bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health and social care providers’ perspectives of older people’s drinking: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Bareham Bethany Kate , Kaner Eileen , Spencer Liam , Hanratty Barbara 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
alcohol may increase risks to late-life health, due to its impact on conditions or medication. Older adults must weigh up the potential risks of drinking against perceived benefits associated with positive roles of alcohol in their social lives. Health and social care workers are in a key position to support older people’s decisions about their alcohol use.

Objective
to systematically review and synthesise qualitative studies exploring health and social care providers’ views and experiences of older people’s drinking and its management in care services.

Method
a pre-specified search strategy was applied to five electronic databases from inception to June 2018. Grey literature, relevant journals, references and citations of included articles were searched. Two independent reviewers sifted and quality-appraised articles. Included study findings were analysed through thematic synthesis.

Results
18 unique studies were included. Four themes explained findings: uncertainty about drinking as a legitimate concern in care provision for older people; the impact of preconceptions on work with older adults; sensitivity surrounding alcohol use in later life; and negotiating responsibility for older adults’ alcohol use. Discipline- and country-specific patterns are highlighted.

Conclusions
reservations about addressing alcohol could mean that service providers do not intervene with older adults. Judgements of whether older care recipients’ drinking warrants intervention are complex. Providers will need support and training to recognise and provide appropriate intervention for drinking amongst older care recipients.
GCdiscrimination: identification of gastric cancer based on a milliliter of blood
Authors: Wu Jiangpeng , Yang Yifan , Cheng Long , Wu Jing , Xi Lili , Ma Ying , Zhang Pengyi , Xu Xiaoying , Zhang Dekui , Li Shuyan 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) continues to be one of the major causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Meanwhile, liquid biopsies have received extensive attention in the screening and detection of cancer along with better understanding and clinical practice of biomarkers. In this work, 58 routine blood biochemical indices were tentatively used as integrated markers, which further expanded the scope of liquid biopsies and a discrimination system for GC consisting of 17 top-ranked indices, elaborated by random forest method was constructed to assist in preliminary assessment prior to histological and gastroscopic diagnosis based on the test data of a total of 2951 samples. The selected indices are composed of eight routine blood indices (MO%, IG#, IG%, EO%, P-LCR, RDW-SD, HCT and RDW-CV) and nine blood biochemical indices (TP, AMY, GLO, CK, CHO, CK-MB, TG, ALB and γ-GGT). The system presented a robust classification performance, which can quickly distinguish GC from other stomach diseases, different cancers and healthy people with sensitivity, specificity, total accuracy and area under the curve of 0.9067, 0.9216, 0.9138 and 0.9720 for the cross-validation set, respectively. Besides, this system can not only provide an innovative strategy to facilitate rapid and real-time GC identification, but also reveal the remote correlation between GC and these routine blood biochemical parameters, which helped to unravel the hidden association of these parameters with GC and serve as the basis for subsequent studies of the clinical value in prevention program and surveillance management for GC. The identification system, called GC discrimination, is now available online at http://lishuyan.lzu.edu.cn/GC/.
Consensus features nested cross-validation
Authors: Parvandeh Saeid , Yeh Hung-Wen , Paulus Martin P , McKinney Brett A 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSummaryFeature selection can improve the accuracy of machine-learning models, but appropriate steps must be taken to avoid overfitting. Nested cross-validation (nCV) is a common approach that chooses the classification model and features to represent a given outer fold based on features that give the maximum inner-fold accuracy. Differential privacy is a related technique to avoid overfitting that uses a privacy-preserving noise mechanism to identify features that are stable between training and holdout sets.We develop consensus nested cross-validation (cnCV) that combines the idea of feature stability from differential privacy with nCV. Feature selection is applied in each inner fold and the consensus of top features across folds is used as a measure of feature stability or reliability instead of classification accuracy, which is used in standard nCV. We use simulated data with main effects, correlation and interactions to compare the classification accuracy and feature selection performance of the new cnCV with standard nCV, Elastic Net optimized by cross-validation, differential privacy and private evaporative cooling (pEC). We also compare these methods using real RNA-seq data from a study of major depressive disorder.The cnCV method has similar training and validation accuracy to nCV, but cnCV has much shorter run times because it does not construct classifiers in the inner folds. The cnCV method chooses a more parsimonious set of features with fewer false positives than nCV. The cnCV method has similar accuracy to pEC and cnCV selects stable features between folds without the need to specify a privacy threshold. We show that cnCV is an effective and efficient approach for combining feature selection with classification.Availability and implementationCode available at https://github.com/insilico/cncv.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pirfenidone inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition in keloid keratinocytes
Authors: Satish Latha , Evdokiou Alexander , Geletu Eleni , Hahn Jennifer M , Supp Dorothy M 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Keloids are benign fibroproliferative skin lesions that are difficult to treat and become a lifetime predicament for patients. Several treatment modalities have been put forth, but as yet no satisfactory approach to the prevention or treatment of keloids has been identified. The process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in keloid scarring, as keloid keratinocytes display an EMT-like phenotype. This study investigated the potential of pirfenidone, an antifibrotic agent, to counteract EMT-like alterations in keloid keratinocytes, including gene expression, cell migratory and proliferative functions.

