bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The response of Plasmodium falciparum to isoleucine withdrawal is dependent on the stage of progression through the intraerythrocytic cell cycle
Authors: McLean Kyle Jarrod , Jacobs-Lorena Marcelo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
A previous study reported that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enters an altered growth state upon extracellular withdrawal of the essential amino acid isoleucine. Parasites slowed transit through the cell cycle when deprived of isoleucine prior to the onset of S-phase.

Methods
This project was undertaken to study at higher resolution, how isoleucine withdrawal affects parasite growth. Parasites were followed at regular intervals across an extended isoleucine deprivation time course across the cell cycle using flow cytometry.

Results
These experiments revealed that isoleucine-deprived parasites never exit the cell cycle, but instead continuously grow at a markedly reduced pace. Moreover, slow growth occurs only if isoleucine is removed prior to the onset of schizogony. After S-phase commenced, the parasite is insensitive to isoleucine depletion and transits through the cell cycle at the normal pace.

Conclusions
The markedly different response of the parasite to isoleucine withdrawal before or after the onset of DNA replication is reminiscent of the nutrient-dependent G1 cell cycle checkpoints described in other organisms.
Time trends of non-alcoholic beverage consumption among adults in Germany, 1990–2011
Authors: Schienkiewitz Anja , Haftenberger Marjolein , Mensink Gert B. M. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
In Germany, information on trends in non-alcoholic beverage intake over the last decades is sparse. The aim of this analysis is to examine trends in non-alcoholic beverage consumption among adults living in Germany between 1990 and 2011 with special focus on gender, age and education level.

Methods
We used self-reported food frequency questionnaire information from 25 to 69 year old participants of three German National Health Interview and Examination Surveys conducted in 1990–1992 (n = 7466), 1997–1999 (n = 5825) and 2008–2011 (n = 5375) and focused on consumption frequency of fruit juice, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee. Positive answers in the categories “almost daily”, “daily” and “daily and more” were categorized as frequent beverage intake. Proportion estimates and 95%-CI were weighted to better reflect the German population using SAS 9.4 survey procedures for complex sample designs.

Results
Between 1990–1992 and 2008–2011, the proportion of men and women who reported to frequently drink juice, soft drinks, water or tea has increased from 21.9% (95%-CI: 20.8–23.0%) to 27.2% (25.6–29.0%), 10.0% (9.0–11.1%) to 18.7% (17.3–20.3%), 59.1% (56.8–61.4%) to 87.6% (86.2–88.9%), and 32.2% (30.3–34.2%) to 39.2% (36.9–41.5%), respectively. Frequent consumption of coffee decreased from 80.6% (79.1–82.0%) in 1990–1992 to 74.9% (73.3–76.5%) in 1997–1999 and increased to 81.2% (79.8–82.6%) in 2008–2011. Frequent consumption of juice increased over time among men with middle and high education (17.7% (15.7–19.8%) to 26.4% (23.4–29.6%) and 22.9% (20.2–25.8%) to 32.7% (29.4–36.2%), respectively), whereas a similar increase was only seen among women with low education (19.8% (17.1–22.9%) to 28.4% (22.9–34.7%). Frequent soft drink consumption increased among men in all age and education groups but among women only in the 25 to 34 year age group and in the low education group. Frequent water consumption increased about 20% or more among men and women, in all age and education groups.

Conclusions
The results show changes in non-alcoholic beverage consumption over the past two decades in Germany. Exploring non-alcoholic beverage intake over time is important for the evaluation of consumption patterns with regard to guidelines and to design appropriate prevention measures.
Medical education: an Italian contribution to the discussion on global health education
Authors: Civitelli Giulia , Tarsitani Gianfranco , Rinaldi Alessandro , Marceca Maurizio 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
In Italy an important contribution to the spread of global health education (GHE) grew from the establishment and work of the Italian Network for Global Health Education (INGHE). INGHE gave a national shared definition of global health (GH), grounded in the theory of determinants of health, inspired by a vision of social justice, and committed to reduce health inequities. The aim of this article is to share with the international community INGHE’s point of view on Medical Education.

