bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The NLRP1 and CARD8 inflammasomes
Authors: Taabazuing Cornelius Y. , Griswold Andrew R. , Bachovchin Daniel A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractInflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that activate inflammatory cytokines and induce pyroptosis in response to intracellular danger‐associated signals. NLRP1 and CARD8 are related germline‐encoded pattern recognition receptors that form inflammasomes, but their activation mechanisms and biological purposes have not yet been fully established. Both NLRP1 and CARD8 undergo post‐translational autoproteolysis to generate two non‐covalently associated polypeptide chains. NLRP1 and CARD8 activators induce the proteasome‐mediated destruction of the N‐terminal fragment, liberating the C‐terminal fragment to form an inflammasome. Here, we review the danger‐associated stimuli that have been reported to activate NLRP1 and/or CARD8, including anthrax lethal toxin, Toxoplasma gondii, Shigella flexneri and the small molecule DPP8/9 inhibitor Val‐boroPro, focusing on recent mechanistic insights and highlighting unresolved questions. In addition, we discuss the recently identified disease‐associated mutations in NLRP1 and CARD8, the potential role that DPP9’s protein structure plays in inflammasome regulation, and the emerging link between NLRP1 and metabolism. Finally, we summarize all of this latest research and consider the possible biological purposes of these enigmatic inflammasomes.
Telehealth‐guided home‐based maggot debridement therapy for chronic complex wounds: Peri‐ and post‐pandemic potential
Authors: Armstrong David G. , Rowe Vincent L. , D'Huyvetter Karen , Sherman Ronald A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPatients with complex chronic lower extremity wounds require a great deal of interaction with outpatient and inpatient services. Paradoxically, these are the very patients that, because of their chronic comorbidities, are at greatest risk for COVID‐related morbidity and mortality. Disinfected Phaenicia (Lucilia) sericata (Medical Maggots; Monarch Labs, Irvine, California) were applied in a standardised fashion by a home‐health nurse with direct monitoring, guidance, and collaboration of the attending surgeon. A family member was able to change the outer dressing daily based on normal wound exudate. The inner maggot debridement therapy (MDT) dressing was changed at 2 days showing dramatic reduction in necrotic tissue, elimination of profound malodor, and no evidence of local or advancing infection. The entire initial telehealth‐guided application took approximately 20 minutes. The first telehealth‐guided MDT dressing change took 14 minutes. We used an artificial‐intelligence‐based algorithm to measure changes in wound characteristics. At day 0, 46% of the total surface area was covered in malodorous black, necrotic tissue. The first dressing change saw an elimination in assessed malodor with necrotic tissue constituting 14% of total surface area. The second dressing change at 5 days showed a greater than 99% reduction in necrotic tissue. This manuscript constitutes what we believe to be the first telehealth‐guided MDT conducted during a resource‐limited peri‐pandemic period. We believe that MDT, which is an extension of efforts regularly performed in clinic and hospital, may have the potential to reduce resource usage while potentially improving care and quality of life for people with limb and life‐threatening complications of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Thermophysical properties and cyclic lifetime of plasma sprayed SrAl12O19 for thermal barrier coating applications
Authors: Zhou Xin , Song Wenjia , Yuan Jieyan , Gong Qingmei , Zhang Hao , Cao Xueqiang , Dingwell Donald B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAbout 6‐8 wt% yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the industry standard material for thermal barrier coatings (TBC). However, it cannot meet the long‐term requirements for advanced engines due to the phase transformation and sintering issues above 1200°C. In this study, we have developed a magnetoplumbite‐type SrAl12O19 coating fabricated by atmospheric plasma spray, which shows potential capability to be operated above 1200°C. SrAl12O19 coating exhibits large concentrations of cracks and pores (~26% porosity) after 1000 hours heat treatment at 1300°C, while the total porosity of YSZ coatings progressively decreases from the initial value of ~18% to ~5%. Due to the contribution of porous microstructure, an ultralow thermal conductivity (~1.36 W m−1 K−1) can be maintained for SrAl12O19 coating even after 1000 hours aging at 1300°C, which is far lower than that of the YSZ coating (~1.98 W m−1 K−1). In thermal cyclic fatigue test, the SrAl12O19/YSZ double‐ceramic‐layer coating undertakes a thermal cycling lifetime of ~512 cycles, which is not only much longer than its single‐layer counterpart (~163 cycles), but also superior to that of YSZ coating (~392 cycles). These preliminary results suggest that SrAl12O19 might be a promising alternative TBC material to YSZ for applications above 1200°C.
