bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model-based analysis identifies differences in phenotypic resistance between in vitro and in vivo: implications for translational medicine within tuberculosis
Authors: Clewe Oskar , Faraj Alan , Hu Yanmin , Coates Anthony R. M. , Simonsson Ulrika S. H. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractProper characterization of drug effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis relies on the characterization of phenotypically resistant bacteria to correctly establish exposure–response relationships. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential difference in phenotypic resistance in in vitro compared to murine in vivo models using CFU data alone or CFU together with most probable number (MPN) data following resuscitation with culture supernatant. Predictions of in vitro and in vivo phenotypic resistance i.e. persisters, using the Multistate Tuberculosis Pharmacometric (MTP) model framework was evaluated based on bacterial cultures grown with and without drug exposure using CFU alone or CFU plus MPN data. Phenotypic resistance and total bacterial number in in vitro natural growth observations, i.e. without drug, was well predicted by the MTP model using only CFU data. Capturing the murine in vivo total bacterial number and persisters during natural growth did however require re-estimation of model parameter using both the CFU and MPN observations implying that the ratio of persisters to total bacterial burden is different in vitro compared to murine in vivo. The evaluation of the in vitro rifampicin drug effect revealed that higher resolution in the persister drug effect was seen using CFU and MPN compared to CFU alone although drug effects on the other bacterial populations were well predicted using only CFU data. The ratio of persistent bacteria to total bacteria was predicted to be different between in vitro and murine in vivo. This difference could have implications for subsequent translational efforts in tuberculosis drug development.
Benchmarking the quantum approximate optimization algorithm
Authors: Willsch Madita , Willsch Dennis , Jin Fengping , De Raedt Hans , Michielsen Kristel 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe performance of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm is evaluated by using three different measures: the probability of finding the ground state, the energy expectation value, and a ratio closely related to the approximation ratio. The set of problem instances studied consists of weighted MaxCut problems and 2-satisfiability problems. The Ising model representations of the latter possess unique ground states and highly degenerate first excited states. The quantum approximate optimization algorithm is executed on quantum computer simulators and on the IBM Q Experience. Additionally, data obtained from the D-Wave 2000Q quantum annealer are used for comparison, and it is found that the D-Wave machine outperforms the quantum approximate optimization algorithm executed on a simulator. The overall performance of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm is found to strongly depend on the problem instance.
Determination and Comparison of the Lipid Profile and Sodium Content of Gluten-Free and Gluten-Containing Breads from the Spanish Market
Authors: Tres Alba , Tarnovska Natalia , Varona Elisa , Quintanilla-Casas Beatriz , Vichi Stefania , Gibert Anna , Vilchez Elisenda , Guardiola Francesc 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe objective is to verify if gluten-free (GF) and gluten-containing (G) breads differ in their sodium content and lipid profile. Samples of GF (n = 20) and G (n = 14) sliced white sandwich bread of commercial brands most frequently consumed in Spain were collected. The fatty acid (FA) composition and the contents of sodium, fat, cholesterol and phytosterols were determined. Sodium, fat and cholesterol contents were significantly higher in GF bread. The FA composition also differed, while G breads declared in most instances the use of sunflower oil as fat ingredient and presented a higher polyunsaturated FA percentage; GF breads declared a wide variety of fats and oils as ingredients (coconut, palm, olive, sunflower, etc.) which was reflected in their FA profile. Cholesterol content was higher in GF bread because five samples declared the use of whole egg, while G samples did not include any egg product in their formulas. Phytosterol content was higher in G bread but its variability was greater in GF bread. In conclusion, nutritional quality of GF bread varied depending on the ingredients used and might be lower than that of G bread. However, these differences in composition could be reduced or eliminated through changes in the formulation of GF bread. Moreover, the comparison of the results obtained in our laboratory for fat and salt content with the declared contents on the labels showed a much higher deviation for GF samples and it can be concluded that the quality of the nutritional information declared was lower in GF samples.
