bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Analytical Performances and Comparison of 3 NT-proBNP Assays for Diagnosing Heart Failure
Authors: Cho Jooyoung , Lee Jong-Han , Lee Sang-Guk 
Published: October 2022

Context.—
The N-terminal prohormone of the brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a major diagnostic biomarker for heart failure.

Objective.—
To compare the analytical and clinical performance of 3 NT-proBNP immunoassays: the Atellica IM NT-proBNP assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics), the Alere NT-proBNP assay (Abbott Laboratories), and the Elecsys proBNP II assay (Roche Diagnostics).

Design.—
For the Atellica IM NT-proBNP assay, analytical performance, including precision, linearity, and carryover, was fully evaluated. Method comparisons among the 3 assays were performed using the Passing-Bablok regression and the κ agreement test. To evaluate the clinical performance of the assays, 160 patient samples were used from patients with (n = 81) or without (n = 79) heart failure.

Results.—
The analytical performance of the Atellica IM NT-proBNP assay was acceptable according to the manufacturer's claims. The Atellica IM NT-proBNP assay showed a positive bias compared with the Elecsys proBNP II assay. The Cohen κ values among the 3 assays were satisfactory (&gt;0.80) and comparable. There were no significant differences in areas under the curve. However, for the diagnosis of heart failure, the Elecsys proBNP II showed a higher specificity and positive likelihood ratio than the other assays.

Conclusions.—
All 3 NT-proBNP assays showed acceptable concordance, and their clinical performance was comparable. However, the Elecsys proBNP II might be a more discriminating NT-proBNP assay to diagnose heart failure.
Correlation of Clinical Severity With Stool Microbiome Changes in Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Castañeda-Mogollón Daniel , Doolan Cody P. , Toppings Noah B. , Amarasekara Ranmalee , Tran Thuy-Ann , Pillai Dylan R. 
Published: October 2022

Context.—
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the world-leading cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Antibiotics are the first line of treatment against CDI despite the high likelihood of antibiotic failure and/or recurrence. More data are needed to correlate clinical variables with 16S rRNA microbiome profiles in CDI-infected patients.

Objective.—
To determine the relationship(s) between a patient's clinical factors and the stool bacteriome of CDI-positive patients and CDI-negative patients with diarrheal symptoms.

Design.—
This study used stool samples and clinical data from 358 patients with nosocomial diarrhea, who were divided by their CDI diagnosis (CDI-negative: n = 180; CDI-positive; n = 178). The stool bacteriome was profiled by amplicon deep sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by correlating clinical data.

Results.—
The stool bacteriome was significantly different by severity assessment regardless of CDI status. Phyla and species varied significantly by CDI diagnosis. Severity, defined as a serum white blood cell count greater than 15 cells/μL and/or a creatinine level greater than 1.5 mg/dL, correlated significantly with dysbiosis of the stool bacteriome profile of CDI-positive patients compared to CDI-negative patients. Serum white blood cell count was significantly higher in patients with bacterial dysbiosis, and high levels of creatinine were associated with low bacteriome diversity.

Conclusions.—
Clinical severity of CDI influences the stool microbiome of infected patients. To date, this study has the largest data set comparing 16S rRNA microbiome profiles and clinical variables between CDI-infected and noninfected individuals.
The Impact of Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion on the Performance of MSME in Bogor City
Authors: Puspitasari Ratih , Astrini Danti 
Published: October 2022

Aims: This study aims to analyze the impact of financial literacy and inclusion on the performance of MSMEs in the Bogor city region. The existence of MSMEs in Bogor city has an essential role that needs to analyze through financial literacy and inclusion approaches.
Methodology: The respondents were selected through a non-probability sampling technique, mainly purposive sampling. Primary data was gathered by using a self-administered questionnaire with five points Likert scale. Multiple regression was conducted to analyze the research hypotheses determined.
Results: The results, financial literacy, partially has a significant effect on MSMEs’ performance. Unfortunately, financial inclusion did not support by empirical data. Nevertheless, financial literacy and inclusion simultaneously significantly affect MSMEs’ performance in the Bogor city region.
Client Awareness and Effectiveness of the Information Dissemination Strategies of a Prosecution Office in Negros Occidental
Authors: Legaspi Carmen Jesusa B. , Legaspi Ma. Judy B. , Jr. Carlos Eduardo I. Legaspi, 
Published: October 2022

