bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinct spread of DNA and RNA viruses among mammals amid prominent role of domestic species
Authors: Wells Konstans , Morand Serge , Wardeh Maya , Baylis Matthew 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimEmerging infectious diseases arising from pathogen spillover from mammals to humans constitute a substantial health threat. Tracing virus origin and predicting the most likely host species for future spillover events are major objectives in One Health disciplines.We assessed patterns of virus sharing among a large diversity of mammals, including humans and domestic species.LocationGlobal.Time periodCurrent.Major taxa studiedMammals and associated viruses.MethodsWe used network centrality analysis and trait‐based Bayesian hierarchical models to explore patterns of virus sharing among mammals. We analysed a global database that compiled the associations between 1,785 virus species and 725 mammalian host species as sourced from automatic screening of meta‐data accompanying published nucleotide sequences between 1950 and 2019.ResultsWe show that based on current evidence, domesticated mammals hold the most central positions in networks of known mammal–virus associations. Among entire host–virus networks, Carnivora and Chiroptera hold central positions for mainly sharing RNA viruses, whereas ungulates hold central positions for sharing both RNA and DNA viruses with other host species. We revealed strong evidence that DNA viruses were phylogenetically more host specific than RNA viruses. RNA viruses exhibited low functional host specificity despite an overall tendency to infect phylogenetically related species, signifying high potential to shift across hosts with different ecological niches. The frequencies of sharing viruses among hosts and the proportion of zoonotic viruses in hosts were larger for RNA than for DNA viruses.Main conclusionsAcknowledging the role of domestic species in addition to host and virus traits in patterns of virus sharing is necessary to improve our understanding of virus spread and spillover in times of global change. Understanding multi‐host virus‐sharing pathways adds focus to curtail disease spread.
Retracted: A transcriptomic study of native, expanded, and engineered human corneal endothelial cells
Authors: Shahdadfar Aboulghassem , Yazdani Mazyar 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeHuman corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) fail to proliferate sufficiently following pathological injuries presumably due to their cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase (Joyce, 2012; Joyce et al, 1996). The current treatment for corneal endothelial disease includes partial (endothelial keratoplasty) or completes (penetrating keratoplasty) transplantation of the cornea. The shortage of available donor corneas worldwide continues to limit transplantation and thus necessitates alternative compensatory approaches. Stimulating of HCECs in vivo to promote cell proliferation or bioengineering of corneal endothelium for transplantation may offer practical solutions. Several methods for in vitro expansion and maintenance of HCECs have been developed until date but it is difficult to judge their reproducibility. Additionally, the cellular and molecular biology of these cells are not fully understood. Therefore, a comprehensive gene expression study on requisite cell‐cycle processes and associated signaling cascades may help to establish an important step for engineering of a functional corneal endothelium.MethodsWe attempted to develop a three step culture system to understand the gene expression profiles as well as the associated signaling pathways of native, proliferated and bioengineered HCECs corneal endothelium at different steps by RNA sequencing (RNA seq), quantitative real time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).ResultsOur results characterized 80 genes as markers of HCECs throughout the cell‐cycle stages, primarily focused on the associated cell cycle signaling cascades. Engaged genes were mostly related to entire cell‐cycle stages including the regulators of cell cycle and the cell cycle related signaling pathways suggesting their association with cell proliferation.ConclusionThis study adds valuable information to the literature on biology of HCECs and forms a potential for prospective clinical applications of the data for advancing the field of corneal regenerative medicine.
