bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal Heavy Metal Exposure, Thyroid Hormones, and Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sun Xiaojie , Liu Wenyu , Zhang Bin , Shen Xiantao , Hu Chen , Chen Xiaomei , Jin Shuna , Jiang Yangqian , Liu Hongxiu , Cao Zhongqiang , Xia Wei , Xu Shunqing , Li Yuanyuan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractContextMaternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy play a critical role in fetal development. However, whether maternal heavy metal exposure affects their thyroid hormones and the effects on fetal growth are still unclear.ObjectiveTo explore the effect of heavy metal exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and the potential mediation role of thyroid hormones on birth outcomes.MethodsConcentrations of heavy metals in urine samples and thyroid hormones in blood samples of 675 pregnant women were measured during early pregnancy in a cohort study conducted in China. Multivariable linear regressions were applied to explore the associations of maternal urinary heavy metal levels with both maternal thyroid hormones and birth outcomes. Mediation analyses were performed to assess the mediation role of thyroid hormones in these associations.ResultsMaternal urinary vanadium (V) exhibited an inverse association with free T3 (FT3) and FT3/free T4 (FT4) ratio levels. Urinary arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) had inverse relationships with FT3. We also observed the positive associations of maternal FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio with birthweight. The mediation analyses suggested that 5.33% to 30.57% of the associations among V, As, and Pb levels and birth size might be mediated by maternal FT3 or FT3/FT4 ratio.ConclusionsWe have shown that maternal exposures to V, As, and Pb at early pregnancy were associated with decreased maternal FT3 or FT3/FT4 ratio, which might contribute to reduced birthweight. Mediation analyses indicated that maternal thyroid hormone was a possible mediator of the association between urinary heavy metals and birth size.
Enhanced Gas Sensing Performance of Hydrothermal MoS2 Nanosheets by Post-Annealing in Hydrogen Ambient
Authors: Lee Chang Min , Jin Chan Ho , Ahn Cheol Hyoun , Cho Hyung Koun , Lim Jun Hyung , Hwang Soo Min , Joo Jinho 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
A two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 is considered as a next-generation gas sensor owing to its high surface-to-mass ratio and excellent selectivity. However, promoting the gas-sensing capability requires increasing the presence of active sites such as edges and S vacancies for gas adsorption. Herein, we report a process of post-annealing in a hydrogen atmosphere to improve NO2 gas-sensing performance of hydrothermally grown MoS2 nanosheets. The effects of the post-treatment on the morphology, chemical state, and resultant gas-sensing performance were investigated by varying the annealing temperature (100–800 °C). The annealing treatment eliminated residual organics formed during the hydrothermal process and increased both the S vacancies and crystallinity, without significant oxidation. A gas-sensing test using a resistive-type sensor indicated that the sensitivity for NO2 gas of 500 ppm at room temperature was enhanced from 258% to 451% (p-type response) as the annealing temperature increased to 700 °C, followed by a rapid decrease at 800 °C, owing to the n-type response. These findings demonstrate that post-annealing in a hydrogen ambient is effective at increasing the defective sites of 2D MoS2, and hence, the gas-sensing performance.
Towards a standard MRI protocol for multiple sclerosis across the UK
Authors: Schmierer Klaus , Campion Thomas , Sinclair Audrey , van Hecke Wim , Matthews Paul M , Wattjes Mike P 
Published: April 2019

