bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multicomponent Intervention to Encourage Stair Use in Municipal Buildings
Authors: Moloughney Brent W. , Bursey Gayle E. , Fortin Rebecca B. , Morais Maria G. , Dang Khanh Thi
Published: May 2018

Purpose:

Evaluate the incremental impact of environmental stairwell enhancements on stair usage in addition to prompts.

Design:

Phased, nonrandomized, quasi-experimental intervention.

Setting:

Two 6-story and one 8-story municipal government office buildings—each with 2 stairwells.

Participants:

Approximately 2800 municipal employees and 1000 daily visitors.

Intervention:

All stairwells received door wraps and point-of-decision and wayfinding prompts. Environmental enhancements were installed in 1 stairwell in each of the 2 buildings: wall paint, upgraded stair treads and handrails, artwork, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, fire-rated glass doors, and removal of security locks on at least the ground floor.

Measures:

Staff surveys and focus groups, electronic and direct measures of stair and elevator use occurred at baseline and over 3 years of phased implementation and follow-up.

Analysis:

Change in the proportion of vertical movement by stairs using χ2 analysis.

Results:

The prompts were associated with a significant increase in stair use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-1.41), with an average absolute increase of 3.2%. Environmental enhancements were associated with an additional significant increase in stair use (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.25-1.37) beyond prompts alone with an average absolute increase of a further 3.5% that was sustained for 1 year. The initial increases in stair use with prompts alone were not sustained.

Conclusion:

Implementing environmental stairwell enhancements in office buildings increased stair usage in a sustained manner beyond that achieved by prompts alone.
Serum-mediated Activation of Bone Marrow–derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Moon Gyeong Joon , Cho Yeon Hee , Kim Dong Hee , Sung Ji Hee , Son Jeong Pyo , Kim Sooyoon , Cha Jae Min , Bang Oh Young
Published: May 2018

Stroke induces complex and dynamic, local and systemic changes including inflammatory reactions, immune responses, and repair and recovery processes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to enhance neurological recovery after stroke. We hypothesized that serum factors play a critical role in the activation of bone marrow (BM) MSCs after stroke such as by increasing proliferation, paracrine effects, and rejuvenation. Human MSCs (hMSCs) were grown in fetal bovine serum (FBS), normal healthy control serum (NS), or stroke patient serum (SS). MSCs cultured in growth medium with 10% SS or NS exhibited higher proliferation indices than those cultured with FBS ( P < 0.01). FBS-, NS-, and SS-hMSCs showed differences in the expression of trophic factors; vascular endothelial growth factor, glial cell–derived neurotrophic factor, and fibroblast growth factor were densely expressed in samples cultured with SS ( P < 0.01). In addition, SS-MSCs revealed different cell cycle– or aging-associated messenger RNA expression in a later passage, and β-galactosidase staining showed the senescence of MSCs observed during culture expansion was lower in MSCs cultured with SS than those cultured with NS or FBS ( P < 0.01). Several proteins related to the activity of receptors, growth factors, and cytokines were more prevalent in the serum of stroke patients than in that of normal subjects. Neurogenesis and angiogenesis were markedly increased in rats that had received SS-MSCs ( P < 0.05), and these rats showed significant behavioral improvements ( P < 0.01). Our results indicate that stroke induces a process of recovery via the activation of MSCs. Culture methods for MSCs using SS obtained during the acute phase of a stroke could constitute a novel MSC activation method that is feasible and efficient for the neurorestoration of stroke.
microRNA expression in tumour tissue and plasma in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Zedan Ahmed Hussein , Hansen Torben Frøstrup , Assenholt Jannie , Pleckaitis Mindaugas , Madsen Jonna Skov , Osther Palle Jörn Sloth
Published: May 2018

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the western world. Clinical practice is continuously challenged by the pitfalls of the available diagnostic tools. microRNAs may represent promising biomarkers in many types of human cancers, including prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate microRNA expression in tumour tissue and matched plasma in a cohort of patients with primary metastatic prostate cancer. The relative expression of 12 microRNAs was assessed in diagnostic needle biopsies from the prostate and matched plasma samples in two prospective cohorts (screening cohorts) comprising 21 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and 25 control patients. An independent validation cohort of plasma samples was collected prospectively from 149 newly diagnosed patients with local/locally advanced prostate cancer. Analyses were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. miRNA-93 showed a significant negative correlation between expression in tumour tissue and plasma in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Furthermore, the plasma level of miRNA-93 significantly decreased after treatment in patients with local/locally advanced prostate cancer compared to baseline plasma level. The expression of six microRNAs (let-7b, miRNA-34a, -125b, -143, -145 and -221) was downregulated, and three microRNAs (miRNA-21, -25 and miRNA-93) were upregulated in tumour tissue compared to benign prostate tissue. In plasma, six microRNAs were upregulated (miRNA-21, -125b, -126, -141, -143 and -375), while let-7b was downregulated in patients with metastatic prostate cancer compared to the control cohort. In the metastatic prostate cancer cohort, the expression of four microRNAs (miRNA-125b, -126, -143 and -221), and miRNA-141 in tissue was associated with Gleason score and prostate-specific antigen, respectively. The expression of miRNA-93 in tumour tissue was correlated with matched plasma levels and showed a significant decrease in plasma level after intervention in local prostate cancer. Differential expression between tumour and benign prostate was detected for several microRNAs in both tissue and plasma.
Internationalization in the Higher Education Classroom: Local Policy Goals Put Into Practice
Authors: Söderlundh Hedda
Published: May 2018

