bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized, Double‐Blind, Single‐Dose, Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Study to Evaluate the Effects of Esaxerenone on QTc Interval in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Mendell Jeanne , Kobayashi Fumiaki , Shimizu Takako 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis phase 1 single‐center, single‐dose, double‐dummy, placebo‐controlled, 4‐period and 4‐sequence crossover study assessed the potential of esaxerenone, a novel nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor blocker used to treat hypertension, to affect cardiac repolarization. In this double‐blind study, 55 subjects were randomized to single doses of 10 mg esaxerenone (therapeutic dose), 40 mg esaxerenone (supratherapeutic dose), 400 mg moxifloxacin, or placebo. Serial electrocardiograms and pharmacokinetics (PK) were obtained over 24 and 168 hours, respectively. The primary end point was Fridericia‐corrected QT interval (QTcF). Secondary end points included safety and PK. Assay sensitivity was confirmed as the lower limit of 90% confidence interval (90%CIs) for placebo‐corrected change from baseline QTcF (∆∆QTcF) for moxifloxacin was >5 milliseconds at the prespecified times; mean ∆∆QTcF was 12.5 milliseconds at 3 and 4 hours postdose. The upper 90%CI limits of ∆∆QTcF were ≤0 milliseconds at all times for both doses of esaxerenone. No concentration‐QTc relationship was identified. Therefore, esaxerenone had no potential to inhibit cardiac repolarization. No deaths or serious adverse events (AEs) occurred; 1 subject discontinued the study because of a treatment‐emergent AE unrelated to esaxerenone. This clinical evaluation showed that esaxerenone has no QTc prolongation potential.
Serum uric acid level and subclinical left ventricular dysfunction: a community‐based cohort study
Authors: Nakanishi Koki , Daimon Masao , Yoshida Yuriko , Ishiwata Jumpei , Sawada Naoko , Hirokawa Megumi , Kaneko Hidehiro , Nakao Tomoko , Mizuno Yoshiko , Morita Hiroyuki , Di Tullio Marco R. , Homma Shunichi , Komuro Issei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimsAlthough serum uric acid (SUA) level is correlated with oxidative stress and serves as a marker of poor prognosis in heart failure patients, its possible association with subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction has not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the association between SUA and subclinical LV dysfunction in a sample of a general population without overt cardiac disease.Methods and resultsWe examined 1175 participants who underwent extensive cardiovascular health check‐up including laboratory tests and speckle‐tracking echocardiography to assess LV global longitudinal strain (GLS). The association of SUA concentration, as a continuous variable and a categorical variable using quartiles, with the presence of abnormal LVGLS was assessed. Mean age was 62 ± 12 years, and 656 (56%) were male participants. Mean SUA was 5.6 ± 1.3 mg/dL (25th–75th percentile, 4.6–6.5 mg/dL). The prevalence of abnormal LVGLS (greater than –18.6%) was greatest in the upper quartile of SUA. In multivariable analysis, SUA as a continuous variable was significantly associated with abnormal LVGLS [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.26 per 1 mg/dL; P = 0.008] independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, pertinent laboratory parameters and echocardiographic measures, and medications. In the categorical analysis, the upper quartile of SUA was independently associated with abnormal LVGLS in a fully adjusted model (adjusted OR, 2.28 vs. lowest quartile; P = 0.020).ConclusionsIn a sample of the general population, an elevated SUA was independently associated with subclinical LV dysfunction. Assessment of LVGLS may add important prognostic information in individuals with elevated SUA, even in the absence of overt cardiac disease.
