bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of OSTQOL: A Measure of Quality of Life for Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment
Authors: Strada Lisa , Franke Gabriele Helga , Schulte Bernd  , Reimer Jens , Verthein Uwe 
Published: November 2017

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Quality of life (QOL) of patients in opioid substitution treatment (OST) is increasingly being addressed in research. However, no disease- or treatment-specific instrument is available to assess the QOL of this target population. The purpose of this project was to develop the first QOL instrument for OST patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Focus groups with 60 OST patients were analyzed using thematic analysis to elicit key QOL themes as perceived by patients. Identified themes were developed into items and refined through pilot testing and cognitive debriefing. The resulting 82 items were tested in a large sample of OST patients (<i>n</i> = 577). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed to explore a possible factor structure and reduce the number of items. Psychometric properties were assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Factor analysis revealed 6 subscales accounting for 46.1% of the variance: Personal Development, Mental Distress, Social Contacts, Material Well-being, Opioid Substitution Treatment, and Discrimination. The 38-item instrument demonstrated good to acceptable internal consistency reliability for all subscales (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.75–0.88), and good convergent and discriminant validity. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The Opioid Substitution Treatment Quality of Life scale (OSTQOL) is a multidimensional instrument with low respondent and administrator burden. A thorough validation is needed to assess its validity.
Comunicação interna e liderança aberta: os desafios de incorporar a geração Y e as mídias sociais
Authors: Bueno Wilson Da Costa 
Published: November 2017

A comunicação interna precisa se adaptar ao novo ethos organizacional, incorporando as características e as demandas de parcela importante dos seus públicos internos, constituída por representantes da chamada Geração Y. Ao mesmo tempo, deve estar empenhada em construir uma autêntica cultura de comunicação em rede. O artigo evidencia a necessidade de mudanças importantes no modelo de gestão e nas posturas dos gestores das organizações brasileiras, em particular nos processos, ações e estratégias de comunicação que caracterizam a comunicação interna. Propõe a introdução do sistema de liderança aberta para garantir o efetivo comprometimento dos funcionários, favorecer a construção de uma clima organizacional saudável e reter os verdadeiros talentos das organizações.
Comunicação, redes sociais e desafios da interculturalidade na sociedade contemporânea: casos IAC e Adidas
Authors: Silva Marcelo Da , Miguel Katarini Giroldo , Rossi Jéssica De Cássia 
Published: November 2017

Este artigo discute as proposições da comunicação intercultural para as organizações contemporâneas, em um contexto de sociedade largamente globalizado, que recombina informação e comunicação nas plataformas digitais, manifestando suas alteridades e diferenças culturais. Analisamos exploratória e descritivamente dois casos que ilustram essas concepções: o de uma funcionária da empresa IAC após emitir comentário racista em rede social e o da Adidas, que teve que retirar produtos de circulação após manifestos e acusações de apelo sexual de consumidores brasileiros.
Urban–Rural Comparisons in Hospital Admission, Treatments, and Outcomes for ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction in China From 2001 to 2011
Authors: Li Xi , Murugiah Karthik , Li Jing , Masoudi Frederick A. , Chan Paul S. , Hu Shuang , Spertus John A. , Wang Yongfei , Downing Nicholas S. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Jiang Lixin ,   for the China PEACE Collaborative Group
Published: November 2017

Background—
In response to urban–rural disparities in healthcare resources, China recently launched a healthcare reform with a focus on improving rural care during the past decade. However, nationally representative studies comparing medical care and patient outcomes between urban and rural areas in China during this period are not available.

Methods and Results—

We created a nationally representative sample of patients in China admitted for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction in 2001, 2006, and 2011, using a 2-stage random sampling design in 2 urban and 3 rural strata. In China, evidence-based treatments were provided less often in 2001 in rural hospitals, which had lower volume and less availability of advanced cardiac facilities. However, these differences diminished by 2011 for reperfusion therapy (54% in urban versus 57% in rural;
P
=0.1) and reversed for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (66% versus 68%;
P
=0.04) and early β-blockers (56% versus 60%;
P
=0.01). The risk-adjusted rate of in-hospital death or withdrawal from treatment was not significantly different between urban and rural hospitals in any study year, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.13 (0.77–1.65) in 2001, 0.99 (0.77–1.27) in 2006, and 0.94 (0.74–1.19) in 2011.

