bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Caesarean section at full cervical dilatation
Authors: Davis Georgina , Fleming Tina , Ford Keryn , Mouawad Marie Rose , Ludlow Joanne 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundCaesarean section at full cervical dilatation has many implications for maternal and neonatal morbidity as well as subsequent pregnancy outcomes. However, increasing trends are reported internationally for second‐stage caesarean delivery.ObjectivesTo review the rate and indication for a caesarean section at full dilatation over a 5‐year period at a tertiary referral obstetric centre in Sydney.Materials and MethodsRetrospective cohort review of all women with a singleton, cephalic presenting fetus at ≥370 weeks’ gestation delivered by caesarean section in the second stage of labour between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Medical records were reviewed, and demographic, maternal and fetal outcome data were obtained. Consultant supervision and documentation standards were recorded. The main outcome measures were the rate of caesarean section at full cervical dilatation, maternal and fetal morbidity.ResultsDuring the study period, 8449/26063 (32.4%) babies were born by caesarean section. Of these surgical births, 476 (5.6%) were performed at full cervical dilatation at >37 weeks' gestation. There was no observed trend over the 5 years. The majority of women delivered by caesarean section at full dilatation were nulliparous and in spontaneous labour. More than half of these women were delivered without a trial of instrumental delivery. Consultant obstetricians were present for 7% of public second‐stage caesarean deliveries.ConclusionWe report a 5‐year experience with caesarean delivery at full dilatation at a tertiary unit. The rate was variable over the 5 years. Secondary outcome measures suggest that consultant supervision is uncommon and documentation standards require improvement.
Mode of birth and early postnatal psychological morbidity
Authors: Hanlon Amie J. M. , Beckmann Michael M. 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundPostnatal depression affects the well‐being of women and families. While several studies have shown an association between mode of birth and symptoms of postnatal depression, others have found no relationship.AimsTo determine whether women who have instrumental or caesarean births report higher levels of poor coping, sleep or appetite disturbance, or relationship difficulties, than women who have vaginal births, at the time of Universal Postnatal Contact (7–10 days post‐discharge).Materials and MethodsRetrospective cohort study of term, singleton births from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2013 at a tertiary obstetric facility. Outcomes were compared for 1816 women having vaginal births versus 1205 women having instrumental or caesarean births.ResultsWhen adjusted for confounders, no association could be demonstrated between mode of birth and reporting of any postnatal symptom of psychological morbidity. However, the model did demonstrate an association between reporting of symptoms and nulliparity (aOR 1.69 (1.08–2.63); P = 0.02), as well as having an unplanned pregnancy with a supportive partner (aOR 0.54 (0.29–0.97); P = 0.04).ConclusionsMode of birth does not appear to be associated with the reporting of symptoms of psychological morbidity in the early postnatal period. However, these symptoms may be associated with nulliparity and in the context of an unplanned pregnancy, a lack of partner support. These findings highlight the ongoing need for antenatal screening with respect to pregnancy intention and the presence of a social support system, to facilitate the implementation of interventions for women at risk of postnatal depression.
Outcome of children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) experiencing primary induction failure in the AIEOP AML 2002/01 clinical trial
Authors: Quarello Paola , Fagioli Franca , Basso Giuseppe , Putti Maria C. , Berger Massimo , Luciani Matteo , Rizzari Carmelo , Menna Giuseppe , Masetti Riccardo , Locatelli Franco 
Published: July 2015

SummaryPaediatric patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who fail induction due to primary resistance to chemotherapy account for a significant proportion of cases and have a particularly dismal prognosis. We report the clinical and biological data, and final outcome of 48 paediatric patients with primary‐resistant AML enrolled in the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica AML 2002/01 clinical trial. These patients had a significantly higher white blood cell count at diagnosis compared to other AML patients. Cytogenetic and molecular features did not differ between patients with primary induction failure and patients allocated to the high‐risk group. For the whole patient population, the probability of overall survival, event‐free survival (EFS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) was 21·8% ± 6·2, 20·4% ± 5·9, and 49·5% ± 11·3, respectively. Twenty‐eight (58%) patients received haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); 3 were autologous and 25 were allogeneic. Patients who underwent HSCT had improved EFS (31·2% vs. 5%, P < 0·0001). Only one of the 20 patients who did not receive HSCT is alive and disease free. The 19 patients in complete remission at time of HSCT showed significantly better DFS than the 9 with active disease (46% vs. 0%, P = 0·02). This study represents one of the largest series with long‐term follow up of paediatric AML patients with primary refractory disease. Children who underwent transplantation had an encouraging long‐term outcome. Disease recurrence remains the major cause of treatment failure; a better understanding of the disease biology is desirable to develop more effective treatment strategies.
