bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards measuring resilience of flood-prone communities: a conceptual framework
Authors: Oladokun Victor O. , Montz Burrell E. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract. Community resilience has become an important policy and research concept for
understanding and addressing the challenges associated with the interplay of
climate change, urbanization, population growth, land use, sustainability,
vulnerability and increased frequency of extreme flooding. Although
measuring resilience has been identified as a fundamental step toward its
understanding and effective management, there is, however, lack of an
operational measurement framework due to the difficulty of systematically
integrating socioeconomic and techno-ecological factors. The study examines
the challenges, constraints and construct ramifications that have
complicated the development of an operational framework for measuring
resilience of flood-prone communities. Among others, the study highlights
the issues of proliferation of definitions and conceptual frameworks of
resilience, challenges of data availability, data variability and data
compatibility. Adopting the National Academies' definition of resilience, a
conceptual and mathematical model was developed using the dimensions,
quantities and relationships established by the definition. A fuzzy logic
equivalent of the model was implemented to generate resilience indices for
three flood-prone communities in the United States. The results indicate that the
proposed framework offers a viable approach for measuring community flood
resilience, even when there is a limitation on data availability and
compatibility.
Towards multi-objective optimization of large-scale fluvial landscaping measures
Authors: Straatsma Menno W. , Fliervoet Jan M. , Kabout Johan A. H. , Baart Fedor , Kleinhans Maarten G. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract. Adapting densely populated deltas to the combined impacts of
climate change and socioeconomic developments presents a major challenge for
their sustainable development in the 21st century. Decisions for the
adaptations require an overview of cost and benefits and the number of
stakeholders involved, which can be used in stakeholder discussions.
Therefore, we quantified the trade-offs of common measures to compensate for an increase in discharge and sea level rise on the basis of relevant, but
inexhaustive, quantitative variables. We modeled the largest delta
distributary of the Rhine River with adaptation scenarios driven by (1) the
choice of seven measures, (2) the areas owned by the two largest
stakeholders (LS) versus all stakeholders (AS) based on a priori stakeholder
preferences, and (3) the ecological or hydraulic design principle. We
evaluated measures by their efficiency in flood hazard reduction, potential
biodiversity, number of stakeholders as a proxy for governance complexity,
and measure implementation cost. We found that only floodplain lowering over
the whole study area can offset the altered hydrodynamic boundary
conditions; for all other measures, additional dike raising is required. LS
areas comprise low hanging fruits for water level lowering due to the
governance simplicity and hydraulic efficiency. Natural management of
meadows (AS), after roughness smoothing and floodplain lowering, represents
the optimum combination between potential biodiversity and flood hazard
lowering, as it combines a high potential biodiversity with a relatively low
hydrodynamic roughness. With this concept, we step up to a
multidisciplinary, quantitative multi-parametric, and multi-objective
optimization and support the negotiations among stakeholders in the
decision-making process.
Influence of nonylphenol exposure on basic growth, development, and thyroid tissue structure in F1 male rats
Authors: Wang Lin , Xu Jie , Zeng Feng , Fu Xiangjun , Xu Weihong , Yu Jie 
Published: June 2019

Objective
Environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) with a weak ability to mimic estrogen have been associated with thyroid dysfunction. However, little is known about the effect of nonylphenol (NP), a well-known EED, on thyroid structure. The present study evaluates whether gestational and lactational exposure to NP impacts growth and thyroid structure in F1 male rats.

