bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CT-guided drainage of a brainstem abscess in a cat as an emergency treatment procedure
Authors: Bersan Erika , Maddox Thomas , Walmsley Gemma , Piviani Martina , Burrow Rachel 
Published: February 2020

Case summary A 3-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 1-week progressive and rapidly deteriorating history of lethargy and abnormal behaviour. Neurolocalisation indicated multifocal intracranial lesions (right oculomotor nerve, brainstem [obtundation, non-ambulatory tetraparesis, vestibular dysfunction and intermittent decerebrate rigidity] and possibly the thalamus [left-sided pleurothotonus]), or more likely a single brainstem lesion with mass effect. MRI of the brain demonstrated a brainstem abscess causing severe dorsal displacement particularly affecting the pons and the medulla oblongata causing cerebellar vermis herniation through the foramen magnum. CT-guided free-hand technique drainage of the brain abscess was performed and broad spectrum antibiotics were started based on sensitivity results. The cat recovered uneventfully from anaesthesia displaying marked improvement immediately after the procedure. Antibiotics were continued for 8 months; repeat imaging prior to withdrawal found complete resolution of the brainstem abscess. Relevance and novel information Free-hand CT-guided drainage of a brainstem abscess is not without risk; however, in this case it led to significant clinical improvement and stabilisation likely owing to reduced intracranial pressure. It also provided a diagnostic sample that allowed successful medical treatment planning and outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the successful management of a brainstem abscess by CT-guided drainage in the veterinary literature. It suggests that stereotactic drainage followed by medical therapy can be considered a successful therapeutic alternative to brain surgery or medical treatment alone, providing an emergency treatment in cases of acute brainstem dysfunction.
Ambedkar’s Educational Odyssey, 1913–1927
Authors: Krishnamurty J. 
Published: February 2020

I have attempted to provide an accurate timeline for Ambedkar’s incredible educational achievements between 1913 and 1927. Although there is wealth of literature on Ambedkar’s life, ambiguities and errors abound. I have therefore examined afresh archival material and secondary sources. Besides preparing several other manuscripts and papers in economics, Ambedkar secured his MSc and DSc degrees from London and published two major books, one on monetary policy and the other on fiscal policy. One was the basis on which he was awarded his Columbia PhD degree. It also appears that an earlier doctoral thesis draft prepared in 1917 was lost at sea. At the same time, he acquired his professional qualification as a lawyer, being called to the bar in 1920. Ambedkar’s relations with his supervisors were harmonious and he appears to have been treated well by them. Ambedkar produced a large and varied body of original work under the most difficult of conditions. In the light of the above the fact which I also establish that he was not the first Indian to obtain a doctoral degree in economics pales into insignificance.
Bilateral Macular Holes in Adult Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy
Authors: Regan Kathleen A. , Gottlieb Justin L. 
Published: February 2020

Purpose: This report describes a case of bilateral macular holes (MHs) in adult vitelliform macular dystrophy (AVMD). Methods: A retrospective case report of a patient with AVMD and sequential onset of bilateral MHs is presented. Results: Bilateral MHs were observed after vitreomacular traction was identified on optical coherence tomography. Holes in both eyes were repaired with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with C3F8 (perfluoropropane) gas tamponade; only the right eye underwent internal limiting membrane peeling. In the right eye, 2 PPVs were required for hole closure. In both eyes, long-term atrophy of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium was observed. Conclusions: MHs in AVMD may be preceded by vitreomacular traction. Surgical repair with PPV and gas tamponade was successful. Retinal and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy developed postoperatively, but the patient’s vision still improved.
Automatic Scallion Seedling Feeding Mechanism with an Asymmetrical High-order Transmission Gear Train
Authors: Zhao Xiong , Ye Jun , Chu Mengyan , Dai Li , Chen Jianneng 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe current automatic scallion-transplanting machine is a complicated mechanism composed of two linkage mechanisms and two band carriers. It delivers seedlings inefficiently because of the movement limitations of the linkage mechanism. This paper proposes a new high-order non-circular gear train for an automatic scallion-seedling feeding mechanism. The proposed gear train has an asymmetrical transmission ratio; i.e., its transmission ratio varies. This allows the mechanism’s execution component to move in a long displacement and rotate in a large rotation angle. The long displacement enables the execution component to reach the designed working position, and the large rotation angle allows it to feed a scallion in the required pose. A mathematical model for calculating the asymmetrical transmission ratio was established according to the closure requirements and the full-cycle motion of the driven gear pitch curve. Then, the parameter-design model of the new seedling-feeding mechanism was established, based on precise pose points and trajectory-shape control points. Moreover, an aided-design program was developed to obtain the parameter-solution domain of the scallion-seedling feeding mechanism. The mechanism parameters, which met the seedling-feeding function, were optimized to determine the transmission ratio, using a program and a kinematic simulation. Finally, a prototype of the mechanism was produced, and a seedling-feeding experiment was carried out. One-thousand seedlings were tested at a rate of 100 seedlings per minute, and the statistical success rate was 93.4%. Thus, the automatic scallion-seedling feeding mechanism significantly improves the efficiency of automatically transplanting scallions.
Genotype-by-environment interaction in coast redwood outside natural distribution - search for environmental cues
Authors: Klápště Jaroslav , Meason Dean , Dungey Heidi S. , Telfer Emily J. , Silcock Paul , Rapley Simon 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Effective matching of genotypes and environments is required for the species to reach optimal productivity and act effectively for carbon sequestration. A common garden experiment across five different environments was undertaken to assess genotype x environment interaction (GxE) of coast redwood in order to understand the performance of genotypes across environments.