Aims: This paper assessed the clients’ awareness and effectiveness of the traditional and modern information dissemination strategies of a prosecution office in Negros Occidental when the clients are taken as a whole and grouped according to geographical location and services availed from the said office. It also identified the challenges encountered by the clients with the information dissemination strategies of the prosecution office.
Study Design: This study used the quantitative-descriptive research design.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted among the clients of the prosecution office in Negros Occidental, Philippines from June to July 2021.
Methodology: Through a validated and reliability-tested researcher-made survey instrument, data were gathered from 50 clients who availed of the services of the prosecution office from June to July 2021. Data on clients’ awareness and challenges encountered on the information dissemination strategies were treated using frequency and percentage distribution. Meanwhile, data on the level of effectiveness of the strategies were treated using mean and standard deviation.
Results: As a whole, 83% of the respondents (f=415) are aware of the information dissemination strategies of the prosecution office on the average. Overall, the level of effectiveness of the information dissemination strategies of the prosecution office is very high (M=4.32, SD=0.70). The
most common challenges encountered by the clients with the information dissemination strategies of the office are limited usage of modern tools for more effective and faster dissemination of information (f=9, %=18), no print and broadcast media for updates on its services (f=8, %=16), no mechanism for feedbacks on the information relayed to the clients and the public (f=7, %=14), no well-established system for disseminating information to the clients and the public (f=6, %=12), and no assigned personnel who takes the responsibility of disseminating the information to the clients and the public (f=6, %=12).
Conclusion: Information dissemination is one of the responsibilities of the government to the people. To apprise the public of updates relating to the functions and services of government offices, there should be effective dissemination tools that can transmit the information from the source to the receiver. Despite the emergence of many modern tools to facilitate communication, people still hold on to the relevance and importance of the traditional tools; thus, the role of the traditional tools in any context or environment will be irreplaceable.
Form and Function in Biological Macromolecules: Kinetic Stability is Key, with Oblique Roles for Intramolecularity and Hydrophobicity in Enzyme Catalysis
Authors: Chandrasekhar Sosale 
Published: October 2022

Certain structure-reactivity aspects of biological macromolecules, with particular emphasis on protein folding and enzyme catalysis, are discussed herein. Furthermore, the role played by the hydrophobic effect and intramolecularity in enzymic reactivity are evaluated afresh, with new insights of much importance in chemical biology.
Thus, the sum of the energies of the hydrogen bonds constituting the tertiary structures of proteins, determines the overall Gibbs energy of activation for loss of conformational integrity. As protein molecules of even modest size consist of a relatively large number of intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, the activation barrier to even partial unfolding of the α-helices and β-sheets forming the tertiary structure would be prohibitively high under normal conditions.
The resulting kinetic stability conserves the natural conformation of a protein molecule established at the ribosomal site of synthesis, carrying the molecule through the thick-and-thin of a range of metabolic pathways during its ‘journey of life’. However, protein molecules also acquire flexibility via ‘strain delocalization’ (Ramachandran plots being relevant), thus enabling stabilization of multiple transition states along a pathway (particularly in case of covalent enzyme-substrate complexes).
Two mechanistic features of enzyme catalysis that have been exhaustively studied are intramolecularity and the hydrophobic effect. Although intramolecularity has for long been touted as the origin of enzymic reactivity, this can be challenged on fundamental physical-organic grounds. Intriguingly, however, the collapse of the classical Michaelis-Menten mechanism for enzyme catalysis leads to a reconsideration of the role of intramolecularity, although not as hitherto envisaged. Thus, a majority of enzymes apparently form covalent enzyme-substrate complexes—possibly also exergonically—so the subsequent reactions at the active site may well benefit from the traditional propinquity effect: The critical caveat would be the highly exergonic formation of final products.
It is argued that the hydrophobic effect—although intuitively reasonable—is difficult to pin down quantitatively, model systems (including micelles) leading to inconsistent and debatable results. However, the hydrophobic effect likely contributes to enzymic reactivity along with charge-relay via the proteinic backbone.
Tourism Post COVID-19: What’s New in Indonesian Tourism Demand Trends?
Authors: Wachyuni Suci Sandi , Murhadi . , Wiweka Kadek , Wardhana Irwanda Wisnu 
Published: October 2022

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research is to determine Indonesian tourism demand trends and gather understanding into how to restore tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Methodology: This study employs a quantitative approach and was conducted in Indonesia in March-April 2020. Data was collected using a survey method via social media broadcast messages, with 100 respondents. Descriptive statistics were utilized in the data analysis technique.
Main Findings: According to the findings of this study, the decrease in the number of domestic tourists is less than that of foreign tourists. Natural and culinary tourism destinations in the country are the most popular, particularly for short trips. This study also discovered that after the Covid-19 pandemic, tourists have positive travel intentions.
Implication/Applications: This study's theoretical implication is that catastrophic diseases like Covid-19 have a significant impact on tourist visits and demand. The practical implication of this research is that destination managers, governments, and business stakeholders could utilize this information to develop a tourism development strategy following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Originality of the Study: The limitation of this research is the data collection method which is dominated by surveys. Therefore, further research is expected to conduct an in-depth study related to the reasons tourists are interested in post-covid traveling.
Controversy and the Role of the Existence of the Traditional Alcohol Beverages (Arak Bali) Industry on the Development of Custom Village
Authors: Wijaya Putu Yudy , Suasih Ni Nyoman Reni , Wibawa I Putu Sastra 
Published: October 2022

