bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A qualitative study to improve the student learning experience
Authors: Jastania Raid A. , Balata Gehan F. , Abd El-Hady Mohamed I.S. , Gouda Ahmad , Abd El-Wahab Mohamad , Temraz Abeer , Ibrahim Nashwa M. , Beshr Eman , Mahdi Abeer Y. , Mousa Rabab , Tag Batool F. , Hisham Hadeel , El-Sofiani Ibtehal 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
For any educational institution, student satisfaction is an important goal. Thus, the purpose of the study is to use a structured improvement process, define–measure–analyse–improve–control (DMAIC) methodology, to improve students’ satisfaction regarding their learning experience at the College of Pharmacy/Umm Al-Qura University.

Design/methodology/approach
The study first defines the problem and develops the project charter. Then the study visualizes the students’ learning experience process that is defined using a flow chart and a value stream map. Students’ voices were captured through a modified version of a survey developed by Levitz (2015-2016) that covered different aspects of the students’ learning experience. Next, Pareto analysis and cause-and-effect diagrams were used to identify the few vital factors affecting students’ satisfaction. The net promoter score was chosen as a primary metric to measure students’ satisfaction regarding their learning experience.

Findings
The analysis results revealed that there were eight areas of dissatisfaction: poor catering services, improper physical environment, students’ feedback being overlooked, inappropriate measures for course delivery, absence of appropriate advice about future career, inefficient field experience and finally and poor academic support. Based on these results, an improvement plan was prepared and the first stage of the plan was implemented. The success of the plan was investigated by measuring the net promoter score which was increased by about 11.9 per cent after implementation of the first stage of the plan.

