bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In situ Raman spectroscopic quantification of CH4–CO2 mixture: application to fluid inclusions hosted in quartz veins from the Longmaxi Formation shales in Sichuan Basin, southwestern China
Authors: Qiu Ye , Wang Xiao-Lin , Liu Xian , Cao Jian , Liu Yi-Feng , Xi Bin-Bin , Gao Wan-Lu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe re-evaluate the Raman spectroscopic quantification of the molar ratio and pressure for CH4–CO2 mixtures. Firstly, the Raman quantification factors of CH4 and CO2 increase with rising pressure at room temperature, indicating that Raman quantification of CH4/CO2 molar ratio can be applied to those fluid inclusions (FIs) with high internal pressure (i.e., > 15 MPa). Secondly, the v1(CH4) peak position shifts to lower wavenumber with increasing pressure at constant temperature, confirming that the v1(CH4) peak position can be used to calculate the fluid pressure. However, this method should be carefully calibrated before applying to FI analyses because large discrepancies exist among the reported v1(CH4)-P curves, especially in the high-pressure range. These calibrations are applied to CH4-rich FIs in quartz veins of the Silurian Longmaxi black shales in southern Sichuan Basin. The vapor phases of these FIs are mainly composed of CH4 and minor CO2, with CO2 molar fractions from 4.4% to 7.4%. The pressure of single-phase gas FI ranges from 103.65 to 128.35 MPa at room temperature, which is higher than previously reported. Thermodynamic calculations supported the presence of extremely high-pressure CH4-saturated fluid (218.03–256.82 MPa at 200 °C), which may be responsible for the expulsion of CH4 to adjacent reservoirs.
Review of recently used techniques and materials to improve the efficiency of orally administered proteins/peptides
Authors: Ibrahim Yousif H-E. Y. , Regdon Géza , Hamedelniel Elnazeer I. , Sovány Tamás 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Objectives
The main objective of present review is to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of recently developed methods to improve the bioavailability of orally administered biopharmaceutical drugs.

Methods
A systematic search of sciencedirect, tandfonline and Google Scholar databases based on various sets of keywords was performed. All results were evaluated based on their abstracts, and irrelevant studies were neglected during further evaluation.

Results
At present, biopharmaceuticals are used as injectable therapies as they are not absorbed adequately from the different routes of drug administration, particularly the oral one. Their insufficient absorption is attributed to their high molecular weight, degradation by proteolytic enzymes, high hydrophilicity and rigidity of the absorptive tissues. From industrial aspect incorporation of enzyme inhibitors (EIs) and permeation enhancers (PEs) and mucoadhesive polymers into conventional dosage forms may be the easiest way of formulation of orally administered macromolecular drugs, but the effectiveness of protection and absorption enhancement here is the most questionable. Conjugation may be problematic from regulatory aspect. Encapsulation into lipid-based vesicles sufficiently protects the incorporated macromolecule and improves intestinal uptake but have considerable stability issues. In contrast, polymeric nanocarriers may provide good stability but provides lower internalization efficacy in comparison with the lipid-based carriers.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that the combination of the advantages of mucoadhesive polymeric and lid-based carriers in hybrid lipid/polymer nanoparticles may result in improved absorption and might represent a potential means for the oral administration of therapeutic proteins in the near future.
