bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What is the relationship of stress to patients' kidney stone-related quality of life?
Authors: Lundeen Colin , Lim Jonathan R.Z. , Scotland Kymora B. , Ardekani Reza Safaee , Penniston Kristina L. , Streeper Necole M. , Chi Thomas , Landman Jaime , Viprakasit Davis P. , Chew Ben H. 
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is decreased in patients with kidney stones at all stages of stone disease, even when asymptomatic. Stress is thought to contribute to HRQOL, although there has been minimal investigation into the effect of stress on stone-related quality of life (QOL). We used the Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire (WISQOL) to assess the relationship of stress to stone-related QOL in kidney stone patients.
Methods: As part of the WISQOL Research Consortium, patients were approached in outpatient clinics and completed the WISQOL and the Perceived Stress Scale 10-item questionnaire (PSS-10). Patients with stones at enrollment were divided into those with symptoms and those without, while patients with no current stones formed another group. Questionnaire scores from each group were compared statistically and correlations between the groups were calculated.
Results: Patients (n=704) were enrolled from six centers. The WISQOL successfully discriminated between patients with current stones and those without (p<0.0001), while the PSS-10 did not (p=0.0869). The PSS-10 revealed patients with symptomatic kidney stones experienced higher levels of general stress than asymptomatic subjects (p<0.0001). However, a Pearson correlation test comparing the responses from each instrument revealed no overall correlation between general stress and HRQOL (r=0.05).
Conclusions: Symptomatic kidney stones increase general stress, as these patients demonstrate higher PSS-10 scores. Despite this, no correlation exists between general stress and stone-related QOL in patients with stone disease regardless of their stone and symptom status. This implies the existence of other factors impacting QOL in these patients, which warrants further exploration.
Sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes with testicular sperm aspiration in men with severe oligozoospermia and cryptozoospermia
Authors: Alharbi Mohannad , Almarzouq Ahmad , Zini Armand 
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Several studies addressed the role of testicular sperm aspiration with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in azoospermic men but few have included non-azoospermic men. The aim of this study was to evaluate testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) sperm retrieval rates and ICSI outcomes in men with severe oligozoospermia.
Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from 88 consecutive, non-azoospermic, infertile men with idiopathic severe oligozoospermia who underwent TESA between January 2011 and January 2018. Patients were categorized into four groups according to sperm concentration: <5 and >1 million/ml (group 1), <1 and > 0.1 million/ml (group 2), <0.1 million/ml (group 3) and cryptozoospermia (group 4).
Results: Mean male age was 37±7 years and the mean female age was 33±4 years. Sperm was recovered successfully in 90% (79/88) of the men overall and in 100% (30/30) of the men in group 1, 97% (29/30) of the men in group 2, 88% (15/17) of the men in group 3, and 45% (5/11) of the men in group 4. Most (65%, 57/88) of the couples had an embryo transfer (ET). The overall clinical pregnancy rate per ET was 46% (26/57). The clinical pregnancy rates (per ET) were 43% (9/21) in group 1, 65% (13/20) in group 2, 36% (4/11) in group 3 and 0% (0/5) in group 4.
Conclusions: Our data indicate TESA allows for high sperm retrieval rates and acceptable ICSI pregnancy rates in men with severe oligozoospermia. However, in our experience, TESA sperm retrieval rates and ICSI outcomes are poor in cryptozoospermic men.
The Benefits and Challenges of Point-of-Care Testing in Rural and Remote Primary Care Settings in Australia
Authors: Shephard Mark , Shephard Anne , Matthews Susan , Andrewartha Kelly 
Published: October 2020

Context.—
Point-of-care (POC) testing has significant potential application in rural and remote Australian communities where access to laboratory-based pathology testing is often poor and the burden of chronic, acute, and infectious disease is high.

Objective.—
To explore the clinical, operational, cultural, and cost benefits of POC testing in the Australian rural and remote health sector and describe some of the current challenges and limitations of this technology.

Data Sources.—
Evidence-based research from established POC testing networks for chronic, acute, and infectious disease currently managed by the International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing at Flinders University are used to highlight the experience gained and the lessons learned from these networks and, where possible, describe innovative solutions to address the current barriers to the uptake of POC testing, which include governance, staff turnover, maintaining training and competency, connectivity, quality testing, sustainable funding mechanisms, and accreditation.

