bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Histochemical Staining Techniques in the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Proteins in Blood of Children with Malaria
Authors: UDONKANG Mfoniso , ELUWA Mokutima , INYANG-ETOH Paul , INYANG İmeobong , AKPANTAH Amabe , EKANEM Theresa 
Published: June 2018

Objective: Falciparum malaria predominates in sub-Saharan Africa and children below
five years are the most vulnerable. Giemsa-stained microscopy is the gold
standard in malaria diagnosis. Diagnosis with rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit
is also common and over 80% of available malaria RDT kits is Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich
protein 2-based (Pfhrp2). However, these histidine-rich protein 2-based kits
have been observed to give false positive and negative results due to
persistent antigenemia and low parasitaemia respectively. Thus, the methods of
Pauly, Perls, and Means &amp; Feeney were adopted to explore the advantage of
using microscopy for specific detection of these histidine-rich proteins and
their usefulness in detecting low parasitemia in children.

Methods: Children
aged 0-5 years (n=200) visiting three hospitals and private laboratories in
Calabar were recruited. Whole blood samples were tested with CareStart Malaria
HRP2-based kit, and blood films were made and stained with Giemsa, Pauly, Perls
and Means &amp; Feeney for microscopy.

Results: The
sensitivity and specificity were Giemsa (56.4%, 79.8%), Means &amp; Feeney
(52.5%, 77.8%), Perls (47.5%, 85.9), Pauly (45.5%, 86.9%), and RDT (23.8%, 96%).
Pauly method had the highest area under the curve of 0.830 while RDT method had
the lowest of 0.661. Among the positive cases low parasitemia detected by the
histochemical methods was Perls 36 (75%), Pauly 32 (69.6%), and Means &amp;
Feeney 34 (64.2%), and for Giemsa method 40 (70.2%).

Conclusion: Pauly method was the most accurate. All three methods
were sensitive in detecting low parasitemia. These diagnostic methods are
useful in malaria diagnosis in this endemic population. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 8(2):55-60
Estimation of Fine-Scale Histologic Features at Low Magnification
Authors: Zarella Mark D. , Quaschnick; Matthew R. , Breen David E. , Garcia Fernando U. 
Published: June 2018

