bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver cirrhosis contributes to the disorder of gut microbiota in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Ruipeng , Wang Guoqiang , Pang Zhiqiang , Ran Nan , Gu Yinuo , Guan Xuewa , Yuan Yuze , Zuo Xu , Pan He , Zheng Jingtong , Wang Fang 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundGut microbiota (GM) of patients with liver cancer is disordered, and syet no study reported the GM distribution of liver cirrhosis‐induced HCC (LC‐HCC) and nonliver cirrhosis‐induced HCC (NLC‐HCC). In this study, we aimed to characterize gut dysbiosis of LC‐HCC and NLC‐HCC to elucidate the role of GM in the pathogenesis of HCC.MethodsA consecutive series of fecal samples of patients with hepatitis (24 patients), liver cirrhosis (24 patients), HCC (75 patients: 35 infected by HBV, 25 infected by HCV, and 15 with alcoholic liver disease), and healthy controls (20 patients) were obtained and sequenced on the Illumina Hiseq platform. The HCC group contains 52 LC‐HCC and 23 NLC‐HCC. Bioinformatic analysis of the intestinal microbiota was performed with QIIME and MicrobiomeAnalyst.ResultsAlpha‐diversity analysis showed that fecal microbial diversity was significantly decreased in the LC group, and there were significant differences in 3 phyla and 27 genera in the LC group vs the other groups (the healthy, hepatitis, and HCC groups). Beta‐diversity analysis showed that there were large differences between LC and the others. Gut microbial diversity was significantly increased from LC to HCC. Characterizing the fecal microbiota of LC‐HCC and NLC‐HCC, we found that microbial diversity was increased from LC to LC‐HCC rather than NLC‐HCC. Thirteen genera were discovered to be associated with the tumor size of HCC. Three biomarkers (Enterococcus, Limnobacter, and Phyllobacterium) could be used for precision diagnosis. We also found that HBV infection, HCV infection, or ALD (alcoholic liver disease) was not associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis in HCC.ConclusionOur results suggest that GM disorders are more common in patients with LC‐HCC. The butyrate‐producing genera were decreased, while genera producing‐lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were increased in LC‐HCC patients. Further studies of GM disorders may achieve early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches for HCC patients.
Childhood Adversities and Later Attitudes towards Harmful Parenting Behaviour including Shaking in a German Population‐based Sample
Authors: Clemens Vera , Berthold Oliver , Witt Andreas , Brähler Elmar , Plener Paul L. , Fegert Jörg M. 
Published: April 2020

Various prevention strategies have proven effectiveness in preventing abusive head trauma (AHT). Most aim to influence parental knowledge and attitudes. At the same time, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to be important risk factors for child physical abuse. However, the pathways from ACEs to AHT are not fully understood. This study examines the relation between prior ACEs and attitudes towards parenting strategies and whether the relations are the same in men and women in a representative sample of the German population (N = 2531). The results demonstrate that ACEs are associated with a higher acceptance of potentially harmful parenting behaviours, including shaking. While in male subjects, ACEs were related to a higher acceptance of shaking as reasonable parenting (odds ratio (OR) 3.7–5.3, depending on the type of ACE), in women, a relation to accepting withholding food from an infant (OR 2.3–2.5) and scolding an infant (OR 1.9–2.7) was seen. The relation between ACEs and acceptance of potentially harmful parenting strategies was stronger with each additional ACE (OR = 1.16). As the presented results suggest that prior ACEs are a risk factor for potentially harmful parenting attitudes, screening programmes might consider including ACEs and parent counselling should be considered for those having experienced ACEs.‘The pathways from ACEs to AHT are not fully understood’Key Practitioner Messages

In a population‐based sample, parents exposed to ACEs were more likely to accept harmful parenting strategies.
ACES had different effects in women and men, and a clear dose–response relationship could be seen.
Expectant parents should be screened for ACEs and offered tailored parenting courses.
Betulinic acid triggers apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by impairing EMT progress
Authors: Chen Yun , Wu Xiongjian , Liu Chi , Zhou Yun 
Published: April 2020