Methods
To express its view of medical education at the national level, INGHE established a dedicated commission, which elaborated a first draft of the document and then shared and discussed it with all other members.

Results
INGHE elaborated a paper where it explained the need to change medical education in order to prepare future health professionals for the challenges of the globalized and unequal world. In this article the authors summarize the experience of INGHE and share with the international community its document.

Conclusions
The authors believe it is necessary now, more than ever, to insert this new approach to health at social and academic levels. Students should play a fundamental role in the spread of GHE, and activities related with GHE could be considered an important part of the third mission of universities to promote social justice.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Citrate stabilized Fe3O4/DMG modified carbon paste electrode for determination of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in blood plasma and urine samples of cement factory workers
Authors: Heidarimoghadam Rashid , Farmany Abbas 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a novel mercury-free electrochemical probe was constructed for the trace determination of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in some biological fluids by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The platform is based on the adsorptive accumulation of Ni(II) onto a carbon paste electrode modified with citrate stabilized Fe3O4 (Cit-Fe3O4) and dimethylglyoxime (DMG). It was shown that trace levels of D4 enhance the electrochemical adsorptive stripping signal of Ni(II) on the electrode platform. It was shown that electrochemical signals are proportional to concentrations of D4. The supporting electrolyte, pH and instrumental parameters associated with the electrode response, including scan rate, accumulation potential and deposition time were optimized. The electrode platform demonstrated well resolved, reproducible peaks, with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.8% and detection limit (3Sb/m) of 27.0 ng/mL. The sensor exhibited good D4 detection and quantification in human blood plasma and urine samples.
Quantifying systemic congestion with Point-Of-Care ultrasound: development of the venous excess ultrasound grading system
Authors: Beaubien-Souligny William , Rola Philippe , Haycock Korbin , Bouchard Josée , Lamarche Yoan , Spiegel Rory , Denault André Y. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Organ congestion is a mediator of adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. Point-Of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely available and could enable clinicians to detect signs of venous congestion at the bedside. The aim of this study was to develop several grading system prototypes using POCUS and to determine their respective ability to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. This is a post-hoc analysis of a single-center prospective study in 145 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for which repeated daily measurements of hepatic, portal, intra-renal vein Doppler and inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasound were performed during the first 72 h after surgery. Five prototypes of venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) grading system combining multiple ultrasound markers were developed.

Results
The association between each score and AKI was assessed using time-dependant Cox models as well as conventional performance measures of diagnostic testing. A total of 706 ultrasound assessments were analyzed. We found that defining severe venous congestion as the presence of severe flow abnormalities in multiple Doppler patterns with a dilated IVC (≥ 2 cm) showed the strongest association with the development of subsequent AKI compared with other combinations (HR: 3.69 CI 1.65–8.24 p = 0.001). The association remained significant after adjustment for baseline risk of AKI and vasopressor/inotropic support (HR: 2.82 CI 1.21–6.55 p = 0.02). Furthermore, this severe VExUS grade offered a useful positive likelihood ratio (+LR: 6.37 CI 2.19–18.50) when detected at ICU admission, which outperformed central venous pressure measurements.

