bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical features and posttreatment monitoring of dogs administered rivaroxaban (2018–2020): 19 cases
Authors: Tracy Alyxandra L. , Goggs Robert , Brooks Marjory B. , Lynch Alex M. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo describe a population of sick dogs administered rivaroxaban monitored with a rivaroxaban‐calibrated anti‐Xa activity assay (aXa).DesignDescriptive retrospective study.SettingTwo veterinary teaching hospitals.AnimalsClient‐owned dogs administered rivaroxaban and monitored with aXa from January 2018 to January 2020 were eligible for study.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main ResultsMedical records were reviewed and 19 dogs with a variety of underlying disease processes were identified. Rivaroxaban was administered to 12 of 19 dogs (63%) with confirmed thrombosis, 4 of 19 dogs (21%) with a strong clinical suspicion of thrombosis, and in 3 of 19 dogs (16%) with no current evidence of thrombosis. The median rivaroxaban dose administered was 0.96 mg/kg/day (0.62–1.58 mg/kg/day), with 15 of 19 dogs (79%) receiving rivaroxaban once daily. Clopidogrel was concurrently administered to 11 of 19 dogs (58%). Complete or partial thrombus resolution was identified in 5 of 12 (42%) and 3 of 12 (25%) dogs, respectively. Rivaroxaban appeared safe, with only 1 of 19 dogs (5%), concurrently administered clopidogrel, developing evidence of mild hematuria. Posttreatment monitoring revealed that 8 of 19 dogs (42%) had aXa below the target (aXa range of 150–250 ng/ml associated with effective treatment and prevention of venous thrombosis in people). The remaining 3 to 19 dogs (16%) achieved this range, and 8 of 19 dogs (42%) exceeded the range. No significant relationship between the initial rivaroxaban dose administered and the corresponding aXa result was identified. There were also no significant differences in baseline clinicopathological variables in dogs in which aXa fell within or outside this range.ConclusionsaXa was most commonly measured in dogs receiving rivaroxaban with confirmed or suspected thrombosis. Dogs in this study received a range of rivaroxaban dosages and attained variable aXa values that were not directly correlated with dosage.
SYNTHETIC MULTIVARIATE DATA GENERATION PROCEDURE WITH VARIOUS OUTLIER SCENARIOS USING R PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
Authors: Syed Abd Mutalib Sharifah Sakinah , Satari Siti Zanariah , Wan Yusoff Wan Nur Syahidah 
Published: April 2022

A synthetic data generation procedure is a procedure to generate data from either a statistical or mathematical model. The data generation procedure has been used in simulation studies to compare statistical performance methods or propose a new statistical method with a specific distribution. A synthetic multivariate data generation procedure with various outlier scenarios using R is formulated in this study. An outlier generating model is used to generate multivariate data that contains outliers. Data generation procedures for various outlier scenarios by using R are explained. Three outlier scenarios are produced, and graphical representations using 3D scatterplot and Chernoff faces for these outlier scenarios are shown. The graphical representation shows that as the distance between outliers and inliers by shifting the mean, increases in Outlier Scenario 1, the outliers and inliers are completely separated. The same pattern can also be seen when the distance between outliers and inliers, by shifting the covariance, increase in Outlier Scenario 2. For Outlier Scenario 3, when both values and increase, the separation of outliers and inliers are more apparent. The data generation procedure in this study will be continually used in other applications, such as identifying outliers by using the clustering method.
Improving the Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Rich Cathode Materials by Vanadium and Titanium Co-Doping Using Solution Combustion Synthesis
Authors: Paknahad Pouyan , Abasi Ali Akbar , Glenn Michael , Ghorbanzadeh Milad 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
A lithium-rich layered oxide cathode material (Li1.2[Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2) was synthesized using solution combustion synthesis, and the electrochemical effects of co-doping with vanadium and titanium were studied. Materials analysis showed that layered oxides with an α-NaFeO2 structure, spherical morphology, and particle size distribution between 0.4 and 1 µm were synthesized. Electrochemical experiments (charge–discharge tests) also indicated that the presence of vanadium in the cathode structure increases its specific capacity to 257.6 mAh/g and improves rate capability and cyclic performance. Increasing the amount of titanium in the cathode improves cyclability; however, it also decreases specific capacity. The latter occurs because titanium is not electrochemically active, meaning it does not participate in redox reactions. Also, increasing the amount of titanium beyond 0.02 mol leads to a considerable decrease in the rate capability.
SP1 Using kotter’s change model to reduce paediatric prescribing errors
Authors: Trivedi Ashifa , Ajitsaria Richa , Bate Tristan The 
Published: April 2022