Originality/value
The study emphasizes that the DMAIC methodology can be applied successfully to improve students’ learning experience and to discover additional value for students.
The inherited risk of retained placenta: a population based cohort study
Authors: Endler M , Cnattingius S , Granfors M , Wikström A‐K 
Published: July 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate whether retained placenta in the first generation is associated with an increased risk of retained placenta in the second generation.DesignPopulation‐based cohort study.SettingSweden.PopulationUsing linked generational data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register 1973–2012, we identified 494 000 second‐generation births with information on the birth of the mother (first‐generation index birth). For 292 897 of these births there was information also on the birth of the father.MethodsRisk of retained placenta in the second generation was calculated as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) by unconditional logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) according to whether retained placenta occurred in a first generation birth or not.Main outcomeRetained placenta in the second generation.ResultsThe risk of retained placenta in a second‐generation birth was increased if retained placenta had occurred at the mother's own birth (aOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.52–1.82), at the birth of one of her siblings (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.43–1.76) or both (aOR 2.75, 95% CI 2.18–3.46). The risk was slightly increased if retained placenta had occurred at the birth of the father (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07–1.41). For preterm births in both generations, the risk of retained placenta in the second generation was increased six‐fold if retained placenta had occurred at the mother's birth (OR 6.55, 95% CI 2.68–16.02).ConclusionThere is an intergenerational recurrence of retained placenta on the maternal and most likely also on the paternal side. The recurrence risk seems strongest in preterm pregnancies.Tweetable abstractA population‐based cohort study suggests that there is an intergenerational recurrence of retained placenta.
My experiences with Indigenist methodologies
Authors: MacDonald Katherine 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTraditionally, geographic research and engagement with Indigenous communities have largely been developed within a western research paradigm and have historically been linked to colonial practices such as extraction and/or domination. The consequences of these research practices and paradigms have been the further marginalisation of Indigenous people globally. However, geographers are increasingly being influenced by a range of Indigenous scholars from both within and beyond the discipline who highlight the colonial foundations of geographic knowledge and the ongoing production of colonial relations, and who are calling for a decolonisation of knowledge through the use of Indigenist methodologies. After exploring this shift, this paper moves to a discussion of my engagement with research in Indigenous communities using Indigenist methodologies, including the emotions and thought processes that emerged during my own research journey, which led me to southern Guyana and the Makushi and Wapishana peoples who reside in the northern savannah environments of the Amazon basin. I conclude by sharing how I am continuing that journey using Indigenist approaches in my work in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, and by encouraging future scholars to challenge traditional geographic research methods.
Histone variants expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Asadipour Maryam , Hassan‐Zadeh Vahideh , Aryaeian Naheed , Shahram Farhad , Mahmoudi Mahdi 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimThe purpose of the present study was to analyze the expression of four histone variants, implicated in the regulation of gene expression, in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.MethodWe analyzed the expression of three genes encoding histone variants H3.3, H2A.Z, macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in PBMC samples of 50 patients with RA, diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, and 51 matched healthy controls using SYBR green real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Mann–Whitney U‐test and Spearman correlation were used for data analysis.ResultsThe expression of H2A.Z was increased by 1.51‐fold (P < 0.001) and the expression of H3.3 was increased by 1.13‐fold (P = 0.048) in PBMCs of patients with RA compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between Disease Activity Score (DAS‐28) based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the expression of H2A.Z.ConclusionsGiven the role of H3.3 and H2A.Z in nucleosome positioning, chromatin structure and transcription regulation, we suggest that lymphocytes and monocytes, the main cell subtypes in PBMCs of RA patients, possess a more accessible chromatin.
Tuberculosis and biologics in rheumatology: A special situation
Authors: Handa Rohini , Upadhyaya Sundeep , Kapoor Sanjiv , Jois Ramesh , Pandey Bimlesh D. , Bhatnagar Anuj K. , Khanna Ashwani , Goyal Vishal , Kumar Kamal 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIndia has a huge patient burden of rheumatic diseases (RDs) including rheumatoid arthritis. The use of biologics has transformed the treatment paradigm for RD; however, biologic treatment‐related infections (especially tuberculosis [TB]) are an area of potential concern for TB‐endemic nations like India. Anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy impairs the physiological TNF‐mediated signaling and may cause reactivation and dissemination of latent TB infection (LTBI). Careful screening is, thus, crucial in RD patients who are about to commence anti‐TNF treatment. To date, there is no consensus available for the screening, evaluation and treatment of LTBI as well as on the drug dosage and duration regimen (monotherapy or combination therapy) in the Indian population. An evidence‐based algorithm for LTBI screening and management in RD patients undergoing biologic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drug therapy is suggested in this review for Indian rheumatologists. The proposed algorithm guides physicians through a step‐wise screening approach, including medical history, tuberculin skin test, interferon gamma release assay, chest radiograph and management of LTBI with isoniazid therapy or its combination with rifampicin. Further, the provided algorithm can aid the national bodies (such as National TB Control Program) in formulating recommendations for LTBI in this high‐risk population.
A multicenter study to evaluate oxidative stress by oxidation–reduction potential, a reliable and reproducible method
Authors: Agarwal A. , Arafa M. , Chandrakumar R. , Majzoub A. , AlSaid S. , Elbardisi H. 
Published: July 2017

