bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Real‐world clinical diagnostics of heart failure patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Huusko Jenni , Purmonen Timo , Toppila Iiro , Lassenius Mariann , Ukkonen Heikki 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimsThe study aimed at investigating the use of guideline‐recommended diagnostic tools and medication in patients with heart failure (HF) in specialty care in Southwest Finland. We also compared the characteristics of the diagnosed and undiagnosed patients as well as laboratory tests, procedures, and treatments in everyday clinical practice.Methods and resultsPatients diagnosed with HF, cardiomyopathy, or hypertension‐induced heart disease (n = 20 878, primary cohort) or not diagnosed with HF but having a record of elevated N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) (>125 ng/L, n = 24 321, secondary cohort) were included in the study from the specialty care patient register of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland during the years 2005–2017. Among patients with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) code for HF, only 50% had ejection fraction (EF) data to be found by data mining from the electronic health records. Of these patients, 39% (n = 4042) had EF ≤ 40% [HF with reduced EF (HFrEF)] and 61% (n = 6347) had EF > 40%. Elevated NT‐proBNP together with EF > 40% narrowed down the number to 4590 patients, a population defined as HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) patients. HFpEF patients were further stratified into HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF; EF 41–50%, n = 1468) and EF > 50% patients (n = 3122) to compare clinical characteristics. NT‐proBNP was higher within the HFrEF patients vs. HFpEF {4580 [inter‐quartile range (IQR): 2065–9765] vs. 2900 [2065–9765] ng/L, P < 0.001}. Baseline co‐morbidities differed between HFpEF and HFrEF groups. Further, HFpEF patients had more procedures and lab tests taken prior to diagnosis than had HFrEF patients. HFmrEF patients were found to resemble more HFrEF than EF > 50% patients. In 70% (n = 17 156) of patients in the secondary cohort, the NT‐proBNP concentrations were >300 ng/L, median was 1090 (IQR 551–2558) ng/L and EF 58.4 ± 12.1% (n with EF available = 6845). Reduced EF was present in 6.8% of patients lacking HF diagnosis.ConclusionsHalf of the patients with ICD‐10 code for HF did not have EF data available after a visit at specialty care. In particular, the diagnosis of HFpEF seems challenging, reflected as an increase in procedures and laboratory test preceding diagnosis compared with those in HFrEF patients. Also, a large proportion of patients did not have HF diagnosis, yet they presented elevated NT‐proBNP concentrations and clinical characteristics resembling those of HFpEF patients.
Intra‐ and inter‐laboratory reproducibility of the rat blood Pig‐a gene mutation assay
Authors: Dertinger Stephen D. , Avlasevich Svetlana L. , Torous Dorothea K. , Bemis Jeffrey C. , Hove Tamsanqa Tafara , O'Connell Oliver , Martus Hansjoerg , Elhajouji Azeddine 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe in vivo Pig‐a assay is being used in safety studies to evaluate the potential of chemicals to induce somatic cell gene mutations. Ongoing work is aimed at developing an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guideline to support routine use for regulatory purposes (OECD project number 4.93). Among the requirements for OECD approval are demonstrations of assay reliability, including reproducibility within and among laboratories. Experiments reported herein address the reproducibility of the rat blood Pig‐a assay using the reference mutagens chlorambucil and melphalan. These agents were evaluated for their ability to induce Pig‐a mutant erythrocytes in three separate studies conducted across two laboratories. Each of the studies utilized a common treatment schedule: 28 consecutive days of exposure via oral gavage. Whereas one laboratory studied Crl:CD(SD) rats, the other laboratory used Wistar Han rats. One or two days after cessation of treatment blood samples were collected for mutant reticulocyte and mutant erythrocyte measurements that were accomplished with the same analytical technique whereby samples were depleted of wildtype erythrocytes via immunomagnetic separation followed by flow cytometric enumeration of mutant phenotype cells (MutaFlow®). Dunnett's test results showed similar qualitative outcomes within and between laboratories, that is, each chemical and each study demonstrated statistically significant, dose‐related increases in mutant reticulocyte and erythrocyte frequencies. Benchmark dose analysis (PROAST software) provided a means to quantitatively analyze the results, and the relatively tight, overlapping benchmark dose confidence intervals observed for each of the two chemicals indicate that within and between laboratory reproducibility of the Pig‐a assay are high, adding further support for the development of an OECD test guideline.
