bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interaction of volatile organic compounds and underlying liver disease: a new paradigm for risk
Authors: Lang Anna L. , Beier Juliane I. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals are known to cause hepatotoxicity and liver injury, in humans and in animal models. Historically, research has focused on severe acute liver injury (e.g. fulminant liver failure) or endstage diseases (e.g. cirrhosis and HCC). However, it has become recently recognized that toxicants can cause more subtle changes to the liver. For example, toxicant-associated steatohepatitis, characterized by hepatic steatosis, and inflammation, was recently recognized in an occupational cohort exposed to vinyl chloride. At high occupational levels, toxicants are sufficient to cause liver damage and disease even in healthy subjects with no comorbidities for liver injury. However, it is still largely unknown how exposure to toxicants initiate and possibly more importantly exacerbate liver disease, when combined with other factors, such as underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by poor diet and/or obesity. With better understanding of the mechanism(s) and risk factors that mediate the initiation and progression of toxicant-induced liver disease, rational targeted therapy can be developed to better predict risk, as well as to treat or prevent this disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize established and proposed mechanisms of volatile organic compound-induced liver injury and to highlight key signaling events known or hypothesized to mediate these effects.
Down-regulated paxillin suppresses cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization in colon cancer
Authors: Zhang Ling-li , Zhang Lian-feng , Shi Yun-bo 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The paxillin and M2 macrophage are all involved in cell proliferation and tumor progression, and this study aims to explore the interaction between them in colon cancer and the role of paxillin in cancer progression. Expression of mRNAs and proteins was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, separately. Endogenous expression of genes was modulated by recombinant plasmids and cell transfection. The levels of cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cell viability, invasion and migration were detected using the MTT assay, the transwell assay and the wound-healing cell migration assay, respectively. A nude mouse model for human colon cancer was constructed for tumor orthotopic expression. Paxillin was up-regulated in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Paxillin was up-regulated in process of M2 macrophage polarization. M2 macrophage polarization was inhibited with paxillin suppressed. Down-regulated paxillin inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in colon cancer through suppressing M2 macrophage polarization. PI3k/Akt inhibitor repressed M2 macrophage polarization through down-regulating paxillin. PI3k/Akt inhibitor inhibited the function of the macrophage in promoting cell proliferation and invasion of colon cancer through down-regulating paxillin. Down-regulated paxillin in macrophages inhibited tumor growth of colon cancer. With the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibited, down-regulated paxillin suppressed colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting the M2 macrophage polarization, thereby restraining the tumor progression.
Xyloglucan for estimating the surface area of cellulose fibers
Authors: Moser Carl , Backlund Hanéle , Lindström Mikael , Henriksson Gunnar 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The hemicellulose xyloglucan can be utilized to measure exposed cellulose surfaces for pulp fibers. This was shown by correlating a refining series with the adsorbed amount of xyloglucan, and by swelling cellulose fibers to various degrees by increasing the charge density. The method is specific to cellulose and could be used to quantify refining or to determine hornification.
Bar force measurement in low consistency refining: the effect of plate pattern
Authors: Harirforoush R. , Olson J. , Wild P. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The effect of plate pattern on forces applied to pulp fibers by refiner bars in low consistency refining is investigated in an AIKAWA 16-inch single-disc refiner. These forces are measured using a custom-built piezoelectric sensor. Trials are conducted using SPF softwood thermomechanical pulp, northern bleached softwood kraft pulp, and aspen hardwood thermomechanical pulp at 3.3 to 3.6 % consistency at rotational speeds of 1200 and 1400 rpm. The pulp is sampled at regular intervals, and the length-weighted fiber length, freeness, tear index, and tensile index are measured for each sample. The results show that the plate with higher bar edge length results in lower mean peak normal and shear forces. The mean peak normal and shear forces at the onset of fiber cutting depend on rotational speed, pulp furnish and plate pattern, and these parameters are lower for a plate pattern with higher bar edge length. In addition, the mean coefficient of friction is a function of plate gap, pulp furnish, and plate pattern. The plate having higher bar edge length results in higher mean coefficient of friction.
