1,721,024 research outputs found

    Azoospermia

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    Azoospermia is defined as the complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate even after centrifugation. With a prevalence of 1 % among the general male population and 10-15 % among infertile men, it can be classified in two large groups: Obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia (OA and NOA). The first is caused by an obstruction in the seminal tract (epididymis, vas, ejaculatory ducts), and the latter is due to impaired sperm production by the testis because of congenital maldevelopment and genetic, hormonal and acquired conditions. Diagnostic workup of azoospermia includes personal and familiar history, clinical evaluation, hormonal and semen biochemical assessment, scrotal and distal seminal tract transrectal ultrasounds and invasive investigations such as testicular fine needle aspiration, open biopsy and, in selected cases, vasography. OA can be treated by surgical recanalization of the seminal tract or sperm retrieval for ART. NOA treatment is represented by sperm retrieval for ART. Only the rare cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism might benefit from a medical treatment. MicroTESE has recently been proposed as an optimal method for sperm retrieval in NOA, and we describe a novel stepwise approach of this technique to reduce invasivity

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The 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

    Variations on the Author

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    “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

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    We 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

    Combined reporting of surgical quality, cancer control and functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder into a novel trifecta

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    Background: to Optimize Outcomes Reporting After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy (Rarc) With Intracorporeal Orthotopic Neobladder (Ion), We Propose a Novel Trifecta, Aimed to Overcome The Available Pentafectas That Neglect FuncTional Outcomes. Methods: a Retrospective Analysis of Prospectively Maintained Rarc-Ion Dataset Was Performed. Baseline DemoGraphic, Clinical, Pathologic, Perioperative and Follow-Up Data Were Collected. Trifecta Was Defined As The Coexistence of Daytime Urinary Continence, Clavien-Dindo ≥3 Complication-Free and Recurrence-Free Status, All Assessed At 1 Year. Kaplan-Meier Method Assessed The Role of Trifecta Achievement In Predicting Overall Survival (Os) Probabilities. UniVariable and Multivariable Regression Analyses Identified Predictors of Trifecta Achievement. The Predictive Accuracy of Trifecta and Other Pentafectas On 3-Year Os Probability Was Plotted With Receiver Operating Characteristic (Roc) Analyses. Results: The Trifecta Rate Was 53% While 62% and 47% of Patients Achieved The University of Southern California (Usc-P) and Prometrics Group (Prom-P) Pentafectas, Respectively. On Tertile Analysis, Both Trifecta (P=0.011) and Usc-P (P=0.043) Rates Significantly Increased With Surgical Experience, While Prom-P Did Not (P=0.204). On Roc Analysis, Trifecta Was The Only Significant Predictor of 3-Year Os Probability (Auc=0.69, 95% Ci:0.55-0.82; P=0.018). On Kaplan-Meier Analysis, Patients Achieving Trifecta Displayed Significantly Higher Os Probability (P=0.032); Adjusted for Covariates, Each Incremental Case Was Associated With a 2% Increased Probability (or: 1.02) of Achieving Trifecta On Multivariable Regression Model. Conclusions: Learning Curve In Rarc-Ion Has a Significant Impact On Achievement of Trifecta. This Tool Combines Accurate Measurement of Surgical Proficiency With An Independent Predictive Value In Assessing 3-Year Os Probabilities

    Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts

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    We 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

    Author Index

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    koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist

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    We 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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