bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual contraception method utilization and associated factors among sexually active women on antiretroviral therapy in Gondar City, northwest, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study
Authors: Abay Fewuze , Yeshita Hedija Yenus , Mekonnen Fantahun Ayenew , Sisay Mekonnen 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Mother to child transmission is responsible for 90% of child infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Dual contraceptive use is one of the best actions to prevent mother’s human immune deficiency virus transmission to her child and partner. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with dual contraceptive use among sexually active women on antiretroviral therapy in Gondar City, northwest, Ethiopia.

Methods
An institution based cross sectional study was conducted in Gondar City public health facilities from December 1 to 31, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was utilized to include 563 study participants. Data were collected by interview using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was made to compute mean, median and proportion. Finally, multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify the factors associated with dual contraceptive method utilization. Analysis was performed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.

Results
The overall prevalence of dual contraceptive method utilization among sexually active women on antiretroviral therapy was 28.8% (95% CI: 24.9, 32.7). Women aged 35–49 years (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.99; 95% CI: 3.11, 15.71)), who lived in urban areas (AOR: 4.81; 95% CI: 2.04, 11.31), attended secondary and above education (AOR: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.92, 10.22), and disclosed HIV status to sexual partners (AOR: 9.84; 95% CI: 3.48, 27.81) were more likely to use dual contraceptive method.

Conclusion
In this study, the proportion of women who utilized dual contraceptive method was low. Age, place of residence, educational status and disclosure of HIV status were factors associated with dual contraceptive use. Therefore, providing education about the advantages of disclosing HIV status to sexual partners and strengthening of counseling about the advantages of dual contraceptive use will be helpful in enhancing the use of dual contraceptive method among sexually active women on antiretroviral therapy.
Potentially avoidable Inter-Facility transfer from Veterans Health Administration emergency departments: A cohort study
Authors: Mohr Nicholas M. , Wu Chaorong , Ward Michael J. , McNaughton Candace D. , Richardson Kelly , Kaboli Peter J. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Inter-facility transfer is an important strategy for improving access to specialized health services, but transfers are complicated by over-triage, under-triage, travel burdens, and costs. The purpose of this study is to describe ED-based inter-facility transfer practices within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to estimate the proportion of potentially avoidable transfers.

Methods
This observational cohort study included all patients treated in VHA EDs between 2012 and 2014 who were transferred to another VHA hospital. Potentially avoidable transfers were defined as patients who were either discharged from the receiving ED or admitted to the receiving hospital for ≤1 day without having an invasive procedure performed. We conducted facility- and diagnosis-level analyses to identify subgroups of patients for whom potentially avoidable transfers had increased prevalence.

Results
Of 6,173,189 ED visits during the 3-year study period, 18,852 (0.3%) were transferred from one VHA ED to another VHA facility. Rural residents were transferred three times as often as urban residents (0.6% vs. 0.2%, p < 0.001), and 22.8% of all VHA-to-VHA transfers were potentially avoidable transfers. The 3 disease categories most commonly associated with inter-facility transfer were mental health (34%), cardiac (12%), and digestive diagnoses (9%).

