bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level Ammonia in White Mice Through CD4 Expression
Authors: Tualeka Abdul Rohim , Faradisha Jihan , Maharja Rizky 
Published: October 2018

Background: Ammonia is one of the chemical compounds that can cause acute and chronic effects to the workers. The purpose of this study is to determine the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) ammonia in white mice. Methods: This study applied a laboratory experimental with design post test-only control group design using white mice as an object. The process of finding the safe limit began by determining the highest dose and the lowest dose of ammonia without effect in white mice. Results: The latest research showed that the highest dose without effect is 0.0456 mg/kg and the lowest dose without effect is 0.0046 mg/kg. After determining the highest and the lowest dose of ammonia, the researcher started to determine the middle dose. The middle dose is the dose between the highest and the lowest doses with the multiplication of 1.5 starting from the lowest dose (there are 5 middle-dose variations from 5 middle concentration variations), consisting of 0.0872, 0.1309, 0.1963, 0.2944, and 0.4416 mg/m3. Conclusion: From the result of the middle dose and the lowest dose without effect, it is found the value of the highest NH3 dose without effect, which showed the highest Index Remmele Scale (IRS) CD4 before the reduction of IRS. The study concludes that the NOAEL of ammonia contained in white mice is 0.0103 mg/kg body weight of the mice.
Criteria for indication and treatment modification in a cohort of patients with prostate cancer treated with hormone therapy
Authors: Lebret Thierry , Ruffion Alain , Latorzeff Igor , Zerbib Marc , Moreau Jean-Luc , Rossi Dominique , Pello-Leprince-Ringuet Nathalie , Perrot Valérie , Hennequin Christophe 
Published: October 2018

Background: No published studies have specifically assessed whether treatment modifications to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) are frequently carried out in routine clinical practice. The current study was conducted to determine what proportion of patients who had initiated hormone therapy with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue then had their treatment regimen modified during the first 24 months. Methods: A prospective, noninterventional study was carried out in routine clinical practice in France. Patients with locally advanced or metastatic PCa were followed up for 2 years after treatment initiation with a GnRH analogue. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a modification to their initial hormone therapy. Results: In total, 1301 patients were enrolled into the study by 204 physicians, and the primary endpoint could be evaluated for 891 patients. The GnRH analogue treatment was initiated for metastatic PCa (24.2%), locally advanced PCa without planned local treatment (20.6%), locally advanced PCa in association with radiotherapy (31.6%), and biochemical recurrence after local treatment (21.4%). Hormonal treatment was modified in 43.8% (390/891) of patients during the 24-month follow-up period after GnRH analogue initiation. In 61.3% of cases (239/390), the type of modification involved a change of GnRH analogue formulation or switch to another GnRH analogue. A total of five significant predictive factors for GnRH analogue treatment modification were identified: metastatic stage; physician sector; physician speciality; presence or absence of urinary symptoms; and intermittent versus continuous ADT. Conclusions: This study shows that in 43.8% of the patients with advanced PCa, ADT is modified in the first 2 years after initiation in routine clinical practice. Predictive factors for alteration of ADT were metastatic stage and the choice of an intermittent schedule.
Circulating Levels of Osteopontin in Patients With Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kyriakou Aikaterini , Patsatsi Aikaterini , Galanis Nikiforos , Goulis Dimitrios G. 
Published: October 2018

