bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of allergic rhinitis on gastrointestinal disorders among young adults
Authors: Ho Sai‐Wai , Lin Ching‐Pin , Ku Min‐Sho 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundAn association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and digestive diseases (DDs) has been reported; however, studies have only focused on the prevalence of DDs in populations of patients with AR. In individuals with specific DDs, the impact of AR on the frequency of clinical visits for each DD has not been studied. Moreover, the association between topical steroid usage for AR and DDs has not been investigated.MethodsData from 16 526 men and 18 438 women, aged 21 to 30 years, were collected from a national database. Individuals were separated into the AR and non‐AR groups. Eight common DDs were studied: (1) gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), (2) gastritis and duodenitis, (3) peptic ulcers, (4) irritable bowel syndrome, (5) gastric functional disease, (6) intestinal functional disease, (7) gastroenteritis and colitis, and (8) constipation. The rate of each DD was compared between groups. In individuals with specific DDs, the frequency of clinical visits for each DD was also compared between groups. Between users and nonusers of topical steroids in the AR group, the rate of DDs was compared.ResultsSignificant associations were observed between all eight DDs and AR in both sexes. In comparison to the non‐AR group, women with AR visited clinics more frequently for gastritis/duodenitis, gastric and intestinal functional disease, gastroenteritis/colitis, and constipation, while men with AR visited clinics more frequently for gastritis/duodenitis, gastric functional disease, gastroenteritis/colitis, and constipation. Female topical‐steroid users with AR had higher rates of GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, gastric or intestinal functional disease, and gastritis/colitis. Male topical‐steroid users with AR had higher rates of GERD and peptic ulcers.ConclusionAR was associated with DDs in both sexes. However, the influence of AR on clinical visit frequency varied among specific DD groups. Topical steroid usage for AR was associated with some DDs, but the association requires future evaluation.
Optimization of pulsed electric field‐assisted oil extraction from cannabis seeds
Authors: Haji‐Moradkhani Atena , Rezaei Rahil , Moghimi Masomeh 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe purpose of this research was to study the influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) intensity (0, 3, and 6 kV/cm) and the speed of oil extraction screw press (10, 20, and 30 rpm) on the physicochemical properties of cannabis oil. This process is optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicated that applying PEF intensity up to 3 kV/cm and increase in the rotational speed of press up to 20 rpm, increased the efficiency of oil extraction but it does not have any significant influence on the refractive index, acidity, acidic index, and peroxide. The highest phenolic content (2,036 ppm) was obtained for the sample treated with PEF intensity 3 kV/cm and press speed of 20 rpm. Regarding optimization results, the sample pretreated with PEF intensity of 2.33 KV/cm and press speed of 28.69 rpm was chosen as the best sample, as a result of increased efficiency and more optimized physicochemical properties.Practical applicationsRegarding increase of demand for new techniques, PEF could be introduced as a new, fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly extraction method. Applying PEF for oil extraction is a way to moderate heat‐assisted processes and to increase sufficiency of cold processes. PEF reduced processing time and made cannabis permeable to release its oil easily, so it should be presented as an effective pretreatment to oil industry.
Vitamin D‐supplemented yogurt drink reduces Candida infections in a paediatric intensive care unit: a randomised, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Xie J. , Zhu L. , Zhu T. , Jian Y. , Ding Y. , Zhou M. , Feng X. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of Candida infections in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) has dramatically increased as a result of resistance to conventional anti‐fungal treatments. Because vitamin D has been shown to exhibit fungicidal activity against Candida infection in an in vitro antimicrobial screening, we aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on Candida infections in the PICU.MethodsFour hundred sixteen eligible children aged between 12 months to 5 years old admitted to the PICU, who were on broad‐spectrum antibiotic therapy, participated in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to two study groups, receiving a plain yogurt drink (placebo group) or supplemented with 300 IU day−1 vitamin D (VD group). Primary outcome was defined as the incidences of Candida colonisation (Candida isolated from rectal swab) 14 days after enrollment. Secondary outcome measures were Candida growth in blood (candidaemia) and urine (candiduria).ResultsThe prevalence of candiduria as well as candidaemia was significantly lower in the VD‐treated group (26 cases) than in the placebo group (62 cases). The mean (SD) length of PICU stay was obviously lowered in the VD group [11.8 (1.2) days] compared to the placebo group [15.2 (2.3 days)], whereas cases of patient death were similar between the two groups.ConclusionsSupplementation of vitamin D effectively reduces infections of Candida in children who were critically ill and on broad‐spectrum antibiotic treatment.
Effect of a novel supplementary porridge on the nutritional status of infants and young children diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition in Uganda: a cluster randomised control trial
Authors: Kajjura R. B. , Veldman F. J. , Kassier S. M. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundModerate acute malnutrition (MAM) and anaemia are prevalent among infants and young children (IYC) in Uganda. A lack of consensus regarding the most effective strategy for managing MAM among IYC resulted in the present study comparing the effect of malted sorghum‐based porridge (MSBP) (an active malt, extruded maize and soy sorghum supplementary porridge developed for the purpose of the present study) as an intervention versus an extruded maize and soy micronutrient fortified blend (CSB+) as a control and current standard care. Outcome measures were anthropometric status and haemoglobin levels.MethodsThe study comprised a double‐blind cluster randomised control trial with eight to 10 conveniently sampled consenting mother–IYC pairs per cluster who were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 110) or control (n = 110) for 3 months. Weekly anthropometric measurements were taken. Haemoglobin levels were measured at baseline and end line. Mean length‐for‐age, weight‐for‐age, length‐for‐weight and mean haemoglobin levels of the treatment and control groups were compared using an independent t‐test. The Z‐test was used to compare proportions of the outcome indicators between the treatment and control groups.ResultsDifference in mean weight‐for‐age Z‐scores in the treatment group improved compared to control (P = 0.010). The change in mean haemoglobin levels was lower in the treatment versus the control group (P = 0.010). The proportion of IYC recovering from MAM between treatment and control did not differ significantly (P = 0.055).ConclusionsRecovery rates after supplementation with MSBP versus CSB+ resulted in similar weight‐for‐length and haemoglobin levels. Therefore, MSBP has the potential for being scaled up in the management of IYC with MAM in Uganda.
Nutrition and its role in human evolution
Authors: James W. P. T. , Johnson R. J. , Speakman J. R. , Wallace D. C. , Frühbeck G. , Iversen P. O. , Stover P. J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractOur understanding of human evolution has improved rapidly over recent decades, facilitated by large‐scale cataloguing of genomic variability amongst both modern and archaic humans. It seems clear that the evolution of the ancestors of chimpanzees and hominins separated 7–9 million years ago with some migration out of Africa by the earlier hominins; Homo sapiens slowly emerged as climate change resulted in drier, less forested African conditions. The African populations expanded and evolved in many different conditions with slow mutation and selection rates in the human genome, but with much more rapid mutation occurring in mitochondrial DNA. We now have evidence stretching back 300 000 years of humans in their current form, but there are clearly four very different large African language groups that correlate with population DNA differences. Then, about 50 000–100 000 years ago a small subset of modern humans also migrated out of Africa resulting in a persistent signature of more limited genetic diversity amongst non‐African populations. Hybridization with archaic hominins occurred around this time such that all non‐African modern humans possess some Neanderthal ancestry and Melanesian populations additionally possess some Denisovan ancestry. Human populations both within and outside Africa also adapted to diverse aspects of their local environment including altitude, climate, UV exposure, diet and pathogens, in some cases leaving clear signatures of patterns of genetic variation. Notable examples include haemoglobin changes conferring resistance to malaria, other immune changes and the skin adaptations favouring the synthesis of vitamin D. As humans migrated across Eurasia, further major mitochondrial changes occurred with some interbreeding with ancient hominins and the development of alcohol intolerance. More recently, an ability to retain lactase persistence into adulthood has evolved rapidly under the environmental stimulus of pastoralism with the ability to husband lactating ruminants. Increased amylase copy numbers seem to relate to the availability of starchy foods, whereas the capacity to desaturase and elongate monounsaturated fatty acids in different societies seems to be influenced by whether there is a lack of supply of readily available dietary sources of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The process of human evolution includes genetic drift and adaptation to local environments, in part through changes in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. These genetic changes may underlie susceptibilities to some modern human pathologies including folate‐responsive neural tube defects, diabetes, other age‐related pathologies and mental health disorders.
Mosques, Churches, and Civic Skill Opportunities in Indonesia
Authors: Lussier Danielle N. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis article examines the role of houses of worship as institutions where individuals acquire civic skills that can be deployed for political participation in the world's largest Muslim‐majority democracy: Indonesia. Drawing on participant observation and interviews in Muslim, Protestant, and Catholic religious communities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this article investigates three questions: (1) What opportunities exist for individuals worshipping in Indonesian churches and mosques to develop and practice civic skills as part of their religious engagement? (2) Does civic skill opportunity vary across religious denominations? and (3) What factors might explain variation across different religious settings? The study shows that mosques offer fewer prospects for their worshippers to develop civic skills than do churches. These denominational differences can be explained by a house of worship's management practices, which are shaped by its degree of autonomy, style of worship, and the relative size of the religious denomination.
Luteinizing hormone concentrations in healthy horses and horses with trigeminal‐mediated headshaking over an 8‐hour period
Authors: Sheldon Shara A. , Aleman Monica , Costa Lais Rosa R. , Santoyo Ana C. , Weich Kalie M. , Howey Quinn , Madigan John E. 
Published: February 2019