Methods
A total of 60 rats were gavaged with NP (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), estradiol (E2, 30 μg/kg/day), and corn oil alone (vehicle control) from gestational day 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Serum thyroid hormones free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone levels were detected by automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. The NP level in the thyroid was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The ultrastructure of follicular epithelial cells was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Histopathology was conducted using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results
On PND 0, exposure to 50 and 100 mg/kg/day NP led to a significant decrease in the average litter size, litter weight and number of live pups per litter compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Dams exposed to NP during perinatal period demonstrated decreased serum levels of FT3 and FT4 in F1 male rats, when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The NP level in the control group was 3.39 ± 0.08 ng/mg, while NP levels in the low, middle, and high dose groups ranged from 5.20 to 11.00 ng/mg. Exposure caused a dose-related increase in NP level in the thyroid of male pups (P < 0.01). The thicknesses of the thyroid follicular epithelium were 2.06 ± 0.37 μm in the control group and 3.97 ± 1.61 μm in the high-dose group. The thickness of the thyroid follicular epithelium increased with an increase in treatment dose in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The sizes of the thyroid follicles were 1,405.53 ± 866.62 μm2 in the control group and 317.49 ± 231.15 μm2 in the high-dose group. With increasing NP dosages, animals showed a decreased size of the thyroid follicle (P < 0.01). Thyroid follicular cells of NP-treated rats showed mildly swollen mitochondria and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm.

Conclusion
Nonylphenol can cross the placental barrier and accumulate in the thyroid of F1 male rats. Gestational and lactational exposure to NP in dams impacted both development and growth of pups and damaged the ultrastructure of their thyroid tissue, which may further negatively influence normal thyroid function.
Identification and characterization ofGypsophila paniculatacolor morphs in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI, USA
Authors: Yang Marisa L. , Rice Emma , Leimbach-Maus Hailee , Partridge Charlyn G. 
Published: June 2019

BackgroundGypsophila paniculata(baby’s breath) is an invasive species found throughout much of the northwest United States and western Canada. Recently, plants exhibiting a different color morphology were identified within the coastal dunes along eastern Lake Michigan. The common baby’s breath (G. paniculata) typically produces stems that are purple in color (purple morph), while the atypical morph has stems that are green-yellow (green-yellow morph). The purpose of this study was to characterize these newly identified morphs and determine if they are genetically distinct species from the common baby’s breath in order to assess whether alternative management strategies should be employed to control these populations.MethodsWe sequenced two chloroplast regions, ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL), and maturase K (matK), and one nuclear region, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), from the purple morphs and green-yellow morphs collected from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI, USA (SBDNL). Sequences were aligned to reference sequences from otherGypsophilaspecies obtained from the Barcode of Life Database and GenBank databases. We also collected seeds from wild purple morph and wild green-yellow morph plants in SBDNL. We grew the seeds in a common garden setting and characterized the proportion of green-yellow individuals produced from the two color morphs after 5-months of growth.ResultsPhylogenetic analyses based upon rbcL, matK, and ITS2 regions suggest that the two color morphs are not distinct species and they both belong toG. paniculata. Seeds collected from wild green-yellow morphs produced a significantly higher proportion of green-yellow individuals compared to the number produced by seeds collected from wild purple morphs. However, seeds collected from both color morphs produced more purple morphs than green-yellow morphs.DiscussionBased upon these results, we propose that the two color morphs are variants ofG. paniculata. Given the significant difference in the number of green-yellow morphs produced from the seeds of each morph type, we also suggest that this color difference has some genetic basis. We propose that current management continue to treat the two color morphs in a similar manner in terms of removal to prevent the further spread of this species.
iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome analysis reveals metabolic changes between a cleistogamous wheat mutant and its wild-type wheat counterpart
Authors: Tang Caiguo , Zhang Huilan , Zhang Pingping , Ma Yuhan , Cao Minghui , Hu Hao , Shah Faheem Afzal , Zhao Weiwei , Li Minghao , Wu Lifang 
Published: June 2019

Background
Wheat is one of the most important staple crops worldwide. Fusarium head blight (FHB) severely affects wheat yield and quality. A novel bread wheat mutant, ZK001, characterized as cleistogamic was isolated from a non-cleistogamous variety Yumai 18 (YM18) through static magnetic field mutagenesis. Cleistogamy is a promising strategy for controlling FHB. However, little is known about the mechanism of cleistogamy in wheat.

Methods
We performed a FHB resistance test to identify the FHB infection rate of ZK001. We also measured the agronomic traits of ZK001 and the starch and total soluble sugar contents of lodicules in YM18 and ZK001. Finally, we performed comparative studies at the proteome level between YM18 and ZK001 based on the proteomic technique of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification.

