bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of two different acute and subchronic stressors on gastrointestinal transit in the rat: A radiographic analysis
Authors: Bagues Ana , Lopez‐Tofiño Yolanda , Galvez‐Robleño Carlos , Abalo Raquel 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe reaction to stress is an adaptive response necessary for survival. When stressors are repeated, the organism adapts, although these adaptive responses can become dysregulated and result in disease, causing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Radiographic methods allow the non‐invasive study of how a given factor affects GI transit in the same animal at different time points. These methods have never been applied to study the consequences of stress on GI motor function and their dependency on time and stimulus. Therefore, our aim was to characterize, using radiographic techniques, the effect on GI transit of cold‐restraint (CR) and forced swim (FS) stress applied acutely and subchronically in the rat.MethodsMale Wistar rats (260–330 g) were submitted to FS or CR stress, during 1 (acute) or 4 (subchronic) consecutive days. To study GI transit, radiographic methods were used. Radiographs were taken 0–24 h after barium intragastric administration on the 1st or 4th day of stress, which was applied 1 h after contrast.ResultsAcute FS or CR slowed down gastric and small intestinal emptying but had opposite effects in the caecum: CR tended to accelerate barium transit and feces formation while FS tended to slow these parameters down. When the stimuli were applied subchronically, GI transit was not completely normalized in most of the studied parameters.Conclusion and InferencesMild stress alters GI transit differently depending on the nature of the stressor and its duration. Exposure to mild stressors should be considered as contributing factors to different functional GI disorders.
A survey of functional dyspepsia in 361,360 individuals: Phenotypic and genetic cross‐disease analyses
Authors: Garcia‐Etxebarria Koldo , Carbone Florencia , Teder‐Laving Maris , Pandit Anita , Holvoet Lieselot , Thijs Vincent , Lemmens Robin , Bujanda Luis , Franke Andre , Zöllner Sebastian , Boehnke Michael , Zawistowski Matthew , Esko Tonu , Jan Tack , D’Amato Mauro 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundFunctional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal condition of poorly understood pathophysiology. While symptoms’ overlap with other conditions may indicate common pathogenetic mechanisms, genetic predisposition is suspected but has not been adequately investigated.MethodsUsing healthcare, questionnaire, and genetic data from three large population‐based biobanks (UK Biobank, EGCUT, and MGI), we surveyed FD comorbidities, heritability, and genetic correlations across a wide spectrum of conditions and traits in 10,078 cases and 351,282 non‐FD controls of European ancestry.Key ResultsIn UK Biobank, 281 diagnoses were detected at increased prevalence in FD, based on healthcare records. Among these, gastrointestinal conditions (OR = 4.0, p < 1.0 × 10−300), anxiety disorders (OR = 2.3, p < 1.4 × 10−27), ischemic heart disease (OR = 2.2, p < 2.3 × 10−76), and infectious and parasitic diseases (OR = 2.1, p = 1.5 × 10−73) showed strongest association with FD. Similar results were obtained in an analysis of self‐reported conditions and use of medications from questionnaire data. Based on a genome‐wide association meta‐analysis of genotypes across all cohorts, FD heritability was estimated close to 5% ( = 0.047, p = 0.014). Genetic correlations indicate FD predisposition is shared with several other diseases and traits (rg > 0.344), mostly overlapping with those also enriched in FD patients. Suggestive (p < 5.0 × 10−6) association with FD risk was detected for 13 loci, with 2 showing nominal replication (p < 0.05) in an independent cohort of 192 FD patients.Conclusions & InferencesFD has a weak heritable component that shows commonalities with multiple conditions across a wide spectrum of pathophysiological domains. This new knowledge contributes to a better understanding of FD etiology and may have implications for improving its treatment.
Small airway dysfunction is an independent dimension of wheezing disease in preschool children
Authors: Bokov Plamen , Jallouli‐Masmoudi Donies , Amat Flore , Houdouin Véronique , Delclaux Christophe 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundWhether small airway dysfunction (SAD), which is prevalent in asthma, helps to characterize wheezing phenotypes is undetermined. The objective was to assess whether SAD parameters obtained from impedance measurement and asthma probability are linked.MethodsOne hundred and thirty‐nine preschool children (mean age 4.7 years, 68% boys) suffering from recurrent wheezing underwent impulse oscillometry that allowed calculating peripheral resistance and compliance of the respiratory system (markers of SAD) using the extended RIC model (central and peripheral resistance, inertance, and peripheral compliance). Children were classified using the probability‐based approach of GINA guidelines (few, some, and most having asthma). A principal component analysis (PCA) that determined the dimensions of wheezing disease evaluated the links between SAD and asthma probability.ResultsForty‐seven children belonged to the few, 28 to the some, and 64 to the most having asthma groups. Whereas their anthropometrics and measured parameters were similar, the most having asthma group exhibited the lowest mean value of airway inertance after bronchodilator probably due to airway inhomogeneities. PCA characterized four independent dimensions including a peripheral resistance (constituted by baseline peripheral compliance, Frs, R5Hz, R5‐20Hz, X5Hz, and AX), a central resistance (baseline central resistance, R20Hz), anthropometrics (age and height), and asthma probability (wheezing patterns and therapeutic steps). Thus, PCA showed that the SAD markers were independent from clinical dimensions and were unable to differentiate wheezing phenotypes.ConclusionsLung function parameters obtained from impulse oscillometry and asthma probability were belonging to independent dimensions of the wheezing disease.
