bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance, metabolic and hormonal responses of grazing Nellore cows to an energy-protein supplementation during the pre-partum phase
Authors: de Lana Ferreira Matheus Fellipe , Rennó Luciana Navajas , Detmann Edenio , Paulino Mário Fonseca , de Campos Valadares Filho Sebastião , Moreira Samira Silveira , Martins Hudson Caio , de Oliveira Bruno Inácio Correa , Marquez Julia Avansi , de Paula Cidrine Isabela 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundSupplementation programs for prepartum beef cows are usually adopted because the nutritional status of the cows upon calving is a main factor impacting reproductive performance of the next production cycle. This study evaluated the effects of 60-d pre-partum energy-protein supplementation on performance, metabolic and hormonal responses during the peripartum phase of grazing beef cows. Thirty-eight pregnant multiparous Nellore cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: control (no supplement) and supplementation (1.5 kg of energy-protein per d with 30% crude protein, dry matter basis).ResultsThe supplemented cows had higher ADG pre-partum (P < 0.10), but postpartum ADG did not differ between treatments. Supplementation did not affect BCS and calf BW upon calving, on days 45 and 90, milk yield and composition (P > 0.10). No differences were found for forage intake and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P > 0.10). The intake and digestibility of CP and OM increased in response to supplementation (P < 0.10). An interaction occurred between supplementation and peripartum days for BUN, βHB, T3 and T4, which had higher concentrations for supplemented cows at pre-partum period (P < 0.10). Concentration of others blood parameters significantly changed along peripartum days (P < 0.10). There was no difference in pregnancy rates and days from calving to conception between treatments (P > 0.10).ConclusionsProviding an energy and protein supplement to grazing Nellore cows over the last 60 d of gestation improved their pre-partum energy balance. However, no post-partum carryover effects were detected.
Distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial species in stray cats, hospital-admitted cats, and veterinary staff in South Korea
Authors: Jung Woo Kyung , Shin Sook , Park Young Kyung , Lim Suk-Kyung , Moon Dong-Chan , Park Kun Taek , Park Yong Ho 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundAntimicrobial resistance is becoming increasingly important in both human and veterinary medicine. According to the One Health concept, an important step is to monitor the resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and trends of bacteria isolated from stray cats, hospital-admitted cats, and veterinary staff in South Korea between 2017 and 2018 were investigated.ResultsThe minimum inhibitory concentrations of different antibiotics forStaphylococcusspp.,Enterobacteriaceae, andEnterococcusspp. were determined to establish representatives of different antibiotic classes relevant for treatment or surveillance. For Coagulase-positive and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, resistance to fluoroquinolones was below 13%, but resistance to ampicillin and penicillin was high (20–88%). A total of 9.5, 12.1, and 40.3% of staphylococcal isolates from stray cats, hospital-admitted cats, and veterinary staff, respectively, were confirmed to bemecApositive. ForEnterobacteriaceae, resistance to carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and 3rd generation cephalosporins was low (0–11.1%). TheEnterococcusspp. isolates showed no resistance to vancomycin. The antimicrobial resistance rates of theStaphylococcusspp. andEnterobacteriaceaeisolates from stray cats were usually lower than those of isolates from hospital-admitted cats and veterinary staff, but theEnterococcusspp. isolates revealed the opposite. Thus, the antimicrobial resistance varied across bacterial species according to the source from which they were isolated.ConclusionsResistance to critically important compounds were low. However, the presence of antimicrobial resistance in cat isolates is of both public health and animal health concern.
A comparison of the use of adipose-derived and bone marrow-derived stem cells for peripheral nerve regeneration in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zhou Li Na , Wang Jia Chuan , Zilundu Prince Last Mudenda , Wang Ya Qiong , Guo Wen Ping , Zhang Sai Xia , Luo Hui , Zhou Jian Hong , Deng Ru Dong , Chen Dong Feng 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
To date, it has repeatedly been demonstrated that infusing bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) into acellular nerve scaffolds can promote and support axon regeneration through a peripheral nerve defect. However, harvesting BMSCs is an invasive and painful process fraught with a low cellular yield.

Methods
In pursuit of alternative stem cell sources, we isolated stem cells from the inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue of adult Sprague–Dawley rats (adipose-derived stem cells, ADSCs). We used a co-culture system that allows isolated adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) to grow in the same culture medium but without direct cellular contact. We verified SC phenotype in vitro by cell marker analysis and used red fluorescent protein-tagged ADSCs to detect their fate after being injected into a chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft (CEANA). To compare the regenerative effects of CEANA containing either BMSCs or ADSCs with an autograft and CEANA only on the sciatic nerve defect in vivo, we performed histological and functional assessments up to 16 weeks after grafting.

