bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chitosan modifies glycemic levels in people with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Guo Wenfang , Yi Letai , Zhou Baochang , Li Minhui 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Chitosan supplementation has been shown to modulate glycemic levels; however, studies have reported conflicting results. The present meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis was conducted to verify the overall influence of chitosan on glycemic levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Methods
The PubMed, Cochrane library, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled studies of chitosan intake and glycemic levels.

Results
A total of ten clinical trials including 1473 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled effect sizes were determined by random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed to analyze the sources of heterogeneity and their influence on the overall results. The results revealed a significant reduction in fasting glucose levels (SMD: − 0.39 mmol/L, 95% CI: − 0.62 to − 0.16) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (SMD: -1.10; 95% CI: − 2.15 to − 0.06) following chitosan supplementation but no effect on insulin levels (SMD: − 0.20 pmol/L, 95% CI: − 0.64 to 0.24). Subgroup analyses further demonstrated significant reductions in fasting glucose levels in subjects administered 1.6–3 g of chitosan per day and in studies longer than 13 weeks. Trial sequential analysis of the pooled results of the hypoglycemic effect demonstrated that the cumulative Z-curve crossed both the conventional boundary and trial sequential monitoring boundary for glucose and HbA1c.

Conclusions
The glucose level of patients who are diabetic and obese/overweight can be improved by supplementation with chitosan for at least 13 weeks at 1.6–3 g per day. Additional clinical research data are needed to confirm the role of chitosan, particularly in regulating glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin.
Functionalized silk spheres selectively and effectively deliver a cytotoxic drug to targeted cancer cells in vivo
Authors: Florczak Anna , Deptuch Tomasz , Lewandowska Anna , Penderecka Karolina , Kramer Elzbieta , Marszalek Andrzej , Mackiewicz Andrzej , Dams-Kozlowska Hanna 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Chemotherapy is often a first-line therapeutic approach for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. Targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) can potentially resolve the problem of chemotherapeutic drug off-targeting effects. Herein, we examined in vivo models to determine the efficacy of Her2-targeting silk spheres (H2.1MS1) as DDSs for delivering doxorubicin (Dox) to Her2-positive and Her2-negative primary and metastatic mouse breast cancers.

Results
The specific accumulation of H2.1MS1 spheres was demonstrated at the site of Her2-positive cancer. Dox delivered only by functionalized H2.1MS1 particles selectively inhibited Her2-positive cancer growth in primary and metastatic models. Moreover, the significant effect of the Dox dose and the frequency of treatment administration on the therapeutic efficacy was indicated. Although the control MS1 spheres accumulated in the lungs in Her2-positive metastatic breast cancer, the Dox-loaded MS1 particles did not treat cancer. Histopathological examination revealed no systemic toxicity after multiple administrations and at increased doses of Dox-loaded silk spheres. Although the studies were performed in immunocompetent mice, the H2.1MS1 silk spheres efficiently delivered the drug, which exerted a therapeutic effect.

Conclusion
Our results indicated that functionalized silk spheres that enable cell-specific recognition, cellular internalization, and drug release represent an efficient strategy for cancer treatment in vivo.
Health-related quality of life in Marfan syndrome: a 10-year follow-up
Authors: Vanem Thy Thy , Rand-Hendriksen Svend , Brunborg Cathrine , Geiran Odd Ragnar , Røe Cecilie 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Marfan syndrome, a rare hereditary connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in fibrillin-1, can affect many organ systems, especially the cardiovascular system. Previous research has paid less attention to health-related quality of life and prospective studies on this topic are needed. The aim of this study was to assess changes in health-related quality of life after 10 years in a Norwegian Marfan syndrome cohort.

Methods
Forty-seven Marfan syndrome patients ≥ 18 years were investigated for all organ manifestations in the 1996 Ghent nosology and completed the self-reported questionnaire, Short-Form-36 Health Survey, at baseline in 2003–2004 and at follow-up in 2014–2015. Paired sample t tests were performed to compare means and multiple regression analyses were performed with age, sex, new cardiovascular and new non-cardiovascular pathology as predictors.

Results
At 10-year follow-up: a significant decline was found in the physical domain. The mental domain was unchanged. Older age predicted a larger decline in physical health-related quality of life. None of the chosen Marfan-related variables predicted changes in any of the subscales of the Short-Form 36 Health Survey or in the physical or the mental domain.

