bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of optimum ripening time in hard cooked cheeses (Reggianito type) using survival analysis statistics: Modified versus traditional cheese making technology
Authors: Lorena Garitta , Ayelén Vélez , Graciela Rodríguez , M. Cristina Perotti , Erica Hynes 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this work, we determined optimum ripening time of hard cooked cheeses made by traditional technology or by an innovative process aimed at accelerating flavor formation. For that purpose, we applied survival analysis statistics. Experimental cheese making (E) included homogenization of milk fat, unpasteurized cheese milk, changes in cooking temperature, and a curd‐washing step, while traditional cheese making (T) followed a classic hard‐cooked cheese making. Cheeses were ripened for 215 days and samples were analyzed at 76, 112, 128, 152, and 215 days. Consumers (250) were recruited and divided into five groups of 50 consumers for each stage. At each sampling time, consumers assessed whether the sample was “under‐ripe,” “ok,” or “over‐ripe.” Optimum ripening time could be estimated only for E cheeses, with a high percentage of rejection. For T cheeses, it was not possible to determine the optimum ripening time because the rejection by over‐ripening was never reported. We verified consumer segmentation: a small percentage found E cheese under‐ripe and a high percentage found it over‐ripe. Many consumers qualified E cheeses as too spicy, especially at the end of ripening. Spicy flavor is usually perceived before than the texture and evidenced an acceleration of the flavor formation. We concluded that the innovative intervention in cheese making technology was successful in accelerating cheese ripening. It also had potential to develop a new cheese product targeted at consumers who chose/prefer good spicy flavor.Practical ApplicationSurvival analysis is a useful methodology to determine the optimum ripening time of foods based on consumer data. In this work, it evidenced that the proposed innovative cheese making was successful in accelerating the formation of cheese flavor, and had the potential to develop a new cheese product targeted at consumers who chose/prefer good spicy flavor.
Physicochemical characterization of oil, antioxidant potential, and phenolic profile of seeds isolated from Tunisian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars
Authors: Khemakhem Maissa , Zarroug Youkabed , Jabou Khaled , Selmi Sawsen , Bouzouita Nabiha 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seeds oils (PSO) from three Tunisian varieties namely Jebali, Testouri, and Gabsi were extracted by ultrasonic‐assisted extraction and analyzed for their physicochemical properties, fatty acids (FA) profile, and sterol composition. PSO of Gabsi and Testouri showed the best quality indexes in terms of peroxide and acid values and the highest oxidative stability index was observed for PSO of Gabsi ecotype (2.534 hr). Polyphenol content of PSO of Gabsi ecotype (886.909 mg/kg) was roughly 3 and 23 times higher than that of Jebali and Testouri ecotypes, respectively. Twelve FAs were identified by GC/FID. Punicic acid was the major compounds ranged from 81.53% (Testouri) to 86.41% (Gabsi). The unsaturated/saturated FA ratios of PSO were 14.53, 15.95, and 18.68, respectively for Gabsi, Testouri, and Jebali, respectively. Phytosterols were also identified and β‐sitosterol was the major compound in PSO. In addition, the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of phenolic extracts obtained from pomegranate seeds residues were investigated. Pomegranate seeds extract (PSE) of Gabsi cultivar showed the highest content of polyphenols (64.762 mg CAE/g) and flavonoids (7.127 mg RE/g). Antioxidant potential of extracts was performed using DPPH test and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Results revealed that Gabsi cultivar was the most reactive extract with EC50 of 0.105 mg/mL for DPPH test and 40.622 mg AA/g for TAC. Phenolic profiles of PSE were also investigated. Results showed the importance of cultivar selection in the potential use of bioactive compounds of seeds as nutraceutical ingredients in food and chemical industries.Practical ApplicationThree Tunisian pomegranate cultivars namely Jebali, Testouri, and Gabsi were investigated for their seeds oil and phenolic composition. Pomegranate seeds oil (PSO) are rich in bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols that can be of interest in several food and chemical industrial applications. Moreover, pomegranate seeds extracts are a natural source of antioxidant components, such as phenolic compounds, that can be used by the pharmaceutical industry as promising nutraceutical ingredients. The obtained results can be used to provide guidance on cultivar selection during industrial applications.
