bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinician–researchers and custodians of scarce resources: a qualitative study of health professionals’ views on barriers to the involvement of teenagers and young adults in cancer trials
Authors: Hart Ruth I. , Hallowell Nina , Harden Jeni , Jesudason Angela B. , Lawton Julia 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Equipoise and role conflict have been previously identified as important factors in professionals’ engagement with trials, inducing behaviours which can impact on recruitment. We explored these phenomena as potential explanations for the low levels of involvement of teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer in clinical trials in oncology.

Methods
We report findings from interviews with 30 purposively sampled direct-care professionals involved in delivering cancer care and/or facilitating clinical trials in Scotland. We undertook qualitative descriptive analysis, focussed on identifying key issues and themes.

Results
Interviewees largely identified as clinician–researchers and portrayed oncology as a specialty in which research was integral to care. They saw their primary responsibility as ensuring patients received the best treatment, but asserted that, in general, trials provided a vehicle for optimal care. Role conflict in its traditional form was rarely evident; however, other tensions were manifest. Professionals found the significant time costs of delivering trials difficult to reconcile with the increasing pressures on clinical services. They felt a responsibility to make prudent choices about the trials with which to engage. Guided by utilitarian principles, these choices were oriented towards benefiting the largest number of patients. This favoured trials in high volume diseases; as TYA tend to have rarer forms of cancer, professionals’ support for—and TYA’s access to—relevant trials was, by default, more limited.