The effects of self‐efficacy,self‐regulationand social presence on learning engagement in a large university class using flipped Learning
Authors: Doo Min Young , Bonk Curtis J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFlipped learning recently gained attention as an effective instructional approach to enhance learning engagement, causing many universities to implement it. To enhance student engagement in large university classes, this study examined the effects of self‐efficacy, self‐regulation and social presence on learning engagement in a large university class using a flipped learning approach. A total of 390 undergraduates who were enrolled in a large general education class using flipped learning at a university in Korea participated in this study. The learners completed an online survey measuring the variables of this study. The research findings indicated that self‐regulation affected social presence as well as learning engagement. Self‐efficacy affected social presence and indirectly affected learning engagement through social presence. Finally, social presence affected learning engagement. Social presence also mediated the relationship between self‐efficacy and learning engagement as well as between self‐regulation and learning engagement. This study confirmed the significant effects of self‐regulation and social presence on students' learning engagement in large university classes.
What drives changes in the virulence and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio harveyi in the South China Sea?
Authors: Deng Yiqin , Xu Liwen , Liu Songlin , Wang Qian , Guo Zhixun , Chen Chang , Feng Juan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTo understand the driving environmental factors in changes of bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance, we determined the prevalence, antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of Vibrio harveyi isolated from diseased marine fish in south coastal China. We isolated 2, 52 and 53 V. harveyi strains from Fujian, Hainan and Guangdong, respectively, and identified them by multilocus sequence analysis of 16S rRNA‐toxRVh‐rctB. Nine typical virulence genes were represented at a higher average in Hainan (7.39 ± 0.24) than in Guangdong (6.91 ± 0.28). Five atypical virulence genes were detected in some isolates. In particular, flaC and vvh were detected in more than 60% of isolates. Their average number was significantly higher in Hainan (2.30 ± 0.20) than in Guangdong (1.70 ± 0.10). Multidrug resistance was widespread with an average resistance to 4.57 ± 0.18 of 15 antibiotics. Both the average number of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes were higher in Hainan (5.25 ± 0.27 and 1.11 ± 0.15, respectively) than in Guangdong (3.87 ± 0.21 and 0.75 ± 0.10, respectively). This study demonstrated that there were more virulence genes and greater drug resistance in Hainan than in Guangdong, suggesting that warmer temperature and antibiotics pollutants probably enhance antibiotic resistance and bacterial infection.
Effects of oilseed substrates (ground nyjer and flax seeds) on the growth and Ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus carbonarius
Authors: Gizachew Dawit , De La Torre Sandra , Szonyi Barbara , Ting Wei‐tsyi Evert 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAspergillus carbonarius is one of the major Ochratoxin A (OTA) producing fungus. Nyjer and flax seeds are important oilseeds that are used for both human and animal consumption, but they are highly susceptible to fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination. The objectives of this study were to determine the growth and OTA production by A. carbonarius on ground nyjer and flax seeds with water activity levels ranging from 0.82 to 0.98 aw at three incubation temperatures (20, 30, 37°C). It was found that A. carbonarius was not able to grow on the two types of oilseeds with 0.82 or 0.86 aw. Also, the fungus was not able to grow on flax seeds with high water activity (0.98 aw). The OTA was only detected on flax seed samples with 0.94 aw at 20°C. On nyjer seeds, the highest concentration of OTA (271 μg/kg) was detected from samples with 0.98 aw incubated at 20°C for 5 days, while on flax seeds the highest OTA (146 μg/kg) was found on the seed samples with 0.94 aw incubated at 20°C for 15 days. Linear regression models also indicated that 0.98 aw was optimal for both fungal growth and OTA production on nyjer seeds. Overall, ground nyjer seed is better than flax seed to support growth and OTA production by A. carbonarius.
