bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self-assessment of Polish pharmacy staff’s readiness to promote health
Authors: Bojar Iwona , Sarecka-Hujar Beata , Owoc Jakub , Pawełczak-Barszczowska Adrianna , Raczkiewicz Dorota 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackground Nowadays, pharmacists are expected to focus not only on dispensing medicines but also on the wellness of the patient. In some developed countries a pharmacist is clearly defined as a health care professional that can make a contribution to improving the general health of the population. Objective To assess the readiness of Polish pharmacy staff to engage in health promotion and educational activities. Setting Community pharmacies in Poland. Method The study group consisted of 308 pharmacy staff (248 pharmacists and 60 pharmacy technicians) employed in Polish pharmacies. The survey questionnaire referred to three domains: systemic solutions for health promotion, readiness of pharmacy staff as a professional group to promote health, personal readiness to promote health. Responses about pharmacy staff’s readiness to promote health were scored using a 10-point scale. Scale reliability for all items (overall readiness), and for items within the three domains separately, were tested using Cronbach’s α and average inter-correlation coefficient among the items. Main outcome measure Pharmacy staff’s readiness to promote health (the questionnaire containing 32 items). Results The overall readiness of pharmacy staff to promote health was rather low (average of 4.6 ± 1.5 in 1–10 scale). The highest scores were obtained for pharmacy staff’s personal readiness to promote health (average of 5.5 ± 1.8) which was neutral on the scale. The lowest scores were obtained for systemic solutions for health promotion (average of 3.6 ± 1.4). Readiness of pharmacy staff as a professional group was ranked in the middle (average 4.8 ± 1.8). Surveyed pharmacy staff rated their readiness to promote health in the work environment significantly higher than promoting health in the local community. Female and younger pharmacy staff as well as those with job seniority of less than 5 years, or pharmacy technicians assessed their readiness to promote health significantly higher than others. Readiness to promote health was higher among pharmacy staff working in pharmacies employing up to 3 staff members and at pharmacies with over 200 customers daily. Conclusions The overall readiness of pharmacy staff to promote health was low, especially in the domain of systemic solutions in health promotion.
Judging the quality of (fake) news on the internet
Authors: Rass Stefan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe only reliable remedy against anxiety is information, and reliable information and news are of crucial value in times of crises, such as COVID-19. Contemporary social media offers almost everyone a platform to publish one’s own thoughts, opinions, political statements and others, some of which may gain significant interest of others and thereby become so called “influencers”. This role has in the past been held by news agencies primarily, but this role is increasingly adopted also by private people and among them, also some who do not necessarily adhere the high standards of good journalism or scientific ethics. These give rise to fake news, spreading as unconfirmed rumors and possibly causing dramatic impacts to a society. With information available almost everywhere in the internet today, the distinction between good and bad sources has become a challenge, and highly difficult task. Even more intricate is the question of verifying information against multiple independent sources. If many people say something, does this make it true or any more plausible? Do we need to trust information in lack of better information? Is it possible to judge information and make our own opinion about its validity, quality, relevance or usefulness for our own business? This article shall provide pointers towards answers to the above questions. We discuss some technical means of judging the quality of information and what anyone, even without much technical background can do to avoid falling victim to fake information and fake news.
Influence of Body Mass Index and Gender on Stigmatization of Obesity
Authors: Tapking Christian , Benner Laura , Hackbusch Matthes , Schüler Svenja , Tran Danny , Ottawa Gregor B. , Krug Katja , Müller-Stich Beat P. , Fischer Lars , Nickel Felix 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Stigmatization and discrimination of people with obesity due to their weight are a common problem that may lead to additional weight gain. This study evaluated the influence of different parameters on the stigmatization of obesity.

Material and Methods
Participants of six groups (general population, patients with obesity, medical students, physicians, nurses in training and nurses; n = 490) answered the short-form fat phobia scale (FPS) between August 2016 and July 2017. The influence of body mass index (BMI), gender and other factors on total scores and single adjective pairs was analyzed.

Results
A total of 490 participants were evaluated. The total mean FPS rating was 3.5 ± 0.6. FPS was significantly lower (more positive) in participants with obesity (3.2 ± 0.7) compared with participants without obesity (3.5 ± 0.5, p < 0.001). Individuals with obesity and diabetes rated the FPS significantly lower (more positive), whereas age and gender did not have a significant influence. Participants with obesity linked obesity more often with good self-control (p < 0.001), being shapely (p = 0.002), industrious (p < 0.001), attractive (p < 0.001), active (p < 0.001), self-sacrificing (p < 0.001) and having more willpower (p < 0.001) than the participants without obesity. Females rated more positive in shapely versus shapeless (p = 0.038) and attractive versus non-attractive (p < 0.001) than males.

