bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melatonin multifaceted pharmacological actions on melatonin receptors converging to abrogate COVID‐19
Authors: Reynolds Jessica L. , Dubocovich Margarita L. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractData indicate that controlling inflammatory responses to COVID‐19 may be as important as antiviral therapies or could be an important adjunctive approach. Melatonin possesses anti‐inflammation, antioxidation, and immune‐enhancing features directly and/or indirectly through its own receptor signaling and is therefore well suited to reduce the severity of COVID‐19. Studies have proposed that melatonin regulates COVID‐19–associated proteins directly through regulation of molecules such as calmodulin (CALM) 1 and CALM 2, calreticulin (CalR), or myeloperoxidase (MPO) and/or indirectly through actions on GPCR (eg, MTNR1A, MTNR1B) and nuclear (eg, RORα, RORβ) melatonin receptor signaling. However, the exact mechanism(s) and doses by which melatonin reduces the severity of COVID‐19 is still open for debate, warranting the need for further testing of melatonin in placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trials for COVID‐19.
Influence of thickening agents on rheological properties and sensory attributes of dysphagic diet
Authors: de O. S. Schmidt Helena , Komeroski Marina Rocha , Steemburgo Thaís , de Oliveira Viviani Ruffo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDysphagia is the difficulty during the progression of the bolus from the mouth to the stomach. Modifying the texture of the food is a fundamental factor for safe swallowing in patients with dysphagia since inadequate consistency can result in complications. To personalize and develop diets for dysphagia, understanding, and controlling the rheological and sensory properties of thickeners is useful. This review examines the different types of thickeners used to modify the texture of foods, as well as their influence on rheological properties and sensory attributes to efficiently manage the diet in dysphagia. The study discusses characteristics such as: hardness, viscosity, viscoelasticity, as well as sensory attributes related to rheology. The thickeners xanthan gum, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, linseed, and chia, carboxymethylated curdlan, and konjac glucomannan were reviewed in this work. Sensory evaluations of different foods have already been carried out on some products such as: meats, carrots, soups, pates, and timbales with their modified textures. The sensory attributes measured among hydrocolloids are strongly correlated with rheological parameters. Dysphagic diets should have less hardness and adherence, but with adequate cohesiveness to facilitate chewing, swallowing to protect from aspiration and reduction of residues in the oropharynx. The use of a single type of thickener may not be ideal, their mixtures and synergistic effect can improve the viscous and elastic characteristics of foods, to obtain safe food to swallow and to improve the sensory interest of dysphagic patients. Personalized recommendations with follow‐up on swallowing approaches, respecting patient's individuality, explaining thickening agents' differences would be pertinent.
Bolus rheology of texture‐modified food: Effect of degree of modification
Authors: Stading Mats 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSwallowing disorders, or dysphagia, require an intake of texture‐modified foods progressively softer, smoother, and moister depending on the severity of the disorder. Bolus rheology was determined for five healthy subjects for a set of such solid foods regularly given to dysphagia patients. The softest class was gel food, then a smooth timbale which both were compared to the corresponding regular, un‐modified food. The foods investigated were bread, cheese, tomato, and the combination as a sandwich, all for the respective texture class: gel, timbale, and regular food. The subjects chewed until ready to swallow and the expectorated bolus was immediately measured for complex shear modulus and viscosity, and moisture and saliva content were determined. Rheology show that texture‐modification influenced bolus rheology with decreased viscosity and modulus for increased degree of modification. Also saliva content as well as chews‐to‐swallow decreased with degree of modification. Overall, the bolus saliva content was lower for the combination (sandwich) than for the individual components. Saliva content was fairly constant irrespective of food moisture content. The phase angle for all boluses was also relatively constant, indicating a similar bolus structure. All boluses of the texture‐modified foods showed high extensional viscosity, which is important for bolus cohesiveness. Bolus rheology rather than food texture determines if a food is safe to swallow and the results show that the intended texture‐modification is reflected in the flow properties of the respective boluses.
