bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of antimicrobials as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance: Effects and associated mechanisms
Authors: dos Reis Sandra Aparecida , do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio Maria , Bressan Josefina 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThe intestinal microbiota has come to be considered an additional risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases. Considering the potential role of antimicrobials as modulators of the intestinal microbiota, they have been investigated for use in the adjuvant treatment of obesity and insulin resistance (IR). In this regard, the present manuscript aimed to review the effect of regular use of antimicrobials on the treatment of obesity and/or IR, as well as its associated mechanisms. The regular use of antimicrobials does not seem to influence the body weight and adiposity of its consumer. Regarding IR, clinical trials did not observe positive effects, on the other hand, most of the experimental studies observed an increase in insulin sensitivity. The mechanisms used by antimicrobials that could lead to the improvement of insulin sensitivity are dependent on the modulation of the intestinal microbiota. This modulation would lead to a reduction in the stimulation of the immune system, as a consequence of improved intestinal barrier and/or the reduction of gram‐negative bacteria in the microbiota. In addition, the secretion of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 would be modulated by metabolites produced by the intestinal microbiota, such as secondary bile acids and short‐chain fatty acids. Based on the results obtained to date, more studies should be performed to elucidate the effect of these drugs on obesity and IR, as well as the mechanisms involved. In addition, the cost‐benefit of the regular use of antimicrobials should be investigated, as this practice may lead to the development of antimicrobial‐resistant microorganisms.
Neural crest and the patterning of vertebrate craniofacial muscles
Authors: Ziermann Janine M. , Diogo Rui , Noden Drew M. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryPatterning of craniofacial muscles overtly begins with the activation of lineage‐specific markers at precise, evolutionarily conserved locations within prechordal, lateral, and both unsegmented and somitic paraxial mesoderm populations. Although these initial programming events occur without influence of neural crest cells, the subsequent movements and differentiation stages of most head muscles are neural crest‐dependent. Incorporating both descriptive and experimental studies, this review examines each stage of myogenesis up through the formation of attachments to their skeletal partners. We present the similarities among developing muscle groups, including comparisons with trunk myogenesis, but emphasize the morphogenetic processes that are unique to each group and sometimes subsets of muscles within a group. These groups include branchial (pharyngeal) arches, which encompass both those with clear homologues in all vertebrate classes and those unique to one, for example, mammalian facial muscles, and also extraocular, laryngeal, tongue, and neck muscles. The presence of several distinct processes underlying neural crest:myoblast/myocyte interactions and behaviors is not surprising, given the wide range of both quantitative and qualitative variations in craniofacial muscle organization achieved during vertebrate evolution.
The influence of diet and environment on the gut microbial community of field crickets
Authors: Ng Soon Hwee , Stat Michael , Bunce Michael , Simmons Leigh W. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe extent to which diet and environment influence gut community membership (presence or absence of taxa) and structure (individual taxon abundance) is the subject of growing interest in microbiome research. Here, we examined the gut bacterial communities of three cricket groups: (1) wild caught field crickets, (2) laboratory‐reared crickets fed cat chow, and (3) laboratory‐reared crickets fed chemically defined diets. We found that both environment and diet greatly altered the structure of the gut bacterial community. Wild crickets had greater gut microbial diversity and higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios, in contrast to laboratory‐reared crickets. Predictive metagenomes revealed that laboratory‐reared crickets were significantly enriched in amino acid degradation pathways, while wild crickets had a higher relative abundance of peptidases that would aid in amino acid release. Although wild and laboratory animals differ greatly in their bacterial communities, we show that the community proportional membership remains stable from Phylum to Family taxonomic levels regardless of differences in environment and diet, suggesting that endogenous factors, such as host genetics, have greater control in shaping gut community membership.
