bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solid bolus swallows during high‐resolution manometry complement multiple rapid swallows in predicting symptoms following antireflux surgery
Authors: Greenan Garrett , Rogers Benjamin D. , Sifrim Daniel , Gyawali C. Prakash 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundSolid bolus swallows (SBS) assess esophageal peristalsis on high‐resolution manometry (HRM). It remains unknown if increase in contraction vigor (contraction reserve) following SBS (SBS‐CR) provides information similar to that observed following multiple rapid swallows (MRS‐CR).MethodsClinical and HRM data from adult patients (n = 96, age 58.2 years, 61.5% female) undergoing esophageal testing prior to anti‐reflux surgery (ARS) were analyzed if both MRS and SBS were available, and compared to similar data from healthy asymptomatic volunteers (n = 18, age 27.5 years, 55.6% female). Patients reported esophageal symptoms before and after ARS using 5‐point Likert scales evaluating symptom frequency and severity; scores for each patient were averaged to determine global symptoms. Distal contractile integral (DCI) from single swallows was compared to MRS DCI and SBS DCI; the ratio of single swallow DCI to MRS DCI or SBS DCI ≥1 determined the presence of contraction reserve.Key ResultsMultiple rapid swallows CR was concordant with SBS CR in 55.6% of healthy volunteers, 100% of absent contractility, 100% of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and 56.9% without IEM. Correlation between MRS DCI and SBS DCI was highest when IEM criteria were met (Spearman's rho 0.998). While neither MRS CR nor SBS CR presence differed by presenting symptoms or global symptom score at baseline, post‐ARS global symptom burden was highest in the absence of both MRS CR and SBS CR, especially in patients with esophageal hypomotility using Chicago Classification version 4.0 criteria (p = 0.03).Conclusions & InferencesMultiple rapid swallows and SBS are complementary in predicting post‐ARS symptom burden.
Symmetric and asymmetric bimanual coordination and freezing of gait in Parkinsonian patients in drug phases
Authors: Fathipour‐Azar Zeinab , Azad Akram , Akbarfahimi Malahat , Behzadipour Saeed , Taghizadeh Ghorban 
Published: February 2022

AbstractFreezing of gait (FOG) is a debilitating symptom in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), which may be associated with motor control impairments in tasks other than gait. This study aimed to examine whether symmetric and asymmetric bimanual coordination is impaired in PD with FOG (PD +FOG) patients and whether dual‐task and drug phases may affect bimanual coordination in these patients. Twenty PD +FOG patients, 20 PD patients without FOG (PD –FOG) performed symmetric and asymmetric functional bimanual tasks (reach to and pick up a box and open a drawer to press a pushbutton inside it, respectively) under single‐task and dual‐task conditions. PD patients were evaluated during on‐ and off‐drug phases. Kinematic and coordination measures were calculated for each task. PD +FOG patients demonstrated exacerbated impairments of bimanual coordination while performing goal‐directed bimanual tasks, which was more evident in the asymmetric bimanual task and under dual‐task conditions, highlighting the need for rehabilitation interventions for bimanual tasks that include different cognitive loads in these patients. Interestingly, 25% and 5% of participants in the PD +FOG and –FOG groups developed upper limb freezing 2 years later, respectively. This study aimed to examine whether symmetric and asymmetric bimanual coordination is impaired in Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait (PD +FOG) patients and whether dual‐task and drug phases may affect bimanual coordination in these patients. PD +FOG patients demonstrated exacerbated impairment of bimanual coordination while performing goal‐directed bimanual tasks, highlighting the need for rehabilitation interventions for bimanual tasks that include different cognitive loads in these patients.
