bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of ABCB1 gene polymorphism on concentration to dose ratio and adverse effects of tacrolimus in Pakistani liver transplant recipients
Authors: Azam Fahad , Khan Moosa , Khaliq Tanwir , Bhatti Abubakar Hafeez 
Published: February 2021

Objective: To evaluate the possible association of ABCB1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) of the ABCB1 gene with tacrolimus dosages, concentration-to-dose ratios (CDR) and adverse effects in Pakistani liver transplant recipients.
Methods: This observational study was conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad and Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Karachi from September 2016 to July 2020. Eighty-one liver transplant recipients were included. Demographics, clinical data, tacrolimus trough levels and doses were monitored. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) was used to measure tacrolimus trough levels. Transplant recipients were genotyped for three ABCB1 SNPs (rs1045642, rs2032582 and rs1128503). Acute cellular rejection (ACR), sepsis and other adverse events were monitored.
Results: ABCB1 rs1045642 CC genotype showed lower tacrolimus CDR as compared to CT and TT genotype in the first week of the post-transplantation period (p=0.02). There was a significant association of polymorphisms in rs1045642, rs2032582 and rs1128503 with psychosis, sepsis and ACR respectively.
Conclusion: Identification of ABCB1 rs1045642 polymorphism may shorten the time to achieve optimum levels of tacrolimus during dose titration. ABCB1 polymorphism rs1045642, rs2032582 and rs1128503 may predict adverse effects in liver transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3898
How to cite this:Azam F, Khan M, Khaliq T, Bhatti ABH. Influence of ABCB1 gene polymorphism on concentration to dose ratio and adverse effects of tacrolimus in Pakistani liver transplant recipients. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):689-694. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3898
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Growth and health status of Pangasionodon hypophthalmus reared under manipulated photoperiod conditions
Authors: Windarti Windarti , Amin Bintal , Simarmata Asmika H. 
Published: February 2021

Background: In general, the length of photoperiod affects the physiology of Pangasionodon hypophthalmus. This study aimed to understand the growth and health status of this fish reared under manipulated photoperiods. Methods: The study was conducted between May and August 2020. Three treatments were applied: control (natural photoperiod); 18 hours of darkness (18D6L; tanks were placed under a dark tarp tent for 18 hours); and 24 hours of darkness (24D0L; tanks were placed under a dark tarp tent continuously). Three replications were performed per treatment. At baseline, fish were approx. 3 inch total length (TL) and 4 g body weight (BW), and were reared in circular plastic tanks (100 L; 30 fish/tank) with aerators and filters, and fed with commercial fish feed pellet (2 times/day to satiation). Fish growth and survival were studied once/week, and blood and tissue samples were taken at the end of the experiment (8th week). Tissue was formalin fixed and HE stained. Results: The survival of fish in all treatment was 100%. The fish reared in 24D0L and 18D6L grew better than control, achieving a mean TL of 23 cm and BW of 98 g (control = 19 cm TL and 72 g BW). There was no difference in hematology condition or tissue structure between the three groups. Tissue structure of gill, kidney and liver were normal, but light abnormality due to parasites was present in the gill of fish reared in 24D0L. Blood samples for all three groups showed mean red blood cell count of 1,800,000 cells/ml and white blood cell (WBC) count of 55,200 cells/ml. WBC consisted of lymphocyte 65%, monocyte 24%, thrombocyte 6%, neutrophil 3%, eosinophil 1% and basophile 1%. Conclusion: Data obtained indicate that a short photoperiod improves the growth of P. hypophthalmus fish and does not negatively affects their health.
Physical rehabilitation versus no physical rehabilitation after total hip and knee arthroplasties: Protocol for a pragmatic, randomized, controlled, superiority trial (The DRAW1 trial)
Authors: Mark-Christensen Troels , Thorborg Kristian , Kallemose Thomas , Bandholm Thomas 
Published: February 2021

