bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glyoxalase 1 expression is downregulated in preimplantation blastocysts of diabetic rabbits
Authors: Seeling Tom , Haucke Elisa , Navarrete Santos Alexander , Grybel Katarzyna J. , Gürke Jacqueline , Pendzialek S. Mareike , Schindler Maria , Simm Andreas , Navarrete Santos Anne 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn a diabetic pregnancy, an altered maternal metabolism led to increased formation of reactive α‐dicarbonyls such as glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) in the reproductive organs and embryos. The enzyme glyoxalase (GLO) 1 detoxifies reactive α‐dicarbonyls thus protecting cells against malfunction or modifications of proteins by advanced glycated end products (AGEs). The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of a maternal insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDD) on GLO1 expression and activity in preimplantation embryos in vivo and human trophoblast cells (Ac‐1M88) in vitro. Maternal diabetes was induced in female rabbits by alloxan before conception and maintained during the preimplantation period. GLO1 expression and activity were investigated in 6‐day‐old blastocysts from healthy and diabetic rabbits. Furthermore, blastocysts and human trophoblast cells were exposed in vitro to hyperglycaemia, GO and MGO and analysed for GLO1 expression and activity. During gastrulation, GLO1 was expressed in all compartments of the rabbit blastocyst. Maternal diabetes decreased embryonic GLO1 protein amount by approx. 30 per cent whereas the enzymatic activity remained unchanged, indicating that the specific GLO1 activity increases along with metabolic changes. In in vitro cultured embryos, neither hyperglycaemia nor MGO and GO had an effect on GLO1 protein amount. In human trophoblast cells, a stimulating effect on the GLO1 expression was shown in the highest GO concentration, only. Our data show that maternal diabetes mellitus affects the specific activity of GLO1, indicating that GLO1 was post‐translationally modified due to changes in metabolic processes in the preimplantation embryos.
The complex relationship between welfare and reproduction in cattle
Authors: Ritter Caroline , Beaver Annabelle , von Keyserlingk Marina A. G. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractUsing reproduction parameters as indicators for cattle welfare has limitations and, at best, these parameters should only be viewed as indirect indicators of welfare. On a farm level, measures such as fertility rates emphasize biological performance of the herd but fail to consider the welfare of individual animals. Even on an individual level, the relationship between reproductive effectiveness and animal welfare is complex. Good reproductive performance does not automatically signify good welfare, as domestication and targeted breeding programmes have led to prioritization of high productive and reproductive performance in most modern farm animal species. In this review, we synthesize literature regarding cattle husbandry, reproduction, welfare and their multidimensional relationships. We argue that practices such as artificial insemination or the use of sexed semen may provide potential welfare advantages as these practices reduce the risk of disease transmission and injury or enable selection of specific beneficial traits. Furthermore, they may offer a solution to current practices jeopardizing welfare, such as the management of surplus bull calves in the dairy industry. Conversely, the animals’ ability to perform natural behaviours such as oestrous expression, an aspect arguably contributing to welfare, is often limited on commercial farms; this limitation is particularly evident in housing systems such as tie stalls where movement is restricted. Moreover, common management practices such as oestrus manipulation may lead to negative attitudes in citizens who often regard naturalness as important element of animal welfare.
