bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resistance of packaging against infestation by Sitophilus zeamais
Authors: Vrabič Brodnjak Urška , Jordan Jon , Trematerra Pasquale 
Published: February 2020

SummaryThe results of infestation by maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), in different packaging filled with pasta are presented in this research. Three different types of packaging were used, that is, two paper tubes (one novel, laminated with bio‐based polyethylene and one without lamination) and commercial polypropylene, pillow pouch packaging. Material properties such as grammage, thickness, surface analysis, moisture and water resistance, tensile and compressive strength were analysed. Improved compressive strength, moisture and water resistance were detected at the bio‐polyethylene laminated tube packaging (approx. 30%), compared to the non‐laminated sample. The obtained results demonstrated that adult maize weevils revealed significant preferences to enter the pasta packages through the already existing holes which were in the polypropylene packaging, while no infestation was observed inside the packages at the paper tube packaging. The study revealed that the shape and construction, for example, tube packaging with an innovative bio‐polyethylene film, are very effective regarding insect infestation and mechanical overloads.
Reconstruction for axillary hidradenitis suppurativa using one‐stage local tissue rearrangement: A retrospective analysis of 53 cases
Authors: Wu Yinglun , Ngaage Ledibabari M , Ge Shealinna , Rada Erin M. , Silverman Ronald P. , Rasko Yvonne M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWide local excision offers a potential cure for severe axillary hidradenitis suppurativa. However, the gold standard for reconstruction has yet to be defined. Here, we describe our rotation advancement flap technique, which allows for one‐stage closure of large axillary defects, with minimal functional morbidity to the axilla. We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent one‐stage surgical management for axillary hidradenitis suppurativa at a single‐centre tertiary care hospital from 2009 to 2018. We identified 34 patients, with a total of 53 operative sites. The majority were female (85%) with a mean age of 31 years and body mass index 35 kg/m2. The median defect size was 84 cm2 and the majority were treated using the rotation advancement flap technique (86%). A quarter of operative sites experienced minor complications with only one requiring re‐operation. At a median follow‐up of 32 months, two (4%) sites showed decreased range of motion. However, all patients had achieved remission without any further recurrence of disease. We describe a one‐stage rotation advancement flap technique for management of moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa that achieves a high local cure rate, minimal functional morbidity, and acceptable wound complication rates.
Ferroelectric domains and luminescent properties of Pr3+‐doped Ca2Nb2O7 ceramics
Authors: Lu Zihan , Luo Laihui , Du Peng , Li Weiping 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTInorganic luminescent materials based on photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) display considerable potential applications for optical anti‐counterfeiting devices. Ca2−xNb2O7:xPr3+ (x = 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004) ferroelectric ceramics have been fabricated. The basic crystal structure, local ferroelectricity and PL/TL properties of the ceramics have been investigated in this study. The PFM measurement proves that the grains in the prepared ceramics are monodomain state. Furthermore, the synthesized phosphors are embedded into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to fabricate a novel optothermal responsive device with high elasticity, transmittance and heat resistance. The PL and TL photographs of the designed device further demonstrate that the device is promising in practical applications such as optical anti‐counterfeiting and information storage.
Procyanidin B3 alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration via interaction with the TLR4/MD‐2 complex
Authors: Shang Ping , Tang Qian , Hu Zhichao , Huang Shiyuan , Hu Yuezheng , Zhu Jianhong , Liu Haixiao 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAs a chronic musculoskeletal degeneration disease, intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has been identified as a crucial cause for low back pain. This condition has a prevalence of 80% among adults without effective preventative therapy. Procyanidin B3 (Pro‐B3) is a procyanidin dimer, which is widely present in the human diet and has multiple functions, such as preventing inflammation. But the inhibiting effect of Pro‐B3 in IVDD development is still no known. Thus, our study aimed to demonstrate the therapeutical effect of Pro‐B3 in IVDD and explain the underlying mechanism. In vitro studies, human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were isolated and exposed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate IVDD development. Pro‐B3 pre‐treatment inhibited LPS‐induced production of inflammation correlated factors such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Nitric oxide (NO). On the other hand, LPS‐medicated extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown was blocked in Pro‐B3 treated NP cells. Additionally, Pro‐B3 treatment blocked the activation of NF‐κB/toll‐like receptor 4 pathway in LPS‐exposed NP cells. Mechanistically, Pro‐B3 could occupy MD‐2's hydrophobic pocket exhibiting high affinity for LPS to intervene LPS/TLR4/MD‐2 complex formation. In vivo, Pro‐B3 treatment prevented the loss of gelatin NP cells and structural damage of annulus fibrosus in rat IVDD model. In brief, Pro‐B3 is considered to be a treatment agent for IVDD.