Conclusions
VHA inter-facility transfer is commonly performed for mental health and cardiac evaluation, particularly for patients in rural settings. The proportion that are potentially avoidable is small. Future work should focus on improving capabilities to provide specialty evaluation locally for these conditions, possibly using telehealth solutions.
The wild species genome ancestry of domestic chickens
Authors: Lawal Raman Akinyanju , Martin Simon H. , Vanmechelen Koen , Vereijken Addie , Silva Pradeepa , Al-Atiyat Raed Mahmoud , Aljumaah Riyadh Salah , Mwacharo Joram M. , Wu Dong-Dong , Zhang Ya-Ping , Hocking Paul M. , Smith Jacqueline , Wragg David , Hanotte Olivier 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundHybridisation and introgression play key roles in the evolutionary history of animal species. They are commonly observed within several orders in wild birds. The domestic chickenGallus gallus domesticusis the most common livestock species. More than 65 billion chickens are raised annually to produce meat and 80 million metric tons of egg for global human consumption by the commercial sector. Unravelling the origin of its genetic diversity has major application for sustainable breeding improvement programmes.ResultsIn this study, we report genome-wide analyses for signatures of introgression between indigenous domestic village chicken and the four wildGallusspecies. We first assess the genome-wide phylogeny and divergence time across the genusGallus. Genome-wide sequence divergence analysis supports a sister relationship between the Grey junglefowlG. sonneratiiand Ceylon junglefowlG. lafayettii. Both species form a clade that is sister to the Red junglefowlG. gallus, with the Green junglefowlG. variusthe most ancient lineage within the genus. We reveal extensive bidirectional introgression between the Grey junglefowl and the domestic chicken and to a much lesser extent with the Ceylon junglefowl. We identify a single case of Green junglefowl introgression. These introgressed regions include genes with biological functions related to development and immune system.ConclusionsOur study shows that while the Red junglefowl is the main ancestral species, introgressive hybridisation episodes have impacted the genome and contributed to the diversity of the domestic chicken, although likely at different levels across its geographic range.
Age-related changes in T lymphocytes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jeske S. S. , Schuler P. J. , Doescher J. , Theodoraki M. N. , Laban S. , Brunner C. , Hoffmann T. K. , Wigand M. C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe number of aging cancer patients has increased continuously and will do so further in the future. The immune system of elderly people experiences critical changes over the time. Therefore, tumor-induced changes in the immune system are believed to differ in young and elderly cancer patients as well.MethodsThe effect of aging on the immune system was measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of healthy volunteers (n = 48, 21–84 yrs.) divided into three different age groups. Seventy years was set as a cut-off for defining subjects as elderly. Results were compared to two groups of adult cancer patients, which donated PBL and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL): young cancer patients (40–69 yrs.; blood:n = 13; TIL:n = 17) and elderly cancer patients (70–90 yrs.; blood:n = 20; TIL:n = 15) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Frequencies and phenotypes of CD4+and CD8+T cells as well as regulatory T cells (Treg) were assessed by flow cytometry.ResultsWe observed lower frequencies of CD8+cytotoxic T cells during aging in both groups. Frequencies of tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells were significantly higher than in the peripheral blood but showed a significant decline in older tumor patients. With increasing age, expression of immunosuppressive CD73 and CCR7 was lower and expression of PD1 elevated on peripheral T cells in healthy volunteers and tumor patients.ConclusionImmunosenescence takes place in healthy donors and cancer patients. Our results suggest that in elderly tumor patients, the immune system is impaired and the tumor-induced immune escape is less pronounced. The increased expression of PD1 implies the potential for effective immunotherapies in elderly, as treatment with checkpoint inhibitors could be more beneficial for elderly HNSCC patients.
Proteomic analysis of synaptic protein turnover in the anterior cingulate cortex after nerve injury
Authors: Ko Hyoung-Gon , Park Dong Ik , Lee Ji Hyun , Turck Christoph W. , Kaang Bong-Kiun 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSynaptic proteins play an important role for the regulation of synaptic plasticity. Numerous studies have identified and revealed individual synaptic protein functions using protein overexpression or deletion. In neuropathic pain nociceptive stimuli conveyed from the periphery repetitively stimulate neurons in the central nerve system, brain and spinal cord. Neuronal activities change the turnover (synthesis and degradation) rate of synaptic proteins. Thus, the analysis of synaptic protein turnover rather than just expression level change is critical for studying the role of synaptic proteins in synaptic plasticity. Here, we analyzed synaptosomal proteome in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to identify protein turnover rate changes caused by peripheral nerve injury. Whereas PKCγ levels were not altered, we found that the protein’s turnover rate decreased after peripheral nerve injury. Our results suggest that postsynaptic PKCγ synthesized by neuronal activities in the ACC is translocated to the postsynaptic membrane with an extended half-life.
Neurotoxicity by mercury is not associated with autism spectrum disorders in Spanish children
Authors: Gil-Hernández Fernando , Gómez-Fernández Antonio R. , la Torre-Aguilar María Josede , Pérez-Navero Juan L. , Flores-Rojas Katherine , Martín-Borreguero Pilar , Gil-Campos Mercedes 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
The pathophysiological etiologies related with the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) remain controversial. Different authors have studied neurotoxins such as mercury (Hg) and their relationship with ADS. The objective of this study was to assess the levels of Hg in hair in a group of ASD children (chronic exposure) and in urinary excretion (acute exposure), in comparison to a healthy group.

