bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteoporosis Treatments Affect Bone Matrix Maturation in a Rat Model of Induced Cortical Remodeling
Authors: Ross Ryan D , Anderson Kyle , Davison Reid , El‐Masri Bilal M , Andreasen Christina M , Andersen Thomas L , Sumner Dale R
Published: January 2020

To test how osteoporosis drugs affect bone matrix maturation during cortical bone remodeling, 72 pregnant rats were switched from a 0.4% to a 0.01% calcium diet at parturition for a 23‐day lactation period. At weaning, eight dams were sacrificed to establish baseline values, while the remaining dams were returned to 0.4% calcium and treated with vehicle (saline), sodium fluoride (NaF), zoledronic acid (ZA), or sclerostin antibody (Scl‐Ab) for either 7 or 28 days (eight animals per group per time point). Femora were examined by μCT, dynamic histomorphometry, Fourier transform infrared imaging, and three‐point bending of notched specimens. Cortical porosity decreased in all groups from baseline to day 28. Intracortical mineralizing surface (MS/BS) and mineral apposition rate (MAR), as well as the mineral‐to‐matrix ratio were unaffected by treatment, but intracortical crystallinity was increased in the ZA group at day 10 compared with vehicle. Cortical area increased in all groups over 28 days mainly because of an addition of bone at the endocortical surface. Endocortical MS/BS did not vary among the groups, but endocortical MAR was suppressed in the NaF group at day 2 and elevated in the Scl‐Ab group at day 4 compared with vehicle. Endocortical mineral‐to‐matrix ratio was increased at days 5 and 10 following NaF treatment and endocortical crystallinity was increased at day 5 following ZA treatment compared with vehicle. Fracture toughness did not differ among the groups. Thus, the treatments affected matrix maturation more strongly at the endocortical then intracortical envelope. In this model of induced remodeling, the bone formation phase is synchronized at multiple sites, facilitating study of the effects of drugs or other bone‐targeting agents on matrix maturation independent of their effects on the initiation of remodeling. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Diagnostic efficacy of serum cytokines and chemokines in fungal bloodstream infection in febrile patients
Authors: Wang Qi , Yang Ming , Wang Chi , Cui Jiayue , Li Xinjun , Wang Chengbin
Published: January 2020

Background

The role of serum cytokines/chemokines in early diagnosis of fungal infections has not been clearly clarified yet. This study aims to measure the serum levels of cytokines/chemokines in cases of fungemia and to compare them with culture‐negative controls.

Methods

In total, fourteen types of serum cytokines and chemokines from 41 patients with fungemia were compared with 57 patients with negative blood culture results. The cytokine and chemokine levels were detected with multiplex platform. We then performed statistical analysis as a two‐tailed P < .05. ROC analysis was performed, and an area under the curve (AUC), and sensitivity and specificity values were calculated to determine the efficacy of various cytokines and chemokines for fungemia. Binary logistic regression was performed to further explore the combination mode of cytokines and chemokines, which could increase the diagnostic efficiency.

Results

C‐reactive protein and procalcitonin were significantly higher compared with those in negative control group, while white blood cell, percentage of neutrophil, percentage of lymphocyte, and ratio of neutrophil and lymphocyte did not differentiate between two groups. Serum levels of IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, MIP‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, and IL‐17 were significantly higher in patients with fungemia compared with the control group. Combination of MIP‐1β and IL‐17 could improve the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of fungemia.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that serum cytokines and chemokines including IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, MIP‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, and IL‐17 could be considered as diagnostic markers for fungemia. Combination of these biomarkers might improve the diagnostic efficiency of fungemia.
Care in social policies from a comprehensive perspective: A proposal to conceptualize and address it based on community and psychosocial praxis
Authors: Daher Marianne , Tomicic Alemka , Rosati Antonia
Published: January 2020

The literature establishes the importance of care in the context of situations leading to burnout. However, there are theoretical limitations that make it difficult to understand its role within the social area. The article presents a proposal to conceptualize and address care in social policies from a comprehensive perspective, based on the community praxis of psychosocial teams. Results came from evaluating a care intervention with 35 participants from three teams focused on homeless people and two teams that worked with relatives of prison inmates. Interviews and focus groups were held, which were then analyzed Grounded Theory methods. As for the questions “Who is being taken care of?” and “Who is in charge of providing care?,” four instances were defined: Workers, teams, self‐care, and joint care. The article discusses the scope and theoretical challenges of care, as well as the key role played by institutions in care in community‐based professional praxis. In addition, the authors reflect on the importance of comprehensive care for community psychology in today's social interventions.
Ecological contributions to maternal‐infant functioning: Differences between rural and urban family contexts
Authors: Neumann Alyssa A. , Desmarais Eric E. , Iverson Sydney L. , Gartstein Maria A.
Published: January 2020

Aims

This study considered urban‐rural differences in maternal‐infant interactions (sensitivity/responsiveness and synchrony/reciprocity), infant temperament, and parenting stress, for samples similar in socioeconomic and racial composition. Higher sensitivity/responsiveness and synchrony/reciprocity were hypothesized for urban dyads, with more challenging temperament profiles predicted for rural infants. Rural mothers were expected to report more parenting‐role stress.

Methods

Urban (n = 68; San Francisco Bay) and rural (n = 120; inland Pacific Northwest) mothers of infants provided ratings of temperament and parenting stress. Parental sensitivity/responsiveness and synchrony/reciprocity were coded from mother‐infant play observations. Groups were compared via analyses of covariance.

