bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The “Enseki” sandbath: A novel, safe and effective far‐infrared bathing procedure for health
Authors: Aragane Yoshinori , Higashino Hideaki 
Published: August 2018

SummaryBackgroundFar‐infrared (FIR) is well known with various therapeutic benefits. Recently, we have developed a novel FIR bathing system called the Enseki sandbath. In this regard, we focused on physical nature of ceramic to radiate FIR rays when heated adequately.MethodsA bathtub was filled with ceramic beads and was equipped with computerized system which enabled to supply hot water over the ceramic beads and to drain out when beads were sufficiently heated. This system was used like sandbathing. Healthy volunteers were laid in bathtubs, covered in heated ceramic beads and were bathed for 15 minutes. Microbiological analysis was done in samples obtained from the skin surface, ceramic beads, or drained water. Furthermore, various physiological parameters were monitored, including blood pressure, heart rates, oral temperature, body weight, and blood viscosity. Blood samples were simultaneously collected and subjected to biochemical analysis, including blood glucose, HbA1c, uric acid, lactate, fatty acid, and others.ResultsAll data showed no physiological overload for tested individuals, and any biochemical analysis did not present abnormal score. Bacteriological culture grew no pathogens. Results of questionnaires demonstrated that 90% of the participants answered the comfort and wished to further repeat the bathing.LimitationsThis is a nonrandomized prospective case study.ConclusionWe concluded that the Enseki method is a safe and well‐tolerated FIR bathing procedure for regeneration and relaxation.
Use of VHH antibodies for the development of antigen detection test for visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Abeijon Claudia , Dilo Julia , Tremblay Jacqueline M. , Viana Agostinho G. , Bueno Lilian L. , Carvalho Silvio F. G. , Fujiwara Ricardo T. , Shoemaker Charles B. , Campos‐Neto Antonio 
Published: August 2018

SummaryWe have recently developed a sensitive and specific urine‐based antigen detection ELISA for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This assay used rabbit IgG and chicken IgY polyclonal antibodies specific for the Leishmania infantum proteins iron superoxide dismutase 1 (Li‐isd1), tryparedoxin1 (Li‐txn1) and nuclear transport factor 2 (Li‐ntf2). However, polyclonal antibodies have limitations for upscaling and continuous supply. To circumvent these hurdles, we began to develop immortalized monoclonal antibodies. We opted for recombinant camelid VHHs because the technology for their production is well established and they do not have Fc, hence providing less ELISA background noise. We report here an assay development using VHHs specific for Li‐isd1 and Li‐ntf2. This new assay was specific and had analytical sensitivity of 15‐45 pg/mL of urine. The clinical sensitivity was comparable to that obtained with the ELISA assembled with conventional rabbit and chicken antibodies to detect these two antigens. Therefore, similar to our former studies with conventional antibodies, the future inclusion of VHH specific for Li‐txn1 and/or other antigens should further increase the sensitivity of the assay. These results confirm that immortalized VHHs can replace conventional antibodies for the development of an accurate and reproducible antigen detection diagnostic test for VL.
Rapid evolution in native plants cultivated for ecological restoration: not a general pattern
Authors: Nagel R. , Durka W. , Bossdorf O. , Bucharova A. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

The growing number of restoration projects worldwide increases the demand for seed material of native species. To meet this demand, seeds are often produced through large‐scale cultivation on specialised farms, using wild‐collected seeds as the original sources. However, during cultivation, plants experience novel environmental conditions compared to those in natural populations, and there is a danger that the plants in cultivation are subject to unintended selection and lose their adaptation to natural habitats. Although the propagation methods are usually designed to maintain as much natural genetic diversity as possible, the effectiveness of these measures have never been tested.

We obtained seed of five common grassland species from one of the largest native seed producers in Germany. For each species, the seeds were from multiple generations of seed production. We used AFLP markers and a common garden experiment to test for genetic and phenotypic changes during cultivation of these plants.

