bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Candidemia in a major regional tertiary referral hospital – epidemiology, practice patterns and outcomes
Authors: Teo Jocelyn Qi-Min , Candra Samuel Rocky , Lee Shannon Jing-Yi , Chia Shannon Yu-Hng , Leck Hui , Tan Ai-Ling , Neo Hui-Peng , Leow Kenneth Wei-Liang , Cai Yiying , Ee Rachel Pui-Lai , Lim Tze-Peng , Lee Winnie , Kwa Andrea Lay-Hoon 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Background
Candidemia is a common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to describe the epidemiology, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility patterns and outcomes of candidemia in a large regional tertiary referral hospital.

Methods
A retrospective surveillance study of patients with candidemia was conducted at Singapore General Hospital between July 2012 and December 2015. In addition, incidence densities and species distribution of candidemia episodes were analysed from 2008 to 2015.

Results
In the period of 2012 to 2015, 261 candidemia episodes were identified. The overall incidence was 0.14/1000 inpatient-days. C. glabrata (31.4%), C. tropicalis (29.9%), and C. albicans (23.8%) were most commonly isolated. The incidence of C. glabrata significantly increased from 2008 to 2015 (Coefficient 0.004, confidence interval 0–0.007, p = 0.04). Fluconazole resistance was detected primarily in C. tropicalis (16.7%) and C. glabrata (7.2%). fks mutations were identified in one C. albicans and one C. tropicalis. Candidemia episodes caused by C. tropicalis were more commonly encountered in patients with haematological malignancies (p = 0.01), neutropenia (p < 0.001) and higher SAPS II scores (p = 0.02), while prior exposure to echinocandins was associated with isolation of C. parapsilosis (p = 0.001). Echinocandins (73.3%) were most commonly prescribed as initial treatment. The median (range) time to initial treatment was 1 (0–9) days. The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 49.8%. High SAPS II score (Odds ratio, OR 1.08; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.05–1.11) and renal replacement therapy (OR 5.54; CI 2.80–10.97) were independent predictors of mortality, while drain placement (OR 0.44; CI 0.19–0.99) was protective.

Conclusions
Decreasing azole susceptibilities to C. tropicalis and the emergence of echinocandin resistance suggest that susceptibility patterns may no longer be sufficiently predicted by speciation in our institution. Candidemia is associated with poor outcomes. Strategies optimising antifungal therapy, especially in the critically-ill population, should be explored.
Surveying the historical landscape: the evaluative voice of history textbooks
Authors: Myskow Gordon 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMuch attention has been devoted to understanding the rhetorical features of history texts and how they position readers to take up particular views toward the past. One useful taxonomy for investigating evaluative meaning from the systemic-functional tradition is the Appraisal framework. Voice Theory extends this framework to account for the particular combinations of Appraisal resources that tend to occur in different genres and at specific stages within them, showing how authors take up various evaluative postures or ‘voices’ when communicating with their audiences. The Voices of History framework identifies a variety of such voices including Recorder and Interpreter that describe the particular configurations of Appraisal found in different history genres. Recent research, however, has shown that the types of Appraisal resources that commonly occur in history textbooks do not fit neatly with the existing Voices of History framework—a set of resources that was initially developed to describe the voices of written school history genres. This paper elaborates the Voices of History framework by proposing a new voice called Surveyor Voice to account for the types of Appraisal commonly deployed in history textbooks. It also discusses the modified framework in the context of broader disciplinary issues in historiography, including the underlying epistemological principles of historical knowledge construction.
Utilization of Reflex Testing for Direct Bilirubin in the Early Recognition of Biliary Atresia
Authors: Lam Leo , Musaad Samarina , Kyle Campbell , Mouat Stephen 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Delayed diagnosis of biliary atresia is an important cause of pediatric end-stage liver failure and liver transplantation. We sought to determine whether direct bilirubin is underutilized by retrospectively reviewing patients with biliary atresia. Further, we aimed to determine the role of reflex testing for direct bilirubin in patients suspected for jaundice.

