bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of research experience and support needs of rural versus regional allied health professionals
Authors: Pain Tilley , Plummer David , Pighills Alison , Harvey Desley 
Published: September 2015

AbstractObjectiveWe compared the research experience or support needs of allied health professionals in rural versus regional cities to identify if they were the same or different.DesignDescriptive study using a cross sectional survey.SettingThis study was carried within Queensland Health's northern six health services.ParticipantsQueensland health staff classified as Health Practitioners.InterventionsThis survey was conducted as part of a research capacity building initiative within Queensland Health to increase AHPs’ participation in research in regional cities and rural areas of Queensland.Main outcome measuresQuestions in the survey identified demographics, research experience, need for research support, research knowledge and beliefs about research. Data were compared using Chi‐square and t‐tests.ResultsThe total response rate was 54.5% with 18% of the HPs located in rural communities of less than 5000 people and the rest from the three major cities in northern Queensland. Rural HPs have less research experience in most research activities than regional city HPs and need more research support. Rural HPs have more qualitative research experience than regional city HPs and research is perceived positively by both. Barriers to conducting research were similar across both groups and included insufficient time, lack of staff and no statistical support.ConclusionRural HPs are younger and have less research experience than their counterparts working in regional cities. Therefore, building rural HP research capacity initiatives may require more access to facilitators such as the Research Fellows.
Randomised clinical study: discrepancies between patient‐reported outcomes and endoscopic appearance in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
Authors: Jharap B. , Sandborn W. J. , Reinisch W. , D'Haens G. , Robinson A. M. , Wang W. , Huang B. , Lazar A. , Thakkar R. B. , Colombel J.‐F. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryBackgroundAssociations between patient‐reported outcomes and mucosal healing have not been established in ulcerative colitis (UC).AimTo evaluate relationships of rectal bleeding and stool frequency with mucosal healing and quality of life (QoL) in patients with UC in two Phase 3 studies (ULTRA 1 and 2).MethodsAssociations of patient‐reported rectal bleeding and stool frequency subscores with mucosal healing (Mayo endoscopy subscore = 0 or 0/1) and QoL [inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ)] were assessed in adalimumab‐randomised patients (160/80 mg at Weeks 0/2 followed by 40 mg biweekly or weekly) at Weeks 8 (n = 433) and 52 (n = 299), and in patients with mucosal healing [endoscopy subscore = 0 (n = 17); 0/1 (n = 52)] at Weeks 8 and 52.ResultsAt Week 8, the positive predictive values (PPVs) of rectal bleeding subscore = 0, stool frequency subscore = 0 or both scores = 0 for endoscopy subscore = 0/1 were 69%, 84% and 90% respectively; all proportions increased at Week 52. Equivalent PPVs for these subscores in patients with endoscopy subscore = 0 were 26%, 37% and 46% respectively. Among patients with endoscopy subscore = 0 at Week 8, 87% reported no rectal bleeding, while only 29% reported normal stool frequency; these proportions had increased to 94% and 41% respectively, at Week 52. Among patients with mucosal healing, IBDQ scores trended highest for patients with both rectal bleeding and stool frequency subscores = 0.ConclusionsAbsence of rectal bleeding and normal stool frequency are often predictive of mucosal healing and QoL, but complete normalisation of stool frequency is encountered rarely in patients with mucosal healing.
Social network structure and status competition
Authors: Alexeev Michael , Chih Yao‐Yu 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn status competition studies, the utility of heterogeneous individuals typically depends on an economy‐wide average indicator of status. In our model, emulative and jealous agents are embedded in an exogenous network where agent‐specific reference group is determined by the direct link emanating from the agent. Similarly to Ghiglino and Goyal (2010) but in a somewhat different framework, we show that individual consumption is proportional to the agent's “outbound” Katz‐Bonacich network centrality measure and equilibrium is generally inefficient. More important, the negative externality associated with each agent depends on her “inbound” centrality measure—the conspicuousness index. A tax based on this index combined with a uniform lump‐sum transfer attains efficiency.
