bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C seroconversions in HIV infection across Europe: which regions and patient groups are affected?
Authors: Boesecke Christoph , Grint Daniel , Soriano Vincent , Lundgren Jens D. , d'Arminio Monforte Antonella , Mitsura Victor M. , Chentsova Nelly , Hadziosmanovic Vesnadarjan , Kirk Ole , Mocroft Amanda , Peters Lars , Rockstroh Jürgen K. ,   EuroSIDA in EuroCoord
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsIn the last decade, several outbreaks of sexually acquired acute hepatitis C (HCV) infection have been described in HIV‐positive men who have sex with men (MSM). The aims of this study were to determine whether there has been an increase in the number of acute HCV infections in different parts of Europe.MethodsHCV seroconversion was defined as an HCV‐antibody test change from negative to positive within the observation period in EuroSIDA. Binomial regression was performed to determine factors associated with being tested for HCV and HCV seroconversion.ResultsA total of 223 HCV seroconversions were observed from 16 188 tests [1.38% (95%CI 1.20–1.56)] among 5736 patients between 2002 and 2013. Overall the odds of acquiring HCV infection increased by 4% per year (OR 1.04 [95%CI 0.99–1.09]; P = 0.10). Overall 63.2% (141/223) of all seroconversions were seen among MSM. Similar patterns were observed across all European regions (P = 0.69, test for interaction) and HIV transmission risks groups (P = 0.69, test for interaction). In multivariate analysis, North, South and East Europe had higher odds of HCV seroconversion compared with Western Europe [OR 1.90 (1.28–2.81), 1.55 (0.99–2.45) and 1.86 (1.21–2.84); P = 0.0014, P = 0.058 and P = 0.0044 respectively].ConclusionsWithin EuroSIDA a significant increase in HCV seroconversions can be observed after accounting for increased levels of testing for HCV in recent years. This highlights the need for increased HCV prevention efforts among HIV‐positive persons in Europe.
The Long‐Term Outcomes of the Tension‐free Vaginal Tape Procedure for Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Data from Minimum 13 Years of Follow‐Up
Authors: SONG Phil Hyun , KWON Dae Hyeon , KO Young Hwii , JUNG Hee Chang 
Published: April 2015

ObjectivesTo evaluate the long‐term outcomes from the tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, we investigated the data from a minimum 13‐year follow‐up and predictive risk factors affecting efficacy for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).MethodsA total of 206 (mean age, 59.2 ± 8.8 years) women who underwent the TVT procedure for SUI were selected and followed up for at least 13 years (mean, 162.4 months; range, 156–174) after TVT procedure. We analyzed the long‐term results and the predictive parameters for success rates and patients' satisfaction.ResultsAt 13 years after surgery, the overall cure rate was 82.5%, with a satisfaction rate of 67.5%. Univariable analysis demonstrated an association of symptom grade of SUI with cure rates, while the presence of frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence showed an association with patients' satisfaction. However, in multivariable logistic regression model, none of those variables were identified as an independent risk factor related to the cure and satisfaction rate. Twenty one patients (10.2%) had postoperative complications at 1‐year follow‐up after surgery. However, at 13 years follow‐up after surgery, only three patients (1.5%) had postoperative complications, including mesh exposure in one patient and de novo urgency in two patients.ConclusionOur long‐term data, which illustrate the absence of long‐term adverse events secondary to TVT procedure and the high success rate both in subjective and objective goals regardless of any independent predictive factors, suggest the TVT procedure as a recommendable method for the management of female SUI.