Decadal‐scale changes in suspended wood after riparian recruitment in managed stands in headwater streams of coastal British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Rossetti de Paula Felipe , Richardson John S. , Yeung Alex C.Y. , Mitchell Stephen J. , Bahuguna Devesh 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLarge wood (LW) affects several ecological and hydrogeomorphic processes in streams. The main source of LW is riparian trees falling inside channels. However, in confined valley floors, falling trees are more likely to be suspended above the channel. Eventually, these suspended trees will decompose and break to finally fall into the channel to better provide functions for streams. We evaluated changes in wood decay, length, diameter, and suspended status (suspended or non‐suspended) 17 years post‐harvest and nine years after the first sampling occurred in 2006 in 12 headwater streams of coastal British Columbia, Canada. We also evaluated whether changes differed among riparian management treatments (no‐harvest buffers of 10 and 30 m in width, thinning, and unharvested reference sites), and identified the factors affecting wood changes and suspended status. Wood pieces advanced in decay, became shorter, and 34% of them (n= 108) changed status from suspended to non‐suspended. Non‐suspended wood pieces were more decayed and shorter than suspended wood. Suspended wood was longer, thicker, less decayed, and represented 46.5% (n= 147) of the wood sampled in 2006. Our findings revealed limited influences of riparian management on many aspects of wood changes considered in this study. Changes in wood characteristics were more likely for pieces that were smaller in diameter, longer, and suspended closer to the water. The transition from suspended to non‐suspended LW can be a long‐term process that can increase wood residence time and reduce LW in‐stream functions particularly in confined stream valleys. The suspended stage is also an important mechanism underlying time lags in stream ecosystem responses to riparian tree fall. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research on the cooperative development of university and industry economy based on Internet of Things technology
Authors: Sun Guohong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe coordinated development of higher education and the industrial economy is global, relevant, comprehensive, and practical. The scientific understanding and accurate evaluation of the coordinated development of higher education and industrial economy are related to the government's macro‐layout of educational structure and the macro‐guidance of industrial structure. Starting from the strategic height of the development of industrial economic structure and higher education structural system, this article, with the aid of the Internet of Things analysis platform, draws lessons from the research results of the coordinated development of education and industry at home and abroad, puts forward an evaluation model of the coordinated development of higher education and industrial economy based on fuzzy neural network, and reveals the structure of higher education and industrial economy through evaluation and prediction. Comprehensive theoretical prediction and fuzzy analysis of the general and special relations and mechanisms of the coordinated development of higher education and industrial economic structure make the cooperative model of higher education and local industry more transparent and provide theoretical guidance for the coordinated development of higher education and local industrial structure.
A Secured and Robust Medical Image Watermarking Approach for Protecting Integrity of Medical Images
Authors: Khare Priyank , Srivastava Vinay Kumar 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a novel medical image watermarking (MIW) technique for tele ‐ medicine applications is proposed. In this approach homomorphic transform (HT), redundant discrete wavelet transform (RDWT) and singular value decomposition (SVD) transforms are successfully utilized for developing an effective watermarking technique. Reflectance component of medical host image is obtained using HT, on which RDWT decomposition and SVD are applied. Similarly medical watermark image is processed with RDWT and SVD. Singular values (Svs) were used for embedding the watermark image into host image. 2‐D chaotic Arnold transform (AT) is used for providing extra security to the watermark image by encrypting the watermarked image. Moreover, proposed technique is also tested for several wavelet families. Robustness and imperceptibility of the proposed technique is enhanced as depicted in experimental results under various attacks. Furthermore, better robustness is attained from proposed technique on comparing it with other formerly reported schemes.