Corruption and Life Satisfaction in Transition: Is Corruption a Social Norm in Eastern Europe?
Authors: Amini Chiara , Douarin Elodie 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTo explain a so-called “happiness gap” between citizens of Eastern Europe and comparable individuals from other regions, researchers have pointed at low governance quality, and corruption in particular, as a possible cause. However, this explanation seems incompatible with the “broken windows” paradigm, which posit that in high-corruption environment, victims of corruption tend to report a lower psychological cost of victimisation. Our paper contributes to the literature by explicitly tackling this potential contradiction. Our results nuance our understanding of the role of corruption on people’s life satisfaction in Eastern Europe by investigating the extent to which the subjective cost of corruption depends on its pervasiveness. We demonstrate: (1) large individual cost associated with different measures of corruption, (2) a small reduction in these costs for some measures of corruption as it becomes more pervasive and (3) large inequalities in the cost of corruption depending on education and income. Overall, we conclude that, for the population as a whole, there is limited evidence of corruption being a social norm in Eastern Europe, in the sense that pervasiveness does not reduce individual cost.
Recalculation of the Wolf Series from 1877 to 1893
Authors: Friedli Thomas K. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHomogeneity is considered as the most important property of the Wolf series of sunspot relative numbers, or Wolf numbers, since without a stable scale no valid conclusions about variations in the long-term progress of solar activity can be drawn. However, the homogeneity testing of the Wolf series is a difficult task, since the raw data entering the series and the methods of data-reduction and interpolation used to compile the series are largely unknown. In this article we reconstruct the data-reduction algorithms based on hitherto unpublished original sources from the archives of the former Swiss Federal Observatory in Zürich and discuss their impact on the homogeneity of the Wolf series. Based on Alfred Wolfer as reference, we recalculate the progress of the Wolf series from 1877 to 1893, correcting for the widely disregarded diminishing of Wolf’s eyesight, for the change of Wolf’s main instrument from the 40/700 mm Parisian refractor to the 42/800 mm Fraunhofer refractor, and for the inhomogeneities in the data-reduction procedure during the same time period. The maxima of Cycle 12 in 1884 and of Cycle 13 in 1893 are roughly 10% higher in the recalculated and corrected Wolf series than in the original Wolf series as provided by WDC-SILSO version 1.0. From 1877 to 1883 the smoothed monthly means of the recalculated and corrected Wolf series are up to a factor of 0.76 lower than the original values.
An information theoretic approach to post randomization methods under differential privacy
Authors: Ayed Fadhel , Battiston Marco , Camerlenghi Federico 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPost randomization methods are among the most popular disclosure limitation techniques for both categorical and continuous data. In the categorical case, given a stochastic matrixMand a specified variable, an individual belonging to categoryiis changed to categoryjwith probability$$M_{i,j}$$Mi,j. Every approach to choose the randomization matrixMhas to balance between two desiderata: (1) preserving as much statistical information from the raw data as possible; (2) guaranteeing the privacy of individuals in the dataset. This trade-off has generally been shown to be very challenging to solve. In this work, we use recent tools from the computer science literature and propose to chooseMas the solution of a constrained maximization problems. Specifically,Mis chosen as the solution of a constrained maximization problem, where we maximize the mutual information between raw and transformed data, given the constraint that the transformation satisfies the notion of differential privacy. For the general categorical model, it is shown how this maximization problem reduces to a convex linear programming and can be therefore solved with known optimization algorithms.
New inertial relaxed method for solving split feasibilities
Authors: Shehu Yekini , Gibali Aviv 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce a relaxed CQ method with alternated inertial step for solving split feasibility problems. We give convergence of the sequence generated by our method under some suitable assumptions. Some numerical implementations from sparse signal and image deblurring are reported to show the efficiency of our method.
