bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of soil bacterial and fungal community assembly differ among and within islands
Authors: Wang Pandeng , Li Shao‐Peng , Yang Xian , Zhou Jizhong , Shu Wensheng , Jiang Lin 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThe study of islands has made substantial contributions to the development of evolutionary and ecological theory. However, we know little about microbial community assembly on islands. Using soil microbial data collected from 29 lake islands and nearby mainland, we examined the assembly mechanisms of soil bacterial and fungal communities among and within islands. We found that deterministic processes, especially homogeneous selection, tended to be more important in shaping the assembly of soil bacterial communities among islands, while stochastic processes tended to be more important within islands. Moreover, increasing island area increased the importance of homogeneous selection, but reduced the importance of variable selection, for soil bacterial community assembly within islands. By contrast, stochastic processes tended to dominate soil fungal community assembly both among and within islands, with dispersal limitation playing a more important role within than among islands. Our results highlight the scale‐ and taxon‐dependence of insular soil microbial community assembly, suggesting that spatial scale should be explicitly considered when evaluating the influences of habitat fragmentation on soil microbial communities.
Characterisation of soluble aggregates from commercial whey protein concentrate suspensions: Effect of protein concentration, pH, and heat treatment conditions
Authors: Meza Bárbara E , De Piante Vicín Daniel A , Marino Fernanda , Sihufe Guillermo A , Peralta Juan Manuel , Zorrilla Susana E 
Published: November 2019

Soluble aggregates obtained from heat‐treated suspensions of commercial whey protein concentrate with 74.4% w/w protein were characterised. The effect of protein concentration (7 and 8% w/w), pH (7.0, 7.5 and 8.0), and heating time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min) at 80 °C were evaluated. Whey protein concentrate suspensions with the highest protein concentration (8% w/w) and the lowest pH (pH 7.0) had the highest steady shear viscosity and absorbance values, indicating the effect of the soluble aggregate content (high concentration) and the aggregate size (at lower pH values). According to principal component analysis, samples with 8% w/w and pH 7.0 were grouped in a plot region that confirmed the behaviour observed by confocal microscopy. Those whey protein concentrate suspensions could have soluble aggregates with a strong probability of interacting with cations (in cold gelation applications such as microencapsulation) and with each other (in film‐formation during coating).
Evaluation of Agonal Cardiac Function for Sudden Cardiac Death in Forensic Medicine with Postmortem Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and NT‐proBNP: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Cao Zhipeng , Zhao Mengyang , Xu Chengyang , Zhang Tianyi , Jia Yuqing , Wang Tianqi , Zhu Baoli 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected death caused by a sudden loss of cardiac function, which is currently a global public health problem. Evaluation of the agonal cardiac function of the deceased is a quite important task for the diagnosis of SCD in forensic medicine. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N‐terminal proBNP (NT‐proBNP) are currently considered as significant biomarkers for the diagnosis of heart failure in both clinical and forensic practices. To investigate the postmortem evaluation roles of postmortem BNP and NT‐proBNP levels for SCD, the present study meta‐analyzed eight related studies from Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data. Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the quality of the included literature, and the meta‐analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3.5 software. Postmortem NT‐proBNP in pericardial fluid showed higher levels in the SCD group than that of the non‐SCD group with the weighted mean difference = 3665.74, 95% confidence interval: 1812.89–5518.59, and p = 0.0001. However, postmortem levels of BNP in pericardial fluid and NT‐proBNP in serum revealed no statistical difference between SCD and non‐SCD subjects. The results of present meta‐analysis demonstrated that postmortem NT‐proBNP in the pericardial fluid could be used as an ancillary indicator for evaluation of agonal cardiac function in forensic medicine.
What is the value of third‐line chemotherapy in advanced gastroesophageal cancer? A 5‐year retrospective analysis at a single center
Authors: Lam Justina Yick Ching , Choo Su Pin , Tai David Wai‐Meng , Tan Iain Bee Huat , Tham Chee Kian , Koo Wen Hsin , Ong Simon Yew Kuang , Ang Soo Fan , Chua Clarinda Wei Ling , Chong Dawn Qingqing , Teo Patrick Tze Hern , Lee Christabel Jing Zhi , Ee Samuel Cheng En , Ng Matthew Chau Hsien 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimThe survival benefit of using a non‐cross resistant second‐line chemotherapy in the third‐line setting in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer is unproven. We evaluated the utility of third‐line chemotherapy in patients treated at a single institution.MethodsBetween 2010 and 2014, efficacy and toxicity data of patients who received three or more lines of systemic therapies for metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma at the National Cancer Centre Singapore was retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThirty‐two (6%) patients received three or more lines of chemotherapy. The median age and ECOG performance status were 59 years (36–82) and 1 (0–2), respectively. Majority of patients (88%) had tumor located in the stomach and 13 patients (41%) had diffuse histology or poorly cohesive or signet ring cells. Four (12%) patients had HER2‐positive disease. Prior therapy was platinum (100%), fluoropyrimidine (97%), taxane (63%), irinotecan (28%), anthracycline (13%) and ramucirumab (3%). Third‐line therapy consisted of 24 (75%) monotherapy, 6 (19%) doublet, 1 (3%) triplet chemotherapy and 1 (3%) clinical trial. Monotherapy irinotecan (44%) was most common, followed by docetaxel (19%) and paclitaxel (9%). Of 22 patients evaluable for response, there was 1 (5%) partial response, 9 (41%) stable disease. Median overall survival was 18.3 weeks (4.3–65.1). Of 30 patients evaluable for toxicities, 17 (57%) experienced at least one grade 3 or 4 toxicities.ConclusionThe benefit of using non‐cross resistant second‐line regimens as third‐line chemotherapy was small with moderate toxicity. Newer agents such as nivolumab or TAS‐102 or clinical trial may be preferred.