A Latent Class Signal Detection Model for Rater Scoring with Ordered Perceptual Distributions
Authors: DeCarlo Lawrence T. , Zhou Xiaoliang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn signal detection rater models for constructed response (CR) scoring, it is assumed that raters discriminate equally well between different latent classes defined by the scoring rubric. An extended model that relaxes this assumption is introduced; the model recognizes that a rater may not discriminate equally well between some of the scoring classes. The extension recognizes a different type of rater effect and is shown to offer useful tests and diagnostic plots of the equal discrimination assumption, along with ways to assess rater accuracy and various rater effects. The approach is illustrated with an application to a large‐scale language test.
End‐of‐life care among older cancer patients with intellectual disability in comparison with the general population: a national register study
Authors: Segerlantz M. , Axmon A. , Ahlström G. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing life expectancy for people with an intellectual disability (ID) is resulting in more persons with cancer and a greater need for end‐of‐life (EoL) care. There is a need for knowledge of health care utilisation over the last year of life to plan for resources that support a high quality of care for cancer patients with ID. Therefore, the aims of the study were to compare (1) health care utilisation during the last year of life among cancer patients with ID and cancer patients without ID and (2) the place of death in these two groups.MethodsThe populations were defined using national data from the period 2002–2015, one with ID (n = 15 319) and one matched 5:1 from the general population (n = 72 511). Cancer was identified in the Cause of Death Register, resulting in two study cohorts with 775 cancer patients with ID (ID cohort) and 2968 cancer patients from the general population (gPop cohort).ResultsCancer patients with ID were less likely than those without ID to have at least one visit in specialist inpatient (relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.87–0.93) and outpatient (0.88, 0.85–0.91) health care, during their last year of life. Those with ID were more likely to have no or fewer return visits than the patients in the gPop cohort (5 vs. 11, P < 0.001), also when stratifying on sex and median age at death. Most cancer patients with ID died in group homes or in their own homes and fewer in hospital (31%) as compared with cancer patients in the gPop cohort (55%, 0.57, 0.51–0.64).ConclusionsOlder cancer patients with ID were less likely to be assessed or treated by a specialist. This may suggest that people with ID have unaddressed or untreated distressing symptoms, which strongly contributes to a decreased quality of EoL care and a poor quality of life. There is a need to acquire further knowledge of the EoL care and to focus on adapting and evaluating quality indicators for older cancer patients with ID.
Functional anatomy of the middle and inner ears of the red fox, in comparison to domestic dogs and cats
Authors: Malkemper Erich Pascal , Mason Matthew J. , Burda Hynek 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAnatomical middle and inner ear parameters are often used to predict hearing sensitivities of mammalian species. Given that ear morphology is substantially affected both by phylogeny and body size, it is interesting to consider whether the relatively small anatomical differences expected in related species of similar size have a noticeable impact on hearing. We present a detailed anatomical description of the middle and inner ears of the red foxVulpes vulpes, a widespread, wild carnivore for which a behavioural audiogram is available. We compare fox ears to those of the well‐studied and similarly sized domestic dog and cat, taking data for dogs and cats from the literature as well as providing new measurements of basilar membrane (BM) length and hair cell numbers and densities in these animals. Our results show that the middle ear of the red fox is very similar to that of dogs. The most obvious difference from that of the cat is the lack of a fully formed bony septum in the bulla tympanica of the fox. The cochlear structures of the fox, however, are very like those of the cat, whereas dogs have a broader BM in the basal cochlea. We further report that the mass of the middle ear ossicles and the bulla volume increase with age in foxes. Overall, the ear structures of foxes, dogs and cats are anatomically very similar, and their behavioural audiograms overlap. However, the results of several published models and correlations that use middle and inner ear measurements to predict aspects of hearing were not always found to match well with audiogram data, especially when it came to the sharper tuning in the fox audiogram. This highlights that, although there is evidently a broad correspondence between structure and function, it is not always possible to draw direct links when considering more subtle differences between related species.
Does technology licensing matter for privatization?
Authors: Wang Leonard F. S. , Mukherjee Arijit , Zeng Chenhang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn mixed oligopolies, technology licensing from a cost‐efficient firm to a cost‐inefficient firm has been widely observed. This paper examines the relationship between privatization and licensing (by public or private firms) with the consideration of either a domestic or a foreign private firm. We find that (a) in the case of a domestic private firm, public licensing facilitates privatization, but private licensing hinders privatization; (b) in the case of a foreign private firm, both public and private licensing facilitate privatization. Our results yield important policy implications on privatization.
