bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimized Processing Parameters in Post‐Harvest Treatments of Algerian Dry Dates using Hot Water and Hot Vapor Successive Operations
Authors: Berrebeuh Mohamed Hafed , Boubekri Abdelghani , Balti Mohamed Amine , Chouicha Samira , Mennouche Djamel , Kechaou Nabil 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThis paper aims to promote the artificial ripening of Algeria's dry Deglet‐Nour dates commonly named Frezza, by successive treatments using hot water soaking and hot vapor steaming. The main objective of the study was to optimize the gain in mass during the proposed hydrothermal process using an experimental design method. Water uptake during rehydration has been optimized according to two complete factorial designs; the first 23 based on eight experiments and the second 22 of four experiments. The conducted experimental investigations showed a maximum of water gain by water soaking and a little part by steaming operation. Obtained and analyzed results led to optimal conditions defined by soaking in water at 30 °C during 8 h followed by hot vapor treatment in a confined chamber at 60 °C under 90% RH.Practical ApplicationsArtificial ripening of Deglet‐Nour dates, with different hydration techniques, is an industry practice known in Algeria since the 1950s, but under nonoptimized operating conditions. This paper presents a contribution to the optimization of the rehydration process of dates by water soaking and hot vapor steaming. The results of the study will be useful in the sense of ensuring an added value by enhancing the product quality. The obtained results also permit to minimize the necessary energetic consumption for steam production.
Image analysis based validation and kinetic parameter estimation of rice cooking
Authors: Amogha V. , Shinde Yogesh H. , Pandit Aniruddha B. , Joshi Jyeshtharaj B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe thermal efficiency of currently employed cooking methods ranges between 10 and 25%. Cooking accounts for ∼40% of total energy consumed in developing world indicating toward huge scope for improvement. To develop the cooking methods of better efficiency, bringing down the energy consumption, it is necessary to understand the kinetics of cooking. As rice is a staple food for nearly 50% of the world's population, an attempt is made to scientifically explore the kinetics of rice cooking process. It is a well‐known fact that presoaking of the rice reduces the cooking time and thus reduces energy consumption, to support this numerically, different parametric measurements such as moisture absorption, change in dimensions (length and width) of rice grain while cooking, are utilized for estimating the cooking kinetics. In addition, the technique of image analysis was also used for easy and quick estimation of the extent of cooking. Experiments were performed with both un‐soaked and presoaked rice at three different temperatures (80, 90, and 97 °C) to evaluate the kinetics of rice cooking process. The activation energies for cooking of un‐soaked and presoaked rice were found to be ∼ 75 kJ/mol and ∼ 70 kJ/mol, respectively, which is in good agreement with the values reported in literature. Regime of operation for cooking of rice is found to be diffusion controlled based on swelling particle model.Practical applicationsAround 40 % of the total energy consumed in the developing world (population more than 496 billion) goes in cooking processes (Joshi et al., ). This huge energy consumption can be attributed to the inefficiencies related to cooking methods and/or devices. There is an urgent need to employ an energy efficient engineering solution for preparing hygienic, nutritious meals, which also has advantages of energy efficiency, ease of operation and efficient resource utilization. In order to design any efficient cooking device, kinetics of cooking for particular food material must be studied. Shinde et al. (), Joshi et al. () have designed the energy efficient batch and continuous cookers. Presented work utilizes simple method for determining kinetics of rice cooking, which can be easily extended to obtain kinetics of any other food material.
The dual orexin receptor antagonist, DORA‐22, lowers histamine levels in the lateral hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex without lowering hippocampal acetylcholine
Authors: Yao Lihang , Ramirez Andres D. , Roecker Anthony J. , Fox Steven V. , Uslaner Jason M. , Smith Sean M. , Hodgson Robert , Coleman Paul J. , Renger John J. , Winrow Christopher J. , Gotter Anthony L. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractChronic insomnia is defined as a persistent difficulty with sleep initiation maintenance or non‐restorative sleep. The therapeutic standard of care for this condition is treatment with gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor modulators, which promote sleep but are associated with a panoply of side effects, including cognitive and memory impairment. Dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) have recently emerged as an alternative therapeutic approach that acts via a distinct and more selective wake‐attenuating mechanism with the potential to be associated with milder side effects. Given their distinct mechanism of action, the current work tested the hypothesis that DORAs and GABAA receptor modulators differentially regulate neurochemical pathways associated with differences in sleep architecture and cognitive performance induced by these pharmacological mechanisms. Our findings showed that DORA‐22 suppresses the release of the wake neurotransmitter histamine in the lateral hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus with no significant alterations in acetylcholine levels. In contrast, eszopiclone, commonly used as a GABAA modulator, inhibited acetylcholine secretion across brain regions with variable effects on histamine release depending on the extent of wakefulness induction. In normal waking rats, eszopiclone only transiently suppressed histamine secretion, whereas this suppression was more obvious under caffeine‐induced wakefulness. Compared with the GABAA modulator eszopiclone, DORA‐22 elicits a neurotransmitter profile consistent with wake reduction that does not impinge on neurotransmitter levels associated with cognition and rapid eye movement sleep.

