bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Simple Method to Handle Non-response Bias in School Surveys on Drug Use
Authors: Legleye Stéphane , Beck François , Spilka Stanislas 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Studies have proved the positive link between truancy and substances use in school surveys. In spite of this, no adapted weighting treatment is generally provided; even when the share of missing and truant pupils is high, and all drug use estimates are biased downward. The necessary data can be collected: on one side, individual current drug use and past episodes of absence and truancy of the respondents; on the other, the count of the presents and absents the day of the survey, including truants, in each class. However, the nature of these data prevents any classical modelling of the survey response without additional assumptions. Methods: We review one method proposed in 2002 by Guttmacher and al. that uses only the individual data and propose two methods that combine both kind of data and in which we can distinguish or not between truancy and legitimate absence. We apply them to the French release of the 2015 Espad survey (European survey project on alcohol and other drugs). The theoretical number of pupils was n=7166; 981 were absent (including 359 truants), while 178 were discarded because of the poor quality of their questionnaires and 6007 were considered final respondents. Assumptions, point estimates and variances are compared. Results: Guttmacher’ method is not conceptually valid and can lead to irrelevant corrections with high variances. Our estimate of cannabis regular use is 8.6% (std=0.75) instead of 7.7% (std=0.67), that is a non-response bias of circa 14%. Conclusion: The proposed approach relies on simple and plausible assumptions; it is preferable to any speculative consideration about the magnitude of the underestimation yielded by the classical weighting procedures. Survey designers should evaluate and discuss the potential bias of their surveys and eventually correct it.
A Chemical Probe Based on the PreQ1 Metabolite Enables Transcriptome-wide Mapping of Binding Sites
Authors: Balaratnam Sumirtha , Rhodes Curran , Bume Desta , Connelly Colleen , Lai Christopher , Kelley James , Yazdani Kamyar , Homan Phil , Incarnato Danny , Numata Tomoyuki , Schneekloth Jay 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The role of metabolite-responsive riboswitches in regulating gene expression in bacteria is well known and makes them useful systems for the study of RNA-small molecule interactions. Here, we study the PreQ1 riboswitch system, assessing sixteen diverse PreQ1-derived probes for their ability to selectively modify the riboswitch aptamer covalently. For the most active probe, a diazirine-based photocrosslinker, X-ray crystallography and gel-based competition assays demonstrated the mode of binding of the ligand to the aptamer, and functional assays demonstrated that the probe retains activity against the full riboswitch. Transcriptome-wide mapping using Chem-CLIP revealed a highly selective interaction between the bacterial aptamer and the small molecule. In addition, a small number of RNA targets in endogenous human transcripts were found to bind specifically to PreQ1, providing evidence for candidate PreQ1 aptamers in human RNA. This work demonstrates a stark influence of linker chemistry and structure on the ability of molecules to crosslink RNA, reveals that the PreQ1 aptamer/ligand pair are broadly useful for chemical biology applications, and provides insights into how PreQ1 interacts with human RNAs.
Development of a Novel Selective Medium for Culture of Gram-negative Bacteria
Authors: Al-blooshi Shooq Yousef , Latif Mustafa Amir Abdul , Sabaneh Nour K. , Mgaogao Michael , Hossain Ashfaque 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: Although many bacterial culture media are commercially available, there is a continuous effort to develop better selective media for bacteria, which cannot be grown on existing media. While exploring antibacterial properties of clove, we observed that it has the potential to selectively inhibit growth of certain types of bacteria. This led us to do the experiments which resulted in developing the media which selectively allowed the growth of only Gram-negative bacteria, while inhibiting the Gram-positive bacteria. Results: Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) was used as the base media and was modified to develop MHA-C15 (MHA containing 15 % volume / volume water extract of clove). Different Gram-negative bacterial pathogens including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew on MHA-C15. However, none of the major Gram-positive bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus spp. and Enterococcus spp. grew on it. Taken together, these findings show that MHA-C15 is a newly developed selective media for culture of Gram-negative bacteria.
The Effect of Melissa Officinalis Syrup on Patients With Mild to Moderate Psoriasis: a Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Yargholi Alireza , Shirbeigi Leila , Rahimi Roja , Mansouri Parvin , Ayati Mohammad Hossein 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. It can involve any body skin area, particularly the scalp, lower back, elbows, and knees. There are several topical and systemic therapies for the treatment. Nowadays, herbal medicines are popular treatments for dermatologic conditions. This two-arm parallel, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to examine the hypothesis of the efficacy of Melissa officinalis syrup on patients with mild-to-moderate Plaque psoriasis.Result: Among 100 patients, ninety-five participants completed the trial and five of them withdrew. The mean pruritus intensity and PASI scores decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the placebo group (P<0.001). The DLQI score in the intervention group increased post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (P= 0.029); however, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control group at the end of the study (0.065). Trial registration The trial was registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials on November 9th, 2019 (https://www.irct.ir/trial/43434 ; registration number: IRCT20191104045326N1).