Early loading of splinted implants supporting a two‐unit fixed partial denture in the posterior maxilla: 13‐month results from a randomized controlled clinical trial of two different implant systems
Authors: Ryu Hyo‐Sook , Namgung Cheol , Heo Young‐Ku , Lee Jong‐Ho , Lim Young‐Jun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate early‐loaded implants supporting a two‐unit fixed dental prosthesis in the posterior maxilla and to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of two different implant systems in terms of success rates, implant stability quotient (ISQ) values, and peri‐implant parameters.Materials and methodsThirty patients with the unilateral loss of two consecutive maxillary posterior teeth were randomly assigned to two different implant systems: SLActive Bone level implant (Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) in the control group and CMI IS‐II active implant (Neobiotech Co., Seoul, Korea) in the experimental group. The patients received provisional and definitive two‐unit fixed prostheses at 4 weeks and 6 months after implant surgery, respectively. The peak insertion torque was recorded at surgery. The stability of each implant was evaluated during surgery and at 2, 3, and 4 weeks and 6 and 13 months after implant placement by means of ISQ values. In addition, periapical radiographs and peri‐implant parameters were taken throughout the trial.ResultsOverall, comparable results were obtained between the control and experimental groups in terms of insertion torque, ISQ values, marginal bone loss, and peri‐implant soft tissue parameters. All 60 implants had 100% of success rate. The average insertion torque was 36.83 ± 6.09 (control) and 35.33 ± 3.20 (test) Ncm. The ISQ values remained steady until 4 weeks and then increased with statistical significance during 4 weeks to 13 months after surgery. Both groups exhibited no stability dip during the early phase of healing. The average marginal bone loss from the baseline of implant placement for the control and experimental groups was 0.38 and 0.45 mm after 4 weeks and 0.98 and 0.61 mm after 13 months. All of the soft tissue parameters were within normal limits.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that the concept of early loading at 4 weeks after placement in the posterior maxilla can be an effective treatment option, even in the areas of low bone density, when implants satisfy the inclusion criteria of minimum insertion torque and ISQ of 30 Ncm and 65, respectively.
Chemokine MCP1/CCL2 gene polymorphism influences Henoch–Schönlein purpura susceptibility in Iranian Azeri–Turkish patients
Authors: Bonyadi Mortaza , Mohammadian Tahereh , Rafeey Mandana , Sadeghi Shabestri Mahnaz , Mortazavi Fakhrossadat , Aliyari Behzad 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundHenoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common small‐vessel vasculitis and mainly affects children. Although its pathophysiology is unknown, several studies have indicated the possible involvement of infections and genetic factors in the development of HSP. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family and several other genes involved in the inflammatory system have been studied. The CCL2 gene, encoding chemokine monocyte chemo‐attractant protein 1 (MCP‐1/CCL2), is one of several cytokine genes clustered on chromosome 17. The encoded protein displays chemotactic activity for monocytes.MethodsThis is a case–control study comparing 36 children diagnosed with HSP within the Iranian Azeri–Turkish ethnic population and 50 healthy adults from the same ethnic group. CCL2, C‐2518T polymorphism genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and by PVUII restriction enzyme analysis and subsequent agarose gel electrophoresis.ResultsOur results showed a significant association between the allelic and genotypic frequency of this gene and HSP disease in this cohort. The results of this study indicate that frequencies of the T allele of CCL2 (P = 0.015) and the TT genotype (P = 0.004) are significantly higher in HSP patients. A comparison of clinical symptoms and laboratory data with CCL2 C‐2518T polymorphism showed that patients with the TT genotype presented a higher clinical score and more severe clinical features.ConclusionsMCP1/CCL2 C‐2518T gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to HSP. This is the first study to report a significant association between MCP1/CCL2 C‐2518T and a susceptibility to HSP in this population.
Effects of external shear forces on crystallisation kinetics of model fat blends
Authors: Shi Xun , Maleky Farnaz 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThe effects of different shearing conditions on the crystallisation of cocoa butter (CB) with the addition of other confectionery ingredients (sugar and lecithin) were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and polarised light microscopy (PLM) were conducted to measure the thermal, polymorphic and microstructural properties, of these mixtures, respectively. Both shearing conditions and ingredients have a pronounced impact on the thermal and polymorphic behaviour of CB, and its microstructure. In the absence of shear, the addition of lecithin delayed the polymorphic transformation in CB and results in slightly bigger crystal clusters. When both sugar and lecithin are added to nonsheared CB, they retard the formation of stable polymorphism. Moreover, sugar particles tended to agglomerate in the absence of lecithin under static conditions. With the application of shear, a more homogenous microstructure of the samples was observed. Shear significantly increases the crystallisation rate, polymorph transformation and the formation of a higher number of smaller crystals at both the presence and absence of lecithin.
