bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decadal Change in Tropical Cyclone Activity over the South China Sea around 2002/03
Authors: Ha Yao , Zhong Zhong 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This study investigates the decadal change in tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the South China Sea (SCS) in the boreal summer (June–August) since the early 1990s and explores possible causes behind it. Results show that the SCS TC activity experienced an abrupt decadal decrease at around 2003/03. Compared to the TC activities from the early 1990s to 2002, the number of TCs formed in the SCS markedly decreased from 2003 through the early 2010s. Moreover, most of the TCs were primarily confined within the SCS basin during this period. The TCs that formed during the period of 2003–11 usually moved west-northwestward and rapidly weakened after making landfall. It is found that a significant decadal-scale sea surface temperature (SST) warming occurred in the northern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean after 2002 while convection intensified over the tropical regions between 60° and 80°E and around 150°E, respectively. The warm SST anomalies induced an anomalous subsiding flow over the SCS basin via the Walker-like (zonal) circulation. Meanwhile, anomalously dry, sinking air around 5°–20°N derived from local Hadley (meridional) circulation reinforced the subsiding flow of the zonal circulation. The above circulation patterns suppressed TC genesis over the northern SCS, leading to the decadal decrease in TC activity that occurred around 2002/03. In addition, in conjunction with the local anomalous easterly flow, the intraseasonal atmospheric variability over the SCS has decreased since the early 2000s. This is unfavorable for the development of synoptic-scale disturbances and may also contribute to the decadal decrease in TC activity.
Biological variation of cardiac troponin in stable haemodialysis patients
Authors: Mbagaya Wycliffe , Luvai Ahai , Lopez Berenice 
Published: April 2015

Background Patients with end-stage renal failure exhibit a chronic elevation of serum cardiac troponin (cTn) concentration. In order to facilitate the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in these patients, it is necessary to distinguish an increased cTn concentration due to an acute event, from that being a manifestation of chronic elevation. The aim of this study was to gather biological variation data relating to two serum cTn assays, one, a hs-cTnT assay, the other a contemporary sensitive cTnI assay, among stable haemodialysis patients. It was hoped that this might inform as to the best way to use cTn assays to assist in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in patients with end-stage renal failure. Methods Eighteen stable haemodialysis patients were recruited, of whom 16 completed the study. Predialysis blood samples were collected weekly for 10 weeks during the second dialysis session of the week. Analytical CV (CVA), within-subject biological variation (CVI), between-subject biological variation (CVG), reference change value (RCV) and index of individuality (II) were determined for both assays. Results All samples had a serum hs-cTnT concentration above the 99th percentile for a healthy population compared to 29.4% for cTnI. For hs-cTnT, the long-term CVA was 2.1%, CVI 10.5%, CVG 64.2%, RCV 28.1% and log-normal RCV (rise/fall) 34.4%/–25.6%. The corresponding values for cTnI were 7.1, 20.2, 100.5 and 79.8%/–44.4%. The II was 0.17 and 0.2 for hs-cTnT and cTnI, respectively. Conclusion Long-term biological variation of cTn in stable haemodialysis patients is similar to that in healthy individuals and in patients with stable coronary arterial disease. The low II for cTnI and hs-cTnT in stable haemodialysis patients indicates that population-based decision points are of limited value. Serial measurements are required to detect significant changes in cTn concentrations and support diagnosis of myocardial infarction in these patients.
Performance of new alternative providers of primary care services in England: an observational study
Authors: Greaves Felix , Laverty Anthony A , Pape Utz , Ratneswaren Anenta , Majeed Azeem , Millett Christopher 
Published: April 2015

