bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Problems with the concept of gut microbiota dysbiosis
Authors: Brüssow Harald 
Published: August 2019

SummaryThe human microbiome research is with the notable exception of fecal transplantation still mostly in a descriptive phase. Part of the difficulty for translating research into medical interventions is due to the large compositional complexity of the microbiome resulting in datasets that need sophisticated statistical methods for their analysis and do not lend to industrial applications. Another part of the difficulty might be due to logical flaws in terminology particularly concerning ‘dysbiosis’ that avoids circular conclusions and is based on sound ecological and evolutionary reasoning. Many case–control studies are underpowered necessitating more meta‐analyses that sort out consistent from spurious dysbiosis–disease associations. We also need for the microbiome a transition from statistical associations to causal relationships with diseases that fulfil a set of modified Koch's postulates for commensals. Disturbingly, the most sophisticated statistical analyses explain only a small percentage of the variance in the microbiome. Microbe–microbe interactions irrelevant to the host and stochastic processes might play a greater role than anticipated. To satisfy the concept of Karl Popper about conjectures and refutations in the scientific process, we should also conduct more experiments that try to refute the role of the commensal gut microbiota for human health and disease.
Epidemiological and molecular study on ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum’ in Austria and Hungary
Authors: Riedle‐Bauer Monika , Paleskić Caroline , Schwanzer Juliana , Kölber Mária , Bachinger Karl , Antonielli Livio , Schönhuber Christina , Elek Rita , Stradinger Josef , Emberger Michael , Engel Christian , Makay Miklós , Zajcsek Ferenc , Brader Günter 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe epidemiology of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum’ was studied in Austria and Hungary from 2014 to 2018. Testing of root samples showed average infections rates of 61 and 40% of the Austrian Prunus spinosa and Prunus domestica spp. insititia samples, respectively. In Hungary, on average 21% of the P. spinosa and 13% of the feral Prunus cerasifera samples were infected. The pathogen was found in 18 out of 19 apricot orchards and PCR positive Cacopsylla pruni were observed at 11 out of 17 sampling locations in both countries. In cage experiments with C. pruni remigrants successful pathogen transmission to Prunus armeniaca, P. domestica and P. spinosa seedlings in budding and foliated developmental stages was recorded, an inoculation access period of 4 hr was sufficient for transmission. A field experiment with ungrafted apricot seedlings planted in 2012 and 2014 indicated a prominent role of the insect vectors for disease spread. In 2017, 40 and 28% of the trees planted in 2012 and 2014, respectively, were infected. Molecular characterisation based on the genes aceF and imp allowed the discrimination between 10 phytoplasma types in apricots. Around 70% of the phytoplasma types in apricots were also common in P. spinosa, in P. domestica spp. insititia and in remigrant C. pruni pointing to a possible pathogen exchange by insects between wild and cultivated Prunus spp. For disease control, vector management over the entire flight period of the remigrants seems necessary; when selecting active compounds, the short inoculation access period of not more than 4 hr should be considered.
Novel two‐phase sampling designs for studying binary outcomes
Authors: Wang Le , Williams Matthew L. , Chen Yong , Chen Jinbo 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn biomedical cohort studies for assessing the association between an outcome variable and a set of covariates, usually, some covariates can only be measured on a subgroup of study subjects. An important design question is—which subjects to select into the subgroup to increase statistical efficiency. When the outcome is binary, one may adopt a case‐control sampling design or a balanced case‐control design where cases and controls are further matched on a small number of complete discrete covariates. While the latter achieves success in estimating odds ratio (OR) parameters for the matching covariates, similar two‐phase design options have not been explored for the remaining covariates, especially the incompletely collected ones. This is of great importance in studies where the covariates of interest cannot be completely collected. To this end, assuming that an external model is available to relate the outcome and complete covariates, we propose a novel sampling scheme that oversamples cases and controls with worse goodness‐of‐fit based on the external model and further matches them on complete covariates similarly to the balanced design. We develop a pseudolikelihood method for estimating OR parameters. Through simulation studies and explorations in a real‐cohort study, we find that our design generally leads to reduced asymptotic variances of the OR estimates and the reduction for the matching covariates is comparable to that of the balanced design.