Copper and copper nanoparticles: role in management of insect-pests and pathogenic microbes
Authors: Rai Mahendra , Ingle Avinash P. , Pandit Raksha , Paralikar Priti , Shende Sudhir , Gupta Indarchand , Biswas Jayanta K. , da Silva Silvio Silvério 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Crop losses mainly occur due to biotic factors, which include soil-borne phytopathogens, insect pests, parasites, and predators. The major loss of food in the food industry is due to its spoilage by various microorganisms. With advancement in nanotechnology, the use of nanoparticles in food and agriculture crop yield can be improved. In this context, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have attracted a great deal of attention from all over the world due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Copper is one of the key micronutrients, which plays an important role in growth and development of plants. CuNP-based fertilizer and herbicide can be used in agriculture. The small size of CuNPs facilitates their easy absorption by the plants. CuNPs can be promisingly used in the food packaging to avoid the growth of food spoilage microorganisms. The use of CuNP-based agar packaging materials has substantial potential to increase the shelf-life of food. The present review focuses on the application of Cu and CuNPs in food and agriculture. Moreover, antimicrobial and pesticidal properties of CuNPs are also discussed.
Diffusivity of solvents in semi-crystalline polyethylene using the Vrentas-Duda free-volume theory
Authors: Sturm Derek R. , Caputo Kevin J. , Liu Siyang , Danner Ronald P. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Diffusion of penetrants in polyethylene below the melt temperature is heavily dependent on the crystallinity of the polyethylene, the temperature of the experiment, and the concentration of solvent in the polymer. As the crystallinity of the polyethylene increases, there is an increase in the path that the solvent must travel as the solvent cannot penetrate the tightly packed chains in the crystalline domain. This effect is typically accounted for by a tortuosity factor. In this work, a simple and effective characterization of the tortuosity factor based simply on the crystal weight fraction has been developed. Data have been collected for six polyethylenes having densities ranging from 0.912 to 0.961 g/cm3 and for three solvents – isopentane, cyclohexane, and 1-hexene. Diffusivity predictions have been obtained using the free-volume theory of Vrentas and Duda in conjunction with the new tortuosity factor. The polyethylenes had crystallinities varying from 40% to 82% effecting an approximately 60% change in the diffusivity. The decrease resulting from ignoring the crystallinity altogether was in some cases essentially a factor of 5. The error in the predicted diffusivities over all the systems was 25%. For cyclohexane, it is shown that the same model parameters characterize data below the melt temperature (in the semi-crystalline region) as well as above the melt temperature (in the amorphous region).
Cyanidin-3-rutinoside protects INS-1 pancreatic β cells against high glucose-induced glucotoxicity by apoptosis
Authors: Choi Kung-Ha , Park Mi Hwa , Lee Hyun Ah , Han Ji-Sook 
Published: June 2018

AbstractExposure to high levels of glucose may cause glucotoxicity, leading to pancreatic β cell dysfunction, including cell apoptosis and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R), a derivative of anthocyanin, on glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis in INS-1 pancreatic β cells. Glucose (30 mM) treatment induced INS-1 pancreatic β cell death, but glucotoxicity and apoptosis significantly decreased in cells treated with 50 μM C3R compared to that observed in 30 mM glucose-treated cells. Furthermore, hyperglycemia increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide (NO) levels, while C3R treatment reduced these in a dose-dependent manner. C3R also increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, markedly reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax, cytochromec, caspase 9 and caspase 3), and increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, in hyperglycemia-exposed cells. Finally, cell death was examined using annexin V/propidium iodide staining, which revealed that C3R significantly reduced high glucose-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, C3R may have therapeutic effects against hyperglycemia-induced β cell damage in diabetes.
