bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective Collaborative Project to Reduce Disparities and Inequities in Cancer Care and for Cancer Control in Low-Resource Setting Countries: South African Experience
Authors: Osei-Fofie Daniel 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE The Northern Cape Province is the largest province in South Africa; however, it has the fewest resources for cancer care. There is a high incidence and prevalence of mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of the previous indiscriminate mining of asbestos without proper legislation for the protection of miners and the environment. Mine dumps remain near villages and schools after the banning of asbestos mining, resulting in continuous exposure to asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, majority of cancers are diagnosed in late stages because of a lack of awareness and the misdiagnosis of lung cancer and mesothelioma as tuberculosis. METHODS The Northern Cape Department of Health, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, and Cancer Charity Workers formed a collaboration in May 2017 to reduce disparities and inequities in cancer care and for cancer control. The Northern Cape Department of Health also collaborated with Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico to use the ECHO model for training community health care workers, training in palliative care, and mentorship and empowerment of doctors and nurses in rural areas. The aim is to recognize early symptoms and signs of cancers affecting the lung and to make referrals for early diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS An advocacy group has engaged the Provincial and National Department of Mining and Environmental Affairs for rehabilitation of asbestos mine dumps. Community health care workers have been trained and are assisting with community awareness and patient navigation. Doctors have been trained in palliative care and are training other health care workers in palliative care. A center of excellence for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, palliative care, survivorship, and research has been established. Retention of doctors and nurses in rural areas for cancer care and early referral is improving. A lung cancer research laboratory is being set up. CONCLUSION Effective collaborative projects can help address disparities in cancer care and effective cancer control in areas with limited resources.
Breast Cancer Patient Advocacy: Challenges and Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Dvaladze Allison , Kizub Darya A. , Cabanes Anna , Nakigudde Gertrude , Aguilar Bertha , Singh R. K. Pritam , Zujewski Jo Anne , Duggan Catherine , Anderson Benjamin O. , Gralow Julie R. 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE Breast cancer advocacy movements, driven by advocate-led civil society organizations (CSOs), have proven to be a powerful force for the advancement of cancer control in high-income countries, playing a critical role in providing peer support, raising awareness, reducing stigma, educating the public, raising funds, influencing policy, and affecting national cancer research agendas by bringing the public’s concerns about cancer to policymakers and the medical community. Breast cancer patient advocacy movements are growing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in response to an increasing cancer burden and disparities in outcomes; however, there are few studies on the experiences and needs of advocate-led breast cancer CSOs in LMICs. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 98 participants representing 23 LMICs in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, East and Southern Africa, and Latin America. RESULTS Despite geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic differences, the common themes that emerged across the 3 regions are strikingly similar: trust, knowledge gaps, stigma, sharing experiences, and sustainability. We identified common facilitators—training/education, relationship building/networking, third-party facilitators, communication—and barriers—mistrust, stigma, organizational fragility, difficulty translating high-income country strategies—to establishing trust, collaboration, and advancing cancer advocacy efforts. To our knowledge, our study is the first to describe the role coalitions and regional networks play in advancing breast cancer advocacy in LMICs across multiple regions CONCLUSION Our findings reflect the importance of investing in three-way partnerships between CSOs, political leaders, and health experts. When provided with information that is evidence based and relevant to their respective environments, as well as opportunities to engage and network, advocates are better equipped to pursue evidence-based programs, advocate for appropriate solutions, and to hold their governments accountable to the commitments they make. Global and local actors can do more to create opportunities for education and engagement.
