bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Healthcare charging for migrants in the UK: awareness and experience of clinicians within sexual and reproductive health and HIV
Authors: Jones Bethan L , Finnerty Fionnuala , Richardson Daniel 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Forced migration is at record levels, leading many European countries to seek to limit immigration or control access to public services. The UK has introduced upfront healthcare charging for overseas patients, with exceptions for certain groups and services. Confusion over these regulations amongst healthcare professionals risks care being inappropriately delayed or denied. This is pertinent within sexual and reproductive health and HIV care where sensitivity and timely management are essential.

Methods
We conducted a survey exploring clinicians’ knowledge of healthcare charging regulations and terminology, their confidence and experience on this topic and their ability to evaluate case-based scenarios.

Results
Of 343 valid responses, 78% reported encountering refugees, asylum seekers or undocumented migrants in practice. Only 39% felt confident in their understanding of healthcare entitlements. Terminology was appropriately defined by 66%, but only 53% of case-based scenarios were answered correctly. About 71% reported needing further training in this area, and many comments indicated a desire for educational resources.

Conclusions
SRH and HIV professionals demonstrated limited knowledge of healthcare charging for migrants, despite working with these groups. This could undermine their ability to deliver appropriate advice and care to these potentially vulnerable patients. Training and support for these staff is essential.
How does information dependence affect public attitudes towards genetically modified technology in China?
Authors: Pang Zhenjing 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This study presents a careful understanding of the impact of information dependence on public attitudes (PAs) towards genetically modified (GM) technology in China by employing a structural equation modelling approach. Results in this study provide further empirical evidence to support the point of view that PAs towards GM technology vary with their information dependence. Information evaluation is the reasoning mechanism between information dependence and the perception of risks and benefits, ultimately determining PAs towards GM technology. Empirical results can serve as the basis for risk communication, suggesting that the public sector, scientific institutions, scientists, and officials must be more active in sharing scientific knowledge about GM technology with the public by developing more open channels for the dissemination of authoritative information, and public education is also needed. On the other hand, the medias’ discourse system on GM technology should return to the scientific field for inspiring a rational attitude towards GM technology.
New insights into Sauropsid Papillomaviridae evolution and epizootiology: discovery of two novel papillomaviruses in native and invasive Island geckos
Authors: Agius Jessica E , Phalen David N , Rose Karrie , Eden John-Sebastian 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Papillomaviruses cause persistent infections in skin and mucosal membranes and, in at least one species, are also be able to infect a tissue of mesenchymal origin. Infections may either be subclinical or induce proliferative lesions. Of the known papillomaviruses, the majority that have been characterized are from humans and other mammals. Currently, only fifteen complete bird and reptile papillomavirus genomes have been described, and they have been found in birds (n = 11), turtles (n = 2), and snakes (n = 2). Using next-generation sequencing technologies and virus-specific PCR, we have identified two novel papillomavirus genomes, Hemidactylus frenatus Papillomavirus 1 and 2 (HfrePV1, HfrePV2), in the widely distributed and highly invasive Asian house gecko (H.frenatus) and mute gecko (Gehyra mutilata) on Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. HfrePV1 was also detected in critically endangered Lister’s geckos (Lepidodactylus listeri) in their captive breeding colony on Christmas Island. Tissue-containing virus included epidermis, oral mucosa, and liver (HfrePV1) and epidermis, liver, and colon (HfrePV2). Concurrent infections were found in both H.frenatus and G.mutilata. Invasive mourning geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris) (n = 4), Sri Lankan house geckos (Hemidactylus parvimaculatus) (n = 3), flat-tailed house geckos (Hemidactylus platyurus) (n = 4) from the Cocos Islands, and blue-tailed skinks (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) (n = 10) from Christmas Island were also screened but were not found to be infected. The novel HfrePV1 and HfrePV2 genomes were 7,378 bp and 7,380 bp in length, respectively, and each contained the early (E1, E2, and E7), and late (L1 and L2) open-reading frames. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated E1, E2, and L1 proteins from both papillomaviruses revealed that they clustered with, but were basal to, the Sauropsida clade containing bird and reptile viruses. This study sheds light on the evolution of papillomaviruses and the distribution of pathogens in a highly invasive species impacting endangered populations of geckos.
