bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral doxycycline pharmacokinetics: Lambs in comparison with sheep
Authors: Mileva Rositsa , Subev Sasho , Gehring Ronette , Milanova Aneliya 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe pharmacokinetics of doxycycline was investigated in lactating sheep and lambs after oral administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Concentrations in plasma and milk were assayed with HPLC‐PDA analysis. Doxycycline penetrates into the milk, and levels (0.38 ± 0.21 μg/ml) were found 0.5 hr after the treatment. The results suggest that the lambs can be exposed to doxycycline by suckling milk from their treated mothers. Population pharmacokinetic analysis showed a positive relationship between age, which reflects the stage of development of rumen function, and clearance. Possible explanations for the observed differences include the undeveloped rumen in lambs, the differences in the feed and liver function as evidenced by the blood biochemical parameters aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which were significantly lower in lambs (62.67 ± 27.83 U/L and 8.50 ± 6.80 U/L) than in sheep (114.33 ± 20.77 U/L and 18.00 ± 3.16 U/L).
Sequence and transcript expression of the super‐kdr locus of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans
Authors: Domingues L. N. , Solis G. D. , Bendele K. G. , Foil L. D. , Perez de Leon A. A. , Guerrero F. D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn horn flies, Haematobia irritans irritans (Diptera: Muscidae) (Linnaeus, 1758), target site resistance to pyrethroids can be diagnosed by an allele‐specific PCR that genotypes individual flies at both the super‐kdr (skdr) and the knock down resistance (kdr) associated loci. When this technique uses genomic DNA as template, modifications, such as alternative RNA splicing and RNA editing are not specifically detected. Alternative splicing at the skdr locus has been reported in Dipterans; thus, the genomic DNA‐based allele‐specific PCR may not accurately reflect the frequency of the skdr mutation in horn fly field populations. To investigate if alternative splicing occurs at the skdr locus of horn flies, genomic DNA and cDNA sequences isolated from two wild populations and two laboratory‐reared colonies with varying degrees of pyrethroid resistance were compared. There was no indication of alternative splicing at the super‐kdr locus neither in the wild populations nor in the laboratory‐reared colonies.
Pilot randomized trial of brief school‐based mentoring for middle school students with elevated disruptive behavior
Authors: McQuillin Samuel D. , McDaniel Heather L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe report a pilot study of a brief (i.e., 10 sessions) goal‐focused mentoring program for middle school students with elevated disruptive behavior. Students with high levels of school misconduct (n = 67) were randomly assigned to the program or school as usual. We collected multi‐informant emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning assessments pre‐ and postintervention. Results indicate that the program produced significant positive changes in school behavioral infractions, math grades, students’ report of emotional symptoms, and school problems. Mentors found the curriculum acceptable, understood the material from the manual, found implementing the curriculum feasible, and felt the program was congruent with the school mission. Mentors of less impaired students indicated that they desired additional support implementing the manual, perhaps indicating the program is overengineered for students with higher levels of impairment. The manuscript concludes with a discussion of considerations for future research and implementation, including the importance of integrating mentoring programs into existing support systems (e.g., multitiered systems of support) within the school context.
De‐ubiquitinases on the move: an emerging field in plant biology
Authors: Majumdar P. , Nath U. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA balance between the synthesis and degradation of active proteins governs diverse cellular processes in plants, spanning from cell‐cycle progression and circadian rhythm to the outcome of several hormone signalling pathways. Ubiquitin‐mediated post‐translational modification determines the degradative fate of the target proteins, thereby altering the output of cellular processes. An equally important, and perhaps under‐appreciated, aspect of this pathway is the antagonistic process of de‐ubiquitination. De‐ubiquitinases (DUBs), a group of processing enzymes, play an important role in maintaining cellular ubiquitin homeostasis by hydrolyzing ubiquitin poly‐proteins and free poly‐ubiquitin chains into mono‐ubiquitin. Further, DUBs rescue the cellular proteins from 26S proteasome‐mediated degradation to their active form by cleaving the poly‐ubiquitin chain from the target protein. Any perturbation in DUB activity is likely to affect proteostasis and downstream cellular processes. This review illustrates recent findings on the biological significance and mechanisms of action of the DUBs in Arabidopsis thaliana, with an emphasis on ubiquitin‐specific proteases (UBPs), the largest family among the DUBs. We focus on the putative roles of various protein–protein interaction interfaces in DUBs and their generalized function in ubiquitin recycling, along with their pre‐eminent role in plant development.
