bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies and 440 281 patients
Authors: Silverio Angelo , Di Maio Marco , Prota Costantina , De Angelis Elena , Radano Ilaria , Citro Rodolfo , Carrizzo Albino , Ciccarelli Michele , Vecchione Carmine , Capodanno Davide , Galasso Gennaro 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Aims
The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K oral antagonists (NOACs) vs. vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and indirectly compare NOACs in this population.

Methods and results
MEDLINE, Cochrane, ISI Web of Sciences, and SCOPUS were searched for randomized or adjusted observational studies comparing NOACs vs. VKAs for stroke prevention in AF patients ≥75 years. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes of this meta-analysis were the composite of stroke and systemic embolism (SSE) and major bleedings, respectively. Other secondary outcomes were also analysed. The analysis included 22 studies enrolling 440 281 AF patients ≥ 75 years. The risk of SSE was significantly lower with NOACs vs. VKAs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70–0.89], whereas no differences were found for major bleedings (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.85–1.05). NOACs reduced the risk of intracranial bleeding (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.38–0.58), haemorrhagic stroke (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.48–0.79) and fatal bleeding (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.30–0.72) but increased gastrointestinal (GI) bleedings (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.30–1.65), compared to VKAs. The adjusted indirect comparison showed no significant differences in term of SSE between NOAC agents. Conversely, the risk of major bleeding was higher for rivaroxaban vs. apixaban (HR 1.69; 95% CI 1.39–2.08) and edoxaban (HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.14–1.67), and for dabigatran vs. apixaban (HR 1.47; 95% CI 1.18–1.85).

Conclusion
In elderly patients with AF, NOACs are associated to a lower risk of SSE, intracranial bleeding, haemorrhagic stroke and fatal bleeding than VKAs, but increase GI bleedings. In this analysis, the safety profile of individual NOAC agents was significantly different.
Optimal Continuous Cover Forest Management with a Lower Bound Constraint on Dead Wood
Authors: Rämö Janne , Assmuth Aino , Tahvonen Olli 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe analyze economically optimal continuous cover forestry with dead wood as a biodiversity indicator. We study mixed-species stands consisting of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), birch (Betula pendula Roth.), and other broadleaves (e.g., oak [Quercus sp.], maple [Acer sp.]). The analysis is based on an economic description of continuous cover forest management using an empirically estimated size-structured transition matrix model. We use size-specific decomposition rates for dead wood, with the lower limit on total dead wood volume varying between 0 and 40 m3 ha–1. The optimization problem is solved in its general dynamic form using gradient-based interior point methods. Increasing the dead wood volume requirement affects total stand density only slightly, but increases stand heterogeneity as other broadleaves are grown in higher numbers. In addition, increasing the dead wood requirement has only a minor effect on the total felled volume, but harvests shift from timber harvests to biodiversity fellings to maintain the required dead wood volume. In the optimal steady state with a high dead wood requirement, two harvesting cohorts emerge: one for timber harvests and the other for biodiversity fellings. Increasing the dead wood requirement decreases steady-state net timber income by up to 30 percent compared to the unconstrained solution.
Endoscopic stricturotomy and ileo-colonic resection in patients with primary Crohn’s disease-related distal ileum strictures
Authors: Lan Nan , Hull Tracy L , Shen Bo 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Stricture is a common presentation of Crohn’s disease with the site of prevalence being the distal ileum. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of patients with primary distal ileum stricture treated with endoscopic stricturotomy (ESt) vs ileo-colonic resection (ICR).

Methods
All consecutive patients with primary distal ileum stricture that were treated with ESt and/or ICR were extracted from the interventional inflammatory bowel disease (i-IBD) unit from 2001 to 2016. All patients with a stricture &gt;5 cm or those with anastomotic strictures were excluded from the study. The primary outcomes were surgery-free survival and post-procedural complications.

