bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channel model of cyclic-buildup biofilm and traditional biofilm: The impact of friction, and detergent on cleaning and subsequent high-level disinfection
Authors: Ribeiro Maíra M. , Graziano Kazuko U. , Olson Nancy , França Rodrigo , Alfa Michelle J. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of detergent and friction on removal of traditional biofilm and cyclic-buildup biofilm (CBB) from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channels and to evaluate the efficacy of glutaraldehyde to kill residual bacteria after cleaning.

Methods:
PTFE channels were exposed to artificial test soil containing 108 CFU/mL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis, followed by full cleaning and high-level disinfection (HLD) for five repeated rounds to establish CBB. For traditional biofilm, the HLD step was omitted. Cleaning with enzymatic and alkaline detergents, bristle brush, and Pull Thru channel cleaner were compared to a water flush only. Carbohydrate, protein, viable count, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were analyzed and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed.

Results:
In the absence of friction, cleaning of traditional biofilm and CBB was not effective compared to the positive control (Dunn-Bonferroni tests; P > .05) regardless of the detergent used. ATP, protein, and carbohydrate analyses were unable to detect traditional biofilm or CBB. The AFM analysis showed that fixation resulted in CBB being smoother and more compact than traditional biofilm.

Conclusion:
Friction during the cleaning process was a critical parameter regardless of the detergent used for removal of either traditional biofilm or CBB. Glutaraldehyde effectively killed the remaining microorganisms regardless of the cleaning method used.
Political advertising revisited: digital campaigning and protecting democratic discourse
Authors: Harker Michael 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the legal and regulatory control of electoral campaigning online, in particular ‘microtargeting’. There has been a longstanding consensus in the UK on how to control political advertising, yet the shift of expenditure to the online environment, together with innovations in digital campaigning tools, are exposing tensions and gaps in the current regime. One central harm associated with microtargeting is its potential to undermine meaningful democratic deliberation. The paper interrogates the issues through the lens of electoral law and regulation, and questions the extent to which a recalibration is necessary to deal with the challenges of digital campaigning.
An overview of fault zone permeabilities and groundwater level steps in the Roer Valley Rift System
Authors: Lapperre Rimbaud E. , Kasse Cornelis , Bense Victor F. , Woolderink Hessel A.G. , Van Balen Ronald T. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFaults in the Roer Valley Rift System (RVRS) act as barriers to horizontal groundwater flow. This causes steep cross-fault groundwater level steps (hydraulic head differences). An overview of the size and distribution of fault-related groundwater level steps and associated fault zone permeabilities is thus far lacking. Such an overview would provide useful insights for nature restoration projects in areas with shallow groundwater levels (wijstgronden) on the foot wall of fault zones. In this review study, data on fault zone permeabilities and cross-fault hydraulic head differences were compiled from 39 sources of information, consisting of literature (starting from 1948), internal reports (e.g. from research institutes and drinking water companies), groundwater models, a geological database and new fieldwork. The data are unevenly distributed across the RVRS. Three-quarters of the data sources are related to the Peel Boundary Fault zone (PBFZ). This bias is probably caused by the visibility of fault scarps and fault-adjacent wet areas for the PBFZ, with the characteristic iron-rich groundwater seepage. Most data demonstrate a cross-fault phreatic groundwater level step of 1.0 to 2.5 m. Data for the Feldbiss Fault zone (FFZ) show phreatic cross-fault hydraulic head differences of 1.0 to 2.0 m.In situmeasured hydraulic conductivity data (K) are scarce. Values vary over three orders of magnitude, from 0.013 to 22.1 m d−1, are non-directional and do not take into account heterogeneity caused by fault zones. The hydraulic conductivity (and hydraulic resistance) values used in three different groundwater models are obtained by calibration using field measurements. They also cover a large range, from 0.001 to 32 m d−1and from 5 to 100,000 days. Heterogeneity is also not taken into account in these models. The overview only revealed locations with a clear cross-fault groundwater level step, and at many locations the faults are visible on aerial photographs as cropmarks or as soil moisture contrasts at the surface. Therefore, it seems likely that all faults have a reduced permeability, which determines the size of the groundwater level steps. In addition, our results show that cross-fault hydraulic head gradients also correlate with topographic, fault-induced offsets, for both the Peel Boundary and the Feldbiss fault zone.
