bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Testing the nicotine dependence measure mFTQ for adolescent smokers: A multinational investigation
Authors: Prokhorov Alexander V. , Khalil Georges E. , Foster Dawn W. , Marani Salma K. , Guindani Michele , Espada Jose P. , Gonzálvez Maria T. , Idrisov Bulat , Galimov Artur , Arora Monika , Tewari Abha , Isralowitz Richard , Lapvongwatana Punyarat , Chansatitporn Natkamol , Chen Xinguang , Zheng Hong , Sussman Steve 
Published: July 2017

Background and ObjectivesAs a measure of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers, the modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (mFTQ; seven items), has been successfully used in the United States (USA). Nonetheless, the validity and reliability of mFTQ at the international level is still needed. The current study is the first to test the validity and reliability of mFTQ in four countries: Thailand, Spain, the USA, and Russia.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional survey, mFTQ, risk factors of nicotine dependence, and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed. Risk factors included age of first cigarette, frequency of alcohol use, frequency of marijuana use, and number of cigarettes smoked yesterday. Salivary cotinine was also obtained in Thailand and Spain.ResultsFor all four countries, mFTQ exhibited a single factor structure, as supported by previous work in the USA. For all studied countries except Thailand, mFTQ presented acceptable internal reliability. Overall, risk factors of nicotine dependence have predicted mFTQ scores across countries. Frequency of alcohol use in the USA and frequency of marijuana use in Thailand and Spain were not associated with mFTQ scores.Discussion and ConclusionsmFTQ is a single‐factor measure of nicotine dependence that shows acceptable internal consistency and validity across countries. Further work can advance the scale and tailor it to different cultures.Scientific SignificancemFTQ can be a clinically practical international measure of nicotine dependence. This study provides initial support for the utility of the mFTQ among Thai, Spanish, American, and Russian adolescents. Further research is needed to test and advance mFTQ across cultures. (Am J Addict 2017;26:689–696)
Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy as a staging procedure in patients with melanoma: A critical appraisal
Authors: Nieweg Omgo E , Cooper Alan , Thompson John F 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWorldwide, sentinel node (SN) biopsy for accurate staging is now part of the standard work‐up of patients with melanomas ≥1.0 mm Breslow thickness, as it is for staging patients with breast cancer. Nuclear medicine imaging and surgical techniques have evolved to such a degree that a SN can be identified and removed in virtually every patient. Nevertheless, some opposition to a routine SN biopsy remains, perhaps due to a failure to appreciate the serious implications of incomplete or inaccurate staging. Guided by a critical appraisal of the available evidence, this review elucidates the definition of an SN, discusses the sensitivity and specificity of the information it provides, emphasises that it is a minor staging procedure that can lead to improved survival when followed by appropriate therapy, and explains the necessarily unconventional and complex design of the only randomised trial that addresses this subject. It also describes other benefits and risks of an SN biopsy and outlines its role in current melanoma management.
Natural Graffiti and Cultural Plants: Memory, Race, and Contemporary Archaeology in Yosemite and Detroit
Authors: Chenoweth John M. 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTThis article argues that some elements of material culture can creatively cross the line between notions of “nature” and “culture” as these and related ideas are often tacitly understood by some modern people. This has implications for the biosphere, but the division of these categories is also tied up with the division of people, processes of identification, memorialization, and the way some people are defined out of the human realm altogether. Modern material culture—objects used, left, manipulated, and removed by people—seems particularly adept at telling us about these categories in the minds of some modern people. An archaeology of the contemporary examines how people interact with different kinds of “natural” things in places where nature and culture, in the modern imaginary, meet and conflict. In the starkly different contexts of the city of Detroit and Yosemite National Park, such objects have been managed and manipulated in a way that speaks to crucial issues of memory, identity, and race. [contemporary archaeology, nature and culture, memory, national parks, Detroit]
Inflammatory reaction found in prostate‐specific material – method standardization and proposed optimal cut‐off points
