bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms for increased risk of diabetes in chronic liver diseases
Authors: Svegliati‐Baroni Gianluca , Gaggini Melania , Carli Fabrizia , Barbieri Chiara , Cucco Monica , Younes Ramy , Rosso Chiara , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Gastaldelli Amalia 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectivePatients with chronic liver disease (CLD), both non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC), are at high risk of diabetes (T2D), but mechanisms are still unknown. Muscle/liver insulin resistance (IR) and pancreatic dysfunction are the major metabolic defects leading to T2D. However, if the risk of T2D in CLD patients is because of reduced insulin response and/or to IR, and the impact of liver histology has not been investigated.DesignWe studied 220 non‐T2D patients with chronic liver disease (129 NAFLD, BMI = 27.3 kg/m2; 91 CHC, BMI = 25.0 kg/m2) that received a 75‐gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with the measurement of glucose and insulin concentrations for 2 hours, glucose tolerance (NGT vs IGT) and liver biopsy. The results were compared to 26 controls (CT‐NGT, BMI = 25.6 kg/m2). We evaluated peripheral insulin sensitivity (OGIS), OGTT‐insulin response (ΔAUC‐I/ΔAUC‐G) and disposition‐index (DI = OGIS∙ΔAUC‐I/ΔAUC‐G) for the risk to develop T2D.ResultsNAFLD had increased muscle IR (associated to NASH, steatosis and fibrosis), higher than in CHC or CT‐NGT (OGIS = 8.9 vs 11.3 and 10.5 mL/min kg, P < .0001). In NAFLD, OGTT‐insulin response (ΔAUC‐I/ΔAUC‐G) was the highest while it was significantly decreased in CHC (2.2 vs 1.1 and 1.6, NAFLD vs. CHC and CT‐NGT, P < .005). The highest T2D risk (low DI) was observed in CHC‐IGT (7.5), CHC‐NGT (13.5) and NAFLD‐IGT (10.8) vs CT‐NGT (14.9, all P < .0001), but not in NAFL‐NGT or NASH‐NGT.ConclusionWe observed an increased T2D risk in NAFLD‐IGT, CHC‐IGT and CHC‐NGT mainly because of reduced OGTT‐insulin response, while insulin response in NAFLD‐NGT compensates the IR thus maintaining normal glycaemia.
Social and behavioural determinants of areca nut consumption in adolescents
Authors: Huang Boyen , Zachar Jessica Joanna 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of areca nut consumption and to identify social and behavioural determinants among a Taiwanese adolescent population.Subjects and MethodsA random sample of 5,343 high school students aged between 15–18 years in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, participated in the study. Participants underwent a clinical dental examination and completed a self‐administered questionnaire. Data analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression to establish a relationship between areca nut consumption as well as social and behavioural characteristics.ResultsThe prevalence of areca nut consumption was 3.0%. The chewing habit was more prevalent among older adolescents (p < .001, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.78), males (p < .001, OR = 17.91, 95% CI: 8.57, 37.40), pupils living with non‐birth parent(s) (p = .003, OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.50), children of family heads with primary (p = .001, OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.50, 5.59) or secondary level of education (p < .001, OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.46), frequent risk takers (p < .001, OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.43) and students of low physical fitness (p < .001, OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.81, 7.35).ConclusionsAreca nut consumption has become an ongoing pertinent issue in adolescent health. Future investigations into neurocognitive influences of risk‐taking behaviour on areca nut consumption and social dependence of the habit are indicated.