Context.—Whole-slide imaging has ushered in a new era of technology that has fostered the use of computational image analysis for diagnostic support and has begun to transfer the act of analyzing a slide to computer monitors. Due to the overwhelming amount of detail available in whole-slide images, analytic procedures—whether computational or visual—often operate at magnifications lower than the magnification at which the image was acquired. As a result, a corresponding reduction in image resolution occurs. It is unclear how much information is lost when magnification is reduced, and whether the rich color attributes of histologic slides can aid in reconstructing some of that information.Objective.—To examine the correspondence between the color and spatial properties of whole-slide images to elucidate the impact of resolution reduction on the histologic attributes of the slide.Design.—We simulated image resolution reduction and modeled its effect on classification of the underlying histologic structure. By harnessing measured histologic features and the intrinsic spatial relationships between histologic structures, we developed a predictive model to estimate the histologic composition of tissue in a manner that exceeds the resolution of the image.Results.—Reduction in resolution resulted in a significant loss of the ability to accurately characterize histologic components at magnifications less than ×10. By utilizing pixel color, this ability was improved at all magnifications.Conclusions.—Multiscale analysis of histologic images requires an adequate understanding of the limitations imposed by image resolution. Our findings suggest that some of these limitations may be overcome with computational modeling.
Optically Injection‐Locked Mid‐IR Quantum‐Cascade Lasers: The Output‐Power–Modulation‐Bandwidth–Noise Trilogy
Authors: Sheikhey Mohammad M. , Yadipour Reza , Baghban Hamed 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA comprehensive study on the output power, the modulation response, and the relative intensity noise (RIN) behavior of an optically injection‐locked mid‐infrared quantum‐cascade laser reveals that the modulation bandwidth and the output power are enhanced in the stable locking range, while the RIN of the slave laser is a superposition of the master and slave noise sources. Since the RIN level of the master laser can even take the lead, a design procedure is introduced to improve the main characteristics of a free‐running laser, including the RIN, the photon lifetime, the modulation bandwidth, and the bias current, using facet reflectivity tailoring. A figure of merit is defined and the RIN reduction of about 20 dB Hz−1 is obtained for very low injection powers compared with the injection‐locked system before the design of master laser.
Enantioselective N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Cyclopentene Synthesis via the β‐Azolium Ylide
Authors: Scott Lydia , Nakano Yuji , Zhang Changhe , Lupton David W. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHerein we report the cycloisomerization of electron‐poor 1,5‐dienes via the β‐azolium ylide to give enantioenriched cyclopentenes. The reaction is mediated by a chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst, exploits readily available substrates, has good generality (17 examples), and displays excellent enantioselectivity (mostly >94:6). Studies demonstrating the viability of a related dynamic kinetic resolution are reported, as are those with alternate tethers and derivatizations.
Hyperbranched Polymers with Controllable Topologies for Drug Delivery
Authors: Ban Qingfu , Sun Wen , Kong Jie , Wu Si 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHyperbranched polymers (HPs) have widely been used for drug delivery owing to their highly branched topology, which endows the HPs with a large amount of intramolecular cavities for drug encapsulation and terminal groups for drug conjugation. Additionally, one‐pot, large‐scale preparations enable the easy fabrication of HPs for biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of the synthesis of HPs and their application for drug delivery. First, we introduce a diversity of methods for the synthesis of HPs with controllable topologies. Subsequently, we discuss drug encapsulation and drug conjugation by using HPs. Finally, we highlight the use of HPs with controllable topologies for promising drug delivery.
Loop Protein Engineering for Improved Transglycosylation Activity of a β‐N‐Acetylhexosaminidase
Authors: Jamek Shariza B. , Muschiol Jan , Holck Jesper , Zeuner Birgitte , Busk Peter K. , Mikkelsen Jørn D. , Meyer Anne S. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractCertain enzymes of the glycoside hydrolase family 20 (GH20) exert transglycosylation activity and catalyze the transfer of β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) from a chitobiose donor to lactose to produce lacto‐N‐triose II (LNT2), a key human milk oligosaccharide backbone moiety. The present work is aimed at increasing the transglycosylation activity of two selected hexosaminidases, HEX1 and HEX2, to synthesize LNT2 from lactose and chitobiose. Peptide pattern recognition analysis was used to categorize all GH20 proteins in subgroups. On this basis, we identified a series of proteins related to HEX1 and HEX2. By sequence alignment, four additional loop sequences were identified that were not present in HEX1 and HEX2. Insertion of these loop sequences into the wild‐type sequences induced increased transglycosylation activity for three out of eight mutants. The best mutant, HEX1GTEPG, had a transglycosylation yield of LNT2 on the donor that was nine times higher than that of the wild‐type enzyme. Homology modeling of the enzymes revealed that the loop insertion produced a more shielded substrate‐binding pocket. This shielding is suggested to explain the reduced hydrolytic activity, which in turn resulted in the increased transglycosylation activity of HEX1GTEPG.
Bismuth Phosphinates in Bi‐Nanocellulose Composites and their Efficacy towards Multi‐Drug Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Werrett Melissa V. , Herdman Megan E. , Brammananth Rajini , Garusinghe Uthpala , Batchelor Warren , Crellin Paul K. , Coppel Ross L. , Andrews Philip C. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA series of poorly soluble phenyl bis‐phosphinato bismuth(III) complexes [BiPh(OP(=O)R1R2)2] (R1=R2=Ph; R1=R2=p‐OMePh; R1=R2=m‐NO2Ph; R1=Ph, R2=H; R1=R2=Me) have been synthesised and characterised, and shown to have effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus (VRE). The bismuth complexes were incorporated into microfibrillated (nano‐) cellulose generating a bismuth‐cellulose composite as paper sheets. Antibacterial evaluation indicates that the Bi‐cellulose materials have analogous or greater activity against Gram positive bacteria when compared with commercial silver based additives: silver sulfadiazine loaded at 0.43 wt % into nanocellulose produces a 10 mm zone of inhibition on the surface of agar plates containing S. aureus whereas [BiPh(OP(=O)Ph2)2] loaded at 0.34 wt % produces an 18 mm zone of inhibition. These phenyl bis‐phosphinato bismuth(III) complexes show potential to be applied in materials in healthcare facilities, to inhibit the growth of bacteria capable of causing serious disease.
Anchor‐free distance estimation: A new approach to distance estimation for multihop ad hoc wireless networks
Authors: Mavridopoulos Stathis , Nicopolitidis Petros , Papadimitriou Georgios 
Published: June 2018

