bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Walkability and its association with walking/cycling and body mass index among adults in different regions of Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from five German cohorts
Authors: Kartschmit Nadja , Sutcliffe Robynne , Sheldon Mark Patrick , Moebus Susanne , Greiser Karin Halina , Hartwig Saskia , Thürkow Detlef , Stentzel Ulrike , van den Berg Neeltje , Wolf Kathrin , Maier Werner , Peters Annette , Ahmed Salman , Köhnke Corinna , Mikolajczyk Rafael , Wienke Andreas , Kluttig Alexander , Rudge Gavin
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To examine three walkability measures (points of interest (POI), transit stations and impedance (restrictions to walking) within 640 m of participant’s addresses) in different regions in Germany and assess the relationships between walkability, walking/cycling and body mass index (BMI) using generalised additive models.

Setting

Five different regions and cities of Germany using data from five cohort studies.

Participants

For analysing walking/cycling behaviour, there were 6269 participants of a pooled sample from three cohorts with a mean age of 59.2 years (SD: 14.3) and of them 48.9% were male. For analysing BMI, there were 9441 participants of a pooled sample of five cohorts with a mean age of 62.3 years (SD: 12.8) and of them 48.5% were male.

Outcomes

(1) Self-reported walking/cycling (dichotomised into more than 30 min and 30 min and less per day; (2) BMI calculated with anthropological measures from weight and height.

Results

Higher impedance was associated with lower prevalence of walking/cycling more than 30 min/day (prevalence ratio (PR): 0.95; 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97), while higher number of POI and transit stations were associated with higher prevalence (PR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.05 for both measures). Higher impedance was associated with higher BMI (ß: 0.15; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.25) and a higher number of POI with lower BMI (ß: −0.14; 95% CI −0.24 to 0.04). No association was found between transit stations and BMI (ß: 0.005, 95% CI −0.11 to 0.12). Stratified by cohort we observed heterogeneous associations between BMI and transit stations and impedance.

Conclusion

We found evidence for associations of walking/cycling with walkability measures. Associations for BMI differed across cohorts.
Is type of work associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour in women with fibromyalgia? A cross-sectional study from the al-Ándalus project
Authors: Girela-Rejón Maria José , Gavilán-Carrera Blanca , Aparicio-Ortega Esther , Borges-Cosic Milkana , García-Rodríguez Inmaculada C , Delgado-Fernández Manuel , Estévez-López Fernando
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To analyse the association between the type of work (productive vs reproductive work) and the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in women with fibromyalgia.

Method

This cross-sectional study involved 258 women with fibromyalgia from southern Spain. Of them, 55% performed reproductive work (unpaid, associated with caregiving and domestic roles) exclusively, while 45% had productive job (remunerated, that results in goods or services). Physical activity of light, moderate and vigorous intensity in the leisure time, at home, at work, and totally were measured through the leisure time physical activity instrument and with the physical activity at home and work instrument, respectively. Sedentary behaviour was measured by the Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire.

Results

After adjusting for age, fat percentage, education level and marital status, the multivariate analysis of covariance model informed the existence of significant differences between type of work groups (p<0.001). Women with productive work engaged in more light physical activity at work (mean difference =448.52 min; 95 % CI 179.66 to 717.38; p=0.001), and total physical activity of light (809.72 min; 535.91 to 1085.53; p<0.001) and moderate (299.78 min; 97.31 to 502.25; p=0.004) intensity. Women with reproductive work engaged in more light physical activity at home (379.14; 175.64 to 582.64; p<0.001). Leisure time physical activity and sedentary behaviour were similar in both groups (p>0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusions

Women with productive work had greater levels of physical activity compared with those who only did reproductive work, except for physical activity at home. Having productive work might facilitate movement of women with fibromyalgia towards a more active lifestyle.
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of a diabetes education and behavioural weight management programme versus a diabetes education programme in adults with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: study protocol for the Glucose Lowering through Weight management (GLoW) randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ahern Amy L , Woolston Jenny , Wells Emma , Sharp Stephen J , Islam Nazrul , Lawlor Emma Ruth , Duschinsky Robbie , Hill Andrew J , Doble Brett , Wilson Ed , Morris Stephen , Hughes Carly A , Brennan Alan , Bostock Jennifer , Boothby Clare , Griffin Simon J
Published: April 2020

Introduction

People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) can improve glycaemic control or even achieve remission through weight loss and reduce their use of medication and risk of cardiovascular disease. The Glucose Lowering through Weight management (GLoW) trial will evaluate whether a tailored diabetes education and behavioural weight management programme (DEW) is more effective and cost-effective than a diabetes education (DE) programme in helping people with overweight or obesity and a recent diagnosis of T2D to lower their blood glucose, lose weight and improve other markers of cardiovascular risk.

