bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relevance and Impact of Social Support on Quality of Life for Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Eizaguirre María Bárbara , Yastremiz Cecilia , Ciufia Natalia , Sol Roman María , Alonso Ricardo , Silva Berenice Anabel , Garcea Orlando , Cáceres Fernando , Vanotti Sandra 
Published: December 2022

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND
Social support is crucial for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to analyze differences in perceived social support in persons with MS vs controls; to study associations between perceived social support, clinical measures, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) variables in persons with MS; and to establish a predictive value of perceived social support for HRQOL.

METHODS
We studied 151 persons with MS (mean ± SD: age, 42.01 ± 9.97 years; educational level, 14.05 ± 3.26 years) and 89 controls (mean ± SD: age, 41.46 ± 12.25 years; educational level, 14.60 ± 2.44 years) using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), Expanded Disability Status Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life (MusiQoL) questionnaire. Parametric and nonparametric statistical methods were used accordingly; P &lt; .05.

RESULTS
Persons with MS exhibited lower scores on the MOS-SSS's overall support index (t238 = −1.98, P = .04) and on each functional subscale (t238 = −2.56 to −2.19, P &lt; .05). No significant differences were found on the social support structural component (P &gt; .05). Significant associations were observed between social support and depression and fatigue (r = −0.20 to −0.29, P &lt; .05) and with MusiQoL dimensions (r = −0.18 to 0.48, P &lt; .05). Multiple regression analysis showed all 4 tested models contributed to HRQOL-explained variance (41%–47%). The emotional/informational support model explained the most HRQOL variability (47%).

CONCLUSIONS
Persons with MS perceived reduced social support, presenting lower functional scores than controls. Perceived social support proved to be a predictor of HRQOL. These findings should be considered during therapeutic treatment.
An artificial neural network classification method employing longitudinally monitored immune biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome of critically ill COVID-19 patients
Authors: Martinez Gustavo , Garduno Alexis , Mahmud-Al-Rafat Abdullah , Ostadgavahi Ali Toloue , Avery Ann , de Avila e Silva Scheila , Cusack Rachael , Cameron Cheryl , Cameron Mark , Martin-Loeches Ignacio , Kelvin David 
Published: December 2022

Background
The severe form of COVID-19 can cause a dysregulated host immune syndrome that might lead patients to death. To understand the underlying immune mechanisms that contribute to COVID-19 disease we have examined 28 different biomarkers in two cohorts of COVID-19 patients, aiming to systematically capture, quantify, and algorithmize how immune signals might be associated to the clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients.

Methods
The longitudinal concentration of 28 biomarkers of 95 COVID-19 patients was measured. We performed a dimensionality reduction analysis to determine meaningful biomarkers for explaining the data variability. The biomarkers were used as input of artificial neural network, random forest, classification and regression trees, k-nearest neighbors and support vector machines. Two different clinical cohorts were used to grant validity to the findings.

Results
We benchmarked the classification capacity of two COVID-19 clinicals studies with different models and found that artificial neural networks was the best classifier. From it, we could employ different sets of biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients. First, all the biomarkers available yielded a satisfactory classification. Next, we assessed the prediction capacity of each protein separated. With a reduced set of biomarkers, our model presented 94% accuracy, 96.6% precision, 91.6% recall, and 95% of specificity upon the testing data. We used the same model to predict 83% and 87% (recovered and deceased) of unseen data, granting validity to the results obtained.

Conclusions
In this work, using state-of-the-art computational techniques, we systematically identified an optimal set of biomarkers that are related to a prediction capacity of COVID-19 patients. The screening of such biomarkers might assist in understanding the underlying immune response towards inflammatory diseases.
Evaluation of Different Organic Manures on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)
Authors: Chaitanya Arakanti , Murali K. , Devakumar N. , Eswarrao G. Gangadhar , Anand S. R. , Chikkaramappa T. , Ravindra Usha 
Published: December 2022

A field trial was conducted during Rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Research Institute on Organic framing (RIOF), University of Agricultural sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru to find out the effect of organic manures on growth and yield of chia. A three factorial randomized block design was employed with first factor as nutrient sources viz., S1 = FYM (100%) on N equivalent basis, S2= FYM + vermicompost (50:50) ratio on N equivalent basis, S3= FYM+ vermicompost (75:25) ratio on N equivalent basis, second factor viz., jeevamrutha levels J0 = Without jeevamrutha, J1= With Jeevamrutha 1000 liters ha-1 and panchagavya levels P0= Without panchagavya, P1= With Panchagavya 5% foliar spray being third factor. Pooled data of two years revealed that higher seed and haulm yield of chia (920,1480 kg ha-1 respectively) was obtained with application of (S2). Soil application of jeevamrutha (J1) resulted in higher seed and haulm yield (984, 1598 kg ha-1 respectively) and among panchagavya levels foliar application of panchagavya (P1) resulted in seed and haulm yield (952,1468 kg ha-1 respectively), besides the higher plant height, leaf area, dry matter accumulation and seed yield per plant were recorded with application of FYM+ Vermicompost (50:50) on N equivalent basis and among liquid organic manures application of jeevamrutha (1000 L ha-1) and panchagavya 5% foliar spray resulted in higher growth and yield attributes.
Sero-Prevalence of Syphilis among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Dogon Agogo Primary Health Care Centre Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria
Authors: Iliyasu M. Y. , Inusa T. , Sahal M. R. , Ismai’l S. , Umar R. D. , Tahir H. , Kabeer Z. M. , Musa H. S. , Amamma A. L. 
Published: December 2022