Results
A total of 13 patients receiving ESt and 32 patients receiving ICR were included in this study. Although the length of the stricture is comparable between the two groups (2.4 ± 0.9 vs 3.0 ± 1.1 cm, P = 0.17), patients who received surgery had a more complicated obstruction presented by the high pre-stenosis proximal dilation rate (67.7% vs 9.1%, P = 0.001). All patients in both groups achieved immediate technical success after treatment. The median follow-up durations were 1.8 and 1.5 years in the ESt and ICR groups, respectively. The subsequent surgery rates were similar between the two groups (15.4% vs 18.8%, P = 0.79) and the overall surgery-free survival was also comparable between the two groups (P = 0.98). Post-procedural adverse events were seen in 2/29 ESt procedures (6.9% per procedure) and 8/32 (25.0%) patients receiving ICR (P = 0.05).

Conclusions
ESt achieved comparable stricture-related surgery-free survival as ICR, while ESt had a numerically lower post-operative complication rate.
Functional Genomics of a Symbiotic Community: Shared Traits in the Olive Fruit Fly Gut Microbiota
Authors: Blow Frances , Gioti Anastasia , Goodhead Ian B , Kalyva Maria , Kampouraki Anastasia , Vontas John , Darby Alistair C 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is a major pest of olives worldwide and houses a specialized gut microbiota dominated by the obligate symbiont “Candidatus Erwinia dacicola.” Candidatus Erwinia dacicola is thought to supplement dietary nitrogen to the host, with only indirect evidence for this hypothesis so far. Here, we sought to investigate the contribution of the symbiosis to insect fitness and explore the ecology of the insect gut. For this purpose, we examined the composition of bacterial communities associated with Cretan olive fruit fly populations, and inspected several genomes and one transcriptome assembly. We identified, and reconstructed the genome of, a novel component of the gut microbiota, Tatumella sp. TA1, which is stably associated with Mediterranean olive fruit fly populations. We also reconstructed a number of pathways related to nitrogen assimilation and interactions with the host. The results show that, despite variation in taxa composition of the gut microbial community, core functions related to the symbiosis are maintained. Functional redundancy between different microbial taxa was observed for genes involved in urea hydrolysis. The latter is encoded in the obligate symbiont genome by a conserved urease operon, likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer, based on phylogenetic evidence. A potential underlying mechanism is the action of mobile elements, especially abundant in the Ca. E. dacicola genome. This finding, along with the identification, in the studied genomes, of extracellular surface structure components that may mediate interactions within the gut community, suggest that ongoing and past genetic exchanges between microbes may have shaped the symbiosis.
Diet Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Call to the Dining Table
Authors: Limketkai Berkeley N , Gordon Morris , Mutlu Ece A , De Silva Punyanganie S , Lewis James D 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
There is vigorous interest among patients, caregivers, clinicians, and scientists to identify useful dietary interventions for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Through the Cochrane Collaboration, we recently performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary interventions for the induction or maintenance of remission in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) to assess the latest state of research. The current quality of evidence was formally graded to be low or very low for various methodological reasons, such as small sample sizes, heterogeneity among studies, and incomplete reporting. There are nonetheless emerging observational studies that progressively advance our knowledge and provide hope for a role of diet among traditional therapies to improve inflammation and symptoms. Further investments and concerted efforts in research are needed to significantly move the needle in identifying effective dietary therapies for IBD.
