bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory endotypes in COPD
Authors: Barnes Peter J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem that is poorly treated by current therapies as it has proved difficult to treat the underlying inflammation, which is largely corticosteroid‐resistant in most patients. Although rare genetic endotypes of COPD have been recognized, despite the clinical heterogeneity of COPD, it has proved difficult to identify distinct inflammatory endotypes. Most patients have increased neutrophils and macrophages in sputum, reflecting the increased secretion of neutrophil and monocyte chemotactic mediators in the lungs. However, some patients also have increased eosinophils in sputum and this may be reflected by increased blood eosinophils. Increased blood and sputum eosinophils are associated with more frequent exacerbations and predict a good response to corticosteroids in reducing and treating acute exacerbations. Eosinophilic COPD may represent an overlap with asthma but the mechanism of eosinophilia is uncertain as, although an increase in sputum IL‐5 has been detected, anti‐IL‐5 therapies are not effective in preventing exacerbations. More research is needed to link inflammatory endotypes to clinical manifestations and outcomes in COPD and in particular to predict response to precision medicines.
Neural inertia and differences between loss of and recovery from consciousness during total intravenous anaesthesia: a narrative review
Authors: Sepúlveda P. O. , Tapia L. F. , Monsalves S. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryMost anaesthetists using target‐controlled infusion systems will have observed that the calculated effect‐site concentration at loss of consciousness is usually higher than the concentration at emergence. Inertia is the ability of biological systems to keep a functional state at rest or in activity and is an active process of resistance to change in state. Hysteresis is a phenomenon whereby the value of a physical property lags behind changes in the effect that is causing it and this is also seen in anaesthesia pharmacology. Recently, a phenomenon called neuronal inertia has been proposed when trying to explain the resistance observed to changes in consciousness induced by general anaesthesia, independent of drug kinetics. This review discusses the existence of this phenomenon and the conceptual and practical impact it may have on induction and recovery from general anaesthesia.
Opposing effects of 25‐hydroxy‐ and 1α,25‐dihydroxy‐vitamin D3 on pro‐cachectic cytokine‐and cancer conditioned medium‐induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes
Authors: Sustova Hana , De Feudis Marilisa , Reano Simone , Alves Teixeira Maraiza , Valle Ilaria , Zaggia Ivan , Agosti Emanuela , Prodam Flavia , Filigheddu Nicoletta 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimLoss of skeletal muscle is one of the main features of cancer cachexia. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is associated with impairment of muscle mass and performance and is highly prevalent in cachectic patients; therefore, VD supplementation has been proposed to counteract cancer cachexia‐associated muscle loss. However, in both cachectic cancer patients and tumour‐bearing animals, VD supplementation led to disappointing results, urging the need for a better understanding of VD activity on skeletal muscle.MethodsCancer‐associated muscle wasting was reproduced in vitro by treating C2C12 myotubes with cancer cell conditioned medium, a combination of TNF‐α and IFNγ or IL‐6 pro‐cachectic cytokines. The biological effects and mechanisms of action of 1,25‐dihydroxy VD (1,25 VD) and its precursor 25‐hydroxy VD (25 VD) on myotubes were explored.ResultsWe demonstrated that only 25 VD was able to protect from atrophy by activating Akt signalling, inducing protein synthesis, and stimulating the autophagic flux, while 1,25 VD had an atrophic activity per se, increasing FoxO3 levels, inducing the expression of atrogenes, and blocking the autophagic flux. Furthermore, we showed that the contrasting activities of these VD metabolites on C2C12 myotubes depend on a differential induction of VD‐24‐hydroxylase and transformation of VD metabolites in pro‐atrophic 24‐hydroxylated products, as silencing of VD‐24‐hydroxylase reduced the atrophic activity of 1,25 VD.ConclusionsAltogether these data might explain the lack of efficacy of VD treatment in vivo for the protection of muscle mass in cancer.
