bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biological effects of a new ultraviolet A1 prototype based on light‐emitting diodes on the treatment of localized scleroderma
Authors: Arndt Stephanie , Lissner Clara , Unger Petra , Bäumler Wolfgang , Berneburg Mark , Karrer Sigrid 
Published: June 2020

AbstractUltraviolet A1 (UVA1) phototherapy (spectral range 340‐400 nm) is a well‐established treatment option for various skin diseases such as localized scleroderma. Recent improvements of conventional UVA1 light sources (metal‐halide or fluorescent lamps) have brought attention to a new light‐emitting diode (LED) technology with remarkable advantages in handling and clinical routine. This study provides a preclinical histological and molecular evaluation of an LED‐based UVA1 prototype with a narrower spectral range (360‐400 nm) for treating localized scleroderma. Scleroderma mouse models and fibroblasts in vitro were exposed to LED‐based UVA1 phototherapy or to irradiation with a commercially available metal‐halide lamp emitting low‐dose (20, 40 J/cm2), medium‐dose (60 J/cm2) and high‐dose (80, 100 J/cm2) UVA1 light. Both UVA1 light sources affected inflammatory genes (IL‐1α and IL‐6) and growth factors (TGFß‐1 and TGFß‐2). Increased collagen type 1 was reduced after UVA1 phototherapy. Matrix metalloproteinase‐1 was more enhanced after a medium dose of LED‐based UVA1 phototherapy than after conventional treatment. In vivo, dermal thickness and the amount of collagen were reduced after both treatment methods. Remarkably, myofibroblasts were more effectively reduced by a medium dose of LED‐based UVA1 phototherapy. The study indicates that LED‐based UVA1 phototherapy yields similar or even better results than conventional treatment. In terms of biosafety and patient comfort, LED‐based UVA1 phototherapy offers clear advantages over conventional treatment because of the use of a narrower and less harmful UVA1 spectrum, less heat generation and shorter treatment times at the same irradiation intensity. Clinical studies are required to confirm these results in patients with localized scleroderma.
Wnt antagonist DKK‐1 levels in systemic sclerosis are lower in skin but not in blood and are regulated by microRNA33a‐3p
Authors: Henderson John , Pryzborski Stefan , Stratton Richard , O’Reilly Steven 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundSystemic sclerosis is an autoimmune skin disease which is associated with inflammation and resulting skin fibrosis. Myofibroblasts are the key cell type associated with the fibrosis but how they are differentiated is not clear. DKK‐1 is a Wnt antagonist that blocks Wnt‐mediated fibrosis and is reduced in fibrotic conditions. Thus, DKK‐1 is a clear negative regulator of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis and its regulation is unknown. The aim of this work is to determine the levels of DKK‐1 in serum and tissues of SSc and its regulation.MethodsSkin biopsies were taken from early diffuse systemic sclerosis patients and healthy controls and DKK‐1 measured by ELISA; serum was also isolated and DKK‐1 quantified. DKK‐1 was also measured by qRT‐PCR. MicroRNA33a‐3p was measured by TaqMan PCR. miR mimics and controls were transfected into dermal fibroblasts. Bleomycin mouse model was employed and compared to vehicle control treated mice, and gene expression was employed for DKK‐1 and various extracellular matrix genes.ResultsDKK‐1 is reduced in SSc skin and fibroblasts but is not reduced in the circulation in patients. MicroRNA33a‐3p regulates DKK‐1 levels epigenetically and is significantly reduced in SSc cells and whole tissue. DKK‐1 is also reduced in the bleomycin mouse model and pro‐fibrotic genes elevated.ConclusionDKK‐1 is reduced in SSc cells and is regulated by miR33a‐3p, and restoring DKK‐1 levels through epigenetic means could be a therapeutic target in systemic sclerosis.