Efficient stochastic finite element methods for flow in heterogeneous porous media. Part 2: Random lognormal permeability
Authors: Traverso Luca , Phillips Timothy Nigel 
Published: April 2020

SummaryEfficient and robust iterative methods are developed for solving the linear systems of equations arising from stochastic finite element methods for single phase fluid flow in porous media. Permeability is assumed to vary randomly in space according to some given correlation function. In the companion paper, herein referred to as Part 1, permeability was approximated using a truncated Karhunen‐Loève expansion (KLE). The stochastic variability of permeability is modeled using lognormal random fields and the truncated KLE is projected onto a polynomial chaos basis. This results in a stochastic nonlinear problem since the random fields are represented using polynomial chaos containing terms that are generally nonlinear in the random variables. Symmetric block Gauss‐Seidel used as a preconditioner for CG is shown to be efficient and robust for stochastic finite element method.
Experimental Studies on the Performances of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell with a Novel Integrated Ultrasonic Atomization Fuel Feeder
Authors: Wu C. , Gong S. , Hu S. , Ye Z. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWith the advantages of high energy density and low operating temperature, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has been rated as the most promising portable energy device to replace the traditional lithium cell. However, the development of DMFC is limited by methanol crossover (MCO) and catalyst poisoning. To alleviate MCO, a DMFC with an integrated ultrasonic atomization fuel feeder is proposed in the present research. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and the polarization curves of the cell under a series of conditions are analyzed. The performances of the proposed DMFC are evaluated at different methanol concentrations and fuel feed rates. The mechanism of MCO is discussed from above experiments. Compared with liquid feed style, atomization feed style can reduce characteristic response time (CRT) and greatly alleviate MCO because the DMFC obtains a larger OCV value. It can be found from our experiments that atomization feed style can effectively improve cell performance and energy density. Moreover, atomization feed style under different methanol concentrations can obtain the best cell performance by adjusting feed rate. When the feed rate is 0.24 mL min−1 and 0.6 mL min−1, the best cell performance is obtained at 8M and 4M, respectively.
Performance analysis of classifiers for colon cancer detection from dimensionality reduced microarray gene data
Authors: Nirmalakumari K. , Rajaguru Harikumar , Rajkumar P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCancer disease is accountable for many deaths that are over 9.6 million in 2018 and roughly one out of six deaths occur because of cancer worldwide. The colon cancer is the second prominent source of death of around 1.8 million cases. This research is inclined to detect the colon cancer from microarray dataset. It will aids the experts to distinguish the cancer cells from normal cells for appropriate determination and treatment of cancer at earlier stages that leads to increase the survival rate of the patients. The high dimensionality in microarray dataset with less samples and more attributes creates lag in the detection capability of the classifier. Hence there is a need for dimensionality reduction techniques to preserve the significant genes that are prominent in the disease classification. In this article, at first ANOVA method used to select the best genes and then principal component analysis (PCA) and fuzzy C‐means clustering (FCM) techniques are further employed to choose relevant genes. The PCA and FCM features are classified using model, discriminant, regression, hybrid, and heuristic‐based classifiers. The attained results show that the heuristic classifier with PCA features is encapsulated an average classification accuracy of 97.92% for classifying both the colon cancer and normal samples. Also, for FCM features, the Heuristic classifier is maintained at an average classification accuracy of 99.48% and 97.92% for classifying the colon cancer and normal samples, respectively. The Heuristic classifier outperforms with high accuracy than all other classifiers in the classification of colon cancer.
A state of emergency: Dominant cultural narratives on homelessness in Hawai‘i
Authors: Pruitt Anna S. , McKinsey Eva , Barile John P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis exploratory study aimed to identify the dominant cultural narratives on homelessness in Hawai‘i—an area of the United States that has seen a precipitous increase in homelessness amid overall national decline. Because media is a primary way in which these narratives are created, solidified, and perpetuated, this study sought to understand the role the local media played in constructing homelessness narratives during this homelessness “crisis.” This study used thematic content analysis of a random sample of 648 articles of Hawai‘i media coverage between 2012 and 2017. The analysis found that media coverage of homelessness in Hawai‘i emphasized structural‐level causes and solutions, while simultaneously relying on stereotypes and stigmatizing characteristics. However, coverage became more complex over time and was open to revision based on new information. This study suggests that media could be a viable target of interventions seeking to produce healthy and accurate narratives.
