bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Waiting times in aged care: What matters?
Authors: Yu Serena , Byles Julie 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo assess consumer‐level socioeconomic factors associated with waiting times for access to aged care services, specifically community‐based care and permanent residential care.MethodsAdministrative data on assessment outcomes and admissions to services were linked with survey data at the person‐level and were used to implement a competing risks regression model. We estimated the association between health needs, and socioeconomic variables and subsequent waiting periods for individuals with approval for access.ResultsThe main consumer‐level factors driving waiting time were the individual's assessed needs, including health status, whether they lived alone and age. We found no evidence that socioeconomic status was associated with waiting times for community‐based care; however, admission to residential care reflected socioeconomic factors including education levels and geographical isolation.ConclusionThis paper provides baseline evidence for factors affecting wait times in aged care, essential for evaluating subsequent policy reforms aimed at reducing wait times and increasing equity of access and consumer choice.
Estimation of aboveground biomass in conserved areas of Stipa tenacissima L. stands in the high steppes of western Algeria by mean of the Landsat 8 imagery‐based vegetation indices
Authors: Benseghir Louaï , Kadi‐Hanifi Halima , Bachari Nour El Islam 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe main aim of this paper was to evaluate the use of OLI spectral data as a tool to assess the steppe vegetation in a conservation context. The field sampling was conducted for two specific areas of treatment (a) an exclosure area and (b) a free grazing area. After testing several vegetation indices (VIs), the optimal results were obtained for the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)‐based aboveground biomass model with r2 = 0.61 and r2 = 0.72 for total and perennial biomass, respectively. No difference between observed and predicted total and perennial biomass was found (p = 0.700 and p = 0.306, respectively). The comparison between the two treatments using the field sampling revealed a significant difference on total plant cover (p = 0.016) and total biomass (p = 0.005), with a plant cover of 50.6% and a biomass of 325.771 kg dry matter per hectare (kg DM ha−1) on average in grazed area and 66.9%, 1,407.869 kg DM ha−1 in exclosure. Finally, a concordance is noted between the results obtained by the NDVI‐based biomass model and the field sampling‐based biomass.
Retinal layer thickness in preclinical Alzheimer's disease
Authors: van de Kreeke Jacoba A. , Nguyen Hoang‐Ton , den Haan Jurre , Konijnenberg Elles , Tomassen Jori , den Braber Anouk , ten Kate Mara , Collij Lyduine , Yaqub Maqsood , van Berckel Bart , Lammertsma Adriaan A. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Tan Hendra Stevie , Verbraak Frank D. , Visser Pieter Jelle 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPurposeThere is urgent need for non‐invasive diagnostic biomarkers in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Several studies suggest that retinal thickness is reduced in AD. Here, we aim to test the diagnostic value of retinal thickness in preclinical AD, as defined by cognitively normal individuals with amyloid pathology on PET.MethodsOne hundred and sixty five cognitively healthy monozygotic twins aged ≥ 60 were included from the Netherlands Twin Register taking part in the European Medical Information Framework for Alzheimer's Disease PreclinAD study. Participants underwent [18F] flutemetamol PET that was visually rated for presence or absence of cortical amyloid beta (Aβ). Binding potential (BPND) was calculated as continuous measure for Aβ. Spectral Domain OCT was used to asses total and individual inner retinal layer thickness in the macular region (ETDRS circles) as well as peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness. Differences between Aβ+ and Aβ− individuals and associations between BPND and retinal thickness were analyzed.ResultsNo differences were found in retinal layer thickness in the macula or pRNFL between Aβ+ and Aβ− individuals. A positive associations between BPND and macular total retinal thickness was observed in the inner ring (p = 0.018), but this was not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing (p = 0.144). Brain/eye parameters had moderate to high intra‐twin correlations (p < 0.001) except visual rating score of Aβ, which did not correlate (r = 0.21, p = 0.068).ConclusionVariation in retinal thickness likely reflects genetic differences between individuals, but cannot discriminate between healthy and preclinical AD cases, making its use as biomarker in these early stages limited.
