bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant and Hypocholesterolemic Properties of Functional Soy Yogurts Fortified with ω‐3 and ω‐6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Balb/c Mice
Authors: Sengupta Samadrita , Koley Hemanta , Dutta Shanta , Bhowal Jayati
Published: March 2019

Increase of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake is currently recommended. Yogurt, which is already popular, offers a functional food matrix to deliver ω3 and ω6 PUFAs. The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidative and cholesterol‐lowering properties of functional soy yogurts fortified with fish oil (FO) containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Evening primrose oil (EPO) containing gamma linolenic acid (GLA) in diet induced hypercholesterolemic mice. Adding FO and EPO results in a significant reduction in the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and the atherogenic index of hypercholesterolemic mice when compared with soy yogurt (control) only. Soy yogurts supplemented with functional lipids had significantly improved the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in serum, super oxide dismutase and catalase level in liver homogenate and significantly declined the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma glutamyl transferase activities.

Practical Applications: FO and EPO may be considered as novel functional food ingredients for soy yogurt production. The process is commercially economical in view of the uses of seed flour as direct raw material without beany odor problem for making non‐dairy food product.

Consumption of poly unsaturated fatty acid fortified soy yogurt results in a significant reduction in the liver total cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic mice when compared with soy yogurt (control) only.
Recent Developments in Radical‐Mediated Transformations of Organohalides
Authors: Lekkala Ravindar , Lekkala Revathi , Moku Balakrishna , Rakesh K. P. , Qin Hua‐Li
Published: March 2019

In recent years, radical‐mediated transformations of organohalides, a class of powerful chemical transformations, have become an important field at the forefront of organic chemistry. Formation of free‐radicals from organohalides is among the most useful methods to access open‐shell reactive intermediates that have a number of established applications in chemical synthesis. Herein we summarize most of the strategies involving metal‐catalyzed, non‐metal‐catalyzed, as well as catalyst‐free radical‐mediated transformations of organohalides.
Coupling of capillary electrophoresis with electrospray ionization multiplexing ion mobility spectrometry
Authors: Guo Jianheng , Li Guozhu , Zhang Hanghang , Jia Xu , Meng Qingyan , Liu Wenjie
Published: March 2019

In this work, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) function as a detector and another dimension of separation was coupled with CE to achieve two‐dimensional separation. To improve the performance of hyphenated CE‐IMS instrument, electrospray ionization correlation ion mobility spectrometry is evaluated and compared with traditional signal averaging data acquisition method using tetraalkylammonium bromide compounds. The effect of various parameters on the separation including sample introduction, sheath fluid of CE and drift gas, data acquisition method of IMS were investigated. The experimental result shows that the optimal conditions are as follows: hydrodynamic sample injection method, the electrophoresis voltage is 10 kilo volts, 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate buffer solution containing 80% acetonitrile as both the background electrolyte and the electrospray ionization sheath fluid, the ESI liquid flow rate is 4.5 μL/min, the drift voltage is 10.5 kilo volts, the drift gas temperature is 383 K and the drift gas flow rate is 300 mL/min. Under the above conditions, the mixture standards of seven tetraalkylammoniums can be completely separated within 10 min both by CE and IMS. The linear range was 5–250 μg/mL, with LOD of 0.152, 0.204, 0.277, 0.382, 0.466, 0.623 and 0.892 μg/mL, respectively. Compared with traditional capillary electrophoresis detection methods, the developed CE‐ESI‐IMS method not only provide two sets of qualitative parameters including electrophoresis migration time and ion drift time, ion mobility spectrometer can also provide an additional dimension of separation and could apply to the detection ultra‐violet transparent compounds or none fluorescent compounds.
Droplet‐based microfluidics systems in biomedical applications
Authors: Feng Huanhuan , Zheng Tingting , Li Mingyu , Wu Junwei , Ji Hongjun , Zhang Jiaheng , Zhao Weiwei , Guo Jinhong
Published: March 2019

Microfluidics has made a very impressive progress in the past decades due to its unique and instinctive advantages. Droplet‐based microfluidic systems show excellent compatibility with many chemical and biological reagents and are capable of performing variety of operations that can implement microreactor, complex multiple core–shell structure, and many applications in biomedical research such as drug encapsulation, targeted drug delivery systems, and multifunctionalization on carriers. Droplet‐based systems have been directly used to synthesize particles and encapsulate many biological entities for biomedicine applications due to their powerful encapsulation capability and facile versatility. In this paper, we review its origin, deviation, and evolution to draw a clear future, especially for droplet‐based biomedical applications. This paper will focus on droplet generation, variations and complication as starter, and logistically lead to the numerous typical applications in biomedical research. Finally, we will summarize both its challenge and future prospects relevant to its droplet‐based biomedical applications.
Facts about college and university closings and mergers
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: March 2019

Consider the following facts about college and university closings, mergers, and acquisitions.
Implementation of uplink network‐coded modulation for two‐hop networks
Authors: Chu Yi , Peng Tong , Grace David , Burr Alister
Published: March 2019