A Multicentre Study in UK Voice Clinics Evaluating the Non-invasive Reflux Diagnostic Peptest in LPR Patients
Authors: Dettmar Peter W. , Watson Mark , McGlashan Julian , Tatla Taran , Nicholaides Andreas , Bottomley Kirsty , Jarad Nabil , Stapleton Emma , Lenham Rhianna K. , Fisher Jeanine , Woodcock Andrew D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractQuestionnaires and invasive diagnostic tests are established for diagnosing gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) but shown not to be sensitive or specific for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) where vast majority of reflux events are weakly acidic or non-acidic. The research question addressed in the current multicentre study was to determine if the measurement of salivary pepsin is a sensitive, specific and reliable diagnostic test for LPR. Five UK voice clinics recruited a total of 1011 patients presenting with symptoms of LPR and a small group of subjects (n = 22) recruited as asymptomatic control group. Twenty-six patients failed to provide demographic information; the total patient group was 985 providing 2927 salivary pepsin samples for analysis. Study participants provided 3 saliva samples, the first on rising with two samples provided post-prandial (60 min) or post-symptom (15 min). The control group provided one sample on rising and two post-prandial providing a total of 66 samples. Pepsin analysis was carried out using Peptest as previously described. High prevalence of pepsin in patient groups (75%) represents a mean pepsin concentration of 131 ng/ml. The greatest prevalence for pepsin was in the post-prandial sample (155 ng/ml) and the lowest in the morning sample (103 ng/ml). The mean pepsin concentration in the control group was 0 ng/ml. Patients across all 5 clinics showed high prevalence of salivary pepsin (ranging from 69 to 86%), and the overall sensitivity was 76.4% and specificity 100%. Pepsin was shown to be an ideal biomarker for detecting airway reflux and LPR.
Mortality of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: A 10-Year Follow-up Pilot Study in Shanghai
Authors: Zhang Yue-Qi , Wang Chun-Fang , Xu Gang , Zhao Qian-Hua , Xie Xin-Yi , Cui Hai-Lun , Wang Ying , Ren Ru-Jing , Guo Qi-Hao , Wang Gang 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT:Background:Identifying risk factors and mortality of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could have important implications for the clinical management of AD.Objective:This pilot study aimed to examine the overall mortality of AD patients over a 10-year surveillance period in Shanghai, China. This study is an extension of our previous investigation on mortality of neurodegenerative diseases.Methods:One hundred and thirty-two AD patients recruited from the memory clinics of two hospitals in Shanghai in 2007 were followed up until December 31, 2017 or death, representing a follow-up period of up to 10 years. Overall standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated, and predictors for survival at recruitment were estimated.Results:Sixty-seven patients had died by December 31, 2017, and the SMR at 10 years of follow-up was 1.225 (95% confidence interval 0.944–1.563). Employing Cox’s proportional hazard modeling, lower Mini-Mental State Examination score, and comorbid diabetes predicted poor survival in this cohort.Conclusion:This pilot study suggests a similar survival trend of patients with AD compared to the general population in Shanghai urban region. Poor cognitive status and comorbid diabetes had a negative impact on the survival of AD patients.
The neural correlates of ideation in product design engineering practitioners
Authors: Hay L. , Duffy A. H. B. , Gilbert S. J. , Lyall L. , Campbell G. , Coyle D. , Grealy M. A. 
Published: December 2019

In product design engineering (PDE), ideation involves the generation of technical behaviours and physical structures to address specific functional requirements. This differs from generic creative ideation tasks, which emphasise functional and technical considerations less. To advance knowledge about the neural basis of PDE ideation, we present the first fMRI study on professional product design engineers practising in industry. We aimed to explore brain activation during ideation, and compare activation in open-ended and constrained tasks. Imagery manipulation tasks were contrasted with ideation tasks in a sample of 29 PDE professionals. The key findings were: (1) PDE ideation is associated with greater activity in left cingulate gyrus; (2) there were no significant differences between open-ended and constrained tasks; and (3) a preliminary association with activity in the right superior temporal gyrus was also observed. The results are consistent with existing fMRI work on generic creative ideation, suggesting that PDE ideation may share a number of similarities at the neural level. Future work includes: functional connectivity analysis of open-ended and constrained ideation to further investigate potential differences; investigating the effects of aspects of design expertise/training on processing; and the use of novelty measures directly linked to the designer’s internal processing in fMRI analysis.
