bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver fibrosis scores and atrial fibrillation incidence in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Liu Xiao , Chen Wenya , Shao Wen , Jiang Yuan , Cao Zhengyu , He Wanbing , Wu Maoxiong , Chen Zhiteng , Ma Jianyong , Chen Yangxin , Yu Peng , Zhang Yuling , Wang Jingfeng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAimNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)‐related advanced liver fibrosis (Stage 3 or 4) was reported to be linked to worse prognosis in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aims to assess the relationship between liver fibrosis scores and new‐onset atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence in patients with HFpEF in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial.Methods and resultsBaseline liver fibrosis levels, assessed by NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) or Fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4), with AF incidence were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) using the Cox proportional hazard model. The risk for advanced fibrosis was estimated to be 21.5% (447/2072) as assessed by FIB‐4 (>3.25) and 4.2% (88/2072) as assessed by NFS (>0.676) in HFpEF patients without baseline AF. After a median follow‐up of 3.11 years, 106 new‐onset AF cases occurred. In multivariate analysis, elevated NFS [NFS = −1.455–0.676: HR 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–4.68; NFS > 0.676: HR 3.36, 95% CI 1.27–6.80; per 1 unit increase: HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01–1.32], not FIB‐4 (FIB‐4 = 1.45–3.25: HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.67–1.55; FIB‐4 > 3.25: HR 1.69, 95% CI 0.76–3.79; per 1 unit increase: HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.93–1.37), was associated with increased AF incidence. The NFS (C‐index 0.662), not FIB‐4 (C‐index 0.531), had a moderate predictive ability in predicting incident AF.ConclusionsAmong patients with HFpEF, the risk of advanced liver fibrosis is associated with an increased incidence of new‐onset AF and may be a novel predictor for new‐onset AF. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results.
Application of recommended therapies among patients with heart failure during the Syrian conflict: reality and barriers
Authors: Abdin Amr , Barakat Amer , Alsaadi Ahmad Rasheed , Katbeh Asim , Bani Marjeh Yassin , Bekfani Tarek , Alachkar Mhd Nawar 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAimsLower socio‐economic status may delay and even prevent the application of guideline‐directed heart failure (HF) therapy for most patients. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and possible difficulties facing the application of this treatment during the current Syrian conflict.Methods and resultsA questionnaire on HF management and feasibility of recommended HF therapy was addressed to physicians practising cardiology in Syria. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions and focused on the quality of HF management and awareness of recommended drug and device therapy for HF among physicians practising cardiology in Syria. A total of 228 physicians participated in the survey. Awareness of recommended medical and device therapy of HF was very high among participants (98% and 95%, respectively). The majority of participants (>75%) believe that more than half of HF patients do not receive optimal medical HF therapy. Ninety per cent of participants believe that <10% of patients with an appropriate indication for device therapy receive it. More than 75% of participants believe that the cost of medications, alone or in combination with other medical causes, represents the major problem facing the application of optimal HF medical therapy. More than 95% of participants reported that cost alone, or in combination with unavailability, is the primary reason why patients with appropriate indications are not offered device therapy.ConclusionsDespite the high level of awareness of recommended HF therapies among Syrian cardiologists, the majority of HF patients are still undertreated. Financial difficulties and lack of resources are the main causes of this problem.
Clustering of bivariate satellite time series: A quantile approach
Authors: Musau Victor Muthama , Gaetan Carlo , Girardi Paolo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractClustering has received much attention in statistics and machine learning with the aim of developing statistical models and autonomous algorithms which are capable of acquiring information from raw data in order to perform exploratory analysis. Several techniques have been developed to cluster sampled univariate vectors only considering the average value over the whole period and as such they have not been able to explore fully the underlying distribution as well as other features of the data, especially in presence of structured time series. We propose a model‐based clustering technique that is based on quantile regression permitting us to cluster bivariate time series at different quantile levels. We model the within cluster density using asymmetric Laplace distribution allowing us to take into account asymmetry in the distribution of the data. We evaluate the performance of the proposed technique through a simulation study. The method is then applied to cluster time series observed from Glob‐color satellite data related to trophic status indices with aim of evaluating their temporal dynamics in order to identify homogeneous areas, in terms of trophic status, in the Gulf of Gabes.
Nonlinear inflation forecasting with recurrent neural networks
Authors: Almosova Anna , Andresen Niek 
Published: August 2022