Conclusions—
Although urban–rural disparities in evidence-based treatment for myocardial infarction in China have largely been eliminated, substantial gaps in quality of care persist in both settings. In addition, urban hospitals providing more resource-intensive care did not achieve better outcomes.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01624883.
Physical and chemical aspects of the habitat of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium americanum (Spence Bate, 1868) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)
Authors: González-Vera Conrado , Buelna-Osben Héctor R. , Catalán-Romero Juan M. 
Published: November 2017

Physical and chemical aspects of the habitat of Macrobrachium americanum (Spence Bate, 1868) were measured between 10 and 12 h at the bottom of the sampling stations every two months in a year’s cycle. Temperature ranged from 20.73 to 35.69°C; dissolved oxygen from 1.99 to 6.5 mg/l and from 10.6 to 150% of oxygen saturation; salinity from 0.2 to 1.03‰; pH from 7.25 to 9.19; Turbidity from 24.4 to 123.3 NTU; alkalinity from 141.8 to 358 mg/l and total hardness from 156.6 to 751.9 mg/l. Nitrates, total ammonia, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead were not detectable. Potassium ranged from 2 to 13 mg/l and iron was ⩽0.8 mg/l. These findings will help the development of techniques for the production of M. americanum and suggest that this species is a stronger candidate for large-scale production than M. rosenbergii, where water alkalinity and total hardness are high.
Effects of Gloves and Pulling Task on Achievable Downward Pull Forces on a Rung
Authors: Beschorner Kurt E. , Slota Gregory P. , Pliner Erika M. , Spaho Egli , Seo Na Jin 
Published: November 2017

Objective We examined the impacts of pulling task (breakaway and pull-down tasks at different postures), glove use, and their interaction on achievable downward pull forces from a ladder rung. Background Posture, glove use, and the type of pulling task are known to affect the achievable forces. However, a gap in the literature exists regarding how these factors affect achievable downward pulling forces, which are relevant to recovery from a perturbation during ladder climbing. Methods Forty subjects completed four downward pulling tasks (breakaway force; pull force at maximum height, shoulder height, and a middle height), using three glove conditions with varying coefficient of friction (COF) levels (cotton glove, low COF; bare hand, moderate COF; and latex-coated glove, high COF) with their dominant and nondominant hand. The outcome variable was the maximum force normalized to body weight. Results The highest forces were observed for the highest hand postures (breakaway and maximum height). Increased COF led to higher forces and had a larger effect on breakaway force than the other tasks. The dominant hand was associated with higher forces than the nondominant hand. Male subjects generated greater forces than female subjects, particularly for higher hand positions. Conclusion This study suggests that a higher hand position on the ladder, while avoiding low-friction gloves, may be effective for improving recovery from ladder perturbations. Application This study may guide preferred climbing strategies (particularly those that lead to a higher hand position) for improving recovery from a perturbation during ladder climbing.
Ideal Particle Sizes for Inhaled Steroids Targeting Vocal Granulomas: Preliminary Study Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Perkins Elizabeth L. , Basu Saikat , Garcia Guilherme J. M. , Buckmire Robert A. , Shah Rupali N. , Kimbell Julia S. 
Published: November 2017