Results
The infection rate of ZK001 was lower than that of its wild-type and Aikang 58. The abnormal lodicules of ZK001 lost the ability to push the lemma and palea apart during the flowering stage. Proteome analysis showed that the main differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were related to carbohydrate metabolism, protein transport, and calcium ion binding. These DAPs may work together to regulate cellular homeostasis, osmotic pressure and the development of lodicules. This hypothesis is supported by the analysis of starch, soluble sugar content in the lodicules as well as the results of Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Conclusions
Proteomic analysis has provided comprehensive information that should be useful for further research on the lodicule development mechanism in wheat. The ZK001 mutant is optimal for studying flower development in wheat and could be very important for FHB resistant projects via conventional crossing.
Targeted metabolomics study of serum bile acid profile in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Li Rong , Zeng Li , Xie Shuqin , Chen Jianwei , Yu Yuan , Zhong Ling 
Published: June 2019

BackgroundBile acids are important metabolites of intestinal microbiota, which have profound effects on host health. However, whether metabolism of bile acids is involved in the metabolic complications of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and the effects of bile acids on the prognosis of ESRD remain obscure. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between altered bile acid profile and the prognosis of ESRD patients.MethodsA targeted metabolomics approach based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to determine the changes in serum bile acids between ESRD patients (n= 77) and healthy controls (n= 30). Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to screen the differential proportions of bile acids between the two groups.ResultsSix differentially expressed bile acids were identified as potential biomarkers for differentiating ESRD patients from healthy subjects. The decreased concentrations of chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid and cholic acid were significantly associated with dyslipidemia in ESRD patients. Subgroup analyses revealed that the significantly increased concentrations of taurocholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, taurohyocholic acid and tauro α-muricholic acid were correlated to the poor prognosis of ESRD patients.ConclusionsThe serum bile acid profile of ESRD patients differed significantly from that of healthy controls. In addition, the altered serum bile acid profile might contribute to the poor prognosis and metabolic complications of ESRD patients.
Comparing Diagnostic Performance of Pronto Dry Rapid Urease® and Culture to Histopathology among Endoscopy Patients at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi-Kenya
Authors: Njoroge Stephen , Mwangi Catherine , Nyerere Kimang’a , Revathi Gunturu , Devani Smita , Rajula Allan , Kamenwa Rose , Onkoba Nyamongo , Odhiambo Fredrick 
Published: June 2019

Aim: This study sought to evaluate Pronto dry rapid urease® diagnostic test and compare its performance with culture.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration: From September 2017 to July 2018, across-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Methodology: Patients attending endoscopy unit at the hospital were randomly sampled to provide gastric biopsy specimen. One specimen was tested for presence or absence of H. pylori using Pronto dry rapid urease® test and another specimen subjected to in vitro culture test which were then compared with histology reference results. Test validity and reliability was determined using Graph Pad Prism v5.01.
Results: Of 274 study specimens, 121(44%) were positive for histology. Ninety-one (33%) of the study specimen were positive for culture compared to 147(54%) for Pronto dry rapid urease®. Pronto dry rapid urease® test had sensitivity of 100% (97.5%-100%) against 73.6% (64.8%-81.3%) for culture. Specificity was 96.1% (91.1%-98.7%) for Pronto dry rapid urease® compared to 35.3% (95% CI 24.1%-47.8%) for culture. Positive predictive value was 96.7% (92.5-98.9%) for Pronto dry rapid urease® compared to 97.8% (92.3%-99.7%) for culture. Negative predictive value was 100% (97%-100%) for Pronto dry rapid urease® against 82.5% (76.2%-87.7%) for culture. There was significant difference between both Pronto dry rapid urease® and culture test performance with histology in all validity measures, P< 0.001. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between Pronto dry rapid urease® and culture in all validity measures due to overlapping confidence intervals.
Conclusion: Pronto dry rapid urease® out-performed culture in sensitivity and NPV. It would be the method of choice in H. pylori detection where histology is untenable and antimicrobial profiling which require culturing the bacterium is needless.
Prevalence of Anaemia among Indian Children of Various Age Groups – A Systematic Review
Authors: Devi H. Sorojini 
Published: June 2019

