bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studies on Immunomodulatory Effect of Casein Phospho Peptide Isolated from Cultured Dairy Product
Authors: Mullaiselvan Indumathi , Kanagaraj Vijayarani , Sekar Saranya , Dharmar Baskaran , Sambandan Rathnapraba 
Published: December 2020

Bioactive peptides have been defined as specific protein fragments that have an impact on body functions or conditions and may ultimately influence health. Fermented milk is a dairy product which has abundance of bioactive peptides. In this study, Casein Phospho peptide (CPP) was isolated by enzymatic hydrolysis of fermented milk using trypsin. The molecular weight of the Casein Phospho peptide was 3.5 KDa. The anti-bacterial activity of Casein Phospho peptide was determined using four pathogens such as, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. Casein phospho peptide formed a zone of inhibition against the pathogens. The bioactive peptides were characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Casein Phospho peptide had aliphatic amine, acetyl amino I and acetyl amino II functional groups. The HPLC analysis of Casein Phospho peptide revealed that the major amino acid present was L- Glutamic acid and the amino acid present in lesser concentration was Leucine. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated from human blood and the cells were treated with Casein Phospho peptide to assess the immunomodulatory effect.
Casein Phospho peptide was able to produce a higher concentration of IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokines when treated with PBMCs.
The Influence of Lower-Body Training, Upper-Body Training and a Combination of Both on Pain, Functionality and Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
Authors: Baum K. , Hofmann U. , Bock F. 
Published: December 2020

Purpose: Regular physical activities are a keystone in the nonmedical and nonsurgical treatment of knee-osteoarthritis. However, the underlying mechanisms are still regarded as a black-box and a matter of debate. As potential candidates, two groups can be distinguished: First, joint-specific influences such as better biomechanical functioning and improvements in the quality of cartilage. Secondly, more unspecific effectors like anti-inflammatory cytokines and a central modulation of pain perception. In order to distinguish between these two groups the present study compared the training effects of knee-joint surrounding muscles (LBT), upper body muscles (UBT), and the combination of both (WBT).
Methods: 372 physically inactive, adult knee-osteoarthritic patients of both sexes were enrolled in the multi-centered, controlled, and randomized training intervention. All three exercise groups fulfilled an 8-week circle-training intervention two times per week with a subjective intensity of 4 - 5 for the first five sessions (on a 0 = no effort to 10 = extreme effort scale). From the 6th to the 10th session, intensity was adjusted to 6 – 7 and thereafter to 7 – 8. The single training sessions were as follows. LBT: 4 devices, exercise net time (ENT) 20 min., UBT: 4 devices, ENT12 min., WBT 8 devices, ENT 28 min. Anthropometric data, comorbidities, regular physical activities, actual and former medical treatments, knee specific functionality, pain, stiffness, and health related physical and mental quality of life was evaluated at the beginning, after 4 weeks, and finally after 8 weeks by means of online-questionnaires.
Main Results: Initially, pain and physical function correlated well with the Kellgren-Lawrence grades (p < 0,01). All three training interventions led to significantly increased functionalities (p < 0,0001) and physical qualities of life (p < 0,02). The pain-subscore of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was significantly reduced (p < 0,004). None of these improvements showed significant differences between groups, although there was a tendency of WBT to be superior to UBT and LBT.
Conclusion: The positive effects of physical training regimens cannot be exclusively attributed to a knee-specific training effect since significant improvements also occurred in the UBT group.
