bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of public caseload midwifery compared to standard care in an Australian setting: a pragmatic analysis to inform service delivery
Authors: Callander Emily J , Slavin Valerie , Gamble Jenny , Creedy Deera K , Brittain Hazel 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundDecision-makers need quantifiable data on costs and outcomes to determine the optimal mix of antenatal models of care to offer. This study aimed to examine the cost utility of a publicly funded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) caseload model of care compared to other models of care and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting such an analysis to inform service decision-making.ObjectiveTo provide a methodological framework to determine the value of public midwifery in different settings.MethodsIncremental costs and incremental utility (health gains measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) of public MGP caseload were compared to other models of care currently offered at a large tertiary hospital in Australia. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Short Form scores were converted into utility values by mapping to the EuroQol 5 dimensions and then converting to QALYs. Costs were assessed from a health system funder’s point of view.ResultsThere were 85 women in the public MGP caseload care group and 72 received other models of care. Unadjusted total mean cost for mothers’ and babies’ health service use from study entry to 12 months post-partum was $27 618 for MGP caseload care and $33 608 for other models of care. After adjusting for clinical and demographic differences between groups, total costs were 22% higher (cost ratio: 1.218, P = 0.04) for other models of maternity care. When considering costs to all funders, public MGP caseload care cost $5208 less than other models of care. There was no significant difference in QALY between the two groups (difference: 0.010, 95% CI: −0.038, 0.018).ConclusionPublic MGP caseload care costs 22% less than other models of care, after accounting for differences in baseline characteristics between groups. There were no significant differences in QALYs. Public MGP caseload care produced comparable health outcomes, with some indication that outcomes may be better for lower cost per woman.
Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir versus the standard of care in adults hospitalized with COVID-19: a single-centre, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sayad Babak , Khodarahmi Reza , Najafi Farid , Miladi Ronak , Mohseni Afshar Zeinab , Mansouri Feizollah , Rahimi Zohreh , Shirvani Maria , Salimi Mehdi , Vaziri Siavash , Janbakhsh Alireza , Khosravi Shadmani Fatemeh , Bozorgomid Arezoo , Zamanian Mohammad Hossein , Afsharian Mandana 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of patients experience asymptomatic to mild self-limited disease, but some cases progress to respiratory and multi-organ failure. However, so far, no approved antiviral therapy has been available for treatment of COVID-19. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) is an approved anti-HCV drug that is capable of suppressing other families of positive-sense RNA viruses with conserved polymerase and may be effective against SARS-CoV-2. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the SOF/VEL combination in addition to the national standard of care versus the national standard of care alone (hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir as well as supportive care) in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection.

Methods
This single-centre, randomized, open-labelled, prospective clinical trial was done in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 admitted to Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah Province, Iran. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the SOF/VEL arm (SOF/VEL plus the national standard of care) or the control arm (the national standard of care alone). The main outcome of the study was the mortality on Day 28 after randomization. Secondary outcomes were time from the start of medication to clinical improvement, hospital length of stay, need for mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation and conversion of RT–PCR results from positive to negative from the time of randomization to discharge. Adverse events were evaluated in all patients who started their assigned treatment.

Results
Between 11 April and 8 June 2020, 80 patients were recruited and randomly assigned into the SOF/VEL (n = 40) and control (n = 40) arms. The primary outcome was not significantly different between the two arms (P = 1.00). Secondary outcomes, including time to clinical improvement, hospital length of stay, need for mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation and RT–PCR conversion, were not significantly different between arms either (P &gt; 0.05). SOF/VEL treatment and the national standard of care were tolerated similarly.