Background: Following total hip- and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA), post-discharge physical rehabilitation is common practice, but varies significantly regarding content, duration, intensity and mode of delivery. Recent systematic reviews have found home-based rehabilitation to be as good as outpatient rehabilitation in terms of pain and physical function. We therefore wonder if physical rehabilitation “works” at all when compared to no physical rehabilitation after THA and TKA – “no rehabilitation” defined as no prescribed therapeutic rehabilitation exercises. The purpose of this trial is to compare the effectiveness of home-based telerehabilitation, home-based rehabilitation and no physical rehabilitation following THA and TKA. Methods: This pragmatic, randomized controlled trial will include 168 patients following discharge after THA or TKA, in Bornholm Denmark. Patients will be randomized into one of the three 6-week rehabilitation strategies: home-based telerehabilitation, home-based rehabilitation or no physical rehabilitation. The trial is designed as a superiority trial to test the hypothesis that rehabilitation (home-based telerehabilitation and home-based rehabilitation) is superior to no physical rehabilitation. The primary outcome will be the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS)/ the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS)-subscale: function of daily living at first follow-up (end of the 6-weeks' intervention). Additional follow-ups are scheduled at 3 and 12 months. Outcome assessors and data analysts are blinded to group allocation. Conclusions: Knowledge about the effectiveness of the three investigated rehabilitation strategies will help guide the future organization of post-discharge rehabilitation after THA and TKA. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03750448 (23/11/2018)
Stochastic Bounds for Reference Sets in Portfolio Analysis
Authors: Arvanitis Stelios , Post Thierry , Topaloglou Nikolas 
Published: February 2021

A stochastic bound is a portfolio that stochastically dominates all alternatives in a reference portfolio set instead of a single alternative portfolio. An approximate bound is a portfolio that comes as close as possible to this ideal. To identify and analyze exact or approximate bounds, feasible approaches to numerical optimization and statistical inference are developed based on linear programming and subsampling. The use of reference sets and stochastic bounds is shown to improve investment performance in representative applications to enhanced benchmarking using equity industry rotation and equity index options combinations. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance.
Hospice-at-home nurses' experiences of caring for patients
Authors: Jameson Catherine 
Published: February 2021

Background:The demand for hospice-at-home (HH) nurses is increasing due to an ageing global population and many people preferring to die at home. Therefore, the retention of existing HH nurses is vital.Aims:This paper explores HH nurses' experiences of caring for dying patients to discover the factors that enable them to maintain their enthusiasm for their work, and cope with the challenges of working in a patient's home.Methods:This qualitative study consisted of multiple unstructured interviews with 16 HH nurses conducted in England.Findings:The interviews show that HH nurses: use a broad range of coping mechanisms; encounter intense, complex, unpredictable and ethically unclear challenges; identify a need for more support; and love their job.Conclusion:In order for nurses to continue to enjoy their job, extra support to incorporate protected time for debriefing at the end of an HH nurse's shift is needed. Nurses also need training to develop positive coping skills, external supervision on a one-to-one basis as needed, and have their value demonstrated, by their employers and managers recognising and acknowledging them. These factors are likely to facilitate in the retention of employment of HH nurses.
Handwriting status among Iranian primary school students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Havaei Naser , Mahmodzadeh Mahdieh , Azad Akram , Meimandi Mahsa , Rezaei Mandana , Kahjoogh Mina Ahmadi , Mohammadi Ahmad 
Published: February 2021

Background/Aims Handwriting difficulties among school students are the primary reason for referral to school-based occupational therapy. Appropriate criteria and a complete view of the students' handwriting status are lacking in Iran. The purpose of this study was to gather comprehensive information about handwriting issues for therapists and related disciplines in Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the handwriting status of 1262 Persian-language elementary school students (grades 2 and 3) from governmental schools was surveyed using the Persian handwriting assessment tool. Results There were statistically significant differences in handwriting components between second and third grade students except for word size and text slant. Handwriting components were different between boys and girls, and between right- and left-handed writers. Regression analysis revealed a positive relationships between age and grade and most of the handwriting components. Conclusions The results of this study have implications for teachers, therapists and other specialists who work and research on handwriting status of typically healthy students and students who are disabled in Iran. Handwriting skills improve over time and it seems that girls and right-handed writers are better writers regarding legibility.
Mathematics Learning Interest of Students Based on the Difference in the Implementation of Model of Thematic Learning and Character-Integrated Thematic Learning
Authors: Syamsuddin Agustan , Babo Rosleny , Sulfasyah Sulfasyah , Rahman Sutriani 
Published: February 2021

<p style="text-align:justify">The teaching and learning in Indonesian elementary schools focus both on students’ concept mastery and character development. Teachers are encouraged to implement a learning model that integrates character values and yet promote learning interest. This study was aimed at investigating the mathematics learning interest of grade three elementary school students through the integration of thematic learning with character education, referred to as the character-integrated thematic learning model. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design, this study involved 70 students and employed a questionnaire to obtain data, which were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Descriptively, the average scores of students' learning interest before and after the implementation of the character-integrated thematic learning model are respectively 117.54 and 140.69 with the gain index of 0.44 in the fair category. While score obtained for thematic learning model are 116.11 and 120.23 with the gain index of 0.07 in the low category. The results of the statistical inference analysis using the independent sample t-test were obtained t-count of 4.98 > t-table of 1,667. This indicates that there has been a significant increase in students’ learning interest scores with the implementation of character-integrated thematic learning model. Thus, this learning model can be applied to pay attention to the development of student’s character which has an impact on increasing student’s learning interest.</p>
Analysts, advocates and applicators: three discourse coalitions of UK evidence and policy
Authors: Montana Jasper , Wilsdon James 
Published: February 2021

