bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of cryopreserved boar semen after supplementation sericin form silkworm (Bombyx mori) in semen extender
Authors: Ratchamak Ruthaiporn , Ratsiri Thanaporn , Kheawkanha Theerapat , Vongpralub Thevin , Boonkum Wuttigrai , Chankitisakul Vibuntita 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBoar cryopreserved semen is scarcely used for artificial insemination due to its quality which is largely reduced by membrane lipid peroxidation. This present study was designed to improve the post‐thawed boar semen quality by determining the optimal level of sericin supplementation (antioxidants) in semen extender. Five levels of sericin supplementation between 0% and 1% (w/v) were examined. Semen was frozen by the liquid nitrogen vapor method, thawed slowly at 5°C for 5 min, and used for the evaluation of sperm quality. The results indicated 0.5%–1% sericin supplementation was more effective on maintenance of sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial functions during freezing–thawing. Moreover, 0.75% sericin supplementation was most protective toward total sperm motility and sperm progressive motility. Additionally, 0.25%–0.75% sericin supplementation significantly suppressed increases in the index of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, 0.75% sericin is recommended as an alternative component of the freezing extender to improve cryopreserved boar semen. However, further research using AI will be necessary to demonstrate that this indication can be applied to the production of offspring in the farms.
Effects of a concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach on students’ learning achievements and critical thinking tendency: An application in Classical Chinese learning contexts
Authors: Hwang Gwo‐Jen , Huang Hsin , Wang Ruo‐Xuan , Zhu Li‐Li 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn language courses, it is important to foster students’ systematic thinking and to develop their competence to express, appreciate, criticize and reflect, in particular in such courses as classical Chinese, which aim to develop students’ cultural and literature knowledge. Problem posing is a promising strategy to achieve this objective. However, without sufficient supports, students could feel frustrated since problem posing is a challenging task, in particular for young students. In this study, a fill‐in concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach was proposed to address this problem. A learning system was developed based on the proposed approach and a quasi‐experiment was conducted on an eighth‐grade classical Chinese course to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The experimental results show that the concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach improved the students’ learning achievement, critical thinking tendency and problem‐posing quality. The interview results further show that the students perceived the approach as being effective from the perspectives of “Improving article comprehension,” “Improving problem‐posing performances,” and “Boosting diverse thinking.”
Ibrutinib for central nervous system lymphoma: the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance/MD Anderson Cancer Center experience
Authors: Lewis Katharine L. , Chin Collin K. , Manos Kate , Casey John , Hamad Nada , Crawford Julie , Ho Shir‐Jing , Issa Samar , Grigg Andrew , Wood Peter , Gandhi Maher K. , Do Bryan , Nastoupil Loretta , Hawkes Eliza A. , Cheah Chan Y. 
Published: July 2020

SummaryPrimary and secondary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL/SCNSL) are aggressive rare malignancies with dismal outcomes. Encouraging data have emerged from Phase I/II clinical trials treating relapsed/refractory PCNSL/SCNSL with ibrutinib. We analysed 33 patients who received ibrutinib, alone or with other therapies, for PCNSL (n = 9) or SCNSL (n = 24). The objective response rate was 58% (complete response 55%). The median progression‐free survival and overall survival for patients with PCNSL were both 3·1 months; for SCNSL, 10·2 and 11·5 months respectively. Only one invasive fungal infection was observed, despite concurrent or recent use of dexamethasone 8–16 mg daily in 14 patients (42%). Ibrutinib has encouraging activity in these aggressive malignancies.
Increased CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Bellesi Silvia , Metafuni Elisabetta , Hohaus Stefan , Maiolo Elena , Marchionni Federica , D’Innocenzo Simone , La Sorda Marilena , Ferraironi Manuela , Ramundo Francesco , Fantoni Massimo , Murri Rita , Cingolani Antonella , Sica Simona , Gasbarrini Antonio , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Chiusolo Patrizia , De Stefano Valerio 
Published: July 2020

SummaryA low count of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes is a hallmark laboratory finding in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Using flow cytometry, we observed significantly higher CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression on both CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in 42 COVID‐19 patients when compared to controls. Higher CD95 expression in CD4+ cells correlated with lower CD4+ counts. A higher expression of CD95 in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes correlated with a lower percentage of naive events. Our results might suggest a shift to antigen‐activated T cells, expressing molecules increasing their propensity to apoptosis and exhaustion during COVID‐19 infection.
