bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tonsillectomy discharge information - An improvement in both patient safety and satisfaction
Authors: Carter Alison , Warner Elinor , Roberton Andrew , Liu Xiaxin , Abdul-Hamid Ayeshah , Natt Ravinder , Hopkins Claire 
Published: January 2014

AbstractApproximately 20,000 adult and 25,000 paediatric tonsillectomies are performed each year in England. 0.9% of these patients return to theatre for post-tonsillectomy bleeding. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) have produced guidelines regarding emergency surgery, with standards for tonsillectomy discharge information. We audited our compliance with these guidelines and patient satisfaction regarding the information currently provided.Theatre records identified all tonsillectomies carried out between December 2012 and February 2013. 71 patients and their electronic discharge information were reviewed for post-operative bleeding information. Each patient was contacted, with a second call made to those who did not answer. 35 patients took part in our telephone questionnaire. Only 35% of patients had post-operative bleeding information on their discharge summary. 51% received no written information either in clinic or on the day of surgery, 66% recalled a verbal explanation. Only 54% knew to go to A&E if they experienced bleeding. 40% were not satisfied with their discharge information, stating that they wanted to know about bleeding, recovery expectations, and information regarding oral intake.A focus group was formed to discuss potential solutions to the audit outcomes and a tonsillectomy leaflet was produced inline with the trust patient information template. It contained specific instructions regarding bleeding and the nearest A&E contact details. It was reviewed by three tonsillectomy patients and their feedback regarding further information on post-operative diet, throat appearance and pain expectations was incorporated. A second cycle of the audit took place between August and September 2013. Results showed improvement, with 83% receiving an information leaflet and 100% a verbal explanation. 100% of patients were satisfied with their discharge information and 100% knew what to do if they bled. As a result we now meet the standards set out by the RCSEng and have increased our patient safety and satisfaction rates.
Effects of vorapaxar on platelet reactivity and biomarker expression in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Storey Robert F. , Kotha Jayaprakash , Smyth Susan S. , Moliterno David J. , Rorick Tyrus L. , Moccetti Tiziano , Valgimigli Marco , Dery Jean Pierre , Cornel Jan H. , Thomas Gregory S. , Huber Kurt , Harrington Robert A. , Hord Edward , Judge Heather M. , Chen Edmond , Strony John , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Tricoci Pierluigi , Becker Richard C. , Jennings Lisa K. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryVorapaxar is an antagonist of the protease activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), the principal platelet thrombin receptor. The Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction (TRACER) trial evaluated vorapaxar compared to placebo in non-ST-elevation (NSTE)-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. It was the study′s objective to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of vorapaxar versus placebo that included aspirin or a thienopyridine or, frequently, a combination of both agents in NSTE-ACS patients. In a substudy involving 249 patients, platelet aggregation was assessed by light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) in 85 subjects (41 placebo, 44 vorapaxar) using the agonists thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP, 15 μM), adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 20 μM), and the combination of collagen-related peptide (2.5 μg/ml) + ADP (5 μM) + TRAP (15 μM) (CAT). VerifyNow® IIb/IIIa and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation assays were performed, and platelet PAR-1 expression, plasma platelet/endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers were determined before and during treatment. LTA responses to TRAP and CAT and VerifyNow results were markedly inhibited by vorapaxar. Maximal LTA response to TRAP (median, interquartile range) 2 hours post loading dose: placebo 68% (53–75%) and vorapaxar 3% (2–6%), p<0.0001. ADP inhibition was greater in the vorapaxar group at 4 hours and one month (p<0.01). In contrast to the placebo group, PAR-1 receptor number in the vorapaxar group at one month was significantly lower than the baseline (179 vs 225; p=0.004). There were significant changes in selected biomarker levels between the two treatment groups. In conclusion, vorapaxar caused a potent inhibition of PAR-1-mediated platelet aggregation. Further studies are needed to explore vorapaxar effect on P2Y12 inhibition, PAR-1 expression and biomarkers and its contribution to clinical outcomes.
The endothelial protein C receptor impairs the antibacterial response in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis
Authors: Daan de Boer J. , Kager Liesbeth M. , Roelofs Joris J. T. H. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Esmon Charles T. , Levi Marcel , van ’t Veer Cornelis , van der Poll Tom , Schouten Marcel 
Published: January 2014

