bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A rapid scoping review of fear of infertility in Africa
Authors: Boivin Jacky , Carrier Judith , Zulu Joseph Mumba , Edwards Deborah 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundFear of infertility (FOI) is often reported in studies about reproductive health but this literature not yet mapped. The aim of this rapid scoping review of qualitative studies was to describe the nature of FOI in Africa.MethodsEligibility criteria were qualitative data from Africa reporting views of women and men of any age. MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched for English language citations to February 2019 using keywords related to fear, infertility and Africa. Two independent reviewers screened texts for inclusion.ResultsOf 248 citations identified, 38 qualitative and six review papers were included. FOI was reported in diverse groups (e.g., men, women, fertile, infertile, married, unmarried, teachers, religious leaders). Two types of fears were identified: (1) fear of triggering infertility due to specific reproductive choices and (2) fear of the dire future consequences of infertility. Choices were perceived to affect fertility via internal accumulation and blockage (e.g., of menstrual blood), structural damage (e.g., burnt eggs), internal movement of contraceptive material, deliberate toxicity preventing population growth and behavioral effects impeding sexual activity. Diverse feared consequences of infertility were reported (e.g., polygamy, economic hardships). Fears were reported to affect reproductive behaviour (e.g., stopping contraception), help-seeking and social behaviour.ConclusionFOI is a phenomenon that should be studied in its own right. Fears could originate from genuine threats, incorrect knowledge, distortions of truths, or dissemination of false information. Rigorous studies are needed to better understand FOI and integrate it in health education, client counselling and family planning service provision.
Rapid Progression of Kaposi’s sarcoma complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a severely immunosuppressed patient with HIV-infection: a case report
Authors: Mo Pingzheng , Deng Liping , Chen Xiaoping , Xiong Yong , Zhang Yongxi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
AIDS-related KS generally involves cutaneous lesions, that slowly progress over months to years. Neither rapidly progressing of KS nor KS complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) has rarely been reported.

Case presentation
We report a rare case of rapid progression of Kaposi’s sarcoma complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a severely immunosuppressed patient with HIV-infection. The symptoms of this patient were atypical, showing only persistent high fever and rapid progressed to hemophagocytic syndrome. This patient was successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy combined with liposomal doxorubicin.

Conclusions
The condition of the KS patient could deteriorate rapidly over a period of days and even developeded into HPS, which was life-threatening. However, chemotherapy initiated in a timely manner might improve prognosis.
Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic – a literature review for clinical practice
Authors: Lubbe Welma , Botha Elina , Niela-Vilen Hannakaisa , Reimers Penny 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting normal life globally, every area of life is touched. The pandemic demands quick action and as new information emerges, reliable synthesises and guidelines for care are urgently needed. Breastfeeding protects mother and child; its health benefits are undisputed and based on evidence. To plan and support breastfeeding within the current pandemic, two areas need to be understood: 1) the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 as it applies to breastfeeding and 2) the protective properties of breastfeeding, including the practice of skin-to-skin care. This review aims to summarise how to manage breastfeeding during COVID-19. The summary was used to create guidelines for healthcare professionals and mothers.

Methods
Current publications on breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed to inform guidelines for clinical practice.

Results
Current evidence states that the Coronavirus is not transmitted via breastmilk. Breastfeeding benefits outweigh possible risks during the COVID-19 pandemic and may even protect the infant and mother. General infection control measures should be in place and adhered to very strictly.

Conclusions
Breastfeeding should be encouraged, mothers and infant dyads should be cared for together, and skin-to-skin contact ensured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If mothers are too ill to breastfeed, they should still be supported to express their milk, and the infant should be fed by a healthy individual. Guidelines, based on this current evidence, were produced and can be distributed to health care facilities where accessible information is needed.
Pilot trial on the efficacy and safety of pantethine in children with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration: a single-arm, open-label study
Authors: Chang Xuting , Zhang Jie , Jiang Yuwu , Yao Bufan , Wang Jingmin , Wu Ye 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of pantethine in children with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN).