Nowadays, most universities have policies for internationalization, and in such policies, attention is increasingly given to internationalization as an aspect of students’ learning. However, there have so far been limited efforts to study how such student-centered internationalization can be carried out in practice. This article explores linkages between policy and practice, and it reports on a case study of how local policy goals of internationalization are carried out at the classroom level in a university in Sweden. Through fine-grained analyses of classroom interactions, it is demonstrated how a teacher and his students put policy goals into practice and what aspects stimulate them to do so. More generally, the results contribute to knowledge of how internationalization of higher education can be encouraged and practiced in local learning settings in the form of social actions and how it is carried out in a certain context at a certain time.
Brain-Machine Interfaces: Powerful Tools for Clinical Treatment and Neuroscientific Investigations
Authors: Slutzky Marc W.
Published: May 2018

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have exploded in popularity in the past decade. BMIs, also called brain-computer interfaces, provide a direct link between the brain and a computer, usually to control an external device. BMIs have a wide array of potential clinical applications, ranging from restoring communication to people unable to speak due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or a stroke, to restoring movement to people with paralysis from spinal cord injury or motor neuron disease, to restoring memory to people with cognitive impairment. Because BMIs are controlled directly by the activity of prespecified neurons or cortical areas, they also provide a powerful paradigm with which to investigate fundamental questions about brain physiology, including neuronal behavior, learning, and the role of oscillations. This article reviews the clinical and neuroscientific applications of BMIs, with a primary focus on motor BMIs.
Impaired Cerebral Perfusion in Multiple Sclerosis: Relevance of Endothelial Factors
Authors: Monti Lucia , Morbidelli Lucia , Rossi Alessandro
Published: May 2018

Magnetic resonance imaging techniques measuring in vivo brain perfusion and integrity of the blood-brain barrier have developed rapidly in the past decade, resulting in a wide range of available methods. This review first discusses their principles, possible pitfalls, and potential for quantification and outlines clinical application in neurological disorders. Then, we focus on the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier, pointing out their contribution in regulating vascular tone by production of vasoactive substances. Finally, the role of these substances in brain hypoperfusion in multiple sclerosis is discussed.
Gastrointestinal Lesions in African American Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia
Authors: Brim Hassan , Shahnazi Anahita , Nouraie Mehdi , Badurdeen Dilhana , Laiyemo Adeyinka O , Haidary Tahmineh , Afsari Ali , Ashktorab Hassan
Published: May 2018

Background:

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a frequent disorder that is associated with many serious diseases. However, the findings of an evaluation of IDA-associated gastrointestinal disorders are lacking among African American patients.

Aim:

To determine the most prevalent gastrointestinal lesions among African American patients with IDA especially in young men.

Methods:

We reviewed medical records (n = 422) of patients referred for evaluation of IDA from 2008 to 2012. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed using clinical laboratory tests. The results of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and pathology specimens along with demographic data were abstracted and analyzed using Stata.

Results:

The mean age was 61.9 years, and 50.5% were women. In total, 189 patients (45%) had gross gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The most frequent diagnoses were gastritis (40%), benign colonic lesions (13%), esophagitis (9%), gastric ulcer (6%), and duodenitis (6%). GI bleeding was significantly more frequent in men ( P = 0.001). Benign and malignant colonic lesions were significantly more present among older patients: 16% vs 6% ( P = .005) and 5% vs 0% ( P = .008), respectively. Colitis was more prevalent in younger patients (⩽50): 11% vs 2% ( P = .001). In patients with gross lower GI bleeding, the top diagnoses were gastritis (25%), benign colon tumors (10%), and duodenitis (6%). Colon cancer was diagnosed among 15 patients, and all these patients were older than 50 years of age.

