bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ExonSkipDB: functional annotation of exon skipping event in human
Authors: Kim Pora , Yang Mengyuan , Yiya Ke , Zhao Weiling , Zhou Xiaobo 
Published: October 2019

AbstractExon skipping (ES) is reported to be the most common alternative splicing event due to loss of functional domains/sites or shifting of the open reading frame (ORF), leading to a variety of human diseases and considered therapeutic targets. To date, systematic and intensive annotations of ES events based on the skipped exon units in cancer and normal tissues are not available. Here, we built ExonSkipDB, the ES annotation database available at https://ccsm.uth.edu/ExonSkipDB/, aiming to provide a resource and reference for functional annotation of ES events in multiple cancer and tissues to identify therapeutically targetable genes in individual exon units. We collected 14 272 genes that have 90 616 and 89 845 ES events across 33 cancer types and 31 normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). For the ES events, we performed multiple functional annotations. These include ORF assignment of exon skipped transcript, studies of lost protein functional features due to ES events, and studies of exon skipping events associated with mutations and methylations based on multi-omics evidence. ExonSkipDB will be a unique resource for cancer and drug research communities to identify therapeutically targetable exon skipping events.
E-Cigarette Health Harm Awareness and Discouragement: Implications for Health Communication
Authors: Rohde Jacob A , Noar Seth M , Mendel Jennifer R , Hall Marissa G , Baig Sabeeh A , Ribisl Kurt M , Brewer Noel T 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Evidence for the health harms of e-cigarettes is growing, yet little is known about which harms may be most impactful in health messaging. Our study sought to identify which harms tobacco product users were aware of and which most discouraged them from wanting to vape.

Methods
Participants were a convenience sample of 1,872 U.S. adult e-cigarette-only users, cigarette-only smokers, and dual users recruited in August 2018. In an online survey, participants evaluated 40 e-cigarette harms from seven categories: chemical exposures, device explosions, addiction, cardiovascular harm, respiratory harm, e-liquid toxicity, and other harms. Outcomes were awareness of the harms (“check all that apply”) and the extent to which the harms discouraged vaping (5-point scale; (1) “not at all” to (5) “very much”).

Results
Awareness of most e-cigarette harms was modest, being highest for harms in the device explosions category of harms (44%) and lowest for the e-liquid toxicity category (16%). The harms with the highest mean discouragement from wanting to vape were the respiratory harm (M = 3.82) and exposure to chemicals (M = 3.68) categories. Harms in the addiction category were the least discouraging (M = 2.83) compared with other harms (all p &lt; .001). Findings were similar for e-cigarette-only users, cigarette-only smokers, and dual users.

Conclusions
Addiction was the least motivating e-cigarette harm, a notable finding given that the current FDA e-cigarette health warning communicates only about nicotine addiction. The next generation of e-cigarette health warnings and communication campaigns should highlight other harms, especially respiratory harms and the chemical exposures that may lead to health consequences.

