bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immunization Costs and Programmatic Barriers at an Urban HIV Clinic
Authors: Eaton Ellen F. , Kulczycki Andrzej , Saag Michael , Mugavero Michael , Raper James L. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Background.  Although the increasing number of recommended immunizations is essential for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the potentially uncompensated costs of expanded immunizations will present significant challenges for clinics and health systems serving HIV-infected patients.
Methods.  We estimated costs of providing Gardasil, Prevnar, and Zostavax to eligible patients at a US Ryan White Part C academically affiliated HIV clinic in 2013. Clinic expenditures were calculated using vaccine price and administrative fees. Revenue was calculated using insurance reimbursement data for vaccination and administration. Three scenarios were used: 100% uptake of vaccines, adjusted uptake based on published rates, and adjusted reimbursement according to pre-Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance status.
Results.  2887 patients (27% Medicare, 13% Alabama Medicaid, 26% Commercial, 34% Uninsured), received care with wide variation in immunization reimbursement ($0 to $210) by insurance and vaccine. The net yield (revenue minus expenditure) was calculated for each vaccine. Prevnar was most costly: annual net yield of −$60 691. Provision of all 3 vaccines would lead to a net yield of −$97 122. Adjusting for reduced uptake led to annual clinic losses of $44 119. Using pre-ACA reimbursement for immunization of the uninsured led to reduced clinic losses (−$62 326), attributable to reimbursement via Ryan White funds.
Conclusions.  A cost analysis of 3 vaccines shows great variation in insurance coverage, with potential losses of almost $100 000 for one HIV clinic if eligible patients received vaccinations in one calendar year. Adequate, cost neutral reimbursement should be instituted if medical providers and health systems are to achieve Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices immunization recommendations for both HIV positive and negative adults.
Extracting relations from traditional Chinese medicine literature via heterogeneous entity networks
Authors: Wan Huaiyu , Moens Marie-Francine , Luyten Walter , Zhou Xuezhong , Mei Qiaozhu , Liu Lu , Tang Jie 
Published: July 2015

AbstractObjective Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a unique and complex medical system that has developed over thousands of years. This article studies the problem of automatically extracting meaningful relations of entities from TCM literature, for the purposes of assisting clinical treatment or poly-pharmacology research and promoting the understanding of TCM in Western countries.Methods Instead of separately extracting each relation from a single sentence or document, we propose to collectively and globally extract multiple types of relations (eg, herb-syndrome, herb-disease, formula-syndrome, formula-disease, and syndrome-disease relations) from the entire corpus of TCM literature, from the perspective of network mining. In our analysis, we first constructed heterogeneous entity networks from the TCM literature, in which each edge is a candidate relation, then used a heterogeneous factor graph model (HFGM) to simultaneously infer the existence of all the edges. We also employed a semi-supervised learning algorithm estimate the model’s parameters.Results We performed our method to extract relations from a large dataset consisting of more than 100 000 TCM article abstracts. Our results show that the performance of the HFGM at extracting all types of relations from TCM literature was significantly better than a traditional support vector machine (SVM) classifier (increasing the average precision by 11.09%, the recall by 13.83%, and the F1-measure by 12.47% for different types of relations, compared with a traditional SVM classifier).Conclusion This study exploits the power of collective inference and proposes an HFGM based on heterogeneous entity networks, which significantly improved our ability to extract relations from TCM literature.
Tree-based Claims Algorithm for Measuring Pretreatment Quality of Care in Medicare Disabled Hepatitis C Patients
Authors: Chirikov Viktor V. , Shaya Fadia T. , Onukwugha Ebere , Mullins C. Daniel , dosReis Susan , Howell Charles D. 
Published: July 2015

Background:
To help broaden the use of machine-learning approaches in health services research, we provide an easy-to-follow framework on the implementation of random forests and apply it to identify quality of care (QC) patterns correlated with treatment receipt among Medicare disabled patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods:
Using Medicare claims 2006–2009, we identified 1936 patients with 6 months continuous enrollment before HCV diagnosis. We ran a random forest on 14 pretreatment QC indicators, extracted the forest’s representative tree, and aggregated its terminal nodes into 4 QC groups predictive of treatment. To explore determinants of differential QC receipt, we compared patient-level and county-level (linked AHRF data) characteristics across QC groups.

