bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Auricularia polytricha restores altered reproductive parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rat
Authors: Agbor Cyril Abang , Anyanwu Godson Emeka , Audu Sule John 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background
Local Nigerian men use Auricularia polytricha (wood ear mushroom) growing in farm lands and dead woods to manage sexual dysfunction and this practice has been going on for ages without supporting evidence from scientific experiments. This study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of ethanolic extract of Auricularia polytricha on male sex hormones (FSH, LH, and testosterone), sperm parameters (sperm count, sperm motility, and morphology), and histopathological examination of testis using Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats as a model.

Methods
The experiment included five groups of adult male Wistar rat, group A (normal control, treated with normal saline), group B (diabetic control treated with 65 mg/kg.bw of STZ), groups C, D, and E (treated with 250 mg/kg.bw, 500 mg/kg.bw, 1000 mg/kg.bw A. polytricha after inducing diabetics). At termination, homogenate was prepared for semen analysis using improved Neubauer’s hemocytometer, serum samples were used for hormonal assay with ELISA (enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay) kit and light microscope was used for histopathological examination.

Results
Results revealed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in sperm count and motility in group B when compared to normal control, values in group C were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) when compared to diabetic control. However, groups D and E recorded sperm count and sperm motility that were significantly (p < 0.05) increased when compared to the diabetic control (group B). Morphological defects in diabetic control rats were significantly (p < 0.05) higher when compared to normal control but there was no statistical significance in group C when compared to the diabetic control, meanwhile values of sperm morphological defects in groups D and E were significantly (p < 0.05) lower when compared to the diabetic control group. All gonadotropic hormones considered in this research were remarkably lower at p < 0.05 when compared to normal control. However, these values were significantly higher in groups D and E when compared to diabetic control. Structural alterations in cytoarchitecture of testes as a result of sustained hyperglycemia were reversed in a dose dependent manner following A. polytricha administration.

Conclusion
Alterations in sperm parameters, gonadotropic hormones, and histology of testes caused by diabetes were regulated and reversed following administration of graded doses of A. polytricha. This reversal may be attributed to essential phytochemical and therapeutic constituents in A. polytricha which can be found useful in prevention and treatment of diabetes induced testicular dysfunction.
Cannabinoids for fibromyalgia pain: a critical review of recent studies (2015–2019)
Authors: Cameron Erinn C. , Hemingway Samantha L. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Introduction
Fibromyalgia is a chronic health condition characterized by widespread, severe musculoskeletal pain that affects an estimated 5–7% of the global population. Due to the highly comorbid nature of fibromyalgia, patients with the disorder often respond poorly to traditional pain treatments. Recent studies suggest that patient response may be more favorable to alternative analgesics, such as cannabis. However, the therapeutic potential of cannabis-based pain treatment for fibromyalgia remains unclear. The present study examined the most recent cannabis literature (2015–2019) and provides a critical review of current research on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis treatments for fibromyalgia.

Methods
We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in searching the PubMed and Medline databases using the search terms “cannabis + fibromyalgia” and then “cannabinoids + fibromyalgia.” Inclusion criteria were a) English language, b) published in peer review journals, c) published from 2015 to 2019, d) all study designs except for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and e) all cannabis preparations.

Results
The search identified five applicable studies involving 827 participants that used six different treatments. Review suggested several methodological problems pertaining to generalizability and validity.

Conclusion
Although the critically reviewed studies superficially suggest that medical cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for fibromyalgia pain, serious methodological limitations prevent a definitive conclusion regarding the use of cannabinoids for pain management in fibromyalgia patients at this time.
Years of life lost due to the psychosocial consequences of COVID-19 mitigation strategies based on Swiss data
Authors: Moser Dominik A. , Glaus Jennifer , Frangou Sophia , Schechter Daniel S. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background.
The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has forced governments to implement strict social mitigation strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality from acute infections. These strategies, however, carry a significant risk for mental health, which can lead to increased short-term and long-term mortality and is currently not included in modeling the impact of the pandemic.

Methods.
We used years of life lost (YLL) as the main outcome measure, applied to Switzerland as an example. We focused on suicide, depression, alcohol use disorder, childhood trauma due to domestic violence, changes in marital status, and social isolation, as these are known to increase YLL in the context of imposed restriction in social contact and freedom of movement. We stipulated a minimum duration of mitigation of 3 months based on current public health plans.

Results.
The study projects that the average person would suffer 0.205 YLL due to psychosocial consequence of COVID-19 mitigation measures. However, this loss would be entirely borne by 2.1% of the population, who will suffer an average of 9.79 YLL.

