Mexican American, with toddlers (median age < 3 years). Questionnaires assessing multiple family domains were administered verbally over an 18‐month period. Intervention effectiveness was tested through a randomized control trial with immediate treatment or waitlist–control groups using a moderated mediator structural equation model.ResultsThe model explained 49% to 56% of the variance in children's problem behaviors (intervention and autoregressive effects). The intervention reduced couple conflict, which reduced anxious and harsh parenting, leading to better child outcomes. The intervention was equally effective for community and child welfare–referred families and family dynamics pathways were similar across conditions.ConclusionWith its intentional outreach and inclusion of fathers, SFI offers an effective intervention for lower risk child welfare–involved families.ImplicationsResults argue for the utility of treating community and child welfare parents in mixed‐gender prevention groups that focus on strengthening multiple levels of family relationships.
The association of the ankle‐brachial index, the toe‐brachial index, and their difference, with mortality and limb outcomes in dialysis patients
Authors: Prasad Ritika , Kamath Thejas , Ginsberg Charles , Potok O. Alison , Ix Joachim H. , Garimella Pranav S. , Rifkin Dena E. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroduction: The ankle‐brachial index (ABI) is the most common test to diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD). In dialysis patients, the ABI may under‐diagnose PAD, due to a high prevalence of concomitant medial arterial calcification (MAC). The toe‐brachial index (TBI) is not as susceptible to misclassification by MAC. Taking the ABI and TBI together in the form of their difference, the ABI‐TBI, may provide a single measure for assessing both atherosclerosis and calcification. The relationship of these variables in dialysis patients has not been well studied.Methods: We identified 37 dialysis patients referred for vascular studies between 2009 and 2017 in the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center (SDVAMC). The ABI and TBI were performed systematically for each patient, and TBI was performed regardless of ABI or waveform. We examined associations between ABI, TBI, and the difference between them (ABI‐TBI) with all‐cause mortality and major adverse limb events (MALE), which includes revascularizations and amputations.Findings: The mean age was 65 years and 30% were African American. All patients were men, reflecting the Veterans Administration population. There were 26 deaths during follow‐up and mortality was highest in patients who had low ABI and low TBI and least in those with high ABI and high TBI. Persons with TBI < 0.7 had an increased risk of all‐cause mortality. The ABI‐TBI, and the ABI itself, were not significantly associated with all‐cause mortality although the patterns were similar.Discussion: Although ABI may be an important initial risk stratification tool, the TBI may be a more informative predictor of mortality in dialysis patients. Strengths of this study include a high rate of MALE and deaths. The TBI, and the difference between ABI and TBI, should be studied further in a larger cohort of persons with advanced kidney disease.
Atypical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a noncompliant hemodialysis patient: Case report and literature review
Authors: Chiang Wen‐Fang , Chen Pei‐Ti , Chen Yen‐Lin , Chen Ming‐Hua 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPosterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a reversible vasogenic brain edema in patients who present with seizure, headache, visual disturbance, and altered mental status, and a characteristic neuroimaging profile. Although PRES predominantly affects the bilateral parieto‐occipital areas, involvement of the frontal and temporal lobes, basal ganglia, brainstem, and cerebellum is not uncommon. Isolated involvement of the brainstem and cerebellum sparing the parieto‐occipital lobe is rarely reported. Here, we describe a 47‐year‐old man with end‐stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis who presented with prominent hypertension and coma after missing three dialysis sessions. On examination, there was paucity of focal neurologic signs. Diagnosis of PRES was based on brain magnetic resonance imaging findings that were consistent with vasogenic edema of the pons and cerebellum without involvement of other areas. With antihypertensive therapy and intense ultrafiltration during hemodialysis, the patient's blood pressure and consciousness returned to normal, along with complete resolution of the abnormal imaging findings. This case stresses that noncompliance with dialysis should be considered a risk factor for PRES. This case is considered relative to the available literature on three patients with brainstem variant of PRES.
