bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐steam combination process for microbial decontamination and heat transfer enhancement
Authors: Basumatary Regina , Vatankhah Hamed , Dwivedi Mritunjay , John Dalia , Ramaswamy Hosahalli S. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSteam is by far the most effective heating medium used in commercial thermal processing applications. However, for rapid short time direct heating of food products it poses some serious difficulties because of the presence of air along the surface and internal tissues of the food products interferes with the heat transfer mechanism and slows down the effective heating of the surface. Addition of an ultrasound environment to steam can assist in removing this surface barrier and promote better heat transfer. The objective of this research was to evaluate the suitability of ultrasound—steam combination heating for (a) microbial decontamination and (b) enhancing heat transfer. It was demonstrated that short‐time (15 s) combined ultrasound—steam heating could result in more than five logarithmic cycle destruction ofEscherichia colipopulation on carrot surfaces. Secondly, for longer time heating, the combination heat treatment was more efficient than steam alone for enhancing heat transfer rates contributing to achieve a lower heating rate index, higher temperatures and higher process lethality values.Practical ApplicationsSurface contamination of fruits, vegetables, and meats present a serious problem with respect to public health safety and their marketability. Many techniques have been employed for microbial decontamination of food contact surfaces only with limited success. New methods are always evolving to improve the process efficiency without impairing the product quality. Physical methods are gaining more popularity than chemicals due to consumer concerns for chemical additives. While steam and sound have been independently used successfully for various food processing applications, their combination has not been widely tried either to improve the efficacy of surface decontamination or improved heat transfer. The main focus of this study is to review and demonstrate the success ultrasound‐steam combination process.
Multimorbidity in Medicare Beneficiaries: Performance of an ICD‐Coded Multimorbidity‐Weighted Index
Authors: Wei Melissa Y. , Ratz David , Mukamal Kenneth J. 
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVESMost older adults have multimorbidity that impairs physical functioning, but it is difficult to quantify using claims data. We previously developed and validated a multimorbidity‐weighted index (MWI) that embeds physical functioning through disease weightings. We mapped these conditions to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes and compared them with existing indices.DESIGNPopulation‐based prospective cohort.SETTINGRespondents to the 2006‐2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with linked Medicare claims data and continuous enrollment in 2006.PARTICIPANTSCommunity‐dwelling Medicare‐eligible HRS participants (N = 9923; mean age = 75.5 ± 8.5 y).MEASUREMENTSIndividuals were followed for future physical functioning (2006‐2014) and mortality (2007‐2016). MWI conditions were mapped to ICD‐9‐CM codes to produce an ICD‐coded MWI (MWI‐ICD). We compared MWI‐ICD, simple disease count, Charlson, Elixhauser, and the health‐related quality of life comorbidity index (HRQOL‐CI) through distributions, hazard ratios for mortality, and relationships with future physical functioning.RESULTSMWI‐ICD exhibited the broadest distribution and most unique values (5891). Left censoring was most pronounced for Charlson (34.3% score = 0) and Elixhauser (13.1% score = 0) vs MWI (5.0% score = 0). Hazard ratios and concordance (C)‐statistics for mortality across extreme quartiles were similar for MWI‐ICD, Elixhauser, and Charlson but lower for disease count and the HRQOL‐CI. For physical functioning, MWI‐ICD yielded the greatest contrast across extreme quartiles and overall coefficient of determination (R2).CONCLUSIONMWI‐ICD was significantly associated with mortality and future physical functioning and comparable with established metrics for mortality prediction although not weighted to mortality. MWI‐ICD successfully captures diseases accumulation and functioning in claims data. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:999–1006, 2020
Prolactin maintains transient melanin‐concentrating hormone expression in the medial preoptic area during established lactation
