bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of abiotic stresses on the physiology and metabolism of cool‐season grasses: A review
Authors: Loka Dimitra , Harper John , Humphreys Mike , Gasior Dagmara , Wootton-Beard Peter , Gwynn‐Jones Dylan , Scullion John , Doonan John , Kingston‐Smith Alison , Dodd Rosalind , Wang Jinyang , Chadwick David , Hill Paul , Jones Davey , Mills Gina , Hayes Felicity , Robinson David 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGrasslands cover more than 70% of the world's agricultural land playing a pivotal role in global food security, economy, and ecology due to their flexibility and functionality. Climate change, characterized by changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is anticipated to increase both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as drought, heat waves, and flooding. Potentially, climate change could severely compromise future forage crop production and should be considered a direct threat to food security. This review aimed to summarize our current understanding of the physiological and metabolic responses of temperate grasses to those abiotic stresses associated with climate change. Primarily, substantial decreases in photosynthetic rates of cool‐season grasses occur as a result of high temperatures, water‐deficit or water‐excess, and elevated ozone, but not CO2 concentrations. Those decreases are usually attributed to stomatal and non‐stomatal limitations. Additionally, while membrane instability and reactive oxygen species production was a common feature of the abiotic stress response, total antioxidant capacity showed a stress‐specific response. Furthermore, climate change‐related stresses altered carbohydrate partitioning, with implications for biomass production. While water‐deficit stress, increased CO2, and ozone concentrations resulted in higher carbohydrate content, the opposite occurred under conditions of heat stress and flooding. The extent of damage is greatly dependent on location, as well as the type and intensity of stress. Fortunately, temperate forage grass species are highly heterogeneous. Consequently, through intra‐ and in particular inter‐specific plant hybridization (e.g., Festuca x Lolium hybrids) new opportunities are available to harness, within single genotypes, gene combinations capable of combating climate change.
Prevalence and predictors of undernutrition among underfive children in Arusha District, Tanzania
Authors: Kejo Dyness , Mosha Theobald C. E. , Petrucka Pammla , Martin Haikael , Kimanya Martin E. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractChildhood undernutrition is a global health challenge impacting child growth and survival rates. This deficit in nutritional status contributes to the increasing chronic disease prevalence and economic burden in individuals and throughout developing contexts. A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted in Arusha District of Tanzania to determine the prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in 436 children. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and socio‐economic factors as well as feeding practices and prevalence of preventable childhood diseases. Anthropometric data were collected through the measurement of length/height and weight of all children. The prevalence of undernutrition was estimated based on Z‐scores indices below −2SD of the reference population for weight for age (underweight), height for age (stunting), and weight for height (wasting). Fifty percent, 28%, and 16.5% of the children were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. The age above 2 years and being a male were associated with stunting. The age above 2 years, nonexclusive breastfeeding children, and living at Seliani and Oturumeti were associated with being underweight. Similarly, morbidity, none exclusively breastfed children, living at Oturumeti, and being born to a mother 35 years and above were associated with wasting. In this study, we found the prevalence of child undernutrition in Arusha District is high in comparison with national and regional trends and appears to be associated with being a male. It is recommended that nutritionists and health planners should focus on these key predictors when planning nutrition interventions to address the problem of undernutrition among underfive children in Arusha District.