SummarySeminal oxidative stress (OS) is well‐known to affect male fertility status. The discrepancy in OS measurement has hindered its clinical use as a quality indicator for semen. Some tests measured single markers of oxidants or reductants, leading to lack of standardization of results. Oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) is a better representative for OS as it provides an overall measure of the activity of both oxidants and reductants. ORP assessment by MiOXSYS has been introduced as a measure of OS with high specificity in differentiating fertile from infertile semen samples. This is a retrospective study comparing data from semen analysis and ORP measurements between two andrology laboratories in the USA and Qatar over a period of 12 months. The same protocol was followed by both laboratories. The USA dataset contained 194 patients and 51 fertile donors, while the Qatar dataset contained 400 patients and 50 fertile donors. In both datasets and in the combined dataset, the infertile group had significantly lower sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, and normal morphology as well as higher ORP levels compared to fertile men (p < 0.05). When comparing data from both centers, the infertile group showed significant difference between both datasets regarding progressive motility and morphology (p < 0.001). Also, the percentage of patients with abnormal semen volume, sperm count, total and progressive motility were significantly different between both datasets (p < 0.05). ORP levels showed no significant difference between both datasets (p < 0.08). ROC analysis indicated that ORP cutoff value of 1.42 mV/106/mL in the USA group, Qatar group, and combined dataset can accurately differentiate fertile from infertile semen groups. Although other semen parameters showed significant differences between the two centers, ORP remained consistent in both datasets individually or in combined data. This proves its reproducibility and reliability.
National data study showed that adolescents living in poorer households and with one parent were more likely to be bullied
Authors: Låftman SB , Fransson E , Modin B , Östberg V 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to assess whether sociodemographic household characteristics were associated with which Swedish adolescents were more likely to be bullied.MethodsThe data were derived from the Swedish Living Conditions Survey and its child supplements from the survey years 2008–2011. The analyses included information on 3951 adolescents aged 10–18 years. Exposure to bullying was reported by adolescents, and information on sociodemographic household characteristics was reported by parents and obtained from official registers. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the data.ResultsAdolescents were more likely to be bullied if they lived in households with no cash margin, defined as the ability to pay an unexpected bill of 8000 Swedish Kronor or about 800 Euros, and if they lived with just one custodial parent. In the unadjusted analyses, elevated risks were identified if adolescents lived in working class households and had unemployed and foreign‐born parents. However, these associations were at least partly accounted for by other sociodemographic household characteristics, in particular the lack of a cash margin.ConclusionThis study showed that Swedish adolescents living in households with more limited financial resources had an increased risk of being bullied, supporting results from previous international research.
‘Will I want these stickers tomorrow?’ Preschoolers’ ability to predict current and future needs
Authors: Martin‐Ordas Gema 
Published: July 2017

Between 3 and 5 years of age, children develop the ability to plan for their own and others' future needs; however, they have great difficulty predicting future needs that conflict with current ones. Importantly, this ability has only been tested in the domain of physiological states (e.g., thirst). Therefore, it is still an open question whether in a different context preschoolers can disengage from their current needs to secure a different future one. In a Resource Allocation task, 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds had to distribute three types of rewards between themselves and another child for either ‘right now’ or ‘tomorrow’. Children's current needs were manipulated by providing them (or not) with their preferred reward at beginning of the task. Only 5‐year‐olds could predict future needs that conflict with their current ones and act accordingly. Younger children's performance is discussed in the context of temporal and social distance.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

By the age of 4, children can plan for their own and others' future needs.

Seven‐year‐old children still have difficulty predicting future physiological needs that conflict with their current ones.

What does this study add?

In a Resource Allocation task, preschoolers had to share rewards with another child for ‘right now’ or ‘tomorrow’.

Children's current needs were manipulated by providing them (or not) with their preferred reward.

This study shows that 5‐year‐olds can predict future (non‐physiological) needs that conflict with their current ones.
Pregnancy in women with nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Time to conceive and outcome
Authors: Eyal Ori , Ayalon‐Dangur Irit , Segev‐Becker Anat , Schachter‐Davidov Anita , Israel Shoshana , Weintrob Naomi 
Published: July 2017

SummaryObjectiveNonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) is common among Ashkenazi Jews (1:400). It is associated with various degrees of postnatal virilization, irregular menses and infertility. Therapy of symptomatic subjects consists of physiologic doses of glucocorticoids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of glucocorticoid treatment on fertility and on pregnancy outcome in women with NCAH.Design, Setting and PatientsThis retrospective study included 75 women diagnosed with NCAH who were followed in our clinic and sought fertility between 2008 and 2015.ResultsSeventy‐two women succeeded in conceiving (187 pregnancies). Time to conception was 4.0 ± 7 months without and 3.3 ± 3 months with glucocorticoid therapy (P = .43). Seventeen pregnancies were achieved by glucocorticoid therapy after failure to conceive spontaneously. Time to conception before therapy initiation was 10.2 ± 11.4 months compared to 3.3 ± 3.4 months after therapy initiation (P = .02). Of 187 pregnancies, 135 (72%) resulted in live births, 38 (20.3%) ended in spontaneous miscarriages during the first trimester, seven (3.7%) were electively terminated, three (1.6%) were ectopic and four (2.1%) were ongoing during the study with similar rate in glucocorticoid treated and untreated pregnancies.ConclusionsThe 96% pregnancy rate among our cohort of NCAH females was similar to the 95% rate reported for the normal population. Glucocorticoid therapy may shorten the time to conceive in a subgroup of women with NCAH. Glucocorticoid therapy did not affect the rate of first trimester miscarriage. Our 77% live birth rate was similar to the 72% live birth rate in the current healthy US population.
A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study of the effects of levetiracetam on cognition, mood, and balance in healthy older adults
Authors: Schoenberg Mike R. , Rum Ruba S. , Osborn Katie E. , Werz Mary Ann 
Published: July 2017