The mediation role of SOCS3 methylation in the effect of serum testosterone on type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wang Lulu , Liu Xiaotiao , Wei Dandan , Kang Ning , Nie Luting , Liu Pengling , Fan Keliang , Zhang Li , Hou Jian , Li Xing , Xu Shunqing , Jing Tao , Li Wenjie , Wang Chongjian , Mao Zhenxing , Huo Wenqian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies reported that testosterone and DNA methylation of suppressor of cytokine signaling‐3 (SOCS3) were associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Testosterone affects SOCS3 gene expression. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how the SOCS3 methylation mediates the relationship between testosterone and T2D among Chinese rural adults.MethodsA case‐control study comprised 365 T2D patients and 651 controls was conducted. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry and MethylTarget were used to determine the levels of serum testosterone and DNA methylation of SOCS3 gene, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of testosterone or SOCS3 methylation for T2D was calculated using logistic regression models, and β value of testosterone for SOCS3 methylation was evaluated by linear regression models. Furthermore, through mediation analysis the mediating effect of SOCS3 methylation on the association of testosterone with T2D was estimated.ResultsAfter adjusting for multiple variables, the protective effect of testosterone on T2D was found in men (OR = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47‐0.80), and the methylation of Chr17:76356190 or Chr17:76356199 was negatively related to T2D in both men and women. Moreover, testosterone was positively associated with Chr17:76356190 methylation in men and Chr17:76356199 methylation in women (both P < .05). The mediation analysis showed that the Chr17:76356190 methylation partly mediated effect of testosterone on T2D in men was approximately 8.2%.ConclusionsHigh levels of serum testosterone in men and Chr17:76356190 and Chr17:76356199 (SOCS3) methylation were related to a lower prevalent T2D. In addition, Chr17:76356190 methylation partially mediated the effect of testosterone on T2D in Chinese rural men.
eDNAFlow, an automated, reproducible and scalable workflow for analysis of environmental DNA sequences exploiting Nextflow and Singularity
Authors: Mousavi‐Derazmahalleh Mahsa , Stott Audrey , Lines Rose , Peverley Georgia , Nester Georgia , Simpson Tiffany , Zawierta Michal , De La Pierre Marco , Bunce Michael , Christophersen Claus T. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMetabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) when coupled with high throughput sequencing is revolutionising the way biodiversity can be monitored across a wide range of applications. However, the large number of tools deployed in downstream bioinformatic analyses often places a challenge in configuration and maintenance of a workflow, and consequently limits the research reproducibility. Furthermore, scalability needs to be considered to handle the growing amount of data due to increase in sequence output and the scale of project. Here, we describe eDNAFlow, a fully automated workflow that employs a number of state‐of‐the‐art applications to process eDNA data from raw sequences (single‐end or paired‐end) to generation of curated and noncurated zero‐radius operational taxonomic units (ZOTUs) and their abundance tables. This pipeline is based on Nextflow and Singularity which enable a scalable, portable and reproducible workflow using software containers on a local computer, clouds and high‐performance computing (HPC) clusters. Finally, we present an in‐house Python script to assign taxonomy to ZOTUs based on user specified thresholds for assigning lowest common ancestor (LCA). We demonstrate the utility and efficiency of the pipeline using an example of a published coral diversity biomonitoring study. Our results were congruent with the aforementioned study. The scalability of the pipeline is also demonstrated through analysis of a large data set containing 154 samples. To our knowledge, this is the first automated bioinformatic pipeline for eDNA analysis using two powerful tools: Nextflow and Singularity. This pipeline addresses two major challenges in the analysis of eDNA data; scalability and reproducibility.
