bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The predictive value of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in suspected preeclampsia in a New Zealand population: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Hughes Ruth C.E. , Phillips Ian , Florkowski Chris M. , Gullam Joanna 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundInternationally, placental growth factor (PlGF)‐based tests are used as prognostic markers in suspected preeclampsia. However, Ministry of Health guidelines do not currently endorse PlGF‐based tests in New Zealand (NZ).AimsTo investigate the predictive value of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‐1)/PlGF ratio in suspected preeclampsia in a NZ population.Materials and MethodsA prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies at 20+0–36+6 weeks gestation with suspected preeclampsia as defined by Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and NZ (SOMANZ) criteria. Primary objective: to evaluate a sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio >38 at ≤35+0 weeks gestation to predict birth ≤14 days. Secondary objectives: to assess a sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio cut‐off of 38 at ≤37+0 weeks gestation, to rule out preeclampsia ≤1 week, rule in preeclampsia ≤4 weeks, and to predict perinatal outcome. Clinicians were blinded to sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio results.ResultsIncluded were 222 participants, 19.4% Māori and 10.4% Pasifika. A sFlt‐1/PlGF >38 predicted birth ≤14 days, positive predictive value (PPV) 51.4% (95% CI, 39.6–63.0) and negative predictive value (NPV) 95.9% (95% CI, 91.4–98.1), median (interquartile range) days to birth 14 (2–27) vs 49 (33–70), P < 0.000. A sFlt‐1/PlGF cut‐off of 38 ruled out preeclampsia ≤1 week (NPV 96.2% (95% CI, 92.3–98.2)) and ruled in preeclampsia ≤4 weeks (PPV 75.0% (95% CI, 65.0–82.9)). A sFlt‐1/PlGF >38 was associated with greater perinatal morbidity.ConclusionsThe predictive value of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in NZ is comparable to that reported in international trials. Used in clinical practice the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio may aid risk stratification in suspected preeclampsia, directing limited resources to those pregnancies at highest risk.
The Formation of Territories Free of Transgenics: Race, Space, and Mobilisation in Colombia
Authors: Hernández Vidal Nathalia 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe transgenic expansion has situated land and territorial disputes at the centre of the transformations of the global agrifood system. Feminist critical scholarship has examined how states and multilateral organisations exercise top‐down power to promote extractivist agrarian models of development, showing how they have accelerated and intensified material and immaterial dispossession for already poor farmers across the world. In this article, I contribute to this growing body of inquiry by examining how racialisation is entangled with communities’ discourses and tactics to generate seed and agrarian counter‐territorialisation processes. I concentrate on the formation of Territories Free of Transgenics in Colombia among peasant and Indigenous communities. I show the possibilities for socio‐epistemic and territorial reconfiguration that they offer, as well as their limitations. I demonstrate the critical role that racial formations play in seed struggles and the reformation of agrifood systems from below and point out further spaces of inquiry.
Simulation of the lifetime productivity of a dairy herd in Japan according to the number of days to first service of cows
Authors: Yamazaki Takeshi , Takeda Hisato , Sasaki Osamu 
Published: June 2022

AbstractTo determine the optimal voluntary waiting period to first service after calving for maximizing the lifetime productivity of cows in a dairy herd, we simulated the changes in lifetime productivity due to increasing the number of days from calving to first service. We also assessed the effects of changes in the maximum number of services within a lactation, maximum number of calvings, and calf sale prices on lifetime productivity. We evaluated lifetime productivity as lifetime average productivity, that is, the sum of daily revenues from milk and calf sales from first calving to culling. The lifetime productivity at ≤65 days to first service was low because of the low conception rate during early lactation. In addition, lifetime productivity at ≥185 days to first service decreased as the number of days to first service increased. The number of days to first service for maximum lifetime productivity decreased as the maximum number of calvings increased. Furthermore, the decrease in lifetime productivity associated with decreasing the maximum number of services within a lactation from five to four was greater than that when the maximum number of calvings was decreased from six to five.
