bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and application of a spectrophotometric method in quality evaluation of benzimidazole anthelminthics in Nairobi city county
Authors: Murage Johnson K. , Amugune Beatrice K. , Njogu Peter , Ndwigah Stanley 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of communicable diseases which are prevalent in the tropics affecting more than one billion people. Treatment and prevention of these infections is very costly to developing economies. Helminthiases are classified among NTDs. The communities afflicted are poor and have limited access to essential resources for their livelihood. Poor-quality drugs for NTDs may lead to death or prolonged treatment without achieving the desired results. The limited resources used in purchasing poor-quality drugs will therefore be wasted instead of being put to good use.
Most of the methods available for the analysis of benzimidazole anthelminthics utilize high-performance liquid chromatography. They are therefore time consuming, require sophisticated and expensive equipment, utilize rare and expensive reagents and solvents, and call for skilled personnel. A simple, rapid, and inexpensive ultraviolet spectrophotometric method of analysis would therefore come in handy especially in the analysis of many samples as occurs during post-authorization market surveillance for quality.

Results
The suitable solvent for the spectroscopic analysis was established as 0.1 M methanolic HCl. The wavelength of analysis was set at 294 nm. Upon validation, the method was found to have good linearity. The range over which linearity was established was way beyond the 80 to 120% of the working concentration specified by the ICH. The method exhibited good precision.
Out of 32 commercial samples analyzed, five (15.6%) did not comply with compendial specifications. Intra-brand batch variation was also observed. Out of three batches of product A002T analyzed, one did not comply with compendial specifications.

Conclusion
A major limitation in the analysis of benzimidazole anthelminthics is the lack of reliable, simple, rapid, and low-cost methods of analysis with high throughput. The developed method serves to fill this gap. It can be used in the analysis of raw materials and finished products. It can also be used in the establishment of the quality of products prior to registration. The method will prove very useful in post-market surveillance of quality of benzimidazole anthelminthics.
Does caffeine reduce methotrexate intolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled study
Authors: EL Nouby Fatma H. , Fathi Nihal Ahmed , Fehr Amal Abdelaziz , Assi Abdel-Azim , Lotfy Reem Mahmoud , Goma Samar H. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Intolerance to MTX is the most common cause of non-compliance that leads to poor disease control. Treatment is usually discontinued due to intolerance which interferes with compliance of the patient to long-term treatment. Caffeine causes most of its biological effects via antagonizing all types of adenosine receptors (ARs). Our aim was to investigate the effect of caffeine intake on reducing symptoms of MTX intolerance in patients with RA.

Methods
Ninety patients were diagnosed as RA with MTX intolerance divided into 2 groups. Sixty patients were prescribed caffeine or dark chocolate. Control group included 30 patients who will continue MTX regimen without addition of any extra caffeine.

Results
Group A (caffeine group): There was no statistically significant difference between patients and controls at the start of the study. There was statistically significant decrease in methotrexate intolerance severity score (MISS) all over the study period (P = 0.001), and also MISS was statistically significantly lower in each follow-up time when compared with time 0 (P = 0.001).
Group B (control group): There was statistically significant increase in MISS all over the study period (P = 0.017); also, MISS was statistically significantly higher in follow-up time 2 and time 3 when compared with time 0 (P = 0.033). We found that after 3 months, 80% of group A patients showed complete relief, 6.7% showed partial relief, 10% showed minimal relief, and 3.3% got worse.

Conclusion
Adding caffeine to management regimen can reduce the symptoms of MTX intolerance in RA patients. Caffeine relieved the symptoms of MTX intolerance in 80% of RA patients after 3 months of adding caffeine to management regimen.
Consolidation of Cancer Registry and Administrative Claims Data on Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in the US Military Health System
Authors: Eaglehouse Yvonne L. , Park Amie B. , Georg Matthew W. , Brown Derek W. , Lin Jie , Shao Stephanie , Bytnar Julie A. , Shriver Craig D. , Zhu Kangmin 
Published: October 2020

