bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequent brain metastases during treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors: A retrospective single institutional study
Authors: Nakamura Yoshiyuki , Ishitsuka Yosuke , Tanaka Ryota , Okiyama Naoko , Watanabe Rei , Saito Akimasa , Furuta Junichi , Fujisawa Yasuhiro 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRecent clinical trials revealed that both immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and BRAF/MEK inhibitors significantly prolonged survival in melanoma patients when used for both advanced stage disease and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Although BRAF/MEK inhibitors are associated with a higher objective response rate than ICI, most patients relapse during treatment. However, progression patterns during treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors have not been extensively investigated. Here, we retrospectively collected the data of melanoma patients initially treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors or anti‐programmed death 1 (PD‐1) antibody monotherapy at the University of Tsukuba Hospital and compared their results. The χ2‐test revealed that frequency of brain metastasis (BM) development was significantly higher in cases treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors compared with those with anti‐PD‐1 antibody monotherapy. In addition, BM‐free survival in cases treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors was significantly shorter than those treated with anti‐PD‐1 antibody monotherapy. Our results indicate that BM development during treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors may be more frequent than anti‐PD‐1 antibody monotherapy, even though the extracranial metastases are well controlled. Therefore, we recommend frequent brain examinations during treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors to detect BM at an early stage and to promptly administrate ICI with local radiation therapy.
Bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates as potential substitutes for polyphosphates: The role of degree of hydrolysis and pH on water‐holding capacity
Authors: Nuñez Suleivys M. , Cárdenas Constanza , Pinto Marlene , Valencia Pedro , Cataldo Patricio , Guzmán Fanny , Almonacid Sergio 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe effects of adding bovine skin gelatin hydrolysate obtained with subtilisin, on water‐holding capacity (WHC), in a thermally processed chicken meat model, were investigated. Hydrolysates with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) (6.57%, 13.14%, and 26.28%) were prepared. The results showed that all the tested hydrolysates improved water retention in the meat matrix. The hydrolysate with 26.28% DH showed similar behavior throughout the full range of concentrations [0% to 5% w/w] compared to that of the positive control (sodium tripolyphosphate [STPP]). In addition, the other hydrolysates [6.57% DH and 13.14% DH at 3% and 2.5% w/w concentrations, respectively] showed behaviors that coincided with that of STPP at its maximum limit allowed. A correlation was observed between the WHC and the pH of the meat samples treated with each hydrolysate or STPP. In addition, it was found that the WHC of the hydrolysates was due to increases in pH and the specific effects of the hydrolysate beyond the typical effects of pH and ionic strength in meat systems. The solubility of all hydrolysates was high (>90%). In conclusion, bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates could serve as an alternative to polyphosphates to improve water retention and the functional properties of thermally processed meat products.Practical ApplicationThis study investigated the effects of adding bovine skin gelatin hydrolysate obtained with subtilisin on water‐holding capacity (WHC) in a thermally processed chicken meat model. It was found that the hydrolysis of bovine skin gelatin with subtilisin can replace chemical products harmful to health, such as STPP, in terms of water‐holding capacity. Therefore, bovine skin gelatin hydrolysate can be used as an ingredient in the formulation of thermally processed meat products.
Customize and get the most out of your reduced‐representation sequencing experiment with the new simulation software RADinitio
Authors: Choquet Marvin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWhole‐genome sequencing is still often a difficult, costly and time‐consuming task. The emergence of various genome reduced‐representation sequencing (RRS) protocols such as restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) has facilitated the access to genome‐wide information, without the need for whole‐genome sequencing. Reaching the full potential of RRS protocols though requires adjustments and tailoring to the species under investigation. To that end, simulation software has been developed to guide researchers in the customization of their RADseq experiment, but the extent to which these tools mimic the behaviour of a protocol in generating sequencing data is limited. In this current issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Rivera‐Colón et al. (2020) introduce RADinitio, a new software for simulating RADseq data designed to perform simulations at the highest level of representativeness. By taking into account the effects of library preparation and sequencing parameters on the resulting sequences, RADinitio allows the precise identification of the sources of failure when designing a RADseq experiment. This new software represents a considerable advance in RADseq data simulation and will likely lead to increased success in RADseq experiments.