Methods
Normal and keloid keratinocytes were isolated from discarded normal skin tissues and from resected keloid tissues, respectively. Cells were quiesced for 24 h without epidermal growth factor DS-Qi1MCDigital and were exposed to transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1; 10 ng/mL), with or without pirfenidone (400 μg/mL), for an additional 24 h. The effects of pirfenidone on cytotoxicity, cell migration, cell proliferation, and on expression of genes and proteins involved in EMT were assayed. Statistical significance was determined by two-way ANOVA using Sigma Plot.

Results
We found that pirfenidone did not elicit any cytotoxic effect at concentrations up to 1000 μg/mL. A statistically significant dose-dependent decrease in basal cell proliferation rate was noted in both normal and keloid keratinocytes when exposed to pirfenidone at concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000 μg/mL. Pirfenidone significantly decreased basal cell migration in both normal and keloid keratinocytes, but a significant decrease in TGF-β1-induced cell migration was seen only in keloid keratinocytes. Significant inhibition of the expression of TGF-β1-induced core EMT genes, namely hyaluronan synthase 2, vimentin, cadherin-11, and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5A along with fibronectin-1, was observed in both normal and keloid keratinocytes treated with pirfenidone. In addition, the protein levels of vimentin and fibronectin were significantly reduced by pirfenidone (400 μg/mL) in both normal and keloid keratinocytes.

Conclusions
For the first time, this study shows the efficacy of pirfenidone in inhibiting the EMT-like phenotype in keratinocytes derived from keloids, suggesting that pirfenidone may counteract a critical contributor of keloid progression and recurrence.
Action-Perception Coupling and Near Transfer: Listening to Melodies after Piano Practice Triggers Sequence-Specific Representations in the Auditory-Motor Network
Authors: de Manzano Örjan , Kuckelkorn Karen L , Ström Karin , Ullén Fredrik 
Published: January 2020