Methods and analysis

This study is a pragmatic, randomised, single-blind, parallel group, two-arm, superiority trial. We will recruit 576 adults with body mass index>25 kg/m2and diagnosis of T2D in the past 3 years and randomise them to a tailored DEW or a DE programme. Participants will attend measurement appointments at a local general practitioner practice or research centre at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is 12-month change in glycated haemoglobin. The effect of the intervention on the primary outcome will be estimated and tested using a linear regression model (analysis of covariance) including randomisation group and adjusted for baseline value of the outcome and the randomisation stratifiers. Participants will be included in the group to which they were randomised, under the intention-to-treat principle. Secondary outcomes include 6-month and 12-month changes in body weight, body fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid profile; probability of achieving good glycaemic control; probability of achieving remission from diabetes; probability of losing 5% and 10% body weight and modelled cardiovascular risk (UKPDS). An intention-to-treat within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted from NHS and societal perspectives using participant-level data. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with participants to understand why and how the programme achieved its results and how participants manage their weight after the programme ends.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was received from East of Scotland Research Ethics Service on 15 May 2018 (18/ES/0048). This protocol (V.3) was approved on 19 June 2019. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and communicated to other stakeholders as appropriate.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN18399564.
Delaying clozapine: how long is too long?
Authors: Varghese M Tom , Jyothi KS , Shaji KS , Rita Venugopal Lekshmi
Published: April 2020

Background

Although clozapine is the most effective drug for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, its use remains restricted in clinical practice in India. The delay in initiating treatment with clozapine and its impact on disease outcome needs evaluation.

Aim

To identify the implications of delaying clozapine initiation in clinical outcomes among people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Methods

Subjects with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, stabilised on clozapine monotherapy, were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a general hospital psychiatry unit offering tertiary care services in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. A retrospective cohort design was employed, and information on duration of illness, total duration of treatment and duration of treatment with clozapine was collected. Present symptom status was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Factors associated with higher symptom scores were analysed using an independent samplettest, Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression.

Results

Forty subjects stabilised on long-term clozapine therapy formed the study sample. The mean dose of clozapine used in the study population was 200 mg. The mean duration of antipsychotic treatment before starting clozapine was 89.3 months (7.4 years). The duration of treatment before starting clozapine was found to have a significant positive association with the total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score (correlation coefficient 0.40; p=0.01) and negative symptom score (correlation coefficient 0.33; p=0.04). The multiple regression analysis adjusting for covariates showed that the duration of treatment before starting clozapine was an independent factor associated with a higher negative symptom score in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (slope β=0.05; p=0.02; R2=0.27).

Conclusion

Poor treatment outcomes in treatment-resistant schizophrenia could be secondary to a delay in initiating clozapine therapy.
The descriptive epidemiology of standing activity during free-living in 5412 middle-aged adults: the 1970 British Cohort Study
Authors: Hamer Mark , Stamatakis Emmanuel
Published: April 2020

Background

Standing is often classified as light-intensity physical activity, with potential health benefits compared with sitting. Standing is, however, rarely captured as an independent activity. To better understand free-living standing behaviour at a population level, we incorporated a gold standard postural allocation technique into a national cohort study.

Methods

Participants (n=5412, aged 46.8±0.7 years) from the 1970 British Cohort Study were fitted with a water-proofed thigh-mounted accelerometer device (activPAL3 micro) worn 24 hours continuously over 7 days (90.7% provided at least 3 full days). We examined the correlates of free-living standing during waking hours.

Results

Total daily standing time averaged 4.6±1.5 h/d, accounting for 29% of waking hours, which was largely (98.7%) accumulated in bouts lasting less than 30 min. In mutually adjusted models, male sex, obesity, diabetes, professional occupation, poor self-rated health and disability were associated with lower device-measured standing times.

Conclusion

Middle-aged people in Britain spent a surprisingly large proportion of the day in activities involving standing. Standing merits attention as a health-related posture and may represent a potential target for public health intervention.
Treatment of abdominal granuloma and hypercalcaemia caused byCladophialophora bantianawith combination antifungal chemotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a dog
Authors: Lester Mary , Walton Stuart , Vilaplana Grosso Federico , Shmalberg Justin
Published: April 2020

A 5‐year‐old intact male Boxer was evaluated for a 4‐month history of ventral abdominal mass with fistulous tracts. Thoracic and abdominal CT revealed a large soft‐tissue mass in the rectus abdominis muscle extending into the peritoneal cavity. Cytologic and histologic findings were consistent with an intra‐abdominal fungal granuloma with pigmented fungal hyphae suggestive of phaeohyphomycosis. PCR of the isolated fungal organism confirmedCladophialophora bantianaas the aetiologic agent. Initial therapy consisted of oral terbutaline and itraconazole and weekly to biweekly hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Intralesional amphotericin B was initiated following diagnosis. Therapy was associated with transient draining tract resolution though the mass remained overall static in size. Hypercalcaemia with associated increased serum calcitriol developed with progressive disease, which resolved in response to low‐dose steroid therapy and a calcium‐restricted and vitamin D‐restricted diet. The dog was euthanised 13 months after initial presentation following the development of acute weakness, fever and dyspnoea.
Dynamics of two qubits in common environment
Authors: Bratus E. , Pastur L.
Published: April 2020