AimWe describe a quality improvement project to reduce the paediatric prescribing error rate on a paediatric ward in a district general hospital. The project is called STAMP (Safe Treatment and Administration of Medicine in Paediatrics) and was started in 2016. In 2017 the local error rate was 5.2% (average monthly error rate) and decreased to 3.8% in 2019. Despite these earlier interventions the error rate has since not improved and in 2020 the error rate increased to 4.4%. Using Kotter’s Change Management model1 our aim was to decrease the prescribing error rate by 20% (from 4.4% to a target of 3.5%) by August 2021.Method	The paediatric pharmacy team collected weekly error data from December 2016 to August 2021. Reynolds et al2 report that hospital doctors are often unaware of their errors. As a result of this Reynolds et al developed a questionnaire to better understand the attitudes and perceptions of prescribers with regards to prescribing errors. Permission was asked if we could use the questionnaire locally and this was given to us.The questionnaire was emailed to all paediatric prescribers, including non-medical prescribers, in September 2020. 97% (30/31) of respondents felt that the number of prescribing errors can be reduced. However, 65% (20/31) of prescribers said that they feel they do not make a significant number of prescribing errors. The results of the questionnaire helped us to better understand why prescribing errors happen and changed the way errors were fedback to prescribers. Interventions included paediatric pharmacy teaching at induction, reporting of weekly error rate, ‘spot the error’ quizzes and individual feedback given to prescribers. Prescribers were asked if they were happy to receive feedback via email if we were not able to give face to face feedback.ResultsThe project has been able to achieve a reduction in error rate to an average of 2.1% (from September 2020 – July 2021) compared to an average error rate of 4.4% the previous year. The aim was to reduce the error rate to 3.5% or below and we have been able to achieve this constantly since October 2020. There have been four weeks where there have been no errors on the ward.ConclusionThis project demonstrates that Kotter’s model can successfully be used in healthcare to reduce prescribing errors. Our most successful interventions have been paediatric pharmacy teaching at induction and emailing individual feedback to prescribers.ReferencesKotter JP. Leading change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press; 2012.Reynolds M, Jheeta S, Benn J, et al. Improving feedback on junior doctors’ prescribing errors: mixed-methods evaluation of a quality improvement project. BMJ Quality & Safety 2017;26:240-247.
COVID-19-related healthcare impacts: an uncontrolled, segmented time-series analysis of tuberculosis diagnosis services in Mozambique, 2017–2020
Authors: Manhiça Ivan , Augusto Orvalho , Sherr Kenneth , Cowan James , Cuco Rosa Marlene , Agostinho Sãozinha , Macuacua Bachir C. , Ramiro Isaías , Carimo Naziat , Matsinhe Maria Benigna , Gloyd Stephen , Chicumbe Sergio , Machava Raimundo , Tembe Stélio , Fernandes Quinhas 
Published: April 2022