BackgroundTrigeminal‐mediated headshaking results from a low threshold for firing of the trigeminal nerve. A seasonal component has been implicated in onset of clinical signs, which occur during the spring and summer months. Geldings are overrepresented in the affected population and hormonal differences as compared to a healthy control population of geldings might contribute to headshaking.Objective/HypothesisTo assess concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) over an 8‐hour period in gelded healthy controls and horses affected with headshaking. Our hypothesis was that geldings with seasonal headshaking would have higher concentrations of LH over an 8‐hour period compared to control horses during the summer when affected horses manifested headshaking.AnimalsTwelve geldings (6 controls and 6 affected).MethodsProspective controlled trial. Blood samples were drawn every 15 minutes over an 8‐hour time period during summer from all horses to measure circulating LH concentrations by using a radioimmunoassay for equine LH. All affected horses were actively affected by headshaking at the time of sample collection.ResultsNo statistically significant differences in LH concentrations were found throughout the study period in headshakers as compared to control horses. Time had no significant effect, but a slight decrease in LH concentrations was observed for all horses. The main limitation of the study was the low number of horses.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceHorses affected with headshaking did not have significant differences in circulating LH during the late summer as compared to control horses.
Sheep tickIxodes ricinusmanagement on Welsh hill farms of designated conservation importance: implications for nationally declining birds
Authors: Baines D. , Becker M. , Hart S. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractImpacts of sheep ticksIxodes ricinuson livestock, gamebirds and wildlife are of concern across Europe. The present study describes livestock and tick management by 36 farmers from three upland sites of conservation importance in North Wales, where farmers consider that ticks have increased during the last 25 years. Sheep, average densities of 2.0 animals per ha were treated with pour‐on acaricides in spring, again in July, and also when removed from the moor in autumn. Given acaricide efficacy rates, sheep were susceptible to tick bites for half the period on the moor. Sheep from 17 farms were examined for ticks. Infestations were similar between farms and in relation to the acaricide used, averaging 9.3 ticks per sheep, although they were lower where the interval between successive acaricide treatments was shorter. Repeated sampling of sheep and red grouse chicks showed no annual difference in tick burdens on grouse chicks, which averaged 6.2 ticks per chick, although there were three‐fold fewer ticks on sheep in 2018 than in previous years. Tick bite rates on sheep and grouse were higher than elsewhere in the U.K. Most farmers interviewed would aim to improve their tick management using longer‐lasting acaricides and treating sheep more frequently, although they would need advice and financial help, which is currently unavailable via Government funded agri‐environment schemes.
Necrotizing sialometaplasia can hide the presence of salivary gland tumors: A case series
Authors: Zhurakivska Khrystyna , Maiorano Eugenio , Nocini Riccardo , Mignogna Michele D. , Favia Gianfranco , Troiano Giuseppe , Arena Claudia , Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Lo Muzio Lorenzo 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveNecrotizing sialometaplasia (NS) is an uncommon benign process which affects minor and, more rarely, major salivary glands. While self‐limiting, the condition might be clinically and histologically mistaken for malignancy. Furthermore, NS may accompany neoplasms. The aim of this paper was to report a series of Italian patients affected by NS associated with an unusual high presence of neoplasms of minor and major salivary glands.Study DesignClinical and histological features of twelve patients with NS were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsEight patients presented NS of the minor salivary glands of the palate, and two of them had associated neoplasms (pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma) at the same site. Four patients had NS of the parotid gland associated with a history of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy performed to diagnose parotid neoplasms. These were epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, Warthin's tumor, and oncocytoma, respectively.ConclusionTumors of minor and major salivary glands might be associated with NS more frequently than previously reported. While NS of the parotid is generally the result of invasive diagnostic procedure and is detected after the excision of the tumor, NS of the minor salivary glands may obscure an underlying neoplasm, resulting in delays in referral or treatment.
A single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 and causes a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach
Authors: Cheng Jun , Zhang Mengmeng , Tan Bin , Jiang Yajun , Zheng Xianbo , Ye Xia , Guo Zijing , Xiong Tingting , Wang Wei , Li Jidong , Feng Jiancan 
Published: February 2019