ObjectivesVocal fold granulomas are benign lesions of the larynx commonly caused by gastroesophageal reflux, intubation, and phonotrauma. Current medical therapy includes inhaled corticosteroids to target inflammation that leads to granuloma formation. Particle sizes of commonly prescribed inhalers range over 1 to 4 µm. The study objective was to use computational fluid dynamics to investigate deposition patterns over a range of particle sizes of inhaled corticosteroids targeting the larynx and vocal fold granulomas.Study DesignRetrospective, case‐specific computational study.SettingTertiary academic center.Subjects/MethodsA 3‐dimensional anatomically realistic computational model of a normal adult airway from mouth to trachea was constructed from 3 computed tomography scans. Virtual granulomas of varying sizes and positions along the vocal fold were incorporated into the base model. Assuming steady‐state, inspiratory, turbulent airflow at 30 L/min, computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate respiratory transport and deposition of inhaled corticosteroid particles ranging over 1 to 20 µm.ResultsLaryngeal deposition in the base model peaked for particle sizes 8 to 10 µm (2.8%‐3.5%). Ideal sizes ranged over 6 to 10, 7 to 13, and 7 to 14 µm for small, medium, and large granuloma sizes, respectively. Glottic deposition was maximal at 10.8% for 9‐µm‐sized particles for the large posterior granuloma, 3 times the normal model (3.5%).ConclusionAs the virtual granuloma size increased and the location became more posterior, glottic deposition and ideal particle size generally increased. This preliminary study suggests that inhalers with larger particle sizes, such as fluticasone propionate dry‐powder inhaler, may improve laryngeal drug deposition. Most commercially available inhalers have smaller particles than suggested here.
Management of Neurologic Deformity of the Ankle and Foot With Concurrent Osteomyelitis With the Ilizarov Method
Authors: Kliushin Nikolay Mikhailovich , Sudnitsyn Anatoliy Sergeyevich , Subramanyam Koushik Narayan , George Jefferson 
Published: November 2017

Background: The combination of neurologic deformity of the ankle and foot with osteomyelitis is a therapeutic challenge. We investigated the role of Ilizarov with regard to eradication of infection, correction of deformities and improvement of patient function. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients (77 feet) with neurologic deformity of the ankle and foot with osteomyelitis treated sequentially in 3 stages by Ilizarov method. The 3 stages were (1) active debridement and Ilizarov stabilization, (2) further strengthening of Ilizarov fixator and active osteosynthesis consisting of strategies like arthrodesis, osteotomy distraction, bone transport, or combination thereof, (3) consolidation of fusion/regeneration achieved in second stage. Patients with Charcot arthropathy were not included in the study. There were 43 males and 34 females with mean age of 34.4 (range, 18 to 70) years. All patients had a minimum of 1 year follow-up and 49 patients had 5 years follow-up. Results: Mean duration of external fixation was 179.9 (range, 128 to 413) days. The success of infection eradication was 90.9% and 91.9% at the end of 1 and 5 years, respectively. We achieved plantigrade feet in all cases with no recurrence of deformity. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Score (AOFAS) improved from a median preoperative value of 74 (interquartile range, 65 to 75.25) to 81 (interquartile range, 77 to 88) ( P < .0001). The improvement of the score was by 7 points only considering the painless nature of the pathology, and the fact that pain contributed to 40% of total score. A total of 39 complications occurred in 30 patients which were managed successfully by alteration of rehabilitation and carefully chosen interventions. Conclusion: Ilizarov external fixation was an effective technique to address problems associated with neurologic foot and ankle deformity with infection. It allowed eradication of infection and achievement of a stable plantigrade foot. It had some disadvantages like lengthy duration of treatment, pin-tract infections, need for operative expertise, and supervised rehabilitation, but we feel these were definitely outweighed by its benefits. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Evaluation of rivaroxaban use in patients with gynecologic malignancies at an academic medical center: A pilot study
Authors: Signorelli Jessie R , Gandhi Arpita S 
Published: November 2017

