bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-secreted exosomes carrying microRNA-125b protect against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury via targeting SIRT7
Authors: Chen Qi , Liu Yu , Ding Xueyan , Li Qinfeng , Qiu Fuyu , Wang Meihui , Shen Zhida , Zheng Hao , Fu Guosheng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMicroRNA-125b (miR-125b) reduces myocardial infarct area and restrains myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (I/R). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomes carrying miR-125b on I/R rats. The myocardial I/R model in rats was constructed by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Rats were randomly divided into I/R and Sham group. Lv-cel-miR-67 (control) or Lv-miR-125b was transfected into BMSCs. Exosomes were extracted from transfected BMSCs, and separately named BMSC-Exo-67, BMSC-Exo-125b, and BMSC-Exo. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the viability and apoptosis of I/R myocardium cells, respectively. The expression of cell apoptosis proteins and the levels of inflammatory factors were examined by Western blot and ELISA assay, respectively. The target relationship between miR-125b and SIRT7 was predicted by using StarBase3.0, and was confirmed by using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining, and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of SIRT7 in myocardium tissues in I/R rats. BMSC-derived exosomes were successfully isolated and identified by TEM and positive expression of CD9 and CD63. The expression of miR-125b was down-regulated in I/R myocardium tissues and cells. BMSC-Exo-125b significantly up-regulated miR-125b in I/R myocardium cells. The intervention of BMSC-Exo-125b significantly increased the cell viability, decreased the apoptotic ratio, down-regulated Bax and caspase-3, up-regulated Bcl-2, and decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in I/R myocardium cells. SIRT7 was a target of miR-125b, and BMSC-Exo-125b significantly down-regulated SIRT7 in myocardium cells. In addition, the injection of BMSC-Exo-125b alleviated the pathological damages and down-regulated SIRT7 in myocardium tissues of I/R rats. BMSC-derived exosomes carrying miR-125b protected against myocardial I/R by targeting SIRT7.
In vivo assessment of mitochondrial capacity using NIRS in locomotor muscles of young and elderly males with similar physical activity levels
Authors: Lagerwaard Bart , Nieuwenhuizen Arie G. , de Boer Vincent C. J. , Keijer Jaap 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMitochondrial capacity is pivotal to skeletal muscle function and is suggested to decline with age. However, there is large heterogeneity in current data, possibly due to effect modifiers such as physical activity, sex and muscle group. Yet, few studies have compared multiple muscle groups in different age groups with comparable physical activity levels. Here, we newly used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to characterise mitochondrial capacity in three different locomotor muscles in young (19–25 year) and older (65–71 year), healthy males with similar physical activity levels. Mitochondrial capacity and reperfusion after arterial occlusion was measured in the vastus lateralis (VL), the gastrocnemius (GA) and the tibialis anterior (TA). Physical activity was verified using accelerometry and was not different between the age groups (404.3 ± 214.9 vs 494.9 ± 187.0 activity kcal per day, p = 0.16). Mitochondrial capacity was significantly lower in older males in the GA and VL, but not in the TA (p = 0.048, p = 0.036 and p = 0.64, respectively). Reperfusion rate was not significantly different for the GA (p = 0.55), but was significantly faster in the TA and VL in the young group compared to the older group (p = 0.0094 and p = 0.039, respectively). In conclusion, we identified distinct modes of mitochondrial ageing in different locomotor muscles in a young and older population with similar physical activity patterns. Furthermore, we show that NIRS is suitable for relatively easy application in ageing research and can reveal novel insights into mitochondrial functioning with age.
