bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New azaphilones from Aspergillus neoglaber
Authors: Isbrandt Thomas , Frisvad Jens C. , Madsen Anja , Larsen Thomas O. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThree new azaphilones, sassafrin E (1), sassafrin F (2), and sassafrinamine A (3), were isolated from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus neoglaber. The structures of the compounds were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and were found to be novel analogues of two already known compound classes; sassafrins and berkchaetoazaphilones. Sassafrin E and F were both oxygen containing, while sassafrinamine A additionally contained a nitrogen atom, originating from an aminoethanol moiety, as well as extensive conjugation resulting in an intense purple colour of the pure compound. The structure of sassafrin E was further confirmed using deuterium exchange experiments coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry.
N-glycolyl chondroitin synthesis using metabolically engineered E. coli
Authors: Awofiranye Adeola E. , Baytas Sultan N. , Xia Ke , Badri Abinaya , He Wenqin , Varki Ajit , Koffas Mattheos , Linhardt Robert J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractN-glycolyl chondroitin (Gc-CN) is a metabolite ofN-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a sialic acid that is commonly found in mammals, but not humans. Humans can incorporate exogenous Neu5Gc into their tissues from eating red meat. Neu5Gc cannot be biosynthesized by humans due to an evolutionary mutation and has been implicated in causing inflammation causing human diseases, such as cancer. The study Neu5Gc is important in evolutionary biology and the development of potential cancer biomarkers. Unfortunately, there are several limitations to detecting Neu5Gc. The elimination of Neu5Gc involves a degradative pathway leading to the incorporation ofN-glycolyl groups into glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as Gc-CN. Gc-CN has been found in humans and in animals including mice, lamb and chimpanzees. Here, we present the biosynthesis of Gc-CN in bacteria by feeding chemically synthesizedN-glycolylglucosamine toEscherichia coli. A metabolically engineered strain ofE. coliK4, fed with glucose supplemented with GlcNGc, converted it toN-glycolylgalactosamine (GalNGc) that could then be utilized as a substrate in the chondroitin biosynthetic pathway. The final product, Gc-CN was converted to disaccharides using chondroitin lyase ABC and analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring detection. This analysis showed the incorporation of GalNGc into the backbone of the chondroitin oligosaccharide.
The effects of recreational cannabis use on glycemic outcomes and self-management behaviours in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a rapid review
Authors: Porr Caroline J. , Rios Patricia , Bajaj Harpreet S. , Egan Aoife M. , Huot Celine , Batten Ryan , Bishop Lisa , Ryan Devonne , Davis Erin , Darvesh Nazia , Rahman Arifur , Asghari Shabnam , Acheampong Lily , Tricco Andrea C. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Recent surveys of Canadian cannabis users reflect increasing consumption rates, some of whom may have diabetes. However, healthcare providers have limited information resources on the effects of recreational cannabis in people with diabetes. This rapid review was commissioned by Diabetes Canada to synthesize available evidence to guide recommendations for care of people 13 years of age and older who live with diabetes.

Methods
PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases were searched from January 2008 to January 2019. Study selection, data abstraction and quality appraisal were completed by pairs of reviewers working independently and discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer with pilot tests completed before each stage to ensure consistency. Data collected from included studies were tabulated and summarized descriptively.

Results
The search resulted in 1848 citations of which 59 publications were selected for screening, resulting in six observational studies (2 full-text articles and 4 conference abstracts) that met the pre-defined criteria for inclusion. Five studies reported higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who consumed recreational cannabis. In one study, students aged 17 to 25 years living with T1D self-reported poorer glycemic control and higher HbA1c when smoking cannabis. In one study of adults with T1D, cannabis use within the previous 12 months was associated with almost double the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis compared with no cannabis use (odds ratio [OR] 1.98; confidence interval [CI] [95% CI] 1.01–3.91). Risks for peripheral arterial occlusion and myocardial infarction were found to be higher in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who consumed recreational cannabis, and worse renal parameters were also reported in two separate studies of T1D and T2D.

Conclusions
Recreational cannabis use may negatively impact diabetes metabolic factors and self-management behaviours in people with T1D. In people with T2D, recreational cannabis may increase risks for peripheral arterial occlusion, myocardial infarction and renal disease. However, the evidence base of this rapid review was limited to six observational studies of poor to fair methodological quality, and thus, further robust, higher quality research is required to confirm the potential impact of cannabis on diabetes.

Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42019122829
Antimicrobial peptides in human synovial membrane as (low-grade) periprosthetic joint infection biomarkers
Authors: Banke Ingo J. , Stade Niko , Prodinger Peter M. , Tübel Jutta , Hapfelmeier Alexander , von Eisenhart-Rothe Rüdiger , van Griensven Martijn , Gollwitzer Hans , Burgkart Rainer 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Safe diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is of utmost importance for successful exchange arthroplasty. However, current diagnostic tools show insufficient accuracy in the clinically common and challenging chronic low-grade infections. To close this diagnostic gap, reliable (bio)markers display the most promising candidates. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are part of the innate immune response towards microbial growth. Recently we could show significant intraarticular levels of human cathelicidin LL-37 and β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) with high diagnostic accuracy in PJI synovial fluid. Consequently, these promising biomarkers were evaluated in PJI synovial membrane and synoviocytes, which may significantly facilitate histological diagnosis of PJI to improve outcome of septic joint replacement.

Methods
In this prospective single-center controlled clinical study (diagnostic level II), consecutive patients with total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) replacements were included undergoing primary arthroplasty (n = 8), surgical revision due to aseptic loosening (n = 9) and septic arthroplasty with coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 8) according to the criteria of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS). Semiquantitative immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of LL-37, HBD-3 and HBD-2 in synovial membrane and isolated synoviocytes based on Total Allred Score (TS) and Immunoreactive Remmele and Stegner score (IRS) was performed. For statistical analysis, SPSS 26.0/R3.6.3 (p < 0.05) was used.

Results
The AMPs LL-37 and HBD-3 were significantly elevated (up to 20×) in synovial membranes from PJI compared to aseptic loosening or primary arthroplasty. The area under the curve (AUC) in a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was equal to 1.0 for both scores revealing excellent diagnostic accuracy. Isolated synoviocytes as cellular AMP source showed comparable results with a significant LL-37/HBD-3-increase up to 3 × in PJI. In contrast, local HBD-2 levels were negligible (p > 0.23) upon PJI with a lower diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.65) in analogy to our previous findings with synovial fluid.

Conclusions
Our results implicate AMPs as promising and specific biomarkers for the histological diagnosis of PJI.
Exact distributions of statistics for making inferences on mixed models under the default covariance structure
Authors: Weerahandi Samaradasa , Yu Ching-Ray 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAt this juncture when mixed models are heavily employed in applications ranging from clinical research to business analytics, the purpose of this article is to extend the exact distributional result of Wald (Ann. Math. Stat. 18: 586–589, 1947) to handle models involving a number of variance components.Due to the unavailability of exact distributional results for underlying statistics, currently available methods provide small group/sample inference only for balanced ANOVA models or simple regression models. The exact distributional results developed in this article should prove useful in making inferences by such methods as parametric bootstrap, fiducial, and generalized p-value approach, when there are a number of variance components to deal with.
Recycled eggshells as precursors for iron-impregnated calcium oxide catalysts for partial oxidation of methane
Authors: Karoshi Gourishankar , Kolar Praveen , Shah Sanjay B. , Gilleskie Gary 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThere is a significant interest in converting eggshells into value-added products. Therefore, the goal of this research is to synthesize and study iron-impregnated eggshells as a catalyst for partial oxidation of methane. The objectives of this research were to test the effects of iron loading, flow rate, oxygen concentration, and temperature on methane oxidation. The catalysts were synthesized using ferric chloride hexahydrate at various loadings and tested in a heated stainless-steel reactor under different experimental conditions. The reaction products included C2–C7 hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide depending on the reaction conditions. Results indicated that iron loading beyond 5 wt% caused a decrease in methane conversion. A decrease in oxygen concentration enhanced methane conversion with a substantial drop in the production of CO2. Besides, an increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in methane conversion with a simultaneous increase in the production of CO2 via overoxidation. The reusability experiments indicated that the catalyst was active for four reaction cycles. Our results indicate that eggshells can be used as catalyst support for methane partial oxidation and can simultaneously solve the waste disposal problems faced by the poultry industry.
Calcium channel blocker induced gingival enlargement following implant placement in a fibula free flap reconstruction of the mandible: a case report
Authors: Quach Henry , Ray-Chaudhuri Arijit 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Gingival tissue enlargement is a common side effect of antiepileptic medications (e.g. phenytoin and sodium valproate), immunosuppressing drugs (e.g. cyclosporine) and calcium channel blockers (e.g. nifedipine, verapamil, amlodipine) (Murakami et al. 2018, Clin Periodontol 45:S17–S27, 2018). The clinical and histological appearances of lesions caused by these drugs are indistinguishable from one another (Murakami et al. 2018, Clin Periodontol 45:S17–S27, 2018). Drug-induced gingival enlargement is rarely seen in edentulous patients.

