bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marital Status and Return to Work After Living Kidney Donation
Authors: Frech Adrianne , Natale Ginny , Hayes Don , Tumin Dmitry 
Published: June 2018

Purpose: Living kidney donation is safe and effective, but patients in need of a transplant continue to outnumber donors. Disincentives to living donation include lost income, risk of job loss, perioperative complications, and unreimbursed medical expenses. Methods: This study uses US registry and follow-up data on living kidney donors from 2013 to 2015 to identify social predictors of return to work across gender following living kidney donation. Results: Using logistic regression, we find that predictors of return to work following living kidney donation differ for women and men. Among women, age, education, smoking status, and procedure type are associated with return to work. Among men, education, procedure type, and hospital readmission within 6 weeks postdonation are associated with return to work. Notably, single and divorced men are less likely to return to work compared to married men (odds ratio [OR] for single men 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.69, P < .001; OR for divorced men 0.51, 95% CI, 0.34-0.75, P = .006). Marital status is not associated with return to work for women. Single and divorced men’s greater odds of not returning to work are robust to controls for relevant pre- and postdonation characteristics. Conclusions: Single and divorced men’s lack of social support may present an obstacle to work resumption following living kidney donation.
Expression signature of lysosomal-associated transmembrane protein 4B in hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Roy Gaurav , Roy Papai , Bhattacharjee Atanu , Shahid Mudassar , Misbah Mohammad , Gupta Subash , Husain Mohammad 
Published: June 2018

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a lethal disease worldwide and therefore the establishment of novel diagnostic biomarkers is imperative. In this study, it was hypothesized that an abnormal expression of the lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 4 beta ( LAPTM4B) gene is crucial in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma; hence we investigated the expression profile of LAPTM4B in hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A group of 189 consecutive patients (hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma as tumor cases; n=93, hepatitis C virus-related cirrhotics as disease controls; n=96) opting for living donor liver transplantation as a therapeutic surgical regimen were recruited with informed consent. Additionally, paired adjacent non-tumorous tissues (n=93) obtained from cases were also included. Serum LAPTM4B protein concentrations were assessed by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and LAPTM4B mRNA, and protein expressions at tissue level were determined by quantitative real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Results: LAPTM4B protein concentrations in sera of patients were higher ( p<0.001) in tumor cases (1.25±0.25 ng/ml) compared to disease controls (0.53±0.28 ng/ml). Our study also depicts positive clinicopathological correlations between alpha-fetoprotein titers (b=0.65; p<0.001), quantitative hepatitis C virus RNA copies (b=0.33; p<0.001), and LAPTM4B protein concentrations, all in sera of patients. In addition, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed a significantly higher ( p<0.05) tissue LAPTM4B mRNA and protein expression, respectively, in tumor cases rather than in non-tumorous tissues and disease controls. Conclusions: Together, our results illustrate the LAPTM4B gene as a diagnostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma having documented evidence of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Effect of a 6-Week Weighted Baseball Throwing Program on Pitch Velocity, Pitching Arm Biomechanics, Passive Range of Motion, and Injury Rates
Authors: Reinold Michael M. , Macrina Leonard C. , Fleisig Glenn S. , Aune Kyle , Andrews James R. 
Published: June 2018

Background: Emphasis on enhancing baseball pitch velocity has become popular, especially through weighted-ball throwing. However, little is known about the physical effects or safety of these programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of training with weighted baseballs on pitch velocity, passive range of motion (PROM), muscle strength, elbow torque, and injury rates. Hypothesis: A 6-week weighted ball training program would result in a change in pitching biomechanical and physical characteristics. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Level of Evidence: Level 1. Methods: During the baseball offseason, 38 healthy baseball pitchers were randomized into a control group and an experimental group. Pitch velocity, shoulder and elbow PROM, shoulder strength, elbow varus torque, and shoulder internal rotation velocity were measured in both groups. The experimental group then performed a 6-week weighted ball throwing program 3 times per week using balls ranging from 2 to 32 ounces while the control group only used a 5-ounce regulation baseball. Both groups performed a strength training program. Measurements were then repeated after the 6-week period. Injuries were tracked over the 6-week training program and the subsequent baseball season. The effect of training with a weighted ball program was assessed using 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance at an a priori significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Mean age, height, mass, and pretesting throwing velocity were 15.3 ± 1.2 years (range, 13-18 years), 1.73 ± 0.28 m, 68.3 ± 11 kg, and 30.3 ± 0.7 m/s, respectively. Pitch velocity showed a statistically significant increase (3.3%) in the experimental group ( P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase of 4.3° of shoulder external rotation in the experimental group. The overall injury rate was 24% in the experimental group. Four participants in the experimental group suffered elbow injuries, 2 during the training program and 2 in the season after training. No pitchers in the control group were injured at any time during the study. Conclusion: Performing a 6-week weighted ball throwing program increased pitch velocity. However, the program resulted in increased shoulder external rotation PROM and increased injury rate. Clinical Relevance: Although weighted-ball training may increase pitch velocity, caution is warranted because of the notable increase in injuries and physical changes observed in this cohort.
Contemporary management of ureteral strictures
Authors: Vasudevan Vinaya P , Johnson Emmanuel U , Wong Kee , Iskander Morkos , Javed Saqib , Gupta Nikhil , McCabe John E , Kavoussi Louis 
Published: June 2018

