bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A method for evaluating time‐resolved rheological functionalities of fluid foods
Authors: Ohie Kohei , Chiba Haruko , Kumagai Satomi , Yoshida Taiki , Tasaka Yuji 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe have developed an effective method for evaluating time‐resolved rheological functionalities of swallowed foods using ultrasonic spinning rheometry (USR). USR can obtain variations over time in the rheological properties of fluids despite the fluids being in heterogeneous and nonequilibrium conditions. In addition, USR can evaluate time variations of shear‐thinning property changing in a few seconds. Demonstrations were conducted with typical thickener solutions: starch, guar gum, and xanthan gum‐based solutions, with alpha‐amylase as a digestive enzyme. The flow curve of the starch‐based solutions lowered with time, and a few minutes after addition of the amylase, the viscosity dropped to one‐hundredth of the original value. In contrast, the guar gum‐ and xanthan gum‐based solutions maintained the original viscosities as generally known. Applying the power law fitting to series of these flow curves, the time variation of the shear‐thinning property is quantitatively characterized by the plots on typical K‐n space, where K and n are parameters in the model, consistency index and power law exponent. The qualitative characteristics of the thickeners are successfully quantified in the K‐n space, and this will be a practical tool for evaluating the time‐resolved rheological properties of swallowed foods.
Petrogenesis of Northwest Africa 8686: A ferroan olivine‐phyric shergottite
Authors: Nicklas Robert W. , Day James M. D. , Vaci Zoltan , Udry Arya 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNorthwest Africa (NWA) 8686 is an olivine‐phyric shergottite containing up to ~500 μm long olivine crystals in a fine‐grained groundmass of augite, pigeonite, and maskelynite, with accessory merrillite, pyrrhotite, and oxides. Bulk rock and mineral major and trace element concentrations are reported for NWA 8686, along with bulk rock highly siderophile element (HSE: Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, Pd, Re) abundances and 187Re‐187Os data. Based on its mineralogy, texture, and bulk rock rare earth element (REE) abundances, NWA 8686 is classified as an intermediate olivine‐phyric shergottite. It is notable for having some of the most ferroan olivine macrocrysts (forsterite content = 51.5 ± 3.5) of any olivine‐phyric shergottite. Olivine is absent from the NWA 8686 groundmass, which is unique for olivine‐phyric shergottites, and the calculated groundmass composition is also not olivine normative. The bulk meteorite has a low Mg# of 59 yet has HSE in broadly chondritic proportions (~0.005 × CI chondrite). The bulk rock REE pattern for NWA 8686 shows depletions in both the light and heavy REE relative to the middle REE. Compiled olivine and bulk rock data for olivine‐phyric shergottites indicate that olivine macrocrysts in almost all these meteorites are the result of entrainment of antecrysts or xenocrysts. The combination of low Mg# and chondritic HSE signatures in NWA 8686 means that it may have been formed either from the mixing between an evolved lava and early‐formed HSE‐rich phases such as Os‐Ir alloys or by the melting of a low Mg# mantle source with chondritic HSE abundances. The elevated Gd/Yb ratio in both NWA 8686 and other intermediate olivine‐phyric shergottites indicates that garnet was involved as either a residual or fractionating phase in their petrogenesis.
Visiting Hours: Spacetimes of Human–Animal Interaction in South African Elder Care
Authors: Golomski Casey 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis article examines human–animal interaction in elder care by focusing on an old age home in postapartheid South Africa. Residents admire and desire to be near animals, but staff mostly prohibit pets and service animals due to regulations about hygiene and frailty. Instead, people make meaningful relationships with media representations of animals and wilder animals in the home's yard. This article uses the clinical timescale of visiting hours to interpret these alternative human–animal interactions and their temporal incongruities—to show how people make sense of differences they perceive between their own and animals’ mortality and longevity, and how animals enable remembering and articulations of aging selfhood and social relations across the life course. A reinterpretation of visiting hours reveals the making of self–other distinctions in late life and temporal aspects of medical institutionalism that shape multispecies relations.
