bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Accelerate PhenoTest™ BC Kit vs. MALDI-TOF MS/VITEK®2 System for the Rapid Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Gram-negative Bacilli Causing Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Stokes William , Campbell Lorraine , Pitout Johann , Conly John , Church Deirdre , Gregson Dan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Introduction: Our laboratory uses MALDI-TOF MS (MALDI) and the VITEK®2 system (DV2) directly from positive blood cultures (BC) for organism identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Our objective was to compare direct MALDI/DV2 to a commercial BC ID/AST platform, the Accelerate Pheno™ system, in the ID/AST of clinical and seeded BC positive for Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Methods: BC positive for GNB were collected over a three month period and tested using AXDX, direct MALDI/DV2, and compared to conventional methods. A subset of sterile BC were seeded with multi-drug resistant GNB. Discrepancies in very major errors (VME) and major errors (ME) were confirmed with broth microdilution. Results: A total of 29 clinical samples and 35 seeded samples were analyzed. Direct MALDI had a higher ID failure rate (31.0%) compared to AXDX (3.4%) [p<0.001]. Time to ID/AST was 1.5/6.9 hours, 5.8/16.5 hours and 21.6/33.0 hours for AXDX, direct MALDI/DV2 and conventional methods, respectively (p<0.001). For clinical samples, AXDX and DV2 had essential agreement (EA)/categorical agreement (CA) >96%. For seeded samples, AXDX had EA, CA, VME, ME and mE of 93.2%, 89.0%, 2.2%, 0%, and 9.2%, respectively. AXDX had a large number of non-reports (6.1%), stemming from meropenem testing. DV2 had EA, CA, VME, ME and mE of 97.5%, 94.7%, 1.3%, 0%, and 4.4%, respectively. Conclusions: AXDX had fewer ID failures and more rapid ID/AST results. Direct MALDI/DV2 and AXDX both had high agreement for clinical samples but direct MALDI/DV2 had higher agreement when challenged with MDR GNB.
Frequency of Leishmania spp. infection among HIV-infected patients living in an urban area in Brazil: a cross-sectional study
Authors: CUNHA MIRELLA ALVES , CELESTE BEATRIZ , KESPER NORIVAL , FUGIMORI MAHYUMI , LAGO MARIANNA MARTINS , IBANES ALINE SANTOS , OUKI LILIAN MITIKO , NETO EUDES ALVES SIMÕES , FONSECA FERNANDA FERNANDES , SILVA MARIA ALMERICE LOPES , JUNIOR WALTER LINS BARBOSA , LINDOSO JOSE ANGELO LAULETTA 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: There is little information about the frequency of Leishmaniainfection in asymptomatic HIV infected individuals and about the performance of laboratory diagnostic methods in coinfected patients in Latin America. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of Leishmaniaspp. infection in HIV infected patients living in an urban area from Brazil. Methods: To detect Leishmaniainfection, were performed diagnostic tests to detection of antibodies anti-Leishmania(ELISA using Leptomonas seymouriantigens; ELISA using rk39 antigens; ELISA using rK28 antigens; indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT); direct agglutination test (DAT) and detection of LeishmaniaDNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the target genes kDNA and ITS-1. Results: Frequency, considering at least one positive test, was 15%. For ELISA using Leptomonasantigens and IFAT, there was an association between CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and test positivity, with a higher positivity of these tests in more immunosuppressed patients (T CD4+ cells count < 200/mm3). Conclusions: According to our data, there was a high prevalence of Leishmaniaspp. in this population living with HIV. Although there is the possibility of cross-reaction, some tests considered highly specific for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection were positive. There was also an association between the positivity of some tests studied and lower values of T CD4+ lymphocytes.
Through service providers’ eyes: health systems factors affecting implementation of tuberculosis control in Enugu State, South-eastern Nigeria
Authors: Ogbuabor Daniel Chukwuemeka 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background Well-functioning health systems are essential to achieving global and national tuberculosis (TB) control targets. This study examined health system factors affecting implementation of TB control programme from the perspectives of service providers. Methods The study was conducted in Enugu State, South-eastern Nigeria using qualitative, cross-sectional design involving 23 TB service providers (13 district TB supervisors and 10 facility TB focal persons). Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews using a health system dynamic framework and analysed thematically. Results Stewardship from National TB Control Programme (NTP) improved governance of TB control, but stewardship from local government was weak. Government spending on TB control was inadequate, whereas donors fund TB control. Poor human resources management practices hindered TB service delivery. TB service providers have poor capacity for data management because changes in recording and reporting tools were not matched with training of service providers. Drugs and other supplies to TB treatment centres were interrupted despite the use of a logistics agency. Poor integration of TB into general health services, weak laboratory capacity, withdrawal of subsidies to community volunteers and patent medicine vendors, poorly funded patient tracking systems, and ineffectual TB/HIV collaboration resulted in weak organisation of TB service delivery. Conclusion Health systems strengthening for TB control service must focus on effective oversight from NTP and local health system; predictable domestic resource mobilisation through budgets and social health insurance; training and incentives to attract and retain TB service providers; effective supply and TB drug management; and improvements in organization of service delivery.
Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and breastfeeding outcomes
Authors: Martin Hayley , Thevenet-Morrison Kelly , Dozier Ann 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
BackgroundIt is well established that mothers with above-normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) are at increased risk of breastfeeding cessation; however, the impact of pregnancy weight-gain is less well-defined. Excess pregnancy weight-gain may alter the hormonal preparation of breast tissue for lactation, increase the risk of complications that negatively impact breastfeeding (e.g. C-section, gestational diabetes), and may make effective latch more difficult to achieve.MethodsOur objective was to determine the impact of pregnancy weight-gain and pre-pregnancy BMI on the risk of breastfeeding cessation utilizing the Institute of Medicine’s 2009 recommendations. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the risk of cessation of exclusive breastfeeding, and cessation of any breastfeeding among women who initiated exclusive and any breastfeeding, respectively, in a cross sectional sample of survey respondents from a New York county (N=1207). Pregnancy weight-gain category was interacted with pre-pregnancy BMI (3 levels of pre-pregnancy BMI, 3 levels of pregnancy weight-gain). Confounders of the relationship of interest were evaluated using directed acyclic graphs and bivariate analyses; variables not on the proposed causal pathway and associated with the exposure and outcome were included in multivariate models.ResultsAfter adjustment, women of normal and obese pre-pregnancy BMI with greater-than-recommended pregnancy weight-gain had 1.39 (1.03-1.86) and 1.48 (1.06-2.07) times the risk of any breastfeeding cessation within the first 3 months postpartum compared to women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI who gained within PWG recommendations. Overweight women with greater-than-recommended pregnancy weight-gain were at increased risk of cessation, although not significantly (adjusted Hazard Ratio [95% CI]: 1.29 [0.95 – 1.75]). No significant relationship was observed for exclusive breastfeeding cessation. ConclusionPre-pregnancy BMI and pregnancy weight-gain may be modifiable risk factors for early breastfeeding cessation. Understanding the mechanism behind this risk should be ascertained by additional studies aimed at understanding the physiological, social, logistical (positioning) and other issues that may lead to early breastfeeding cessation.
Stigma and utilization of treatment for perinatal depression among adolescents in Nigeria
Authors: Kola Lola , Bennett Ian M , Bhat Amritha , Ayinde Olatunde O. , Oladeji Bibilola D. , Abiona Dolapo , Abdulmalik Jibril , Faregh Neda , Collins Pamela Y. , Gureje Oye 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background. Depression is a common and serious disorder among low-income adolescent mothers in low-and middle-income countries where resources for treatment are limited. We wished to identify, among adolescents with perinatal depression and their health providers, factors influencing health service utilization for the condition in Nigeria to inform new strategies of care delivery.Methods. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out among low-income adolescent women with a history of perinatal depression and separately with primary care clinicians treating this condition in Ibadan, Nigeria. Semi-structured interview guides were used to obtain views on the factors that promote or hinder help-seeking and engagement. FGDs were conducted until saturation of themes was achieved. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis framed by the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable PopulationsModel and triangulation between patients and providers. Results. A total of 17 women and 25 care providers participated in 6 FGDs. Perceived benefits of treatment received for perinatal depression were strong motivation for service utilization. Significant stigma regarding adolescent pregnancy and perinatal depression created obstacles to care. Providers expressed negative stereotypes associated with adolescent pregnancy. However, individual patient resilience was a major enabling factor facilitating service engagement. Older and more experienced care providers were perceived to deliver more tolerant and supportive care that adolescent mothers valued. Conclusions. Participants identified an unsupportive and stigmatizing clinic environment as a major barrier to accessing available care. Interventions to reduce stigma among healthcare providers may improve services for this vulnerable population.
Spouse’s Participation in Perinatal Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: mehran nahid , Hajian Sepideh , simbar Masoumeh , majd hamid alavi 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Pregnancy is one of the most important and sensitive periods for any woman that in the case of the support of her relatives, especially her spouse, feels more ability to tolerate it’s difficulties and gives them good memory. However, there are very few studies about the participation of spouses/partners in perinatal period in Iran. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain the concept of spouses' participation in perinatal care. Methods: This is a qualitative study that was carried out in Qom, Iran in 2018. Purposive sampling was done from pregnant or postpartum women, spouses, midwifery care providers and key informants according to study inclusion criteria. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out until data saturation. Data analysis was done based on conventional content analysis approach according to Graneheim & Lundman steps and using MaxQDA software (v.10). To ensure the trustworthiness of data, the five Guba and Lincoln criteria were used. Also, COREQ checklist was used for reporting this qualitative research. Results: fifty-three final codes were classified into 18 sub-categories, 7 main categories and 3 themes include of empathy (emotional understanding, cognitive understanding), accountability (supporting, position management, compassion) and consequences (help improve family function, improve maternal-neonatal health). Conclusion: since, spouses’ participatory behaviors in perinatal period can lead to improve maternal and neonatal health and family function, it is necessary to be considered in family-based health promotion policies and programming based on these policies such as improving the public culture of spouse participation in the process of child-rearing.