Effect of freeze–thaw cycles on the physicochemical properties, water‐holding status, and nutritional values of broiler chicken drumstick
Authors: Kaewkot Chonlathee , Hung Yung‐Hsun , Tan Fa‐Jui 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the effects of multiple freeze–thaw (FT) cycles (0, 1, 2, and 4) on the physicochemical properties, water‐holding status, and nutritional values of broiler drumsticks. The results showed that L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values, thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances, total volatile basic nitrogen, and total viable counts significantly increased but pH values, protein solubility, and sensorial acceptance decreased after four FT cycles (P ˂ 0.05). The decreases in moisture content thawing loss, centrifugation loss, drip loss, and cooking loss indicated that the water‐holding capacities of samples subjected to multiple FT cycles were diminished. Results of cell microstructure analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the occurrence of ruptured muscle cells with decreased fiber diameters and changes in myosin heavy chain band intensity after multiple FT cycles (P ˂ 0.05). As the number of FT cycles increased, the content of total free amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic (C18:2), linolenic (C18:3), eicosatetraenoic (EPA, C20:5), and docosahexaenoic (DHA, C22:6) acids decreased (P ˂ 0.05). In conclusion, four repeated FT cycles accelerated the deterioration of physiochemical properties, reduced the water‐holding status, and considerably impaired sensory characteristics and nutritional values of chicken meat.
Measuring the attitudes of midwives toward sexual and gender minority clients: Results from a Cross‐Sectional survey in Ontario
Authors: Goldberg Jennifer M. , Shokoohi Mostafa , Graf Tatiana , Ross Lori E. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundIn Canada, Ontario midwives provide care to sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. Published literature shows how midwives' attitudes shape the experiences of lesbians, but research examining midwives' attitudes toward SGM people is lacking. Our study measured the attitudes of Ontario midwives toward SGM clients, hypothesizing that attitudes would be positive overall and that there would be no difference in attitudes across practice settings.MethodsPaper surveys (n = 926) with an option to respond online were sent to Ontario midwifery practices. We measured midwives' attitudes toward sexual minorities (11 questions, scores ranged from 11 to 55) and gender minorities (9 questions, scores ranged from 9 to 45), with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes. Overall and subgroup analyses were performed.ResultsThe 268 completed surveys indicated that midwives' attitudes were positive toward both sexual (mean score 49.2, maximum possible score of 55, ie, 89.4%) and gender minorities (mean score 38.9, maximum possible score of 45, ie, 86.4%). Analyses showed that attitudes toward SGM were associated with midwives' sexual identity and route of entry into the profession (ie, university‐based vs bridging programs), but not practice setting.ConclusionsAlthough attitudes of this subset of midwives toward SGM clients were positive, volunteer bias could account for this finding since 32.6% of respondents identified as sexual minorities. Since the attitudes of midwives who entered the profession through the university‐based education program were significantly more positive than those who entered through international bridging programs, future research should examine how SGM‐related content is integrated into midwifery education and training curricula.
Retention of functional mitochondria in mature red blood cells from patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Moriconi Chiara , Dzieciatkowska Monika , Roy Micaela , D'Alessandro Angelo , Roingeard Philippe , Lee June Young , Gibb David R. , Tredicine Maria , McGill Marlon A. , Qiu Annie , La Carpia Francesca , Francis Richard O. , Hod Eldad A. , Thomas Tiffany , Picard Martin , Akpan Imo J. , Luckey Chance John , Zimring James C. , Spitalnik Steven L. , Hudson Krystalyn E. 