Conclusions
The combination of multiple POCUS markers may identify clinically significant venous congestion.
Variations in Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma Outcomes by Hospital Type: A National Cancer Database Analysis
Authors: Villano Anthony M. , Zeymo Alexander , Chan Kitty S. , Unger Keith R. , Shara Nawar , Al-Refaie Waddah B. 
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE:Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) treatment. Patient- and sarcoma-related factors are well known to influence survival outcomes. The effect of hospital-related factors on long-term survival, however, are not well understood. We sought to assess the relative contribution of hospital-level factors to mortality after surgical treatment of RPS.METHODS AND MATERIALS:The 2004-2015 National Cancer Database was used to identify 10,113 patients who underwent surgical treatment of RPS. Patient-, sarcoma-, hospital-, and treatment-level factors were compared by increasing survival times. Stepwise multivariable Cox regression was performed that controlled for covariates to measure the relative contributions of these factors on overall survival (OS). Effect modification analyses ascertained how hospital type modulates the volume relationship with respect to RPS mortality.RESULTS:Factors predictive of worsening OS were older age, nonprivate insurance, low income, presence of comorbidities, tumor histology, high grade or stage, and R2 resection (for all, P < .05). Increasing hospital surgical volume predicted decreasing risk of death across all survival times. However, analysis by hospital type demonstrated that compared with academic centers, the risk of death at community centers increased significantly as surgical volume increased (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.53).CONCLUSION:Hospital factors affect mortality after surgical treatment of RPS. Specifically, hospital type alters the surgical volume-outcome relationship for RPS mortality such that community centers perform worse with increasing volumes. Recommendations that higher surgical volume improves outcomes cannot be applied universally and must be re-examined in other complex surgical cancers.
Adrenal Incidentaloma
Authors: Sherlock Mark , Scarsbrook Andrew , Abbas Afroze , Fraser Sheila , Limumpornpetch Padiporn , Dineen Rosemary , Stewart Paul M 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAn adrenal incidentaloma is now established as a common endocrine diagnosis that requires a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. The majority of patients can be reassured and discharged, but a personalized approach based upon image analysis, endocrine workup, and clinical symptoms and signs are required in every case. Adrenocortical carcinoma remains a real concern but is restricted to &lt;2% of all cases. Functional adrenal incidentaloma lesions are commoner (but still probably &lt;10% of total) and the greatest challenge remains the diagnosis and optimum management of autonomous cortisol secretion. Modern-day surgery has improved outcomes and novel radiological and urinary biomarkers will improve early detection and patient stratification in future years to come.
Determining patient abdomen thickness from a single digital radiograph with a computational model: clinical results from a proof of concept study
Authors: Worrall Mark , Vinnicombe Sarah , Sutton David 
Published: April 2020

Objective:
A computational model has been created to estimate the abdominal thickness of a patient following an X-ray examination; its intended application is assisting with patient dose audit of paediatric X-ray examinations. This work evaluates the accuracy of the computational model in a clinical setting for adult patients undergoing anteroposterior (AP) abdomen X-ray examinations.

Methods:
The model estimates patient thickness using the radiographic image, the exposure factors with which the image was acquired, a priori knowledge of the characteristics of the X-ray unit and detector and the results of extensive Monte Carlo simulation of patient examinations. For 20 patients undergoing AP abdominal X-ray examinations, the model was used to estimate the patient thickness; these estimates were compared against a direct measurement made at the time of the examination.

Results:
Estimates of patient thickness made using the model were on average within ±5.8% of the measured thickness.

Conclusion:
The model can be used to accurately estimate the thickness of a patient undergoing an AP abdominal X-ray examination where the patient’s size falls within the range of the size of patients used to create the computational model.

Advances in knowledge:
This work demonstrates that it is possible to accurately estimate the AP abdominal thickness of an adult patient using the digital X-ray image and a computational model.
Measurements of experimental transition probabilities of 3p54p → 3p54s arrays in neutral argon
Authors: Asghar Haroon , Piracha Naveed K. , Ali Raheel , Baig M. Aslam 
Published: April 2020

We have determined the absolute transition probabilities of 27 emission lines of neutral argon originating from the

3

p

5

4

p

→

3

p

5

4

s

transition array in the wavelength region from 650 to 1100 nm using an argon-filled hollow cathode discharge lamp. The absolute transition probabilities have been deduced using the lifetimes of the upper levels and the measured branching fractions. Atomic oscillator strengths and relative line strengths for all the transitions have been computed using calculated transition probabilities. The experimentally determined transition probabilities are found to be in good agreement with that calculated in the intermediate coupling (IC) scheme. The comparison of experimentally determined transition probabilities with reported theoretical transition probabilities confirms that the IC scheme for the lower as well as for the upper levels seems to be a useful scheme for the level designation for the