Conclusion
Knowledge of decline in the physical domain, not related to organ affections, may be important in the follow-up of Marfan syndrome patients.
Simulation exercises and after action reviews – analysis of outputs during 2016–2019 to strengthen global health emergency preparedness and response
Authors: Copper Frederik Anton , Mayigane Landry Ndriko , Pei Yingxin , Charles Denis , Nguyen Thanh Nam , Vente Candice , Chiu de Vázquez Cindy , Bell Allan , Njenge Hilary Kagume , Kandel Nirmal , Ho Zheng Jie Marc , Omaar Abbas , de la Rocque Stéphane , Chungong Stella 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, after action reviews (AAR) and simulation exercises (SimEx) are two critical components which measure the functionality of a country’s health emergency preparedness and response under a “real-life” event or simulated situation. The objective of this study was to describe the AAR and SimEx supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) globally in 2016–2019.

Methods
In 2016–2019, WHO supported 63 AAR and 117 SimEx, of which 42 (66.7%) AAR reports and 56 (47.9%) SimEx reports were available. We extracted key information from these reports and created two central databases for AAR and SimEx, respectively. We conducted descriptive analysis and linked the findings according to the 13 IHR (2005) core capacities.

Results
Among the 42 AAR and 56 SimEx available reports, AAR and SimEx were most commonly conducted in the WHO African Region (AAR: n = 32, 76.2%; SimEx: n = 32, 52.5%). The most common public health events reviewed or tested in AAR and SimEx, respectively, were epidemics and pandemics (AAR: n = 38, 90.5%; SimEx: n = 46, 82.1%). For AAR, 10 (76.9%) of the 13 IHR core capacities were reviewed at least once, with no AAR conducted for food safety, chemical events, and radiation emergencies, among the reports available. For SimEx, all 13 (100.0%) IHR capacities were tested at least once. For AAR, the most commonly reviewed IHR core capacities were health services provision (n = 41, 97.6%), risk communication (n = 39, 92.9%), national health emergency framework (n = 39, 92.9%), surveillance (n = 37, 88.1%) and laboratory (n = 35, 83.3%). For SimEx, the most commonly tested IHR core capacity were national health emergency framework (n = 56, 91.1%), followed by risk communication (n = 48, 85.7%), IHR coordination and national IHR focal point functions (n = 45, 80.4%), surveillance (n = 31, 55.4%), and health service provision (n = 29, 51.8%). For AAR, the median timeframe between the end of the event and AAR was 125 days (range = 25–399 days).

Conclusions
WHO has recently published guidance for the planning, execution, and follow-up of AAR and SimEx. Through the guidance and the simplified reporting format provided, we hope to see more countries conduct AAR and SimEx and standardization in their methodology, practice, reporting and follow-up.
Penicillium janthinellum NCIM1366 shows improved biomass hydrolysis and a larger number of CAZymes with higher induction levels over Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30
Authors: Sreeja-Raju AthiraRaj , Christopher Meera , Kooloth-Valappil Prajeesh , Kuni-Parambil Rajasree , Gokhale Digambar Vittal , Sankar Meena , Abraham Amith , Pandey Ashok , Sukumaran Rajeev K. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Major cost of bioethanol is attributed to enzymes employed in biomass hydrolysis. Biomass hydrolyzing enzymes are predominantly produced from the hyper-cellulolytic mutant filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30. Several decades of research have failed to provide an industrial grade organism other than T. reesei, capable of producing higher titers of an effective synergistic biomass hydrolyzing enzyme cocktail. Penicillium janthinellum NCIM1366 was reported as a cellulase hyper producer and a potential alternative to T. reesei, but a comparison of their hydrolytic performance was seldom attempted.

Results
Hydrolysis of acid or alkali-pretreated rice straw using cellulase enzyme preparations from P. janthinellum and T. reesei indicated 37 and 43% higher glucose release, respectively, with P. janthinellum enzymes. A comparison of these fungi with respect to their secreted enzymes indicated that the crude enzyme preparation from P. janthinellum showed 28% higher overall cellulase activity. It also had an exceptional tenfold higher beta-glucosidase activity compared to that of T. reesei, leading to a lower cellobiose accumulation and thus alleviating the feedback inhibition. P. janthinellum secreted more number of proteins to the extracellular medium whose total concentration was 1.8-fold higher than T. reesei. Secretome analyses of the two fungi revealed higher number of CAZymes and a higher relative abundance of cellulases upon cellulose induction in the fungus.