Results:
The strongest predictors of treatment included “liver biopsy,” “HCV genotype testing,” “specialist visit,” “HCV viremia confirmation,” and “iron overload testing.” High QC [n=360, proportion treated (pt)=33.3%] was defined for patients with at least 2 from the above-mentioned metrics. Good QC patients (n=302, pt=12.3%) had either “HCV genotype testing” or “specialist visit,” whereas fair QC (n=282, pt=7.1%) only had “HCV viremia confirmation.” Low QC patients (n=992, pt=2.5%) had none of the selected metrics. The algorithm accuracy of predicting treatment was 70% sensitivity and 78% specificity. HIV coinfection, drug abuse, and residence in counties with higher supply of hospitals with immunization and AIDS services correlated with lower QC.

Conclusions:
Machine-learning techniques could be useful in exploring patterns of care. Among Medicare disabled HCV patients, the receipt of more QC indicators was associated with higher treatment rates. Future research is needed to assess determinants of differential QC receipt.
Asset management using a hybrid backcasting/forecasting approach
Authors: Jones Keith , Desai Api , Mulville Mark , Jones Aled 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative approach to facilities and built asset management adaptation planning to climate change based on a hybrid backcasting/forecasting model. Backcasting envisions a future state and examines alternative “pathways of approach” by looking backwards from the future state to the present day. Each pathway is examined in turn to identify interventions required for that pathway to achieve the future state. Each pathway is reviewed using forecasting tools and the most appropriate is selected. This paper describes the application of this approach to the integration of climate change adaptation plans into facilities and built asset management.

Design/methodology/approach
– The researchers worked with various stakeholders as part of a participatory research team to identify climate change adaptations that may be required to ensure the continued performance of a new educational building over its life cycle. The team identified 2020, 2040 and 2080 year end-goals and assessed alternative pathways of approach. The most appropriate pathways were integrated into the facilities and built asset management plan.

Findings
– The paper outlines a conceptual framework for formulating long term facilities and built asset management strategies to address adaptation to climate change.

Research limitations/implications
– The conceptual framework is validated by a single research case study, and further examples are needed to ensure validity of the approach in different facilities management contexts.