Aims: The discussion of traditional alcoholic beverages is an interesting and sensitive subject. Arak Bali is one of the traditional Balinese alcoholic drinks. This study examines further the controversy over the Balinese fermented and/or distillated beverage industry, especially after various regulations have been issued. In addition, this research also needs to pay attention to the role of the arak industry in the development of traditional villages.
Study Design: Descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study held during in the middle of 2022.
Methodology: This study is a descriptive study, where data were collected through FGDs, literature reviews, and questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques, both qualitatively and descriptively.
Results: Arak Bali as a prospective industry to improve the economic welfare of the community, by promoting it as a heritage-based product. The results of the FGD mapped several roles of the Arak Bali industry for the development of Traditional Villages, including community income, community empowerment, economic development of the Traditional Village, implementation of religious rituals, togetherness in the social community, preservation of local wisdom. The role of the existence of the Arak Bali industry in the Traditional Village which is the center of the industry is certainly greater in almost all indicators of traditional village development. Meanwhile, the role of the wine industry in religious ritual activities does not differ between traditional villages which are the center and non-centra of the Arak Bali industry.
Conclusion: In addition to consumption, Arak Bali is also used in religious rituals and traditional medicine. In general, the role of the wine industry in traditional villages in Bali is divided into economic functions, religious functions, and social functions. Where in the traditional village center for the Arak Bali industry, the role of the economy (income and community economic empowerment) is the most prominent. Whereas in the traditional village centers and non-centra of the wine industry, the role in religious rituals, togetherness in social society and the preservation of local wisdom are important.
Activity of Placental β‐N‐Acetyl‐Glucosaminidase in Cows with and without Retained Fetal Membranes
Authors: Kankofer M , Wiercinski J , Zerbe H 
Published: July 2002

Contentsβ‐N‐acetyl‐glucosaminidase (Nagase) is one of the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of proteoglycans. It may take part in cell‐to‐cell adhesion processes and might be involved in creating the attachment between the maternal and fetal parts of the bovine placenta. The aim of the following study was the determination of Nagase activity in bovine placental tissues and the comparison of this activity between animals releasing and retaining fetal membranes. The experiment was performed on animals divided into six groups as follows: A, caesarian section before term without retained fetal membranes (n = 14); B, caesarian section before term with retained fetal membranes (n = 14); C, caesarian section at term without retained fetal membranes (n = 15); D, caesarian section at term with retained fetal membranes (n = 8); E, spontaneous delivery at term without retained fetal membranes (n = 16); F, spontaneous delivery at term with retained fetal membranes (n = 10). The enzyme activity was determined spectrofluorimetrically and expressed in nkat/mg protein. Nagase activity increased during last few days before parturition. The activity in general was lower in the fetal than in the maternal part of placenta (in five out of six) of the examined groups of animals. In the maternal part of term placenta, enzyme activity was statistically significantly higher in cases of retained fetal membranes than in control cows. In the fetal part of term placenta the opposite relationship was observed. The results obtained may indicate the involvement of Nagase in the processes of releasing/retaining bovine fetal membranes. Further experiments are necessary in order to explain the mechanisms and substances responsible for controlling the enzyme activity in the placenta.
Vision impairment and handicap: The RVIB Employment Survey
Authors: Wright Suzie E , McCarty Cathy A , Burgess Mary , Keeffe Jill E , Survey The Steering Committee for the RVIB Employment 
Published: July 2002

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine the association between type of vision impairment and disability and the handicap or impact of vision loss on functioning.Methods:Participants were interviewed for the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Employment Survey, and asked to self‐report whether totally blind or not (vision impaired). Causes of visual impairment were also reported. Eyesight was rated on a scale from 0 (completely blind) to 10 (best possible eyesight). Difficulty with mobility, personal care, household activities, work and hobbies and social interactions were also rated. Participants with vision impairment also rated their level of disability in reading and seeing other people’s reactions using the same scale.Results:Of the 250 participants, 39 self‐reported total blindness. Participants with vision impairment experienced greater levels of difficulty in almost all areas than people who self‐reported total blindness. People with vision impairment due to glaucoma and macular degeneration reported significantly more difficulty with reading newspapers, while there was a borderline significant relationship between difficulty with seeing people’s reactions and macular degeneration.Conclusions:In summary, we found that difficulty associated with everyday tasks was greater than might be expected from self‐report of vision. This study confirms the need for visual function tools to supplement the use of objective visual acuity measurements in people with vision impairment.
Effect of lysozyme on adhesion and toxin release byStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Thakur Archana , Chauhan Akta , Willcox Mark D P 
Published: July 2002

