bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein characterization in Quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus) using gel‐permeation high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Beaufrère Hugues , Gardhouse Sara , Ammersbach Mélanie 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundLipid accumulation disorders, such as atherosclerosis and hepatic lipidosis, are common in psittacine birds and associated with various dyslipidemias. Gel‐permeation high‐performance liquid chromatography (GP‐HPLC) is a reference method for advanced lipoprotein profiling based on particle size separation, followed by an analysis of lipid contents.ObjectivesThe objectives were to (a) characterize Quaker parrot lipoproteins using a commercial GP‐HPLC method (Liposearch panel), and (b) obtain preliminary information on the reliability of the Friedewald formula for low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C) measurements.MethodsPlasma samples were collected from 12 fasted healthy Quaker parrots. Cholesterol concentrations, triglyceride concentrations, particle sizes, and particle numbers were determined by GP‐HPLC for four classes and 20 sub‐fractions of lipoproteins. The LDL‐C concentrations obtained using the Friedewald formula and direct measurements were compared with Bland‐Altman plots. Alternate formulas were determined using multiple linear regression.ResultsHigh‐density lipoprotein (HDL) was the predominant lipoprotein in Quaker parrots, and most particles were of medium‐to‐small sizes belonging to two sub‐fractions (average size, 10.6 nm). LDL was the second most common lipoprotein and included large‐to‐small particles belonging to three sub‐fractions (average size, 24.9 nm). Very‐low‐density lipoproteins (VLDL) and portomicrons were present in low concentrations. The Friedewald formula underestimated LDL‐C concentrations with a significant bias of 0.44 mmol/L. An alternate formula was proposed: LDL‐C = 0.75*Non‐HDL‐C.ConclusionsGP‐HPLC allowed unprecedented characterization of plasma lipoproteins in Quaker parrots. Characterizing psittacine lipoprotein is useful for validation and interpretation of routine clinical tests as well as for use in epidemiologic and experimental research on psittacine lipid accumulation disorders.
Thromboelastographic evaluation of 2 dogs with boomslang (Dispholidus typus) envenomation
Authors: Kopke Matthew A. , Botha Willem J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo describe 2 cases of boomslang (Dispholidus typus) envenomation in dogs, with thromboelastographic evaluation performed both pre‐ and postadministration of monovalent antivenom, and to contrast the clinical application of thromboelastography (TEG) with that of conventional coagulation testing in 1 of these cases for monitoring coagulation status in dogs suffering from such envenomation.Case Series SummaryTwo dogs, a Weimeraner and a Dachshund, were referred, on separate occasions, for stabilization and treatment following observed boomslang envenomation. Initial physical examination revealed minor bleeding from the bite wound site in both dogs, along with mild swelling of the surrounding tissue. The Weimeraner also demonstrated bleeding from the gingival margin and had pale mucous membranes at time of presentation. Findings consistent with a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were noted on conventional coagulation testing. TEG tracings in both dogs revealed a hypocoagulable state preadministration of monovalent antivenom, followed by return to a normocoagulable state immediately postadministration, along with resolution of clinical bleeding. Both dogs were successfully discharged from the hospital, with no adverse reactions, either acute or delayed being noted.New or Unique Information ProvidedBoomslang envenomation (hemotoxic snake venom) in dogs is rare, with currently only 3 cases in the literature. Herein, we document a further 2 cases and contrast changes on TEG with that noted on a routine hemostatic testing profile in 1 of these cases, to assess overall coagulation status both pre‐ and postadministration of antivenom.
Iron deficiency among French whole‐blood donors: first assessment and identification of predictive factors
Authors: Fillet Anne‐Marie , Martinaud Christophe , Malard Lucile , Le Cam Sophie , Hejl Carine , Chenus Florence , Woimant Geneviève , Chueca Marine , Jacquot Eric , Besiers Christophe , Morel Pascal , Djoudi Rachid , Garrabé Eliane , Gross Sylvie 
Published: September 2020