Methods
A single-arm, open-label study was conducted. All subjects received pantethine during the 24-week period of treatment. The primary endpoints were change of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) I–III and Fahn–Marsden (FM) score from baseline to week 24 after treatment.

Results
Fifteen children with PKAN were enrolled, and all patients completed the study. After 24 weeks of treatment with pantethine at 60 mg/kg per day, there was no difference in either UPDRS I–III (t = 0.516, P = 0.614) or FM score (t = 0.353, P = 0.729) between the baseline and W24. Whereas the rates of increase in UPDRS I-III (Z = 2.614, p = 0.009) and FM scores (Z = 2.643, p = 0.008) were slowed. Four patients (26.7%) were evaluated as “slightly improved” by doctors through blinded video assessment. Patients with lower baseline UPDRS I–III or FM scores were more likely to be improved. The quality of life of family members improved after pantethine treatment, evaluated by PedsQL TM 2.0 FIM scores, whereas the quality of life of the patients was unchanged at W24, evaluated by PedsQL TM 4.0 and PedsQL TM 3.0 NMM. Serum level of CoA was comparable between baseline and W24. There was no drug related adverse event during the study.

Conclusions
Pantethine could not significantly improve motor function in children with PKAN after 24 weeks treatment, but it may delay the progression of motor dysfunction in our study. Pantethine was well-tolerated at 60 mg/kg per day.

Trial registration
Clinical trial registration number at www.chictr.org.cn:ChiCTR1900021076, Registered 27 January2019, the first participant was enrolled 30 September 2018, and other 14 participants were enrolled after the trial was registered.
Bottom-up and top-down approaches to understanding oppositional defiant disorder symptoms during early childhood: a mixed method study
Authors: Ljungström Britt-Marie , Kenne Sarenmalm Elisabeth , Axberg Ulf 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Children with clinical levels of conduct problems are at high risk of developing mental health problems such as persistent antisocial behavior or emotional problems in adolescence. Serious conduct problems in childhood also predict poor functioning across other areas of life in early adulthood such as overweight, heavy drinking, social isolation and not in employment or education. It is important to capture those children who are most at risk, early in their development. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is commonly used in clinical settings, to identify children with conduct problems such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).This paper presents a cross-sectional study in a clinical setting, and describes behaviors in 3- to 8-year-olds with ODD. Our aim was to investigate whether there were problematic behaviors that were not captured by the diagnosis of ODD, using two different methods: a clinical approach (bottom-up) and the nosology for the diagnosis of ODD (top-down).

Method
Fifty-seven children with clinical levels of ODD participated in the study. The mothers were interviewed with both open questions and with a semi-structured diagnostic interview K-SADS. The data was analyzed using a mixed method, convergent, parallel qualitative/quantitative (QUAL + QUAN) design. For QUAL analysis qualitative content analysis was used, and for QUAN analysis associations between the two data sets, and ages-groups and gender were compared using Chi-square test.

Results
In the top-down approach, the ODD criteria helped to identify and separate commonly occurring oppositional behavior from conduct problems, but in the bottom-up approach, the accepted diagnostic criteria did not capture the entire range of problematic behaviors-especially those behaviors that constitute a risk for antisocial behavior.

Conclusions
The present study shows a gap between the diagnoses of ODD and conduct disorder (CD) in younger children. Antisocial behaviors manifest in preschool and early school years are not always sufficiently alarming to meet the diagnosis of CD, nor are they caught in their entirety by the ODD diagnostic tool. One way to verify suspicion of early antisocial behavior in preschool children would be to specify in the ODD diagnosis if there also is subclinical CD.
Diagnosis of congenital Hyperinsulinism can occur not only in infancy but also in later age: a new flow chart from a single center experience
Authors: Casertano Alberto , De Matteis Arianna , Mozzillo Enza , Rosanio Francesco Maria , Buono Pietro , Fattorusso Valentina , Franzese Adriana 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Congenital Hyperinsulinism typically occurs with a neonatal hypoglycemia but can appear even in childhood or in adolescence with different types of glucose metabolism derangements. Current diagnostic algorithms don’t take into account cases with a late presentation.

