bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Your Pain Is Not My Gain: How the in-utero Experience of Piglets Born From Sows With Lameness Shapes Their Life Trajectory
Authors: Sarmiento Marisol Parada , Bernardino Thiago , Tatemoto Patricia , Polo Gina , Zanella Adroaldo José 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Experiences during gestation can alter the mother’s behavior and physiology, affecting the development of the offspring, including the organization of their brains and emotional system. In livestock, one common challenge for pregnant animals is lameness: a multifactorial condition that causes pain, stress, and compromises welfare. Since pain experienced during gestation can affect offspring development, we aimed to quantify the emotional outcomes of 156 piglets born from sows with lameness during pregnancy. Gait scores of 22 pregnant group-housed sows were assessed six times at two-week intervals. Lameness scores varied from 0 (no lameness) to 5 (most severe lameness score). Saliva samples and behavior were assessed in the sows throughout the pregnancy. Sows were moved to individual farrowing pens and placental tissue was collected for glucocorticoids assessment. At 28 days of age, piglets were weaned, weighed, and grouped by body size and sex. Skin lesions were counted in each piglet on days 28, 29, and 30 after birth. During open field and novel object tests the vocalization and activity levels were evaluated. Piglet data were grouped by the lameness score of the sows as G1 (lameness score 0-1), G2 (lameness score 2-3), and G3 (lameness score 4-5). Data analysis included ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests and pairwise comparisons were performed using Tukey and Kramer (Nemenyi) test with Tukey-Dist approximation for independent samples. G2 piglets were heavier than G3 at weaning. G1 piglets had fewer skin lesions at days 28 and 29 than G2 piglets. Moreover, G1 piglets vocalized more than G2 when they were subjected to the combined open field and novel object test. We did not identify differences in the concentration of placental or salivary glucocorticoids among the sampled sows showing different lameness scores. Lameness in pregnant sows has negative effects on the offspring, affecting weight gain, increasing aggressiveness, altering vocalization during an open field, and novel object tests in piglets.
Paradigms and Paradoxes: The Ionization Potential of Atomic Astatine (Z =85), Polonium (Z = 84) and some other Elements: What Does This Value Tell Us About the Energetics of Atomic and Diatomic Halogens
Authors: Ponikvar-Svet Maja , Edwards Kathleen F. , Liebman Joel F. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The ionization potential of atomic astatine is discussed and compared with that of polonium and the other halogens. Some surprises remain.
Doxycycline Injection Treatment for Unicameral Bone Cysts: a Case Series
Authors: Albert Andrew , Squiers Monte , Poole Eric E. , Hartley Bennett W. , Phillips Maxwell V. , Cassidy Jeffrey , MacFarlane Jarrod , Steensma Matthew R. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Unicameral bone cysts (UBCs) are frequently associated with pathologic fracture due to aggressive osteolysis. Methods/Results: We present a case series (n=5) with complex or refractory bone cysts treated with doxycycline injections that exhibited increased ossification and symptom resolution at short term follow up with minimal side effects. Conclusions: In addition to its antibiotic properties, doxycycline is also known to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases, angiogenesis, and osteoclast activity suggesting that UBCs are dependent on MMP, VEGF or RANKL-mediated osteolysis. Further investigation is warranted regarding the use of doxycycline injections in UBCs.
Start-Online: Acceptability And Feasibility Of An Online Intervention For Carers Of People Living With Dementia
Authors: Loi Samantha M , Tropea Joanne , Gaffy Ellen , Panayiotou Anita , Capon Hannah , Chiang Jodi , Bryant Christina , Doyle Colleen , Kelly Michelle , Livingston Gill , Dow Briony 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: With increasing numbers of people living with dementia relying on family to care for them at home, there is an urgent need for practical and evidence-based programs to support carers in maintaining their mental health and well-being. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a modified STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) program delivered online (START-online). Method: A mixed methods non-blinded evaluation of START-online (using Zoom as videoconferencing platform) for acceptability and feasibility (completion rates and qualitative feedback through surveys and focus groups) and quantitative evaluation. This occurred at the National Ageing Research Institute, in metropolitan Victoria, Australia.Results: Twenty-nine eligible carers were referred, 20 (70%) consented to the study. Of these 16 (80%) completed all eight sessions, two completed only three sessions, and two withdrew. Carers’ qualitative feedback indicated that the therapist interaction was valued, content and online delivery of the program was acceptable. Feedback was mixed on the appropriate stage of caring. Conclusion: START-online was feasible and acceptable for carers, including those living outside of metropolitan areas who might otherwise be unable to access face-to-face programs. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic necessitating social distancing to avoid infection, interventions such as this one have increasing relevance in the provision of flexible services.
