bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimized bacterial DNA isolation method for microbiome analysis of human tissues
Authors: Bruggeling Carlijn E. , Garza Daniel R. , Achouiti Soumia , Mes Wouter , Dutilh Bas E. , Boleij Annemarie 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRecent advances in microbiome sequencing have rendered new insights into the role of the microbiome in human health with potential clinical implications. Unfortunately, the presence of host DNA in tissue isolates has hampered the analysis of host‐associated bacteria. Here, we present a DNA isolation protocol for tissue, optimized on biopsies from resected human colons (~2–5 mm in size), which includes reduction of human DNA without distortion of relative bacterial abundance at the phylum level. We evaluated which concentrations of Triton and saponin lyse human cells and leave bacterial cells intact, in combination with DNAse treatment to deplete released human DNA. Saponin at a concentration of 0.0125% in PBS lysed host cells, resulting in a 4.5‐fold enrichment of bacterial DNA while preserving the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, γ‐Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria assessed by qPCR. Our optimized protocol was validated in the setting of two large clinical studies on 521 in vivo acquired colon biopsies of 226 patients using shotgun metagenomics. The resulting bacterial profiles exhibited alpha and beta diversities that are similar to the diversities found by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. A direct comparison between shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of 15 forceps tissue biopsies showed similar bacterial profiles and a similar Shannon diversity index between the sequencing methods. Hereby, we present the first protocol for enriching bacterial DNA from tissue biopsies that allows efficient isolation of all bacteria. Our protocol facilitates analysis of a wide spectrum of bacteria of clinical tissue samples improving their applicability for microbiome research.
A Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Study with Dipyridamole for Restless Legs Syndrome
Authors: Garcia‐Borreguero Diego , Garcia‐Malo Celia , Granizo Juan José , Ferré Sergi 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundNew pharmacological targets are needed for restless legs syndrome. Preclinical data suggest that a hypoadenosinergic state plays an important pathogenetic role.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether inhibitors of equilibrative nucleoside transporters, for example, dipyridamole, could provide effective symptomatic treatment.MethodsA 2‐week double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study assessed the efficacy of dipyridamole (possible up‐titration to 300 mg) in untreated patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome. Multiple suggested immobilization tests and polysomnography were performed after each treatment phase. Severity was assessed weekly using the International Restless Legs Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression, and the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale. The primary end point was therapeutic response.ResultsTwenty‐eight of 29 patients recruited were included. International Restless Legs Rating Scale scores improved from a mean ± standard deviation of 24.1 ± 3.1 at baseline to 11.1 ± 2.3 at the end of week 2, versus 23.7 ± 3.4 to 18.7 ± 3.2 under placebo (P < 0.001). Clinical Global Impression, Medical Outcomes Study Sleep, and Multiple Suggested Immobilization Test scores all improved (P < 0.001). The mean effective dose of dipyridamole was 217.8 ± 33.1 mg/d. Sleep variables improved. The mean periodic leg movement index at the end of treatment with dipyridamole was 8.2 ± 3.5 versus. 28.1 ± 6.7 under placebo. Side effects (dipyridamole vs placebo) included abdominal distension (18% vs. 7%), dizziness (10.7% vs 7.1%), diarrhea, and asthenia (each 7.1% vs 3.6%).ConclusionsDipyridamole has significant therapeutic effects on both sensory and motor symptoms of restless legs syndrome and on sleep. Our findings confirm the efficacy of dipyridamole in restless legs syndrome predicted from preclinical studies and support a key role of adenosine in restless legs syndrome. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Using conjoint analysis to measure the importance of psychosocial traits in the choices of bladder management after spinal cord injury
Authors: Welk Blayne , Myers Jeremy B. , Kennelly Michael , Elliott Christopher S. , McKibbon Mary , Watson Julie , Gervais Kyle ,   for the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo conduct a conjoint analysis experiment to better understand the psychosocial priorities related to bladder management in individuals after spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsWe developed a conjoint analysis survey that included 11 psychosocial attributes phrased in the context of bladder management (including attributes for urinary infections, and incontinence). We then performed a multi‐center prospective cross‐sectional study of adults with existing SCI which consisted of a baseline interview, followed by the online conjoint analysis survey (delivered through Sawtooth software). Hierarchical Bayes random effects regression analysis was used to determine the relative importance of the attributes.ResultsA total of 345 people complete the study. There was good representation of both men and women, and individuals with cervical and thoracic or lower lesions. The most important attribute was the frequency of urinary infections. Age, sex, and level of SCI were generally not related to the attributes measured in the study. In the subgroup of 256 patients who used a catheter for bladder management, significantly more importance was placed on urinary tract infections, time, fluid intake, and social life among indwelling catheter users compared to intermittent catheter users.ConclusionsMost bladder‐related psychosocial priorities are not impacted by a patient's age, sex or level of SCI. Differences in psychosocial priorities between indwelling and intermittent catheter users may represent factors that should be focused on to optimize bladder management after SCI.