A draft genome for a species of Halicephalobus (Panagrolaimidae)
Authors: Ragsdale Erik J. , Koutsovoulos Georgios , Biddle Joseph F. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Halicephalobus is a clade of small, exclusively parthenogenic nematodes that have sometimes colonized remarkable habitats. Given their phylogenetic closeness to other parthenogenic panagrolaimid species with which they likely share a sexually reproducing ancestor, Halicephalobus species provide a point of comparison for parallelisms in the evolution of asexuality. Here, we present a draft genome of a putatively new species of Halicephalobus isolated from termites in Japan.
Impact of Globodera ellingtonae on yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Authors: Zasada Inga A. , Ingham Russell E. , Baker Hannah , Phillips Wendy S. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Globodera ellingtonae was described from Oregon and Idaho in 2012. Due to the close phylogenetic relationship of this nematode to the potato cyst nematodes G. pallida and G. rostochiensis, and evidence that G. ellingtonae reproduces on potato (Solanum tuberosum), potential damaging effects to potato by this nematode are of great concern. To evaluate the pathogenic effects of G. ellingtonae on potato, five field and two microplot trials were conducted over a four-year period including comparisons of a range of G. ellingtonae initial population densities (Pi) and potato cultivars. In two field trials, potato ‘Russet Burbank’ was inoculated with Pi of G. ellingtonae ranging from 0 to 80 eggs/g soil; a similar trial was conducted with potato ‘Désirée.’ In another field trial, potato cultivars varying in maturity lengths were either inoculated (80 eggs/g soil) or not with G. ellingtonae. In a final field trial, ‘Ranger Russet’ was inoculated with Pi of G. ellingtonae ranging from 0 to 360 eggs/g soil. Additionally, Russet Burbank was inoculated with G. ellingtonae Pi ranging from 0 to 169 eggs/g soil in microplots. In all trials, data on tuber yield, aboveground biomass, final eggs/cyst, final population densities (Pf), and reproduction factor (RF = Pf/Pi) were collected. In only two of six trials conducted with increasing levels of Pi, was there a significant negative correlation between Pi of G. ellingtonae and yield of potato. Based on the linear regression model of tuber yield on logPi for Russet Burbank, 30.5 to 40.9% yield loss was predicted at a Pi of 40 and 80 eggs/g soil, respectively, and for Ranger Russet, 16.5 and 19.7% yield loss was predicted at a Pi of 40 and 80 eggs/g soil, respectively. None of the potato cultivars inoculated with 80 G. ellingtonae eggs/g soil had significantly reduced yields compared to non-inoculated plants. Reproduction factor values across trials ranged from 4.0 to 8.3 when inoculated with Pi of 40 eggs/g soil, demonstrating that the nematode successfully invaded and reproduced on potato in all trials. Care should be taken in extrapolating the results from these experiments conducted in Oregon to probable effects of G. ellingtonae on potato in other environments.KeywordsPotato, Damage, Globodera, Regression
Environmental and human health risk assessment of antibiotic residues in drinking water sources: case study of a fast-developing megacity in southern China
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Yang Sheng , Xie Bangmi , Zhang Jian , Deng Chen , Hu Rong 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The occurrence, distribution, ecological and health risk assessment of five antibiotics (CFM, ERY, LCM, SMD and SMX) in 32 drinking water reservoirs of a megacity (Shenzhen) in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), were investigated. Among the above antibiotics, CFM was not detected, ERY, SMD, LCM and SMX were detected in 65.6%, 46.9%, 43.7% and 40.6% of samples, with concentrations of 1.594–7.605 ng·L−1, 0.335–6.695 ng·L−1, 0.288–7.878 ng·L−1 and 0.770–5.355 ng·L−1, respectively. The maximum concentration of ERY was detected in GT Reservoir, and those of the other 3 antibiotics were detected in SZ Reservoir. The ecological risk quotient (RQ) values for SMX in SZ, XL, YT, EJ, SY, TG, XK, GK, MK and GT reservoirs ranged from 0.1 to 1.0, indicating a median risk to aquatic organisms, the others posed insignificant risk or low risk. Considering the joint effects of detected antibiotics, the highest overall RQ value was 0.38, obtained in SZ Reservoir, in other words, it was exposed to greater risk. Based on health risk assessment, the health RQ values for the detected antibiotics were significantly lower than 0.01, indicating insignificant risk to human health. These findings could provide a scientific basis for the government to ensure the drinking water safety of a megacity in GBA.
Physiology of Intraluminal Administration of Carbon Dioxide as a Contrast Medium
Authors: Patelis Nikolaos , Doulaptsis Mikes , Kykalos Stylianos , Spartalis Eleftherios , Maskanakis Anastasios , Georgopoulos Sotirios 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) exists in nature around us. In the middle of the 20th century, the
intraluminal injection of CO2 demonstrated similar results to those of Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)
with an iodinated contrast agent (ICA). Since then, the technology behind CO2 DSA has developed significantly.

