bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Survival of entomopathogenic nematodes in oil emulsions and control effectiveness on adult engorged ticks (Acari: Ixodida)
Authors: Aquino-Bolaños Teodulfo , Ruiz-Vega Jaime , Hernández Yolanda D. Ortiz , Castañeda Julio C. Jiménez 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Although their control is based on chemical products, the infestations by ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) are causing great losses and damages in the livestock production worldwide. In this study, the survival of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsae, and Steinernema websteri in vegetal oil suspension at concentrations of 13% and 33% and their effectiveness to control ticks at concentrations of 50 ± 5 and 100 ± 10 nematodes in oil suspensions of Cymbopogon citratus, Pelargonium sp, Juniperus virginiana, Rosa sp, and Mentha piperita were evaluated in lab conditions. In field conditions, the Lethal Concentration (LC90) of S. websteri in oil suspensions of J. virginiana and C. citratus in dogs infested with ticks was evaluated. In the laboratory, it was found that an oil emulsion of C. citratus and J. virginiana at 13% maintained the survival of S. carpocapsae, H. bacteriophora, and S. websteri from 55% to 60% for a period of 96 hr. The combination of the S. websteri nematode with 50 or 100 nematodes in oil emulsions of J. virginiana at 33% presented a control effectiveness of 80–100% in adult ticks 24 hr post-application. In field, the LC90 of 119 juveniles of S. websteri in oil emulsions of J. virginiana at 33% on domestic dogs presented an accumulated and a control effectiveness of 89% after 96 hr post-application. The combined application of J. virginiana and S. websteri could be a good alternative for the control of ticks. It was observed that the time of contact and the type of vegetable oil were crucial factors to increase the effectiveness of control.
First Report of the Peach Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne floridensis Infecting Almond on Root-Knot Nematode Resistant ‘Hansen 536’ and ‘Bright's Hybrid 5’ Rootstocks in California, USA
Authors: Westphal Andreas , Maung Zin T. Z. , Doll David A. , Yaghmour Mohammad A. , Chitambar John J. , Subbotin Sergei A. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
In April-August 2018, samples of galled roots with rhizosphere soil were collected from almond orchards in Atwater, Merced County and Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) grafted on ‘Hansen 536’ and ‘Brights Hybrid®5’ (peach-almond hybrid) rootstocks showed strong symptoms of growth decline. Extracted root-knot nematodes were identified by both morphological and molecular methods as M. floridensis. Meloidogyne floridensis was initially found in Florida, USA, and has not been reported from any other states and countries. This is a first report of M. floridensis in California and outside of Florida.
Case Study on Fuzzy Blitz Quality Function Deployment
Authors: Nawar Eslam A. , Backar Soheir H. , El-Dardiry Mohamed A. 
Published: March 2019

Organizations strive to develop their products in a way that fulfils customers’ requirements and increases their satisfaction. The traditional Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a popular technique for that purpose but it has some drawbacks. To tackle these drawbacks, the researchers will implement Blitz QFD a modern model of the traditional one and integrate it with fuzzy logic through a case study on the development of a cargo tricycle. This model provides a leaner approach that captures the most critical requirements of customers in order to implement them and provides more reasonable values as a result of using fuzzy logic.
Regeneration of Amman Center - Social Acceptance of Syrian Migrants in Downtown Amman
Authors: Al-Homoud Majd , Ghanem Hala 
Published: March 2019