Two‐component sensor histidine kinases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Beacons for niche navigation
Authors: Stupar Miljan , Furness Juanelle , De Voss Christopher J. , Tan Lendl , West Nicholas P. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntracellular bacterial pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis are remarkably adept at surviving within a host, employing a variety of mechanisms to counteract host defenses and establish a protected niche. Constant surveying of the environment is key for pathogenic mycobacteria to discern their immediate location and coordinate the expression of genes necessary for adaptation. Two‐component systems efficiently perform this role, typically comprised of a transmembrane sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. In this review, we describe the role of two‐component systems in bacterial pathogenesis, focusing predominantly on the role of sensor kinases of M. tuberculosis. We highlight important features of sensor kinases in mycobacterial infection, discuss ways in which these signaling proteins sense and respond to environments, and how this is attuned to their intracellular lifestyle. Finally, we discuss recent studies which have identified and characterized inhibitors of two‐component sensor kinases toward establishing a new strategy in anti‐mycobacterial therapy.
Activating ATF6 in spinal muscular atrophy promotes SMN expression and motor neuron survival through the IRE1α‐XBP1 pathway
Authors: D'Amico Domenico , Biondi Olivier , Januel Camille , Bezier Cynthia , Sapaly Delphine , Clerc Zoé , El Khoury Mirella , Sundaram Venkat Krishnan , Houdebine Léo , Josse Thibaut , Della Gaspera Bruno , Martinat Cécile , Massaad Charbel , Weill Laure , Charbonnier Frédéric 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAimSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by survival of motor neuron (SMN) deficiency that induces motor neuron (MN) degeneration and severe muscular atrophy. Gene therapies that increase SMN have proven their efficacy but not for all patients. Here, we explored the unfolded protein response (UPR) status in SMA pathology and explored whether UPR modulation could be beneficial for SMA patients.MethodsWe analysed the expression and activation of key UPR proteins by RT‐qPCR and by western blots in SMA patient iPSC‐derived MNs and one SMA cell line in which SMN expression was re‐established (rescue). We complemented this approach by using myoblast and fibroblast SMA patient cells and SMA mouse models of varying severities. Finally, we tested in vitro and in vivo the effect of IRE1α/XBP1 pathway restoration on SMN expression and subsequent neuroprotection.ResultsWe report that the IRE1α/XBP1 branch of the unfolded protein response is disrupted in SMA, with a depletion of XBP1s irrespective of IRE1α activation pattern. The overexpression of XBP1s in SMA fibroblasts proved to transcriptionally enhance SMN expression. Importantly, rebalancing XBP1s expression in severe SMA‐like mice, induced SMN expression and spinal MN protection.ConclusionsWe have identified XBP1s depletion as a contributing factor in SMA pathogenesis, and the modulation of this transcription factor proves to be a plausible therapeutic avenue in the context of pharmacological interventions for patients.
When Do We See Poverty Convergence?*
Authors: Crespo Cuaresma Jesús , Klasen Stephan , Wacker Konstantin M. 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACTWe show why convergence in mean income levels and the negative relation between mean income growth and poverty changes need not lead to proportionate poverty convergence across countries. We propose an analytical framework that highlights that poverty convergence depends on the speed of income convergence relative to a complex interaction of initial inequality, mean income levels, and inequality dynamics. Our framework allows us to investigate poverty convergence, or the lack thereof, under different plausible dynamics of mean income and inequality.
