bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapy on Postoperative Complications in Pediatric Crohn's Disease
Authors: Dotlacil Vojtech , Bronsky Jiri , Hradsky Ondrej , Frybova Barbora , Coufal Stepan , Skaba Richard , Rygl Michal 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Introduction The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) within the pediatric population is increasing worldwide. Despite a growing number of these patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor α therapy (anti-TNF-α), one-third of them still require surgery. There is limited data as to whether anti-TNF-α influences postoperative complications. We evaluated postoperative complications in patients who were or were not exposed to anti-TNF-α therapy in our institutional cohort.
Materials and Methods A retrospective review of CD patients who underwent abdominal surgery between September 2013 and September 2018 was performed. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were treated with anti-TNF-α within 90 days before surgery. Thirty-day postoperative complications were assessed using Clavien–Dindo classification (D-C); this examination included surgical site infections (SSIs), stoma complications, intra-abdominal septic complications, non-SSIs, bleeding, ileus, readmission rate, and return to the operating room. Mann–Whitney U-test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis.
Results Sixty-five patients (41 males) with a median age of 16 years (range: 7–19) at the time of operation were identified. The most common surgery was ileocecal resection in 49 (75%) patients. Forty-three (66.2%) patients were treated with anti-TNF-α preoperatively. Seven patients (11%) experienced postoperative complications. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complication in patients who did or did not receive anti-TNF-α before surgery (D-C minor 2.3% vs. 4.6%, p = 1; D-C major 7% vs. 9.1%, p = 1).
Conclusion The use of anti-TNF-α in pediatric CD patients within the 90 days prior to their abdominal surgery was not associated with an increased risk of 30-day postoperative complications.
Mitochondrial DNA: A Biomarker of Disease Severity in Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Authors: Bindi Edoardo , Li Bo , Zhou Haitao , Janssen Lok Maarten , Alganabi Mashriq , Angotti Rossella , Pierro Agostino 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Introduction There is a need to develop sensitive markers to diagnose or monitor the severity of intestinal damage in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) is increased in the intestine and blood of adults in response to intestinal ischemia and can trigger secondary organ damage. We hypothesize that mtDNA is increased during experimental NEC and that mtDNA levels are correlated to the degree of intestinal injury.
Materials and Methods NEC was induced in C57BL/6 mice (n = 18) (approval: 44032) by gavage feeding with hyperosmolar formula, hypoxia, and lipopolysaccharide administration from postnatal day (P) 5 to 9. Breastfed pups served as control (n = 15). Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and terminal ileum was harvested on P9. Reverse transcription quatitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure mtDNA (markers COX3, CYTB, ND1) and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-α[TNF-α]) in blood and ileum. Intestinal injury was scored blindly by four investigators and classified as no/minor injury (score 0 or 1) or NEC (score ≥2).
Results mtDNA is significantly increased in gut and blood of NEC mice (p < 0.05). Furthermore, mtDNA increases in intestine and blood proportionally to the degree of intestinal injury as indicated by a positive correlation with histological scoring and inflammation (r = 0.6; p < 0.05) (expression of IL-6 and TNF-α).
Conclusion Following NEC intestinal injury, mtDNA is released from the intestine into circulation. The blood level of mtDNA is related to the degree of intestinal injury. mtDNA can be a novel marker of intestinal injury and can be useful for monitoring the progression of NEC.
CoverBLIP: accelerated and scalable iterative matched-filtering for magnetic resonance fingerprint reconstruction*
Authors: Golbabaee Mohammad , Chen Zhouye , Wiaux Yves , Davies Mike 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Current popular methods for magnetic resonance fingerprint (MRF) recovery are bottlenecked by the heavy computations of a matched-filtering step due to the growing size and complexity of the fingerprint dictionaries in multi-parametric quantitative MRI applications. We address this shortcoming by arranging dictionary atoms in the form of cover tree structures and adopt the corresponding fast approximate nearest neighbour searches to accelerate matched-filtering. For datasets belonging to smooth low-dimensional manifolds cover trees offer search complexities logarithmic in terms of data population. With this motivation we propose an iterative reconstruction algorithm, named CoverBLIP, to address large-size MRF problems where the fingerprint dictionary i.e. discrete manifold of Bloch responses, encodes several intrinsic NMR parameters. We study different forms of convergence for this algorithm and we show that provided with a notion of embedding, the inexact and non-convex iterations of CoverBLIP linearly convergence toward a near-global solution with the same order of accuracy as using exact brute-force searches. Our further examinations on both synthetic and real-world datasets and using different sampling strategies, indicates between 2–3 orders of magnitude reduction in total search computations. Cover trees are robust against the curse-of-dimensionality and therefore CoverBLIP provides a notion of scalability—a consistent gain in time-accuracy performance—for searching high-dimensional atoms which may not be easily preprocessed (i.e. for dimensionality reduction) due to the increasing degrees of non-linearities appearing in the emerging multi-parametric MRF dictionaries.
