bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical, mechanical, and antibacterial characteristics of bio‐nanocomposite films loaded with Ag‐modified SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Hajizadeh Hamed , Peighambardoust Seyed Jamaleddin , Peighambardoust Seyed Hadi , Peressini Donatella 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this study, starch‐based films incorporating metal oxide (MO2) nanoparticles (NPs) of TiO2 and SiO2 (at a concentration of 1 to 4 wt. %) were produced by solution casting method. In order to exhibit antimicrobial properties, MO2 NPs were modified by synthesizing silver (Ag) ions over the NPs using cationic adsorption method. Ag ions were then reduced to metallic Ag by sodium borohydride solution. Scanning electron microscopy showed a smooth surface for the pure starch film. Incorporating MO2@Ag NPs in the films increased surface roughness with agglomerated NPs within starch matrix. Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis exhibited a uniform dispersion of Ag‐loaded MO2 NPs, which increases surface contact between these NPs and the biopolymer matrix leading to improved physical and mechanical properties of the resulting films. With increasing in the NPs concentrations, the tensile strength and elongation at break % of the films increased and decreased, respectively. Incorporating MO2@Ag NPs into starch matrix decreased solubility in water and water vapor permeability of the obtained films, and significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The most antibacterial effect was obtained for the films containing higher weight concentrations of Ag‐loaded SiO2‐NPs.
Ionic liquid‐modified countercurrent chromatographic isolation of high‐purity delphinidin‐3‐rutinoside from eggplant peel
Authors: Fan Chen , Li Nai , Cao Xueli , Wen Lijiao 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDelphinidin‐3‐rutinoside, a high‐value of anthocyanin, was isolated and purified by ionic liquid (IL)‐modified countercurrent chromatography (CCC) from waste peel of eggplant (Solanum melongena), one of the most common vegetables consumed all around the world. Different conventional CCC and IL‐CCC solvent systems were evaluated in respect of partition coefficient (K), separation factor (α), and stationary phase retention factor (Sf) to separate polar target and other components. Basic solvent system, kind of ILs, and amount of ILs were systematically optimized by totally K‐targeted strategy, which drastically reduced the experimental effort. Finally, a novel CCC two‐phase solvent system (methyl tert‐butyl ether–butanol–acetonitrile–1% trifluoroacetic acid water–1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4MIM][PF6]) [2:4:1:5:0.2; v/v/v/v/v]) was successfully established and applied. The baseline separation of target fraction was obtained in one cycle process. The purity of delphinidin‐3‐rutinoside was over 99%. Moreover, the distribution behavior of different kinds of ILs in biphasic solvent system and the removal method of ILs were explored. The results showed that hydrophobic IL significantly improved the partition of polar anthocyanin in organic solvent system, thereby the separation resolution and stationary phase retention through introducing intermolecular forces. This IL‐modified CCC strategy may be applied for the separation of other anthocyanins from variety of natural food resources and waste.
The Novel Coronavirus – A Snapshot of Current Knowledge
Authors: Brüssow Harald 
Published: March 2020

SummaryAnother animal to human transmission of a coronavirus occurred in December 2019 on a live animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan causing an epidemic in China, reaching now different continents. This minireview summarizes the research literature on the virological, clinical and epidemiological aspects of this epidemic published until end of February 2020.
The Case for Regional Cooperation in Trade and Investment Finance for Asia
Authors: Chatterjee Arup , Goswami Arjun , Hugot Jules , Vital Marianne 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis article reviews the evolution of the role of export credit agencies (ECAs) and their impact on trade and investment. We argue that regional cooperation in Asia would foster regulation and facilitate access to trade and investment finance. Regional cooperation could take the form of regulation aiming at levelling the playing field; or it could go further, with the creation of a multilateral agency that would leverage the industry’s best practices and a good credit standing to facilitate access to trade and investment finance across Asia, particularly in the countries where availability is limited. We review the lessons learnt from existing multilateral ECAs and national ECAs in Asia and argue that these should be carefully considered when designing a new regional ECA.
