bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alterations of the renin angiotensin system in human end-stage heart failure before and after mechanical cardiac unloading by LVAD support
Authors: Messmann Rebecca , Dietl Alexander , Wagner Stefan , Domenig Oliver , Jungbauer Carsten , Luchner Andreas , Maier Lars S. , Schopka Simon , Hirt Stephan , Schmid Christof , Birner Christoph 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHeart transplantation is often an unrealizable therapeutic option for end-stage heart failure, which is why mechanical left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) become an increasingly important therapeutic alternative. Currently, there is a lack of information about molecular mechanisms which are influenced by LVADs, particularly regarding the pathophysiologically critical renin angiotensin system (RAS). We, therefore, determined regulation patterns of key components of the RAS and the β-arrestin signaling pathways in left ventricular (LV) tissue specimens from 8 patients with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and 12 patients with terminal dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) before and after LVAD implantation and compared them with non-failing (NF) left ventricular tissue samples: AT1R, AT2R, ACE, ACE2, MasR, and ADAM17 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. ERK, phosphorylated ERK, p38, phosphorylated p38, JNK, phosphorylated JNK, GRK2, β-arrestin 2, PI3K, Akt, and phosphorylated Akt were determined by Western blot analysis. Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II were quantified by mass spectrometry. Patients were predominantly middle-aged (53 ± 10 years) men with severely impaired LV function (LVEF 19 ± 8%), when receiving LVAD therapy for a mean duration of 331 ± 317 days. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between ICM and DCM patients. By comparing failing with non-failing left ventricles, i.e., before LVAD implantation, a downregulation of AT1R, AT2R, and MasR and an upregulation of ACE, ACE2, GRK, β-arrestin, ERK, PI3K, and Akt were seen. Following LVAD support, then angiotensin I, ACE2, GRK, and β-arrestin were downregulated and AT2R, JNK, and p38 were upregulated. ACE, angiotensin II, AT1R, ADAM17, MasR, ERK, PI3K, and Akt remained unchanged. Some regulation patterns were influenced by the underlying etiology of heart failure, the severity of LV dysfunction at baseline, and the duration of LVAD therapy. Key components of the RAS and β-arrestin signaling pathways were divergently altered in failing left ventricles both before and after LVAD implantation, whereas a remarkable fraction remained unchanged. This indicates a rather incomplete molecular reverse remodeling, whose functional relevance has to be further evaluated.
Application of Low-Salinity Waterflooding in Carbonate Cores: A Geochemical Modeling Study
Authors: Egbe Daniel Isong Otu , Jahanbani Ghahfarokhi Ashkan , Nait Amar Menad , Torsæter Ole 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWaterflooding is the most widely applied improved oil recovery technique. Recently, there has been growing interest in the chemistry and ionic composition of the injected water. Low-salinity waterflooding (LSWF) is a relatively recent enhanced oil recovery technique that has the ability to alter the crude oil/brine/rock interactions and improve oil recovery in both clastics and carbonates. In this paper, the increase in the recovery factor during LSWF was modeled based on the exchange of divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) between the aqueous phase and the carbonate rock surface. Numerical simulations were performed using laboratory coreflood data, and oil recovery and pressure drop from experimental works were successfully history matched. The ion exchange equivalent fractions, effluent ions concentrations, changes in mineral moles, and pH have also been examined. Besides, an investigation of multi-component ionic exchange as a mechanism responsible for wettability alteration during LSWF in heterogeneous low-permeability carbonate cores is presented. The results show that wettability alteration is responsible for the increase in oil recovery during LSWF, as reflected by the shift in the crossover points of the relative permeability curves. A sensitivity study done on many key parameters (e.g., timing of LSWF injection, injection rate and temperature) and the mechanistic modeling method revealed that they all have huge effects on the process.
Event-specific qualitative polymerase chain reaction analysis for two T-DNA copies in genetically modified orange Petunia
Authors: Haselmair-Gosch Christian , Nitarska Daria , Walliser Benjamin , Flachowsky Henryk , Marinovic Silvija , Halbwirth Heidi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn 2017, various orange coloured petunia on the market turned out to be genetically modified (GM) without an official authorization for commercialization. Sequence analysis suggested these undeclared plants most probably originated from a plant transformation experiment performed in the 1980s. For a deeper understanding how GM petunia entered classical breeding programmes worldwide, and whether they originated from a single source or not, we undertook a molecular genetic characterization of the T-DNA integration sites in different GM petunia cultivars and breeding lines. By means of genome walking, we isolated different T-DNA sequences, which are located at the junctions between the T-DNA(s) and the petunia DNA. Based on the results obtained we conclude that there are at least two T-DNA copies of different lengths. This is supported by Southern blot analysis. For T-DNA1, the 3′-junction sequence was isolated, whereas the 5′-junction remained unclear. In contrast, for T-DNA2, the 5′-junction sequence was isolated, whereas the sequence isolated from the 3′-region consists only of T-DNA, but did not include the junction from the T-DNA to the petunia DNA. We developed primers for event-specific PCRs and screened a set of three orange GM petunia cultivars and 126 GM offspring from a commercial breeding program. We show that both T-DNA copies are present in all our tested GM petunia samples, which underpins the assumption of a single transgenic origin of the undeclared GM petunia. Most likely, the two T-DNAs are integrated in close proximity into the petunia genome.
Personalized Nutrition for Management of Micronutrient Deficiency—Literature Review in Non-bariatric Populations and Possible Utility in Bariatric Cohort
Authors: Galyean Shannon , Sawant Dhanashree , Shin Andrew C. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Bariatric surgery can effectively treat morbid obesity; however, micronutrient deficiencies are common despite recommendations for high-dose supplements. Genetic predisposition to deficiencies underscores necessary identification of high-risk candidates. Personalized nutrition (PN) can be a tool to manage these deficiencies.

