bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoid receptor mutations and clinical sensitivity to glucocorticoid in Chinese multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Song Tian , Chang Haoxiao , Du Li , Yin Linlin , Shi Fudong , Zhang Xinghu 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Glucocorticoid (GC) is the first-line therapy in acute attacks of multiple sclerosis (MS), but its efficacy is individually variable and may be associated with glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene.

Objective
To establish the association between GR gene sequence and clinical GC sensitivity in Chinese MS patients. And to investigate the expression differences of serum GRα and FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) in GC responders and non-responders.

Materials and methods
Coding exons 2–9 of the GR gene from 97 MS patients were sequenced. We performed ELISA to detect serum GRα and FKBP5 before the GC impulse therapy in patients with different GC sensitivities (according to the EDSS changes before and after the GC medication).

Results
Seven new mutations were located in exon 2, but the presence or absence of mutations was not associated with the response to GC therapy (P = 0.416). The GC-sensitive patients had higher GRα (P = 0.011) but lower FKBP5 (P = 0.025) levels in the serum.

Conclusions
The GR mutations detected in our study were not associated with the response to GC in Chinese MS patients. Higher GRα and lower FKBP5 levels in the serum might predict the response to GC, which may provide potential therapeutic target for GC-resistant patients with acute MS attack.
Correction to: Inhibition of melanin production by anthracenone dimer glycosides isolated from Cassia auriculate seeds
Authors: Wang Weicheng , Zhang Yi , Nakashima Souichi , Nakamura Seikou , Wang Tao , Yoshikawa Masayuki , Matsuda Hisashi 
Published: April 2020

The article Inhibition of melanin production by anthracenone dimer glycosides isolated from Cassia auriculata seeds, written by Weicheng Wang, Yi Zhang, Souichi Nakashima, Seikou Nakamura, Tao Wang, Masayuki Yoshikawa and Hisashi Matsuda
Identification of superior spring durum wheat genotypes under irrigated and rain-fed conditions
Authors: Bányai J. , Kiss T. , Gizaw S. A. , Mayer M. , Spitkó T. , Tóth V. , Kuti C. , Mészáros K. , Láng L. , Karsai I. , Vida G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAn important objective of wheat improvement programmes is to breed varieties for high yield in optimum conditions and for minimum yield reduction under stress-prone conditions such as heat and drought. Analyses of yield and its components in multiple years allow a comprehensive and comparative understanding of genetic yield potential and stress-tolerance mechanisms in the study germplasm. The present study was carried out to evaluate performance of elite varieties and landraces of spring durum wheat under different water regimes, determine the repeatability of the examined traits, and identify superior genotypes for their potential use in breeding for drought tolerance. A total of 97 accessions of spring durum wheat (T. durum Desf.) were evaluated under rain-fed and well-watered conditions in the nursery of the Centre for Agricultural Research at Martonvásár, Hungary (2011–2013). The experiments were laid out in an unbalanced, incomplete alpha lattice block design. The trait with the lowest broad-sense repeatability was seed length (0.075), while high h2 values were observed for heading date (0.89), thousand-grain weight (0.85) and the protein content (0.85). Grain yield showed moderate level of repeatability (0.53) across the three years. The principal component analysis revealed that grain yield (t/ha) is positively associated with the fertile tiller number, chlorophyll content values at early waxy ripeness stages and plant height. Based on biplot analysis, ‘DP-133′, ‘DP-017′ and ‘DP-061′ proved to be the best durum cultivars in terms of yield whereas genotypes ‘DP-011′, ‘DP-185′, 'DP-126′ and 'DP-136′ preceded them with their good yield stability.
Development and psychometric properties of a new brief scale for subjective personal agency (SPA-5) in people with schizophrenia
Authors: Yamaguchi Sosei , Shiozawa Takuma , Matsunaga Asami , Bernick Peter , Sawada Utako , Taneda Ayano , Osumi Takahiro , Fujii Chiyo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Aims
Personal agency is a variable which potentially facilitates personal recovery in people with serious mental illness. This study aimed to develop a new brief measure for subjective personal agency that can be completed by people with serious mental illness.