AbstractUnderstanding how perception and action are coupled in the brain has important implications for training, rehabilitation, and brain–machine interfaces. Ideomotor theory postulates that willed actions are represented through previously experienced effects and initiated by the anticipation of those effects. Previous research has accordingly found that sensory events, if previously associated with action outcomes, can induce activity in motor regions. However, it remains unclear whether the motor-related activity induced during perception of more naturalistic sequences of actions actually represents “sequence-specific” information. In the present study, nonmusicians were firstly trained to play two melodies on the piano; secondly, they performed an fMRI experiment while listening to these melodies as well as novel, untrained melodies; thirdly, multivariate pattern analysis was used to test if voxel-wise patterns of brain activity could identify trained, but not novel melodies. The results importantly show that after associative learning, a series of sensory events can trigger sequence-specific representations in both sensory and motor networks. Interestingly, also novel melodies could be classified in multiple regions, including default mode regions. A control experiment confirmed these outcomes to be training-dependent. We discuss how action-perception coupling may enable spontaneous near transfer and action simulation during action observation.
Chronology of Practice: Chinese Practice in Public International Law in 2018*
Authors: Wu Xiaohui 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
This Survey covers materials reflecting Chinese practice in 2018 relating to: treaties, agreements and other documents signed or ratified by the People’s Republic of China; national legislation; statements made by Chinese representatives at the meetings of the UN and other international organizations, international conferences, and those made by the Foreign Ministry spokespersons, with respect to various branches of international law; and judicial decisions, in particular on the applicability and application of international conventions, by Chinese courts.
Trachoma, Anti-Pgp3 Serology, and Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Macleod Colin K , Butcher Robert , Javati Sarah , Gwyn Sarah , Jonduo Marinjho , Abdad Mohammad Yazid , Roberts Chrissy H , Keys Drew , Koim Samuel Peter , Ko Robert , Garap Jambi , Pahau David , Houinei Wendy , Martin Diana L , Pomat William S , Solomon Anthony W 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
In Melanesia, the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) suggests that public health–level interventions against active trachoma are needed. However, the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis is below the threshold for elimination as a public health problem and evidence of conjunctival infection with trachoma’s causative organism (Chlamydia trachomatis [CT]) is rare. Here, we examine the prevalence of ocular infection with CT and previous exposure to CT in three evaluation units (EUs) of Papua New Guinea.

Methods
All individuals aged 1–9 years who were examined for clinical signs of trachoma in 3 Global Trachoma Mapping Project EUs were eligible to take part in this study (N = 3181). Conjunctival swabs were collected from 349 children with TF and tested by polymerase chain reaction to assess for ocular CT infection. Dried blood spots were collected from 2572 children and tested for anti-Pgp3 antibodies using a multiplex assay.

Results
The proportion of children with TF who had CT infection was low across all 3 EUs (overall 2%). Anti-Pgp3 seroprevalence was 5.2% overall and there was no association between anti-Pgp3 antibody level and presence of TF. In 2 EUs, age-specific seroprevalence did not increase significantly with increasing age in the 1- to 9-year-old population. In the third EU, there was a statistically significant change with age but the overall seroprevalence and peak age-specific seroprevalence was very low.

Conclusions
Based on these results, together with similar findings from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the use of TF to guide antibiotic mass drug administration decisions in Melanesia should be reviewed.
Bronchial Infection and Temporal Evolution of Bronchiectasis in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Martínez-García Miguel Ángel , de la Rosa-Carrillo David , Soler-Cataluña Juan Jose , Catalan-Serra Pablo , Ballester Marta , Roca Vanaclocha Yolanda , Agramunt Marcos , Ballestin Javier , Garcia-Ortega Alberto , Oscullo Grace , Navarro-Soriano Cristina , Agusti Alvar 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Bronchiectasis (BE) impact the clinical course and prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Yet, the temporal evolution of BE in these patients is unknown. This study seeks to assess the temporal evolution of BE in persons with COPD.

Methods
201 moderate-to-severe patients were recruited between 2004 and 2007 and followed up at least every 6 monts (median of 102 months). To investigate the temporal evolution of BE, in 2015 a second high-resolution computed tomography scan (HRCT) was obtained in survivors and compared with the one obtained at recruitment.

Results
99 (49.3%) died during follow-up. The second HRCT could be obtained in 77 patients and showed that (1) in 27.3% of patients BE never developed, in 36.4% they remained stable, in 16.9% they increased in size and/or extension, and in 19.5% new BE emerged; and that (2) the presence of chronic purulent sputum (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.3–5.8]), number of hospitalizations due to exacerbatons (HR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1–1.5]), and number of pathogenic microorganism (PPM) isolations (HR, 1.1 [95% CI, 1.02–1.3]) were independent risk factors for the progression or development of BE.

