bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of electrolyte abnormalities and unmeasured anions in the metabolic acid‐base abnormalities in dogs with parvoviral enteritis
Authors: Burchell Richard K. , Gal Arnon , Friedlein Ryan , Leisewitz Andrew L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe strong ion model (SIM) is an alternative paradigm in the characterization of acid‐base disturbances particularly in complex disorders.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo compare the acid‐base changes in dogs with parvoviral enteritis (PE) using the Henderson‐Hasselbalch (HH) approach, with 2 strong ion approaches.AnimalsForty‐four dogs with PE, and 16 age‐matched control dogs.MethodsProspective controlled observational study. Acid‐base status was evaluated using the HH model, Fencl‐Stewart (FS) approach and a validated strong ion model (VDM). The acid‐base changes according to each model were classified and compared. Statistical correlations between pH, CO2, and various SIM variables were performed, as well as between the sum of effects (SOE) of the SIM and the individual variables comprising the SOE.ResultsThe HH model identified acid‐base disorders in 31/44 cases of which 16/31 were mixed with metabolic acidosis and concurrent respiratory alkalosis the most common (10/31). Using the FS approach, metabolic changes were present 36/42 cases, with changes in free water (FW), chloride, and unmeasured anions (UA) being the most prevalent. Both FW and UA correlated well with pH; however, UA were most consistently abnormal in severe acidemia. Similarly to the HH, the VDM detected acid‐base disturbances in 28/44 cases. Major contributors to the acid‐base changes were hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and Atotacidosis because of elevated globulins and increased UA.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAcid‐base changes are common and complex in dogs with PE, and were easier to understand using a SIM paradigm. Increases in UA have not been documented in PE in dogs.
Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in plasma and lung tissue in healthy chickens and chickens experimentally infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum
Authors: Zhang Nan , Liu Zhenxian , Wei Yanzhe , Zhang Chuanzhen , Mao Chunxiao , Cai Qinren , Shen Xiangguang , Ding Huanzhong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to compare the plasma and lung tissue pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in healthy and Mycoplasma gallisepticum‐infected chickens. Tilmicosin was orally administered at 4, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w) for the infected and 7.5 mg/kg b.w for the uninfected control group. We found no significant differences in plasma tilmicosin pharmacokinetics between diseased and healthy control chickens. In contrast, the lung tissues in M. gallisepticum‐infected chickens displayed a t1/2 (elimination half‐life) 1.76 times longer than for healthy chickens. The Cmax (the maximum concentration of drug in samples) of tilmicosin in M. gallisepticum‐infected chickens was lower than for controls at 7.5 mg/kg b.w (p < .05), and the AUCinf (the area under the concentration–time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity) in infected chickens was higher than for the healthy chickens (p < .05). The mean residence time of tilmicosin in infected chickens was also higher than the healthy chickens. These results indicated that the lungs of healthy chickens had greater absorption of tilmicosin than the infected chickens, and the rate of elimination of tilmicosin from infected lungs was slower.
The legal protection of breeder's rights for new plant varieties in Thailand: The need for law reform considering the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants 1991
Authors: Supasiripongchai Noppanun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis article examines the possible changes to the provisions on the protection of new plant varieties under the Plant Variety Protection Act B.E. 2542 (A.D. 1999), or the Thai PVPA 1999, if Thailand chooses to ratify the 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, or the UPOV Convention 1991. It confirms the need to develop the Thai PVPA 1999, given that several ASEAN countries have already ratified the UPOV Convention 1991, making it the new standard for new plant variety protection in the Southeast Asian region. It argues that although the current provisions of the Thai PVPA 1999 appear to meet the minimum standards of protection under the Agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), they still fall short compared with the UPOV Convention 1991 provisions. This article asserts that to make the provisions of the Thai PVPA 1999 consistent with those of the UPOV Convention 1991, several provisions of the former—such as the scope of breeder's rights, exceptions, and the duration of protection—must be further developed.