Trade Liberalization and Fiscal Stability in Developing Countries: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?
Authors: Dutt Devika , Gallagher Kevin P. , Thrasher Rachel D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper evaluates the evidence as regards the extent to which trade liberalization has led to a decline in tariff revenue, total tax revenue, government expenditure, and government debt. Conventional theory generally predicts that when tariff losses do occur, they may be recouped through better forms of taxation – though a more sophisticated body of theory suggests otherwise. The empirical evidence is also mixed. Theory driven ex‐ante models of trade liberalization assume that trade agreements are revenue neutral. Ex‐post studies suggest that theory may hold in advanced and upper middle‐income economies. However, the consequences for lower income countries are a matter for concern. The majority of the evidence finds that low income countries lose trade tax revenue and are unable to recoup much of that lost revenue. At a time when fresh bilateral trade and investment treaties are being negotiated and WTO reform is on the global policy agenda, this paper highlights the need to design a treaty regime that enhances the ability of poorer nations to mobilize domestic resources without jeopardizing fiscal and financial stability.
Distribution and density of oxpeckers on giraffes in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Authors: Gagnon Roxanne , Mabika Cheryl T. , Bonenfant Christophe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOxpeckers (Buphagus sp.) are two bird species closely associated to large mammals, including giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis). We tested whether oxpeckers distributed themselves at random across individuals or aggregated on individual giraffes, and whether birds select the host's body parts with the expected greatest amount of ticks. By counting oxpeckers on giraffe's body from photographs, we quantified the distribution of birds per hosts and over predefined zones on the giraffe body. Oxpeckers displayed a strong aggregation behaviour with few hosts carrying many birds while many carried a limited number or no bird, a pattern that was most exaggerated for males. Oxpeckers were disproportionately found on the mane and back, where the density of ticks is presumably the highest. This high aggregation level of birds is typical of parasitic species and could suggest that oxpecker distribution may mirror the distribution of ticks, their primary food resource, on giraffes. Abundance of ticks appears as a major driver of the oxpecker foraging behaviour, and the oxpecker–large herbivores system proves to be highly relevant for the study of host–parasite dynamics.
Mitochondrial oxygen affinity increases after sprint interval training and is related to the improvement in peak oxygen uptake
Authors: Larsen Filip J. , Schiffer Tomas A. , Zinner Christoph , Willis Sarah J. , Morales‐Alamo David , Calbet Jose A.L. , Boushel Robert , Holmberg Hans‐Christer 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimsThe body responds to exercise training by profound adaptations throughout the cardiorespiratory and muscular systems, which may result in improvements in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and mitochondrial capacity. By convenience, mitochondrial respiration is often measured at supra‐physiological oxygen levels, an approach that ignores any potential regulatory role of mitochondrial affinity for oxygen (p50mito) at physiological oxygen levels.MethodsIn this study, we examined the p50mito of mitochondria isolated from the Vastus lateralis and Triceps brachii in 12 healthy volunteers before and after a training intervention with seven sessions of sprint interval training using both leg cycling and arm cranking. The changes in p50mito were compared to changes in whole‐body VO2peak.ResultsWe here show that p50mito is similar in isolated mitochondria from the Vastus (40 ± 3.8 Pa) compared to Triceps (39 ± 3.3) but decreases (mitochondrial oxygen affinity increases) after seven sessions of sprint interval training (to 26 ± 2.2 Pa in Vastus and 22 ± 2.7 Pa in Triceps, both P < .01). The change in VO2peak modelled from changes in p50mito was correlated to actual measured changes in VO2peak (R2 = .41, P = .002).ConclusionTogether with mitochondrial respiratory capacity, p50mito is a critical factor when measuring mitochondrial function, it can decrease with sprint interval training and should be considered in the integrative analysis of the oxygen cascade from lung to mitochondria.
