bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of a co‐target for enhancing efficacy of sorafenib in HCC through a quantitative modeling approach
Authors: Mishra Madhulika , Jayal Priyanka , Karande Anjali A. , Chandra Nagasuma 
Published: August 2018

Sorafenib (SFB), a multi‐kinase inhibitor, is the only approved drug for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, SFB shows low efficacy in many cases. HCC related mortality therefore remains to be high worldwide. SFB, a multi‐kinase inhibitor is also known to modulate the redox homeostasis in cancer cells. To understand the effect of SFB on the redox status, a quantitative understanding of the system is necessary. Kinetic modeling of the relevant pathways is a useful approach for obtaining a quantitative understanding of the pathway dynamics and to rank the individual factors based on the extent of influence they wield on the pathway. Here, we report a comprehensive model of the glutathione reaction network (GSHnet), consisting of four modules and includes SFB‐induced redox stress. We compared GSHnet simulations for HCC of six different etiologies with healthy liver, and correctly identified the expected variations in cancer. Next, we studied alterations induced in the system upon SFB treatment and observed differential H2O2 dynamics in all the conditions. Using metabolic control analysis, we identified glutathione S‐transferase (GST) as the enzyme with the highest selective control coefficient, making it an attractive co‐target for potentiating the action of SFB across all six etiologies. As a proof‐of‐concept, we selected ethacrynic acid (EA), a known inhibitor of GST, and verified ex vivo that EA synergistically potentiates the cytotoxic effect of SFB. Being an FDA approved drug, EA is a promising candidate for repurposing as a combination therapy with SFB for HCC treatment.
Carbon quality regulates the temperature dependence of aquatic ecosystem respiration
Authors: Jane Stephen F. , Rose Kevin C. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Ecosystems are responding to broad‐scale changes in climate and other factors in complex ways. Two key changes occurring in many inland waterbodies are increasing temperatures and increasing terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) inputs. Due in part to tDOM inputs, inland waters play an important role in the global carbon cycle, with release of CO2 from these ecosystems a substantial portion of the combined carbon sinks of terrestrial ecosystems and the oceans.

Ecosystem respiration (ER) is an important mechanism regulating CO2 in aquatic systems, and ER rates are temperature‐dependent. However, it is unknown how ER rates will change in the future because ER is sensitive to factors other than temperature, such as the concentration and source of organic matter. Theory posits that ER rates supported by refractory carbon compounds should exhibit a greater temperature dependence than ER rates supported by labile carbon compounds, but empirical tests of this theory are inconclusive.

We experimentally manipulated temperature and carbon quality in mesocosms while monitoring dissolved oxygen (DO) with in situ high frequency DO sensors. We used two highly divergent, natural DOM sources and diluted the more refractory source so that dissolved organic carbon concentrations were similar in all mesocosms. We calculated daily ER rates over 27 days in each mesocosm.

We found that ER increased more with temperature when tDOM dominated the organic carbon pool. Given widespread increases in temperature and tDOM inputs to aquatic ecosystems, these results highlight important interactions governing how ecosystems may respond to concurrent environmental changes and alter their contributions to the global carbon cycle.
Longitudinal Analysis of Patient‐Reported Outcomes From an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program for Children With Chronic Migraine and Headache
Authors: Benore Ethan , Webster Erin E. , Wang Lu , Banez Gerard 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundMany children suffering from chronic headache and migraine present with comorbid functional disability, including physical, social, emotional, and academic activities. For children severely impaired by headache, intensive interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation treatment (IIPT) can improve functioning. However, there are limited data evaluating children's response to rehabilitation across several time points.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the trajectory of recovery for children undergoing IIPT for chronic headache, as well as to examine the proposed assumption that physical and psychosocial functioning improves prior to a reported reduction in pain.MethodsA retrospective analysis of patient‐reported outcomes in a clinical database of 135 children admitted to an IIPT program between the years 2008 and 2014 was analyzed. Available data across 5 separate time points (up to 1‐year post‐discharge) were reviewed.ResultsOne hundred and thirty‐five children of mean age 15.2 (SD = 2.2) and 74% female provided data for review. Linear mixed model demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain‐specific measures of functioning, including daily functioning (change estimate = −14.53) emotional functioning (change estimate = −14.63), family functioning (change estimate = −5.78), and school absences (change estimate = −11.47) over a 12‐month period (all P’s ≤ .01). A more general measure of quality of life improved during the program, based upon child (change estimate = +10.07) and parent report (change estimate = +15.31); although these gains did not continue to improve post‐discharge. As expected, although children did not report a reduction in pain during rehabilitation (change estimate = +0.07), they did report a significant drop in perceived pain in the 12 months following discharge from the program (change estimate = −2.12, P ≤ .01).ConclusionsChildren with chronic headache and migraine who are severely functionally impaired demonstrated linear improvement in pain‐specific patient‐reported outcomes over time; however, there remains a need for improved methodology in analyzing response to IIPT programs.