Distribution of Bacterial Communities in Petroleum-Contaminated Soils from the Dagang Oilfield, China
Authors: Feng Xueke , Liu Zhen , Jia Xiaoqiang , Lu Wenyu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDiversity in bacterial communities was investigated along a petroleum hydrocarbon content gradient (0–0.4043 g/g) in surface (5–10 cm) and subsurface (35–40 cm) petroleum-contaminated soil samples from the Dagang Oilfield, China. Using 16S rRNA Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology and several statistical methods, the bacterial diversity of the soil was studied. Subsequently, the environmental parameters were measured to analyze its relationship with the community variation. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarities indicated a significant difference in the structure of the bacterial community between the nonpetroleum-contaminated surface and subsurface soils, but no differences were observed in different depths of petroleum-contaminated soil. Meanwhile, many significant correlations were obtained between diversity in soil bacterial community and physicochemical properties. Total petroleum hydrocarbon, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen were the three important factors that had the greatest impacts on the bacterial community distribution in the long-term petroleum-contaminated soils. Our research has provided references for the bacterial community distribution along a petroleum gradient in both surface and subsurface petroleum-contaminated soils of oilfield areas.
The role of echocardiography in management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Haland Trine F. , Edvardsen Thor 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, characterized by increased left ventricular wall thickness. Echocardiographic studies are essential for establishing the diagnosis, evaluating the extent of disease, and risk stratification. Echocardiography is also recommended in regular screening of the genotype-positive relatives. Two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography are standard modalities in HCM diagnosis. Newer echocardiographic techniques as tissue Doppler, strain, and three-dimensional echocardiography are now widely used and can reveal subtle changes in the HCM patients. Echocardiography has given us a better understanding of the disease. In this review, we briefly profile the echocardiographic management of HCM in a clinical perspective.
Responsibilization and Sexual Stigma Under Austerity: Surveying Public Support for Government-Funded PrEP in England
Authors: Hildebrandt Timothy , Bode Leticia , Ng Jessica S. C. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Introduction
Under austerity, governments shift responsibilities for social welfare to individuals. Such responsibilization can be intertwined with pre-existing social stigmas, with sexually stigmatized individuals blamed more for health problems due to “irresponsible” sexual behavior. To understand how sexual stigma affects attitudes on government healthcare expenditures, we examine public support for government-provisioned PrEP in England at a time when media narratives cast the drug as an expensive benefit for a small, irresponsible social group and the National Health Service’s long-term sustainability was in doubt.

Methods
This paper uses data from an original survey (N = 738) conducted in September 2016, when public opinion should be most sensitive to sexual stigma. A survey experiment tests how the way beneficiaries of PrEP were described affected support for NHS provision of it. Contrary to expectations, we found that support was high (mean = 3.86 on a scale of 1 to 5) irrespective of language used or beneficiary group mentioned. Differences between conditions were negligible.

Discussion
Sexual stigma does not diminish support for government-funded PrEP, which may be due to reverence for the NHS; resistance to responsibilization generally; or just to HIV, with the public influenced by sympathy and counter-messaging.

Social policy implications
Having misjudged public attitudes, it may be difficult for the government to continue to justify not funding PrEP; the political rationale for contracting out its provision is unnecessary and flawed. With public opinion resilient to responsibilization narratives and sexual stigma even under austerity, welfare retrenchment may be more difficult than social policymakers presume.
Sequestered capture and desorption of hexavalent chromium from solution and textile wastewater onto low cost Heinsia crinita seed coat biomass
Authors: Dawodu Folasegun A. , Akpan Benjamin M. , Akpomie Kovo G. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDue to the high cost associated with the treatment of effluents containing heavy metals in the environment, the continuous untreated release of effluent containing chromium from textile industries has resulted in several adverse effects to plants, ecological systems and humans. This research therefore focused on the use of a low cost, biodegradableHeinsia crinitaseed coat (HCSC) material for the biosorption of chromium(VI) from aqueous and textile contaminated effluent. The biosorbent was characterized for specific surface area, surface morphology, pH point of zero charge and surface functional groups. Operational variables influences such as biosorbent dose, pH, temperature, initial Cr(VI) ion concentration and contact time on biosorption process was tested. The optimum biosorption parameter was obtained at pH 2.0, adsorbent dosage 0.25 g and contact time of 30 min. From sorption analysis, the pseudo-second-order model best described the attenuation kinetics. Concerning biosorption equilibrium, the results suggested that the adsorption isotherm obeyed the Freundlich model. Langmuir maximum monolayer biosorption capacity of 231.7 mg/g was higher than most biosorbents for Cr(VI) ion. The thermodynamic data showed a physical, spontaneous and endothermic biosorption process. HCSC showed high percentage desorption > 90% using 0.1 M HNO3and was efficient after three cycles of regeneration studies. The results showed HCSC biomass as a suitable candidate for abstraction of Cr(VI) ion from contaminated solution and textile effluent.