Originality/value
– This is the first paper to explore backcasting principles as part of facilities and built asset management planning.
Measuring the added value of workplace change
Authors: Riratanaphong Chaiwat , van der Voordt Theo 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to compare performance measurement systems from the literature with current performance measurement approaches in practice to get a better understanding of the complex relationships between workplace change, added value and organisational performance. To be able to measure the added value of workplace change, a valid and reliable performance measurement system is needed to measure the impact of the work environment on organisational performance before and after the change. A second aim is to have a closer look at the appraisal of workplace change by the end users.Design/methodology/approach– A review of the literature traced various performance measurement systems with different performance areas and key performance indicators (KPIs). Three case studies were conducted, two in Thailand, and one in The Netherlands, to explore if and how these theoretical insights are applied in current practice. Due to the worldwide introduction of New Ways of Working, special attention is paid to employee satisfaction and perceived productivity support.Findings– Many performance criteria and KPIs from literature are used in practice. However, apart from the balanced scorecard, no performance measurement system from literature is literally applied. Regarding most issues, none of the organisations conducted a comparison of the impact of their real estate on organisational performance before and after the change. In one case only, both ex ante and ex post data were collected about the appraisal of change by the end users.Research limitations/implications– The number of cases is limited. Additional case studies in depth are needed to get a wider picture of practice. Besides, still much work has to be done to operationalise the performance criteria.Practical implications– The performance measurement systems that were found in theory and practice can be used as input to value adding management of facilities. Based on the findings, a step-by-step procedure is presented to facilitate the selection of prioritised KPIs.Originality/value– This research connects the concepts of performance measurement and adding value by workplace change with data from two different continents.
Studies on wear resistance of organic tamarind kernel powder filled glass-epoxy composites based on Taguchi technique
Authors: A R Annappa , Basavarajappa S 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The aim of the this study is to develop a new class of composites which would be more commercially viable and environmentally sustainable via reduced resource depletion, as there has been global interest in utilization of natural resources. The dry sliding wear behavior of glass-epoxy (G-E)-based composites filled with tamarind kernel powder (TKP) in different volume fractions of fillers (0 per cent, 3 per cent and 6 per cent) was studied as per standards.Design/methodology/approach– In the present study, the analysis and optimization of the wear process has been studied. The Taguchi approach to experimental design was used to identify the effect of wear parameters such as applied load, sliding velocity and sliding distance. Taguchi tools such as analysis of variance and multiple linear regression models have been used to analyze, obtain the significant parameters and evaluate the optimum combination levels of wear process parameters. The results of Taguchi analysis indicate that sliding distance was found to be the prominent parameter affecting wear volume loss compared to other wear parameters.Findings– The G-E composites with 3 and 6 vol.% of TKP had the lowest wear volume loss. Multiple linear regression models for all the tested composites’ results well match with experimental results. Confirmation tests were conducted to validate the analysis. There was a close relationship between the experimental results and the statistical model.Originality/value– However, to the best of author’s knowledge, these literature reports related to natural organic filler materials are limited to analysis of polymer matrix composite. Further, the addition of TKP particle as a potential filler has not been addressed. An attempt has been made to clarify the technical viability of TKP as a potential filler for G-E composite.
Experimental evidence that the effectiveness of conservation biological control depends on landscape complexity
Authors: Jonsson Mattias , Straub Cory S. , Didham Raphael K. , Buckley Hannah L. , Case Bradley S. , Hale Roddy J. , Gratton Claudio , Wratten Steve D. 
Published: July 2015

Summary

The expansion of intensive agricultural practices is a major threat to biodiversity and to the delivery of ecosystem services on which humans depend. Local‐scale conservation management strategies, such as agri‐environment schemes to preserve biodiversity, have been widely adopted to reduce the negative impacts of agricultural intensification. However, it is likely that the effectiveness of these local‐scale management actions depend on the structure and composition of the surrounding landscape.

We experimentally tested the utility of floral resource strips to improve local‐scale biological control of crop pests, when placed within a gradient of moderately simple through to highly complex landscapes.

We found that experimental provision of floral resources enhanced parasitism rates of two globally important crop pests in moderately simple landscapes but not in highly complex ones, and this translated into reduced pest abundances and increased crop yield.