Food consumption, lifestyle patterns, and body mass index of a group of white South African students
Authors: Viljoen Annemarie T. , van der Spuy Esther , du Rand Gerrie E. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThere is worldwide concern that higher education students are increasingly engaging in unhealthy eating and lifestyle practices. A total of 488 white students participated in a study aimed at investigating the current food consumption and related lifestyle patterns of students at a South African residential university. The respondents’ self‐reported weight and height was used to calculate their body mass index (BMI). Closed and open‐ended questions measured aspects of the respondents’ usual eating patterns and lifestyles. The meal patterns and composition confirmed Western‐orientated food practices, as the majority consumed three meals a day, with in‐between meal snacking, and a different meal pattern over weekends. Respondents’ food intake was further characterized by a low intake of fruit, vegetables, and dairy products and frequent consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and sodium. Although the majority (66.8%) of the study group were classified as normal weight according to their BMI, when comparing males and females, more males than females were overweight and obese. Only 54% of the males had a normal weight compared to 82% of the females. There was, however, no statistically significant difference (p = 0.149) between how males and females in the different BMI groups felt about their weight. The study also explored the relationships between the respondents’ BMI, gender, food consumption patterns, and type of residence. The features of the food consumption patterns were depicted according to whether breakfast was eaten or not; snacking activity between meals; the consumption of ready‐prepared convenience meals, fast foods; home‐cooked meals; and eating out. There were no statistical significant differences between the BMI categories of males and females regarding their habit to eat breakfast or not; and to snack between meals either during the morning, in the afternoon or after supper. Similarly, no statistical significant differences were noted when relating the BMI categories of the gender groups to the frequency of consumption of ready‐prepared, convenience type meals, fast foods, and home‐cooked meals. However, a statistical significant difference (p‐value 0.006) was found between BMI categories per gender and general frequency of eating out. No statistical differences was noted between BMI categories, gender and place of residence irrespective of the type, whether the student lived with parents, independently in a flat or apartment, or a house with friends or a room, or in a university residence.
Guidance for quality control practices and precision goals for CBCs based on IQMH patterns‐of‐practice survey
Authors: Johnston Anna , Bourner Gini , Martin Tracy , McFarlane Andrew , Good David , Padmore Ruth , Raby Anne , Aslan Berna 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionEffective medical laboratory quality management systems ensure confidence in analyzing and reporting accurate and reliable patient results. To guarantee quality assurance, each laboratory needs appropriate internal quality control (IQC) procedures to monitor their test systems. The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) Centre for Proficiency Testing conducted a survey on quality control (QC) practices in routine hematology.MethodsAn online survey was sent to 184 Ontario laboratories performing complete blood counts (CBC) and leukocyte differentials.ResultsAll participants used three levels of commercial QC for test system monitoring. Eighty percent of laboratories supplement with in‐house patient QC.The frequency of QC analysis was variable based on:

Manufacturer recommendations (80%)
Parameter stability (25%)
Clinical impact of incorrect results (21%)
Number of samples potentially requiring retesting if there is a QC failure (11%).
All laboratories used established QC rules and limits to monitor results. They utilized various methods in establishing limits including:

Standard deviation of QC results (60%)
Manufacturer precision goals (55%)
Published precision goals (24%)
IQMH allowable performance limits (APLs) (37%).
ConclusionConsiderable variation in QC practices of Ontario laboratories was identified, and consensus practice recommendations and precision goals were developed to guide and standardize QC practice.
The burden of influenza‐associated respiratory hospitalizations in Bhutan, 2015‐2016
Authors: Thapa Binay , Roguski Katherine , Azziz‐Baumgartner Eduardo , Siener Karen , Gould Philip , Jamtsho Thinley , Wangchuk Sonam 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundInfluenza burden estimates help provide evidence to support influenza prevention and control programs. In this study, we estimated influenza‐associated respiratory hospitalization rates in Bhutan, a country considering influenza vaccine introduction.MethodsUsing real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction laboratory results from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance, we estimated the proportion of respiratory hospitalizations attributable to influenza each month among patients aged <5, 5‐49, and ≥50 years in six Bhutanese districts for 2015 and 2016. We divided the sum of the monthly influenza‐attributed hospitalizations by the total of the six district populations to generate age‐specific rates for each year.ResultsIn 2015, 10% of SARI patients tested positive for influenza (64/659) and 18% tested positive (129/736) in 2016. The incidence of influenza‐associated hospitalizations among all age groups was 50/100 000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI]: 45‐55) in 2015 and 118/100 000 persons (95% CI: 110‐127) in 2016. The highest rates were among children <5 years: 182/100 000 (95% CI: 153‐210) in 2015 and 532/100 000 (95% CI: 473‐591) in 2016. The second highest influenza‐associated hospitalization rates were among adults ≥50 years: 110/100 000 (95% CI: 91‐130) in 2015 and 193/100 000 (95% CI: 165‐221) in 2016.ConclusionsInfluenza viruses were associated with a substantial burden of severe illness requiring hospitalization especially among children and older adults. These findings can be used to understand the potential impact of seasonal influenza vaccination in these age groups.