SummaryIn ad hoc wireless networks, devices that normally cannot directly communicate route their messages through intermediate nodes. The number of those nodes is called hop count, a useful metric in estimating the distance between 2 nodes. Current methods usually depend on special nodes, called anchors, that need accurate localization information, in order to calculate an estimate for the average distance traversed per hop. The drawback of this approach is that anchor nodes increase the overall cost and complexity of the system. To address this problem, this letter proposes a novel, anchor node–free algorithm that can achieve a useful estimate for actual distance between 2 nodes, by analytically finding an estimate for the average maximum distance traveled per hop and multiplying with the hop count. The only requirement is the a priori knowledge of the networks' node density and the node range. The performance of our method is compared with a recent anchor node–based method and is shown to yield similar location estimation accuracy, despite the fact that it does not use anchor nodes.
Sustaining practice change in health care: the impact of a national quality improvement program on the uptake of collaborative medicines reviews
Authors: Kalisch Ellett Lisa M. , Pratt Nicole L. , Sluggett Janet K. , Ramsay Emmae N. , Kerr Mhairi , LeBlanc Vanessa T. , Barratt John D. , Gilbert Andrew L. , Roughead Elizabeth E. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAimWe evaluated the impact of quality improvement interventions at different time points on the uptake of collaborative Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs).MethodsNational interventions to promote HMRs, comprising patient‐specific prescriber feedback and tailored educational materials for patients and clinicians, were conducted in 2004, 2006 and 2011 through the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (Veterans’ MATES) program. Primary care patients taking multiple medicines were targeted in each intervention, while primary care patients taking multiple medicines who did not receive the intervention served as comparisons. Monthly HMR rates among targeted patients and a comparison group in the 9 months post‐intervention were determined using health claims data from the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs and compared using log binomial regression models. Overall trends in the rate of HMRs between November 2001 and December 2016 were also determined.ResultsOver 40 000 patients were targeted in each HMR intervention. Relative increases in HMR uptake were observed among patients targeted in the 2004 intervention (rate ratio (RR) 1.76 (1.39, 2.22), p < 0.0001), the 2006 intervention (RR 1.45 (1.19, 1.76), p = 0.0002) and the 2011 intervention (RR 2.81 (2.34, 3.37), p < 0.0001) compared to the comparison group. Overall, the monthly HMR rate increased from 0.2 per 1000 patients in November 2001 to 2.7 per 1000 patients in December 2012.ConclusionRegular repetition of quality improvement messages has led to sustained increases in HMR uptake among Australian veterans over the last decade.
Multigrid methods for H(div) in three dimensions with nonoverlapping domain decomposition smoothers
Authors: Brenner Susanne C. , Oh Duk‐Soon 
Published: June 2018

SummaryWe design and analyze V‐cycle multigrid methods for an H(div) problem discretized by the lowest‐order Raviart–Thomas hexahedral element. The smoothers in the multigrid methods involve nonoverlapping domain decomposition preconditioners that are based on substructuring. We prove uniform convergence of the V‐cycle methods on bounded convex hexahedral domains (rectangular boxes). Numerical experiments that support the theory are also presented.
Central force fields and Kepler's laws
Authors: Blanco Luis , García-García María , Gutíerrez Joaquín , Rios Andrea 
Published: June 2018