Summary Objectives Health system reforms in England are opening broad areas of clinical practice to new providers of care. As part of these reforms, new entrants – including private companies – have been allowed into the primary care market under ‘alternative provider of medical services’ contracting mechanisms since 2004. The characteristics and performance of general practices working under new alternative provider contracts are not well described. We sought to compare the quality of care provided by new entrant providers to that provided by the traditional model of general practice. Design Open cohort study of English general practices. We used linear regression in cross-sectional and time series analyses, adjusting for practice and population characteristics, to compare quality in practices using alternative provider contracts to traditional practices. We created regression models using practice fixed effects to estimate the impact of practices changing to the new contract type. Setting The English National Health Service. Participants All general practices open from 2008/2009 to 2012/2013. Main outcome measures Seventeen established quality indicators – covering clinical effectiveness, efficiency, access and patient experience. Results In total, 4.1% (347 of 8300) of general practices in England were run by alternative contract providers. These practices tended to be smaller, and serve younger, more diverse and more deprived populations than traditional providers. Practices run by alternative providers performed worse than traditional providers on 15 of 17 indicators after adjusting for practice and population characteristics ( p < 0.01 for all). Switching to a new alternative provider contract did not result in improved performance. Conclusions The introduction of new alternative providers to deliver primary care services in England has not led to improvements in quality and may have resulted in worse care. Regulators should ensure that new entrants to clinical provider markets are performing to adequate standards and at least as well as traditional providers.
The value of anti-1-amino-3-18F-fluorocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent prostate carcinoma: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ren Jingyun , Yuan Leilei , Wen Guanghua , Yang Jigang 
Published: April 2015

Background Anti-1-amino-3-[18F]fluorocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (anti-3-18F-FACBC) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), 11 C-choline PET/CT, 111In–capromab pendetide, and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used for detecting prostate carcinoma relapse. Purpose To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data regarding the performance of 18F-FACBC PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent prostate carcinoma. Material and Methods A comprehensive review of the literature regarding the role of 18F-FACBC PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent prostate carcinoma was performed. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic of 18F-FACBC PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent prostate carcinoma were calculated based on the included studies. Results Six studies comprising 251 patients, suspicious of prostate carcinoma recurrence, were included in this meta-analysis. 18F-FACBC PET/CT had an 87% pooled sensitivity, 66% pooled specificity, 0.93 the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve on a per patient-based analysis in detecting prostate carcinoma recurrence. Conclusion 18F-FACBC PET/CT was a non-invasive, metabolic imaging technique in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma relapse.
Radiological features of metastases to the thyroid
Authors: Surov Alexey , Machens Andreas , Holzhausen Hans-Jürgen , Spielmann Rolf Peter , Dralle Henning 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundThyroid metastases (TM) are uncommon. Dependent on study design, the reported frequency of TM is in the range of 0.1–6% in different analyses. While clinical and histopathological features of TM were well described in the literature, radiological publications consist predominantly of isolated case reports or small series.PurposeTo estimate the prevalence, clinical signs, and radiological appearances of TM.Material and MethodsFrom 1997 to 2013, a total of 8849 patients with various disorders of the thyroid gland were treated in our institution. In 33 patients TM were diagnosed. Ultrasound (US) images were available in all patients, computed tomography (CT) of the neck in 16 patients, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in nine patients.ResultsClinically, most patients (85%) presented with a painless neck mass. Primary tumors were renal cell carcinoma (79%), colorectal cancer (12%), lung cancer (3%), rhabdomyosarcoma (3%), and breast carcinoma (3%). On US, most lesions were irregular in shape with inhomogenous texture. On CT, all TM were hypodense. On T1-weighted images, most TM were inhomogenously iso-to-hyperintense in comparison to the normal thyroid tissue, and slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted images with an inhomogenous contrast enhancement.ConclusionThe prevalence of TM was 0.4%. Most of the TM originated from renal cell carcinoma. The identified radiological features of TM should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.
Dual-energy computed tomography for evaluation of pulmonary nodules with emphasis on metastatic lesions
Authors: Altenbernd Jens , Wetter Axel , Umutlu Lale , Hahn Steffen , Ringelstein Adrian , Forsting Michael , Lauenstein Thomas 
Published: April 2015