The molecular markers detected significant evolutionary changes in three out of the five species and we found significant phenotypic changes in two species. The only species that showed substantial genetic and phenotypic changes was the short‐lived and predominantly selfing Medicago lupulina, while in the other, mostly perennial and outcrossing species, the observed changes were mostly minor.

Agricultural propagation of native seed material for restoration can cause evolutionary changes, at least in some species. We recommend caution, particularly in selfing and short‐lived species, where evolution may be more rapid and effects may thus be more severe.
Seed traits and germination behaviour of four Sardinian populations of Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum (Asteraceae) along an altitudinal gradient
Authors: Picciau R. , Serra S. , Porceddu M. , Bacchetta G. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum (Asteraceae) is an endemic taxon of Sardinia and Corsica, where it grows at different altitudes. The objective of this study was to investigate the seed traits and germination behaviour of four Sardinian populations of this taxon located at different altitudes.

Seed traits were evaluated, and germination tests were carried out by incubating seeds at a range of constant (5–30 °C) and alternating (25/10 °C) temperatures. The dry after‐ripening (DAR) pre‐treatment was also applied by storing seed in dry conditions for 3 months at 25 °C. Seed traits and germination behaviour data were statistically analysed to identify if there was a correlation with altitude.

Differences in seed size, area and mass among populations were recorded, however, no relationship was found with altitude. High germination percentages were obtained in all populations, both in untreated and DAR seeds, and were positively affected by alternating temperatures. The final germination percentage and time required to reach 50% final germination (T50) showed no relationship with altitude.

The differences in seed traits and germination detected among the studied populations of H. microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum were not correlated with altitude. This study provides new and important knowledge for this taxon. H. microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum is characterised by high germination percentages and low T50 values and does not seem to require any dormancy‐breaking treatment. This species represents a high‐potential native plant species that should be considered within environmental management plans.
Interaction between the signaling molecules hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide and their role in vacuolar H+‐ATPase regulation in cadmium‐stressed cucumber roots
Authors: Kabała Katarzyna , Zboińska Magdalena , Głowiak Dorota , Reda Małgorzata , Jakubowska Dagmara , Janicka Małgorzata 
Published: August 2018

Vacuolar H+‐ATPase (V‐ATPase; EC 3.6.3.14) is the main enzyme responsible for generating a proton gradient across the tonoplast. Under cadmium (Cd) stress conditions, V‐ATPase activity is inhibited. In the present work, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) cross‐talk was analyzed in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings exposed to Cd to explain the role of both signaling molecules in the control of V‐ATPase. V‐ATPase activity and gene expression as well as H2S and H2O2 content and endogenous production were determined in roots of plants treated with 100 μM CdCl2 and different inhibitors or scavengers. It was found that H2S donor improved photosynthetic parameters in Cd‐stressed cucumber seedlings. Cd‐induced stimulation of H2S level was correlated with the increased activities of the H2S‐generating desulfhydrases. Increased H2O2 and lowered H2S contents in roots were able to reduce V‐ATPase activities similar to Cd. H2O2 and H2S‐induced modulations in V‐ATPase activities were not closely related to the transcript level of encoding genes, suggesting posttranslational modifications of enzyme protein. On the other hand, exogenous H2O2 raised H2S content in root tissues independently from the desulfhydrase activity. Although treatment of control plants with H2S significantly stimulated NADPH oxidase activity and gene expression, H2S did not affect H2O2 accumulation in roots exposed to Cd. The results suggest the existence of two pathways of H2S generation in Cd‐stressed cucumber roots. One involves desulfhydrase activity, as was previously demonstrated in different plant species. The other, the desulfhydrase‐independent pathway induced by H2O2/NADPH oxidase, may protect V‐ATPase from inhibition by Cd.
Ascorbic acid–cyclodextrin complex alters the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in bovine in vitro produced embryos
Authors: Torres Viviana , Hamdi Meriem , Maillo Veronica , Urrego Rodrigo , Echeverri Jose Julian , López‐Herrera Albeiro , Gutiérrez‐Adán Alfonso , Rizos Dimitrios , Sánchez‐Calabuig Maria Jesús 
Published: August 2018