Dualization, stratification, liberalization, or what? An attempt to clarify the conceptual underpinnings of the dualization debate
Authors: Busemeyer Marius , Kemmerling Achim 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDespite its many contributions, a central problem in the dualization debate is conceptual overstretching, as we will argue in this short comment. The term “dualization” has been used to describe different processes, which are often subsumed under this heading: the rise of atypical employment, increasing labor market stratification in general, or the partial deregulation of welfare state policies and institutions. This multitude of usages weakens the utility of dualization as a theoretical concept. In the next section, we briefly look at the evolution of the dualization debate on the micro level before we proceed to the macro level. In the concluding section, we speculate about the future of dualization as a concept for describing welfare state transformations.
Carbon Isotopic Research of Pinus Sylvestris L. Growing in the Southern Poland (near Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Dąbrowa GÓrnicza Katowice and Olesno)
Authors: Sensuła Barbara , Piotrowska Natalia 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTIn this paper we present data from the measurements of carbon isotopes (Δ14C and δ13C) from α-cellulose extracted from pine tree-rings. The samples were collected in four forests located in the most industrialized part of Poland, where coal mining and coal-based energy are an important branch of industry. The investigated period of time (1975–2012) covers the period of development in coal mining and other industry sectors. Stable isotope composition has been determined with using IRMS and radiocarbon concentration was determinate by AMS.
Reconsidering Tolerance: Insights From Political Theory and Three Experiments
Authors: Jones Calvert W. , Bejan Teresa M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTolerance underlies many contemporary controversies, yet theorists and political scientists study it in strikingly different ways. This article bridges the gap by using recent developments in political theory to enrich empirical research and extend the study of tolerance to contexts beyond liberal democracies, such as authoritarian regimes. Our recommendations challenge dominant liberal-democratic frameworks by emphasizing variation across the (1) objects of tolerance; (2) possible responses to difference; and (3) sources of tolerance. We then illustrate the promise of our recommendations with three theoretically informed experiments inspired by historical debates about religious conversion. Our results suggest a marked ‘convert effect’ across not only contemporary religious but also secular political divides, with the same difference in terms of content viewed as less tolerable when resulting from conversion than when given or ascribed. The research demonstrates the benefits of greater dialogue across political theory and political science, while shedding light on a central question of tolerance today.
Health care and the future of economic growth: exploring alternative perspectives
Authors: Hensher Martin , Tisdell John , Canny Ben , Zimitat Craig 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe strong and positive relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and health expenditure is one of the most extensively explored topics in health economics. Since the global financial crisis, a variety of theories attempting to explain the slow recovery of the global economy have predicted that future economic growth will be slower than in the past. Others have increasingly questioned whether GDP growth is desirable or sustainable in the long term as evidence grows of humanity's impact on the natural environment. This paper reviews recent data on trends in global GDP growth and health expenditure. It examines a range of theories and scenarios concerning future global GDP growth prospects. It then considers the potential implications for health care systems and health financing policy of these different scenarios. In all cases, a core question concerns whether growth in GDP and/or growth in health expenditure in fact increases human health and well-being. Health care systems in low growth or ‘post-growth’ futures will need to be much more tightly focused on reducing overtreatment and low value care, reducing environmental impact, and on improving technical and allocative efficiency. This will require much more concerted policy and regulatory action to reduce industry rent-seeking behaviours.
Ego Depletion May Disappear by 2020
Authors: Vadillo Miguel A. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Ego depletion has been successfully replicated in hundreds of studies. Yet the most recent large-scale Registered Replication Reports (RRR), comprising thousands of participants, have yielded disappointingly small effects, sometimes even failing to reach statistical significance. Although these results may seem surprising, in the present article I suggest that they are perfectly consistent with a long-term decline in the size of the depletion effects that can be traced back to at least 10 years ago, well before any of the RRR on ego depletion were conceived. The decline seems to be at least partly due to a parallel trend toward publishing better and less biased research.