Optimization of microwave vacuum drying of okra and the study of the product quality
Authors: Xu Guobin , Yin Hao , He Xin , Wang Danfeng , Zhao Yanyun , Yue Jin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMicrowave vacuum drying (MVD) was reported to be an efficient method to dehydrate vegetables. In this study, fresh okra was dehydrated by this technique. Orthogonal design was used to optimize the drying parameters (microwave power, vacuum level, and loading density) to achieve high drying rate and product quality. Microwave power (500, 700, and 900 W), vacuum level (45, 60, and 75 kPa) and loading density (3, 4, and 5 kg/m2) were set up as the treatment factors. Drying rate, energy consumption, rehydration rate, color change, total phenol, and flavonoid contents were evaluated as the responding quality parameters. The optimal drying parameters of okra were identified as 900 W of microwave power, 60 kPa of vacuum level and 5 kg/m2 of loading density. Fresh okra was then dehydrated under MVD, hot air drying, and vacuum freezing drying. Results showed that microwave vacuum drying method was most efficient, with the drying rate as high as 2.36 ± 0.05 g/min. The contents of total phenol and flavonoid in the products of microwave vacuum drying had no significant difference from that of vacuum freeze drying and were significantly higher than that of hot air drying.Practical applicationsMVD is an efficient and energy‐saving technology, compared with the conventional hot air drying or vacuum freeze drying. Meanwhile, it could retain the color, flavor, nutrients, and bioactive compounds in the product, thus it is a promising method to dehydrate vegetables and fruits. Okra is rich in nutrients and is of increasing demand worldwide. Whereas it tends to spoil even at refrigerated temperature, so that a practical drying art is essential to be developed. This study proved the feasibility and efficiency of dying okra by MVD, and worked out an optimized drying condition under MVD, which could be a guide in okra processing industry.
Changes in the nutritional and activity status of elderly patients within 6 months of transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A mixed methods approach
Authors: Okugawa Saki , Shimizu Hideyuki , Hayashida Kentaro , Kawamoto Yuko , Tanaka Makoto 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimOur aim was to explore changes in nutritional and activity status of patients within 6 months after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and factors affecting malnutrition post‐TAVR in this cohort, and to gain understanding of their lifestyle considerations.MethodsUsing a mixed methods approach, we conducted a prospective, longitudinal survey, consisting of interviews and a questionnaire, of 50 participants aged ≥70 years (mean age, 83 years; 58.0% female) undergoing TAVR. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and albumin level (to measure nutritional status) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores from the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (to measure activity status) were collected at pre‐TAVR and 1 month and 6 months post‐TAVR. Laboratory data and some index scores (e.g., the Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS] and the Mini‐Mental State Examination [MMSE]) assessed before TAVR were collected from medical records as related factors.ResultsSignificant change was observed only in the MNA scores of participants who were assessed as malnourished at pre‐TAVR, which improved, but did not reach normal nutritional status. Low‐flow low‐gradient aortic stenosis (odds ratio [OR]: 166.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.43–5094.43), higher CFS scores (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.01–6.54), and lower MMSE scores (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.99) were related to malnutrition post‐TAVR. From interviews, three themes emerged: “balancing heart‐healthy lifestyle and longstanding habits,” “living with aging and disease” and “prospects for the rest of life.”ConclusionsOur results could be utilized to identify patients at risk of malnutrition post‐TAVR, and to provide support with consideration of their lifestyle concerns.