Study of gravitational deflection of light ray
Authors: Roy Saswati , Sen Asoke Kumar 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Gravitational deflection of light ray is one of the famous predictions of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The deflection of light ray, as it passes around a gravitational mass, can be calculated by different methods such as null geodesics method and material medium approach. In this paper a comparative study will be done for gravitational deflection of light ray, calculated by different authors using different methods. In this study, different gravitating body such as static, rotating and charged body will be considered which are represented by Schwarzschild metric, Kerr metric, Reissner-Nordström metric and Janis-Newman-Winicour metric.
Black hole mass estimation of ULXs and its dependence on model parameters
Authors: Singha Akram Chandrajit , Devi A Senorita 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In the present work, we have analysed Chandra observational data of 38 galaxies which are obtained from the public data archive of Chandra X-ray Centre. 75 sources with data counts above 200 are considered for the analysis. The spectra of these sources were fitted using the absorbed disk blackbody model. Based on the estimated X-ray luminosity, we have categorized the sources into X-ray binaries (XRBs), ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), extremely luminous X-ray sources (ELXs) and hyperluminous X-ray sources (HLXs). We estimate the black hole (BH) mass of all the point sources detected in the sample galaxies using the disk blackbody model, assuming that the inner disk radius, Rin ∼ 10GM/c2. It is found that most of the ULXs and ELXs harbouring stellar mass black holes are in hard states while those harbouring intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs) are in soft states. In case of HLXs, those harbouring IMBHs are found to be in hard states whereas a small population of soft sources are seen harbouring stellar mass black holes thereby accreting above their Eddington luminosity.
Electrochemical behaviour of ternary MoS2/rGO heterostructure and PPyNTs nanocomposites for supercapacitor electrode
Authors: Sarmah D , Kumar A 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) are two dimensional materials used as charge storage electrode materials. MoS2-rGO heterostructures have been synthesized by self-assembly of positively charged MoS2 nanosheets with negatively charged graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets in varying ratios. GO was reduced by hydrothermal route without using any reducing agent. MoS2-rGO heterostructures were synthesized in 3 different ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1. MoS2-rGO/PPyNTs nanocomposite was prepared by adding 40 wt% of MoS2-GO nanocomposite in pre-synthesized PPyNTs followed by hydrothermal reduction of GO. Structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA. Further, electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated with cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Capacitive response is found to be highest for the 1:1 MoS2-rGO/PPyNTs/ITO electrode. 1:1 MoS2-rGO/PPyNTs/ITO ternary electrode delivers enhanced specific capacitance of 1561 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 current density and specific capacitance of 786 F g−1 (50% of capacitive retention) at 15 A g−1 exhibiting an excellent rate performance. 1:1 MoS2-rGO/PPyNTs/ITO ternary electrode exhibits 76 % of cycling stability after 5,000 charge-discharge cycles at 10-fold of current density.
Risk of particulate matter on birth outcomes in relation to maternal socio-economic factors: a systematic review
Authors: Heo Seulkee , Fong Kelvin C , Bell Michelle L 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
A growing number of studies provide evidence of an association between exposure to maternal air pollution during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth. Prevention of these health effects of air pollution is critical to reducing the adverse infant outcomes, which can have impacts throughout the life course. However, there is no consensus on whether the association between air pollution exposure and birth outcomes varies by maternal risk factors including demographic characteristics and socio-economic status (SES). Such information is vital to understand potential environmental health disparities. Our search found 859 unique studies, of which 45 studies met our inclusion criteria (January 2000–July 2019). We systematically reviewed the 45 identified epidemiologic studies and summarized the results on effect modifications by maternal race/ethnicity, educational attainment, income, and area-level SES. We considered adverse birth outcomes of preterm birth, LBW, small for gestational age (SGA), and stillbirth. Suggestive evidence of higher risk of particulate matter (PM) in infants of African–American/black mothers than infants of other women was found for preterm birth and LBW. We found weak evidence that PM risk was higher for infants of mothers with lower educational attainment for preterm birth and LBW. Due to the small study numbers, we were unable to conclude whether effect modification is present for income, occupation, and area-level SES, and additional research is needed. Furthermore, adverse birth outcomes such as SGA and stillbirth need more study to understand potential environmental justice issues regarding the impact of PM exposure during pregnancy on birth outcomes.
Assessment of Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Resistant Hypertension: Additional Insights Into the Pathophysiology of This Condition?
Authors: Alsharari Reem , Lip Gregory Y H , Shantsila Alena 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Good understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism(s) of resistant hypertension (RH) and the relationship to vascular dysfunction is important for optimal blood pressure control.

