bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An LC–MS/MS method for determination of bioactive components of liquorice and Semen Strychni in rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetics study
Authors: Zhang Min , Deng Yang , Wang Chao , Cai Hua‐Lin , Wen Jing , Fang Ping‐Fei , Zhang Bi‐Kui , Li Huan‐De , Yan Miao 
Published: April 2017

Semen Strychni is known for its treatment of rheumatic arthritis with a low therapeutic index. Liquorice contributes a lot in herb detoxification according to the traditional Chinese medicine theory. A simple, rapid, and sensitive liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric method (LC–MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of main bioactive ingredients in liquorice and Semen Strychni in rat plasma. Using moclobemide and cyproterone acetate as the internal standards, the analytes were pretreated via protein precipitation with methanol. An Ultimate AQ‐C18 column (3.0 μm, 3.0 × 100 mm) was employed for chromatographic separation, combining with gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of 0.07% formic acid and 0.12% ammonium acetate in aqueous phase (A) and acetonitrile in organic phase (B). The elution program was as follows: 0–0.5 min, 20% B; 0.5–1 min, 20–60% B; 1–7 min, 60–85% B; and 7–7.5 min, returned to 20% B, then continued to 12 min. Selected reaction monitoring was performed in both positive and negative ESI. Positive mode was adopted for detection of strychnine, brucine, and moclobemide, while negative mode was used for glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, liquiritin, and cyproterone acetate. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, matrix effect, recovery, precision, accuracy, and stability. The results show that this method is sensitive, accurate and robust for biological matrix analysis. Moreover, the proposed method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in Sprague–Dawley rats for investigating the mechanism of which liquorice detoxifies Semen Strychni.
Retention and sustained release of fragrance by Cyclodextrin functionalized cotton fabric modified using maleic anhydride
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Sumana , Das Debasish 
Published: April 2017

Abstractβ‐cyclodextrin(CD) was incorporated in cotton fabric following pad‐dry‐cure technique employing maleic anhydride as modifying agent under the dual influence of free radical polymerization catalyst ammonium peroxodisulfate [(NH4)2S2O8] and esterification catalyst tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7). β‐cyclodextrin(CD) can be esterified if treated with maleic anhydride (an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid) due to the presence of hydroxyl groups in β‐cyclodextrins and also such compound can form inclusion complex with essential oils. The retention of essential oil and its sustained release after repeated post wash treatments was determined quantitatively by UV–vis spectrophotometry.
Estimating electromyography responses using an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system with subtractive clustering
Authors: Çakıt Erman , Karwowski Waldemar 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThis study aimed to develop an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach to estimate the normalized electromyography (NEMG) responses, where the independent variables are demographic variables including population, gender, ethnicity, age, height, weight, posture, and muscle groups. The study groups comprised 75 US‐based (54 males and 21 females) and 10 Japan‐based (all males) automobile assembly workers. A total of 65 inputs and 1 output reflecting the NEMG values were considered at the beginning. After correlating analysis results, a total of 35 significant predictors were considered for both ANFIS and regression models. The data were partitioned into two datasets, one for training (70% of all data) and one for validation (30% of all data). In addition to a soft‐computing approach, a multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was also performed to evaluate whether or not the ANFIS approach showed superior predictive performance compared to a classical statistical approach. According to the performance comparison, ANFIS had better predictive accuracy than MLR, as demonstrated by the experimental results. Overall, this study demonstrates that the ANFIS approach can predict normalized EMG responses according to subjects’ demographic variables, posture, and muscle groups.
