bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Questionnaire-assessed risk of sleep apnea in inpatients with various endocrine disorders
Authors: Misnikova I. V. , Kovaleva Yu. A. , Gubkina V. A. , Klimina N. A. 
Published: May 2019

Background: Sleep breathing disorders can be an additional risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disorders in patients with endocrine disorders.Aim: To assess the sleep apnea risk in patients with various endocrine disorders undergoing inpatient treatment.Materials and methods: The sleep apnea risk and the severity of daytime sleepiness were evaluated in 282 inpatients with endocrine disorders based on the following questionnaires: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the sleep apnea screening questionnaire (SAS), and the Berlin sleep apnea risk questionnaire (BQ). To identify the real prevalence of sleep respiratory disorders in endocrine patients we performed cardio-respiratory monitoring with Watch-PAT200 (“Itamar Medical”, Israel) device in 81 patients.Results: A high sleep apnea risk according to the BQ was detected in 59.9% (160/267) of the patients, according to the SAS in 53.53% (144/269), excessive daytime sleepiness (≥ 11 points) was found in 21.66% (60/277) of the patients with the ESS. Among the patients undergoing cardiorespiratory monitoring, sleep apnea was detected in 84% (68/81), including severe apnea in 38.2% (26/68). The highest sleep apnea risk by BQ and SAS was observed in the patients with type 2 diabetes, acromegaly and hypercortisolism. Excessive daytime sleepiness by the ESS was most noticeable in those with hypercortisolism and thyrotoxicosis.Conclusion: The high risk of sleep apnea in the inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, hypercorticism, and hypothyroidism makes it necessary to include its active screening into the algorithm of their inpatient assessment to rule out any sleep breathing disorder.
Combining Decline-Curve Analysis and Geostatistics To Forecast Gas Production in the Marcellus Shale
Authors: Xi Zhenke , Morgan Eugene 
Published: May 2019

Summary
To estimate the production potential at a new, prospective field site by means of simulation or material balance, one needs to collect various forms of costly field data and make assumptions about the nature of the formation at that site. Decline–curve analysis (DCA) would not be applicable in this scenario, because producing wells need to pre–exist in the target field. The objective of our work was to make first–order forecasts of production rates at prospective, undrilled sites using only production data from existing wells in the entire play. This is accomplished through the co–Kriging of decline–curve parameter values, where the parameter values are obtained at each existing well by fitting an appropriate decline model to the production history. Co–Kriging gives the best linear unbiased prediction of parameter values at undrilled locations, and also estimates uncertainty in those predictions. Thus, we obtained production forecasts at P10, P50, and P90, and we calculated the estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) at those same levels across the spatial domain of the play.
To demonstrate the proposed methodology, we used monthly gas–flow rates and well locations from the Marcellus shale–gas play in this research. Monitoring only horizontal and directional wells, the gas–production rates at each well were carefully filtered and screened. Also, we normalized the rates by perforation–interval length. We only kept production histories of 24 months or longer to ensure good decline–curve fits. Ultimately, we were left with 5,637 production records. Here, we chose Duong's decline model (Duong 2011) to represent the production decline in this shale–gas play, and fitting this decline curve was accomplished through ordinary least–squares (OLS) regression.
Interpolation was done by universal co–Kriging while considering the correlation between the four parameters in Duong's model, which also showed linear trends (the parameters showed dependency on the x and y spatial coordinates). Kriging gave us the optimal decline–curve coefficients at new locations (P50 curve), as well as the variance in these coefficient estimates (used to establish P10 and P90 curves). We were also able to map EUR for 25 years across the study area. Finally, the universal co–Kriging model was cross validated with a leave–one–out scheme, which showed significant, but not unreasonable, error in the decline–curve–coefficient prediction. The methods proposed were implemented and did not require various costly data, such as permeability and bottomhole pressure, thus giving operators a risk–based analysis of prospective sites. While we demonstrated the procedure on the Marcellus shale–gas play, it is applicable to any play with existing producing wells. We also made this analysis available to the public in a user–friendly web application (Xi and Morgan 2018).
Intracranial mechanical thrombectomy of large vessel occlusions in the posterior circulation using SAVE
Authors: Maus Volker , Styczen Hanna , Liman Jan , Maier Ilko , Brehm Alex , Tsogkas Ioannis , Psychogios Marios Nikos 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) using stent retriever assisted vacuum-locked extraction (SAVE) is a promising method for anterior circulation strokes. We present our experience with SAVE for large vessel occlusions (LVO) of the posterior circulation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 66 consecutive MT patients suffering from LVO of the posterior circulation. Primary endpoints were first-pass and overall complete/near complete reperfusion, defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2c and 3. Secondary endpoints contained number of passes, time interval from groin puncture to reperfusion and rate of postinterventional symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH).