Results
The quantitative genetic analysis discovered no GxE between investigated environments for diameter at breast height (DBH). However, no genetic component was detected at one environment possibly due to stressful conditions. The implementation of universal response function allowed for the identification of important environmental factors affecting species productivity. Additionally, this approach enabled us to predict the performance of species across the New Zealand environmental conditions.

Conclusions
In combination with quantitative genetic analysis which identified genetically superior material, the URF model can directly identify the optimal geographical regions to maximize productivity. However, the finding of ideally uncorrelated climatic variables for species with narrow ecological amplitude is rather challenging, which complicates construction of informative URF model. This, along with a small number of tested environments, tended to overfit a prediction model which resulted in extreme predictions in untested environments.
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) reveals genetic loci of lead (Pb) tolerance during seedling establishment in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Zhang Fugui , Xiao Xin , Xu Kun , Cheng Xi , Xie Ting , Hu Jihong , Wu Xiaoming 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Lead (Pb) pollution in soil has become one of the major environmental threats to plant growth and human health. Safe utilization of Pb contaminated soil by phytoremediation require Pb-tolerant rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) accessions. However, breeding of new B. napus cultivars tolerance to Pb stress has been restricted by limited knowledge on molecular mechanisms involved in Pb tolerance. This work was carried out to identify genetic loci related to Pb tolerance during seedling establishment in rapeseed.

Results
Pb tolerance, which was assessed by quantifying radicle length (RL) under 0 or 100 mg/L Pb stress condition, shown an extensive variation in 472 worldwide-collected rapeseed accessions. Based on the criterion of relative RL > 80%, six Pb-tolerant genotypes were selected. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with Pb tolerance were identified by Genome-wide association study. The expression level of nine promising candidate genes, including GSTUs, BCATs, UBP13, TBR and HIPP01, located in these four QTL regions, were significantly higher or induced by Pb in Pb-tolerant accessions in comparison to Pb-sensitive accessions.

