bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Whole-exome sequencing identifies a GREB1L variant in a three-generation family with Müllerian and renal agenesis: a novel candidate gene in Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. A case report
Authors: Herlin Morten K , Le Vang Q , Højland Allan T , Ernst Anja , Okkels Henrik , Petersen Astrid C , Petersen Michael B , Pedersen Inge S 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The aetiology of Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, characterized by uterovaginal agenesis in 46,XX women, remains poorly understood. Since familial occurrences are rare, genetic findings reported so far only apply to a minority of mainly sporadic cases and most studies have not included other family members enabling segregation analysis. Herein, we report on the investigation of a unique three-generation family of two female cousins with MRKH syndrome and unilateral renal agenesis (RA) and two deceased male relatives with RA. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in eight family members leading to the identification of a novel pathogenic (CADD = 33) c.705G>T missense variant in GREB1L, a gene recently identified as a novel cause of RA. Previous reports include several cases of female fetuses with bilateral RA and uterus agenesis, which support GREB1L as an important gene in both kidney and female genital tract development. The pedigree is compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance following a parent-origin-specific manner, which could be due to imprinting. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of a larger MRKH syndrome pedigree using WES, and we suggest GREB1L as a novel and promising candidate gene in the aetiology of MRKH syndrome.
A Theorem of Levinson for Riemannian Symmetric Spaces of Noncompact Type
Authors: Bhowmik Mithun , Ray Swagato K 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
A classical result of N. Levinson characterizes the existence of a nonzero integrable function vanishing on a nonempty open subset of the real line in terms of the pointwise decay of its Fourier transform. We prove an analogue of this result for Riemannian symmetric spaces of noncompact type.
Associations of Cervicovaginal Lactobacilli With High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection, Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia, and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Huiyan , Ma Yan , Li Ruonan , Chen Xixi , Wan Lijuan , Zhao Weidong 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Background
Vaginal dysbiosis characterized by depleted lactobacilli is usually correlated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical carcinogenesis, but the effect of the Lactobacillus genus and represented species on this process remains unclear.

Methods
PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched up to February 15, 2019. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed-effect model and Review Manager (version 5.3) for Mac.

Results
Eleven studies comprising 1230 cases were included. Lactobacillus spp. was associated with the decreased detection of high-risk subtype (hr)HPV infection (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.48–0.87, I2 = 6%), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.34–0.83, I2 = 0%), and cervical cancer (CC) (OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.04–0.36, I2 = 0%). At the level of Lactobacillus species, Lactobacillus crispatus, but not Lactobacillus iners, was correlated with the decreased detection of hrHPV infection (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.31–0.79, I2 = 10%) and CIN (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29–0.88, I2 = 0%).

Conclusions
Cervicovaginal Lactobacillus spp. is associated with the decreased detection of hrHPV infection, CIN, and CC; L. crispatus may be the critical protective factor.
The Effect of Influenza Vaccination History on Changes in Hemagglutination Inhibition Titers After Receipt of the 2015–2016 Influenza Vaccine in Older Adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Ng Tiffany W Y , Perera Ranawaka A P M , Fang Vicky J , Yau Emily M , Peiris J S Malik , Tam Yat Hung , Cowling Benjamin J 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Background
Immune responses to influenza vaccination can be weaker in older adults than in other age groups. We hypothesized that antibody responses would be particularly weak among repeat vaccinees when the current and prior season vaccine components are the same.

Methods
An observational study was conducted among 827 older adults (aged ≥75 years) in Hong Kong. Serum samples were collected immediately before and 1 month after receipt of the 2015–2016 quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. We measured antibody titers with the hemagglutination inhibition assay and compared the mean fold rise from prevaccination to postvaccination titers and the proportions with postvaccination titers ≥40 or ≥160.

Results
Participants who reported receipt of vaccination during either of the previous 2 years had a lower mean fold rise against all strains than with those who did not. Mean fold rises for A(H3N2) and B/Yamagata were particularly weak after repeated vaccination with the same vaccine strain, but we did not generally find significant differences in the proportions of participants with postvaccination titers ≥40 and ≥160.