A Spatially Varying Distributed Lag Model with Application to an Air Pollution and Term Low Birth Weight Study
Authors: Warren Joshua L. , Luben Thomas J. , Chang Howard H. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryDistributed lag models have been used to identify critical pregnancy periods of exposure (i.e. critical exposure windows) to air pollution in studies of pregnancy outcomes. However, much of the previous work in this area has ignored the possibility of spatial variability in the lagged health effect parameters that may result from exposure characteristics and/or residual confounding. We develop a spatially varying Gaussian process model for critical windows called ‘SpGPCW’ and use it to investigate geographic variability in the association between term low birth weight and average weekly concentrations of ozone and PM2.5 during pregnancy by using birth records from North Carolina. SpGPCW is designed to accommodate areal level spatial correlation between lagged health effect parameters and temporal smoothness in risk estimation across pregnancy. Through simulation and a real data application, we show that the consequences of ignoring spatial variability in the lagged health effect parameters include less reliable inference for the parameters and diminished ability to identify true critical window sets, and we investigate the use of existing Bayesian model comparison techniques as tools for determining the presence of spatial variability. We find that exposure to PM2.5 is associated with elevated term low birth weight risk in selected weeks and counties and that ignoring spatial variability results in null associations during these periods. An R package (SpGPCW) has been developed to implement the new method.
Measuring the Financial Cycle in South Africa
Authors: Farrell Greg , Kemp Esti 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe measure the financial cycle of South Africa using three different methodologies. The financial cycle is identified using credit, house prices and equity prices as indicators, and estimated using traditional turning‐point analysis, frequency‐based filters and an unobserved components model‐based approach. We then consider the financial cycle’s main characteristics and examine its relationships with the business cycle. We confirm the presence of a financial cycle in South Africa that has a longer duration and a larger amplitude than the traditional business cycle. Developments in measures of credit and house prices are important indicators of the financial cycle, although the case for including equity prices in the measures is less certain. Periods where financial conditions are stressed are associated with peaks in the financial cycle, suggesting that the estimated financial cycle may have similar leading indicator properties to financial conditions or stress indices.
Perception, Content, Generality
Authors: Giananti Andrea 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHow does perceptual experience disclose the world to us? According to the content view (CV), visual perceptual consciousness entails representational content. According to pure relationalism, perception is a non‐representational relation between a subject and an object. In this article, I argue that CV‐theorists are implicitly committed to the claim that there is an element of generality in perception, and I show how pure relationalists would emphasize the particularity of perception, instead of its generality. But I also argue that there are good epistemological and phenomenological reasons for thinking that there is generality in perception. In particular, I focus on Brewer's purely relationalist account and I argue that it either fails to satisfy important phenomenological and epistemological requirements, or it introduces generality in a way that makes it collapse into CV. I contend that construing the debate between CV and pure relationalism in light of particularity and generality advances our understanding of how perceptual experience discloses the world to us, as well as strengthening the standing of CV.