Glyphosate—A love story. Ordinary thoughtlessness and response‐ability in industrial farming
Authors: Müller Birgit 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMore than 8.6 billion kilograms of glyphosate have been used worldwide since the 1970s. Herbicide tolerant crops became the lynchpin of the technological revolution for large‐scale farming first in the United States and Canada, and now in Europe. Zero‐till farming, as a production scheme and a world view, is based on simplifications promoted by a handful of transnational corporations with the complicity of politicians looking for easy solutions for problems, such as climate change, erosion and the hunger in the world. At the same time, the massive use of glyphosate is branded as an endocrine disrupter, causing cancer, male sterility and infertility. It interferes with soil bacteria and acts on the equilibrium of soil fungi. Glyphosate resistant crops connect farmers to far away consumers ingesting the food they grow together with the traces of chemicals. Farmers intra‐act with the myriads of life‐forms of the soil eco‐system. How do they perceive the life in the soil, when they spray chemicals? The article explores the political dimensions of the agency of both humans and non‐humans to understand the effects of the modernizing project of zero‐till, as well as to identify spaces and scales of possibility from where alternatives can emerge.
Psychological trajectories of Chinese women undergoing pregnancy termination for foetal abnormality: A descriptive qualitative study using expressive writing
Authors: Qian Jialu , Sun Shiwen , Yang Mengye , Zhou Xiaoli , Wu Mengwei , Yu Xiaoyan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAims and objectivesTo explore the psychological trajectories of women who have had a diagnosis of foetal abnormality from the time of receiving a definite diagnosis to one month after discharge.BackgroundFoetal abnormalities are not uncommon worldwide. Such situations are devastating, and the termination of a pregnancy due to foetal abnormalities is a traumatic and stressful event for the mother.DesignA descriptive qualitative approach using expressive writing.MethodsThe study included 20 women recruited through purposive sampling at a tertiary hospital in China. The participants were asked to write four 15‐min essays related to their experiences with foetal abnormalities. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes. The COREQ checklist (see Supporting Information Appendix S1) was used.ResultsFour themes that reflected the women's psychological trajectories were identified: (a) traumatic response, (b) ruminant meditation, (c) positive coping and (d) post‐traumatic growth stages. The psychological trajectories were dynamically shaped, and different responses were displayed in each stage.ConclusionsVarious responses were observed during each of the four psychological trajectories, which indicated that awareness regarding the psychological impacts associated with foetal abnormalities should be increased. The present findings suggest that healthcare services should be made accessible for women who have had a diagnosis of foetal abnormality to allow them to receive targeted nursing care at different stages and improve their psychological well‐being.Relevance to clinical practiceMidwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals should pay more attention to the mental health of women pregnant with foetuses diagnosed with abnormalities. Interventions designed based on women's worries and demands during various phases should be offered. In terms of the present research method, expressive writing possesses unique advantages that can be applied for relevant qualitative research.
Kaempferol ameliorates secretagogue-induced pseudo-allergic reactions via inhibiting intracellular calcium fluctuation
Authors: Cao Jiao , Wang Yuejin , Hu Shiling , Ding Yuanyuan , Jia Qianqian , Zhu Jing , An Hongli 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the inhibitory effects of Kaempferol, a natural flavonol active compound, on pseudo-allergic reactions (in vivo and in vitro), particularly on the mechanism underlying its effect in human mast cells.