Changes of 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural in fresh and processed ginsengs
Authors: Li Yali , Wang Yufang , Piao Xiangmin , Zheng Peihe , Zhang Hao , Pang Shifeng , Qu Zhengyi , Wang Yingping 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe study estimated changes of 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfuraldehyde (5‐HMF) in different ginseng products with different temperatures and time pretreatment. Heat treatment was performed at various temperatures for 1.50, 2.00, 2.50, and 3.00 hr, respectively. Ultrasonic extraction and reflux extraction were used to evaluate the extraction rate and different solvents (such as 80% methanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and an extraction with both dichloromethane and ethyl acetate solvents) using two extraction methods (liquid–liquid extraction and solid‐phase extraction) to remove matrix interference. An ultraperformance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometer (UPLC‐MS) method was used for quantitative and changing analysis of 5‐HMF in different ginseng samples. The results indicated that the content of 5‐HMF increased dramatically with heating temperature and time, and the 5‐HMF in the ginseng samples ranged from 0.01 to 112.32 g/kg protein. The highest value was observed in the honey‐added ginseng samples with the highest amount of addition and highest temperature treatment, and the lowest value was found in the fresh ginseng samples. These results implied that 5‐HMF may be as an indicator to estimate the honey addition level and heat treatment degree during the processing of ginseng products, and the content of 5‐HMF is a promising parameter to evaluate the quality of products (ginseng). The production and regulation of potentially harmful Maillard reaction products (PHMRPs)‐5‐HMF in ginseng manufacture will provide an important reference for safe ginseng processing.
microRNA‐495 reduces visceral sensitivity in mice with diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome through suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via PKIB
Authors: Fei Lifeng , Wang Yanjing 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDiarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐D) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the world, lacking effective therapies. The crucial roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in IBS‐D have attracted increasing attention. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of miR‐495 on the visceral sensitivity of the IBS‐D through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PKIB. Microarray data analysis was employed to screen the differentially expressed genes related to IBS‐D and regulatory miRNAs. Then, mice were perfused with acetic acid into the rectum to establish the IBS‐D model. Next, PKIB expression was measured in IBS‐D mice. Additionally, model mice were injected with a series of adenovirus vector to investigate the influence of miR‐495 on visceral sensitivity and rectal function in IBS‐D mice with the involvement of PKIB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The IBS‐D mouse model was successfully established. PKIB was the target gene of miR‐495, and highly expressed in mice with IBS‐D. Silencing PKIB reduced visceral sensitivity in mice with IBS‐D, and overexpression of miR‐495 decreased visceral sensitivity in mice with IBS‐D by inhibiting PKIB. Moreover, miR‐495 upregulation inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through downregulating PKIB. To sum up, this study reveals that miR‐495 upregulation can reduce visceral sensitivity in IBS‐D via inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PKIB. It suggests that miR‐495 presents a potential target for IBS‐D therapy.
