bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Non‐Polyhedricity of Sets with Upper and Lower Bounds in Dual Spaces
Authors: Christof Constantin , Wachsmuth Gerd 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe demonstrate that the setL∞(X, [−1,1]) of all measurable functions over a Borel measure space (X,B, μ) with values in the unit interval is typically non‐polyhedric when interpreted as a subset of a dual space. Our findings contrast the classical result that subsets of Dirichlet spaces with pointwise upper and lower bounds are polyhedric. In particular, additional structural assumptions are unavoidable when the concept of polyhedricity is used to study the differentiability properties of solution maps to variational inequalities of the second kind in, e.g., the spacesH1/2(∂Ω) orH01(Ω).
Putting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into practice: A review of implementation, monitoring, and finance
Authors: Georgeson Lucien , Maslin Mark 
Published: April 2018

In January 2016, after two years of international negotiations, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect. The SDGs are the successors to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and represent an ambitious but potentially flawed agenda for sustainable development through to 2030. This review assesses the legacy of the MDGs, the development of the SDGs, and the international framework to put the SDGs into practice. We propose dividing the framework for SDG delivery into three key areas: implementing the goals and the SDG agenda (Implementation); monitoring, evaluation, and review (Monitoring); and increasing and improving global finance flows for sustainable development (Finance). This review identifies the challenges faced by the international community for making the SDGs an effective platform for equitable and sustainable development across these three areas. Proposed approaches and solutions are discussed and further research is suggested. This review concludes that further critical attention to the “Implementation”, “Monitoring”, and “Finance” framework is vital to ensure accountability and transparency from an ever‐growing number of state and non‐state development actors. This review also seeks to further the potential for greater links between development theory, development geography, and development actors and institutions to improve development under the SDGs and increase engagement from geography on the SDGs. This framework points towards a basis for critical engagement on the sustainability, equality, and quality of development, while challenging the primacy of economic growth‐based paradigms in SDG implementation.
Extending health insurance coverage to the informal sector: Lessons from a private micro health insurance scheme in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Peterson Lauren , Comfort Alison , Hatt Laurel , van Bastelaer Thierry 
Published: April 2018

SummaryBackgroundAs a growing number of low‐ and middle‐income countries commit to achieving universal health coverage, one key challenge is how to extend coverage to informal sector workers. Micro health insurance (MHI) provides a potential model to finance health services for this population. This study presents lessons from a pilot study of a mandatory MHI plan offered by a private insurance company and distributed through a microfinance bank to urban, informal sector workers in Lagos, Nigeria.MethodsStudy methods included a survey of microfinance clients, key informant interviews, and a review of administrative records.ResultsDemographic, health care seeking, and willingness‐to‐pay data suggested that microfinance clients, particularly women, could benefit from a comprehensive MHI plan that improved access to health care and reduced out‐of‐pocket spending on health services. However, administrative data revealed declining enrollment, and key informant interviews further suggested low use of the health insurance plan. Key implementation challenges, including changes to mandatory enrollment requirements, insufficient client education and marketing, misaligned incentives, and weak back‐office systems, undermined enrollment and use of the plan.ConclusionsMandatory MHI plans, intended to mitigate adverse selection and facilitate private insurers' entry into new markets, present challenges for covering informal sector workers, including when distributed through agents such as a microfinance bank. Properly aligning the incentives of the insurer and the agent are critical to effectively distribute and service insurance. Further, an urban environment presents unique challenges for distributing MHI, addressing client perceptions of health insurance, and meeting their health care needs.