Higher vs lower doses of dexamethasone in patients with COVID‐19 and severe hypoxia (COVID STEROID 2) trial: Protocol and statistical analysis plan
Authors: Munch MW , Granholm Anders , Myatra SN , Vijayaraghavan BKT , Cronhjort Maria , Wahlin RR , Jakob Stephan M. , Cioccari Luca , Kjær MN , Vesterlund GK , Meyhoff TS , Helleberg Marie , Møller MH , Benfield Thomas , Venkatesh Balasubramanian , Hammond Naomi , Micallef Sharon , Bassi Abhinav , John Oommen , Jha Vivekanand , Kristiansen KT , Ulrik CS , Jørgensen VL , Smitt Margit , Bestle Morten H. , Andreasen AS , Poulsen LM , Rasmussen BS , Brøchner AC , Strøm Thomas , Møller Anders , Khan MS , Padmanaban Ajay , Divatia JV , Saseedharan Sanjith , Borawake Kapil , Kapadia Farhad , Dixit Subhal , Chawla Rajesh , Shukla Urvi , Amin Pravin , Chew Michelle S. , Gluud Christian , Lange Theis , Perner Anders 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths and overburdened healthcare systems worldwide. Systemic low‐dose corticosteroids have proven clinical benefit in patients with severe COVID‐19. Higher doses of corticosteroids are used in other inflammatory lung diseases and may offer additional clinical benefits in COVID‐19. At present, the balance between benefits and harms of higher vs. lower doses of corticosteroids for patients with COVID‐19 is unclear.MethodsThe COVID STEROID 2 trial is an investigator‐initiated, international, parallel‐grouped, blinded, centrally randomised and stratified clinical trial assessing higher (12 mg) vs. lower (6 mg) doses of dexamethasone for adults with COVID‐19 and severe hypoxia. We plan to enrol 1,000 patients in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and India. The primary outcome is days alive without life support (invasive mechanical ventilation, circulatory support or renal replacement therapy) at day 28. Secondary outcomes include serious adverse reactions at day 28; all‐cause mortality at day 28, 90 and 180; days alive without life support at day 90; days alive and out of hospital at day 90; and health‐related quality of life at day 180. The primary outcome will be analysed using the Kryger Jensen and Lange test adjusted for stratification variables and reported as adjusted mean differences and median differences. The full statistical analysis plan is outlined in this protocol.DiscussionThe COVID STEROID 2 trial will provide evidence on the optimal dosing of systemic corticosteroids for COVID‐19 patients with severe hypoxia with important implications for patients, their relatives and society.
Analyst bias and forecast consistency
Authors: Byun Sanghyuk , Roland Kristin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe contribute to the literature examining inconsistent analyst forecast revisions. While prior research suggests inconsistent analyst forecasts are less accurate, we find this result is sensitive to both the definition and direction of inconsistency. We define consistency relative to each analyst’s own forecast error and find the relation between analyst characteristics and the likelihood of issuing an inconsistent forecast differs depending on the direction of the revision. Specifically, less accurate analysts are more likely to issue an inconsistent positive revision and have higher future accuracy than their consistent counterparts. Our results suggest that analysts derive a benefit (better future accuracy) from issuing upward forecast revisions in the period immediately following an earnings announcement regardless of the resulting forecast pattern.
