bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of delayed luminescence measurements for the identification of herbal materials: a step toward rapid quality control
Authors: Sun Mengmeng , Wang Shengpeng , Jing Yong , Li Li , He Min , Jia Yusheng , van Wijk Eduard , Wang Yitao , Wang Zhihong , Wang Mei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Herbal materials are widely used as medicinal products, dietary supplements, food, and spices. With increased consumption, the safety, quality, and efficacy of herbal materials are becoming more relevant. The authenticity of herbal materials plays an important role in herbal quality control, and there is an urgent need to develop a simple, direct, objective, rapid, and inexpensive measurement tool for the identification of herbal materials for the purpose of quality control.

Methods
Delayed luminescence (DL) was used to measure authentic and counterfeit herbal materials. A hyperbolic function was used to extract four properties from the DL curves of the herbal materials. Statistical tools, including Student’s t test and Principal Component Analysis, were used to differentiate authentic and counterfeit herbal materials based on the DL properties.

Results
Our results showed that authentic and counterfeit herbal materials could be identified based on the DL properties as follows: (a) authentic versus counterfeit materials; (b) authentic versus adulterated materials; (c) authentic versus sulfur-fumigated materials; as well as (d) authentic versus dyed materials.

Conclusion
The simple, direct, rapid, and inexpensive measurements offered by DL potentially offer a novel technique for the identification of Chinese herbal materials. However, the establishment of a valid database will be the next step toward the possible application of this technique, which would contribute significantly to the development of a novel digital tool for the quality control of herbal materials.
Identification of Cryptosporidium viatorum XVa subtype family in two wild rat species in China
Authors: Chen Yi-Wei , Zheng Wen-Bin , Zhang Nian-Zhang , Gui Bin-Ze , Lv Qiu-Yan , Yan Jia-Qi , Zhao Quan , Liu Guo-Hua 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Cryptosporidium viatorum is a minor Cryptosporidium pathogen in humans. Currently, there is limited information regarding the prevalence and genotypes of C. viatorum in animals in China.

Methods
In this study, 228 faecal samples were collected from two wild rat species (Leopoldamys edwardsi and Berylmys bowersi) in Chongqing Municipality and Guangdong Province, China. These specimens were analyzed for C. viatorum and then subtyped it using PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 60-kilodalton glycoprotein (gp60) genes, respectively.

Results
A total of 25 (11.0%) faecal samples were tested positive for C. viatorum by SSU rRNA assay. Of these samples, 4 (3.6%) came from L. edwardsi and 21 (18.0%) from B. bowersi. Of the 25 C. viatorum-positive samples, 17 were successfully amplified at the gp60 gene locus, which represented four subtypes belonging to two subtype families, including XVa (XVaA6, XVaA3g, XVaA3h) and XVc (XVcA2G1). Phylogenetic analysis based on the gp60 amino acid sequences indicated that all of the C. viatorum isolates grouped together, supporting the conclusion that C. viatorum from the wild rats represent two subtype families.

Conclusions
These results indicate an occurrence of C. viatorum XVa subtype family from rats which is genetically identical to those found in humans. Our findings suggest that wild rats may be a potential source of human cryptosporidiosis.
The analysis of DMD gene deletions by multiplex PCR in Indonesian DMD/BMD patients: the era of personalized medicine
Authors: Iskandar Kristy , Dwianingsih Ery Kus , Pratiwi Linda , Kalim Alvin Santoso , Mardhiah Hasna , Putranti Alifiani H. , Nurputra Dian K. , Triono Agung , Herini Elisabeth S. , Malueka Rusdy G. , Gunadi  , Lai Poh San , Sunartini  
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objective
Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is the most common genetic neuromuscular disease in children, resulting from a defect in the DMD gene located on Xp21.2. The new emerging treatment using exon skipping strategy is tailored to specific mutations, thus molecular diagnostics are particularly important. This study aimed to detect the DMD gene deletion in Indonesian DMD/BMD patients and analyze the potential amenability by exon skipping therapy.