Early immunosuppression treatment correlates with later de novo donor‐specific antibody development after kidney and pancreas transplantation
Authors: Pelletier Ronald P. , Rajab Amer A. , Diez Alejandro , DiPaola Nicholas R. , Bumgardner Ginny L. , Elkhammas Elmahdi A. , Henry Mitchell L. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundDe novo donor‐specific antibodies (dnDSA) post‐transplant correlate with a higher risk of immunologic graft injury and loss following kidney and pancreas transplantation. Post‐transplant dnDSA can occur within the first post‐transplant year.MethodsIn this study, 817 of 1290 kidney and simultaneous kidney/pancreas recipients were tested for dnDSA post‐transplant. Recipient immunosuppressive treatment at one, three, six, and 12 months post‐transplant was correlated with dnDSA incidence by univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsThe overall incidence of dnDSA was 21.3% detected a median of 3.5 yr post‐transplant. By univariate analysis, the immunosuppressive treatment at all time points correlated with dnDSA (p < 0.01). Month 6 treatment correlated best in multivariable analysis (p = 0.004). At six months, recipients receiving rapamune/mycophenolic acid (Rapa/MPA) had the highest dnDSA incidence at five yr (25.3%) and last follow‐up (30.7%), those treated with cyclosporine/rapamune (CNI/Rapa) had the lowest incidence at five yr (10.8%) and last follow‐up (18.6%), and cyclosporine/mycophenolic acid (CNI/MPA) treatment had an intermediate incidence at five yr (16.7%) and last follow‐up (20.4%) (p < 0.01). Six‐month CNI/MPA and Rapa/MPA treatment significantly correlated with dnDSA (hazard ratios of 2.36 and 1.80, respectively) by Cox proportional hazards regression modeling.ConclusionThe risk of post‐transplant dnDSA development correlates with early immunosuppressive management.
Impact of Number of Interactions, Different Interaction Patterns, and Human Inconsistencies on Some Hybrid Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization Algorithms*
Authors: Marquis Jon , Gel Esma S. , Fowler John W. , Köksalan Murat , Korhonen Pekka , Wallenius Jyrki 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTWe investigate the impact of the number of human–computer interactions, different interaction patterns, and human inconsistencies in decision maker responses on the convergence of an interactive, evolutionary multiobjective algorithm recently developed by the authors. In our context “an interaction” means choosing the best and worst solutions among a sample of six solutions. By interaction patterns we refer to whether preference questioning is more front‐, center‐, rear‐, or edge‐loaded. As test problems we use two‐ to four‐objective knapsack problems, multicriteria scheduling problems, and multiobjective facility location problems. In the tests, two different preference functions are used to represent actual decision maker preferences, linear and Chebyshev. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain solutions that are very good or even nearly optimal with a reasonable number of interactions. The results also indicate that the algorithm is robust to minor inconsistencies in decision maker responses. There is also surprising robustness toward different patterns of interaction with the decision maker. The results are of interest to the evolutionary multiobjective (EMO) community actively developing hybrid interactive EMO approaches.
