bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison between sensory and instrumental characterization of topical formulations: impact of thickening agents
Authors: Estanqueiro M. , Amaral M. H. , Sousa Lobo J. M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectiveSensorial properties of cutaneous formulations are important in determining their acceptability by consumers. However, sensorial analysis is time‐consuming and requires an available panel of trained assessors. Thus, this article aimed to study the impact of thickening agents on mechanical properties of creams and investigate how these measurements could correlate the sensory attributes using a combined instrumental–sensorial approach.MethodsFor this purpose, eight semisolid formulations were prepared, containing in their composition different thickening agents at different concentrations. These formulations were firstly microscopically observed and then assayed through textural, rheological and spreadability measurements. Textural characterization and rheological characterization were performed during six months to assess the physical stability of the studied formulations. Finally, six sensory attributes, namely firmness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, spreadability, consistency and adhesiveness post‐application, were tested by a trained panel.ResultsIt was observed that thickening agents influence the microstructure of semisolid emulsions and also their mechanical properties. In general, an increase in the concentration of thickening agents improves the physical stability of formulations over time. Besides, textural parameters (firmness and adhesiveness), viscosity and difficulty to spread also increase. A good correlation between mechanical characterization and sensorial analysis was verified, mainly for spreadability properties.ConclusionWith the obtained results, it is possible to conclude that the proposed methods for mechanical characterization can be correlated with sensorial perception obtained from volunteers, representing a faster and less expensive alternative than sensory analysis.
Adjunctive screening devices for oral lesions: their use by Canadian Dental Hygienists and the need for knowledge translation
Authors: Laronde DM , Corbett KK 
Published: December 2015

AbstractScreening for oral cancer and other mucosal conditions is a knowledge‐to‐action objective that should be easy: there is supportive evidence, it is fast and non‐invasive, and the oral cavity is easy to visualize. However, over 60% of oral cancers are diagnosed late, when treatment is complex and prognosis poor. Adjunctive screening devices (ASDs), e.g. toluidine blue (TB), fluorescence visualization (FV), chemiluminescence (CL) and brush biopsies, were designed to assess risk of oral lesions or aid in identification and localization of oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Little is known on how clinicians feel about using ASDs.ObjectivesTo evaluate use and level of comfort in using ASDs for oral cancer screening among dental hygienists.MethodsOnline email survey of a stratified random sample of nearly 3000 dental hygienists from four Canadian provinces.ResultsA total of 369 hygienists responded about ASDs. Ninety‐three (25%) had used an ASD. Use was associated with six or more continuing education (CE) courses per year (P = 0.030), having a CE course in oral pathology within the last 3 years (P = 0.003) and having a screening protocol (P = 0.008). The most commonly used ASD is FV, which was the tool hygienists felt most comfortable using. Few used brush biopsies. Older graduates were more comfortable using TB (P = 0.014) and CL (0.033).ConclusionCurrent evidence and education through CE appears to bolster knowledge translation efforts for hygienists to become more comfortable in the use of ASDs. ASDs with minimal supporting evidence and not specifically targeted to hygienists, such as the brush biopsies, are not well utilized.
Nasal polyps: a predisposing factor for cutaneous leishmaniasis of the lips?
Authors: Veraldi Stefano , D'Agostino Antonio , Pontini Paolo , Guanziroli Elena , Gatt Paul 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectivesCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) of the lips is rare. This study was conducted to investigate findings in patients with this condition.MethodsFrom 2007 to date, we observed 10 patients (nine males and one female), with a median age of 45.2 years (range: 8–77 years), with CL of the lips.ResultsSix of the 10 patients suffered from nasal polyps, three from bronchial asthma, and one from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Three of the patients with nasal polyps also had asthma. Three patients had none of nasal polyps, asthma, or COPD. In all patients with nasal polyps, diagnosis was confirmed by anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy.ConclusionsIt is possible that, in patients with nasal polyps, asthma, and COPD, the need to breathe through the mouth rather than the nose facilitates the sting by sandflies. Subjects with nasal polyps living in areas endemic for CL should be warned about the risk for being stung by sandflies on the lips, in addition to other uncovered areas.
