bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined serum miR‐29c and miR‐149 expression analysis as diagnostic genetic markers for colorectal cancer
Authors: Abdul‐Maksoud Rehab S. , Elsayed Rasha S. , Elsayed Walid S.H. , Sediq Amany Moheldin , Rashad Nearmeen M. , Shaker Shady E. , Ahmed Sherweet M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCirculating miRNAs gathered much interest in cancer research as noninvasive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of miR‐29c and miR‐149 among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to explore their diagnostic and prognostic potentials in relation to the clinical and pathological features. The expression levels of miR‐29c and miR‐149 were evaluated in the sera of 80 CRC patients, 80 colorectal adenoma (CRA) patients, and 80 healthy controls using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Carcinoembryonic antigen serum levels were assayed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. miR‐29c and miR‐149 were significantly downregulated among CRC patients compared with CRA and controls (miR‐29c, 0.54 ± 0.19 vs. 0.86 ± 0.12, 0.99 ± 0.07, P < 0.001, respectively; miR‐149, 0.46 ± 0.19 vs. 0.74 ± 0.012, 1.0 ± 0.22, P < 0.001, respectively). miR‐29c and miR‐149 significantly associated with advanced stages of CRC, tumor size, and lymphatic metastasis. By using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, combined miR‐29c and miR‐149 revealed the highest diagnostic potential for CRA (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.967) from healthy controls as well as the diagnosis of CRC (AUC = 0.98) from CRA. Moreover, combined miRNAs revealed high diagnostic potential for the earlier stages of CRC compared with advanced stages (AUC = 0.96). In conclusion, combined serum miR‐29c and miR‐149 expression analysis established novel noninvasive biomarker for early CRC diagnosis.
Anti‐neuraminidase activity of chemical constituents of Balanophora involucrata
Authors: Sun Xiao , Zhang Li , Cao Yu , Li Jinhua , Atanasov Atanas G. , Huang Linfang 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBalanophora involucrata J. D. Hooker has been known to possess potential anti‐inflammatory and antibacterial activities; however, its antiviral activity has not been evaluated so far. In order to find new neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), the neuraminidase (NA) inhibition activity of different B. involucrata extracts was evaluated. In this study, an in vitro NA inhibition assay was performed to identify which extract of B. involucrata exhibits (maximal) inhibitory activity against NA. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight–tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) and molecular docking techniques were used to identify the specific compounds responsible for the anti‐influenza activity of the extract, and to explore the potential natural NAIs. The ethyl acetate extract of B. involucrata exhibited significant inhibitory activity against NA with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 159.5 μg/mL. Twenty compounds were identified according to the MS/MS spectra; among them two compounds (quercitrin and phloridzin) showed obvious inhibitory activity against NA, with IC50 of 311.76 and 347.32 μmol/L, respectively. This study suggested that B. involucrata can be a potential natural source of NAIs and may be useful in the fight against ferocious influenza viruses.
Justification and development of competencies to transform a collegiate aviation flight program
Authors: Keller Julius , Mendonca Flavio , Cutter Jason , Suckow Mike , Dillman Brian 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe aviation industry is facing a substantial shortage of pilots. Per the International Civil Aviation Organization, it is projected airlines will need 350,000 pilots globally.AimsDue to the demand of pilots, most of the conversations are focused on quantity rather than quality of the workforce. Educators and researchers in several industries have advocated competency‐based education in aviation for decades.MethodMembers of the research team documented the consensus decision‐making process which determined which competencies would be incorporated into the flight program.ResultsSix competencies were selected for the hybrid competency‐based education model. Teamwork, decision‐making, communication, resilience, leadership, and technical excellence were extensively defined for the aviation program.Discussion/ConclusionShifting toward a hybrid competency‐based education model is challenging within a large flight program. However, the members of the research team believe the transformation process will improve program outcomes. Next steps include assessment plan development and data collection.