image
Predictors of complication following lower extremity amputation in diabetic end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Park Young Hwan , Song Jong Hyub , Choi Gi Won , Kim Hak Jun 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAimPatients with diabetic end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) are at increased risk of lower extremity amputation (LEA) and postoperative complications compared to those without diabetic ESRD. This study sought to determine the factors that influence complications following LEA in patients with diabetic ESRD.MethodsA total of 41 patients with diabetic ESRD (total of 46 amputations) who underwent LEA were enrolled in this study. The electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify the predictors of postoperative complications. The outcomes were divided into three categories: no complications, minor complications (wounds requiring only local care or oral antibiotics), and major complications (requiring surgical intervention, further amputations, or inducing life‐threatening morbidities and mortalities).ResultsMultivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that underlying sepsis (P = 0.007) was the only significant risk factor for major complications, with an odds ratio demonstrating an 8.16 times increased risk of requiring another surgery or mortality compared to those without sepsis.ConclusionPreoperative sepsis is an independent risk factor for major complications after LEA in patients with diabetic ESRD. We advise particular caution when performing LEA in diabetic ESRD patients who are also septic. Early amputation, prior to the development of sepsis, is preferable.
Aspergillus fumigatus
Trehalose-Regulatory Subunit Homolog Moonlights To Mediate Cell Wall Homeostasis through Modulation of Chitin Synthase Activity
Authors: Thammahong Arsa , Caffrey-Card Alayna K. , Dhingra Sourabh , Obar Joshua J. , Cramer Robert A. 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

Trehalose biosynthesis is found in fungi but not humans. Proteins involved in trehalose biosynthesis are essential for fungal pathogen virulence in humans and plants through multiple mechanisms. Loss of canonical trehalose biosynthesis genes in the human pathogen
Aspergillus fumigatus
significantly alters cell wall structure and integrity, though the mechanistic link between these virulence-associated pathways remains enigmatic. Here we characterize genes, called
tslA
and
tslB
, which encode proteins that contain domains similar to those corresponding to trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase but lack critical catalytic residues for phosphatase activity. Loss of
tslA
reduces trehalose content in both conidia and mycelia, impairs cell wall integrity, and significantly alters cell wall structure. To gain mechanistic insights into the role that TslA plays in cell wall homeostasis, immunoprecipitation assays coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to reveal a direct interaction between TslA and CsmA, a type V chitin synthase enzyme. TslA regulates not only chitin synthase activity but also CsmA sub-cellular localization. Loss of TslA impacts the immunopathogenesis of murine invasive pulmonary aspergillosis through altering cytokine production and immune cell recruitment. In conclusion, our data provide a novel model whereby proteins in the trehalose pathway play a direct role in fungal cell wall homeostasis and consequently impact fungus-host interactions.