Evaluation of soil health in organicvs. conventional farming of basmati rice in North India
Authors: Sihi Debjani , Dari Biswanath , Sharma Dinesh K. , Pathak Himanshu , Nain Lata , Sharma Om Parkash 
Published: April 2017

AbstractConventional agricultural practices that use excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides come at a great price with respect to soil health, a key component to achieve agricultural sustainability. Organic farming could serve as an alternative agricultural system and solve the problems associated with the usage of agro‐chemicals by sustainable use of soil resources. A study was carried out to evaluate the impact of organicvs. conventional cultivations of basmati rice on soil health during Kharif (rainy) season of 2011 at Kaithal district of Haryana, India, under farmers' participatory mode. Long‐term application of organic residues in certified organic farms was found to improve physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil health. Greater organic matter buildup as indicated by higher soil organic carbon content in organic fields was critical to increase soil aggregate stability by increasing water holding capacity and reducing bulk density. Proper supplementation of nutrients (both major and micro nutrients) through organic residue addition favored biologically available nutrients in organic systems. Further, the prevalence of organic substrates stimulated soil microorganisms to produce enzymes responsible for the conversion of unavailable nutrients to plant available forms. Most importantly, a closer look at the relationship between physicochemical and biological indicators of soil health evidenced the significance of organic matter to enzyme activities suggesting enhanced nutrient cycling in systems receiving organic amendments. Enzyme activities were very sensitive to short‐term (one growing season) effects of organicvs. conventional nutrient management. Soil chemical indicators (organic matter and nutrient contents) were also changed in the short‐term, but the response was secondary to the biochemical indicators. Taken together, this study indicates that organic farming practices foster biotic and abiotic interactions in the soil which may facilitate in moving towards a sustainable food future.
Efficient collection and preparation of methane from low concentration waters for natural abundance radiocarbon analysis
Authors: Sparrow Katy J. , Kessler John D. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractFreshwater and marine environments constitute the largest global reservoirs of the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) and natural abundance radiocarbon measurements (14C‐CH4) can allow for high confidence interpretations about CH4 dynamics operating in these environments. Collecting sufficient amounts of CH4 sample for a standard, high precision 14C‐accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) analysis (∼ 200 μg carbon (C)) was previously unfeasible when sampling from low CH4 concentration waters, such as much of the surface ocean (∼ 2 nM), which would require collecting the CH4 from 8500 L of seawater. The method described here involves pumping 20,000–40,000 L of seawater up from depth through a dissolved gas extraction system, which enables the collection of a sample composed of 100s of L of gas in less than 4 h on station. The large volume extracted gas sample is compressed into a 1.7 L cylinder for transport from the ship to the home laboratory. The home laboratory preparation of each sample to a CH4‐derived carbon dioxide aliquot for 14C‐AMS analysis is carried out in 3 h on a flow‐through vacuum line that simultaneously prepares aliquots for stable isotope analyses (δ13C‐CH4 and δ2H‐CH4). The total process blank of the method is small (5.0 μg CH4‐C) and composes 1.2% of the average collected and prepared sample (424 ± 163 μg, from a recent campaign; n = 16). The 14C‐CH4 blanks prepared on the vacuum line have acceptably low 14C content (0.23 ± 0.07 percent Modern Carbon (pMC); n = 7) relative to the 14C‐dead (0 pMC) CH4 from which they are prepared.
The effect of a lifestyle intervention on pregnancy and postpartum dietary patterns determined by factor analysis
Authors: Moran Lisa J. , Flynn Angela C. , Louise Jennie , Deussen Andrea R. , Dodd Jodie M. 
Published: April 2017

ObjectiveOptimizing maternal diet during pregnancy improves maternal and infant health. This study assessed the effect of an antenatal lifestyle intervention for women with overweight or obesity on dietary patterns during pregnancy and post partum.MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial in which pregnant women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) received lifestyle advice (n = 943) or standard care (n = 924). Dietary pattern analysis was undertaken using factor analysis with comparisons between trial entry and 28 weeks, 36 weeks, and 4 months post partum.ResultsThe dietary pattern analysis revealed two distinct patterns: “prudent” and “Western.” There was a significant difference between groups in the change over time for both patterns (P < 0.001). For the prudent score, the lifestyle group had higher scores at all times after trial entry compared with standard care, while for the Western score, the lifestyle group had a lower score at 28 weeks. The intervention effect differed based on trial entry BMI (P =  0.043) and smoking (P = 0.019), with higher prudent scores for women with obesity compared with overweight and smokers compared with nonsmokers.ConclusionsThe provision of an antenatal lifestyle intervention for women with overweight and obesity was associated with an improvement in dietary patterns that persisted post partum. This has important implications for the future consideration of optimal dietary intervention components to include in antenatal lifestyle interventions.