Internal migration and youth entrepreneurship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Kiuma Alain Kikandi , Araar Abdelkrim , Kaghoma Christian Kamala 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis paper analyzes youth internal migration in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its impact on entrepreneurship startup in a fresh post‐conflict context. Building on a national representative survey conducted in 2005, a recursive bivariate probit specification is used to jointly estimate the decision models of both migration and entrepreneurship. To evaluate the robustness of results, the propensity score matching method is used to test the concordance of the results after eliminating the redundant impact of unobserved factors. The two main conclusions are that youth migration increases the probability of being an entrepreneur, but in the informal sector. In addition, like secondary and post‐secondary education, the duration of stay after migrating is an important factor to being an entrepreneur in the formal sector. These conclusions are expected to enlighten policy‐makers as to the importance of promoting secondary and post‐secondary education as well as inclusive growth investments that may absorb more youth labor in formal sectors. This is the first exercise in the case of the DRC and since it focuses on youth, the paper makes a unique contribution to the literature related to the link between migration and entrepreneurship in a post‐war context.
Muscle fiber conduction velocity in the vastus lateralis and medialis muscles of soccer players after ACL reconstruction
Authors: Nuccio Stefano , Del Vecchio Alessandro , Casolo Andrea , Labanca Luciana , Rocchi Jacopo Emanuele , Felici Francesco , Macaluso Andrea , Mariani Pier Paolo , Falla Deborah , Farina Dario , Sbriccoli Paola 
Published: June 2020

The neural factors underlying the persistency of quadriceps weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have been only partially explained. This study examined muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) as an indirect parameter of motor unit recruitment strategies in the vastus lateralis (VL) and medialis (VM) muscles of soccer players with ACLR. High‐density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was acquired from VL and VM in nine soccer players (22.7 ± 2.9 years; BMI: 22.08 ± 1.72 kg·m−2; 7.7 ± 2.2 months post‐surgery). Voluntary muscle force and the relative myoelectrical activity from the reconstructed and contralateral sides were recorded during linearly increasing isometric knee extension contractions up to 70% of maximal voluntary isometric force (MVIF). The relation of MFCV and force was examined by linear regression analysis at the individual subject level. The initial (intercept), peak (MFCV70), and rate of change (slope) of MFCV related to force were compared between limbs and muscles. The MVIF was lower in the reconstructed side than in the contralateral side (−%20.5; P < .05). MFCV intercept was similar among limbs and muscles (P > .05). MFCV70 and MFCV slope were lower in the reconstructed side compared to the contralateral for both VL (−28.5% and −10.1%, respectively; P < .001) and VM (−22.6% and −8.1%, respectively; P < .001). The slope of MFCV was lower in the VL than VM, but only in the reconstructed side (−12.4%; P < .001). These results suggest possible impairments in recruitment strategies of high‐threshold motor units (HTMUs) as well as deficits in sarcolemmal excitability, fiber diameter, and discharge rate of knee extensor muscles following ACLR.
COVID‐19 in pancreas transplant recipients
Authors: Dube Geoffrey K. , Husain S. Ali , McCune Kasi R. , Sandoval P. Rodrigo , Ratner Lloyd E. , Cohen David J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has become a pandemic since first being described in January 2020. Clinical manifestations in non‐transplant patients range from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan system failure, and death. Limited reports in kidney transplant recipients suggest similar characteristics in that population. We report here the first case series of COVID‐19 infection occurring in pancreas transplant recipients.
Outcomes associated with vaginectomy and vulvovaginectomy in 21 dogs
Authors: Ogden Jessica A. , Selmic Laura E. , Liptak Julius M. , Oblak Michelle L. , Culp William T. N. , de Mello Souza Carlos H. , Grimes Janet A. , Traverson Marine , Cray Megan , Abrams Brittany E. , Wavreille Vincent A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo report the outcomes of dogs with lesions of the genitourinary tract treated by vaginectomy or vulvovaginectomy.Study designMulti‐institutional retrospective study.AnimalsFemale dogs that underwent vulvovaginectomy, complete vaginectomy, or subtotal vaginectomy from 2003 to 2018 with complete medical records and a minimum of 60 days follow‐up.MethodsData collected from medical records included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data, such as the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UIC), disease recurrence, and death/euthanasia.ResultsThis study included 21 dogs. Four dogs had vulvovaginectomy, six had complete vaginectomy, and 11 had a subtotal vaginectomy performed. The mean age at surgery was 9.2 years (SD, 3.3). Thirteen dogs were intact at presentation. Smooth muscle tumors were diagnosed most commonly (10 leiomyomata, three leiomyosarcomas, two leiomyofibromas). The median duration of follow‐up was 520 days (range, 71‐1955). Major complications requiring revision surgery were recorded in two dogs. Postoperative UIC occurred in six of 21 dogs, resolving spontaneously within 60 days in three dogs. Dogs with malignant tumors (n = 6) survived at least 71 days (median, 626; 95% CI, 71‐1245), and recurrence of disease occurred in two dogs. In dogs with benign tumors (n = 15), the median survival time was not reached. These dogs survived at least 104 days and had no recurrence of the disease.ConclusionVaginectomy and vulvovaginectomy resulted in prolonged survival and low rates of major complications and UIC.Clinical significanceThis study provides evidence to recommend that the risks of this procedure and expectations should be discussed with clients.
