bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of rice straw biochar and irrigation on growth, dry matter yield and radiation‐use efficiency of maize grown on an Acrisol in Ghana
Authors: Oppong Danso Eric , Yakubu Adam , Arthur Emmanuel , Sabi Edward B. , Abenney‐Mickson Stephen , Andersen Mathias N. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn order to determine whether the current low productivity associated with rainfed cultivation on degraded soils in Ghana can be improved by biochar amendment and irrigation, field experiments with maize were conducted over two seasons in 2017 and 2018. Rice straw biochar at rates of 0 t/ha (B0), 15 t/ha (B15) and 30 t/ha (B30) was combined with irrigation regimes of full irrigation (I100), deficit irrigation (I60) and no irrigation (I0). The I100 treatment was irrigated to field capacity every 3–4 days according to time domain reflectometry measurements while the I60 treatment received 60% of the irrigation amount given to I100 but with the same irrigation frequency. The I0 treatment was not irrigated. In both seasons, the B30 treatment recorded the highest total dry matter yield (TDMY), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and radiation‐use efficiency (RUE) and these were significantly (p ≤ .05) higher than B0 except for RUE in 2017. Irrigation regimes did not significantly affect TDMY, IPAR and RUE in 2017 but compared to I100, I0 significantly reduced TDMY, IPAR and RUE in the relatively dryer 2018 season. Measured ratio vegetation indices differentiated biochar treatments earlier in the 2018 season than during 2017 and increase of leaf chlorophyll content indices with biochar rate in both seasons indicated that biochar amendment improved nitrogen uptake. Our study demonstrated that rice straw biochar is capable of increasing TDMY, IPAR and RUE of maize grown on degraded soils in Ghana. The study further showed that TDMY, IPAR and RUE of deficit irrigated maize for two seasons were similar to the counterpart fully irrigated maize and may be a viable water management option for farmers in Ghana to save irrigation water resources.
Morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects of osmopriming‐induced drought tolerance in lentil
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Romdhane Leila , Al Sulti Mayaa K. R. A. , Rehman Abdul , Al‐Busaidi Walid M. , Lee Dong‐Jin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important grain legume crop, mostly grown in semi‐arid environments and often faces intermittent drought spells during different growth stages, which severely hamper its yield. This study, comprising of three separate experiments, was conducted to evaluate the potential of seed priming with CaCl2 in improving drought tolerance in lentil. In the first experiment, lentil seeds were hydroprimed (water) or osmoprimed with 0.5 and 1% CaCl2; while non‐primed seeds were taken as control. In the second and third experiments, lentil seeds were subjected to pre‐optimized osmopriming (1% CaCl2) and hydropriming followed by surface drying or re‐drying of primed seeds to original weight. The first two experiments were conducted in petri plates, while, in experiment 3, seeds were planted in plastic pots containing peat moss, maintained at 75% water holding capacity (WHC; well‐watered) or 50% WHC (water deficit). Hydropriming and osmopriming improved seed germination, seedling growth, biomass production, chlorophyll intensity, sugar accumulation and reduced the oxidative stress in lentil under water deficit. However, osmopriming (1% CaCl2) was more effective than the hydropriming in improving the lentil growth, biomass production, Ca accumulation and sugar metabolism under both well‐watered and water deficit conditions. Seed surface drying, after priming, was more beneficial in improving the lentil performance, under both well‐watered and water deficit conditions, than re‐drying to original weight. Osmopriming (1% CaCl2) increased the seeding dry weight (67%), SPAD value (140%), leaf Ca concentration (56%), α‐amylase activity (55%), total soluble sugars (48%) and reduced malanodialdehyde content (35.9%) and total antioxidant activity (29.2%) than un‐primed seeds under water deficit. In conclusion, osmopriming improved the lentil performance under optimal and water deficit conditions through early and synchronized emergence, better sugar and Ca accumulation which reduced the oxidative damage and resulted in better seedling growth and biomass production.
