bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Racial Differences in Clinical Features and Comorbidities in Ankylosing Spondylitis in the United States
Authors: Singh Dilpreet Kaur , Magrey Marina N. 
Published: September 2019

Objective.To examine racial differences of clinical features, medication usage, and comorbidities of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the United States.Methods.In the Explorys database, 28,520 patients with AS were identified. Data were stratified by 2 rheumatology visits, race, sex, clinical characteristics, medication use, and comorbidities. Datasets were recorded as proportions, which were compared using chi-square test (p < 0.05).Results.Of the 10,990 patients with AS, 8% were African Americans and had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, and high frequency of anterior uveitis, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and heart disease.Conclusion.African Americans with AS in the United States have high disease activity and comorbidities compared to whites.
The Relationship Between Physical Examination and Ultrasonography of Large Entheses of the Achilles Tendon and Patellar Tendon Origin
Authors: Aydin Sibel Zehra , Bakirci Sibel , Kasapoglu Esen , Castillo-Gallego Concepcion , Alhussain Fatıma Arslan , Ash Zoe R. , Kurum Esra , McGonagle Dennis , Marzo-Ortega Helena , Gladman Dafna , Eder Lihi 
Published: September 2019

Objective.To investigate the relationship between physical examination (PE) and sonographic features of enthesitis, based on anatomical sites.Methods.The analysis was done using merged raw data of 3 studies on 2298 entheses.Results.Patients with clinical Achilles enthesitis had more abnormalities on ultrasound (US): hypoechogenicity, p < 0.001; thickening, p = 0.001; Doppler signals, p = 0.002; and erosions, p = 0.02. The patellar tendon origin also correlated with PE but distal patellar tendon insertion and plantar aponeurosis were uncoupled from the US.Conclusion.The relationship between clinical and sonographic findings for large entheses is dependent on the anatomical site. For the patellar tendon origin and Achilles entheses, PE is significantly linked to US findings.
The Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Chile: A Nationwide Study Performed as Part of the National Health Survey
Authors: Durán Josefina , Massardo Loreto , Llanos Carolina , Iacobelli Sergio , Burgos Paula I. , Cisternas Marcela , Iruretagoyena Mirentxu , Armstrong Macarena , Aguilera Raquel , Radrigán Francisco , Martinez María Eugenia , Passi-Solar Alvaro , Riedemann Pablo , Crisóstomo Natalia , Cifuentes Camila , Hagedorn Lucero , Cisternas Alvaro , Vasquez Nancy , Margozzini Paula ,   the ENS2017 Study Group
Published: September 2019

Objective.Genetic and environmental backgrounds influence the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In Latin America, epidemiologic data are scarce. We aimed to determine the prevalence of RA in Chile in a population-based study.Methods.The National Health Survey was a cross-sectional household survey with a stratified multistage probability sample of 6233 participants performed between August 2016 and March 2017. A screening instrument for RA was applied to a random sample of 3847 subjects > 30 years old. Positive screening was defined by at least 1 of the following: 2 swollen joints for at least 4 consecutive weeks (past/present), and/or a diagnosis of arthritis in the past. Individuals with positive screening had rheumatoid factor, anticitrullinated protein antibodies, and C-reactive protein measured, as well as clinical examination performed by a rheumatologist. Self-report of doctor-diagnosed RA was also performed.Results.The screening questionnaire was applied to 2998 subjects. A positive screening was found for 783 (22.1%). Among subjects with positive screening, 493 (66%) had a clinical evaluation performed by a rheumatologist. Using the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2010 classification criteria, prevalence was 0.6% (95% CI 0.3–1.2). Prevalence was higher in women, and 3.3% of subjects self-reported having RA.Conclusion.According to this national population-based study, RA prevalence in Chile is 0.6% (0.3–1.2), a value similar to what has been found in developed countries and slightly lower than some Latin American countries. Self-reporting leads to overestimating RA.
Observed performance of industrial pallet rack storage systems in the Canterbury earthquakes
Authors: Uma S. R. , Beattie Graeme 
Published: August 2019