Methods
Compound 48/80 (C48/80)-induced immunoglobulin E (IgE)-independent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) model and systemic anaphylaxis were applied to investigate the anti-allergic activity of Kaempferol. The degranulation assay, calcium imaging and the secretion of cytokines and chemokines were used to evaluate the inhibitory effect on mast cell activation. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate intracellular calcium fluctuation-related signalling pathways.

Key findings
Kaempferol dose-dependently attenuated C48/80-induced mice hind paw swelling, dye extravasation and skin mast cell degranulation, and rehabilitated the hypothermia, as well as reduced the serum concentrations of histamine, tryptase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Furthermore, Kaempferol suppressed C48/80-triggered human MC degranulation and calcium fluctuations by inhibiting phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) phosphorylation and subsequent cytokines synthesis pathways.

Conclusions
The inhibition of the process of PLCγ phosphorylation to Ca2+ mobilization represents a major strategy in Kaempferol-suppressed pseudo-allergic reactions. Thus, Kaempferol could be considered as a therapeutic drug candidate for non-IgE-mediated allergic reactions or inflammations.
Comparison of the effect of weight change, simulated computational continuous positive airway pressure treatment and positional therapy on severity of sleep apnea
Authors: Kulkas Antti , Duce Brett , Töyräs Juha , Seppä Juha , Leppänen Timo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWeight loss, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and positional therapy (PT) are important treatments in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although all of these reduce the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) effectively, the benefits of these treatments have not been thoroughly investigated in a patient‐specific manner. Therefore, clinicians do not have objective means to choose an optimal treatment for each patient. We aim to provide clinicians the possibility for treatment optimization in a patient‐specific manner by introducing a computational simulation approach. The effect of actual weight change, computationally simulated CPAP treatment and PT and their combinations on the AHI were compared in 54 OSA patients divided into three equally sized groups (weight loss > 7%, weight loss 0%–7%, and weight gain) after a 5‐year follow‐up with lifestyle intervention. Weight loss reduced the AHI by 43.5% (p < .05) and 18%, simulated CPAP treatment with 3.3‐hr adherence by 42.4% (p < .05) and 35.5% (p < .05), and simulated PT by 13.5% (p < .05) and 30.7% (p < .05) in > 7% and 0%–7% weight loss groups, respectively. Simulated CPAP treatment and PT were able to compensate for the increase in the AHI caused by weight gain. A developed simulation approach could help clinicians to estimate treatment success in advance in order to prescribe the most optimal patient‐specific treatment to reduce OSA‐related health risks.
A daytime nap does not increase mnemonic discrimination ability
Authors: Davidson Per , Jönsson Peter , Johansson Mikael 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIt has been proposed that sleep readies the brain for novel learning, and previous work has shown that sleep loss impairs the ability to encode new memories. In the present study, we examined if a daytime nap would increase mnemonic discrimination (MD) performance. MD is the ability to differentiate between memories that are similar but not identical. Participants performed the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The goal of this task is to distinguish stimuli that have been seen before from novel stimuli that are similar but not identical. After the morning MST, participants were randomly allocated into either a sleep or a wake group. The sleep group had a 2‐hr nap opportunity, whereas the wake group spent a similar amount of time passively resting. All participants then performed a second MST in the afternoon with a novel set of images. Results did not show any support for increased MD ability after a nap. There was, however, a correlation showing that an increase in sleepiness between sessions predicted a decrease in MD performance. Future work must systematically examine how strong sleep manipulations that are needed for sleep to have an effect on encoding ability, as well as which kind of memory tasks that are sensitive to sleep manipulations. More knowledge about the relationship between sleep and the ability to differentiate similar memories from each other is important because impaired MD ability has previously been reported in various groups in which sleep disturbances are also common.
Relationships among rheological, sensory, and wear behaviors of cheeses
Authors: Zad Bagher Seighalani Fariba , Joyner Helen , Ross Carolyn 
Published: June 2020