Results

Median age was 75 years (interquartile range (IQR) 54 – 81 years). Baseline median National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) was 13 (IQR 8 – 21). Fifty-five (83%) patients had LVO of the basilar artery and 11 (17%) of the posterior cerebral artery. Eighteen (27%) patients were treated with SAVE and 21 (32%) with aspiration only. First pass mTICI2c or 3 and overall mTICI2c or 3 were documented in 11/18 (61%) and 14/18 (78%) with SAVE and in 4/21 (19%) and 13/21 (33%) with aspiration only. Median attempt was 1 (IQR 1 – 2) with SAVE and 2 (IQR 1 – 4) with aspiration (p=0.0249). Median groin to reperfusion time did not differ significantly between groups. The rate of sICH was 5% without any complications in the SAVE cohort.

Conclusion

Mechanical thrombectomy of posterior large vessel occlusions with SAVE is feasible, safe, and effective with high rates of near-complete and complete reperfusion.
A Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of Intraoperative Computed Tomography on the Outcomes of Zygomatic Fractures
Authors: Higgins Andrew Michael , Hurrell Michael James Leslie , Harris Richard Ian , Findlay Geoffrey James , David Michael C , Batstone Martin Druce 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background

Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) and zygomatic arch (ZA) fractures are common injuries resulting from facial trauma and frequently require surgical management.1 A substantial number of post-operative functional and cosmetic complications can arise from the surgical management of these fractures. These include scarring, inadequate facial profile restoration, facial asymmetries and diplopia.2-4 Intuitively, most of these aforementioned complications arise as a result of inadequate fracture reduction, however current standard practice is to assess reduction post-operatively through plain radiographs or computed tomography (CT) scans. The role of intra-operative computed tomography (CT) scanning to assess the reduction of ZMC/ZA fractures and the potential impact on complications, has thus far not been established.

Methods

This is a prospective randomised controlled trial currently being undertaken at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. All patients who require operative management of their ZMC or ZA fractures are offered enrollment in the trial. The patients are randomised into two groups: interventional (intra-operative CT) and control (no intra-operative CT). All patients from both groups will have post-operative radiographs taken. From these radiographs, the reduction of the ZMC and/or ZA fracture is graded by a blinded assessor. Patients will be reviewed in clinic at one and six weeks post-surgery. During these consultations, all patients will be assessed for scarring, diplopia, facial profile restoration and need for revision surgery.