Adiabatic Absorption by Absorbent Atomization for Improving Absorption Heat Transformer Performance
Authors: Evron Yigal , Gommed Khaled , Grossman Gershon 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Absorption heat transformers (AHTs) are a type of absorption heat pumps that are primarily driven by low-grade (typically waste) heat and produce higher temperature (high-grade) heat. Under the Indus3Es project, a 10 kW LiBr-H2O “Lab Scale” absorption heat transformer was built as a first experimental step toward larger scales. The focus was on the high-pressure vessel (HPV) (absorber and evaporator) design. To enhance performance, the aim was to obtain complete adiabatic absorption prior to the main absorption process accompanied by heat transfer. This maximizes the temperature within the absorber. This is particularly beneficial for absorption heat transformers, compared to chillers, because obtaining an elevated temperature is the objective. To obtain adiabatic absorption, atomizing spray nozzles were used as the liquid absorbent distribution system. This method proved successful; complete adiabatic absorption was obtained before the droplets contacted the absorber heat exchange surfaces. However, the spray nozzles must be supplied with pressurized liquid and are potentially more delicate than alternative liquid distribution systems. Therefore, future work may focus on determining the required atomization level to avoid excessive pressures and nozzle requirements.
Comparative Study on Dynamic Characteristics of Double-Pad Inwardly and Outwardly Pumping Water-Lubricated Spiral-Groove Thrust Bearings
Authors: Zhang Shaowen , Jiang Shuyun , Lin Xiaohui 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe dynamic characteristics of the double-pad inwardly pumping water-lubricated spiral-groove thrust bearing (SGTB) is different from that of the outwardly pumping version, especially under a high-speed condition. However, no literature on this topic can be found up to now. In this study, a comparative study on the dynamic characteristics of the two types of SGTBs is conducted. First, a turbulent lubrication model considering centrifugal and cavitating effects for the double-pad SGTB is developed based on gas–liquid two-phase flow. The steady-state and perturbed Reynolds equations of liquid phase are derived using linear perturbation method. Subsequently, the boundary fitted coordinate system and control volume method are applied to solve the Reynolds equations. Then, the axial stiffness coefficients of high-speed water-lubricated bearings are verified by an experimental study. Finally, the influence of operating conditions and configuration parameters on the dynamic behaviors for the two types of SGTBs is investigated. The results show that the double-pad outwardly pumping bearing is superior to the inwardly pumping version in all the dynamic coefficients when the radius ratio exceeds 0.65. When the tilt angle exceeds 1.2 × 10−4 as well as when the eccentricity ratio exceeds 0.7, the dynamic damping, angular and cross-coupled stiffness coefficients of the outwardly pumping bearing may be larger than those of the inwardly pumping one.
Transition to quantitative faecal immunochemical testing from guaiac faecal occult blood testing in a fully rolled-out population-based national bowel screening programme
Authors: Clark Gavin , Strachan Judith A , Carey Frank A , Godfrey Thomas , Irvine Audrey , McPherson Alisson , Brand Jess , Anderson Annie S , Fraser Callum G , Steele Robert JC 
Published: March 2020

ObjectiveFaecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are replacing guaiac faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Data from the first year of FIT screening were compared with those from FOBT screening and assumptions based on a pilot evaluation of FIT.DesignData on uptake, positivity, positive predictive value (PPV) for CRC and higher-risk adenoma from participants in the first year of the FIT-based Scottish Bowel Screening Programme (n=919 665), with a threshold of 80 µg Hb/g faeces, were compared with those from the penultimate year of the FOBT-based programme (n=862 165) and those from the FIT evaluation (n=66 225).ResultsOverall, uptake of FIT was 63.9% compared with 56.4% for FOBT. Positivity was 3.1% and 2.2% with FIT and FOBT; increases were seen in both sexes, and across age range and deprivation. More CRC and adenomas were detected by FIT, but the PPV for CRC was less (5.2% with FIT and 6.4% with FOBT). However, for higher-risk adenoma, PPV was greater with FIT (24.3% with FIT and 19.3% with FOBT). In the previous FIT evaluation, uptake was 58.5% with FIT compared with 54.0% with FOBT; positivity was 2.5% with FIT and 2.0% with FOBT.ConclusionTransition to FIT from FOBT produced higher uptake and positivity with lower PPV for CRC and higher PPV for adenoma. The FIT pilot evaluation underestimated uptake and positivity. Introducing FIT at the same threshold as the evaluation caused a 67.2% increase in colonoscopy demand instead of a predicted 10%.