Trace determination of parabens in cosmetics and personal care products using fabric‐phase sorptive extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Heena  , Kaur Ripneel , Grover Aman , Rani Susheela , Malik Ashok Kumar , Kabir Abuzar , Furton Kenneth G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA simple, fast, and sensitive analytical protocol using fabric‐phase sorptive extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection has been developed and validated for the extraction of five parabens including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. In the present work, sol‐gel polyethylene glycol coated fabric‐phase sorptive extraction membrane is used for the preconcentration of parabens (polar) from complex matrices. The use of fabric‐phase sorptive extraction membrane provides a high surface area which offers high sorbent loading, shortened equilibrium time, and overall decrease in the sample preparation time. Various factors affecting the performance of fabric‐phase sorptive extraction, including extraction time, eluting solvent, elution time, and pH of the sample matrix, were optimized. Separation was performed using a mobile phase consisting of water:acetonitrile (63:37; v/v) at an isocratic elution mode at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min with wavelength at 254 nm. The calibration curves of the target analytes were prepared with good correlation coefficient values (r2 > 0.9955). The limit of detection values range from 0.252 to 0.580 ng/mL. Finally, the method was successfully applied to various cosmetics and personal care product samples such as rose water, deodorant, hair serum, and cream with extraction recoveries ranged between 88 and 122% with relative standard deviation <5%.
Knockdown of ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 13 inhibits cell growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by reducing c‐Myc expression
Authors: Huang Jing , Gu Zhen‐Lin , Chen Wei , Xu Ying‐Ying , Chen Ming 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUbiquitin‐specific peptidase 13 (USP13) has been reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis of several tumors, but its function in tumors is still controversial. In this study, the function of USP13 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was investigated, and we found that USP13 was significantly upregulated in both of primary HCC tumor tissues and cell lines. And HCC patients with high USP13 expression had a shorter overall survival or relapse‐free survival than patients with low USP13 expression. In HCC cell lines, knockdown of USP13 by shRNAs markedly decreased HCC cell growth, and mechanistic investigations revealed that USP13 knockdown could markedly downregulate the expression levels of c‐Myc. Moreover, overexpression of c‐Myc could significantly attenuate the effects of shUSP13 on HCC cell growth inhibition. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that knockdown of USP13 could significantly inhibit xenograft tumor growth of HCC. Taken together, our present study provided the first evidence that USP13 acted as a novel driver in HCC tumorigenesis by regulating c‐Myc expression, and targeting USP13 could be a promising strategy for HCC therapy.
Spleen Oxylipin and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Profiles are Altered by Dietary Source of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid and by Sex
Authors: Pauls Samantha D. , Ragheb Mariam , Winter Tanja , Leng Shan , Taylor Carla G. , Zahradka Peter , Aukema Harold M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAs the largest secondary lymphoid organ, the spleen plays an important role in immune responses. The role of arachidonic acid (ARA) and its 20‐carbon eicosanoids in modulating immune function has long been of interest. However, recent advances have enabled the identification of numerous other n‐6 and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)‐derived oxylipins. Here, we investigate the effects of diet and sex on the spleen nonesterified oxylipin profiles and phospholipid and neutral lipid PUFA composition in Sprague–Dawley rats supplemented with oils rich in α‐linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or linoleic acid. Dietary ALA, EPA, and DHA resulted in lower levels of ARA and ARA oxylipins. Oxylipins derived from other n‐6 PUFA were also reduced despite no or opposite effect on their PUFA levels. Each diet also resulted in higher levels of oxylipins almost exclusively derived from the supplemented PUFA, despite PUFA in the same biosynthetic pathway also often being increased. Further, while oxylipin differences often reflected changes to phospholipid PUFA, there were instances where they corresponded more closely to changes in neutral lipid PUFA. With respect to sex effects, >50% of lipoxygenase ARA‐derived oxylipins were higher in males in at least one diet group, while multiple DHA oxylipins were lower in males only in rats provided the DHA diet. This fundamental description of oxylipin composition in the spleen, including the influence of diet and sex and the relationship to PUFA composition, will help inform future studies examining the functions of these oxylipins under physiological and pathological conditions.