New valid inequalities for the symmetric vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and deliveries
Authors: Agarwal Yogesh Kumar , Venkateshan Prahalad 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe symmetric vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and deliveries is considered. The current state‐of‐the‐art method to solve this problem employs the idea of a no‐good cut. This article achieves an order of magnitude improvement in the computational time needed to solve difficult problem instances by generalizing the no‐good cuts and developing a way to generate improved no‐good cuts much earlier in a branch‐and‐bound tree. Results are reported on benchmark instances in literature and new difficult instances generated by the authors. Some polyhedral results are presented about the strength of the generalized no‐good cuts for a special case of the problem.
Computing light pollution indicators for environmental assessment
Authors: Falchi Fabio , Bará Salvador 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLight pollution modeling and monitoring has traditionally used zenith sky brightness as its main indicator. Several other indicators (e.g., average sky radiance, horizontal irradiance, and average sky radiance at given interval of zenith distances) may be more useful, both for general and specific purposes of ecology studies, night sky, and environmental monitoring. These indicators can be calculated after the whole sky radiance is known with sufficient angular detail. This means, for each site, to integrate the contribution in each direction of the sky of each light source in the radius of hundreds of km. This approach is extremely high time‐consuming if the mapping is desired for a large territory. Here, we present a way to obtain maps of large territories for a large subset of useful indicators, bypassing the need to calculate first the radiance map of the whole sky in each site to obtain from it the desired indicator in that site. For each indicator, a point spread function (PSF) is calculated from the whole sky radiance maps generated by a single source at sufficiently dense number of distances from the observing site. If the PSF is transversally shift‐invariant, that is, if it depends only on the relative position of source and observer, then we can further speed up the map calculation via the use of fast Fourier‐transform. We present here examples of maps for different indicators. Precise results can be calculated for any single site, taking into account the site and light sources' altitudes, by means of specific inhomogeneous (spatially variant) and anisotropic (nonrotationally symmetric) PSFs.Key points
Light pollution is not anymore viewed as an astronomycentric issue.
On the contrary, it is a multidisciplinary problem, involving, between others, physicists, ecologists, physiologists, engineers, politicians.
Some of the disciplines that will directly take advantage from the methods explained here are: astronomy, ecology and ethology (in condition of altered night light), urban and landscape planning, environmental protection.
Adapting pediatric obesity care to better suit adolescent patients: Design of a treatment platform and results compared with standard care in the national patient quality register
Authors: Janson Annika , Bohlin Anna , Johansson Britt‐Marie , Trygg‐Lycke Sofia , Gauffin Fredrika , Klaesson Sven 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundObesity constitutes a critical risk for adolescent health. This study aimed at identifying youth‐friendly components of obesity treatment.MethodsIn this feasibility study, an adolescent obesity treatment platform was implemented at two Pediatric outpatient clinics in Sweden. Body mass index (BMI), BMI z‐score, and the category of obesity (International Obesity Task Force) were compared before and after the intervention and with data on standard care from the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register.ResultsThe study included 99 participants (49 females) aged 13–18 years from 1 September 2014, to 31 December 2016. A pediatric nurse met the participants on average 6.5 times in the average inclusion period of 15 months. Physical activity sessions attracted 63 participants. Acceptance Commitment Therapy and In Real Life groups attracted 24 participants. At inclusion, 62 participants had obesity and 37 severe obesity, and 71/99 (72%) remained in the same category. The mean BMI increased from 32.0 to 33.4 kg/m2 (p < 0.01), but 56/94 (60%) participants lowered their BMI or increased less than 1 kg/m2 and 73% stayed to the end of the study. Participants who were new to treatment and participants coming for more than eight visits to the nurse did not increase in BMI. BMI did not change for the 221 out of 641 register patients who had two recordings of BMI in the study period.ConclusionsThe platform was successful in increasing retention, and 60% of participants lowered or maintained their BMI. Still, seven out of ten adolescents with obesity or severe obesity remained in the same weight category.
