bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do we need an extra dimension? A pilot study on the use of three‐dimensional anorectal manometry in children with functional constipation
Authors: Baaleman Desiree F. , Vriesman Mana H. , Benninga Marc A. , Bali Neetu , Vaz Karla H. , Yacob Desale , Di Lorenzo Carlo , Lu Peter L. , Koppen Ilan J. N. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundRecently, a new high‐definition (or three‐dimensional “3D”) high‐resolution anorectal manometry (3D‐ARM) catheter has been introduced. This catheter allows for a more detailed visualization of the anal canal. However, its clinical utility and tolerability in children with constipation are unknown. Our primary objective was to evaluate the agreement between findings from solid‐state high‐resolution anorectal manometry (HR‐ARM) and 3D‐ARM. Secondary objectives were to investigate if 3D‐ARM has additional value over HR‐ARM and to evaluate patient and provider experience.MethodsProspective pilot study including children (8–18 years of age) with functional constipation scheduled for anorectal manometry. Children underwent HR‐ARM and 3D‐ARM consecutively. We compared manometry results of both procedures and collected data on patient and provider experience via self‐developed questionnaires.Key ResultsData of ten patients were analyzed (60% female, median age 14.9 years). In the majority of patients, ARMs were performed awake (n = 8, 80%). In two patients, the recto‐anal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) was visualized during HR‐ARM but not during 3D‐ARM. Anal canal resting pressures were significantly higher during 3D‐ARM compared to HR‐ARM (median 77 mmHg [IQR 59–94] vs. 69 mmHg [IQR 51–91], respectively, p = 0.037). No significant anatomical or muscular abnormalities were visualized during the 3D‐ARM. The majority of children identified the 3D‐ARM as the more unpleasant (5/7 [71%]) and more painful procedure (6/7 [86%]) and therefore preferred the HR‐ARM (4/7 [57%]).Conclusions & InferencesIn our patient sample, 3D‐ARM was associated with more discomfort without providing more useful information and even resulted in an inconsistent visualization of the RAIR.
Neutrophils: Friend or foe in Filariasis?
Authors: Ajendra Jesuthas , Allen Judith E. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractInfection with the filarial nematodes that cause diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis represent major public health challenges. With millions of people at risk of infection, new strategies for treatment or prevention are urgently needed. More complete understanding of the host immune system's ability to control and eliminate the infection is an important step towards fighting these debilitating infectious diseases. Neutrophils are innate immune cells that are rapidly recruited to inflamed or infected tissues and while considered primarily anti‐microbial, there is increasing recognition of their role in helminth infections. Filarial nematodes present a unique situation, as many species harbour the bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia. The unexpected involvement of neutrophils during filarial infections has been revealed both in human diseases and animal studies, with strong evidence for recruitment by Wolbachia. This present review will introduce the different human filarial diseases and discuss neutrophil involvement in both protective immune responses, but also in the exacerbation of pathology. Additionally, we will highlight the contributions of the murine model of filariasis, Litomosoides sigmodontis. While several studies have revealed the importance of neutrophils in these parasite infections, we will also draw attention to many questions that remain to be answered.
Oxygen uptake rates have contrasting responses to temperature in the root meristem and elongation zone
Authors: Zimmermann Maura J. , Bose Jayakumar , Kramer Eric M. , Atkin Owen K. , Tyerman Stephen D. , Baskin Tobias I. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractGrowing at either 15 or 25°C, roots of Arabidopsis thaliana, Columbia accession, produce cells at the same rate and have growth zones of the same length. To determine whether this constancy is related to energetics, we measured oxygen uptake by means of a vibrating oxygen‐selective electrode. Concomitantly, the spatial distribution of elongation was measured kinematically, delineating meristem and elongation zone. All seedlings were germinated, grown, and measured at a given temperature (15 or 25°C). Columbia was compared to lines where cell production rate roughly doubles between 15 and 25°C: Landsberg and two Columbia mutants, er‐105 and ahk3‐3. For all genotypes and temperatures, oxygen uptake rate at any position was highest at the root cap, where mitochondrial density was maximal, based on the fluorescence of a reporter. Uptake rate declined through the meristem to plateau within the elongation zone. For oxygen uptake rate integrated over a zone, the meristem had steady‐state Q10 values ranging from 0.7 to 2.1; by contrast, the elongation zone had values ranging from 2.6 to 3.3, implying that this zone exerts a greater respiratory demand. These results highlight a substantial energy consumption by the root cap, perhaps helpful for maintaining hypoxia in stem cells, and suggest that rapid elongation is metabolically more costly than is cell division.
