bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites, trace elements, and antioxidant enzymes in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Antwi‐Boasiako Charles , Dankwah Gifty Boatemaah , Aryee Robert , Hayfron‐Benjamin Charles , Aboagye George , Campbell Andrew D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundLipid peroxidation plays a very important role in sickle cell pathophysiology. The formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a known vasodilator which plays a role in endothelial function. The current study determined the association between MDA and NO metabolites (NOx), trace elements, and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in patients with SCD. The ratio of MDA/NOx was also determined as an index of oxidative stress in the study groups.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study involving 90 patients with SCD and 50 “healthy” controls. Blood samples (n = 140) were collected from the study groups. The plasma, sera, and red cells were kept at −20°C for biochemical analyses. Hemoglobin (Hb) and NOx levels were determined in the plasma using Labsystem Multiskan MS and Griess reagent system, respectively. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were determined in the red cells using assay kits from Cayman chemicals. Lipid peroxidation biomarker MDA was determined in the sera using the TBARS assay. Levels of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were also determined in the sera using Variant 240FS. MDA and NOx ratio was computed for the study groups and compared.ResultsLevels of Hb, NOx, SOD, CAT, and Zn were significantly lower in the patients with SCD (P < .001). MDA, Fe, and MDA/ NOx ratio were, however, significantly higher in the patients with SCD (P < .001). There was no significant correlation between MDA and NOx, SOD, CAT, Fe, and Zn in the study groups. MDA, however, correlated positively and significantly with Cu in the HbSS patients with vaso‐occlusive crises (VOC). Gender did not affect the levels of oxidative stress markers.ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest a link between lipid peroxidation and Cu in HbSS patients with VOC. Increased MDA/NOx ratio may contribute to sickle cell pathophysiology by promoting oxidative stress.
Echocardiographic detection of left atrium and left ventricle tumoral invasion via the left upper pulmonary vein, leading to the diagnosis of lung cancer
Authors: Uygur Begum , Celik Omer , Birant Ali , Demir Ali R. , Erturk Mehmet 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLeft atrial (LA) invasion by lung cancer via hematogenous pathways is relatively uncommon. Herein we report the case of a 68‐year‐old male without any medical history, in whom lung cancer was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiographic detection of the LA and left ventricle tumoral invasion via the left upper pulmonary vein. The primary source of tumor was found out by computed tomography.
Synthesis of chromenone, pyrimidinone, thiazoline, and quinolone derivatives as prospective antitumor agents
Authors: El‐Helw Eman A. E. , El‐Badawy Azza A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHydrazide‐hydrazone namely, 2‐cyano‐N′‐((1‐phenyl‐3‐[thiophen‐2‐yl]‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene)acetohydrazide (3) underwent a series of reactions with some chemical reagents to construct new biologically active N‐heterocycles, for example, chromenone, benzochromenone, thiazoline, and quinolone derivatives. Treating the nitrile derivative 3 with 2,4‐dichlorobenzaldehyde and pyrazole aldehyde 1 afforded the corresponding condensed products. Some of the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antitumor activities against two different human tumor cell lines including hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) activities. Compound 3 was the most potent against the two tumors.
Harnessing neoantigen specific CD4 T cells for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Brightman Spencer E. , Naradikian Martin S. , Miller Aaron M. , Schoenberger Stephen P. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The goal of precision immunotherapy is to direct a patient's T cell response against the immunogenic mutations expressed on their tumors. Most immunotherapy approaches to-date have focused on MHC class I-restricted peptide epitopes by which cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL) can directly recognize tumor cells. This strategy largely overlooks the critical role of MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cells as both positive regulators of CTL and other effector cell types, and as direct effectors of antitumor immunity. In this review, we will discuss the role of neoantigen specific CD4+ T cells in cancer immunotherapy and how existing treatment modalities may be leveraged to engage this important T cell subset.
Genotyping of enteroviruses and human parechoviruses highlights their diversity in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Gelaw Aschalew , Pietsch Corinna , Tigabu Zemene , Liebert Uwe G. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEnteroviruses (EVs) and human parechoviruses (HPeVs) infections are associated with various forms of disease, including gastroenteritis. As information on the molecular epidemiology of these viruses is limited in Ethiopia, the genetic diversity of EV and HPeV was investigated in the Northwestern part of the country. Of the total 450 stool samples obtained from infants and young children with diarrhea, 157 (34.9%) were positive for EV and 49 (10.9%) for HPeV RNA when tested by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Genotyping was performed by sequencing of the EV VP1 gene and the HPeV VP3/VP1 gene, respectively. Genotyping of EV was successful in 118 samples. Thereof, 82 (69.5%) belonged to non‐polio EVs as a broad range of genotypes within species C, B, and A. Sabin polioviruses were found in 36 cases. HPeV sequences were also heterogeneous with a relative dominance of genotype 3. In conclusion, diverse EV and HPeV genotypes were found cocirculating in Northwest Ethiopia. The findings highlight the importance of continuous surveillance of these viruses in Ethiopia.