Methods
Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched. Articles involving genetic testing, micronutrient metabolism, and bariatric surgery were included.

Results
Studies show associations between genetic variants and micronutrient metabolism. Research demonstrates genetic testing to be a predictor for outcomes among obesity and bariatric surgery populations. There is limited research in bariatric surgery and micronutrient genetic variants.

Conclusion
Genotype-based PN is becoming feasible to provide an effective treatment of micronutrient deficiencies associated with bariatric surgery. The role of genomic technology in micronutrient recommendations needs further investigation.
The Energy Consumption of Blockchain Technology: Beyond Myth
Authors: Sedlmeir Johannes , Buhl Hans Ulrich , Fridgen Gilbert , Keller Robert 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWhen talking about blockchain technology in academia, business, and society, frequently generalizations are still heared about its – supposedly inherent – enormous energy consumption. This perception inevitably raises concerns about the further adoption of blockchain technology, a fact that inhibits rapid uptake of what is widely considered to be a groundbreaking and disruptive innovation. However, blockchain technology is far from homogeneous, meaning that blanket statements about its energy consumption should be reviewed with care. The article is meant to bring clarity to the topic in a holistic fashion, looking beyond claims regarding the energy consumption of Bitcoin, which have, so far, dominated the discussion.
Surfactant addition in diesel oil degradation – how can it help the microbes?
Authors: Zdarta Agata , Smułek Wojciech , Pacholak Amanda , Dudzińska-Bajorek Beata , Kaczorek Ewa 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Despite wide research on bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, the mechanisms of surfactant-enhanced bioavailability of the contaminants are still unclear. The presented study was focused on the in-depth description of relationships between hydrocarbons, bacteria, and surfactants. In order to that, the biodegradation experiments and cell viability measurements were conducted, and the properties of cell surface were characterized.

Methods
MTT assay was employed to measure plant extracts toxicity to microbes. Then, membrane permeability changes were evaluated, followed by diesel oil biodegradation in the presence of surfactants measurements by GCxGC-TOFMS and PCR-RAPD analysis.

Results
Our study undoubtedly proves that different surfactants promote assimilation of different groups of hydrocarbons and modify cell surface properties in different ways. Increased biodegradation of diesel oil was observed when cultures with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus M1B were supplemented with Saponaria officinalis and Verbascum nigrum extracts. Interestingly, these surfactants exhibit different influences on cell surface properties and their viability in contrast to the other surfactants. Moreover, the preliminary analyses have shown changes in the genome caused by exposure to surfactants.

Conclusions
The results indicated that the benefits of surfactant use may be related to deep modification at the omics level, not only that of cell surface properties and confirms the complexity of the interactions between bacterial cells, pollutants and surfactants.
Bismuth-Based Free-Standing Electrodes for Ambient-Condition Ammonia Production in Neutral Media
Authors: Sun Ying , Deng Zizhao , Song Xi-Ming , Li Hui , Huang Zihang , Zhao Qin , Feng Daming , Zhang Wei , Liu Zhaoqing , Ma Tianyi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractElectrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction is a carbon-free and energy-saving strategy for efficient synthesis of ammonia under ambient conditions. Here, we report the synthesis of nanosized Bi2O3 particles grown on functionalized exfoliated graphene (Bi2O3/FEG) via a facile electrochemical deposition method. The obtained free-standing Bi2O3/FEG achieves a high Faradaic efficiency of 11.2% and a large NH3 yield of 4.21 ± 0.14 $$ \upmu{\text{g}}_{{{\text{NH}}_{3} }} $$