The ecology of empire
Authors: Figueredo Aurelio José , Peñaherrera-Aguirre Mateo , Fernandes Heitor Barcellos Ferreira , Lomayesva Sara Lindsey , Woodley Michael Anthony , Hertler Steven Charles , Sarraf Matthew Alexandar 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe tracked the relative integration and differentiation among life history traits over the period spanning AD 1800–1999 in the Britannic and Gallic biocultural groups. We found that Britannic populations tended toward greater strategic differentiation, while Gallic populations tended toward greater strategic integration. The dynamics of between-group competition between these two erstwhile rival biocultural groups were hypothesized as driving these processes. We constructed a latent factor that specifically sought to measure between-group competition and residualized it for the logarithmic effects of time. We found a significantly asymmetrical impact of between-group competition, where the between-group competition factor appeared to be driving the diachronic integration in Gallic populations but had no significantly corresponding influence on the parallel process of diachronic differentiation in Britannic populations. This suggests that the latter process was attributable to some alternative and unmeasured causes, such as the resource abundance consequent to territorial expansion rather than contraction.
‘Northmen, Southmen, comrades all’? The adoption of discourselikeby migrants north and south of the Irish border
Authors: Corrigan Karen P. , Diskin Chloé 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI) have recently become attractive migrant destinations. Two main dialectal varieties are recognised on the island, but little is known about their adoption by new speakers. Focusing on a panlectal feature, discourselike, we conducted a quantitative sociolinguistic investigation of its adoption by seventeen young Polish and Lithuanian migrants in Armagh (NI), and thirty-six Polish and Chinese adult migrants in Dublin (ROI), with comparator samples drawn from native speakers. Findings show thatlikerates in both cities diverge, but that migrants mirror local frequencies. Clause-finallikeis restricted primarily to native speakers, but is twice as frequent in Armagh than in Dublin. English proficiency has a significant effect on the likelihood of young migrants in Armagh adopting the clause-final variant. The article's significance also stems from the original contribution it makes to our understanding of how sociolinguistic competence is acquired in ‘superdiverse’ settings. (Discourselike, identity, migration, Northern Irish-English, Hiberno-English, Ulster English, Southern Irish-English)*
The Ethics of Kin State Activism: A Cosmopolitan Defense
Authors: Vasilev George 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA notable feature of nationalism's contemporary resurgence is the increasing eagerness of governments to support and shape the political causes of populations living abroad that are viewed as ethnic kindred. However, global criteria for judging when such kin state activism is and is not acceptable have so far remained elusive, as the objectionable instances of the practice tend to overshadow the legally and morally consistent ones. I argue that the analysis of world affairs and promotion of global justice would benefit from an ethic of transnational conduct that has a rightful place for kin states. I defend a set of cosmopolitan criteria for this purpose, outlining how they enable us to recognize and combat the dangers posed by certain forms of kin state mobilization without forgoing the opportunities presented by certain other forms to overcome minority repression and enhance regional security.
Extremism and Confusion in American Views about the Ethics of War: A Comment on Sagan and Valentino
Authors: McMahan Jeff 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn their article “Just War and Unjust Soldiers: American Public Opinion on the Moral Equality of Combatants,” Scott Sagan and Benjamin Valentino have revealed a wealth of information about the views of contemporary Americans on the ethics of war. Virtually all they have discovered is surprising and much of it is alarming. My commentary in this symposium seeks mainly to extract a bit more from their data and to draw a few further inferences. Among the striking features of Sagan and Valentino's data are that the views of Americans tend to cluster at the extreme ends of the spectrum of possible views about the ethics of war, that an apparent sympathy for pacifism coexists with harshly punitive views about the treatment of soldiers, and that few of those surveyed appear to have given any thought to the implications of the views they expressed for what it might be permissible for enemies of the United States to do to captured American soldiers. The commentary concludes by arguing that Sagan and Valentino's findings do not, as they argue, support the fear that is sometimes expressed that a wider acceptance of revisionist just war theory, and in particular its incorporation into the law, would make the practice of war even more barbarous than it already is.