Acid‐sensing ion channel 1a mediates acid‐induced pyroptosis through calpain‐2/calcineurin pathway in rat articular chondrocytes
Authors: Zu Sheng‐Qin , Feng Yu‐Bin , Zhu Chuan‐Jun , Wu Xiao‐Shan , Zhou Ren‐Peng , Li Ge , Dai Bei‐Bei , Wang Zhi‐Sen , Xie Ya‐Ya , Li Yue , Ge Jin‐Fang , Chen Fei‐Hu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe pyroptosis is a causative agent of rheumatoid arthritis, a systemic autoimmune disease merged with degenerative articular cartilage. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of extracellular acidosis on chondrocyte pyroptosis is largely unclear. Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) belong to an extracellular H+‐activated cation channel family. Accumulating evidence has highlighted activation of ASICs induced by extracellular acidosis upregulate calpain and calcineurin expression in arthritis. In the present study, to investigate the expression and the role of acid‐sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), calpain, calcineurin, and NLRP3 inflammasome proteins in regulating acid‐induced articular chondrocyte pyroptosis, primary rat articular chondrocytes were subjected to different pH, different time, and different treatments with or without ASIC1a, calpain‐2, and calcineurin, respectively. Initially, the research results showed that extracellular acidosis‐induced the protein expression of ASIC1a in a pH‐ and time‐dependent manner, and the messenger RNA and protein expressions of calpain, calcineurin, NLRP3, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein, and caspase‐1 were significantly increased in a time‐dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibition of ASIC1a, calpain‐2, or calcineurin, respectively, could decrease the cell death accompanied with the decreased interleukin‐1β level, and the decreased expression of ASIC1a, calpain‐2, calcineurin, and NLRP3 inflammasome proteins. Taken together, these results indicated the activation of ASIC1a induced by extracellular acidosis could trigger pyroptosis of rat articular chondrocytes, the mechanism of which might partly be involved with the activation of calpain‐2/calcineurin pathway.
Overseeding cool‐season forages on rhizoma peanut fields
Authors: Santos E.R.S. , Dubeux J.C.B. , Jaramillo D.M. , Garcia L. , Queiroz L.M.D. , Silva C.S. , Abreu D.S. , Ruiz‐Moreno M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is an important hay crop in the southern United States. Since rhizoma peanut is a warm‐season perennial legume, it remains dormant during the cool season. Overseeding rhizoma peanut during the cool season could optimize land productivity per unit area throughout the year. However, the effect of overseeding on rhizoma peanut performance in the following growing season is unknown. This study evaluated different combinations of rye (Secale cereale L. ‘FL401’) and/or ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ‘Prine’) mixed or not with clovers (Trifolium spp.) overseeded on dormant ‘Florigraze’ rhizoma peanut. Rye–clover mixtures resulted in greater herbage accumulation (6,040 lb ac−1 yr−1) than grass monocultures, clovers, and rye–ryegrass mixtures. However, rye–clover mixtures had similar herbage accumulation to rye–ryegrass–clovers (5,640 lb ac−1 yr−1) and ryegrass–clovers (4,560 lb ac−1 yr−1). Crude protein (CP) concentration in grass was greater for rye and rye–ryegrass (9.8%, for both) than in ryegrass monoculture (8.2%), nonetheless, it was similar to other treatments (9.1%, on average). Ryegrass and ryegrass–clovers resulted in the greater in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) for the grasses (81%, on average) than all other treatments (70%, on average). Overseeding rhizoma peanut did not affect its herbage responses. On average, herbage accumulation, CP, and IVDOM for Florigraze rhizoma peanut in the first harvest following the overseeding treatments were 3,845 lb ac−1, 14.2%, and 75.7%, respectively. Results indicate that overseeding cool‐season grass–legume mixtures would optimize forage production per unit area and improve forage nutritive value without compromising rhizoma peanut herbage responses in the growing season.