Immunogenetics of three novel HLA‐Class II alleles: DRB1*03:112, DQB1*03:02:16 and DQB1*03:139
Authors: Street J. , Johnson J. , Lemin A. J. , Harvey C. , Darke C. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThree novel HLA‐Class II alleles, DRB1*03:112, DQB1*03:02:16 and DQB1*03:139, are described with predicted bearing haplotypes of A*02:01, B*40:01, C*03:04, DRB1*03:112, DQB1*02:01; A*23:01, B*15:01, C*03:03, DRB1*04:01, DQB1*03:02:16 and A*01:01, B*44:02, C*05:01/03, DRB1*04:01, DQB1*03:139. Serological tests showed that the DRB1*03:112 and DQB1*03:139 specificities failed to react as expected with some well‐documented monoclonal antibodies. Subsequent examination of published HLA‐Class II epitopes and inspection of amino acid motifs suggested that epitopes exist that include the positions of their single substitutions (F31C between DRB1*03:01:01:01 and DRB1*03:112, and R48P between DQB1*03:01:01:01 and DQB1*03:139 specificities). This suggests that the reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies used was dependent on these epitopes and that their loss from these rare allele products resulted in their aberrant serology. The new alleles were found after the sequence‐based typing of 32 530 random UK European routine blood donors suggesting that each has a maximum carriage frequency of 0.0031% in the blood donor population resident in Wales.
Epstein–Barr virus‐induced gene 3 suppresses T helper type 1, type 17 and type 2 immune responses after Trypanosoma cruzi infection and inhibits parasite replication by interfering with alternative macrophage activation
Authors: Böhme Julia , Roßnagel Caroline , Jacobs Thomas , Behrends Jochen , Hölscher Christoph , Erdmann Hanna 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe Epstein–Barr virus‐induced gene 3 (EBI3) is a member of the interleukin‐12 (IL)‐12) family structurally related to the subunit p40 of IL‐12 and forms a heterodimer either with the p28 subunit to build IL‐27 or with p35 to form IL‐35. Interleukin‐27 is secreted by antigen‐presenting cells whereas IL‐35 appears to be produced mainly by regulatory T cells and regulatory B cells but both cytokines negatively regulate inflammatory immune responses. We here analysed the function of EBI3 during infection with the intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Compared with C57BL/6 wild‐type mice, EBI3‐deficient (EBI3−/−) mice showed a higher parasitaemia associated with an increased mortality rate. The EBI3−/− mice displayed an elevated inflammatory immune response with an increased production of T helper type 1 (Th1‐), Th2‐ and Th17‐derived cytokines. The increased Th2 immune response appears to have over‐ridden the otherwise protective Th1 and Th17 immune responses by the induction of arginase‐1‐expressing alternatively activated macrophages in these mice. Hence, neutralization of IL‐4 and arginase‐1 activity partially restored protective immune responses in EBI3−/− mice. So far, our results demonstrate that EBI3 is an essential general regulator of inflammatory immune responses in experimental Chagas disease and is required for control of T. cruzi infection by inhibiting Th2‐dependent alternative macrophage activation. Further studies are needed to dissect the underlying mechanisms and clarify whether EBI3 association with IL‐27 or/and IL‐35 accounts for its anti‐inflammatory character in parasitic disease.
Nucleic acid‐sensing TLRs and autoimmunity: novel insights from structural and cell biology
Authors: Pelka Karin , Shibata Takuma , Miyake Kensuke , Latz Eicke 
Published: December 2015

SummaryInvasion of pathogenic microorganisms or tissue damage activates innate immune signaling receptors that sample subcellular locations for foreign molecular structures, altered host molecules, or signs of compartment breaches. Upon engagement of innate immune receptors an acute but transient inflammatory response is initiated, aimed at the clearance of pathogens and cellular debris. Among the molecules that are sensed are nucleic acids, which activate several members of the transmembrane Toll‐like receptor (TLR) family. Inappropriate recognition of nucleic acids by TLRs can cause inflammatory pathologies and autoimmunity. Here, we review the mechanisms involved in triggering nucleic acid‐sensing TLRs and indicate checkpoints that restrict their activation to endolysosomal compartments. These mechanisms are crucial to sample the content of endosomes for nucleic acids in the context of infection or tissue damage, yet prevent accidental activation by host nucleic acids under physiological conditions. Decoding the molecular mechanisms that regulate nucleic acid recognition by TLRs is central to understand pathologies linked to unrestricted nucleic acid sensing and to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Negative regulation of TLR signaling in myeloid cells—implications for autoimmune diseases
Authors: Hamerman Jessica A. , Pottle Jessica , Ni Minjian , He Yantao , Zhang Zhong‐Yin , Buckner Jane H. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryToll‐like receptors (TLR) are transmembrane pattern recognition receptors that recognize microbial ligands and signal for production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferon in macrophages and dendritic cells (DC). Whereas TLR‐induced inflammatory mediators are required for pathogen clearance, many are toxic to the host and can cause pathological inflammation when over‐produced. This is demonstrated by the role of TLR‐induced cytokines in autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Because of the potent effects of TLR‐induced cytokines, we have diverse mechanisms to dampen TLR signaling. Here, we highlight three pathways that participate in inhibition of TLR responses in macrophages and DC, and their implications in autoimmunity; A20, encoded by the TNFAIP3 gene, Lyp encoded by the PTPN22 gene, and the BCAP/PI3K pathway. We present new findings that Lyp promotes TLR responses in primary human monocytes and that the autoimmunity risk Lyp620W variant is more effective at promoting TLR‐induced interleukin‐6 than the non‐risk Lyp620R protein. This suggests that Lyp serves to downregulate a TLR inhibitory pathway in monocytes, and we propose that Lyp inhibits the TREM2/DAP12 inhibitory pathway. Overall, these pathways demonstrate distinct mechanisms of negative regulation of TLR responses, and all impact autoimmune disease pathogenesis and treatment.