Preparedness of Pharmaceutical Services in Military Organizations: Learning from an Assessment in Brazil
Authors: de Souza Tatiana Holanda Pereira , Miranda Elaine Silva 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroduction:The participation of armed forces in humanitarian operations and in disaster response is common in many countries. In Brazil, the armed forces have had history in providing health support to victims in emergencies, which also includes the provision of pharmaceutical services (PS).Problem:Even though being essential for the provision of health care in disaster response, the preparedness of PS is not well-addressed in the literature. The use of a comprehensive approach to evaluate preparedness of PS in military institutions may subsidize preparedness measures. The goals of this work were to analyze the preparedness of PS for disaster response and humanitarian aid in military units of a Brazilian armed force institution, and to propose a framework to improve the preparedness of PS in operational medicine.Methods:An investigation of a cross-sectional design was performed. A logic model and indicators to evaluate preparedness of PS were applied. Data were obtained from official documents, interviews with key stakeholders, and observation of good storage practices (GSP).Results:Identified were: lack of specific budget for medicine procurement in case of disaster, absence of emergency stockpile, proper means for medicine transportation, and records of trained health professionals. An emergency plan, a list of selected medicines, adaptable mobile health care units, and a system for mobilization of health professionals were some of the positive aspects recognized. Different aspects for improvement were acknowledged and recommendations to favor the efficiency and the quality of PS in emergencies were proposed.Conclusions:The investigation provided valuable results for the planning and execution of responses to disasters and humanitarian aid. The findings and proposed recommendations may be useful for other military organizations similar to those in Brazil.
Proposal for Reforming Prehospital Response to Chemical Terrorism Disasters in Japan: Going Back to the Basics of Saving the Lives of the Injured by Securing the Safety of the Rescue Team
Authors: Anan Hideaki , Otomo Yasuhiro , Homma Masato , Oshiro Kenichi , Kondo Hisayoshi , Shimamura Fumihiko , Takahashi Ayako , Hamada Masahiko , Hirabayashi Atushi , Koido Yuichi 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroduction:Having experienced the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995, Japan has established extremely strict rules on handling injured victims before they are sent to a hospital. As a result, it takes a long time before rescue actions are taken. This report aims to propose a reform to change the system that focuses on saving lives.Methods:First, the issues in firefighting on sites that currently present problems in Japan were identified. Then, Japanese guidelines were compared with those that were considered in other countries. Based on this, an ideal way of running rescue operations was examined, and a proposal to save many lives was made. This research was conducted with funding from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan (MHLW; Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan).Results:In addition to preventing secondary injuries, the temporal aspect of rescuing people early with the clear goal of saving many lives was emphasized. Priority was given to measures against nerve agents to prevent secondary injuries, which put the rescuers’ lives at risk. Possible decontamination methods were pursued before choosing the one that was most appropriate. A linear algorithm was used to determine which decontamination method could be started immediately, and then the gradual use of equipment was recommended. Even if Level A personal protective equipment (PPE) and other dedicated equipment and materials cannot be procured, the possibility of starting rescue activities under certain condition using regular equipment was pointed out. The need for a system for possible victims who would require support, such as foreigners, the handicapped, and elderly people, was also identified. Japan limits the scope of activities that can be undertaken by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on-site. The way in which on-site medical care can be provided with future legal revisions in mind was also discussed.Conclusion:There is an urgent need to build a framework in which rescue activities can take place so that the number of deaths would not rise, even if sarin and other poisons are scattered.
Differences in dietary fibre intake and associated familial factors in a longitudinal study at two time points across adolescence
Authors: Swann Olivia G , Breslin Monique , Kilpatrick Michelle , O’Sullivan Therese A , Oddy Wendy H 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjective:Dietary fibre is essential for a healthy diet; however, intake is often inadequate. Understanding of sources of dietary fibre and familial factors associated with intake in adolescents is limited, hampering efforts to increase intake. We aimed to determine adequacy of dietary fibre intake in adolescents, examine how intake changes from mid to late adolescence, identify major food sources and explore associations with familial factors.Design:Dietary fibre intake measured with semi-quantitative FFQ and sources calculated with the AUSNUT database. Familial factors determined by questionnaire.Setting:Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study.Participants:Generation 2 adolescents from the 14- (n 1626) and 17-year (n 835) follow-ups.Results:Mean intake of dietary fibre did not meet national dietary guidelines other than for females aged 14 years. Mean intake of both sexes was lower at 17 years (23·0 (sd 10·0) g/d) than at 14 years (24·3 (sd 9·0) g/d, P < 0·001). The quantity of dietary fibre consumed per megajoule also decreased (2·6 (sd 0·7) g/MJ at 14 years, 2·5 (sd 0·9) g/MJ at 17 years, P = 0·007). The greatest source of dietary fibre was cereals and grains, followed by fruits, then vegetables. In multivariable mixed-model analysis, female sex, Caucasian race, age 14 years, good family functioning, high level of parental education and high energy intake were independently associated with higher dietary fibre intake.Conclusions:Our study highlights an age range and characteristics of adolescents lacking in dietary fibre, thereby identifying target populations for interventions to improve dietary fibre intake across adolescence, which would lead to better health.
