bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Asthma and atopic dermatitis are associated with increased risk of clinicalPlasmodium falciparummalaria
Authors: Herrant Magali , Loucoubar Cheikh , Bassène Hubert , Gonçalves Bronner , Boufkhed Sabah , Diene Sarr Fatoumata , Fontanet Arnaud , Tall Adama , Baril Laurence , Mercereau-Puijalon Odile , Mécheri Salaheddine , Sakuntabhai Anavaj , Paul Richard 
Published: July 2013

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of atopy and allergy on the risk of clinical malaria.DesignA clinical and immunological allergy cross-sectional survey in a birth cohort of 175 children from 1 month to 14 years of age followed for up to 15 years in a longitudinal open cohort study of malaria in Senegal. Malaria incidence data were available for 143 of these children (aged 4 months to 14 years of age) for up to 15 years. Mixed-model regression analysis was used to determine the impact of allergy status on malaria incidence, adjusting for age, gender, sickle-cell trait and force of infection.Main outcome measuresAsthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis status, the number of clinicalPlasmodium falciparummalaria episodes since birth and associated parasite density.Results12% of the children were classified as asthmatic and 10% as having atopic dermatitis. These groups had respectively a twofold (OR 2.12 95%; CI 1.46 to 3.08; p=8×10−5) and threefold (OR 3.15; 1.56 to 6.33; p=1.3×10−3) increase in the risk of clinicalP falciparummalaria once older than the age of peak incidence of clinical malaria (3–4 years of age). They also presented with higherP falciparumparasite densities (asthma: mean 105.3 parasites/μL±SE 41.0 vs 51.3±9.7; p=6.2×10−3. Atopic dermatitis: 135.4±70.7 vs 52.3±11.0; p=0.014). There was no effect of allergy on the number of non-malaria clinical presentations. Individuals with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis did not have an increased risk of clinical malaria nor any difference in parasite densities.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that asthma and atopic dermatitis delay the development of clinical immunity toP falciparum. Despite the encouraging decrease in malaria incidence rates in Africa, a significant concern is the extent to which the increase in allergy will exacerbate the burden of malaria. Given the demonstrated antiparasitic effect of antihistamines, administration to atopic children will likely reduce the burden of clinical malaria in these children, increase the efficacy of first-line treatment antimalarials and alleviate the non-infectious consequences of atopy.
Virtual colleagues, virtually colleagues—physicians’ use of Twitter: a population-based observational study
Authors: Brynolf Anne , Johansson Stefan , Appelgren Ester , Lynoe Niels , Edstedt Bonamy Anna-Karin 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveTo investigate potential violations of patient confidentiality or other breaches of medical ethics committed by physicians and medical students active on the social networking site Twitter.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional observational study.SettingThe social networking site Twitter (Swedish-speaking users, n=298819).PopulationPhysicians and medical students (Swedish-speaking users, n=237) active on the social networking site Twitter between July 2007 and March 2012.Main outcome measurePostings that reflect unprofessional behaviour and ethical breaches among physicians and medical students.ResultsIn all, 237 Twitter accounts were established as held by physicians and medical students and a total of 13 780 tweets were analysed by content. In all, 276 (1.9%) tweets were labelled as ‘unprofessional’. Among these, 26 (0.2%) tweets written by 15 (6.3%) physicians and medical students included information that could violate patient privacy. No information on the personal ID number or names was disclosed, but parts of the patient documentation or otherwise specific indicatory information on patients were found. Unprofessional tweets were more common among users writing under a pseudonym and among medical students.ConclusionsIn this study of physicians and medical students on Twitter, we observed potential violations of patient privacy and other breaches of medical ethics. Our findings underline that every physician and medical student has to consider his or her presence on social networking sites. It remains to be investigated if the introduction of social networking site guidelines for medical professionals will improve awareness.
‘Have you seen what is on Facebook?’ The use of social networking software by healthcare professions students
Authors: White Jonathan , Kirwan Paul , Lai Krista , Walton Jennifer , Ross Shelley 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveThe use of social networking software has become ubiquitous in our society. The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes and experiences of healthcare professional students using Facebook at our school, to determine if there is a need for development of policy to assist students in this area.DesignA mixed-methods approach was employed, using semistructured interviews to identify themes which were explored using an online survey. A combination of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis was used for analysis.SettingHealthcare professions education programmes at a large Canadian university.ParticipantsStudents of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dentistry, dental hygiene and medical laboratory Science were invited to participate. 14 participants were interviewed, and 682 participants responded to an online survey; the female:male balance was 3 : 1.Results14 interviews were analysed in-depth, and 682 students responded to the survey (17% response rate). 93% reported current Facebook use. Themes identified included patterns of use and attitudes to friendship, attitudes to online privacy, breaches of professional behaviour on Facebook and attitudes to guidelines relating to Facebook use. A majority considered posting of the following material unprofessional: use of alcohol/drugs, crime, obscenity/nudity/sexual content, patient/client information, criticism of others. 44% reported seeing such material posted by a colleague, and 27% reported posting such material themselves. A majority of participants agreed that guidelines for Facebook use would be beneficial.ConclusionsSocial networking software use, specifically Facebook use, was widespread among healthcare students at our school who responded to our survey. Our results highlight some of the challenges which can accompany the use of this new technology and offer potential insights to help understand the pedagogy and practices of Facebook use in this population, and to help students navigate the dilemmas associated with becoming 21st century healthcare professionals.
An efficient method for analyzing on-chip thermal reliability considering process variations
Authors: Lee Yu-Min , Huang Pei-Yu 
Published: July 2013

