bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dispersion and Interaction of Charged Fluorescent Dyes in Protein‐Polymer Surfactant‐based Non‐Aqueous Liquid
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Anasua , Sharma Monika , Sharma Kamendra P.
Published: July 2020

Viscous, non‐aqueous liquid comprising stoichiometric conjugates of polymer surfactant‐bovine serum albumin (PSpBSA) is used as a host matrix for the dispersion of chemically distinct hydrophilic dyes. Using a combination of bright field polarized optical microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, we investigate the dispersion of dry and powdered cationic (Rhodamine 6G; Rh6G) and anionic (Fluorescein; FL) dyes in the PSpBSA liquid at room temperature. As the dyes disperse and dissolve in the PSpBSA liquid, it results in a pronounced increase in emission intensity of the former. Interestingly, a shift from 571 to 582 nm is observed in the emission maxima of Rh6G as it disperses in the PSpBSA solvent. Whilst no such red shift is found for the Rh6G dispersion in the aqueous solutions of either native BSA or polymer‐surfactant conjugated BSA, a similar shift occurs when Rh6G is dispersed in neat polymer‐surfactant (PS), suggesting the interaction of the dye with the PS chains. In the case of anionic FL, no shift is observed in its emission maximum as it disperses in the PSpBSA liquid. Furthermore, within 120 minutes of FL dispersion in the PSpBSA liquid, we observe a ≈26 % decrease in the tryptophan emission intensity (λexc.=285 nm; λemi.=330 nm) of BSA, which could be attributed to both static and dynamic quenching. Our findings provide a proof of concept of an alternative non‐aqueous solvent matrix which can dissolve and disperse charged fluorescent dyes, provide suitable binding sites, and show substantial photoluminescence. Thus, it can be envisaged for utilization as an alternative solvent medium for lasing dyes and related applications.
The Affinity of Some Lewis Bases for Hexafluoroisopropanol as a Reference Lewis Acid: An ITC/DFT Study
Authors: Milovanović Milan R. , Dherbassy Quentin , Wencel‐Delord Joanna , Colobert Françoise , Zarić Snežana D. , Djukic Jean‐Pierre
Published: July 2020

To figure out the possible role of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP) as well as to provide reference thermochemical data in solution, the formation of Lewis acid‐base complexes between HFIP (Lewis acid) and a series of 8 different Lewis bases (3 sulfoxides, 3 Nsp2 pyridine derivatives, 1 aromatic amine, 1 cyclic aliphatic ether) was examined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments and static density functional theory augmented with Dispersion (DFT−D) calculations. Measured ITC association enthalpy values (ΔHa) lie between −9.3 and −14 kcal mol−1. Computations including a PCM implicit solvation model produced similar exothermicity of association of all studied systems compared to the ITC data with ΔHa values ranging from −8.5 to −12.7 kcal mol−1. An additional set of calculations combining implicit and explicit solvation by chlorobenzene of the reactants, pointed out the relatively low interference of the solvent with the HFIP‐base complexation: its main effect is to slightly enhance the Gibbs energy of the HFIP‐Lewis base association. It is speculated that the interactions of bulk HFIP with Lewis bases therefore may significantly intervene in catalytic processes not only via the dynamic microstructuring of the medium but also more explicitly by affecting bonds’ polarization at the Lewis bases.
Management Practices to Reduce Crop Production and Nitrogen Losses from Waterlogging
Authors: Kaur Gurpreet , Singh Gurbir , Motavalli Peter P. , Nelson Kelly A. , Orlowski John M. , Golden Bobby R.
Published: July 2020

Flooding is the most damaging abiotic stress, besides drought, that affects crop production. Waterlogging also promotes soil nitrogen (N) loss through processes such as denitrification, nitrate leaching, and runoff as well as reduces soil N mineralization rates. This article provides potential management strategies to reduce crop production and nitrogen losses from waterlogging. Earn 2.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/843.
Queue length‐based load balancing in data center networks
Authors: Ahmed Hasnain , Arshad Muhammad Junaid , Muhammad Shah , Ahmad Sarfraz , Zahid Amjad Hussain
Published: July 2020

Traffic load balancing in data centers is an important requirement. Traffic dynamics and possibilities of changes in the topology (e.g., failures and asymmetries) make load balancing a challenging task. Existing end‐host–based schemes either employ the predominantly used ECN or combine it with RTT to get congestion information of paths. Both congestion signals, ECN and RTT, have limitations; ECN only tells whether the queue length is above or below a threshold value but does not inform about the extent of congestion; similarly, RTT in data center networks is on the scale of up to few hundreds of microseconds, and current data center operating systems lack fine‐grained microsecond‐level timers. Therefore, there is a need of a new congestion signal which should give accurate information of congestion along the path. Furthermore, in end‐host–based schemes, detecting asymmetries in the topology is challenging due to the inability to accurately measure RTT on the scale of microseconds.