Current Obesity Was Associated with Hypertension in Children Born Very Low Birth Weight
Authors: Limratchapong Chompoonut , Nuntnarumit Pracha , Paksi Wischuri , Pirojsakul Kwanchai 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objectives: Previous studies from the developed countries showed that children born very low birth weight have a higher risk of hypertension compared with that of the normal birth weight controls. However, studies regarding the prevalence of hypertension in such children from the developing countries are scarce. This study aimed to identify the perinatal and postnatal factors associated with hypertension in children born very low birth weight.Results: Forty-six children aged ≥ 6 years from the VLBW cohort of Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand underwent the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The prevalence of hypertension was 15.2% (7/46). The hypertension group had a significant higher BMI z-score at 3 years of age (0.90 ± 1.44 vs -0.45 ± 1.47, P = 0.045) and a greater proportion of current obesity (42% vs 2.5%, P < 0.01) compared to those in the normotensive group. Multivariate analysis revealed that current obesity was associated with hypertension (OR 20.5, 95%CI 1.07-391.5). Among 36 children with normal office blood pressure, four children (11.1%) had high blood pressure uncovered by ABPM, so-called “masked hypertension”. Office systolic blood pressure at the 85th percentile was the greatest predictor for masked hypertension with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 81.2%.
Health Service Experiences and Preferences of Frail Home Care Clients and Their Family and Friend Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Weeks Lori E. , Nesto Sue , Hiebert Bradley , Warner Grace , Luciano Wendy , Donelle Lorie 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a major upheaval in the lives of older adults and their family/friend caregivers, including those utilizing home care services. In this article, we focus on results from a qualitative component added to a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that focuses on the experiences of our study participants during COVID-19. A total of 29 participants responded to the COVID-19 related questions focused on their health services experiences and preferences from March-June 2020 including 10 home care clients and 19 family/friend caregivers in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. ResultsMany participants were affected drastically by the elimination or reduction of access to services, highlighting the vulnerability of home care clients and their caregivers during COVID-19. This took an emotional toll on home care clients and increased the need for family/friend caregiver support. While many participants expressed reduced desire to utilize residential long-term care homes, some caregivers found that passive remote monitoring technology was particularly useful within the COVID-19 context. Our results provide important insights into the ways the older adults and their caregivers have been affected during the COVID-19 context and how to better support them in the future.
High Carbohydrate Intakes May Predict More Inflammatory Status Than High Fat Intakes in Pre-Menopause Women With Overweight or Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Karimi Elmira , Yarizadeh Habib , Setayesh Leila , Sajjadi Seyyedeh Forough , Ghodoosi Nasim , Mirzaei Khadijeh 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
ObjectiveUntil now, studies on the association between dietary carbohydrate and fat intakes and inflammation have indicated conflicting results. We evaluated the association of fat and carbohydrate intakes with inflammatory markers in pre-menopause women with overweight or obesity.RESULTS360 women with BMI ≥ 25 participated in this study. The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) indicated a significantly increasing trend across tertiles of total dietary carbohydrate (P=0.048). We found that the levels of galectin-3 were negatively associated with dietary carbohydrate in adjusted model (β= -0.28, P=0.04). In addition, the levels of MCP-1 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) were positively correlated to carbohydrate amount in the diet (β= 0.23, P=0.002 and β= 0.29, P=0.002 for MCP-1 for crude and adjusted models, respectively, β= 0.57, P=0.03 and β= 1.23, P=0.003 for TGF-β for crude and adjusted models, respectively). No significant relationship was observed between inflammatory parameters and total fat intake (P>0.05). However, there was borderline significant negative association between total fat intake and TGF-β level in adjusted model (β= -0.95, P=0.05). Therefore, high carbohydrate diet may increase inflammation in women with obesity. To achieve similar results, it is necessary to perform more observational and clinical trial studies in this issue.
