bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of direct‐acting antiviral treatment in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis: A multicenter study
Authors: Itokawa Norio , Atsukawa Masanori , Tsubota Akihito , Ikegami Tadashi , Shimada Noritomo , Kato Keizo , Abe Hiroshi , Okubo Tomomi , Arai Taeang , Iwashita Ai‐Nakagawa , Kondo Chisa , Mikami Shigeru , Asano Toru , Matsuzaki Yasushi , Toyoda Hidenori , Kumada Takashi , Iio Etsuko , Tanaka Yasuhito , Iwakiri Katsuhiko 
Published: October 2018

AimAlthough the development of new direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has markedly advanced, the effects of cirrhosis on DAA treatment remain unclear. We aimed to clarify the impact of cirrhosis on DAA treatment of patients infected with HCV.MethodsThis large‐scale, multicenter, retrospective study consisted of 2130 HCV genotype 1b‐infected patients who were treated with one of the following DAA combination therapies: asunaprevir/daclatasvir (ASV/DCV), ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), or paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir (PTV/OBV/r). Ninety‐two patients (4.3%) previously received DAA‐based treatment. Seven hundred and forty‐five patients (34.9%) had cirrhosis.ResultsOverall, the sustained virologic response (SVR) rate was 93.0%. The SVR rates in patients who received ASV/DCV, LDV/SOF, or PTV/OBV/r were 90.0%, 96.9%, and 97.6%, respectively. The SVR rate in patients with cirrhosis (89.1%) was significantly lower than that in patients without cirrhosis (95.1%, P = 6.94 × 10–7). In the multivariate analysis for the overall cohort, absence of cirrhosis (P = 1.26 × 10–3), no previous DAA‐based treatment (P = 2.54 × 10–14), low HCV‐RNA levels (P = 1.64 × 10–6), wild‐type non‐structural protein 5A L31/Y93 (P = 7.33 × 10–13), and DAA regimen (LDV/SOF or PTV/OBV/r) (P = 1.92 × 10–14) were independent factors contributing to SVR. Except for patients with DAA‐based treatment history, absence of cirrhosis (P = 2.15 × 10–3; odds ratio, 2.51) was an independent factor contributing to SVR in 2038 DAA‐naïve patients.ConclusionThis study suggests that the presence of cirrhosis reduces the SVR rate of DAA treatment, regardless of the type of DAA treatment.
Chronological changes in epidemiological characteristics of lower urinary tract urolithiasis in Japan
Authors: Sakamoto Shinichi , Miyazawa Katsuhito , Yasui Takahiro , Iguchi Taro , Fujita Misuzu , Nishimatsu Hiroaki , Masaki Takuro , Hasegawa Toru , Hibi Hatsuki , Arakawa Takashi , Ando Ryosuke , Kato Yoshinari , Ishito Noritaka , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Takazawa Ryoji , Tsujihata Masao , Taguchi Makoto , Akakura Koichiro , Hata Akira , Ichikawa Tomohiko 
Published: October 2018

ObjectivesTo determine changes and trends in the annual incidence and epidemiological aspects of lower urinary tract stones in Japan.MethodsData about patients who had been diagnosed by urologists in 2015 with first and recurrent lower urinary tract stones were collected from 301 hospitals approved by the Japanese Board of Urology. The estimated annual incidence according to sex, age and stone composition was compared with previous nationwide surveys between 1965 and 2005.ResultsThe incidence of lower urinary tract stones in Japan has steadily increased from 4.7 per 100 000 in 1965 to 12.0 per 100 000 in 2015. However, the age standardized annual incidence of lower urinary tract stones has remained relatively stable over the same period at 5.5 per 100 000 and 6.0 per 100 000 in 1965 and 2015, respectively. The increase in incidence was most evident among individuals aged ≥80 years. The incidence of calcium oxalate stones has steadily increased among males and females, whereas that of infection‐related stones has significantly decreased from 26.2% to 14.3% among men over the past 50 years.ConclusionsNationwide surveys suggest a steady increase in the incidence of lower urinary tract stones over a 50‐year period in Japan. This trend might reflect changes in the aging population and improved Japanese medical standards.