This paper presents QLLB, an end‐host–based, queue length–based load balancing scheme. QLLB employs a new queue length–based congestion signal that gives an exact measure of congestion along the paths. Furthermore, QLLB uses relative‐RTT to detect asymmetries in the topology. QLLB is implemented in ns‐3 and compared with ECMP, CONGA, and Hermes. The results show that QLLB significantly improves performance of short flows over the other schemes and performs within acceptable level, of CONGA and Hermes, for long flows. In addition, QLLB effectively detects asymmetric paths and performs better than Hermes under high loads.
Retracted: Artificial intelligence point‐to‐point signal communication network optimization based on ubiquitous clouds
Authors: Hong Lin , Deng Lianbing , Li Daming , Wang Harry Haoxiang
Published: July 2020

At present, the application of communication network has spread to every area of social life. The progress of network technology has driven the development of information technology industry and the advancement of cloud computing. With the application of artificial intelligence and deep learning technology, the network becomes more and more intelligent, so the application of artificial intelligence theory in communication network optimization modeling is more extensive. In this paper, we propose the ubiquitous clouds framework and apply the artificial intelligence optimization scheme to the point‐to‐point (P2P) signal transmission network optimization scheme. For different application scenarios, this paper analyzes and experiments the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method makes full use of the advantages of communication network resources which improves the efficiency of communication network optimization and also reduces the optimization cost to a certain extent compared with the state‐of‐the‐art approaches.
In the foothill zone—Sabanejewia balcanica (Karaman 1922), in the lowland zone—Sabanejewia bulgarica (Drensky, 1928): Myth or reality?
Authors: Križek Peter , Mendel Jan , Fedorčák Jakub , Koščo Ján
Published: July 2020

The status of golden loaches (genus Sabanejewia) in the region of Central Europe and Balkans is still ambiguous. The greatest controversy is caused by species Sabanejewia balcanica and S. bulgarica. Both species are characterized by a wide spectrum of morphological variability and overlapping of distinguishing features, which then lead to difficulties in their determination. Previous phylogenetic studies aimed on the resolving of their taxonomic status did not include samples from their type localities and so led to a lack of their true distribution in this region. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to identify taxonomic status of golden loaches populations in the region of the middle Danube basin and adjacent areas on the model territory of Slovakia. For this purpose, we used novelty approach (morphological, molecular, and microhabitat) and we also included the missing samples from the type localities of both species. Based on mtDNA all the Slovakian samples reflected haplotype richness revealed on the type locality of S. bulgarica, although the genetic distances from other representatives of the genus Sabanejewia occurring are not significant. Within the morphology, we have revealed a great measure of variability in studied populations, which is largely caused by different habitat conditions and thus representing a phenotypic plasticity of these fish.
Characterization of dendritic cells in human and experimental myocarditis
Authors: Pistulli Rudin , Andreas Elise , König Sebastian , Drobnik Stefanie , Kretzschmar Daniel , Rohm Ilonka , Lichtenauer Michael , Heidecker Bettina , Franz Marcus , Mall Gita , Yilmaz Atilla , Schulze P. Christian
Published: July 2020

Aims

Dendritic cells (DCs) are central mediators of adaptive immunity, and there is growing evidence of their role in myocardial inflammatory disease. We hypothesized that plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs are involved in the mechanisms of myocarditis and analysed these two main subtypes in human myocarditis subjects, as well as in a murine model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

Methods and results

Circulating DCs were analysed by flow cytometry in patients with acute myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and controls. Myocardial biopsies were immunostained for the presence of DCs and compared with non‐diseased controls. In a mouse model of acute myocarditis induced through synthetic cardiac myosine peptide injection, effects of immunomodulation including DC inhibition through MCS‐18 versus placebo treatment were tested at the peak of inflammation (Day 21), as well as 1 week later (partial recovery). Circulatory pDCs and mDCs were significantly reduced in myocarditis patients compared with controls (P < 0.01 for both) and remained so even after 6 months of follow‐up. Human myocarditis biopsies showed accumulation of pDCs (two‐fold CD304+/three‐fold CD123+, all P < 0.05) compared with controls. Myocardial pDCs and mDCs accumulated in EAM (P for both <0.0001). MCS‐18 treatment reduced pDC levels (P = 0.009), reduced myocardial inflammation (myocarditis score reduction from 2.6 to 1.8, P = 0.026), and improved ejection fraction (P = 0.03) in EAM at Day 21 (peak of inflammation). This effect was not observed during the partial recovery of inflammation on Day 28.

Conclusions

Circulating DCs are reduced in human myocarditis and accumulate in the inflamed myocardium. MCS‐18 treatment reduces DCs in EAM, leading to amelioration of inflammation and left ventricular remodelling during the acute phase of myocarditis. Our data further elucidate the role of DCs and their specific subsets in acute inflammatory cardiomyopathies.
Effect of melatonin on heart failure: design for a double‐blinded randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sadeghi Masoumeh , Khosrawi Saeid , Heshmat‐Ghahdarijani Kiyan , Gheisari Yousof , Roohafza Hamidreza , Mansoorian Marjan , Hoseini Shervin Ghaffari
Published: July 2020

Aims

Current studies indicate that melatonin can counteract renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and sympathetic over activity in heart failure (HF) and might have a protective and repairing effect on cardiovascular injuries, skeletal muscle weakness, and metabolic abnormalities, which are common pathological processes in patients with HF. The MeHR trial (Melatonin for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) aims to evaluate the effect of oral melatonin on myocardial, skeletal muscle, and metabolic dysfunctions in HF, which leads to lower quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Methods and results

