bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial quality of poultry meat in an ISO 22000:2005 certified poultry processing plant of Kathmandu valley
Authors: Maharjan Samita , Rayamajhee Binod , Chhetri Vijay Singh , Sherchan Samendra P. , Panta Om Prakash , Karki Tika Bahadur 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPoultry meat can be contaminated by different types of microorganisms during processing in processing plant. The microbiological quality of chicken carcasses and along with processing steps and environmental condition was analyzed in this study in an ISO 22000:2005 certified poultry processing plant of Kathmandu. Standard plate count method was applied for the enumeration and detection of total mesophilic bacteria, total coliform, total faecal coliform, Staphylococcus load along with selected pathogens like Salmonella spp., S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Listeria spp. in chicken meat at four processing step (evisceration, final washing, frozen and market). It was observed that the level of microbial load decreased with subsequent processing phases in poultry processing plant where high level of bacteria were reduced during final washing and frozen phase. After processing poultry meat in an ISO 22000:2005 certified meat processing plant, total aerobic mesophilic count, total coliform count, total faecal coliform count, total Staphylococcus count were decreased from 6.92 to 4.45 log CFU/g, 3.49 to 2.19 log CFU/g, 2.41 to nil log CFU/g, and 3..43 to 1.99 log CFU/g respectively. Pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella spp., C. perfringens, and Listeria spp. were absent in chicken meat at the fourth processing step. Prevalence of E. coli was reduced from 37.4% to 10.2%, whereas S. aureus was decreased from 18.57% to 17.1%. It was concluded that the final washing and freezing steps were the Critical Control Point (CCP) to control microbial hazards in poultry processing phase.
Change in diaphragm and intercostal muscle thickness in mechanically ventilated patients: a prospective observational ultrasonography study
Authors: Nakanishi Nobuto , Oto Jun , Ueno Yoshitoyo , Nakataki Emiko , Itagaki Taiga , Nishimura Masaji 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Diaphragm atrophy is observed in mechanically ventilated patients. However, the atrophy is not investigated in other respiratory muscles. Therefore, we conducted a two-center prospective observational study to evaluate changes in diaphragm and intercostal muscle thickness in mechanically ventilated patients.

Methods
Consecutive adult patients who were expected to be mechanically ventilated longer than 48 h in the ICU were enrolled. Diaphragm and intercostal muscle thickness were measured on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 with ultrasonography. The primary outcome was the direction of change in muscle thickness, and the secondary outcomes were the relationship of changes in muscle thickness with patient characteristics.

Results
Eighty patients (54 males and 26 females; mean age, 68 ± 14 years) were enrolled. Diaphragm muscle thickness decreased, increased, and remained unchanged in 50 (63%), 15 (19%), and 15 (19%) patients, respectively. Intercostal muscle thickness decreased, increased, and remained unchanged in 48 (60%), 15 (19%), and 17 (21%) patients, respectively. Decreased diaphragm or intercostal muscle thickness was associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (median difference (MD), 3 days; 95% CI (confidence interval), 1–7 and MD, 3 days; 95% CI, 1–7, respectively) and length of ICU stay (MD, 3 days; 95% CI, 1–7 and MD, 3 days; 95% CI, 1–7, respectively) compared with the unchanged group. After adjusting for sex, age, and APACHE II score, they were still associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (hazard ratio (HR), 4.19; 95% CI, 2.14–7.93 and HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.53–5.21, respectively) and length of ICU stay (HR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.77–6.45 and HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.39–4.63, respectively) compared with the unchanged group.

Conclusions
Decreased diaphragm and intercostal muscle thickness were frequently seen in patients under mechanical ventilation. They were associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay.

Trial registration
UMIN000031316. Registered on 15 February 2018
An exploratory study of CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for stage I thymoma
Authors: Dong Jun , Yuan Shaofei , Chang Boyang , Huang Jinsheng , Geng Xiaojing , Cai Xiuyu , Hu Pili , Zhang Bei , Xia Liangping , Wu Peihong 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Thymoma is a rare tumor that originates from thymic epithelial cells and is usually associated with myasthenia gravis. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive and curative treatment for other tumors, but RFA has not been used for the early treatment of thymoma.