Conclusions
Neither lack of individual equipoise nor experiences of traditional forms of role conflict accounted for the low levels of involvement of TYA with cancer in clinical trials. However, prominent tensions around the management of scarce resources provided an alternative explanation for TYA’s limited access to cancer trials. The prevailing approach to decision-making about whether and which trials to support was recognised as contributing to inequalities in access and care. Professionals’ choices, however, were made in the context of scarcity, and structured by incentives and sanctions understood by them as signalling governmental priorities. A franker discussion of the extent and distribution of the costs and benefits of trials work is needed, for change to be achieved.
A DIVA vaccine strain lacking RpoS and the secondary messenger c-di-GMP for protection against salmonellosis in pigs
Authors: Gil Carmen , Latasa Cristina , García-Ona Enrique , Lázaro Isidro , Labairu Javier , Echeverz Maite , Burgui Saioa , García Begoña , Lasa Iñigo , Solano Cristina 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSalmonellosis is the second most common food-borne zoonosis in the European Union, with pigs being a major reservoir of this pathogen. Salmonella control in pig production requires multiple measures amongst which vaccination may be used to reduce subclinical carriage and shedding of prevalent serovars, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Live attenuated vaccine strains offer advantages in terms of enhancing cell mediated immunity and allowing inoculation by the oral route. However, main failures of these vaccines are the limited cross-protection achieved against heterologous serovars and interference with serological monitoring for infection. We have recently shown that an attenuated S. Enteritidis strain (ΔXIII) is protective against S. Typhimurium in a murine infection model. ΔXIII strain harbours 13 chromosomal deletions that make it unable to produce the sigma factor RpoS and synthesize cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP). In this study, our objectives were to test the protective effects of ΔXIII strain in swine and to investigate if the use of ΔXIII permits the discrimination of vaccinated from infected pigs. Results show that oral vaccination of pre-weaned piglets with ΔXIII cross-protected against a challenge with S. Typhimurium by reducing faecal shedding and ileocaecal lymph nodes colonization, both at the time of weaning and slaughter. Vaccinated pigs showed neither faecal shedding nor tissue persistence of the vaccine strain at weaning, ensuring the absence of ΔXIII strain by the time of slaughter. Moreover, lack of the SEN4316 protein in ΔXIII strain allowed the development of a serological test that enabled the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA).
Goats naturally devoid of PrPC are resistant to scrapie
Authors: Salvesen Øyvind , Espenes Arild , Reiten Malin R. , Vuong Tram T. , Malachin Giulia , Tran Linh , Andréoletti Olivier , Olsaker Ingrid , Benestad Sylvie L. , Tranulis Michael A. , Ersdal Cecilie 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPrion diseases are progressive and fatal, neurodegenerative disorders described in humans and animals. According to the “protein-only” hypothesis, the normal host-encoded prion protein (PrPC) is converted into a pathological and infectious form (PrPSc) in these diseases. Transgenic knockout models have shown that PrPC is a prerequisite for the development of prion disease. In Norwegian dairy goats, a mutation (Ter) in the prion protein gene (PRNP) effectively blocks PrPC synthesis. We inoculated 12 goats (4 PRNP+/+, 4 PRNP+/Ter, and 4 PRNPTer/Ter) intracerebrally with goat scrapie prions. The mean incubation time until clinical signs of prion disease was 601 days post-inoculation (dpi) in PRNP+/+ goats and 773 dpi in PRNP+/Ter goats. PrPSc and vacuolation were similarly distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) of both groups and observed in all brain regions and segments of the spinal cord. Generally, accumulation of PrPSc was limited in peripheral organs, but all PRNP+/+ goats and 1 of 4 PRNP+/Ter goats were positive in head lymph nodes. The four PRNPTer/Ter goats remained healthy, without clinical signs of prion disease, and were euthanized 1260 dpi. As expected, no accumulation of PrPSc was observed in the CNS or peripheral tissues of this group, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, enzyme immunoassay, and real-time quaking-induced conversion. Our study shows for the first time that animals devoid of PrPC due to a natural mutation do not propagate prions and are resistant to scrapie. Clinical onset of disease is delayed in heterozygous goats expressing about 50% of PrPC levels.
Clinical pharmacokinetics of 3-h extended infusion of meropenem in adult patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: implications for empirical therapy against Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Kothekar Amol T. , Divatia Jigeeshu Vasishtha , Myatra Sheila Nainan , Patil Anand , Nookala Krishnamurthy Manjunath , Maheshwarappa Harish Mallapura , Siddiqui Suhail Sarwar , Gurjar Murari , Biswas Sanjay , Gota Vikram 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Optimal anti-bacterial activity of meropenem requires maintenance of its plasma concentration (Cp) above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the pathogen for at least 40% of the dosing interval (fT > MIC > 40). We aimed to determine whether a 3-h extended infusion (EI) of meropenem achieves fT > MIC > 40 on the first and third days of therapy in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. We also simulated the performance of the EI with respect to other pharmacokinetic (PK) targets such as fT > 4 × MIC > 40, fT > MIC = 100, and fT > 4 × MIC = 100.

Methods
Arterial blood samples of 25 adults with severe sepsis or septic shock receiving meropenem 1000 mg as a 3-h EI eight hourly (Q8H) were obtained at various intervals during and after the first and seventh doses. Plasma meropenem concentrations were determined using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography assay, followed by modeling and simulation of PK data. European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) definitions of MIC breakpoints for sensitive and resistant Gram-negative bacteria were used.

Results
A 3-h EI of meropenem 1000 mg Q8H achieved fT > 2 µg/mL > 40 on the first and third days, providing activity against sensitive strains of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. However, it failed to achieve fT > 4 µg/mL > 40 to provide activity against strains susceptible to increased exposure in 33.3 and 39.1% patients on the first and the third days, respectively. Modeling and simulation showed that a bolus dose of 500 mg followed by 3-h EI of meropenem 1500 mg Q8H will achieve this target. A bolus of 500 mg followed by an infusion of 2000 mg would be required to achieve fT > 8 µg > 40. Targets of fT > 4 µg/mL = 100 and fT > 8 µg/mL = 100 may be achievable in two-thirds of patients by increasing the frequency of dosing to six hourly (Q6H).