Results
Thirty-four male patients were enrolled in this study, 23 of them (67.6%) underwent muscle biopsy and showed the absence or partially expressed dystrophin protein in immunohistochemistry staining. All patients had very high serum CK levels (10.529 ± 9.97 IU/L). Multiplex PCR revealed the DMD gene deletions in 15 (44.1%) cases. Seventy-eight percent of deletions were clustered in the hot-spot region of exon 43 to 52. Furthermore, seven (20.5%) patients were potentially amenable to exon skipping treatment. Therefore, multiplex PCR is one feasible method to detect DMD gene deletion in Indonesian DMD/BMD patients that can further determine the potential amenability of exon skipping therapy. In addition, this study is the first report of DMD gene deletion analysis in Indonesia.
A fourth-order linearized difference scheme for the coupled space fractional Ginzburg–Landau equation
Authors: Xu Yuan , Zeng Jiali , Hu Shuanggui 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In this paper, the coupled space fractional Ginzburg–Landau equations are investigated numerically. A linearized semi-implicit difference scheme is proposed. The scheme is unconditionally stable, fourth-order accurate in space, and second-order accurate in time. The optimal pointwise error estimates, unique solvability, and unconditional stability are obtained. Moreover, Richardson extrapolation is exploited to improve the temporal accuracy to fourth order. Finally, numerical results are presented to confirm the theoretical results.
Application effect of apatinib in patients with failure of standard treatment for advanced malignant tumours
Authors: Liu Guohui , Wang Chunbo , He Yunlong , E Mingyan 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
In recent years, targeted therapy has received widespread attention. Among these therapies, anti-angiogenic targeted drugs have become one of the hotspots of research. Apatinib is a novel oral small molecule anti-angiogenic agent that has been clinically tested in a variety of solid tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of apatinib in patients with advanced malignant tumours and failure of standard therapy.

Methods
We collected 41 patients with advanced malignant tumours in our department; all tumours were pathologically confirmed as malignant. All patients received apatinib after failure of standard therapy: 500 mg/dose, one dose/d, orally 30 min after a meal, until progressive disease or intolerable adverse reactions occurred. When there was a second- or third-degree adverse reaction associated with apatinib during treatment, apatinib treatment could be suspended or reduced to 250 mg/dose. Clinical efficacy and progression-free survival were assessed according to RECIST1.1, and adverse reactions were observed.

Results
Efficacy assessment was available for 31 patients with a median progression-free survival time of 2.66 months; the objective response rate and disease control rates were 16.1 and 64.5%, respectively. The disease control rates of the patients with lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores (1–2 points) and with fewer metastatic sites (< 3 sites) were higher than those of the patients with higher scores (3 points) and with more metastatic sites (≥3 sites), respectively (all P < 0.05). The most common adverse reactions were hypertension, neutropenia and hand-foot syndrome.

Conclusion
For patients with advanced malignant tumours with failure of standard therapy, administration of apatinib can still result in good efficacy. The efficacy of apatinib is better in patients with a higher performance status and lower degree of tumour progression.
Comparative transcriptional analysis provides insights of possible molecular mechanisms of wing polyphenism induced by postnatal crowding in Aphis gossypii
Authors: JI Jichao , ZHANG Shuai , LUO Junyu , WANG Li , ZHU Xiangzhen , ZHANG Kaixin , ZHANG Lijuan , CUI Jinjie 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Aphis gossypii is a worldwide sap-sucking pest with a variety of hosts and a vector of more than 50 plant viruses. The strategy of wing polyphenism, mostly resulting from population density increasing, contributes to the evolutionary success of this pest. However, the related molecular basis remains unclear. Here, we identified the effects of postnatal crowding on wing morph determination in cotton aphid, and examined the transcriptomic differences between wingless and wing morphs.