Fecal IgA Levels and Gut Microbiota Composition Are Regulated by Invariant Natural Killer T Cells
Authors: de Aguiar Cristhiane Favero , Castoldi Angela , Amano Mariane T , Ignacio Aline , Terra Fernanda Fernandes , Cruz Mario , Felizardo Raphael J F , Braga Tárcio Teodoro , Davanzo Gustavo Gastão , Gambarini Victor , Antonio Tiago , Antiorio Ana Tada Fonseca Brasil , Hiyane Meire Ioshie , Morais da Fonseca Denise , Andrade-Oliveira Vinicius , Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe gut microbiota is a key element to support host homeostasis and the development of the immune system. The relationship between the microbiota and immunity is a 2-way road, in which the microbiota contributes to the development/function of immune cells and immunity can affect the composition of microbes. In this context, natural killer T cells (NKT cells) are distinct T lymphocytes that play a role in gut immunity and are influenced by gut microbes. In our work, we investigated the involvement of invariant NKT cells (iNKT) in intestinal homeostasis.ResultsWe found that iNKT-deficient mice (iNKT-KO) had reduced levels of fecal IgA and an altered composition of the gut microbiota, with increased Bacteroidetes. The absence of iNKT cells also affected TGF-β1 levels and plasma cells, which were significantly reduced in knockout (KO) mice. In addition, when submitted to dextran sodium sulfate colitis, iNKT-KO mice had worsening of colitis when compared with wild-type (WT) mice. To further address iNKT cell contribution to intestinal homeostasis, we adoptively transferred iNKT cells to KO mice, and they were submitted to colitis. Transfer of iNKT cells improved colitis and restored fecal IgA levels and gut microbiota.ConclusionsOur results indicate that intestinal NKT cells are important modulators of intestinal homeostasis and that gut microbiota composition may be a potential target in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Parameter-dependent robust H∞ filtering for uncertain two-dimensional discrete systems in the FM second model
Authors: Badie Khalid , Alfidi Mohammed , Oubaidi Mohamed , Chalh Zakaria 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This paper deals with the problem of robust $H_{\infty }$ filtering for uncertain two-dimensional discrete systems in the Fornasini–Marchesini second model with polytopic parameter uncertainties. Firstly, a new $H_{\infty }$ performance criterion is derived by exploiting a new structure of the parameter-dependent Lyapunov function. Secondly, based on the criterion obtained, a new condition for the existence of a robust $H_{\infty }$ filter that ensures asymptotic stability, and a prescribed $H_{\infty }$ performance level of the filtering error system, for all admissible uncertainties is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed method.
Randomized exponential integrators for modulated nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Hofmanová Martina , Knöller Marvin , Schratz Katharina 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
We consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with dispersion modulated by a (formal) derivative of a time-dependent function with fractional Sobolev regularity of class $W^{\alpha ,2}$ for some $\alpha \in (0,1)$. Due to the loss of smoothness in the problem, classical numerical methods face severe order reduction. In this work, we develop and analyze a new randomized exponential integrator based on a stratified Monte Carlo approximation. The new discretization technique averages the high oscillations in the solution allowing for improved convergence rates of order $\alpha +1/2$. In addition, the new approach allows us to treat a far more general class of modulations than the available literature. Numerical results underline our theoretical findings and show the favorable error behavior of our new scheme compared to classical methods.
Adverse infant outcomes associated with caesarean section delivery in India
Authors: Gondwe Tamala , Betha Kalpana , Kusneniwar G N , Bunker Clareann H , Tang Gong , Simhan Hyagriv , Haggerty Catherine L 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Caesarean section delivery is increasing worldwide and in India, yet little is known about the effect on infants. We examined the association between caesarean delivery and adverse infant outcomes in an Indian national survey, accounting for factors related to the mode of delivery.

Methods
Inverse probability weighted logistic regression analysis of the 2015–2016 India National Family Health Survey obtained adjusted ORs (aORs) and 95% CIs. Infant outcomes were maternal report of recent concomitant diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) in infants age ≤6 mo and neonatal death.

Results
Of the 189 143 reported most recent singleton births, 15.4% were delivered by caesarean, 860 (3.2%) of all infants age ≤6 mo had concomitant diarrhoea and ARI and 3480 (1.8%) neonatal deaths were reported. In adjusted analysis, caesarean delivery was not associated with concomitant diarrhoea and ARI (aOR 0.96 [95% CI 0.71 to 1.32]) but was associated with neonatal death (aOR 1.19 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.39]).

Conclusions
Using nationally representative cross-sectional data for India, caesarean section delivery was found to be associated with neonatal death after accounting for factors associated with the mode of delivery. Prospective exploration of the relationship between caesarean delivery and adverse infant outcomes is warranted.
