bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of a Preemptive Antiviral Therapy Strategy Based on Combined Virological and Immunological Monitoring for Active Cytomegalovirus Infection in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Navarro David , Amat Paula , de la Cámara Rafael , López Javier , Vázquez Lourdes , Serrano David , Nieto José , Rovira Monserrat , Piñana José Luis , Giménez Estela , Solano Carlos 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Background.  Preemptive antiviral therapy for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients (Allo-SCT) results in overtreatment and a high rate of recurrences. Monitoring of CMV-specific T-cell immunity may help to individualize treatments and minimize these problems.
Methods.  We conducted a prospective, multicenter, matched comparison-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel strategy that consisted of interrupting anti-CMV therapy upon CMV DNAemia clearance and concurrent detection of phosphoprotein 65/immediate-early-1-specific interferon-γ-producing CD8+ T cells at levels of &gt;1 cell/µL (within 30 days after the initiation of therapy). Immunological monitoring was performed on days +7, +14, +21, and +28 after treatment initiation. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of recurrent DNAemia within 2 months after treatment cessation. Secondary endpoints were the length of antiviral treatment courses and the incidence of hematological toxicity.
Results.  Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study group. Fifty-six patients were included in the matched-control group. Eleven patients (18%) fulfilled the criteria for antiviral treatment interruption. The cumulative incidence of recurrent CMV DNAemia was significantly lower (P = .02) in these patients than in patients in the comparative groups. Likewise, the length of antiviral treatment courses was significantly shorter in these patients than that in patients in the matched-control group (P = .003). No significant differences in the incidence of hematological toxicity was observed between the comparative groups.
Conclusions.  Our data support the clinical utility of combining immunological and virological monitoring for the management of CMV infection in a subset of Allo-SCT recipients.
Symptom Clusters in Adults With Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Streur Megan , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Ball Jocasta , Stewart Simon , Riegel Barbara 
Published: May 2016

Background:
Symptom clusters have not previously been explored among individuals with atrial fibrillation of any type.

Objective:
The purpose of this study is to determine the number of symptom clusters present among adults with chronic atrial fibrillation and to explore sociodemographic and clinical factors potentially associated with cluster membership.

Methods:
This was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of 335 Australian community-dwelling adults with chronic (recurrent paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) atrial fibrillation. We used self-reported symptoms and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis to determine the number and content of symptom clusters present.

Results:
There were slightly more male (52%) than female participants, with a mean (SD) age of 72 (11.25) years. Three symptom clusters were evident, including a vagal cluster (nausea and diaphoresis), a tired cluster (fatigue/lethargy, weakness, syncope/dizziness, and dyspnea/breathlessness), and a heart cluster (chest pain/discomfort and palpitations/fluttering). We compared patient characteristics among those with all the symptoms in the cluster, those with some of the symptoms in the cluster, and those with none of the symptoms in the cluster. The only statistically significant differences were in age, gender, and the use of antiarrhythmic medications for the heart cluster. Women were more likely to have the heart symptom cluster than men were. Individuals with all of the symptoms in the heart cluster were younger (69.6 vs 73.7 years; P = .029) than those with none of the symptoms in the heart cluster and were more likely to be on antiarrhythmic medications.

Conclusion:
Three unique atrial fibrillation symptom clusters were identified in this study population.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in noncirrhotic livers is associated with steatosis rather than steatohepatitis: potential implications for pathogenesis
Authors: van Meer Suzanne , van Erpecum Karel J. , Sprengers Dave , Klümpen Heinz-Josef , Jansen Peter L.M. , Ijzermans Jan N.M. , Siersema Peter D. , de Man Robert A. , Verheij Joanne 
Published: May 2016

Objective
The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increased in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS), possibly related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As histological features of NAFLD may regress in cirrhosis, we compared steatosis versus steatohepatitis in the nontumoral liver of noncirrhotic HCC patients.

Patients and methods
A retrospective clinicopathological analysis was carried out in 91 noncirrhotic HCC patients. Patients were divided into three subgroups: that is, patients with: (1) MS without other risk factors for underlying liver disease, (2) no underlying risk factors, or (3) other risk factors (with or without MS). The NAFLD activity score (NAS) less than 3 was classified as no steatohepatitis, NAS 3–4 as borderline steatohepatitis, and NAS 5 or more as definite steatohepatitis.