Patient‐tailored SyncAV algorithm: A novel strategy to improve synchrony and acute hemodynamic response in heart failure patients treated by cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Wang Jingfeng , Liang Yixiu , Chen Haiyan , Wang Wei , Bai Jin , Chen Xueying , Qin Shengmei , Su Yangang , Ge Junbo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionSeveral automatic algorithms have developed to optimize the timing cycle setting in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The present study aims to investigate whether the novel device‐based SyncAV algorithm could elicit better synchrony and acute hemodynamic response.Methods and ResultsThirty five patients undergoing CRT implantation were prospectively studied. The device was programmed to three biventricular (BiV) pacing modes sequentially after the procedure: QuickOpt algorithm (mode I), SyncAV algorithm with default 50 ms offset (mode II), and SyncAV algorithm with optimized offset minimizing QRS duration (QRSd) (mode III). After each setting, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were collected. As a result, QRSd was reduced from 172.8 ± 17.9 ms during intrinsic conduction to 153.1 ± 15.9 ms in mode I, further narrowed to 140.5 ± 16.7 ms in mode II, and reached shortest (134.8 ± 16.1 ms) in mode III (P < .01 for all). Besides, significantly shorter QT intervals were observed in mode I (453.2 ± 45.5 ms), mode II (443.9 ± 34.2 ms) and mode III (444.1 ± 28.7 ms), compared with native condition (472.5 ± 51.2 ms) (P < .01). All three BiV modes exhibited comparable TpTe interval and TpTe/QT ratio (P > .05). Mode I presented significantly higher aortic velocity time integral than intrinsic conduction (21.0 ± 6.4 cm vs 18.4 ± 5.5 cm; P < .01), which was even higher in mode II (22.0 ± 6.5 cm) and mode III (23.7 ± 6.5 cm). All three BiV modes significantly reduced standard deviation of time to peak contraction of 12‐LV segments (Ts‐SD) (Mode I: 55.2 ± 16.5 ms, Mode II: 50.2 ± 14.7 ms, Mode III: 45.4 ± 14.4 ms) compared with intrinsic conduction (66.3 ± 18.4 ms) (P < .01), with Mode III demonstrating the smallest (P < .01).ConclusionSyncAV CRT ameliorated electrical and mechanical synchrony as well as acute hemodynamic response beyond conventional QuickOpt optimization. An additional individualized adjustment to the SyncAV offset added to its advantage.
The CCN1 (CYR61) protein promotes skin growth by enhancing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition during skin expansion
Authors: Zhou Yiwen , Li Haizhou , Liang Xiao , Du Hengyu , Suo Yingjun , Chen Hao , Liu Wenhui , Duan Ran , Huang Xiaolu , Li Qingfeng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe skin expansion technique is widely used to induce skin growth for large‐scale skin deformity reconstruction. However, the capacity for skin expansion is limited and searching for ways to improve the expansion efficiency is a challenge. In this study, we aimed to explore the possible mechanism of skin expansion and to find a potential therapeutic target on promoting skin growth. We conducted weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) of microarray data generated from rat skin expansion and found CCN1 (CYR61) to be the central hub gene related to epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). CCN1 up‐regulation was confirmed in human and rat expanded skin and also in mechanically stretched rat keratinocytes, together with acquired mesenchymal phenotype. After CCN1 stimulation on keratinocytes, cell proliferation was promoted and partial EMT was induced by activating β‐catenin pathway. Treatment of CCN1 protein could significantly increase the flap thickness, improve the blood supply and restore the structure in a rat model of skin expansion, whereas inhibition of CCN1 through shRNA interference could dramatically reduce the efficiency of skin expansion. Our findings demonstrate that CCN1 plays a crucial role in skin expansion and that CCN1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target to promote skin growth and improve the efficiency of skin expansion.