Nutritional composition and glycemic index analyses of vitamin A‐biofortified maize in healthy subjects
Authors: Oluba Olarewaju M. , Oredokun‐Lache Ajoke B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBesides being a veritable tool for easing the problem of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), this study sought to explore another potential health benefit of vitamin A‐biofortified maize (VABM). In the present study, the nutritional composition and glycemic index (GI) of tuwo masara (a nonfermented maize‐based dumpling), made from VABM and the indigenous white maize (IWM) genotype, were evaluated. VABM showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower fat (4.38 ± 0.46%) and crude protein (6.58 ± 0.13%) but higher crude fiber (5.29 ± 0.0%) contents compared to 5.22 ± 0.25% crude fat, 7.28 ± 0.11% crude protein, and 4.69 ± 0.00% crude fiber in the IWM. The phytic acid content in the IWM (2.77 mg/100 g) was 39% higher than the level (2.0 ± 0.04 mg/100 g) in VABM. The major provitamin A carotenoid in the VABM were lutein (7.37 ± 0.52 μg/g), zeaxanthin (1.65 ± 0.01 μg/g), cryptoxanthin (1.29 ± 0.02 μg/g), and all‐trans‐β‐carotene (0.83 ± 0.02 μg/g), while the IWM contained only lutein (1.52 ± 0.32 μg/g). The total carotene concentration, 12.74 ± 1.13 μg/g dry weight in the VABM, was over eight times higher than that observed for the IWM, 1.52 ± 0.32 μg/g dry weight. The VABM tuwo masara showed a significantly lower GI value (70.3%) compared to the IWM tuwo masara (87.7%). Data obtained from the study further attest to the positive nutritional and health benefits of VABM.
Efficient chemical fixation of CO2 into cyclic carbonates using poly(4‐vinylpyridine) supported iodine as an eco‐friendly and reusable heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Khaligh Nader Ghaffari , Mihankhah Taraneh , Johan Mohd Rafie 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGreen and sustainable synthesis is considered as a safer alternative to the conventional synthetic processes owing to its environmental friendly nature, atom economy, cost‐effectiveness, and easy handling. Herein, the catalytic efficiency of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) supported iodine (P4VP/I2) as a metal‐free and organocatalyst system was studied and approved for an efficient chemical fixation of CO2 into cyclic carbonates which is performed via the coupling of CO2 with epoxides. The high conversion and excellent selectivity were obtained for a broad range of epoxides in the presence of catalytic amount of P4VP/I2 under solvent‐free conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered and regenerated over several times with no significant loss of catalytic activity. The possible mechanism was described for the catalytic performance of P4VP/I2 based on the synergetic effect of the Lewis acid and base sites and nucleophilic anion.
Decadal variability of tidal dynamics in the Pearl River Delta: Spatial patterns, causes, and implications for estuarine water management
Authors: Cai Huayang , Huang Jingzheng , Niu Lixia , Ren Lei , Liu Feng , Ou Suying , Yang Qingshu 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this study, we examine the decadal variability of tidal dynamics in terms of the tidal range in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) from the 1950s to 2016. The Mann–Kendall trend test and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) method are employed to identify the long‐term trends and spatial patterns of the annual tidal range series observed at 26 stations over the whole PRD, respectively. The results show that most stations display an increasing tidal range trend, except for some stations near estuarine outlets, which corresponds to the 1st EOF mode characterized by a rapid increase of the tidal range since the 1990s. This means that the cumulative impacts of human interventions reached their peak in the 1990s, exceeding the threshold of tidal dynamics in the PRD. To quantify human‐induced alternations of the tidal range, the tidal regime shift was subsequently explored by comparing the tidal ranges of the pre‐ and post‐1992 periods reconstructed from the EOF decomposition. The mechanism causing the tidal regime shift in the PRD can be attributed to the substantially reduced residual water level slope (hence, the effective bottom friction) that greatly enhances the tidal dynamics. Our study describes the shift of spatial–temporal tidal dynamics patterns in detail, which is particularly useful to guide effective and sustainable water management in the PRD and other river deltas that are subjected to intensive human interventions.