Quantitative Assessment of Ventricular Septal Contour for Estimation of Right Ventricular Pressure
Authors: Watson Timotheus , McCracken Courtney E. , Slesnick Timothy , Kanaan Usama , Border William L. , Sachdeva Ritu 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundQualitative assessment of ventricular septal flattening is commonly used in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who lack adequate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) Doppler signal. We sought to determine the relation between quantitative measures of septal flattening including the eccentricity index (EIs) and a novel marker, the septal flattening angle (SFA) with right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP).MethodsSubjects (≤18 years) with an anatomically normal heart, an adequate TR signal to obtain a peak velocity, and a simultaneous systemic systolic blood pressure (SBP) was included. RVSP was derived using TR gradient. Eccentricity index (EIs) and the SFA in systole were measured offline and correlated with RVSP/SBP.ResultsOf the 108 subjects, RVSP/SBP was < 50% in 77 and ≥ 50% in 31. In those with RVSP/SBP ≥50%, the median SFA was significantly lower (7.4° vs. 22°, p < 0.0001), and the median EIs was higher (1.61 vs. 1.07, p < 0.0001). SFA and EIs had a significant correlation with RVSP/SBP (rs = −0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Area under the curve was higher for SFA compared to EIs (0.92 and 0.85, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of SFA for predicting an RVSP/SBP ≥ 50% using a cut point of 16° was 84% and 95% and for an EIs cut point of 1.35 was 74.2% and 96.1%, respectively.ConclusionSeptal flattening angle and EIs are quantitative measures of ventricular septal flattening that correlate well with RVSP/SBP and should be considered more routinely in clinical practice, especially in patients with inadequate TR Doppler signal.
Oral surgery in the European Union: challenges of diversity in training and practice
Authors: Nasseripour M. N. , Hervé C. , Meningaud J.‐P. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIntroductionAt the crossroads of medicine and dentistry, oral surgery with orthodontics are the only recognised dental specialties by the European Union. The goal of our study is to evaluate the current state of oral surgery in Europe from its teaching to its practice, the hypothesis being that a notable diversity persists despite European Union harmonisation process.Materials and methodsTo understand the impact of this diversity applied to European Union freedom of movement and its ethical implications for the practice of oral surgery, English and French questionnaires were sent by email to universities and organisations delivering authorisation to practise in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom chosen based upon inclusion and exclusion criteria. An analysis of documents on these organisations' official websites was also conducted. Demographic information was obtained from the aforementioned organisations.ResultsThe profile of practising oral surgeons is different dependent on the country. The university and hospital trainings conform to European recommendations and span 3–4 years. European Board certification is not required. Continuing education is mandatory only in France, Germany and United Kingdom. As for curricula and scope of practice, no consensus can be derived.DiscussionThere is potential conflict of interest between European Union principles of freedom of movement and protection of all citizens, as member countries do not uniformly apply Directives and recommendations. A new survey of all European Union oral surgery programmes as well as organisations delivering authorisation to practise is necessary to implement across the board harmonisation of training and practice to insure patient safety in light of the migration of European Union practitioners.
Virtual courses: enhancing a curriculum
Authors: Bateman H. L. , Ellis J. S. , Thomason J. M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIntroductionProviders of education programmes are required to demonstrate to students, staff and external regulators the content of the programme and how this aligns to key outcomes. Whilst many programme themes are straightforward to illustrate, other integral themes prove challenging to demonstrate independently.InnovationA virtual course takes elements within the current programme relating to a specific theme, repackages and maps them to provide clear signposting by highlighting each occasion the theme is taught, experienced and assessed. The individual elements remain within their current course, so there is no disruption to the established curriculum, but there is an enhancement in terms of transparently displaying linkages within a theme.DiscussionUsing the concept of virtual courses we have found we can respond to new initiatives and requirements of external regulators, as well as providing improved signposting for staff and students. This can be undertaken without the need to redesign a whole curriculum.ConclusionIn well‐designed and currently effective curricula, we would like to recommend that virtual course development can enhance programme transparency, demonstrate external regulatory requirements and promote quality assurance without disruption to current content.