3

p

5

4

p

to

3

p

5

4

s

configuration-based levels in argon. Furthermore, the measured relative line strengths are used to validate the

J

-file sum rule for the

3

p

5

4

p

→

3

p

5

4

s

transition array of argon. The reported transition probabilities, oscillator strengths, and relative line strengths are compared with the published data, showing good agreement.
Analysis of ethanol dehydration using membrane separation processes
Authors: Conde-Mejía Carolina , Jiménez-Gutiérrez Arturo 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAfter the biomass pretreatment and fermentation processes, the purification step constitutes a major task in bioethanol production processes. The use of membranes provides an interesting choice to achieve high-purity bioethanol. Membrane separation processes are generally characterized by low energy requirements, but a high capital investment. Some major design aspects for membrane processes and their application to the ethanol dehydration problem are addressed in this work. The analysis includes pervaporation and vapor permeation methods, and considers using two types of membranes, A-type zeolite and amorphous silica membrane. The results identify the best combination of membrane separation method and type of membrane needed for bioethanol purification.
Learnability issues in L2 Japanese: Prosody and ambiguity resolution
Authors: Kamiya Masaaki , Ananth Priya 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Previous studies in L1 research have claimed that native speakers are able to disambiguate scopally ambiguous sentences using prosodic cues. The present study seeks to investigate if the above claim is true in the case of learners of the Japanese language. We discovered that L2 Japanese learners had difficulty in mapping between scopally ambiguous interpretations and their appropriate prosodic patterns. We claim that these prosodic patterns were neither taught explicitly in class, nor are they available in the learners’ L1 knowledge base. Since they do not possess such knowledge in their long-term memory, the immediate cognitive context could not match with the incoming linguistic acoustic cues to give rise to salience. The present study suggests that L2 Japanese learners cannot learn accentual patterns implicitly, at least in a formal classroom set up, a conclusion corroborated by previous studies.
Aqueous Contact Ion Pairs of Phosphate Groups with Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ – Structural Discrimination by Femtosecond Infrared Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Fingerhut Benjamin P. , Schauss Jakob , Kundu Achintya , Elsaesser Thomas 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The extent of contact and solvent shared ion pairs of phosphate groups with Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in aqueous environment and their relevance for the stability of polyanionic DNA and RNA structures is highly debated. Employing the asymmetric phosphate stretching vibration of dimethyl phosphate (DMP), a model system of the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA, we present linear infrared, femtosecond infrared pump-probe and absorptive 2D-IR spectra that report on contact ion pair formation via the presence of blue shifted spectral signatures. Compared to the linear infrared spectra, the nonlinear spectra reveal contact ion pairs with increased sensitivity because the spectra accentuate differences in peak frequency, transition dipole moment strength, and excited state lifetime. The experimental results are corroborated by long time scale MD simulations, benchmarked by density functional simulations on phosphate-ion-water clusters. The microscopic interpretation reveals subtle structural differences of ion pairs formed by the phosphate group and the ions Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. Intricate properties of the solvation shell around the phosphate group and the ion are essential to explain the experimental observations. The present work addresses a challenging to probe topic with the help of a model system and establishes new experimental data of contact ion pair formation, thereby underlining the potential of nonlinear 2D-IR spectroscopy as an analytical probe of phosphate-ion interactions in complex biological systems.
Percepção de Transparência nas Instituições de Ensino
Authors: Mendes Vieira Kelmara , Pegoraro Daniela , Sâmara Visentini Monize 
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: Muito se avançou na construção de indicadores que analisam a transparência das instituições públicas e governos tendo como base os aspectos legais. Entretanto, ainda há uma carência de estudos que avaliem a transparência a partir da percepção dos atores sociais, ou seja, da sociedade para a qual os esforços de transparência são praticados. Assim, este trabalho propõe um instrumento de avaliação da transparência ativa e passiva em instituições de ensino, na percepção dos atores sociais.
Método: A validação do modelo teórico proposto, aplicado com 1070 atores de uma instituição federal de ensino, foi conduzida a partir da utilização de técnicas para a análise da validade convergente e discriminante, da confiabilidade e da unidimensionalidade do instrumento.
Resultado: Os resultados indicaram a adequação dos três construtos propostos (Gestão Institucional, Acesso à Informação e Transparência Passiva) e confirmaram as três hipóteses.
Contribuições: Uma metodologia de aplicação e uma classificação são sugeridas, visando permitir que qualquer instituição de ensino possa avaliar a percepção de transparência Ativa e Passiva dos seus atores sociais.
Geopsy: A User-Friendly Open-Source Tool Set for Ambient Vibration Processing
Authors: Wathelet Marc , Chatelain Jean-Luc , Cornou Cécile , Giulio Giuseppe Di , Guillier Bertrand , Ohrnberger Matthias , Savvaidis Alexandros 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAmbient vibrations are nowadays considerably used worldwide for numerous types of engineering applications and scientific research. Geopsy and its companion tools are part of that landscape. Since the first release of the program package in 2005, as outcome of the European Union project Site Effects aSsessment from AMbient noisE, Geopsy has become a mature multiplatform open-source package (released under GNU Public License version 3) that has already been recognized as a reference tool for analyzing ambient vibration data in the context of site characterization studies. The community of users has grown from a core group of researchers up to thousands of seismologists and engineers on every career level and on all continents. The versatility of geopsy allows for the processing of all kinds of data needed in site characterization studies, that is, from single station single trace to three-component array recordings. In all of the aforementioned cases, the steps from field acquisition to the production of publication-ready figures are covered and supported by user-friendly graphical user interfaces or corresponding command-line tools for the automation of the complete processing chain. To avoid black-box usage, a number of lower-level tools guarantee maximum flexibility in accessing and controlling processing results at any stage of the analysis.
Study of assessment of awareness for screening of cervical cancer in women attending gynecology outdoor patient department
Authors: Lal Neha S. , Kujur Avinashi , Tiwari Pratibha 
Published: April 2020