Results
Eleven (12%) patients had MS without other risk factors (group 1). In the nontumoral liver, significant steatosis (≥5% of hepatocytes) was generally present (in 10/11 patients), with mild lobular inflammation and absence of ballooning in most cases. Absence of steatohepatitis, borderline steatohepatitis, and definite steatohepatitis were found in 55, 45, and 0% of cases, respectively. In groups 2 and 3, significant steatosis was frequently present (in 16/37 and 21/43 patients, respectively). Absence of steatohepatitis, borderline steatohepatitis, and definite steatohepatitis were found in 84, 16, and 0% of cases (group 2), respectively, in 77, 23, and 0% of cases (group 3).

Conclusion
In noncirrhotic HCC patients, histological steatosis was frequently present, whereas overt steatohepatitis did not occur. These findings may be relevant for HCC pathogenesis in NAFLD.
Human resource management from an Islamic perspective: a contemporary literature review
Authors: Habib Rana Muhammad , Shaukat Malik Muhammad 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a concise overview of available research work on Islamic principles related to human resource management (HRM).Design/methodology/approachWith the purpose in view, an effort was made to collect books, journal articles and research papers. The selected works cover the period from 2003 to 2014. The reason behind selection of this period is the fact that during this time, an increased emphasis on religion, particularly Islam, has been felt the world over. The ideas and inferences out of those works have been compiled in a concise and ordered form. Compilation of ideas has been thematically arranged on the basis of different areas of HRM which led to the findings of the study.FindingsBusiness organizations in Islamic countries or those being managed by the Muslims generally claim to follow Islamic management principles. However, practical adherence to these principles varies in various shades depending on national and organizational culture. The reviewed literature covers the theory of HRM and identifies the Islamic principles related to it. Mostly, the researchers have elaborated the Islamic guidelines related to HRM; however, a few have also ventured to find out practical application of Islamic principles and their efficacy.Research limitations/implicationsBooks and articles included in this review do not present wholesome picture. Although random selection from various authors and journals neutralizes the limitation to some extent, a more comprehensive review may improve the findings.Originality/valueReligion has proven to be a driving force in the display of human commitment and devotion in various forms of competitions including war. Identification of the role of religion in business can open new vistas in HRM. The glimpses of the role of Islam in business, especially HRM, included in this review can have far reaching impact.
Aspirations of an Islamic bank: an exploration from stakeholders’ perspective
Authors: Ahmed Ishfaq 
Published: May 2016

PurposeIt is believed that Islamic banks are aimed at the welfare of its stakeholders (Dusuki, 2008). The major stakeholders consist of customers, employees, competitors and management. But whether the Islamic banks are really able to communicate and convey their mission to their stakeholders is an area which has not be given due importance. This paper aims to attempt to unveil this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis study comprised two distinctive methodological stances, where mission statements of selected (five) Islamic banks were analyzed using content analysis, readability and understandability in first instance. In second step, various stakeholders responded for their perception of objectives of stakeholders through personally administrated questionnaires. In all, 370 respondents recorded their responses in this stage.FindingsFindings of the study show that Islamic banks are not well in communication to their objectives through their missions statements. Moreover, most of the stakeholders are not clear about the objectives of Islamic banks.Originality/valueThis study is first of its type which covers content analysis, mission statement readability and understandability and perception of stakeholders in one study.
Is Islamic bank profitability driven by same forces as conventional banks?
Authors: Zarrouk Hajer , Ben Jedidia Khoutem , Moualhi Mouna 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether Islamic bank profitability is driven by same forces as those driving conventional banking in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Distinguished by its principles in conformity with sharia, Islamic banking is different from conventional banking, which is likely to affect profitability.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds on a dynamic panel data model to identify the banks’ specific determinants and the macroeconomic factors influencing the profitability of a large sample of 51 Islamic banks operating in the MENA region from 1994 to 2012. The system-generalized method of moment estimators are applied.FindingsThe findings reveal that profitability is positively affected by banks’ cost-effectiveness, asset quality and level of capitalization. The results also indicate that non-financing activities allow Islamic banks to earn higher profits. Islamic banks perform better in environments where the gross domestic product and investment are high. There is evidence of several elements of similarities between determinants of the profitability for Islamic and conventional banks. The inflation rate, however, is negatively associated with Islamic bank profitability.Practical ImplicationsThe authors conclude that profitability determinants did not differ significantly between Islamic and conventional banks. Many factors are deemed the same in explaining the profitability of conventional as well as Islamic banks. The findings reported in the current paper might be of interest for policy makers. It is recommended to better implement non-financing activities to improve Islamic bank profitability.Originality/valueUnlike the previous empirical research, this empirical investigation assesses the issue whether Islamic banks profitability is influenced by same factors as conventional model. It enriches the literature in this regard by considering the specificities of Islamic banking to identify the determinants of profitability. Moreover, this study considers a large sample (51 Islamic banks) through a different selection of countries/banks than previous studies. In addition, the period of study considers the subprime crisis insofar it ranges from 1994 to 2012. Hence, this broader study allows the authors to draw more consistent conclusions.
Oxygenation and neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps femoris including the vastus intermedius during a fatiguing contraction
Authors: Akima Hiroshi , Ando Ryosuke 
Published: May 2016

