bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mapping the canine vector-borne disease risk in a Mediterranean area
Authors: Kostopoulou Despoina , Gizzarelli Manuela , Ligda Panagiota , Foglia Manzillo Valentina , Saratsi Katerina , Montagnaro Serena , Schunack Bettina , Boegel Annette , Pollmeier Matthias , Oliva Gaetano , Sotiraki Smaragda 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to determine exposure to vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in populations of dogs living on Greek islands in the Ionian and Aegean seas.

Methods
In total, 1154 dogs with different lifestyles and of varying ages and breeds were randomly sampled and examined for the presence of clinical signs compatible with canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs). Blood was collected from each individual animal. For the detection of antibodies against Leishmania spp., the WITNESS® Leishmania test was performed, and positive samples were further examined with indirect enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA). Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis or E. ewingii, as well as Anaplasma phagocytophilum or A. platys were investigated using the Snap® 4Dx® Plus test. Positive Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. samples were further examined using an indirect ELISA for further identification of the species.

Results
In total, 25.6% of dogs were exposed to at least one of the pathogens investigated, with seroprevalences varying regionally. Of these seropositive dogs, 27.4% displayed clinical signs suggestive of CVBDs, such as cutaneous lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, onychogryphosis and weight loss. The overall seroprevalence detected using the rapid tests was 15.3% for Leishmania spp., whereas 2.3% of the examined dogs were found to be positive for Anaplasma spp. and 7.5% for Ehrlichia spp. while B. burgdorferi was not detected. Twenty-four samples positive to A. phagocytophilum by ELISA were analysed by PCR for the presence of Anaplasma DNA. PCR and sequencing results showed the presence of A. platys DNA in 4 samples and E. canis DNA in 4 samples. The remaining samples (66.7%) were negative.

Conclusions
In the present study, exposure of dogs to VBPs was shown in the geographical areas investigated. Results confirm that on Greek islands VBPs represent a constant health risk for both native and visiting dogs, suggesting the presence of distinct “hot-spots” of VBP infections on different islands. In order to reduce the risk of transmission and the spread to non-endemic regions, the protection of dogs through use of repellents and vaccines, together with owner education, seem to be of paramount importance.
Validation of the suction device Nimble for the assessment of skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Müller Bettina , Ruby Lisa , Jordan Suzana , Rominger Marga B. , Mazza Edoardo , Distler Oliver 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objectives
Skin fibrosis is a main hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Clinical assessment is done semi-quantitatively using the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Objective measurements for quantifying skin fibrosis could complement the mRSS to achieve higher reproducibility. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of suction measurements to detect structural changes in the skin that are associated with skin fibrosis.

Methods
This clinical trial included 30 SSc patients and 30 healthy volunteers (HC). We validated a novel suction device—the Nimble—to quantify skin stiffness in comparison to the Cutometer using the OMERACT filter.

Results
A significant difference (p < 0.05) between the skin stiffness of HC and SSc patient groups was found for each location measured. The correlation between the measurements of forearm skin stiffness and the mRSS values was high for the Nimble (r = 0.82) and moderate for the Cutometer (r = 0.58). A ROC analysis showed good ability for the Nimble to distinguish between SSc patients with and without skin involvement (AUC = 0.82). Both suction devices provided excellent reliability in all measurements on HC and SSc patients and proved face validity and feasibility.