SummaryPlant stature is one important factor that affects the productivity of peach orchards. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the dwarf phenotype of peach tree. Here, we report a dwarfing mechanism in the peach cv. FenHuaShouXingTao (FHSXT). The dwarf phenotype of ‘FHSXT’ was caused by shorter cell length compared to the standard cv. QiuMiHong (QMH). ‘FHSXT’ contained higher endogenous GA levels than did ‘QMH’ and did not response to exogenous GA treatment (internode elongation). These results indicated that ‘FHSXT’ is a GA‐insensitive dwarf mutant. A dwarf phenotype‐related single nucleotide mutation in the gibberellic acid receptor GID1 was identified in ‘FHSXT’ (GID1cS191F), which was also cosegregated with dwarf phenotype in 30 tested cultivars. GID1cS191F was unable to interact with the growth‐repressor DELLA1 even in the presence of GA. ‘FHSXT’ accumulated a higher level of DELLA1, the degradation of which is normally induced by its interaction with GID1. The DELLA1 protein level was almost undetectable in ‘QMH’, but not reduced in ‘FHSXT’ after GA3 treatment. Our results suggested that a nonsynonymous single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 resulting in a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach.
Relative effectiveness of insects versus hummingbirds as pollinators of Rubiaceae plants across elevation in Dominica, Caribbean
Authors: Lehmann L. J. , Maruyama P. K. , Joaquim Bergamo P. , Maglianesi M. A. , Rahbek C. , Dalsgaard B. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Most angiosperms rely on animal pollination for reproduction, but the dependence on specific pollinator groups varies greatly between species and localities. Notably, such dependence may be influenced by both floral traits and environmental conditions. Despite its importance, their joint contribution has rarely been studied at the assemblage level.

