bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Benefit of the Doubt: Patent Examination Under Strategic Obfuscation
Authors: Figueroa Nicolás , Lemus Jorge 
Published: October 2023

An applicant privately observes the value of an idea and files a patent application. After the examination, the patent examiner may not find conclusive evidence of the idea’s value. In this case, granting a patent can be the right decision or a mistake. Moreover, it can prompt obfuscation—effort to disrupt communication—by the applicant, reducing allocative efficiency. We show there is more obfuscation when examiners are more lenient, and we provide an empirical exercise supporting this conclusion. We also show that more examination resources do not prevent and may lead to more obfuscation. This result continues to hold when applicants can invest in knowledge to increase their chances of having good ideas. We also show that there is less obfuscation when good ideas are harder to find. This paper was accepted by Ilia Tsetlin, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: N. Figueroa gratefully acknowledges financial support from ANID PIA/APOYO AFB220003. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00140 .
Finding Hall Blockers by Matrix Scaling
Authors: Hayashi Koyo , Hirai Hiroshi , Sakabe Keiya 
Published: October 2023

Given a nonnegative matrix [Formula: see text], the matrix scaling problem asks whether A can be scaled to a doubly stochastic matrix [Formula: see text] for some positive diagonal matrices D1, D2. The Sinkhorn algorithm is a simple iterative algorithm, which repeats row-normalization [Formula: see text] and column-normalization [Formula: see text] alternatively. By this algorithm, A converges to a doubly stochastic matrix in limit if and only if the bipartite graph associated with A has a perfect matching. This property can decide the existence of a perfect matching in a given bipartite graph G, which is identified with the 0, 1-matrix AG. Linial et al. (2000) showed that [Formula: see text] iterations for AG decide whether G has a perfect matching. Here, n is the number of vertices in one of the color classes of G. In this paper, we show an extension of this result. If G has no perfect matching, then a polynomial number of the Sinkhorn iterations identifies a Hall blocker—a vertex subset X having neighbors [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], which is a certificate of the nonexistence of a perfect matching. Specifically, we show that [Formula: see text] iterations can identify one Hall blocker and that further polynomial iterations can also identify all parametric Hall blockers X of maximizing [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. The former result is based on an interpretation of the Sinkhorn algorithm as alternating minimization for geometric programming. The latter is on an interpretation as alternating minimization for Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence and on its limiting behavior for a nonscalable matrix. We also relate the Sinkhorn limit with parametric network flow, principal partition of polymatroids, and the Dulmage–Mendelsohn decomposition of a bipartite graph. Funding: K. Hayashi was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [Grant JP19J22605]. H. Hirai was supported by Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology [Grant JPMJPR192A].
Učinkovitost uvođenja potpomognute komunikacije kod djeteta s prirođenim malformacijama mozga
Authors: Orlić Patricia , Ivšac Pavliša Jasmina , Popčević Klara 
Published: October 2023

The clinical population of children with congenital brain malformations is very heterogeneous, being defined by the location and severity of the damaged part of the brain. Developmental profiles range from severe intellectual difficulties and inability to express through speech to milder clinical presentation that imply difficulties in the development of communication, language and speech. Children with congenital brain malformations often rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods which enable them to express themselves or better understand language. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of communication, language and speech in a boy with congenital brain malformations and primary microcephaly and to determine the effectiveness of the introduction of augmentative and alternative communication on his communication, language and speech development. The speech therapy intervention was organized for 5 months. A low-tech tool (a communication book) and a high-tech communication tool (a nonspecialized tablet) were used to achieve the set goals of the intervention. Communication development was recorded using video analysis, and comprehension and word production data were collected using the MacArthur—Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). During the five months of intervention, positive changes were observed in the boys': a) patterns of communication functions, i.e., the frequency with which he communicate for specific functions, b) language production: increase in vocabulary size and language complexity, and c) use of speech as a primary mean of communication. The changes in communication tool use pattern, particularly the significant gains in the use of speech after the introduction of augmentative and alternative communication, are consistent with previous research on the importance of augmentative and alternative communication as an evidence-based intervention.
Symptoms and signs of kidney diseases in children during COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
Authors: Tolar Lucija , Kopač Matjaž 
Published: October 2023

Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms and signs of kidney diseases in children in Slovenia and to gain insight into the burden of kidney diseases in children at the primary care level at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study methodology was cross-sectional. Data were obtained via an anonymous online questionnaire sent to all primary care paediatricians in Slovenia via e-mail. An exact binomial test was used for each symptom case in order to determine whether the proportion of symptoms and/or signs in the sample deviates from the "theoretical" prevalence reported in the literature. Results: Data were obtained from 65 paediatricians and 9829 evaluated children were included in the study. The proportion of children with some symptoms and signs of kidney diseases, mostly found incidentally, such as haematuria, proteinuria and hypertension were lower than previously described in the literature. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of symptoms and signs suggesting serious kidney diseases, such as oedema or persistent proteinuria. The most common cause of children's visit to the outpatient clinics at the primary care level due to symptoms and signs of kidney diseases was urinary tract infection. Conclusions: Children with serious kidney diseases were identified as commonly as described in the literature, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter influenced negatively the discovery rate of symptoms and signs of kidney diseases that are found incidentally, such as haematuria, proteinuria and hypertension.
Environmental sampling for typhoidal Salmonellas in household and surface waters in Nepal identifies potential transmission pathways
Authors: LeBoa Christopher , Shrestha Sneha , Shakya Jivan , Naga Shiva Ram , Shrestha Sony , Shakya Mudita , Yu Alexander T. , Shrestha Rajeev , Vaidya Krista , Katuwal Nishan , Aiemjoy Kristen , Bogoch Isaac I. , Uzzell Christopher B. , Garrett Denise O. , Luby Stephen P. , Andrews Jason R. , Tamrakar Dipesh 
Published: October 2023

Introduction
Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi, fecal-oral transmitted bacterium, have temporally and geographically heterogeneous pathways of transmission. Previous work in Kathmandu, Nepal implicated stone waterspouts as a dominant transmission pathway after 77% of samples tested positive for Salmonella Typhi and 70% for Salmonella Paratyphi. Due to a falling water table, these spouts no longer provide drinking water, but typhoid fever persists, and the question of the disease’s dominant pathway of transmission remains unanswered.

Methods
We used environmental surveillance to detect Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A DNA from potential sources of transmission. We collected 370, 1L drinking water samples from a population-based random sample of households in the Kathmandu and Kavre Districts of Nepal between February and October 2019. Between November 2019 and July 2021, we collected 380, 50mL river water samples from 19 sentinel sites on a monthly interval along the rivers leading through the Kathmandu and Kavre Districts. We processed drinking water samples using a single qPCR and processed river water samples using differential centrifugation and qPCR at 0 and after 16 hours of liquid culture enrichment. A 3-cycle threshold (Ct) decrease of Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi, pre- and post-enrichment, was used as evidence of growth. We also performed structured observations of human-environment interactions to understand pathways of potential exposure.

Results
Among 370 drinking water samples, Salmonella Typhi was detected in 7 samples (1.8%) and Salmonella Paratyphi A was detected in 4 (1.0%) samples. Among 380 river water samples, Salmonella Typhi was detected in 171 (45%) and Salmonella Paratyphi A was detected in 152 (42%) samples. Samples located upstream of the Kathmandu city center were positive for Salmonella Typhi 12% of the time while samples from locations in and downstream were positive 58% and 67% of the time respectively. Individuals were observed bathing, washing clothes, and washing vegetables in the rivers.

Implications
These results suggest that drinking water was not the dominant pathway of transmission of Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A in the Kathmandu Valley in 2019. The high degree of river water contamination and its use for washing vegetables raises the possibility that river systems represent an important source of typhoid exposure in Kathmandu.
Cost of implementing a doxycycline test-and-treat strategy for onchocerciasis elimination among settled and semi-nomadic groups in Cameroon
Authors: Trotignon Guillaume , Dixon Ruth , Atekem Kareen , Senyonjo Laura , Kamgno Joseph , Biholong Didier , Jones Iain , Nditanchou Rogers 
Published: October 2023

Background
Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease with 217.5 million people globally at risk of having the infection. In both settled and semi-nomadic communities of Massangam Health District in Cameroon, Sightsavers has been carrying out test-and-treat with doxycycline and twice-yearly ivermectin distribution. This paper focuses on the cost of test-and-treat with doxycycline in the two community contexts of settled and semi-nomadic.

Methods
For the valuation, a combination of gross or micro-costing was used to identify cost components, as well as bottom-up and top-down approaches. The opportunity costs of vehicle and equipment use were estimated and included. Not included, however, were the opportunity costs of building use and Ministry of Public Health staff salaries. We only captured the incremental costs of implementing test-and-treat activities as part of a functional annual community-directed treatment with the ivermectin programme.

Results
We estimate the economic cost per person tested and cost per person treated in Massangam to be US$135 and US$667 respectively. Total implementation cost in the settled community was US$79,409, and in the semi-nomadic community US$69,957. Overall, the total economic cost of implementing the doxycycline test-and-treat strategy for onchocerciasis elimination in Massangam came to US$168,345. Financial costs represented 91% of total costs.

Conclusions
Unit costs of test-and-treat in both settled and semi-nomadic communities are higher than unit costs of community-directed treatment with ivermectin. However, it is critical to note that a two-year implementation shows a significantly larger reduction in infection prevalence than the preceding 20 years of annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin. Test-and-treat with doxycycline may be a cost-effective intervention in places where the prevalence of microfilaria is still high, or in hard-to-reach areas where community-directed treatment with ivermectin and MDA coverage are not high enough to stop transmission or where marginalised populations consistently miss treatment.
An evaluation protocol of ‘Replicability Model’ project for detection and treatment of leprosy and related disability in Chhattisgarh, India
Authors: Darlong Joydeepa , Govindasamy Karthikeyan , Ilozumba Onaedo , Choudhury Sopna , Shrivastva Anjali , Griffiths Frances , Watson Samuel , Sartori Jo , Lilford Richard 
Published: October 2023

Introduction
People affected by leprosy are at increased risk of impairments and deformities from peripheral nerve damage. This mostly occurs if diagnosis and treatment is delayed and contributes to continued transmission within the community. Champa district of Chhattisgarh state in India is an endemic area with the highest national annual case detection and disability rates for leprosy. The Replicability Model is a system strengthening intervention implemented by the Leprosy Mission Trust India in Champa that aims to promote early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, improve on-going management of the effects of leprosy and improve welfare for the people affected by leprosy. This protocol presents a plan to describe the overall implementation of the Replicability Model and describe the barriers and facilitators encountered in the process. We will also quantify the effect of the program on one of its key aims- early leprosy diagnosis.

Methods
The replicability model will be implemented over four years, and the work described in this protocol will be conducted in the same timeframe. We have two Work Packages (WPs). In WP1, we will conduct a process evaluation. This will include three methods i) observations of replicability model implementation teams’ monthly meetings ii) key informant interviews (n = 10) and interviews with stakeholders (n = 30) iii) observations of key actors (n = 15). Our purpose is to describe the implementation process and identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation. WP2 will be a quantitative study to track existing and new cases of leprosy using routinely collected data. If the intervention is successful, we expect to see an increase in cases (with a higher proportion detected at an early clinical stage) followed by a decrease in total cases.

Conclusion
This study will enable us to improve and disseminate the Replicability Model by identifying factors that promote success. It will also identify its effectiveness in fulfilling one of its aims: reducing the incidence of leprosy by finding and tracking cases at an earlier stage in the disease.
The association between maternal intra-abdominal pressure and hypertension in pregnancy
Authors: Jayasundara Sajith , Goonewardene Malik , Dassanayake Lanka 
Published: October 2023

Introduction
Pregnancy leads to a state of chronically increased intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) caused by a growing fetus, fluid, and tissue. Increased intra-abdominal pressure is leading to state of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension (IAH) and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome. Clinical features and risk factors of preeclampsia is comparable to abdominal compartment syndrome. IAP may be associated with the hypertension in pregnancy (HIP).

Objectives
The study aimed to determine the antepartum and postpartum IAP levels in women undergoing caesarean delivery (CD) and association between hypertension in pregnancy, and antepartum and postpartum IAP levels in women undergoing CD.

Method
Seventy pregnant women (55 normotensive, 15 HIP) undergoing antepartum, non-emergency CD, had their intravesical pressure measured before and after the CD, the intravesical pressure measurements obtained with the patient in the supine position were considered to correspond to the IAP. Multivariable linear regression models were used to study associations between intraabdominal pressure and baseline characteristics in normotensive pregnancies and hypertensive pregnancies.

Results
In normotensive pregnancies at mean gestation age of 38.2 weeks (95%CI 37.9 to 38.6), mean antepartum IAP was 12.7 mmHg(95%CI 11.6 to 13.8) and the mean postpartum IAP was 7.3 mmHg (95% CI 11.6 to 13.8). Multivariable linear regression models showed HIP group antepartum IAP positively associated with coefficient value of 1.617 (p = 0.268) comparing with normotensive pregnancy group. Postpartum IAP in HIP group positively associated with coefficient value of 2.519 (p = 0.018) comparing with normotensive pregnancy group. IAP difference is negatively associated with HIP (coefficient -1.013, p = 0.179).

Conclusion
In normotensive pregnancies at term, the IAP was in the IAH range of the non-pregnant population. Higher Antepartum IAP and Postpartum IAP are associated with HIP. Reduction of IAP from antepartum period to postpartum period was less with HIP.
Up-regulation of plasma miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a in postmenopausal osteoporosis
Authors: Mohammadisima Neda , Farshbaf-khalili Azizeh , Ostadrahimi Alireza 
Published: October 2023

Background
Many researchers focused on diverse miRNAs in the progression of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to evaluate the association between plasma miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-422a with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Methods
This cross-sectional comparative study was performed on 126 randomly selected postmenopausal women aged 50–65, including 65 osteoporotic and 61 normal-bone mineral density (BMD) women. miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a were identified using qRT-PCR in these women. BMD was evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. A binary logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to evaluate the associations between plasma miRNAs’ expression levels and osteoporosis. The Area Under Curve (AUC) was calculated to differentiate low BMD in the postmenopausal period using Receiver-Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results
miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a were significantly up-regulated in osteoporotic compared to non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women. The expression levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a indicated a significant reverse correlation with both lumbar spine and femoral neck density. After adjusting the confounders, the likelihood of osteoporosis in the postmenopausal women with under the median plasma levels of miRNA-21 (OR = 0.025; 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.198, p<0.001) and miRNA-422a (OR = 0.037; 95% CI: 0.007 to 0.211, p<0.001) was significantly less than the women with the levels above the median. There were significant inverse correlations between miRNA-21 (p<0.001, r = -0.511) and miRNA-422a (p<0.001, r = -0.682) with BMD-lumbar spine as well as an inverse correlation between miRNA-21(p<0.001, r = -0.374) and miRNA-422a (p<0.001, r = -0.602) with BMD-femoral neck. The AUC (95%CI) for miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a was 0.84 (0.77 to 0.91) and 0.98 (0.96 to 0.99), respectively. ROC analysis illustrated that sensitivity and specificity values were 83.1% and 74%, respectively, for miRNA-21 at the cut-off point of 3.38. Also, at the cut-off point of 2.86, a sensitivity of 94% as well as a specificity of 89% was determined for miRNA-422a.

Conclusions
This study indicated that the odds of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women increased with the higher expression of plasma miRNA-21 and miRNA-422a.
Effect of exercise training on blood pressure variability in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Min , Lin Yipin , Li Yuhua , Lin Xiongbiao 
Published: October 2023

Background and aims
Targeting blood pressure variability (BPV) can potentially reduce cardiovascular events and incidence of mortality, but whether exercise reduces BPV remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to study the impact of an exercise intervention on BPV in adults.

Methods
A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO host, Cochrane, Embase, Science direct databases was done to retrieve controlled trials published from inception to January 10, 2023 that investigated the effects of exercise on BPV. The main characteristics of each study were synthesized, re-evaluated, and used in this meta-analysis.

Results
Eleven studies with 514 adults with exercise training were eligible for single-arm meta-analysis and six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected for further meta-analysis. After exercise training, systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) (effect size = -0.76, 95%CI: -1.21 to -0.30, I2 60%), especially the average real variability SBP (-0.85, -1.44 to -0.27, I2 59%), was significantly improved. SBPV (-0.68, –1.18 to -0.18, I2 64%) significantly improved in hypertension patients. Aerobic exercise improved SBPV (-0.66, -1.32 to -0.00, I2 45%), and combined training improved both SBPV (-0.74, -1.35 to -0.14, I2 65%) and diastolic blood pressure variability (DBPV) (-0.36, -0.65 to -0.02, I2 33%). The SBPV of daytime (-0.90, -1.39 to -0.40, I2 57%) and DBPV of daytime (-0.31, -0.53 to -0.08, I2 0%) values demonstrated significant improvement compared to the night-time values. Moreover, six RCTs demonstrated a decrease in SBPV (-1.03, -1.77 to -0.28, I2 45%).

Conclusion
This study provides quantitative evidence that exercise training can improve BPV, especially SBPV, in adults. This meta-analysis suggests that aerobic exercise and combined training should be recommended for hypertension patients.