The rise and ruin of a medieval port town: A reconsideration of the development of Julfar
Authors: Carter Robert Andrew , Zhao Bing , Lane Kevin , Velde Christian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractJulfar was a major port town of the Persian Gulf during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries AD. A possession of the Hormuzi empire, it was a lucrative source of taxes and pearls, and a port of trade for northern Oman, tapping into maritime trading networks connecting the Middle East with Africa, India, Southeast Asia and China. The site is found north of modern Ras Al‐Khaimah, UAE. Julfar Al‐Nudud was previously considered to be a late suburb of an urban core, Julfar Al‐Mataf, and is located on a creek opposite the latter. However, excavations in 2010 indicated that Al‐Nudud was part of the original urban core, which had grown up on either side of the creek. Moreover, re‐examination of previous work in Al‐Mataf, where a large mosque and fortification were excavated (by British and French teams), shows that the two areas followed different trajectories. Significant occupation in Al‐Nudud and southern Al‐Mataf (revealed by previous Japanese excavations) ended before the start of the sixteenth century, while use of the mosque and fort in central Al‐Mataf continued into the seventeenth century, albeit discontinuously. A revised concordance of the phases derived from the work of various archaeological teams is therefore proposed.
High expression of Matrix Gla Protein in Schnyder corneal dystrophy patients points to an active role of vitamin K in corneal health
Authors: Sarosiak Anna , Oziębło Dominika , Udziela Monika , Vermeer Cees , Malejczyk Jacek , Szaflik Jacek P. , Ołdak Monika 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurposeSchnyder corneal dystrophy (SCD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by corneal lipid accumulation and caused by UBIAD1 pathogenic variants. UBIAD1 encodes a vitamin K (VK) biosynthetic enzyme. To assess the corneal and vascular VK status in SCD patients, we focused on matrix Gla protein (MGP), a VK‐dependent protein.MethodsConformation‐specific immunostainings of different MGP maturation forms were performed on corneal sections and primary keratocytes from corneal buttons of two SCD patients with UBIAD1 p.Asp112Asn and p.Asn102Ser pathogenic variants and unrelated donors. Native or UBIAD1‐transfected keratocytes were used for gene expression analysis. Plasma samples from SCD patients (n = 12) and control individuals (n = 117) were subjected for inactive desphospho‐uncarboxylated MGP level measurements with an ELISA assay.ResultsSubstantial amounts of MGP were identified in human cornea and most of it in its fully matured and active form. The level of mature MGP did not differ between SCD and control corneas. In primary keratocytes from SCD patients, a highly increased MGP expression and presence of immature MGP forms were detected. Significantly elevated plasma concentration of inactive MGP was found in SCD patients.ConclusionHigh amount of MGP and the predominance of mature MGP forms in human cornea indicate that VK metabolism is active in the visual system. Availability of MGP seems of vital importance for a healthy cornea and may be related to protection against corneal calcification. Systemic MGP findings reveal a poor vascular VK status in SCD patients and indicate that SCD may lead to cardiovascular consequences.
How the other half lives: A reflection on Tivers (1978) from a physical geographer's point of view
Authors: Hart Jane K. 
Published: June 2020

This is a reflection on Tivers' (1978) paper from a physical geography point of view. I discuss four elements of the original paper: the increase in women in the field of geography, fieldwork, family role, and “everyday sexism.” Alongside this, I provide a reflection of my own experience as a UK physical geographer over the last 40 years and discuss the major changes over that time.
Pilot experience of simultaneous robotic‐assisted partial nephrectomy for bilateral renal tumors–single center analysis
Authors: Otoshi Taiyo , Yamasaki Takeshi , Hirayama Yukiyoshi , Uchida Junji 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionBilateral renal tumors accounts for approximately 3% of renal tumors. However, surgical treatment methods for bilateral renal tumors have not yet been established. It is imperative to balance the need for curative surgery with the goal of maximal functional preservation in patients with bilateral synchronous renal tumors. Therefore, partial nephrectomy may be the optimal surgical treatment for bilateral synchronous renal tumors.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational study to analyze the clinical outcome of simultaneous robotic‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for bilateral renal tumors at our institution between 2016 and 2019. A total of eight patients were enrolled and the number of renal masses in the 16 kidneys was 18.ResultsThere was no positive surgical margin after RAPN in our case series and no local recurrence or metastasis during the follow‐up period. The only complication of simultaneous RAPN in the present case series was that one patient experienced acute kidney injury after operation without need for dialysis therapy.ConclusionOur study suggests that simultaneous RAPN for bilateral renal tumors might be feasible both for the preservation of renal function and for oncological outcome such as negative surgical margin.