Conclusions:

Gastritis and colonic lesions are most common associated lesions with IDA among African Americans. So bidirectional endoscopy is required for unrevealing of the cause of IDA in asymptomatic patients.
Four conceptions of social pathology
Authors: Laitinen Arto , Särkelä Arvi
Published: May 2018

This article starts with the idea that the task of social philosophy can be defined as the diagnosis and therapy of social pathologies. It discusses four conceptions of social pathology. The first two conceptions are ‘normativist’ and hold that something is a social pathology if it is socially wrong. On the first view, there is no encompassing characterization of social pathologies available: it is a cluster concept of family resemblances. On the second view, social pathologies share a structure (e.g. second-order disorder). The last two conceptions are ‘naturalist’ and hold that something is wrong because it is pathological. The third view takes it that society is the kind of substance that can fall ill – an organism. The fourth view operates with the notion of a social life that can degenerate. The four conceptions are compared along six criteria: (1) is the view plausible?; (2) is it informative (if true)?; (3) does it help define the task of social philosophy?; (4) does it take naturalistic vocabulary seriously?; (5) does it hold that pathologies share a structure?; and (6) how does it see the primacy of being wrong and being pathological?
To include, or not to include, that is the question: Disability digital inclusion and exclusion in China
Authors: Lin Zhongxuan , Yang Liu , Zhang Zhi’an
Published: May 2018

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly important for people with disabilities (PWDs), suggesting digital inclusion as a possible social mechanism against the social exclusion of disability. This study suggests a more complicated relationship between ICTs and disability. Situated in a Chinese context and based on research methods of ethnographic participant observation and in-depth interviews, this study explains why and how social exclusion of disability in China leads to PWDs’ exodus to the Internet, where they find a possible habitat of digital and social inclusion notwithstanding the risk of more profound social exclusion. The study finally argues that the Internet habitat of PWDs is both a material enclave and a discourse heterotopia for understanding Chinese society, disability, and ICTs. In addition, future studies should further include PWDs in this field.
Exploring the patients’ experiences of living with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Authors: Forman Jacqueline , Baumbusch Jennifer , Jackson Heather , Lindenberg Jen , Shook Alyssa , Bashir Jamil
Published: May 2018

Background:

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator provides effective treatment for the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest but significant risks associated with transvenous implantation persist. The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator has proven to be an alternative and innovative treatment option for select patients to mitigate these risks. Obtaining the patients’ perspectives can provide clinicians with essential information to guide implant selection, procedural decision-making, and support patient management. Conventional implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients have reported shock-related anxiety, fear, insufficient education, and challenges adapting to physical and psychological changes. Little evidence exists to determine whether differences between the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator and conventional implantable cardioverter defibrillator allow for the transferability of our current knowledge to the care and management of this population.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of living with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator including the decision-making process, implant, and follow-up care processes.

Methods:

Using an exploratory qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone with 15 participants who underwent subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator implant.

Results:

Analysis revealed five main themes: (a) influences on decision-making; (b) unmet education needs; (c) physical impact; (d) psychological impact; and (e) recommendations.

Conclusion:

As a new technology, little knowledge of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator exists outside of the tertiary implanting sites, therefore developing new strategies to increase learning and dissemination is essential. Although similarities exist in our findings to those of conventional implantable cardioverter defibrillators, there are significant differences in the decision-making process and physical impact which require individualized care planning and development of strategies to provide a patient-centered approach to care.
Assessing the Quality and Performance of Human Research Protection Programs to Guide Compliance Oversight Activities
Authors: Tsan Min-Fu , Nguyen Yen
Published: May 2018

Routine on-site reviews should focus primarily on facilities that are at risk of harming human subjects. Using human research protection program performance metric data from 107 facilities, we defined a facility to be at risk when one of its noncompliance/incident rates was among the top three highest rates of that performance metric. Based on 14 performance metrics with noncompliance and incidents in 2017, 27 facilities were identified to be at risk. These 27 facilities at risk, while constituting only 25% of all facilities, contributed to 70% ± 25% ( M ± SD; range = 32%-100%) of all reported noncompliance/incidents. Thus, performance metric data can be used to guide compliance oversight activities.
Mechanical design and trajectory planning of a lower limb rehabilitation robot with a variable workspace
Authors: Wang Hongbo , Feng Yongfei , Yu Hongnian , Wang Zhenghui , Vladareanuv Victor , Du Yaxin
Published: May 2018

The early phase of extremity rehabilitation training has high potential impact for stroke patients. However, most of the lower limb rehabilitation robots in hospitals are proposed just suitable for patients at the middle or later recovery stage. This article investigates a new sitting/lying multi-joint lower limb rehabilitation robot. It can be used at all recovery stages, including the initial stage. Based on man–machine engineering and the innovative design for mechanism, the leg length of the lower limb rehabilitation robot is automatically adjusted to fit patients with different heights. The lower limb rehabilitation robot is a typical human–machine system, and the limb safety of the patient is the most important principle to be considered in its design. The hip joint rotation ranges are different in people’s sitting and lying postures. Different training postures cannot make the training workspace unique. Besides the leg lengths and joint rotation angles varied with different patients, the idea of variable workspace of the lower limb rehabilitation robot is first proposed. Based on the variable workspace, three trajectory planning methods are developed. In order to verify the trajectory planning methods, an experimental study has been conducted. Theoretical and actual curves of the hip rotation, knee rotation, and leg mechanism end point motion trajectories are obtained for three unimpaired subjects. Most importantly, a clinical trial demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the proposed lower limb rehabilitation robot.
Rationale, design, and protocol of a randomized controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of dabigatran etexilate versus dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis
Authors: Ferro José M , Dentali Francesco , Coutinho Jonathan M , Kobayashi Adam , Caria Jorge , Desch Marc , Fraessdorf Mandy , Huisman Holger , Diener Hans-Christoph
Published: May 2018

Rationale

To prevent recurrent venous thrombotic events after acute cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis, guidelines recommend long-term oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists. Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant experience in cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis is limited to case reports and series.