Several studies discussed attitudes towards migrants; some of the issues pointed out are integration that requires interaction between migrants and the host society. Homogenous social groupings produce stronger communities. As the conflict in Syria entered its fifth year, Jordan hosted about 1.4 million registered Syrians, of whom 646,700 are informal refugees. Eighty-five percent of the refugees live outside camps in some of the poorest areas of Jordan. Consequently, new household’s typologies pressured the supply side. Such non-camp refugees’ migration patterns and housing market conditions formed ethnic homogeneous enclaves in different locations in Amman. Accordingly, non-camp refugees occupied and rented the upper floors of mixed used commercial buildings in downtown Amman.The present study investigated social acceptance of Syrian migrants residing in upper floors of commercial mixed used buildings located in the city center of Amman. The primary purpose of this research is to study how social acceptance of Syrian migrants is influenced by social gating. The hypothesis of the present study states that social acceptance of Syrian migrants in downtown Amman is influenced by sense of merchants’ sense of social gating. The significance of the study stems from that the development of downtown Amman with such rich social context can be informative and useful for strategic planners, local governments, NGO’s, social workers, and psychologists. This paper offers such an opportunity to reflect on an unfolding crisis that is of major social concern with changing urban demographics.The study was conducted using a quantitative and qualitative research strategy; an embedded research design was used. The quantitative method was conducted using a survey with downtown merchants, in addition to supportive qualitative methods of face-to-face interviews. The study was conducted in the central part of Amman, known locally as Wast Al-balad, which is considered the old commercial area that dates back to the second quarter of the twentieth century. Some of these secondary residential units became spaces (enclaves) for migrants that formed ethnic low-income enclaves. In the last five years, low-income Syrian migrants started to rent these units in Amman’s urban center. Outcomes indicated that social cohesion is the strongest motivator for acceptance of outsiders by the local merchants to reside in the upper floors of the commercial buildings of Downtown Amman area.
On the relationship between virtual water network and crops intra-trade among Nile basin countries
Authors: Selim Kamal S. , Abdalbaki Salsabil M. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the relationship between virtual water (VW) exports and crop exchange by employing the methodology of social network analysis (SNA). This descriptive analysis gives prudence for policy-makers about both central importers and influential exporters of VW using the degree and eigenvector centrality measures. In addition, to facilitate the communications between trading partners, each of them should reach the others with the fewest number of links, so, the small world network properties could be examined. This approach is applied on the yearly average VW exports of the Nile basin countries over the period 2000–2013, and some insights for VW exchange structure are investigated. The empirical results show that all Nile basin countries do not suffer from vulnerable VW export structure. They have a stable and balanced crop export structure. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are identified as the most influential and effective countries in exporting VW of crops. The presence of these countries is unavoidable in drawing trade policy and water management plans. While Kenya succeeded in saving a significant amount from VW export network, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia are gaining losses. Furthermore, VW export network of crops among Nile basin countries satisfies the conditions of small world effect.
The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glycemic Control, Lipid Profiles and C-Reactive Protein Among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Ostadmohammadi Vahidreza , Milajerdi Alireza , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon , Taghizadeh Mohsen , Badehnoosh Bita , Mirzaei Hamed , Asemi Zatollah 
Published: March 2019

Background:Insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hence, vitamin D supplementation might be an appropriate approach to decrease the complications of CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and C-reactive protein among patients with coronary artery disease.Methods:Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, Pub- Med, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science until 20th September 2018. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and I-square (I2) statistic. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size.Results:A total of eight trials (305 participants in the intervention group and 325 in placebo group) were included in the current meta-analysis. Pooling effect sizes from studies revealed a significant reduction in fasting glucose (WMD): -15.67; 95% CI: -29.32, -2.03), insulin concentrations (WMD: -3.53; 95% CI: -4.59, -2.46) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (WMD: -1.07; 95% CI: -1.49, -0.66), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (WMD: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03) following the administration of vitamin D. In addition, pooled analysis revealed a significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations following vitamin D therapy (WMD: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.42, 4.73). Additionally, vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD: -0.75; 95% CI: -1.28, -0.23).Conclusion:This meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation on improving glycemic control, HDL-cholesterol and CRP levels among patients with CVD, though it did not affect triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels.
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Stavropoulos Konstantinos , Papadopoulos Christodoulos , Koutsampasopoulos Konstantinos , Lales Georgios , Mitas Christos , Doumas Michael 
Published: March 2019

Background:Primary aldosteronism is the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Patients suffering from this clinical syndrome have an increased cardiovascular risk and target organ damage. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are the optimal pharmaceutical option for the management of such patients.Objectives:The study aimed to assess the effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist in the treatment of patients with primary aldosteronism.Method:We conducted an in-depth review of the literature and comprehensive identification of the clinical studies investigating the efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in individuals with primary aldosteronism.Results:Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists result in significant improvement in blood pressure and serum potassium level among patients with primary aldosteronism. Moreover, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists reverse left ventricular hypertrophy, albuminuria, and carotid intima-media thickness. However, a high risk for atrial fibrillation remains among subject with primary aldosteronism in such agents.Conclusion:Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are recommended as the first-line treatment in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism. In patients with unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma, adrenalectomy should be preferred. However, existing data presents significant limitations and is rather inconclusive. Future randomized control trials are required in order to illustrate the field.
Knockdown of Kinase Family 15 Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation In vitro and its Clinical Relevance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Sheng Jiayu , Xue Xiaohong , Jiang Ke 
Published: March 2019