Results
Effect of postnatal crowding on wing determination in A. gossypii was evaluated firstly. Under the density of 5 nymphs·cm− 2, no wing aphids appeared. Proportion of wing morphs rised with the increase of density in a certain extent, and peaked to 56.1% at the density of 20 nymphs·cm− 2, and reduced afterwards. Then, transcriptomes of wingless and wing morphs were assembled and annotated separately to identify potentially exclusively or differentially expressed transcripts between these two morphs, in which 3 126 and 3 392 unigenes annotated in Nr (Non-redundant protein sequence) database were found in wingless or wing morphs exclusively. Moreover, 3 187 up- and 1 880 down-regulated genes were identified in wing versus wingless aphid. Pathways analysis suggested the involvement of differentially expressed genes in multiple cellular signaling pathways involved in wing morphs determination, including lipid catabolic and metabolism, insulin, ecdysone and juvenile hormone biosynthesis. The expression levels of related genes were validated by the reverse transcription quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) soon afterwards.

Conclusions
The present study identified the effects of postnatal crowding on wing morphs induction and demonstrated that the critical population density for wing morphs formation in A. gossypii was 20 nymphs·cm− 2. Comparative transcriptome analysis provides transcripts potentially expressed exclusively in wingless or wing morph, respectively. Differentially expressed genes between wingless and wing morphs were identified and several signaling pathways potentially involved in cotton aphid wing differentiation were obtained.
In silico design of hydrazone antioxidants and analysis of their free radical-scavenging mechanism by thermodynamic studies
Authors: Alisi Ikechukwu Ogadimma , Uzairu Adamu , Abechi Stephen Eyije 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Antioxidants are very crucial in maintaining the normal function of body cells, as they scavenge excess free radical in the body. A set of hydrazone antioxidants was designed by in silico screening. The density functional theory (DFT) method was employed to explore the reaction energetics of their free radical-scavenging mechanism. With the aid of the developed quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model for hydrazone antioxidants, the structure and antioxidant activity of these compounds were predicted. Three potential reaction mechanisms were investigated, namely, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single-electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT) and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET). Bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), adiabatic ionization potential (AIP), proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE), proton affinity (PA), electron transfer enthalpy (ETE) and Gibbs free energy that characterize the various steps in these mechanisms were calculated in the gas phase.

Results
A total of 25 hydrazone antioxidants were designed, in which the molecule MHD 017 gave the best antioxidant activity. Among the tested molecules, MHD 017 at the 10-OH site gave the best results for the various thermodynamic parameters calculated. The reaction Gibbs free energy results also indicate that this is the most favoured site for free radical scavenge.

Conclusion
The obtained results show that HAT and SPLET mechanisms are the thermodynamically plausible reaction pathways of free radical scavenge by hydrazone antioxidants. The reactivity of these compounds towards the hydroperoxyl radical (HOO·) was greater than that towards the methyl peroxyl radical (CH3OO·) based on the exergonicity of the calculated reaction Gibbs free energy.

Graphical abstract
2-Dimensional Nanomaterials with Imaging and Diagnostic Functions for Nanomedicine; A Review
Authors: Eom Sairan , Choi Goeun , Nakamura Hiroyuki , Choy Jin-Ho 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In the last several decades, 2-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have been studied in various bio-fields such as drug delivery systems, diagnostic and imaging materials, etc. In particular, many investigations have been intensively conducted to explore 2D nanomaterials for drug delivery devices such as layered double salts (LDSs), layered rear-earth hydroxides (LRHs), and layered double hydroxides (LDHs) due to their low toxicity, high solubility in body fluid, high tumor targeting efficiency, large drug loading capacity, etc. However, only a few reports have been made to date on diagnostic and imaging effects on those 2D nanomaterials. In this review, therefore, an attempt is made to underline how important such 2D nanoparticles would be applicable for optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), etc., and to discuss on their potential molecular imaging modalities for image-guided and precision therapy as well.
Patient and family co-developed participant information to improve recruitment rates, retention, and patient understanding in the Rehabilitation Strategies Following Oesophago-gastric and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer (ReStOre II) trial: Protocol for a study within a trial (SWAT)
Authors: O'Neill Linda , Knapp Peter , Doyle Suzanne L. , Guinan Emer , Parker Adwoa , Segurado Ricardo , Connolly Deirdre , O'Sullivan Jacintha , Reynolds John V. , Hussey Juliette 
Published: October 2019