Background Patients with gynecologic malignancies are at an increased risk for venous thromboembolism. National guidelines recommend treatment of an acute venous thromboembolism with low molecular weight heparin for 5–10 days followed by long-term secondary prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin for at least six months. Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants are not currently recommended to be used in cancer patients for the management of venous thromboembolism because robust data on their efficacy and safety have yet to become available in cancer patients. The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of gynecologic oncology patients with venous thromboembolism using rivaroxaban compared to warfarin or low molecular weight heparin as well as compare the safety and efficacy of these anticoagulants. Methods This study was a retrospective pilot analysis of adult patients with gynecologic malignancies who received either rivaroxaban, warfarin or low molecular weight heparin for treatment of venous thromboembolism at Augusta University Medical Center from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015. Statistical comparisons between the enoxaparin and rivaroxaban group were made using T-tests and Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, where appropriate. Results Out of the 49 patients, 37% (18) patients were on rivaroxaban, 53% (26) on enoxaparin, and 10% (5) on warfarin. Only one patient (4%) in the enoxaparin group experienced a recurrent deep vein thrombosis while there were no cases of recurrent venous thromboembolism in the rivaroxaban and warfarin group. The incidence of major bleeding was 17% ( n = 2), 20% ( n = 1), and 8% ( n = 2) in patients receiving rivaroxaban, enoxaparin, and warfarin, respectively. The rate of switching to a different anticoagulant than originally prescribed was 42% ( n = 14) in the enoxaparin arm, and 5.5% ( n = 1) in the rivaroxaban arm. Conclusion A high proportion of our gynecologic oncology patients received rivaroxaban for the management of venous thromboembolism. The sample size of this pilot analysis was too small to draw any conclusions regarding efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban compared with enoxaparin and warfarin. High rate of rivaroxaban use in gynecologic oncology patients at our institution highlights the need for larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of its use in this population.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending-dose study of remyelinating antibody rHIgM22 in people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Eisen Andrew , Greenberg Benjamin M , Bowen James D , Arnold Douglas L , Caggiano Anthony O 
Published: November 2017

Objective The objective of this paper is to assess, in individuals with clinically stable multiple sclerosis (MS), the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and exploratory pharmacodynamics of the monoclonal recombinant human antibody IgM22 (rHIgM22). Methods Seventy-two adults with stable MS were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single ascending-dose, Phase 1 trial examining rHIgM22 from 0.025 to 2.0 mg/kg. Assessments included MRI, MR spectroscopy, plasma PK, and changes in clinical status, laboratory values and adverse events for three months. The final cohort had additional clinical, ophthalmologic, CSF collection and exploratory biomarker evaluations. Participants were monitored for six months. Results rHIgM22 was well tolerated with no clinically significant safety signals. Noncompartmental PK modeling demonstrated linear dose-proportionality both of Cmax and AUC0–Last. The steady-state apparent volume of distribution of approximately 58 ml/kg suggested primarily vascular compartmentalization. CSF:plasma rHIgM22 concentration increased from 0.003% on Day 2 for both 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg to 0.056% and 0.586% for 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively, on Day 29. No statistically significant treatment-related changes were observed in exploratory pharmacodynamic outcome measures included for the 21 participants of the extension cohort. Conclusions Single doses of rHIgM22 were well tolerated and exhibited linear PK, and antibody was detected in the CSF.
Comparison of patellar tracking according to different angles of external rotation of femoral component in varus knee of Asians
Authors: Park Jai Hyung , Bin Seong-Il , Kim Jong-Min , Lee Bum-Sik , Lee Chang-Rack , Kim Jong-Min , Cho Yongun 
Published: November 2017