Conclusions
Overall, we found that reduced antibody responses in repeat vaccinees were particularly reduced among older adults who had received vaccination against the same strains in preceding years.
Quality health care in extreme adversity—an action framework
Authors: Leatherman Sheila , Tawfik Linda , Jaff Dilshad , Jaworski Grace , Neilson Matthew , Syed Shamsuzzoha Babar , Letaief Mondher 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Quality problem or issue
There are record-setting numbers of people living in settings of extreme adversity and they continue to increase each year.

Initial assessment
There is a paucity of validated data on quality and safety across settings of extreme adversity.

Choice of solution
This paper argues for an action framework to address the unique challenges of providing quality in extreme adversity.

Implementation
We describe a preliminary Quality in Extreme Adversity framework which has been informed by—and will continue to be validated through—literature, data collection, WHO expert consultations and through working in settings of extreme adversity with national authorities and NGOs.

Lessons learned
Poor quality care costs lives, livelihoods and trust in health services. The recommended framework, based on evidence and experiential lessons, intends to address the WHO goal for 2019–2023 of ‘one billion people better protected from health emergencies’ (9).
A β-lactamase-producing plasmid from Neisseria gonorrhoeae carrying a unique 6 bp deletion in blaTEM-1 encoding a truncated 24 kDa TEM-1 penicillinase that hydrolyses ampicillin slowly
Authors: Singh Reema , Perera Sumudu R , Katselis George S , Chumala Paulos , Martin Irene , Kusalik Anthony , Mitzel Kristen M , Dillon Jo-Anne R 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundSeven structurally related β-lactamase-producing plasmids have been characterized in penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolates. We characterized a variant (i.e. pJRD20, Canada type) of the Africa-type (pJD5) plasmid isolated from N. gonorrhoeae strain 8903.ObjectivesTo compare the DNA sequence of pJRD20 with that of pJD5 and pJD4 (Asia-type) and their TEM-1 β-lactamases.MethodsN. gonorrhoeae 8903 was identified as part of the Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program in Canada. β-Lactamase production was assessed using nitrocefin. MICs were determined by agar dilution and Etest methods (CLSI). The DNA sequences of pJRD20, pJD5 and pJD4 were assembled and annotated. The structure of TEM-1 and its penicillin-binding properties were determined by in silico molecular modelling and docking. TEM-1 proteins were characterized by western blot, mass spectrometry and ampicillin hydrolysis assays.ResultsN. gonorrhoeae 8903 exhibited intermediate susceptibility to penicillin with slow β-lactamase activity (i.e. 35 min to hydrolyse nitrocefin). Except for a novel 6 bp deletion starting at the G of the ATG start codon of blaTEM-1, the DNA sequence of pJRD20 was identical to that of pJD5. The TEM-1 β-lactamase produced by pJRD20 is 24 kDa and hydrolyses ampicillin only after several hours.ConclusionsThis unusual PPNG isolate might have been characterized as a non-PPNG owing to its low MIC of penicillin and its very slow hydrolysis of nitrocefin. Given the unusual nature of its TEM-1 β-lactamase, laboratories might consider extending the duration of nitrocefin hydrolysis assays.
Broad-spectrum antibiotic use in Europe: more evidence of cultural influences on prescribing behaviour
Authors: Borg Michael A , Camilleri Liberato 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Objectives
Sociocultural factors have been hypothesized as important drivers of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in European ambulatory care. This study sought to assess whether they can also explain the reported variation in broad-spectrum antibiotic (Br-Ab) use among EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

Methods
Correlation and regression analysis were performed, using the bootstrap method, between Br-Ab ratios reported from 28 EU countries by the ECDC, and national Hofstede cultural dimensions and control of corruption (CoC) scores.

