bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Black/White Breast Cancer Mortality Disparities: A Difference-in-Difference Analysis
Authors: Semprini Jason , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. 
Published: October 2019

PURPOSE This analysis used a difference-in-difference (DID) fixed effects regression model to evaluate the impact of Medicaid Expansion on the disparity between black and white breast cancer mortality rates. Medicaid Expansion was designed to increase access to health care. Evidence is mixed, but theory and empirical data suggest that lower cost of care, through greater access to insurance, increases health care utilization and possibly improves the health of poor and sick populations. The goal of Medicaid Expansion was to improve equity. However, this major health policy has yet to be thoroughly investigated for its effect on health disparities. Many widely accepted methods exist to evaluate variations in health policy, but few studies have used such quasi-experimental designs to explore health disparities. The current study is motivated by one of today’s most stark inequalities: the disparity in breast cancer mortality rates between black and white women. To test the impact Medicaid Expansion had on the black/white breast cancer mortality ratio, a DID analysis calculated the policy’s average treatment effect (ATE). METHODS State-level breast cancer mortality data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each state’s Medicaid Expansion status was provided by a Kaiser Family Foundation white paper. Two tests were conducted: one compared all expanding states with all nonexpanding states, and the other compared all expanding states with nonexpanding states that voted to expand (but did not by 2014). Fixed-effects and random-effects regression models were constructed for each specific age group. A Hausman test was calculated to determine which model was most appropriate. The DID regression models considered the year 2014 a wash-out period and compared 2012 and 2013 (pretreatment) to 2015 and 2016 (post-treatment). A graph was presented to test the necessary parallel trend assumption for expanding and nonexpanding states. DID estimators (average treatment effect) and respective P values were reported for each age group. Non–Medicaid-eligible age groups were included as a pseudo-control. RESULTS Medicaid Expansion did not lower the disparity in breast cancer mortality. Converse to expectations, the black/white mortality ratio increased in states expanding Medicaid for all Medicaid-eligible age groups, with significant effects in younger age groups ( P = .01 to .15). CONCLUSION Investigators should use proven quasi-experimental methods to analyze the effect of policy variation on health disparities. Policy makers must consider institutional factors that may limit minority groups from benefiting from macrochanges in health policy. These results suggest that states cannot solely rely on access to insurance to alleviate disparities in cancer or other chronic conditions. More exploration into the impacts of low-quality health systems remain warranted.
Using Technology to Improve Quality of Cancer Care in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Silas O.A. , Achenbach C.J. , Hou L. , Murphy R.L. 
Published: October 2019

PURPOSE To highlight the importance of adapting affordable, holistic point-of-care technology (POCT) and data management software to improve quality of cancer care in resource-limited settings. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and was responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018, with low- and middle-income countries accounting for as much as 70% of these deaths. METHODS In 2004, the WHO outlined a set of criteria, called the ASSURED guidelines, to promote affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, robust, equipment-free, and deliverable to end-user POCT. Although advances in POC cancer technology are relatively underexploited, early successes show that the field has significant potential to contribute to improving cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. RESULTS The current global disparity in cancer care can be addressed through mobilization of the research community to improve POCT, funding unique POCT concepts adapted for resource-limited settings, and training of scientists and engineers in designing robust data management software, such as the research electronic data capture for cancer research. CONCLUSION Improving cancer care holistically requires use of POCT with designs adapted to resource-limited settings and leveraging software with robust features for cancer research.
Frequencies of parasite infections among students of primary school in Al Kalakla Locality, Khartoum State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdalazim Hassan Hala , Abd Alla Ahmed Bakheet , Elfaki Tayseer Elamin Mohamed , Saad Mohammed Baha Eldin Ahmed 
Published: October 2019

Background:Intestinal parasite spread in tropical countries is especially common among primary school students. This study aimed to determine the frequencies of the intestinal parasite in Alkalakla locality, Khartoum state.Methods:This study was conducted in school students in Al-kalakla locality in Khartoum state from period between 20th December 2016 to 5th May 2017. Stool samples were collected from 134 randomly selected students, of whom 67 were males and 67 were females. All samples were examined using the wet preparation technique, formal ether concentration technique and saturated sugar floatation technique.Results:The frequency of intestinal parasites was 35.5% overall in the students examined; females were more affected than males (38.8% and 32.8%, respectively). The more affected age groups were 12-14 years followed by 9-11 and 6-8 years old (53.8%, 36.3% and 26.4% respectively). The least frequent intestinal parasite wasTaeniaspp. (1.5%) followed byGiardia lamblia(3.7%),Schistosoma mansoniandAscaris lumbricoides(5.2% each),Entamoeba coli(7.5%),Hymenolepis nana(10.4%), andEntamoeba histolytica(16.4%). In total, 20.9% were infected with single parasite while 14.9% were infected with more than one parasite. The frequency of parasite by formal ether concentration method was 35.8 %, by wet preparation method was 17.9 % and by the saturated sugar flotation method was 16.4%.Conclusion:Our data showed that intestinal parasites were common in school students; however, females were more affected than males and the 12-14-years age group was the most affected age group. The formal ether concentration method was the best method for detecting of intestinal parasite.