SummaryObjectiveThe cognitive and mood effects of levetiracetam (LEV) in older adults are not known. This study compared the cognitive and mood effects ofLEVto placebo in healthy older adults.MethodsCognitive, mood, and balance variables were compared betweenLEVand placebo using a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study with two 5‐week treatment periods. Healthy volunteers (n = 20) aged 65–80 (mean age 72.4) received eitherLEVor placebo in which theLEVtarget dose was 1,000 mg/day. Volunteers, aged 65–80, were without epilepsy to limit potentially confounding the impact of seizures and/or underlying neuropathology on outcomes.LEVwas initiated at 250 mg twice a day for 2 weeks, then increased to 500 mg twice a day for 2 weeks, and then tapered to 250 mg twice a day for 1 week. This was randomized with placebo for the two treatment arms. Measures included standardized neuropsychological, mood, and balance tests yielding 32 variables. Balance was assessed using subjective report (e.g., A‐B neurotoxicity scale) and objective data (e.g., Berg Balance Scale).ResultsAverageLEVserum concentration was 16.9 (standard deviation [SD}7.7). Repeated‐measuresanalysis of variance (ANOVA)found no differences betweenLEVand placebo phases for 29 (90.6%) of 32 variables including no change in balance. Performance onLEVwas better than placebo on a visual memory (MCGComplex Figure Recall; p = 0.007) and two attention tests (Trail Making Test, Part A, p = 0.009; Stroop Interference, p = 0.004). There was a trend for greater irritability and fatigue (POMSAnger and Fatigue) during theLEVphase (p = 0.029, p = 0.035). Effect‐size changes were generally small (Cohen d < 0.5).SignificanceLEVwas well tolerated in this elderly population in terms of cognition, mood, and balance. When anticonvulsant medication is indicated for older adults,LEVhas pharmacokinetic advantages, and these data indicate no adverse impact on cognition or balance.
Extending electronic length frequency analysis in R
Authors: Taylor M. H. , Mildenberger T. K. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractElectronic length frequency analysis (ELEFAN) is a system of stock assessment methods using length‐frequency (LFQ) data. One step is the estimation of growth from the progression of LFQ modes through time using the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF). The option to fit a seasonally oscillating VBGF (soVBGF) requires a more intensive search due to two additional parameters. This work describes the implementation of two optimisation approaches (“simulated annealing” and “genetic algorithm”) for growth function fitting using the open‐source software “R.” Using a generated LFQ data set with known values, the accuracy of the soVBGF parameter estimation was evaluated. The results indicate that both optimisation approaches are capable of finding high scoring solutions, yet settings regarding the initial restructuring process for LFQ bin scoring (i.e. “moving average,”) and the fixing of the asymptotic length parameter (L∞) are found to have significant effects on parameter estimation error. An outlook provides context as to the significance of the R‐based implementation for further testing and development, as well as the general relevance of the method for data‐limited stock assessment.
MYC expression and translocation analyses in low‐grade and transformed follicular lymphoma
Authors: Aukema Sietse M , van Pel Roel , Nagel Inga , Bens Susanne , Siebert Reiner , Rosati Stefano , van den Berg Eva , Bosga‐Bouwer Anneke G , Kibbelaar Robby E , Hoogendoorn Mels , van Imhoff Gustaaf W , Kluin‐Nelemans Hanneke C , Kluin Philip M , Nijland Marcel 
Published: July 2017

