bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cancer Genetic Counseling and Testing: Perspectives of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients and Gynecologic Oncology Healthcare Providers
Authors: Liang Margaret I. , Wong Deanna H. , Walsh Christine S. , Farias‐Eisner Robin , Cohen Joshua G. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMulti‐gene panel testing has expanded the genetic information available to cancer patients. The objective was to assess provider behaviors and attitudes and patient knowledge and attitudes towards genetic counseling and testing. An online survey was distributed to Society of Gynecologic Oncology members and a written questionnaire was administered to patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer at a tertiary care referral center. Most of the 233 (18% response rate) provider respondents were gynecologic oncologists. Access to a genetic counselor was reported by 87% of providers and 55% deferred all testing to genetic counselors. Of 53 ovarian cancer patient respondents, two‐thirds had previously seen a genetic counselor or undergone testing. Patients’ attitudes about genetic counseling and/or testing were favorable with respect to themselves (70–81%) and their family members (94%). Less than 25% of patients indicated worrying about health care discrimination, lack of privacy, or high cost. Seventy‐seven percent of patients demonstrated a desire to obtain genetic information even if the results were not currently actionable, and 20% of providers stated they test for only those genes with guideline‐supported actionable results. Provider practice differences were identified in screening and prevention strategies for patients with deleterious non‐BRCA mutations and variants of uncertain significance. The variation in clinical interpretation of results associated with poorly defined cancer risks signals a need for more comprehensive training and guidelines to ensure access to evidence‐based care.
Theory of Mind: Towards an Evolutionary Theory
Authors: Tsoukalas Ioannis 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTheory of mind is an important mental faculty. However, despite almost half a century of research, we only have a limited understanding of its evolutionary past. The present article proposes a novel hypothesis on the origin of this unique human capacity. According to this hypothesis theory of mind descended from two, closely related, defensive reactions, namely tonic immobility and immobilization stress. Both reactions are conserved in many vertebrate species and are highly prevalent in immature individuals. They are produced by a combination of manual handling and restraint (common in many nursing activities) and implicated in the management of stressful encounters. Most importantly, they have been shown to facilitate eye-contact, gaze-following, and intentional attributions. These traits, and several others detailed in the text, make them prime candidates in the search for the origin of theory of mind. The article presents conceptual arguments and empirical facts in support of this hypothesis.
Fifty Shades of Belgian Gray: The Prevalence of BDSM-Related Fantasies and Activities in the General Population
Authors: Holvoet Lien , Huys Wim , Coppens Violette , Seeuws Jantien , Goethals Kris , Morrens Manuel 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Background
Bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism (BDSM) is gaining popularity through the mainstream media. Nevertheless, very little is known about the prevalence of BDSM-related fantasies and activities in the general population.

Aim
To determine the prevalence of BDSM fantasies and behavioral involvement in four different age groups of the general population in Belgium.

Methods
By use of a cross-sectional survey questionnaire, the level of interest in several BDSM-related activities was investigated in a sample representative of the general Belgian population (N = 1,027). The questionnaire evaluated interest in 54 BDSM activities and 14 fetishes. Self-identification as BDSM practitioner, situational context of BDSM practice, age at awareness of these interests, and transparency to others were queried.

Outcomes
Individual item scores and summary scores on four BDSM categories were included in the analyses.

Results
A high interest in BDSM-related activities in the general population was found because 46.8% of the total sample had ever performed at least one BDSM-related activity and an additional 22% indicated having (had) fantasies about it. Interestingly, 12.5% of the total population indicated performing at least one BDSM-related activity on a regular basis. When asked whether they saw themselves as being interested in BDSM, 26% stated this to be the case and 7.6% self-identified as BDSM practitioners. Interests in dominant and submissive activities were comparable and, remarkably, were highly intercorrelated. BDSM and fetish interests were significantly higher in men than in women. The older group (48–65 years) had significantly lower BDSM scores compared with their younger peers. Of participants with a BDSM interest, 61.4% became aware of it before 25 years of age.