Conclusion
Suction devices assessing skin stiffness, such as the Nimble, show clear potential to objectively quantify skin fibrosis in SSc patients and might be promising outcome measures complementing established methods such as the mRSS.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03644225, Registered 23 August 2018—Retrospectively registered, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
Gender discrepancy of incidence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among rural Chinese from 2012–2013 to 2015–2017
Authors: Yu Shasha , Guo Xiaofan , Li GuangXiao , Yang Hongmei , Sun Guozhe , Zheng Liqiang , Sun Yingxian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundWe reported a relatively high rate of MetS in rural Northeast residents in 2012–2013. Many strategies like health knowledge propagation and lifestyle modification have been taken to help rural residents decrease metabolic disorders. Hence, we held the present follow-up study in order to figure the changes of metabolic parameters and the possible reasons together with the evaluation of MetS incidence and associated risk factors.MethodsA population-based sample of 8147 rural Northeast Chinese residents aged ≥ 35 years at baseline were followed up from 2012–2013 to 2015–2017. MetS was diagnosed following the unify criteria in 2009 using the Asian specific criteria.ResultsAmong residents with MetS at baseline, value of systolic, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-C decreased while waist circumference increased in both genders in follow-up. Discrepancy of trend in body mass index, LDL-C and estimated GFR existed between male and female. Besides, triglyceride increased, and fast glucose decreased in female only. The alterations of dietary pattern might be accountable for those changes. Among residents without MetS at baseline, the cumulative incidence of newly diagnosed MetS was 24.0% (25.8% for male; 22.3% for female). As the number of metabolic disorders increased at baseline, the incidence of MetS also increased (zero metabolic disorder: 8.3%; one metabolic disorder: 17.1%; two metabolic disorders: 35.4%). In male residents, bad living habits like smoking and drinking were associated with increasing risk of Mets while in female, higher risk of MetS was more likely relevant to dietary pattern.ConclusionMetabolic parameters changes during the past years and seem to be associated with alteration of diet pattern. Incidence of MetS still high among rural Northeast Chinese. The risk factors of higher incidence of MetS show gender discrepancy which make the prophylaxis and control of MetS more effective and directive in rural residents.
Effect of short-term prescription opioids on DNA methylation of the OPRM1 promoter
Authors: Sandoval-Sierra Jose Vladimir , Salgado García Francisco I. , Brooks Jeffrey H. , Derefinko Karen J. , Mozhui Khyobeni 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
A long-term opioid use has been associated with hypermethylation of the opioid receptor mu 1 (OPRM1) promoter. Very little is currently known about the early epigenetic response to therapeutic opioids. Here, we examine whether we can detect DNA methylation changes associated with a few days’ use of prescribed opioids. Genome-wide DNA methylation was assayed in a cohort of 33 opioid-naïve participants who underwent standard dental surgery followed by opioid self-administration. Saliva samples were collected before surgery (visit 1), and at two postsurgery visits at 2.7 ± 1.5 days (visit 2), and 39 ± 10 days (visit 3) after the discontinuation of opioid analgesics.

Results
The perioperative methylome underwent significant changes over the three visits that were primarily due to postoperative inflammatory response and cell heterogeneity. To specifically examine the effect of opioids, we started with a candidate gene approach and evaluated 10 CpGs located in the OPRM1 promoter. There was a significant cross-sectional variability in opioid use, and for participants who self-administered the prescribed drugs, the total dosage ranged from 5–210 morphine milligram equivalent (MME). Participants were categorized by cumulative dosage into three groups: < 25 MME, 25–90 MME, and ≥ 90 MME. Using mixed-effects modeling, 4 CpGs had significant positive associations with opioid dose at two-tailed p value < 0.05, and overall, 9 of the 10 OPRM1 promoter CpGs showed the predicted higher methylation in the higher dose groups relative to the lowest dose group. After adjustment for age, cellular heterogeneity, and past tobacco use, the promoter mean methylation also had positive associations with cumulative MME (regression coefficient = 0.0002, one-tailed p value = 0.02) and duration of opioid use (regression coefficient = 0.003, one-tailed p value = 0.001), but this effect was significant only for visit 3. A preliminary epigenome-wide association study identified a significant CpG in the promoter of the RAS-related signaling gene, RASL10A, that may be predictive of opioid dosage.

