bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Usability of waste perlite in the technology of production of autoclaved aerated concrete
Authors: Hustavova J , Sebestova P , Meszarosova L , Cerny V , Drochytka R 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The building industry constantly seeks ecological solutions and accents utilization of industrial wastes. For this reason, even less examined alternatives are considered. This is true also for manufacture of autoclaved aerated concrete. This paper addresses usability of waste perlite in the technology of production of autoclaved aerated concrete. Waste perlite has been examined to great extent in particular in the area of cement based composite materials, where its positive influence is known. This leads to the idea of finding out if waste perlite could contribute positively to the technology of autoclaved aerated concrete. In this basic research, four replacement amounts of quartz sand with waste perlite were tested: 10%, 30%, 50% and 100%. Replacement of 30% appears to be most promising. At this amount, the compressive strength increased and at the same time, volume weight was reduced by 40%.
Influence of biopolymeric water-retaining admixtures on hydration of Portland cement studied using isothermal calorimetry
Authors: Žižlavský T , Vyšvařil M , Rovnaníková P 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Viscosity enhancing and water-retaining admixtures based on the cellulose ethers are widely used in the building industry to improve the properties of concrete and ready-mix mortars. The study focuses on the influence of the alternative natural viscosity enhancing admixtures (sodium salt of alginic acid, carrageenan, diutan gum, xanthan gum, and hydroxypropyl derivatives of guar gum and chitosan) in doses of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% of the binder weight on the cement hydration. The study is carried out using isothermal calorimetry studying the heat flow and the total heat evolved during the reaction from the very beginning – the water-introduction into system. All of the studied biopolymers showed the set retarding ability as they are all of polysaccharidic origin. The dosage-dependency was significant for the hydroxypropyl guaran and diutan gum, while retarding effect of other admixtures varied only slightly with the amount of biopolymer in the studied range of doses. However the studied admixtures were less effective in the delay of accelerating period, as well as the reduction of total heat generated during the reaction, in comparison with cellulose ethers. Other admixture than hydroxypropyl guar gum or diutan gum should be chosen if the set-retarding ability is not appropriate for the mixture use, otherwise the advantage over cellulose ethers will not be significant.
Comparative effectiveness of sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas in older people
Authors: Sharma Manuj , Nazareth Irwin , Petersen Irene 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundtwo common anti-diabetic treatments used are sitagliptin and sulphonylureas however evidence examining their comparative effectiveness in older people is limited.Objectiveto evaluate effectiveness of sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas when added to metformin in older (aged ≥75) vs younger people (18–75).Designretrospective cohort study.SettingUK Primary Care.Subjects2,904 individuals prescribed sitagliptin (223 aged≥75) and 13,683 prescribed sulphonylureas (1,725 aged ≥75).Methodsmultivariable regression to analyse difference in HbA1c and weight, 12 months after add-on initiation and proportion achieving different glycaemic targets.Resultsafter multivariate adjustment to remove baseline differences, the HbA1c after 12 months of treatment was on average 1 mmol/mol (95%CI −0.7 to 2.8) higher with sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas in older people though this was not statistically significant. The weight however, was significantly lower −1.4 kg (95%CI −2.1 to −0.7) with sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas. A lower proportion prescribed sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas recorded HbA1c < 48 mmol/mol by study end: Odds Ratio 0.63 (95%CI 0.42–0.95). In younger people, similar HbA1c reductions were also observed with both treatments, however weight after 12 months was even lower with sitagliptin vs sulphonylureas: −2.3 kg (95%CI −2.5 to −2.0).Conclusionssimilar HbA1c reduction was observed when sitagliptin or sulphonylureas were added to metformin in older and younger age-groups. Sitagliptin use led to modest comparative weight loss. There may be greater risk of over-treatment with sulphonylureas evidenced by greater proportion recording HbA1c < 48 mmol/mol by study end. This evidence supporting use of sitagliptin when add-on therapy is selected in older adults should be considered alongside the wider evidence-base and patient-preference.