With the fast growing number of wireless devices and demand of user data, the backhaul load becomes a bottleneck in wireless networks. Physical‐layer network coding (PNC) allows access points to relay‐compressed, network‐coded user data, therefore reducing the backhaul traffic. In this paper, an implementation of uplink network‐coded modulation (NetCoM) with PNC is presented. A five‐node prototype NetCoM system is established using Universal Software Radio Peripherals, and a practical PNC scheme designed for binary systems is utilized. An orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing waveform implementation and the practical challenges (eg, device synchronization and clock drift) of applying orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing to NetCoM are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first PNC implementation in an uplink scenario in radio access networks, and our prototype provides an industrially applicable implementation of the proposed NetCoM with PNC approach.
A simple approximation to bias in the genetic effect estimates when multiple disease states share a clinical diagnosis
Authors: Lobach Iryna , Kim Inyoung , Alekseyenko Alexander , Lobach Siarhei , Zhang Li
Published: March 2019

Case‐control genome‐wide association studies (CC‐GWAS) might provide valuable clues to the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of complex diseases, such as neurodegenerative disease and cancer. A commonly overlooked complication is that multiple distinct disease states might present with the same set of symptoms and hence share a clinical diagnosis. These disease states can only be distinguished based on a biomarker evaluation that might not be feasible in the whole set of cases in the large number of samples that are typically needed for CC‐GWAS. Instead, the biomarkers are measured on a subset of cases. Or an external reliability study estimates the frequencies of the disease states of interest within the clinically diagnosed set of cases. These frequencies often vary by the genetic and/or nongenetic variables. We derive a simple approximation that relates the genetic effect estimates obtained in a traditional logistic regression model with the clinical diagnosis as the outcome variable to the genetic effect estimates in the relationship to the true disease state of interest. We performed simulation studies to assess the accuracy of the approximation that we have derived. We next applied the derived approximation to the analysis of the genetic basis of the innate immune system of Alzheimer's disease.
Multi‐Dimensional Quantum Nanostructures with Polarization Properties for Display Applications
Authors: Yang Gaoling , Zhong Haizheng
Published: March 2019

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), or quantum nanostructures with various dimensions and morphologies, are excellent emerging solution‐processable luminescent materials for display applications. The future of semiconductor NCs in the display market strongly relies on the development of low energy consuming devices. Replacing spherical NCs with multi‐dimensional nanostructures that emit linearly or circularly polarized light with high color purity and brightness, can significantly enhance the performance and efficiency of future display devices. In this review, we highlight some recent advances of colloidal syntheses of multi‐dimensional quantum nanostructures and their implementation as polarized light sources. The most representative examples are quasi‐one‐dimensional (q‐1D) CdSe/CdS dot‐in‐rods with strong linearly polarized emission for liquid crystal display technologies, and two‐dimensional (2D) nanoplatelets with enhanced circular dichroism signals as potential circularly polarized luminescence sources for electroluminescence applications.
The indirect and intangible impacts of a telecentre on a rural community
Authors: Tabassum Ghazala , Kulathuramaiyer Narayanan , Harris Roger , Yeo Alvin W.
Published: March 2019

The paper explores the impact of a telecentre on the community living in Bario, a small village in the highlands of Malaysian Borneo. Specifically, it addresses indirect and intangible impacts on non‐users of telecentre. Thus, far most research studies have primarily focused on direct and tangible impacts of telecentre on its users whilst impact on non‐users is least covered and understood. Consequently, it was equally essential to study the concept of unquantifiable intangible impacts experienced by the non‐users. Sen's “Capability Approach” (CA) was adopted to understand the impact of telecentre on human development. “The Most Significant Change” (MSC) was employed as a tool for collecting data in the form of stories from the telecentre users and non‐users. The process involved gathering stories about the telecentre impact from the Bario community people. The MSC stories with significance relevance were identified and selected with the help of the community. Those were then analysed using the content analysis technique and Leximancer to identify the patterns of change experienced by the respondents. The results of the study on the whole suggests that the Bario community has benefited from the use of the telecentre, both directly and indirectly, including intangible impacts such as connectedness, a sense of belongingness, strengthened social ties, and psychological empowerment (self‐esteem and self‐efficacy). The theoretical approach together with methodological approach provided a base for understanding ways to conceptualize the development and determine the ways in which telecentre contributed directly or indirectly to the social and economic development of the community inhabitants.
Exosomal sphingosine 1‐phosphate secreted by mesenchymal stem cells regulated Treg/Th17 balance in aplastic anemia
Authors: Li Yingmei , Wang Fang , Guo Rong , Zhang Yinyin , Chen Dandan , Li Xue , Tian Wenliang , Xie Xinsheng , Jiang Zhongxing
Published: March 2019