Purpose:Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy and the leading cause of death among women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer and shows a distinctly aggressive nature with higher rates of relapse and shorter overall survival in the metastatic setting compared to other subtypes of breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the effect of KIF15 on various clinicopathological characteristics, survival analysis, and cell proliferation in triple-negative breast cancer, which has not been reported to our knowledge.Methods:A total of 165 patients with triple-negative breast cancer were enrolled and clinical data were obtained, Mann-Whitney U analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the expression of KIF15 and clinical pathological characteristics of TNBC patients. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test. The expression levels of KIF15 in cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were evaluated via Sign test. Lentivirus was used to down-regulate the expression of KIF15 in TNBC cells. The cell proliferation, colony formation capacity and apoptosis were examined by MTT, Giemsa staining and flow cytometry assay, respectively.Results:Our results showed that, among the 165 TNBC patients, the expression of KIF15 was positive correlation with clinicopathological features of TNBC. In addition, KIF15 low-expression group showed higher disease-free survival than KIF15 highexpression group and univariate analysis showed that KIF15 high-expression group appeared higher mortality than KIF low-expression group (P ≤ 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression levels of KIF15 in cancer tissue notably up-regulated in comparison with adjacent tissue. In vitro, knockdown of KIF15 significantly promoted cell apoptosis and suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation of TNBC cells.Conclusion:By utilizing survival analysis, we found that high-expression of KIF15 in the TNBC samples were associated with poorer overall survival, while the anti-tumor effect of KIF15 knockdown was also confirmed at the cellular level in vitro. Taken together, KIF15 can be applied as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in TNBC.
Adeno-associated Virus 9-mediated Small RNA Interference of TLR4 Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury by Inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Rats
Authors: Xu Ting , Zhang Kuikui , Kan Fuqiang , Li Fengqin , Yu Bo , Du Wenjuan , Nie Honggang 
Published: March 2019

<P>Background: Despite intensive investigation, effective therapeutic procedures
for myocardial I/R injury are still in demand.

Objective:
To explore the effect of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated small
interfering RNA targeting TLR4 in the treatment of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion
(I/R) injury and its influence on the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Methods:

Rats were divided into 3 groups, namely, the sham, AAV9-siRNA control, and
AAV9-TLR4 siRNA groups. siRNA solution or normal saline was injected through the tail
vain. The rat myocardial I/R injury model was then established. HE staining and TUNEL
staining were applied to compare the pathological changes in cardiomyocytes in the
three groups. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were utilized to detect
TLR4 expression under siRNA interference. Serum inflammatory factor (IL-1β, TNF-α)
expression was determined by an ELISA commercial kit. Key proteins in the MAPK (p38,
JNK 1/2) and NF-κB (p65) signaling pathways were determined to identify the TLR4
siRNA functional mechanism.

Results:

Fluorescence microscopic images of the myocardium indicated that AAV9-
mediated siRNA was efficiently transfected into the myocardium, and the infarcted size
after I/R injury was decreased by AAV9-TLR4 siRNA when compared with negative
control rats (P<0.05). TLR4 protein expression was significantly decreased by siRNA
interference (P<0.001). Apoptosis-related factor BCL-2 expression was increased in the
TLR4 gene silencing group, whereas Bax expression was decreased. The Bax/BCL-2
ratio was also decreased, demonstrating a protective effect for cardiomyocytes.
Inflammatory factors were lower in the TLR4 gene silencing group than in the siRNA
control group (P<0.001). The MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways were activated in
myocardial I/R injury; however, the primary proteins in these two signaling pathways
were downregulated upon interference of TLR4 siRNA, with significant differences
(P<0.05).

Conclusion:

AAV9-TLR4 siRNA has a positive effect on myocardial I/R injury by
inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways and can be used as a potential
therapeutic method for myocardial I/R injury.</P>
Abnormal Saccadic Intrusions with Alzheimer's Disease in Darkness
Authors: Nakamagoe Kiyotaka , Yamada Shiori , Kawakami Rio , Koganezawa Tadachika , Tamaoka Akira 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Classified as saccadic intrusions, Square-Wave Jerks (SWJs) have been observed
during Visual Fixation (VF) in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the pathological significance
of this phenomenon remains unclear.

Objective:
The present study analyzed the characteristics of SWJs in patients with AD with their eyes
open in the dark without VF.

Methods:
Fifteen patients with AD and 15 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were investigated and
compared. Saccadic intrusions with and without VF were detected as SWJs and measured using an electronystagmogram.

Results:
No significant difference in the frequency of SWJs was observed between control and AD
groups with VF, but significantly more SWJs were observed in the AD group than in the control group
in the absence of VF (p<0.01). In the control group, the frequency of SWJs was significantly higher with
VF as compared to without VF. Conversely, the frequency in the AD group was significantly higher
without VF. Furthermore, a directly proportional relationship was observed between the frequency of
SWJs and higher-order function (R>0.55) in the AD group.