Conclusions.
The results presented here are likely to underestimate the true impact of the mitigation strategies on YLL. However, they highlight the need for public health models to expand their scope in order to provide better estimates of the risks and benefits of mitigation.
Silencing of CCR4-NOT complex subunits affects heart structure and function
Authors: Elmén Lisa , Volpato Claudia B. , Kervadec Anaïs , Pineda Santiago , Kalvakuri Sreehari , Alayari Nakissa N. , Foco Luisa , Pramstaller Peter P. , Ocorr Karen , Rossini Alessandra , Cammarato Anthony , Colas Alexandre R. , Hicks Andrew A. , Bodmer Rolf 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
The identification of genetic variants that predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease and a better understanding of their targets would be highly advantageous. Genome-wide association studies have identified variants that associate with QT-interval length (a measure of myocardial repolarization). Three of the strongest associating variants (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) are located in the putative promotor region of CNOT1, a gene encoding the central CNOT1 subunit of CCR4-NOT: a multifunctional, conserved complex regulating gene expression and mRNA stability and turnover. We isolated the minimum fragment of the CNOT1 promoter containing all three variants from individuals homozygous for the QT risk alleles and demonstrated that the haplotype associating with longer QT interval caused reduced reporter expression in a cardiac cell line, suggesting that reduced CNOT1 expression might contribute to abnormal QT intervals. Systematic siRNA-mediated knockdown of CCR4-NOT components in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) revealed that silencing CNOT1 and other CCR4-NOT genes reduced their proliferative capacity. Silencing CNOT7 also shortened action potential duration. Furthermore, the cardiac-specific knockdown of Drosophila orthologs of CCR4-NOT genes in vivo (CNOT1/Not1 and CNOT7/8/Pop2) was either lethal or resulted in dilated cardiomyopathy, reduced contractility or a propensity for arrhythmia. Silencing CNOT2/Not2, CNOT4/Not4 and CNOT6/6L/twin also affected cardiac chamber size and contractility. Developmental studies suggested that CNOT1/Not1 and CNOT7/8/Pop2 are required during cardiac remodeling from larval to adult stages. To summarize, we have demonstrated how disease-associated genes identified by GWAS can be investigated by combining human cardiomyocyte cell-based and whole-organism in vivo heart models. Our results also suggest a potential link of CNOT1 and CNOT7/8 to QT alterations and further establish a crucial role of the CCR4-NOT complex in heart development and function.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Fertility transition in selected sub-Saharan African countries: the role of family planning programs
Authors: Otieno Vincent , Agwanda Alfred , Khasakhala Anne 
Published: May 2020

Background: Change in fertility rate across societies is a complex process that involves changes in the demand for children, the diffusion of new attitudes about family planning and greater accessibility to contraception. Scholars have concentrated on a range of factors associated with fertility majorly at the national scale. However, considerably less attention has been paid to fertility preference - a pathway through which various variables act on fertility. It is understood that women have inherent fertility preferences which each they seek to achieve over her reproductive cycle. However, the service delivery enhancement levels and capacity across countries as integral pathways to this goal accomplishment stand on their way towards eventual outcomes. Precisely, the Sub-Saharan African countries’ disparities amid similarities in their population policies is a cause of concern. Methods: Using Bongaarts reformulation of Easterlin conceptual scheme of 1985 on DHS data, the understanding of the current fertility transition in general would provide explanations to the observed fertility dynamics. This study therefore is an attempt to explain the current fertility transition through women’s fertility preference. Results: Results reveal that fertility transition is diverse across sub-Saharan Africa; generally, on a decline course in most of the countries. The huge disparities in fertility preferences among women of reproductive age and its non-significant change in the implementation indices points at the service delivery performance underneath regarding the proportion of demand to family planning commodities satisfied. Service delivery indicators are integral to fertility preference achievement within households as well as a country’s overall positioning regarding fertility transition at the macroscale. Conclusions: It is therefore plausible to conclude that the improvement of service delivery in general; precisely touching on the availability and the uptake of quality birth control technologies is one of the most feasible means through which countries can fast track their fertility transitions.
The benefit of cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) in lowering total cholesterol levels after consumption of high-fat containing foods in white mice (Mus musculus) models
Authors: Pulungan Annisa , Pane Yunita Sari 
Published: May 2020