AbstractMotivated by the recent literature that finds that artificial neural networks (NN) can efficiently predict economic time‐series in general and inflation in particular, we investigate if the forecasting performance can be improved even further by using a particular kind of NN—a recurrent neural network. We use a long short‐term memory recurrent neural network (LSTM) that was proven to be highly efficient for sequential data and computed univariate forecasts of monthly US CPI inflation. We show that even though LSTM slightly outperforms autoregressive model (AR), NN, and Markov‐switching models, its performance is on par with the seasonal autoregressive model SARIMA. Additionally, we conduct a sensitivity analysis with respect to hyperparameters and provide a qualitative interpretation of what the networks learn by applying a novel layer‐wise relevance propagation technique.
Bitcoin futures risk premia
Authors: Shi Shimeng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper presents an empirical analysis of bitcoin futures risk premia. Based on the relevant theories and empirical findings of commodity futures risk premia, we study a battery of predictors, including position‐based measures, market microstructure factors, and macroeconomic variables. We find that trading activity and extreme sentiment of speculators and retailers present significant predicting power on the subsequent bitcoin futures price changes over different time horizons. We also find evidence that the lower transaction cost, the higher bitcoin futures risk premiums. Regarding macroeconomic variables, financial conditions index, TED spread, US M2 money stock, and funding cost of financial institutions could predict bitcoin futures returns. The return impact of net position changes of hedgers is likely to be affected by extremes in macroeconomic variables. Speculators behave like negative feedback traders, while retailers are positive feedback traders. This detailed analysis of the risk premia of this emerging derivatives market provides critical implications.
Characterising trauma‐informed aged care: An appreciative inquiry approach
Authors: de la Perrelle Lenore , Klinge Nathan , Windsor Tim , Low Lee‐Fay , Laver Kate , Cations Monica 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectiveWhile Trauma‐informed care (TIC) has the potential to improve the quality of aged and dementia care, the challenge remains in translating the principles of TIC into practice. This study aimed to characterise what trauma‐informed aged care looks like in practice, by learning from an aged care service acknowledged as delivering trauma‐informed aged care effectively.MethodWe conducted an appreciative inquiry study within a residential aged care service catering for veterans and others with trauma histories. Observation of care behaviours, interviews with staff and residents, and organisational policy mapping were used to identify elements that maximised care safety and accessibility for trauma survivors. Data were analysed and triangulated using a framework analysis approach.ResultsThe aged care provider embedded the principles of TIC into its staff training (i) to promote understanding of how trauma may affect experiences in care, and (ii) to adapt care when appropriate to promote safety. The service promoted a calm atmosphere where residents could make choices and felt safe. Uniforms and signage provided consistency, clarity, and transparency for residents. Staff behaviours demonstrated respect, fostered trust, and anticipated needs without unnecessarily imposing care. Staff consistently offered choices, used residents' names, sought permission before providing care, and offered reassurance. Staff reported high morale with a commitment to delivering high quality care, and feedback to management. Effective communication promoted information sharing and trust among staff.ConclusionTrauma‐informed practice was facilitated through organisational policy, a dignified environment, and thoughtful staff behaviour creating safety, choice, and control for residents.
Leading by example: Nursing home staff experiences of what facilitates them to meaningfully engage with residents with advanced dementia
Authors: Haunch Kirsty , Downs Murna , Oyebode Jan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectivesMeaningful connections promote the quality of life of people living with advanced dementia in nursing homes. However, evidence internationally suggests people living with advanced dementia in nursing homes spend the majority of time alone, with little contact with anyone. Frontline care workers are in powerful positions to meaningfully engage with residents, yet research to date has not focused on their experiences. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of nursing home staff, specifically, what care workers feel enables them to meaningfully engage with residents living with advanced dementia.Methods/DesignSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 staff from seven nursing homes. Inductive thematic analysis was used.ResultsFour themes were important for facilitating care workers to meaningfully engage with residents with advanced dementia: support from managers and nurses, support from experienced care workers, a caring culture and an appropriate physical environment.ConclusionEffective leadership was the key thread that ran throughout. It was evident that meaningfully engaging with residents with advanced dementia was hard, particularly for new or inexperienced care workers. Those with experience (of care work and the residents they cared for), as well as those in formal leadership positions played key roles in facilitating care workers to: perceive it was their role to connect, understand, accept and empathise with residents, understand the importance of getting to know residents' and express their own caring attributes. Future research should focus on empirically testing leadership models that promote meaningful engagement.
Carbon Emissions from Overuse of U.S. Health Care: Medical and Ethical Problems
Authors: Thiel Cassandra , Richie Cristina 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe United States health care industry is the second largest in the world, expending an estimated 479 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon dioxide per year, nearly 8 percent of the country's total emissions. The importance of carbon reduction in health care is slowly being accepted. However, efforts to “green” health care are incomplete since they generally focus on buildings and structures. Yet hospital care and clinical service sectors contribute the most carbon dioxide within the U.S. health care industry, with structures/equipment and pharmaceuticals ranking as the third and fourth highest emitters in the industry. Given the magnitude of health care carbon emissions—and the paucity of attention to the carbon of hospital care and clinical services—this essay identifies overuse of health care as a health threat with serious ethical implications, offers a data‐driven action plan for carbon reduction in health care, and provides practical suggestions for more sustainable health care delivery in the United States.
Performance of American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Care Pathway for the risk stratification of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the US population
Authors: Udompap Prowpanga , Therneau Terry M. , Canning Rachel E. , Benson Joanne T. , Allen Alina M. 
Published: August 2022

