bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation Oncology Training Program Curriculum developments in Australia and New Zealand: Design, implementation and evaluation – What next?
Authors: Turner Sandra , Seel Matthew , Berry Martin 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe Australian and New Zealand Radiation Oncology Training Program has undergone major changes to align with pedagogical principles and best‐evidence practice. The curriculum was designed around the Canadian Medical Education Directives for Specialists framework and involved structural programme changes and new in‐training assessment. This paper summarises the work of programme design and implementation and presents key findings from an evaluation of the revised programme.MethodsAn independent team conducted the evaluation during the last year of the first 5‐year curriculum cycle. Opinions were sought from trainees, supervisors and directors of training (DoTs) through online surveys, focused interviews and group consultations. One hundred nineteen participated in surveys; 211 participated in consultations. All training networks were represented.ResultsThe new curriculum was viewed favourably by most participants with over 90% responding that it ‘provided direction in attaining competencies’. Most (87/107; 81%) said it ‘promotes regular, productive interaction between trainees and supervisors’. Adequacy of feedback to trainees was rated as only ‘average’ by trainees/trainers in one‐third of cases. Consultations revealed this was more common where trainers were less familiar with curriculum tools. Half of DoTs/supervisors felt better supported. Nearly two‐third of all responders (58/92; 63%) stated that clinical service requirements could be met during training; 17/92 (18.5%) felt otherwise. When asked about ‘work‐readiness’, 59/90 (66%) respondents, including trainees, felt this was improved.ConclusionFindings suggest that the ‘new’ curriculum has achieved many of its aims, and implementation has largely been successful. Outcomes focus future work on better supporting trainers in using curriculum tools and providing useful feedback to trainees.
The gill microbiota of invasive and indigenous Spondylus oysters from the Mediterranean Sea and northern Red Sea
Authors: Roterman Yahala Rina , Benayahu Yehuda , Reshef Lea , Gophna Uri 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThe gill tissue of bivalve mollusks hosts rich symbiotic microbial communities that may contribute to the animal's metabolism. Spondylus spinosus is an invasive oyster that has become highly abundant along the eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) coastline, but is scarce in the northern Red Sea (NRS), its indigenous region. The composition and seasonal dynamics of the gill microbial communities of S. spinosus were examined in both regions, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Additionally, two Red Sea Spondylus species, S. avramsingeri and S. pickeringae, were investigated using the same approach. Significant differences were found between microbial communities of the EMS S. spinosus and the three NRS species. Bacteria from the family Hahellaceae dominated the communities of the EMS S. spinosus and the NRS S. avramsingeri, oysters that are dominant in their habitat, yet were rare in the NRS S. spinosus and S. pickeringae, which are only seldom encountered. Bacterial communities of EMS S. spinosus were more similar to those of NRS S. spinosus than to those of other NRS Spondylus species, indicating that either part of the microbiota had co‐invaded with their host into the Mediterranean Sea, or that there are species‐specific selective constraints on microbial composition.
Consumption of and satisfaction with health care among opioid users with chronic non‐malignant pain
Authors: Hansen A. B. , Skurtveit S. , Borchgrevink P. C. , Dale O. , Romundstad P. R. , Mahic M. , Fredheim O. M. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundAlthough persons with chronic pain are frequent users of the health care system, they report poor satisfaction with health care services. Participants with persistent opioid use in Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)3 report severe pain in spite of treatment. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that subjects with persistent opioid use have both a higher consumption of health care services and a poorer satisfaction than the remaining subjects reporting chronic pain.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was based on linkage of self‐reported data from the substudy (10,238 were invited, 6927 met the inclusion criteria) of health care use in HUNT3; a population‐based health survey during the years 2006–2008 and the complete national registers of the Norwegian Prescription Database and the Cancer Registry of Norway. Patients with chronic pain are stratified according to the level of opioid use as persistent users of opioids, intermittent users, and persons not using opioids.ResultsPersons with chronic non‐malignant pain reported a higher consumption of all health care services compared to the control group. Consumption of health care services increased with increasing level of opioid use. Persons with persistent opioid use were highly satisfied with all health care services, although less satisfied than persons without chronic pain.ConclusionsCombined with previous findings of high levels of pain in spite of opioid treatment, the present findings indicate that symptomatic relief is not a prerequisite for patient satisfaction. The study shows higher patient satisfaction compared to previous studies.