A Critical Analysis of Disability Policy and Practice in Flanders: Toward Differentiated Manifestations of Interdependency
Authors: Roets Griet , Dermaut Vanessa , Benoot Toon , Claes Claudia , Schiettecat Tineke , Roose Rudi , Van Lancker Wim , Vandevelde Stijn 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNotions of citizenship and disability rights denote abstract, ambiguous, and contested principles, and realizing these ideas entails complexity in practice. This is particularly the case since the welfare state is no longer conceived as the principal provider of welfare services and resources in many European welfare states. In that vein, we critically analyze the underlying principles, rationales, values, and potential implications of the White Paper “Perspective 2020: a new support policy for disabled people” in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium). We tease out which understanding of the disabled human subject is promoted by this so‐called innovative social policy and excavate how policy makers and a diversity of actors involved in the policy implementation process consider the provision of care and support. Our main argument entails that the welfare state should acknowledge and vindicate differentiated manifestations of interdependency rather than reinforcing a dichotomy that is based on notions of in/dependent human subjects.
Pharmacokinetics of maropitant citrate after oral administration of multiple doses in adult horses
Authors: Berryhill Emily H. , Knych Heather , Chigerwe Munashe , Edman Judy , Magdesian K. Gary 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe neurokinin‐1 (NK‐1) receptor antagonist, maropitant citrate, mitigates nausea and vomiting in dogs and cats. Nausea is poorly understood in horses, and clinical use of NK‐1 receptor antagonists has not been reported. This study aimed to determine the pharmacokinetics and safety of maropitant after administration of multiple doses. We hypothesized that maropitant concentrations would be similar at steady state to those reported in dogs, with minimal adverse effects. Maropitant was administered at 4 mg/kg orally, once daily for 5 days in seven adult horses. Serial plasma maropitant concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The maximum, minimum, and average concentrations of maropitant achieved at steady state were 375.5 ± 200, 16.8 ± 7.7, and 73.5 ± 45.1 ng/ml, respectively. The terminal elimination half‐life was 11.6 ± 1.4 hr, and the accumulation index was 1.3 ± 0.07. Heart rate decreased between Day 1 and Day 5 (p = .005), with three horses having heart rates of 20 beats per minute and atrioventricular block on Day 5. Pharmacokinetics of repeated maropitant administration suggests the drug could be considered for use in healthy horses. Further investigation on the clinical relevancy of its cardiac effects is warranted.
Evidence for widespread selection in shaping the genomic landscape during speciation of Populus
Authors: Wang Jing , Street Nathaniel R. , Park Eung‐Jun , Liu Jianquan , Ingvarsson Pär K. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIncreasing our understanding of how evolutionary processes drive the genomic landscape of variation is fundamental to a better understanding of the genomic consequences of speciation. However, genome‐wide patterns of within‐ and between‐ species variation have not been fully investigated in most forest tree species despite their global ecological and economic importance. Here, we use whole‐genome resequencing data from four Populus species spanning the speciation continuum to reconstruct their demographic histories and investigate patterns of diversity and divergence within and between species. Using Populus trichocarpa as an outgroup species, we further infer the genealogical relationships and estimate the extent of ancient introgression among the three aspen species (Populus tremula, Populus davidiana and Populus tremuloides) throughout the genome. Our results show substantial variation in these patterns along the genomes with this variation being strongly predicted by local recombination rates and the density of functional elements. This implies that the interaction between recurrent selection and intrinsic genomic features has dramatically sculpted the genomic landscape over long periods of time. In addition, our findings provide evidence that, apart from background selection, recent positive selection and long‐term balancing selection have also been crucial components in shaping patterns of genome‐wide variation during the speciation process.
A NanoLuc luciferase‐based assay enabling the real‐time analysis of protein secretion and injection by bacterial type III secretion systems
Authors: Westerhausen Sibel , Nowak Melanie , Torres‐Vargas Claudia E. , Bilitewski Ursula , Bohn Erwin , Grin Iwan , Wagner Samuel 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of secretion through bacterial protein secretion systems is impeded by a shortage of assays to quantitatively assess secretion kinetics. Also the analysis of the biological role of these secretion systems as well as the identification of inhibitors targeting these systems would greatly benefit from the availability of a simple, quick and quantitative assay to monitor principle secretion and injection into host cells. Here, we present a versatile solution to this need, utilizing the small and very bright NanoLuc luciferase to assess the function of the type III secretion system encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 1. Type III secretion substrate–NanoLuc fusions are readily secreted into the culture supernatant, where they can be quantified by luminometry after removal of bacteria. The NanoLuc‐based secretion assay features a very high signal‐to‐noise ratio and sensitivity down to the nanolitre scale. The assay enables monitoring of secretion kinetics and is adaptable to a high throughput screening format in 384‐well microplates. We further developed a split NanoLuc‐based assay that enables the real‐time monitoring of type III secretion‐dependent injection of effector–HiBiT fusions into host cells stably expressing the complementing NanoLuc–LgBiT.
