bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic counselling and personalised risk assessment in the Australian pancreatic cancer screening program
Authors: Dwarte Tanya , McKay Skye , Johns Amber , Tucker Katherine , Spigelman Allan D. , Williams David , Stoita Alina 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive disease with a dismal 5-year survival rate. Surveillance of high-risk individuals is hoped to improve survival outcomes by detection of precursor lesions or early-stage malignancy.

Methods
Since 2011, a national high-risk cohort recruited through St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, has undergone prospective PC screening incorporating annual endoscopic ultrasound, formal genetic counselling and mutation analysis as appropriate. PancPRO, a Bayesian PC risk assessment model, was used to estimate 5-year and lifetime PC risks for familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) participants and this was compared to their perceived chance of pancreatic and other cancers. Genetic counselling guidelines were developed to improve consistency. Follow-up questionnaires were used to assess the role of genetic counselling and testing.

Results
We describe the Australian PC screening program design and recruitment strategy and the results of the first 102 individuals who have completed at least one-year of follow-up. Seventy-nine participants met the FPC criteria (≥ two first-degree relatives affected), 22 individuals had both a BRCA2 pathogenic variant and a close relative with PC and one had a clinical diagnosis of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Participants reported a high perceived chance of developing PC regardless of their genetic testing status. PancPRO reported FPC participants’ mean 5-year and lifetime PC risks as 1.81% (range 0.2–3.2%) and 10.17% (range 2.4–14.4%), respectively. Participants’ perceived PC chance did not correlate with their PancPRO 5-year (r = − 0.17, p = 0.128) and lifetime PC risks (r = 0.19, p = 0.091). Two-thirds felt that current genetic testing would help them, and 91% of tested participants were glad to have undergone genetic testing. Overall, 79% of participants found genetic counselling to be helpful, and 88% reported they would recommend counselling to their relatives.

Conclusions
Participants reported multiple benefits of genetic counselling and testing but continue to seek greater clarification about their individual PC risk. Extension of PancPRO is required to enable personalised PC risk assessment for all high-risk sub-groups. More detailed discussion of PC risk for BRCA2 pathogenic variant carriers, providing a written summary in all cases and a plan for genetics review were identified as areas for improvement.
Utilization and associated factors of emergency contraception among women seeking abortion services in health institutions of Dessie town, North East Ethiopia, 2018
Authors: Feleke Asres Eshetie , Nigussie Tewdros Seyoum , Debele Tibeb Zena 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objective
The aim of the study was to assess utilization and associated factors of emergency contraception among women seeking abortion services in Health Institutions of Dessie town, North East Ethiopia, 2018.

Results
Among the interviewed 784 women 400 (51%) utilized emergency contraception. Women’s age of 20–24 years [AOR: 2.10, (95% CI 1.200,3.671)], urban residence [AOR: 2.02 (95% CI 1.273, 3.218], being single [AOR: 1.71, (95% CI 1.176, 2.485)], being knowledgeable on emergency contraception [AOR: 5.66, (95% CI 3.976,8.070)], and having favorable attitude towards emergency contraception [AOR: 2.75 (95% CI 1.946, 3.881)] were significantly associated factors with the utilization of emergency contraceptives. Emphasis has to give on health education on emergency contraceptives focusing on those women who are from the rural area, older and married women.
Root-associated microbiomes of wheat under the combined effect of plant development and nitrogen fertilization
Authors: Chen Shuaimin , Waghmode Tatoba R. , Sun Ruibo , Kuramae Eiko E. , Hu Chunsheng , Liu Binbin 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Plant roots assemble microbial communities both inside the roots and in the rhizosphere, and these root-associated microbiomes play pivotal roles in plant nutrition and productivity. Although it is known that increased synthetic fertilizer input in Chinese farmlands over the past 50 years has resulted in not only increased yields but also environmental problems, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how crops under elevated nutrient input shape root-associated microbial communities, especially through adjusting the quantities and compositions of root metabolites and exudates.