In Christchurch, the industrial sectors with storage facilities incurred heavy economic loss due to the collapse of pallet rack systems and loss of contents during the recent the Darfield (2010) and Lyttleton (2011) earthquakes. The failure of such systems could be attributed to various reasons including inadequate design, inappropriate operational conditions, improper installation and lack of maintenance. This paper describes possible sources of damage in pallet racks due to earthquake action, which eventually could trigger the collapse failure mode of the storage system during a severe aftershock.
Various racking manufacturers and retail owners were consulted to establish the pre-event condition and loading of the systems and the response of the systems in both ‘publicly accessible’ and ‘industrial’ situations. Investigations by the authors highlighted an apparent lack of consistent national control over the design and construction of racking systems. Progress towards the publication of a revised and extended Design Guide is also described.
Using seismic isolation and energy dissipation to create earthquake-resilient buildings
Authors: Mayes R. L. , Brown A. G. , Pietra D. 
Published: August 2019

Seismic isolation with energy dissipation is a technology that has been used in New Zealand since 1978 for bridges and buildings. During this period it has seen limited use, tending to be applied mainly to historically significant buildings, or buildings that have special functional requirements.
Seismic isolation has the ability to significantly improve the seismic performance of existing buildings through a seismic retrofit, or to create new earthquake-resilient buildings. Both of these applications are of greater relevance throughout New Zealand following the Canterbury earthquakes. Consequently, the consideration of seismic isolation is no longer limited to those buildings at the top end of the Importance Level spectrum.
This paper examines the broad technical issues associated with isolation and energy dissipation. It discusses the benefits and costs of seismic isolation, and presents guidelines for cost estimation at the feasibility stage of projects. We will explore the cost-benefits for building owners, and discuss whether base isolation can replace earthquake insurance for the building and its contents, and business interruption insurance.
Assessing the Share of Impaired Visual Function, Fine Motor Coordination and Visual-motor Integration in Dyslexic Children with the Eta/Mu Model
Authors: Aleci Carlo , Vai Francesca 
Published: August 2019

Aims: A computational model aimed to estimate the proportion of visual/motor deficits (first-order defects) and visual-motor abnormal integration (second-order defect) in dyslexic children is described.
Study Design: Single-masked case-control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Service of Neuro-Ophthalmology, University of Turin, between December 2017 and November 2018.
Methodology: Twenty subjects (age 8-10) were administered a set of tests that recruit the visual and motor domain in different proportions. The score obtained in each trial is weighed by the correspondent share of visuoperceptive and motor recruitment. This way two indexes are obtained: Eta (h) and Mu (m), that quantify the expected and estimated damage of the two functions across the range of average performance. The difference between the expected and estimated level of damage in the two domains represents the quota of selective visuoperceptive / motor impairment of the subject. In turn, no or negligible difference in the presence of abnormal z-score would reveal impaired visual-motor integration with no evident visual or motor damage.
Results: The model detected a prevalent first-order defect in the visuo perceptive or motor domain in 58% of the cases (visuo perceptive alteration: 27%, motor alteration: 73%), and a prevalent second-order defect in the remaining 42% of the subjects. Internal consistency was adequate for research and screening purpose (Cronbach’s coefficient alpha: from 0.77 to 0.84).
Conclusion: The Eta/Mu model seems a promising tool to detect cases of visual and motor alteration as well as the level of visual-motor integration in dyslexic children. Further effort is needed to improve test-retest reliability by examining larger samples, so as to make it suitable to customize the rehabilitation program of children suffering from learning disabilities.
Estimation of Non-smooth Functionals in Hilbert Sample Space Using the Edgeworth Expansions
Authors: Kololi M. M. , Orwa G. O. , Mung’atu J. K. , Odhiambo R. O. 
Published: August 2019

