bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interdevice comparison of retinal sensitivity assessments in a healthy population: the CenterVue MAIA and the Nidek MP-3 microperimeters
Authors: Balasubramanian Siva , Uji Akihito , Lei Jianqin , Velaga Swetha , Nittala Muneeswar , Sadda SriniVas 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundTo compare and correlate the retinal sensitivity measurements obtained with Nidek Microperimetry-3 (MP-3) and the CenterVue Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA) microperimeters among healthy subjects.MethodsIn this prospective comparative study, 31 eyes of 23 subjects underwent complete ophthalmological examination including retinal sensitivity assessments using two microperimeters, the MP-3 (Nidek Technologies) and the MAIA (CenterVue). The mean retinal sensitivity (dB) and its corresponding luminance (asb) and contrast (log units) were analysed between the two instruments. The interdevice reproducibility and level of agreement between the sensitivity values of the devices were assessed.ResultsThe mean retinal sensitivity (dB) measured by the MP-3 (25.02±1.06 dB, range: 20.90–26.70) was significantly (p<0.0001) lower compared with the MAIA (30.68±0.74 dB, range: 28–31.84). The luminosity levels were significantly (p<0.0001) higher with the MP3 (7.75±1.31 asb, range: 6.44–9.06) compared with the MAIA (0.92±0.14 asb, range: 0.78–1.06). The contrast sensitivity was significantly higher for the MP-3 (0.94±0.33 log units, range: 0.61–1.27) compared with the MAIA (0.23±0.03 log units, range: 0.20–0.26). Despite these absolute differences, the intraclass coefficient was 0.85 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.92) between the two devices after applying a standard correction factor to each data point (MAIA sensitivity=MP-3 sensitivity+5.65) with a mean difference between MAIA and MP-3 of 0.01.ConclusionRetinal sensitivity measures higher, but luminance and contrast sensitivity measure lower for MAIA-generated values compared with the MP-3. The relationships, however, appeared fairly consistent, and application of a standard correction factor allowed the data to be inter-related, at least for normal eyes.
Alteration in the gastric microbiota and its restoration by probiotics in patients with functional dyspepsia
Authors: Igarashi Muneki , Nakae Hirohiko , Matsuoka Takashi , Takahashi Shunsuke , Hisada Takayoshi , Tomita Junko , Koga Yasuhiro 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to comparatively analyse the gastric fluid (GF) microbiota between patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and healthy controls (HC), and to assess the effect of probiotics on the microbiota.DesignTwenty-four Japanese patients with FD who met the Rome III definition and 21 age-matched and gender-matched HC volunteers were enrolled. The patients with FD had been treated with LG21, a probiotic strain. The GF was sampled after an overnight fast using a nasogastric tube. The bile acids concentration was determined by ELISA. The V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was amplified using bacterial DNA from the GF, and then about 30 000 high-quality amplicons per sample were grouped into operational taxonomic units for analyses.ResultsThe ratio of GF samples in which the bile acids were detectable was significantly greater in the FD than in the HC groups. In the bacterial composition analysis at the phylum level, the GF microbiota had aBacteroidetes>Proteobacteriaabundance and an absence ofAcidobacteriain the FD group, in contrast, the GF microbiota had aBacteroidetes<Proteobacteriaabundance and the presence ofAcidobacteriain the HC group. Probiotic therapy in patients with FD shifted the composition of the GF microbiota to that observed in the HC volunteers.ConclusionsAlteration in the GF microbiota was found in patients with FD compared with HC volunteers. Reflux of the small intestinal contents, including bile acid and intestinal bacteria, to the stomach was suggested to induce a bacterial composition change and be involved in the pathophysiology underlying FD. Probiotics appear effective in the treatment of FD through the normalisation of gastric microbiota.Trial registration numberUMINCTR 000022026; Results.
