bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of dementia and quality of life of caregivers of people living with dementia in Malaysia
Authors: Ganapathy Shubash S , Sooryanarayana Rajini , Ahmad Noor Ani , Jamaluddin Rasidah , Abd Razak Mohamad A , Tan Maw Pin , Mohd Sidik Sherina , Mohamad Zahir Suhaila , Sandanasamy Karen Sharmini , Ibrahim Nurashikin 
Published: December 2020

AimDementia is the major cause of disability among older persons and leading physical and psychological sequelae for both the person living with dementia (PLwD) and their caregivers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dementia in Malaysia and identify the factors influencing quality of life (QoL) of caregivers of PLwD.MethodsA nationwide survey was conducted among individuals aged ≥60 years. Cognition was assessed with the Identification and Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans (IDEA) tool. QoL of older caregivers was assessed using the Control, Autonomy, Self‐Realization and Pleasure (CASP‐19) questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of dementia among older adults aged ≥60 years in Malaysia was found to be 8.5%. The prevalence was found to be higher among females, those with no formal education and those in rural areas in Malaysia. The mean QoL of family caregivers of PLwD was significantly lower than the caregivers of older adults without dementia were (P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis on the subpopulation of PLwD showed that inability to carry out activities of daily living among PLwD (P = 0.014) and low to fair social support for the caregivers (P < 0.001) were negatively associated with QoL of caregivers of PLwD.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of dementia among older adults in Malaysia emphasizes the need for affirmative action in Malaysia. The functional capacity of the PLwD and social support determines the QoL of caregivers of PLwD in Malaysia. Thus, the community as a whole needs to provide support to PLwD and their caregivers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 16–20.
Partnership working in Africa: Shane Godbolt providing the links to the tapestry
Authors: Msengezi Chipo , Mawire Blessing 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper explores the work that Shane Godbolt did in Africa in strengthening health information networks. It focuses on th role she played in supporting the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) and working with the Information Training Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA) to provide capacity building linkages. Some examples of such linkages extending beyond Africa to the United Kingdom are explored. It then concludes with reflections from authors on their own experiences of working with Shane Godbolt.
Welfare costs of bilateral currency crises: The role of international trade
Authors: Yilmazkuday Hakan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper shows that bilateral currency crises reduce bilateral trade up to 50% after controlling for the depreciation rate. Using a trade model, these reductions are connected to the welfare costs of currency crises. The results show that a single currency crisis can result in welfare reductions through changes in international trade corresponding to more than 10% (and up to 41%) of the costs of autarky for 23 different currency crisis episodes between 1960 and 2014. These welfare costs are also shown to be greater than the welfare gains from having free trade agreements and using common currencies for 25 different currency crisis episodes.
Measurement of the melting temperature of ZrB2 as determined by laser heating and spectrometric analysis
Authors: Stanfield Austin D. , Manara Dario , Robba Davide , Hilmas Gregory E. , Fahrenholtz William G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe melting temperatures of two different ZrB2 ceramics were studied using laser induced melting. ZrB2 having a low Hf content, produced by reaction hot pressing, had a melting temperature of 3546 K and a commercial grade ZrB2 had a melting temperature of 3553 K. Uncertainty of the temperature measurements was 1% of the absolute temperature, or ~35 K for both materials based upon 2‐sigma and a 95% confidence interval. While these values were consistent with the previously reported ZrB2 melting temperature of 3518 K, this study was able to measure Tm with less uncertainty than previous studies (±45 K). Furthermore, this study assessed the effect of Hf content on melting temperature, finding that melting temperature did not change significantly for hafnium contents of 1.75 to 0.01 at%. This study also measured a normal spectral emissivity of 0.34 for ZrB2 at 3000 K. The emissivity decreased to 0.28 at the melting temperature, then, stabilized at 0.30 in a liquid phase.
Effect of halide mineralizers on monodisperse spherical zircon powders
Authors: Peng Shan , Yang Hui , Chen Zhongqiu , Huang Qing , Xia Xiaohong , Wang Zhuo , Huang Zhongbing , Homewood Kevin P. , Gao Yun , Lei Binglong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractZircon has been widely applied in various traditional and emerging fields due to its distinct physiochemical advantages while monodisperse spherical zircon (MSZ) powders hitherto have not been explored for the tremendous challenges in the control of zircon crystallization and growth. Herein, systematic investigations are presented to reveal the paramount role of halide mineralizers upon the crystallization and growth of MSZ powders synthesized under highly acidic hydrothermal environments (pH <0). A formation mechanism is revealed revolving around the complexation of central Zr4+ with the Lewis basic ligand, fluorine, which forms the F‐containing species of [(OH)1–y·Ry] (R = F, Cl) to replace Zr and generates Zr‐deficient zircons as (ZrO4)1‐xSi[(OH)1‐y·Ry]4x. This finding differs much from conventional views on common fluoro‐hydroxylated hydrothermal zircons, which were generally regarded as Si‐deficient silicates from the substitution of fluoro‐hydroxyls for the [SiO4] tetrahedra. A parameter, Kr=4xy, is first proposed as an index to evaluate the stability of hydrothermal zircons. The MSZ powders demonstrate superb thermal stability at high temperature, superior photo‐reflectance, and thermal insulation over normal zircons, promising attractive prospects to extend zircon applications.