The Economic Consequences of Accidents at Work
Authors: Mazzolini Gabriele 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper investigates the economic consequences of workplace accidents in the British labour market. For the empirical analysis, I use data on employment and earnings from the British Household Panel Survey and exploit fixed effects estimators to control for time‐invariant unobserved workers’ characteristics. I provide evidence that accidents at work negatively affect both job opportunities and workers’ earnings. First, employment probabilities following a state of injury are significantly lower. This effect persists over time and is stronger in those regions where unemployment rate is higher. Second, a serious workplace accident also results in significant delayed wage penalties, which increase with the accident's seriousness.
The feasibility of leadless pacemaker implantation for superelderly patients
Authors: Tachibana Motomi , Banba Kimikazu , Matsumoto Kensuke , Ohara Minako 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe safety and efficacy of the leadless pacemaker (LP) have been confirmed in previous reports, yet studies on LPs in superelderly patients are limited.Methods and ResultsA total of 62 patients aged over 85 years old were implanted with single‐chamber pacemakers due to symptomatic bradyarrhythmia at Sakakibara Heart Institute from May 2014 through July 2019. We divided them into two groups, a transvenous (TV) single‐chamber pacemaker group (35 patients) and an LP group (27 patients), and compared the groups. Mean participant age was 90.3 ± 3.8 y.o., 41.9% were male, and mean participant body mass index (BMI) was 21.3 kg/m2. The LP group contained a significantly larger proportion of patients with dementia than the TV group did (63% vs. 37.1%, P = .04). The complication‐free rate tended to be lower in the LP group in spite of the higher frequency of dementia (88.6% vs. 92.6%, P = .68). At implantation, the pacing threshold was significantly higher in the LP group than in the TV group (1.30 ± 0.91 V vs. 0.71 ± 0.23 V, P < .01), but over the first 3 months after the operation the pacing threshold in the LP group gradually improved (0.82 ± 0.2 V vs. 1.05 ± 1.02 V, P = .16). The procedure time and time from operation to discharge were also shorter in the LP group.ConclusionsLP implantation appears to be safe and is accordingly becoming the cornerstone for Japanese superelderly patients indicated for single‐chamber pacemakers, even for those with small bodies and dementia. However, careful procedures and long follow‐ups are needed until a greater volume of data is reported.
Hypervolemic hyponatremia and transplant‐free survival in children with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia
Authors: Silva Duarte dos Santos Renata , Kieling Carlos Oscar , Adami Marina Rossato , Guedes Renata Rostirola , Vieira Sandra Maria Gonçalves 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundBiliary atresia is the number one cause of cirrhosis and liver transplantation in children. Hyponatremia is the most important electrolytic disturbance observed in decompensated cirrhosis. Studies of hyponatremia in cirrhotic children are scarce and those that exist have defined hyponatremia as serum sodium < 130 mEq/L lasting for at least 7 days.MethodsWe evaluated transplant‐free survival (Kaplan‐Meier) of children with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia and serum sodium < 130 mEq/L persisting for 1, 2‐6, and ≥7 days. This was a single‐center, historical cohort that included all patients aged ≤ 18 years on a liver transplantation waiting list.ResultsWe studied 128 patients. The overall frequency of hyponatremia was 30.5% (39/128). Thirteen patients (10.2%) had hyponatremia when put on the list, and 20.3% developed it during follow‐up. The Kaplan‐Meier overall transplant‐free survival rate was 83.3%. Patients with persistent hyponatremia for at least two days had the lowest transplant‐free survival. Glomerular filtration rate (P = .00, RR = 0.96, IC 95% = 0.94‐0.99), BMI/age Z‐score (P = .02, RR = 0.59, IC 95% = 0.39‐0.91), INR (P = .00, RR = 1.43, IC 95% = 1.17‐1.74), and serum sodium (P = .04, RR = 0.91, IC 95% = 0.84‐0.99) were independently associated with transplant‐free survival. We did not observe any difference in mortality prediction after adding sodium to the original PELD score.ConclusionsWe conclude that persistent hyponatremia lasting at least two days may herald poor prognosis for children with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia.
