bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with long‐term mortality for stroke unit patients in Latvia
Authors: Mihejeva Illa , Vētra Anita , Bērziņa Guna
Published: November 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate how pre‐stroke risk factors, neurological symptoms, and the level of disability shortly after stroke are associated with poststroke mortality during a 7‐year period after stroke, for persons treated in a stroke unit.

Methods

The data of 231 patients were included in the study. Patients who were treated in the stroke unit at the Riga East University Hospital between February 1, 2009, and July 20, 2009, were included in this study. Three stepwise Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to analyze mortality in the 7 years following stroke. Pre‐stroke risk factors (type of stroke, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, recurrent stroke, age, gender), neurological symptoms (motor deficit, sensory disturbance, aphasia, poststroke urinary incontinence (PSUI), mental status), and limitations of activity (feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs) were evaluated as factors associated with mortality after stroke.

Results

A total of 145 (62.8%) patients died during the study period. The final model for each group of factors included only one of the factors used for the analysis. Patients who had alcohol abuse were 40% more likely to die earlier. The hazard for those with PSUI is 1.72 times higher than those without PSUI. The independence in grooming showed a 39% lower likelihood of dying earlier.

Conclusion

Alcohol abuse as a pre‐stroke risk factor, poststroke urinary incontinence as a neurological symptom, and dependence in grooming as a factor of disability were associated with earlier mortality in the first seven years after stroke.
Determinants of angiographic thrombus burden and impact of thrombus aspiration on outcome in young patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Ge Junhua , Li Jian , Dong Bingzi , Ning Xianfeng , Hou Bo
Published: November 2018

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the determinants of thrombus burden (TB) and the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) on outcome in young adults with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background

The determinants of TB in young STEMI patients are not fully understood now.

Methods

The 182 young (age ≤ 45 years) STEMI patients, who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital from January 2013 to September 2016, were included. Angiographic TB and impact of TA on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were evaluated. Median clinical follow‐up period was 875 (641–1,052) days.

Results

All patients were male, mean age was 40 ± 5 years. High thrombus burden (HTB) was evidenced in 100 (54.9%) patients. TA was performed in 62 out 100 (62%) patients with high TB (HTB) during PCI. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the HTB group than in the low thrombus burden (LTB) group (75 vs. 17%, P < 0.001). The proportion of smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history of premature coronary artery disease were similar between HTB and LTB groups. During follow‐up, 2 patients died and 31 patients underwent repeat PCI. MACE rate was significantly higher in the HTB group than in the LTB group (24.0 vs. 9.8%, P = 0.012) and significantly lower in HTB patients with TA than HTB patients without TA (14.5 vs. 39.5%, P = 0.018).

Conclusions

Hypertension is an independent determinant of HTB and TA could be considered as an effective therapeutic option in young male STEMI patients with HTB.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection treated with magnesium‐made bioresorbable scaffold: 1‐Year angiographic and optical coherence tomography follow‐up
Authors: Quadri Giorgio , Cerrato Enrico , Rolfo Cristina , Varbella Ferdinando
Published: November 2018

A young woman admitted with a diagnosis of NSTE‐ACS underwent coronary angiography which showed LAD spontaneous coronary artery dissection treated with magnesium‐made bioresorbable scaffold. We report 1‐year angiographic and OCT findings.
The Effect of pH and Biogenic Ligands on the Weathering of Chrysotile Asbestos: The Pivotal Role of Tetrahedral Fe in Dissolution Kinetics and Radical Formation
Authors: Walter Martin , Schenkeveld Walter D. C. , Reissner Michael , Gille Lars , Kraemer Stephan M.
Published: November 2018

Chrysotile asbestos is a soil pollutant in many countries. It is a carcinogenic mineral, partly due to its surface chemistry. In chrysotile, FeII and FeIII substitute Mg octahedra (Fe[6]), and FeIII substitutes Si tetrahedra (Fe[4]). Fe on fiber surfaces can generate hydroxyl radicals (HO.) in Fenton reactions, which damage biomolecules. To better understand chrysotile weathering in soils, net Mg and Si dissolution rates over the pH range 3.0–11.5 were determined in the presence and absence of biogenic ligands. Also, HO. generation and Fe bulk speciation of pristine and weathered fibers were examined by EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Dissolution rates were increased by ligands and inversely related to pH with complete inhibition at cement pH (11.5). Surface‐exposed Mg layers readily dissolved at low pH, but only after days at neutral pH. On longer timescales, the slow dissolution of Si layers became rate‐determining. In the absence of ligands, Fe[6] precipitated as Fenton‐inactive Fe phases, whereas Fe[4] (7 % of bulk Fe) remained redox‐active throughout two‐week experiments and at pH 7.5 generated 50±10 % of the HO. yield of Fe[6] at pristine fiber surfaces. Ligand‐promoted dissolution of Fe[4] (and potentially Al[4]) labilized exposed Si layers. This increased Si and Mg dissolution rates and lowered HO. generation to near‐background level. It is concluded that Fe[4] surface species control long‐term HO. generation and dissolution rates of chrysotile at natural soil pH.
Phenanthroline—A Versatile Ligand for Advanced Functional Polymeric Materials
Authors: Rothfuss Hannah , Knöfel Nicolai D. , Tzvetkova Pavleta , Michenfelder Nadine C. , Baraban Sergej , Unterreiner Andreas‐Neil , Roesky Peter W. , Barner‐Kowollik Christopher
Published: November 2018