Implications
E-cigarette health harms related to respiratory effects, chemical exposures, and other health areas most discouraged vaping among tobacco users. In contrast, health harms about addiction least discouraged use. Several countries have begun implementing e-cigarette health warnings, including the United States, and many others are considering adopting similar policies. To increase impact, future warnings and other health communication efforts should communicate about health harms beyond addiction, such as the effects of e-cigarette use on respiratory health. Such efforts should communicate that e-cigarette use is risky and may pose less overall risk to human health than smoking, according to current evidence.
Emerging science on benefits of whole grain oat and barley and their soluble dietary fibers for heart health, glycemic response, and gut microbiota
Authors: Tosh Susan M , Bordenave Nicolas 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The aim of this work is to review the major mechanisms by which consumption of whole grain oats and barley, and β-glucans, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other noncommunicable chronic conditions. These effects have been predominantly explained by the role of soluble dietary fibers and smaller bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, in oats and barley. These help to reduce the level of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreasing postprandial blood glucose and modulating gut microbiota. In the present review, the role of viscosity development of the intestinal content by β-glucans in these mechanisms is discussed, as well as the impact of processing conditions altering the composition or the physicochemical characteristics of β-glucans.
Justifying the Expansion of Neonatal Screening: Two Cases
Authors: Juth Niklas 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
During the last two decades, neonatal screening in Europe and North America has expanded substantially. This article examines two recent suggestions for expanding neonatal screening: severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). With reference to well-established risk-benefit based rationales for screening, it is argued that the case for introducing SCID in neonatal screening is considerably stronger than for introducing X-ALD. For instance, the majority of those screened for X-ALD most likely have a negative risk-benefit ratio of screening: they develop milder symptoms or perhaps no symptoms at all, while still being monitored for a long time. This argument is used as a vehicle for making some general points regarding justified expansions of neonatal screening. First, when considering the expansion of neonatal screening, we should look at a condition specific case-by-case basis. Moreover, future expansions of neonatal screening should stick to the well-established rationales for screening while avoiding risk-benefit slippage. Otherwise, more strict procedures of informed consent are warranted in neonatal screening, procedures that, in the end, risk undermining the benefits of current neonatal screening programmes.
Comparative Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Self-Management within the Context of Voluntary Patient-Centered Prescription Opioid Tapering: The EMPOWER Study Protocol
Authors: Darnall Beth D , Mackey Sean C , Lorig Kate , Kao Ming-Chih , Mardian Aram , Stieg Richard , Porter Joel , DeBruyne Korina , Murphy Jennifer , Perez Luzmercy , Okvat Heather , Tian Lu , Flood Pamela , McGovern Mark , Colloca Luana , King Heather , Van Dorsten Brent , Pun Ting , Cheung Matthias 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Objective. Evidence to date, while sparse, suggests that patients taking long-term opioids require special considerations and protections to prevent potential iatrogenic harms from opioid de-prescribing, such as increased pain or suffering. Following this study protocol, the EMPOWER study seeks to address multiple unmet needs of patients with chronic pain who desire to reduce long-term opioid therapy, and provide the clinical evidence on effective methodology. Methods. EMPOWER applies patient-centered methods for voluntary prescription opioid reduction conducted within a comprehensive, multi-state, 3-arm randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study of three study arms (1) group cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain; (2) group chronic pain self-management; and (3) usual care (taper only). Specialized electronic data capture systems collect patient reported symptoms and satisfaction data weekly and monthly during the taper, with real-time clinical alerts and electronic feedback loops informing, documenting, and steering needed care actions. Conclusion. The EMPOWER study seeks to provide granular evidence on patient response to voluntary opioid tapering, and will provide evidence to inform clinical systems changes, clinical care, patient satisfaction, and patient outcomes for opioid reduction.
Barriers to Utilization of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Among Prescribing Physicians and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses at Veterans Health Administration Facilities in Oregon
Authors: Mastarone Ginnifer L , Wyse Jessica J , Wilbur Eileen R , Morasco Benjamin J , Saha Somnath , Carlson Kathleen F 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo identify barriers to using state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) among prescribing physicians and advanced practice registered nurses across a variety of Veterans Health Administration (VA) settings in Oregon.DesignIn-person and telephone-based qualitative interviews and user experience assessments conducted with 25 VA prescribers in 2018 probed barriers to use of state PDMPs.SettingVA health care facilities in Oregon.SubjectsPhysicians (N = 11) and advanced practice registered nurses (N = 14) who prescribed scheduled medications, provided care to patients receiving opioids, and used PDMPs in their clinical practice. Prescribers were stationed at VA medical centers (N = 10) and community-based outpatient clinics (N = 15); medical specialties included primary care (N = 10), mental health (N = 9), and emergency medicine (N = 6).MethodsUser experience was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis methodology.ResultsThe majority of physicians (64%) and advanced practice registered nurses (79%) rated PDMPs as “useful.” However, participants identified both organizational and software design issues as barriers to their efficient use of PDMPs. Organizational barriers included time constraints, clinical team members without access, and lack of clarity regarding the priority of querying PDMPs relative to other pressing clinical tasks. Design barriers included difficulties entering or remembering passwords, unreadable data formats, time-consuming program navigation, and inability to access patient information across state lines.ConclusionsPhysicians and advanced practice registered nurses across diverse VA settings reported that PDMPs are an important tool and contribute to patient safety. However, issues regarding organizational processes and software design impede optimal use of these resources.
Effects of Student Physical Therapists on Clinical Instructor Productivity Across Settings in an Academic Medical Center
Authors: Apke Tonya L , Whalen Matthew , Buford John 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Clinical education is an integral component of physical therapy education. Both benefits and barriers exist in clinical education, but 1 commonly stated barrier includes the perception that students have a negative impact on clinical instructor productivity.