SummaryPneumococcal pneumonia is a frequent cause of gram-positive sepsis and has a high mortality. The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) has been implicated in both the activation of protein C (PC) and the anti-inflammatory actions of activated (A)PC. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the EPCR in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis. Wild-type (WT), EPCR knockout (KO) and Tie2-EPCR mice, which overexpress EPCR on the endothelium, were infected intranasally (pneumonia) or intravenously (sepsis) with viable Streptococcus pneumoniae and euthanised at 24 or 48 hours after initiation of the infection for analyses. Pneumonia did not alter constitutive EPCR expression on pulmonary endothelium but was associated with an influx of EPCR positive neutrophils into lung tissue. In pneumococcal pneumonia EPCR KO mice demonstrated diminished bacterial growth in the lungs and dissemination to spleen and liver, reduced neutrophil recruitment to the lungs and a mitigated inflammatory response. Moreover, EPCR KO mice displayed enhanced activation of coagulation in the early phase of disease. Correspondingly, in pneumococcal sepsis EPCR KO mice showed reduced bacterial growth in lung and liver and attenuated cytokine release. Conversely, EPCR-overexpressing mice displayed higher bacterial outgrowth in lung, blood, spleen and liver in pneumococcal sepsis. In conclusion, EPCR impairs antibacterial defense in both pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis, which is associated with an enhanced pro-inflammatory response.
Decomposition of Residual Circulation in Estuaries
Authors: Cheng Peng 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The residual currents in estuaries are produced by a variety of physical mechanisms. To understand the contribution of each individual mechanism to the creation of residual circulation, it is necessary to separate the effect of one particular mechanism from the others. In this study, a method based on dynamics is developed to decompose the residual circulation into individual components corresponding to different forcing mechanisms. Specifically, residual flows are partitioned based on the separate contributions by river discharge, horizontal density gradient, internal tidal asymmetry, advection, semi–Stokes transport, and wind. The method includes the effects of the earth’s rotation and can be applied for general conditions. Under the precondition that the ratio between width and length of the estuary is small, the continuity equation can be simplified such that the method only requires the data at a cross-estuary section to decompose residual currents. This makes the method practicable for real estuaries. Results from a generic numerical model are used to illustrate the decomposition method and to demonstrate its validity for weakly stratified estuaries.
A 4DVAR System for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. Part II: Strong and Weak Constraint Assimilation Experiments with Real Observations in Monterey Bay*
Authors: Ngodock Hans , Carrier Matthew 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
A four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) system was recently developed for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM). The system was tested in the first part of this study using synthetic surface and subsurface data. Here, a full range of real surface and subsurface data is considered following encouraging results from the preliminary test. The data include sea surface temperature and sea surface height from satellite, as well as subsurface observations from gliders deployed during the second Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network field experiment in California’s Monterey Bay. Data assimilation is carried out with strong and weak constraints, and results are compared against independent observations. This study clearly shows that the 4DVAR approach improves the free-running model simulation and that the weak constraint experiment has lower analysis errors than does the strong constraint version.