Modelling Clusters of Corporate Defaults: Regime-Switching Models Significantly Reduce the Contagion Source
Authors: Berentsen Geir D. , Bulla Jan , Maruotti Antonello , Støve Bård 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we report robust evidence that the process of corporate defaults is time-dependent and can be modelled by extending an autoregressive count time series model class via the introduction of regime-switching. That is, some of the parameters of the model depend on the regime of an unobserved Markov chain, capturing the model changes during clusters observed for count time series in corporate defaults. Thus, the process of corporate defaults is more dynamic than previously believed. Moreover, the contagion effect—that current defaults affect the probability of other firms defaulting in the future—is reduced compared to models without regime-switching, and is only present in one regime. A two-regime model drives the counts of monthly corporate defaults in the United States. To estimate the model, we introduce a novel quasi-maximum likelihood estimator by adapting the extended Hamilton–Gray algorithm for the Poisson autoregressive model.
Income distribution and unequal gains from trade
Authors: Gao Bo , Qiu Bin 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis paper studies welfare gains from trade in a tractable model with a nonhomothetic preference over product quality. We show that the welfare changes due to trade shocks are unequal across consumers and derive a parsimonious formula to measure these welfare changes as in Arkolakis et al. (2012, American Economic Review, 102, 94–130). We find that the welfare changes are larger for consumers with lower income. Moreover, this paper shows that the welfare implications are different between a change in (iceberg‐type) variable trade cost and a change in tariff when tariff revenue matters. More importantly, we show that the difference varies across consumers with different income levels.
Reported non‐compliance with pre‐donation screening among blood donors in Québec, Canada: A focus on the 3‐month deferral for men who have sex with men
Authors: Lewin Antoine , Grégoire Yves , Delage Gilles , Thibeault Catherine , Viau Catherine , Milot Christine , Parent Éric , Renaud Christian 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIn Québec (Canada), the donation deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) has recently been shortened to 3 months. Whether this change impacted compliance with pre‐donation screening is unknown. We assessed compliance with the disclosure of male‐to‐male sex and other behavioural risk factors for HIV amid this change.Materials and MethodsQuébec residents who donated from 14 July 2020 to 30 November 2020 were invited to participate in an online survey. Donors were informed that the survey was optional and anonymous. Survey questions were those used for routine pre‐donation screening. Rates of reported non‐compliance were weighted based on several characteristics.ResultsOf 21,918 contacted donors, 7113 (32.45%) participated. Among male participants (N = 3347), six (0.27% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09%–0.44%]) were not compliant with a 3‐month MSM deferral. Among female participants (N = 3766), two (0.06% [95% CI = 0.00%–0.13%]) were not compliant with a 3‐month deferral for sex with a man who had male‐to‐male sex ≤12 months. Other risk factors exhibited similar or lower rates of reported non‐compliance.ConclusionReported non‐compliance with a 3‐month MSM deferral and the disclosure of other HIV behavioural risk factors was low. These results warrant the investigation of behavioural donor risk assessment approaches to further improve the inclusiveness of blood donation.
Interplay between epithelial and mesenchymal cells unveils essential proinflammatory and pro‐resolutive mediators modulated by photobiomodulation therapy at 660 nm
Authors: Oliveira Rafaela F. , Marquiore Larissa F. , Gomes Cristopher B. S. , de Abreu Priscila T. R. , Ferreira Luiza A. Q. , Diniz Luiza A. , Gomes Natália A. , Jácome‐Santos Humberto , Moreno Amália , Macari Soraia , Mesquita Ricardo A. , Silva Tarcília A. , Marques Márcia M. , Diniz Ivana M. A. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPhotobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been widely used to promote tissue repair. However, PBMT's critical roles in the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues interactions are still barely known. Herein, we investigated light parameters on challenged keratinocytes (KC)—i.e., cultivated under oxidative stress—solely or associated with fibroblasts (FB) in a co‐culture system. Cells were treated with PBMT at the wavelength of 660 nm, at 20 mW and 0.71 W/cm2. Three different energy densities were primarily evaluated on KC: 1 (1.4 s), 5 (7 s), and 50 J/cm2 (70 s). Next, KC and FB were co‐cultured and assessed at 5 J/cm2. This energy density was also tested in ex vivo murine skin samples. Our main data suggest that PBMT can increase cellular proliferation at low doses and cell migration in a biphasic mode (1 and 50 J/cm2), both further confirmed by the epidermal growth factor receptor ligand—amphiregulin—upregulation. IL‐1RA mRNA—the IL‐1β (interleukin‐1β) receptor antagonist recognized to fasten wound repair—was upregulated in the co‐culture system. Upon PBMT, the ex vivo findings showed a progressive increase in the epidermal thickness, although presenting qualitatively less differentiated epithelium than the control group. In conclusion, PBMT effects are dependent on the cellular interactions with the surrounding microenvironment. Ultimately, PBMT is anti‐inflammatory and contributes to the expression of critical mediators of wound repair.