Background: Nearly every family in the world is touched by cancer, which is now responsible for almost one in six deaths globally. Aim of this study was to access Indian woman's awareness towards cervical screening methods to promote strategies for increasing its uptake.Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire based cross-sectional observational survey was conducted in Pt. JNM Medical College and Dr. BRAM hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh from September 2018 to July 2019. Participants were selected by sampling between 21 to 59 years of age who have given consent for study.Results: Out of 1008 participants only 336 (33.3%) participants were aware about screening of cervical cancer and less than 28% participants were aware about pap smear, time of investigation, method of pap smear, health centre, association of HPV virus with cervical cancer, availability at vaccination, and with regard to risk factors only 27.9% women were aware that there is increased risk of cervical cancer due to multiple partners, 17.6% aware of risk due to increase in number of children’s, 11.1% aware of increase in risk of cervical cancer due to early initiation of sexual activity. Younger women (age 30-35, odds ratio 1.24, 95% CI 0.78-1.32, p-value 0.05), low socioeconomic status (odds ratio 1.74, 95% CI 0.76-2.12, p-value 0.01), education level (≤ secondary education odds ratio 1.64 95% CI 0.85-2.18 p-value 0.000, ≥ higher secondary or above education odds ratio 2.32 95% CI 1.21-2.89 p-value 0.001) and age at marriage (odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 0.78-2.18, p-value 0.000) all had a significant relationship with the awareness of Pap smear test. Two-third of the females in the study stated that lack of awareness as the major reason for not getting a pap smear while another one- third stated lack of recommendation by health care professionals as major hurdle.Conclusions: This study found that woman's fear, pain and embarrassment, along with cultural influences, deterred them from undergoing screening.