Reducing High Public Debt Ratios: Lessons from UK Experience*
Authors: Crafts Nicholas 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis paper examines contrasting experiences of the United Kingdom in addressing high public debt to GDP ratios following major wars. A clear message is that interest rate / growth rate differentials were more important than primary budget surpluses for the different outcomes. The debt to GDP ratio fell very rapidly under financial repression following the Second World War but remained stubbornly high despite large budget surpluses with price deflation after the First World War. Implications for policymakers today are that averting price deflation is a high priority and that supply‐side policies that raise growth could play an important part in debt reduction.
From integrative to game‐based integrative peer response: high ability versus low ability
Authors: Wang J.H. , Chen S.Y. , Chang B. , Chan T.W. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPeer response is useful to improve student writing. However, traditional peer response takes a single mode, which has some problems, such as effort for preparation of documents or ambiguous feedback. To address these problems, this study presents two peer response approaches, that is, an integrative approach and a game‐based integrative approach. Additionally, whether students with these two peer response approaches and those with a non‐peer response approach performed differently is examined in this study, where students' ability levels were also considered. The findings suggest that students with the peer response generally demonstrated better writing performance than those without the peer response. Furthermore, students with the game‐based integrative approach showed better writing quality than those with the integrative approach. Moreover, the former was more helpful in giving direct feedback on surface features and criticism than the latter. However, the usefulness of peer response approaches was associated with ability levels. More specifically, the integrative approach was beneficial for the high‐ability students to improve on their written expression in the aspect of length of composition, while the game‐based integrative approach was advantageous to enhance the low‐ability students' writing quality in the aspect of clear paragraph.
Topical steroids in eosinophilic esophagitis: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trials
Authors: Murali Arvind R , Gupta Ashutosh , Attar Bashar M , Ravi Venkatesh , Koduru Pramoda 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground and Aims:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathologic condition characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction in the presence of eosinophil‐predominant inflammation of esophageal mucosa. Topical steroids are recommended as first line pharmacologic therapy in EoE. We aimed to determine the efficacy of topical steroids in inducing histologic and clinical remission in children and adults with EoE.Methods:We performed a systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases for studies investigating the efficacy of topical steroids in EoE. We collected data on the number of patients, dose and duration of therapy, complete and partial histological response, and clinical improvement. We performed meta‐analysis of placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trials using Review Manager version 5.2. We used funnel plots to evaluate for publication bias.Results:Five studies that included 174 patients with EoE were included in the meta‐analysis. Topical fluticasone was administered in three studies involving 114 patients, and topical budesonide in two studies involving 60 patients. Patients treated with topical steroids, as compared with placebo, had higher complete histological remission (odds ratio [OR] 20.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.03, 61.63) and partial histological remission (OR 32.20, 95% CI 6.82, 152.04). There was a trend towards improvement in clinical symptoms with topical steroids as compared with placebo but it did not reach statistical significance (OR 2.72, 95 %CI 0.90, 8.23).Conclusions:Topical corticosteroids seem to be effective in inducing histological remission but may not have similar significant impact in improving clinical symptoms of EoE. Studies with large sample size are needed to uniformly validate symptom improvement in EoE.
Erring on the side of caution: pregnant women's perceptions of consuming fish in a risk averse society
Authors: Lucas C. , Starling P. , McMahon A. , Charlton K. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundFish and seafood are good sources of several nutrients that are important for foetal growth and development. Despite guidelines encouraging the eating of fish during pregnancy, research indicates that pregnant women may be limiting or avoiding these foods. Possible factors contributing to this include concerns regarding levels of mercury and other contaminants and pregnant women's purported heightened risk consciousness. The present study aimed to explore pregnant women's perceptions of consuming fish and seafood during pregnancy.MethodsSemi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 15 pregnant women across all three trimesters in New South Wales, Australia. Questions focussed on exploring nutrition information received during pregnancy, dietary changes made during pregnancy and, more specifically, perceptions of fish and seafood, as well as views on information of fish and seafood commonly provided to pregnant women. Data were collected, then transcribed and analysed using an inductive coding process, guided by the qualitative theory grounded approach.ResultsMultiple inter‐related themes were found to shape pregnant women's perceptions related to fish and seafood consumption during pregnancy; namely, the understanding of fish and seafood as part of a healthy diet, external factors such as cost, individual preferences such as taste, and confidence in choosing and preparing fish. The context of a risk adverse society permeated these themes.ConclusionsThe present study provides insight into the inter‐related factors that influence pregnant women's consumption or avoidance of fish and seafood.