BackgroundThe objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) among French whole‐blood (WB) donors to identify factors associated with ID and to generate decision trees.Study design and methodsA prospective National multicentre study was performed on WB donors from March 11, to April 5th, 2019. Samples were selected randomly to perform serum ferritin. ID was defined as ferritin value under 26 ng/ml. All results were stratified by sex. Factors associated with ID were analysed using multivariate logistic regression model. CART algorithm was used for decision trees.ResultsEleven thousand two hundred fifty eight WB donors were included. ID was more frequent in women (39·5%) than in men (18·0%). Among 7200 repeated donors, women below 50 yo had a higher risk (OR = 2·37; [1·97–2·85] IC95) than those above 50 yo. Factors associated with ID were: haemoglobin level under the threshold at donation n‐1 except for women and n‐2 donation; a low mean corpuscular haemoglobin at n‐1 and n‐2 donations; a shorter interval since n‐1 donation and between n‐1 and n‐2 donations except for women; and women who had given three or four times in the last year. CART algorithm defined high risk of ID subgroups within three populations of donors, new female donors, repeated male donors and repeated female donors. In these identified subgroups, prevalence of ID was up to 72·1%.ConclusionsOur study showed the high prevalence of ID among French WB donors, identified well‐known and new factors associated with ID and defined algorithms predicting ID in three populations.
Effect of HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on detection of early infection and its impact on the appropriate post‐PrEP deferral period
Authors: Seed Clive R. , Styles Claire E. , Hoad Veronica C. , Yang Hung , Thomas Michael J. , Gosbell Iain B. 
Published: September 2020

IntroductionHIV antivirals for pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are known to affect detection of early HIV infection through suppression of viral load and delayed seroconversion. To cover potential delay in HIV detection associated with PrEP use by blood donors in the context of international reductions in sexual activity‐based deferral periods, we analysed the available data to determine the appropriate minimum post‐PrEP deferral period for blood donation.Materials and methodsPublished cases of incident HIV infection when PrEP use was objectively demonstrable were identified, consisting principally of seroconverters from the Partners PrEP study (a clinical trial of PrEP efficacy). Data were reviewed to determine the impact of PrEP on the detection of HIV RNA, p24 Ag and seroconversion delay.ResultsNucleic acid testing (NAT) detected early HIV infection in the presence of PrEP prior to or in concordance with serological testing in approximately 90% of cases. Undetectable HIV RNA would rebound to detectable levels within two months of PrEP cessation. PrEP delayed p24 antigen detection and antibody seroconversion by about 7 days.ConclusionEven when daily PrEP is continued, it is likely that the majority of early HIV infections are detectable by individual donation (ID)‐NAT, with p24 Ag or antibody seroconversion occurring conservatively within four weeks of exposure. HIV RNA levels also rebound rapidly in the absence of PrEP. In Australia, a three‐month deferral period for blood donation after the last dose of PrEP provides an appropriate safety margin to mitigate the residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted HIV.
NPK DETECTION SPECTROSCOPY ON NON-AGRICULTURE SOIL
Authors: Mohd Yusof Khairunnisa , Isaak Suhaila , Che Abd Rashid Nurfatihah , Ngajikin Nor Hafizah 
Published: September 2020