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and degenerative disease of the central nervous system. It is the most common non-traumatic cause of chronic disability in young adults. An early and accurate diagnosis, and effective disease modifying treatment are key elements of optimum care for people with MS (pwMS).
MRI has become a critical tool to confirm the presence of dissemination in space and time of lesions characteristic of inflammatory demyelination, a cornerstone of MS diagnosis, over and above exclusion of numerous differential diagnoses. In the modern era of early and highly effective DMT, follow-up of pwMS also relies heavily on MRI, to both confirm efficacy and for pharmacovigilance.
Since criteria for MS rely heavily on MRI, an agreed standardized acquisition and reporting protocol enabling efficient and equitable application across the UK is desirable. Following a recent meeting of MS experts in London (UK), we make recommendations for a standardized UK MRI protocol that captures the diagnostic phase as well as monitoring for safety and treatment efficacy once the diagnosis is established. Our views take into account issues arising from the (repeated) use of contrast agents as well as the advent of (semi-) automated tools to further optimize disease monitoring in pwMS.
Cardiovascular risk prediction in India: Comparison of the original and recalibrated Framingham prognostic models in urban populations.
Authors: Gupta Priti , Prieto-Merino David , Ajay Vamadevan S. , Singh Kalpana , Roy Ambuj , Krishnan Anand , Narayan K.M. Venkat , Ali Mohammed K. , Tandon Nikhil , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Perel Pablo 
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in India. The CVD risk approach is a cost-effective way to identify those at high risk, especially in a low resource setting. As there is no validated prognostic model for an Indian urban population, we have re-calibrated the original Framingham model using data from two urban Indian studies. Methods: We have estimated three risk score equations using three different models. The first model was based on Framingham original model; the second and third are the recalibrated models using risk factor prevalence from CARRS (Centre for cArdiometabolic Risk Reduction in South-Asia) and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) studies, and estimated survival from WHO 2012 data for India. We applied these three risk scores to the CARRS and ICMR participants and estimated the proportion of those at high-risk (>30% 10 years CVD risk) who would be eligible to receive preventive treatment such as statins. Results: In the CARRS study, the proportion of men with 10 years CVD risk > 30% (and therefore eligible for statin treatment) was 13.3%, 21%, and 13.6% using Framingham, CARRS and ICMR risk models, respectively. The corresponding proportions of women were 3.5%, 16.4%, and 11.6%. In the ICMR study the corresponding proportions of men were 16.3%, 24.2%, and 16.5% and for women, these were 5.6%, 20.5%, and 15.3%. Conclusion: Although the recalibrated model based on local population can improve the validity of CVD risk scores our study exemplifies the variation between recalibrated models using different data from the same country. Considering the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in India, and the impact that the risk approach has on influencing cardiovascular prevention treatment, such as statins, it is essential to develop high quality and well powered local cohorts (with outcome data) to develop local prognostic models.
New Valid Inequalities for the Optimal Communication Spanning Tree Problem
Authors: Agarwal Yogesh Kumar , Venkateshan Prahalad 
Published: April 2019

The problem of designing a spanning tree on an underlying graph to minimize the flow costs of a given set of traffic demands is considered. Several new classes of valid inequalities are developed for the problem. Tests on 10-node problem instances show that the addition of these inequalities results in integer solutions for a significant majority of the instances without requiring any branching. In the remaining cases, root gaps of less than 1% from the optimal solutions are realized. For 30-node problem instances, the inequalities substantially reduce the number of nodes explored in the branch-and-bound tree, resulting in significantly reduced computational times. Optimal solutions are reported for problems with 30 nodes, 60 edges, fully dense traffic matrices, and Euclidean distance-based flow costs. Problems with such flow costs are well-known to be a very difficult class of problems to solve. Using the inequalities substantially improves the performance of a variable-fixing heuristic. Some polyhedral issues relating to the strength of these inequalities are also discussed. The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2018.0827 .
Bank Interest Rate Risk Management
Authors: Vuillemey Guillaume 
Published: April 2019

Empirically, bank equity value is decreasing in the interest rate. Yet (i) many banks do not hedge interest rate risk, and (ii) more than 50% of hedging banks use derivatives to increase exposure. I model a bank’s capital structure and show that these facts are consistent with optimal hedging under financial frictions. Novel predictions on the characteristics of banks taking long or short interest rate derivative positions are tested and supported by the data. Therefore, banks’ derivatives exposures are not necessarily evidence of excessive risk taking. More broadly, the results challenge the view that “hedging” and “speculative” positions can be identified from a positive comovement between derivatives payoffs and equity value. This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Samba, cachaça e viola: patrimônio cultural e memória linguística em forma de canção
Authors: CORDEIRO DAISY , PARCERO LÚCIA MARIA 
Published: April 2019