This work provides an efficient statistical electrothermal simulator for analyzing on-chip thermal reliability under process variations. Using the collocation-based statistical modeling technique, first, the statistical interpolation polynomial for on-chip temperature distribution can be obtained by performing deterministic electrothermal simulation very few times and by utilizing polynomial interpolation. After that, the proposed simulator not only provides the mean and standard deviation profiles of on-chip temperature distribution, but also innovates the concept of thermal yield profile to statistically characterize the on-chip temperature distribution more precisely, and builds an efficient technique for estimating this figure of merit. Moreover, a mixed-mesh strategy is presented to further enhance the efficiency of the developed statistical electrothermal simulator.
Experimental results demonstrate that (1) the developed statistical electrothermal simulator can obtain accurate approximations with orders of magnitude speedup over the Monte Carlo method; (2) comparing with a well-known cumulative distribution function estimation method, APEX [Li et al. 2004], the developed statistical electrothermal simulator can achieve 215× speedup with better accuracy; (3) the developed mixed-mesh strategy can achieve an order of magnitude faster over our baseline algorithm and still maintain an acceptable accuracy level.
Investigation of Epstein–Barr Virus as a Potential Cause of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in a Prospective Cohort
Authors: De Roos Anneclaire J. , Martínez-Maza Otoniel , Jerome Keith R. , Mirick Dana K. , Kopecky Kenneth J. , Madeleine Margaret M. , Magpantay Larry , Edlefsen Kerstin L. , LaCroix Andrea Z. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackground: We hypothesized that poor control of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, leading to reactivation of the virus, increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the general population of primarily immunocompetent persons.Methods: We conducted a case–control study nested within the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study cohort in which we measured antibodies to EBV antigens [immunoglobulin G (IgG) to viral capsid antigen (VCA), nuclear antigen (EBNA1), and early antigen-diffuse (EA-D)] and EBV DNA load in prediagnostic samples of 491 B-cell NHL cases and 491 controls.Results: We found no association with established EBV infection, based on seropositivity for VCA. Seropositivity for EBNA1 was associated with decreased risk of B-cell NHL, overall [OR = 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3–0.8] and for each of the histologic subtypes examined. Increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related subtypes was observed with higher levels of EBV DNA and antibody to EA-D, both markers reflective of reactivation. These associations were strongest for cases with the shortest time interval between blood draw and diagnosis.Conclusions: In balance, these results do not provide strong evidence of EBV playing a causal role in B-cell NHL in general population women. The associations we observed may reflect increased risk of NHL with underlying immune impairment or could be due to reverse causation.Impact: Further characterization of the subtype-specific association with CLL is warranted. Exclusion of cases with preclinical disease markers (such as monoclonal B-lymphocytosis for CLL) may help rule out reverse causation in future studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(10); 1747–55. ©2013 AACR.
Use of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors after a serious acute coronary event: Risk of coronary events and peptic ulcer bleeding
Authors: Rodríguez Luis , Johansson Saga , Soriano Lucía Cea 
Published: July 2013

