bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of hospitalizations with atrial fibrillation-flutter on a weekday versus weekend: an analysis from a 2014 nationwide inpatient sample
Authors: Voruganti Dinesh C. , Subash Shantha Ghanshyam Palamaner , Deshmukh Abhishek , Giudici Michael C. 
Published: January 2019

Background
Patients with atrial fibrillation-flutter (AF) admitted on the weekends were initially reported to have poor outcomes. The primary purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the outcomes for weekend versus weekday AF hospitalization using the 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Methods
Included hospitalizations were aged above 18 years. The hospitalizations with AF were identified using the international classification of diseases 9 (ICD-9) codes (427.31, 427.32). In-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), other co-morbidities, cardioversion procedures, and time to cardioversion were recorded. All analysis was performed using SAS 9.4 statistical software (Cary, North Carolina).

Results
A total of 453,505 hospitalizations with atrial fibrillation and flutter as primary discharge diagnosis were identified. Among the total hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of AF, 20.3% were admitted on the weekend. Among the weekend hospitalizations, 0.19% died in hospital compared to 0.74% among those admitted during the week. After adjusting for patient characteristics, hospital characteristics and disease severity, the adjusted odds for in-hospital mortality were not significantly different for weekend vs. weekday hospitalizations (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.77–1.11]; p = 0.33). The weekend admissions were associated with significantly lower odds of cardioversion procedures (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.69–0.76], P < 0.0001), lower cost of hospitalization (USD 8265.8 on weekends vs. USD 8966.5 on the weekdays, P < 0.001), slightly lower rate of anticoagulation (17.09% on the weekends vs. 18.73% on the weekdays. P < 0.0001), and slightly increased time to cardioversion (1.94 days on the weekend vs. 1.73 days on weekdays, P < 0.0005). The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was statistically not different in both groups: (3.49 days ± 3.70 (SD) in the weekend group vs. 3.47 days ± 3.50 (SD) in the weekday group, P = 0.42)

Discussion
The weekend AF hospitalizations did not have a clinically significant difference in mortality and LOS compared to those admitted on a weekday. However, the use of cardioversion procedures and cost of hospitalization was significantly lower on the weekends.
Effects of nickel and cobalt on methane production and methanogen abundance and diversity in paddy soil
Authors: Wang Tianwei , Li Zhaoxia , Chen Xueping , Long Xi-En 
Published: January 2019

BackgroundPaddies are an important anthropogenic source of methane emissions to the atmosphere, and they are impacted by heavy metal pollution. Nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) pollution might either enhance or mitigate CH4emission from paddy soils due to the total amounts of metals, bioavailability and functional microbial activity and composition.MethodsAn incubation experiment was conducted, and different Ni and Co concentrations were added to test the effects of trace metals on methane production in paddy soil. The archaea community structure and the abundance of methanogen functional groups in the paddy soil with added Ni and Co were detected using high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR based on the 16S rRNA and mcrA (methyl coenzyme M reductase) genes, respectively.ResultsThe highest methane production rate was 561 mg CH4kg−1dry soil d−1with the addition of 50 mg kg−1Ni and 684 mg CH4kg−1dry soil d−1with the addition of 25 mg kg−1Co. Accordingly, themcrA gene was most abundant in the 50 mg kg−1Ni addition (3.1 × 106 ± 0.5 × 106copies g−1dry soil). The lowestmcrA gene abundance was detected in the 500 mg kg−1Co addition (9.2× 105 ± 0.4 × 105copies g−1dry soil). The dominant methanogens were Methanobacterium, Methanosarcina, Methanocella, Methanomassiliicoccus, Bathyarchaeota, and Rice Cluster I (RC-I), and the relative abundances of these groups were higher than 1% in the Ni and Co treatments. Additionally, the archaeal compositions differed significantly in the soils with various Ni and Co additions. The most abundant Methanococcus spp. represented 51.3% of the composition in the 50 mg kg−1Ni addition, which was significantly higher than that of the control (12.9% to 17.5%).DiscussionOur results indicated that the contamination of soil by Ni and Co significantly affected total methanogens abundance and specific methanogen functional groups. Ni and Co additions to paddy soil promoted methanogenic activity at low concentrations, while they had inhibitory effects at high concentrations. Because paddy soils largely contribute to methane emissions and are increasingly exposed to heavy metal pollution, our results show that future assessments of greenhouse gas flux from paddy soils should take into account the effects of pollution by Ni and Co.
Evaluation of AAV-DJ vector for retinal gene therapy
Authors: Katada Yusaku , Kobayashi Kenta , Tsubota Kazuo , Kurihara Toshihide 
Published: January 2019

