bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring the spatial heterogeneity on the reduction of vaginal fistula burden in Ethiopia between 2005 and 2016
Authors: Deribe Kebede , Fronterre Claudio , Dejene Tariku , Biadgilign Sibhatu , Deribew Amare , Abdullah Muna , Cano Jorge 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVaginal fistula is a shattering maternal complication characterized by an anomalous opening between the bladder and/or rectum and vagina resulting in continuous leakage of urine or stool. Although prevalent in Ethiopia, its magnitude and distribution is not well studied. We used statistical mapping models using 2005 and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic Health Surveys data combined with a suite of potential risk factors to estimate the burden of vaginal fistula among women of childbearing age. The estimated number of women of childbearing age with lifetime and untreated vaginal fistula in 2016 were 72,533 (95% CI 38,235–124,103) and 31,961 (95% CI 11,596–70,309) respectively. These figures show reduction from the 2005 estimates: 98,098 (95% CI 49,819–170,737) lifetime and 59,114 (95% CI 26,580–118,158) untreated cases of vaginal fistula. The number of districts having more than 200 untreated cases declined drastically from 54 in 2005 to 6 in 2016. Our results show a significant subnational variation in the burden of vaginal fistula. Overall, between 2005 and 2016 there was substantial reduction in the prevalence of vaginal fistula in Ethiopia. Our results help guide local level tracking, planning, spatial targeting of resources and implementation of interventions against vaginal fistula.
Patterns of alcohol consumption in 16 cohorts of Australian young adults aged 15–24 between 2001 and 2016
Authors: Callinan Sarah , Pennay Amy , Livingston Michael , Kuntsche Emmanuel 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackground and aimsRepeated cross‐sectional surveys have identified substantial declines in adolescent drinking in Australia and some other countries in recent years. There is debate about whether these declines will be maintained as the cohort ages. This study modelled alcohol consumption over time to check for cohort effects reflecting a decrease in youth consumption, and then used this model to predict how decreases in youth drinking will be sustained through to adulthood.DesignLongitudinal study using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey from 2001 to 2016. Piecewise latent growth models were estimated to assess consumption trajectories for each birth cohort from ages 15–18 and 18–24 years.SettingAustralia.ParticipantsThis study focused on 5320 (51.9% female) respondents aged between 15 and 22 in wave 1 (2001) to those aged between 17 and 24 in wave 16 (2016).MeasurementAnnual volume of alcohol consumption was calculated as the product of the quantity per occasion and the frequency of drinking expanded to represent drinking occasions per year.FindingsThe model with best fit suggested that consumption increased rapidly [b = 0.667, standard error (SE) = 0.046, P < 0.001] until the legal drinking age of 18 and then plateaued (b = −0.027, SE = 0.016, P = 0.088). More recent cohorts start with significantly lower levels of consumption (b = −0.145, SE = 0.010; P < 0.001) but increase at a faster rate (b = 0.022, SE = 0.003, P < 0.001) between 15 and 18; however, not enough to catch up to earlier cohorts.ConclusionRecent decreases in adolescent drinking in Australia may, at least in part, be attributed to lower consumption in recent cohorts of younger drinkers. Results indicate that this group may continue to drink less than previous cohorts as they age into their twenties.