Authors: Korrovits P. , Poolamets O. , Mändar R. , Punab M. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryProstatitis classification as well as treatment decisions are primarily based on differentiation of the inflammatory status in prostate‐specific material. At the same time, methods used for detection of inflammation are semi‐quantitative and not finally standardized. The main aim of this study was to suggest more precise methods for detection of prostate inflammatory status. Additional aims were to define optimal cut‐off points of various tests in order to discriminate between inflammatory and non‐inflammatory condition and to analyze the prevalence of inflammatory prostatitis in the groups of symptomatic prostatitis, lower urinary tract symptoms and control subjects. This prospective study included 541 patients (with prostatitis symptoms, with lower urinary tract symptoms and controls) at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia. Leukocyte counts in first‐void urine, expressed prostatic secretion and post‐massage urine as well as interleukin‐6 in prostate secretion specimens were determined. Based on ROC curve analysis, we detected potential normal values for leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretion (<0.5 m/mL), leukocytes in post‐massage urine (<4 WBCs per HPF) and IL‐6 in prostatic secretion (<50 nmol/mL). Using these newly defined normal values, we detected inflammatory reaction in prostate‐specific materials in 24.3%, 53.4% and 69% in control, lower urinary tract symptoms and prostatitis group, respectively. Limitation: only subjects with prostatic fluid volume >0.04 mL were included. We propose standardized method for analysis of inflammatory reaction in prostate‐specific materials. Based on these newly defined normal values, we verified high prevalence of inflammatory forms of disease in both study groups, but also high prevalence of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis among control group of Estonian men. Combining results of analysis of the different inflammatory markers from available prostate‐specific materials allows us to differentiate better between inflammatory and non‐inflammatory forms of prostate diseases and hence to choose more precise treatment strategies.
Predictive factors for publication of abstracts at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress
Authors: Udovicich Cristian , Soh Bryan , Law Sam , Hoe Venetia , Lanfranco Dion , Perera Kalpa , Duong Cuong , Chan Steven 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundA key metric of the research quality of medical conferences is the publication rate of abstracts. The study objective was to determine the publication rate of abstracts presented at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress (RACS ASC) and to examine for any predictive factors associated with publication.MethodsAbstracts presented at the RACS ASC from 2011 to 2013 were analysed. Abstract characteristics such as presentation format, study type, study design, study site, cohort size and author origin were recorded. Abstracts published were identified by a PubMed search using a strict algorithm. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyse for predictive factors of publication.ResultsOverall, 1438 abstracts were presented and 423 abstracts (29%) were published. The median time to publication was 15.2 months (interquartile range: 8–26) with 110 in Australasian journals (26%). The median number of citations for published abstracts was 6 (interquartile range: 2–16). After multivariable analysis, publication was significantly associated with prospective study design (odds ratio (OR) = 1.34, P = 0.02), multicentre study site (OR = 1.43, P = 0.02), cohort size ≥100 (OR = 2.00, P < 0.001) and New Zealand author origin (OR = 1.50, P = 0.01).ConclusionOur study demonstrates that less than one‐third of abstracts presented at the RACS ASC are subsequently published in a peer‐reviewed journal. Factors significantly associated with journal publication include prospective studies, multicentre study, a larger cohort size and New Zealand author origin. Advances in surgery may progress from the preliminary findings of conference abstracts. However only after the rigorous peer review offered by journal publication should changes in decision‐making of patient care occur.
Role of abnormal repolarization in the mechanism of cardiac arrhythmia
Authors: Osadchii O. E. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn cardiac patients, life‐threatening tachyarrhythmia is often precipitated by abnormal changes in ventricular repolarization and refractoriness. Repolarization abnormalities typically evolve as a consequence of impaired function of outward K+currents in cardiac myocytes, which may be caused by genetic defects or result from various acquired pathophysiological conditions, including electrical remodelling in cardiac disease, ion channel modulation by clinically used pharmacological agents, and systemic electrolyte disorders seen in heart failure, such as hypokalaemia. Cardiac electrical instability attributed to abnormal repolarization relies on the complex interplay between a provocative arrhythmic trigger and vulnerable arrhythmic substrate, with a central role played by the excessive prolongation of ventricular action potential duration, impaired intracellular Ca2+handling, and slowed impulse conduction. This review outlines the electrical activity of ventricular myocytes in normal conditions and cardiac disease, describes classical electrophysiological mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmia, and provides an update on repolarization‐related surrogates currently used to assess arrhythmic propensity, including spatial dispersion of repolarization, activation–repolarization coupling, electrical restitution,TRIaD (triangulation, reverse use dependence, instability, and dispersion), and the electromechanical window. This is followed by a discussion of the mechanisms that account for the dependence of arrhythmic vulnerability on the location of the ventricular pacing site. Finally, the review clarifies the electrophysiological basis for cardiac arrhythmia produced by hypokalaemia, and gives insight into the clinical importance and pathophysiology of drug‐induced arrhythmia, with particular focus on class Ia (quinidine, procainamide) and Ic (flecainide) Na+channel blockers, and classIIIantiarrhythmic agents that block the delayed rectifier K+channel (dofetilide).
Editorial: changing nature of paediatric IBD—new insights from Irish data
Authors: Wiskin A. E. , Sandhu B. K. 
Published: July 2017