SummarySome pharmacokinetic studies have reported that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the activity of clopidogrel, but the results of studies assessing clinical outcomes in patients receiving both drugs are inconsistent. We have therefore carried out a population-based cohort study with nested case–control analysis, in order to evaluate changes in the risk of cardiovascular and peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) events associated with PPI use in patients receiving clopidogrel. A total of 42,542 patients aged 50–84 years in 2000–2007 who survived an acute coronary event were identified in two UK-based primary care databases (The Health Improvement Network and the General Practice Research Database). Individuals were followed up to identify incident cases of non-fatal myocardial infarction/coronary death (n = 2,546) and PUB (n = 194). Controls were frequency matched to cases by age, sex and calendar year. Compared with PPI non-use, current continuous PPI use was not associated with a significant change in risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction/coronary death among current continuous users of clopidogrel monotherapy (relative risk [RR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.47 to 2.36) or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.37) who initiated their antiplatelet therapy shortly after their coronary event. Among patients prescribed DAT at the start date, the RR of PUB events associated with current PPI use initiated at the start date was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.27 to 1.60).
Interpretation of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Combination With Conventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Pletcher Mark J. , Sibley Christopher T. , Pignone Michael , Vittinghoff Eric , Greenland Philip 
Published: July 2013

Background—
The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score predicts coronary heart disease (CHD) events, but methods for interpreting the score in combination with conventional CHD risk factors have not been established.

Methods and Results—
We analyzed CAC scores and CHD risk factor measurements from 6757 black, Chinese, Hispanic, and white men and women aged 45 to 84 years in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). CAC was associated with age, sex, race/ethnicity, and all conventional CHD risk factors. Multivariable models using these factors predicted the presence of CAC (C statistic=0.789) and degree of elevation (16% of variation explained) and can be used to update a “pretest” CHD risk estimate, such as the 10-year Framingham Risk Score, that is based on an individual’s conventional risk factors. In scenarios in which a high CAC score is expected, a moderately elevated CAC score of 50 is reassuring (eg, reducing risk from 10% to 6% in a healthy older white man), but when a low/zero CAC score is expected, even with identical pretest CHD risk, the same CAC score of 50 may be alarmingly high (eg, increasing risk from 10% to 20% in a middle-aged black woman with multiple risk factors). Both the magnitude and direction of the shift in risk varied markedly with pretest CHD risk and with the pattern of risk factors.

Conclusions—
Knowledge of what CAC score to expect for an individual patient, based on their conventional risk factors, may help clinicians decide when to order a CAC test and how to interpret the results.
Backscatter Differential Phase—Estimation and Variability
Authors: Trömel Silke , Kumjian Matthew R. , Ryzhkov Alexander V. , Simmer Clemens , Diederich Malte 
Published: July 2013

