bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal Supplementation of Inositols, Fucoxanthin, and Hydroxytyrosol in Pregnant Murine Models of Hypertension
Authors: Menichini Daniela , Alrais Mesk , Liu Chen , Xia Yang , Blackwell Sean C , Facchinetti Fabio , Sibai Baha M , Longo Monica 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Background
Myoinositol (M) and D-chiro-inositol (D) are insulin sensitizer compounds, while fucoxanthin (F) and hydroxytyrosol (H) are antioxidant substances. We aim to investigate if the combination of these compounds, will improve the vascular responses in pregnant mouse models of hypertension: a genetic model, transgenic heterozygous mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS−/+); and environmental, wild-type (WT) mice. Those mouse models will allow a better understanding of the genetic/environmental contribution to hypertension in pregnancy.

Methods
eNOS−/+ and WT female were fed high fat diet for 4 weeks, then at 7–8 weeks of age were mated with WT male. On gestational day (GD) 1, they were randomly allocated to receive MDFH treatment or water as control: eNOS−/+ MDFH (n = 13), eNOS−/+ (n = 13), WT-MDFH (n = 14), and WT (n = 20). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was obtained at GD 18, then dams were sacrificed; fetuses and placentas collected, and 2 mm segments of carotid arteries isolated for vascular responses using the wire-myograph system. Responses to phenylephrine (PE), with/without the NOS inhibitor (N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)), and to acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprussiate (SNP) were performed.

Results
SBP decreased in eNOS−/+ and WT dams after MDFH supplementation. In eNOS−/+, MDFH lower the contractile response to PE and l-NAME and improved Ach vasorelaxation. In WT dams, MDFH treatment did not affect PE response; MDFH treatment lowered the vascular PE response after incubation with l-NAME. No differences were seen in SNP relaxation in both models.

Conclusions
MDFH decreased SBP in both genetically and environmentally hypertensive dams and improved vascular responses mostly in the eNOS−/+ dams.
Uric Acid and Hypertension: An Update With Recommendations
Authors: Sanchez-Lozada Laura G , Rodriguez-Iturbe Bernardo , Kelley Eric E , Nakagawa Takahiko , Madero Magdalena , Feig Dan I , Borghi Claudio , Piani Federica , Cara-Fuentes Gabriel , Bjornstad Petter , Lanaspa Miguel A , Johnson Richard J 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The association between increased serum urate and hypertension has been a subject of intense controversy. Extracellular uric acid drives uric acid deposition in gout, kidney stones, and possibly vascular calcification. Mendelian randomization studies, however, indicate that serum urate is likely not the causal factor in hypertension although it does increase the risk for sudden cardiac death and diabetic vascular disease. Nevertheless, experimental evidence strongly suggests that an increase in intracellular urate is a key factor in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. Pilot clinical trials show beneficial effect of lowering serum urate in hyperuricemic individuals who are young, hypertensive, and have preserved kidney function. Some evidence suggest that activation of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) occurs in hyperuricemia and blocking the RAS may mimic the effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors. A reduction in intracellular urate may be achieved by lowering serum urate concentration or by suppressing intracellular urate production with dietary measures that include reducing sugar, fructose, and salt intake. We suggest that these elements in the western diet may play a major role in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. Studies are necessary to better define the interrelation between uric acid concentrations inside and outside the cell. In addition, large-scale clinical trials are needed to determine if extracellular and intracellular urate reduction can provide benefit hypertension and cardiometabolic disease.
A hidden Markov modeling approach for identifying tumor subclones in next-generation sequencing studies
Authors: Choo-Wosoba Hyoyoung , Albert Paul S , Zhu Bin 
Published: March 2020