Results
Significant bootstrapping correlation coefficients were identified between Br-Ab ratios and the dimension of uncertainty avoidance (UAI) as well as CoC. However, following both bootstrapping multiple regression and generalized linear modelling, only UAI was retained as the sole predictor. A logarithmic model explained 58.6% of the variation in European Br-Ab variability solely using national UAI scores (P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Br-Ab prescribing appears to be driven by the level of UAI within the country. Any interventions aimed at reducing Br-Ab in high-consuming EU/EEA countries need to address this cultural perception to maximize their chances of success.
Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum addition to sows in late gestation and lactation on reproductive performance and intestinal microbiota1
Authors: Cao Meng , Li Yan , Wu Qiujie J , Zhang Pan , Li Wentao T , Mao Zhengyu Y , Wu Dongmei M , Jiang Xuemei M , Zhuo Yong , Fang Zhengfeng F , Che Lianqiang Q , Xu Shengyu Y , Feng Bin , Li Jian , Lin Yan , Wu De 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum addition to diets in late gestation and lactation on the reproductive performance and gut microbiota for sows. A total of 180 healthy Landrace × Yorkshire sows at 90 d of gestation were randomly assigned to one of four groups, with 45 replicates per group, receiving a basal commercial diet (Control, 0% C. butyricum) or diet added with 0.1% C. butyricum (1 × 108 CFU/kg of feed), 0.2% C. butyricum (2 × 108 CFU/kg of feed), 0.4% C. butyricum (4 × 108 CFU/kg of feed), respectively. The experiment was conducted from 90 d of gestation to weaning at 21 d of lactation. The results showed that the interval between piglet born was linearly (P < 0.05) decreased, and the duration of farrowing was significantly (quadratic, P < 0.05) shortened as C. butyricum addition increased. There was a linear (P < 0.05) increase in litter weight at weaning and litter weight gain. The concentrations of IgG and IgM in colostrum, and IgM in milk were linearly increased (P < 0.05) as C. butyricum addition. Serum MDA concentrations of sows at parturition and 14 d in lactation, and piglets at 14 and 21 d of age were linearly (P < 0.05) decreased, respectively. The serum total antioxidant capacity concentrations of sows at parturition and 14 and 21 d in lactation, and piglets at 14 and 21 d of age were linearly (P < 0.05) increased as C. butyricum addition, respectively. There was a linear decrease in the serum endotoxin concentration of sows on 21 d in lactation (P < 0.05). The serum cortisol concentrations of piglets at 14 and 21 d of age were both significantly (quadratic, P < 0.05) decreased. The 0.2% C. butyricum increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P = 0.016) at phylum level, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, Prevotella_1, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Prevotella_9, Alloprevotella (P < 0.05) at genus level, and decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria (P < 0.001) at phylum level, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Streptococcus, Escheruchia-Shigella, Sphingomonas, Succinivibrio (P < 0.05) at genus level and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.020). In conclusion, the present research indicated that dietary addition with C. butyricum could shorten the duration of farrowing and enhance the growth performance of suckling piglets. Moreover, 0.2% C. butyricum administration to sows changed the composition of intestinal microbiota, especially increased the relative abundance of Prevotella.
SP1 governs primordial folliculogenesis by regulating pregranulosa cell development in mice
Authors: Cai Han , Liu Bingying , Wang Huarong , Sun Guanghong , Feng Lizhao , Chen Ziqi , Zhou Jiaqi , Zhang Jiawei , Zhang Tuo , He Meina , Yang Tingting , Guo Qirui , Teng Zhen , Xin Qiliang , Zhou Bo , Zhang Hua , Xia Guoliang , Wang Chao 
Published: June 2019