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) geneFokI,BsmI,ApaI andTaqI polymorphisms and osteoporosis risk: a meta-analysis
Authors: Yadav Upendra , Kumar Pradeep , Rai Vandana 
Published: October 2019

AbstractOsteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone density. The prevalence of osteoporosis varies between different populations and ethnic groups. Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and osteoporosis across ethnic populations. Present meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the influence of commonFokI,BsmI,ApaI andTaqI VDR gene polymorphisms and osteoporosis. PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer Link and Elsevier databases were searched for eligible studies and all statistical calculations were performed by Open Meta-Analyst software. Studies investigatedBsmI (65 studies; 6,880 case/ 8,049 control),ApaI (31 studies; 3,763 case/ 3,934 control),FokI (18 studies; 1,895 case/ 1,722 control), andTaqI (26 studies; 2,458 case/ 2,895 control) polymorphisms were included in the present meta-analysis. Results of meta-analysis revealed significant association between dominant model ofFokI (ORff+Ff vs. FF= 1.19, 95% CI= 1.04-1.36, p= 0.01, I2= 39.36%) in overall analysis and recessive model of Caucasian population ofTaqI polymorphism (ORTT+Tt vs. tt= 1.35, 95% CI= 1.11-1.63, p= 0.002, I2= 50.07%). While no such effect is found in any other genetic model in any other gene polymorphisms of the overall analyses or sub-group analyses. In conclusion, we found theFokI polymorphism is associated with osteoporosis in overall analysis, also theTaqI polymorphism is a risk factor for the Caucasian population.
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and breast cancer risk: observational and Mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Murphy Neil , Knuppel Anika , Papadimitriou Nikos , Martin Richard M , Tsilidis Konstantinos K , Smith-Byrne Karl , Fensom Georgina , Perez-Cornago Aurora , Travis Ruth C , Key Timothy J , Gunter Marc J 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological evidence supports a positive association between circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations and breast cancer risk, but both the magnitude and causality of this relationship are uncertain. We conducted observational analyses with adjustment for regression dilution bias, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to allow causal inference.Patients and methodsWe investigated the associations between circulating IGF-1 concentrations and incident breast cancer risk in 206,263 women in the UK Biobank. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. HRs were corrected for regression dilution using repeat IGF-1 measures available in a subsample of 6,711 women. For the MR analyses, genetic variants associated with circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were identified and their association with breast cancer was examined with two-sample MR methods using genome-wide data from 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls.ResultsIn the UK Biobank, after a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 4,360 incident breast cancer cases occurred. In the multivariable-adjusted models corrected for regression dilution, higher IGF-1 concentrations were associated with a greater risk of breast cancer (HR per 5 nmol/L increment of IGF-1=1.11, 95%CI=1.07-1.16). Similar positive associations were found by follow-up time, menopausal status, body mass index, and other risk factors. In the MR analyses, a 5 nmol/L increment in genetically-predicted IGF-1 concentration was associated with greater breast cancer risk (odds ratio [OR]=1.05, 95%CI=1.01-1.10; Pvalue=0.02), with a similar effect estimate for estrogen positive (ER+) tumors, but no effect found for estrogen negative (ER-) tumors. Genetically-predicted IGFBP-3 concentrations were not associated with breast cancer risk (OR per 1-SD increment=1.00, 95%CI=0.97-1.04; Pvalue=0.98).ConclusionOur results support a probable causal relationship between circulating IGF-1 concentrations and breast cancer, suggesting that interventions targeting the IGF pathway may be beneficial in preventing breast tumorigenesis.DisclaimerWhere authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization.