Summary
Allele-specific copy number alteration (ASCNA) analysis is for identifying copy number abnormalities in tumor cells. Unlike normal cells, tumor cells are heterogeneous as a combination of dominant and minor subclones with distinct copy number profiles. Estimating the clonal proportion and identifying mainclone and subclone genotypes across the genome are important for understanding tumor progression. Several ASCNA tools have recently been developed, but they have been limited to the identification of subclone regions, and not the genotype of subclones. In this article, we propose subHMM, a hidden Markov model-based approach that estimates both subclone region and region-specific subclone genotype and clonal proportion. We specify a hidden state variable representing the conglomeration of clonal genotype and subclone status. We propose a two-step algorithm for parameter estimation, where in the first step, a standard hidden Markov model with this conglomerated state variable is fit. Then, in the second step, region-specific estimates of the clonal proportions are obtained by maximizing region-specific pseudo-likelihoods. We apply subHMM to study renal cell carcinoma datasets in The Cancer Genome Atlas. In addition, we conduct simulation studies that show the good performance of the proposed approach. The R source code is available online at https://dceg.cancer.gov/tools/analysis/subhmm. Expectation–Maximization algorithm; Forward–backward algorithm; Somatic copy number alteration; Tumor subclones.
Macrophage lineages in heart valve development and disease
Authors: Kim Andrew J , Xu Na , Yutzey Katherine E 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHeterogeneous macrophage lineages are present in the aortic and mitral valves of the heart during development and disease. These populations include resident macrophages of embryonic origins and recruited monocyte-derived macrophages prevalent in disease. Soon after birth, macrophages from haematopoietic lineages are recruited to the heart valves, and bone marrow transplantation studies in mice demonstrate that haematopoietic-derived macrophages continue to invest adult valves. During myxomatous heart valve disease, monocyte-derived macrophages are recruited to the heart valves and they contribute to valve degeneration in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome. Here, we review recent studies of macrophage lineages in heart valve development and disease with discussion of clinical significance and therapeutic applications.
Assessing swells in La Réunion Island from terrestrial seismic observations, oceanographic records and offshore wave models
Authors: Rindraharisaona E J , Cordier E , Barruol G , Fontaine F R , Singh M 
Published: March 2020

SUMMARY
La Réunion Island in the southwest Indian Ocean is seasonally affected by austral swells among which some extreme events may have strong impacts on coastal infrastructures. The very limited number of sensors available on and around the island and in the whole SW Indian Ocean impedes any direct monitoring of the swell activity. In this study, we analyse direct observations of the ocean swell by combining terrestrial measurements of the microseismic noise with in situ oceanographic observations issued from two pressure gauges and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), together with swell numerical modelling. The reliability of the terrestrial seismic station to characterize the ocean activity in both the primary and secondary microseisms peaks (PM and SM, respectively), and also in the long period secondary microseismic peak (LPSM) for the case of La Réunion Island is presented and discussed here. By computing the hourly RMS of the PM and LP(SM) amplitudes, we establish a transfer function between the PM and (LP)SM amplitude and the maximum wave height, which appears to be valid for any PM and LPSM amplitudes &gt;0.15 μm and &gt;1.0 μm, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the PM amplitude and the wave height is &gt;0.92. It suggests that the PM amplitude can be used as a robust proxy for the swell height and may help calibrating the wave heights from other independent observable. For some swell events, we observe LPSM that correlate well (&gt;0.91) with the local wave height suggesting a generation by coastal swell reflection. From polarization and spectral analyses, directions and periods of swells are also well retrieved from seismic data. Finally, continuous measure of the SM amplitude shows that it can be used as precursor information for distant swells that may hit La Réunion Island a few days after their generation in the southern Indian Ocean.
Opportunity for HiAP through a Healthy Cities initiative in Taiwan: a multiple streams analysis
Authors: Lee Chiachi Bonnie , Huang Nuan-Ching , Kung Shiann-Far , Hu Susan C 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Health in All Policies (HiAP) is an effective approach to promote population health through addressing comprehensive social determinants of health. In 1997, the World Health Organization designed a 20-step protocol for developing a Healthy Cities (HC) project to build healthy public policies. Taiwan adopted the concept of HC in 2002 and established the first demonstration project in Tainan City in 2003. This study explores the impact of the HC initiative on the development of HiAP, as well as how a window of opportunities for HiAP was opened through the HC movement, using Tainan City as an example. Tainan was selected as the case for this study because of its relative maturity in the development of an HC initiative. A theory-driven thematic analysis was conducted in the study with archived documents between 2003 and 2010. We first adopted a Multiple Streams Approach to examine how the city government opened a window for HiAP through the HC initiative and then drew on the Maturity Model to evaluate the stage of HiAP in the Tainan HC project. After analyzing all related documents, we concluded that HiAP in the Tainan HC project had reached Stage V Institutionalization after 7 years. Key contexts, factors, challenges and strategies were identified. This study suggests that the HC initiative can indeed contribute to the development of HiAP and that the window was opened for HiAP through a concurrence of the three streams of problem, policy and politics along with the HC movement process.
The vitamin B12 processing enzyme, mmachc, is essential for zebrafish survival, growth and retinal morphology
Authors: Sloan Jennifer L , Achilly Nathan P , Arnold Madeline L , Catlett Jerrel L , Blake Trevor , Bishop Kevin , Jones Marypat , Harper Ursula , English Milton A , Anderson Stacie , Trivedi Niraj S , Elkahloun Abdel , Hoffmann Victoria , Brooks Brian P , Sood Raman , Venditti Charles P 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Cobalamin C (cblC) deficiency, the most common inborn error of intracellular cobalamin metabolism, is caused by mutations in MMACHC, a gene responsible for the processing and intracellular trafficking of vitamin B12. This recessive disorder is characterized by a failure to metabolize cobalamin into adenosyl- and methylcobalamin, which results in the biochemical perturbations of methylmalonic acidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and hypomethioninemia caused by the impaired activity of the downstream enzymes, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase. Cobalamin C deficiency can be accompanied by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including progressive blindness, and, in mice, manifests with very early embryonic lethality. Because zebrafish harbor a full complement of cobalamin metabolic enzymes, we used genome editing to study the loss of mmachc function and to develop the first viable animal model of cblC deficiency. mmachc mutants survived the embryonic period but perished in early juvenile life. The mutants displayed the metabolic and clinical features of cblC deficiency including methylmalonic acidemia, severe growth retardation and lethality. Morphologic and metabolic parameters improved when the mutants were raised in water supplemented with small molecules used to treat patients, including hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, methionine and betaine. Furthermore, mmachc mutants bred to express rod and/or cone fluorescent reporters, manifested a retinopathy and thin optic nerves (ON). Expression analysis using whole eye mRNA revealed the dysregulation of genes involved in phototransduction and cholesterol metabolism. Zebrafish with mmachc deficiency recapitulate the several of the phenotypic and biochemical features of the human disorder, including ocular pathology, and show a response to established treatments.
Prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghanistan
Authors: Alemi Qais , Stempel Carl , Montgomery Susanne 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Background
Limited evidence exists on the prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghanistan—a fragile post-war context where the tobacco epidemic is on the rise. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghan men and women.