Method of Computing Direction-dependent Margins for the Development of Consensus Contouring Guidelines
Authors: Lawrence Liam S. P. , Chin Lee , Chan Rachel W. , Nguyen Timothy K. , Sahgal Arjun , Tseng Chia-Lin , Lau Angus Z. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Clinical target volume (CTV) contouring guidelines are frequently developed through studies in which experts contour the CTV for a representative set of cases for a given treatment site and the consensus CTVs are analyzed to generate margin recommendations. Measures of interobserver variability are used to quantify agreement between experts. In cases where an isotropic margin is not appropriate, however, there is no standard method to compute margins in specified directions that represent possible routes of tumor spread. Moreover, interobserver variability metrics are often measures of volume overlap that do not account for the dependence of disagreement on direction. To aid in the development of consensus contouring guidelines, this study demonstrates a novel method of quantifying CTV margins and interobserver variability in clinician-specified directions.Methods: The proposed algorithm was applied to 11 cases of non-spine bone metastases to compute the consensus CTV margin in each direction of intraosseous and extraosseous disease. The median over all cases for each route of spread yielded the recommended margins. The disagreement between experts on the CTV margin was quantified by computing the median of the coefficients of variation for intraosseous and extraosseous margins.Results: The recommended intraosseous and extraosseous margins were 7.0 mm and 8.0 mm, respectively. The median coefficient of variation quantifying the margin disagreement between experts was 0.59 and 0.48 for intraosseous and extraosseous disease.Conclusions: The proposed algorithm permits the generation of margin recommendations in relation to adjacent anatomy and quantifies interobserver variability in specified directions. This method can be applied to future consensus CTV contouring studies.
Comparative Assessment of LDL-C and VLDL-C Estimation in Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia using Sampson’s, Martin’s and Friedewald’s Equations.
Authors: Vargas-Vázquez Arsenio , Bello-Chavolla Omar , Antonio-Villa Neftali Eduardo , Mehta Roopa , Cruz-Bautista Ivette , Aguilar-Salinas Carlos A. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Sampson et al developed a novel method to estimate very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the setting of hypertriglyceridemia. Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is a common primary dyslipidemia in which lipoprotein composition interferes with LDL-C estimation. This study aimed to evaluate performance of LDL-C using this new method (LDL-S) compared with LDL-C estimated by Friedewald’s and Martin equation (LDL-F, LDL-M) in FCHL.Methods: Data were collected from 340 subjects with confirmed FCHL. Concordance for VLDL-C measured by ultracentrifugation and LDL-C estimated using these measures compared to Sampson’s, Martin’s and Friedewald’s equations was performed using correlation coefficients, root mean squared error (RMSE) and bias. We also assessed concordance of misclassified metrics according to LDL-C (<70 and <100mg/dL) and ApoB (<80 and <65mg/dL) thresholds.Results: Sampson’s equation was more accurate (RMSE 11.21 mg/dL; R2=0.88) compared to Martin’s (RMSE 13.15 mg/dL; R2=0.875) and the Friedewald equation (RMSE 13.7 mg/dL; R2= 0.869). When assessing performance according to LDL-C, Sampson’s had highest correlation and lowest RMSE compared to other equations (RMSE 19.99 mg/dL; R2=0.840). Comparing performance strength across triglyceride levels, Sampson’s showed consistently improved correlations compared to Martin’s and Friedewald’s formulas for increasing triglycerides and for the FCHL phenotype of mixed dyslipidemia. Sampson’s also had improved concordance with treatment goals.Conclusions: In FCHL, VLDL-C and LDL-C estimation using Sampson’s formula showed higher concordance with lipid targets assessed using VLDL-C obtained by ultracentrifugation compared with Friedewald’s and Martin’s equations. Implementation of Sampson’s formula could improve treatment monitoring in FCHL.
Unsupervised Outlier Detection in Multidimensional Data
Authors: Rehman Atiq , Belhaouari Samir Brahim 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Detection and removal of outliers in a dataset is a fundamental preprocessing task without which the analysis of the data can be misleading. Furthermore, the existence of anomalies in the data can heavily degrade the performance of machine learning algorithms. In order to detect the anomalies in a dataset in an unsupervised manner, some novel statistical techniques are proposed in this paper. The proposed techniques are based on statistical methods considering data compactness and other properties. The newly proposed ideas are found efficient in terms of performance, ease of implementation, and computational complexity. Furthermore, two proposed techniques presented in this paper use only a single dimensional distance vector to detect the outliers, so irrespective of the data’s high dimensions, the techniques remain computationally inexpensive and feasible. Comprehensive performance analysis of the proposed anomaly detection schemes is presented in the paper, and the newly proposed schemes are found better than the state-of-the-art methods when tested on several benchmark datasets.
