bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Inverse G‐Wishart distribution and variational message passing
Authors: Maestrini Luca , Wand Matt P. 
Published: October 2021

SummaryMessage passing on a factor graph is a powerful paradigm for the coding of approximate inference algorithms for arbitrarily large graphical models. The notion of a factor graph fragment allows for compartmentalisation of algebra and computer code. We show that the Inverse G‐Wishart family of distributions enables fundamental variational message passing factor graph fragments to be expressed elegantly and succinctly. Such fragments arise in models for which approximate inference concerning covariance matrix or variance parameters is made, and are ubiquitous in contemporary statistics and machine learning.
Systemic antibiotics and asthma medicines dispensed to 0−12 year olds significantly decreased during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020
Authors: Haapanen Marjut , Renko Marjo , Artama Miia , Kuitunen Ilari 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAimNationwide lockdowns and social restrictions during the COVID‐19 pandemic have reduced childhood infections. We assessed how many items of systemic antibiotics and asthma medicines were dispensed to children aged 0−12 years in Finland before and during the pandemic and analysed the reimbursement costs.MethodsThe data came from the national Finnish register of reimbursable prescriptions, which is maintained by the country's Social Insurance Institution. It included all prescriptions for antibiotics and asthma medicines dispensed to children aged 0−12 years in 2019 and 2020. Prescription rates per 1000 children were calculated for each quarter and compared using rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsOverall dispensing for antibiotics decreased by 55.3% and was most prominent for macrolides for children aged 0−5 years (59.6%, 95% CI 60.9%−58.2%). Asthma medicines decreased by 19.8%, and the most prominent reduction was in short‐acting beta‐agonists for children aged 0−5 years (35.2%, 95% CI 36.1%−34.2%). These reduced reimbursement costs by 3.4 million Euros from 2019 to 2020.ConclusionThis nationwide study showed that the number of antibiotics and asthma medicines decreased by 59.6% and 19.8% respectively from 2019 to 2020, generating a cost saving of 3.4 million Euros.
Exploring functional metabolites in preterm infants
Authors: Renwick Victoria L. , Stewart Christopher J. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAimMetabolomics is the study of small molecules that represent the functional end points of cellular reactions that can impact health. Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and late onset sepsis (LOS) are the main cause of death in preterm infants surviving the initial days of life.MethodsThis review will explore and summarise the current literature exploring metabolomics in preterm infants.ResultsThere are a relatively limited number of studies investigating metabolomics in preterm infants with NEC and/or LOS and matched controls. Nonetheless, it is evident across longitudinally age‐related metabolomic studies that there are significant changes in metabolite profiles post‐partum and over the first year of life. Existing studies have reported associations between the metabolite profiles of serum, urine and stool in health and disease in preterm infants. Although some studies have found selected metabolites are associated with disease, the specific metabolites vary from study to study, and larger studies are required. Excitingly, recent work has also begun to untangle how microbially produced metabolites can impact immunoregulation of the infant.ConclusionMetabolic exploration is an emerging research area with huge potential for developing novel biomarkers and better understanding disease processes in preterm infants.
Farming lifestyle and human milk: Modulation of the infant microbiome and protection against allergy
Authors: Jackson Courtney M. , Mahmood Mustafa M. , Järvinen Kirsi M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThere has been an increased prevalence of several allergic manifestations such as food allergy, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Several explanations have been proposed why this has occurred, but one of the main contributing factors may be the gradual loss of microbial exposures over time in regions where allergy is prevalent. Such exposures occur in individuals who practise a traditional farming lifestyle and are protected against allergy. Infant consumption of human milk, more commonly practised in these farming communities, may provide an alternative in combatting allergy, as it known to be beneficial to infant health. In this review, we cover human milk and its role in shaping the gut microbiome promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium, as well as the downstream impact of the farming lifestyle, human milk and Bifidobacterium has on developing infant immunity.