The brain of the African wild dog. III. The auditory system
Authors: Chengetanai Samson , Bhagwandin Adhil , Bertelsen Mads F. , Hård Therese , Hof Patrick R. , Spocter Muhammad A. , Manger Paul R. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe large external pinnae and extensive vocal repertoire of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) has led to the assumption that the auditory system of this unique canid may be specialized. Here, using cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, and a range of immunohistochemical stains, we describe the systems‐level anatomy of the auditory system of the African wild dog. We observed the cochlear nuclear complex, superior olivary nuclear complex, lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, and auditory cortex all being in their expected locations, and exhibiting the standard subdivisions of this system. While located in the ectosylvian gyri, the auditory cortex includes several areas, resembling the parcellation observed in cats and ferrets, although not all of the auditory areas known from these species could be identified in the African wild dog. These observations suggest that, broadly speaking, the systems‐level anatomy of the auditory system, and by extension the processing of auditory information, within the brain of the African wild dog closely resembles that observed in other carnivores. Our findings indicate that it is likely that the extraction of the semantic content of the vocalizations of African wild dogs, and the behaviors generated, occurs beyond the classically defined auditory system, in limbic or association neocortical regions involved in cognitive functions. Thus, to obtain a deeper understanding of how auditory stimuli are processed, and how communication is achieved, in the African wild dog compared to other canids, cortical regions beyond the primary sensory areas will need to be examined in detail.
Static supply chain complexity and sustainability practices: A multitier examination
Authors: Macchion Laura , Moretto Antonella , Caniato Federico , Danese Pamela , Vinelli Andrea 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe issue of sustainability is receiving increasing attention, and this debate now needs to be extended to consider the perspective of the supply chain. This article aims to investigate sustainability choices made along the supply chain (SC) by considering the static complexity of the SC. It investigates the different perspectives and tensions that can exist between SC partners when sustainability programs are introduced. Through 18 cases, the aarticle addresses the different types of static SC complexity faced by the different tiers of the SC. For the focal company, the complexity is both upstream and downstream: for first‐tier suppliers, it is upstream, and for second‐tier suppliers, the complexity is largely downstream. These various types of complexity require the adoption of different sustainability practices: for the focal company, these involve sourcing and organizational practices; for the first‐tier suppliers, they involve sourcing practices; and for the second‐tier suppliers, organizational practices.
From CO2 to Bioplastic – Coupling the Electrochemical CO2 Reduction with a Microbial Product Generation by Drop‐in Electrolysis
Authors: Stöckl Markus , Harms Svenja , Dinges Ida , Dimitrova Steliyana , Holtmann Dirk 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCO2 has been electrochemically reduced to the intermediate formate, which was subsequently used as sole substrate for the production of the polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by the microorganism Cupriavidus necator. Faradaic efficiencies (FE) up to 54 % have been reached with Sn‐based gas‐diffusion electrodes in physiological electrolyte. The formate containing electrolyte can be used directly as drop‐in solution in the following biological polymer production by resting cells. 56 mg PHB L−1 and a ratio of 34 % PHB per cell dry weight were achieved. The calculated overall FE for the process was as high as 4 %. The direct use of the electrolyte as drop‐in media in the bioconversion enables simplified processes with a minimum of intermediate purification effort. Thus, an optimal coupling between electrochemical and biotechnological processes can be realized.
Size‐selective predation accounts for intra‐ and inter‐specific variation of inducible morphological defense ofDaphnia
Authors: Nagano Mariko , Yoshida Takehito 
Published: July 2020

AbstractInducible defense is adaptive when prey organisms cope with fluctuations of predation risk, and there exists ample variations of inducible defense both within a species and between species even in a single habitat.Daphnia, a freshwater zooplankton genus, shows remarkable inducible morphological defense when exposed to predators. This study explored the intra‐ and inter‐specific variations of inducible defense ofDaphniaand tested whether the variations can be explained by the size‐selective nature of predation. In Lake Fukami‐ike, Japan,Daphnia ambiguaandDaphnia pulexcoexist with planktivorous fish andChaoboruslarvae that have different preferences for prey size. We experimentally examined the ontogenetic change of inducible defense for ten clones of each of the twoDaphniaspecies against the two different predators. The degree of defense expression evaluated based on the induction of multiple morphological traits showed remarkable differences betweenDaphniaspecies, instars and clones, and the intra‐ and inter‐specific variations were attributed to size‐selective predation from the different predators. The inducible defense ofDaphniashowed the adaptive variations depending on the predation pressure that resulted from the size‐selective predation by the coexisting predators.