ContentsAscorbic acid (AC) used as antioxidant in embryo culture is very sensitive and degrades unavoidably in aqueous solution. Methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CD) improved the stability of AC in solution to elevated temperature, light, humidity and oxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the complex AC‐CD during in vitro maturation (IVM) or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte developmental competence and subsequent embryo development and quality. AC‐CD (100 µM) was added to IVM media, and maturation level and embryo development were examined. Matured oocytes, their cumulus cells and produced blastocysts were snap‐frozen for gene expression analysis by RT‐qPCR. Besides, in vitro‐produced zygotes were cultured with 100 µM of AC‐CD and blastocysts were as well snap‐frozen for gene expression analysis. A group without AC‐CD (control−) and other with CD (control+) were included. No differences were found on maturation, cleavage or blastocyst rates. However, in matured oocytes, AC‐CD downregulated BAX, GPX1 and BMP15. In cumulus cells, AC‐CD downregulated BAX/BCL2 and GSTA4 while upregulated BCL2 and CYP51A1. The expression of SL2A1, FADS1, PNPLA and MTORC1 was downregulated in blastocysts derived from oocytes matured with AC‐CD, while in blastocysts derived from zygote cultured with AC‐CD, CYP51A1 and IGF2R were downregulated and PNPLA2 was upregulated. In conclusion, AC‐CD in both IVM and IVC media may reduce accumulated fat by increasing lipolysis and suppressing lipogenesis in blastocysts derived from both oocytes and zygotes cultured with AC‐CD, suggesting that CD improves the quality of embryos and bioavailability of AC during IVM and IVC.
Expression and localization of follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor in the yak uterus during different stages of the oestrous cycle
Authors: Abudureyimu Ayimuguli , Cai Yong , Huo Shengdong , Ren Rui , Zang Rongxin , Yang Jutian , Ma Zhongren , Cui Yan 
Published: August 2018