Patients and methods
Clinical and laboratory data of twenty-two subjects diagnosed at Federico II University of Naples have been described: patients have been divided according to the molecular defect into channel defects, metabolic defects and unidentified molecular defects. A particular focus has been made on three cases with a late presentation.

Results and conclusions
Late presentation cases may not be identified by previous diagnostic algorithms. Consequently, it seems appropriate to design a new flow-chart starting from the age of presentation, also considering that late presentation cases can show glucose metabolism derangements other than hypoglycaemic crises such as diabetes, glucose intolerance, postprandial hypoglycaemia and gestational diabetes.
Plasma thymidine kinase 1 activity and outcome of ER+ HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients treated with palbociclib and endocrine therapy
Authors: Cabel Luc , Rosenblum Dan , Lerebours Florence , Brain Etienne , Loirat Delphine , Bergqvist Mattias , Cottu Paul , Donnadieu Anne , Bethune Anne , Kiavue Nicolas , Rodrigues Manuel , Pierga Jean-Yves , Tanguy Marie-Laure , Bidard François-Clément 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Previous cohort studies have reported plasma TK1 activity (pTKa) as a potential prognostic biomarker in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) HER2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this prospective study, we report here the prognostic impact of pTKa in ER+/HER2− MBC patients treated with endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor.

Experimental design
Patients were included into the prospective, ethics committee-approved ALCINA study (NCT02866149). Eligibility criteria were patients with ER+/HER2− MBC treated at Institut Curie with endocrine therapy and palbociclib. Plasma samples were obtained at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. pTKa was quantified by the DiviTum® assay (Biovica, Sweden).

Results
From May 2016 to August 2018, 103 patients treated with endocrine therapy and palbociclib were included. Patients had received a median of two prior systemic therapies for MBC (range 0–14). Median follow-up was 13.8 months (range 6–31), with median PFS and OS of 9.6 months (95%CI [7.0–11.3]) and 28 months (95%CI [23–not reached]), respectively. Median baseline pTKa was 292 Du/L (range 20–27,312 Du/L, IQR [89–853]). After adjusting for other prognostic factors, baseline pTKa remained an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR = 1.3 95%CI [1.1–1.4], p = 0.0005) and OS (HR = 1.3 95%CI [1.2–1.6], p < 0.0001), and 4-week pTKa was associated with OS (HR = 1.6 95%CI [1.3–2], p < 0.0001). That survival prediction was significantly improved by the addition of baseline pTKa to clinicopathological characteristics. Adding pTKa changes at 4 weeks to baseline pTKa did not further increase survival prediction.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates the clinical validity of pTKa as a new circulating prognostic marker in ER+/HER2− MBC patients treated with endocrine therapy and palbociclib.
A comparison of hydrophobic polyurethane and polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter: results from a feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gavin Nicole C. , Kleidon Tricia M. , Larsen Emily , O’Brien Catherine , Ullman Amanda , Northfield Sarah , Mihala Gabor , Runnegar Naomi , Marsh Nicole , Rickard Claire M. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the feasibility of an efficacy trial comparing a hydrophobic polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) with a standard polyurethane PICC.

Methods
This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted between May 2017 and February 2018. Adult participants (n = 111) were assigned to hydrophobic polyurethane PICC with proximal valve (intervention) or a polyurethane PICC with external clamp (standard care). Primary outcome was trial feasibility including PICC failure. Secondary outcomes were central line-associated bloodstream infection, local infection, occlusion, thrombosis, fracture and dislodgement, phlebitis, local or systemic allergic reaction, and PICC dwell time.