Liver cells and PBMC secrete Tumor-suppressive Plasma Extracellular Vesicles in Melanoma patients
Authors: Lee Jung-Hyun , Eberhardt Martin , Blume Katja , Vera Julio , Baur Andreas S. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryBefore and after surgery melanoma patients harbor elevated levels of extracellular vesicles in plasma (pEV), but their cellular origin is obscure. Here we suggest that these pEV are secreted in part by tumor cells, but particularly by liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which strongly suppressed tumor cell activity. As the cellular origin of pEV is difficult to determine, we mimicked the interaction of tumor cells with liver cells and PBMC in vitro, and compared newly secreted EV-associated miRNAs and protein factors with those detected in melanoma patient’s pEV. The results identified factors that could be associated either with tumor cell activity or the counteracting immune system and liver cells. Notably, the presence/absence of these factors correlated with the clinical stage and tumor relapse. Our study provides new insights into the innate immune defense against tumor cells and implies that residual tumor cells may be more active than previously thought.Summary blurbPlasma extracellular vesicles (pEV) in melanoma patients are a mix of cancer cell-suppressive vesicles from liver cells and PBMC, but derive also from residual cancer cells.
Amyloid damage to islet β-cells in type 2 diabetes: hypoxia or pseudo-hypoxia?
Authors: Bellotti Vittorio , Corazza Alessandra , Foglia Beatrice , Novo Erica , Simons J. Paul , Mangione P. Patrizia , Verona Guglielmo , Canetti Diana , Nocerino Paola , Obici Laura , Vanoli Alessandro , Paulli Marco , Giorgetti Sofia , Raimondi Sara , Al-Shawi Raya , Tennent Glenys A. , Taylor Graham W. , Gillmore Julian D. , Pepys Mark B. , Parola Maurizio 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTAggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and amyloid deposition in the islets of Langerhans may significantly contribute to the multifactorial pathogenic mechanisms leading to type 2 diabetes. A direct toxic effect on β-cells of oligomeric IAAP has been demonstrated in in vitro models, but the mechanism operating in vivo is still unclear. Mice models presenting amyloid deposition and glucose intolerance represent a good tool for exploring in vivo a putative mechanism of toxicity directly related to the physical expansion of the extracellular matrix by the amyloid fibrillar aggregates. Based on our hypothesis that deposition of amyloid may influence the oxygen perfusion, we have calculated that the mean distribution of oxygen partial pressure would drop by more than 50 % in the presence of amyloid deposits in the islet. This condition of hypoxia caused by the remodelling of the extracellular space may explain the metabolic abnormalities in the Langerhans islets, otherwise interpreted as pseudo-hypoxic response to IAPP oligomers.
Generation and Trapping of a Mesoderm Biased State of Human Pluripotency
Authors: Stavish Dylan , Böiers Charlotta , Price Christopher , Frith Thomas J R , Halliwell Jason , Barbaric Ivana , Brown John , Carr Jonathon , James Chela , Andrews Peter W , Enver Tariq 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTWe postulate that exit from pluripotency involves intermediates that retain pluripotency while simultaneously exhibiting lineage-bias. Using a MIXL1 reporter, we explored mesoderm lineage-bias within the human pluripotent stem cell compartment. We identified a substate, which at the single cell level coexpresses pluripotent and mesodermal gene expression programs. Functionally these cells could initiate stem cell cultures and exhibited mesodermal bias in differentiation assays. By promoting mesodermal identity through manipulation of WNT signalling while preventing exit from pluripotency using lysophosphatidic acid, we could ‘trap’ and maintain cells in a lineage-biased stem cell state through multiple passages. These cells correspond to a normal state on the differentiation trajectory, the plasticity of which is evidenced by their reacquisition of an unbiased state upon removal of differentiation cues. The use of ‘cross-antagonistic’ signalling to trap pluripotent stem cell intermediates with different lineage-bias may have general applicability in the efficient production of cells for regenerative medicine.