We consider the entanglement evolution of two qubits embedded into disordered multiconnected environment. We model the environment and its interaction with qubits by large random matrices allowing for a possibility to describe environments of meso- and even nanosize. We obtain general formulas for the time dependent reduced density matrix of the qubits corresponding to several cases of the qubit-environment interaction and initial condition. We then work out an analog of the Born–Markov approximation to find the evolution of the widely used entanglement quantifiers: the concurrence, the negativity and the quantum discord. We show that even in this approximation the time evolution of the reduced density matrix can be non-Markovian, thereby describing certain memory effects due to the backaction of the environment on qubits. In particular, we find the vanishing of the entanglement (Entanglement Sudden Death) at finite moments and its revivals (Entanglement Sudden Birth). Our results, partly known and partly new, can be viewed as a manifestation of the universality of certain properties of decoherent qubit evolution which have been found previously in various versions of bosonic macroscopic environment.
Manufacturer’s Leasing Channel Management in a Car Supply Chain
Authors: Cheng Lihong , Guo Xiaolong , Wang Bo
Published: April 2020

Thanks to the convenient and hassle-free manner of leasing service, the car leasing industry has flourished in recent years. To leverage commercial opportunities, many well-known car manufacturers have chosen to enter the leasing market rather than focus solely on the selling market. An interesting phenomenon is that some manufacturers establish their own leasing departments to gain revenue from the leasing market (referred to as centralization), while other manufacturers conduct their leasing businesses through an autonomous leasing company (referred to as decentralization). In this paper, we propose a game-theoretic model to explore whether a car manufacturer should manage a leasing department in a centralized channel or have the leasing business done by an autonomous company in a decentralized channel. We demonstrate the optimal pricing policy for the manufacturer, dealer, and leasing department/company under both centralization and decentralization. In the main model, we assume that the consumer experience value preference follows a uniform distribution, and leasing brings consumers a better experience value than purchasing, and we normalize the marginal production cost of the product to zero. Our analysis reveals that neither centralization nor decentralization is always optimal, and the related boundary is analyzed. An interesting finding is that as the consumers’ leasing experience value rises, the dealer obtains higher profit, even though it serves fewer consumers in the decentralized channel. In the extension, we relax our assumptions to examine the impact of a normal distribution of consumer experience value preferences, a large purchasing experience value, and a non-negligible production cost, and we find that most of the main model results still hold qualitatively.
AppPerm Analyzer: Malware Detection System Based on Android Permissions and Permission Groups
Authors: Doğru İbrahim Alper , Önder Murat
Published: April 2020

Besides the applications aimed at increasing the efficiency of the Android mobile devices, also many malicious applications, millions of Android malware according to various security company reports, are being developed and uploaded into the application stores. In order to detect those applications, a malicious Android application detection system based on permission and permission groups namely, AppPerm Analyzer has been developed. The AppPerm Analyzer software extracts the manifest and code permissions of analyzed applications, creates duple and triple permission groups from them, calculates risk scores of these permissions and permission groups according to their usage rates in malicious and benign applications and calculates the total risk score of the analyzed application. After training the software with 7776 applications in total, it is tested with 1664 benign and 1664 malicious applications. In the tests, AppPerm Analyzer detected malicious applications with an accuracy of 96.19% at most. At this point, sensitivity (true-positive ratio) is 95.50% and specificity (true-negative ratio) is 96.88%. If a false-positive ratio up to 10% is accepted, the sensitivity increases to 99.04%.
Analytic and Translational Genetics
Authors: Karczewski Konrad J. , Martin Alicia R.
Published: April 2020

Understanding the influence of genetics on human disease is among the primary goals for biology and medicine. To this end, the direct study of natural human genetic variation has provided valuable insights into human physiology and disease as well as into the origins and migrations of humans. In this review, we discuss the foundations of population genetics, which provide a crucial context to the study of human genes and traits. In particular, genome-wide association studies and similar methods have revealed thousands of genetic loci associated with diseases and traits, providing invaluable information into the biology of these traits. Simultaneously, as the study of rare genetic variation has expanded, so-called human knockouts have elucidated the function of human genes and the therapeutic potential of targeting them.
Continuous Shuttle Current Measurement Method for Lithium Sulfur Cells
Authors: Maurer C. , Commerell W. , Hintennach A. , Jossen A.
Published: April 2020

Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) batteries are a promising energy storage technology with very high theoretical limits in terms of specific capacity and specific energy. However, these batteries suffer from high self-discharge rates, associated with a low coulombic efficiency due to the polysulfide shuttle mechanism. A better understanding of the self-discharge characteristics and suppression of the self-discharge is of great interest for most applications. Hence, a continuous self-discharge current measurement method is applied to evaluate the self-discharge behavior of a Li-S battery, based on a corrected reference open-circuit voltage. The result is a continuous self-discharge current measurement method, that investigates the self-discharge in the upper plateau of a Li-S battery at 10 °C and 25 °C. This self-discharge current displays a plateau and extended balancing times directly before this plateau and is validated by a discrete self-discharge current measurement method at 10 °C and 25 °C. Furthermore, the activation energy is continuously calculated for the upper plateau and compared to a discrete reference measurement.
A peroxidase mimetic protects skeletal muscle cells from peroxide challenge and stimulates insulin signaling
Authors: Eccardt Amanda M. , Pelzel Ross J. , Mattathil Lyn , Moon Yerin A. , Mannino Mark H. , Janowiak Blythe E. , Fisher Jonathan S.
Published: April 2020

Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide have been implicated in causing metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance. Heme groups, either by themselves or when incorporated into proteins, have been shown to scavenge peroxide and demonstrate protective effects in various cell types. Thus, we hypothesized that a metalloporphyrin similar in structure to heme, Fe(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin (FeTBAP), would be a peroxidase mimetic that could defend cells against oxidative stress. After demonstrating that FeTBAP has peroxidase activity with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and NADH as reducing substrates, we determined that FeTBAP partially rescued C2C12 myotubes from peroxide-induced insulin resistance as measured by phosphorylation of AKT (S473) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1, Y612). Furthermore, we found that FeTBAP stimulates insulin signaling in myotubes and mouse soleus skeletal muscle to about the same level as insulin for phosphorylation of AKT, IRS-1, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (S9). We found that FeTBAP lowers intracellular peroxide levels and protects against carbonyl formation in myotubes exposed to peroxide. Additionally, we found that FeTBAP stimulates glucose transport in myotubes and skeletal muscle to about the same level as insulin. We conclude that a peroxidase mimetic can blunt peroxide-induced insulin resistance and also stimulate insulin signaling and glucose transport, suggesting a possible role of peroxidase activity in regulation of insulin signaling.
Loss of calpains-1 and -2 prevents repair of plasma membrane scrape injuries, but not small pores, and induces a severe muscular dystrophy
Authors: Piper Ann-Katrin , Sophocleous Reece A. , Ross Samuel E. , Evesson Frances J. , Saleh Omar , Bournazos Adam , Yasa Joe , Reed Claudia , Woolger Natalie , Sluyter Ronald , Greer Peter , Biro Maté , Lemckert Frances A. , Cooper Sandra T.
Published: April 2020

The ubiquitous calpains, calpain-1 and -2, play important roles in Ca2+-dependent membrane repair. Mechanically active tissues like skeletal muscle are particularly reliant on mechanisms to repair and remodel membrane injury, such as those caused by eccentric damage. We demonstrate that calpain-1 and -2 are master effectors of Ca2+-dependent repair of mechanical plasma membrane scrape injuries, although they are dispensable for repair/removal of small wounds caused by pore-forming agents. Using CRISPR gene-edited human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell lines, we established that loss of both calpains-1 and -2 ( CAPNS1−/−) virtually ablates Ca2+-dependent repair of mechanical scrape injuries but does not affect injury or recovery from perforation by streptolysin-O or saponin. In contrast, cells with targeted knockout of either calpain-1 ( CAPN1−/−) or -2 ( CAPN2−/−) show near-normal repair of mechanical injuries, inferring that both calpain-1 and calpain-2 are equally capable of conducting the cascade of proteolytic cleavage events to reseal a membrane injury, including that of the known membrane repair agent dysferlin. A severe muscular dystrophy in a murine model with skeletal muscle knockout of Capns1 highlights vital roles for calpain-1 and/or -2 for health and viability of skeletal muscles not compensated for by calpain-3 ( CAPN3). We propose that the dystrophic phenotype relates to loss of maintenance of plasma membrane/cytoskeletal networks by calpains-1 and -2 in response to directed and dysfunctional Ca2+-signaling, pathways hyperstimulated in the context of membrane injury. With CAPN1 variants associated with spastic paraplegia, a severe dystrophy observed with muscle-specific loss of calpain-1 and -2 activity identifies CAPN2 and CAPNS1 as plausible candidate neuromuscular disease genes.
Force control during submaximal isometric contractions is associated with walking performance in persons with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Davis Leah A. , Alenazy Mohammed S. , Almuklass Awad M. , Feeney Daniel F. , Vieira Taian , Botter Alberto , Enoka Roger M.
Published: April 2020

The variance in walking endurance and walking speed was associated with force control of the lower leg muscles during submaximal isometric contractions in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast, the fast walking speed of a sex- and age-matched control group was associated with the strength of lower leg muscles. These findings indicate that moderate declines in the walking performance of persons with MS are more associated with impairments in force control rather than decreases in muscle strength.
Pressure‐Controlled Ventilation‐Volume Guaranteed Mode Combined with an Open‐Lung Approach Improves Lung Mechanics, Oxygenation Parameters, and the Inflammatory Response during One‐Lung Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Jianli , Cai Baogui , Yu Dongdong , Liu Meinv , Wu Xiaoqian , Rong Junfang
Published: April 2020