Effectiveness of sofosbuvir‐based regimens in genotype 1 and 2 hepatitis C virus infection in 4026 U.S. Veterans
Authors: Backus L. I. , Belperio P. S. , Shahoumian T. A. , Loomis T. P. , Mole L. A. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryBackgroundReal‐world effectiveness data are needed to inform hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment decisions.AimTo assess sustained virological response (SVR) of sofosbuvir (SOF)‐based regimens in routine medical practice.MethodsObservational, intent‐to‐treat cohort analysis of genotype 1 and 2 HCV‐infected veterans initiating SOF‐based regimens with recommended treatment duration of 12 weeks.ResultsFour thousand and twenty‐six veterans with genotype 1 (N = 3203) and genotype 2 (N = 823) comprise the cohort. SVR rates for genotype 1 were 66.8% for SOF + peginterferon + ribavirin (RBV), 75.3% for SOF + simeprevir (SIM), 74.1% for SOF + SIM + RBV and for genotype 2 were 79.0% for SOF + RBV. Genotype 1 patients were less likely to achieve SVR with BMI ≥30 (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.84, P < 0.001), a history of decompensated liver disease (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36–0.71, P < 0.001), treatment experience (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.48–0.71, P < 0.001), APRI >2 (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.36–0.55, P < 0.001) and with SOF + PEG + RBV compared with SOF + SIM (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.40–0.62, P < 0.001). Age, sex, race/ethnicity, diabetes and genotype subtype did not predict SVR. Odds of achieving SVR with SOF + SIM + RBV did not differ compared with SOF + SIM (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.75–1.44, P = 0.86). Genotype 2 patients were less likely to achieve SVR with prior treatment experience (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35–0.88, P = 0.009) and APRI >2 (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.62, P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn this real‐world cohort, SVR rates were lower than in clinical trials. Genotype 1 and 2 HCV‐infected patients with advanced liver disease by APRI >2 or FIB‐4 > 3.25 were significantly less likely to achieve SVR. For genotype 1, a SOF + SIM ± RBV regimen was associated with a higher likelihood of SVR.
Trends in survival of multiple myeloma patients in Germany and the United States in the first decade of the 21st century
Authors: Pulte Dianne , Jansen Lina , Castro Felipe A. , Emrich Katharina , Katalinic Alexander , Holleczek Bernd , Brenner Hermann ,   the GEKID Cancer Survival Working Group
Published: June 2015

SummaryMultiple myeloma is a chronic, incurable but highly treatable neoplasm. Recent population‐based studies have shown improvements in survival for patients diagnosed in the early 21st century. Here, we examine trends in survival for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Germany and the United States (US) between 2002 and 2010. Data were extracted from 11 population‐based cancer registries in Germany and from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database in the US. Myeloma patients aged 15–74 years with diagnosis and follow‐up between 1997 and 2010 from Germany and the US were included. Period analysis was employed to assess trends in 5‐year relative survival in Germany and the US between 2002–04 and 2008–10. Age‐adjusted 5‐year relative survival increased from 47·3% to 53·8% in Germany and from 39·8% to 53·2% in the US between 2002–04 and 2008–10. There was a strong age gradient with lower survival among older patients, which persisted over time and was more pronounced in Germany than the US. Five‐year relative survival estimates for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma below 75 years of age steadily increased throughout the first decade of the 21st century and reached levels above 50% in both Germany and the US, probably reflecting the increased use of newer agents in myeloma treatment.