Background:Continued growth of the evidence and policy field has prompted calls to consolidate findings in pursuit of a more holistic understanding of theory and practice.
Aims and objectives:The aim of this paper is to develop and explore an analytical typology that offers a way to consider the heterogeneity of different actors in UK evidence and policy.
Methods:We draw upon a discourse coalitions approach to analyse a series of semi-structured interviews with a cross-section of professionals in the evidence and policy field.
Findings:We describe an analytical typology that is composed of three discourse coalitions, each with their own framings of the problems of evidence and policy relations, the practices needed to address these, the organisation of people, and their priorities for future development. These are: the analytical coalition, which typically theorises evidence and policy relations in a way that matches empirical observations; the advocacy coalition, which typically normatively refines and prescribes particular evidence and policy relations; and the application coalition, which typically evaluates contextual conditions and enacts techniques to bring evidence into policy and practice.
Discussion and conclusions:We discuss the potential of this analytical lens to inform recognised tensions in evidence and policy relations, and consider how greater awareness of the positioning of individuals within these coalitions may help to foster improved collaboration and consolidation in the field. Ultimately, we note that distinct priorities in the three coalitions signify different visions for progress within the field that need to be negotiated.
Comparing the educational gradients in three cardiovascular disease-specific health measures
Authors: Hoffmann Rasmus , Kröger Hannes 
Published: February 2021

Less-educated persons have worse cardiovascular health. We compare the educational gradients in three disease-specific health measures (biomarkers, self-reported doctors’ diagnoses and cause-specific mortality) in order to compare their relevance in different stages of the disease process. We study 14,102 people aged 50–89 from the US Health Retirement Study (HRS) in the period 2006–17. We use six CVD biomarkers (systolic/​diastolic blood pressure, ratio total/HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, body mass index, HbA1c) and two self-reported doctors’ diagnoses (stroke, heart attack). We estimate the gradient in biomarkers using log-binomial regression and the hazard of diagnoses and CVD mortality with Cox survival models.
Among those without pre-diagnosed CVD conditions, the educational gradient in mortality is highest (RR 1.97), the gradient for those who receive a CVD diagnosis is in the middle (RR 1.46), and the gradient in biomarkers is lowest (RR 1.32). Among those with recent/​older diagnoses, the biomarker gradient is comparable to levels among the non-diagnosed, while the mortality gradient is much lower (RR 1.35). The gradients in diagnoses and mortality are only slightly explained by differences in biomarkers.
The comparison of the three gradients and the mediation analysis suggest that in each of the steps to diagnosis and death there are social factors involved that increase the gradient and go beyond what biomarkers can predict. Having a CVD diagnosis leads to smaller mortality gradients, presumably because of the convergence of educational differences in behaviour and during treatment and monitoring. Our findings support prevention as a strategy against social inequalities in CVD.
The Meaning of Writing for Teenagers With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring Their Motives for Writing In and Out of School
Authors: Boisvert-Hamelin Marie-Eve , Odier-Guedj Delphine 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
To facilitate the learning of writing of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a setting that is inclusive, it is instructive to examine writing difficulties from a strength-based perspective by looking at the meanings students give to writing activities. This qualitative study explored the meanings and motives for writing of two 14-year-olds with ASD through their writing activities both in and out of school. Data were collected through interviews and filmed participant observation. The data analyses were cross-referenced to understand the students' motives for writing. This study suggests that bridges can be created between students' motives for writing in school and out of school. Our findings pave the way to new approaches in teaching writing in schools.
A Community-Engaged Project Discovering the Sexuality Questions of Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Kammes Rebecca R. , Black Rhonda S. , Easley Trisha 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This study used a community-based participatory research approach to examine what adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) view as important topics in sexuality education. A thematic analysis was conducted on questions written by adults with IDD regarding sexuality after attending a sexuality education group. Results were checked for accuracy using a community focus group. Findings provide direct implications for community-based sexuality education programs for adults with IDD, demonstrating the need for mentoring regarding authentic relationship experiences as well as developmentally appropriate sexual health information. Programs need to focus on helping adults with IDD navigate these interpersonal experiences. This study also demonstrates the importance of including the voices of adults with IDD in research in order to ensure its applicability and acceptability.
Caregiver Involvement in Early Intervention Services: Service Providers' Perspectives
Authors: Chung Moon Y. , Meadan Hedda 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Communication skills are critical for young children with developmental disabilities or delays (DD) to increase their inclusion in school and community settings. Thus, many early intervention (EI) services focus on improving children's communication skills. The involvement of the caregivers, the natural change agents, in EI sessions could significantly impact the communication skills development of young children with DD. EI service providers' perspectives could be one of the factors that increase caregiver involvement. Their perspectives may work as a discernment variable through which they reject or accept the practices related to caregiver involvement, based on their beliefs (Campbell & Halbert, 2002). The purpose of this pilot study was to understand service providers' perspectives on caregiver involvement in EI services. Survey methodology was used, and 129 service providers' responses were analyzed. Overall, the service providers reported that they believed caregiver involvement in EI sessions, and, more specifically, in communication intervention, is critical. Also, service providers reported that they were trying to involve caregivers in their EI services, with some variation between subgroup characteristics. Findings from the survey data have implications related to professional development in the area of building strong partnerships between professionals and families to support children's communication and inclusion.
Numerical investigation of bidirectionally tunable, nanometer-precise, and compact tweezers for screening gold nanoparticles
Authors: Ghorbanzadeh Mostafa 
Published: February 2021