Intention or Attention Before Pointing: Do Infants’ Early Holdout Gestures Reflect Evidence of a Declarative Motive?
Authors: Boundy Laura , Cameron‐Faulkner Thea , Theakston Anna 
Published: October 2018

Gestures are the first signs of intentional communication within prelinguistic infants and can reflect various motives, including a declarative motive to share attention and interest. The ability to use gestures declaratively has been linked to later language development; therefore, it is important to understand the origins of this motive. Previous research has focused on the use of declarative pointing at around 12 months; however, other potential forms of declarative communication, such as holdout gestures, are yet to be studied in detail. The purpose of this study was to examine whether from 10 months, infants use holdouts declaratively. We elicited holdouts from 36 infants and then reacted to these gestures in four different conditions: (1) joint attention: shared interest; (2) infant attention: attended to infant; (3) toy attention: attended to toy; (4) ignore: gesture was not attended to. Infants’ behavioral responses were recorded. When the experimenter engaged in joint attention, infants were significantly more likely to display a positive attitude and produced fewer re‐engagement attempts. In contrast, the three non‐joint attention conditions displayed significantly higher negative attitudes and attempts to re‐engage the experimenter. We conclude that infants display declarative communication prior to 12 months, resetting the age at which these more complex skills emerge.
Discussing accrued‐to‐date liabilities
Authors: Wiener Mitchell , Stokoe Philip 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe international statistical community has a growing interest in the liabilities of pension and social security systems. The System of National Accounts 2008 encourages countries to provide detailed information in a supplementary table on pensions. The IMF Government finance statistics manual also encourages reporting of public‐sector balance sheets as part of government debt, and the European Union (EU) has mandated that all EU Member States compile estimates of accrued‐to‐date (ADL) liabilities for all pensions, including public‐sector pensions and social security schemes. The ADL liabilities for public‐sector pensions, which are often defined benefit, and typically financed on an unfunded (pay‐as‐you‐go) or partially funded basis, are likely to be very large in some countries, receive significant public scrutiny, and be misunderstood and/or misused. The article begins by reviewing the current requirements, disparity and ambiguity in existing accounting and actuarial standards. It notes the opportunities for “accounting arbitrage”, where countries can provide similar benefits in a different form to avoid placing these pension liabilities on the government balance sheet and/or to avoid required disclosure of pension liabilities. This article concludes that the ADL for social security and government‐sponsored pension programmes has little or no meaning, does not provide any information about the fiscal sustainability of a country's pension programmes and does not provide any useful information for comparing pension plans across countries. It argues that the best measure of fiscal sustainability for unfunded or partially funded pension programmes that are financed on a pay‐as‐you‐go basis is the financing gap, and that this “open group” measure of fiscal sustainability should be published alongside the ADL, supplemented by information on coverage rates, replacement ratios and expenditures as a per cent of GDP. The article concludes that pension expenditures as a per cent of GDP is probably the single best measure for cross‐country comparison.
Regaining agency and autonomy: A grounded typology of concealed pregnancy
Authors: Murphy‐Tighe Sylvia , Lalor Joan G. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAimTo explore and understand the experience of concealed pregnancy and develop a framework for practitioners.BackgroundNumerous cases of concealed pregnancy resulting in serious outcomes including maternal and perinatal death, newborn abandonment, and neonaticide are reported internationally. Historically concealed pregnancy is associated with oppressive religious cultures where premarital pregnancy was shunned. Concealed pregnancy has traditionally been viewed through a biomedical lens and associated with mental illness but this assertion remains unsubstantiated by robust evidence.DesignA Glaserian grounded theory study was undertaken.Data SourcesThirty women were interviewed, between 2014 – 2016, on up to three occasions (46 interviews) and 22 cases of public interest were included as data.MethodsThe constant comparative method and theoretical sampling which are the analytical strategies of grounded theory were used to analyse the data and generate the typology.ResultsConcealed pregnancy is a fearful, life‐altering, and traumatic experience. Women with a history of controlling and oppressive relationships characterized by fear respond to a crisis pregnancy by keeping it secret. Many women's relationships were characterized by emotional, mental, sexual, or physical violence. Fear for one's survival is common, may render women unable to access care or support and can be so extreme that a woman may end her own life or give birth alone.ConclusionsThis typology of concealed pregnancy is intended to aid understanding the fear, trauma, and complexities associated with concealed pregnancy which is vital if practitioners are to provide sensitive, responsive and non‐judgemental care.