The Vulval Disease Quality of Life Index in women with vulval lichen sclerosus correlates with clinician and symptom scores
Authors: Felmingham Claire , Chan Lydia , Doyle Lex W , Veysey Emma 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesThe Vulval disease Quality of Life Index (VQLI) is a new tool that assesses the burden of vulval disease on quality of life (QoL). Our objective was to assess the correlation between VQLI score and clinician‐rated severity scores, overall patient itch/discomfort, disease duration, sexual activity, and age, in vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS) at a vulval disorders clinic.MethodsA retrospective case note review, including consecutive women with VLS who attended the clinic between April and October 2018. Outcome measures include the VQLI score, clinician‐rated severity score, and patient symptom score.ResultsA total of 109 women with VLS were included. On multivariable analysis, there was evidence of a positive relationship between VQLI scores and the total clinician‐rated score (mean increase in VQLI score per unit increase in clinician score 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31, 2.38; P = 0.01); the relationship was stronger for the cutaneous component. There was little evidence for relationships of the VQLI with the patient’s age, sexual activity or time since onset of symptoms. There was strong evidence for a positive relationship between VQLI score and overall itch/discomfort score (mean increase 2.38, 95% CI 1.88, 2.88; P < 0.001). New and follow‐up data were obtained on sequential visits for 12 women, among whom the VQLI score dropped a mean −2.75 points between visits (95% CI −6.05, 0.55; P = 0.094).ConclusionThe clinician‐rated severity correlates with the impact of VLS on QoL. The VQLI captures information included in a patient itch/discomfort score, which can be easily incorporated into routine assessment.
Network analysis of mood symptoms in adolescents with or at high risk for bipolar disorder
Authors: Weintraub Marc J. , Schneck Christopher D. , Miklowitz David J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesNetwork analyses of psychopathology examine the relationships between individual symptoms in an attempt to establish the causal interactions between symptoms that may give rise to episodes of psychiatric disorders. We conducted a network analysis of mood symptoms in adolescents with or at risk for bipolar spectrum disorders.MethodsThe sample consisted of 272 treatment‐seeking adolescents with or at high risk for bipolar disorder who had at least subsyndromal depressive or (hypo)manic symptoms. Based on symptom scores assessed via semi‐structured interviews, we constructed the network of depressive and manic symptoms and identified the most central symptoms and symptom communities within the network. We used bootstrapping analyses to determine the reliability of network parameters.ResultsSymptoms within the depressive and manic mood poles were more related to each other than to symptoms of the opposing mood pole. Four communities were identified, including a depressive symptom community and three manic symptom communities. Fatigue and depressed mood were the strongest individual symptoms within the overall network (ie the most highly correlated with other symptoms), followed by motor hyperactivity. Mood lability and irritability were found to be “bridge” symptoms that connected the two mood poles.ConclusionsSymptoms of activity/energy (ie fatigue and hyperactivity) and depressed mood are the most prominent mood symptoms among youth with bipolar spectrum disorders. Mood lability and irritability represent potential warning signs of emergent episodes of either polarity. Targeting these central and bridge symptoms would lead to more efficient assessments and therapeutic interventions for bipolar disorder.
Discovering structure in multiple outcomes models for tests of childhood neurodevelopment
Authors: LaLonde Amy , Love Tanzy , Thurston Sally W. , Davidson Philip W. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBayesian model–based clustering provides a powerful and flexible tool that can be incorporated into regression models to better understand the grouping of observations. Using data from the Seychelles Child Development Study, we explore the effect of prenatal methylmercury exposure on 20 neurodevelopmental outcomes measured in 9‐year‐old children. Rather than cluster individual subjects, we cluster the outcomes within a multiple outcomes model. By using information in the data to nest the outcomes into groups called domains, the model more accurately reflects the shared characteristics of neurodevelopmental domains and improves estimation of the overall and outcome‐specific exposure effects by shrinking effects within and between domains selected by the data. The Bayesian paradigm allows for sampling from the posterior distribution of the grouping parameters; thus, inference can be made about group membership and their defining characteristics. We avoid the often difficult and highly subjective requirement of a priori identification of the total number of groups by incorporating a Dirichlet process prior to form a fully Bayesian multiple outcomes model.
