bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency of Genital Infections According to Body Mass Index in Dapagliflozin-treated Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Rudofsky Gottfried , Haenni Tanja , Xu John , Johnsson Eva 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Genital infections are associated with sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin. Since patients with Type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of genital infections, and obesity is a risk factor for infections, obese patients with Type 2 diabetes could be more susceptible to genital infections when treated with sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. This pooled dataset assessed the frequency of genital infections according to baseline body mass index in patients treated with dapagliflozin 10 mg.
Data were pooled from 13 studies of up to 24 weeks’ duration (dapagliflozin N=2 360; placebo N=2 295). Frequency of genital infections was compared between three body mass index subgroups (<30, ≥30−< 35 and ≥35 kg/m2).
Genital infections were reported in 130 (5.5%) patients receiving dapagliflozin and 14 (0.6%) patients receiving placebo; none of which were serious. Genital infections were more common in women (84/130 [64.6%]) than in men (46/130 [35.4%]) treated with dapagliflozin. In the body mass index < 30, ≥ 30−< 35 and ≥ 35 kg/m2 dapagliflozin-treated subgroups, 38/882 (4.3%), 47/796 (5.9%) and 45/682 (6.6%) patients presented with genital infections, respectively.
Although the frequency was low overall and relatively similar between subgroups, there was a trend towards an increase in genital infections in patients with a higher body mass index. This trend is unlikely to be clinically relevant or to affect suitability of dapagliflozin as a treatment option for obese patients with Type 2 diabetes, but rather should influence advice and counselling of overweight patients on prevention and treatment of genital infections.
Do relative positions and proxemics affect the engagement in a Human-Robot collaborative scenario?
Authors: Papadopoulos Fotios , Küster Dennis , Corrigan Lee J. , Kappas Arvid , Castellano Ginevra 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis paper investigates the effects of relative position and proxemics in the engagement process involved in Human-Robot collaboration. We evaluate the differences between two experimental placement conditions (frontal vs. lateral) for an autonomous robot in a collaborative task with a user across two different types of robot behaviours (helpful vs. neutral). The study evaluated placement and behaviour types around a touch table with 80 participants by measuring gaze, smiling behaviour, distance from the task, and finally electrodermal activity. Results suggest an overall user preference and higher engagement rates with the helpful robot in the frontal position. We discuss how behaviours and position of the robot relative to a user may affect user engagement and collaboration, in particular when the robot aims to provide help via socio-emotional bonding.
Why do children abuse robots?
Authors: Nomura Tatsuya , Kanda Takayuki , Kidokoro Hiroyoshi , Suehiro Yoshitaka , Yamada Sachie 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe found that children sometimes abused a social robot placed in a shopping mall hallway. They verbally abused the robot, repeatedly obstructed its path, and sometimes even kicked and punched the robot. To investigate the reasons for the abuse, we conducted a field study in which we interviewed visiting children who exhibited serious abusive behaviors, including physical contact. We analyzed interview contents to determine whether the children perceived the robot as human-like, why they abused it, and whether they thought that the robot would suffer from their abusive behavior. We obtained valid interviews from 23 children (age range, 5–9 years old) over 13 days of observations. We found that 1) the majority of the children engaged in abuse because they were curious about the robot’s reactions or enjoyed abusing it and considered it human-like, and 2) about half of them believed the robot was capable of perceiving their abusive behaviors.
International comparison CCQM-K111—propane in nitrogen
Authors: Veen Adriaan M H van der , Hout J Wouter van der , Ziel Paul R , Oudwater Rutger J , Fioravante Andreia L , Augusto Cristiane R , Brum Mariana Coutinho , Uehara Shinji , Akima Dai , Bae Hyun Kil , Kang Namgoo , Woo Jin-Chun , Liaskos Christina E , Rhoderick George C , Jozela Mudalo , Tshilongo James , Ntsasa Napo G , Botha Angelique , Brewer Paul J , Brown Andrew S , Bartlett Sam , Downey Michael L , Konopelko L A , Kolobova A V , Pankov A A , Orshanskaya A A , Efremova O V 
Published: March 2017

