bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deferrivibrio essentukiensis sp. nov., gen. nov., a Representative of Deferrivibrionaceae fam. nov., Isolated from the Subsurface Aquifer of Caucasian Mineral Drinking Waters
Authors: Zavarzina D. G. , Prokofeva M. I. , Pikhtereva V. A. , Klyukina A. A. , Maslov A. A. , Merkel A. Yu. , Gavrilov S. N. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe Yessentukskoye deposit of Caucasian mineral waters contains balneologically valuable drinking mineral water, which is extracted from the Upper Cretaceous 1 km subsurface aquifer and is almost unexplored by microbiologists. We have sampled this water via continuously operating production wells, characterized the phylogenetic diversity of its microbial community, and obtained enrichments of thermophilic iron reducers from the source aquifer. From the enrichments, a novel anaerobic thermophilic bacterium, reducing Fe(III) in the mineral ferrihydrite with acetate as the electron donor, was isolated into a pure culture. The novel isolate, designated as strain Es71-Z0220Tbelonging toDeferribacteralesorder, is thermophilic, neutrophilic, halotolerant, motile vibrio. It utilizes synthesized ferrihydrite, fumarate, nitrate or elemental sulfur as the electron acceptors with organic acids as the electron donors. The strain is incapable of soluble Fe(III) complexes reduction and fermentative growth. The draft genome assembly of strain Es71-Z0220Tresulted in 65 contigs with a total size of ca. 2.3 Mb. On the basis of whole-genome phylogenetic reconstruction and physiological characterization, the novel isolate was considered to represent a novel family, genus and species for which the nameDeferrivibrio essentukiensisgen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Genome analysis revealed key determinants of anaerobic respiration and carbon substrate utilization pathways in the organism with peculiarities related to putative Fe(III)-reducing electron transfer chain. Considering the revealed metabolic features ofDeferrivibrio essentukiensis, the involvement of the organism in its subsurface environment in biogeochemical by carbon cycling by coupling the organic matter oxidation with Fe(III) minerals reduction is discussed.
Dexmedetomidine and sleep quality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Oxlund Jakob , Toft Palle , Sörberg Mikael , Knudsen Torben , Jørgen Jennum Poul 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionSleep deprivation, which is a common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU), is associated with delirium and increased mortality. Sedation with gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists (propofol, benzodiazepine) results in significant disturbance of the sleep architecture. Dexmedetomidine is a lipophilic imidazole with an affinity for α2-adrenoceptors and it has sedative and analgesic properties. It has been reported to enhance sleep efficiency, thus sedate while preserving sleep architecture.Methods and analysisThirty consecutive patients are planned to be included, at the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at the Hospital of Southwest Jutland, Denmark. The study is a double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial with two parallel groups (2:1 allocation ratio). Screening and inclusion will be done on day 1 from 8:00 to 16:00. Two 16 hours PSG (polysomnography) recording will be done starting at 16:00 on day 1 and day 2. Randomisation is performed if the first recording is of acceptable quality, otherwise the patient is excluded before randomisation. Dexmedetomidine/placebo will be administered during the second recording from 18:00 on day 2 to 6:00 on day 3.Primary endpointImprovement of total sleep time and sleep quality of clinical significance determined by PSG.Secondary endpointsSleep phases determined by PSG. Daytime function and delirium determined by Confusion Assessment Method-ICU. Alertness and wakefulness determined by Richmonde Agitation Sedation Scale. The objective is to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine versus placebo on sleep quality in critical ill mechanically ventilated patients.Ethics and disseminationThe trial investigate the potential benefit of dexmedetomidine on clinically relevant endpoints. If a beneficial effect is shown, this would have a large impact on future treatment of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. Publication in peer-reviewed journal are plannedand the study has been approved by the National Committee on Health Research Ethics (ID:S-20180214).Trial registration numberEudraCT (2017-001612-11DK) and Danish National Committee on Health Research Ethics (ID:S-20180214). The study related to pre-results.