Body Composition Analysis in Septic Shock Patients Receiving Protocol-Driven Resuscitation Bundle Therapy: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Chae Bora , Shin Yo Sep , Hong Seok-In , Kim Sang Min , Kim Youn-Jung , Ryoo Seung Mok , Kim Won Young 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a rapid, simple, and noninvasive tool for assessing volume status in various diseases. Body composition analysis using BIA may identify factors associated with poor outcomes in critically ill patients. Little is known, however, about the relationship between the results of body composition analysis in the emergency department (ED) and mortality in septic shock patients.Objectives: This study assessed the association between parameters identified by body composition analysis and mortality in patients with septic shock who underwent protocol-driven resuscitation bundle therapy in the ED.Methods: Data were prospectively collected on adult patients with septic shock who underwent protocol-driven resuscitation bundle therapy between December 2019 and December 2020. Body composition was determined in the ED using BIA with the patient in the supine position. Septic shock was defined by sepsis-3 criteria, and the primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Results: The study included 218 patients, of whom 58 (26.6%) died within 30 days. The mean time from ED admission to the measurement of body composition was 5.4 hours. The average ratio of extracellular water (ECW) to total body water (TBW) was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (0.412 vs. 0.400, p=0.001). The optimal ECW/TBW cutoff for predicting 30-day mortality was 0.40, with mortality rates being significantly higher in patients with ECW/TBW >0.4 than in patients with ECW/TBW≦0.4 (37.8% vs. 17.5%, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ECW/TBW >0.4 (odds ratio [OR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–4.23, p = 0.036), active cancer (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.06–5.38, p=0.036), prothrombin time (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.29–5.93, p=0.009), and initial lactate level (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.03–1.28, p=0.010) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality.Conclusions: The ECW/TBW>0.40 is the only body composition parameter associated with 30-day mortality in patients with septic shock.
Piezophototronic Solar cell based on Third Generation Semiconductor Materials
Authors: GYAN MICHAEL , Parbey Joseph , BOTCHWEY FRANCIS 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
By applying the outward uniform strain on the non-centrosymmetric piezoelectric semiconductor, the polarization charges on the material surface are induced. Polarization charges are often generated within the crystals provided that the applied strain is non-uniform. The strain applied has an effect on electronic transport and can be utilized to modulate the properties of the material. The effect of multiway coupling between piezoelectricity, semiconductor transport properties, and photoexcitation results in piezo-phototronic effects. Recent studies have shown the piezoelectric and semiconductor properties of third-generation semiconductors have been used in photodetectors, LEDs, and nanogenerators. The third-generation piezoelectric semiconductor can be used in high-performance photovoltaic cells. A third-generation piezo-phototronic solar cell material is theoretically explored in this manuscript on the basis of a GaN metal-semiconductor interaction. This study aims to determine the effects of piezoelectric polarization on the electrical performance characteristics of this solar cell material. Performance parameters such as Power Conversion Efficiency, Fill Factors, I-V Characteristics, Open Circuit Voltage, and Maximum Output Power have been evaluated. The piezophototronic effect can enhance the open-circuit current voltage by 5.5 percent with an externally applied strain by 0.9 percent. The study will open a new window for the next generation of high-performance piezo-phototronic effects.
Comparisons of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Transferred to Combined Therapy with Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis over those Directly Transferred to Hemodialysis: A Prospective Multicenter Study in Japan
Authors: Maruyama Yukio , Yokoyama Keitaro , Higuchi Chieko , Sanaka Tsutomu , Tanaka Yoshihide , Sakai Ken , Kanno Yoshihiko , Ryuzaki Munekazu , Sakurada Tsutomu , Hosoya Tatsuo , Nakayama Masaaki 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background. Combined therapy with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) represents a treatment option for PD patients who cannot maintain adequacy of dialysis. Although several reports have indicated the clinical utility of combined therapy, most such studies have been small-scale, single-centered, retrospective and before-and-after test investigations lacking a control group. Methods. We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study of 176 incident PD patients and compared patient survival and time-course changes in clinical parameters between patients switched from PD alone to combined therapy and patients switched directly to HD. Results. During a median follow-up of 41 months, 47 patients transferred to combined therapy and 35 patients transferred directly to HD. Among patients transferred to combined therapy, 66% transferred because of inadequate dialysis, and/or fluid overload, compared to only 29% among patients directly transferred to HD. Five patients died after transfer to HD alone, whereas 1 patient died after transfer to combined therapy. Although mortality was greater among patients transferred to HD directly than among patients transferred to combined therapy, this difference disappeared after matching for fluid overload and/or inadequate dialysis.Conclusion. This is the first report comparing clinical outcomes for patients on PD alone transferred to combined therapy with those for patients directly transferred to HD. Although comparison of patient survival was difficult because of the small number of deaths, PD patients suffering from inadequate dialysis and/or volume overload could clearly continue PD therapy safely by switching to combined therapy. Further study with a larger number of outcomes is needed.
