bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of tobacco cultivation in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md Sazedur , Ahmed N.A.M. Faisal , Ali Mohammad , Abedin Md. Menhazul , Islam Md Saimul 
Published: November 2019

BackgroundTobacco production continues to increase in low-income and middle-income countries including in Bangladesh. It has spreads to different parts of Bangladesh and is now threatening food cultivation, the environment and health. The aim of this study is to determine the factors those are influenced farmers’ decisions to grow tobacco.MethodsWe surveyed 371 tobacco farmers using a simple random sampling in the Meherpur district of Bangladesh. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the variables affecting farmers’ decision to cultivate tobacco.ResultsApproximately 87.0% of the respondents were contract farmers with different tobacco companies. Almost 83.3% of the farmers had intentions to continue tobacco farming. Binary logistic regression results suggest that company’s incentives to farmers, farmers’ profitability, a guaranteed market for the tobacco crop and economic viability were the variables most affecting the decision to cultivate tobacco.ConclusionsGovernments seeking to shift farmers away from tobacco will need to consider how to address the dynamics revealed in this research.
Trends in Salmonella serovars and antimicrobial resistance in pigs and poultry in Northern Ireland between 1997 and 2016
Authors: Porter Siobhán , Strain Sam A. J. , Bagdonaite Gintare , McDowell Stanley W , Bronckaers Tamara , Sherrey Michael , Devine Paul , Pascual‐Linaza Ana V. , Spence Nessie , Porter Richard , Guelbenzu‐Gonzalo Maria , Davies Robert H. , Lahuerta‐Marin Angela 
Published: November 2019

BackgroundIn the EU, salmonellosis is the second most commonly reported zoonosis. This pattern is reflected in Northern Ireland. Historically, foodborne salmonellosis has largely been attributed to the consumption of poultry products, and as such a number of legislative measures have been introduced by the EC. These policies focus mainly on five target Salmonella serovars.MethodsHere the authors present a descriptive analysis of 20 years of data from the Northern Ireland National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella.ResultsThe study's results show, for poultry submissions, a large decrease in the detection of four of the five targeted Salmonella serovars over the study period, with the fifth serovar undetected throughout the study. Additionally, there was an increase in the detection of a number of other non‐regulated serovars. In pigs, S Typhimurium, which is among the most common causes of human salmonellosis, was the most commonly isolated serovar. When comparing levels of antimicrobial resistance in S Typhimurium between livestock groups, the authors found a decrease over time in poultry, but an increase in pigs, highlighting the potential significance of pigs in addressing public health concerns.ConclusionThe authors conclude that continued surveillance is important in the assessment of control measures at a national and transnational scale.
Enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids made of metal oxide nanostructures synthesized by arc discharge method
Authors: Fang F. , Futter J. , Hutchinson E. , Leveneur J. , Kennedy J. 
Published: November 2019

We have modified the mineral oil used in transformers by dispersing 1-wt.% metal oxide nanostructures (commercially available [Formula: see text], ZnO and [Formula: see text] spherical structures and ZnO rod-shaped structures synthesized by arc discharge) into the oil through ball milling without surfactant. A good dispersion that lasted for at least 24 h was obtained for all nanofluids, however sedimentation was discovered by 72 h after ball milling. All nanofluids with different nanostructures exhibited enhanced thermal conductivity compared with the raw transformer oil. The nanofluid with ZnO nanoparticles showed better thermal conductivity than the nanofluids with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] nanoparticles. The nanofluid with elongated ZnO nanoparticles (nanorods) synthesized by arc discharge showed the best thermal conduction among all the nanofluids studied in this work over the whole measurement period. The enhanced thermal conductivity of the nanofluid with elongated nanostructure is considered to be due to the rod-shaped nanostructure creating heat flow paths with lower thermal resistance. The arc discharge provides a cost-effective and scalable method to fabricate metal oxide nanostructures for potential nanofluid applications.
Spinal cord injury alters purinergic neurotransmission to mesenteric arteries in rats
Authors: Sangsiri Sutheera , Xu Hui , Fernandes Roxanne , Fink Greg D. , Lujan Heidi L. , DiCarlo Stephen E. , Galligan James J. 
Published: November 2019