Methods
The compositions of bacterial and fungal communities from the roots and rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under four levels of long-term inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilization were characterized at the tillering, jointing and ripening stages. The root-released organic carbon (ROC), organic acids in the root exudates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil active carbon (SAC) in the rhizosphere were quantified.

Results
ROC levels varied dramatically across wheat growth stages and correlated more with the bacterial community than with the fungal community. Rhizosphere SOC and SAC levels were elevated by long-term N fertilization but varied only slightly across growth stages. Variation in the microbial community structure across plant growth stages showed a decreasing trend with N fertilization level in the rhizosphere. In addition, more bacterial and fungal genera were significantly correlated in the jointing and ripening stages than in the tillering stage in the root samples. A number of bacterial genera that shifted in response to N fertilization, including Arthrobacter, Bacillus and Devosia, correlated significantly with acetic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid and tartaric acid levels.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that both plant growth status and N input drive changes in the microbial community structure in the root zone of wheat. Plant growth stage demostrated a stronger influence on bacterial than on fungal community composition. A number of bacterial genera that have been described as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) responded positively to N fertilization, and their abundance correlated significantly with the organic acid level, suggesting that the secretion of organic acids may be a strategy developed by plants to recruit beneficial microbes in the root zone to cope with high N input. These results provide novel insight into the associations among increased N input, altered carbon availability, and shifts in microbial communities in the plant roots and rhizosphere of intensive agricultural ecosystems.
Wearable piezoresistive strain sensor based on graphene-coated three-dimensional micro-porous PDMS sponge
Authors: Jung Young , Jung Kyungkuk , Park Byunggeon , Choi Jaehyuk , Kim Donghwan , Park Jinhyoung , Ko Jongsoo , Cho Hanchul 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
We present a highly elastic and wearable piezoresistive strain sensor based on three-dimensional, micro-porous graphene-coated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge suitable for being attached on human skin. The proposed strain sensors are simply fabricated by a sugar templating process and dip coating method based graphene ink in a facile and cost effective manner. The fabricated graphene-coated PDMS sponge shows highly stable mechanical properties in various tensile stress–strain test. A graphene thin film coated onto the backbone of PDMS sponges is used as the sensing materials of piezoresisitve strain sensors. The changes in resistance of the devices are highly stable, repeatable, and reversible when various strain is applied. Furthermore, the strain sensors show excellent sensing performance under different strain rate and mechanically robustness enough to be worked stably under repeated loads without any degradation.
The “Belt and Road Initiative”: impacts on TEN-T and on the European transport system
Authors: Dunmore Dick , Preti Alberto , Routaboul Clémence 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, announced in late 2013, includes the construction of land-based transport connections between Asia and Europe, the creation of an economic belt for Eurasian cooperation, and maritime routes between China and all continents with which it may trade. Within the European Union, it will interact with infrastructure and services provided in the private sector, by the Member States, and by the European Union including through the Trans-European Transport Network programme. This paper focuses on the scope for rail services between China and Europe to attract freight currently travelling by sea and air, and the resulting changes in relative accessibility and competitive attractiveness of different maritime and landlocked regions of Europe. It estimates that, by 2040, 3 million TEU of freight between the Far East and Europe might travel by rail, comprising 2.5 million TEU from sea and 0.5 million TEU from air. While it concludes that it is not possible to predict whether and where these transfers will require changes to the Trans-European Transport Network programme, it describes recommendations on how the programme should take the Belt and Road Initiative into account.
A cointegrating stock trading strategy: application to listed tanker shipping companies
Authors: Michail Nektarios A. , Melas Konstantinos D. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In the current paper, we propose a strategy to trade a portfolio of listed shipping companies in the US market. In particular, we estimate a co-integrating relationship between the weekly stock market returns of a portfolio of tanker shipping companies and the Baltic Tanker Index, exploiting the close relationship between freight rates and the stock market performance of shipping companies. Our results suggest that a trading strategy on the basis of a co-integrating relationship and a simple moving average rule outperforms, by approximately 50%, a standard buy-and-hold strategy in various investment horizons, often by a very wide margin. Given the latter, the results allow us to enhance the current literature on shipping finance by providing evidence of how simple investment strategies can benefit both retail and institutional investors who do not have direct exposure or experience in the shipping industry by allowing them to include shipping stocks in their portfolios.
Establishing the acceptability of a brief patient reported outcome measure and feasibility of implementing it in a breast device registry – a qualitative study
Authors: Ng Sze , Kirkman Maggie , Fisher Jane , Pusic Andrea , Parker Emily , Cooter Rodney D. , Elder Elisabeth , Moore Colin , McNeil John , Hopper Ingrid 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
To examine the acceptability of a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) that assesses perceptions and experiences of implants for breast reconstruction or augmentation, and the feasibility of implementing it in the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR).