Managing Medical Item Inventories under Order Loss*
Authors: Çakıcı Özden Engin 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTIn hospitals, replenishment order information for medical items go through multiple departments before it is submitted to the medical supplier. At times, order information is inadvertently lost on the way, leading to order loss. In this article, using our case study conducted at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units of a hospital, we propose a periodic review base stock inventory policy that takes order loss into account. Our proposed inventory policy helps in two respects. It provides insights about how to mitigate order loss and establishes a minimum inventory cost benchmark for hospitals so they can readily conduct incremental cost–benefit analysis before implementing a process improvement. We find that more frequent order losses do not necessarily lead to higher base stock levels. The review period plays a key role. We empirically find that, even when order loss is rare, the inventory costs go up appreciably. Hence, we also quantify the potential benefits of two technology features to improve a hospital's ordering process: computerized order entry and transfer (COET), which may eliminate order loss, and real‐time item tracking (RTIT), which reduces inventory costs further via continuous review of inventory. Our results indicate that savings by our proposed inventory policy or the two technology features are greatly increased at high service levels, percentage of time in stock, which is true for many hospitals.
SHARPIN overexpression promotes TAK1 expression and activates JNKs and NF‐κB pathway in Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Chen Biao , Zheng Yan , Zhu Jingna , Liang Yanhua 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMycosis Fungoides (MF) is the most common subtype of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL). Shank‐associated RH domain‐interacting protein (SHARPIN) participates in the initiation and development of multiple tumors. However, the clinical significance of SHARPIN in MF hasn't been investigated. The c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNKs) pathway is a member of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Its dysregulation is observed in various tumors including CTCL, whereas the roles of JNKs pathway in MF remain largely unknown, the relationship between SHARPIN and JNKs pathway remains elusive. Herein, we showed that upregulated expression of SHARPIN was related to poor prognosis of MF patients. In vitro experiments found increased SHARPIN expression and activation of JNKs pathway in MF cell line MyLa2059. SHARPIN induced transforming growth factor β activated kinase‐1 (TAK1) transcription, which is an upstream kinase of JNKs, NF‐κB and p38 pathway, leading to activation of JNKs and NF‐κB pathway. SHARPIN also promoted p38 signalling independent of TAK1 expression, by which overexpression of SHARPIN induced cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, enhanced migration and invasion of MyLa2059. Our work provided direct evidences for effects of SHARPIN on JNKs and NF‐κB pathway, and the contributing roles of JNKs, NF‐κB and p38 pathway regulated by SHARPIN in the development of MF.
Nearshore coral growth declining on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
Authors: Baumann Justin H. , Ries Justin B. , Rippe John P. , Courtney Travis A. , Aichelman Hannah E. , Westfield Isaac , Castillo Karl D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAnthropogenic global change and local stressors are impacting coral growth and survival worldwide, altering the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we show that skeletal extension rates of nearshore colonies of two abundant and widespread Caribbean corals (Siderastrea siderea, Pseudodiploria strigosa) declined across the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) over the past century, while offshore coral conspecifics exhibited relatively stable extension rates over the same temporal interval. This decline has caused nearshore coral extension rates to converge with those of their historically slower growing offshore coral counterparts. For both species, individual mass coral bleaching events were correlated with low rates of skeletal extension within specific reef environments, but no single bleaching event was correlated with low skeletal extension rates across all reef environments. We postulate that the decline in skeletal extension rates for nearshore corals is driven primarily by the combined effects of long‐term ocean warming and increasing exposure to higher levels of land‐based anthropogenic stressors, with acute thermally induced bleaching events playing a lesser role. If these declining trends in skeletal growth of nearshore S. siderea and P. strigosa continue into the future, the structure and function of these critical nearshore MBRS coral reef systems is likely to be severely impaired.