Conclusion
To our knowledge, this is the first study on Pb-tolerant germplasms and genomic loci in B. napus. The findings can provide valuable genetic resources for the breeding of Pb-tolerant B. napus cultivars and understanding of Pb tolerance mechanism in Brassica species.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of inbred lines and contrasting hybrids reveals overdominance mediate early biomass vigor in hybrid cotton
Authors: Shahzad Kashif , Zhang Xuexian , Guo Liping , Qi Tingxiang , Tang Huini , Zhang Meng , Zhang Bingbing , Wang Hailin , Qiao Xiuqin , Feng Juanjuan , Wu Jianyong , Xing Chaozhu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundHeterosis breeding is the most useful method for yield increase around the globe. Heterosis is an intriguing process to develop superior offspring to either parent in the desired character. The biomass vigor produced during seedling emergence stage has a direct influence on yield heterosis in plants. Unfortunately, the genetic basis of early biomass vigor in cotton is poorly understood.ResultsThree stable performing F1hybrids varying in yield heterosis named as high, medium and low hybrids with their inbred parents were used in this study. Phenotypically, these hybrids established noticeable biomass heterosis during the early stage of seedling growth in the field. Transcriptome analysis of root and leaf revealed that hybrids showed many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relative to their parents, while the comparison of inbred parents showed limited number of DEGs indicating similarity in their genetic constitution. Further analysis indicated expression patterns of most DEGs were overdominant in both tissues of hybrids. According to GO results, functions of overdominance genes in leaf were enriched for chloroplast, membrane, and protein binding, whereas functions of overdominance genes in root were enriched for plasma membrane, extracellular region, and responses to stress. We found several genes of circadian rhythm pathway related to LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) showed downregulated overdominant expressions in both tissues of hybrids. In addition to circadian rhythm, several leaf genes related to Aux/IAA regulation, and many root genes involved in peroxidase activity also showed overdominant expressions in hybrids. Twelve genes involved in circadian rhythm plant were selected to perform qRT-PCR analysis to confirm the accuracy of RNA-seq results.ConclusionsThrough genome-wide comparative transcriptome analysis, we strongly predict that overdominance at gene expression level plays a pivotal role in early biomass vigor of hybrids. The combinational contribution of circadian rhythm and other metabolic process may control vigorous growth in hybrids. Our result provides an important foundation for dissecting molecular mechanisms of biomass vigor in hybrid cotton.
Conserved defense responses between maize and sorghum to Exserohilum turcicum
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyue , Fernandes Samuel B. , Kaiser Christopher , Adhikari Pragya , Brown Patrick J. , Mideros Santiago X. , Jamann Tiffany M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundExserohilum turcicumis an important pathogen of both sorghum and maize, causing sorghum leaf blight and northern corn leaf blight. Because the same pathogen can infect and cause major losses for two of the most important grain crops, it is an ideal pathosystem to study plant-pathogen evolution and investigate shared resistance mechanisms between the two plant species.To identify sorghum genes involved in theE. turcicumresponse, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS).ResultsUsing the sorghum conversion panel evaluated across three environments, we identified a total of 216 significant markers. Based on physical linkage with the significant markers, we detected a total of 113 unique candidate genes, some with known roles in plant defense. Also, we compared maize genes known to play a role in resistance toE. turcicumwith the association mapping results and found evidence of genes conferring resistance in both crops, providing evidence of shared resistance between maize and sorghum.ConclusionsUsing a genetics approach, we identified shared genetic regions conferring resistance toE. turcicumin both maize and sorghum. We identified several promising candidate genes for resistance to leaf blight in sorghum, including genes related to R-gene mediated resistance. We present significant advancements in the understanding of host resistance toE. turcicum, which is crucial to reduce losses due to this important pathogen.
Risk factors for pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations in long-term care facility residents: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Moyo Patience , Zullo Andrew R. , McConeghy Kevin W. , Bosco Elliott , van Aalst Robertus , Chit Ayman , Gravenstein Stefan 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Older adults who reside in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are at particularly high risk for infection, morbidity and mortality from pneumonia and influenza (P&I) compared to individuals of younger age and those living outside institutional settings. The risk factors for P&I hospitalizations that are specific to LTCFs remain poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of P&I hospitalization and associated person- and facility-level factors among post-acute (short-stay) and long-term (long-stay) care residents residing in LTCFs from 2013 to 2015.

Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we used Medicare administrative claims linked to Minimum Data Set and LTCF-level data to identify short-stay (< 100 days, index = admission date) and long-stay (100+ days, index = day 100) residents who were followed from the index date until the first of hospitalization, LTCF discharge, Medicare disenrollment, or death. We measured incidence rates (IRs) for P&I hospitalization per 100,000 person-days, and estimated associations with baseline demographics, geriatric syndromes, clinical characteristics, and medication use using Cox regression models.

Results
We analyzed data from 1,118,054 short-stay and 593,443 long-stay residents. The crude 30-day IRs (95% CI) of hospitalizations with P&I in the principal position were 26.0 (25.4, 26.6) and 34.5 (33.6, 35.4) among short- and long-stay residents, respectively. The variables associated with P&I varied between short and long-stay residents, and common risk factors included: advanced age (85+ years), admission from an acute hospital, select cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, impaired functional status, and receipt of antibiotics or Beers criteria medications. Facility staffing and care quality measures were important risk factors among long-stay residents but not in short-stay residents.

Conclusions
Short-stay residents had lower crude 30- and 90-day incidence rates of P&I hospitalizations than long-stay LTCF residents. Differences in risk factors for P&I between short- and long-stay populations suggest the importance of considering distinct profiles of post-acute and long-term care residents in infection prevention and control strategies in LTCFs. These findings can help clinicians target interventions to subgroups of LTCF residents at highest P&I risk.
TB transmission is associated with prolonged stay in a low socio-economic, high burdened TB and HIV community in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Tadokera Rebecca , Bekker Linda-Gail , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Mathema Barun , Middelkoop Keren 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
While several studies have assessed the associations between biological factors and tuberculosis (TB) transmission, our understanding of the associations between TB transmission and social and economic factors remains incomplete. We aimed to explore associations between community TB transmission and socio-economic factors within a high TB-HIV burdened setting.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional molecular epidemiology study among adult patients attending a routine TB clinic. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from TB registers and clinical folders; social and economic data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires; Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were genotyped and classified as clustered/non-clustered using IS6110-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Composite “social” and “economic” scores were generated from social and economic data. Data were analyzed using StataCorp version 15.0 software. Stratified, bivariable analyses were performed using chi-squared. Wilcoxon signed rank tests; univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were developed to explore associations in the social, economic, traditional and composite TB risk factors with TB transmission.