Conclusions
The present study shows that stigmatization of obesity is present in medical professionals as well as the general population. People affected by obesity characterized other people with obesity more positively (e.g. attractive or active), whereas people without obesity linked negative characteristics with obesity. Gender had an influence only on single items of FPS but did not affect overall stigmatization of obesity.
Serum sodium variability and acute kidney injury: a retrospective observational cohort study on a hospitalized population
Authors: Lombardi Gianmarco , Ferraro Pietro Manuel , Naticchia Alessandro , Gambaro Giovanni 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAim of our study was to analyze the association between serum sodium (Na) variability and acute kidney injury (AKI) development. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study on the inpatient population admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014 with inclusion of adult patients with ≥ 2 Na and ≥ 2 serum creatinine measurements. We included only patients with ≥ 2 Na measurements before AKI development. The outcome of interest was AKI. The exposures of interest were hyponatremia, hypernatremia and Na fluctuations before AKI development. Na variability was evaluated using the coefficient of variation (CV). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models were fitted to obtain hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between the exposures of interest and AKI. Overall, 56,961 patients met our inclusion criteria. During 1541 person-years of follow-up AKI occurred in 1450 patients. In multivariable hazard models, patients with pre-existent dysnatremia and those who developed dysnatremia had a higher risk of AKI compared with patients with normonatremia. Logistic models suggested a higher risk for AKI in the 3rd (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.18, 1.70, p < 0.001) and 4th (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.24, 1.91, p < 0.001) highest quartiles of Na CV with a significant linear trend across quartiles (p trend < 0.001). This association was also independent from Na highest and lowest peak value. Dysnatremia is a common condition and is positive associated with AKI development. Furthermore, high Na variability might be considered an independent early indicator for kidney injury development.
The Absent-Minded Passengers Problem: A Motivating Challenge Solved by Computer Algebra
Authors: Schneider Carsten 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn Ekhad and Zeilberger (Personal J Shalosh B Ekhad and Doron Zeilberger, 2020) an exciting case study has been initiated in which experimental mathematics and symbolic computation are utilized to discover new properties concerning the so-called Absent-Minded Passengers Problem. Based on these results, Doron Zeilberger raised some challenging tasks to gain further probabilistic insight. In this note we report on this enterprise. In particular, we demonstrate how the computer algebra packages of RISC can be used to carry out the underlying heavy calculations.
Personalized management of differentiated thyroid cancer in real life – practical guidance from a multidisciplinary panel of experts
Authors: Campennì Alfredo , Barbaro Daniele , Guzzo Marco , Capoccetti Francesca , Giovanella Luca 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPurposeThe standard of care for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) includes surgery, risk-adapted postoperative radioiodine therapy (RaIT), individualized thyroid hormone therapy, and follow-up for detection of patients with persistent or recurrent disease. In 2019, the nine Martinique Principles for managing thyroid cancer were developed by the American Thyroid Association, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and European Thyroid Association. In this review, we present our clinical practice recommendations with regard to implementing these principles in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up of patients with DTC.MethodsA multidisciplinary panel of five thyroid cancer experts addressed the implementation of the Martinique Principles in routine clinical practice based on clinical experience and evidence from the literature.ResultsWe provide a suggested approach for the assessment and diagnosis of DTC in routine clinical practice, including the use of neck ultrasound, measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and calcitonin, fine-needle aspiration, cytology, and molecular imaging. Recommendations for the use of surgery (lobectomy vs. total thyroidectomy) and postoperative RaIT are also provided. Long-term follow-up with neck ultrasound and measurement of serum anti-thyroglobulin antibody and basal/stimulated thyroglobulin is standard, with123/131I radioiodine diagnostic whole-body scans and18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography suggested in selected patients. Management of metastatic DTC should involve a multidisciplinary team.ConclusionsIn routine clinical practice, the Martinique Principles should be implemented in order to optimize clinical management/outcomes of patients with DTC.
A thick-restart Lanczos type method for Hermitian J-symmetric eigenvalue problems
Authors: Ishikawa Ken-Ichi , Sogabe Tomohiro 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA thick-restart Lanczos type algorithm is proposed for Hermitian J-symmetric matrices. Since Hermitian J-symmetric matrices possess doubly degenerate spectra or doubly multiple eigenvalues with a simple relation between the degenerate eigenvectors, we can improve the convergence of the Lanczos algorithm by restricting the search space of the Krylov subspace to that spanned by one of each pair of the degenerate eigenvector pairs. We show that the Lanczos iteration is compatible with the J-symmetry, so that the subspace can be split into two subspaces that are orthogonal to each other. The proposed algorithm searches for eigenvectors in one of the two subspaces without the multiplicity. The other eigenvectors paired to them can be easily reconstructed with the simple relation from the J-symmetry. We test our algorithm on randomly generated small dense matrices and a sparse large matrix originating from a quantum field theory.
An overview of chromium removal techniques from tannery effluent
Authors: Nur-E-Alam Md. , Mia Md. Abu Sayid , Ahmad Farid , Rahman Md. Mafizur 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIndustrial activities that consume water generate wastewater as a by-product of processing which introduces various contaminants such as heavy metals into the neighbouring water bodies that creates adverse effects on the surrounding environment. Tannery industry releases more toxic effluent than most industries, which directly and indirectly exerts stress on various ecosystems. The heavy metalchromium(Cr), one of the pollutants found in tannery effluent, is very much detrimental to human health, animals, and plants. Conventional physico-chemical and biological processes can remove this heavy metal in considerable amounts. Recently, various applications of advanced technologies such as membrane technology, electrocoagulation, ion exchange, and electrodialysis for tannery wastewater have been growing due to their relative advantages over other technologies in terms of sustainability. This paper represents the review of various available techniques as well as represents a case study of chromium removal from tannery effluent by a low-cost absorbent.
Assessment of continuous and alternating CO2 injection under Brazilian-pre-salt-like conditions