Conclusions
The results revealed the ability of P. janthinellum for efficient biomass degradation through hyper cellulase production, and it outperformed the established industrial cellulase producer T. reesei in the hydrolysis experiments. A higher level of induction, larger number of secreted CAZymes and a high relative proportion of BGL to cellulases indicate the possible reasons for its performance advantage in biomass hydrolysis.
Full snapshot reconstruction in hybrid architecture antenna arrays
Authors: Trigka Maria , Mavrokefalidis Christos , Berberidis Kostas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn the context of this research work, we study the so-called problem of full snapshot reconstruction in hybrid antenna array structures that are utilized in mmWave communication systems. It enables the recovery of the snapshots that would have been obtained if a conventional (non-hybrid) uniform linear antenna array was employed. The problem is considered at the receiver side where the hybrid architecture exploits in a novel way the antenna elements of a uniform linear array. To this end, the recommended scheme is properly designed so as to be applicable to overlapping and non-overlapping architectures. Moreover, the full snapshot recoverability is addressed for two cases, namely for time-varying and constant signal sources. Simulation results are also presented to illustrate the consistency between the theoretically predicted behaviors and the simulated results, and the performance of the proposed scheme in terms angle-of-arrival estimation, when compared to the conventional MUSIC algorithm and a recently proposed hybrid version of MUSIC (H-MUSIC).
Multiple positive solutions of second-order nonlinear difference equations with discrete singular ϕ-Laplacian
Authors: Su Xiaoxiao , Ma Ruyun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe consider the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions of the Dirichlet problem for the quasilinear difference equation $$ \textstyle\begin{cases} -\nabla [\phi (\triangle u(t))]=\lambda a(t,u(t))+\mu b(t,u(t)), \quad t\in \mathbb{T}, \\ u(1)=u(N)=0, \end{cases} $$

{

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where $\lambda ,\mu \geq 0$
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with $N>3$
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, $\phi (s)=s/\sqrt{1-s^{2}}$
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is either sublinear, or superlinear, or sub-superlinear near $s=0$
s
=
0
. Applying the topological method, we prove the existence of either one or two, or three positive solutions.
Entire solutions of a class of algebraic Briot–Bouquet differential equations utilizing majority concept
Authors: Ibrahim Rabha W. , Baleanu Dumitru 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this effort, the analytic solution of a class of algebraic Briot–Bouquet differential equations (ABBDE) in the open unit disk is investigated by making use of a major theory. The class is presented by the formula $$\begin{aligned}& \alpha _{1}\varphi ^{\prime 3}(z) + \alpha _{2} \varphi ^{ ' 2} (z) \varphi (z) + \alpha _{3} \varphi ^{\prime } (z) \varphi ^{2} (z) +\aleph ^{k}_{\varphi }(z) = 0, \\& \aleph ^{k}_{\varphi }(z):= a_{k} \varphi ^{k}(z)+a_{k-1} \varphi ^{k-1}(z)+\cdots+ a_{1} \varphi (z)+ a_{0}. \end{aligned}$$

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The conformal analysis (angle-preserving) of the ABBDEs is considered. Analytic outcomes of the ABBDEs are indicated by employing the major method. Some special cases are investigated.
On Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability of a generalized Caputo type multi-order boundary value problem with four-point mixed integro-derivative conditions
Authors: Ben Chikh Salim , Amara Abdelkader , Etemad Sina , Rezapour Shahram 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this research article, we turn to studying the existence and different types of stability such as generalized Ulam–Hyers stability and generalized Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability of solutions for a new modeling of a boundary value problem equipped with the fractional differential equation which contains the multi-order generalized Caputo type derivatives furnished with four-point mixed generalized Riemann–Liouville type integro-derivative conditions. At the end of the current paper, we formulate two illustrative examples to confirm the correctness of theoretical findings from computational aspects.
The effect of an electricity tax on aggregate electricity consumption: evidence from Basel
Authors: Krebs Benjamin , Luechinger Simon 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe estimate the effect of an electricity tax on aggregate electricity consumption with the synthetic control method. The tax was introduced in the Swiss city of Basel in 1999 and, together with other tariff changes, increased marginal electricity prices by 5.4–8.0%. We compare the actual and a hypothetical electricity consumption in the years 1999–2006. The latter is a weighted average of electricity consumption in other Swiss cities and captures the hypothetical situation without the tax. We find a statistically insignificant effect of the tax increase of − 2.7 to − 1.9%, which implies a rather small, but not unreasonable, price elasticity of between − 0.5 and − 0.2. Ambiguous effects on average prices and an unfortunate communication by officials may explain why the innovative reform failed to induce a stronger response.
Mammary mechanobiology – investigating roles for mechanically activated ion channels in lactation and involution
Authors: Stewart Teneale A. , Hughes Katherine , Stevenson Alexander J. , Marino Natascia , Ju Adler L. , Morehead Michael , Davis Felicity M. 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
The ability of a mother to produce a nutritionally complete neonatal food source has provided a powerful evolutionary advantage to mammals. Milk production by mammary epithelial cells is adaptive, its release is exquisitely timed, and its own glandular stagnation with the permanent cessation of suckling triggers the cell death and tissue remodeling that enables female mammals to nurse successive progeny. Chemical and mechanical signals both play a role in this process. However, despite this duality of input, much remains unknown about the nature and function of mechanical forces in this organ. Here, we characterize the force landscape in the functionally mature gland and the capacity of luminal and basal cells to experience and exert force. We explore molecular instruments for force-sensing, in particular channel-mediated mechanotransduction, revealing increased expression of Piezo1 in mammary tissue in lactation and confirming functional expression in luminal cells. We also reveal, however, that lactation and involution proceed normally in mice with luminal-specific Piezo1 deletion. These findings support a multifaceted system of chemical and mechanical sensing in the mammary gland, and a protective redundancy that ensures continued lactational competence and offspring survival.
Hollow-core resonator fiber optic gyroscope using nodeless anti-resonant fiber
Authors: Sanders Glen A. , Taranta Austin A. , Narayanan Chellappan , Numkam Fokoua Eric , Abokhamis Mousavi Seyedmohammad , Strandjord Lee K. , Smiciklas Marc , Bradley Thomas D. , Hayes John , Jasion Gregory T. , Qiu Tiequn , Williams Wes , Poletti Francesco , Payne David N. 
Published: December 2020