An arbitrary non-smooth functional is estimated using a nonparametric set-up. Exploratory data analysis methods are relied on to come up with the functional form for the sample to allow both robustness and optimality to be achieved. An infinite number of parameters are involved and thus the Hilbert sample space is a natural choice. An important step in understanding this problem is the normal means problem, . The basic difficulty of estimating as defined can be traced back to the non differentiability of the absolute value function, at the origin. Accordingly, constructing an optimal estimator is not easy partly due to the nonexistence of an unbiased estimate of the absolute value function. Therefore, best polynomial approximation was used to smooth the singularity at the origin and then an unbiased estimator for every term in the expansion constructed by use of Hermite polynomials when the averages are bounded by a given constant M > 0 say. The expansion of the Gaussian density function in terms of Hermite polynomials gives a clear and almost accurate estimate that admits cumulant generating function; the Saddle point approximation. Additional precision is obtained by using a higher order Taylor series expansion about the mean resulting in Edgeworth expansion techniques.
Phylogenetic Relationship of Bacterial Species Involved in Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils
Authors: Agbor R. B. , Antai S. P. 
Published: August 2019

The bio-stimulation of hydrocarbon degrading microbial population in soil using agricultural wastes was carried out. Top soil (0-25 cm depth) from three points were bulked to form composite soil samples, 6 kg each of the composite soil sample was weighed and transferred into 150 plastic buckets with drainage holes at the base. The soil in each plastic bucket was spiked with 300 ml crude oil and amended with different concentrations of agro-wastes and allowed for duration of 30, 60 and 90 days. The soil samples were then collected and analysed for both total heterotrophic bacterial counts and crude-oil utilizing bacterial counts. Data collected were subjected to a three-way analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Least Significant Difference Test at 5% probability level. The result showed that the application of the amendments increased the bacterial counts in the soil at different treatment levels. However, a higher proliferation rate was observed with bacteria counts exposed to higher waste concentrations compared to their counterparts exposed to lower waste concentrations. The phylogenetic relationship of the hydrocarbon degrading bacterial species shows that the identified bacteria were in two clusters: cluster 1 consist of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus altitudinis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus penneri, while cluster 2 consist of Serratia marcescens, Providencia rettgeri and Enterobacter asburiae. The bacterial species obtained shows a greater relationship, this imply that the similarity of the bacterial species could be the reason for their high proficiency in degrading the hydrocarbons in the soil.
Snack Consumption Pattern of Adults in the University of Calabar & its Health Implications
Authors: Onyenweaku Eridiong O. , Oko Gregory E. , A. Fila Winifred 
Published: August 2019