Representing antibiotic relationships using measurements of efficacy against clinical isolates
Authors: Shaw Liam 
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worrying and confusing problem for both patients and medical professionals. Current antimicrobial nomenclature makes it difficult to understand how different antibiotics are related to one another, and their empirical uses and efficacy. Here, I attempt to address this problem by using experimental data from hundreds of thousands of clinical isolates to infer relationships between antibiotics and represent them with simple diagrams. Methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a bacterial isolate for a given antibiotic is defined as the lowest concentration that prevents visible growth. Measuring MICs for multiple antibiotics using the same isolate implicitly records the relationships of the antibiotics for a given species. The basic principle is that antibiotics with similar mechanisms of action should give rise to similar mechanisms of resistance, so should have correlated MICs across large numbers of isolates. This information can then be used to calculate distances between antibiotics based on pairwise correlations of their rank-ordered MICs. I apply this approach to a large historical AMR surveillance dataset (the Pfizer ATLAS surveillance dataset, 2004-2017). Results. I demonstrate that clustering antibiotics in this way allows a simple visual comparison of how similar antibiotics are to each other based on their efficacy within a species. The resulting visualizations broadly recapitulate antibiotic classes. They also clearly show the dramatic effects of combining beta-lactam antibiotics with beta-lactamase inhibitors, as well as highlighting antibiotics which have unexpected correlations in MICs that are not predicted from their chemical similarities alone. Conclusion. Large AMR surveillance datasets can be used in a hypothesis-free manner to show relationships between antibiotics based on their real-world efficacy. The resulting 'data-driven' diagrams could be used as simple visual aids to explain the complexity of antibiotic relationships and AMR.
Occupational therapy interventions in mental health: a scoping review of recent evidence
Authors: Petersen Kirsten Schultz , Bjørkedal Siv Therese Bogevik , Torsting Anne Marie , Eplov Lene Falgaard 
Published: October 2019

Background/Aims Studies investigating the effect of occupational therapy in mental health are few. This scoping review aims to identify, present and assess studies that have investigated the effect of occupation- and activity-based/focused interventions performed by occupational therapists in mental health. Methods The scoping review involved searching six databases, covering articles from 2003 to 2018. ‘The Matrix Method’ was used to describe and synthesise the content of the included studies. The Oxford Level of Evidence was used to rank the evidence, and The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme was used to assess the quality of the study. Results A total of 21 original studies and 4 systematic reviews were included in this review. Interventions, approaches, programmes, training, and activities such as cooking, artwork, crafts, pottery, sports, calligraphy, horticulture, and music, organised individually or in groups, were investigated in the included studies. Individualised occupational therapy showed clinically significant improvements in social functioning and cognition, promising results were found on supported employment and education. Conclusions Few high-quality studies that have investigated the effect of occupation-and activity-based/focused interventions performed by occupational therapists in mental health were found. This scoping review highlights the importance of future high quality studies to support evidence-based practice within mental health occupational therapy.
Reliability of a novel method for measuring maximal voluntary mouth opening in patients with oral carcinoma
Authors: Gangavelli Ranganath , Prabhu Anupama , Sundaresan Priyadarshini , Sameera Quratul Ain 
Published: October 2019

Background/Aims Mouth opening is a routine and vital activity of daily life that facilitates ingestion and speech. It is often found to be limited in patients with oral carcinoma. Measuring mouth opening is essential to detect the therapeutic effect of an intervention aiming to improve it. During measurement, the procedure needs to be reliable, simple, inexpensive and safe. This study aimed to determine the intrarater and interrater reliability of a novel method of measuring maximal voluntary mouth opening in patients with oral carcinoma. Methods Patients aged between 40 and 60 years of either gender with a diagnosis of oral carcinoma and presenting with difficulty in mouth opening were recruited. The distance between incisors was marked on standard sized paper slips as the participants performed maximal voluntary mouth opening. Distance between the markings was measured with a ruler in millimeters. The measurement procedures were carried out by two independent investigators. Results A total of 15 patients (12 male and 3 female) with a mean age of 52.53 ± 8.28 years participated in the study. Mean maximal voluntary mouth opening measure was <35 mm, indicating restricted mouth opening in these patients. Intrarater reliability of 0.95 (0.87–0.98) and interrater reliability of 0.96 (0.89–0.98) were found for the measurements. Conclusions The reliability of maximal voluntary mouth opening measurement using this novel technique was found to be excellent. This technique can be used in the routine clinical evaluation of patients with oral carcinoma.