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar a canção Samba, cachaça e viola, de autoria do sambador João do Boi e gravada pelo grupo Samba Chula de São Braz, buscando refletir sobre como a poética oral do grupo trabalha com a memória para o fortalecimento da identidade e da valorização étnico-racial por meio do samba de roda, Patrimônio Histórico Cultural Imaterial da Humanidade, e das influências das línguas africanas nos falares das sambadeiras e sambadores de roda na letra da cantiga. A metodologia empregada sustenta-se em uma abordagem qualitativa para a pesquisa, através de descrição linguística dos dados, revisão da literatura pertinente para tratar do tema da pesquisa e análise dos recursos linguísticos. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, as influências das línguas africanas estão presentes no léxico e em aspectos morfo-sintáticos, comprovando a manutenção da memória linguística e a afirmação da identidade étnico-racial dos falantes do Recôncavo.
EFEITOS DA IMIGRAÇÃO ITALIANA NA CONSTITUIÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE NA MOOCA
Authors: Lupia Márcia De Oliveira 
Published: April 2019

Este artigo tem por objetivo estudar os efeitos da imigração italiana na memória e na constituição identitária do sujeito italiano e do descendente de italianos do bairro da Mooca, São Paulo, por meio da análise de recortes discursivos extraídos de entrevistas feitas com residentes do local. A escolha desse grupo deve-se ao fato de que mesmo após cem anos do grande fluxo migratório do início do século XX na capital paulista, ainda hoje, vemos fortes marcas do italiano na língua e nos costumes do bairro. A fim de alcançarmos nossos objetivos, utilizamos nas análises os estudos da Análise de Discurso de linha francesa de Pêcheux (1995) e estudos relacionados à constituição do sujeito no entre-línguas de Coracini (2003, 2013). Depreendemos das análises que tanto o brasileiro, descendente, quanto o italiano podem ser considerados ítalo-brasileiros que (re) inventaram e (re) significaram língua e costumes na tentativa de preservação de suas raízes.
Method Verification Shows a Negative Bias between 2 Procalcitonin Methods at Medical Decision Concentrations
Authors: Gruzdys Valentinas , Cahoon Kenneth , Pearson Lauren , Lehman Christopher M 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background
Procalcitonin (PCT) concentration increases as a result of systemic inflammation owing to bacterial infection. Many PCT algorithms and medical decision concentrations (MDCs) have been clinically validated using the B·R·A·H·M·S PCT™ sensitive Kryptor™ assay. Alternative PCT assays have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in the US and require method verification before clinical implementation.

Methods
Precision, sensitivity, linearity, reportable range, and reference intervals were verified for the Architect B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay. Accuracy of the Architect B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay was evaluated by comparison with the B·R·A·H·M·S PCT sensitive Kryptor assay.

Results
The Architect B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay was found to be precise (CV, ≤4.6%), sensitive (limit of blank, 0.001 ng/mL; limit of quantitation, ≤0.01 ng/mL), and linear according to the manufacturer's claims. The analytical measurement range (0.20–100.00 ng/mL) and the reference interval (≤0.07 ng/mL) were also verified. Patient result comparisons indicated high agreement at 0.10 ng/mL and 0.25 ng/mL and reduced positive agreement at 0.50 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL MDCs owing to negative bias compared with the B·R·A·H·M·S PCT sensitive Kryptor assay.