Lipid Profiles of Five Essential Phospholipid Preparations for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comparative Study
Authors: Lüchtenborg Christian , Niederhaus Birgit , Brügger Britta , Popovic Branko , Fricker Gert 
Published: April 2020

AbstractNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an imbalance in fatty acid composition and can progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Essential phospholipids (EPL), which contain high levels of 1,2‐dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine, can be used to treat NAFLD. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) preparations are external, commercially available EPL products. The lipid composition of five commercially available PPC preparations, including Essentiale Forte, Fortifikat, Hepatoprotect Regenerator, Fortifikat Forte, and Esentin Forte were compared, the outcome of which may impact physician choice in the treatment of NAFLD. Following lipid extraction, a comparative analysis of key lipid content was performed using a QTRAP6500+ triple quadruple ion trap hybrid mass spectrometer (Sciex) in nanoelectrospray ionization mode. The glycerophospholipid composition of each PPC was determined, including levels of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) species, as well as PtdCho:PtdEtn ratio. Of the five preparations analyzed, Essentiale Forte contained the highest PtdCho levels (61.9 mol%) and lowest PtdEtn levels (4.9 mol%). PtdCho 36:4 levels, a polyunsaturated species of PtdCho, were highest in Esentin Forte (39.3 mol%) and Essentiale Forte (38.3 mol%) compared with other PPCs (28.7–35.8 mol%). Levels of lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylglycerol were low in all five preparations. Lipid composition was consistent between the preparations. The high PtdCho:PtdEtn ratio composition of Essentiale Forte compared with the other PPC analyzed, as well as the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, suggest it could be the most clinically beneficial commercially available hepatoprotective product in the treatment of NAFLD.
Dietary Alcohol and Fat Differentially Affect Plasma Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Activity and Triglycerides in Normo‐ and Hypertriglyceridemic Subjects
Authors: Gaubatz John W. , Gillard Baiba K. , Rosales Corina , Pownall Henry J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractModerate alcohol consumption is associated with increased plasma high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol concentrations and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) mediates the exchange of HDL‐cholesteryl ester (CE) for the triacylglycerol (TAG) of very‐low‐density lipoproteins. We compared the effects of oral challenges of Alcohol, saturated fat (SAT), and (Alcohol + SAT) on plasma CETA, cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and TAG among normo‐triglyceridemic (NTG) and mildly hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) volunteers having a range of plasma TAG concentrations. The major changes were (1) CETA increased more after ingestion of SAT and (Alcohol + SAT) in the HTG group versus the NTG group; (2) after all three challenges, elevation of plasma TAG concentration persisted longer in the HTG versus NTG group. Plasma cholesterol was not affected by the three dietary challenges, while Alcohol increased NEFA more in the HTG group than the NTG group. Plasma TAG best predicted plasma CETA, suggesting that intestinally derived lipoproteins are acceptors of HDL‐CE. Unexpectedly, ingestion of (Alcohol + SAT) reduced the strength of the correlation between plasma TAG and CETA, that is the effects of (SAT and Alcohol) on plasma CETA are not synergistic nor additive but rather mutually suppressive. The alcohol‐mediated inhibition of CE‐transfer to chylomicrons maintains a higher plasma HDL‐cholesterol concentration, which is athero‐protective, although the suppressive metabolite underlying this correlation could be acetate, the terminal alcohol metabolite, other factors, including CETA inhibitors, are also likely important.