The axiology of theism: Problems and prospects
Authors: Lougheed Kirk 
Published: March 2022

AbstractRoughly put, the axiology of theism asks whether God's existence would be good, bad, or neutral. Thus far the literature has focused on comparing theism as represented by ‘Western monotheism’ to atheism as represented by ‘metaphysical naturalism’. Furthermore, the comparison has focused on comparing the actual world to a nearby epistemically possible world. I begin by surveying the literature comparing the value of such worlds before turning to explore a recent view offered by Klaas J. Kraay which expands the comparison between theism and atheism to include all of modal space (2021). Global, wide modal space pro‐theism is the view that the entirety of modal space containing every possible world is better on theism than on atheism. One reason for holding this view is that God's existence logically entails that there is no gratuitous evil in every single possible world. I object that one potential downside of this view is that theists now have to explain how God's existence is compatible with all of the evil throughout modal space instead of just the evil in our own world. I conclude by pointing to a number of ways the current literature could be expanded, including adding different worldviews to the comparison class.
Topical Brimonidine Delays Ultraviolet Radiation‐Induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Hairless Mice
Authors: Pinto Fernanda E. , Olsen Peter , Glud Martin , Wulf Hans Christian , Lerche Catharina M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe investigated whether topical brimonidine delayed or enhanced the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) when ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was applied to a well‐established murine model. Hairless female mice (n = 125) were randomized into five groups and treated as follows: 1% brimonidine cream before UVR (Group 1), 0.33% brimonidine gel before UVR (Group 2), 1% brimonidine cream after UVR (Group 3), UVR only (control; Group 4) and 1% brimonidine cream only (control; Group 5). For each animal, the first four tumors were recorded and followed until three tumors reached 4 mm or one tumor reached 12 mm in diameter. All animal experiments continued for up to 365 days or until death. Application of 1% brimonidine cream before UVR delayed tumor development relative to control mice treated with UVR alone (P = 0.000006). However, when 0.33% brimonidine gel was applied before UVR (P = 0.313) or 1% brimonidine cream was applied after UVR (P = 0.252), there was no significant delay in tumor development relative to control mice treated with UVR alone. The development of the second and third tumors followed a similar pattern. Topical 1% brimonidine cream applied before UVR exposure delayed SCC development in hairless mice. In contrast, when brimonidine was applied after UVR there was no significant delay in tumor development. These results suggest that the 1% brimonidine cream probably absorbed the UVR, and therefore, a delay in tumor formation was only seen when brimonidine was applied before irradiation. However, there can be multiple reasons for this delay in photocarcinogenesis.
Engel’s law in China: Some new evidence
Authors: Chen Menggen 
Published: March 2022

AbstractEngel's law states that the proportion of food in total consumption expenditure is negatively associated with household income. Different from other studies with time series, this paper investigates the applicability of Engel's law in China, with a sample of cross‐sectional data in 2016 covering the 31 provincial regions of China. The empirical results support Engel's law, and, especially after the consideration of food prices, which is represented by regional food purchasing power parities, the negative impact of income on Engel's coefficient becomes more statistically significant. Meanwhile, Engel's coefficient is positively related to the food price. According to different types of income elasticity, food is divided into two groups: life necessities and life nonnecessities. Then, the inferior Engel's coefficient (IEC) and superior Engel's coefficient (SEC) are calculated with the expenditures of necessary and nonnecessary food, respectively, and a further study shows that the negative relationship between income and the SEC is much weaker than that between income and the IEC. Besides, Engel's coefficient is more strongly affected by the price of food necessities than by that of food nonecessities.
Estimating Individual Treatment Effects using Non-Parametric Regression Models: a Review
Authors: Caron Alberto , Baio Gianluca , Manolopoulou Ioanna 
Published: March 2022

AbstractLarge observational data are increasingly available in disciplines such as health, economic and social sciences, where researchers are interested in causal questions rather than prediction. In this paper, we examine the problem of estimating heterogeneous treatment effects using non-parametric regression-based methods, starting from an empirical study aimed at investigating the effect of participation in school meal programs on health indicators. First, we introduce the setup and the issues related to conducting causal inference with observational or non-fully randomized data, and how these issues can be tackled with the help of statistical learning tools. Then, we review and develop a unifying taxonomy of the existing state-of-the-art frameworks that allow for individual treatment effects estimation via non-parametric regression models. After presenting a brief overview on the problem of model selection, we illustrate the performance of some of the methods on three different simulated studies. We conclude by demonstrating the use of some of the methods on an empirical analysis of the school meal program data.