METHODS AND RESULTS
The aim of this review article is to summarize the available data on the methods of arterial stiffness assessment, and their usefulness in RH. Several studies that provide information on the noninvasive methods of evaluation of arterial stiffness have been discussed; specifically, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) tests. Increased arterial stiffness, elevated AIx, and impaired endothelial function all act as indicators and predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension (HTN).

CONCLUSION
Our review suggests that PWV and AIx are impaired in patients with severe HTN. Early assessment of these characteristics can potentially be of value in patients with RH.
BioSwitch: a tool for the detection of bistability and multi-steady state behaviour in signalling and gene regulatory networks
Authors: Yordanov Pencho , Stelling Joerg , Otero-Muras Irene 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Multi-steady state behaviour, and in particular multi-stability, provides biological systems with the capacity to take reliable decisions (such as cell fate determination). A problem arising frequently in systems biology is to elucidate whether a signal transduction mechanism or a gene regulatory network has the capacity for multi-steady state behaviour, and consequently for a switch-like response to stimuli. Bifurcation diagrams are a powerful instrument in non-linear analysis to study the qualitative and quantitative behaviour of equilibria including bifurcation into different equilibrium branches and bistability. However, in the context of signalling pathways, the inherent large parametric uncertainty hampers the (direct) use of standard bifurcation tools.

Results
We present BioSwitch, a toolbox to detect multi-steady state behaviour in signalling pathways and gene regulatory networks. The tool combines results from chemical reaction network theory with global optimization to efficiently detect whether a signalling pathway has the capacity to undergo a saddle node bifurcation, and in case of multi-stationarity, provides the exact coordinates of the bifurcation where to start a numerical continuation analysis with standard bifurcation tools, leading to two different branches of equilibria. Bistability detection in the G1/S transition pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is included as an illustrative example.

Availability and implementation
BioSwitch runs under the popular MATLAB computational environment, and is available at https://sites.google.com/view/bioswitch.
Independence conditions and the analysis of life history studies with intermittent observation
Authors: Cook Richard J , Lawless Jerald F 
Published: October 2019

SummaryMultistate models provide a powerful framework for the analysis of life history processes when the goal is to characterize transition intensities, transition probabilities, state occupancy probabilities, and covariate effects thereon. Data on such processes are often only available at random visit times occurring over a finite period. We formulate a joint multistate model for the life history process, the recurrent visit process, and a random loss to follow-up time at which the visit process terminates. This joint model is helpful when discussing the independence conditions necessary to justify the use of standard likelihoods involving the life history model alone and provides a basis for analyses that accommodate dependence. We consider settings with disease-driven visits and routinely scheduled visits and develop likelihoods that accommodate partial information on the types of visits. Simulation studies suggest that suitably constructed joint models can yield consistent estimates of parameters of interest even under dependent visit processes, providing the models are correctly specified; identifiability and estimability issues are also discussed. An application is given to a cohort of individuals attending a rheumatology clinic where interest lies in progression of joint damage.
‘The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name’: The Role of Compassion in Social Work Practice
Authors: Tanner Denise 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe concept of compassion has little prominence in social work literature or in social work curricula, in contrast with those of nursing. This is despite compassion being a valued attribute of social workers from the perspectives of service users. This article considers the meaning of compassion, possible reasons for its absence from social work parlance and its potential contribution to social work practice. Whereas empathy is seen as comprising affective and cognitive components, compassion is defined in terms of affective and behavioural elements. More specifically, compassion is perceived as comprising both of ‘feelings for’ the person who is suffering and a desire to act to relieve the suffering. The desire to act is distinct from the act itself. Focusing primarily on the ‘desire to act’ component of compassion, the article suggests that the emotional health and mental well-being of social workers may be enhanced, rather than jeopardised, by acknowledging, facilitating and nourishing compassionate relationships with service users. It proposes that the emotional risks to social workers emanate not from the toll of feeling compassion for those in distress, but rather from a thwarting of their desire to act to alleviate suffering. It is argued that organisations have an important role in facilitating compassionate practice and possible avenues are considered to bring compassion into the fold of social work education, practice and research.
Impact of physical activity, protein intake and social network and their combination on the development of frailty
Authors: Haider Sandra , Grabovac Igor , Drgac Deborah , Mogg Christine , Oberndorfer Moritz , Dorner Thomas Ernst 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Frailty is a geriatric condition associated with adverse health outcomes. As physical inactivity, low protein intake and poor social network are known risk factors, we aimed to assess the influence of these parameters and their interaction in an 11-year follow-up study on a Europe-wide level.