Results

Urban mothers demonstrated significantly more sensitivity/responsiveness and synchrony/reciprocity compared to their rural counterparts. Rural mothers rated their infants significantly higher in negative affectivity and distress in response to limitations.

Conclusion

Although socioeconomic status is traditionally implicated in rural and urban population differences, our results suggest other factors (e.g., isolation, access to resources) warrant further exploration. Rural ecology appears to present risk that should be examined more closely in maternal‐infant interactions and child social‐emotional development. The variability of risk within urban and rural classifications (e.g., suburban, inner‐city) also requires consideration.
Mechanical stretch regulates the expression of specific miRNA in extracellular vesicles released from lung epithelial cells
Authors: Najrana Tanbir , Mahadeo Anshu , Abu‐Eid Rasha , Kreienberg Elena , Schulte Victoria , Uzun Alper , Schorl Christoph , Goldberg Laura , Quesenberry Peter , Sanchez‐Esteban Juan
Published: January 2020

The underlying mechanism of normal lung organogenesis is not well understood. An increasing number of studies are demonstrating that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play critical roles in organ development by delivering microRNAs (miRNA) to neighboring and distant cells. miRNAs are important for fetal lung growth; however, the role of miRNA–EVs (miRNAs packaged inside the EVs) during fetal lung development is unexplored. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of miRNA–EVs in MLE‐12, a murine lung epithelial cell line subjected to mechanical stretch in vitro with the long‐term goal to investigate their potential role in the fetal lung development. Both cyclic and continuous mechanical stretch regulate miRNA differentially in EVs released from MLE‐12 and intracellularly, demonstrating that mechanical signals regulate the expression of miRNA–EVs in lung epithelial cells. These results provide a proof‐of‐concept for the potential role that miRNA–EVs could play in the development of fetal lung.
Cytokines as potential combination agents with PD‐1/PD‐L1 blockade for cancer treatment
Authors: Rahimi Kalateh Shah Mohammad Ghasem , Ghahremanloo Atefeh , Soltani Arash , Fathi Esmat , Hashemy Seyed Isaac
Published: January 2020

Immunotherapy has caused a paradigm shift in the treatment of several malignancies, particularly the blockade of programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) and its specific receptor/ligand PD‐L1 that have revolutionized the treatment of a variety of malignancies, but significant durable responses only occur in a small percentage of patients, and other patients failed to respond to the treatment. Even those who initially respond can ultimately relapse despite maintenance treatment, there is considerable potential for synergistic combinations of immunotherapy and chemotherapy agents with immune checkpoint inhibitors into conventional cancer treatments. The clinical experience in the use of cytokines in the clinical setting indicated the efficiency of cytokine therapy in cancer immunotherapy. Combinational approaches to enhancing PD‐L1/PD‐1 pathways blockade efficacy with several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐15, IL‐21, IL‐12, IL‐10, and interferon‐α (IFN‐α) may result in additional benefits. In this review, the current state of knowledge about PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors, the date in the literature to ascertain the combination of anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 antibodies with cytokines is discussed. Finally, it is noteworthy that novel therapeutic approaches based on the efficient combination of recombinant cytokines with the PD‐L1/PD‐1 blockade therapy can enhance antitumor immune responses against various malignancies.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of octyl gallate in alveolar macrophages cells and mice with acute lung injury
Authors: Haute Gabriela Viegas , Luft Carolina , Antunes Géssica Luana , Silveira Josiane Silva , de Souza Basso Bruno , da Costa Mariana Severo , Levorse Vitor Giancarlo Schneider , Kaiber Daniela Benvenutti , Donadio Márcio Vinícius Fagundes , Gracia‐Sancho Jordi , de Oliveira Jarbas Rodrigues
Published: January 2020

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory process, and has high incidence and mortality. ALI and the acute respiratory distress syndrome are two common complications worldwide that result in acute lung failure, sepsis, and death. Pro‐inflammatory substances, such as cytokines and chemokines, are responsible for activating the body's defense mechanisms and usually mediate inflammatory processes. Therefore, the research of substances that decrease the uncontrolled response of organism is seen as potential for patients with ALI. Octyl gallate (OG) is a phenolic compound with therapeutic actions namely antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal. In this study, we evaluated its action on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated alveolar macrophages RAW 264.7 cells and ALI in male mice. Our results demonstrated protective effects of OG in alveolar macrophages activated with LPS and mice with ALI. The OG treatment significantly decreased the inflammatory markers in both studies in vitro and in vivo. The data suggested that OG can act as an anti‐inflammatory agent for ALI.
Usefulness of preoperative drip infusion cholangiography with computed tomography for predicting surgical difficulty during laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Nakazawa Akiko , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Miyata Yoichi , Komagome Masahiko , Maki Akira , Arita Junichi , Ishizawa Takeaki , Kaneko Junichi , Beck Yoshifumi , Hasegawa Kiyoshi
Published: January 2020

Background

Drip infusion cholangiography with computed tomography (DIC‐CT) is a major preoperative modality used for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

This study included 218 patients for whom preoperative DIC‐CT images were obtained prior to undergoing LC. The association between gallbladder (GB) opacification in DIC‐CT and the operative time was assessed.

