bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Advance Care Plan and Factors Related to Disease Progression in Patients With Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1: A Cross-Sectional Study in Thailand
Authors: Gomutbutra Patama , Brandeland Megan 
Published: May 2019

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant progressive neurodegenerative disease. Few studies have been conducted regarding advance care planning in this population. Objective: This study explores advance care planning preferences of patients with SCA1 and their association with disease progression and quality of life. Methods: The study examined 12 Thai patients with SCA1 from 2 families living in Thailand. The advance care plan followed a Gold Standards Framework. The 12 patients were interviewed and recorded in video. The research team evaluated neurocognitive functions as measured by the following tests; Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), Berg Balance Score, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Digit Span and Category Fluency. The quality of life was measured by a Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36). Results: Seven of 12 patients with SCA1 rated communication ability as most important for their quality of life. Patients identified becoming a burden on their family members and ventilator dependence as the most undesirable situations. Half of the patients preferred a hospital as their last place of care. Comparing patients prefer hospital to home has significantly high median SARA (23 vs 11.5; P = .03) and low SF-36 (41.4 vs 72.4; P = .02). Conclusions: Those patients preferring a hospital for end-of-life care exhibited more physical disability and lower quality of life than those who preferred home care. Making assisted living health-care services in the home more readily available and affordable may alleviate concerns of patients facing more severe physical challenges.
Meeting in a ‘free-zone’: Clinical ethical support in integrated heart-failure and palliative care
Authors: Brännström Margareta , Fischer Grönlund Catarina , Zingmark Karin , Söderberg Anna 
Published: May 2019

Background:Integrating heart-failure and palliative care combines expertise from two cultures, life-saving cardiology and palliative care, and involves ethically difficult situations that have to be considered from various perspectives. We found no studies describing experiences of clinical ethical support (CES) in integrated cardiology and palliative care teams.Objective:Our aim is to describe experiences of CES among professionals after a period of three years working in a multidisciplinary team in integrated heart-failure and palliative homecare.Method:The study design was descriptive qualitative, comprising interviews with seven professionals from one integrated heart-failure and palliative care team who received CES over a three-year period. The interview data were subjected to qualitative content analysis.Results:The CES was found to offer possibilities for meeting in an ethical ‘free-zone’ where the participants could relate to each other beyond their various professional roles and specialties. The trust within the team seemed to increase and the participants were confident enough to express their points of view. Together they developed an integrated understanding, and acquired more knowledge and a comprehensive view of the ethically difficult situation of concern. The CES sessions were considered a means of becoming better prepared to deal with ethical care issues and developing action strategies to apply in practice, from shared standpoints.Conclusion:Participating in CES was experienced as meeting in an ethical ‘free-zone’ and seemed to be a means of facilitating integration of palliative and heart-failure care.
Development and reliability of the Korean version of the Feeding Abilities Assessment
Authors: Koo Seul Gi , Park Hae Yean , Kim Jongbae , Han Areum 
Published: May 2019

Objective The purpose of this study is to introduce a standardised assessment tool by verifying the reliability of the translated Korean version of the Feeding Abilities Assessment (K-FAA), which was developed to suit Korean culture. Methods The research subjects were 65 patients with dementia living in nursing homes. The K-FAA was completed by verifying the suitability of translation and reverse translation. The validity of the K-FAA was established through content validity, while its reliability was analysed based on internal consistency reliability for the items, test–retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. Results The content validity index determined, based on the assessment of professors, occupational therapists, and nurses, was more than .70. Cronbach’s α was more than .929, showing good internal consistency. A test–retest reliability of .884 was derived using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (p < .01), and an inter-rater reliability of .800 was derived using the kappa coefficients; intraclass correlation coefficient was .897, which also indicated good reliability. Conclusion The K-FAA was modified to fit the Korean domestic situation, and this assessment had high reliability. Therefore, K-FAA can evaluate the feeding ability of patients with dementia. Future studies should focus on providing evidence-based data to maintain or supplement the feeding ability of patients with dementia in Korea.
Multidisciplinary management of spinal aneurysmal bone cysts: A single-center experience
Authors: Desai Sudhen B , O’Brien Cormac , Shaikh Raja , Hedequist Daniel , Proctor Mark , Orbach Darren B , Padua Horacio 
Published: May 2019