Background: Both Th1 and Th17 have been proposed to be pathogenically essential in psoriasis. Osteopontin (OPN) is known to enhance Th1 responses, inhibit Th2 ones, and take part in the modulation of Th17 cell lineage. Due to its impact on Th1/Th17 immune responses, several reports have suggested that OPN may be of pathogenic importance in psoriasis. Our objective was to review the literature for studies that have assessed the circulating levels of OPN in psoriatic cases and controls and to meta-analyze the evidence obtainable. Methods: Search was performed in PubMed, Central, and Embase. Eligible were studies that have assessed OPN concentrations in patients with psoriasis and a group of reference. Results: Patients with psoriasis had increased OPN concentrations compared with controls (random-effects model, standardized mean difference: 1.58 ng/mL, 95% confidence interval: 0.90-2.26; P < .0001]). Heterogeneity among studies was high ( I2: 92.2%; P < .0001). The meta-regression analysis showed that the study quality (RTI score) reduced heterogeneity ( I2: 85.2%; P < .005), but not age, body mass index (BMI), Psoriasis Area Severity Index, or matching for BMI. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provided evidence that OPN is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, enlarging the list of cytokines able to stimulate the inflammatory response in this disease.
High treatment success rate for multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis using a bedaquiline-containing treatment regimen
Authors: Ndjeka Norbert , Schnippel Kathryn , Master Iqbal , Meintjes Graeme , Maartens Gary , Romero Rodolfo , Padanilam Xavier , Enwerem Martin , Chotoo Sunitha , Singh Nalini , Hughes Jennifer , Variava Ebrahim , Ferreira Hannetjie , te Riele Julian , Ismail Nazir , Mohr Erika , Bantubani Nonkqubela , Conradie Francesca 
Published: October 2018

South African patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and resistance to fluoroquinolones and/or injectable drugs (extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and preXDR-TB) were granted access to bedaquiline through a clinical access programme with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.PreXDR-TB and XDR-TB patients were treated with 24 weeks of bedaquiline within an optimised, individualised background regimen that could include levofloxacin, linezolid and clofazimine as needed. 200 patients were enrolled: 87 (43.9%) had XDR-TB, 99 (49.3%) were female and the median age was 34 years (interquartile range (IQR) 27–42). 134 (67.0%) were living with HIV; the median CD4+count was 281 cells·μL−1(IQR 130–467) and all were on antiretroviral therapy.16 out of 200 patients (8.0%) did not complete 6 months of bedaquiline: eight were lost to follow-up, six died, one stopped owing to side effects and one was diagnosed with drug-sensitive TB. 146 out of 200 patients (73.0%) had favourable outcomes: 139 (69.5%) were cured and seven (3.5%) completed treatment. 25 patients (12.5%) died, 20 (10.0%) were lost from treatment and nine (4.5%) had treatment failure. 22 adverse events were attributed to bedaquiline, including a QT interval corrected using the Fridericia formula (QTcF) >500 ms (n=5), QTcF increase >50 ms from baseline (n=11) and paroxysmal atrial flutter (n=1).Bedaquiline added to an optimised background regimen was associated with a high rate of successful treatment outcomes for this preXDR-TB and XDR-TB cohort.
Phase Ib/II Study of Pembrolizumab and Pegylated-Interferon Alfa-2b in Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Davar Diwakar , Wang Hong , Chauvin Joe-Marc , Pagliano Ornella , Fourcade Julien J. , Ka Mignane , Menna Carmine , Rose Amy , Sander Cindy , Borhani Amir A. , Karunamurthy Arivarasan , Tarhini Ahmad A. , Tawbi Hussein A. , Zhao Qing , Moreno Blanca H. , Ebbinghaus Scott , Ibrahim Nageatte , Kirkwood John M. , Zarour Hassane M. 
Published: October 2018

Purpose Objective responses are reported in 34% to 37% of patients with programmed death-1 (PD-1)–naïve advanced melanoma treated with PD-1 inhibitors. Pre-existing CD8+ T-cell infiltrate and interferon (IFN) gene signature correlate with response to PD-1 blockade. Here, we report a phase Ib/II study of pembrolizumab/pegylated (PEG)-IFN combination in PD-1–naïve advanced melanoma. Patients and Methods PEG-IFN (1, 2, and 3 μg/kg per week) was dose escalated using a modified toxicity probability interval design in three cohorts of four patients each, whereas pembrolizumab was dosed at 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks in the phase Ib portion. Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the phase II portion. Primary objectives were safety and incidence of dose-limiting toxicities. Secondary objectives included objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival. Results Forty-three patients with stage IV melanoma were enrolled in the phase Ib and II portions of the study and included in the analysis. At the data cutoff date (December 31, 2017), median follow-up duration was 25 months (range, 1 to 38 months). All 43 patients experienced at least one adverse event; grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 21 of 43 patients (48.8%). Objective responses were seen at all three dose levels among 43 evaluable patients. The objective response rate was 60.5%, with 46.5% of patients exhibiting ongoing response. Median PFS was 11.0 months in all patients and unreached in responders, whereas median overall survival remained unreached in all patients. The 2-year PFS rate was 46%. Conclusion Pembrolizumab/PEG-IFN demonstrated an acceptable toxicity profile with promising evidence of clinical efficacy in PD-1–naïve metastatic melanoma. These results support the rationale to further investigate this pembrolizumab/PEG-IFN combination in this disease.
Evidence for an Upper Threshold for Resistance Training Volume in Trained Women
Authors: BARBALHO MATHEUS , COSWIG VICTOR SILVEIRA , STEELE JAMES , FISHER JAMES P. , PAOLI ANTONIO , GENTIL PAULO 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of different volumes of resistance training (RT) on muscle performance and hypertrophy in trained women.