Results

The GB opacification on the DIC‐CT images was classified as follows: Grade 0, homogeneous opacification; Grade 1, heterogeneous opacification; Grade 2, only cystic duct can be identified; and Grade 3, no opacification. Images obtained for the 218 patients showed 41 (18.8%) with Grade 0, 91 (41.7%) with Grade 1, 54 (24.8%) with Grade 2, and 32 (14.7%) with Grade 3. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly longer and larger, respectively, in cases classified as Grade 2 or 3 (GB negative) compared with cases classified as Grade 0 or 1 (GB positive). We created an LC difficulty score based on the following variables that were significant independent predictors of increased operative time: GB negativity in DIC‐CT (P = .002, 2 points), GB wall thickness (P = .002, 2 points), body mass index (P = .015, 1 point), preoperative alkaline phosphatase value (P = .018, 1 point), and preoperative C‐reactive protein value (P = .04, 1 point). The LC difficulty score (Grade A, score 0‐2; Grade B, score 3‐5; and Grade C, score 6‐7) was significantly associated with a prolonged operative time.

Conclusion

Drip infusion cholangiography with computed tomography is useful for predicting the surgical difficulty of LC.
Gas‐phase hydration of Mg2+ complexes with deprotonated uracil, thymine, uridine, and thymidine
Authors: Frańska Magdalena , Michalak Anna , Ławniczak Łukasz
Published: January 2020

The gas‐phase hydration of Mg2+ complexes with deprotonated uracil (U), thymine (T), uridine (Ur, uracil riboside), and thymidine (Tdr, thymine deoxyriboside) was studied. The aim of the work was to analyze the hydration of product ions (eg, [2U‐H+Mg]+) formed as a result of the collision induced dissociation of the respective parent ion (eg, [3Ur‐H+Mg]+). The efficiency of gas‐phase hydration of the ions [2U‐H+Mg]+ and [2T‐H+Mg]+ was similar. However, the efficiency of gas‐phase hydration of the ion [U+Ur‐H+Mg]+ was much higher than that of gas‐phase hydration of the ion [T+Tdr‐H+Mg]+. On the basis of the mass spectra obtained and the performed molecular modelling, it was concluded that in the ion [T+Tdr‐H+Mg]+, we deal with a steric hindrance due to the presence of a sugar moiety, which affects water attachment. In the ion [U+Ur‐H+Mg]+, the position of the sugar moiety does not affect water attachment.
Impact of horizontal resolution on sea surface temperature bias and air–sea interactions over the tropical Indian Ocean in CFSv2 coupled model
Authors: KBRR Hari Prasad , Pentakota Sreenivas , Anguluri Suryachandra Rao , George Gibies , Salunke Kiran , Krishna Phani Murali , Ramu Dandi Appala , Rao Dabbugottu Nagarjuna
Published: January 2020

The cold bias in sea surface temperature (SST) over the Tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) in Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) has been a limiting hurdle in predicting the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). The present study addresses the impact of increasing horizontal resolution of the atmospheric model of CFSv2 from a low resolution (T126, ~100 km) to a high resolution (T382, ~38 km) in improving the SST and Ocean mixed layer simulation. The high resolution run has reasonably reduced the SST cold bias (−0.8 to −0.2°C) over southern TIO and (−0.69 to 0.07°C) over northern TIO, however, a moderate warm bias of 0.37°C is observed over the tropical Pacific Ocean in T382 run. We have conducted a mixed layer heat budget analysis to understand the causative factors responsible for improved SST simulation. The improvement in net heat fluxes resulted in reduced biases in SST over TIO in T382 simulation. Better simulation of the entrainment process has further improved SST over Southern TIO. The high‐resolution atmospheric model is able to resolve convection centres reasonably well, therefore resulted in better simulation of winds, which enabled better prediction of Ocean mixed layer. The low and middle clouds are also better resolved in high resolution run, the total cloud cover is well predicted by the T382 run, hence the biases in radiative and heat fluxes are decreased significantly compared with its lower resolution model, which improved the radiation fluxes and responsible for the observed improvement in SST and mixed layer prediction. The dominance of biases in net shortwave radiation resulting in moderate positive SST biases over the Northern tropical Pacific Ocean.
Association between surgical approach and survival following resection of abdominopelvic malignancies
Authors: Yuce Tarik K. , Ellis Ryan J. , Chung Jeanette , Merkow Ryan P. , Yang Anthony D. , Soper Nathaniel J. , Tanner Edward J. , Schaeffer Edward M. , Bilimoria Karl Y. , Auffenberg Gregory B.
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

Recent studies demonstrating decreased survival following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cervical cancer have generated concern regarding oncologic efficacy of MIS. Our objective was to evaluate the association between surgical approach and 5‐year survival following resection of abdominopelvic malignancies.

Methods

Patients with stage I or II adenocarcinoma of the prostate, colon, rectum, and stage IA2 or IB1 cervical cancer from 2010‐2015 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base. The association between surgical approach and 5‐year survival was assessed using propensity‐score‐matched cohorts. Distributions were compared using logistic regression. Hazard ratio for death was estimated using Cox proportional‐hazard models.

Results

The rate of deaths at 5 years was 3.4% following radical prostatectomy, 22.9% following colectomy, 18.6% following proctectomy, and 6.8% following radical hysterectomy. Open surgery was associated with worse survival following radical prostatectomy (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05‐1.33; P = .005), colectomy (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.39‐1.51; P < .001), and proctectomy (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.50; P = .002); however, open surgery was associated with improved survival following radical hysterectomy (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.44‐0.82; P = .003).