Methods
Data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey of 10 760 men and 29 461 women were used to generate weighted prevalence estimates for smoking, smokeless tobacco (SLT) products including chew and snuff tobacco, ‘any tobacco use’ and ‘dual tobacco use’. We also modelled associations with tobacco outcomes using binary logistic regressions.

Results
We found that for men, smoking cigarettes was the most prevalent form of tobacco use (21.9% [95% confidence interval {CI} 21.2–22.7]). Prevalence rates were far lower for women, with cigarette/pipe smoking at 3.4% (95% CI 3.2–3.7). For both sexes, tobacco use was inversely associated with education and positively associated with agricultural and skilled and unskilled manual labour occupations. Wealth increased the odds of smoking for men but decreased the odds for women. Media exposure had little influence on tobacco use among women; however, the effects were more varied for men.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate social inequalities in tobacco use among Afghan men and women, which calls for stronger tobacco control measures and continued monitoring of this growing epidemic.
Review of Analytical Methods to Detect Adulteration in Coffee
Authors: Wang Xiuju , Lim Loong-Tak , Fu Yucheng 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
As one of the most consumed beverages in the world, coffee plays many major socioeconomical roles in various regions. Because of the wide coffee varieties available in the marketplaces, and the substantial price gaps between them (e.g., Arabica versus Robusta; speciality versus commodity coffees), coffees are susceptible to intentional or accidental adulteration. Therefore, there is a sustaining interest from the producers and regulatory agents to develop protocols to detect fraudulent practices. In general, strategies to authenticate coffee are based on targeted chemical profile analyses to determine specific markers of adulterants, or nontargeted analyses based on the “fingerprinting” concept. This paper reviews the literature related to chemometric approaches to discriminate coffees based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chromatography, infrared/Raman spectroscopy, and array sensors/indicators. In terms of chemical profiling, the paper focuses on the detection of diterpenes, homostachydrine, phenolic acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, and deoxyribonucleic acid. Finally, the prospects of coffee authentication are discussed.
Evaluation of Cyantraniliprole, Spinetoram, and Chromobacterium subtsugae Extract in Bait for Killing and Reducing Oviposition of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Yee Wee L 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInsecticides mixed in sugar-protein baits or insecticides alone have been used to control tephritid fruit flies for many years. Here, effects of cyantraniliprole, spinetoram, and the biopesticide Chromobacterium subtsugae extract in sucrose-yeast extract bait or alone on kill and oviposition of western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), were evaluated in the laboratory. Flies were exposed to dry insecticide bait or insecticide alone in the presence or absence of a nontoxic food strip. Spinetoram alone caused greater mortality than cyantraniliprole alone, while cyantraniliprole in bait caused mortality as high as spinetoram bait and greater mortality than cyantraniliprole alone. Chromobacterium subtsugae extract alone but not in bait caused significant mortality compared with controls, but was much less effective than cyantraniliprole and spinetoram. Spinetoram alone reduced oviposition more than cyantraniliprole alone. However, cyantraniliprole bait reduced oviposition as much or more than spinetoram alone or spinetoram bait. Cyantraniliprole and spinetoram baits caused greater mortality when a nontoxic food strip was absent than present, but there was no corresponding reduction in oviposition. Chromobacterium subtsugae extract did not significantly reduce oviposition compared with controls. Potential benefits of using cyantraniliprole baits as an additional or alternative method to using more toxic spinosyn insecticides for controlling R. indifferens warrant study.
Resilience in liminality: how resilient moves are being negotiated by asylum-seeking families in the liminal context of asylum procedures
