bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation in colorectal procedures of a useful novel approach for the use of C‐reactive protein in postoperative infectious complications
Authors: Medina‐Fernández F. J. , Garcilazo‐Arismendi D. J. , García‐Martín R. , Rodríguez‐Ortiz L. , Gómez‐Barbadillo J. , Gallardo‐Valverde J. M. , Martínez‐Dueñas J. L. , Navarro‐Rodríguez E. , Torres‐Tordera E. , Díaz‐López C. A. , Briceño J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAimOur aim was to validate a novel use of C‐reactive protein (CRP) measurement to identify postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery, and to compare the predictive value in this setting against white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR).MethodThis was a retrospective study of CRP, NLR and WBC measurements in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. CRP, NLR and WBC were recorded on the second postoperative day and on the day of infectious complication (patients who developed infectious complications) or within 3 days prior to discharge (subjects with no complications). The test for detecting infectious complications consisted of comparing the value of the inflammatory marker on the day on which a complication was suspected against the value recorded on the second postoperative day. The test was considered positive if a given value was higher than the registered peak at postoperative day 2. Factors influencing the postoperative peak CRP were also studied.ResultsA total of 254 patients were retrospectively studied. Patients whose CRP value was higher than on the second postoperative day had a diagnostic accuracy for infectious complications of up to 94.4% and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of up to 97.4%, 93.4%, 85.7% and 99.1%, respectively. Poorer results were observed when WBC count and NLR were used rather than CRP measurement. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that surgical procedure and approach, as well as additional resections, were independent factors for 48 h peak CRP.ConclusionC‐reactive protein is a better parameter than WBC count and NLR for detecting infectious complications. Our proposed methodology presents good diagnostic accuracy and performance and could potentially be used for any surgical procedure.
Two‐week test–retest reliability of the Polar®RS800CX™ to record heart rate variability
Authors: Williams DeWayne P. , Jarczok Marc N. , Ellis Robert J. , Hillecke Thomas K. , Thayer Julian F. , Koenig Julian 
Published: January 2016

SummaryRecently, research has validated the use of Polar® heart rate monitors as a tool to index heart rate variability (HRV). In the current investigation, we sought to evaluate the test–retest reliability of both time and frequency domain measures of HRV using the Polar® RS800CX™. Continuous HRV data were collected as 60 nominally healthy adults underwent a resting and orthostatic stress test. We evaluated reproducibility by means of the interclass correlation coefficient for absolute agreement and consistency, and the standard error of measurement. We found moderate reliable 2‐week test–retest reliability of HRV using the Polar® RS800CX™, results that are in line with previous studies that have validated the stability of HRV using other methods of measurement (e.g. electrocardiogram). Additionally, when examining different methods of spectral density estimation, we found that using the auto‐regressive transformation method provides the most stable indices of HRV. Taken together, our results suggest that the Polar® RS800CX™ is not only a valid method to record HRV, but also a reliable one, particularly when using the auto‐regressive transformation method.
Eye movement disorders are an early manifestation of CACNA1A mutations in children
Authors: Tantsis Esther M , Gill Deepak , Griffiths Lyn , Gupta Sachin , Lawson John , Maksemous Neven , Ouvrier Robert , Riant Florence , Smith Robert , Troedson Christopher , Webster Richard , Menezes Manoj P 
Published: January 2016

AimThe alpha‐1 isoform of the calcium channel gene is expressed abundantly in neuronal tissue, especially within the cerebellum. Mutations in this gene may manifest with hemiplegic migraine, spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) and episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) in adults. There are reports of children with CACAN1A mutations presenting with paroxysmal tonic upgaze, abnormal saccades and congenital nystagmus as well as severe forms of hemiplegic migraine. The aim of this study was to review the clinical presentation and subsequent course of all children with a CACNA1A mutation who presented to a tertiary children's hospital.MethodWe reviewed retrospectively nine children with a proven CACNA1A mutation who presented to the Children's Hospital at Westmead between 2005–2015. The initial and subsequent clinical presentation, radiological features and molecular genetic profile of each child was reviewed.ResultsNine children presented to out institute over a 10 year period; six were female and three male. The median age of presentation was 1.2 years. Eye movement disorders were the presenting feature in eight children. Three of these children later presented with severe hemiplegic migraine episodes often requiring ICU care. Affected children also had developmental delay and developed classical hemiplegic migraine, episodic ataxia and seizures. Calcium channel blockers were used with some efficacy in preventing severe HM episodes.InterpretationEye movement disorders are an early manifestation of CACNA1A mutations in children. Improved recognition of the CACNA1A phenotype in childhood is important for early diagnosis, counselling and appropriate emergency management. There is some early evidence that calcium channel blockers may be an effective prophylactic agent for the severe hemiplegic migraine episodes.