Importance of banana flour and its effect on growth performance of broiler
Authors: Dumorné Kelly , Astorga‐Eló Marcia , Merino Osvaldo , Severe Rolord , Morante Laura 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe main objective of this work was to study the effects of banana flour as energy sources on broiler performance. Seventy‐five broilers were randomly distributed into five groups each with 15 broilers (n = 15 broilers/group). The broilers were grouped to maize–soybean meal diet as control, T1: (5% of banana flour), T2: (10% of banana flour), T3: (15% of banana flour), and T4: (20% of banana flour). The parameters analyzed in this research were body weight, daily weight gain, and daily feed intake at days 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40. The results showed no significant effects on body weight during the time of assessment, showing healthy values (>1,400 g) in all treatments (p > .05). Daily Weight gain was affected significantly during the days of assessment (p < .05). In all treatments and at different days of assessment, T3 showed the highest daily weight gain at day 10 (37.56 ± 4.52 g) compared to the other experimental treatments. Regarding daily feed intake, significant differences were observed at day 10 in the control and treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4 compared to days 20, 30, and 40 (p < .05), being the highest value for T1 (35.14 ± 2.77).
Radioiodinated estradiol dimer for estrogen receptor targeted breast cancer imaging
Authors: Xu Duo , Peng Chenyu , Gao Fei , Guo Zhide , Zhuang Rongqiang , Su Xinhui , Zhang Xianzhong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop a 1‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(1,2,3‐triazol)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)‐5‐[125/131I]iodo‐1,2,3‐triazole‐diestradiol ([125/131I]ITE2), for estrogen receptor (ER)‐expressing breast cancer imaging with single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). [125/131I]ITE2 was prepared in good radiochemical yield (94.4 ± 0.4%) with high radiochemical purity (>99%). [125/131I]ITE2 had good stability in vitro and moderate molar activity (0.3 ± 0.2 GBq/µmol). Higher uptake in ER‐positive MCF‐7 cells than that of ER‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells was observed at all time points. Rats biodistribution showed that [131I]ITE2 had high uptake in ER‐abundant uterine and ovarian (5.7 ± 0.4 and 10.1 ± 1.4%ID/g at 1 hr postinjection) and could be blocked by co‐injection of estradiol (2.7 ± 0.1 and 5.5 ± 0.4%ID/g) obviously. In the SPECT/CT imaging study, [125I]ITE2 showed significant higher uptake in MCF‐7 tumor (3.1 ± 0.4%ID/g) than that of MDA‐MB‐231 (0.9 ± 0.1%ID/g). Furthermore, the specific uptake of [125I]ITE2 in ER‐positive MCF‐7 tumor could be blocked effectively by preadministration of fulvestrant (1.2 ± 0.4%ID/g). A novel radioiodinated dimeric estrogen was designed and synthesized with promising ER targeting ability and specificity. It is worthy of further investigation to validate the advantages of the dimer in ER‐positive breast cancer diagnosis.
‘Targeting the feast of a sleeping beast’: Nutrient and mineral dependencies of encysted Acanthamoeba castellanii
Authors: Baig Abdul Mannan , Khan Naveed Ahmed , Katyara Preet , Lalani Salima , Baig Rozeena , Nadeem Mehdia , Akbar Noor , Nazim Fizza , Khaleeq Areeba 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAcanthamoeba spp. cause a corneal infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), and a cerebral infection, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Though aggressive chemotherapy has been able to kill the active trophozoite form of Acanthamoeba, the encysted form of this parasite has remained problematic to resist physiological concentrations of drugs. The emergence of encysted amoeba into active trophozoite form poses a challenge to eradicate this parasite. Acanthamoeba trophozoites have active metabolic machinery that furnishes energy in the form of ATPs by subjecting carbohydrates and lipids to undergo pathways including glycolysis and beta‐oxidation of free fatty acids, respectively. However, very little is known about the metabolic preferences and dependencies of an encysted trophozoite on minerals or potential nutrients that it consumes to live in an encysted state. Here, we investigate the metabolic and nutrient preferences of the encysted trophozoite of Acanthamoeba castellanii and the possibility to target them by drugs that act on calcium ion dependencies of the encysted amoeba. The experimental assays, immunostaining coupled with bioinformatics tools show that the encysted Acanthamoeba uses diverse nutrient pathways to obtain energy in the quiescent encysted state. These findings highlight potential pathways that can be targeted in eradicating amoebae cysts successfully.