IntroductionCurrently, COVID-19 dominates the public health agenda and poses a permanent threat, leading to health systems’ exhaustion and unprecedented service disruption. Primary healthcare services, including tuberculosis services, are at increased risk of facing severe disruptions, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. Indeed, corroborating model-based forecasts, there is increasing evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative impact on tuberculosis case detection.MethodsApplying a segmented time-series analysis, we assessed the effects of COVID-19-related measures on tuberculosis diagnosis service across districts in Mozambique. Ministry health information system data were used from the first quarter of 2017 to the end of 2020. The model, performed under the Bayesian premises, was estimated as a negative binomial with random effects for districts and provinces.ResultsA total of 154 districts were followed for 16 consecutive quarters. Together, these districts reported 96 182 cases of all forms of tuberculosis in 2020. At baseline (first quarter of 2017), Mozambique had an estimated incidence rate of 283 (95% CI 200 to 406) tuberculosis cases per 100 000 people and this increased at a 5% annual rate through the end of 2019. We estimated that 17 147 new tuberculosis cases were potentially missed 9 months after COVID-19 onset, resulting in a 15.1% (95% CI 5.9 to 24.0) relative loss in 2020. The greatest impact was observed in the southern region at 40.0% (95% CI 30.1 to 49.0) and among men at 15% (95% CI 4.0 to 25.0). The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis increased at an average rate of 6.6% annually; however, an abrupt drop (15%) was also observed immediately after COVID-19 onset in March 2020.ConclusionThe most significant impact of the state of emergency was observed between April and June 2020, the quarter after COVID-19 onset. Encouragingly, by the end of 2020, clear signs of health system recovery were visible despite the initial shock.
Feasibility, efficacy and safety of exercise stress echocardiography during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hampson Reinette , Botrous Christina , Chahal Navtej , Senior Roxy 
Published: April 2022

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of performing exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) for the assessment of myocardial ischaemia during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods and resultsBaseline data were collected prospectively on 740 consecutive patients (mean age 61.4 years, 56.8% males), referred for a stress echocardiogram (SE), who underwent ESE between July 2020 (immediate post lockdown) and January 2021 according to national safety guidelines, in addition to patients wearing masks during ESE. Retrospective analysis was performed on follow-up data for outcomes. Propensity score matching was used to compare workload achieved during ESE pre-COVID-19, in 768 consecutive patients who underwent ESE between May 2014 and May 2015. Of the 725 (97.9%) diagnostic tests obtained, 69 (9.3%) demonstrated significant inducible ischaemia (≥3 segments) with no serious adverse events. Of the 61 patients who underwent coronary angiography, 51 (83%) demonstrated flow-limiting coronary artery disease. During a mean follow-up period of 4.6 months, one first-cardiac event was recorded.Compliance with mask-wearing throughout ESE was seen in 98.7% of patients. Of the 17 healthcare professionals performing ESE, none contracted COVID-19 during this period. SE service performance increased to 96.8% of prepandemic levels (100%) from 26.6% at the start of July 2020 to the end of December 2020.Propensity-matched data showed no significant difference in exercise workload between patients undergoing ESE during and prepandemic.ConclusionPerforming ESE during the COVID-19 pandemic, with safety measures in place, is feasible, efficacious and safe. It impacted on the time patients were waiting to undergo a diagnostic test and yielded appropriate outcomes.Service evaluation authorisation of research capability numberSE20/059.
Species-dependent differences in the inhibition of various potassium currents and in their effects on repolarization in cardiac ventricular muscle
Authors: Árpádffy-Lovas Tamás , Mohammed Aiman Saleh A. , Naveed Muhammad , Koncz István , Baláti Beáta , Bitay Miklós , Jost Norbert , Nagy Norbert , Baczkó István , Virág László , Varró András 
Published: April 2022

Even though rodents are accessible model animals, their electrophysiological properties are deeply different from those of humans, making the translation of rat studies to humans rather difficult. We compared the mechanisms of ventricular repolarization in various animal models to those of humans by measuring cardiac ventricular action potentials from ventricular papillary muscle preparations using conventional microelectrodes and applying selective inhibitors of various potassium transmembrane ion currents. Inhibition of the IK1 current (10 µmol/L barium chloride) significantly prolonged rat ventricular repolarization, but only slightly prolonged it in dogs, and did not affect it in humans. On the contrary, IKr inhibition (50 nmol/L dofetilide) significantly prolonged repolarization in humans, rabbits, and dogs, but not in rats. Inhibition of the IKur current (1 µmol/L XEN-D0101) only prolonged rat ventricular repolarization and had no effect in humans or dogs. Inhibition of the IKs (500 nmol/L HMR-1556) and Ito currents (100 µmol/L chromanol-293B) elicited similar effects in all investigated species. We conclude that dog ventricular preparations have the strongest translational value and rat ventricular preparations have the weakest translational value in cardiac electrophysiological experiments.
Massive scalar field in de Sitter spacetime: a two-loop calculation and a comparison with the stochastic approach
Authors: Kamenshchik Alexander Yu. , Starobinsky Alexei A. , Vardanyan Tereza 
Published: April 2022