Mechanism of tumor‐suppressive cell competition in flies
Authors: Kanda Hiroshi , Igaki Tatsushi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractOncogenic mutations often trigger antitumor cellular response such as induction of apoptosis or cellular senescence. Studies in the last decade have identified the presence of the third guardian against mutation‐induced tumorigenesis, namely “cell competition.” Cell competition is a context‐dependent cell elimination whereby cells with higher fitness eliminate neighboring cells with lower fitness by inducing cell death. While oncogene‐induced apoptosis or oncogene‐induced senescence acts as a cell‐autonomous tumor suppressor, cell competition protects the tissue from tumorigenesis via cell‐cell communication. For instance, in Drosophila epithelium, oncogenic cells with cell polarity mutations overproliferate and develop into tumors on their own but are eliminated from the tissue when surrounded by wild‐type cells. Genetic studies in flies have unraveled that such tumor‐suppressive cell competition is regulated by at least three mechanisms: direct cell‐cell interaction between polarity‐deficient cells and wild‐type cells, secreted factors from epithelial cells, and systemic factors from distant organs. Molecular manipulation of tumor‐suppressive cell competition could provide a novel therapeutic strategy against human cancers.
GWOVina: A grey wolf optimization approach to rigid and flexible receptor docking
Authors: Wong Kin Meng , Tai Hio Kuan , Siu Shirley W. I. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractProtein–ligand docking programs are indispensable tools for predicting the binding pose of a ligand to the receptor protein. In this paper, we introduce an efficient flexible docking method, GWOVina, which is a variant of the Vina implementation using the grey wolf optimizer (GWO) and random walk for the global search, and the Dunbrack rotamer library for side‐chain sampling. The new method was validated for rigid and flexible‐receptor docking using four independent datasets. In rigid docking, GWOVina showed comparable docking performance to Vina in terms of ligand pose RMSD, success rate, and affinity prediction. In flexible‐receptor docking, GWOVina has improved success rate compared to Vina and AutoDockFR. It ran 2 to 7 times faster than Vina and 40 to 100 times faster than AutoDockFR. Therefore, GWOVina can play a role in solving the complex flexible‐receptor docking cases and is suitable for virtual screening of compound libraries. GWOVina is freely available at https://cbbio.cis.um.edu.mo/software/gwovina for testing.
Cognitive Prerequisites for Generative Learning: Why Some Learning Strategies Are More Effective Than Others
Authors: Breitwieser Jasmin , Brod Garvin 
Published: July 2020

This study examined age‐related differences in the effectiveness of two generative learning strategies (GLSs). Twenty‐five children aged 9–11 and 25 university students aged 17–29 performed a facts learning task in which they had to generate either a prediction or an example before seeing the correct result. We found a significant Age × Learning Strategy interaction, with children remembering more facts after generating predictions rather than examples, whereas both strategies were similarly effective in adults. Pupillary data indicated that predictions stimulated surprise, whereas the effectiveness of example‐based learning correlated with children’s analogical reasoning abilities. These findings suggest that there are different cognitive prerequisites for different GLSs, which results in varying degrees of strategy effectiveness by age.
