bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during a prolonged wildfire period and emergency department visits for asthma
Authors: Haikerwal Anjali , Akram Muhammad , Sim Malcolm R. , Meyer Mick , Abramson Michael J. , Dennekamp Martine 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe 2006–2007 wildfire period was one of the most extensive and long lasting fires in Australian history with high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Large populations were exposed to smoke for over 2 months. The study aimed to investigate the association between wildfire‐related PM2.5 exposure and emergency department (ED) visits for asthma.MethodsA time‐stratified case‐crossover design was used to investigate associations between daily average PM2.5 and ED attendances for asthma from December 2006 to January 2007. ED data were obtained from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset. Smoke dispersion during the wildfire event was modelled using a validated chemical transport model. Exposure data (daily average PM2.5, temperature and relative humidity) were modelled for the study period. Various lag periods were investigated.ResultsThere were 2047 ED attendances for asthma during the study period. After adjusting for temperature and relative humidity, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 levels of 8.6 μg/m3 was associated with an increase in ED attendances for asthma by 1.96% (95%CI: 0.02, 3.94) on the day of exposure. Lag periods up to 2 days prior did not show any association. A strong association was observed among women 20 years and older (5.08% 95%CI: 1.76, 8.51).ConclusionsWildfire‐related PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of ED attendance for asthma during the wildfire event. It is important to understand the role of wildfire PM2.5 as a trigger for asthma presentations.
Soil organic carbon and microbial communities respond to vineyard management
Authors: Zehetner F. , Djukic I. , Hofmann R. , Kühnen L. , Rampazzo‐Todorovic G. , Gerzabek M. H. , Soja G. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe farming practices in vineyards vary widely, but how does this affect vineyard soils? The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of vineyard management practices on soil organic matter and the soil microbial community. To this end, we investigated three adjacent vineyards in the Traisen valley, Austria, of which the soils had developed on the same parent material and under identical environmental/site conditions but were managed differently (esp. tillage, fertilizer application, cover crops) for more than 10 yrs. We found that topsoil bulk density (BD) decreased with increasing tillage intensity, while subsoil BD showed the opposite trend. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in 0–50 cm depth increased from 10 kg m−2 in an unfertilized and frequently tilled vineyard to 17 kg m−2 in a regularly fertilized but less intensively tilled vineyard. Topsoil microbial biomass per unit SOC, estimated by the sum of microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), followed this trend, albeit not statistically significantly. Principal component analysis of PLFA patterns revealed that the microbial communities were compositionally distinct between different management practices. The fungal PLFA marker 18:2ω6,9 was highest in the vineyard with the lowest amount of extractable Cu (by 0.01 m CaCl2), and the bacterial‐to‐fungal biomass ratio was positively correlated with extractable Cu. Our results indicate that tillage and fertilizer application of vineyards can strongly affect vineyard soil properties such as BD and SOC stocks and that the application of Cu‐based fungicides may impair soil fungal communities.
Systemic neosporosis in a dog treated for immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia
Authors: Magaña Angie , Sánchez Félix , Villa Karina , Rivera Liliana , Morales Elizabeth 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA 4‐year‐old male Toy Poodle was presented to the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Autonomous University of Mexico (FMVZ,UNAM) because of depression, lethargy, and hemorrhages involving several areas of the skin and around the eyes. Hematology data and a bone marrow analysis suggested hemolytic anemia and immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia. The dog was treated with prednisone, and after one month the hematology variables improved. However, the dog's clinical condition inexplicably worsened and it was euthanized. On necropsy, there were no relevant findings. However, in histology, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic meningoencephalitis and necrosis, and a protozoan cyst in the cerebellum were identified. In addition, moderate multifocal lymphoplasmacytic and necrotizing pancreatitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, and diffuse lymphoplasmacytic enteritis were observed. Immunohistochemistry of the cerebellum, liver, pancreas, and intestine with a specific antibody againstNeospora caninumconfirmed the diagnosis of systemic neosporosis. The systemic neosporosis in this dog was most likely caused by reactivation of latent parasites due to prednisone administration during the one month of treatment. It should be kept in mind that in dogs being treated with immunosuppressants for immune‐mediated conditions, opportunistic parasites, such asToxoplasma gondiiandN caninum, can be reactivated from a latent state, as it probably happened in the present case.