Background: Syphilis remains a public health problem in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, where is common during pregnancy.
Design and Duration: This is a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Dogon Agogo Primary Health Centre, Jos North, from March 2017 to November, 2021.
Aim: The aim of this study is to seroprevalence of Syphilis among pregnant women attending Primary health care centre in Jos North,
Materials and Methods: A total of one thousand, two hundred and nineteen blood samples were screened from 2017 to 2021, using rapid diagnostic tests Patient’s demographic variables, clinical profiles and information considered to be risk factors were also collected using structured questionnaires, Patient’s demographic details, clinical profiles and information considered to be risk factors were also collected using structured questionnaires.
Results: The results showed that only 33 (2.7%) were positive. This includes 14(42.4%) patients between the age of 20 – 34 years as the highest frequency, followed by 12(36.4%) in 35 – 49 years of age. Most of the syphilis-positive patients are married 21(63.6%) and had attended tertiary level of education 13(39.4%), but mostly unemployed/Housewives 11(33.3%). The clinical profile of the participants revealed that the majority 14(42.5%) of the women that attended the facility throughout this period are in their third pregnancy and above (Multigravida). They were screened during the first-time visit (72.7%) and first trimester (33.3%). The pregnancy outcome among the seropositive patients showed that many 14(42.4%) undergo normal delivery, but 10(30.3%) had miscarriages. Blood transfusion (81.8%), multiple sex partners (75.8%), unprotected sexual intercourse with a person of unknown status (57.6%), and previous exposure to sexually transmitted infections (84.8%) were the most prevalent risks factors observed. The overall prevalence of syphilis across the five years of sampling was 2.71% (33 of 1219), where the highest number of cases 57.6% was recorded in the year 2020, followed by 18.2% in 2018, with 3.0% in 2019 as the least.
Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of syphilis over the five-year period among pregnant women in this area is low. However, the study advocates the improvement of screening programs during pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care.
Diabetic Status and Other Risk Factors for Developing Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah
Authors: Mehrin Sumyia , Albishi Wallaa Khalid 
Published: December 2022

Background: Pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis is an emerging public health challenge among diabetic (DM) patients. Diabetes is a known cause of immunosuppression and is recognized as an independent risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). Diabetes and tuberculosis frequently coexist and influence each other [1]. This study investigates diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for developing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) compared to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all culture-confirmed, and PCR-positive TB patients (PTB 522 and EPTB 173) reported to King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, between January 2012 to January 2021. The categorical baseline characteristic of PTB and EPTB patients has been compared with DM status using Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between DM and different sites of TB (PTB and EPTB).
Results: Of 695 diagnosed TB patients, 215 (30.94%) are diabetic. The percentage of PTB is (75.11%), and EPTB is (24.89%) as a risk factor; DM shows a significant association with PTB in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Age, smoking status, dyslipidemia, and other comorbidities are also significantly associated with PTB (P value <0.05).
Conclusion: In this study, we found a high rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among diabetic patients. Proper management of DM and TB infection might increase TB control and prevent PTB and EPTB development in the Saudi population.
Reactivity of 3‐HBA‐6‐Hydroxylase with Diethylpyrocarbonate and Ns‐Bromosuccinimide: Effect of Chemical Modifications on Kinetic and Spectral Properties of the Enzyme
Authors: Sumathi Suresh , Dasgupta Deepak 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe rapid inactivation of 3‐HBA‐6‐hydroxylase by 100 μM diethylpyrocarbonate or 40 μM N‐bromosuccinimide and protection offered by the substrate, 3‐hydroxybenzoate, against these chemical modifications implicate the involvement of histidine and tryptophan in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Inactivation of the enzyme by diethylpyrocarbonate followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, and an “n” value of 1.3 was obtained. Inactivation of the enzyme by N‐bromosuccinimide was instantaneous and failed to follow pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. Distinct and incremental changes in the UV absorption, emission fluorescence, and near UV‐CD spectra of the enzyme upon its titration with increasing concentrations of diethylpyrocarbonate or N‐bromosuccinimide may be ascribed to modification and/or changes in the microenvironment of aromatic amino acid residue(s) such as tryptophan in the enzyme.
Stable, Long‐Term Bacterial Production of Soluble, Dimeric, Disulfide‐Bonded Protein Pharmaceuticals without Antibiotic Selection
Authors: Mantile Giuditta , Fuchs Chana , Cordella‐Miele Eleonora , Peri Alessandro , Mukherjee Anil B. , Miele Lucio 
Published: July 2002