Conclusions
Although treatment with SOF/VEL was safe, adding SOF/VEL to the standard of care did not improve the clinical status or reduce mortality in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. However, larger randomized clinical trials including more parameters are needed for accurate estimation of the efficacy of SOF/VEL.
Multitask prediction of organ dysfunction in the intensive care unit using sequential subnetwork routing
Authors: Roy Subhrajit , Mincu Diana , Loreaux Eric , Mottram Anne , Protsyuk Ivan , Harris Natalie , Xue Yuan , Schrouff Jessica , Montgomery Hugh , Connell Alistair , Tomasev Nenad , Karthikesalingam Alan , Seneviratne Martin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveMultitask learning (MTL) using electronic health records allows concurrent prediction of multiple endpoints. MTL has shown promise in improving model performance and training efficiency; however, it often suffers from negative transfer – impaired learning if tasks are not appropriately selected. We introduce a sequential subnetwork routing (SeqSNR) architecture that uses soft parameter sharing to find related tasks and encourage cross-learning between them.Materials and MethodsUsing the MIMIC-III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III) dataset, we train deep neural network models to predict the onset of 6 endpoints including specific organ dysfunctions and general clinical outcomes: acute kidney injury, continuous renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, mortality, and length of stay. We compare single-task (ST) models with naive multitask and SeqSNR in terms of discriminative performance and label efficiency.ResultsSeqSNR showed a modest yet statistically significant performance boost across 4 of 6 tasks compared with ST and naive multitasking. When the size of the training dataset was reduced for a given task (label efficiency), SeqSNR outperformed ST for all cases showing an average area under the precision-recall curve boost of 2.1%, 2.9%, and 2.1% for tasks using 1%, 5%, and 10% of labels, respectively.ConclusionsThe SeqSNR architecture shows superior label efficiency compared with ST and naive multitasking, suggesting utility in scenarios in which endpoint labels are difficult to ascertain.
Water Deprivation Induces Biochemical Changes Without Reduction in the Insecticidal Activity of Maize and Soybean Transgenic Plants
Authors: Silva Juliana Barroso , Mori Raphael , Marques Luiz Henrique , Santos Antonio Cesar , Nowatzki Timothy , Dahmer Mark Linden , Bing James , Gratão Priscila Lupino , Rossi Guilherme Duarte 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Like conventional crops, transgenic plants expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are subjected to water deprivation. However, the effects of water deprivation over the insecticidal activity of Bt plants are not well understood. We submitted Bt maize and Bt soybean to water deprivation and evaluated biochemical stress markers and the insecticidal activity of plants against target insects. Bt maize (DAS-Ø15Ø7-1 × MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-ØØ6Ø3–6 × SYN-IR162-4) containing the PowerCore Ultra traits, Bt soybean (DAS-444Ø6-6 × DAS-81419-2) with the Conkesta E3 traits, and commercial non-Bt cultivars were cultivated and exposed to water deprivation in the greenhouse. Leaves were harvested for quantification of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdeyde (MDA), and total phenolics and insecticidal activity. Maize or soybean leaf disks were used to evaluate the insecticidal activity against, respectively, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E Smith) and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) neonates. Except for Bt soybean, water deprivation increased hydrogen peroxide and MDA contents in Bt and non-Bt plants. Both biochemical markers of water deficit were observed in lower concentrations in Bt plants than in non-Bt commercial cultivars. Water deprivation did not result in changes of phenolic contents in Bt and non-Bt maize. For Bt or non-Bt soybean, phenolic contents were similar despite plants being exposed or not to water deprivation. Water deprivation did not alter substantially insect survival in non-Bt maize or non-Bt soybean. Despite water deprivation-induced biochemical changes in plants, both Bt plants maintained their insecticidal activity (100% mortality) against the target species.
Tepotinib in patients with NSCLC harbouring MET exon 14 skipping: Japanese subset analysis from the Phase II VISION study
Authors: Sakai Hiroshi , Morise Masahiro , Kato Terufumi , Matsumoto Shingo , Sakamoto Tomohiro , Kumagai Toru , Tokito Takaaki , Atagi Shinji , Kozuki Toshiyuki , Tanaka Hiroshi , Chikamori Kenichi , Shinagawa Naofumi , Takeoka Hiroaki , Bruns Rolf , Straub Josef , Schumacher Karl Maria , Paik Paul K 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
MET exon 14 skipping is an oncogenic driver occurring in 3–4% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The MET inhibitor tepotinib has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC. Here, we present data from Japanese patients in the Phase II VISION study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of tepotinib.

