bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of questionnaires for the assessment of otitis media with effusion in children
Authors: Gan R.W.C. , Daniel M. , Ridley M. , Barry J.G. 
Published: November 2017

ObjectivesAudiometric tests provide information about hearing in otitis media with effusion (OME). Questionnaires can supplement this information by supporting clinical history‐taking as well as potentially providing a standardized and comprehensive assessment of the impact of the disease on a child. There are many possible candidate questionnaires. This study aimed to assess the quality and usability of parent / child questionnaires in OME assessment.Design and main outcome measuresFifteen, published questionnaires, commonly used in audiological departments (Auditory Behaviour in Everyday Life (ABEL), Children's Auditory Performance Scale (CHAPS), Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties (CHILD), Children's Outcome Worksheets (COW), Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills (ECLiPS), Early Listening Function (ELF), Fisher's Auditory Problem Checklist (FAPC), Hearing Loss 7 (HL‐7), Listening Inventory for Education‐ Revised (LIFE‐R Student), Listening Inventory for Education UK Individual Hearing Profile (LIFE‐UK IHP), LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LittlEARS), Listening Situations Questionnaire (LSQ), Otitis Media 6 (OM‐6), Quality of Life in Children's Ear Problems (OMQ‐14), Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) were assessed according to the following 8 criteria: conceptual clarity, respondent burden, reliability, validity, normative data, item bias, ceiling/ floor effects, and administrative burden.ResultsECLiPS, LittlEARS and PEACH scored highest overall based on the assessment criteria established for this study. None of the questionnaires fully satisfied all 8 criteria. Although all questionnaires assessed issues considered to be of at least adequate relevance to OME, the majority had weaknesses with respect to the assessment of psychometric properties, such as item bias, floor/ceiling effects or measurement reliability and validity. Publications reporting on the evaluation of reliability, validity, normative data, item bias and ceiling/floor effects were not available for most of the questionnaires.ConclusionsThis formal evaluation of questionnaires, currently available to clinicians, highlights three questionnaires as potentially offering a useful adjunct in the assessment of OME in clinical or research settings. These were the ECLiPS, which is suitable for children aged 6 years and older, and either the LittlEARS or the PEACH for younger children. The latter two are narrowly focused on hearing, whereas ECLiPS has a broader focus on listening, language and social difficulties.
Spättypreaktionen auf oral und parenteral verabreichte Arzneimittel
Authors: Brandt Oliver , Bircher Andreas J. 
Published: November 2017

ZusammenfassungSpättypreaktionen auf Arzneimittel gehören zu den häufigsten Ursachen für Dermatosen überhaupt und manifestieren sich überwiegend in Form relativ harmloser exanthematischer, makulöser oder makulopapulöser Läsionen. Etwa zwei Prozent der betroffenen Patienten allerdings entwickeln schwere oder gar lebensbedrohliche, mit systemischen Immunreaktionen und damit verbundenen Organbeteiligungen einhergehende Reaktionen, die frühestmöglich erkannt und adäquat behandelt werden müssen. Zahlreiche Medikamente können Auslöser dieser Hypersensitivitätsreaktionen sein; Antibiotika, Antiepileptika und der Xanthinoxidase‐Inhibitor Allopurinol sind die häufigsten. Neben einer genetischen Prädisposition gelten hohe Dosen, Behandlungen mit multiplen Arzneimitteln, lange Therapiezeiten, weibliches Geschlecht sowie akute oder chronische Infektionen als prädisponierende Faktoren.
Echocardiographic predictors of coil vs device closure in patients undergoing percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closure
Authors: Roushdy Alaa , Abd el razek Yasmeen , Mamdouh Tawfik Ahmed 
Published: November 2017

AimTo determine anatomic and hemodynamic echocardiographic predictors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device vs coil closure.MethodsSeventy‐six patients who were referred for elective transcatheter PDA closure were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent full echocardiogram including measurement of the PDA pulmonary end diameter, color flow width and extent, peak and end‐diastolic Doppler gradients across the duct, diastolic flow reversal, left atrial dimensions and volume, left ventricular sphericity index, and volumes.ResultsThe study group was subdivided into 2 subgroups based on the mode of PDA closure whether by coil (n = 42) or device (n = 34). Using univariate analysis there was a highly significant difference between the 2 groups as regard the pulmonary end diameter measured in both the suprasternal and parasternal short‐axis views as well as the color flow width and color flow extent (P < .0001). The device closure group had statistically significant higher end‐systolic and end‐diastolic volumes indexed, left atrial volume, and diastolic flow reversal. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a pulmonary end diameter cutoff point from the suprasternal view > 2.5 mm and from parasternal short‐axis view > 2.61 mm to have the highest balanced sensitivity and specificity to predict the likelihood for device closure (AUC 0.971 and 0.979 respectively). The pulmonary end diameter measured from the suprasternal view was the most independent predictor of device closure.ConclusionThe selection between PDA coil or device closure can be done on the basis of multiple anatomic and hemodynamic echocardiographic variables.