Background The contrast enhancement of pulmonary nodules is a differential diagnostic criterion which can be helpful in staging investigations. Purpose To investigate the impact of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) with regards to the evaluation of pulmonary nodules with emphasis on metastatic lesions. Material and Methods DECT scans of the thorax were performed in 70 consecutive patients. Data of the lung were acquired in the arterial and in delayed venous phase. The virtual native and overlay image data based on arterial and delayed venous phase of these lesions were compared using CT density values (HU) within the nodule tested for statistical significance. Results A total of 156 pulmonary lesions ≥5 mm were identified on 70 DECT scans. There were no significant differences between the CT-value measurements in the virtual native images based on the arterial and delayed venous phase (27.9+/–3.9 HU vs.28.1+/–4.2 HU, P = 0.89) and between the CT-value measurements in the overlay images based on the arterial und delayed venous phase (35.5+/–6.8 HU vs. 36.6+/–5.0 HU, P = 0.75). Metastases of colorectal carcinoma (51.4+/–9.4 HU vs. 32.5+/–8.9 HU, P = 0.0001), malignant melanoma (56.1+/–6.4 HU vs. 34.2+/–1.6 HU, P = 0.0045), and thyroid cancer (53.5+/–15.5 HU vs. 15.7+/–4.2 HU, P = 0.001) showed a distinct wash-out, whereas metastases of lung cancer (23.1+/–6.3 HU vs. 58.6+/–4.8 HU, P = 0.001), salivary gland cancer (41.4+/–20.3 HU vs. 65.7+/–15.7 HU, P = 0.023), and sarcoma (56.2+/–7.4 HU vs. 90.2+/–3.4 HU, P = 0.001) had an increased enhancement in the delayed venous phase. Conclusion The contrast enhancement behavior of pulmonary metastases can be evaluated with DECT and depends on the type of the primary malignant tumor.
Pregnancies in women receiving renal transplant for lupus nephritis: description of nine pregnancies and review of the literature
Authors: Campise M , Giglio E , Trespidi L , Messa P , Moroni G 
Published: April 2015

Background Few data are available on pregnancy in renal transplanted women for lupus nephritis (LN). Methods Among 38 women with LN who received a renal transplant in our Unit, three had nine pregnancies. During the pregnancies, patients were followed by a multidisciplinary team including gynecologists and nephrologists. Results Two patients received a living related and one a deceased kidney transplant. The immunosuppressive therapy consisted of steroids calcinurin inhibithors and mycophenolate mofetil. The last drug was substituted with azathioprine in prevision of pregnancy. All patients had normal renal function and urinalysis. In two patients some signs of immunological activity persisted after transplantation. Five pregnancies ended in miscarriage and four in live births. Two pregnancies were uneventful. Pre-eclampsia occurred in a hypertensive patient in two pregnancies that ended in preterm delivery in one case and in a small for gestation age in both cases. And finally, follow-up graft function and urinalysis continued to be normal in all patients. Conclusions After renal transplantation our LN women continue to have frequent miscarriages. The other pregnancies ended in live births and, with the exception of pre-eclampsia in a hypertensive patient, no renal or extra-renal complications occurred during or after pregnancy, even in cases with active immunological tests.
Nurse moral disengagement
Authors: Fida Roberta , Tramontano Carlo , Paciello Marinella , Kangasniemi Mari , Sili Alessandro , Bobbio Andrea , Barbaranelli Claudio 
Published: April 2015

Background: Ethics is a founding component of the nursing profession; however, nurses sometimes find it difficult to constantly adhere to the required ethical standards. There is limited knowledge about the factors that cause a committed nurse to violate standards; moral disengagement, originally developed by Bandura, is an essential variable to consider. Research objectives: This study aimed at developing and validating a nursing moral disengagement scale and investigated how moral disengagement is associated with counterproductive and citizenship behaviour at work. Research design: The research comprised a qualitative study and a quantitative study, combining a cross-validation approach and a structural equation model. Participants and research context: A total of 60 Italian nurses (63% female) involved in clinical work and enrolled as students in a postgraduate master’s programme took part in the qualitative study. In 2012, the researchers recruited 434 nurses (76% female) from different Italian hospitals using a convenience sampling method to take part in the quantitative study. Ethical considerations: All the organisations involved and the university gave ethical approval; all respondents participated on a voluntary basis and did not receive any form of compensation. Findings: The nursing moral disengagement scale comprised a total of 22 items. Results attested the mono-dimensionality of the scale and its good psychometric properties. In addition, results highlighted a significant association between moral disengagement and both counterproductive and citizenship behaviours. Discussion: Results showed that nurses sometimes resort to moral disengagement in their daily practice, bypassing moral and ethical codes that would normally prevent them from enacting behaviours that violate their norms and protocols. Conclusion: The nursing moral disengagement scale can complement personnel monitoring and assessment procedures already in place and provide additional information to nursing management for designing interventions aimed at increasing compliance with ethical codes by improving the quality of the nurses’ work environment.
Vortioxetine: A multimodal antidepressant or another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor?
Authors: Keks Nicholas A , Hope Judy , Culhane Christine 
Published: April 2015