METHODS
The time intervals between total bilirubin and direct bilirubin measurements were retrospectively reviewed in patients with biliary atresia. We also audited the results of two major laboratories that had implemented reflex testing for direct bilirubin. We evaluated the clinical impact and cost of reflex testing in infants with increased direct bilirubin (&gt;1.5 mg/dL; &gt;25 μmol/L).

RESULTS
In patients with known biliary atresia, an isolated total bilirubin measurement preceded direct bilirubin measurement in 46% (40/87) of patients; with a median delay of 19 days (interquartile range 3–44 days). In the community setting, direct bilirubin had a higher clinical specificity for biliary atresia than in the hospital setting. Reporting direct bilirubin results in 1591 infants younger than 2 weeks of age in the community was associated with three admissions to the hospital, one of whom was diagnosed with biliary atresia. The cost for the two laboratories for direct-bilirubin testing was estimated at US$3200 (NZ$4600) for each newly diagnosed case of biliary atresia.

CONCLUSIONS
We identified underutilization of direct bilirubin as a cause of delay in the recognition of biliary atresia and show that reflex testing for direct bilirubin in jaundiced infants is a cost-effective solution.
Ga-La-S-Se glass for visible and thermal imaging
Authors: Ravagli Andrea , Craig Christopher , Lincoln John , Hewak Daniel W. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Chalcogenide glasses are emerging as important enabling materials for low-cost infrared imaging by virtue of their transparency in the key short-wave infrared (SWIR) to long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands and the ability to be mass produced and molded into near-net shape lenses. In this paper, we introduce a new family of chalcogenide glasses, which offer visible as well as infrared transmission and improved thermal and mechanical properties. These glasses are based on Ga2S3-La2S3 with added Ga2Se3-up to complete the substitution of Ga2S3 for Ga2Se3. The samples are prepared via the melt-quench method in an argon-purged atmosphere. All the studied compositions showed a lower glass transition temperature and an extended transmission window. Particularly, the LWIR transmission was extended from about 9 μm for gallium lanthanum sulfide (Ga-La-S) glass to about 15 μm for Se-added Ga-La-S retaining visible transmission from around 463 nm. The thermal and mechanical properties were investigated to prove the suitability of these novel materials for the production of optical components such as visible to LWIR lenses. Their suitability for drawing into optical fibers is also discussed.
Determination of working states of the rotating cutting assembly in forage harvesters by artificial neural networks
Authors: Walther Christian , Wenzel Andreas , Beneke Frank , Hensel Oliver , Huster Jochen 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This work describes an algorithm which is able to determine the working states of a rotating cutting assembly
automatically. The approach was validated at a self-propelled forage harvester under different environmental and harvest
conditions. Data were recorded throughout different field trials near the cutting assembly using two built-in vibration
sensors. The working states of the cutting assembly were divided into processing, neutral and
grinding. The analysis was performed using evolutionary optimized Artificial Neural Networks. The generated
models for classification are able to determine the working states robustly for this type of a rotating cutting
assembly. Case-specific and sensor-specific confusion matrices are presented for performance evaluation. As a conclusion
vibration data is suitable for automatic and robust classification in this context.
Order of experimentation and advisability of corner measurements
Authors: Belz Julian , Nelles Oliver 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Basically two questions are examined regarding the design of
experiments. First, for what settings is the placement of design
points in the corners of the input space advisable in order to achieve
a good generalization performance. And second, what order of
experimentation leads to the best model quality in early stages of the
measurement process. The effect of the explicit addition of corner
measurements to three space-filling experimental designs is
investigated. It turns out that for most cases the incorporation of
corner points harms the model quality. Two new methods to determine
the order of experimentation are compared to one active learning
strategy and a simple randomization of the measurement sequence. Both
order determination methods prove to outperform the random sequences
significantly and are only slightly inferior to the active learning
strategy.