The application of in vitro‐derived human neurons in neurodegenerative disease modeling
Authors: D'Souza Gary X. , Rose Shannon E. , Knupp Allison , Nicholson Daniel A. , Keene Christopher Dirk , Young Jessica E. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe development of safe and effective treatments for age‐associated neurodegenerative disorders is an on‐going challenge faced by the scientific field. Key to the development of such therapies is the appropriate selection of modeling systems in which to investigate disease mechanisms and to test candidate interventions. There are unique challenges in the development of representative laboratory models of neurodegenerative diseases, including the complexity of the human brain, the cumulative and variable contributions of genetic and environmental factors over the course of a lifetime, inability to culture human primary neurons, and critical central nervous system differences between small animal models and humans. While traditional rodent models have advanced our understanding of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, key divergences such as the species‐specific genetic background can limit the application of animal models in many cases. Here we review in vitro human neuronal systems that employ stem cell and reprogramming technology and their application to a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, we compare human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived neurons to directly converted, or transdifferentiated, induced neurons, as both model systems can take advantage of patient‐derived human tissue to produce neurons in culture. We present recent technical developments using these two modeling systems, as well as current limitations to these systems, with the aim of advancing investigation of neuropathogenic mechanisms using these models.
A comprehensive evaluation of soil moisture and soil temperature from third‐generation atmospheric and land reanalysis data sets
Authors: Li Mingxing , Wu Peili , Ma Zhuguo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSoil moisture and soil temperature, reflecting a synthetic climate regime, are vitally important for climate change assessments and adaption. As historical in situ measurements of soil states are extremely scarce and spatially uneven, reanalysis products play an increasingly important role in filling these gaps. The focus of this paper is on water–heat covariations in reanalysis products and a joint evaluation of soil moisture and soil temperature in five widely used atmospheric and land reanalyses is presented using in situ observations from 25 networks during various periods from 1979 to 2017. At the network scale, the five reanalyses show statistically significant correlations with observations, and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ERA5 shows higher skills than the other four products and a significant improvement over its predecessor. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis performs better in terms of long‐term trends. The most skilful signals in the five reanalyses are the seasonal cycles, with correlation coefficients of over 0.9. However, long‐term trends are substantially weaker than the observed trends and still tend to perform poorly over the high latitudes during cold seasons. Soil temperature reanalyses show even better skills, with mean correlation coefficients over 0.9 between anomalies; ERA5 shows enhanced annual ranges toward the high latitudes and altitudes. A joint evaluation of soil temperature and soil moisture showed physically consistent water–heat covariations in the soil in conjunction with atmospheric fluxes during the growing season over the Northern Hemisphere. This report suggests a good future for reanalysis products and their potential role in land surface climate change assessments.
Role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy in inflammatory response
Authors: Lee Hyun Ah , Park Mi Hee , Song Yuri , Na Hee Sam , Chung Jin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundAggressive periodontitis is characterized by the early‐onset and rapid progression of periodontal destruction and is closely associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Autophagy is a conserved process that is critical for removing damaged proteins, organelles, and even intracellular pathogens. Therefore, this study examined whether A. actinomycetemcomitans induces autophagy. In addition, the relationship among autophagy, bacterial internalization, and inflammatory molecules in periodontal aggressive inflammation was analyzed.MethodsThe expression of autophagy‐related proteins in human gingival tissue and THP‐1 cells was assessed by Western blot analysis. The formation of light chain 3 (LC3) puncta was examined by confocal microscopy. The degree of bacterial internalization into the cells was determined by the viable cell count. Phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.ResultsWhen macrophages were infected with live A. actinomycetemcomitans, the autophagy influx was activated by the increase in LC3‐II, autophagy‐related gene 5/12, and Beclin‐1 expression through the Toll‐like receptors and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling pathways. The inhibition of A. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy suppressed bacterial internalization via phagocytosis into the macrophages and increased interleukin (IL)‐1β production. Moreover, treatment with an ROS inhibitor inhibited these enhanced inflammatory responses.ConclusionsA. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy promotes bacterial internalization by phagocytosis, which restricts the excessive inflammatory response by downregulating IL‐1β and ROS production in macrophages. Thus, A. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy and its role in regulating the inflammatory response may play an important role in the aggressive periodontal inflammatory process, and be a target for the development of new periodontal therapies.