Activation of the prostaglandin E2 EP2 receptor attenuates renal fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstructed mice and human kidney slices
Authors: Jensen Michael Schou , Mutsaers Henricus A. M. , Tingskov Stine Julie , Christensen Michael , Madsen Mia Gebauer , Olinga Peter , Kwon Tae‐Hwan , Nørregaard Rikke 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimRenal fibrosis plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease, which affects 10% of the adult population. Previously, it has been demonstrated that the cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2)/prostaglandin (PG) system influences the progression of renal injury. Here, we evaluated the impact of butaprost, a selective EP2 receptor agonist, on renal fibrosis in several models of kidney injury, including human tissue slices.MethodsWe studied the anti‐fibrotic efficacy of butaprost using Madin‐Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, mice that underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction and human precision‐cut kidney slices. Fibrogenesis was evaluated on a gene and protein level by qPCR and Western blotting.ResultsButaprost (50 μM) reduced TGF‐β‐induced fibronectin (FN) expression, Smad2 phosphorylation and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in MDCK cells. In addition, treatment with 4 mg/kg/day butaprost attenuated the development of fibrosis in mice that underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction surgery, as illustrated by a reduction in the gene and protein expression of α‐smooth muscle actin, FN and collagen 1A1. More importantly, a similar anti‐fibrotic effect of butaprost was observed in human precision‐cut kidney slices exposed to TGF‐β. The mechanism of action of butaprost appeared to be a direct effect on TGF‐β/Smad signalling, which was independent of the cAMP/PKA pathway.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study demonstrates that stimulation of the EP2 receptor effectively mitigates renal fibrogenesis in various fibrosis models. These findings warrant further research into the clinical application of butaprost, or other EP2 agonists, for the inhibition of renal fibrosis.
Carbon monoxide releasing molecule enhances coagulation and decreases fibrinolysis in canine plasma exposed to Crotalus viridis venom in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Johnson Tyler E. , Wells Raegan J. , Bell Amy , Nielsen Vance G. , Olver Christine S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCarbon monoxide releasing molecule‐2 (CORM‐2), an emerging therapeutic in human medicine, enhances plasmatic coagulation and attenuates fibrinolysis in vitro in human, rabbit and horse plasma and ameliorates hypocoagulation and hyperfibrinolysis secondary to venom exposure in human plasma in vitro. Fibrinogenases in rattlesnake venom cause decreased clot strength, and in the presence of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in vitro, a markedly increased rate of clot lysis. CO interacts with a haem group on fibrinogen, changing its configuration so that the fibrin clot is strengthened and more resistant to fibrinolysis. We hypothesized that CORM‐2 enhances coagulation and attenuates fibrinolysis in canine plasma exposed to C viridis venom. We measured the effects of C viridis venom on clot strength, rates of coagulation and fibrinolysis in both pooled canine plasma and plasma from individual naturally envenomed dogs, with and without CORM‐2, using thromboelastography (TEG). We tested venom effects on coagulation using tissue factor (TF) activated TEG and on both coagulation and fibrinolysis using TF‐activated TEG with added tPA. We found that 17.9 µg/mL of venom causes a mean 26.4% decrease in clot strength, a 61.8% decrease in maximum rate of thrombus generation, 75% faster clot lysis, a 226% increase in maximum rate of lysis and a 92% decrease in total clot life span (CLS). CORM‐2 ameliorated these effects, increasing CLS in the presence of venom by 603%. Additionally, we showed that CORM‐2 has similar effects in vitro on plasma from naturally envenomed dogs, showing promise as an adjunct therapy for snake envenomation.