Background: Whilst the potential benefits of exercise rehabilitation in cancer survivorship are plentiful, recruitment to survivorship rehabilitation trials remains suboptimal. There is growing evidence that Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) initiatives can increase the rate of recruitment to research. This study within a trial (SWAT) will examine if participant information co-developed by patients and their families can lead to greater recruitment rates, retention and understanding of the Rehabilitation Strategies in Oesophago-gastric and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer (ReStOre II) trial when compared to standard participant information. Methods: This SWAT will be carried out over two phases. Phase I will utilise qualitative methods to develop (Phase Ia) and refine (Phase Ib) the new participant information. Phase Ia will recruit up to 20 survivors of upper gastrointestinal or hepatopancreaticobiliary cancer, or their family members, to take part in a focus group or interview to develop the new participant information. Focus groups/interviews will be recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. In Phase Ib, participants will return for a second focus group/interview to refine the participant information. Once finalised, the participant information will be submitted to ethics for approval. In Phase II, potential participants for the ReStOre II trial will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard or patient and family co-developed participant information. The two forms of participant information will be compared by recruitment and retention rates, and participant understanding of the trial (Decision-Making Questionnaire). Discussion: We anticipate that engaging with patients and their families to develop participant information will help to increase patient understanding of the ReStOre II trial and therefore recruitment and retention rates. The results of this SWAT will indicate the usefulness of this strategy for optimising recruitment to exercise rehabilitation trials in cancer survivorship. Registration: SWAT: Northern Ireland Hub for Trials Methodology Research SWAT Repository Store (SWAT-100). ReStOre II: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03958019).
O Refúgio em Debate: perspectivas sobre a inserção do tema nas Relações Internacionais | The Refuge in Debate: perspectives on the insertion of the subject in the International Relations
Authors: Coutinho Rachel Silva da Rocha , De Jesus Raquel Araújo 
Published: October 2019

Em todo o mundo, pessoas foram e são forçadas a migrar pelos mais diversos motivos. No entanto, a questão do refúgio adquiriu importância no cenário político internacional apenas com o fim da II Guerra Mundial. No âmbito das Relações Internacionais (RI), os debates que vêm sendo conduzidos sobre a temática, embora apresentem abordagens distintas, possuem como pano de fundo uma mesma pergunta: qual é o lugar do indivíduo na arquitetura do sistema internacional? Argumenta-se que a resposta a esse questionamento implica não apenas nas “soluções” políticas conferidas ao “problema” do refúgio, mas também ao tipo de engajamento teórico empregado em sua discussão. Neste sentido, o texto aborda a inserção do refúgio nas RI por meio de quatro chaves interpretativas: segurança/proteção, emergência, fronteira e mobilidade. Longe de um esgotamento do tema, o objetivo é apresentar um panorama dos debates sobre refúgio nas RI, possibilitando ao leitor perspectivas variadas acerca do tema.Palavras-chave: Refúgio; Relações Internacionais; Debate.ABSTRACTThroughout the world, people have been and are forced to migrate for a variety of reasons. However, the issue of refuge became important in the political arena only in the end of World War II. In the realm of International Relations (IR), The debates that have been conducted on the subject, although presenting different approaches, have the same question in the background: what is the place of the individual in the architecture of the international system? It is argued that the answer to this question implies not only the political “solutions” given to the “problem” of the refuge, but also the type of theoretical engagement employed in its discussion. In this sense, the text addresses the insertion of refuge in IR through four interpretative keys: security / protection, emergency, border and mobility. Far from an exhaustion of the theme, the objective is to present an overview of the debates about refuge in IR, providing the reader varied perspectives on the theme.Keywords: Refuge; International Relations; Debate. Recebido em 10 jan.2019 | Aceito em 17 set.2019
Phase Transition Is Infrequent Among North American Adults With e-Antigen-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B and Low-Level Viremia
Authors: Zhou Kali , Wahed Abdus S. , Cooper Stewart , Di Bisceglie Adrian M. , Fontana Robert J. , Ghany Marc G. , Khalili Mandana , Lok Anna S. , Perrillo Robert , Lee William M. , Lau Daryl T.Y. , Sterling Richard , Janssen Harry L.A. , Terrault Norah A. 
Published: October 2019