Experimental Investigation on the Mechanism of Impeller Synchronous and Nonsynchronous Vibrations in an Industrial Centrifugal Compressor
Authors: Li Hongkun , Zhao Xinwei , Zhou Qiang , Yang Shuhua , Zhang Xiaowen 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Understanding of the fluid–structure interaction phenomena in centrifugal compressors is essential for the impeller structural integrity design. To enhance the understanding of blade vibration in a realistic flow environment, a single-stage centrifugal compressor representative of industrial architecture has been investigated experimentally. For deterministic synchronous vibrations, the response amplitudes at different operating lines are measured and compared. The fundamental relations between flow excitation and rotor modal resonance are established by pairwise strain gages from experimental perspective. Compared with the third mode, the impeller first bending mode shows traveling wave response characteristic only within the frequency band where two adjacent blades have the same resonant frequency. Besides, the impeller encounters unexpected nonsynchronous vibrations when operating near the flow instability boundary. Speed ramp tests show that the stall cell propagating speed increases along with the rotor rotational speed without changing the cell count. Response amplification is further measured when throttling the compressor into stall. Experimental findings point toward vaned diffuser rotating stall and the corresponding propagating pressure waves in circumference leads to the impeller vibration. The aerodynamic asymmetry of stall cells increases the possibility of aeroelastic coupling with the blade modes. These results contribute to an in-depth understanding of the aeroelastic phenomena in industrial centrifugal compressors. The observed nonsynchronous vibration is important for the aeroelastic design and also of great interest for numerical predictions near stall.
Efficacy of interventions to reduce long term opioid treatment for chronic non-cancer pain: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Avery Nicholas , McNeilage Amy G , Stanaway Fiona , Ashton-James Claire E , Blyth Fiona M , Martin Rebecca , Gholamrezaei Ali , Glare Paul 
Published: April 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo review interventions to reduce long term opioid treatment in people with chronic non-cancer pain, considering efficacy on dose reduction and discontinuation, pain, function, quality of life, withdrawal symptoms, substance use, and adverse events.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and non-randomised studies of interventions.Data sourcesMedline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library searched from inception to July 2021. Reference lists and previous reviews were also searched and experts were contacted.Eligibility criteria for study selectionOriginal research in English. Case reports and cross sectional studies were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisTwo authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools for randomised and non-randomised studies (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I). Authors grouped interventions into five categories (pain self-management, complementary and alternative medicine, pharmacological and biomedical devices and interventions, opioid replacement treatment, and deprescription methods), estimated pooled effects using random effects meta-analytical models, and appraised the certainty of evidence using GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation).ResultsOf 166 studies meeting inclusion criteria, 130 (78%) were considered at critical risk of bias and were excluded from the evidence synthesis. Of the 36 included studies, few had comparable treatment arms and sample sizes were generally small. Consequently, the certainty of the evidence was low or very low for more than 90% (41/44) of GRADE outcomes, including for all non-opioid patient outcomes. Despite these limitations, evidence of moderate certainty indicated that interventions to support prescribers’ adherence to guidelines increased the likelihood of patients discontinuing opioid treatment (adjusted odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 2.1), and that these prescriber interventions as well as pain self-management programmes reduced opioid dose more than controls (interventionvcontrol, mean difference –6.8 mg (standard error 1.6) daily oral morphine equivalent, P<0.001; pain programmevcontrol, −14.31 mg daily oral morphine equivalent, 95% confidence interval −21.57 to −7.05).ConclusionsEvidence on the reduction of long term opioid treatment for chronic pain continues to be constrained by poor study methodology. Of particular concern is the lack of evidence relating to possible harms. Agreed standards for designing and reporting studies on the reduction of opioid treatment are urgently needed.Review registrationPROSPERO CRD42020140943.
Influence of placental and peripheral malaria exposure in fetal life on cardiometabolic traits in adult offspring
Authors: Grunnet Louise G , Bygbjerg Ib C , Mutabingwa Theonest K , Lajeunesse-Trempe Fanny , Nielsen Jannie , Schmiegelow Christentze , Vaag Allan A , Ramaiya Kaushik , Christensen Dirk L 
Published: April 2022

IntroductionFetal malaria exposure may lead to intrauterine growth restriction and increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. We investigated the extent to which fetal peripheral and placental malaria exposure impacts insulin sensitivity and secretion, body composition and cardiometabolic health 20 years after in utero malaria exposure.Research design and methodsWe traced 101 men and women in Muheza district, Tanga region whose mothers participated in a malaria chemosuppression during a pregnancy study in 1989–1992. All potential participants were screened for malaria, hepatitis B and HIV to ascertain study eligibility. Seventy-six individuals (44 men, 32 women) were included in this cohort study. The participants underwent a thorough clinical examination including anthropometric measurements, ultrasound scanning for abdominal fat distribution, blood pressure, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, an intravenous glucose tolerance test followed by a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and a submaximal exercise test.ResultsOffspring exposed to placental malaria during pregnancy had significantly higher 30-minute plasma post-glucose load levels, but no significant difference in peripheral insulin resistance, insulin secretion or other cardiometabolic traits compared with non-exposed individuals.ConclusionsUsing the state-of-the-art euglycemic clamp technique, we were unable to prove our a priori primary hypothesis of peripheral insulin resistance in young adult offspring of pregnancies affected by malaria. However, the subtle elevations of plasma glucose might represent an early risk marker for later development of type 2 diabetes if combined with aging and a more obesogenic living environment.
