bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased Plasma GLP-1 Levels after Resistant Starch Type 3 From Cassava Starch (Manihot Esculanta Crantz) Diet on Diabetic Rat
Authors: Sakinah Elly Nurus 
Published: February 2019

Diabetes mellitus (DM) occur when human body is unable to produce enough insulin and/or unable to use insulin effectively, resulting in an increase of blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Indonesia has ranks fourth after United States, China and India in the prevalence of DM. Controling blood sugar and insulin levels can be done through the stimulation effect of Glucagon- like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The goal of this study was to determine the effects of resistant starch type 3 (RS3) from cassava starch in increasing plasma GLP-1 levels. This reasearch use male mouse (Ratttus novergicus) as a diabetic model by providing a high-fat diet (HFD) for one mounth than combine with intraoperitonel injection of low dose streptozotocin (STZ). The mouse then grouped into 4 groups randomly (1) normal or negative control, (2) cassava starch diet, (3) RS3 diet, (4) positive control. Blood sugar levels were measured before and after STZ injection to determine the diabetic conditions (blood sugar > 200 mg /dL). After 4 weeks of dietary administration blood sugar and plasma GLP-1 levels were examined using ELISA. Statistical analysis showed decreased in blood sugar levels and increased in plasma GLP-1 levels after one mounth of RS3 diet. This research shows that RS3 from cassava starch has a potential role as a nutritional therapy on diabetes mellitus condition.
Keywords: Resistant starch type 3, cassava starch, GLP-1, Blood Sugar, Diabetes Mellitus
Hemodialysis Effect on Systolic Left Ventricular Function in Stage V Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Ramadhan Hazbina Fauqi , Hermansyah Yuli , Wisudanti Desie Dwi , Suryono Suryono 
Published: February 2019

Chronic kidney diasease (CKD) is one of world health problem with increased incidence. Kidney function impairment contribute to cardiovascular complication that has been the main cause of CKD patient death. The impairment of cardiovascular function mainly caused by decreased of systolic left ventricular function. Stage V CKD patients need renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis. Hemodialysis known to has positive effect on cadiovascular function by decreasing volume overload and uremic toxin. Echocardiography is a non-invasive method to assess cardiovascular function i.e. systolic left ventricular function. The aim of this study is to describe the improvement of systolic left ventricular function in stage V CKD patients after going through hemodialysis. The subject of this study are 30 patients, ≥18 years old diagnosed with Stage V CKD and undergo routine hemodialysis in RSD dr. Soebandi Jember. The data analyzed with Wilcoxon test and shown significance (p=0,000). This study concludes there is a significant improvement on systolic left ventricular function in CKD patients before and after hemodialysis in RSD dr. Soebandi Jember.
Keywords: Systolic Left Ventricular Function, Hemodialysis, Chronic Kidney Disease, Echocardiography
Monocyte subpopulations of blood and bone marrow in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Vins M. V. , Chumakova S. P. , Urazova O. I. , Azarova D. A. , Shipulin V. M. , Pryakhin A. S. , Barmina S. E. , Werner M. D. , Novitskiy V. V. 
Published: February 2019