IMPORTANCE
Human fungal infections are increasing globally due to HIV infections and increased use of immunosuppressive therapies for many diseases. Therefore, new antifungal drugs with reduced side effects and increased efficacy are needed to improve treatment outcomes. Trehalose biosynthesis exists in pathogenic fungi and is absent in humans. Components of the trehalose biosynthesis pathway are important for the virulence of human-pathogenic fungi, including
Aspergillus fumigatus
. Consequently, it has been proposed that components of this pathway are potential targets for antifungal drug development. However, how trehalose biosynthesis influences the fungus-host interaction remains enigmatic. One phenotype associated with fungal trehalose biosynthesis mutants that remains enigmatic is cell wall perturbation. Here we discovered a novel moonlighting role for a regulatory-like subunit of the trehalose biosynthesis pathway in
A. fumigatus
that regulates cell wall homeostasis through modulation of chitin synthase localization and activity. As the cell wall is a current and promising therapeutic target for fungal infections, understanding the role of trehalose biosynthesis in cell wall homeostasis and virulence is expected to help define new therapeutic opportunities.
Secondary parkinsonism in a patient of psychogenic polydipsia
Authors: Pal Rimesh , Das Liza , Dutta Pinaki , Bhansali Anil 
Published: April 2017

A 44-year-old man presented with history of slurring of speech, slowness in activities, abnormal posturing of the upper limbs and drooling of saliva from the mouth. He had a 5-yearlong history of compulsive water drinking, consuming 12–15 L of water every day. He was earlier evaluated for the same and found to have low serum sodium (126 mEq/L). Presently, he was admitted at a primary care facility with fever and altered sensorium. He was found to have serum sodium of 94 mEq/L. His sensorium improved with hypertonic saline infusion; however, after a lucid interval of 48 hours, he developed florid extrapyramidal symptoms. Contrast-enhanced MRI brain revealed bilaterally symmetric T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity in caudate and lentiform nuclei. A diagnosis of extrapontine myelinolysis with secondary parkinsonism was made. He improved significantly with levodopa therapy.Psychogenic polydipsia is an important cause of hyponatraemia. Overzealous correction of hyponatraemia can be counterproductive.
Delayed diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a 13-year-old Malawian boy
Authors: Johnston Niall , Sandys Nichola 
Published: April 2017

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health burden. There are more than 1 million new cases of childhood TB annually. Despite this, many national TB control programs largely focus on identification and treatment of smear positive adults. Early case detection is essential if childhood TB is to be controlled and eradicated.Delayed diagnosis of TB is associated with more advanced disease and worse treatment outcomes. Younger children who go undiagnosed for long periods are at risk of developing severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease, such as meningitis. Additionally, advanced childhood TB is a common respiratory cause of death in TB-endemic areas. Undoubtedly, delayed diagnosis contributes significantly to TB-related morbidity and mortality.Diagnostic delay may be divided into patient delay, the duration between development of symptoms and presentation to healthcare provider, and healthcare provider delay, the duration between presentation and initiation of appropriate treatment.
Automated evaluation of ANA under real-life conditions
Authors: Loock Clemens Dario , Egerer Karl , Feist Eugen , Burmester Gerd-Rüdiger 
Published: April 2017

IntroductionVisual evaluation of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on human epithelial-2 cells is the routine method for screening for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in connective tissue diseases. Since visual IIF is time-consuming and subjective, automated IIF processors have been developed to offer standardised, valid and cost-efficient IIF assays.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic reliability of 2 widely used IIF processors (Aklides, Medipan GmbH and Helios, Aesku Diagnostics) under real-life laboratory working conditions.MethodsANA were determined in samples from patients with suspected autoimmune rheumatic disease (n=1008) using both automated IIF processors and compared with the results obtained by visual interpretation. The performance of IIF processors to discriminate positive from negative samples, pattern recognition and end point titre prediction were evaluated.ResultsThe IIF processors showed moderate agreement with visual interpretation in discriminating positive from negative ANA samples (κ values: Aklides 0.494; Helios 0.415). The sensitivity/specificity was 89%/59% for Aklides and 87%/54% for Helios. However, both processors correctly identified 99% of definitely positive samples (titre ≥1:320). Aklides correctly identified 43% of fluorescence patterns and its light intensity values showed good correlation (Spearman's ρ=0.680) with visually obtained titres.ConclusionsAutomated IIF determination under real-life laboratory working conditions remains a challenge. Owing to their high sensitivity at clinically relevant ANA titres, automated IIF processors can already support but not totally replace visual IIF.
Effect of certolizumab pegol over 96 weeks of treatment on inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints, as measured by MRI, and the association between clinical and MRI outcomes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Braun Jürgen , Baraliakos Xenofon , Hermann Kay-Geert , Landewé Robert , Machado Pedro M , Maksymowych Walter P , Davies Owen , Hoepken Bengt , Nurminen Tommi , Stach Christian , van der Heijde Désirée 
Published: April 2017