Perioperative anesthesia care for the pediatric patient undergoing a kidney transplantation: An educational review
Authors: Voet Marieke , Cornelissen Elisabeth A. M. , van der Jagt Michel F. P. , Lemson Joris , Malagon Ignacio 
Published: August 2021

AbstractLiving‐donor kidney transplantation is the first choice therapy for children with end‐stage renal disease and shows good long‐term outcome. Etiology of renal failure, co‐morbidities, and hemodynamic effects, due to donor‐recipient size mismatch, differs significantly from those in adult patients. Despite the complexities related to both patient and surgery, there is a lack of evidence‐based anesthesia guidelines for pediatric kidney transplantation. This educational review summarizes the pathophysiological changes to consider and suggests recommendations for perioperative anesthesia care, based on recent research papers.
Structuring Wellbeing*
Authors: Frugé Christopher 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMany questions about wellbeing involve metaphysical dependence. Does wellbeing depend on minds? Is wellbeing determined by distinct sorts of things? Is it determined differently for different subjects? However, we should distinguish two axes of dependence. First, there are thegroundsthat generate value. Second, there are theconnectionsbetween the grounds and value which make it so that those groundsgeneratethat value. Given these distinct axes of dependence, there are distinct dimensions to questions about the dependence of wellbeing. In this paper, I offer a view of wellbeing that gives different answers with respect to these different dimensions. The view is subjectivist about connections but objectivist about grounds. Pluralist about grounds but monist about connections. Invariabilist about connections but variabilist about grounds. Thus, the view offers a simple account that captures the complexity of wellbeing.
Pandemic, Protest, and Unrest: Lessons Learned from a New Chief's First 100 Days
Authors: Cohen Galia , Fortune Brad G. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe police leader's first 100 days present a mix of unique challenges even at the best of times. What kind of challenges do new chiefs face when, during their first 100 days, a global pandemic is declared and nationwide protests and riots against police are sparked in a country under social distancing restrictions? This article discusses the first 100 days' experience of a newly appointed police chief attempting to navigate through this, already overwhelming, transition into his new role. The article identifies five “first 100‐day” domains that confronted police leaders with unprecedented challenges and required unprecedented actions. A re‐evaluation of these five key areas would help police chiefs improve their capabilities and ability to effectively respond to current challenges as well as to unforeseen future events.
Improved Retention Analysis in Freemium Role-Playing games by Jointly Modelling Players’ Motivation, Progression and Churn
Authors: Karmakar Bikram , Liu Peng , Mukherjee Gourab , Che Hai , Dutta Shantanu 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe consider user retention analytics for online freemium role-playing games (RPGs). RPGs constitute a very popular genre of computer-based games that, along with a player’s gaming actions, focus on the development of the player’s in-game virtual character through a persistent exploration of the gaming environment. Most RPGs follow the freemium business model in which the gamers can play for free but they are charged for premium add-on amenities. As with other freemium products, RPGs suffer from the curse of high dropout rates. This makes retention analysis extremely important for successful operation and survival of their gaming portals. Here, we develop a disciplined statistical framework for retention analysis by modelling multiple in-game player characteristics along with the dropout probabilities. We capture players’ motivations through engagement times, collaboration and achievement score at each level of the game, and jointly model them using a generalized linear mixed model (glmm) framework that further includes a time-to-event variable corresponding to churn. We capture the interdependencies in a player’s level-wise engagement, collaboration, achievement with dropout through a shared parameter model. We illustrate interesting changes in player behaviours as the gaming level progresses. The parameters in our joint model were estimated by a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm which incorporated a divide-and-recombine approach for increased scalability in glmm estimation that was needed to accommodate our large longitudinal gaming data-set. By incorporating the level-wise changes in a player’s motivations and using them for dropout rate prediction, our method greatly improves on state-of-the-art retention models. Based on data from a popular action based RPG, we demonstrate the competitive optimality of our proposed joint modelling approach by exhibiting its improved predictive performance over competitors. In particular, we outperform aggregate statistics based methods that ignore level-wise progressions as well as progression tracking non-joint model such as the Cox proportional hazards model. We also display improved predictions of popular marketing retention statistics and discuss how they can be used in managerial decision making.