Authors: Kokay Ilona C. , Grattan David R. , Murray Joanne F. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractA population of neurones in the medial part of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) transiently express melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) in mid to late lactation in the rat, and this expression disappears on weaning. Prolactin is known to mediate many of the physiological adaptations that occur within the dam associated with lactation and the mPOA is well endowed with prolactin receptors (Prlr); hence, we hypothesised that these transiently MCH‐expressing cells may be regulated by prolactin. By in situ hybridisation, we show that approximately 60% of the cells expressing prepro‐MCH (Pmch) mRNA in the medial part of the mPOA on day 19 of lactation also express Prlr mRNA. To demonstrate that these transiently MCH‐expressing cells can acutely respond to prolactin, dams were treated with bromocriptine on the morning of day 19 of lactation and then given vehicle or prolactin 4 hours later. In the prolactin‐treated animals, over 80% of the MCH‐immunopositive cells were also immunopositive for phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, an indicator of prolactin receptor activation: double immunopositive cells were rare in vehicle‐treated animals. Finally, the effect of manipulating the circulating concentrations of prolactin on days 17, 18 and 19 on the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells on day 19 was determined. Reducing circulating concentrations of prolactin over days 17, 18 and 19 of lactation with or without a suckling stimulus resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells in the medial part of the mPOA on day 19 of lactation. Further research is required to determine the functional role(s) of these prolactin‐activated transiently MCH‐expressing neurones; however, we suggest the most likely role involves adaptations in maternal metabolism to support the final week of lactation.
Standards policy and international trade: Multilateralism versus regionalism
Authors: Takarada Yasuhiro , Kawabata Yasushi , Yanase Akihiko , Kurata Hiroshi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe develop a simple model of policy coordination on domestic standards and examine whether domestic standards policy can lead to regional and multilateral harmonization of standards under the principle of national treatment. This paper focuses on mandatory product and process standards affecting the characteristics of a final good that control negative consumption externalities (e.g., vehicle emissions control and safety standards, restrictions on the use of pesticides for agricultural goods, and safety standards for electrical products). Only the products that meet a country's national standards are allowed to circulate in that country's market. Raising standards reduces negative externalities caused by consumption of a traded good but increases firms’ costs. We use the core as the solution concept. A standards regime is considered to be in the core if it is not blocked by any coalition within countries. The main finding is that a multilateral agreement on standards that maximizes world welfare is only in the core if externalities are local or slightly transboundary. Otherwise, only a regional agreement on standards is in the core. As extensions, we consider many and asymmetric number of firms, asymmetry in market size, fixed costs for different standards, and a multilateral agreement on different standards.
Assessing Representations of Close Relationships Among Chinese and Japanese Adolescents and Young Adults: Commonalities and Differences in the Two Confucian Cultures
Authors: Takahashi Keiko , Hirai Mika , Hou Jing , Shimizu Hiroshi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis article proposed an affective relationships model with its assessment instrument and examined how Chinese and Japanese adolescents and young adults construct mental representations of their close relationships, and the influence of Confucian cultural beliefs on these representations. The participants were 1,565 students aged 14 to 24 years living in China or Japan. The students were asked about their relationships with four figures: mother, father, closest friend, and romantic partner. We found that: (a) adolescents and young adults in both cultures constructed constellations of relationships containing multiple figures, and they articulated reasons for each figure's significance; and (b) there were between‐group differences in the relationships with the father and the romantic partner for Chinese versus Japanese adolescents and young adults. These differences were partly explained by the influence of Confucianism on the Chinese participants’ cultural beliefs that retained the patriarchal values.
Chloroplastic Os3BGlu6 contributes significantly to cellular ABA pools and impacts drought tolerance and photosynthesis in rice
Authors: Wang Chengliang , Chen Shuai , Dong Yanping , Ren Ruijuan , Chen Defu , Chen Xiwen 
Published: January 2020

