bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The development of a family resilience‐strengthening programme for families in a South African rural community
Authors: Isaacs Serena Ann , Roman Nicolette V. , Savahl Shazly 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop a contextually based family resilience program. Also presented here is a literature review of family resilience interventions suggesting that these 3 processes are the basis for effective family functioning. A close collaboration with the community ensured an adequate understanding of the presenting family challenges and this article describes the process in developing a program based on these challenges. A 3‐round Delphi design was used for the study with international and local experts (n = 10) in the field of family and resilience studies and community stakeholders (n = 5). The program has three main aims: to increase family connectedness, family communication processes and social and economic resources. Based on the findings of this study, 4 modules will be presented to participants, “about family,” “talking together,” “close together,” and “working together.” A description is provided of the program content and decisions regarding logistical program concerns.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Etelcalcetide, a Novel Calcimimetic for Treatment of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis
Authors: Wu Benjamin , Melhem Murad , Subramanian Raju , Chen Ping , Jaramilla Sloey Bethlyn , Fouqueray Bruno , Hock M. Benjamin , Skiles Gary L. , Chow Andrew T. , Lee Edward 
Published: March 2018

AbstractEtelcalcetide, a d‐amino acid peptide, is an intravenous calcimimetic approved for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Etelcalcetide binds the calcium‐sensing receptor and increases its sensitivity to extracellular calcium, thereby decreasing secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by chief cells. Etelcalcetide and its low‐molecular‐weight transformation products are rapidly cleared by renal excretion in healthy subjects, but clearance is substantially reduced and dependent on hemodialysis in end‐stage renal disease. The effective half‐life is 3–5 days in patients undergoing hemodialysis 3 times a week. A clinical study using a single microtracer intravenous dose of [14C]etelcalcetide indicated that 60% of the administered dose was eliminated in dialysate. Etelcalcetide undergoes reversible disulfide exchange with serum albumin to form a serum albumin peptide conjugate that is too large (67 kDa) to be dialyzed, until a subsequent exchange forms etelcalcetide or a low‐molecular‐weight transformation product. This exchange from albumin is apparent after hemodialysis, when it partially restores etelcalcetide concentrations in plasma. Etelcalcetide has no known risks for drug–drug interactions. In phase 3 studies, 74%–75% of hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism who received etelcalcetide achieved a >30% PTH reduction from baseline versus 8%–10% of patients who received placebo. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of etelcalcetide in hemodialysis patients supports a 5‐mg starting dose administered after hemodialysis and uptitration in 2.5‐ or 5‐mg increments every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 15 mg 3 times a week.
Enhanced product understanding in the QbD paradigm: linkage between charge heterogeneity and stability of monoclonal antibody therapeutic products
Authors: Joshi Varsha S , Kumar Vijesh , Rathore Anurag S 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDProduct stability is a major concern during production of biotherapeutic products, including the monoclonal antibody (mAbs) products. A deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms is encouraged in the Quality by Design (QbD) paradigm. This paper presents results from an investigation aimed at elucidation of the impact of product heterogeneity (charged variants) on mAb stability.RESULTSSamples exhibiting a wide variability in levels and distribution of charge variants and aggregates were generated using ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Both size based (fragments and aggregates) and charge based (basic and acidic variants) heterogeneities were monitored using analytical size exclusion chromatography and cation exchange chromatography, respectively. Partial least square (PLS) analysis was performed to correlate size heterogeneity with charge heterogeneity. It was found that presence of certain charge variants dominates degradation of mAb. Each high molecular weight specie is primarily influenced by a subset of charge heterogeneities and at times presence of other size heterogeneities. The resulting PLS models yielded satisfactory values for the regression coefficient as well as for predictability confirming the statistical relevance of the conclusions.CONCLUSIONSThe results presented in this study provide a novel insight into the impact of mAb charge and size heterogeneity on product stability. This knowledge can be used during process design so as to enhance stability of the biotherapeutic. This is the first investigation that relates charge heterogeneity to mAb stability. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial Screening, and Computational Studies of a Tripodal Schiff Base Containing Pyrimidine Unit
Authors: Oruma Uchechukwu Susan , Ukoha Pius Oziri , Rhyman Lydia , Elzagheid Mohamed I. , Obasi Lawrence Nnamdi , Ramasami Ponnadurai , Jurkschat Klaus 
Published: March 2018

A novel tripodal Schiff base ligand, 5‐amino‐2,4,6‐tris(4‐carboxybenzimino)‐1,3‐pyrimidine (TTPS), was synthesized for the first time by the reaction of 2,4,5,6‐tetraaminopyrimidine with 4‐carboxybenzaldehyde. The ligand was characterized by means of ultraviolet–visible, Fourier transform infrared, one‐dimensional 1H‐NMR, and one‐dimensional 13C‐NMR spectroscopies and elemental microanalysis. The Fourier transform infrared and NMR studies revealed that one of the NH2 group in 2,4,5,6‐tetraaminopyrimidine is not involved in bonding. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the ligand were investigated against Gram‐negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (ATCC 6749) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), Gram‐positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), and fungi: Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by the agar well diffusion technique. TTPS exhibits good activity against the test microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of TTPS against S. aureus were compared with tetracycline and gentamicin, which are conventional bacterial drugs. The upper level of Lorke's method was used to determine the acute toxicity of the compound. The acute toxicity test indicates that TTPS is toxic at doses above 2154 mg/kg. The in vivo antimalarial assay was carried out on Plasmodium berghei based on the 4‐day suppressive method. The result shows a general dose‐dependent significant parasitemia inhibition compared with the negative control with TTPS having inhibition of 72.20% at 50 mg/kg and 65.81% at 25 mg/kg close to the value (87.22%) of the standard drug artesunate 5 mg/kg. Density functional theory method was used to complement this experimental investigation.
Impact assessment of climate change on rice yields using the ORYZA model in the Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Xu Chenchen , Wu Wenxiang , Ge Quansheng 
Published: March 2018

Understanding how different climate factors interact and impact rice yield is essential for effective agricultural management strategies and policies. However, the potential impacts are less clear at the regional scale. In this work, we used the latest version of the ORYZA crop model to evaluate the impacts of climate change and carbon dioxide (CO2) on rice yields in the Sichuan Basin of China based on high‐quality agricultural experimental, meteorological and soil data and the incorporation of future climate data generated by five general circulation models (GCMs) under three newly released representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios.Considering climate change alone, our modelling results indicated a continuing rice reduction for most stations by 2–17, 4–28 and 1–43% under the RCP2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, respectively; when considering the CO2 fertilizer effect, rice yields increased by 3–10, 4–13 and 5–20% under the RCP2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, respectively. However, for most stations, the CO2 fertilizer effect could not completely offset the negative impacts of climate change on rice yields. In addition, temperature and radiation were the main climate factors that cause yield variation by affecting the rice maturity periods (DAE), spikelet fertility factor (SPFERT) and spikelet number (NSP). The uncertainty arising from the climate models was less than 10% under the RCP2.6 scenario, 15% under the RCP4.5 scenario and 20% under the RCP8.5 scenario, indicating good consistency in rice yield simulations. These findings offer insight into the physiological mechanisms and the degree of climate change impacts on rice yields, thus informing appropriate adaptive strategies for rice planting in the Sichuan Basin, China.