The effectiveness of intelligent tutoring systems on K‐12 students' reading comprehension: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Xu Zhihong , Wijekumar Kausalai (Kay) , Ramirez Gilbert , Hu Xueyan , Irey Robin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis meta‐analysis examined the effectiveness of improving reading comprehension for students in K‐12 classrooms using intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), a computer‐based learning environment that provides customizable and immediate feedback to the learner. Nineteen studies from 13 publications incorporating approximately 10 000 students were included in the final analysis; using robust variance estimation to account for statistical dependencies, the 19 studies yielded 88 effect size estimates. The meta‐analysis indicated that the overall random effect size of ITSs on reading comprehension was 0.60 (using a mix of standardized and researcher‐designed measures) with a 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.85 (p < 0.001). This review confirms previous studies comparing ITSs to human tutoring: ITSs produced a small effect size when compared to human tutoring (0.20, 0.02–0.38, p = 0.036, n = 21). All comparisons to human tutoring used standardized measures. This review also found that ITSs produced a larger effect size on reading comprehension when compared to traditional instruction (0.86) for mixed measures and (0.26) for standardized measures. These findings may be of interest to practitioners and policy makers seeking to improve reading comprehension using consistent and accessible ITSs. Recommendations for researchers include conducting studies to understand the difference between traditional and updated versions of ITSs and employing valid and reliable standardized tests and researcher‐designed measures.
C‐type lectin domain family 5, member A (CLEC5A, MDL‐1) promotes brain glioblastoma tumorigenesis by regulating PI3K/Akt signalling
Authors: Fan Hong‐Wei , Ni Qi , Fan Ya‐Ni , Ma Zhi‐Xiang , Li Ying‐Bin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectivesGlioblastoma is the most common malignant glioma of all brain tumours. It is difficult to treat because of its poor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and high recurrence rate after treatment. The aetiology of glioblastoma is a result of disorders of multiple factors. Depending on cell signal transduction, these glioblastoma‐associated factors lead to cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Therefore, investigation of the potential factors which involved in the development of glioblastoma could provide a new target for the treatment of glioblastoma.Materials and methodsWe analysed the transcript expression of CLEC5A in glioblastoma by accessing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). qRT‐PCR was performed to detect the RNA expression of genes in cells and tissues, and Western blot was used to measure the protein levels (Cyclin D1, Bcl‐2, BAX, PCNA, MMP2, MMP9, Akt and Akt phosphorylation) in tissues and cells. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cycle and apoptosis were measured by CCK‐8, transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Ki67 level and lung metastasis were determined by immunochemistry and H&E staining.ResultsIn this study, we found that CLEC5A was highly upregulated in glioblastoma compared to normal brain tissues, which had an opposite relation with the overall patient survival. Downregulation of CLEC5A could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion via promoting apoptosis and G1 arrest. In contrast, overexpression of CLEC5A stimulated cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, we found that CLEC5A level was positively correlated with Akt phosphorylation level. Akt inhibitor or agonist could reverse the modulation effects of CLEC5A in glioblastoma. Moreover, In vivo results suggested that inhibition of CLEC5A significantly reduced tumour size, weight, cell proliferation ability and lung metastasis via inhibition of phosphorylation Akt.ConclusionBoth in vitro and in vivo evidences supported that CLEC5A was involved in glioblastoma pathogenesis via regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway. Thus, CLEC5A might serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of glioblastoma in the future.
How large is Vietnam's informal economy?
Authors: Hoa Nguyen Thai 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to estimate the size of the informal economy in Vietnam, describe its development from 1995 to 2015, and assess the country's potential tax loss from this activity. The MIMIC model indicates that the informal economy accounts for between 15 per cent and 27 per cent of GDP. The informal economy has grown sharply in Vietnam since 2007, while its size has decreased in other comparable nations. Potential tax revenue lost annually amounts to between 3.3 per cent and 5 per cent of gross domestic product.