Purpose
The most common virus vector used in gene therapy research for ophthalmologic diseases is the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, which has been used successfully in a number of preclinical and clinical studies. It is important to evaluate novel AAV vectors in animal models for application of clinical gene therapy. The AAV-DJ (type 2/type 8/type 9 chimera) was engineered from shuffling eight different wild-type native viruses. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of gene transfer by AAV-DJ injections into the retina.

Methods
One microliter of AAV-2-CAGGS-EGFP or AAV-DJ-CAGGS-EGFP vector at a titer of 1.4 × 10e12 vg/ml was injected intravitreally or subretinally in each eye of C57BL/6 mice. We evaluated the transduction characteristics of AAV-2 and -DJ vectors using fluorescence microscopy and electroretinography.

Results
The results confirmed that AAV-DJ could deeply transfer gene to photoreceptor layer with intravitreal injection and has an efficient gene transfer to various cell types especially the Mueller cells in the retina. Retinal function was not affected by AAV-DJ infection or ectopic EGFP expression.

Conclusions
The AAV-DJ vector efficiently induces the reporter gene in both the inner and outer murine retina without functional toxicity. These data indicated that the AAV-DJ vector is a useful tool for the gene therapy research targeting retinal disorders.
Environmental Factors Associated with the Presence of Vibrionaceae in Tropical Cage-Cultured Marine Fishes
Authors: Mohamad Nurliyana , Mustafa Muskhazli , Amal Mohammad Noor Azmai , Saad Mohd Zamri , Md Yasin Ina Salwany , Al-saari Nurhidayu 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
This study investigated the environmental factors associated with the presence of Vibrionaceae in economically important cage-cultured tropical marine fishes: the Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer, snapper Lutjanus sp., and hybrid grouper Epinephelus sp. Fish sampling was conducted at monthly intervals between December 2016 and August 2017. The body weight and length of individual fish were measured, and the skin, eye, liver, and kidney were sampled for bacterial isolation and identification. Water physicochemical parameters during the sampling activities were determined, and the enumeration of total Vibrionaceae count was also conducted from water and sediment samples. Nine species of Vibrio were identified, including V. alginolyticus, V. diabolicus, V. harveyi, V. campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus, V. rotiferianus, V. furnissii, V. fluvialis, and V. vulnificus. Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae was also identified. A total of 73% of the isolated Vibrio belonged to the Harveyi clade, followed by the Vulnificus clade (5.5%) and Cholera clade (0.6%). Highest occurrence of Vibrio spp. and P. damselae subsp. damselae was found in hybrid grouper (72%), followed by Asian Seabass (48%) and snapper (36%). The associations of Vibrio spp. and P. damselae subsp. damselae with the host fish were not species specific. However, fish mortality and fish size showed strong associations with the presence of some Vibrio spp. On average, 60% of the infected cultured fish exhibited at least one clinical sign. Nevertheless, inconsistent associations were observed between the pathogens and water quality. The yearlong occurrence and abundance of Vibrionaceae in the environmental components indicate that they might serve as reservoirs of these pathogens.
Proposed changes to the ACR phantom filling procedure for more accurate and consistent activity concentrations
Authors: Beattie Bradley J. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectivesThe phantom filling procedures currently specified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for its PET accreditation program unnecessarily limit how tight the tolerances can be made on the accuracy requirements for the concentrations measured in the resultant images.MethodsNew procedures are proposed to improve the accuracy and consistency of the concentrations within the phantom at the time of imaging. These improvements are gained by exchanging the difficult process of accurately measuring a dose with the more easily achieved accurate measurements of time and liquid volume to control final radioactivity concentrations. A comparison of the results when following the two filling procedures is made.ResultsThe variability in metrics specified by the ACR was approximately halved by following the new procedures.ConclusionThese improvements allow tighter thresholds to be applied when evaluating image quality and quantitative accuracy of the PET images. These changes also render this phantom data more suitable for inter‐PET‐scanner harmonization and improve its utility for comparing image reconstruction methods.
Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on the gut microbiome and colorectal adenoma development
Authors: Pearson Talima , Caporaso J. Gregory , Yellowhair Monica , Bokulich Nicholas A. , Padi Megha , Roe Denise J. , Wertheim Betsy C. , Linhart Mark , Martinez Jessica A. , Bilagody Cherae , Hornstra Heidie , Alberts David S. , Lance Peter , Thompson Patricia A. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIt has been previously reported that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a therapeutic bile acid, reduced risk for advanced colorectal adenoma in men but not women. Interactions between the gut microbiome and fecal bile acid composition as a factor in colorectal cancer neoplasia have been postulated but evidence is limited to small cohorts and animal studies. Using banked stool samples collected as part of a phase III randomized clinical trial of UDCA for the prevention of colorectal adenomatous polyps, we compared change in the microbiome composition after a 3‐year intervention in a subset of participants randomized to oral UDCA at 8‐10 mg/kg of body weight per day (n = 198) or placebo (n = 203). Study participants randomized to UDCA experienced compositional changes in their microbiome that were statistically more similar to other individuals in the UDCA arm than to those in the placebo arm. This reflected a UDCA‐associated shift in microbial community composition (P < 0.001), independent of sex, with no evidence of a UDCA effect on microbial richness (P > 0.05). These UDCA‐associated shifts in microbial community distance metrics from baseline to end‐of‐study were not associated with risk of any or advanced adenoma (all P > 0.05) in men or women. Separate analyses of microbial networks revealed an overrepresentation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the post‐UDCA arm and an inverse relationship between F prausnitzii and Ruminococcus gnavus. In men who received UDCA, the overrepresentation of F prausnitzii and underrepresentation of R gnavus were more prominent in those with no adenoma recurrence at follow‐up compared to men with recurrence. This relationship was not observed in women. Daily UDCA use modestly influences the relative abundance of microbial species in stool and affects the microbial network composition with suggestive evidence for sex‐specific effects of UDCA on stool microbial community composition as a modifier of colorectal adenoma risk.
Visualizing Post‐Translational Modifications in Protein Interaction Networks Using PTMOracle
Authors: Tay Aidan P. , Liang Angelita , Wilkins Marc R. , Pang Chi Nam Ignatius 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPost‐translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins act as key regulators of protein activity, including the regulation of protein‐protein interactions (PPIs). However, exploring functional links between PTMs and PPIs can be difficult. PTMOracle is a Cytoscape app that facilitates the co‐visualization and co‐analysis of PTMs in the context of PPI networks. PTMOracle also allows extensive data to be integrated and co‐analyzed, allowing the role of domains, motifs, and disordered regions to be considered. Here, we describe several PTMOracle protocols investigating complex PTM‐associated relationships and their role in PPIs. This is assisted by OraclePainter for coloring proteins by the modifications present and visualizing these in the context of networks, by OracleTools for cross‐matching PTMs with sequence feature for all nodes in the network, and by OracleResults for exploring specific proteins and visualizing their PTMs in the context of protein sequences. This unit aims to demonstrate how PTMOracle can be used to systematically explore network visualizations and generate testable hypotheses regarding the functional role of PTMs in PPIs, and how the results can be analyzed to better understand the regulatory role of PTMs in PPIs. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Heparanase‐1 activity and the early postnatal prostate development
Authors: Barbosa Guilherme Oliveira , Bruni‐Cardoso Alexandre , da Silva Pinhal Maria Aparecida , Augusto Taize Machado , Carvalho Hernandes F. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractVentral prostate (VP) morphogenesis starts during embryonic development and continues for the first three postnatal weeks. Heparan sulfate (HS) affects paracrine signaling. Heparanase‐1 (HPSE) is the only enzyme capable of cleaving HS. HPSE releases the HS bioactive fragment and mobilizes growth factors. Little is known, however, about HS turnover and HPSE function during VP morphogenesis. In this study, we measured HSPG expression and analyzed the expression and distribution of HPSE in the rat VP. HPSE was predominantly expressed by the VP epithelium. The VP was treated with heparin in ex vivo cultures to interfere with HS and resulted in delayed epithelial growth. Hpse knockdown using siRNA delayed epithelial growth in the first postnatal week ex vivo, which was similar to treating with the lower concentration of heparin. Hpse silencing was related to changes in HS chain length (as determined by size‐exclusion chromatography, up‐regulation of Mmp9, and down‐regulation of Mmp2 expression). It also down‐modulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting a reduction in signaling, likely due to decreased HS cleavage and growth factor bioavailability. Our results showed that HPSE played a role in early epithelial growth during the first week of VP postnatal development. Developmental Dynamics 248:211‐220, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of equivalent circuit model for electric double‐layer capacitors reflecting pore structure of activated carbon
Authors: Kono Akihiko , Tanaka Kota , Urushibata Hiroaki , Fujita Yoji , Koyama Masato 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn this study, an equivalent circuit model of electric double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs) reflecting a branched‐pore structure for activated carbon was developed. Geometrical parameters such as pore diameter, pore depth, and branch number of the macropore, mesopore, and micropore were estimated from the analysis of the electrochemical impedance for EDLCs, combining theoretical equations and an equivalent circuit model. The developed equivalent circuit model was applied to charge/discharge simulations of EDLCs. The experimental and simulated cell voltages during pulsed‐current charge were found to be in excellent agreement. Distributions of currents and voltages in the macropore, mesopore, and micropore during pulsed‐current charges were discussed using equivalent circuit simulations. Electric‐double layers were charged in order of the macropore, the mesopore, and the micropore. It was suggested that charge delays of the mesopore and the micropore originated from both solution resistances in pores and the branch structure of the pore for activated carbon.
Polyphenol Compounds Attenuate High‐Dose PUFA‐Induced Oxidative Damage in Adipocytes
Authors: Deng Kaiping , Ren Caifang , Zhang Guomin , Zhang Yanli , You Peihua , Wang Feng , Fan Yixuan 
Published: January 2019

