nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Elevated Preoperative Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Liver Transplantation: A Meta Analysis
Venue: Gastroenterology research and practice

This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with liver transplantation (LT) through meta analysis. Relevant articles were sought in PubMed, Embase, and Wangfang databases up to July 2015. A total of 1687 patients from 10 studies were included in this meta analysis. Meta analysis results showed that elevated NLR was significantly associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.91 3.83) and poorer disease free survival (DFS) (HR 3.61, 95% CI: 2.23 5.84) in HCC patients treated with LT. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed the significant association between elevated preoperative NLR and poor prognosis was not altered by cutoff values of NLR or types of LT. Therefore, elevated preoperative NLR is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients treated with LT. Preoperative NLR should be used to predict the prognosis of HCC after LT in our clinical work.
Pretransplant Elevated Plasma Fibrinogen Level is a Novel Prognostic Predictor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence and Patient Survival Following Liver Transplantation.
Venue: Annals of transplantation

Elevated plasma fibrinogen is associated with tumour progression and poor outcomes in several cancers. The present study investigated the prognostic value of preoperative fibrinogen in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after liver transplantation (LT)  We analyzed the preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels of 41 patients who underwent LT for HCC. The cut off value for elevated level of fibrinogen was determined by using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between elevated fibrinogen level and HCC recurrence. The disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rate after transplantation were calculated by Kaplan Meier method and compared by log rank test.  The fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in patients with tumor recurrence (3.31+ 0.98 g/L) compared with those in patients without recurrence (2.39+ 0.89 g/L) (P<0.01) A cut off value for elevated fibrinogen level of 2.675 g/L was defined. Cox regression analysis showed that the relative risk for tumor recurrence increased by 6.871 times for patients with elevated fibrinogen. Eleven patients in the elevated fibrinogen group (21 cases) developed recurrence, while only 2 in the normal fibrinogen group (20 cases) developed recurrence. There were significant differences in DFS and OS between the elevated fibrinogen group and normal fibrinogen group (5 year DFS and OS of 44.0% and 42.9% vs. 89.2% and 80.0% respectively, P<0.05) Vascular invasion and fibrinogen level =2.675 g/L were the independent prognostic predictors of tumor recurrence and poor outcome.  Pretransplant elevated fibrinogen levels are associated with tumor recurrence and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation.
Regulation of prefrontal cortex myelination by the microbiota
Venue: Translational Psychiatry

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key region implicated in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and autism. In parallel, the role of the gut microbiota in contributing to these disorders is emerging. Germ free (GF) animals, microbiota deficient throughout life, have been instrumental in elucidating the role of the microbiota in many aspects of physiology, especially the role of the microbiota in anxiety related behaviours, impaired social cognition and stress responsivity. Here we aim to further elucidate the mechanisms of the microbial influence by investigating changes in the homeostatic regulation of neuronal transcription of GF mice within the PFC using a genome wide transcriptome profiling approach. Our results reveal a marked, concerted upregulation of genes linked to myelination and myelin plasticity. This coincided with upregulation of neural activity induced pathways, potentially driving myelin plasticity. Subsequent investigation at the ultrastructural level demonstrated the presence of hypermyelinated axons within the PFC of GF mice. Notably, these changes in myelin and activity related gene expression could be reversed by colonization with a conventional microbiota following weaning. In summary, we believe we demonstrate for the first time that the microbiome is necessary for appropriate and dynamic regulation of myelin related genes with clear implications for cortical myelination at an ultrastructural level. The microbiota is therefore a potential therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders involving dynamic myelination in the PFC.
Prevention of firearm related injuries with restrictive licensing and concealed carry laws: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma systematic review
Venue: The journal of trauma and acute care surgery