The Impact of Technology on the Diagnosis of Congenital Malformations
Authors: Straub Loreen , Huybrechts Krista F , Bateman Brian T , Mogun Helen , Gray Kathryn J , Holmes Lewis B , Hernandez-Diaz Sonia 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
As technology improves and becomes more widely accessible, more subclinical congenital malformations are being detected. Using a cohort of 1,780,156 pregnant women and their offspring nested in the 2000–2013 US Medicaid Analytic eXtract, we contrasted time trends in malformations which do not necessarily present with overt clinical symptoms early in life and are more likely to be diagnosed via imaging (secundum atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary artery anomalies, pulmonary valve stenosis, hydrocephalus) with trends in malformations that are unlikely to escape clinical diagnosis (tetralogy of Fallot, coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great vessels, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, oral cleft, abdominal wall defect). Logistic regression was used to account for trends in risk factors while assessing the impact of increased screening intensity. Prevalence of the diagnosis of secundum atrial septal defect rose from 2.3‰ in 2000–2001 to 7.5‰ in 2012–2013, of patent ductus arteriosus from 1.9‰ to 4.1‰, and of ventricular septal defect from 3.6‰ to 4.5‰. Trends were not explained by changes in the prevalence of risk factors but were attenuated when accounting for screening tests. The other malformations showed no temporal trends. Findings suggest that increased screening partially explains the observed increase in diagnosis of milder cases of select common malformations.
A Birth Cohort Study about the Genetic Modification of Prenatal Methylmercury Association with Child Cognitive Development
Authors: Julvez Jordi , Smith George Davey , Ring Susan , Grandjean Philippe 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Genetic predisposition may affect neurodevelopmental outcomes of prenatal methylmercury exposure. We examined suspected heterogeneities for modification of exposure-related neurodevelopment in children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, 1991-2000), Bristol, United Kingdom. A subgroup (n = 1127 from a pilot study and 1045 from the present study) was identified based on the availability of the mercury concentration of cord tissue as a measure of prenatal methylmercury exposure, data on 247 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores. Log10-transformed mercury concentration was positively associated with IQ, but adjustment confounding cofactors attenuated this association. Enhanced interaction with methylmercury was replicated in the new study for the minor allele of rs1042838 (progesterone receptor) (Beta; 95% Confidence Interval) = (-11.8; -23.0, -0.6) (P-for-interaction = 0.004) and weakly for rs662 (paraoxonase 1) (-3.6; -11.4, 4.3) (P = 0.117). In the joint sample, new interacting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered in relation to superoxide dismutase 2, ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1, and metallothionein 1M genes. While the low-level prenatal exposure to methylmercury was not associated with child cognition, progesterone receptor rs1042838 minor alleles revealed a negative association of mercury exposure with IQ.
Prognostic Significance of Pulse Pressure and Other Blood Pressure Components for Coronary Artery Disease in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Guo Jingchuan , Muldoon Matthew F , Brooks Maria M , Orchard Trevor J , Costacou Tina 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To compare in individuals with type 1 diabetes the prediction of incident coronary artery disease (CAD) by components of resting blood pressure—systolic, diastolic, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure.