Although polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are beneficial fatty acids, their excessive deposition can easily lead to lipid‐induced oxidation damage. It has recently been shown that diets rich in particular polyphenols may improve the oxidative status of tissues with high PUFA content. However, the underlying mechanism for this remains elusive. Therefore, a model is created of high‐dose PUFA injury in adipocytes, which investigates the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) on the alleviation of oxidative damage induced by high doses of PUFAs. It is observed that high‐dose linolenic acids (ALA) enhance lipid oxidation, inflammation, and autophagy in adipocytes. However, RA and CA attenuate the high‐dose ALA‐enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and microtubule‐associated protein 1, light chain 3, beta (MAP1LC3B). In addition, they reduce the intracellular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) that are elevated by high doses of ALA, and modulate the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase antioxidant (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) enzymes. The protective effects of RA and CA on adipocyte oxidative stress are in part associated with their capacity to improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes and exert free radical‐scavenging activity. Collectively, these results suggest that RA and CA may have potential benefits in protecting adipose cells from high‐dose PUFA‐induced oxidative damage.Practical Applications: It is known that a diet rich in PUFAs has beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. However, an accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids in tissues is more susceptible to lipid oxidation. In this study, it is found that polyphenols have the potential to protect adipose cells from high‐dose PUFAs‐induced damage. It has also been suggested that the consumption of a diet enriched in polyphenols could be beneficial for the prevention of lipid peroxidation and maintaining the balance between oxidative and anti‐oxidative processes.Polyphenols suppress the formation of lipid peroxy radical species. The process of lipid peroxidation consists of initiation, propagation, and termination. In the termination reaction, polyphenols may donate a hydrogen atom to the lipid radical, resulting in the termination of lipid peroxy radical species formation. In addition, polyphenols may improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby suppressing the formation of lipid peroxy radical species.
Semi‐Siccative Oils and Bioactive Fractions Isolated from Reunion Island Fruit Co‐Product: Two Case Studies
Authors: Delvar Alice , de Caro Pascale , Caro Yanis , Shum Cheong Sing Alain , Thomas Rudy , Raynaud Christine 
Published: January 2019