Management of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with cardiovascular events in the UK: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Danese Mark D , Gleeson Michelle , Kutikova Lucie , Griffiths Robert I , Khunti Kamlesh , Seshasai Sreenivasa Rao Kondapally , Ray Kausik K 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesTo describe low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol management and lipid-lowering treatment patterns in patients with a cardiovascular (CV) event.DesignRetrospective cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink records linked with Hospital Episode Statistics data.SettingRoutine clinical practice in the UK from 2006 to 2012.ParticipantsIndividuals ≥18 years were selected at their first CV-related hospitalisation (first event cohort) if they had received ≥2 lipid-lowering therapy prescriptions within 180 days beforehand. Patients were stratified into four mutually exclusive subgroups based on the presence or absence of vascular disease and of diabetes. Those with a second CV hospitalisation within 36 months were included in a separate cohort (second event cohort).Primary and secondary outcome measuresLDL levels in the year prior to the CV event and 12 months later as well as measures of adherence to lipid-lowering therapy during the 12 months after the CV hospitalisation.ResultsThere were 24 093 patients in the first event cohort, of whom 5274 were included in the second event cohort. Most received moderate intensity statins at baseline and 12 months. Among the four first event cohort subgroups at baseline, the proportions with an LDL of <1.8 mmol/L was similar between the two diabetic cohorts (36% to 38%) and were higher than those in the two non-diabetic cohorts (17% to 22%) and in the second event cohort (31%). An incremental 5% to 9% had an LDL below 1.8 mmol/L at 12 months, suggesting intensification of therapy. The proportion of adherent patients (medication possession ratio of≥0.8) was highest for statins, ranging from 68% to 72%. For ezetimibe, the range was 65% to 70%, and for fibrates, it was 48% to 62%.ConclusionsDespite the existence of effective therapies for lowering cholesterol, patients do not reach achievable LDL targets.
Trends in the supply of California’s emergency departments and inpatient services, 2005–2014: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Chow Jessica L , Niedzwiecki Matthew J , Hsia Renee Y 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesGiven increasing demand for emergency care, there is growing concern over the availability of emergency department (ED) and inpatient resources. Existing studies of ED bed supply are dated and often overlook hospital capacity beyond ED settings. We described recent statewide trends in the capacity of ED and inpatient hospital services from 2005 to 2014.DesignRetrospective analysis.SettingUsing California hospital data, we examined the absolute and per admission changes in ED beds and inpatient beds in all hospitals from 2005 to 2014.ParticipantsOur sample consisted of all patients inpatient and outpatient) from 501 hospital facilities over 10-year period.Outcome measuresWe analysed linear trends in the total annual ED visits, ED beds, licensed and staffed inpatient hospital beds and bed types, ED beds per ED visit, and inpatient beds per admission (ED and non-ED).ResultsBetween 2005 and 2014, ED visits increased from 9.8 million to 13.2 million (an increase of 35.0%, p<0.001). ED beds also increased (by 29.8%, p<0.001), with an average annual increase of 195.4 beds. Despite this growth, ED beds per visit decreased by 3.9%, from 6.0 ED beds per 10 000 ED visits in 2005 to 5.8 beds in 2014 (p=0.01). While overall admission numbers declined by 4.9% (p=0.06), inpatient medical/surgical beds per visit grew by 11.3%, from 11.6 medical/surgical beds per 1000 admissions in 2005 to 12.9 beds in 2014 (p<0.001). However, there were reductions in psychiatric and chemical dependency beds per admission, by −15.3% (p<0.001) and −22.4% (p=0.05), respectively.ConclusionsThese trends suggest that, in its current state, inadequate supply of ED and specific inpatient beds cannot keep pace with growing patient demand for acute care. Analysis of ED and inpatient supply should capture dynamic variations in patient demand. Our novel ‘beds pervisit’ metric offers improvements over traditional supply measures.