Published: June 2022

SummarySickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder characterized by sickled red blood cells (RBCs), which are more sensitive to haemolysis and can contribute to disease pathophysiology. Although treatment of SCD can include RBC transfusion, patients with SCD have high rates of alloimmunization. We hypothesized that RBCs from patients with SCD have functionally active mitochondria and can elicit a type 1 interferon response. We evaluated blood samples from more than 100 patients with SCD and found elevated frequencies of mitochondria in reticulocytes and mature RBCs, as compared to healthy blood donors. The presence of mitochondria in mature RBCs was confirmed by flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and proteomic analysis. The mitochondria in mature RBCs were metabolically competent, as determined by enzymatic activities and elevated levels of mitochondria‐derived metabolites. Metabolically‐active mitochondria in RBCs may increase oxidative stress, which could facilitate and/or exacerbate SCD complications. Coculture of mitochondria‐positive RBCs with neutrophils induced production of type 1 interferons, which are known to increase RBC alloimmunization rates. These data demonstrate that mitochondria retained in mature RBCs are functional and can elicit immune responses, suggesting that inappropriate retention of mitochondria in RBCs may play an underappreciated role in SCD complications and be an RBC alloimmunization risk factor.
Perceptions des offres éducatives du marché scolaire montréalais par des parents immigrants
Authors: Grenier Véronique , Magnan Marie‐Odile 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis article aims to better understand how immigrant parents perceive Montreal's school market at the high school level. Based on thirty semi‐structured interviews, it presents immigrant parents’ perceptions of the educational offers available in that specific urban context. Rooted in an interpretative sociology, the analysis reveals that curriculum contents and perceived pupils’ socio‐demographic characteristics are used to classify schools and their programs. These indicators are considered in order to increase the chances that the migration project is a success. Evolving in a multicultural city, immigrant parents’ perceptions are intertwined in the social and racial relations that are shaping Quebec's society.
Influence of two caries detection strategies on the quality of life of preschool children: An analysis of secondary outcomes of a 2‐Year randomized clinical trial
Authors: Freitas Julia Gomes , Pontes Laura Regina Antunes , Acosta Carolina de Picoli , Novaes Tatiane Fernandes , Lara Juan Sebastian , Gimenez Thais , Ardenghi Thiago Machado , Braga Mariana Minatel , Raggio Daniela Prócida , Mendes Fausto Medeiros ,   CARDEC collaborative group
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the influence of two caries diagnosis strategies, and subsequent management, on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschoolers. Additionally, the association of the OHRQoL outcomes with the clinician‐centred primary outcome used in the main study was also explored.Materials and MethodsThis study refers to the OHRQoL secondary outcomes analyses of the so‐called RCT ‘CARDEC‐1’. Three‐ to 6‐year‐old children were randomly allocated in two caries detection strategies in primary molars: visual inspection (VIS) or visual + radiographic (RAD) assessment. Participants were diagnosed and treated according to the allocated group and followed up for 2 years. Caregivers answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) at baseline and after 2 years. Intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed. ECOHIS scores at baseline and 2 years later were compared using the Mann–Whitney test. Effect sizes, change scores and the minimally important difference (MID) were also compared between groups. Additional analysis was performed to assess if OHRQoL variables could reflect the primary clinical outcome (number of new operative interventions during the follow‐up), observing if these met the Prentice criteria.ResultsTwo hundred and five children had the ECOHIS answered in both period times (18.7% attrition rate). There was a decrease in total ECOHIS scores, as well as for different domains for both trial groups, with effect sizes varying from 0.43 to 0.77. Comparisons between groups, however, did not show significant differences. In the additional analysis, the OHRQoL variables met the Prentice criteria and presented the same trends observed with the clinician‐centred primary endpoint.ConclusionCaries detection performed by visual inspection alone or associated with radiographic method does not influence the long‐term impact on OHRQoL. Furthermore, OHRQoL variables reflect clinical outcomes in this type of clinical trial. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02078453.