Methods
Two focus group interviews were first conducted with 11 people with schizophrenia to understand the fundamental components of subjective personal agency for people with serious mental illness living in the community. One group comprised six people with schizophrenia living in the community, while the other consisted of five people with schizophrenia working as peer-support workers. We then developed scale items through collaboration with people with schizophrenia and qualitative analysis (stage 1). A cross-sectional survey was then conducted to test the psychometric properties of the new scale among service users with schizophrenia in 18 assertive community treatment teams (stage 2). Factor validity was tested via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We evaluated convergent validity with the Boston University Empowerment Scale (BUES), divergent validity with the global assessment of functioning (GAF), internal consistency, and test–retest reliability.

Results
Seven items were included in the scale at stage 1. In stage 2, 195 participants completed this scale. EFA revealed a one-factor model with five items. CFA indicated good model fit (χ2 statistics [CMIN] = 8.445, df = 5 (CMIN/df = 1.689), p = 0.133, comparative fit index = 0.974, Tucker–Lewis fit index = 0.949, root mean square error of approximation = 0.077 and standardised root mean squared residual = 0.042). The new scale was significantly correlated with total BUES score (r = 0.526, p < 0.001), but not with GAF score. Cronbach's α for internal consistency was 0.79, and intra-class correlation coefficient for test–retest reliability was 0.70.