This key comparison aims to assess the core capabilities of the participants in gas analysis. Such competences include, among others, the capabilities to prepare primary standard gas Mixtures (PSMs), perform the necessary purity analysis on the materials used in the gas mixture preparation, the verification of the composition of newly prepared PSMs against existing ones, and the capability of calibrating the composition of a gas mixture. According to the Strategy for Key Comparisons of the Gas Analysis Working Group, this key comparison is classified as a track A key comparison, which means that the results of this key comparison can be used to underpin calibration and measurement capabilities using the flexible scheme, and for propane under the default scheme.
The artefacts were binary mixtures of propane in nitrogen at a nominal amount-of-substance fraction level of 1000 μmol/mol. The values and uncertainties from the gravimetric gas mixture preparation were used as key comparison reference values (KCRVs). Each transfer standard had its own KCRV. The results are generally good. All results but one are within ± 0.2 % of the KCRV.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
PSSMHCpan: a novel PSSM-based software for predicting class I peptide-HLA binding affinity
Authors: Liu Geng , Li Dongli , Li Zhang , Qiu Si , Li Wenhui , Chao Cheng-chi , Yang Naibo , Li Handong , Cheng Zhen , Song Xin , Cheng Le , Zhang Xiuqing , Wang Jian , Yang Huanming , Ma Kun , Hou Yong , Li Bo 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Predicting peptide binding affinity with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a crucial step in developing powerful antitumor vaccine for cancer immunotherapy. Currently available methods work quite well in predicting peptide binding affinity with HLA alleles such as HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0101, and HLA-B*0702 in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, quite a few types of HLA alleles that are present in the majority of human populations including HLA-A*0202, HLA-A*0203, HLA-A*6802, HLA-B*5101, HLA-B*5301, HLA-B*5401, and HLA-B*5701 still cannot be predicted with satisfactory accuracy using currently available methods. Furthermore, currently the most popularly used methods for predicting peptide binding affinity are inefficient in identifying neoantigens from a large quantity of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing data. Here we present a Position Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM)-based software called PSSMHCpan to accurately and efficiently predict peptide binding affinity with a broad coverage of HLA class I alleles. We evaluated the performance of PSSMHCpan by analyzing 10-fold cross-validation on a training database containing 87 HLA alleles and obtained an average area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.94 and accuracy (ACC) of 0.85. In an independent dataset (Peptide Database of Cancer Immunity) evaluation, PSSMHCpan is substantially better than the popularly used NetMHC-4.0, NetMHCpan-3.0, PickPocket, Nebula, and SMM with a sensitivity of 0.90, as compared to 0.74, 0.81, 0.77, 0.24, and 0.79. In addition, PSSMHCpan is more than 197 times faster than NetMHC-4.0, NetMHCpan-3.0, PickPocket, sNebula, and SMM when predicting neoantigens from 661 263 peptides from a breast tumor sample. Finally, we built a neoantigen prediction pipeline and identified 117 017 neoantigens from 467 cancer samples of various cancers from TCGA. PSSMHCpan is superior to the currently available methods in predicting peptide binding affinity with a broad coverage of HLA class I alleles.
The need to approximate the use-case in clinical machine learning
Authors: Saeb Sohrab , Lonini Luca , Jayaraman Arun , Mohr David C. , Kording Konrad P. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The availability of smartphone and wearable sensor technology is leading to a rapid accumulation of human subject data, and machine learning is emerging as a technique to map those data into clinical predictions. As machine learning algorithms are increasingly used to support clinical decision making, it is vital to reliably quantify their prediction accuracy. Cross-validation (CV) is the standard approach where the accuracy of such algorithms is evaluated on part of the data the algorithm has not seen during training. However, for this procedure to be meaningful, the relationship between the training and the validation set should mimic the relationship between the training set and the dataset expected for the clinical use. Here we compared two popular CV methods: record-wise and subject-wise. While the subject-wise method mirrors the clinically relevant use-case scenario of diagnosis in newly recruited subjects, the record-wise strategy has no such interpretation. Using both a publicly available dataset and a simulation, we found that record-wise CV often massively overestimates the prediction accuracy of the algorithms. We also conducted a systematic review of the relevant literature, and found that this overly optimistic method was used by almost half of the retrieved studies that used accelerometers, wearable sensors, or smartphones to predict clinical outcomes. As we move towards an era of machine learning-based diagnosis and treatment, using proper methods to evaluate their accuracy is crucial, as inaccurate results can mislead both clinicians and data scientists.
Factors Leading to a Poor Functional Outcome in Spinal Meningioma Surgery: Remarks on 173 Cases
Authors: Raco Antonino , Pesce Alessandro , Toccaceli Giada , Domenicucci Maurizio , Miscusi Massimo , Delfini Roberto 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spinal meningiomas are common spinal tumors, in most cases benign and with a good surgical prognosis. However, specific location, infiltration of spinal cord, vascular encasement, or spinal root involvement can bring a less favorable prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate these data with clinical/functional outcome.