μ

g

NH
3

h−1 cm−2 at − 0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M Na2SO4, better than that in the strong acidic and basic media. Benefiting from its strong interaction of Bi 6p band with the N 2p orbitals, binder-free characteristic, and facile electron transfer, Bi2O3/FEG achieves superior catalytic performance and excellent long-term stability as compared with most of the previous reported catalysts. This study is significant to design low-cost, high-efficient Bi-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical ammonia synthesis.
Addendum to: Exploring Hidden Local Ordering in Microemulsions with a Weak Directive Second Order Parameter
Authors: Frielinghaus Henrich 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn a recent publication, my group discussed a directive second order parameter that hypothetically could form micrometer large structures that influence the rheological behavior of a bicontinuous microemulsion. For this, the viscosities of two microemulsions with the non-ionic surfactants C10E4 and C8E3 were determined over the wide frequency and shear rate range. Contrarily to our previous publications there are no elevated viscosities towards slowest motions of the rheometer. Thus, no micrometer large structures form in microemulsions. However, we argue and confirm that there are compartments with the size of several correlation lengths. This finding supports the development of a directional order parameter in microemulsions.
Helminth metacommunity of small mammals in a Brazilian reserve: the contribution of environmental variables, host attributes and spatial variables in parasite species abundance
Authors: Cardoso T. S. , Costa-Neto S. F. , Braga C. , Weksler M. , Simões R. O. , Maldonado A. , Luque J. L. , Gentile R. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe role of environmental factors and landscape heterogeneity on species distribution on different spatial scales is one of the most important questions in community ecology. Variations in the environmental gradient characteristics, host attributes and spatial scales may influence the parasites distribution. The helminth metacommunity of 12 small mammal species was investigated in an Atlantic Forest reserve located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. We evaluated the influence of environmental variables, host attributes and spatial factors on the helminth metacommunity of small mammals, considering infracommunity and component community levels. Twenty-nine helminth morphospecies were recovered. The host attributes and spatial variables influenced the abundance of helminth species in the metacommunities for rodents and marsupials together, and for rodents alone at the infracommunity level. Host body mass, host diet and spatial variables at broad spatial scale (among localities) were the most important variables to explain the variation in helminth abundance. Parasite species richness influenced this variation only for the marsupial helminth metacommunity at the infracommunity level. The metacommunity showed larger turnover (parasite replacement) than nestedness (parasite loss) for their helminth species at both infracommunity and component community levels, which is associated with a high host specificity, and low helminth sharing among hosts for most species, resulting in a structured metacommunity.
Ethical capacity and its challenges in the academy of science: historical continuities and contemporary violence
Authors: Lohne Kjersti 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis reflective essay is inspired by a roundtable discussion at the World Science Forum on the question ‘Are there ethical limits to what science can achieve and should pursue?’ I argue that, amid the conflicting trends of ‘technological utopianism’—extreme faith in technological solutions; and ‘post-truth’ politics—the populist pushback against the universality of science, the conditions for ethical knowledge production are significantly challenged. Drawing on insights gleaned from my work on political violence, law, and technology, I point to historical continuities in the way the application and pursuit of science relates to violence—especially state violence. Conscious of the fact that science exercises no restraint on violence—and indeed, may be put to work for violent purposes—the paper calls for more attention to the social, structural, and political conditions of scientific production. The final part of this essay, therefore, examines three developments challenging the ethical capacity of scholars and scientists today. These are (1) the bureaucratization of ethics (2), ‘ethics washing,’ and (3) co-optation. Like other policy domains in our society, informed normative assessments around scientific pursuits—value judgments and ethical evaluation—ought to be based on sound empirical knowledge of the contingencies of science.
Comparison of thoracic paravertebral block and transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in major gynecologic surgery: A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ali Siraj Ahmed , Ayalew Nugusu , Tesfaye Tizalegn , Jemal Bedru , Mekonnen Semagn , Mohammed Ayub 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Patients after major gynecologic surgeries experience moderate to severe pain, which needs pharmacological intervention. Different regional blocks are now a days introducing as components of multimodal analgesia for pain management. Even though transversus abdominis plane block and paravertebral block were described for postoperative analgesia in abdominal surgeries, data comparing these blocks for gynecologic surgery is limited.

Objectives:
The aim of this single blind randomized controlled trail was to compare thoracic paravertebral block and transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in patients underwent gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia.

Methodology:
Thirty four patients with American society of anesthesiologists physical status I and II, age between 18 and 65 years underwent gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated in thoracic paravertebral group or transversus abdominis plane block group. Patients' pain intensity with numerical rating score, time to first analgesic time and total rescue analgesic/tramadol consumption were documented by data collectors who were unaware of the block done for the patents during the first 24 ours postoperatively.

Results:
Time to first analgesic request was lower in thoracic paravertebral group than transversus abdominis plane group but not statistically significant (p = 0.057). Median numerical rating scale score was significantly lower in thoracic paravertebral group than transversus abdominis plane group at post anesthesia care unit admission (p = 0.016). Time taken to perform the block was significantly higher in thoracic paravertebral group than transversus abdominis plane group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:
Both thoracic paravertebral block and transversus abdominis plane block were effective for postoperative analgesia in women underwent gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. Although thoracic paravertebral block appeared to be as effective as transversus abdominis plane block, it took longer time to perform the block.

