bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HBV variants are common in the ‘immune‐tolerant’ phase of chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Yuen Lilly , Revill Peter A. , Rosenberg Gillian , Wagner Josef , Littlejohn Margaret , Bayliss Julianne , Jackson Kathy , Tan Susanna K. , Gaggar Anuj , Kitrinos Kathryn , Subramanian Mani , Gane Ed , Chan Henry L. Y. , Li Xin , Bowden Scott , Locarnini Stephen , Thompson Alexander 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNucleos(t)ide analogues (NUC) treatment prevents progression of liver fibrosis in subjects with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) persists despite viral suppression. Specific HBV variants have been associated with adverse outcomes, including HCC; however, the frequency of these variants during the seemingly benign immunotolerant (IT) phase is unknown. Next‐generation sequencing and detailed virological characterization on a cohort of treatment‐naïve IT subjects were performed to determine the frequency of clinically relevant viral variants. Samples from 97 subjects (genotype B/C 55%/45%, median HBV‐DNA 8.5 log10 IU/mL, median HBsAg 4.8 log10 IU/mL, median HBeAg 3.6 log10 PEIU/mL) were analysed. Despite subjects being in the IT phase, clinically relevant HBV variants were common at baseline, particularly in the basal core promoter (BCP, overlaps the hepatitis B X (HBx) gene), precore and PreS regions. BCP/HBx variants were independently associated with lower baseline HBeAg, HBsAg and HBV‐DNA titres. Precore variants were independently associated with higher baseline ALT. Increased viral diversity was associated with increased age and lower HBV‐DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg levels. Low‐level (<5%) drug resistance–associated amino acid substitutions in the HBV reverse transcriptase were detected in 9 (9%) subjects at pre‐treatment but were not associated with reduced antiviral activity. Future studies should evaluate whether the detection of HBV variant during IT CHB is predictive of progression to immune clearance and poor prognosis, and whether early initiation of antiviral therapy during IT CHB to prevent the selection of HBV variants is clinically beneficial.
Suppression of complement component 2 expression by hepatitis B virus contributes to the viral persistence in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Ning Gang , Zhen Li‐Min , Xu Wen‐Xiong , Li Xue‐Jun , Wu Li‐Na , Liu Ying , Xie Chan , Peng Liang 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPreviously, we identified rare missense mutations of complement component 2 (C2) to be associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by exome sequencing. However, up to now, little is known about the role of C2 in CHB. In the present study, we aimed to perform preliminary exploration about the underlying role of C2 in CHB. Serum samples from 113 CHB patients and 30 healthy controls, and liver biopsy samples from 5 CHB patients and 3 healthy controls were obtained from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University between January 2018 and January 2020. HepG2.2.15 and HepG2‐NTCP cells infected with HBV were used to examine the influence of HBV infection on C2 expression. IFN‐treated HepG2.2.15 cells were used to assess the effect of IFN on C2 expression. C2‐overexpressing or C2‐silencing HepG2.2.15 cells were constructed to evaluate the effect of C2 on HBV infection. Western blot and RT‐qPCR were used to measure C2 expression in biopsy samples. HBeAg and HBsAg in culture medium and C2 of serum samples were measured by ELISA. HBV‐DNA was measured by RT‐qPCR. GSE84044, GSE54747 and GSE27555 were downloaded from GEO. C2 expression in liver tissue and serum was significantly lower in CHB patients compared to healthy controls, and significantly higher C2 expression was found in CHB patients with lower ALT, AST, Scheuer grade and stages compared to CHB patients with higher ALT, AST, Scheuer grades and Scheuer stage. Besides, HBV infection could decrease C2 expression by increasing expression of Sp1 and reducing expression of HDAC4. Moreover, C2 could enhance the anti‐virus effect of IFN on HepG2.2.15 cells and also inhibit HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells by inhibition of p38‐MAPK signalling pathway. In conclusion, HBV may promote viral persistence in CHB patients by inhibiting C2 expression.