This is a double‐blind randomized clinical trial with two parallel arms of 1:1 allocation, which recruits 90 outpatients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Participants receive 10 mg tablets of melatonin or placebo for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes are changes in echocardiographic indexes of HF and serum levels of N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. Secondary outcome is a composite clinical endpoint score including all‐cause mortality, hospitalization for HF, and change in the quality of life during the study. Other outcomes are the evaluation of melatonin attributable adverse effects, flow‐mediated vasodilation, skeletal muscle mass, exercise capacity, and serum markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolism. Statistical analysis will include simple unadjusted analyses for the detection of differences between groups and changes in outcomes and also a generalized linear mixed model to explore potential associations between outcomes and participant characteristics.

Conclusions

The results of this comprehensive study might elucidate the safety of oral melatonin in patients with HF and provide some evidence on its effectiveness as an adjunctive therapy to enhance the well‐being of these patients.
Regional adiposity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Rao Vishal N. , Fudim Marat , Mentz Robert J. , Michos Erin D. , Felker G. Michael
Published: July 2020

The role of obesity in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), and in particular HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), has drawn significant attention in recent years. The prevalence of both obesity and HFpEF has increased worldwide over the past decades and when present concomitantly suggests an obese‐HFpEF phenotype. Anthropometrics, including body mass index, waist circumference, and waist‐to‐hip ratio, are associated with incident HFpEF. However, the cardiovascular effects of obesity may actually be driven by the distribution of fat, which can accumulate in the epicardial, visceral, and subcutaneous compartments. Regional fat can be quantified using non‐invasive imaging techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Regional variations in fat accumulation are associated with different HFpEF risk profiles, whereby higher epicardial and visceral fat have a much stronger association with HFpEF risk compared with elevated subcutaneous fat. Thus, regional adiposity may serve a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of HFpEF contributing to decreased cardiopulmonary fitness, impaired left ventricular compliance, upregulation of local and systemic inflammation, promotion of neurohormonal dysregulation, and increased intra‐abdominal pressure and vascular congestion. Strategies to reduce total and regional adiposity have shown promise, including intensive exercise, dieting, and bariatric surgery programmes, but few studies have focused on HFpEF‐related outcomes among obese. Further understanding the role these variable fat depots play in the progression of HFpEF and HFpEF‐related hospitalizations may provide therapeutic targets in treating the obese‐HFpEF phenotype.
GABA Analogues and Related Mono‐/Bifunctional Building Blocks Derived from the Fluorocyclobutane Scaffold
Authors: Feskov Illia O. , Golub Bohdan O. , Vashchenko Bohdan V. , Levterov Vadym V. , Kondratov Ivan S. , Grygorenko Oleksandr O. , Haufe Günter
Published: July 2020

A series of GABA analogs and related mono‐ and bifunctional building blocks based on the monofluorinated 1,3‐disubstituted cyclobutane scaffold was designed and synthesized. The synthetic approaches included desilylative deoxyfluorination of TMS‐protected cyanohydrin and iodofluorination of methylenecyclobutane carboxylate as the key steps. Both approaches were highly efficient for the multigram synthesis of γ‐ and δ‐amino acids, monoprotected diamines, amino alcohols, and hydroxy acids. The first method was diastereoselective (dr 3:1) but it failed to produce the target products as pure, separable diastereomers. On the contrary, the second approach lacked diastereoselectivity but provided pure cis and trans isomers of the corresponding fluorocyclobutanes by separation of diastereomers; the products were obtained on up to 100 g scale in a single run. Moreover, the method was applied for the preparation of 3‐azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane derivatives. X‐ray diffraction studies showed that the synthesized building blocks are appropriate analogs of GABA with either somewhat larger or smaller size as compared to the parent amino acid.
Quality Assessment, Functional Potentials, and Safety Evaluation of Stored Egyptian Honey as an Environmental Pollution Bioindicator
Authors: Hamad Gamal M. , Hafez Elsayed E. , Abdelmotilib Neveen M. , Abdel-Hmeed Khaled M. , Ali Safwat H. , Darwish Amira M.G.
Published: July 2020