First report on the nationwide incidence and prevalence of Type 1 diabetes among children in Turkey
Authors: Yeşilkaya E. , Cinaz P. , Andıran N. , Bideci A. , Hatun Ş. , Sarı E. , Türker T. , Akgül Ö. , Saldır M. , Kılıçaslan H. , Açıkel C. , Craig M. E. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAimTo report, for the first time, the incidence and prevalence of childhood Type 1 diabetes in Turkey using a nationwide registry.MethodsInformation on birth date, city of birth, diagnosis date and gender of all patients with Type 1 diabetes aged < 18 years were obtained from the Turkish Social Security Institute for the period from January 2011 to December 2013.ResultsThere were 17 175 prevalent cases of Type 1 diabetes over the 3‐year period. The prevalence of Type 1 diabetes was 0.75/1 000 (95% CI 0.74–0.76) and was higher in girls than in boys (0.79 vs 0.72 /1 000; P < 0.01). There were 2465 incident cases in 2013. The incidence was slightly higher among girls (50.6%) than boys (49.4%); the girl:boy case ratio was 1.02. The incidence was 10.4/100 000 for boys and 11.3/100 000 for girls. The age‐standardized incidence rate was 10.8 per 100 000 (95% CI 10.1–11.5) according to the WHO standard population, estimated using the direct method. The mean patient age at diagnosis was 10.6 ± 4.6 years. The highest proportion of cases (40.6%) was diagnosed in children aged 10–14 years.ConclusionsThis is the first study to report the incidence and prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children in Turkey. The incidence of Type 1 diabetes reflects the geographical location of Turkey, bridging Asia and Europe, with the incidence being higher than in Asia but lower than in Europe.
Increased follistatin associated with decreased gait speed among old adults
Authors: Liaw Fang‐Yih , Kao Tung‐Wei , Fang Wen‐Hui , Han Der‐Sheng , Chi Yu‐Chiao , Yang Wei‐Shiung 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundLow gait speed is associated with inflammation and muscle strength. Follistatin, a glycosylated plasma protein, is involved in inflammatory diseases, bone metabolism, muscle strength and cognition. However, research regarding the relationship between follistatin and gait speed in elderly individuals is limited. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between follistatin and gait speed in older adults.MethodsThis cross‐sectional, observational study included 205 ambulatory individuals aged ≥ 65 years. The baseline measures included 15‐foot walking time, a structured questionnaire, grip strength and biomarkers, including follistatin and myostatin levels. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the change in gait speed for each 1 pg/mL increase in serum follistatin level. An extended model approach with a quartile‐based analysis of serum follistatin levels was conducted.ResultsIn the linear regression model, the β coefficient, representing the change in gait speed for each 1 pg/mL increase in serum follistatin level, was −0·308 (P < 0·001). After additional adjustment for relevant covariates, the β coefficient changed slightly, although the negative correlation remained (all P ≤ 0·001). After controlling for multiple covariates, participants in the highest serum follistatin level quartile had a significantly lower gait speed than those in the lowest quartile (all P for trend < 0·001).ConclusionsA higher follistatin level was independently associated with lower gait speed in community‐dwelling elderly individuals; this suggests that serum follistatin level may be an indicator of mobility in elderly persons and may more particularly represent lower extremity function.
Additive Theories of Rationality: A Critique
Authors: Boyle Matthew 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAdditive theories of rationality, as I use the term, are theories that hold that an account of our capacity to reflect on perceptually‐given reasons for belief and desire‐based reasons for action can begin with an account of what it is to perceive and desire, in terms that do not presuppose any connection to the capacity to reflect on reasons, and then can add an account of the capacity for rational reflection, conceived as an independent capacity to ‘monitor’ and ‘regulate’ our believing‐on‐the‐basis‐of‐perception and our acting‐on‐the‐basis‐of‐desire. I show that a number of recent discussions of human rationality are committed to an additive approach, and I raise two difficulties for this approach, each analogous to a classic problem for Cartesian dualism. Theinteraction problemconcerns how capacities conceived as intrinsically independent of the power of reason can interact with this power in what is intuitively the right way. Theunity problemconcerns how an additive theorist can explain a rational subject's entitlement to conceive of the animal whose perceptual and desiderative life he or she oversees as ‘I’ rather than ‘it’. I argue that these difficulties motivate a general skepticism about the additive approach, and I sketch an alternative, ‘transformative’ framework in which to think about the cognitive and practical capacities of a rational animal.