Is it Getting Better or Worse? Health‐Oriented Leadership and Psychological Capital as Resources for Sustained Health in Newcomers
Authors: Arnold Miriam , Rigotti Thomas 
Published: March 2020

During the transition from university to work, young adults face a stressful period in which leadership behavior serves as a guideline. Positive leadership behavior has the potential to increase internal resources, such as positive psychological capital (PsyCap). The research question addressed in this paper is if health‐oriented leadership and PsyCap as resources jointly influence the physical and mental health of novice teachers during the transition to work. In a longitudinal study, 776 novice teachers responded to three questionnaires with a time lag of 10 weeks during the first 5 months of their occupational experience. Results of a latent class growth analysis show that three trajectories of physical health and four trajectories of mental health can be distinguished. Health‐oriented leadership and PsyCap predict class membership separately, and the relationship between health‐oriented leadership and class membership is mediated by PsyCap. This implies that training supervisors in health‐oriented leadership can help novice teachers cope with stressors during their teacher training. Applying latent class growth models in this line of research is novel and adds to the understanding of internal and external resources in the process of adaptation to major life events, such as the transition from university to work.
Hunting needles in a haystack: Migrating precursors of epidermal sensory neurons in amphioxus found with serial blockface scanning electron microscopy (SBSEM)
Authors: Holland Nicholas D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMigrating precursors of epidermal sensory neurons are a relatively rare cell type in developing amphioxus. Serial blockface scanning electron microscopy (SBSEM) was used here to locate these cells and reconstruct them in three dimensions in the context of the surrounding tissues. The reconstructions showed that, in contrast to some earlier reports, these cells are not located in an appreciable subepidermal space while they are crawling dorsally up the flank of the animal. Instead, they migrate while tightly sandwiched between overlying epidermal cells and the underlying basal lamina. The cytoplasmic region at the leading edge of the crawling cell has some characteristics of a large podosome, an F‐actin‐rich organelle with prominent roles in adhesion, matrix degradation and cell migration. The discussion includes a comparison of the precursors of epidermal sensory cells of amphioxus with migrating neurogenic cells from vertebrate placodes.
Potential strategy for assessing QT/QTc interval for drugs that produce rapid changes in heart rate: Electrocardiographic assessment of the effects of intravenous remimazolam on cardiac repolarization
Authors: Kleiman Robert B. , Darpo Borje , Thorn Michael , Stoehr Thomas , Schippers Frank 
Published: March 2020

AimsRemimazolam is a new, ultra‐short‐acting benzodiazepine developed for intravenous (IV) use during procedural sedation and in general anaesthesia. Two trials were conducted to characterize its effects on cardiac repolarization.MethodsA thorough QT/QTc (TQT) study assessed electrocardiography effects of therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of remimazolam and midazolam. To investigate whether RR‐QT hysteresis effects due to rapid heart rate changes might have confounded the QTc assessments in the TQT trial, a second trial used continuous IV remimazolam infusion to achieve stable heart rates during periods of stable remimazolam plasma concentration.ResultsDuring the TQT, both compounds produced a 10–20‐beats/min increase in heart rate within 30 seconds, persisting for 5–10 minutes. Within 30 seconds, the upper bound of the 2‐sided 90% confidence interval for the placebo‐corrected change from baseline for QTcI (ΔΔQTcI) exceeded 10 ms for both doses of remimazolam (ΔΔQTcI 7.2 [3.2, 11.2] ms for the 10 mg dose and 10.4 [6.5, 14.3] ms for the 20 mg dose) as well as for the 7.5‐mg dose of midazolam (8.2 [4.4, 12.1] ms). At 2 minutes after IV bolus, the upper bound of the 2‐sided 90% confidence interval for ΔΔQTcI exceeded 10 ms only for the remimazolam 20‐mg dose (6.3 [2.3, 10.2] ms). During the second study, during periods of stable heart rate, remimazolam had no clinically significant effect on QTc (peak ΔΔQTcI 3.4 [−1.1, 7.6] ms).ConclusionRemimazolam does not prolong cardiac repolarization (QTc). The methods reported here may allow assessment of the QTc effects of other drugs given by IV bolus.