Aims: To determine the snack consumption pattern of adults and the effect of consumption of certain snacks on the health status of adults in the University of Calabar.
Study design: Cross-sectional survey.
Place and Duration of Study: University of Calabar, Calabar - Nigeria. June to July, 2017.
Methodology: After a multi-staged random sampling technique, a cross-sectional survey was carried out on 400 adult respondents using a well-structured questionnaire. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24hour dietary recall were also administered to the respondents. The data obtained from the survey instruments were analysed with the aid of Microsoft excel. For the dietary intake assessment, Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO) ‘Guidelines for Measuring Household and Individual Dietary Diversity’ was used to calculate individual’s dietary diversity score (DDS) before recording.
Results: It was observed that 84% of the respondents skipped meals and breakfast was the most skipped meal followed by lunch. Most people (46%) skipped breakfast because they left early for work while majority who skipped lunch did so because they had no time for food at work (53%). Only 8.6% of the respondents did not eat snacks, and most of those who consumed snacks did so because they preferred snacks to food (32%). The most commonly consumed snacks among the respondents was pastries (36.5%), followed by biscuits (25.7%) while the least consumed snacks were vegetables (1%) followed by sweets and gums (1.1%). Consequently, pastries contributed the most snack calories to the study population.
Conclusion: Most people skip meals; and snacks serve as a substitute for such skipped meals. Only few people frequently consume healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables. Most people were discovered to eat pastries as snacks and these pastries (such as cakes and pies) are highly processed foods which could increase the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in their consumers.
Bifunctional Squaramide‐Catalysed Asymmetric Michael/Hemiketalization/Retro‐Aldol Reaction of Unsaturated Thiazolones with α‐Nitroketones: Synthesis of Chiral 4‐Acyloxythiazole Derivatives
Authors: Song Yong‐Xing , Du Da‐Ming 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAn efficient and practical organocatalytic asymmetric cascade Michael/hemiketalization/retro‐aldol reaction of unsaturated thiazolones with α‐nitroketones by using cyclohexanediamine‐derived bifunctional squaramide as the catalyst has been developed. Under mild conditions, a broad range of chiral 4‐acyloxythiazole derivatives were obtained in high yields (up to 98% yield) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). Meanwhile, a few synthetic transformations have been demonstrated.magnified image
Pipe diameter effect on flow and heat transfer characteristics of ammonia alum hydrate slurries with additives
Authors: Nakamura Kohei , Ina Takashi , Hidema Ruri , Suzuki Hiroshi , Komoda Yoshiyuki 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn this study, pipe diameter effect on flow and heat transfer characteristics of ammonia aluminium sulfate dodecahydrate (ammonia alum hydrate: AlNH4(SO4)2·12H2O) slurries with drag reducing surfactants and poly(vinyl alcohol) was investigated. Pressure loss and heat‐transfer coefficients of ammonia alum hydrate solutions and slurries were measured with double‐pipe heat exchangers with different inner tube diameters. Measurement results indicated that pseudo‐laminarization by the surfactant caused drag‐reduction effect and its saturated magnitude was affected by inner tube diameters. Pseudo‐laminarization also produced heat transfer reduction effect and its magnitude was not affected by inner tube diameters. Calculation results of Colburn's j‐factor divided by friction factors indicated that heat transportation efficiency of the hydrate solutions/slurries with additives was increased due to the contribution of drag‐reduction effect.
Precarious working conditions and health of metropolitan bus drivers and conductors in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Simões Mariana Roberta Lopes , Souza Carla , Alcantara Marcus Alessandro de , Assunção Ada Ávila 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate the relationship between precarious working conditions and the health of bus drivers and conductors.MethodsData were gathered by means of a survey and interviews conducted in 2012 with 1607 employees of the public transport system of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Nine proxy variables were used to create a precariousness score, ranging from 0 to 9, on a comparative scale: score 0 “less precarious” and 9 “more precarious.” Negative self‐evaluations of health, medical diagnoses of depression and sleep disorders, common mental disorders, musculoskeletal pain and medical leave were assessed. Poisson regression was used to assess associations between precariousness and health adjusted for age, sex, education, vibration, and noise.ResultsThe sample was composed of 853 drivers and 754 conductors. Most were men (87%), with age below 40 years (67.4%) and medium educational level (64.5%). The maximum precariousness score observed was 7. Most individuals were in the groups of scores 3 (26.7%) and 4 (26.1%). The prevalences of the health situations were: common mental disorders, 26.3%; medical diagnosis of depression, 9.7%; medical diagnosis of sleep disorder, 14.6%; musculoskeletal pain, 43.0%; medical leave (absenteeism), 34.8%; and negative self‐evaluation of health, 20.2%. The prevalences of health conditions, with the exception of negative self‐evaluations of health, were significantly higher among workers with higher levels of precarious working conditions.ConclusionsWorse health, particularly common mental disorders, was associated with self‐assessed work precariousness.