Objective: The treatment of depressive disorders remains unsatisfactory for many patients with regard to efficacy and tolerability. Vortioxetine has been registered by regulatory authorities for the treatment of major depressive disorder. This paper aims to provide clinicians with a brief overview of vortioxetine and its place in treatment. Conclusions: Vortioxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor with additional serotonergic receptor effects of uncertain significance; hence, its classification as ‘multimodal’. The half-life is about 2.75 days and steady state requires about 14 days. Metabolism is hepatic and involves cytochromes 2D6 and 3A4/5. Antidepressant efficacy in major depressive disorder has been established in registration studies, but the effectiveness of vortioxetine in ‘real world’ patients and in comparison to other antidepressants needs further investigation. The recommended dose range is 5–20 mg. Nausea, constipation and vomiting are the most common side effects. Sexual dysfunction may occur at higher doses but there appears to be low risk of weight gain and sedation. There is still much to learn about this drug, particularly whether it has unique characteristics in comparison to existing antidepressants. At present, vortioxetine can be considered as an antidepressant option in patients with established major depressive disorder who have not responded adequately to other antidepressants.
Clinical update on frontotemporal dementia: diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Mocellin Ramon , Scholes Amelia , Walterfang Mark , Looi Jeffrey CL , Velakoulis Dennis 
Published: April 2015

Objectives: To provide a clinical update for general psychiatrists on frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) using a selective narrative review of recent findings and advances in conceptualising, diagnosing and treating FTD. Conclusions: General psychiatrists can apply their skills to support patients, carers, GPs and allied health workers in comprehensive care of persons with FTD.
Effect of therapeutic massage on pain in patients with dementia
Authors: Kapoor Yamini , Orr Robin 
Published: April 2015

Introduction The aim was to investigate whether therapeutic massage was effective in relieving pain in elderly residents with dementia. Methods A randomized controlled study was conducted in an aged care facility. Ten participants with dementia or advanced dementia were allocated to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received 10 min of massage (effleurage, kneading, and trigger point therapy) four times per week for 4 weeks. The Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia scale was used as the outcome measure. Results No significant changes in mean outcome measure scores were found post intervention (Intervention mean = 5.0 ± 3.49; Control mean = 5.2 ± 3.49: t(8) = 0.09, p = 0.93). However, the Intervention Group had a greater magnitude of change (1.200 ± 1.78) when compared to the control group (0.800 ± 2.16). Conclusion Therapeutic massage may provide a useful adjunct to the current pain management plan of patients with dementia.
Podoplanin and CLEC-2 drive cerebrovascular patterning and integrity during development
Authors: Lowe Kate L. , Finney Brenda A. , Deppermann Carsten , Hägerling René , Gazit Salomé L. , Frampton Jon , Buckley Christopher , Camerer Eric , Nieswandt Bernhard , Kiefer Friedemann , Watson Steve P. 
Published: April 2015

Key PointsPodoplanin and CLEC-2 critically drive the formation and integrity of developing cerebral blood vessels. Loss of cerebrovascular integrity is influenced by the loss of αIIb-mediated platelet aggregation and platelet secretion.
SNES makes sense? Single-cell exome sequencing evolves
Authors: Voet Thierry , Van Loo Peter 
Published: April 2015