Prognose für preisbeeinflusstes Verbrauchsverhalten
Authors: Klaiber Stefan , Waczowicz Simon , Konotop Irina , Westermann Dirk , Mikut Ralf , Bretschneider Peter 
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung
Durch die Beeinflussung des elektrischen Verbrauchs mittels Preiszeitreihen (Demand Response) können zusätzliche
Flexibilitätspotentiale für die Energieversorgung erschlossen werden. Durch die Einführung von Demand Response
ergeben sich jedoch neue Anforderungen an die Lastprognose. Dieser Beitrag befasst sich mit der Modellierung von
preisbeeinflusstem Verbrauchsverhalten (PVV) und stellt einen neuen Prognoseansatz vor.
DaMoQ: Eine Open-Source-MATLAB-Toolbox zur Bewertung von Daten- und Modellqualität in Regressionen
Authors: Doneit Wolfgang , Mikut Ralf , Gröll Lutz , Pychynski Tim , Reischl Markus 
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung
In diesem Beitrag wird DaMoQ vorgestellt, eine Erweiterung zur MATLAB-Toolbox SciXMiner, um die Datenqualität von
Eingangsdaten für Regressionen zu bewerten. Bei SciXMiner handelt es sich um eine Open-Source-MATLAB-Toolbox zur
automatisierten Bild- und Datenanalyse. In DaMoQ werden verschiedene Muster ungleichmäßiger Verteilungen in Datensätzen
quantifiziert und visualisiert. Während die Visualisierungen dem Anwender einen schnellen Einblick in den vorliegenden
Datensatz geben, wird die Quantifizierung für eine aggregierte Bewertung der einzelnen Eingangsgrößen sowie des
Datensatzes genutzt. Anhand Benchmark-Datensätze und einer Anwendung für Labyrinthdichtungen wird gezeigt, dass die
Kriterien und Visualisierungen von DaMoQ nicht nur ähnliche Ergebnisse wie eine visuelle Analyse der Streuwolkendiagramme
liefern, sondern auch visuell schwer erkennbare Phänomene identifizieren.
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): The Devil in Disguise or a Golden Opportunity to Build a Transatlantic Marketplace?
Authors: Pitschas Christian 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The European Union (EU) and the United States are currently negotiating a free-trade agreement, the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). These negotiations have to be seen in perspective, since a number of other - bilateral and plurilateral - trade deals are being pursued at the same time. All these negotiations point to a worrisome aspect: the World Trade Organisation’s failure to come to a meaningful agreement in the Doha-round negotiations, in terms of market access, new rules and development. Like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), TTIP would stand out among the crowd of trade agreements because of the sheer volume of trade and investment flows across the Atlantic and the declared intention to boost regulatory cooperation and compatibility which is expected to bring the bulk of TTIP’s economic benefits. However, the prospect of concluding such a transatlantic agreement raises many concerns; the public in the European Union and the United States fears that TTIP could undermine existing levels of protection in areas such as health and the environment and impinge on either side’s “right to regulate”. Moreover, questions are being posed as to what TTIP would mean for the multilateral trading system and how it would affect third countries, especially developing countries. Against this backdrop, this article addresses the following issues in relation to TTIP: the vision underlying the negotiations; the European Commission’s negotiating mandate; the structure of the negotiations and their state of play; the Union’s competence for concluding TTIP and whether it is shared with EU Member States; and finally TTIP’s impact on the multilateral trading system and developing countries.
Challenges For Countries In Trade In Services’ Negotiations With The Nafta Approach: The Experience Of Chile In The Free Trade Agreement With The United States
Authors: Monardes V Rodrigo 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The negotiation of trade in services in the context of a free trade agreement is particularly challenging for developing countries in view of the diverse nature of the services sector, the broad regulation applicable to the supply of services, the different modes of supply and the different approaches available for the adoption of the rules governing bilateral trade in services. Two main approaches are available for these negotiations, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) model or positive list approach, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model or negative list approach. Even though these two models are similar with respect to the substantive obligations covering the conditions for supplying services, they differ significantly with respect to the manner and the structure of commitments.