Conclusions

These results suggest that MIS is an acceptable approach in selected patients with prostate, colon, and rectal cancers, while concerns regarding MIS resection of cervical cancer appear warranted.
Challenges in surgical oncology training in Brazil: From history to a board‐certified specialization
Authors: Spencer Ranyell Matheus S. S. B. , de Castro Ribeiro Heber Salvador , de Araujo Raphael Leonardo Cunha , da Costa Wilson Luiz , de Oliveira Alexandre Ferreira , Cordeiro Eduardo Zanella , Huguenin Janina Ferreira Loureiro , Anghinoni Marciano , da Silva Elio Jose Silveira , Laporte Gustavo Andreazza , Gadelha Maria Inez Pordeus , de Melo Rosana Leite , de Almeida Quadros Claudio , Lopes Ademar
Published: January 2020

The Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology was established over 30 years ago. Despite that, surgical oncology was finally recognized as a Board‐Certified medical specialty in 2017 and has strengthened its role in the standardization of surgical and multimodal approaches in our country. This article aims to describe the process and the main challenges of the specialists training who are qualified for job opportunities and who meet the expectations of the recently created competence matrix for surgical oncologists in Brazil. Thus, we hope to expose the challenges of teaching surgical oncology, describe its history and experiences in important country services, and outline the minimum requirements for creating a more humanistic surgical oncologist who is updated and fully committed with multidisciplinary treatment for cancer patients. We conclude that the main characteristic that the surgical oncologist must have is the ability to offer holistic treatments to the patient, based on the highest level of evidence, love, and compassion, to direct the treatment and understand all of the afflictions that arise with a cancer diagnosis. Moreover, the surgical oncologist in training and in the field must be continuously updating himself to offer the best options of treatment to patients.
Separation and isolation of major polyphenols from maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) knots by two‐step centrifugal partition chromatography monitored by LC‐MS and NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Gabaston Julien , Leborgne Cécile , Waffo‐Téguo Pierre , Pedrot Eric , Richard Tristan , Mérillon Jean‐Michel , Valls Fonayet Josep
Published: January 2020

Pine knots are a rich source of lignans, flavonoids, and stilbenes. These bioactive compounds are widely known for their roles to combat human disorders but also to protect plants against pathogens. In order to gain knowledge inside their potential activities, a suitable isolation and purification of these high‐added value compounds is required. To this end, centrifugal partition chromatography, as a rapid and useful methodology of separation, was employed and developed. The coefficient partition values (KD) of six major compounds in nine biphasic solvent systems were determined to evaluate the most appropriate system. Two‐step centrifugal partition chromatography was required to separate lignans using ARIZONA system K (n‐heptane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water 1:2:1:2, v:v) and to isolate stilbenes and flavonoids using ARIZONA system P (n‐heptane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water 6:5:6:5, v:v). Eight one‐compound enriched‐fractions were obtained as follows: nortrachelogenin (70.1%), secoisolariciresinol (53.7%), isolariciresinol (61.1%), taxifolin (48.4%), pinocembrin (91.3%), pinobanksin (91.1%), pinosylvin (91.4%), and pinosylvin monomethyl ether (91.1%). Additionally, the centrifugal partition chromatography allowed to unravel the composition of pine knot owing to the several fractions generated. Twenty‐two compounds were characterized by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy, some of which are described for the first time in literature.
Evaluation and optimization of functional and antinutritional properties of aquafaba
Authors: Alsalman Fatemah B. , Tulbek Mehmet , Nickerson Michael , Ramaswamy Hosahalli S.
Published: January 2020

Egg protein is responsible for the second most serious of all food allergens, which affects predominantly the children. Therefore, a new type of vegan ingredient called “aquafaba,” is getting recognized as a plant‐based emulsifier in many bakery product preparations instead of the conventionally used egg white and is emerging in the consumer market. It is the residue water from cooked chickpeas. In this study, an I‐optimal mixture experimental design is combined with a response surface methodology to evaluate the chickpeas cooking process for obtaining aquafaba. The following variables were used: chickpea to cooking water ratio (CPCWR; 1:2, 1:4, and 2:3) and cook time (15, 30, 45, and 60 min). The principal goal was to maximize the functional properties and protein content, while minimizing tannin and phytate contents of aquafaba. The results showed that both CPCWR and cooking time had significant effect on the responses. Emulsion properties were the maximum at 2:3 CPCWR and cooking time of 60 min. Foaming capacity was highest (120%) at 2:3 CPCWR cooked for 30 min, whereas the foam was most stable (57 min) at 1:2 CPCWR with 45 min cooking. Water holding capacity reached the maximum level when cooked for 15 min, and oil holding capacity maximum was obtained after 60 min cooking. Polynomial models were developed for all 11 responses. Optimal results were achieved under the following conditions: 1.5:3.5 CPCWR and 60 min cook time, and the overall desirability fraction was 0.81. Validation tests confirmed these results.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of pCO2 and CO2 flux in tropical Lake Malawi
Authors: Ngochera Maxon J. , Bootsma Harvey A.
Published: January 2020