Characterization of Bacterial and Fungal Populations Present in the Wastewater Released by the Ogbe Slaughterhouse
Authors: Michael Nwachukwu , Christian Ike , Ogechi Nwachukwu , Ijeoma Eboagwu , Prince Odika , Chimaraoke Onyeabo 
Published: December 2020

This work aimed to characterize the bacterial and fungal concentrates present in the wastewater thrown by the Ogbe slaughterhouse. Bacterial and fungal concentrates from Ogbe slaughterhouse wastewater were evaluated at two seasons. Results obtained showed total heterotrophic bacterial count (2.0×105-2.1×105 cfu/mL) and total fungal count (1.5×105-2.0×105 cfu/mL). Bacterial isolates such as Acinetobacter sp. (0.50-3.65%), Citrobacter sp. (3.00-9.13%), Escherichia sp. (2.50-13.69%), Klebsiella sp. (2.50-14.16%), Proteus sp. (2.00-9.13%), and Staphylococcus sp. (11.00-13.69%) were higher in dry season than rainy season. Bacillus sp. (9.13-23.00%), Enterobacter sp. (0.00-3.00%), Micrococcus sp. (6.85-7.50%), Pseudomonas sp. (12.84-25.00%), Salmonella sp. (4.57-5.00%), Serratia sp. (0.00-1.50%) and Streptococcus sp. (4.57-13.00%) were higher in rainy season than dry season. Mould isolates such as Absidia sp., Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp., were observed in the present study. Apart from Penicillium sp., the percentage occurrence of all the observed mould isolates in wastewater for the seasons were higher than their respective control. Candida sp., Saccharomyces sp., and Torulopsis sp, were among the yeast isolated from wastewater generated from Ogbe abattoir in this study. The observed isolates become important when their potential risk as pathogens as well as the intensified environmental health hazards they pose to humans living within the abattoir environment are considered.
Event‐triggered adaptive backstepping tracking control for a class of nonlinear fractional order systems
Authors: Kang Shijia , Wang Huanqing , Chen Ming , Liu Peter X. , Li Chengdong 
Published: December 2020

SummaryThis article investigates the problem of event‐trigger based adaptive backstepping control for a class of nonlinear fractional order systems. By introducing an appropriate transformation of frequency distributed model, the fractional‐order indirect Lyapunov method withis obtained. In addition, the event‐triggered adaptive controller is developed by employing the event‐triggered control approach. Meanwhile, by the proposed adaptive control scheme, all the closed‐loop signals are globally uniformly bounded, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. Finally, simulation results are provided to testify the availability of the presented controller.
Continuous nonsingular terminal sliding mode control for nonlinear systems subject to mismatched terms
Authors: Zhang Lu , Yang Jun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper proposes a continuous nonsingular terminal sliding mode (NTSM) control approach for nonlinear systems subject to mismatched terms in order to achieve finite time exact tracking and disturbance rejection. The controller is constructed using a composite method that utilizes a power integrator and combines the output regulation theory, disturbance observation technique, feedback domination, and sliding mode control technique. The performance analysis demonstrates that the proposed continuous NTSM controller can drive the system output to the desired reference signal in a finite time in the presence of mismatched time‐varying disturbances and nonsmoothed nonlinearities in each channel. The finite time Lyapunov theory is utilized to ensure finite‐time convergence of the closed‐loop system. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed continuous NTSM controller.
Do stock investors in Mainland China care about corporate sustainability?
Authors: Tsang John K. M. , Kan Andy C. N. , Wong Karen H. Y. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCorporate sustainability is an important issue in many parts of the world today. Many studies have pointed out that it will have an impact on share price performance. This article investigates the corporate sustainability aspect of the listed companies in the Mainland China A‐shares market. Our objective is to fill the gap in the previous studies conducted on Western markets and the Mainland China market. The constituent stocks in the Hang Seng (China A) Corporate Sustainability Index (HSCASUS) and the corresponding control stocks in the same industry were taken out and examined. The results of our study indicated that there was no significant relation between the stock return and corporate sustainability for the Mainland China A‐shares market. This research contributes to the promotion of corporate sustainability and provides a reference for the same topic in other emerging countries.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (−) and (+)‐Spiroleucettadine and Analogues
Authors: Badart Michael P. , Barnes Emma M. , Cording Andrew P. , Gilmer Selena C. L. , Billinghurst Ian D. , Edupuganti Veera V. Shivaji R. , Lessene Guillaume , Bland Abigail R. , Bower Rebekah L. , Rana Zohaib , Ferguson Scott A. , Opel Reading Helen K. , Cook Gregory M. , Rosengren Rhonda J. , Krause Kurt L. , Gamble Allan B. , Ashton John C. , Hawkins Bill C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA second‐generation enantiospecific synthesis of spiroleucettadine is described. The original reported antibacterial activity was not observed when the experiment was repeated on the synthetic samples; however, significant anti‐proliferative activity was uncovered for both enantiomers of spiroleucettadine. Comparison of the optical rotational data and ORD‐CD spectra of both enantiomers and the reported spectrum from the natural source have not provided a definitive answer regarding the absolute stereochemistry of naturally occurring spiroleucettadine. Efforts then focussed on alteration at the C‐4 and C‐5 positions of the slightly more active (−)‐spiroleucettadine. Ten analogues were synthesised, with three analogues found to possess similar anti‐proliferative profiles to spiroleucettadine against the H522 lung cancer cell line.
