bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA‐134‐5p inhibition rescues long‐term plasticity and synaptic tagging/capture in an Aβ(1–42)‐induced model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Baby Nimmi , Alagappan Nithyakalyani , Dheen Shaikali Thameem , Sajikumar Sreedharan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractProgressive memory loss is one of the most common characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which has been shown to be caused by several factors including accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Synaptic plasticity and associative plasticity, the cellular basis of memory, are impaired in AD. Recent studies suggest a functional relevance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating plasticity changes in AD, as their differential expressions were reported in many AD brain regions. However, the specific role of these miRNAs in AD has not been elucidated. We have reported earlier that late long‐term potentiation (late LTP) and its associative mechanisms such as synaptic tagging and capture (STC) were impaired in Aβ (1–42)‐induced AD condition. This study demonstrates that expression of miR‐134‐5p, a brain‐specific miRNA is upregulated in Aβ (1–42)‐treated AD hippocampus. Interestingly, the loss of function of miR‐134‐5p restored late LTP and STC in AD. In AD brains, inhibition of miR‐134‐5p elevated the expression of plasticity‐related proteins (PRPs), cAMP‐response‐element binding protein (CREB‐1) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are otherwise downregulated in AD condition. The results provide the first evidence that the miR‐134‐mediated post‐transcriptional regulation of CREB‐1 and BDNF is an important molecular mechanism underlying the plasticity deficit in AD; thus demonstrating the critical role of miR‐134‐5p as a potential therapeutic target for restoring plasticity in AD condition.
Haemorrhoid energy therapy versus rubber band ligation for the management of grade I and II haemorrhoids: a randomized trial
Authors: Filgate Rhys , Dalzell Alex , Hulme‐Moir Michael , Rajaratnam Siraj 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundsGrade I and II haemorrhoids are commonly managed in colorectal practice. Management often involves rubber band ligation. The haemorrhoid energy therapy (HET) device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) has been developed as an alternative to rubber band ligation (RBL). This study is the first to prospectively evaluate the device versus RBL in the management of grade I and II haemorrhoids.MethodsA single blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the colorectal outpatient department. Patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids suitable for banding were prospectively recruited and randomized. Primary outcome was post procedural pain at 1 h as recorded on a 10‐point Likert scale. Secondary outcomes were efficacy in reduction of haemorrhoidal symptom score at 12 weeks, daily average and maximum pain scores for 14 days and complications arising from the intervention.ResultsThirty patients were randomized (14 HET, 16 RBL). There was no significant difference between the two group's pre‐intervention symptom score and haemorrhoidal grade. The mean pain scores at 1 h in the HET group were 1.5 ± 068 (95% confidence interval), and in the RBL group 4.64 ± 1.74 (95% confidence interval) (P < 0.05). Average (0.7 versus 2.95, P < 0.05) and maximum (1.25 versus 4.4, P < 0.05) pain were lower in the HET group on day one post procedure. At 12 weeks there was no significant difference in the reduction of haemorrhoid symptom scores between the groups (HET 2.27, RBL 1.5 (P > 0.2)).ConclusionHET causes less pain then RBL, and is at least as effective in treating the symptoms associated with grade I and II haemorrhoids in the outpatient setting.
Genetic relationship of litter traits between farrowing and weaning in Landrace and Large White pigs
Authors: Ogawa Shinichiro , Konta Ayane , Kimata Makoto , Ishii Kazuo , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Satoh Masahiro 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWe estimated genetic parameters in Landrace and Large White pig populations for litter traits at farrowing (total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, total litter weight at birth (LWB), and mean litter weight at birth) and those at weaning (litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at weaning (LWW), mean litter weight at weaning (MWW), and survival rate from farrowing to weaning). We analyzed 65,579 records at farrowing and 6,306 at weaning for Landrace, and 52,557 and 5,360, respectively, for Large White. Single‐trait and two‐trait repeatability animal models were exploited to estimate heritability and genetic correlation respectively. Heritability estimates of LSW were 0.09 for Landrace and 0.08 for Large White. Genetic correlations of LSW with MWW were –0.43 for Landrace and –0.24 for Large White. Genetic correlations of LSW with LWW and LWB ranged from 0.5 to 0.6. The genetic correlation of MWW with LWW was positive, but that with LWB was negligible. The results indicate that utilizing LWW or LWB could improve LSW efficiently, despite the antagonistic genetic correlation between LSW and MWW.
Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas for conserving range‐restricted rain forest butterflies in Sabah, Borneo
Authors: Scriven Sarah A. , Williams Sara H. , Ghani Mazidi A. , Agama Agnes L. , Benedick Suzan , Brodie Jedediah F. , Hamer Keith C. , McClean Colin J. , Reynolds Glen , Hill Jane K. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRain forests on Borneo support exceptional concentrations of endemic insect biodiversity, but many of these forest‐dependent species are threatened by land‐use change. Totally protected areas (TPAs) of forest are key for conserving biodiversity, and we examined the effectiveness of the current TPA network for conserving range‐restricted butterflies in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). We found that mean diurnal temperature range and precipitation of the wettest quarter of the year were the most important predictors of butterfly distributions (N = 77 range‐restricted species), and that species richness increased with elevation and aboveground forest carbon. On average across all species, TPAs were effective at conserving ~43% of species’ ranges, but encompassed only ~40% of areas with high species richness (i.e., containing at least 50% of our study species). The TPA network also included only 33%–40% of areas identified as high priority for conserving range‐restricted species, as determined by a systematic conservation prioritization analysis. Hence, the current TPA network is reasonably effective at conserving range‐restricted butterflies, although considerable areas of high species richness (6,565 km2) and high conservation priority (11,152–12,531 km2) are not currently protected. Sabah's remaining forests, and the range‐restricted species they support, are under continued threat from agricultural expansion and urban development, and our study highlights important areas of rain forest that require enhanced protection.Abstract in Malay is available with online material.
Long‐term variability in artificially and naturally fluoridated water supplies in England
Authors: Moore Deborah , Goodwin Michaela , Pretty Iain A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo understand the potential impact of exposure misclassification on water fluoridation studies in England, this paper aims to describe the long‐term variation in water fluoride concentrations in both artificially and naturally fluoridated water supplies.MethodsWater fluoridation dose monitoring data were requested from all five English public water suppliers who artificially fluoridate their water, as well as from one water company that supplies naturally fluoridated water. Descriptive statistics were calculated, including annual means, standard deviations, minimum‐maximum and absolute and relative frequencies.ResultsData were made available by two of the five English water companies who supply artificially fluoridated water and one water company that supplies naturally fluoridated water (40 398 individual samples). The data for fluoridated water spanned 18‐35 years, whilst the data on naturally fluoridated water spanned 14 years. The artificially fluoridated samples showed wide variation in fluoride dose control, both between different water treatment works and over time. Mean fluoride concentrations in the artificially fluoridated supplies ranged from 0.53 (SD 0.47) to 0.93 (SD 0.22) mg F/L and were within the optimal range of 0.7‐1.0 mg F/L in 27.7%‐77.8% of samples. The naturally fluoridated supplies had a higher mean fluoride concentration of 1.06 (SD 0.18) and 1.15 (SD 0.16) mg F/L than the artificially fluoridated supplies, with lower variation over time. The naturally fluoridated supplies were above the optimal range in 75.5% and 53% of samples.ConclusionsAssumptions that populations living in areas with a water fluoridation scheme have received optimally fluoridated water (0.7‐1.0 mg F/L) are invalid. To support future research endeavours, as well as to provide ‘external control’ and facilitation of optimal dosing, it is recommended that a quarterly record of water fluoride concentrations (mean, standard deviation and minimum and maximum) are made available for every water supply in England, in a format that can be mapped against residential postcodes.