Gestational exposure to low‐dose zearalenone disrupting offspring spermatogenesis might be through epigenetic modifications
Authors: Men Yuhao , Zhao Yong , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Hongfu , Gao Yishan , Liu Jing , Feng Yanni , Li Lan , Shen Wei , Sun Zhongyi , Min Lingjiang 
Published: May 2019

AbstractZearalenone (ZEA), a F‐2 mycotoxin produced by Fusarium, has been found to be an endocrine disruptor through oestrogen receptor signalling pathway to impair spermatogenesis. The disruption on reproductive systems by ZEA exposure might be transgenerational. In our previous report, we have found that low dose (lower than no‐observed effect level, NOEL) of ZEA impaired mouse spermatogenesis and decreased mouse semen quality. The purpose of the current investigation was to explore the impacts of low‐dose ZEA on spermatogenesis in the offspring after prenatal exposure and the underlying mechanisms. And it demonstrated that prenatal low‐dose ZEA exposure disrupted the meiosis process to inhibit the spermatogenesis in offspring and even to diminish the semen quality by the decrease in spermatozoa motility and concentration. The DNA methylation marker 5hmC was decreased, the histone methylation markers H3K9 and H3K27 were elevated, and oestrogen receptor alpha was reduced in the offspring testis after prenatal low‐dose ZEA exposure. The data suggest that the disruption in spermatogenesis by prenatal low‐dose ZEA exposure may be through the modifications on epigenetic pathways (DNA methylation and histone methylation) and the interactions with oestrogen receptor signalling pathway. Moreover, in the current study, the male offspring were indirectly exposed to low‐dose ZEA through placenta and the spermatogenesis in offspring was disrupted which suggested that the toxicity of ZEA on reproductive systems was very severe. Therefore, we strongly recommend that greater attention should be paid to this mycotoxin to minimize its adverse impact on human spermatogenesis.
Cefoperazone/sulbactam therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with liver cirrhosis: Potential factors affecting the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target attainment
Authors: Dong Yuzhu , Li Ying , Zhang Ying , Zhang Tao , Zhu Li , Dong Yaling , Wang Taotao 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectivesCefoperazone/sulbactam trough concentration (Cmin) varies widely in cirrhotic patients. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of Cmin and to identify factors associated with the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment of cefoperazone/sulbactam in cirrhotic patients.MethodsData were collected retrospectively from cirrhotic patients who received cefoperazone/sulbactam treatment. The Cmin was measured using a validated liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. The PK/PD target of 100% fT > MIC was used for cefoperazone/sulbactam. Multivariate logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis were performed to identify the factors affecting the PK/PD target attainment in these patients.ResultsCefoperazone and sulbactam Cmin were measured simultaneously in 103 plasma samples from 70 cirrhotic patients. Cefoperazone and sulbactam Cmin were 89.27 ± 44.38 mg/L and 10.09 ± 13.01 mg/L, respectively. The PK/PD target of 100% fT > MIC was achieved in 47.1% (33/70) patients for cefoperazone and in 28.6% (20/70) patients for sulbactam. The CART analysis revealed that cefoperazone Cmin was likely to reach the PK/PD target in patients with serum bilirubin levels between 26.15 μmol/L and 99.15 μmol/L. Inversely, lower cefoperazone Cmin was observed in patients with bilirubin levels ≤26.15 μmol/L and serum albumin >38.45 g/L or in patients with bilirubin levels >99.15 μmol/L and creatinine clearance (CrCl) >139.13 mL/min. Additionally, patients had higher sulbactam Cmin when CrCl was below 62.85 mL/min.ConclusionsThis study shows that current cefoperazone/sulbactam dosage regimens may result in inadequate plasma concentrations in cirrhotic patients. We recommend monitoring the Cmin of cefoperazone/sulbactam to ensure efficacy of cefoperazone/sulbactam treatment.