This study was designed to explore whether exosomal sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regulate the Treg/Th17 balance in aplastic anemia (AA) patients and to validate the underlying mechanism. To address this, exosomes from human bone marrow MSCs (MSCs‐Exos) were co‐cultured with CD4+ T cells from AA patients (AA CD4+ T cells), which were transfected with si‐S1PR1, si‐S1PR3, or not. The proportion of Th17 and Treg was evaluated by flow cytometry. The levels of Th17‐associated interleukin‐17 (IL‐17), Treg‐associated IL‐10, and transforming growth factor‐β were determined by ELISA. S1P content in MSCs‐Exos isolated from control, si‐SphK1, or si‐SphK2 transfected MSCs was examined by LC–MS/MS. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of bone marrow tissues was performed to evaluate the effect of MSCs‐Exos in AA mice. Our results showed that MSCs‐Exos reversed the increased Th17/Treg in AA through SphK1‐mediated exosomal S1P enrichment. Furthermore, the promotion of Treg differentiation by exosomal S1P from MSCs was mediated through the receptor S1PR1 expressed on CD4+ T cells. Further in vivo experiments showed that MSCs‐Exos reversed the increased Th17/Treg and alleviated AA progression in AA mice. In summary, SphK1‐mediated enrichment of exosomal S1P secreted by MSCs reversed the increased Treg/Th17 ratio via the receptor S1PR1 in AA patients. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1284–1292, 2019
Nonlinear‐optical stain‐free stereoimaging of astrocytes and gliovascular interfaces
Authors: Lanin Aleksandr A. , Pochechuev Matvei S. , Chebotarev Artem S. , Kelmanson Ilya V. , Belousov Vsevolod V. , Zheltikov Aleksei M.
Published: March 2019

Methods of nonlinear optics provide a vast arsenal of tools for label‐free brain imaging, offering a unique combination of chemical specificity, the ability to detect fine morphological features, and an unprecedentedly high, subdiffraction spatial resolution. While these techniques provide a rapidly growing platform for the microscopy of neurons and fine intraneural structures, optical imaging of astroglia still largely relies on filament‐protein‐antibody staining, subject to limitations and difficulties especially severe in live‐brain studies. Once viewed as an ancillary, inert brain scaffold, astroglia are being promoted, as a part of an ongoing paradigm shift in neurosciences, into the role of a key active agent of intercellular communication and information processing, playing a significant role in brain functioning under normal and pathological conditions. Here, we show that methods of nonlinear optics provide a unique resource to address long‐standing challenges in label‐free astroglia imaging. We demonstrate that, with a suitable beam‐focusing geometry and careful driver‐pulse compression, microscopy of second‐harmonic generation (SHG) can enable a high‐resolution label‐free imaging of fibrillar structures of astrocytes, most notably astrocyte processes and their endfeet. SHG microscopy of astrocytes is integrated in our approach with nonlinear‐optical imaging of red blood cells based on third‐harmonic generation (THG) enhanced by a three‐photon resonance with the Soret band of hemoglobin. With astroglia and red blood cells providing two physically distinct imaging contrasts in SHG and THG channels, a parallel detection of the second and third harmonics enables a high‐contrast, high‐resolution, stain‐free stereoimaging of gliovascular interfaces in the central nervous system. Transverse scans of the second and third harmonics are shown to resolve an ultrafine texture of blood‐vessel walls and astrocyte‐process endfeet on gliovascular interfaces with a spatial resolution within 1 μm at focusing depths up to 20 μm inside a brain.
2,3,5,4′‐Tetrahydroxystilbene‐2‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside eliminates ischemia/reperfusion injury–induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes apoptosis involving in Bcl‐2, Bax, caspase‐3, and Akt activation
Authors: Sun Tao , Liu Han , Cheng Yutong , Yan Lixiao , Krittanawong Chayakrit , Li Shihong , Qian Wang , Su Wang , Chen Xuanzu , Hou Xuejian , Zhang Hongju
Published: March 2019

Objective

This study was designed to explore the protective effect of 2,3,5,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene‐2‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside (TSG) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury–induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis.

Methods

The H9c2 cell I/R injury model was induced by simultaneous shortage of nutrients and oxygen. TSG administration (0.10, 0.25, and 0.50 mM) was performed before and during I/R stimulation. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Expression of cell‐related proteins was detected to assess the effect of TSG on cell apoptosis.

Results

I/R injury induced significant cell apoptosis. Significantly decreased Bcl‐2 and increased Bax, caspase‐3, and p‐Akt expression (
P < 0.01) was detected in the cell model of I/R injury. In contrast, TSG administration eliminated all the changes induced by I/R injury in a dose‐dependent manner. Compared with the H9c2 cell model of I/R injury, the H9c2 cells treated with 0.50 mM TSG showed the lowest cell apoptosis percentage, the highest expression of Bcl‐2, and the lowest expression of Bax, caspase‐3, and p‐Akt (
P < 0.01).

Conclusion

We confirmed that the protective effect of TSG against I/R injury–induced cell apoptosis in H9c2 in vitro was associated with the Bcl‐2/Bax ratio, caspase‐3, and Akt activation.
Stimulatory effects of platycodin D on osteoblast differentiation
Authors: Han Younho , Jin Sun Woo , Lee Gi Ho , Choi Jae Ho , Lee Hyun Sun , Chung Young Chul , Jeong Hye Gwang , Lee Kwang Youl
Published: March 2019