Egyptian honeys are distinguished by their variety, properties, and therapeutic applications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality and the functional and safety characteristics of Egyptian honey as a sensitive environmental bioindicator collected from 9 different locations in Egypt that were exposed to various air pollution sources, either stationary, mobile, or area sources, and stored for 6 mo at ambient temperature (22 ± 2 °C) compared with Codex Alimentarius international standards. Physicochemical properties, sugar profile via high performance liquid chromatography, functional potentials (antioxidant and antimicrobial), and safety parameters (microbiological quality, aflatoxins, and heavy metal pollutants) were assessed. The results revealed that honey obtained from Shabshir Hessa, El Gharbia Governorate (GSH-1), showed the best quality with the highest monosaccharide and phenolic and flavonoid content (73.07%, 363.07, and 15.33 mg/g, respectively) and clear of biotic and abiotic contaminants, reflecting good hygienic, environmental conditions and apiarian practices. The other 8 honey samples reflected inferior quality in physicochemical parameters either of low monosaccharide content (40.46–50.25%), high hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) values as in Borg El-Arab Industrial Zone, Alexandria Governorate (BAI-9), and Nubaria Desert Road, Alexandria Governorate (NDR-4; 50.83 and 48.25 mg/kg), or of high acidity as in Agricultural Road, El Gharbia Governorate (GAR-3), and NDR-4 (74.72 and 68.47 mEq/kg) attributable to contaminated locations (fermentations) or thermal treatment (HMF). Furthermore, safety assessment revealed that coliform counts exceeded 2.5 log10cfu/g in 6 samples—Chemicals Company, Kafr El Zayyat Governorate (KZC-2); GAR-3; NDR-4; Mansoura Fertilizer Talkha Company, Daqahlia Governorate (MFT-5); Gharbaniyat Cement Company, Beheira Governorate; and BAI-9—and the highest counts of yeast and molds in Abees Ceramic Company, Alexandria Governorate (3.72 log10cfu/g), which was reflected in its total aflatoxins (679.83 μg/kg). Samples MFT-5; GAR-3; Kafr El-Sheikh Petroleum Company, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate; and KZC-2 exceeded the lead permissible limit (0.75, 0.61, 0.57, and 0.51 mg/kg, respectively) as a result of inferior hygienic quality and the negative effects of environmental pollutants. The results ring alarm bells about how we should take substantial steps toward stringent standards for quality control practices of honey production operations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1894–1907. © 2020 SETAC
Ultrasonic and microwave treatment improved jujube juice yield
Authors: Yu Youwei , Cheng Xiaowen , Zhang Chenxing , Zhang Jingru , Zhang Shaoying , Xu Jianguo
Published: July 2020

The methods to leaching juice from dried jujube using six treatments and some factors related with juice yield such as total soluble solids (TSS), pectinase activity, pectin contents, galacturonic acid, and the microstructure morphology of cell were investigated. Six treatments including natural leaching, ultrasonic, microwave, ultrasonic before microwave, ultrasonic after microwave, and pressing directly were applied to extract juice. The group which treating with ultrasonic before microwave displayed its total soluble solids (TSS) was 16 °Brix, which was 6.67% higher than that of natural leaching. And its total soluble solids (TSS) reached to equilibrium in 2 hr, which was faster than that of natural leaching. The mechanism of improving the production efficiency of juice yield using ultrasonic combined with microwave was explored accordingly. The content of pectin and galacturonic acid increased by 58.52% and 59.01%, respectively, which were the highest among all samples. The activity of pectinase was 9.71 μg/(h·g), which was significantly decreased 40.23% as compared to natural leaching. And the treated cells became shriveled and pitted, which led to the leakage of the contents of cell. Thus, the result showed that treating with ultrasonic before microwave displayed the best juice yield. Ultrasonic cooperate with microwave was an efficient method to leaching juice from dried jujube.
Dynamic programming for valuing American options under a variance‐gamma process
Authors: Ben‐Ameur Hatem , Chérif Rim , Rémillard Bruno
Published: July 2020

Lévy processes provide a solution to overcome the shortcomings of the lognormal hypothesis. A growing literature proposes the use of pure‐jump Lévy processes, such as the variance‐gamma (VG) model. In this setting, explicit solutions for derivative prices are unavailable, for instance, for the valuation of American options. We propose a dynamic programming approach coupled with finite elements for valuing American‐style options under an extended VG model. Our numerical experiments confirm the convergence and show the efficiency of the proposed methodology. We also conduct a numerical investigation that focuses on American options on S&P 500 futures contracts.
Do public health activities pay for themselves? The effect of county‐level public health expenditures on county‐level public assistance medical care benefits in California
Authors: Brown Timothy Tyler , Murthy Vishnu
Published: July 2020

This study estimates the effect of county‐level public health expenditures in reducing county‐level public assistance medical care benefits (public assistance medical care benefits is a measure compiled by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and includes Medicaid and other medical vendor payments). The effect is modeled using a static panel model and estimated using two‐stage limited information maximum likelihood and a valid instrumental variable. For every $1 invested in county‐level public health expenditures, public assistance medical care benefits are reduced by an average of $3.12 (95% confidence interval: −$5.62, −$0.94). Because Medicaid in California is financed via an approximate 50% match of federal dollars with state dollars, savings to the state are approximately one‐half of this, or $1.56 for every $1 invested in county‐level public health expenditures.
Validation of a Simple Quality‐of‐Life Score for Identification of Minimal and Prediction of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Lauridsen Mette Munk , Jepsen Peter , Wernberg Charlotte Wilhelmina , Schaffalitzky de Muckadell Ove B. , Bajaj Jasmohan S. , Vilstrup Hendrik
Published: July 2020