LMO1 polymorphisms and the risk of neuroblastoma: Assessment of meta‐analysis of case‐control studies
Authors: Hashemi Mohammad , Sarabandi Sahel , Karami Shima , Śmieja Jarosław , Moazeni‐Roodi Abdolkarim , Ghavami Saeid , Łos Marek J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNeuroblastoma (NB), a neuroendocrine tumour, is one of the most prevalent cancers in children. The link between LMO1 polymorphisms and NB has been investigated by several groups, rendering inconclusive results. Here, with this comprehensive systematic review and up‐to‐date meta‐analysis, we aim to distinctively elucidate the possible correlation between LMO1 polymorphisms and NB susceptibility. Eligible studies were systematically researched and identified using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases up to 10 February 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the associations. Our findings revealed that rs110419 and rs2168101 polymorphisms were significantly associated with a decreased risk of NB in all genetic models. In addition, the rs4758051 variant appeared protective against NB in homozygous, dominant and allele genetic models, whereas the rs10840002 variant markedly decreased the risk of NB in the allele model. In contrast, the rs204938 polymorphism showed a positive association with NB susceptibility in allele genetic models. In summary, our meta‐analysis is the first to provide clear evidence of an association between specific polymorphisms of LMO1 and susceptibility to NB. Of note, additional larger well‐designed studies would be helpful to further evaluate and confirm this association.
Freshwater entry behaviour of a non‐migratory stenohaline marine fish Takifugu snyderi
Authors: Nakamura Masahiro , Masuda Reiji , Tsukamoto Katsumi , Otake Tsuguo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe conducted salinity choice trials with the stenohaline marine species Takifugu snyderi to test their freshwater (FW) entry frequency in relation to starvation. The fish preferred to enter non‐natal FW rather than remain in seawater. No relationship was detected between starvation and FW entry behaviour. Our results provide new empirical evidence of a stenohaline fish entering a non‐natal osmotic environment. Further research on the entry of stenohaline species such as this one into lethal environments may help determine if this might help promote the evolution of diadromous life histories.
Effects of ultrasonicated methylcellulose coating on French fries during deep frying process
Authors: Lua Hwee Ying , Naim Mohd Nazli , P. Mohammed Mohd Afandi , Hamidon Fariza , Abu Bakar Noor Fitrah 
Published: December 2019

AbstractUltrasonic treatment (UT) effects on methylcellulose (MC) for the food coating purpose prior to deep‐fat frying process of potato strips were demonstrated. Different concentration of MC (0.5–2.0 wt/vol%) solutions were subjected to UT at 20 W to evaluate the effect of UT treated coatings on rheological behavior of the coated samples and their efficiency in minimizing the oil uptake. Application of UT to methylcellulose (UTMC) clearly showed a phase transition from fluid‐ to gel‐like between 20 and 65°C with the increasing in the oscillatory frequency and temperature ramp test of UTMC showed the sol–gel transition occurrence is lower than non‐UTMC at 20 and 29°C, respectively, within the linear viscoelastic region. When the MC concentrations were varied, the most effective concentration was noticed to occur at 1.0 (wt/vol%) UTMC whereby the relative variation of water retention and oil uptake were reduced to about 49.9 and 31.0%, respectively, as compared to 1.0 wt/vol% non‐UTMC formulation. Experimental results affirm that UTMC coating application can be used successively to improve rheological properties of MC by minimizing oil uptake on fried food.Practical ApplicationUltrasonic treatment (UT) application to methylcellulose (MC) solutions with varied concentration (0.5–2.0 wt/vol%) clearly showed a phase transition from fluid‐to‐gel like with the increasing in the oscillatory frequency (10−1 to 102 rad/s) and temperature ramp test (65–10°C) at low shear strains compared to non‐UTMC. The gelation of UTMC was faster than non‐UTMC when coated onto the substrate at the ambient conditions thus allowed the transformation of green coating layer to form the gel layer instantaneously. Application of MC was successfully in minimizing oil uptake on fried potato strips whereby the most effective layer was noticed to occur at 1.0 wt/vol% UTMC. Introducing UT to polysaccharide coating, that is, MC benefit the food coating industries by increasing the food coating process efficiency so that the coated layer can be fully utilized to increase the function of the coated substrate.