COVID‐19, children, clinical trials and compassion: The ethical case for using innovative or compassionate treatments
Authors: Larcher Vic , Caplan Art , Brierley Joe 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAimSafe, effective SARS‐CoV‐2 treatment has not yet been determined, though some drugs have favourable mortality and morbidity benefits in specific situations. No treatments have been explicitly tested in children, who are, therefore, once again therapeutic orphans.MethodWe echo calls to enrol patients, including children, into trials but those children recruited to date have largely been additions to adult studies. Few were recruited during the initial pandemic despite the emergence of PIMS‐TS/MIS‐C, which surely demands paediatric‐specific research.ResultMust children be proscribed treatments effective in adults until child‐specific data emerges, even in a pandemic? Will appropriately powered dedicated trials ever determine specific child‐COVID‐19 treatment pathways? Is the protracted time frame to assemble such data acceptable to children with severe COVID‐19 today?Such factors are relevant in considering whether children should have access to compassionate, innovative, pandemic‐disease treatment.ConclusionWe argue that children should be permitted, indeed have a right, to access innovative treatments early in any future pandemic, following an individual best interests consideration. This will remain the case until formal studies powered to determine children's optimal treatment commence, when the moral duty switches to ensuring children are enrolled, with any preceding innovative‐use data made available to researchers.
Effects of two dietary crude protein levels on finishing performance, meat quality, and gene expression of market lambs
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Shelby Sarah , Apple Jason , Coffey Ken , Pohlman Fred , Huang Yan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSeventeen crossbred lambs were assigned randomly to low‐protein (LP; 8% crude protein [CP]; n = 9) and high‐protein (HP; 13% CP; n = 8) diets for 9 weeks. The final body weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and average daily gain (ADG) of the HP lambs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the LP lambs; however, gain to feed ratio (G:F) for the LP lambs was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the HP lambs. Hot carcass weight (HCW), adjusted fat thickness, and drip loss of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the HP than LP lambs. In contrast, instrumental color values L*, a*, b*, C*, and hue angle (H) of meat from the LP lambs scored significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the HP lambs. The LD muscle from HP lambs had significantly greater CLA of cis‐9 trans‐11 isomer (P < 0.05) than the LP lambs. The gene expression of metabolism and meat quality‐related genes of LP was significantly higher than HP (P < 0.05). These results suggest that a higher dietary CP level promotes growth performance for finishing lambs, whereas lower dietary CP level is beneficial for meat quality, especially when evaluating color characteristics in the final product.
Business Combinations under Common Control: A Controlling Entity Cost Approach
Authors: Seah‐Tan Serene 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis paper discusses the controlling entity's perspective in business combinations under common control (BCUCC) and suggests some issues for the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to consider in its redeliberations on the preliminary views in the Discussion Paper. The paper explains the use of a book‐value approach in practice, specifically by listed companies and pre‐listing initial public offering (IPO) candidates in Hong Kong, the relevance of the controlling entity perspective and the importance of pre‐combination information to users of the financial statements. This paper discusses the controlling entity's perspective in BCUCC and suggests some issues for the IASB to consider in its redeliberations on the preliminary views in the Discussion Paper.