Numerical simulation of UCG process with the aim of increasing calorific value of syngas
Authors: Jowkar Amin , Sereshki Farhang , Najafi Mehdi 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe determination of operational parameters in the underground coal gasification (UCG) process should be considered in two aspects: first, the total coal in each UCG panel must be gasified and second, the calorific value of the produced gas should be acceptable. The main aim of this study is to present a model that meets these aspects and increasing the calorific value of syngas during this process. In order to achieve those aims, eight different increasing scenarios were devised for total gasification of coal per panel. These scenarios included: increasing oxygen injection rate (scenario 1), the amount of steam injection (scenario 2), operation time (scenario 3), cavity pressure (scenario 4), increase operation time and cavity pressure simultaneously (scenario 5), increase steam injection speed and oxygen injection rate simultaneously (scenario 6), increase in cavity pressure, operating time, steam injection rate and oxygen injection rate simultaneously (scenario 7) and also simultaneous increase in the operating time and steam injection rate (scenario 8). The results showed that for producing syngas with a higher calorific value, the following parameters had the most positive effects respectively: operation time, cavity pressure, steam injection rate and oxygen injection rate. Finally, the model validation was performed for the Centralia LBK-1 UCG pilot and the results showed that this model is very close to reality.
Elastic Aerogels of Cellulose Nanofibers@Metal–Organic Frameworks for Thermal Insulation and Fire Retardancy
Authors: Zhou Shengyang , Apostolopoulou-Kalkavoura Varvara , Tavares da Costa Marcus Vinícius , Bergström Lennart , Strømme Maria , Xu Chao 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with high microporosity and relatively high thermal stability are potential thermal insulation and flame-retardant materials. However, the difficulties in processing and shaping MOFs have largely hampered their applications in these areas. This study outlines the fabrication of hybrid CNF@MOF aerogels by a stepwise assembly approach involving the coating and cross-linking of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with continuous nanolayers of MOFs. The cross-linking gives the aerogels high mechanical strength but superelasticity (80% maximum recoverable strain, high specific compression modulus of ~ 200 MPa cm3 g−1, and specific stress of ~ 100 MPa cm3 g−1). The resultant lightweight aerogels have a cellular network structure and hierarchical porosity, which render the aerogels with relatively low thermal conductivity of ~ 40 mW m−1 K−1. The hydrophobic, thermally stable MOF nanolayers wrapped around the CNFs result in good moisture resistance and fire retardancy. This study demonstrates that MOFs can be used as efficient thermal insulation and flame-retardant materials. It presents a pathway for the design of thermally insulating, superelastic fire-retardant nanocomposites based on MOFs and nanocellulose.
Community engagement and pediatric obesity: Incorporating social determinants of health into treatment
Authors: Skelton Joseph A. , Palakshappa Deepak , Moore Justin B. , Irby Megan B. , Montez Kimberly , Rhodes Scott D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractChildhood obesity is a complex and multi-faceted problem, with contributors ranging from individual health behaviors to public policy. For clinicians who treat pediatric obesity, environmental factors that impact this condition in a child or family can be difficult to address in a clinical setting. Community-clinic partnerships are one method to address places and policies that influence a person’s weight and health; however, such partnerships are typically geared toward community-located health behavior change rather than the deeper social determinants of health (SDH), limiting effective behavioral change. Community-engaged research offers a framework for developing community-clinic partnerships to address SDH germane to obesity treatment. In this paper, we discuss the relationship between SDH and pediatric obesity treatment, use of community-clinic partnerships to address SDH in obesity treatment, and how community engagement can be a framework for creating and harnessing these partnerships. We present examples of programs begun by one pediatric obesity clinic using community-engagement principles to address obesity.
