bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility, water management, and financial performance in the food and beverage industry
Authors: Weber Olaf , Saunders‐Hogberg Grace 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWater management is an important issue for the food and beverage sector. Global media reports about conflicts between industries and stakeholders about water resources that hurt the food and beverage industry. This study addresses the gap in the knowledge about the connection between water management performance and the financial performance of companies in the food and beverage industry that exists because of a lack of empirical studies in the field of corporate water management and financial performance. Using structural equation modeling to analyze secondary corporate social performance data from KLD‐MSCI, secondary financial data from Compustat, and primary water management data, the results suggest that corporate social performance has a positive impact on water management performance and that water management performance influences the financial performance of the firms in the sample positively. We conclude that an inside‐out approach of corporate social responsibility addressing material issues, such as water in the food and beverage industry, helps to increase the financial performance in this industry. Academically, we contribute to the knowledge about the connection between water management and financial performance in the food and beverage industry. Furthermore, our results can be used by policymakers to implement standardized water indicators for the food and beverage industry. Finally, businesses can use the results of the study to improve their water‐related environmental performance.
Development of small‐diameter haptic flexible gripping forceps robot
Authors: Matsunaga Takuya , Ohnishi Kouhei , Wada Norihito , Kitagawa Yuko 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRobotic technologies are being increasingly utilized for medical treatments to support surgeons and reduce the burden on patients. Flexible endoscopic surgical systems with an endoscope and flexible forceps robots are state‐of‐the‐art devices that are expected to realize more difficult and less invasive surgery. Surgeons teleoperate these flexible forceps robots as their own hands and conduct various medical tasks. The wire‐driven mechanism is applied to many flexible forceps robots to transmit the driving force to the tip of the robots in a narrow space. However, the flexible structure makes it difficult to control the wire‐driven robots and implement the haptic technologies to realize safer surgery. In this paper, a force sensor‐less, small‐diameter flexible forceps robot with the ability to transmit haptic sensation is presented. The driving part at the tip of the flexible part, composed of a small actuator with a reduction mechanism, realizes the miniaturization of the robot. Haptic information is estimated by low‐resolution position information. The bending of the flexible part with electric wires does not deteriorate the performance of the end effector. The performance of the haptic flexible forceps robot is evaluated through experiments.
Are we responding effectively to bone mineral density loss and fracture risks in people with epilepsy?
Authors: Miller Amitai S. , Ferastraoaru Victor , Tabatabaie Vafa , Gitlevich Tatyana R. , Spiegel Rebecca , Haut Sheryl R. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectiveA 2007 study performed at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY) identified high prevalence of reduced bone density in an urban population of patients with epilepsy and suggested that bone mineralization screenings should be regularly performed for these patients. We conducted a long‐term follow‐up study to determine whether bone mineral density (BMD) loss, osteoporosis, and fractures have been successfully treated or prevented.MethodsIn the current study, patients from the 2007 study who had two dual‐energy absorptiometry (DXA) scans performed at least 5 years apart were analyzed. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria to diagnose patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis were used, and each patient's probability of developing fractures was calculated with the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX).ResultsThe median time between the first and second DXA scans for the 81 patients analyzed was 9.4 years (range 5‐14.7). The median age at the first DXA scan was 41 years (range 22‐77). Based on WHO criteria, 79.0% of patients did not have worsening of bone density, while 21.0% had new osteopenia or osteoporosis; many patients were prescribed treatment for bone loss. Older age, increased duration of anti‐epileptic drug (AED) usage, and low body mass index (BMI) were risk factors for abnormal BMDs. Based on the first DXA scan, the FRAX calculator estimated that none of the patients in this study had a 10‐year risk of more than 20% for developing major osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, wrist, or humeral fracture). However, in this population, 11 patients (13.6%) sustained a major osteoporotic fracture after their first DXA scan.SignificanceDespite being routinely screened and frequently treated for bone mineral density loss and fracture prevention, many patients with epilepsy suffered new major osteoporotic fractures. This observation is especially important as persons with epilepsy are at high risk for falls and traumas.