Impact of Distinct Origin Locations on the Life Cycles of Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers Over the U.S. West Coast
Authors: Zhou Yang , Kim Hyemi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAn atmospheric river (AR) event represents strong poleward moisture transport and is defined as a series of spatiotemporally connected instantaneous AR objects. Utilizing an AR tracking algorithm with a depth‐first search (a widely used algorithm in computer science), we examine the life cycle characteristics of AR events that make landfall over the U.S. West Coast by their distinct origin locations. Landfalling AR events from the Northwest Pacific (120°E–170°W, WLAR events) temporally last longer (5.3 versus 3.6 days on average) and have stronger intensity of integrated vapor transport (508 versus 388 kg m−1 s−1 on average) than those originating from the Northeast Pacific (125°W–170°W, ELAR events). A persistent tripole geopotential height anomaly pattern over the North Pacific modulates the origin locations and propagation of landfalling AR events. WLAR events are associated with anomalous highs over northeastern Asia and the Northeast Pacific and an anomalous low over the central North Pacific. This pattern provides favorable conditions for WLAR events to start, propagate northeastward, and make landfall in the northwestern West Coast. WLAR events contribute approximately 25% of the total winter precipitation over Washington and British Columbia. ELAR events are associated with a similar tripole pattern to the WLAR events with an eastward shift. The anomalous low over the Northeast Pacific helps ELAR events to start, propagate northeastward, and make landfall in the southwestern West Coast. Precipitation induced by ELAR events contributes up to 30% of total winter precipitation over California.
Collagen turnover profiles in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Rasmussen Daniel Guldager Kring , Boesby Lene , Nielsen Signe Holm , Tepel Martin , Birot Sophie , Karsdal Morten Asser , Kamper Anne-Lise , Genovese Federica 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRenal fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by an imbalance between formation and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. We investigated the collagen turnover profile of 81 non-dialysis CKD stage 2–5 patients by measuring peptides reflecting formation and degradation of collagen type (COL) I, III, IV, and VI. Based on the collagen turnover profile, we identified four clusters of patients. Cluster 1 contained one patient with prostate cancer, who had a distinct collagen turnover. The other clusters generally had severe (Cluster 2), moderate (Cluster 4), or mild CKD (Cluster 3). Cluster 4 patients were characterized by higher levels of COL III, COL IV, and COL VI (all p < 0.001) degradation fragments in plasma, while patients in Clusters 2 and 4 had higher levels of COL VI formation (p < 0.05). COL IV fragments in plasma were lower in Cluster 2 (p < 0.01). Urinary COL III fragments decreased from Cluster 3 to 4, and from Cluster 4 to 2 (both p < 0.001). We show that patients with similar kidney function have a different collagen remodeling profile, suggesting that different phenotypes exist with different disease activity and potentially disease progression. Biomarkers of collagen remodeling could provide additional information to traditional markers of renal function.
Signal-to-background ratio and lateral resolution in deep tissue imaging by optical coherence microscopy in the 1700 nm spectral band
Authors: Yamanaka Masahito , Hayakawa Naoki , Nishizawa Norihiko 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe quantitatively investigated the image quality in deep tissue imaging with optical coherence microscopy (OCM) in the 1700 nm spectral band, in terms of the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) and lateral resolution. In this work, to demonstrate the benefits of using the 1700 nm spectral band for OCM imaging of brain samples, we compared the imaging quality of OCM en-face images obtained at the same position by using a hybrid 1300 nm/1700 nm spectral domain (SD) OCM system with shared sample and reference arms. By observing a reflective resolution test target through a 1.5 mm-thick tissue phantom, which had a similar scattering coefficient to brain cortex tissue, we confirmed that 1700 nm OCM achieved an SBR about 6-times higher than 1300 nm OCM, although the lateral resolution of the both OCMs was similarly degraded with the increase of the imaging depth. Finally, we also demonstrated high-contrast deep tissue imaging of a mouse brain at a depth up to 1.8 mm by using high-resolution 1700 nm SD-OCM.