AbstractNumerous biopharmaceuticals and other recombinant biotechnology products are made in prokaryotic hosts. However, bacterial production of native, biologically active eukaryotic proteins is rarely possible for disulfide‐bonded and/or multisubunit proteins. We previously described the production of soluble, native disulfide‐bonded dimeric proteins in the Escherichia coli cytoplasm (Miele et al., 1990; Mantile et al., 1993). Native, biologically active proteins with up to six disulfide bonds have been produced with our expression system (Garces et al., 1997). However, plasmid instability during induction limited its usefulness. We now report the stable, high‐level expression of soluble, disulfide‐bonded human uteroglobin without antibiotic selection. We designed a new vector containing a multifunctional stabilization region that confers complete plasmid stability and increased protein yields without copy number increases. Recombinant expression remains fully inducible after long‐term continuous culture in nonselective liquid medium (at least 260 generations). This system may significantly expand the applications of bacterial expression to recombinant production of soluble, bioactive proteins for biochemical studies and biopharmaceutical/industrial purposes. As a result of the very broad activity spectrum of the stabilization region we selected, its use could be extended to bacterial hosts other than enterobacteria.
DENTED Reports
Authors: Shanley D. B. 
Published: July 2002

The DENTED project ‐ A quality network with a European Perspective An abriged version of a paper delivered to the Plenary Session of DENTED held in Dublin in September 1998 by Professor Madeline Rohlin Background During the last decade, governments in European Countries have given more autonomy to higher education institutions. This filtering down of power and responsibility calls paradoxically for more local planning, accountability and control (1). This has led to a growing interest in quality and infunctioning systems of quality assessment and enhancement. Quality assessment here means a structured activity, which leads to a judgement of the quality of the teaching/learning process and/or research (2). As a system of quality assessment and enhancement should be shaped with the objectives in mind and adapted to the context, it is of the utmost importance to define the motives of an actual assessment
Insulin lispro (Lys(B28), Pro(B29)) in the treatment of diabetes during the fasting month of Ramadan
Authors: Akram J. , De Verga V. , Group The Ramadan Study 
Published: July 2002

