bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of heat shock and ambient temperature on female soldier production in a polyembryonic parasitic wasp
Authors: Takano Yumi , Ono Hitomi , Sakamoto Takuma , Yoshimura Jin , Iwabuchi Kikuo 
Published: February 2019

AbstractLarval castes are well known in both sexes of polyembryonic parasitic wasps, in which sterile soldier larvae are clonally produced from a single egg and thousands of reproductive larvae develop into adults. The proportion of soldier larvae in Copidosoma floridanum is first determined genetically in both sexes but subsequently increases in females as a result of environmental disturbances, such as the presence of competitive parasitoids. Because temperature is the most influential environmental factor affecting ectotherms, we hypothesize that an increase in ambient temperature also affects the production of female soldier larvae. Conversely, we hypothesize that there would be no effect of temperature on the production of male soldier larvae. In the present study, we show that heat stress experienced by C. floridanum at an early stage in host development increases the number of female soldier larvae produced during the last instar stage of the host. We also show that rearing at extreme (high and low) temperatures induces an increase in the number of female soldiers produced. The effect of heat stress and ambient temperature on soldier production is found only in females, as is the response to heterospecific competitors. By contrast, no responses are detected in males for either heat stress or ambient temperature. The adaptive effect of these phenomena is not known, although the results of the present study imply the existence of a common physiological cascade that causes an increase in the number of soldier larvae in females.
Paediatric and adult bronchiectasis: Diagnosis, disease burden and prognosis
Authors: Quint Jennifer K. , Smith Maeve P. 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTBronchiectasis is a chronic, debilitating disease with increasing worldwide prevalence and burden. Accurate and early diagnosis is essential for both its management and prognosis. This review will discuss the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, the international burden of the disease and its current prognosis.
Central limit theorems for functionals of large sample covariance matrix and mean vector in matrix‐variate location mixture of normal distributions
Authors: Bodnar Taras , Mazur Stepan , Parolya Nestor 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the asymptotic distributions of functionals of the sample covariance matrix and the sample mean vector obtained under the assumption that the matrix of observations has a matrix‐variate location mixture of normal distributions. The central limit theorem is derived for the product of the sample covariance matrix and the sample mean vector. Moreover, we consider the product of the inverse sample covariance matrix and the mean vector for which the central limit theorem is established as well. All results are obtained under the large‐dimensional asymptotic regime, where the dimension p and the sample size n approach infinity such that p/n→c ∈ [0, + ∞) when the sample covariance matrix does not need to be invertible and p/n→c ∈ [0,1) otherwise.
Etching of fission tracks in monazite: An experimental study
Authors: Jones Sean , Gleadow Andy , Kohn Barry , Reddy Steven M. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study reports a range of etching and annealing experiments to establish the optimum conditions for the etching of fission tracks in monazite. The previously reported concentrated (12 M) HCl etchant at 90°C was found to cause grain loss from epoxy mounts and high degrees of grain corrosion, as did much longer etching times at lower temperatures. Using implanted 252Cf semi‐tracks, a series of experiments were performed on internal prismatic faces of monazite‐(Ce) crystals from the Palaeozoic Harcourt Granodiorite (Victoria, Australia) using an alternative 6 M HCl etchant, also at 90°C. Step‐etch results show optimal etching at 60–90 min. Further, an isothermal annealing experiment illustrated that the degree of annealing that can be expected during etching at 90°C under laboratory time scales is negligible. The etching rate between grains is not uniform, with a correlation demonstrated between over‐etched grains and high U and Th concentrations.
Pulmonary functions in Egyptian children with transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassemia
Authors: Abd El Hakeem A. A. , Mousa S. M. O. , AbdelFattah M. T. , AbdelAziz A. O. , Abd El Azeim S. S. 
Published: February 2019