Contact dermatitis caused by glucose sensors, insulin pumps, and tapes: Results from a 5‐year period
Authors: Ahrensbøll‐Friis Ulrik , Simonsen Anne Birgitte , Zachariae Claus , Thyssen Jacob P. , Johansen Jeanne D. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe number of patients with contact dermatitis from glucose sensors and insulin infusion sets is increasing. Patch testing is challenging because of a lack of information concerning the constituent materials of medical devices.ObjectivesTo report on products and causes of allergic reactions to glucose sensors or insulin infusion sets over a 5‐year period and suggest a short screening series.MethodsAnalysis of patch test data from consecutive patients suspected of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to glucose sensors and/or insulin infusion sets from 2015–2019.ResultsPatient numbers increased from 4 to 15 per year; 30/38 (78.9%) were children. In 29 (76.3%), a diagnosis of allergic/probable ACD was established, mostly due to the tapes of the device or allergens in these tapes (n = 23) followed by allergens in the device housing (n = 10). Isobornyl acrylate, abitol, and colophonium were the most common allergens. Information from manufacturers was often difficult to obtain and, if accessible, inadequate. For this reason, the diagnosis was delayed for more than 1.5 years in 12 (31%) patients.ConclusionsThe increasing number of patients, mostly children, with ACD from devices used in treatment of type 1 diabetes demonstrates the importance of this problem. Allergies can easily be overlooked, due to the lack of mandatory labeling of the constituent materials of the devices.
Differential influence ofStreptococcus mitison host response to metals in reconstructed human skin and oral mucosa
Authors: Shang Lin , Deng Dongmei , Roffel Sanne , Gibbs Susan 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundSkin and oral mucosa are continuously exposed to potential metal sensitizers while hosting abundant microbes, which may influence the host response to sensitizers. This host response may also be influenced by the route of exposure that is skin or oral mucosa, due to their different immune properties.ObjectiveDetermine how commensalStreptococcus mitisinfluences the host response to nickel sulfate (sensitizer) and titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide (questionable sensitizer) in reconstructed human skin (RHS) and gingiva (RHG).MethodsRHS/RHG was exposed to nickel or titanium, in the presence or absence ofS. mitisfor 24 hours. Histology, cytokine secretion, and Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) expression were assessed.ResultsS. mitisincreased interleukin (IL)‐6, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL5, and CCL20 secretion in RHS but not in RHG; co‐application with nickel further increased cytokine secretion. In contrast, titanium suppressedS. mitis–induced cytokine secretion in RHS and had no influence on RHG.S. mitisand metals differentially regulated TLR1 and TLR4 in RHS, and predominantly TLR4 in RHG.ConclusionCo‐exposure ofS. mitisand nickel resulted in a more potent innate immune response in RHS than in RHG, whereas titanium remained inert. These results indicate the important influence of commensal microbes and the route of exposure on the host's response to metals.
Transferable, predictive models of benthic communities informs marine spatial planning in a remote and data‐poor region
Authors: Bridge Tom C. L. , Huang Zhi , Przeslawski Rachel , Tran Maggie , Siwabessy Justy , Picard Kim , Reside April E. , Logan Murray , Nichol Scott L. , Caley M. Julian 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSystematic conservation planning requires spatial information on biodiversity. Such information is often unavailable, forcing spatial planning to rely on assumed relationships between species and environmental features. This problem is particularly acute in large, remote marine protected areas that are proliferating rapidly. Here, we use models to predict whether (a) macrobenthic biodiversity across four taxa (gorgonians, soft corals, hard corals, and sponges) with different life histories are congruent within seascape features through regional space; and (b) models generated in an intensively‐sampled area in one region can predict the occurrence of habitat‐forming macrobenthos in neighboring ones. All four taxa studied showed similar habitat preferences, but high variability in distributions among and within features suggesting factors other than simple geomorphology influence these regional biodiversity patterns. Nonetheless, models derived from one region accurately predicted the presence and absence of the same taxa hundreds of kilometers away. This transferability of models of species occurrences has the potential to deliver improved reserve design in data‐deficient regions.