Gatekeeper training for vendors to reduce pesticide self-poisoning in rural South Asia: a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Weerasinghe Manjula , Pearson Melissa , Turner Nicholas , Metcalfe Chris , Gunnell David J , Agampodi Suneth , Hawton Keith , Agampodi Thilini , Miller Matthew , Jayamanne Shaluka , Parker Simon , Sumith Jayakody Arachchige , Karunarathne Ayanthi , Dissanayaka Kalpani , Rajapaksha Sandamali , Rodrigo Dilani , Abeysinghe Dissanayake , Piyasena Chathuranga , Kanapathy Rajaratnam , Thedchanamoorthy Sundaresan , Madsen Lizell Bustamante , Konradsen Flemming , Eddleston Michael 
Published: April 2022

IntroductionPesticide self-poisoning kills an estimated 110 000–168 000 people worldwide annually. Data from South Asia indicate that in 15%–20% of attempted suicides and 30%–50% of completed suicides involving pesticides these are purchased shortly beforehand for this purpose. Individuals who are intoxicated with alcohol and/or non-farmers represent 72% of such customers. We have developed a ‘gatekeeper’ training programme for vendors to enable them to identify individuals at high risk of self-poisoning (gatekeeper function) and prevent such individuals from accessing pesticides (means restriction). The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the gatekeeper intervention in preventing pesticide self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. Other aims are to identify method substitution and to assess the cost and cost-effectiveness of the intervention.Methods and analysisA stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial of a gatekeeper intervention is being conducted in rural Sri Lanka with a population of approximately 2.7 million. The gatekeeper intervention is being introduced into 70 administrative divisions in random order at each of 30 steps over a 40-month period. The primary outcome is the number of pesticide self-poisoning cases identified from surveillance of hospitals and police stations. Secondary outcomes include: number of self-poisoning cases using pesticides purchased within the previous 24 hours, total number of all forms of self-harm and suicides. Intervention effectiveness will be estimated by comparing outcome measures between the pretraining and post-training periods across the divisions in the study area. The original study protocol has been adapted as necessary in light of the impact of the COVID-19.Ethics and disseminationThe Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University, Sri Lanka (ERC/2018/30), and the ACCORD Medical Research Ethics Committee, Edinburgh University (18-HV-053) approved the study. Results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberSLCTR/2019/006, U1111-1220-8046.
Why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians fall and fracture: the codesigned Study of Indigenous Muscle and Bone Ageing (SIMBA) protocol
Authors: Zengin Ayse , Shore-Lorenti Cat , Sim Marc , Maple-Brown Louise , Brennan-Olsen Sharon Lee , Lewis Joshua R , Ockwell Jennifer , Walker Troy , Scott David , Ebeling Peter 
Published: April 2022

ObjectivesAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have a substantially greater fracture risk, where men are 50% and women are 26% more likely to experience a hip fracture compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Fall-related injuries in this population have also increased by 10%/year compared with 4.3%/year in non-Indigenous Australians. This study aims to determine why falls and fracture risk are higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.SettingAll clinical assessments will be performed at one centre in Melbourne, Australia. At baseline, participants will have clinical assessments, including questionnaires, anthropometry, bone structure, body composition and physical performance tests. These assessments will be repeated at follow-up 1 and follow-up 2, with an interval of 12 months between each clinical visit.ParticipantsThis codesigned prospective observational study aims to recruit a total of 298 adults who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and reside within Victoria, Australia. Stratified sampling by age and sex will be used to ensure equitable distribution of men and women across four age-bands (35–44, 45–54, 55–64 and 65+ years).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome is within-individual yearly change in areal bone mineral density at the total hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Within-individual change in cortical and trabecular volumetric bone mineral density at the radius and tibia using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography will be determined. Secondary outcomes include yearly differences in physical performance and body composition.Ethical approvalEthics approval for this study has been granted by the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee (project number: RES-19–0000374A).Trial registration numberACTRN12620000161921.