A rapid rice blast detection and identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture
Authors: Yang Ning , Yu Junjie , Wang Aiying , Tang Jian , Zhang Rongbiao , Xie Liangliang , Shu Fangyu , Kwabena Oppong Paul 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDRice blast fungus is a worldwide disease, and it is one of the most serious rice diseases in the north and south rice fields in China. The initial symptoms of rice blast are not obvious, and the speed of transmission is fast. Manual identification is time‐consuming and laborious. At present, it is a great challenge to realize rapid and accurate early identification of rice blast.RESULTSIn this paper, an identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture for rice blast was studied; this method utilizes the light field and texture features of diffraction images. To verify the reliability of the model that we proposed, we selected two methods of manual identification and machine recognition to compare and detect rice blast spores. The experimental results show that the identification of light diffraction characteristics is not only higher than the traditional manual recognition by microscope (increased by more than 0.3%), but also faster after neural network training (increased by more than 90%). The diffraction recognition method used in this study, based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture, can be completed in a few seconds, and its test accuracy is 97.18%.CONCLUSIONThe proposed method, a rapid rice blast detection and identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture, has certain advantages compared with the existing manual identification by microscope. This method can be applied to the recognition of rice blast in agricultural research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The prognostic significance of the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging system for non–small‐cell lung cancer is not applicable to lung cancer as a second primary malignancy
Authors: Shi Shuai , Xie Hui , Yin Wei , Zhang Yuqian , Peng Xiong , Yu Fenglei , Shemanski Kimberly A. , Kim Anthony W. , Wang Xiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIt is unclear whether the prognostic significance of the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system for non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is applicable to lung cancer as a second primary malignancy (LCSPM). This study used a population‐based database to evaluate this relationship.MethodsPatients diagnosed with second primary lung cancer after a nonpulmonary malignancy were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry from 2004 to 2015. Cumulative incidence function (CIF) and multivariable CIF regression analyses were performed to estimate the difference in disease‐specific mortality (DSM) among different TNM stages.ResultsOur cohort included 2687 patients from the SEER database. After CIF analysis, although rates of 1‐year, 3‐year, and 5‐year DSM trended higher with increasing TNM stages, the DSM curves overlapped for many subcategories. In a multivariable regression analysis, hazards ratios (HRs) for subcategories of stage Ι demonstrated no significant difference compared with the reference stage ΙA1 ([ΙA2 HR = 1.120; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.477‐2.626]; [ΙA3 HR = 1.762; 95% CI, 0.752‐4.126]; [ΙB HR = 2.003; 95% CI, 0.804‐4.911]). The following HRs trended higher for increasing TNM stages but with overlapping CIs among adjacent stage groupings.ConclusionThe 8th edition AJCC TNM staging system fails to provide accurate prognostic value for LCSPM.
Simultaneous analysis of current‐use pesticides and their transformation products in water using mixture‐sorbent solid phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Tan Baoxiang , Xiong Jingjing , Li Huizhen , You Jing 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPesticides have posed significant threats to aquatic ecosystems, yet little is known about their transformation products. The challenge is to simultaneously analyze various pesticides and transformation products in water as they have distinct physicochemical properties. A mix‐mode solid phase extraction method was established to simultaneously analyze current‐use pesticides and their transformation products using a mixture of hydrophile–lipophile balance, weak anion, and cation exchange resins (2:1:1, w/w/w) in combination with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for chemical quantification. Neutral, acidic, and alkaline methanol were used as the elution solvent. Box‐Behnken design was applied to optimize extraction conditions. Optimal conditions were as follows: sorbent mass, 200 mg; volume of elution solvent, 5 mL × 3; pH 4. The method was validated for compounds at concentrations from 20 to 1000 ng/L in different types of water samples, with recovery being from 43.5 ± 3.1 to 141 ± 35%. Low method detection limits (0.02−5.6 ng/L) implied that the developed method was sensitive. Finally, the method was applied to monitor current‐use pesticides and their transformation products in natural waters. Frequent detection of transformation products of pesticides indicated that their contribution to aquatic risk should not be ignored.