AimsLow‐grade follicular lymphoma (FL) (grade 1/2, FL1/2) has an annual risk of transformation of ≈3%, which is associated with aberrations in CDKN2A/B, TP53, and MYC. As in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, high MYC expression in transformed FL (tFL) might predict a MYC breakpoint.Methods and resultsWe quantified MYC expression by immunohistochemistry and digital analysis in 41 paired biopsies from 20 patients with FL1/2 with subsequent transformation and in four isolated biopsies of tFL. As controls, 28 biopsies of FL1/2 without transformation (median follow‐up of 105 months) and nine biopsies of FL3A/B were analysed. In the 20 FL1/2–tFL pairs, MYC expression was significantly higher in tFL than in the initial FL1/2 biopsies (median 54% versus 6%; 7% in FL3A, and 35% in FL3B). MYC breaks (MYC‐R) were detected in eight of 21 (38%) tFLs analysed by fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH), with a median MYC score of 86%. In two of the analysed tFL cases, the translocation was already detected in antecedent FL1/2. MYC partners were immunoglobulin (IG) loci in three of eight cases (one IGL, one IGH, and one IGK) and non‐IG in five of eight cases (two PAX5, one BCL6, and two unknown). Of the eight MYC‐R+ cases, six were BCL2+/MYC+ double‐hit, one was BCL2+/BCL6+/MYC+ triple‐hit, and one was MYC+ single‐hit. All three IG‐MYC+ cases showed a MYC expression level of >85%, whereas the five cases with a non‐IG MYC partner had a wider range of expression (median 68%, range 13–86%). Among the 13 MYC‐R− tFLs, two groups with almost dichotomous MYC expression could be observed (three cases showed ≥90% MYC expression), suggesting alternative mechanisms of MYC activation.Conclusionswe show an increase in MYC expression from FL1/2 to tFL. MYC breakpoints were present in ≈40% of the cases, which is markedly higher than in de novo DLBCL. MYC expression was uniformly high in cases with an IG‐MYC translocation but much more heterogeneous and in part independent of the presence of a MYC break in non‐IG‐MYC and MYC‐negative cases.
Evidence that dispersal barriers influence blaberoid cockroach assemblages in a neotropical savanna–forest matrix
Authors: Evangelista Dominic A. , Russell Gareth , Russell Kimberly N. , Bourne Godfrey , Ware Jessica L. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe forest refuge hypothesis to explain Amazonian diversity places an importance on dry savanna as a landscape feature isolating populations of humid forest‐dwelling animals. Leaf‐litter cockroaches are a useful group to study this as they are terrestrial and occupy a high‐humidity microclimate.We examine the role of savanna, forests and flood zones in affecting blaberoid cockroach assemblage composition in the north Rupununi of Guyana, an expansive savanna–forest matrix. We test whether stretches of dry savanna and flood zones are barriers to dispersal for leaf‐litter cockroaches.Our study area is the ˜10 000 hectares of Karanambu Eco‐Lodge. We collected 1061 individuals of 17 species from 28 sites. Using a landscape classification based on satellite imagery, we generated models of relative isolation of the 28 sites using a cost of travel algorithm. We also used non‐metric multi‐dimensional scaling and Mantel tests to determine whether the similarity of cockroach assemblages could be explained by different landscape categories (savanna, forests and flood zones) or by geographic distance.We identified a single model that best predict observed variation in cockroach abundance and species richness. Differences in assemblage similarity were largely due to differences in the savanna–forest habitat axis. Geographic distance was also found to effect assemblage similarity.Our data suggest that savannas are barriers to dispersal, whereas flood zones are not. Future investigation of savanna driving speciation in some species is warranted, and this is a key feature of the forest refuge hypothesis.