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is underdiagnosed because most clinics refrain from psychometric testing. Diagnostic activities need to go up so patients with MHE can get the treatment their condition requires. The sickness impact profile questionnaire for covert hepatic encephalopathy (SIPCHE) score is based on quality‐of‐life outcomes and has been proposed as a simple, patient‐administered diagnostic score for grade 1 and MHE. Validate the SIPCHE for MHE identification and overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) prediction. 110 patients with liver cirrhosis (age 60 years, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score of 11.4, 80% blue‐collar) provided information for SIPCHE scoring: gender, age, and four SIP statements: “I do not maintain balance (physically),” “I act irritable or impatient with myself,” “I am not doing any of the usual physical recreation or activities,” and “I am eating much less than usual.” MHE was diagnosed using an abnormal continuous reaction time test and/or portosystemic encephalopathy syndrome test score. Patients were followed for 2.7 years on average. SIPCHE score positivity had high sensitivity (82%) but low specificity (38%) for MHE detection. Patients with an abnormal SIPCHE had a higher incidence of OHE during follow‐up (35% vs. 14%, P = 0.05). OHE prediction sensitivity was 87% and exclusion sensitivity was 85%. The patients with an abnormal SIPCHE had twice as many subsequent episodes of OHE, and despite their high mortality, also a higher risk. An abnormal SIPCHE had a high sensitivity and low specificity for MHE identification. An abnormal SIPCHE was associated with a more than doubled risk of OHE, even with death as a competing event. SIPCHE could be used as a high‐sensitivity, low‐cost, surrogate marker of MHE in clinics without availability of psychometric tests and allow more patients to benefit from anti‐MHE treatment.
Adolescents’ views on high school food environments
Authors: Ronto Rimante , Carins Julia , Ball Lauren , Pendergast Donna , Harris Neil
Published: July 2020

Issue addressed

This study explored adolescents’ views on high school food environments and potential strategies to help them to make informed food choices.

Methods

Fifteen focus groups were conducted with 131 adolescents aged 12‐17 years from three high schools in South East Queensland, Australia. Adolescents were asked how their school food environment (dis)encouraged them to eat healthy and what schools could do to help them eat healthier. All focus groups were audio recorded. Data were analysed using content and thematic data analysis methods.

Results

Four major themes emerged: food availability and affordability; food related policy and regulations; nutrition education; and attitudes, preferences and practices. Adolescents stated that nutrition education within the school curriculum and positive role modelling by peers and school staff in healthy eating were the major factors in helping them to make informed food choices. In contrast, high availability, affordability, fundraising, peer pressure, positive attitudes and negative role modelling towards unhealthy foods impacted unhealthy dietary behaviours.

Conclusions

Emerging results indicate that adolescents do not perceive the current high school food environments as helping them to make healthy food choices. Adolescents suggested limiting unhealthy foods in high schools by implementing strict food and beverage policies, compulsory nutrition education classes and changing attitudes towards healthy foods as strategies to improve high school food environments.

So what?

This study highlights the importance of high school food environments in impacting adolescents’ food choices. Strategies identified by adolescents inform public health practitioners and school authorities on how high school food environments could be tailored to help them in making better food choices.
Safety assessment of homeopathic medicines
Authors: Colalto Cristiano
Published: July 2020

Regulatory agencies have to ensure the end‐user safety of botanically derived homeopathic medicines prepared with diluted starting materials derived even from toxic plants. In the case of plant‐derived homeopathic products, assessment must consider the particular characteristics of an extract and its component molecules, even if diluted. The identification and quantification of these molecules have a crucial role in risk assessment, as it allows complete toxicological evaluation in a regulatory perspective. Different results can be achieved using different approaches and references supported by the same regulatory framework, as different methods of preparation used, assays and test analysis performed in compliance with different referent pharmacopoeias. All these facts can introduce a bias in the safety assessment and the paradoxical outcome for homeopathic Adonis vernalis underlines the need for caution. The case also demonstrates the relevance of considering the analytical method for assessment of all herbal medicinal products or herbal supplements, with the purpose of finding the total amount of toxicants as a good approach.
Effectiveness of strontium‐doped brushite, bovine‐derived hydroxyapatite and synthetic hydroxyapatite in rabbit sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant installation
Authors: Lu Da‐Zhuang , Zhang Yan‐Bo , Dong Wei , Bi Wen‐Juan , Feng Xiao‐Jie , Wen Li‐Ming , Sun Hong , Chen Hui , Zang Lu‐Yang , Qi Meng‐Chun
Published: July 2020