Significance of Activation Energy and Effective Prandtl Number in Accelerated Flow of Jeffrey Nanoparticles With Gyrotactic Microorganisms
Authors: Khan Sami Ullah , Tlili Iskander 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This research addresses the interesting rheological features of Jeffrey nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganism over an accelerated configuration. The additional consequences of activation energy and thermal radiation are also encountered in the current flow problem. The characteristics of nanofluid is utilized by using Buongiorno’s nanofluid model, while the phenomenon of bioconvection is evaluated by Kuznestov and Nield model. Unlike traditional attempts, the analysis for thermal radiation is performed by using “one parametric approach” by expressing the Prandtl number and thermal radiation parameter in combined form, namely, effective Prandtl number. The governing equations reflecting the flow problem are analytically treated with the help of homotopic algorithm. The impact of flow parameters is graphically elaborated with relevant physical significance. Further, the numerical expressions for effective local Nusselt number, local Sherwood number, and motile density number with variation of flow parameters in articulated tabular form. It is observed that magnitude of skin friction coefficient oscillates periodically with time and magnitude of oscillation increases with increment of Deborah number and mixed convection constant. It is further emphasized that the temperature distribution is enhanced with buoyancy ratio constant and bioconvection Rayleigh number. The microorganism distribution increases with buoyancy ratio constant but reverse trend has been examined for Peclet number. The observations from the reported problem can be more effective for the development of bifurcation processes, biofuels, enzymes, etc.
A Machine Learning Method to Infer Inter-Well Connectivity Using Bottom-Hole Pressure Data
Authors: Liu Wei , Liu Wei David , Gu Jianwei 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
In the production and development of oil fields, production wells generally produce at a constant rate since the fixed production is easier to control than the fixed pressure. Thus, it is more feasible to use bottom-hole pressure data for connectivity analysis than historical injection and production data when producers are set in fixed rates. In this work, a practical procedure is proposed to infer inter-well connectivity based on the bottom-hole pressure data of injectors and producers. The procedure first preprocesses the bottom-hole pressure based on nonlinear diffusion filters to constitute the dataset for machine learning. An artificial neural network (ANN) is then generated and trained to simulate the connection relationship between the producer and its adjacent injectors. The genetic algorithm (GA) is also introduced to avoid the tedious process of determining time lags and other hyper-parameters of ANN. In particular, the time lag is normally determined by subjective judgment, which is optimized by GA for the first time. After optimizing the parameters, the sensitivity analysis is performed on the well-trained ANN to quantify inter-well connectivity. For the evaluation and verification purposes, the proposed GA and sensitivity analysis based ANN were applied to two synthetic reservoirs and one actual case from JD oilfields, China. The results show that the calculated connectivity conforms to known geological characteristics and tracer test results. And it demonstrates that the presented approach is an effective alternative way to characterize the reservoir connectivity and determine the flow direction of injected water.