Knee arthroscopy versus conservative management in patients with degenerative knee disease: a systematic review
Authors: Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Guyatt Gordon H , Buchbinder Rachelle , Poolman Rudolf W , Schandelmaier Stefan , Chang Yaping , Sadeghirad Behnam , Evaniew Nathan , Vandvik Per O 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo determine the effects and complications of arthroscopic surgery compared with conservative management strategies in patients with degenerative knee disease.DesignSystematic review.Main outcome measuresPain, function, adverse events.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar and Open Grey up to August 2016.Eligibility criteriaFor effects, randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing arthroscopic surgery with a conservative management strategy (including sham surgery) in patients with degenerative knee disease. For complications, RCTs and observational studies.Review methodsTwo reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias for patient-important outcomes. A parallel guideline committee (BMJRapid Recommendations) provided input on the design and interpretation of the systematic review, including selection of patient-important outcomes. We used the GRADE approach to rate the certainty (quality) of the evidence.ResultsWe included 13 RCTs and 12 observational studies. With respect to pain, the review identified high-certainty evidence that knee arthroscopy results in a very small reduction in pain up to 3 months (mean difference =5.4 on a 100-point scale, 95% CI 2.0 to 8.8) and very small or no pain reduction up to 2 years (mean difference =3.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 6.4) when compared with conservative management. With respect to function, the review identified moderate-certainty evidence that knee arthroscopy results in a very small improvement in the short term (mean difference =4.9 on a 100-point scale, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.4) and very small or no improved function up to 2 years (mean difference =3.2, 95% CI −0.5 to 6.8). Alternative presentations of magnitude of effect, and associated sensitivity analyses, were consistent with the findings of the primary analysis. Low-quality evidence suggested a very low probability of serious complications after knee arthroscopy.ConclusionsOver the long term, patients who undergo knee arthroscopy versus those who receive conservative management strategies do not have important benefits in pain or function.Trial registration numberPROSPERO CRD42016046242.
Classifying simulation-based studies using the description, justification and clarification framework: a review of simulation conference abstracts
Authors: Graham Alastair Campbell , Church Helen Rachael , Murdoch-Eaton Deborah G 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionSimulation-based medical education (SBME) is an accepted learning methodology with an ever-expanding evidence base. Concerns have been expressed that research output in SBME lacks explicit links to educational theory. Using the ‘Description, Justification and Clarification’ framework we have investigated the extent to which SBME conference abstracts declare the educational theory underpinning their studies.MethodsAbstracts from four major international SBME conferences (for 2014 and 2015) were reviewed. Abstracts were classified using the framework offered by Cook et al who classified studies published in major educational journals. Clarification studies are those which specifically declare and test their underpinning educational approach.ResultsWe reviewed 1398 conference abstracts which we classified as Description 54.4%, Justification 36.3% and Clarification 9.3%. The two most frequently declared educational theories were Cognitive Theories and Experiential Learning.ConclusionThe low proportion of Clarification studies found in the SBME conference abstracts reflects previous findings highlighting the lack of medical education studies that establish how and why SBME works. Researchers should be encouraged to declare their underpinning educational theories when presenting their work. Conference organisers play an important role in facilitating this through allowing sufficient word count in their submission criteria.
Older people’s views and experiences of engagement in standardised patient simulation
Authors: Thompson Juliana , Tiplady Sue , Hutchinson Anne , Cook Glenda , Harrington Barbara 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundThe last two decades have witnessed initiatives aimed at improving the care of older people, including educating nurses so that they are equipped with the skills to care for older people with frailty and complex multimorbidities. It has been suggested that involvement of older service users in nurse education can facilitate the development of nurses’ caring skills by promoting understanding of the reality of older people’s situations. One method of involving older service users is standardised patient simulation (SPS). While some recent studies have acknowledged the importance of considering standardised patients’ experiences and perceptions of simulation, to date few have focused specifically on the experiences of older people.MethodsIn this qualitative study, data were collected via focus groups, whereby older people were invited to discuss their views and experiences of involvement in SPS. Data were analysed using open coding.FindingsFour themes emerged from the data, demonstrating that involving older people in SPS may be beneficial for their well-being. The four themes were: ‘using personal experiences to improve care’, ‘having a sense of purpose’, ‘preparation and support for SPS’ and ‘feeling appreciated’.DiscussionWhile most participants reported that they enjoyed the SPS activities, engagement appeared to have had a much deeper significance for them. Many participants’ responses suggested that involvement assisted them to ‘make sense’ of their experiences of illness and healthcare, and also gave a sense of purpose, of belonging and of being valued.ConclusionFindings support the need for nurse educators to consider developing SPS programmes that involve older people.