Comparison of Mechanical Outputs Between the Traditional and Ballistic Bench Press: Role of the Type of Variable
Authors: Pestaña-Melero Francisco L. , Jaric Slobodan , Pérez-Castilla Alejandro , Rojas Francisco J. , García-Ramos Amador 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Pestaña-Melero, FL, Jaric, S, Pérez-Castilla, A, Rojas, FJ, and García-Ramos A. Comparison of mechanical outputs between the traditional and ballistic bench press: role of the type of variable. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2227–2234, 2020—This study aimed to comprehensively explore the differences in mechanical outputs between the bench press (BP) and the bench press throw (BPT) exercises performed by 21 men (age: 22.0 ± 4.2 years, body mass: 73.4 ± 7.7 kg, height: 177.2 ± 8.0 cm, and concentric-only [C-O] BP 1 repetition maximum: 81.3 ± 6.8 kg) against a fixed external load of 27 kg using both the (C-O) and eccentric-concentric (E-C) execution techniques. The types of variables collected by means of a linear velocity transducer were the traditional mean values (i.e., from the first positive velocity until the barbell reaches maximum height), mean propulsive values (i.e., from the first positive velocity until the barbell acceleration become lower than gravity), mean values of the acceleration phase (i.e., from the first positive velocity until the barbell acceleration become negative), and maximum values (i.e., the highest instantaneous value of the concentric phase) of force, velocity, and power. The magnitude of the effect sizes (the negative sign indicates a higher value for the BP as compared to the BPT) ranged from −0.10 to −2.19 for force, 0.28 to 1.30 for velocity, and −0.73 to 0.67 for power variables, remaining mainly similar for the (C-O) and (E-C) execution techniques. These results highlight that the comparison of force, velocity, and power outputs between the BP and BPT exercises is largely affected by the type of variable considered. The shortcomings of linear position transducers in accurately determining the end point of the concentric phase suggest that the maximum values, particularly the maximum velocity, should be reported to assess ballistic performance.
Local Displacement Transducer with Miniature Position Encoder
Authors: Witowski Marcin 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The article presents the preliminary results concerning the use of miniature magnetic linear encoders for the measurement of displacements at small strains in triaxial soil tests. Presented are: the main principle of operation of this type of sensors, their advantages, and how they have been implemented in a standard triaxial test stand to the existing equipment. Finally, the test results obtained for a soil sample are used to highlight the difference in results obtained with the new sensors compared to linear variable differential transformer transducers.
Assessing the Gene Content of the Megagenome: Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Authors: Gonzalez-Ibeas Daniel , Martinez-Garcia Pedro J , Famula Randi A , Delfino-Mix Annette , Stevens Kristian A , Loopstra Carol A , Langley Charles H , Neale David B , Wegrzyn Jill L 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas) is within the subgenus Strobus with an estimated genome size of 31 Gbp. Transcriptomic resources are of particular interest in conifers due to the challenges presented in their megagenomes for gene identification. In this study, we present the first comprehensive survey of the P. lambertiana transcriptome through deep sequencing of a variety of tissue types to generate more than 2.5 billion short reads. Third generation, long reads generated through PacBio Iso-Seq have been included for the first time in conifers to combat the challenges associated with de novo transcriptome assembly. A technology comparison is provided here to contribute to the otherwise scarce comparisons of second and third generation transcriptome sequencing approaches in plant species. In addition, the transcriptome reference was essential for gene model identification and quality assessment in the parallel project responsible for sequencing and assembly of the entire genome. In this study, the transcriptomic data were also used to address questions surrounding lineage-specific Dicer-like proteins in conifers. These proteins play a role in the control of transposable element proliferation and the related genome expansion in conifers.
Increased LOH Due to Defective Sister Chromatid Cohesion Is Due Primarily to Chromosomal Aneuploidy and Not Recombination
Authors: Sagi Dror , Marcos-Hadad Evgeniya , Bari Vinay K , Resnick Michael A , Covo Shay 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is an important factor in cancer, pathogenic fungi, and adaptation to changing environments. The sister chromatid cohesion process (SCC) suppresses aneuploidy and therefore whole chromosome LOH. SCC is also important to channel recombinational repair to sister chromatids, thereby preventing LOH mediated by allelic recombination. There is, however, insufficient information about the relative roles that the SCC pathway plays in the different modes of LOH. Here, we found that the cohesin mutation mcd1-1, and other mutations in SCC, differentially affect the various types of LOH. The greatest effect, by three orders of magnitude, was on whole chromosome loss (CL). In contrast, there was little increase in recombination-mediated LOH, even for telomeric markers. Some of the LOH events that were increased by SCC mutations were complex, i.e., they were the result of several chromosome transactions. Although these events were independent of POL32, the most parsimonious way to explain the formation of at least some of them was break-induced replication through the centromere. Interestingly, the mcd1-1 pol32Δ double mutant showed a significant reduction in the rate of CL in comparison with the mcd1-1 single mutant. Our results show that defects in SCC allow the formation of complex LOH events that, in turn, can promote drug or pesticide resistance in diploid microbes that are pathogenic to humans or plants.