Numerous studies have documented CO2 dynamics in temperate lakes, but few such studies have been conducted on tropical lakes. Spatial and seasonal variation of air and water pCO2, along with supporting limnological and meteorological variables, were measured aboard a vessel of opportunity along the north–south axis of Lake Malawi. These measurements were used to estimate annual net lake‐atmosphere CO2 flux and infer mechanisms regulating it. Surface pCO2 and CO2 flux varied significantly with season and location. Temporally, the lake was CO2‐undersaturated during the rainy season and the mixing season, and supersaturated at the onset of the mixing season and during the hot, stratified season. Concurrent measurements of lake temperature, weather conditions, phytoplankton biomass, and seston δ13C suggest that periods of net CO2 flux into the lake correspond with higher phytoplankton growth rates resulting from internal nutrient loading in the mixing season and allochthonous nutrient inputs in the rainy season. Unlike the rest of the lake, the southernmost region of the lake was usually CO2 supersaturated even though phytoplankton productivity is highest in this region. While the upwelling of hypolimnetic water at the southern end of the lake is a major source of nutrients that drive phytoplankton photosynthesis and CO2 uptake, the CO2 introduced in upwelled water appears to overwhelm photosynthetic capacity locally, especially at the onset of the mixing season. Lake Malawi appears to be a net CO2 sink with an annual whole‐lake CO2 flux of −2.17 ± 0.25 × 1010 mol C yr−1 and a mean daily CO2 flux of −2.05 ± 0.27 mmol C m−2 d−1. A comparison of deep‐water C : P ratios with epilimnetic seston C : P ratios suggests that P is recycled more efficiently than C in the lake's anoxic hypolimnion, and so P vertical mixing creates a carbon deficit that is met by flux from the atmosphere into the lake.
Biosynthesis and characterization of a recombinant eukaryotic allophycocyanin using prokaryotic accessory enzymes
Authors: Dagnino‐Leone Jorge , Figueroa Maximiliano , Uribe Elena , Hinrichs María Victoria , Ortiz‐López Diego , Martínez‐Oyanedel José , Bunster Marta
Published: January 2020

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are colored fluorescent proteins present in cyanobacteria, red alga, and cryptophyta. These proteins have many potential uses in biotechnology going from food colorants to medical applications. Allophycocyanin, the simplest PBP, is a heterodimer of αβ subunits that oligomerizes as a trimer (αβ)3. Each subunit contains a phycocyanobilin, bound to a cysteine residue, which is responsible for its spectroscopic properties. In this article, we are reporting the expression of recombinant allophycocyanin (rAPC) from the eukaryotic red algae Agarophyton chilensis in Escherichia coli, using prokaryotic accessory enzymes to obtain a fully functional rAPC. Three duet vectors were used to include coding sequences of α and β subunits from A. chilensis and accessorial enzymes (heterodimeric lyase cpc S/U, heme oxygenase 1, phycocyanobilin oxidoreductase) from cyanobacteria Arthrospira maxima. rAPC was purified using several chromatographic steps. The characterization of the pure rAPC indicates very similar spectroscopic properties, λmaxAbs, λmaxEm, fluorescence lifetime, and chromophorylation degree, with native allophycocyanin (nAPC) from A. chilensis. This method, to produce high‐quality recombinant allophycocyanin, can be used to express and characterize other macroalga phycobiliproteins, to be used for biotechnological or biomedical purposes.
Clinical and Cerebral Metabolic Changes in Parkinson's Disease With Basal Forebrain Atrophy
Authors: Gang Miyeong , Baba Toru , Hosokai Yoshiyuki , Nishio Yoshiyuki , Kikuchi Akio , Hirayama Kazumi , Hasegawa Takafumi , Aoki Masashi , Takeda Atsushi , Mori Etsuro , Suzuki Kyoko
Published: January 2020

Background

Cholinergic dysfunction plays a key role in cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies revealed that atrophy in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), the largest cholinergic nucleus in the basal forebrain, heralds cognitive decline in PD. Despite clinical importance of NBM atrophy in PD, clinical and radiological correlates of NBM atrophy remains to be elucidated.

Objective

We investigated the longitudinal changes in clinical and cerebral glucose metabolic characteristics in PD with atrophy in the NBM.

Methods

We analyzed the 3‐year longitudinal data of 56 PD patients who underwent motor, nonmotor, and imaging evaluations at baseline. The patients were classified into PD with and without NBM atrophy based on the results of magnetic resonance imaging volumetry. We compared clinical characteristics and cerebral glucose metabolic changes between PD with and without NBM atrophy.

Results

At baseline, 20 patients and 36 patients were classified into PD with and without NBM atrophy groups, respectively. At follow‐up, the data of the 14 PD patients in the NBM atrophy group and the 18 patients in the group without NBM atrophy completed full assessments and were available for the analysis. The PD with NBM atrophy group showed severe cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms both at baseline and follow‐up. The NBM volume significantly correlated with motor and nonmotor functions. The PD with NBM atrophy showed significantly reduced metabolism in the parietal and occipital cortices both at baseline and follow‐up.

