bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exposure‐Response (Efficacy) Analysis of Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir in Japanese Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Ueno Takayo , Osawa Mayu , Imai Yasuhiko , Ishikawa Hiroki , Garimella Tushar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been revolutionized by the development of all‐oral combination regimens of direct‐acting antiviral agents. The current analysis characterized the relationship between exposures of daclatasvir (DCV; tablets) and asunaprevir (ASV; capsules) and sustained virologic response (SVR) in Japanese patients who are HCV genotype (GT) 1b nonresponders to pegylated interferon (IFN) α/ribavirin or IFNβ/ribavirin, and IFN‐based therapy–ineligible naive/intolerant patients receiving DCV and ASV, and provided insight into patient covariates that were most closely associated with efficacy. The relationship between the probability of achieving SVR at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12) and average steady‐state plasma concentrations estimated from population pharmacokinetic models for DCV and ASV is described using a logistic regression model with data from a phase 2 and a phase 3 study in Japanese patients infected with HCV GT 1b (N=265). The functional form characterization, which describes a relationship between DCV and ASV average steady‐state plasma concentrations and SVR12, as well as covariate identification (demographic, laboratory, and prognostic and treatment covariates) were investigated during model development. The presence of the signature nonstructural protein 5A Y93H mutation at baseline was the only significant parameter of SVR12 in the final exposure‐response model. Model evaluation plots demonstrate that the final model was able to predict the observed SVR rates. Exposure‐response analysis supports the clinical utility of the combination regimen of 60‐mg once‐daily DCV and 100‐mg twice‐daily ASV in Japanese patients infected with HCV GT 1b.
HIV knowledge trends during an era of rapid antiretroviral therapy scale‐up: an analysis of 33 sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Chan Brian T , Tsai Alexander C 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionPopulation‐level improvements in knowledge about HIV may reduce the stigma attached to HIV and ensure maximal uptake of HIV prevention initiatives. The extent to which levels of HIV knowledge in the general population of sub‐Saharan Africa have changed in the current era of antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale‐up remains unknown.MethodsData on HIV knowledge in the general population were drawn from the 2003 to 2015 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and AIDS Indicator Surveys (AIS) of 33 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. The DHS/AIS contain five questions on HIV prevention and transmission that have been used by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a core indicator of HIV knowledge. We created a composite HIV knowledge variable equal to the number of correct responses to these five questions; a participant was considered to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV (yes/no) if he/she answered all five questions correctly. We fitted negative binomial regression models with cluster‐correlated robust standard errors and country fixed effects, adjusted for socio‐demographic variables, specifying HIV knowledge as the dependent variable and year as the explanatory variable. As an alternative parameterization, we also fitted a multivariable linear probability model with cluster‐correlated robust standard errors and country fixed effects specifying comprehensive knowledge of HIV as the dependent variable.ResultsA total of 791,186 women and 395,891 men participating in 75 DHS/AIS were included in the analyses. The mean HIV knowledge score was 3.7 among women and 3.9 among men (p < 0.001). Only 35% of women and 41% of men (p < 0.001) had a comprehensive knowledge of HIV. We estimated a modest but statistically significant positive association between year of DHS/AIS and HIV knowledge (adjusted b = 0.005; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.001 to 0.009). Similarly, we estimated a statistically significant positive association between year of DHS/AIS and comprehensive knowledge of HIV (adjusted b = 0.011; 95% CI, 0.005 to 0.017), suggesting an approximately 1% relative increase per year in the percentage of the general population who possess a comprehensive knowledge of HIV.ConclusionsThere have been minimal improvements over time in HIV knowledge across sub‐Saharan Africa.