Effects of solar activity on production rates of short‐lived cosmogenic radionuclides
Authors: Beno Juraj , Breier Robert , Masarik Jozef 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe solar activity can be quantified by solar modulation parameter Φ that affects the heliospheric magnetic field. This activity influences the intensity of the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particle flux within the solar system, and consequently, the differential primary particle spectra depend on the solar modulation parameter Φ (MeV). The modulation parameter Φ shows spatial and temporal variations (Leya and Masarik 2009). Some of the solar activity variations are cyclic and result in measurable effects as for example the 11‐year solar cycle. Variations in solar activity only induce small effects on the production of long‐lived cosmogenic radionuclides. This is due to the fact that activities measured in meteorites usually correspond to saturation values and represent long‐term average values. Long‐lived radionuclides often require millions of years of irradiation by GCR to reach saturation and therefore activity cycles average out. In contrast, one can expect strongly pronounced variations for saturation values caused by primary flux intensity variations, if short‐lived radionuclides with half‐lives ranging from days to a few years are investigated. Short‐lived cosmogenic nuclides were the subject of many experimental and theoretical investigations (e.g., Evans et al. 1982; Spergel et al. 1986; Neumann et al. 1997; Komura et al. 2002; Laubenstein et al. 2012). The aim of this work is to develop formulae for calculating production rates of radionuclides with short half‐life, taking into account temporal variations in the primary cosmic ray intensity. The developed formulae were applied to the Kosice and Chelyabinsk meteorites. The results for the Košice meteorite were already published (Povinec et al. 2015). Here, we give a full explanation of underlying model.
Latinos por Trump? Latinos and the 2016 Presidential Election
Authors: Corral Álvaro J. , Leal David L. 
Published: May 2020

ObjectiveThis article examines the unresolved puzzle of the Latino vote in the 2016 presidential election. The National Election Pool (NEP) estimated that Trump received 28 percent, which surprised many given Trump's rhetoric, but it was just one of several estimates (ranging from 18 to over 30 percent).MethodsWe analyze the 2016 and 2012 American National Election Study, Pew's 2016 and 2012 National Survey of Latinos, the 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, and various media polls.ResultsThe data indicate that (1) Trump improved on Romney among key groups of Latinos (Protestants, low income, and the third generation) but lost ground among others; (2) Clinton underperformed Obama across multiple dimensions; and (3) many Latino undecided voters and third‐party supporters broke late for Trump.ConclusionTrump did better than expected among Latinos. This highlights an increasingly diverse Latino electorate and complicates our understanding of the political implications of demographic change.
The global challenge of field crop production with limited herbicides: An Australian perspective
Authors: Beckie Hugh J. , Ashworth Michael B. , Flower Ken C. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractLegislated pesticide‐use restrictions or bans in a growing number of countries worldwide are forcing growers and land managers to reactively plan, develop or implement alternative pest management practices and even entire farming systems. While the rapidly rising incidence of multiple resistance in weed populations had already begun this transition in many agroregions, the future pace of change will undoubtedly accelerate. We outline possible weed management alternatives, based on workshop discussions among Australian weed scientists or practitioners and agronomists, of grain cropping scenarios in a herbicide‐limited world. Further, we conducted bioeconomic model scenarios of grain crop production in southern Australia without the use of non‐selective burndown or pre‐harvest herbicides. Effectively and profitably managing troublesome weeds in major agronomic field crops in a restricted herbicide environment will be challenging, but can be considered as an opportunity for significantly greater adoption of ecologically based weed management tactics, strategies and systems.