Objective:
The aim of this study is to inform physicians about the unique properties of CO2 and its physiology
after intraluminal injection.

Methods:
An extensive search for English literature on the properties of CO2 and the physiology of intraluminal
administration was conducted using Pubmed.

Results:
There is sufficient literature on the properties of CO2 and the physiology of CO2 DSA. A review of this
literature explains what happens to the human organism after the injection of CO2.

Conclusions:
There is enough evidence that CO2 DSA is both effective, diagnostic and safe, but the properties of
CO2 should be taken under consideration as complications occur, although rarely.
PPARγ Agonists in Combination Cancer Therapies
Authors: Mrowka Piotr , Glodkowska-Mrowka Eliza 
Published: December 2019

:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor acting as a transcription factor involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, cell cycle, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. These unique properties constitute a strong therapeutic potential that place PPARγ agonists as one of the most interesting and widely studied anticancer molecules.:Although PPARγ agonists exert significant, antiproliferative and tumoricidal activity in vitro, their anticancer efficacy in animal models is ambiguous, and their effectiveness in clinical trials in monotherapy is unsatisfactory. However, due to pleiotropic effects of PPARγ activation in normal and tumor cells, PPARγ ligands interact with many antitumor treatment modalities and synergistically potentiate their effectiveness. The most spectacular example is a combination of PPARγ ligands with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this setting, PPARγ activation sensitizes leukemic stem cells, resistant to any previous form of treatment, to targeted therapy. Thus, this combination is believed to be the first pharmacological therapy able to cure CML patients.:Within the last decade, a significant body of data confirming the benefits of the addition of PPARγ ligands to various antitumor therapies, including chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, has been published. Although the majority of these studies have been carried out in vitro or animal tumor models, a few successful attempts to introduce PPARγ ligands into anticancer therapy in humans have been recently made. In this review, we aim to summarize shines and shadows of targeting PPARγ in antitumor therapies.
Screening of Some Novel 4, 5 Disubstituted 1, 2, 4-Triazole-3-thiones for Anticonvulsant Activity
Authors: Verma Krishan K. , Singh Umesh K. , Jain Jainendra 
Published: December 2019