Design of a Continuum Mechanism That Matches the Movement of an Eight-Bar Linkage
Authors: Liu Xueao , Michael McCarthy J. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This paper presents a design methodology for mechanisms consisting of a single continuous structure, continuum mechanisms, that blends the kinematic synthesis of rigid-body mechanisms with topology optimization for compliant mechanisms. Rather than start with a generic structure that is shaped to achieve a required force-deflection task for a compliant mechanism, our approach shapes the initial structure based on the kinematic synthesis of a rigid-body mechanism for the required movement, then the structure is shaped using finite element analysis to achieve the required force-deflection relationship. The result of this approach is a continuum mechanism with the same workpiece movement as the rigid link mechanism when actuated. An example illustrates the design process to obtain an eight-bar linkage that guides its workpiece in straight-line rectilinear movement. We show that the resulting continuum mechanism provides the desired rectilinear movement. A 210 mm physical model machined from Nylon-6 is shown to achieve 21.5 mm rectilinear movement with no perceived deviation from a straight-line.
A new Alpine geo-lithological map (Alpine-Geo-LiM) and global carbon cycle implications
Authors: Donnini Marco , Marchesini Ivan , Zucchini Azzurra 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
The chemical composition of river waters gives a measure of the atmospheric CO2 fixed by chemical weathering processes. Since the dominating factors controlling these processes are lithology and runoff, as well as uplift and erosion, we introduce a new simplified geo-lithological map of the Alps (Alpine-Geo-LiM) that adopted a lithological classification compliant with the methods most used in literature for estimating the consumption of atmospheric CO2 by chemical weathering. The map was used together with published alkalinity data of the 33 main Alpine rivers (1) to investigate the relationship between bicarbonate concentration in the sampled waters and the lithologies of the corresponding drained basins, and (2) to quantify the atmospheric CO2 consumed by chemical weathering. The analyses confirm (as known by the literature) that carbonates are lithologies highly prone to consuming atmospheric CO2. Moreover, the analyses show that sandstone (which could have a nonnegligible carbonate component) plays an important role in consuming atmospheric CO2. Another result is that in multilithological basins containing lithologies more prone to consuming atmospheric CO2, the contribution of igneous rocks to the atmospheric CO2 consumption is negligible. Alpine-Geo-LiM has several novel features when compared with published global lithological maps. One novel feature is due to the attention paid in discriminating metamorphic rocks, which were classified according to the chemistry of protoliths. The second novel feature is that the procedure used for the definition of the map was made available on the Web to allow the replicability and reproducibility of the product.
Safety and efficacy of autologous tumour cell vaccines as a cancer therapeutic to treat solid tumours and haematological malignancies: a meta-analysis protocol for two systematic reviews
Authors: Khan Sarwat T , Montroy Joshua , Forbes Nicole , Bastin Donald , Kennedy Michael A , Diallo Jean-Simon , Kekre Natasha , Fergusson Dean A , Lalu Manoj , Auer Rebecca C 
Published: June 2020

IntroductionAutologous cancer cell vaccines are promising personalised immunotherapeutic options for solid and haematological malignancies that uses the patient’s own cells to arm an immune response. Evidence suggests that among patients receiving these vaccines, those who mount an immune response against their own tumour cells have better prognosis, and a myriad of preclinical studies have demonstrated the same. Recently, two autologous cell vaccines Vigil and OncoVAX have made it to phase III clinical trials. Here, we outline a protocol to be used for two separate systematic reviews using a parallel approach for inclusion criteria, data extraction and analysis for autologous cell vaccines in (1) solid and (2) haematological malignancies. We aim to review evidence from controlled and uncontrolled interventional studies of autologous cell vaccines administered to patients with cancer to determine their historical efficacy (with or without associated adjuvants or modifications) with clinical response rates and safety outcomes being of particular importance.Methods and analysisWe will search MEDLINE (OVID interface, including In-Process and Epub Ahead of Print), Embase (OVID interface) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley interface) for articles published from 1947 until 30 July 2018 (date search was performed). Studies will be screened first by title and abstract, then by full-text in duplicate. Interventional trials that report the use of an autologous cell vaccine to patients with cancer of any age will be included. The primary outcomes of interest in this review are clinical response (complete or overall/objective response) and safety outcomes (adverse events). Secondary outcomes include immune response, disease-free survival and overall survival. The risk of bias within studies will be assessed using the appropriate Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. If appropriate, a random effects meta-analysis will be performed to synthesise the data and report summary estimates of effect. Statistical heterogeneity will be assessed using the I2 statistic.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required for this systematic review protocol as the review will solely use published literature. Results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication and presented to relevant stakeholders and scientific meetings.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019140187.