N‐cadherin localization in taste buds of mouse circumvallate papillae
Authors: Ikuta Rio , Myoenzono Kanae , Wasano Jun , Hamaguchi‐Hamada Kayoko , Hamada Shun , Kurumata‐Shigeto Mami 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTaste buds, the receptor organs for taste, contain 50–100 taste bud cells. Although these cells undergo continuous turnover, the structural and functional integrity of taste buds is maintained. The molecular mechanisms by which synaptic connectivity between taste buds and afferent fibers is formed and maintained remain ambiguous. In the present study, we examined the localization of N‐cadherin in the taste buds of the mouse circumvallate papillae because N‐cadherin, one of the classical cadherins, is important for the formation and maintenance of synapses. At the light microscopic level, N‐cadherin was predominantly detected in type II cells and nerve fibers in the connective tissues in and around the vallate papillae. At the ultrastructural level, N‐cadherin immunoreactivity appears along the cell membrane and in the intracellular vesicles of type II cells. N‐cadherin immunoreactivity also is evident in the membranes of afferent terminals at the contact sites to N‐cadherin‐positive type II cells. At channel type synapses between type II cells and nerve fibers, N‐cadherin is present surrounding, but not within, the presumed neurotransmitter release zone, identified by large mitochondria apposed to the taste cells. The present results suggest that N‐cadherin is important for the formation or maintenance of type II cell afferent synapses in taste buds.
Divergent lineages in a semi‐arid mallee species, Eucalyptus behriana, correspond to a major geographic break in southeastern Australia
Authors: Fahey Patrick S. , Fowler Rachael M. , McLay Todd G. B. , Udovicic Frank , Cantrill David J. , Bayly Michael J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimTo infer relationships between populations of the semi‐arid, mallee eucalypt, Eucalyptus behriana, to build hypotheses regarding evolution of major disjunctions in the species' distribution and to expand understanding of the biogeographical history of southeastern Australia.LocationSoutheastern Australia.TaxonEucalyptus behriana (Myrtaceae, Angiospermae).MethodsWe developed a large dataset of anonymous genomic loci for 97 samples from 11 populations of E. behriana using double digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq), to determine genetic relationships between the populations. These relationships, along with species distribution models, were used to construct hypotheses regarding environmental processes that have driven fragmentation of the species’ distribution.ResultsGreatest genetic divergence was between populations on either side of the Lower Murray Basin. Populations west of the Basin showed greater genetic divergence between one another than the eastern populations. The most genetically distinct population in the east (Long Forest) was separated from others by the Great Dividing Range. A close relationship was found between the outlying northernmost population (near West Wyalong) and those in the Victorian Goldfields despite a large disjunction between them.ConclusionsPatterns of genetic variation are consistent with a history of vicariant differentiation of disjunct populations. We infer that an early disjunction to develop in the species distribution was that across the Lower Murray Basin, an important biogeographical barrier separating many dry sclerophyll plant taxa in southeastern Australia. Additionally, our results suggest that the western populations fragmented earlier than the eastern ones. Fragmentation, both west and east of the Murray Basin, is likely tied to climatic changes associated with glacial‐interglacial cycles although it remains possible that major geological events including uplift of the Mount Lofty Ranges and basalt flows in the Newer Volcanics Province also played a role.