Summary Aims To compare insulin lispro with soluble human insulin in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus fasting during Ramadan, with respect to the rate of hypoglycaemic episodes and postprandial blood glucose values after the main meal after sunset. Methods The insulins were compared in an open‐label, randomized, cross‐over study of 70 outpatients. Hypoglycaemic episodes were recorded by the patients in a self‐monitoring diary. Fasting, 1‐h and 2‐h postprandial blood glucose values were recorded by the patient on three consecutive days at the end of each treatment period. Results The fasting blood glucose values before sunrise (P > 0.4) and after sunset (P > 0.6) were similar and did not differ significantly between both treatment groups. The rise in blood glucose after the main meal after sunset was 3.0 ± 0.4 mmol/l after 1 h in the insulin lispro treatment group compared to 4.3 ± 0.4 mmol/l in the soluble insulin treatment group (P < 0.01), and 2.6 ± 0.4 mmol/l after 2 h with insulin lispro compared to 4.0 ± 0.5 mmol/l with soluble insulin (P < 0.008). Mean hypoglycaemic episodes per patient over 14 days were 1.3 ± 0.1 vs. 2.6 ± 0.2, P < 0.002, respectively, for insulin lispro and soluble insulin. Most hypoglycaemic episodes occurred during the time period from 6 h after the before sunrise meal until breaking the fast after sunset. Conclusions The significantly lower rate of hypoglycaemic episodes combined with better control of postprandial blood glucose suggest insulin lispro may be more suitable prandial insulin for patients treated with Type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan.
Pension prospects of minority ethnic groups: inequalities by gender and ethnicity
Authors: Ginn Jay , Arber Sara 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTMinority ethnic groups have low income in later life from private pensions, partly due to shorter employment records in Britain since migration. Yet disadvantage and discrimination in the labour market, as well as differences in cultural norms concerning women's employment, may lead to persistence of ethnic variation in private pension acquisition. Little is known about the pension arrangements made by men and women in minority ethnic groups during the working life.This paper examines the extent of ethnic disadvantage in private pension scheme arrangements and analyses variation according to gender and specific ethnic group, using three years of the British Family Resources Survey, which provides information on over 97,000 adults aged 20–59, including over 5,700 from ethnic minorities.Both men and women in minority ethnic groups were less likely to have private pension coverage than their white counterparts but the extent of the difference was most marked for Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Ethnicity interacted with gender, so that Blacks showed the least gender inequality in private pension arrangements, reflecting the relatively similar full‐time employment rates of Black men and women. A minority ethnic disadvantage in private pension coverage, for both men and women, remained after taking account of age, marital and parental status, years of education, employment variables, class and income.The research suggests that minority ethnic groups – especially women – will be disproportionately dependent on means‐tested benefits in later life, due to the combined effects of low private pension coverage and the policy of shifting pension provision towards the private sector.
Sin beyond Surfers? Young people's risky behaviour during Schoolies Week in three Queensland regions
Authors: Zinkiewicz L. , Davey J. , Curd D. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe present study investigated substance use and interpersonal conflict within the previous 24 hours of young people celebrating Schoolies Week in the Queensland Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Wide Bay regions. Questionnaires were completed by 291 males and 367 females, who were predominantly 17 or 18 years old and Queensland residents. Participants engaged in very high levels of drinking, marijuana and ecstasy use in comparison to relevant population statistics. Males were heavier marijuana users and drinkers than were females, and suffered more negative consequences of drinking. They also experienced more interpersonal conflict, although females were more likely to report being sexually harassed. Behaviour was riskier at the Gold Coast than elsewhere, with males within regions engaging in riskier behaviour. Drinkers were more likely to report using marijuana and alcohol, and suffering from the consequences of alcohol, than were non‐drinkers. The data suggest that harm minimization interventions targeted at Schoolies Week participants are needed in all areas in which Schoolies Week are celebrated, although there is a particular need at the Gold Coast. These data also suggest that current interventions may be inadequate in preventing harm to participants, and may need to focus on participants' expectations of the consequences of celebrations.
The effect of tobacco smoking on subjective symptoms of inadequacy (“not holding”) of methadone dose among opiate addicts in methadone maintenance treatment
Authors: Tacke Ulrich , Wolff Kim , Finch Emily , Strang John 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine the relationship between subjective symptoms of inadequacy of methadone dose (not feeling “held”) and tobacco smoking in patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This was a cross‐sectional study of smoking behaviour, investigating subjective, physiological and psychological symptoms. The study took place in a community‐based methadone maintenance clinic of a psychiatric teaching hospital in South London. Fifty adult opiate addicts (37 males and 13 females) were on a stable daily methadone dose; the number of cigarettes smoked during the day and previous day of investigation, salivary cotinine measurements and carbon monoxide (CO) from expired air were measured. The Methadone Symptom Checklist (MSC) was used to score withdrawal symptoms encountered in patients not feeling “held” during MMT The Hamilton Anxiety Score was also used. The prevalence of tobacco‐smoking was high (98%), with two‐thirds (68%) smoking self‐fabricated cigarettes (“roll‐ups”). Scores from rating scales measuring symptoms of not being “held” correlated with number of cigarettes smoked the previous day (p < 0.05). A similar correlation was found with the Hamilton Anxiety Score. However, there was no correlation between rating scale scores and either salivary cotinine concentration or CO from expired air. Methadone patients who smoke more are significantly more likely to report problems of not feeling “held” by their methadone dose and they also show a higher level of anxiety. However, this increased cigarette consumption is not reflected in increased salivary continine levels or levels of CO in expired air, and it may be that the raised level of anxiety leads to a smoking‐pattern consisting of frequent lighting‐up of cigarettes or “roll‐ups” which are consumed incompletely and/or not smoked by inhalation.
Effect of bromocriptine on acute ethanol tolerance in UChB rats
Authors: TAMPIER LUTSKE , PRADO CRISTIAN , QUINTANILLA MARIA ELENA , MARDONES JORGE 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIt has been suggested that a higher capacity to develop acute tolerance during a single dose of ethanol may promote higher ethanol consumption in alcohol‐preferring rodents. Several studies have shown that the dopaminergic system may be involved in voluntary ethanol consumption. In the present paper we studied the effect of bromocriptine, a dopaminergic agonist drug, that is known to reduce voluntary consumption of ethanol, on acute tolerance in high (UChB) ethanol consumer rats. Acute tolerance was evaluated in bromocriptine and saline‐treated rats by motor impairment induced by a subnarcotic dose of ethanol of 2.3 g/kg IP using a modified tilting plane test. Results showed a highly significant positive correlation between acute tolerance and the voluntary ethanol consumption by the rat. Bromocriptine treatment decreased ethanol consumption and also decreased acute tolerance development. This adds further support to the postulate that the acquisition of acute tolerance to ethanol may promote increased alcohol consumption. Moreover, these results also suggest that dopaminergic receptors involved in ethanol voluntary consumption may also be in acute tolerance development.