The Program for Enhanced Training in Cancer: An Initial Experience of Supporting Capacity Building for Oncology Training in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Fish Madeleine , Parkes Jeannette , Dharsee Nazima , Dryden-Peterson Scott , Efstathiou Jason , Schnipper Lowell , Chabner Bruce , Parikh Aparna R. 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE Sub-Saharan Africa is simultaneously facing a rising incidence of cancer and a dearth of medical professionals as a result of insufficient training numbers and emigration, creating a growing shortage of cancer care. To combat this, Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center partnered with institutions in South Africa, Tanzania, and Rwanda to develop a fellowship exchange program to supplement the training of African oncologists practicing in their home countries. METHODS In its initial 2 years (2018 and 2019), the Program for Enhanced Training in Cancer (POETIC) hosted a pilot cohort of 14 fellows for 3-week observerships in their areas of interest. Researchers distributed questionnaires for program evaluation to participants before arrival and upon departure, and 8 participated in semistructured interviews. RESULTS Five themes emerged from the qualitative data: expectations of POETIC, differences in oncology between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, positive elements of the program, areas for improvement, and potential impact. Fellows identified several elements of Western health care that will inform their practice: patient-centered care, research development, and collaboration among medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists. The time in Boston modeled a research infrastructure that participants expressed interest in emulating at their home hospitals. In addition, the fellowship inspired some participants to address prevention and survivorship efforts in their home countries. From the quantitative data, feedback was primarily around logistical areas for improvement. CONCLUSION POETIC was found to be feasible and valuable. The results from the first years justify the program’s continuation in hopes of strengthening global health partnerships to support oncology training in Africa. One weakness is the small number of fellows, which will limit the impact of the study and the relevance of its conclusions. Future work will involve long-term follow up with participants and the development of an alumni network.
Evaluation of a Breast Cancer Early Detection Curriculum Among Nurses Working in 5 Antiretroviral Clinics in Eswatini
Authors: O’Neil Daniel S. , Nxumalo Sifiso , Ngcamphalala Cebisile , Jacobson Judith S. , Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha Harriet , Harripersaud Katherine , Dlamini Xolisile , Pace Lydia E. , Neugut Alfred I. , Harris Tiffany G. 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE Breast cancer (BC) incidence is rising in sub-Saharan Africa, and approximately 75% of cases are diagnosed at stages III and IV. Women living with HIV, who are surviving longer with antiretroviral use, are also increasingly affected. Survey data suggest that primary care providers often fail to recognize early-stage BC. We trained nurses from 5 antiretroviral clinics in Eswatini to assess breast abnormalities and evaluated our curriculum’s effectiveness in improving BC knowledge and skills. METHODS The 2-day curriculum covered breast physiology, benign pathology, and BC. Clinical breast exam and management were taught using mannequins and standardized patient scenarios, with emphasis on prompt referral for biopsy. After training, mentoring was provided every 2 to 4 weeks at each study clinic. A written examination of BC knowledge (maximum score, 23 points) and an observed examination of practical clinical skills (maximum score, 28 points) were administered before training, immediately after training, and 90 days after training. Pre- and post-training scores were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS Forty-four nurses, with a median of 10 years of experience, underwent training; only 5 nurses (11%) reported prior BC education. All