Plasma proteome of buffaloes
Authors: de Pontes Leticia Gomes , Cavassan Nayara Rodrigues Vieira , de Barros Luciana Curtolo , Ferreira Junior Rui Seabra , Barraviera Benedito , Santos Lucilene Delazari dos 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe proteomic approach has aroused the interest of veterinary medicine researchers, especially regarding the production of biopharmaceuticals and diagnosis of diseases in farm animals. Water buffaloes have gained prominence in the world economy due to the quality of their milk, meat, and leather, in addition to being an important donor of blood components. This work aimed to identify and characterize the proteins present in the blood plasma of Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) through 2D electrophoresis, in gel protein digestion followed by mass spectrometry technique and for albumin depletion, in solution protein digestion followed by shotgun analysis. Our results showed the identification of 112 protein spots and 35 individual proteins, respectively. The abundant proteins were represented by albumin, fibrinogen‐α, fibrinogen‐β, fibrinogen‐γ, immunoglobulins in general, α‐1‐antiproteinase, α‐1B‐glycoprotein, α‐2‐HS‐glycoprotein, α‐macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, antithrombin‐III, endopin 2B, fetuin‐B, retinol‐binding protein, serotransferrin, transthyretin and vitamin D‐binding protein. Most of these proteins are related to the signaling pathways of the complement system and coagulation cascade. The results allowed a better understanding of the protein composition of these blood components, thus promoting studies on animal health in the search for molecular markers of zoonotic diseases in buffaloes.
Variable terrestrial GPS telemetry detection rates: Addressing the probability of successful acquisitions
Authors: Ironside Kirsten E. , Mattson David J. , Choate David , Stoner David , Arundel Terence , Hansen Jered , Theimer Tad , Holton Brandon , Jansen Brian , Sexton Joseph O. , Longshore Kathleen , Edwards Thomas C. , Peters Michael 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACTStudies using global positioning system (GPS) telemetry rarely result in 100% fix success rates (FSR), which may bias datasets because data loss is systematic rather than a random process. Previous spatially explicit models developed to correct for sampling bias have been limited to small study areas, a small range of data loss, or were study‐area specific. We modeled environmental effects on FSR from desert to alpine biomes, investigated the full range of potential data loss (0–100% FSR), and evaluated whether animal body position can contribute to lower FSR because of changes in antenna orientation based on GPS detection rates for 4 focal species: cougars (Puma concolor), desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Terrain exposure and height of over story vegetation were the most influential factors affecting FSR. Model evaluation showed a strong correlation (0.88) between observed and predicted FSR and no significant differences between predicted and observed FSRs using 2 independent validation datasets. We found that cougars and canyon‐dwelling bighorn sheep may select for environmental features that influence their detectability by GPS technology, mule deer may select against these features, and elk appear to be nonselective. We observed temporal patterns in missed fixes only for cougars. We provide a model for cougars, predicting fix success by time of day that is likely due to circadian changes in collar orientation and selection of daybed sites. We also provide a model predicting the probability of GPS fix acquisitions given environmental conditions, which had a strong relationship (r
2 = 0.82) with deployed collar FSRs across species. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Bioavailability of iron multi-amino acid chelate preparation in mice and human duodenal HuTu 80 cells