High CO2 decreases the long‐term resilience of the free‐living coralline algae Phymatolithon lusitanicum
Authors: Sordo Laura , Santos Rui , Barrote Isabel , Silva João 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMäerl/rhodolith beds are protected habitats that may be affected by ocean acidification (OA), but it is still unclear how the availability of CO2 will affect the metabolism of these organisms. Some of the inconsistencies found among OA experimental studies may be related to experimental exposure time and synergetic effects with other stressors. Here, we investigated the long‐term (up to 20 months) effects of OA on the production and calcification of the most common mäerl species of southern Portugal, Phymatolithon lusitanicum. Both the photosynthetic and calcification rates increased with CO2 after the first 11 months of the experiment, whereas respiration slightly decreased with CO2. After 20 months, the pattern was reversed. Acidified algae showed lower photosynthetic and calcification rates, as well as lower accumulated growth than control algae, suggesting that a metabolic threshold was exceeded. Our results indicate that long‐term exposure to high CO2 will decrease the resilience of Phymatolithon lusitanicum. Our results also show that shallow communities of these rhodoliths may be particularly at risk, while deeper rhodolith beds may become ocean acidification refuges for this biological community.
Parasite richness and abundance within aquatic macroinvertebrates: testing the roles of host‐ and habitat‐level factors
Authors: McDevitt‐Galles Travis , Calhoun Dana Marie , Johnson Pieter T. J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe importance of parasites as both members of biological communities and structuring agents of host communities has been increasingly emphasized. Yet parasites of aquatic macroinvertebrates and the environmental factors regulating their richness and abundance remain poorly studied. Here, we quantified parasite richness and abundance within 12 genera of odonate naiads and opportunistically sampled four additional orders of aquatic macroinvertebrates from 35 freshwater ponds in the San Francisco Bay Area of California,U.S.A. We also tested the relative contributions of host‐ and habitat‐level factors in driving patterns of infection abundance for the most commonly encountered parasite (the trematodeHaematoloechussp.) in nymphal damselflies and dragonflies using hierarchical generalized linear mixed models. Over the course of two years, we quantified the presence and intensity of parasites from 1612 individuals. We identified six parasite taxa: two digenetic trematodes, one larval nematode, one larval acanthocephalan, one gregarine, and a mite, for which the highest infection prevalence (39%) occurred in the damselfly genus,Ishnurasp. Based on the hierarchical analysis ofHaematoloechussp. occurrence, infection prevalence and abundance were associated predominantly with site‐level factors, including definitive host (frog) presence, nymphal odonate density, waterpH, and conductivity. In addition, host suborder interacted with the presence of fishes, such that damselflies had higher infection rates in sites with fish relative to those without, whereas the opposite was true for dragonfly nymphs. These findings offer insights into the potential interaction between host‐ and site‐level factors in shaping parasite populations within macroinvertebrate taxa.
Characteristics and long‐term prognosis of patients with heart failure and mid‐range ejection fraction compared with reduced and preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lauritsen Josephine , Gustafsson Finn , Abdulla Jawdat 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to assess by a meta‐analysis the clinical characteristics, all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality, and hospitalization of patients with heart failure (HF) with mid‐range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) compared with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods and resultsData from 12 eligible observational studies including 109 257 patients were pooled. HFmrEF patients were significantly different and occupied a mid‐position between HFrEF and HFpEF: mean age 73.6 ± 9.8 vs. 72.6 ± 9.8 and 77.6 ± 7.2 years, male gender 59% vs. 68.5% and 40%, ischaemic heart disease 49% vs. 52.6% and 39.4%, hypertension 67.3% vs. 61.5% and 76.5%, atrial fibrillation 45.2% vs. 39.6% and 46%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 26.4% vs. 24.9% and 30.5%, estimated glomerular filtration rate 62 ± 30 vs. 63.3 ± 23 and 59 ± 22.5, use of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors 79.6% vs. 90.1% and 68.7%, beta‐blockers 82% vs. 89% and 73.5%, and aldosterone antagonists 20.3 vs. 31.5% and 26%, P‐values < 0.05. After a mean follow‐up of 31 ± 5 months, all‐cause mortality was significantly lower in HFmrEF than in HFrEF and HFpEF (26.8% vs. 29.5% and 31%): risk ratio (RR) 0.95 [0.93–0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI)], P < 0.001, and 0.97 (0.94–0.99; 95% CI), P = 0.014, respectively. Cardiovascular mortality was lowest in HFmrEF (9.7% vs. 13% and 12.8%): RR = 0.81 (0.73–0.91), P < 0.001, and 1.10 (0.97–1.24; 95% CI), P = 0.13, respectively. HF hospitalization in HFmrEF compared to that in HFrEF and HFpEF was 23.9% vs. 27.6% and 23.3% with RR = 0.89 (0.85–0.93), P < 0.001, and RR = 1.12 (1.07–1.17), P < 0.001, respectively.ConclusionsThe results of this study support that HFmrEF is a distinct category characterized by a mid‐position between HFrEF and HFpEF and with the lowest all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality.