Fine-Scale Genetic Structure in Finland
Authors: Kerminen Sini , Havulinna Aki S , Hellenthal Garrett , Martin Alicia R , Sarin Antti-Pekka , Perola Markus , Palotie Aarno , Salomaa Veikko , Daly Mark J , Ripatti Samuli , Pirinen Matti 
Published: June 2018

AbstractCoupling dense genotype data with new computational methods offers unprecedented opportunities for individual-level ancestry estimation once geographically precisely defined reference data sets become available. We study such a reference data set for Finland containing 2376 such individuals from the FINRISK Study survey of 1997 both of whose parents were born close to each other. This sampling strategy focuses on the population structure present in Finland before the 1950s. By using the recent haplotype-based methods ChromoPainter (CP) and FineSTRUCTURE (FS) we reveal a highly geographically clustered genetic structure in Finland and report its connections to the settlement history as well as to the current dialectal regions of the Finnish language. The main genetic division within Finland shows striking concordance with the 1323 borderline of the treaty of Nöteborg. In general, we detect genetic substructure throughout the country, which reflects stronger regional genetic differences in Finland compared to, for example, the UK, which in a similar analysis was dominated by a single unstructured population. We expect that similar population genetic reference data sets will become available for many more populations in the near future with important applications, for example, in forensic genetics and in genetic association studies. With this in mind, we report those extensions of the CP + FS approach that we found most useful in our analyses of the Finnish data.
Jenseits des Relativitätsprinzips: Haftungsstrukturen im neuen Zahlungsdiensterecht
Authors: Köndgen Johannes 
Published: June 2018

Zusammenfassung
Im Gefolge der Umsetzung der beiden EU-Richtlinien über Zahlungsdienste ist die Vertragshaftung von Zahlungsdienstleistern in einer Weise umgestaltet worden, die sich von den tradierten und nach wie vor akzeptierten Strukturen und Prinzipien des deutschen Vertragshaftungsrechts radikal entfernt. Dabei bewendet es nicht bei massiven Einbrüchen in das Prinzip der Vertragsrelativität; selbst die Grenzen der in Deutschland expansiv propagierten Drittwirkungen von Verträgen werden bei weitem gesprengt. Die folgende Untersuchung fragt, welche neuen und dogmatisierbaren Strukturen und Wertungen hinter diesen rechtspolitischen Umwälzungen zu entdecken sind und ob diese gegebenenfalls rechtsfortbildendes Potential für andere Vertragstypen entfalten.
Aufsichtskonvergenz durch „Questions and Answers“ der ESMA
Authors: Veil Rüdiger 
Published: June 2018

Zusammenfassung
„Questions and Answers“ spielen eine herausragende Rolle in der Arbeit der ESMA. Sie sind ein wichtiges Instrument, um Aufsichtskonvergenz in der EU herzustellen. Trotz ihrer großen praktischen Bedeutung ist die Rechtsnatur von „Questions and Answers“ nicht erforscht. Der vorliegende Beitrag nimmt dazu Stellung und untersucht, unter welchen Voraussetzungen „Questions and Answers“ in die nationale Aufsichtspraxis implementiert werden sollten.