Technology forecasting using DEA in the presence of infeasibility
Authors: Lim Dong‐Joon 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAs a predictive application of data envelopment analysis (DEA), technology forecasting using DEA (TFDEA) measures the rate of frontier shift by which the arrival of future technologies can be estimated. However, it is well known that DEA and therefore TFDEA may suffer from the issue of infeasible super‐efficiency especially under the condition of variable returns to scale. This study develops an extended TFDEA model based on the modified super‐efficiency model proposed in the literature, which has the benefit of yielding radial super‐efficiency scores equivalent to those obtained from the original super‐efficiency model when feasibility is present. The previously published application of liquid crystal displays (LCD) is revisited to illustrate the use of the new model. The results show that the proposed approach makes a reasonable forecast for formerly infeasible targets as well as a consistent forecast for feasible targets.
Core Earnings Uncertainty, Dividend Change Announcements and the Reduction of Covariance Component Risks
Authors: Dempsey Stephen J. , Harrison David M. , Sheng Hainan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe present evidence of two systematic market risk implications associated with core earnings news implicit in dividend change announcements: (1) a decline in firm‐market correlation intensity, consistent with reduced investor reliance on overall market movements to value shares, and (2) a downward shift in standard deviation of returns, consistent with increased core earnings information precision. Decoupling these two covariance component risk effects is important because they can offset one another at the firm level, masking unique market influences on total systematic risk. Each is influenced by the information environment in different ways and each is shown to incrementally explain returns in a manner consistent with the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).
Optimizing the pre‐referral workup for gastroenterology and hepatology specialty care: consensus using the Delphi method
Authors: Ho Chanda K. , Boscardin Christy K. , Gleason Nathaniel , Collado Don , Terdiman Jonathan , Terrault Norah A. , Gonzales Ralph 
Published: July 2015

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesSpecialty care referrals have doubled in the last decade. Optimization of the pre‐referral workup by a primary care doctor can lead to a more efficient first specialty visit with the patient. Guidance regarding pre‐referral laboratory testing is a first step towards improving the specialty referral process. Our aim was to establish consensus regarding appropriate pre‐referral workup for common gastrointestinal and liver conditions.MethodsThe Delphi method was used to establish local consensus for recommending certain laboratory tests prior to specialty referral for 13 clinical conditions. Seven conditions from The University of Michigan outpatient referral guidelines were used as a baseline. An expert panel of three PCPs and nine gastroenterologists from three academic hospitals participated in three iterative rounds of electronic surveys. Each panellist ranked each test using a 5‐point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Local panellists could recommend additional tests for the initial diagnoses, and also recommended additional diagnoses needing guidelines: iron deficiency anaemia, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fatty liver disease, liver mass and cirrhosis. Consensus was defined as ≥70% of experts scoring ≥4 (agree or strongly agree).ResultsApplying Delphi methodology to extrapolate externally developed referral guidelines for local implementation resulted in considerable modifications. For some conditions, many tests from the external group were eliminated by the local group (abdominal bloating; iron deficiency anaemia; irritable bowel syndrome). In contrast, for chronic diarrhoea, abnormal liver enzymes and viral hepatitis, all/most original tests were retained with additional tests added. For liver mass, fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, there was high concordance among the panel with few tests added or eliminated.ConclusionsConsideration of externally developed referral guidelines using a consensus‐building process leads to significant local tailoring and adaption. Our next steps include implementation and dissemination of these guidelines and evaluating their impact on care efficiency in clinical practice.
Generating precipitation ensembles for flood alert and risk management
Authors: Caseri A. , Javelle P. , Ramos M.H. , Leblois E. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractFloods are major natural disasters that, in several occasions, can be responsible for life losses and severe economic damages. Flood forecasting and alert systems are needed to anticipate the arrival of these events and mitigate their impacts. They are particularly important for risk management and response in the nowcasting of flash floods. In this case, precipitation fields are crucial and is important to consider uncertainties coming from the observed precipitation fields used as input data to the system. One approach to take into account these uncertainties is to generate an ensemble of possible scenarios of observed precipitation. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of a framework that applies a geostatistical conditional simulation method to generate an ensemble of precipitation fields that can be used as input to a distributed rainfall–runoff model to produce probabilistic flood alert maps. The Var region (southeastern France) and 17 events are used to validate the approach. Results show that the proposed method can be useful to generate realistic precipitation scenarios and, ultimately, to provide information on the probability of discharges exceeding critical flood thresholds. It can be a solution to combine information from radar fields and rain gauges to generate precipitation ensembles and quantify uncertainties in input data for hydrological modelling.