Novel algorithm to identify and differentiate specific digital signature of breath sound in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease
Authors: Bhattacharyya Parthasarathi , Mondal Ashok , Dey Rana , Saha Dipanjan , Saha Goutam 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveAuscultation is an important part of the clinical examination of different lung diseases. Objective analysis of lung sounds based on underlying characteristics and its subsequent automatic interpretations may help a clinical practice.MethodsWe collected the breath sounds from 8 normal subjects and 20 diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) patients using a newly developed instrument and then filtered off the heart sounds using a novel technology. The collected sounds were thereafter analysed digitally on several characteristics as dynamical complexity, texture information and regularity index to find and define their unique digital signatures for differentiating normality and abnormality. For convenience of testing, these characteristic signatures of normal and DPLD lung sounds were transformed into coloured visual representations. The predictive power of these images has been validated by six independent observers that include three physicians.ResultsThe proposed method gives a classification accuracy of 100% for composite features for both the normal as well as lung sound signals from DPLD patients. When tested by independent observers on the visually transformed images, the positive predictive value to diagnose the normality and DPLD remained 100%.ConclusionsThe lung sounds from the normal and DPLD subjects could be differentiated and expressed according to their digital signatures. On visual transformation to coloured images, they retain 100% predictive power. This technique may assist physicians to diagnose DPLD from visual images bearing the digital signature of the condition.
Understanding Policy Reform in Colorado's Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Standards
Authors: Tunstall Ashley M. , Weible Christopher M. , Tomsich Elizabeth A. , Gover Angela R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis study examines the perceived conditions leading to Colorado adopting revised Standards for treating domestic violence offenders from the perspective of Kingdon's multiple streams theory. A within‐case analysis of ten semi‐structured interviews explores the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board in Colorado's process for revising Colorado's 2001 Treatment Standards. Findings suggest a benign political stream, supported by technically feasible and value‐accepted policy ideas, feedback and indicators of the problem, promoted a favourable setting for change. At least two policy entrepreneurs championed the decision‐making process. Agenda setting and policy formulation depended on three elements: feedback from existing programmes, indicators of continued difficulty in effectively treating offenders, and the existence of a suitable policy alternative. This study contributes a rare application of multiple streams theory to a criminal justice context in a sub‐national government. Future research should explore whether the presence of a benign political stream influences the development and revision of domestic violence policy in other policy environments.
Logic, Reasoning and Revision
Authors: Allo Patrick 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe traditional connection between logic and reasoning has been under pressure ever since Gilbert Harman attacked the received view that logic yields norms for what we should believe. In this article I first place Harman's challenge in the broader context of the dialectic between logical revisionists like Bob Meyer and sceptics about the role of logic in reasoning like Harman. I then develop a formal model based on contemporary epistemic and doxastic logic in which the relation between logic and norms for belief can be captured.
Screening of patients with Diabetes Mellitus for Tuberculosis in Community Health Settings in China
Authors: Lin Yan , Innes Anh , Xu Lin , Li Ling , Chen Jinou , Hou Jinglong , Mi Fengling , Kang Wanli , Harries Anthony D. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and results of screening of patients with DM for TB in routine community health services in China.MethodAgreement on how to screen patients with DM for TB and monitor and record the results was obtained at a stakeholders meeting. Subsequent training was carried out for staff at 10 community health centres, with activities implemented from June 2013 to April 2014. Patients with DM were screened for TB at each clinical visit using a symptom‐based enquiry, and those positive to any symptom were referred to the TB clinic for TB investigation.ResultsA total of 2942 patients with DM visited these ten clinics. All patients received at least one screening for TB. Two patients were identified as already known to have TB. In total, 278 (9.5% of those screened) who had positive TB symptoms were referred for TB investigations and 209 arrived at the TB centre or underwent a chest radiograph for TB investigation. One patient (0.5% of those investigated) was newly diagnosed with active TB and was started on anti‐TB treatment. The TB case notification rate of those screened was 102/100 000.ConclusionThis pilot project shows it is feasible to carry out TB screening among patients with DM in community settings, but further work is needed to better characterise patients with DM at higher risk of TB. This may require a more targeted approach focused on high‐risk groups such as those with untreated DM or poorly controlled hyperglycaemia.