Hydroa vacciniforme‐like lymphoproliferative disorder: A retrospective study on clinicopathological characteristics of 32 cases
Authors: Xu Wenfeng , Tan Jingyi , Cai Chenyu , Lei Lei , Cao Xian , Zhou Hongling , Xu Man 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe clinicopathological features of 32 patients (17 females and 15 males) with a median age of 8 years (range, 1.5–21 years) from Southwestern China diagnosed with hydroa vacciniforme‐like lymphoproliferative disorder (HVLPD) were reviewed. At presentation, 6 patients showed only skin lesions, while 26 patients showed both skin lesions and systemic symptoms, including fever, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. As the disease progressed, systemic symptoms occurred in all patients. Follow‐up data of 29 patients showed that 14 patients were still alive with disease with a median follow‐up time of 22 months (range 3.6–71 months), and 15 patients died within a median follow‐up of 6 months (range 0–60 months).
Sex ratio of Aphelenchoides besseyi within Oryza sativa seeds with relation to reproduction of rehydrated adult females
Authors: Togashi Katsumi , Hoshino Shigeru 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe white‐tip nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi, is a seedborne ectoparasite of rice, Oryza sativa. It enters dehydrated quiescence within maturing seeds. Soaking dry seeds in water causes the quiescent nematodes to revive and the rehydrated nematodes emerge from the seeds. Two field nematode populations in Japan exhibited female‐biased sex ratios of living and dead adults in seeds (the proportion of females [female ratio] = 0.816, 0.803) and no influence of the number of adults in a seed on the female ratio. Single rehydrated female adults recovered from seeds reproduced without males whereas single juveniles did not do so. Most rehydrated female adults had sperms in the spermatheca. If all females mate with males in a seed before dehydration, the expected number of mated females, E(n), is given by the product of the female ratio, the number of adults in a seed (n) and the probability that both sexes occur in a seed. The E(n) value peaked at an n‐specific female ratio (fopt). When the female ratio was invariable (ffix), the expected number of mated females per seed, , peaked at an ffix value (optimum ffix value) of 0.794 and 0.788 for the two populations, where g(n) expressed the proportion of seeds harbouring n adults (n ≥ 2). The overall fit of actual numbers of recovered females to the expectations obtained from the optimum ffix value was better than that to the expectations from the n‐specific fopt values. The optimum ffix values were close to the actual female ratios.
Detecting concealed information using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) combined with skin conductance, heart rate, and behavioral measures
Authors: Wang Di , Wang Chongxiang , Yi Xingyu , Sai Liyang , Fu Genyue , Lin Xiaohong Allison 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this study, brain imaging data from functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) associated with skin conductance response (SCR), heart rate (HR), and reaction time (RT) were combined to determine if the combination of these indicators could improve the efficiency of deception detection in concealed information test (CIT). During the CIT, participants were presented with a series of names and cities that served as target, probe, or irrelevant stimuli. In the guilty group, the probe stimuli were the participants’ own names and hometown cities, and they were asked to deny this information. Our results revealed that probe items were associated with longer RT, larger SCR, slower HR, and higher oxyhemoglobin (HbO) concentration changes in the inferior prefrontal gyrus (IFG), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) compared with irrelevant items for participants in the guilty group but not in the innocent group. Furthermore, our results suggested that the combination of RT, SCR, HR, and fNIRS indicators could improve the deception detection efficiency to a very high area under the ROC curve (0.94) compared with any of the single indicators (0.74–0.89). The improved deception detection efficiency might be attributed to the reduction of random error and the diversiform underlying the psychophysiological mechanisms reflected by each indicator. These findings demonstrate a feasible way to improve the deception detection efficiency by using combined multiple indicators.