Reliability of the Lactate Scout point‐of‐care instrument for the determination of blood l‐lactate concentration in sheep
Authors: Kaynar Ozgur , Karapinar Tolga , Hayirli Armagan , Baydar Ersoy 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundData on accuracy and precision of the Lactate Scout point‐of‐care (POC) analyzer in ovine medicine are lacking.ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of the Lactate Scout in sheep.Materials and MethodsFifty‐seven sheep at varying ages with various diseases were included. Blood lactate concentration in samples collected from the jugular vein was measured immediately on the Lactate Scout. Plasma l‐lactate concentration was measured by the Cobas autoanalyzer as the reference method. Data were subjected to Student's t‐test, Passing–Bablok regression, and Bland–Altman plot analyses for comparison and assessment of accuracy, precision, and reliability.ResultsPlasma l‐lactate concentration was consistently lower than blood l‐lactate concentration (3.06 ± 0.24 vs 3.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L, P < .0001). There was a positive correlation between plasma and blood l‐lactate concentrations (r = .98, P < .0001). The Lactate Scout had 99% accuracy and 98% precision with the reference method. Blood (Y) and plasma (X) l‐lactate concentrations were fitted to Y = 0.28 + 1.00 · X, with a residual standard deviation of 0.31 and a negligible deviation from the identity line (P = .93). The bias was fitted to Y = 0.10 + 0.05 · X, with Sy.x of 0.44 (P < .07).ConclusionsThe Lactate Scout has high accuracy and precision, with a negligible bias. It is a reliable POC analyzer to assess l‐lactate concentration in ovine medicine.
Comparison of FEDESI and SCORFAD scoring systems for the evaluation of skin lesions in allergic cats
Authors: Noli Chiara , Cena Tiziana 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundFeline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (FeDESI) and Scoring Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD) are two different scoring systems for the evaluation of feline allergic dermatitis.ObjectivesTo evaluate the correlation between FeDESI and SCORFAD and pruritus.Animals and methodsThe dermatological lesions of 32 cats affected by feline allergic dermatitis were evaluated with both FeDESI and SCORFAD before treatment and once monthly during treatment where ciclosporin was administered at 7 mg/kg orally once daily for 1 month then tapered, when possible, in the subsequent 2 months. Pruritus was scored by pet owners with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Correlation between scores at Visit 1, and between absolute and percentage score improvements at visits 1, 2 and 3, were analysed statistically using a nonparametric Spearman's rank correlation test.ResultsCorrelation between FeDESI, SCORFAD and VAS pruritus scores at baseline was low and nonsignificant for all combinations. The correlation of absolute score improvement was moderate and significant only between FeDESI and VAS pruritus at Visit 3. Correlation of improvement percentage was moderate and significant between FeDESI and SCORFAD and between FeDESI and VAS pruritus at Visit 2, whereas at visits 3 and 4 it was high and significant for each combination.ConclusionOnly improvement percentage of FeDESI and SCORFAD scores seem to correlate well. SCORFAD is the only scoring system to have been validated, although it seems to correlate less with pruritus and may be more difficult to use than FeDESI. The latter could thus be more appropriate for use, but further studies are needed especially in regard to its validation.
