bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An assessment of feral horse impacts on treeless drainage lines in the Australian Alps
Authors: Robertson Geoff , Wright John , Brown Daniel , Yuen Kally , Tongway David 
Published: January 2019

SummaryThe feral Horse (Equus caballus) is widespread across the Australian Alps. Feral horses degrade alpine and sub‐alpine ecosystems and damage habitat of a range of threatened species. Despite this, there is little published work to document the extent and severity of these impacts. This study investigated impacts of feral horses on treeless drainage lines at 186 sites across the Australian Alps. The study included sites in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. We assessed nine variables related to soil and stream stability and vegetation cover, which in turn influence ecosystem function and habitat quality. We found significant differences among horse‐occupied and horse‐free sites for all soil and stream stability variables assessed. For all variables assessed, the average score (and hence, condition) was worse in horse‐occupied areas. The sites in poorest condition were occupied by horses. Impacts from other mammalian herbivores species appeared to be minor. Management intervention is necessary if these impacts of feral horses are to be addressed.
Placental extracts regulate melanin synthesis in normal human melanocytes with alterations of mitochondrial respiration
Authors: Yoshimoto Satoshi , Ohagi Yoshiaki , Yoshida Moemi , Yanagi Hiroki , Hibino Sawako , Ichihashi Masamitsu , Ando Hideya 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPlacental extracts have been widely used as skin lightening agents in the Japanese cosmetic market. Here, we show that placental extracts contain factors that can decrease or increase melanin synthesis by normal human melanocytes in vitro in possible association with mitochondrial respiration. When normal human melanocytes were treated with a whole porcine placental extract, melanin synthesis was decreased. In contrast, a porcine placental extract in which exudates and insoluble materials including lipids had been removed increased melanin synthesis. In addition, the amount of tyrosinase, the enzyme critical for melanin synthesis, changed in accordance with the alteration of melanin synthesis. Interestingly, the amount of manganese‐dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial‐resident antioxidant enzyme, was increased when melanin synthesis was decreased by the whole placental extract. Mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis also changed following treatment with the placental extracts. These results suggest that placental extracts contain factors that can increase or decrease melanin synthesis by normal human melanocytes and that mitochondrial function may be associated with the placental extract‐induced regulation of melanogenesis.
The beneficial role of functional food components in mitigating ultraviolet‐induced skin damage
Authors: Morifuji Masashi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractExcessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can chemically alter biological molecules and is one of the major environmental health risks with potential to damage the structure and function of the skin. Numerous dietary supplements are known to optimize the skin's defenses against radiation exposure. Several studies in which the beneficial roles of functional food components, that can protect against UV‐induced skin damage, have been demonstrated. Supplemental dietary sphingomyelin maintains covalently bound ω‐hydroxy ceramides to avert skin barrier defects after UVB irradiation. The oral administration of collagen hydrolysates has been shown to limit decreases in skin elasticity via increases in the dermal hyaluronic acid content. Milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria has been shown to augment DNA repair mechanisms and improve skin immunity in the aftermath of UVB damage. Furthermore, long‐term ingestion of fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria, collagen hydrolysates and sphingomyelin increases the minimal erythema dose (MED) in human subjects with moderate sunburn or redness and tanned skin after exposure to UV solar radiation. Thus, products containing these functional food components are one means by which the adverse effects of UV radiation on the skin can be mitigated.
How stiff is skin?
Authors: Graham Helen K. , McConnell James C. , Limbert Georges , Sherratt Michael J. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe measurement of the mechanical properties of skin (such as stiffness, extensibility and strength) is a key step in characterisation of both dermal ageing and disease mechanisms and in the assessment of tissue‐engineered skin replacements. However, the biomechanical terminology and plethora of mathematical analysis approaches can be daunting to those outside the field. As a consequence, mechanical studies are often inaccessible to a significant proportion of the intended audience. Furthermore, devices for the measurement of skin function in vivo generate relative values rather than formal mechanical measures, therefore limiting the ability to compare studies. In this viewpoint essay, we discuss key biomechanical concepts and the influence of technical and biological factors (including the nature of the testing apparatus, length scale, donor age and anatomical site) on measured mechanical properties such as stiffness. Having discussed the current state‐of‐the‐art in macro‐mechanical and micromechanical measuring techniques and in mathematical and computational modelling methods, we then make suggestions as to how these approaches, in combination with 3D X‐ray imaging and mechanics methods, may be adopted into a single strategy to characterise the mechanical behaviour of skin.
Facial distribution of squamous cell carcinoma in Japanese
Authors: Kato Hiroshi , Oda Takao , Watanabe Shoichi , Morita Akimichi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor of the skin. SCC is frequently distributed on highly exposed areas such as the face and dorsal surface of the hands because it is closely related to ultraviolet damage. We retrospectively analyzed 106 cases of SCC treated at Nagoya City University Hospital from April 2004 to October 2015 and examined regional features based on modified facial aesthetic units. SCC occurred more frequently on the cheek and forehead on the right side. The site of the tumor (nose and eyelid) was the only factor affecting tumor diameter.
Portfolio manager home‐country culture and mutual fund risk‐taking
Authors: Jiao Wei 
Published: January 2019

