bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The prognostic significance of bacterial DNA in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and suspected infection
Authors: Bruns Tony , Reuken Philipp A. , Stengel Sven , Gerber Ludmila , Appenrodt Beate , Schade Johannes H. , Lammert Frank , Zeuzem Stefan , Stallmach Andreas 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackground & AimsCirculating and peritoneal fragments of microbial DNA (bactDNA) are evidence for bacterial translocation in decompensated cirrhosis and may serve as a rational approach for antibiotic therapy when infection is suspected.MethodsProspective multicenter study to investigate whether identification of bactDNA from blood or ascitic fluid (AF) by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is associated with increased 90‐day mortality in 218 patients with cirrhosis and signs of infection.ResultsBactDNA in either compartment was detected in 134 (61%) patients, comprising 54 with bactDNA in blood and AF, 48 with AF bactDNA only, and 32 with blood bactDNA only. BactDNA was associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and blood stream infections (SBP/BSI), acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF), encephalopathy and markers of inflammation. The prevalence of bactDNA in patients with proven SBP/BSI (36/49; 73%) was similar to that in patients with sterile ACLF (37/52; 71%). Actuarial 90‐day survival was 56 ± 5% in the absence of bactDNA in both compartments and did not differ if bactDNA was detected in blood only (63 ± 9%), AF only (63 ± 7%), or in blood and AF (52 ± 7%). Predictors of 90‐day mortality were SBP (HR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.90–5.06), BSI (HR = 4.94; 95% CI: 2.71–9.02), and ACLF (HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.44–3.35). The detection of resistance genes in blood or AF in the absence of SBP/BSI (n = 11) was associated with poor 1‐year survival (HR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.03–5.35).ConclusionsBactDNA in sterile body fluids did not indicate increased mortality in cirrhotic patients with suspected infection. Using multiplex PCR for risk stratification cannot be recommended in these patients.
Regional differences in sorafenib‐treated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: GIDEON observational study
Authors: Kudo Masatoshi , Lencioni Riccardo , Marrero Jorge A. , Venook Alan P. , Bronowicki Jean‐Pierre , Chen Xiao‐Ping , Dagher Lucy , Furuse Junji , Geschwind Jean‐Francois H. , Ladrón de Guevara Laura , Papandreou Christos , Sanyal Arun J. , Takayama Tadatoshi , Yoon Seung Kew , Nakajima Keiko , Lehr Robert , Heldner Stephanie , Ye Sheng‐Long 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackground & AimsTreatment approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary across countries, but these differences and their potential impact on outcomes have not been comprehensively assessed. Data from the multinational GIDEON (Global Investigation of therapeutic DEcisions in HCC and Of its treatment with sorafeNib) registry evaluated differences in patient characteristics, practice patterns and outcomes in HCC across geographical regions in patients who received sorafenib.MethodsGIDEON is a non‐randomised, observational registry study conducted in 39 countries across five global regions. HCC patients in whom a decision to treat with sorafenib was made in clinical practice and according to local practices were included.Results3202 patients were evaluable for safety analysis: Asia‐Pacific (n = 928), Japan (n = 508), Europe (n = 1113), USA (n = 563) and Latin America (n = 90). Patients in Japan had earlier‐stage disease at initial diagnosis compared with patients in other regions (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A; 43.7% vs 9.1–24.3%). Use of locoregional therapies before sorafenib, including transarterial chemoembolisation, was more common in Japan (84.4%) and Asia‐Pacific (67.2%) compared with the USA (49.4%) and Europe (43.5%). Treatment patterns with respect to sorafenib also differed, with a shorter duration of treatment reported in the USA and Asia‐Pacific. Time from initial diagnosis to death was longer in Japan compared with other regions (median, 79.6 months vs 14.8–25.0 months).ConclusionsData from GIDEON highlight regional variations in the management of HCC and patient outcomes. Greater standardisation of management may help optimise outcomes for HCC patients.