Clinical Implications
There is a high level of interest in BDSM in the general population, which strongly argues against stigmatization and pathologic characterization of these interests.

Strengths and Limitations
This is the first thorough study concerning prevalence of interest in and fantasies about a wide range of BDSM-related activities in the general population worldwide. Although our findings tend to argue against it, we cannot completely rule out participation bias introduced by non-interest in the non-completers. In addition, some topics might have been subject to interpretation by the respondents.

Conclusion
Interest in BDSM is present in most of the general population. Further research is needed to destigmatize it by confirming BDSM as a leisurely preference rather than a psychiatric affliction.
Impact of a Newly Constructed Motor Vehicle Road on Altitude Illness in the Nepal Himalayas
Authors: Reisman Jonathan , Deonarain Dinesh , Basnyat Buddha 
Published: August 2017

Objective This study investigated the impact that motor vehicle travel along a newly constructed road has on altitude illness (including acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema, and high-altitude pulmonary edema). The new road from Besisahar (760 m) to Manang (3540 m) in Nepal was completed in December 2014. Methods We enrolled all patients diagnosed with altitude illness at the Himalayan Rescue Association Manang clinic in fall 2016. Phi coefficients were calculated to test for an association between Nepali ethnicity and rapid ascent by motor vehicle. A retrospective review looked at all patients with altitude illness from fall (September-November) 2010 to spring (February-May) 2016. Results In fall 2016, more than half (54%) of patients with altitude illness traveled to Manang by motor vehicle, and one-third (33%) reached Manang from low altitude (Besisahar) in less than 48 hours. Nepali nationality had a significant association with motor vehicle travel (phi +0.69, P < .0001) as well as with rapid ascent to Manang (phi +0.72, P < .0001). Compared to previous seasons, fall 2016 saw the most patients diagnosed with altitude illness. The proportion of people with altitude illness who traveled by vehicle and reached Manang in less than 48 hours was significantly greater than the proportion prior to completion of the road ( P < .0001 for both). Conclusions Rapid ascent by the newly constructed road from Besisahar to Manang appears to be related to a significant increase in the number of patients with all forms of altitude illness, especially among Nepalis. The authors believe that educational interventions emphasizing prevention are urgently needed.
BEYOND THE PEARSON CORRELATION: HEAVY-TAILED RISKS, WEIGHTED GINI CORRELATIONS, AND A GINI-TYPE WEIGHTED INSURANCE PRICING MODEL
Authors: Furman Edward , Zitikis Ričardas 
Published: August 2017