Extreme droughts in oligotrophic mountain grasslands cause substantial species abundance changes and amplify community filtering
Authors: Stanik Nils , Peppler‐Lisbach Cord , Rosenthal Gert 
Published: October 2021

AbstractQuestionsMountain grasslands can be strongly affected by extreme droughts such as those related to climate change. What are the impacts of extreme droughts on community composition, diversity, Ellenberg indicator scores and species groups in oligotrophic montane Nardus grasslands, and what are the associated mechanisms of vegetation change?LocationRhön Mountains, Germany.MethodsOver three consecutive years, we investigated the effects of yearly droughts (April–August) in an experimental setup with rainout shelters. Owing to the coincidence of ambient extreme dry conditions in those years and our artificial rainfall reduction, we evaluated the contribution to community change of ambient drought conditions and the treatments. We analysed changes in community composition by applying redundancy analysis to species differences in comparison with the pretreatment year, and used mixed‐effects models to test for changes in community‐weighted means of Ellenberg indicator scores, sociological and functional groups.ResultsWe found significant changes in species abundance and community structures in response to drought. Evenness increased, but species richness remained rather stable over time. Ellenberg indicator scores for temperature and nitrogen increased, whereas the score for moisture decreased. Simultaneously, dominant species declined and subdominants increased. Changes occurred with a time lag and were driven largely by the high ambient drought level and less by the artificial treatments.ConclusionsOur results show that drought‐related changes in community composition in Nardus grasslands occur across community structures, characteristic species, and species groups. The post‐drought recovery of the community is shaped by community filters, which in particular allow subdominants to take advantage of newly available niches in the matrix, even if they lack strong drought tolerance. Our findings indicate a certain resilience of the community to droughts related to climate change, which suggests that the observed changes should not lead to an accelerated short‐term decline in these grasslands, but that this cannot be excluded in the long term.
Saliva as a sampling matrix for therapeutic drug monitoring of gentamicin in neonates: A prospective population pharmacokinetic and simulation study
Authors: Samb Amadou , Kruizinga Matthijs , Tallahi Younes , van Esdonk Michiel , van Heel Willemijn , Driessen Gertjan , Bijleveld Yuma , Stuurman Rik , Cohen Adam , van Kaam Anton , de Haan Timo R , Mathôt Ron 
Published: October 2021

AimsTherapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of gentamicin in neonates is recommended for safe and effective dosing and is currently performed by plasma sampling, which is an invasive and painful procedure. In this study, feasibility of a non‐invasive gentamicin TDM strategy using saliva was investigated.MethodsThis was a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study including 54 neonates. Any neonate treated with intravenous gentamicin was eligible for the study. Up to eight saliva samples were collected per patient at different time‐points. Gentamicin levels in saliva were determined with liquid chromatography tandem mass‐spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). A population pharmacokinetic (PK) model was developed using nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling (NONMEM) to describe the relation between gentamicin concentrations in saliva and plasma. Monte Carlo simulations with a representative virtual cohort (n = 3000) were performed to evaluate the probability of target attainment with saliva versus plasma TDM.ResultsPlasma PK was adequately described with an earlier published model. An additional saliva compartment describing the salivary gentamicin concentrations was appended to the model with first‐order input (k13 0.023 h−1) and first‐order elimination (k30 0.169 h−1). Inter‐individual variability of k30 was 38%. Postmenstrual age (PMA) correlated negatively with both k13 and k30. Simulations demonstrated that TDM with four saliva samples was accurate in 81% of the simulated cases versus 94% when performed with two plasma samples and 87% when performed with one plasma sample.ConclusionTDM of gentamicin using saliva is feasible and the difference in precision between saliva and plasma TDM may not be clinically relevant, especially for premature neonates.
Implementing prescribing safety indicators in prisons: A mixed methods study
Authors: Abuzour Aseel S. , Magola‐Makina Esnath , Dunlop James , O'Brien Amber , Khawagi Wael Y. , Ashcroft Darren M. , Brown Petra , Keers Richard N. 