Frontline Science: PECAM-1 (CD31) expression in naïve and memory, but not acutely activated, CD8+ T cells
Authors: Newman Debra K , Fu Guoping , McOlash Laura , Schauder David , Newman Peter J , Cui Weiguo , Rao Sridhar , Johnson Bryon D , Gershan Jill A , Riese Matthew J 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Inhibitory cell surface proteins on T cells are often dynamically regulated, which contributes to their physiologic function. PECAM-1 (CD31) is an inhibitory receptor that facilitates TGF-β-mediated suppression of T cell activity. It is well established in CD4+ T cells that PECAM-1 is expressed in naïve recent thymic emigrants, but is down-regulated after acute T cell activation and absent from memory cells. The extent to which PECAM-1 expression is similarly regulated in CD8+ T cells is much less well characterized. We evaluated T cells recovered from mice after infection with a model intracellular pathogen and determined that, in CD8+ T cells, PECAM-1 expression was strongly down-regulated during acute infection but re-expressed to intermediate levels in memory cells. Down-regulation of PECAM-1 expression in CD8+ T cells was transcriptionally regulated and affected by the strength and nature of TCR signaling. PECAM-1 was also detected on the surface of human activated/memory CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells. These data demonstrate that PECAM-1 expression is dynamically regulated, albeit differently, in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, unlike memory CD4+ T cells, memory CD8+ T cells retain PECAM-1 expression and have the potential to be modulated by this inhibitory receptor.
CD31 is expressed on both naïve and memory subsets in CD8+ T cells.
The importance of group‐focused transformational leadership and felt obligation for helping and group performance
Authors: Lorinkova Natalia M. , Perry Sara Jansen 
Published: August 2018

SummaryLeaders face a challenge to simultaneously motivate workgroups and the individuals within them. Recent criticisms highlight the need to deconstruct broad leadership constructs to offer better theoretical insight into the effects of specific leadership behaviors on groups versus individuals. We address this call by exploring the effects of group‐focused and individual‐focused aspects of transformational leadership. Applying social identity theory, we theorize that group‐focused transformational leadership is key to fostering felt obligation, motivating helping behavior, and enhancing group performance, whereas individual‐focused leadership may only foster helping when individuals also feel a sense of obligation toward their workgroup. In a field study of 260 employees reporting to 36 supervisors in a skilled trade company, we find support for these predictions using multilevel structural equation modeling and multilevel mixed effects modeling. Thus, group‐focused (vs. individual‐focused) transformational leadership and subsequent felt obligation are important antecedents for encouraging helping and, in turn, workgroup performance.
Hydrogen peroxide induced tendinopathic changes in a rat model of patellar tendon injury
Authors: Fu Sai‐Chuen , Yeung Man‐Yi , Rolf Christer G. , Yung Patrick Shu‐Hang , Chan Kai‐Ming , Hung Leung‐Kim 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTTendinopathy includes cases with chronic tendon pain and spontaneous tendon ruptures, which is putatively resulted from failed tendon healing. Overuse is a major risk factor of tendinopathy, which can impose mechanical and oxidative stress to tendons. Previous studies investigated the influences of mechanical stress, but the direct impact of oxidative stress on tendon healing remains unclear. We hypothesized that imposed oxidative stress can impair tendon healing and lead to tendinopathic changes. Thirty‐nine rats were operated for patellar tendon window injury. From weeks 3–5 post‐operation, the rats received three weekly subcutaneous injections of saline, 50 or 500 μM H2O2 (n = 13) over patellar tendon. Gait analysis for pain assessment and 3D ultrasound imaging for detection of tendinopathic changes were performed at pre‐injury and 6‐week post‐operation. At week 6, knee specimens were harvested for histology or tensile mechanical test. Elastic modulus of the healing patellar tendons was significantly lower in 50 μM but not 500 μM H2O2 group, while ultimate mechanical stress was not significantly different across groups. Similarly, only the 50 μM H2O2 group exhibited pain‐associated gait asymmetry. Significant tendon swelling with increased tendon volume was observed in the 50 μM H2O2 group. There were hypoechogenic changes in the tendon wound, but there was no significant difference in percentage vascularity. H2O2 impaired tendon healing and elicited tendinopathic changes, with respect to pain and structural abnormalities. Oxidative stress plays a role in the failed tendon healing of tendinopathies, and H2O2‐induced failed tendon healing may serve as a good animal model to study tendinopathy. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3268–3274, 2018.