Summary

Cellular abscisic acid (ABA) concentration is determined by both de novo biosynthesis and recycling via β‐glucosidase(s). However, which rice β‐glucosidase(s) are involved in this process remains unknown. Here, we report on a chloroplastic β‐glucosidase isoenzyme, Os3BGlu6, that functions in ABA recycling in rice.

Disruption of Os3BGlu6 in rice resulted in dwarfism, lower ABA content in leaves, drought‐sensitivity, lower photosynthesis rate and higher intercellular CO2 concentration. Os3BGlu6 could hydrolyze ABA‐GE to ABA in vitro. The reversion and overexpression rice lines restored or increased the drought tolerance as shown by the higher β‐glucosidase activity, ABA concentrations and expressions of ABA‐ and drought‐responsive genes. Drought induced Os3BGlu6 to form dimers, and the degree of polymerization correlated well with the increase in cellular ABA concentrations and drought tolerance in rice.

Os3BGlu6 was responsive to drought and ABA treatments, and the protein was localized to the chloroplast. Disruption of Os3BGlu6 resulted in the increased stomatal density and impaired stomatal movement. Transcriptomics revealed that disruption of Os3BGlu6 resulted in chloroplastic oxidative stress and lowered Rubisco activity even under normal conditions.

Taken together, these results suggest that chloroplastically localized Os3BGlu6 significantly affects cellular ABA pools, thereby affecting drought tolerance and photosynthesis in rice.
Transitions to adulthood and the changing body mass index of adolescent girls in Zambia
Authors: Soler‐Hampejsek Erica , Hewett Paul C. , Spielman Kathryn , Austrian Karen 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAdolescent girls in low‐ and middle‐income countries often experience several important life transitions, including school‐leaving, marriage, and childbearing. Understanding how these transitions are associated with changes in the nutritional status of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is crucial for programs that aim to improve nutritional outcomes among youth and promote healthy transitions to adulthood. We investigated the associations between adolescent transitions and body mass index (BMI) among a cohort of 4887 adolescent girls in Zambia aged 10–19 years when first interviewed in 2013. Estimating fixed‐effects models controlling for constant and time‐varying confounders, we found that school‐leaving, marital status, and childbearing are associated with the nutritional status of AGYW in diverse ways. School‐leaving was associated with higher BMI and increased odds of overweight/obesity. Marriage was not only associated with increased odds of undernutrition, particularly in rural areas, but also with increased odds of overweight/obesity among older girls. Motherhood was associated with lower BMI and lower odds of overweight/obesity, particularly among breastfeeding mothers. Our results provide evidence of characteristics of AGYW that would be useful for targeted nutritional interventions and behavior change programming, including girls leaving school, recently married, and young women undergoing a marital separation, as well as young mothers and their children.
The major‐effect quantitative trait locus Fnl7.1 encodes a late embryogenesis abundant protein associated with fruit neck length in cucumber
Authors: Xu Xuewen , Wei Chenxi , Liu Qianya , Qu Wenqing , Qi Xiaohua , Xu Qiang , Chen Xuehao 
Published: January 2020

SummaryFruit neck length (FNL) is an important quality trait in cucumber because it directly affects its market value. However, its genetic basis remains largely unknown. We identified a candidate gene for FNL in cucumber using a next‐generation sequencing‐based bulked segregant analysis in F2 populations, derived from a cross between Jin5‐508 (long necked) and YN (short necked). A quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 7, Fnl7.1, was identified through a genome‐wide comparison of single nucleotide polymorphisms between long and short FNL F2 pools, and it was confirmed by traditional QTL mapping in multiple environments. Fine genetic mapping, sequences alignment and gene expression analysis revealed that CsFnl7.1 was the most likely candidate Fnl7.1 locus, which encodes a late embryogenesis abundant protein. The increased expression of CsFnl7.1 in long‐necked Jin5‐508 may be attributed to mutations in the promoter region upstream of the gene body. The function of CsFnl7.1 in FNL control was confirmed by its overexpression in transgenic cucumbers. CsFnl7.1 regulates fruit neck development by modulating cell expansion. Probably, this is achieved through the direct protein–protein interactions between CsFnl7.1 and a dynamin‐related protein CsDRP6 and a germin‐like protein CsGLP1. Geographical distribution differences of the FNL phenotype were found among the different cucumber types. The East Asian and Eurasian cucumber accessions were highly enriched with the long‐necked and short‐necked phenotypes, respectively. A further phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Fnl7.1 locus might have originated from India. Thus, these data support that the CsFnl7.1 has an important role in increasing cucumber FNL.
Protein phosphatase 2A alleviates cadmium toxicity by modulating ethylene production in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chen Jie , Wang Xue , Zhang Wenwen , Zhang Shuqun , Zhao Fang‐Jie 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCadmium (Cd) is phytotoxic and detoxified primarily via phytochelatin (PC) complexation in Arabidopsis. Here, we explore Cd toxicity responses and defence mechanisms beyond the PC pathway using forward genetics approach. We isolated an Arabidopsis thaliana Cd‐hypersensitive mutant, Cd‐induced short root 1 (cdsr1) in the PC synthase mutant (cad1‐3) background. Using genomic resequencing and complementation, we identified PP2A‐4C as the causal gene for the mutant phenotype, which encodes a catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Root and shoot growth of cdsr1 cad1‐3 and cdsr1 were more sensitive to Cd than their respective wild‐type cad1‐3 and Col‐0. A mutant of the PP2A scaffolding subunit 1A was also more sensitive to Cd. PP2A‐4C was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus and PP2A‐4C expression was downregulated by Cd in cad1‐3. PP2A enzyme activity was decreased in cdsr1 and cdsr1 cad1‐3 under Cd stress. The expression of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid synthase genes ACS2 and ACS6 was upregulated by Cd more in cad1‐3 and cdsr1 cad1‐3 than in Col‐0 and the double mutant had a higher ACS activity. cdsr1 cad1‐3 and cdsr1 overproduced ethylene under Cd stress. The results suggest that PP2A containing 1A and 4C subunits alleviates Cd‐induced growth inhibition by modulating ethylene production.
Leptomeningeal disease in melanoma patients: An update to treatment, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Glitza Isabella C. , Smalley Keiran S. M. , Brastianos Priscilla K. , Davies Michael A. , McCutcheon Ian , Liu James K. C. , Ahmed Kamran A. , Arrington John A. , Evernden Brittany R. , Smalley Inna , Eroglu Zeynep , Khushalani Nikhil , Margolin Kim , Kluger Harriet , Atkins Michael B. , Tawbi Hussein , Boire Adrienne , Forsyth Peter 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn February 2018, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Moffitt Cancer Center hosted the Second Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System Metastases in Tampa, Florida. The meeting included investigators from multiple academic centers and disciplines. A consensus summary of the progress and challenges in melanoma parenchymal brain metastases was published (Eroglu et al., Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2019, 32, 458). Here, we will describe the current state of basic, translational, clinical research, and therapeutic management, for melanoma patients with leptomeningeal disease. We also outline key challenges and barriers to be overcome to make progress in this deadly disease.
Addressing Economic/Environmental Sustainability Trade‐offs in Procurement Episodes with Industrial Suppliers
Authors: Saunders Lance W. , Paul Brooks J. , Merrick Jason R. W. , Autry Chad W. 
Published: January 2020