Conclusions
The Architect B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay meets most performance specifications claimed by the manufacturer; however, negative bias at 0.50 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL PCT concentrations is evident.
P4 Medicine or O4 Medicine? Hippocrates Provides the Answer
Authors: Fiala Clare , Taher Jennifer , Diamandis Eleftherios P 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe term P4 medicine (predictive, preventative, personalized, participatory) was coined by Dr. Leroy Hood of the Institute for Systems Biology to demonstrate his framework to detect and prevent disease through extensive biomarker testing, close monitoring, deep statistical analysis, and patient health coaching.MethodsIn 2017, this group published the results of their “100 Person Wellness Project.” They performed whole genome sequencing and 218 clinical laboratory tests, measured 643 metabolites and 262 proteins, quantified 4616 operational taxonomic units in the microbiome, and monitored exercise in 108 participants for 9 months. The study was also interventional, as members were paired with a coach who gave lifestyle and supplement counseling to improve biomarker levels between each sampling period.ResultsUsing this study as a basis, we here analyze the Hippocratic roots and the advantages and disadvantages of P4 medicine. We introduce O4 medicine (overtesting, overdiagnosis, overtreatment, overcharging) as a counterpoint to P4 medicine to highlight the drawbacks, including possible harms and cost.ConclusionsWe hope this analysis will contribute to the discussion about the best use of limited health-care resources to produce maximum benefit for all patients.
Laboratory Test Utilization and Repeat Testing for Inpatients of Age 80 and Over in Australia: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Sezgin Gorkem , Li Ling , Wilson Roger , Westbrook Johanna I , Lindeman Robert , Vecellio Elia , Georgiou Andrew 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Repeat laboratory testing is often necessary in hospitals. However, frequent blood draws can be harmful to older patients. The objective of this study was to identify the most frequently ordered laboratory tests and repeat testing rates for these tests among older inpatients.

Methods
A retrospective observational study of inpatients of age 80 years and over in 4 public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, was conducted between 2008 and 2013. Proportions of laboratory tests and proportions of repeated tests among the most frequently used tests were reported.

Results
There were 42739 patients with 108003 admissions (56.2% women; 43.2% of ages 80–84). Of these admissions, 95.9% had a laboratory test, with 3012577 tests recorded. Five tests accounted for 62% of all tests and were present in 98.5% of admissions: electrolytes urea and creatinine (EUC; 18% of all tests ordered), complete blood count (CBC; 16.7%), calcium magnesium phosphate (CaMgPhos; 10.2%), liver function test (LFT; 9.0%), and C-reactive protein (CRP; 8.0%). Proportions of repeat tests for this group performed outside recommended minimum repeat intervals were 10.3% EUC, 8.9% CBC, 41.5% CRP, 68.2% CaMgPhos, and 65.2% LFT tests. An exponential increase in repeat testing for all 5 tests was observed around 24 h after a previous test.