Avoiding preselection bias in subsequent single‐step genomic BLUP evaluations of genomically preselected animals
Authors: Jibrila Ibrahim , Vandenplas Jeremie , ten Napel Jan , Veerkamp Roel F. , Calus Mario P. L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn animal breeding, parents of the next generation are usually selected in multiple stages, and the initial stages of this selection are called preselection. Preselection reduces the information available for subsequent evaluation of preselected animals and this sometimes leads to bias. The objective of this study was to establish the minimum information required to subsequently evaluate genomically preselected animals without bias arising from preselection, with single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP). We simulated a nucleus of a breeding program in which a recent population of 15 generations was produced. In each generation, parents of the next generation were selected in a single‐stage selection based on pedigree BLUP. However, in generation 15, 10% of male and 15% of female offspring were preselected on their genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV). These GEBV were estimated using ssGBLUP, including the pedigree of all animals in generations 0–15, genotypes of all animals in generations 13–15 and phenotypes of all animals in generations 11–14. In subsequent ssGBLUP evaluation of these preselected animals, genotypes and phenotypes from various groups of animals were excluded one after another. We found that GEBV of the preselected animals were only estimated without preselection bias when genotypes and phenotypes of all animals in generations 13 and 14 and of the preselected animals were included in the subsequent evaluation. We also found that genotypes of the animals discarded at preselection only helped in reducing preselection bias in GEBV of their preselected sibs when genotypes of their parents were absent or excluded from the subsequent evaluation. We concluded that to prevent preselection bias in subsequent ssGBLUP evaluation of genomically preselected animals, information representative of the reference data used in the evaluation at preselection and genotypes and phenotypes of the preselected animals are needed in the subsequent evaluation.
Phylogeny and foraging behaviour shape modular morphological variation in bat humeri
Authors: López‐Aguirre Camilo , Hand Suzanne J. , Koyabu Daisuke , Tu Vuong Tan , Wilson Laura A. B. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBats show a remarkable ecological diversity that is reflected both in dietary and foraging guilds (FGs). Cranial ecomorphological adaptations linked to diet have been widely studied in bats, using a variety of anatomical, computational and mathematical approaches. However, foraging‐related ecomorphological adaptations and the concordance between cranial and postcranial morphological adaptations remain unexamined in bats and limited to the interpretation of traditional aerodynamic properties of the wing (e.g. wing loading [WL] and aspect ratio [AR]). For this reason, the postcranial ecomorphological diversity in bats and its drivers remain understudied. Using 3D virtual modelling and geometric morphometrics (GMM), we explored the phylogenetic, ecological and biological drivers of humeral morphology in bats, evaluating the presence and magnitude of modularity and integration. To explore decoupled patterns of variation across the bone, we analysed whole‐bone shape, diaphyseal and epiphyseal shape. We also tested whether traditional aerodynamic wing traits correlate with humeral shape. By studying 37 species from 20 families (covering all FGs and 85% of dietary guilds), we found similar patterns of variation in whole‐bone and diaphyseal shape and unique variation patterns in epiphyseal shape. Phylogeny, diet and FG significantly correlated with shape variation at all levels, whereas size only had a significant effect on epiphyseal morphology. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in all levels of humeral shape. Epiphyseal shape significantly correlated with wing AR. Statistical support for a diaphyseal‐epiphyseal modular partition of the humerus suggests a functional partition of shape variability. Our study is the first to show within‐structure modular morphological variation in the appendicular skeleton of any living tetrapod. Our results suggest that diaphyseal shape correlates more with phylogeny, whereas epiphyseal shape correlates with diet and FG.