Reducing Hysteresis Losses by Heating Minor Loops in Magnetocaloric Ni–Mn–Ga–Co Films
Authors: Diestel Anett , Niemann Robert , Schleicher Benjamin , Nielsch Kornelius , Fähler Sebastian 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMagnetocaloric materials relying on first‐order phase transitions give the highest entropy changes compared to second‐order transitions. However, they have the drawback of a transformation hysteresis, which reduces the efficiency of a cooling cycle. Here an approach to reduce the thermal hysteresis losses by performing incomplete transformation cycles, so called minor loops, is presented. A freestanding, epitaxially grown Ni–Mn–Ga–Co film is used as a model system to analyze the direct martensitic and reverse transformation paths in detail. The additional residual phase fraction only facilitates the forward martensitic transformation, but not the reverse transformation. This pronounced asymmetry between cooling and heating demonstrates that the forward transformation to martensite is controlled by nucleation and the associated excess energy contributes to hysteresis losses. For the reverse transformation, however, nuclei of austenite are always present and accordingly this transformation is controlled by growth of the austenitic phase. The experiments reveal that only the use of heating minor loops is useful to improve the efficiency of magnetocaloric epitaxial films and by this, the ratio of usable magnetization difference divided by hysteresis loss can be increased by 64 %.
An Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane as Gel‐Based Electrolyte for Room‐Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Lim Du‐Hyun , Agostini Marco , Ahn Jou‐Hyeon , Matic Aleksandar 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe report on the synthesis and characterization of an electrospun gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) membrane based on polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (PAN) swollen in a polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether/Na‐salt electrolyte solution, for application in room temperature sodium–sulfur (Na–S) batteries. The membranes show a high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability window, and good thermal stability. We demonstrate the performance of the membrane in an Na–S cell using a sulfur–carbon nanotubes composite cathode and Na metal as anode. Our results show that the GPE membrane stabilizes the Na metal anode resulting in stable cycling behavior. The capacity of the Na–S cell, using the GPE membrane and operating at room temperature, is approximately 500 mAh g−1 over 40 cycles. The selected electrolyte configuration also provides improved safety by replacing the highly reactive sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) salt previously used in literature. All these benefits make the gel‐polymer electrolyte membrane a very promising system for application in room‐temperature sodium and sodium–sulfur batteries.
Every Practitioner a “Knowledge Worker”: Promoting Evaluative Thinking to Enhance Learning and Adaptive Management in International Development
Authors: Archibald Thomas , Sharrock Guy , Buckley Jane , Young Stacey 
Published: April 2018

AbstractInternational community development involves complex, dynamic processes. Evaluation capacity building (ECB) designed to promote evaluative thinking among community development practitioners can foster more complexity‐aware monitoring and evaluation for learning and adaptive management. Instead of simply executing technical processes based on predetermined plans, development practitioners can be “knowledge workers” who use evaluative thinking to promote collaboration, learning, and adaptation. In this chapter, framed in the context of the United States Agency for International Development's ongoing efforts to become a more effective learning organization, we describe one such ECB initiative implemented by Catholic Relief Services in Zambia, Ethiopia, and Malawi. The chapter provides reflections on a practical application and empirical grounding of theoretical concepts related to complexity‐aware and learning‐focused evaluation.