Acceptability and efficacy of naltrexone for criminal justice‐involved individuals with opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bahji Anees , Carlone David , Altomare Josephine 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackground and aimsCriminal justice‐involved individuals carry a disproportionately higher burden of opioid use disorder (OUD) than those not involved with the criminal justice system, and are often unable to access opioid agonist therapies such as methadone and buprenorphine. The opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (NTX) is effective for the prevention of relapse to OUD and may be more acceptable in criminal justice settings. The objectives of this review were to: (1) provide an overall summary effect across studies for the efficacy and acceptability of oral and injectable NTX for the treatment of OUD among criminal justice‐involved individuals and (2) examine systematic variations in study results to explain heterogeneity among study‐specific effects.MethodsSystematic review and meta‐analysis of 1045 patients across 11 studies (10 randomized controlled trials, one quasi‐experimental study). All available outcomes were pooled using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted for oral and injectable naltrexone; meta‐regression analyses were conducted for socio‐demographic and study‐level characteristics.ResultsNTX improved retention in treatment [risk ratio (RR) = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05, 1.63], reduced rates of re‐incarceration (RR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.54–0.92), reduced opioid relapse (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.53–0.76) and improved opioid abstinence (RR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.16–1.65). While NTX was associated with a greater burden of adverse events overall (RR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.13–1.95), the findings were inconclusive as to whether or not a difference was present for the number of serious adverse events or overdoses.ConclusionsNaltrexone appears to be efficacious and acceptable for the treatment of opioid use disorder among criminal justice‐involved individuals; however, the risk for adverse events must be weighed against the potential benefits.
Insecticide resistance status of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australian cotton production valleys
Authors: Hopkinson Jamie , Pumpa Stephanie , van Brunschot Sharon , Fang Cao , Frese Michael , Tay Wee Tek , Walsh Tom 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), previously known as B biotype, is a major agricultural pest with a reputation for developing resistance to insecticides. DNA‐based identification revealed that B. tabaci MEAM1 is the dominant species within Australian cotton cropping. Discriminating doses of 10 mg/L for pyriproxyfen and 300 mg/L for both diafenthiuron and bifenthrin were determined from bioassay data collected in 2010–2015. Resistance to these insecticides was tested in whitefly populations collected in 2017 from cotton crops in Queensland and New South Wales. This study reports on the presence of pyriproxyfen resistance in B. tabaci MEAM1 at seven locations in Queensland and New South Wales. One population from Goondiwindi was resistant to bifenthrin, whereas no populations tested had resistance to diafenthiuron. To determine the presence of resistance alleles to organophosphates and pyrethroids, reference populations of susceptible and resistant whiteflies (pyriproxyfen, bifenthrin and neonicotinoid) were tested. The resistance mutation L925I was found in a pyrethroid‐resistant population and in some individuals from the pyriproxyfen‐resistant population. The mutation F331W that confers organophosphate and carbamate resistance was found in all individuals tested including the susceptible reference population, indicative of a widespread distribution in Australian B. tabaci MEAM1. The cotton industry has revised the insecticide resistance management strategy for B. tabaci, to restrict the usage of pyriproxyfen to a single application within a 30‐day window. Our results argue against the use of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in Australian cotton, because B. tabaci MEAM1 populations show significant resistance levels. Furthermore, both pesticide groups are highly disruptive to a diverse range of natural enemy populations, and as such, widespread use likely contributes to pest outbreaks.
Kernel naive Bayes discrimination for high‐dimensional pattern recognition
Authors: Koch Inge , Naito Kanta , Tanaka Hiroaki 
Published: December 2019

SummaryKernel discriminant analysis translates the original classification problem into feature space and solves the problem with dimension and sample size interchanged. In high‐dimension low sample size (HDLSS) settings, this reduces the ‘dimension’ to that of the sample size. For HDLSS two‐class problems we modify Mika's kernel Fisher discriminant function which – in general – remains ill‐posed even in a kernel setting; see Mika et al. (1999). We propose a kernel naive Bayes discriminant function and its smoothed version, using first‐ and second‐degree polynomial kernels. For fixed sample size and increasing dimension, we present asymptotic expressions for the kernel discriminant functions, discriminant directions and for the error probability of our kernel discriminant functions. The theoretical calculations are complemented by simulations which show the convergence of the estimators to the population quantities as the dimension grows. We illustrate the performance of the new discriminant rules, which are easy to implement, on real HDLSS data. For such data, our results clearly demonstrate the superior performance of the new discriminant rules, and especially their smoothed versions, over Mika's kernel Fisher version, and typically also over the commonly used naive Bayes discriminant rule.