AbstractStudying rheological and sensory behaviors of cheese provides structural and texture‐related information that could be useful for a better understanding of the complex wear behaviors of cheese and their relationships with cheese industrial and oral processing behaviors. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the relationships of rheological and sensory properties with cheese wear. Rheological tests including large amplitude oscillatory shear, strain sweeps at different temperatures (5, 15, and 25°C), and large‐strain compression at room temperature (22 ± 2°C) were conducted for cheeses with varying fat contents (40, 50, 52, and 54% fat‐in‐dry‐matter aged for different periods (15, 30, 45, and 60 d). Descriptive sensory analysis was used to evaluate cheese sensory texture attributes. Overall, fat content, testing temperature, and aging time had significant impact on cheese viscoelastic parameters. Higher temperature, aging time, and fat content led to lower rigidity and greater extent of nonlinear viscoelastic behaviors in the cheeses. Mass loss showed negative correlations with critical strain (γc), critical stress (σc), complex modulus (G*), and fracture stress, but had positive correlations with phase angle (δ) and fracture strain. Sensory data showed that texture attributes were affected by cheese fat content and aging time and had significant correlations with mass loss at high normal force and sliding speed. This study showed that rheology and sensory data can be used to provide fundamental information on the wear behaviors of cheese and other soft materials.
Does body mass restrict call peak frequency in echolocating bats?
Authors: López‐Cuamatzi Issachar L. , Vega‐Gutiérrez Víctor H. , Cabrera‐Campos Iván , Ruiz‐Sanchez Eduardo , Ayala‐Berdon Jorge , Saldaña‐Vázquez Romeo A. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Echolocation is the ability of some animals to orient themselves through sound emission and interpretation of the echoes. This is bats’ main sense for orientation and recognising biotopes that provide food, water, and roosts. It is widely accepted that echolocation call frequency is related to body mass, and this relationship has been described as the ‘allometric hypothesis’, which proposes a negative correlation between these variables.

There is evidence that, in many cases, the allometric hypothesis does not apply. Additionally, studies supporting this hypothesis were done at the family level, resulting in a broad range of correlation values with r ranging from −0.36 to −0.76, and only insectivorous bats were included. Due to the notable exceptions and the lack of a quantitative synthesis of this hypothesis including all echolocating bats, we evaluated the allometric hypothesis of echolocation calls for this group.

Using a meta‐analysis and phylogenetic generalised least‐squares techniques, we evaluated the relationship between echolocation call peak frequency and the body mass of bats.

We found a negative relationship between body mass and echolocation call peak frequency for the 85 bat species that were included in our analysis (r = −0.3, p = 0.005). The relationship was consistent when we analysed the data at the insectivorous guild level, and in bats belonging to the families Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, Emballonuridae, and the genus Myotis. However, the wide range of r values suggests that the strength of the relationship between peak frequency and body mass varies within the order Chiroptera.

Our results support the allometric hypothesis of sound production in echolocating bats. However, the low coefficient we found suggests that factors other than body mass may influence the peak frequency of echolocation calls produced by bats.
MRI and pathology correlations in the medulla in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): a postmortem study
Authors: Patodia S. , Tachrount M. , Somani A. , Scheffer I. , Yousry T. , Golay X. , Sisodiya S. M. , Thom M. 
Published: June 2020

AimsSudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) likely arises as a result of autonomic dysfunction around the time of a seizure. In vivo MRI studies report volume reduction in the medulla and other brainstem autonomic regions. Our aim, in a pathology series, is to correlate regional quantitative features on 9.4T MRI with pathology measures in medullary regions.MethodsForty‐seven medullae from 18 SUDEP, 18 nonepilepsy controls and 11 epilepsy controls were studied. In 16 cases, representing all three groups, ex vivo 9.4T MRI of the brainstem was carried out. Five regions of interest (ROI) were delineated, including the reticular formation zone (RtZ), and actual and relative volumes (RV), as well as T1, T2, T2* and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) measurements were evaluated on MRI. On serial sections, actual and RV estimates using Cavalieri stereological method and immunolabelling indices for myelin basic protein, synaptophysin and Microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) were carried out in similar ROI.ResultsLower relative RtZ volumes in the rostral medulla but higher actual volumes in the caudal medulla were observed in SUDEP (P < 0.05). No differences between groups for T1, T2, T2* and MTR values in any region was seen but a positive correlation between T1 values and MAP2 labelling index in RtZ (P < 0.05). Significantly lower MAP2 LI were noted in the rostral medulla RtZ in epilepsy cases (P < 0.05).ConclusionsRostro‐caudal alterations of medullary volume in SUDEP localize with regions containing respiratory regulatory nuclei. They may represent seizure‐related alterations, relevant to the pathophysiology of SUDEP.