Conclusions
In patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, EI of 1000 mg of meropenem over 3 h administered Q8H is inadequate to provide activity (fT > 4 µg/mL > 40) against strains susceptible to increased exposure, which requires a bolus of 500 mg followed by EI of 1500 mg Q8H. While fT > 8 µg/mL > 40 require escalation of EI dose, fT > 4 µg/mL = 100 and fT > 8 µg/mL = 100 require escalation of both EI dose and frequency.
Two multi-cubic functional equations and some results on the stability in modular spaces
Authors: Park Choonkil , Bodaghi Abasalt 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this article, we study n-variable mappings which are cubic in each variable. We also show that such mappings can be described by an equation, say, multi-cubic functional equation. Furthermore, we study the stability of such functional equations in the modular space $X_{\rho }$Xρ by applying $\Delta _{2}$Δ2-condition and the Fatou property (in some cases) on the modular function ρ. Finally, we show that, under some mild conditions, one of these new multi-cubic functional equations can be hyperstable.
New results on global asymptotic stability for a nonlinear density-dependent mortality Nicholson’s blowflies model with multiple pairs of time-varying delays
Authors: Cao Qian , Wang Guoqiu , Zhang Hong , Gong Shuhua 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a class of Nicholson’s blowflies model involving nonlinear density-dependent mortality terms and multiple pairs of time-varying delays. By using differential inequality techniques and the fluctuation lemma, we establish a delay-independent criterion on the global asymptotic stability of the addressed model, which improves and complements some existing ones. The effectiveness of the obtained result is illustrated by some numerical simulations.
Linear difference operator with multiple variable parameters and applications to second-order differential equations
Authors: Li Feifan , Bi Zhonghua , Yao Shaowen , Xin Yun 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this article, we first investigate the linear difference operator $(Ax)(t):=x(t)-\sum_{i=1}^{n}c_{i}(t)x(t- \delta _{i}(t))$(Ax)(t):=x(t)−∑i=1nci(t)x(t−δi(t)) in a continuous periodic function space. The existence condition and some properties of the inverse of the operator A are explicitly pointed out. Afterwards, as applications of properties of the operator A, we study the existence of periodic solutions for two kinds of second-order functional differential equations with this operator. One is a kind of second-order functional differential equation, by applications of Krasnoselskii’s fixed point theorem, some sufficient conditions for the existence of positive periodic solutions are established. Another one is a kind of second-order quasi-linear differential equation, we establish the existence of periodic solutions of this equation by an extension of Mawhin’s continuous theorem.
Local existence and uniqueness of increasing positive solutions for non-singular and singular beam equation with a parameter
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Lingling 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a class of beam equations with a parameter. By using the fixed point theorems of mixed monotone operator and the properties of cone, we study the non-singular and singular case, respectively, and obtain the sufficient conditions which guarantee the local existence and uniqueness of increasing positive solutions. Also, we present an iterative algorithm that converges to the solution. Moreover, we get some pleasant properties of the solutions for the boundary value problem dependent parameter. At last, two examples are given to illustrate the main results.
Head-on collision between capillary–gravity solitary waves
Authors: Marin Marin , Bhatti M. M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe present study deals with the head-on collision process between capillary–gravity solitary waves in a finite channel. The present mathematical modeling is based on Nwogu’s Boussinesq model. This model is suitable for both shallow and deep water waves. We have considered the surface tension effects. To examine the asymptotic behavior, we employed the Poincaré–Lighthill–Kuo method. The resulting series solutions are given up to third-order approximation. The physical features are discussed for wave speed, head-on collision profile, maximum run-up, distortion profile, the velocity at the bottom, and phase shift profile, etc. A comparison is also given as a particular case in our study. According to the results, it is noticed that the free parameter and the surface tension tend to decline the solitary-wave profile significantly. However, the maximum run-up amplitude was affected in great measure due to the surface tension and the free parameter.
Stress state along the western Nankai Trough subduction zone inferred from b-values, long-term slow-slip events, and low-frequency earthquakes
Authors: Chiba Keita 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTheb-value of the Gutenberg–Richter law represents the ratio of earthquake magnitude to frequency of occurrence and is inversely proportional to differential stress. Repeating long-term slow-slip events (SSEs) and low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) occur at subducting plate interfaces and have stress-dependent characteristics near the interface. In this study, a comprehensive regionalb-value distribution is produced for the western Nankai Trough region, which highlights the relationship betweenb-values, SSEs, and LFEs.b-values vary along the strike direction of the subducting plate and are significantly lower$$ \left( {b \sim 0.6} \right) $$b∼0.6in central Shikoku district than elsewhere, where LFEs frequently occur. However,b-values in the source regions of other LFEs are moderate to high. These findings imply thatb-values in the focal region are controlled by more than the LFE source process; indeed, if this source process were solely responsible, then highb-values would be expected. Meanwhile, the$$ V_{P} /V_{S} $$VP/VSand QParound the plate interface in central Shikoku estimated from seismic velocity and attenuation structure are smaller and larger than those in other regions with LFEs, respectively. SSEs with the migration toward central Shikoku also occurred during the analysis period, suggesting significant accumulation of shear stresses in the focal region, which reduced theb-values. These findings suggest that the spatial distributions ofb-values are influenced by complicated stress and shear strength perturbations caused by SSEs and LFEs. On the other hand, theb-values in the region that underwent the greatest slip during the 1946 Nankai earthquake are not necessarily low, although the area covered by theb-value distribution is small owing to the lack of events on the updip side. Whereas the asperity areas of huge earthquakes are characterized by lowb-values, theb-value distribution in the Nankai megathrust area is more complicated. It is considered that slow earthquakes, including SSEs and LFEs, are related to megathrust earthquakes via stress transfer from slow earthquakes to adjacent megathrust source regions. A unified analysis ofb-values in the source regions of slow and megathrust earthquakes may be required to make precise estimates of the seismic hazard produced by a megathrust event.
Cloth simulation-based construction of pit-free canopy height models from airborne LiDAR data
Authors: Zhang Wuming , Cai Shangshu , Liang Xinlian , Shao Jie , Hu Ronghai , Yu Sisi , Yan Guangjian 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
The universal occurrence of randomly distributed dark holes (i.e., data pits appearing within the tree crown) in LiDAR-derived canopy height models (CHMs) negatively affects the accuracy of extracted forest inventory parameters.