Soil is a medium for plant roots to grow, absorb water and necessary solutes for growth. Soil macronutrient testing is helpful for determining the nutrients content in soil before applying fertilizer for quality and process controls of agricultural produce and soil fertility. Spectroscopy is an emerging technology which is rapid and simple has been widely used in agricultural and food analysis processes. The capability of spectroscopy to characterize material from the transmission or absorbance has been used in this paper to measure nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content in non-agriculture soil. The paper details preliminary characterization of soil spectroscopy with a Deuterium-Halogen light source and Ocean Optic spectrometer to measure the absorbance level of the macronutrients. The extracted nutrients were mixed with the colour reagent and specific colored solution was developed. Two soil samples have been employed for the experimental characterization, which are mud flood and kaolin. The result shows that high absorbance level of N at 450 nm in wavelength, P at 750 nm for both samples. The absorbance level of K was measured high at 500nm for mud flood and 450nm for kaolin. In addition, the tested macronutrients give similar wavelength of peak absorbance level at 970 nm for both samples. For future works, the optical measurements will be implemented using visible and near infrared LED and the photodetector in order to replace the spectrometer usage for soil spectroscopy. This would lead to achieve the primary objective of this research in developing a simple and low cost spectroscopy uses light-emitting diode (LED).
Influence of Data Acquisition Algorithms on X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging Computed Tomography
Authors: Epstein Collin J. C. , Goodner Ryan N. , Derek West R. , Thompson Kyle R. , Dagel Amber L. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) is a nondestructive evaluation technique that enables high-contrast detection of low-attenuation materials that are largely transparent in traditional radiography. Extending a grating-based Talbot-Lau XPCI system to three-dimensional imaging with computed tomography (CT) imposes two motion requirements: the analyzer grating must translate transverse to the optical axis to capture image sets for XPCI reconstruction, and the sample must rotate to capture angular data for CT reconstruction. The acquisition algorithm choice determines the order of movement and positioning of the two stages. The choice of the image acquisition algorithm for XPCI CT is instrumental to collecting high fidelity data for reconstruction. We investigate how data acquisition influences XPCI CT by comparing two simple data acquisition algorithms and determine that capturing a full phase-stepping image set for a CT projection before rotating the sample results in higher quality data.
Macro Energy Trends and the Future of Geothermal Within the Low-Carbon Energy Portfolio
Authors: Ball Philip J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractExploratory analysis was conducted to understand energy diversification trends within the oil, gas, and power industry and to examine whether geothermal technologies play a role in the low-carbon energy mix. Investigations were completed using the 2018 end of year financial reports for 36 companies. Macro-scale insights reveal a significant split between European and US-based oil and gas companies in terms of strategy which is mirrored by the power companies. Diversification into low-carbon technologies is driving an energy convergence between the oil and gas and power sectors. Presently, the oil and gas industry is not actively investing in geothermal technologies, favoring instead solar photovoltaic (solar PV), onshore/offshore wind, biomass/gas, gas to power and storage. The macro-scale analysis is coupled with, 20, semi-structured interviews with geothermal and energy specialists. The interviews provided an insight why oil and gas companies have resisted entering the geothermal industry. In addition the interviews were organized into a Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental, PESTLE, analysis to understand the present-day external environment of the geothermal industry in the USA today. The combined analyses indicate that the regulatory, business and finance environment for geothermal, in the USA, is challenging. Recent geothermal innovations that increase the footprint of the geothermal industry, offering new scalable, low-carbon baseload concepts, might provide an avenue for the oil and gas industry to enter the geothermal domain, while leveraging their existing core competencies, intellectual property (IP), technology, assets, and workforce knowledge skills and experience.
Soft sediment deformation in dry pyroclastic deposits at Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley, California
Authors: Valentine Greg A. , Fierstein Judy , White James D.L. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Soft sediment deformation structures are common in fine-grained pyroclastic deposits and are often taken, along with other characteristics, to indicate that deposits were emplaced in a wet and cohesive state. At Ubehebe Crater (Death Valley, California, USA), deposits were emplaced by multiple explosions, both directly from pyroclastic surges and by rapid remobilization of fresh, fine-ash-rich deposits off steep slopes as local granular flows. With the exception of the soft sediment deformation structures themselves, there is no evidence of wet deposition. We conclude that deformation was a result of destabilization of fresh, fine-grained deposits with elevated pore-gas pressure and dry cohesive forces. Soft sediment deformation alone is not sufficient to determine whether parent pyroclastic surges contained liquid water and caused wet deposition of strata.
Health system determinants of access to essential medicines for children with cancer in Ghana
Authors: Boateng Rhonda , Renner Lorna , Petricca Kadia , Gupta Sumit , Denburg Avram 
Published: September 2020

BackgroundEvidence of the context-specific challenges related to childhood cancer drug (CCD) access is vital to improving outcomes for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries, such as Ghana. We sought to determine the availability and cost of essential CCD in Ghana and identify the underlying determinants of access.MethodsOur study integrated quantitative data on drug prices and availability with qualitative insights into health system and sociopolitical determinants of CCD access in Ghana. We analysed retrospective monthly price and stock data for 41 cancer and supportive care drugs on the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) from private retail and public institutional pharmacies. Non-parametric analyses evaluated relationships between drug price and availability, and impacts of drug class and formulation on availability and procurement efficiency. We assessed the determinants of drug access through thematic analysis of policy documents and semi-structured interviews (n=21) with key health system stakeholders.ResultsGhana lists only 47% of essential CCD on its National EML, revealing gaps in domestic formulary inclusion. Stock-outs occurred for 88% of essential CCD, with a 70-day median stock-out duration; 32% had median price ratios above internationally-accepted efficiency thresholds. Drugs procured inefficiently were more susceptible to stock-outs (p=0.0003). Principal determinants of drug access included: (1) lack of sociopolitical priority afforded childhood cancer and (2) the impact of policy and regulatory environments on drug affordability, availability and quality. Establishment of a population-based cancer registry, a nationally-coordinated procurement strategy for CCD, public financing for childhood cancer care and policies to control drug costs emerged as priority interventions to improve drug access in Ghana.ConclusionOur study provides context-specific evidence to enable responsive policy development for efficient drug procurement and supply management in Ghana and establishes a rigorous approach to the analysis of childhood cancer drug access in similar health system settings.
How previous epidemics enable timelier COVID-19 responses: an empirical study using organisational memory theory
Authors: Tsuei Sian Hsiang-Te 
Published: September 2020