Religious experience in late Antiquity: theological ambivalence and Christianization
Authors: Trombley Frank R. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper contains a discussion of religious experience from the perspective of sociological and psychoanalytic theory by applying it to a selection of Late Antique texts. Inscriptions and certain hagiographic texts that contain personal statements are particularly important, because they show less redactional and stylistic manipulation than theologically inspired works like Augustine’s Confessions and Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History. The most common types of religious experience were dream- and waking-visions of divine and daemonic beings, Christian martyrs and recently deceased family members. The paper concludes that there is a clear correspondence between the descriptions given in Late Antique texts and the types of phenomena addressed in psychoanalytic theory and practice, and that this discipline can add a new dimension to our understanding of religious behaviour.
Olympius and the ‘Saracens’ of Sicily
Authors: Woods David 
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this note is to indicate how a recently re-edited inscription may contribute towards the solution of a long-standing problem posed by a short notice in the Liber Pontificalis. This notice appears to report that, following his failure to force Pope Martin I to accept the Typus issued by the emperor Constans II (641-68), the cubicularius and exarch of Italy Olympius led an expedition against the Saracens living in Sicily. He then died of disease ca. 652. The standard edition, and a recent translation, run:
Videns ergo Olympius exarchus quia manus Dei circumtegebat Martinum sanctissimum papam, necesse habuit se cum pontifice concordare et omnia quae ei iussa fuerant eidem sanctissimo viro indicare. Quia facta pace cum sancta Dei ecclesia, colligens exercitum, profectus est Siciliam adversus gentem Saracenorum qui ibidem inhabitabant. Et peccato faciente maior interitus in exercitu Romano provenit. Et post hoc isdem exarchus morbo interiit.So when Olympius saw that God’s hand was shielding holy Pope Martin, hewas forced to reconcile himself to the pontiff and disclose all his orders to that holy man. Now that he had made peace with God’s holy church he mustered the army and set out for Sicily against the Saracen people who were living there. The result of sin was that the destruction befalling the Roman army was all the greater. After this the exarch died of disease.
Long term follow-up in patients with initially diagnosed low grade Ta non-muscle invasive bladder tumors: tumor recurrence and worsening progression
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroaki , Kikuchi Eiji , Mikami Shuji , Maeda Takahiro , Tanaka Nobuyuki , Miyajima Akira , Nakagawa Ken , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
We evaluated the clinical outcome of low grade Ta bladder cancer followed-up for a long period using the 2004 WHO grading system.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients with primary, low grade Ta bladder cancer. We defined worsening progression (WP) as confirmed high grade Ta, all T1 or Tis/concomitant CIS of bladder recurrence, upper urinary tract recurrence (UTR), or progression to equal to or more than T2. The associations between clinicopathological factors and tumor recurrence as well as WP pattern were analyzed. We also evaluated the late recurrence of 76 patients who were tumor-free for more than 5 years.