Methods
We develop an algorithm based on cloth simulation for constructing a pit-free CHM.

Results
The proposed algorithm effectively fills data pits of various sizes whilst preserving canopy details. Our pit-free CHMs derived from point clouds at different proportions of data pits are remarkably better than those constructed using other algorithms, as evidenced by the lowest average root mean square error (0.4981 m) between the reference CHMs and the constructed pit-free CHMs. Moreover, our pit-free CHMs show the best performance overall in terms of maximum tree height estimation (average bias = 0.9674 m).

Conclusion
The proposed algorithm can be adopted when working with different quality LiDAR data and shows high potential in forestry applications.
Evaluation of the association between KIR polymorphisms and systemic sclerosis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Karimizadeh Elham , Mostafaei Shayan , Aslani Saeed , Gharibdoost Farhad , Xavier Ricardo Machado , Salim Patricia Hartstein , Kavosi Hoda , Farhadi Elham , Mahmoudi Mahdi 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
The results of investigations on the association between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene polymorphisms and the risk of systemic sclerosis (SSc) are inconsistent. To comprehensively evaluate the influence of KIR polymorphisms on the risk of SSc, this meta-analysis was performed.

Methods
A systematic literature search was performed in electronic databases including Scopus and PubMed/MEDLINE to find all available studies involving KIR gene family polymorphisms and SSc risk prior to July 2019. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured to detect associations between KIR gene family polymorphisms and SSc risk.