ContentsMorphological changes of the uterus and alterations in its secretory activity under the influence of steroid hormones been well documented. The oestrous cycle is also associated with significant changes in plasma follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), whose effects are mediated through its receptor (FSHR). Reports showed that in many mammals, FSHR was expressed in gonadal and extragonadal tissues including cervix, female reproductive tract, and pituitary gland. Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) signals through endothelial FSHR directly stimulate angiogenesis and involved in the timing of birth in human, and the presence of FSHR in the placenta is essential for normal pregnancy in mice. But little is known about FSHR expression in the yak uterus. The main objective of the present study was to determine the expression and localization of FSHR in the yak uterus during different phases of the oestrous cycle. Results showed that FSHR protein was localized in the surface and glandular epithelial cells, stroma cells, myometrial smooth muscle cells and blood vessel endothelial cells. The expression of FSHR protein peaked at oestrus, significantly decreased at dioestrus (p < 0.05) and increased again at proestrus. FSHR mRNA was highly expressed at both proestrus and oestrus, and decreased at metestrus with the lowest values at dioestrus (p < 0.05). In conclusion, FSHR expression in the yak uterus changed with the stage of the oestrous cycle suggesting that FSHR plays an essential role in regulating the endometrial and myometrial functions during the oestrus cycle in the yak.
Joint Modelling of a Binary and a Continuous Outcome Measured at Two Cycles to Determine the Optimal Dose
Authors: Ezzalfani Monia , Burzykowski Tomasz , Paoletti Xavier 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThe optimal dose of targeted treatment in oncology may not be the maximal tolerated dose. Evaluating jointly toxicity and efficacy data is then desirable. We propose an adaptive dose finding approach to identify a dose based on repeated binary toxicity and continuous efficacy outcomes from the first two cycles. Probit and linear Gaussian models are used for the toxicity and efficacy at each cycle respectively. The correlation between toxicity and efficacy outcome is modelled via a latent Gaussian variable. Maximum likelihood estimators are used. Two steps in this design are defined: dose escalation with decision rules based only on toxicity observed at the first cycle; the expansion cohort with decision rules based on both repeated toxicity and efficacy outcomes by using the joint model. We perform simulation studies to assess the operating characteristics of our design. The design has good performance for different scenarios. The percentage of correct selection dose varies from 54% to 84%. There is no effect on the estimation parameters with missing data of toxicity or efficacy at cycle 2. The design then has similar performance. Using repeated toxicity and efficacy data in dose finding trials provides more reliable information to estimate the optimal dose for further trials.
Functional performance tests identify lateral ankle sprain risk: A prospective pilot study in adolescent soccer players
Authors: Ko Jupil , Rosen Adam B. , Brown Cathleen N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDetermining the clinical utility of functional performance tests (FPTs) and establishing cutoff scores could be useful in identifying those athletes who could benefit from effective injury prevention interventions. Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of FPTs in identifying adolescent athletes who go on to experience lateral ankle sprain(s) and establish specific cutoff scores capable of identifying those who sustain a lateral ankle sprain in the near future. Sixty‐four participants (age = 15.5 ± 1.3 years; height = 161.7 ± 7.7 cm; mass = 57.1 ± 8.4 kg) were recruited from a junior soccer club and tracked for 10 months. Participants performed the anterior (AN), posterior‐medial (PM), and posterior‐lateral (PL) reach directions of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the Single‐Leg Hop Test (SLHT) in pre‐season, and then were followed for the 10‐month competitive season (12 injured, 52 uninjured). Significant Area Under the Curve (AUC) values and cutoff scores were found for the PM (AUC = 0.78; 95% CI 0.61‐0.95; P = 0.003; Sn = 0.83; Sp = 0.77; cutoff = 76%) and the PL (AUC = 0.82; 95% CI 0.71‐0.94; P = 0.001; Sn = 0.92; Sp = 0.65; cutoff = 70%) reach directions of the SEBT and the SLHT (AUC = 0.77; 95% CI 0.60‐0.95; P = 0.003; Sn = 0.67; Sp = 0.94; cutoff = 15.4 seconds). The PM and PL reach directions of the SEBT and the SLHT may be useful as pre‐season screening measures to help clinicians identify adolescents who will go on to experience a lateral ankle sprain.
Hamstring and other thigh injuries in children and young athletes
Authors: Valle Xavier , Malliaropoulos Nikolaos , Párraga Botero Juan Diego , Bikos Georgios , Pruna Ricard , Mónaco Mauricio , Maffulli Nicola 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundIn adults, hamstring injuries may lead to long periods of rehabilitation and carry a definite risk of recurrence. However, no studies detail how these injuries affect young athletes.ObjectiveTo describe and analyze injuries in the hamstring area in young athletes. To identify risk factors for injuries to the hamstring area in this age group, which will make it possible to design and optimize prevention plans.MethodsThe study population consisted of 1157 young athletes with an average age of 13.56 years, all members of the Barcelona Football Club. Injuries to the hamstring area over three consecutive seasons (from July 2007 to June 2010) were analyzed.ResultsThe 50 injuries in the hamstring muscle complex included 14 injuries to the biceps femoris, 17 to the semitendinosus‐semimembranosus complex, 10 cases of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and nine avulsion of the ischial tuberosity. Hamstring injuries were first identified in young athletes starting from age nine, with an age‐related increased rate up to the age of 15, and a lower incidence at age 14, 16, and 18. The average time lost following an hamstring injury was 21 days and 43.4 days following avulsion from the ischium. The highest incidence of injuries occurred in football players.ConclusionsHamstring injuries in this group of young athletes are less prevalent than in adults.
Enabling collaborative GeoVisual analytics: Systems, techniques, and research challenges
Authors: García‐Chapeton Gustavo Adolfo , Ostermann Frank Olaf , de By Rolf A. , Kraak Menno‐Jan 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCollaboration across disciplines is recognized as one of the great challenges for research in visual analysis of geographic information (GeoVisual Analytics, GVA). Considering the increasing availability of geodata and the complexity of analytical problems, the need to advance the support for collaborative work is becoming more pressing and prominent. This article contributes to this objective by reviewing the state‐of‐the‐art of the support for collaborative work in GVA systems and by identifying research challenges and proposing strategies to address them. We conducted a systematic review, resulting in the identification of 13 collaborative systems, 6 distinct collaborative techniques, and 3 research challenges. We conclude that GVA is moving toward more effective support of multidisciplinary and cross‐domain collaborative analysis. However, to materialize this potential, research is needed to improve the support for hybrid collaborative scenarios, cross‐device collaboration, and support for time‐critical and long‐term analysis.
Extraction of spatio‐temporal data about historical events from text documents
Authors: Abraham Susanna , Mäs Stephan , Bernard Lars 
Published: August 2018