Authors: Groeninck Mieke , Meurs Patrick , Geldof Dirk , Van Acker Kaat , Wiewauters Claire 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBy elaborating on the concept of ‘resilient moves’, we try to show how resilience in the case of asylum-seeking families living in open, collective reception centres exists in a complicated relationship with vulnerability and is very much a matter of local negotiation rather than mere adaptation in the face of adversity. Building upon consecutive waves of resilience research, this approach inspired by practice theory focuses on the agency of acts performed by families themselves or facilitated by people and structures in various types of relationships to them. It also allows a repoliticization of resilience, explaining how denouncing vulnerability due to structural precarity might constitute resilience through resistance. An in-depth case example of an Afghan family residing for 4 years in a collective reception centre will provide illustrations of our findings and approach.
Incorporating unconventional and renewable energy into the international energy framework: the diminution of OPEC in a new energy world order
Authors: Roth Victoria 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Nearing its 60th anniversary of foundation, the once unchallenged Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) faces a modern diminution of influence. This slipping grip of near-hegemonic control exerted over the petroleum industry, is partly reflective of the rising influence of unconventional energy sources, the rising popularity for alternative and renewable energy sources and a downstream consequence of its own exertion of power. With rising international demand for renewables as a means to provide global energy security, the role of the state remains paramount in meeting energy demands. The international framework falls short of enabling a framework that brings renewable energy past its domestic dependency and into an internationally traded commodity. Following the 1973 embargo against the USA, OPEC inadvertently spurred on the need for a diversified market of energy production to ensure global energy security free from the whims of oligarchic groups. The subsequent investment into alternative energy, including the rising technological advancements made in areas such as horizontal and seismic imaging technology (or, ‘fracking’), has led to the diversification of energy production sources and lessened reliance on external importers by the American energy consumption powerhouse. The lessening reliance on OPEC has had a consequential impact on the unofficial head of the organization, Saudi Arabia. From the proposed initial public offering of Saudi Aramco to Vision 2030, all signs point to looming economic troubles for the petroleum dependant state without adequate, and effective, diversification.
Phycobiliproteins from extreme environments and their potential applications
Authors: Puzorjov Anton , McCormick Alistair J 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe light-harvesting phycobilisome complex is an important component of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and red algae. Phycobilisomes are composed of phycobiliproteins, including the blue phycobiliprotein phycocyanin, that are considered high-value products with applications in several industries. Remarkably, several cyanobacteria and red algal species retain the capacity to harvest light and photosynthesise under highly selective environments such as hot springs, and flourish in extremes of pH and elevated temperatures. These thermophilic organisms produce thermostable phycobiliproteins, which have superior qualities much needed for wider adoption of these natural pigment–proteins in the food, textile, and other industries. Here we review the available literature on the thermostability of phycobilisome components from thermophilic species and discuss how a better appreciation of phycobiliproteins from extreme environments will benefit our fundamental understanding of photosynthetic adaptation and could provide a sustainable resource for several industrial processes.
Awareness as inference in a higher-order state space
Authors: Fleming Stephen M 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Humans have the ability to report the contents of their subjective experience—we can say to each other, ‘I am aware of X’. The decision processes that support these reports about mental contents remain poorly understood. In this article, I propose a computational framework that characterizes awareness reports as metacognitive decisions (inference) about a generative model of perceptual content. This account is motivated from the perspective of how flexible hierarchical state spaces are built during learning and decision-making. Internal states supporting awareness reports, unlike those covarying with perceptual contents, are simple and abstract, varying along a 1D continuum from absent to present. A critical feature of this architecture is that it is both higher-order and asymmetric: a vast number of perceptual states is nested under ‘present’, but a much smaller number of possible states nested under ‘absent’. Via simulations, I show that this asymmetry provides a natural account of observations of ‘global ignition’ in brain imaging studies of awareness reports.