Methods
In the open-label, single-arm, Phase II VISION study, patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping received oral tepotinib 500 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was objective response by independent review. Subgroup analyses of Japanese patients were preplanned.

Results
As of 1 January 2020, 19 Japanese patients received tepotinib and were evaluated for safety, 15 of whom had ≥9 months’ follow-up and were also analysed for efficacy. By independent review, objective response rate (ORR) was 60.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.3, 83.7), median duration of response was not reached (95% CI: 6.9, not estimable [ne]), and progression-free survival was 11.0 months (95% CI: 1.4, ne). ORR in patients with MET exon 14 skipping identified by liquid biopsy (n = 8) was 87.5% (95% CI: 47.3, 99.7), and by tissue biopsy (n = 12) was 50.0% (95% CI: 21.1, 78.9). Patients’ quality of life was maintained with tepotinib treatment. Among patients evaluated for safety, the most common treatment-related adverse events (any grade) were blood creatinine increase and peripheral oedema (12 and nine patients, respectively).

Conclusions
Tepotinib demonstrated robust and durable clinical efficacy in Japanese patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring MET exon 14 skipping, identified by either liquid or tissue biopsy. The main adverse events, blood creatinine increase and peripheral oedema, were manageable.
Prospective evaluation of watchful waiting for early-stage lung cancer with ground-glass opacity: a single-arm confirmatory multicenter study: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG1906 (EVERGREEN study)
Authors: Miyoshi Tomohiro , Aokage Keiju , Wakabayashi Masashi , Shimoyama Ryo , Kataoka Tomoko , Fukuda Haruhiko , Watanabe Shun-ichi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Among early-stage lung cancers that show ground-glass nodules on chest computed tomography, the lung cancer surgical study group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group previously reported that nodules of ≤2 cm with a consolidation/tumor ratio of ≤0.25 were considered radiologically non-invasive cancers with a low risk of metastasis. However, there is no consensus based on high-quality evidence about the optimal timing of surgical intervention for radiologically non-invasive cancers. In June 2020, we launched a multi-institutional, single-arm confirmatory trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of watchful waiting for patients with radiologically non-invasive lung cancer. It is planned that a total of 720 patients will be enrolled from 49 institutes over a 5-year period. The primary endpoint is 10-year overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints are 5-year OS, operation-free survival, proportion of extensive lung resection, proportion of unresectable progression, lung cancer-specific survival and adverse events.
The National Cancer Institute’s Role in Advancing Health-Care Delivery Research
Authors: Jacobsen Paul B , de Moor Janet , Doria-Rose V Paul , Geiger Ann M , Kobrin Sarah C , Sampson Annie , Smith Ashley Wilder 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Improvements in cancer care delivery have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer, however, challenges to delivery of recommended care limit progress. These challenges include growing demands for care, increasing treatment complexity, inadequate care coordination, dramatic increases in costs, persistent disparities in care, and insufficient use of evidence-based guidelines. Recognizing the important role of research in understanding and addressing these challenges, the National Cancer Institute created the Healthcare Delivery Research Program (HDRP) in 2015 as a catalyst for expanding work in this area. Health-care delivery research is a multidisciplinary effort which recognizes that care delivery occurs in a multilevel system encompassing individuals, health-care systems, and communities. HDRP staff use a range of activities to fulfill the program’s mission of advancing innovative research to improve delivery of care across the cancer control continuum. In addition to developing funding opportunities, HDRP staff; support and facilitate the use of research infrastructure for conducting health-care delivery research; oversee publicly available data that can be used to evaluate patterns, costs, and patient experiences of care; contribute to development and dissemination of standardized health measurement tools for public use; and support professional development and training to build capacity within the field and grow the workforce. As HDRP enters its sixth year, we appreciate the opportunity to reflect on the program’s progress in advancing the science of health-care delivery. At the same time, we recognize the need for the program to evolve and develop additional resources and opportunities to address new and emerging challenges.
Vitexin isolated from Prosopis cineraria leaves induce apoptosis in K-562 leukemia cells via inhibition of the BCR-ABL-Ras-Raf pathway
Authors: Sarkar Monaj Kumar , Kar Amrita , Jayaraman Adithyan , Kar Mahapatra Santanu , Vadivel Vellingiri 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Leukemia is one of the severe cancer types all around the globe. Even though some chemotherapeutic drugs are available for treating leukemia, they have various side effects. As an alternative approach, herbal drugs are focused on current research to overcome leukemia. The present work was conducted to investigate the antileukemic mechanism of active phytochemical vitexin, which was isolated from ethno-medicine (Prosopis cineraria leaf) used by traditional healers of West Bengal, India.