Results
Of the 505 patient Mtb strains, 348(69%) cases were classified as clustered and 157(31%) were non-clustered. Clustered cases were more likely to have lived longer in the study community, (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% Confidence interval [C.I]:1.02–1.09, p = 0.006); in the same house (OR = 1.04, C.I: 0.99–1.08, p = 0.06); and had increased household crowding conditions (i.e fewer rooms used for sleeping, OR = 0.45, C.I:0.21–0.95, p = 0.04). Although a higher proportion of clustered cases had a low economic score, no statistically significant association was found between clustering and either the economic score (p = 0.13) or social score (p = 0.26).

Conclusions
We report a novel association between Mtb transmission and prolonged stay within a high burdened community. Transmission was also associated with fewer rooms for sleeping in a household. Increased social interaction and prolonged residence in a high burdened community are important factors linked to Mtb transmission, possibly due to increased probability of higher effective contact rates. The possible importance of degrees of poverty within low socio-economic setting warrants further study.
Can the low and high b-value distribution influence the pseudodiffusion parameter derived from IVIM DWI in normal brain?
Authors: Hu Yu-Chuan , Yan Lin-Feng , Han Yu , Duan Shi-Jun , Sun Qian , Li Gang-Feng , Wang Wen , Wei Xiao-Cheng , Zheng Dan-Dan , Cui Guang-Bin 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Our study aims to reveal whether the low b-values distribution, high b-values upper limit, and the number of excitation (NEX) influence the accuracy of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameter derived from multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the brain.

Methods
This prospective study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from each participant. The five consecutive multi-b DWI with different b-value protocols (0–3500 s/mm2) were performed in 22 male healthy volunteers on a 3.0-T MRI system. The IVIM parameters from normal white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) including slow diffusion coefficient (D), fast perfusion coefficient (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) were compared for differences among defined groups with different IVIM protocols by one-way ANOVA.

Results
The D* and f value of WM or GM in groups with less low b-values distribution (less than or equal to 5 b-values) were significantly lower than ones in any other group with more low b-values distribution (all P <  0.05), but no significant differences among groups with more low b-values distribution (P > 0.05). In addition, no significant differences in the D, D* and f value of WM or GM were found between group with one and more NEX of low b-values distribution (all P > 0.05). IVIM parameters in normal WM and GM strongly depended on the choice of the high b-value upper limit.

Conclusions
Metrics of IVIM parameters can be affected by low and high b value distribution. Eight low b-values distribution with high b-value upper limit of 800–1000 s/mm2 may be the relatively proper set when performing brain IVIM studies.
Respectful maternity care and associated factors among women who delivered at Harar hospitals, eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Bante Agegnehu , Teji Kedir , Seyoum Berhanu , Mersha Abera 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
In Ethiopia, approximately three-fourths of mothers do not deliver in health facilities. Disrespect and abuse during childbirth fallouts in underutilization of institutional delivery that upshots maternal morbidity and mortality. Thus, the ambition of this study was to assess respectful maternity care and associated factors in Harar hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01 to July 01, 2017. A total of 425 women, delivered at Harar town hospitals, were nominated using a systematic random sampling technique. A pretested and organized questionnaire was used to collect the data. After checking for completeness, the data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22.0 for cleaning and analyses. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was computed to identify factors associated with respectful maternity care. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value of < 0.05.

Results
Data were collected on 425 women. Overall, only 38.4% (95% CI: 33.7, 42.0%) of women received respectful maternity care. Delivering at private hospitals [AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.07], having ANC follow-up [AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.20], planned pregnancy [AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.24, 7.34], labor attended by male provider [AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.77] and normal maternal outcome [AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.83] were significantly associated with respectful maternity care.

Conclusions
Only four out of ten women received respectful care during labor and delivery. Providing women-friendly, abusive free, timely and discriminative free care are the bases to improve the uptake of institutional delivery. Execution of respectful care advancement must be the business of all healthcare providers. Furthermore, to come up with a substantial reduction in maternal mortality, great emphasis should be given to make the service woman-centered.