Authors: Kajarabille Naroa , Brown Catriona , Cucliciu Anamaria , Thapaliya Gita , Latunde-Dada Gladys O. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractStrategies for preventing Fe deficiency include Fe supplementation and Fe fortification of foods. The absorption, metabolism and chemical characteristics of Fe multi-amino acid chelate (IMAAC) are not known. Absorption of IMAAC was compared with FeSO4in Fe-depleted mice andin vitrochemical studies of the Fe supplement was performed in HuTu 80 cells. Hb repletion study was carried out in Fe-deficient CD1 mice that were fed for 10 d a diet supplemented with ferrous IMAAC or FeSO4. A control group of Fe-replete mice was fed a diet with adequate Fe concentrations throughout the study. Tissues were collected from the mice, and the expression of Fe-related genes was determined by quantitative PCR. Ferric reductase and Fe uptake were evaluated in HuTu 80 cells. Supplementation of the diet with FeSO4or IMAAC significantly increased Hb levels (P<0·001) in Fe-deficient mice from initial 93·9 (SD10·8) or 116·2 (SD9·1) to 191 (SD0·7) or 200 (SD0·5) g/l, respectively. Initial and final Hb for the Fe-deficient control group were 87·4 (SD6·7) and 111 (SD11·7) g/l, respectively. Furthermore, the liver non-haem Fe of both supplement groups increased significantly (P<0·001). IMAAC was more effective at restoring Fe in the spleen compared with FeSO4(P<0·005). Gene expression showed the IMAAC supplement absorption is regulated by the body’s Fe status as it significantly up-regulated hepcidin (P<0·001) and down-regulated duodenal cytochrome b mRNA (P<0·005), similar to the effects seen with FeSO4. A significant proportion of Fe in IMAAC is reduced by ascorbic acid. Fe absorption in mice and cells was similar for both IMAAC and FeSO4and both compounds induce and regulate Fe metabolism genes similarly in the maintenance of homeostasis in mice.
Body weight and body composition changes during military training and deployment involving the use of combat rations: a systematic literature review
Authors: Tassone Eliza C. , Baker Bradley A. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDismounted military personnel operate in physically and psychologically demanding environments, with energy intake from combat rations often falling short of their requirements, leading to reductions in body weight and changes in body composition, which can impact both their health and performance. This review systematically investigated the effects of the continual use of combat rations for periods of 3–40 d on body weight and/or body composition in military personnel engaged in training or deployment. In all, ten databases were searched from their inception until October 2016. Outcome data were described narratively, with studies assessed for quality and risk of bias. A total of thirty studies undertaken over 3–34 d were included. Studies were rated positive, neutral or negative in quality according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Checklist, with many at risk of bias. Reductions in mean body weight varied, from a negligible decrease of 0·1 % during 8 d of combat training to a substantial decrease of approximately 8·3 % during 12 d of energy restriction during a US Army Ranger course. Decreases in fat mass, fat-free mass and percentage body fat were also reported. There is thus evidence that the continual use of combat rations for periods of 3–34 d results in reductions in body weight and body composition changes which, in some scenarios, may impact on the performance of troops. Body weight and composition should be routinely monitored before and after field activities, and at more regular intervals depending on the length, intensity and type of activity being undertaken.