Collagens and DNA methyltransferases in mare endometrosis
Authors: Alpoim‐Moreira Joana , Fernandes Carina , Rebordão Maria Rosa , Amaral Ana , Pinto‐Bravo Pedro , Bliebernicht Miguel , Skarzynski Dariusz J. , Ferreira‐Dias Graça 
Published: September 2019

AbstractInflammation and fibroproliferative diseases may be modulated by epigenetic changes. Therefore, we suggest that epigenetic mechanisms could be involved in equine endometrosis pathogenesis. DNA methylation is one of the methods to evaluate epigenetics, through the transcription of methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B). The correlation between DNMTs and collagen (COL) transcripts was assessed for the different Kenney and Doig's (Current Therapy in Theriogenology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1986) endometrium categories. Endometrial biopsies were randomly collected from cyclic mares. Histological classification (category I, n = 13; II A, n = 17; II B, n = 12; and III, n = 7) and evaluation of COL1A2, COL3A1 and DNMTs transcripts by qPCR, were performed. Data were analysed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal–Wallis test and Pearson correlation. As mares aged, there was an increase in endometrium fibrosis (p < .01), and in DNMT1 mRNA (p < .001). Considering DNMT3B transcripts for each category, there was an increase with fibrosis (p < .05). No changes were observed for DNMT1 and DNMT3A transcripts. However, DNMT3A mRNA levels were the highest in all categories (p < .01). In category I endometrium, a positive correlation was observed for transcripts of all DNMTs in both COLs (p < .01). In category IIA, this correlation was also maintained for all DNMTs transcripts in COL1A2 (p < .05), but only for DNMT3B in COL3A1 (p < .05). In category IIB, there was a positive correlation between DNMT3B and COL3A1 (p < .05). In category III, a positive correlation was only observed between DNMT3B and COL3A1 (p < .05). Our results suggest that there is a disturbance in COLs and DNMTs correlation during fibrosis.
Galectin‐3 is associated with severe heart failure and death: A hospital‐based study in Chinese patients
Authors: Wang Na , Dang Minyan , Zhang Wenzhi , Lei Yan , Liu Zhaochuan 
Published: September 2019

AbstractHeart failure (HF) is a serious disease syndrome characterized by elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators presume to have significant contribution on disease progression. Galectins are carbohydrate‐binding proteins responsible of various physiological functions. Role of galectins in heart failure has been ill‐defined. In the present case‐controls study, 136 patients clinically diagnosed with heart failure and 125 healthy Chinese controls were recruited. Levels of galectins (Gal‐1, 3 and 9) and cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐17A, IL‐4 and TGF‐β) were quantified by ELISA. Increased levels of galectin‐1 and 3 was observed in HF patients and associated with clinical severity. In addition, pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as IFN‐γ and IL‐17A were increased in patients whereas, anti‐inflammatory TGFβ was decreased. Galectin‐3 was positively correlated with IFN‐γ, IL‐17A and inversely with TGF‐β. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis suggested galectin‐3 as a promising biomarker for diagnosis and HF and clinical severity. Interestingly, a two‐year follow‐up indicated significant association of elevated galectin‐3 with mortality due to HF. In conclusion, galectin‐3 associated with HF and clinical manifestations possibly by inducing pro‐inflammatory cytokines and could be a possible biomarker of HF and severe clinical conditions.
An Investigation of the End-Notched Flexure and End-Loaded Split Tests Applied to the Mode II Interlaminar Fracture of a SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composite
Authors: Presby Michael J. , Kannan Manigandan , Morscher Gregory N. , Godines Cody , Eftekharian Amirhossein , Ahmad Jalees , Abdi Frank , Choi Sung R. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Delamination is a common failure mode observed in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and occurs as a result of applied interlaminar tensile and shear stresses exceeding the interlaminar strength. As CMCs are further implemented into aero engines, the need to understand their interlaminar failure becomes increasingly important. While significant contributions have been made toward understanding the mode I fracture toughness of CMCs, limited work exists on mode II. Several test methods for measuring the mode II fracture toughness have been proposed in the literature, namely, the end-notched flexure (ENF) and the end-loaded split (ELS) tests. This work investigates the mode II fracture toughness of a melt-infiltrated SiC/SiC CMC at ambient temperature using the ENF and ELS test methods. Acoustic emission (AE), direct current potential drop (DCPD), and digital image correlation (DIC) are implemented as health monitoring techniques to monitor crack initiation and propagation. Results show reasonable correlation between the two test methods and that the ELS test method is better suited for characterizing R-curve behavior.