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Andreas‐Neil Unterreiner and Peter W. Roesky at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Christopher Barner‐Kowollik at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The image depicts the incorporation of phenanthroline ligands for fabricating metal‐ion‐containing functional polymeric materials. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201803692.
Flow Cytometry Method Validation Protocols
Authors: Selliah Nithianandan , Eck Steven , Green Cherie , Oldaker Teri , Stewart Jennifer , Vitaliti Alessandra , Litwin Virginia
Published: November 2018

Analytical method validation provides a means to ensure that data are credible and reproducible. This unit will provide a brief introduction to analytical method validation as applied to cellular analysis by flow cytometry. In addition, the unit will provide practical procedures for three different types of validation. The first is a limited validation protocol that is applicable for research settings and non‐regulated laboratories. The second is validation protocol that presents the minimum validation requirements in regulated laboratories. The third is a transfer validation protocol to be used when methods are transferred between laboratories. The recommendations presented in this unit are consistent with the white papers published by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the International Clinical Cytometry Society, as well as with Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Guideline H62: Validation of Assays Performed by Flow Cytometry (currently in preparation). © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improve cloud manufacturing supply chain note‐enterprises optimize combination of the Cuckoo search
Authors: Liang Hejun , Sun Lily
Published: November 2018

To realize full sharing of mass enterprises in cloud manufacturing environment and free and fair cooperation among the supply chain note‐enterprises, this paper presents a method of combining multi‐Objective Cuckoo Search (MOCS) with Pareto to make optimization of task completion time and cost on supply chain in order to prove the viability and effectiveness of the method, doing the muti‐objective optimization model simulation experiment by MATLAB. The experimental results show that the algorithm performs better than present commonly used multi‐objective optimization genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and artificial fish school algorithm, have better search capability and larger search range, escape from local optimal solution, and achieve the global minimum; the multi‐Objective Cuckoo Search can optimize the combination of supply chain enterprises on cloud manufacturing platform effectively.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reductive Alkylation of Amines with Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Emayavaramban Balakumar , Chakraborty Priyanka , Sundararaju Basker
Published: November 2018

Direct reductive alkylation of amines with carboxylic acid is carried out by using an inexpensive, air‐stable cobalt/triphos catalytic system with molecular hydrogen as the reductant. This efficient synthetic method proceeds through reduction and condensation, followed by reduction of the in situ‐generated imine into the amine in a green catalytic process.
Comparison of urinary cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridization in the detection of urothelial neoplasia: An analysis of discordant results
Authors: McHale Teresa , Ohori N. Paul , Cieply Kathy M. , Sherer Carol , Bastacky Sheldon I.
Published: November 2018

Background

We examine the performance of cytology and FISH in the detection of urothelial carcinoma (UC), and explore the reasons for discrepant results, and potential clinical implications.

Methods

Urine samples from 89 patients were prospectively collected for simultaneous cytology and UroVysion FISH, and results correlated with concurrent biopsies and/or clinical or histologic follow‐up data. Corresponding tissue biopsies, where available, were also evaluated by FISH.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity of cytology and FISH for the detection of UC was 54.8% and 92% and 50% and 88%, respectively. Only one of seven false‐positive urinary FISH results proved to be an “anticipatory positive” on extended follow‐up. Five of eight (62.5%) high grade (HG) carcinomas with false‐negative urinary FISH, were negative due to the absence/paucity of FISH‐detectable changes in the tumor cells. In atypical cytology cases, the FISH result did not assist in identifying UC. There was no significant difference between an atypical cytology result and a positive FISH result, with respect to the identification of patients with UC.

Conclusions

We found urinary cytology to be more sensitivity and specific than FISH in the detection of UC, though the difference was not statistically significant. Up to 24% of HG UCs are FISH negative due to an absence of FISH‐detectable abnormalities in the tumor cells. Paucity of neoplastic cells in the urine also contributes to false‐negative FISH results in both HG and low grade tumors. Negative urinary FISH cannot be taken alone as indicating the absence of significant disease in patients with atypical cytology.
Effect of temperature on the biological parameters of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae
Authors: Soh Bernard Steve Baleba , Kekeunou Sevilor , Nanga Nanga Samuel , Dongmo Michel , Rachid Hannah
Published: November 2018