Economic Barriers to Antiretroviral Therapy in Nursing Homes
Authors: Olivieri‐Mui Brianne L. , Koethe Benjamin , Briesacher Becky 
Published: December 2019

OBJECTIVESOur aim was to clarify if persons living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have adequate economic access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) when admitted to nursing homes (NHs). Medicare Part A pays NHs a bundled skilled nursing rate that includes prescription drugs for up to 100 days, after which individuals are responsible for the costs.DESIGNA cross‐sectional study.SETTINGNHs.PARTICIPANTSA total of 694 newly admitted long‐stay (>100 d) NH residents with HIV.MEASUREMENTSWe used Minimum Dataset v.3.0, pharmacy dispensing data, NH provider surveys, and Medicare claims from 2011 to 2013. We assessed receipt of any HIV antiretrovirals or recommended combinations (ART), as defined by national care guidelines, and the source of payment. We identified predictors of antiretroviral use with risk‐adjusted generalized estimating equation logistic models.RESULTSAll study persons living with HIV/AIDS in NHs had prescription drug coverage through Medicare's Part D program, and ART was 100% covered. However, only 63.9% received recommended ART, and 15.2% never received any antiretrovirals during their NH stay. The strongest predictor of not receiving antiretrovirals was the first 100 days of a long NH stay (odds ratio [OR] = .44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .24‐.80). The strongest predictor of receiving recommended ART was health acuity (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.20‐1.88).CONCLUSIONPeople living with HIV in NHs do not always receive lifesaving ART, but the reasons are unclear and appear unrelated to economic barriers. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:777–782, 2020
Couple‐Level Stress Proliferation and Husbands' and Wives' Distress During the Life Course
Authors: Wickrama Kandauda A.S. , O'Neal Catherine Walker , Klopack Eric T. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe present study investigated the factorial structure of the dyadic stress proliferation process in couples in enduring marriages leading to their psychological distress in later years.BackgroundStress proliferation during short and long periods of time has been shown to drive complex stress–distress processes during the life course. This research has largely been limited to individual‐level stress proliferation with less research demonstrating stress proliferation in the context of enduring relationships.MethodsUsing data from 224 dual‐earner couples in long‐term marriages, the present study examined the aggregation of individual stress (as defined by role‐related stress experiences including provider, work, spousal, and parental roles) into couple‐level stress constructs. These couple‐level stress constructs were examined as predictors of husbands' and wives' psychological distress over 27 years (1991–2017) independent of individual‐level stress.ResultsCouple‐level socioeconomic and relationship stress was highly stable over time, suggesting that stress within a domain proliferates across the life course. Individual‐level psychological distress was significantly associated with couple‐level stress constructs at midlife and in later life after controlling for previous distress.ConclusionEvidence suggests that husbands' and wives' psychological distress is significantly affected by couple‐level stress processes. Findings have implications for intervention and prevention programs focusing on the well‐being of married couples in later life.
A relational model of career adaptability and career prospects: The roles of leader–member exchange and agreeableness
Authors: Yang Xuhua , Guan Yanjun , Zhang Yejun , She Zhuolin , Buchtel Emma E. , Mak Miranda Chi Kuan , Hu Hanlin 
Published: December 2019

Drawing on career construction theory and leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, this research examined the mediating role of LMX in explaining the effect of employee career adaptability on career prospects, as well as the moderating role of agreeableness in this process. Two field studies were conducted among Chinese employees and their supervisors to test this model. In study 1, time‐lagged multisource data were collected from 252 employees and 69 supervisors. The results showed that supervisor‐rated LMX (Time 2) mediated the relationship between employee‐rated career adaptability (Time 1) and supervisor‐rated career prospects (Time 2). In study 2, a cross‐lagged panel study among 149 employees and 47 supervisors across 4 months replicated the mediating effect of LMX for the relationship between career adaptability and career prospects. Results of study 2 also showed that LMX (Time 1, supervisor‐rated) did not significantly predict career adaptability (Time 2, employee‐rated), providing support for the unidirectional relationship from career adaptability to LMX in this context. The moderating role of agreeableness was supported such that the effect of career adaptability on LMX, as well as the indirect effect of career adaptability on career prospects via LMX, was stronger among employees with a higher level of agreeableness. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and offered directions for future research.Practitioner points

Organizations should consider using career adaptability as an important tool to select high‐potential job candidates, provided that other more important selection criteria have been met, since employees with a higher level of career adaptability are more capable of building high‐quality relationships with their supervisors and receiving positive recommendations from them.

Organizations should also help employees to recognize the important role of agreeableness in their work, in order to maximize the potential benefits of career adaptability on employees’ career development; otherwise employees’ career prospects will be constrained even if they have a high level of career adaptability.