Translating formative research findings into a behaviour change strategy to promote antenatal calcium and iron and folic acid supplementation in western Kenya
Authors: Martin Stephanie L. , Seim Gretchen L. , Wawire Salome , Chapleau Gina M. , Young Sera L. , Dickin Katherine L. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe World Health Organization now recommends integrating calcium supplements into antenatal micronutrient supplementation programmes to prevent pre‐eclampsia, a leading cause of maternal mortality. As countries consider integrating calcium supplementation into antenatal care (ANC), it is important to identify context‐specific barriers and facilitators to delivery and adherence. Such insights can be gained from women's and health workers' experiences with iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements. We conducted in‐depth interviews with 22 pregnant and post‐partum women and 20 community‐based and facility‐based health workers in Kenya to inform a calcium and IFA supplementation programme. Interviews assessed awareness of anaemia, pre‐eclampsia and eclampsia; ANC attendance; and barriers and facilitators to IFA supplement delivery and adherence. We analyzed interviews inductively using the constant comparative method. Women and health workers identified poor diet quality in pregnancy as a major health concern. Neither women nor health workers identified pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, anaemia or related symptoms as serious health threats. Women and community‐based health workers were unfamiliar with pre‐eclampsia and eclampsia and considered anaemia symptoms normal. Most women had not received IFA supplements, and those who had received insufficient amounts and little information about supplement benefits. We then developed a multi‐level (health facility, community, household and individual) behaviour change strategy to promote antenatal calcium and IFA supplementation. Formative research is an essential first step in guiding implementation of antenatal calcium supplementation programmes to reduce pre‐eclampsia. Because evidence on how to implement successful calcium supplementation programmes is limited, experiences with antenatal IFA supplementation can be used to guide programme development.
Harvests from bone marrow donors who weigh less than their recipients are associated with a significantly increased probability of a suboptimal harvest yield
Authors: Anthias Chloe , Billen Annelies , Arkwright Rebecca , Szydlo Richard M. , Madrigal J. Alejandro , Shaw Bronwen E. 
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have demonstrated the importance of bone marrow (BM) harvest yield in determining transplant outcomes, but little is known regarding donor and procedure variables associated with achievement of an optimal yield. We hypothesized that donor demographics and variables relating to the procedure were likely to impact the yield (total nucleated cells [TNCs]/kg recipient weight) and quality (TNCs/mL) of the harvest.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSTo test our hypothesis, BM harvests of 110 consecutive unrelated donors were evaluated. The relationship between donor or procedure characteristics and the BM harvest yield was examined.RESULTSThe relationship between donor and recipient weight significantly influenced the harvest yield; only 14% of BM harvests from donors who weighed less than their recipient achieved a TNC count of more than 4 × 108/kg compared to 56% of harvests from donors heavier than their recipient (p = 0.001). Higher‐volume harvests were significantly less likely to achieve an optimal yield than lower‐volume harvests (32% vs. 78%; p = 0.007), and higher‐volume harvests contained significantly fewer TNCs/mL, indicating peripheral blood contamination. BM harvest quality also varied significantly between collection centers adding to recent concerns regarding maintenance of BM harvest expertise within the transplant community.CONCLUSIONSince the relationship between donor and recipient weight has a critical influence yield, we recommend prioritizing this secondary donor characteristic when selecting from multiple well‐matched donors. Given the declining number of requests for BM harvests, it is crucial that systems are developed to train operators and ensure expertise in this procedure is retained.
Transplantation of miRNA‐34a overexpressing adipose‐derived stem cell enhances rat nerve regeneration
Authors: He Xingliang , Ao Qiang , Wei Yujun , Song Jinrui 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPeripheral nerve injury is an ongoing challenge in reconstructive surgery. Adipose‐derived stem cell (ADSC) application is reported to improve nerve regeneration. In the present study, we evaluated the potential benefit of 34a‐ADSCs for never regeneration. Lentiviral vectors containing miRNA‐34a were constructed and ADSCs were transduced. The obtained 34a‐ADSCs were used to regenerate the sciatic nerve in surgically induced sciatic nerve injury rat model. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups, a 34a‐ADSC group and an Lv‐ADSC group. Functional nerve recovery was assessed by walking track analysis at 12 weeks after surgery. In addition, histology, including light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry, was utilized to investigate the nerve repair effects of 34a‐ADSC. Results showed that reconstruction of the injured sciatic nerve had been significantly enhanced by restoration of nerve continuity and functional recovery in the 34a‐ADSC group compared with the Lv‐ADSC group. Furthermore, sciatic nerve conduction velocity and compound nerve action potential in the 34a‐ADSC group was much higher than that in the Lv‐ADSC group (30.72 ± 2.95 m/s vs. 22.73 ± 1.91 m/s, p< 0.0001; 11.93 ± 0.76 mV vs. 9.52 ± 0.53 mV, p = 0.0418). This study raises the possibility of using miRNA‐34a overexpressed ADSCs as a promising alternative for nerve regeneration.