A Bayesian Non-Linear State Space Copula Model for Air Pollution in Beijing
Authors: Kreuzer Alexander , Dalla Valle Luciana , Czado Claudia 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAir pollution is a serious issue that currently affects many industrial cities in the world and can cause severe illness to the population. In particular, it has been proven that extreme high levels of airborne contaminants have dangerous short-term effects on human health, in terms of increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and increased mortality risk. For these reasons, an accurate estimation of airborne pollutant concentrations is crucial. In this paper, we propose a flexible novel approach to model hourly measurements of fine particulate matter and meteorological data collected in Beijing in 2014. We show that the standard state space model, based on Gaussian assumptions, does not correctly capture the time dynamics of the observations. Therefore, we propose a non-linear non-Gaussian state space model where both the observation and the state equations are defined by copula specifications, and we perform Bayesian inference using the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo method. The proposed copula state space approach is very flexible, since it allows us to separately model the marginal distributions and to accommodate a wide variety of dependence structures in the data dynamics. We show that the proposed approach allows us not only to accurately estimate particulate matter measurements, but also to capture unusual high levels of air pollution, which were not detected by measured effects.
Me and us: Cultivating presence and mental health through choir singing
Authors: Damsgaard Janne Brammer , Brinkmann Svend 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundAn increasing body of qualitative and quantitative research suggests that choir singing can improve mental and physical health and wellbeing. A recurring phenomenon is social agency and social and emotional competences. However, there is little consensus about the underlying impact mechanisms and the special nature of music as a medium for music‐based social–emotional competence.AimThis research was carried out to explore how the participants experienced engaging and singing in the choir A Song for the Mind in order to understand the social and emotional aspects in relation to choir singing and mental health.MethodSix women and two men were interviewed. The study involved open‐ended interviews and applied Paul Ricoeur's phenomenological–hermeneutic theory of interpretation in processing the collected data.FindingsTwo themes emerged—The Singing Me and Cultivating Us. Joining the choir, singing and engaging with the lyrics, helped the participants get in contact with complex feelings and visualise and express challenges. This formed feelings of connecting to oneself and opening up to become aware of the world such as nature, the other person and the choir. Songs, melodies, tones, lyrics—singing together—formed a relation between the participants and the other and the group. This was a meaningful, and to some, a life‐changing experience, and an important learning process to the professionals. As the participants are sensing and connecting to themselves, there is an opening for growing a nascent presence and awareness.ConclusionJoining the initiative A Song for the Mind instils an attention to the other person(s). The singing process seems to evoke presence, leading to awareness towards relational aspects and solidarity. In a choir singing perspective, and health care practice in general, this can be seen as a budding and ground‐breaking formation of cultural activities holding learning and empowering potentials instilling mental health.
Allogeneic blood transfusions and infection risk in lumbar spine surgery: An American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program Study
Authors: Falsetto Amedeo , Roffey Darren M. , Jabri Hussam , Kingwell Stephen P. , Stratton Alexandra , Phan Philippe , Wai Eugene K. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundAllogenic blood transfusions can lead to immunomodulation. Our purpose was to investigate whether perioperative transfusions were associated with postoperative infections and any other adverse events (AEs), after adjusting for potential confounding factors, following common elective lumbar spinal surgery procedures.Study design and methodsWe performed a multivariate, propensity‐score matched, regression‐adjusted retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between 2012 and 2016. All lumbar spinal surgery procedures were identified (n = 174,891). A transfusion group (perioperative transfusion within 72 h before, during, or after principal surgery; n = 1992) and a control group (no transfusion; n = 1992) were formed. Following adjustment for between‐group baseline features, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model for any surgical site infection (SSI), superficial SSI, deep SSI, wound dehiscence, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis, any infection, mortality, and any AEs.ResultsTransfusion was associated with an increased risk of each specific infection, mortality, and any AEs. Statistically significant between‐group differences were demonstrated with respect to any SSI (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.01–2.16), deep SSI (aOR: 1.66; 95% CI: 0.98–2.85), sepsis (aOR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.43–5.03), wound dehiscence (aOR: 2.27; 95% CI: 0.86–6.01), any infection (aOR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.13–1.88), any AEs (aOR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.48–2.18), and mortality (aOR: 2.17; 95% CI: 0.77–6.36).ConclusionWe showed an association between transfusion and infection in lumbar spine surgery after adjustment for various applicable covariates. Sepsis had the highest association with transfusion. Our results reinforce a growing trend toward minimizing perioperative transfusions, which may lead to reduced infections following lumbar spine surgery.