Independent prospective validation of a medication‐based 15‐day readmission risk stratification algorithm in a tertiary acute care hospital
Authors: Yeo Denise , Chew T. W. , Lai Y. F. 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundTo decrease health care costs and burden, reducing preventable readmissions is essential. A 2017 Singapore‐developed prediction model for readmission 15 days postdischarge was developed and validated. However, it has yet to be validated independently, and its predictability of 30‐day readmission is unknown. The model utilizes variables including age, anemia, malignancy, peptic ulcer disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, number of discharge medications, discharge destination, and premature discharge against medical advice to calculate readmission risk. This study aimed to evaluate the model's performance in predicting readmissions 15 and 30 days postdischarge.MethodsThis single‐center, independent, prospective cohort study involved Singapore's Alexandra Hospital inpatients from September to November 2017. Readmission risk was calculated utilizing the developed model and information from electronic medical records. Primary and secondary outcomes were the model's performance for 15‐ and 30‐day readmission rates, respectively.ResultsOne hundred thirteen and 112 patients were analyzed for primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. The model performed reproducibly against the original study derivation and validation cohorts. C‐statistics were 0.64 and 0.65, and Hosmer‐Lemeshow χ2’s were 7.28 and 6.85, respectively, for 15‐ and 30‐day readmissions. The Brier score was 0.26 for both end points. The low positive predictive value of 14% to 18% and correctly classified prediction rate of 53% to 54% could possibly be overcome by making the model more stringent in predicting readmissions. This may enhance efficiency in allocation of resources to assist patients with a higher likelihood of readmission.ConclusionThis model's performance was reproducible in comparison to the original study's derivation and validation cohorts. Given the multifaceted nature of readmissions, it is challenging to accurately predict readmission. Along with clinical judgment, this model can potentially be a useful tool to health care providers for discharge planning purposes. Further research into optimizing the cut‐off probability may be useful to determine model utility in actual clinical practice.
Invasion and migration of MDA‐MB‐231 cells are inhibited by block of AhR and NFAT: role of AhR/NFAT1/β4 integrin signaling
Authors: Shadboorestan Amir , Tarfiei Ghorban Ali , Montazeri Hamed , Sepand Mohammad Reza , Zangooei Mohammad , Khedri Azam , Ostad Seyed Nasser , Ghahremani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBenzo[α]pyrene (BaP) can have significant role in the development of breast cancer via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation. AhR activation has been studied in several functions such as survival, migration and invasion of cancer cells. In cancer, integrins contribute to the migration/invasion process and are regulated by nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta pathways. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of BaP, an activator of AhR and cyclosporine A (CsA), as inhibitor of NFAT on migration and invasion of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Furthermore, the effects of BaP and CsA were evaluated regarding the crosstalk of AhR, NFAT1 and TGF‐β receptor 1 signaling. Treatment of MDA‐MB‐231 with BaP resulted in significantly more live cells in low doses; however, blocking NFAT with CsA decreased the viability of the cells. Activation of AhR by BaP induced invasion as well as migration in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, which was blocked by AhR antagonist. Unlike BaP, block of NFAT with CsA inhibited cell migration and cell invasion. In these cells, BaP significantly reduced AhR expression while this reduction was reversed by CH‐223191; however, CsA treatment lowered the AhR expression only at low dose. The level of β4 integrin was significantly reduced by CsA at 1 and 2.5 μm. Protein levels of Snail and TGF‐β receptor 1 were not significantly altered by BaP and CsA treatments. Considering these findings, the low AhR expression and high β4 integrin level following BaP and/or CsA treatments may contribute to the higher invasion/migration in MDA‐MB‐231 cells.