The use of Doppler ultrasonography for pre- and post-surgery monitoring of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Case report.
Authors: Georgescu Monica Elia , Arbeille Philippe , Dobre Michaela , Stefanescu Victorita 
Published: February 2016

A 75 year old male patient was monitored for 3 years by Doppler Ultrasonography (US) for an abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA). Because the aneurysm increased significantly, an aortic prosthesis was installed via an endovascular procedure. After one month of post-surgery monitoring, both Doppler US exam and contrast enhancement US (CEUS) suspected the presence of a leak at the level of the prosthesis. A new surgical procedure was scheduled and intraoperative arteriography confirmed an endoleak type II. Although not always able to specify the correct type of linkage, CEUS remains a reliable method for investigating the postoperative complications of AAA.
Anytime Algorithms for Recommendation Service Providers
Authors: Ben-Shimon David , Rokach Lior , Shani Guy , Shapira Bracha 
Published: February 2016

Recommender systems (RS) can now be found in many commercial Web sites, often presenting customers with a short list of additional products that they might purchase. Many commercial sites do not typically have the ability and resources to develop their own system and may outsource the RS to a third party. This had led to the growth of a recommendation as a service industry, where companies, referred to as RS providers, provide recommendation services. These companies must carefully balance the cost of building recommendation models and the payment received from the e-business, as these payments are expected to be low. In such a setting, restricting the computational time required for model building is critical for the RS provider to be profitable.
In this article, we propose anytime algorithms as an attractive method for balancing computational time and the recommendation model performance, thus tackling the RS provider problem. In an anytime setting, an algorithm can be stopped after any amount of computational time, always ensuring that a valid, although suboptimal, solution will be returned. Given sufficient time, however, the algorithm should converge to an optimal solution. In this setting, it is important to evaluate the quality of the returned solution over time, monitoring quality improvement. This is significantly different from traditional evaluation methods, which mostly estimate the performance of the algorithm only after its convergence is given sufficient time.
We show that the popular item-item top-N recommendation approach can be brought into the anytime framework by smartly considering the order by which item pairs are being evaluated. We experimentally show that the time-accuracy trade-off can be significantly improved for this specific problem.
Dynamic system modeling of evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Šourek Gustav , Pošík Petr 
Published: February 2016

Evolutionary algorithms are population-based, metaheuristic, black-box optimization techniques from the wider family of evolutionary computation. Optimization algorithms within this family are often based on similar principles and routines inspired by biological evolution. Due to their robustness, the scope of their application is broad and varies from physical engineering to software design problems. Despite sharing similar principles based in common biological inspiration, these algorithms themselves are typically viewed as black-box program routines by the end user, without a deeper insight into the underlying optimization process. We believe that shedding some light into the underlying routines of evolutionary computation algorithms can make them more accessible to wider engineering public.
In this paper, we formulate the evolutionary optimization process as a dynamic system simulation, and provide means to prototype evolutionary optimization routines in a visually comprehensible framework. The framework enables engineers to follow the same dynamic system modeling paradigm, they typically use for representation of their optimization problems, to also create the desired evolutionary optimizers themselves. Instantiation of the framework in a Matlab-Simulink library practically results in graphical programming of evolutionary optimizers based on data-flow principles used for dynamic system modeling within the Simulink environment. We illustrate the efficiency of visual representation in clarifying the underlying concepts on executable flow-charts of respective evolutionary optimizers and demonstrate features and potential of the framework on selected engineering benchmark applications.