Methods
The BREAST-Q Implant Surveillance (BREAST-Q IS) is a 5-question PROM derived from the BREAST-Q questionnaire. It assesses perceptions of breast appearance and sensation, and experiences of pain. Breast implant recipients (recruited via community networks, social media and notices in surgeons’ rooms) and surgeons contributing to the ABDR were invited to review the BREAST-Q-IS. Participation was by individual semi-structured interviews by telephone or email, or by completion of a paper questionnaire. Transcripts of audio recordings and emailed text were analysed thematically.

Results
Twenty one breast implant recipients (10 after reconstruction and 11 augmentation), 8 surgeons (five plastic, three breast) and 2 medical professionals performing cosmetic surgeries were interviewed. Six themes were identified: Overall impression, Emotional response to the BREAST-Q IS, Method of follow-up, Suggested improvements, Group variation, and Potential Clinical utility. Overall, breast implant recipients and surgeons found the BREAST-Q IS to be acceptable and unlikely to provoke strong emotional reactions. Email was the preferred mode of contact. Most suggested improvements were to add questions. Surgeons expressed concern that subjective responses to the PROM might not accurately reflect experiences and that the PROM would predict need for revision rather than device failure.

Conclusion
This study supports the acceptability and feasibility of BREAST-Q IS as a PROM for recipients of breast implants. Further validation of the Breast-Q IS is required.
EXERTIONAL (EXERCISE-INDUCED) RHABDOMYOLYSIS
Authors: Rider Brian C. , Coughlin Adam M. , Carlson Chad , Hew-Butler Tamara 
Published: October 2019

Apply It!
Gain a better understanding of exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER).
Understand how ER can affect your clients/athletes, how to identify the signs and symptoms, and most importantly, learn how you can work to prevent it from developing.
COMBATING PHYSICAL INACTIVITY: THE ROLE OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Authors: Jaworski Carrie A. 
Published: October 2019

Apply It!• Partnering between health care providers and exercise specialists is needed to promote the successful implementation of physical activity guidelines in patients.• Using an exercise or physical activity vital sign is the first step in determining a patient’s physical activity levels.• Exercise prescriptions need to take into account patient preferences and abilities.• Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) provides resources for clinicians and patients on physical activity implementation and benefits.
Prediction of N, P, and K Contents in Sugarcane Leaves by VIS-NIR Spectroscopy and Modeling of NPK Interaction Effects
Authors: Wang Ce , Li Xiuhua , Wang Lijia , Yang Ce , Chen Xiao , Li Minzan , Ma Shaodui 
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Methods were studied to predict the N, P, and K contents in sugarcane leaves quickly and accurately at the seedling, tillering, and elongation stages from leaf spectral reflectance. A total of 117 valid leaf samples were used to obtain leaf spectral reflectance with an indoor VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. Using the spectral data processed by CARS-PCA as an independent variable, a six-fold cross-validated PLS model for N, P, and K contents was established. The R2 values of the CARS-PCA-PLS models for N, P, and K prediction were 0.859, 0.677, and 0.932, respectively. Correlation analysis of the predicted N, P, and K contents was performed to explore the interaction effects between N, P, and K. To simulate the interaction effects among the three nutrients, 19 factors were assumed, including possible linear, quadratic, and cubic relationships between N, P, and K, and multi-factor cubic polynomial PLS and MLR regression models were established from those factors. In the modified MLR models, the determinants of N, P, and K were 0.891, 0.802, and 0.944, respectively, which improved the performance of the models by 3.7%, 18.5%, and 1.3%, respectively, compared with the CARS-PCA-PLS models, which were based on the spectral reflectance data. The results showed that application of VIS-NIR spectra combined with interaction effects between the nutrients could effectively predict the N, P, and K contents in the early and middle growth stages of sugarcane.HighlightsCompetitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) was adopted to select wavebands for nutrient prediction.N, P, and K interaction effects were simulated with 19 factors, including linear, quadratic, and cubic relationships.The interaction factors were used in multiple linear regression models, and improved prediction was achieved. Keywords: CARS-PCA, Interaction effect, NPK, Sugarcane, VIS-NIR spectroscopy.
Golimumab in the treatment of extra-skeletal manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Demina A. B. 
Published: October 2019