Chile faced significant challenges in concluding a free trade agreement with the United States. The importance of the trading partner and its market for Chilean exports meant that Chile had to adopt a number of unfamiliar features, particularly in relation to financial services and e-commerce, in order to facilitate and consolidate the process of opening its market. This article focuses on the chapters of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement addressing trade in services, i.e. cross-border trade in services, financial services, telecommunications, temporary entry of business persons and some provisions on e-commerce. Some investment issues will also be address, particularly those interacting with cross-border trade in services. Finally, the article explains the relevance of this approach as a model or basis for bilateral and plurilateral negotiations on trade in services for the Pacific Rim countries and as the preferred model for services trade liberalization for the Latin American countries.
Free Trade Agreements With The United States: 8 Lessons For Prospective Parties From Australia’s Experience
Authors: Tully Stephen R. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This article identifies 8 key lessons for those States contemplating a free trade agreement with the United States (U.S.) arising from Australia’s experience. The standards of intellectual property protection under the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and their impact on pharmaceutical prices in Australia are a particular focus. Prospective parties must first conduct a national interest self-assessment which reviews the desired strength of intellectual property protection under national law and their preference for using flexibilities available to them under the existing international intellectual property rights framework. The United States negotiates free trade agreements in light of previous ones, negotiating outcomes obtained in other fora and the decisions of international trade tribunals. Negotiations typically occur behind closed doors, which is a process having adverse implications for transparent decision-making, public consultation periods and contributions from interested non-governmental actors. A concluded agreement will build on prior treaties and influence the course of future international arrangements. But the impact of a United States free trade agreement is not always clear, including because of a lack of reliable data, and the extent of national legal change is a contested issue given existing reform agendas and external influences. The United States seek to redesign national health care systems in its own image and had little success in Australia’s case. National legal systems need not be harmonised: although there can be some convergence in intellectual property rights regimes, significant differences may also remain. Negotiators must reconcile competing cultures, philosophies and perspectives between States for a free trade agreement to be worthwhile.
The Brave New (American) World of International Investment Law: Substantive Investment Protection Standards in Mega-Regionals
Authors: Schill Stephan W. , Bray Heather L. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Mega-Regionals are transforming and shaping the future of international investment law, concerning both the settlement of investment disputes and the substantive disciplines governing investor-state relations. Focusing on the latter, the present article shows how Mega-Regionals depart from the so far dominant European model of investment protection by going beyond crudely worded post-establishment protections for foreign investment. Instead, Mega-Regionals pursue the twin policy goals of investment liberalization through greater market access commitments and strengthening state control by ensuring host governments sufficient space to regulate in the public interest. In light of these policy goals, and considering the deeper reasons for structural changes to the investment rules in Mega-Regionals, the article argues that the models and conceptual foundations of Mega-Regionals build on prototypes first developed in the context of U.S. and NAFTA investment practices. This suggests that the future of international investment law will be shaped to a considerable extent against the background of U.S. experiences, rather than be forged anew by the mechanics of international diplomacy and negotiation.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement and the Future of the Precautionary Principle
Authors: Davies Haydn 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The proliferation of bilateral investment treaties and investment chapters in trade megatreaties and the associated increase in the preference of investors for investor-state dispute settlement has given rise to concerns that the regulatory sovereignty of both developed and developing states might be compromised. In response to these concerns many trade agreements (including the recently concluded Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada) have incorporated provisions designed to protect the regulatory sovereignty of nation states, especially in relation to labour standards, public health, phytosanitary and environmental protection. This paper examines the nature and scope of environmental protection measures in investment chapters and attempts to analyse the extent to which these measures will, in practice, prevent challenges by investors seeking to chill or prevent environmental regulations which might threaten their investments. The analysis concentrates particularly on measures based on the precautionary principle and uses the current EU restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides as a case study. The paper concludes that the measures included in investment chapters designed to prevent such challenges by investors will not necessarily achieve the desired level of protection for environmental regulatory sovereignty.