Authors: Lima R. O. , de L. Cunha A. , Santos J. A. O. , Garcia A. J. V. , dos Santos J. P. L. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCarbonate rocks have become very important in Brazil with pre-salt reservoir discoveries in Santos and Campos Basins. Since then, great efforts in research and technology have been made to characterize and develop these reservoirs. In this sense, outcrop analogue studies have become a powerful tool for helping the recognition of geological heterogeneities responsible for controlling the fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Besides that, pre-salt oil recovery is associated with high carbon dioxide (CO2) production, and due environmental issues, it is required a sustainable destination for this contaminant. CO2injection in the reservoir, either pure or mixed to the produced gas stream, could be a good manner to deal with this undesirable component and increase the oil recovery. This work uses outcrop analogue characterization to understand how carbonate reservoir characteristics impact the selection of the best recovery strategy under Brazilian-pre-salt-like conditions. Numerical simulation models were run using the flow simulator TEMPEST MORE (version 7.1) with isothermal compositional modeling. The oil recovery process was modeled by continuous and alternating injection of CO2and water. The recovered oil fractions for the simulation case with water alternating CO2injection were higher than with the use of continuous injection of CO2or water.
Ternary liquid–liquid equilibrium data for n-Hexane-Benzene-DES (choline chloride/ethylene glycol, choline chloride/glycerol, choline chloride/urea) at 303 K and 101.3 kPa
Authors: Usman Mohammed Awwalu , Fagoroye Olumide Kayode , Ajayi Toluwalase Olufunmilayo , Kehinde Abiola John 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared using choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and ethylene glycol (EG) or glycerol (GLY) or urea (U) as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and were evaluated as solvents in the extraction of benzene from n-hexane. Six of such solvents were prepared using different molar ratios of HBA: HBD and code named DES1, DES2, DES3, DES4, DES5 and DES6. Liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) data for the ternary systems of n-hexane-benzene-DESs were measured at 303 K and 101.3 kPa. Solubility data and mutual solubilities between n-hexane and DES were measured using the traditional cloud point method. The tie lines were obtained using titration and refractive index measurements on both phases (n-hexane phase and DES-phases). The ternary systems exhibit type-1 phase behavior. The Othmer-Tobias and Hands equations were applied to examine the reliability of the LLE data. The tie-line data were correlated using the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) and universal quasichemical (UNIQUAC) thermodynamic models, and their corresponding binary interaction parameters were determined. The results show that the maximum separation factors were 31.24, 462.00, 15.24, 37.83, 174.60 and 126.00 for DES1, DES2, DES3, DES4, DES5 and DES6, respectively. The glycerol based DES (DES2 and DES5) show the highest separation factors and thus considered the most suitable for separating benzene from hexane. The regression coefficient for both Othmer-Tobias and Hand equations are higher than 0.99 for all DESs, indicating the reliability and consistency of the data. Both NRTL and UNIQUAC models adequately capture the experimental data.
High dimensional nuisance parameters: an example from parametric survival analysis
Authors: Battey H. S. , Cox D. R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractParametric statistical problems involving both large amounts of data and models with many parameters raise issues that are explicitly or implicitly differential geometric. When the number of nuisance parameters is comparable to the sample size, alternative approaches to inference on interest parameters treat the nuisance parameters either as random variables or as arbitrary constants. The two approaches are compared in the context of parametric survival analysis, with emphasis on the effects of misspecification of the random effects distribution. Notably, we derive a detailed expression for the precision of the maximum likelihood estimator of an interest parameter when the assumed random effects model is erroneous, recovering simply derived results based on the Fisher information in the correctly specified situation but otherwise illustrating complex dependence on other aspects. Methods of assessing model adequacy are given. The results are both directly applicable and illustrate general principles of inference when there is a high-dimensional nuisance parameter. Open problems with an information geometrical bearing are outlined.
Allelic variation of gliadin-encoding genes in a collection of tetraploid wheat genotypes
Authors: Nigro Domenica , Monaci Linda , Pilolli Rosa , Gadaleta Agata 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWheat is one of the main crops bred worldwide. Durum wheat, specifically, is a key element of the Mediterranean diet, representing an élite crop grown in Italy. Durum wheat nutritional and technological values are largely due to the grain protein content (GPC), a complex genetic trait strongly affected by environmental factors and management practices. In the last decades, several breeding programs have been focused on improving GPC by both traditional and innovative approaches. Among seed storage proteins, prolamins, including both gliadins and glutenins, represent the major component. These two classes of proteins are indeed responsible of gluten formation and confer the extensibility and elasticity to the dough. Besides being of crucial importance for both technological properties and rheological characteristics, prolamins, and especially gliadins, have been found to be major triggers for human health, as involved in a number of wheat consumption-related conditions, such as the celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, defined as the onset of a variety of manifestations related to wheat, rye and barley ingestion, and wheat allergies, both due to wheat ingestion or inhalation (of flour or pollen). The identification of loci responsible for the gliadin expression, and particularly of polymorphism in the aforementioned genes, which could result in a lower immunogenic/toxic potential, could be of great importance in breeding programs. For this purpose, we screened a collection of tetraploid wheat genotypes for allelic variants of annotated gliadin genes in the durum wheat genome, in order to identify genetic resources available to breeders to improve wheat nutritional and technological properties. Phylogenetic analysis among different species of Triticum genus and an in silico expression data analysis may also be useful in the exploitation of the complex scenario of gliadin–glutenin interaction and gluten role in the adverse reactions due to wheat consumption.
Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Micoogullari Uygar , Karatas Omer Faruk , Kisa Erdem , Keskin Mehmet Zeynel , Atmaca Ali Fuat , Neselioglu Salim , Erel Ozcan , Ardicoglu Arslan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background
Although there are no sufficient data on association between oxidative stress and erectile dysfunction (ED), numerous studies have reported that imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen species and body's antioxidant defenses may play a role in the pathogenesis of ED.