Results
Five articles, comprising 571 patients and 796 healthy participants, evaluating the KIR gene family polymorphisms were included in the final meta-analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 16 KIR genes were assessed. None of the KIR genes were significantly associated with the risk of SSc.

Conclusions
The current meta-analysis provides evidence that KIR genes might not be potential risk factors for SSc risk.
Discrete unified gas kinetic scheme for multiscale anisotropic radiative heat transfer
Authors: Song Xinliang , Zhang Chuang , Zhou Xiafeng , Guo Zhaoli 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this work, a discrete unified gas kinetic scheme (DUGKS) is developed for radiative transfer in anisotropic scattering media. The method is an extension of a previous one for isotropic radiation problems [1]. The present scheme is a finite-volume discretization of the anisotropic gray radiation equation, where the anisotropic scattering phase function is approximated by the Legendre polynomial expansion. With the coupling of free transport and scattering processes in the reconstruction of the flux at cell interfaces, the present DUGKS has the nice unified preserving properties such that the cell size is not limited by the photon mean free path even in the optical thick regime. Several one- and two-dimensional numerical tests are conducted to validate the performance of the present DUGKS, and the numerical results demonstrate that the scheme is a reliable method for anisotropic radiative heat transfer problems.
Grounding urban resilience through transdisciplinary risk mapping
Authors: Bendito América 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDuring 2015, three key global agreements were established which converged on enhancing resilience as an overall strategy towards sustainable development. This paper builds an argument and a structured process for future research and practice that succinctly links urban resilience enhancement with the transdisciplinary development of risk maps. Risk maps are highlighted as useful tools improving a shared understanding of risk, raising awareness, and effectively guiding land use planning and zoning towards enhanced urban resilience. Building codes incorporating past and recent disaster experiences, and multi-hazard maps with high quality data for different performance levels, should be the foundation of transdisciplinary risk mapping.
TNF-α -308 G>A and IL10 -1082A>G polymorphisms as potential risk factors for lymphoproliferative disorders in autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Authors: Tayel Manal Y. , Nazir Aida , Abdelhamid Ibtessam M. , Helmy Myriam A. S. , Zaki Nadia E. , Elsharkawy Nehad S. , Fayad Amira I. 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Chronic inflammation with sustained unregulated immune stimulation in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) may be a risk factor for developing lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD). Markers of ARD activity as high erythrocyte sedimentation rate or erosive joint diseases and the development of B-symptoms were accounted as risk factors for LPD development. We investigated the association of five inflammatory cytokine genes single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): TNF-α -308G>A; TGF-β1 gene codon 10 T>C and 25 G>C; IL-10 promoter SNPs -1082 A>G, -819T>C, and -592A>C; IL-6 -174G>C; and IFN-γ 874 T>A with the risk of LPD development in ARD patients. The study was conducted on 70 patients divided into group I, 25 ARD patients diagnosed as RA (n = 15) and SLE (n = 10) and with no history of malignancy; group II, 25 patients diagnosed with LPD and had no ARD; and group III, 20 patients diagnosed with both diseases: ARD and LPD. Cytokine genotyping was analyzed by PCR-sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP).

Results
ARD+LPD patients had significantly higher frequency of TNF-α -308A allele and AA+AG genotype (high TNF-α producers) and IL-10 -1082A allele and AA genotype (low IL-10 producers) than ARD patients (p = 0.003, p = 0.024, p = 0.003, p = 0.03, respectively) with a significantly increased risk of LPD development in ARD patients expressing the corresponding alleles and genotypes. No significant differences were detected in the distribution frequency of either TGF-β1, IL-6, or IFN-γ SNPs between groups I and III or any of the studied SNPs between groups II and III. The distribution frequency of IL-10 ATA haplotype was significantly increased in group III as compared to group I (p = 0.037).

Conclusion
The significantly increased frequency of the high-TNF-α- and low-IL-10-producing alleles and genotypes in ARD patients may participate in the provision of a proinflammatory milieu that eventually increases the risk of LPD development.