Selenium deficiency and pregnancy outcome in pregnant women with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Okunade Kehinde S. , Olowoselu Olusola F. , Osanyin Gbemisola E. , John‐Olabode Sarah , Akanmu Sulaimon A. , Anorlu Rose I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of maternal selenium deficiency and its effects on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria.MethodsThe present descriptive cross‐sectional study enrolled women aged 15–49 years with HIV who were at 14–26 weeks of a singleton pregnancy and were attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between August 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017. Participants were selected by consecutive sampling and baseline data were collected through interviews. Venous blood samples were obtained to measure selenium concentrations, and associations between low maternal selenium concentrations (defined as <0.89 μmol/L) and pregnancy outcomes were examined using bivariate and multivariate analysis.ResultsThe final analysis included 113 patients; selenium deficiency was recorded in 23 (20.4%) patients. Women with selenium deficiency had an approximately eight‐fold higher risk of preterm delivery (adjusted odds ratio 7.61, 95% confidence interval 4.37–18.89; P=0.031) and of delivering a term neonate with a low delivery weight (adjusted odds ratio 8.11, 95% confidence interval 3.27–17.22; P=0.012), compared with women with a normal selenium concentration.ConclusionThe prevalence of selenium deficiency among pregnant women with HIV in Lagos was relatively high. The significant associations observed between maternal selenium deficiency and adverse pregnancy outcomes could have implications for the future management of HIV in pregnancy.
Measurement of concentrations of four chemical ultraviolet filters in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast
Authors: Barr L. , Alamer M. , Darbre P. D. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe human population is widely exposed to benzophenone‐3 (BP‐3), octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC), 4‐methylbenzilidenecamphor (4‐MBC) and homosalate from their use in consumer goods to absorb ultraviolet (UV) light. Their oestrogenic activity and presence in human milk suggest a potential to influence breast cancer development. In this study, high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure concentrations of these UV filters in human breast tissue from three serial locations across the breast from 40 women undergoing mastectomy for primary breast cancer. One or more of these UV filters were quantifiable in 101 of 120 (84%) of the tissue samples and at least one breast region for 38 of 40 women. BP‐3 was measured in 83 of 120 (69%) tissue samples and at least one breast region for 33 of 40 women (range 0–26.0 ng g–1 tissue). OMC was measured in 89 of 120 (74%) tissue samples and at least one breast region for 33 of 40 women (range 0–58.7 ng g–1 tissue). 4‐MBC was measured in 15 of 120 (13%) tissue samples and at least one breast region for seven of 40 women (range 0–25.6 ng g–1 tissue). Homosalate was not detected in any sample. Spearman's analyses showed significant positive correlations between concentrations of BP‐3 and OMC in each of the three breast regions. For ethical reasons cancerous tissue was not available, but as the location of the cancer was known, Mann–Whitney U‐tests investigated any link between chemical concentration and whether a tumour was present in that region or not. For the lateral region, more BP‐3 was measured when a tumour was present (P = .007) and for OMC the P value was .061. For seven (of 40) women with measurable 4‐MBC, six of seven had measurable 4‐MBC at the site of the tumour.
Metabolomics‐on‐a‐chip approach to study hepatotoxicity of DDT, permethrin and their mixtures
Authors: Jellali Rachid , Gilard Françoise , Pandolfi Vittoria , Legendre Audrey , Fleury Marie‐José , Paullier Patrick , Legallais Cécile , Leclerc Eric 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDespite the diversity of studies on pesticide toxicities, there is a serious lack of information concerning the toxic effect of pesticides mixtures. Dichlorodiphenyl‐trichloroethane (DDT) and permethrin (PMT) are among the most prevalent pesticides in the environment and have been the subject of several toxicological studies. However, there are no data on the toxicity of their mixtures. In this study, we used an approach combining cell culture in microfluidic biochips with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics profiling to investigate the biomarkers of toxicity of DDT, PMT and their mixtures. All parameters observed indicated that no significant effect was observed in hepatocytes cultures exposed to low doses (15 μm) of DDT and PMT. Conversely, combined low doses induce moderate oxidative stress and cell death. The toxic signature of high doses of pesticides (150 μm) was illustrated by severe oxidative stress and cell mortality. Metabolomics profiling revealed that hepatocytes exposure to DDT150, PMT150 and DDT150 and PMT150 cause important modulation in intermediates of glutathione pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acids and metabolites associated to hepatic necrosis and inflammation (α‐ketoglutarate, arginine and 2‐hydroxybutyrate). These changes were more striking in the combined group. Finally, DDT150 led to a significant increase of benzoate, decanoate, octanoate, palmitate, stearate and tetradecanoate, which illustrates the estrogen modulation. This study demonstrates the potential of metabolomics‐on‐a‐chip approach to improve knowledge on the mode of action of pesticides.