Tympanum reconstruction using a sternocleidomastoid flap in patients with lateral skull base lesions: surgical technique and clinical report
Authors: Feng Guodong , Wei Xingmei , Sun Huiying , Zhang Zhuhua , Tian Xu , Zhao Yang , Aodeng Surita , Zhou Yalin , Gao Zhiqiang 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundDuring surgical treatment of lesions involving the skull base, conductive hearing is often sacrificed due to tympanum destruction. This study aimed to develop a method for tympanum reconstruction using a sternocleidomastoid (SCM) flap to preserve conductive hearing during lateral skull base surgery.MethodsThis study included five patients with lateral skull base lesions who underwent surgery including tympanum reconstruction with an SCM flap between July 2015 and November 2017.ResultsThree patients seen with facial nerve schwannoma, and two had paraganglioma of the head and neck. All patients' inferior and posterior tympanic walls were resected; the tympanum and ossicular chain were reconstructed with an SCM flap and prosthesis. The mean postoperative air‐bone gap was 14 dB. No lesion recurrences were observed until the last follow‐up.ConclusionThe SCM flap is effective in preserving conductive hearing through reconstruction of the inferior and posterior tympanic walls in lateral skull base surgery.
Liver Care and Surveillance: The Global Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Toyoda Hidenori , Huang Daniel Q. , Le Michael H. , Nguyen Mindie H. 
Published: July 2020

As social distancing and strict stay‐at‐home orders have been instituted to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), unintentional outcomes among those with chronic diseases including screening for the lethal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be occurring. We aimed to describe the changes in liver care before and after COVID‐19 restricted access to health care. We obtained data on the number of liver clinic visits, abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging using electronic query or clinic registry at three medical centers in the United States, Japan, and Singapore for the following periods: February 1 to March 14, 2018, 2019, and 2020; and March 15 to May 1, 2018, 2019, and 2020. We performed trend analysis using logistic regression. In total, 14,403 visits were made to the liver clinics at the three centers: 5,900 in 2018, 5,270 in 2019, and 3,233 in 2020. Overall, there were no significant changes in the distribution of males and females between February 1 and May 1 from 2018 to 2020, but there was a lower proportion of seniors ages 65 years and older (P < 0.001). There were significant decreasing trends in the total number of liver clinic visits overall (p‐trend = 0.038) and in the subanalysis for chronic hepatitis B, C, and other liver diseases. HCC/cirrhosis visits also dropped from 883 to 538 (39.07% decrease) overall and 665 to 355 (46.62% decrease) for the US site. In addition, there was a significant decreasing trend in the number of abdominal ultrasounds (P‐trend = 0.004) and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (P‐trend = 0.007) performed overall. Conclusion: Liver clinic visits, hepatoma surveillance, and diagnostic abdominal imaging fell dramatically as social distancing measures were instituted. Care providers must find ways to recall patients for important care monitoring, including HCC surveillance.