Treatment decision making (TDM): a qualitative study exploring the perspectives of patients with chronic haematological cancers
Authors: McCaughan Dorothy , Roman Eve , Smith Alexandra , Patmore Russell , Howell Debra 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesHaematological malignancies are the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with chronic subtypes comprising around a third of all new diagnoses. These complex diseases have some similarities with other cancers, but often require different management. Surgical resection is not possible, and while some are curable with intensive chemotherapy, most indolent subtypes are managed with non-aggressive intermittent or continuous treatment, often over many years. Little is known about the views of patients with chronic haematological cancers regarding treatment decision making (TDM), a deficit our study aimed to address.Setting and designSet within the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN:www.hmrn.org), an ongoing population-based cohort that provides infrastructure to support evidence-based research, HMRN data were augmented by qualitative information from in-depth interviews. Data were analysed for thematic content, combining inductive and deductive approaches. Interpretation involved seeking meaning, salience and connections within data.ParticipantsThirty-five patients with four chronic subtypes: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and myeloma. Ten relatives were present and contributed to varying extents.ResultsFive themes were discerned: (1) Preference for clinician recommendations; (2) Factors implicated in patient involvement in TDM; (3) Perceptions of proactive/non-proactive approaches to TDM; (4) Experiences of TDM at various points in the disease trajectory; (5) Support from others. Our principal finding relates to a strong preference among interviewees for treatment recommendations from haematologists, based on trust in their expertise and perceptions of empathetic patient–clinician relationships.ConclusionInterviewees wanted to be involved in TDM to varying extents, contingent on complex, inter-related factors, that are dynamic and subject to change according to differing clinical and personal contexts. Patients may benefit from clinicians assessing their shifting preferences for involvement on multiple occasions. Strong preferences for acceptance of recommendations was associated with cancer complexity, trust in clinician expertise and positive perceptions of patient–clinician relationships.
STRategies to manage Emergency ambulance Telephone Callers with sustained High needs: an Evaluation using linked Data (STRETCHED) – a study protocol
Authors: Aslam Rabeea'h W , Snooks Helen , Porter Alison , Khanom Ashrafunnesa , Cole Robert , Edwards Adrian , Edwards Bethan , Evans Bridie Angela , Foster Theresa , Fothergill Rachael , Gripper Penny , John Ann , Petterson Robin , Rosser Andy , Tee Anna , Sewell Bernadette , Hughes Heather , Phillips Ceri , Rees Nigel , Scott Jason , Watkins Alan 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionUK ambulance services have identified a concern with high users of the 999 service and have set up ‘frequent callers’ services, ranging from within-service management to cross-sectoral multidisciplinary case management approaches. There is little evidence about how to address the needs of this patient group.AimTo evaluate effectiveness, safety and efficiency of case management approaches to the care of people who frequently call the emergency ambulance service, and gain an understanding of barriers and facilitators to implementation.Objectives(1) Develop an understanding of predicted mechanisms of change to underpin evaluation. (2) Describe epidemiology of sustained high users of 999 services. (3) Evaluate case management approaches to the care of people who call the 999 ambulance service frequently in terms of: (i) Further emergency contacts (999, emergency department, emergency admissions to hospital) (ii) Effects on other services (iii) Adverse events (deaths, injuries, serious medical emergencies and police arrests) (iv) Costs of intervention and care (v) Patient experience of care. (4) Identify challenges and opportunities associated with using case management models, including features associated with success, and develop theories about how case management works in this population.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a multisite mixed-methods evaluation of case management for people who use ambulance services frequently by using anonymised linked routine data outcomes in a ‘natural experiment’ cohort design, in four regional ambulance services. We will conduct interviews and focus groups with service users, commissioners and emergency and non-acute care providers. The planned start and end dates of the study are 1 April 2019 and 1 September 2022, respectivelyEthics and disseminationThe study received approval from the UK Health Research Authority (Confidentiality Advisory Group reference number: 19/CAG/0195; research ethics committee reference number: 19/WA/0216).We will collate feedback from our Lived Experience Advisory Panel, the Frequent Caller National Network and Research Management Group for targeted dissemination activities.