Ureteral stricture disease is a luminal narrowing of the ureter leading to functional obstruction of the kidney. Treatment of strictures is mandatory to preserve and protect renal function. In recent times, the surgical management of ureteral strictures has evolved from open repair to include laparoscopic, robotic and interventional techniques. Prompt diagnosis and early first line intervention to limit obstructive complications remains the cornerstone of successful treatment. In this article, we discuss minimally invasive, endo-urological and open approaches to the repair of ureteral strictures. Open surgical repair and endoscopic techniques have traditionally been employed with varying degrees of success. The advent of laparoscopic and robotic approaches has reduced morbidity, improved cosmesis and shortened recovery time, with results that are beginning to mirror and in some cases surpass more traditional approaches. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.
The Risk of Adverse Events in Patients With Polycystic Kidney Disease With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: de Chickera Sonali , Akbari Ayub , Levin Adeera , Tang Mila , Brown Pierre , Djurdev Ognjenka , Biyani Mohan , Clark Edward G. , Sood Manish M. 
Published: June 2018

Background: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) leads to progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a subsequent risk of adverse events such as cardiac disease, infections, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and mortality. Objectives: To determine the risks of CKD-related adverse outcomes in patients with PKD compared with patients without PKD. Setting: Canadian study of prediction of death, dialysis and interim cardiovascular events (CanPREDDICT) was a prospective pan-Canadian cohort study from 2008-2013 involving 28 facilities with adjudicated outcomes. Patients: Adult CKD patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] = 15-45 mL/min/1.73 m2) under the care of a nephrologist. Measurements: Polycystic kidney disease as identified by the treating physician. Methods: Patients with PKD (PKD) and non-PKD were propensity score (PS) matched (1:4) using demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory values. We used conditional Cox proportional hazards models to examine the risk of cardiac disease (defined as coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure), infection, ESKD, or all-cause mortality in patients with PKD compared with no PKD. Results: Among a total of 2370 patients, 105 with PKD were matched with 416 without PKD with a baseline mean age and eGFR of 62.6 years and 27.8 mL/min, respectively. During 1680 person-years of follow time (median follow-up: 3.8 years), there were a total of 43 cardiac, 83 ESKD, 117 infectious, and 39 all-cause mortality events. PKD was associated with a higher risk of cardiac events (9.5% vs 7.9%, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-2.04) and ESKD (25.7% vs 13.5%, HR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.33-3.01), and with similar risks for infection (21.9% vs 22.6%, HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.75-1.82) or all-cause mortality (6.7% vs 7.7%, HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.40-1.91) compared with non-PKD. There were no differences in the types of infections (urinary, respiratory, hematologic, or other) between the 2 groups ( P = .585). Conclusions: Patients with PKD with advanced CKD are at a potentially higher risk of ESKD and cardiac events compared with patients without PKD. These findings, if confirmed in larger cohorts, suggest that monitoring and treatment for adverse outcomes in patients with PKD, especially related to cardiac disease, may be beneficial.
The Acquistion of Opportunity of Shadow Education for Chinese Junior High School Student
Authors: Wang Xiaolei 
Published: June 2018

The paper based on baseline data of China Education Panel Survey (CEPS2013-2014) to analyze the differences in the opportunities of acquiring shadow education between only child and non-only child in China.This study determined that the probability of an only child acquiring shadow education is higher than that of a non-only child. Shadow education activities among only child and non-only child feature “cultivating the elites” and “advancing the backwards.” Among them, an only child can maximize the effects of “advancing the backwards” of shadow education, whereas non-only child can maximize the effects of “advancing the backwards” of shadow education. Research results of non-only children show that the higher the number of children, the more unfavorable for students to participate in shadow education activities. Furthermore, the birth order of children affects the opportunity for non-only child to acquire shadow education, whereas first-born or last-born children can acquire better shadow education.
A function-blocking PAR4 antibody is markedly antithrombotic in the face of a hyperreactive PAR4 variant
Authors: French Shauna L. , Thalmann Claudia , Bray Paul F. , Macdonald Lynn E. , Murphy Andrew J. , Sleeman Mark W. , Hamilton Justin R. 
Published: June 2018