T‐2 toxin cytotoxicity mediated by directly perturbing mitochondria in human gastric epithelium GES‐1 cells
Authors: Su Nan , Liu Chun‐Lei , Chen Xiao‐Pei , Fan Xia‐Xia , Ma Yong‐Cheng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractT‐2 toxin is one of the most toxic trichothecenes and harmful to human health and animal husbandry. The mechanism underlying its growth suppression remains unclear, especially for mitochondrial damage in human gastric epithelial cells. In the present study, we investigated cell death caused by T‐2 toxin in a human gastric epithelial cell line (GES‐1) and the possible mechanism of T‐2‐induced cytotoxicity. T‐2 strongly reduced the viability of GES‐1 cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner within a small range of concentrations. However, when the concentrations of T‐2 were >40 nM, there was no concentration dependence, only time dependence. Moreover, T‐2 induced apoptosis, with the activation of caspase‐3 in GES‐1 and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decrease and cytochrome c release. T‐2 also resulted in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage with a positive signal of p‐H2A.X in GES‐1 cells. While T‐2 caused a MMP decrease, DNA damage and cell death were not blocked by pretreatment with 3 mM glutathione (GSH), a typical scavenger of ROS. The induction of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) regulators voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC1) and cyclophilin D (CypD) were also observed in T‐2‐treated cells. Interestingly, cyclosporine A (CsA), a CypD inhibitor, significantly reversed the drop in MMP and the DNA damage, as well as ROS accumulation caused by T‐2. Additionally, GES‐1 cell death could also be protected to some extent by 4, 4'‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2, 2'‐disulfonic acid (DIDS), an inhibitor of VDAC1, especially the combination of CsA and DIDS, and 3 mM GSH could further enhance the effect of CsA + DIDS on cell viability. In conclusion, our present findings indicate that the T‐2 induced MMP decrease, DNA damage and cell death, as well as ROS accumulation in GES‐1 cells, starts with T‐2 directly perturbing the mitochondria triggering ROS generation by acting on CypD and VDAC1. This study presents a new viewpoint for evaluating the toxicity of T‐2 toxin.
Response to comment by Puppels et al. on “A modification for the calculation of water depth profiles in oil‐treated skin by in vivo Raman microscopy”
Authors: Darvin Maxim E. , Choe Chunsik , Schleusener Johannes , Choe Sehyok , Lademann Jürgen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe presence of penetrated oils in the stratum corneum (SC), oil‐induced occlusion of the SC and formation of occluding homogeneous film on the skin surface are discussed in relation to their influence on results of water profile calculations using conventional and newly proposed extended methods. It is shown that the conventional method does not determine the water profiles in treated skin correctly due to the superposition of Raman bands of SC's proteins and penetrated and remnant oils.
Corporate environmental performance and stock market performance: Indian evidence on disaggregated measure of sustainability
Authors: Tripathi Vanita , Jham Juhi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe study addresses the emerging needs of green investing as it believes that the firms that are better equipped with mitigating and adapting climate change and its associated risk also perform better in the market. The construct of superior performance is based on the models linking environmental performance and financial performance in the literature. It aims to validate if those firms that are better equipped with adapting to climate change generate superior or equivalent market return as compared to blue chip firms, socially responsible firms, and general market portfolio. It further examines if market values disaggregated measure of sustainability, that is, environmental performance differently from others. Results of the study are consistent with the theoretical work suggesting that green investing is reflected in demand differences between green and nongreen stocks. It also establishes a link between alpha's and green investing. The results show that all green portfolios outperformed market at 1% significance level over 12‐year period and various subperiods. Results also indicate that investors of Indian stock market value pure green stocks more than those stocks that are screened out based on the criteria of corporate governance, employee relations, and other social factors along with environmental factor.
On determining when small embeddings of partial Steiner triple systems exist
Authors: Bryant Darryn , De Vas Gunasekara Ajani , Horsley Daniel 
Published: March 2020

AbstractApartial Steiner triple systemof order is a pair , where is a set of elements and is a set of triples of elements of such that any two elements of occur together in at most one triple. If each pair of elements occur together in exactly one triple it is aSteiner triple system. Anembeddingof a partial Steiner triple system is a (complete) Steiner triple system such that and . For a given partial Steiner triple system of order it is known that an embedding of order exists whenever satisfies the obvious necessary conditions. Determining whether “small” embeddings of order exist is a more difficult task. Here we extend a result of Colbourn on the ‐completeness of these problems. We also exhibit a family of counterexamples to a conjecture concerning when small embeddings exist.