The aim of the investigationwas to evaluate the ratio of classical (CD14++CD16-), intermediate (CD14++CD16+), nonclassical (CD14+CD16+) and transient (CD14+CD16–) monocytes in the blood and bone marrow in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) against ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP).Materials and methods. 17 patients with ICMP and 14 practically healthy donors were observed. The material of the study was venous blood (in patients and healthy donors) and red bone marrow (in patients). In the materials the relative content of different monocytes subpopulations was determined by flow cytometry. The obtained results were analyzed by statistical methods.Results. It is shown that in the blood of patients the proportion of monocytes with the phenotype CD14++CD16- is 57.77 [of 46.35; 79.76]%, CD14++CD16+ – 25.06 [4.96; 42.31]%, CD14+CD16+ 5.05 [4.08; 6.58]% and CD14+CD16- – 6.03 [3.58; 10.89]%; in the bone marrow – 43.44 [40.54; 44.68]%, 0.16 [0; 1.07]%, 0,54 [0.35; 1.07]% and 54,32 [52.83; 56.08]%, respectively, which is different from the content of the data cells subpopulations in the blood (p < 0.05). At the same time, the content of non-classical monocytes in the patients’ blood is 2 times lower than in healthy donors, and the number of other cells varies within the norm.Conclusion. The differentiation of monocytes into 4 subpopulations in patients with CHF occurs directly in the bloodstream, since mainly the classical and transitional monocyte fractions with the prevalence of the latter are present in the bone marrow. Deficiency of non-classical monocytes of blood in CHF is probably associated with a disruption of their extramedullary differentiation.
The Affordable Care Act and Access to Care for Reproductive-Aged and Pregnant Women in the United States, 2010–2016
Authors: Daw Jamie R. , Sommers Benjamin D. 
Published: February 2019

Objectives. To estimate the association between the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance coverage, and access to care among reproductive-aged and pregnant women. Methods. We performed an observational study comparing current insurance type, cost-related barriers to medical care, and no usual source of care among reproductive-aged (n = 128 352) and pregnant (n = 2179) female respondents to the National Health Interview Survey in the United States, before (2010–2013) and after (2015–2016) the ACA coverage expansions. Results. Among reproductive-aged women, the ACA was associated with a 7.4 percentage-point decrease in the probability of uninsurance (95% confidence interval [CI] = −8.6, −6.2), a 3.6 percentage-point increase in Medicaid (95% CI = 2.5, 4.7), and a 3.1 percentage-point increase in nongroup private coverage (95% CI = 2.1, 4.1). The ACA was also associated with a 1.5 percentage-point decline in cost-related barriers to medical care (95% CI = −2.6, −0.5) and a 2.4 percentage-point reduction in lacking a usual source of care (95% CI = −4.5, −0.3). We did not find significant changes in insurance or cost-related barriers to care for pregnant women. Conclusions. The ACA was associated with expanded insurance coverage and improvements in access to care for women of reproductive age, particularly for those with lower incomes.
Pharmaceutical Industry Support of US Patient Advocacy Organizations: An International Context
Authors: Kang So-Yeon , Bai Ge , Karas Laura , Anderson Gerard F. 
Published: February 2019