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is a condition where cholesterol levels in the body exceed the normal range. If the condition is longer, it can cause metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The therapy of synthetic drugs has side effects that can be fatal (rhabdomyolysis). Needed to find natural remedies with minimal side effects. There are many nutritional components contained in cinnamon, such as cinnamaldehyde. The cinnamaldehyde, a substance that is thought to affect cholesterol levels. The study aims to determine the efficacy of Cinnamomum burmannii in lowering total cholesterol levels of mice (Mus musculus) given high-fat feed. Methods: This is an experimental study with a pre-post control study design. The groupings were performed by a simple random sampling method. The male mice were divided into five groups (n=6/group): 1) negative control (aquadest); 2) positive control of high-fat containing food (HFC; quail yolk); 3) HFC + cinnamon extract (CE; dose 2mg/20g body weight (BW); 4) HFC + CE (dose 4mg/20gBW); 5) HFC + CE (dose 8mg/20gBW). The study was conducted for 28 days. Consumption of quail yolk as HFC to increasing cholesterol in mice. The intervention of CE started on day 15 and ended on day 28. Measurement of total cholesterol and BW of mice was performed on days 0, 14 and 28. Results: The comparison of total cholesterol levels in the K1 group (120.3 ± 5.53 mg/dl) to K2 (107.3 ± 3.61 mg/dl), K3 (106.8 ± 4.57 mg/dl) and K4 (106.7 ± 0.51 mg/dl) showed decreased significantly different (p = 0.001) in groups consuming CE. However, there was not a significant change between groups in mice BW (p = 0.419). Conclusions: The cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) proved can be lowering of total cholesterol levels for 14 days in mice compared without given cinnamon after consumption of high-fat containing foods.
Protocol: Leveraging a demographic and health surveillance system for Covid-19 Surveillance in rural KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Siedner Mark J. , Harling Guy , Derache Anne , Smit Theresa , Khoza Thandeka , Gunda Resign , Mngomezulu Thobeka , Gareta Dickman , Majozi Nomathamsanqa , Ehlers Eugene , Dreyer Jaco , Nxumalo Siyabonga , Dayi Njabulo , Ording-Jesperson Gregory , Ngwenya Nothando , Wong Emily , Iwuji Collins , Shahmanesh Maryam , Seeley Janet , De Oliveira Tulio , Ndung'u Thumbi , Hanekom Willem , Herbst Kobus 
Published: May 2020

A coordinated system of disease surveillance will be critical to effectively control the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Such systems enable rapid detection and mapping of epidemics and inform allocation of scarce prevention and intervention resources. Although many lower- and middle-income settings lack infrastructure for optimal disease surveillance, health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSS) provide a unique opportunity for epidemic monitoring. This protocol describes a surveillance program at the Africa Health Research Institute’s Population Intervention Platform site in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The program leverages a longstanding HDSS in a rural, resource-limited setting with very high prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis to perform Covid-19 surveillance. Our primary aims include: describing the epidemiology of the Covid-19 epidemic in rural KwaZulu-Natal; determining the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak and non-pharmaceutical control interventions (NPI) on behaviour and wellbeing; determining the impact of HIV and tuberculosis on Covid-19 susceptibility; and using collected data to support the local public-sector health response. The program involves telephone-based interviews with over 20,000 households every four months, plus a sub-study calling 750 households every two weeks. Each call asks a household representative how the epidemic and NPI are affecting the household and conducts a Covid-19 risk screen for all resident members. Any individuals screening positive are invited to a clinical screen, potential test and referral to necessary care – conducted in-person near their home following careful risk minimization procedures. In this protocol we report the details of our cohort design, questionnaires, data and reporting structures, and standard operating procedures in hopes that our project can inform similar efforts elsewhere.
Does the size of the femoral head correlate with the incidence of avascular necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis in children with developmental dysplasia of the hip treated by closed reduction?
Authors: Wu JianPing , Yuan Zhe , Li JingChun , Zhu MingWei , Canavese Federico , Xun FuXing , Li YiQiang , Xu HongWen 
Published: May 2020

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify if any correlation between size of the proximal femoral epiphysis and avascular necrosis (AVN) exists. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 111 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip treated by closed reduction (124 hips). The diameter and height of both femoral head and ossific nucleus were assessed on preoperative MRI. Results The diameter and the height of the femoral head as well as of the ossific nucleus of the contralateral side were significantly greater than the dislocated side. AVN occurred in 21 (16.9%) out of 124 hips. The rate of AVN gradually decreased with age: 30.0% at six to 12 months, 18.2% at 12 to 18 months and 3.7% at 18 to 24 months. Spearman correlation analysis showed that age is negatively correlated with the incidence of AVN (r = -0.274; p = 0.002) and the diameter of the femoral head has a significantly negative association with the incidence of AVN (r = -0.287; p = 0.001). No significant association was observed between the incidence of AVN and height of the femoral head or size of the ossific nucleus. Hips with AVN were significantly smaller than hips without AVN. Conclusions The size of both the femoral head and the ossific nucleus increase with age although the dislocated femoral head is smaller compared with the contralateral side. The diameter of the femoral head and not the size of the ossific nucleus negatively correlate with the risk of AVN, with a bigger femoral head showing lower risk of AVN. Level of evidence III
Effect of Esterification on Cassava Starch: Physicochemical Properties and Expansion Ability
Authors: Sumardiono Siswo , Riska Listiyana , Jos Bakti , Pudjiastuti Isti 
Published: May 2020