AbstractEstablishment of the primordial follicle (PF) pool is pivotal for the female reproductive lifespan; however, the mechanism of primordial folliculogenesis is poorly understood. Here, the transcription factor SP1 was shown to be essential for PF formation in mice. Our results showed that SP1 is present in both oocytes and somatic cells during PF formation in the ovary. Knockdown of Sp1 expression, especially in pregranulosa cells, significantly suppressed nest breakdown, oocyte apoptosis, and PF formation, suggesting that SP1 expressed by somatic cells functions in the process of primordial folliculogenesis. We further demonstrated that SP1 governs the recruitment and maintenance of Forkhead box L2-positive (FOXL2+) pregranulosa cells using an Lgr5-EGFP-IRES-CreERT2 (Lgr5-KI) reporter mouse model and a FOXL2+ cell-specific knockdown model. At the molecular level, SP1 functioned mainly through manipulation of NOTCH2 expression by binding directly to the promoter of the Notch2 gene. Finally, consistent with the critical role of granulosa cells in follicle survival in vitro, massive loss of oocytes in Sp1 knockdown ovaries was evidenced before puberty after the ovaries were transplanted under the renal capsules. Conclusively, our results reveal that SP1 controls the establishment of the ovarian reserve by regulating pregranulosa cell development in the mammalian ovary.
A convolutional neural network approach for IMRT dose distribution prediction in prostate cancer patients
Authors: Kajikawa Tomohiro , Kadoya Noriyuki , Ito Kengo , Takayama Yoshiki , Chiba Takahito , Tomori Seiji , Nemoto Hikaru , Dobashi Suguru , Takeda Ken , Jingu Keiichi 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to compare a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) with the conventional machine learning method for predicting intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose distribution using only contours in prostate cancer. In this study, which included 95 IMRT-treated prostate cancer patients with available dose distributions and contours for planning target volume (PTVs) and organs at risk (OARs), a supervised-learning approach was used for training, where the dose for a voxel set in the dataset was defined as the label. The adaptive moment estimation algorithm was employed for optimizing a 3D U-net similar network. Eighty cases were used for the training and validation set in 5-fold cross-validation, and the remaining 15 cases were used as the test set. The predicted dose distributions were compared with the clinical dose distributions, and the model performance was evaluated by comparison with RapidPlan™. Dose–volume histogram (DVH) parameters were calculated for each contour as evaluation indexes. The mean absolute errors (MAE) with one standard deviation (1SD) between the clinical and CNN-predicted doses were 1.10% ± 0.64%, 2.50% ± 1.17%, 2.04% ± 1.40%, and 2.08% ± 1.99% for D2, D98 in PTV-1 and V65 in rectum and V65 in bladder, respectively, whereas the MAEs with 1SD between the clinical and the RapidPlan™-generated doses were 1.01% ± 0.66%, 2.15% ± 1.25%, 5.34% ± 2.13% and 3.04% ± 1.79%, respectively. Our CNN model could predict dose distributions that were superior or comparable with that generated by RapidPlan™, suggesting the potential of CNN in dose distribution prediction.
Culturally Sensitive PTSD Screening in Non-Western Youth: Reflections and Indications for Mental Health Practitioners
Authors: Perry James Michael , Modesti Camilla , Talamo Alessandra , Nicolais Giampaolo 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Children around the world are exposed to traumatic events and research confirms that cultural factors play a central role in the psychological experience of trauma and the manifestation of symptoms in trauma and stress-related disorders. The DSM-5 and ICD-11 call on practitioners to consider the role of culture and context in the manifestation, assessment, and treatment of mental health disorders. This article analyzes peer-reviewed literature involving youth and adolescent PTSD screening in non-Western contexts, revealing only few instruments that have undergone validation for cultural contexts outside those for which they were developed. Studies that include cultural validation show marked differences in methodology and conceptual framework for adaptation, translation, and validation, and disagreement on the scale and scope of tools necessary to assess the impact of trauma in non-Western youth. The discussed studies reveal a need to debate a uniform methodology for cultural adaptation and validation of PTSD screening instruments.
Tuberculosis epididymo-orchitis following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy
Authors: Rezvani Sean , Collins Gerald 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
BCG is a well-established treatment for superficial bladder cancer. Although usually well-tolerated, side effects can range from mild cystitis to life-threatening sepsis. Epididymitis is a rare complication of BCG, with only a handful of cases proven to be caused directly by Mycobacterium bovis. We describe one such case, along with radiological findings for this rare complication.
Are you sure your tool does what it is supposed to do? Validating Arabic root extraction