Optimum position of left adrenal vein sampling for subtype diagnosis in primary aldosteronism
Authors: Umakoshi Hironobu , Wada Norio , Ichijo Takamasa , Kamemura Kohei , Matsuda Yuichi , Fuji Yuichi , Kai Tatsuya , Fukuoka Tomikazu , Sakamoto Ryuichi , Ogo Atsushi , Suzuki Tomoko , Tsuiki Mika , Naruse Mitsuhide ,   WAVES‐J Study Group
Published: June 2015

SummaryContextAlthough adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the standard method for subtype diagnosis in primary aldosteronism (PA), protocol details including the sampling position in the adrenal vein are not standardized.ObjectiveTo establish the optimum sampling position in the left adrenal vein based on postoperative outcome in PA patients.Design and SettingRetrospective study in nine referral centres.ParticipantsOf 496 consecutive PA patients who underwent AVS between 2006 and 2013, 217 with successful AVS under cosyntropin stimulation, and with concomitant data from two positions: proximal (common trunk) and distal (central vein) to the junction with the inferior phrenic vein, were included.Main outcome measuresDiscordant rate of subtype diagnosis between common trunk and central vein, and postoperative outcomes in patients with discordant results.ResultsSubtype diagnosis using common trunk and central vein was discordant in 10 (4·6%) of the 217 patients (κ = 0·87, P < 0·05). Of these 10 patients, eight with left unilateral subtype and two with bilateral subtype using common trunk data showed bilateral subtype and unilateral subtype, respectively, using central vein data. Five patients with left unilateral subtype and one with bilateral subtype by common trunk data underwent unilateral adrenalectomy. All six patients were cured of PA after adrenalectomy, resulting in false‐negative rates of 17% (1/6) by common trunk data, and 83% (5/6) by central vein data.ConclusionIn view of its better potential diagnostic accuracy, technical ease, lower cost and lower risk of vein rupture, blood sampling from the common trunk of the left adrenal vein may be preferable as the standard method of AVS in patients with PA, although additional studies in a larger number of cases are required.
Local manifold learning for multiatlas segmentation: application to hippocampal segmentation in healthy population and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Li Xin‐Wei , Li Qiong‐Ling , Li Shu‐Yu , Li De‐Yu ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: June 2015

SummaryAimsAutomated hippocampal segmentation is an important issue in many neuroscience studies.MethodsWe presented and evaluated a novel segmentation method that utilized a manifold learning technique under the multiatlas‐based segmentation scenario. A manifold representation of local patches for each voxel was achieved by applying an Isomap algorithm, which can then be used to obtain spatially local weights of atlases for label fusion. The obtained atlas weights potentially depended on all pairwise similarities of the population, which is in contrast to most existing label fusion methods that only rely on similarities between the target image and the atlases. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated for hippocampal segmentation and compared with two representative local weighted label fusion methods, that is, local majority voting and local weighted inverse distance voting, on an in‐house dataset of 28 healthy adolescents (age range: 10–17 years) and two ADNI datasets of 100 participants (age range: 60–89 years). We also implemented hippocampal volumetric analysis and evaluated segmentation performance using atlases from a different dataset.ResultsThe median Dice similarities obtained by our proposed method were approximately 0.90 for healthy subjects and above 0.88 for two mixed diagnostic groups of ADNI subjects.ConclusionThe experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method could obtain consistent and significant improvements over label fusion strategies that are implemented in the original space.
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and related complications in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 and over in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Tracey M. L. , McHugh S. M. , Buckley C. M. , Canavan R. J. , Fitzgerald A. P. , Kearney P. M. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimTo investigate the prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes and its related complications in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the Republic of Ireland.MethodsCross‐sectional analysis of a population‐based sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the first wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), (2009–2011). Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes prevalence was estimated by self‐report or the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents. The prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications was determined by self‐report.ResultsDiagnosed Type 2 diabetes prevalence was 8.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.8–9.0%] and was higher among men [10.3% (95% CI: 9.4–11.2%)] than women [6.6% (95% CI: 5.9–7.5%)]; P ≤ 0.001. Among participants with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, the overall prevalence of microvascular complications was 26.0% (95% CI: 22.4–30.0%) with no evidence of gender‐specific differences (P = 0.7). The overall prevalence of macrovascular complications was 15.1% (95% CI: 12.2–18.4%) and was higher among men [17.8% (95% CI: 14.3–23.1%)] than women [11.4% (95% CI: 7.7–16.4%)]; P ≤ 0.001.ConclusionsIn the absence of a national diabetes register, these findings provide a robust estimate of the national prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes and level of complications among adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland.