In this survey we give very simple proofs of Kepler's Laws and other facts about central force fields using only Newton's second law, Newton's law of universal gravitation, basic notions of vector calculus, and an elementary double integral.Hopefully, this article will help undergraduate students of mathematics and engineering who wish to understand these fundamental scientific discoveries.In many textbooks (see, for instance, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]), Kepler's Laws are obtained using conservation of energy and angular momentum, differential equations, mobile reference systems, or notions not so well-defined such as differentials or ‘infinitesimal elements’. Some of the arguments appear to be rather involved if one is not accustomed to them, whereas the proof of Kepler's Laws may actually be obtained from quite simple facts.
Sinonasal papilloma: what influences the decision to request a magnetic resonance imaging scan?
Authors: Kasbekar A V , Swords C , Attlmayr B , Kulkarni T , Swift A C 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundComputed tomography is the standard pre-operative imaging modality for sinonasal papilloma. The complementary use of magnetic resonance imaging as an additional investigation is debated. This study aimed to establish whether magnetic resonance imaging can accurately detect tumour extent and is a useful adjunct to computed tomography.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted on 19 patients with sinonasal papilloma. The interpretation of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, by three clinicians, was conducted by comparing prediction of tumour extent. The perceived necessity of magnetic resonance imaging was compared between clinicians.ResultsThe addition of magnetic resonance imaging improved accuracy of pre-operative interpretation; specifically, this finding was significant in cases with frontal sinus involvement. Surgeons were more likely than a radiologist to request magnetic resonance imaging, particularly when computed tomography indicated frontal sinus disease.ConclusionPre-operative combined magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography helped predict disease in the frontal sinus better than computed tomography alone. A close working relationship between the ENT and radiology departments is important for accurate tumour localisation.
Corruption and Factionalism in Contemporary Punjab: An ethnographic account from rural Malwa
Authors: MARTIN NICOLAS 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOver the length of its current tenure, Punjab's Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has sought to become more a socially inclusive party, more responsive to popular demands, and even to improve service delivery and eradicate corruption. However, despite these lofty goals, it has also presided over what people refer to as ‘goonda raj’—a rule of thugs—and has managed to alienate large sections of the population and, in the process, fuelled the rise of the anti-corruption Aam Admi Party in the state. In this article, based on ethnographic fieldwork in rural Malwa, I attempt to shed light on the roots of this contradiction. Is it simply the case, as ordinary people allege, that the SAD's claims are empty and that its members are merely interested in looting the state? Or, alternatively, is it the case that the party merely operates in accordance with Punjab's allegedly time-honoured tradition of rival factions competing to appropriate the spoils of power? I suggest instead that much of the corruption and violence observable at the village level in Punjab has its roots in the antagonistic relationship between the Congress Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal. It is this antagonism that appears to fuel the SAD's highly partisan form of government, and it is partisan government that appears to fuel the corruption and the village-level factional conflict that is documented in this article.
Whose Public, Whose Authority? Reflections on the moral force of violence
Authors: HANSEN THOMAS BLOM 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this Afterword I argue that public authority in South Asia is produced in a dynamic interplay between ever-more segmented publics and the ubiquity of highly performative violence. Drawing on Indian examples, I suggest that the success of vernacular publics in producing a sense of cultural intimacy within language communities in turn has prompted a new segmentation of publics. This has occurred along lines of caste and community, defined by social experience and symbols, rather than language as such. The concomitant routinization of violence in public life—whether as physical destruction of public property, attacks on other communities, or as symbolic elevations of victims of violence to the status of martyrs—indicate that today valorization and experiences of violence, however incommensurable, have emerged as a universal medium, or general equivalent, in public and political life in India.
Modulation of orbitofrontal-striatal reward activity by dopaminergic functional polymorphisms contributes to a predisposition to alcohol misuse in early adolescence