At two elevations on the Caribbean island of Dominica, we measured the floral traits and the relative contributions of insects versus hummingbirds as pollinators of plants in the Rubiaceae family. Pollinator importance was measured as visitation rate (VR) and single visit pollen deposition (SVD), which were combined to assess overall pollinator effectiveness (PE).

In the wet and cool Dominican highland, we found that hummingbirds were relatively more frequent and effective pollinators than insects, whereas insects and hummingbirds were equally frequent and effective pollinators at the warmer and less rainy midelevation. Furthermore, floral traits correlated independently of environment with the relative importance of pollinators, hummingbirds being more important in plant species having flowers with long and wide corollas producing higher volumes of dilute nectar.

Our findings show that both environmental conditions and floral traits influence whether insects or hummingbirds are the most important pollinators of plants in the Rubiaceae family, highlighting the complexity of plant–pollinator systems.
Hemodynamic and electrocortical reactivity to specific scene contents in emotional perception
Authors: Frank David W. , Sabatinelli Dean 
Published: February 2019

AbstractEmotional scene perception is characterized by enhanced neural activity across broad regions of visual cortex, the frontoparietal network, and anterior corticolimbic structures. In human fMRI and electrocortical experiments, activation enhancement is strongly related to self‐reported emotional arousal evoked by scene stimuli. However, an additional bias in reaction to pleasant scenes has been reported in a subset of emotion‐enhanced brain regions. Human fMRI and primate electrophysiological studies show biased frontoparietal network activity in response to rewarding cues. In addition, activation in lateral occipital regions may show a bias in pleasant scene perception, as shown in fMRI and in the early posterior negativity (EPN) ERP component. To define this potential pleasure bias, we presented a balanced set of naturalistic scenes to participants during separate fMRI and ERP recording sessions. Consistent with past work, the amplitude of the slow‐wave late positive potential (LPP), as well as hemodynamic activity in fusiform gyrus and amygdala, showed equivalent enhancement across highly arousing pleasant and unpleasant, relative to neutral scenes. In addition to this emotional enhancement, the EPN component, as well as hemodynamic activity in lateral occipital cortex and frontoparietal network, showed greater reactivity during highly arousing pleasant relative to unpleasant scenes, consistent with a pleasure bias. The interpretation of this pattern of reactivity is discussed with respect to selective and evolved attention mechanisms.
Approximate Bayesian Computation with the Wasserstein Distance
Authors: Bernton Espen , Jacob Pierre E. , Gerber Mathieu , Robert Christian P. 
Published: February 2019

SummaryA growing number of generative statistical models do not permit the numerical evaluation of their likelihood functions. Approximate Bayesian computation has become a popular approach to overcome this issue, in which one simulates synthetic data sets given parameters and compares summaries of these data sets with the corresponding observed values. We propose to avoid the use of summaries and the ensuing loss of information by instead using the Wasserstein distance between the empirical distributions of the observed and synthetic data. This generalizes the well-known approach of using order statistics within approximate Bayesian computation to arbitrary dimensions. We describe how recently developed approximations of the Wasserstein distance allow the method to scale to realistic data sizes, and we propose a new distance based on the Hilbert space filling curve. We provide a theoretical study of the method proposed, describing consistency as the threshold goes to 0 while the observations are kept fixed, and concentration properties as the number of observations grows. Various extensions to time series data are discussed. The approach is illustrated on various examples, including univariate and multivariate g-and-k distributions, a toggle switch model from systems biology, a queuing model and a Lévy-driven stochastic volatility model.