Rheological properties of UHMWPE/HDPE blend gels and morphology and mechanical properties of gel‐spun fibers
Authors: Yang Wenxiao , Bin Yuezhen , Wang Hai , Ge Zhonghui 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTo produce polyethylene (PE) fibers with relatively high tensile strength but low cost, ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) (UH) blend gels were prepared from paraffin oil and further fabricated into UH blend fibers by gel spinning. This research focused on the rheological properties of UH blend gels with high solid contents (SCs) ranging from 25 to 100 g/L, as well as morphology and mechanical properties of resultant gel‐spun UH blend fibers. The rheological measurements indicated that the apparent viscosity, shear storage, and loss moduli of the UH blend gels were not markedly increased compared with those of the UHMWPE gel with much less SC. No obvious solid–liquid phase separation occurred in UH blend gels at a temperature above the sol–gel transition temperature. UH blend fibers were prepared by drawing as‐spun fibers (draw ratio [λ] = 3) at 110°C to λ = 15, 45, 60, and 80, respectively. The orientation degree of fibril structure in UH blend fibers increased with increasing λ but the length of fibrils (Lfibril) showed a complex change. The Lfibril of UH blend fibers became larger due to chain arrangement in company with the transformation of the kebab structure to the extended shish structure when the λ was less than 45 but decreased during further elongation (λ = 60 and 80) because of fibril breakage and recrystallization. The change in morphological behavior led to the corresponding change in mechanical properties of resultant gel‐spun UH blend fibers. The tensile strength of gel‐spun UH55‐45 blend fiber (UHMWPE/HDPE = 5/5 and λ = 45) reached 15.6 cN/dtex, which could fulfill the requirement of mechanical properties in common application.
COVID‐19: Impact, experiences, and support needs of children and young adults with cystic fibrosis and parents
Authors: Collaço Nicole , Legg Julian , Day Maria , Culliford David , Campion Anna , West Carolyn , Darlington Anne‐Sophie 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the impact of COVID‐19 and the United Kingdom's (UK) national shielding advice on people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families. This study explored the experiences and support needs of children and young adults (CYAs) with CF, and parents who have a child with CF, during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsCYAs with CF and parents of CYAs with CF completed a UK wide online survey with open and closed questions exploring experiences, information and support needs and decision‐making processes. Qualitative thematic content analysis and descriptive quantitative analyses were undertaken.ResultsCYAs aged 10–30 years (n = 99) and parents of CYAs aged 0–34 years (n = 145) responded. Parents (72.7%) and CYAs (50.0%) worried about the virus, and both were vigilant for virus symptoms (82.7% and 79.7%). Over three‐quarters of CYAs were worried about their own health if they caught the virus. CYAs worried about feeling more isolated during the virus (64.9%). Qualitative findings reported the following themes: (1) Disruption—caused by isolation, (2) impact on psychological wellbeing, (3) safety of shielding, and (4) healthcare and treatment provision—changes to care, access and support.ConclusionsThe impact of COVID‐19 and UK shielding advice to have no contact with anyone outside the household caused disruption to the lives and routines of individuals in relation to work, education, social lives, relationships, CF management routines and support. Parents and CYAs highlighted the need for clear, up‐to‐date and tailored advice on individualized risks and shielding.
Brazilian immigrant entrepreneurs' support networks and bounded (mis)trust in Western Australia
Authors: Casado Renata , Falcão Roberto Pessoa de Queiroz , Cruz Eduardo Picanço 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis research investigated factors that either hinder or foster social ties among Brazilian entrepreneurs in Western Australia, as well as trust among these co‐ethnic businesses and the community. This is an exploratory qualitative study, based on semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with 23 Brazilian entrepreneurs. Findings suggest that there are strong social ties and trust among Brazilian entrepreneurs, but these are sustained because the relationship of reciprocity between the parties is useful for the businesses. Conversely, this study also highlights the existence of ‘bounded mistrust’ in the relationship between the Brazilian entrepreneurs and the Brazilian community. We build on ideas from economic sociology (Portes & Sensenbrenner, 1993; Portes & Zhou, 1992), while also taking into consideration anthropological aspects of the Brazilian culture, to offer not only insights about entrepreneurship within this ethnic community but also a contribution to the conceptualisation of ‘bounded trust’.
Intelligent optimal tracking with asymmetric constraints of a nonlinear wastewater treatment system
Authors: Wang Ding , Zhao Mingming , Qiao Junfei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe wastewater treatment is an effective method for alleviating the shortage of water resources. In this article, a data‐driven iterative adaptive tracking control approach is developed to improve the control performance of the dissolved oxygen concentration and the nitrate nitrogen concentration in the nonlinear wastewater treatment plant. First, the model network is established to obtain the steady control and evaluate the new system state. Then, a nonquadratic performance functional is provided to handle asymmetric control constraints. Moreover, the new costate function and the tracking control policy are derived by using the dual heuristic dynamic programming algorithm. In the present control scheme, two neural networks are constructed to approximate the costate function and the tracking control law. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed algorithm is confirmed by applying the designed strategy to the wastewater treatment plant.