Discussion

Many complications associated with surgical management of ZMC and ZA fractures involve poor aesthetic results as a direct consequence of inadequate fracture reduction. Inadequate fracture reduction is predictable given that small incisions are used and only limited visualisation of the fractures is possible during the procedure. This is due to a desire to limit scarring and reduce the risk of damage to vital structures in an aesthetically sensitive region of the body. It follows that an intraoperative adjunctive tool such as a CT scan, which can assist in visualisation of the fractures and the subsequent reduction, could potentially improve reduction and reduce complications.
The effect of Sang-qi Granules on blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction in stageⅠ or Ⅱ hypertension: study protocol for a randomized double-blind double-simulation controlled trial
Authors: Shi Haoyue , Yang Deshuang , Qiao Jiajun , Sun Rui , Li Ruihan , Zhu Chunlin , Jing Ruiqing , Liu Liping , Huang Li , li lin 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background: Hypertension is an important worldwide public health challenge because of its high prevalence and concomitant risks of cardiovascular disease. It induces half of the coronary heart disease and approximately two-thirds of the cerebrovascular disease burdens. Vascular endothelial dysfunction plays important roles in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Sang-qi Granules (SQG), a Chinese herbal formula, is used to treat I or II hypertension by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners. Several animal experimental studies have showed that SQG can lower blood pressure and myocardial fibrosis by suppressing inflammatory responses. However, there is no standard clinical trial to confirm this and whether SQG can improve endothelial cell function is unknown. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, double-simulation controlled trial, 300 patients with stage I or Ⅱ hypertension were recruited and randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to group A(treatment with SQG and placebo of Cozaar), group B(treatment with Cozaar and placebo of SQG),and group C(treatment with SQG and Cozaar). Each group will receive SQG(or its placebo) and Cozaar(or its placebo). SQG(or its placebo) will be administrated twice a day at the doze of 10g each time, and 50mg Cozaar(or its placebo) will be administrated once in the morning. The primary outcome is the composite index of blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation(FMD). Efficacy rates were compared among the three groups. Effective standard need to satisfy the blood pressure effectively and FMD value decreased by 2%. The secondary outcomes include target organ damage assessment, symptom improvement assessment(Hypertension symptom scale, TCM syndrome integral scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Self-rating depression scale(SDS), The Short Form-36 Health Survey(SF-36)), cardiovascular risk factors assessment, vascular endothelial function assessment. Discussion: This study will provide evidence for the effectiveness and safety of SQG and provide evidence to identify whether SQG improves endothelial cell function as compared with Cozaar in treating hypertensive patients. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR1800016427. Registered on 1st June 2018. http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=27688&htm=4
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from specimens of pulmonary tuberculosis suspects, Northern Tunisia: 2002-2016
Authors: Gharbi Reem , Mhenni Besma , Mardassi Helmi 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background

Reports on the worldwide ascending trend of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolation rates and their effective role in respiratory tract infections are compelling. However, as yet, there are no such data relating to North Africa.

Methodos

Here we carried out a retrospective review of mycobacterial culture results of the laboratory of mycobacteria of the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia, during the time period 2002-2016. All NTM isolates available for culture were characterized phenotypically and their taxonomic status was further established based on polymorphisms in rpoB, 16S rRNA, hsp65, and sodA DNA gene sequences.

Results

Of the 10 466 specimens collected from HIV-negative Tunisian patients with presumptive clinical pulmonary TB, 60 (0.57%) yielded NTM isolates. An annual mean rate of pulmonary NTM isolation prevalence of 0.16/100 000 was estimated. As far as could be ascertained, this isolation rate accounts amongst the lowest reported hitherto throughout the world. Among the 30 NTM isolates that were available for culture, 27 (90.00%) have been identified to the species level. The most commonly encountered species was Mycobacterium kansasii (25%) subtype 1. Strikingly, all M. kansasii cases were male patients originating from Bizerte, an industrialized region particularly known for iron industry. The remaining NTM species were M. fortuitum (17.85%), M. novocastrense (17.85%), M. chelonae (10.71%). M. gordonae (7.14%), M. gadium (7.14%), M. peregrinum (3.57%), M. porcinum (3.57%), M. septicum (3.57%), and M. flavescens (3.57%). There were no bacteria of the M. avium complex, the most frequently isolated NTM globally, and the main driver of the rise of NTM-lung diseases.