Analysis of the Influence of Transient State of the Overhead Pipeline Placed in an Open-Air Space on the Accuracy of its Insulation Assessment Based on the Results of Outer Shell Thermovision Diagnostics
Authors: Kruczek Tadeusz 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The proper thermal diagnostics of pipeline insulation is an important problem. The heat losses from the pipelines depend distinctly on the quality of this insulation. Changes in weather conditions cause transient accumulation of energy in the pipeline insulation and may cause difficulties during evaluation of the quality of the pipeline thermal insulation. Generally, the goal of this investigation was to identify the scale of energy accumulation inside thermal insulation. This is important because during the calculation of heat losses from thermal pipelines on the basis of infrared camera temperature measurement results usually a steady thermal state inside the insulation is assumed. In order to determine the distributions of the temperature inside the insulation, the calculations of the temperature changes inside the pipeline insulation for real changeable meteorological conditions with the use of software ansys-fluent and others have been carried out. Both the heat transfer between the inner pipeline tube and outer pipeline shell and energy accumulation inside the pipeline elements were considered. For the pipeline insulation evaluation purpose, different coefficients for the analysis of energy accumulation scale were defined and used. The measurement results of the temperature of inner pipeline tube and outer pipeline shell gathered during the operation of the special experimental rig were used as input data for the aforementioned numerical simulations. In these calculations, they constituted the first (Dirichlet's) boundary condition. The conclusions resulting from this work are useful for specialists involved in the technical evaluation of the thermal protection features of pipelines.
A Semi-Infinite Hydraulic Fracture Driven by a Herschel–Bulkley Fluid
Authors: Bessmertnykh Alena O. , Dontsov Egor V. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is an industrial process often applied to enhance oil and gas recovery. Under this process, fractures are generated by the injection of highly pressurized fluids, which often exhibit shear-thinning rheology and yield stress. The global fracture propagation is influenced by various processes occurring near the fracture tip. To gain an insight into fracture propagation, the problem of a semi-infinite hydraulic fracture propagating in a permeable linear elastic rock is solved. To investigate the effect of fluid yield stress, we focus on a fracture driven by Herschel–Bulkley fluid. The mathematical model consists of the elasticity equation, the lubrication equation, and the propagation criterion for the semi-infinite plane strain fracture to obtain the fracture opening. The non-linear system of governing equations is represented in the non-singular form and solved numerically using Newton’s method. The solution is influenced by the competing processes related to rock toughness, fluid properties, and leak-off. The effects of these phenomena prevail at different length scales, and the corresponding limits can be described via analytical solutions. For a Herschel-Bulkley fluid, an additional limiting solution related to the fluid yield stress is obtained, and the regions of the dominance of limiting solutions affected by the yield stress are investigated. Finally, a faster approximate solution for the problem is proposed and its accuracy against a numerical solution is evaluated. The obtained result can be applied in hydraulic fracturing simulators to account for the effect of Herschel–Bulkley fluid rheology on the near-tip region.
Cross-sectional survey of mental health literacy among undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria
Authors: Aluh Deborah Oyine , Okonta Matthew Jegbefume , Odili Valentine Uche 
Published: September 2019

ObjectiveThis study sought to assess knowledge of schizophrenia and help-seeking behaviour among undergraduate students of a Nigerian university. Sociodemographic predictors of correct recognition were also explored.DesignThe study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey.SettingThe study was carried out at the University of Nigeria, a pioneer university located in Southeastern Nigeria.ParticipantsUndergraduate students of the University of Nigeria.MethodsAll consenting male and female students of three purposively selected faculties were recruited for the study. Self-administered vignette-based questionnaires were distributed to students of the selected faculties between September and November 2018. Data were analysed using the IBM Statistical Product and Services Solution for Windows V.21.0.ResultsOut of the 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 389 were completed and returned (97.3% response rate). Respondents were mainly female (64.9%, n=252) and were between the ages of 18 and 24 years (75.8%, n=294). One in eight respondents (12.1%, n=47) correctly identified and labelled the schizophrenia vignette. Hallucination was the most identified symptom of distress for schizophrenia (47.9%, n=186). The most common alternative label for schizophrenia was ‘mental illness’ (24.7%, n=96). Schizophrenia was also mislabelled as depression (11.6%, n=45). More than a 10th of the respondents used stigmatising labels such as ‘crazy’ and ‘mad’ (11.1%, n=43). Psychiatrists were the most recommended source of help for the vignette character (36.3%, n=141). There was a strong association between the faculty of study and the ability to correctly identify and label the schizophrenia vignette (χ2=44.557, p<0.001).ConclusionMental health literacy among students of the University of Nigeria was poor. Research on culturally sensitive interventions to improve mental health literacy should be embarked on.