SUMMARYBackgroundIn β‐thalassemia, there are varying degrees of ineffective haematopoiesis, intermittent haemolysis and iron overload. Excess iron is deposited in organs such as the heart, the liver, the endocrine glands and the lungs.ObjectivesTo evaluate the pulmonary functions in asymptomatic beta thalassemic children on regular transfusion therapy and their relation to iron overload.MethodsThe study included 50 transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassemic children and 50 apparently healthy children as control. All children had undergone pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes and diffusion capacities). In addition, test to determine the mean serum ferritin of the last 2 years and pre‐transfusion haemoglobin and chest radiograph and echocardiography were performed for the thalassemic children only.ResultsA total of 70% of the thalassemic children had diffusion impairment, whereas 34% of them had associated restrictive abnormality. Thalassemic children with serum ferritin >2500 ng mL−1 had significantly lower values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEFR), total lung capacity (TLC) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) (P < 0·05). Only diffusion impairment had a significant positive correlation with serum ferritin level. Restrictive impairment had significant positive correlations with age, duration of blood transfusion and serum ferritin level and a significant negative correlation with duration of chelation (P < 0·05). Having a serum ferritin >2500 ng mL−1 was the only predicting factor for diffusion impairment and the strongest predicting factor for restrictive dysfunction.ConclusionDespite being asymptomatic, the majority of thalassemic children in this study suffered from diffusion impairment either alone or in combination with restrictive dysfunction. These pulmonary dysfunctions correlated significantly with body iron stores measured by serum ferritin.
How does import processing time impact export patterns?
Authors: Hayakawa Kazunobu , Laksanapanyakul Nuttawut , Yoshimi Taiyo 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe examine how import processing time, which is one of the major obstacles in international trade, affects export patterns at the establishment level. Investigating the effect of suchtime costson export patterns reveals how smoothness or sluggishness in operations at one stage affects all stages in an international production network. We first discuss the effects of import processing time on exports, export shipment frequency and exports per shipment from a theoretical standpoint. We employ highly detailed customs data for Thailand from 2007 to 2011 to empirically investigate our theoretical predictions. Import processing time is measured using the difference between the dates on which import shipments arrive in ports and when they were released from the container yard. Results suggest that longer import processing times reduce total exports, particularly as a result of decreasing export frequency; this testifies to the importance of time costs in international trade. It is also revealed that negative effects of import processing time on exports per shipment appear in some specific instances, such as in the case of sea transportation. These results imply that the time spent in one stage has significant effects on both upstream and downstream stages in international production networks.
Analyzing occupational risks of pharmaceutical industry under uncertainty using a Bow-Tie analysis
Authors: Seker Sukran 
Published: February 2019

Risk analysis is a systematic and widespread methodology to analyze and evaluate risks which are exposed in many working areas. One of the Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) methods for risk assessment is Bow-Tie analysis which combines features of fault-tree analysis and event-tree analysis to identify the top event; its causes and consequences (outcomes); and possible preventive and protective control measures or barriers. This study proposes an occupational risk assessment approach, which is known as Fuzzy Bow-Tie analysis, for pharmaceutical industry processes and work units. The aim is to evaluate critical risks and risky pharmaceutical work units and take safety precautions against accidents which caused by risky conditions. Thus, this methodology combines the concept of uncertainty which comes from different (Decision Maker) DM’s evaluations and the whole performance of the Bow-Tie analysis for hazard identification and risk assessment. To apply and validate the proposed method, a case study is performed for pharmaceutical industry processes and work units. Based on the computed risk score, which is calculated by multiplying probability ranking and impact ranking of criterion, the risks are prioritized and some measures are suggested for management to prevent accidents occur in the industry.
Model Predictive Control of a Feedback-Linearized Hybrid Neuroprosthetic System With a Barrier Penalty
Authors: Bao Xuefeng , Kirsch Nicholas , Dodson Albert , Sharma Nitin 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is prescribed as a treatment to restore motor function in individuals with neurological impairments. However, the rapid onset of FES-induced muscle fatigue significantly limits its duration of use and limb movement quality. In this paper, an electric motor-assist is proposed to alleviate the fatigue effects by sharing work load with FES. A model predictive control (MPC) method is used to allocate control inputs to FES and the electric motor. To reduce the computational load, the dynamics is feedback linearized so that the nominal model inside the MPC method becomes linear. The state variables: the angular position and the muscle fatigue are still preserved in the transformed state space to keep the optimization meaningful. Because after feedback linearization the original linear input constraints may become nonlinear and state-dependent, a barrier cost function is used to overcome this issue. The simulation results show a satisfactory control performance and a reduction in the computation due to the linearization.
Identification of barriers, facilitators and system-based implementation strategies to increase teleophthalmology use for diabetic eye screening in a rural US primary care clinic: a qualitative study
Authors: Liu Yao , Zupan Nicholas J , Swearingen Rebecca , Jacobson Nora , Carlson Julia N , Mahoney Jane E , Klein Ronald , Bjelland Timothy D , Smith Maureen A 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveTeleophthalmology for diabetic eye screening is an evidence-based intervention substantially underused in US multipayer primary care clinics, even when equipment and trained personnel are readily available. We sought to identify patient and primary care provider (PCP) barriers, facilitators, as well as strategies to increase teleophthalmology use.DesignWe conducted standardised open-ended, individual interviews and analysed the transcripts using both inductive and directed content analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to teleophthalmology use. The Chronic Care Model was used as a framework for the development of the interview guide and for categorising implementation strategies to increase teleophthalmology use.SettingA rural, US multipayer primary care clinic with an established teleophthalmology programme for diabetic eye screening.ParticipantsWe conducted interviews with 29 participants (20 patients with diabetes and 9 PCPs).ResultsMajor patient barriers to teleophthalmology use included being unfamiliar with teleophthalmology, misconceptions about diabetic eye screening and logistical challenges. Major patient facilitators included a recommendation from the patient’s PCP and factors related to convenience. Major PCP barriers to referring patients for teleophthalmology included difficulty identifying when patients are due for diabetic eye screening and being unfamiliar with teleophthalmology. Major PCP facilitators included the ease of the referral process and the communication of screening results. Based on our results, we developed a model that maps where these key patient and PCP barriers occur in the teleophthalmology referral process. Patients and PCPs also identified implementation strategies to directly address barriers and facilitators to teleophthalmology use.ConclusionsPatients and PCPs have limited familiarity with teleophthalmology for diabetic eye screening. PCPs were expected to initiate teleophthalmology referrals, but reported significant difficulty identifying when patients are due for diabetic eye screening. System-based implementation strategies primarily targeting PCP barriers in conjunction with improved patient and provider education may increase teleophthalmology use in rural, US multipayer primary care clinics.
Place-specific factors associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in Southern Mozambique: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Makanga Prestige Tatenda , Sacoor Charfudin , Schuurman Nadine , Lee Tang , Vilanculo Faustino Carlos , Munguambe Khatia , Boene Helena , Ukah Ugochinyere Vivian , Vidler Marianne , Magee Laura A , Sevene Esperanca , von Dadelszen Peter , Firoz Tabassum 
Published: February 2019