Conclusions.—
Point-of-care testing can provide practical and inventive opportunities to revolutionize the delivery of pathology services in rural and remote sectors where clinical need for this technology is greatest. However, many barriers to POC testing still exist in these settings, and the full potential of POC testing cannot be realized until these limitations are addressed and resolved.
Point-of-Care Testing Practices, Failure Modes, and Risk-Mitigation Strategies in Emergency Medical Services Programs in the Canadian Province of Alberta
Authors: Füzéry Anna K. , Kost Gerald J. 
Published: October 2020

Context.—Emergency medical services (EMS) programs have been using point-of-care testing (POCT) for more than 20 years. However, only a handful of reports have been published in all of that time on POCT practices in field settings.Objective.—To provide an overview of POCT practices and failure modes in 3 of Alberta's EMS programs, and to propose risk-mitigation strategies for reducing or eliminating these failure modes.Design.—Details about POCT practices, failure modes, and risk-mitigation strategies were gathered through (1) conversations with personnel, (2) in-person tours of EMS bases, (3) accompaniment of EMS personnel on missions, (4) internet searches for publicly available information, and (5) a review of laboratory documents.Results.—Practices were most standardized and robust in the community paramedicine program (single service provider, full laboratory oversight), and least standardized and robust in the air ambulance program (4 service providers, limited laboratory oversight). Common failure modes across all 3 programs included device inoperability due to cold weather, analytical validation procedures that failed to consider the unique challenges of EMS settings, and a lack of real-time electronic transmission of results into the health care record.Conclusions.—A provincial framework for POCT in EMS programs is desirable. Such a framework should include appropriate funding models, laboratory oversight of POCT, and relevant expertise on POCT in EMS settings. The framework should also incorporate specific guidance on quality standards that are needed to address the unique challenges of performing POCT in field settings.
La migration numérique d’une oeuvre pionnière avec live electronics.
Mesa (1966) de Gordon Mumma
Authors: Goldman Jonathan , Lecavalier Francis , Pelz Ofer 
Published: October 2020

Cet article résume les retombées d’un projet de reconstruction d’une oeuvre
pionnière de live electronics, à savoir Mesa (1966) du compositeur
étatsunien Gordon Mumma (né en 1935). Une reconstruction de cette oeuvre a été présentée
dans le cadre du festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques le 27 février 2017 par l’auteur et les
collaborateurs de cet article : Jonathan Goldman au bandonéon, Francis Lecavalier à la
conception informatique, et Ofer Pelz à l’interprétation de la partie électronique. Au cours
de cette « migration », l’oeuvre, fondamentalement analogique, a été reconçue pour un
équipement numérique contemporain avec le consentement du compositeur. S’inscrivant
nettement dans la lignée de l’École de New York cageienne, Mesa revêt un statut
ontologique curieux : elle est le produit d’une indétermination passablement radicale. Comme
c’est le cas pour l’oeuvre de Cage, Mesa et sa reconstruction numérique nous force
à repenser l’ontologie et l’épistémologie de l’oeuvre musicale.
Musicologie pratique à l’ère des réseaux sociaux. Le cas des notes de programme numériques de l’osm au sein du paysage musical francophone
Authors: Bernard Justin 
Published: October 2020

Depuis leur émergence au milieu duxixe siècle, les notes de programme n’ont eu de cesse de s’adresser au public de concerts. Les besoins sont multiples, voire même divergents : donner des outils de compréhension intelligibles aux novices et en même temps susciter la curiosité d’auditeurs déjà initiés. À l’ère d’Internet et des réseaux sociaux, ces outils de médiation, qui relèvent de ce que l’on pourrait appeler une musicologie « pratique », sont plus que jamais en évolution. Ils offrent de réelles avancées en termes de contenu audio et vidéo, mais suscitent, par ailleurs, des interrogations quant au rôle que les orchestres symphoniques, notamment, veulent bien leur faire jouer. Dans cet article, nous tenterons de répondre à cette nouvelle réalité à travers une multitude d’exemples concrets de médiation, dont certains ont été réalisés dans le cadre d’un projet que nous avons mené en partenariat avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Economics in the Age of COVID-19
Authors: Gans Joshua 
Published: October 2020