Published: October 2021

AimsTo examine the prevalence of potentially hazardous prescribing in the prison setting using prescribing safety indicators (PSIs) and explore their implementation and use in practice.MethodsPSIs were identified and reviewed by the project team following a literature review and a nominal group discussion. Pharmacists at 2 prison sites deployed the PSIs using search protocols within their electronic health record. Prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated for each indicator. Semi‐structured interviews with 20 prison healthcare staff across England and Wales were conducted to explore the feasibility of deploying and using PSIs in prison settings.ResultsThirteen PSIs were successfully deployed mostly comprising drug–drug interactions (n = 9). Five yielded elevated prevalence rates: use of anticholinergics if aged ≥65 years (Site B: 25.8% [95%CI: 10.4–41.2%]), lack of antipsychotic monitoring for >12 months (Site A: 39.1% [95%CI: 27.1–52.1%]; Site B: 28.6% [95%CI: 17.9–41.4%]), prolonged use of hypnotics (Site B: 46.3% [95%CI: 35.6–57.1%]), antiplatelets prescribed with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs without gastrointestinal protection (Site A: 12.5% [95%CI: 0.0–35.4%]; Site B: 16.7% [95%CI: 0.4–64.1%]), and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors prescribed with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs/antiplatelets without gastrointestinal protection (Site A: 39.6% [95%CI: 31.2–48.4%]; Site B: 33.3% [95%CI: 20.8–47.9%]). Prison healthcare staff supported the use of PSIs and identified key considerations to guide its successful implementation, including staff engagement and PSI 'champions'. To respond to PSI searches, stakeholders suggested contextualised patient support through intraprofessional collaboration.ConclusionWe successfully implemented a suite of PSIs into 2 prisons, identifying those with higher prevalence values as intervention targets. When appropriately resourced and integrated into staff workflow, PSI searches may support prescribing safety in prisons.
Perinatal and postpartum care during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wagner Michael , Falcone Veronica , Neururer Sabrina B. , Leitner Hermann , Delmarko Irmgard , Kiss Herbert , Berger Angelika , Farr Alex 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to analyze perinatal outcomes and adverse events during the COVID‐19 pandemic's first wave to help direct decision making in future waves.MethodsThis study was an epidemiological cohort study analyzing comprehensive birth registry data among all 80 obstetric departments in Austria. Out of 469 771 records, 468 348 were considered eligible, whereof those with preterm delivery, birthweight <500 g, multiple fetuses, fetal malformations and chromosomal anomalies, intrauterine fetal death, maternal cancer, HIV infection, and/or inter‐hospital transfers were excluded. Women who delivered between January and June 2020 were then classified as cases, whereas those who delivered between January and June 2015‐2019 were classified as controls. Perinatal outcomes, postpartum hospitalization, and adverse events served as outcome measures.ResultsOf 33 198 cases and 188 225 controls, data analysis showed significantly increased rates of labor induction, instrumental delivery, obstetric anesthesia, NICU transfer, and 5‐min Apgar score below 7 during the COVID‐19 period. There was a significantly shorter length of postpartum hospitalization during the COVID‐19 period compared with the non‐COVID‐19 period (3.1 ± 1.4 vs 3.5 ± 1.5 days; P < .001). Significantly more women opted for short‐stay delivery during the COVID‐19 period (3.7% vs 2.4%; P < .001). Those who delivered during the COVID‐19 period were also more likely to experience postpartum adverse events (3.0% vs 2.6%; P < .001), which was confirmed in the logistic regression model (odds ratio, 2.137; 95% confidence interval, 1.805‐2.530; P < .001).ConclusionsPerinatal and postpartum care during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic differed significantly from that provided before. Increased rates of adverse events underline the need to ensure access to high‐quality obstetric care to prevent collateral damage.
Combination of PD‐1 inhibitor with GVD (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, liposomal doxorubicin) versus GVD regimen as second‐line therapy for relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Zhang Yu‐Chen , Wang Jin‐Ni , Ma Shu‐Yun , Cai Jun , Su Ning , Huang Hui‐Qiang , Li Zhi‐Ming , Xia Zhong‐Jun , Huang He , Liu Pan‐Pan , Xia Yi , Cai Qing-Qing 
Published: October 2021

SummaryPatients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who do not achieve complete remission (CR) after second‐line chemotherapy have poor clinical outcomes. Besides, conventional salvage chemotherapy regimens have an unsatisfactory CR rate. The present retrospective study reports the efficacy and toxicity of the GVD (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, liposomal doxorubicin) regimen with or without programmed cell death 1 (PD‐1) inhibitor for patients with cHL who failed first‐line treatment. A total of 103 patients with cHL (GVD+PD‐1 group, n = 27; GVD group, n = 76) with response assessment based on positron emission tomography were included. The GVD+PD‐1 group tended to have a higher CR rate than GVD group (85·2% vs. 65·8%, P = 0·057) and had a better event‐free survival (EFS) (P = 0·034). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with low‐risk second‐line International Prognostic Score might benefit from the addition of PD‐1 inhibitor (GVD+PD‐1 vs. GVD, 100·0% vs. 64·7%, P = 0·028) and had better EFS than GVD alone (P = 0·016). Further analysis demonstrated that PD‐1 consolidation therapy might provide an EFS benefit (P = 0·007). The toxicity of the GVD+PD‐1 regimen was comparable to the GVD regimen, except for higher rates of hypothyroidism and autoimmune pneumonitis, which were manageable. In conclusion, combining a PD‐1 inhibitor with a GVD regimen could be a potentially effective second‐line therapy for patients with cHL.