Taxonomic status of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi
Authors: Senfeld Tereza , Shannon Thomas J. , van Grouw Hein , Paijmans Dane M. , Tavares Erika S. , Baker Allan J. , Lees Alexander C. , Collinson J. Martin 
Published: August 2019

Mitochondrial genes were sequenced from four specimens of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi and compared with African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and an old unidentified extralimital ‘black’ oystercatcher specimen from The Gambia. At these loci, H. meadewaldoi was approximately 99.65% identical to multiple Eurasian Oystercatcher samples and in phylogenetic trees fell within the range of genetic variation observed in that species. The mystery Gambian bird was resolved as an extralimital H. moquini. We conclude that H. meadewaldoi was most likely a recently diverged melanistic morph or subspecies of H. ostralegus, although further genomic studies will be required to determine whether there has been a period of isolation followed by introgression.
Food hygiene knowledge and practices of street food vendors in Benin City, Nigeria
Authors: Okojie Paul West , Isah Essy Clementina 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe study was aimed to assess the food hygiene knowledge and practices of street food vendors in Benin City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross‐sectional study, using structured interviewer‐administered questionnaires, was carried out amongst 456 participants, selected by a cluster sampling technique. Data were collected on socio‐demographic variables, knowledge of food hygiene and safety, health and personal hygiene, foodborne illnesses as well as the food hygiene and safety practices of the study subjects. A χ2 test was conducted to test the association between variables. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Of the 456 respondents, 131 (28.7%) were aware of the term ‘foodborne disease’. Potential food contaminants reported by respondents included worms and parasites (20.2%), piece of wood (19.1%) and germs (16.9%). Only 30 (6.6%) respondents were aware that spices and colourings were potential contaminants of food. A majority (99.6%) of the respondents washed their hands after using the toilet. The basket was most commonly used for storage of utensils by the 186 respondents (40.8%). This was followed by the cupboard 142 (31.1%), floor 103 (22.6) and wheelbarrow 51 (11.2%). Twenty‐nine respondents (24.4%) who had received food safety training demonstrated a good knowledge of food hygiene and safety compared with those who did not have food safety training 16 (4.7%). There was a statistically significant association between food safety training and respondents' knowledge of food hygiene and safety (p = .001). Training in food hygiene and safety equips vendors with the right knowledge of food hygiene and safety. This enhances good food handling practices and ensures quality products for consumer consumption. Three hundred and fifty‐nine of them (78.7%) did not take a periodic medical examination. 8.8% of the respondents took periodic medical examination biannually, 7.5% and 5.0% of them took periodic medical examination annually and biennially, respectively. This study showed that street food vendors in Benin City have poor knowledge of food hygiene and safety, their practice of food hygiene and safety fell short of standard requirements.
Novel thermal‐sensitive properties of NBT‐BZT composite ceramics for high‐temperature NTC thermistors
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhang Huimin , Zhou Junyi , Chang Aimin , Jiang Hui 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe found for the first time that (1 − x) Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3‐xBiZn0.5Ti0.5O3 (NBT–BZT) composite ceramics showed negative temperature coefficient (NTC) at a high temperature. The NBT–BZT nanopowders were successfully prepared by Pechini method. Their ceramics were sintered at 1100°C. The NBT–BZT ceramic exhibited a good linear relationship between logarithm of electrical resistivity (Inρ) and reciprocal of absolute temperature (1000/T) at 250°C–1050°C. The obtained ρ600, ρ900, and B600/900 constants of the NBT–ZBT NTC thermistors are approximately 5.92 × 106 to 3.01 × 104 Ω cm, 7.03 × 103 to 7.60 × 102 Ω cm and 2.3 × 104‐1.3 × 104 K, respectively. The electrical characteristics can be tuned to the desired value by changing the Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 content in the compound. The electrical conductivity in these compounds is due to the electron jumps between Ti3+ and Ti4+ and oxygen‐ion conductivity. Results demonstrate a tremendous potential of the studied system for perovskite materials with NTC performance.