Mean and intra‐seasonal variability simulated by NCEP Climate Forecast System model (version 2.0) during boreal winter: Impact of horizontal resolution
Authors: Malviya Shilpa , Mukhopadhyay P. , Phani Murali Krishna R. , Dhakate Ashish , Salunke Kiran 
Published: March 2018

This study demonstrates the fidelity of Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) in three horizontal resolutions: T62, T126 and T382, during boreal winter. As the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the major mode of variability during boreal winter, the emphasis of the study is on the fidelity of the models in capturing the MJO variability. CFSv2 shows moderate skill in simulating the intra‐seasonal oscillation and the skill is sensitive to the resolution of the model.Boreal winter mean precipitation shows the tendency of the model to overdo the double Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that increases with resolution. Twenty to hundred days band‐pass‐filtered rainfall variances also indicate that the dominant variances are overestimated with increase in resolution. The characteristic eastwards propagation is not captured by the model at all the resolutions. In an attempt to understand the limitation of the model, composites of specific humidity are analysed which show that the model’s moisture profile is rather better represented at lower resolution than the higher ones. Analyses of relative humidity profile as a function of rainfall rates show that all the model resolutions fail to reproduce the lower‐level moistening prior to deep convection. Observational studies have shown shallow convection to be responsible for this low‐level moistening. Furthermore, analysis of mean stratiform rainfall indicates that spectrum of rainfall variability is not simulated by the model and increasing the resolution could not improve the cloud processes. This study therefore indicates that the fundamental moist convective processes do not improve in the model and neither its bias in capturing the intra‐seasonal variability vis‐à‐vis MJO through increasing resolution. This can therefore be a basis for improving the moist convective processes with emphasis on the improvement of the shallow convection within boundary layer and also for the inclusion of scale dependencies in parameterized processes.
Parenteral Lipid Dose Restriction With Soy Oil, Not Fish Oil, Preserves Retinal Function in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Lansing Marihan , Sauvé Yves , Dimopoulos Ioannis , Field Catherine J. , Suh Miyoung , Wizzard Pamela , Goruk Susan , Lim David , Muto Mitsuru , Wales Paul , Turner Justine 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundA dietary supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) is critical for neonatal retinal development. Both are absent/minimal in parenteral nutrition (PN) using soy‐oil emulsions ([SO] Intralipid®) traditionally used for neonatal intestinal failure. In contrast, fish‐oil emulsions ([FO] Omegaven®) are enriched in DHA/AA. The aim of this study was to compare retinal function and fatty acid content in neonatal piglets fed PN with SO or FO.MethodsTwo–5‐day‐old piglets were randomly allocated to SO (n = 4) or FO (n = 4), provided at equivalent doses (5g/kg/d). After 14 days of PN, retinal function was assessed by electroretinography and retinas were harvested for fatty acid content analysis. Sow‐fed piglets served as a reference (REF).ResultsLight flash–elicited stoppage of cone and rod dark‐currents (a‐waves) and the ensuing postsynaptic activation of cone and rod ON bipolar cells (b‐waves) were comparable between SO and REF. Responses recorded from FO were subnormal (P <0.001) when compared with both SO and REF. Retinal DHA content was similar in both groups (FO, 14.59% vs SO, 12.22%; P = 0.32); while AA was lower in FO (FO, 6.01% vs SO, 8.21%; P = .001).ConclusionParadoxically, FO containing more DHA and AA did not preserve retinal function when compared with the same low dose of SO. This may be due to the reduced AA enrichment in the retina with FO treatment. Further investigation into the ideal amounts of DHA and AA for optimal neonatal retinal function is required.