AbstractGini-type correlation coefficients have become increasingly important in a variety of research areas, including economics, insurance and finance, where modelling with heavy-tailed distributions is of pivotal importance. In such situations, naturally, the classical Pearson correlation coefficient is of little use. On the other hand, it has been observed that when light-tailed situations are of interest, and hence when both the Gini-type and Pearson correlation coefficients are well defined and finite, these coefficients are related and sometimes even coincide. In general, understanding how these correlation coefficients are related has been an illusive task. In this paper, we put forward arguments that establish such a connection via certain regression-type equations. This, in turn, allows us to introduce a Gini-type weighted insurance pricing model that works in heavy-tailed situations and thus provides a natural alternative to the classical capital asset pricing model. We illustrate our theoretical considerations using several bivariate distributions, such as elliptical and those with heavy-tailed Pareto margins.
FOURIER SPACE TIME-STEPPING ALGORITHM FOR VALUING GUARANTEED MINIMUM WITHDRAWAL BENEFITS IN VARIABLE ANNUITIES UNDER REGIME-SWITCHING AND STOCHASTIC MORTALITY
Authors: Ignatieva Katja , Song Andrew , Ziveyi Jonathan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis paper introduces the Fourier Space Time-Stepping algorithm to the valuation of variable annuity (VA) contracts embedded with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) riders when the underlying fund dynamics evolve under the influence of a regime-switching model. Mortality risk is introduced to the valuation framework by incorporating a two-factor affine stochastic mortality model proposed in Blackburn and Sherris (2013). The paper considers both, static and dynamic policyholder withdrawal behaviour associated with GMWB riders and assesses how model parameters influence the fees levied on providing such guarantees. Our numerical experiments reveal that the GMWB fees are very sensitive to regime-switching parameters; a percentage increase in the force of interest results in significant decrease in guarantee fees. The guarantee fees increase substantially with increasing volatility levels. Numerical experiments also highlight an increasing importance of mortality as maturity of the VA contract increases. Mortality has less impact on shorter maturity contracts regardless of the policyholder's withdrawal behaviour. As much as mortality influences pricing results for long maturities, the associated guarantee fees are decreasing functions of maturities for the VA contracts. Robustness checks of the Fourier Space Time-Stepping algorithm are performed by making numerical comparisons with several existing valuation approaches.
A new species of Diomedenema (Nematoda, Rhabditida, Spiruromorpha) from Spheniscus magellanicus (Aves, Sphenisciformes) found on the southern coast of Brazil
Authors: Knoff M. , Santos J.N. , Giese E.G. , Gomes D.C. , Silva-Souza Â.T. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA new species of the genus Diomedenema, a spiruromorph nematode, collected from the lung of Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes) found on the southern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is described. The new species is differentiated from the only previously described species of the genus, D. diomedeae Johston & Mawson, 1952, by males possessing a set of caudal papillae with three pairs of precloacal, two pairs of adcloacal and one pair of postcloacal papillae; precloacal papillae with the papillae of the first two pairs being closer to each other than those of the third pair; a longer and pointed tail in males; and females with the vulva at mid-body. This is the first report of a nematode infecting the lung of a sphenisciforme host.
Ralstonia infection in cystic fibrosis
Authors: GREEN H. D. , BRIGHT-THOMAS R. , KENNA D. T. , TURTON J. F. , WOODFORD N. , JONES A. M. 
Published: August 2017