AbstractWe examine long-wavelength correlation functions of massive scalar fields in de Sitter spacetime. For the theory with a quartic self-interaction, the two-point function is calculated up to two loops. Comparing our results with the Hartree–Fock approximation and with the stochastic approach shows that the former resums only the cactus type diagrams, whereas the latter contains the sunset diagram as well and produces the correct result. We also demonstrate that the long-wavelength expectation value of the commutator of two fields is equal to zero both for spacelike and timelike separated points.
Wormhole in the Milky Way galaxy with global monopole charge
Authors: Das Priyam , Kalam Mehedi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractWormholes are tunnels or short-cuts in space-time, and their existence is very important for human civilization to express the vastness of space and time. So, it is necessary to analyze our own Milky Way galaxy if it can harbour any wormhole. This work is dedicated to the existence of wormhole geometry(at least theoretically) in the bulge and halo of the Milky Way Galaxy. The structure and existence of wormholes are verified in both the bulge and the halo region of the Milky Way galaxy (MWG). Different dark matter profiles like pseudo-isothermal, NFW and Universal Rotational Curve (URC) are analyzed to harbour these cosmic tunnels. Three kinds of redshift functions are used for each dark matter profile with the global monopole charge to cover all the possibilities of MWG supporting wormhole geometry.
Market Exit and Minimax Regret
Authors: Umbhauer Gisèle 
Published: April 2022

This paper shows how minimax regret sheds new light on an old economic topic, market-exit games. It focuses on wars of attrition, namely overcrowded duopoly markets where the strategic variable is the exit time. The only symmetric Nash equilibrium (NE) of the game studied is a mixed-strategy equilibrium that leads to a null expected payoff, i.e., the payoff a firm gets when it immediately exits the market. This result is not convincing, both from a behavioral and from a strategic viewpoint. The minimax regret approach that builds upon opposite regrets — exiting the market too late and exiting the market too early — is more convincing and ensures that both firms obtain a strictly positive expected payoff. Highlights Minimax regret behavior sheds new light on the optimal exit-times in overcrowded markets. Minimax regret behavior provides a new behavioral content to mixed strategies. In overcrowded duopolies, if the firms’ aim consists in minimizing regrets, then they get better payoffs than in the mixed-strategy NE.
Mapping the Lay of the Land: Using Interactive Network Analytic Tools for Collaboration in Rural Cancer Prevention and Control
Authors: Carothers Bobbi J. , Allen Peg , Walsh-Bailey Callie , Duncan Dixie , Pacheco Rebeca Vanderburg , White Karen R. , Jeckstadt Debra , Tsai Edward , Brownson Ross C. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background:
Cancer mortality rates in the United States are higher in rural than urban areas, especially for colorectal cancer. Modifiable cancer risks (e.g., tobacco use, obesity) are more prevalent among U.S. rural than urban residents. Social network analyses are common, yet rural informal collaborative networks for cancer prevention and control and practitioner uses of network findings are less well understood.

Methods:
In five service areas in rural Missouri and Illinois, we conducted a network survey of informal multisector networks among agencies that address cancer risk (N = 152 individuals). The survey asked about contact, collaborative activities, and referrals. We calculated descriptive network statistics and disseminated network visualizations with rural agencies through infographics and interactive Network Navigator platforms. We also collected feedback on uses of network findings from agency staff (N = 14).

Results:
Service areas had more connections (average degree) for exchanging information than for more time-intensive collaborative activities of co-developing and sustaining ongoing services and programs, and co-developing and sharing resources. On average, collaborative activities were not dependent on just a few agencies to bridge gaps to hold networks together. Users found the network images and information useful for identifying gaps, planning which relationships to establish or enhance to strengthen certain collaborative activities and cross-referrals, and showing network strengths to current and potential funders.

Conclusions:
Rural informal cancer prevention and control networks in this study are highly connected and largely decentralized.