Dietary supplementation of branched-chain amino acids increases muscle net amino acid fluxes through elevating their substrate availability and intramuscular catabolism in young pigs
Authors: Zheng Liufeng , Zuo Fangrui , Zhao Shengjun , He Pingli , Wei Hongkui , Xiang Quanhang , Pang Jiaman , Peng Jian 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBranched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been clearly demonstrated to have anabolic effects on muscle protein synthesis. However, little is known about their roles in the regulation of net AA fluxes across skeletal musclein vivo. This study was aimed to investigate the effect and related mechanisms of dietary supplementation of BCAA on muscle net amino acid (AA) fluxes using the hindlimb flux model. In all fourteen 4-week-old barrows were fed reduced-protein diets with or without supplemental BCAA for 28 d. Pigs were implanted with carotid arterial, femoral arterial and venous catheters, and fed once hourly with intraarterial infusion ofp-amino hippurate. Arterial and venous plasma and muscle samples were obtained for the measurement of AA, branched-chainα-keto acids (BCKA) and 3-methylhistidine (3-MH). Metabolomes of venous plasma were determined by HPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight-MS. BCAA-supplemented group showed elevated muscle net fluxes of total essential AA, non-essential AA and AA. As for individual AA, muscle net fluxes of each BCAA and their metabolites (alanine, glutamate and glutamine), along with those of histidine, methionine and several functional non-essential AA (glycine, proline and serine), were increased by BCAA supplementation. The elevated muscle net AA fluxes were associated with the increase in arterial and intramuscular concentrations of BCAA and venous metabolites including BCKA and free fatty acids, and were also related to the decrease in the intramuscular concentration of 3-MH. Correlation analysis indicated that muscle net AA fluxes are highly and positively correlated with arterial BCAA concentrations and muscle net BCKA production. In conclusion, supplementing BCAA to reduced-protein diet increases the arterial concentrations and intramuscular catabolism of BCAA, both of which would contribute to an increase of muscle net AA fluxes in young pigs.
Slaying Men with Faces of Women: Liberalism and patronage in the trial of a South Indian maulvi, 1839–40
Authors: MALLAMPALLI CHANDRA 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn April 1839, 29 Muslims in Vellore (South India) accused theirmaulvi, Sayyid Shah Modin Qadiri, of preaching seditious sermons in his mosque, which exhorted Muslims to wage jihad against the ruling East India Company. The ensuing criminal trial of Maulvi Modin illustrates key aspects of liberal imperialism as it was interpreted and implemented in pre-Mutiny India. As a central ideology of the British empire, liberalism championed the rights and freedoms of rational individuals and constraints on state power. At Modin's trial, however, this framework did not lend itself to a sanitary, evidence-based enquiry that bracketed the identities of the accused or the accusers. Rather, the trial measured a Muslim's place within networks of patronage that ensurednamak halal, or the bonds of loyalty between rulers and subjects. Far from being a post-Enlightenment adjudication of guilt or innocence, his trial reveals the Company's investment in a particular kind of social order maintained by its scrutiny of class backgrounds and its patronage of traditional identities—a fact that softens the distinction often made between a commitment to liberal transformation before the Great Rebellion of 1857 and a return to conservatism afterwards.1
Promoting medication adherence among patients with bipolar disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial of a multifaceted intervention
Authors: Pakpour A. H. , Modabbernia A. , Lin C.-Y. , Saffari M. , Ahmadzad Asl M. , Webb T. L. 
Published: April 2017

BackgroundThe present research aimed to investigate the efficacy of a multifaceted intervention that included motivational interviewing (MI) and psychoeducation in improving medication adherence (MA) among patients with bipolar disorder (BD).MethodA multicenter, cluster randomized, observer-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted in ten academic centers in Iran. Patients with BD were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EXP; n = 136) or the usual care group (UC; n = 134). The EXP group received five sessions of MI and psychoeducation together with their family members. The primary outcome measure was changes in scores on the Medication Adherence Rating Scale from baseline to 6 months post-intervention. Other outcome measures included serum levels of mood stabilizers, clinical symptoms, quality of life, as well as measures of intention, beliefs about medicine, perceived behavioral control, automaticity, action and coping planning, and adverse reactions.ResultsMedication adherence improved over time in both groups, but patients in the EXP group improved more (baseline score: 6.03; score at the sixth month: 9.55) than patients in the UC group (baseline score: 6.17; score at the sixth month: 6.67). In addition, patients in the EXP group showed greater improvement than patients in the UC group in almost all secondary outcomes 6 months following the intervention.ConclusionsMultifaceted interventions that include motivational-interviewing and psychoeducation can significantly improve MA and clinical and functional outcomes in patients with BD.Trial Registration Number: The trial was registered with theClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT02241863) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02241863