Objectives. To examine whether the share of pharmaceutical industry funds allocated to patient advocacy organizations (PAOs) is disproportionately large in the United States relative to other industrialized countries and to compare pharmaceutical companies’ disclosure practices across industrialized countries. Methods. We examined funding of PAOs among the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in 2016. We compared funding allocated to organizations across 8 large industrialized countries and pharmaceutical companies’ disclosure practices in each country. Results. Only 6 of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies disclosed their financial transactions with PAOs in the United States. All 10 companies disclosed transactions in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with varying levels of disclosure in other countries. In 2016, the 6 companies that disclosed transactions in the United States allocated 74% of their patient advocacy funding ($88 million) in the United States. Conclusions. The disproportionate funding of US PAOs in the absence of any disclosure requirements suggests that the United States should consider adoption of regulatory actions to enhance the transparency of relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and PAOs, and to ensure the integrity of public health decision-making.
Prominent papilledema with dense peripapillary hemorrhage in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis
Authors: Mao Feifei , Sun Huiyu , Li Dan , Lu Dan , Wang Shengnan 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background: To describe the clinical characteristics of prominent papilledema with dense peripapillary hemorrhage in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis.
Case presentation: Case1. A 35-year-old male with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) complicated with cryptococcal meningitis had a severely visual loss in both eyes after 33 days of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Funduscopic examination revealed marked bilateral papilledema with dense peripapillary hemorrhages and macular exudates. The patient was treated with intravenous mannitol and intermittent lumbar punctures. His vision was improved after 4 months of treatment. Case2. A 43-year-old male with AIDS suffered from severe vision deterioration in both eyes. He has not accepted HAART at that time. Dilated fundoscopic examination revealed marked disk edema with dense peripapillary hemorrhages in his right eye and mild papilledema with slight peripapillary hemorrhages in his left eye. The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was made. His BCVA didn’t improve after treatment. He died 3 months after the hospitalization.
Conclusion: Prominent papilledema with dense peripapillary hemorrhage is uncommon, which maybe the sign of an opportunistic infectious associated with IRIS or the sign of poor prognosis in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis.
Keywords: Papilledema, AIDS, cryptococcal meningitis
The effect of a Computer Lens Filter on visual performance in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Guo Zhangmei , Ni Lingzhi , Lin Na , Zhu Yu , Jiang Longfei , Deng RUzhi 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background：Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients uauslly complained nyctalopia and poor dark adaptation which caused their visual discomfort, in this study we aimed to explore the effects of a Computer Lens Filter (CLF) on contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed for computer screen text and visual comfort in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and to find wheather CLF would be helpful for RP patients . Method: Twenty-two subjects diagnosed with binocular RP participated. Bright CS using the Mars test and reading speed of screen text were measured using the spectacle corrections for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) both with and without CLF wear. Subjective estimates of computer screen brightness and visual comfort were evaluated by questionnaire. These functions were compared for the two conditions of filter wear/non-wear. Result： Mean subject age was 38.2±7.5 years and mean log MAR VA was .45± .24. Wearing a CLF neither improved bright CS (t = .452, P=.653) nor increased reading speed (t =.414, P = .683). CLF wear was judged to reduce screen brightness (t = 5.412, P<.0001) and improve visual comfort (t = 6.897, P<.0001). Conclusion： CLF wear neither improved RP subjects’ CS nor reading speed for screen text but did reduce the appearance of screen brightness and improve subjects’ reported visual comfort. Improvement in comfort alone may be sufficient justification for filter use as a vision aid for RP patients during vision rehabilitation.
Article A case of fundus albipunctatus in both eyes
Authors: Mao Jianbo , Lin Jingjing , Shen Lijun 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background

This case was first recorded in fundus albipunctatus with multimodal imaging (optical coherence tomography(OCT), angio-OCT, multicolor-OCT, fluorescence angiography), vision field and electrophysiological recordings.

Case presentation

The authors present a 52-year-old Chinese female who suffered night blindness for years. With multimodal images, the fundus images and full-field electroretinography after standard and prolonged dark adaption were consistent with fundus albipunctatus. Disease targeted gene test was not performed. Other imaging method seems to have minimal changes.

Conclusions

It is an observational case report about characteristic ophthalmic findings in fundus albipunctatus.
Paediatric Ocular Barotrauma by a Cupping Therapeutic Device
Authors: Liu Shasha , Tang Emily Wai Ho , Tang Geoffrey Chik Hei , Li Kenneth K W 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background
Commercially available cupping devices are increasingly being used for cupping therapy. However, with improper use they may induce unwanted barotrauma.
Case Presentation
A 6 year old child from Hong Kong applied a cupping device to her own eye. It resulted in periorbital ecchymosis and subconjunctival hemorrhage which resolved without sequaelae after a course of topical antibiotics.
Conclusion
This case highlights the need to raise public awareness about the proper use of cupping devices and its risk in inducing ocular injuries.
A pragmatic effectiveness randomized controlled trial of duration of psychiatric hospitalization in a trans-diagnostic sample of patients with acute mental illness admitted to a ward with either blue depleted evening lighting or normal lighting conditions
Authors: Scott Jan , Langsrud Knut , Vethe Daniel , Kjørstad Kaia , Vestergaard Cecilie Lund , Faaland Patrick , Lydersen Stian , Vaaler Arne , Morken Gunnar , Torgersen Terje , Kallestad Håvard 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Introduction

There is increasing recognition of the need to stabilize sleep-wake cycles in individuals with major mental disorders. As such, clinicians and researchers advocate for the use of interventions targeted at sleep and circadian dysrhythmias as an adjunct to the standard treatments offered for acute illness episodes of a broad range of diagnoses. To determine the trans-diagnostic generalizability of chronotherapy, we explore the benefits of admitting individuals with an acute illness episode to a psychiatric inpatient unit where changes in light exposure are integrated into the therapeutic environment.