Conclusion
We developed a new, five-item Subjective Personal Agency scale (SPA-5) that can be completed by people with serious mental illness. Further studies are needed to confirm the results outside Japan.
The Photoelectron‐Driven Upper Hybrid Instability as the Cause of 150‐km Echoes
Authors: Longley William J. , Oppenheim Meers M. , Pedatella Nick M. , Dimant Yakov S. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract150 kilometer echoes are strong, coherent echoes observed by equatorial radars looking close to perpendicular to Earth's magnetic field. Observations over a day show a distinct necklace pattern with echoes descending from 170 km at sunrise to 130 km at noon, before rising again and disappearing overnight. This paper shows that the upper hybrid instability will convert photoelectron energy into plasma wave energy through inverse Landau damping. Using parameters from a WACCM‐X simulation, the upper hybrid wave growth rates over a day show a nearly identical necklace pattern, with bands of positive growth rate following contours of the plasma frequency. Small gaps in altitude with no echoes are explained by thermal electrons Landau damping the instability where the upper hybrid frequency is a multiple of the gyrofrequency. This theory provides a mechanism that likely plays a crucial role in solving a long‐standing mystery on the origin of 150‐km echoes.
Comparison of commercially available whole-genome sequencing kits for variant detection in circulating cell-free DNA
Authors: Mauger Florence , Horgues Caroline , Pierre-Jean Morgane , Oussada Nouara , Mesrob Lilia , Deleuze Jean-François 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCirculating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) has great potential for non-invasive diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring treatment of disease. However, a sensitive and specific whole-genome sequencing (WGS) method is required to identify novel genetic variations (i.e., SNVs, CNVs and INDELS) on ccfDNA that can be used as clinical biomarkers. In this article, five WGS methods were compared: ThruPLEX Plasma-seq, QIAseq cfDNA All-in-One, NEXTFLEX Cell Free DNA-seq, Accel-NGS 2 S PCR FREE DNA and Accel-NGS 2 S PLUS DNA. The Accel PCR-free kit did not produce enough material for sequencing. The other kits had significant common number of SNVs, INDELs and CNVs and showed similar results for SNVs and CNVs. The detection of variants and genomic signatures depends more upon the type of plasma sample rather than the WGS method used. Accel detected several variants not observed by the other kits. ThruPLEX seemed to identify more low-abundant SNVs and SNV signatures were similar to signatures observed with the QIAseq kit. Accel and NEXTFLEX had similar CNV and SNV signatures. These results demonstrate the importance of establishing a standardized workflow for identifying non-invasive candidate biomarkers. Moreover, the combination of variants discovered in ccfDNA using WGS has the potential to identify enrichment pathways, while the analysis of signatures could identify new subgroups of patients.
Genome-wide analysis of CsWOX transcription factor gene family in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Gu Ran , Song Xiaofei , Liu Xiaofeng , Yan Liying , Zhou Zhaoyang , Zhang Xiaolan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors are plant-specific members that characterized by the presence of a homeodomain. It has been shown that WOX members regulate several aspects of plant development, but the biological functions of this CsWOX gene family remain largely unknown in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In this study, we identified and characterized 11 putative CsWOX genes in cucumber, which are also divided into three major clades (e.g., the Ancient clade, the Intermediate clade and the WUS clade). Expression pattern analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns of CsWOX genes, including that CsWOX9 is mainly expressed in developing fruit and also has lower expression in tip and axillary bud, which was further confirmed by in situ hybridization assay. Moreover, overexpression of CsWOX9 in Arabidopsis led to increased branches and rosette leaves, and shorter siliques. Together, these results indicated that CsWOX members may regulate cucumber growth and development.
Intermittent exposure to whole cigarette smoke alters the differentiation of primary small airway epithelial cells in the air-liquid interface culture
Authors: Gindele Julia A. , Kiechle Tobias , Benediktus Kerstin , Birk Gerald , Brendel Michael , Heinemann Fabian , Wohnhaas Christian T. , LeBlanc Michelle , Zhang Haijun , Strulovici-Barel Yael , Crystal Ronald G. , Thomas Matthew J. , Stierstorfer Birgit , Quast Karsten , Schymeinsky Jürgen 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCigarette smoke (CS) is the leading risk factor to develop COPD. Therefore, the pathologic effects of whole CS on the differentiation of primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) were investigated, using cells from three healthy donors and three COPD patients, cultured under ALI (air-liquid interface) conditions. The analysis of the epithelial physiology demonstrated that CS impaired barrier formation and reduced cilia beat activity. Although, COPD-derived ALI cultures preserved some features known from COPD patients, CS-induced effects were similarly pronounced in ALI cultures from patients compared to healthy controls. RNA sequencing analyses revealed the deregulation of marker genes for basal and secretory cells upon CS exposure. The comparison between gene signatures obtained from the in vitro model (CS vs. air) with a published data set from human epithelial brushes (smoker vs. non-smoker) revealed a high degree of similarity between deregulated genes and pathways induced by CS. Taken together, whole cigarette smoke alters the differentiation of small airway basal cells in vitro. The established model showed a good translatability to the situation in vivo. Thus, the model can help to identify and test novel therapeutic approaches to restore the impaired epithelial repair mechanisms in COPD, which is still a high medical need.
Effects of neural estrogen receptor beta deletion on social and mood-related behaviors and underlying mechanisms in male mice
Authors: Dombret Carlos , Naulé Lydie , Trouillet Anne-Charlotte , Parmentier Caroline , Hardin-Pouzet Hélène , Mhaouty-Kodja Sakina 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEstradiol derived from neural aromatization of testosterone plays a key role in the organization and activation of neural structures underlying male behaviors. This study evaluated the contribution of the estrogen receptor (ER) β in estradiol-induced modulation of social and mood-related behaviors by using mice lacking the ERβ gene in the nervous system. Mutant males exhibited reduced social interaction with same-sex congeners and impaired aggressive behavior. They also displayed increased locomotor activity, and reduced or unaffected anxiety-state level in three paradigms. However, when mice were exposed to unescapable stress in the forced swim and tail suspension tests, they spent more time immobile and a reduced time in swimming and climbing. These behavioral alterations were associated with unaffected circadian and restraint stress-induced corticosterone levels, and unchanged number of tryptophan hydroxylase 2-immunoreactive neurons in the dorsal raphe. By contrast, reduced mRNA levels of oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin were observed in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, whereas no changes were detected in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. The neural ERβ is thus involved to different extent levels in social and mood-related behaviors, with a particular action on oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin signaling pathways of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, yet the involvement of other brain areas cannot be excluded.
Verändert sich die foveale avaskuläre Zone beim Glaukom?
Authors: Lommatzsch Claudia , Heinz Carsten , Koch Joerg Michael , Heimes-Bussmann Britta , Hahn Ursula , Grisanti Swaantje 
Published: April 2020

