bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving the safety and efficiency of outpatient lumbar puncture service
Authors: Sweeney Mark , Al-Diwani Adam , Hadden Robert 
Published: February 2016

AbstractLumbar puncture (LP) is a commonly performed procedure in diagnosis and management of neurological conditions. LP is generally safe, however there are a number of potentially serious complications, including epidural haematoma and cerebral herniation. The risks of these should be considered and minimised prior to undertaking LP.Our regional neuroscience centre provides an outpatient LP service for patients throughout southeast England. Referrals from distant hospitals meant there was frequently no access to important clinical information, including indication for LP, past medical history, or medication history until the day of the procedure, and no access to results of investigations such as coagulation profile, platelet count, or intracranial imaging. Furthermore, there was limited capacity or time available in the day ward to perform these tests prior to LP. As a result, patients were either having LPs cancelled on the day of the procedure, were delayed by several hours on the day of the procedure for investigations, or were subject to the risk of having the LP performed without the knowledge of these key safety indicators.To address this issue we implemented an LP safety checklist to be completed by referring neurologists, providing details of the patient’s medical history and results of investigations performed locally. In doing this, we increased the proportion of patients with an available platelet count prior to LP from 25% to 89%, and available coagulation profile from 18% to 82%. In addition, we saw a qualitative increase in the confidence of junior doctors in the safety of the LP clinic, as measured by a survey taken before and after the implementation of this system.This simple intervention made a rapid and remarkable difference to the safety and efficiency of this outpatient LP clinic. We would encourage other units to adopt this approach to address similar problems in a variety of outpatient settings.
Mechanism of Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea to Inhibit Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophy and Apoptosis in Cardiomyoblasts
Authors: Yeh Yu-Lan , Tsai Hsiang-I , Cheng Shiu-Min , Pai Peiying , Ho Tsung-Jung , Chen Ray-Jade , Lai Chao-Hung , Huang Pei-Jane , Padma V. Vijaya , Huang Chih-Yang 
Published: February 2016

This study investigates the cardio-protective effect of Nos. 1 and 5 extracts from Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea on H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells treated with isoproterenol (ISO). Treatment with Nos. 1 and 5 extracts increased cell viability and blocked apoptosis in ISO exposed H9c2 cells. Moreover, Nos. 1 and 5 extracts blocked hypertrophy markers like G[Formula: see text]s, calcineurin, NFATc3, and BNP, thereby increasing cell proliferation markers -PI3K and AKT in a dose dependent manner. In contrast, apoptotic proteins, such as caspase-3 and cytochrome c were decreased in H9c2 cells treated with Nos. 1 and 5 extracts. We confirmed that the protective effect of No. 1 extract was partially mediated through the expression of ERK and p38, however, the No. 5 extract showed a protective effect via the ERK, JNK, and p38 pathways. This evidence provides new insights into the pharmacological role and therapeutic mechanism of Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea in heart diseases.
New insights into Kawah Ijen's volcanic system from the wet volcano workshop experiment
Authors: Gunawan Hendra , Caudron Corentin , Pallister John , Primulyana Sofyan , Christenson Bruce , Mccausland Wendy , van Hinsberg Vincent , Lewicki Jennifer , Rouwet Dmitri , Kelly Peter , Kern Christoph , Werner Cynthia , Johnson Jeffrey B. , Utami Sri Budi , Syahbana Devy Kamil , Saing Ugan , Suparjan  , Purwanto Bambang Heri , Sealing Christine , Cruz Maria Martinez , Maryanto Sukir , Bani Philipson , Laurin Antoine , Schmid Agathe , Bradley Kyle , Nandaka I Gusti Made Agung , Hendrasto Mochammad 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Volcanoes with crater lakes and/or extensive hydrothermal systems pose significant challenges with respect to monitoring and forecasting eruptions, but they also provide new opportunities to enhance our understanding of magmatic–hydrothermal processes. Their lakes and hydrothermal systems serve as reservoirs for magmatic heat and fluid emissions, filtering and delaying the surface expressions of magmatic unrest and eruption, yet they also enable sampling and monitoring of geochemical tracers. Here, we describe the outcomes of a highly focused international experimental campaign and workshop carried out at Kawah Ijen volcano, Indonesia, in September 2014, designed to answer fundamental questions about how to improve monitoring and eruption forecasting at wet volcanoes.
Dichotomies for Queries with Negation in Probabilistic Databases
Authors: Fink Robert , Olteanu Dan 
Published: February 2016