Extra-skeletal manifestations (EMs) of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can occur and proceed in parallel with inflammatory changes in the joints and spine and often dominate in the clinical picture of AS, determining its high activity and significantly worsening the quality of life in patients. In a number of cases, EMs are characterized by an insufficient response to standard anti-inflammatory therapy for back pain, arthritis, and enthesitis; and there is a need to prescribe another class of drugs.The review highlights the results of studies evaluating the efficacy of golimumab (GLM) in treating EMs in patients with AS: uveitis (GO-EASY Study) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (PURSUIT-SC, PURSUIT-M studies). Analysis of these studies have shown the high efficacy and safety of GLM in reducing the clinical manifestations of AS and in preventing the exacerbations of uveitis and UC. However, despite the successes achieved in treating AS and its EMs, there are many unresolved issues, including those related to the elaboration of optimal treatment regimens, which required longer observational studies with a large sample size.
Detectability of the peripheral and axial manifestations of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis in dermatological practice
Authors: Chamurlieva M. N. , Loginova E. Yu. , Korotaeva T. V. 
Published: October 2019

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous disease manifested by peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, spondylitis, and enthesitis. PsA is often undiagnosed by dermatovenerologists because of the difficulty in identifying a variety of clinical signs. The early diagnosis of PsA and the accurate assessment of all its symptoms are necessary for the timely choice of optimal therapy.Objective: to assess the detectability of clinical signs of PsA in patients with psoriasis in dermatological practice.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 103 patients (47 men and 56 women) (mean age, 44.0±13.7 years) with psoriasis (its mean duration, 10.7±10.2 years), the average prevalence and severity according to the Body Surface Area (BSA) and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were 9.3±13.6% and 15.4±12.5 scores, respectively. All the patients completed the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (mPEST) and were examined by a dermatovenerologist and a rheumatologist. The diagnosis of PsA was based on the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR). The investigators evaluated arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, and inflammatory back pain (IBP) according to the rheumatological standards: IBP by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria, and enthesitis by the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI).Results and discussion. Sixty-one (59.2%) of the 103 patients with psoriasis were found to have PsA on the basis of the CASPAR criteria and the rheumatologist's examination. The dermatovenerologist diagnosed arthritis in a significantly smaller number of cases than did the rheumatologist: in 15 (24.6%) and 35 (57.4%) of the 61 patients (p<0.001), respectively. The dermatovenerologist and the rheumatologist demonstrated no significant differences in their clinical evaluation of dactylitis: it was detected in 37 (60.7%) and 40 (65.6%) of the 61 patients, respectively (p=0.32). Based on patient complaints and mPEST findings, the dermatovenerologist recorded pain in the calcaneal region in 32 (52.5%) patients. The rheumatologist identified ulnar, knee, and calcaneus enthesitis in 11 (18%), 8 (13.1%), and 25 (41%) patients, respectively. Based on complaints and mPEST findings, the dermatovenerologist detected back pain in 30 (49.2%) of the 61 patients. The rheumatologist diagnosed IBP in 21 (70%) of these 30 patients and mechanical back pain in 9 (30%). Thus, IBP was noted in 34.4% of PsA patients. Tendonitis was undiagnosed by the dermatovenerologist; the rheumatologist identified wrist tendonitis in 13 (21.3%) of the 61 patients with PsA.Conclusion. Dermatovenerologists frequently underestimate damage to the spine and entheses in patients with psoriasis. The introduction of the ASAS criteria for IBP and methods for assessing enthesitis in dermatological practice can improve the early diagnosis of axial lesion in PsA in patients with psoriasis.
Reflexia na stav a perspektívy didaktiky biológie z pohľadu situácie na Prírodovedeckej fakulte Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave.
Authors: Ušáková Katarína 
Published: October 2019