Topical combination of meldonium and N‐acetyl cysteine relieves allodynia in rat models of CRPS‐1 and peripheral neuropathic pain by enhancing NO‐mediated tissue oxygenation
Authors: Fulas Oli A. , Laferriere Andre , Stein Robin S. , Bohle D. Scott , Coderre Terence J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLocal microvascular dysfunction and consequent tissue ischemia/hypoxia contribute to the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and peripheral neuropathic pain. As nitric oxide (NO) is a key regulator of microvascular blood flow, compounds that increase it are potentially therapeutic for these pain conditions. This led us to hypothesize that the topical administration of drugs that modulate local tissue NO levels can alleviate the pain of CRPS and peripheral neuropathic pain. We investigated the anti‐allodynic effect of a combination of two NO‐modulating drugs: meldonium and N‐acetylcysteine (NAC). An equimolar topical formulation of the two drugs was tested on chronic post‐ischemic pain (CPIP), a rat model of CRPS, as well as chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and chemotherapy‐induced painful neuropathy (CIPN), rat models of peripheral neuropathic pain. Topical meldonium‐NAC produced significant anti‐allodynia in CPIP, CCI, and CIPN rats. Moreover repeated application of topical meldonium‐NAC produced an increase in the duration of anti‐allodynia in the CPIP and CCI rats. While pre‐treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor attenuated the anti‐allodynic effects of meldonium‐NAC, 30‐min hyperbaric oxygen treatment combined with a non‐effective dose of meldonium‐NAC produced significant anti‐allodynic effects in CPIP rats. Both experiments implicated NO in the drug combination's anti‐allodynic effects. To ascertain the role played by changes in local tissue NO, we performed a quantification of plantar muscle NO in CPIP rats after hind paw topical treatment with meldonium‐NAC and revealed significantly increased plantar muscle NO levels in drug‐treated rats. The drug combination also reversed the reduction in tissue oxygenation normally observed in CPIP hind paws. In addition to introducing a novel topical treatment for mechanical allodynia in CRPS and peripheral neuropathic pain, this work showcases the analgesic potential of locally targeting microvascular dysfunction and tissue ischemia/hypoxia in these conditions, with emphasis on the role of NO.
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Influence of Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) butter, TiO2 and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate on physical parameters and in vitro photoprotective efficacy
Authors: Sarruf Fernanda D. , Cândido Thalita M. , de Oliveira Camila A. , Bou‐Chacra Nádia A. , Robles Velasco Maria V. , Baby André R. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe development of photoprotective lipsticks containing natural bioactive compounds is a relevant current strategy to increase sun protection factor (SPF) value and lower the concentration of chemical UV filters, known for promoting sensitivity reactions.AimsTwelve photoprotective lipsticks were developed by Design of Experiment (DOE) and characterized to verify the influence of Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHM) on physical parameters and in vitro photoprotective efficacy.MethodsThe influence of Shea butter, TiO2, and EHM was evaluated by several parameters, such as melting point, colorimetry, thermal analysis by DSC, texture analysis, and sunscreen activity estimated in vitro.ResultsThe construction of prediction models was possible for the following responses: maximum force by the cantilever test at 25 and 45°C; maximum distance by hardness test at 25°C; slope value at 25 and 45°C by the cantilever test; and UVA/UVB ratio and in vitro SPF. TiO2 and EHM contributed to changes on the in vitro SPF value; however, unexpectedly, Shea butter had no influence on this efficacy parameter.ConclusionThe assay allowed us to observe the influence of the variables in the analysis and to develop a response prediction model for some of the parameters assessed.
Dietary supplementation of plant essential oil improves growth performance, intestinal morphology and health in weaned pigs
Authors: Su Guoqi , Zhou Xuanwu , Wang Yu , Chen Daiwen , Chen Guang , Li Yan , He Jun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe present study was conducted to explore the effect of plant essential oil (PEO) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and health in weaned pigs. Twenty‐four weaned pigs were assigned into four groups fed with a basal diet (CON) or basal diet containing PEO at a concentration of 50 (PEO50), 100 (PEO100) or 200 ppm (PEO200). After 21 days, pigs were slaughtered and blood and tissue samples were collected. Result showed that PEO200 group significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) compared with CON group (p < .05). Moreover, PEO supplementation significantly improved the digestibility of DM (p < .05). However, it significantly decreased the serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentration (p < .05). Interestingly, PEO supplementation significantly increased the activity of sucrase in the duodenal and the activity of lactase in the jejunal mucosa (p < .05). Moreover, PEO supplementation improved the growth of intestinal mucosa. As compared to the CON group, the jejunum and ileum villus height were significantly elevated in the PEO200 group (p < .05). Importantly, the expression levels of critical genes associated with nutrient transportation (i.e., GLUT2 and SGLT1) and barrier function (occludin) were significantly elevated in the PEO200 group (p < .05). Moreover, the PEO100 and PEO200 group had higher propionic acid concentration and higher total bacterial gene copies in colon digesta than the CON group (p < .05) respectively. These results not only suggest that PEO has a positive role in the regulation of growth and intestinal health in weaned pigs, but also offer a potential candidate substituting the conventionally used antibiotics in the livestock industry.