Literature supports that buyers can influence suppliers to adopt sustainable practices. Much of this literature, however, is descriptive and takes only the perspective of a buyer trying to diffuse sustainability into its supply base. Alternatively, this study augments the literature through the development of a prescriptive mathematical model that maximizes a supplier's expected revenue from making a bid to a large buyer, inclusive of a sustainability criterion. Specifically, the model uses decision theory to determine an optimal level of sustainability to integrate into a bid to balance economic vs. sustainable trade‐offs based on perceived buyer preference. To illustrate the model's utility, it is then applied to a rich scenario, using data from an industrial supplier bidding for a contract to distribute a fuel additive in Brazil by balancing the trade‐off between decreased carbon emissions and increased distribution cost. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to illustrate how different forms of the buyer's objective function would influence the propagation of sustainability into optimal supplier bids. The research thereby adds to our understanding of sustainable sourcing by prescriptively modeling both buyer and supplier perspectives, when analyzing how buyer preferences can drive supplier behavior.
Evaluation of the factors that affect the pregnancy rates during embryo transfer in beef heifers
Authors: Alkan Hasan , Karaşahin Tahir , Dursun Şükrü , Satılmış Fatma , Erdem Hüseyin , Güler Mehmet 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the transfer side, transfer location, cervix transfer score, type and diameter of corpus luteum (CL) during embryo transfer on pregnancy rates in beef heifers. Progesterone‐based synchronization and superovulation protocol were applied to Simmental cows used as donors (n = 168). Uterine flushings were performed on day 7 following artificial insemination. Obtained Code I (excellent or good) and II (fair) quality embryos were transferred to recipient beef heifers (n = 561). During embryo transfer, side of transfer (right or left), transfer location (the cranial or middle third of uterine horn), cervix transfer score (easy, moderate or difficult) and type (CLa, CLb and CLc) and diameter of CL were determined. Pregnancy rates following the transfer of Code I and II embryos were 44.66% and 33.07%, respectively (p < .05). The rates of pregnancy after transfers to the right and left uterine horn were 37% and 42.2%, respectively (p > .05). The pregnancy rates were 41.2%, 34.9% and 30.3% for cervix transfer scores as easy, moderate and difficult, respectively (p > .05). Pregnancy rates after transfer to the cranial third and middle third were 41.06% and 29.67%, respectively (p < .05). According to types of CL, pregnancy rates were 31.7%, 40.4% and 45.3% for CLa, CLb and CLc, respectively (p < .05). Moreover, it was found that as the CL diameter increased, the pregnancy rates increased. As a result, it was concluded that there was no effect of side of transfer and cervix transfer score, but embryo quality, transfer location, type and diameter of CL had significant effects on the pregnancy rate during embryo transfer in beef heifers.
miR‐362 knock‐down promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in porcine immature Sertoli cells by targeting the RMI1 gene
Authors: Ran Maoliang , Luo Hui , Gao Hu , Tang Xiangwei , Chen Yao , Zeng Xinyu , Weng Bo , Chen Bin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractImmature Sertoli cell proliferation determines the total number of mature Sertoli cells and further regulates normal spermatogenesis. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play regulatory roles in immature Sertoli cell proliferation, while the functions and mechanisms of the Sertoli cells of domestic animals are poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the roles of miR‐362 in cell proliferation and apoptosis of porcine immature Sertoli cells. The results showed that miR‐362 inhibition promoted the entrance of cells into the S phase and increased the expressions of cell cycle‐related genes c‐MYC, CNNE1, CCND1 and CDK4. Knock‐down of miR‐362 also promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, which was demonstrated by the results from cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) and Annexin V‐FITC/PI staining assays. The recQ‐mediated genome instability protein 1 (RMI1) gene was identified as a potential target gene of miR‐362 via luciferase reporter assay, and miR‐362 repressed the protein expression of RMI1 in porcine immature Sertoli cells. siRNA‐induced RMI1 knock‐down further abolished the effects of miR‐362 inhibition on porcine immature Sertoli cells. Collectively, we concluded that miR‐362 knock‐down promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in porcine immature Sertoli cells by targeting the RMI1 gene, which indicates that miR‐362 determines the fate of immature Sertoli cells.