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, is a pest of many plants of the Brassicaceae family including cabbage, Brassica oleracea Linnaeus, 1753. We investigated the effect of temperature on the biological parameters of B. brassicae using different temperature‐based models incorporated in the Insect Life Cycle Modelling (ILCYM) software. Nymphs of first stage were individually placed in the incubators successively set at 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C; 75 ± 5% RH; and L12: D12‐hr photoperiods. We found that first nymph reached the adult stage after 18.45 ± 0.04 days (10°C), 10.37 ± 0.26 days (15°C), 6.42 ± 0.07 days (20°C), 5.076 ± 0.09 days (25°C), and 5.05 ± 0.10 days (30°C), and failed at 35°C. The lower lethal temperatures for B. brassicae were 1.64°C, 1.57°C, 1.56°C, and 1.62°C with a thermal constant for development of 0.88, 0.87, and 0.08, 0.79 degree/day for nymphs I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The temperatures 10, 30, and 35°C were more lethal than 15, 20, and 25°C. Longevity was highest at 10°C (35.07 ± 1.38 days). Fertility was nil at 30°C and highest at 20°C (46.36 ± 1.73 nymphs/female). The stochastic simulation of the models obtained from the precedent biological parameters revealed that the life table parameters of B. brassicae were affected by the temperature. The net reproduction rate was highest at 20°C and lowest at 30°C. The average generation time decreased from 36.85 ± 1.5 days (15°C) to 6.86 ± 0.1 days (30°C); the intrinsic rate of increase and the finite rate of increase were highest at 25°C. In general, the life cycle data and mathematical functions obtained in this study clearly illustrate the effect of temperature on the biology of B. brassicae. This knowledge will contribute to predicting the changes that may occur in a population of B. Brassiace in response to temperature variation.
Effects of removing woody cover on long‐term population dynamics of a rare annual plant (Agalinis auriculata): A study comparing remnant prairie and oldfield habitats
Authors: Alexander Helen M. , Collins Cathy D. , Reed Aaron W. , Kettle W. Dean , Collis Daniel A. , Christiana Lucy D. , Salisbury Vaughn B.
Published: November 2018

Worldwide, grasslands are becoming shrublands/forests. In North America, eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) often colonizes prairies. Habitat management can focus on woody removal, but we often lack long‐term data on whether removal leads to population recovery of herbaceous plants without seeding. We undertook a long‐term study (17 years) of numbers of the rare annual plant Agalinis auriculata in a gridwork of 100 m2 plots in adjacent prairie and oldfield sites in Kansas, USA. We collected data before and after removal of Juniperus virginiana at the prairie. Plant population sizes were highly variable at both sites and over time. High numbers of plants in a plot 1 year were often followed by low numbers the following year, suggesting negative density‐dependence. Plant numbers were lowest with extensive woody cover and with low precipitation. After woody plant removal, A. auriculata increased dramatically in abundance and occupancy in most years; increases were also seen at the oldfield, suggesting later survey years were overall more favorable. Synthesis and applications: Removal of woody plants led to increased numbers of a rare annual prairie plant, without seeding. Multiple years of data were essential for interpretation given extreme temporal variability in numbers. The largest prairie population was 7 years following tree removal, showing that positive effects of management can last this long. This species also fared well in oldfield habitat, suggesting restoration opportunities. Given that land managers are busy, time‐efficient field methods and data analysis approaches such as ours offer advantages. In addition to general linear models, we suggest Rank Occupancy‐Abundance Profiles (ROAPs), a simple‐to‐use data visualization and analysis method. Creation of ROAPs for sites before and after habitat management helps reveal the degree to which plant populations are responding to management with changes in local density, changes in occupancy, or both.
Thermal tolerance of Mediterranean marine macrophytes: Vulnerability to global warming
Authors: Savva Ioannis , Bennett Scott , Roca Guillem , Jordà Gabriel , Marbà Núria
Published: November 2018

The Mediterranean Sea is warming at three times the rate of the global ocean raising concerns about the vulnerability of marine organisms to climate change. Macrophytes play a key role in coastal ecosystems, therefore predicting how warming will affect these key species is critical to understand the effects of climate change on Mediterranean coastal ecosystems. We measured the physiological performance of six dominant native Mediterranean macrophytes under ten temperature treatments ranging from 12 to 34°C to examine their thermal niche, and vulnerability to projected warming in the western Mediterranean up until 2100. Among the macrophytes tested, Cymodocea nodosa was the species with the highest thermal optima and it was beyond current summer temperature. Therefore, C. nodosa may benefit from projected warming over the coming century. The optimal temperature for growth of the other species (Posidonia oceanica, Cystoseira compressa, Padina pavonica, Caulerpa prolifera, and Halimeda tuna) was lower. Similarly, the species presented different upper lethal limits, spanning at least across 5.1°C between 28.9°C (P. oceanica) and >34°C (C. nodosa). Our results demonstrate the variable physiological responses of species within the same local community to temperature changes and highlight important potential differences in climate change vulnerability, among species within coastal marine ecosystems.
Contrasting patterns of neutral and functional genetic diversity in stable and disturbed environments
Authors: Yıldırım Yeşerin , Tinnert Jon , Forsman Anders
Published: November 2018