Objective The management of spinal aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) is complex and often requires multimodality therapy, including surgical intervention to stabilize the axial skeleton, and avoid neurologic injury or death. With en bloc resection, ABCs have a recurrence rate of 12%, which increases to >50% with subtotal resection. The use of doxycycline sclerotherapy has been reported to reduce the recurrence rate of non-spinal ABCs to 5% at >24 month follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed our institutional results for sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)/doxycycline sclerotherapy and surgical intervention for spinal ABCs, to assess our treatment paradigm for these tumors and inform our future approach to these lesions. Methods Three cervical, two thoracic and two lumbar spine ABCs were treated in seven patients with spine-exclusive disease at our institution from 2011 to the present. The most common presenting complaint was pain. Each patient was retrospectively reviewed for clinical symptomology, number of treatments, technique and clinical follow-up. Qualitative assessment of improvement was based on the most recent clinical evaluation. Results The cohort underwent a mean of three treatment sessions (range 2–15). All were treated with STS and/or doxycycline. Five patients underwent surgical intervention at some point, either before or following sclerotherapy. After the last sclerotherapy session, four patients reported stable or improved pain symptoms, while two reported progressive pain that required surgical intervention for that indication. One patient, who underwent both multiple rounds of sclerotherapy and surgical resection, died due to acute on chronic cervical spine collapse with cord compression and inability to control disease. Conclusion We report our experience in the treatment of spinal column ABCs. Stabilization or improvement in pain was seen in four patients, while the remainder had progressive disease. Our multidisciplinary approach allows patients to receive the most appropriate treatment at presentation and thereafter, for symptom amelioration or spinal stability. Important future goals are to quantitatively assess changes in symptoms over time and to incorporate a reproducible radiographic endpoint for the assessment of treatment efficacy.
Predictors of Pain and Function Before Knee Arthroscopy
Authors:   Cleveland Clinic Sports Knee Group, Bessette Matthew C. , Westermann Robert W. , Davis Alan , Farrow Lutul , Hagen Mia S. , Miniaci Anthony , Nickodem Robert , Parker Richard , Rosneck James , Saluan Paul , Spindler Kurt P. , Stearns Kim , Jones Morgan H. 
Published: May 2019

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures are commonly used to measure knee pain and functional impairment. When structural abnormality is identified on examination and imaging, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and chondroplasty are commonly indicated for treatment in the setting of pain and decreased function. Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics, mental health, intraoperative findings, and patient-reported outcome measures at the time of knee arthroscopy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Between February 2015 and October 2016, patients aged 40 years and older who were undergoing routine knee arthroscopy for meniscal and cartilage abnormality, without reconstructive or restorative procedures, were prospectively enrolled in this study. Routine demographic information was collected, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain, Quality of Life (QoL), and Physical Function Short Form (PS) subscales and the mental and physical component subscales of the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12 MCS and VR-12 PCS) were administered preoperatively on the day of surgery. Intraoperative findings were collected in a standardized format. Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, and the VR-12 MCS were used as predictor values, and a multivariate analysis was conducted to assess for relationships with the KOOS and VR-12 as dependent variables. Results: Of 661 eligible patients, baseline patient-reported outcomes and surgical data were used for 638 patients (97%). Lower scores on both subscales of the VR-12 were predicted by female sex, positive smoking history, fewer years of education, and higher body mass index (BMI). All KOOS subscales were negatively affected by lower VR-12 MCS scores, female sex, lower education level, and higher BMI in a statistically meaningful way. Positive smoking history was associated with worse scores on the KOOS-PS. Abnormal synovial status was associated with worse KOOS-Pain. Conclusion: The demographic factors of sex, smoking status, BMI, and education level had an overwhelming impact on preoperative KOOS and VR-12 scores. Of interest, mental health as assessed by the VR-12 MCS was also a consistent predictor of KOOS scores. The only intraoperative finding with a significant association was abnormal synovial status and its effect on KOOS-Pain scores.
CORVET, CHEVI and HOPS – multisubunit tethers of the endo-lysosomal system in health and disease
Authors: van der Beek Jan , Jonker Caspar , van der Welle Reini , Liv Nalan , Klumperman Judith 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACT
Multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs) are multitasking hubs that form a link between membrane fusion, organelle motility and signaling. CORVET, CHEVI and HOPS are MTCs of the endo-lysosomal system. They regulate the major membrane flows required for endocytosis, lysosome biogenesis, autophagy and phagocytosis. In addition, individual subunits control complex-independent transport of specific cargoes and exert functions beyond tethering, such as attachment to microtubules and SNARE activation. Mutations in CHEVI subunits lead to arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis (ARC) syndrome, while defects in CORVET and, particularly, HOPS are associated with neurodegeneration, pigmentation disorders, liver malfunction and various forms of cancer. Diseases and phenotypes, however, vary per affected subunit and a concise overview of MTC protein function and associated human pathologies is currently lacking. Here, we provide an integrated overview on the cellular functions and pathological defects associated with CORVET, CHEVI or HOPS proteins, both with regard to their complexes and as individual subunits. The combination of these data provides novel insights into how mutations in endo-lysosomal proteins lead to human pathologies.
Energy Literacy Assessment: A Comparative Study of Lower Secondary School Students in Thailand and Japan
Authors: Akitsu Yutaka , Ishihara Keiichi N. 
Published: May 2019