IntroductionThere has been little systematic exploration into what affects timeliness of epidemic response, despite the potential for earlier responses to be more effective. Speculations have circulated that previous exposure to major epidemics helped health systems respond more quickly to COVID-19. This study leverages organisational memory theory to test whether health systems with any, more severe, or more recent exposure to major epidemics enacted timelier COVID-19 policy responses.MethodsA data set was constructed cataloguing 846 policies across 178 health systems in total, 37 of which had major epidemics within the last 20 years. Hypothesis testing used OLS regressions with World Health Organization region fixed effects, controlling for several health system expenditure and political variables.ResultsResults show that exposure to any major epidemics was associated with providing earlier response in the following policy categories: all policies, surveillance/response, distancing, and international travel policies. The effect was about 6–10 days earlier response. The significance of this variable was largely nullified with the addition of the other two independent variables. Neither total cases nor years since previous epidemics showed no statistical significance.ConclusionThis study suggests that health systems may learn from past major epidemics. Policymakers ought to institutionalise lessons from COVID-19. Future studies can examine specific generalisable lessons and whether timelier responses correlated with lower health and economic impacts.
Connecting nutrition as a hard science and international knowledge networks: Proceedings of the Fourth International Summit on Medical and Public Health Nutrition Education and Research
Authors: Barrett Eden M , Brown Mhairi , Buckner Luke , Bradfield James , Khalid Ali A , Laur Celia , Ray Sumantra 
Published: September 2020

IntroductionNutrition is a ‘hard’ science in two ways; the scientific rigour required for quality nutrition research, and equally, the challenges faced in evidence translation. Ways in which quality nutrition research can be synthesised and evidence effectively translated into practice were the focus of the Fourth Annual International Summit on Medical and Public Health Nutrition Education and Research.SettingWolfson College, University of Cambridge, and Addenbrookes Hospital at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, in July 2018.Key findingsOpen communication and collaboration across disciplines and systems, including transfer of knowledge, ideas and data through international knowledge application networks, was presented as a key tool in enhancing nutrition research and translation of evidence. Increasing basic nutrition competence and confidence in medical professionals is needed to encourage the implementation of nutrition therapy in prevention and treatment of health outcomes.ConclusionsA sustained focus on producing quality nutrition research must be coupled with increased efforts in collaboration and building of knowledge networks, including educating and training multidisciplinary health and medical professionals in nutrition. Such efforts are needed to ensure nutrition is both reliable in its messaging and effective in translation into healthcare.
Investigating the benefits and challenges of including bereaved women in research: a multifaceted perinatal audit in a socially disadvantaged French district
Authors: Sauvegrain Priscille , Zeitlin Jennifer 
Published: September 2020

ObjectivesTo describe experiences including interviews with bereaved women in a clinical audit.DesignThe data come from an audit of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths at ≥22 weeks of gestation in Seine-Saint-Denis, a disadvantaged French district in 2014. We included bereaved women using a questionnaire that also contained open-ended questions administered in an interview format by a midwife-investigator several weeks after the death. The study included a referral protocol for bereaved women with unmet needs revealed during the interviews. A psychological support for the three midwife-investigators was set-up, in the form of a support group.SettingThe 11 maternity hospitals in the district.Participants218 women (227 deaths).AnalysesData come from medical records, maternal interviews, the reviews of the audit’s expert panel and written narratives of their experiences provided by the midwife-investigators. Quantitative data were analysed statistically, and qualitative data thematically.ResultsOne-third (75) of the women agreed to an interview, but acceptance ranged from 6% to 60% by maternity unit. Characteristics of respondents and non-respondents were similar. Members of the audit’s expert panel reported that 41% of the interviews contained new information relevant to their assessment. Of the women interviewed, 35% were referred to a medical professional, psychologist or social worker. Midwife-investigators’ experiences illustrated the benefits of a support group with three main themes identified: improving their interactions with bereaved women as well as medical teams and protecting their psychological well-being.ConclusionThese results showed that including interviews with bereaved women in audit designs was feasible and provided valuable information on women’s care and social circumstances that were not available in medical records. They also highlight the importance of implementing referral protocols for the bereaved women, used in over one-third of cases, as well as providing support for study investigators.