ObjectiveTo report MRI outcomes and explore the relationship between clinical remission and MRI inflammation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from the RAPID-axSpA trial, including radiographic (r-)axSpA and non-radiographic (nr-)axSpA.MethodsRAPID-axSpA (NCT01087762) was double-blind and placebo-controlled to week 24, dose-blind to week 48 and open-label to week 204. Patients were randomised to certolizumab pegol (CZP) or placebo. Placebo patients entering dose-blind were rerandomised to CZP. MRIs performed at baseline, weeks 12, 48 and 96 were scored by 2 reviewers independently: Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) for sacroiliac (SI) joints; Berlin modification of the Ankylosing Spondylitis spine MRI scoring system for disease activity (Berlin) for spine. Inflammation thresholds: SPARCC≥2; Berlin>2. Remission thresholds: SPARCC<2 (SI joints); Berlin≤2 (spine); Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease (<1.3, clinical).ResultsAcross 163 patients in the MRI set (109 CZP; 54 placebo), week 12 mean changes from baseline in MRI scores were greater for CZP versus placebo: SPARCC: −4.8 (SD 8.6) vs −1.6 (7.8; p<0.001); Berlin: −2.9 (4.2) vs 0.2 (4.8; p<0.001). Improvements were maintained to week 96. Week 12 MRI remission was achieved by 52.6% of patients with baseline MRI inflammation in SI joints, 62.0% in the spine and 37.9% of patients with both. MRI remission rates were sustained to week 96, with similar trends in r-axSpA and nr-axSpA. At week 96, 57.5% vs 65.9% of patients achieving versus not achieving clinical remission had MRI remission.ConclusionsCZP reduced inflammation in the spine and SI joints in patients with r-axSpA and nr-axSpA, with improvements maintained over 96 weeks. Substantial proportions of patients achieved MRI remission. Concordance between clinical remission and current definitions of absence of MRI inflammation was limited.Trial registration numberNCT01087762; Post-results.
Cl− channel is required for CXCL10-induced neuronal activation and itch response in a murine model of allergic contact dermatitis
Authors: Qu Lintao , Fu Kai , Shimada Steven G. , LaMotte Robert H. 
Published: April 2017

Persistent itch often accompanies allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. We previously demonstrated that CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling activated a subpopulation of cutaneous primary sensory neurons and mediated itch response after contact hypersensitivity (CHS), a murine model of ACD, induced by squaric acid dibutylester. The purpose of this study was to determine the ionic mechanisms underlying CXCL10-induced neuronal activation and allergic itch. In whole cell recordings, CXCL10 triggered a current in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the area of CHS. This current was modulated by intracellular Cl− and blocked by the general Cl− channel inhibitors. Moreover, increasing Ca2+ buffering capacity reduced this current. In addition, blockade of Cl− channels significantly suppressed CXCL10-induced Ca2+ response. In behavioral tests, injection of CXCL10 into CHS site exacerbated itch-related scratching behaviors. Moreover, the potentiating behavioral effects of CXCL10 were attenuated by either of two Cl− channel blockers. Thus we suggest that the Cl− channel acts as a downstream target mediating the excitatory and pruritic behavioral effects of CXCL10. Cl− channels may provide a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of allergic itch in which CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling may participate. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The ionic mechanisms underlying CXCL10-induced neuronal activation and allergic itch are largely unexplored. This study revealed that CXCL10 evoked an ionic current mainly carried by Cl− channels. We suggest that Cl− channels are likely key molecular candidates responsible for the CXCL10-evoked neuronal activation and itch-like behaviors in a murine model of allergic contact dermatitis induced by the antigen squaric acid dibutylester. Cl− channels may emerge as a promising drug target for the treatment of allergic itch in which CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling may participate.
Muscle synergies obtained from comprehensive mapping of the primary motor cortex forelimb representation using high-frequency, long-duration ICMS
Authors: Amundsen Huffmaster Sommer L. , Van Acker Gustaf M. , Luchies Carl W. , Cheney Paul D. 
Published: April 2017