We evaluated the effectiveness of pressure‐controlled ventilation‐volume guaranteed (PCV‐VG) mode combined with open‐lung approach (OLA) in patients during one‐lung ventilation (OLV). First, 176 patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery were allocated randomly to four groups: PCV+OLA (45 cases, PCV‐VG mode plus OLA involving application of individualized positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) after a recruitment maneuver), PCV (44 cases, PCV‐VG mode plus standard lung‐protective ventilation with fixed PEEP of 5 cmH2O), VCV+OLA (45 cases, volume‐controlled ventilation (VCV) plus OLA), and VCV (42 cases, VCV plus standard lung‐protective ventilation). Mean airway pressure (Pmean), dynamic compliance (Cdyn), PaO2/FiO2 ratio, intrapulmonary shunt ratio (Qs/Qt), dead space fraction (VD/VT), and plasma concentration of neutrophil elastase were obtained to assess the effects of four lung‐protective ventilation strategies. At 45 min after OLV, the median (interquartile range (IQR)) Pmean was higher in the PCV+OLA group (13.00 (12.00, 13.00) cmH2O) and the VCV+OLA group (12.00 (12.00, 14.00) cmH2O) than in the PCV group (11.00 (10.00, 12.00) cmH2O) and the VCV group (11.00 (10.00, 12.00) cmH2O) (P < 0.05); the median (IQR) Cdyn was higher in the PCV+OLA group (27.00 (24.00, 32.00) mL/cmH2O) and the VCV+OLA group (27.00 (22.00, 30.00) mL/cmH2O) than in the PCV group (23.00 (21.00, 25.00) mL/cmH2O) and the VCV group (20.00 (18.75, 21.00) mL/cmH2O) (P < 0.05); the median (IQR) Qs/Qt in the PCV+OLA group (0.17 (0.16, 0.19)) was significantly lower than that in the PCV group (0.19 (0.18, 0.20)) and the VCV group (0.19 (0.17, 0.20)) (P < 0.05); VD/VT was lower in the PCV+OLA group (0.18 ± 0.05) and the VCV+OLA group (0.19 ± 0.07) than in the PCV group (0.21 ± 0.07) and the VCV group (0.22 ± 0.06) (P < 0.05). The concentration of neutrophil elastase was lower in the PCV+OLA group than in the PCV, VCV+OLA, and VCV groups at total‐lung ventilation 10 min after OLV (162.47 ± 25.71, 198.58 ± 41.99, 200.84 ± 22.17, and 286.95 ± 21.10 ng/mL, resp.) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, PCV‐VG mode combined with an OLA strategy leads to favorable effects upon lung mechanics, oxygenation parameters, and the inflammatory response during OLV.
One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Furochromone and Oxazocine Derivatives as Promising Antitumor Agents with Their Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Borik Rita M.
Published: April 2020

One-pot efficient synthesis of novel chromone derivatives 4a–h and that of 5a–h were described in a simple method via four-component reaction between furochromone carbaldehyde, amine, isocyanate derivatives, and benzoic acid derivatives or nicotinic acid, respectively. Also, oxazocine derivatives 7a, b were prepared via reaction of visnagine carbaldehyde, ethyl acetoacetate and isocyanate derivatives 2a, b. The obtained derivatives of novel furochromone and oxazocine derivatives were evaluated as promising antitumor agents against panel of two human cell lines, hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2) and breast carcinoma (MCF7). The antitumor results suggested that furochromone derivatives 5a–h have activity against MCF7 in comparison with doxorubicin as the standard drug. Furthermore, the molecular docking studies of these novel derivatives of furochromone and oxazocine showed good agreement with the biological results when their binding pattern and affinity towards the active site of EGFR was investigate.
Analysis of the Molecular Mechanism of Acute Coronary Syndrome Based on circRNA‐miRNA Network Regulation
Authors: Lin Fei , Yang YaMing , Guo Quan , Xie Mingzhang , Sun Siyu , Wang Xiulong , Li Dongxu , Zhang Guhao , Li Meng , Wang Jie , Zhao Guoan
Published: April 2020

Background. With the development of biological technology, biomarkers for the prevention and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have become increasingly evident. However, the study of novel circular RNAs (circRNAs) in ACS is still in progress. This study aimed to investigate whether the regulation of circRNA‐miRNA networks is involved in ACS pathogenesis. Methods. We used microarray analysis to detect significantly expressed circRNAs and miRNAs in the peripheral blood of patients in the control group (CG) and ACS groups, including an unstable angina pectoris (UAP) group and an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) group. A circRNA‐miRNA interaction network analysis was carried out with open‐source bioinformatics. The gene ontology (GO), pathway, and disease enrichment analyses for differentially expressed circRNAs were further analysed with hierarchical clustering. Results. A total of 266 circRNAs (121 upregulated and 145 downregulated, P < 0.05, fold change FC ≥2) and 3 miRNAs (1 upregulated and 2 downregulated, P < 0.05, FC ≥ 1.2) were differentially expressed in the ACS groups compared with those in the CG. In addition, among these expressed circRNAs and miRNAs, a single circRNA could bind to more than 1–100 miRNAs, and vice versa. Next, an AMI‐UAP network, an AMI‐CG network, a UAP‐CG network, and an AMI‐CG‐UAP network were constructed. The top 30 enriched GO terms among the three groups were emphasized as differentially expressed. Disease enrichment analysis showed that these differentially expressed circRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. KEGG pathway analysis was performed to identify pathways associated with circRNAs targeting mRNAs. Conclusion. CircRNAs are closely related to the pathological process of ACS via a mechanism that may be related to the up‐ or down‐regulation of circRNAs and miRNAs and circRNA‐miRNA coexpression. The metabolic pathways, signalling pathways, and diseases affected by these circRNAs can be predicted by enrichment analysis.
A Survey on Frameworks Used for Robustness Analysis on Interdependent Networks
Authors: Bachmann Ivana , Bustos-Jiménez Javier , Bustos Benjamin
Published: April 2020