Common data elements for preclinical epilepsy research: Standards for data collection and reporting. A TASK3 report of the AES/ILAE Translational Task Force of the ILAE
Authors: Harte‐Hargrove Lauren C. , French Jacqueline A. , Pitkänen Asla , Galanopoulou Aristea S. , Whittemore Vicky , Scharfman Helen E. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThe major objective of preclinical translational epilepsy research is to advance laboratory findings toward clinical application by testing potential treatments in animal models of seizures and epilepsy. Recently there has been a focus on the failure of preclinical discoveries to translate reliably, or even to be reproduced in different laboratories. One potential cause is a lack of standardization in preclinical data collection. The resulting difficulties in comparing data across studies have led to high cost and missed opportunity, which in turn impede clinical trials and advances in medical care. Preclinical epilepsy research has successfully brought numerous antiseizure treatments into the clinical practice, yet the unmet clinical needs have prompted the reconsideration of research strategies to optimize epilepsy therapy development. In the field of clinical epilepsy there have been successful steps to improve such problems, such as generation of common data elements (CDEs) and case report forms (CRFs and standards of data collection and reporting) by a team of leaders in the field. Therefore, the Translational Task Force was appointed by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the American Epilepsy Society (AES), in partnership with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to define CDEs for animal epilepsy research studies and prepare guidelines for data collection and experimental procedures. If adopted, the preclinical CDEs could facilitate collaborative epilepsy research, comparisons of data across different laboratories, and promote rigor, transparency, and impact, particularly in therapy development.
Economic effects of terrorism: Local and city considerations, priorities for research and policy
Authors: Desai Sameeksha 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe economic effects of terrorist attacks are difficult to assess, in part because terrorism is highly local. Local dimensions are crucial for policymakers who are increasingly interested in resilience to terrorism, yet they have a very small body of scholarship from which to derive operationally relevant guidance. Spatial and local dimensions of terrorism are central to understanding the nature and magnitude of economic effects. This paper provides an overview of some of the key questions in this regard, and particularly with respect to cities, and outlines several priorities for future research.
Fabrication of tubular solid oxide fuel cells by solvent‐assisted lamination and co‐firing a rolled multilayer tape cast
Authors: Hedayat Nader , Panthi Dhruba , Du Yanhai 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis study presents preliminary results for tubular anode‐supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) fabricated by a novel method based on tape casting. A multilayer tape cast was prepared by successive casting of the anode support, anode functional layer, and electrolyte. The tape cast was rolled into a tube, and the ends of the tape were joined by solvent‐assisted lamination. The sample was co‐fired at 1400°C, followed by screen printing and sintering of the cathode at 1150°C. The electrochemical performance of the tubular cell was evaluated in N2/H2 gas at 750°C. The cell generated a maximum power density of 90 mW/cm2. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs after the electrochemical tests confirmed that the solvent‐assisted lamination resulted in stable joining without delamination. Although the process and performance have yet to be optimized, the use of multilayer tape casting, solvent‐assisted lamination, and co‐firing is expected to make this method advantageous for low‐cost mass production of tubular SOFCs.
Social mobility allowing for ethnic identification: reassertion of ethnicity among Moroccan and Turkish Dutch
Authors: Slootman Marieke 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe emergence of middle‐classes that articulate their ethnic distinctiveness leads to discomfort and bewilderment in many societies. This rejection arises from assimilationist demands and straight‐line integration assumptions which dominate the integration discourse. Relying on social‐psychological theories, this mixed‐methods study explores the ethnic identification of university‐educated second‐generation Moroccan and Turkish Dutch. The findings once more underscore that ethnic and national identifications are not mutually exclusive, nor are ethnic identifications mere acts of ethnic retention. The findings suggest that social mobility shapes processes of ethnic identification in particular ways, in the sense that the belonging and self‐esteem that come with achieving an advanced socio‐economic status allow for (and even encourage) assertion of the ethnic‐minority identity; an ethnic identity that is partially reinvented. The insights of this study can help nuance the increasingly polarizing and exclusionary integration debates.