Mechanistic and structural insights into the in vitro inhibitory action of hypericin on glutathione reductase purified from baker's yeast
Authors: Dalmizrak Ozlem , Teralı Kerem , Abdullah Redwan Kawa , Ozer Nazmi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis work aims at studying the interaction between glutathione reductase (GR) and hypericin. The type of inhibition was determined by measuring changes in GR activity at increasing concentrations of hypericin as well as at varying concentrations of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and the binding pose of hypericin was predicted by molecular docking. Accordingly, hypericin emerges as an effective inhibitor of GR. When the variable substrate is GSSG, the type of inhibition is competitive. When the variable substrate is NADPH, however, the type of inhibition appears to be linear mixed‐type competitive. Our computational analyses suggest that hypericin binds in the large intermonomer cavity of GR, and that it may interfere with the normal positioning/functioning of the redox‐active disulfide center at the enzyme's active site. Overall, besides its contributory role in promoting oxidative stress via the formation of reactive oxygen species in photodynamic therapy, hypericin can also weaken cancer cells through inhibiting GR.
Scale‐up and economic analysis of the production of ligninolytic enzymes from a side‐stream of the organosolv process
Authors: Lú‐Chau Thelmo A , Martínez‐Patiño José C , Gullón Beatriz , García‐Torreiro María , Moreira María T , Lema Juan M , Eibes Gemma 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOrganosolv pretreatment produces a hemicellulose‐rich stream with limited applications due to its toxicity. In this study, beech wood organosolv liquor was valorized through the production of ligninolytic enzymes, the extraction of ganoderic acid and the detoxification of this process stream.RESULTSLaccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) were produced in 30 L bioreactors by the white‐rot fungi Ganoderma lucidum and Irpex lacteus, respectively, using the hemicellulose‐rich liquor as carbon source. Both fungi caused a significant reduction in the hemicellulose stream toxicity (between 6.1 and 8.3 times lower). The extraction of ganoderic acid (24.3 mg g−1 of G. lucidum biomass) as a fungal metabolite with high pharmacological activity greatly increased the profitability of the process. Finally, the economic viability of the proposed valorization strategy was analyzed on the basis of the operational costs estimated for the process scale‐up. The specific costs of MnP and laccase production were €2.27 kU−1and €1.08 kU−1, respectively, which are 1109 and 78 times lower than the average price of commercially available enzymes.CONCLUSIONIt was found that the integration of the proposed valorization strategy into an organosolv‐based biorefinery would help to increase the economic feasibility of this pretreatment technology. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Assessing plasmid bioprocess reproducibility and C‐source uptake stage through multivariate analysis of offline and online data
Authors: Lopes Marta B , Calado Cecília RC 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundConsiderable effort has been made by the biopharmaceutical industry to guarantee high‐quality products and patient safety. Ensuring the reproducibility of microbial cultures is essential to achieve such high standards. Reproducibility is usually assessed by offline, costly and time‐consuming analyses of the final product, disregarding the culture behavior over time, which affects the final product. Online data provided in real time by the bioreactor unit control (e.g. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration), unlike offline data acquired along the culture, implies no extra cost or contamination risks, thus holding the promise of playing an important role in assessing culture reproducibility.ResultsEleven batch recombinant Escherichia coli DH5‐α cultures producing the plasmid model pVAX‐LacZ were analyzed by Multivariate Data Analysis (MVDA) of online and offline data. Similarities between the cultures were inspected by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the significance of the differences determined by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) based on offline data. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based on the online bioreactor data was also successful in predicting the cell growth stage at each time point regarding the C‐source under consumption.ConclusionMultivariate data analysis based on offline and online data has proved to be a valuable tool in assessing the cultures' reproducibility and the metabolic stage regarding the C‐source consumption phase at a given time. These results may certainly impact the biopharmaceutical industry, by drawing attention to the usefulness of combining MVDA and bioprocess data, particularly online data, never used for these purposes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Enhanced plant growth promoting role of mPEG‐PLGA‐based nanoparticles as an activator protein PeaT1 carrier in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Gao Han , Qin Youcai , Guo Rong , Wu Yan , Qiu Dewen , Fu Yuming 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDDeveloping new types of bioproducts using innovative nanotechnology is one of the potentially effective options for enhancing agricultural production and reducing environmental agrochemical pollution. As a bioagent derived from fungi, activator protein can promote growth and control diseases by activating the plant immune system. Meanwhile, the nanocarrier can protect the protein within and prolong its efficiency through controlled release.RESULTSIn our study, a new kind of plant nano‐activator was developed by encapsulating an activator protein PeaT1 using a polymer nanoparticle constructed with monomethoxy‐poly (ethylene glycol)‐poly (lactide‐co‐glycolide) (mPEG‐PLGA). The nanoparticles were spherical with diameter about 200 nm. Morphological and physiological parameters of wheat seedlings, including seed vigor index, root vitality, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters, increased after treatment with the nano‐activator. Further observation under the confocal laser microscope showed a more effective intake of the nano‐activator protein.CONCLUSIONThe results showed that the nano‐activators are effective in enhancing wheat growth. This novel agent provides a promising way to improve crop production in an environmentally friendly manner. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative susceptibility mapping across two clinical field strengths: Contrast‐to‐noise ratio enhancement at 1.5T
Authors: Ippoliti Matteo , Adams Lisa C. , Winfried Brenner , Hamm Bernd , Spincemaille Pascal , Wang Yi , Makowski Marcus R. 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundQuantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is an MRI postprocessing technique that allows quantification of the spatial distribution of tissue magnetic susceptibility in vivo. Contributing sources include iron, blood products, calcium, myelin, and lipid content.PurposeTo evaluate the reproducibility and consistency of QSM across clinical field strengths of 1.5T and 3T and to optimize the contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) at 1.5T through bandwidth tuning.Study TypeProspective.SubjectsSixteen healthy volunteers (10 men, 6 women; age range 24–37; mean age 27.8 ± 3.2 years).Field Strengths/Sequences1.5T and 3T systems from the same vendor. Four spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequences were designed with different acquisition bandwidths.AssessmentQSM reconstruction was achieved through a nonlinear morphology‐enabled dipole inversion (MEDI) algorithm employing L1 regularization. CNR was calculated in seven regions of interest (ROIs), while reproducibility and consistency of QSM measurements were evaluated through voxel‐based and region‐specific linear correlation analyses and Bland–Altman plots.Statistical TestsInterclass correlation, Wilcoxon rank sum test, linear regression analysis, Bland–Altman analysis, Welch's t‐test.ResultsCNR analysis showed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in four out of seven ROIs for the lowest bandwidth employed with respect to the highest (25.18% increase in CNR of caudate nucleus). All sequences reported an excellent correlation across field strength and bandwidth variation (R ≥ 0.96, widest limits of agreement from –18.7 to 25.8 ppb) in the ROI‐based analysis, while the correlation was found to be good for the voxel‐based analysis of averaged maps (R ≥ 0.90, widest limits of agreement from –9.3 to 9.1 ppb).Data ConclusionCNR of QSM images reconstructed from 1.5T acquisitions can be enhanced through bandwidth tuning. MEDI‐based QSM reconstruction demonstrated to be reproducible and consistent both across field strengths (1.5T and 3T) and bandwidth variation.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1410–1420.