A real‐time pluvial flood forecasting system for Castries, St. Lucia
Authors: René J.‐R. , Djordjević S. , Butler D. , Mark O. , Henonin J. , Eisum N. , Madsen H. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIn the last decade, real‐time flood forecasting has become a more feasible approach to reducing the impacts of flooding in urban areas. Two key tools in this context are high resolution hydrodynamic modelling in combination with accurate hydrological forcing. In some cases, when it is not possible to produce such accurate flood forecasts based on high resolution models and data, it may nevertheless be possible to use the resources currently available, accepting that there is a greater degree of uncertainty involved. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of a remotely controlled, real‐time, pluvial flood forecasting system for Castries, St. Lucia that utilises the limited data available locally. The results from the study suggest that although Global Forecast System (GFS) rainfall data may be considered coarse for urban applications, there is still a significant amount of skill and usability after it is postprocessed and used in combination with observed rainfall data. Evidence from the study also suggests that the use of images from different sources is invaluable for 2D overland model calibration and validation in urban areas. Conclusions from the study are potentially transferable to other sites in similar data‐scare and resource‐limited locations.
A large‐field polarisation‐resolved laser scanning microscope: applications to CARS imaging
Authors: DE VITO G. , CANTA A. , MARMIROLI P. , PIAZZA V. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryLaser‐scanning imaging techniques are frequently used to probe the molecule spatial orientation in a sample of interest by exploiting selection rules depending on the polarisation of the excitation light. For the successful implementation of these techniques the precise control of the polarisation at the sample level is of fundamental importance. Polarisation distortions induced by the optical elements are often the main limitation factor for the maximum size of the field‐of‐view in polarisation‐resolved (PR) laser‐scanning microscopy, since for large scanning angles the polarisation distortions may mask the real sample structure. Here we shall demonstrate the implementation of large‐field‐of‐view PR microscopy and show PR CARS imaging of mouse spinal cord thanks to a careful design of the laser‐beam optical path. We shall show that this design leads to strongly suppressed distortions and quantify their effects on the final images. Although the focus of this work is on CARS imaging, we stress that the approaches described here can be successfully applied to a wide range of PR laser‐scanning techniques.
Genetic deletion of monoacylglycerol lipase leads to impaired cannabinoid receptor CB1R signaling and anxiety‐like behavior
Authors: Imperatore Roberta , Morello Giovanna , Luongo Livio , Taschler Ulrike , Romano Rosaria , De Gregorio Danilo , Belardo Carmela , Maione Sabatino , Di Marzo Vincenzo , Cristino Luigia 
Published: July 2015

AbstractEndocannabinoids (eCB) are key regulators of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission at cannabinoid‐1‐receptor (CB1R)‐expressing axon terminals. The most abundant eCB in the brain, that is 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG), is hydrolyzed by the enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), whose chronic inhibition in the brain was reported to cause CB1R desensitization. We employed the MAGL knock‐out mouse (MAGL−/−), a genetic model of congenital and sustained elevation of 2‐AG levels in the brain, to provide morphological and biochemical evidence for β‐arrestin2‐mediated CB1R desensitization in brain regions involved in the control of emotional states, that is, the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, hippocampus and cerebellar cortex. We found a widespread CB1R/β‐arrestin2 co‐expression in the mPFC, amygdala and hippocampus accompanied by impairment of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling and elevation of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGluT1) at CB1R‐positive excitatory terminals in the mPFC, or vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) at CB1R‐positive inhibitory terminals in the amygdala and hippocampus. The impairment of CB1R signaling in MAGL−/− mice was also accompanied by enhanced excitatory drive in the basolateral amygdala (BLA)‐mPFC circuit, with subsequent elevation of glutamate release to the mPFC and anxiety‐like and obsessive‐compulsive behaviors, as assessed by the light/dark box and marble burying tests, respectively. Collectively, these data provide evidence for a β‐arrestin2‐mediated desensitization of CB1R in MAGL−/− mice, with impact on the synaptic plasticity of brain circuits involved in emotional functions.
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In this study, the authors provide evidence that congenitally enhanced endocannabinoid levels in the neuronal circuits underlying anxiety‐like behavioral states (mainly medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus) lead to CB1R desenistization and anxiety and depression. MAGL−/− mice, a model of congenital overactivity of the eCB system, exhibited a compensatory impairment of CB1R signaling in anxiety‐associated brain areas and a subsequent change in excitatory/inhibitory tone associated with altered score in the marble burying and light/dark box test, in concomitance with anxiety and depression behavior states. These findings may have potential relevance to the understanding of the neurochemical effects of chronic CB1R overstimulation in cannabis abusers.