METHODS: Two hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with spinal meningiomas treated from 1976 to 2013 in our institution were analyzed; among these, 51 were excluded for incomplete clinical data or follow-up. The remaining 173 cases were classified in regards to sex, age, symptoms, axial location, Simpson grade resection, and functional pre-/postoperative status.

RESULTS: Most recurring onset symptoms were pain (32.9%) and motor deficit (31.8%); thoracic spine was the most severely affected (69.8%). Functional improvement on the follow-up was observed in 86.7% of cases; 6.4% of patients resulted stable and 6.9% worsened. A low functional grade before surgery was connected to a lesser improvement after. Anterolateral meningiomas were the most represented (42.2%); a gross total resection (Simpson grades I and II) was conducted in 98.8%, and a macroscopically complete removal without dural resection or coagulation (Simpson grade III) was performed in 1.2%. Of the meningiomas, 98.3% were classified as WHO grade I. Recurrence rate was 2.3%, and 7 cases presented complications (4 of 7 required surgical procedure).

CONCLUSION: We can affirm that negative prognostic factors in our study were anterior or anterolateral axial location, prolonged presentation before diagnosis, WHO grade >I, Simpson grade resections II and III, sphincter involvement, and worse functional grade at onset.
Understanding Hospital Volume–Outcome Relationship in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Alali Aziz S. , Gomez David , McCredie Victoria , Mainprize Todd G. , Nathens Avery B. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The hospital volume–outcome relationship in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) population remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between volume of patients with severe TBI per hospital and in-hospital mortality, major complications, and mortality following a major complication (ie, failure to rescue).

METHODS: In a multicenter cohort study, data on 9255 adults with severe TBI were derived from 111 hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program over 2009-2011. Hospitals were ranked into quartiles based on their volume of severe TBI during the study period. Random-intercept multilevel models were used to examine the association between hospital quartile of severe TBI volume and in-hospital mortality, major complications, and mortality following a major complication after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. In sensitivity analyses, we examined these associations after excluding transferred cases.

RESULTS: Overall mortality was 37.2% (n = 3447). Two thousand ninety-eight patients (22.7%) suffered from 1 or more major complication. Among patients with major complications, 27.8% (n = 583) died. Higher-volume hospitals were associated with lower mortality; the adjusted odds ratio of death was 0.50 (95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.85) in the highest volume quartile compared to the lowest. There was no significant association between hospital-volume quartile and the odds of a major complication or the odds of death following a major complication. After excluding transferred cases, similar results were found.