Is onset of lactation delayed in women with diabetes in pregnancy? A systematic review
Authors: De Bortoli J. , Amir L. H. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimTo determine if women with diabetes in pregnancy have a delayed onset of lactation through a systematic review of the literature.MethodsWe searched databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL Plus and PsychINFO for articles assessing diabetes in pregnancy and lactogenesis. Thirty‐one articles were screened and 10 articles were included in the systematic review. We extracted data on diabetes in pregnancy and onset of lactation (secretory activation or lactogenesis II).ResultsThe 10 studies examining the association between women with diabetes in pregnancy and delayed onset of lactation reported a significant delay in women with diabetes compared with women without diabetes. Two studies assessed the impact of metabolic control on lactogenesis, and found an association between poorer metabolic control and delayed onset of lactation.ConclusionsAlthough this review has found evidence of an association between women experiencing diabetes during pregnancy and delayed onset of lactation, the presence of many potential confounding factors need to be acknowledged.
A national follow‐up survey of UK graduates opinion of undergraduate oral surgery teaching
Authors: Macluskey M. , Shepherd S. , Carter E. , Bulsara Y. , Durham J. A. , Bell A. , Dargue A. , Emanuel C. , Freeman C. , Jones J. , Khawaja N. , Leeson R. , Marley J. , Andiappan M. , Millsopp L. , Nayyer N. , Renton T. , Taylor K. , Thomson P. , Toedtling V. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionA national follow‐up survey was undertaken to determine whether dental graduates from 2009 perceived that their undergraduate oral surgery education had equipped them for general dental practice 4 years after graduating.Materials and MethodsGraduates from the same 13 United Kingdom dental schools who had taken part in the original survey were invited to take part in this follow‐up online survey. Their contact details were identified via the general dental council register, social media and alumni groups.ResultsIn total, 161 responded (2009b) which represents 16% of the graduates of the original survey in 2009a. A similar percentage of these respondents perceived that the teaching in oral surgery had given them sufficient knowledge to undertake independent practice (83% and 79% in 2009a and 2009b, respectively). Most respondents (99% in both years) reported confidence in undertaking simple forceps exodontia. Confidence in surgical exodontia was poor in both surveys, but one area that appeared improved in the follow‐up related to the sectioning of teeth (84% in 2009b compared with 49% in 2009a). Areas of weakness identified in 2009 were reported to be improved in the follow‐up.ConclusionThis follow‐up survey supports the findings of the original survey. Future longitudinal studies would allow institutions to identify possible weaknesses in their curriculum and to track the career development of their graduates and facilitate robust data collection.
Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma: Therapeutic implications based on stem cell biology
Authors: Chiba Tetsuhiro , Iwama Atsushi , Yokosuka Osamu 
Published: June 2015

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Despite advances in its diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of patients with advanced HCC remains unfavorable. Recent advances in stem cell biology and associated technologies have enabled the identification of minor components of tumorigenic cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSC) or tumor‐initiating cells, in cancers such as HCC. Furthermore, because CSC play a central role in tumor development, metastasis and recurrence, they are considered to be a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. Hepatic CSC have been successfully identified using functional and cell surface markers. The analysis of purified hepatic CSC has revealed the molecular machinery and signaling pathways involved in their maintenance. In addition, epigenetic transcriptional regulation has been shown to be important in the development and maintenance of CSC. Although inhibitors of CSC show promise as CSC‐targeting drugs, novel therapeutic approaches for the eradication of CSC are yet to be established. In this review, we describe recent progress in hepatic CSC research and provide a perspective on the available therapeutic approaches based on stem cell biology.