Methods
The current study included 13 patients with stage I thymoma who were not candidates for surgical resection or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). All patients underwent first-line CT-guided percutaneous RFA. The feasibility and therapeutic effects of the intervention were thoroughly documented.

Results
All tumors were completely ablated (13 / 13, 100%). During follow-up (median 80.5 months, range, 64.6–116.9 months), only 1 of the 13 patients had recurrence of thymoma (1 / 13, 7.7%) at 35.5 months after the initial ablation. There were no surgery-related deaths after RFA treatment. The most common complications were fever (13 / 13, 100%) and pain (13 / 13, 100%). There was only one patient who occurred severe puncture-related bleeding during the procedure that needed blood transfusion and intravascular embolization of the punctured-injured vessel.

Conclusion
CT-guided percutaneous RFA for treatment of stage I thymoma is associated with minor trauma, few complications and good treatment outcomes.
Characterization, dietary habits and nutritional intake of omnivorous, lacto-ovo vegetarian and vegan runners – a pilot study
Authors: Nebl Josefine , Schuchardt Jan Philipp , Wasserfurth Paulina , Haufe Sven , Eigendorf Julian , Tegtbur Uwe , Hahn Andreas 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
The number of people preferring plant-based nutrition is growing continuously in the western world. Vegetarianism and veganism are also becoming increasingly popular among individuals participating in sport. However, whether recreationally active vegetarian and vegan populations can meet their nutritional needs is not clear.

Methods
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the nutrient intake of omnivorous (OMN, n = 27), lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV, n = 25) and vegan (VEG, n = 27) recreational runners (two to five training sessions per week) with intake recommendations of the German, Austrian and Swiss Nutrition Societies (Deutsche, Österreichische und Schweizerische Gesellschaften für Ernährung, D-A-CH) for the general population. Lifestyle factors and supplement intake were examined via questionnaires; dietary habits and nutrient intake were determined based on 3-day dietary records.

Results
More than half of each group did not reach the recommended energy intake (OMN: 10.4, 8.70–12.1; LOV: 9.67, 8.55–10.8; VEG: 10.2, 9.12–11.3 MJ). Carbohydrate intake was slightly below the recommendations of > 50 EN% in OMN (46.7, 43.6–49.8 EN%), while LOV (49.4, 45.5–53.3 EN%) and VEG (55.2, 51.4–59.0 EN%) consumed adequate amounts (p = 0.003). The recommended protein intake of 0.8 g/kg body weight (D-A-CH) was exceeded in all three groups (OMN: 1.50, 1.27–1.66; LOV: 1.34, 1.09–1.56; VEG: 1.25; 1.07–1.42 g/kg BW; p = 0.047). Only VEG (26.3, 22.7–29.8 EN%) did not achieve the recommended fat intake of 30 EN%. The supply of micronutrients, such as vitamin D and cobalamin, was dependent on supplement intake. Additionally, female OMN and LOV achieved the recommended daily intake of 15 mg iron only after supplementation, while VEG consumed adequate amounts solely via food.

Conclusion
All three groups were sufficiently supplied with most nutrients despite the exceptions mentioned above. The VEG group even showed advantages in nutrient intake (e.g. carbohydrates, fiber and iron) in comparison to the other groups. However, the demand for energy and several macro- and micronutrients might be higher for athletes. Thus, it is also necessary to analyze the endogenous status of nutrients to evaluate the influence of a vegetarian and vegan diet on the nutrient supply of athletes.