Verrucous pilar cysts infected with beta human papillomavirus
Authors: Nanes Benjamin A. , Laknezhad Soolmaz , Chamseddin Bahir , Doorbar John , Mir Adnan , Hosler Gregory A. , Wang Richard C. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEpidermoid cysts with histopathologic features of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have been previously reported and are commonly termed verrucous cysts. We report a series of eight histopathologically distinct verrucous pilar cysts, distinguished from traditional verrucous epidermoid cysts by trichilemmal keratinization, as well as two verrucous hybrid pilar‐epidermoid cysts. These lesions contain characteristic stratified epithelial linings with abrupt transitions to compact eosinophilic keratin, as well as areas of papillomatosis, coarse intracytoplasmic keratohyalin granules, and vacuolar structures suggestive of HPV‐induced cytopathic change. HPV‐24, a β genus HPV species, was identified by degenerate polymerase chain reaction in DNA extracted from two of the lesions, and the presence of β‐HPV E4 protein was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. HPV‐60, the HPV species most commonly reported in verrucous epidermoid cysts, was not detected. Verrucous pilar cysts represent histopathologically and potentially etiologically distinct lesions which may be underrecognized.
Troubled Encounters: Payments for Ecosystem Services in Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Corbera Esteve , Costedoat Sébastien , Ezzine‐de‐Blas Driss , Van Hecken Gert 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTPayments for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a well‐established conservation policy approach worldwide. Where forests are owned and managed by rural and indigenous communities, PES initiatives often aim to incentivize the joint adoption of forest protection and sustainable management practices. However, not all communities might have the will or capacity to maintain such practices over the long term. This article examines a PES programme in a rural community of Chiapas, Mexico. It shows that while a majority of the community's landowners have engaged in PES through two distinct working groups, a large share of the community forests remain outside the PES programme, and many landowners resist the extension of PES rules to non‐targeted forests. The authors argue that this incipient form of fragmented collective action on forest management results from challenged leaderships, and from PES accommodating a history of increasing individuation of the commons. This accommodation, however, has ignited social conflict, reified tenure inequalities, and failed to strengthen local institutions to enable them to legitimately deal with the contested interests that underpin the fate of community forests. This article shows the limits of PES when parachuted into a context of uneven land tenure, weak collective action and contested leaderships.
Conserving Natures? Co‐producing Payments for Ecosystem Services in Mongolian Rangelands
Authors: Upton Caroline 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTDespite well‐founded concerns over the proliferation of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, critical geographers have begun to challenge the ‘milieu of apprehension’ associated with PES (Jackson and Palmer, 2014: 122). There is a growing call for more nuanced analyses of ways in which the ecosystem services paradigm and PES may, in particular circumstances, encompass and make legible diverse ways of being in/knowing nature and provide opportunities for local/indigenous actors to advance their own needs and values. Adopting a ‘radical pragmatist’ approach, the author of this article worked with Mongolian herder groups to develop a locally‐grounded manifestation of PES, with specific attention to the incorporation of diverse socio‐ecological relations, beliefs and values. The article argues that such co‐produced iterations of PES, with due attention to tripartite dimensions of environmental justice, can facilitate local stewardship, whilst eschewing enclosure of commons and crowding out of non‐market values and motives for conservation, albeit shaped and constrained by diverse manifestations of power.
Being proven wrong elicits learning in children – but only in those with higher executive function skills
Authors: Brod Garvin , Breitwieser Jasmin , Hasselhorn Marcus , Bunge Silvia A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis study investigated whether prompting children to generate predictions about an outcome facilitates activation of prior knowledge and improves belief revision. 51 children aged 9–12 were tested on two experimental tasks in which generating a prediction was compared to closely matched control conditions, as well as on a test of executive functions (EF). In Experiment 1, we showed that children exhibited a pupillary surprise response to events that they had predicted incorrectly, hypothesized to reflect the transient release of noradrenaline in response to cognitive conflict. However, children's surprise response was not associated with better belief revision, in contrast to a previous study involving adults. Experiment 2 revealed that, while generating predictions helped children activate their prior knowledge, only those with better inhibitory control skills learned from incorrectly predicted outcomes. Together, these results suggest that good inhibitory control skills are needed for learning through cognitive conflict. Thus, generating predictions benefits learning – but only among children with sufficient EF capacities to harness surprise for revising their beliefs.