AbstractOn the basis of simulations and observations made with polarimetric radars operating at X, C, and S bands, the backscatter differential phase δ has been explored; δ has been identified as an important polarimetric variable that should not be ignored in precipitation estimations that are based on specific differential phase KDP, especially at shorter radar wavelengths. Moreover, δ bears important information about the dominant size of raindrops and wet snowflakes in the melting layer. New methods for estimating δ in rain and in the melting layer are suggested. The method for estimating δ in rain is based on a modified version of the “ZPHI” algorithm and provides reasonably robust estimates of δ and KDP in pure rain except in regions where the total measured differential phase ΦDP behaves erratically, such as areas affected by nonuniform beam filling or low signal-to-noise ratio. The method for estimating δ in the melting layer results in reliable estimates of δ in stratiform precipitation and requires azimuthal averaging of radial profiles of ΦDP at high antenna elevations. Comparisons with large disdrometer datasets collected in Oklahoma and Germany confirm a strong interdependence between δ and differential reflectivity ZDR. Because δ is immune to attenuation, partial beam blockage, and radar miscalibration, the strong correlation between ZDR and δ is of interest for quantitative precipitation estimation: δ and ZDR are differently affected by the particle size distribution (PSD) and thus may complement each other for PSD moment estimation. Furthermore, the magnitude of δ can be utilized as an important calibration parameter for improving microphysical models of the melting layer.
Microphysical Structure of the Marine Boundary Layer under Strong Wind and Sea Spray Formation as Seen from a 2D Explicit Microphysical Model. Part III: Parameterization of Height-Dependent Droplet Size Distribution
Authors: Shpund J. , Zhang J. A. , Pinsky M. , Khain A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis paper completes a series of studies using a 2D hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian model to investigate the effect of sea spray on the thermodynamics and microphysics of the hurricane mixed layer. The evolution of the mixed layer was simulated by mimicking the motion of an air volume (in a Lagrangian sense) toward a tropical cyclone eyewall along a background airflow. During the radial motion, sea surface temperature, pressure, background wind speed, sea spray production rate, and turbulence intensity were altered according to the available observations. Analysis of the interaction between the hurricane mixed layer and the upper layers in terms of entrainment heat and moisture fluxes gives a new insight into the role of sea spray in the thermodynamics and microphysics of the mixed layer. The evaporation of sea spray leads to an increase in the relative humidity by 10%–15% and to a decrease in temperature by about 1–1.5 K, as compared to cases where sea spray is excluded. Sea spray leads to formation of drizzling clouds with the cloud base at the height of about 250 m. Taking the sea spray effect into account provides a good agreement between the thermodynamics of a simulated mixed layer and the observation data.A parameterization of droplet mass and size distributions as functions of height and wind speed is proposed. The horizontally averaged size distributions are approximated by a sum of lognormal distributions. The moments of size distributions and other integral properties are parameterized as functions of 10-m wind speed by means of simple polynomial expressions.
An Examination of Meteorological and Soil Moisture Conditions in the Babocomari River Basin before the Flood Event of 2008
Authors: Zamora Robert J. , Clark Edward P. , Rogers Eric , Ek Michael B. , Lahmers Timothy M. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
The NOAA Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) program has deployed a soil moisture observing network in the Babocomari River basin located in southeastern Arizona. The Babocomari River is a major tributary of the San Pedro River. At 0000 UTC 23 July 2008, the second-highest flow during the period of record was measured just upstream of the location where the Babocomari River joins the main channel of the San Pedro River.
Upper-air and surface meteorological observations and Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite images of integrated water vapor were used to establish the synoptic and mesoscale conditions that existed before the flood occurred. The analysis indicates that a weak Gulf of California surge initiated by Hurricane Fausto transported a warm moist tropical air mass into the lower troposphere over southern Arizona, setting the stage for the intense, deep convection that initiated the flooding on the Babocomari River. Observations of soil moisture and precipitation at five locations in the basin and streamflow measured at two river gauging stations enabled the documentation of the hydrometeorological conditions that existed before the flooding occurred. The observations suggest that soil moisture conditions as a function of depth, the location of semi-impermeable layers of sedimentary rock known as caliche, and the spatial distribution of convective precipitation in the basin confined the flooding to the lower part of the basin. Finally, the HMT soil moisture observations are compared with soil moisture products from the NOAA/NWS/NCEP Noah land surface model.
Availability of essential drugs for managing HIV-related pain and symptoms within 120 PEPFAR-funded health facilities in East Africa: A cross-sectional survey with onsite verification
Authors: Harding Richard , Simms Victoria , Penfold Suzanne , Downing Julia , Powell Richard A , Mwangi-Powell Faith , Namisango Eve , Moreland Scott , Gikaara Nancy , Atieno Mackuline , Kataike Jennifer , Nsubuga Clare , Munene Grace , Banga Geoffrey , Higginson Irene J 
Published: July 2013