Optimizing swap space for improving process response after system resume
Authors: Lo Shiwu , Lin Hung-Yi , Chen Zhengyuan 
Published: February 2016

The swap-before-hibernate (SBH) swaps out all swappable pages before the system enters hibernation mode, thus reducing the memory used by the system and the size of hibernation file. However, when the system resumes, the program must be reloaded into the main memory by swap-in; hence, the response time of program depends on the swap-in speed.
This study experimentally proved that the present swap-in/swap-out mechanism of Linux is not acceptable to the SBH algorithm. Moreover, it proposed the method of reordering all the requests to be written out to the swap space. The proposed method was proven to increase the efficiency of swap space by 1/2 to 1/3.
Abundance, herd size, activity pattern and occupancy of ungulates in Southeastern Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Irineo Gabriela , Santos-Moreno Antonio 
Published: February 2016

This study provides information about relative abundance, herd size, activity pattern, and occupancy of ungulates at Los Chimalapas, southeastern Mexico, one of the last refuges inhabited by two conservation priority ungulate species: Tapirus bairdii and Tayassu pecari. For three years, four species of ungulates were recorded using camera traps: T. bairdii, T. pecari, Mazama temama, and Tayassu tajacu, involving an effort of 8529 trap-days and 839 records. T. pecari was found to be highest in relative abundance, while T. tajacu’s abundance was lowest. Populations were composed principally of adults, but there were records of offspring for all four species. The herd size was smaller compared to other populations of T. tajacu and T. pecari. Occupancy models were used to analyze the presence of the species in the region and showed that M. temama and T. bairdii had a high occupancy probability. In comparison, the occupancy probability of T. pecari was low. This study shows that ungulate populations are still breeding, and have higher possibility of permanence, in Los Chimalapas, Southeastern Mexico. The region is an important area for the conservation of T. bairdii and T. pecari, both disappeared from some other areas of the southeast.
O losie niektórych leksemów gwarowych w sytuacji zaniku gwar
Authors: Kucharzyk Renata 
Published: February 2016

On the fate of some dialectal lexemes in the situation of dialect disappearanceThis article concerns the durability of dialectal vocabulary in the situation in which local dialects are disappearing. It turns out that although the use of local dialects is decreasing, local dialect lexis has not disappeared completely. This is because some dialectal words are being incorporated into colloquial language. The intensity of this phenomenon varies – from occasional occurrences to strong rooting in the lexicon of colloquial Polish. The basis for these considerations is the word bambuch (belly) and a few other units from its word family (bambuszek, rozbambuszyć, wybambuszyć). The way they function in the colloquial language has been traced in the utterances of Internet users published on different forums. As the mate­ rial analysis reveals, local dialect words often become components of colloquial utterances, as a result of which they maintain their vivacity and it is possible for them to be included in general Polish vocabulary. O losie niektórych leksemów gwarowych w sytuacji zaniku gwarW tym artykule podjęto temat trwałości słownictwa dialektalnego w sytuacji zaniku gwar. Okazuje się, że wycofywanie się gwar z użycia nie oznacza zupełnego zaniku leksyki gwarowej. Część tego słownictwa przedostaje się bowiem do języka potocznego. Nasilenie zjawiska jest różne – od sporadycznych użyć po dobre osa­dzenie w zasobie polszczyzny potocznej. Podstawę niniejszych rozważań stanowi wyraz bambuch ‘brzuch’ i kilka innych jednostek z jego rodziny słowotwórczej (bambuszek, rozbambuszyć, wybambuszyć). Ich funkcjonowanie w języku potocznym zostało prześledzone w wypowiedziach użytkowników Internetu zamieszczonych na rozmaitych forach. Jak pokazała analiza materiału, wyrazy gwarowe często stają się komponentami wypowiedzi potocznych, dzięki czemu podtrzymują swoją żywotność i mają szansę na stałe wejść do zasobu polszczyzny ogólnej.
Czy współcześnie powstający kaszubski język literacki oraz obecnie tworzony język neobretoński mogą stanowić przedmiot dociekań badaczy językowego obrazu świata?