Objective:
In the present study, we synthesized fifteen 4, 5-disubstituted 1, 2, 4-triazol-
3-thione derivatives and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity with neurotoxicity determination.

Method:
The synthesized compounds were characterized using FTIR, 1H-NMR and MS. The
molecular docking study was also performed to study the interactions of compounds with LYS329
residue of gamma amino butyric acid aminotransferase (GABA-AT) using Autodock 4.2 software.
The anticonvulsant activity was assessed by maximal electroshock (MES) test and subcutaneous
pentylenetetrazol (scPTZ) tests. The neurotoxicity was assessed by rotarod ataxia test.

Results:
In MES test, compounds 5a, 8a and 9a were found active at 100 mg/kg and five compounds
were found active at 300 mg/kg dose after 1 hr of administration. After 4 hr of drug
administration, only two compounds 8a and 9a exhibited protection at 100 mg/kg. In scPTZ test,
three compounds 2a, 6a and 8a were found active at 100 mg/kg and 7a was active at 300 mg/kg
after 1 hr of test drug administration. Most of the compounds were found active in MES test with
8a and 9a being the most active among all. In docking study, 2a was found to be best compound
based on the binding energy of -6.5 kcal/mol and estimated inhibition constant of 17.2 µM.

Conclusion:
Majority of synthesized compounds were found active in MES test, whereas only
few were found to possess anti scPTZ activity. Among all compounds, only 14a caused motor coordination
impairment in rotarod ataxia test at 300 mg/kg 1 hr duration.
Fusing Dynamic Images and Depth Motion Maps for Action Recognition in Surveillance Systems
Authors: Khurana Rajat , Kushwaha Alok Kumar Singh 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Identification of human actions from video has gathered much attention
in past few years. Most of the computer vision tasks such as Health Care Activity Detection, Suspicious
Activity detection, Human Computer Interactions etc. are based on the principle of activity
detection. Automatic labelling of activity from videos frames is known as activity detection.

Objective:
Motivation of this work is to use most out of the data generated from sensors and use
them for recognition of classes. Recognition of actions from videos sequences is a growing field
with the upcoming trends of deep neural networks.

Methods:
Automatic learning capability of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) make them
good choice as compared to traditional handcrafted based approaches. With the increasing demand
of RGB-D sensors combination of RGB and depth data is in great demand.

Results:
This work comprises of the use of dynamic images generated from RGB combined with
depth map for action recognition purpose. We have experimented our approach on pre trained
VGG-F model using MSR Daily activity dataset and UTD MHAD Dataset. We achieve state of
the art results. To support our research, we have calculated different parameters apart from accuracy
such as precision, F score, recall.

Conclusion:
Accordingly, the investigation confirms improvement in term of accuracy, precision,
F-Score and Recall. The proposed model is 4 Stream model is prone to occlusion, used in real
time and also the data from the RGB-D sensor is fully utilized.
Reading McLuhan Reading Ulysses
Authors: Galey Alan 
Published: December 2019

Background Marshall McLuhan was not only a prolific reader but also an expert annotator of his own books. Taking as a case study McLuhan’s copies of James Joyce’s Ulyssesin the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto, this article asks what we can learn about McLuhan’s reading from close analysis of his own books.Analysis The article begins with a discussion of McLuhan’s media theory as “applied Joyce,” with particular reference to Ulysses, and then turns to an overview of the annotation techniques and strategies visible in McLuhan’s copies of the novel.Conclusion and implications The conclusion considers McLuhan’s own books as hybrid artifacts that challenge us to rethink rigid distinctions between print and manuscript cultures.