Previous studies have suggested that platycodin D is implicated in bone biology and ameliorates osteoporosis development. Platycodin D repressed the osteoclast activity and enhanced bone mineral density in the mouse model. However, the effects of platycodin D on osteoblast differentiation have not been elucidated yet. In C3H10T1/2 cells, platycodin D upregulated osteogenic markers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein, and collagen type 1 alpha 1, and transcription factors, such as Runx2 and osterix, subsequently enhancing the bone mineralization. In a molecular mechanism study, platycodin D induced β‐catenin nuclear accumulation by upregulating GSK3β phosphorylation. Furthermore, platycodin D upregulated the ALP activity and enhanced the mineralization process in osteoblast cells via the sirtuin 1/β‐catenin pathways. Taken together, these results suggested that platycodin D could be an effective therapeutic compound against osteoporosis because of its regulatory effects during the osteoblast differentiation.
Review on chemogenomic approaches towards hepatitis C viral targets
Authors: Venkatesan Arthi , Prabhu Dass J. Febin
Published: March 2019

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most prevalent viral pathogen that infects more than 185 million people worldwide. HCV infection leads to chronic liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) are the recent combination therapy for HCV infection with reduced side effects than prior therapies. Sustained virological response (SVR) acts as a gold standard marker to monitor the success of antiviral treatment. Older treatment therapies attain 50‐55% of SVR compared with DAAs which attain around 90‐95%. The current review emphasizes the recent chemogenomic updates that have been unfolded through structure‐based drug design of HCV drug target proteins (NS3/4A, NS5A, and NS5B) and ligand‐based drug design of DAAs in achieving a stable HCV viral treatment strategies.
Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into keratinocytes and express epidermal kallikreins: Towards an in vitro model of human epidermis
Authors: dos Santos Jeniffer Farias , Borçari Nathália Ruder , da Silva Araújo Mariana , Nunes Viviane Abreu
Published: March 2019

Epidermal differentiation is a complex process in which keratinocytes go through morphological and biochemical changes in approximately 15 to 30 days. Abnormal keratinocyte differentiation is involved in the pathophysiology of several skin diseases. In this scenario, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) emerge as a promising approach to study skin biology in both normal and pathological conditions. Herein, we have studied the differentiation of MSC from umbilical cord into keratinocytes. MSC were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) (proliferation medium) and, after characterization, differentiation was induced by culturing cells in a defined keratinocyte serum‐free medium (KSFM) supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and calcium chloride ions. Cells cultivated in DMEM were used as control. Cultures were evaluated from day 1 to 23, based on the cell morphology, the expression of p63, involucrin and cytokeratins (KRTs) KRT5, KRT10 and KRT14, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence, and by the detection of epidermal kallikreins activity. In cells grown in keratinocyte serum‐free medium with EGF and 1.8 mM calcium, KRT5 and KRT14 expression was shown at the first day, followed by the expression of p63 at the seventh day. KRT10 expression was detected from day seventh while involucrin was observed after this period. Data showed higher kallikrein (KLK) activity in KSFM‐cultured cells from day 11th in comparison to control. These data indicate that MSC differentiated into keratinocytes similarly to that occurs in the human epidermis. KLK activity detection appears to be a good methodology for the monitoring the differentiation of MSC into the keratinocyte lineage, providing useful tools for the better understanding of the skin biology.
Isofraxidin attenuates IL‐1β‐induced inflammatory response in human nucleus pulposus cells
Authors: Su Xiaoqiang , Liu Bo , Gong Futai , Yin Jichao , Sun Qing , Gao Ye , Lv Zeyi , Wang Xiangyang
Published: March 2019

Inflammation has been demonstrated to be the key factor for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD), which remains a major public health problem. Isofraxidin is a coumarin compound that possesses strong anti‐inflammatory activity. However, the role of isofraxidin in IVD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of isofraxidin on inflammatory response in human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) exposed to interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). The results proved that isofraxidin attenuated the IL‐1β‐induced significant increases in inflammatory mediators and cytokines including nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and IL‐6. Besides, isofraxidin also inhibited the induction effect of IL‐1β on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐3 and MMP‐13. Moreover, the NF‐κB activation caused by IL‐1β was significantly inhibited by isofraxidin treatment. These findings suggested that isofraxidin alleviates IL‐1β‐induced inflammation in NPCs. Our work provided an idea that isofraxidin might act as a novel preventive role in IVD.
RASPT2 study of the valence excited states of an iron–porphyrin–carbonyl model complex
Authors: Ben Amor Nadia , Heitz Marie‐Catherine
Published: March 2019

Multireference wavefunction calculations of the singlet valence excited states of an iron–porphyrin–pyrazine–carbonyl complex up to the Soret band (about 3 eV) are presented. This complex is chosen to be a model for the active site of carboxyhemoglobin/carboxymyoglobin. The investigations are performed at the restricted active space second‐order perturbation (RASPT2) level involving an extended active space on the porphyrin ligand in addition to the active orbitals needed for the description of the metal–ligand interactions. Metal‐to‐ligand‐charge‐transfer states
d → π* and some metal‐centered
d → d transitions are found in the lowest part of the spectrum, below the first
π → π* intraporphyrin transitions (Q band). Doubly excited states involving simultaneous intraporphyrin and metal‐centered excitations are found in the vicinity of the second set of intraporphyrin transitions (the so‐called Soret band). The effect of the extension of the active space on the porphyrin ligand beyond the Gouterman's orbitals set is investigated together with the effect of inclusion of the ionization potential electron affinity shift in the RASPT2 treatment. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of PON1 gene promoter DNA methylation with the risk of Clopidogrel resistance in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Su Jia , Li Jiyi , Yu Qinglin , Xu Xiaofeng , Wang Jingqiao , Yang Jin , Li Xiaojing , Chen Xiaomin
Published: March 2019

Background and Aims

The failure of therapeutic response to clopidogrel in platelet inhibition, which is called clopidogrel resistance (CR), is more likely to cause cardiovascular events. We aimed to study the contribution of promoter DNA methylation of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) to the risk of clopidogrel poor response.