The analysis of network robustness tackles the problem of studying how a complex network behaves under adverse scenarios, such as failures or attacks. In particular, the analysis of interdependent networks’ robustness focuses on the specific case of the robustness of interacting networks and their emerging behaviors. This survey systematically reviews literature of frameworks that analyze the robustness of interdependent networks published between 2005 and 2017. This review shows that there exists a broad range of interdependent network models, robustness metrics, and studies that can be used to understand the behaviour of different systems under failure or attack. Regarding models, we found that there is a focus on systems where a node in one layer interacts with exactly one node at another layer. In studies, we observed a focus on the network percolation. While among the metrics, we observed a focus on measures that count network elements. Finally, for the networks used to test the frameworks, we found that the focus was on synthetic models, rather than analysis of real network systems. This review suggests opportunities in network research, such as the study of robustness on interdependent networks with multiple interactions and/or spatially embedded networks, and the use of interdependent network models in realistic network scenarios.
Piezosurgery-Assisted Surgical Treatment in Impacted Canine Transmigration
Authors: Rodrigues Matheus Francisco Barros , de Amorim Rocha Layla Louise , da Franca Acioly Rodrigo , da Rocha Cristofe Coelho Lopes , do Carmo Carvalho Daniel
Published: April 2020

Delayed eruption of a canine tooth may represent a possible impaction. If this is the case, a slight elevation in the palatal or vestibular mucosa is often observed. Cases of transmigration, where the unerupted tooth crosses the midline, are less frequent. This article reports on the piezosurgery-assisted surgical treatment of a transmigrated canine in the mentonian region. Treatment for this condition varies depending on the clinical characteristics, symptoms, and location of the dental element. The surgical treatment established for this case was satisfactory, and full recovery of the patient was achieved without complications such as an intense postoperative inflammatory response.
Rice Cultivar Response to Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl When Applied with Imazethapyr and a Cytochrome P450 Inhibitor
Authors: Wright Hannah E. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Roberts Trenton L. , Scott Robert C. , Hardke Jarrod T. , Gbur Edward E.
Published: April 2020

Understanding cultivar responses to a new herbicide is crucial to determining appropriate herbicide use and management practices. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new rice herbicide developed to control troublesome weeds in rice production. Little research has been conducted to characterize rice cultivar responses to florpyrauxifen-benzyl, and thus, a field experiment was conducted at the Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) in 2017 and 2018 and at the Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) in 2018 to determine rice cultivar tolerance to florpyrauxifen-benzyl as influenced by herbicide rate, the addition of imazethapyr, and rice growth stage. Another experiment was conducted in 2018 at PTRS and RREC to assess crop response when florpyrauxifen-benzyl at different rates is applied with and without malathion, a known cytochrome P450 inhibitor. Three cultivars were evaluated in both experiments: a long-grain variety “CL111,” a medium-grain variety “CL272,” and a long-grain hybrid “CLXL745.” Injury in the first experiment was higher when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied at 60 g ae ha−1 than at the labeled rate of 30 g ha−1, with the most injury being 10% when averaged over growth stage at the time of application. Generally, applications made at the 3-leaf growth stage resulted in the most injury; however, this injury was at most 14%. Additionally, there was no reduction in grain yield for any cultivar, indicating florpyrauxifen-benzyl can be used safely in conjunction with imazethapyr in imidazolinone-resistant rice. In the second experiment, there was no more than 10% injury and no reduction in grain yield, with the addition of malathion not causing an increase in rice injury. Results from these experiments indicate florpyrauxifen-benzyl can be mixed with imazethapyr and the addition of malathion will not lead to increased risk for injury to rice.
Final Year Students’ Knowledge on Basic Manual Wheelchair Provision: The State of Occupational Therapy Programs in Colombia
Authors: Toro-Hernández María L. , Alvarez Liliana , Vargas-Chaparro María C. , Goldberg Mary
Published: April 2020