Retracted: Design of multimedia blockchain privacy protection system based on distributed trusted communication
Authors: Li Daming , Liu Wenjian , Deng Lianbing , Qin Bin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBlockchain is a hash chain with chain structure formed by data blocks in chronological order. With the promotion of bitcoin, the research and application of blockchain, the underlying core technology of bitcoin, is growing rapidly, which is considered to be the fifth generation of Internet disruptive technology after mobile Internet. At present, there are various identity management applications and platforms based on blockchain, but while blockchain has gradually become the cornerstone of the value Internet, it also brings great challenges to the privacy protection needs of users. This article analyzes the privacy protection mechanism of blockchain network layer, transaction layer and application layer, including malicious node detection and access restriction technology in network layer, mixed currency technology and encryption technology in blockchain transaction layer. In this article, distributed communicable network technology and multimedia data security technology are used to build a blockchain security system. We designed the efficient system to accurately analyze the data and the information protection. The experimental results show that the proposed method has better data security guarantee ability.
Eggshell membrane powder lowers plasma triglyceride and liver total cholesterol by modulating gut microbiota and accelerating lipid metabolism in high‐fat diet‐fed mice
Authors: Ramli Nurul Shazini , Jia Huijuan , Sekine Ayumu , Lyu Weida , Furukawa Kyohei , Saito Kenji , Hasebe Yukio , Kato Hisanori 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObesity is a major global lifestyle disorder associated with gut microbiota. The health benefits of eggshell membrane (ESM) have been shown in previous reports, particularly as regards gut microbiota composition. Here, we investigated whether ESM improves lipid metabolism and alters gut microbiota in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. A total of 20 C57BL/6J mice aged 6 weeks were given either a control diet (CON), high‐fat diet (HFD), or high‐fat diet + 8% ESM powder (HESM) for 20 weeks. ESM supplementation in HFD‐fed mice reduced plasma triglycerides (TG) and liver total cholesterol (TC) and upregulated the expression of lipid metabolism genes carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2. Microbiota analysis showed increased relative abundance of the anti‐obesity bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, at 4, 12, and 16 weeks and reduced the abundance of inflammation‐related Blautia hydrogenotrophica, Roseburia faecis, and Ruminococcus callidus at 12 and 20 weeks. ESM‐supplemented mice had increased cecal isobutyrate, negatively correlated with B. hydrogenotrophica and Parabacteroides goldsteinii abundance. The results indicate that ESM supplementation in HFD‐fed mice reduced plasma TG and liver TC, possibly through alteration of lipid metabolism gene expression and gut microbiota composition, suggesting that ESM may be effective in obesity management.
Loneliness is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
Authors: Luchetti Martina , Terracciano Antonio , Aschwanden Damaris , Lee Ji H. , Stephan Yannick , Sutin Angelina R. 
Published: April 2020

ObjectivesTo test whether loneliness is associated with the risk of cognitive impairment up to 11 years later in a European sample of middle‐aged and older adults. The study examines whether this association is independent of measures of social isolation, depression, and other risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia.MethodsParticipants (N = 14 114) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) answered a single item on loneliness at baseline and were assessed for cognitive impairment every 2‐to‐3 years for 11 years. Participants who scored at least 1.5 standard deviations below the age‐graded mean on both a memory recall task and verbal fluency task were classified as impaired. A three‐item measure of loneliness was available for a sample of respondents followed up to 4 years.ResultsFeeling lonely was associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment (HR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.19‐1.44), after accounting for age, sex, education, and SHARE country strata. The association was robust but reduced in magnitude when controlling for clinical and behavioral risk factors, health‐related activity limitations, social isolation, social disengagement, and depressive symptoms. The association was not moderated by socio‐demographic factors and was also apparent when using the three‐item loneliness scale instead of the single‐item measure.ConclusionsThese findings expand the extant literature on loneliness and the risk of cognitive impairment in older adulthood. Loneliness is one modifiable factor that can be intervened prior to the development of severe impairment or dementia.