Actual condition survey regarding mismatch of measurements between radioimmunoassay and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay tests for anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody in real‐world clinical practice
Authors: Oikawa Yoichi , Kondo Takuma , Shimada Akira , Seino Yutaka , Kitaoka Masafumi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAnti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) is an important islet cell‐associated autoantibody for the diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus. In Japan, the GADA assay kit was recently changed from radioimmunoassay (RIA) to enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thereafter, a mismatched measurement between the two tests became apparent in clinical situations. The present study aimed to clarify the actual extent of mismatch between the two measurements on a larger‐scale real‐world clinical practice. In this cross‐sectional non‐local/non‐hospital‐based study, we collected anonymized data on GADA levels of 598 participants, who were simultaneously measured with GADA‐RIA and GADA enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay tests. We found that 34% of the GADA‐RIA‐positive participants showed negative results in the GADA enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay test; the mismatch was predominantly observed in participants with relatively low GADA‐RIA levels (<32 U/mL). This considerable mismatch might lead to physicians’ confusion in diagnosing type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Protein kinase C and protein kinase A are involved in the protection of recombinant human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 on glomeruli and tubules in diabetic rats
Authors: Yin Weiqin , Jiang Yongwei , Xu Shiqing , Wang Zai , Peng Liang , Fang Qing , Deng Tingting , Zhao Wanni , Zhang Wenjian , Lou Jinning 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionBlockade or reversal the progression of diabetic nephropathy is a clinical challenge. The aim of the present study was to examine whether recombinant human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (rhGLP‐1) has an effect on alleviating urinary protein and urinary albumin levels in diabetic rats.Materials and MethodsStreptozotocin‐induced diabetes rats were treated with rhGLP‐1 insulin and saline. Using immunostaining, hematoxylin–eosin, electron microscopy and periodic acid–Schiff staining to study the pathology of diabetic nephropathy, and we carried out quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry to identify the differentially expressed proteins. The mechanism was studied through advanced glycation end‐products‐induced tubular epithelial cells.ResultsrhGLP‐1 inhibits protein kinase C (PKC)‐β, but increases protein kinase A (PKA), which reduces oxidative stress in glomeruli and in cultured glomerular microvascular endothelial cells. In tubules, rhGLP‐1 increased the expression of two key proteins related to re‐absorption – megalin and cubilin – which was accompanied by downregulation of PKC‐β and upregulation of PKA. On human proximal tubular epithelial cells, rhGLP‐1 enhanced the absorption of albumin, and this was blocked by a PKC activator or PKA inhibitor.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that rhGLP‐1 can reverse diabetic nephropathy by protecting both glomeruli and tubules by inhibiting PKC and activating PKA.
Effect of concentration and consistency on ohmic heating
Authors: Leite Thiago Soares , Sastry Sudhir K. , Cristianini Marcelo 
Published: October 2018

AbstractOhmic heating (OH) is an emerging technology that has shown great potential in the food industry. Product consistency, concentration, and electrical conductivity are critical factors in OH. These variables are interrelated; how they affect each other, however, is not well described in the literature. This study aimed to verify the impact of concentration and consistency on OH, by evaluating the electrical conductivity of several carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions. CMC solutions of different concentration (0.5–3%) were processed by high‐pressure homogenization (HPH) at 100 and 200 MPa (unprocessed as control), to obtain solutions with different consistencies and same concentration. Electrical conductivity at 25 °C increased as solution concentration increased (ranging from 0.118 Sm−1 at 0.5% to 0.493 Sm−1 at 3%), and HPH treatment increase the electrical conductivity (ranging, at 3%, from 0.493 Sm−1 at 0 MPa to 0.575 Sm−1 at 200 MPa), however no significant difference between 100 and 200 MPa samples. Several correlations were possible to between concentration, consistency, and electrical conductivity. These correlations may be used as an indirect tool to determine consistency from electrical conductivity and may be applied in process and equipment design. The results corroborate the potential of OH in fluids with high consistency.Practical applicationsFood consistency is a critical factor in many processes, and ohmic heating shows a great potential for the treatment of highly viscous fluids. How rheological parameters impact ohmic processing without altering product composition has never been investigated. Moreover, the models developed in this study can be used as an indirect tool to estimate rheological parameters from electrical conductivity readings.