Impact:
Disseminating network findings help ensure usefulness to rural health and social service practitioners who address cancer risks.
Improved T-cell Immunity Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Liu Min , Tayob Nabihah , Penter Livius , Sellars MacLean , Tarren Anna , Chea Vipheaviny , Carulli Isabel , Huang Teddy , Li Shuqiang , Cheng Su-Chun , Le Phuong , Frackiewicz Laura , Fasse Julia , Qi Courtney , Liu Joyce F. , Stover Elizabeth H. , Curtis Jennifer , Livak Kenneth J. , Neuberg Donna , Zhang Guanglan , Matulonis Ursula A. , Wu Catherine J. , Keskin Derin B. , Konstantinopoulos Panagiotis A. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Purpose:
Although local tissue-based immune responses are critical for elucidating direct tumor–immune cell interactions, peripheral immune responses are increasingly recognized as occupying an important role in anticancer immunity. We evaluated serial blood samples from patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) undergoing standard-of-care neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy (including dexamethasone for prophylaxis of paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reactions) to characterize the evolution of the peripheral immune cell function and composition across the course of therapy.

Experimental Design:
Serial blood samples from 10 patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) were collected before the initiation of chemotherapy, after the third and sixth cycles, and approximately 2 months after completion of chemotherapy. T-cell function was evaluated using ex vivo IFNγ ELISpot assays, and the dynamics of T-cell repertoire and immune cell composition were assessed using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing (RNAseq).

Results:
T cells exhibited an improved response to viral antigens after NACT, which paralleled the decrease in CA125 levels. Single-cell analysis revealed increased numbers of memory T-cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes and increased central memory CD8+ and regulatory T cells throughout chemotherapy. Finally, administration of NACT was associated with increased monocyte frequency and expression of HLA class II and antigen presentation genes; single-cell RNAseq analyses showed that although driven largely by classical monocytes, increased class II gene expression was a feature observed across monocyte subpopulations after chemotherapy.

Conclusions:
NACT may alleviate tumor-associated immunosuppression by reducing tumor burden and may enhance antigen processing and presentation. These findings have implications for the successful combinatorial applications of immune checkpoint blockade and therapeutic vaccine approaches in EOC.
The TAZ-CAMTA1 Fusion Protein Promotes Tumorigenesis via Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Ras–MAPK Signaling in Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma
Authors: Ma Shuang , Kanai Ryan , Pobbati Ajaybabu V. , Li Shuo , Che Kepeng , Seavey Caleb N. , Hallett Andrea , Burtscher Ashley , Lamar John M. , Rubin Brian P. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Purpose:
A consistent genetic alteration in vascular cancer epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is the t(1;3)(p36;q25) chromosomal translocation, which generates a WWTR1(TAZ)-CAMTA1 (TC) fusion gene. TC is a transcriptional coactivator that drives EHE. Here, we aimed to identify the TC transcriptional targets and signaling mechanisms that underlie EHE tumorigenesis.

Experimental Design:
We used NIH3T3 cells transformed with TC (NIH3T3/TC) as a model system to uncover TC-dependent oncogenic signaling. These cells proliferated in an anchorage-independent manner in suspension and soft agar. The findings of the cell-based studies were validated in a xenograft model.

Results:
We identified connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a tumorigenic transcriptional target of TC. We show that CTGF binds to integrin αIIbβ3, which is essential for sustaining the anchorage-independent proliferation of transformed NIH3T3/TC cells. NIH3T3/TC cells also have enhanced Ras and MAPK signaling, and the activity of these pathways is reduced upon CTGF knockdown, suggesting that CTGF signaling occurs via the Ras-MAPK cascade. Further, pharmacologic inhibition of MAPK signaling through PD 0325901 and trametinib abrogated TC-driven anchorage-independent growth. Likewise, for tumor growth in vivo, NIH3T3/TC cells require CTGF and MAPK signaling. NIH3T3/TC xenograft growth was profoundly reduced upon CTGF knockdown and after trametinib treatment.

Conclusions:
Collectively, our results demonstrated that CTGF and the Ras-MAPK signaling cascade are essential for TC-mediated tumorigenesis. These studies provided the preclinical rationale for SARC033 (NCI 10015-NCT03148275), a nonrandomized, open-label, phase II study of trametinib in patients with unresectable or metastatic EHE.