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent types of malignancies. Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpene with a lupine structure. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no research study on the anti‐tumour and anti‐metastasis effect of BA on GC. In this study, we assessed the anti‐cancer effect of BA on human GC cells in vitro and in vivo. We first investigated the cytotoxicity and anti‐proliferation effect of BA on GC cells of SNU‐16 and NCI‐N87. The results indicated that BA had significant cytotoxic and inhibitory effects on GC cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. To further study the cytotoxic action of BA on GC cells, we assessed the apoptotic induction effect of BA on SNU‐16 cells and found that BA distinctly induced apoptosis in SNU‐16 cells. In addition, BA inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of SNU‐16 cells. Western‐blot analysis revealed that BA suppressed the migration and invasion of GC cells by impairing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition progression. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that BA could delay tumour growth and inhibit pulmonary metastasis, which is consistent with the results of in vitro studies. Overall, we evaluated the anti‐cancer effect of BA on human GC cells in vivo and in vitro, and the present study provides new evidence on the use of BA as a potential anti‐cancer drug for GC treatment.Significance of the studyBA significantly suppressed proliferation and triggered apoptosis in GC cells. Additionally, BA remarkably inhibited migration and invasion of GC cells by impairing the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition signalling pathway. It is worth noting that BA drastically retarded tumour growth in the xenograft mouse model of GC. Our results indicated that BA can be considered a candidate drug for GC therapy.
Size Effect in Pd−Ir Core‐Shell Nanoparticles as Nanozymes
Authors: Xi Zheng , Gao Weiwei , Xia Xiaohu 
Published: April 2020

AbstractComprehensive studies on the size effect in nanozyme (i. e., nanomaterials with enzyme‐like activities)‐based catalysis have rarely been reported. In this work, we systematically investigated the size effect in nanozymes by using Pd−Ir core‐shell nanoparticles with peroxidase‐like activities as a model system. Pd−Ir nanoparticles with four different sizes (3.3, 5.9, 9.8 and 13.0 nm), but identical shapes and surface structures, were designed and synthesized. We found that the catalytic activity for individual nanozymes increased with particle size. The area‐specific catalytic activity was similar for nanoparticles of 3.3–9.8 nm, but decreased slightly when particle size reached 13.0 nm. By using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a model platform, the size effect of Pd−Ir nanoparticles in biosensing applications was investigated; smaller nanoparticles were found to offer lower detection limits. This work not only demonstrates the size effect, but also provides an effective strategy to enhance the performance of nanozymes in certain applications.
Primary Kaposi sarcoma of the glans: A rare case in an HIV‐negative patient
Authors: Araghi Farnaz , Tabary Mohammadreza , Bidari‐Zerehpoosh Farahnaz , Asadi‐Kani Zahra , Robati Reza M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFirst presentation of the Kaposi sarcoma (KS) on the penis is not prevalent, and it was reported in 2%‐3% of the cases that mostly occurred in the HIV‐positive patients. Here, we report a case of primary KS on the glans penis in an HIV‐negative patient.
Optical coherence tomography of racemose angioma
Authors: Ravani Raghav , Patel Chandan , Tripathy Koushik 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWyburn‐Mason syndrome is associated with racemose angioma of the retina and arteriovenous malformation of the brain. Optical coherence tomography and MRI angiography may be used to document the vascular lesion of the retina and brain, respectively.
The value of coronal DWI in brainstem stroke diagnosis
Authors: Bedi Prabhjot S. , Koch Kevin J. , Lewis Paul B. , Singh Vikas K. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAcute brainstem strokes can present a diagnostic challenge due to its variable clinical presentation. MRI with diffusion‐weighted (axial) imaging is highly sensitive for diagnosing ischemic lesions however even that can fail to identify early lesions in the brainstem. Combining coronal section to standard axial MRI‐DWI can facilitate early diagnosis in these cases.
Radiation therapy in primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphoma treated with DA‐R‐EPOCH
Authors: Gentille Cesar , Anand Kartik , Dalwadi Shraddha , Puri Akshjot , Farach Andrew , Pingali Sai Ravi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDA‐R‐EPOCH is used in PMBCL due to its good outcomes without radiation. We present three cases that required consolidation with radiation despite using this regimen. More studies are needed before considering DA‐R‐EPOCH standard of care.
Evaluation of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria on stockpiled bermudagrass
Authors: Griffin Megan E. , Muntifering Russell B. , Mullenix Mary K. , Held David W. , Dillard Sandra L. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA two‐year, small‐plot study was conducted to evaluate plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for biofertilization of fall‐stockpiled bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pres.]. Eighteen, 10.8‐ft2 bermudagrass (cultivar ‘Coastal’) plots were mowed to 1‐inch stubble height prior to stockpiling. Experimental treatments included a negative control, synthetic fertilizer, PGPR single‐strain DH 44, DH 44 + fertilizer, PGPR multiple‐strain Blend 20, and Blend 20 + fertilizer (n = 3). Two PGPR applications were made, one at the beginning of each stockpiling season in mid‐August, and again 30 days later. Ammonium sulfate was applied at 50 lb N/acre concurrent with the first PGPR application. Each plot was divided into three subplots, which were harvested at different periods (i.e., mid‐November, mid‐December, and mid‐January) of each year to determine forage dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value. Forage DM yield was greatest (P ≤ .03) for Blend 20 + fertilizer, but it was not different (P = .26) from that of the synthetic fertilizer treatment. Concentration of crude protein was least (P < .04) for DH 44 and Blend 20 treatments. Concentrations of acid detergent fiber were not different among treatments, except for the negative control which was lower (P < .05). In vitro true digestibility was not different (P < .05) among treatments. These results indicate that PGPR may be a viable option for biofertilization; however, further investigation into the effect of PGPR inoculants at field level is needed.
Supercritical antisolvent coprecipitation in the pharmaceutical field: Different polymeric carriers for different drug releases
Authors: Franco Paola , De Marco Iolanda 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe supercritical antisolvent process (SAS) was employed to obtain polymer/drug coprecipitated powders. Indeed, processes based on the use of supercritical fluids allow us to obtain polymer/active drug coprecipitated microparticles with tunable bioavailability. In this work, two different biocompatible polymers were selected to be used as carriers for obtaining drug microparticles with different releases for different applications: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was coprecipitated with ketoprofen to obtain a rapid drug release and zein was coprecipitated with ampicillin to obtain a controlled drug release. The experiments were performed both on a bench‐scale and a pilot‐scale plant. Ketoprofen is one of the most prescribed non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. It is poorly soluble in water and, to overcome this inconvenience, in this work, it was coprecipitated with PVP. In correspondence with the optimized polymer/drug ratio, the dissolution rate of the active principle in the coprecipitated particles was about three times higher than the one of the unprocessed ketoprofen. The second model drug under study in this paper is ampicillin, a semi‐synthetic penicillin that is one of the most commonly prescribed broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Prolonging the release of the drug would imply a reduction in the number of administrations and, therefore, of the side effects associated with too high dosages. For this purpose, in this work, ampicillin was coprecipitated with zein. Zein/ampicillin microparticles were produced up to a polymer/drug ratio of 5/1 w/w; in this case, the antibiotic coprecipitated with zein reaches 90% of its dissolution in about 14 hours, while the unprocessed antibiotic takes about 3 hours to dissolve.
A novel virtual flow diverter implantation method with realistic deployment mechanics and validated force response
Authors: Závodszky Gábor , Csippa Benjámin , Paál György , Szikora István 
Published: April 2020