Inpatient HbA1c testing: a prospective observational study
Authors: Nanayakkara Natalie , Nguyen Hang , Churilov Leonid , Kong Alvin , Pang Nyuk , Hart Graeme K , Owen-Jones Elizabeth , White Jennifer , Ross Jane , Stevenson Victoria , Bellomo Rinaldo , Lam Que , Crinis Nicholas , Robbins Raymond , Johnson Doug , Baker Scott T , Zajac Jeffrey D , Ekinci Elif I 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo use admission inpatient glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing to help investigate the prevalence of unrecognized diabetes, the cumulative prevalence of unrecognized and known diabetes, and the prevalence of poor glycemic control in both. Moreover, we aimed to determine the 6-month outcomes for these patients. Finally, we aimed to assess the independent association of diabetes with these outcomes.Research, design, and methodsProspective observational cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia.PatientsA cohort of 5082 inpatients ≥54 years admitted between July 2013 and January 2014 underwent HbA1c measurement. A previous diagnosis of diabetes was obtained from the hospital medical record. Patient follow-up was extended to 6 months.ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes (known and unrecognized) was 34%. In particular, we identified that unrecognized but HbA1c-confirmed diabetes in 271 (5%, 95% CI 4.7% to 6.0%) patients, previously known diabetes in 1452 (29%, 95% CI 27.3% to 29.8%) patients; no diabetes in 3359 (66%, 95% CI 64.8–67.4%) patients. Overall 17% (95% CI 15.3% to 18.9%) of patients with an HbA1c of >6.5% had an HbA1c ≥8.5%. After adjusting for age, gender, Charlson Index score, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and hemoglobin levels, with admission unit treated as a random effect, patients with previously known diabetes had lower 6-month mortality (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.87, p=0.001). However, there were no significant differences in proportions of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation or readmission within 6 months between the 3 groups.ConclusionsApproximately one-third of all inpatients ≥54 years of age admitted to hospital have diabetes of which about 1 in 6 was previously unrecognized. Moreover, poor glycemic control was common. Proportions of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, or readmission were similar between the groups. Finally, diabetes was independently associated with lower 6-month mortality.
Do specific parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy associate with physical activity and screen time among primary schoolchildren? A cross-sectional study in Belgium
Authors: De Lepeleere Sara , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Cardon Greet , Verloigne Maïté 
Published: September 2015

ObjectivesTo assess the association between specific parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy with children's physical activity (PA) and screen time. Parental body mass index (BMI), family socioeconomic status (SES), and child's age and gender were examined as possible influencing factors.DesignCross-sectional.SettingJanuary 2014, Flanders (Belgium).Participants207 parents (87.4% mothers) of children aged 6–12 years.Outcome measuresSpecific parenting practices, related parental self-efficacy, and children's PA and screen time.ResultsThe majority of investigated parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy were not significantly associated with children's PA or screen time. However, children were more physically active if sports equipment was available at home (p<0.10) and if parents did not find it difficult to motivate their child to be physically active (p<0.05). Children had a lower screen time if parents limited their own gaming (p<0.01). The associations between parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy with children's PA or screen time were significant for parents with a normal BMI, for medium-high SES families and for parents of younger children. Furthermore, the association between the parenting relating factors and children's PA and screen time differed for boys and girls.ConclusionsIn contrast to what we expected, the findings of the current study show that only a very few specific parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy were associated with children's PA and screen time. It was expected that parental self-efficacy would play a more important role. This can be due to the fact that parental self-efficacy was already high in this group of parents. Therefore, it is possible that parents do not realise how difficult it is to perform certain parenting practices until they are faced with it in an intervention.Trial registration numberEC/2012/317.