Dynamic inference in general nested case‐control designs
Authors: Feifel J. , Dobler D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNested case‐control designs are attractive in studies with a time‐to‐event endpoint if the outcome is rare or if interest lies in evaluating expensive covariates. The appeal is that these designs restrict to small subsets of all patients at risk just prior to the observed event times. Only these small subsets need to be evaluated. Typically, the controls are selected at random and methods for time‐simultaneous inference have been proposed in the literature. However, the martingale structure behind nested case‐control designs allows for more powerful and flexible non‐standard sampling designs. We exploit that structure to find simultaneous confidence bands based on wild bootstrap resampling procedures within this general class of designs. We show in a simulation study that the intended coverage probability is obtained for confidence bands for cumulative baseline hazard functions. We apply our methods to observational data about hospital‐acquired infections.
MiR‐1253 exerts tumor‐suppressive effects in medulloblastoma via inhibition of CDK6 and CD276 (B7‐H3)
Authors: Kanchan Ranjana K. , Perumal Naveenkumar , Atri Pranita , Chirravuri Venkata Ramakanth , Thapa Ishwor , Klinkebiel David L. , Donson Andrew M. , Perry Deborah , Punsoni Michael , Talmon Geoffrey A. , Coulter Donald W. , Boue’ Daniel R. , Snuderl Matija , Nasser Mohd. W. , Batra Surinder K. , Vibhakar Rajeev , Mahapatra Sidharth 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOf the four primary subgroups of medulloblastoma, the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality, i17q, distinguishes Groups 3 and 4 which carry the highest mortality; haploinsufficiency of 17p13.3 is a marker for particularly poor prognosis. At the terminal end of this locus lies miR‐1253, a brain‐enriched microRNA that regulates bone morphogenic proteins during cerebellar development. We hypothesized miR‐1253 confers novel tumor‐suppressive properties in medulloblastoma. Using two different cohorts of medulloblastoma samples, we first studied the expression and methylation profiles of miR‐1253. We then explored the anti‐tumorigenic properties of miR‐1253, in parallel with a biochemical analysis of apoptosis and proliferation, and isolated oncogenic targets using high‐throughput screening. Deregulation of miR‐1253 expression was noted, both in medulloblastoma clinical samples and cell lines, by epigenetic silencing via hypermethylation; specific de‐methylation of miR‐1253 not only resulted in rapid recovery of expression but also a sharp decline in tumor cell proliferation and target gene expression. Expression restoration also led to a reduction in tumor cell virulence, concomitant with activation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle arrest and reduction of markers of proliferation. We identified two oncogenic targets of miR‐1253, CDK6 and CD276, whose silencing replicated the negative trophic effects of miR‐1253. These data reveal novel tumor‐suppressive properties for miR‐1253, i.e., (i) loss of expression via epigenetic silencing; (ii) negative trophic effects on tumor aggressiveness; and (iii) downregulation of oncogenic targets.