Development of Quantitative Ion Character–Activity Relationship Models to Address the Lack of Toxicological Data for Technology-Critical Elements
Authors: Le Faucheur Séverine , Mertens Jelle , Van Genderen Eric , Boullemant Amiel , Fortin Claude , Campbell Peter G.C. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Recent industrial developments have resulted in an increase in the use of so-called technology-critical elements (TCEs), for which the potential impacts on aquatic biota remain to be evaluated. In the present study, quantitative ion character–activity relationships (QICARs) have been developed to relate intrinsic metal properties to their toxicity toward freshwater aquatic organisms. In total, 23 metal properties were tested as predictors of acute median effect concentration (EC50) values for 12 data-rich metals, for algae, daphnids, and fish (with and without species distinction). Simple and multiple linear regressions were developed using the toxicological data expressed as a function of the total dissolved metal concentrations. The best regressions were then tested by comparing the predicted EC50 values for the TCEs (germanium, indium, gold, and rhenium) and platinum group elements (iridium, platinum, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium) with the few measured values that are available. The 8 “best” QICAR models (adjusted r2 &gt; 0.6) used the covalent index as the predictor. For a given metal ion, this composite parameter is a measure of the importance of covalent interactions relative to ionic interactions. Toxicity was reasonably well predicted for most of the TCEs, with values falling within the 95% prediction intervals for the regressions of the measured versus predicted EC50 values. Exceptions included Au(I) (all test organisms), Au(III) (algae and fish), Pt(II) (algae, daphnids), Ru(III) (daphnids), and Rh(III) (daphnids, fish). We conclude that QICARs show potential as a screening tool to review toxicity data and flag “outliers,” which might need further scrutiny, and as an interpolating or extrapolating tool to predict TCE toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1139–1148. © 2020 SETAC
Effect of Body Size on Methylmercury Concentrations in Shoreline Spiders: Implications for Their Use as Sentinels
Authors: Hannappel Madeline P. , Chumchal Matthew M. , Drenner Ray W. , Kennedy James H. , Barst Benjamin D. , Castellini J. Margaret , Nolan Audrey R. , Willoughby F. Manton , Trauffler Lexton P. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Shoreline spiders have been proposed as sentinels to monitor aquatic contaminants including methylmercury (MeHg). The present study examined the effect of spider body size on MeHg concentrations in shoreline spiders. We collected 6 taxa of spiders belonging to 4 families (orb-weavers [Araneidae], long-jawed orb weavers [Tetragnathidae: Tetragnatha sp.], jumping spiders [Salticidae], and wolf spiders [Lycosidae: Pardosa sp., Rabidosa sp., and Schizocosa sp.]) from the shorelines of 14 human-made ponds at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands in north Texas (USA). As a proxy for body size, we measured leg length (tibia + patella) of each spider. Spider taxa differed by 3-fold in mean MeHg concentration, and MeHg concentrations in 4 of 6 spider taxa increased significantly with leg length. The present study is the first to demonstrate that shoreline spider MeHg concentrations increase as a function of spider body size. Because spider size may account for some within-taxa variation in MeHg concentrations, future studies that utilize spiders as sentinels of aquatic contamination by MeHg or other biomagnifying contaminants should take spider size into account. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1149–1154. © 2020 SETAC.
Abstract
In the present study, we demonstrate that concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) increase as a function of spider body size.
The best of both worlds? The economic effects of a hybrid fee‐for‐service and prospective payment reimbursement system
Authors: Fu Rong , Shen Yichen , Noguchi Haruko 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCountries seeking to move away from a purely fee‐for‐service (FFS) system may consider a hybrid approach whereby only some procedures are paid by FFS while others are paid prospectively. Yet little evidence exists whether such a hybrid payment system contains overall costs without adverse influences on health outcomes. In 2003, Japan experienced a reform from FFS to a hybrid payment system in which only some inpatient procedures were paid prospectively. We exploit this reform to test how such a hybrid system affects overall costs and health outcomes. Briefly, we find that healthcare providers responded opportunistically to the reform, moving some procedures out of the bundled inpatient setting to FFS services, leading to no reduction in cost. There was some evidence of a moderate deterioration in health outcomes, in terms of a decline in the probability of symptoms being cured at discharge. In sum, our results suggest that in some cases, a hybrid payment system can be non‐superior to either FFS or prospective payment system.
Complications of intracerebroventricular chemotherapy via subgaleal reservoir in primary central nervous system lymphoma: A single‐institution experience on 1247 installations in 94 consecutive patients
Authors: Anton Seena , Margold Michelle , Kowalski Thomas , Miller Dorothea , Schmieder Kirsten , Schlegel Uwe , Seidel Sabine 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe implantation of a subgaleal reservoir intracerebroventricular (ICV port) in order to apply ICV chemotherapy in patients with leptomeningeal cancer may be complicated by misplacement of the device, pericatheter leucencephalopathy, hemorrhage and iatrogenic ventriculitis/meningitis. Here we analyzed the occurrence of such complications in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) treated with systemic and ICV methotrexate‐ and cytarabine‐based chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 94 consecutive patients (1247 installations), who had received an ICV port for intraventricular chemotherapy for treatment of histologically confirmed PCNSL at our institution between September 2005 and October 2018. Infectious and noninfectious complications were systematically recorded including clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. In 9/94 patients (9.6%), a misplacement of the ICV port seen on the postoperative computed tomography scan was corrected immediately and chemotherapy was then continued as planned. In 5/94 patients (5.3%), symptomatic noninfectious complications were observed (four patients with symptomatic pericatheter leucencephalopathy and one patient with surgical scar dehiscence with CSF leak). In 8/94 patients (8.5%), asymptomatic white matter lesions around the catheter were visible on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging after completion of therapy. The rate of infectious complications was 6/94 patients (6.4%). No complication was lethal or required intensive care monitoring. This retrospective study shows that complications of ICV treatment have to be expected in a fraction of patients, however, in this series these complications were manageable and did not result in long‐term deficits.
Thionation of the 2‐λ5‐Phosphaquinolin‐2‐one Scaffold with Lawesson's Reagent
Authors: Bard Jeremy P. , McNeill J. Nolan , Warren Gabrielle I. , Zakharov Lev N. , Johnson Darren W. , Haley Michael M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLawesson's reagent is one of the most common thionating reagents that has found use for several decades on a variety of carbonyl systems. Herein, we report the transformation of the 2‐λ5‐phosphaquinolin‐2‐one structure to its respective 2‐λ5‐phosphaquinolin‐2‐thione derivative. Solution‐state characterization of both P−OPh and P−Ph thio analogues, as well as solid‐state structures for the latter system, are reported.
Time‐varying roles of housing risk factors in state‐level housing markets
Authors: Huang MeiChi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper addresses housing asset pricing and highlights time‐varying exposures of state‐level housing risk premiums to five varieties of housing risk factors. The economic, demographic, liquidity and credit risk factors along with a market risk factor are included in the augmented factor‐based framework, Bayesian Model Averaging with Stochastic Break Betas and Stochastic Break Volatility (BMA‐SBB‐SBV). Time‐varying sensitivities of state‐level housing price returns are universally evident for all the five housing risk factors considered. State‐level housing markets with high bubble‐vulnerability display different exposures to systematic and liquidity risks from those regarded as less‐vulnerable to housing bubbles. The trivial abnormal returns, high probabilities of risk factor inclusion and low probabilities of breaks in responses to housing risk factors jointly provide evidence that the augmented factor‐based model is capable of characterizing state‐level housing returns.