This article charts the tractability frontier of two classes of relational algebra queries in tuple-independent probabilistic databases. The first class consists of queries with join, projection, selection, and negation but without repeating relation symbols and union. The second class consists of quantified queries that express the following binary relationships among sets of entities: set division, set inclusion, set equivalence, and set incomparability. Quantified queries are expressible in relational algebra using join, projection, nested negation, and repeating relation symbols.
Each query in the two classes has either polynomial-time or #P-hard data complexity and the tractable queries can be recognised efficiently. Our result for the first query class extends a known dichotomy for conjunctive queries without self-joins to such queries with negation. For quantified queries, their tractability is sensitive to their outermost projection operator: They are tractable if no attribute representing set identifiers is projected away and #P-hard otherwise.
A Shallow Cumuliform Snowfall Census Using Spaceborne Radar
Authors: Kulie Mark S. , Milani Lisa , Wood Norman B. , Tushaus Samantha A. , Bennartz Ralf , L’Ecuyer Tristan S. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe first observationally based near-global shallow cumuliform snowfall census is undertaken using multiyear CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar observations. CloudSat snowfall observations and snowfall rate estimates from the CloudSat 2C-Snow Water Content and Snowfall Rate (2C-SNOW-PROFILE) product are partitioned between shallow cumuliform and nimbostratus cloud structures by utilizing coincident cloud category classifications from the CloudSat 2B-Cloud Scenario Classification (2B-CLDCLASS) product. Shallow cumuliform (nimbostratus) snowfall events comprise about 36% (59%) of snowfall events in the CloudSat snowfall dataset. The remaining 5% of snowfall events are distributed between other categories. Distinct oceanic versus continental trends exist between the two major snowfall categories, as shallow cumuliform snow-producing clouds occur predominantly over the oceans. Regional differences are also noted in the partitioned dataset, with over-ocean regions near Greenland, the far North Atlantic Ocean, the Barents Sea, the western Pacific Ocean, the southern Bering Sea, and the Southern Hemispheric pan-oceanic region containing distinct shallow snowfall occurrence maxima exceeding 60%. Certain Northern Hemispheric continental regions also experience frequent shallow cumuliform snowfall events (e.g., inland Russia), as well as some mountainous regions. CloudSat-generated snowfall rates are also partitioned between the two major snowfall categories to illustrate the importance of shallow snow-producing cloud structures to the average annual snowfall. While shallow cumuliform snowfall produces over 50% of the annual estimated surface snowfall flux regionally, about 18% (82%) of global snowfall is attributed to shallow (nimbostratus) snowfall. This foundational spaceborne snowfall study will be utilized for follow-on evaluative studies with independent model, reanalysis, and ground-based observational datasets to characterize respective dataset biases and to better quantify CloudSat snowfall detection and quantitative snowfall estimate uncertainties.
Trends in Methodological Quality in Controlled Trials of Psychological and Social Interventions
Authors: Sundell Knut , Åhsberg Elizabeth 
Published: February 2016

Objective: There is substantial evidence that poorly designed and reported research can mislead decision making in clinical care. This review investigates the methodological quality of Swedish trials of a wide array of psychological and social interventions. Method: The review includes 302 articles published in peer-reviewed journals during 1990–2014, which evaluated a psychological or social intervention; included a randomized or nonrandomized control group with a pre–post- or pre-follow-up design; and targeted individuals in order to prevent or rehabilitate from physical, psychological, or social problems. The results are based on the information reported in the articles. Results: Overall, methodological quality increased with time. However, more recent studies contained methodological deficits. For example, few had used blinded data collectors, reported power analyses, or searched for adverse events. Conclusion: The results indicate a potential risk of biased results in both older and newer trials. Possible implications for practice and research are discussed.
Integration of Palliative Care Advanced Practice Nurses Into Intensive Care Unit Teams
Authors: O’Mahony Sean , Johnson Tricia J. , Amer Shawn , McHugh Marlene E. , McHenry Janet , Fosler Laura , Kvetan Vladimir 
Published: February 2016

Background: Referrals to palliative care for patients at the end of life in the intensive care unit (ICU) often happen late in the ICU stay, if at all. The integration of a palliative medicine advanced practice nurse (APN) is one potential strategy for proactively identifying patients who could benefit from this service. Objective: To evaluate the association between the integration of palliative medicine APNs into the routine operations of ICUs and hospital costs at 2 different institutions, Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) and Rush University Medical Center. Methods: The association between collaborative palliative care consultation service programs and hospital costs per patient was evaluated for the 2 institutions. Hospital costs were compared for patients with and without a referral to palliative care using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Hospital nonroom and board costs at the Weiler campus of MMC were significantly lower for patients with palliative care compared with those who did not receive palliative care (Median = US$6643 vs US$12 399, P < .001). Cost differences for ICU patients with and without palliative care at Rush University Medical Center were not significantly different. Conclusion: Our evaluation suggests that the integration of APNs into a palliative care team for case finding may be a promising strategy, but more work is needed to determine whether reductions in cost are significant.
Duration of anticoagulation after isolated pulmonary embolism
Authors: Palareti Gualtiero , Cosmi Benilde , Antonucci Emilia , Legnani Cristina , Erba Nicoletta , Ghirarduzzi Angelo , Poli Daniela , Testa Sophie , Tosetto Alberto , Pengo Vittorio , Prandoni Paolo 
Published: February 2016