Helicobacter pylori infection alters gastric and tongue coating microbial communities
Authors: Zhao Yubin , Gao Xuefeng , Guo Jiaxuan , Yu Dongbao , Xiao Ying , Wang Huijie , Li Yuchan 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveInfection with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), especially cytotoxin‐associated gene A‐positive (CagA+) strains, has been associated with various gastrointestinal and extragastric diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize H pylori‐induced alterations in the gastric and tongue coating microbiota and evaluate their potential impacts on human health.DesignThe gastric mucosa and tongue coating specimens were collected from 80 patients with chronic gastritis, and microbiota profiles were generated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Samples were grouped as H pylori negative (n = 32), CagA‐negative H pylori infection (n = 13), and CagA‐positive H pylori infection (n=35). The comparison of bacterial relative abundance was made using a generalized linear model. Functional profiling of microbial communities was predicted with PICRUSt and BugBase. Microbial correlation networks were produced by utilizing SparCC method.ResultsSignificant alterations of the gastric microbiota were found in the H pylori+/CagA+ samples, represented by a decrease in bacterial diversity, a reduced abundance of Roseburia, and increased abundances of Helicobacter and Haemophilus genera. At the community level, functions involved in biofilm forming, mobile element content, and facultative anaerobiosis were significantly decreased in gastric microbiome of the H pylori+ subjects. The presence of CagA gene was linked to an increased proportion of Gram‐negative bacteria in the stomach, thereby contributing to an upregulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. The number of bacterial interactions was greatly reduced in networks of both tongue coating and gastric microbiota of the H pylori+/CagA+ subject, and the cooperative bacterial interactions dominated the tongue coating microbiome.ConclusionsInfection with H pylori strains possessing CagA may increase the risk of various diseases, by upregulating LPS biosynthesis in the stomach and weakening the defense of oral microbiota against microorganisms with pathogenic potential.
HISTORY, AFRICA, AND DEFAMILIARIZATION: A COMMENT
Authors: HELGESSON STEFAN 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTAfter initially identifying defamiliarization as a central aspect of Nancy Rose Hunt's essay “History as Form,” this comment reflects on the implications that her reading of Georg Simmel and her emphasis on objects and materiality have for the writing of history. If Hunt suggests, with Simmel, that the form of history is autonomous from history as it unfolds, the claim here is rather that there is no necessary relationship between writing and its topic. Considering how earlier European historiography excluded Africa (in particular) from the domain of history, it is no coincidence that this contingent relation between form and history has been particularly energizing for Africanist historiography—leading to innovations both in practice and theory. The comment concludes by briefly discussing three concepts that have informed such innovation: the vernacular, suturing, and multiple temporalities.
Depression, lifestyle factors and cognitive function in people living with HIV and comparable HIV‐negative controls
Authors: De Francesco D , Underwood J , Bagkeris E , Boffito M , Post FA , Mallon PWG , Vera JH , Williams I , Anderson J , Johnson M , Sabin CA , Winston A ,   the Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Observations in People over Fifty (POPPY) study
Published: February 2019

ObjectivesWe investigated whether differences in cognitive performance between people living with HIV (PLWH) and comparable HIV‐negative people were mediated or moderated by depressive symptoms and lifestyle factors.MethodsA cross‐sectional study of 637 ‘older’ PLWH aged ≥ 50 years, 340 ‘younger’ PLWH aged < 50 years and 276 demographically matched HIV‐negative controls aged ≥ 50 years enrolled in the Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Observations in People over Fifty (POPPY) study was performed. Cognitive function was assessed using a computerized battery (CogState). Scores were standardized into Z‐scores [mean = 0; standard deviation (SD) = 1] and averaged to obtain a global Z‐score. Depressive symptoms were evaluated via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9). Differences between the three groups and the effects of depression, sociodemographic factors and lifestyle factors on cognitive performance were evaluated using median regression. All analyses accounted for age, gender, ethnicity and level of education.ResultsAfter adjustment for sociodemographic factors, older and younger PLWH had poorer overall cognitive scores than older HIV‐negative controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Moderate or severe depressive symptoms were more prevalent in both older (27%; P < 0.001) and younger (21%; P < 0.001) PLWH compared with controls (8%). Depressive symptoms (P < 0.001) and use of hashish (P = 0.01) were associated with lower cognitive function; alcohol consumption (P = 0.02) was associated with better cognitive scores. After further adjustment for these factors, the difference between older PLWH and HIV‐negative controls was no longer significant (P = 0.08), while that between younger PLWH and older HIV‐negative controls remained significant (P = 0.01).ConclusionsPoorer cognitive performances in PLWH compared with HIV‐negative individuals were, in part, mediated by the greater prevalence of depressive symptoms and recreational drug use reported by PLWH.