In this study, the characteristic of cassava starch have been developed through esterification reaction using ethyl lactate. Commercial cassava starch was modified by using (0.5; 0.75; 1.00; 1.25; 1.50 % v/v) ethyl lactate solution with pH 6, 7, 8, 9 for 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 minutes and the drained starch was dried with sun drying. The cassava starch which has been esterified with 1.5% ethyl lactate for 15 minutes pH 6 gave highest volume expansion of 2,438.9 %. For swelling power, the highest value was 19.32 swelling power at variable concentrations of 1.5% ester, esterification period of 15 minutes, and pH 6. The lowest amylose content was 15.68 % in ester concentration of 1.5 %. From the scanning electron micrograph, shows that the cassava starch after and before modification has not changed since the modifications performed under the gelatinization temperature. FTIR spectra of native cassava starch and ester cassava starch shown shift of the carboxyl group of starch from 1072.37 to 1087.80 cm-1 and a decrease in the OH group is from 3452.53 to 3417.81 cm-1. Bond formed indicates that the esterification reaction occurs between cassava starch with ethyl lactate esters. Keywords: volume expansion, cassava starch, ester starch, ethyle lactate, modified starch
Filter Cake Utilization as Filler of 15-15-15+5S Compound Fertilizer: Particle Size Distribution and Granule Crushing Strength Properties
Authors: Kasmadi Kasmadi , Nugroho Budi , Sutandi Atang , Anwar Syaiful 
Published: May 2020

Compound fertilizer which combining organic-inorganic materials need to be developed to improve the effectivness of fertilizers in the soil. Filter cake as a material has highly potential to be used as a filler in physical process granulation of compound fertilizer. In this study, the particle size distribution and granule crushing strength properties were tested using 15-15-15 + 5S fertilizer compound formula, which are varied in the filler composition and K sources. Potassium sources consisted of 2 (two) types of fertilizers i.e KCl and K2SO4. Filler composition as a binder in fertilizer granulation consists of 5 combination filter cake and clay ratios (60:40, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10 and 100:0). Granulation carried out by the granulation method using pan granulator of 2 kg/batch capacity, 23 rpm rotation speed and 50o pan slope. The results of the research showed that statistically the combination of filter cake and clay 70:30 had a size distribution and hardness of granules not significantly different from standard fertilizer (100% clay). Keywords: crushing strength; filler; filter cake; granulation; size distribution
When political institutions use sociolinguistic concepts
Authors: Karlander David 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
In this essay, David Karlander examines what happens when concepts developed by scholars of language circulate and become embedded in policies and law. In exploring how the distinction between a “language” and a “dialect” became encoded in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), Karlander examines the consequences when applied to the status and state support of minority languages in Sweden. What counts as a language, he demonstrates, is not simply an “academic” matter. When sociolinguistics enters the public arena, it has the potential to affect the political and social standing of real communities.
Sociolinguistic evaluations of inequality
Authors: Baugh John 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this new contribution, John Baugh provides an analytical overview of how the field has addressed issues of power and inequality. Baugh addresses how both social hierarchies and the legal system affect the standing of different languages and their users. He then especially focuses on language use in relation to racial and gender dynamics, highlighting influential work that revealed and analyzed how language is used to make and deepen inequality. He concludes with a call for the promotion of “linguistic human rights” that would protect minority language speakers.
Language as Obstacle and as Data in Sociological Research
Authors: Grimshaw Allen 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The SSRC’s Committee on Sociolinguistics was committed to furthering attention to language, and linguistic difference, as an “unexploited kind of sociological data” in ethnographic and survey research. The committee convened a conference in 1968 to better understand the intersection of social and linguistic factors, summarized here by Allen D. Grimshaw. The group focused on four topics: the ethnography of asking questions; the meaning of words; the ways in which interviews themselves are “a part of the data” and “don’t know” responses are revealing answers to questions; and improving scholars’ training in framing questions and eliciting answers related to language and communication.
Sociolinguistic frontiers: Emancipation and equality
Authors: Heller Monica 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
In her conclusion to this issue, Monica Heller reflects on the ways in which the field has both advanced and obscured understandings of how linguistic inequality is related to broader hierarchies of power. The great accomplishment of sociolinguistics – its liberal and scientific claims that all languages are equal in value – did little to engage how inequalities between different groups of speakers were reproduced. Heller argues that the scholarly techniques for measurement and commensuration that allowed the formal comparison of language has neglected to ask how language “continues to serve as a terrain for the making of social difference and social inequality.” She concludes with thoughts for how future sociolinguistics agendas might address this gap.