A nonsmooth frictional contact formulation for multibody system dynamics
Authors: Galvez Javier , Cavalieri Federico J. , Cosimo Alejandro , Brüls Olivier , Cardona Alberto 
Published: April 2020

SummaryWe present a new node‐to‐face frictional contact element for the simulation of the nonsmooth dynamics of systems composed of rigid and flexible bodies connected by kinematic joints. The equations of motion are integrated using a nonsmooth generalized‐α time integration scheme and the frictional contact problem is formulated using a mixed approach, based on an augmented Lagrangian technique and a Coulomb friction law. The numerical results are independent of any user‐defined penalty parameter for the normal or tangential component of the forces and, the bilateral and the unilateral constraints are exactly fulfilled both at position and velocity levels. Finally, the robustness and the performance of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated by solving several numerical examples of nonsmooth mechanical systems involving frictional contact.
Analyzing the Dynamics of the Laser Beam Cutting Process
Authors: Arntz‐Schroeder Dennis , Petring Dirk 
Published: April 2020

AbstractInstabilities of the melt flow dynamics at the laser cutting front lead to quality losses, due to the formation of striations at the resulting cut flank. The application of high‐speed video diagnosis has turned out to be very instructive for a well‐founded process analysis. In this way, it was found out for the first time that the melt film dynamics at the cutting front reveal characteristic frequencies that are nearly independent of process parameters. Interestingly, their local appearance correlates with the area of lowest roughness on the resulting cut flanks. This observation suggests the amplification of the characteristic frequencies in order to obtain a reduced roughness over the complete cut depth. Comprehensible rules for optimized laser beam and gas flow parameters can be determined based on the physical understanding of the origin of the characteristic frequencies.
Application of curcumin and its derivatives in tumor multidrug resistance
Authors: Xu Ting , Guo Pu , He Yingmeng , Pi Chao , Wang Yuanyuan , Feng Xianhu , Hou Yi , Jiang Qingsheng , Zhao Ling , Wei Yumeng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMalignant tumor endangers seriously the health of all mankind. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main causes of clinical tumor chemotherapy failure. Curcumin (CUR) has not only antitumor activity but also reversing tumor MDR effect. CUR reverses tumor MDR via regulating related signal pathways or corresponding expressed proteins or gene. When combined with chemotherapeutic agents, CUR can be a chemotherapeutic sensitive agent to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and weaken tumor MDR. On the other hand, to improve the MDR reversal effect of CUR, its derivatives have been extensively studied. Therefore, this article mainly focuses on reviewing the application of CUR and its derivatives in MDR and its mechanism of reversing MDR.
Pluriversal Literacies: Affect and Relationality in Vulnerable Times
Authors: Perry Mia 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThrough a consideration of literacies in theory and international policy, this article pushes at the edges of existing frameworks of functional and sociocultural literacies. In critique of existing policy directives, the author explores an approach to literacy that engages in the affective and posthuman relationality of human and environment and in the plurality of literacies globally that are overshadowed in prevailing models of literacy education. The author was motivated by a commitment to literacy education responsive to a world that is unsustainable in its current practices, to a world that faces increasing fragmentation and vulnerability (socially and ecologically) while certain types of expertise, technologies, and global infrastructures continue to proliferate. As a mainstay of education and a tool of social change, literacies are inseparable from policy and practices of sustainability, equity, and development. Pluriversality is a concept emerging from decolonial theory that provides a counternarrative to contemporary Northern assumptions of the universal. Building on a history of ideas around pluriversality gives sociopolitical and ecological momentum to affect and relationality in literacy studies. The author challenges normative constructions of literacy education as Eurocentric and neocolonial, effectively supporting a pedagogy that normalizes certain practices and people and, by extension, sustains inequity and environmental degradation. Through interwoven research projects, the author highlights the contentious aspects of functional and sociocultural approaches to literacy and the possibilities of moving beyond them. In doing so, the author describes and demonstrates the practical and political implications of affect theory and relationality in literacies education in a plural anthropocenic world.