Functional characterization of 27 CYP3A4 protein variants to metabolize regorafenib in vitro
Authors: Li Ying‐Hui , Lin Qian‐Meng , Pang Ni‐Hong , Zhang Xiao‐Dan , Huang Huan‐Le , Cai Jian-Ping , Hu Guo-Xin 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimRegorafenib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is mainly metabolized by CYP3A4. The genetic polymorphism of CYP3A4 would contribute to differences in metabolism of regorafenib. Previously, we had discovered several novel CYP3A4 variants. However, the catalytic characteristics of these 27 CYP3A4 variants on oxidizing regorafenib have not being determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the catalytic characteristics of 27 CYP3A4 protein variants on the oxidative metabolism of regorafenib in vitro.MethodWild‐type CYP3A4.1 or other variants was incubated with 0.5‐20 μmol/L regorafenib for 30 minutes. After sample processing, regorafenib‐N‐oxide, a primary metabolite, was detected by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry system.ResultCYP3A4.20 had no detectable enzyme activity compared with wild‐type CYP3A4.1; five variants (CYP3A4.5, .16, .19, .24, .29) exhibited similar clearance value with CYP3A4.1; four variants (CYP3A4.14, .15, .28, .31) displayed increased enzymatic activities, while remaining variants showed markedly decreased intrinsic clearance values.ConclusionThis study is the first to investigate the function of 27 CYP3A4 protein variants on the metabolism of regorafenib in vitro, and it may provide some valuable information for further research in clinic.
Does blended instruction enhance English language learning in developing countries? Evidence from Mexico
Authors: Xu Di , Glick Danny , Rodriguez Fernando , Cung Bianca , Li Qiujie , Warschauer Mark 
Published: May 2019

AbstractDespite steady investment in English language education made by developing countries over the past few decades, results continue to be constrained by lack of high‐quality instructors and language learning resources. Thus, using technology in language instruction has increasingly been recognized as a potential approach for addressing these constraints. This study uses administrative data from a large public university in Mexico to examine the impact of a technology‐enhanced blended program on students' English course grades and course completion rates. Specifically, we focus on a campus‐wide policy change in all compulsory English language courses that replaces half of the traditional face‐to‐face class time with an interactive online learning environment developed by a leading technology‐mediated English language learning and assessment provider. Our results suggest that, compared to traditional face‐to‐face instruction, blended learning had a significant, positive impact on students' course grades and course completion rates. In addition, the enrollment‐teacher ratio increased after replacing half of the face‐to‐face instructional time with online learning, suggesting that blended learning environments hold promise for providing high‐quality and cost‐effective language instruction.
A general framework for propagule dispersal in mangroves
Authors: Van der Stocken Tom , Wee Alison K. S. , De Ryck Dennis J. R. , Vanschoenwinkel Bram , Friess Daniel A. , Dahdouh‐Guebas Farid , Simard Marc , Koedam Nico , Webb Edward L. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTDispersal allows species to shift their distributions in response to changing climate conditions. As a result, dispersal is considered a key process contributing to a species' long‐term persistence. For many passive dispersers, fluid dynamics of wind and water fuel these movements and different species have developed remarkable adaptations for utilizing this energy to reach and colonize suitable habitats. The seafaring propagules (fruits and seeds) of mangroves represent an excellent example of such passive dispersal. Mangroves are halophytic woody plants that grow in the intertidal zones along tropical and subtropical shorelines and produce hydrochorous propagules with high dispersal potential. This results in exceptionally large coastal ranges across vast expanses of ocean and allows species to shift geographically and track the conditions to which they are adapted. This is particularly relevant given the challenges presented by rapid sea‐level rise, higher frequency and intensity of storms, and changes in regional precipitation and temperature regimes. However, despite its importance, the underlying drivers of mangrove dispersal have typically been studied in isolation, and a conceptual synthesis of mangrove oceanic dispersal across spatial scales is lacking. Here, we review current knowledge on mangrove propagule dispersal across the various stages of the dispersal process. Using a general framework, we outline the mechanisms and ecological processes that are known to modulate the spatial patterns of mangrove dispersal. We show that important dispersal factors remain understudied and that adequate empirical data on the determinants of dispersal are missing for most mangrove species. This review particularly aims to provide a baseline for developing future research agendas and field campaigns, filling current knowledge gaps and increasing our understanding of the processes that shape global mangrove distributions.