Effects of patient-level risk factors, departmental allocation and seasonality on intrahospital patient transfer patterns: network analysis applied on a Norwegian single-centre data set
Authors: Zhang Chi , Eken Torsten , Jørgensen Silje Bakken , Thoresen Magne , Søvik Signe 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesDescribe patient transfer patterns within a large Norwegian hospital. Identify risk factors associated with a high number of transfers. Develop methods to monitor intrahospital patient flows to support capacity management and infection control.DesignRetrospective observational study of linked clinical data from electronic health records.SettingTertiary care university hospital in the Greater Oslo Region, Norway.ParticipantsAll adult (≥18 years old) admissions to the gastroenterology, gastrointestinal surgery, neurology and orthopaedics departments at Akershus University Hospital, June 2018 to May 2019.MethodsNetwork analysis and graph theory. Poisson regression analysis.Outcome measuresPrimary outcome was network characteristics at the departmental level. We describe location-to-location transfers using unweighted, undirected networks for a full-year study period. Weekly networks reveal changes in network size, density and key categories of transfers over time. Secondary outcome was transfer trajectories at the individual patient level. We describe the distribution of transfer trajectories in the cohort and associate number of transfers with patient clinical characteristics.ResultsThe cohort comprised 17 198 hospital stays. Network analysis demonstrated marked heterogeneity across departments and throughout the year. The orthopaedics department had the largest transfer network size and density and greatest temporal variation. More transfers occurred during weekdays than weekends. Summer holiday affected transfers of different types (Emergency department-Any location/Bed ward-Bed ward/To-From Technical wards) differently. Over 75% of transferred patients followed one of 20 common intrahospital trajectories, involving one to three transfers. Higher number of intrahospital transfers was associated with emergency admission (transfer rate ratio (RR)=1.827), non-prophylactic antibiotics (RR=1.108), surgical procedure (RR=2.939) and stay in intensive care unit or high-dependency unit (RR=2.098). Additionally, gastrosurgical (RR=1.211), orthopaedic (RR=1.295) and neurological (RR=1.114) patients had higher risk of many transfers than gastroenterology patients (all effects: p<0.001).ConclusionsNetwork and transfer chain analysis applied on patient location data revealed logistic and clinical associations highly relevant for hospital capacity management and infection control.
Cost saving in primary versus tertiary level of reproductive health services in Sana’a, Yemen, 2013: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Nassar Abdulkareem Ali Hussein , Raja’a Yahia Ahmed , Bahubaishi Najia Saleh 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesTo estimate the cost saving for utilisation of vaginal delivery (VD), antenatal care (ANC) and an intrauterine device (IUD) services at primary health level facilities (PHLF) instead of tertiary health level facilities (THLF) in Sana’a.DesignA comparative cross-sectional study.SettingEight PHLF in Sana’a governorate and three THLF in Sana’a city.ParticipantsA total of 180 women aged (15–45 years) were enrolled equally from PHLF and THLF. Sixty women attended for each reproductive health service (VD, ANC and IUD services).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe direct and indirect costs of services at PHLF and THLF, and the cost saving for utilisation of PHLF instead of THLF.ResultsThe median of direct medical cost (DMC) of VD, ANC and IUD services were US$43.86, US$14.77 and US$9.07 at THLF compared with US$19.54, US$0.93 and US$11.17 at PHLF, respectively. The DMC difference of VD, ANC and IUD services between THLF and PHLF was US$24.32, US$13.84 and US$−2.1, respectively. Regarding the direct non-medical costs (DNMC), the median of VD, ANC and IUD services were US$43.05, US$19.07 and US$17.27 at THLF compared with US$13.96, US$0.00 and US$0.00 at PHLF, respectively. The DNMC difference of VD, ANC and IUD service between THLF and PHLF was US$29.09, US$18.07 and US$16.27, respectively. Moreover, the median of indirect cost (INDC) for VD, ANC and IUD services were US$23.93, US$9.49 and US$10.44 at THLF compared with US$7.90, US$1.59 and US$1.06 at PHLF, respectively. The INDC difference of VD, ANC and IUD service between THLF and PHLF was US$16.03, US$7.90 and US$9.38, respectively.ConclusionThe study found the utilisation of VD, ANC and IUD services at PHLF instead of THLF is a considerable cost saving for families. Therefore, shifting the utilisation of services from THLF to PHLF reduces the financial burden affecting individuals, families and their productivity.