Case presentation
This case presents a 72-year-old female with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth treated with surgical excision and fibula-free flap reconstruction. Following the uncovering of osseointegrated implants placed in the fibular-free flap, the patient developed gingival enlargement of the floor of the mouth. Cessation of amlodipine and switching to an alternative medication lead to a resolution of the enlarged tissue.

Conclusions
This case illustrates that gingival enlargement can occur around dental implants, most notably in rehabilitation cases in patients who have had head and neck cancer. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of gingival enlargement in hypertensive patients taking calcium channel blockers prior to implant placement.
Wind turbine performance analysis for energy cost minimization
Authors: Charabi Yassine , Abdul-Wahab Sabah 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe use of wind energy worldwide has overgrown in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power is free, but the installation and maintenance of wind turbines remain very costly. The size of the installation of the wind turbine is not only determined by wind statistics at a given location, but also by turbine infrastructure and maintenance costs. The payback time of the turbine is dependent on turbine energy costs. This study estimates the wind power generation capacity of Northern and Southern Oman and discusses the selection of the most economical, efficient and reliable wind turbines in Oman. HOMER Pro Software was used in this paper to evaluate the wind energy data in the north and south of Oman and to provide well-informed guidance on the most suitable turbines for the power needs of each area. Six different standard wind turbines were measured and compared in terms of the cost of energy and performance. The simulation analysis reveals that the DW54 turbine is the best possible turbine to generate electricity in northern Oman at $0.119/kW. Due to the difference in the wind regime between the north and the south of Oman, the simulation showed that the Hummer H25.0–200 kW turbine is the best option for south Oman with power generation at $0.070/kW. The northern wind turbine plant can efficiently contribute to decarbonization of the energy sector in Oman, with a potential reduction of CO2 emission approximately 19,000 tons/year in comparison to natural gas and 28,000 tons/year in comparison to diesel. In the Southern Power Plant, carbon emissions are reduced by 18,000 and 12,000 tons/year compared to diesel and natural gas.
A co-production approach guided by the behaviour change wheel to develop an intervention for reducing sedentary behaviour after stroke
Authors: Hall Jennifer , Morton Sarah , Hall Jessica , Clarke David J. , Fitzsimons Claire F. , English Coralie , Forster Anne , Mead Gillian E. , Lawton Rebecca 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Stroke survivors are highly sedentary; thus, breaking up long uninterrupted bouts of sedentary behaviour could have substantial health benefit. However, there are no intervention strategies specifically aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour tailored for stroke survivors. The purpose of this study was to use co-production approaches to develop an intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour after stroke.

Methods
A series of five co-production workshops with stroke survivors, their caregivers, stroke service staff, exercise professionals, and researchers were conducted in parallel in two-stroke services (England and Scotland). Workshop format was informed by the behaviour change wheel (BCW) framework for developing interventions and incorporated systematic review and empirical evidence. Taking an iterative approach, data from activities and audio recordings were analysed following each workshop and findings used to inform subsequent workshops, to inform both the activities of the next workshop and ongoing intervention development.

Findings
Co-production workshop participants (n = 43) included 17 staff, 14 stroke survivors, six caregivers and six researchers. The target behaviour for stroke survivors is to increase standing and moving, and the target behaviour for caregivers and staff is to support and encourage stroke survivors to increase standing and moving. The developed intervention is primarily based on co-produced solutions to barriers to achieving the target behaviour. The developed intervention includes 34 behaviour change techniques. The intervention is to be delivered through stroke services, commencing in the inpatient setting and following through discharge into the community. Participants reported that taking part in intervention development was a positive experience.

Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first study that has combined the use of co-production and the BCW to develop an intervention for use in stroke care. In-depth reporting of how a co-production approach was combined with the BCW framework, including the design of bespoke materials for workshop activities, should prove useful to other researchers and practitioners involved in intervention development in stroke.
Oral and maxillofacial surgical services amid COVID-19 pandemic: perspective from Tanzania
Authors: Sohal Karpal Singh , Simon Elison N. M. , Kalyanyama Boniphace , Moshy Jeremiah Robert 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a global pandemic that affects individuals from all walks of life. Considering that the virus can be passed on directly from person to person through respiratory droplets, contact, fomites, and saliva, the oral and maxillofacial surgeons are exposed to COVID-19 in their daily clinical duties. This is because of the nature of their work, which entails working within a short distance from patients’ oral cavity and upper airway. As such, there is a need for having locally tailored standard guidelines for managing patients with oral and maxillofacial conditions during the COVID 19 pandemic in Tanzania.
Improving cognitive mapping by training for people with a poor sense of direction
Authors: Ishikawa Toru , Zhou Yiren 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe skill of spatial learning and orientation is fundamental in humans and differs widely among individuals. Despite its importance, however, the malleability of this skill through practice has scarcely been studied empirically, in contrast to psychometric spatial ability. Thus, this article examines the possibility of improving the accuracy of configurational understanding of the environment by training. A total of 40 adults with a poor sense of direction participated in the experiment; and were randomly assigned to either a condition in which they received feedback only or a condition in which they additionally practiced allocentric spatial updating. Participants walked one route in each session, once a week for 6 weeks, and conducted spatial tasks designed to assess their knowledge of the route. A total of 20 people with an average sense of direction also participated as a comparison group. Results showed that training in allocentric spatial updating improved the accuracy of direction estimates, although the size of the effect was limited: the improvement was not large enough to equate the performance in the groups with a poor versus average sense of direction. The two groups, however, did not differ in spatial skill in mental rotation or path integration. Feedback was effective for improving accuracy in straight-line distance estimates and sketch maps: repeated trials with feedback led to improved accuracy by the sixth session to a level comparable to the group with an average sense of direction. The results show that flexible translation between viewer-centered and environment-centered representations is difficult and not readily trainable, and provide insights into the nature of individual differences in large-scale environmental cognition.
Perceptions and reasons of E-cigarette use among medical students: an internet-based survey
Authors: Alzalabani Abdulmohsen A. , Eltaher Sheref M. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Nowadays, E-cigarette use shows a significant increase among adults and youth in many countries, although there is still a public health debate about its relative effects compared to the traditional cigarettes.

Objectives
To assess the prevalence, perceptions, possible reasons of use, and factors associated with E-cigarettes use among medical students at Taibah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods
An internet-based online survey study was conducted between September and November 2019 which contains socio-demographic data, data related to smoking and E-cigarette use, and data related to reasons of E-cigarette use.

Results
A total of 527 out of 720 students completed an online questionnaire, 15.9% of the surveyed students used E-cigarettes, older age, male, higher college class, those who have ≥ 1 close friend who smokes, family history of smoking, and housemates who smoked E-cigarettes show a significantly higher percentage of E-cigarettes use. The first reason for E-cigarettes use namely that, E-cigarette helps to reduce tobacco consumption with no intention to quit smoking was the highest (89.2%), followed by E-cigarette being less toxic than tobacco (88.4%), and finally E-cigarette helps to avoid having to go outside to smoke (62.05%). Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, more than one close friend who smokes, family history of smoking, and housemates who smoked E-cigarettes were significant factors associate with its use.

Conclusion
E-cigarette use appears to be relatively common than conventional cigarette among the participants. Our study participants perceived that it can help people quit, less harmful, and less addictive. The most common reason for its use among the study participants was that E-cigarette helps to reduce tobacco consumption in users with no intention to quit smoking.
The use of automated sequential blood pressure in hypertension clinics compared with office and ambulatory blood pressure measurements
Authors: Mahmoud Kareem , ElAroussy Ayah , Baghdady Yasser , ElAroussy Wafaa , ElDeeb Heba 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Office blood pressure (OBP) measurement is the most common method of blood pressure measurement. However, it is associated with several pitfalls as white coat effect and masked hypertension. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is usually used for diagnosis of hypertension and elimination of white coat effect. This study aimed to assess the correlation and degree of agreement of the automated sequential blood pressure (ASqBP) with OBP and ABPM. Patients presented to hypertension clinic were included. Each patient had his blood pressure recorded by three methods: OBP using a digital sphygmomanometer device, unattended ASqBP using sequential BP devices with recording of the readings over 30 min, and ABPM that was performed within 48 h of office visit using portable BP devices with BP recording over 24 h.

Results
We recruited 64 patients (age 50.0 ± 15.0 years and female gender 53.1%). We found a strong positive correlation between ASqBP and OBP readings (r 0.81 for SBP and 0.83 for DBP, p < 0.001). We also found a strong positive correlation between ASqBP and ABPM readings (r 0.74, p < 0.001). The ASqBP readings were lower than OBP (137.0 ± 16.8/86.4 ± 13.8 vs. 142.7 ± 15.5/88.5 ± 12.3) and close to ABPM readings (average 24 h, 134.0 ± 15.4/88.5 ± 12.3, and daytime, 135.8 ± 15.7/82.1 ± 13.7). For SBP readings, there was moderate agreement between ASqBP and AMBP (both average and daytime). For DBP readings, there was fair agreement between ASqBP and AMBP (both average and daytime).

Conclusion
ASqBP measurement has good correlation with OBP and ABPM readings. Unattended automated office pressure has moderate degree of agreement with ABPM for the SBP& fair degree of agreement for the DBP. It can be used in the hypertension clinics to eliminate the problems of white coat effect and marked BP variability.