Brewster quasi bound states in the continuum in all-dielectric metasurfaces from single magnetic-dipole resonance meta-atoms
Authors: Abujetas Diego R. , Barreda Ángela , Moreno Fernando , Sáenz Juan J. , Litman Amelie , Geffrin Jean-Michel , Sánchez-Gil José A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBound states in the continuum (BICs) are ubiquitous in many areas of physics, attracting special interest for their ability to confine waves with infinite lifetimes. Metasurfaces provide a suitable platform to realize them in photonics; such BICs are remarkably robust, being however complex to tune in frequency-wavevector space. Here we propose a scheme to engineer BICs and quasi-BICs with single magnetic-dipole resonance meta-atoms. Upon changing the orientation of the magnetic-dipole resonances, we show that the resulting quasi-BICs, emerging from the symmetry-protected BIC at normal incidence, become transparent for plane-wave illumination exactly at the magnetic-dipole angle, due to a Brewster-like effect. While yielding infinite Q-factors at normal incidence (canonical BIC), these are termed Brewster quasi-BICs since a transmission channel is always allowed that slightly widens resonances at oblique incidences. This is demonstrated experimentally through reflectance measurements in the microwave regime with high-refractive-index mm-disk metasurfaces. Such Brewster-inspired configuration is a plausible scenario to achieve quasi-BICs throughout the electromagnetic spectrum inaccessible through plane-wave illumination at given angles, which could be extrapolated to other kind of waves.
Sustainable use zoning of land resources considering ecological and geological problems in Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, China
Authors: Gao Lin , Ma Chuanming , Wang Qixin , Zhou Aiguo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe Pearl River Delta Economic Zone is one of the fastest growing areas of China’s social and economic development. However, the contradiction between people and land, the deterioration of ecological environment and the damage of urban ecological security have become more serious problems. In previous studies there was single land utilization type in small-area and the evaluation method was not suitable to large areas, this study proposes a new method. Firstly, the study implements ecological land zoning from assessing the importance of ecosystem services functional in four aspects: biodiversity, water conservation, soil conservation and coastal protected zone. Then, the suitability evaluation index system of agricultural and construction land is established from the geological environment perspective, and introduces variable weight-analytical hierarchy process-comprehensive index model to evaluate the suitability of agricultural land and construction land. Re-zoning the type of land that has a special effect on the socio-economic, the mining land, protected area of geological relics and groundwater resources, respectively. Finally, considering the actual condition use status and suitability distribution of land, the results of comprehensive zoning of land utilization is got. The results of this study can provide some geological basis for the future land utilization zoning.
Inhibiting the LPS-induced enhancement of mEPSC frequency in superficial dorsal horn neurons may serve as an electrophysiological model for alleviating pain
Authors: Yang Chin-Tsang , Hung Shih-Ya , Hsu Sheng-Feng , MacDonald Iona , Lin Jaung-Geng , Luo Sih-Ting , Lin Pei-Lin , Chen Yi-Hung 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPain is a major primary health care problem. Emerging studies show that inhibition of spinal microglial activation reduces pain. However, the precise mechanisms by which microglial activation contributes to nociceptive synaptic transmission remain unclear. In this study, we measured spontaneous synaptic activity of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in rat spinal cord superficial dorsal horn (SDH, laminae I and II) neurons. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) increased the frequency, but not amplitude, of mEPSCs in SDH neurons. Microglial inhibitors minocycline and paeonol, as well as an astrocyte inhibitor, a P2Y1 receptor (P2Y1R) antagonist, and a metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist, all prevented LPS-induced enhancement of mEPSC frequency. In mouse behavioral testing, minocycline and paeonol effectively reduced acetic acid-induced writhing and LPS-induced hyperalgesia. These results indicate that LPS-activated microglia release ATP, which stimulates astrocyte P2Y1Rs to release glutamate, triggering presynaptic mGluR5 receptors and increasing presynaptic glutamate release, leading to an increase in mEPSC frequency and enhancement of nociceptive transmission in SDH neurons. We propose that these effects can serve as a new electrophysiological model for evaluating pain. Moreover, we predict that pharmacologic agents capable of inhibiting the LPS-induced enhancement of mEPSC frequency in SDH neurons will have analgesic effects.