Highlights:
Creating Value by Sharing Values: Managing Stakeholder Value Conflict in the Face of Pluralism through Discursive Justification
Authors: Schormair Maximilian J. L. , Gilbert Dirk Ulrich 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTThe question of how to engage with stakeholders in situations of value conflict to create value that includes a plurality of conflicting stakeholder value perspectives represents one of the crucial current challenges of stakeholder engagement as well as of value creation stakeholder theory. To address this challenge, we conceptualize a discursive sharing process between affected stakeholders that is oriented toward discursive justification involving multiple procedural steps. This sharing process provides procedural guidance for firms and stakeholders to create pluralistic stakeholder value through the discursive accommodation of diverging stakeholder value perspectives. The outcomes of such a discursive value-sharing process range from stakeholder value dissensus to low (agreement to disagree) and increasing levels of stakeholder value congruence (value compromise) to stakeholder value consensus (shared values). Hence, this article contributes to the emerging literature on integrative stakeholder engagement by conceptualizing a procedural framework that is neither overly oriented towards dissensus nor consensus.
The bivariate gas–stellar mass distributions and the mass functions of early- and late-type galaxies at
Authors: Rodríguez-Puebla Aldo , Calette A. R. , Avila-Reese Vladimir , Rodriguez-Gomez Vicente , Huertas-Company Marc 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
We report the bivariate

$\rm HI$

- and

$\rm H_{2}$

-stellar mass distributions of local galaxies in addition of an inventory of galaxy mass functions, MFs, for

$\rm HI$

,

$\rm H_{2}$

, cold gas, and baryonic mass, separately into early- and late-type galaxies. The MFs are determined using the

$\rm HI$

and

$\rm H_{2}$

conditional distributions and the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF). For the conditional distributions we use the results from the compilation presented in Calette et al. [(2018) RMxAA, 54, 443.]. For determining the GSMF from

$M_{*}\sim3\times10^{7}$

to

$3\times10^{12}\ \text{M}_{\odot}$

, we combine two spectroscopic samples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at the redshift range

$0.0033<z<0.2$

. We find that the low-mass end slope of the GSMF, after correcting from surface brightness incompleteness, is

$\alpha\approx-1.4$

, consistent with previous determinations. The obtained

$\rm HI\,$

MFs agree with radio blind surveys. Similarly, the

$\rm H_{2}\,$

MFs are consistent with CO follow-up optically-selected samples. We estimate the impact of systematics due to mass-to-light ratios and find that our MFs are robust against systematic errors. We deconvolve our MFs from random errors to obtain the intrinsic MFs. Using the MFs, we calculate cosmic density parameters of all the baryonic components. Baryons locked inside galaxies represent 5.4% of the universal baryon content, while

$\sim\! 96\%$

of the

$\rm HI$

and

$\rm H_{2}$

mass inside galaxies reside in late-type morphologies. Our results imply cosmic depletion times of

$\rm H_{2}$

and total neutral H in late-type galaxies of

$\sim\!1.3$

and 7.2 Gyr, respectively, which shows that late type galaxies are on average inefficient in converting

$\rm H_{2}$

into stars and in transforming

$\rm HI$

gas into

$\rm H_{2}$

. Our results provide a fully self-consistent empirical description of galaxy demographics in terms of the bivariate gas–stellar mass distribution and their projections, the MFs. This description is ideal to compare and/or to constrain galaxy formation models.
Explaining Migration Timing: Political Information and Opportunities
Authors: Holland Alisha C. , Peters Margaret E. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHow do migrants decide when to leave? Conventional wisdom is that violence and economic deprivation force migrants to leave their homes. However, long-standing problems of violence and poverty often cannot explain sudden spikes in migration. We study the timing of migration decisions in the critical case of Syrian and Iraqi migration to Europe using an original survey and embedded experiment, as well as interviews, focus groups, and Internet search data. We find that violence and poverty lead individuals to invest in learning about the migration environment. Political shifts in receiving countries then can unleash migratory flows. The findings underscore the need for further research on what migrants know about law and politics, when policy changes create and end migrant waves, and whether politicians anticipate migratory responses when crafting policy.
Abstraction still holds its feet on the ground
Authors: Pazzaglia Mariella , Leemhuis Erik 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
In view of current scientific knowledge, it seems premature to hypothesize a qualitative distinction between processes, networks, and structures involved in abstract processes from those based on perception, episodic, or procedural memories. Predictive thought and mental travel strongly rely, at different levels of consciousness, on past and ongoing sensory input, bodily information (e.g., interoception), and the results of perceptual elaboration.