In the past decade, more than 300,000 people in the United States have died from firearm injuries. Our goal was to assess the effectiveness of two particular prevention strategies, restrictive licensing of firearms and concealed carry laws, on firearm related injuries in the US Restrictive Licensing was defined to include denials of ownership for various offenses, such as performing background checks for domestic violence and felony convictions. Concealed carry laws allow licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons.  A comprehensive review of the literature was performed. We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology to assess the breadth and quality of the data specific to our Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes (PICO) questions.  A total of 4673 studies were initially identified, then seven more added after two subsequent, additional literature reviews. Of these, 3,623 remained after removing duplicates; 225 case reports, case series, and reviews were excluded, and 3,379 studies were removed because they did not focus on prevention or did not address our comparators of interest. This left a total of 14 studies which merited inclusion for PICO 1 and 13 studies which merited inclusion for PICO 2.  We recommend the use of restrictive licensing to reduce firearm related injuries. PICO 2: We recommend against the use of concealed carry laws to reduce firearm related injuries. This committee found an association between more restrictive licensing and lower firearm injury rates. All 14 studies were population based, longitudinal, used modeling to control for covariates, and 11 of the 14 were multi state. Twelve of the studies reported reductions in firearm injuries, from 7% to 40% We found no consistent effect of concealed carry laws. Of note, the varied quality of the available data demonstrates a significant information gap, and this committee recommends that we as a society foster a nurturing and encouraging environment that can strengthen future evidence based guidelines.
HOW TO SEE THE CLASSROOM THROUGH THE EYES OF A TEACHER: CONSISTENCY BETWEEN PERCEPTIONS ON DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENTIATION PRACTICES

Nowadays, teachers must deal, as never before, with diversity in classrooms. Differentiation practices help teachers to address this diversity in an inclusive setting. However, teachers' perceptions about classroom heterogeneity are fundamental to examine whether they are competent to screen their pupils' needs. The present study used a qualitative research design in order to understand how four teachers who teach the same classroom of a secondary school recognise and address those diverse educational needs within a classroom. Results showed a distinct view of students' diversity within a classroom. Moreover, differentiation strategies to respond to this perceived diversity were only partially used.
Fracture Mechanics and Testing of Interface Adhesion Strength in Multilayered Structures Application in Advanced Solar PV Materials and Technology

Quantitative characterization techniques based on fracture mechanics were proposed and used to examine the interface strength in multilayered structures. Novel in situ micro fracture testing for nanolayers inside a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is developed to observe fracture evolution during bending deformation of nanolayered films. Other quantitative technique on interface fracture mechanics has been the 4 point bending or double cantilever beam bending methods. In this paper we will discuss about these two techniques and their applications. In particular, the Double Cantilever Beam bending test method using Delaminator v8.2 Adhesion testing system has been used to quantify the adhesion strength between the Solar PV backsheet and encapsulant. The environmental conditions in tropical countries makes the photovoltaics components vulnerable to salt mist and water vapour as well as acid penetration. Under moisture condition, the hydrolysis reaction of water vapour with backsheet materials release acetic acid, causing delamination and further corrosion of the encapsulant and inter metallic connectors on solar cells by the salt mist leading to electrical shorts, heat accumulation and fire. Understanding the interface strength between these two materials and its degradation with typical environments in tropical and near ocean regions is instrumental to enable robust and reliable solar PV technology for such regions.
The influence of individual executives on corporate financial reporting: A review and outlook from the perspective of upper echelons theory

In recent years, numerous studies have investigated whether individual executives and their characteristics relate to financial reporting choices. In this article, we review archival, experimental and survey research on the influence of individual executives on corporate financial reporting and use upper echelons theory as our organizing framework. Our review of 60 studies shows that research consistently finds that top management executives exert significant influence on financial reporting decisions, particularly on disclosure quality. Empirical research has developed promising approaches to investigate executives' psychological attributes and character traits. The results of studies examining the influence of demographic characteristics of individual executives are, however, sometimes contradictory and ambiguous. Nevertheless, the overall empirical results we review are supportive of upper echelons predictions. Additional research in this field is needed to clarify the influence of unexamined upper echelon characteristics, important moderator variables, and adverse selection effects. We also suggest that future research more closely investigates the magnitudes of managerial influence and adopts a more holistic perspective on financial reporting outcomes.
Reporting quality of N of 1 trials published between 1985 and 2013: a systematic review.
Venue: Journal of clinical epidemiology

To evaluate the quality of reporting of single patient (N of 1) trials published in the medical literature based on the CONSORT Extension for N of 1 Trials (CENT) statement and to examine factors that influence reporting quality in these trials.  Through a search of 10 electronic databases, we identified N of 1 trials in clinical medicine published between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2013. Two reviewers screened articles for eligibility and independently extracted data. Quality assessment was performed using the CENT statement. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus.  We identified 112 eligible N of 1 trials published in 87 journals and involving a total of 2,278 patients. Overall, kappa agreement between the two evaluators for compliance with CENT criteria was 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.79, 0.82) Trials assessed pharmacology and therapeutics (87% behavior (11% or diagnosis (2% Although 87% of articles described the trial design (including the planned number of subjects and length of treatment period) the median percentage of specific CENT elements reported in the Methods was 41% (range, 16 87% and the median percentage in the Results was 38% (range, 32 93% First authors were predominantly from North America (46% Europe (29% and Australia (17% Quality of reporting was higher in articles published in journals with relatively high impact factors (P 0.004) CONCLUSION The quality of reporting of published N of 1 trials is variable and in need of improvement. Because the CENT guidelines were not published until near the end of the period of this review, these results represent a baseline from which improvement may be expected in the future.
Achieving Sustainable Mine Waste Management Practices through Capacity Building of Stakeholder Engagement the Case of the Zambian Minerals Industry