SUMO conjugation – a mechanistic view
Authors: Pichler Andrea , Fatouros Chronis , Lee Heekyoung , Eisenhardt Nathalie 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The regulation of protein fate by modification with the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) plays an essential and crucial role in most cellular pathways. Sumoylation is highly dynamic due to the opposing activities of SUMO conjugation and SUMO deconjugation. SUMO conjugation is performed by the hierarchical action of E1, E2 and E3 enzymes, while its deconjugation involves SUMO-specific proteases. In this review, we summarize and compare the mechanistic principles of how SUMO gets conjugated to its substrate. We focus on the interplay of the E1, E2 and E3 enzymes and discuss how specificity could be achieved given the limited number of conjugating enzymes and the thousands of substrates.
Immunoparesis in IgM gammopathies as a useful biomarker to predict disease progression
Authors: Andrade-Campos Marcio , Murillo-Flórez Ilda , García-Sanz Ramón , Giraldo Pilar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackground:The management of IgM monoclonal gammopathies undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS) and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) may be challenging. Modern immunoassays that quantify specific monoclonal heavy and light chain immunoglobulins are promising for their use in these applications.Methods:Ninety consecutive patients (39 IgM-MGUS, 32 indolent WM [iWM], and 19 WM) seen between January 2007 and March 2014 were analyzed. Heavy/light chain (HLC) and serum free light chains assays (FLC) were determined at diagnosis to study their utility as biomarkers in IgM monoclonal gammopathies.Results:The HLC involved to uninvolved IgM ratios (iHLC/uHLC) showed a progressive increase when going from IgM-MGUS, to iWM and to WM (p=0.002). Furthermore, an iHLC/uHLC>62 identified a group of iWM patients with a shorter time-to-progression (TTP) (108 vs. 133 months, p=0.033). Separate analysis of the involved and uninvolved components showed that only the suppression of the uninvolvedimmunoglobulin was predictive of shorter TTP (HR=3.04, p=0.03) suggesting that it could be the majorcontributor to the prognostic value of the Hevylite assay. Additionally, a multivariate analysis showed that immunosuppression (either classical immunoparesis or Hevylite immunosuppression) was an independent prognostic factor (p=0.016) reinforcing its relevance in the disease mechanism. Finally, monoclonal sFLC levels were highest in WM patients, with 83% presenting values>60 mg/L.Conclusions:The results suggest that the levels of immunosuppression and/or the iHLC/uHLC ratio of IgM immunoglobulins measured by Hevylite are associated with greater disease activity which significantly impacts in the outcome of WM patients and may also help in the differentiation of IgMMGUS from iWM.
Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles with ultrasound assistance
Authors: Cerchier Pietrogiovanni , Dabalà Manuele , Brunelli Katya 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
A study of the synthesis of metallic copper (Cu) nanoparticles using ultrasound assistance and green reagents is presented. Copper recovered from the pre-treatment of electronic circuit boards was used as the raw material in this study. Different process parameters, namely, the effect of ultrasound, reducing agents and capping agents, were investigated, where L-ascorbic acid and sodium borohydride were used as reducing agents. In order to make the process environmentally friendly, the synthesis was performed in aqueous solutions, in ambient conditions, and exposed to air. The nanoparticles were characterized with SEM, TEM, XRD, UV-spectroscopy, and by using laser diffraction particle size analyzer. Results show that, using L-ascorbic acid as reducing agents, the use of ultrasound leads to the production of Cu nanoparticles, with a reaction time of 10 min, compared with a time of several hours when performing the synthesis without ultrasound. The nanoparticles produced by this method have dimensions of approximately 5 nm and remain stable in the solutions for days. Moreover, by using Cu nitrate from the leaching solution of electronic scraps, obtaining nanoparticles with high purity has been made possible.