Various bone substitutes have been applied in sinus augmentation (SA) to overcome insufficient bone height at the posterior maxilla region caused by pneumatized sinus and severe alveolar bone resorption after teeth loss. However, their effectiveness in SA needs to be further elucidated. In this study, strontium‐doped brushite (Sr‐DCPD), a new bone substitute, together with bovine‐derived hydroxyapatite (bHA) and synthetic hydroxyapatite (sHA) was used in rabbit maxillary SA with simultaneous implant installation. The sinus space‐keeping capacity, resorption rate, osteoconductivity, and mechanical properties of regenerated bone, were evaluated by micro‐computed tomography (CT), histological analysis, and mechanical testing. Sr‐DCPD exhibited the best osteoconductivity and new bone formation (<4 weeks), but its final bone regeneration and removal torque of implants at week 12 were the lowest, mainly due to its poor space‐keeping capacity and fast resorption. bHA exhibited the best space‐keeping capacity and slowest resorption rate, but relative lower final bone volume and mechanical properties, while sHA showed good space‐keeping capacity, slower resorption rate, and the best final bone formation and mechanical properties. sHA was most effective for SA and bHA was also an acceptable bone substitute; however, Sr‐DCPD was least effective and not suitable in SA by itself.
Circular RNA circ_0011269 sponges miR‐122 to regulate RUNX2 expression and promotes osteoporosis progression
Authors: Xu Xiqiang , Chen Yuan , Tan Bingyi , Wang Dachuan , Yuan Zenong , Wang Feng
Published: July 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of noncoding RNAs that are widely expressed in human disease. However, circRNAs expression profile and potential mechanism in osteoporosis pathogenesis remain to be further studied. In the present study, a total of 69 circRNAs were identified to be abnormally expressed in osteoporosis patient samples by microarray and bioinformatics analyses. We found that circ_0011269 was notably downregulated in osteoporosis (fold change, 3.94). By means of miRanda algorithm, we constructed the interaction network of circ_0011269‐miRNAs in osteoporosis based on target binding and miR‐122 was enrolled in the network. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay verified the target relationship of miR‐122 and circ_0011269/RUNX2. The expression of circ_0011269 and RUNX2 were gradually increased during osteogenic differentiation while miR‐122 exhibited a decreased expression. Moreover, overexpression of circ_0011269 could promote RUNX2 expression and inhibit osteoporosis. In summary, this study found that circ_0011269 sponges miR‐122 to regulate RUNX2 expression and promotes osteoporosis progression.
Long noncoding RNA PRKCQ‐AS1 promotes CRC cell proliferation and migration via modulating miR‐1287‐5p/YBX1 axis
Authors: Cui Guoce , Zhao HongLi , Li Lina
Published: July 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) brings more than 600 000 deaths every year around the globe, making itself the third most frequently occurred carcinoma. The great progress human achieved in diagnosis and treatment of various cancers has failed to reverse this trend. Fortunately, growing evidence has implied the relationship between lncRNAs and cancer progression. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PRKCQ‐AS1 was heightened in CRC cells and tissues and related with dismal prognosis of CRC patients. Knockdown of PRKCQ‐AS1 would induce a decrease in proliferative and migrating ability of CRC cells. Also, PRKCQ‐AS1 enriched in cytoplasm of CRC cells and negatively regulated miR‐1287‐5p level. More important, PRKCQ‐AS1 could bind to argonaute 2 and function in the RNA‐induced silencing complex with miR‐1287‐5p. Therefore, PRKCQ‐AS1 was a competing endogenous RNA for miR‐1287‐5p. Subsequently, it was validated that miR‐1287‐5p could suppress the proliferative and migratory functions in CRC. Furthermore, PRKCQ‐AS1 could upregulate the mRNA and protein level of YBX1 targeted by miR‐1287‐5p. And YBX1 expression was elevated in CRC cells and tissues. Rescue assays in vitro and in vivo showed that overexpression of YBX1 could partly offset the effect of CRC progression induced by knocking down PRKCQ‐AS1, demonstrating PRKCQ‐AS1 mediating CRC progression via miR‐1287‐5p/YBX1 pathway.
The enhanced extended phenomenological kinetics method to deal with timescale disparity problem among different reaction pathways
Authors: Ding Chen , Weng Jingwei , Shen Tonghao , Xu Xin
Published: July 2020

Kinetic Monte Carlo method can provide valuable mechanistic insights for catalytic systems. Nonetheless, it suffers from the notorious problem of timescale disparity due to the existence of the complex catalytic network that consists of fast events and slow events. Previously, we have proposed the extended phenomenological kinetics (XPK) method that effectively deals with the timescale disparity problem between diffusion and reaction. However, it remains a great challenge to simulate systems with timescale disparity among different reaction pathways, which is important when selectivity is the major concern. In this study, we implement the enhanced XPK method to address this problem. The new algorithm works by identifying states connected through fast transitions and compressing them into a “superstate” when the chosen states satisfy a local steadystate condition. This state compression algorithm simplifies the reaction network by concealing the fast transitions. The accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm are demonstrated by two model systems: selective catalytic hydrogenation and selective catalytic decomposition. The enhanced XPK method is expected to be beneficial to the kinetic simulations of catalytic systems, especially those with complex reaction networks.
Function of DHX33 in promoting Warburg effect via regulation of glycolytic genes
Authors: Peng Cheng , Hou Sheng‐Tao , Deng Chu‐Xia , Zhang Yandong
Published: July 2020