Comparative Study between Nd‐YAG laser, fractional CO2 Laser, and combined Nd‐YAG with fractional CO2 Laser in the Management of keloid: clinical and molecular Study
Authors: Soliman Mona , Etman Yasmeen , AbdElhameed Amal , Elsharaby Radwa , Tawfik Abeer 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundFractional CO2 laser and Nd‐YAG laser have been reported to have promising results in the management of keloids. So far, there have been no comparative studies between these laser modalities.AimsThe study aimed to compare the efficacy of fractional CO2, Nd‐YAG, and a combination of both in the management of keloids.Patients and methodsForty‐five keloid patients were divided into 3 equal groups: the first received fractional CO2 only, the second received Nd‐YAG only, and the third received a combination of both lasers. Each group received its designated treatment every 4 weeks for 4 sessions. The improvement was evaluated by the “Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale” (POSAS). Detection of procollagen I mRNA by RT‐PCR analysis was done.ResultsThe assessment by POSAS showed the most significant clinical improvement in the combination group and a less significant improvement in the fractional CO2 group, while the least improvement was seen in the Nd‐YAG group. Molecular assessment via procollagen I yielded matching results.ConclusionThe study showed that the combination of fractional CO2 and Nd‐YAG lasers has a synergistic effect being the most effective in the management of keloids, fractional CO2 being more effective than ND‐YAG and Nd‐YAG being the least effective.
Adherence to pregnancy hepatitis B care guidelines in women and infants in the United States and evaluation of two interventions to improve care: A multicentre hospital‐based study
Authors: Kushner Tatyana , Kaplowitz Elianna , Mei Rena , Xu Chelsea , Acker Alex , Rosenbluth Emma , Oredein Igbagbosanmi , Sarkar Monika , Terrault Norah , Bansal Meena , Forde Kimberly A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThere has been an increase in hepatitis B (HBV) detection during pregnancy in the United States and an emphasis on measures to decrease mother‐to‐child transmission of HBV. We performed a multicentre retrospective study (2015–2018) evaluating care among all women with HBV during pregnancy. We determined rates and predictors of adherence to key maternal care measures including: (1) referral to HBV specialty care, (2) assessment of HBV DNA, and (3) initiation of antiviral therapy, and (4) rates of HBIG and HBV vaccine completion in infants. We evaluated two interventions to improve HBV care: (1) clinical decision support with best practice alert and (2) co‐location of HBV care in obstetrics department. We identified 372 women with HBV during pregnancy. Patients had a median age of 33 (IQR 29, 36), were mostly of Asian (49%) or Black (36%) race, HBeAg‐negative (83%) with HBV DNA ≤2000 IU/mL (65%) and maximum ALT ≤25 (66%). Regarding care measures, 62% were referred to an HBV specialist, 85% had HBV DNA checked during pregnancy and 68% with HBV DNA ≥200,000 were initiated on antiviral therapy. Co‐located obstetric‐liver diseases clinics appeared to improve adherence to maternal care measures. All infants received HBIG and the first HBV vaccine dose, 106 (81%) received the second, 94 (74%) received the 3rd dose, but fewer at the recommended time intervals. We identified clear gaps in adherence to HBV care measures for both mothers and infants. Co‐location of HBV care in the obstetrics department shows promise in improving adherence to maternal care measures.
Footprints of global change in marine life: Inferring past environment based on DNA methylation and gene expression marks
Authors: Anastasiadi Dafni , Shao Changwei , Chen Songlin , Piferrer Francesc 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOcean global warming affects the distribution, life history and physiology of marine life. Extreme events, like marine heatwaves, are increasing in frequency and intensity. During sensitive stages of early fish development, the consequences may be long‐lasting and mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we used European sea bass as a model to study the possible long‐lasting effects of a marine heatwave during early development. We measured DNA methylation and gene expression in four tissues (brain, muscle, liver and testis) and detected differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Six genes were differentially expressed and contained DMRs three years after exposure to increased temperature, indicating direct phenotypic consequences and representing persistent changes. Interestingly, nine genes contained DMRs around the same genomic regions across tissues, therefore consisting of common footprints of developmental temperature in environmentally responsive loci. These loci are, to our knowledge, the first metastable epialleles (MEs) described in fish. MEs may serve as biomarkers to infer past life history events linked with persistent consequences. These results highlight the importance of subtle phenotypic changes mediated by epigenetics to extreme weather events during sensitive life stages. Also, to our knowledge, it is the first time the molecular effects of a marine heatwave during the lifetime of individuals are assessed. MEs could be used in surveillance programs aimed at determining the footprints of climate change on marine life. Our study paves the way for the identification of conserved MEs that respond equally to environmental perturbations across species. Conserved MEs would constitute a tool of assessment of global change effects in marine life at a large scale.
Weight cycling practices in sport: A risk factor for later obesity?