High NEK2 confers to poor prognosis and contributes to cisplatin‐based chemotherapy resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Xu He , Zeng Liang , Guan Yongjun , Feng Xiangling , Zhu Yinghong , Lu Yichen , Shi Chen , Chen Shilian , Xia Jiliang , Guo Jiaojiao , Kuang Chunmei , Li Wei , Jin Fengyan , Zhou Wen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor in southern China and Southeast Asia, but the molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Our previous work demonstrated that NEK2 is overexpressed in multiple cancers. However, how NEK2 involves in NPC development remains to be elucidated. In this study, we firstly identified NEK2, located at +1q32‐q33, a late event in NPC pathogenesis, overexpressed in the stage III‐IV and paired sequential recurrent patients with NPC by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, Kaplan‐Meier analysis indicated high NEK2 conferred an inferior overall survival in NPC. In addition, cisplatin experiments with cell counting kit‐8, colony formation, and a xenograft mice model of NPC demonstrated that NEK2 contributed to proliferation and cisplatin resistance in vitro and in vivo. On the contrary, downregulation of NEK2 by short hairpin RNA inhibited NPC cell growth and increased the sensitivity of cisplatin treatment in vitro. Thus, increased expression of NEK2 protein could not be predicted for poor survival but used as a novel biomarker for recurrence of NPC. Targeting NEK2 has the potential to eradicate the cisplatin‐based chemotherapy resistant NPC cells.
Mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation as standardized session‐introduction in individual therapy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mander Johannes , Blanck Paul , Neubauer Andreas B. , Kröger Paula , Flückiger Christoph , Lutz Wolfgang , Barnow Sven , Bents Hinrich , Heidenreich Thomas 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveThere is scarce research on the effects of mindfulness in individual therapy. As many practitioners integrate mindfulness exercises into individual therapy, empirical evidence is of high clinical relevance.MethodWe investigated the effects of a session‐introducing intervention with mindfulness elements (SIIME) in a randomized, controlled design. The effects of SIIME on therapeutic alliance and symptomatic outcome were compared with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) control conditions. The sample comprised 162 patients with anxiety and depression.ResultsMultilevel modeling revealed a significant symptom reduction and significant increase of alliance over the course of therapy. There were no significant time–condition interactions on outcome and alliance, indicating the comparable efficiency of all three treatment conditions.ConclusionsWe found no advantage of SIIME versus PMR and TAU. Add‐on mindfulness might not improve individual therapy related to alliance and outcome.
Measuring national resilience: A new short version of the scale (NR‐13)
Authors: Kimhi Shaul , Eshel Yohanan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis article is aimed at describing and validating a new short version of the National Resilience Scale (NR‐13). The available 25‐item National Resilience Scale has been employed and validated by several studies. However, the present data show that it can be substantially shortened without losing either its reliability or its validity. The new short version of the scale has been examined by the responses of an Israeli sample of adults (N = 1022). Results indicate, as expected, that national resilience promoting factors (community resilience and sense of coherence) significantly and positively predict NR‐13. A resilience‐suppressing factor (sense of danger) negatively and significantly predicts NR‐13. These predictions have been replicated in an additional sample of Israeli higher education students (N = 423). These results support the reliability and the validity of the short National Resilience Scale (NR‐13).
Long noncoding RNA Gm6135 functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to regulate toll‐like receptor 4 expression by sponging miR‐203‐3p in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Ji Ting‐Ting , Wang Ya‐Kun , Zhu Ying‐Chun , Gao Cong‐Pu , Li Xiao‐Ying , Li Ji , Bai Feng , Bai Shou‐Jun 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe aim to explore the relationship between Gm6135 and diabetic nephropathy. We detected the relative expression levels of Gm6135 and toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in diabetic nephropathy mice and high‐glucose‐cultured mouse mesangial cells SV40‐MES‐13 by the quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot detection. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected after small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference or plasmid overexpression of Gm6135/TLR4, and bioinformatics method was used to predict and screen miR‐203 as an intermediate factor. Through dual‐luciferase reporter gene, RNA pull‐down, qRT‐PCR, and western blot, the binding relationship between Gm6135, miR‐203‐3p, and TLR4 was confirmed. The possibility of the competing endogenous RNA mechanism was demonstrated by cell localization assays and rip assays. Finally, the proliferation of mouse mesangial cells SV40‐MES‐13 was detected after mimics and inhibitor of microRNA, which were reversed with TLR4 overexpression and siRNA. The results showed that the relative expression levels of Gm6135 and TLR4 in the kidney and high‐glucose‐cultured mouse mesangial cells of diabetic nephropathy mice increased significantly. Overexpression or downregulation of Gm6135/TLR4 significantly affected the proliferation and apoptosis of mouse mesangial cells. Gm6135 upregulates TLR4 by competitively binding to miR‐203‐3p.