Determination of apple juice authenticity using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, volt‐ampere and new conductometric methods
Authors: Bocharova Oksana V , Reshta Sentyabrina P , Bocharova Maiia Y , Eshtokin Vasiliy I 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOrganoleptic properties and positive health effect on consumers both justify the importance of determining apple juice authenticity with respect to retail and wholesale trade networks worldwide.RESULTSAdulteration of apple juice through dilution with water, as well as with ascorbic acid, has been determined. It has been demonstrated that polarization curves of a platinum electrode in apple juice are useful for undeclared antioxidant determination, as a result of the movement of the polarization curve to the left, by 200 mV, when ascorbic acid was added. A difference between the equivalent electrical conductivity of suspended solids of undiluted and diluted (1:1) juices has been substantiated as a new quantitative criterion for determining adulteration through dilution. The criterion values range from 0.030 to 0.034 S m−1 for juices of different apple varieties. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry results have shown the presence of (E)‐2‐hexenal and n‐hexanal in all juices tested obtained from different apple varieties.CONCLUSIONA new conductometric method for the determination of diluted apple juices has been substantiated. It has been established that the volt‐ampere method is useful for the investigation of undeclared ascorbic acid. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of a foliar spray of selenite or selenate at different growth stages on selenium distribution and quality of blueberries
Authors: Li Mingfeng , Zhao Zhuqing , Zhou Jiajie , Zhou Daowen , Chen Boning , Huang Liqiang , Zhang Zhihua , Liu Xinwei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDFoliar spraying of selenium (Se) has increasingly been applied to improve Se concentrations in grain crops, although little information is available about the properties of Se‐enriched fruits. In the present study, selenium distribution in blueberry and Se effect on blueberry quality were investigated by foliar spraying selenite or selenate (200 g ha−1) on two blueberry cultivars (Bluecrop and Northland) during the young fruit or coloring stage.RESULTSSelenium concentration in blueberry was mainly affected by cultivar and spray stage relative to the Se source. Northland was 1.3‐ to 1.5‐fold higher than Bluecrop with respect to Se enrichment. Se treatment at the young fruit stage induced a 1.5‐ to 2.3‐fold increase compared to that at the coloring stage with respect to the Se concentration of blueberry. Additionally, selenium was mainly stored in pomace, with an accumulative distribution ratio of 89.3–94.9%. The proportion of organic Se reached up to 77.0% in blueberry. Furthermore, the foliar application of Se significantly increased the anthocyanin concentration and the intact fruit rate of blueberry.CONCLUSIONSe‐enriched blueberry can be used as a ‘functional food’. Because Se was mainly accumulated in the pomace, the consumption of blueberries as fresh fruit, dried fruit and jam can improve the efficiency of Se supplement. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Facile preparation of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective extraction and determination of dexamethasone in skincare cosmetics using HPLC
Authors: Du Wei , Zhang Bilin , Guo Pengqi , Chen Guoning , Chang Chun , Fu Qiang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDexamethasone‐imprinted polymers were fabricated by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles under mild polymerization conditions, which exhibited a narrow polydispersity and high selectivity for dexamethasone extraction. The dexamethasone‐imprinted polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The adsorption performance was evaluated by static adsorption, kinetic adsorption and selectivity tests. The results confirmed the successful construction of an imprinted polymer layer on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles, which benefits the characteristics of high adsorption capacity, fast mass transfer, specific molecular recognition, and simple magnetic separation. Combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography, molecularly imprinted polymers as magnetic extraction sorbents were used for the rapid and selective extraction and determination of dexamethasone in skincare cosmetic samples, with the accuracies of the spiked samples ranging from 93.8 to 97.6%. The relative standard deviations were less than 2.7%. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.05 and 0.20 μg/mL, respectively. The developed method was simple, fast and highly selective and could be a promising method for dexamethasone monitoring in cosmetic products.
What drives supportive intentions towards a dark tourism site?
Authors: Wu Hung‐Che , Cheng Ching‐Chan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper aims to explore the structural relationship between supportive intentions towards a dark tourism site and their 7 drivers—participation, innovation, experiential risk, experiential memorability, experiential satisfaction, experiential trust, and experiential involvement of dark tourism sites. A convenience sample of 546 tourists to the Beichuan earthquake relics was surveyed. The results will assist tourism management in developing and implementing market‐orientated service strategies to increase site participation, site innovation, site experiential memorability, enhance site experiential satisfaction, site experiential trust, and site experiential involvement in order to enable tourists to have intentions to support their dark tourism sites.