SummaryThis study aimed to determine prevalence of Ralstonia spp. in cystic fibrosis patients, look for any evidence of cross infection and to describe clinical outcomes for patients infected by Ralstonia spp. Prevalence of Ralstonia spp. was calculated annually from 2008 to 2016. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed on ⩾1 sample from patients with an isolation of Ralstonia spp. between 2008 and 2016. A prospective, longitudinal observational study of adult patients was performed with 12 months follow-up from recruitment. Prevalence of Ralstonia spp. rose from 0·6% in 2008 to 2·4% in 2016. In total 12 out of 14 (86%) patients with ⩾1 isolation of Ralstonia spp. developed chronic infection. A pair and a group of three unrelated patients with epidemiological connections shared strains of Ralstonia mannitolilytica. Lung function of Ralstonia spp. infected patients was moderately to severely impaired. Prevalence of Ralstonia spp. is low but increasing. The risk of a patient developing chronic Ralstonia spp. infection following first acquisition is high and cross-infection may be possible. Whether Ralstonia spp. infection causes increased pulmonary exacerbation frequency and lung function decline needs to be evaluated in larger prospective studies.
Filling a significant gap in the cardiac ICU: implementation of individualised developmental care
Authors: Butler Samantha C. , Huyler Kate , Kaza Aditya , Rachwal Chris 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMortality rates among children with CHD have significantly declined, although the incidence of neurological abnormalities and neurodevelopmental impairment has increased. Research has focussed on outcomes, with limited attention on prevention and intervention. Although some developmental differences and challenges seen in children with CHD are explained by the cumulative effect of medical complications associated with CHD, many sequelae are not easily explained by medical complications alone. Although cardiac intensive care is lifesaving, it creates high levels of environmental and tactile stimulation, which potentially contribute to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The therapeutic method of individualised developmental care, such as the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program, provides early support and preventive intervention based on each child’s behavioural signals of stress, comfort, and strength. Implementing developmental care practices in a cardiac ICU requires a thoughtful and well-planned approach to ensure successful adoption of practice changes. This paper reviews how developmental care was introduced in a paediatric inpatient cardiac service through multidisciplinary collaborative staff education, clinician support, child neurodevelopment assessment, parent support, and research initiatives. Given the known risk for children with CHD, cardiac medical professionals must shift their focus to not only assuring the child’s survival but also optimising development through individualised developmental care in the cardiac ICU.
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction without left ventricular hypertrophy in obese children and adolescents: a Tissue Doppler Imaging and Cardiac Troponin I Study
Authors: El Saiedi Sonia A. , Mira Marwa F. , Sharaf Sahar A. , Al Musaddar Maysoun M. , El Kaffas Rania M. H. , AbdelMassih Antoine F. , Barsoum Ihab H. Y. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundObesity increases the risk for various cardiovascular problems. Increase in body mass index is often an independent risk factor for the development of elevated blood pressure and clustering of various cardiovascular risk factors.ObjectiveTo determine early markers of left ventricular affection in obese patients before the appearance of left ventricular hypertrophy.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 42 obese patients and 30 healthy controls. Their ages ranged from 6 to 19 years. Studied children were subjected to anthropometric, lipid profile, and serum Troponin I level measurements. Echocardiographic evaluation performed to assess the left ventricle included left ventricular dimension measurement using motion-mode echocardiography, based on which patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (10 patients) were eliminated, as well as conventional and tissue Doppler imaging.ResultsTissue Doppler findings in the study groups showed that the ratio of transmitral early diastolic filling velocity to septal peak early diastolic myocardial velocity (E/e′) was significantly higher in cases compared with controls [6.9±1.4 versus 9.0±1.6, p (Pearson’s coefficient)=0.001, respectively]. The level of cardiac troponin I was significantly higher in cases compared with controls [0.14±0.39 ng/ml versus 0.01±0.01 ng/ml, p (Pearson’s coefficient)=0.047, respectively] and there was a significant correlation between troponin I and transmitral early diastolic filling velocity to septal peak early diastolic myocardial velocity ratio (E/e′) [R (correlation coefficient)=0.6].ConclusionTissue Doppler Imaging and Troponin I evaluation proved useful tools to detect early affection of the left ventricle in obese patients even in the absence of left ventricular hypertrophy.
Assessing and Improving Hospital Mass-Casualty Preparedness: A No-Notice Exercise