The cost‐effectiveness of case‐finding strategies for achieving hepatitis C elimination among men who have sex with men in the UK
Authors: Macgregor Louis , Ward Zoe , Martin Natasha K , Nicholls Jane , Desai Monica , Hickson Ford , Weatherburn Peter , Hickman Matthew , Vickerman Peter 
Published: March 2021

AbstractModelling suggests hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is possible among men who have sex with men (MSM), with key screening groups including HIV‐diagnosed MSM and MSM using pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Mathematical modelling was used to determine the cost‐effectiveness of HCV case‐finding strategies among MSM from the provider perspective, and to determine which interventions could achieve a 90% reduction in HCV incidence over 2015–2030. At baseline, we assumed symptomatic screening in HIV‐negative MSM (including PrEP users) and 12‐monthly screening among HIV‐diagnosed MSM. Improved case‐finding strategies included screening alongside HIV testing in HIV‐negative MSM not using PrEP (PrEP non‐users); 12/6/3‐monthly screening in PrEP users; and 6‐monthly screening in HIV‐diagnosed MSM, with the cost‐effectiveness being compared incrementally. Costs (GBP) and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) were assessed to estimate the mean incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) with a time horizon to 2050, compared to a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of £20,000/QALY. From the baseline, the most incrementally cost‐effective strategy is to firstly undertake: (1) 12‐monthly HCV screening of PrEP users (gaining 6715 QALYs with ICER £1760/QALY), followed by (2) HCV screening among PrEP non‐users alongside HIV testing (gaining 7048 QALYs with ICER £4972/QALY). Compared to the baseline, this combined strategy would cost £46.9 (95%CrI £25.3–£66.9) million and achieve the HCV elimination target in 100% of model runs. Additional screening incurs ICERs >£20,000/QALY compared to this combined strategy. In conclusion, HCV elimination can be achieved cost‐effectively among UK MSM. Policymakers should consider scaling‐up HCV screening in HIV‐negative MSM, especially PrEP users, for achieving this target.
Comparison of IDEXX SediVue Dx® urine sediment analyzer to manual microscopy for detection of casts in canine urine
Authors: Vasilatis Demitria M. , Cowgill Larry D. , Farace Giosi , Peterson Sarah , Yerramilli Murthy , Owens Sean D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundDetection of urinary casts is difficult due to their intermittent presence and deterioration in urine samples.ObjectiveTo compare the performance of the IDEXX SediVue Dx® Urine Sediment Analyzer (SediVue) with manual microscopy for the detection of urinary casts. We hypothesized that the SediVue analyzer would perform similarly to manual microscopy in cast detection.AnimalsFour hundred forty‐three samples from 420 dogs from a hospital population.MethodsThis is a prospective, cross‐sectional study. For SediVue analysis (software version [SW] 1.0.1.3), uncentrifuged urine was pipetted into a disposable cartridge. Seventy images were captured and processed by an onboard algorithm. For manual microscopy, urine was centrifuged to obtain sediment. Any cast identified by either method was considered a positive result (>0/low‐power field [LPF]). SediVue images were evaluated if casts were detected by either methodology. A revised sensitivity and specificity were calculated after image review and when using a threshold of >1 cast/LPF.ResultsThe sensitivity of the SediVue analysis for the detection of urinary casts was 53.7% (43.85%‐63.35%), and specificity was 86.0% (81.78%‐89.51%). After image review, the revised sensitivity/specificity was 52.0% (42.89%‐61.02%) and 90.6% (86.81%‐93.54%), respectively. When using a more clinically relevant threshold of >1/LPF, the sensitivity was 52.6% (35.82%‐69.02%) and specificity was 99.3% (97.85%‐99.85%).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe SediVue provides moderate agreement to manual methodology for detection of casts in urine.