Analysis of fitness costs associated with metronidazole and amoxicillin resistance in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Windham Ian H. , Merrell D. Scott 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing rates of antibiotic resistance are a major concern for all pathogens, including H. pylori. However, increased resistance often coincides with a decrease in relative fitness of the pathogen in the absence of the antibiotic, raising the possibility that increased resistance can be mitigated for some antibiotics by improved antibiotic husbandry. Therefore, a greater understanding of which types of antibiotic resistance create fitness defects in H. pylori may aid rational treatment strategies.Materials and MethodsWhile a wealth of H. pylori literature reports mutations that correlate with increased resistance, few studies demonstrate causation for these same mutations. Herein, we examined fitness costs associated with metronidazole and amoxicillin resistance. Isogenic strains bearing literature reported point mutations in the rdxA and pbp1 genes were engineered and tested in in vitro competition assays to assess relative fitness.ResultsNone of the metronidazole resistance mutations resulted in a fitness cost under the tested conditions. In contrast, amoxicillin‐resistant mutant strains demonstrated a defect in competition by 24 hours. This change in fitness was further enhanced by moderate osmotic stress. However, under extreme osmotic stress, the amoxicillin‐resistant N562Y PBP1 mutant strain showed enhanced fitness, suggesting that there are some pbp1 mutations that can give a conditional fitness advantage.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate the role of specific point mutations in rdxA and pbp1 in antibiotic resistance and suggest that amoxicillin‐resistant strains of H. pylori show environmentally dictated changes in fitness. These later finding may be responsible for the relatively low rates of amoxicillin resistance seen in the United States.
Extrusion improved the physical and chemical properties of dietary fibre from bamboo shoot by‐products
Authors: Yang Mo , Wu Liangru , Cao Chongjiang , Wang Suya , Zhang Dongmei 
Published: July 2020

SummaryBamboo shoot by‐products are regarded as waste and environmental pollutant. This study aimed to improve the functional properties of dietary fibre from bamboo shoot by‐products. After CO2 extrusion, the particle size of CO2‐extruded bamboo fibre was 17.6% lower than that of the control, and its specific surface area was 2.85 times that of the control. The soluble dietary fibre content was significantly increased from 5.64 g/100 g to 11.05 g/100 g (P < 0.05), and the capacities for water holding, swelling and oil holding were remarkably improved. The cholesterol adsorption of CO2‐extruded bamboo fibre was increased from 96.54 μg g−1 to 174.65 μg g−1 (pH 7.0), and its nitrite ion adsorption capacity was increased from 503.33 μg g−1 to 657.27 μg g−1 (pH 2.0). In summary, the structural changes of bamboo fibre such as internal porosity, surface roughening and low crystallinity indicated that its functional properties were improved after CO2 extrusion.
Relationship between nurse practice environment and work outcomes: A survey study in the Philippines
Authors: Falguera Charlie C. , De los Santos Janet Alexis A. , Galabay Jolo R. , Firmo Carmen N. , Tsaras Konstantinos , Rosales Rheajane A. , Mirafuentes Ephraim Catoto , Labrague Leodoro J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimsChallenges in the nurse practice environment greatly affect nurse work outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between nurse practice environment and work outcomes in the Philippines.MethodsThis cross‐sectional survey involved 549 hospital nurses in the Philippines in 2018. The nurse practice environment was measured using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES‐NWI). Four self‐report scales were used to measure work outcomes: job satisfaction, job burnout, job stress and nurse‐assessed quality of care. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsSignificant relationships were found between nurse and organizational characteristics and nurse practice environment. Further, multivariate regression analysis revealed that the nurse practice environment had a significant and positive relationship with perceived quality of care and a significant and negative relationship with job burnout and job stress.ConclusionA favourable work environment significantly reduced job burnout and job stress and improved the quality of patient care. With considerable migration abroad, a favourable nurse practice environment may engage a better nurse workforce in the country and subsequently reduce migration. Managers must focus on developing good nurse practice environments that will improve professional work outcomes and quality patient care.