Background: Anaemia is the most common nutritional problem affecting various age group individuals all over the world. Iron deficiency anaemia is a major health problem since it impairs the cognitive development; causes delay growth, affect immune mechanism leading to various infections from infancy to adolescence.
Objective: The objective of the present review study is to assess the prevalence of anaemia among Indian children of various age groups.
Data Source and Eligibility Criteria: A total of 10 published articles on the aspects of prevalence of anaemia, particularly, among the children of various age groups were reviewed systematically, which were collected through google search. Studies considered in the present review paper were published during 2009 to 2016 years and data were selected against predetermined inclusion and exclusion. The age groups of the children were from 0-12 and 13-16 years, which cover infant, pre-school children, school going children and adolescent girls.
Study Appraisal: Published articles on the aspects of anaemia of children and adolescent girls were peer reviewed with full one-line text available. Only the relevant studies were included to make suitable for synthesis and meaningful relationship in the present study.
Synthesis Method: Data collected from various ten (10) published articles were combined together after carefully reviewed and presented them systematically taking consideration to the year of publications, age of the children, sample size, study design and finding of the studies in a summarized tabular form.
Limitation and Key Finding: Limitations regarding the estimation of haemoglobin were found varied and data of the same group of children were not found from the different retrieved published articles. The proportion of severe anaemia among school children and adolescents were not observed in the reviewed studies. However, the overall prevalence of anaemia could be observed in high percentages from the reported data during the year 2009-2016.
Conclusion: The key finding of this review study was that during the early age groups of children, boys were more affected than girls, however, at the adolescent stage with the commencement of menstrual cycle, girls were more suffered from anaemia as compared with those of boys. Further, it was also observed that the highest prevalence of anaemia in Faridkot district of Punjab were 91.69% and 93.94% for boys and girls respectively [1].
Impact of daily soft‐tissue image guidance to prostate on pelvic lymph node (PLN) irradiation for prostate patients receiving SBRT
Authors: Tyagi Neelam , Hipp Elizabeth , Cloutier Michelle , Charas Tomer , Fontenla Sandra , Mechalakos James , Hunt Margie , Zelefsky Michael 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPurposeTo determine the impact of using fiducial match for daily image‐guidance on pelvic lymph node (PLN) coverage for prostate cancer patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).MethodsThirty patients underwent SBRT treatment to the prostate and PLN from 2014 to 2016. Each patient received either 800cGy × 5 or 500cGy × 5 to the prostate and 500cGy × 5 to the PLN. A 5 mm clinical target volume (CTV)‐to‐planning target volume (PTV) margin around the PLN was used for planning. Two registrations with planning computed tomography (PCT) for each of the daily cone beam CTs (CBCTs) were performed: a rigid registration to fiducials and to the bony anatomy. The average translational difference between fiducial and bony match as well as percentage of fractions with differences > 5mm were calculated. Changes in bladder and rectal volume as well as center‐of‐mass (COM) position from simulation parameters, and their correlation with translational difference were also evaluated. The dosimetric impact of the translational differences was calculated by shifting the plan isocenter.ResultsThe average translational difference between fiducial and bony match was 0.06 ± 0.82, 2.1 ± 4.1, −2.8 ± 4.3, and 5.5 ± 4.2 mm for lateral, vertical, longitudinal, and vector directions. The average change in bladder and rectal volume from simulation was −67.2 ± 163.04 cc (−12 ± 52%) and −1.6 ± 18.75 (−2 ± 30%) cc. The average change in COM of bladder from the simulation position was 0.34 ± 2.49, 4.4 ± 8.1, and −3.9 ± 7.5 mm along the LR, AP, and SI directions. The corresponding COM change for the rectum was 0.17 ± 1.9, 1.34 ± 3.5, and −0.6 ± 5.2 mm.ConclusionsThe 5 mm margin covered ~75% of fractions receiving PLN irradiation with SBRT, daily CBCT and fiducial‐guided setup. The dosimetric impact on PLN coverage was significant in 19% of fractions or 25% of patients. A larger translational shift was due to variation in rectal volume and changes in COM position of the bladder and rectum. A consistent bladder positioning and/or rectum filling compared with presimulation volume were essential for adequate coverage of PLN in a hypofractionated treatment regime.
Neuroinflammation in frontotemporal lobar degeneration revealed by 11C‐PBR28 PET
Authors: Kim Min-Jeong , McGwier Meghan , Jenko Kimberly J. , Snow Joseph , Morse Cheryl , Zoghbi Sami S. , Pike Victor W. , Innis Robert B. , Kreisl William C. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis study used 11C‐PBR28 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to determine whether levels of 18‐kDa translocator protein (TSPO), an inflammation‐specific biomarker, are increased in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) patients. 11C‐PBR28, 18F‐FDG, and 11C‐PIB brain PET scans, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were conducted in four FTLD patients and 22 healthy controls. 11C‐PBR28 scans revealed that all FTLD patients showed increased TSPO binding versus controls. Significantly greater increases in TSPO were observed in the frontal, lateral temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, topographically consistent with individual clinical phenotypes and with brain MRI and 18F‐FDG PET. Amyloid burden was not increased.
Stimuli‐Responsive DNA‐Gated Nanoscale Porous Carbon Derived from ZIF‐8
Authors: Cao Xiyue , Xia Jianfei , Meng Xuan , Xu Jiaoyan , Liu Qingyun , Wang Zonghua 
Published: June 2019