Results
All feasibility outcomes were achieved, apart from eligibility criteria. In total, 338 patients were screened, 138 were eligible (41%), and of these 111 were randomised (80%). Patients received the allocated PICC in 106 (95%) insertions. No patients withdrew from the study and there was no missing data. PICC failure was 24% (13/55) in the intervention group and 22% (12/55) in the standard care group (p = 0.820). PICC failure per 1000 PICC days was 16.3 in the intervention group and 18.4 in the control group (p = 0.755). The average dwell time was 12 days in the intervention and 8 days in the control group.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates the feasibility of an efficacy trial of PICC materials in an adult population, once adjustments were made to include not only in-patients, but also patients being discharged to the Hospital in the Home service.

Trial registration
Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616001578493. Prospectively registered on 16 November 2016. The trial protocol was published a priori (Kleidon et al., Vasc Access 3:15–21, 2017).
Exogenous l-proline improved Rhodosporidium toruloides lipid production on crude glycerol
Authors: Kamal Rasool , Liu Yuxue , Li Qiang , Huang Qitian , Wang Qian , Yu Xue , Zhao Zongbao Kent 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Crude glycerol as a promising feedstock for microbial lipid production contains several impurities that make it toxic stress inducer at high amount. Under stress conditions, microorganisms can accumulate l-proline as a safeguard. Herein, l-proline was assessed as an anti-stress agent in crude glycerol media.

Results
Crude glycerol was converted to microbial lipids by the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides CGMCC 2.1389 in a two-staged culture mode. The media was supplied with exogenous l-proline to improve lipid production efficiency in high crude glycerol stress. An optimal amount of 0.5 g/L l-proline increased lipid titer and lipid yield by 34% and 28%, respectively. The lipid titer of 12.2 g/L and lipid content of 64.5% with a highest lipid yield of 0.26 g/g were achieved with l-proline addition, which were far higher than those of the control, i.e., lipid titer of 9.1 g/L, lipid content of 58% and lipid yield of 0.21 g/g. Similarly, l-proline also improved cell growth and glycerol consumption. Moreover, fatty acid compositional profiles of the lipid products was found suitable as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production.

Conclusion
Our study suggested that exogenous l-proline improved cell growth and lipid production on crude glycerol by R. toruloides. The fact that higher lipid yield as well as glycerol consumption indicated that l-proline might act as a potential anti-stress agent for the oleaginous yeast strain.
Hopping species and borders: detection of Bartonella spp. in avian nest fleas and arctic foxes from Nunavut, Canada
Authors: Buhler Kayla J. , Maggi Ricardo G. , Gailius Julie , Galloway Terry D. , Chilton Neil B. , Alisauskas Ray T. , Samelius Gustaf , Bouchard Émilie , Jenkins Emily J. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
In a warmer and more globally connected Arctic, vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic importance may be increasing in prevalence in native wildlife. Recently, Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch fever, was detected in blood collected from arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) that were captured and released in the large goose colony at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada. This bacterium is generally associated with cats and cat fleas, which are absent from Arctic ecosystems. Arctic foxes in this region feed extensively on migratory geese, their eggs, and their goslings. Thus, we hypothesized that a nest flea, Ceratophyllus vagabundus vagabundus (Boheman, 1865), may serve as a vector for transmission of Bartonella spp.

Methods
We determined the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in (i) nest fleas collected from 5 arctic fox dens and (ii) 37 surrounding goose nests, (iii) fleas collected from 20 geese harvested during arrival at the nesting grounds and (iv) blood clots from 57 adult live-captured arctic foxes. A subsample of fleas were identified morphologically as C. v. vagabundus. Remaining fleas were pooled for each nest, den, or host. DNA was extracted from flea pools and blood clots and analyzed with conventional and real-time polymerase chain reactions targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region.

Results
Bartonella henselae was identified in 43% of pooled flea samples from nests and 40% of pooled flea samples from fox dens. Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii was identified in 30% of pooled flea samples collected from 20 geese. Both B. vinsonii berkhoffii (n = 2) and B. rochalimae (n = 1) were identified in the blood of foxes.