The effects of intensity and duration of aerobic exercise on spatial memory function in male Wistar rats
Authors: Kartinah Neng Tine , Yolanda Sophie , Bariroh Tahyatul 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND Memory is a vital function of the brain. Aerobic exercise has a positive effect on memory’s function, but the appropriate combination of intensity and duration of aerobic exercise is still unknown. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of optimum combinations of intensity and duration of aerobic exercise on spatial memory function.
METHODS In this study, the authors performed in vivo experiment using 20 male Wistar rats (6-month-old). They were randomly divided into four groups: (1) low-intensity and short duration aerobic exercise group (L–S); (2) low-intensity and long duration aerobic exercise group (L–L); (3) high-intensity and short duration aerobic exercise group (H– S); and (4) high-intensity and long duration aerobic exercise group (H–L). The aerobic exercise treatment of each group was conducted for three weeks with a frequency of five days a week. The memory function was assessed with the help of water-E-maze on week 0, 1, 2, and 3 (a total of four times).
RESULTS This study indicates that the central nervous system responds to aerobic exercise as an external stimulus differently depending on the combinations of intensity and duration. Moreover, this study demonstrates that changes in memory functions are best observed in the group with low-intensity and long duration aerobic exercise.
CONCLUSIONS The combination of low-intensity and long duration of aerobic exercise for animal study can improve spatial memory functions better than any other combinations of intensity and duration of aerobic exercises in male Wistar rats.
Gluthathione S-transferase-resuscitation-promoting factor B recombinant protein of <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> induces the production of interferon-γ and interleukin-12 in mice splenocytes
Authors: Rukmana Andriansjah , Rasyid Burhanuddin , Sjatha Fitriyah 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND As the only TB vaccine available, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin shows variable efficacy in adults and does not provide protection against the resuscitation of latent TB infections. Resuscitation-promoting factor B (RpfB) is a protein produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the resuscitation phase and is promising as a novel TB vaccine. This study was aimed to analyze the immunogenicity of the gluthathione S-transferase (GST)-RpfB recombinant protein on mice splenocytes in vitro. METHODS After induction with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside, the protein was extracted by sonication followed by solubilization in 8 M urea buffer. Protein was then re-natured and purified with a GST chromatography column. The isolated protein was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot using anti-GST antibodies, and its concentration was determined using the Bradford method. Each group of splenocytes was treated with 25 μg/ ml of the recombinant protein (GST-RpfB), GST, and phytohemagglutinin. Antigen induction was repeated twice at 24 and 72 hours. The supernatant was collected at 96 hours and interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10) levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS GST-RpfB recombinant proteins were expressed in the form of inclusion bodies with a molecular weight of approximately 66 kDa. Based on the independent t-test, GST-RpfB stimulated IFNγ and IL-12 production but not IL-4 and IL-10. CONCLUSIONS The GST-RpfB protein has been immunogenically proven and is a potential candidate as a novel subunit TB vaccine.
A Meshfree Numerical Technique Based on Radial Basis Function Pseudospectral Method for Fisher’s Equation
Authors: Arora Geeta , Bhatia Gurpreet Singh 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis paper concerns with the implementation of radial basis function pseudospectral (RBF-PS) method for solving Fisher’s equation. Pseudospectral methods are well known for being highly accurate but are limited in terms of geometric flexibility. Radial basis function (RBF) in combination with the pseudospectral method is capable to overcome this limitation. Using RBF, Fisher’s equation is approximated by transforming it into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). An ODE solver is used to solve the resultant ODEs. In this approach, the optimal value of the shape parameter is discussed with the help of leave-one out cross validation strategy which plays an important role in the accuracy of the result. Several examples are given to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method. RBF-PS method is applied using different types of basis functions and a comparison is done based upon the numerical results. A two-dimensional problem that generalizes the Fisher’s equation is also solved numerically. The obtained numerical results and comparisons confirm that the use of RBF in pseudospectral mode is in good agreement with already known results in the literature.