The moderating role of flexible goal adjustment in the link between pain and depressive symptoms: findings based on a nationally representative sample of older adults
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans‐Helmut 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundPain is a frequent phenomenon in old age. It has been shown that increases in pain are longitudinally associated with depressive symptoms. This strong link can be attenuated by coping strategies like resilience. However, to date, there is a lack of longitudinal studies, based on nationally representative samples that have examined whether flexible goal adjustment moderates the relation between pain and depressive symptoms. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify whether there is a longitudinal association between pain and depressive symptoms, and to examine whether flexible goal adjustment moderates this link.MethodsLongitudinal data (wave 3 and wave 4; 5582 observations) were taken from a sample (German Ageing Survey) which is nationally representative for middle‐aged and older adults (40 years and over). A widely used pain measurement (single‐item measure) served as the key independent variable. An instrument created by Brandstaedter and Renner was used to quantify flexible goal adjustment. The 15‐item version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms.ResultsLinear fixed effects regressions demonstrated that an increase in pain was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms (β = 0.42, P < 0.001). Moreover, flexible goal adjustment significantly moderated this association (β = −0.39, P < 0.01). With regard to potential confounders, an increase in depressive symptoms was associated with increasing age and worsening self‐rated health.ConclusionThe study findings showed that increasing pain leads to more depressive symptoms using a longitudinal approach. In addition, flexible goal adjustment moderated this link. Therefore, programs aiming at improving flexible goal adjustment may assist in avoiding an increase in depressive symptoms alongside pain increases among older adults.
Multiple-Systems Analysis for the Quantification of Modern Slavery: Classical and Bayesian Approaches
Authors: Silverman Bernard W. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryMultiple-systems estimation is a key approach for quantifying hidden populations such as the number of victims of modern slavery. The UK Government published an estimate of 10000–13000 victims, constructed by the present author, as part of the strategy leading to the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This estimate was obtained by a stepwise multiple-systems method based on six lists. Further investigation shows that a small proportion of the possible models give rather different answers, and that other model fitting approaches may choose one of these. Three data sets collected in the field of modern slavery, together with a data set about the death toll in the Kosovo conflict, are used to investigate the stability and robustness of various multiple-systems-estimate methods. The crucial aspect is the way that interactions between lists are modelled, because these can substantially affect the results. Model selection and Bayesian approaches are considered in detail, in particular to assess their stability and robustness when applied to real modern slavery data. A new Markov chain Monte Carlo Bayesian approach is developed; overall, this gives robust and stable results at least for the examples considered. The software and data sets are freely and publicly available to facilitate wider implementation and further research.
Injustice in the Spaces between Concepts
Authors: Fairbairn Fran 
Published: March 2020

AbstractI argue that epistemic injustice manifests not only in the content of our concepts, but in the spaces between them. Others have shown that epistemic injustice arises in the form of “testimonial injustice,” where an agent is harmed because her credibility is undervalued, and “hermeneutical injustice,” where an agent is harmed because some community lacks the conceptual resources that would allow her to render her experience intelligible. I think that epistemic injustice also arises as a result of prejudiced and harmful defects in the inferential architecture of both scientific practice and everyday thinking. Drawing on lessons from the philosophy of science, I argue that the inferential architecture of our epistemic practices can be prejudiced and wrongful, leading to a variety of epistemic injustice that I am calling “inferential injustice.” This type of injustice is fully structural; it inheres in our epistemic practices themselves rather than as a direct result of an individual's action. For this reason, cases of inferential injustice are importantly different from extant cases of epistemic injustice and are especially hard to track. We need a better understanding of inferential injustice so that we can avoid and ameliorate cases such as the ones I present here.