Authors: Waxman Daniel A. , Chan Edward W. , Pillemer Francesca , Smith Timothy WJ , Abir Mahshid , Nelson Christopher 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn recent years, mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) have become more frequent and deadly, while emergency department (ED) crowding has grown steadily worse and widespread. The ability of hospitals to implement an effective mass-casualty surge plan, immediately and expertly, has therefore never been more important. Yet, mass-casualty exercises tend to be highly choreographed, pre-scheduled events that provide limited insight into hospitals’ true capacity to respond to a no-notice event under real-world conditions. To address this gap, the US Department of Health and Human Services (Washington, DC USA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), sponsored development of a set of tools meant to allow any hospital to run a real-time, no-notice exercise, focusing on the first hour and 15 minutes of a hospital’s response to a sudden MCI, with the goals of minimizing burden, maximizing realism, and providing meaningful, outcome-oriented metrics to facilitate self-assessment. The resulting exercise, which was iteratively developed, piloted at nine hospitals nationwide, and completed in 2015, is now freely available for anyone to use or adapt. This report demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a no-notice exercise in the hospital setting and describes insights gained during the development process that might be helpful to future exercise developers. It also introduces the use of ED “immediate bed availability (IBA)” as an objective, dynamic measure of an ED’s physical capacity for new arrivals.WaxmanDA, ChanEW, PillemerF, SmithTWJ, AbirM, NelsonC. Assessing and improving hospital mass-casualty preparedness: a no-notice exercise. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):662–666.
Crevice corrosion of nickel-based alloys considered as engineering barriers of geological repositories
Authors: Carranza Ricardo M. , Rodríguez Martín A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNickel-based alloys are considered among other candidate materials as engineering barriers of geological repositories due to their excellent corrosion resistance. These alloys possess unique advantages: they may be used in saturated and unsaturated repositories, hosted by practically any rock type, while also compatible with any (or no) backfill, and have minimal impact in other barriers. Alloy-22 (UNS N06022) has been the most studied of this class of alloys for its potential application in the proposed repositories (namely Yucca Mountain, USA). Crevice corrosion is however an important and often unintended degradation process that may limit the waste container lifetime if a nickel-based alloy is selected. Alloy susceptibility to crevice corrosion is influenced by environmental and metallurgical variables. This review gives an account of the current knowledge regarding crevice corrosion of nickel-based alloys as candidate materials for the corrosion-resistant layer of high-level nuclear waste containers. Although there is a significant amount of research supporting the use of nickel-based alloys for this application, the effect of the different variables on crevice corrosion resistance is described. Special focus is given to the current criterion for crevice corrosion occurrence in repository environments, recent works and criticisms. The presently established criterion appears robust for ruling out crevice corrosion in saturated repositories; however, the development of a less conservative criterion for crevice corrosion occurrence is necessary to use these alloys in unsaturated repositories.
The CpG-sites of the CBX3 ubiquitous chromatin opening element are critical structural determinants for the anti-silencing function
Authors: Kunkiel Jessica , Gödecke Natascha , Ackermann Mania , Hoffmann Dirk , Schambach Axel , Lachmann Nico , Wirth Dagmar , Moritz Thomas 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSuppression of therapeutic transgene expression from retroviral gene therapy vectors by epigenetic defence mechanisms represents a problem that is particularly encountered in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and their differentiated progeny. Transgene expression in these cells, however, can be stabilised by CpG-rich ubiquitous chromatin opening elements (UCOEs). In this context we recently demonstrated profound anti-silencing properties for the small (679 bp) CBX3-UCO element and we now confirmed this observation in the context of the defined murine chromosomal loci ROSA26 and TIGRE. Moreover, since the structural basis for the anti-silencing activity of UCOEs has remained poorly defined, we interrogated various CBX3 subfragments in the context of lentiviral vectors and murine PSCs. We demonstrated marked though distinct anti-silencing activity in the pluripotent state and during PSC-differentiation for several of the CBX3 subfragments. This activity was significantly correlated with CpG content as well as endogenous transcriptional activity. Interestingly, also a scrambled CBX3 version with preserved CpG-sites retained the anti-silencing activity despite the lack of endogenous promoter activity. Our data therefore highlight the importance of CpG-sites and transcriptional activity for UCOE functionality and suggest contributions from different mechanisms to the overall anti-silencing function of the CBX3 element.
Inferring structural connectivity using Ising couplings in models of neuronal networks
Authors: Kadirvelu Balasundaram , Hayashi Yoshikatsu , Nasuto Slawomir J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFunctional connectivity metrics have been widely used to infer the underlying structural connectivity in neuronal networks. Maximum entropy based Ising models have been suggested to discount the effect of indirect interactions and give good results in inferring the true anatomical connections. However, no benchmarking is currently available to assess the performance of Ising couplings against other functional connectivity metrics in the microscopic scale of neuronal networks through a wide set of network conditions and network structures. In this paper, we study the performance of the Ising model couplings to infer the synaptic connectivity in in silico networks of neurons and compare its performance against partial and cross-correlations for different correlation levels, firing rates, network sizes, network densities, and topologies. Our results show that the relative performance amongst the three functional connectivity metrics depends primarily on the network correlation levels. Ising couplings detected the most structural links at very weak network correlation levels, and partial correlations outperformed Ising couplings and cross-correlations at strong correlation levels. The result was consistent across varying firing rates, network sizes, and topologies. The findings of this paper serve as a guide in choosing the right functional connectivity tool to reconstruct the structural connectivity.