Design of Highly Loaded Blade Profiles Using an Iterative Inverse-Direct Computational Procedure
Authors: Miton Hubert , Sankale Hervé , Chauvin Jacques 
Published: April 2015

This paper describes the principle of a transonic blade design process based on a numerical approach combining an inverse and a direct methods of flow calculation, and its application to a transonic turbine stage.
The initial data required are the Mach vector distribution (in magnitude and direction) on a starting streamline (usually the succion side), and the distribution of one component of the velocity vector (magnitude or direction) in the channel inlet and outlet plane.
The example used is related to three cascade sections of a single heavily loaded turbine.
In its present state, the very fast inverse method (less than 1 sec. C.P.U. on an IBM 3033) cannot, by itself, provide a satisfactory design, as it does not include automatically the flow periodicity conditions. This justifies the combined and iterative use of a direct method to obtain the coherence of the process.
With this better approach, satisfactory cascade geometry can be provided.
Axial Compressor Performance Restoration by Blade Profile Control
Authors: Roberts William B. 
Published: April 2015

One major source of increased compressor losses is imperfection in blade shape. These imperfections exist for new blades, and as an engine wears in service, the blade shapes become further distorted due to erosion. These imperfections cause an aerodynamic performance penalty in the form of decreased engine capability and increased fuel consumption.
A simple numerical blade element panel method, combined with a integral boundary layer technique, has been used to make an aerodynamic analysis of the effect of imperfections in blade shape for compressor blading. This analysis indicated what blade shapes would give increased profile losses, and what kind of reshaping allows restoration of nominal performance.
The results of this study were tested by a series of engine cell tests with JT8D engines. These tests indicate that new or used blades that have been sorted, properly re-shaped, and matched allow a superior recovery of performance compared with traditional blade refurbishment practices.
Corrosion and Corrosion Control in Gas Turbines: Part II — The Turbine Section
Authors: Mom A. J. A. , Kolkman H. J. 
Published: April 2015

The phenomenology of the corrosion processes in the turbine section, including the conditions which govern corrosion behaviour, like temperature, pressure, fuel quality and presence of sulphur are discussed.
Various methods to combat the corrosion attack are described: limits to be imposed on fuel and intake air impurities, the use of fuel additives, and the application of corrosion resistant materials and coatings. The background to and the merits of these methods are discussed.
Furthermore service experience with current and advanced coating systems in marine, industrial and aircraft gas turbines is reported.
Corrosion processes in the compressor section are discussed in part I.
Evidence for a persistent, major excess in all cause admissions to hospital in children with type-1 diabetes: results from a large Welsh national matched community cohort study
Authors: Sayers Adrian , Thayer Daniel , Harvey John N , Luzio Stephen , Atkinson Mark D , French Robert , Warner Justin T , Dayan Colin M , Wong Susan F , Gregory John W 
Published: April 2015

ObjectivesTo estimate the excess in admissions associated with type1 diabetes in childhood.DesignMatched-cohort study using anonymously linked hospital admission data.SettingBrecon Group Register of new cases of childhood diabetes in Wales linked to hospital admissions data within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank.Population1577 Welsh children (aged between 0 and 15 years) from the Brecon Group Register with newly-diagnosed type-1 diabetes between 1999–2009 and 7800 population controls matched on age, sex, county, and deprivation, randomly selected from the local population.Main outcome measuresDifference in all-cause hospital admission rates, 30-days post-diagnosis until 31 May 2012, between participants and controls.ResultsChildren with type-1 diabetes were followed up for a total of 12 102 person years and were at 480% (incidence rate ratios, IRR 5.789, (95% CI 5.34 to 6.723), p<0.0001) increased risk of hospital admission in comparison to matched controls. The highest absolute excess of admission was in the age group of 0–5 years, with a 15.4% (IRR 0.846, (95% CI 0.744 to 0.965), p=0.0061) reduction in hospital admissions for every 5-year increase in age at diagnosis. A trend of increasing admission rates in lower socioeconomic status groups was also observed, but there was no evidence of a differential rate of admissions between men and women when adjusted for background risk. Those receiving outpatient care at large centres had a 16.1% (IRR 0.839, (95% CI 0.709 to 0.990), p=0.0189) reduction in hospital admissions compared with those treated at small centres.ConclusionsThere is a large excess of hospital admissions in paediatric patients with type-1 diabetes. Rates are highest in the youngest children with low socioeconomic status. Factors influencing higher admission rates in smaller centres (eg, “out of hours resources”) need to be explored with the aim of targeting modifiable influences on admission rates.