Complications associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) result from unregulated reflexes below the lesion level. Understanding neurotransmission distal to the SCI could improve quality of life by mitigating complications. The long-term impact of SCI on neurovascular transmission is poorly understood, but reduced sympathetic activity below the site of SCI enhances arterial neurotransmission (1). We studied sympathetic neurovascular transmission using a rat model of long-term paraplegia (T2–3) and tetraplegia (C6–7). Sixteen weeks after SCI, T2–3 and C6–7 rats had lower blood pressure (BP) than sham rats (103  ±  2 and 97  ±  4 vs. 117  ±  6 mmHg, P < 0.05). T2–3 rats had tachycardia (410  ±  6 beats/min), and C6–7 rats had bradycardia (299  ±  10 beats/min) compared with intact rats (321  ±  4 beats/min, P < 0.05). Purinergic excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) were measured in mesenteric arteries (MA) using microlectrodes, and norepinephrine (NE) release was measured using amperometry. NE release was similar in all groups, while EJP frequency-response curves from T2–3 and C6–7 rats were left-shifted vs. sham rats. EJPs in T2–3 and C6–7 rats showed facilitation followed by run-down during stimulation trains (10 Hz, 50 stimuli). MA reactivity to exogenous NE and ATP was similar in all rats. In T2–3 and C6–7 rats, NE content was increased in left cardiac ventricles compared with intact rats, but was not changed in MA, kidney, or spleen. Our data indicate that peripheral purinergic, but not adrenergic, neurotransmission increases following SCI via enhanced ATP release from periarterial nerves. Sympathetic BP support is reduced after SCI, but improving neurotransmitter release might maintain cardiovascular stability in individuals living with SCI. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study revealed increased purinergic, but not noradrenergic, neurotransmission to mesenteric arteries in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). An increased releasable pool of ATP in periarterial sympathetic nerves may contribute to autonomic dysreflexia following SCI, suggesting that purinergic neurotransmission may be a therapeutic target for maintaining stable blood pressure in individuals living with SCI. The selective increase in ATP release suggests that ATP and norepinephrine may be stored in separate synaptic vesicles in periarterial sympathetic varicosities.
Aging reduces succinate dehydrogenase activity in rat type IIx/IIb diaphragm muscle fibers
Authors: Fogarty Matthew J. , Marin Mathieu Natalia , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C. 
Published: November 2019