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Vergleichende Beurteilung der fovealen avaskulären Zone (FAZ) mit ihrem Umfang und dem Azirkularitätsindex (AI) sowie der umgebenden Vessel Density bei Glaukomaugen im Vergleich zu gesunden Augen mit zusätzlicher Unterteilung nach Gesichtsfelddefekten an verschiedenen Stellen (zentral oder peripher).
Material und Methoden Insgesamt wurden die Daten von 128 Augen ausgewertet. Dabei wurden zunächst Glaukomaugen (n = 74) mit gesunden Augen (n = 54) verglichen und im Weiteren Glaukomaugen mit einem zentralen Gesichtsfeldausfall (ZGD, n = 19) von Augen mit einem peripheren Gesichtsfelddefekt (PGD, n = 34) unterschieden. Die FAZ-Fläche, ihr Umfang und die Rundheit sowie die parafoveale Vessel Density (VD) wurden mittels der optischen Kohärenztomografie-Angiografie im oberflächlichen und tiefen Gefäßplexus berechnet.
Ergebnisse Glaukomaugen haben im Vergleich zu gesunden Augen keine signifikante Veränderung der FAZ, ihres Umfangs oder der Zirkularität der avaskulären Zone. Unterteilt man jedoch die Glaukomaugen anhand der Gesichtsfeldausfälle, zeigt sich zum einen, dass die Augen mit einem zentralen Ausfall eine signifikant größere FAZ haben als die mit peripheren Ausfällen und dass der Umfang ebenfalls signifikant größer ist. Zum anderen zeigt der AI keinen signifikanten Unterschied in Abhängigkeit von der Lokalisation der Gesichtsfelddefekte. Die makuläre/foveale Vessel Density wird signifikant geringer bei der ZDG-Gruppe.
Schlussfolgerungen Im Rahmen einer Glaukomerkrankung vergrößert sich die foveale avaskuläre Zone, wenn eine Zentralisierung des Gesichtsfelddefektes vorliegt und die Vessel Density nimmt im Bereich der Makula signifikant ab.
A Systematic Review of the Potential Effects of Nigella sativa on Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Khabbazi Alireza , Javadivala Zeinab , Seyedsadjadi Neda , Malek Mahdavi Aida 
Published: April 2020