Genetic structure among and diversity within natural populations is influenced by a combination of ecological and evolutionary processes. These processes can differently influence neutral and functional genetic diversity and also vary according to environmental settings. To investigate the roles of interacting processes as drivers of population‐level genetic diversity in the wild, we compared neutral and functional structure and diversity between 20 Tetrix undulata pygmy grasshopper populations in disturbed and stable habitats. Genetic differentiation was evident among the different populations, but there was no genetic separation between stable and disturbed environments. The incidence of long‐winged phenotypes was higher in disturbed habitats, indicating that these populations were recently established by flight‐capable colonizers. Color morph diversity and dispersion of outlier genetic diversity, estimated using AFLP markers, were higher in disturbed than in stable environments, likely reflecting that color polymorphism and variation in other functionally important traits increase establishment success. Neutral genetic diversity estimated using AFLP markers was lower in disturbed habitats, indicating stronger eroding effects on neutral diversity of genetic drift associated with founding events in disturbed compared to stable habitats. Functional diversity and neutral diversity were negatively correlated across populations, highlighting the utility of outlier loci in genetics studies and reinforcing that estimates of genetic diversity based on neutral markers do not infer evolutionary potential and the ability of populations and species to cope with environmental change.
Formation and Rearrangement of Reduced Diiminepyridine Complexes of Zr and Hf
Authors: Rahimi Naser , Herbert David E. , Budzelaar Peter H. M.
Published: November 2018

Reduction of seven‐coordinate [(EtDIP)MCl4] {EtDIP = 2,6‐(2,6‐Et2–C6H3N=CMe)2C5H3N; M = Zr or Hf} produces formally divalent complexes [(EtDIP)MCl2] containing in reality a doubly reduced DIP ligand. The Hf complex is five‐coordinate, but the Zr analog crystallizes as a chloride‐bridged dimer with an unusual coordination geometry; the monomer‐dimer equilibrium is fast at room temperature. Reaction of [(EtDIP)HfCl2] with MeMgBr or LiCH2SiMe3 produced the corresponding dialkyls [(EtDIP)HfR2]. An unexpected ligand isomerization to an amido/enamido form was observed for [(EtDIP)ZrCl2], [(EtDIP)HfMe2] and [(EtDIP)TiMe2], and a mechanism is proposed based on DFT calculations.
Copper‐Catalyzed Deoxygenative C‐2 Amination of Quinoline N‐Oxides
Authors: Wang Zhihui , Han Man‐Yi , Li Pinhua , Wang Lei
Published: November 2018

An unprecedented reaction between quinoline N‐oxides with O‐benzoylhydroxylamines was developed by using CuCl as catalyst, generating deoxygenative products of 2‐aminoquinolines in good yields. 1,2‐Dichloroethane (DCE) as solvent was also served as reducing agent to cleave the N–O bond with no additional reductant needed in the reaction.
Efficient Synthesis of Benzothiazolone Derivatives by a Domino Reaction of Disulfide and COS under Mild Conditions
Authors: Zhou Bohao , Hong Hailong , Wang Hongcai , Zhang Tianmiao , Han Limin , Zhu Ning
Published: November 2018

Carbonyl sulfide (COS), whose molecular structure is similar to CO2 and CS2, could be used as a better alternative carbonyl reagent due to its high chemical activity. However, the unfriendly by‐product H2S would be generated when COS is used as a carbonyl reagent in the carbonylation reaction. In this report, the odorless and stable disulfide was used to replace the traditional foul smelling and unstable o‐aminobenzenethiol to react with COS for preparing benzothiazolone derivatives in excellent yield, in which coupling reaction of H2S generation and S–S bond cleavage was firstly designed. Notably, the C=O of COS was converted into benzothiazolone derivatives by carbonylation reaction and the sulfur of COS was transformed into sulfur and sulfide after cleaving the S–S bond by a domino reaction of disulfide and COS under mild conditions. This efficient synthetic methodology provided a promising process for the utilization of COS.
A likelihood for correlated extreme series
Authors: Zhu L. , Liu X. , Lund R.
Published: November 2018

This paper develops a likelihood for sequences of extremes when observations are dependent in time. The likelihood allows researchers to obtain more realistic standard errors of the generalized extreme‐value parameters. As a motivating example, annual minimum temperatures are examined from the Faraday/Vernadsky research station in Antarctica. Here, the year‐to‐year correlation in the series is about 0.46. Our likelihood allows the series to have temporal correlation but also keeps a generalized extreme‐value marginal distribution at each point in time. An analysis of the Faraday/Vernadsky annual minimum temperatures is conducted. While the standard error of the estimated trend increases when dependence is taken into account, it does not change the correlation‐ignored inference that annual minimum temperatures at the station are increasing.
Examining How College Promise Programs Promote Student Academic and Financial Readiness
Authors: Millett Catherine M. , Saunders Stephanie R. , Fishtein Daniel
Published: November 2018

Currently college promise programs are proliferating in number at the local and state levels. Most promise programs provide financial resources beyond conventional state and federal student aid to students who live in designated places and meet local‐ or state‐defined eligibility criteria. There is an immense variety of models and funding designs for these programs. In this study, we conducted a rigorous content analysis of the public web sites for a diverse subsample of 35 promise programs to explore how college promise programs promote student academic and financial readiness. Although our analysis made it clear that there is more to learn about promise programs, including understanding general administrative processes and program operations, we highlight several design and implementation considerations that may increase the capacity of these programs to promote equity in higher education access and success.
The direct and indirect effects of organizational tolerance for sexual harassment on the effectiveness of sexual harassment investigation training for HR managers
Authors: Goldberg Caren B. , Rawski Shannon L. , Perry Elissa L.
Published: November 2018