Effects of Bitter Melon and a Chromium Propionate Complex on Symptoms of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes in Rat Models
Authors: White Pandora E. , Król Ewelina , Szwengiel Artur , Tubacka Małgorzata , Szczepankiewicz Dawid , Staniek Halina , Vincent John B. , Krejpcio Zbigniew 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTrivalent chromium (Cr) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L., BM) have been shown to independently interact with the insulin signaling pathway leading to improvements in the symptoms of insulin resistance and diabetes in some animal models and human subjects. The aim of this study was to examine whether the combination of the two nutritional supplements could potentially have additive effects on treating these conditions in high-fat-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The experiment was conducted with 110 male Wistar rats divided into eleven groups and fed either a control or high-fat diet for 7 weeks. Half of the rats on the high-fat diet were injected with STZ (30 mg/kg body mass) to induce diabetes. The high-fat (HF) diets were then supplemented with a combination of Cr (as chromium(III) propionate complex, Cr3: either 10 or 50 mg Cr/kg diet) and bitter melon (lyophilized whole fruit: either 10 or 50 g/kg diet) for 6 weeks. After termination of the experiment, blood and internal organs were harvested for blood biochemical, hematological, and mineral (Cr) analyses using appropriate analytical methods. It was found that neither Cr(III) nor BM was able to significantly affect blood indices in HF and diabetic rats, but BM tended to improve body mass gain, blood glucose, and LDL cholesterol values, but decreased Cr content in the liver and kidneys of the Cr-co-supplemented type 2 diabetic model of rats. Supplementary Cr(III) had no appreciable effect on glucose and lipid metabolism in high-fat-fed STZ-induced diabetic rats. Supplementary BM fruit powder had some observable effects on body mass of high-fat-fed rats; these effects seem to be dampened when BM was co-administered with Cr. Cr(III) and BM appear to act as nutritional antagonists when both administered in food, probably due to binding of Cr by the polyphenol-type compounds present in the plant material.
Novel Biallelic NSUN3 Variants Cause Early-Onset Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy and Seizures
Authors: Paramasivam Arumugam , Meena Angamuthu K. , Venkatapathi Challa , Pitceathly Robert D.S. , Thangaraj Kumarasamy 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEpitranscriptomic systems enable post-transcriptional modifications of cellular RNA that are essential for regulating gene expression. Of the ~ 170 known RNA chemical modifications, methylation is among the most common. Loss of function mutations inNSUN3, encoding the 5-methylcytosine (m5C) methyltransferase NSun3, have been linked to multisystem mitochondrial disease associated with combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency. Here, we report a patient with early-onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and seizures in whom the novel biallelicNSUN3missense variants c.421G>C (p.A141P) and c.454T>A (p.C152S) were detected. Segregation studies and in silico functional analysis confirmed the likely pathogenic effects of both variants. These findings expand the molecular and phenotypic spectrum ofNSUN3-related mitochondrial disease.
Selection of Conditions of Ultrasound-Assisted, Three-Step Extraction of Ellagitannins from Selected Berry Fruit of the Rosaceae Family Using the Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Agnieszka Milczarek , Michał Sójka , Robert Klewicki 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe study examined the influence of the method of grinding the fruit—homogenisation and grinding using a cryogenic mill—on the extraction efficiency of the ellagitannins (ETs). Two methods of extraction support were compared: sonication and shaking. In the second stage, selection of the extraction with the best conditions was carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM). Ellagitannins were extracted in different variants of acetone concentration (40, 60, and 80%), duration of sonication (5, 10, and 15 min), and temperature (20, 35, and 50 °C). The extracts obtained were subjected to quantitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC–DAD) and identification using a mass spectrometer. Grinding is an important stage in the extraction of ellagitannins from berries. Extracts from fruit shredded with a cryogenic mill were characterised by an average of 20% lower content of ellagitannins than extracts from homogenised fruit. Studies using RSM showed that the most important factor affecting the amount of extracted ellagitannins from all tested fruits is the concentration of acetone. The highest ETs concentration was obtained using 80% acetone solution (in the tested range 40–80%). In the case of raspberries, strawberries, and wild strawberries, under the conditions used, the temperature and duration of sonication did not significantly affect the extraction efficiency. An interaction between extraction time and solvent concentration was observed for blackberries, indicating optimal conditions for this fruit as 15 min and an acetone concentration of 80%, respectively.