Quantitativ-ökonomische Analyse der Abgeltungsteuer unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Grundfreibetragsabzugs und Kapitalanlageentscheidungen
Authors: Kollruss Thomas 
Published: June 2018

Zusammenfassung
Die Abgeltungsteuer bei privaten Kapitalerträgen ist im Hinblick auf ihre Steuerwirkungen, u. a. den Abzug des Grundfreibetrags, den tatsächlichen Tarifverlauf, die Interaktion zum Regelbesteuerungssystem, bislang kaum untersucht worden. Eine sog. „Günstigerprüfung“ verschleiert die konkreten Steuerwirkungen der Abgeltungsteuer, ihren tatsächlichen Tarifverlauf und ihre Belastungswirkungen. Kapitalanlageentscheidungen können aber nur dann ökonomisch beurteilt und (steuer-)optimal getroffen werden, wenn die genauen Steuerwirkungen der Abgeltungsteuer, einschließlich ihrer Be- und Entlastungwirkungen, bekannt sind. Kenntnisse über die Steuerwirkungen der Abgeltungsteuer sowie über die Funktionsweise aus Abgeltungsteuer- und Regelbesteuerungssystem sind in ökonomischer Hinsicht entscheidend für eine erfolgreiche Kapitalanlagestrategie. Die vorliegende quantitativ-ökonomische Analyse der Abgeltungsteuer kann daher eine Grundlage für steueroptimale Kapitalanlageentscheidungen bilden. Insbesondere bedarf es einer Einplanung der Steuerwirkungen ex ante. Im Bereich der privaten Kapitalanlage spielt hier die steuermindernde Wirkung des Grundfreibetragsabzugs eine wichtige Rolle. Die Untersuchungsziele des Beitrags sollen mit Hilfe eines formalanalytischen Untersuchungsansatzes, u. a. der Konvexen Optimierung und der Karush-Kuhn-Tucker-Analyse (KKT-Analyse), erreicht werden. Anknüpfend an diese Ergebnisse kann der tatsächliche Tarifverlauf der Abgeltungsteuer herausgearbeitet und formal definiert werden. Vor diesem Hintergrund können anschließend die konkreten Steuerwirkungen der Abgeltungsteuer im Vergleich zur Regelbesteuerung analysiert und bewertet werden. Auf dieser Basis lassen sich schließlich grundlegende Parameter ableiten, wie in ökonomischer Hinsicht steueroptimale Kapitalanlageentscheidungen unter Berücksichtigung des Abgeltungsteuer-/Regelbesteuerungssystems zu treffen sind.
Composite indicators and sustainable development of regional agriculture applied to the Stavropol Territory in Russia
Authors: Chaplitskaya Anastasia , Heijman Wim , Van Ophem Johan 
Published: June 2018

The aim of this paper is to understand and evaluate agricultural sustainability in the Stavropol Territory by means of a composite indicator. In particular, the paper applies principal component analyses to calculate a composite sustainability index by integration of selected economic, social and environmental indicators. The results demonstrate the utility of analyzing several indicators in conjunction. The results also may indicate which variables influence development of regional agriculture. This information is important in order to design agricultural support policy and to implement an increase the sustainability of the agriculture sector.
JEL Code: O13, Q11
Cost analysis of pig slaughtering: A Hungarian case study
Authors: Szőllősi László , Molnár Szilvia , Ladányi Krisztina , Karnai Laura , Szűcs István 
Published: June 2018

The scale of Hungarian slaughterhouses is small in international comparison and the cost of slaughter and cutting a pig of average live weight is relatively high at 16.1-19.4 EUR on average. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cost of pig slaughter and cutting through the case study of a medium-scale plant in Hungary. Based on data from the enterprise, a calculation was performed in relation to the “output” quantity of pig slaughter and cutting, as well as its value and the cost and cost structure of processing. The capacity of the examined plant and its utilisation were analysed and cost reductions were estimated for various increases of output. In 2015, the direct cost of slaughter and cutting was 18.9 EUR per pig for the medium-scale plant which processed 100 thousand pigs. When the purchase cost of pigs is excluded, labour costs accounted for the highest share (30%) of costs, followed by services (29%) and energy costs (21%). For this reason, the level of wages and employer’s contributions has a rather high significance. Analysis showed that significant increases in Hungarian minimum wage and guaranteed living wage in 2017 resulted in an estimated 7% increase in the cost of slaughter and cutting compared to 2015, despite the decrease of contributions. The capacity utilisation of the plant was a low 28% when compared to a single 8-hour shift considered full capacity. The cost of slaughter and cutting was estimated to be reduced to 14.2-17.0 EUR per pig if the plant operated at full capacity. This may be considered a lower bound estimate of cost because there are numerous restricting factors on optimising capacity utilisation, such as: 1) number of live animals available for purchase and related logistics; 2) cooling capacity availability; 3) labour availability; 4) market position of the enterprise and potential for marketing additional pig meat products. Enterprises of this scale are recommended to consider producing more value-added products and, accordingly, investing in product development.
JEL Classification: Q13, Q19