Long-term safety and effectiveness of natalizumab treatment in clinical practice: 10 years of real-world data from the Tysabri Observational Program (TOP)
Authors: Butzkueven Helmut , Kappos Ludwig , Wiendl Heinz , Trojano Maria , Spelman Tim , Chang Ih , Kasliwal Rachna , Jaitly Seema , Campbell Nolan , Ho Pei-Ran , Licata Stephanie 
Published: March 2020

ObjectiveThe Tysabri Observational Programme (TOP), which began >10 years ago, is an open-label, multinational, prospective observational study evaluating the long-term safety and effectiveness of natalizumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.MethodsThese data provide a 10-year interim analysis of safety and effectiveness in TOP. Annualised relapse rates (ARRs) and disability progression/improvement were analysed using the Poisson model and the Kaplan-Meier method, respectively. Analyses included patients on natalizumab and those who discontinued natalizumab but remained in TOP.ResultsAs of November 2017, TOP included 6148 patients. Overall, 829 patients (13.5%) experienced ≥1 serious adverse event (SAE), with infection the most common (4.1%). Fifty-three patients (0.9%) had confirmed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. SAE data were consistent with natalizumab’s known safety profile; no new safety signals were identified. A total of 3210 patients (52.2%) discontinued natalizumab; 2117 (34.4%) withdrew from TOP. Median time on natalizumab was 3.3 (range 0–11.6) years; median follow-up time was 5.2 (range 0–10.8) years. The on-natalizumab ARR was 0.15, a 92.5% reduction from the year before initiation. Ten-year cumulative probabilities of disability worsening and improvement were 27.8% and 33.1%, respectively. On-natalizumab ARRs were similar between patients who discontinued or remained on natalizumab, suggesting limited attrition bias.ConclusionsSince the TOP 5-year interim analysis (December 2012), cohort size (6148 vs 4821), median exposure (3.3 vs 1.8 years) and median follow-up time (62 vs 26 months) have increased. This 10-year interim analysis further supports the robust real-world effectiveness and well-established safety profile of natalizumab.Trial registration numberNCT00493298.
Serum homocysteine and risk of dementia in Japan
Authors: Chen Sanmei , Honda Takanori , Ohara Tomoyuki , Hata Jun , Hirakawa Yoichiro , Yoshida Daigo , Shibata Mao , Sakata Satoko , Oishi Emi , Furuta Yoshihiko , Kitazono Takanari , Ninomiya Toshiharu 
Published: March 2020

ObjectiveTo examine the association between serum total homocysteine levels (tHcy) and dementia risk.MethodsA total of 1588 Japanese adults aged ≥60 years without dementia were prospectively followed from 2002 to 2012. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to estimate the HRs of tHcy levels on the risk of dementia.ResultsDuring the follow-up, 372 subjects developed all-cause dementia; 247 had Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and 98 had vascular dementia (VaD). Compared with the lowest tHcy quintile (≤6.4 µmol/L), the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) of the highest quintile (≥11.5 µmol/L) were 2.28 (1.51–3.43) for all-cause dementia, 1.96 (1.19–3.24) for AD and 2.51 (1.14–5.51) for VaD. In restricted cubic splines, the risk of all-cause dementia steadily increased between approximately 8–15 µmol/L and plateaued thereafter, with a similar non-linear shape observed for AD and VaD (all p for non-linearity ≤0.02). In stratified analyses by the most recognised genetic polymorphism affecting tHcy concentrations (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T), the positive association of tHcy with all-cause dementia persisted in both non-carriers and carriers of the risk allele, and even tended to be stronger in the former (p for heterogeneity=0.07).ConclusionHigh serum tHcy levels are associated with an elevated risk of dementia, AD and VaD in a non-linear manner, such that an exposure-response association is present only within a relatively high range of tHcy levels. Non-genetic factors affecting serum tHcy concentrations may play important roles in tHcy-dementia associations irrespective of the genetic susceptibility for raised tHcy.