Methods

Through VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, patient’ platelet functions were measured. Among 57 non‐CR and 49 CR patients, the levels of DNA methylation in four CpG dinucleotides on the PON1 promoter were tested using bisulfite pyrosequencing technology. Besides, the relative expression of PON1 mRNA was analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR. Logistic regression was applied to investigate the interaction of PON1 methylation and clinical factors in CR.

Results

In the subgroup with dyslipidemia, we discovered that higher CpG4 levels of the PON1 promoter indicated a poorer clopidogrel response (cases versus controls (%): 51.500 ± 14.742 vs 43.308 ± 10.891, P = 0.036), and the PON1 mRNA expression was reduced in CR patients. Additionally, the logistic regression indicated that higher level of albumin and the index of ALT were related to a lower risk of CR, and the index of AST as well as the quantity of stent may be positively associated with CR.

Conclusions

The DNA methylation of CpG4 in the PON1 promoter would lead to a low expression of PON1 mRNA, which might induce clopidogrel resistance in the patients with dyslipidemia, and the number of stents might be a risk for CR.
Scutellarin exerts protective effects against atherosclerosis in rats by regulating the Hippo–FOXO3A and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways
Authors: Fu Yufeng , Sun Shuangyong , Sun Huijun , Peng Jinyong , Ma Xiaodong , Bao Liuchi , Ji Renpeng , Luo Chunxu , Gao Cong , Zhang Xiaoxue , Jin Yue
Published: March 2019

Atherosclerosis (AS), a progressive disorder, is one of the tough challenges in the clinic. Scutellarin, an extract from Herba Erigerontis, is found to have oxygen‐free radicals scavenging effects and antioxidant effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti‐AS effects of scutellarin is related to controlling the Hippo–FOXO3A and PI3K/AKT signal pathway. To establish an AS model, the rats in the scutellarin and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with vitamin D
3 and then fed a high‐fat diet for 12 weeks. In addition, in vitro angiotensin II‐induced apoptosis of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were used to establish models. Scutellarin significantly reduced blood lipid levels and increased antioxidase levels in both models. Additionally, scutellarin inhibited reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis in HAECs. The impaired vascular barrier function was restored by using scutellarin in AS rats and in HAECs cells characterized by inhibiting mammalian sterile‐20‐like kinases 1 (Mst1) phosphorylation, Yes‐associated protein (YAP) phosphorylation, forkhead box O3A (FOXO3A) phosphorylation at serine 207, nuclear translocation of FOXO3A, and upregulating protein expression of AKT and FOXO3A phosphorylation at serine 253. Scutellarin significantly reduced Bcl‐2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), caspase‐3, APO‐1, CD95 (Fas), and Bax: Bcl‐2‐associated X (Bax) levels and activated Bcl‐2: B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2). Scutellarin also significantly inhibited the expression of Mst1, YAP, FOXO3A at the messenger RNA level. When Mst1 was overexpressed or phosphoinositide 3‐kinases suppressed, the effects of scutellarin were significantly blocked. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that scutellarin exerts protective effects against AS by inhibiting endothelial cell injury and apoptosis by regulating the Hippo–FOXO3A and PI3K/AKT signal pathways.
Methodological considerations for studies of brain glycogen
Authors: Wu Long , Wong Candance P. , Swanson Raymond A.
Published: March 2019

Glycogen stores in the brain have been recognized for decades, but the underlying physiological function of this energy reserve remains elusive. This uncertainty stems in part from several technical challenges inherent in the study of brain glycogen metabolism. These include low glycogen content in the brain, non‐homogeneous labeling of glycogen by radiotracers, rapid glycogenolysis during postmortem tissue handling, and effects of the stress response on brain glycogen turnover. Here we briefly review the aspects of the glycogen structure and metabolism that bear on these technical challenges and present ways they can be addressed.
Remanufacturing and consumers' risky choices: Behavioral modeling and the role of ambiguity aversion
Authors: Abbey James D. , Kleber Rainer , Souza Gilvan C. , Voigt Guido
Published: March 2019