Cancer cells metabolize glucose through glycolysis to promote cell proliferation even with abundant oxygen. Multiple glycolysis genes are deregulated during cancer development. Despite intensive effort, the cause of their deregulation remains incompletely understood. Here in this study, we discovered that DHX33 plays a critical role in Warburg effect of cancer cells. DHX33 deficient cells have markedly reduced glycolysis activity. Through RNA‐seq analysis, we found multiple critical genes involved in Warburg effect were downregulated after DHX33 deficiency. These genes include lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 (PKM2), enolase 1 (ENO1), ENO2, hexokinase 1/2, among others. With LDHA, PDK1, and PKM2 as examples, we further revealed that DHX33 altered the epigenetic marks around the promoter of glycolytic genes. This is through DHX33 in complex with Gadd45a—a growth arrest and DNA damage protein. DHX33 is required for the loading of Gadd45a and DNA dioxygenase Tet1 at the promoter sites, which resulted in active DNA demethylation and enhanced histone H4 acetylation. We conclude that DHX33 changes local epigenetic marks in favor of the transcription of glycolysis genes to promote cancer cell proliferation. Our study highlights the significance of RNA helicase DHX33 in Warburg effect and cancer therapeutics.
Pathophysiological roles of chronic low‐grade inflammation mediators in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Rostamtabar Maryam , Esmaeilzadeh Sedigheh , Tourani Mehdi , Rahmani Abolfazl , Baee Masoud , Shirafkan Fatemeh , Saleki Kiarash , Mirzababayi Sajedeh S. , Ebrahimpour Soheil , Nouri Hamid Reza
Published: July 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal imbalance disease in reproductive‐aged women. Its basic characteristics are ovulatory dysfunction and ovarian overproduction of androgens that lead to severe symptoms such as insulin resistance, hirsutism, infertility, and acne. Notwithstanding the disease burden, its underlying mechanisms remain unknown, and no causal therapeutic exists. In recent years, further studies showed that inflammation processes are involved in ovulation and play a key role in ovarian follicular dynamics. Visceral adipose tissue can cause inflammatory response and maintenance of the inflammation state in adipocytes by augmented production of inflammatory cytokines, monocyte chemoattractant proteins, and recruitment of the immune cell. Therefore, the PCOS can be related to a low‐grade inflammation state and inflammatory markers. Investigating the inflammatory processes and mediators that contribute to the commencement and development of PCOS can be a critical step for better understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and its treatment through inhibition or control of related pathways. In the present review, we discuss the pathophysiological roles of chronic low‐grade inflammation mediators including inflammasome‐related cytokines, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and IL‐18 in PCOS development.
Bovine peripheral blood MSCs chemotax towards inflammation and embryo implantation stimuli
Authors: Calle Alexandra , Gutiérrez‐Reinoso Miguel Ángel , Re Michela , Blanco Javier , De la Fuente Julio , Monguió‐Tortajada Marta , Borràs Francesc Enric , Yáñez‐Mó María , Ramírez Miguel Ángel
Published: July 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential in regenerative medicine because of their multipotential and immunoregulatory capacities, while in early pregnancy they could participate in the immunotolerance of the mother towards the embryo. Peripheral blood constitutes an accessible source of MSCs. We successfully isolated peripheral blood MSC (pbMSCs) lines, with or without previous bone marrow mobilization. All pbMSCs lines obtained in both conditions presented classical MSC markers and properties, alkaline phosphatase activity and multipotent capacity to differentiate among adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages, and suppressed the proliferation of T cells. pbMSCs showed migratory capacity without cytokine stimulation while increasing their migration rate in the presence of inflammatory or embryo implantation stimuli. Interestingly, in contrast to MSCs derived from endometrial tissue, three pbMSCs lines also showed increased migration towards the IFN‐τ implantation cytokine. Moreover, the secretome produced by an early implantation stage embryonic trophectoderm cell line showed a chemoattractant effect in pbMSCs. Our results suggest that circulating MSCs are present in the peripheral blood under healthy conditions. The fact that both the inflammation and implantation signals induced pbMSCs chemotaxis highlights MSC heterogeneity and suggests that their migratory capacity may differ according to their tissue of origin and would suggest the possible active recruitment of MSCs from bone marrow during pregnancy to repress the immune response to prevent the embryo rejection by the maternal organism.
Fused bicyclic 1,2,4‐triazoles with one extra sulfur atom: Synthesis, properties, and biological activity
Authors: Slivka Mikhailo V. , Korol Natalia I. , Fizer Maksym M.
Published: July 2020

Fused heterocyclic systems with 1,2,4‐triazole scaffold arouse great interest from researchers in the branch of heterocyclic and medical chemistry because of their wide biological activities as they are considered as fungicidal, antimicrobial, analgesic, bronchodilators, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory agents, and they are G‐quadruple stabilizers; the molecular docking data for coumarin‐containing 1,2,4‐triazoles indicate their ability to act as a urease inhibitor. Therefore, the present review aims to investigate new trends in the chemistry of heterocycles incorporating thiazolo[3,2‐b][1,2,4]triazoles, thiazolo[2,3‐c][1,2,4]triazoles, thiazino[5,1‐b][1,2,4]triazoles, thiazino[3,4‐b][1,2,4]triazoles, triazolothiazepines, and their biological characteristics. The main sections discuss: (a) the synthetic routes to the production of substituted fused heterocyclic systems, which include condensation reactions, multiple bond annulation, and the reactions of electrophilic heterocyclization. (b) Description of chemical and biological characteristics of these fused heterocycles.
Determination of Brain Metabolite T1 Without Interference From Macromolecule Relaxation
Authors: An Li , Araneta Maria Ferraris , Victorino Milalynn , Shen Jun
Published: July 2020

Background

J‐coupled metabolites are often measured at a predetermined echo time in the presence of macromolecule signals, which complicates the measurement of metabolite T1.