Conclusion
The present study provides evidence that the hypermethylation of the OPRM1 promoter is in response to opioid use and that epigenetic differences in OPRM1 and other sites are associated with a short-term use of therapeutic opioids.
Reproducibility of EEG functional connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Briels Casper T. , Schoonhoven Deborah N. , Stam Cornelis J. , de Waal Hanneke , Scheltens Philip , Gouw Alida A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundAlthough numerous electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have described differences in functional connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to healthy subjects, there is no general consensus on the methodology of estimating functional connectivity in AD. Inconsistent results are reported due to multiple methodological factors such as diagnostic criteria, small sample sizes and the use of functional connectivity measures sensitive to volume conduction. We aimed to investigate the reproducibility of the disease-associated effects described by commonly used functional connectivity measures with respect to the amyloid, tau and neurodegeneration (A/T/N) criteria.MethodsEyes-closed task-free 21-channel EEG was used from patients with probable AD and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), to form two cohorts. Artefact-free epochs were visually selected and several functional connectivity measures (AEC(-c), coherence, imaginary coherence, PLV, PLI, wPLI) were estimated in five frequency bands. Functional connectivity was compared between diagnoses using AN(C)OVA models correcting for sex, age and, additionally, relative power of the frequency band. Another model predicted the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score of AD patients by functional connectivity estimates. The analysis was repeated in a subpopulation fulfilling the A/T/N criteria, after correction for influencing factors. The analyses were repeated in the second cohort.ResultsTwo large cohorts were formed (SCD/AD;n = 197/214 andn = 202/196). Reproducible effects were found for the AEC-c in the alpha and beta frequency bands (p = 6.20 × 10−7, Cohen’sd = − 0.53;p = 5.78 × 10−4,d = − 0.37) and PLI and wPLI in the theta band (p = 3.81 × 10−8,d = 0.59;p = 1.62 × 10−8,d = 0.60, respectively). Only effects of the AEC-c remained significant after statistical correction for the relative power of the selected bandwidth. In addition, alpha band AEC-c correlated with disease severity represented by MMSE score.ConclusionThe choice of functional connectivity measure and frequency band can have a large impact on the outcome of EEG studies in AD. Our results indicate that in the alpha and beta frequency bands, the effects measured by the AEC-c are reproducible and the most valid in terms of influencing factors, correlation with disease severity and preferable properties such as correction for volume conduction. Phase-based measures with correction for volume conduction, such as the PLI, showed reproducible effects in the theta frequency band.
Effects of MP-AzeFlu enhanced by activation of bitter taste receptor TAS2R
Authors: Ekstedt Sandra , Kumlien Georén Susanna , Cardell Lars Olaf 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMP-AzeFlu is relatively new a pharmaceutical drug used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. It is comprised of azelastine hydrochloride (AZE), a potent histamine-H1-receptor antagonist and fluticasone propionate (FP), corticosteroid. It’s somewhat bitter taste (often considered a disadvantage) can be attributed to AZE. We here hypothesize that MP-AzeFlu may induce some of its beneficial effects through activation of bitter taste receptors (Tas2R), which have recently been described in human airways. In the nose Tas2Rs induce secretion of antimicrobial peptides and increase ciliary activity, while in the lung they cause airway smooth muscle relaxation. The mechanisms behind Tas2R-mediated effects are not yet fully known. In order to evaluate the role of Tas2R in the effects induced by MP-AzeFlu the dilatory response of pre-contracted isolated airways from Balb/c mice was investigated in tissue bath myographs in the presence or absence of