Purpose:Staphylococcus aureusis a common cause of ocular infection and inflammation. We hypothesized that potential forS. aureusto cause an ocular infection would be enhanced if these bacteria are able to adhere to the biomaterials used in contact lenses. In turn, bacterial adhesion could also be influenced by other factors, such as properties of contact lenses and the absorbance of some tear components. We investigated the effect of the tear protein lysozyme onS. aureusadhesion to contact lenses and its effect on production of toxins or enzymes.Methods:Bacterial adhesion on contact lenses was determined by counting the total number of bacteria as well as viable bacteria on lysozyme‐coated or non‐coated lenses, and by counting bacteria grown in the presence or absence of lysozyme in the medium. Toxin and enzyme production was assessed by haemolysis and proteolysis assays.Results:Our results indicate that adhesion was significantly increased in the presence of lysozyme, both in the medium and coated onto contact lenses (P= 0.04). The presence of lysozyme did not alter the production of α‐ or β‐ toxins. However, the presence of lysozyme inhibited elastase activity.Conclusion:These results indicate that lysozyme deposition on contact lenses promotedS. aureusadhesion. The tear protein lysozyme might modify elastase activity and thus modulate the production of corneal degradation resulting from the action of this enzyme.
The cells and mediators of allergic inflammation
Authors: Kay A. B. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryIn sensitized atopic subjects allergen administration results in an immediate‐type reaction and, depending on the dose of the allergen, an additional late‐phase reaction. The early reaction results largely from the release of histamine, leukotrienes and other mediators from mast cells. The cutaneous late‐phase reaction is probably also predominantly mast‐cell‐dependent. The late asthmatic reaction, however, also involves T‐cell activation. T cells release a cascade of factors which evoke the migration of many cell types, including eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages into the site of inflammation, under the influence of a complex combination of cytokines and chemokines. Neural inflammation (i.e. neuropeptides and neurotrophins) may also be involved. The identification of the processes underlying the inflammatory response to allergens, and their control mechanisms, provides specific targets for therapeutic measures (such as the use of monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptor molecules) which are designed to impede or abolish the allergic inflammatory cascade.
Experimental measures of the electron distribution and bonding in bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl) osmium from He(I) and He(II) valence photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Lichtenberger Dennis L. , Copenhaver Ann S. 
Published: July 2002

The He(I) and He(II) high resolution photoelectron spectra of osmocene are reported. Vibrational fine structure is observed in all the valence metal-based ionizations and in the cyclopentadienyl π ionizations which derive from the e1g and e1u symmetry combinations. Analysis of the vibrational progressions found in the metal-based ionizations provides a measure of the force constants and vibrational frequencies for the metal–ring stretch in the positive ions. The vibrational analysis for the 2E2(5/2) and 2E2(3/2) states of the osmocene cation [derived from the spin–orbit split ionization of the metal e2g(dx2−y2, dxy) set] indicates an 0.12 Å greater metal–ring bond length in the cation compared to the neutral molecule. The sharp 2A1(1/2) ionization [correlating with removal of an electron from the metal a1g(dz 2) orbital] is observed to have a much shorter vibrational progression. The adiabatic ionization is the most intense (vertical) band of the series, indicating that there is no appreciable change in metal–ring bond distance upon ionization from the nonbonding a1g(dz 2) orbital to produce the 2A1(1/2) cationic state. A large spin–orbit coupling is observed in the metal ionization region and a moderate amount in the cyclopentadienyl ring π ionization region. From evaluation of the spin–orbit coupling, the ionization band which correlates primarily with the e1g combination of the cyclopentadienyl π orbitals is shown to contain about 27% metal character. The spin–orbit coupling effects are negligible in the ionization which corresponds to the e1u combination of the ring orbitals, as expected from the lack of symmetry interaction with the metal d orbitals. The ionizations of this complex also provide experimental measures of relative metal-based and carbon-based ionization cross sections with He(I) and He(II) energy sources which are compared with theoretical calculations. All of the observations indicate that covalent bonding is more prevalent in osmocene
than in ferrocene.