Alpha‐amylase immobilized on polycaprolactone‐grafted magnetic nanoparticles: improving stability and reusability
Authors: Defaei Mahshid , Taheri‐Kafrani Asghar , Miroliaei Mehran , Yaghmaei Parichehreh 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDWidespread application of enzymes for research and industrial purposes is dependent on enhancing the catalytic capacity. One promising approach to this end is the immobilization of enzymes on novel nanomaterials. In this study, a novel nanocarrier was developed for the immobilization of enzyme on polycaprolactone (PCL)‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles.RESULTStructural and physicochemical characterization of the PCL‐modified magnetic nanocarrier was achieved via Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibration sample magnetometry (VSM). In order to determine the optimal conditions for immobilization, different parameters such as pH, temperature, reaction time and enzyme concentration were evaluated. Based on the results, the optimal biocatalytic activity of immobilized α‐amylase was obtained at 65 °C and pH 6.5. Under appropriate conditions, the immobilized α‐amylase showed improved storage stability in comparison with free one. Additionally, the reusability of the immobilized system demonstrated >50% enzyme activity, at optimal pH and temperature, after five reaction cycles.CONCLUSIONThis finding could be useful in the application of immobilized enzymes for analytical purposes, industrial exploitations, biotechnology, biomedical engineering and other bio‐applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Aluminum chloride‐catalyzed conversion of levulinic acid to methyl levulinate: optimization and kinetics
Authors: Xu Yanli , Guo Pengkun , Chang Chun , Li Pan , Zhao Shiqiang , Xu Guizhuan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDMethyl levulinate (ML) is a promising green candidate for bio‐based diesel fuels and fuel additives. An effective method for synthesizing ML from levulinic acid (LA) catalyzed by cheap metal salt catalyst under mild conditions was developed. A series of metal salts were screened for the synthesis of ML from LA, and aluminum chloride was identified as a suitable catalyst for this process.RESULTSThe effects of catalyst loading, the molar ratio of methanol to LA, reaction temperature and reaction time on LA conversion and ML yield were investigated. The response surface method was used to optimize the process, and the model validation experiment showed that the predicted values corresponded well with the actual ones. Under the optimum conditions of reaction temperature 343 K, reaction time 1.5 h, aluminum chloride 1.14 g and molar ratio of methanol to LA 8:1, a high ML yield of 95.0 mol% could be obtained. Moreover, a kinetic model was proposed to evaluate the reaction process at a temperature range of 30–70 °C. The first‐order pseudo model was considered most suitable (R2 > 0.99), and the activation energy of the reaction Ea was estimated to be 32.28 kJ mol−1. Investigation of the reuse of the catalyst revealed that it retained good catalytic activity after repeated use for ten times.CONCLUSIONA green and efficient process of ML production from LA catalyzed by the metal salt aluminum chloride was developed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Corn stalk residue may add antibiotic‐resistant bacteria to manure composting piles
Authors: Staley Zachery R. , Schmidt Amy Millmier , Woodbury Bryan , Eskridge Kent M. , Durso Lisa , Li Xu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractManure is commonly used as a fertilizer or soil conditioner; however, land application of untreated manure may introduce pathogens and antibiotic‐resistant bacteria (ARB) into the soil, with harmful implications for public health. Composting is a manure management practice wherein a carbon‐rich bulking agent, such as corn (Zea mays L.) stalk residue, is added to manure to achieve desirable carbon/nitrogen ratios to facilitate microbial activities and generate enough heat to inactivate pathogens, including antibiotic‐resistant pathogens. However, when comparing compost piles and stockpiles for ARB reduction, we noticed that bulking agents added ARB to composting piles and compromised the performance of composting in reducing ARB. We hypothesized that ARB could be prevalent in corn stalk residues, a commonly used bulking agent for composting. To test this hypothesis, corn stalk residue samples throughout Nebraska were surveyed for the presence of ARB. Of the samples tested, 54% were positive for antibiotic‐resistant Escherichia coli or enterococci using direct plating or after enrichment. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend wherein the use of pesticides tended to result in a greater prevalence of some ARB. Results from this study suggest that bulking agents can be a source of ARB in manure composting piles and highlight the importance of screening bulking agents for effective ARB reduction in livestock manure during composting.