nurses completed the pre- and immediate post-training exams, and 38 completed the 90-day post-training exams. Median scores on pre-, immediate post-, and 90-day post-training knowledge exams were 17.5 (interquartile range [IQR], 16-19), 20 (IQR, 19-21), and 20 (IQR, 19-21), respectively. Median scores on pre-, immediate post-, and 90-day post-training practical exams were 10 (IQR, 7-11), 23 (IQR, 21.5-25), and 23 (IQR, 22-24), respectively. Compared with pretraining scores, immediate post- and 90-day post-training scores on both exams were significantly improved ( P < .0001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION Our curriculum produced a sustained improvement in nurses’ BC-related knowledge and clinical skills, including identification of possible early cancers. Our results resemble those among similarly trained Rwandan nurses, suggesting that the curriculum may generally benefit front-line health care providers and patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
Phase Ib Study of Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab in Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Finn Richard S. , Ikeda Masafumi , Zhu Andrew X. , Sung Max W. , Baron Ari D. , Kudo Masatoshi , Okusaka Takuji , Kobayashi Masahiro , Kumada Hiromitsu , Kaneko Shuichi , Pracht Marc , Mamontov Konstantin , Meyer Tim , Kubota Tomoki , Dutcus Corina E. , Saito Kenichi , Siegel Abby B. , Dubrovsky Leonid , Mody Kalgi , Llovet Josep M. 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE The immunomodulatory effect of lenvatinib (a multikinase inhibitor) on tumor microenvironments may contribute to antitumor activity when combined with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) signaling inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report results from a phase Ib study of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (an anti–PD-1 antibody) in unresectable HCC (uHCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this open-label multicenter study, patients with uHCC received lenvatinib (bodyweight ≥ 60 kg, 12 mg; < 60 kg, 8 mg) orally daily and pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. The study included a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) phase and an expansion phase (first-line patients). Primary objectives were safety/tolerability (DLT phase), and objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) by modified RECIST (mRECIST) and RECIST version 1.1 (v1.1) per independent imaging review (IIR; expansion phase). RESULTS A total of 104 patients were enrolled. No DLTs were reported (n = 6) in the DLT phase; 100 patients (expansion phase; included n = 2 from DLT phase) had received no prior systemic therapy and had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B (n = 29) or C disease (n = 71). At data cutoff, 37% of patients remained on treatment. Median duration of follow-up was 10.6 months (95% CI, 9.2 to 11.5 months). Confirmed ORRs by IIR were 46.0% (95% CI, 36.0% to 56.3%) per mRECIST and 36.0% (95% CI, 26.6% to 46.2%) per RECIST v1.1. Median DORs by IIR were 8.6 months (95% CI, 6.9 months to not estimable [NE]) per mRECIST and 12.6 months (95% CI, 6.9 months to NE) per RECIST v1.1. Median progression-free survival by IIR was 9.3 months per mRECIST and 8.6 months per RECIST v1.1. Median overall survival was 22 months. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 67% (grade 5, 3%) of patients. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSION Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab has promising antitumor activity in uHCC. Toxicities were manageable, with no unexpected safety signals.
Multisystem Progeroid Syndrome With Lipodystrophy, Cardiomyopathy, and Nephropathy Due to an LMNA p.R349W Variant
Authors: Hussain Iram , Jin Ruilin Raelene , Baum Howard B A , Greenfield Jerry R , Devery Sophie , Xing Chao , Hegele Robert A , Carranza-Leon Barbara G , Linton Macrae F , Vuitch Frank , Wu Kathy H C , Precioso Débora Rossi , Oshima Junko , Agarwal Anil K , Garg Abhimanyu 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Background
Pathogenic variants in lamin A/C (LMNA) cause a variety of progeroid disorders including Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, mandibuloacral dysplasia, and atypical progeroid syndrome. Six families with 11 patients harboring a pathogenic heterozygous LMNA c.1045C&gt;T; p.R349W variant have been previously reported to have partial lipodystrophy, cardiomyopathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), suggesting a distinct progeroid syndrome.