Challenge Theory: The Structure and Measurement of Risky Binary Choice Behavior
Authors: Shye Samuel , Haber Ido 
Published: May 2020

Challenge Theory (Shye & Haber 2015; 2020) has demonstrated that a newly devised challenge index (CI) attributable to every binary choice problem predicts the popularity of the bold option, the one of lower probability to gain a higher monetary outcome (in a gain problem); and the one of higher probability to lose a lower monetary outcome (in a loss problem). In this paper we show how Facet Theory structures the choice-behavior concept-space and yields rationalized measurements of gambling behavior. The data of this study consist of responses obtained from 126 student, specifying their preferences in 44 risky decision problems. A Faceted Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) of the 44 problems confirmed the hypothesis that the space of binary risky choice problems is partitionable by two binary axial facets: (a) Type of Problem (gain vs. loss); and (b) CI (Low vs. High). Four composite variables, representing the validated constructs: Gain, Loss, High-CI and Low-CI, were processed using Multiple Scaling by Partial Order Scalogram Analysis with base Coordinates (POSAC), leading to a meaningful and intuitively appealing interpretation of two necessary and sufficient gambling-behavior measurement scales.
Drag Reduction Performance of Mechanically Degraded Dilute Polyethylene Oxide Solutions
Authors: Farsiani Yasaman , Saeed Zeeshan , Elbing Brian R. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Mechanical degradation of dilute solutions of polyethylene oxide (PEO) via chain scission was investigated within a turbulent pipe flow. Comparisons of the drag reduction performance with and without degradation were made by matching the onset of drag reduction conditions, which has been shown for PEO to be related to the mean molecular weight. The bulk flow behavior of both the degraded and nondegraded samples were generally consistent with trends observed in the literature, but a subset of conditions showed significant deviation in the slope increment (drag reduction performance) between the degraded and nondegraded samples. When they deviated, the degraded samples were consistently more efficient than the nondegraded samples even though they had the same mean molecular weight. The deviations were shown to scale with the normalized difference between the initial and final molecular weights. The current data and analysis as well as the literature suggest that the deviations in the polymer performance (slope increment) are related to changes in the molecular weight distribution. More specifically, the improved performance of the degraded samples relative to the nondegraded ones at the mean molecular weight of the degraded sample indicates an excess of longer polymer chains since the higher chain fractions in a degraded solution more effectively control the flow properties when within a certain degree of degradation and Reynolds number.
Instability of a Radially Moving Cylindrical Surface: A Viscous Potential Flow Approach
Authors: Awasthi Mukesh Kumar , Agarwal Shivam 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The effect of viscosity on the unstable interface of the cylindrical jet is analyzed through viscous potential flow approach. The jet is moving radially and jet interface is experiencing Rayleigh–Taylor type instability. Previous studies have completely ignored the viscosity effect while considering the instability of a radially moving cylindrical jet. The fluids inside and outside jet are incompressible as well as viscous. The theoretical analysis provides us a second-order ordinary differential equation to establish the instability/stability criterion. The radial velocity and acceleration both have significant impact on the stability of the jet. We found that as viscosity enters to the analysis, perturbations grow rapidly. In addition, the acquired stability criterion is applied to the cylindrical jets in HYLIFE-II which is basically an inertial confinement fusion reactor.
Uniform and Gaussian Ultraviolet Light Intensity Distribution on Droplet for Selective Area Deposition of Particles
Authors: Li Tianyi , Kar Aravinda , Kumar Ranganathan 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Particle transport through Marangoni convection inside a sessile droplet can be controlled by the ultraviolet (UV) light distribution on the surface. The photosensitive solution changes the surface tension gradient on the droplet surface and can induce clockwise and counterclockwise circulations depending on the incident light distribution. In this paper, the stream function in the sessile drop has been evaluated in toroidal coordinates by solving the biharmonic equation. Multiple primary clockwise and counterclockwise circulations are observed in the droplet under various concentric UV light profiles. The downward dividing streamlines are expected to deposit the particles on the substrate, thus matching the number of deposited rings on the substrate with the number of UV light rings. Moffatt eddies appear near the contact line or centerline of the droplet depending on the UV light profile and its distance from the contact line.