PURPOSE Linked cancer registry and medical claims data have increased the capacity for cancer research. However, few efforts have described methods to select information between data sources, which may affect data use. We developed a systematic process to evaluate and consolidate cancer diagnosis and treatment information between the linked Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry (CCR) and Military Health System Data Repository (MDR) administrative claims database, called Military Cancer Epidemiology Data System (MilCanEpi). METHODS MilCanEpi contains information on cancer diagnosis and treatment of patients receiving care from 1998 to 2014. We used an iterative process guided by knowledge of data features, current literature, and logical comparisons between the CCR and MDR data to evaluate and consolidate cancer diagnosis and treatment received (yes or no) and their dates. We applied the processes to breast cancer data as an example. Agreement between diagnosis and treatment dates in the two data sources was evaluated using Cohen’s κ with 95% CIs. RESULTS In MilCanEpi, we identified 15,965 patients with a breast cancer diagnosis and 15,145 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery; 97.9% and 84.1% of patients had records in both CCR and MDR for diagnosis and surgery, respectively. Exact agreement was 13.7% for diagnosis dates (Cohen’s κ = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.14) and 68.9% for surgery dates (Cohen’s κ = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.70) between the two data sources. After applying systematic processes, 98.1% of patients with a breast cancer diagnosis and 99.7% of patients with surgery had information selected for analytic data sets. CONCLUSION The developed processes resulted in high consolidation rates of breast cancer data in MilCanEpi and may serve as a data selection template for other tumor sites and linked data sources.
The Effects of Kisspeptin on Brain Response to Food Images and Psychometric Parameters of Appetite in Healthy Men
Authors: Yang Lisa , Demetriou Lysia , Wall Matthew B , Mills Edouard G , Wing Victoria C , Thurston Layla , Schaufelberger Caroline N , Owen Bryn M , Abbara Ali , Rabiner Eugenii A , Comninos Alexander N , Dhillo Waljit S 
Published: October 2020

AbstractContextThe hormone kisspeptin has crucial and well-characterized roles in reproduction. Emerging data from animal models also suggest that kisspeptin has important metabolic effects including modulation of food intake. However, to date there have been no studies exploring the effects of kisspeptin on brain responses to food stimuli in humans.ObjectiveThis work aims to investigate the effects of kisspeptin administration on brain responses to visual food stimuli and psychometric parameters of appetite, in healthy men.DesignA double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted.ParticipantsParticipants included 27 healthy, right-handed, eugonadal men (mean ± SEM: age 26.5 ± 1.1 years; body mass index 23.9 ± 0.4 kg/m2).InterventionParticipants received an intravenous infusion of 1 nmol/kg/h of kisspeptin or rate-matched vehicle over 75 minutes.Main Outcome MeasuresMeasurements included change in brain activity on functional magnetic resonance imaging in response to visual food stimuli and change in psychometric parameters of appetite, during kisspeptin administration compared to vehicle.ResultsKisspeptin administration at a bioactive dose did not affect brain responses to visual food stimuli or psychometric parameters of appetite compared to vehicle.ConclusionsThis is the first study in humans investigating the effects of kisspeptin on brain regions regulating appetite and demonstrates that peripheral administration of kisspeptin does not alter brain responses to visual food stimuli or psychometric parameters of appetite in healthy men. These data provide key translational insights to further our understanding of the interaction between reproduction and metabolism.
Maternal glucocorticoid levels during incubation predict breeding success, but not reproductive investment, in a free-ranging bird
Authors: Fischer Devin , Marrotte Robby R. , Chin Eunice H. , Coulson Smolly , Burness Gary 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT
The hormone corticosterone (CORT) has been hypothesized to be linked with fitness, but the directionality of the relationship is unclear. The ‘CORT-fitness hypothesis’ proposes that high levels of CORT arise from challenging environmental conditions, resulting in lower reproductive success (a negative relationship). In contrast, the CORT-adaptation hypothesis suggests that, during energetically demanding periods, CORT will mediate physiological or behavioral changes that result in increased reproductive investment and success (a positive relationship). During two breeding seasons, we experimentally manipulated circulating CORT levels in female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) prior to egg laying, and measured subsequent reproductive effort, breeding success, and maternal survival. When females were recaptured during egg incubation and again during the nestling stage, the CORT levels were similar among individuals in each treatment group, and maternal treatment had no effect on indices of fitness. By considering variation among females, we found support for the CORT-adaptation hypothesis; there was a significant positive relationship between CORT levels during incubation and hatching and fledging success. During the nestling stage CORT levels were unrelated to any measure of investment or success. Within the environmental context of our study, relationships between maternal glucocorticoid levels and indices of fitness vary across reproductive stages.
The diversity of Anopheles blood feeding patterns suggests different malaria protection strategies in different localities
Authors: Chakim Irfanul , Pumpaibool Tepanata 
Published: October 2020

Background: Malaria is a significant health burden for many countries worldwide. Insecticide-treated bed nets and mosquito repellent are considered effective methods for preventing Anopheles bites. However, changes in the biological properties of the vector have led to a reduction in their effectiveness. The vector has been studied, but the behaviour has been poorly examined. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the importance of primary vector activity for selecting an appropriate malaria protection strategy. Methods: Initially, active case detection (ACD) was carried out in western and eastern parts of Indonesia, Jambi and Sumba, to confirm their endemicity level. According to the 2016 national health report of Indonesia, Jambi has an annual parasite index (API) of 0.14 and Sumba has an API of 5.41. A series of entomological observations were carried out to compare the biting activity of Anopheles vectors in two localities, with a total of 216 houses and 216 catchers (108 at each study site). Results: The results indicated that endemicity at the sub-district level is higher than that at the provincial level. Only Anopheles balabacensi was found to be exophagic. Multiple comparisons found different biting times between the sites, suggesting that early evening (18.00-20.00) is most likely to be the time when mosquitoes transmit the Plasmodium parasite in Jambi, while during sleeping hours (21.00-01.00) is the peak biting time of Anopheles mosquitoes in Sumba. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the importance of Anopheles species blood feeding patterns in selecting an appropriate malaria protection strategy.
Nutritional value of the Middle Eastern diet: analysis of total sugar, salt, and iron in Lebanese traditional dishes
Authors: Hoteit Maha , Zoghbi Edwina , Al Iskandarani Mohamad , Rady Alissar , Shankiti Iman , Matta Joseph , Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub 
Published: October 2020