Use of different chemometric approaches for an estimation of soil properties at field scale with near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Ludwig Bernard , Murugan Rajasekaran , Parama V. R. Ramakrishna , Vohland Michael 
Published: August 2018

AbstractVisible and near infrared spectroscopy (vis‐NIRS) may be useful for an estimation of soil properties in arable fields, but the quality of results are often variable depending on the applied chemometric approach. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) may be replaced by approaches which employ supervised learning methods or variable selection procedures in order to increase the proportion of informative wavelengths used in the estimation procedure, to reduce the noise of the spectra and to find the best fitting solution. Objectives were (1) to compare the usefulness of PLSR with either PLSR combined with a genetic algorithm (GA‐PLSR) or support vector machine regression (SVMR) for an estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil texture for surface soils (0–5 cm, n = 144) of an arable field in Bangalore (India) and (2) to test and optimize different calibration strategies for GA‐PLSR for an improved estimation of soil properties. PLSR was useful for an estimation of SOC, N, sand and clay. In the cross‐validation (n = 96), accuracies of estimated soil properties generally decreased in the order GA‐PLSR > SVMR > PLSR. However, the order of estimation accuracies for the random validation sample (n = 48) changed to SVMR > GA‐PLSR > PLSR for SOC, N, pH, and CEC, whereas for clay the order changed to SVMR > PLSR > GA‐PLSR. A sequential procedure, which used the most frequently selected wavelengths of the GA‐PLSR runs, proved to be useful for an improved estimation of SOC and N. Overall, SVMR especially improved estimations of SOC and clay, whereas GA‐PLSR was particularly useful for SOC and N and it was the only approach which successfully estimated CEC in cross‐validation and validation.
Effects of nonionic surfactants on pigment excretion and cell morphology in extractive fermentation of Monascus sp. NJ1
Authors: Yang Xuelian , Dong Ye , Liu Guorong , Zhang Chan , Cao YanPing , Wang Chengtao 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDDifferent nonionic surfactants in submerged fermentation of Monascus sp. demonstrate significant differences regarding increasing pigment yield. In this study, 15 surfactants from five series were analyzed to investigate the influence of nonionic surfactants on Monascus pigments, with the aim of simultaneously obtaining a novel nonionic surfactant.RESULTSAddition of the novel surfactant Brij 35 greatly enhanced pigment excretion and demonstrated good biocompatibility. Extracellular red, orange and yellow pigments increased by 1.47‐, 1.71‐ and 2.07‐fold respectively. Production of extracellular pigments was not only related to the hydrophile–lipophile balance value (HLB) but also affected by the cloud point temperature (CP) of the fermentation medium. It was found that nonionic surfactants can improve cell membrane permeability and cell storage capacity by modifying the cell walls of Monascus mycelium and by increasing lipid droplet levels, enhancing pigment excretion. Different nonionic surfactants modify Monascus mycelium to different degrees.CONCLUSIONThe novel surfactant Brij 35, which has good capacity for pigment extraction and biocompatibility, was identified in the analysis. The effects of nonionic surfactants on the secretion of pigments are related to not only the modification of the cell wall and internal structure but also the CP and HLB. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Enzymatic production of xylooligosaccharides from Brazilian Syrah grape pomace flour: a green alternative to conventional methods for adding value to agricultural by‐ products
Authors: Costa Joana R , Tonon Renata V , Gottschalk Leda MF , Santiago Manuela CP de A , Mellinger‐Silva Caroline , Pastrana Lorenzo , Pintado Maria M , Cabral Lourdes MC 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of this work was to determine the most favorable conditions for the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from Brazilian Syrah grape pomace. Chemical processes were performed using a rotatable central composite design where the concentration of sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide and the grape pomace flour/solvent mass ratio were the dependent variables. Enzymatic production was also evaluated using xylanase produced by Aspergillus niger 3T5B8 and Viscozyme® enzymatic commercial cocktail.RESULTSChemical extraction allowed to recover 21.8–74.6% and 5.2–96.3% of total XOS for acidic and alkaline processes respectively. Enzymatic production extracted up to 88.68 ± 0.12% of total XOS using xylanase and up to 84.09 ± 2.40% with Viscozyme®.CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated different feasible methods to produce high‐added‐value molecules, i.e. XOS, from Syrah grape pomace flour, valorizing this major by‐product. The use of enzymatic cocktails demonstrated to be an alternative to the conventional methods, allowing to obtain an eco‐friendly and sustainable grape pomace extract. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Underutilized biogeochemical tracers distinguish invertebrate populations in a complex river system