Development of Rehabilitation of Eclectic Cognitive Functioning Post-Traumatic Brain Injury to Retrain and Restore Attention, Concentration, Memory and Executive Functions (RETRACE)
Authors: Chopra Sakshi , Sinha Sumit , Kumaran Senthil S , Kaur Harsimarpreet , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Nehra Ashima 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) incapacitates nearly 3.5 million Indians and can result in a host of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural problems. Neuropsychological rehabilitation (NR) aids in amelioration of these deficits. As people with low literacy levels represent a significant proportion of the world, specific cognitive rehabilitation modules for such populations are indispensable. A standardised, economical NR intervention may assist in faster recovery.MethodsThe study was initiated after obtaining institute ethics approval and the Clinical Trials Registry – India clearance. A 6-week indigenised literacy-free NR interventionRehabilitation of Eclectic Cognitive Functioning post Traumatic Brain Injury to Retrain and Restore Attention, Concentration, Memory and Executive Functions (RETRACE)was developed. This intervention targeted areas of memory, attention and concentration, executive functioning, and response inhibition. It was standardised on 50 healthy controls and 18 patients. Prior to recruitment, a written informed consent was obtained from each patient, their primary caregiver and the healthy controls.ResultsIndividuals were divided into four groups based on their education levels: illiterates; 1–9 years, 10–14 years; and >15 years. All the outcomes for each of the four cognitive domains in the intervention did not have any significant difference for errors committed among the healthy controls with respect to different levels of education. The performance of patients with the healthy controls on all the four cognitive domains revealed a significant difference in each.ConclusionsRETRACE covers major areas of cognitive impairment that affects an individual’s social, vocational and personal quality of life after brain injury. This intervention is feasible to administer and may help alleviating cognitive complaints after brain injury in low literate or mixed cultural populations. RETRACE is simple to score and can be done easily at the patient’s home under the supervision of the patient’s caregiver. Further study of its efficacy in a randomised trial is already underway.
Chest radiograph findings in children aged 2–59 months hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia, prior to the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in India: a prospective multisite observational study
Authors: Awasthi Shally , Rastogi Tuhina , Mishra Neha , Chauhan Abhishek , Mohindra Namita , Shukla Ram Chandra , Agarwal Monika , Pandey Chandra Mani , Kohli Neera , Study Group CAP 
Published: May 2020

ObjectivesThe current study was a hospital-based surveillance of cases hospitalised with WHO-defined community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 2–59 months, to assess the radiological abnormalities in chest X-rays and to identify the demographic and clinical correlates of specific radiological abnormalities, in residents of prespecified districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India.DesignProspective, active, hospital-based surveillance.SettingMultisite study conducted in a network of 117 secondary/tertiary care hospitals in four districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India.ParticipantsIncluded were children aged 2–59 months, hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia, residing in the project district, with duration of illness <14 days and who had not been hospitalised elsewhere for this episode nor had been recruited previously.Main outcome measureConcordant radiological abnormalities in the chest X-rays.ResultsFrom January 2015 to April 2017, 3214 cases were recruited and in 99.40% (3195/3214) chest X-rays were available, among which 88.54% (2829/3195) were interpretable. Relevant radiological abnormalities were found in 34.53% (977/2829, 95% CI 32.78 to 36.28). These were primary end point pneumonia alone or with other infiltrates in 22.44% (635/2829, 95% CI 20.90% to 23.98%) and other infiltrates in 12.09% (342/2829; 95% CI 10.88% to 13.29%). There was a statistically significant interdistrict variation in radiological abnormalities. Statistically significantly higher proportion of abnormal chest X-rays were found in girls, those with weight-for-age z-score ≤−3SD, longer duration of fever, pallor and with exposure to biomass fuel.ConclusionsAmong hospitalised cases of community-acquired pneumonia, almost one-third children had abnormal chest radiographs, which were higher in females, malnourished children and those with longer illnesses; and an intra-district variation was observed.