A study on the structure, mechanism, and biochemistry of kanamycin B dioxygenase (KanJ)—an enzyme with a broad range of substrates
Authors: Mrugała Beata , Miłaczewska Anna , Porebski Przemyslaw Jerzy , Niedzialkowska Ewa , Guzik Maciej , Minor Wladek , Borowski Tomasz 
Published: June 2020

Kanamycin A is an aminoglycoside antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces kanamyceticus and used against a wide spectrum of bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Biosynthesis of kanamycin involves an oxidative deamination step catalyzed by kanamycin B dioxygenase (KanJ), thereby the C2’ position of kanamycin B is transformed into a keto group upon release of ammonia. Here, we present for the first time, structural models of KanJ with several ligands, which along with the results of ITC binding assays and HPLC activity tests explain substrate specificity of the enzyme. The large size of the binding pocket suggests that KanJ can accept a broad range of substrates, which was confirmed by activity tests. Specificity of the enzyme with respect to its substrate is determined by the hydrogen bond interactions between the methylamino group of the antibiotic and highly conserved Asp134 and Cys150 as well as between hydroxyl groups of the substrate and Asn120 and Gln80. Upon antibiotic binding, the C terminus loop is significantly rearranged and Gln80 and Asn120, which are directly involved in substrate recognition, change their conformations. Based on reaction energy profiles obtained by density functional theory (DFT) simulations, we propose a mechanism of ketone formation involving the reactive FeIV = O and proceeding either via OH rebound, which yields a hemiaminal intermediate or by abstraction of two hydrogen atoms, which leads to an imine species. At acidic pH, the latter involves a lower barrier than the OH rebound, whereas at basic pH, the barrier leading to an imine vanishes completely.DatabasesStructural data are available in PDB database under the accession numbers: 6S0R, 6S0T, 6S0U, 6S0W, 6S0V, 6S0S. Diffraction images are available at the Integrated Resource for Reproducibility in Macromolecular Crystallography at http://proteindiffraction.org under DOIs: 10.18430/m36s0t, 10.18430/m36s0u, 10.18430/m36s0r, 10.18430/m36s0s, 10.18430/m36s0v, 10.18430/m36s0w. A data set collection of computational results is available in the Mendeley Data database under DOI: 10.17632/sbyzssjmp3.1 and in the ioChem‐BD database under DOI: 10.19061/iochem‐bd‐4‐18.
An improved critical plane and cycle counting method to assess damage under variable amplitude multiaxial fatigue loading
Authors: Luo Peng , Yao Weixing , Susmel Luca 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe plane with the maximum variance of the resolved shear stress is taken as the critical plane. Two algorithms are used along with the maximum variance method (MVM) to determine the orientation of the critical plane. The maximum variance of the normal stress on the potential critical planes is calculated to determine the one experiencing the maximum extent of fatigue damage. A new multiaxial cycle counting method is proposed to count cycles on the critical plane. The modified Wöhler curve method is used to assess fatigue damage. About 200 experimental results were collected from the technical literature to validate the approaches being proposed. The results show that the improved design technique being proposed is successful in assessing fatigue damage under variable amplitude multiaxial cyclic loading.
Effects of microstructural through‐thickness non‐uniformity and crack size on fatigue crack propagation and fracture of rolled Al‐7075 alloy
Authors: Ayhan Ali O. , Yaren Mehmet F. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSome of the fatigue tests performed using the standard compact tension (CT) and a non‐standard specimen made of rolled 7075 aluminium alloy exhibit fatigue crack growth (FCG) lagging in a small region along the crack front. Through‐thickness microstructural evaluation shows that material grains in this region did not flatten as much as other regions. In the non‐standard specimen, surface cracks are either grown under fatigue loading or broken under monotonically increasing quasi‐static loads at different crack sizes. The aforementioned lagging also exists in a narrow region of 3‐D FCG for specimens with microstructural through‐thickness non‐uniformity. A more important feature for this type of specimen with surface crack is the deflection of fast fracture direction into the grain interfaces, namely from L‐T orientation to S‐L and S‐T directions. It is proved that this is due to significant levels of second principal stresses near the free surface for small cracks and lower fracture toughness of the material in S‐L and S‐T directions.