Synthesis and applications. Our results lend experimental support for the ‘intermediate landscape complexity hypothesis’, which predicts that local conservation management will be most effective in moderately simple agricultural landscapes, and less effective in either very simple landscapes where there is no capacity for response, or in highly complex landscapes where response potential is already saturated. This knowledge will allow more targeted and cost‐effective implementation of conservation biological control programs based on an improved understanding of landscape‐dependent processes, which will reduce the negative impacts of agricultural intensification.
Antenatal magnetic resonance imaging versus ultrasound for predicting neonatal macrosomia: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Malin GL , Bugg GJ , Takwoingi Y , Thornton JG , Jones NW 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundFetal macrosomia is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.ObjectivesTo compare the accuracy of antenatal two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound, three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting fetal macrosomia at birth.Search strategyMedline (1966–2013), Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Knowledge.Selection criteriaCohort or diagnostic accuracy studies of women with a singleton pregnancy, who had third‐trimester imaging to predict macrosomia (>4000 g, >4500 g or >90th or >95th centile).Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers screened studies, performed data extraction and assessed methodological quality. The bivariate model was used to obtain summary sensitivities, specificities and likelihood ratios.Main resultsFifty‐eight studies (34 367 pregnant women) were included. Most were poorly reported. Only one study assessed 3D ultrasound volumetry. For predicting birthweight >4000 g or >90th centile, the summary sensitivity for 2D ultrasound (Hadlock) estimated fetal weight (EFW) >90th centile or >4000 g (29 studies) was 0.56 (95% CI 0.49–0.61), 2D ultrasound abdominal circumference (AC) >35 cm (four studies) was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.69–0.87) and MRI EFW (three studies) was 0.93 (95% CI 0.76–0.98). The summary specificities were 0.92 (95% CI 0.90–0.94), 0.86 (95% CI 0.74–0.93) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.92–0.97), respectively.ConclusionThere is insufficient evidence to conclude that MRI EFW is more sensitive than 2D ultrasound AC (which is more sensitive than 2D EFW); although it was more specific. Further primary research is required before recommending MRI EFW for use in clinical practice.Tweetable abstractSystematic review of antenatal imaging to predict macrosomia. MRI EFW is more sensitive than ultrasound EFW.
Hospital variation in maternal complications following caesarean delivery in the United States: 2006–2012
Authors: Moroz LA , Wright JD , Ananth CV , Friedman AM 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveTo assess hospital variability in and patient and hospital factors associated with caesarean delivery (CD) complications.Study DesignPopulation‐based cohort.SettingUnited States delivery admissions.PopulationWomen who underwent a CD between 2006 and 2012.MethodsHospital‐specific random‐effects log‐linear regression models were developed to account for patient, obstetric, and hospital risk factors related to a composite complication outcome including infection, haemorrhage, surgical complications and prolonged hospital stay. Between‐hospital variability in rates of CD complications was also estimated.Main outcome measureComposite complication rate.ResultsAmong 1 339 397 women who underwent CD in 457 hospitals, 6.4% (n = 85 838) experienced a complication. The most frequent complications were haemorrhage, transfusion, length of stay >7 days, and endometritis. Complications were strongly associated with the presence of obstetric factors and pre‐existing medical conditions. Complication rates were 54% higher among black (8.8%) than white (5.7%) women (P < 0.001), and were more common in teaching (8.1%) than non‐teaching (5.4%) hospitals (P < 0.001). In an adjusted model, the mean complication rate was 6.7%. A small proportion of hospitals (4.8%) had a complication rate greater than twice the mean (≥13.4%). Complications were strongly associated with the presence of obstetrical factors and pre‐existing medical conditions.ConclusionsCD complication rates are strongly associated with patient and obstetric factors. While CD complication rates may be a quality metric of limited utility given the low rate of complications across most hospitals, a small number of hospitals demonstrate particularly high rates of complications. Review of CD complication rates may be an important aspect of quality assurance processes for these centres.Tweetable abstractA small number of hospitals demonstrate particularly high rates of caesarean complications.
New Fixed‐Dose Combinations of Fenofibrate/Simvastatin Therapy Significantly Improve the Lipid Profile of High‐Risk Patients with Mixed Dyslipidemia Versus Monotherapies
Authors: Foucher Christelle , Aubonnet Patrick , Reichert Petr , Berli Mario , Schaeffer Axel , Calvo Vargas Cesar Gonzalo , Lochocka Anna , Belenky Dmitry , Koch Hans‐Friedrich ,   the Cholib study Investigators
Published: July 2015