Methods
Antiproliferative mechanisms of selected phyto-compound against K-562 cells were evaluated using cellular uptake, morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential and signaling pathways analysis.

Key findings
Vitexin exhibited cytotoxicity by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential (32.40%) and causing DNA fragmentation (84.15%). The western blotting study indicated inhibition of cell survival proteins (BCR, ABL, H-RAS, N-RAS, K-RAS and RAF) and expression of apoptotic proteins (p38, BAX and caspase-9) in leukemia cells upon treatment with vitexin.

Conclusions
Based on the results, presently investigated phyto-compound vitexin could be considered for developing safe and natural drugs to treat leukemia after conducting suitable preclinical and clinical trials.
Meiosis in crops: from genes to genomes
Authors: Wang Yazhong , van Rengs Willem M J , Zaidan Mohd Waznul Adly Mohd , Underwood Charles J 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMeiosis is a key feature of sexual reproduction. During meiosis homologous chromosomes replicate, recombine, and randomly segregate, followed by the segregation of sister chromatids to produce haploid cells. The unique genotypes of recombinant gametes are an essential substrate for the selection of superior genotypes in natural populations and in plant breeding. In this review we summarize current knowledge on meiosis in diverse monocot and dicot crop species and provide a comprehensive resource of cloned meiotic mutants in six crop species (rice, maize, wheat, barley, tomato, and Brassica species). Generally, the functional roles of meiotic proteins are conserved between plant species, but we highlight notable differences in mutant phenotypes. The physical lengths of plant chromosomes vary greatly; for instance, wheat chromosomes are roughly one order of magnitude longer than those of rice. We explore how chromosomal distribution for crossover recombination can vary between species. We conclude that research on meiosis in crops will continue to complement that in Arabidopsis, and alongside possible applications in plant breeding will facilitate a better understanding of how the different stages of meiosis are controlled in plant species.
Keynote: Tramando la palabra / Weaving the word
Authors: Chávez Santiago Janet 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The weft is a thread that is woven among the warp's yarns; these are our paper and pencil in the creation of a rug. Together, warp and weft are the bridge that unites the threads with our past and our present, and we weave the patterns of Mitla s friezes as a form of reading, or of interpreting, and of writing our ancestors, but also as a way to recount our dreams and our experiences. We weave in Zapotec. When we complete a rug, we share it with the world, and although the weave is in Zapotec, it can be interpreted in English, in Spanish, in Mixtec, or in Chatino. Digital media can be seen as a warp on which the speakers of indigenous languages have an opportunity to weave their word and to share it within their own community and beyond. Although in our times digital media and social networks are a practical part of our daily lives and of our interactions with the world, we as speakers of indigenous languages must truly appropriate these spaces, to weave our word well, in order to liberate ourselves from the a denial of the present. This DH2018 opening keynote speech is presented here in both its original Spanish and in the author's English translation
Efficiency of the oxygenic photosynthesis on Earth-like planets in the habitable zone
Authors: Covone Giovanni , Ienco Riccardo M , Cacciapuoti Luca , Inno Laura 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Oxygenic photosynthesis is the most important biochemical process in Earth biosphere and likely very common on other habitable terrestrial planets, given the general availability of its input chemical ingredients and of light as source of energy. It is therefore important to evaluate the effective possibility of oxygenic photosynthesis on planets around stars as a function of their spectral type and the planet–star separation. We aim at estimating the photon flux, the exergy, and the exergetic efficiency of the radiation in the wavelength range useful for the oxygenic photosynthesis as a function of the host star effective temperature and planet–star separation. We compute analytically these quantities and compare our results with the estimates for the small sample of known Earth-like planets. We find that exergy is an increasing function of the star effective temperature, within the range 2600–7200 K. It depends both on the star–planet separation and the star effective temperature. Biospheres on exoplanets around cool stars might be generally light-limited. So far, we have not observed terrestrial planets comparable to Earth in terms of useful photon flux, exergy, and exergetic efficiency.