Results
In vitro, we observed reciprocal beneficial effects of ADSCs and SCs in the ADSC–SC co-culture system. Moreover, ADSCs were able to survive in CEANA for 5 days after in vitro implantation. Sixteen weeks after grafting, all results consistently showed that CEANA infused with BMSCs or ADSCs enhanced injured sciatic nerve repair compared to the acellular CEANA-only treatment. Furthermore, their beneficial effects on sciatic injury regeneration were comparable as histological and functional parameters evaluated showed no statistically significant differences. However, the autograft group was roundly superior to both the BMSC- or ADSC-loaded CEANA groups.

Conclusion
The results of the present study show that ADSCs are a viable alternative stem cell source for treating sciatic nerve injury in lieu of BMSCs.
On substantial fractional difference operator
Authors: Haider Syed Sabyel , ur Rehman Mujeeb 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this article, new definitions of fractional substantial sum and difference operators are introduced. Some properties are established and used to generate a fixed point operator for an arbitrary real order substantial system with conditions involving fractional order difference. We inspect solution existence and Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability. A property missing in the literature for delta Laplace transform, namely delta exponential shift, is established and used for finding delta Laplace transform for the newly introduced substantial fractional sum and difference.
A mixed-dimensional CutFEM methodology for the simulation of fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Kerfriden P. , Claus S. , Mihai I. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe develop a novel unfitted finite element solver for composite materials with quasi-1D fibrous reinforcements. The method belongs to the class of mixed-dimensional non-conforming finite element solvers. The fibres are treated as 1D structural elements that may intersect the mesh of the embedding structure in an arbitrary manner. No meshing of the unidimensional elements is required. Instead, fibre solution fields are described using the trace of the background mesh. A regularised “cut” finite element formulation is carefully designed to ensure that analyses using such non-conforming finite element descriptions are stable. We also design a dedicated primal/dual operator splitting scheme to resolve the coupling between structure and fibrous reinforcements efficiently. The novel computational strategy is applied to the solution of stiff computational models whereby fibrous reinforcements may lose their bond to the embedding material above a certain level of stress. It is shown that the primal-dual 1D/3D CutFEM scheme is convergent and well-behaved in variety of scenarios involving such highly nonlinear structural computations.
Microclimate numerical simulation to obtain the minimum safe distances between a painted wood panel and the inner face of an exterior wall
Authors: Ferrer Santi , Campo-Francés Gema , Ruiz-Recasens Cristina , Oriola-Folch Marta 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
This study provides a detailed understanding of the heat fluxes and temperatures that take place in the channel between the inner face of an exterior wall and the back of a painted wood panel hung on it. This is performed by means of a numerical simulation with a 2 dimensional CFD software. Distributions of temperatures, heat fluxes, and other parameters are quantified for 56 cases where the classical equations—Raithby-Hollands and similar—cannot be applied as these require vertical isothermal plates or isofluxes. Studied scenarios include different panel heights, channel widths, and room heights. Combining these data with outside temperature (− 3 °C) and heating air supply temperature (20 °C), to provide a nearly constant 19.6 °C in the room except in the channel between panel and wall, and with two values of specific humidity in the room, we provide for every studied case, advised distances, for these conditions, between the panel and the wall.
Skeletal stability after 2-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach in facial asymmetry patients using CBCT
Authors: Hwang Dae Seok , Seo Jeong Seok , Choi Hong Seok 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study is to compare the skeletal stability of two-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach with conventional two-jaw surgery in facial asymmetry patients by measuring the skeletal changes after surgery from a three-dimensional analysis. From January 2010 to January 2014, 40 patients with facial asymmetry who underwent two-jaw surgery in Pusan National University Hospital were included in this study. They were classified into experimental group (n = 20) who underwent two-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach and control group (n = 20) who underwent conventional two-jaw surgery. After selection of 24 landmarks and the construction of horizontal and sagittal, coronal reference planes, changes in 10 linear measurements and 2 angular measurements were compared between the surgery-first approach and conventional groups in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and postoperative periods. The paired t test and Student t test were used for statistical analysis. The mean and standard deviation of the measurement were calculated for the experimental and control groups.

Results
The statistical analysis showed that changes in skeletal measurements were similar between the surgery-first approach and conventional groups, according to each period. However, U1-SRP measurement showed statistically significant changes in surgery-first approach groups at postsurgical change (T1 to T2). Also, the mean treatment duration in the treatment group was 15.9 ± 5.48 months whereas that in the control group was 32.9 ± 14.05 months.