Local School Wellness Policy as a Means to Advance Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child: Assessing Alignment in Los Angeles County
Authors: DeFosset Amelia R. , Sivashanmugam Megala , Gase Lauren N. , Lai Elaine , Tan Grace , Kuo Tony 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDDistrict wellness policies provide an avenue to advance the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. The extent to which wellness policies currently align with WSCC is unclear; to‐date, tools have been unavailable to examine this issue.METHODSWe reviewed written health‐focused policies among 37 school districts in Los Angeles County in 2017 utilizing a 54‐item tool designed to examine the quality of policies in the 10 WSCC domains. Descriptive analyses explored overall and domain‐specific comprehensiveness and strength; simple negative binomial regression models examined differences in the policy quality and structure by legislated status.RESULTSApproximately half of expected policies were present in wellness policies (mean comprehensiveness score = 52.65, ±18.09), < 20% were strong (mean strength score = 16.97, ±8.05). Content in WSCC domains addressed by legislative mandates was significantly more comprehensive and stronger, and more frequently located within the wellness policies, relative to content in non‐legislated domains.CONCLUSIONSOpportunities exist for better alignment of wellness policies with WSCC. Education and health practitioners can utilize the tool developed for this study to identify priority areas where policy support is needed in their jurisdictions. Additional efforts are needed to help schools facilitate and document practice gains around WSCC‐aligned policies.
JUUL on Twitter: Analyzing Tweets About Use of a New Nicotine Delivery System
Authors: Sidani Jaime E. , Colditz Jason B. , Barrett Erica L. , Chu Kar‐Hai , James A. Everette , Primack Brian A. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDInitial reports suggest that JUUL, a popular e‐cigarette, is being used in schools and other locations in which cigarette smoking is illegal or discouraged. However, there is little scholarly research documenting this. We aimed to make a systematic analysis of JUUL use themes and sentiment on Twitter.METHODSData were collected from Twitter's Filtered Streams Application Programming Interface from April 12, 2018 to May 10, 2018. This yielded 67,934 tweets, from which a random sample of 2% was selected for coding. The final dataset included 1209 tweets. Inter‐rater reliability ranged κ = 0.64–0.85.RESULTSThe majority (71.5%) of tweets expressed positive sentiment toward JUUL. JUUL use in places where cigarette smoking is illegal or discouraged appeared in 111 tweets (9.2%); approximately one‐third of these tweets referring to using the device in school. Nearly 20% of tweets mentioned using the device at home and/or directly in front of responsible adults.CONCLUSIONSThis study confirms anecdotal reports of JUUL use in places where cigarette smoking is illegal or discouraged. Positive sentiment about use of JUUL suggests that the product is being normalized among young people. It may be valuable for educators to discuss the addictive nature of nicotine delivered through JUUL with younger populations.
Liver safety assessment in clinical trials of new agents for chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Fontana Robert J. , Avigan Mark I. , Janssen Harry L. A. , Regev Arie , Mishra Poonam , Gaggar Anuj , Brown Nathaniel , Wat Cynthia , Mendez Patricia , Anderson Ryan T. , Given Bruce , Miller Veronica , Beumont Maria 
Published: December 2019

AbstractInvestigational agents that reduce or eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) or enhance host immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected hepatocytes are intended to induce a durable off‐treatment clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (referred to as functional cure). The aim of this paper was to highlight challenges in interpreting liver safety data in clinical trials of these agents when given alone or in combination regimens. The incidence, grading and management of spontaneous serum ALT flares in untreated chronic HBV patients are reviewed along with a summary of serum ALT flares observed during the registration trials for peginterferon and nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Recommendations regarding the detection, management and interpretation of liver safety biomarker data in future clinical trials as well as suggested inclusion and exclusion criteria for phase 1/2 vs phase 3 studies are provided. Criteria to help classify liver safety signals as being due to the intended therapeutic response, emergence of drug‐resistant HBV virions, or idiosyncratic drug‐induced liver injury are provided along with a review of the role of an expert hepatic adjudication panel in assessing a compound's hepatotoxicity profile. Finally, an algorithmic approach to the differential diagnosis and recommended medical evaluation and management of individual clinical trial patients that develop a liver safety signal is provided along with the rationale to collect and test research blood samples for future mechanistic studies.