<p style="text-align:justify">Understanding the structure of energy literacy is of importance to provide an effective energy education. This article reports the difference in attributes of energy literacy by applying the energy literacy structural model proposed in our previous study through lower secondary school students in Thailand (<em>N</em> = 635) and Japan (<em>N</em> = 1070). Results indicated that Thai students scored higher than those of Japan except the basic energy knowledge and awareness of consequences. On the other hand, the amount of basic energy knowledge did not affect to increase the entire energy literacy of Japanese students. Moreover, mean values of Japan tended to decrease with the school year progression. The energy literacy model was able to support our previous outcome that the awareness of consequences plays a critical role to link between basic energy knowledge and energy-saving behavior. The social expectations or pressures may affect the structure of energy literacy of Thai students. This study suggested that the energy education required in Thailand is to enable students to derive solutions by their own critical thinking based on knowledge relevant to the energy and environmental issues. While, for Japan, it may be necessary to implement energy education as early as possible to enhance students’ awareness of consequences in an appropriate manner incorporating with family participation and visiting energy-related facility. These findings contribute the development of energy education for improving energy literacy in an effective manner. </p>
Walking in circles: Dancing with shadows – Choreo-cartography as a strategy to explore and embody ephemeral mnemonic geographies
Authors: Jarvis Beatrice 
Published: May 2019

How might strategies of choreographic embodiment generate cartographies of a ‘shadow city’? How might the deconstruction and exploration of memory reveal that which can no longer be seen?
This article explores specific elements of a site-responsive PaR process based in Berlin from 2012 to 2015 that explored ‘reading’ and writing the experience of the city as a corporeal spatial practice. This research created a platform in which participants deconstructed the environment in which they lived in order to (re) construct a heightened sense of sensitivity to the embodied experience of being in time and space. The article articulates how this was achieved through the creation, implementation and evaluation of a dynamic series of choreographic, cartographic and visual practice workshops in which I collaborated with elderly members of the city and young dancers in professional training. Through a combination of reflexive writing and the presentation of project materials (including reflection upon the materials which this study generated in the form of poetic reflection, choreographic scores, interview footage hand drawn maps and images) the article reflects upon the landscape of the city as an active archive for memory of unmarked and marked ground. It scrutinizes samples and performance traces of my socio-ethno choreographic field research. It frames the narratives, memories and improvisations gathered through this research, and explores how a sustained artistic process of dialogue and interpretation augments a specific form of cultural knowledge by generating a systematic vision and perspective of the city as a form of embodied memory and knowledge.
The body in the city acts a vessel to carry, contain and interact, forming routes and navigations through the immediacies of its encounter ...
Genuine Triadicity in Computation, Cognition and Consciousness
Authors: Lidov David 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Charles Peirce insisted that representation is a genuine three-part relation, irreducible to a complex of two-part relations. Demonstrations that two-part relations (like stimulus and response) can be described as three-part are chaff in the wind. Ironically, Peirce’s well-known description in semiotic language of sunflowers makes that error. Until recently, there was scant reason to speak of “sign” – in its full Peircean sense – in biology, computation, or even for unconscious thought. Current developments in computation and animal behavior suggest that triadic relations could be inherent in some classes of their operations, but this article does not find that possibility demonstrated. Instead, the argument is advanced that we should recognize a distinct theory of data (cybernetics) as adequate to describe the role of information in primitive lifeforms. Thus, we adopt definitions that do not support the proposal associated with (though not originating with) Thomas Sebeok, that life and semiosis are coextensive.
Evaluation of Proposed Coherent Optical OFDM Link Using X-QAM with Polarization Division Multiplexing
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Dhingra Akshaya , Arora Payal 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is one of the popular techniques used for 4 G, 5 G and backbone optical communication networks to meet the large data transfer requirement applications. Optical Communication model based on Coherent Optical OFDM (CO-OFDM) using 4-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), 16-QAM and 64-QAM has been evaluated by different researchers. To understand and evaluate the effects of polarization, we have proposed an Optical Communication model with Polarization Division Multiplexing (PDM). The proposed CO-OFDM PDM system has been evaluated for different link lengths of 50, 100 and 150 km at varying data rates of 10, 20 and 30 Gbps. The performance of the designed link has been evaluated in terms of Q-factor, Bit Error Rate (BER), Optical Spectrum and constellation diagram. The results clearly exhibit that the Q-factor, BER and constellations are superior when PDM is incorporated with the CO-OFDM link using X-QAM.
Diagnostic accuracy of isolated clubfoot in twin compared to singleton gestations
Authors: Razavi Armin S. , Chasen Stephen T. , Coombs Shannon , Kalish Robin B. 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Background
Our objective was to determine the predictive value of the prenatal diagnosis of isolated clubfoot in twin gestations compared to singleton gestations.