Grazing behavior and production characteristics among cows differing in residual feed intake while grazing late season Idaho rangeland
Authors: Sprinkle James E , Taylor J Bret , Clark Patrick E , Hall John B , Strong Nicole K , Roberts-Lew Meghan C 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The objectives were to determine whether cows previously classified during a postweaning test as either low or high residual feed intake (LRFI or HRFI) differed in BW, BCS, and winter grazing activity while consuming poor-quality forage. Thirty Hereford × Angus (LRFI = 16; HRFI = 14) 2-yr-old mid- to late-gestation cows (pregnant with second calf) grazed sagebrush steppe for 78 d beginning 29 September 2015. BW and BCS were collected before and after grazing. Five cows of each RFI classification were fitted with global positioning system (GPS) collars on 16 November 2015 with data collection commencing 3 d later and continuing for 25 d in a 323-ha pasture. The GPS units collected location coordinates every 2 min from which total daily travel distance (DTD) was calculated. Visual counts for bite rate were obtained from collared cows over 8 d. Coordinate data, daily bite rate, BW, and BCS were analyzed as repeated measures using a mixed model, which included RFI group, day, and RFI group × day as fixed effects and cow within RFI group as the random effect. Change in BW and BCS was analyzed by ANOVA with RFI group as the main effect. Cow BCS and BW differed for both day (P &lt; 0.0001) and day × RFI (P &lt; 0.05). Body condition was less (P &lt; 0.05) in LRFI cows at the beginning (5.8 ± 0.13 vs. 6.2 ± 0.14 BCS), but similar (P = 0.67) to HRFI at the end of the study (4.6 ± 0.13 vs. 4.6 ± 0.14). BW among the RFI groups did not differ (P = 0.20) prior to going to range. However, BW-change and BCS-change differed (P &lt; 0.05) between RFI groups. Not only did the LRFI cows lose less BW (−50.0 ± 5.41 kg vs. −66.6 ± 5.78 kg) over the trial, they also were less variable with respect to BW loss. Cows did not differ (P &gt; 0.21) by RFI for DTD or bite rate, but day was significant (P &lt; 0.0001) with cows increasing bite rate as the season of year progressed (55.2 ± 5.63 bites/min for day 4 vs. 84.8 ± 5.32 bites/min for day 21) and increasing DTD as snow storms occurred. Although LRFI cows were leaner than HRFI cows at the commencement of the project, they lost less BW in a late season rangeland environment.
Inclusion of the direct-fed microbial Clostridium butyricum in diets for weanling pigs increases growth performance and tends to increase villus height and crypt depth, but does not change intestinal microbial abundance
Authors: Casas Gloria A , Blavi Laia , Cross Tzu-Wen L , Lee Anne H , Swanson Kelly S , Stein Hans H 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that inclusion of the direct fed microbial Clostridium butyricum in diets for weanling pigs will improve growth performance, systemic immune function, microbiota composition, and gut morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 275 newly weaned pigs (20 ± 2 d of age) with an average initial BW of 6.4 ± 0.8 kg were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 11 pens per treatment. Diets included a positive control diet containing Carbadox, a negative control diet without Carbadox, and three treatment diets in which 1,250 × 108 cfu/kg, 2,500 × 108 cfu/kg, or 3,500 × 108 cfu/kg of C. butyricum was added to the negative control diet. A two-phase feeding program was used (phase 1, 14 d; phase 2, 21 d). At the conclusion of the experiment (day 35), a blood sample was collected from one pig per pen (11 pigs per treatment) and this pig was then euthanized and digesta and tissues samples were collected. Results indicated that for the overall phase, pigs fed the positive control diet had greater (P &lt; 0.05) ADG and ADFI and tended (P = 0.064) to have greater final BW than pigs fed the negative control diet. The ADG and G:F increased and then decreased as increasing doses of C. butyricum were included in the diet (quadratic, P &lt; 0.05). The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α was less (P &lt; 0.05) in pigs fed the positive control diet compared with pigs fed the negative control diet or diets containing C. butyricum. Crypt depth tended (P = 0.08) to be less in pigs fed the negative control diet compared with pigs fed the positive control diet and villus height tended to increase as the doses of C. butyricum increased in the diets (quadratic, P = 0.08). Villus height also tended (P = 0.084) to be greater in pigs fed diets containing C. butyricum compared with pigs fed the positive control diet. Crypt depth increased as the dose of C. butyricum increased (quadratic, P &lt; 0.05) and villus width at the bottom tended to increase (linear, P = 0.072) as the dose of C. butyricum increased in the diet. Alpha and beta diversity indices of ileal and colonic microbiota were not affected by diet. In conclusion, addition of 1,250 × 108 cfu/kg of C. butyricum, but not greater levels, to diets fed to weanling pigs increased growth performance and tended to increase villus height and crypt depth, but changes in the abundance of intestinal microbiota were not observed.