In the D-dimer and ULtrasonography in Combination Italian Study (DULCIS), serial D-dimer measurement in combination with assessment of residual thrombosis (in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)) identified patients who safely discontinued anticoagulation after an unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE).In this subgroup analysis, the value of D-dimer tests was assessed in patients with isolated pulmonary embolism (PE) compared with those with DVT, with or without PE (DVT/PE). The DULCIS database was reanalysed in relation to this target.26.8% of the DULCIS patients had isolated PE as the index event; this was more prevalent in females (34.1%) than in males (21.1%; p<0.0001). The rate of positive D-dimer was similar in isolated PE and DVT/PE. The rate of recurrences was not different in isolated PE or DVT/PE patients (4.8% ppyversus3.8% ppy; nonsignificant) who stopped anticoagulation for negative D-dimer, but it was markedly high (11.2% ppy; p<0.0001) in those with isolated PE who remained without anticoagulation despite positive D-dimer. Recurrences were more frequently new isolated PE in patients with isolated PE than with DVT/PE (six (46.2%) out of 13versustwo (7.4%) out of 27; p=0.0085).Serial D-dimer assessment can inform on the risk of recurrent VTE and help determine the duration of anticoagulation in patients with isolated PE.
PICADAR: a diagnostic predictive tool for primary ciliary dyskinesia
Authors: Behan Laura , Dimitrov Borislav D. , Kuehni Claudia E. , Hogg Claire , Carroll Mary , Evans Hazel J. , Goutaki Myrofora , Harris Amanda , Packham Samantha , Walker Woolf T. , Lucas Jane S. 
Published: February 2016

Symptoms of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are nonspecific and guidance on whom to refer for testing is limited. Diagnostic tests for PCD are highly specialised, requiring expensive equipment and experienced PCD scientists. This study aims to develop a practical clinical diagnostic tool to identify patients requiring testing.Patients consecutively referred for testing were studied. Information readily obtained from patient history was correlated with diagnostic outcome. Using logistic regression, the predictive performance of the best model was tested by receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. The model was simplified into a practical tool (PICADAR) and externally validated in a second diagnostic centre.Of 641 referrals with a definitive diagnostic outcome, 75 (12%) were positive. PICADAR applies to patients with persistent wet cough and has seven predictive parameters: full-term gestation, neonatal chest symptoms, neonatal intensive care admittance, chronic rhinitis, ear symptoms, situs inversus and congenital cardiac defect. Sensitivity and specificity of the tool were 0.90 and 0.75 for a cut-off score of 5 points. Area under the curve for the internally and externally validated tool was 0.91 and 0.87, respectively.PICADAR represents a simple diagnostic clinical prediction rule with good accuracy and validity, ready for testing in respiratory centres referring to PCD centres.
Radiologic–pathologic discordance in biopsy-proven usual interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Yagihashi Kunihiro , Huckleberry Jason , Colby Thomas V. , Tazelaar Henry D. , Zach Jordan , Sundaram Baskaran , Pipavath Sudhakar , Schwarz Marvin I. , Lynch David A. 
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, radiological and histological findings in a large population of subjects enrolled during a multicentre study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with a focus on discordance between imaging and histologic diagnoses of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP).Two independent radiologists retrospectively reviewed 241 subjects who underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and surgical lung biopsies. HRCT findings were classified as UIP, possible UIP and inconsistent with UIP. Histological findings were classified as definite, probable, possible and not UIP.Of the 241 cases, 102 (42.3%) had HRCT findings of UIP, 64 (26.6%) had possible UIP and 75 (31.1%) were inconsistent with UIP. Among those with UIP on HRCT, 99 (97.1%) had histologically definite or probable UIP (concordant group), and 71 (94.7%) of those with “inconsistent” HRCT features had histologically definite or probable UIP (discordant group). Discordant subjects were slightly younger and less likely to be smokers than concordant subjects, but no survival differences were identified.In this population of patients enrolled with a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 94.7% of those with HRCT findings “inconsistent with UIP” demonstrated histological UIP. This suggests that the term “inconsistent with UIP” is misleading.
Pulmonary rehabilitation in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: Araujo Mariana S. , Baldi Bruno G. , Freitas Carolina S.G. , Albuquerque André L.P. , Marques da Silva Cibele C.B. , Kairalla Ronaldo A. , Carvalho Celso R.F. , Carvalho Carlos R.R. 
Published: February 2016