Does fluoride reduce the mineral loss of gamma‐irradiated primary teeth?—In vitro study
Authors: Marangoni‐Lopes Lenita , Rovai‐Pavan Gabriela , de Sousa Emerson Tavares , Steiner‐Oliveira Carolina , Nobre‐Dos‐Santos Marinês 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundGamma radiation turns the primary enamel more susceptible to demineralization.AimTo investigate if the fluoride dentifrice combined with acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (APF‐gel) inhibits the progression of mineral loss of gamma‐irradiated primary enamel.DesignSpecimens of demineralized primary enamel were randomized into eight groups (n = 13): Non‐irradiated + Non‐fluoride dentifrice (G1); Non‐irradiated + Fluoridated dentifrice (G2); Non‐irradiated + APF‐gel + Non‐fluoridated dentifrice (G3); Non‐irradiated + APF‐gel + Fluoridated dentifrice (G4); Irradiated + Non‐fluoridated dentifrice (G5); Irradiated + Fluoridated dentifrice (G6); Irradiated + APF‐gel + Non‐fluoridated dentifrice (G7); and Irradiated + APF‐gel + Fluoridated dentifrice (G8). Specimens of irradiated groups were submitted to 3060 cGy radiation dose. After APF‐gel treatment, specimens were submitted to a pH cycling, with the respective dentifrice exposure, twice daily. The microhardness and polarized light microscopy analyses were performed to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the enamel mineral loss, respectively. Quantitative data of mineral loss were compared using the two‐way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test.ResultsFluoride dentifrice alone, APF‐gel application alone, and their combination were not effective in inhibiting mineral loss of irradiated primary enamel.ConclusionThe combination of fluoride dentifrice and APF‐gel was not effective in inhibiting the progression of mineral loss of gamma‐irradiated primary teeth.
Mechanistic insights into the effects of SREBP1c on hepatic stellate cell and liver fibrosis
Authors: Su Shengyan , Tian Haimeng , Jia Xin , Zhu Xiaofei , Wu Juanjuan , Zhang Yali , Chen Yuanyuan , Li Ziqiang , Zhou Yajun 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) plays key roles in maintenance of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) quiescence. The present researches investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of SREBP1c on HSCs and liver fibrogenesis by HSC‐targeted overexpression of the active SREBP1c using adenovirus in vitro and in vivo. Results demonstrated that SREBP1c exerted inhibitory effects on TAA‐induced liver fibrosis. SREBP1c down‐regulated TGFβ1 level in liver, reduced the receptors for TGFβ1 and PDGFβ, and interrupted the signalling pathways of Smad3 and Akt1/2/3 but not ERK1/2 in HSCs. SREBP1c also led to the decreases in the protein levels of the bromodomain‐containing chromatin‐modifying factor bromodomain protein 4, methionine adenosyltransferase 2B (MAT2B) and TIMP1 in HSCs. In vivo activated HSCs did not express cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 but SREBP1c down‐regulated both cyclins in vitro. SREBP1c elevated PPARγ and MMP1 protein levels in the model of liver fibrosis. The effect of SREBP1c on MAT2B expression was associated with its binding to MAT2B1 promoter. Taken together, the mechanisms underlying the effects of SREBP1c on HSC activation and liver fibrosis were involved in its influences on TGFβ1 level, the receptors for TGFβ1 and PDGFβ and their downstream signalling, and the molecules for epigenetic regulation of genes.
ST6Gal1 is up‐regulated and associated with aberrant IgA1 glycosylation in IgA nephropathy: An integrated analysis of the transcriptome
Authors: Liu Youxia , Wang Fanghao , Zhang Yaru , Jia Junya , Yan Tiekun 
Published: July 2020

AbstractGalactose‐deficient IgA1 (Gd‐IgA1) plays a crucial role in the development of Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), however, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms driving Gd‐IgA1 production in B cells are not well understood. In this study, RNA‐seq analysis identified 337 down‐regulated and 405 up‐regulated genes in B cells from 17 patients with IgAN and 6 healthy controls. Among them, ST6Gal1, which was associated with IgAN in a previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS), was up‐regulated in IgAN and significantly positive correlated with elevated Gd‐IgA1. In addition, we identified increased plasma ST6Gal1 levels in 100 patients with IgAN, which were associated with higher levels of proteinuria, plasma IgA, Gd‐IgA1 levels, greater degrees of systemic complement activation including C3a, Bb, C4d, MAC and a lower proportion classified as C2 grade (crescent proportion ≥25%). Interesting, in vitro, recombinant ST6Gal1 (rST6Gal1) exposure reduced the production of Gd‐IgA1 in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from IgAN patients. rST6Gal1 stimuli also increased expression of C1GALT1, which were well‐known proportional to the decrease in galactose deficiency of IgA1. In conclusions, we identified increased plasma ST6Gal1 levels and the association of ST6Gal1 with disease severity of IgAN. Additionally, rST6Gal1 administration in vitro increased expression of C1GALT1 and reduced the production of Gd‐IgA1.