AbstractOften, we are faced with questions regarding past events and the answers are hidden in the historical text archives. The growing developments in geographic information retrieval and temporal information retrieval techniques have given new ways to explore digital text archives for spatio‐temporal data. The question is how to retrieve the answers from the text documents. This work contributes to a better understanding of spatio‐temporal information extraction from text documents. Natural language processing techniques were used to develop an information extraction approach using the GATE language processing software. The developed framework uses gazetteer matching, spatio‐temporal relationship extraction and pattern‐based rules to recognize and annotate elements in historical text documents. The extracted spatio‐temporal data is used as input for GIS studies on the time–geography context of the German–Herero resistance war of 1904 in Namibia. Related issues when analyzing the historical data in current GIS are discussed. Particularly problematic are movement data in small scale with poor temporal density and trajectories that are short or connect very distant locations.
Integrating spatial data analysis functionalities in a GIS environment: Spatial Analysis using ArcGIS Engine and R (SAAR)
Authors: Koo Hyeongmo , Chun Yongwan , Griffith Daniel A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSpatial data analysis (SDA) tools to efficiently handle and explore spatial data have become readily available. Although these SDA tools have their own strengths and purposes, they suffer from limited support in terms of a development environment offering easy customization and high extensibility, a strength of open source software. This article presents a standalone software package for SDA in a geographic information system (GIS) environment, called Spatial Analysis using ArcGIS Engine and R (SAAR), which provides an integrated GIS and SDA environment. A set of SDA tools in SAAR utilizes functions in R using R.NET, while other tools were developed in .NET independent of R. SAAR provides an efficient working environment for both general and advanced GIS users. For general GIS users with limited programming skills, SAAR furnishes advanced SDA tools in a popular ArcGIS environment with graphical user interfaces. For advanced GIS users, SAAR offers an extensible GIS platform to help them customize and implement SDA functions with relatively little development effort. This article demonstrates some functionalities of SAAR using census data for Texas counties.
A distributed approach for calculating inundation height based on Dijkstra's algorithm
Authors: Grady C. J. , Li Xingong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis research proposed a parallelized approach to scaling up the calculation of inundation height, the minimum sea‐level rise required to inundate a cell on a digital elevation model, which is based on Dijkstra's algorithm for shortest‐path calculations on a graph. Our approach is based on the concepts of spatial decomposition, calculate‐and‐correct, and a master/worker parallelization paradigm. The approach was tested using the U.S. Coastal Relief Model (CRM) dataset from the National Geophysical Data Center on a multicore desktop computer and various supercomputing resources through the U.S. Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) program. Our parallel implementation not only enables computations that were larger than previously possible, but also significantly outperforms serial implementations with respect to running time and memory footprint as the number of processing cores increases. The efficiency of the scalability seemed to be tied to tile size and flattened out at a certain number of workers.