Conclusion
In facial asymmetry patients, similar results were observed in the postoperative skeletal stability when 2-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach was compared with conventional 2-jaw surgery. However, significant lateral deviation of upper incisor midline was observed. In addition, a shorter average treatment duration was observed. To stabilize the unstable occlusion after surgery, increased wearing of the stent and proactive rubber guidance will be needed.
Plasma BCAA Changes in Patients With NAFLD Are Sex Dependent
Authors: Grzych Guillaume , Vonghia Luisa , Bout Marie-Adélaïde , Weyler Jonas , Verrijken An , Dirinck Eveline , Chevalier Curt Marie Joncquel , Van Gaal Luc , Paumelle Réjane , Francque Sven , Tailleux Anne , Haas Joel T , Staels Bart 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Context
Plasma branched chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations correlate positively with body mass index (BMI), measures of insulin resistance (IR), and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Moreover, plasma BCAA concentrations also differ between the sexes, which display different susceptibilities to cardio-metabolic diseases.

Objective
Assess whether plasma BCAA concentrations associate with NAFLD severity independently of BMI, IR, and sex.

Patients
Patients visiting the obesity clinic of the Antwerp University Hospital were consecutively recruited from 2006 to 2014.

Design and Setting
A cross-sectional study cohort of 112 obese patients (59 women and 53 men) was divided into 4 groups according to NAFLD severity. Groups were matched for sex, age, BMI, homeostatic model assessment of IR, and hemoglobin A1c.

Main Outcome Measures
Fasting plasma BCAA concentrations were measured by tandem mass spectrometry using the aTRAQ™ method.

Results
In the study cohort, a modest positive correlation was observed between plasma BCAA concentrations and NAFLD severity, as well as a strong effect of sex on plasma BCAA levels. Subgroup analysis by sex revealed that while plasma BCAA concentrations increased with severity of NAFLD in women, they tended to decrease in men. Additionally, only women displayed significantly increased plasma BCAAs with increasing fibrosis.

Conclusion
Plasma BCAA concentrations display sex-dimorphic changes with increasing severity of NAFLD, independently of BMI, IR, and age. Additionally, plasma BCAA are associated with significant fibrosis in women, but not in men. These results highlight the importance of a careful consideration of sex as a major confounding factor in cross-sectional studies of NAFLD.
Neuroendocrine-Immune Crosstalk Shapes Sex-Specific Brain Development
Authors: Arambula Sheryl E , McCarthy Margaret M 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSex is an essential biological variable that significantly impacts multiple aspects of neural functioning in both the healthy and diseased brain. Sex differences in brain structure and function are organized early in development during the critical period of sexual differentiation. While decades of research establish gonadal hormones as the primary modulators of this process, new research has revealed a critical, and perhaps underappreciated, role of the neuroimmune system in sex-specific brain development. The immune and endocrine systems are tightly intertwined and share processes and effector molecules that influence the nervous system. Thus, a natural question is whether endocrine-immune crosstalk contributes to sexual differentiation of the brain. In this mini-review, we first provide a conceptual framework by classifying the major categories of neural sex differences and review the concept of sexual differentiation of the brain, a process occurring early in development and largely controlled by steroid hormones. Next, we describe developmental sex differences in the neuroimmune system, which may represent targets or mediators of the sexual differentiation process. We then discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of crosstalk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and highlight recent examples that shape sex differences in the brain. Finally, we review how early life events can perturb sex-specific neurodevelopment via aberrant immune activation.
Vitamin D Sufficiency Has a Limited Effect on Placental Structure and Pathology: Placental Phenotypes in the VDAART Trial
Authors: He Mai , Mirzakhani Hooman , Chen Ling , Wu Robert , Litonjua Augusto A , Bacharier Leonard , Weiss Scott T , Nelson D Michael 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy is widespread. The effects of active vitamin D on the human placenta in vivo are unknown. We test the hypotheses that 25(OH)D sufficiency (arbitrarily defined as 25(OH)D ≥32 ng/mL) modulates placental structure and function in vivo in a population of women whose offspring are at risk for childhood asthma, and that placental pathology is more common in offspring that evolve asthma at age 3. Pregnant volunteers in the St. Louis, MO, cohort of the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART, NIH grant #HL091528) participated in a nested case–control study and consented for the study of placentas after delivery. Maternal concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured at trial entry and in the third trimester. The histopathology of the placentas from women with sufficient 25(OH)D, versus insufficient, showed no clinically significant differences, but morphometry revealed villi of women with sufficient third-trimester 25(OH)D had a higher villous surface density. Notably, analyses of transcripts, extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens, revealed higher expression of INTS9, vWF, MACC1, and ARMS2, and diminished expression of the CNTN5 genes in the insufficient group. A larger proportion of placentas showed chronic chorioamnionitis in offspring with versus without asthma at age 3. These findings suggest that maternal 25(OH)D insufficiency has a limited effect on human placental villous histopathology and morphometry, but attenuates a small number of placental gene expression profiles in this selected population. The association of placental chronic chorioamnionitis and offspring asthma is worthy of further study.
Usual care for mental health problems in children with epilepsy: A cohort study
Authors: Welch Alice , Shafran Roz , Heyman Isobel , Coughtrey Anna , Bennett Sophie 
Published: April 2020