Conclusions

Basal forebrain atrophy is a simple and sensible marker of faster disease progression and cortical hypometabolism in PD. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Genome sequencing analysis of a family with a child displaying severe abdominal distention and recurrent hypoglycemia
Authors: Liu Jidong , Ding Guolian , Zou Kexin , Jiang Ziru , Zhang Junyu , Lu Yunhua , Pignata Antonella , Venner Eric , Liu Pengfei , Liu Zhandong , Wangler Michael F. , Sun Zheng
Published: January 2020

Background

Germline mutations in PTEN are associated with the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), an umbrella term used to describe a spectrum of autosomal‐dominant disorders characterized by variable phenotypic manifestations associated with cell or tissue overgrowth. We report a boy who developed severe progressive abdominal distention due to a dramatic adipose mass from the age of 7 months and developed recurrent hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia that led to seizures at the age of 4 years.

Methods

Trio‐based whole‐genome sequencing was performed by using blood DNA from the child and his parents. The possible pathogenic variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Functional characterization of the identified variant was completed by western blot.

Results

The child inherited a single‐nucleotide deletion NM_000314.6:c.849delA (p.Glu284Argfs) in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN from his father. The paternal family members have a history of cancer. It is conceivable that PTEN loss‐of‐function induced the adipose tumor growth and hypoglycemia, although the proband did not meet the usual diagnosis criteria of Cowden syndrome or Bannayan–Riley–Ruvalcaba syndrome that are characterized by germline mutations of PTEN.

Conclusion

This case underlines the variability of phenotypes associated with PTEN germline mutations and provides useful information for diagnosis and genetic counseling of PTEN‐related diseases for pediatric patients.
Anti‐synchronization of chaotic systems using a fractional conformable derivative with power law
Authors: Solís‐Pérez Jesús Emmanuel , Gómez‐Aguilar José Francisco , Baleanu Dumitru , Tchier Fairouz , Ragoub Lakhdar
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we propose a new numerical method based on two‐step Lagrange polynomial interpolation to get numerical simulations and adaptive anti‐synchronization schemes for two fractional conformable attractors of variable order. It was considered the fractional conformable derivative in Liouville‐Caputo sense. The novel numerical method was applied to derive new results from the anti‐synchronization of the identical uncertain Wang‐Sun attractors and three‐dimensional chaotic system using fractional conformable sliding mode control. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the adaptive fractional conformable anti‐synchronization schemes for the uncertain chaotic systems considered in this paper.
A new open‐source GPU‐based microscopic Monte Carlo simulation tool for the calculations of DNA damages caused by ionizing radiation ‐‐‐ Part I: Core algorithm and validation
Authors: Tsai Min‐Yu , Tian Zhen , Qin Nan , Yan Congchong , Lai Youfang , Hung Shih‐Hao , Chi Yujie , Jia Xun
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of radiation interactions with water medium at physical, physicochemical, and chemical stages, as well as the computation of biologically relevant quantities such as DNA damages, are of critical importance for the understanding of microscopic basis of radiation effects. Due to the large problem size and many‐body simulation problem in the chemical stage, existing CPU‐based computational packages encounter the problem of low computational efficiency. This paper reports our development on a GPU‐based microscopic Monte Carlo simulation tool gMicroMC using advanced GPU‐acceleration techniques.

Methods

gMicroMC simulated electron transport in the physical stage using an interaction‐by‐interaction scheme to calculate the initial events generating radicals in water. After the physicochemical stage, initial positions of all radicals were determined. Simulation of radicals’ diffusion and reactions in the chemical stage was achieved using a step‐by‐step model using GPU‐accelerated parallelization together with a GPU‐enabled box‐sorting algorithm to reduce the computations of searching for interaction pairs and therefore improve efficiency. A multi‐scale DNA model of the whole lymphocyte cell nucleus containing ~6.2 Gbp of DNA was built.

Results

Accuracy of physical stage simulation was demonstrated by computing stopping power and track length. The results agreed with published data and the data produced by GEANT4‐DNA (version 10.3.3) simulations with 10 ‐20% difference in most cases. Difference of yield values of major radiolytic species from GEANT4‐DNA results was within 10%. We computed DNA damages caused by monoenergetic 662 keV photons, approximately representing 137Cs decay. Single‐strand break (SSB) and double‐strand break (DSB) yields were 196 ± 8 SSB/Gy/Gbp and 7.3 ± 0.7 DSB/Gy/Gbp, respectively, which agreed with the result of 188 SSB/Gy/Gbp and 8.4 DSB/Gy/Gbp computed by Hsiao et al. Compared to computation using a single CPU, gMicroMC achieved a speedup factor of ~540x using an NVidia TITAN Xp GPU card.

Conclusions

The achieved accuracy and efficiency demonstrated that gMicroMC can facilitate research on microscopic radiation transport simulation and DNA damage calculation. gMicroMC is an open‐source package available to the research community.
On viscoplastic regularisation of strain‐softening rocks and soils
Authors: de Borst René , Duretz Thibault
Published: January 2020

Constitutive models for rocks and soils typically incorporate some form of strain softening. Moreover, many plasticity models for frictional materials use a nonassociated flow rule. Strain softening and nonassociated flow rules can cause loss of well‐posedness of the initial‐value problem, which can lead to a severe mesh dependence in simulations and poor convergence of the iterative solution procedure. The inclusion of viscosity, which is a common property of materials, seems a natural way to restore well‐posedness, but the mathematical properties of a rate‐dependent model, and therefore the effectiveness with respect to the removal of mesh dependence, can depend strongly on how the viscous element is incorporated. Herein, we show that rate‐dependent models, which are commonly applied to problems in the Earth's lithosphere, such as plate tectonics, are very different from the approach typically adopted for more shallow geotechnical engineering problems. We analyse the properties of these models under dynamic loadings, using dispersion analyses and one‐dimensional finite difference analyses, and complement them with two‐dimensional simulations of a typical strain localisation problem under quasi‐static loading conditions. Finally, we point out that a combined model, which features two viscous elements, may be the best way forward for modelling time‐dependent failure processes in the deeper layers of the Earth, since it not only enables modelling of the creep characteristics typical of long‐term behaviour but also regularises the initial/boundary‐value problem.
Readability of pelvic floor dysfunction questionnaires
Authors: Gaines Tyler , Malik Rena D.
Published: January 2020