AbstractStimuli‐responsive nanoscale porous carbon derived from ZIF‐8 (NCZIF) gated by DNA capping units is reported. The NCZIF is first obtained by calcination of nano‐ZIF‐8 crystals under an inert atmosphere. It is further conjugated with amine‐modified single‐stranded DNA after carboxylation (DNA/NCZIF). The guest molecules are sealed in the pore of NCZIF by the formation of a DNA duplex structure on the surface of NCZIF. As proof of principle, two systems that can be, respectively, used for controlled drug delivery and biosensing are introduced. In the first system, the drug model (rhodamine 6G, Rh6G) is locked in the NCZIF by the DNA capping units composed of rich‐G sequences and its complementary DNA strand. The in vitro cellular experiments reveal that DNA/NCZIF has good biocompatibility and can controllably release Rh6G upon the K+‐stimuli in cells. In the second system, the signal probe (methylene blue, MB) is locked in the NCZIF and then released after the unlocking of the pores triggered by the dissociation of the aptamer‐hybrid capping units. The MB‐loaded DNA/NCZIF can linearly respond to target molecules in the range from 1 × 10−9 to 10 × 10−6 m and has good specificity.
Surface Chemical Functionalization to Achieve Extreme Levels of Molecular Confinement in Hybrid Nanocomposites
Authors: Wang Can , Isaacson Scott G. , Wang Yucheng , Lionti Krystelle , Volksen Willi , Magbitang Teddie P. , Chowdhury Mithun , Priestley Rodney D. , Dubois Geraud , Dauskardt Reinhold H. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPolymer confinement is realized in hybrid nanocomposites where individual polymer molecules are confined by a nanoporous matrix to dimensions less than the molecular size of the polymer. Here it is shown that by functionalizing the interior pore surfaces of a nanoporous organosilicate matrix, the pores can be filled with polystyrene molecules to achieve extreme levels of molecular confinement not previously possible. This provides opportunities for unique thermal and mechanical properties. It is shown that pore surface functionalization markedly impacts the polymer mobility during polymer infiltration by affecting the polymer–pore surface interaction, addressing the challenge of filling high‐molecular‐weight polymer molecules into nanoscale‐confined spaces. This allows for achieving extreme levels of molecular confinement with the loss of interchain entanglement and extensive polymer elongation along the pore axis. The glass transition temperature of the polymer is suppressed compared to bulk polymer melt, and is significantly affected by the polymer–surface interaction, which changes the polymer segmental mobility. The polymer–surface interaction also affects the interfacial polymer–pore sliding shear stress during polymer pullout from the nanopores, markedly affecting the fracture resistance of the nanocomposite.