Optimal Location of Wells for Storage and Recovery of Surplus Desalinated Water in Coastal Aquifers
Authors: Triki Chefi , Zekri Slim , Al‐Maktoumi Ali , Bazargan‐Lari Mohammad R. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractStorage of water in aquifers using injection wells is an efficient way for utilizing excess desalinated water in arid regions. In this investigation we estimate the benefits of optimally recharging seasonal surplus desalinated water into a strategic coastal aquifer already benefitting from natural recharge of flash‐floods water by a recharge dam. Since, usually the buyers of desalinated water commit to purchase surplus desalinated water under take‐or‐pay contracts, any attempt in utilizing the paid water is beneficial. Coastal cities are observing an increased urbanization leaving limited space for aquifer recharge infrastructure. In order to determine the optimal location of wells and maximize the use of surplus desalinated water available in winter period, a decision tool combining a numerical groundwater flow simulation model (MODFLOW) with an optimization model is developed. The results of this study show that increasing the number of wells from the existing 45 wells to 173 would allow storing 31.4 million cubic meter per year of excess desalinated water into the aquifer that can be used during later during summer months. The net benefit would reach US$55 million/year while the cost of drilling the new wells is US$5.11 million.
Exploring Groundwater Resources and Recharge Potentialities at El‐Gallaba Plain, Western Desert, Egypt
Authors: Geriesh Mohamed H. , Mansour Basma M.H. , Gaber Ahmed , Mamoun Khalid 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEgypt has a fast‐growing population rate of 2.5%/year; consequently, there is an increase in the water demand for living and launching different development plans. Meanwhile, there is intensive construction of several dams in the upstream Nile basin countries. Thus, it is necessary to search for new water resources to overcome the expected shortages of the Nile water supply by focusing on alternative groundwater resources. El‐Gallaba Plain area is one of the most promising areas in the western desert of Egypt attaining the priority for new reclamation projects; however, its hydrogeological setting is not well understood. The present work aims at identifying the recharge potential of the groundwater aquifers in El‐Gallaba Plain, as well as exploring the role of geologic structures as natural conduits, and evaluating the groundwater types, origin and distribution. The integration of hydrogeophysical studies (aero and land magnetic surveys, vertical electrical sounding), hydrochemical analyses and remote sensing were successfully used for assessing the groundwater development potential. The hydrogeophysical studies show a large graben bound aquifer with thickness exceeding 220 m. The hydrochemical results indicate the presence of three major water types; Na mix, NaCl, NaClHCO3 with salinities ranging between 227 and 4324 mg/L. The aquifer receives little recharge from the western fractured calcareous plateau from past pluvial periods and scarce present flashfloods. There is no indication for recent recharge from Lake Nasser to the aquifer domain. Further modeling studies are essential for establishing sustainable abstraction levels from this aquifer.
Cost of capital and valuation in the public and private sectors: Tax, risk and debt capacity
Authors: Brealey Richard A. , Cooper Ian A. , Habib Michel A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCost of capital and valuation differ in the private and public sectors, because taxes are a cost to the private sector but are only a transfer to the public sector. We show how to transform the after‐tax private sector cost of capital into its pre‐tax equivalent, for comparison with the public sector cost of capital. We establish the existence of a tax induced wedge between these two costs of capital. The wedge introduces a preference on the part of the private sector for assets with rapid tax depreciation, high debt capacity and low risk. We show that, in circumstances where an asset has identical public and private sector valuation in the absence of taxes, the tax induced difference in valuation is identical to the change in government tax receipts that results from having the asset owned by the private rather than the public sector. We provide some examples of distortions that result from failure to adjust for changes in tax revenues, and show how to effect such adjustment.