Rapid HIV antibody testing among men who have sex with men who visited a gay bathhouse in Hangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ma Qiaoqin , Xia Shichang , Pan Xiaohong , Cai Gaofeng , Zhou Xin , Wang Hui , Peng Zhihang 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo understand the prevalence and correlates of rapid HIV antibody testing (RHT) among men who have sex with men (MSM) clients of gay bathhouses.DesignCross-sectional questionnaire survey.SettingThis study was conducted in a gay bathhouse in Hangzhou, China.Participants354 MSM were validly recruited from October to December 2012. Inclusion criteria were (1) men who visited the gay bathhouse, (2) men who had engaged in sex with men during the previous 6 months, (3) first-time participants in this survey and (4) men who were HIV-negative if already tested.MeasuresSociodemographic measures included factors related to sexual behaviour and HIV risk perception, and the scales of HIV-related knowledge and behavioural intervention that each participant received.ResultsOf the 354 participants, 222 (62.7%) were rapid tested during the previous 6 months; of them, 66.2% were tested at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), and 46.8% at gay venues. The following factors were independently associated with rapid testing within the previous 6 months: sexual initiation at 20–29 years of age, ever having undergone standard testing, ever having seen a sexually transmitted disease doctor, consistent use of condom during the past 6 months, familiarity with RHT and perception of possible HIV infection.ConclusionsPublicity of RHT and risk education for HIV infection are necessary to promote RHT among MSM who visit gay bathhouses. The characteristics of sexual behaviours among those who do and do not undergo RHT should be taken into consideration while promoting the service in this group.
The Horsens-Aarhus Femoro Acetabular Impingement (HAFAI) cohort: outcome of arthroscopic treatment for femoroacetabular impingement. Protocol for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kierkegaard Signe , Lund Bent , Dalgas Ulrik , Sørensen Henrik , Søballe Kjeld , Mechlenburg Inger 
Published: September 2015

IntroductionDuring the past decade, it has become increasingly more common to offer hip arthroscopic surgery when treating people with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Nevertheless, the latest reviews conclude that it still remains to be properly investigated how surgery affects the patients. Specifically, detailed information on the functional, muscular and mechanical impact of surgery in larger groups is lacking. Furthermore, the long-term outcome of the surgery is still to be investigated.Methods and analysisIn this prospective cohort study, a total of 60 patients with FAI scheduled for arthroscopic surgery will be followed and tested preoperatively, and again after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Assessment includes isokinetic dynamometry evaluating hip flexion and extension; evaluation of functional capacity in a three-dimensional motion laboratory; pain assessment; self-reported function, quality of life, expectation and satisfaction with the surgery; recording of previous and present sporting activities and accelerometry. In addition, data on surgical procedure, rehabilitation progress, adverse events and failure will be recorded. Patients will be compared with an age-matched and gender-matched reference group of 30 persons with no hip, knee, ankle or back problems. Long-term follow-up of this cohort may evaluate possible reoperations and development of hip osteoarthritis. Furthermore, analysis on how subgroups respond to the treatment could be performed together with identification of possible “non-responders”.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the Central Denmark Region Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics (Journal No 1-10-72-239-14). The results from this study will be presented at national and international congresses and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT02306525.
Effectiveness of peri-abortion counselling in preventing subsequent unplanned pregnancy: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Stewart Hannah , McCall Stephen J , McPherson Calum , Towers Lucinda C , Lloyd Bethany , Fletcher Jack , Bhattacharya Sohinee 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis assessed whether enhanced peri-abortion contraceptive counselling had an effect on subsequent unplanned pregnancies and the uptake and continuation of contraceptive methods.Methods and materialsA systematic review of English-language articles published prior to May 2014 was conducted, using MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving enhanced pre- and post-abortion contraceptive counselling were included. The authors independently applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria to the identified records, and extracted data from each included paper using a predefined extraction form. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Meta-analyses were undertaken where appropriate and based on random effects models.ResultsSix RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Three RCTs investigated the effect of enhanced counselling on subsequent unplanned pregnancy. The results of the meta-analysis were non-significant [pooled odds ratio (OR) 0.47; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.12–1.90]. Four RCTs reported results relating to the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and continuation of chosen method of contraception at 3 months. Findings were non-significant (pooled OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.20–5.69 and pooled OR 3.22; 95% CI 0.85–12.22, respectively).ConclusionsThis review found no evidence of effect resulting from enhanced peri-abortion contraceptive counselling on subsequent unplanned pregnancy rate or the uptake of LARC. However, these findings are limited by the small number of relevant studies available and the marked heterogeneity between published studies. Further, larger-scale RCTs should be undertaken to ensure that there is sufficient power to detect an effect.