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and benefits of measuring metabolite T1 relaxation times without changing the overlapping macromolecule baseline signals.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Five healthy volunteers (three females and two males; age = 27 ± 7 years).

Field Strength/Sequence

7T scanner using a point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS)‐based spectral editing MR spectroscopy (MRS) sequence with inversion recovery (IR).

Assessment

F‐tests were performed to evaluate if the new approach, which fitted all the spectra together and used the same baselines for the three different IR settings, significantly reduced the variances of the metabolite T1 values compared to a conventional fitting approach.

Statistical Tests

Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB), within‐subject coefficient of variation, and F‐test.

Results

The T1 relaxation times of N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (tCr), total choline (tCho), myo‐inositol (mI), and glutamate (Glu) were determined with CRLB values below 6%. Glutamine (Gln) T1 was determined with a 17% CRLB, and the T1 of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) was determined with a 34% CRLB. The new approach significantly reduced the variances (F‐test P < 0.05) of NAA, Glu, Gln, tCr, tCho, and mI T1s compared to the conventional approach.

Data Conclusion

Keeping macromolecule signals intact by using only long IR times allowed the use of a single macromolecule spectral model for different IR settings and significantly reduced the variances of NAA, Glu, Gln, tCr, tCho, and mI T1s.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy Stage

1
Altered Whole‐Brain Functional Networks in Drug‐Naïve, First‐Episode Adolescents With Major Depression Disorder
Authors: Wu Baolin , Li Xuekun , Zhou Jun , Zhang Meng , Long Qingyun
Published: July 2020

Background

Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated disrupted brain functional networks in major depression disorder (MDD); however, alterations to whole‐brain networks specifically associated with adolescent MDD remain poorly understood.

Purpose

To investigate the topological architecture of intrinsic brain functional networks in drug‐naïve, first‐episode adolescent MDD patients using graph theoretical analysis.

Study type

Prospective.

Subjects

In all, 109 adolescent MDD patients and 70 healthy control subjects.

Field Strength/Sequences

3.0T; gradient‐echo echo‐planar imaging sequence.

Assessment

After the construction of whole‐brain functional networks by thresholding partial correlation matrices of 90 brain regions, we calculated the topological properties (eg, small‐world, efficiency, and nodal centrality) using graph theoretical analysis.

Statistical Tests

A chi‐squared test was used to compare the gender‐ratio difference, and a two‐sample t‐test was used in the comparison of age. We compared network measures between the two groups using nonparametric permutation tests. Exploratory partial correlation analyses were used to determine the relationships between the topological metrics showing significant between‐group differences and the clinical variables for adolescent MDD patients.

Results

Small‐world architecture in brain functional networks was identified for both the MDD and control groups. However, depressed adolescents exhibited lower characteristic path length, normalized characteristic path length and clustering coefficient, and higher global efficiency than controls (false discovery rate [FDR] q < 0.05). Compared with controls, depressed adolescents exhibited increased nodal centralities in the default mode regions, including the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, left posterior cingulate gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus (medial part), bilateral hippocampus, and bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, and decreased nodal centralities in the orbitofrontal, temporal, and occipital regions (FDR q < 0.05).

Data Conclusion

This study indicated that drug‐naïve, first‐episode adolescent MDD patients exhibit disruptions in whole‐brain functional networks.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy Stage

2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1790–1798.
Predictors of the need for supportive femoral approach during transvenous extraction of pacemaker and defibrillator leads in Japanese patients
Authors: Isawa Tsuyoshi , Honda Taku , Yamaya Kazuhiro , Taguri Masataka
Published: July 2020

Background

Studies on femoral approach during transvenous lead extraction (TLE) are limited.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 75 patients undergoing TLE from September 2014 through November 2019 via supportive femoral approach (Femoral/Superior group; n = 22) and superior approach alone (Superior group; n = 53).

Results

No significant between‐group differences were observed regarding patients’ baseline characteristics except for a higher incidence of access vein occlusion in the Femoral/Superior group (59.1% vs. 31.4%; P = .037). The Femoral/Superior group exhibited significantly longer dwell times of the oldest extracted lead (median: 13.4 years; interquartile range [IQR]: 8.8‐21.2 years vs. median, 7.2 years; IQR: 3.7‐10.8 years; P < .001) and a higher incidence of passive fixation ventricular pacemaker lead (81.8% vs. 39.6%; P = .001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that access vein occlusion (odds ratio [OR]: 4.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08‐15.3; P < .001) and dwell time of the oldest extracted lead (per year) (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09‐1.37; P = .038) were predictors of the need for supportive femoral approach. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that 11.8 years from implant was the cutoff for the need for supportive femoral approach (sensitivity 68.2%, specificity of 81.1%, area under the curve 0.81).

Conclusions

Access vein occlusion and long dwell time of the oldest extracted lead predict a high probability of the need for supportive femoral approach. Supportive femoral approach may be necessary in patients with leads that are implanted for >11.8 years and whose access veins are occluded.