The quasi‐static crush response of electron‐beam‐melt Ti6Al4V body‐centred‐cubic lattices: The effect of the number of cells, strut diameter and face sheet
Authors: Güden Mustafa , Alpkaya Alican Tuncay , Hamat Burcu Arslan , Hızlı Burak , Taşdemirci Alper , Tanrıkulu Ahmet Alptuğ , Yavaş Hakan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe effect of the number of cells, strut diameter and face sheet on the compression of electron‐beam‐melt (EBM) Ti6Al4V (Ti64) body‐centred‐cubic (BCC) lattices was investigated experimentally and numerically. The lattices with the same relative density (~0.182) were fabricated with and without 2‐mm‐thick face sheets in 10 and 5 mm cell size, 8–125 unit cell (two to five cells/edge) and 2 and 1 mm strut diameter. The experimental compression tests were further numerically simulated in the LS‐DYNA. Experimentally two bending‐dominated crushing modes, namely, lateral and diagonal layer crushing, were determined. The numerical models however exhibited merely a bending‐dominated lateral layer crushing mode when the erosion strain was 0.4 and without face‐sheet models showed a diagonal layer crushing mode when the erosion strain was 0.3. Lower erosion strains promoted a diagonal layer crushing mode by introducing geometrical inhomogeneity to the lattice, leading to strain localisation as similar to the face sheets which introduced extensive strut bending in the layers adjacent to the face sheets. The face‐sheet model showed a higher but decreasing collapse strength at an increasing number of cells, just as opposite to the without face‐sheet model, and the collapse strength of both models converged when the number of cells was higher than five‐cell/edge. The decrease/increase of the collapse strengths of lattices before the critical number of cells was claimed mainly due to the size‐imposed lattice boundary condition, rather than the specimen volume. The difference in the experimental collapse strengths between the 5‐ and the 10‐mm cell‐size lattices was ascribed to the variations in the microstructures—hence the material model parameters between the small‐diameter and the large‐diameter EBM‐Ti64 strut lattices.
3D optical flow for large CT data of materials microstructures
Authors: Nogatz Tessa , Redenbach Claudia , Schladitz Katja 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe compute three‐dimensional displacement vector fields to estimate the deformation of microstructural data sets in mechanical tests. For this, we extend the well‐known optical flow by Brox et al. to three dimensions, with special focus on the discretization of nonlinear terms. We evaluate our method first by synthetically deforming foams and comparing against this ground truth and second with data sets of samples that underwent real mechanical tests. Our results are compared to those from state‐of‐the‐art algorithms in materials science and medical image registration. By a thorough evaluation, we show that our proposed method is able to resolve the displacement best among all chosen comparison methods.
Histologic grade has a higher‐weighted value than nodal status as predictor of outcome in dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumours and overtly metastatic sentinel lymph nodes
Authors: Guerra Dina , Faroni Eugenio , Sabattini Silvia , Agnoli Chiara , Chalfon Carmit , Stefanello Damiano , Del Magno Sara , Cola Veronica , Grieco Valeria , Marconato Laura 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (cMCTs), histologic grade and clinical stage are the most important prognostic factors, with high‐grade tumours and metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) significantly influencing the evolution of disease. However, it is uncertain whether histologic grade and clinical stage should be given equal weighting value in patient prognostication and management. Dogs with low‐ and high‐grade cMCTs and at least one overtly metastatic sentinel LN undergoing standardized treatment, consisting of surgical excision of the cMCT, lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy, were retrospectively included. The aim was to determine whether, at the same clinical stage, histologic grade retained prognostic relevance. Sixty dogs were included: 26 had a high‐grade cMCT tumour and 34 had a low‐grade cMCT. Median follow‐up was 367 days (range, 187–748) in the high‐grade group, and 1208 days (range, 180–2576) in the low‐grade group. Median time to progression was significantly shorter in the high‐grade group than in the low‐grade group (214 days versus not reached; p < .001), as well as tumour‐specific survival (545 days versus not reached; p < .001). On multivariable analysis, a high histologic grade and incomplete margins retained prognostic significance for both tumour progression and tumour‐specific death. In dogs with cMCT and at least one overtly metastatic LN undergoing multimodal treatment, histologic grade significantly correlated with outcome. Overall prognosis was not unfavourable, even in the high‐grade group, further supporting that a multimodal therapeutic approach, addressing primary tumour and sentinel LN, should be offered. Whether chemotherapy should be incorporated in the therapeutic planning of low‐grade cMCTs remains to be defined.