Marx, Rawls, Cohen, and Feminism
Authors: Casal Paula 
Published: June 2015

Although G. A. Cohen's work on Marx was flawed by a lack of gender‐awareness, his work on Rawls owes much of its success to feminist inspiration. Cohen appeals effectively to feminism to rebut the basic structure objection to his egalitarian ethos, and could now appeal to feminism in response to Andrew Williams's publicity objection to this ethos. The article argues that Williams's objection is insufficient to rebut Cohen's ethos, inapplicable to variants of this ethos, and in conflict with plausible gender‐egalitarian ethoses. The article also advocates an understanding of basic structuralism and publicity consistent with feminism, and argues that Rawlsians need not reject plausible domestic egalitarian ethoses on either publicity or liberty grounds.To Michèle, G. A. Cohen's Harriet Taylor
Rapid response teams in adult hospitals: time for another look?
Authors: White K. , Scott I. A. , Vaux A. , Sullivan C. M. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractRapid response teams (RRT), alternatively termed medical emergency teams, have become part of the clinical landscape in the majority of adult hospitals throughout Australia and New Zealand. These teams aim to bring critical care expertise to the bedside of clinically deteriorating patients residing in general hospital wards with the aim of preventing adverse outcomes, in particular death or cardiorespiratory arrests. While the concept of RRT has considerable face validity, there is little high quality evidence of their effectiveness and much uncertainty as to the optimal methods for identifying patients in need of RRT and calling the RRT (afferent limb) and how, and with whom, the RRT should then respond (efferent limb). Adverse unintended consequences of RRT systems and the opportunity costs involved in maintaining such systems have not been subject to study, amid concerns RRT may be compensating for other potentially remediable system of care failures. This article presents an overview of the current state of play of RRT in hospital practice as they pertain to the care of adult patients and identifies several issues around their implementation and evaluation that should be subject to further research.
Infants' Acquisition of Grammatical Gender Dependencies
Authors: van Heugten Marieke , Christophe Anne 
Published: June 2015

To successfully understand spoken language, listeners need to determine how words within sentences relate to one another. Although the ability to compute relationships between word categories is known to develop early in life, little research has been conducted on infants' early sensitivity to subcategorical dependencies, such as those evoked by grammatical gender (where the article form is dictated by the noun's gender). This study therefore examines whether French‐learning 18‐month‐olds track such relationships. Using the Visual Fixation Procedure, infants were presented with article–noun sequences in which the gender‐marked article either matched (e.g., laFEM poussetteFEM “the stroller”) or mismatched (e.g., leMASC poussetteFEM) the gender of the noun. A clear preference for correct over incorrect co‐occurrences was observed, suggesting that by 18 months of age, children's storage and access of words is sufficiently sophisticated to include the means to track subcategorical dependencies. This early sensitivity to gender information may be greatly beneficial for constraining lexical access during online language processing.
Enhanced Piezoelectric Properties of Praseodymium‐Modified Lead‐Free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 Ceramics
Authors: Coondoo Indrani , Panwar Neeraj , Amorín Harvey , Ramana Venkata Eskilla , Algueró Miguel , Kholkin Andrei 
Published: June 2015

The role of Pr6O11 addition on the structure, microstructure, electrical, and electromechanical properties of lead‐free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 piezoelectric ceramics has been systemically investigated. Addition of praseodymium (Pr) results in improved ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. XRD analysis revealed the co‐existence of rhombohedral (R) and tetragonal (T) phases at room temperature. High remanent polarization values (2Pr ~17 μC/cm2) and loop squareness of nearly 0.87 were obtained for the BCZT‐0.04 wt%Pr ceramic, along with high piezoelectric coefficient (d33 = 435 pC/N) and transduction coefficient [(d33·g33) = 11589 × 10−15 m2/N]. Results are correlated with the crystal structure and microstructure that significantly influence the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties near the R–T phase transition point. This material seems to be especially suitable for energy harvesting applications, exhibiting outstanding figure of merit.