Methods
We report 6 new patients with a heterozygous LMNA p.R349W variant and review the phenotype of previously reported patients to define their unique characteristics. We also performed functional studies on the skin fibroblasts of a patient to seek the underlying mechanisms of various clinical manifestations.

Results
Of the total 17 patients, all 14 adults with the heterozygous LMNA p.R349W variant had peculiar lipodystrophy affecting the face, extremities, palms, and soles with variable gain of subcutaneous truncal fat. All of them had proteinuric nephropathy with FSGS documented in 7 of them. Ten developed cardiomyopathy, and 2 of them died early at ages 33 and 45 years. Other common features included premature graying, alopecia, high-pitched voice, micrognathia, hearing loss, and scoliosis. Metabolic complications, including diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatomegaly, were highly prevalent. This variant did not show any abnormal splicing, and no abnormal nuclear morphology was noted in the affected fibroblasts.

Conclusions
The heterozygous LMNA p.R349W variant in affected individuals has several distinct phenotypic features, and these patients should be classified as having multisystem progeroid syndrome (MSPS). MSPS patients should undergo careful assessment at symptom onset and yearly metabolic, renal, and cardiac evaluation because hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, FSGS, and cardiomyopathy cause major morbidity and mortality.
Reversible Formation of Self-Assembly Gels Containing Giant Vesicles in Trifluoromethylbenzene Using Oxymethylenehelicene Oligomers with Terminal C16 Alkyl Groups
Authors: Sawato Tsukasa , Arisawa Mieko , Yamaguchi Masahiko 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
A 1:1 mixture of pseudoenantiomeric oxymethylenehelicene (P)-pentamer and (M)-hexamer with terminal C16 alkyl groups in trifluoromethylbenzene formed hetero-double-helices and their self-assembly gels. The gels contained giant vesicles with concentric structures possessing an average diameter in the range of 20–30 µm, and the introduction of the C16 alkyl groups on the oligomers was essential for their formation. Heating and cooling reversibly decomposed and formed the gel containing giant vesicles in the nonpolar organic solvent, thereby showing thermal hysteresis.
Ultrafast Dynamics in Nonaromatic Cation Based Ionic Liquids: A Femtosecond Raman-Induced Kerr Effect Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Shirota Hideaki , Ando Masatoshi , Kakinuma Shohei , Takahashi Kotaro 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Herein, the data of the intermolecular vibrations of forty nonaromatic cation based ionic liquids (ILs) at 293 K measured by femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy are reported. The low-frequency spectra in the frequency range of 0.3–700 cm−1 were obtained by Fourier transform deconvolution analysis. The line shapes of the low-frequency spectra below ∼200 cm−1 were discussed on the basis of the ion species. The spectral intensity in nonaromatic cation based ILs was much lower than that in aromatic cation based ILs owing to the absence of the aromatic ring, i.e., the libration of the aromatic species had a strong spectral intensity in the low-frequency region. However, nonaromatic cation based ILs with a flat anion, such as dicyanamide and tricyanomethanide, showed stronger spectral intensity because of the libration of the anion. Other unique spectral features were also discussed in the context of the structure of the ion species. Liquid properties, such as density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface tension, were also estimated. On comparing the low-frequency spectra with the bulk liquid properties of the nonaromatic cation based ILs, a mild linear relationship between the first moment of the low-frequency spectrum and a bulk parameter comprised of surface tension and density was observed.
Extended spectrum β-lactamases and class C β-lactamases gene frequency in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from various clinical specimens in Khartoum State, Sudan: a cross sectional study
Authors: Abdelrahman Dina N. , Taha Aya A. , Dafaallah Mazar M. , Mohammed Alaa Abdelgafoor , El Hussein Abdel Rahim M. , Hashim Ahmed I. , Hamedelnil Yousif F. , Altayb Hisham N. 
Published: July 2020

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium, causing nosocomial infections with intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms to a large group of antibiotics, including β-lactams. This study aimed to determine the susceptibility pattern to selected antibiotics and to index the first reported β-lactamases gene (extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) genes and class C β-lactamases genes) frequency in Ps. aeruginosa in Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods: 121 Ps. aeruginosa clinical isolates from various clinical specimens were used in this cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum State. A total of 80 isolates were confirmed as Ps. aeruginosa through conventional identification methods and species-specific primers (the remaining 40 isolates were other bacterial species). The susceptibility pattern of the confirmed isolates to selected antibiotics was done following the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Multiplex PCR was used for detection of seven β-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTXM-1, blaVEB, blaOXA-1, blaAmpC and blaDHA). Results: Of the 80 confirmed Ps. aeruginosa isolates, 8 (10%) were resistant to Imipenem while all isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin and Amoxyclav (100%). A total of 43 (54%) Ps. aeruginosa isolates were positive for ESBLs genes, while 27 (34%) were positive for class C β-lactamases, and 20 (25%) were positive for both classes. Frequency of ESBLs genes was as follows: blaTEM, 19 (44.2%); blaSHV, 16 (37.2%); blaCTX-M1, 10 (23.3%); blaVEB, 14 (32.6%); and blaOXA-1, 7 (16.3%). Occurrence of class C β-lactamases genes was blaAmpC 22 (81.5%) and blaDHA 8 (29.6%). In total, 3 (11.1%) isolates were positive for both blaAmpC and blaDHA genes. Conclusion: Ps. aeruginosa isolates showed a high rate of β-lactamases production, with co-resistance to other antibiotic classes. The lowest resistance rate of Ps. aeruginosa was to Imipenem followed by Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin. No statistically significant relationship between production of β-lactamases in Ps. aeruginosa and resistance to third generation cephalosporins was found.
What industries received COVID-19 closure orders? A cross-state comparison in the US
Authors: Jacobs Philip , Ohinmaa Arvi P. 
Published: July 2020