Trial registration
German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00012377), registered on April 28, 2017.
Evaluation of forecasting methods from selected stock market returns
Authors: Mallikarjuna M. , Rao R. Prabhakara 
Published: December 2019

AbstractForecasting stock market returns is one of the most effective tools for risk management and portfolio diversification. There are several forecasting techniques in the literature for obtaining accurate forecasts for investment decision making. Numerous empirical studies have employed such methods to investigate the returns of different individual stock indices. However, there have been very few studies of groups of stock markets or indices. The findings of previous studies indicate that there is no single method that can be applied uniformly to all markets. In this context, this study aimed to examine the predictive performance of linear, nonlinear, artificial intelligence, frequency domain, and hybrid models to find an appropriate model to forecast the stock returns of developed, emerging, and frontier markets. We considered the daily stock market returns of selected indices from developed, emerging, and frontier markets for the period 2000–2018 to evaluate the predictive performance of the above models. The results showed that no single model out of the five models could be applied uniformly to all markets. However, traditional linear and nonlinear models outperformed artificial intelligence and frequency domain models in providing accurate forecasts.
Strategies to prevent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in cancer survivors
Authors: Bansal Neha , Adams M. Jacob , Ganatra Sarju , Colan Steven D. , Aggarwal Sanjeev , Steiner Rudolf , Amdani Shahnawaz , Lipshultz Emma R. , Lipshultz Steven E. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCancer diagnostics and therapies have improved steadily over the last few decades, markedly increasing life expectancy for patients at all ages. However, conventional and newer anti-neoplastic therapies can cause short- and long-term cardiotoxicity. The clinical implications of this cardiotoxicity become more important with the increasing use of cardiotoxic drugs. The implications are especially serious among patients predisposed to adverse cardiac effects, such as youth, the elderly, those with cardiovascular comorbidities, and those receiving additional chemotherapies or thoracic radiation. However, the optimal strategy for preventing and managing chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity remains unknown. The routine use of neurohormonal antagonists for cardioprotection is not currently justified, given the marginal benefits and associated adverse events, particularly with long-term use. The only United States Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approved treatment for preventing anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy is dexrazoxane. We advocate administering dexrazoxane during cancer treatment to limit the cardiotoxic effects of anthracycline chemotherapy.
Confidence guides spontaneous cognitive offloading
Authors: Boldt Annika , Gilbert Sam J. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Cognitive offloading is the use of physical action to reduce the cognitive demands of a task. Everyday memory relies heavily on this practice; for example, when we write down to-be-remembered information or use diaries, alerts, and reminders to trigger delayed intentions. A key goal of recent research has been to investigate the processes that trigger cognitive offloading. This research has demonstrated that individuals decide whether or not to offload based on a potentially erroneous metacognitive evaluation of their mental abilities. Therefore, improving the accuracy of metacognitive evaluations may help to optimise offloading behaviour. However, previous studies typically measure participants’ use of an explicitly instructed offloading strategy, in contrast to everyday life where offloading strategies must often be generated spontaneously.

Results
We administered a computer-based task requiring participants to remember delayed intentions. One group of participants was explicitly instructed on a method for setting external reminders; another was not. The latter group spontaneously set reminders but did so less often than the instructed group. Offloading improved performance in both groups. Crucially, metacognition (confidence in unaided memory ability) guided both instructed and spontaneous offloading: Participants in both groups set more reminders when they were less confident (regardless of actual memory ability).