Background: The expanding burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Countries requires urgent public health vigilance and actions. This study aimed at establishing a database analysis of total sugar, salt and iron content in Lebanese foods, focusing on traditional dishes. Methods: The collection of food samples was done using stratified sampling techniques. These samples were classified into five strata, taking into account variation by geographical area (Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, Beirut, Tripoli, and Saida). The number of samples per governorate was estimated to be 30 according to the variability in the dishes' composition. Food samples were chemically analyzed for total sugar, salt, and iron. Results: Among all the governorates, all the tested traditional Lebanese dishes contained little total sugar. More than 60% of the samples tested were rich in sodium. The sodium content ranges were 120-720 mg/100 g in Mount Lebanon, 240-960 mg/100 g in Bekaa, 80-520 mg/100g in Beirut, 252-1952 mg/100g in Tripoli and 40-680 mg/100 g in Saida. The highest mean amount of sodium was observed in the dishes Fatayer Sabanikh and Malfouf Mehche (≥ 600 mg/100 g). Furthermore, more than 80% of the samples had poor amounts of iron in all governorates. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for multi-cultural education and awareness on food sources of salt and iron, and the health effects regarding high intake of salt and low intake of iron. This study is a stepping stone for further research exploring total sugar, salt and iron content of traditional dishes, as well as potential intake by individuals in the Lebanese population.
Field survey of major infectious and reproductive diseases responsible for mortality and productivity losses of ruminants amongst Nigerian Fulani pastoralists
Authors: Bolajoko Muhammed B. , Van Gool Franciscus , Peters Andew R. , Suarez Martinez Jeimmy , Vance Ciara J. , Dungu Baptiste 
Published: October 2020

Background:Animal disease constitutes a major hurdle to improved livelihoods in rural Nigeria through the challenges of loss of productivity, livestock morbidity and mortality including reproductive losses. In order to design and implement impactful interventions, baseline data on the causes of such losses are needed. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to carry out targeted field surveys, including interviews with ruminant farmers, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders in livestock farming to establish the main causes of disease and mortality including abortions in cattle and small ruminants (SR).Methods:Northern Nigeria was selected because the majority of the nation’s ruminants belong to pastoralists who are primarily resident in this region. Seven states; Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states were surveyed. The responses were collated and a comprehensive descriptive analysis was carried out.Results:Average cattle herd sizes ranged from 28 in Zamfara to 103 in Nasarawa; and from 27 in Kano to 128 in Sokoto for SR. In cattle, Trypanosomosis (with 4.27% mortality rate), foot and mouth disease (3.81%), nutritional insufficiency (1.93%) and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP; 1.44%) were the top four diseases/health problems that resulted in the highest mortality due to diseases within each state surveyed. For SR, trypanosomosis (with 6.85% mortality rate), Peste des Petits Ruminants (4.99%), orf (3.06%), foot rot (2.97%) and foot and mouth disease (2.94%) were the most important diseases responsible for the highest number of mortalities and culling for disease.Conclusions:The study revealed that there are significant losses via mortalities due to the occurrence of disease amongst the ruminant populations countrywide, as evidenced by the high overall mortality rates of both cattle (15.3%) and small ruminants (30.9%) from various diseases. Also, reproductive losses of 8.7% and 16.6% in cattle and SR, respectively, were recorded amongst the farmers involved.
Assessment on the in-field lightpath QoT computation including connector loss uncertainties
Authors: Ferrari Alessio , Balasubramanian Karthikeyan , Filer Mark , Yin Yawei , Le Rouzic Esther , Kundrát Jan , Grammel Gert , Galimberti Gabriele , Curri Vittorio 
Published: October 2020