SummaryIntroductionThe purpose of this study was to assess oxygenation and neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle group, including the vastus intermedius (VI), during a fatiguing contraction.MethodsEleven healthy men performed an isometric knee extension at 50% of the maximum voluntary contraction until failure. Near‐infrared spectroscopy was used to measure tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), and surface electromyography was used to quantify the median frequency (MF) of the four individual quadriceps femoris muscles.ResultsA significant decrease in StO2 began at 25% of time to exhaustion in all four muscles, and StO2 of the VI was significantly higher than StO2 of the vastus medialis (VM) from 25% of time to exhaustion until 95% of time to exhaustion. The MF of the VI did not significantly decrease during the fatiguing task. We found a significant correlation between ∆MF and ∆StO2 in the VI (r = 0·745, P<0·01) and a significant correlation between StO2 and time to exhaustion in the VM and rectus femoris (RF) (VM, r = 0·684, P<0·05; RF, r = 0·635, P<0·05).ConclusionThese results suggest that muscle O2 saturation in the VI is associated with neuromuscular fatigue during a fatiguing isometric contraction, and the level of oxygenation in the VM and RF is a key to sustaining a fatiguing contraction.
Effects of functional traits on the prediction accuracy of species richness models
Authors: Zurell Damaris , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Sattler Thomas , Nobis Michael P. , Schröder Boris 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimWe assess main ecological determinants affecting the comparative performance of macroecological models (MEMs) that model species richness directly, and stacked species distribution models based on stacking probabilities (pS‐SDMs) and binary predictions (bS‐SDMs). Specifically, we aimed to understand how statistical effects such as prevalence and environmental heterogeneity are entangled with species' ecology in Swiss avian assemblages.LocationSwitzerland.MethodsWe tested for statistical and ecological effects on overprediction and underprediction by regressing species richness residuals against community‐averaged values of prevalence, functional traits and functional dissimilarity. Further, we defined bird functional groups through hierarchical clustering and compared accuracy of species richness predictions between groups to understand the differences between model types and ecological determinants thereof. Last, we tested how accuracy of species assemblages constructed from bS‐SDMs relates to species' functional characteristics.ResultsUnderprediction of high diversity sites by pS‐SDMs and MEMs was mainly explained by prevalence, whereas overprediction of low diversity sites was strongly affected by diet and habitat traits, and increased with functional dissimilarity. Model performances varied strongly between functional groups with more accurate and less biased predictions for generalist species groups. Critically, overprediction bias in richness predictions by bS‐SDMs was uncorrelated with assemblage prediction success.Main conclusionsThe reliability of all community models tested here strongly depended on functional species' characteristics related mainly to diet, foraging and breeding habitat. This underlines the need to incorporate all relevant and species‐specific or functional group‐specific ecological filters in the models. Improved prediction accuracy of species richness will require finer‐resolved environmental predictors that better describe available niche space and account for specific spatial and resource requirements of different species. More research is needed to understand the relationship between accuracy of species richness and species assemblage predictions in bS‐SDMs as well as the role of biotic interactions.
Elaboration of the Gothenburg model of person‐centred care
Authors: Britten Nicky , Moore Lucy , Lydahl Doris , Naldemirci Oncel , Elam Mark , Wolf Axel 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundPerson‐centred care (PCC) is increasingly advocated as a new way of delivering health care, but there is little evidence that it is widely practised. The University of Gothenburg Centre for Person‐Centred Care (GPCC) was set up in 2010 to develop and implement person‐centred care in clinical practice on the basis of three routines. These routines are based on eliciting the patient's narrative to initiate a partnership; working the partnership to achieve commonly agreed goals; and using documentation to safeguard the partnership and record the person's narrative and shared goals.ObjectiveIn this paper, we aimed to explore professionals' understanding ofPCCroutines as they implement theGPCCmodel in a range of different settings.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study and interviewed 18 clinician‐researchers from five health‐care professions who were working in seven diverseGPCCprojects.ResultsInterviewees’ accounts ofPCCemphasized the ways in which persons are seen as different from patients; the variable emphasis placed on the person's goals; and the role of the person's own resources in building partnerships.ConclusionThis study illustrates what is needed for health‐care professionals to implementPCCin everyday practice: the recognition of the person is as important as the specific practical routines. Interviewees described the need to change the clinical mindset and to develop the ways of integrating people's narratives with clinical practice.