AbstractVirtual flow diverter deployment techniques underwent significant development during the last couple of years. Each existing technique displays advantageous features, as well as significant limitations. One common drawback is the lack of quantitative validation of the mechanics of the device. In the following work, we present a new spring‐mass‐based method with validated mechanical responses that combines many of the useful capabilities of previous techniques. The structure of the virtual braids naturally incorporates the axial length changes as a function of the local expansion diameter. The force response of the model was calibrated using the measured response of real FDs. The mechanics of the model allows to replicate the expansion process during deployment, including additional effects such as the push‐pull technique that is required for the deployment of braided FDs to achieve full opening and proper wall apposition. Furthermore, it is a computationally highly efficient solution that requires little pre‐processing and has a run‐time of a few seconds on a general laptop and thus allows for exploratory analyses. The model was applied in a patient‐specific geometry, where corresponding accurate control measurements in a 3D‐printed model were also available. The analysis shows the effects of FD oversizing and push‐pull application on the radial expansion, surface density, and on the wall contact pressure.
Performance improvement of DC‐DC converter using L‐D‐based modified GaN‐FET driver
Authors: Santra Subhendu Bikash , Roy Aratrika , Roy Choudhury Tanmoy , Chatterjee Debashis , Nayak Byamakesh 
Published: April 2020