Reliable and conservative computation of the quality of transmission (QoT) of transparent lightpaths (LPs) is a crucial need for software-defined control and management of the wavelength division multiplexing optical transport. The LP QoT is summarized by the generalized SNR (GSNR) that can be computed by a QoT estimator (QoT-E). Within the context of network automation, the QoT-E must rely only on data from the network controller or provided by network elements through common control protocols and data structures. Therefore, given the theoretical accuracy of the QoT-E, the in-field accuracy in the GSNR computation is also determined by the level of knowledge of input parameters. Among these, a fundamental value is the connector loss at the input of each fiber span, which defines the actual power levels triggering the nonlinear effects in the fiber, and so defining the amount of nonlinear interference and spectra tilt due to the stimulated Raman scattering introduced by the fiber span. This value cannot be easily measured and may vary in time because of equipment update or maintenance. In this paper, we consider a lab measurement campaign in which the GSNR has been computed by means of the open source project Gaussian noise model in Python (GNPy) and analyze the computation error distribution. We show how the assumption on the value for the connector loss modifies the GSNR computation error and how the GSNR computation is more conservative while accurate at the lower values for the connector loss. Using the outcome of the measurement campaign carried out in the laboratory, we present results on the error of GSNR computation in a production network, specifically, over two paths of the Microsoft core network. Using GNPy with the assumption of a connector loss of 0.25 dB as derived from the measurement campaign carried out in the laboratory, and using the physical layer description from the network controller, we show that GNPy is not conservative by overestimating the GSNR in only 5% of cases, while in conservative predictions, the underestimation error exceeds 1 dB only for a few outliers.
Volumetric two-photon fluorescence imaging of live neurons using a multimode optical fiber
Authors: Turcotte Raphaël , Schmidt Carla C. , Booth Martin J. , Emptage Nigel J. 
Published: October 2020

Multimode optical fibers (MMFs), combined with wavefront control methods, have achieved minimally invasive in vivo imaging of neurons in deep-brain regions with diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Here, we report a method for volumetric two-photon fluorescence imaging with a MMF-based system requiring a single transmission matrix measurement. Central to this method is the use of a laser source able to generate both continuous wave light and femtosecond pulses. The chromatic dispersion of pulses generated an axially elongated excitation focus, which we used to demonstrate volumetric imaging of neurons and their dendrites in live rat brain slices through a 60 µm core MMF.
Super-resolution imaging with an achromatic multi-level diffractive microlens array
Authors: Banerji Sourangsu , Meem Monjurul , Majumder Apratim , Sensale-Rodriguez Berardi , Menon Rajesh 
Published: October 2020

Compound eyes found in insects provide intriguing sources of biological inspiration for miniaturized imaging systems. Inspired by such insect eye structures, we demonstrate an ultrathin arrayed camera enabled by a flat multi-level diffractive microlens array for super-resolution visible imaging. We experimentally demonstrate that the microlens array can achieve a large fill factor (hexagonal close packing with

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times by computationally merging 1600 images in the array.
Exceeding the limits of 3D fluorescence microscopy using a dual-stage-processing network
Authors: Zhang Hao , Zhao Yuxuan , Fang Chunyu , Li Guo , Zhang Meng , Zhang Yu-Hui , Fei Peng 
Published: October 2020

Although three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence microscopy is an essential tool for life science research, the fundamentally limited optical throughput, as reflected in the compromise between speed and resolution, so far prevents further movement towards faster, clearer, and higher-throughput applications. We herein report a dual-stage mutual-feedback deep-learning approach that allows gradual reversion of microscopy degradation from high-resolution targets to low-resolution images. Using a single blurred-and-pixelated 3D image as input, our trained network infers a 3D output with notably higher resolution and improved contrast. The performance is better than conventional one-stage network approaches. It pushes the throughput limit of current 3D fluorescence microscopy in three ways: notably reducing the acquisition time for accurate mapping of large organs, breaking the diffraction limit for imaging subcellular events with faster lower-toxicity measurement, and improving temporal resolution for capturing instantaneous biological processes. Combining our network approach with light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate the imaging of vessels and neurons in the mouse brain at single-cell resolution and with a throughput of 6 min for a whole brain. We also image cell organelles beyond the diffraction limit at a 2 Hz volume rate and map neuronal activities of freely moving C. elegans at single-cell resolution and 30 Hz volume rate.
Carlos Aguirre y la intimidad como medio de expresión
Authors: Gastaldi Marcelo 
Published: October 2020

El abordaje que este artículo propone realizar acerca de la obra de Carlos Aguirre será desde un ángulo colateral y, a la vez paradójico. Por un lado, se trabajará la noción de que la intimidad opera como un canal de comunicación, en relación con el lenguaje. Por otro lado, el concepto de intimidad será considerado como un «territorio interno» que necesita ser reafirmado en la exterioridad. Mediante el análisis de piezas seleccionadas se verá cómo, en definitiva, la intimidad en la obra de Aguirre se manifiesta principalmente a través de los títulos, la textualidad y las puestas en escena durante los conciertos. Se percibirá, además, una articulación entre melodías simples y claras, texturas de tipo canción y una misma idea conceptual. La intimidad se vuelve una manera de concebir la obra.