Conclusions
These results show that the link between metacognition and cognitive offloading holds even when offloading strategies need to be spontaneously generated. Thus, metacognitive interventions are potentially able to alter offloading behaviour, without requiring offloading strategies to be explicitly instructed.
Long noncoding RNAs in renal diseases
Authors: Liu Minghui , Ren Jie 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in eukaryotic gene regulation and diseases, rather than being merely transcriptional “noise”. Over the past decade, the study of lncRNAs has emerged as a burgeoning field of research and expanded our knowledge of their functions and underlining mechanisms in both normal and malignant cells. However, lncRNAs are still one of the least understood groups of transcripts. Here, we review the classifications and functions of lncRNAs and their roles in renal diseases. This review will provide insights into the roles of lncRNAs in pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutics of renal diseases and indications of lncRNAs as potential targets for the treatment of kidney diseases.
Assessment of growth and productivity of five peanut cultivars and genetic diversity using RAPD markers
Authors: Samaha Ghada M. , Ahmed M. A. , Abd El-Hameid Asmaa R. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThis study was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of five peanut cultivars grown under field conditions. A field experiment was conducted using five peanut cultivars (Giza-5, Giza-6, Ismailia-1, Gregory, and R92) in a randomized complete block design with five replications during two following seasons to estimate the performance of five peanut cultivars for vegetative growth, yield, and yield component traits as well as seed quality traits. Twenty RAPD primers were used to identify a unique fingerprint for each of five cultivars.ResultsGiza-6 cultivar surpassed all the tested peanut cultivars in the most vegetative growth traits and yield and its components traits, while the lowest values were observed in Giza-5 cultivar. The dendrogram constructed from RAPD analysis showed that Gregory and Giza-5 were the most distant among five peanut cultivars.ConclusionsRAPD markers are useful in the detection of genetic diversity of peanut. The availability of genetic diversity is important for the genetic improvement of peanut.
Dual functional β-peptide polymer-modified resin beads for bacterial killing and endotoxin adsorption
Authors: Qian Yuxin , Shen Yue , Deng Shuai , Liu Tingyan , Qi Fan , Lu Ziyi , Liu Longqiang , Shao Ning , Xie Jiayang , Ding Feng , Liu Runhui 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Bacterial infections and endotoxin contaminations are serious problems in the production/manufacture of food, water, drinks, and injections. The development of effective materials to kill bacteria and adsorb endotoxins, particularly those caused by gram-negative bacteria, represents a major step toward improved safety. As synthetic mimic of host defense peptides, β-peptide polymers are not susceptible to bacterial resistance and exhibit potent bacteria-killing abilities upon antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the potential of synthetic β-peptide polymer-modified polyacrylate (PA) beads to kill bacteria and remove endotoxin, i.e. lipopolysaccharide (LPS), produced by these bacteria.

Results
Synthetic β-peptide polymer-modified PA beads displayed strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, as well as excellent biocompatibility. In addition, these β-peptide polymer-modified beads removed around 90% of the endotoxins, even at 200 EU/mL of LPS, a very high concentration of LPS.

Conclusions
β-peptide polymer-modified PA beads are efficient in bacterial killing and endotoxin adsorption. Hence, these modified beads demonstrate the potential application in the production/manufacture of food, water, drinks, and injections.
Histological Characterization of Aldosterone-producing Adrenocortical Adenomas with Different Somatic Mutations
Authors: Ono Yoshikiyo , Yamazaki Yuto , Omata Kei , Else Tobias , Tomlins Scott A , Rhayem Yara , Williams Tracy Ann , Reincke Martin , Carling Tobias , Monticone Silvia , Mulatero Paolo , Beuschlein Felix , Ito Sadayoshi , Satoh Fumitoshi , Rainey William E , Sasano Hironobu 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Context
Aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenomas (APAs) are mainly composed of clear (lipid rich) and compact (eosinophilic) tumor cells. The detailed association between these histological features and somatic mutations (KCNJ5, ATP1A1, ATP2B3, and CACNA1D) in APAs is unknown.

Objective
To examine the association between histological features and individual genotypes in APAs.

Methods
Examination of 39 APAs subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing (11 KCNJ5, 10 ATP1A1, 10 ATP2B3, and 8 CACNA1D) and quantitative morphological and immunohistochemical (CYP11B2 and CYP17A1) analyses using digital imaging software.

Results
KCNJ5- and ATP2B3-mutated APAs had clear cell dominant features (KCNJ5: clear 59.8% [54.4–64.6%] vs compact 40.2% (35.4–45.6%), P = .0022; ATP2B3: clear 54.3% [48.2–62.4 %] vs compact 45.7% (37.6–51.8 %), P = .0696). ATP1A1- and CACNA1D-mutated APAs presented with marked intratumoral heterogeneity. A significantly positive correlation of immunoreactivity was detected between CYP11B2 and CYP17A1 in tumor cells of KCNJ5-mutated APAs (P = .0112; ρ = 0.7237), in contrast, significantly inverse correlation was detected in ATP1A1-mutated APAs (P = .0025; ρ = −0.8667).