Aim
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the oxidant and antioxidant status in patients with ED and healthy controls with a novel automated assay for thiol/disulphide homeostasis test.

Methods
Our study included 123 patients with ED and 90 healthy individuals. ED was evaluated by asking questions 1–5 and 15 of the International Index of Erectile Function form. In this study, we used Erel and Neselioglu’s thiol/disulfide homeostasis test, which is one of the novel methods that can measure both variables of the oxidative/antioxidative balance individually and collectively.

Outcomes
This method measured serum antioxidant (total thiol [toSH], native thiol [SH]) and oxidant (disulfide [SS]) levels. The statistical comparisons were performed between patients with ED (ED+ group) and without ED (ED− group) first and then within the ED+ group. After toSH, SH, and SS levels were determined; SS/toSH%, SS/SH%, and SH/toSH% levels were analyzed separately and compared statistically.

Results
We found a significant difference between ED− and ED+ groups in terms of toSH, SH, SS/toSH%, and SS/SH% ratios. SS parameters were increased in patients with ED, but there was no significant difference in terms of SS and SH/toSH% values.

Clinical Implications
Clarification of the factors involved in the etiology of ED such as oxidative/antioxidative balance may open new grounds in the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Strengths & Limitations
It is a prospective, randomized clinical study with the use of a novel, reliable, and fully automated technique. The limitations of the study are use of a subjective tool such as the International Index of Erectile Function, obtaining blood samples from the peripheral vein instead of penile cavernosal tissue, and relatively small sample size.

Conclusion
The results of this study showed that thiol/disulfide homeostasis is altered in ED, and this imbalance may be a factor in its pathophysiology. We determined that as ED gets more severe, toSH and SH parameters decrease, whereas SS parameter increases.