Unique optical and chemical properties of gold nanoparticles (NPs), besides their compatibility with biological entities, have led to the emergence of gold NPs as ideal candidates for biomedical applications if their size can be controlled with nanometer resolution. Taking advantage of (i) enhanced and confined dual wavelength counterpropagating leaky surface plasmons, (ii) different chemical potential dependencies of graphene’s optical transitions for different incident wavelengths, and (iii) different and intensive size dependencies of the extinction efficiency of plasmonic gold NPs for different incident wavelengths, (i) efficient, (ii) tunable, and (iii) bidirectional tweezers with nanometer precision have been proposed. At low laser intensities, but at the cost of speed, the proposed setup can be relatively compact due to the realized bidirectional feature that cannot be achieved in conventional unidirectional tweezers. Finite-difference time-domain calculations show that the proposed setup benefits from a dynamical fast tuning of the screening radius (

∼

1.73

µ

s

/

m
m

2

), high bidirectional sorting sensitivity (

∼

14

n
m

/

m
e
V

), and low tuning voltage (

∼

0.35

V

). The ability to integrate miniaturized parallel systems with individual operation on a single chip is another potential capability of the proposed system, which makes it a promising candidate for future lab-on-a-chip devices.
Numerical study of spatial propagation dynamics and energy delivery of TW square-aperture CO2 laser pulses in the atmosphere
Authors: Panagiotopoulos Paris , Kolesik Miroslav , Hasson Victor , Tochitsky Sergei , Moloney Jerome V. 
Published: February 2021

We numerically study the linear and nonlinear spatial propagation
dynamics of multi-Joule 10.6 µm square beams in the atmosphere for
various square obscuration locations. We show that the spatial
reshaping process of these square frame shaped beams, a process
normally driven by strong linear diffraction, can be significantly
altered in the nonlinear regime. Depending on the input power, linear
dynamics can be mostly preserved or overpowered by the optical Kerr
effect, leading to the formation of single or multi-filament patterns,
at propagation distances of a few tens of meters in the atmosphere.
Optimal power delivery downstream is dependent on the location of the
square obscuration and overall input power. Our results offer
significant insight into ongoing efforts of high peak power

C
O

2

mid-IR lasers generated in unstable
resonators for atmospheric applications.
PMD estimation and its enabled feedforward adaptive equalization based on superimposed FrFT training sequences
Authors: Wang Li , Jiang Hexun , He Huan , Luo Fengguang , Tang Ming 
Published: February 2021

Fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) training sequences (TSs) have been proposed to superimpose with signals to achieve time synchronization and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) estimation simultaneously before equalization. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is verified by experiment of a 30 GBaud/s PDM quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) system. Without sacrificing spectrum efficiency, the proposed PMD estimation is robust against amplifier spontaneous emission (ASE) noise and has steady performance in a wide PMD range from 0 ps to 108 ps. The root mean square error (RMSE) of PMD is 5.6 ps by experimental verification. Further, the PMD estimated before equalization is utilized to adjust the numbers of taps in a subsequently tap-varied equalizer, which achieves feedforward adaptive equalization (FFD-AEQ). The number of the AEQ taps is adjusted to an optimal value with the prior-PMD information estimated by FrFT TSs. The experimental results show that the tap-varied AEQ has 52.6% power consumption decrease compared to the tap-fixed AEQ with 13 taps.