Misunderstandings and ambiguities in strategic purchasing in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Paul Elisabeth , Brown Garrett W. , Ridde Valéry 
Published: July 2020

SummaryStrategic purchasing is branded as an approach that is necessary for progress towards universal health coverage. While we agree that publicly purchased health services should respond to society's needs and patient expectations, and thus generally endorse strategic purchasing, here we would like to explore two emerging concerns within current discussions in low‐ and middle‐income countries. First, there exists a great deal of misunderstanding and conceptual unclarity, within practitioner groups, around the concept of strategic purchasing and what instruments it incorporates. Second, there is a growing trend to regularly fuse strategic purchasing into a performance‐based financing (PBF) discourse in ways that increasingly blur their distinctive properties and policy orientations, while perhaps too easily obfuscating potential tensions. We believe the discourse on strategic purchasing would benefit from better conceptual clarity by dissociating and prioritising its two objectives, namely: priority should be given to needs‐based allocation of resources, while rewarding performance is a subsequent concern. We argue there is a need for a more thoroughgoing conceptual and empirical re‐examination of strategic purchasing's priorities, its link with PBF, as well as for a wider evidence‐base on what strategic purchasing tools exist and which are most appropriate for diverse contexts.
Nurses' experiences of transitions of older patients from hospitals to community care. A nation‐wide survey in Norway
Authors: Gautun Heidi , Bratt Christopher , Billings Jenny 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackground and AimsMoving older patients from hospitals to community services is a critical phase of integrated care. Yet, large‐scale research on the quality of these transitions has been missing. Consequently, it has been difficult to assess to what extent and how patient transitions need to be improved. The purpose of this research was to gather the perspective of nurses involved in the transition of older patients (defined as patients 65 years or older) in Norway.MethodsData were collected in 2017 among Norwegian nurses with two nationwide web‐based surveys, one among nurses working at in‐patient wards in acute hospitals, and another among nurses in home nursing and nursing homes in the community. We sent emails to all nurses who were members of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NSS), where most Norwegian nurses are organised. The email included a recommendation by the NSS. Instructions in the email and the online questionnaire ensured that only nurses involved in the transition of older patients participated. The online questionnaire assessed nurses' evaluations of the quality of patient transitions and information exchange between the services involved in patient transitions.Results4312 nurses working in community care services and 2421 nurses at in‐patient wards at hospitals responded. Both groups were predominantly female (94%), and nearly 90% of Norway's 428 municipalities were included in the study. Compared to hospital nurses, the nurses working in community care experienced lower quality of patient transitions and were less satisfied with the information exchange on patients' condition and needs. Further, when comparing groups of community nurses, we found that nurses in home nursing were more dissatisfied with the quality of transitions and information exchange than nurses in nursing homes.ConclusionWe conclude that hospital nurses should have more face‐to‐face or telephone contact with community nurses, and specifically with home nurses. Further, we suggest promoting a mutual understanding of the older patients' pathway from one service to the other, and to improve co‐ordination across the services. We suggest that one means to achieve such improvements is to use multi‐disciplinary discharge teams, while another is to develop case management or care navigator roles specific to the discharge process.
A novel DSN‐based fluorescence assay for MicroRNA‐133a detection and its application for LVH diagnosis in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: Huang Pei , Guo Xuedan , Jin Yan , Huang Qing 
Published: July 2020

AbstractLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Circulating microRNA‐133a (miR‐133a) was reported to be a potential biomarker for LVH in MHD patients. The aim of this experiment is to establish a novel DSN (duplex‐specific‐nuclease)‐based fluorescence assay for the ultrasensitive detection of miR‐133a and investigate its application for LVH diagnosis in MHD patients. The results indicate DSN enzyme combined with ultrathin metallic MoS2 nanosheets presents high sensitivity, specificity, and low fluorescence background for miR‐133a detection. Then, circulating miR‐133a levels in plasma from 40 MHD patients and 20 healthy controls are analyzed by such assay. The levels of miR‐133a are down‐regulated in MHD patients with LVH compared to MHD patients without LVH and healthy controls, and the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve shows strong separation between MHD with LVH patients and MHD without LVH patients. Furthermore, the liner regression analysis shows negative correlation of miR‐133a level and interventricular septum thickness (IVS) as well as left ventricular mass index (LVMI), the indicators of LVH. Therefore, our findings reveal DSN‐based fluorescence assay for miR‐133a is suitable for LVH diagnosis in MHD patients.