Effect of Different Exercise Training Modalities on Fasting Levels of Oxylipins and Endocannabinoids in Middle-Aged Sedentary Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Jurado-Fasoli Lucas , Yang Wei , Kohler Isabelle , Dote-Montero Manuel , Osuna-Prieto Francisco J. , Di Xinyu , Hankemeier Thomas , Krekels Elke H.J. , Harms Amy C. , Castillo Manuel J. , Amaro-Gahete Francisco J. , Martinez-Tellez Borja 
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise training programs on fasting plasma levels of oxylipins, endocannabinoids (eCBs), and eCBs-like molecules in middle-aged sedentary adults. A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted using a parallel group design. Sixty-five middle-aged adults (40–65 years old) were randomly assigned to: (a) no exercise (control group), (b) concurrent training based on international physical activity recommendations (PAR group), (c) high-intensity interval training (HIIT group), and (d) HIIT together with whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT + EMS group). Plasma levels of oxylipins, eCBs, and eCBs-like molecules were determined in plasma samples before and after the intervention using targeted lipidomics. Body composition was assessed through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and dietary intake through a food frequency questionnaire and three nonconsecutive 24-hr recalls. The physical activity recommendations, HIIT, and HIIT-EMS groups showed decreased plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3-derived oxylipins, and eCBs and eCBs-like molecules after 12 weeks (all Δ ≤ −0.12; all p < .05). Importantly, after Bonferroni post hoc corrections, the differences in plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins were not statistically significant compared with the control group (all p > .05). However, after post hoc corrections, plasma levels of anandamide and oleoylethanolamide were increased in the physical activity recommendations group compared with the control group (anandamide: Δ = 0.05 vs. −0.09; oleoylethanolamide: Δ = −0.12 vs. 0.013, all p ≤ .049). In conclusion, this study reports that a 12-week exercise training intervention, independent of the modality applied, does not modify fasting plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins, eCBs, and eCBs-like molecules in middle-aged sedentary adults.
Development of Dynamic Measures to Assess Balance Confidence and State Anxiety While Walking at Increasing Speeds in Young and Older Adults
Authors: Kongsuk Jutaluk , Perumean-Chaney Suzanne E. , Knight David C. , Brown Cynthia J. , Amara Amy W. , Hurt Christopher P. 
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the test–retest reliability and construct validity of tools to assess how balance confidence (BC) and state anxiety (SA) change with progressively increasing walking speeds. Sixteen young adults and 15 older adults attended two sessions. Individuals began walking on a treadmill at 0.4 m/s Participants chose to continue increasing the treadmill speed (up to 2.0 m/s) or to discontinue the protocol while rating their BC and SA after completing each speed. BC at participants’ fastest speed attempted demonstrated high and moderate test–retest reliability among young (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .908) and older adults (ICC = .704). SA for young adults and older adults was good (ICC = .833) and fair (ICC = .490), respectively. Our measures also correlated with measures of dynamic stability while walking for young (r = −.67, p = .008) and older adults (r = .54, p = .046). Our dynamic measures of BC and SA are valid and reliable in young and older adults.