Key Points
A human monoclonal inhibitory PAR4 antibody is equally effective in platelets expressing the Ala120 or hyperreactive Thr120 PAR4 variant. Antibody-mediated PAR4 inhibition is markedly anti-thrombotic in human blood, independent of PAR4 genotype.
Management of peripheral arterial disease in diabetes: a national survey of podiatry practice in the United Kingdom
Authors: Normahani Pasha , Mustafa Chira , Standfield Nigel J. , Duguid Claire , Fox Martin , Jaffer Usman 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to investigate podiatry practice in diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetes, decision making once PAD is suspected and limitations of referral pathways.MethodsA survey, comprising 26 questions was distributed to podiatrists across the UK via mailing lists of collaborating organizations including the College of Podiatry (UK). Response rates were estimated based on NHS workforce data. Analysis of responses from the open‐ended questions was performed using inductive content analysis.ResultsData from 283 respondents were analyzed. Response rate for all NHS podiatrists across the UK was estimated to be 6%. For the detection of arterial disease only 18.8% (n = 49/260) of participants reported using a full combination of history, pulse palpation, Doppler and ABPI assessment. Self‐reported confidence in detecting arterial disease was highest amongst podiatrists who felt they had received adequate training compared to podiatrists who felt they had not (median 85 (IQR 75–90) vs 67 (50–77), respectively; p < 0.001) as well as those who see > 20 diabetic patients per week compared to those who see < 20 (median 80 (IQR 70–90) vs 72 (60–82.8), respectively; p < 0.001). Over one third of respondents (35.8%, n = 93/260) were aware of missed cases of PAD in the past year and 17.5% (n = 38/217) believed that this resulted in an amputation in some cases.The survey highlighted a lack of clarity amongst podiatrists regarding referral guidelines. Additionally, 69% (n = 169/242) reported that their patients had to wait longer than 2‐weeks for specialist vascular assessment and 67.6% (n = 54/80) reported similar waits for a Duplex Ultrasound scan. There was a statistically significant variation in DUS waiting time across the UK (X2 (10, N = 80) = 21.59, p = 0.017). Inability to make a direct referral to vascular services and long delays were reported as major limitations of the referral pathway.ConclusionWe have identified important targets for further investigation and quality improvement.
Word clustering based on POS feature for efficient twitter sentiment analysis
Authors: Wang Yili , Kim KyungTae , Lee ByungJun , Youn Hee Yong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWith rapid growth of social networking service on Internet, huge amount of information are continuously generated in real time. As a result, sentiment analysis of online reviews and messages has become a popular research issue [1]. In this paper a novel modified Chi Square-based feature clustering and weighting scheme is proposed for the sentiment analysis of twitter message. Along with the part of speech tagging, the discriminability and dependency of the words in the tagged training dataset are taken into account in the clustering and weighting process. The multinomial Naïve Bayes model is also employed to handle redundant features, and the influence of emotional words is raised for maximizing the accuracy. Computer simulation with Sentiment 140 workload shows that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms four existing representative sentiment analysis schemes in terms of the accuracy regardless of the size of training and test data.
The influence of stratigraphic architecture on seismic response: Reflectivity modeling of outcropping deepwater channel units
Authors: Pemberton Erin A. L. , Stright Lisa , Fletcher Sean , Hubbard Stephen M. 
Published: June 2018