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a cystic lung disease frequently associated with reduced exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in LAM.This controlled clinical trial included 40 patients with LAM and a low physical activity level. The pulmonary rehabilitation programme comprised 24 aerobic and muscle strength training sessions and education. The primary outcome was exercise capacity (endurance time during a constant work rate exercise test). Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), dyspnoea, peak oxygen consumption (V′O2), daily physical activity (pedometer), symptoms of anxiety and depression, lung function and peripheral muscle strength (one-repetition maximum).The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the groups. The pulmonary rehabilitation group exhibited improvements in the following outcomesversuscontrols: endurance time (median (interquartile range) 169 (2–303) sversus−33 (−129–39) s; p=0.001), SGRQ (median (interquartile range) −8 (−16–2)versus2 (−4–5); p=0.002) and 6MWD (median (interquartile range) 59 (13–81) mversus20 (−12–30) m; p=0.002). Dyspnoea, peakV′O2, daily physical activity and muscle strength also improved significantly. No serious adverse events were observed.Pulmonary rehabilitation is a safe intervention and improves exercise capacity, dyspnoea, daily physical activity, quality of life and muscle strength in LAM.
Composite indicators of labour market regulations in a comparative perspective
Authors: Aleksynska Mariya , Cazes Sandrine 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Technological progress and the internet brought about new possibilities of creating, storing, exchanging, replicating, and using various kinds of data for research. This paper discusses some of the dangers embedded into the reuse of data produced by some institutions by other institutions through the combination and aggregation of initial data into various data products. To this end, we use an example of labour market regulations’ indicators developed by the World Economic Forum, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), and the Fraser Institute, which are all partly based on the World Bank Employing Workers Indicator. We document how these three indicators compare and identify both their common and specific limitations. For each of these indicators, the choice of subcomponents and of aggregate techniques results in different pictures of labour market regulations, despite the use of the overlapping initial sources of data. Our comparative exercise calls for continuous efforts to improve the indicators of labour market regulations, as well as for cautious use of such indicators for research and policy advice.

JEL codes: J00, J8, Y1
Metabarcoding-based fungal diversity on coarse and fine particulate organic matter in a first-order stream in Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Wurzbacher Christian , Grimmett Ivan J. , Bärlocher Felix 
Published: February 2016

Most streams receive substantial inputs of allochthonous organic material in the form of leaves and twigs (CPOM, coarse particulate organic matter). Mechanical and biological processing converts this into fine particulate organic matter (FPOM). Other sources of particles include flocculated dissolved matter and soil particles. Fungi are known to play a role in the CPOM conversion process, but the taxonomic affiliations of these fungi remain poorly studied. The present study seeks to shed light on the composition of fungal communities on FPOM and CPOM as assessed in a natural stream in Nova Scotia, Canada. Maple leaves were exposed in a stream for four weeks and their fungal community evaluated through pyrosequencing. Over the same period, four FPOM size fractions were collected by filtration and assessed. Particles had much lower ergosterol contents than leaves, suggesting major differences in the extent of fungal colonization. Pyrosequencing documented a total of 821 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTU), of which 726 were exclusive to particles and 47 to leaf samples. Most fungal phyla were represented, including yeast lineages (e.g., Taphrinaceae and Saccharomycotina), Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Cryptomycota, but several classes of Pezizomycontina (Ascomycota) dominated. Cluster dendrograms clearly separated fungal communities from leaves and from particles. Characterizing fungal communities may shed some light on the processing pathways of fine particles in streams and broadens our view of the phylogenetic composition of fungi in freshwater ecosystems.
Do we really know our patient population in database research?
Authors: Samuel A. M. , Lukasiewicz A. M. , Webb M. L. , Bohl D. D. , Basques B. A. , Varthi A. G. , Leslie M. P. , Grauer J. N. 
Published: February 2016

Aims While use of large national clinical databases for orthopaedic trauma research has increased dramatically, there has been little study of the differences in populations contained therein. In this study we aimed to compare populations of patients with femoral shaft fractures across three commonly used national databases, specifically with regard to age and comorbidities. Patients and Methods Patients were identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). Results The distributions of age and Charleston comorbidity index (CCI) reflected a predominantly older population with more comorbidities in NSQIP (mean age 71.5; sd 15.6), mean CCI 4.9; sd 1.9) than in the NTDB (mean age 45.2; sd 21.4), mean CCI = 2.1; sd 2.0). Bimodal distributions in the NIS population showed a more mixed population (mean age 56.9; sd 24.9), mean CCI 3.2; sd 2.3). Differences in age and CCI were all statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion While these databases have been commonly used for orthopaedic trauma research, differences in the populations they represent are not always readily apparent. Care must be taken to understand fully these differences before performing or evaluating database research, as the outcomes they detail can only be analysed in context. Take home message: Researchers and those evaluating research should be aware that orthopaedic trauma populations contained in commonly studied national databases may differ substantially based on sampling methods and inclusion criteria. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:425–32.