Authors: Munroe Samantha , Fry Brian , Olley Jon 
Published: August 2018

AbstractConcentrations of major and trace elements in freshwater fauna are often a reflection of local sediment chemistry. Biogeochemical profiles of freshwater species can be used to provide accurate and affordable assessments of species distribution, movement, and connectivity within river systems. Incorporating additional elements could significantly increase the precision and accuracy of population discrimination and movement analyses. To increase the variety of elements in biogeochemical tracing studies, we compared the concentrations of 38 major, trace, and rare earth elements (REEs) in bulk sediment (< 10 μm) and atyid shrimp from three rivers in South East Queensland, Australia. We determined which elements were correlated between sediment and shrimp samples and if these elements could distinguish different sample populations. This process identified elements that can directly associate shrimp with local sediment geochemical profiles. We found potassium (K), aluminum (Al), yttrium (Y), and the REEs cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), and samarium (Sm) were spatially correlated between shrimp and sediment samples. Concentration ratios indicated K may be a relatively conservative tracer. Aluminum, REEs, and Y may undergo characteristic fractionation between sediment and shrimp tissue. Multivariate analysis indicated these elements could distinguish shrimp populations between sample sites. Results suggest that this small number of elements can link shrimp with specific rivers in accordance with local geochemistry, and thus may be valuable tracers with which to distinguish freshwater populations. As we measured bulk sediment concentrations, sampling these tracers is a relatively simplistic process that could be applied in a range of field conditions.
Quantum Sensing of Motion in Colloids via Time‐Dependent Purcell Effect
Authors: Kadochkin Alexey S. , Shishkin Ivan I. , Shalin Alexander S. , Ginzburg Pavel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLight–matter interaction dynamics is governed by the strength of local coupling constants, tailored by surrounding electromagnetic structures. Characteristic decay times in dipole‐allowed fluorescent transitions are much faster than mechanical conformational changes within an environment and, as a result, the latter can be assumed static during the emission process. However, slow‐decaying compounds can break this commonly accepted approximation and introduce new interaction regimes. Here, slow‐decaying phosphorescent compounds are proposed to perform quantum sensing of the nearby structure's motion via observation of collective velocity‐dependent lifetime distributions. In particular, characteristic decay of an excited dye molecule, being comparable with its passage time next to a resonant particle, is modified via time‐dependent Purcell enhancement, which leaves distinct signatures on properties of emitted light. Velocity mapping of uniformly moving particles within a fluid solution of phosphorescent dyes is demonstrated via the analysis of modified lifetime distributions. The proposed interaction regime enables performing studies of a wide range of phenomena, where time‐dependent light–matter interaction constants can be utilized for extraction of additional information about a process.
Surface‐Enhanced Dual‐Comb Coherent Raman Spectroscopy with Nanoporous Gold Films
Authors: Yan Ming , Zhang Ling , Hao Qiang , Shen Xuling , Qian Xiaowei , Chen Haihong , Ren Xinyi , Zeng Heping 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWith two asynchronous frequency combs beating on a single detector, dual‐comb spectroscopy (DCS) enables rapid, broadband, and precise molecular fingerprinting on a comb tooth‐by‐tooth basis and thus holds much promise in molecular sensing. Sensitivity, however, has been an Achilles’ heel of this technique. Here, an approach for ultrasensitive nonlinear DCS based on plasmon‐enhanced coherent Raman spectroscopy (CRS) with ultrathin (100 nm) nanoporous gold films is presented. A high‐resolution (<8 cm−1) Raman spectrum is obtained within 32.8 µs for characterizing low‐density chemicals. The achieved sensitivity enhancement reaches ≈106–8 relative to nonenhanced dual‐comb CRS of liquid samples. The demonstrated approach may open up a new avenue for fast identification of trace amounts of chemicals.