Minimum clinically important difference of the Social Functioning in Dementia Scale (SF-DEM): cross-sectional study and Delphi survey
Authors: Levene Tamara , Livingston Gill , Banerjee Sube , Sommerlad Andrew 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesGood social functioning is important for people living with dementia and their families. The Social Functioning in Dementia Scale (SF-DEM) is a valid and reliable instrument measuring social functioning in dementia. However the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has not yet been derived for SF-DEM. This study aims to define the MCID for the SF-DEM.DesignWe used triangulation, incorporating data from a cross-sectional study to calculate the MCID using distribution-based and anchor-based methods, and a Delphi survey.Setting and participantsThe cross-sectional survey comprised 299 family carers of people with dementia. Twenty dementia experts (researchers, clinicians, family carers) rated whether changes on clinical vignettes represented a meaningful change in the Delphi survey.Primary outcome measuresWe calculated the distribution-based MCID as 0.5 of an SD for each of the three SF-DEM domains (1—spending time with others, 2—communicating with others, 3—sensitivity to others). We used the carers’ rating of social functioning to calculate the anchor-based MCID. For the Delphi survey, we defined consensus as ≥75% agreement. Where there was lack of consensus, experts were asked to complete a further survey round.ResultsWe found that 0.5 SD of SF-DEM was 1.9 points, 2.2 and 1.4 points in domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Using the anchoring analysis, the MCIDs were 1.7 points, 1.7 points, and 0.9 points in domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The Delphi method required two rounds. In the second round, a consensus was reached that a 2-point change was considered significant in all three domains, but no consensus was reached on a 1-point change.ConclusionsBy triangulating all three methods, the SF-DEM’s MCIDs were 1.9, 2.0 and 1.4 points for domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For individuals, these values should be rounded to a 2-point change for each domain.
Factors affecting the UK junior doctor workforce retention crisis: an integrative review
Authors: Lock Florence Katie , Carrieri Daniele 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesTo determine the factors contributing to the junior doctor workforce retention crisis in the UK using evidence collected directly from junior doctors, and to develop recommendations for changes to address the issue.DesignIntegrative review.Data sourcesSearches were conducted on Ovid Medline and HMIC to locate evidence published between January 2016 and April 2021. This was supplemented by publications from relevant national organisations.Eligibility criteriaEnglish-language papers relating to UK junior doctor retention, well-being or satisfaction which contained data collected directly from junior doctors were included. Papers focusing solely on the pandemic, factors specific to one medical specialty, evaluation of interventions, or numerical data with no evidence relating to causation were excluded. Review papers were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisData were extracted and coded on NVivo by FKL, then thematic analysis was conducted.Results47 papers were included, consisting of academic (qualitative, quantitative, mixed and commentary) and grey literature. Key themes identified were working conditions, support and relationships, and learning and development, with an overarching theme of lack of flexibility. The outcomes of these factors are doctors not feeling valued, lacking autonomy, having a poor work–life balance, and providing compromised patient care. This results in need for a break from medical training.ConclusionThis review builds on findings of related literature regarding working environments, isolation, stigma, and desire for autonomy, and highlights additional issues around learning and training, flexibility, feeling valued, and patient care. It goes on to present recommendations for tackling poor retention of UK junior doctors, highlighting that the complex problem requires evidence-based solutions and a bottom-up approach in which junior doctors are regarded as core stakeholders during the planning of interventions.