Estimating the Willingness to Pay for Voting when Absentee Voting is not Allowed
Authors: Chu C. Y. Cyrus , Lin S. Y. , Tsay Wen‐Jen 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectivesThe existing studies based on the rational voter theory analyze voter turnout as the aggregate of individuals' binary choice of to vote or not to vote. However, when people need to travel to vote, the cost associated with different transportation modes directly affects their voting decisions. We thus generalize the rational voter theory by taking an individual's specific choice of transportation mode into account.MethodsWe show that our proposed discrete choice model can be estimated via the approach of Berry, Levinsohn, and Pakes (1995) (henceforth, BLP). We then use transportation and census data to analyze voters' behavior in Taiwan where absentee voting is not allowed.ResultsAs compared to the observed 30.14 percent turnout rates of travel‐to‐vote electorates in Taiwan's 2014 local elections, the counterfactual simulations herein suggest that the turnout rates would be 61.77 percent if absentee voting were to be allowed.ConclusionThe BLP method allows us to estimate a generalized rational voter model accounting for the transportation mode choice.
“Deep questions for a Saturday morning”: An investigation of the Australian and Canadian general public's definitions of gender
Authors: Hall Jennifer , Jao Limin , Di Placido Cinzia , Manikis Rebecca 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveMany studies exist about people's views of gender in a wide variety of fields. However, participants are not typically asked what they think gender means; rather, gender is presumed to have a taken‐as‐shared meaning.MethodsAs part of a larger study conducted in Australia and Canada about the general public's views of gender and mathematics, we investigated participants’ definitions of the term gender. We considered overall trends and trends by demographic group (country, gender, age, and education level).ResultsMost commonly, gender was defined as a person's feelings or self‐identification. Participants also frequently solely used the terms male and female or discussed biological features. However, response patterns varied widely by demographic group.ConclusionDue to these diverse and sometimes contradictory definitions, we argue that researchers cannot assume that participants have common understanding of the term gender. We conclude by providing suggestions for how gender‐focused research can be done in more transparent ways.
Evaluation of low dose famciclovir as herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus prophylaxis in cytomegalovirus low‐risk solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Crouch Ashley , Le Mariesa , Rogers Christin , Shao Sarah , Kotton Camille 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveFamciclovir is a recommended option for herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) prophylaxis in cytomegalovirus (CMV) low‐risk solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in current guidelines; however there is currently no data evaluating its use in SOT recipients. We conducted a multicenter provider survey on antiviral prophylaxis in CMV low‐risk SOT recipients and evaluated the efficacy and safety of once daily famciclovir antiviral prophylaxis.MethodsTwo‐part analysis consisting of a national provider survey and a retrospective chart review of 78 kidney transplant recipients at a single institution.ResultsProviders from 45 transplant centers within the United States responded to the survey. Across all organs, acyclovir 400 mg twice daily was utilized by the majority of respondents (70.4%), with most using prophylaxis for a duration of 3 months (68.8%). No respondents reported use of famciclovir at their institution. In the retrospective review there were no documented cases of HSV/VZV/CMV infection during the 3 months of famciclovir prophylaxis, and only one patient (1.3%) later developed VZV infection at 12 months post‐transplant. One patient (1.3%) required premature discontinuation of famciclovir due to concern for acute interstitial nephritis.ConclusionNationwide, the most common antiviral prophylaxis used in CMV low‐risk SOT recipients is acyclovir 400 mg twice daily. Among patients receiving once daily famciclovir for CMV low‐risk antiviral prophylaxis, there was no HSV/VZV/CMV infection while on prophylaxis. Once daily famciclovir may provide an effective and convenient once daily dosing regimen for antiviral prophylaxis in CMV low‐risk SOT recipients.
Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) using three different methods
Authors: Lesiczka Paulina Maria , Modry David , Sprong Hein , Fonville Manoj , Pikula Jiri , Piacek Vladimir , Heger Tomas , Hrazdilova Kristyna 
Published: August 2021

AbstractEuropean brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas 1778) is a broadly distributed lagomorph species in Europe, recognized as a host for Ixodes ricinus and reservoir of a wide range of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Even though Lepus europaeus represents an important game animal in Central Europe, the data available on Anaplasma phagocytophilum in this lagomorph are scarce. In this study, three populations of brown hare from distinct localities in the Czech Republic were analysed for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA. We used standard qPCR, targeting the msp2 gene and adapted the same assay also for digital droplet PCR. Out of 91 samples, these two methods identified 9 and 12 as positive, respectively. For taxonomic analysis, we amplified the groEL gene from five of six samples that were found positive by both methods. In phylogenetic analyses, this haplotype belongs to ecotype 1, and to the subclade with isolates from cervids and I. ricinus. Our findings underline the importance of correct result interpretation and positivity cut‐off set‐up for different detection methods of A. phagocytophilum. This bacterium is characterized by a high intraspecific variability and highly sensitive detection itself, is not enough. Detailed molecular typing is necessary to define the zoonotic potential of different strains and their natural reservoirs.
