bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The power to detect regional declines in common bird populations using continental monitoring data
Authors: Baker D. J. , Clarke R. H. , McGeoch M. A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAnthropogenic environmental change is driving the rapid loss of biodiversity. Large declines in the abundance of historically common species are now emerging as a major concern. Identifying declining populations through long‐term biodiversity monitoring is vital for implementing timely conservation measures. It is, therefore, critical to evaluate the likelihood that persistent long‐term population trends of a given size could be detected using existing monitoring data and methods. Here, we test the power to detect declines in Australia's common landbirds using long‐term citizen science monitoring. We use spatially explicit simulations of occupancy dynamics and virtual sampling, designed to mimic bird monitoring in better‐sampled regions of Australia, to assess likely power in these data to detect trends relevant for conservation. We predict the statistical power for 326 common species that meet minimum requirements for monitoring data across 10 regions of Australia, estimating the number of species for which we would have a high (≥80%) chance of detecting declines of different sizes. The power to detect declines of ≥30% per decade was predicted to be high for at least one‐third of the common species in 7 of 10 regions, with a total of 103 (32% of 326) unique species sufficiently monitored in at least one region. These species spanned 12 taxonomic orders, four orders of magnitude in body mass, and a broad diversity of dietary guilds, suggesting the current species pool will likely serve as robust indicators for a broad range of environmental states and pressures. Power was strongly affected by species' detectability, and power to detect even large declines was negligible when species are detected on ≤50% of visits to an occupied site. Predicted power for many species fell just short of the 80% threshold in one or more regions, which suggests an increase in effort targeting these species could greatly enhance the species and regional representation of these data. Against the backdrop of unprecedented biodiversity losses, this study shows how critical evaluation of existing monitoring schemes is valuable both for assessing the contribution of citizen science schemes to biodiversity monitoring and for designing strategic monitoring to significantly improve the knowledge these schemes provide.
Cornea nerve fibre state determines analgesic response to tapentadol in fibromyalgia patients without effective endogenous pain modulation
Authors: van de Donk Tine , van Velzen Monique , Dahan Albert , Niesters Marieke 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundTapentadol is a centrally acting analgesic with μ‐agonistic activity combined with noradrenaline reuptake inhibition. Its mechanism of action relies on improvement of descending pain inhibition. In the current study, tapentadol's ability to enhance conditioned pain modulation (CPM, an experimental measure of descending pain inhibition) was evaluated in fibromyalgia patients with absent or reduced CPM responses.MethodsA total of 34 fibromyalgia patients completed this double‐blind trial. Patients were randomized to receive treatment with tapentadol sustained‐release or placebo for a 3‐month period with 1‐month follow‐up. At baseline, the cornea nerve fibre state (CNFS) was quantified to determine the presence of nerve fibre pathology and assess its value in the prediction of the analgesic response.ResultsTapentadol significantly increased CPM responses during treatment with an average increase from baseline of 20.5 ± 12.5% (tapentadol) versus 3.0 ± 11.2% (placebo; p = 0.042). No treatment effect was observed for the absolute pain scores, however, analgesia responder rate analyses demonstrated a treatment effect in favour of tapentadol. Pain relief (a reduction in pain score ≥ 30%) was predicted by the presence of a normal CNFS (p = 0.035). Patients with an abnormal CNFS had no analgesic effect from tapentadol despite an increase in CPM.ConclusionsIn chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia, the increase in endogenous pain inhibition by tapentadol was translated into analgesia in patients with a normal CNFS. In those with abnormal CNFS, tapentadol treatment was without analgesic effect.SignificanceIn this double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial, we showed that tapentadol significantly enhanced the descending pain inhibition in fibromyalgia patients. Tapentadol‐induced pain relief was only present in patients with a normal CNFS.
Evaluating Sustainability: Controversies, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Julnes George 
Published: June 2019

AbstractSustainability has long been a concern with regard to overpopulation and resource shortages. The concept became used in evaluation because of the observations that many programs have difficulties being sustained after initial start‐up funding expired. Now sustainability is a central concern due to the crisis of climate change. This chapter provides a foundation for this issue on evaluating sustainability by reviewing the evolving understandings of “sustainability” as it relates to evaluation, developing the argument that sustainability, and evaluating sustainability, is better viewed in process versus outcome terms, and summarizing some of the challenges and opportunities that wait to be addressed.