Methods
A case-control study was conducted in Spanish children. We compared 54 ASD children (aged 2–6) with no other associated pathology to a normally-developing control group (54 subjects).

Results
There were no differences in urine (p:0.631) and hair (p:1.000) samples percentages below the limits of detection between the control and the ASD groups, and also between patients in the regression ASD subgroup (AMR) (p:0.08) and the non-regression ASD subgroup (ANMR) (p:0.705). When the analysis was adjusted for age and sex, the differences between Hg levels maintained not significant. There were no correlations between Hg concentrations in the ASD group as a whole (p: 0.739), or when they were subdivided into ASD-AMR (p: 0.739) and ASD-ANMR (p: 0.363).

Conclusions
The present study shows no evidence in our geographical area to support an association between mercury neurotoxicity and the etiopathogenesis of ASD.
A set of serum markers detecting systemic inflammation in psoriatic skin, entheseal, and joint disease in the absence of C-reactive protein and its link to clinical disease manifestations
Authors: Sokolova Maria V. , Simon David , Nas Kemal , Zaiss Mario M. , Luo Yubin , Zhao Yi , Rech Jürgen , Schett Georg 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundC-reactive protein (CRP) is often normal in patients with psoriatic disease. Herein, we aimed to define markers of systemic inflammation in patients with monomorphic and polymorphic psoriatic skin, entheseal, and joint disease.MethodsThree-step approach: (i) selection of serum markers elevated in psoriatic arthritis compared healthy controls from a panel of 10 different markers reflecting the pathophysiology of psoriatic disease; (ii) testing of these selected markers as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) in a larger cohort of 210 individuals- 105 healthy controls and 105 patients with psoriatic disease with either monomorphic skin (S), entheseal (E) or joint (A) involvement or polymorphic disease with various combinations of skin, entheseal and joint disease (SE, SA, EA, SEA); (iii) testing whether tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitor therapy normalizes these markers.ResultsCRP was not elevated or was rarely elevated in the subgroups (S 0%, E 0%, A 20%, SE 7%, SA 33%, EA 27%, SEA 33%) despite active psoriatic disease. In sharp contrast, beta-defensin 2 and lipocalin-2 levels were elevated in the majority of patients with monomorphic skin (93% and 73%) and entheseal (both 53%), but not joint disease (27% and 20%). Conversely, elevations of calprotectin and IL-8 were found in the majority of patients with monomorphic joint disease (both 73%). IL-22 was elevated in all three monomorphic disease manifestations (S 60%, E 46%; A 60%). Furthermore, the vast majority of patients with polymorphic psoriatic disease (SE, SA, EA, SEA) showed widespread marker elevation. IL-17- and TNF inhibitor treatment significantly lowered all 5 markers of inflammation in PsA patients.ConclusionsSystemic inflammation is detectable in the majority of patients with psoriatic disease, even if CRP is normal. The respective marker pattern depends on the manifestation of psoriatic disease with respect to skin, entheseal, and joint involvement.
Reliability and correlation of mixture cell correction in methylomic and transcriptomic blood data
Authors: Chaumette Boris , Kebir Oussama , Dion Patrick A. , Rouleau Guy A. , Krebs Marie-Odile 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Objectives
The number of DNA methylome and RNA transcriptome studies is growing, but investigators have to consider the cell type composition of tissues used. In blood samples, the data reflect the picture of a mixture of different cells. Specialized algorithms can address the cell-type heterogeneity issue. We tested if these corrections are correlated between two heterogeneous datasets.