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic paediatric conditions. Children and young people with epilepsy are at a significantly higher risk of developing mental health problems relative to the general population, yet the majority of these problems are unrecognised and under-treated in clinical practice. Although there is little epilepsy-specific guidance as to what interventions to use, researchers suggest there is no reason why clinicians should not be using the evidence base. Given the poor prognosis of untreated mental health difficulties, this cohort study sought to identify what psychological treatment young people with epilepsy with mental health needs receive in routine practice. Methods: Participants were children and young people aged 3 to 18 attending paediatric neurology clinics. The parents of those children who met threshold for impairing symptoms on the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire were asked to complete the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA), an online clinical assessment designed to generate psychiatric diagnoses. Participants who met clinical threshold for a disorder according to the DAWBA were provided with a bespoke measure asking questions regarding their experience with treatment for mental health support. Results: 16 of the 46 parents who completed the DAWBA reported that they had experienced previous or current support for their child’s mental health difficulties. The mental health support offered to families was highly variable, inadequate and often not clearly compliant with existing UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for mental health treatment in children and young people. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the inconsistency and inadequacy of mental health provision for children and young people with epilepsy. Future work should explore reasons for the treatments offered failing to adhere to existing guidance for mental health difficulties in children, as well as possible solutions to this.
Post-Ebola Community Health Worker programme performance in Kenema District, Sierra Leone: A long way to go!
Authors: Thomas Harold , Hann Katrina , Vandi Mohamed , Sesay Joseph Bengalie , Alpha Koi Sylvester , Najjemba Robinah 
Published: April 2020

Background: The devastating 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone could erode the gains of the health system including the Community Health Worker (CHW) programme. We conducted a study to ascertain if the positive trend in reporting cases of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea treated by CHWs in the post-Ebola period has been sustained 18 months post-Ebola. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using aggregated CHW programme data (2013-2017) from all Primary Health Units in Kenema district. Data was extracted from the District Health Information System and analysed using STATA. Data in the pre- (June 2013-April 2014), during- (June 2014-April 2015) and post-Ebola recovery (June 2016-April 2017) periods was compared and analysed for reporting completeness; Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) performed and cases of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia treated per month. Differences across periods were tested using two-sample t-test with significance set at 0.05. Results: CHW reporting increased from pre-Ebola by 8% (p-value=0.29) intra-Ebola and 19% (p-value=0.012) post-Ebola. Compared to the pre-Ebola period, in the post-Ebola recovery period, there was a significant increase in the mean monthly reported RDTs of 35% (p-value=0.020); malaria treatments 66% (p-value<0.001); and pneumonia treatments increased by 80% (p-value=0.004). Conversely, the mean monthly diarrhoea cases treated decreased by 20% (p-value=0.16) in the post-Ebola period. Conclusion: The resiliency demonstrated by the CHW programme during and immediately after the Ebola outbreak has been sustained in the post-Ebola recovery period. Continued programme investments in supportive supervision and financial incentives for CHWs will be critical to ensure uninterrupted contribution towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Near-Optimal A-B Testing
Authors: Bhat Nikhil , Farias Vivek F. , Moallemi Ciamac C. , Sinha Deeksha 
Published: April 2020

We consider the problem of A-B testing when the impact of the treatment is marred by a large number of covariates. Randomization can be highly inefficient in such settings, and thus we consider the problem of optimally allocating test subjects to either treatment with a view to maximizing the precision of our estimate of the treatment effect. Our main contribution is a tractable algorithm for this problem in the online setting, where subjects arrive, and must be assigned, sequentially, with covariates drawn from an elliptical distribution with finite second moment. We further characterize the gain in precision afforded by optimized allocations relative to randomized allocations, and show that this gain grows large as the number of covariates grows. Our dynamic optimization framework admits several generalizations that incorporate important operational constraints such as the consideration of selection bias, budgets on allocations, and endogenous stopping times. In a set of numerical experiments, we demonstrate that our method simultaneously offers better statistical efficiency and less selection bias than state-of-the-art competing biased coin designs.This paper was accepted by Noah Gans, stochastic models and simulation.