Cranial Autonomic Symptoms of Migraine in Japan: Prospective Study of 373 Migraine Patients at a Tertiary Headache Center
Authors: Danno Daisuke , Wolf Johanna , Ishizaki Kumiko , Kikui Shoji , Yoshikawa Hiroo , Takeshima Takao 
Published: June 2020

ObjectiveTo clarify the detailed clinical characteristics of cranial autonomic symptoms (CAS) of Japanese patients with migraine and to get insight into the pathophysiological implications.BackgroundRecent studies reported that CAS in migraine is causing diagnostic confusion with cluster headache or sinus headache; however, most reports have concerned Caucasians, and Asian data are scarce. The regional differences in the clinical characteristics of primary headaches between Caucasians and Asians have also been revealed recently.MethodThis was a cross‐sectional study. We investigated 373 patients with migraine in a tertiary headache center with face‐to‐face interviews.ResultsAccording to our findings, 158/373 (42.4%) patients with migraine had CAS and were characterized by more frequent cutaneous allodynia than those without CAS, suggesting the contribution of central sensitization; however, there were no statistically significant differences in pulsating pain or motion sensitivity as signs of peripheral sensitization. In contrast to the previous study, osmophobia was found to be significantly related to CAS.ConclusionCAS in patients with migraine is common not only in Caucasians but also in Asians. Central sensitization seems to contribute more than peripheral sensitization to CAS manifestation, and osmophobia might be noteworthy among Asian patients with migraine. To avoid a misdiagnosis, we emphasize the need for comments on CAS in the international classification of headache disorders migraine criteria.
Autoimmune atrophic gastritis: The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in children
Authors: Demir Arzu Meltem , Berberoğlu Ateş Burcu , Hızal Gülin , Yaman Aytaç , Tuna Kırsaçlıoğlu Ceyda , Oğuz Ayşe Selcen , Karakuş Esra , Yaralı Neşe , Özbek Namık Yaşar 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundAutoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) is very rare in children. Despite a better understanding of histopathologic changes and serological markers in this disease, underlying etiopathogenic mechanisms and the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection are not well known. We aimed to investigate the relation between AIG and H pylori infection in children.Materials and MethodsWe evaluated the presence of AIG and H pylori infection in fifty‐three patients with positive antiparietal cell antibody (APCA). Demographic data, clinical symptoms, laboratory and endoscopic findings, histopathology, and presence of H pylori were recorded.ResultsThe children were aged between 5 and 18 years, and 28 (52.8%) of them were male. Mean age was 14.7 ± 2.6 years (median: 15.3; min‐max: 5.2‐18), and 10 (18.8%) of them had AIG confirmed by histopathology. In the AIG group, the duration of vitamin B12 deficiency was longer (P = .022), hemoglobin levels were lower (P = .018), and APCA (P = .039) and gastrin (P = .002) levels were higher than those in the non‐AIG group. Endoscopic findings were similar between the two groups. Intestinal metaplasia was higher (P = .018) in the AIG group. None of the patients in the AIG group had H pylori infection (P = .004). One patient in the AIG group had enterochromaffin‐like cell hyperplasia.ConclusionsOur results show that, in children, H pylori infection may not play a role in AIG. AIG could be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, and APCA positivity in children. APCA and gastrin levels should be investigated for the early diagnosis of AIG and intestinal metaplasia.
Comorbidity burden on receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy and survival in patients with stage III melanoma: an analysis of the National Cancer Database
Authors: Freeman S. Caleb , Satish Mohan , Walters Ryan W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundComorbidity burden is associated with development of cancer, stage at diagnosis, and treatment outcomes. We evaluated the association between comorbidity burden, receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy, and survival in patients with stage III melanoma.MethodsUsing the National Cancer Database, we identified 16,906 patients with stage III melanoma who underwent surgery of the primary site. Outcomes included receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy and overall survival; independent variables included Charlson/Deyo comorbidity index (CDI) and receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy.ResultsPatients with CDI scores of two or more averaged 30.0% and 30.9% lower adjusted odds of receiving adjuvant immunotherapy relative to patients with a CDI score of zero or one, respectively (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Longer survival was associated with lower CDI scores (all P < 0.001) and receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy (P < 0.001). Patients who received adjuvant immunotherapy averaged 16.0% lower adjusted risk of death compared to patients who did not (P < 0.001), which was constant within all CDI cohorts. Patients with a CDI score of two or more averaged 53.4% and 39.1% higher adjusted risk of death relative to patients with a CDI score of zero or one (both P < 0.001).ConclusionGreater comorbidity burden was associated with lower receipt of adjuvant immunotherapy; however, adjuvant immunotherapy provided similar survival benefit for patients’ irrespective comorbidity burden. Our findings suggest that patients with stage III melanoma who have a greater comorbidity burden may benefit from adjuvant immunotherapy but should not replace careful patient selection by the clinician.
