bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic evaluation in implementation science: A reconciled approach evaluating programmes to increase the uptake of magnesium sulphate in pre-term births
Authors: Sillero-Rejon Carlos , Hollingworth William , McLeod Hugh , Opmeer Brent C. , Luyt Karen 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Methods for the economic evaluation of implementation initiatives to increase the uptake of cost-effective healthcare interventions are not standardised. Value of implementation and policy cost-effectiveness are two proposed approaches. This research aims to compare these two methods and propose a standardised approach. To illustrate this, we evaluated two implementation programmes to increase magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) uptake in preterm labour to reduce the risk of cerebral palsy: i) the National PReCePT Programme (NPP) which provided regional support and funded clinical time in maternity units in England, and ii) an enhanced support programme (ESP) with additional unit-level coaching and extra funded time, which was nested within NPP and subject to a cluster RCT.
Methods
After summarising value of implementation and policy cost-effectiveness methods, we explored the extent to which the two methods can be viewed as mathematically equivalent for the purpose of evaluating the NPP (versus pre-existing trends) and the ESP (versus the NPP) calculating their incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, net monetary benefits, and their probability of being cost-effective.
Results
We demonstrate that value of implementation and policy cost-effectiveness methods can be expressed in mathematically equivalent terms and propose a standardised stepwise approach. Both methods depend on the change in the uptake of the healthcare technology, cost of the implementation activity, size of the eligible population affected over time, and the cost-effectiveness of the healthcare technology. We illustrated our standardised approach in two economic evaluations: the NPP generated a societal lifetime net monetary benefit of £30,247 per maternity unit over 12 months, at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20,000; the probability of being cost-effective was 98%. In contrast, the ESP generated a net monetary benefit of -£28,682 per maternity unit in comparison to the NPP; the probability of being cost-effective was 22%.
Conclusions
Policy cost-effectiveness and value of implementation approaches can be represented by a standardised stepwise method for the economic evaluation of implementation initiatives. Our illustrative examples show how the value of different quality improvement interventions for the same cost-effective treatment can be evaluated and compared. Our standardised method may facilitate a more systematic assessment of the value for money of implementation initiatives, which should be viewed as an important component of implementation research.
In silico Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets and Epitopes among the Essential Hypothetical Protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A Novel Approach for Antivirulence Therapy
Authors: Atron Bydaa , Yousif Zobidah 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical pathogen that represents a challenge in healthcare due to its virulence and antibiotic resistance capabilities. The development of new medications and vaccinations is critical. Antivirulence treatment, which exploits virulence factors as pharmacological targets, will emerge as a preferred therapeutic option. P. aeruginosa genome constitutes 335 essential genes, which are vital for pathogens' survival. The functions of 89 proteins encoded by P. aeruginosa essential genes were uncharacterized and thus referred to as essential hypothetical proteins (EHPs). They could eventuate as potential drug and vaccine targets since their deletion or inactivation results in the organism's death. The objective of this work is to use bioinformatics applications and databases to perform functional characterization for the EHPs.
Methods. After retrieving the corresponding sequences, the pseudogenes were excluded, and the characterization of 56 hypothetical proteins was performed through the determination of their physiochemical properties, subcellular localization, functional annotation, domain analysis, and structure. Evaluation of the performance of the various tools was conducted using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and a high average accuracy was obtained.
Results. 35 virulence factors were predicted and those with no homology to both human and gut microbiota proteome were considered potential targets and tested for druggability. All the targets were found to be non-druggable with exception of one. They were further classified as vaccine or drug targets according to their location. The identified vaccine targets were tested for antigenicity. Subsequently. From the 5 vaccine targets, the researchers discovered highly conserved and exposed epitope sequences. The vaccine targets' three-dimensional structures were elucidated and validated for quality. Our comprehensive analysis will help to gain a greater understanding of the development of many novel potential therapeutic interventions to defeat Pseudomonas infections
Achieving Maximum Speedup in Multi-level Acceleration for Massive Coronavirus Testing
Authors: Li Keqin , Yang Bo 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Note: Please see pdf for full abstract with equations.
It is well and widely known that sample pooling could provide an effective and efficient way for fast coronavirus testing among massive asymptomatic individuals. The method of multi-level acceleration for asymptomatic COVID-19 screening has been introduced, and for one and two levels, the optimal group sizes have been obtained. However, there are still multiple challenges. First, it is not clear how to find the optimal group sizes for three or more levels. Second, there is lack of closed-form expressions for the optimal group sizes for two or more levels. Third, it is not clear how to determine the optimal number of levels. And last, it is not known what the maximum achievable speedup is. The motivation of this paper is to address all the above challenges. The optimization of a hierarchical pooling strategy includes its number of levels and the group size of each level. In this paper, based on multi-variable optimization and Taylor approximation, we are able to derive closed-form expressions for the optimal number of levels d* = ln(1/ln(1/q0)) − 1, the optimal group sizes m1* = ed* = 1/(ep0), m2* = ed*−1 = 1/(e2p0), ..., md** = e = 1/(ed*p0), and the maximum possible speedup of a hierarchical pooling strategy of 1/(ep0ln(1/p0)), where p0 is the fraction of infected people. The above speedup is nearly a linear function of the reciprocal of p0, in the sense that it is asymptotically greater than any sub-linear function (1/p0)1−ε of the reciprocal of p0 for any small ε > 0. Using the results in this paper, we can quickly and easily predict the performance of an optimal hierarchical pooling strategy. For instance, if the fraction of infected people is 0.0001, an 8-level hierarchical pooling strategy can achieve speedup of nearly 400.
Colony inhibition and abundance of Oecophylla smaragdina in Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Selvam K. , Nalini T. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Colony inhibition and abundance of Oecophylla smaragdina nest were identified and reported in the krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu by all out search method. Twenty seven under seventeen families were recorded for the presence of Oecophylla smaragdina. Colony inhibition of Oecophylla smaragdina occurred in 20 plant hosts for all the six months. In Pongamia pinnata, Oecophylla smaragdina occupied only for the lowest number of period as two months. Numbers of nests were more in Mangifera indica (42.67), Citrus limon (29.17), Azadirachta indica (23.50) and less number of nests were found in Pongamia pinnata (15.50), Manilkara zapota (15.33), Hibiscus rosa sinensis (12.83) and Morinda citrifolia(8.00).
An alternative simple method of assessment of clinical agreement of two methods of measuring blood glucose level without Bland–Altman limits
Authors: Indrayan Abhaya 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

New methods of measuring blood glucose levels are generally accepted when they show sufficient agreement with the existing established method. Such agreement is almost always assessed by Bland-Altman (B-A) method. This method of assessing agreement has several limitations such as this does not assess the degree of agreement and it requires uniform clinical tolerance limits. We describe a simple and robust method of assessing the agreement between two methods of measuring blood glucose levels that directly uses the clinical tolerance limits and assesses the degree of agreement without calculating the B-A limits. This alternative is more flexible also as the clinical tolerance limits can be varyingly set to provide more accuracy at critical values of the blood glucose level and relaxed at not-so-critical
Dietary fibre supplementation enhances radiotherapy tumour control and alleviates intestinal radiation toxicity
Authors: Then Chee Kin , Paillas Salome , Moomin Aliu , Misheva Mariya , Moir Rachel , Hay Susan , Bremner David , Nellany Kristine , Smith Ellen , Heidari Zynab , Sescu Daniel , Wang Xuedan , Suarez-Bonnet Alejandro , Hay Nadine , Murdoch Sarah , Saito Ryoichi , Collie-Duguid Elaina , Richardson Shirley , Priestnall Simon , Wilson Joan , Gurumurthy Mahalakshmi , Royle Justine , Samuel Leslie , Ramsay George , Vallis Katherine , Foster Kevin , McCullagh James , Kiltie Anne 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Non-toxic approaches to enhance radiotherapy outcomes are beneficial, particularly in ageing populations. We investigated the efficacy of high-fibre diets combined with irradiation in C57BL/6 mice bearing bladder cancer flank allografts.
Result
Psyllium plus inulin significantly decreased tumour size and delayed tumour growth following irradiation compared to 0.2% cellulose and raised intratumoural CD8+ cells. Post-irradiation, tumour control positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae family abundance. Psyllium plus resistant starch radiosensitised the tumours, positively correlating with Bacteroides genus abundance. Although local immunity was suppressed, psyllium plus resistant starch increased caecal isoferulic acid levels, associated with a favourable response. Both diets mitigated the acute radiation injury caused by 14 Gy. All high fibre diets increased caecal short-chain fatty acid levels. Similar gut microbiota profiles in cancer patients and low-fibre diet mice indicates scope for testing dietary fibre supplements in human intervention studies.
Conclusion
These supplements may be useful in combinations with radiotherapy in patients with pelvic malignancy.
Economic look at feeding replacement beef heifers
Authors: Prince D. Kirk , Mickelsen W. D. , Prince E. G. 
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of the costs to feed replacement beef heifers through the winter. A comparison between heifers fed in a commercial feedlot (Group A) and heifers raised by the owners (Group B) will be made. The effects of the feeding programs on pregnancy rate will then be evaluated. The feeding study was performed by Deseret Ranches, Ltd. of Alberta, Canada, and their computerized results were used for this project. All heifers were examined rectally for pregnancy determination by E.G. Prince, D.V.M.
The two major goals of reproductive management are: increase the number of females cycling early in the breeding season, and improve conception rates. It is the first of these goals that is most affected by heifer replacement management programs. The remainder of the discussion, therefore, will center on the ability of the two feeding programs to increase the number of replacement heifers cycling early in the breeding season. The conception rate is assumed to be equal in the two groups since all bulls servicing the two groups successfully passed breeding soundness evaluations and were then randomly distributed between the two groups. The bull:heifer ratio was the same for the two groups (1:30), as were the environmental and management conditions. Both groups were maintained on the same ranch except during the winter when Group A was moved to the feedlot located approximately 20 miles from the ranch. With all other factors being equal, the success of the two feeding programs to increase the number of heifers cycling early in the breeding season, while minimizing cost, is demonstrated by the pregnancy rate.
In order to discuss the results of these feeding trials, a description of the two programs must be given. This will be followed by a summary of the performance of each group during the feeding trial and during the breeding season. The cost of the respective programs will then be discussed and the determined pregnancy rates presented.
Maintaining or improving performance of cattle during hot weather
Authors: Wagner Donald G. 
Published: March 2023

Maintaining adequate intake and performance during hot weather can be a constant challenge in some areas. Problems are more likely to be incurred with confinement than with pasture cattle because higher levels of performance (i.e. daily gain) are expected and because of other constraints. Therefore, most of the discussion herein will be directed toward feedlot or confinement cattle although some pertinent items would also apply to cattle in pasture environments.
Problems with reduced performance become especially critical when cattle are heat stressed. Health disorders with bloat and acidosis in feedlot cattle can increase as well during hot weather because of drastic changes in eating pattern. In some locations, such as the High Plains, even though temperatures may be rather high during certain months, cattle may still do quite well especially where the humidity is low, and there is considerable wind. Higher elevations usually facilitate a better environment. However, not all cattle feeding areas in the U.S. or in the world are blessed with good conditions during hot months. Even locations with a generally favorable environment may at times incur miserable conditions, compromising performance.
Persistent infections and immunological aspects of BVD virus in beef cattle
Authors: Grotelueschen Dale M. , Mortimer Robert G. 
Published: March 2023

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) was first described in 1946 in New York dairy cattle. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a common infection of cattle with serum neutralizing antibody present in 50 to 90 percent of the world population.
BVD has manifested itself in a wide variety of clinical entities. This variability has perplexed producers, veterinary practitioners and researchers for years. Recent findings associated with persistent infections have further demonstrated the complexity of the disease. An understanding of these findings is important in assessing the effects of clinical BVD. This paper summarizes for the practitioner, the current information about persistent infections and other immunological aspects of BVD.
Probiotics
Authors: Lyons T. P. 
Published: March 2023

While much research still remains to be done on probiotics, the eminent possibility of a ban on antibiotics makes their use in feed no longer a topic to be ignored. Too many solid field results are accumulating when a stable microencapsulated bacteria is used. In times of stress when the correct numbers of bacteria are added, positive results are assured.
Care must be taken however to insure the product being used is indeed a stable microorganism. Only then can valid conclusions be drawn.
Liver function in dairy cows in late pregnancy and early lactation
Authors: West Hilary J. 
Published: March 2023

During early lactation, the dairy cow has to contend with a variety of factors which can lead to impairment of hepatic function. Studies have shown that since the overall energy requirement is greatly increased, rates of metabolic processes within the liver have to be increased in proportion. Priority appears to be given to the nutrient requirements of the foetus during gestation and to the lactating mammary gland in early lactation. The cow may be in a state of negative energy balance as peak milk yields are reached 3 to 7 weeks after calving whereas peak voluntary food intake is not reached until 8 to 10 weeks after calving. Hormone production is such as to encourage lipid mobilization. As a result of this energy deficit, cows mobilize their tissue reserves for milk production and may lose appreciable amounts of body weight and muscle. Similar factors may also pertain in late pregnancy.
One of the possible consequences of mobilization of body reserves is the development of a fatty liver. It was estimated that up to a third of high yielding dairy cows in the U.K. were affected by consequence of fatty liver. Substantial mortality may occur as a consequence of fatty liver in dairy cows and complications such as chronic ketosis, parturient paresis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, endometritis, an impaired immune response and an adverse effect on fertility have been reported.
The purpose of this investigation was to establish any changes that may occur in liver function in periparturient dairy cows, when compared with non-lactating cows, in order to aid identification of the cows which are likely to develop fatty liver.
Production management series moves veterinarians to new role in beef cattle operations
Authors: Walber Katie 
Published: March 2023

Twenty veterinarians from nine states recently became the first certified graduates of the Beef Cattle Production Management Series conducted facility, near Clay Center, NE. Certification is the final step in a yearlong program that brought these livestock professionals to the forefront of the movement to expand Integrated Resource Management ORM) into cow-calf and feedlot operations across the nation. The goal is to extend their skills beyond traditional veterinary technical service to working as part of a team effort toward the success of beef cattle programs.
Rather than a review of veterinary skills, the program provides intensive training in 11 key areas: record keeping, nutrition, range management, communication, breeding animal selection, accounting and finances, time management, feedlot and packing house procedures, marketing and risk management, media issues and the computer skills necessary to maintain all of these operations. The result is a united effort for producer profitability.
Twin fetal maceration in a cow associated with persistent corpus luteum and closed cervix
Authors: Hailat Nabil , Lafi Shawkat , Al-Sahli Ayman , Abu-Basha Ehab , Fathalla Mahmound 
Published: March 2023

Fetal maceration in the cow that occurs after the third month of gestation, when fetal bones are fairly well developed, and that may be caused by wound infection type bacterial agents, especially Corynobacterium pyogenes, progressing to septic metritis with death and maceration of the fetus in a closed uterus, is uncommon. In other circumstances, fetal death with maceration in cattle is usually accompanied by regression of the corpus luteum (CL) with opened cervix.
In two previous surveys, in which we studied the gross lesions ofbovine reproductive tracts, we did not encounter any case of fetal maceration. This report provides macroscopic description of a case of twin fetal maceration in the cow associated with persistent corpus luteum and closed cervix.
Indicator of thyroid hormones in newborns from mothers with diffuse-endemic goiter
Authors: Makhkamova G. T. , Turdieva Sh. T. 
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Pathologies of thyroid dysfunction associated with iodine deficiency remain one of the urgent problems throughout the world and are mainly associated with natural iodine deficiency in places where about 30% of the world’s population lives.Objective. Study of the dynamics of thyroid hormones in infants born from mothers with diffuse endemic goiter.Materials and methods. A retrospective study of 68 infants from mothers with diffuse endemic goiter (DEG) was carried out. Research methods included: analysis of anamnestic data, palpation, and ultrasound in mothers, with a study of the level of thyroid hormone in newborns and parturient women.Results. Infants from mothers with DEG have characteristic changes in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood, in particular, in the cord blood, the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is 22.4% higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). The difference between free triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) is on average lower by 8.6% and 4.3%, respectively, (p < 0.05 and p < 0.1). On the 3rd day of life, these fluctuations persist, and the level of TSH in the peripheral blood exceeded up to 20.9%, but there were no pronounced clinical signs of congenital pathology associated with the thyroid gland. At the same time, in the first months of life in infants, there is a lag in weight gain by an average of 9.6% about practically healthy newborns.Conclusion. In infants born to mothers with DEG, there is an increase in the umbilical blood level of TSH up to 22.4% about practically healthy newborns, with a simultaneous decrease in T4 to 4.3%, T3 to 8.6%, without pronounced clinical signs of congenital pathology. In these children, in the first months of life, there is a lag in physiological weight gain of up to 9.6%, which should be taken into account when managing children in an outpatient setting.
Local therapy of acute otitis media in children
Authors: Delyagin V. M. 
Published: March 2023

Acute otitis media (AOM), one of the most common infectious and inflammatory diseases in infants, toddlers and young children, is defined as an infectious inflammation of the middle ear, usually bacterial, often with earache, fever, and possibly otorrhea. Almost all children suffer from otitis media, 80–90% – at preschool age. The frequency of acute otitis media in children in a megapolis is more than 4 000 cases per 100 000 population, however, given the large proportion of asymptomatic variants against the background of acute respiratory infections, insufficient equipment of pediatricians with otoscopes, registration of acute otitis media almost exclusively by ENT doctors, the frequency of acute otitis media may be significantly higher. The clinical picture may be nonspecific. Ear pain and otoscopy are decisive for the diagnosis. The severity of inflammation correlates well with the scale of visual assessment of pain according to the child’s facial expressions. The aims of treatment are to relieve pain using topical or systemic analgesics, decide together with an ENT specialist on the need for antibiotic therapy, avoid not indicated antibiotic therapy, prevent complications (tympanic membrane perforation, acute mastoiditis, meningitis). With unexpressed otitis media, it is advisable to use symptomatic therapy and drops. A complex of compounds (lidocaine, phenazone) provides a quick therapeutic effect. Topical anaesthetics block the transmission of the pain signal from the receptor to the central nervous system through the inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels. The symptomatic treatment (analgesics, antipyretics, topical therapy) results in improvement in 60% of patients within the next 24 hours, and in 80% within the next 3 days.For prophylaxis of otitis, it is necessary to prevent acute respiratory infections, do vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infections, avoid exposure to tobacco smoke, and keep babies breastfeeding.