A guide to the pandemic economy: essential reading about the long-term implications of our current crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a firehose of information (much of it wrong) and an avalanche of opinions (many of them ill-founded). Most of us are so distracted by the everyday awfulness that we don't see the broader issues in play. In this book, economist Joshua Gans steps back from the short-term chaos to take a clear and systematic look at how economic choices are being made in response to COVID-19. He shows that containing the virus and pausing the economy—without letting businesses fail and people lose their jobs—are the necessary first steps.
Gans outlines the phases of the pandemic economy, from containment to reset to recovery and enhancement. Warning against thinking in terms of a “tradeoff” between public health and economic health, Gans explains that containment gives us the opportunity to develop effective testing that will make it safe for people to interact. Once the virus is contained, we will need to pivot toward innovating, and, finally, we will come together to plan how to protect ourselves from future pandemics. He looks at policy tools that might aid an economic recovery, distinguishing between economic losses during a pandemic and a recession.
Gans lays out the economic choices accessibly but with urgency, leaving politics out of it. Economics in the Age of COVID-19 is essential reading for anyone interested in the long-term implications of our current crisis.
An open access version of Economics in the Age of COVID-19 for community commentary is available at https://economics-in-the-age-of-covid-19.pubpub.org/
Cytotoxic effect of Montivipera bornmuelleri’s venom on cancer cell lines: in vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Haddoub Carol , Rima Mohamad , Heurtebise Sandrine , Lawand Myriam , Jundi Dania , Sadek Riyad , Amigorena Sebastian , Fajloun Ziad , Karam Marc C. 
Published: October 2020

Background
Montivipera bornmuelleri’s venom has shown immunomodulation of cytokines release in mice and selective cytotoxicity on cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, highlighting an anticancer potential. Here, we extend these findings by elucidating the sensitivity of murine B16 skin melanoma and 3-MCA-induced murine fibrosarcoma cell lines to M. bornmuelleri’s venom and its effect on tumor growth in vivo.

Methods
The toxicity of the venom on B16 and MCA cells was assessed using flow cytometry and xCELLigence assays. For in vivo testing, tumor growth was followed in mice after intratumoral venom injection.

Results
The venom toxicity showed a dose-dependent cell death on both B16 and MCA cells. Interestingly, overexpression of ovalbumin increased the sensitivity of the cells to the venom. However, the venom was not able to eradicate induced-tumor growth when injected at 100 µg/kg. Our study demonstrates a cytotoxic effect of M. bornmuelleri’s venom in vitro which, however, does not translate to an anticancer action in vivo.
Quantification of Nutritional Composition and Some Antinutrient Factors of Banana Peels and Pineapple Skins
Authors: Bakri Noor Fadilah Mohd , Ishak Zuwariah , Jusoh Arif Zaidi , H. Hadijah 
Published: October 2020

Agricultural wastes are by-products generated from growing and processing of agricultural commodities such as vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry and crops. The modernisation of agricultural practises creates huge number of wastes namely animals’ carcass, seeds and skins from crop and also trace of pesticide, along the chain. If these wastes are released without proper disposal procedure, it may cause negative effects to environment and jeopardize human health. Banana and pineapple are amongst the most common crops cultivated in tropical countries. With its bright colour, juicy delicious flesh, and well-studied beneficial compounds, these two fruits are being enjoyed as fresh consumption or in the form of food products like chips and jam. Unfortunately, the peel and the skin are currently being dumped to the landfill as waste. The objective of our study was to evaluate the chemical composition of banana peel and pineapple skin, in order to explore the utilisation of these so-called wastes as food ingredients. The samples were analysed for nutritional composition, anti-nutrients level and sugar profile. Proximate analysis according to AOAC 2000 method were conducted to collect the nutritional composition of samples, antinutrients factors were study via spectrophotometery analysis and sugar profile were achieved by using HPLC-ELSD method. The results showed that ash, moisture, fat, protein were in the acceptable level (7.0±0.14, 7.55±1.48, 13.95±1.62, 5.0±2.82, 67.25±3.80 g/100 g respectively for banana peels and 3.49±0.02, 8.65±0.87, 0.38±0.07, 4.84±1.73 and 83.31±3.49 g/100 g for pineapple skins respectively) and acceptable levels of tannin and phytic acid for both samples. Analysis of sugar profile revealed that these high values agricultural waste contain fructose, glucose and sucrose – potentially being utilised as a good source of sweetners. Finally, we recommend that banana peels and pineapple skins should properly be processed and exploited as a high quality and inexpensive source of food ingredients.
Factors Affecting Profitability of Agribusiness Activities: A Case Study of Smallholder Pig Farming in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya
Authors: Micheni P. K. , Nyariki I. S. , Kosgei G. K. 
Published: October 2020