TU$$^2$$FRG: a scalable approach for truncated unity functional renormalization group in generic fermionic models
Authors: Profe Jonas B. , Kennes Dante M. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Describing the emergence of phases of condensed matter is one of the central challenges in physics. For this purpose many numerical and analytical methods have been developed, each with their own strengths and limitations. The functional renormalization group is one of these methods bridging between efficiency and accuracy. In this paper we derive a new truncated unity (TU) approach unifying real- and momentum space TU, called TU$$^2$$

2

FRG. This formalism significantly improves the scaling compared to conventional momentum (TU)FRG when applied to large unit-cell models and models where the translational symmetry is broken.

Graphic abstract
On the Feasibility of Securing Vehicle-Pavement Interaction
Authors: Sun Wei , Srinivasan Kannan 
Published: March 2022

Road surface information (e.g., smooth road or bumpy road with potholes or bumps) is important for safe driving (i.e., it's necessary to be aware of the road surface conditions during driving). However, the high-cost sensor (e.g., LiDAR and camera) based road surface sensing approaches cannot work properly in inclement weather conditions (e.g., fogging and snowing) due to the line-of-sight requirement. The low-cost and ubiquitous smartphone-based road surface sensing approach is not reliable and safe to use, since it relies on the vibration of the vehicle body to sense the road surface (i.e., the vehicle's tires need to touch the bumps on the road surface). Can we automate the contact-free road surface sensing with low-cost sensors for safe driving without requiring the vehicle's tires to touch the bumps on the road surface?
In this paper, we propose Tago, a system that can achieve contact-free road surface sensing with commodity passive RFID tags. Instead of deploying RFID tags or readers along the road or lamp post (i.e., infrastructure-based deployment), we deploy the reader inside of the vehicle and attach the tag and the reader's antenna at the front end of the vehicle like the vehicle's headlights (i.e., infrastructure-free deployment). However, there is a great challenge to obtain the clean reflection from the road surface, since the reflection may be drown in the backscattered signals due to multipath effect. Moreover, it is not reliable to use the composite signals received at the reader to sense the road surface conditions. Therefore, we first comprehensively analyse the variation of composite signals received at the reader. Then, we propose a signal cancellation approach to extract the clean reflections from the road surface, such that we can accurately sense the road surface conditions for safe driving. Our experiments with different vehicles (e.g., Honda Civic Frankenfish, Folsom, Flutter and CR-V Warner) driven on different roadways (e.g., urban and residential area) show that Tago can effectively sense the road surface information.
Ultra Low-Latency Backscatter for Fast-Moving Location Tracking
Authors: Wang Jingxian , Ranganathan Vaishnavi , Lester Jonathan , Kumar Swarun 
Published: March 2022

This paper explores building an ultra-low latency and high-accuracy location tracking solution using battery-free tags. While there is rich prior work on location tracking with battery-free RFID tags and backscatter devices, these systems typically face tradeoffs with accuracy, power consumption, and latency. Such limitations make these existing solutions unsuitable for emerging applications like industrial augmented reality which requires tracking fast-moving machinery; monitoring indoor sports activities that require real-time tracking of fast-moving objects with high precision and under stringent latency constraints.
We propose and demonstrate FastLoc, a precision tracking system that locates tiny, battery-free analog backscatter tags at sub-millisecond latency and sub-centimeter accuracy. FastLoc is a hybrid system that simultaneously uses RF and optical signals to track tiny tags that can be attached to everyday objects. FastLoc leverages the RF channel responses from tags for estimating the coarse region where the tags may be located. It simultaneously uses the sensed optical information modulated on the backscatter signals to enable fine-grained location estimation within the coarse region. To achieve this, we design and fabricate a custom analog tag that consumes less than 150 uW and instantaneously converts incident optical signals to one-shot wideband harmonic RF responses at nanosecond latency. We then develop a static high-density distributed-frequency structured light pattern that can localize tags in the area of interest at a sub-centimeter accuracy and microsecond-scale latency. A detailed experimental evaluation of FastLoc shows a median accuracy of 0.7 cm in tag localization with a 0.51 ms effective localization latency.