Methods

A two-arm pragmatic effectiveness randomized controlled treatment trial, where individuals admitted for acute inpatient psychiatric care will be allocated to a ward with blue depleted evening light or to a ward with the same layout and facilities but lacking the new lighting technology. The trial will test whether the experimental lighting conditions offer any additional benefits beyond those associated with usual treatment in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit. The main objectives are to examine any differences between groups in the mean duration of hospitalization in days. Additional analyses will compare group differences in symptoms, functioning, medication usage, and side-effects and whether length of stay is associated with stability of sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms. Ancillary investigations will determine any benefits according to diagnostic subgroups and potential drawbacks such as any adverse effects on the well-being of professionals working across both wards.

Discussion

This unit offers a unique opportunity to explore how exposure to different lighting conditions may modify sleep-wake cycles and how any changes in sleep-wake cycle may impact on the clinical and functional outcomes of individuals experiencing an acute episode of a severe mental disorder that requires inpatient care. The findings could influence the future design of hospital units offering care to patients with mental or physical disorders.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03788993, retrospectively registered Dec 28th 2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03788993.
Land Use Affects Soil Moisture Response to Dramatic Short‐term Rainfall Events in a Hillslope Catchment of the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Tang Min , Zhao Xining , Gao Xiaodong , Zhang Chao , Wu Pute 
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas
Jujube orchard had lower soil moisture in 0–100 cm than cropland and grassland.
Torrential rain increased the soil moisture in 0–60 cm for all experimental land uses.
Heavy rain increased soil moisture in 0–20 cm for all experimental land uses.
The use efficiency of torrential rain in all experimental land uses was less than 55%.
The use efficiency of heavy rain in three experimental land uses was as low as 20%.
ABSTRACTTo efficiently exploit rainfall resources in arid and semiarid regions, it is essential to understand the relationship between land use and the response of soil moisture to different rainfall levels. To clarify this relationship, rainfall and soil moisture in the 0‐ to 100‐cm soil layer were monitored continuously in a jujube orchard, cropland, and grassland on the Chinese Loess Plateau between 1 July and 30 Sept. 2014 to determine how soil moisture levels respond to intense brief rainfall events (torrential and heavy rain) under each land use. Heavy rain only increased soil moisture levels in the 0‐ to 20‐cm soil layer, irrespective of land use. However, torrential rain increased soil moisture levels in the 0‐ to 60‐cm soil layer. Additionally, the rainfall response of soil moisture in the 0‐ to 10‐cm soil layer of the cropland and grassland was correlated with the antecedent soil moisture: the lower the antecedent soil moisture, the quicker the rainfall response. Soil moisture in the 0‐ to 20‐cm soil layer in the jujube orchard responded more quickly to heavy rain than to torrential rain. Finally, the use efficiency of torrential rain under all three land uses was below 55%, while that of heavy rain was as low as 20%. These findings may facilitate the development of strategies for improving rainfall utilization and land management on the Chinese Loess Plateau and other arid and semiarid areas.
Evaluation of Parametric and Nonparametric Machine‐Learning Techniques for Prediction of Saturated and Near‐Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity
Authors: Kotlar Ali Mehmandoost , Iversen Bo V. , de Jong van Lier Quirijn 
Published: February 2019