Impact of an Open Access Nationwide Treatment Model on Hepatitis C Virus Antiviral Drug Resistance
Authors: Douglas Mark W. , Tay Enoch S.E. , Wang Dao Sen , Ong Adrian T.L. , Wilson Caroline , Phu Amy , Kok Jen , Dwyer Dominic E. , Bull Rowena A. , Lloyd Andrew R. , Applegate Tanya L. , Dore Gregory J. , Howe Anita Y. , Harrigan Richard , George Jacob 
Published: April 2020

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, but drug resistance could undermine proposed global elimination targets. Real‐world studies are needed to inform the impact of widespread DAA treatment on antiviral resistance in the community. The prevalence and range of posttreatment resistance‐associated substitutions (RASs) was determined in Australian patients with open access to DAAs through a wide range of prescribers. NS3, NS5A, and NS5B regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by population sequencing. Clinically relevant RASs were identified using online databases (ReCALL and Geno2Pheno[hcv]). Of 572 samples, 60% were from genotype 3 and 27% from genotype 1a. Ninety‐two percent of people failed a DAA regimen containing an NS5A inhibitor, including 10% with a pangenotype regimen. NS5A RASs were detected in 72% of people with genotype 1 and 80% with genotype 3. For genotype 1, there was a range of RASs across the NS5A region, while for genotype 3, the Y93H RAS predominated (72%). The prevalence of NS3 RASs was higher in people exposed to an NS3 inhibitor (35% vs. 3.9%; P < 0.0001). NS5B resistance was rare, with a single case of sofosbuvir resistance. Multiclass drug resistance was found in 33% of people exposed to both NS3 and NS5A inhibitors. Conclusion: The high prevalence of NS5A RASs among people failing DAA therapy reinforces the importance of specific retreatment regimens, ideally guided by resistance testing. The impact of multiclass drug resistance on retreatment in people exposed to both NS3 and NS5A inhibitors needs to be assessed in real‐world studies. Surveillance for increasing antiviral resistance during treatment scale‐up is essential to maintain the efficacy of current DAA regimens.
Melanin and antipredatory defenses in Daphnia dadayana under UVR exposure
Authors: Wolinski Laura , Modenutti Beatriz , Balseiro Esteban 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUltraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure has potentially hazardous effects on aquatic life, even more in the southern hemisphere, which is close to ozone layer depletion. Aquatic animals living in shallow water cannot escape from UVR effects swimming down, so they have to generate other traits to confront it (i.e., enzymes or pigments). Daphnia is a worldwide freshwater genus that inhabits ponds and lakes. Daphnia dadayana inhabits shallow lakes in Patagonia presenting a yellowish carapace and a horn‐like structure in juveniles assumed for avoiding invertebrate predator attacks. We aimed to determine the effect of UVR exposure on the accumulation of melanin and if the development of the antipredatory defense affects the antioxidant response (glutathione S‐transferase [GST] activity) to UVR. We carried out laboratory experiments with treatments with and without UVR exposure measuring melanin accumulation by photographic analyses. Also, we performed an experiment to generate the antipredatory structure exposing D. dadayana indirectly to the predaceous copepod Parabroteas sarsi. Our results showed that UVR increased melanin accumulation in D. dadayana and that the morphological structure against predators did not decrease the antioxidant enzymatic defenses (GST). Our concluding remarks are that D. dadayana is a successful organism that can use its phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental stressors such as invertebrate predators and UVR exposure with no trade‐off between these two stressors.