Conclusions

This study uncovered an exceptional low prevalence of pulmonary NTM isolation among HIV-negative TB suspects in Northern Tunisia, suggesting a very low burden of NTM pulmonary disease. However, the frequent isolation of M. kansasii subtype 1, the most pathogenic subtype, particularly from the industrialized region of Bizerte, strongly suggests its effective involvement in a typical pulmonary disease.
Evaluation of TaqMan Array Card (TAC) for the Detection of 28 Respiratory Pathogens
Authors: Liu Keke , Jing Hongbo , Chen Ying , Zheng Xin , Jiang Hua , Kong Decong , Zheng Yvling , Chen Shuiping , Liu Peng , Jiang Yongqiang 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background: Respiratory infections are a serious threat to human health. So, rapid monitoring of all respiratory pathogens can facilitate prompt treatment and prevent the deterioration of respiratory disease. Previously published primers and probes of the TaqMan array card (TAC) for respiratory pathogens are not sensitive to Chinese clinical specimens. This study aimed to develop and improve the TAC assay to detect 28 respiratory viral and bacterial pathogens in a Chinese population.
Methods: To improve the sensitivity, we redesigned the primers and probes, and labeled the probes with minor groove binders. The amplification efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of the primers and probes were determined using target-gene containing standard plasmids. The detection performance of the TAC was evaluated on 736 clinical specimens and the results were compared with those from conventional methods.
Results: The performance of the TAC assay was evaluated using 736 clinical throat swab samples and the results were compared with those from gold-standard methods. The sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% and 96.6%, respectively. The lowest detection limit of the TAC was 10 to 100 copies/μL.
Conclusions: TAC is an efficient, accurate, and high-throughput approach to detecting multiple respiratory pathogens simultaneously and is a promising tool for the investigation and surveillance of pathogen outbreaks.
Research on the CFD numerical simulation and process optimization of countercurrent–cocurrent dissolved air flotation
Authors: Wang Yonglei , Liu Wei , Tian Liping , Jia Ruibao , Du Zhenqi , Zhou Anran 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The countercurrent–cocurrent dissolved air flotation (CCDAF) process is a new type of air flotation process integrating countercurrent collision and cocurrent flow adhesion processes. The structural form of the CCDAF tank and its process parameters are the required conditions to achieve countercurrent collision and cocurrent adhesion. In this study, eight CCDAF tank process models were established with a flow rate of 0.5 m3/h. Flow field numerical simulation and process optimization of a CCDAF tank was conducted using Fluent software. The simulation results show that the optimal conditions for the CCDAF process are as follows: contact zone ascending velocity 10 mm/s, separation zone separation velocity 1.5 mm/s, dissolved gas pressure 0.45 MPa, and recirculating dissolved-gas distribution ratio R1/R2 1:1. Under these operating conditions, the flow state in the flotation tank is the most stable and the gas in the contact zone is evenly distributed. According to the simulation results, a 5 m3/h pilot plant was built. The structural dimensions were: B × L × H = 1,020 mm × 1,300 mm × 1,350 mm. The test results show that the CCDAF has a significant decontamination effect and is clearly superior to the cocurrent flow DAF process and countercurrent flow DAF process.
An Efficient Multipath Routing Protocol for Decentralized Wireless Sensor Networks for Mission and Safety-Critical Systems
Authors: Olufemi Olakanmi Oladayo , Pamela Adama 
Published: May 2019

Background:
Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a useful integral part of mission and
safety-critical systems, whose failure may result in injury, loss of life, serious environmental damage
and/or may result in the failure of some goal-directed activities. Its major challenges are reliability,
and security related issues during data delivery. To mitigate these, the development of secure
routing protocols, which are capable of optimum utilization of WSNs’ nodes resources for
effective data delivery, has been one of the major research interests. However, most of the existing
single path routing protocols for WSNs are not able to meet with up with the performance requirements
of the mission and safety-critical systems. Meanwhile, a few that are multipath require
high computational power, energy and their multiple paths are not ranked, this makes them unsuitable
as routing protocol for WSNs in mission and safety-critical systems.