Using a pretest/post‐test, survey design, we examine whether organizational tolerance for sexual harassment (OTSH) affects HR managers' knowledge and myth‐based attitudes regarding sexual harassment, following training intended to improve HR managers' ability to conduct an internal investigation related to sexual harassment. We also examine the mediating role of motivation to learn in these relationships. Results indicated that OTSH has a direct effect on knowledge about internal investigations, but not on myth‐based sexual harassment attitudes. Furthermore, motivation to learn partially mediates the effect of OTSH on knowledge and fully mediates the effect of OTSH on myth‐based attitudes. This study represents the first empirical investigation of OTSH on sexual harassment training outcomes (e.g., knowledge and attitudes) and the first study to investigate training with a sample of HR managers, who are responsible for investigating and managing sexual harassment claims within organizations. We hope to prompt further research that considers the role of context in sexual harassment training. In addition, as the current study is the first to consider the importance of how harassment investigations are handled, we hope to stimulate additional work in this previously unresearched area.
Anxiety and human resource development: Possibilities for cultivating negative capability
Authors: Hay Amanda , Blenkinsopp John
Published: November 2018

Our article focuses on anxiety, which is an integral but still often ignored aspect of human resource development (HRD). The context of our study is a particular HRD intervention in Higher Education (HE): the part‐time MBA, and here for a group of managers who had taken less‐typical routes into HE and for whom anxiety was often heightened. Drawing on interviews with 20 students, we offer three contributions. First, we provide in‐depth understandings of the manifestations of anxiety in MBA programs highlighting their location in self‐other relations, and so progress understandings of anxiety as a social phenomenon. Second, we provide insights into how these self‐other relations simultaneously play an integral role in the development of a capacity for “negative capability”: that is an ability to recognize the anxiety of not knowing inherent to the learning environment, and with trusted others to contain it, until it has informed us to allow for the emergence of new insights and learning. Third, we illustrate the ways in which this capacity can also be mobilized in students' everyday managerial work by providing a starting point for public reflection. We suggest that these contributions offer promise for advancing critical forms of HRD.
ON EXACTITUDE IN SCIENCE: A MAP OF THE EMPIRE THE SIZE OF THE EMPIRE
Authors: Van Ijzendoorn Marinus H. , Steele Miriam , Granqvist Pehr
Published: November 2018

In the service of children's best interests, we argue for a sharpening of the evidentiary standards used in family court decision making, from preponderance of (occasionally substandard) evidence to “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Second, we call for a move in child protection cases from static diagnoses (e.g., attachment classifications) to assessments of the potential for enhanced parenting. Finally, informed by the implications of the replication crisis in the biomedical and psychological sciences, we applaud the move of the attachment field forward to large‐scale, collective research agendas and goals.
Characterization of mitochondrial proteomes of nonbilaterian animals
Authors: Muthye Viraj , Lavrov Dennis V.
Published: November 2018

Mitochondria require ~1,500 proteins for their maintenance and proper functionality, which constitute the mitochondrial proteome (mt‐proteome). Although a few of these proteins, mostly subunits of the electron transport chain complexes, are encoded in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the vast majority are encoded in the nuclear genome and imported to the organelle. Previous studies have shown a continuous and complex evolution of mt‐proteome among eukaryotes. However, there was less attention paid to mt‐proteome evolution within Metazoa, presumably because animal mtDNA and, by extension, animal mitochondria are often considered to be uniform. In this analysis, two bioinformatic approaches (Orthologue‐detection and Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence prediction) were used to identify mt‐proteins in 23 species from four nonbilaterian phyla: Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Placozoa, and Porifera, as well as two choanoflagellates, the closest animal relatives. Our results revealed a large variation in mt‐proteome in nonbilaterian animals in size and composition. Myxozoans, highly reduced cnidarian parasites, possessed the smallest inferred mitochondrial proteomes, while calcareous sponges possessed the largest. About 513 mitochondrial orthologous groups were present in all nonbilaterian phyla and human. Interestingly, 42 human mitochondrial proteins were not identified in any nonbilaterian species studied and represent putative innovations along the bilaterian branch. Several of these proteins were involved in apoptosis and innate immunity, two processes known to evolve within Metazoa. Conversely, several proteins identified as mitochondrial in nonbilaterian phyla and animal outgroups were absent in human, representing cases of possible loss. Finally, a few human cytosolic proteins, such as histones and cytosolic ribosomal proteins, were predicted to be targeted to mitochondria in nonbilaterian animals. Overall, our analysis provides the first step in characterization of mt‐proteomes in nonbilaterian animals and understanding evolution of animal mt‐proteome. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(12):1289–1301, 2018
Revealing structural modifications in thermomechanical reshaping of collagenous tissues using optical coherence elastography
Authors: Zaitsev Vladimir Y. , Matveyev Alexander L. , Matveev Lev A. , Gelikonov Grigory V. , Baum Olga I. , Omelchenko Alexander I. , Shabanov Dmitry V. , Sovetsky Alexander A. , Yuzhakov Alexey V. , Fedorov Anatoly A. , Siplivy Vladimir I. , Bolshunov Andrey V. , Sobol Emil N.
Published: November 2018