Short-notice (48 hours) ACCREDITATION trial in Australia: stakeholder perception of assessment thoroughness, resource requirements and workforce engagement
Authors: Uren Hailie , Vidakovic Branislav , Daly Michael , Sosnowski Kellie , Matus Vladimir 
Published: September 2019

BackgroundExternal, independent accreditation assessments of healthcare organisations are necessary to ensure the nationally legislated minimum standards of quality and safety (QS) are met. The predetermined scheduling of the assessments continues to be criticised due to the high level of organisational emphasis on preparing for accreditation.ObjectivesTo determine the stakeholder perception of assessment thoroughness, staff resource requirements and workforce engagement changes if only 48 hours’ notice is given to an organisation prior to an accreditation assessment, compared with the standard-notice accreditation process.MethodsLogan and Beaudesert Hospitals in Brisbane, Australia, trialled the ‘Short-Notice Survey Accreditation Assessment Process’ (SNAAP) between August 2017 and December 2018. The organisation was given just 48 hours’ notice prior to an accreditation assessment. Staff perception of the standard-notice accreditation process and short-notice process was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale repeated measures questionnaire (pretrial, 6 and 12 months after SNAAP launch).ResultsThere was a statistically significant stakeholder opinion that SNAAP more effectively identified the true strengths and achievements of the organisation’s QS compared with ‘standard-notice’ survey (p=0.033). There was a significantly lower overall perceived proportion of staff resources required for SNAAP preparation in contrast to ‘standard-notice’ process (Baseline Av=21.38% vs Follow-up 1 and 2 Av=9.75%–6.25%, p=0.021). The questionnaire results reflected that SNAAP increased staff engagement in QS activities (Av=3.75 and 3.69, 95% CI=3.45–4.05 and 3.45–3.94).ConclusionsWith sufficient cultural and operational preparation to move to SNAAP, hospitals can potentially use SNAAP as a truer validation of QS standards, require less staffing resources to prepare for accreditation assessments and improve staff engagement in QS assurance and improvement.
Impact of DNA source on genetic variant detection from human whole-genome sequencing data
Authors: Trost Brett , Walker Susan , Haider Syed A , Sung Wilson W L , Pereira Sergio , Phillips Charly L , Higginbotham Edward J , Strug Lisa J , Nguyen Charlotte , Raajkumar Akshaya , Szego Michael J , Marshall Christian R , Scherer Stephen W 
Published: September 2019

BackgroundWhole blood is currently the most common DNA source for whole-genome sequencing (WGS), but for studies requiring non-invasive collection, self-collection, greater sample stability or additional tissue references, saliva or buccal samples may be preferred. However, the relative quality of sequencing data and accuracy of genetic variant detection from blood-derived, saliva-derived and buccal-derived DNA need to be thoroughly investigated.MethodsMatched blood, saliva and buccal samples from four unrelated individuals were used to compare sequencing metrics and variant-detection accuracy among these DNA sources.ResultsWe observed significant differences among DNA sources for sequencing quality metrics such as percentage of reads aligned and mean read depth (p<0.05). Differences were negligible in the accuracy of detecting short insertions and deletions; however, the false positive rate for single nucleotide variation detection was slightly higher in some saliva and buccal samples. The sensitivity of copy number variant (CNV) detection was up to 25% higher in blood samples, depending on CNV size and type, and appeared to be worse in saliva and buccal samples with high bacterial concentration. We also show that methylation-based enrichment for eukaryotic DNA in saliva and buccal samples increased alignment rates but also reduced read-depth uniformity, hampering CNV detection.ConclusionFor WGS, we recommend using DNA extracted from blood rather than saliva or buccal swabs; if saliva or buccal samples are used, we recommend against using methylation-based eukaryotic DNA enrichment. All data used in this study are available for further open-science investigation.