Conclusions
The presence of chronic purulent sputum production, number of PPMs isolated in sputum, and number of hospitalizations due to exacerbations of COPD are independent risk factors of BE progression in patients with COPD.
Chemical Basis and Specificity of Chemical Screening Tests for Urinary Vanilmandelic Acid
Authors: Knight Joseph A , Fronk S , Haymond R E 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
The most common metabolite of neural crest tumors is vanilmandelic acid. There have recently been several screening tests for this substance in urine, in which diazotized aromatic amines couple with it to produce colored azo dyes. The general opinion has been that these tests are very nonspecific, yet little has been written concerning the exact chemical basis of the reaction with respect to biological compounds. We have examined this reaction in some detail, using p-nitroaniline as the diazotized amine, and found it to be surprisingly selective with respect to the chemical configuration of the compounds with which it couples to produce the characteristic violet color interpreted as a positive result. The important structural feature of most of these compounds is that they contain a hydroxymethyl group attached to the guaiacol nucleus, as seen in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol.
Preliminary Evaluation of a Latex Agglutination-Inhibition Tube Test for Morphine
Authors: Ross Robert , Horwitz Charles A , Hager Hans , Usategui Magdalena , Burke M Desmond , Ward Patrick C J 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
We evaluated a new 2-hour latex agglutination-inhibition tube test, designed to detect a minimum of 200 ng of morphine (or structurally related compounds) per milliliter of either serum or urine. It was compared with a more sensitive radioimmunoassay procedure, by use of 159 addict urines (radioimmunoassay-positive) and 506 selected (radioimmunoassay-negative) urines. Our results were negative for 99.6% of the radioimmunoassay-negative specimens, including many from addicts taking several drugs other than opiates, and for 94.3% (33 of 35) of radioimmunoassay-positive specimens from addicts, containing only 40-99 ng (morphine equivalents) per milliliter. Positive test results were recorded for 108 of 110 specimens containing 200 or more nanograms (morphine equivalents) per milliliter. The test is technically and instrumentally simple and has a clearcut negative endpoint. Because glucuronide-conjugated morphine is readily detected, this test can be used before chromatography to eliminate those specimens that have no significant concentrations of narcotics (i.e., give a negative latex tube test) and thus obviate timeconsuming hydrolysis before chromatography.
Azide as a Preservative in Assays of Aspartate Aminotransferase Activity
Authors: Rej Robert , Vanderlinde Raymond E 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Azide at an effective antimicrobial concentration, 7.7 mmol/liter, inhibits neither the cytoplasmic or the mitochondrial isoenzymes of human aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) or porcine malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37). It markedly prolongs the usefulness of substrates in assays for estimating aspartate aminotransferase activity (aspartate substrate without azide deteriorates in less than 24 h at 25 °C) and does not affect results obtained in assays in which activity is continuously monitored. It also has no effect on chromophore development or absorption spectra in 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-coupled assays, but it eliminates oxalacetate-diazonium salt chromophore formation, thus making it unsuitable for use in this assay. At concentrations greater than 100 mmol/liter it inhibits activities of both enzymes. Azide also catalyzes the ketoenol tautomerization of oxalacetate.
Enzymatic Determination of Serum Urea on the Surface of Silicone-Rubber Pads
Authors: Kuan Jui-chang W , Lau Herbert K Y , Guilbault George G 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
An enzymatic, fluorometric method is described for determination of serum urea on silicone-rubber pads. In this method, the reagents are lyophilized on the surface of the pads, NADH on one side and a mixture of urease, glutamate dehydrogenase, and α-ketoglutarate on the other. The rate of disappearance of NADH fluorescence at 460 nm (excitation wavelength, 340 nm) is monitored and related to serum urea concentration. The calibration curve is linear to 250 mg of urea per liter. The method affords a rapid, simple, and inexpensive means for urea assay, the results of which correlate well with automatic diacetyl monoxime method (correlation coefficient, 0.998).