The influence of tobacco retailers on adolescent smoking: prevention and policy implications
Authors: Gwon S.H. , Yan G. , Huang G. , Kulbok P.A. 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundSmoking rates are higher among adolescents in South Korea than among those in other Asian countries. Researchers have reported associations between the presence of licensed tobacco retailers and adolescent smoking rates. However, few researchers have examined the factors that influence adolescent smoking including those that are intrapersonal, interpersonal or related to the tobacco retailers’ environment.AimThe purpose of this study was to describe factors related to the students, the licensed tobacco retailers and the schools and how those factors are associated with adolescent smoking outcomes such as tobacco marketing receptivity, lifetime smoking and current smoking.MethodsThe survey data were gathered from 740 South Korean adolescents, and geographic data for 3488 licensed tobacco retailers were also used. Geographic Information Systems and multilevel modeling were used to describe the variables and determine the factors associated with smoking outcomes in the sample.ResultsThe factors that influenced receptivity to tobacco marketing included the presence of peers who smoke and the frequencies of licensed tobacco retailers passed on the way to school. The factors that influenced lifetime smoking included gender, perceived economic status, weekly income, the presence of siblings or peers who smoke and frequencies of licensed tobacco retailers passed on the way to school. The factors that influenced current smoking included gender, weekly income, and the presence of siblings or peers who smoke.ConclusionsThese factors will guide adolescent tobacco prevention programs and policies.Implications for nursing practice and health policyThe study's implications for nursing practice and health policy are that school nurses and public health nurses need to be encouraged to use retailer‐related factors in adolescent smoking‐prevention programs. There is also a need for zoning and licensing regulations to restrict licensed tobacco retailers in areas that adolescents frequent, including schools.
The Impact of Firm‐Level Illiquidity on Crash Risk and the Role of Media Independence: International Evidence
Authors: An Zhe , Gao Wenlian , Li Donghui , Zhu Feifei 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of firm‐level illiquidity on stock price crash risk by employing a sample of 21,986 firms across 36 countries spanning the years 1997 to 2007. In doing so, the role of media independence in shaping this impact is also examined. The empirical results suggest that stock illiquidity is significantly and positively associated with firm‐level crash risk. Furthermore, the positive association between illiquidity and crash risk has been mitigated in countries with independent media, characterized by a lower level of state ownership and a higher level of press freedom, in addition to the reduction effect of media independence per se on crash risk. Our main conclusions remain valid after taking into account the endogeneity issues and various robustness tests.
The effects of conditioned media generated by polarized macrophages on the cellular behaviours of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: He Xiao‐Tao , Li Xuan , Yin Yuan , Wu Rui‐Xin , Xu Xin‐Yue , Chen Fa‐Ming 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMacrophages (Mφs) are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological events including wound healing and tissue regeneration, in which they play both positive and negative roles depending on their polarization state. In this study, we investigated the cellular behaviours of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) after incubation in different conditioned media (CMs) generated by unpolarized Mφs (M0) or polarized Mφs (M1 and M2). Mφ polarization was induced by stimulation with various cytokines, and CMs were obtained from in vitro Mφ cultures termed CM0, CM1 and CM2 based on each Mφ phenotype. We found that CM1 supported the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of BMMSCs, whereas CM0 had a remarkable effect on cell osteogenic differentiation. To a certain degree, CM2 also facilitated BMMSC osteogenesis; in particular, cells incubated with CM2 exhibited an enhanced capacity to form robust stem cell sheets. Although incubation with CM1 also increased production of extracellular matrix components, such as fibronectin, COL‐1 and integrin β1during sheet induction, the sheets generated by CM2‐incubated cells were thicker than those generated by CM1‐incubated cells (P < 0.001). Our data suggest that each Mφ phenotype has a unique effect on BMMSCs. Fine‐tuning Mφ polarization following transplantation may serve as an effective method to modulate the therapeutic potential of BMMSCs.
Pulsed electric fields as an alternative to thermal processing for preservation of nutritive and physicochemical properties of beverages: A review
Authors: Gabrić Domagoj , Barba Francisco , Roohinejad Shahin , Gharibzahedi Seyed Mohammad Taghi , Radojčin Milivoj , Putnik Predrag , Bursać Kovačević Danijela 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFruit juices and other beverages constitute an important source of bioactive compounds, but thermal processing may reduce their contents thus decreasing natural nutritive value of foods. This has been recently led to the use of non‐thermal technologies, especially pulsed electric fields (PEF) as an interesting alternative to thermal pasteurization of beverages. Reported results show that PEF is a useful for pasteurization of fruit juices that can minimize changes in physicochemical and nutritional properties with retention of higher amounts of health‐related phytochemicals. This study presents an overview of the effect of PEF on the physicochemical (e.g., Brix, pH, viscosity, acidity, color, aroma, and flavor, etc.) and nutritional (e.g., fatty acids and free amino acids, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, etc.) properties of beverages.Practical applicationsPulsed electric fields is suitable technological option for pasteurization, able to preserve valued bioactive compounds in beverages. Over the last decade, PEF has attracted a significant interest from various food industries and found numerous applications. However, chemical profile of food matrices has great influence on PEF, hence success of the treatment has to be evaluated and reported for each particular food. Accordingly, this review made systematic overview of the effects of PEF processing on the physicochemistry and nutrition with focus on beverages manufactured from various raw materials. Provided data can be applied for steering future uses of the PEF in processing, as well as directions of the future research with this useful technology.