Left ventricular end‐diastolic strain rate recovered in hypothyroidism following levothyroxine replacement therapy: A strain rate imaging study
Authors: Kong Ling‐Yun , Gao Xia , Ding Xue‐Yan , Wang Guang , Liu Fang 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the impact of overt hypothyroidism on diastolic left ventricular (LV) deformation and the effect of levothyroxine therapy using 2‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE) strain rate (SR) imaging.MethodsForty‐seven newly diagnosed hypothyroidic patients and 51 controls were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent comprehensive 2‐dimensional echocardiography. Besides the recently recommended parameters of LV diastolic function, strain imaging for LV systolic global longitudinal strain (GLS), and diastolic SR imaging at isovolumic relaxation period (SRivr), early (SRe) and late (SRa) diastole were assessed. Repeated echocardiography in hypothyroidic patients was made 6 months after the euthyroidic state was achieved.ResultsHypothyroidic patients had a lower ejection fraction (EF) than the controls (68.6 ± 5.2% vs 71.5 ± 4.0%, P = 0.002) but all within normal range (57%–80% and 64%–79%, respectively). No difference in the ratio of early mitral flow (E) to early diastolic septal or lateral myocardial motion velocity (e′) was found (both P > 0.05), but significant difference was identified for SRa (0.85 ± 0.17 [/s] vs 1.00 ± 0.17 [/s], P = 0.000) and GLS (−20.8 ± 3.2% vs −23.6 ± 2.3%, P = 0.000). Upon follow‐up, LV SRa (1.01 ± 0.20 [/s], P = 0.99 vs control) normalized when GLS (−21.6 ± 3.1%, P = 0.004 vs control) remained worse than the controls.ConclusionThis study demonstrates subtle LV diastolic impairment in untreated hypothyroidic patients using SR imaging, which normalizes with short‐term therapy and predates GLS.
Strength and fatigue strength of a similar Ti‐6Al‐2Sn‐4Zr‐2Mo‐0.1Si linear friction welded joint
Authors: García Juan Manuel , Morgeneyer Thilo F. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractStrengths for monotonic and cyclic loadings of similar overmatching Ti‐6Al‐2Sn‐4Zr‐2Mo‐0.1Si (Ti6242) linear friction welds (LFW) were studied and compared with the parent material (PM) behaviour. Non‐destructive synchrotron observations revealed the presence of pores in the weld interface. The weld centre zone (WCZ) showed a higher strength leading to lower macroscopic ductility of the cross‐weld samples. Local strain and normalized strain rate have been assessed by stereo digital image correlation (DIC) and revealed an early plastic activity at yielding in the vicinity of the WCZ attributed to residual stresses. For the target life, the fatigue strength was slightly reduced but compromised by a strong scatter. Indeed, an internal fish‐eye fatigue crack initiation was found on an unexpected dendritic defect that was very different from the PM microstructure and the known martensitic α′ in the WCZ. The dendritic defect was linked to surface contamination prior to welding and led to melting.
Multiaxial fatigue life calculation model for components in rolling‐sliding line contact with application to gears
Authors: Basan Robert , Marohnić Tea 
Published: March 2019

AbstractImportant components such as gears, rollers, or bearings operate in rolling‐sliding contact loading conditions. Determination of their fatigue lives remains a challenging task due to complex states of stress and strain in the contact region, as well as complex contact conditions such as variable loading amplitude and complex geometry of contact. A mathematical model of rolling‐sliding line contact combined with a multiaxial fatigue life calculation model based on the Fatemi‐Socie critical plane crack initiation criterion is proposed. The developed model was applied to gears' teeth in mesh and compared with fatigue lives of gears reported in the literature. Good agreement was determined confirming the validity of the proposed model. A further advantage is obtaining locations of initiated cracks and the orientation of critical plane(s), which can subsequently be used for the estimation of crack shapes in initial phases of their growth and the damage type that they can be expected to develop into.
Effect of forage species and ensiling conditions on silage composition and quality and the feed choice behaviour of goats
Authors: Scherer Rebecca , Gerlach Katrin , Taubert Johannes , Adolph Stephanie , Weiß Kirsten , Südekum Karl‐Heinz 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe hypothesis was that forage species and ensiling conditions have an impact on the formation of biogenic amines and the feed choice of goats in short‐term preference trials. At ensiling, lucerne (Medicago sativa L., first cut), red clover (Trifolium pratense L., first cut) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., second cut) were treated differently to obtain a range of fermentation qualities. Six treatments of each forage species were prepared and included different dry‐matter concentrations, chemical and biological silage additives, and additions of soil. Silages were sampled for chemical analyses (proximate constituents, fermentation products and other volatile compounds, crude protein fractions and biogenic amines) and stored anaerobically in vacuum‐sealed plastic bags for use in preference trials (one trial for each forage species) with Saanen‐type wethers (n = 8 or 6). Each possible two‐way combination of the six silage treatments and a standard hay (n = 21 combinations) was offered for ad libitum intake for 3 hr. Data were analysed using multidimensional scaling, analysis of variance and correlation analysis between silage characteristics and dry‐matter intake (DMI). For each forage species, fermentation characteristics and crude protein fractions revealed only small differences among treatments. Although the degree of proteolysis, as measured by non‐protein nitrogen, of all silages was high, biogenic amine and butyric acid concentrations were low. The different treatments apparently had no direct influence on the formation of biogenic amines and feed choice. The preference behaviour within one forage species was strongly divergent, but DMI rankings of the three species were very similar.