Moderate heating of such collagenous tissues as cornea and cartilages by infra‐red laser (IR laser) irradiation is an emerging technology for nondestructive modification of the tissue shape and microstructure for a variety of applications in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and so on. Postirradiation high‐resolution microscopic examination indicates the appearance of microscopic either spheroidal or crack‐like narrow pores depending on the tissue type and irradiation regime. Such examinations usually require special tissue preparation (eg, staining, drying that affect microstructure themselves) and are mostly suitable for studying individual pores, whereas evaluation of their averaged parameters, especially in situ, is challenging. Here, we demonstrate the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to visualize areas of pore initiation and evaluate their averaged properties by combining visualization of residual irradiation‐induced tissue dilatation and evaluation of the accompanying Young‐modulus reduction by OCT‐based compressional elastography. We show that the averaged OCT‐based data obtained in situ fairly well agree with the microscopic examination results. The results obtained develop the basis for effective and safe applications of novel nondestructive laser technologies of tissue modification in clinical practice. PICTURE: Elastographic OCT‐based images of an excised rabbit eye cornea subjected to thermomechanical laser‐assisted reshaping. Central panel shows resultant cumulative dilatation in cornea after moderate (~45‐50°C) pulse‐periodic heating by an IR laser together with distribution of the inverse Young modulus 1/E before (left) and after (right) IR irradiation. Significant modulus decrease in the center of irradiated region is caused by initiated micropores. Their parameters can be extracted by analyzing the elastographic images.
Treatment of intractable oral ulceration with an oral mucosa equivalent
Authors: Lee Jaewang , Shin Daiha , Roh Jong‐Lyel
Published: November 2018

The current use of steroids or pharmacological immunomodulators for the treatment of intractable oral ulceration is ineffective, necessitating newer cell‐based therapeutic approaches. We examined the potential efficacy of an oral mucosa equivalent developed in this study in an in vivo model of repeat major oral ulceration mimicking the intractable oral ulceration observed clinically. Oral mucosal samples and plasma fibrin were obtained from Sprague–Dawley rats. The oral mucosa equivalents were prepared with cultured mucosal keratinocytes and plasma fibrin mixed with cultured fibroblasts. Ulcers were chemically induced on the rat buccal mucosa thrice in 3 weeks and covered with or without mucosa equivalents. Gross and microscopic findings and mRNA expression levels were compared between the ulcer control and mucosa equivalent groups. Oral mucosal keratinocytes and fibroblasts were cultured in vitro to achieve high viability and colony‐forming efficiency. The equivalents showed epithelial and subepithelial structures similar to those of oral mucosa and exhibited high p63 positivity. In the in vivo study, ulceration was resolved earlier without significant granulation or scarring in the equivalent group than in control group (p < 0.05). Microscopic examinations revealed rapid re‐epithelialization and less fibrosis in the equivalent group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Mucosa equivalent‐covered ulcers showed histological characteristics similar to those of the normal buccal mucosa and exhibited lower expression of TGFB1, ACTA2, and FN1 mRNAs than the control group. The in vitro‐engineered oral mucosa equivalent promotes ulcer healing without scarring and functional deficits. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1779–1785, 2019.
IGF‐1 and BMP‐7 synergistically stimulate articular cartilage repairing in the rabbit knees by improving chondrogenic differentiation of bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Peng Xian‐Bo , Zhang Yuan , Wang Yue‐Qiu , He Qi , Yu Qian
Published: November 2018

Knee injury is known as a frequently occurred damage related to sports, which may affect the function of cartilage. This study aims to explore whether Insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7)‐modified bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) affect the repair of cartilage damage found in the knee. Primarily, BMSCs were treated with a series of pEGFP‐C1, IGF‐1, and BMP‐7, followed by determination of IGF‐1 and BMP‐7 expression. A rabbit cartilage defect model was also established. Afterfward, cell morphology, viability, cartilage damage repair effect, and expression of collagen I and collagen II at the 6th and the 12th week were measured. BMSCs treated with pEGFP‐C1/IGF‐1, pEGFP‐C1/BMP‐7, and pEGFP‐C1/BMP‐7‐IGF‐1 exhibited elevated expression of BMP‐7 and IGF‐1. Besides, BMSCs in the P10 generation displayed decreased cell proliferation. Moreover, BMSCs treated with IGF‐1, BMP‐7, and IGF‐1‐BMP‐7 showed reduced histological score and collagen I expression while elevated collagen II expression, as well as better repair effect, especially in those treated with IGF‐1‐BMP‐7. Collectively, these results demonstrated a synergistic effect of IGF‐1 and BMP‐7 on the BMSC chondrogenic differentiation on the articular cartilage damage repair in the rabbit knees, highlighting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of articular cartilage damage.
FtsA as a cidal target for Staphylococcus aureus: Molecular docking and dynamics studies
Authors: Ragunathan Adhithya , Malathi Kullappan , Ramaiah Sudha , Anbarasu Anand
Published: November 2018