Outcome of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia with and	without revascularization
Authors: Stella Jacqueline , Engelbertz Christiane , Gebauer Katrin , Hassu Juan , Meyborg Matthias , Freisinger Eva , Malyar Nasser M. 
Published: December 2019

Summary: Background: Patients with chronic critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) are at high risk of amputation and death. Despite the general recommendation for revascularization in CTLI in the guidelines, the underlying evidence for such a recommendation is limited. The aim of our study was to assess the outcome of patients with CLTI depending on the use of revascularization in a retrospective real-world cohort. Patients and methods: Administrative data of the largest German Health insurance (BARMER GEK) were provided for all patients that were hospitalized for the treatment of CLTI Rutherford category (RF) 5 and 6 between 2009 and 2011. Patients were followed-up until December 31st, 2012 for limb amputation and death in relation to whether patients did (Rx +) or did not have (Rx −) revascularization during index-hospitalization. Results: We identified 15,314 patients with CLTI at RF5 (n = 6,908 (45.1%)) and RF6 (n = 8,406 (54.9%)), thereof 7,651 (50.0%) underwent revascularization (Rx +) and 7,663 (50.0%) were treated conservatively (Rx −). During follow-up (mean 647 days; 95% CI 640–654 days) limb amputation (46.5% Rx− vs. 40.6% Rx+, P < 0.001) and overall mortality (48.2% Rx− vs. 42.6% Rx+, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the subgroup Rx+. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, only half of CLTI were revascularized during the in-hospital treatment. Though, revascularization was associated with significantly better observed short- and long-term outcome. These data do not allow causal conclusion due to lack of data on the underlying reason for applied or withheld revascularization and therefore may involve a relevant selection bias.
Secretome analysis of patient-derived GBM tumor spheres identifies midkine as a potent therapeutic target
Authors: Han Suji , Shin Hyemi , Lee Jin-Ku , Liu Zhaoqi , Rabadan Raul , Lee Jeongwu , Shin Jihye , Lee Cheolju , Yang Heekyoung , Kim Donggeon , Kim Sung Heon , Kim Jooyeon , Oh Jeong-Woo , Kong Doo-Sik , Lee Jung-Il , Seol Ho Jun , Choi Jung Won , Kang Hyun Ju , Nam Do-Hyun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor with few treatment options. The survival of glioma-initiating cells (GICs) is one of the major factors contributing to treatment failure. GICs frequently produce and respond to their own growth factors that support cell proliferation and survival. In this study, we aimed to identify critical autocrine factors mediating GIC survival and to evaluate the anti-GBM effect of antagonizing these factors. Proteomic analysis was performed using conditioned media from two different patient-derived GBM tumor spheres under a growth factor-depleted status. Then, the antitumor effects of inhibiting an identified autocrine factor were evaluated by bioinformatic analysis and molecular validation. Proteins secreted by sphere-forming GICs promote cell proliferation/survival and detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). Among these proteins, we focused on midkine (MDK) as a clinically significant and pathologically relevant autocrine factor. Antagonizing MDK reduced the survival of GBM tumor spheres through the promotion of cell cycle arrest and the consequent apoptotic cell death caused by oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. We also identified PCBP4, a novel molecular predictor of resistance to anti-MDK treatment. Collectively, our results indicate that MDK inhibition is an important therapeutic option by suppressing GIC survival through the induction of ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.