Physicochemical properties and emulsification properties of maize starch modified by hydrochloric, phosphoric and tartaric acid
Authors: Skendi Adriana , Papageorgiou Maria , Ritzoulis Christos 
Published: June 2020

SummaryNative maize starch (NS) dispersions treated with hydrochloric (HA; 1M, 2M), phosphoric (PA; 1M, 2M) and tartaric acid (TA; 0.67M, 1.33M) were investigated in terms of their morphological, structural and physicochemical properties, including emulsification capacity. The molecular weight of starch was affected by both factors (acid type and concentration). The mean molecular weight (Mw) was decreased by 89% and 11% after treatment with HA (1M) and PA (1M), respectively. TA‐treated starch resulted into three distinct size distributions, one of which showed larger Mw as compared to the NS. Dynamic light scattering measurements revealed that the modified starches in aqueous environment were spread in at least two distributions, one of them showing particle sizes higher than 200 nm, whereas the other lower than 200 nm. Clarity of treated starch pastes decreased in the following order: HA > TA > PA > NS. Generally, O/W emulsification and stability properties deteriorated with starch modification. ΤΑ yielded the most stable emulsion among the modified starches.
Effect of encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum as probiotic on dry‐sausages during chilled storage
Authors: Cavalheiro Carlos Pasqualin , Ruiz‐Capillas Claudia , Herrero Ana Maria , Jiménez‐Colmenero Francisco , Pintado Tatiana , de Menezes Cristiano Ragagnin , Fries Leadir Lucy Martins 
Published: June 2020

SummaryThe impact of free and encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum addition on the physicochemical and microbiological properties during chilled storage (60 days) of dry‐fermented sausages have been studied. Control (C) treatment was performed without probiotic incorporation, and the reformulation was comprised of L. plantarum as free cells (F) in alginate spheres (EA), in water‐in‐oil simple emulsion (ESM) and in water‐in‐oil‐in‐water double emulsion (EDM). After 60 days of storage, lower (P < 0.05) lipid oxidation was observed in F and EA (0.602–0.625 mg MDA kg−1) while it was higher (P < 0.05) in EDM (1.949 mg MDA kg−1). Treatments C and ESM presented intermediate TBARS levels compared to other treatments at the end of storage. All dry‐fermented sausages presented high levels of lactic acid bacteria during the whole chilled storage (8.06–9.29 log CFU g−1 at day 0 and 8.02–9.35 log CFU g−1); however, EA treatment presented the highest L. plantarum viability even at 60 days of storage (8.34 log CFU g−1). Therefore, the strategy of L. plantarum inoculation in alginate spheres seems to be the best strategy for the delivery of probiotics during chilled storage of dry‐fermented sausages.
Risque d'entreprise et part du travail: théorie et faits observés dans l'industrie en Chine
Authors: ZOU Jingxian , SHEN Guangjun , JIA Shen 
Published: June 2020

RésuméLes auteurs examinent la relation entre risque d'entreprise et déclin de la part du travail en Chine. Partant du modèle d'Holmström et Milgrom (1987), ils montrent qu'un risque d'entreprise moindre motiverait les travailleurs à travailler plus intensément, ce qui augmenterait le produit par tête et le salaire moyen. Toutefois l'augmentation du produit peut faire baisser la part du travail. Une étude empirique, fondée sur la CIED, base de données des entreprises industrielles chinoises, (1998‐2007), et sur l'enquête de la Banque mondiale sur le climat de l'investissement (2005), confirme cette hypothèse d'une corrélation positive entre part du travail et risque d'entreprise.