Conclusions
We confirm that B. henselae, B. vinsonii berkhoffii and B. rochalimae circulate in the Karrak Lake ecosystem and that nest fleas contain B. vinsonii and B. henselae DNA, suggesting that this flea may serve as a potential vector for transmission among Arctic wildlife.
Tensor recovery from noisy and multi-level quantized measurements
Authors: Wang Ren , Wang Meng , Xiong Jinjun 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHigher-order tensors can represent scores in a rating system, frames in a video, and images of the same subject. In practice, the measurements are often highly quantized due to the sampling strategies or the quality of devices. Existing works on tensor recovery have focused on data losses and random noises. Only a few works consider tensor recovery from quantized measurements but are restricted to binary measurements. This paper, for the first time, addresses the problem of tensor recovery from multi-level quantized measurements by leveraging the low CANDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP) rank property. We study the recovery of both general low-rank tensors and tensors that have tensor singular value decomposition (TSVD) by solving nonconvex optimization problems. We provide the theoretical upper bounds of the recovery error, which diminish to zero when the sizes of dimensions increase to infinity. We further characterize the fundamental limit of any recovery algorithm and show that our recovery error is nearly order-wise optimal. A tensor-based alternating proximal gradient descent algorithm with a convergence guarantee and a TSVD-based projected gradient descent algorithm are proposed to solve the nonconvex problems. Our recovery methods can also handle data losses and do not necessarily need the information of the quantization rule. The methods are validated on synthetic data, image datasets, and music recommender datasets.
Modeling and forecasting the spread tendency of the COVID-19 in China
Authors: Sun Deshun , Duan Li , Xiong Jianyi , Wang Daping 
Published: September 2020

AbstractTo forecast the spread tendency of the COVID-19 in China and provide effective strategies to prevent the disease, an improved SEIR model was established. The parameters of our model were estimated based on collected data that were issued by the National Health Commission of China (NHCC) from January 10 to March 3. The model was used to forecast the spread tendency of the disease. The key factors influencing the epidemic were explored through modulation of the parameters, including the removal rate, the average number of the infected contacting the susceptible per day and the average number of the exposed contacting the susceptible per day. The correlation of the infected is 99.9% between established model data in this study and issued data by NHCC from January 10 to February 15. The correlation of the removed, the death and the cured are 99.8%, 99.8% and 99.6%, respectively. The average forecasting error rates of the infected, the removed, the death and the cured are 0.78%, 0.75%, 0.35% and 0.83%, respectively, from February 16 to March 3. The peak time of the epidemic forecast by our established model coincided with the issued data by NHCC. Therefore, our study established a mathematical model with high accuracy. The aforementioned parameters significantly affected the trend of the epidemic, suggesting that the exposed and the infected population should be strictly isolated. If the removal rate increases to 0.12, the epidemic will come to an end on May 25. In conclusion, the proposed mathematical model accurately forecast the spread tendency of COVID-19 in China and the model can be applied for other countries with appropriate modifications.
Interplays among R&D spending, patent and income growth: new empirical evidence from the panel of countries and groups
Authors: Das Ramesh Chandra 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIndustrial houses and governments of different countries and groups spend a sizeable amount of their earnings upon research and development activities to create new products and obtain patents for them. The short-run motive is to get patents, and the long-run motive is to influence income growth of the countries. The empirical findings so far are skeptical on the effects of research and development (R&D) spending. The present study further investigates the long-run associations and short-run dynamics among R&D spending, number of patents and per capita income growth in the panel of countries and groups for the period 1996–2017. Using VAR model for the panel data, the study observes that R&D spending, number of patents and per capita income growth have no long-run equilibrium relations but in the short-run, income growth and number of patents make a cause to R&D spending. However, there are weak causation from patents and R&D spending to income growth rates. The study thus recommends for controlling unfair competition on spending on R&D head and getting patents since it increases the magnitudes of social cost.