SummaryAimsGuidelines propose additional therapy to statin to treat elevated triglycerides (TG) and low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) in dyslipidemic patients. We evaluated the effects of new fixed‐dose combinations (FDC) of fenofibrate/simvastatin on plasma lipids versus simvastatin or fenofibrate monotherapies.MethodsSubjects with mixed dyslipidemia at high or very high cardiovascular risk on stable statin therapy for at least 3 months were included in a randomized, double‐blind, active‐control, parallel‐group study. Patients were treated with FDC fenofibrate/simvastatin 145/20 mg or 145/40 mg, simvastatin 20 mg or 40 mg, or fenofibrate 145 mg for 12 weeks. Plasma lipids, C‐reactive protein, and cystatin C were measured before and after treatments. Differences in % changes were compared between FDC fenofibrate/simvastatin and monotherapies.ResultsSignificant differences between FDC fenofibrate/simvastatin and simvastatin monotherapies were observed for the % change of TG (LS mean difference [two‐sided 95% CI]: −32.2% [−38.6%, −25.8%], P < 0.001) and HDL‐C (7.5% [4.7%, 10.2%], P < 0.001). A significant difference between the FDC fenofibrate/simvastatin and fenofibrate was observed for LDLC % changes (−34.7% [−40.8%, −28.5%], P < 0.001). Significant differences between FDC fenofibrate/simvastatin and their respective monotherapies were also observed for Apo B and non‐HDLC % changes. The FDC were well tolerated with a similar safety profile compared with monotherapies.ConclusionsFDC fenofibrate/simvastatin are effective and well‐tolerated therapies to improve the TG and HDLC profile in high‐risk patients with mixed dyslipidemia.
Substance P in the anterior thalamic paraventricular nucleus: promotion of ethanol drinking in response to orexin from the hypothalamus
Authors: Barson Jessica R. , Poon Kinning , Ho Hui Tin , Alam Mohammad I. , Sanzalone Lilia , Leibowitz Sarah F. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) appears to participate in drug addiction. Recent evidence in rats shows that ethanol drinking is increased by orexin/hypocretin (OX) afferents from the hypothalamus, acting specifically in the anterior (aPVT) rather than posterior (pPVT) PVT subregion. The present study sought to identify neuropeptides transcribed within the PVT, which themselves might contribute to ethanol drinking and possibly mediate the actions of OX. We discovered that substance P (SP) in the aPVT can stimulate intermittent‐access ethanol drinking, similar to OX, and that SP receptor [neurokinin 1 receptor/tachykinin receptor 1 (NK1R)] antagonists in this subregion reduce ethanol drinking. As with OX, this effect is site specific, with SP in the pPVT or dorsal third ventricle having no effect on ethanol drinking, and it is behaviorally specific, with SP in the aPVT reducing the drinking of sucrose and stimulating it in the pPVT. A close relationship between SP and OX was demonstrated by a stimulatory effect of local OX injection on SP mRNA and peptide levels, specifically in the aPVT but not pPVT, and a stimulatory effect of OX on SP expression in isolated thalamic neurons, reflecting postsynaptic actions. A functional relationship between OX and SP in the aPVT is suggested by our additional finding that ethanol drinking induced by OX is blocked by a local NK1R antagonist administered at a sub‐threshold dose. These results, suggesting that SP in the aPVT mediates the stimulatory effect of OX on ethanol drinking, identify a new role for SP in the control of this behavior.
Market interdependence and volatility transmission among major crops
Authors: Gardebroek Cornelis , Hernandez Manuel A. , Robles Miguel 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis article provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of volatility across major agricultural commodities in the United States. Volatility interactions across markets may lower the effectiveness of diversification strategies to mitigate price risks and should be taken into account when analyzing the pricing behavior of different agricultural commodities. We follow a multivariate GARCH approach to evaluate the time evolution of conditional correlations and volatility transmission across corn, wheat, and soybeans price returns on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The period of analysis is from 1998 to 2012. The estimation results indicate a lack of lead‐lag relationships between corn, wheat, and soybeans price returns at the mean level. We find, however, important volatility spillovers across commodities, particularly at the weekly and monthly level. Wheat and corn seem to play a major role in terms of volatility transmission. Despite the supposed higher financial market integration of agricultural commodities, we do not observe that agricultural markets have become more interdependent in recent years.