Towards an in situ product recovery of bio‐based 3‐hydroxypropionic acid: influence of bioconversion broth components on membrane‐assisted reactive extraction
Authors: Chemarin Florian , Athès Violaine , Bedu Magali , Loty Thomas , Allais Florent , Trelea Ioan Cristian , Moussa Marwen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDBioconversion broths are complex media with microorganisms that convert substrates into products in the presence of salts and nitrogen sources and that may release biomolecules. This paper deals with the impact of bioconversion broth components on the membrane‐based reactive extraction of 3‐hydroxypropionic acid (3‐HP) by tri‐n‐octylamine (TOA) in n‐decanol in preparation for an in situ product recovery. The focus here is on the influence of 3‐HP concentration (0.5–10 g L−1), initial pH of the solution (3–5) and presence of proteins and salts on the extraction yield and kinetics.RESULTSIt was found that reducing the initial acid concentration caused an acceleration of the extraction kinetics because of a higher extent of complexation with TOA. pH effects were dramatic, as enhancing the pH from 3 to 5 decreased the extraction yield from 74% to only 5% due to acid dissociation. Proteins were shown to have negligible impact on the extraction yield and kinetics, probably because of their negligible mass transfer resistance at the liquid–liquid interface compared with the membrane. Conversely, the presence of salts (potassium chloride and potassium biphosphate) was highly detrimental. The decrease in extraction yield was shown to be due to an anion exchange between the carboxylate anion of 3‐HP in the organic phase and the anion of the salt in the aqueous phase. Chloride ions had more impact than biphosphate ions.CONCLUSIONThese results give valuable information for the implementation of a membrane‐based reactive extraction as an in situ product recovery process, suggesting recommendations for bioconversion tuning. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
The Evaluation of Color and Surface Roughness Changes in Resin based Restorative Materials with Different Contents After Waiting in Various Liquids: An SEM and AFM study
Authors: Guler Seniha , Unal Murat 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe aim of the study was to evaluate of surface roughness and color changes of the resin‐based five restorative dental materials after aging in liquids at different pH values. Totally 250 specimens were prepared, including 50 specimens for the each material group from five different restorative materials (G1[Filtek Z550], G2[Beautifil II], G3[Vertise Flow], G4[Dyract XP], G5[GCFujiIILC]), using the 10‐mm diameter and 2‐mm thickness molds. A total of 50 specimens in the each group, were divided into five subgroups (n = 10) to be immerse into five liquids at different pH. After initial color and roughness measurements, samples were stored in the same liquids for 7 and 14 days and all of the measurements were repeated on the 7th and 14th days. scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses were performed in the all groups. When the color change(ΔE) results are examined statistically; most of the ΔE is in Fuji II LC; and at least in Filtek Z550, it was determined that cola and gastric acid had the greatest effect on ΔE averages and showed significant differences (p < .05). When the average roughness values(Ra) are analyzed statistically, the highest values were found in Fuji II LC and the lowest values were found in Filtek Z550 (p < .05). The liquids which had the highest roughness average (ΔRa) were statistically significant and gastric acid and orange juice were the most effective ones (p < .05). Asidic beverages significantly increased the surface roughness and discoloration of dental restorative materials.Research HighlightsThe results of this research showed that dental restorative materials, which are resin‐based, affected both the color and surface roughness after waiting in the low pH value beverages. These results are supported with the scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images in our research. Clinically, this situation will create esthetic and functional problems in the dental filling restorations. For this reason, the results of this study seem to be important and we think that this article could be contribute to the literature.