Informed collaboration in health care: An embedded‐cases study in geriatric telepsychiatry
Authors: Hansen Sean W. , Gogan Janis L. , Baxter Ryan J. , Garfield Monica J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTelemedicine, the delivery of medical consultation and services, is enabled by information and communications technologies. Participants in telemedicine consultation services (ie, clinicians, patients, and other parties) use video conferencing, special‐purpose software and/or hardware, and data and notes from electronic medical records and other systems to formulate effective treatment plans. Telemedicine is a particular mode of informed collaboration—information and communications technology–supported collaborative activity in which collaborators rely (wholly or in part) on digitally stored information retrieved from various sources to pursue their collective objectives. We report on an embedded‐cases study of a long‐running geriatric telepsychiatry clinic in the north‐eastern United States. Our analysis draws on the theory of distributed cognition (DCog) to explicate the ways in which information and cognitive effort are distributed across individuals and artefacts to support psychiatric consultation from a distance and how these processes play out over time in routines. On the basis of this case study, we offer a refinement of DCog theory, focusing on four interrelated dynamic processes that, we propose, act as critical enablers of informed collaboration: cognitive offloading, visibility of action, intersubjective understanding, and knowledge redundancy. We discuss practical implications for designing telemedicine services and tools, and we offer suggestions for further research on informed collaboration.
Sensitivity analyses and measurements for group decisions using weighted scoring rules
Authors: Zhao Yong , Wu Fan , Chen Yang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWeighted scoring rules (WSRs) are usually used for solving problems of group decisions based on individual ordinal preferences. Generally, individuals are influenced by some subjective and objective factors, which lead to the mutability of individual preferences in group decisions. Therefore, while getting optimal solutions, decision makers often need to make qualitative or quantitative sensitivity analyses of their decisions or choices, and to evaluate reliabilities of the solutions. First, by using inclined angles of score vectors, this paper proposes a sensitivity measuring method and some related concepts of group decision using WSRs. Then, a calculation method is presented, and a size of a minimum disturbance group is discussed in depth because this size is also a useful index to evaluate sensitivities or reliabilities of the decisions. Next, we investigate and discuss the sensitivities of WSRs via their weights, and obtain some suggestions about designing WSRs. Finally, we use the sensitivity degree to analyze a controversy of the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player evaluation. Our measuring methods are: well visualized, scale invariant, commensurable, and calculability.
Insights into the influencing factors on the micro‐mechanical properties of calcium‐silicate‐hydrate gel
Authors: Hu Chuanlin , Yao Shun , Zou Fubing , Nie Shuai , Liu Zhichao , Wang Fazhou 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSo far, many researchers have attempted to unveil the micro‐mechanical features of calcium‐silicate‐hydrate (C‐S‐H) gel that contributes the most to the engineering performances of cement‐based materials. Due to the highly heterogeneous nature of C‐S‐H gel present in cement‐based materials, the influencing factors of the micro‐mechanical properties of C‐S‐H gel are still not clear. This study aims to provide an insight into the factors that govern the micro‐mechanical properties of C‐S‐H gel by investigating the morphology, composition, and micro‐mechanical properties of C‐S‐H gels present in a relatively simple system, ie, a C3S paste. Through this study, it is revealed that the reinforcement by the crystal phase and the size of C3S clinker influence the micro‐mechanical properties of inner product C‐S‐H gel.
Tax avoidance, financial experts on the audit committee, and business strategy
Authors: Hsu Pei‐Hui , Moore Jared A. , Neubaum Donald O. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe examine whether financial expert audit committee members tailor their approach to overseeing the corporate tax planning process according to the firm's business strategy. We predict and find that such directors encourage defender‐type firms (characterized partially by high risk aversion) to engage in more tax avoidance activities and prospector‐type firms (characterized partially by innovation and risk seeking) to scale back on tax avoidance, relative to the opposing strategy type. We also find that both accounting experts and non‐accounting financial experts on the audit committee contribute to our results to some extent, although the effects of non‐accounting financial experts present more consistently. Overall, our results suggest that financial experts on the audit committee tend to play more of an advising role for defenders and more of a monitoring role for prospectors, relative to one another.