Supporting Transitions to Sustainability: Evaluation for Managing Processes in the Public Interest
Authors: Julnes George 
Published: June 2019

AbstractSustainability as a goal is often a major consideration in policy debates and is becoming more so in the field of evaluation. This rising profile, however, creates challenges because the contexts where sustainability is evaluated can be complex in ways that standard evaluation is less equipped to address. After addressing conditions that add to this complexity, recommendations are made to counter three problems. First, with a traditional focus on support for achieving outcomes, evaluators have tended to neglect support for managing processes. Second, with the largely accepted goal of influencing selected outcomes, evaluators have tended to neglect influencing established systems and so have been less prepared to support managing transitions from unsustainable to sustainable practices. Third, judging the value of public initiatives involves assumptions that, when applied to sustainability, can result in overly narrow and biased understandings of the public interest.
RETRACTED: Impact of drying methods on composition and functional properties of date powder procured from different cultivars
Authors: Raza Nighat , Arshad Muhammad U. , Anjum Faqir M. , Saeed Farhan , Maan Abid A. , Bader Ul Ain Huma 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe present study was designed to evaluate the effect of two different drying methods, that is, spray drying and oven drying on physicochemical and nutritional attributes of date flesh powder of dhakki, aseel, and rabi varieties. Date powders were prepared using mixture of maltodextrin and acacia gum (50:50) as drying aid at the rate of 0.4 kg per 1.0 kg of date fruits (dry weight basis). The oven‐drying conditions were 60°C for 48 hr, whereas in spray drying, flow rate of 30 ml/min at 150°C was maintained. Date powder was obtained in both treatments from three varieties. Nutritional profile in all six powders was explored specifically with quantification of sugars using HPLC‐RI, followed by physicochemical characterization. The total phenolic compounds, color (L*a*b* values), hygroscopicity, bulk density, wettability, solubility index, and glass transition temperatures (using differential scanning calorimetry, DSC), were determined for the date powders. The nutritional profile and total phenolic contents and sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose) were significantly different for the varieties, while treatments showed insignificant effect. The physicochemical characteristics of date powder varied significantly with respect to the date varieties. The colored values were affected due to treatments also, and the spray‐dried powders showed better color values. The drying methods also showed effects in some parameters such as wettability time. Similarly, bulk density was different in both treatments for rabi and aseel. The glass transition temperatures were significantly varied in varieties due to difference in sugar contents, but within the treatments, they remain unaffected. The highest glass transition temperature of spray‐dried rabi was 53.2 ± 1.31°C.
Block trades in options markets
Authors: Gousgounis Eleni , Srinivasan Sayee 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBlock trading, which was sparse before the reduction of the minimum permissible block size threshold in October 2012, currently accounts for about 30% of the trading volume in WTI crude oil options. Block orders share similar characteristics to those routed at the pit, but they have lower information content and face higher execution costs, due to high search costs. However, our results show that such block orders would have been costlier to execute at the pit, which suggests that some pit order flow may have migrated to the upstairs market, contributing to the eventual demise of energy options pits.
Das Setzungsverhalten von vibrationsverdichteten, rolligen Böden
Authors: Massarsch Karl Rainer 
Published: June 2019

AbstractVibrationsverdichtung wird oft zur Verminderung von Setzungen in rolligen Böden angewendet. Die Drucksonde CPT und der Flachdilatometer DMT eignen sich besonders zur Planung und Durchführung von Vibrationsverdichtungsprojekten, da sowohl die Bodensteifigkeit als auch die Änderung der Horizontalspannungen gemessen werden können. Der Spannungspfad bei der Vibrationsverdichtung beschreibt die permanente Erhöhung der Horizontalspannung und den dadurch entstandenen Vorbelastungseffekt. Ein Verfahren wird vorgestellt, wie aus der Erhöhung der Horizontalspannung der Vorbelastungsgrad abgeschätzt werden kann. Das Setzungsverhalten von normalkonsolidierten Böden wird beschrieben. Das Tangentenmodulverfahren kann zur Setzungsberechnung vor und nach der Verdichtung verwendet werden. Die Modulzahl sowie der Vorbelastungsgrad können aus Feldversuchen mit CPT und DMT abgeschätzt werden. Die Anwendung von CPT‐ und DMT‐Untersuchungen zur Festlegung von setzungsbezogenen Verdichtungskriterien wird beschrieben. Die Setzungsberechnung vor und nach der Vibrationsverdichtung wird anhand eines Fallbeispiels geschildert, bei dem ein schluffiger Sandboden mittels VibroWing‐Verfahren und Vibrationsplatte verdichtet wurde.