AbstractConsidering the different untoward effects of the drugs prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there has been an increasing interest in adjuvant therapies devoid of such unfavorable reactions. Although the beneficial effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) on RA have been established, it seems that its mechanisms of action have not still been reviewed. The present review is designed to evaluate the effects of N. sativa on RA systematically. We searched these electronic databases until April 2019: PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid, ProQuest, and Google scholar. No restriction was conducted based on language or publication date. We selected all of the related clinical, animal, and in vitro studies. Review papers, abstracts in conferences, book chapters, and papers regarding the effects of N. sativa combined with other herbs, as well as articles regarding the effects of N. sativa on other diseases, were excluded. Each article was assessed critically for the possible risk of bias. Nineteen articles were reviewed. Animal and in vitro investigations supported the favorable effects of N. sativa on clinical, inflammatory, oxidative, and immunologic parameters on RA, whereas results of limited clinical studies did not illustrate any change or improvement of inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in RA. N. sativa could control RA via multiple ways such as decreasing inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, and modulating the immune system. This paper provides persuasive clues to defend the efficacy of N. sativa in RA and justifies the significance of subsequent clinical trials.
Comparing the Liquid Heparin Syringe with Dry Bound Heparin Syringe for Blood Gas Analysis
Authors: Sahu Manoj Kumar , Yagani Seshagiribabu , Singh Dharmraj , Singh Umed , Singh Sarvesh Pal , Choudhary Shiv Kumar 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background Blood gas (BG) analysis is routine today for patient management in intensive care units. Accurate analysis of different parameters in the BG is essential for managing critical patients. Errors in BG analysis can happen at many levels, with one of them being at sampling and heparinization. We compared self-prepared heparinized syringes rinsed with liquid heparin (LH) and the standard commercially available syringes with dry bound heparin (DBH) for arterial BG analysis of postoperative cardiac surgical patients.
Methods This prospective observational study was conducted in 100 consecutive adult cardiac surgical patients in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Paired samples were collected, analyzed immediately, and statistically compared for pH, partial pressure of arterial oxygen (pO2), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (pCO2), oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2), HCO, Na+, K+, Cl–, Ca2+, Mg2+, base excess (BE), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, glucose, and lactate. Paired parameters were compared and agreement was evaluated using Bland–Altman difference plots. The 95% limits of absolute agreement (LOA) were compared with total allowable error (TEa).
Results The BG parameters analyzed by two types of heparinized (LH and DBH) syringes were found to be comparable with a negligible mean difference and had an agreement outside the TEa of 8% for pO2, pCO2, and hematocrit, 7% for BE, 6% for Mg2+, 5% for K+, Ca2+, and lactate, 4% for HCOand Na+, 3% for pH, Cl–, Hb, and glucose, and zero for SaO2. The two types of syringes did not show clinically relevant discrepancies among many different parameters as per LOA and TEa limits.
Conclusion In this study, we found that the BG parameters—respiratory, metabolic, and electrolytes—were comparable between the two types of syringes used for sampling. Unlike some previous studies, we did not find statistically significant differences among these analytes, which might have been due to appropriate self-preparation of heparin syringes.
A retinal circuit for the suppressed-by-contrast receptive field of a polyaxonal amacrine cell
Authors: Jia Yu , Lee Seunghoon , Zhuo Yehong , Zhou Z. Jimmy 
Published: April 2020

Significance
Interactions among amacrine cell types are critical for complex visual computation in the retina, but the underlying circuitry and functions are largely unknown. Here we report a specific pathway from small-field, dual-transmitter amacrine (vGluT3) to wide-field polyaxonal amacrine (PAS4/5) cells. This pathway mediates a characteristic form of glycinergic inhibition that is essential in shaping a suppressed-by-contrast (sbc) receptive field in PAS4/5 cells, thus representing one of the first few functionally identified interamacrine circuits. The existence of the sbc trigger feature upstream of ganglion cells suggests diverse functional roles of this fundamental form of circuit computation in multiple downstream circuits. The synaptic interactions between vGluT3 and PAS4/5 cells also illustrate a specific mechanism for feature-specific local control of global retina activity.
The role of breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge in second language listening comprehension
Authors: Vafaee Payman 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine the extent by which second language breadth
and depth of vocabulary knowledge (BVK and DVK, respectively) were predictors of successful listening
comprehension. To this end, along with a standardized test of listening comprehension ability, aural measures of both BVK and
DVK were administered to 262 English learners within a wide range of proficiency level. The data were subjected to structural
equation modeling, and the results showed that BVK and DVK were not measured in a psychometrically distinct way in the current
study. This did not allow any conclusions about the relative contribution of BVK and DVK to listening ability at the construct
level. However, at the measured-variable level, the findings showed that the DVK test scores were better predictors of success in
listening comprehension than the ones from the BVK test.