Metal artifact reduction for flat panel detector intravenous CT angiography in patients with intracranial metallic implants after endovascular and surgical treatment
Authors: Pjontek Rastislav , Önenköprülü Belgin , Scholz Bernhard , Kyriakou Yiannis , Schubert Gerrit A , Nikoubashman Omid , Othman Ahmed , Wiesmann Martin , Brockmann Marc A 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundFlat panel detector CT angiography with intravenous contrast agent injection (IV CTA) allows high-resolution imaging of cerebrovascular structures. Artifacts caused by metallic implants like platinum coils or clips lead to degradation of image quality and are a significant problem.ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of a prototype metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm on image quality in patients with intracranial metallic implants.MethodsFlat panel detector CT after intravenous application of 80 mL contrast agent was performed with an angiography system (Artis zee; Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) using a 20 s rotation protocol (200° rotation angle, 20 s acquisition time, 496 projections). The data before and after MAR of 26 patients with a total of 34 implants (coils, clips, stents) were independently evaluated by two blinded neuroradiologists.ResultsMAR improved the assessability of the brain parenchyma and small vessels (diameter <1 mm) in the neighborhood of metallic implants and at a distance of 6 cm (p<0.001 each, Wilcoxon test). Furthermore, MAR significantly improved the assessability of parent vessel patency and potential aneurysm remnants (p<0.005 each, McNemar test). MAR, however, did not improve assessability of stented vessels.ConclusionsWhen an intravenous contrast protocol is used, MAR significantly ameliorates the assessability of brain parenchyma, vessels, and treated aneurysms in patients with intracranial coils or clips.
Resource-Competitive Algorithms
Authors: Bender Michael A. , Fineman Jeremy T. , Movahedi Mahnush , Saia Jared , Dani Varsha , Gilbert Seth , Pettie Seth , Young Maxwell 
Published: September 2015

The point of adversarial analysis is to model the worst-case performance of an algorithm. Unfortunately, this analysis may not always reect performance in practice because the adversarial assumption can be overly pessimistic. In such cases, several techniques have been developed to provide a more refined understanding of how an algorithm performs e.g., competitive analysis, parameterized analysis, and the theory of approximation algorithms.
Here, we describe an analogous technique called resource competitiveness, tailored for distributed systems. Often there is an operational cost for adversarial behavior arising from bandwidth usage, computational power, energy limitations, etc. Modeling this cost provides some notion of how much disruption the adversary can inict on the system. In parameterizing by this cost, we can design an algorithm with the following guarantee: if the adversary pays T, then the additional cost of the algorithm is some function of T.
Resource competitiveness yields results pertaining to secure, fault tolerant, and efficient distributed computation. We summarize these results and highlight future challenges where we expect this algorithmic tool to provide new insights.
Avian deception using an elaborate caudal lure in Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (Serpentes: Viperidae)
Authors: Fathinia Behzad , Rastegar-Pouyani Nasrullah , Rastegar-Pouyani Eskandar , Todehdehghan Fatemeh , Amiri Fathollah 
Published: September 2015

Pseudocerastes urarachnoides is a fascinating viper and as yet has been reported only in western Iran. An elaborated arachnid-like caudal structure is a unique feature of this viper, hence gives it the common name “Iranian spider-tailed viper”. During tail wagging, the structure is reminiscent of a moving spider. Tail movements are used for two different purposes in snakes: defense via tail vibration and hunting via both caudal luring and caudal distraction. Caudal luring in snakes is the wriggling or wagging of the posterior part of tail, in the presence of a potential prey, with conspicuous color pattern while the rest of body is cryptically colored. Previous studies have speculated on the role of caudal structure of P. urarachnoides in hunting. Our 2.5-year study has revealed that development of the structure of the caudal lure is commenced after birth and is linearly correlated to snout-vent length. The caudal lure attracts some species of birds. Caudal luring behavior is carried out both in the presence and absence of birds. The findings are reported for the first time and confirmed by direct observation of undisturbed individuals in the field.