Conclusion:
SWJs without VF may have pathological significance in AD. In healthy individuals, SWJs
are generated by VF and suppressed without VF. Conversely, in AD, SWJs are generated rather than
suppressed in the absence of VF. These pathognomonic SWJs without VF also appear to be correlated
with higher-order dysfunction, reflecting AD-related cortical damage. These findings suggest that pathological
SWJs without VF observed in AD derive from cortical damage and may constitute an important
marker of a higher-order function.
Algorithmic and Stochastic Representations of Gene Regulatory Networks and Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Alexiou Athanasios , Chatzichronis Stylianos , Perveen Asma , Hafeez Abdul , Ashraf Ghulam Md. 
Published: March 2019

Background:Latest studies reveal the importance of Protein-Protein interactions on physiologic functions and biological structures. Several stochastic and algorithmic methods have been published until now, for the modeling of the complex nature of the biological systems.Objective:Biological Networks computational modeling is still a challenging task. The formulation of the complex cellular interactions is a research field of great interest. In this review paper, several computational methods for the modeling of GRN and PPI are presented analytically.Methods:Several well-known GRN and PPI models are presented and discussed in this review study such as: Graphs representation, Boolean Networks, Generalized Logical Networks, Bayesian Networks, Relevance Networks, Graphical Gaussian models, Weight Matrices, Reverse Engineering Approach, Evolutionary Algorithms, Forward Modeling Approach, Deterministic models, Static models, Hybrid models, Stochastic models, Petri Nets, BioAmbients calculus and Differential Equations.Results:GRN and PPI methods have been already applied in various clinical processes with potential positive results, establishing promising diagnostic tools.Conclusion:In literature many stochastic algorithms are focused in the simulation, analysis and visualization of the various biological networks and their dynamics interactions, which are referred and described in depth in this review paper.
Identifying Ligand-receptor Interactions via an Integrated Fuzzy Model
Authors: Xu Chang , Ding Yijie , Jiang Limin , Shen Cong , Zhang Gaoyan , Yu Xuyao 
Published: March 2019

Background:
The ligand-receptor interaction plays an important role in signal transduction
required for cellular differentiation, proliferation, and immune response process. The analysis of
ligand-receptor interactions is helpful to provide a deeper understanding of cellular proliferation/
differentiation and other cell processes.

Methods:
The computational technique would be used to promote ligand-receptor interactions research
in future proteomics research. In this paper, we propose a novel computational method to predict
ligand-receptor interactions from amino acid sequences by a machine learning approach. We extract
features from ligand and receptor sequences by Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) and Discrete
Cosine Transform (DCT). Then, these features are fed into the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering
algorithm for clustering, and also we get multiple training subsets to generate the same number of
sub-classifiers. We choose an optimal sub-classifier for predicting ligand-receptor interactions according
to the similarity from one sample to training subsets.

Observations:
In order to verify the performance, we perform five-fold cross-validation experiments
on a ligand-receptor interactions dataset and achieve 80.08% accuracy, 82.98% sensitivity and 80.02%
specificity. Then, we test our extracted feature method on two Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs)
datasets, and achieve accuracies of 93.79% and 87.46%, respectively.

Conclusion:
Our proposed method can be a useful tool for identifying of ligand-receptor interactions.
Related data sets and source code are available at https://github.com/guofei-tju/ligand-receptorinteractions.
git.
Apathy: A Conceptual Review
Authors: Lázaro-Perlado Fernando 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Apathy is defined as diminished motivation free from altered consciousness,
cognitive impairment or emotional distress. It is a prevalent syndrome in different disorders,
which share brain system alterations despite very different underlying pathologies. However, to
date, little research has be en devoted to the subject.

Aim:
To review the concept of apathy and clarify its aetiology, structural and functional neural
bases and treatment options.

Methods:
Literature search and review, with “apathy” as a term, using all main databases (Medline,
Psychinfo, Cochrane) included in our organization’s (RSMB; Osakidetza/Basque Health Service)
Ovid search engine, together with a manual search of relevant papers.

Results:
The literature reviewed shows that apathy is a multi-dimensional clinical construct with a
current definition and validated diagnostic criteria. It is a prevalent condition across an array of different
brain disorders, which share a common pathology, namely dysfunction of the fronto-striatal
circuitry, specially affecting the 1) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), 2) ventral striatum (VS) and 3)
nucleus accumbens (N. Acc.). Different theories have emerged regarding the role of the ACC in the
genesis of apathy. The neuromodulator dopamine is heavily implicated in 1- ACC, 2- VS, 3- in particulat
the N. Acc., and 4- the genesis of apathy, although other neurotransmitters could also be
involved to a lesser degree. There is a patent lack of RCTs on the efficiency of current therapeutic options.

Conclusion:
Further research is needed to help understand the functional neuroanatomy, neuromodulators
involved and possible treatment options of this clinical construct.