Methods
A prospectively entered ultrasound database was reviewed for all pregnancies scanned at our institution from 2002 to 2014. Cases of suspected clubfoot were identified. Neonates with associated anomalies or aneuploidy, and patients who delivered at other institutions were excluded. Neonatal charts were reviewed for the confirmation of clubfoot. The chi-squared (χ2) test, Fisher’s exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used in the analysis, with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Results
Of those women who had prenatal ultrasound and subsequently delivered at our hospital, 84 pregnancies had isolated clubfoot suspected in the antenatal period. Of these pregnancies, 20 were twin gestations and 64 were singleton gestations. Overall, 51/84 (60.7%) pregnancies had clubfoot confirmed during the neonatal period. Of the twin pregnancies, only 35% (7/20) had a confirmed diagnosis of clubfoot at birth compared to 68.8% (44/64) of the singleton pregnancies (P = 0.008). Gestational age at diagnosis, breech presentation, neonatal gender, unilateral vs. bilateral clubfoot and suspicion of clubfoot in the presenting twin (Twin A) vs. the non-presenting twin (Twin B) did not correlate with an accurate diagnosis of clubfoot in twins.

Conclusion
False-positive prenatal diagnosis of isolated clubfoot is more common in twin gestations compared to singletons. This may be due to transient malpositioning or a result of diminished space. Obstetric providers should consider the possibility of a false-positive diagnosis and use caution when counseling patients about a prenatal suspicion for clubfoot, especially in twin gestations.
A comparative evaluation of two chromogenic media for surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales with non-carbapenemase-producing or carbapenemase-producing strains other than blaKPC: blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2
Authors: Park Chang-Hun 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Background
Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are an emerging problem associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. CREs are divided into two categories (carbapenemase-producing [CP] CRE and non-CP CRE). The most prevalent carbapenemase produced by Enterobacterales is Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in Korea. Rapid identification of CREs is clinically important in infection control precaution. We compared the performance of two chromogenic media (chromID CARBA agar and CHROMagar KPC agar) for non-CP CREs or CP CREs with blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2 in a Korean hospital.

Methods
The study was carried out during a 3-month period from April to June 2017 during the surveillance program for CRE colonization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed at the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Results
A total of 45 rectal swabs from 42 hospitalized patients were examined. Sensitivity of both chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 100% for CP CREs; and 50% and 100% for non-CP CREs, respectively. Specificity of chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 89.2% and 70.3% for CP CRE, respectively; and 76.9% and 66.7% for non-CP CRE, respectively.

Conclusions
The CHROMagar KPC is useful to monitor non-CP and CP CREs. The chromID CARBA is efficient for rapid detection of CP CREs requiring high contact precaution.
Unsicherheitsabsorption und Resilienz/ Strategien zur Bewältigung von Unsicherheit
Authors: Eickhoff Hajo 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Weil moderne Menschen ohne Sorge (sicher) sein wollen, wird heute alles einem Sicherheits- Check unterworfen. Unsicherheit kann geistig, aber auch existenziell sein, kann positiv wirken, aber auch negativ. Unsicherheit setzt eine zeitliche Trennung von Reiz und Reaktion voraus, da nur sie Alternativen bietet. Gegen alle Arten von Unsicherheit haben Menschen Strategien entwickelt: Auf Angriffe gegen den Leib aktivieren sie ihr Immunsystem, gegen umfassendere Angriffe setzen sie auf ihre stärkste Abwehrkraft, die Resilienz, die soziale, geistige, leibliche und psychische Elemente umfasst. Hier werden resilienzfördernde Strategien erörtert, die geeignet erscheinen, einen Beitrag zur interkulturellen Offenheit der Menschen und damit zur Gemeinschaftsbildung zu leisten.
Influence of mixing energy on the solid-state behavior and clay fraction threshold of PA12/C30B® nanocomposites
Authors: Aït Hocine Nourredine , Médéric Pascal , Hassan Hanaya 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
This study focuses on the influence of mixing energy on the solid-state behavior and clay fraction threshold of nanocomposites. Thus, three polyamide12/clay (PA12/C30B®) nanocomposites exhibiting different nanostructures were prepared from three sets of processing conditions. Then, thermal and dynamical viscoelastic properties of these nanocomposites were analyzed, in relationship with the material nanostructure and processing conditions. For the first time, the solid-state properties of the nanocomposites revealed the existence of a critical specific mixing mechanical energy. Below this critical value, an increase of mechanical energy refines the structure, improving some end-use properties of the nanocomposite. Above this value, a high mixing energy supply is necessary in order to significantly modify the structure. They also highlighted that the clay fraction threshold, which is commonly attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional percolated network, decreases with increasing specific mixing energy, less significantly when this energy is superior to its critical value.