INTRODUCTION:Patients with hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and low-level viremia are a heterogeneous group. Identifying those at risk of developing active CHB requiring antiviral therapy is important. In this study, we prospectively characterize incidence rates and predictors of transitioning from inactive to active CHB in a North American adult cohort.METHODS:Participants in the multicenter National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Hepatitis B Research Network cohort who were HBeAg negative with baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA ≤ 10,000 IU/mL were included in the study. Cox regression models were used to estimate the proportion of individuals in 3 baseline HBV DNA categories (≤100, 101 to ≤2,000, and 2,001 to ≤10,000 IU/mL) who developed phase transition defined by HBV DNA > 10,000 IU/mL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2× upper limit of normal or initiated treatment during follow-up.RESULTS:Of 970 participants meeting inclusion criteria, 15% experienced phase transition or initiated treatment over a median follow-up of 4 years: 9% of those with baseline HBV DNA ≤ 100 IU/mL, 14% with HBV DNA 101 to ≤2,000 IU/mL, and 24% with HBV DNA 2,001 to ≤10,000 IU/mL (P< 0.001). The overall rate of phase transition or treatment initiation was 7.6 per 100 person-years: 4.6 in those with HBV DNA ≤ 100 IU/mL, 6.8 in those with HBV DNA 101 to ≤2,000 IU/mL, and 12.2 in those with HBV DNA 2,001 to ≤10,000 IU/mL (P< 0.001). Factors independently associated with higher rate of phase transition or treatment initiation included HBV genotype B or C, higher baseline ALT and HBV DNA levels, lower platelet count, quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen > 1,000 IU/mL, and hyperlipidemia. Only higher ALT, higher HBV DNA, and lower platelets were associated with phase transition when patients starting treatment were censored.DISCUSSION:Most adults in this North American cohort with HBeAg-negative CHB and low-level viremia remained inactive and off treatment over 4 years. Transition from inactive to active CHB is infrequent and predominantly associated with viral rather than host factors.
Overestimated Sensitivity of Fecal Immunochemical Tests in Screening Cohorts With Registry-Based Follow-up
Authors: Brenner Hermann , Gies Anton , Selby Kevin 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVES:
Several recent studies have reported very high estimates of sensitivity and specificity of fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) at seemingly high levels of precision using registry-based follow-up of participants in very large FIT-based screening programs. We aimed to assess the validity of estimates of diagnostic performance parameters derived by this indirect approach.

METHODS:
We modeled expected values of sensitivity and specificity of colorectal cancer detection in studies using the indirect approach and their deviation from true values under a broad range of plausible assumptions, and we compared these expected values with recently reported estimates of FIT sensitivity and specificity from such studies.

RESULTS:
Using a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 93.6% (from studies using a direct approach, i.e., colonoscopy follow-up of all participants), the indirect approach would be expected to yield sensitivities between 84.5% and 91.1% and specificities between 93.4% and 93.6% under a range of realistic assumptions regarding colonoscopic follow-up rates of positive FITs and clinical manifestation rates of preclinical colorectal cancer.

DISCUSSION:
Very high sensitivities of FITs recently reported with seemingly very high levels of precision by several large-scale registry-based studies, which are in line with expected results based on our model calculations, are likely to be strongly overestimated and need to be interpreted with due caution.