The Miocene Shuangyashan basalts in northeast China: Implications for the origin of Cenozoic basalts in northeast Asia
Authors: Zhang Lei , Chen Jia‐fu , Shi Xing‐jun 
Published: June 2019

Cenozoic basalts are widespread in northeast Asia, and their origins have been accepted as the products of different mantle end‐members. A combined study of elemental and isotopic geochemistry was carried out on Miocene basalt from the Shuangyashan Basin (Northeast China) to investigate the contributions of the various mantle end‐members. The Shuangyashan basalts are alkali trachybasalt (SiO2 = 49.8–50.8 wt%, Na2O + K2O = 5.45–6.09 wt%) in composition, with micro‐porphyritic texture. The phenocryst is euhedral olivine, and the matrix is composed of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, and ilmenite. The basalt shows slightly high MgO (6.80–7.22 wt%), Mg# (Mg2+ × 100/(Mg2+ + Fe2+), 63.0–64.8), and Ti/Y ratios (515–597) as well as extremely low Rb/Ba (0.08–0.10), Rb/Sr (0.04–0.06), and La/Nb (0.57–0.62) ratios. The elemental and isotopic geochemistry indicates that the basalt has experienced no or negligible crustal contamination. The small variations in basalt composition are controlled by fractional crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene. The Sr (initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70507–0.70516), Nd (εNd(t) = 4.13–4.33), and Hf (εHf(t) = 9.24–12.1) isotopes show that the basalt has been affected by the EM2 (enriched mantle 2) in spinel peridotite lithospheric mantle. Meanwhile, the basalt shows relatively high REE fractionation (La/Yb = 14.9–16.6), suggesting it may be generated from the garnet peridotite. Therefore, the basalt could be originated from garnet peridotite in the lowest lithospheric mantle or asthenosphere and overprinted by the lithospheric EM2. Based on the compiled data from the literature, Sr–Nd isotope and trace element composition of the basalts from western northeast China, eastern northeast China, and Japanese islands are different from each other. Basalts from western northeast China are characterized by low 143Nd/144Nd, high 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and extremely high La/Yb ratio (mean is about 71), indicating that their origin is an EM1 (enriched mantle 1) in garnet‐bearing mantle. Basalts from eastern northeast China and Japanese islands show large variation of La/Yb ratios (1.2–34), showing that both have contributions from spinel and garnet peridotites. In eastern northeast China, basalts exhibit a roughly negative correlation between 87Sr/86Sr and La/Yb ratios. It is speculated that the asthenospheric mantle there is dominated by DM while the lithospheric mantle contains not only DM but also EM1 and EM2. In Japanese islands, (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios of basalts vary more greatly at low La/Yb (<10) than at high La/Yb ratios (>20), and high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (>0.7045) can only be observed at high La/Yb ratios (>20). Both the spinel and garnet peridotite mantle beneath Japanese islands have been significantly metasomatized by the subduction‐related fluid/melt.
Self‐assembling amyloid‐like peptides as exogenous second harmonic probes for bioimaging applications
Authors: Ni Ming , Zhuo Shuangmu , Iliescu Ciprian , So Peter T. C. , Mehta Jodhbir S. , Yu Hanry , Hauser Charlotte A. E. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAmyloid‐like peptides are an ideal model for the mechanistic study of amyloidosis, which may lead to many human diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. This study reports a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) effect of amyloid‐like peptides, having a signal equivalent to or even higher than those of endogenous collagen fibers. Several amyloid‐like peptides (both synthetic and natural) were examined under SHG microscopy and shown they are SHG‐active. These peptides can also be observed inside cells (in vitro). This interesting property can make these amyloid‐like peptides second harmonic probes for bioimaging applications. Furthermore, SHG microscopy can provide a simple and label‐free approach to detect amyloidosis. Lattice corneal dystrophy was chosen as a model disease of amyloidosis. Morphological difference between normal and diseased human corneal biopsy samples can be easily recognized, proving that SHG can be a useful tool for disease diagnosis.