Background and aims:
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recently launched the Clinical Care Pathway for the Risk Stratification and Management of Patients with NAFLD to identify adults with significant fibrosis. We aimed to examine this pathway’s performance in the US population.

Approach and Results:
Using the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we identified participants aged ≥18 with available Fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) score and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in the absence of other liver diseases. Based on the AGA clinical pathway, FIB‐4 < 1.3 and LSM < 8 kilopascals (kPa) by vibration‐controlled transient elastography (VCTE) are associated with low risk of significant fibrosis. Using these cutoffs, we examined the pathway performance using negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) and explored alternative risk‐stratification strategies. There were 2322 participants with available data (projected to 94.2 million US adults). The NPV of LSM ≥ 8 kPa among those with FIB‐4 < 1.3 was 90%, whereas the PPV among those with FIB‐4 1.3–2.67 was 13%. As diabetes was a strong predictor of fibrosis, we propose a simple, alternative strategy to eliminate the indeterminate FIB‐4 range and perform VCTE in those with FIB‐4 ≥ 1.3 and diabetes. This strategy would decrease the number of VCTEs from 14.5 to 4.9 million and increase PPV from 13% to 33% without compromising the NPV among those who did not undergo VCTE.

Conclusion:
The implementation of the current AGA clinical pathway would lead to overutilization of VCTE. An alternative strategy using FIB‐4 ≥ 1.3 and diabetes to select adults undergoing second‐line testing will improve this pathway’s performance and minimize unnecessary VCTEs.
Janus kinase 2 inhibition by pacritinib as potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis
Authors: Torres Sandra , Ortiz Cristina , Bachtler Nadine , Gu Wenyi , Grünewald Leon D. , Kraus Nico , Schierwagen Robert , Hieber Christoph , Meier Caroline , Tyc Olaf , Joseph Brol Maximilian , Uschner Frank Erhard , Nijmeijer Bart , Welsch Christoph , Berres Marie‐Luise , Garcia‐Ruiz Carmen , Fernandez‐Checa Jose Carlos , Trautwein Christian , Vogl Thomas J. , Zeuzem Stefan , Trebicka Jonel , Klein Sabine 
Published: August 2022

Background and Aims:
Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling is increased in human and experimental liver fibrosis with portal hypertension. JAK2 inhibitors, such as pacritinib, are already in advanced clinical development for other indications and might also be effective in liver fibrosis. Here, we investigated the antifibrotic role of the JAK2 inhibitor pacritinib on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and in two animal models of liver fibrosis in vivo.

Approach and Results:
Transcriptome analyses of JAK2 in human livers and other targets of pacritinib have been shown to correlate with profibrotic factors. Although transcription of JAK2 correlated significantly with type I collagen expression and other profibrotic genes, no correlation was observed for interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase and colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor. Pacritinib decreased gene expression of fibrosis markers in mouse primary and human‐derived HSCs in vitro. Moreover, pacritinib decreased the proliferation, contraction, and migration of HSCs. C57BL/6J mice received ethanol in drinking water (16%) or Western diet in combination with carbon tetrachloride intoxication for 7 weeks to induce alcoholic or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Pacritinib significantly reduced liver fibrosis assessed by gene expression and Sirius red staining, as well as HSC activation assessed by alpha‐smooth muscle actin immunostaining in fibrotic mice. Furthermore, pacritinib decreased the gene expression of hepatic steatosis markers in experimental alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, pacritinib protected against liver injury as assessed by aminotransferase levels.