Losing Control: Sleep Deprivation Impairs the Suppression of Unwanted Thoughts
Authors: Harrington Marcus O. , Ashton Jennifer E. , Sankarasubramanian Subbulakshmi , Anderson Michael C. , Cairney Scott A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractUnwanted memories often enter conscious awareness when we confront reminders. People vary widely in their talents at suppressing such memory intrusions; however, the factors that govern suppression ability are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that successful memory control requires sleep. Following overnight sleep or total sleep deprivation, participants attempted to suppress intrusions of emotionally negative and neutral scenes when confronted with reminders. The sleep-deprived group experienced significantly more intrusions (unsuccessful suppressions) than the sleep group. Deficient control over intrusive thoughts had consequences: whereas in rested participants suppression reduced behavioural and psychophysiological indices of negative affect for aversive memories, it had no such salutary effect for sleep-deprived participants. Our findings raise the possibility that sleep deprivation disrupts prefrontal control over medial temporal lobe structures that support memory and emotion. These data point to an important role of sleep disturbance in maintaining and exacerbating psychiatric conditions characterised by persistent, unwanted thoughts.
Three criteria of intrinsically theoretical categories in biological system and classification of some medical plants
Authors: Zou Huabin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn classical biology, different taxonomic categories are all decided based on empirical rules established on learning knowledge. In taxonomy, different classification systems are of diversified rules. One biology is often in different categories, although the concepts related to taxonomic categories are the same to each other. Whether there exist some absolute standards to classify biology, and to give unalterable results. This is of greatly scientific meaning. Common and variation, that is heredity and variation are the most elemental information in biology, and exist at multiply biology material levels. In this paper a generalized biological heredity and variation information theory was proposed based on previous works. Three typical heredity and variation models were analyzed by using this theory. They are unique asymmetric variation model, symmetric two variation model and extreme radial variation model. In the maximum information states, two biological constantsPg1= 0.69 andPg2=0.61 and a boundary similarity function were obtained. ThesePgandPgfunction can be defined as the three theoretically taxonomic category criteria of biological system. For 29 samples belonging to four kind plants, their chemical fingerprint — infrared (IR) fingerprint spectra (FPS) were analyzed depending on the theoretical criteria. The correct classification ratio was 96.6%. The results showed these samples could be ideally classified. A suggestion was proposed that biology should be absolutely classified relying on the three intrinsic theoretical criteria.
Detection of urinary metabolites of metabolic pathway disorders by using VTGE and LC-HRMS techniques
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Kothari Jainish , Bhatkar Devyani , Mitruka Manmohan , Pal Roshni , Sarode Sachin C. , Sharma Nilesh Kumar 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIn recent, various human health disorders including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases are noticed among human populations. Currently, genetic and proteomic approaches are highly reported to detect metabolic disorders that also include inborn error of metabolisms. These existing detection methods are faced with cost issue and time consuming factors. Therefore, metabolites as biomarkers are one of potential avenues to detect metabolic disorders. Further, exploitation of urine as potential source of metabolite biomarkers, there are limitation in this area of research due to abundance of non-metabolite components such as proteins and nucleic acids. Hence, methods and processes are required to precisely fractionate metabolites from urine of inborn error of metabolism patients and then identified by analytical tools such as LC-HRMS and GC-MS.MethodsSterile filtered urine samples (750 µl) mixed with (250 µl) loading buffer were electrophoresed on VTGE that uses acrylamide gel (acrylamide:bisacrylamide, 30:1) as matrix of 15%. Further, vertical tube gel electrophoresis (VTGE) technique combined with LC-HR-MS to identify metabolites that are known as the biomarkers of metabolic disorders was carried out.Results and DiscussionThe authors provide evidence on the use of novel VTGE coupled with LC-HRMS to detect metabolites among metabolic disorders. Data suggest the applicability of VTGE coupled with LC-HRMS technique to detect metabolites such as 2-methyluridine, 2-Methylglutaric acid, 2-Methyl citric acid, 2-Hydroxyglutaric acid in case of metabolic disorders.ConclusionThis preliminary work is suggested to be extended to large clinical samples to validate application of this method to detect metabolic disorders including inborn error of metabolisms.