Activation of cannabinoid receptors promote periodontal cell adhesion and migration
Authors: Liu Chunyan , Qi Xia , Alhabeil Jamal , Lu Haiyan , Zhou Zheng 
Published: August 2019

AbstractObjectiveMedical and recreational cannabis use is increasing significantly, but its impacts on oral health remain unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active component in cannabis, on periodontal fibroblast cell adhesion and migration to explore its role in periodontal regeneration and wound healing.Material and MethodsThe different distribution of cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) was characterized in the mouse periodontium. Human periodontal fibroblast cell (HPLF) adhesion and migration was analysed by in vitro wound healing assay with and without THC. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling pathway was investigated to uncover the underlying cellular mechanism. The receptor dependency of cannabinoid effects was examined by using selective antagonists to block THC.ResultsBoth CB1 and CB2 were expressed in periodontal tissues but with different expression patterns. Tetrahydrocannabinol promoted periodontal cell wound healing by inducing HPLF cell adhesion and migration. This was mediated by focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation and its modulation of MAPK activities. The effect of cannabinoids on periodontal fibroblast cell adhesion and migration was mainly dependent on the CB2.ConclusionThese results suggested that cannabinoids may contribute to developing new therapeutics for periodontal regeneration and wound healing.
Oral contraceptive use in adolescence predicts lasting vulnerability to depression in adulthood
Authors: Anderl Christine , Li Gu , Chen Frances S. 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundPrevious evidence suggests that use of oral contraceptives (OCs), especially during adolescence, may increase women's vulnerability to depression in the short term. Here, we investigate whether women who had first used OC in adolescence show an increased prevalence of depression in the long term.MethodsWe examined 1,236 women in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for whom information on depression and age at first OC use was publicly available. We compared women who reported first use of OCs in adolescence to women who had never used OCs and women who had first used OCs in adulthood on 1‐year prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) assessed by trained interviewers.ResultsCompared with women who had used OCs during adolescence, women who had never used OCs were less likely to meet the criteria for MDD within the past year in adulthood [odds ratio (OR) = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.16–0.60], and so were women who only started using OCs in adulthood (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30–0.95). Third factors that have previously been proposed to explain the relationship between OC use and depression risk such as age at sexual debut, and, importantly, current OC use, did not account for the results in propensity score analyses.ConclusionsWe show a long‐term association between adolescent OC use and depression risk in adulthood regardless of current OC use. Our findings suggest that adolescence may be a sensitive period during which OC use could increase women's risk for depression, years after first exposure.
Bias Awareness Predicts Color Conscious Racial Socialization Methods among White Parents
Authors: Perry Sylvia P. , Skinner Allison L. , Abaied Jamie L. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe majority of White parents in the United States are uncomfortable discussing race with their children and tend to avoid it. When they do discuss race with their children, they often take a color blind approach—in which they emphasize a belief that race does not matter—instead of a color conscious approach—in which they acknowledge race‐related issues. In the current study, we sought to explore the individual difference factors that may be associated with White American parents’ racial socialization practices. Results indicated that parents’ racial bias awareness was associated with greater willingness to discuss race with their children, increased color consciousness, and decreased color blindness; when statistically controlling for their racial attitudes, motivations to respond without prejudice, and interracial contact. The potential impacts of bias awareness interventions on White parents’ racial socialization behaviors are discussed.