Core IdeasAccurate Ks and K10 were obtained using water content data at several matric potentials.RobustKsandK10prediction by machine‐learning methods confirmed by bootstrapping.Gaussian process regression predictedKsandK10with minimum number of predictors.Parametric and nonparametric supervised machine learning techniques were used to estimate saturated and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivities (KsandK10, respectively) from easily measurable soil properties including the name of the pedological horizon (HOR), soil texture (sand, silt, and clay), organic matter (OM), bulk density (BD), and water contents (θpF1, θpF2, θpF3, and θpF4.2) measured at four different matric heads (−10, −100, −1000, and −15,848 cm, respectively). Using a stepwise linear model (SWLM) and the Lasso regression as parametric methods with 316 data in training and 135 data in the testing phase, four pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were obtained in which water contents for both methods play an important role compared with other variables. The SWLM showed better performance than Lasso in the testing phase for log(Ks) and log(K10) prediction, with RMSE values of 0.666 and 0.551 cm d−1andR2of 0.26 and 0.65. Nonparametric supervised machine learning methods trained and tested with a similar data set significantly improved the accuracy ofKsprediction, withR2of 0.52, 0.36, and 0.53 for Gaussian process regression (GPR), support vector machine (SVM), and ensemble (ENS) methods in the testing stage. These methods also described 74.9, 66.7, and 72.5% of the variation of log(K10). Bootstrapping validated the strong performance of nonparametric techniques. The feature selection capability of GPR determined that instead of using a model with all predictors, HOR, silt, θpF1, and θpF3are sufficient for the prediction of log(Ks), while HOR, silt, and OM can predict log(K10) as accurate as the comprehensive model with all variables.
Ultrasonic pretreatment for anaerobic digestion of suspended and attached growth sludges
Authors: Roebuck Peter , Kennedy Kevin , Delatolla Robert 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a proven technology for energy production from the stabilization and reduction of sewage waste. The AD and impact of ultrasonic pretreatment of four waste activated sludges (WASs) from conventional and three non-conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants were investigated. WAS from a conventional activated sludge (CAS) system, a rotating biological contactor (RBC), a lagoon, and a nitrifying moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) were pretreated with ultrasonic energies of 800–6,550 kJ/kg total solids to illustrate the impact of sludge type and ultrasonic pretreatment on biogas production (BGP), solubilization, and digestion kinetics. The greatest increase in BGP over the control of pretreated sludge did not coincide consistently with greater sonication energy but occurred within a solubilization range of 2.9–7.4% degree of disintegration and are as follows: 5% ± 3 biogas increase for CAS, 12% ± 9 for lagoon, 15% ± 2 for nitrifying MBBR, and 20% ± 2 for RBC. The effect of sonication on digestion kinetics was inconclusive with the application of modified Gompertz, reaction curve, and first-order models to biogas production. These results illustrate the unique response of differing sludges to the same levels of sonication energies.
This article has been made Open Access thanks to the kind support of CAWQ/ACQE (https://www.cawq.ca).
Reliable determination of copper complex ions in synthetic wastewater using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry
Authors: Supong Kanokporn , Usapein Parnuwat 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Forms of copper that are highly soluble in aquatic environments are used as chemical reagents in a variety of industries, especially copper complexes. Wastewater containing copper complexes can be difficult to treat and analyse. Normally, flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) is a favourable technique for analysing metal ions in wastewater, but is less reliable for copper analysis owing to the influence of copper oxides. To solve this problem, it is necessary to adjust the atomization and delay times. The objective of this study was to use FAAS to accurately determine the quantity of complexed copper in synthetic wastewater, using increased atomization and delay times. The method showed excellent linearity in the copper standard concentration range of 1–5 mg L−1. The sensitivity of the analysis was 0.023 mg L−1. The percentage of recovery and the relative standard deviation were 85.02% and 0.75%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the estimation of uncertainty from preparation of working standard, repeatability uncertainty, instrument deviation, calibration curve and recovery uncertainty were 8.2 × 10−4, 4.49 × 10−4, 7.21 × 10−4, 21.25 × 10−4, and 98.19 × 10−4, respectively. Overall, the results showed the suitability of the FAAS method for determining copper in synthetic wastewater.