Prevalence and impact of hepatitis B virus infection in ovarian cancer patients in an endemic area—A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wong Lo , Cheung Tak Hong , Yim So Fan , Lao Terence T. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with many extrahepatic malignancies, but its association with and impact on ovarian cancer has not been examined. We therefore examined the prevalence of HBV infection among women with primary ovarian carcinoma in an endemic area, and whether this impacts the presentation and survival of these patients. In a retrospective study, we reviewed 523 patients presenting with primary ovarian cancer and known HBV status between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2017. Patients were divided into HBV‐positive and negative groups for the comparison of the patient characteristics and presentation, including staging and histological types, and short term (2 years) mortality from ovarian cancer. Among the 10.1% (53/523) patients screened positive for HBV, more of them presented with advanced staging at FIGO stage 3 or above (OR 1.378, 95% CI 1.063‐1.787), although there were no significant differences in patient characteristics. Within 24 months from presentation, there were more deaths due to malignancy in the HBV‐positive group (73.3% vs 44.2%, OR 1.659, 95% CI 1.135‐2.425). On multivariate analysis after adjusting for nulliparity status, previous use of oestrogens, presence of metastases, histological type (epithelial or others) and grading (high grade or not), whether optimal debulking was performed, and chemotherapy, HBV infection was independently associated with increased death within 24 months of presentation (aOR 2.683, 95% CI 1.015‐7.091). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggested an adverse effect of chronic HBV infection on survival within two years of presentation in patients with primary ovarian cancer.
Radionuclide activities in recent chondrite falls determined by gamma‐ray spectrometry: Implications for terrestrial age estimates
Authors: Rosén Åke V. , Hofmann Beda A. , von Sivers Moritz , Schumann Marc 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRadionuclide activities were measured in the low‐background gamma‐ray spectrometry facility GeMSE in eight meteorite falls (Lost City, Tamdakht, Huaxi, Boumdeid, Xining, Kamargaon, Degtevo, and Ouidiyat Sbaa) and two finds (SaU 606 and Mürtschenstock) to evaluate the use of radionuclides for terrestrial age estimates. Results indicate that these meteorites were all derived from small‐ (r < 25 cm) to medium‐sized (r < 65 cm) meteoroids. Short‐lived 48V (t1/2 = 16.0 d) and 51Cr (t1/2 = 27.7 d) were only detected in Oudiyat Sbaa (EH), while 7Be (t1/2 = 53.1 d) was also detected in Degtevo (H) and Kamargaon (L), in agreement with reported fall dates. The 22Na/26Al activity ratio in Huaxi agrees with the previously reported short cosmic‐ray exposure age of this meteorite while 22Na/26Al in Kamargaon likely records a complex exposure history. Bayesian statistical analysis verifies the detection of very low activities of 44Ti (t1/2 = 60 a) in the relatively large H chondrites (>100 g) Degtevo, Huaxi, Tamdakht, Lost City, and SaU 606. Additionally, large samples from Oudiyat Sbaa (EH) and Kamargaon (L) gave positive detections. For H chondrite target compositions, detected 44Ti(Fe+Ni)/26Al averaged 0.055 ± 0.013. Activities of 22Na and 54Mn in SaU 606 show that this meteorite fell between July and September 2012, making SaU 606 the second recent fall from Oman identified using gamma‐ray spectrometry. The upper activity limit of 22Na in the Mürtschenstock meteorite shows that it fell prior to 1999 and is not related to a bolide observation in 2015. Mürtschenstock shows 137Cs ~10× higher than previously determined in Oman meteorites, likely due to Chernobyl fallout.