GÜNTER GRASS’ HUNDEJAHRE: EIN BEITRAG ZUR ERINNERUNGSKULTUR IN DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DER SECHZIGER JAHRE
Authors: Hahn Hans‐Joachim 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThis study considers Grass's Hundejahre as the most important contribution towards the establishment of a cultural memory in the Federal Republic of the 1960s. A brief introduction discusses the concept of ‘Erinnerungskultur’ with reference to international research on memory culture, suggesting that a persistent focus on the Holocaust would neglect important aspects evident in earlier documents in German literature and culture which may have brought about these crimes. My discussion of the ‘Holocaust’ in this novel places less emphasis on the victims than on the collaborators in the crimes and their self‐satisfied lives in post‐war Germany. The portrayal of violence and ‘Mitläufer’ compliance become central aspects, with the ‘Kleinbürger’ mentality featuring as a significant component of the German mindset. By coalescing different time scales, Grass revitalises the past and enhances its relevance for the reader. An ‘Aesthetics of Obscenity’ is employed as a means of illustrating unspeakable Nazi crimes, while fairy‐tale elements and satirical fantasy (the scarecrow ballet) serve as forms of alienation, tasking the reader with unravelling their significance. Compared to the formalism evident in post‐war German literary criticism, Hundejahre must be seen as an eminent contribution to German memory culture which contributed to bringing the debate in Germany closer to international trends.
The association of overhydration with chronic inflammation in chronic maintenance hemodiafiltration patients
Authors: Zsom Lajos , Faludi Mária , Fülöp Tibor , Dossabhoy Neville R. , Rosivall László , Tapolyai Mihály B. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroduction: Achieving euvolemia is one of the major challenges when treating end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving maintenance renal replacement therapy. Fluid overload is recognized as an independent predictor of mortality in ESRD, but its association with chronic inflammation is less well explored especially in chronic maintenance hemodiafiltration.Methods: We performed a cross‐sectional study of 87 prevalent ESRD patients receiving chronic maintenance hemodiafiltration (vintage 66.5 ± 57.1 months) with bioimpedance analysis to characterize the degree of percent overhydration (OH%). We also compared the levels of inflammatory markers, including C‐reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and hemoglobin red cell distribution width (RDW) for the overhydrated (OH% ≥ 15%) versus euvolemic (OH% < 15%) groups. Linear regression analysis was performed to explore relationships between the degree of OH and inflammatory indicators.Findings: The cohort represented an all‐European population with a mean age of 60.9 ± 14.7 years and prevalence of diabetes mellitus of 27%. The entire cohort's OH% was 14.9% ± 5.1% (range −11.1% to 39.0%); further, the <15% group of patients’ OH% was 8.0% ± 8.5% versus 20.9% ± 5.1% in the OH% ≥ 15% group (P < 0.0001). Forty‐seven patients (53%) were overhydrated by traditional criteria (OH% ≥15%) and 20 patients (23%) were severely overhydrated (OH% > 20%). The euvolemic (OH% <15%) versus severely overhydrated (OH% > 20%) groups had significant differences in markers of inflammation: CRP (9.8 ± 10.6 vs. 21.5 ± 21.6 mg/L, P < 0.006), serum albumin (37.6 ± 02.9 vs. 34.5 ± 5.3 g/L, P < 0.004), and NLR (3.06 ± 1.25 vs. 3.92 ± 2.04; P < 0.004). On linear regression, significant correlations were found between OH% and CRP (r = 0.2899, P < 0.006), serum albumin (r = −0.3670; P < 0.0005), RDW (r = 0.2992; P < 0.005), and NLR (r = 0.2900; P < 0.006).Discussion: In a prevalent hemodiafiltration cohort, OH was common and correlated with several inflammatory markers.