GPU‐accelerated parallel forward method to establish parametric scattering center models for complex targets
Authors: Huang Kai , He Si‐Yuan , Zhang Yun‐Hua , Yin Hong‐Cheng , Zhang Liang‐Liang , Zhu Guo‐Qiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractForward method to establish parametric scattering center models is highly efficient for radar feature extraction of target. Nevertheless, scattering center extraction especially for multiple reflections is still time‐consuming due to path tracing, ray clustering, and parameter determination from electrically large and complex targets. As the multiple reflection items add, the time consumption of forward parametric scattering center modeling method increases dramatically, which can hardly meet the practical requirements. In this work, we propose a graphics processing unit‐accelerated forward parametric scattering center modeling method together with stackless KD‐Tree traversal technique that accelerates path tracing, clustering, and parameter determination to extract parametric scattering centers. Concurrently, the parameters of the scattering centers arising from triple (usually the maximum number of reflections) or above reflection items are forward determined for obtaining feature information as much as possible from complex target. Finally, the reconstructed radar characteristics from parametric models have been verified by comparison with exactly simulated results. Meanwhile, those examples using this improved method have achieved great speedup.
Technical Note: Effect of transducer position and ground plane configuration on image quality in MR‐guided focused ultrasound therapies
Authors: Payne Allison , Minalga Emilee , Merrill Robb , Parker Dennis L. , Hadley J. Rock 
Published: March 2020

PurposeTo evaluate the effect of a focused ultrasound transducer position and ground plane configuration on magnetic resonance image quality.MethodsThe effect of transducer position with respect to the MRI B0 field and the radiofrequency receive coils was evaluated in a breast‐specific MRgFUS system with an integrated RF phased‐array coil. Image signal‐to‐noise ratio was evaluated at different transducer locations. The effect of ultrasound transducer ground plane configuration was evaluated using a replica transducer with 12 ground plane configurations. All evaluations were performed at 3 Tesla.ResultsBoth transducer position and ground plane configuration were found to have a considerable effect on overall image SNR. A 67% increase in SNR was achieved by positioning the transducer face perpendicular to the B0 field. A 25% increase in SNR was achieved by segmenting the replica transducer ground plane from one continuous plane to nine individual segments.ConclusionsAdvances in focused ultrasound hardware allow for integrated radiofrequency MRI coils as well as adjustable transducer positioning. The placement of the ultrasound transducer with respect to both the magnetic field and RF coils can have a considerable effect on image SNR and the resulting MR images that are used for MR‐guided focused ultrasound treatment planning, monitoring and assessment.
Design of a focused collimator for proton therapy spot scanning using Monte Carlo methods
Authors: Geoghegan Theodore J. , Nelson Nicholas P. , Flynn Ryan T. , Hill Patrick M. , Rana Suresh , Hyer Daniel E. 
Published: March 2020

PurposeWhen designing a collimation system for pencil beam spot scanning proton therapy, a decision must be made whether or not to rotate, or focus, the collimator to match beamlet deflection as a function of off‐axis distance. If the collimator is not focused, the beamlet shape and fluence will vary as a function of off‐axis distance due to partial transmission through the collimator. In this work, we quantify the magnitude of these effects and propose a focused dynamic collimation system (DCS) for use in proton therapy spot scanning.MethodsThis study was done in silico using a model of the Miami Cancer Institute’s (MCI) IBA Proteus Plus system created in Geant4‐based TOPAS. The DCS utilizes rectangular nickel trimmers mounted on rotating sliders that move in synchrony with the pencil beam to provide focused collimation at the edge of the target. Using a simplified setup of the DCS, simulations were performed at various off‐axis locations corresponding to beam deflection angles ranging from 0° to 2.5°. At each off‐axis location, focused (trimmer rotated) and unfocused (trimmer not rotated) simulations were performed. In all simulations, a 4 cm water equivalent thickness range shifter was placed upstream of the collimator, and a voxelized water phantom that scored dose was placed downstream, each with 4 cm airgaps.ResultsIncreasing the beam deflection angle for an unfocused trimmer caused the collimated edge of the beamlet profile to shift 0.08–0.61 mm from the baseline 0° simulation. There was also an increase in low‐dose regions on the collimated edge ranging from 14.6% to 192.4%. Lastly, the maximum dose,

, was 0–5% higher for the unfocused simulations. With a focused trimmer design, the profile shift and dose increases were all eliminated.ConclusionsWe have shown that focusing a collimator in spot scanning proton therapy reduces dose at the collimated edge compared to conventional, unfocused collimation devices and presented a simple, mechanical design for achieving focusing for a range of source‐to‐collimator distances.