Ziv‐aflibercept: A cost‐effective, off‐label, highly potent antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Mansour Ahmad M. , Stewart Michael W. , Farah Michel E. , Mansour Hana A. , Chhablani Jay 
Published: December 2019

AbstractZiv‐aflibercept (Zaltrap®), a recombinant fusion protein that binds diffusible vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Its molecular structure is the same as aflibercept (Eylea®), thus making it an attractive option for the off‐label treatment of chorioretinal vascular conditions. Ziv‐aflibercept is distributed in 4 and 8 ml vials for intravenous use, and its cost after compounding is similar to bevacizumab. Studies with retinal pigment epithelium cytotoxicity, animal histologic sections and electroretinography have demonstrated its safety, and mathematical modelling combined with over four dozen clinical publications from different ophthalmic centres throughout the world attest to its efficacy. No appreciable differences in visual or anatomic outcomes between 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) and 2.5 mg (1.0 ml) doses have been noted. The long duration of action combined with the low cost make ziv‐aflibercept an attractive anti‐VEGF treatment option, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries where its popularity is increasing.
A bivariate joint frailty model with mixture framework for survival analysis of recurrent events with dependent censoring and cure fraction
Authors: Tawiah Richard , McLachlan Geoffrey J. , Ng Shu Kay 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn the study of multiple failure time data with recurrent clinical endpoints, the classical independent censoring assumption in survival analysis can be violated when the evolution of the recurrent events is correlated with a censoring mechanism such as death. Moreover, in some situations, a cure fraction appears in the data because a tangible proportion of the study population benefits from treatment and becomes recurrence free and insusceptible to death related to the disease. A bivariate joint frailty mixture cure model is proposed to allow for dependent censoring and cure fraction in recurrent event data. The latency part of the model consists of two intensity functions for the hazard rates of recurrent events and death, wherein a bivariate frailty is introduced by means of the generalized linear mixed model methodology to adjust for dependent censoring. The model allows covariates and frailties in both the incidence and the latency parts, and it further accounts for the possibility of cure after each recurrence. It includes the joint frailty model and other related models as special cases. An expectation‐maximization (EM)‐type algorithm is developed to provide residual maximum likelihood estimation of model parameters. Through simulation studies, the performance of the model is investigated under different magnitudes of dependent censoring and cure rate. The model is applied to data sets from two colorectal cancer studies to illustrate its practical value.
A fast score test for generalized mixture models
Authors: Duan Rui , Ning Yang , Wang Shuang , Lindsay Bruce G. , Carroll Raymond J. , Chen Yong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn biomedical studies, testing for homogeneity between two groups, where one group is modeled by mixture models, is often of great interest. This paper considers the semiparametric exponential family mixture model proposed by Honget al. (2017) and studies the score test for homogeneity under this model. The score test is nonregular in the sense that nuisance parameters disappear under the null hypothesis. To address this difficulty, we propose a modification of the score test, so that the resulting test enjoys the Wilks phenomenon. In finite samples, we show that with fixed nuisance parameters the score test is locally most powerful. In large samples, we establish the asymptotic power functions under two types of local alternative hypotheses. Our simulation studies illustrate that the proposed score test is powerful and computationally fast. We apply the proposed score test to an UK ovarian cancer DNA methylation data for identification of differentially methylated CpG sites.