AbstractI find that home‐country culture affects portfolio managers’ investment risk‐taking and performance. I focus on security value, which measures the degree to which people in a country assign importance to security, safety, and stability. Funds managed by managers from countries with higher security value exhibit lower fund return volatility, trade less frequently, and follow benchmarks more closely. These funds also tend to avoid lottery‐type stocks and hence perform significantly better. However, the impact of home‐country security value decays as managers spend more time away from their home countries.
Using acoustic telemetry and snorkel surveys to study diel activity and seasonal migration of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in an estuary of the Western Baltic Sea
Authors: Christoffersen Mads , Svendsen Jon C. , Behrens Jane W. , Jepsen Niels , van Deurs Mikael 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn just two decades, round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas) has dispersed throughout most of the Baltic and the North American Great Lakes. It thrives in shallow sheltered areas, where it is impacting native fauna. In Denmark, researchers, governmental institutions and fishers have joined in an effort to establish a sustainable round goby fishery. To do so, basic information about the movement of round goby is essential, so the movements of 50 round gobies were tracked using acoustic telemetry. The results revealed that activity took place mainly at night and seasonal migrations were common. The most frequent migration behaviour observed was a seaward return migration during winter, which was further confirmed by a snorkel survey. Tracking data also revealed riverine upstream dispersal. The results demonstrate that the round goby can be mapped using telemetry, and it is suggested that fishing for round goby may improve efficiency by targeting seasonal migration corridors.
Structural and functional responses of invertebrate communities to climate change and flow regulation in alpine catchments
Authors: Bruno Daniel , Belmar Oscar , Maire Anthony , Morel Adrien , Dumont Bernard , Datry Thibault 
Published: January 2019

AbstractUnderstanding and predicting how biological communities respond to climate change is critical for assessing biodiversity vulnerability and guiding conservation efforts. Glacier‐ and snow‐fed rivers are one of the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change, and can provide early warning of wider‐scale changes. These rivers are frequently used for hydropower production but there is minimal understanding of how biological communities are influenced by climate change in a context of flow regulation. This study sheds light on this issue by disentangling structural (water temperature preference, taxonomic composition, alpha, beta and gamma diversities) and functional (functional traits, diversity, richness, evenness, dispersion and redundancy) effects of climate change in interaction with flow regulation in the Alps. For this, we compared environmental and aquatic invertebrate data collected in the 1970s and 2010s in regulated and unregulated alpine catchments. We hypothesized a replacement of cold‐adapted species by warming‐tolerant ones, high temporal and spatial turnover in taxa and trait composition, along with reduced taxonomic and functional diversities in consequence of climate change. We expected communities in regulated rivers to respond more drastically due to additive or synergistic effects between flow regulation and climate change. We found divergent structural but convergent functional responses between free‐flowing and regulated catchments. Although cold‐adapted taxa decreased in both of them, greater colonization and spread of thermophilic species was found in the free‐flowing one, resulting in higher spatial and temporal turnover. Since the 1970s, taxonomic diversity increased in the free flowing but decreased in the regulated catchment due to biotic homogenization. Colonization by taxa with new functional strategies (i.e. multivoltine taxa with small body size, resistance forms, aerial dispersion and reproduction by clutches) increased functional diversity but decreased functional redundancy through time. These functional changes could jeopardize the ability of aquatic communities facing intensification of ongoing climate change or new anthropogenic disturbances.
Association between subjective well‐being and presence of primary care dentists in community‐dwelling elderly people: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mizutani Shinsuke , Aoki Hisae , Haresaku Satoru , Shimada Kaoru , Ueno Michio , Kubota Keiko , Naito Toru 
Published: January 2019

ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate the relationships between subjective well‐being and the existence of primary care dentists in community‐dwelling elderly people.BackgroundSome studies have reported subjective well‐being focusing on oral health, but no studies have examined the relationship between subjective well‐being and primary care dentists.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study used data from community‐dwelling elderly people aged ≥70 years (n = 624). The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS; range = 0 [low morale]‐17) was used to assess subjective well‐being. Additional information regarding age group, sex, medical consulting situation (ambulatory care/home care), primary care dentists, family structure, economic status, health status was collected via questionnaire.ResultsThe average PGCMS score in ambulatory care patients (ACP) group who have primary care dentists was highest among community‐dwelling elderly people. In a logistic regression model, a low PGCMS score (0‐11) was independently correlated to 80‐89 age group (OR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.13‐2.54; P = 0.008), ≥90 age group (OR = 3.86; 95% CI, 1.83‐8.18; P < 0.001), unsatisfied for economic status (OR = 2.68; 95% CI, 1.59‐4.53; P < 0.001), unsatisfied for health status (OR = 3.94; 95% CI, 2.60‐5.98; P < 0.001) and having no primary care dentists (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.09‐3.01; P = 0.021) in ACP group.ConclusionsThe subjective well‐being of ACP who have primary care dentists was higher than in other people. Primary dentists contributed to the subjective well‐being of elderly people.
Are there any solutions for improving the cleft area hygiene in patients with cleft lip and palate? A systematic review
Authors: Rodrigues Rita , Fernandes Maria Helena , Bessa Monteiro António , Furfuro Rowney , Carvalho Silva Cátia , Vardasca Ricardo , Mendes Joaquim , Manso Maria Conceição 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectiveChildren with cleft lip and palate (CLP) present high incidence of oral health problems, namely those associated with the accumulation of dental plaque. The objective of this systematic review was to verify if there is any solution to improve the hygiene of the cleft area.Materials and methodsA structured systematic review was performed based on articles published in several electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus in the last 20 years. The MeSH terms used were cleft lip, palate, harelip, oral hygiene and toothbrush.ResultsFrom 270 potentially relevant articles, 39 articles were selected, corresponding to a total of 3226 CLP patients and 914 matched controls. The selected studies exhibited great heterogeneity regarding the type of the study, study population (average range 0 ‐49 years old; sampling sizes 15‐400 CLP patients), evaluation periods, reported variables and oral hygiene routines. Consensual outcomes were the presence of high plaque indexes, high prevalence of dental caries and worse oral hygiene patterns in CLP patients. Additionally, poor education in oral health and low motivation to integrate regular hygiene routines in the daily family life were also evident.ConclusionThere is a clear need to improve the oral hygiene care of CLP children, but few studies were focused on specific preventive approaches. Development of devices especially designed to the hygiene of the cleft area and implementation of standardized prevention and control programmes targeting education, motivation and compliance would contribute to improve oral health in CLP children.
Bovine teeth can reliably substitute human dentine in an intra‐tooth push‐out bond strength model?
Authors: Silva E. J. N. L. , Carvalho N. K. , Prado M. C. , Senna P. M. , Souza E. M. , De‐Deus G. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate the reliability of using bovine teeth as an alternative to human teeth in an intra‐tooth push‐out model by comparing the bond strength of three root canal sealers in both tooth substrates.MethodologyFrom human and bovine incisors (12 per group), one 1‐mm disc was obtained from each root. On each disc, three standard 0.8‐mm‐diameter holes were drilled through the dentine. After irrigation, the holes were filled with one of three root canal sealers: AH Plus, MTA Fillapex or Total Fill BC Sealer. Tooth slices were kept in contact with sterile gauze moistened in PBS solution (pH = 7.2) for 7 days at 37 °C, and finally, a push‐out load was applied until sealer dislocation. The bonded interface area was calculated to obtain data in MPa. The push‐out data for each sealer and the overall push‐out data for human and bovine teeth were compared (Mann–Whitney U). Kruskal–Wallis was used to study the sealers behaviour at each of the dental substrates. Multiple comparisons were performed using Mann–Whitney U after Bonferroni correction (P < 0.05).ResultsDentine substrate did not influence the push‐out of either individual sealers or overall sealers tested (Mann–Whitney U, P > 0.05). In both human and bovine samples, AH Plus performed better than BC Sealer and MTA Fillapex, whilst BC Sealer also provided a superior push‐out compared to MTA Fillapex (Mann–Whitney U, P < 0.05).ConclusionWhen using an intra‐tooth model, bovine teeth did not significantly influence the bond strength of sealers.
Organ‐specific binding system for β‐galactosidase in the male reproductive tract
Authors: GRIMALT P. , BARBIERI M. A. , SOSA M. A. , BERTINI F. 
Published: January 2019

SummaryThis study reports on the binding of β‐galactosidase obtained from different organs of the rat urogenital tract to membranes of these organs. Homologous and cross binding saturation assays indicated that: (1) high‐affinity sites that recognize fructose‐6‐phosphate derivates (FPR) are present in spermatozoa from the rete testis, epididymal membranes and testes, although the latter may reflect binding to testicular spermatozoa; (2) the membranes of the other organs studied do not have FPR; (3) the FPR of the epididymis does not recognize enzymes purified from other organs of the reproductive tract. These results suggest that the FPR‐binding system belongs to a peculiar transport route that permits maturing spermatozoa to acquire hydrolytic enzymes secreted by the epididymal epithelium. In the epididymis and seminal vesicles more than 50% of the enzymatic activity of β‐galactosidase was recovered in cytosol, suggesting that the enzyme is located mainly in the secretory fluid of these organs.
Characterization of β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase from human epididymis
Authors: MIRANDA P. V. , BRANDELLI A. , TEZÓN J. G. 
Published: January 2019