Mouse eradication is required to prevent local extinction of an endangered seabird on an oceanic island
Authors: Jones C. W. , Risi M. M. , Osborne A. M. , Ryan P. G. , Oppel S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPetrels (Procellariidae) are a highly diverse family of seabirds, many of which are globally threatened due to the impact of invasive species on breeding populations. While predation by invasive cats and rats has led to the extinction of petrel populations, the impact of invasive house miceMus musculusis slower and less well documented. However, mice impact small burrow‐nesting species such as MacGillivray’s prionPachyptila macgillivrayi, a species classified as endangered because it has been extirpated on islands in the Indian Ocean by introduced rodents. We use historic abundance data and demographic monitoring data from 2014 to 2020 to predict the population trajectory of MacGillivray’s prion on Gough Island with and without a mouse eradication using a stochastic integrated population model. Given very low annual breeding success (0.01 fledglings per breeding pair in ‘poor’ years (83%) or 0.38 in ‘good’ years (17%),n = 320 nests over 6 years) mainly due to mouse predation, our model predicted that the population collapsed from ~3.5 million pairs in 1956 to an estimated 175,000 pairs in 2020 despite reasonably high adult survival probability (ϕ = 0.901). Based on these parameters, the population is predicted to decline at a rate of 9% per year over the next 36 years without a mouse eradication, with a 31% probability that by 2057, the MacGillivray’ prion population would become extremely vulnerable to extinction. Our models predict population stability (λ = 1.01) and a lower extinction risk (<10%) if mouse eradication on Gough Island restores annual breeding success to 0.519, which is in line with that of closely related species on predator‐free islands. This study demonstrates the devastating impacts that introduced house mice can have on small burrowing petrels and highlights the urgency to eradicate invasive mammals from oceanic islands.
Strong effects of radio‐tags, social group and release date on survival of reintroduced grey partridges
Authors: Homberger Benjamin , Jenni Lukas , Duplain Jérôme , Lanz Michael , Schaub Michael 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAnimal reintroductions are important tools for conservation but often fail for reasons poorly understood. Biological and methodological factors can affect reintroduction success in complex manners. Investigating dispersal after release often relies on the use of biologging devices but individuals cope differently with these devices. They can detrimentally affect the performance of individuals depending on life‐history stage and may provide flawed conclusions, because inference drawn from tagged individuals cannot be readily generalized to non‐tagged individuals. Furthermore, environmental conditions during the release period or the expression of social behaviour such as the coordination of flocking behaviour can affect the outcome of reintroductions. In a reintroduction project involving 1385 grey partridges (Perdix perdix) released in 54 social groups (i.e. coveys), we investigated whether individual biweekly post‐release survival varied throughout different life‐history stages and was affected by radio‐tags of different weight (8 vs. 11 g), covey affiliation and release date. We conducted experiments in captivity to evaluate whether physiological stress, body condition and individual take‐off performance were affected by radio‐tags. During the first month after release survival was low in radio‐tagged and untagged birds. Throughout the second‐ and third‐month post‐release, negative effects of radio‐tags on survival were apparent. Four months after release, the survival of radio‐tagged and untagged birds converged. Consequently, the annual survival of untagged birds was more than five times higher than that of radio‐tagged birds. We did not find clear negative effects of radio‐tags on stress hormone levels but take‐off performance tended to be lower in tagged birds. Survival strongly decreased with later release date and differed between coveys. The use of radio‐tags can detrimentally affect individual survival and reintroduction success of grey partridges. The risk and benefits of radio‐tags should be balanced and releases in reintroductions should be conducted under the most favourable social and environmental conditions.
Cannabis use does not impact on type 2 diabetes: A two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Baumeister Sebastian‐Edgar , Nolde Michael , Alayash Zoheir , Leitzmann Michael , Baurecht Hansjörg , Meisinger Christa 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCannabis has effects on the insulin/glucose metabolism. As the use of cannabis and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increase worldwide, it is important to examine the effect of cannabis on the risk of diabetes. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study by using 19 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for lifetime cannabis use and 14 SNPs to instrument cannabis use disorder and linking these to type 2 diabetes risk using genome‐wide association study data (lifetime cannabis use [N = 184,765]; cannabis use disorder [2387 cases/48,985 controls], type 2 diabetes [74,124 cases/824,006 controls]). The MR analysis suggested no effect of lifetime cannabis use (inverse‐variance weighted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.00 [0.93–1.09], P value = 0.935) and cannabis use disorder (OR = 1.03 [0.99–1.08]) on type 2 diabetes. Sensitivity analysis to assess potential pleiotropy led to no substantive change in the estimates. This study adds to the evidence base that cannabis use does not play a causal role in type 2 diabetes.