Simplifying neuromuscular control for movement has previously been explored by extracting muscle synergies from voluntary movement electromyography (EMG) patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle synergies represented in EMG recordings associated with direct electrical stimulation of single sites in primary motor cortex (M1). We applied single-electrode high-frequency, long-duration intracortical microstimulation (HFLD-ICMS) to the forelimb region of M1 in two rhesus macaques using parameters previously found to produce forelimb movements to stable spatial end points (90–150 Hz, 90–150 μA, 1,000-ms stimulus train lengths). To develop a comprehensive representation of cortical output, stimulation was applied systematically across the full extent of M1. We recorded EMG activity from 24 forelimb muscles together with movement kinematics. Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was applied to the mean stimulus-evoked EMG, and the weighting coefficients associated with each synergy were mapped to the cortical location of the stimulating electrode. Synergies were found for three data sets including 1) all stimulated sites in the cortex, 2) a subset of sites that produced stable movement end points, and 3) EMG activity associated with voluntary reaching. Two or three synergies accounted for 90% of the overall variation in voluntary movement EMG whereas four or five synergies were needed for HFLD-ICMS-evoked EMG data sets. Maps of the weighting coefficients from the full HFLD-ICMS data set show limited regional areas of higher activation for particular synergies. Our results demonstrate fundamental NMF-based muscle synergies in the collective M1 output, but whether and how the central nervous system might coordinate movements using these synergies remains unclear. NEW & NOTEWORTHY While muscle synergies have been investigated in various muscle activity sets, it is unclear whether and how synergies may be organized in the cortex. We have investigated muscle synergies resulting from high-frequency, long-duration intracortical microstimulation (HFLD-ICMS) applied throughout M1. We compared HFLD-ICMS synergies to synergies from voluntary movement. While synergies can be identified from M1 stimulation, they are not clearly related to voluntary movement synergies and do not show an orderly topographic organization across M1.
Molecular Pathways: Targeting the Protein Kinase Wee1 in Cancer
Authors: Geenen Jill J.J. , Schellens Jan H.M. 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Wee1 is a protein kinase that regulates the G2 checkpoint and prevents entry into mitosis in response to DNA damage. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) are a family of 14 serine/threonine protein kinases that coordinate the progression through the cell cycle. The Cdc2/cyclin B complex controls the progression from G2 into mitosis. There are two mechanisms by which the G2 checkpoint is initiated in response to DNA damage: phosphorylation of Cdc25c by CHK1 and of the Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates Cdc2. Blockade at the G2 checkpoint is especially important for p53-mutant cells because these tumors mainly rely on DNA repair at the G2 checkpoint. AZD1775 (formerly MK-1775) is a small-molecule, pyrazol-pyrimidine derivative and potent and ATP-competitive specific inhibitor of the Wee1 kinase. Several preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated encouraging antitumor effects with manageable side effects of the combination of Wee1 inhibition and DNA-damaging agents. Promising combination schedules are being investigated at the moment, for example, combining PARP inhibition and Wee1 inhibition. Also, a weekly schedule with carboplatin and AZD1775 warrants investigation aimed at further improving the antitumor effect. Clin Cancer Res; 23(16); 4540–4. ©2017 AACR.