Offsetting land degradation through nitrogen and water management during maize cultivation under arid conditions
Authors: Hammad Hafiz Mohkum , Abbas Farhat , Saeed Shafqat , Fahad Shah , Cerdà Artemi , Farhad Wajid , Bernardo Chaves Cordoba , Nasim Wajid , Mubeen Muhammad , Bakhat Hafiz Faiq 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe best management of soil, irrigation, and crop nutrients is among major components of sustainable agriculture that reduces groundwater contamination, prevents soil degradation, and guarantees the best resource use efficiency. Trials were conducted to optimize maize (Zea mays L.) yield by experimenting various irrigation water regimes, nitrogen (N) application rates, and methods in 96 pots under arid environmental conditions during autumn 2012. Crop hydrological and agronomic characteristics were assessed under a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements. Water and N stress to the plants under observation significantly reduced the water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor pressure of the leaves. Crop growth rate and total dry matter production were significantly improved by an increase in N fertilizer application up to 300 kg ha−1 (equivalent to 4.8 g N pot−1) for all water regimes. Grain per cob, 1,000‐grain weight, and final grain yield were higher at 100% field capacity with the application of 300 kg N ha−1 under the soil N application method than those under foliar N application treatments. The best N rate for optimum grain production was attained by 300 kg ha−1 with 575‐mm supplemental irrigation water ha−1. The quadratic equation fitting revealed that the effect of N on crop growth parameters was higher than that of the supplemental irrigation; therefore, a water deficit may partly be managed by adding N to the soil. These water and N managements may be used in formulating agricultural practices to avoid degradation of lands for soil and environmental conditions similar to those of the current study warranting a field research.
Reduction‐Triggered Self‐Cross‐Linked Hyperbranched Polyglycerol Nanogels for Intracellular Delivery of Drugs and Proteins
Authors: Park Haeree , Choi Yeongkyu , Jeena M. T. , Ahn Eungjin , Choi Yuri , Kang Myeong‐Gyun , Lee Chae Gyu , Kwon Tae‐Hyuk , Rhee Hyun‐Woo , Ryu Ja‐Hyoung , Kim Byeong‐Su 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOwing to the unique advantages of combining the characteristics of hydrogels and nanoparticles, nanogels are actively investigated as a promising platform for advanced biomedical applications. In this work, a self‐cross‐linked hyperbranched polyglycerol nanogel is synthesized using the thiol–disulfide exchange reaction based on a novel disulfide‐containing polymer. A series of structural analyses confirm the tunable size and cross‐linking density depending on the type of polymer (homo‐ or copolymer) and the amount of reducing agent, dithiothreitol, used in the preparation of the nanogels. The nanogels retain not only small molecular therapeutics irrespective of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature but also large enzymes such as β‐galactosidase by exploiting the self‐cross‐linking chemistry. Their superior biocompatibility together with the controllable release of active therapeutic agents suggests the applicability of nanogels in smart drug delivery systems.
Self‐Folded Hydrogel Tubes for Implantable Muscular Tissue Scaffolds
Authors: Vannozzi Lorenzo , Yasa Immihan Ceren , Ceylan Hakan , Menciassi Arianna , Ricotti Leonardo , Sitti Metin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractProgramming materials with tunable physical and chemical interactions among its components pave the way of generating 3D functional active microsystems with various potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and soft robotics. Here, the development of a recapitulated fascicle‐like implantable muscle construct by programmed self‐folding of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels is reported. The system comprises two stacked layers, each with differential swelling degrees, stiffnesses, and thicknesses in 2D, which folds into a 3D tube together. Inside the tubes, muscle cell adhesion and their spatial alignment are controlled. Both skeletal and cardiac muscle cells also exhibit high viability, and cardiac myocytes preserve their contractile function over the course of 7 d. Integration of biological cells with smart, shape‐changing materials could give rise to the development of new cellular constructs for hierarchical tissue assembly, drug testing platforms, and biohybrid actuators that can perform sophisticated tasks.