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that the JAK2 inhibitor pacritinib may be promising for the treatment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver fibrosis and may be therefore relevant for human pathology.
Socioeconomic position and clinical outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Lauritsen Tine Bichel , Østgård Lene Sofie Granfeldt , Grønbæk Kirsten , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg , Nørgaard Jan Maxwell 
Published: August 2022

AbstractLow socioeconomic position (SEP) may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) inherent to for example, delayed diagnosis or reduced treatment intensity, but firm evidence is limited. In this study, we examined the association between SEP and clinical outcomes. We conducted a population‐based cohort study (2010–2018) of 2233 Danish patients with MDS. SEP measures included individual‐level information on education, cohabitation status and income retrieved from Statistics Denmark. Associations between SEP measures and disease severity at diagnosis were examined using binomial regression analysis. Using time‐to‐event analysis, we examined the association between SEP measures and treatment with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT), risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and death. Estimates were adjusted for covariates selected based on direct acyclic graphs and reported with 95% confidence intervals. Patients with a short education were more likely to be transfusion‐dependent at diagnosis (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04–1.45) and more likely to be diagnosed with higher risk MDS according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03–1.62), than patients with a long education. We found no clear association between SEP and risk of progression to AML. In adjusted models, the 1‐year risk of dying was higher in patients with short versus long education (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08–1.65), in patients with low versus high income (RR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.14–1.77), and among patients who lived alone compared to those who lived with a partner (RR = 1.15, 0.98–1.35). These associations persisted after 3 years and 5 years of follow‐up. Notably, patients with a short education had a markedly lower rate of undergoing treatment with allo‐HSCT compared to patients with a long education (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.84). In conclusion, low SEP and especially short education, were poor prognostic factors for adverse clinical outcomes among patients with MDS.
A numerical solution using EFDM for unsteady MHD radiative Casson nanofluid flow over a porous stretching sheet with stability analysis
Authors: Rao Shiva , Deka Paramananda 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe present study deals with the heat and mass transfer of the unsteady two‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamics Casson nanofluid flow over a nonlinearly stretched porous sheet associated with viscous dissipation, chemical reaction, heat generation, and thermal radiation. After nondimensionalizing the boundary layer governing equations, an explicit finite difference scheme is implemented to solve the equations. To make the numerical approach more reliable, a stability analysis is carried out to establish the efficient convergence criteria . The velocity, temperature, and nanoparticle concentration profiles are plotted to investigate the influence of different flow parameters. It is found that the nanofluid motion hastens with the increase in both the Grashof number and the modified Grashof number. It is also noteworthy to observe that increasing thermal radiation enhances the nanofluid temperature, whereas increasing chemical reaction leads to a decrease in nanofluid concentration. The current research shows that there are some important industrial applications for magnetic nanoparticle processing and cooling in the industry. The study finds its importance with the view to increasing the heat and mass transfer efficiency in industrial and engineering applications. The issues discussed in this study have not been included in the earlier investigation for unsteady Casson nanofluid flow due to a vertical stretching sheet of a porous medium. A comparative analysis of the results is also performed with previous studies to validate the efficiency of the numerical approach.
Utility of an alternative method (to USEPA Method 1613) for analysis of priority persistent organic pollutants in soil from mixed industrial–suburban areas of Durban, South Africa
Authors: Rimayi Cornelius , Madikizela Lawrence M. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
This study evaluates the adequacy of a USEPA Method 1613 alternative analytical method for analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil from the immediate vicinity of industrialized areas in the eThekwini municipal area in South Africa. The objective of this study is in line with the Stockholm Convention Article 11 on research, development, and monitoring. Furthermore, it became imperative to find an alternative analytical procedure to USEPA Method 1613 that could cater to studies conducted in Africa where recent reviews have indicated that most African countries lack the technical and instrumental capacity for performing analysis of dioxin-like compounds according to USEPA Method 1613, which entails the use of high-resolution chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry instrumentation. The study aimed to ascertain the utility of an alternative two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry method for analysis of trace-level priority POPs in soil, along with a fast single quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The analytical methods were applied to the analysis of POPs on soil samples from industrial areas with oil refineries and a pulp and paper manufacturing company, while other samples were collected near the electricity substations and a landfill site. Analytical results showed BDE 209 as the dominant contaminating polybrominated diphenyl ether (concentration ranges from 0.006 to 5.71 ng g−1). Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) 9, 10, and 49 were the dominant PBBs detected in 78% of the sites tested, although their concentrations were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls detected could not be quantified above their respective LOQs, indicating that the Durban area has low priority pollutant contamination levels compared to other regions around the world. The methods developed are a starting point that will inform considerations for routine evaluation and management of soil contamination, which plays a vital role in environmental management. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:749–762. © 2022 SETAC