Environmental Impact Assessment of Household Consumption
Authors: Ivanova Diana , Stadler Konstantin , Steen‐Olsen Kjartan , Wood Richard , Vita Gibran , Tukker Arnold , Hertwich Edgar G. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryWe analyze the environmental impact of household consumption in terms of the material, water, and land‐use requirements, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, associated with the production and use of products and services consumed by these households. Using the new EXIOBASE 2.2 multiregional input‐output database, which describes the world economy at the detail of 43 countries, five rest‐of‐the‐world regions, and 200 product sectors, we are able to trace the origin of the products consumed by households and represent global supply chains for 2007. We highlight the importance of environmental pressure arising from households with their consumption contributing to more than 60% of global GHG emissions and between 50% and 80% of total land, material, and water use. The footprints are unevenly distributed across regions, with wealthier countries generating the most significant impacts per capita. Elasticities suggest a robust and significant relationship between households’ expenditure and their environmental impacts, driven by a rising demand of nonprimary consumption items. Mobility, shelter, and food are the most important consumption categories across the environmental footprints. Globally, food accounts for 48% and 70% of household impacts on land and water resources, respectively, with consumption of meat, dairy, and processed food rising fast with income. Shelter and mobility stand out with high carbon and material intensity, whereas the significance of services for footprints relates to the large amount of household expenditure associated with them.
Toward a Practical Ontology for Socioeconomic Metabolism
Authors: Pauliuk Stefan , Majeau‐Bettez Guillaume , Müller Daniel B. , Hertwich Edgar G. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe complexity of data and methods in industrial ecology (IE) keeps growing, and the demand for comprehensive and interdisciplinary assessments increases. To keep up with this development, the field needs a data infrastructure that allows researchers to annotate, store, retrieve, combine, and exchange data at low cost, without loss of information, and across disciplines and model frameworks. A consensus‐building debate about how to describe the common object of study, socioeconomic metabolism (SEM), is necessary for the development of practical data structures and databases. We review the definitions of basic concepts to describe SEM in IE and related fields such as integrated assessment modeling. We find that many definitions are not compatible, are implicit, and are sometimes lacking. To resolve the conflicts and inconsistencies within the current definitions, we propose a hierarchical system of terms and definitions, apractical ontology, for describing objects, their properties, and events in SEM. We propose a typology of object properties and usesetsto group objects into a hierarchical, mutually exclusive, and collectively exhaustive (H‐MECE) classification. This grouping leads to a general definition ofstocks. We show that a MECE representation of events necessarily requires two complementary concepts:processesandflows, for which we propose general definitions based on sets. Using these definitions, we show that the system structure of any interdisciplinary model of SEM can be formulated as adirected graph. We propose guidelines for semantic data annotation and database design, which can help to turn the vision of a powerful data infrastructure for SEM research into reality.
Classification of Salmonella enterica serotypes with selective bands using visible/NIR hyperspectral microscope images
Authors: EADY M. , PARK B. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryOptical detection of foodborne bacteria such as Salmonella classifies bacteria by analysing spectral data, and has potential for rapid detection. In this experiment hyperspectral microscopy is explored as a means for classifying five Salmonella serotypes. Initially, the microscope collects 89 spectral measurements between 450 and 800 nm. Here, the objective was to develop correct classification of five serotypes with optimal spectral bands selected through multivariate data analysis (MVDA), thus reducing the data processing and storage requirement necessary for practical application in the food industry. An upright digital microscope is equipped with an acousto‐optical tuneable filter, electron multiplying charge‐coupled device, and metal halide lighting source. Images for each of the five serotypes were collected, and informative bands were identified through a principal component analysis, for four abbreviated spectral ranges containing 3, 7, 12 and 20 spectral bands. The experiment was repeated with an independent repetition and images were collected at each of the reduced band sets, identified by the first repetition. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to classify serotypes. Results showed that with the first repetition, classification accuracy decreased from 99.5% (89 bands) to 84.5% (3 bands), whereas the second repetition showed classification accuracies of 100%, possibly due to a reduction in spectral noise. The support vector machine regression (SVMR) was applied with cross‐validation, and had R2 calibration and validation values >0.922. Although classification accuracies through SVM classification showed that as little as 3 bands were able to classify 100% of the samples, the SVMR shows that the smallest root‐mean squared‐error values were 0.001 and 0.002 for 20 and 12 bands, respectively, suggesting that the 12 band range collected between 586 and 630 nm is optimal for classifying bacterial serotypes, with only the informative HMI bands selected.