Objective:
In this work, we propose a secure multipath routing protocol based on sectorisation and
best neighbouring nodes selection models to meet up with the performance requirements of WSNs
in the mission and safety-critical systems. The protocol is capable of providing optimal multiple
ranked route paths for reliable data delivery.

Methods:
A route management technique, using direct approach, is developed for selecting different
optimal data paths for reliable data routing. Also, simple but efficient lightweight privacy preserving
authentication scheme is proposed for the protocol to ensure security and privacy during
data routing. Computational and security analysis were performed to ascertain its efficiency in
terms of computational cost, energy consumption and security.

Results:
The results showed that SMRP achieved better performance compared to the two stateof-
the-art solutions in terms of end-to-end delay, energy consumption and data routing reliability.

Conclusion:
The proposed protocol is suitable for wireless sensor network due to its low delay,
low energy consumption and routing reliability metrics.
Estratégias narrativas e discursivas da Mídia Ninja no caso do habeas corpus (não) concedido ao ex-presidente Lula
Authors: Ramalho Raul , Maia Kênia 
Published: May 2019

Este artigo analisa a produção de sentido do coletivo Mídia Ninja, na sua página no Facebook, no que diz respeito ao habeas corpus concedido (e depois negado) ao ex-presidente do Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, no dia 8 de julho de 2018. O trabalho utiliza como metodologia a Análise de Discurso baseada no modelo tridimensional de Fairclough (2001). A pesquisa problematiza o caráter midiativista da Mídia Ninja, ao concluir que o grupo atuou a favor de libertação de Lula, a partir de uma narrativa centralizada e multimidiática (textos escritos, fotos, charges, vídeos e emissões ao vivo) aliada a uma estratégia discursiva contra-hegemônica, elegendo adversários (a exemplo do juiz Sérgio Moro) e heróis (como Lula e o então pré-candidato à presidência, Guilherme Boulos), e apontando a situação como parte de um golpe articulado pela mídia tradicional e por setores das classes política e judiciária.
Palavras-chave: Mídia Ninja, Lula, Análise de Discurso.
Improving Transplant Medication Safety Through a Technology and Pharmacist Intervention (ISTEP): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hall Casey L , Fominaya Cory E , Gebregziabher Mulugeta , Milfred-LaForest Sherry K , Rife Kelsey M , Taber David J 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundMedication errors, adverse drug events, and nonadherence lead to increased health care utilization and increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes, including graft loss, in solid organ transplant recipients. Veterans living with organ transplants represent a population that is at substantial risk for medication safety events and fragmented care coordination issues. To improve medication safety and long-term clinical outcomes in veteran transplant patients, interventions should address interorganizational system failures and provider-level and patient-level factors.ObjectiveThis study aims to measure the clinical and economic effectiveness of a pharmacist-led, technology-enabled intervention, compared with usual care, in veteran organ transplant recipients.MethodsThis is a 24-month prospective, parallel-arm, cluster-randomized, controlled multicenter study. The pharmacist-led intervention uses an innovative dashboard system to improve medication safety and health outcomes, compared with usual posttransplant care. Pharmacists at 10 study sites will be consented into this study before undergoing randomization, and 5 sites will then be randomized to each study arm. Approximately, 1600 veteran transplant patients will be included in the assessment of the primary outcome across the 10 sites.ResultsThis study is ongoing. Institutional review board approval was received in October 2018 and the study opened in March 2019. To date there are no findings from this study, as the delivery of the intervention is scheduled to occur over a 24-month period. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in August 2021.ConclusionsWith this report, we describe the study design, methods, and outcome measures that will be used in this ongoing clinical trial. Successful completion of the Improving Transplant Medication Safety through a Technology and Pharmacist Intervention study will provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of a feasible and scalable technology-enabled intervention on improving medication safety and costs.Clinical TrialClinicalTrials.gov NCT03860818; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03860818International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/13821