Thin-Layer Chromatographic Detection and Identification of Methaqualone Metabolites in Urine
Authors: Sleeman H Kenneth , Cella James A , Harvey Johnnie L , Beach Douglas J 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
A procedure for detecting methaqualone and identifying methaqualone metabolites in urine by thin-layer chromatography is described and evaluated. Urine is hydrolyzed with HCl or NalO4, adjusted to pH 9.5, and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is evaporated, reconstituted in methanol, applied to fluorescent silica-gel plates, and developed with ethyl acetate:methanol:ammonium hydroxide (28%) (85:10:5 by vol). Methaqualone use is detected by a pattern of four metabolites, which can be seen under ultraviolet light or are made visible by acidified iodoplatinate reagent. Synthetic methaqualone metabolites are used for identification and to compensate for procedural variables. More than 250 positive urine specimens were correctly identified by this method. Hydrolyzed natural and synthetic metabolites were identical by several criteria.
Simultaneous Detection of Morphine and Barbiturates in Urine by Radioimmunoassay
Authors: Usategui-Gomez M , Heveran J E , Cleeland R , McGhee B , Telischak Z , Awdziej T , Grunberg E 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
This report describes a radioimmunoassay for the simultaneous detection of morphine and barbiturates. Morphine and barbiturate antibodies, obtained from goats, were mixed with 125I-labeled antigens. By adjusting concentrations of the morphine and barbiturate antibodies and radiolabeled antigens, closely superimposed standard curves for the two drugs would be obtained. As a consequence, similar response curves were obtained for urine specimens containing morphine or barbiturates. Although concentrations as low as 25 µg/liter could be measured, to ensure against false positive reactions the test should be performed at the 100 µg/liter concentration. Unknown samples positive by the dual assay were confirmed by separately testing the specimens with the individual radioimmunoassay specific for morphine or barbiturate. Equivalency tests of urines positive for morphine, positive for barbiturates, or negative for both demonstrated complete correlation between the single and dual assays. The mixed reagent retained its sensitivity and specificity for at least three months when stored at 4 or 25 °C. The dual radioimmunoassay is a rapid, simple procedure that can be adapted to automated processes and that is suitable for largeand small-scale screening.
Optimum Kinetic Enzymatic Procedures for Glucose and Triglycerides in Plasma and Serum
Authors: DiCesare Joseph L 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
I describe optimum kinetic procedures for measuring glucose and triglycerides in plasma and serum by enzymatic techniques. Glucose was measured by the hexokinase method at a 1000-fold sample dilution. Absorbance and concentration are linearly related for concentrations up to 4 g/liter. Results are reproducible to about 25 mg/liter (standard error). Comparisons between the kinetic glucose method described here and an automated o-toluidine and a manual end-point method showed no apparent bias between the methods; correlation coefficients were 0.998 and 0.991, respectively. Triglycerides (triacylglycerols) were measured in a fully enzymatic system by measuring free glycerol after hydrolysis with lipase. Absorbance and concentration are linearly related to &gt;2.5 g/liter at a 300-fold sample dilution. Repeatability was about 30 mg/liter (standard error). Compared with a manual method, the correlation coefficient was 0.978, with a slope of 0.93.
Rapid, Specific Assay for Plasma Cortisol by Competitive Protein Binding
Authors: Keane Paul M , Stuart Judith , Mendez Jean , Barbadoro Sandra , Walker William H C 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
We describe a modified competitive protein-binding method for assay of plasma cortisol. Plasma samples are deproteinized by dilution with an ethanol/phosphate buffer, followed by heating at 100 °C for 2 min. Horse serum is used as the source of transcortin. Free radioactivity is separated from the protein-bound component by partition into liquid scintillation counting fluid. A batch of 30 tubes can be ready for counting within 60 min. The assay has better specificity and precision than a competitive protein-binding assay in which ethanol extraction and Florisil adsorbent are used, and results correlate well with those of a specific radioimmunoassay method.