Salidroside ameliorated hypoxia‐induced tumorigenesis of BxPC‐3 cells via downregulating hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α and LOXL2
Authors: Chen Xiaoping , Kou Yubin , Lu Yunsong , Pu Yumei 
Published: June 2019

AbstractHerein, we found that salidroside suppressed hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) and lysyl oxidase‐like protein 2 (LOXL2) within human pancreatic cancer BxPC‐3 cells cultured both under normoxia and hypoxia condition. To investigate the effect of salidroside on tumorigenesis of BxPC‐3 cells and whether HIF‐1α and LXCL2 were involved in this process, cells transfected with or without LOXL2 overexpression vector, were treated with 50 μg/mL of salidroside or 50 μM of KC7F2 (a HIF‐1α inhibitor) under hypoxia. Cell viability and invasion were assessed using CCK‐8 and Transwell chamber assay, respectively. Expression of E‐cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP 2/9) was determined, by Western blot analysis, to assess cell mobility at molecular levels. We confirmed that hypoxia increased LOXL2 and induced tumorigenesis of BxPC‐3 cells, as evidenced by promoted cell proliferation and invasion, enhanced MMP2/9 while reduced E‐cadherin. Interestingly, hypoxia‐induced carcinogenesis was significantly retarded by both salidroside and KC7F2, however, enhanced with LOXL2 overexpression. Besides, salidroside and KC7F2 reduced LOXL2, and reversed the tumorigenesis of BxPC‐3 cells induced by LOXL2 overexpression. Given the inhibitory effect of salidroside on HIF‐1α expression, our data suggested that: (1) LOXL2 was the mechanism, whereby salidroside and KC7F2 showed inhibitory effect on cancer progression of BxPC‐3 cells; (2) salidroside exerted its anticancer effect, most likely, by a HIF‐1α/LOXL2 pathway. In conclusion, salidroside was a novel therapeutic drug in pancreatic cancer, and downregulation of HIF‐1α and LXCL2 was the underlying mechanism.
Right ventricle may be involved in regional diastolic dysfunction earliest in primary hypertension patients
Authors: Zhang Xiujin , Wu Cai‐e , Ye Ping , Sheng Li , Luo Leiming 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundImpaired ventricular diastolic function is common in hypertensive patients and is one of the major causes of heart failure. Both left and right ventricle diastolic dysfunction have been reported, but the order of involvement is not clear.MethodA total of 161 primary hypertensive patients and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Pulsed wave tissue Doppler was used to measure regional diastolic dysfunction (defined as early peak diastolic [Em] and late diastolic [Am] velocity ratios (Em/Am) < 1) at right ventricular tricuspid valve annulus lateral side (RAVP1), right ventricular tricuspid valve annulus septum side (RAVP2), left ventricular mitral valve annulus septum side (LAVP1) and left ventricular mitral annulus lateral side (LAVP2).ResultsThe prevalence of regional diastolic dysfunction at RAVP1, RAVP2, LAVP1, and LAVP2 was all higher in the hypertensive group (P < .001 for all). In both the hypertensive group and the control group, more cases were presented with RAVP1 diastolic dysfunction, while the least number of cases had LAVP2 diastolic dysfunction. In patients with stage 1 hypertension, most cases had RAVP1, or RAVP1 and RAVP2/LAVP1 diastolic dysfunction, while in patients with more advanced hypertension stages, significantly more cases had both RAVP1 and LAVP2, or all four locations diastolic dysfunction (P < .001). A similar trend was observed in patients with longer hypertension duration (duration of 6‐9.9 years and 10‐18 years compared with 2‐5.9 years of duration, P < .001).ConclusionsWith a more advanced stage and longer duration of hypertension, the range of regional diastolic dysfunction increased, showing a trend from the right ventricular wall, to the septum and left the ventricular wall. In primary hypertension, regional diastolic dysfunction in the right ventricle might happen earlier than that in the septum and the left ventricle.