The size, shape, stacking patterns, and internal architecture of deepwater deposits control reservoir fluid flow connectivity. Predicting deepwater stratigraphic architecture as a function of position along a deepwater slope from seismic-reflection data is critical for successful hydrocarbon exploration and development projects. Stratigraphic architecture from confined and weakly confined segments of a deepwater sediment-routing system is analyzed in outcrop from the Tres Pasos Formation (Upper Cretaceous), southern Chile. Outcrop observations are the basis of two geocellular models: confined channel deposits at Laguna Figueroa and weakly confined channel and scour deposits at Arroyo Picana. Key stratigraphic surfaces and facies relationships observed in outcrop are forward seismic modeled at high to low resolution to bridge the gap in subseismic scale interpretation of deepwater reservoirs and demonstrate challenges associated with identification of varied reservoir architecture. The outcrop-constrained geometry of architectural elements, their stacking arrangement, and the varied internal distribution of facies each impart a strong influence on seismic reflectivity. Key outcomes from the analysis include (1) stratigraphic architecture transitions down-paleoslope from vertically aligned low-aspect-ratio channel elements to a more weakly confined depocenter characterized by a breadth of laterally offset low- and high-aspect-ratio channel and scour elements. Seismic reflections, down to 30 Hz frequencies, record aspects of these stratigraphic changes. (2) Key seismic reflections are often comprised of multiple outcrop-constrained stratigraphic surfaces. Tuning effects result in composite seismic surfaces that are vertically offset from the known position of sedimentary units; this hinders accurate interpretation of stratigraphic surfaces from seismic-reflection data. This is particularly problematic in the weakly confined system in which shifted stratigraphic surfaces, which bound deposits characterized by numerous similar architectural elements, can alter the interpretability of sandstone connectivity within and across zones. Furthermore, misinterpretation of surfaces is problematic when they are flow barriers draped with debris flows, slumps/slides, or thin-bedded turbidites. (3) Tuning effects also impart significant control on volume-based interpretations from seismic data. In particular, calculations of gross rock volume from seismic reflection data that do not consider the tuning or architectural element stacking pattern can overestimate actual volumes by 10%–50%, with implications for reservoir prediction and hydrocarbon volume estimation.
A symphony of stem cells in Vienna – looking to the future
Authors: Porrello Enzo R. , Kirkeby Agnete 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT
The inaugural ‘Symposium for the Next Generation of Stem Cell Research’ (SY-Stem) was held on February 22-24 at the Vienna BioCenter in Austria. The meeting focused on having young researchers as speakers, and the program was of an impressively high quality. Here, we summarise key findings from this meeting, which brought together emerging leaders to discuss various topics, including pluripotency, organoids, endogenous regeneration, transcriptional regulation, clinical applications and emerging technologies.
Biodiversity changes along the Algerian coast (Southwest Mediterranean basin): from 1834 to 2017: A first assessment of introduced species
Authors: GRIMES SAMIR , BENABDI MOULOUD , BABALI NADHERA , REFES WAHID , BOUDJELLAL-KAIDI NAWAL , SERIDI HALIMA 
Published: June 2018

“Introduced” species of the Algerian coast remains the most undocumented issue in the Mediterranean Sea. Only few studies were dedicated to Introduced species due to the lack of taxonomists. In-depth research on Introduced species along the Algerian coast should provide new data that could explain the spreading mechanisms in the southwestern part of the Mediterranean basin particularly near the Alboran Sea. Introduced species among other related research; of which the outcome is expected in the next few years, is in progress in the southwest Mediterranean basin. The aim of this work is to provide an inventory of available data pertaining to marine species “introduced” in Algerian waters, whether these species were introduced intentionally or accidentally. This large number of Introduced species records covers the period from 1834 to December 2017. Seventy “Introduced” species have been recorded along the Algerian coast, composed by 55.7% true aliens25.7 % range expanding species, 15.7% cryptogenic species and 2,9% vagrant species, with a clear domination of fish (38.57%) and macroalgae (30%). Approximately 348 introduction events have been reported; 64,9 % of them belong to macroalgae and one sighting out of two is done in the central region. The distribution and the status of introduced species in Algeria were evaluated. In total, 20% of the Introduced species can be considered as established along the Algerian coast, in particular the macrophyta, Codium fragile and Ulva lactuca as well as the cryptogenic species, Oculina patagonica, while Asparagopsis armata, A. taxiformis and Caulerpa cylindracea are considered as invasive.
Therapeutic interventions for acute complete ruptures of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb: a systematic review
Authors: Mikhail Mark , Wormald Justin C. R. , Thurley Neal , Riley Nicholas , Dean Benjamin J. F. 
Published: June 2018

Background:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for acute complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb in adults.Methods:The following databases were searched: MEDLINE and EMBASE via OVID, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus via EBSCO, from database inception to 31stJanuary 2018. Inclusion criteria were: (i) randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) or study of intervention with a comparator; (ii) participants with diagnosis of acute complete rupture of the UCL of the thumb; (iii) participants aged 18 years of age or older at enrolment; and (iv) published in a peer-reviewed English-language journal.Results:In total, six studies were identified for inclusion after screening. All studies had a high risk of bias. Three studies were retrospective comparative case series which compared two different surgical techniques (bone anchor versus pull out suture, suture versus pull out suture, suture versus steel wire). Of these studies, three were RCTs, two of which compared different rehabilitation regimes in patients managed surgically (plaster versus early mobilization, new spica versus standard spica). The remaining RCT compared two different rehabilitation regimes in a mixed group of surgically/non-surgically treated patients. The RCT comparing a standard spica with a new spica demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in outcomes with the new spica at all time points (range of motion, Dreiser index and VAS); this was also the only study to provide sufficient outcome data for further analysis.Conclusion:There is no prospective evidence comparing surgery to non-operative treatment for acute complete ruptures of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. There is weak evidence to suggest that early mobilisation may be beneficial following surgical repair. Further research is necessary to better define which patients benefit from which specific interventions.