Analysis of volatile compounds of Tremella aurantialba fermentation via electronic nose and HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS
Authors: Dai Chunxia , Huang Xingyi , Lv Riqin , Zhang Zhicai , Sun Jun , Aheto Joshua Harrington 
Published: October 2018

AbstractTo detect the odor changes of the volatile compounds during the Tremella aurantialba (T. aurantialba) fermentation associated with its degree, electronic nose (E‐nose) technique, and headspace solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS) analyses were performed each day. E‐nose and GC‐MS were used to recognize the comprehensive aroma characterization and volatile compounds of T. aurantialba fermentation, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the data detected by E‐nose technique and GC‐MS. Support vector machine (SVM) was established to analyze E‐nose date for predicting the different stage of the T. aurantialba fermentation. The main volatile compounds were identified by GC‐MS analysis as alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, heterocyclic, and aromatic compounds. The results of PCA by E‐nose were more similar with that of GC‐MS. The discrimination rates of the SVM model were 100 and 97.14% in the training and testing sets. It can be concluded that E‐nose technique coupled with SVM classification tool has high potential to monitor the fermentation process. These may sufficiently demonstrate excellent promise for the E‐nose technique and GC‐MS method to be applied in the liquid state industry.Practical applicationsE‐nose combined with GC‐MS could detect the odor changes of the volatile compounds during the T. aurantialba fermentation. Both analytical techniques showed good performances in the classification of the fermentation degree of T. aurantialba. These may provide a theoretical basis for the design of the portable electronic nose, which would achieve the real‐time smell monitoring of liquid state fermentation of T. aurantialba associated with its degree of fermentation. This equipment can be used to determine the state of fermentation instead of workers. The E‐nose technique and HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS method could be applied in the liquid state fermentation industry in the future.
A novel active food packaging film for shelf‐life extension of minced beef meat
Authors: Shahbazi Yasser , Shavisi Nassim 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this study, effect of chitosan (CH) film enriched with cellulose nanoparticle (CN) separately and in combination with ethanolic propolis extract (EPE) on chemical (total volatile base nitrogen content, pH, protein carbonyl content, and peroxide value), microbial (total viable count, psychrotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae) and sensory (odor, color, and overall acceptability) properties of minced beef meat during refrigerated storage for 14 days was evaluated. Final microbial population decreased approximately 1–5.5 log CFU/g in treated samples compared to control (p < .05). Films containing EPE 2%, EPE 2% + CN 2%, and EPE 2% + CN 1% showed a promising approach for delaying microbial growth as well as lipid and protein oxidation of minced beef meat. There were no negative impacts on sensory properties of samples packed with EPE 2%, EPE 2% + CN 2%, and EPE 2% + CN 1%.Practical applicationsMeat is an important source of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It is extremely perishable due to high water content, pH, and availability of nutrients. The results of this study showed that minced beef meat's shelf life can be extended by 14 days using chitosan film containing ethanolic propolis extract (1 and 2%) separately and in combination with cellulose nanoparticle (1 and 2%). The synthesized designated films in our study are biodegradable, thus potential in modern active food packaging for the concern of food protection and environmental problems.
Central Nervous System Medication Burden and Risk of Recurrent Serious Falls and Hip Fractures in Veterans Affairs Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Aspinall Sherrie L. , Springer Sydney P. , Zhao Xinhua , Cunningham Francesca E. , Thorpe Carolyn T. , Semla Todd P. , Shorr Ronald I. , Hanlon Joseph T. 