Cardiac function in survivors of childhood acute myeloid leukemia treated with chemotherapy only: a NOPHO‐AML study
Authors: Jarfelt Marianne , Andersen Niels H. , Glosli Heidi , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Jónmundsson Guðmundur K. , Malmros Johan , Nysom Karsten , Hasle Henrik ,   the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO)
Published: September 2015

AbstractObjectivesWe report cardiac function of patients treated for Childhood acute myeloid leukemia with chemotherapy only according to three consecutive Nordic protocols.MethodsNinety‐eight of 138 eligible patients accepted examination with standardized echocardiography. Results were compared with age‐ and sex‐matched controls.ResultsThe median age was 3 yr at diagnosis (range 0–15), and the median time from diagnosis to study was 11 yr (4–25). All but one patient had received doxorubicin and 90% had received mitoxantrone. The median cumulative dose of daunorubicin equivalents was 300 mg/m2 (210–525). Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and ejection fraction (LVEF) were lower in patients than in controls (32.6% (SD 4.0) vs. 35.2% (SD 3.4), P = 0.002 and 59.9% (SD 5.5) vs. 64.2% (SD 4.4), P = 0.001). The myocardial performance index (MPI) was higher in patients than in controls (0.32 (SD 0.081) vs. 0.26 (SD 0.074), P < 0.0001). Cumulative dose of doxorubicin but not mitoxantrone was related to lower LVFS (P = 0.037) and LVEF (P = 0.016). Longer follow‐up was associated with lower LVFS (P = 0.034). Higher MPI was associated with young age at diagnosis (P = 0.04) and longer follow‐up (P = 0.031).ConclusionsIn this study, most patients had cardiac function within normal limits and reported very few cardiac symptoms. However, compared with healthy controls, they had significantly reduced left ventricular function.
Impact of a change in protected environment on the occurrence of severe bacterial and fungal infections in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Libbrecht Clara , Goutagny Marie‐Pierre , Bacchetta Justine , Ploton Christine , Bienvenu Anne‐Lise , Bleyzac Nathalie , Mialou Valérie , Bertrand Yves , Domenech Carine 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is a procedure with a high infection risk. Strict isolation of patients is the rule to prevent such condition.ObjectiveWe compared the occurrence of severe infections (bacteremia and invasive fungal infection, IFI) in children undergoing alloHSCT before and after the move to a new protected unit with decreases in isolation methods.MethodsThe study was conducted over a 10‐year period. Unit 1 (2002–2007) consisted of laminar airflow rooms where caregivers were required to wear a sterile outfit (gown, gloves, hat, and mask). Unit 2 (2008–2012) included spacious positive air pressure rooms with HEPA filters where only a clean gown and mask were required to be worn.ResultsTwo hundred eighty‐six alloHSCTs were performed (144 in Unit 1 and 142 in Unit 2). We reported a total incidence of 4.78 infections/1000 hospital‐days including 4.4 episodes of bacteremia and 0.38 episodes of IFI. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of infections: n = 4.98/1000 hospital‐days in Unit 1 vs. n = 4.6/1000 in Unit 2 (P = 0.63).ConclusionThe lack of difference in the occurrence of severe infection supports our decision to decrease unnecessary high protection in alloHSCT units to improve children's daily life.
Can Mediterranean cephalopod stocks be managed at MSY by 2020? The Balearic Islands as a case study
Authors: Quetglas A. , Keller S. , Massutí E. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAccording to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), all European fish stocks should be brought to a state where they can produce at MSY by 2015 wherever possible or by 2020 at the latest. Despite the high socio‐economical importance of cephalopods in the Mediterranean and the increased availability of stock assessments during the recent past, only few European cephalopod stocks have been assessed to date. Surplus production models were applied to analyse the exploitation state of octopus and cuttlefish stocks from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean) to estimate how far away they were from the MSY target established by the CFP using a long‐term data series (1977–2013). The stocks were overexploited (cuttlefish) or about to be overexploited (octopus) during the late 1970s; this state remains even now and will only recover from overexploitation by 2020 if severe measures are taken.