The Trilemma of European Economic and Monetary Integration, and Its Consequences
Authors: Snell Jukka 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe article analyses trade‐offs between sovereignty, mass politics and economic and monetary union (EMU), employing Rodrik's paradox of globalisation. The logic of EMU is incompatible with sovereignty and mass politics—only two of the three can coexist. It is argued that three different answers to the trilemma can be observed in the EU practice. In the initial EMU, integration was limited to safeguard mass politics and sovereignty. Member States were free to set economic policies in response to domestic mass politics. This proved unsustainable. During the crisis, democracy was sacrificed to bolster integration, while sovereignty was maintained. Rules on fiscal discipline and macroeconomic imbalances constrain mass politics, and non‐democratic institutions have acquired more prominent roles. Finally, long‐term plans for a genuine EMU envisage the strengthening of integration and moving the locus of democracy to the EU level, while weakening sovereignty. The analysis carries implications. If national courts insist on sovereignty and democracy, the likely consequence is an unworkable EMU, damaging the output legitimacy of the EU. The model adopted in the crisis reinforces the elite nature of the EU, undermines democracy at the national level and may bolster political extremism. This leaves the task of building the preconditions for democracy at the European level.
Long‐term effects of single and combined introductions of antibiotics and bacteriophages on populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Torres‐Barceló Clara , Franzon Blaise , Vasse Marie , Hochberg Michael E. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWith escalating resistance to antibiotics, there is an urgent need to develop alternative therapies against bacterial pathogens and pests. One of the most promising is the employment of bacteriophages (phages), which may be highly specific and evolve to counter antiphage resistance. Despite an increased understanding of how phages interact with bacteria, we know very little about how their interactions may be modified in antibiotic environments and, reciprocally, how phage may affect the evolution of antibiotic resistance. We experimentally evaluated the impacts of single and combined applications of antibiotics (different doses and different types) and phages on in vitro evolving populations of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. We also assessed the effects of past treatments on bacterial virulence in vivo, employing larvae of Galleria mellonella to survey the treatment consequences for the pathogen. We find a strong synergistic effect of combining antibiotics and phages on bacterial population density and in limiting their recovery rate. Our long‐term study establishes that antibiotic dose is important, but that effects are relatively insensitive to antibiotic type. From an applied perspective, our results indicate that phages can contribute to managing antibiotic resistance levels, with limited consequences for the evolution of bacterial virulence.
Determination of dynamic rotation factor for DWTT specimens by strain analysis and hardness measurement
Authors: Fang J. , Zhang J.W. , Zhou Y.D. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAs to accurately ascertain the value of dynamic rotation factor r*, strain analysis‐based measurement was performed on the bent low‐blow specimens by means of two approaches. (i) Surface strain analysis on the ligament indicates a critical transition zone from the necking to swelling, where the total strain reaches the minimum as undeformed material. (ii) Hardness measurement on the thickness‐reduction specimen also reflects a typical V‐shape distribution of interior plasticity along the ligament as observed from the surface, suggesting the location of true rotation centre relative to the neutral strain axis where the hardness is nearly invariable without any work hardening. As a result, the obtained value of r* maintains nearly 0.45 for (B × 4B) size drop‐weight tear test‐type specimens after their crack initiation and propagation, well consistent with the values calculated from the slip‐line field theory.
Comorbidity of Headache and Depression After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Lucas Sylvia , Smith Brendon M. , Temkin Nancy , Bell Kathleen R. , Dikmen Sureyya , Hoffman Jeanne M. 
Published: January 2016

ObjectiveTo examine headache and depression over time in individuals who sustained mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Prevalence of headache and depression early after mTBI and at 1 year postinjury as well as the relationship between the two are evaluated.BackgroundHeadache is the most common physical symptom and depression is among the most common psychiatric diagnosis after traumatic brain injury regardless of severity. Headache and depression have been found to be two independent factors related to poor outcome after mTBI, yet there appears to be a paucity of research exploring the comorbidity of these two conditions after injury.Method/DesignLongitudinal survey design over 1 year of 212 participants with mTBI who were admitted to a Level 1 trauma center for observation or other system injuries. Depression was based on a score ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9. Headache was based on participant report of new or worse‐than‐preinjury headache since hospitalization (baseline) or within the previous 3 months at 1 year postinjury.ResultsThe prevalence of headache and depression at baseline was 64% (135/212) and 15% (31/212), respectively. The prevalence of headache and depression at 1 year was 68% (127/187) and 27% (50/187), respectively. The co‐occurrence of headache and depression increased from 11% (23/212) at baseline to 25% (46/187) at 1 year. At 1 year, the risk ratio of individuals who had headache to be depressed was 5.43 (95% CI 2.05–14.40) compared to those without headache (P < .001). The corresponding risk ratio at baseline was 1.64 (95% CI .77–3.49; P = .23).ConclusionsWhile prevalence of headache is consistently high over the first year after injury, rate of depression increased over the first year for those who were followed. Given the high rate of comorbidity, those with headache may develop depression over time. Evaluation for possible depression in those with headache after mTBI should be conducted to address both conditions over the year following injury.