Novel electrocardiography parameter for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in acute ischaemic stroke patients: P wave peak time
Authors: Öz Ahmet , Cinar Tufan , Kızılto Güler Cansu , Efe Süleyman Çağan , Emre Ufuk , Karabağ Turgut , Ayça Burak 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIntroductionIn this study, we aimed to investigate the usefulness of P wave peak time (PWPT), a novel ECG parameter, in patients who were diagnosed with acute ischaemic stroke (IS) and had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) on Holter monitoring.Materials and methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we included 90 consecutive patients with acute IS who were admitted to our hospital between January 2017 and July 2019. PWPT was described as the time from the beginning of the P wave to its peak, and it was measured from leads DII and VI. The PAF diagnosis was confirmed if it was detected on the ECG during palpitation or in rhythm during the Holter recordings.ResultsIn this study, 34 (37.7%) patients with acute IS were diagnosed with PAF. In multivariate analyses, the independent predictors of PAF were age, PWPT in lead VI and PWPT in lead DII (OR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.56; p&lt;0.001). A receiver operating curve analysis demonstrated that area under the curve values for PWPT in lead DII for PAF were 0.88 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.95, p&lt;0.001). The cut-off value for PWPT in lead DII in predicting PAF was 68.5 ms with a sensitivity of 82.4% and a specificity of 75.0%.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a significant relationship between PWPT in lead DII and PAF among patients with acute IS.
Are e-cigarettes reviving the popularity of conventional smoking among Taiwanese male adolescents? A time-trend population-based analysis for 2004-2017
Authors: Gao Wayne , Sanna Mattia , Chuluunbaatar Enkhzaya , Tsai Min-Kuang , Levy David T , Wen Chi Pang 
Published: March 2020

IntroductionIn Taiwan, national tobacco use surveys show that e-cigarette use has increased since 2014 among youth, while, at the same time, conventional cigarette smoking has continuously decreased. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the increased popularity of e-cigarettes has undermined this favourable declining trend for cigarette smoking.MethodsWe examined conventional cigarette and e-cigarette prevalence among male high school students (aged 16–18 years) and adults from 2004 to 2017, using data from cross-sectional nationally representative surveys. Applying interrupted time series analysis, we assessed whether there was a change in trend in 2014, when e-cigarette use started to gain popularity from long-term trends in prior years (2004–2013).ResultsE-cigarette use prevalence increased from 2.5% in 2014 to 6.4% in 2017 among male high school students but was negligible among male adults, declining from 1.4% in 2015 to 0.8% in 2017. The annual relative decline in the cigarette smoking rate after e-cigarettes started to gain popularity was greater (−10%) than the long-term trend (−2%) among high school students. Among adults, the change in trend over time after e-cigarettes started to gain popularity was not significant (ie, not significantly different from 0).ConclusionsThe increased popularity of e-cigarettes since 2014 is associated with a greater decline in youth smoking, compared with previous years. On the contrary, e-cigarette use has remained very low among Taiwanese male adults and no additional impact on the conventional smoking trend is found.
Gauge dependences of higher-order corrections to NMSSM Higgs boson masses and the charged Higgs Decay $${H^{\pm } \rightarrow W^\pm h_{i}}$$
Authors: Dao Thi Nhung , Fritz Lukas , Krause Marcel , Mühlleitner Margarete , Patel Shruti 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this paper we compute the electroweak corrections to the charged Higgs boson decay into a W boson and a neutral Higgs boson in the CP-conserving NMSSM. We calculate the process in a general $$R_\xi $$Rξ gauge and investigate the dependence of the loop-corrected decay width on the gauge parameter $$\xi $$ξ. The gauge dependence arises from the mixing of different loop orders. Phenomenology requires the inclusion of mass and mixing corrections to the external Higgs bosons in order to match the experimentally measured mass values. As a result, we move away from a strict one-loop calculation and consequently mix orders in perturbation theory. Moreover, determination of the loop-corrected masses in an iterative procedure also results in the mixing of different loop orders. Gauge dependence then arises from the mismatch with tree-level Goldstone boson couplings that are applied in the loop calculation, and from the gauge dependence of the loop-corrected masses themselves. We find that the gauge dependence is significant.