Critical parameters for the robust stabilization of the inverted pendulum with reaction delay: State feedback versus predictor feedback
Authors: Kovacs Balazs A. , Insperger Tamas 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe critical length that limits stabilizability for delayed proportional‐derivative‐acceleration (PDA) feedback and for predictor feedback (PF) is analyzed for the inverted pendulum paradigm. The aim of this work is to improve the understanding of human balancing tasks such as stick balancing on the fingertip, which can be modeled as a pendulum cart system. The relation between the critical length of the balanced stick and the reaction time delay in the presence of sensory uncertainties, which are modeled as static parameter perturbations in the control gains, is investigated rigorously. Robust stabilizability analysis is performed using the real structured stability radius. Performance is assessed by the length of the shortest pendulum (critical length) that can still be balanced for a fixed reaction delay. For both PDA feedback and PF control with delay mismatch, it is observed that the relation between the critical length and the reaction delay remains quadratic in the presence of perturbations on the control gains (of fixed size). Numerical comparison shows that predictor feedback is superior over PDA feedback in terms of critical length: shorter pendulum can be balanced by PF than by PDA feedback for the same reaction delay and for the same static parameter perturbation. Furthermore, it is found that both control concepts are more sensitive to the change in the feedback delay than on the same relative change in the parameter uncertainties. Interpretation to human balancing suggests that it is more challenging for the nervous system to cope with reaction delay than with sensory uncertainties.
Assessment of a conservative mixing model for the evaluation of constituent behavior below river confluences, Elqui River Basin, Chile
Authors: Rossi Catalina , Oyarzún Jorge , Pastén Pablo , Runkel Robert L. , Núñez Jorge , Duhalde Denisse , Maturana Hugo , Rojas Eduardo , Arumí José L. , Castillo Daniela , Oyarzún Ricardo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractFate and transport modeling of water‐borne contaminants is a data demanding and costly endeavor, requiring considerable expertise. As such, it becomes important to know when a complex modeling approach is required, and when a simpler approach is adequate. This is the main objective herein, where a conservative mixing model is used to characterize the transport of As, Cu, Fe, and SO4. The study area is divided into three sectors, corresponding to the upstream, middle, and downstream portions of the Elqui River Basin, Chile. In Sector 1, acidic conditions result in the conservative transport of constituents that are sourced from acid rock drainage. In Sector 2, pH increases and transport is influenced by pH‐dependent reactions and the subsequent settling of the particulate phase. In Sector 3, there are no additional constituent inputs, and the constituents are conservatively transported downstream. Conservative transport within Sector 3 is confirmed through the development of a regression model that provides monthly estimates of SO4 load. Whereas SO4 and Cu concentrations are adequately approximated by the conservative mixing model, estimates of As and Fe concentrations exhibit larger errors, due to the more reactive behavior of these constituents. The fact that the simple, conservative mixing model describes SO4 transport is a valuable result, as this constituent is known to be one of the primary indicators of mining‐related contamination in rivers. The approach could also be a useful starting point for further evaluations of the effects of climate change and hydrological variability on the water quality of rivers.
The p38 MAPK Inhibitors and Their Role in Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Machado Thamires R. , Machado Thayná R. , Pascutti Pedro G. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe p38 family is a highly evolutionarily conserved group of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that is involved in and helps co‐ordinate cellular responses to nearly all stressful stimuli. Four isoforms of the p38 MAPK family (α, β, γ, δ) have been identified. p38α is activated by many inflammatory stimuli, and it plays a key role in regulating the biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). For this reason, p38 MAPK is an important target to be studied for the treatment of chronic airway inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, COVID‐19 and acute coronary syndrome. The characteristics of p38 MAPK, the different modes of inhibition, and its involvement in inflammatory diseases are summarized in this review. We then discuss the p38 MAPK inhibitors that have been used in the in vitro systems as well as in the clinical trials.
Ionic‐Liquids‐Promoted Synthesis of Aryldiazo Sulfones from Aryltriazenes and Sodium Sulfinates under Metal‐Free and Ambient Conditions
Authors: Zhang Yonghong , Cao Dawei , Ma Xuecheng , Tang Chengzong , Wang Bin , Jin Weiwei , Xia Yu , Liu Chenjiang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA metal‐free, efficient and environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of aryldiazo sulfones from aryltriazenes and sodium aryl/alkyl sulfinates is described. The procedure exploits the unique properties of aryltriazenes as aryl‐azo precursors of aryldiazonium cation and sodium sulfinates as easy‐to‐handle aryl/alkyl sulfonyl reagents. The distinctive features of this reaction include very mild reaction condition, wide functional group tolerance, green reaction system, short reaction time, good to excellent yields and gram‐scalability. This work offers a safe and potential alternative to reported methods in the synthesis of aryldiazo sulfones.