Background

The National Institutes of Health and Center for Disease Control recommend the readability of self‐administered patient questionnaires to be written at or below a sixth to eight grade reading level. The aim of this study is to evaluate the readability of commonly used urinary incontinence (UI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), overactive bladder (OAB), and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) questionnaires.

Methods

Eighteen validated urologic questionnaires were analyzed using four readability assessment tools. A mean grade‐level needed to comprehend each questionnaire was calculated.

Results

For UI questionnaires, three out of five questionnaires required a reading level of 10th grade or higher, two grade levels above recommendations. Only one POP questionnaire met recommendations with a mean readability score of 5.9, whereas the other questionnaires required a ninth‐grade reading level or higher. For the OAB questionnaires, three out of five questionnaires met reading recommendations. Readability scores for BPH questionnaires ranged from 6.4 to 11.2, with only the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire in compliance with recommendations.

Conclusions

The majority of currently available pelvic floor dysfunction questionnaires do not comply with recommended reading levels, suggesting that these questionnaires are written at a level too advanced for a large proportion of the population. This limits their effectiveness in accurately assessing symptom severity and impact on quality of life.
Simultaneous use of individual and joint regularization terms in compressive sensing: Joint reconstruction of multi‐channel multi‐contrast MRI acquisitions
Authors: Kopanoglu Emre , Güngör Alper , Kilic Toygan , Saritas Emine Ulku , Oguz Kader K. , Çukur Tolga , Güven H. Emre
Published: January 2020

Multi‐contrast images are commonly acquired together to maximize complementary diagnostic information, albeit at the expense of longer scan times. A time‐efficient strategy to acquire high‐quality multi‐contrast images is to accelerate individual sequences and then reconstruct undersampled data with joint regularization terms that leverage common information across contrasts. However, these terms can cause features that are unique to a subset of contrasts to leak into the other contrasts. Such leakage‐of‐features may appear as artificial tissues, thereby misleading diagnosis. The goal of this study is to develop a compressive sensing method for multi‐channel multi‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that optimally utilizes shared information while preventing feature leakage. Joint regularization terms group sparsity and colour total variation are used to exploit common features across images while individual sparsity and total variation are also used to prevent leakage of distinct features across contrasts. The multi‐channel multi‐contrast reconstruction problem is solved via a fast algorithm based on Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers. The proposed method is compared against using only individual and only joint regularization terms in reconstruction. Comparisons were performed on single‐channel simulated and multi‐channel in‐vivo datasets in terms of reconstruction quality and neuroradiologist reader scores. The proposed method demonstrates rapid convergence and improved image quality for both simulated and in‐vivo datasets. Furthermore, while reconstructions that solely use joint regularization terms are prone to leakage‐of‐features, the proposed method reliably avoids leakage via simultaneous use of joint and individual terms, thereby holding great promise for clinical use.
Simultaneous multislice rapid magnetic resonance elastography of the liver
Authors: Majeed Waqas , Kalra Prateek , Kolipaka Arunark
Published: January 2020

To design and validate a rapid Simultaneous Multi‐slice (SMS) Magnetic Resonance Elastography technique (MRE), which combines SMS acquisition, in‐plane undersampling and an existing rapid Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MREr) scheme to allow accelerated data acquisition in healthy volunteers and comparison against MREr. SMS‐MREr sequence was developed by incorporating SMS acquisition scheme into an existing MREr sequence that accelerates MRE acquisition by acquiring data during opposite phases of mechanical vibrations. The MREr sequence accelerated MRE acquisition by acquiring data during opposite phases of mechanical vibrations. Liver MRE was performed on 23 healthy subjects using MREr and SMS‐MREr sequences, and mean stiffness values were obtained for manually drawn regions of interest. Linear correlation and agreement between MREr‐ and SMS‐MREr‐based stiffness values were investigated. SMS‐MREr reduced the scan time by half relative to MREr, and allowed acquisition of four‐slice MRE data in a single 17‐second breath‐hold. Visual comparison suggested agreement between MREr and SMS‐MREr elastograms. A Pearson's correlation of 0.93 was observed between stiffness values derived from MREr and SMS‐MREr. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated good agreement, with −0.08 kPa mean bias and narrow limits of agreement (95% CI: 0.23 to −0.39 kPa) between stiffness values obtained using MREr and SMS‐MREr. SMS can be combined with other fast MRE approaches to achieve further acceleration. This pushes the limit on the acceleration that can be achieved in MRE acquisition, and makes it possible to conduct liver MRE exams in a single breath‐hold.
Basement faults deduction at a dumpsite using advanced analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies
Authors: Alatorre‐Zamora Miguel Angel , Campos‐Enriquez José Oscar , Fregoso Emilia , Belmonte‐Jiménez Salvador Isidro , Chávez‐Segura René , Gaona‐Mota Marcos
Published: January 2020