Downregulation of PLK4 expression induces apoptosis and G0/G1‐phase cell cycle arrest in keloid fibroblasts
Authors: Huang Ru‐Lin , Liu Chuanqi , Fu Rao , Yan Yuxin , Yang Jing , Wang Xinggang , Li Qingfeng 
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectivesKeloids are benign fibroproliferative tumors that display many cancer‐like characteristics, such as progressive uncontrolled growth, lack of spontaneous regression, and extremely high rates of recurrence. Polo‐like kinase 4 (PLK4) was recently identified as a master regulator of centriole replication, and its aberrant expression is closely associated with tumorigenesis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and biological role of PLK4 in the pathogenesis of keloids.Materials and MethodsWe evaluated the expression of PLK4 in keloids and adjacent normal skin tissue samples. Then, we established PLK4 knockdown and overexpression cell lines in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) and normal skin fibroblasts (NFs), respectively, to investigate the roles of PLK4 in the regulation of proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle in KFs. Centrinone B (Cen‐B), a highly selective PLK4 inhibitor, was used to inhibit PLK4 activity in KFs to evaluate the therapeutic effect on KFs.ResultsWe discovered that PLK4 was overexpressed in keloid dermal samples and KFs compared with adjacent normal skin samples and NFs derived from the same patients. High PLK4 expression was positively associated with the proliferation, migration, and invasion of KFs. Furthermore, knockdown of PLK4 expression or inhibition of PLK4 activity by Cen‐B suppressed KF growth, induced KF apoptosis via the caspase‐9/3 pathway, and induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in vitro.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that PLK4 is a critical regulator of KF proliferation, migration, and invasion, and thus, Cen‐B is a promising candidate drug for keloid treatment.
Second pregnancy following kidney transplantation is not associated with an increased risk of graft loss in a single center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lichtenberg Shelly , Freilich Rom Dana , Aspitz Haggar Zoe , Keshet Rom , Rahamimov Ruth , Rozen‐Zvi Benaya 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIntroductionPrevious studies on first pregnancy following kidney transplantation (KT) show no association with decreased graft survival. This study examined patients with multiple gestations compared to a single pregnancy following KT and evaluated the risk of graft function deterioration.MethodsA retrospective cohort study on fertile female kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) from Rabin Medical Center between January 2001 and December 2017 was performed. Data were collected on patients' comorbidities, pregnancy complications, graft loss, mortality, and lab results. Time‐varying COX analysis was performed ‐ second pregnancy being the time‐related variable.ResultsFifty‐two KTRs split into 30 single pregnancy and 22 multiple pregnancy patients following KT. Single pregnancy patients were older during their first pregnancy and had a higher caesarian section rate. During a median follow‐up period of 5.6 years, multiple pregnancies, compared to a single pregnancy, were not associated with an increased rate of graft loss. No significant difference was seen between first and second pregnancy in gestational age, birth weight, graft function, and proteinuria rates.ConclusionsSecond pregnancy following KT was not shown to be associated with a decreased graft survival. In addition, obstetrical, maternal, and fetal complication rates are not increased in second compared to first pregnancy following KT.
Long‐term clinical outcomes of oral antidiabetic drugs as fixed‐dose combinations: A nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cho Sang‐Jun , Oh In‐Sun , Jeong Han Eol , Cho Young Min , Hwangbo Yul , Yu Oriana Hoi Yun , Shin Ju‐Young 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimTo compare treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of single‐pill fixed‐dose combination (FDC) and two‐pill combination (TPC) therapies using real‐world data.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using South Korea's healthcare database (2002‐2015). We identified two cohorts of incident patients with type 2 diabetes who initiated FDC or TPC therapy within 4 months of their first prescription for metformin or sulphonylurea. We examined persistence and adherence patterns and the clinical outcome of a composite endpoint of death or hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke and compared the differences in treatment patterns and clinical outcomes using Cox models.ResultsOf 5143 and 10 973 patients who initiated FDC and TPC therapy, respectively, we identified 5143 patient pairs after propensity score matching. The FDC group exhibited greater median time to treatment discontinuation (163 vs. 146 days), and proportion of days covered at 12 months (mean 0.60 vs. 0.57, P < .0001) and at 24 months (0.53 vs. 0.51, P = .014) than the TPC group. The FDC group, compared with the TPC group, had reduced risks of the composite clinical outcome (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence intervals 0.77‐0.97) and hospitalization for stroke (0.80, 0.67‐0.96).ConclusionFDC therapy may provide favourable cardiovascular benefits, especially reducing the risk of hospitalization for stroke, and has better medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes.