Implications of using small meshed gillnets for the sustainability of fish populations: a theoretical exploration based on three case studies
Authors: Wolff M. , Taylor M. H. , Tesfaye G. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe study explores the impacts of varying gillnet mesh size and fishing level on yield per recruit (Y/R), escapement spawning stock (ESS) and mega‐spawners (MS) of three widely distributed freshwater fishery target species. Y/R is maximised when the optimal length of capture (Lcap) is above the size of maturity (L50). However, the unimodal shape of gillnet selectivity results in lower impacts to ESS and MS with both smaller and larger mesh sizes. Under conditions of moderate exploitation, the fraction of MS was significantly larger if small meshed gillnets were used. This is due to the relatively smaller cumulative vulnerability from small mesh sizes through time, as they target a smaller size range of fish, which also grow more quickly through the vulnerable window due to higher growth rates. Therefore, unlike trawls and beach seines, which select all size classes beyond the minimum length of capture (Lc), small meshed gillnets are not necessarily destructive and may rather promote sustained production by allowing a higher proportion of the spawning biomass to remain in the stock. The work also helps to explain the observation of sustained fish production in many developing countries despite the persistent use of gillnets of small mesh size that target small, under‐sized individuals.
Population dynamics and stock assessment of Colossoma macropomum caught in the Manacapuru Lake system (Amazon Basin, Brazil)
Authors: Campos C. P. , Costa Sousa R. G. , Catarino M. F. , de Albuquerque Costa G. , Freitas C. E. C. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractColossoma macropomum is the second largest scaled fish in the Amazon basin. Reduced harvests in recent decades suggest that populations of this species are already overexploited in some areas. In this study, the population dynamics of C. macropomum was investigated using length and weight data for fish caught in the Manacapuru Lake system, a large ria lake located along the lower reach of the Solimões River. A total of 1270 individuals of C. macropomum with standard lengths varying from 17 to 62 cm and mean length of 31.0 ± 6.7 cm were sampled. Weights varied from 165 to 8195 g, and mean weight was 1148.3 ± 883.8 g. Maximum sustainable yield was estimated at 285.8 g recruit−1, corresponding to a fishing mortality of 0.51 year−1. A scenario analysis based on changes in fishing mortality and age at first capture, two parameters potentially addressed by fishing management strategies, suggested that any improvement in fishing yield depends on increases in age at first capture.
Full carbon and greenhouse gas balances of fertilized and nonfertilized reed canary grass cultivations on an abandoned peat extraction area in a dry year
Authors: Järveoja Järvi , Peichl Matthias , Maddison Martin , Teemusk Alar , Mander Ülo 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBioenergy crop cultivation on former peat extraction areas is a potential after‐use option that provides a source of renewable energy while mitigating climate change through enhanced carbon (C) sequestration. This study investigated the full C and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances of fertilized (RCG‐F) and nonfertilized (RCG‐C) reed canary grass (RCG; Phalaris arundinacea) cultivation compared to bare peat (BP) soil within an abandoned peat extraction area in western Estonia during a dry year. Vegetation sampling, static chamber and lysimeter measurements were carried out to estimate above‐ and belowground biomass production and allocation, fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in cultivated strips and drainage ditches as well as the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export, respectively. Heterotrophic respiration was determined from vegetation‐free trenched plots. Fertilization increased the above‐ to belowground biomass production ratio and the autotrophic to heterotrophic respiration ratio. The full C balance (incl. CO2, CH4 and DOC fluxes from strips and ditches) was 96, 215 and 180 g C m−2 yr−1 in RCG‐F, RCG‐C and BP, respectively, suggesting that all treatments acted as C sources during the dry year. The C balance was driven by variations in the net CO2 exchange, whereas the combined contribution of CH4 and DOC fluxes was <5%. The GHG balances were 3.6, 7.9 and 6.6 t CO2 eq ha−1 yr−1 in RCG‐F, RCG‐C and BP, respectively. The CO2 exchange was also the dominant component of the GHG balance, while the contributions of CH4 and N2O were <1% and 1–6%, respectively. Overall, this study suggests that maximizing plant growth and the associated CO2 uptake through adequate water and nutrient supply is a key prerequisite for ensuring sustainable high yields and climate benefits in RCG cultivations established on organic soils following drainage and peat extraction.