ObjectivesTo identify and measure the place-specific determinants that are associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in the southern region of Mozambique.DesignRetrospective cohort study. Choice of variables informed by literature and Delphi consensus.SettingStudy conducted during the baseline phase of a community level intervention for pre-eclampsia that was led by community health workers.ParticipantsA household census identified 50 493 households that were home to 80 483 women of reproductive age (age 12–49 years). Of these women, 14 617 had been pregnant in the 12 months prior to the census, of which 9172 (61.6%) had completed their pregnancies.Primary and secondary outcome measuresA combined fetal, maternal and neonatal outcome was calculated for all women with completed pregnancies.ResultsA total of six variables were statistically significant (p≤0.05) in explaining the combined outcome. These included: geographic isolation, flood proneness, access to an improved latrine, average age of reproductive age woman, family support and fertility rates. The performance of the ordinary least squares model was an adjusted R2=0.69. Three of the variables (isolation, latrine score and family support) showed significant geographic variability in their effect on rates of adverse outcome. Accounting for this modest non-stationary effect through geographically weighted regression increased the adjusted R2 to 0.71.ConclusionsThe community exploration was successful in identifying context-specific determinants of maternal health. The results highlight the need for designing targeted interventions that address the place-specific social determinants of maternal health in the study area. The geographic process of identifying and measuring these determinants, therefore, has implications for multisectoral collaboration.Trial registration numberNCT01911494.
The association between having a coordinator and return to work: the rapid-return-to-work cohort study
Authors: Skarpaas Lisebet Skeie , Haveraaen Lise Aasen , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Shaw William S , Aas Randi Wågø 
Published: February 2019

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess if the reported provision of a coordinator was associated with time to first return to work (RTW) and first full RTW among sick-listed employees who participated in different rapid-RTW programmes in Norway.DesignThe study was designed as a cohort study.SettingRapid-RTW programmes financed by the regional health authority in hospitals and Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration in Norway.ParticipantsThe sample included employees on full-time sick leave (n=326) who participated in rapid-RTW programmes (n=43), who provided information about the coordination of the services they received. The median age was 46 years (minimum–maximum 21–67) and 71% were female. The most common reported diagnoses were musculoskeletal (57%) and mental health disorders (14%).InterventionsThe employees received different types of individually tailored RTW programmes all aimed at a rapid RTW; occupational rehabilitation (64%), treatment for medical or psychological issues, including assessment, and surgery (26%), and follow-up and work clarification services (10%). It was common to be provided with a coordinator (73%).Primary and secondary outcome measuresOutcomes were measured as time to first RTW (graded and 100%) and first full RTW (100%).ResultsEmployees provided with a coordinator returned to work later than employees who did not have a coordinator; a median (95% CI) of 128 (80 to 176) days vs 61 (43 to 79) days for first RTW, respectively. This difference did not remain statistically significant in the adjusted regression analysis. For full RTW, there was no statistically significant difference between employees provided with a coordinator versus those who were not.ConclusionsThe model of coordination, provided in the Norwegian rapid-RTW programmes was not associated with a more rapid RTW for sick-listed employees. Rethinking how RTW coordination should be organised could be wise in future programme development.
Microsimulation model for the health economic evaluation of osteoporosis interventions: study protocol
Authors: Si Lei , Eisman John A , Winzenberg Tania , Sanders Kerrie M , Center Jacqueline R , Nguyen Tuan V , Palmer Andrew J 
Published: February 2019

IntroductionOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that is characterised by reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk. Osteoporosis-related fractures impose enormous disease and economic burden to the society. Although many treatments and health interventions are proven effective to prevent fractures, health economic evaluation adds evidence to their economic merits. Computer simulation modelling is a useful approach to extrapolate clinical and economic outcomes from clinical trials and it is increasingly used in health economic evaluation. Many osteoporosis health economic models have been developed in the past decades; however, they are limited to academic use and there are no publicly accessible health economic models of osteoporosis.Methods and analysisWe will develop the Australian osteoporosis health economic model based on our previously published microsimulation model of osteoporosis in the Chinese population. The development of the model will follow the recommendations for the conduct of economic evaluations in osteoporosis by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases and the US branch of the International Osteoporosis Foundation. The model will be a state-transition semi-Markov model with memory. Clinical parameters in the model will be mainly obtained from the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study and the health economic parameters will be collected from the Australian arm of the International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study. Model transparency and validates will be tested using the recommendations from Good Research Practices in Modelling Task Forces. The model will be used in economic evaluations of osteoporosis interventions including pharmaceutical treatments and primary care interventions. A user-friendly graphical user interface will be developed, which will connect the user to the calculation engine and the results will be generated. The user interface will facilitate the use of our model by people in different sectors.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is needed for this study. Results of the model validation and future economic evaluation studies will be submitted to journals. The user interface of the health economic model will be publicly available online accompanied with a user manual.
Use, utility and methods of telehealth for patients with COPD in England and Wales: a healthcare provider survey
Authors: Al Rajeh Ahmed , Steiner Michael C , Aldabayan Yousef , Aldhahir Abdulelah , Pickett Elisha , Quaderi Shumonta , Hurst John R 
Published: February 2019

IntroductionAlthough the effectiveness of domiciliary monitoring (telehealth) to improve outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial, it is being used in the National Health Service (NHS).AimTo explore the use of teleheath for COPD across England and Wales, to assess the perceptions of clinicians employing telehealth in COPD and to summarise the techniques that have been used by healthcare providers to personalise alarm limits for patients with COPD enrolled in telehealth programmes.MethodsA cross-sectional survey consisting of 14 questions was sent to 230 COPD community services in England and Wales. Questions were designed to cover five aspects of telehealth in COPD: purpose of use, equipment type, clinician perceptions, variables monitored and personalisation of alarm limits.Results65 participants completed the survey from 52 different NHS Trusts. 46% of Trusts had used telehealth for COPD, and currently, 31% still provided telehealth services to patients with COPD. Telehealth is most commonly used for baseline monitoring and to allow early detection of exacerbations, with 54% believing it to be effective. The three most commonly monitored variables were oxygen saturation, heart rate and breathlessness. A variety of methods were used to set alarm limits with the majority of respondents believing that at least 40% of alarms were false.ConclusionAround one-third of responded community COPD services are using telehealth, believing it to be effective without robust evidence, with a variety of variables monitored, a variety of hardware and varying techniques to set alarm limits with high false alarm frequencies.
First patient-centred set of outcomes for pulmonary sarcoidosis: a multicentre initiative
Authors: Kampstra Nynke A , Grutters Jan C , van Beek Frouke T , Culver Daniel A , Baughman Robert P , Renzoni Elisabetta A , Wuyts Wim , Kouranos Vaslis , Wijsenbeek Marlies S , Biesma Douwe H , van der Wees Philip J , van der Nat Paul B 
Published: February 2019

IntroductionRoutine and international comparison of clinical outcomes enabling identification of best practices for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis is lacking. The aim of this study was to develop a standard set of outcome measures for pulmonary sarcoidosis, using the value-based healthcare principles.MethodsSix expert clinics for interstitial lung diseases in four countries participated in a consensus-driven RAND-modified Delphi study. A mixed-method approach was applied for the identification of an outcome measures set and initial conditions for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The expert team consisted of multidisciplinary professionals (n=14) from Cleveland Clinic, Cincinnati MC, Erasmus MC, Leuven UZ, Royal Brompton and St. Antonius Hospital. During a ranking process, participants were instructed to rank variables on a scale from 1 to 10 based on whether it has (1) impact of the outcome on quality of life, (2) impact of quality of care on the outcome and (3) the number of patients negatively affected by the outcome.ResultsAn outcome measures set was defined consisting of seven outcome measures: mortality, pulmonary function, soluble interleukin-2 receptor change as an activity biomarker, weight gain, quality of life, osteoporosis and clinical outcome status.DiscussionCollecting outcomes in pulmonary sarcoidosis internationally and the use of a broadly accepted set can enable international comparison. Differences in outcomes can potentially be used as a starting point for quality improvement initiatives.