Interactions between Caveolin 1 polymorphism and the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet (MIND) diet on Metabolic dyslipidemia in overweight and obese adult women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Khatibi Nasim , Mirzababaei Atiyeh , shiraseb farideh , Abaj Faezeh , koohdani Fariba , Mirzaei Khadijeh 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: A higher incidence of metabolic dyslipidemia (MD) and its association with many diseases attracted considerable attention to its control. Caveolin 1 (CAV1) is a known gene associated with obesity. Today, a novel diet recognized as the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet (MIND( is reported to have a positive effect on overall health. Hence, we aimed to investigate the interactions between CAV1 polymorphism and MIND diet on the MD in overweight and obese patients.Results: Remarkably, there was a significant interaction between the MIND diet and CAV1 rs3807992 for dyslipidemia (β=-0.25±132, P=0.05) in the crude model. Whereby, subjects with dominant alleles had a lower risk of dyslipidemia and risk allele carriers with higher adherence to MIND diet may exhibit the lower dyslipidemia.This study presented the CAV1 gene as a possible genetic marker in recognizing people at higher risks for metabolic diseases. It also indicated that using the MIND diet may help in improving dyslipidemia through providing a probable interaction with CAV1 rs3807992 polymorphism.
Cesarean Section and Its Correlates Among Early Child Bearing Women in Nepal
Authors: Bhandari Aliza K C , Adhikari Ashmita , Shrestha Mijjal , Rahman Mahbubur 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: To examine the factors associated with cesarean section among early child bearing women in Nepal.Results: Out of 4006 women of reproductive age group from 1996 to 2016, more than 50% had early pregnancy. The population-based cesarean section (CS) rate was about 10% [95% confidence interval: (8.9-11.6)]. Our logistic regression model showed that women with early child bearing had 32% (p-value <0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.50- 0.94) less chance of having CS than women of age group 19-29 years. It was also evident that poorest women of same age group had 66% less likelihood of having CS than the richest (p-value: <0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.99). Similarly, women from province-1, province-3 and province-4, having complete four antenatal check-ups and delivering in a private institution were associated with CS among early child bearers.
Potential prognostic value of PD-L1 and NKG2A expression in Indonesian patients with skin nodular melanoma
Authors: Saputro Ridwan Dwi , Rinonce Hanggoro Tri , Iramawasita Yayuk , Ridho Muhammad Rasyid , Pudjohartono Maria Fransiska , Anwar Sumadi Lukman , Setiaji Kunto , Aryandono Teguh 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective

Biomarker mRNA levels have been suggested to be predictors of patient survival and therapy response in melanoma cases. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between the mRNA expression levels of PD-L1 and NKG2A in melanoma tissue and clinicopathologic characteristics and survival in Indonesian patients with primary nodular melanoma.
Results

Thirty-two tissue samples were analyzed. Upregulated PD-L1 was associated with shorter overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.930; 95% confidence interval: 1.011–8.489, p = 0.048) compared with patients with normoregulated PD-L1. A significant positive correlation was found between the expression levels of PD-L1 and NKG2A (rs: 0.768, p < 0.001). However, no clinicopathologic associations with PD-L1 and NKG2A mRNA levels were statistically proven. Comparison with other studies suggested that the choice of adjuvant therapy and the presence of TILs affect the prognostic role of PD-L1 expression. NKG2A was not proven to be an independent predictive factor but may become an adjunct target for therapy. The strong correlation between PD-L1 and NKG2A suggests that anti-PD-1 and anti-NKG2A agents could be effective in patients with PD-L1 upregulation. The combination of the mRNA levels of these two target genes may provide a novel prognostic and therapeutic direction for immunotherapy.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on athletes with disabilities preparing for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo
Authors: Urbański Piotr , Szeliga Łukasz , Tasiemski Tomasz 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective

The main aim of the study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on athletes preparing for the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games during the lockdown period in Poland. The study involved 166 athletes, members of either the Polish Paralympic Committee or the Polish Sports Association for the Disabled ’Start’, two organizations responsible for managing and regulating sports played by persons with disabilities in Poland.
Results

Athletes with disabilities have been strongly affected by the pandemic and the resultant lockdown, which limited or prevented their participation in training sessions and possibly hampered their future sport performance during the Tokyo 2021.