Willingness to pay (WTP) is known to be lower for remanufactured products than for comparable new products. Normative work to date has assumed that a consumer's WTP for a remanufactured product is a fraction, called discount factor, of the consumer's WTP for a corresponding new product, and that this discount factor is constant across consumers. Recent empirical research demonstrates, however, that the discount factor is not constant across consumers. This discovery has led researchers to call for an exploration of more refined utility models that incorporate heterogeneous risk preferences through elements such as risk aversion, loss aversion, and ambiguity aversion. To address this call, this article assesses each of these risk preference elements by empirically deriving WTP distributions from two interlinked studies. To provide triangulation in both the empirical method and sample, the interlinked studies employ an online survey and a laboratory experiment that elicits WTP for framed lotteries that proxy the situation of buying remanufactured products. The empirical results and robustness verifications demonstrate that a parsimonious standard utility model incorporating only risk aversion explains the WTP data reasonably well.
Acceleration of bone regeneration of horizontal bone defect in rats using collagen‐binding basic fibroblast growth factor combined with collagen scaffolds
Authors: Nakamura Shin , Ito Takashi , Okamoto Kentaro , Mima Takehiko , Uchida Kentaro , Siddiqui Yasir D. , Ito Masahiro , Tai Masako , Okubo Keisuke , Yamashiro Keisuke , Omori Kazuhiro , Yamamoto Tadashi , Matsushita Osamu , Takashiba Shogo
Published: March 2019

Background

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been applied for periodontal regeneration. However, the application depends on bone defect morphology because bFGF diffuses rapidly from defect sites. In a previous study, collagen‐binding bFGF (CB‐bFGF) has been shown to enhance bone formation by collagen‐anchoring in the orthopedic field. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of CB‐bFGF with collagen scaffolds in bone regeneration of horizontal bone defect.

Methods

Cell proliferation activity and collagen binding activity of CB‐bFGF was confirmed by WST‐8 assay and collagen binding assay, respectively. The retention of CB‐bFGF in the collagen sheet (CS) was measured by fluorescence imaging. The rat horizontal alveolar bone defect model was employed to investigate the efficacy of CB‐bFGF with collagen powder (CP). After 4 and 8 weeks, the regenerative efficacy was evaluated by microcomputed tomography, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

CB‐bFGF had a comparable proliferation activity to bFGF and a collagen binding activity. CB‐bFGF was retained in CS longer than bFGF. At 8 weeks postoperation, bone volume, bone mineral content, and new bone area in CB‐bFGF/CP group were significantly increased compared with those in other groups. Furthermore, epithelial downgrowth was significantly suppressed in CB‐bFGF/CP group. At 4 weeks, the numbers of osteocalcin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and osteopontin‐positive cells at the regeneration site in CB‐bFGF/CP group were greater than those in other groups.

Conclusions

CB‐bFGF/CP effectively promoted bone regeneration of horizontal bone defect possibly by sustained release of bFGF. The potential of CB‐bFGF composite material for improved periodontal regeneration in vertical axis was shown.
Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering based sensing of trans‐urocanic acid, an epidermal photoreceptor using silver nanoparticles aided by density functional theoretical calculations
Authors: Kumar Naveen , Thomas Susy , Rao Rekha , Maiti Nandita , Kshirsagar Rohidas Jagannath.
Published: March 2019

Trans‐urocanic acid (t‐UCA) is found predominantly in the stratum corneum of the human skin (4–34 nM/cm2) and acts as photo‐protectant against ultraviolet‐induced DNA damage. On exposure to ultraviolet radiation, t‐UCA isomerizes to cis‐UCA, and recent studies revealed that the immunosuppressive properties of cis‐UCA are linked to skin cancer. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), a surface sensitive technique, enabled the detection of t‐UCA down to 50 picomolar concentration with good signal‐to‐noise ratio. Density functional theoretical calculations were also carried out for a detailed understanding of the Raman vibrations and interpreting the metal–molecule interaction. The orientation of the molecule on the silver surface was also deduced from the observed SERS features along with the density functional theoretical calculations. At 50 μM t‐UCA concentration, the molecule interacts chemically through the carboxylate and π electrons of the ethylenic groups assuming a slightly tilted orientation on the silver surface. At concentrations lower than 50 μM, the molecule assumes a flat geometry on the silver surface enabling the interaction through the carboxylate group, the π electrons of the ethylenic CC bond, and also the imidazole ring. The analytical enhancement factors were calculated for the ethylenic CC and carboxylate stretches and were found to be ~108. This is the first report on the trace level sensing of t‐UCA using SERS that may be of relevance in the dermatological studies.
Dissipation of two field‐incurred pesticides and three degradation products in rice (Oryza sativa L.) from harvest to dining table
Authors: Ma Youning , Zhan Liwei , Yang Huan , Qin Meiling , Chai Shuangshuang , Cao Zhaoyun , Mou Renxiang , Chen Mingxue
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

High levels of harmful pesticide residues in rice can cause undesirable side effects and are a source of great concern to consumers. Reduction of pesticide residues to provide rice security has thus became an urgent problem.

RESULTS

In this study, the effects of commercial and home processing on removal of chlorpyrifos and carbosulfan residues from rice, and the formation of metabolites during processing, were studied. The results showed that 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinol (0.87 mg kg−1) and carbofuran (0.43 mg kg−1) were the predominant components detected in paddy rice. All detected residues were primarily deposited on the rice hull and bran. Washing twice followed by high‐pressure cooking was able to further decrease residues in polished rice with the processing factor value <0.25. Following application of pesticides at the recommended rate and twice the recommended rate, with a preharvest interval of 28 days, changes in residues from harvest to dining table based on efficient processing techniques were investigated. The final residues dropped to below maximum residue levels after washing twice followed by high‐pressure cooking.