Access to personal mobility is a human right and as such, it implies the provision of wheelchair services for those with mobility impairments that need one. Lack of appropriately trained personnel is a major contributor to the gap in access to wheelchairs. Assistive technology provision is one of the core competencies of occupational therapists. The goal of this study was to assess the current wheelchair provision knowledge of final year occupational therapy students in Colombia as measured by the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Basic Wheelchair Service Knowledge Test. A total of 83 students from 7 universities took the test. None of the students met the 70% passing threshold. The highest scores were in the assessment domain while the lowest in the fitting and user training domains. These results suggest that the current wheelchair provision education received in these programs do not meet the World Health Organization guidelines on appropriate wheelchair provision. The implementation of strategies to improve current wheelchair provision education in Colombian occupational therapy programs is granted.
Study of b⟶c Induced B¯∗⟶Vℓν¯ℓ Decays
Authors: Chang Qin , Wang Xiao-Lin , Zhu Jie , Li Xiao-Nan
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we investigate the tree-dominated B¯u,d,s,c∗⟶Vℓ−ν¯ℓ (V=Du,d∗,Ds∗,J/ψ and ℓ=e,μ,τ) decays in the Standard Model with the relevant form factors obtained in the light-front quark model. These decays involve much more helicity states relative to the corresponding B¯∗⟶Pℓ−ν¯ℓ and B¯⟶Vℓ−ν¯ℓ decays, and moreover, the contribution of longitudinal polarization mode (V meson) is relatively small, ~30%, compared with the corresponding B meson decays. We have also computed the branching fraction, lepton spin asymmetry, forward-backward asymmetry, and ratio RV∗L≡BB¯∗⟶Vτ−ν¯τ/BB¯∗⟶Vℓ′−ν¯ℓ′ℓ′=e,μ. Numerically, the branching fractions of B¯∗⟶Vℓ′−ν¯ℓ′ decays are at the level of O10−7 and are hopeful to be observed by LHC and Belle-II experiments. The ratios RD∗,Ds∗,J/ψ∗L have relatively small theoretical uncertainties and are close to each other, RD∗∗L≃RDs∗∗L≃RJ/ψ∗L≃0.26,0.270.27,0.29, which are a bit different from the predictions in some previous works. The future measurements are expected to make tests on these predictions.
BKCa Mediates Dysfunction in High Glucose Induced Mesangial Cell Injury via TGF-β1/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Wu Zhigui , Yin Wenxian , Sun Mengqi , Si Yuankai , Wu Xiaoxiao , Chen Meijuan
Published: April 2020

Objective. To explore the role and mechanism of BKCa in diabetic kidney disease. Methods. Rat mesangial cells (MCs) HBZY-1 were cultured with high glucose to simulate the high-glucose environment of diabetic kidney disease in vivo. The effects of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKCa) on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HBZY-1 cells were observed. The contents of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad2/3, collagen IV (Col IV), and fibronectin (FN) in the extracellular matrix were also observed. Results. High glucose significantly damaged HBZY-1 cells, which enhanced the ability of cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, and increased the secretion of Col IV and FN. Inhibition of BKCa and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathways can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HBZY-1 cells and suppress the secretion of Col IV and FN. The effect of excitation is the opposite. Conclusions. BKCa regulates mesangial cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and secretion of Col IV and FN and is associated with TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.
The d-Shadowing Property and Average Shadowing Property for Iterated Function Systems
Authors: Jiang Jie , Wang Lidong , Zhao Yingcui
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we introduce the definitions of d¯-shadowing property, d¯-shadowing property, topological ergodicity, and strong ergodicity of iterated function systems IFSf0,f1. Then, we show the following: 1 if IFSf0,f1 has the d¯-shadowing property (respectively, d¯-shadowing property), then ℱk has the d¯-shadowing property (respectively, d¯-shadowing property) for any k∈Z+; 2 if ℱk has the d¯-shadowing property (respectively, d¯-shadowing property) for some k∈Z+, then IFSf0,f1 has the d¯-shadowing property (respectively, d¯-shadowing property); 3 if IFSf0,f1 has the d¯-shadowing property or d¯-shadowing property, and f0 or f1 is surjective, then IFSf0,f1 is chain mixing; 4 let f0,f1 be open maps. For IFSf0,f1 with the d¯-shadowing property (respectively, d¯-shadowing property), if A⊂X is dense in X, and s is a minimal point of f0 or f1 for any s∈A, then IFSf0,f1 is strongly ergodic, and hence, ℱk is strongly ergodic; and 5 for IFSf0,f1 with the average shadowing property, if S⊂X is dense in X, and s is a quasi-weakly almost periodic point of f0 or f1 for any s∈S, then IFSf0,f1 is ergodic.
Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Nephrocyte Injury and Proteinuria in a Diabetic Nephropathy Rat Model
Authors: Chen Lian , Xiang E. , Li Changyong , Han Bing , Zhang Quan , Rao Wei , Xiao Cuihong , Wu Dongcheng
Published: April 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are shown to alleviate renal injury of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats. However, the underlying mechanism of this beneficial effect is not fully understood. The aims of this study are to evaluate effects of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on renal cell apoptosis in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats and explore the underlying mechanisms. Characteristics of UC-MSCs were identified by flow cytometry and differentiation capability. Six weeks after DN induction by STZ injection in Sprague-Dawley rats, the DN rats received UC-MSCs once a week for consecutive two weeks. DN-related physical and biochemical parameters were measured at 2 weeks after UC-MSC infusion. Renal histological changes were also assessed. Moreover, the apoptosis of renal cells and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Compared with DN rats, rats treated with UC-MSCs showed suppressed increase in 24-hour urinary total protein, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. UC-MSC treatment ameliorated pathological abnormalities in the kidney of DN rats as evidenced by H&E, PAS, and Masson Trichrome staining. Furthermore, UC-MSC treatment reduced apoptosis of renal cells in DN rats. UC-MSCs promoted expression of antiapoptosis protein Bcl-xl and suppressed expression of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the kidney of DN rats. Most importantly, UC-MSCs suppressed upregulation of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), downregulation of thioredoxin 1 (TRX1), and activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and P38 MAPK in the kidney of DN rats. Our results suggest that UC-MSCs could alleviate nephrocyte injury and albuminuria of DN rats through their antiapoptotic property. The protective effects of UC-MSCs may be mediated by inhibiting TXNIP upregulation in part.
FBXW7 Triggers Degradation of KMT2D to Favor Growth of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Cells
Authors: Saffie Rizwan , Zhou Nan , Rolland Delphine , Önder Özlem , Basrur Venkatesha , Campbell Sydney , Wellen Kathryn E. , Elenitoba-Johnson Kojo S.J. , Capell Brian C. , Busino Luca
Published: April 2020

