bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti‐inflammatory and immune‐modulatory impacts of berberine on activation of autoreactive T cells in autoimmune inflammation
Authors: Ehteshamfar Seyed‐Morteza , Akhbari Masoume , Afshari Jalil Tavakol , Seyedi Motahareh , Nikfar Banafsheh , Shapouri‐Moghaddam Abbas , Ghanbarzadeh Erfan , Momtazi‐Borojeni Amir Abbas 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAutoreactive inflammatory CD4+ T cells, such as T helper (Th)1 and Th17 subtypes, have been found to associate with the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. On the other hand, CD4+ Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells are crucial for the immune tolerance and have a critical role in the suppression of the excessive immune and inflammatory response promoted by these Th cells. In contrast, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are immune cells that through their inflammatory functions promote autoreactive T‐cell responses in autoimmune conditions. In recent years, there has been increasing attention to exploring effective immunomodulatory or anti‐inflammatory agents from the herbal collection of traditional medicine. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, is one of the main active ingredients extracted from medicinal herbs and has been shown to exert various biological and pharmacological effects that are suggested to be mainly attributed to its anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Several lines of experimental study have recently investigated the therapeutic potential of berberine for treating autoimmune conditions in animal models of human autoimmune diseases. Here, we aimed to seek mechanisms underlying immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory effects of berberine on autoreactive inflammatory responses in autoimmune conditions. Reported data reveal that berberine can directly suppress functions and differentiation of pro‐inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells, and indirectly decrease Th cell‐mediated inflammation through modulating or suppressing other cells assisting autoreactive inflammation, such as Tregs, DCs and macrophages.
MiR‐503 suppresses fibroblast activation and myofibroblast differentiation by targeting VEGFA and FGFR1 in silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Wu Qiuyun , Han Lei , Gui Wenwen , Wang Feng , Yan Weiwen , Jiang Hua 
Published: November 2020

AbstractInhalation and deposition of crystalline silica particles in the lung can cause pulmonary fibrosis, then leading to silicosis. Given the paucity of effective drugs for silicosis, new insights for understanding the mechanisms of silicosis, including lung fibroblast activation and myofibroblast differentiation, are essential to explore therapeutic strategies. Our previous research showed that the up‐regulation of miR‐503 alleviated silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. In this study, we investigated whether miR‐503 can regulate the TGF‐β1‐induced effects in lung fibroblasts. Mimic‐based strategies aiming at up‐regulating miR‐503 were used to discuss the function of miR‐503 in vivo and in vitro. We found that the expression level of miR‐503 was decreased in fibroblasts stimulated by TGF‐β1, and the up‐regulation of miR‐503 reduced the release of fibrotic factors and inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of fibroblasts. Combined with the up‐regulation of miR‐503 in a mouse model of silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis, we revealed that miR‐503 mitigated the TGF‐β1‐induced effects in fibroblasts by regulating VEGFA and FGFR1 and then affecting the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway. In conclusion, miR‐503 exerted protective roles in silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis and may represent a novel and potent candidate for therapeutic strategies in silicosis.