Reduction Scrotoplasty in 100 kg Scrotums
Authors: Schiltz Daniel , Koch Christoph , Schingale Franz-Josef , Prantl Lukas , Taeger Christian D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractScrotal elephantiasis is a rare form of lymphedema of the scrotum. Its pathophysiology is diverse and often not clear, as there are only a few diagnostic tools available. Primary therapy consists, as usual for lymphedema, of conservative measures. However, due to anatomical and physiological findings, conservative therapy options are not always applicable. Although the only possible therapy in severe cases is the surgical resection, there is a lack in the literature regarding a standardized surgical approach. Surgical treatment of massive scrotal elephantiasis was performed in two patients according to a standardized strategy. After computed tomography and planning the operation, the penis and testicles were first exposed. Then, the reduction of the scrotum was performed, by holding the lateral flaps to the contralateral side and setting the cutoff line to the center. The cranial flap was decreased as in a modified abdominoplasty. After surgical treatment following the standardized approach, both patients showed functionally and esthetically positive results. Scrotal elephantiasis has a huge impact on life quality of the affected patients. With the described combination of intense conservative therapy and a standardized surgical procedure, these challenging patients can be helped.
Residual relief modelling: digital elevation enhancement for shipwreck site characterisation
Authors: Majcher Jan , Plets Ruth , Quinn Rory 
Published: June 2020

AbstractScour processes play a critical role in the preservation status of submerged historic shipwrecks. Erosion of sediment leads to enhanced exposure of archaeological sites to physical, chemical and biological processes. Current methods for identifying erosional and depositional features at wreck sites are based primarily on visual interpretation of data, which is labour-intensive and entirely subjective. The increasing availability of high-resolution multibeam echosounder–derived digital elevation models (DEMs) of historic wreck sites allows for an entirely new level of detailed interrogation and analyses of the geomorphological features associated with these. In this study, we present a residual relief modelling method for the semi-automated extraction of such depositional and erosional features at wreck sites. Relief modelling is supplemented with a breakpoint classification approach, with final separation supported by DEM visualisation enhancement techniques. We applied the method to three World War I shipwreck sites and evaluated it against traditional manual vectorisation techniques. The results suggest that the semi-automated modelling method is robust, time-effective and capable of quantifying the products of scour processes with increased objectivity. Our method holds great potential for the objective characterisation of erosional and depositional patterns and processes at wreck sites, which have important implications for site formation studies and in situ preservation of underwater cultural heritage.
The contribution of the International Rice Genebank to varietal improvement and crop productivity in Eastern India
Authors: Villanueva Donald , Smale Melinda , Jamora Nelissa , Capilit Grace Lee , Hamilton Ruaraidh Sackville 
Published: June 2020

AbstractUsing survey dataset collected from nearly 9000 farmers along with pedigree and evaluation data, this study measures the contribution of the International Rice Genebank (IRG) to varietal improvement and rice productivity of farmers in Eastern India. We empirically test the relationship of ancestry to productivity changes while controlling for the effects of other farm inputs and environmental factors. Estimated coefficients indicate that a 10% increase in the genetic contribution of IRG accessions to an improved rice variety is associated with a yield increase of 27%. Through pedigree analysis, we also confirm that 45 to 77% of the genetic composition of improved rice varieties is derived from the genes of IRG accessions. Peta, Dee Geo Woo Gen, and Fortuna are the three most popular progenitors with definite IRG contribution. High genealogical diversity likely results from the crossing of germplasm received from multiple countries of origin, which also confer multiple, functional trait combinations in a released variety. Further, our calculations reveal that the average coefficient of parentage of all pairwise combinations among the 10 most adopted rice varieties is 0.0973, indicating a high degree of latent genetic diversity. Findings demonstrate the valuable contribution of the genetic resources conserved and distributed by IRG to the development of improved rice varieties.