Modelling the implications of reducing smoking prevalence: the public health and economic benefits of achieving a ‘tobacco-free’ UK
Authors: Hunt Daniel , Knuchel-Takano André , Jaccard Abbygail , Bhimjiyani Arti , Retat Lise , Selvarajah Chit , Brown Katrina , Webber Laura L , Brown Martin 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionSmoking is still the most preventable cause of cancer, and a leading cause of premature mortality and health inequalities in the UK. This study modelled the health and economic impacts of achieving a ‘tobacco-free’ ambition (TFA) where, by 2035, less than 5% of the population smoke tobacco across all socioeconomic groups.MethodsA non-linear multivariate regression model was fitted to cross-sectional smoking data to create projections to 2035. These projections were used to predict the future incidence and costs of 17 smoking-related diseases using a microsimulation approach. The health and economic impacts of achieving a TFA were evaluated against a predicted baseline scenario, where current smoking trends continue.ResultsIf trends continue, the prevalence of smoking in the UK was projected to be 10% by 2035—well above a TFA. If this ambition were achieved by 2035, it could mean 97 300 +/- 5 300 new cases of smoking-related diseases are avoided by 2035 (tobacco-related cancers: 35 900+/- 4 100; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 29 000 +/- 2 700; stroke: 24 900 +/- 2 700; coronary heart disease: 7600 +/- 2 700), including around 12 350 diseases avoided in 2035 alone. The consequence of this health improvement is predicted to avoid £67 +/- 8 million in direct National Health Service and social care costs, and £548 million in non-health costs, in 2035 alone.ConclusionThese findings strengthen the case to set bold targets on long-term declines in smoking prevalence to achieve a tobacco ‘endgame’. Results demonstrate the health and economic benefits that meeting a TFA can achieve over just 20 years. Effective ambitions and policy interventions are needed to reduce the disease and economic burden of smoking.
Weather resistance of CaSO4 ⋅ 1/2H2O-based sand-fixation material
Authors: Liu Xin , Tie Shengnian 
Published: May 2017

Searching for an economical and effective sand-fixing material and technology is of great importance in Northwest China. This paper described the use of a semihydrated gypsum-(CaSO4 ⋅ 1/2H2O-)based composite as a sand-fixing material. Its morphology and composition were characterized by SEM, and its water resistance, freezing–thawing resistance and wind erosion resistance were tested in the field. The results indicated that semihydrated gypsum-(CaSO4 ⋅ 1/2H2O-)based sand-fixing composite has good water resistance and water-holding capacity. Its strength is maintained at 1.42 MPa after 50 freezing and thawing cycles, and its wind erosion increases with increasing wind speed and slope. Its compressive strength starts to decrease after nine months of field tests with no change in appearance, but it still satisfies the requirements of fixation technology. This sand-fixing material should have wide application owing to its good weather resistance.
Preparation and thermal properties of Glauber’s salt-based phase-change materials for Qinghai–Tibet Plateau solar greenhouses
Authors: Jiang Zipeng , Tie Shengnian 
Published: May 2017

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of eutectic Glauber’s salt-based composite, phase-change materials (G-PCMs). PCMs were prepared using industrial-grade sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4 ⋅ 10H2O) as the basic material. Other salts were added to obtain the eutectic Glauber’s salt-based PCMs with phase-change temperatures of 25[Formula: see text]C, 15[Formula: see text]C and 10[Formula: see text]C. The modification of the G-PCMs was designed using the same experimental method to select the efficient nucleating, thickening and thermal conductive agents. The results show that borax can be an effective nucleating agent, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is an excellent thickener and carbon powder is a good thermal conductive agent. The phase-change temperature, latent heat and thermal conductivity of the three different PCMs are 23.9[Formula: see text]C, 15.4[Formula: see text]C and 9.5[Formula: see text]C; 179.6, 129 and 116.2 J/g; and 1.02, 1.10 and 1.23 W/(m K), respectively. These PCMs possess suitable phase-change temperature, high latent heat and good thermal conductivity, and can be used in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau agricultural solar greenhouses.