Methods
Data from the Study on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used, including 22 226 community-dwelling robust and prefrail persons aged ≥50 years, from 11 countries. Frailty was assessed with the ‘Frailty Instrument for Primary care of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe’. Additionally, self-reported physical activity (PA), protein intake and satisfaction with social network were assessed. The impact of these parameters on the development of frailty was calculated using multivariate cox regressions.

Results
Performing no regular PA, was associated with higher hazards ratio (HRs) for frailty compared with performing regular PA [men: 1.90 (95%CI: 1.50–2.42); women: 1.65 (95%CI: 1.25–2.18)]; HRs for low protein intake were 1.16 (95%CI: 0.93–1.46) for men and 1.05 (95%CI: 0.80–1.37) for women. And HR for poor social network were 0.92 (95%CI: 0.74–1.15) for men and 1.72 (95%CI: 1.31–2.27)] for women. In general, persons with a combination of two of the assessed risk factors had a higher risk for frailty compared with those with no or only one of the risk factors. However, no significant synergy index could be found.

Conclusion
The results illustrate the importance of PA, but also of nutritional and social network to prevent frailty.
The streptothricin acetyltransferase (sat) gene as a positive selectable marker for methanogenic archaea
Authors: Farley Kristen R , Metcalf William W 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
A repertoire of sophisticated genetic tools has significantly enhanced studies of Methanosarcina genera, yet the lack of multiple positive selectable markers has limited the types of genetic experiments that can be performed. In this study, we report the development of an additional positive selection system for Methanosarcina that utilizes the antibiotic nourseothricin and the Streptomyces rochei streptothricin acetyltransferase (sat) gene, which may be broadly applicable to other groups of methanogenic archaea. Nourseothricin was found to inhibit growth of four different methanogen species at concentrations ≤300 μg/ml in liquid or on solid media. Selection of nourseothricin resistant transformants was possible in two genetically tractable Methanosarcina species, M. acetivorans and M. barkeri, using the sat gene as a positive selectable marker. Additionally, the sat marker was useful for constructing a gene deletion mutant strain of M. acetivorans, emphasizing its utility as a second positive selectable marker for genetic analyses of Methanosarcina genera. Interestingly, two human gut-associated methanogens Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanomassillicoccus luminyensis were more sensitive to nourseothricin than either Methanosarcina species, suggesting the nourseothricin-sat gene pair may provide a robust positive selection system for development of genetic tools in these and other methanogens.
Sestrin2 as Serum Protein Marker and Potential Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Rai Nitish , Upadhyay Ashish Datt , Goyal Vinay , Dwivedi Sadanand , Dey Aparajit Ballav , Dey Sharmistha 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Sestrin2 (Sesn2) appears to mediate neuroprotection against Parkinson’s disease (PD)-associated pathophysiology, however, the mechanism is unknown. This pilot study examines serum Sesn2 level in PD patients and older adult control and also interrogates the rescue effect of Syzygium aromaticum extract on the neurotoxicity by paraquat in neuroblastoma cells. The blood sample was collected from 36 PD patients and 54 older adult control and concentration of serum Sesn2 was measured by surface plasmon resonance and western blot. A significantly elevated level of Sesn2 (p < .0001) was observed in sera of PD group (15.96 ± 2.428 ng/μL) than the control (13.65 ± 2.125 ng/μL) which was further confirmed by western blotting. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.76) determined the threshold value of ≥14.58 ng/μL for differentiating PD from control. The S aromaticum extract exhibited the rescue effect from paraquat induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Further, these cells showed dose-dependent downregulation of p53, Sesn2, and phosphorylated-AMPK with concomitant increase in phosphorylated-p70S6K level than paraquat-treated cells. The differential level of Sesn2 in study subjects proposes its utility as one of the potential serum markers in PD. The ethanolic extract of S aromaticum may serve as a novel platform for management of PD-associated neurotoxicity.