The Sense and Sensibility of Equality
Authors: Lebron Chris 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe idea of equality in political thought is often approached from a distributive perspective that entails a rethinking of institutional arrangements. In this paper I present an approach to conceived as a complement to the common institutional approach in liberal theory. The foundational claim is that blacks do not come into view for a wide range of people as worthy of full human recognition, that is, persons in possession of human vulnerabilities that require responses and in possession of warrants to rights that demand respect. The central argument is that this problem of diminished social value can be addressed by imagination and that imagination is crucially important to bridge the experiential divide between white and black Americans. I deploy two ideas I claim are essential for leveraging imagination: attentiveness and skill. When we are attentive we provide the imagination range to sense the more difficult aspects of others’ lives under inequality; when we are skilled we deploy a finer sensibility in taking the proper ethical stance towards others’ experiential difficulties under a regime of racial inequality. To achieve this, I provide a schematic of three pairs of concepts that provide a foundation though not full accounting of the necessary skills in response to ethical challenges: narrative/receptivity, reasons/responsibility, affect/compassion.
Phylogenetic comparison of 5′ splice site determination in central spliceosomal proteins of the U1‐70K gene family, in response to developmental cues and stress conditions
Authors: Chen Mo‐Xian , Zhang Kai‐Lu , Gao Bei , Yang Jing‐Fang , Tian Yuan , Das Debatosh , Fan Tao , Dai Lei , Hao Ge‐Fei , Yang Guang‐Fu , Zhang Jianhua , Zhu Fu‐Yuan , Fang Yan‐Ming 
Published: March 2020

SUMMARYIntron‐containing genes have the ability to generate multiple transcript isoforms by splicing, thereby greatly expanding the eukaryotic transcriptome and proteome. In eukaryotic cells, precursor mRNA (pre‐mRNA) splicing is performed by a mega‐macromolecular complex defined as a spliceosome. Among its splicing components, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) is the smallest subcomplex involved in early spliceosome assembly and 5′‐splice site recognition. Its central component, named U1‐70K, has been extensively characterized in animals and yeast. Very few investigations on U1‐70K genes have been conducted in plants, however. To this end, we performed a comprehensive study to systematically identify 115 U1‐70K genes from 67 plant species, ranging from algae to angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the expansion of the plant U1‐70K gene family was likely to have been driven by whole‐genome duplications. Subsequent comparisons of gene structures, protein domains, promoter regions and conserved splicing patterns indicated that plant U1‐70Ks are likely to preserve their conserved molecular function across plant lineages and play an important functional role in response to environmental stresses. Furthermore, genetic analysis using T‐DNA insertion mutants suggested that Arabidopsis U1‐70K may be involved in response to osmotic stress. Our results provide a general overview of this gene family in Viridiplantae and will act as a reference source for future mechanistic studies on this U1 snRNP‐specific splicing factor.
The value of transfusion of phenotyped blood units for thalassemia and sickle cell anemia patients at an academic center
Authors: Hindawi Salwa , Badawi Maha , Elfayoumi Refaat , Elgemmezi Tarek , Al Hassani Abrar , Raml Mohamed , Alamoudi Seraj , Gholam Kholoud 
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUNDBlood transfusion is the first‐line treatment for patients with thalassemia and many sickle cell patients. However, cases of unregulated blood transfusion are shown to carry a high risk of alloimmunization to red blood cells (RBCs), which can lead to a hemolytic transfusion reaction and be fatal to patients. Screening and identification of alloantibodies are, therefore, essential practice in blood transfusion services. Transfusion of phenotyped blood can minimize these risks to patients.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA prospective study was carried out on 1015 donors, and a prospective and retrospective study was carried out on 208 multiple transfused patients with β‐thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Donor and patient samples were subjected to Rh & K typing, and patient samples were also subjected to screening & identification of RBC antibodies. We aimed to determine the prevalence of RBC antigens in thalassemia and sickle cell patients, as well as blood donors, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and the frequency of alloimmunization in the selected patients.RESULTSThe most commonly detected Rh‐phenotype in donors was R1r (32.02%), followed by R1R1 (23.25%). Only 9.16% of donors were positive for the K antigen. The prevalence of Rh and K blood group antigens was also reported: the highest detected Rh‐phenotype was R1r (40.86%) followed by R1R2 (24.04%) with only (6.25%) positive patients for K antigen. The rate of alloimmunization among sickle cell anemia and thalassemia patients was 39.42% and 35.57%, respectively. The highest specificity rates of the alloantibodies were recorded for anti‐E and anti‐K in both patient groups.CONCLUSIONThe rate of alloimmunization in transfused patients was high and particularly observed against the Rh and K antigens. This study emphasizes the clinical need for typing patient RBCs prior to transfusion so as to provide phenotyped matched blood units and minimize the risks and associated morbidities of alloimmunization. Keeping a database of phenotyped blood donors is essential for the clinically effective and safe management of transfusion patients.