Anaemia prevalence and associated factors among lactating mothers in Ethiopia: evidence from the 2005 and 2011 demographic and health surveys
Authors: Lakew Yihunie , Biadgilign Sibhatu , Haile Demewoz 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with anaemia in lactating mothers in Ethiopia.DesignA cross-sectional secondary analysis of data pooled from two rounds of the 2005 and 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) was used. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to determine the factors associated with anaemia.PopulationA total of 7332 lactating mothers (2285 from EDHS 2005 and 5047 from EDHS 2011) were included from 11 administrative states of Ethiopia.Main outcome measuresLactating mothers considered anaemic if haemoglobin level <12 g/dL.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anaemia among lactating mothers was 22.1% (95% CI 21.13% to 23.03%). The highest prevalence was 48.7% (95% CI 40.80% to 56.62%) found in the Somali region, followed by 43.8% (95% CI 31.83% to 56.87%) in the Afar region. The multivariate statistical model showed that having a husband who had attended primary education (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.79; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.91), working during the 12 months preceding the survey (AOR 0.71; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.80), having a normal maternal body mass index (18.5–24.99 kg/m2) (AOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.89), being in the middle wealth quintile (AOR 0.83; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.98) or rich wealth quintile (AOR 0.83; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.98), having ever used family planning (AOR 0.68; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.80), having attended antenatal care (ANC) for the indexed pregnancy four times or more (AOR 0.73; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.91), having experienced time variation between the two surveys (AOR 0.73; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.85), and breastfeeding for 2 years (AOR 0.76; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.87) were factors associated with lower odds of having anaemia in lactating mothers.ConclusionsAnaemia is highly prevalent among lactating mothers, particularly in the pastoralist communities of Somali and Afar. Promoting partner education, improving maternal nutritional status, and creating behavioural change to use family planning and ANC services at health facilities are recommended interventions to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among lactating mothers in Ethiopia.
UK research spend in 2008 and 2012: comparing stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease and dementia
Authors: Luengo-Fernandez Ramon , Leal Jose , Gray Alastair 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo assess UK governmental and charity research funding in 2012 for cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), dementia and stroke, and to make comparisons with 2008 levels.DesignAnalysis of research expenditure.SettingUnited Kingdom.Main outcome measuresWe identified UK governmental agencies and charities providing health research funding to determine the 2012 levels of funding for cancer, CHD, dementia and stroke. Levels of research funding were compared to burden of disease measures, including prevalence, disability adjusted life years and economic burden.ResultsThe combined research funding into cancer, CHD, dementia and stroke by governmental and charity organisations in 2012 was £856 million, of which £544 million (64%) was devoted to cancer, £166 million (19%) to CHD, £90 million (11%) to dementia and £56 million (7%) to stroke. For every £10 of health and social care costs attributable to each disease, cancer received £1.08 in research funding, CHD £0.65, stroke £0.19 and dementia £0.08. A considerable shift in the distribution of government research funding was observed between 2008 and 2012. In 2008, 66% of governmental research funding into the four conditions under study was devoted to cancer, 21% to CHD, 9% to dementia and 4% to stroke. In 2012, the proportions devoted to dementia and stroke had increased to 21% and 12%, respectively, with cancer accounting for 45% of total research spend.ConclusionsAlthough there has been much progress by government to increase levels of research funding for dementia and stroke, these areas remain underfunded when compared with the burden of disease.