Application of silver nanoparticles toward Co(II) and Pb(II) ions contaminant removal in groundwater
Authors: Attatsi Isaac Kwaku , Nsiah Francis 
Published: June 2020

AbstractApplications of nanomaterials has recently been of keen interest to researchers.
This fascinating drive ensued due to their unique properties such as optical, magnetic, ease of synthesis, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry and functionalization that are remarkably different from that of the bulk material. In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The UV–Vis spectra obtained showed absorption peak at 406 nm wavelength and scanning electron microscope reveals an image of size, 20 nm. The efficiency of our nanomaterial was first tested using standard solutions of cobalt and lead. A bathochromic shift in the absorption wavelength from 406 to 445 nm and from 406 to 458 nm for Cobalt(II) and Lead(II), respectively, indicates an adsorption has taken place. Adsorption characteristics of the nanoparticles evaluated at various incubation periods indicates a percent reduction in cobalt(II) from 33.13 to 53.34% and 79.9–92.92% for lead(II) from day 1–14. This indicates high removal efficiency for lead(II) than cobalt(II) in the proof of concept experiment. The results obtained further reveal that metal ion removal from complexes using silver nanoparticles is time-dependent. The effectiveness of our nanomaterial toward metal ion removal from groundwater was tested using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results obtained reveal removal efficiencies of 24% for cobalt and 77% for lead. It is important to note that metal ion concentrations reduced as the incubation periods increased. This is in line with the proof of concept experiment using complex solutions of cobalt and lead. Notably, the percent removal of cobalt was quite low compared to proof of concept experiment. These observations suggest a further research into understanding the adsorption characteristics of metal ions to the surface of nanomaterials in aqueous media.
Self-Reported Sexual Function in Sexually Active Male Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors
Authors: Eeltink Corien M. , Lissenberg-Witte Birgit I. , Incrocci Luca , Braamse Annemarie M.J. , Visser Otto , Zijlstra Josée , Verdonck-de Leeuw Irma M. , Zweegman Sonja 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Introduction
Unambiguous data on sexual dysfunction after Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treatment are scarce.

Aims
To form a baseline in this area, we compared patient-reported sexual function in sexually active male HL survivors in complete remission with a sexually active, age-matched, male Dutch sample population. Furthermore, we explored whether sociodemographic and clinical factors were associated with sexual dysfunction in HL survivors and investigated whether reporting to perceive sexual problems was indicative for sexual dysfunction.

Methods
This cross-sectional study included male patients with HL who were treated with chemotherapy and age-matched sexually active males.

Main outcome measures
Outcome measures included the internationally validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and self-reported sexual problems by adding 3 items to the study-specific questionnaire.

Results
Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurred in 23.3% of the HL survivors vs in 23.0% of controls: respectively 13.3% and 12.3% had moderate to severe ED. However, more HL survivors positively answered the question whether they did perceive sexual problems than controls (20.0% vs 7.0%; P = .087). More patients treated with bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procabazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) had sexual problems 33.3% vs 8.3% who were treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (P = .057). Importantly, we found that the mean IIEF score for erectile function was 15.7 in HL survivors who reported to perceive sexual problems (moderate ED) vs 28.3 (normal) in those without perceiving sexual problems.

Conclusion
In general, sexual function of male HL survivors is comparable to that of matched normal controls. Perceiving sexual problems was associated with lower sexual function measured by the IIEF. None of the HL survivors who were treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine perceived sexual problems. However, one-third of HL survivors who were treated with BEACOPP did, including ED in one-third of the cases. This is an important consideration for daily clinical practice as BEACOPP is increasingly used as standard therapy in advanced-stage HL.