In aged rats, diaphragm muscle (DIAm) reduced specific force and fiber cross-sectional area, sarcopenia, is selective for vulnerable type IIx and/or IIb DIAm fibers, with type I and IIa fibers being resilient. In humans, the oxidative capacity [as measured by maximum succinate dehydrogenase (SDHmax) activity] of fast-type muscle is reduced with aging, with slow-type muscle being unaffected. We hypothesized that in aged Fischer rat DIAm exhibiting sarcopenia, reduced SDHmax activity would occur in type IIx and/or IIb fibers. Rats obtained from the NIA colony (6, 18, and 24 mo old) were euthanized, and ~2-mm-wide DIAm strips were obtained. For SDHmax and fiber type assessments, DIAm strips were stretched (approximately optimal length), fresh frozen in isopentane, and sectioned on a cryostat at 6 μm. SDHmax, quantified by intensity of nitroblue tetrazolium diformazan precipitation, was assessed in a fiber type-specific manner by comparing serial sections labeled with myosin heavy chain (MyHC) antibodies differentiating type I (MyHCSlow), IIa (MyHC2A), and IIx and/or IIb fibers. Isometric DIAm force and fatigue were assessed in DIAm strips by muscle stimulation with supramaximal pulses at a variety of frequencies (5–100 Hz) delivered in 1-s trains. By 24 mo, DIAm sarcopenia was apparent and SDHmax in type IIx and/or IIb fibers activity was reduced ~35% compared with 6-mo-old control DIAm. These results underscore the remarkable fiber type selectivity of type IIx and/or IIb fibers to age-associated perturbations and suggest that reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity is associated with DIAm sarcopenia. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We examined the oxidative capacity as measured by maximum succinate dehydrogenase activity in older (18 or 24 mo old) Fischer 344 rat diaphragm muscle (DIAm) compared with young rats (6 mo old). In 24-mo-old rats, SDH activity was reduced in type IIx/b DIAm fibers. These SDH changes were concomitant with sarcopenia (reduced specific force and atrophy of type IIx/b DIAm fibers) at 24 mo old. At 18 mo old, there was no change in SDH activity and no evidence of sarcopenia.
Vertical Pathway Inhibition Overcomes Adaptive Feedback Resistance to KRASG12C Inhibition
Authors: Ryan Meagan B. , Fece de la Cruz Ferran , Phat Sarah , Myers David T. , Wong Edmond , Shahzade Heather A. , Hong Catriona B. , Corcoran Ryan B. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPurpose:Although KRAS represents the most commonly mutated oncogene, it has long been considered an “undruggable” target. Novel covalent inhibitors selective for the KRASG12C mutation offer the unprecedented opportunity to target KRAS directly. However, prior efforts to target the RAS–MAPK pathway have been hampered by adaptive feedback, which drives pathway reactivation and resistance.Experimental Design:A panel of KRASG12C cell lines were treated with the KRASG12C inhibitors ARS-1620 and AMG 510 to assess effects on signaling and viability. Isoform-specific pulldown of activated GTP-bound RAS was performed to evaluate effects on the activity of specific RAS isoforms over time following treatment. RTK inhibitors, SHP2 inhibitors, and MEK/ERK inhibitors were assessed in combination with KRASG12C inhibitors in vitro and in vivo as potential strategies to overcome resistance and enhance efficacy.Results:We observed rapid adaptive RAS pathway feedback reactivation following KRASG12C inhibition in the majority of KRASG12C models, driven by RTK-mediated activation of wild-type RAS, which cannot be inhibited by G12C-specific inhibitors. Importantly, multiple RTKs can mediate feedback, with no single RTK appearing critical across all KRASG12C models. However, coinhibition of SHP2, which mediates signaling from multiple RTKs to RAS, abrogated feedback reactivation more universally, and combined KRASG12C/SHP2 inhibition drove sustained RAS pathway suppression and improved efficacy in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions:These data identify feedback reactivation of wild-type RAS as a key mechanism of adaptive resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors and highlight the potential importance of vertical inhibition strategies to enhance the clinical efficacy of KRASG12C inhibitors.See related commentary by Yaeger and Solit, p. 1538
Data Mining Approach for the Characterization of Functional Bowel Disorders According to Symptom Intensity Provides a Small Number of Homogenous Groups
Authors: Bouchoucha Michel , Devroede Ghislain , Fysekidis Marinos , Rompteaux Pierre , Sabate Jean-Marc , Benamouzig Robert 
Published: November 2019