Aims: There have been concerted efforts to commercialize the pig sub-sector so as to make it more profitable to farmers, especially smallholder farmers. Despite the development, the profitability in the sector has not been consistent among the smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers have been earning varying and dismal profits. The causes of the varying profits have not been empirically established with the influence of institutional arrangements from a transaction cost perspective and management factors contributing to this inconsistency not fully established. The study examined the influence of institutional arrangements and management factors on profit efficiency of smallholder pig farming in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya.
Research Methods: A two-stage sampling technique was employed in selection of 80 smallholder pig farmers. Semi-structured interview guides were administered and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function.
Findings: The study revealed that male (75%) respondents dominated were within the active age, had 6 years pig farming experience with basic education. The results of Stochastic frontier production revealed that feed costs (p<0.01) and breed type (p<0.05) negatively reduced profit efficiency of the respondents while herd size (p<0.05) and veterinary and drug costs (p<0.01) positively influenced profit efficiency. Inefficiency was increased by Gender (p<0.1) and Debt Asset Ratio (p<0.01) while information trust (p<0.05) and experience reduced.
Conclusion: The mean profit efficiency was 0.40 exhibiting low profit efficiency in the study area, efficiency level could be increased by 60% through better use of available resources, adoption of modern technology and transaction costs reduction. This would be acquired if good management practices and marketing channels are adopted. The gamma parameter (γ) was 0.63 meaning 63% net revenue variation is due to profit inefficiencies. The study contributes to Agribusiness field and would improve policies associated with agribusiness development in Kenya.
Pharmacognostic and Taxonomic Studies of Cola parchycarpa K. Schum. (Malvaceae)
Authors: Johnny Imoh I. , Bassey Margret E. 
Published: October 2020

C. pachycarpa is a lesser-known member of the genus Cola in the family Malvaceae. In Nigeria its fruits are edible but with non-edible seeds as the general Cola ‘Kolanut” This study is carried out to evaluate the taxonomic and pharmacognostic characters of Cola pachycarpa K. Schum. for its identification, authentication and standardization. The pharmacognostic and taxonomic characters were determined from macroscopy, microscopy, petiole anatomy, powder microscopy, chemomicroscopy, micromeritic properties, ash values, extractive values, fluorescence analysis and phytochemical screening using standard methods. The leaves of C. pachycarpa were alternate, petiolate, compound and trifoliate. Petioles were within 45-50 cm long, leaflets 20-38 cm long, 10-19 cm wide, the middle leaflet were often longer than others. Leaflets were short petiolulate to subsessile, leaflet shape was elliptic, apex acuminate, margin entire and texture hairy on the abaxial surface of the leaflet with brown caducuous hairs on the abaxial surface only. Stem was erect, woody and scabrid about 4-10 cm in diameter. The fruit was 15 cm long and 7 cm wide with about 3-5 seeds occurring in a pod. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoid, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides but anthraquinone was absent for the leaf while all were present except alkaloid, cardiac glycoside and anthraquinone in the stem. Epidermal cells were polygonal with straight anticlinal walls. Drusiferous crystals were observed on the petioles. Leaflets were hypostomatic with anisocytic stomata and stellate trichomes on the abaxial surface. The chemomicroscopic study revealed the presence of lignin, starch, cellulose, oils, calcium oxalate crystals, mucilage and protein for both leaf and stem. The fluorescence characteristics showed the presence of different colours supporting the presence of various phytoconstituents for both leaf and stem. The flow properties for both leaf and stem were fair and passable with the angle of repose of 35° and 45°respectively. The quantitative epidermal studies, chemomicroscopic and fluorescence characteristics revealed characteristic features for the drug. The physico-chemical results for leaf and stem gave total ash of 8.24% and 11.5%, water soluble ash of 3.71% and 3.20%, acid-insoluble ash of 0.99% and 4.33% and moisture content of 10.58% and 4.33%, water-soluble extractive of 12.50 % and 9.40%, ethanol-soluble extractive of 9.10% and 2.90%, methanol-soluble extractive of 8.00 % and 2.30% and ethyl-acetate acetate-soluble extractive of 2.00% and 0.50% respectively.
The findings of the research will help in the identification and authentication of the plant as well as establishing standards for quality, purity, safety, efficacy and reproducibility in phytomedicine.
18β-glycyrrhetinic Acid Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in HPV18+ HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells
Authors: Saeed Mohd 
Published: October 2020