High-precision, pressure-driven pump for sub-picoliter scale quantitative injection
Authors: Li Na , Liu Yaowei , Li Shibao , Wang Xuefeng , Qin Yanding , Sun Mingzhu , Zhao Xin 
Published: May 2017

The microinjection is generally performed on commercial microinjection pump using a nitrogen gas-holder as pressure supply. However, the commercial pump has some problems in picoliter-scale injection due to the instability of pressure source, and the success rate varies significantly across different operators. In this paper, a high-precision, pressure-driven pump for sub-picoliter scale quantitative injection is developed. This new pumping system is capable of generating a wide range of positive and negative pressure with high resolution by connecting a buffer tank to the gas passage structure. It is able to generate pressure between −30 kPa and +150 kPa with a resolution less than 1 Pa. Compared to the commercial pump, the new pumping system has high stability and resolution (less than 1 Pa versus 68.9 Pa). The injection accuracy of the system was further proved by applying it to quantitative injection experiment. The results demonstrate that the injection accuracy of the injection volume is 0.0022 pL.
Mixed-size concurrency: ARM, POWER, C/C++11, and SC
Authors: Flur Shaked , Sarkar Susmit , Pulte Christopher , Nienhuis Kyndylan , Maranget Luc , Gray Kathryn E. , Sezgin Ali , Batty Mark , Sewell Peter 
Published: May 2017

Previous work on the semantics of relaxed shared-memory concurrency has only considered the case in which each load reads the data of exactly one store. In practice, however, multiprocessors support mixed-size accesses, and these are used by systems software and (to some degree) exposed at the C/C++ language level. A semantic foundation for software, therefore, has to address them.
We investigate the mixed-size behaviour of ARMv8 and IBM POWER architectures and implementations: by experiment, by developing semantic models, by testing the correspondence between these, and by discussion with ARM and IBM staff. This turns out to be surprisingly subtle, and on the way we have to revisit the fundamental concepts of coherence and sequential consistency, which change in this setting. In particular, we show that adding a memory barrier between each instruction does not restore sequential consistency. We go on to extend the C/C++11 model to support non-atomic mixed-size memory accesses.
This is a necessary step towards semantics for real-world shared-memory concurrent code, beyond litmus tests.
Invariants of quantum programs: characterisations and generation
Authors: Ying Mingsheng , Ying Shenggang , Wu Xiaodi 
Published: May 2017

Program invariant is a fundamental notion widely used in program verification and analysis. The aim of this paper is twofold: (i) find an appropriate definition of invariants for quantum programs; and (ii) develop an effective technique of invariant generation for verification and analysis of quantum programs.
Interestingly, the notion of invariant can be defined for quantum programs in two different ways -- additive invariants and multiplicative invariants -- corresponding to two interpretations of implication in a continuous valued logic: the Lukasiewicz implication and the Godel implication. It is shown that both of them can be used to establish partial correctness of quantum programs.
The problem of generating additive invariants of quantum programs is addressed by reducing it to an SDP (Semidefinite Programming) problem. This approach is applied with an SDP solver to generate invariants of two important quantum algorithms -- quantum walk and quantum Metropolis sampling. Our examples show that the generated invariants can be used to verify correctness of these algorithms and are helpful in optimising quantum Metropolis sampling.
To our knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to define the notion of invariant and to develop a method of invariant generation for quantum programs.
On the relationship between higher-order recursion schemes and higher-order fixpoint logic
Authors: Kobayashi Naoki , Lozes Étienne , Bruse Florian 
Published: May 2017

We study the relationship between two kinds of higher-order extensions
of model checking: HORS model checking, where models are extended to
higher-order recursion schemes, and HFL model checking, where the
logic is extedned to higher-order modal fixpoint logic. Those extensions
have been independently studied until recently, and the former has
been applied to higher-order program verification. We show that there
exist (arguably) natural reductions between the two problems. To prove
the correctness of the translation from HORS to HFL model checking, we
establish a type-based characterization of HFL model checking, which
should be of independent interest. The results reveal a close
relationship between the two problems, enabling cross-fertilization of
the two research threads.