Resonator fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG) performance has hitherto been limited by nonlinearity, modal impurity, and backscattering in the sensing fibers. The use of hollow-core fiber (HCF) effectively reduces nonlinearity, but the complex interplay among glass and air-guided modes in conventional HCF technologies can severely exacerbate RFOG instability. By employing high-performance nested anti-resonant nodeless fiber, we demonstrate long-term stability in a hollow-fiber RFOG of 0.05 deg/h, nearing the levels required for civil aircraft navigation. This represents a

improvement over any prior hollow-core RFOG and a factor of

over any prior result at integration times longer than 1 h.
Single-frequency all-polarization-maintaining ytterbium-doped bidirectional fiber laser
Authors: Wang Kaile , Wen Zengrun , Chen Haowei , Lu Baole , Bai Jintao 
Published: December 2020

We reported an all-polarization-maintaining single-frequency ytterbium-doped bidirectional fiber laser for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Single-frequency operation was achieved by a stable dynamic grating in the active fiber of a proper length owing to the bidirectional operation of the laser. The fiber laser possesses a linewidth of 7.43 kHz, a slope efficiency of 47.9%, and a great long-term stability.
Macro-bending measurement based on a correlated FLRD system with an ASE source
Authors: Qi Ruiling , Xia Li , Wu Ying , Wu Nishan , Yang Zhao 
Published: December 2020

A passive correlated fiber loop ringdown (FLRD) system based on an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for macro-bending measurement. Due to the randomness of spontaneous emission, the autocorrelation coefficient of ASE has an extremely narrow FWHM (0.114 ns), which allows shorter fiber loop and higher sensitivity. The experimental results show that our system with a fiber length of 2.1 m can identify the bending within tens of nanoseconds. When the bending diameter remains 2.5 cm, the sensitivity of bending turns reaches

0.0017

n
s

−
1

/

t
u
r
n

. This system provides an effective solution for fast bending fault diagnosis.
Qualitative evidence synthesis of values and preferences to inform infant feeding in the context of non-HIV transmission risk
Authors: Carroll Christopher , Booth Andrew , Campbell Fiona , Relton Clare 
Published: December 2020

Background
Breastfeeding is recommended by many organisations, but feeding choices can take on complexity against a backdrop of a transmissible infection risk. The aim of this synthesis is to explore what is known about the values and preferences of pregnant women, mothers, family members and health practitioners, policy makers and providers (midwives) concerning feeding when there is a risk of Mother-to-Child transmission [MTCT] of an infectious disease (other than HIV/AIDS) to infants (0–2 years of age).

Methods
A qualitative evidence synthesis and GRADE CERQual assessment of relevant studies of values and preferences regarding infant feeding options in the context of non-HIV MTCT risk.

Results
The synthesis included eight qualitative studies. Four studies focussed on human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), three studies on Ebola, and one study on influenza vaccination. Mothers reported feeling sadness and guilt at not breastfeeding, while recognising that it was important for the health of their baby not to breastfeed. Mothers were reportedly appreciative of the provision of appropriate facilities, and the advice of those health professionals who knew about the diseases, but felt other professionals lacked knowledge about the transmission risk of conditions such as HTLV-1. All groups expressed concerns about social perceptions of not breastfeeding, as well as the alternatives. The evidence was coherent and relevant, but there were serious concerns about adequacy and methodological limitations, such as potential social desirability bias in some studies.

Conclusions
This synthesis describes the reported values and preferences of pregnant women, mothers, and others concerning feeding when there is a risk of Mother-to-Child transmission (MTCT) of an infectious disease (other than HIV/AIDS) to an infant when breastfeeding. However, the evidence in the peer-reviewed literature is limited both in quality and quantity.