bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Radiation Effectiveness in Proton Therapy: Comparison Between Fusion and Fission Methods and Further Approaches
Authors: Tabbakh Farshid , Hosmane Narayan S. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractProton therapy as a promising candidate in cancer treatment has attracted much attentions and many studies have been performed to investigate the new methods to enhance its radiation effectiveness. In this regard, two research groups have suggested that using boron isotopes will lead to a radiation effectiveness enhancement, using boron-11 agent to initiate the proton fusion reaction (P-BFT) and using boron-10 agent to capture the low energy secondary neutrons (NCEPT). Since, these two innovative methods have not been approved clinically, they have been recalculated in this report, discussed and compared between them and also with the traditional proton therapy to evaluate their impacts before the experimental investigations. The calculations in the present study were performed by Geant4 and MCNPX Monte Carlo Simulation Codes were utilized for obtaining more precision in our evaluations of these methods impacts. Despite small deviations in the results from the two MC tools for the NCEPT method, a good agreement was observed regarding the delivered dose rate to the tumor site at different depths while, for P-BFT related calculations, the GEANT4 was in agreement with the analytical calculations by means of the detailed cross-sections of proton-11B fusion. Accordingly, both the methods generate excess dose rate to the tumor several orders of magnitude lower than the proton dose rate. Also, it was found that, the P-BFT has more significant enhancement of effectiveness, when compared to the NCEPT, a method with impact strongly depended on the tumor’s depth. On the other hand, the advantage of neutron risk reduction proposed by NCEPT was found to give no considerable changes in the neutron dose absorption by healthy tissues.
Epidural bolus versus continuous epidural infusion analgesia on optic nerve sheath diameter in paediatric patients: A prospective, double-blind, randomised trial
Authors: Lee Bora , Lee Jae Hoon , Kim Min-Soo , Kim Seon Ju , Song Jeehyun , Kim Do-Hyeong , Choi Yong Seon 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe use of programmed intermittent epidural bolus for postoperative analgesia may have greater analgesic efficacy than continuous epidural infusion. However, the rapid delivery speed used with an epidural bolus is more likely to increase intracranial pressure. We compared the effects of lumbar epidural bolus versus continuous infusion epidural analgesia on intracranial pressure in children using optic nerve sheath diameter as a marker. We randomly assigned 40 paediatric patients to bolus or infusion groups. Epidural analgesia (0.15% ropivacaine 0.3 ml·kg−1) was administered via bolus or infusion. Ultrasonography was used to measure the optic nerve sheath diameter before (T0), at 3 min (T1), 10 min (T2), and 70 min (T3) after starting the pump. There were statistically significant between-group differences in optic nerve sheath diameter over time (PGroup x Time = 0.045). From T0–T3, the area under the curve values were similar between the two groups. Although there were differences in the patterns of optic nerve sheath diameter change according to the delivery mode, the use of lumbar epidural bolus did not increase the risk of intracranial pressure increase over that of continuous infusion. Further research is needed to investigate intracranial pressure changes after continuous application of each delivery mode.
Clinical characteristics in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A prospective multi-institutional cross-sectional study
Authors: Hirai Takashi , Yoshii Toshitaka , Ushio Shuta , Mori Kanji , Maki Satoshi , Katsumi Keiichi , Nagoshi Narihito , Takeuchi Kazuhiro , Furuya Takeo , Watanabe Kei , Nishida Norihiro , Watanabe Kota , Kaito Takashi , Kato Satoshi , Nagashima Katsuya , Koda Masao , Ito Kenyu , Imagama Shiro , Matsuoka Yuji , Wada Kanichiro , Kimura Atsushi , Ohba Tetsuro , Katoh Hiroyuki , Matsuyama Yukihiro , Ozawa Hiroshi , Haro Hirotaka , Takeshita Katsushi , Watanabe Masahiko , Matsumoto Morio , Nakamura Masaya , Yamazaki Masashi , Okawa Atsushi , Kawaguchi Yoshiharu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOssification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can occur throughout the entire spine and can sometimes lead to spinal disorder. Although patients with OPLL sometimes develop physical limitations because of pain, the characteristics of pain and effects on activities of daily living (ADL) have not been precisely evaluated in OPLL patients. Therefore, we conducted a multi-center prospective study to assess whether the symptoms of cervical OPLL are different from those of cervical spondylosis (CS). A total of 263 patients with a diagnosis of cervical OPLL and 50 patients with a diagnosis of CS were enrolled and provided self-reported outcomes, including responses to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ), JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), visual analog scale (VAS), and SF-36 scores. The severity of myelopathy was significantly correlated with each domain of the JOACMEQ and JOABPEQ. There was a negative correlation between the VAS score for each domain and the JOA score. There were significantly positive correlations between the JOA score and the Mental Health, Bodily Pain, Physical Functioning, Role Emotional, and Role Physical domains of the SF-36. One-to-one matching resulted in 50 pairs of patients with OPLL and CS. Although there was no significant between-group difference in scores in any of the domains of the JOACMEQ or JOABPEQ, the VAS scores for pain or numbness in the buttocks or limbs were significantly higher in the CS group; however, there was no marked difference in low back pain, chest tightness, or numbness below the chest between the two study groups. The scores for the Role Physical and Body Pain domains of the SF-36 were significantly higher in the OPLL group than in the CS group, and the mean scores for the other domains was similar between the two groups. The results of this study revealed that patients with OPLL were likely to have neck and low back pain and restriction in ADL. No specific type of pain was found in patients with OPLL when compared with those who had CS.