Mature B-cell neoplasms are the fifth most common neoplasm. Due to significant heterogeneity at the clinical and genetic levels, current therapies for these cancers fail to provide long-term cures. The clinical success of proteasome inhibition for the treatment of multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphomas has made the ubiquitin pathway an important emerging therapeutic target. In this study, we assessed the role of the E3 ligase FBXW7 in mature B-cell neoplasms. FBXW7 targeted the frequently inactivated tumor suppressor KMT2D for protein degradation, subsequently regulating gene expression signatures related to oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Loss of FBXW7 inhibited diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell growth and further sensitized cells to OxPhos inhibition. These data elucidate a novel mechanism of regulation of KMT2D levels by the ubiquitin pathway and uncover a role of FBXW7 in regulating oxidative phosphorylation in B-cell malignancies.

Significance:

These findings characterize FBXW7 as a prosurvival factor in B-cell lymphoma via degradation of the chromatin modifier KMT2D.
Cardiovascular Toxicity in Cancer Patients Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Real-World Single-Center Experience
Authors: Novo Giuseppina , Di Lisi Daniela , Bronte Enrico , Macaione Francesca , Accurso Vincenzo , Badalamenti Giuseppe , Rinaldi Gaetana , Siragusa Sergio , Novo Salvatore , Russo Antonio
Published: April 2020

Background: Target therapy can cause various cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular complications related to treatment with anti-BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and to determine if there are differences between the latest- and first-generation TKIs. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out on 55 patients (39 men, 16 women; mean age ± SD: 58 ± 11 years) treated with TKIs targeting Bcr-Abl for a median period of 3.5 years. Patients were divided in two groups according to the type of treatment. Group A included patients treated with latest-generation TKI (nilotinib, dasatinib, and ponatinib), while group B included patients treated with first-generation TKI (imatinib). Cardiological evaluation included electrocardiogram, echocardiogram with global longitudinal strain of left ventricle (GLS), and carotid ultrasound scan with arterial stiffness measurement (pulse wave velocity, PWV). Adverse cardiovascular events were recorded in both groups. Results: Statistical analysis showed that cardiovascular adverse events (myocardial ischemia, peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pleural effusion) were significantly more frequent in group A than group B (p value = 0.044). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in GLS and PWV in group A when compared to group B (respectively, p = 0.03 and p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our study confirms that imatinib is a relatively safe drug, while it reveals that the latest-generation TKIs may cause a burden of cardiovascular complications. GLS and PWV allow detection of early signs of cardiac and vascular toxicity in oncohematologic patients treated with TKI, and their use is advisable.
Glomerular Transcriptome Profiles in Focal Glomerulosclerosis: New Genes and Pathways for Steroid Resistance
Authors: Tong Jun , Jin Yuanmeng , Weng Qinjie , Yu Shuwen , Jafar Hussain Hafiz Muhammad , Ren Hong , Xu Jing , Zhang Wen , Li Xiao , Wang Weiming , Xie Jingyuan , Chen Nan
Published: April 2020

Background: Patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) characterized by steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) are prone to progress to ESRD. Mechanism for the FSGS patients’ response to steroid treatment is still unknown and currently, it is impossible to predict the steroid resistance before treatment of patients with FSGS. Methods: To identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets of FSGS patients with SRNS, patients diagnosed as kidney biopsy-proven FSGS and nephrotic syndrome (NS) were prospectively enrolled. They were divided into 2 groups, steroid-sensitive NS and SRNS based on their treatment response. Cortical regions were selected from biopsied renal tissues, and glomeruli were isolated under an inverted microscope. RNA was prepared from the isolated glomeruli and further used for microarray analysis. Followed by multiple analyses, the top 6 highest and lowest, and a selected panel of differentially expressed genes obtained and their related pathways were validated via real-time PCR, western blot, and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results: In SRNS group, we discovered that the most significant up-regulated pathway was primarily related to cellular amino acid and derivative metabolic process. Meanwhile, the most significant down-regulated pathway was primarily involved in anatomical structure morphogenesis. Moreover, we found NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), one of the key regulators of renal ROS, at a much higher level in SRNS both at transcriptomic and proteomic levels. We also found the levels of ROS, p-p38 MAPK and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, which were all regulated by NOX4, were also higher in glomeruli isolated from SRNS patients. At last, we detected stimulated by retinoic acid gene 6 homolog (STRA6), a cell surface receptor formerly known as a gene preventing podocytes from over-proliferative lesion induced by HIV infection and was up-regulated by retinoic acid, expressed at a much higher level in SRNS kidneys. Conclusion: We found 2 potential mechanisms underline the SRNS, NOX4/ROS/P38 MAPK/MMP-2 pathway and STRA6. Our findings provided new insights into the steroid resistance.