Development of a self‐efficacy questionnaire, ‘Insulin Therapy Self‐efficacy Scale (ITSS)’, for insulin users in Japanese: The Self‐Efficacy‐Q study
Authors: Nakaue Junko , Koizumi Miyuki , Nakajima Hiroki , Okada Sadanori , Mohri Takako , Akai Yasuhiro , Furuya Miyuki , Hayashino Yasuaki , Sato Yasunori , Ishii Hitoshi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionAlthough patient self‐efficacy is known to affect adherence to therapy, no available tool measures self‐efficacy of insulin therapy administration while addressing the entire therapeutic process and management. In light of this, we developed the ‘Insulin Therapy Self‐efficacy Scale (ITSS).’Materials and MethodsDevelopment of the ITSS involved three phases: (i) item generation and creation of a questionnaire draft; (ii) testing and correcting the items through interviews with patients; and (iii) a multicenter, single‐arm study to validate the questionnaire.ResultsA factor analysis and Cronbach's α both confirmed good internal consistency in the patients’ confidence regarding the following four factors: the insulin injection procedure, insulin titration, glycemic control and ability to cope with hypoglycemia. Reproducibility was confirmed using weighted κ statistics and intraclass correlations. Good concurrent validity was confirmed with two other questionnaires. The ITSS score was also found to correlate with several patient characteristics and clinical parameters, as well as with a better adherence to injected insulin therapy 6 months later, suggesting the predictive validity of this scale.ConclusionsThe ITSS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing and quantifying patients’ self‐efficacy. The ITSS estimation of self‐efficacy can predict a patient's glycemic control and future adherence to insulin therapy. These characteristics will ensure the usefulness of the ITSS in ensuring a successful therapeutic process for patients and physicians.
Effect of switching to teneligliptin from other dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors on glucose control and renoprotection in type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Kitada Munehiro , Ogura Yoshio , Nitta Kyoko , Fujii Mizue , Kanasaki Keizo , Konishi Kazunori , Iida Yasuo , Nakagawa Atsushi , Koya Daisuke 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionThe objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of switching to teneligliptin from other dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors on glucose control and renoprotection in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic kidney disease.Materials and MethodsThe present study was a single‐arm, open‐label, observational study. A total of 23 patients, who had urinary albumin/creatinine ratios (UACR) ≥30 mg/gCr in their first urine in the early morning, and received other DPP‐4 inhibitors and renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors, switched to teneligliptin 20 mg/day. After switching to teneligliptin for 24 weeks, we evaluated changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose levels, plasma DPP‐4 activity and UACR.ResultsHbA1c, fasting plasma glucose and UACR values showed no significant change after 24 weeks compared with baseline. However, plasma DPP‐4 activity was significantly reduced after 24 weeks (0.57 ± 0.26 nmol/min/mL, P = 0.012, vs baseline), compared with baseline (1.49 ± 1.73 nmol/min/mL), and there was a positive relationship between the change rate of plasma DPP‐4 activity (Δ%DPP‐4) for 24 weeks and the levels of plasma DPP‐4 activity (r = −0.5997, P = 0.0025) and fasting plasma glucose (r = −0.4235, P = 0.0440) at baseline. Additionally, the Δ%DPP‐4 for 24 weeks was significantly correlated to the change rate of UACR (r = 0.556, P = 0.0059). However, there was no relationship between Δ%DPP‐4 and ΔHbA1c (amount of HbA1c change).ConclusionsSwitching to teneligliptin from other DPP‐4 inhibitors for 24 weeks reduces plasma DPP‐4 activity, which is associated with a reduction in albuminuria, independent of the change in glucose levels, in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic kidney disease.
Interaction Between Visual Acuity and Peripheral Vascular Disease with Balance
Authors: Vafaei Afshin , Aubin Marie‐Josée , Buhrmann Ralf , Kergoat Marie‐Jeanne , Aljied Rumaisa , Freeman Ellen E. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesTo determine whether visual acuity is related to balance in older adults with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or diabetes mellitus.DesignCross‐sectional analysis.SettingCanada.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling adults aged 45 to 85 from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N=30,097).MeasurementsVisual acuity was measured wearing habitual distance correction using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart at a 2‐m distance. Poor balance was defined as being unable to stand on 1 leg for at least 60 seconds. PVD and diabetes mellitus were assessed according to self‐report of a physician diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used.ResultsPeople who reported PVD (n=1,295) were more likely to have worse balance than those who did not (odds ratio (OR)=1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.29–1.77). In those who did not report PVD (n=26,211), a 1‐line worse score on the visual acuity test was associated with 23% higher odds of being unable to stand for at least 60 seconds after adjusting for age, sex, education, province, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.20–1.26). In those who reported PVD, the odds of being unable to stand was almost double (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.22–1.62). The interaction between visual acuity and PVD was statistically significant (P=.02).ConclusionsVisual acuity and PVD interact in their relationship with balance. People with poor vision and PVD may be at an especially high risk of mobility difficulties.