bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of socio‐economic status on breast cancer screening in women with diabetes: a population‐based study
Authors: Chan W. , Yun L. , Austin P. C. , Jaakkimainen R. L. , Booth G. L. , Hux J. , Rochon P. A. , Lipscombe L. L. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsThere is evidence to suggest that mammography rates are decreased in women with diabetes and in women of lower socio‐economic status. Given the strong association between low socio‐economic status and diabetes, we explored the extent to which differences in socio‐economic status explain lower mammography rates in women with diabetes.MethodsA population‐based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada, of women aged 50 to 69 years with diabetes between 1999 and 2010 age matched 1:2 to women without diabetes. Main outcome measure is the likelihood of at least one screening mammogram in women with diabetes within a 36‐month period, starting as of either 1 January 1999, their 50th birthday, or 2 years after diabetes diagnosis – whichever came last. Outcomes were compared with those in women without diabetes during the same period as their matched counterparts, adjusting for socio‐economic status based on neighbourhood income and other demographic and clinical variables.ResultsOf 504 288 women studied (188 759 with diabetes, 315 529 with no diabetes), 63.8% had a screening mammogram. Women with diabetes were significantly less likely to have a mammogram after adjustment for socio‐economic status and other factors (odds ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.78–0.80). Diabetes was associated with lower mammogram use even in women from the highest socio‐economic status quintile (odds ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.75–0.83).ConclusionsThe presence of diabetes was an independent barrier to breast cancer screening, which was not explained by differences in socio‐economic status. Interventions that target patient, provider, and health system factors are needed to improve cancer screening in this population.
Post‐partum weight loss and glucose metabolism in women with gestational diabetes: the DEBI Study
Authors: Ehrlich S. F. , Hedderson M. M. , Quesenberry C. P. , Feng J. , Brown S. D. , Crites Y. , Ferrara A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsWomen with gestational diabetes are at high risk for developing diabetes; post‐partum weight loss may reduce the risk of diabetes. We evaluated the association of post‐partum weight change with changes in glucose, insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in a subsample (n = 72) of participants from Diet Exercise and Breastfeeding Intervention (DEBI), a randomized pilot trial of lifestyle intervention for women with gestational diabetes.MethodsGlucose and insulin were measured fasting and 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test at 6 weeks and 12 months post‐partum. Women were categorized by weight change (lost > 2 kg vs. maintained/gained) between 6 weeks and 12 months post‐partum.ResultsCompared with women who maintained or gained weight, women who lost > 2 kg experienced significantly lower increases in fasting glucose [age‐adjusted means: 0.1 mmol/l (95% CI –0.03 to 0.3) vs. 0.4 mmol/l (95% CI 0.3–0.6); P < 0.01] and 2‐h insulin [10.0 pmol/l (95% CI –56.9 to 76.9) vs. 181.2 pmol/l (95% CI 108.3–506.9); P < 0.01] and a significant reduction in 2‐h glucose [–0.9 mmol/l (95% CI –1.4 to –0.3) vs. 0.3 mmol/l (95% CI –0.3 to 0.9); P < 0.01]. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, Hispanic ethnicity, medication use, meeting the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for gestational weight gain, breastfeeding and randomized group, a 1‐kg increase in weight was significantly associated with increases in fasting and 2‐h glucose (P < 0.05), but was not associated with insulin or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.ConclusionsIn women with gestational diabetes, modest post‐partum weight loss may be associated with improvements in glucose metabolism.
Thermal acclimation of leaf respiration of tropical trees and lianas: response to experimental canopy warming, and consequences for tropical forest carbon balance
Authors: Slot Martijn , Rey‐Sánchez Camilo , Gerber Stefan , Lichstein Jeremy W. , Winter Klaus , Kitajima Kaoru 
Published: March 2014

AbstractClimate warming is expected to increase respiration rates of tropical forest trees and lianas, which may negatively affect the carbon balance of tropical forests. Thermal acclimation could mitigate the expected respiration increase, but the thermal acclimation potential of tropical forests remains largely unknown. In a tropical forest in Panama, we experimentally increased nighttime temperatures of upper canopy leaves of three tree and two liana species by on average 3 °C for 1 week, and quantified temperature responses of leaf dark respiration. Respiration at 25 °C (R25) decreased with increasing leaf temperature, but acclimation did not result in perfect homeostasis of respiration across temperatures. In contrast, Q10of treatment and control leaves exhibited similarly high values (range 2.5–3.0) without evidence of acclimation. The decrease inR25was not caused by respiratory substrate depletion, as warming did not reduce leaf carbohydrate concentration. To evaluate the wider implications of our experimental results, we simulated the carbon cycle of tropical latitudes (24°S–24°N) from 2000 to 2100 using a dynamic global vegetation model (LM3VN) modified to account for acclimation. Acclimation reduced the degree to which respiration increases with climate warming in the model relative to a no‐acclimation scenario, leading to 21% greater increase in net primary productivity and 18% greater increase in biomass carbon storage over the 21st century. We conclude that leaf respiration of tropical forest plants can acclimate to nighttime warming, thereby reducing the magnitude of the positive feedback between climate change and the carbon cycle.