METHODS
In 605 participants without known CAD at baseline and followed sequentially for 25 years, we used Cox modeling built for each blood pressure component associated with incident CAD, overall and stratified by age (&lt;35 and ≥35 years) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (&lt;9% and ≥9%).

RESULTS
Baseline mean age and diabetes duration were 27 and 19 years, respectively. We observed an early asymptote and then fall in diastolic blood pressure in their late 30s and early 40s in this group of type 1 diabetes individuals, followed by an early rise of pulse pressure. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) (95% con) for CAD associated with 1 SD pressure increase were 1.35 (1.17, 1.56) for systolic pressure; 1.30 (1.12, 1.51) for diastolic pressure; 1.20 (1.03, 1.39) for pulse pressure; and 1.35 (1.17, 1.56) for mean arterial pressure. Pulse pressure emerged as a strong predictor of CAD at age ≥ 35 years (HR: 1.49 [1.15, 1.94]) and for HbA1c ≥ 9% (HR: 1.32 [1.01, 1.72]).

CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with type 1 diabetes may manifest early vascular aging by an early decline in diastolic blood pressure and rise in pulse pressure, the latter parameter becoming a comparable to systolic blood pressure in predictor incident CAD in those aged over 35 years and those with poor glycemic control.
Impact of a chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard on pharmacy technician turnover
Authors: Trinh Long D , Wong Jason T , Sullivan Patricia A , Nguyen Lam H , Pham Yen T 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Purpose
To describe the methods used in the development of an intravenous chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard and its impact on symptoms of burnout and technician turnover.

Summary
In February 2017, chemotherapy sterile preparation pharmacy technicians reported symptoms of burnout as a result of perceived increase in workload. In response, an i.v. chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard was developed at an academic medical center to validate workload in comparison to the reported job stress of pharmacy technicians. The dashboard provided pharmacy leadership objective data to validate staff concerns and leveraged lean principles to level-load the work prior to requesting additional full-time equivalents (FTEs) to senior leadership. The rate of turnover of i.v. chemotherapy technicians was assessed before (December 2016–June 2017) and after (July 2017–January 2018) dashboard implementation and approval of an additional i.v. chemotherapy technician FTE. The addition of the new FTE resulted in a decrease in productivity from an average of 106% (range 67%–151%) to 84% (range 65%–110%). The interventions allowed for the ability to leverage a staffing-to-demand model, resulting in the observed improvement in technician symptoms of burnout and a notable decrease in the overall turnover rate of i.v. chemotherapy technicians.

Conclusion
The i.v. chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard confirmed frontline staff perception and provided data to support the addition of labor resource and an opportunity to leverage a staffing-to-demand model to decrease symptoms of burnout and technician turnover.
Beware the Jaccard: the choice of similarity measure is important and non-trivial in genomic colocalisation analysis
Authors: Salvatore Stefania , Dagestad Rand Knut , Grytten Ivar , Ferkingstad Egil , Domanska Diana , Holden Lars , Gheorghe Marius , Mathelier Anthony , Glad Ingrid , Kjetil Sandve Geir 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The generation and systematic collection of genome-wide data is ever-increasing. This vast amount of data has enabled researchers to study relations between a variety of genomic and epigenomic features, including genetic variation, gene regulation and phenotypic traits. Such relations are typically investigated by comparatively assessing genomic co-occurrence. Technically, this corresponds to assessing the similarity of pairs of genome-wide binary vectors. A variety of similarity measures have been proposed for this problem in other fields like ecology. However, while several of these measures have been employed for assessing genomic co-occurrence, their appropriateness for the genomic setting has never been investigated. We show that the choice of similarity measure may strongly influence results and propose two alternative modelling assumptions that can be used to guide this choice. On both simulated and real genomic data, the Jaccard index is strongly altered by dataset size and should be used with caution. The Forbes coefficient (fold change) and tetrachoric correlation are less influenced by dataset size, but one should be aware of increased variance for small datasets.
All results on simulated and real data can be inspected and reproduced at https://hyperbrowser.uio.no/sim-measure.
OncodriveCLUSTL: a sequence-based clustering method to identify cancer drivers
Authors: Arnedo-Pac Claudia , Mularoni Loris , Muiños Ferran , Gonzalez-Perez Abel , Lopez-Bigas Nuria 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Identification of the genomic alterations driving tumorigenesis is one of the main goals in oncogenomics research. Given the evolutionary principles of cancer development, computational methods that detect signals of positive selection in the pattern of tumor mutations have been effectively applied in the search for cancer genes. One of these signals is the abnormal clustering of mutations, which has been shown to be complementary to other signals in the detection of driver genes.