Successive use of shared space by badgers and cattle: implications for Mycobacterium bovis transmission
Authors: Woodroffe R. , Donnelly C. A. , Chapman K. , Ham C. , Moyes K. , Stratton N. G. , Cartwright S. J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractManaging infectious disease demands understanding pathogen transmission. In Britain, transmission of Mycobacterium bovis from badgers (Meles meles) to cattle hinders the control of bovine tuberculosis (TB), but the mechanism of such transmission is uncertain. As badgers and cattle seldom interact directly, transmission might occur in their shared environment through contact with contamination such as faeces, urine and saliva. We used concurrent GPS collar tracking of badgers and cattle at four sites in Cornwall, southwest Britain, to test whether each species used locations previously occupied by the other species, within the survival time of M. bovis bacteria. Although analyses of the same data set showed that badgers avoided cattle, we found no evidence that this avoidance persisted over time: neither GPS‐collared badgers nor cattle avoided space which had been occupied by the other species in the preceding 36 h. Defining a contact event as an animal being located <5 m from space occupied by the other species within the previous 36 h, we estimated that a herd of 176 cattle (mean herd size in our study areas) would contact badgers at least 6.0 times during an average 24‐h period. Similarly, we estimated that a social group of 3.5 badgers (mean group size in our study areas) would contact cattle at least 0.76 times during an average night. Such frequent successive use of the same shared space, within the survival time of M. bovis bacteria, could potentially facilitate M. bovis transmission via the environment.
Limitations of acoustic monitoring at wind turbines to evaluate fatality risk of bats
Authors: Voigt Christian C. , Russo Danilo , Runkel Volker , Goerlitz Holger R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWind turbines (WTs) frequently kill bats worldwide. During environmental impact assessments, consultant ecologists often use automated ultrasonic detectors (AUDs) to estimate the activity and identity of bats in the zone of highest mortality risk at WTs in order to formulate mitigation schemes, such as increased curtailment speeds to prevent casualties. While acknowledging the potential of acoustic monitoring, we evaluate the limitations of AUDs for monitoring bats at WTs and highlight directions for future research. We show that geometric attenuation and atmospheric attenuation of ultrasonic echolocation calls, in conjunction with limited sensitivity of ultrasonic microphones, severely constrain detection distances of bats at WTs. Taking into account the acoustic shadow produced by the nacelle, AUDs cover only approximately 23% of the risk zone for a bat calling at 20 kHz and 4% for a bat calling at 40 kHz, assuming a 60 m blade length. This percentage will further decrease with increasing blade lengths in modern WTs. Additionally, the directionality of echolocation calls and the dynamic flight behaviour of bats constrain the detectability of bats. If a call can be detected, the low interspecific and high intraspecific variation of echolocation call characteristics may impair species identification, limiting the power to predict population‐level effects of fatalities. We conclude that technical, physical, and biological factors severely constrain acoustic monitoring in its current form. We suggest the use of several AUDs, installed at complementary sites at WTs, and the testing of other techniques, such as radar, cameras, and thermal imaging, to inform stakeholders on the mortality risk of bats at WTs.
Autonomous detection of damage to multiple steel surfaces from 360° panoramas using deep neural networks
Authors: Luo Cai , Yu Leijian , Yan Jiaxing , Li Zhongwei , Ren Peng , Bai Xiao , Yang Erfu , Liu Yonghong 
Published: March 2021

AbstractStructural health assessments are essential for infrastructure. By using an autonomous panorama vision‐based inspection system, the limitations of the human cost and safety factors of previously time‐consuming tasks have been overcome. The main damage detection challenges to panorama images are (1) the lack of annotated panorama defect image data, (2) detection in high‐resolution images, and (3) the inherent distortion disturbance for panorama images. In this paper, a new PAnoramic surface damage DEtection Network (PADENet) is presented to solve the challenges by (a) using an unmanned aerial vehicle to capture panoramic images and a distorted panoramic augmentation method to expand the panoramic dataset, (b) employing the proposed multiple projection methods to process high‐resolution images, and (c) modifying the faster region‐based convolutional neural network and training via transfer learning on VGG‐16, which improves the precision for detecting multiple types of damage in distortion. The results show that the proposed method is optimal for surface damage detection.