Aims: In recent years, natural products have received great attention to cancer prevention owing to their various health benefits, lack of toxicity, and side effects. Accumulating evidence shows that 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA) has antiproliferative and apoptotic activities on many cancer cell lines, while its role in cervical cancer remains unknown. Thus, the current research was conducted to illustrate GRA's cytotoxic effect against the HeLa cell line of HPV18 + human cervical cancer.
Methodology: The effect of GRA on HeLa cell line was tested by MTT and Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Cell cycle analysis was carried out by flow cytometry after PI staining. Apoptosis was assessed after annexin V / PI double staining by flow cytometry. The Caspase activation assay kit analysed caspase activation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured by fluorimeter after DCFDA dye staining.
Results: Results of the current study have shown that GRA exposure significantly inhibited the cell viability of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GRA induced growth arrest of HeLa cells at G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, GRA's antiproliferative action was mediated through apoptosis, as evident from caspase-3 and -9 activation. Caspase inhibitors blocked the GRA-induced caspase activation and ameliorated the GRA-induced cytotoxicity. This suggested the role of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis stimulated by GRA. The intracellular ROS generation assay showed a dose-related increment in ROS production induced by GRA. Co-culturing of HeLa cells with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, completely abrogated GRA-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Thus, the effect of NAC suggested the involvement of intracellular ROS in the GRA-induced cytotoxicity.
Conclusion: In summary, GRA exhibited strong antiproliferative and apoptotic properties and, thus, could act as an adjunct in the prevention and management of cervical cancer.
Prospecção Científica e Tecnológica de Malpighia emarginata DC. (Malpighiaceae): espécie economicamente importante do Brasil
Authors: Vieira Thaynara De Carvalho , Nascimento Maria Gracelia Paiva , Bittencourt Cleiton Barroso , De Andrade Ivanilza Moreira 
Published: October 2020

<p><em>Malpighia emarginata</em> <em>DC</em>. é uma espécie frutífera com ampla distribuição no Brasil e potencial econômico no campo alimentício, principalmente como fonte de Vitamina C. Neste trabalho, realizou-se uma prospecção científica e tecnológica em bases de dados de artigos e patentes, nacional e internacional sobre <em>Malpighia emarginata.</em> Na Web of Science e no SCOPUS foram indexados 169 e 179 artigos, respectivamente, enquanto, para patentes, foram obtidos 11 (EPO) e 20 (WIPO) registros. Com relação a países, a China (EPO=5 e WIPO=6) e a Coreia do Sul (EPO=3 e WIPO=4) são os maiores detentores de patentes envolvendo o desenvolvimento de pesquisas sobre <em>Malpighia emarginata. </em>As pesquisas tecnológicas e científicas sugerem que o gênero <em>Malpighia</em> tornou-se bastante conhecido principalmente devido às suas propriedades nutricionais, e, embora o Brasil possua um número significativo de publicações, é necessário que haja maior produção de tecnologias, devido ao grande avanço técnico científico para a espécie. </p><em><span><br /></span></em>