Authors: Dołowy-Rybińska Nicole , Popowska-Taborska Hanna 
Published: February 2016

Can the presently created Kashubian literary language and the currently formed new Breton language be objects of consideration for researchers of the linguistic picture of the world?The influence of the Polish language in conjunction with education and the mass media have brought about in the second half of the 20th century a growth of Polish-Kashubian bilingualism and a decline of Kashubian dialects. Simultaneously, work on the creation and promotion of the literary Kashubian language has begun. The standard Kashubian language is new to all users as is the new Breton language standardized in the last decades of the 20th century. Intergenerational transmission of the Breton language was severed after WWII. The ethnic revival of the 1970s led to the revalorization of the Breton culture and language, taught since then in a number of schools and at adult courses. Normalized Kashubian and Breton languages are full of neologisms. But at the same time they have also been considerably purified of those traits which make them similar to the respective dominant language (Polish and French). Furthermore, the range of use to which these minority languages are put is very different from one user to another. All these specifics result in the near impossibility of researching the linguistic picture of the world of contemporary normalized minority languages. Czy współcześnie powstający kaszubski język literacki oraz obecnie tworzony język neobretoński mogą stanowić przedmiot dociekań badaczy językowego obrazu świata?Wpływ polszczyzny związany ze szkołą i mediami masowymi spowodował wzrost w drugiej połowie XX wieku dwujęzyczności kaszubsko-polskiej i zanikanie dialektów kaszubskich. Jednocześnie rozpoczęły się prace nad stworzeniem i upowszechnieniem kaszubskiego języka literackiego. Standardowy język kaszubski jest nowy dla wszystkich użytkowników, podobnie jak standaryzowany w drugiej połowie XX wieku język bretoński. Międzypokoleniowa transmisja bretońskiego została przerwana w połowie XX wieku. Odrodzenie etniczne lat 70. XX wieku doprowadziło do rewaloryzacji kultury i języka bretońskiego, którego dzieci zaczęły się uczyć w szkołach, a dorośli – na kursach. Znormalizowane języki kaszubski i bretoński pełne są neologizmów, podlegają również procesom puryfikacji mającym oczyścić je z cech upodobniających do języka dominującego (polskiego i francuskiego). Zakres posługiwania się nimi u poszczególnych ich użytkowników jest silnie zróżnicowany. Wszystkie te fakty sprawiają, że badanie językowego obrazu świata normalizowanych obecnie języków mniejszościowych nie wydaje się możliwe.
When El Niño Rages: How Satellite Data Can Help Water-Stressed Islands
Authors: Luchetti Nicholas T. , Sutton Jessica R. P. , Wright Ethan E. , Kruk Michael C. , Marra John J. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
There are more than 2,000 islands across Hawaii and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), where freshwater resources are heavily dependent upon rainfall. Many of the islands experience dramatic variations in precipitation during the different phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Traditionally, forecasters in the region relied on ENSO climatologies based on spatially limited in situ data to inform their seasonal precipitation outlooks. To address this gap, a unique NOAA/NASA collaborative project updated the ENSO-based rainfall climatology for the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) encompassing Hawaii and the USAPI using NOAA’s PERSIANN Climate Data Record (CDR). The PERSIANN-CDR provides a 30-yr record of global daily precipitation at 0.25° resolution (∼750 km2 near the equator). This project took place over a 10- week NASA DEVELOP National Program term and resulted in a 478-page climatic reference atlas. This atlas is based on a 30-yr period from 1 January 1985 through 31 December 2014 and complements station data by offering an enhanced spatial representation of rainfall averages.
Regional and EEZ-specific maps throughout the atlas illustrate the percent departure from average for each season based on the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) for different ENSO phases. To facilitate intercomparisons across locations, this percentage-based climatology was provided to regional climatologists, forecasters, and outreach experts within the region. Anomalous wet and dry maps for each ENSO phase are used by the regional constituents to better understand precipitation patterns across their regions and to produce more accurate forecasts to inform adaptation, conservation, and mitigation options for drought and f looding events.