Insights into the formation of silica‐rich achondrites from impact melts in Rumuruti‐type chondrites
Authors: Lunning N. G. , Bischoff A. , Gross J. , Patzek M. , Corrigan C. M. , McCoy T. J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAncient, SiO2‐rich achondrites have previously been proposed to have formed by disequilibrium partial melting of chondrites. Here, we test the alternative hypothesis that these achondrites formed by fractional crystallization of impact melts of Rumuruti (R) chondrites. We identified two new melt clasts in R chondrites, one in Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91241 and one in LaPaz Icefield (LAP) 031275. We analyzed major, minor, and trace element concentrations, as well as oxygen isotopes, of these two clasts and a third one that had been previously recognized (Bischoff et al. 2011) as an impact melt in Dar al Gani (DaG) 013. The melt clast in PCA 91241 is an R chondrite impact melt closely resembling the one previously recognized in DaG 013. The melt clast in LAP 031275 has an L chondrite provenance. We show that SiO2‐rich melts could form from the mesostases of R chondrite impact melts. However, their CI‐normalized rare earth element patterns are flat, whereas those of ancient SiO2‐rich achondrites (Day et al. 2012; Srinivasan et al. 2018) and those of disequilibrium partial melts of chondrites (Feldstein et al. 2001) have positive Eu anomalies from preferential melting of plagioclase. Thus, we conclude that ancient SiO2‐rich achondrites were probably formed by disequilibrium partial melting (due to an internal heat source on their parent bodies), rather than from impact melts.
Collaborative duty cycling strategies in energy harvesting sensor networks
Authors: Long James , Büyüköztürk Oral 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEnergy harvesting wireless sensor networks are a promising solution for low cost, long lasting civil monitoring applications. But management of energy consumption is a critical concern to ensure these systems provide maximal utility. Many common civil applications of these networks are fundamentally concerned with detecting and analyzing infrequently occurring events. To conserve energy in these situations, a subset of nodes in the network can assume active duty, listening for events of interest, while the remaining nodes enter low power sleep mode to conserve battery. However, judicious planning of the sequence of active node assignments is needed to ensure that as many nodes as possible can be reached upon the detection of an event, and that the system maintains capability in times of low energy harvesting capabilities. In this article, we propose a novel reinforcement learning (RL) agent, which acts as a centralized power manager for this system. We develop a comprehensive simulation environment to emulate the behavior of an energy harvesting sensor network, with consideration of spatially varying energy harvesting capabilities, and wireless connectivity. We then train the proposed RL agent to learn optimal node selection strategies through interaction with the simulation environment. The behavior and performance of these strategies are tested on real unseen solar energy data, to demonstrate the efficacy of the method. The deep RL agent is shown to outperform baseline approaches on both seen and unseen data.
Vibration‐based semantic damage segmentation for large‐scale structural health monitoring
Authors: Sajedi Seyed Omid , Liang Xiao 
Published: December 2019

AbstractToward reduced recovery time after extreme events, near real‐time damage diagnosis of structures is critical to provide reliable information. For this task, a fully convolutional encoder–decoder neural network is developed, which considers the spatial correlation of sensors in the automatic feature extraction process through a grid environment. A cost‐sensitive score function is designed to include the consequences of misclassification in the framework while considering the ground motion uncertainty in training. A 10‐story‐10‐bay reinforced concrete (RC) moment frame is modeled to present the design process of the deep learning architecture. The proposed models achieve global testing accuracies of 96.3% to locate damage and 93.2% to classify 16 damage mechanisms. Moreover, to handle class imbalance, three strategies are investigated enabling an increase of 16.2% regarding the mean damage class accuracy. To evaluate the generalization capacities of the framework, the classifiers are tested on 1,080 different RC frames by varying model properties. With less than a 2% reduction in global accuracy, the data‐driven model is shown to be reliable for the damage diagnosis of different frames. Given the robustness and capabilities of the grid environment, the proposed framework is applicable to different domains of structural health monitoring research and practice to obtain reliable information.