Surface treatment with methyl formate–methyl acetate increased the shear bond strength between reline resins and denture base resin
Authors: Osathananda Rachanee , Wiwatwarrapan Chairat 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundChemical surface treatment increases the shear bond strength (SBS) between hard reline resins (HRRs) and denture base resin.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of methyl formate–methyl acetate (MF‐MA), when used as a surface treatment agent, on the SBS between denture base resin and different HRRs.Materials and MethodsOne hundred and twenty specimens of heat‐polymerised acrylic resin denture base (Meliodent®) were divided into 12 groups. These groups comprised denture base relined with three self‐polymerised HRRs [Unifast trad® (UT), Tokuyama® RebaseII Fast (TR), Ufi gel hard®(UG)], and treated with their respective Bonding Agent (BA) or by MF:MA solutions at ratios of 35:65, 25:75, and 15:85 for 15 s. The SBS was measured using a Universal Testing Machine. The data were analysed using two‐way anova and post hoc Tukey's analysis at p < 0.05.ResultsThe highest SBS was in the UT treated with MF:MA at a ratio of 25:75 group, followed by UT treated with MF:MA at ratios of 15:85, 35:65, UT treated with BA, and all UG treated with MF:MA groups. The SBS of the UT treated with MF:MA at a ratio of 25:75 group was significantly higher than those of the groups treated with BA. The SBS of the UG treated with MF:MA groups was significantly higher than control. The TR groups treated with BA or MF:MA groups showed no significant difference in SBS.ConclusionSurface treatment with MF‐MA significantly enhanced the SBS of denture base resin and UT and UG compared to that of the groups treated with BA.
Analysis of patient organizations' needs and ICT use – The APTIC project in Spain to develop an online collaborative social network
Authors: Hernández‐Encuentra Eulàlia , Gómez‐Zúñiga Beni , Guillamón Noemí , Boixadós Mercè , Armayones Manuel 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this first part of the APTIC (Patient Organisations and ICT) project is to design and run an online collaborative social network for paediatric patient organizations (PPOs).ObjectiveTo analyse the needs of PPOs in Spain to identify opportunities to improve health services through the use of ICT.Setting and participantsA convenience sample of staff from 35 PPOs (54.68% response rate) participated in a structured online survey and three focus groups (12 PPOs).ResultsPaediatric patient organizations' major needs are to provide accredited and managed information, increase personal support and assistance and promote joint commitment to health care. Moreover, PPOs believe in the Internet's potential to meet their needs and support their activities. Basic limitations to using the Internet are lack of knowledge and resources.ConclusionThe discussion of the data includes key elements of designing an online collaborative social network and reflections on health services provided.
Reconstruction of full‐thickness defect of the alar rim with a combined advancement chondro‐mucous and bilobed myocutaneous flap
Authors: Otero‐Rivas María Mercedes , González‐Sixto Beatriz , Valladares‐Narganes Luis Miguel , Pérez‐Bustillo Alicia , Rodríguez‐Prieto Manuel Ángel 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe nasal pyramid is frequently affected by nonmelanoma skin cancer. In full thickness defects of the nose, reconstruction of all the layers results in better outcomes.MethodsWe present a case in which the combination of two flaps adequately reconstructs a full thickness defect of the nasal ala.ResultsThe images provide proof of the excellent functional and aesthetic results.ConclusionsOur technique is a simple, one‐stage procedure, with no distant donor site morbidity that achieves good coverage of the internal nasal lining with good external aesthetic result.
AHP and multichoice goal programming integration for course planning
Authors: Kırış Şafak 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCourse planning is one of the important problems in the education systems of universities. The processes cannot continue efficiently without planning, and various interruptions can appear in the system. This way decisions concerning which courses, when, how, and for what purposes should be answered by considering the available resources and stakeholders’ preferences. Besides, universities aiming to be in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) have to adapt their systems to the Bologna process in order to create a lifelong student‐centered, learning‐oriented area based on quality assurance. In this study, an integrated approach based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and multichoice goal programming (MCGP) model was proposed to construct an efficient course plan following the Bologna process. The proposed approach was applied in an industrial engineering department.