Príspevok popisuje východiská a impulzy rozvoja didaktiky biológie na Slovensku z pohľadu skúseností edukačnej a výskumnej práce na Katedre didaktiky prírodných vied, psychológie a pedagogiky PRIFUK v Bratislave. Cez stručný historický prehľad od povojnového obdobia až po súčasnosť upriamuje pozornosť na osobnosti, ktoré sú s formovaním didaktiky biológie úzko spojené. Poukazuje na niektoré spoločné problémy prírodovedného vzdelávania v kontexte spoločensko-politických zmien spojených so vstupom do EU a dôsledkami reformného úsilia s cieľom konvergencie vzdelávacích systémov krajín EU. Podrobnejšie sa venuje problémom v doktorandskom štúdiu a výskumu v didaktike biológie, od kvality ktorého sa odvíja aj úroveň učiteľskej prípravy budúcich učiteľov biológie. Konkretizuje zmeny v obsahu aj v štruktúre didaktických predmetov s cieľom zvýšiť kvalitu a funkčnosť prípravy učiteľov. V závere príspevku autorka upozorňuje na pretrvávajúce problémy didaktiky biológie, ktorých riešenie si vyžaduje potrebu vyššej miery spolupráce všetkých zainteresovaných zložiek.
Témata výzkumu v přírodovědném vzdělávání
Authors: Kekule Martina 
Published: October 2019

Přehledový článek uvádí výsledky mezinárodních studií zaměřených na analýzu zejména témat ve výzkumu přírodovědného vzdělávání. Výsledky byly získány na základě analýz článků publikovaných ve vybraných mezinárodních časopisech. Nepřekvapivě nejvíce pozornosti je věnováno zejména konceptuálním představám žáků, i když v posledních letech dochází k přesouvání zaměření se na více na kontext učení se žáka. Analýza nejvíce citovaných článků ukazuje důraz zejména na badatelský přístup k výuce a s tím související argumentaci žáků v přírodovědně zaměřené výuce.
Dual role of T-type calcium channels in anxiety-related behavior
Authors: Kaur Simranjot , Maslov Leonid N. , Singh Nirmal , Jaggi Amteshwar Singh 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
T-type calcium channels are low voltage activated calcium channels that are widely expressed in various brain regions including stress-responsive regions. These channels regulate the diverse functions of the central nervous system, and modulation of these channels is shown to modulate the anxiety. Studies have described that modulation of T-type calcium channels may either aggravate or ameliorate anxiety-related behavior, suggesting the dual role of these channels. The studies employing animals with overexpression of T-type calcium channels reported their anxiety-inducing role. Therefore, the blockade of these channels using various pharmacological agents such as ethosuximide, plant extracts of linalool or rosemary, and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is reported to ameliorate anxiety. On the contrary, knockout of the gene encoding these channels predisposes the rodents to anxiety-related disorders, suggesting the anxiety-attenuating role of these channels. It may be possible that these channels in normal or basal state attenuate anxiety, whereas activation of these channels in stressful condition may produce anxiety. The present review describes the dual role of T-type calcium channels in anxiety-related behavior in both preclinical and clinical studies.
Measuring Benchmark Damages in Antitrust Litigation: Extensions and Practical Implications
Authors: Deng Ai 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This paper compares the “forecasting approach” and the “fully interacted approach” to estimation of cartel damages. We investigate the impact of relaxing the assumptions of exogeneity and stationarity, both theoretically and in Monte Carlo simulations. The results suggest that the advantages of the fully interacted approach are less clear and that the forecasting approach may be more robust to the relaxations of some of these maintained assumptions.