Plant viral vectors: Expanding the Possibilities of Precise Gene Editing in Plant Genomes
Authors: Kujur Stuti , Senthil-Kumar Muthappa , Kumar Rahul 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The lack of a highly efficient method for delivering reagents for genome engineering to plant cells remains a bottleneck in achieving efficient gene-editing in plant genomes. A suite of recent reports uncovers the newly emerged roles of viral vectors, which can introduce gene-edits in plants with high mutation frequencies through in planta delivery. Here, we focus on the emerging protocols that utilized different approaches for virus-mediated genome editing in model plants. Testing of these protocols and the newly identified hypercompact Casɸ systems is needed to broaden the scope of genome-editing in most plant species, including crops, with minimized reliance on conventional plant transformation methods in the future.
Evaluation of essential and non-essential elemental composition of commonly used medicinal plants from district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: malook khan , Haque Ihsan Ul 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This study illustrates a profile of some essential and non-essential elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr, Cd, Co, Al and Sn) in the aerial parts of six medicinal plants i.e Coriandrum sativum (P-1), Mentha spicata (P-2), Papaver somniferum (P-3), Calotropis gigantean (P-4), Withania coagulans (P-5) and Fagonia arabica (P-6) widely consumed in district Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The samples were converted into liquid state via wet digestion method and analyzed for elemental composition by using atomic absorption spectrometry. After determining the concentration, hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated for the elements having available maximum permissible limit set by FAO/WHO or any other agency for 50 mg daily intake of the herbal plants by a person of body mass 70 kg. K/Na ratio for the studied plants varied between 14.88:1 and 113.75:1 which was in agreement with the reported permissible range. The amount of Mg, Ca, Cu and Co was within the permissible limit in all the enlisted plants. However, the HQ value for Mg and Ca was greater than the safe limit for some of the plants. The concentration and HQ value of Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr and Cd was beyond the permissible and unsafe limits for almost all the plants. This study suggests that the plants of this area must be pretreated for lessening the concentration of some elements before consumption.
A Randomized Clinical Trial Using Cyclopentolate and Tropiacmide to Compare Cycloplegic Refractions in Chinese Young Adults
Authors: Pei Ruxia , Liu Zhuzhu , Rong Hua , Zhao Liqiong , Du Bei , Jin Nan , Zhang Hongmei , Wang Biying , Pang Yi , Wei Ruihua 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: To evaluate the necessity of cycloplegia for epidemiological studies of refraction in Chinese young adults (aged 17-22 years) with dark irises, and to compare the cycloplegic effects of 1% cyclopentolate and 0.5% tropicamide in them. Methods: A total of 300 young adults (108 males and 192 females) aged 17 to 22 years ( mean 19.03±1.01 ) were recruited from Tianjin Medical University from November 2019 to January 2020. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. In the cyclopentolate group, two drops of 1% cyclopentolate eye drop were administrated (one drop every 5 min), followed by autorefraction and subjective refraction 30 to 45 min later. In the tropicamide group, four drops of 1% Mydrin P (Tropicamide 0.5%, phenylephrine HCl 0.5%) eye drop were given (one drop every 5 min), followed by autorefraction and subjective refraction 20 to 30 min later. The participants and the examiners were masked to the medication. Distance visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic autorefraction (Topcon KR-800, Topcon Co. Tokyo, Japan), non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic subjective refraction and ocular biometry (Lenstar LS-900) were performed.Results: The values of spherical equivalent (SE) and sphere component were significantly different before and after cycloplegia in the cyclopentolate group and the tropicamide group (p<0.05). The mean difference between noncycloplegic and cycloplegic autorefraction SE was 0.39 D (±0.66 D) in the cyclopentolate group and 0.39 D (±0.34 D) in the tropicamide group. There was no significant difference in the change of SE and sphere component after cycloplegia between the cyclopentolate group and the tropicamide group (p>0.05). In each group, no significant difference was found between autorefraction and subjective refraction after cycloplegia (p>0.05). We also found that more positive or less negative cycloplegic refraction was associated with the higher difference in SE in each group.Conclusions: Cycloplegic refractions were generally more positive or less negative than non-cycloplegic refractions. It is necessary to perform cycloplegia for Chinese young adults with dark irises to obtain accurate refractive errors. We suggest that cycloplegic autorefraction using tropicamide may be considered as a reliable method for epidemiological studies of refraction in Chinese young adults with dark irises.