Financial density forecasts: A comprehensive comparison of risk‐neutral and historical schemes
Authors: Crisóstomo Ricardo , Couso Lorena 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe investigate the forecasting ability of the most commonly used benchmarks in financial economics. We approach the usual caveats of probabilistic forecasts studies—small samples, limited models, and nonholistic validations—by performing a comprehensive comparison of 15 predictive schemes during a time period of over 21 years. All densities are evaluated in terms of their statistical consistency, local accuracy and forecasting errors. Using a new composite indicator, the integrated forecast score, we show that risk‐neutral densities outperform historical‐based predictions in terms of information content. We find that the variance gamma model generates the highest out‐of‐sample likelihood of observed prices and the lowest predictive errors, whereas the GARCH‐based GJR‐FHS delivers the most consistent forecasts across the entire density range. In contrast, lognormal densities, the Heston model, or the nonparametric Breeden–Litzenberger formula yield biased predictions and are rejected in statistical tests.
Using Thymus carmanicus and Myrtus communis essential oils to enhance the physicochemical properties of potato chips
Authors: Boroujeni Leila Sedaghat , Hojjatoleslamy Mohammad 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of the essential oils of Myrtus communis leaves and Thymus caramanicus aerial parts in order to improve the physicochemical properties of potato chips. Sunflower oil without any antioxidant (control group) was fortified with BHA or TBHQ antioxidants (200 ppm), and M. communis or T. caramanicus essential oils (3,000 ppm). The effects of the antioxidant behavior of these compounds on the physicochemical properties of potato chips were analyzed by measuring peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV), and thiobarbituric acid (TBA). In addition, changes occurring in oxidation stability, texture, and color were evaluated. The results revealed that samples containing either M. communis or T. carmanicus showed a significant decrease in PV, as compared to the control sample. Compared with the control, the extracted oil of potato chips with M. communis or T. carmanicus led to the significant reduction in AV (p < .05). The results also revealed the addition of the essential oils of M. communis or T. carmanicus was obviously effective in preventing the TBA increasing value. Based on the results obtained by the Rancimat test, either T. carmanicus or M. communis essential oils could significantly increase the shelf‐life of potato chips, as compared with the control sample (p < .05). The hardness of potato chips was decreased in M. communis or T. carmanicus groups (p < .05), as compared to the control sample. Neither M. communis nor T. carmanicus essential oils had any negative effects on the lightness values, as compared to the control (p > .05). Based on the results, the physicochemical properties of potato chips could be improved with the addition of these essential oils.
Gelatin versus its two major degradation products, prolyl‐hydroxyproline and glycine, as supportive therapy in experimental colitis in mice
Authors: Zhu Suqin , Huang Min , Feng Guangxin , Miao Yu , Wu Haohao , Zeng Mingyong , Lo Yangming Martin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractGelatin is an anti‐inflammatory dietary component, and its predominant metabolites entering circulation are prolyl‐hydroxyproline (Pro‐Hyp) and glycine. We evaluated the protective effects of orally administered gelatin, glycine, and Pro‐Hyp 10:3:0.8 (w/w/w) against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐induced colitis in mice. According to clinical, histological, and biochemical parameters, they exhibited significant activities in the order of gelatin < glycine < Pro‐Hyp. Gelatin prevented the DSS‐induced increase in interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in the colon, rather than in peripheral blood. Glycine and Pro‐Hyp attenuated the DSS‐induced rise in colonic IL‐6 and TNF‐α, as well as peripheral IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α. Hematologic results show the attenuation of DSS‐induced leukocytosis and lymphocytosis by glycine and Pro‐Hyp, rather than gelatin. These findings suggest that glycine and Pro‐Hyp constitute the material basis for gelatin's anticolitis efficacy, and they have better anticolitis activities and distinct mechanisms of action when ingested as free compounds than as part of gelatin.