Prediction of Meningioma WHO Grade Using PET Findings: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Slot K. Mariam , Verbaan Dagmar , Buis Dennis R. , Schoonmade Linda J. , Berckel Bart N. M. , Vandertop W. Peter 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and PurposeWorld Health Organization (WHO) grading of meningiomas reflects recurrence rate and prognosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) investigates metabolic activity, allowing for distinction between low‐ and high‐grade tumors. As preoperative suspicion for malignant meningioma will influence surgical strategy in terms of timing, extent of resection, and risks taken to achieve a total resection, we systematically reviewed the literature on PET‐imaging in meningiomas and relate these findings to histopathological analysis.MethodsSearches in PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library, from inception to September 2019, included studies of patients who had undergone surgery for a histologically verified intracranial meningioma, with a PET‐scan prior to surgery and description of (semi)quantitative PET values for meningiomas from two different WHO groups. Studies comparing more than 1 patient per WHO group were included in the meta‐analysis.ResultsTwenty‐two studies (432 patients) were included. 18fluor‐fluorodesoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) PET was mostly described to differentiate benign from malignant meningiomas. Pooled data showed differences in mean (95% CI) Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) for WHO II/III compared to WHO I of 2.51 (1.36, 3.66), and in tumor‐to‐normal (T/N) ratio (T/N ratio) for WHO II/III versus WHO I of .42 (.12, .73).ConclusionsWe found that SUV and T/N ratio in 18F‐FDG PET may be useful to noninvasively differentiate benign from malignant meningiomas. T/N ratio seems to have a high specificity for the detection of high‐grade meningiomas. Other PET tracers were studied too infrequently to draw definitive conclusions. Before treatment strategies can be adapted based on 18F‐FDG PET, prospective studies in larger cohorts are warranted to validate the optimal T/N ratio cutoff point.
Cost–benefit analysis of age‐specific deconfinement strategies
Authors: Gollier Christian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractI calibrate a Multiple‐Risk Susceptible–Infected–Recovered model on the covid pandemic to analyze the impact of the age‐specific confinement and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing policies on incomes and mortality. Two polar strategies emerge as potentially optimal. The suppression policy would crush the curve by confining 90% of the population for 4 months to eradicate the virus. The flatten‐the‐curve policy would reduce the confinement to 30% of the population for 5 months, followed by almost 1 year of free circulation of the virus to attain herd immunity without overwhelming hospitals. Both strategies yield a total cost of around 15% of annual gross domestic product (GDP) when combining the economic cost of confinement with the value of lives lost. I show that hesitating between the two strategies can have a huge societal cost, in particular if the suppression policy is stopped too early. Because seniors are much more vulnerable, a simple recommendation emerges to shelter them as one deconfines young and middle‐aged people to build our collective herd immunity. By doing so, one reduces the death toll of the pandemic together with the economic cost of the confinement, and the total cost is divided by a factor 2. I also show that expanding the mass testing capacity to screen people sent back to work has a large benefit under various scenarios. This analysis is highly dependent upon deeply uncertain epidemiologic, sociological, economic, and ethical parameters.
Advancing oral health policy through persuasive messaging and effective research measures
Authors: Burgette Jacqueline M. , Vujicic Marko , Booth Meg , Meltzer David , Best Thomas J. , Neill James , Conicella Mary Lee , Joskow Renée W. , Chalmers Natalia I. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractOral health is often excluded from broad health policy discussions, addressed only in a policy silo. There is a paucity of research to guide policymaking as it relates to oral health. In response, AcademyHealth's Oral Health Interest Group organized a meeting during the 2019 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting to promote transdisciplinary dialog on the current state of oral health policy and the steps necessary to improve the oral health of Americans. This article summarizes the two main themes that emerged from the proceedings of the Oral Health Interest Group meeting: a) recommendations for advocating the inclusion of oral health in policy discussions and b) critical research topics and measures needed for effective oral health policies in the future.
Dietary sour lemon (Citrus limon) peel essential oil supplementation for reduction of deltamethrin‐induced stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Amiri Resketi Maryam , Yeganeh Sakineh , Jani Khalili Khosro 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary effects of using essential oil from sour lemon peel (Citrus limon) on growth performance, carcass composition, blood and serum parameters, and liver enzymes of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to deltamethrin (DMN) pesticide. Treatments with no lemon peel essential oil (LPEO) and without DMN (control), as well as four treatments with 10% of 96‐h lethal concentration of DMN were prepared with dietary supplementation of LPEO (zero, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg). Trout juveniles (95.12 ± 0.53 g) were randomly allocated to the treatments (each with three replicates). The results showed that dietary LPEO inclusion improved fish growth parameters in the DMN‐containing treatments. The highest fat content was found in zero LPEO treatment with no DMN while it was lowest in DMN treatments containing 400 and 600 mg/kg of LPEO. Carcass protein content was the highest in DMN treatment with 400 mg/kg of LPEO. Blood and serum biochemical parameters showed statistical differences between no LPEO treatment with DMN exposure and those detected in the control fish (p < .05). Overall, the results indicate that dietary inclusion of LPEO at 400 mg/kg level can decrease some negative effects of DMN exposure.