Checklists in community care: reducing differences in care delivery between regular and relief staff to improve consistency and client experience
Authors: Rege Swapnil , Malik Aisha Mian , Ward Marybeth , Hong Jing 
Published: June 2020

BackgroundToday, healthcare is more complex than just ensuring clients receive quality care; it also involves consistently delivering excellent client experience. A non-profit community support services agency conducted an extensive diagnostic journey to determine root causes of inconsistent care delivery between regular and relief frontline staff.Local problemClients and family caregivers noted lower satisfaction in care delivery when a relief staff (ie, internal staff or an external agency that is covering a shift) provided service in comparison with their regular staff. The diagnostic journey discovered that the shift exchange process—when outgoing staff transfers critical knowledge to incoming staff for continuing care—varied significantly between the 11 service locations, leading to a lack of consistent service delivery, thereby impacting client experience.MethodsA working group consisting of Supervisors of Client Services, Personal Support Workers (PSW) and management were tasked with process mapping the current state, highlighting gaps and outlining the ideal state of the shift exchange process.InterventionsUsing best practices from the aviation industry, a checklist was developed that encapsulated all the critical steps needed to be undertaken for a successful, consistent shift exchange. The theory was that the utilisation of the checklist would enable consistency and improve client satisfaction with care delivery, especially when care is delivered by a staff unfamiliar with clients.ResultsPrior to the checklist implementation, 74% of clients were satisfied or very satisfied with their relief staff, and post checklist implementation client satisfaction improved to 90%. Staff self-assessments also indicated that PSWs agreed that the checklist helped provide consistent care.ConclusionThe use of checklists can transform the way care is delivered in the community support sector and other service delivery agencies alike to bring greater standardisation of care between providers, thus significantly improving client experience across the healthcare sector.
Provision of palliative care in National Cancer Grid treatment centres in India: a cross-sectional gap analysis survey
Authors: Damani Anuja , Salins Naveen , Ghoshal Arunangshu , Chowdhury Jayeeta , Muckaden Mary Ann , Deodhar Jayita , Pramesh CS 
Published: June 2020

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify gaps in palliative care (PC) provision across the National Cancer Grid (NCG) centres in India.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional validated web-based survey on 102 NCG cancer centres (Nov ’17 to April ’18). The survey questionnaire had seven sections collecting data relating to the capacity to provide cancer care and PC, drug availability for pain and symptom control, education, advocacy, and quality assurance activities for PC.ResultsEighty-nine NCG centres responded for this study—72.5% of centres had doctors with generalist PC training, whereas 34.1% of centres had full-time PC physicians; 53.8% had nurses with 6 weeks of PC training; 68.1% of the centres have an outpatient PC and 66.3% have the facility to provide inpatient PC; 38.5% of centres offer home-based PC services; 44% of the centres make a hospice referral and 68.1% of the centres offer concurrent cancer therapy alongside PC. Among the centres, 84.3% have a licence to procure, store and dispense opioids, but only 77.5% have an uninterrupted supply of oral morphine for patients; 61.5% centres have no dedicated funds for PC, 23.1% centres have no support from hospital administration, staff shortage—69.2% have no social workers, 60.4% have no counsellors and 76.9% have no volunteers. Although end-of-life care is recognised, there is a lack of institutional policy. Very few centres take part in quality control measures.ConclusionsThe majority of the NCG centres have the facilities to provide PC but suffer from poor implementation of existing policies, funding and human resources.