Supplemental findings of the 2017 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey
Authors: Sapiano Mathew R. P. , Jones Jefferson M. , Savinkina Alexandra A. , Haass Kathryn A. , Berger James J. , Basavaraju Sridhar V. 
Published: March 2020

INTRODUCTIONThis report provides supplemental results from the 2017 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey on characteristics of the donor population, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, platelets, plasma and granulocyte transfusions, pediatric transfusions, severe donor‐related adverse events, cost of blood units, hospitals policies and practices, and inventory, dosing, and supply.METHODSWeighting and imputation were used to generate national estimates including number of donors, donations, donor deferrals, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, severe donor‐related adverse events, platelet and plasma collections and transfusions, number of cross‐match procedures, irradiation and leukoreduction, and pediatric transfusions.RESULTSBetween 2015 and 2017, successful donations decreased slightly by 2.1% with a 10.3% decrease in donations by persons aged 16‐18 years and a 14.4% increase in donations by donors aged >65 years. The median price paid for blood components by hospitals decreased from $211 to $207 for leukoreduced red blood cell units, from $523 to $517 for leukoreduced apheresis platelet units, and from $54 to $51 for fresh frozen plasma units. Plasma transfusions decreased 13.6%, but group AB plasma units transfused increased 24.7%.CONCLUSIONBetween 2015 and 2017, blood donations declined slightly because of decreases in donations from younger donors, but the number of donations from older donors increased. The price hospitals pay for blood has continued to decrease. Plasma transfusions have decreased, but the proportion of plasma transfusions involving group AB plasma have increased.
Successful prevention of severe allergic transfusion reactions with omalizumab
Authors: Shi Sensen , Han Jingjing , Yao Yao , Xu Yang , Wu Depei , Wang Ying 
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUNDAllergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) are a common adverse reaction to transfusion therapy and can be potentially fatal. Washing blood products is the most effective strategy for preventing ATRs; however, washed products, especially platelets, are not available at many blood centers.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA 29‐year‐old female patient with an advanced myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable, developed severe ATRs after four platelet transfusions in a week. She showed no response to premedication with histamines and steroids and still had severe ATRs with the next three platelet transfusions. A laboratory workup revealed that her IgA level was slightly decreased, while her haptoglobin level was normal. Anti‐IgA testing was not available. The patient decided to undergo allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. As the onset of symptoms ATR, which were similar to Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions mediated by IgE antibodies, occurred immediately after transfusion and omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti‐IgE, we elected to offer off‐label use of omalizumab before administering the conditioning regimen.RESULTSOmalizumab was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 150 mg. Surprisingly, transfusion reactions fully resolved within 24 hours. No serious side effects were noticed. Another 150 mg of omalizumab was administered 1 day before PBSC infusion. The patient remained asymptomatic without any signs of ATRs throughout the whole period of transplantation. Seven months after transplantation, the patient was in complete remission without overt complications.CONCLUSIONThis case suggests that omalizumab is a promising new alternative treatment for the prevention of severe ATRs.