1,721,013 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Drop-out of children with end stage kidney failure from chronic Peritoneal dialysis and associated factors; a ten year review at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH), Cape Town, South Africa
Full text linkIntroduction: Dialysis is a temporary renal replacement therapy (RRT) to keep the child healthy and alive when in end stage kidney failure (ESKF) while being worked up for kidney transplant, the preferred treatment. Chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred first choice of dialysis modality in many centers because of its advantages over hemodialysis (HD). In recent years, there have been advances to improve the performance and survival of PD as a modality for renal replacement. Despite these improvements, complications still arise, sometimes warranting a switch to HD. We sought to investigate the extent to which children at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) drop-out from chronic PD and describe some of the reasons for this drop-out. Objectives: To describe the rate of drop-out of children with ESKD from chronic PD, the timing and factors associated with this drop-out at RCWMCH. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study, carried out in the renal ward, E2, of RCWMCH in Cape Town. Eligible participants were identified from the renal transplant waiting lists over the study period. Patient folders were retrieved following ethical approval, for extraction of relevant data. Outcome measures: Proportion dropping-out during the study period (permanent switch to HD or death from PD related complications), factors associated with dropout and time from initiation of chronic PD to drop-out. Utility of the study: Findings from this study will help in designing strategies to improve chronic PD patient outcomes, prolongation of PD technique survival and reducing the costs of chronic dialysis at RCWMCH. Results: A total of 111 children were listed for transplantation between January 2009 and December 2018, 67 were treated with PD. Complete data was available for 52 of the 67 children who received PD. Overall, 17/52 (32.7%) dropped-out during the study period. Most (>50%) of them dropped-out within the first 1-2 years of being on PD. The only significant associated factor was one or more episodes of peritonitis. Recommendation: There is a need to step up measures to prevent peritonitis in chronic PD patients so as to prolong stay on PD until a kidney transplant is available, as well as improve kidney transplantation rates. Dissemination of results: Results were presented at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Day 2019 and at the world congress of nephrology international conference 2021. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer reviewed journal
Acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa - a five-and half-year descriptive review
Full text linkBackground: Acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN), although not a common cause of progressive kidney failure, is an important cause of paediatric hospital admission, parental worry, and acute kidney injury (AKI). In well-resourced settings, there has been a decline over the last three decades in the incidence of APSGN in children with this condition almost disappearing in Central Europe. However, this is not the case in less privileged countries such as in South Africa (SA) where APSGN is still a major public health problem and a frequent cause of paediatric hospital admission and AKI. Nevertheless, APSGN in South Africa has not been studied adequately in recent times and not currently addressed as an important public health issue. Objectives: In this retrospective study we describe the occurrence of APSGN, the aetiology, clinical presentation, and complications among children (<14years) admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) in Cape Town, SA from January 2015 to June 2020. Methods: The hospital electronic database with recorded ICD-10 coding was used to identify potential cases of acute nephritic syndrome. Children were included if they presented with at least two signs of acute nephritis, associated with evidence of activation of an alternative pathway complement system (low C3 serum level) or clinical and serological evidence of previous or current streptococcal infection. Demographic, clinical features, investigations, management, and outcome data were collected. Data were presented as median and interquartile ranges (IQR) or means and standard deviation (SD) depending on normality of data while proportions of categorical data were presented as percentages. Population incidences were calculated from the four major health districts within the drainage areas for RCWMCH. This study was conducted in accordance with the 2013 Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by RCWMCH administration and the University of Cape Town's Human Research Ethics Committee, (HREC: 623/2020). Results: There were 157 children with suspected acute nephritic syndrome (haematuria, oedema, oliguria and hypertension), of whom 96 met the inclusion criteria and were recruited. Of the 96 children included in the study, 89 (93%) cases had confirmed APSGN, and seven (7%) children had a clinical diagnosis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), with positive streptococcal serology and crescentic glomerulonephritis in the kidney biopsy. APSGN occurred in 61 (63%) children aged five to ten years with 62 (65%) males (ratio of 1.9:1). APSGN was more often associated with streptococcal skin infections (55%). The majority 95 (99%) of cases presented with haematuria, while proteinuria was noted in 85 children. Seventy-one (74%) children presented in stage 2 hypertension, with 10 (10%) presenting with hypertensive seizures. Serum C3 levels were low in 83 (87%) children. 90 (94%) children had elevated anti-deoxyribonuclease B antibodies (anti-DNase-B) levels, and 77 (80%) also had elevated anti-streptolysin O titres (ASOT) titres at presentation. Eighty-eight (92%) children received a diuretic agent, 60 (63%) required an anti-hypertensive agent, and 90 (94%) received a penicillin antibiotic for 10 days. The median length of hospital stay was five (IQR 3-6) days. There were no deaths. Eighty-one (85%) children with APSGN recovered. Five (5%) progressed to end stage kidney disease (ESKD). A percutaneous kidney biopsy was indicated in eleven (11%) children. Seven (64%) biopsies confirmed type II crescentic glomerulonephritis, and four (36%) biopsies showed histological features of post-infectious nephritis. Conclusion: APSGN during childhood remains an important health problem in SA and commonly follows streptococcal skin infection. The outcome is favourable in most children; however, our study revealed an important sub-group with crescentic glomerulonephritis who progressed to ESKD. We recommend active case seeking at primary care level by checking urine dipstick, blood pressure and serum creatinine and better post-discharge follow up
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Indication for and outcomes of continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) and High Flow Nasal Cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) in children admitted to Red Cross War Memorial's Hospital (RCWMCH) excluding those with primary respiratory aetiologies
Full text linkAim: Noninvasive Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) and High Flow Nasal Cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) are non-invasive ventilation (NIV) modalities appropriate for children in developing countries. There is minimal literature describing nCPAP and HFNC use in children with respiratory compromise secondary to non-pulmonary disease. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of all children without primary lung pathology, who received nCPAP and HFNC during their admission to Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of routinely collected data, between August 2015 and January 2016. Primary and secondary outcome measures were NIV failure (progression to intubation and invasive ventilation) and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission respectively. Comparative statistics were conducted using Mann-Whitney U tests. Data significantly associated with the primary and secondary outcomes on univariate analysis were entered into backward stepwise logistic regression models to determine independent predictive factors. Results: There were 31 cases of nCPAP and one case of HFNC use in 31 patients (median (IQR) age 3.5 (1.8 – 7.6) months. The majority (n=23; 71.9%) presented with primary diarrhoeal disease. There were two deaths (6.5%), 17 (53.1%) Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) admissions, and five (15.6%) cases received invasive ventilation (NIV failure). Median (IQR) duration of hospital stay was 11.50 (6.0 – 17.5) days. Patients who failed NIV had lower admission SaO2 than those without treatment failure (95 (95-99)% vs 100 (100-100)%; p = 0.03). On multiple logistic regression, lower temperature (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.05 – 0.78; p = 0.02) and receiving inotropes in the emergency setting, (OR 23.05; 95% CI 1.64 – 325.06; p = 0.02) were independently associated with PICU admission. Conclusions: nCPAP is used clinically for the management of children with respiratory compromise secondary to non-pulmonary illnesses, particularly diarrhoeal disease. Larger controlled clinical studies are needed to determine the effectiveness and utility of nCPAP in this population. HFNC was not commonly used, and this modality requires further investigation in this population
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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