The United States federal government developed a COVID-19 blueprint for states to follow; it included the issuance by state/local governments of “stay at home” orders coupled with lists of essential services. Suppliers of these services would be exempt from closure so their workers could fulfill their essential functions. The blueprint was embraced by the states in a variety of ways. In this paper, we identify how business closure rules were enacted across the states for each of 15 types of services. The outcome measures were: “open” “open with restrictions” and “closure”. For six business types, most states permitted businesses to open. In four types, businesses were mainly closed. In three, they were allowed to open with restrictions. In the rest, there was a mixture of outcomes. In sum, the federal blueprint resulted in a regulatory patchwork as it spread throughout the country.
Underwriting Government Debt Auctions: Auction Choice and Information Production
Authors: Gupta Sudip , Sundaram Rangarajan K. , Sundaresan Suresh 
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we examine a novel two-stage mechanism for selling government securities, wherein the dealers underwrite in the first stage the sale of securities, which are auctioned in stage 2 via either a discriminatory auction (DA) or a uniform price auction (UPA). Using proprietary data on auctions during 2006–2013, we find that (a) the first stage underwriting auction generates significant information, including predicting the likelihood of devolvement, and bid shading, and (b) the outcome of the underwriting auction may generate enough asymmetry amongst bidders that may make DA dominate UPA in certain counterfactual situations. We document that the unique two-stage auction design provides a market-driven mechanism to simultaneously insure against auction failures and produce information about the quality of the underlying issue. This paper was accepted by Karl Diether, finance.
Mostly Exploration-Free Algorithms for Contextual Bandits
Authors: Bastani Hamsa , Bayati Mohsen , Khosravi Khashayar 
Published: July 2020

The contextual bandit literature has traditionally focused on algorithms that address the exploration–exploitation tradeoff. In particular, greedy algorithms that exploit current estimates without any exploration may be suboptimal in general. However, exploration-free greedy algorithms are desirable in practical settings where exploration may be costly or unethical (e.g., clinical trials). Surprisingly, we find that a simple greedy algorithm can be rate optimal (achieves asymptotically optimal regret) if there is sufficient randomness in the observed contexts (covariates). We prove that this is always the case for a two-armed bandit under a general class of context distributions that satisfy a condition we term covariate diversity. Furthermore, even absent this condition, we show that a greedy algorithm can be rate optimal with positive probability. Thus, standard bandit algorithms may unnecessarily explore. Motivated by these results, we introduce Greedy-First, a new algorithm that uses only observed contexts and rewards to determine whether to follow a greedy algorithm or to explore. We prove that this algorithm is rate optimal without any additional assumptions on the context distribution or the number of arms. Extensive simulations demonstrate that Greedy-First successfully reduces exploration and outperforms existing (exploration-based) contextual bandit algorithms such as Thompson sampling or upper confidence bound. This paper was accepted by J. George Shanthikumar, big data analytics.
Reflecting properties of narrowband Si/Al/Sc multilayer mirrors at 58.4  nm
Authors: Chkhalo Nikolai , Polkovnikov Vladimir , Salashchenko Nikolai , Svechnikov Mikhail , Tsybin Nikolai , Vainer Yuliy , Zuev Sergei 
Published: July 2020

This study considers the reflective characteristics of three-component Si/Al/Sc multilayer mirrors with a

M
o
S
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2

protective cap layer as candidates for telescopes for observation of the solar corona in the He I (

λ
=
58.4

n
m

) spectral line. At 58.4 nm, a peak reflectance of 32% and a spectral width at a half-maximum intensity of

Δ
λ
=
5.4

n
m

are obtained. The temporal stability of the reflectance at

λ
=
58.4

n
m

for Si/Al/Sc samples with a 6 nm thick

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cap layer is investigated during storage in air for 20 months.