Authors: Baker Travis E. , Castellanos-Ryan Natalie , Schumann Gunter , Cattrell Anna , Flor Herta , Nees Frauke , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun , Whelan Rob , Buechel Christian , Bromberg Uli , Papadopoulos Orfanos Dimitri , Gallinat Juergen , Garavan Hugh , Heinz Andreas , Walter Henrik , Brühl Rüdiger , Gowland Penny , Paus Tomáš , Poustka Luise , Martinot Jean-Luc , Lemaitre Herve , Artiges Eric , Paillère Martinot Marie-Laure , Smolka Michael N. , Conrod Patricia ,   the IMAGEN consortium
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundAbnormalities in reward circuit function are considered a core feature of addiction. Yet, it is still largely unknown whether these abnormalities stem from chronic drug use, a genetic predisposition, or both.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated this issue using a large sample of adolescent children by applying structural equation modeling to examine the effects of several dopaminergic polymorphisms of the D1 and D2 receptor type on the reward function of the ventral striatum (VS) and orbital frontal cortex (OFC), and whether this relationship predicted the propensity to engage in early alcohol misuse behaviors at 14 years of age and again at 16 years of age.ResultsThe results demonstrated a regional specificity with which the functional polymorphism rs686 of the D1 dopamine receptor (DRD1) gene and Taq1A of the ANKK1 gene influenced medial and lateral OFC activation during reward anticipation, respectively. Importantly, our path model revealed a significant indirect relationship between the rs686 of the DRD1 gene and early onset of alcohol misuse through a medial OFC × VS interaction.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the role of D1 and D2 in adjusting reward-related activations within the mesocorticolimbic circuitry, as well as in the susceptibility to early onset of alcohol misuse.
Major depression impairs incentive processing: evidence from the heart and the face
Authors: Franzen Jessica , Brinkmann Kerstin , Gendolla Guido H. E. , Sentissi Othman 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe present study tested the hypothesis of a differential pattern of reward and punishment responsiveness in depression measuring effort mobilization during anticipation and facial expressions during consumption.MethodsTwenty patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 20 control participants worked on a memory task under neutral, reward, and punishment instructions. Effort mobilization was operationalized as cardiovascular reactivity, while facial expressions were measured by facial electromyographic reactivity. Self-report measures for each phase complemented this multi-method approach.ResultsDuring anticipation, MDD patients showed weaker cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP) reactivity to reward and blunted self-reported wanting, but weaker PEP reactivity to punishment and unchanged self-reported avoidance motivation. During consumption, MDD patients showed reduced zygomaticus major muscle reactivity to reward and blunted self-reported liking, but unchanged corrugator supercilii muscle reactivity to punishment and unchanged self-reported disliking.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate reduced effort mobilization during reward and punishment anticipation in depression. Moreover, they show reduced facial expressions during reward consumption and unchanged facial expressions during punishment consumption in depression.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HTAsiaLINK NETWORK AND ITS KEY DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS
Authors: Teerawattananon Yot , Luz Karlena , Yothasmutra Chalarntorn , Pwu Raoh-Fang , Ahn Jeonghoon , Shafie Asrul Akmal , Chalkidou Kalipso , Tantivess Sripen , Santatiwongchai Benjarin , Rattanavipapong Waranya , Dabak Saudamini 
Published: June 2018

Objectives:The aim of this study was to describe the historical development of the HTAsiaLink network, draw lessons for other similar initiatives globally, and to analyze key determinants of its success and challenges for its future development.Methods:This study is based on the collective and direct experiences of the founding members of the HTAsiaLink Network. Data were collected from presentations they made at various international forums and additional information was reviewed. Data analysis was done using the framework developed by San Martin-Rodriguez et al.Results and Conclusions:HTAsiaLink is a network of health technology assessment (HTA) agencies in Asia established in 2011 with the aim of strengthening individual and institutional HTA capacity, reducing duplication and optimizing resources, transfer and sharing of HTA-related lessons among members, and beyond. During its 6 years, the network has expanded, initiating several capacity building activities and joint-research projects, raising awareness of the importance of HTA within the region and beyond, and gaining global recognition while establishing relationships with other global networks. The study identifies the determinants of success of the collaboration. The systemic factors include the favorable outlook toward HTA as an approach for healthcare priority setting in countries with UHC mandates. On organizational factors, the number of newly established HTA agencies in the region with similar needs for capacity building and peer-to-peer support was catalytic for the network development. The interactional aspects include ownership, trust, and team spirit among network members. The network, however, faces challenges notably, financial sustainability and management of the expanded network.