Participación del trabajo y riesgo empresarial. Teoría y evidencia de las manufacturas chinas
Authors: ZOU Jingxian , SHEN Guangjun , JIA Shen 
Published: June 2020

ResumenEste estudio analiza el papel del riesgo empresarial en la disminución de la participación del trabajo en China. A partir del modelo desarrollado por Holmström y Milgrom (1987), los autores muestran que un menor riesgo empresarial puede motivar a los trabajadores a trabajar más, aumentando el producto por trabajador y el salario medio, pero el incremento de la producción reducirá la participación del trabajo. Utilizando la base de datos sobre empresas industriales chinas para el periodo 1998‐2007 y la encuesta sobre clima de inversión del Banco Mundial de 2005, obtienen evidencia robusta de una correlación positiva entre la participación del trabajo y el riesgo empresarial.
Bayesian Model Selection of Gaussian Directed Acyclic Graph Structures
Authors: Castelletti Federico 
Published: June 2020

SummaryDuring the last years, graphical models have become a popular tool to represent dependencies among variables in many scientific areas. Typically, the objective is todiscoverdependence relationships that can be represented through a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The set of all conditional independencies encoded by a DAG determines its Markov property. In general, DAGs encoding the same conditional independencies are not distinguishable from observational data and can be collected into equivalence classes, each one represented by a chain graph called essential graph (EG). However, both the DAG and EG space grow super exponentially in the number of variables, and so, graph structural learning requires the adoption of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques. In this paper, we review some recent results on Bayesian model selection of Gaussian DAG models under a unified framework. These results are based on closed‐form expressions for the marginal likelihood of a DAG and EG structure, which is obtained from a few suitable assumptions on the prior for model parameters. We then introduce a general MCMC scheme that can be adopted both for model selection of DAGs and EGs together with a couple of applications on real data sets.
Supranational grievance mechanisms and firm‐level employment relations
Authors: Ford Michele , Gillan Michael , Thein Htwe Htwe 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe dynamics of regulation of employment relations in the global supply chains of multinational enterprises (MNEs), including the growth of various forms of private regulation, has attracted significant scholarly attention. However, the role of international organisations in supporting supranational institutional pathways for social contestation of business practices has been neglected. This study addresses this gap by analysing cases lodged by national and global unions through the specific instances mechanism of the OECD Guidelines for MNEs. It reveals the design and operational deficiencies of this mechanism but also points to the current and future opportunities for firm‐level labour grievances and justice claims to be addressed at the supranational scale.
Synthesis of rare earth containing single‐phase multicomponent metal carbides via liquid polymer precursor route
Authors: Sun Yanan , Chen Fenghua , Qiu Wenfeng , Ye Li , Han Weijian , Zhao Wenying , Zhou Heng , Zhao Tong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractNovel high‐entropy carbide ceramics (HEC) containing rare earth metals, namely (Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, La, Y)C, (Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, La, Y)C, and (Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Mo, W, La)C were prepared with single‐phase structure by polymer precursor method. Controlled co‐hydrolysis and polycondensation of equiatomic metal‐containing monomers were conducted successively, followed by blending allyl‐functional novolac resin as carbon source, and the polymer precursors were obtained as clear viscous liquid solutions. The single‐phase formation possibility was theoretically analyzed from the aspects of size‐effect parameter δ of the designed compositions. All as‐obtained ceramics possessed single face‐centered‐cubic structure of metal carbides and high‐compositional uniformity from nanoscale to microscale. The (Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Mo, W, La)C ceramic powder pyrolyzed at 1800°C exhibited low‐oxygen impurity content of 1.2 wt%. Thus, multicomponent high‐entropy carbide nanoceramics with over five metal elements containing even rare earth element were firstly synthesized and characterized.
Coupling TiO2 nanorods with g‐CN using modified physical vapor deposition for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation
Authors: Wang Lingling , Wang Ruyi , Feng Leyu , Liu Yi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe core‐shell TiO2@g‐CN nanorods arrays were constructed directly on fluorine‐doped tin oxide grass using vacuum magnetic filtered arc ion plating. The unique structure combines both advantages from TiO2 as an effective electron‐transfer layer and graphic carbon nitride (g‐CN) with a proper band gap serving as visible light absorption layer. Under 100 mW/cm2 (AM 1.5G) light illumination, the optimal TiO2@g‐CN produces a photocurrent density of 0.91 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 2.1 times of the bare TiO2 (0.43 mA/cm2) obtained at the same potential. The improved photoelectrochemical performance is mainly attributed from the improved charge separation and transport within the heterojunction as well as the enhanced light absorption.