Authors: Miles‐Chan Jennifer L. , Isacco Laurie 
Published: December 2020

SummaryWeight cycling, repeated cycles of weight loss and weight regain over time, is commonplace amongst many population groups. Although the effect of weight cycling on future obesity and cardiometabolic risk is still hotly debated, evidence does indicate that individuals who were normal weight prior to weight cycling are more susceptible to its adverse consequences than those who were overweight or with obesity. Athletes, and particularly those who compete in the so‐called weight‐sensitive sports, are prone to dieting and weight cycling practice owing to the competitive advantage to be gained from manipulating their body weight. However, in comparison with the general population, athletes tend to be leaner and weight loss phases more rapid and superimposed on a background of a high level of physical activity. In this context, it can be questioned whether weight cycling in this subpopulation will indeed increase risk for future obesity. It is perhaps surprising that despite recognition that athletes commonly partake in weight cycling during their career, studies are scarce and firm conclusions regarding the effect of this practice on future cardiometabolic risk remain to be drawn. In this review, we examine weight cycling prevalence and strategies in athletes and the current evidence relating to its short‐ and long‐term consequences. In addition, a conceptual framework relating the dynamics of weight loss and recovery to athlete characteristics will be discussed, highlighting the need for well‐controlled, prospective studies in this specific subpopulation.
The benefits of defibrillator in heart failure patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Long Yu‐Xiang , Hu Yue , Cui Di‐Yu , Hu Shuang , Liu Zeng‐Zhang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCurrent guidelines did not provide recommendations on indications of an additional implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) to patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and it still remains controversial due to lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials.MethodPubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL from the inception to May 2020 were systematically screened for studies reporting on the comparison of cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT‐D) and cardiac resynchronization therapy with pacemaker (CRT‐P), focusing on the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of all‐cause mortality. We pooled the effects using a random‐effect model.ResultsTwenty‐one studies encompassing 69,919 patients were included in this meta‐analysis. With no restriction to characteristics of including population, CRT‐D was associated with a lower all‐cause mortality compared with CRT‐P significantly (aHR: 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74‐0.87, I2 = 36.8%, p < .001). This mortality benefit was also observed in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (aHR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64‐0.86, I2 = 0%, p < .001). However, there is no significant difference in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) (aHR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82‐1.01, I2 = 0%, p = .087), older age (age ≥75 years, aHR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.83‐1.12, I2 = 0%, p = .610). Subgroup analysis was performed and indicated the survival benefit of CRT‐D for primary prevention compared with CRT‐P (aHR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79‐0.95, I2 = 0%, p = .003).ConclusionAfter adjusted the differences in clinical characteristics, additional ICD therapy was associated with a reduced all‐cause mortality in patients receiving CRT. However, our work suggested that additional ICD may not be applied to elderly (≥75 years) or patients with NICM.
Turgor‐time controls grass leaf elongation rate and duration under drought stress
Authors: Coussement Jonas R. , Villers Selwyn L. Y. , Nelissen Hilde , Inzé Dirk , Steppe Kathy 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe process of leaf elongation in grasses is characterized by the creation and transformation of distinct cell zones. The prevailing turgor pressure within these cells is one of the key drivers for the rate at which these cells divide, expand and differentiate, processes that are heavily impacted by drought stress. In this article, a turgor‐driven growth model for grass leaf elongation is presented, which combines mechanistic growth from the basis of turgor pressure with the ontogeny of the leaf. Drought‐induced reductions in leaf turgor pressure result in a simultaneous inhibition of both cell expansion and differentiation, lowering elongation rate but increasing elongation duration due to the slower transitioning of cells from the dividing and elongating zone to mature cells. Leaf elongation is, therefore, governed by the magnitude of, and time spent under, growth‐enabling turgor pressure, a metric which we introduce as turgor‐time. Turgor‐time is able to normalize growth patterns in terms of varying water availability, similar to how thermal time is used to do so under varying temperatures. Moreover, additional inclusion of temperature dependencies within our model pioneers a novel concept enabling the general expression of growth regardless of water availability or temperature.
The impact of economic regulation on growth: Survey and synthesis
Authors: Broughel James , Hahn Robert W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study provides a survey of research that uses cross‐country comparisons to examine the relationship between economic regulation and growth. Studies in the peer‐reviewed literature tend to rely on either World Bank or Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development measures of regulation. Those studies seem to reflect a consensus that entry regulation and anticompetitive product and labor market regulations are generally harmful to growth. The results from this cross‐country research, taken in conjunction with economic theory and other country‐specific studies of economic regulation, support the hypothesis that economic regulation tends to reduce welfare in competitive markets. Given the continued use of certain types of economic regulation, the findings may offer important lessons for policymakers.
The multiplier effect of public employment on formal employment in the private sector: Evidence from Turkey*
Authors: Aldan Altan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this study, we analyze the causal impact of public employment generation on formal employment in the private sector in the provinces of Turkey. Our results suggest that public sector employment has a positive impact on formal employment in the private sector. This result contradicts earlier findings in developed countries suggesting that public employment crowds out private employment. We argue that labor market institutions and local labor supply elasticity may have an important role in the direction and magnitude of the impact. We find that the positive impact comes from provinces with lower labor force participation or higher unemployment rates, which may be considered as proxies for elastic local labor supply.