Intra‐ and inter‐laboratory comparison of mDixon and FastFung broths for Malassezia antifungal susceptibility testing
Authors: Abdillah Abdourahim , Packeu Ann , Khelaifia Saber , Ranque Stéphane 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundMalassezia spp. antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) capacities are limited by the lack of efficient and standardised AFST procedure, mainly because of the fastidious cultivation of these yeast.ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the FastFung broth (FFB) to modified Dixon broth (mDIXB) for the in vitro AFST of Malassezia spp. Fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole and terbinafine MICs against a 19 Malassezia strains, including 6 M furfur, 4 M pachydermatis, 5 M sympodialis and 4 M slooffiae.MethodsThe essential agreement (EA) between the two assays, and the intra‐ and inter‐laboratory agreement of each assay were assessed.ResultsThe MIC data obtained in our study were comparable to those reported in the literature. FFB showed to enhance Malassezia growth and displayed 100% (±2‐fold dilution) EAs demonstrating similar performances to mDIXB. In addition, the MIC data obtained by using the FFB were reproducible between laboratories with EAs ranging from 94.7% to 100%.ConclusionsTherefore, FFB is a suitable alternative to mDXB for Malassezia spp. AFST.
Evaluation of DermaGenius® resistance real‐time polymerase chain reaction for rapid detection of terbinafine‐resistant Trichophyton species
Authors: Singh Ashutosh , Singh Prerna , Dingemans Gijs , Meis Jacques F. , Chowdhary Anuradha 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundTreatment‐resistant dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes/interdigitale complex has emerged as a global public health threat, particularly in endemic countries like India and has spread to many other countries. This veritable spread is alarming due to increase in resistance to terbinafine, which targets the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway by inhibiting the enzyme squalene epoxidase (SQLE). About two third of studies worldwide have reported amino acid substitutions Phe397Leu and Leu393Phe in the SQLE protein to be responsible for high terbinafine MICs.ObjectivesWe evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed DermaGenius® Resistance real‐time PCR assay to rapidly identify Trichophyton isolates harbouring most common SQLE mutant (Phe397Leu and Leu393Phe) conferring high terbinafine resistance from wild‐type susceptible isolates.MethodsA total of 97 Trichophyton isolates confirmed by ITS sequencing as T. mentagrophytes/interdigitale (recently named T. indotineae n = 90), T. rubrum/T. soudanense (n = 3), T mentagrophytes (n = 2) and T tonsurans (n = 2) were analysed to evaluate DermaGenius® Resistance real‐time PCR assay. All 40 T. indotineae isolates exhibiting amino acid substitutions Phe397Leu or Leu393Phe identified by SQLE gene sequencing were evaluated for detection of non‐wild‐type strains by real‐time PCR. Antifungal susceptibility testing for terbinafine was done by CLSI microbroth dilution method.ResultsAll terbinafine‐resistant isolates harbouring amino acid substitutions Phe397Leu or Leu393Phe in SQLE gene were correctly recorded as SQLE mutants by the DermaGenius® Resistance real‐time PCR assay.ConclusionsThe DermaGenius® Resistance real‐time PCR assay effectively identified Trichophyton species and distinguished wild‐type from SQLE mutant genotype that harbour Phe397Leu and Leu393Phe amino acid substitutions.
Assessing the stability of fiscal attitudes: Evidence from a survey experiment
Authors: Tuxhorn Kim‐Lee , D'Attoma John , Steinmo Sven 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe literature on attitudes toward government budgets has been dominated by two distinct approaches, jointly studying both sides of the ledger (holistic approaches) and studying attitudes over spending and revenue separately (singular approaches). Despite both approaches being widely adopted, scholars have given limited attention to testing empirically how methodological differences in the approaches may affect measures of fiscal attitudes and the inferences we draw from those measures. In this paper, we ask, “Do the different approaches to studying the budget alter mass attitudes toward spending and taxes, and if so, how?” Using data from an Amazon MTurk survey experiment, we find that spending choices differ significantly (attitude instability) across the two approaches. On the revenue side, our results show that choices over taxation tend to remain consistent and stable, regardless of whether the choices include only taxes or the combination of taxes and spending.