Aim

To compare dabigatran with dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis for the prevention of recurrent venous thrombotic event.

Sample size

One hundred and twenty patients.

Methods and design

This study is a phase III, prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter, exploratory trial with blinded endpoint adjudication. Patients with acute cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis after 5–15 days of treatment with parenteral heparin are randomized to either dabigatran etexilate 150 mg twice daily or dose-adjusted (international normalized ratio 2–3) warfarin (≤24 weeks).

Study outcome

The primary endpoint is a composite of patients with new venous thrombotic event (recurring cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis, deep venous thrombosis of any limb, pulmonary embolism, and major bleeding (International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis definition)) during the treatment period. Statistics will be descriptive (number and frequencies).

Study timelines

Inclusion started in December 2016. Final results are expected by the end of 2018.

Discussion

This exploratory trial is the first to compare vitamin K with non-vitamin K antagonists in cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis. It will provide evidence to guide physicians and patients in choosing oral anticoagulants to prevent venous thrombotic event after acute cerebral venous or dural sinus thrombosis. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02913326.
Longitudinal Relations Between Depressive Symptoms and Executive Functions From Adolescence to Early Adulthood: A Twin Study
Authors: Friedman Naomi P. , du Pont Alta , Corley Robin P. , Hewitt John K.
Published: May 2018

Depression is associated with deficits in executive functions (EFs)—cognitive control abilities that regulate goal-directed thoughts and actions—but the etiology of these associations is unclear. We examined the relations between depressive symptoms and multiple EF latent variables in a population-based sample of 439 twin pairs assessed at mean ages 12, 17, and 23 years. Greater depressive symptoms negatively related to a Common EF factor capturing shared variance across response inhibition, working memory updating, and mental set shifting tasks, and also negatively related to an Updating-Specific factor, but not a Shifting-Specific factor. Cross-lagged panel models suggested that the Common EF correlations reflected within-wave associations rather than prospective effects, whereas the Updating-Specific correlations reflected associations of earlier depression levels with later Updating-Specific ability. Twin models were consistent with a model in which Common EF and Updating-Specific abilities relate to depression through correlated genetic risk, with no significant environmental correlations.
Identifying Core Deficits in a Dimensional Model of Borderline Personality Disorder Features: A Network Analysis
Authors: Southward Matthew W. , Cheavens Jennifer S.
Published: May 2018

Researchers have proposed three core deficits of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): emotion dysregulation, interpersonal problems, and self-identity disturbance. Previous methods for testing these deficits rest on problematic assumptions (e.g., the assumption that observable/measured features of BPD, such as chaotic relationships and affective intensity, occur independently). A network model of psychopathology assumes that observable features of disorders directly interact, and network analytic methods quantify how central each feature is. We conducted a network analysis of core deficits of BPD features using a large ( N = 4,386) sample of participants with a range of BPD features. The most central features of participants in the High BPD group were loneliness, recklessness/impulsivity, and intense moods, supporting models of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems. The networks of BPD features did not differ between men and women. We provide directions for future research to enhance our understanding of how networks of BPD features change over time.
Child and Parent Demographic Characteristics and Oral Health Perceptions Associated with Clinically Measured Oral Health
Authors: Marcus M. , Maida C.A. , Wang Y. , Xiong D. , Hays R.D. , Coulter I.D. , Lee S.Y. , Spolsky V.W. , Shen J. , Crall J.J. , Liu H.
Published: May 2018

Objective:

To examine child and parent reports about the child’s oral health and assess the associations of these reports with clinical assessments of oral health status by dental examiners.

Methods:

Surveys with 139 items for children and 133 items for parents were administered by Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview Software. In addition, the Children’s Oral Health Status Index (COHSI) was computed from a dental examination.

Results:

A total of 334 families with children ages 8 to 17 y participated at 12 dental practices in Los Angeles County. Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated separately for child and parent surveys to identify items uniquely associated with the COHSI. Ten of 139 items the children reported regarding their oral health were associated with the COHSI. The strongest associations were found for child’s age, aesthetic factors (straight teeth and pleased with teeth), and cognitive factors related to perception of dental appearance (pleased/happy with the look of the child’s mouth, teeth, and jaws). Nine of 133 parent items about the child’s oral health were associated with the COHSI in the parent model, notably being a single parent, parent’s gender, parent born in the United States, pleased or happy with the look of their child’s teeth, and accessing the Internet.