Robust spinal cord resting‐state fMRI using independent component analysis‐based nuisance regression noise reduction
Authors: Hu Yong , Jin Richu , Li Guangsheng , Luk Keith DK , Wu Ed. X. 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundPhysiological noise reduction plays a critical role in spinal cord (SC) resting‐state fMRI (rsfMRI).PurposeTo reduce physiological noise and increase the robustness of SC rsfMRI by using an independent component analysis (ICA)‐based nuisance regression (ICANR) method.Study TypeRetrospective.SubjectsTen healthy subjects (female/male = 4/6, age = 27 ± 3 years, range 24–34 years).Field Strength/Sequence3T/gradient‐echo echo planar imaging (EPI).AssessmentWe used three alternative methods (no regression [Nil], conventional region of interest [ROI]‐based noise reduction method without ICA [ROI‐based], and correction of structured noise using spatial independent component analysis [CORSICA]) to compare with the performance of ICANR. Reduction of the influence of physiological noise on the SC and the reproducibility of rsfMRI analysis after noise reduction were examined. The correlation coefficient (CC) was calculated to assess the influence of physiological noise. Reproducibility was calculated by intraclass correlation (ICC).Statistical TestsResults from different methods were compared by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post‐hoc analysis.ResultsNo significant difference in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation influence or tissue motion influence were found (P = 0.223 in CSF, P = 0.2461 in tissue motion) in the ROI‐based (CSF: 0.122 ± 0.020; tissue motion: 0.112 ± 0.015), and Nil (CSF: 0.134 ± 0.026; tissue motion: 0.124 ± 0.019). CORSICA showed a significantly stronger influence of CSF pulsation and tissue motion (CSF: 0.166 ± 0.045, P = 0.048; tissue motion: 0.160 ± 0.032, P = 0.048) than Nil. ICANR showed a significantly weaker influence of CSF pulsation and tissue motion (CSF: 0.076 ± 0.007, P = 0.0003; tissue motion: 0.081 ± 0.014, P = 0.0182) than Nil. The ICC values in the Nil, ROI‐based, CORSICA, and ICANR were 0.669, 0.645, 0.561, and 0.766, respectively.Data ConclusionICANR more effectively reduced physiological noise from both tissue motion and CSF pulsation than three alternative methods. ICANR increases the robustness of SC rsfMRI in comparison with the other three methods.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1421–1431.
Polyethylene glycol solutions rapidly restore and maintain axonal continuity, neuromuscular structures, and behaviors lost after sciatic nerve transections in female rats
Authors: Mikesh Michelle , Ghergherehchi Cameron L. , Hastings Robert Louis , Ali Amir , Rahesh Sina , Jagannath Karthik , Sengelaub Dale R. , Trevino Richard C. , Jackson David M. , Bittner George D. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractComplete severance of major peripheral mixed sensory–motor nerve proximally in a mammalian limb produces immediate loss of action potential conduction and voluntary behaviors mediated by the severed distal axonal segments. These severed distal segments undergo Wallerian degeneration within days. Denervated muscles atrophy within weeks. Slowly regenerating (∼1 mm/day) outgrowths from surviving proximal stumps that often nonspecifically reinnervate denervated targets produce poor, if any, restoration of lost voluntary behaviors. In contrast, in this study using completely transected female rat sciatic axons as a model system, we provide extensive morphometric, immunohistochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral data to show that these adverse outcomes are avoided by microsuturing closely apposed axonal cut ends (neurorrhaphy) and applying a sequence of well‐specified solutions, one of which contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). This “PEG‐fusion” procedure within minutes reestablishes axoplasmic and axolemmal continuity and signaling by nonspecifically fusing (connecting) closely apposed open ends of severed motor and/or sensory axons at the lesion site. These PEG‐fused axons continue to conduct action potentials and generate muscle action potentials and muscle twitches for months and do not undergo Wallerian degeneration. Continuously innervated muscle fibers undergo much less atrophy compared with denervated muscle fibers. Dramatic behavioral recovery to near‐unoperated levels occurs within days to weeks, almost certainly by activating many central nervous system and peripheral nervous system synaptic and other plasticities, some perhaps to a greater extent than most neuroscientists would expect. Negative control transections in which neurorrhaphy and all solutions except the PEG‐containing solution are applied produce none of these remarkably fortuitous outcomes observed for PEG‐fusion.