Cardio‐metabolic risk factors during childhood in relation to lung function and asthma
Authors: Mensink‐Bout Sara M. , Santos Susana , de Jongste Johan C. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Duijts Liesbeth 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCardio‐metabolic risk factors might have an adverse effect on respiratory outcomes, but associations in children are unknown. We aimed to study the longitudinal associations of cardio‐metabolic risk factors with lung function and asthma at school age. We also examined whether any association was explained by child's body mass index (BMI).MethodsIn a population‐based cohort study among 4988 children, cardio‐metabolic risk factors were measured at 6 and 10 years and included blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. At age 10 years, lung function was measured by spirometry and current physician‐diagnosed asthma was assessed by questionnaire.ResultsAfter adjustment for confounders, child's BMI, and multiple testing, we observed that a higher diastolic blood pressure at the age of 6 years was associated with a higher forced vital capacity (FVC) at the age of 10 years (Z‐score difference (95% CI): 0.05 (0.01, 0.08), per SDS increase in diastolic blood pressure). Also, child's CRP concentrations above the 75th percentile at both ages 6 and 10 years were related to a lower FVC as compared to CRP concentrations below the 75th percentile at both ages (Z‐score difference (95% CI) −0.21 (−0.36, −0.06)). No consistent associations of other cardio‐metabolic risk factors with respiratory outcomes were observed.ConclusionBlood pressure and CRP, but not lipids and insulin, were associated with lower lung function but not with asthma. The underlying mechanisms and long‐term effects of these associations require further investigation.
Photosynthetic plasticity of a tropical tree species, Tabebuia rosea, in response to elevated temperature and [CO2]
Authors: Slot Martijn , Rifai Sami W. , Winter Klaus 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAtmospheric and climate change will expose tropical forests to conditions they have not experienced in millions of years. To better understand the consequences of this change, we studied photosynthetic acclimation of the neotropical tree species Tabebuia rosea to combined 4°C warming and twice‐ambient (800 ppm) CO2. We measured temperature responses of the maximum rates of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylation (VCMax), photosynthetic electron transport (JMax), net photosynthesis (PNet), and stomatal conductance (gs), and fitted the data using a probabilistic Bayesian approach. To evaluate short‐term acclimation plants were then switched between treatment and control conditions and re‐measured after 1–2 weeks. Consistent with acclimation, the optimum temperatures (TOpt) for VCMax, JMax and PNet were 1–5°C higher in treatment than in control plants, while photosynthetic capacity (VCMax, JMax, and PNet at TOpt) was 8–25% lower. Likewise, moving control plants to treatment conditions moderately increased temperature optima and decreased photosynthetic capacity. Stomatal density and sensitivity to leaf‐to‐air vapour pressure deficit were not affected by growth conditions, and treatment plants did not exhibit stronger stomatal limitations. Collectively, these results illustrate the strong photosynthetic plasticity of this tropical tree species as even fully developed leaves of saplings transferred to extreme conditions partially acclimated.
Assessments of left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions with tissue Doppler imaging and myocardial performance index in children with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Kizilca Ozgur , Ozmen Derya , Bahaettin Öncü Seyyit , Zihni Cuneyt , Kir Mustafa , Soylu Alper , Unal Nurettin , Kavukcu Salih 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to document early left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in chronic kidney disease (CKD) using methods such as tissue Doppler imaging and the myocardial performance index (MPI).MethodsA total of 40 patients diagnosed with CKD (mean age, 10.1 ± 4.1 years) and 40 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls (mean age, 9.6 ± 4.3 years) were examined. In the patient group, 20 patients had early stage (Stage 2–3) CKD and 20 patients had late‐stage (stage 4–5) CKD, and 18 patients had hypertension.ResultsThe pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAPs) and LV mass index (LVMI) were significantly higher in the patient group (P < 0.05). The LV septal and lateral margins of the mitral annulus E'/A' ratio, E/E' ratio and MPI results were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). The MPI scores were higher in late‐stage CKD than in early stage CKD (P < 0.05). The E'/A' ratio was lower and the MPI was higher in the hypertensive CKD group compared with the normotensive CKD group (P < 0.05). The E/E' ratio was correlated positively with the LVMI, and the PAPs, and negatively with glomerular filtration rate, S' value, E'/A' ratio. The MPI was correlated positively with blood pressure, LVMI, PAPs, and the S value, and negatively with the E'/A' ratio.ConclusionsThe E'/A' ratio, the E/E' ratio, and the isovolumetric relaxation time measured by tissue Doppler imaging is highly accurate and easily applicable for detecting diastolic LV function, and the MPI is suitable for detecting both systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction. Their routine use may be useful in evaluating LV functions in children with CKD.