Staphylococcus aureus infection is a healthcare problem to mankind for a considerable period of time. Once when it enters the bloodstream of an individual, it may potentially result in life‐threatening conditions. The resistance of
S. aureus to various drugs such as penicillin, methicillin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline have been well documented. Presently vancomycin is the drug of choice for methicillin resistant
S. aureus. Scientists believe that
S. aureus would completely develop resistance to vancomycin as well. Therefore there is a commensurate need to develop a drug to replace vancomycin. In the current study, we have focussed on FtsA, an important and vital cell division protein, which is found only in
S. aureus and in other prokaryotic cells. We have carried out virtual screening process for FtsA against ZINC database, the best hit molecules obtained from the preliminary docking studies were subjected to SYBYL X 2.0 docking. The molecules ZINC74432848, ZINC37769607, and ZINC96896268 displayed the highest C‐score value of 4.89, 4.49, and 4.22, respectively. The top ranked molecule ZINC74432848 was observed to form 4 hydrogen bonds with FtsA. The simulation study reveals the greater stability of the FtsA‐ZINC74432848 complex. If the in vitro and in vivo study turns out affirmative, then ZINC74432848 could be developed as a potent drug for FtsA.
Dppa3 in pluripotency maintenance of ES cells and early embryogenesis
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Xu Jia , Liu Siying , Cui Kaige , Li Zongjin , Liu Na
Published: November 2018

Embryonic development is precisely regulated by a network of signal pathways and specific genes. Dppa3 (also known as Pgc7 or Stella) plays an important role in early embryonic development during the cleavage stage as a maternal effect gene. Dppa3 expresses in many species, and its homologous gene in human and rat genomes is located at the same chromosomal regions and have the same exon‐intron structure. However, unlike mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, in which the Dppa3 promoter maintains hypomethylation that allows a high transcription level, the DPPA3 promoter region in human ES cells is methylated, much like that of mouse epiblast stem cell. Dppa3 is essential for early embryogenesis and pluripotency maintenance; however, the precise mechanism and downstream passage remains unknown. In this review, we will summarize some important functions of Dppa3 in early embryogenesis and pluripotency maintenance of mouse ES cells.
Inactivation of ADAMTS18 by aberrant promoter hypermethylation contribute to lung cancer progression
Authors: Zhang Yan , Xu Hongying , Mu Junhao , Guo Shuliang , Ye Lin , Li Dairong , Peng Weiyan , He Xiaoqian , Xiang Tingxiu
Published: November 2018

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Epigenetic regulation contributes to lung cancer pathogenesis. The ADAMTS18 tumor suppressor gene is inactivated in some cancers, but its involvement in lung cancer has not been shown. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), and methylation‐specific PCR were used to assay ADAMTS18 expression and promoter methylation in lung tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. Cell viability, transwell, and wound‐healing assays, as well as flow cytometry were used to characterize the biological activity of ADAMTS18. The influence of ADAMTS18 on protein expression was assayed using western blots analysis, and its effect on chemosensitivity was assayed by the response to cisplatin. We found that
ADAMTS18 was silenced in lung cancer cells by promoter methylation. Demethylation by the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine, with or without the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A, restored
ADAMTS18 expression. Compared with normal lung tissue,
ADAMTS18 in lung tumors was frequently methylated. Overexpression of ADAMTS18 in lung cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, ADAMTS18 suppressed epidermal growth factor receptor/protein kinase B (EGFR/AKT) signaling, which sensitized lung cancer cells to cisplatin. Thus, our results demonstrated that the tumor suppressor gene
ADAMTS18 was downregulated in lung cancer by promoter CpG methylation, and it promoted sensitivity to cisplatin via EGFR/AKT signaling. Our study suggests that
ADAMTS18 promoter methylation is a potential epigenetic biomarker for early detection of lung cancer and warrants investigation as a therapeutic target for early‐stage lung cancer.
The effect of Activin‐A on periodontal ligament fibroblasts‐mediated osteoclast formation in healthy donors and in patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
Authors: Schoenmaker Ton , Wouters Fenne , Micha Dimitra , Forouzanfar Tim , Netelenbos Coen , Eekhoff E. Marelise W. , Bravenboer Nathalie , de Vries Teun J.
Published: November 2018

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a genetic disease characterized by heterotopic ossification (HO). The disease is caused by a mutation in the activin receptor type 1 (ACVR1) gene that enhances this receptor's responsiveness to Activin‐A. Binding of Activin‐A to the mutated ACVR1 receptor induces osteogenic differentiation. Whether Activin‐A also affects osteoclast formation in FOP is not known. Therefore we investigated its effect on the osteoclastogenesis‐inducing potential of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLF) from teeth of healthy controls and patients with FOP. We used western blot analysis of phosphorylated SMAD3 (pSMAD3) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess the effect of Activin‐A on the PLF. PLF‐induced osteoclast formation and gene expression were studied by coculturing control and FOP PLF with CD14‐positive osteoclast precursor cells from healthy donors. Osteoclast formation was also assessed in control CD14 cultures stimulated by macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANK‐L). Although Activin‐A increased activation of the pSMAD3 pathway in both control and FOP PLF, it increased ACVR1, FK binding protein 12 (FKBP12), an inhibitor of DNA binding 1 protein (ID‐1) expression only in FOP PLF. Activin‐A inhibited PLF mediated osteoclast formation albeit only significantly when induced by FOP PLF. In these cocultures, it reduced M‐CSF and dendritic cell‐specific transmembrane protein (DC‐STAMP) expression. Activin‐A also inhibited osteoclast formation in M‐CSF and RANK‐L mediated monocultures of CD14+ cells by inhibiting their proliferation.