SummaryBootstrap capacitor in FET gate driver plays an important role in the transient performance of the half bridge configured synchronous buck DC‐DC converter especially in the top switch. In this paper, a new bootstrap capacitor based GaN‐FET driver is proposed. This new GaN‐FET driver is tested in a synchronous buck converter for performance verification like
immunity, transient response, and voltage ringing. A comparison study with the existing LM5113 (Texas Instrument)–based driver for GaN‐FET and IR2110‐based Si‐MOSFET driver on a DC‐DC converter is carried out to show the performance improvement using the proposed GaN‐FET driver. The simulation study is performed on spice‐based NI‐Multisim 14.1. Finally, the designed GaN‐FET driver is tested on a 60‐W synchronous buck DC‐DC converter in open‐loop and closed‐loop configuration.
Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms
Authors: Candel Jasper H. J. , Makaske Bart , Kijm Niels , Kleinhans Maarten G. , Storms Joep E. A. , Wallinga Jakob 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMeandering rivers are abundant on Earth, from the largest rivers to the smallest tributaries. The classical view of meandering rivers is a sinuous planform with rounded bends, which grow and migrate until they are cut‐off. However, many low‐energy meandering rivers have planforms that are much more complex than this classical view due to the heterogeneity of their alluvium, and show relatively limited channel migration. Based on a detailed palaeogeographic study of the Dommel River in The Netherlands, it is inferred that low‐energy meandering rivers may develop tortuous planforms with sharp bends, owing to self‐formed deposits that increasingly constrain the channel mobility. This mechanism is corroborated by data from 47 meandering river reaches of varied scale from around the world, which show that erosion‐resistant floodplain deposits are preserved in the river banks when the river energy is below a critical threshold. The term ‘self‐constraining’ is proposed for low‐energy rivers where an increase in bank stability over time results in progressive tortuous planforms and reduced mobility. A conceptual model, based on the dataset, shows that the increase in bank stability over time also increases the energy required to break out of the tendency to self‐constrain. Self‐constraining thereby enhances the resilience of the system to bank erosion, while an unexpected increase in bank erosion may occur if river energy exceeds the critical threshold. This study provides a novel explanation for the evolution of low‐energy river planforms and dynamics, and provides new insights on their responses to climate changes.
Tetranychusevansi spider mite populations suppress tomato defenses to varying degrees
Authors: Knegt Bram , Meijer Tomas T. , Kant Merijn R. , Kiers E. Toby , Egas Martijn 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPlant defense suppression is an offensive strategy of herbivores, in which they manipulate plant physiological processes to increase their performance. Paradoxically, defense suppression does not always benefit the defense‐suppressing herbivores, because lowered plant defenses can also enhance the performance of competing herbivores and can expose herbivores to increased predation. Suppression of plant defense may therefore entail considerable ecological costs depending on the presence of competitors and natural enemies in a community. Hence, we hypothesize that the optimal magnitude of suppression differs among locations. To investigate this, we studied defense suppression across populations of Tetranychus evansi spider mites, a herbivore from South America that is an invasive pest of solanaceous plants including cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, in other parts of the world. We measured the level of expression of defense marker genes in tomato plants after infestation with mites from eleven different T. evansi populations. These populations were chosen across a range of native (South American) and non‐native (other continents) environments and from different host plant species. We found significant variation at three out of four defense marker genes, demonstrating that T. evansi populations suppress jasmonic acid‐ and salicylic acid‐dependent plant signaling pathways to varying degrees. While we found no indication that this variation in defense suppression was explained by differences in host plant species, invasive populations tended to suppress plant defense to a smaller extent than native populations. This may reflect either the genetic lineage of T. evansi—as all invasive populations we studied belong to one linage and both native populations to another—or the absence of specialized natural enemies in invasive T. evansi populations.
Plant evolution can mediate negative effects from honey bees on wild pollinators
Authors: Milner James R. D. , Bloom Elias H. , Crowder David W. , Northfield Tobin D. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Pollinators are introduced to agroecosystems to provide pollination services. Introductions of managed pollinators often promote ecosystem services, but it remains largely unknown whether they also affect evolutionary mutualisms between wild pollinators and plants.

Here, we developed a model to assess effects of managed honey bees on mutualisms between plants and wild pollinators. Our model tracked how interactions among wild pollinators and honey bees affected pollinator and plant populations.

We show that when managed honey bees have a competitive advantage over wild pollinators, or a greater carrying capacity, the honey bees displace the wild pollinator. This leads to reduced plant density because plants benefit less by visits from honey bees than wild pollinators that coevolved with the plants.

As wild pollinators are displaced, plants evolve by increasing investment in traits that are attractive for honey bees but not wild pollinators. This evolutionary switch promotes wild pollinator displacement. However, higher mutualism investment costs by the plant to the honey bee can promote pollinator coexistence.

Our results show plant evolution can promote displacement of wild pollinators by managed honey bees, while limited plant evolution may lead to pollinator coexistence. More broadly, effects of honey bees on wild pollinators in agroecosystems, and effects on ecosystem services, may depend on the capacity of plant populations to evolve.
Comparing sea ice habitat fragmentation metrics using integrated step selection analysis
Authors: Biddlecombe Brooke A. , Bayne Erin M. , Lunn Nicholas J. , McGeachy David , Derocher Andrew E. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHabitat fragmentation occurs when continuous habitat gets broken up as a result of ecosystem change. While commonly studied in terrestrial ecosystems, Arctic sea ice ecosystems also experience fragmentation, but are rarely studied in this context. Most fragmentation analyses are conducted using patch‐based metrics, which are potentially less suitable for sea ice that has gradual changes between sea ice cover, than distinct “long‐term” patches. Using an integrated step selection analysis, we compared the descriptive power of a patch‐based metric to a more novel metric, the variation in local spatial autocorrelation over time. We used satellite telemetry data from 39 adult female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Hudson Bay to examine their sea ice habitat using Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 data during sea ice breakup in May through July from 2013–2018. Spatial autocorrelation resulted in better model fits across 64% of individuals, although both metrics were more effective in describing movement patterns than habitat selection. Variation in local spatial autocorrelation allows for the visualization of sea ice habitat at complex spatial and temporal scales, condensing a targeted time period of habitat that would otherwise have to be analyzed daily.