Healthy Kids Cambodia – A novel approach to triage for dental care in a population with extreme caries experience
Authors: Turton Bathsheba , Patel Jilen , Hill Rachel , Sieng Chanthyda , Durward Callum 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo describe the disease experiences and treatment provided according to a set of novel triage criteria among children in the Healthy Kids Cambodia project.MethodsThe present study describes the management of caries using the Healthy Kids Cambodia (HKC) strategy at one school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Treatment was provided across three levels of care based on a set of simple screening criteria. All children received Level 1 (L1) care, which included application of 30% silver diammine fluoride (SDF) to arrest dental caries. Level 2 (L2) care involved use of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) and GIC fissure sealants for children between six and eight years of age, and for older children who had one or more cavitated lesions on permanent posterior teeth. Level 3 care involved conventional dental rehabilitation for those children with cavitated lesions in permanent anterior teeth, acute infections, pulpally involved permanent teeth or carious permanent posterior teeth that were not restorable using ART. Three activities were evaluated: (i) screening of all children at the school using the HKC triage criteria; (ii) a detailed re‐examination of children in Grades 3 and 4; and (iii) a clinical audit of treatment provided at Level 3 (L3).Results1194 children were screened using the HKC approach, and a sample of 304 8‐ to 12‐year‐old children was re‐examined. Among those who were re‐examined, 48 (15.7%) had been referred for L3 treatment and 88 (28.9%) referred for L2 (only). There was a significant difference in baseline caries experience by referral level, whereby those referred to higher levels of care had more severe caries experience. All children in the L3 category required advanced rehabilitative care.ConclusionsThe application of a triage system by dental students was successful in identifying children in greatest need of complex care (L3). Further research may better validate the system for caries management.
Rosiglitazone polarizes microglia and protects against pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus
Authors: Peng Jing , Wang Kan , Xiang Weiwei , Li Yan , Hao Yong , Guan Yangtai 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimsActivated microglia have been found in the forebrains and hippocampi of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients and status epileptic (SE) animal models. The peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) agonist rosiglitazone has been shown to prevent microglial activation. However, its role in pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus remains unknown. We aimed to examine the effect of the PPAR γ agonist rosiglitazone in protecting against pilocarpine‐induced status epileptic resulting from over‐activation and to explore phenotypic changes in microglia as the underlying mechanism.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were assigned to three groups: the control group, pilocarpine‐induced (SE) group, and rosiglitazone‐treated (SE+Rosi) group. Status epileptic mice were administered 300 mg/kg pilocarpine via intraperitoneal injection. SE+Rosi mice were administered rosiglitazone (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) after SE. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and quantitative real‐time PCR were used to examine the activation of and phenotypic changes in microglia in the brain and to evaluate neuroinflammation.ResultsWe found that the expression of proinflammatory CD86 and iNOS was increased and that the expression of antiinflammatory CD206 and Arg‐1 was decreased in the brains of pilocarpine‐induced SE mice compared to control mice. The mRNA levels of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines were not significantly changed in the brain. Rosiglitazone treatment significantly inhibited the proinflammatory polarization of microglia and rescued neuron loss in the temporal lobe and hippocampi of the brain after SE.ConclusionRosiglitazone reverses microglial polarization in the brains of SE mice and also affords neuroprotection against pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus without inducing significant changes in brain inflammation.
Estimating IUCN Red List population reduction: JARA—A decision‐support tool applied to pelagic sharks
Authors: Sherley Richard B. , Winker Henning , Rigby Cassandra L. , Kyne Peter M. , Pollom Riley , Pacoureau Nathan , Herman Katelyn , Carlson John K. , Yin Jamie S. , Kindsvater Holly K. , Dulvy Nicholas K. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List is the global standard for quantifying extinction risk but assessing population reduction (criterion A) of wide‐ranging, long‐lived marine taxa remains difficult and controversial. We show how Bayesian state–space models (BSSM), coupled with expert knowledge at IUCN Red List workshops, can combine regional abundance data into indices of global population change. To illustrate our approach, we provide examples of the process to assess four circumglobal sharks with differing temporal and spatial data‐deficiency: Blue Shark (Prionace glauca), Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), and Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran). For each species, the BSSM provided global population change estimates over three generation lengths bounded by uncertainty levels in intuitive outputs, enabling informed decisions on the status of each species. Integrating similar analyses into future workshops would help conservation practitioners ensure robust, consistent, and transparent Red List assessments for other long‐lived, wide‐ranging species.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pharmacokinetic Variability of Small Molecule Targeted Cancer Therapy
Authors: Reyner Eric , Lum Bert , Jing Jing , Kagedal Matts , Ware Joseph A. , Dickmann Leslie J. 