Can analyses of electronic patient records be independently and externally validated? Study 2—the effect of β-adrenoceptor blocker therapy on cancer survival: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Springate David A , Ashcroft Darren M , Kontopantelis Evangelos , Doran Tim , Ryan Ronan , Reeves David 
Published: April 2015

ObjectivesTo conduct a fully independent, external validation of a research study based on one electronic health record database using a different database sampling from the same population.DesignRetrospective cohort analysis of β-blocker therapy and all-cause mortality in patients with cancer.SettingTwo UK national primary care databases (PCDs): the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Doctors’ Independent Network (DIN).ParticipantsCPRD data for 11 302 patients with cancer compared with published results from DIN for 3462 patients; study period January 1997 to December 2006.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAll-cause mortality: overall; by treatment subgroup (β-blockers only, β-blockers plus other blood pressure lowering medicines (BPLM), other BPLMs only); and by cancer site.ResultsUsing CPRD, β-blocker use was not associated with mortality (HR=1.03, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.14, vs patients prescribed other BPLMs only), but DIN β-blocker users had significantly higher mortality (HR=1.18, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.33). However, these HRs were not statistically different (p=0.063), but did differ for patients on β-blockers alone (CPRD=0.94, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.07; DIN=1.37, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.61; p<0.001). Results for individual cancer sites differed by study, but only significantly for prostate and pancreas cancers. Results were robust under sensitivity analyses, but we could not be certain that mortality was identically defined in both databases.ConclusionsWe found a complex pattern of similarities and differences between databases. Overall treatment effect estimates were not statistically different, adding to a growing body of evidence that different UK PCDs produce comparable effect estimates. However, individually the two studies lead to different conclusions regarding the safety of β-blockers and some subgroup effects differed significantly. Single studies using even internally well-validated databases do not guarantee generalisable results, especially for subgroups, and confirmatory studies using at least one other independent data source are strongly recommended.
010 OP: MAKING CHRONIC PAIN MATTER—HOW CAN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH SHAPE THE CONVERSATION?
Authors: Gonzalez-Polledo E , Cornish F , Tarr J 
Published: April 2015

This paper reflects on our experience of designing, running and evaluating participatory qualitative research methods to better understand pain communication. It emerges from Communicating Chronic Pain: Interdisciplinary methods for non-verbal data, a research project funded by the National Centre for Research Methods, which aimed to bridge the gap between experiencing and communicating about pain. Focusing on non-verbal forms of communication instead of personal illness narratives, this project explored pain communication in non-clinical contexts, analysing non-verbal forms of pain expression across multiple social media platforms and by using arts methods as experimental and participatory methodologies to explore pain communication.Involving a mixed group of people living with different forms of chronic pain, clinicians and pain researchers, we set up a series of four workshops which were designed as a context in which participants could collectively explore dimensions of pain communication beyond individual pain narratives. Each of these workshops was collaboratively led by two arts practitioners and attended by our team of three researchers as full participants. Workshops were structured around a process of making or working with objects (drawings, photographs, soundscapes and spaces). We analysed both the content of participants' communication about pain, and the processes enabling that communication. Regarding content, the methods yielded evocative and relational versions of pain that encompassed tensions (such as immediate/chronic; owned/disowned; internal/external), rather than repeating traditional linguistic distinctions. Regarding process, we argue that the combination of practical arts methods and inclusive, anti-hierarchical social relations fostered a context which allowed for ambiguity and multiple meanings, in ways that are not traditionally enabled in the context of clinical communication.In this paper we askDid this type of experimental/participatory workshops succeed at reframing pain in ways that could improve clinical communication? What practices worked best in terms of participant engagement? Could this format be taken forward as a form of collaborative, open-ended, participatory research practice?