Effects of ecotourism on forest loss in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot based on counterfactual analyses
Authors: Brandt Jodi S. , Radeloff Volker , Allendorf Teri , Butsic Van , Roopsind Anand 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEcotourism is developing rapidly in biodiversity hotspots worldwide, but there is limited and mixed empirical evidence that ecotourism achieves positive biodiversity outcomes. We assessed whether ecotourism influenced forest loss rates and trajectories from 2000 to 2017 in Himalayan temperate forests. We compared forest loss in 15 ecotourism hubs with nonecotourism areas in 4 Himalayan countries. We used matching statistics to control for local‐level determinants of forest loss, for example, population density, market access, and topography. None of the ecotourism hubs was free of forest loss, and we found limited evidence that forest‐loss trajectories in ecotourism hubs were different from those in nonecotourism areas. In Nepal and Bhutan, differences in forest loss rates between ecotourism hubs and matched nonecotourism areas did not differ significantly, and the magnitude of the estimated effect was small. In India, where overall forest loss rates were the lowest of any country in our analysis, forest loss rates were higher in ecotourism hubs than in matched nonecotourism areas. In contrast, in China, where overall forest loss rates were highest, forest loss rates were lower in ecotourism hubs than where there was no ecotourism. Our results suggest that the success of ecotourism as a forest conservation strategy, as it is currently practiced in the Himalaya, is context dependent. In a region with high deforestation pressures, ecotourism may be a relatively environmentally friendly form of economic development relative to other development strategies. However, ecotourism may stimulate forest loss in regions where deforestation rates are low.
Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters
Authors: Theis Sebastian , Ruppert Jonathan L.W. , Roberts Karling N. , Minns Charles K. , Koops Marten , Poesch Mark S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractLand‐use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.
Swat: A system for detecting salient Wikipedia entities in texts
Authors: Ponza Marco , Ferragina Paolo , Piccinno Francesco 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe study the problem of entity salience by proposing the design and implementation of Swat, a system that identifies the salient Wikipedia entities occurring in an input document. Swat consists of several modules that are able to detect and classify on‐the‐fly Wikipedia entities as salient or not, based on a large number of syntactic, semantic, and latent features properly extracted via a supervised process, which has been trained over millions of examples drawn from the New York Times corpus. The validation process is performed through a large experimental assessment, eventually showing that Swat improves known solutions over all publicly available datasets. We release Swat via an API that we describe and comment in the paper to ease its use in other software.
Active learning Rotation Forest for multiclass classification
Authors: Kazllarof Vangjel , Karlos Stamatis , Kotsiantis Sotiris 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAlthough the achievements of the computer science field have facilitated the tasks of collecting, storing, and accessing vast amounts of data efficiently, its annotation still remains a non–easily resolvable problem since no automated mechanism can perform reliably enough. This fact is even more profound when the objective is the high quality of generalization ability. Active learning constitutes a scheme that is exploited for tackling such problems, controlling the demanded human effort under a trade‐off assumption concerning the achievement of higher accuracy rates. In this work, the well‐known Rotation Forest algorithm is integrated with the active learning theory for constructing a robust and accurate classifier. Thus, apart from exploiting the collected labeled data, unlabeled data mining takes place through appropriate queries, whereas human expert decisions over the most questionable of them enrich the initial ones. Comprehensive comparisons of the proposed algorithm against four distinct learners inside the same learning scheme were executed. Moreover, the baseline strategy of random sampling and the corresponding supervised scenarios were included. During the evaluation stage, 13 publicly available multiclass datasets were assessed, and the obtained results verified our assumptions, regarding also the significant supremacy of the proposed algorithm against the majority of its rivals.