Authors: van der Zwaan Janneke , Latif Maksim Abdul , van Kuppevelt Dafne , Lyklema Melle , Lange Christian 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Although in the digital humanities, researchers use software tools to conduct their research, and often apply these tools to data the software was not developed for, there has been little attention for investigating tool performance on this data. This is strange because in order to be able to appraise the results of digital humanities research, it is important to understand to what extent the tool output is correct. To illustrate the importance of the validation of tools, this article presents a case study of validating Arabic root extraction tools. Arabic words are based on root letters; three root letters usually demarcate a semantic field. Thus, roots can be used for studying semantic fields. For example, researchers can gain insight into the relative importance of the different senses (i.e. seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting) in Arabic jurisprudence (fiqh) by extracting and counting roots. A problem is that there are only a few usable tools available. We take three root extraction tools, Khoja (Khoja and Garside, 1999, Stemming Arabic Text. Lancaster, England: Lancaster University), ISRI (Taghva et al., 2005, Arabic stemming without a root dictionary. In International Conference on Information Technology: Coding and Computing (ITCC’05). Vol. 2. Las Vegas, NV, April 2005 pp. 152–57), and AlKhalil (Boudlal et al., 2010, Alkhalil morpho sys1: a morphosyntactic analysis system for Arabic texts. In International Arab Conference on Information Technology. New York, NY: Elsevier Science Inc., April 2017, pp. 1–6), and create manually annotated gold standard data consisting of three samples of approximately 1,000 words from important books of Islamic jurisprudence. We show that Khoja is the best root extraction tool for our data. We also demonstrate that the relative counts of individual roots differ among tools, which leads to a different interpretation depending on which tool is chosen. This means that findings based on automatically extracted roots should always be interpreted with care.
K3-EDTA differentially inhibits the growth of Candida strains according to their azole resistance status
Authors: Dupont Damien , Tirard-Collet Pauline , Persat Florence , Menotti Jean , Josse Emilie , Wallon Martine , Pichon Maxime 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The diagnosis of the life-threatening invasive Candida infections is mainly established using culture of specimens that might be collected on different devices including ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-coated tubes. Despite the knowledge that EDTA inhibits bacterial cultures, and its use to treat oral fungal infections, its impact on Candida cultures has not been completely assessed. This study aimed at assessing it on azole-resistant and azole-susceptible strains. Clinical and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains for Candida albicans (CA), C. glabrata (CGS), C. krusei (CK), azole-susceptible and azole-resistant strains of C. glabrata (CGS and CGR), C. lipolytica (CL), and C. inconspicua (CI) were characterized using MALDI-TOF MS and susceptibility testing and then incubated (1) with serial dilutions of tripotassic EDTA (0%–500% of the concentration in a sample tube) for 2 hours before plating onto ChromID Can2 agar; (2) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, or 8 hours at EDTA concentrations at 20% and 33% before seeding; and (3) with sodium citrate or lithium heparinate instead of EDTA for 2 hours before plating. After 48 hours at 35°C, colony-forming units were automatically quantified. An inhibitory effect of EDTA was observed, at different concentrations, for CA (20%), CGS (100%), and CGR (500%) (P &lt; .05), but none was observed for CL, CI, and CK. The effect increased with incubation duration, at a faster rate for azole-susceptible strains. K3-EDTA inhibits Candida growth and EDTA-coated tubes should not be used for mycological culture-based analyses. The correlation between EDTA inhibition and Candida azole-resistance offers perspectives for the development of selective agar and new antifungal strategies.
Globular clusters as probes of dark matter cusp-core transformations
Authors: Orkney M D A , Read J I , Petts J A , Gieles M 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Bursty star formation in dwarf galaxies can slowly transform a steep dark matter cusp into a constant density core. We explore the possibility that globular clusters (GCs) retain a dynamical memory of this transformation. To test this, we use the nbody6df code to simulate the dynamical evolution of GCs, including stellar evolution, orbiting in static and time-varying potentials for a Hubble time. We find that GCs orbiting within a cored dark matter halo, or within a halo that has undergone a cusp-core transformation, grow to a size that is substantially larger (Reff &gt; 10 pc) than those in a static cusped dark matter halo. They also produce much less tidal debris. We find that the cleanest signal of an historic cusp-core transformation is the presence of large GCs with tidal debris. However, the effect is small and will be challenging to observe in real galaxies. Finally, we qualitatively compare our simulated GCs with the observed GC populations in the Fornax, NGC 6822, IKN, and Sagittarius dwarf galaxies. We find that the GCs in these dwarf galaxies are systematically larger (〈Reff〉 ≃ 7.8 pc), and have substantially more scatter in their sizes than in situ metal-rich GCs in the Milky Way and young massive star clusters forming in M83 (〈Reff〉 ≃ 2.5 pc). We show that the size, scatter, and survival of GCs in dwarf galaxies are all consistent with them having evolved in a constant density core, or a potential that has undergone a cusp-core transformation, but not in a dark matter cusp.