Conclusion
Compliance with guidelines on repeat testing intervals among older patients is variable. A better understanding of the underlying reasons for repeat testing would allow targeting of interventions, including decision support, to improve laboratory use for older inpatients.
Zinc enhances the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference through dopaminergic and serotonergic systems
Authors: Mesbahzadeh Behzad , Moradi-kor Nasroallah , Abbasi-Maleki Saeid 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe antidepressant-like effects of zinc (Zn) have been documented in some animal models of depression. In addition, antidepressants may reduce the abuse potential of opioids by affecting their rewarding effect. Hence, this study was performed to investigate the effect of Zn on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in male rats. We used an unbiased CPP paradigm for investigating the effect of Zn. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administrations of Zn (5-20 mg/kg, i.p., and 10 nmol/rat, respectively) with or without morphine did not induce conditioned place aversion (CPA) or CPP during acquisition phase. However, the same i.p. and i.c.v. administrations of Zn induced morphine-like CPP in the expression phase. Pre-treatment with dopamine receptor antagonists (SCH23390, sulpiride, and haloperidol) and serotonin receptor antagonists (WAY100135, ketanserin, and ondansetron) reversed the enhancement effect of Zn on the expression of morphine-induced CPP (especially 20mg/kg, i.p. and 10 nmol/rat, i.c.v.). These findings suggest that acute i.p. and i.c.v administration of Zn might enhance the rewarding properties of morphine through involvement with dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal systems.
Expression of OX40 Gene and its Serum Levels in Neuromyelitis Optica Patients
Authors: Alidadiani Parya , Eskandari Nahid , Shaygannejad Vahid , Dabiri Arezou , Manian Mostafa , Jahanbani-Ardakani Hamidreza , Mirmosayyeb Omid 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNeuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic’s disease, is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) in which immune system cells and antibodies primarily attack the optic nerves and the spinal cord. OX40 (CD134) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor family member expressed primarily on activated CD4+and CD8+T-cells. In an autoimmune disease, OX40 is typically up-regulated at sites of inflammation, and increases in the number of peripheral CD4+T-cells expressing OX40. OX40 and its ligand OX40L are key TNF members that augment T-cell expansion, cytokine production, and promote T-cell survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare ofOX40gene expression and its serum levels in patients with NMO and healthy controls. Twenty sex-/age-matched healthy controls (HC) (median age = 32 years, 15 females/5 males) were engaged for the present study. Expression ofOX40at the transcript level and serum protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The results indicatedOX40expression in patients was significantly lower than in healthy controls (p = 0.001). However, the serum level of OX40 was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.37). In addition, the results indicated that CD134 expression was not age-related (p = 0.041). Overall, this study suggests to us that OX40 levels are not a suitable marker for diagnosis or treatment of NMO.
Calculating topological indices of certain OTIS interconnection networks
Authors: Aslam Adnan , Ahmad Safyan , Binyamin Muhammad Ahsan , Gao Wei 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRecently, increasing attention has been paid to The Optical Transpose Interconnection System (OTIS) network because of its prospective applications in architectures for parallel as well as distributed systems [27, 28]. Different interconnection networks in the context of topological indices are researched recently in [25, 26]. This article includes the computions of the general Randi´c, first and second Zagreb, general sum connectivity, first and second multiple zagreb, hyper zagreb, ABC and GA indices for OTIS (swapped and biswapped) networks by taking path and k-regular graph on n vertices as a base graphs. In addition, some delicated formulas are also obtained for the ABC4 and GA5 indices for the OTIS biswapped networks by considering basis graph as a path and k-regular graph of order n.
Some applications of arithmetic groups in cryptography
Authors: Kahrobaei Delaram , Mallahi-Karai Keivan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we will offer a new symmetric-key cryptographic scheme which is based on the existence of exponentially distorted subgroups in arithmetic groups.
Aside from this, we will also provide new examples of distorted subgroups in {\mathrm{SL}_{n}(\mathbb{Z}[x])} which can be utilized for the same purpose.
Spiritual health: is it a determinant factor for preventing risky behaviors among university students?
Authors: Ghonchepour Asma , Sohrabi Mostafa , Golestani Zakiyeh , Biabanaki Fereshteh , Dehghan Mahlagha 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background
The most common high-risk behaviors that have profound and adverse effects on the health of the community take place in the university environment. Nowadays, the necessity of exploring ways to correct and reduce the high-risk behaviors requires identification of its determinant factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation between spiritual health and high-risk behaviors among university students in the southeast of Iran in 2017–2018.

Method
This survey was a cross-sectional study. The population was all students studying at three central Universities in Kerman. Eight hundred and four students participated in the survey using a quota sampling method. The research instrument was a demographic questionnaire and the 20-item spiritual well-being Palutzian and Ellison scale and the Iranian Adolescent Riskiness Scale (IARS), which includes 39 items for high-risk behaviors.

Results
The mean total score of high-risk behaviors was 79.16 ± 24.6 which was lower than the median (117). The spiritual health of the majority of subjects (66.7%) was moderate with an average of 90.65 ± 16.64. There was a significant negative correlation between the students’ spiritual health and their high-risk behaviors.

Conclusion
It is necessary and essential to plan and implement spiritual-based interventions to reduce the incidence of high-risk behaviors.