Objective
The purposes of this study were to evaluate the productivity of physical therapist clinical instructors in an academic medical center before, during, and after clinical education experiences, determine if there are differences in productivity during clinical education experiences across settings, and compare clinical instructor productivity with that of therapists who did not have a student during the same time frames.

Design
A retrospective design examined productivity across 3 years in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics, and outpatient neurology. Mean daily productivity was computed, normalized to an 8-hour day, and averaged for each week of the year. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA. Post-hoc comparisons were made within each setting to compare therapists with a student to those without. The Bonferonni-correction was used to control for multiple comparisons.

Results
Clinical instructor productivity was significantly increased in outpatient orthopedics and inpatient rehabilitation, and approached significance in outpatient neurology, but was not significant in acute care. The presence of a student made clinical instructors more productive but had no effect on the productivity of other therapists in that setting during the same time frame.

Limitations
We studied only 1 academic medical center and could not account for clinical instructor factors such as years of experience or student factors such as year in their program.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that having a student increases productivity of therapists in various settings. Future studies should examine the impact of clinical instructor experience and student characteristics and should expand to other settings.
ANGULAR DEPENDENCE OF TRACK-ETCH DETECTOR HARZLAS TD-1
Authors: Ambrožová Iva , Pachnerová Brabcová Kateřina , Shurshakov Vyacheslav A , Tolochek Raisa V , Kodaira Satoshi 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Track-etched detectors are commonly used also for radiation monitoring onboard International Space Station. To be registered in track-etched detectors, the particle needs to meet several criteria—it must have linear energy transfer above the detection threshold and strike the detector’s surface under an angle higher than the so-called critical angle. Linear energy transfer is then estimated from calibration curve from the etch rate ratio V that is calculated from parameters of individual tracks appearing on the detector’s surface after chemical etching. It has been observed that V can depend on the incident angle and this dependence can vary for different detector materials, etching and evaluating conditions. To investigate angular dependence, detectors (Harzlas TD-1) were irradiated at HIMAC by several ions under angles from 0° to 90°. The correction accounting not only for critical angle but also for dependence of V on the incident angle is introduced and applied to spectra measured onboard International Space Station.
Dissociable roles of left and right temporoparietal junction in strategic competitive interaction
Authors: Ogawa Akitoshi , Kameda Tatsuya 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Although many studies have shown that the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is involved in inferring others’ beliefs, neural correlates of ‘second-order’ inferences (inferring another’s inference about one’s own belief) are still elusive. Here we report a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment to examine the involvement of TPJ for second-order inferences. Participants played an economic game with three types of opponents: a human opponent outside the scanner, an artificial agent that followed a fixed probabilistic strategy according to a game-theoretic solution (FIX) and an artificial agent that adjusted its choices through a machine-learning algorithm (LRN). Participants’ choice behaviors against the human opponent and LRN were similar but remarkably different from those against FIX. The activation of the left TPJ (LTPJ) was correlated with choice behavior against the human opponent and LRN but not against FIX. The overall activity pattern of the LTPJ for the human opponent was also similar to that for LRN but not for FIX. In contrast, the right TPJ (RTPJ) showed higher activation for the human opponent than FIX and LRN. These results suggest that, while the RTPJ is associated with the perception of human agency, the LTPJ is involved in second-order inferences in strategic decision making.
Growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot Holstein steers fed ractopamine hydrochloride1
Authors: Lockard Cathy L , Richards Chris J , Lockard Caleb G , Youngers Maggie , Woolsoncroft Mariah A , Husz Taylor C , Wilson Blake K , Goad Carla L , Jackson Todd A , Step Douglas L , Bernhard Bryan C , Corbin Marilyn J , Krehbiel Clint R 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Growth-promoting technologies such as implants, ionophores, and β-agonists improve feedlot performance, efficiency, and carcass characteristics of cattle. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of dose and duration of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics when fed to Holstein steers. A randomized complete block design was used with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 3 RH doses (0, 300, or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 3 durations (28, 35, or 42 d). Holstein steers (n = 855; initial body weight [BW] = 448 ± 37 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 9 pens (15 blocks; 9 dose × duration treatment combinations) approximately 72 d before harvest. Weekly pen weights, chute temperament scores, and animal mobility were determined during the RH feeding period. At harvest, carcass data were collected on all steers, and tenderness was measured on steaks from 3 or 4 randomly selected steers from each pen and slice shear force (SSF) was determined on one steak selected from each side of the carcass after aging for 14 or 21 d. For feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and SSF, no dose × duration interactions were observed (P ≥ 0.11). With increasing RH dose, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas BW gain increased linearly with RH dose and duration (P ≤ 0.01). Hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and longissimus muscle (LM) area (P ≤ 0.01) increased linearly with increasing RH dose. The percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 2 category increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) and percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 4 category tended (P = 0.08) to decrease linearly as RH dose increased. In the 14-d aged steaks, the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 15.3 kg decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas the percentage of steaks with ≥20.0 kg SSF increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing RH dose. After 21-d aging, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a greater percentage of steaks from steers fed RH to have SSF ≥ 20.0 kg (2% of total steaks), but no difference (P ≥ 0.12) in the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 19.9 kg. Final chute temperament (P ≥ 0.45) and animal mobility (P ≥ 0.67) scores were not affected by feeding RH. Increasing the dose of RH (300 or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 28 to 42 d before harvest increased ADG, G:F, hot carcass weight, and LM area when fed to Holstein steers with no negative effects on behavior or mobility. The percentage of steaks classified as not tender improved when steaks were aged for 21 d from steers treated with RH.
Current-year shoot hydraulic structure in two boreal conifers—implications of growth habit on water potential
Authors: Mäkelä Annikki , Grönlund Leila , Schiestl-Aalto Pauliina , Kalliokoski Tuomo , Hölttä Teemu 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMetabolic scaling theory allows us to link plant hydraulic structure with metabolic rates in a quantitative framework. In this theoretical framework, we considered the hydraulic structure of current-year shoots in Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies, focusing on two properties unaccounted for by metabolic scaling theories: conifer needles are attached to the entire length of shoots, and the shoot as a terminal element does not display invariant properties. We measured shoot length and diameter as well as conduit diameter and density in two locations of 14 current-year non-leader shoots of pine and spruce saplings, and calculated conductivities of shoots from measured conduit properties. We evaluated scaling exponents for the hydraulic structure of shoots at the end of the water transport pathway from the data and applied the results to simulate water potential of shoots in the crown. Shoot shape was intermediate between cylindrical and paraboloid. Contrary to previous findings, we found that conduit diameter scaled with relative, not absolute, distance from the apex and absolute under-bark shoot diameter independently of species within the first-year shoots. Shoot hydraulic conductivity scaled with shoot diameter and hydraulic diameter. Larger shoots had higher hydraulic conductance. We further demonstrate by novel model calculations that ignoring foliage distribution along the hydraulic pathway overestimates water potential loss in shoots and branches and therefore overestimates related water stress effects. Scaling of hydraulic properties with shoot size enhances apical dominance and may contribute to the decline of whole-tree conductance in large trees.
Effectiveness and Safety of Hydroxyurea in the Treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia Children in Jos, North Central Nigeria
Authors: Ofakunrin Akinyemi O D , Oguche Stephen , Adekola Kehinde , Okpe Edache S , Afolaranmi Tolulope O , Diaku-Akinwumi Ijeoma N , Zoakah Ayuba I , Sagay Atiene S 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundHydroxyurea has been shown to positively modify sickle cell disease pathogenesis, but its use is low among Nigerian sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients because of effectiveness and safety concerns.MethodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of hydroxyurea in 54 SCA children aged 4–17 years. Clinical and haematological parameters were compared at baseline and 12 months after hydroxyurea therapy. The participants were monitored for adverse events. The parameters were compared using relative risk and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.ResultsThe number of subjects who had more than two episodes of painful crises reduced from 27 (50%) to 2 (2.7%) (p &lt; 0.001), while those who had acute chest syndrome reduced from 6 (11.1%) to 0 (0.0%; p &lt; 0.001). The risk of being transfused more than once was 0.11 times the risk in the 12 months period preceding therapy (95% CI = 0.02–0.85; p = 0.016). Similarly, the risk of hospital stay &gt;7 days was 0.08 times the risk at the baseline (95% CI = 0.02–0.24; p &lt; 0.0001). The median haematocrit and percentage foetal haemoglobin increased from 26 to 28% and 7.8 to 14%, respectively (p &lt; 0.0001). A dose-dependent but reversible leucopenia was observed among six children (11.1%), otherwise, hydroxyurea was safe in the study population.ConclusionHydroxyurea is effective and safe in SCA children in Jos, Nigeria. The findings could strengthen educational programme aimed at improving the utilization of hydroxyurea among SCA children.