CONCLUSION

This simple cooking process thus reduces the risk of dietary exposure, and it is recommended that it is adopted by all consumers. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of younger age on survival outcomes in T1N0M0 breast cancer: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Zhong Wenjing , Tan Luyuan , Jiang Wen G. , Chen Kai , You Na , Sanders Andrew J. , Liang Gehao , Liu Zihao , Ling Yun , Gong Chang
Published: March 2019

Purpose

We evaluated the effect of younger age on recurrence risk in Chinese women diagnosed with T1N0M0 breast cancer (BC), using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Methods

We included 365 women who were diagnosed with T1N0M0 BC between 2003 and 2016, and who received surgery at our center. They were classified as younger (≤40 years) and older (>40 years). We used PSM to balance clinicopathologic characteristics between the two age groups. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method, before and after PSM.

Results

Over a median follow‐up period of 79 months, 54 patients developed recurrences. Before PSM, younger patients had worse recurrence‐free survival (RFS) than older patients. Significantly worse RFS was seen in younger patients with HER2+ BC compared with their older counterparts. Younger patients had higher rates of locoregional recurrence rather than metastasis, especially in the first 5 years after diagnosis. After PSM, the two age groups still significantly differed in 5‐year RFS.

Conclusion

Among PSM pairs with T1N0M0 BC, with equal baselines and treatment conditions, we found that patients who presented at younger ages had worse outcomes, independently of other pathological features. Younger patients with BC may require more individualized therapy to improve their prognosis.
Development and Evaluation of the Perpetration‐Induced Distress Scale for Measuring Shame and Guilt in Civilian Populations
Authors: Steinmetz Sarah E. , Gray Matt J. , Clapp Joshua D.
Published: March 2019

Although the topic of moral injury (MI) has been garnering increasing attention in recent years within military populations, research has rarely applied the concept to civilian contexts. Extant literature on distinct acts of perpetration or transgressions suggests similar emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns of distress associated with appraisals of wrongdoing. However, the absence of a psychometrically sound measure to detect and quantify pathological levels of distress associated with perpetrating harm against others has hindered additional research from being conducted on the topic. The current research presents the Perpetration‐Induced Distress Scale (PIDS) as a valid and reliable measurement of distress associated with MI within civilian contexts. Factor analytic techniques revealed a two‐factor solution characterized by perpetration‐induced distress related to maladaptive reactions to shame (seven items) and guilt/self‐blame (seven items). The PIDS demonstrated favorable temporal stability over a 1‐week period as well as excellent internal reliability. Further, the PIDS evidenced convergent validity with functional impairment, posttraumatic stress disorder, and existing scales of shame and guilt; associations were large (rs = 0.62–0.87). The development of the PIDS represents one of the first studies to measure MI within a civilian population and indicates evidence that additional research on the topic is warranted.
Machine Learning for Prediction of Posttraumatic Stress and Resilience Following Trauma: An Overview of Basic Concepts and Recent Advances
Authors: Schultebraucks Katharina , Galatzer‐Levy Isaac R.
Published: March 2019

Posttraumatic stress responses are characterized by a heterogeneity in clinical appearance and etiology. This heterogeneity impacts the field's ability to characterize, predict, and remediate maladaptive responses to trauma. Machine learning (ML) approaches are increasingly utilized to overcome this foundational problem in characterization, prediction, and treatment selection across branches of medicine that have struggled with similar clinical realities of heterogeneity in etiology and outcome, such as oncology. In this article, we review and evaluate ML approaches and applications utilized in the areas of posttraumatic stress, stress pathology, and resilience research, and present didactic information and examples to aid researchers interested in the relevance of ML to their own research. The examined studies exemplify the high potential of ML approaches to build accurate predictive and diagnostic models of posttraumatic stress and stress pathology risk based on diverse sources of available information. The use of ML approaches to integrate high‐dimensional data demonstrates substantial gains in risk prediction even when the sources of data are the same as those used in traditional predictive models. This area of research will greatly benefit from collaboration and data sharing among researchers of posttraumatic stress disorder, stress pathology, and resilience.
Patterns of Radiotherapy Use and Outcomes in Head and Neck Soft‐Tissue Sarcoma in a National Cohort
Authors: Kim Joseph K. , Verma Nipun , McBride Sean , Riaz Nadeem , Boyle Jay O. , Spielsinger Daniel , Sabol Christopher , Waldenberg Todd , Brinkman Thomas , Alektiar Kaled , Lee Nancy Y. , Tsai C. Jillian
Published: March 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

We used the National Cancer Database to identify the patterns of care and prognostic factors in adult patients with head and neck soft‐tissue sarcoma (HNSTS).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Methods

Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients age ≥ 18 years who were diagnosed with HNSTS between 2004 and 2013. Both χ2 and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with radiation therapy (RT) utilization. Kaplan‐Meier methods were used to estimate overall survival (OS) and Cox proportional regression was used to determine significant contributors to OS.