AbstractTechnologies for single-cell sequencing are improving steadily. A recent study describes a new method for interrogating all coding sequences of the human genome at single-cell resolution.See related research by Leung et al., http://genomebiology.com/2015/16/1/55
Histological antiphospholipid-associated nephropathy versus lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an observational cross-sectional study with longitudinal follow-up
Authors: Gerhardsson Jakob , Sundelin Birgitta , Zickert Agneta , Padyukov Leonid , Svenungsson Elisabet , Gunnarsson Iva 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Renal involvement is a severe complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Moreover, a subset of SLE patients develop the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), characterised by the occurrence of anti-phospholipid antibodies in combination with macro- and microvascular thrombotic manifestations, including acute and chronic antiphospholipid-associated nephropathy (APLN). Clinical presentations of lupus nephritis and APLN are similar and a renal biopsy is necessary to differentiate between the conditions. Our aim with this study was to investigate the occurrence of histopathological findings consistent with APLN (hAPLN) in renal biopsies from SLE patients and to investigate associations with anti-phospholipid antibody specificities, clinical manifestations, HLA-DRB1 alleles, and long-term renal outcome.

Method
Consecutive renal biopsies from 112 SLE patients with renal involvement were investigated and evaluated for findings of hAPLN; in all there were 236 renal biopsies. Data from biopsy reports and clinical information were collected. Autoantibodies against cardiolipin and β2-glycoprotein-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A lupus anticoagulant test was determined with a modified Dilute Russel Viper Venom method. HLA genotyping was performed by sequence-specific primer PCR. Renal outcome was determined at study end.

Results
The prevalence of hAPLN was 14.3% among SLE patients with renal involvement. Compared to patients with pure lupus nephritis, occurrence of hAPLN was associated with intima changes (odds ratio (OR) = 24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0 to 189.8; P < 0.0001), hypertensive vascular changes (OR = 7.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to 39.4; P = 0.01), inflammatory infiltrates (OR = 6.5; 95% CI, 1.7 to 25.1; P = 0.007) and tubular atrophy (OR = 13.1; 95% CI, 1.7 to 103.6; P = 0.002). hAPLN was associated with the presence of cardiolipin antibodies (OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 10.8; P = 0.05) and triple anti-phospholipid antibody positivity (OR = 4.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 13.7; P = 0.02). Patients with hAPLN were more hypertensive (OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 12.3; P = 0.03) and had higher levels of creatinine as compared to lupus nephritis patients (median 116 versus 75 μmol/L; P < 0.0001). We found significantly higher frequency of HLA-DRB1*13 (OR = 5.1; 95% CI, 1.7 to 15.4; P = 0.03) and development of end-stage renal disease (OR = 5.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 19.7; P = 0.008) in hAPLN compared with lupus nephritis.

Conclusion
hAPLN is a severe and often unrecognized condition in SLE patients with renal involvement. We have demonstrated an increased risk for development of renal impairment and a genetic predisposition in hAPLN patients compared to lupus nephritis patients.
Rapid start-up and improvement of granulation in SBR
Authors: Jalali Sajjad , Shayegan Jalal , Rezasoltani Samira 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study is to accelerate and improve aerobic granulation within a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) by cationic polymer addition.

Methods
To identify whether the polymer additive is capable of enhancing granule formation, two SBRs (R1 and R2, each 0.15 m in diameter and 2 m in height) are used by feeding synthetic wastewater. The cationic polymer with concentration of 30 to 2 ppm is added to R2, while no cationic polymer is added to R1.

Results
Results show that the cationic polymer addition causes faster granule formation and consequently shorter reactor start-up period. The polymer-amended reactor contains higher concentration of biomass with better settling ability (23% reduction in SVI15) and larger and denser granules (112% increase of granular diameter). In addition, the results demonstrate that the cationic polymer improve the sludge granulation process by 31% increase in Extracellular Polymer Substance(EPS) concentration, 7% increase in Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate(SOUR), 18% increase in hydrophobicity, and 17% reduction in effluent Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid(MLSS) concentration.

Conclusions
Concludingly, it is found that using the cationic polymer to an aerobic granular system has the potential to enhance the sludge granulation process.