Addressing behavior in pollinator conservation policies to combat the implementation gap
Authors: Marselle Melissa R. , Turbe Anne , Shwartz Assaf , Bonn Aletta , Colléony Agathe 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSolutions for conserving biodiversity lie in changing people's behavior. Ambitious international and national conservation policies frequently fail to effectively mitigate biodiversity loss because they rarely apply behavior‐change theories. We conducted a gap analysis of conservation behavior‐change interventions advocated in national conservation strategies with the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW), a comprehensive framework for systematically characterizing and designing behavior‐change interventions. Using pollinator conservation as a case study, we classified the conservation actions listed in national pollinator initiatives in relation to intervention functions and policy categories of the BCW. We included all national‐level policy documents from the European Union available in March 2019 that focused on conservation of pollinators (n = 8). A total of 610 pollinator conservation actions were coded using in‐depth directed content analysis, resulting in the identification of 787 intervention function and 766 policy category codes. Overall, these initiatives did not employ the entire breadth of behavioral interventions. Intervention functions most frequently identified were education (23%) and environmental restructuring (19%). Least frequently identified intervention functions were incentivization (3%), and restriction (2%) and coercion were completely absent (0%). Importantly, 41% of all pollinator conservation actions failed to identify whose behavior was to be changed. Building on these analyses, we suggest that reasons for the serious implementation gap in national and international conservation policies is founded in insufficient understanding of which behavioral interventions to employ for most beneficial impacts on biodiversity and how to clearly specify the intervention targets. We recommend that policy advisors engage with behavior‐change theory to design effective behavior‐change interventions that underpin successful conservation policies.
Money and economic development: A long‐run perspective
Authors: Schaiffel‐Nielsen Morten Sølvsten 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis article explores the association between money and long‐run economic growth in a panel of 27 countries over 200 years. It presents evidence of a complementarity between freedom and decentralisation of the monetary system in terms of their contribution to growth in GDP per capita. The significant and positive association between freedom and economic growth is found to be significantly stronger in a decentralised (market‐based) than in a centralised (government‐controlled) monetary system. For the average level of freedom across the 27 countries today, shifting from a centralised to a decentralised monetary system is predicted to almost double growth rates.
Rural clinical school dental graduates views on rural and metropolitan employment
Authors: Johnson George , Foster Kirsty , Blinkhorn Anthony , Clive Wright Fredrick A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionThere is a maldistribution of dental professionals working in rural and remote regions of Australia. This study investigates dental graduates from a newly established rural clinical school (RCS) at Charles Sturt University (CSU), New South Wales, Australia, and records graduates’ workforce locations and views on working in both metropolitan and rural practice.Materials and MethodsIn late 2015 to early 2016, CSU graduates of 2013 and 2014 were asked to complete a telephone interview related to their employment choices. Thirty‐nine interviews (68% of contactable graduates) were completed. Qualitative framework analysis was applied to identify trends and themes.ResultsMore than half of the graduates were working rurally, with 67% working full‐time and 77% in private practice. Key influencing factors on graduates related to rural employment were as follows: family and personal relationships, developing clinical skills, rural community, lifestyle, professional support, mentorship, job availability, full‐time employment and financial incentives. Key barriers to working rurally included leaving family and friends, small patient base, low salary, partner factors, and professional and personal isolation.ConclusionMore than half of the CSU graduates were working in rural communities, demonstrating initially positive rural workforce outcomes. Reasons for choosing to work rurally were complex and spanned a broad spectrum of social, personal, professional development and support, community, economic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Future workforce strategies should apply a broad multifactorial approach to consider the complex interrelated employment factors. Furthermore, increased evaluation is required of the CSU programme, with increased workforce outcomes and exploration of employment retention factors.
Striatal connectivity in pre‐manifest Huntington’s disease is differentially affected by disease burden
Authors: Pini L. , Youssov K. , Sambataro F. , Bachoud‐Levi A.‐C. , Vallesi A. , Jacquemot C. 
Published: June 2020

Background and purposeDifferent amounts of cumulative exposure to the toxic mutant form of the huntingtin protein might underlie the distinctive pattern of striatal connectivity in pre‐manifest Huntington’s disease (pre‐HD). The aim of this study was to investigate disease‐burden‐dependent cortical‐striatal and subcortical‐striatal loops at different pre‐HD stages.MethodsA total of 16 participants with pre‐HD and 25 controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging to investigate striatal structural and functional connectivity (FC). Individuals with pre‐HD were stratified into far‐from‐onset and close‐to‐onset disease groups according to the disease‐burden score. Cortical‐striatal and subcortical‐striatal FC was investigated through seed‐region of interest (ROI) and ROI‐to‐ROI approaches, respectively. The integrity of white‐matter pathways originating from striatal seeds was investigated through probabilistic tractography.ResultsIn far‐from‐onset pre‐HD, the left caudate nucleus showed cortical increased FC in brain regions overlapping with the default mode network and increased coupling connectivity with the bilateral thalamus. By contrast, close‐to‐onset individuals showed increased fractional anisotropy (and mean diffusivity) in the right caudate nucleus and widespread striatal atrophy. Finally, we reported an association between cortical‐caudate FC and caudate structural connectivity, although this did not survive multiple comparison correction.ConclusionsFunctional reorganization of the caudate nucleus might underlie plasticity compensatory mechanisms that recede as individuals with pre‐HD approach clinical symptom onset and neurodegeneration.