Purpose: Racial difference in the femoral geometry may exist. Asian femurs may be more externally rotated. If anatomical differences in distal femur had existed between Caucasians and Asians, the group with 5° external rotation of the femoral component should have shown better results than the group with 3° external rotation of the femoral component have. Methods: 598 patients underwent total knee arthroplasty in our institution, among whom 83 patients (115 knees) who had postoperative computed tomography (CT) were studied retrospectively. Sixty-two knees were set in 5° of external rotation of femoral component relative to the posterior condylar axis (group A) while the others (53 knees) were set in 3° (group B). The femoral component rotation (FCR) was measured and compared using CT. The patellar tilting (PT) and the lateral patellar displacement (LPD) were measured to evaluate the patellar tracking using Merchant view. And postoperative clinical scores were compared. Results: The mean FCRs showed no significant difference between two groups ( p > 0.05). The mean PT and LPD showed no statistically significant difference either ( p > 0.05). There were no statistical differences in clinical scores. Conclusion: The difference in the patellar tracking between the two groups could not be demonstrated. There were no statistical differences in clinical scores either. We concluded there is no need to adhere to 5° external rotation.
Multiple nonradial solutions for a nonlinear elliptic problem with singular and decaying radial potential
Authors: Rolando Sergio 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMany existence and nonexistence results are known for nonnegativeradialsolutions to the equation-\triangle u+\frac{A}{|x|^{\alpha}}u=f(u)\quad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^{N},\,N\geq 3% ,\,A,\alpha>0,\,u\in D^{1,2}(\mathbb{R}^{N})\cap L^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{N},|x|^{-% \alpha}\,dx),with the nonlinearities satisfying{|f(u)|\leq(\mathrm{const.})u^{p-1}}for some{p>2}. The existence ofnonradialsolutions, by contrast, is known only for{N\geq 4},{\alpha=2},{f(u)=u^{(N+2)/(N-2)}}andAlarge enough. Here we show that the above equation has multiple nonradial solutions as{A\rightarrow+\infty}for{N\geq 4},{2/(N-1)<\alpha<2N-2}and{\alpha\neq 2}, with the nonlinearities satisfying suitable assumptions. Our argument essentially relies on the compact embeddings between some suitable functional spaces of symmetric functions, which yields the existence of nonnegative solutions of mountain-pass type, and the separation of the corresponding mountain-pass levels from the energy levels associated to radial solutions.
Estimating Classification Errors Under Edit Restrictions in Composite Survey-Register Data Using Multiple Imputation Latent Class Modelling (MILC)
Authors: Boeschoten Laura , Oberski Daniel , de Waal Ton 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Both registers and surveys can contain classification errors. These errors can be estimated by making use of a composite data set. We propose a new method based on latent class modelling to estimate the number of classification errors across several sources while taking into account impossible combinations with scores on other variables. Furthermore, the latent class model, by multiply imputing a new variable, enhances the quality of statistics based on the composite data set. The performance of this method is investigated by a simulation study, which shows that whether or not the method can be applied depends on the entropy R
2 of the latent class model and the type of analysis a researcher is planning to do. Finally, the method is applied to public data from Statistics Netherlands.
The Effects of the Frequency and Implementation Lag of Basket Updates on the Canadian CPI
Authors: Huang Ning , Wimalaratne Waruna , Pollard Brent 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
In this article, we examine the effects of different frequencies and implementation months of basket updates on the fixed-basket price index – the Lowe index, through theoretical analysis and empirical simulation using Canadian data from 2000 to 2013. We find that both an increased frequency of basket updates and a faster implementation of these new baskets will reduce substitution bias in the CPI. However, we also find that improvements to the method of accelerating frequency has diminishing marginal returns in practice – as each subsequent increase in the frequency with which the CPI basket is updated has a less pronounced effect; and the ideal link-month when a new basket is implemented is unpredictable, since the impact of the implementation lag depends upon the consistency between short-term price movements and long-term price trends.
Multiply-Imputed Synthetic Data: Advice to the Imputer
Authors: Loong Bronwyn , Rubin Donald B. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Several statistical agencies have started to use multiply-imputed synthetic microdata to create public-use data in major surveys. The purpose of doing this is to protect the confidentiality of respondents’ identities and sensitive attributes, while allowing standard complete-data analyses of microdata. A key challenge, faced by advocates of synthetic data, is demonstrating that valid statistical inferences can be obtained from such synthetic data for non-confidential questions. Large discrepancies between observed-data and synthetic-data analytic results for such questions may arise because of uncongeniality; that is, differences in the types of inputs available to the imputer, who has access to the actual data, and to the analyst, who has access only to the synthetic data. Here, we discuss a simple, but possibly canonical, example of uncongeniality when using multiple imputation to create synthetic data, which specifically addresses the choices made by the imputer. An initial, unanticipated but not surprising, conclusion is that non-confidential design information used to impute synthetic data should be released with the confidential synthetic data to allow users of synthetic data to avoid possible grossly conservative inferences.