An uncontaminated measurement of the escaping Lyman continuum atz∼ 3
Authors: Pahl Anthony J , Shapley Alice , Steidel Charles C , Chen Yuguang , Reddy Naveen A 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTObservations of reionization-era analogues at z ∼ 3 are a powerful tool for constraining reionization. Rest-ultraviolet observations are particularly useful, in which both direct and indirect tracers of ionizing-photon production and escape can be observed. We analyse a sample of 124 z ∼ 3 galaxies from the Keck Lyman Continuum Spectroscopic Survey, with sensitive spectroscopic measurements of the Lyman continuum region. We present a method of removing foreground contamination from our sample using high-resolution, multiband Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We re-measure the global properties of the cleaned sample of 13 individually detected Lyman continuum sources and 107 individually undetected sources, including a sample-averaged absolute escape fraction of fesc, abs = 0.06 ± 0.01 and a sample-averaged ratio of ionizing to non-ionizing ultraviolet flux density of 〈f900/f1500〉out = 0.040 ± 0.006, corrected for attenuation from the intergalactic and circumgalactic media. Based on composite spectra, we also recover a strong positive correlation between 〈f900/f1500〉out and Lyα equivalent width (Wλ(Ly$\rm \alpha$)) and a negative correlation between 〈f900/f1500〉out and UV luminosity. As in previous work, we interpret the relationship between 〈f900/f1500〉out and Wλ(Ly$\rm \alpha$) in terms of the modulation of the escape of ionizing radiation from star-forming galaxies based on the covering fraction of neutral gas. We also use a Wλ(Ly$\rm \alpha$)-weighted 〈f900/f1500〉out to estimate an ionizing emissivity from star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 3 as ϵLyC ≃ 5.5 × 1024 erg s−1 Hz−1 Mpc−3. This estimate, evaluated using the uncontaminated sample of this work, affirms that the contribution of galaxies to the ionizing background at z ∼ 3 is comparable to that of active galactic nuclei.
Nuw CDM cosmology from the weak-lensing convergence PDF
Authors: Boyle Aoife , Uhlemann Cora , Friedrich Oliver , Barthelemy Alexandre , Codis Sandrine , Bernardeau Francis , Giocoli Carlo , Baldi Marco 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Pinning down the total neutrino mass and the dark energy equation of state is a key aim for upcoming galaxy surveys. Weak lensing is a unique probe of the total matter distribution whose non-Gaussian statistics can be quantified by the one-point probability distribution function (PDF) of the lensing convergence. We calculate the convergence PDF on mildly nonlinear scales from first principles using large-deviation statistics, accounting for dark energy and the total neutrino mass. For the first time, we comprehensively validate the cosmology dependence of the convergence PDF model against large suites of simulated lensing maps, demonstrating its per cent level precision and accuracy. We show that fast simulation codes can provide highly accurate covariance matrices, which can be combined with the theoretical PDF model to perform forecasts and eliminate the need for relying on expensive N-body simulations. Our theoretical model allows us to perform the first forecast for the convergence PDF that varies the full set of ΛCDM parameters. Our Fisher forecasts establish that the constraining power of the convergence PDF compares favourably to the two-point correlation function for a Euclid-like survey area at a single source redshift. When combined with a cosmic microwave background prior from Planck, the PDF constrains both the neutrino mass Mν and the dark energy equation of state w0 more strongly than the two-point correlation function.