Results

Our final cohort included 1,282 patients (682 treated with surgery only, 199 treated with RT only, and 401 treated with surgery and RT). Patients with younger age, poor tumor grade, rhabdomyosarcoma histology, and chemotherapy treatment were more likely to receive RT alone without surgery. Among the 1,083 surgical patients, RT utilization was associated with positive margins (odds ratio [OR]: 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36‐3.48), poor grade (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.95‐4.38), and chemotherapy use (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.15‐2.76). Radiotherapy utilization among surgical patients was not affected by demographic factors (age, sex, or ethnicity) or treatment institution (academic or community). For surgical patients, poor grade, large tumor size, and rhabdomyosarcoma histology were associated with worse OS on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

In this analysis of HNSTS, younger patients with poor tumor grade and rhabdomyosarcoma histology were more likely to receive RT without surgery. Among surgical patients, adjuvant RT was more likely to be used for positive margins and poor grade, with no demographic disparities identified. Poor grade and rhabdomyosarcoma histology were negative prognostic factors for surgical patients.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 130:120–127, 2020
Tailoring Hexagonal Gibbsite Single Crystal Nanoplatelets for Ethylene Polymerization and Nanocomposite Formation on MAO‐Free Heterogeneous Bis(imino)pyridine Iron(II) Catalyst
Authors: Zhong Fan , Schwabe Jeremia , Thomann Ralf , Mülhaupt Rolf
Published: March 2019

Ultrathin single crystal γ‐Al(OH)3 (Gibbsite) nanoplatelets with average thickness <20 nm and length <800 nm, pretreated with trimethylaluminum (TMA), represent highly efficient activators and supports bis(imino)pyridine iron (II) (FeBIP) complex to produce high density polyethylene (HDPE) as well as gibbsite/HDPE nanocomposites in exceptionally high yields. Opposite to both methylaluminoxane (MAO)‐activated homogeneous FeBIP catalyst and heterogenous silica‐supported single site catalysts, no addition of MAO is required. At low TMA/Fe = 50 molar ratio, the superior catalyst activity (up to 6500 kg mol−1 h−1 bar−1) of FeBIP@TMA@Gibbsite is paralleled by controlled polyethylene particle growth without encountering reactor‐fouling problems typical for homogeneous catalysts. TMA@Gibbsite is compared with other AlR3@Gibbsite activators. The Al/Fe molar ratio governs catalyst activity as well as molar mass, molar mass distribution, and thermal properties of polyethylene. Moreover, hexagonal gibbsite nanoplatelets are uniformly dispersed in polyethylene to yield agglomerate‐free polyethylene/gibbsite nanocomposites.
Phage therapy: What factors shape phage pharmacokinetics and bioavailability? Systematic and critical review
Authors: Dąbrowska Krystyna
Published: March 2019

Bacteriophages are not forgotten viruses anymore: scientists and practitioners seek to understand phage pharmacokinetics in animals and humans, investigating bacteriophages as therapeutics, nanocarriers or microbiome components. This review provides a comprehensive overview of factors that determine phage circulation, penetration, and clearance, and that in consequence determine phage applicability for medicine. It makes use of experimental data collected by the phage community so far (PubMed 1924‐2016, including non‐English reports), combining elements of critical and systematic review.

This study covers phage ability to enter a system by various routes of administration, how (and if) the phage may access various tissues and organs, and finally what mechanisms determine the courses of phage clearance. The systematic review method was applied to analyze (i) phage survival in the gut (gut transit) and (ii) phage ability to enter the mammalian system by many administration routes. Aspects that have not yet been covered by a sufficient number of reports for mathematical analysis, as well as mechanisms underlying trends, are discussed in the form of a critical review.

In spite of the extraordinary diversity of bacteriophages and possible phage applications, the analysis revealed that phage morphology, phage specificity, phage dose, presence of sensitive bacteria or the characteristics of treated individuals (age, taxonomy) may affect phage bioavailability in animals and humans. However, once phages successfully enter the body, they reach most organs, including the central nervous system. Bacteriophages are cleared mainly by the immune system: innate immunity removes phages even when no specific response to bacteriophages has yet developed.
A certain family of fractional wavelet transformations
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , Khatterwani Komal , Upadhyay S. K.
Published: March 2019

In the present paper, a fractional wavelet transform of real order α is introduced, and various useful properties and results are derived for it. These include (for example) Perseval's formula and inversion formula for the fractional wavelet transform. Multiresolution analysis and orthonormal fractional wavelets associated with the fractional wavelet transform are studied systematically. Fractional Fourier transforms of the Mexican hat wavelet for different values of the order α are compared with the classical Fourier transform graphically, and various remarkable observations are presented. A comparative study of the various results, which we have presented in this paper, is also represented graphically.
The inverse backscattering for Schrödinger operators for potentials with noncompact support
Authors: Huang Hua , Huang Shanlin , Zheng Quan , Duan Zhiwen
Published: March 2019

We consider the inverse backscattering problem for the Schrödinger operator H = −Δ + V on
, n ≥ 3, as well as the higher‐order Schrödinger operator ( − Δ)m + V, m = 2,3,…. We show that in some suitable Banach spaces, the map from the potential to the backscattering amplitude is a local diffeomorphism. This kind of problem (for m = 1) was studied by Eskin and Ralston [Comm. Math. Phys., 124(2), 169‐215 (1989)], where they assumed that
. In this paper, we replace the
assumption on V with certain decay assumption at infinity.