Conclusion:

These child and parent survey items have potential to be used to assess oral health status for groups of children in programs and practices in lieu of dental screenings.

Knowledge Translation Statement:

The paper’s results inform the development of a toolkit that can be used by schools, public health agencies, and dental programs to identify children with low oral health status based on parents’ and children’s responses to survey items across demographic, physical, mental, and social domains. These survey items can be used to inform parents of the desirability of proactively addressing inadequacies in their child’s oral health status, enabling them to more rationally address dental needs.
Sonographic Evaluation of Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Study of a Rare Condition
Authors: Hamblen Viyana
Published: May 2018

Inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma is a rare entity that suggests heightened biologic behavior and a surgical challenge during the course of treatment. Tumor thrombus can extend from the renal vein to the right atrium. This cephalad extension is classified by four different levels. These levels determine which surgical approach is used, whether a thoracoabdominal incision is needed, and whether a patient needs to be placed in circulatory arrest. Complete surgical resection of the tumor is potentially the only curative treatment, although it supposes a challenge because of operative difficulty and the potential for massive bleeding or tumor pulmonary thromboembolism. IVC tumor thrombus presents with a few differentials that need to be assessed, including bland thrombus, primary IVC leiomyosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, adrenal cortical carcinoma, primary lung carcinoma, and Wilms tumor. The importance of diagnosing IVC tumor thrombus secondary to renal cell carcinoma is demonstrated as well as a sonographic protocol for assessing IVC tumor thrombus.
The characteristics of vessel lining cells in normal spleens and their role in the pathobiology of myelofibrosis
Authors: Qiu Jiajing , Salama Mohamed E. , Hu Cing Siang , Li Yan , Wang Xiaoli , Hoffman Ronald
Published: May 2018

Key Points

SVECs support the development of hematopoiesis in MF. LCs and SVECs each have distinct properties and functions that differ between normal and MF spleens.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: LncRNA TUG1 promoted KIAA1199 expression via miR-600 to accelerate cell metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer
Authors: Sun Junfeng , Hu Jiyi , Wang Guojun , Yang Zhen , Zhao Chunlin , Zhang Xiefu , Wang Jiaxiang
Published: May 2018

Background

LncRNA TUG1 has been reported to be highly expressed in CRC samples and cells and promoted metastasis by affecting EMT, indicating a poor prognosis for colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we determined the underlying mechanism for tumor oncogenesis of lncRNA TUG1 in CRC metastasis.

Methods

The expressions of miR-600 and KIAA1199 in 76 CRC patients and CRC cells and CRC metastatic tissues were determined using qRT-PCR. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were determined using western blot. CRC cell metastasis was assessed by colony formation, wound healing and transwell assay. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to confirm miR-600 binding to KIAA1199 3’UTR.

Results

Our data showed that lncRNA TUG1 was upregulated in CRC cells, miR-600 was downregulated in CRC tissues, cell lines and CRC metastatic tissues, and low miR-600 expression predicted a poor clinical prognosis. Overexpression of miR-600 suppressed CRC cell migration/invasion and EMT-related proteins in vitro, inhibited tumor volume and weight, and decreased the number of CRC liver metastasis in vivo. KIAA1199 was upregulated in CRC tissues, and was negatively regulated by miR-600. KIAA1199 overexpression promoted CRC cell migration and invasion, which reversed the inhibition effect of miR-600 mimic on migration and invasion of CRC cells. Moreover, TUG1 negatively regulated miR-600, and inhibition of TUG1 suppressed CRC cell migration and invasion and EMT-related proteins via regulating miR-600.

Conclusion

Our study proved that TUG1 promoted KIAA1199 expression to accelerate EMT and metastasis of CRC cell through inhibition of miR-600 expression.
Natural and synthetic arsenic sulfide pigments in Japanese woodblock prints of the late Edo period
Authors: Zaleski Stephanie , Takahashi Yae , Leona Marco
Published: May 2018

We recently described the use of an artificial arsenic sulfide pigment in Japanese woodblock prints from the Meiji period (1868–1912): we now expand on our previous work by investigating arsenic sulfide pigments used in Japanese woodblock prints of the late Edo period (1615–1868) and early Meiji period. The series of eight prints A Tour of the Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku Taki Meguri), by Katsushika Hokusai, issued between 1833 and 1834 is known to have been reproduced from entirely new blocks at some point during the late Edo or early Meiji periods. The two sets, original and copies are characterized by visually distinct color palettes as well as several differences in the image. Two such sets in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were analyzed with particular attention to the yellow, orange, and green printed areas. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Raman microspectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed the use of natural orpiment in the original set and of artificial arsenic sulfide pigments in the reproduction set. In addition, the reproduction set features extensive use of ultramarine blue, the synthetic equivalent to lapis lazuli. This pigment, available commercially in Europe from 1830 onward has been documented in Japanese art so far only in a handful of late Edo period paintings. The results of our comparative analysis further highlight differences in pigment use between Edo and Meiji periods, and point to arsenic sulfide pigments as useful markers for the date of original production for popular prints of the Edo period.
United states of amnesia: rescuing memory loss from diverse conditions
Authors: Ortega-de San Luis Clara , Ryan Tomás J.
Published: May 2018