Long‐term durability of uterine artery embolisation for treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis
Authors: Ma Jolande , Brown Bevan , Liang Eisen 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundFailing conservative therapies, uterine artery embolisation (UAE) has been proposed as a uterine‐sparing option for treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis. UAE appears effective at short‐term; however long‐term durability is less well established.AimsTo evaluate the long‐term clinical efficacy of UAE for treatment of adenomyosis.Materials and MethodsOne hundred and four women with initial clinical success following UAE for adenomyosis (results previously published) were further followed with a two‐part online survey. Part one inquired about menopause, symptom recurrence, need for further intervention and overall satisfaction. Part two comprised the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and health‐related Quality of Life (UFS‐QOL) questionnaire. Maintenance of clinical success was defined as remaining ‘happy’ or ‘very happy’ with overall outcome, no recurrence of symptoms, or need for further intervention.ResultsOf those women with initial success, 91/104 (88%) participated in this long‐term study at mean 52 months following UAE. Maintenance of clinical success was demonstrated in 82/91 (90%) women. For the remaining 9/91 (10%) women, mean time to failure was 31 months. There were 53/91 (58%) women who reached menopause at mean age of 51.5 years, occurring at mean 30 months post‐UAE. UFS‐QOL demonstrated significant decrease in symptom severity from 58.9 to 20.0 (P < 0.001); and significant increase in QOL from 40.3 to 86.3 (P < 0.001).ConclusionsLong‐term durability of UAE for treatment of adenomyosis was demonstrated, with cumulative success rate of 80% at mean 52 months. UAE did not appear to bring forward menopause. UAE should be considered as an alternative to hysterectomy to treat adenomyosis.
Managing a rare complication of HELLP syndrome in Australia: Spontaneous liver haematoma in pregnancy
Authors: Gupta Akhil , Joseph Shantha Rose , Jeffries Bill 
Published: February 2021

Spontaneous subcapsular haematoma of the liver is a rare but life‐threatening complication of pregnancy. Prevention of maternal and fetal death requires early identification and specialised management. We report three cases of spontaneous liver haematoma in pregnancy from our institution between 2011 and 2018. We conducted a systematic search of online databases using search terms, (‘liver’ AND ‘pregnancy’) AND (‘haematoma’ OR ‘rupture’) in order to present a narrative review of the literature and a systematic management framework. Our series is the first Australian report of spontaneous subcapsular haematoma in pregnancy with one fetal death in utero but no maternal deaths. Our systematic search of online databases revealed 45 similar reports in the last ten years. Individual patient data were available for 73 cases. The overwhelming majority of these reports were single cases or small case series. We estimate the mean maternal mortality rate to be 15% but fetal mortality was substantially greater than 15% (although data for neonatal outcomes was incomplete). There was one case report of liver transplantation with excellent maternal and fetal outcome. In the last five years, modern diagnostic techniques and therapeutic options have significantly reduced maternal and fetal mortality. Hepatic artery embolisation is a minimally invasive approach under guidance of imaging and is likely to achieve the best maternal and fetal outcomes. Based on our literature review, we have provided a systematic management framework for spontaneous liver haematoma in pregnancy.
RACS and its Fellows: a contribution to sustainable healthcare improvement in South East Asia
Authors: Hollands Michael , Hisham Abdullah Noor , Kong James , Moss Daliah , Pusponegro Aryono , Wora‐Urai Nopadol , Soe Zaw Wai 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe question of whether small non‐government organizations with comparatively small budgets can make a substantial contribution to sustainable improvement in health care in low‐ and middle‐income countries is crucial to funding global surgical projects. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and its Fellows have partnered with local organizations and clinicians to deliver a wide range of projects in South East Asia. These projects have proved sustainable and have increased healthcare capacity in these nations. This provides strong evidence that small non‐government organizations such as the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons can make a major contribution to global surgeryI