Validation of the 0–10 verbal numeric scale for assessment of pruritus severity in dogs
Authors: Strzok Emily , Torres Sheila M. F. , Koch Sandra N. , Rendahl Aaron K. 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundThe pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS) is currently the only validated tool for assessing canine pruritus. A verbal numeric scale (VNS) offers an alternative if clients are not present or able to complete the pVAS.Hypothesis/ObjectiveTo validate the 0–10 VNS and evaluate its interchangeability with the pVAS.Animals251 dogs were included in the study.Materials and methodsDog owners were asked to assess their pet’s pruritus level using the pVAS, the 0–10 VNS and the verbal rating categories (mild, moderate, severe) in one or two subsequent visits. To be valid, VNS must satisfy the following: correlate with pVAS (criterion validity); indicate reduction in itch score after an antipruritic intervention (construct validity); and have scores related to the verbal rating categories that are significantly different (content validity). VNS and pVAS interchangeability and the percentage of clients that preferred the VNS and pVAS also were evaluated.ResultsThe VNS and pVAS correlation for visits 1 and 2 was good (rICC = 0.9) and excellent (rICC = 0.94). The VNS scores were significantly decreased after antipruritic interventions (P < 0.001). The VNS scores associated with the verbal rating scale categories (mild, moderate and severe) were significantly different (P < 0.001). The 95% limits of agreement for the pVAS and VAS were outside the limit of acceptability of ±2 (–2.0, 2.57). Most clients (69%) preferred the pVAS to the VNS.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe VNS is a valid scale to evaluate canine pruritus; however, the VNS and pVAS are not interchangeable.
Laparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation in 20 dogs (2018‐2021)
Authors: Poggi Edoardo , Rubio David Garcia , Pérez Duarte Francisco J. , del Sol Jorge Gutiérrez , Borghetti Luciano , Izzo Francesca , Cinti Filippo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the technique, complications, and outcome of laparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation (LPSSA) in dogs.Study designRetrospective study.AnimalsTwenty client‐owned dogs.MethodsMedical records were searched for dogs with a single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPSS) that was treated with LPSSA. Signalment, clinical signs, CEPSS location, diagnostic imaging, laparoscopic approach, operative technique, complications, and clinical outcome were reviewed.ResultsFourteen dogs with CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen had a right (13/14) or left (1/14) paramedian approach. In 6 dogs a CEPSS was not located in the epiploic foramen, and a left paramedian approach was used. A 3 or 4‐port technique was used in 7 and 13 dogs, respectively. A thin film band was used for CEPSS attenuation in all dogs. The median operating time for LPSSA was 62 min (range 27‐98 min). Intraoperative complications requiring conversion to an open technique occurred in 5 dogs. Mild perioperative self‐limiting portal hypertension occurred in 3 dogs, while severe portal hypertension with surgical revision occurred in 1 case. The complications were resolved, and all dogs had a good outcome.ConclusionLaparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation can be performed in dogs, in particular for a CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen using a right paramedian approach. For CEPSS not located in the epiploic foramen, a left paramedian approach is recommended. Conversion to open celiotomy was required in around a third of cases.Clinical significanceLaparoscopic attenuation of CEPSSs can be performed in dogs and has a good clinical outcome, particularly for CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen.
‘The response is like a big ship’: community feedback as a case study of evidence uptake and use in the 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: McKay Gillian , Baggio Ombretta , Camara Cheick Abdoulaye , Erlach Eva , Robles Dios Lucia , Checchi Francesco , Rohan Hana 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionThe 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took place in the highly complex protracted crisis regions of North Kivu and Ituri. The Red Cross developed a community feedback (CF) data collection process through the work of hundreds of Red Cross personnel, who gathered unprompted feedback in order to inform the response coordination mechanism and decision-making.AimTo understand how a new CF system was used to make operational and strategic decisions by Ebola response leadership.MethodsQualitative data collection in November 2019 in Goma and Beni (DRC), including document review, observation of meetings and CF activities, key informant interviews and focus group discussions.FindingsThe credibility and use of different evidence types was affected by the experiential and academic backgrounds of the consumers of that evidence. Ebola response decision-makers were often medics or epidemiologists who tended to view quantitative evidence as having more rigour than qualitative evidence. The process of taking in and using evidence in the Ebola response was affected by decision-makers’ bandwidth to parse large volumes of data coming from a range of different sources. The operationalisation of those data into decisions was hampered by the size of the response and an associated reduction in agility to new evidence.ConclusionCF data collection has both instrumental and intrinsic value for outbreak response and should be normalised as a critical data stream; however, a failure to act on those data can further frustrate communities.