Amnesia – the loss of memory function – is often the earliest and most persistent symptom of dementia. It occurs as a consequence of a variety of diseases and injuries. These include neurodegenerative, neurological or immune disorders, drug abuse, stroke or head injuries. It has both troubled and fascinated humanity. Philosophers, scientists, physicians and anatomists have all pursued an understanding of how we learn and memorise, and why we forget. In the last few years, the development of memory engram labelling technology has greatly impacted how we can experimentally study memory and its disorders in animals. Here, we present a concise discussion of what we have learned about amnesia through the manipulation of engrams, and how we may use this knowledge to inform novel treatments of amnesia.
Polη, a Y-family translesion synthesis polymerase, promotes cellular tolerance of Myc-induced replication stress
Authors: Kurashima Kiminori , Sekimoto Takayuki , Oda Tsukasa , Kawabata Tsuyoshi , Hanaoka Fumio , Yamashita Takayuki
Published: May 2018

Growth of precancerous and cancer cells relies on their tolerance of oncogene-induced replication stress (RS). Translesion synthesis (TLS) plays an essential role in the cellular tolerance of various types of RS and bypasses replication barriers by employing specialized polymerases. However, limited information is available about the role of TLS polymerases in oncogene-induced RS. Here, we report that Polη, a Y-family TLS polymerase, promotes cellular tolerance of Myc-induced RS. Polη was recruited to Myc-induced RS sites, and Polη depletion enhanced the Myc-induced slowing and stalling of replication forks and the subsequent generation of double-strand breaks (DSBs). Overexpression of a catalytically dead Polη also promoted Myc-induced DSB formation. In the absence of Polη, Myc-induced DSB formation depended on MUS81–EME2 (the S-phase-specific endonuclease complex), and concomitant depletion of MUS81–EME2 and Polη enhanced RS and cell death in a synergistic manner. Collectively, these results indicate that Polη facilitates fork progression during Myc-induced RS, thereby helping cells tolerate the resultant deleterious effects. Additionally, the present study highlights the possibility of a synthetic sickness or lethality between Polη and MUS81–EME2 in cells experiencing Myc-induced RS.
Septin-dependent remodeling of cortical microtubule drives cell reshaping during epithelial wound healing
Authors: Shindo Asako , Audrey Anastasia , Takagishi Maki , Takahashi Masahide , Wallingford John B. , Kinoshita Makoto
Published: May 2018

Wounds in embryos heal rapidly through contraction of the wound edges. Despite well-recognized significance of the actomyosin purse string for wound closure, roles for other cytoskeletal components are largely unknown. Here, we report that the septin cytoskeleton cooperates with actomyosin and microtubules to coordinate circumferential contraction of the wound margin and concentric elongation of wound-proximal cells in Xenopus laevis embryos. Microtubules reoriented radially, forming bundles along lateral cell cortices in elongating wound-proximal cells. Depletion of septin 7 (Sept7) slowed wound closure by attenuating the wound edge contraction and cell elongation. ROCK/Rho-kinase inhibitor-mediated suppression of actomyosin contractility enhanced the Sept7 phenotype, whereas the Sept7 depletion did not affect the accumulation of actomyosin at the wound edge. The cortical microtubule bundles were reduced in wound-proximal cells in Sept7 knockdown (Sept7-KD) embryos, but forced bundling of microtubules mediated by the microtubule-stabilizing protein Map7 did not rescue the Sept7-KD phenotype. Nocodazole-mediated microtubule depolymerization enhanced the Sept7-KD phenotype, suggesting that Sept7 is required for microtubule reorganization during cell elongation. Our findings indicate that septins are required for the rapid wound closure by facilitating cortical microtubule reorganization and the concentric elongation of surrounding cells.
Sequential binding of ezrin and moesin to L-selectin regulates monocyte protrusive behaviour during transendothelial migration
Authors: Rey-Gallardo Angela , Tomlins Hannah , Joachim Justin , Rahman Izajur , Kitscha Phoebe , Frudd Karen , Parsons Maddy , Ivetic Aleksandar
Published: May 2018

Leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) is absolutely fundamental to the inflammatory response, and involves initial pseudopod protrusion and subsequent polarised migration across inflamed endothelium. Ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins are expressed in leukocytes and mediate cell shape changes and polarity. The spatio-temporal organisation of ERM proteins with their targets, and their individual contribution to protrusion during TEM, has never been explored. Here, we show that blocking binding of moesin to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) reduces its C-terminal phosphorylation during monocyte TEM, and that on–off cycling of ERM activity is essential for pseudopod protrusion into the subendothelial space. Reactivation of ERM proteins within transmigrated pseudopods re-establishes their binding to targets, such as L-selectin. Knockdown of ezrin, but not moesin, severely impaired the recruitment of monocytes to activated endothelial monolayers under flow, suggesting that this protein plays a unique role in the early recruitment process. Ezrin binds preferentially to L-selectin in resting cells and during early TEM. The moesin–L-selectin interaction increases within transmigrated pseudopods as TEM proceeds, facilitating localised L-selectin ectodomain shedding. In contrast, a non-cleavable L-selectin mutant binds selectively to ezrin, driving multi-pseudopodial extensions. Taken together, these results show that ezrin and moesin play mutually exclusive roles in modulating L-selectin signalling and shedding to control protrusion dynamics and polarity during monocyte TEM.
Turning workers into false queens– the role of exogenous pheromones in regulating reproduction in worker honey bees
Authors: Yusuf Abdullahi A. , Crewe Robin M. , Pirk Christian W. W.
Published: May 2018

One of the responses that honey bee workers can make in the event of queen loss is to develop into false queens. False queens are workers that exhibit both behavioural and physiological traits similar to those of a true queen. However, the presence of more than one false queen in a colony distorts the established hierarchies. As transformation into a false queen occurs after emergence as an adult, we tested the effect of worker mobile pheromone carriers (PCs) treated with exogenously supplied pheromones on their nestmates. The PCs carried either synthetic mandibular gland pheromones or pheromones extracted from capensis parasitic workers. Only PCs attracted retinues of workers, increased pheromone production, and activated their ovaries becoming false queens. Pheromones from capensis workers were more effective than extracts of commercially available synthetic queen pheromones in eliciting these effects. Using this simple mobile pheromone delivery system, we have shown that, carrying amounts of exogenous pheromone can induce pheromone production in the carrier resulting in the production of false queens within experimental groups. Possible implications of using this technique to modify and regulate worker reproduction in colonies are discussed.
Prevalence of neurogenic pulmonary edema among patients who died from head injury – a retrospective chart review
Authors: Okello Erasmus E. , Tumukunde Janat , Atumanya Patience , Kalungi Sam , Muhindo Alex , Kwizera Arthur
Published: May 2018

Background:Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a less recognized complication of head injuries and is seldom considered in management protocols in most centers. We therefore conducted a study to determine the prevalence of Neurogenic Pulmonary Edema among patients who died from head injury at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.

Methods:An observational study conducted from the 1stJune to 31stAugust 2013, with ethical approval. We consecutively enrolled patients who died of head injuries in the hospital. Demographic data, duration of illness, severity of illness, and patient management instituted were gathered from patient medical files. Autopsy results of the brain, lungs, heart, liver and kidneys performed within 24 hours after death were reviewed.

Results:Twenty-six patients who died from head injury were enrolled in this study over the study period. Only one patient had preexisting hypertension and obesity while the rest had no known premorbid medical history. Intracranial abnormalities including raised intracranial pressure had been detected by CT scan in 18/26 of the patients while others had a normal scan (1/26) or did not have a scan done (7/26). Features of pulmonary edema were detected in 76.9% (20/26) of the bodies on gross lung examination. Pulmonary edema was bilateral in 85% of the bodies. Congestion was also noted in the liver, heart and kidneys.

Conclusions:Pulmonary edema is highly prevalent in head injury patients and needs to be critically recognized early in the formulation of a management plan, as it contributes to morbidity and secondary brain injury through respiratory embarrassment.
Estimating the contribution of studies in network meta-analysis: paths, flows and streams
Authors: Papakonstantinou Theodoros , Nikolakopoulou Adriani , Rücker Gerta , Chaimani Anna , Schwarzer Guido , Egger Matthias , Salanti Georgia
Published: May 2018

In network meta-analysis, it is important to assess the influence of the limitations or other characteristics of individual studies on the estimates obtained from the network. The percentage contribution matrix, which shows how much each direct treatment effect contributes to each treatment effect estimate from network meta-analysis, is crucial in this context. We use ideas from graph theory to derive the percentage that is contributed by each direct treatment effect. We start with the ‘projection’ matrix in a two-step network meta-analysis model, called the H matrix, which is analogous to the hat matrix in a linear regression model. We develop a method to translate H entries to percentage contributions based on the observation that the rows of H can be interpreted as flow networks, where a stream is defined as the composition of a path and its associated flow. We present an algorithm that identifies the flow of evidence in each path and decomposes it into direct comparisons. To illustrate the methodology, we use two published networks of interventions. The first compares no treatment, quinolone antibiotics, non-quinolone antibiotics and antiseptics for underlying eardrum perforations and the second compares 14 antimanic drugs. We believe that this approach is a useful and novel addition to network meta-analysis methodology, which allows the consistent derivation of the percentage contributions of direct evidence from individual studies to network treatment effects.
Design and protocol for a pragmatic randomised study to optimise screening, prevention and care for tuberculosis and HIV in Malawi (PROSPECT Study)
Authors: MacPherson Peter , Webb Emily L , Lalloo David G. , Nliwasa Marriott , Maheswaran Hendramoorthy , Joekes Elizabeth , Phiri Dama , Squire Bertie , Pai Madhukar , Corbett Elizabeth L
Published: May 2018