Results
We have developed OncodriveCLUSTL, a new sequence-based clustering algorithm to detect significant clustering signals across genomic regions. OncodriveCLUSTL is based on a local background model derived from the simulation of mutations accounting for the composition of tri- or penta-nucleotide context substitutions observed in the cohort under study. Our method can identify known clusters and bona-fide cancer drivers across cohorts of tumor whole-exomes, outperforming the existing OncodriveCLUST algorithm and complementing other methods based on different signals of positive selection. Our results indicate that OncodriveCLUSTL can be applied to the analysis of non-coding genomic elements and non-human mutations data.

Availability and implementation
OncodriveCLUSTL is available as an installable Python 3.5 package. The source code and running examples are freely available at https://bitbucket.org/bbglab/oncodriveclustl under GNU Affero General Public License.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Genetic cooperativity in multi-layer networks implicates cell survival and senescence in the striatum of Huntington’s disease mice synchronous to symptoms
Authors: Bigan Erwan , Sasidharan Nair Satish , Lejeune François-Xavier , Fragnaud Hélissande , Parmentier Frédéric , Mégret Lucile , Verny Marc , Aaronson Jeff , Rosinski Jim , Neri Christian 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Huntington’s disease (HD) may evolve through gene deregulation. However, the impact of gene deregulation on the dynamics of genetic cooperativity in HD remains poorly understood. Here, we built a multi-layer network model of temporal dynamics of genetic cooperativity in the brain of HD knock-in mice (allelic series of Hdh mice). To enhance biological precision and gene prioritization, we integrated three complementary families of source networks, all inferred from the same RNA-seq time series data in Hdh mice, into weighted-edge networks where an edge recapitulates path-length variation across source-networks and age-points.

Results
Weighted edge networks identify two consecutive waves of tight genetic cooperativity enriched in deregulated genes (critical phases), pre-symptomatically in the cortex, implicating neurotransmission, and symptomatically in the striatum, implicating cell survival (e.g. Hipk4) intertwined with cell proliferation (e.g. Scn4b) and cellular senescence (e.g. Cdkn2a products) responses. Top striatal weighted edges are enriched in modulators of defective behavior in invertebrate models of HD pathogenesis, validating their relevance to neuronal dysfunction in vivo. Collectively, these findings reveal highly dynamic temporal features of genetic cooperativity in the brain of Hdh mice where a 2-step logic highlights the importance of cellular maintenance and senescence in the striatum of symptomatic mice, providing highly prioritized targets.

Availability and implementation
Weighted edge network analysis (WENA) data and source codes for performing spectral decomposition of the signal (SDS) and WENA analysis, both written using Python, are available at http://www.broca.inserm.fr/HD-WENA/.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Androgens regulate follicle stage-dependent pro- and anti-apoptosis in teleost ovaries through ZIP9 activation of different G proteins†
Authors: Converse Aubrey , Thomas Peter 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Androgens mediate a number of processes in mammalian and teleost ovaries in a follicle-stage dependent manner, including follicle growth, survival, and apoptosis. We recently reported that the membrane androgen receptor ZIP9 mediates apoptosis in Atlantic croaker granulosa/theca (G/T) cells from mature ovarian follicles, but the effects of androgens on early stage G/T cells in this model remains unknown. Here we show that testosterone mediates pro- and anti-apoptotic responses in a follicle stage-dependent manner in croaker ovarian follicle cells. Testosterone treatment decreased the incidence of apoptosis in G/T cells from early stage follicles (diameter <300 μm) but increased apoptosis in G/T cells from late stage follicles (diameter >400 μm). Small interfering RNA targeting ZIP9, but not the nuclear androgen receptor, blocked the anti-apoptotic response, indicating ZIP9 mediates anti-apoptotic in addition to pro-apoptotic responses. Testosterone treatment of early stage G/T cells resulted in opposite signaling outcomes from those previously characterized for the ZIP9-mediated apoptotic response including decreased cAMP and intracellular free zinc levels, and downregulation of pro-apoptotic member mRNA expression. While ZIP9-mediated apoptosis involves activation of a stimulatory G protein (Gs), activators of Gs signaling antagonized the anti-apoptotic response. Proximity ligation and G protein activation assays indicated that in G/T cells from early stage follicles ZIP9 is in close proximity and activates an inhibitory G protein, while in G/T cells from late stage follicles ZIP9 is in close proximity and activates Gs. This study demonstrates that ZIP9 mediates opposite survival responses of croaker G/T cells by activating different G proteins in a follicle stage-dependent manner.
Nyap1 Regulates Multipolar–Bipolar Transition and Morphology of Migrating Neurons by Fyn Phosphorylation during Corticogenesis
Authors: Wang Shuzhong , Li Xuzhao , Zhang Qianru , Chai Xuejun , Wang Yi , Förster Eckart , Zhu Xiaoyan , Zhao Shanting 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe coordination of cytoskeletal regulation is a prerequisite for proper neuronal migration during mammalian corticogenesis. Neuronal tyrosine-phosphorylated adaptor for the phosphoinositide 3-kinase 1 (Nyap1) is a member of the Nyap family of phosphoproteins, which has been studied in neuronal morphogenesis and is involved in remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. However, the precise role of Nyap1 in neuronal migration remains unknown. Here, overexpression and knockdown of Nyap1 in the embryonic neocortex of mouse by in utero electroporation-induced abnormal morphologies and multipolar–bipolar transitions of migrating neurons. The level of phosphorylated Nyap1 was crucial for neuronal migration and morphogenesis in neurons. Furthermore, Nyap1 regulated neuronal migration as a downstream target of Fyn, a nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinase that is a member of the Src family of kinases. Importantly, Nyap1 mediated the role of Fyn in the multipolar–bipolar transition of migrating neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that cortical radial migration is regulated by a molecular hierarchy of Fyn via Nyap1.
Potential for Point-of-Care Tests to Reduce Chlamydia-associated Burden in the United States: A Mathematical Modeling Analysis
Authors: Rönn Minttu M , Menzies Nicolas A , Gift Thomas L , Chesson Harrell W , Trikalinos Tom A , Bellerose Meghan , Malyuta Yelena , Berruti Andrés , Gaydos Charlotte A , Hsu Katherine K , Salomon Joshua A 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Background
Point-of-care testing (POCT) assays for chlamydia are being developed. Their potential impact on the burden of chlamydial infection in the United States, in light of suboptimal screening coverage, remains unclear.

Methods
Using a transmission model calibrated to data in the United States, we estimated the impact of POCT on chlamydia prevalence, incidence, and chlamydia-attributable pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) incidence, assuming status quo (Analysis 1) and improved (Analysis 2) screening frequencies. We tested the robustness of results to changes in POCT sensitivity, the proportion of patients getting treated immediately, the baseline proportion lost to follow-up (LTFU), and the average treatment delay.

Results
In Analysis 1, high POCT sensitivity was needed to reduce the chlamydia-associated burden. With a POCT sensitivity of 90%, reductions from the baseline burden only occurred in scenarios in which over 60% of the screened individuals would get immediate treatment and the baseline LTFU proportion was 20%. With a POCT sensitivity of 99% (baseline LTFU 10%, 2-week treatment delay), if everyone were treated immediately, the prevalence reduction was estimated at 5.7% (95% credible interval [CrI] 3.9–8.2%). If only 30% of tested persons would wait for results, the prevalence reduction was only 1.6% (95% CrI 1.1–2.3). POCT with 99% sensitivity could avert up to 12 700 (95% CrI 5000–22 200) PID cases per year, if 100% were treated immediately (baseline LTFU 20% and 3-week treatment delay). In Analysis 2, when POCT was coupled with increasing screening coverage, reductions in the chlamydia burden could be realized with a POCT sensitivity of 90%.

Conclusions
POCT could improve chlamydia prevention efforts if test performance characteristics are significantly improved over currently available options.