Determination of Morphine, Fentanyl and Their Metabolites in Small Sample Volumes Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gleba Jessica , Kim Jonghan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The USA and numerous other countries worldwide are currently experiencing a public health crisis due to the abuse of heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. We have developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS)-based method for the detection of morphine, fentanyl and their metabolites, including morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), normorphine, norfentanyl and deuterated internal standards in limited sample volumes with the limit of detection of 5.0/0.5 ng/mL (morphine, M3G, M6G, normorphine/fentanyl, norfentanyl). The inter-assay precision (%CV) was less than 12% for all assays, and the inter-assay bias (%) was less than 5%. The ruggedness of the method, dilution effect and carryover were also investigated as part of the study. The simultaneous quantification of morphine, fentanyl and its metabolites via this simple and time- and cost-efficient method could be successfully applied to samples taken for pharmacokinetic evaluation (antemortem and postmortem) after a single dose of morphine or co-administration of morphine with other drugs (e.g., fentanyl) in rats.
The Disruption of the Prudential Regulatory Framework
Authors: Siciliani Paolo 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
This article first explores how the prudential regulatory framework may be drastically changed as a result of the adoption of regtech and suptech innovations. The adoption of a shared data architecture, whereby the regulator is provided with seamless access to the accounts of regulated firms, may result in the development of a centralized approach to regulatory modelling, thus bypassing the existing partition between internal models and standardized approaches. Secondly, this article discusses how, thanks to the adoption of advanced predictive analytics, non-bank fintech lenders can gain insights into borrowers’ creditworthiness irrespective of banks’ control over traditional sources of information for credit scoring. This, though, may give rise to a new type of strategic gaming, this time by borrowers keen to maximize their chances of being granted a loan. In any case, preventing banks from adopting these new methods for the purpose of regulatory modelling might weaken their competitiveness. Thirdly, this article explores whether the transition to a centralized approach for credit risk management would conflate the distinction between microprudential and macroprudential interventions, in particular with respect to the countercyclical macroprudential policy. Finally, the article argues that non-bank (fintech) firms could be persuaded to coalesce behind endorsement of the new regulatory shared data platform in return for the support from the central bank. In this way, the regulatory perimeter could be extended in order to steer the adoption of financial innovations in a manner that benefits society overall.
Histological and Immunohistochemical Study of Wounds in Sheep Skin in Maggot Therapy by Using Protophormia terraenovae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larvae
Authors: Durán David , Galapero Javier , Frontera Eva , Bravo-Barriga Daniel , Blanco Juan , Gómez Luis 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA study was performed to evaluate the implication of Protophormia terraenovae larvae as a surgical therapy for wounded skin. Three groups of sheep (n = 25) were considered based on larval doses. Groups 1 and 2 were artificially infested with low and high concentrations of L1 stage P. terraenovae, respectively, and group 0 served as a control. Skin biopsies were taken at 4 and 14 d postinfestation (D.P.If). A histopathological study was carried out to evaluate the lesions with a score, numbers of eosinophils and mast cells, and an immunohistochemical analysis of CD3, CD79α, and CD68 as T lymphocytes, B lymphosytes, and macrophages, respectively. The results indicated that higher larval doses led to faster regeneration by 14 D.P.If. Furthermore, the higher larval doses showed a high number of the CD68 marker and eosinophils and a low number of CD3 and CD79α markers and mast cells. In addition, the number of mast cells, T lymphocytes, and macrophage markers increased when the lesion progressed; however, a low number of immunolabeled CD79α cells and eosinophils were observed. The results indicate a possible positive effect of larvae in the healing of certain wounds.