Background: Adults seeking diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in low-resource settings face considerable barriers and have high pre-treatment mortality. Efforts to improve access to prompt TB treatment have been hampered by limitations in TB diagnostics, with considerable uncertainty about how available and new tests can best be implemented.

Design and methods: The PROSPECT Study is an open, three-arm pragmatic randomised study that will investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of optimised HIV and TB diagnosis and linkage to care interventions in reducing time to TB diagnosis and prevalence of undiagnosed TB and HIV in primary care in Blantyre, Malawi. Participants (≥ 18 years) attending a primary care clinic with TB symptoms (cough of any duration) will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: (i) standard of care; (ii) optimised HIV diagnosis and linkage; or (iii) optimised HIV and TB diagnosis and linkage. We will test two hypotheses: firstly, whether prompt linkage to HIV care should be prioritised for adults with TB symptoms; and secondly, whether an optimised TB triage testing algorithm comprised of digital chest x-ray evaluated by computer-aided diagnosis software and sputum GeneXpert MTB/Rif can outperform clinician-directed TB screening. The primary trial outcome will be time to TB treatment initiation by day 56, and secondary outcomes will include prevalence of undiagnosed TB and HIV, mortality, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions: The PROSPECT Study will provide urgently-needed evidence under “real-life” conditions to inform clinicians and policy makers on how best to improve TB/HIV diagnosis and treatment in Africa.

Clinical trial registration: NCT03519425 (08/05/2018)
Market-Oriented Service Network Design When Demand is Sensitive to Congestion
Authors: Schön Cornelia , Saini Pratibha
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we present a market-oriented service network design model in which the seller’s problem is to determine how many facilities to open, where to locate them, and which service capacities and service levels they should have to maximize overall profit. Our model explicitly considers the customers’ facility choice as a function of typical choice determinants, such as travel distance and congestion delays (which are endogenously impacted by the seller’s decisions) as well as other, exogenous factors such as price level and product variety. We relax the assumption adopted in many related works that the service provider has discretion as to the assignment of customers to facilities; instead, we allow customers to self-select based on their preferences for facility attributes according to an attraction-based choice model. Furthermore, we capture not only the effect of congestion on demand but also the reciprocal impacts of demand on congestion and service level by modeling each facility as an M/G/1 queue with service capacity as a decision variable. The resulting model represents a non-linear mixed-integer problem (MIP); however, we show that this problem can be linearized introducing several new continuous variables and constraints. To solve the linearized MIP to proven optimality or approximately, we develop an exact decomposition approach and heuristics. We report the performance testing of our approach with regard to run times and solution quality in an extensive computational experiment. A case study of the selection of locations for new convenience stores in Heidelberg, Germany illustrates the real-world applicability of the model using empirical market research data. An equivalent problem arises in a number of other applications, particularly in service shop industries such as restaurants and retailers. Surprisingly, profit maximization under customer-choice-driven behavior has rarely been considered as an objective in the related literature.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2017.0797 .
Effects of the Extrusion Process Parameter
Authors: Baredar Prashant , Kumar Jitendra , Kumar Anil , Kumar Shankar
Published: May 2018

Extrusion is an important Metal forming operation. It is a manufacturing process used to create long objects of a fixed cross sectional profile. The extrusion process is based on the plastic deformation of a material due to compressive and shears forces only. No tensile forces are applied to the extruded metal. The latter allows the material to withstand high deformation without tearing out the material. Basically, this procedure is based on the reducing and shaping the cross section of piece of metal squeezing the material through an orifice or a die. Typically the blocks of metal used for this procedure are long straight parts with circular cross sections.
Coplanar Waveguide Feed to the Hemispherical DRA
Authors: Singh S. N. , Kumar Manish , Kumar Subhash , Kumari Mamta
Published: May 2018

In this communication, several coplanar wave guide topologies to the hemispherical DR.A are presented. It is seen that the inductive and the circular-loop CPW feed configurations offer the flexibility to excite the fundamental TE111 resonant mode of the hemispherical DRA close to the source free resonant frequency, due to the presence of metallization in the coupling region. Dual-band behavior is observed with the capacitive feed due to the DRA and slot resonant modes, which are displaced with respect to the unperturbed modes due to the uninterrupted slot. The radiation characteristics of the antenna arc also explained.