Nutritional Outcomes of patients Undergoing Resection for upper gastroIntestinal cancer in AuStralian Hospitals (NOURISH): protocol for a multicentre point prevalence study
Authors: Deftereos Irene , Yeung Justin M C , Carter Vanessa M , Isenring Elizabeth , Kiss Nicole K 
Published: May 2020

IntroductionNutritional intervention and prevention of malnutrition is significantly important for patients with upper gastrointestinal oesophageal, pancreatic and gastric cancer. However, there is limited information regarding nutritional status, and perioperative nutritional interventions that patients receive when undergoing curative surgery.Methods and analysisPatients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal cancer, planned for curative intent resection across 27 Australian hospitals will be eligible to participate in this point prevalence study. The primary aim is to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer at the time of surgery using subjective global assessment. Secondary aims are to determine the type and frequency of perioperative nutritional intervention received, the prevalence of clinically important weight loss and low muscle strength, and to investigate associations between the use of an evidence-based nutrition care pathway or protocol for the nutritional management of upper gastrointestinal surgical oncology patients and malnutrition prevalence. Data collection will be completed using a purpose-built data collection tool.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was granted in May 2019 (LNR/51107/PMCC-2019). The design and reporting of this study comply with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist for reporting of observational cohort studies. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and presented at relevant conferences. Results will assist in defining priority areas for research to improve patient outcomes.
Relationship between socioeconomic status and incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is dependent on age
Authors: Jonsson Martin , Ljungman Petter , Härkönen Juho , Van Nieuwenhuizen Ben , Møller Sidsel , Ringh Mattias , Nordberg Per 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundThe association between socioeconomic status (SES) and incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to see if area-level socioeconomic differences, measured in terms of area-level income and education, are associated with the incidence of OHCA, and if this relationship is dependent on age.MethodsWe included OHCAs that occurred in Stockholm County between the 1st of January 2006 and the 31st of December 2017, the victims being confirmed residents (n=10 574). We linked the home address to a matching neighbourhood (base unit) via available socioeconomic and demographic information. Socioeconomic variables and incidence rates were assessed by using cross-sectional values at the end of each year. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs).ResultsAmong 1349 areas with complete SES information, 10 503 OHCAs occurred between 2006 and 2017. The IRR in the highest versus the lowest SES area was 0.61 (0.50–0.75) among persons in the 0–44 age group. Among patients in the 45–64 age group, the corresponding IRR was 0.55 (0.47–0.65). The highest SES areas versus the lowest showed an IRR of 0.59 (0.50–0.70) in the 65–74 age group. In the two highest age groups, no significant association was seen (75–84 age group: 0.93 (0.80–1.08); 85+ age group: 1.05 (0.84–1.23)). Similar crude patterns were seen among both men and women.ConclusionsAreas characterised by high SES showed a significantly lower incidence of OHCA. This relationship was seen up to the age of 75, after which the relationship disappeared, suggesting a levelling effect.
How bad are life expectancy trends across the UK, and what would it take to get back to previous trends?
Authors: Minton Jon , Fletcher Eilidh , Ramsay Julie , Little Kirsty , McCartney Gerry 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundWithin the UK, there has been debate on whether life expectancy is increasing or decreasing in particular single or 3-year periods, but there has been less thinking whether overall trends have changed. This paper considers the extent to which the trends in life expectancy for the UK and its nations have changed before and after 2011.MethodsWe used the Office for National Statistics period life expectancy data for the UK and its nations. We used Lee’s approach to project life expectancy based on repeated sampling of year-to-year change in the baseline periods (1990–2011 and 1980–2011) and applied that to 2012 onwards.FindingsImprovements in period life expectancy were substantially and consistently lower between 2012 and 2018 than predicted from the trends from 1980 and, especially, from 1990. By 2018, life expectancy was lower than projected for females and males, respectively, by 1.22 and 1.52 years (England), 1.44 and 0.95 years (Northern Ireland), 1.30 and 1.44 years (Scotland), 1.53 and 1.63 years (Wales) and 1.24 and 1.49 years (UK overall), based on the 1990–2011 baseline period. Using a longer baseline period, which includes the slower rates of improvement during the 1980s, slightly reduces the gap between the current life expectancies and the projected medians.InterpretationFuture academic and policy focus should be on the deviation of the life expectancy trends from the baseline projection rather than on year-to-year variation. Concerted policy focus to return life expectancy to the projected trends is now urgently required.