Margins of Fair Trade Wine along the Supply Chain: Evidence from South African Wine in the U.S. Market
Authors: Back Robin M. , Liu Xinyang , Niklas Britta , Storchmann Karl , Vink Nick 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we analyze profit margins and markups of Fair Trade (FT) wines sold in the United States. We are particularly interested in whether and to what extent the FT cost impulse in production is passed along to the supply chain. We draw on a limited sample of about 470 South African wines sold in Connecticut and New Jersey in the fall of 2016; about 90 of them are certified FT. For these wines we have free on board export prices, wholesale prices, and retail prices, which allows us to compute wholesale and retail margins and analyze the FT treatment effect. We run OLS, 2SLS, and propensity score matching models and find evidence of asymmetrical pricing behavior. While wholesalers seem to fully pass-through the FT cost effect, retailers appear to amplify the cost effect. As a result, at the retail level, FT wines yield significantly higher margins than their non-FT counterparts. (JEL Classifications: L11, L31, L43, L81, Q17)
Should Ties Be Broken in Commercial Wine Competitions? When Yes, What Method Is Practical and Defensible?
Authors: Bodington Jeffrey , Malfeito-Ferreira Manuel 
Published: December 2019

AbstractTies in the averages of scores that commercial wine competitions employ to grant awards are common, and these ties make it difficult for competition officials to differentiate between wines, they erode the perception of judges’ expertise, and they can make compliance with competition rules arithmetically impossible. Responding to requests from competition officials, this article presents and evaluates six methods for breaking ties in averages of scores. Results show that using an Olympic Average, the mean excluding the highest and lowest scores, is easy to calculate, easy to communicate, effective, unbiased, and it is not inconsistent with the implications of a method of aggregating scores that is not prone to ties. (JEL Classifications: A10, C00, C10, C12, D12)
Half-Blind Tasting: A Deception-Free Method for Sizing Placebo and Nocebo Responses to Price and Packaging Attributes
Authors: Goldstein Robin S. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractInformation conveyed on the price tag or label of a consumable packaged good is widely thought to change the consumer's sensory experience of consuming the good. Can the positive “placebo” effects of high prices and negative “nocebo” effects of low prices on consumer experience be isolated and observed in a controlled experiment without using deception? In a pilot wine experiment using a method I call “half-blind tasting,” I observe that the nocebo response to a $5 price tag is stronger than the placebo response to a $50 price tag. To interpret these preliminary results, I borrow some insights from prospect theory. (JEL Classifications: C91, D81, L66, M31, Q11)
Is “Localness” about Distance or Relationships? Evidence from Hard Cider
Authors: Farris Jarrad , Malone Trey , Robison Lindon J. , Rothwell Nikki L. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWhile many studies have evaluated consumer demand for local foods, fewer studies have focused on the mechanism that has created the positive willingness-to-pay for local foods. This article compares the role of geographic distance and attachment value in consumer preferences for locally produced hard cider. Consumer valuations are estimated via a “branded” discrete choice experiment where the respondents chose between an in-state hard cider, an out-of-state hard cider, and a no buy option. Our measure of travel distance is based on the optimal driving route between each consumer's GPS location and the locations of the cideries while our attachment value measure is based on social capital theory. This allows us to analyze individual-specific travel distance heterogeneity in consumer choice as it relates to attachment value. Based on a latent class logit model estimated from a discrete choice experiment with 441 participants, we show that attachment value is higher for a cider produced within the state than for a cider produced outside the state. Furthermore, we show that increases in attachment value increase demand for locally produced hard cider more than an equal increase in attachment value for non-locally produced hard cider. Our findings are consistent with “local” preferences based on geopolitical boundaries (e.g., the state of Michigan) and not distance. (JEL Classifications: B55, M3, Q13, C83)
Long-term effects of cochlear implantation on the intelligibility of speech in French-speaking children
Authors: GRANDON Bénédicte , MARTINEZ Marie-José , SAMSON Adeline , VILAIN Anne 
Published: December 2019

AbstractOur study compares the intelligibility of French-speaking children with a cochlear implant (N = 13) and age-matched children with typical hearing (N = 13) in a narrative task. This contrasts with previous studies in which speech intelligibility of children with cochlear implants is most often tested using repetition or reading tasks. Languages other than English are seldom considered. Their productions were graded by naive and expert listeners. The results show that (1) children with CIs have lower intelligibility, (2) early implantation is a predictor of good intelligibility, and (3) late implantation after two years of age does not prevent the children from eventually reaching good intelligibility.