Summaryβ‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity in human epididymal fluid was separated into two forms (I and II) after HPLC‐hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Both forms exhibited maximal activity at a pH of around 4.5 and had a molecular weight of 125 kD when determined by Superose‐HPLC. After incubation at 50°C, form I retained only 30% of its activity while form II retained 90% activity. When analysed by non‐denaturing electrophoresis, form I displayed higher electrophoretic mobility than did form II. These features indicate that the I and II isoforms found in the human epididymis are the A and B forms present in other tissues. NAG activity was measured in the fluid obtained form the different epididymal regions of 13 different samples. An average four‐fold increase in activity between the proximal caput and distal corpus was found. The contribution of each isoform to the total activity was studied. The proximal caput found to be rich in the A isoform (59%), whereas the B form was predominant in the distal corpus (65%). Human spermatozoa contain membrane‐associated NAG activity with an isoform distribution similar to that found in cauda epididymal fluid (CEP, 80% B). Finally, enzyme activity in CEP was two‐fold greater than in seminal plasma. Taken together these results suggest that NAG may become associated with human spermatozoa during epididymal transit.
Outcomes and influential factors applying flipped learning methods in a clinical adult nursing practicum
Authors: Cho Mi‐Kyoung , Kim Mi Young 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes and influential factors using flipped learning methods on the education of nursing students in clinical nursing practicums in Korea.MethodsThis study used a nonequivalent comparison group pretest‐posttest design to determine the outcomes and influential factors within flipped learning methods in two forms (flipped‐mastery classroom model and flipped‐mastery practicum model) in clinical practicum nursing education. Flipped learning was applied in two groups (using the flipped‐mastery classroom model and the flipped‐mastery practicum model) to 80 nursing students in E university in Gyeonggi‐do. Teacher‐student interactions, self‐directed learning readiness, clinical practicum stress, confidence in performing core skills, and flipped learning were studied to investigate learner motivation and learner satisfaction.ResultsTeacher‐student interactions were significantly greater in the flipped‐mastery classroom model group both before and after the intervention. Self‐directed learning readiness decreased in both groups after the intervention but less so in the flipped‐mastery classroom model group. The common factor influencing learner motivation in both the flipped‐mastery classroom model and flipped‐mastery practicum model groups was learner satisfaction, while teacher‐student interactions were also influential in the flipped‐mastery classroom model group. Learner motivation influenced learner satisfaction in both groups, while self‐directed learning readiness and clinical practicum self‐confidence influenced the flipped‐mastery practicum model group.ConclusionsFlipped learning was found to be effective in clinical practicums. Strategies for the efficient application of flipped learning need to be developed and applied.
Explaining variation in the social performance of lean production: a comparative case study of the role played by workplace unions' framing of the system and institutions
Authors: Signoretti Andrea 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSeveral studies have acknowledged that lean production is implemented in diverse ways across workplaces, thereby generating different outcomes for workers. However, explanations for this variability needs further development. The present article addresses this issue by considering the role played by workplace unions' framing of lean production. It finds that unions' framing is derived from their identities in interaction with available resources in institutional and organisational terms. A case study comparison of the automotive parts industry in Italy and the United States was conducted.
Structure and photoluminescence properties of Ca0.99−xSrxAlSiN3:0.01Ce3+ solid solutions
Authors: Liu Xiaolang , Song Zhen , Zhang Shiyou , Xia Zhiguo , Liu Quanlin 
Published: January 2019

AbstractNitride phosphors of Ca0.99−xSrxAl1.01Si0.99N3:0.01Ce3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) were synthesized by conventional solid‐state method. XRD data analysis shows that all samples are single phase with CaAlSiN3‐type structure. Under blue or near‐ultraviolet (~400 nm) light excitation, the emission peak can be tuned largely from 615 to 568 nm by increasing Sr content, and the emission intensity is maximal at x = 0.8. With the Sr content increase, the emission band blue‐shifts due to the decreased crystal field splitting and the reduced centroid shift; while the thermal luminescence quenching resistance is almost unchanged. The quenching temperature (T50) is well above 500 K for all samples, which satisfies the requirement of commercial application. The quenching process is mainly attributed to the radiationless transitions by thermally activated crossover from the 5d excited state to 4f ground state in the configurational coordinate diagram. The luminescence properties show that the (Ca,Sr)AlSiN3:Ce3+ phosphors are very promising for use in blue and near‐ultraviolet light excited white‐light‐emitting diodes.