Results
We used methylome and transcriptome datasets derived from a cohort of ten individuals whose blood was sampled at two different timepoints. We examined how the cell composition derived from these omics correlated with each other using “CIBERSORT” for the transcriptome and “estimateCellCounts function” in R for the methylome. The correlation coefficients between the two omic datasets ranged from 0.45 to 0.81 but correlations were minimal between two different timepoints. Our results suggest that a posteriori correction of a mixture of cells present in blood samples is reliable. Using an omic dataset to correct a second dataset for relative fractions of cells appears to be applicable, but only when the samples are simultaneously collected. This could be beneficial when there are difficulties to control the cell types in the second dataset, even when the sample size is limited.
Long-term exercise results in morphological and biomechanical changes in coronary resistance arterioles in male and female rats
Authors: Török Marianna , Monori-Kiss Anna , Pál Éva , Horváth Eszter , Jósvai Attila , Merkely Petra , Barta Bálint András , Mátyás Csaba , Oláh Attila , Radovits Tamás , Merkely Béla , Ács Nándor , Nádasy György László , Várbíró Szabolcs 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Biomechanical remodeling of coronary resistance arteries in physiological left ventricular hypertrophy has not yet been analyzed, and the possible sex differences are unknown.

Methods
Wistar rats were divided into four groups: male and female sedentary controls (MSe and FSe) and male and female animals undergoing a 12-week intensive swim training program (MEx and FEx). On the last day, the in vitro contractility, endothelium-dependent dilatation, and biomechanical properties of the intramural coronary resistance arteries were investigated by pressure microarteriography. Elastica and collagen remodeling were studied in histological sections.

Results
A similar outer radius and reduced inner radius resulted in an elevated wall to lumen ratio in the MEx and FEx animals compared to that in the sedentary controls. The wall elastic moduli increased in the MEx and FEx rats. Spontaneous and TxA2 agonist-induced tone was increased in the FEx animals, whereas endothelium-dependent relaxation became more effective in MEx rats. Arteries of FEx rats had stronger contraction, while arteries of MEx animals had improved dilation.

Conclusions
According to our results, the coronary arterioles adapted to an elevated load during long-term exercise, and this adaptation depended on sex. It is important to emphasize that in addition to differences, we also found many similarities between the sexes in the adaptive response to exercise. The observed sport adaptation in the coronary resistance arteries of rats may contribute to a better understanding of the physiological and pathological function of these arteries in active and retired athletes of different sexes.
Long noncoding RNA TANCR promotes γδ T cells activation by regulating TRAIL expression in cis
Authors: Yang Chuan , Feng Ting , Lin Fang , Gong Tinxiang , Yang Shuo , Tao Yuhong , Li Hong 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
γδ T cells are an important subset of T lymphocytes that play important roles in innate and adaptive immunity via the secretion of various cytokines. Previous studies have found that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators that contribute to the development of immune cells. However, the functions of lncRNAs in the γδ T cells remains poorly studied.

Results
Here, we identified the novel function of lncRNA NONHSAT196558.1 in isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)-activated and -expanded γδ T cells using RNA-seq. As it functioned as an activating noncoding RNA of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), an important cytotoxic cytokine that expressed by γδ T cells in responding to various infectious agents, we named this lncRNA as TANCR. Secondly, the expression of TANCR was found to be positively correlated with TRAIL expression in IPP activated γδ T cells. In addition, TANCR was confirmed to localized both in nucleus and cytoplasm. Finally, a loss-of-function was conducted by using siRNA/ASO or CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockdown or knockout TANCR, and confirmed that silencing of TANCR inhibits TRAIL expression in several kinds of cells, including HEK293T cells, Jurkat cells, and primary γδ T cells.