Whole genome resequencing reveals genomic regions associated with thermal adaptation in redband trout
Authors: Chen Zhongqi , Narum Shawn R. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAdaptation to local environments involves evolution of ecologically important traits and underlying physiological processes. Here, we used low coverage whole‐genome resequencing (lcWGR) on individuals to identify genome regions involved in thermal adaptation in wild redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, a subspecies of rainbow trout that inhabits ecosystems ranging from cold montane forests to high elevation deserts. This study includes allele frequency‐based analyses for selective sweeps among populations, followed by multiple association tests for specific sets of phenotypes measured under thermal stress (acute and chronic survival/mortality; high or low cardiac performance groups). Depending on the groups in each set of analyses, sequencing reads covered 43%–75% of the genome at ≥15× and each analysis included millions of SNPs across the genome. In tests for selective sweeps among populations, a total of six chromosomal regions were significant. The further association tests for specific phenotypes revealed that the region on chromosome 4 was consistently the most significant and contains the cerk gene (ceramide kinase). This study provides insight into a potential genetic mechanism of local thermal adaptation and suggests cerk may be an important candidate gene. However, further validation of this cerk gene is necessary to determine if the association with cardiac performance results in a functional role to influence thermal performance when exposed to high water temperatures and hypoxic conditions.
The interplay of colour and bioacoustic traits in the differentiation of a Southeast Asian songbird complex
Authors: Gwee Chyi Yin , Lee Qiao Le , Mahood Simon P. , Hung Le Manh  , Tizard Robert , Eiamampai Krairat , Round Philip D. , Rheindt Frank E. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMorphological traits have served generations of biologists as a taxonomic indicator, and have been the main basis for defining and classifying species diversity for centuries. A quantitative integration of behavioural characters, such as vocalizations, in studies on biotic differentiation has arisen more recently, and the relative importance of these different traits in the diversification process remains poorly understood. To provide a framework within which to interpret the evolutionary interplay between morphological and behavioural traits, we generated a draft genome of a cryptic Southeast Asian songbird, the limestone wren‐babblerNapothera crispifrons. We resequenced whole genomes of multiple individuals of all three traditional subspecies and of a distinct leucistic population. We demonstrate strong genomic and mitochondrial divergence among all three taxa, pointing to the existence of three species‐level lineages. Despite its great phenotypic distinctness, the leucistic population was characterized by shallow genomic differentiation from its neighbour, with only a few localized regions emerging as highly diverged. Quantitative bioacoustic analysis across multiple traits revealed deep differences especially between the two taxa characterized by limited plumage differentiation. Our study demonstrates that differentiation in these furtive songbirds has resulted in a complex mosaic of colour‐based and bioacoustic differences among populations. Extreme colour differences can be anchored in few genomic loci and may therefore arise and subside rapidly.
Mesophyll conductance: walls, membranes and spatial complexity
Authors: Evans John R. 
Published: November 2020

SummaryA significant resistance to CO2 diffusion is imposed by mesophyll tissue inside leaves. Mesophyll resistance, rm (or its reciprocal, mesophyll conductance, gm), reduces the rate at which Rubisco can fix CO2, increasing the water and nitrogen costs of carbon acquisition. gm varies in proportion to the surface area of chloroplasts exposed to intercellular airspace per unit leaf area. It also depends on the thickness and effective porosity of the cell wall and the CO2 permeabilities of membranes. As no measurements exist for the effective porosity of mesophyll cell walls, and CO2 permeability values are too low to account for observed rates of CO2 assimilation, conclusions from modelling must be treated with caution. There is great variation in the mesophyll resistance per unit chloroplast area for a given cell wall thickness, which may reflect differences in effective porosity. While apparent gm can vary with CO2 and irradiance, the underlying conductance at the cellular level may remain unchanged. Dynamic changes in apparent gm arise for spatial reasons and because chloroplasts differ in their photosynthetic composition and operate in different light environments. Measurements of the temperature sensitivity of membrane CO2 permeability are urgently needed to explain variation in temperature responses of gm.