A Degradable and Antimicrobial Surface‐Attached Polymer Hydrogel
Authors: Erath Roman , Lienkamp Karen 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSurface‐attached, degradable polymer hydrogels with potential antimicrobial activity are reported. They are obtained by ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization (ROMP) of a monomer with potential bioactivity and a monomer that carries a benzophenone cross‐linker and a hydrolyzable group. The hydrolyzable group is either an ester or an anhydride group. The copolymers thus obtained are spin‐coated onto silicon wafers and UV‐irradiated to induce C,H cross‐linking of the benzophenone groups and obtain the target polymer networks. Immersion of these networks into aqueous media triggers network degradation. The degradation speed depends on the nature of the intended break points (ester or anhydride groups), the number of cross‐links per polymer chain, and the surrounding medium. By releasing bioactive polymer fragments to the medium (“leaching”) and by regenerating the hydrogel surface during the degradation process, the hydrogels potentially have two ways to prevent biofilm formation on their surface.
Aggregation of group priorities in analytic hierarchy process—When to aggregate and when not to
Authors: Basak Indrani 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDecision on priorities of alternatives can be made on the basis of judgments from a group of individuals in Analytic Hierarchy Process. Often these groups are of different existing backgrounds (social, geographical, or gender), and it is of interest to see whether these different existing backgrounds create any difference in their prioritization of the alternatives in the decision problem. In this article, we develop a methodology to measure the level of agreement among groups from different existing backgrounds regarding their priorities on a fixed set of alternatives. When these group judgments from different existing backgrounds have significant agreement among them, a common vector of priority weights of the alternatives can be obtained. Otherwise, separate vectors of priority weights should be obtained for groups from different existing backgrounds. A numerical example with the implementation of methodologies proposed in the article is discussed.
What is the exact working mechanism of botulinum toxin A and sacral nerve stimulation in the treatment of overactive bladder/detrusor overactivity? ICI‐RS 2017
Authors: Malde Sachin , Fry Christopher , Schurch Brigitte , Marcelissen Tom , Averbeck Marcio , Digesu Alex , Sahai Arun 
Published: August 2018

AimsBotulinum toxin A (BTX‐A) and sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) are established treatments for overactive bladder (OAB) and are standard of care in refractory cases in international guidelines. Despite long term use over decades their “exact” working mechanisms are not entirely clear. At the ICI‐RS meeting in Bristol in 2017 a think tank was convened to address the question.MethodsThe think tank conducted a literature review and an expert consensus meeting focusing on current mechanisms and what could be learned from clinical experience and objective urodynamic data.ResultsBTX‐A results suggests effects on both filling and voiding parts of the micturition cycle. The salient data in this regard is presented as well as additional studies related to the urothelium and evidence for central effects. Urodynamics have consistently shown increases in bladder capacity, compliance, and reductions in detrusor pressures during filling, however post void residuals also increase in a dose‐dependent fashion. During SNS activation of somatic afferents inhibits bladder sensory pathways and reflex bladder hyperactivity. Evidence in cats suggest the inhibition of bladder activity occurs primarily in the CNS by inhibition of the ascending or descending pathways of the spinobulbospinal micturition reflex. Urodynamics have suggested improvement in bladder capacity and reduction in detrusor pressures during filling with little observed effects on voiding parameters.ConclusionsThe working mechanism of BTX‐A and SNS is complex. The exact mechanisms are still unknown, although considerable progress has been made in our understanding. Further research proposals are suggested to help further elucidate these mechanisms.