Results
Tumor recurrence and WP occurred in 82 (43.2%) and 21 (11.1%) patients during follow-up (median follow-up: 101.5 months), respectively. WP to high grade Ta, all T1 or Tis/concomitant CIS was seen in 17 patients, and UTR and progression to equal to or more than T2 were seen in 2 and 2 patients, respectively. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that multiple tumor (p < 0.001, HR: 2.97) and absence of intravesical instillation (IVI) (p < 0.001, HR: 2.88) were significant risk factors for tumor recurrence while multiple tumor was the only risk factor for WP (p = 0.001, HR: 5.26). After a 5-year tumor-free period, 9 patients experienced late recurrence in years 5 and 10 and were diagnosed at a follow-up cystoscopy, however, only 2 patients recurred beyond 10 years and were found by gross hematuria. There were no significant risk factors of late recurrence.

Conclusions
Multiple tumor was a risk factor for both tumor recurrence and WP while IVI did not affect the occurrence of WP. Our results suggest that routine follow-up of patients with low grade Ta bladder cancer is needed up to 10 years from the initial diagnosis.
Fixed point theory approach to boundary value problems for second-order difference equations on non-uniform lattices
Authors: Area Iván , Godoy Eduardo , Nieto Juan J 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn this paper, by means of the appropriate Green’s function, an integral representation for the solutions of certain boundary value problems for second-order difference equations on (quadratic andq-quadratic) non-uniform lattices is presented. As a consequence, using fixed point theory, new results for the existence and uniqueness of the solution are proved on non-uniform lattices.MSC:34B27, 39A20, 34A05, 34B05.
Number-projected isovector neutron-proton pairing effect in odd mass nuclei
Authors: Berbiche Amine , Fellah Mohamed , Allal Nassima H 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
A formalism which enables one to strictly conserve the number of particles when taking into account the isovector pairing correlations is presented in the case of odd mass nuclei. With this aim, we had to first establish the expression of the projector for such systems. Expressions of the ground state and its energy have been exhibited. The model has been numerically tested in the framework of a schematic model.

PACS

21.60.-n; 21.30.Fe
The impacts of thyroid function on the diagnostic accuracy of Cystatin C to detect acute kidney injury in ICU patients: a prospective, observational study
Authors: Wang Feilong , Pan Wenzhi , Wang Hairong , Zhou Yu , Wang Shuyun , Pan Shuming 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Cystatin C (Cysc) could be affected by thyroid function both in vivo and in vitro and thereby may have limited ability to reflect renal function. We aimed to assess the association between Cysc and thyroid hormones as well as the effect of thyroid function on the diagnostic accuracy of Cysc to detect acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods
A total of 446 consecutive intensive care unit (ICU) patients were screened for eligibility in this prospective AKI observational study. Serum Cysc, thyroid hormones and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured upon entry to the ICU. We also collected each patient's baseline characteristics including the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) score. The diagnostic performance of Cysc was assessed from the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) in each quartile of thyroid hormone(s).

Results
A total of 114 (25.6%) patients had a clinical diagnosis of AKI upon entry to the ICU. The range of free thyroxine (FT4) value was 4.77 to 39.57 pmol/L. Multivariate linear regression showed that age (standardized beta = 0.128, P < 0.0001), baseline Scr level (standardized beta = 0.290, P < 0.0001), current Scr (standardized beta = 0.453, P < 0.0001), albumin (standardized beta = -0.086, P = 0.006), and FT4 (standardized beta = 0.062, P = 0.039) were related with Cysc. Patients were divided into four quartiles based on FT4 levels. The AUC for Cysc in detecting AKI in each quartile were as follows: 0.712 in quartile I, 0.754 in quartile II, 0.829 in quartile III and 0.797 in quartile IV. There was no significant difference in the AUC between any two groups (all P > 0.05). The optimal cut-off value of Cysc for diagnosing AKI increased across FT4 quartiles (1.15 mg/L in quartile I, 1.15 mg/L in quartile II, 1.35 mg/L in quartile III and 1.45 mg/L in quartile IV).

Conclusions
There was no significant impact of thyroid function on the diagnostic accuracy of Cysc to detect AKI in ICU patients. However, the optimal cut-off value of Cysc to detect AKI could be affected by thyroid function.
Albumin versus crystalloid solutions in patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Uhlig Christopher , Silva Pedro L , Deckert Stefanie , Schmitt Jochen , de Abreu Marcelo Gama 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Introduction
In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) fluid therapy might be necessary. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the effects of colloid therapy compared to crystalloids on mortality and oxygenation in adults with ARDS.

Methods
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and LILACS. Articles published up to 15th February 2013 were independently screened, abstracted, and assessed (Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool) to provide evidence-based therapy recommendations. RCTs were eligible if they compared colloid versus crystalloid therapy on lung function, inflammation, damage or mortality in adults with ARDS. Primary outcome parameters were respiratory mechanics, gas exchange lung inflammation and damage as well as hospital mortality. Kidney function, need for renal replacement therapy, hemodynamic stabilization and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay served as secondary outcomes.