Assessment of Alternative Methods for Statistically Downscaling Daily GCM Precipitation Outputs to Simulate Regional Streamflow
Authors: Hwang Syewoon , Graham Wendy D. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis study applied three statistical downscaling methods: (1) bias correction and spatial disaggregation at daily time scale (BCSD_daily); (2) a modified version ofBCSDwhich reverses the order of spatial disaggregation and bias correction (SDBC), and (3) the bias correction and stochastic analog method (BCSA) to downscale general circulation model daily precipitation outputs to the subbasin scale for west‐centralFlorida. Each downscaled climate input dataset was then used in an integrated hydrologic model to examine differences in ability to simulate retrospective streamflow characteristics. Results showed theBCSD_daily method consistently underestimated mean streamflow because the highly spatially correlated small precipitation events produced by this method resulted in overestimation of evapotranspiration. Highly spatially correlated large precipitation events produced by theSDBCmethod resulted in overestimation of the standard deviation of wet season daily streamflow and the magnitude/frequency of high streamflow events.BCSAshowed better performance than the other methods in reproducing spatiotemporal statistics of daily precipitation and streamflow. This study demonstrated differences in statistical downscaling techniques propagate into significant differences in streamflow predictions, and underscores the need to carefully select a downscaling method that reproduces precipitation characteristics important for the hydrologic system under consideration.
Testing the ability of topoclimatic grids of extreme temperatures to explain the distribution of the endangered brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale penicillata)
Authors: Ashcroft Michael B. , Cavanagh Mike , Eldridge Mark D. B. , Gollan John R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimMany species are susceptible to climatic extremes, yet few fine‐scale studies consider the factors that determine the distribution of extreme temperatures at landscape and regional scales. These factors include cold air drainage, canopy cover and topographical exposure to winds and radiation. We used the brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) to test whether innovative topoclimatic grids of extreme temperatures are an important predictor of regional‐scale species distributions.LocationHunter Valley region, New South Wales, Australia (31.2–33.4° S, 148.6–153.0° E).MethodsWe modelled the regional distributions of rock‐wallaby observations and colonies using topoclimatic, macroclimatic, topographical and habitat factors. We employed a randomization procedure to reduce spatial clustering of records and divide the data into 10 different training and testing datasets. Models were assessed using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) on the training datasets, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) on the test datasets, and the consistency of the response curves. We compared multiple univariate and multivariate models, rather than producing one ‘true’ model, to examine the evidence that different environmental factors consistently influenced the distribution of rock‐wallabies.ResultsThe environmental factors that were consistently strongest at explaining the distribution of rock‐wallabies were the topoclimatic estimate of extreme cold, the macroclimatic estimate of annual precipitation, and the amount of cleared land within 1600 m. Rock‐wallaby colonies were in areas where minimum temperatures were high, rainfall was low, and there was a low proportion of cleared land. Topographical surrogates performed well in univariate models but poorly in multivariate models.Main conclusionsWe have shown that topoclimatic maps of extreme conditions have the potential to model the regional distributions of at least some species better than indirect surrogates based on topography or macroclimate. Topoclimatic grids are an important tool for regional conservation planning, but practitioners need to place more emphasis on the derivation and accuracy of the climate grids, not just the spatial resolution.
The Impact of Catheter Ablation in the Interpulmonary Isthmus on Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcomes: A Randomized Study
Authors: LETSAS KONSTANTINOS P. , EFREMIDIS MICHAEL , VLACHOS KONSTANTINOS , KARLIS DIMITRIOS , LIONI LOUIZA , ASVESTAS DIMITRIOS , VALKANAS KOSMAS , MIHAS CONSTANTINOS C. , SIDERIS ANTONIOS 
Published: March 2014

Catheter Ablation in the Interpulmonary IsthmusIntroductionPrevious studies have underscored the importance of the interpulmonary isthmus in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The efficacy of additional radiofrequency energy delivery in the interpulmonary isthmus following pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVAI) was investigated.Methods and ResultsA total of 76 patients (49 males, mean age 56.8 ± 10.3) with drug‐resistant paroxysmal (n = 64) and short‐lasting persistent AF (n = 12) underwent PVAI. Patients were then randomly assigned to receive either “no further ablation” (group I, n = 38) or additional lesions in the interpulmonary isthmus of both ipsilateral pulmonary veins (group II, n = 38). There were no significant differences between study groups regarding the clinical and echocardiographic data. A trend towards a longer fluoroscopy time was observed in group II (P = 0.076). After a mean follow‐up period of 11.1 ± 2.6 months, 22 patients in group I (57.9%) and 25 patients in group II (65.8%) were free from arrhythmia recurrence without any antiarrhythmic drug treatment after a single ablation procedure. The Kaplan–Meier arrhythmia‐free survival curves showed no significant differences between study groups (P = 0.460).ConclusionsAdditional lesions in the interpulmonary isthmus following PVAI do not have incremental value in preventing AF recurrence.