This study brings new insight on the role of Activin A in osteoclast formation, which may further add to understanding FOP pathophysiology; in addition to the known Activin‐A‐mediated HO, this study shows that Activin‐A may also inhibit osteoclast formation, thereby further promoting HO formation.
A review of the anti‐inflammatory properties of antidiabetic agents providing protective effects against vascular complications in diabetes
Authors: Yaribeygi Habib , Atkin Stephen L. , Pirro Matteo , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: November 2018

The global prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications are growing rapidly. Although the role of hyperglycemia is well recognized in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications, its exact underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this regard, accumulating evidence suggests that the role of inflammation appears pivotal, with studies showing that most diabetic complications are associated with an inflammatory response. Several classes of antidiabetic agents have been introduced for controlling glycemia, with evidence that these pharmacological agents may have modulatory effects on inflammation beyond their glucose‐lowering activity. Here we review the latest evidence on the anti‐inflammatory effects of commonly used antidiabetic medications and discuss the relevance of these effects on preventing diabetic complications.
The roles of moonlight ribosomal proteins in the development of human cancers
Authors: Molavi Ghader , Samadi Nasser , Hosseingholi Elaheh Zadeh
Published: November 2018

“Moonlighting protein” is a term used to define a single protein with multiple functions and different activities that are not derived from gene fusions, multiple RNA splicing, or the proteolytic activity of promiscuous enzymes. Different proteinous constituents of ribosomes have been shown to have important moonlighting extra‐ribosomal functions. In this review, we introduce the impact of key moonlight ribosomal proteins and dependent signal transduction in the initiation and progression of various cancers. As a future perspective, the potential role of these moonlight ribosomal proteins in the diagnosis, prognosis, and development of novel strategies to improve the efficacy of therapies for human cancers has been suggested.
Retracted: TMEM206 promotes the malignancy of colorectal cancer cells by interacting with AKT and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling pathways
Authors: Zhao Jinbo , Zhu Dehua , Zhang Xiupeng , Zhang Yong , Zhou Jianping , Dong Ming
Published: November 2018

Background

The roles of TMEM206, a new transmembrane protein, in cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC), are unknown. Related family members, including TMEM16A, TMEM132A, and TMEM176B, have been shown to be involved in various biological behaviors. In addition, TMEM88 has been reported to promote non‐small‐cell lung cancer. In this study, we examined the roles of TMEM206 in CRC.

Method

Real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure TMEM206 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in clinical specimens and transfected cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the relationship between TMEM206 expression levels and clinical data. Plasmids and small interfering RNA were used to upregulate and silence TMEM206, respectively. Protein expression levels and signaling pathway modulation were validated through western blot analysis. Colony formation, MTT, cell migration and invasion assays, and flow cytometry analyses were used to test the potential roles of TMEM206 in CRC. Co‐immunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the interaction between TMEM206 and AKT.

Results

Investigation of the clinical significance of TMEM206 expression in CRC tissues revealed that TMEM206 mRNA and protein levels were higher in CRC tissues than in paired normal adjacent tissues (p < 0.05). TMEM206 overexpression was positively associated with T stage of cancer and UICC stage (
p < 0.05) and negatively related to differentiation of CRC (
p = 0.015). Upregulation or silencing of TMEM206 promoted or inhibited the proliferation of CRC cells and positively or negatively regulated the levels of phospho‐AKT and downstream signaling pathway components (phospho‐glycogen synthase kinase 3β and cyclin D1), respectively. Moreover, silencing of TMEM206 in cell lines arrested CRC cells in the G1 stage of the cell‐cycle. In addition, upregulating or silencing TMEM206 increased or decreased cell invasion and migration in vitro and positively or negatively altered levels of the phospho‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and phospho‐focal adhesion kinase 397, respectively. Co‐immunoprecipitation demonstrated that AKT and TMEM206 proteins interacted. Furthermore, TMEM206 promoted the development and progression of CRC by enhancing the interactions between the AKT and ERK signaling pathways.

Conclusion

TMEM206 controlled the progression of CRC by accelerating CRC cell proliferation and promoting CRC cell migration and invasion. The target of TMEM206 may be AKT, which is known to be involved in modulating the biological behaviors of various cancers.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes and the regulatory roles of antidiabetic agents on the mitochondrial function
Authors: Yaribeygi Habib , Atkin Stephen L. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: November 2018

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing rapidly with its associated morbidity and mortality. Many pathophysiological pathways such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, adipokines, obesity‐induced insulin resistance, improper insulin signaling, and beta cell apoptosis are associated with the development of T2DM. There is increasing evidence of the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the onset of T2DM, particularly in relation to the development of diabetic complications. Here, the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in T2DM is reviewed together with its modulation by antidiabetic therapeutic agents, an effect that may be independent of their hypoglycemic effect.