Weight calibration to improve the efficiency of pure risk estimates from case‐control samples nested in a cohort
Authors: Shin Yei Eun , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Graubard Barry I. , Gail Mitchell H. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCohort studies provide information on relative hazards and pure risks of disease. For rare outcomes, large cohorts are needed to have sufficient numbers of events, making it costly to obtain covariate information on all cohort members. We focus on nested case‐control designs that are used to estimate relative hazard in the Cox regression model. In 1997, Langholz and Borgan showed that pure risk can also be estimated from nested case‐control data. However, these approaches do not take advantage of some covariates that may be available on all cohort members. Researchers have used weight calibration to increase the efficiency of relative hazard estimates from case‐cohort studies and nested cased‐control studies. Our objective is to extend weight calibration approaches to nested case‐control designs to improve precision of estimates of relative hazards and pure risks. We show that calibrating sample weights additionally against follow‐up times multiplied by relative hazards during the risk projection period improves estimates of pure risk. Efficiency improvements for relative hazards for variables that are available on the entire cohort also contribute to improved efficiency for pure risks. We develop explicit variance formulas for the weight‐calibrated estimates. Simulations show how much precision is improved by calibration and confirm the validity of inference based on asymptotic normality. Examples are provided using data from the American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Cohort Study.
Resource utilization and cost effectiveness of treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia using generic arsenic trioxide
Authors: Bankar Aniket , Korula Anu , Kulkarni Uday P. , Devasia Anup J. , NA Fouzia , Lionel Sharon , Abraham Aby , Balasubramanian Poonkuzhali , Janet Nancy Beryl , Nair Sukesh C. , S Sezlian , Jeyaseelan Visali , N Jeyaseelan , Prasad Jasmine , George Biju , Mathews Vikram 
Published: December 2019

SummaryArsenic trioxide (ATO)‐based regimens are the standard of care for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) and have replaced chemotherapy‐based approaches. However, the cost of “patented” ATO is prohibitive because of patent rights. “Generic” ATO has been used in a few countries, but its implications for health resource utilization (HRU) and cost of treatment are unknown. We hypothesized that treating APL patients using generic ATO (APL‐ATO) will be cost effective compared to the chemotherapy‐based regimen (APL‐CT). In a single‐centre retrospective study, we used a bottom‐up costing method to compare the direct medical cost of treatment and HRU between APL‐ATO and APL‐CT. These costs and the survival and relapse probabilities were imputed in a three‐state Markov decision model to estimate the cost effectiveness of APL‐ATO compared to APL‐CT. The mean cost of treatment for APL‐ATO (n = 30, $8500 ± 2078) was significantly less than for APL‐CT (n = 30, $22 600 ± 5528) (P < 0·001). APL‐ATO reduced hospitalization, antibiotic and antifungal usage (P < 0·001). In the Markov model, five‐year treatment costs were significantly lower for APL‐ATO ($11 131) than for APL‐CT ($17 926) (P < 0·001). Treatment cost and health resource utilization were significantly lower for generic ATO‐treated APL patients compared to the chemotherapy‐based regimen.
Leavers and Remainers after the Brexit referendum: More united than divided after all?
Authors: Hanel Paul H. P. , Wolf Lukas J. 
Published: December 2019

Since the British ‘Brexit referendum’ in 2016, tensions between ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ voters have been growing. Using a novel analytical approach based on the full distribution of responses rather than their arithmetic means, Study 1 (N = 1,506) showed on average 90% of overlap among Leavers and Remainers across a range of important variables. Even on the variables that are commonly used to illustrate how Leavers and Remainers differ (e.g., prejudice against immigrants), the amount of overlap was larger than 50%. In Study 2 (N = 206), we demonstrate the importance of focusing on similarities between groups: Presenting the full distribution of responses from Leavers and Remainers rather than their mean differences caused more accurate perceptions of the actual differences and similarities between both groups and higher perceived intergroup harmony. We conclude that similarities between Leavers and Remainers are substantial and that our proposed approach may help to de‐escalate tensions between these and other groups.