Linked ContentThis article is linked to Hussey and Coughlan et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14192 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14070.
Editorial: mesalazine to prevent recurrent acute diverticulitis—the final nail in the coffin
Authors: Gracie D. J. , Ford A. C. 
Published: July 2017

Linked ContentThis article is linked to Gracie and Ford et al and Kruis and Greinwald papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14180 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14193.
Editorial: different tests for different drugs in Crohn’s disease, or different tests for different people?
Authors: Seow C. H. , Panaccione R. 
Published: July 2017

Linked ContentThis article is linked to Seow and Panacionne and Ward and Irving papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14185 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14209.
Letter: liver transplantation for acute HEV infection in cirrhotic patients in France
Authors: Borentain P. , Colson P. , Gregoire E. , Allard G. , Gerolami R. 
Published: July 2017

Linked ContentThis article is linked to Borentain and Colson et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14188.
Letter: there is something about the Neutrophil‐to‐Lymphocyte ratio (NLR)…—authors' reply
Authors: Cai Y.‐J. , Shi K.‐Q. , Zhou M.‐T. 
Published: July 2017

Linked ContentThis article is linked to Forest and Cai and Shi et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14183 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14208.
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate significantly decreases serum lipoprotein levels compared with entecavir nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in chronic hepatitis B carriers
Authors: Shaheen A. A. , AlMattooq M. , Yazdanfar S. , Burak K. W. , Swain M. G. , Congly S. E. , Borman M. A. , Lee S. S. , Myers R. P. , Coffin C. S. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryBackgroundTenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) are first‐line treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Studies suggest lipid lowering effect of TDF in human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) individuals, but the effect on lipids and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in CHB is unknown.AimTo compare TDF vs ETV effects on lipid levels in CHB.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, data on serum lipids and CVD risk factors at baseline and ~1 year on TDF or ETV were collected from CHB carriers. We used propensity score matched models to assess the effect on total cholesterol (TC), LDL‐C, HDL and triglycerides (TGL).ResultsIn 348 patients, median age was 57 (IQR: 47‐65 years), 63% were male, 77% were Asian, 19% were cirrhotic, 25% were HBeAg positive at baseline, and 72% received TDF vs 28% ETV. ETV‐treated patients were older (median age: 60 vs 55, P<.01), had similar smoking and hypertension rates, but diabetes and dyslipidemia were more prevalent (19% vs 9%, P=.01; 14% vs 6%, P=.05, respectively). In propensity score matched models for age, gender, usage of lipid lowering agents, dyslipidemia and diabetes, TDF‐treated patients were more likely to show a 20% decrease in TC (95% CI: 3%‐25%), LDL‐C (95% CI: 1%‐25%) and HDL‐C (CI: 10%‐30%) levels compared with those on ETV. No change in TGL was observed in either group.ConclusionsA greater decline in TC, LDL‐C and HDL was observed in CHB carriers receiving TDF compared with ETV. These data may influence anti‐viral choice in CHB carriers at risk for CVD.
Quantitative efficacy of topical administration of tranexamic acid on postoperative bleeding in total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Xu Ruijuan , Shi Dongquan , Ge Weihong , Jiang Qing 
Published: July 2017