CONCLUSION: High-volume hospitals might be associated with lower in-hospital mortality following severe TBI. However, this mortality reduction was not associated with lower risk of major complications or death following a major complication.
Safety and Feasibility of a Protocolized Approach to In-Bed Cycling Exercise in the Intensive Care Unit: Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Kimawi Ibtehal , Lamberjack Bryanna , Nelliot Archana , Toonstra Amy Lee , Zanni Jennifer , Huang Minxuan , Mantheiy Earl , Kho Michelle E. , Needham Dale M. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Background. In-bed, supine cycle ergometry as a part of early rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to be safe, feasible, and beneficial, but no standardized protocol exists. A standardized protocol may help guide use of cycle ergometry in the ICU.
Objective. This study investigated whether a standardized protocol for in-bed cycling is safe and feasible, results in cycling for a longer duration, and achieves a higher resistance.
Design. A quality improvement (QI) project was conducted.
Methods. A 35-minute in-bed cycling protocol was implemented in a single medical intensive care unit (MICU) over a 7-month quality improvement (QI) period compared to pre-existing, prospectively collected data from an 18-month pre-QI period.
Results. One hundred and six MICU patients received 260 cycling sessions in the QI period vs. 178 MICU patients receiving 498 sessions in the pre-QI period. The protocol was used in 249 (96%) of cycling sessions. The QI group cycled for longer median (IQR) duration (35 [25–35] vs. 25 [18–30] minutes, P &lt; .001) and more frequently achieved a resistance level greater than gear 0 (47% vs. 17% of sessions, P &lt; .001). There were 4 (1.5%) transient physiologic abnormalities during the QI period, and 1 (0.2%) during the pre-QI period (P = .031).
Limitations. Patient outcomes were not evaluated to understand if the protocol has clinical benefits.
Conclusions. Use of a protocolized approach for in-bed cycling appears safe and feasible, results in cycling for longer duration, and achieved higher resistance.
K-Cl Cotransporter 2–mediated Cl− Extrusion Determines Developmental Stage–dependent Impact of Propofol Anesthesia on Dendritic Spines
Authors: Puskarjov Martin , Fiumelli Hubert , Briner Adrian , Bodogan Timea , Demeter Kornel , Lacoh Claudia-Marvine , Mavrovic Martina , Blaesse Peter , Kaila Kai , Vutskits Laszlo 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Background
General anesthetics potentiating γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)–mediated signaling are known to induce a persistent decrement in excitatory synapse number in the cerebral cortex when applied during early postnatal development, while an opposite action is produced at later stages. Here, the authors test the hypothesis that the effect of general anesthetics on synaptogenesis depends upon the efficacy of GABA receptor type A (GABAA)–mediated inhibition controlled by the developmental up-regulation of the potassium-chloride (K-Cl) cotransporter 2 (KCC2).

Methods

In utero electroporation of KCC2 was used to prematurely increase the efficacy of (GABAA)–mediated inhibition in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the immature rat somatosensory cortex. Parallel experiments with expression of the inward-rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1 were done to reduce intrinsic neuronal excitability. The effects of these genetic manipulations (n = 3 to 4 animals per experimental group) were evaluated using iontophoretic injection of Lucifer Yellow (n = 8 to 12 cells per animal). The total number of spines analyzed per group ranged between 907 and 3,371.

Results
The authors found a robust effect of the developmental up-regulation of KCC2–mediated Cl− transport on the age-dependent action of propofol on dendritic spines. Premature expression of KCC2, unlike expression of a transport-inactive KCC2 variant, prevented a propofol-induced decrease in spine density. In line with a reduction in neuronal excitability, the above result was qualitatively replicated by overexpression of Kir2.1.

Conclusions
The KCC2–dependent developmental increase in the efficacy of GABAA–mediated inhibition is a major determinant of the age-dependent actions of propofol on dendritic spinogenesis.
Comparison of Multipole Stimulus Configurations With Respect to Loudness and Spread of Excitation
Authors: Vellinga Dirk , Briaire Jeroen Johannes , van Meenen David Michael Paul , Frijns Johannes Hubertus Maria 
Published: March 2017

Objective:
Current spread is a substantial limitation of speech coding strategies in cochlear implants. Multipoles have the potential to reduce current spread and thus generate more discriminable pitch percepts. The difficulty with multipoles is reaching sufficient loudness. The primary goal was to compare the loudness characteristics and spread of excitation (SOE) of three types of phased array stimulation, a novel multipole, with three more conventional configurations.