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The aim of the present study is to evaluate if the intensity of the cardinal symptoms of functional bowel disorders could be used to identify homogenous groups of patients defined by the Rome criteria. <b><i>Method:</i></b> In this observational study, 1,729 consecutive outpatients (73% females) filled out the Rome III questionnaire and 10-point Likert scales for constipation, diarrhea, bloating (BL)/distension, abdominal pain (AP) during the week before the medical consultation. A Gaussian mixture model was used for clustering the patients according to the intensity of symptoms without a priori information, and a classification tree was constructed from this clustering. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> According to the intensity of symptoms, the patients are divided into 8 groups named according to their main symptomatology: “painful constipation” (PFC), “mild pain constipation” (MPC), “painful diarrhea” (PFD), “mild pain diarrhea” (MPD), “mixed transit” (MT), “BL,” “AP,” and “nonspecific” (NS). The study of the relationship between the Rome III classification and this new grouping shows that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-constipation is associated with PFC, IBS-diarrhea with PFD and MPD, SII-mixed with MT, SII-unspecified with BL, functional constipation with PFC and MPC, functional diarrhea with MPD and NS, BL with “BL” and NS, nonspecific functional bowel disorders (FBD) with NS, and functional AP with “BL” and AP (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01 for all associations). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> A symptom intensity-based classification of FBD patients could simplify clinical phenotype, give homogeneous groups of patients, and could eventually be used by nongastroenterologists and in clinical research.
Change in Trajectories of Adherence to Lipid‐Lowering Drugs Following Non‐Fatal Acute Coronary Syndrome or Stroke
Authors: Zongo Arsène , Simpson Scot , Johnson Jeffrey A. , Eurich Dean T. 
Published: November 2019

Background

Poor adherence to cardioprotective drugs remains a concern among patients for secondary prevention. A better understanding of adherence fluctuations before and after critical health events may inform approaches for addressing or preventing poor adherence. Therefore, we assessed trajectories of adherence to lipid‐lowering drugs before and after acute coronary syndrome (
ACS
) or stroke and identified post‐
ACS
/stroke trajectories’ predictors.

Methods and Results

We conducted a cohort study of patients hospitalized for
ACS
or stroke in Alberta, Canada, using administrative health data between 2009 and 2015. Patients using lipid‐lowering drugs in the 2 years pre‐hospitalization and had post‐discharge follow‐up ≥365 days were included. We used group‐based trajectory modeling to assess adherence trajectories and multinomial logistic regression to assess trajectories’ predictors. In total, 10 623 patients were included. The average age was 69 years, and 65% were men. Five trajectories were identified in both periods: nearly perfect, gradual increase, gradual decline, rapid decline, and poor adherence throughout. Of patients who were poor adherers, rapidly or gradually declining pre‐hospitalization, 2395/3588 (66.8%) switched to gradual increase or perfect adherence post discharge. Conversely, of patients gradually increasing or nearly perfect before, only 4822/7035 (68.5%) were nearly perfect adherers after. Main predictors of poor post‐
ACS
/stroke trajectories included older age, female sex, lack of immediate post discharge follow‐up, and prior trajectories.

Conclusions

This study suggests that adherence post‐
ACS
/stroke is highly variable and emphasizes the importance for clinicians to recognize that post‐discharge adherence will likely change negatively for prior good adherers. Adherence‐enhancing interventions should occur both early and late following discharge.
الكتابة السينائية: المفهوم والدلالة
Authors: محمد شريف علي 
Published: November 2019

The proposal of new names or designations of the culture’s elements is common in science. The research deals with this idea, and opposes a view about a new name of the Sinaitic writing.The Sinaitic writing is a very important element, not only of the Egyptian civilization, but also of the international civilization in general. The bond of this cultural achievement with the Peninsula of Sinai is very significant, culturally and conceptually. A new name of the Sinaitic writing was relatively recently proposed, which deprives this achievement of its description related to this writing’s place of birth. The research considers this view as confusing. Moreover, it completely ignores Sinai as a place of this writing, and also ignores the peculiarity of this writing.
Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis and Incidence of Surgical Site Infections at Ethiopian Tertiary-Care Teaching Hospital
Authors: Alamrew Kerebih , Tadesse Tamrat Assefa , Abiye Alfoalem Araba , Shibeshi Workineh 
Published: November 2019