5′ untranslated regions: the next regulatory sequence in yeast synthetic biology
Authors: De Nijs Yatti , De Maeseneire Sofie L. , Soetaert Wim K. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTWhen developing industrial biotechnology processes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast or brewer's yeast) is a popular choice as a microbial host. Many tools have been developed in the fields of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to introduce heterologous pathways and tune their expression in yeast. Such tools mainly focus on controlling transcription, whereas post‐transcriptional regulation is often overlooked. Herein we discuss regulatory elements found in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and their influence on protein synthesis. We provide not only an overall picture, but also a set of design rules on how to engineer a 5′ UTR. The reader is also referred to currently available models that allow gene expression to be tuned predictably using different 5′ UTRs.
Linear pontine trigeminal root lesion in a patient with anti‐myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated encephalitis
Authors: Fujimori Juichi , Nakashima Ichiro 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundAnti‐myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody‐associated encephalitis is a new spectrum of disease entities that includes acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, brainstem encephalitis and cortical encephalitis. Recently, we encountered a case of anti‐MOG antibody‐associated encephalitis in which the patient presented with a linearly shaped lesion at the trigeminal root entry zone, which is one of the well‐known characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with multiple sclerosis. Here, we report this case, as several studies suggested that the reactivation of Herpes simplex viruses contribute to the formation of the linear pontine trigeminal root lesions in multiple sclerosis.Case presentationA 39‐year‐old woman was referred to our department because she developed numbness of the left side of her face. She had experienced convulsive seizures of unknown cause 2 years prior. Neurological examination showed left facial hypesthesia (ophthalmic and maxillary divisions). Brain MRI showed a linearly shaped T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery hyperintense MRI lesion in the pons, which corresponded neuroanatomically with the intramedullary trigeminal root. A live cell‐based assay showed that the patient was positive for serum anti‐MOG antibodies. We diagnosed her with anti‐MOG antibody‐associated encephalitis. Two courses of high‐dose i.v. methylprednisolone were administered. Thereafter, the patient’s neurological symptoms and MRI findings improved.ConclusionsA linear pontine trigeminal root lesion was observed in a patient with anti‐MOG antibody‐associated encephalitis. The association of herpesviruses requires more attention in the pathogenesis of anti‐MOG antibody‐associated encephalitis.
YAP promotes the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells through decreasing the nuclear location of p27Kip1 mediated by Akt
Authors: Shen Xiya , Xu Xingxing , Xie Changnan , Liu Huitao , Yang Danlu , Zhang Jingjing , Wu Qian , Feng Wenjin , Wang Ling , Du Leilei , Xuan Lina , Meng Chaobo , Zhang Haitao , Wang Wei , Wang Ying , Xie Tian , Huang Zhihui 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the roles and underlying mechanisms of YAP in the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells.MethodsThe expression level of YAP was evaluated by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Cell viability, cell proliferation and growth were detected by CCK‐8, PH3 and Ki67 immunostaining, and the real‐time cell analyser system. The nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins of p27Kip1 were dissociated by the nuclear‐cytosol extraction kit and were detected by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. mRNA levels of Akt, CDK5 and CRM1 were determined by qRT‐PCR.ResultsYAP was enriched in SH‐SY5Y cells (a human neuroblastoma cell line). Knock‐down of YAP in SH‐SY5Y cells or SK‐N‐SH cell line (another human neuroblastoma cell line) significantly decreased cell viability, inhibited cell proliferation and growth. Mechanistically, knock‐down of YAP increased the nuclear location of p27Kip1, whereas serum‐induced YAP activation decreased the nuclear location of p27Kip1 and was required for cell proliferation. Meanwhile, overexpression of YAP in these serum‐starved SH‐SY5Y cells decreased the nuclear location of p27Kip1, promoted cell proliferation and overexpression of p27Kip1 in YAP‐activated cells inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, knock‐down of YAP reduced Akt mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of Akt in YAP‐downregulated cells decreased the nuclear location of p27Kip1 and accelerated the proliferation of SH‐SY5Y cells.ConclusionsOur studies suggest that YAP promotes the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells through negatively controlling the nuclear location of p27Kip1 mediated by Akt.