Methods
The study included 40 volunteers that performed RT for 24 wk divided into groups that performed 5 (G5), 10 (G10), 15 (G15), and 20 (G20) sets per muscle group per session. Ten-repetition maximum (10RM) tests were performed for the bench press, lat pulldown, 45° leg press, and stiff-legged deadlift. Muscle thickness (MT) was measured using ultrasound at biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major, quadriceps femoris, and gluteus maximus.

Results
All groups significantly increased all MT measures and 10RM tests after 24 wk of RT (P < 0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed no differences in any 10RM test between G5 and G10 (P > 0.05). G5 and G10 showed significantly greater 10RM increases than G15 for lat pulldown, leg press, and stiff-legged deadlift. 10RM changes for G20 were lower than all other groups for all exercises (P < 0.05). G5 and G10 showed significantly greater MT increases than G15 and G20 in all sites (P < 0.05). MT increased more in G15 than G20 in all sites (P < 0.05). G5 increases were higher than G10 for pectoralis major MT, whereas G10 showed higher increases in quadriceps MT than G5 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Five to 10 sets per week might be sufficient for attaining gains in muscle size and strength in trained women during a 24-wk RT program. There appears no further benefit by performing higher exercise volumes. Because lack of time is a commonly cited barrier to exercise adoption, our data support RT programs that are less time consuming, which might increase participation and adherence.
Entrepreneurship types and internationalization in entrepreneurship learning
Authors: Elenurm Tiit 
Published: October 2018

Ettevõtlusõpet on vaja kohandada eri sihtrühmadele: neile, kes on juba loonud ettevõtte, asuvad õppeprotsessis ettevõtet looma, kavatsevad vahetult peale õpinguid ettevõtte luua või võivad enda ettevõtluspädevust rakendada kaugemas tulevikus. Artikli eesmärk on ettevõtluse olemuse tõlgendustest ja ettevõtlus tüüpide võrdlusest lähtudes ning Eesti ettevõtluse rahvusvahelistumise perspektiive arvestades pakkuda välja ettevõtlustüüpide liigitus, mis hõlmaks eri sihtrühmade õpivajadusi ja õpitulemuste rakendamise võimalusi eeskätt kõrghariduses. Ettevõtlusõppe kohandamisel sihtrühmade vajaduste järgi tuleb arvestada ettevõtluse rahvus vahelistumise võimalusi, innovaatilisusest ja kasvuambitsioonist lähtuvaid piiriülese võrgustumise vajadusi, iseseisva ja organisatsioonisisese ettevõtluse konteksti, ettevõtlustüübist sõltuvat ressursibaasi ning individuaalset ja koosloovat ettevõtlusorientatsiooni. Niisama tähtis on õppija kui potentsiaalse või juba tegutseva ettevõtja arengurada, tema valmisolek tegevuse kaudu õppida ja avatud e-õppes osaleda.
Summary
The effect of extracurricular entrepreneurship training programs on students’ ability and creativity beliefs and social skills
Authors: Arro Grete , Malleus Elina , Jaani Juta , Olvik Anu 
Published: October 2018

Ettevõtlikkuse ja ettevõtluspädevuse toetamiseks on loodud mitmeid programme (Junior Achievementi õpilasfirmade programm, ettevõtlusteater, ettevõtlike koolide võrgustik, ettevõtlusõppe valikaine), mis on eri rõhuasetusega ning milles kasutatakse eri meetodeid. Seetõttu on oluline kirjeldada programmide tähendust ja erisusi ettevõtlikkuspädevuse arendamise kontekstis. Artiklis võetakse vaatluse alla enamik Eesti ettevõtlusprogramme, käsitledes neid vähe uuritud perspektiivist: milline on programmide mõju arenguuskumustele ning sotsiaalsetele oskustele? Uuringu valimisse kuuluvad üldhariduskoolide 8. klasside õpilased, kes kas osalevad (sekkumisgrupp, N = 198) või ei osale ettevõtlusõppe programmides (kontrollgrupp, N = 125). Õppijaid hinnatakse arenguuskumuste ja enesehinnanguliste sotsiaalsete oskuste alusel enne ja pärast ettevõtlusõppe programmis osalemist. Tulemused viitavad, et arenguuskumustes ja enesehinnangulistes sotsiaalsetes oskustes ei ilmne erinevusi ei enne ega pärast programmis osalemist, eri programmide ega sekkumis- ja kontrollgrupi vahel. Samuti ei ilmne eri võimekusega õpilaste rühmade vahel uuritud näitajate puhul statistiliselt olulisi erinevusi. Üks võimalik selgitus tulemustele on, et motivatsiooni või sotsiaalsete oskustega seotud alapädevusi ei teadvustata ettevõtluspädevuse osana. Tulemused osutavad võimalustele, kuidas saaks ettevõtlusprogrammide õpetajaid ja õppijaid senisest veelgi paremini toetada, näiteks aidates ettevõtlikkuspädevust alapädevuste kaupa mõtestada.
Summary
Principals’ utilization of external stakeholders in entrepreneurship education – Evidence from the general education
Authors: Hämäläinen Minna , Ruskovaara Elena , Pihkala Timo 
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this article is to examine the principals’ networking activities in entrepreneurship education. In this study, we are interested in the principals’ actions, when they aim at developing entrepreneurship education in their schools. More precisely, the focus is on how principals utilize external stakeholders in the school context. Our motivation for conducting this study is based on the assumption that while there are external stakeholders supporting entrepreneurship education, principals and their schools are not fully utilizing them. We suggest that the use of external stakeholders may be related to the personal characteristics of the principals, and therefore we examine if or how the background characteristicsof the principals explain their use of external stakeholders. Furthermore, we aim at understanding how principals’ participation in entrepreneurship education related training explains the level of use of external stakeholders. As a method, analysis of variance and a linear regression analysis are used. The sample consists of 173 Finnish principals working in general education2. This article contributes to entrepreneurship education literature by analysis of external network resources in entrepreneurship education. We also pinpoint the role of the principal in this process. The article also provides empirical evidence on the importance of principals’ training for utilizing external stakeholders in entrepreneurship education.
Analyzing Bank Overdraft Fees with Big Data
Authors: Liu Xiao , Montgomery Alan , Srinivasan Kannan 
Published: October 2018

In 2012, consumers paid $32 billion in overdraft fees, representing the single largest source of revenue for banks from demand deposit accounts during this period. Owing to consumer attrition caused by overdraft fees and potential government regulations to reform these fees, financial institutions have become motivated to investigate their overdraft fee structures. Banks need to balance the revenue generated from overdraft fees with consumer dissatisfaction and potential churn caused by these fees. However, no empirical research has been conducted to explain consumer responses to overdraft fees or to evaluate alternative pricing strategies associated with these fees. In this research, we propose a dynamic structural model with consumer monitoring costs and dissatisfaction associated with overdraft fees. We apply the model to an enterprise-level data set of more than 500,000 accounts with a history of 450 days, providing a total of 200 million transactions. We find that consumers heavily discount the future and potentially overdraw because of impulsive spending. However, we also find that high monitoring costs hinder consumers’ effort to track their balance accurately; consequently, consumers may overdraw because of rational inattention. The large data set is necessary because of the infrequent nature of overdrafts; however, it also engenders computational challenges, which we address by using parallel computing techniques. Our policy simulations show that alternative pricing strategies may increase bank revenue and improve consumer welfare. Fixed bill schedules and overdraft waiver programs may also enhance social welfare. This paper explains consumer responses to overdraft fees and evaluates alternative pricing strategies associated with these fees. The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2018.1106 .
Branch-and-Price–Based Algorithms for the Two-Echelon Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows
Authors: Dellaert Nico , Dashty Saridarq Fardin , Van Woensel Tom , Crainic Teodor Gabriel 
Published: October 2018

This paper studies the two-echelon capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows. The first echelon consists of transferring freight from depots to intermediate facilities (i.e., satellites), whereas the second echelon consists of transferring freight from these facilities to the final customers, within their time windows. We propose two path-based mathematical formulations for our problem: (1) in one formulation, paths are defined over both first- and second-echelon tours, and (2) in the other one, the first- and second-echelon paths are decomposed. Branch-and-price–based algorithms are developed for both formulations. We compare both formulations and solution methods on a comprehensive set of instances and are able to solve instances up to five satellites and 100 customers to optimality. This paper is the first paper in the literature that solves such large instance sizes. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2018.0844 .
Identifying and assessing the needs of carers of patients with palliative care needs: an exploratory study
Authors: Henderson Amanda , Vaz Helen , Virdun Claudia 
Published: October 2018

Background: Carers of patients with palliative care needs require careful assessment and support to undertake their role effectively. The carer component of palliative care is embedded in complex situations that necessarily focus on the patient. Aims: To explore experiences of specialist palliative care nurses in identifying, assessing and planning care to support those looking after patients with palliative care needs. Results: Findings identified gaps in identifying carers and their role, and in assessing carers' needs. Conclusions: This study confirmed the complexity in assessing carers' needs within the palliative care context, that practice gaps exist and positive outcomes result when routine processes were adopted. Future research should explore how to systematically make improvements in supporting carers in all palliative care contexts, including specialist and non-specialist settings.
Impact of Point-of-Care Diagnostics on Clinical Decision-making in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: DeLuca Andrea , Betz Joshua , Bollinger Robert , Ray Stuart C , Manabe Yukari C 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Background
Rapid tests have transformed the landscape of available tools for clinicians caring for patients who are critically ill. Their emergence as part of routine care increases the capacity for similar devices to reverse or minimize major epidemics and assist healthcare providers in their clinical decision-making. To assess how a point-of-care complete blood count (CBC) could change patterns in clinical decision-making, we presented low and middle income (LMIC) healthcare providers with hypothetical clinical scenarios to understand how such a device could impact the way they treat and refer patients.

Methods
Our survey asked about current use of CBC results, and then presented three separate scenarios that occur in LMICs. Survey respondents were queried about how they might change hospitalization plans and/or mediations based on point-of-care CBC results.

Results
In all three scenarios, a majority of clinicians were likely to modify the way they triage patients based on real-time results.

Conclusion
Our survey demonstrates that a point-of-care CBC diagnostic could change the way providers in resource-limited settings treat and refer critically ill patients. All hypothetical clinical scenarios describe common, urgent case presentations that can occur at any level of a health system in resource-limited settings. Rapid, simple and accessible technology for basic lab tests like CBC could impact patient care in low and middle-income countries by providing health care workers with actionable data with the potential to affect patient-centered outcomes.
Incidence of Myelodysplastic Syndromes in a Major Canadian Metropolitan Area
Authors: Slack Jonathan , Nguyen Leonard , Naugler Christopher , Rashid-Kolvear Fariborz 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Background
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal stem cell disorders that can progress to acute myeloid leukemia. In many regions of the world, the epidemiology of MDS is poorly described. This study determines the crude incidence of MDS in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with new cases diagnosed using the revised 2008 WHO criteria.

Methods
For the study period of January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015, incident cases of MDS were identified from a centralized database maintained by Calgary Laboratory Services' Cancer Cytogenetics Laboratory, which receives and analyzes patient bone marrow samples from southern Alberta.

Results
The Calgary metropolitan area had a total incidence rate of 2.60 MDS cases per 100000 person years, corresponding to an age-standardized incidence of 3.69 for Canada. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.35, and the median age at diagnosis was 75 years. With these results, 1295 new annual cases of MDS were predicted in Canada.

Conclusions
The reported incidence rate, sex, and age distribution were consistent with data around the world including several developing nations. This is the first study to provide information regarding the epidemiology of MDS within Canada.