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are infections that develop within 30 days after an operation or surveillance of surgical wound infection implementation within 90 days after surgery when an implant is placed. The objective of this study was to assess preoperative and postoperative antimicrobial use in St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in surgery wards of SPHMMC for 4 months by reviewing 413 patients’ charts. All patients 13 years and older who were admitted and underwent different types of surgical procedures were included in the study. Epi info 7 was used for data entry, and then data were exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software for analysis. Descriptive analyses were computed and rate of SSI was calculated in this study. Moreover, bivariate analysis was done to examine the relationship between the outcome variable and predictor variables with a value of P < .2 retained for subsequent multivariate analyses using multiple logistic regressions. P value of <.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 413 patients, 152 (36.8%) were operated for general surgery, and the remaining were for other types of surgeries. Most of the patients, 196 (79.7%), were managed by a single surgical antibiotic agent, followed by 2 agents (20.3%) for surgical prophylaxis indication. Surgical site infections occurred in 46 (11.1%) patients before discharge from the hospital. In those patients who need treatment for SSIs, almost half of them (49.5%) received combination therapy of ceftriaxone and metronidazole. Emergency surgical cases were 2.647 times more likely to develop SSIs than the elective surgical cases (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.647; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.406-4.983; P = .003). Patients who did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis were 2.572 times more likely to develop SSIs compared to those who received antibiotic prophylaxis (AOR = 2.572; 95% CI = 1.02-6.485; P = .045). Clean-contaminated and contaminated types of wound were a protective factor against SSI in our study. Conclusions: This study indicated that most of the patients (72.1%) received surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. The overall incidence rate of SSIs was 11.1% in the studied hospital. Ceftriaxone was the most commonly used drug. Being not receiving prophylaxis, wound class, and surgery types were significantly associated with the development of SSI.
New Perspectives of Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus
Authors: Lee Jin Woo 
Published: November 2019

Osteochondral lesions of the talus(OLT) are the most common articular cartilage defects in the ankle and may cause disability as a result of chronic pain and limited weight-bearing capacity. Numerous treatment strategies for symptomatic OLT have advanced significantly over the past decades. OLT are often managed conservatively for an initial stage before the surgical treatment. However, the conservative management determined solely on symptomatology, and not on the physiological healing. A systematic review for the treatment of OLT demonstrated a 45% success rate of non-operative management. Surgical treatment of OLT is reserved for symptomatic focal lesions that fail to respond to conservative treatments. There are three major operative strategies for OLT, reparative, replacement and regenerative manners. For the reparative modality, arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation(BMS) is widely regarded as the first-line treatment for OLT, as it is a technically undemanding, cost-effective, and minimally invasive procedure with low rates of complication and postoperative pain. Small lesion (<15 mm in diameter or <150mm2 in size) is the ideal candidate for BMS supported by several literatures. And a study reported the long-term follow-up study to date at 8-20 years after BMS in which 78% of patients had an excellent or good functional outcome score. As a replacement strategy, autologous osteochondral transplantation(AOT) is often indicated for symptomatic large, cystic lesions, including those that have failed previous reparative procedures, such as BMS. Osteochondral autograft transfer carries the inherent advantage over osteochondral allograft of being from the host with fresh viable cartilage, most commonly harvested from the ipsilateral knee. Clinical studies have found favorable results with osteochondral autograft techniques, including a recent systematic review of clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up demonstrating excellent or good outcomes in 87% of patients. In recent years, Scaffold-based regenerative techniques are getting more attention. Matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation(MACI) is a 2-step procedure in which culture-expanded autologous chondrocytes are seeded on a scaffold, which is then secured in the OLT. More recently, 1-step procedures have been developed in which scaffolds and/or orthobiologics, including bone marrow aspirate concentrate(BMAC) and platelet-rich plasma(PRP), and hyaluronic acid(HA) have been used to augment microfracture with the intention of overcoming the 2-step procedures while concurrently promoting chondrogenic differentiation of endogenous stem cells. Matrix-augmented BMS is one such technique that has been reported with good results in case series. In the future, an advanced strategy for tissue engineering with gene therapy may influence the quality of integration and longevity in treatment of OLT.