Risk factors of clinical dysimmune manifestations in a cohort of 86 children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A retrospective study in France
Authors: Mahé Perrine , Nagot Nicolas , Portales Pierre , Lozano Claire , Vincent Thierry , Sarda Pierre , Perez Marie‐Jose , Amedro Pascal , Marin Gregory , Jeziorski Eric 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn this study, we describe the biological immune profiles and clinical dysimmune manifestations (infections, autoimmune diseases, and allergies) of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with the aim of determining risk factors for clinical events. This retrospective study concerned all the patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome attending the Montpellier University Hospital from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 2014 who had at least one immune investigation before the age of 18. We analyzed the clinical features, biological tests and the course of infections, autoimmunity, and allergy of 86 children. Among these 86 children, 48 (59%) had a low T lymphocyte level. Twenty‐nine patients (34%) had a severe infection. The only risk factor for severe infection was the low level of CD4+ T‐cells (OR: 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.020–11.108]). Eleven patients (13%) developed an autoimmune disease; the only risk factor was an antecedent of severe infection (OR: 4.1; 95% CI [1.099–15.573]). Twenty‐three patients (27%) had allergic episodes. A low level of CD8+ T‐cells (OR: 3.2; 95% CI [1.07–9.409]) was significantly associated with allergy manifestations. Patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome have a high rate of dysimmune manifestations. We found statistic correlations among CD4+ T‐cell count, infectious manifestations, and autoimmunity.
Variations in the microbiome due to storage preservatives are not large enough to obscure variations due to factors such as host population, host species, body site, and captivity
Authors: Asangba Abigail E. , Donohue Mariah E. , Lamb Alicia , Wright Patricia C. , Halajian Ali , Leigh Steven R. , Stumpf Rebecca M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe study of the primate microbiome is critical in understanding the role of the microbial community in the host organism. To be able to isolate the main factors responsible for the differences observed in microbiomes within and between individuals, confounding factors due to technical variations need to be removed. To determine whether alterations due to preservatives outweigh differences due to factors such as host population, host species, body site, and habitat, we tested three methods (no preservative, 96% ethanol, and RNAlater) for preserving wild chimpanzee (fecal), wild lemur (fecal), wild vervet monkey (rectal, oral, nasal, otic, vaginal, and penile), and captive vervet monkey (rectal) samples. All samples were stored below − 20°C (short term) at the end of the field day and then at − 80°C until DNA extraction. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we show a significant preservative effect on microbiota composition and diversity. Samples stored in ethanol and RNAlater appear to be less different compared with samples not stored in any preservative (none). Our differential analysis revealed significantly higher amounts of Enterococcaceae and Family XI in no preservative samples, Prevotellaceae and Spirochaetaceae in ethanol and RNAlater preserved samples, Oligosphaeraceae in ethanol‐preserved samples, and Defluviitaleaceae in RNAlater preserved samples. While these preservative effects on the microbiome are not large enough to remove or outweigh the differences arising from biological factors (e.g., host species, body site, and habitat differences) they may promote misleading interpretations if they have large enough effect sizes compared to the biological factors (e.g., host population).
Reconstructing the Neanderthal Eustachian Tube: New Insights on Disease Susceptibility, Fitness Cost, and Extinction
Authors: Pagano Anthony Santino , Márquez Samuel , Laitman Jeffrey T. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTNeanderthals are among the best studied and yet most enigmatic fossil human groups with aspects of their anatomy and functional morphology remaining poorly understood. We present the first anatomical reconstruction of the Neanderthal cartilaginous Eustachian tube (CET), a vital component of the upper respiratory tract and nexus for the middle ear and postnasal airway. The Eustachian (auditory, pharyngotympanic) tube, comprised of a bony and cartilaginous (CET) portion, is integral to normal physiological functions such as middle ear aeration and pressure equilibration. Findings indicate that Neanderthal tubal morphology may have predisposed them to high rates of middle ear disease (otitis media [OM]). In living humans, mechanical CET dysfunction underlies OM in infants and young children, with sequelae including hearing loss, meningitis, and pneumonia. Despite proven linkage of CET malfunction with OM, the role of CET morphology in Neanderthal health and disease remains unstudied. We reconstructed Neanderthal CET morphology, comparing their crania to a modern human growth series. Methods included geometric morphometrics and univariate measures among Procrustes‐fitted coordinates. Results showed Neanderthal adults exhibiting primitively tall and narrow nasopharynges with infant‐like horizontal CET and choanal orientation. As horizontal CET orientation is associated with increased OM incidence in infants and children until around age six, its appearance in Neanderthal adults strongly indicates persistence of high OM susceptibility at this time. This could have compromised fitness and disease load relative to sympatric modern humans, affecting Neanderthals' ability to compete within their ecological niche, and potentially contributing to their rapid extinction. Anat Rec, 302:2109–2125, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy