bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient Preferences for Multiple Myeloma Treatments: A Multinational Qualitative Study
Authors: Janssens Rosanne , Lang Tamika , Vallejo Ana , Galinsky Jayne , Plate Ananda , Morgan Kate , Cabezudo Elena , Silvennoinen Raija , Coriu Daniel , Badelita Sorina , Irimia Ruxandra , Anttonen Minna , Manninen Riikka-Leena , Schoefs Elise , Vandebroek Martina , Vanhellemont Anneleen , Delforge Michel , Stevens Hilde , Simoens Steven , Huys Isabelle 
Published: July 2021

Background: Investigational and marketed drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) are associated with a range of characteristics and uncertainties regarding long term side-effects and efficacy. This raises questions about what matters most to patients living with this disease. This study aimed to understand which characteristics MM patients find most important, and hence should be included as attributes and levels in a subsequent quantitative preference survey among MM patients.Methods: This qualitative study involved: (i) a scoping literature review, (ii) discussions with MM patients (n = 24) in Belgium, Finland, Romania, and Spain using Nominal Group Technique, (iii) a qualitative thematic analysis including multi-stakeholder discussions.Results: MM patients voiced significant expectations and hopes that treatments would extend their lives and reduce their cancer signs and symptoms. Participants however raised concerns about life-threatening side-effects that could cause permanent organ damage. Bone fractures and debilitating neuropathic effects (such as chronic tingling sensations) were highlighted as major issues reducing patients' independence and mobility. Patients discussed the negative impact of the following symptoms and side-effects on their daily activities: thinking problems, increased susceptibility to infections, reduced energy, pain, emotional problems, and vision problems. MM patients were concerned with uncertainties regarding the durability of positive treatment outcomes, and the cause, severity, and duration of their symptoms and side-effects. Patients feared short-term positive treatment responses complicated by permanent, severe side-effects and symptoms.Conclusions: This study gained an in-depth understanding of the treatment and disease-related characteristics and types of attribute levels (severity, duration) that are most important to MM patients. Results from this study argue in favor of MM drug development and individual treatment decision-making that focuses not only on extending patients' lives but also on addressing those symptoms and side-effects that significantly impact MM patients' quality of life. This study underscores a need for transparent communication toward MM patients about MM treatment outcomes and uncertainties regarding their long-term efficacy and safety. Finally, this study may help drug developers and decision-makers understand which treatment outcomes and uncertainties are most important to MM patients and therefore should be incorporated in MM drug development, evaluation, and clinical practice.
Bacterial and Fungal Gut Community Dynamics Over the First 5 Years of Life in Predominantly Rural Communities in Ghana
Authors: Amenyogbe Nelly , Adu-Gyasi Dennis , Enuameh Yeetey , Asante Kwaku Poku , Konadu Dennis Gyasi , Kaali Seyram , Dosoo David , Panigrahi Pinaki , Kollmann Tobias R. , Mohn William W. , Owusu-Agyei Seth 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundBacterial and fungal microbiotas are increasingly recognized as important in health and disease starting early in life. However, microbiota composition has not yet been investigated in most rural, low-resource settings, and in such settings, bacterial and fungal microbiotas have not been compared. Thus, we applied 16S and ITS2 amplicon sequencing, respectively, to investigate bacterial and fungal fecal microbiotas in rural Ghanaian children cross-sectionally from birth to 5 years of age. Corresponding maternal fecal and breast milk microbiotas were additionally investigated.ResultsWhile bacterial communities differed systematically across the age spectrum in composition and diversity, the same was not observed for the fungal microbiota. We also identified a novel and dramatic change in the maternal postpartum microbiota. This change included much higher abundance ofEscherichia coliand much lower abundance ofPrevotellain the first vs. fourth week postpartum. While infants shared more bacterial taxa with their mother’s stool and breast milk than with those of unrelated mothers, there were far fewer shared fungal taxa.ConclusionGiven the known ability of commensal fungi to influence host health, the distinct pattern of their acquisition likely has important health consequences. Similarly, the dynamics of mothers’ bacterial microbiotas around the time of birth may have important consequences for their children’s health. Both topics require further study.
Novel Nanoliposomes Alleviate Contrast-Induced Nephropathy by Mediating Apoptosis Response in New Zealand Rabbits
Authors: Zhang Peng , Zhang Xue , Zhang Jing , Song Yanqiu , Liu Ting , Zeng Zhican , Fu Xiaofeng , Fu Han , Zhang Hong , Qin Qin , Fu Naikuan , Guo Zhigang 
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to test the preventive effects of nano liposomes against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in New Zealand rabbits. Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, with 15 rabbits in each group: control group, contrast group, hydration group and nano liposome group. Serum creatinine (Scr) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) were measured before and after injection of the contrast agent iopromide. Oxidative stress markers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and apoptosis markers, such as Bcl2-Associated X (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rabbits were killed 24 h after injection of the contrast medium and both kidneys were removed. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot assays were performed in kidney tissue. Pathological changes were analyzed under the optical and electron microscope. Compared with the hydration group, the nano liposome group showed improved protection of renal function, with significantly different Scr and BUN levels, incidence of CIN, apoptosis index, RT-PCR and Western blot protein expression patterns. Under the optical and electron microscope, the renal injury in the nano liposome group was less than in the hydration group. However, based on SOD and MDA, there was no significant difference in oxidative stress when compared with the hydration group. Apoptosis is an important mechanism in CIN. Nano liposomes can prevent the occurrence of CIN by decreasing apoptosis, reducing damage to the kidney by the contrast agent.
Assessing Clinical Change in Individuals Exposed to Repetitive Head Impacts: The Repetitive Head Impact Composite Index
Authors: Bernick Charles , Shan Guogen , Bennett Lauren , Alberts Jay , Cummings Jeffrey 
Published: July 2021

Background: There is a current lack of any composite measure for the effective tracking and monitoring of clinical change in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts (RHI). The aim of this study is to create a composite instrument for the purposes of detecting change over time in cognitive and behavioral function in individuals exposed to RHI.Methods: The data to derive the composite instrument came from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study (PFBHS), a longitudinal study of active and retired professional fighters [boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters] and healthy controls. Participants in the PFBHS underwent assessment on an annual basis that included computerized cognitive testing and behavioral questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to compare active fighters (n = 117) with controls (n = 22), and retired fighters (n = 26) with controls to identify the predictors that could be used to differentiate the groups over time. In a second step, linear discriminant analysis was performed to derive the linear discriminant coefficients for the three groups by using the predictors from the two separate logistic regression models.Results: The composite scale is a weighted linear value of 12 standardized scores consisting of both current and yearly change scores in domains including: processing speed, choice reaction time, semantic fluency, letter fluency, and Barrett Impulsiveness Scale. Because the weighting of values differed between active and retired fighters, two versions emerged. The mean and standard deviation ratio (MSDR) showed that the new index had better sensitivity compared to the individual measures, with the ratio of MSDR of the new index to that of the existing measures of at least 1.84.Conclusion: With the increasing need for tools to follow individuals exposed to RHI and the potential of clinical trials on the horizon for CTE, the RHICI is poised to serve as an initial approach to a composite clinical measure.
Dynamic Functional Connectivity Predicts Treatment Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Dini Hossein , Sendi Mohammad S. E. , Sui Jing , Fu Zening , Espinoza Randall , Narr Katherine L. , Qi Shile , Abbott Christopher C. , van Rooij Sanne J. H. , Riva-Posse Patricio , Bruni Luis Emilio , Mayberg Helen S. , Calhoun Vince D. 
Published: July 2021

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for major depressive disorder. Recently, there has been increasing attention to evaluate the effect of ECT on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This study aims to compare rs-fMRI of depressive disorder (DEP) patients with healthy participants, investigate whether pre-ECT dynamic functional network connectivity network (dFNC) estimated from patients rs-fMRI is associated with an eventual ECT outcome, and explore the effect of ECT on brain network states.Method: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 119 patients with depression or depressive disorder (DEP) (76 females), and 61 healthy (HC) participants (34 females), with an age mean of 52.25 (N = 180) years old. The pre-ECT and post-ECT Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were 25.59 ± 6.14 and 11.48 ± 9.07, respectively. Twenty-four independent components from default mode (DMN) and cognitive control network (CCN) were extracted, using group-independent component analysis from pre-ECT and post-ECT rs-fMRI. Then, the sliding window approach was used to estimate the pre-and post-ECT dFNC of each subject. Next, k-means clustering was separately applied to pre-ECT dFNC and post-ECT dFNC to assess three distinct states from each participant. We calculated the amount of time each subject spends in each state, which is called “occupancy rate” or OCR. Next, we compared OCR values between HC and DEP participants. We also calculated the partial correlation between pre-ECT OCRs and HDRS change while controlling for age, gender, and site. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of ECT by comparing pre- and post-ECT OCR of DEP and HC participants.Results: The main findings include (1) depressive disorder (DEP) patients had significantly lower OCR values than the HC group in state 2, where connectivity between cognitive control network (CCN) and default mode network (DMN) was relatively higher than other states (corrected p = 0.015), (2) Pre-ECT OCR of state, with more negative connectivity between CCN and DMN components, is linked with the HDRS changes (R = 0.23 corrected p = 0.03). This means that those DEP patients who spent less time in this state showed more HDRS change, and (3) The post-ECT OCR analysis suggested that ECT increased the amount of time DEP patients spent in state 2 (corrected p = 0.03).Conclusion: Our finding suggests that dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) features, estimated from CCN and DMN, show promise as a predictive biomarker of the ECT outcome of DEP patients. Also, this study identifies a possible underlying mechanism associated with the ECT effect on DEP patients.
Association of the CPT1A p.P479L Metabolic Gene Variant With Childhood Respiratory and Other Infectious Illness in Nunavut
Authors: Collins Sorcha A. , Edmunds Sharon , Akearok Gwen Healey , Thompson J. Robert , Erickson Anders C. , Hildes-Ripstein Elske , Miners Amber , Somerville Martin , Goldfarb David M. , Rockman-Greenberg Cheryl , Arbour Laura 
Published: July 2021

Objective: Infectious illness, including lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and infant mortality in Inuit children in Nunavut Canada. The carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) p.P479L variant is common in arctic Indigenous populations of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. CPT1A is a fatty acid oxidation enzyme expressed in the liver, immunocytes and other tissues, and is needed to use fats for energy during fasting. Previous association of the variant with early childhood infectious illness and infant death has been challenged because of sample size and limited adjustment for confounders. We evaluated whether the p.P479L variant is associated with infectious illness in Inuit children of Nunavut, Canada.Methods: We conducted a retrospective clinical chart review of 2,225 Inuit children (0–5 years) for infectious illness (including otitis media, gastroenteritis, and hospital admission for LRTI), prenatal, perinatal, and socioeconomic indicators, subsequently linking to CPT1A genotype. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for birth characteristics, breastfeeding, maternal smoking, food insecurity, and socioeconomic indicators.Results: Overall, 27% of children were hospitalized for LRTI, 86% had otitis media and 50% had gastroenteritis. The p.P479L allele frequency was 0.82. In multivariable analysis, p.P479L homozygosity was associated with LRTI admission (aOR:2.88 95%CI:1.46–5.64), otitis media (aOR:1.83, 95%CI:1.05–3.21), and gastroenteritis (aOR:1.74, 95%CI:1.09–2.77), compared to non-carriers.Conclusion: Children homozygous for the p.P479L variant were more likely to experience infectious illness than non-carriers, including hospitalization for respiratory tract infections. Given the role of CPT1A in immunocytes, our findings indicate that more study is needed to determine if there is a role of the variant in immune response. Continued Inuit involvement is essential when considering next steps.
COVID-19 Pandemic Stress-Induced Somatization in Transplant Waiting List Patients
Authors: Wagner-Skacel Jolana , Dalkner Nina , Bengesser Susanne , Ratzenhofer Michaela , Fink Nadja , Kahn Judith , Pilz Rene , Mörkl Sabrina , Lenger Melanie , Fazekas Christian , Matzer Franziska , Butler Mary , Reininghaus Eva Z. , Müller Helmut , Kniepeiss Daniela 
Published: July 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread socioeconomic restrictions including quarantine, social distancing and self-isolation. This is the first study investigating the psychological impact of the pandemic on patients waiting for liver or kidney transplantation, a particularly vulnerable group.Methods: Twenty-seven patients on the transplantation waiting list and 43 healthy controls took part in an online survey including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2), the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT-C), the 12-item Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SQS) and a questionnaire to determine cognitions and beliefs, attitude and fear related to COVID-19.Results: BSI-18 Somatization was increased in waiting list patients compared to controls. Correlation analyses indicated a relationship between Somatization and the fear of contracting the coronavirus in the patient group; however this association was weak. In patients and controls, other psychologicial symptoms (depression, anxiety) correlated highly with emotional distress due to social distancing. There were no differences between patients and controls in depression scores and sleep disturbances. Alcohol consumption and personality structure were not related to COVID-19 fears.Conclusion: In times of the first lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients on the transplantation waiting list have high somatization symptoms associated with COVID-19 fears. As vulnerable group, they need psychological counseling to improve mental well-being during times of crisis.
Influence of Conditional Cash Transfers on the Uptake of Maternal and Child Health Services in Nigeria: Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Ezenwaka Uchenna , Manzano Ana , Onyedinma Chioma , Ogbozor Pamela , Agbawodikeizu Uju , Etiaba Enyi , Ensor Tim , Onwujekwe Obinna , Ebenso Bassey , Uzochukwu Benjamin , Mirzoev Tolib 
Published: July 2021

Background: Increasing access to maternal and child health (MCH) services is crucial to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) among pregnant women and children under-five (CU5). The Nigerian government between 2012 and 2015 implemented an innovative MCH programme to reduce maternal and CU5 mortality by reducing financial barriers of access to essential health services. The study explores how the implementation of a financial incentive through conditional cash transfer (CCT) influenced the uptake of MCH services in the programme.Methods: The study used a descriptive exploratory approach in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria. Data was collected through qualitative [in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs)] and quantitative (service utilization data pre- and post-programme) methods. Twenty-six IDIs were conducted with respondents who were purposively selected to include frontline health workers (n = 13), National and State policymakers and programme managers (n = 13). A total of sixteen FGDs were conducted with service users and their family members, village health workers, and ward development committee members from four rural communities. We drew majorly upon Skinner's reinforcement theory which focuses on human behavior in our interpretation of the influence of CCT in the uptake of MCH services. Manual content analysis was used in data analysis to pull together core themes running through the entire data set.Results: The CCTs contributed to increasing facility attendance and utilization of MCH services by reducing the financial barrier to accessing healthcare among pregnant women. However, there were unintended consequences of CCT which included a reduction in birth spacing intervals, and a reduction of trust in the health system when the CCT was suddenly withdrawn by the government.Conclusion: CCT improved the utilization of MCH, but the sudden withdrawal of the CCT led to the opposite effect because people were discouraged due to lack of trust in government to keep using the MCH services. Understanding the intended and unintended outcomes of CCT will help to build sustainable structures in policy designs to mitigate sudden programme withdrawal and its subsequent effects on target beneficiaries and the health system at large.
Genetic Relationships in the Toxin-Producing Fungal Endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis Using Polyketide Synthase and Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthase Genes
Authors: Creamer Rebecca , Hille Deana Baucom , Neyaz Marwa , Nusayr Tesneem , Schardl Christopher L. , Cook Daniel 
Published: July 2021

The legume Oxytropis sericea hosts a fungal endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis, which produces secondary metabolites (SM), including the toxin swainsonine. Polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) enzymes are associated with biosynthesis of fungal SM. To better understand the origins of the SM, an unannotated genome of A. oxytropis was assessed for protein sequences similar to known PKS and NRPS enzymes of fungi. Contigs exhibiting identity with known genes were analyzed at nucleotide and protein levels using available databases. Software were used to identify PKS and NRPS domains and predict identity and function. Confirmation of sequence for selected gene sequences was accomplished using PCR. Thirteen PKS, 5 NRPS, and 4 PKS-NRPS hybrids were identified and characterized with functions including swainsonine and melanin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic relationships among closest amino acid matches with Alternaria spp. were identified for seven highly conserved PKS and NRPS, including melanin synthesis. Three PKS and NRPS were most closely related to other fungi within the Pleosporaceae family, while five PKS and PKS-NRPS were closely related to fungi in the Pleosporales order. However, seven PKS and PKS-NRPS showed no identity with fungi in the Pleosporales or the class Dothideomycetes, suggesting a different evolutionary origin for those genes.
A Study on Customers Satisfaction towards Promotional Strategy with Special Reference to Public Sector Banks in Madurai City
Authors: Srinivasan K R , Karthik T T 
Published: July 2021

Marketing is a source which can help the banks to achieve objective. Customers are king in banking sector, customers aware of the products, price, availability and procedure through promotions. In this study we are going to find customers satisfaction towards promotional strategy in public sector banks, 120 samples collected from public sector bank customers in various branches in Madurai city. SPSS software has been used to find statistical inference.
A relatividade geral e a Sonda Gravidade B
Authors: Santos Noelia Souza 
Published: July 2021

Em 1918, Hans Thirring, usando a aproximação de campo fraco para as equações de campo de Einstein, deduziu que uma casca massiva girando lentamente arrasta os referenciais inerciais no sentido de sua rotação. No mesmo ano Joseph Lense aplicou na Astronomia os cálculos de Thirring. Posteriormente, este efeito ficou conhecido como efeito Lense-Thirring. Juntamente com o efeito de Sitter, esses fenômenos foram recentemente testados através de giroscópios em órbita em torno da Terra, uma antiga proposta feita por George E. Pugh em 1959 e por Leonard I. Schiff em 1960. O satélite da GPB foi lançado em órbita em torno da Terra a uma altitude de 642 km pela NASA em 2004. Resultados apresentados em maio de 2011 mostram claramente a existência do efeito Lense-Thirring e do efeito de Sitter com precisão de 19% e de 0,28% respectivamente. Esses resultados estão em bom acordo com os valores previstos pela teoria da Relatividade Geral. Neste artigo busca-se abordar de forma breve e didática alguns elementos fundamentais para a compreensão da relatividade geral, a história da missão Sonda Gravidade B e os conceitos físicos que deram suporte as ideias para a elaboração do projeto desta missão.
Model Pelestarian Benda Cagar Budaya (BCB) Kabupaten Buru
Authors: Rumata Abdul Rasyid , Wael Abdi , Sehol Muhammad 
Published: July 2021

Benda-benda Cagar Budaya (BCB) diseputaran wilayah Kabupaten Buru Sebagian besar telah ditemukan akantetapi masih harus dilakukan observasi dan penelitian ilmiah lebih lanjut untuk mengungkap sebagian lainnya yang belum ditemukan. Hal ini sangat penting dilakukan, sehingga tidak terjadi kepunahan yang membuat publik lupa akan BCB. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeksripsikan Model pelestarian Budaya yang dilakukan oleh pemerintah kabupaten Buru. Jenis penilitian yang digunakan berupa penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan historis, komunikasi dan pendekatan berbasis sosial berkaitan dengan lingkungan yand diteliti. Proses penelitian ini bertempat di Desa Kaely Kecamatan Teluk Kaely Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku. Informan merupakan suatu kebutuhan utama dalam penelitian, sehingga dalam penelitian ini, informan yang dipilih peneliti adalah sejarahwan, tokoh masyarakat, dan pihak lain yang memiliki keterkaitan dengan masalah Cagar Budaya, baik pemerintah, swasta, maupun masyarakat umum. Sumber data penelitian ini terdiri atas data primer dan sekunder. Ada beberapa metode yang penulis gunakan dalam proses pengumpulan data yaitu observasi, interview, dan dokumentasi. Data yang diperoleh akan dianalisa melalui tahap deduksi, induksi, dan komparasi. Hasil penelitian meneunjukkan bahwa belum adanya regulasi yang diatur pada pemerintah Buru dalam melestarikan Cagar Budaya yang ada di Kabuapaten Buru.