various well-characterized pharmacological antagonists or their corresponding vehicles. MP-AzeFlu caused a potent dose-dependent relaxation of pre-contracted airways, an effect probably mediated by its AZE component. The dilatory effect of MP-AzeFlu and AZE both mimicked the response induced by the Tas2R agonist, chloroquine, but was independent of histamine receptor (H1-, H2- and H3-), prostaglandins, cAMP and cGMP involvement, all known to be common pathways for airway dilation. Other bitter-tasting antihistamines (i.e. olopatadine and desloratadine) also relaxed airway segments. These data support the notion that MP-AzeFlu has the ability to activate Tas2R in the same way as chloroquine. The effect appears to be mediated by AZE, but not via the histamine receptor. Activation of Tas2R by MP-AzeFlu may contribute to its superior efficacy over FP observed in controlled clinical trials in patients with moderate/severe allergic rhinitis.
Which stem cells will eventually translate to the clinics for treatment of diabetes?
Authors: Bhartiya Deepa , Mohammad Subhan Ali 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHuman embryonic stem (hES) cells have been around for more than two decades now. It was expected that hES/iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells will quickly translate to the clinics to treat diabetic patients and to obtain gametes in vitro for infertile couples. However, there is no breakthrough yet in either of the fields although considerable progress has been made. Research efforts are ongoing to obtain an insight into the gene expression changes associated with directed differentiation of hES/iPS cells. Autologous bone marrow/cord blood mononuclear cells’ therapy has also failed to show any regenerative potential and only remains as a standard method of care for blood diseases. Only mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promise in the clinics to alleviate diabetic symptoms. But MSCs are stromal cells with no regenerative properties; rather “paracrine providers”, pericytes/stromal cells, better known for their trophic, immuno-modulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties and thus best termed as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Autologus bone marrow cells enriched for hematopoietic stem cells have no potential to cross boundaries and transdifferentiate into other lineages including endodermal pancreatic cells. Endogenous, pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) emerge as the most likely endogenous stem cell candidates to regenerate adult diabetic pancreas. Transplanted MSCs provide a healthy paracrine support required for endogenous/ resident VSELs to differentiate into acinar cells and islets in a diabetic pancreas to enable restoration of homeostasis. Our recently published study shows that VSELs exist and can be enriched from intact mouse pancreas as well as from the islets and increase in numbers in diabetic pancreas. Providing “regenerative pressure” by subjecting diabetic mice to partial pancreatectomy stimulated the VSELs to undergo differentiation into various cell types in an attempt to restore homeostasis. Double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trials need to be undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of transplanting MSCs in diabetic patients with conviction since now underlying fine play of endogenous VSELs and niche providing MSCs has emerged.
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived lung alveolar epithelial type II cells reduce damage in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis
Authors: Alvarez-Palomo Belén , Sanchez-Lopez Luis Ignacio , Moodley Yuben , Edel Michael J. , Serrano-Mollar Anna 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, and severe disease with a limited response to currently available therapies. Epithelial cell injury and failure of appropriate healing or regeneration are central to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether intratracheal transplantation of alveolar type II-like cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells can stop and reverse the fibrotic process in an experimental model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats.