Pelvic fracture triggering symptoms of an underlying primary hypoparathyroidism in an adult spayed bitch: A case report
Authors: Ballocco Isabella , Cappai Maria Grazia , Evangelisti Maria Antonietta , Carta Giovanni , Pirari Elias , Manunta Maria Lucia Gabriella 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA 7‐year‐old mixed breed spayed bitch (body weight: 10.6 kg) was presented with a history of intermittent episodes of seizures and untreated limb fracture. Appetite loss, nervousness, lateral recumbency, fasciculations, ataxia and poor nutritional condition were found. Venous blood gas analysis highlighted normal acid‐base balance and severe low ionized calcium (0.58 mEq/L [range 1.13–1.32 mEq/L]). Marked total hypocalcaemia (6.4 mg/dL [range 8–10] or 1.6 mM [range: 2–2.5]) associated with hyperphosphoraemia (9.3 mg/dl [range 3.5–6.5 mg/dl]) displayed inverted ratio between minerals. ECG showed sinus arrhythmias. Circulating levels of Mg and Cu were within physiological range (1.97 mg/dl and 128 μg/dl respectively) and effects from interactions were excluded. Oral administration of calcitriol at 40 ng/kg/day led to clinical improvement within 48 hours, but circulating iCa levels were still below the lower limit of the reference range. Baseline levels of circulating parathormone (PTH) were 3 pg/ml, along with normal values of circulating vitamin D. Primary hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed as a chronic underlying condition triggered by pelvic fracture.
A role for auxin signaling in the acquisition of longevity during seed maturation
Authors: Pellizzaro Anthoni , Neveu Martine , Lalanne David , Ly Vu Benoit , Kanno Yuri , Seo Mitsunori , Leprince Olivier , Buitink Julia 
Published: August 2019

Summary

Seed longevity, the maintenance of viability during dry storage, is a crucial factor to preserve plant genetic resources and seed vigor. Inference of a temporal gene‐regulatory network of seed maturation identified auxin signaling as a putative mechanism to induce longevity‐related genes.

Using auxin‐response sensors and tryptophan‐dependent auxin biosynthesis mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana L., the role of auxin signaling in longevity was studied during seed maturation.

DII and DR5 sensors demonstrated that, concomitant with the acquisition of longevity, auxin signaling input and output increased and underwent a spatiotemporal redistribution, spreading throughout the embryo. Longevity of seeds of single auxin biosynthesis mutants with altered auxin signaling activity was affected in a dose–response manner depending on the level of auxin activity. Longevity‐associated genes with promoters enriched in auxin response elements and the master regulator ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 were induced by auxin in developing embryos and deregulated in auxin biosynthesis mutants. The beneficial effect of exogenous auxin during seed maturation on seed longevity was abolished in abi3‐1 mutants.

These data suggest a role for auxin signaling activity in the acquisition of longevity during seed maturation.
Diagnostic utility of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination – III (ACE‐III), Mini‐ACE, Mini‐Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Hasegawa Dementia Scale‐Revised for detecting mild cognitive impairment and dementia
Authors: Senda Mayuko , Terada Seishi , Takenoshita Shintaro , Hayashi Satoshi , Yabe Mayumi , Imai Nao , Horiuchi Makiko , Yamada Norihito 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundEarly detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia is important to promptly start appropriate intervention. However, it is difficult to examine a patient using long and thorough cognitive tests in a general clinical setting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic validity of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination ‐ III (ACE‐III), Mini‐ACE (M‐ACE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hasegawa Dementia Scale‐Revised (HDS‐R), and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) to identify MCI and dementia.MethodsA total of 249 subjects (controls = 50, MCI = 94, dementia = 105) at a memory clinic participated in this study, and took the ACE‐III, M‐ACE, MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE. After all examinations had been carried out, a conference was held, and the clinical diagnoses were established.ResultsThe areas under the curve (AUC) of the ACE‐III, M‐ACE, MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE for diagnosing MCI were 0.891, 0.856, 0.831, 0.808, and 0.782. The AUC of the ACE‐III was significantly larger than those of the MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE. The AUCs of the ACE‐III, M‐ACE, MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE for diagnosing dementia were 0.930, 0.917, 0.854, 0.871, and 0.856. Thus, the AUCs of the ACE‐III and M‐ACE were significantly larger than those of the MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE.ConclusionThe ACE‐III is a useful cognitive instrument to detect MCI. For distinguishing dementia patients from non‐dementia patients, the ACE‐III and M‐ACE are superior to the MoCA, HDS‐R, and MMSE.