Results
A total of 3 RCTs out of 4130 potential trials found in the databases were selected for qualitative and quantitative analysis totaling 206 patients who received either albumin or saline. Overall risk of bias was unclear to high in the identified trials. Calculated pooled risk of death was not statistically significant (albumin 34 of 100 (34.0%) versus 40 of 104 (38.5%), relative risk (RR) = 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62 to 1.28, P = 0.539). Weighted mean difference (WMD) in PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg) improved in the first 48 hours (WMD = 62, 95% CI 47 to 77, P <0.001, I
2
= 0%) after therapy start and remained stable after 7 days (WMD = 20, 95% CI 4 to 36, P = 0.017, I
2
= 0%).

Conclusions
There is a high need for RCTs investigating the effects of colloids in ARDS patients. Based on the findings of this review, colloid therapy with albumin improved oxygenation but did not affect mortality.
Advancing the functional utility of PAR-CLIP by quantifying background binding to mRNAs and lncRNAs
Authors: Friedersdorf Matthew B , Keene Jack D 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Background
Sequence specific RNA binding proteins are important regulators of gene expression. Several related crosslinking-based, high-throughput sequencing methods, including PAR-CLIP, have recently been developed to determine direct binding sites of global protein-RNA interactions. However, no studies have quantitatively addressed the contribution of background binding to datasets produced by these methods.

Results
We measured non-specific RNA background in PAR-CLIP data, demonstrating that covalently crosslinked background binding is common, reproducible and apparently universal among laboratories. We show that quantitative determination of background is essential for identifying targets of most RNA-binding proteins and can substantially improve motif analysis. We also demonstrate that by applying background correction to an RNA binding protein of unknown binding specificity, Caprin1, we can identify a previously unrecognized RNA recognition element not otherwise apparent in a PAR-CLIP study.

Conclusions
Empirical background measurements of global RNA-protein crosslinking are a necessary addendum to other experimental controls, such as performing replicates, because covalently crosslinked background signals are reproducible and otherwise unavoidable. Recognizing and quantifying the contribution of background extends the utility of PAR-CLIP and can improve mechanistic understanding of protein-RNA specificity, protein-RNA affinity and protein-RNA association dynamics.
Utilization of a Computerized Clinical Surveillance System to Increase Acute Myocardial Infarction Core Measure Compliance
Authors: Shuster Jerrica E. , Dorsch Michael P. 
Published: January 2014

Background Clinical surveillance systems (CSS) are utilized by many health care institutions to help identify at-risk patients, prioritize care, improve the clinical services provided, and increase compliance with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) core measures. Objective This study will assess the accuracy and practicality of a CMS acute myocardial infarction (AMI) alert, provided by the CSS Theradoc, designed to increase compliance with medications required at discharge in AMI patients. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective cohort review to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Theradoc CMS AMI alert. All patients with a Theradoc CMS AMI alert were analyzed for AMI occurrence and omission of CMS-required discharge medications. Secondary endpoints regarding alert times and quantity were also assessed to address the practicality of implementing the alert. Results Data were collected on patients with alerts occurring between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011 ( N = 962). The Theradoc CSS alert was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 4.79%, signifying a gross amount of false positives. No modifications to the alert definitions or timing were able to increase the specificity to >10%. Conclusions Regardless of the high sensitivity, the Theradoc CMS AMI alert does not have the appropriate level of specificity to utilize at the study institution at this time.
A continuous composition spread approach towards monolithic, wavelength-selective multichannel UV-photo-detector arrays
Authors: von Wenckstern H. , Zhang Z. , Lenzner J. , Schmidt F. , Grundmann M. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTContinuous composition spread (CCS) methods have been very successfully used for exploiting and optimization of new material systems. Concerning sample growth by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) approaches towards thin films with a CCS are involved, here movable masks for partial shadowing of the substrate and multiple targets are needed to obtain linearly varying changes of composition. Here we make use of an approach allowing deposition of thin films with CCS at high growth rates by using segmented PLD targets. We describe how this approach can be used to fabricate monolithic, wavelength-selective multichannel UV-photo-detector arrays.