Sustainable mine waste management is a matter that is always at the centre stage of the mining industry. This is because there has been a challenge in achieving sustainable mine waste management practices in the mining sector. It's a known fact that mining operations respect no boundaries and it is therefore important that every mining company directs its efforts towards the achievement of a sustainable mine waste management practice regardless of the geographical location. Despite the development of mine waste management practices which in most cases present good engineering designs on how mine waste should be disposed, achievement of a sustainable mine waste management practice in most cases has been a challenge. This is because there is always a demand from the communities and other stakeholders like governments and local authorities within which mining operations take place.This study, thus, endeavoured to focus mining companies towards capacity building in the area of stakeholders' engagement if sustainable mine waste management practice is to be achieved from commencement of any mining operation to the time of closure without incurring huge added costs.
Analyzing game musical immersion: the ALI model

While quantitative studies show overwhelming evidence that music and sound are crucial for video game immersion, the definition of game musical immersion itself has only been hinted at in very general terms. Ermi and Mayra (2005) maintain that game soundtracks lead to 'sensory' immersion; Karen Collins describes audiovisual involvement as 'imaginative immersion' (2008) Timothy Crick (2011) and Gordon Calleja (2011) contend that soundtracks rather induce an 'affective' involvement. These claims illustrate the lack of academic consensus and understanding of musical game immersion, and urge a systematic theorisation of this aspect of gaming to offer insight into questions pertaining to how musical player involvement is brought about or which factors play a role in it. It is the aim of this chapter to outline a research model that can bridge the gap between the practice of and the reflection on game music. The chapter proposes three overlapping, music specific working concepts leading to a comprehensive framework charting the conditions for and mechanics of musical player involvement. This framework, the ALI model, shows how musical affect, literacy and interaction cooperate in a process of signification, identification and play leading to game musical involvement. The chapter will explore each of the three components of the ALI model.
Gender Schema Theory

Gender schema theory describes how individuals process information related to gender. Accordingly, the theory posits that some people develop a lens through which phenomenon is sorted in terms of gender (sex typed) whereas others do not (non sex typed) A gender schema serves essentially as a cognitive filter through which one categorizes personal characteristics into masculine and feminine categories. Moreover, sex typed individuals are described as having a tendency to decide, on the basis of gender, which personal attributes are going to be associated with their self concept and which will not. Being schematic with regard to gender means having a readiness to sort information into gender categories even though differences could be grouped on dimensions unrelated to gender. Gender schema theory is not a global theory that claims to predict every part of an individual's gender psychology. Rather, it proposes to describe how people assimilate to cultural templates related to gender or become sex typed. Contemporary conceptions of gender identity challenge gender schema theory by illuminating critical factors such as identity dimension intersectionality, historical influences, and contextual fluidity.  femininities; gender; gender difference; gender socialization; masculinities
Exploring Collegiate Perceptions of Feminism Through Bem's Gender Schema Theory

Utilizing framework analysis (Pope, Ziebland, Mays, 2000) and Bem's (1981) gender schema theory, this study provides results from eight focus groups wherein an interdisciplinary team met with seven student organizations to discuss the interplay of feminism and interpersonal relationships. Findings suggest the more confident students feel in their conceptualization of feminism as promoting equality, the more likely they were to report comfort with friends and romantic relationships. Programming and policy implications for college campuses are explored.
Multimedia Exercise Training Program Improves Distance Walked, Heart Rate Recovery, and Self efficacy in Cardiac Surgery Patients
Venue: The Journal of cardiovascular nursing