A study of the fracture systems in the basement of the Matatlan urban waste dump of Guadalajara City, near the western edge of the Rio Grande de Santiago canyon (southwestern Mexico), is reported. The Matatlan dumpsite was developed on top of andesitic and rhyolitic rocks. Measurements at outcrops indicated that N–S (0°–15° and 165°–180°), N45–90E and N105–135E fracture systems affect the basement. Statistical analysis (micromagnetic method) of magnetic lineament azimuths indicated the presence of two lineament groups. The major one (N60–120E) has a maximum at N90–105E, and a secondary group (N120–165E). The gravity anomalies are featured by a major group (N60–120E, with maximums at N60–75E, and N105–120E) and a secondary group (N120–180E). Thus, a good to fair correlation exists between the measured fracture orientations and the lineaments featuring the gravity and magnetic anomalies. Horizontal derivative and tilt angle depicted horizontal limits of anomaly‐causative bodies. Results of the micromagnetic method are consistent with fracture orientations and with the limits established through edge‐detection techniques. Lineaments established by means of the gravity and magnetic Euler deconvolution are also consistent. Gravity and magnetic Euler deconvolution helped to estimate the depth extent of the limits of gravity and magnetic common sources. Euler deconvolution indicated the fault or contact nature of these lineaments. Furthermore, Euler deconvolution indicated slopes of the limits of gravity and magnetic sources. The fault or fracture nature of the major lineaments was finally confirmed by forward modelling (forward 2D cooperative modelling of gravity and magnetic profiles). For example, lineaments delimiting the northern depression could be characterized as normal faults. In general, this study indicates that it is possible, based on gravity and magnetic data, to characterize fractures affecting the basement of a dumpsite, a key parameter in hydrogeophysical studies. In particular, through this study, the inferred structures could be associated with regional tectonic faulting, which might provide migration paths to unhealthy lixiviate outside the dumpsite, giving rise to the contamination of the neighbouring environment. In particular, the study explains the presence of an unhealthy leachate waterfall to the northeast of the dumping site. Heavy metal contents in samples from this waterfall support that lixiviates originate at the dumpsite.
Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carriers are not Required for Adipogenesis but are Regulated by High‐Fat Feeding in Brown Adipose Tissue
Authors: Burrell Jasmine A. , Richard Allison J. , King William T. , Stephens Jacqueline M.
Published: January 2020

Objective

The objectives of this study were to assess the role of mitochondrial pyruvate carriers (MPCs) in adipocyte development in vitro and determine whether MPCs are regulated in vivo by high‐fat feeding in male and female C57BL/6J mice.

Methods

This study utilized small interfering RNA‐mediated knockdown to assess the requirement of MPC1 for adipogenesis in the 3T3‐L1 model system. Treatment with UK‐5099, a potent pharmacological MPC inhibitor, was also used to assess the loss of MPC activity. Western blot analysis was performed on adipose tissue samples from mice on a low‐fat diet or a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks.

Results

The loss of MPC expression via small interfering RNA‐mediated knockdown or pharmacological inhibition did not affect adipogenesis of 3T3‐L1 cells. In vivo studies indicated that expression of MPCs was significantly decreased in brown adipose tissue of male mice, but not female, on an HFD.

Conclusions

Although MPCs are essential for pyruvate transport, MPCs are not required for adipogenesis in vitro, suggesting that other substrates can be used for energy production when the MPC complex is not functional. Also, a significant decrease in MPC1 and 2 expression occurred in brown fat, but not white fat, of male mice fed an HFD.
Appetite‐Related Responses to Overfeeding and Longitudinal Weight Change in Obesity‐Prone and Obesity‐Resistant Adults
Authors: Halliday Tanya M. , Rynders Corey A. , Thomas Elizabeth , Bergouignan Audrey , Pan Zhaoxing , Kealey Elizabeth H. , Cornier Marc‐Andre , Bessesen Daniel H.
Published: January 2020

Objective

Appetite responses to 3 days of overfeeding (OF) were examined as correlates of longitudinal weight change in adults classified as obesity prone (OP) or obesity resistant (OR).

Methods

OP (n = 22) and OR (n = 30) adults consumed a controlled eucaloric and OF diet (140% of energy needs) for 3 days, followed by 3 days of ad libitum feeding. Hunger and satiety were evaluated by visual analog scales. Ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) levels were measured during a 24‐hour inpatient visit on day 3. Body weight and composition were measured annually for 4.0 ± 1.3 years.

Results

Dietary restraint and disinhibition were greater in OP than OR (mean difference: 3.5 ± 1.2 and 3.3 ± 0.9, respectively; P < 0.01) participants, and disinhibition was associated with longitudinal weight change (n = 48; r = 0.35; P = 0.02). Compared with the eucaloric diet, energy intake fell significantly in OR participants following OF (P = 0.03) but not in OP (P = 0.33) participants. Twenty‐four‐hour PYY area under the curve values increased with OF in OR (P = 0.02) but not in OP (P = 0.17) participants. Furthermore, changes in PYY levels with OF correlated with measured energy intake (r = −0.36; P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Baseline disinhibition and PYY responses to OF differed between OP and OR adults. Dietary disinhibition was associated with 5‐year longitudinal weight gain. Differences in appetite regulation may underlie differences in propensity for weight gain.