Disentangling the factors that shape bromeliad and ant communities in the canopies of cocoa agroforestry and preserved Atlantic Forest
Authors: DaRocha Wesley , Antoniazzi Reuber , Delabie Jacques H. C. , Schroth Götz , Fernandes Geraldo W. , Neves Frederico S. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn tropical forest canopies, host tree characteristics shape epiphyte communities, and both host tree characteristics and epiphytes determine invertebrate communities, for example, ants. Tree height is among the factors most often mentioned as a strong predictor for both bromeliad and ant communities. However, many factors interact dynamically in shaping the tree–bromeliad–ant association. Here, we investigated the effects of the host tree and canopy structural characteristics on both bromeliads and ants. We sampled bromeliads on 180 trees and ants in 360 bromeliads living on a subset of 60 of those trees in a continuum of native forest fragments and agroforestry systems in the Atlantic Forest, a Brazilian biodiversity hotspot. We found that the host trees’ crown area had a positive effect on the abundance of bromeliads. Also, the introduced tree species had higher abundance of bromeliads than native tree species. Moreover, we found that the ant species composition was different between native and introduced trees. In addition, we observed a positive effect of the size of bromeliads and tree crown height on ant species richness on both bromeliad and tree scales, but there was no effect of tree height. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of trees with large crowns for the maintenance of bromeliads, which are also associated with richer ant communities in both Atlantic Forest and agroforestry systems. These results emphasize the importance of trees with larger crowns for biodiversity conservation in both native forest fragments and agroforestry systems.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Extracellular microRNA profiling for prognostic prediction in patients with high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Yoshida Kosuke , Yokoi Akira , Matsuzaki Juntaro , Kato Tomoyasu , Ochiya Takahiro , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Yamamoto Yusuke 
Published: October 2021

AbstractHigh‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma is a leading cause of death in female patients worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are stable noncoding RNAs in the peripheral blood that reflect a patient’s condition, and therefore, they have received substantial attention as noninvasive biomarkers in various diseases. We previously reported the usefulness of serum miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we investigated the prognostic impact of the serum miRNA profile. We used the GSE106817 dataset, which included preoperative miRNA profiles of patients with ovarian malignancies. Excluding patients with other malignancy or insufficient prognostic information, we included 175 patients with high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma. All patients except four underwent surgery and received chemotherapy as initial treatment. The median follow‐up period was 54.6 months (range, 3.5‐144.1 months). Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that higher levels of miR‐187‐5p and miR‐6870‐5p were associated with both poorer progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and miR‐1908‐5p, miR‐6727‐5p, and miR‐6850‐5p were poor prognostic indicators of PFS. The OS and PFS prognostic indices were then calculated using the expression values of three prognostic miRNAs. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that both indices were significantly independent poor prognostic factors (hazard ratio for OS and PFS, 2.343 [P = .015] and 2.357 [P = .005], respectively). In conclusion, circulating miRNA profiles can potentially provide information to predict the prognosis of patients with high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Therefore, there is a strong demand for early clinical application of circulating miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers.