bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Twelve-month contraceptive discontinuation, associated factors and its consequences in Nepal
Authors: Bhandary Shital 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) remained stagnant in Nepal in the past ten years and Nepal failed to achieve the millennium development goals target on CPR in 2015. Since CPR is based on the use of contraceptives, it is extremely important to assess contraceptive discontinuation rates to find the reason for this stalemate in the country.

Method: The 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey contraceptive calendar data was used to get all the episodes of contraceptive use within one year. It was used to find discontinuation rates by methods, reasons, and associated factors. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compare discontinuation rates across predictor variable categories and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to find independent factors of discontinuation rates.

Result: Nepal reported a twelve-month contraceptive discontinuation rate of 64.4% along with higher discontinuation of modern methods (pill, intra-uterine device, injectable and male condom) and traditional methods (rhythm and withdrawal) than India and Bangladesh in 2016. Most women cited ‘side effects’ and ‘wanted more effective method” as the main reason for the discontinuation of modern methods whereas ‘method failure’ and ‘desire to become pregnant’ as the main reasons for the discontinuation of traditional methods. The bivariate analysis found age, province, education level, and wealth indices as the main predictor whereas multivariate analysis found province and education level as the independent factors of twelve-month discontinuation rates in Nepal.

Conclusion: Stagnant unmet need for family planning and higher contraceptive discontinuation were responsible for the stagnation of the contraceptive prevalence rate in Nepal since 2006. Province and education were independent predictors of the twelve-month discontinuation rate in Nepal in 2016. Further analysis of discontinuation “while in need” is needed to assess the family planning plans, policies, and programs of Nepal at the national, provincial, and local levels to improve the contraceptive prevalence rate in the country.
Predictors of hepatorenal syndrome in patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis
Authors: Karki Sanjit , Shrestha Roshan , Shah Manoj , Shrestha Ramila , Paudel Bidhan Nidhi 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is one of the severe complications of decompensated liver cirrhosis which has poor outcome. Predictive models are important aspect in assessment of high risk patient.
Method: This prospective analytical study was conducted in Gastroenterology unit of Bir hospital from December 2018 to April 2020. Seventy patient of liver cirrhosis with ascites (CTP score 7 or more) were followed for a period of three months. The outcome of study was hepatorenal syndrome. Predictors were assessed from baseline variables.
Result: Total 65 patients completed the study. The mean age of study population was 47.38 Â±11.38 years and 52(80%) were male. The most common aetiology was alcohol 55(84 %). Eight (12.5%) developed HRS. Hepatorenal syndrome was precipitated by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis 5(62.5%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding 2(25%) and unknown 1(12.5%). In Bivariate analysis total leucocyte count, Serum sodium, Model for End-stage Liver Disease â€“ Sodium (MELD- Na), serum bilirubin and use of rifaximin were predictors of HRS. Only use of rifaximin was the predictor in multivariate analysis.
Conclusion: Serum sodium, bilirubin and MELD Na are important predictors of the hepatorenal syndrome. Rifaximin use may be preventive for HRS.
Keywords: Decompensation, hepatorenal syndrome, liver cirrhosis, predictors
Factors affecting problematic use of psychoactive substances among Bachelor level students: A mixed methods study from Hill and Terai of Nepal
Authors: Basnet Puspa , Devkota Gaurav , Sagtani Reshu Agrawal , Bhandary Shital 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Adolescents start experimenting with licit substances which later worsen to use of more addictive illicit substances. Genetic and environmental vulnerabilities affect use of psychoactive substances with family support, competence, and psychological well-being acting as protective factors. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of problematic use of psychoactive substances among Bachelor level students and factors affecting the problematic use.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 Bachelor level students selected purposively from a private college of Kathmandu metropolitan city and five In-depth and Key Informant interviews of Bachelor level students, guardian, and teachers from Kohalpur municipality. Cronbachâ€™s alpha was calculated for each of the tools used and prevalence of problematic use of psychoactive substances was assessed.
Result: Prevalence of problematic use of psychoactive substances among lifetime users was 51.4%. The factors significantly associated with problematic use of psychoactive substances were sex and social discrediting by peers. Qualitative analysis identified many risk and protective factors at individual, interpersonal, and socio-cultural level.
Conclusion: High prevalence of lifetime psychoactive substance use and high percentage of problematic use of psychoactive substances among substance users requires intervention at different socio-ecological level.
Desenvolvimentismos: entre a epistemologia inflexível e o relativismo absoluto
Authors: Alves Corrêa Leonardo , Riceputi Alcântara Marcelo 
Published: March 2023

Através da combinação de leituras das evoluções históricas das Ciências Sociais e da Ciência Econômica até o contemporâneo, presente trabalho propõe-se a identificar elementos mínimos configuradores de um framework da Ciência Econômica como hodiernamente adequado a prestar suporte descritivo ao Direito Econômico. Suscita, então, da adequação do framework da obra de Karl Polany para tanto, bem como de seu potencial caráter contributivo quando do labor hermenêutico sobre a Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988.
Effects of FIS Overexpression on Cell Growth, rRNA Synthesis, and Ribosome Content in Escherichiacoli
Authors: Richins Richard , Chen Wilfred 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe Escherichia coli DNA binding protein FIS is a transcriptional modulator involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, including the activation of rRNA synthesis. High‐level overproduction of FIS in early, mid, or late log cultures resulted in growth‐phase‐ and media‐specific variations in cell growth, rRNA synthesis, and ribosome content. FIS overproduction caused a pronounced increase in rRNA synthesis for late‐exponential cultures but a substantial reduction in cell growth and ribosome content. The addition of simple sugars such as glucose or fructose reversed these phenomena, consistent with the functional role of FIS in carbon metabolism.
Homologous serum‐stimulated fibronectin synthesis in human retinal pigmented epithelial cells
Authors: Stocks S Z , Shiels I A , Taylor S M 
Published: July 2002

Purpose: Fibronectin expression has been recorded in subretinal membranes from patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells are a major cellular component of PVR membranes and synthesize fibronectin. We investigated the effects of human serum (as a model of vascular leakage in vivo) on the expression of fibronectin by cultured human RPE cells and compared the responses to those stimulated by fetal bovine serum (FBS). Methods: Human RPE cells were incubated in M199 with 1, 10 and 40% human adult serum or FBS for 72 h. Results: Retinal pigmented epithelial cells expressed maximum extracellular matrix fibronectin when exposed to 40% human serum using immunohistochemistry. Using ELISA to quantify fibronectin, 10 and 40% human serum significantly increased the total fibronectin (P < 0.01; n = 4), whereas FBS did not affect fibronectin expression. Conclusions: The results show that human serum contains substances stimulating fibronectin synthesis in human RPE cells.
Establishment and redistribution of Longitarsus flavicornis (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the biological control of ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.) in Tasmania
Authors: Ireson Je , Leighton Sm , Holloway Rj , Chatterton Ws 
Published: July 2002

AbstractRagwort flea beetle, Longitarsus flavicornis (Stephens), was first released as a biological control agent for ragwort in Tasmania in 1979. Field surveys to the end of February 1999 showed that it is now dispersed over all land known to be infested by ragwort in southern Tasmania, and over about 90% of the major infestations in the north. A redistribution program has been undertaken to accelerate spread of L. flavicornis by transferring field collected adults from established field sites during summer and autumn. Since 1986, almost 2 million adults have been distributed to 879 sites, with over 80% of transfers taking place between 1993 and 1999. A minimum of 1000 adults released/site resulted in establishment at 90% of the sites. Although large (> 90%) reductions in ragwort densities have been recorded, we suspect that prevailing site conditions such as flooding and incompatible management practices such as use of boom‐sprayed herbicides, are restricting efficacy of L. flavicornis on many properties. Attempts to address this problem are now being made through use of integrated control strategies and establishment of complementary biological control agents.
Vibrational force constants and anharmonicities: Relation to polarizability and hyperpolarizability densities
Authors: Hunt K. L. C. 
Published: July 2002

In this work, the derivatives of molecular potential energy surfaces V({R}) with respect to nuclear coordinates RK are related to derivatives of the electronic charge density with respect to applied electric fields. New equations are obtained for second, third, and fourth derivatives of V({R}) in terms of the charge density, the nonlocal polarizability density α(r,r′), and the hyperpolarizability densities β(r,r′,r″) and γ(r,r′,r″,r‴). In general, the nth derivative of the potential V({R}) depends on electrical susceptibility densities through (n−1)st order. The results hold for arbitrary nuclear coordinates {R}, not restricted to the equilibrium configuration {Re}. Specialization to {Re} leads to a new result for harmonic frequencies in terms of α(r,r′), and to new results for vibration–rotation coupling constants and anharmonicities in terms of α(r,r′), β(r,r′,r″) and higher-order hyperpolarizability densities. This work provides a simple physical interpretation for force derivatives obtained by use of analytic energy differentiation techniques in ab initio work, or in density functional theory: The charge reorganization terms in harmonic force constants give the electronic induction energy in the change of field δF due to an infinitesimal shift in nuclear positions.
Cubic anharmonicity constants depend on the hyperpolarization energy of the electrons in the field δF, on the induction energy bilinear in δF and the second variation of the field δ2F, and on the gradients of the field from the unperturbed charge distribution. The results are derived by use of the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem or the electrostatic Hellmann–Feynman theorem, together with a chain of relations that connects the derivative of an electrical property of order n to the susceptibility density of order n+1. These derivatives are taken with respect to the nuclear coordinates RK, in contrast to the well known relations for derivatives with respect to an applied electric field. Analytic expressions are compared for the property derivatives that depend on susceptibility densities through γ(r,r′,r″,r‴). This includes the derivatives of V({R}) listed above; first, second, and third derivatives of the dipole moment; first and second derivatives of the polarizability; and the first derivative of the β hyperpolarizability with respect to the nuclear coordinates RK.
SEGMENT: identifying compositional domains in DNA sequences
Authors: L.Oliver José , Román-Roldán Ramón , Pérez Javier , Bernaola-Galván Pedro 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: DNA sequences are formed by patches or domains of different nucleotide composition. In a few simple sequences, domains can simply be identified by eye; however, most DNA sequences show a complex compositional heterogeneity (fractal structure), which cannot be properly detected by current methods. Recently, a computationally efficient segmentation method to analyse such nonstationary sequence structures, based on the Jensen–Shannon entropic divergence, has been described. Specific algorithms implementing this method are now needed.
Results: Here we describe a heuristic segmentation algorithm for DNA sequences, which was implemented on a Windows program (SEGMENT). The program divides a DNA sequence into compositionally homogeneous domains by iterating a local optimization procedure at a given statistical significance. Once a sequence is partitioned into domains, a global measure of sequence compositional complexity (SCC), accounting for both the sizes and compositional biases of all the domains in the sequence, is derived. SEGMENT computes SCC as a function of the significance level, which provides a multiscale view of sequence complexity.
Availability: SEGMENT is available on the Web at http://www.ugr.es/local/oliver/segment/
Contact: oliver@ugr.es
Long-term consequences for offspring of diabetes during pregnancy
Authors: Van Assche Frans A , Holemans Kathleen , Aerts Leona 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThere is evidence that the diabetic intra-uterine environment has consequences for later life. Maternal diabetes mainly results in asymmetric macrosomia. This macrosomia is associated with an increased insulin secretion and overstimulation of the insulin producing B-cells during fetal life. In later life, a reduced insulin secretion is found. Intra-uterine growth restriction is present in severe maternal diabetes associated with vasculopathy. Intra-uterine growth restriction is associated with low insulin secretion and reduced development of the insulin receptors. In later life, these alterations can induce insulin resistance. The long-term consequences of an abnormal intra-uterine environment are of primary importance world-wide. Concentrated efforts are needed to explore how these long-term effects can be prevented.
The roles of turn formation and cross‐strand interactions in fibrillization of peptides derived from the OspA single‐layer β‐sheet
Authors: Ohnishi Satoshi , Koide Akiko , Koide Shohei 
Published: July 2002

AbstractWe previously demonstrated that a β‐hairpin peptide, termed BH9–10, derived from a single‐layer β‐sheet of Borrelia OspA protein, formed a native‐like β‐turn in trifluoroethanol (TFE) solution, and it assembled into amyloid‐like fibrils at higher TFE concentrations. This peptide is highly charged, and fibrillization of such a hydrophilic peptide is quite unusual. In this study, we designed a circularly permutated peptide of BH9–10, termed BH10–9. When folded into their respective β‐hairpin structures found in OspA, these peptides would have identical cross‐strand interactions but different turns connecting the strands. NMR study revealed that BH10–9 had little propensity to form a turn structure both in aqueous and TFE solutions. At higher TFE concentration, BH10–9 precipitated with a concomitant α‐to‐β conformational conversion, in a similar manner to the BH9–10 fibrillization. However, the BH10–9 precipitates were nonfibrillar aggregation. The precipitation kinetics of BH10–9 was exponential, consistent with a first‐order molecular assembly reaction, while the fibrillization of BH9–10 showed sigmoidal kinetics, indicative of a two‐step reaction consisting of nucleation and molecular assembly. The correlation between native‐like turn formation and fibrillization of our peptide system strongly suggests that BH9–10 adopts a native‐like β‐hairpin conformation in the fibrils. Remarkably, seeding with the preformed BH10–9 precipitates changed the two‐step BH9–10 fibrillization to a one‐step molecular assembly reaction, and disrupted the BH9–10 fibril structure, indicating interactions between the BH10–9 aggregates and the BH9–10 peptide. Our results suggest that, in these peptides, cross‐strand interactions are the driving force for molecular assembly, and turn formation limits modes of peptide assembly.
Molecular dynamics simulation of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase and its protein fragments: Relative stabilities in experiment and simulations
Authors: Sham Yuk Yin , Ma Buyong , Tsai Chung‐Jung , Nussinov Ruth 
Published: July 2002

AbstractWe have carried out molecular dynamics simulations of the native dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli and several of its folded protein fragments at standard temperature. The simulations have shown fragments 1–36, 37–88, and 89–159 to be unstable, with a CαRMSD (Cα root mean squared deviation) >5 Å after 3.0 nsec of simulation. The unfolding of fragment 1–36 was immediate, whereas fragments 37–88 and 89–159 gradually unfolded because of the presence of the β‐sheet core structure. In the absence of residues 1–36, the two distinct domains comprising fragment 39–159 associated with each other, resulting in a stable conformation. This conformation retained most of its native structural elements. We have further simulated fragments derived from computational protein cutting. These were also found to be unstable, with the exception of fragment 104–159. In the absence of α4, the loose loop region of residues 120–127 exhibited a β‐strand‐like behavior, associating itself with the β‐sheet core of the protein fragment. The current study suggests that the folding of dihydrofolate reductase involves cooperative folding of distinct domains which otherwise would have been unstable as independent folded units in solution. Finally, the critical role of residues 1–36 in allowing the two distinct domains of fragment 104–159 to fold into the final native conformation is discussed.
The active site of hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus amygdalus: Modeling studies provide new insights into the mechanism of cyanogenesis
Authors: Dreveny Ingrid , Kratky Christoph , Gruber Karl 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe FAD‐dependent hydroxynitrile lyase from almond (Prunus amygdalus, PaHNL) catalyzes the cleavage of R‐mandelonitrile into benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. Catalysis of the reverse reaction—the enantiospecific formation of α‐hydroxynitriles—is now widely utilized in organic syntheses as one of the few industrially relevant examples of enzyme‐mediated C–C bond formation. Starting from the recently determined X‐ray crystal structure, systematic docking calculations with the natural substrate were used to locate the active site of the enzyme and to identify amino acid residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis. Analysis of the modeled substrate complexes supports an enzymatic mechanism that includes the flavin cofactor as a mere “spectator” of the reaction and relies on general acid/base catalysis by the conserved His‐497. Stabilization of the negative charge of the cyanide ion is accomplished by a pronounced positive electrostatic potential at the binding site. PaHNL activity requires the FAD cofactor to be bound in its oxidized form, and calculations of the pKa of enzyme‐bound HCN showed that the observed inactivation upon cofactor reduction is largely caused by the reversal of the electrostatic potential within the active site. The suggested mechanism closely resembles the one proposed for the FAD‐independent, and structurally unrelated HNL from Hevea brasiliensis. Although the actual amino acid residues involved in the catalytic cycle are completely different in the two enzymes, a common motif for the mechanism of cyanogenesis (general acid/base catalysis plus electrostatic stabilization of the cyanide ion) becomes evident.
Association of Demographic and Socioeconomic Indicators With the Use of Wearable Devices Among Children
Authors: Kim Ethan H. , Jenness Jessica L. , Miller Adam Bryant , Halabi Ramzi , de Zambotti Massimiliano , Bagot Kara S. , Baker Fiona C. , Pratap Abhishek 
Published: March 2023

ImportanceThe use of consumer-grade wearable devices for collecting data for biomedical research may be associated with social determinants of health (SDoHs) linked to people’s understanding of and willingness to join and remain engaged in remote health studies.ObjectiveTo examine whether demographic and socioeconomic indicators are associated with willingness to join a wearable device study and adherence to wearable data collection in children.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used wearable device usage data collected from 10 414 participants (aged 11-13 years) at the year-2 follow-up (2018-2020) of the ongoing Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, performed at 21 sites across the United States. Data were analyzed from November 2021 to July 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe 2 primary outcomes were (1) participant retention in the wearable device substudy and (2) total device wear time during the 21-day observation period. Associations between the primary end points and sociodemographic and economic indicators were examined.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the 10 414 participants was 12.00 (0.72) years, with 5444 (52.3%) male participants. Overall, 1424 participants (13.7%) were Black; 2048 (19.7%), Hispanic; and 5615 (53.9%) White. Substantial differences were observed between the cohort that participated and shared wearable device data (wearable device cohort [WDC]; 7424 participants [71.3%]) compared with those who did not participate or share data (no wearable device cohort [NWDC]; 2900 participants [28.7%]). Black children were significantly underrepresented (−59%) in the WDC (847 [11.4%]) compared with the NWDC (577 [19.3%]; P &amp;lt; .001). In contrast, White children were overrepresented (+132%) in the WDC (4301 [57.9%]) vs the NWDC (1314 [43.9%]; P &amp;lt; .001). Children from low-income households (&amp;lt;$24 999) were significantly underrepresented in WDC (638 [8.6%]) compared with NWDC (492 [16.5%]; P &amp;lt; .001). Overall, Black children were retained for a substantially shorter duration (16 days; 95% CI, 14-17 days) compared with White children (21 days; 95% CI, 21-21 days; P &amp;lt; .001) in the wearable device substudy. In addition, total device wear time during the observation was notably different between Black vs White children (β = −43.00 hours; 95% CI, −55.11 to −30.88 hours; P &amp;lt; .001).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, large-scale wearable device data collected from children showed considerable differences between White and Black children in terms of enrollment and daily wear time. While wearable devices provide an opportunity for real-time, high-frequency contextual monitoring of individuals’ health, future studies should account for and address considerable representational bias in wearable data collection associated with demographic and SDoH factors.