Optimizing the thermal assisted high‐pressure process parameters for a sugarcane based mixed beverage using response surface methodology
Authors: Suprabha Raj Anu , Chakraborty Snehasis , Rao Pavuluri Srinivasa 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEffect of thermal assisted high pressure processing (THPP) on physicochemical (pH, total soluble solids [TSS], titrable acidity, color) biochemical (phenols, ascorbic acid [AA], antioxidants), and enzymatic (polyphenol oxidase [PPO] and peroxidase [POD]) attributes of the sugarcane based mixed beverage were studied within a domain of pressure (300–500 MPa), temperature (40–60°C) and time (10–20 min) following a central composite design. The THPP process parameters had negligible influence (p > .2) on pH, TSS, and titrable acidity of the beverage. The color change (ΔE* values) varied from 0.97 to 3.6. Up to 400 MPa/30°C/15 min, beverage possessed an increased AA content (17%); however, further increase in either pressure and temperature resulted in the loss of its activity by maximum of 29%. A significant degradation was obtained in the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity above 60°C irrespective of pressure and time. A substantial inactivation in PPO (79%) and POD (72%) activity was obtained in the beverage within the THPP domain.Practical applicationsSugarcane juice is a pleasant, thirst quenching beverage with considerable nutritional qualities. The processing and marketing of the juice as a ready to serve beverage is limited by the high content of reducing sugars and browning enzymes. In order to combat this a mixed beverage based on sugarcane juice has been formulated. The addition of Indian gooseberry juice enhanced the ascorbic acid content and served as a natural antioxidant. Ginger juice improved the aroma of the juice. Formulation was optimized based on desirability indices of sensory attributes. Further high pressure processing (HPP) of the beverage was done to preserve the nutritional integrity and to ensure the shelf life. The data is helpful for designing the process parameters for HPP of sugarcane based mixed beverage.
Validity, potential clinical utility, and comparison of consumer and research‐grade activity trackers in Insomnia Disorder I: In‐lab validation against polysomnography
Authors: Kahawage Piyumi , Jumabhoy Ria , Hamill Kellie , de Zambotti Massimiliano , Drummond Sean P. A. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryConsumer activity trackers claiming to measure sleep/wake patterns are ubiquitous within clinical and consumer settings. However, validation of these devices in sleep disorder populations are lacking. We examined 1 night of sleep in 42 individuals with insomnia (mean = 49.14 ± 17.54 years) using polysomnography, a wrist actigraph (Actiwatch Spectrum Pro: AWS) and a consumer activity tracker (Fitbit Alta HR: FBA). Epoch‐by‐epoch analysis and Bland−Altman methods evaluated each device against polysomnography for sleep/wake detection, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset and sleep latency. FBA sleep stage classification of light sleep (N1 + N2), deep sleep (N3) and rapid eye movement was also compared with polysomnography. Compared with polysomnography, both activity trackers displayed high accuracy (81.12% versus 82.80%, AWS and FBA respectively; ns) and sensitivity (sleep detection; 96.66% versus 96.04%, respectively; ns) but low specificity (wake detection; 39.09% versus 44.76%, respectively; p = .037). Both trackers overestimated total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and underestimated sleep latency and wake after sleep onset. FBA demonstrated sleep stage sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of 79.39% and 58.77% (light), 49.04% and 95.54% (deep), 65.97% and 91.53% (rapid eye movement). Both devices were more accurate in detecting sleep than wake, with equivalent sensitivity, but statistically different specificity. FBA provided equivalent estimates as AWS for all traditional actigraphy sleep parameters. FBA also showed high specificity when identifying N3, and rapid eye movement, though sensitivity was modest. Thus, it underestimates these sleep stages and overestimates light sleep, demonstrating more shallow sleep than actually obtained. Whether FBA could serve as a low‐cost substitute for actigraphy in insomnia requires further investigation.