Conclusion
These evidences demonstrate that TANCR play important roles in γδ T cell activation. Furthermore, TANCR may be involved in the cytotoxicity of γδ T cells. This study aims to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated immune responses.
Improved through-wall radar imaging using modified Green’s function-based multi-path exploitation method
Authors: Wu Shuangshuang , Zhou Huilin , Liu Song , Duan Rongxing 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe existence of walls surrounding targets leads to multi-path return at the radar receiver, which provides additional information about the target, and thus can be exploited to strengthen the quality of through-wall radar imaging (TWRI). Based on this, a multi-path exploitation method is proposed to identify the location of the multi-path ghost. An algorithm that combining the modified Green’s function with back projection algorithm is presented to associate and map the multi-path ghosts to the location of real targets. The theoretical analysis is verified according to the simulation results obtained using gprMAX software as well as practical radar measured data, and our proposed method is shown to outperform that in conventional multi-path exploitation method (Setlur et al., IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. 49:4021–4034, 2011).
Convergence of λ-Bernstein operators based on (p, q)-integers
Authors: Cai Qing-Bo , Cheng Wen-Tao 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the present paper, we construct a new class of positive linearλ-Bernstein operators based on (p,q)-integers. We obtain a Korovkin type approximation theorem, study the rate of convergence of these operators by using the conception ofK-functional and moduli of continuity, and also give a convergence theorem for the Lipschitz continuous functions.
Malaria epidemiology in Kobeni department, southeastern Mauritania from 2015 to 2017
Authors: Diallo Sileye Mamadou , Bogreau Hervé , Papa Mze Nasserdine , Ould Ahmedou Salem Mohamed Salem , Ould Khairy Mohamed Lemine , Parola Philippe , Basco Leonardo , Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary Ali 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Plasmodium falciparum malaria is endemic in the southern sahelian zone of Mauritania where intense internal and trans-border human and livestock movement occurs. The risk of importation and spread of drug-resistant parasites need to be regularly assessed in this region. The objective of the study was to assess the recent malaria situation near the Mauritania-Mali border.

Methods
Between February 2015 and December 2017, patients with fever or history of fever during the previous 48 h, presenting at the health centre of Kobeni city, were screened for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopic examination of blood smears. The diagnosis was later confirmed by PCR. Cohen’s kappa statistics was used to estimate the degree of agreement between diagnostic methods. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions. The odds ratio was calculated to measure the association between the use of bed nets and malaria infection.

Results
A total of 2326 febrile patients (mean age, 20.2 years) were screened for malaria. The presence of malaria parasites was detected by RDT and microscopy in 53.0% and 49.3% of febrile patients, respectively, and was confirmed by PCR in 59.7% (45 missing data). Of 1361 PCR-positive samples, 1205 (88.5%) were P. falciparum, 47 (3.5%) P. vivax, and 99 (7.3%) P. falciparum-P. vivax mixed infection. Malaria transmission occurred mostly during and shortly after the rainy season. The annual rainfall was relatively low in 2016 (267 mm) and 2017 (274 mm), compared to 2015 (448 mm), and coincided with a decline in malaria prevalence in 2016–2017. Although 71.8% of febrile patients reported to possess at least one bed net in the household in our questionnaire, its reported use was not protective against malaria infection (odds ratio: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.91–1.32).

Conclusions
Our study confirmed that P. falciparum is the dominant species in the sahelian zone and that malaria transmission is seasonal and associated with rainfall in this zone. The application of the current national policy based on rapid and reliable malaria diagnosis, case management with artemisinin-based combination therapy, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, distribution and use of long-lasting insecticide impregnated bed nets, and the planned introduction of seasonal malaria chemoprevention for all children under 6 years old is expected to sustainably reduce malaria transmission in this zone.