Scorpion venoms and associated toxins as anticancer agents: update on their application and mechanism of action
Authors: Desales‐Salazar Erasto , Khusro Ameer , Cipriano‐Salazar Moisés , Barbabosa‐Pliego Alberto , Rivas‐Caceres Raymundo Rene 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCancer remains one of the deadliest non‐infectious diseases of the 21st century, causing millions of mortalities per year worldwide. Analyses of conventional treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have shown not only a lower therapeutic efficiency rate but also plethora of side‐effects. Considering the desperate need to identify promising anticancer agents, researchers are in quest to design and develop new tumoricidal drugs from natural sources. Over the past few years, scorpion venoms have shown exemplary roles as pivotal anticancer agents. Scorpion venoms associated metabolites, particularly toxins demonstrated in vitro anticancer attributes against diversified cell lines by inhibiting the growth and progression of the cell cycle, inhibiting metastasis by blocking ion channels such as K+ and Cl−, and/or inducing apoptosis by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. This review sheds light not only on in vitro anticancer properties of distinct scorpion venoms and their toxins, but also on their mechanism of action for designing and developing new therapeutic drugs in future.
Hypoxic Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism and Mitophagy in Nucleus Pulposus Cells Is Dependent on HIF-1α–BNIP3 Axis
Authors: Madhu Vedavathi , Boneski Paige K , Silagi Elizabeth , Qiu Yunping , Kurland Irwin , Guntur Anyonya R , Shapiro Irving M , Risbud Makarand V 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTNucleus pulposus (NP) cells reside in an avascular and hypoxic microenvironment of the intervertebral disc and are predominantly glycolytic due to robust HIF-1 activity. It is generally thought that NP cells contain few functional mitochondria compared with cells that rely on oxidative metabolism. Consequently, the contribution of mitochondria to NP cell metabolism and the role of hypoxia and HIF-1 in mitochondrial homeostasis is poorly understood. Using mitoQC reporter mice, we show for the first time to our knowledge that NP cell mitochondria undergo age-dependent mitophagy in vivo. Mechanistically, in vitro studies suggest that, under hypoxic conditions, mitochondria in primary NP cells undergo HIF-1α-dependent fragmentation, controlled by modulating the levels of key proteins DRP1 and OPA1 that are involved in mitochondrial fission and fusion, respectively. Seahorse assays and steady state metabolic profiling coupled with [1-2-13C]-glucose flux analysis revealed that in hypoxia, HIF-1α regulated metabolic flux through coordinating glycolysis and the mitochondrial TCA cycle interactions, thereby controlling the overall biosynthetic capacity of NP cells. We further show that hypoxia and HIF-1α trigger mitophagy in NP cells through the mitochondrial translocation of BNIP3, an inducer of receptor-mediated mitophagy. Surprisingly, however, loss of HIF-1α in vitro and analysis of NP-specific HIF-1α null mice do not show a decrease in mitophagic flux in NP cells but a compensatory increase in NIX and PINK1-Parkin pathways with higher mitochondrial number. Taken together, our studies provide novel mechanistic insights into the complex interplay between hypoxia and HIF-1α signaling on the mitochondrial metabolism and quality control in NP cells. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Matrices based on meso antibacterial framework
Authors: Sohrabnezhad Shabnam , Pourahmad Afshin , Salahshoor Mobin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the synthesis of three types of porous materials (PMs) (porous Fe3O4, MIL‐101 metal‐organic framework (MOF), and MCM‐41 mesoporous silica) by hydrothermal method was performed. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was carried out after the synthesis reaction of supports in MCM‐41 and MIL‐101 MOF. Ag core@ porous Fe3O4 core–shell system was prepared via a one‐pot hydrothermal method. Ag‐MIL‐101 was obtained using Urtica dioica leaf extract as the green solvent and reducing agent. The antibacterial activity of Ag‐PM nanocomposites (NCs) was investigated on both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The size of the silver NPs was determined to be 12 and 30 nm in MCM‐41 and MIL‐101 MOF, respectively. The diameter of Ag core in Ag@Fe3O4 shell was ~135 nm. The antibacterial activity of Ag‐PMs was in the order Ag‐MCM‐41 > Ag‐MIL‐101 > Ag core@Fe3O4 shell. The loading percent of Ag NPs in MCM‐41 (84%) was more than that in MIL‐101 (53%) and Fe3O4 (31%). The release of Ag+ ions from Ag‐MCM‐41, Ag‐MIL‐101, and Ag@Fe3O4 NCs was 46, 2, and 1 ppm, respectively. The release of the Ag+ ions and, consequently, the antibacterial activity of NCs depend on the uniform distribution, particles size, and the absence of aggregation of Ag NPs in PMs.