A review of 2D and 3D plasmonic nanostructure array patterns: fabrication, light management and sensing applications
Authors: Kasani Sujan , Curtin Kathrine , Wu Nianqiang 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This review article discusses progress in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) chip-based nanostructure array patterns. Recent advancements in fabrication techniques for nano-arrays have endowed researchers with tools to explore a material’s plasmonic optical properties. In this review, fabrication techniques including electron-beam lithography, focused-ion lithography, dip-pen lithography, laser interference lithography, nanosphere lithography, nanoimprint lithography, and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template-based lithography are introduced and discussed. Nano-arrays have gained increased attention because of their optical property dependency (light-matter interactions) on size, shape, and periodicity. In particular, nano-array architectures can be tailored to produce and tune plasmonic modes such as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), surface plasmon polariton (SPP), extraordinary transmission, surface lattice resonance (SLR), Fano resonance, plasmonic whispering-gallery modes (WGMs), and plasmonic gap mode. Thus, light management (absorption, scattering, transmission, and guided wave propagation), as well as electromagnetic (EM) field enhancement, can be controlled by rational design and fabrication of plasmonic nano-arrays. Because of their optical properties, these plasmonic modes can be utilized for designing plasmonic sensors and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors.
Crystal structure of biaqua(2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylato-κ2
N,N′)(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ3
O,N,O′)nickel(II) hydrate, C19H15N3NiO10
Authors: Jiang Jin-Ke , Yang Ying-Wen , Jiang Hui 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
C19H15N3NiO10, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.7175(10) Å, b = 10.6780(10) Å, c = 15.0802(16) Å, β = 96.786(9)°, V = 2033.5(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0358, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0960, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of catena-{[tri-aqua-di-sodium bis(2-{[n-butyl(methyl)carbamothioyl]sulfanyl}acetate)]}n, [C16H34N2Na2O7S4]n
Authors: Lo Kong Mun , Lee See Mun , Tiekink Edward R.T. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
[C16H34N2Na2O7S4]n, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 5.3734(1) Å, b = 11.0473(2) Å, c = 22.2264(5) Å, α = 102.075(2)°, β = 96.202(2)°, γ = 97.383(2)°, V = 1267.06(5) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0335, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0941, T = 100(2) K.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[diaqua-bis(3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-carboxybenzoato-κ1
O)-(μ2-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2
N:N′)cobalt(II)], C26H14Br8CoN2O10
Authors: Li Yong-Shuang , Luo Jia-Yang , He Man-Qiu , Han Min-Le 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
C26H14Br8CoN2O10, orthorhombic, Pbcn (no. 60), a = 24.3935(3) Å, b = 11.4505(1) Å, c = 11.7004(1) Å, V = 3268.13(6) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0313, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0819, T = 293 K.
Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy for lower gastrointestinal neoplasms with peritoneal metastasis: a systematic review and critical analysis
Authors: Soucisse Mikael L. , Liauw Winston , Hicks Gabrielle , Morris David L. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundEarly postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) can be used in combination with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of multiple origins. The present study is a systematic review to evaluate the role of EPIC after CRS + HIPEC for appendiceal and colorectal cancers with PC.ContentWe conducted a systematic search in PubMed according to the PRISMA guidelines and included all studies published before June 27 of 2019 comparing EPIC to HIPEC or the combination of both. Our search found 79 articles. After excluding non-relevant articles, a total of 13 retrospective clinical studies reporting on the efficacy and safety of EPIC compared to HIPEC or as a combination therapy for lower gastrointestinal neoplasms were analyzed. Initial EPIC reports led to its declined usage because of concerns with increased postoperative morbidity and uncertain added benefit on survival. Recent retrospective studies have been promising, showing significant improvements in OS and fewer issues with complications when adding EPIC to CRS + HIPEC.ConclusionsCurrent evidence is entirely retrospective and is conflicting. It is hoped that ongoing clinical trials and additional studies will clarify EPIC’s role in the treatment of patients with PC.
Semiospheric translation types reconsidered from the translation semiotics perspective
Authors: Jia Hongwei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Due to the logical problems of unclear boundaries, staggered parallels, disordered standard, etc., existing in Jakobson’s intralingual, interlingual, and intersemiotic translations, the first triadic division of translation in terms of semiotics has been criticized since the 1980s. However, most of the previous semiotic research in China and the world at large still stays on the interlingual translation (in the narrow sense) of literary texts, neglecting semiotic transformations as a sign activity and semiosis between tangible signs and intangible ones in the same and/or different period(s) of time, within the same ethnic culture or across the distinctive ethnic cultures. Hereby, it is necessary to refer to and redefine the term “semiosphere” introduced by Yuri Lotman in 1984 and the literatures after, to revise intrasemiospheric translation, intersemiospheric translation, and suprasemiospheric translation introduced in Jia(2016b. A translation-semiotic perspective of Jakobson’s tripartite of translation. Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages 5. 11–18; Jia 2017. Roman Jakobson’s triadic division of translation revisited. Chinese Semiotics Studies 13(1). 31–46), and to elaborate on their nature, structure, content, and connotative significance. This is not only conducive to building translation semiotics as a subfield of general semiotics, but also to broadening the theoretical visions of applied semiotics and translation studies, and verifying the theoretical validity of general semiotics and translation semiotics in interpreting and explaining the semiotic transformations in translation as a special sign activity.