Background: World Health Organization’s essential drugs list can control the highly prevalent HIV-related pain and symptoms. Availability of essential medicines directly influences clinicians’ ability to effectively manage distressing manifestations of HIV. Aim: To determine the availability of pain and symptom controlling drugs in East Africa within President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief–funded HIV health care facilities. Design: Directly observed quantitative health facilities’ pharmacy stock review. We measured availability, expiration and stock-outs of specified drugs required for routine HIV management, including the World Health Organization pain ladder. Setting: A stratified random sample in 120 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief–funded HIV care facilities (referral and district hospitals, health posts/centres and home-based care providers) in Kenya and Uganda. Results: Non-opioid analgesics (73%) and co-trimoxazole (64%) were the most commonly available drugs and morphine (7%) the least. Drug availability was higher in hospitals and lower in health centres, health posts and home-based care facilities. Facilities generally did not use minimum stock levels, and stock-outs were frequently reported. The most common drugs had each been out of stock in the past 6 months in 47% of facilities stocking them. When a minimum stock level was defined, probability of a stock-out in the previous 6 months was 32.6%, compared to 45.5% when there was no defined minimum stock level ( χ2 = 5.07, p = 0.024). Conclusion: The data demonstrate poor essential drug availability, particularly analgesia, limited by facility type. The lack of strong opioids, isoniazid and paediatric formulations is concerning. Inadequate drug availability prevents implementation of simple clinical pain and symptom control protocols, causing unnecessary distress. Research is needed to identify supply chain mechanisms that lead to these problems.
Fish bone foreign bodies in the pharynx and upper esophagus: evaluation with 64-slice MDCT
Authors: Park Soyeon , Choi Dae Seob , Shin Hwa Seon , Cho Jae Min , Jeon Kyung Nyeo , Bae Kyung-Soo , Koh Eun Ha , Park Jung Je 
Published: July 2013

Background Fish bone (FB) is one of the common causes of foreign body impaction in the pharynx and esophagus. Purpose To investigate the efficacy of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the evaluation of pharynx and upper esophageal FB foreign bodies. Material and Methods Sixty-six patients with suspected FB foreign body ingestion were examined by plain radiography ( n = 40) and unenhanced MDCT ( n = 66). We analyzed the presence, location, size, shape, and lying position of the foreign bodies. Results On MDCT, 46 foreign bodies were detected. Among them, 45 were confirmed by endoscopy. The sensitivity of MDCT for the detection of foreign bodies was 100%, which was superior to that of the plain radiography (51.7%). The location of the foreign bodies was most common in the upper esophagus ( n = 22, 47.8%), followed by pharyngoesophageal junction ( n = 10, 21.7%), transjunctional ( n = 7, 15.2%), hypopharynx ( n = 5, 10.9%), and oropharynx ( n = 2, 4.3%). Their longest length was 5.3–40.1 mm (mean, 21.3 mm). Thirty-three FBs (71.7%) were linear and 13 (28.3%) were flat in shape. They showed transverse ( n = 23, 50.0%), parallel ( n = 13, 28.3%), and oblique positions ( n = 10, 21.7%) to the long axis of the pharynx and esophagus, respectively. Conclusion MDCT is useful for the evaluation of the pharynx and upper esophageal FB foreign bodies.