Adherence to laboratory testing in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Ryan Jamie L. , Dandridge Laura M. , Fischer Ryan T. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe objectives of this retrospective cohort study are to describe rates of adherence to laboratory testing 6 months to 3 years post–liver transplantation and to examine demographic and clinical factors related to lab non‐adherence and the association with medication adherence and clinical outcomes.MethodsMedical chart review was conducted for 54 youth (mean age = 5.0 years) transplanted between 2003 and 2014. Lab adherence (≥80%) was measured as the proportion of completed labs out of the number expected. Immunosuppressant drug‐level variability was used as a proxy for medication adherence. Clinical outcomes included LAR, viral infection, hospitalization, and non‐routine clinic visit ≥12 months after transplant.ResultsLab adherence decreased substantially over time. Single‐parent household (aOR 5.86; 95% CI: 1.38‐24.93) and no history of early rejection (aOR 3.96; 95% CI: 1.04‐15.24) were independently associated with non‐adherence. Lab non‐adherence was significantly associated with medication non‐adherence (P < .05), LAR (P = .02), and non‐routine clinic visits (P = .03).ConclusionsSystematic monitoring of lab adherence may help in identifying pediatric LT recipients at increased risk for excessive healthcare use and adverse outcomes possibly due to poor disease management.
Double‐unit unrelated cord blood transplantation for thalassemia major: Comparison with HLA‐identical sibling bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Feng Jianhua , Lee Vincent , Leung Alex W. K. , Lam Grace K. S. , Chow Terry T. W. , Cheng Frankie W. T. , Yan Carol L. S. , Lee Cheuk Kwong , Yuen Patrick M. P. , Li Chi Kong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractUCBT recipients with TM are at high risk of EF related to low number of stem cells and prior alloimmunization after multiple blood transfusions. Here, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of double‐unit UCBT using TT‐containing conditioning regimens in TM. Retrospective analysis of children who underwent double‐unit UCBT for TM in the Prince of Wales Hospital between August 2007 and January 2017, and outcome of double‐unit UCBT for TM was compared with outcome of HLA‐matched sibling BMT. Ten patients, median age 4.2 years, received double‐unit UCBT. All patients except one engrafted at a median of 19 days. None of the patients with successful engraftment had grade III or IV aGVHD. Among nine patients with successful engraftment, six of nine patients evaluable after day 100 developed cGVHD. All patients with cGVHD were well controlled after treatment with steroids and/or supportive care and maintained good quality of life. In comparison with patients receiving BMT, those given UCBT had slower platelet recovery, and more cGVHD. With a median follow‐up of 272 months after BMT and 84 months after UCBT, the 8‐year OS after BMT and UCBT was 92% and 90% (P = .84), whereas 8‐year DFS after BMT and UCBT was 87% and 80% (P = .54). UCB could be an acceptable source of stem cells for transplantation of TM patients when HLA‐matched family bone marrow donors are NA.
Extending the framework of algorithmic regulation. The Uber case
Authors: Eyert Florian , Irgmaier Florian , Ulbricht Lena 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this article, we take forward recent initiatives to assess regulation based on contemporary computer technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence. In order to characterize current phenomena of regulation in the digital age, we build on Karen Yeung's concept of “algorithmic regulation,” extending it by building bridges to the fields of quantification, classification, and evaluation research, as well as to science and technology studies. This allows us to develop a more fine‐grained conceptual framework that analyzes the three components of algorithmic regulation asrepresentation,direction, andinterventionand proposes subdimensions for each. Based on a case study of the algorithmic regulation of Uber drivers, we show the usefulness of the framework for assessing regulation in the digital age and as a starting point for critique and alternative models of algorithmic regulation.