Published: October 2018

ObjectivesTo examine the association between central nervous system (CNS) medication dosage burden and risk of serious falls, including hip fractures, in individuals with a history of a recent fall.DesignNested case–control study.SettingVeterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Living Centers (CLCs).ParticipantsCLC residents aged 65 and older with a history of a fall or hip fracture in the year before a CLC admission between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2009. Each case (n = 316) was matched to four controls (n = 1264) on age, sex, and length of stay.MeasurementsOutcomes were serious falls identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ACD‐9) or Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) E codes, diagnosis codes, or procedure codes associated with a VHA emergency department visit or hospitalization during the CLC stay. Bar code medication administration data were used to calculate CNS standardized daily doses (SDDs) for opioid and benzodiazepine receptor agonists, some antidepressants, antiepileptics, and antipsychotics received in the 6 days before the outcome date by dividing residents' actual CNS daily doses by the minimum effective geriatric daily doses and adding the results. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between total CNS medication dosage burden, categorized as 0, 1 to 2, and 3 or more SDDs, and the outcome of recurrent serious falls.ResultsMore cases (44.3%) than controls (35.8%) received 3.0 or more CNS SDDs (p = .02). Risk of serious falls was greater in residents with 3.0 or more SDDs than in those with 0 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03–2.14). Those with 1.0 to 2.9 SDDs had a risk similar to that of those with 0 SDDs (aOR=1.03, 95%CI=0.72–1.48).ConclusionNursing home residents with a history of a fall or hip fracture receiving 3.0 or more CNS SDDs were more likely to have a recurrent serious fall than those taking no CNS medications. Interventions targeting this vulnerable population may help reduce serious falls. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:74–80, 2019.
Macroeconomic Effects of Government Spending: The Great Recession was (Really) Different
Authors: KLEIN MATHIAS , LINNEMANN LUDGER 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe estimate the effect of government spending shocks on the U.S. economy with a time‐varying parameter vector autoregression. The recent Great Recession period appears to be characterized by uniquely large impulse responses of output to fiscal shocks. Moreover, the particularity of this period is underlined by highly unusual responses of several other variables. The pattern of fiscal shock responses neither completely fits the predictions of the New Keynesian model of an economy subject to the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates, nor does it suggest regular variation of fiscal policy effects depending on the state of the business cycle. Rather, the Great Recession period seems special in that government spending shocks had a strongly negative effect on the spread between corporate and government bond yields and a strongly positive effect on consumer confidence and private consumption spending.
The incidence of unexpected critical complications in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies according to the interval period between ultrasonographic evaluations
Authors: Kawaguchi Haruna , Ishii Keisuke , Muto Haruka , Yamamoto Ryo , Hayashi Shusaku , Mitsuda Nobuaki 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAimThis study aimed to evaluate the incidence of unexpected critical complications (UCC) in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies according to ultrasonographic scan interval.MethodsThis retrospective single‐center cohort study, conducted between January 2005 and April 2015, investigated the incidence of UCC in patients with MCDA twin pregnancies undergoing weekly ultrasound (Group A) and those undergoing biweekly ultrasound (Group B). We also examined the incidence of predictable critical complications according to ultrasound interval.ResultsOf all 385 cases, the total incidence of UCC was 20 (5.2%), including 14 cases of twin‐twin transfusion syndrome and 6 cases of intrauterine fetal death. The incidence of UCC was 3.9% in Group A and 9.0% in Group B (P = 0.046). In contrast, the incidence of predictable critical complications was 6.7% in Group A and 9.0% in Group B (P = 0.440).ConclusionThe incidence of UCC in patients with MCDA twin pregnancies was significantly lower in patients undergoing weekly ultrasound. Our results suggest that weekly ultrasound evaluation for patients with MCDA pregnancy is more effective for early detection of UCC such as intrauterine fetal death and twin‐twin transfusion syndrome ; however, further investigations are needed to determine whether weekly ultrasound evaluation can improve clinical outcomes.