Aetiology and prevalence of mixed-infections and mono-infections in non-gonococcal urethritis in men: a case-control study
Authors: Jordan Stephen J , Toh Evelyn , Williams James A , Fortenberry Lora , LaPradd Michelle L , Katz Barry P , Batteiger Byron E , Nelson David E , Batteiger Teresa A 
Published: September 2019

ObjectivesChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andMycoplasma genitalium(MG) cause the majority of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). The role ofUreaplasma urealyticum(UU) in NGU is unclear. Prior case–control studies that examined the association of UU and NGU may have been confounded by mixed infections and less stringent criteria for controls. The objective of this case–control study was to determine the prevalence and aetiology of mixed infections in men and assess if UU monoinfection is associated with NGU.MethodsWe identified 155 men with NGU and 103 controls. Behavioural and clinical information was obtained and men were tested forNeisseria gonorrhoeaeand CT, MG, UU andTrichomonas vaginalis(TV). Men who were five-pathogen negative were classified as idiopathic urethritis (IU).ResultsTwelve per cent of NGU cases in which a pathogen was identified had mixed infections, mostly UU coinfections with MG or CT; 27% had IU. In monoinfected NGU cases, 34% had CT, 17% had MG, 11% had UU and 2% had TV. In controls, pathogens were rarely identified, except for UU, which was present in 20%. Comparing cases and controls, NGU was associated with CT and MG monoinfections and mixed infections. UU monoinfection was not associated with NGU and was almost twice as prevalent in controls. Men in both the case and control groups who were younger and who reported no prior NGU diagnosis were more likely to have UU (OR 0.97 per year of age, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.998 and OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 28.5, respectively).ConclusionsMixed infections are common in men with NGU and most of these are UU coinfections with other pathogens that are well-established causes of NGU. UU monoinfections are not associated with NGU and are common in younger men and men who have never previously had NGU. Almost half of NGU cases are idiopathic.
A Data-driven Framework for Long-Range Aircraft Conflict Detection and Resolution
Authors: Ayhan Samet , Costas Pablo , Samet Hanan 
Published: September 2019

At the present time, there is no mechanism for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to probe new flight plans filed by the Airlines Operation Centers (AOCs) against the existing approved flight plans to see if they are likely to cause conflicts or bring sector traffic densities beyond control. In the current Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations, aircraft conflicts and sector traffic densities are resolved tactically, increasing workload and leading to potential safety risks and loss of capacity and efficiency.
We propose a novel Data-driven Framework to address a long-range aircraft conflict detection and resolution (CDR) problem. Given a set of predicted trajectories, the framework declares a conflict when a protected zone of an aircraft on its trajectory is infringed upon by another aircraft. The framework resolves the conflict by prescribing an alternative solution that is optimized by perturbing at least one of the trajectories involved in the conflict. To achieve this, the framework learns from descriptive patterns of historical trajectories and pertinent weather observations and builds a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Using a variant of the Viterbi algorithm, the framework avoids the airspace volume in which the conflict is detected and generates a new optimal trajectory that is conflict free. The key concept upon which the framework is built is the assumption that the airspace is nothing more than a horizontally and vertically concatenated set of spatio-temporal data cubes where each cube is considered as an atomic unit. We evaluate our framework using real trajectory datasets with pertinent weather observations from two continents and demonstrate its effectiveness for strategic CDR.
Current status of birds in Tengchong Section of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Zheng Xi , Li Fei , Bi Zheng , Zhang Xing-Chao , Han Ji-Guo , Chan Bosco Pui Lok 
Published: September 2019

We summarised the results of a four-year ornithological survey in the Tengchong Section of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve and its immediate vicinity, and compiled an inventory of the present avifauna. In total, 387 bird species were recorded in Tengchong from 2014 to 2018, including 116 which were hitherto undocumented. The birds of Tengchong represented 48.9% of avifauna in Yunnan province, with a particularly rich elements of the Himalayan avifauna. This immense bird species richness suggests that Tengchong is an important site for the preservation of Asian montane forest birds. Although the current protected area system covered most of the intact forests in mid- to high-elevations, more conservation intervention should be allocated to lower elevation habitats below 2000m, which are largely outside the reserve boundaries and facing intensive development pressures.