Sequential bilateral implantation in older children: Inter‐implant map differences and their effects on functional outcomes
Authors: Simões‐Franklin Cristina , Flood Isobel , Sechler Stephen , Lopez‐Valdes Alejandro , Waechter Saskia M. , Thapa Jyoti , Glynn Fergal , Walshe Peter , Reilly Richard B. , Viani Laura 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectivesIt is well established that sequential bilateral implantation offers functional benefits in speech in noise and sound localisation, although it can be challenging to get long‐term unilateral users to adapt to the second implant. The aim of this study was to investigate programming differences between the two cochlear implants that can impact on performance outcomes.DesignCohort Study.ParticipantsSixteen older children who received sequential implants in Ireland and with at least one‐year experience with their sequential implant were included in this study. Children were categorised into two groups according to the time interval between the two implants: short if the time between the two implants was less than eight years and long if more than eight years.Main Outcome MeasuresDynamic ranges and current levels were compared for both implants. Functional outcome measures included sentence discrimination in quiet and in noise and sound localisation.ResultsResults show that for the children with long inter‐implant delays, the dynamic range of their second implant was on average 34% less than the dynamic range of their first implant. This difference was driven by smaller comfort levels in the second implant compared to the first. Children with longer inter‐implant delays also show lower speech discrimination scores with their second implant compared to children with shorter delays, in addition to no bilateral advantage in speech in noise, that is their performance in unilateral mode does not differ from the performance in bilateral mode. Finally, children with longer delays demonstrate poor performance in sound localisation compared to the children with shorter delays.ConclusionSequentially implanted older children show limited functional benefits from the second implant. The observed functional benefits are determined both by a short inter‐implant delay and by having balanced dynamic ranges between the two implants.
Ex situ management as insurance against extinction of mammalian megafauna in an uncertain world
Authors: Farhadinia Mohammad S. , Johnson Paul J. , Zimmermann Alexandra , McGowan Philip J.K. , Meijaard Erik , Stanley‐Price Mark , Macdonald David W. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe persistence of endangered species may depend on the fate of a very small number of individual animals. In situ conservation alone may sometimes be insufficient. In these instances, the International Union for Conservation of Nature provides guidelines for ex situ conservation and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) indicates how ex situ management can support the CBD's objectives by providing insurance policies for species. The circumstances that justify its use are uncertain. To evaluate the current in situ extinction risk and ex situ management of 43 critically endangered species of mammalian megafauna, we used nonmetric multidimensional scaling and geopolitical variables related to governance, economics, and national policy within their extant ranges. We then fitted generalized additive models to assess the contribution of each variable to the ordination. Fifteen (almost one‐third) of the world's terrestrial mammalian megafauna are not the subject of any ex situ management. Seventy‐three percent of these taxa occur in areas characterized by political uncertainty, such as border zones or areas affected by armed conflicts, mainly in Africa and the Middle East. A further 23% of taxa in ex situ programs do not meet sustainability criteria for inbreeding avoidance. Strategic conservation planning, such as the One Plan approach, may improve ex situ management for these taxa. Given the escalating trend in threats afflicting megafauna, ex situ management should be considered more rigorously, particularly in politically unstable regions, to achieve CBD Target 12 (prevent extinction of threatened species).
Using deep‐belief networks to understand propensity for livelihood change in a rural coastal community to further conservation
Authors: Labao Alfonso B. , Naval Prospero C. , Yap David Leonides T. , Yap Helen T. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOverharvesting of terrestrial and marine resources may be alleviated by encouraging an alternative configuration of livelihoods, particularly in rural communities in developing countries. Typical occupations in such areas include fishing and farming, and rural households often switch livelihood activities to suit climate and economic conditions. We used a machine‐learning tool, deep‐belief networks (DBN), and data from surveys of a rural Philippine coastal community to examine household desire to change livelihood. This desire is affected by a variety of factors, such as income, family needs, and feelings of work satisfaction, that are interrelated in complex ways. In farming households, livelihood changes often occur to diversify resources, increase income, and lessen economic risk. The DBN, given its multilayer perceptron structure, has a capacity to model nonlinear relationships among factors while providing an acceptable degree of accuracy. Relative to a set of 34 features (e.g., education, boat ownership, and work satisfaction), we examined the binary response variables desire to change work or not to change work. The best network had a test set accuracy of 97.5%. Among the features, 7 significantly affected desire to shift work: ethnicity, work satisfaction, number of persons in a household in ill health, number of fighting cocks owned, fishing engagement, buy‐and‐sell revenue, and educational level. A cross‐correlation matrix of these 7 features indicated households less inclined to change work were those engaged in fishing and retail buying and selling. For fishing, provision of economic and other incentives should be considered to encourage changing from this occupation to allow recovery of fishery resources.