‘Writing budgets for meetings and teas?’: a multitheoretical analysis of intragovernmental coordination for multisectoral action for health in Uganda
Authors: Ssennyonjo Aloysius , Ssengooba Freddie , Criel Bart , Titeca Kristof , Van Belle Sara 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionCoordination across policy domains and among government agencies is considered critical for addressing complex challenges such as inequities, urbanisation and climate change. However, the factors influencing coordination among government entities in low-income and middle-income countries are not well known. Although theory building is well suited to explain complex social phenomena, theory-based health policy and systems studies are limited. This paper examined the factors influencing coordination among government entities at the central government level in Uganda.MethodsThis theory-based case study used a qualitative approach. Primary data were collected through 26 national-level key informant interviews supplemented with a review of 6 national strategic and policy documents. Data were analysed abductively using a multitheoretical framework combining the transaction cost economics theory, principal–agent theory, resource dependence theory and political economy perspective.ResultsComplex and dynamic interactions among different factors, both internal and external to the government, were found. Interdependencies, coordination costs, non-aligned interests, and institutional and ideational aspects were crucial factors. The power dynamics within the bureaucratic structures and the agency of the coordinated entities influence the effectiveness of coordination efforts. New public management principles promoted in the 1990s by donor institutional strengthening projects (characterised by agencification and setting up of independent agencies to circumvent ineffective big line ministries) created further fragmentation within the government. The donors and international agendas were occasionally supportive but sometimes counterintuitive to national coordination efforts.ConclusionThe multitheoretical framework derives a deep analysis of the factors that influence organisational decision-making to coordinate with others or not. Achieving intragovernmental coordination requires more time and resources to guide the software aspects of institutional change—articulating a shared vision on coordination across government. Shaping incentives to align interests, managing coordination costs and navigating historical-institutional contexts are critical. Countervailing political actions and power dynamics should be judiciously navigated.
Role of mHealth applications for emergency medical system activation in reducing mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Griswold Dylan , Rubiano Andres M 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionPrehospital care is an essential component in reducing mortality for patients presenting with emergency medical conditions. Prehospital systems tend to be underdeveloped or non-existent in these areas, with less than 1% of low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) populations served by an organised prehospital system. Mobile health apps for activation of Emergency Medical System (EMS) have been shown to decrease mortality, but there has yet to be a systematic review and meta-analysis performed to clarify the role that these apps play in reducing mortality in LMICs. The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health apps for EMS activation versus traditional EMS dispatches in survival and transport time in patients with emergency medical conditions.Methods and analysisThe proposed systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs) will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and EBSCO will be searched from January 2005 to March 2021. The search results will be presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram. Primary outcomes will include mortality and transport time. Critical appraisal will be assessed using the JBI SUMARI Risk-of-Bias Tool for RCTs, and Risk-of-Bias In Non-Randomised Studies tool for NRCTs. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for all included studies. If sufficient data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted. I2statistics will be used to assess heterogeneity and identify their potential sources.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval will be required, as this review is based on already published data and does not involve interaction with human subjects. The plan for dissemination, however, is to publish the findings of the review in a peer-reviewed journal and present findings at high-level international conferences that engage the most pertinent stakeholders. Any amendments to this protocol will be documented in the final review.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021243041.