Long noncoding RNAs in osteosarcoma via various signaling pathways
Authors: Han Jinming , Shen Xiaohan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOsteosarcoma is one of the most commonly seen bone malignancies with high incidence rate in both children and adults. Although the regulatory network of osteosarcoma has been greatly concerned for years, the mechanisms regarding its oncogenesis and development are still not clear. Recent discoveries have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in the development, progression, and invasion of osteosarcoma. Deregulated expression of lncRNAs has been found to participate in the regulation of various signaling transduction pathways in osteosarcoma. This review summarized roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis, development, and potential therapeutic of osteosarcoma via different signaling pathways. For examples, MALAT1, CCAT2, FER1L4, LOXL1‐AS1, OIP5‐AS1, PVT1, DBH‐AS1, and AWPPH regulate PI3K/Akt signaling; AWPPH and BE503655 regulate Wnt/β‐catenin signaling; NKILA and XIST regulate NF‐κB signaling; MEG3 and SNHG12 regulate Notch signaling; FOXD2‐AS1 and LINK‐A regulate HIF‐1α signaling; GClnc1 and HOTAIR regulate P53 signaling; ZFAS1, H19, and MALAT1 regulate MAPK, Hedgehog and Rac1/JNK signaling, respectively.
Skull morphology of bottlenose dolphins from different ocean populations with emphasis on South America
Authors: Hohl Leandro S. L. , Sicuro Fernando L. , Wickert Janaína C. , Moreno Ignacio B. , Rocha‐Barbosa Oscar , Barreto André S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe bottlenose dolphin, genus Tursiops, is cosmopolitan occurring in tropical and temperate regions, with morphological variation between and within different oceans. Since the genus' taxonomy has been under discussion for a long time, this work aimed at analyzing the cranial variability of T. truncatus from different regions of the world. Geometric Morphometrics analyses were performed in 201 skulls of adult specimens, on dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, from the Eastern North Pacific, Eastern North Atlantic, Eastern South Atlantic, and Western South Atlantic oceans. The results indicate differences between individuals that inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Within the Atlantic Ocean, there is an evident longitudinal differentiation of specimens from the eastern and western regions. A latitudinal separation was also observed, considering specimens from the North and South Atlantic Ocean. In the Western South Atlantic statistical differences were found between two morphological groups, identified as T. gephyreus (sensu Lahille, 1908) and T. truncatus, and the cross‐validation presented 98% as minimum confidence for correct classification of these two groups. The present study provides strong morphological support to consider these two lineages as separate species.
An analysis of spatiotemporal pattern for COIVD‐19 in China based on space‐time cube
Authors: Mo Chunbao , Tan Dechan , Mai Tingyu , Bei Chunhua , Qin Jian , Pang Weiyi , Zhang Zhiyong 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis study seeks to examine and analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreaks and identify the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and changing trends of cases. Hence, local outlier analysis and emerging spatiotemporal hot spot analysis were performed to analyze the spatiotemporal clustering pattern and cold/hot spot trends of COVID‐19 cases based on space‐time cube during the period from 23 January 2020 to 24 February 2020. The main findings are as follows: (1) The outbreak had spread rapidly throughout the country within a short time and the current totality incidence rate has decreased. (2) The spatiotemporal distribution of cases was uneven. In terms of the spatiotemporal clustering pattern, Wuhan and Shiyan city were the center as both cities had high‐high clustering pattern with a surrounding unstable multiple‐type pattern in partial areas of Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces, and Chongqing city. Those regions are continuously in the hot spot on the spatiotemporal tendency. (3) The spatiotemporal analysis technology based on the space‐time cube can analyze comprehensively the spatiotemporal pattern of epidemiological data and produce a visual output of the consequences, which can reflect intuitively the distribution and trend of data in space‐time. Therefore, the Chinese government should strengthen the prevention and control efforts in a targeted manner to cope with a highly changeable situation.