Differential expression of E‐cadherin and catenins in ovarian sex cord stromal tumours
Authors: Stavrinou Stavroula , Clark Ashleigh , Irving Julie , Lee Cheng‐Han , Oliva Esther , Young Robert , Sriraksa Ruethairat , Magdy Nesreen , Van Noorden Susan , McCluggage W Glenn , El‐Bahrawy Mona 
Published: January 2016

AimsSex cord stromal tumours (SCSTs) of the ovary encompass several histological tumour subtypes that are defined by characteristic histological features. Some can show morphological overlap with other subtypes of SCSTs, as well as with non‐SCSTs. The E‐cadherin/catenin complex constitutes the adherens junction, which is well developed in epithelial tissue, but the constituent molecules are also expressed in several non‐epithelial tumours. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression patterns of E‐cadherin and catenins in ovarian SCSTs can be of diagnostic utility.Methods and resultsWe studied the expression of E‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin in 55 tumours using immunohistochemistry. We found that all tumour subtypes showed nuclear expression of E‐cadherin, while only microcystic stromal tumours (MCSTs) displayed a distinct profile, with nuclear localization of all three catenins in almost all cases.ConclusionsWe conclude that the E‐cadherin expression profile in SCSTs can assist in distinguishing between SCSTs and non‐SCSTs in which there is no nuclear expression of E‐cadherin. The nuclear localization of catenins may be of potential use in distinguishing MCST from other subtypes of SCST.
Uniqueness of stationary equilibrium payoffs in the Baron–Ferejohn model with risk‐averse players
Authors: Eraslan Hülya 
Published: January 2016

AbstractI study a multilateral sequential bargaining model among risk‐averse players in which the players may differ in their probability of being selected as the proposer and the rate at which they discount future payoffs. For games in which agreement requires less than unanimous consent, I characterize the set of stationary subgame perfect equilibrium payoffs. With this characterization, I establish the uniqueness of the equilibrium payoffs. For the case where the players have the same discount factor, I show that the payoff to a player is non‐decreasing in his probability of being selected as the proposer. For the case where the players have the same probability of being selected as the proposer, I show that the payoff to a player is non‐decreasing in his discount factor. This generalizes earlier work by allowing the players to be risk averse.
Goethe's secret reserve price
Authors: Zheng Charles Z. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe story in which Goethe sold a manuscript through a secret reserve price is revisited. Goethe's choice of secrecy can be explained as an attempt to mitigate the lemons problem through concealing his private information about the manuscript. The standard mechanisms that make the price public are unsafe for the seller as the buyer may adopt non‐trusting posterior beliefs. A safe inscrutable mechanism is constructed here that generates more expected profits for some seller types than any such standard mechanism. A contrast between this mechanism and the one devised by Goethe explains why his mechanism was corrupted during its execution.
Sunspot fluctuations in two‐sector models: New results with additively separable preferences
Authors: Dufourt Frédéric , Nishimura Kazuo , Venditti Alain 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWe analyze the emergence of local indeterminacy and sunspot‐driven fluctuations in the standard two‐sector model with additively separable preferences as a function of various structural parameters influencing the degree of increasing returns to scale, the amount of intertemporal substitution in consumption, and the elasticity of the aggregate labor supply curve. On the theoretical side, we prove the existence of both a flip and a Hopf bifurcation locus in the corresponding parameter space. We also show that local indeterminacy can be obtained under any labor supply elasticity or under an arbitrarily low elasticity of intertemporal substitution in consumption. On the empirical side, we find that indeterminacy and sunspot fluctuations are robust features of two‐sector models, prevailing for most empirically plausible calibrations for these parameters.
Medicine: in need of culture change
Authors: Ward S. , Outram S. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCompared with other health professionals and the general population, doctors and medical students reported higher rates of psychological distress, burnout, diagnosed mental illness, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Where possible, the problematic and unnecessarily stressful aspects of working as a doctor must be improved. Collectively, we must change the often toxic culture of medicine into a culture that promotes a nurturing and supportive approach to teaching and supervision. The goal should be to develop medical practices that facilitate well‐being and quality of life, where sustainable medical careers can develop and better serve the community.
Coronary computed tomography angiography and its increasing application in day to day cardiology practice
Authors: Markham R. , Murdoch D. , Walters D. L. , Hamilton‐Craig C. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading single cause of death in Australia affecting around 1.4 million people. Coronary computed tomography angiography has an established role in the assessment of patients with low to intermediate pretest probability for CAD who have chest pain and is typically used with the aim to rule out significant coronary artery stenosis. Use was initially limited because of concerns over radiation exposure, a Medicare rebate restricted to specialist referrals and an absence of data supporting its use as an alternative to functional testing in patients with chest pain. Recent advances in scanner technology and image sequencing, along with data from randomised control trials, have addressed these issues and indicate that coronary computed tomography angiography will play a greater role in the assessment of CAD in the coming years.