The curious case of great ape curiosity and how it is shaped by sociality
Authors: Forss Sofia , Willems Erik 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAlthough curiosity has huge implications for human creativity and learning, its evolutionary roots and function in animals remain poorly understood. Modern humans, who lack natural predators, thrive with curiosity, but our ancestors faced more hazardous environments that would not necessarily favor individual curiosity. Instead, being curious may have undergone selection in interaction with sociality. Our closest living relatives, the great apes (henceforth apes) have evolved facing conditions more like human ancestors and as such, can help us understand the functions of curiosity and its expression in non‐human species. In this study, we defined curiosity as a combination of behavioral traits like neophilia, exploration diversity, and prolonged interest in exploring novelty and compared it, under similar captive environments across four ape species (N = 101):Pan troglodytes,Pan paniscus,Pongo abelii,andPongo pygmaeus. Results revealed that curiosity followed a linear gradient across the four species in accordance with their sociality. We proposethe social curiosity hypothesisto explain the observed pattern, reflecting those individuals in highly social species, like bonobos and chimpanzees, regularly are accompanied by conspecifics, and thereby accustomed to an abundance of social cues, leading to inhibited curiosity when alone, compared to more solitary orangutans. As such, our study implies that ape curiosity evolved interlinked with sociality. Further, a subset of the sample (N = 46) enabled us to examine if curiosity benefits problem‐solving skills, but our data did not support such link.
Three‐dimensional ontogenetic shifts of groundfish in the Northeast Pacific
Authors: Li Lingbo , Hollowed Anne B. , Cokelet Edward D. , McClure Michelle M. , Keller Aimee A. , Barbeaux Steve J. , Palsson Wayne A. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIt has been more than 100 years since fish were first described to move to deep waters as size increased, termed ‘Heincke's Law’. However, large‐scale studies on ontogenetic shifts are rare compared with increased reports of distributional changes in response to temperature, often confounded with the ontogenetic shifts. We fill this gap by examining the distribution of ten abundant groundfish species in three dimensions, depth, latitude and longitude, at 10‐cm size intervals within nine subregions of NE Pacific. Here, we utilized large, quality‐controlled datasets from random depth‐stratified, bottom trawl surveys consistently conducted during summer along the NE Pacific shelf from 1996 to 2015. Groundfish demonstrated complex ontogenetic movements in three dimensions across species, size class and subregion. In addition to the expected ontogenetic deepening, shoaling also occurred and some species demonstrated major ontogenetic shifts in longitude and/or latitude with limited changes in depth. Based on standardized ontogenetic shifts in three dimensions, our analyses show that there were significant differences in aggregate fish ontogenetic shifts between small (≤30 cm) and large (>30 cm) size groups. Small fish exhibited substantially larger ontogenetic shifts in depth than the large size group while both groups showed relatively small shifts in latitude and longitude. Our analyses strongly suggest that size structure and ontogenetic shifts should be included in the population distribution.
The influence of corrosion pit–pit spacing on the pit‐to‐crack transition and fatigue lifetime
Authors: Fatoba Olusegun , Akid Robert 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe influence of separation distance between pre‐induced corrosion pits on both crack initiation and fatigue lifetimes is studied in an air environment by testing specimens containing pit pairs in the low‐stress, high cycle fatigue regime. The results of these tests are compared with equivalent tests with samples containing similar sized single pit. Within the scope of pit sizes and separation distances investigated, when the separation distance is below a threshold, decreasing the separation distance between pits leads to earlier onset of crack initiation and decreased fatigue lifetimes; this threshold being dependent on the applied stress and relative pit sizes. When the separation distance is above this threshold, multiple pits tend to behave independently of each other. The implication of the results from the viewpoint of structural integrity assessment of components containing flaws such as corrosion pits in close proximity is discussed.