Changes and Drive Mechanism of Climate Extremes During Recent 60 Years in Qilian Mountains, Northwestern China
Authors: Li Zongjie , Lv Yue Ming , Li Zongxing , Lingling Song 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A interesting study of analyzing the temporal and spatial characteristics and the reason change of extreme climate indexes based on the daily precipitation and temperature data of 24 meteorological stations in Qilian Mountains from 1961 to 2017. The results showed that the interannual change of the warming index of extreme temperature was similar to that of the cold index of extreme temperature. All daily indexes of extreme precipitation except CWD passed the significance level test of 5%. All daily indexes of extreme precipitation except for CDD in Hexi inland river basin, Qaidam inland river basin and Yellow river basin showed an increasing trend. However, the increasing extent of CWD, R10MM, R20MM and R25MM in Yellow river basin was lower than that of Qilian Mountain. The warming range of the four indexes (TX10, TN10, TXN and TNN) decreased from south to north. The spatial distribution of PRCPTOT, SDII, RX1DAY, RX5DAY, R95 and R99 was similar in the Qilian Mountains. The central part of the Qilian Mountains was the area with larger increasing region, and the increase region decreased from inside to outside. TX10, TN10, ID, FD showed a significant negative correlation with altitude, while TXN, TNN showed a significant positive correlation with altitude. The changes of TX10, TN10, TXN, TNN, ID, FD and DTR were the most obvious in the high altitude area (> 2500m), and the changes of TN90, TX90, TXX, TNX and GSL were the most obvious in the low altitude area (< 2500m). Qilian Mountains, Hexi inland river basin and Qaidam inland river basin were greatly affected by the AMO, NTA, CAR, SCSSMI, SAMSMI and were slightly affected by the Nino4, NAO, NP, SOI, AO, MEI. Extreme precipitation days indexes of Yellow river basin is highly correlated with AO and SCSSMI. The effect of the circulation index of Atlantic multidecadal Oscillation, Tropical Northern Atlantic Index, Tropical Southern Atlantic Index, North Tropical Atlantic SST Index, Caribbean SST index on the extreme temperature warm index was stronger than that of extreme temperature cold index.
Fusion Energy: On the track of a different philosophy and solution
Authors: Ferro Joao 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
When two (or more) nuclei fuse, to form a heavier element, energy is released. The mechanism is known, at least to some degree. And the actual technological development on the subject has been introducing applications in many areas. Even so, there are some challenges before we can be able to provide energy by an appropriated fusion process: high needs of power, plasma confinement issues, heavy equipment, etc.
The present idea intends to show a different view. The author calls in a broad sense, Conceptual Thesis, and it has the Natural Language as principal tool. The author either explicitly or implicitly discusses the space-time fabric, double-slit experiment, and other concepts like non-duality. A nano-apparatus draft with the purpose to be in the scope of a near future research, closes the picture.
Uptake of evidence by physicians: De-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after TREAT trial showed they are ineffective and unsafe
Authors: Vu Khoa , Zhou Jiani , Everhart Alexander , Desai Nihar , Herrin Jeph , Jena Anupam , Ross Joseph , Shah Nilay , Karaca-Mandic Pinar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Variation in de-adoption of ineffective or unsafe treatments is not well-understood. We examined de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemia treatment among patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) following new clinical evidence of harm and ineffectiveness (the TREAT trial) and the FDA's revision of its safety warning. We used an interrupted time series approach to estimate changes in use of epoetin alfa (EPO) and darbepoetin alfa (DPO) in the commercial and Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) populations. We also examined how changes in both trends and levels of use were associated with physicians’ characteristics. Study cohort included patients with CKD stages 3 to 5 during 2007-2015. Use of DPO and EPO declined over the study period. There were no consistent changes in DPO trend across insurance groups, but the level of DPO use decreased right after the FDA revision in all groups. The decline in EPO use trend was faster after the TREAT trial for all groups. Nephrologists were largely more responsive to evidence than primary care physicians. Differences by physician's gender, and age were not consistent across insurance populations and types of ESA.
Hydrogen Sulfide Reduces Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Enhancing Autophagy and Reducing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Shuaiwei , An Shuangshuang , Gao Biao , Teng Tieshan , Wu Dongdong , Li Yanzhang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts a protective effect in renal IRI. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of exogenous H2S on renal IRI by regulating autophagy in mice.
Methods
Mice were randomly assigned to control, IRI, and NaHS (28, 56 and 100 µmol/kg) groups. Renal IRI was induced by clamping the bilateral renal pedicles for with non-traumatic arterial clamp for 45 min and then reperfused for 24 h. Mice were administered intraperitoneally with NaHS 20 min prior to renal ischemia. Sham group mice underwent the same procedures without clamping. Serum and kidney tissues were harvested 24 h after reperfusion for functional, histological, oxidative stress, and autophagic determination.
Results
Compared with the control group, the concentrations of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and malondialdehyde (MDA), the protein levels of LC3II/I, Beclin-1, and P62, as well as the number of autophagosomes were significantly increased, but the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was decreased after renal IRI. NaHS pretreatment dramatically attenuated renal IRI-induced renal dysfunction, histological changes, MDA concentration, and p62 expression in a dose-dependent manner. However, NaHS increased the SOD activity and the protein levels of LC3II/I and Beclin-1.
Conclusions
These results indicate that exogenous H2S protects the kidney from IRI through enhancement of autophagy and reduction of oxidative stress. Novel H2S donors could be developed in the treatment of renal IRI.