Plasma micoRNA‐122 as a predictive marker for treatment response following transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kim Soon Sun , Nam Ji Sun , Cho Hyo Jung , Won Je Hwan , Kim Jin Woo , Ji Jae‐Hoon , Yang Min Jae , Park Joo Han , Noh Choong‐Kyun , Shin Sung Jae , Lee Kee Myung , Cho Sung Won , Cheong Jae Youn 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackground and AimCirculating microRNA (miR)‐122 has recently been investigated as a potential biomarker of various hepatic diseases, such as chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the association between plasma miR‐122 levels and the treatment outcomes following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC patients.MethodsWe included 177 HCC patients treated with TACE in the study; TACE refractoriness and liver transplantation‐free survival were evaluated during follow up. Pretreatment plasma miR‐122 levels were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Relative quantification of miR‐122 expression (fold change) was determined using the 2(−ΔΔCt) method. MiR‐16 was used as an internal control for the normalization of miRNA data.ResultsDuring the mean follow up of 22.4 (range, 1–79) months, 112 (69.5%) patients exhibited TACE refractoriness. Multivariate analyses showed that tumor number (hazard ratio [HR], 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–4.41; P = 0.001) and tumor size (HR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.62–4.32; P = 0.000) can independently predict overall TACE refractoriness. High miR‐122 expression (> 100) was associated with early TACE refractoriness (within 1 year; HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.12–6.86; P = 0.028), together with tumor number (HR, 22.73; 95% CI, 2.74–188.66; P = 0.004) and tumor size (HR, 4.90; 95% CI, 1.99–12.06; P = 0.001). Univariate analyses showed that high miR‐122 expression tends to be associated with poor liver transplantation‐free survival (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.95–2.11; P = 0.085). However, it was statistically insignificant in multivariate analysis.ConclusionHigh expression levels of plasma miR‐122 are associated with early TACE refractoriness in HCC patients treated with TACE.
Aquinas and the Democratic Virtues: An Introduction
Authors: Herdt Jennifer A. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCan the theology of Thomas Aquinas serve as a resource for reflection on democratic civic virtue? That is the central question taken up by Mark Jordan, Adam Eitel, John Bowlin, and Michael Lamb in this focus issue. The four authors agree on one thing: Aquinas himself was no fan of democracy. They disagree, though, over whether Aquinas can offer resources for theorizing democratic virtues. Bowlin, Eitel, and Lamb believe he can, and propose Thomistic accounts of tolerance, civic friendship, and democratic hope, respectively. Jordan, in contrast, issues a cautionary note against such enterprises. This divergence is due in part to different judgments about what it would mean to claim certain resources as “Thomistic.” In part, too, it flows from a disagreement about whether Aquinas himself countenances genuine virtues among non‐Christian citizens, and about whether Christians and non‐Christians can be said to share even proximate ends. This conversation is an important one, since accounts of the democratic virtues constructed using Thomistic resources have the potential to move discussions of democratic and theological virtues beyond common impasses.
Aquinas and the Virtues of Hope: Theological and Democratic
Authors: Lamb Michael 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA prominent political historian has recently identified unwarranted optimism and unwarranted pessimism as democracy's “dual dangers.” While this historical analysis highlights the difficulties that accompany democratic hope, our prevailing conceptual vocabulary obscures the resources needed to address them. This essay attempts to recover these resources by excavating insights from Thomas Aquinas, who supplies one of the most systematic accounts of hope in the history of religious and political thought. By appropriating the conceptual structure of Thomas's theological virtue of hope, this essay reconstructs a democratic virtue that perfects acts of hoping in fellow citizens to achieve democratic goods and thereby enables citizens to respond properly to difficulties that tempt presumption and despair.
Fine's Fragmentalist Interpretation of Special Relativity
Authors: Hofweber Thomas , Lange Marc 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn “Tense and Reality”, Kit Fine () proposed a novel way to think about realism about tense in the metaphysics of time. In particular, he explored two non‐standard forms of realism about tense (“external relativism” and “fragmentalism”), arguing that they are to be preferred over standard forms of realism. In the process of defending his own preferred view, fragmentalism, he proposed a fragmentalist interpretation of the special theory of relativity (STR), which will be our focus in this paper. After presenting Fine's position, we will raise a problem for his fragmentalist interpretation of STR. We will argue that Fine's view is in tension with the proper explanation of why various facts (such as the Lorentz transformations) obtain. We will then consider whether similar considerations also speak against fragmentalism in domains other than STR, notably fragmentalism about tense.