AimsTopical tranexamic acid (TXA) is used in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty to reduce perioperative blood loss. However, the optimal dosing regimen remains undetermined. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate the effect of topical TXA on the reduction of postoperative drainage, and identify the dosing regimen factors affecting the efficacy of topical TXA.MethodsModel‐based meta‐analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of topical TXA and the dosing regimen factors influencing clinical efficacy. Data from a systemic literature search was identified and used to build a time‐effect model for placebo and TXA in treating perioperative blood loss.ResultsFourteen studies containing 16 TXA–control groups of drainage volume data were included for MBMA modelling. The model described the postoperative drainage‐time profiles adequately. According to the model estimation, TXA can finally reduce the postoperative drainage by about 41.7%, and 10.9 h was needed to reach 50% of the maximal drainage volume. Covariate analysis indicated that both dose and contact time alone did not correlate well with clinical efficacy. However, when considered together, they can dramatically improve fitting of the data. Simulation showed that increasing dose or contact time extensively would produce a plateau‐like effect: 2–3 g TXA with contact time of 1–2 h would yield >60% reduction in the drainage volume.ConclusionsDose and contact time together determined the efficacy of TXA. Extensively large dose or long contact time seems unnecessary. These findings may further guide the clinical practice on the topical TXA regimen optimization.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders in children from low socio‐economic status andHelicobacter pyloriinfection
Authors: Jaime F. , Villagrán A. , Hernández C. , Ortiz M. , Serrano C. , Harris P. R. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundMost studies on functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children are based on data from the northern hemisphere. Scientific reports are arising in South American population, but little is still known about children from low socio‐economic status (SES), whereHelicobacter pyloriinfection is endemic. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of FGIDs in school children from low SES and its relationship withH. pyloriinfection.MethodsChildren from 3 public schools of low SES from Santiago de Chile were included. Students completed the Rome III Questionnaire and a survey about other symptoms. Also, the13C urea breath test determined the presence ofH. pyloriinfection.ResultsFive hundred six children were included, where 48% were male, with a median age of 15.7 years (range 7.1–19.6). Forty‐two percent had some FGID, aerophagia and functional constipation being the most frequent. Females (adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI [1.1, 2.2]), those children with parents within the lowest level of education (adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.4), and family history of gastric cancer (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2–3.1) were related to FGIDs. The prevalence ofH. pyloriinfection was 55.9% (95% CI [50.7, 60.9]). In multivariable analysis, the presence of abdominal pain (OR 1.55, 95% CI [1.02, 2.36]), but not FGIDs, was related toH. pyloriinfection.ConclusionsFGIDs are common in low SES students. A low educational level of the household head, family history of gastric cancer. and being female are related to the development of FGIDs. In this study, no relationship between the presence ofH. pyloriand FGIDs was found.
The application of serum iodine in assessing individual iodine status
Authors: Jin Xing , Jiang Peng , Liu Lixiang , Jia Qingzhen , Liu Peng , Meng Fangang , Zhang Xiaoye , Guan Yunfeng , Pang Yi , Lu Zheng , Shen Hongmei 
Published: July 2017

SummaryContextThe prevalence of thyroid disease in China is on the rise, and this could be partly associated with excessive iodine intake in some individuals; therefore, increased attention is being paid to individual iodine status. However, current indices are not appropriate for evaluating individual iodine status.ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between serum iodine and urinary iodine (UI), as well as thyroid diseases, and provide an excellent base for future individual iodine status assessment.Design, subjects and measurementsA total of 902 adults were enrolled in this study including 325, 286 and 291 subjects from regions in China where iodine is adequate, sufficient and in excess, respectively. Serum iodine, UI and thyroid function were assessed, and ultrasonography performed in all subjects.ResultsThe median serum iodine values of adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, high serum autoantibody and thyroid nodules were significantly higher than those of euthyroid adults (P<0.05). A serum iodine level higher than 100 μg/L was considered as a risk factor for thyroid diseases. Serum iodine had strong nonlinear correlations with UI and thyroid function. When thyroid function was taken as a gold standard, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for serum iodine was 0.752 and UI was 0.507 for subjects with lower serum iodine and UI levels. The area for serum iodine was 0.773 and UI was 0.638 for subjects with higher serum iodine and UI levels. The areas under these curves were significantly different (P<0.001).ConclusionIn adults, serum iodine had a strong nonlinear correlation with UI and a high level of serum iodine was a risk factor for thyroid diseases.
Audiovisual Resource Allocation for Bimodal Virtual Environments
Authors: Doukakis E. , Debattista K. , Harvey C. , Bashford‐Rogers T. , Chalmers A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFidelity is of key importance if virtual environments are to be used as authentic representations of real environments. However, simulating the multitude of senses that comprise the human sensory system is computationally challenging. With limited computational resources, it is essential to distribute these carefully in order to simulate the most ideal perceptual experience. This paper investigates this balance of resources across multiple scenarios where combined audiovisual stimulation is delivered to the user. A subjective experiment was undertaken where participants (N=35) allocated five fixed resource budgets across graphics and acoustic stimuli. In the experiment, increasing the quality of one of the stimuli decreased the quality of the other. Findings demonstrate that participants allocate more resources to graphics; however, as the computational budget is increased, an approximately balanced distribution of resources is preferred between graphics and acoustics. Based on the results, an audiovisual quality prediction model is proposed and successfully validated against previously untested budgets and an untested scenario.
Location choice of German multinationals in the Czech Republic
Authors: Hecht Veronika 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis paper analyzes the location choice of German investors in the Czech Republic based on a unique dataset covering all Czech companies with a German equity holder. Using a nested logit approach the impact of agglomeration economies, labour market conditions and distance on location choice is investigated. The main result of the paper is that apart from a low distance to the location of the parent company the attractiveness of a Czech district for German investors is mainly driven by agglomeration economies. Besides localization economies the agglomeration of German companies in a region plays a decisive role. The importance of labour market characteristics differs between investment sectors, sizes and periods.