An interactive retrieval system for clinical trial studies with context-dependent protocol elements
Authors: Park Junseok , Kim Kwangmin , Park Seongkuk , Hwang Woochang , Yoo Sunyong , Yi Gwan-su , Lee Doheon 
Published: October 2019

AbstractA clinical trial protocol defines the procedures that should be performed during a clinical trial. Every clinical trial begins with the design of its protocol. While designing the protocol, most researchers refer to electronic databases and extract protocol elements using a keyword search. However, state-of-the-art retrieval systems only offer text-based searches for user-entered keywords. In this study, we present an interactive retrieval system with a context-dependent and protocol-element-selection function for successfully designing a clinical trial protocol. To do this, we first introduce a database for a protocol retrieval system constructed from individual protocol data extracted from 184,634 clinical trials and 13,210 frame structures of clinical trial protocols. The database contains various semantic information that enables the protocols to be filtered during the search operation. Based on the database, we developed a web application called the clinical trial protocol database system (CLIPS; available at https://corus.kaist.edu/clips), which enables an interactive search by utilizing protocol elements. CLIPS provides the options to select the next element according to the previous element in the form of a connected tree, thus enabling an interactive search for combinations of protocol elements. The validation results show that our method achieves better performance than existing databases in predicting phenotypic features.
Enabling community-based metrology for wood-degrading fungi
Authors: Perez Rolando , Luccioni Marina , Gaut Nathaniel , Stirling Finn , Kamakaka Rohinton , Adamala Katarzyna P. , Silver Pamela A. , Endy Drew 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTLignocellulosic biomass could support a greatly-expanded bioeconomy. Current strategies for using biomass typically rely on single-cell organisms and extensive ancillary equipment to produce precursors for downstream manufacturing processes. Alternative forms of bioproduction based on solid-state fermentation and wood-degrading fungi can enable more direct means of manufacture. However, such practices are oftenad hocand not readily reproducible. We sought to develop standard reference strains, substrates, measurements, and methods sufficient to begin to enable reliable reuse of mycological materials and products. Specifically, we show that a widely-available and globally-regularized consumer product (Pringles™) can support the growth of wood-degrading fungi, and that growth on Pringles™ can be correlated with growth on a fully-traceable and compositionally characterized substrate (NIST Reference Material 8492 Eastern Cottonwood Biomass). So established, five laboratories were able to compare measurements of wood-fungus performance via a simple radial extension growth rate assay. Reliable reuse of materials, measures, and methods is necessary to enable distributed bioproduction processes that can be adopted at all scales, from local to industrial.
Finding Hidden Treasures: A Child-Friendly Neural Test of Task-Following in Individuals Using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
Authors: Petit Selene , Badcock Nicholas A. , Woolgar Alexandra 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDespite growing interest in the mental life of individuals who cannot communicate verbally, objective and non-invasive tests of covert cognition are still sparse. In this study, we assessed the ability of neurotypical children to understand and follow task instructions by measuring neural responses through functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD). We recorded blood flow velocity for the two brain hemispheres of twenty children (aged 9 to 12) while they performed either a language task or a visuospatial memory task, on identical visual stimuli. We extracted measures of neural lateralisation for the two tasks separately to investigate lateralisation, and we compared the left-minus-right pattern of activation across tasks to assess task-following. At the group level, we found that neural responses were left-lateralised when children performed the language task, and not when they performed the visuospatial task. However, with statistically robust analyses and controlled paradigms, significant lateralisation in individual children was less frequent than expected from the literature. Nonetheless, the pattern of hemispheric activation for the two tasks allowed us to confirm task-following in the group of participants, as well as in over half of the individuals. This provides a promising avenue for a covert and inexpensive test of children’s ability to covertly follow task instructions and perform different mental tasks on identical stimuli.