This paper focused on the use of agro‐industrial wastes of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) generated by the agricultural industry on Reunion Island, according to two routes: extraction of semi‐siccative oils from the seeds and extraction of bioactive compounds from residual pulp and peels. Oil content, fatty acid, carotenoids, tocopherol, and sterol concentrations are determined in the seed oils obtained by four different extraction processes using Soxhlet extraction, extraction by hexane and ethanol, mechanical pressing and supercritical‐carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) extraction. The oil extraction yields ranged from 15 to 30% w/w for strawberry guava and passion fruit, respectively. Both oils are classified as semi‐siccative and had a similar total unsaturated fatty acid content (88%) with a prevalence of linoleic acid (70–78%). High contents in phytosterols and in α‐tocopherol are particularly detected in strawberry guava oil. The antioxidant activities of the bioactive compounds extracted by water and ethanol from pulp and peels are characterized by α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. After purification on polymeric resin, significant antioxidant activities are recorded (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) from 11 to 50 g L−1) and are related to polyphenol contents (20.7 to 42.5 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry extract).Practical Applications: There is a great interest on the use of tropical fruit wastes because of their large availabilities. Strawberry guava and passion fruit are often used in the food industry, for juice and jam production. The seeds, pulp, and peel residues are in fact a by‐product of their industrial processing, which should be valuably processed instead of just throwing away. We can state that the extracted seed (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids) of strawberry guava and passion fruit can be used in the industrial production of emulsions, paints, and varnishes. Within the positive aspects of the study, one can also distinguish the use of these tropical fruit by‐products as beneficial sources of many valuable bioactive compounds, for example, carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and especially polyphenols, for functional formulations. Moreover, it may be the experimental basis for further development and use in food industryGreen extraction processes are applied to two tropical fruit coproducts. Seed oils obtained are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (88%). Strawberry guava oil has high contents in α‐tocopherol and in sterols. Functional organic molecules are also isolated from residual peels and pulps. Results shows that strawberry guava extracts have antioxidant activities similar to Trolox.
Carbon–Silica Composite as an Effective Support for Iron Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Catalysts
Authors: Chernavskii Petr A. , Kazantsev Ruslan V. , Pankina Galina V. , Maslakov Konstantin I. , Lunin Boris S. , Eliseev Oleg L. 
Published: January 2019

Carbon–silica composite is prepared by the impregnation of silica with aqueous glucose solution followed by drying and calcination in an inert atmosphere. This material is proposed as a support for the potassium‐promoted iron catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The catalysts are prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The reducibility of CQ‐supported iron is increased and Hägg carbide is formed in the course of activation in CO/H2 flow at 400 °C for 2 h. Subsequent exposure in FTS conditions results in the significant increase of iron carbide particles, from 3–4 to 20–30 nm, while no such increase is detected for the pure silica as support. The carbon–silica composite support provides a beneficial effect on the catalytic activity of iron in CO hydrogenation as well as the suppression of methane formation and increasing Anderson–Schulz–Flory distribution (ASF) chain growth parameter. The catalysts are characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and in situ magnetic measurements in the course of temperature‐programmed reduction by H2 and synthesis gas.