SQSTM-1/p62 potentiates HTLV-1 Tax-mediated NF-κB activation through its ubiquitin binding function
Authors: Schwob Aurélien , Teruel Elodie , Dubuisson Louise , Lormières Florence , Verlhac Pauline , Abudu Yakubu Princely , Gauthier Janelle , Naoumenko Marie , Cloarec-Ung Fanny-Meï , Faure Mathias , Johansen Terje , Dutartre Hélène , Mahieux Renaud , Journo Chloé 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe NF-κB pathway is constitutively activated in adult T cell leukemia, an aggressive malignancy caused by Human T Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The viral oncoprotein Tax triggers this constitutive activation by interacting with the ubiquitin-rich IKK complex. We previously demonstrated that Optineurin and TAX1BP1, two members of the ubiquitin-binding, Sequestosome-1 (SQSTM-1/p62)-like selective autophagy receptor family, are involved in Tax-mediated NF-κB signaling. Here, using a proximity-dependent biotinylation approach (BioID), we identify p62 as a new candidate partner of Tax and confirm the interaction in infected T cells. We then demonstrate that p62 knock-out in MEF cells as well as p62 knock-down in HEK293T cells significantly reduces Tax-mediated NF-κB activity. We further show that although p62 knock-down does not alter NF-κB activation in Jurkat T cells nor in infected T cells, p62 does potentiate Tax-mediated NF-κB activity upon over-expression in Jurkat T cells. We next show that p62 associates with the Tax/IKK signalosome in cells, and identify the 170–206 domain of p62 as sufficient for the direct, ubiquitin-independent interaction with Tax. However, we observe that this domain is dispensable for modulating Tax activity in cells, and functional analysis of p62 mutants indicates that p62 could potentiate Tax activity in cells by facilitating the association of ubiquitin chains with the Tax/IKK signalosome. Altogether, our results identify p62 as a new ubiquitin-dependent modulator of Tax activity on NF-κB, further highlighting the importance of ubiquitin in the signaling activity of the viral Tax oncoprotein.
Deletion of the Na/HCO3 Transporter NBCn1 Protects Hippocampal Neurons from NMDA-induced Seizures and Neurotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Park Hae Jeong , Gonzalez-Islas Carlos E. , Kang Yunhee , Li Jun Ming , Choi Inyeong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe Na/HCO3cotransporter NBCn1/SLC4A7 can affect glutamate neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Here, we examined NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in NBCn1 knockout mice to determine whether a similar effect also occurs in the mouse brain. In primary cultures of hippocampal neurons from knockouts, NMDA had no neurotoxic effects, determined by lactate dehydrogenase release and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent cGMP production. Male knockouts and wildtypes (6–8 weeks old) were then injected with NMDA (75 mg/kg; ip) and hippocampal neuronal damages were assessed. Wildtypes developed severe tonic-clonic seizures, whereas knockouts had mild seizure activity (motionless). In knockouts, the NOS activity, caspase-3 expression/activity and the number of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly low. Immunochemical analysis revealed decreased expression levels of the NMDA receptor subunit GluN1 and the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 in knockouts. Extracellular recording from hippocampal slices showed no Mg2+/NMDA-mediated epileptiform events in knockouts. In conclusion, these results show a decrease in NMDA neurotoxicity by NBCn1 deletion. Given that acid extrusion has been known to prevent pH decrease and protect neurons from acid-induced damage, our study presents novel evidence that acid extrusion by NBCn1 stimulates neurotoxicity.