Joint detection of claudin‐1 and junctional adhesion molecule‐A as a therapeutic target in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Upadhaya Puja , Barhoi Dharmeswar , Giri Anirudha , Bhattacharjee Abhinandan , Giri Sarbani 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAbnormal expression of claudin‐1 (CLDN‐1) and junctional adhesion molecule‐A (JAM‐A) has been described in certain malignancies but their clinical relevance is poorly understood. The present study aims to elucidate the role of CLDN‐1 and JAM‐A in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Changes in the expression of these proteins were identified immunohistochemically on tissue sections from patients with OED and OSCC and compared with control. A correlation between the expression level of proteins and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Pearson's correlation χ2 test. The survival curve of the follow‐up data was estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method followed by the log‐rank test. CLDN‐1 and JAM‐A were highly expressed in OED and OSCC tissues when compared to control. Also, delocalization of CLDN‐1 from the membrane to the cytoplasm to the nucleus was observed as the cell proceeds from normal to malignancy. Increased expression of CLDN‐1 and JAM‐A in both OED and OSCC were concomitant with histological grades. In addition, increased JAM‐A was associated with perineural invasion of cancer cells. A positive correlation between the expression level of proteins was observed in OED (r = 0.733) and OSCC (r = 0.577). Kaplan‐Meier analysis in patients with OSCC showed that the survival rate was lower in patients with high CLDN‐1 and high JAM‐A expression compared to low expressed patients. To conclude, the elevated level and delocalization of CLDN‐1 and JAM‐A suggest their use as tumor markers. A positive correlation between CLDN‐1 and JAM‐A suggests joint detection of these proteins as a future diagnostic tool in oral precancerous and cancerous conditions.
Centaurea cyanus extracted 13‐O‐acetylsolstitialin A decrease Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and expression of cyclin D1/Cdk‐4 to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki Mohammad , Bagheri Mahboobeh , Ghanadian Mustafa , Aghaei Mahmoud , Jafari Seyyed Mehdi 
Published: June 2019

AbstractNatural products are considered recently as one of the source for production of efficient therapeutical agents for breast cancer treatment. In this study, a sesquiterpene lactone, 13‐O‐acetylsolstitialin A (13ASA), isolated from Centaurea cyanus, showed cytotoxic activities against MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines using standard 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. To find the mechanism of action of cytotoxicity, annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining was performed for evaluation of apoptosis. This process was further confirmed by immunoblotting of anti‐ and proapoptotic, Bcl‐2 and Bax, proteins. Cell cycle arrest was evaluated by measurement of fluorescence intensity of PI dye and further confirmed by immunoblotting of Cdk‐4 and cyclin D1. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using the JC‐1 and DCFDA fluorescence probes, respectively. These experiments showed that 13ASA is a potent cytotoxic agent, which activates apoptosis‐mediated cell death. In response to this compound, Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio was noticeably increased in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Moreover, 13ASA induced cell cycle arrest at subG1 and G1 phases by decreasing protein levels of cyclin D1 and Cdk‐4. It was done possibly through the decrease of ΔΨm and increase of ROS levels which induce apoptosis. In conclusion, this study mentioned that 13ASA inhibit the growth of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines through the induction of cell cycle arrest, which triggers apoptotic pathways. 13ASA can be considered as a susceptible compound for further investigation in breast cancer study.
The RyR–ClCa–VDCC axis contributes to spontaneous tone in urethral smooth muscle
Authors: Feng Mei , Wang Zhaoyang , Liu Zheng , Liu Donghai , Zheng Kaizhi , Lu Ping , Liu Chuanyong , Zhang Min , Li Jingxin 
Published: June 2019

AbstractCurrent therapies including pharmaceutical intervention and surgery have limited efficacy on stress urinary incontinence (SUI). One type of SUI is due to low intraurethral pressure caused by the disabled contraction of urethral smooth muscle (USM). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the motility of USM remain unknown. Here, we show that USM represents spontaneous tone after stretching in humans and mice. Deletion of TMEM16A in the smooth muscle of mice abolishes spontaneous urethral tone. Furthermore, ClCa currents and [Ca2+]i in TMEM16ASMKO mice were largely impaired. Inhibitors of ryanodine receptor (RyR), TMEM16A encoded calcium‐activated chloride channel (ClCa) and L‐type voltage‐dependent calcium channel (VDCC) fully prevented spontaneous tone accompanied by a significant decrease of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). In summary, RyR–ClCa–VDCC signaling contributes to spontaneous USM tone. This finding may provide a new promising approach for women with stress SUI who reject surgery.