Published: November 2019

Pharmacokinetic (PK) variability in cancer clinical trials may be due to heterogeneous populations and identifying sources of variability is important. Use of healthy subjects in clinical pharmacology studies together with detailed knowledge of the characteristics of patients with cancer can allow for quick identification and quantification of factors affecting PK variability. PK data and sources of variability of 40 marketed molecularly targeted oncology therapeutics were compiled from regulatory approval documents covering an 18‐year period (1999–2017). Variability in PK parameters was compared and contributors to variability were identified. The results show that PK variability was ~ 16% higher for peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration time curve (AUC) in patients with cancer compared with healthy subjects. Several factors were identified as major contributors to variability including hepatic/renal impairment and cytochrome P450 inhibition/induction. Lower PK variability in healthy subjects may represent an opportunity to perform rapid and robust pharmacological and PK assessments to inform subsequent studies in the development of new cancer therapies.
Engaging Audiences with Difficult Pasts: The Voices of ’68 Project at the Ulster Museum, Belfast
Authors: Black Graham , Reynolds Chris 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCan history museums influence the relationship between divided communities? This paper explores why an initially modest collaboration between the authors and the Ulster Museum on the non‐violent Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement of 1968/69, eventually had substantial impact beyond the museum’s walls. Having placed the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement within the context of both the international protests of 1968 and the specific environment of Northern Ireland, particularly the virtual civil war known as the Troubles, the paper turns to the role of museums in responding to the legacy of this past, and the evolving practice of the Ulster Museum, as background to the project. The latter began as a limited intervention within an existing display, based on oral histories and underpinned by the theory of ‘agonism’, proposing that divided communities must learn to live with difference. It eventually included exhibitions, workshops, school study days, curricular materials and online provision. It has directly influenced the Northern Ireland GCSE History Curriculum and been held up as an example of good practice within the province’s peace process. The paper discusses why the project succeeded – location within a national museum; credibility with protagonists, academics, communities and audiences; starting small; a willingness to take risks and share control; multiple perspectives; and an acceptance that not everyone will be satisfied. With a version of the Voices of 68 exhibition now installed in the Museum’s permanent gallery, the next challenges are longitudinal studies on its impact and assessing the approach’s relevance to other museums working in post‐conflict societies.
The many roles of tranexamic acid: An overview of the clinical indications for TXA in medical and surgical patients
Authors: Cai Johnny , Ribkoff Jessica , Olson Sven , Raghunathan Vikram , Al‐Samkari Hanny , DeLoughery Thomas G. , Shatzel Joseph J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractClinically significant bleeding can occur as a consequence of surgery, trauma, obstetric complications, anticoagulation, and a wide variety of disorders of hemostasis. As the causes of bleeding are diverse and not always immediately apparent, the availability of a safe, effective, and non‐specific hemostatic agent is vital in a wide range of clinical settings, with antifibrinolytic agents often utilized for this purpose. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is one of the most commonly used and widely researched antifibrinolytic agents; its role in postpartum hemorrhage, menorrhagia, trauma‐associated hemorrhage, and surgical bleeding has been well defined. However, the utility of TXA goes beyond these common indications, with accumulating data suggesting its ability to reduce bleeding and improve clinical outcomes in the face of many different hemostatic challenges, without a clear increase in thrombotic risk. Herein, we review the literature and provide practical suggestions for clinical use of TXA across a broad spectrum of bleeding disorders.
Climate change disrupts local adaptation and favours upslope migration
Authors: Anderson Jill T. , Wadgymar Susana M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractContemporary climate change is proceeding at an unprecedented rate. The question remains whether populations adapted to historical conditions can persist under rapid environmental change. We tested whether climate change will disrupt local adaptation and reduce population growth rates using the perennial plant Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae). In a large‐scale field experiment conducted over five years, we exposed > 106 000 transplants to historical, current, or future climates and quantified fitness components. Low‐elevation populations outperformed local populations under simulated climate change (snow removal) across all five experimental gardens. Local maladaptation also emerged in control treatments, but it was less pronounced than under snow removal. We recovered local adaptation under snow addition treatments, which reflect historical conditions. Our results revealed that low elevation populations risk rapid decline, whereas upslope migration could enable population persistence and expansion at higher elevation locales. Local adaptation to historical conditions could increase vulnerability to climate change, even for geographically widespread species.