Methods
Human induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated to alveolar type II-like cells and characterized. Lung fibrosis was induced in rats by a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Animals were transplanted with human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to alveolar type II-like cells at a dose of 3 × 106 cells/animal 15 days after endotracheal bleomycin instillation when the animal lungs were already fibrotic. Animals were sacrificed 21 days after the induction of lung fibrosis. Lung fibrosis was assessed by hydroxiprolin content, histologic studies, and the expression of transforming growth factor-β and α-smooth muscle actin.

Results
Cell transplantation of alveolar type II-like cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells can significantly reduce pulmonary fibrosis and improve lung alveolar structure, once fibrosis has already formed. This is associated with the inhibition of transforming growth factor-β and α-smooth muscle actin in the damaged rat lung tissue.

Conclusion
To our knowledge, this is the first data to demonstrate that at the fibrotic stage of the disease, intratracheal transplantation of human induced pluripotent differentiated to alveolar type II-like cells halts and reverses fibrosis.
Resource allocation for virtual reality content sharing based on 5G D2D multicast communication
Authors: Yang Yang , Feng Lei , Zhang Cheng , Ou Qinghai , Li Wenjing 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAs the development of wireless virtual reality (VR), a great disparity exists among the huge content transmission, rigorous QoS guarantees and the limited bandwidth of cellular networks. With the increasing of cache capacity on user devices, direct content sharing between user devices is a promising solution to solve this problem. To meet the quality of service (QoS) requirement of wireless VR transmission, this paper proposes a content sharing scheme based on 5G device-to-device (D2D) Multicast Communication. In this way, some adjacent VR users can form multicasting clustering to share VR content by working on D2D communication mode. The VR D2D multicasting clusters reuse the uplink channel resource of ordinary VR cellular users in the same cell. The basic prerequisite is that the degrading on QoS of these ordinary VR cellular users can be affordable. We design a two-step scheme to solve this radio resource allocation problem for VR content sharing. Firstly, we find out the optimal transmitting power for each VR user devices by geometric proximity, which metrics are affected by wireless VR throughput, tracking accuracy and delay. In the second step, we transform the channel allocation problem into a bipartite graph matching problem based on the transmitting power metrics, which is optimally solved by the Hungarian algorithm. The simulation results show that the VR content sharing based on 5G D2D communication technology can achieve larger system throughput gain and lower transmission delay. Compared with heuristic scheme and stochastic scheme, the proposed scheme can increase the throughput of the overall network by about 50% and 12%, respectively.
Complete moment convergence of extended negatively dependent random variables
Authors: Song Mingzhu , Zhu Quanxin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper, some results on the complete moment convergence of extended negatively dependent (END) random variables are established. The results in the paper improve and extend the corresponding ones of Qiu et al. (Acta Math. Appl. Sin. 40(3):436–448, 2017) under some weaker conditions. Our results also improve and extend the related known works in the literature.
Some inequalities obtained by fractional integrals of positive real orders
Authors: Gürbüz Mustafa , Taşdan Yakup , Set Erhan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe primary objective of this study is to handle new generalized Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities with the help of the Katugampola fractional integral operator, which generalizes the Hadamard and Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operators into one system. In order to do this, a new fractional integral identity is obtained. Then, by using this identity, some inequalities for the class of functions whose derivatives in absolute values at certain powers are ρ-convex are derived. It is observed that the obtained inequalities are generalizations of some results in the literature.
Tykhonov well-posedness of split problems
Authors: Shu Qiao-yuan , Sofonea Mircea , Xiao Yi-bin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn (J. Optim. Theory Appl. 183:139–157, 2019) we introduced and studied the concept of well-posedness in the sense of Tykhonov for abstract problems formulated on metric spaces. Our aim of this current paper is to extend the results in (J. Optim. Theory Appl. 183:139–157, 2019) to a system which consists of two independent problems denoted by P and Q, coupled by a nonlinear equation. Following the terminology used in literature we refer to such a system as a split problem. We introduce the concept of well-posedness for the abstract split problem and provide its characterization in terms of metric properties for a family of approximating sets and in terms of the well-posedness for the problems P and Q, as well. Then we illustrate the applicability of our results in the study of three relevant particular cases: a split variational–hemivariational inequality, an elliptic variational inequality and a history-dependent variational inequality. We describe each split problem and clearly indicate the family of approximating sets. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions which guarantee the well-posedness of the split variational–hemivariational inequality. Moreover, under appropriate assumptions on the data, we prove the well-posedness of the split elliptic variational inequality as well as the well-posedness of the split history-dependent variational inequality. We illustrate our abstract results with various examples, part of them arising in contact mechanics.
Stability analysis of imitative dynamics in two-community with multiple delays
Authors: Hu Wenjun , Zhang Gang 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEvolutionary game dynamics has become a hot topic in recent years. In this paper, we combine game theory and dynamical systems to investigate the stability of imitative dynamics in two-community with different kinds of delays. First, we establish a new model of imitative dynamics in two-community. Then, three sufficient conditions of the asymptotical stability for the neutrally stable strategy of the imitative dynamics are obtained. Finally, numerical simulations are consistent with the theoretical analysis.