Safety of ready‐to‐eat chicken in Burkina Faso: Microbiological quality, antibiotic resistance, and virulence genes in Escherichia coli isolated from chicken samples of Ouagadougou
Authors: Somda Namwin S. , Bonkoungou Ouindgueta J. I. , Zongo Cheikna , Kagambèga Assèta , Bassolé Imael H. N. , Traoré Yves , Mahillon Jacques , Scippo Marie‐Louise , Hounhouigan Joseph D. , Savadogo Aly 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn Burkina Faso, flamed/grilled chickens are very popular and well known to consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality, the antibiotic resistance, and the virulence gene from Escherichia coli isolated from these chickens in Ouagadougou. A total of 102 grilled, flamed, and fumed chickens were collected in Ouagadougou and analyzed, using standard microbiological methods. All E. coli isolates were checked with the antimicrobial test and also typed by 16‐plex PCR. The mean of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) and thermo‐tolerant coliforms (TTC) was found respectively between 6.90 ± 0.12 × 107 CFU/g to 2.76 ± 0.44 × 108 CFU/g and 2.4 ± 0.82 × 107 CFU/g to 1.27 ± 0.9 × 108 CFU/g. E. coli strains were found to 27.45%. Forty samples (38.24%) were unacceptable based on the AMB load. Fifty‐nine samples (57.85%) were contaminated with TTCs. Low resistance was observed with antibiotics of betalactamin family. Diarrheagenic E. coli strains were detected in 21.43% of all samples. This study showed that flamed/grilled chickens sold in Ouagadougou could pose health risks for the consumers. Need of hygienic practices or system and good manufacturing practices is necessary to improve the hygienic quality of flamed/grilled chickens. Our results highlight the need of control of good hygiene and production practices to contribute to the improvement of the safety of the products and also to avoid antibiotic resistance. Slaughter, scalding, evisceration, plucking, bleeding, washing, rinsing, preserving, grilling, and selling may be the ways of contamination.
Phase‐Field Fracture at Finite Strains Based on Modified Invariants: A Note on its Analysis and Simulations
Authors: Thomas Marita , Bilgen Carola , Weinberg Kerstin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe present recent results on the mathematical analysis of phase‐field model for anisotropic fracture at finite strains. It is based on a modification of the Ambrosio‐Tortorelli model, formulated for polyconvex energy densities in terms of the modified invariants of the right Cauchy‐Green strain tensor and augmented by a viscous dissipation for the phase‐field variable. A suitable notion of solution is introduced and used for the simulation of a conchoidal fracture in a brittle specimen.
A Note on the Equivalence and the Boundary Behavior of a Class of Sobolev Capacities
Authors: Christof Constantin , Müller Georg 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to study different notions of Sobolev capacity commonly used in the analysis of obstacle‐ and Signorini‐type variational inequalities. We review basic facts from capacity theory in an abstract setting that is tailored to the study of W1,p ‐ and W1–1/p,p‐capacities, and we prove equivalency results that relate several approaches found in the literature to each other. Motivated by applications in contact mechanics, we especially focus on the behavior of different Sobolev capacities on and near the boundary of the domain in question. As a result, we obtain, for example, that the most common approaches to the sensitivity analysis of Signorini‐type problems are exactly the same.
On the optimal control of some nonsmooth distributed parameter systems arising in mechanics
Authors: De Los Reyes J.C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractVariational inequalities are an important mathematical tool for modelling free boundary problems that arise in different application areas. Due to the intricate nonsmooth structure of the resulting models, their analysis and optimization is a difficult task that has drawn the attention of researchers for several decades. In this paper we focus on a class of variational inequalities, called of the second kind, with a twofold purpose. First, we aim at giving a glance at some of the most prominent applications of these types of variational inequalities in mechanics, and the related analytical and numerical difficulties. Second, we consider optimal control problems constrained by these variational inequalities and provide a thorough discussion on the existence of Lagrange multipliers and the different types of optimality systems that can be derived for the characterization of local minima. The article ends with a discussion of the main challenges and future perspectives of this important problem class.
Optimal Control of a Viscous Two‐Field Gradient Damage Model
Authors: Susu Livia M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe paper deals with a class of optimal control problems governed by a viscous damage model including two damage variables which are coupled through a penalty term. The existence and directional differentiability of the associated control‐to‐state operator is established. Moreover, necessary optimality conditions are derived. It is shown that these are equivalent to an optimality system, provided that a strict complementarity condition is satisfied.