Applicability of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for common bean authentication in processed food
Authors: Venturelli Gustavo Luiz , Bischoff Joana Laura , Scariot Mirella Christine , Rossi Gabriela Barbosa , Arisi Ana Carolina Maisonnave 
Published: March 2019

SummaryFood authentication by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods assures food quality. The aim was to evaluate three qPCR assays for DNA quantification after heat processing of common bean grains, genus‐specific FAS assay for Phaseolus, species‐specific LEC assay for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and genetically modified (GM) event‐specific FGM assay for Embrapa 5.1 event GM common bean. FAS assay showed high stability among Phaseolus genus samples. Common bean grains were heat‐treated in autoclave (at 120 °C for 15–60 min) and target DNA copy number decreased as processing time increased. Even with DNA degradation, qPCR assays were capable to detect low DNA quantity, and the limit of detection was 100 copy number. Mean efficiency value of FGM assay was 92% in the presence of background DNA. Background DNA did not cause any interference, and 0.39% of GM material can be detected. These qPCR assays are able to quantify common bean in processed food.
Functional characterization of ultraspiracle in Leptinotarsa decemlineata using RNA interference assay
Authors: Xu Q.‐Y. , Deng P. , Li A. , Zhang Q. , Mu L.‐L. , Fu K.‐Y. , Guo W.‐C. , Li G.‐Q. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA heterodimer of ultraspiracle (USP) and ecdysone receptor (EcR) mediates 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) signalling cascade to regulate insect moulting and metamorphosis. However, at least two questions remain to be addressed in terms of the molecular importance of USP in insect species. First, is USP involved in both regulation of ecdysteroidogenesis and mediation of 20E signalling in non‐drosophilid insects, as in Drosophila melanogaster? Second, does USP play any role in larval metamorphosis except as the partner of heterodimeric receptor to activate the downstream 20E signalling genes? In this paper, we found that RNA interference (RNAi) of LdUSP in the final (fourth) instar larvae reduced the messenger RNA levels of four ecdysteroidogenesis genes (Ldspo, Ldphm, Lddib and Ldsad) and 20E titre, and repressed the expression of five 20E signal genes (EcRA, HR3, HR4, E74 and E75) in Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The LdUSP RNAi larvae remained as prepupae, with developing antennae, legs and discs of forewings and hindwings. Dietary supplement with 20E restored the expression of the five 20E signal genes, but only partially alleviated the decreased pupation rate in LdUSP RNAi beetles. Knockdown of LdUSP at the penultimate (third) instar larvae did not affect third–fourth instar moulting. However, silencing LdUSP caused similar but less severe impairments on pupation. Accordingly, we propose that USP is undoubtedly necessary for ecdysteroidogenesis, for mediation of 20E signalling and for initiation of metamorphosis in L. decemlineata.
Malocclusion in children and adolescents with Down syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Doriguêtto Paulo Victor T. , Carrada Camila F. , Scalioni Flávia A. R. , Abreu Lucas G. , Devito Karina L. , Paiva Saul M. , Ribeiro Rosangela A. 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown a high prevalence of malocclusion in people with Down syndrome (DS) compared to individuals without DS, but no systematic review to summarize the evidence on this topic has been performed thus far.AimTo evaluate whether children/adolescents with DS are more affected by malocclusion than those without DS.DesignA search was performed in seven electronic databases. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. The strength of the evidence from the selected studies was evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.ResultsEleven publications were included in the systematic review and eight were meta‐analysed. The meta‐analysis showed that malocclusion was more prevalent in children/adolescents with DS for Angle Class III (risk difference [RD] = 0.40; confidence interval [CI] = 0.33, 0.46), posterior crossbite (risk ratio [RR] = 3.09; CI = 2.02, 4.73), anterior crossbite (RR = 2.18; CI = 1.41, 3.39), and anterior open bite (RD = 0.21; CI = 0.06, 0.36).ConclusionThe occurrence of malocclusion was higher in children/adolescents with DS compared to individuals without the syndrome. The strength of the evidence of the studies analysed, however, was considered moderate and low.