Risk Management Solutions for Climate Change–Induced Disasters
Authors: Kunreuther Howard 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn honor of the 40th anniversary of Risk Analysis, this article suggests ways of linking risk assessment and risk perception in developing risk management strategies that have a good chance of being implemented, focusing on the problem of reducing losses from natural hazards in the face of climate change. Following a checklist for developing an implementable risk management strategy, Section 2 highlights the impact that exponential growth of CO2 emissions is likely to have on future disaster losses as assessed by climate and social scientists. Section 3 then discusses how people perceive the risks of low‐probability adverse events and the cognitive biases that lead them to underprepare for future losses. Based on this empirical evidence, Section 4 proposes a risk management strategy for reducing future losses using the principles of choice architecture to communicate the likelihood and consequences of disasters, coupled with economic incentives and well‐enforced regulations.
Forty Years of Food Safety Risk Assessment: A History and Analysis
Authors: Wu, Felicia , Rodricks Joseph V. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBefore the founding of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) in 1980, food safety in the United States had long been a concern, but there was a lack of systematic methods to assess food‐related risks. In 1906, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Roosevelt signed, the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act to regulate food safety at the federal level. This Act followed the publication of multiple reports of food contamination, culminating in Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, which highlighted food and worker abuses in the meatpacking industry. Later in the 20th century, important developments in agricultural and food technology greatly increased food production. But chemical exposures from agricultural and other practices resulted in major amendments to federal food laws, including the Delaney Clause, aimed specifically at cancer‐causing chemicals. Later in the 20th century, when quantitative risk assessment methods were given greater scientific status in a seminal National Research Council report, food safety risk assessment became more systematized. Additionally, in these last 40 years, food safety research has resulted in increased understanding of a range of health effects from foodborne chemicals, and technological developments have improved U.S. food safety from farm to fork by offering new ways to manage risks. We discuss the history of food safety and the role risk analysis has played in its evolution, starting from over a century ago, but focusing on the last 40 years. While we focus on chemical risk assessment in the U.S., we also discuss microbial risk assessment and international food safety.
Anticoagulation in hemodialysis: A narrative review
Authors: Claudel Sophie E. , Miles Lauren A. , Murea Mariana 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSystemic anticoagulation in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) has historically been considered necessary to maintain the extracorporeal circuit (ECC) and preserve dialysis efficiency. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the most commonly used anticoagulant due to low cost and staff familiarity. Despite widespread use, there is little standardization of heparin dosing protocols in the United States. Although the complication rates with UFH are low for the general population, certain contraindications have led to exploration in alternative anticoagulants in patients with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD). Here we review the current evidence regarding heparin dosing protocols, complications associated with heparin use, and discuss alternatives to UFH including anticoagulant‐free routine HD.
From Bauhaus to Makerspace: Meaning Design and Computer‐Aided Design in Introductory German
Authors: Emm Amy , Hawkins Dan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis article introduces a Bauhaus design apprenticeship for first‐semester German as a means of integrating multiple literacies and disciplines. In light of the need for interdisciplinary models of the multiliteracies framework in introductory‐level language curricula, a collaboration with the campus makerspace can enhance the humanities' critical literacies mission in general and the language literacies mission in particular. In the case of German, Bauhaus offers not only a source of multimodal texts with significant cultural, historical, and political content but also a theory of design that resonates with the metalanguage of design in multiliteracies pedagogy. The article proposes a Bauhaus‐multiliteracies framework and demonstrates its implementation through a “Bauhaus Lehre” in elementary German and the makerspace. Students learn the use of a simple Computer‐Aided Design (CAD) program in an instructional sequence aimed at describing and transforming language and objects alike. Student products and the results of surveys conducted with the first two groups of learners to complete the project show that learners began to envision connections between language literacy and their digital and social futures.