Comparison of Model Order Reduction Methods in Thermo-Acoustic Stability Analysis
Authors: Purwar Naman , Meindl Maximilian , Polifke Wolfgang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Model order reduction (MOR) can play a pivotal role in reducing the cost of repeated computations of large thermo-acoustic models required for comprehensive stability analysis and optimization. In this proof-of-concept study, acoustic wave propagation is modeled with a one-dimensional (1D) network approach, while acoustic–flame interactions are modeled by a flame transfer function (FTF). Three reduction techniques are applied to the acoustic subsystem: firstly modal truncation (MT) based on preserving the acoustic eigenmodes, and then two approaches that strive to preserve the input–output transfer behavior of the acoustic subsystem, i.e., truncated balanced realization (TBR) and iterative rational Krylov algorithm (IRKA). After reduction, the reduced-order models (ROMs) are coupled with the FTF. Results show that the coupled reduced system from MT accurately captures thermo-acoustic cavity modes with weak influence of the flame, but fails for cavity modes strongly influenced by the flame as well as for intrinsic thermo-acoustic (ITA) modes. On the contrary, the coupled ROMs generated with the other two methods accurately predict all types of modes. It is concluded that reduction techniques based on preserving transfer behavior are more suitable for thermo-acoustic stability analysis.
Are both individual-level and county-level social capital associated with individual health? A serial cross-sectional analysis in China, 2010–2015
Authors: Han Yang , Chung Roger Yat-Nork 
Published: August 2021

ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the associations of both individual-level and county-level social capital with individual health in China during a period of rapid economic growth.Design and settingA serial cross-sectional study in China.Participants and methodsThe participants were 42 829 Chinese adults (aged ≥18 years) from the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Chinese General Social Survey. The outcomes were self-rated physical and mental health in all time points. We assessed social capital by the individual-level and county-level indicators, including frequency of socialising, civic participation and trust. We conducted multilevel binary logistic regression models to examine the associations of individual-level and county-level social capital with self-rated physical and mental health.ResultsAt the individual level, high frequency of socialising (2010—OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.33 to 1.66; 2012—OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.54; 2013—OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.42; 2015—OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.50) and high trust (2010—OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.47; 2012—OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.42; 2013—OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.33; 2015—OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.55) was significantly associated with good physical health in all years. At the individual level, high frequency of socialising (2010—OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.42; 2012—OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.34; 2013—OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.45; 2015—OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.50) and high trust (2010—OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.34 to 1.61; 2012—OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.56; 2013—OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.49; 2015—OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.57) was also significantly associated with good mental health in all years. No evidence showed that the associations of individual-level frequency of socialising and trust with physical and mental health changed over time. There were no consistent associations of individual-level civic participation or any county-level social capital indicators with physical or mental health.ConclusionThe positive associations of individual-level social capital in terms of socialising and trust with physical and mental health were robust during a period of rapid economic growth. Improving individual-level socialising and trust for health promotion could be a long-term strategy even within a rapidly developing society.
Estimating spatiotemporal patterns of deaths by COVID-19 outbreak on a global scale
Authors: Valente Fernanda , Laurini Marcio Poletti 
Published: August 2021

ObjectiveOur main objective is to estimate the trend of deaths by COVID-19 on a global scale, considering the six continents.Study designThe study design was a retrospective observational study conducted using the secondary data provided by the Our World in Data project on a public domain.SettingThis study was conducted based on worldwide deaths by COVID-19 recorded for the Our World in Data project from 29 February 2020 to 17 February 2021.MethodsEstimating the trend in COVID-19 deaths is not a trivial task due to the problems associated with the COVID-19 data, such as the spatial and temporal heterogeneity, observed seasonality and the delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, indicating a relevant measurement error problem and changing the series’ dependency structure. To bypass the aforementioned problems, we propose a method to estimate the components of trend, seasonality and cycle in COVID-19 data, controlling for the presence of measurement error and considering the spatial heterogeneity. We used the proposed model to estimate the trend component of deaths by COVID-19 on a global scale.ResultsThe model was able to capture the patterns in the occurrence of deaths related to COVID-19, overcoming the problems observed in COVID-19 data. We found compelling evidence that spatiotemporal models are more accurate than univariate models to estimate the patterns of the occurrence of deaths. Based on the measures of dispersion of the models’ prediction in relation to observed deaths, it is possible to note that the models with spatial component are significantly superior to the univariate model.ConclusionThe findings suggested that the spatial dynamics have an important role in the COVID-19 epidemic process since the results provided evidence that spatiotemporal models are more accurate to estimate the general patterns of the occurrence of deaths related to COVID-19.