Design:
Fifteen postlingually deafened cochlear implant users performed psychophysical experiments addressing SOE, loudness scaling, loudness threshold, loudness balancing, and loudness discrimination. Partial tripolar stimulation (pTP, σ = 0.75), TP, phased array with 16 (PA16) electrodes, and restricted phased array with five (PA5) and three (PA3) electrodes was compared with a reference monopolar stimulus.

Results:
Despite a similar loudness growth function, there were considerable differences in current expenditure. The most energy efficient multipole was the pTP, followed by PA16 and PA5/PA3. TP clearly stood out as the least efficient one. Although the electric dynamic range was larger with multipolar configurations, the number of discriminable steps in loudness was not significantly increased. The SOE experiment could not demonstrate any difference between the stimulation strategies.

Conclusions:
The loudness characteristics all five multipolar configurations tested are similar. Because of their higher energy efficiency, pTP and PA16 are the most favorable candidates for future testing in clinical speech coding strategies.
Biosimilars: implications for rheumatoid arthritis therapy
Authors: Cohen Stanley , Kay Jonathan 
Published: March 2017

Purpose of review
Abbreviated pathways for the approval of biosimilars have been established in the European Union (EU), the United States, and other countries. Biosimilar TNF inhibitors have been available in South Korea and the EU since 2012 and 2013, respectively, and the first biosimilar infliximab was introduced to the clinic in the United States in November 2016. Five TNF inhibitor biosimilars have now been approved, and many other biosimilars to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases are in development.

Recent findings
Over the last 18 months, published results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have shown equivalent efficacy and comparable safety and immunogenicity of biosimilars with their reference products. ‘Real world’ experience with biosimilars in the EU continues to increase and provides evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of using biosimilars in the clinic and of switching from bio-originators to their biosimilars.

Summary
Cost implications of using biosimilars and extrapolation of their use to treat diseases in which they were not tested in RCTs are of great interest. We review the results of RCTs and available experience with biosimilars in the clinic.
Effect of Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Training on Alveolar-Arterial Oxygen Gradients After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Turky Khalid , Afify Amera M. Abdelaziz 
Published: March 2017

Purpose:
Gas exchange abnormalities and inspiratory muscle dysfunction are common postoperative pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the alveolar arterial oxygen gradients and inspiratory muscle power after preoperative inspiratory muscle training (IMT) followed by postoperative IMT and early mobilization after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods:
Patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 20) or the usual care group (n = 20). The intervention group received preoperative IMT by a threshold load inspiratory muscle trainer and education followed by postoperative IMT and early mobilization. The usual care group received preoperative education and postoperative routine physical therapy care. Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients and oxygen saturation were measured before induction of anesthesia and postoperatively immediately after extubation, at 24 hours, 48 hours, and on day 8 postsurgery. Inspiratory muscle power was measured before surgery, after 48 hours, and on day 8.

Results:
Forty male patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The intervention group showed significant (P < .05) improvement of alveolar arterial-oxygen gradients and inspiratory muscle power at all measurement points. The mean of inspiratory muscle power at discharge was significantly higher than at baseline but not statistically significantly different from the preoperative measurement.

Conclusion:
Pre- and postoperative IMT by the threshold load inspiratory muscle trainer resulted in improvement of inspiratory muscle power, alveolar-arterial gradient, and oxygen saturation.
MACULAR MACROVESSELS ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-LIMITING LEAKAGE IN A YOUNG PATIENT
Authors: Savastano Alfonso , Tartaro Ruggero , Savastano Maria C. , Rizzo Stanislao 
Published: March 2017

Purpose:
To report a case of congenital retinal macrovessels associated with cystoid macular edema.

Methods:
We evaluated a 33-year-old, 2-month pregnant female with sudden decreased central vision in her left eye.

Results:
We observed congenital retinal venous macrovessels that were related to cystoid macular edema development. After 3 months, her clinical condition improved with a spontaneous solution of the edema and visual acuity recovery.

Conclusion:
Congenital retinal macrovessels can be complicated by macular edema. The high levels of hormones during pregnancy can affect the vessels' permeability and make this condition symptomatic through cystoid macular edema development.