Genome‐scale metabolic reconstruction and in silico analysis of the rice leaf blight pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae
Authors: Koduru Lokanand , Kim Hyang Yeon , Lakshmanan Meiyappan , Mohanty Bijayalaxmi , Lee Yi Qing , Lee Choong Hwan , Lee Dong‐Yup 
Published: February 2020

AbstractXanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a vascular pathogen that causes leaf blight in rice, leading to severe yield losses. Since the usage of chemical control methods has not been very promising for the future disease management, it is of high importance to systematically gain new insights about Xoo virulence and pathogenesis, and devise effective strategies to combat the rice disease. To do this, we reconstructed a genome‐scale metabolic model of Xoo (iXOO673) and validated the model predictions using culture experiments. Comparison of the metabolic architecture of Xoo and other plant pathogens indicated that the Entner–Doudoroff pathway is a more common feature in these bacteria than previously thought, while suggesting some of the unique virulence mechanisms related to Xoo metabolism. Subsequent constraint‐based flux analysis allowed us to show that Xoo modulates fluxes through gluconeogenesis, glycogen biosynthesis, and degradation pathways, thereby exacerbating the leaf blight in rice exposed to nitrogenous fertilizers, which is remarkably consistent with published experimental literature. Moreover, model‐based interrogation of transcriptomic data revealed the metabolic components under the diffusible signal factor regulon that are crucial for virulence and survival in Xoo. Finally, we identified promising antibacterial targets for the control of leaf blight in rice by using gene essentiality analysis.
Novel insights into adiponectin action in breast cancer: Evidence of its mechanistic effects mediated by ERα expression
Authors: Andò Sebastiano , Naimo Giuseppina Daniela , Gelsomino Luca , Catalano Stefania , Mauro Loredana 
Published: February 2020

SummaryThis review describes the multifaceted effects of adiponectin on breast cancer cell signalling, tumour metabolism, and microenvironment. It is largely documented that low adiponectin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. However, it needs to be still clarified what are the extents of the decrease of local/intra‐tumoural adiponectin concentrations, which promote breast tumour malignancy. Most of the anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects induced by adiponectin have been obtained in breast cancer cells not expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Here, we will highlight recent findings demonstrating the mechanistic effects through which adiponectin is able to fuel genomic and non‐genomic estrogen signalling, inhibiting LKB1/AMPK/mTOR/S6K pathway and switching energy balance. Therefore, it emerges that the reduced adiponectin levels in patients with obesity work to sustain tumour growth and progression in ERα‐positive breast cancer cells. All this may contribute to remove the misleading paradigm that adiponectin univocally inhibits breast cancer cell growth and progression independently on ERα status. The latter concept, here clearly provided by pre‐clinical studies, may have translational relevance adopting adiponectin as a potential therapeutic tool. Indeed, the interfering role of ERα on adiponectin action addresses how a separate assessment of adiponectin treatment needs to be considered in novel therapeutic strategies for ERα‐positive and ERα‐negative breast cancer.
Beyond general resistance training. Hypertrophy versus muscular endurance training as therapeutic interventions in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Acosta‐Manzano Pedro , Rodriguez‐Ayllon María , Acosta Francisco M. , Niederseer David , Niebauer Josef 
Published: February 2020

SummaryResistance training (RT) is a powerful first‐line intervention for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nonetheless, the effects of the most frequent RT (hypertrophy training [HT] and muscular endurance training [MERT]) employed for the management of T2DM, and which type of RT might exert superior effects, remain elusive. Thus, this review aims to assess the effects of HT and MERT on glycaemic control, physical fitness, body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure, C‐reactive protein, and quality of life in patients with T2DM; to analyse which particular RT is more effective; to assess the effects of general RT; and to identify RT components, characteristics of patients, and medications that could mediate the effects of RT. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non‐RCT (RT≥ 4 weeks) in adults with T2DM were selected. Both HT and MERT improved HbA1c, insulin levels and sensitivity, muscle strength, body mass index, waist circumference, and fat mass. Additionally, HT improved glucose, cardiorespiratory fitness, fat percentage, lean body mass, lipid profile, systolic blood pressure, and C‐reactive protein, and MERT improved weight. Overall, HT and MERT exert beneficial effects well comparable with aerobic training. Both types of RT can be used as potent therapeutic interventions for the management of T2DM depending on patients' limitations/preferences.