What the FLOQ? A quality improvement project to reduce unnecessary paediatric respiratory viral swabs in a peripheral metropolitan hospital
Authors: Aldridge Patrick , Horsley Emily , Rosettenstein Kerri , Wallis Thomas , Payne Barbara , Pallot Jeremy , Lakic Vladimir 
Published: November 2017

AimTo reduce the number of paediatric respiratory viral swabs (locally referred to as a FLOQ) performed across the authors clinical centre from a baseline of over 800 ($38 000) per year by 25% over 4 months from 6 February 2017 to 31 May 2017.MethodsA quality improvement project ‘What the FLOQ?’ (WTF) was instigated from 6 February 2017 to complement the Emergency Department (ED) ‘Sensible Test Ordering Process’ project from 1 April 2017. Stakeholder engagement across ED and general paediatric staff was sought. Alterations in practice included education of staff, targeted feedback to groups frequently ordering a FLOQ and rationalising patients appropriate for testing. Monthly requests were tallied on a run chart for FLOQs ordered in ED and the paediatric ward. A monthly audit of FLOQs performed on ED‐discharged patients was conducted with feedback.ResultsTotal FLOQ swabs decreased by 55% from 336 (February to May 2016) to 151 (February to May 2017). ED performed 66% less FLOQs from 237 (February to May 2016) to 82 (February to May 2017). There was no increase in the number of FLOQs performed on the paediatric ward February to May 2017. Monthly auditing of ED discharged patients under 2 years with a FLOQ went from 40 to 3%.ConclusionRationalising patient groups appropriate for testing with targeted feedback and broad stakeholder engagement successfully reduced FLOQs performed by 55%. This has projected savings of over $21 000 by 12 months. WTF has reduced the number of invasive patient procedures performed, benefitting staff and patients. Sustaining this change will be achieved through ongoing staff education on rationalisation criteria and consultant only requests outside of these parameters.
Characterization of a Heterobasidion irregulare endo‐rhamnogalacturonase that mediate growth on pectin
Authors: Hu Yang , Kim Seombeong , Jeon Junhyun , Elfstrand Malin , Stenlid Jan , Lee Yong‐Hwan , Olson Åke 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHeterobasidion irregulare is one of five Heterobasidion annosum sensu lato (s.l.) species, which are destructive pathogens in boreal and temperate forests of the northern hemisphere that causes root and butt rot in conifer. A gene encoding endo‐rhamnogalacturonase (HIRHG), which belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 28 (GH28), was found in a quantitative trait loci (QTL) region for virulence in Heterobasidion. In this study, we showed that HIRHG is highly upregulated during necrotrophic infection of Norway spruce compared with growth in liquid culture and that the HIRHG encoded protein is produced during fungal growth on complex carbon sources. Phylogenetic analysis of endo‐rhamnogalacturonases revealed that rhamnogalacturonase genes have been lost in most of the biotrophic and hemibiotrophic plant pathogens investigated but were common in necrotrophic pathogens and saprophytic fungi. Heterologous expression of the HIRHG gene in the hemibiotrophic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae increased its capacity to grow on pectin; however, the transformed M. oryzae isolates showed significant less infection of rice leaves compared to the wild type.
Collapse of a unique insular bird–snake relationship
Authors: Sandfoss M. R. , Sheehy C. M. , Lillywhite H. B. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSeahorse Key (SHK) supports a population of Florida cottonmouth snakes, Agkistrodon conanti, which have a unique trophic association with colonially nesting waterbirds. Each spring >10 000 birds have nested on SHK and provided an influx of food in the form of fish carrion that snakes scavenge on the ground. Because of this allochthonous input of trophic resources, the cottonmouth population on SHK historically was dense, with snakes of large body size. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the entire waterbird colony abandoned its nests during April, 2015 and did not return. We examined data collected from 1999 to 2016 on the abundance and body size of SHK cottonmouths to quantify how the bird abandonment has affected the snake population. Our results show that abundance and body condition index (BCI) have decreased significantly, particularly on the west end of SHK where the bird rookery historically concentrated. Abundance of snakes (counts per survey) along a west beach transect was higher during the pre‐abandonment period (10.99 ± 8.11 SD) than during the post‐abandonment period (7.52 ± 4.64). Similarly, we observed a significant decrease in the BCI of snakes from the west end of SHK between the pre‐ (0.04 ± 0.10) and post‐abandonment periods (−0.12 ± 0.14). Loss of the bird rookery as a source of energy has negatively affected the SHK cottonmouth population. In contrast, numbers and body condition of cottonmouths appear to have increased on an adjacent island where ~3000 to 5000 waterbirds began nesting in 2015 and 2016.