Conclusion
KCNJ5-mutated APAs, coexpressing CYP11B2 and CYP17A1, were more deviated in terms of zonation-specific differentiation of adrenocortical cells than ATP1A1- and ATP2B3-mutated APAs.
Hepatitis C Virus Infection of Human Thyrocytes: Metabolic, Hormonal, and Immunological Implications
Authors: Hammerstad Sara Salehi , Blackard Jason T , Lombardi Angela , Owen Randall P , Concepcion Erlinda , Yi Zhengzi , Zhang Weijia , Tomer Yaron 
Published: December 2019

AbstractContextHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a prevalent disease worldwide. Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common extrahepatic manifestations of HCV infection. We hypothesized that HCV can directly infect human thyrocytes thereby causing thyroid dysfunction.SettingHuman thyrocytes in primary cell culture, ML-1 human thyroid cell line, and Huh7.5 human hepatocyte cell line were infected with HCV using the Huh7.5JFH1 cell line that releases infectious HCV virions. After infection, the release of new virions, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and expression of miR-122 were evaluated. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) extracted from HCV-infected cells and mock-infected cells was subjected to RNA sequencing and transcriptomic analysis. Ingenuity pathway analysis was used to detect up- and down-regulated pathways.ResultsHuman thyrocytes express major HCV entry factors including CD81, occludin, claudin-1, and scavenger receptor class B1. Viral infection of thyroid cells was confirmed by detection of HCV core protein in supernatants and negative-sense HCV RNA in cell lysates. HCV infection of thyrocytes induced the production of the chemokine CXCL-8 and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and significantly increased the expression of miR-122. Moreover, HCV infection of thyrocytes decreased expression of the thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin genes and increased expression of the deiodinase 2 gene. The top upregulated pathways in HCV-infected thyrocytes were immune pathways and metabolic pathways, while infected hepatocytes upregulated lipid and glucose metabolism pathways as previously reported.ConclusionsHCV infection may induce thyroid dysfunction by different mechanisms including direct infection of thyrocytes leading to activation of inflammatory pathways and upregulation of miR-122. These findings support a general mechanism for viral induction of autoimmunity through direct infection of target tissues.
Influence of Aging and Menstrual Status on Subcutaneous Fat Cell Lipolysis
Authors: Rydén Mikael , Gao Hui , Arner Peter 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Context
Aging is accompanied by inhibited fat cell mobilization of fatty acids through lipolysis, which may contribute to decreased energy expenditure in elderly subjects. However, the influence of menstrual status is unknown.

Objective
To investigate the role of menstrual status on changes in lipolysis induced by aging.

Design
A longitudinal investigation with a mean 13-year interval.

Setting
Ambulatory study at a clinical academic unit.

Participants
Eighty-two continuously recruited women between 24 and 62 years of age and with body mass index 21 to 48 kg/m2 at first examination. Twenty-nine women continued to have normal menstruation, 42 developed irregular menstruation/menopause, and 11 had a perimenstrual/menopausal phenotype already at the first examination.

Main outcome measure
Lipolysis measured as glycerol release from isolated subcutaneous fat cells incubated in vitro.

Results
On average, body weight/body fat mass levels did not change over time. In all 3 groups, aging was associated with a similar decrease in spontaneous (basal) and catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis. The latter was due to decreased signal transduction through stimulatory beta adrenoceptors and increased alpha-2-adrenoceptor–mediated antilipolytic effects. Gene microarray data from adipose tissue at baseline and follow-up (n = 53) showed that a limited set of lipolysis-linked genes, including phosphodiesterase-3B, were altered over time, but this was independent of menstrual status. Fat cell size also decreased during aging, but this could not explain the decrease in lipolysis.

Conclusions
In women, the rate of fat cell lipolysis decreases during aging due to multiple alterations in spontaneous (basal) and catecholamine-induced lipolysis. This is independent of changes in menstrual status or fat cell size.
Introduction
Authors: Telliel Yunus Doğan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This essay introduces a special section on Islam and evidence with contributions by Ana Maria Vinea, Junaid Quadri, and Yunus Doğan Telliel, and an afterword by Alireza Doostdar. The contributors examine evidential inquiries in Islamic law, healing practices, and scriptural interpretation. This special section shows that discourses of evidence not only are at the center of major debates concerning Islam's authoritative sources (e.g., how to derive injunctions from the Quran, the prophet's practice, fiqh canons, etc.), but also shape knowledge practices at the intersection of Islam and modern science.