Aortopulmonary window with anomalous right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Case report and literature review
Authors: Alakhfash Ali A. , Tagelden Mohamad , Almesned Abdulrahman , Alqwaiee Abdullah 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAortopulmonary window is a rare congenital heart lesion. It might be associated with other CHDs, as well as with anomalous origin of the coronary arteries. Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is the most commonly described coronary artery anomaly in association with aortopulmonary window. We are describing a premature neonate who was diagnosed to have aortopulmonary window and ARCAPA immediately after birth, and had a successful operation at the age of 4 months. This report highlights the importance of very careful assessment of the coronary arteries in patients with aortopulmonary window.
The populist citizen: Empirical evidence from Europe and Latin America
Authors: Rovira Kaltwasser Cristóbal , Van Hauwaert Steven M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractScholars are increasingly interested in ‘populist attitudes’, which – studies show – can explain party support and vote choice. However, current research has not yet analyzed in detail the characteristics of those individuals with populist proclivities, or so-calledpopulist citizens. To address this research gap, we harmonize survey data on populist attitudes for nine European countries, five Latin American countries, and Turkey in order to uncover shared or distinct features of populist citizens. Our findings are threefold. First, we identify differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of populist citizens, notably between Europe and Latin America. Second, we find similar patterns of heterogeneity in the political features of populist citizens. Third, we show that populist citizens across all countries have the same democratic profile. They systematically support democracy over other forms of government, while being dissatisfied with its implementation. This suggests populist attitudes are intrinsic to the political culture of contemporary democracies.
Ein Vergleich traditioneller und computergestützter Methoden zur Erstellung einer deutschsprachigen Need for Cognition Kurzskala
Authors: Beißert Hanna , Köhler Meike , Rempel Marina , Kruyen Peter 
Published: December 2019

Zusammenfassung. Die vorliegende Arbeit dient der Entwicklung einer Kurzskala zur Messung von Need for Cognition (NFC). Neben traditionellen Verfahren der Itemreduktion auf Basis von Itemkennwerten der klassischen Testtheorie wurde in Studie 1 ( N = 282) ein neues, computergestütztes Verfahren des „full information approach“ vorgestellt. Mithilfe der beiden Verfahren wurden 3 mögliche Skalen mit jeweils 5 Items selektiert, welche in einem unabhängigen Datensatz in Studie 2 ( N = 530) Validierungskriterien unterzogen wurden. Aus den 3 Skalen mit ähnlichen Ergebnissen bezüglich der Gütekriterien wurde eine anhand der „full information approach“ erstellten Skalen als finale Kurzskala NFC-K ausgewählt. Diese NFC-K weist ein Cronbachs α von .69 auf, eine Korrelation mit der Langskala von .81 und keinen signifikanten Zusammenhang mit sozialer Erwünschtheit. Neben der systematischen und objektiven Selektion und Validierung der Kurzskala NFC-K stellt die vorliegende Arbeit auch eine Fallstudie zu den Herausforderungen der Kurzskalenentwicklung auf Basis klassischer und computergestützter Selektionsverfahren dar.