Patient education has been shown to be more effective when delivered using multimedia than written materials. However, the effects of using multimedia to assist patients in cardiac rehabilitation have not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of an inpatient multimedia exercise training program on distance walked in the 6 minute walking test (6MWT) heart rate recovery, and walking self efficacy of patients who had undergone heart surgery. For this longitudinal quasi experimental study, 60 consecutive patients were assigned to an experimental (n 20; inpatient multimedia exercise training program) or control (n 40; routine care) group. Data were collected at 3 times (before surgery, 1 to 2 days before hospital discharge, and 1 month after hospital discharge) and analyzed with the generalized estimating equation approach. Most subjects were men (66.7% had a mean age of 61.32 13.4 years and left ventricular ejection fraction of 56.96% 13.28% and underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (n 34, 56.7% Subjects receiving the exercise training program showed significantly greater improvement than those in the control group in the 6MWT walking distance (P .001) heart rate recovery (P .04) and self efficacy (P .002) at hospital discharge. Furthermore, the intervention effects on 6MWT distance (P .001) and self efficacy (P .001) were sustained at 1 month after hospital discharge. Our inpatient multimedia exercise training program safely improved distance walked in the 6MWT, heart rate recovery, and self efficacy at hospital discharge in patients after heart surgery and maintained their improvement in 6MWT and self efficacy 1 month later.
Real time, automatic shape changing robot adjustment and gender classification
Venue: Signal Image Video Process.

This paper introduces the results of novel theoretical and practical studies aimed at providing automatic and accurate real time activation and adjustment of shape changing robots in accord to the shape of the body of the user. The proposed method consists of scanning, classifying the instances according to gender and size, performing analysis on both the user's body and the prospective garment, which is be virtually fitted, modelling, extracting measurements and assigning reference points on them, segmenting the 3D visual data imported from the shape changing robot, and finally, superimposing, adopting and depicting the resulting garment model on the user's body. The estimation process of the positions of the moving actuators for adjusting the shape changing robots tries to determine which input values could result in the closest representation of the desired sizes and distances through devising the mathematical description of a map relating them to each other. In order to classify the data obtained by the 3D scanner, first maximum likelihood function is used for selecting one of the shape changing robots, according to the presumed gender and size, to be activated, and subsequently, support vector machine is utilized so as to find out which shape template from the dictionary best matches the scanning instance being considered. As a use case, the proposed method is applied to the visual data obtained by scanning Fits.me's shape changing robots using 3D laser scanner. The methods currently used are manual, whereas the proposed method is automatic and the experimental results show that it is the accurate and reliable.
Poroelasticity of the Callovo Oxfordian Claystone
Venue: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

This work is devoted to an experimental investigation of the poroelastic behavior of the Callovo Oxfordian claystone, a potential host rock for the deep underground repository of high level radioactive waste in France. Drained, undrained, pore pressure loading and unjacketed tests were carried out in a specially designed isotropic compression cell to determine the poroelastic parameters of fully saturated specimens. Great care was devoted to the saturation procedure, and small loading rates were used to ensure full drainage conditions in drained and pore pressure tests (0.5 kPa/min) and in the unjacketed test (2 kPa/min) High precision strain measurements were performed by ensuring direct contact between the LVDT stems and the specimen. An analysis in the framework of transverse isotropic poroelasticity provided the Biot effective stress coefficients b1 (perpendicular to bedding) between 0.85 and 0.87 and b2 (parallel to bedding) between 0.90 and 0.98 under different stress conditions (pore pressure 4 MPa, total isotropic stresses of 14 and 12 MPa, respectively) A set of equivalent isotropic poroelastic parameters was also determined and a very good compatibility between the results of different tests was found, giving confidence in the parameters determined. The unjacketed test provided a directly reliable measurement of the unjacketed modulus (Ks 21.7 GPa) that was afterward confirmed by an indirect evaluation that showed the non dependency of Ks with respect to the stress level. These parameters were obtained for specimens cored and trimmed in the laboratory. A parametric study was then conducted so as to provide an estimation of the parameters in situ, i.e. not submitted to the damage supported by laboratory specimens. A minimal value b 0.77 seems to be a reasonable lower bound for the equivalent isotropic Biot parameter.
Effect of a partial saturation on the hydromechanical response of a clay rock

The behaviour of claystones and shales ispresently investigated in details in link with their potential use as host rock for radioactive waste disposal at great depth. Claystones are very sensitive to changes in water content, with an increase of their mechanical properties with desaturation under increased suction. Claystones have standard water retention properties but some effect of hydric damage is observed after a drying wetting cycle that results in enhanced swelling. The microstructure of the Callovo Oxfordian claystone tested here is characterized by a clay matrix (50% clay fraction) made up of clay platelets that can be assimilated to bricks. The pore size distribution is well organized around a mean diameter of 32nm that provides an idea of the mean thickness of the platelets. A stress release at constant water content results in a swelling and desaturation due to an internal transfer from free inter platelets water to linked intra platelets water.