MR‐guided laser‐induced thermotherapy (LITT) in patients with liver metastases of uveal melanoma
Authors: Eichler K. , Zangos S. , Gruber‐Rouh T. , Vogl T.J. , Mack M.G. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPurposeEvaluation of the local tumour control rate and survival data for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–guided laser ablation of uveal malignant melanoma liver metastases by using laser‐induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT).Materials and methodsThe LITT was performed in 18 patients with liver metastases (n = 44) from uveal malignant melanoma. All patients tolerated this intervention well. With the Kaplan–Meier method, the survival rates were calculated. Indications for the procedure were defined for patients with no more than five metastases, none of which were larger than 5 cm in diameter: The Indication for LITT treatment were recurrent liver metastases after partial liver resection (22%), locally non‐resectable tumours (17%) or metastases in both liver lobes (61%).ResultsThe mean survival rate for all treated patients was 3.6 years (95% CI: 2.19, 5.06). We started the calculation on the date of diagnosis of the metastases treated with LITT. The median survival was 1.83 years; 1‐year survival, 88%; 3‐year survival 47%, 5‐year survival 17%. Calculated after the first LITT treatment the median survival was 2.8 years (95% CI: 1.0, 5.0). 10 patients were treated by transarterial chemoembolization before LITT.ConclusionMR‐guided LITT treatment shows a high local tumour control and survival rates in patients with liver metastases of uveal malignant melanoma.
Fibre‐optical microendoscopy
Authors: GU M. , BAO H. , KANG H. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryMicroendoscopy has been an essential tool in exploring micro/nano mechanisms in vivo due to high‐quality imaging performance, compact size and flexible movement. The investigations into optical fibres, micro‐scanners and miniature lens have boosted efficiencies of remote light delivery to sample site and signal collection. Given the light interaction with materials in the fluorescence imaging regime, this paper reviews two classes of compact microendoscopy based on a single fibre: linear optical microendoscopy and nonlinear optical microendoscopy. Due to the fact that fluorescence occurs only in the focal volume, nonlinear optical microendoscopy can provide stronger optical sectioning ability than linear optical microendoscopy, and is a good candidate for deep tissue imaging. Moreover, one‐photon excited fluorescence microendoscopy as the linear optical microendoscopy suffers from severe photobleaching owing to the linear dependence of photobleaching rate on excitation laser power. On the contrary, nonlinear optical microendoscopy, including two‐photon excited fluorescence microendoscopy and second harmonic generation microendoscopy, has the capability to minimize or avoid the photobleaching effect at a high excitation power and generate high image contrast. The combination of various nonlinear signals gained by the nonlinear optical microendoscopy provides a comprehensive insight into biophenomena in internal organs. Fibre‐optical microendoscopy overcomes physical limitations of traditional microscopy and opens up a new path to achieve early cancer diagnosis and microsurgery in a minimally invasive and localized manner.
Tuberculosis Treatment for Mexican Americans Living on the U.S.–Mexico Border
Authors: Zuñiga Julie Ann , Muñoz Silvia E. , Johnson Mary Zuñiga , Garcia Alexandra 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPurposeThis study produced a rich description of the lived experiences of tuberculosis (TB) treatment among Mexican Americans living in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas.DesignThis qualitative study used phenomenological methodology, guided by Merleau‐Ponty's philosophical framework, particularly his theories on mind–body influence, fabric of relationships, importance of culture, and equilibrium. A purposive sample was recruited through TB clinics in four south Texas border counties: Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy, which make up the LRGV. Interviews from 18 participants—5 women and 13 men—were conducted in the participant's preferred language. Interviews were analyzed for common themes as described by Cohen Kahn and Steeves.FindingsThe majority of interviews were conducted in Spanish. Five themes were discovered: (a) day‐to‐day life during Directly Observed Therapy treatment, (b) signs and symptoms, (c) familismo, (d) living on the border, and (e) stigma.ConclusionsTB treatment can create a high level of patient burden. The participants in TB treatment in the LRGV on the Texas‐Mexico border reported a high level of stigma. Due to this stigma, patients struggled to find a balance between exposure to stigma and the support from family that buoyed them through treatment.Clinical RelevanceThe findings support the importance of addressing stigma and the resulting sense of isolation in patients being treated for TB, perhaps through bolstering support from family and healthcare providers, which is relevant for public health professionals working in regions with high rates of TB.
Power of the Metaphor: Forty Signs on Brain Imaging
Authors: Gocmen Rahsan , Guler Ezgi , Kose Ilgaz Cagatay , Oguz Kader K. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTWe retrospectively reviewed neuroradiology database at our tertiary‐care hospital to search for patients with metaphoric or descriptive signs on brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Only patients who had clinical or pathological definitive diagnosis were included in this review.