Genome-wide identification of essential genes in Mycobacterium intracellulare by transposon sequencing — Implication for metabolic remodeling
Authors: Tateishi Yoshitaka , Minato Yusuke , Baughn Anthony D. , Ohnishi Hiroaki , Nishiyama Akihito , Ozeki Yuriko , Matsumoto Sohkichi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe global incidence of the human nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease is rapidly increasing. However, knowledge of gene essentiality under optimal growth conditions and conditions relevant to the natural ecology of NTM, such as hypoxia, is lacking. In this study, we utilized transposon sequencing to comprehensively identify genes essential for growth in Mycobacterium intracellulare. Of 5126 genes of M. intracellulare ATCC13950, 506 genes were identified as essential genes, of which 280 and 158 genes were shared with essential genes of M. tuberculosis and M. marinum, respectively. The shared genes included target genes of existing antituberculous drugs including SQ109, which targets the trehalose monomycolate transporter MmpL3. From 175 genes showing decreased fitness as conditionally essential under hypoxia, preferential carbohydrate metabolism including gluconeogenesis, glyoxylate cycle and succinate production was suggested under hypoxia. Virulence-associated genes including proteasome system and mycothiol redox system were also identified as conditionally essential under hypoxia, which was further supported by the higher effective suppression of bacterial growth under hypoxia compared to aerobic conditions in the presence of these inhibitors. This study has comprehensively identified functions essential for growth of M. intracellulare under conditions relevant to the host environment. These findings provide critical functional genomic information for drug discovery.
Hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and psychiatric-relevant behavioral deficits in spinocerebellar ataxia 1 mouse model
Authors: Tichanek Filip , Salomova Martina , Jedlicka Jan , Kuncova Jitka , Pitule Pavel , Macanova Tereza , Petrankova Zuzana , Tuma Zdenek , Cendelin Jan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease associated with cerebellar degeneration and motor deficits. However, many patients also exhibit neuropsychiatric impairments such as depression and apathy; nevertheless, the existence of a causal link between the psychiatric symptoms and SCA1 neuropathology remains controversial. This study aimed to explore behavioral deficits in a knock-in mouse SCA1 (SCA1154Q/2Q) model and to identify the underlying neuropathology. We found that the SCA1 mice exhibit previously undescribed behavioral impairments such as increased anxiety- and depressive-like behavior and reduced prepulse inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Surprisingly, non-motor deficits characterize the early SCA1 stage in mice better than does ataxia. Moreover, the SCA1 mice exhibit significant hippocampal atrophy with decreased plasticity-related markers and markedly impaired neurogenesis. Interestingly, the hippocampal atrophy commences earlier than the cerebellar degeneration and directly reflects the individual severity of some of the behavioral deficits. Finally, mitochondrial respirometry suggests profound mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus, but not in the cerebellum of the young SCA1 mice. These findings imply the essential role of hippocampal impairments, associated with profound mitochondrial dysfunction, in SCA1 behavioral deficits. Moreover, they underline the view of SCA1 as a complex neurodegenerative disease and suggest new avenues in the search for novel SCA1 therapies.
EAC-1A: A novel large-volume lunar regolith simulant
Authors: Engelschiøn V. S. , Eriksson S. R. , Cowley A. , Fateri M. , Meurisse A. , Kueppers U. , Sperl M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is currently constructing the European Lunar Exploration Laboratory (LUNA), a large training and operations facility to be located adjacent to EAC at the DLR (German Aerospace Centre) campus in Cologne, Germany. With an estimated representative lunar testbed area of approximately 660 m2, a large volume of lunar regolith simulant material is needed for this purpose. In this study, a basanitic sandy silt from a quarry located in the Siebengebirge Volcanic Field is evaluated as a large-volume source of material. The focus of this project has been to conduct a physical and chemical characterisation of the fine-grained material to be used in LUNA; the European Astronaut Centre lunar regolith simulant 1 (EAC-1 A). The physical characterisation tests undertaken include sphericity, density measurements, cohesion and static angle of repose, with mineralogical investigations via petrographical analysis with optical microscope and SEM, XRF, XRD and DSC measurements. The results of the EAC-1A tests are compared to published data on existing widely used lunar regolith simulants, namely JSC-1A, JSC-2A, NU-LHT-3M, DNA and FJS-1.
Reactive oxygen species scavenging mechanisms associated with polyethylene glycol mediated osmotic stress tolerance in Chinese potato
Authors: Sahoo Manas Ranjan , Devi Tongbram Roshni , Dasgupta Madhumita , Nongdam Potshangbam , Prakash Narendra 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInfluence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated osmotic stress on reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging machinery of Chinese potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir.) J. K. Morton) was investigated. Five genotypes of Chinese potato were raised in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing 6–benzylaminopurine (BAP, 1 mg L–1) along with various concentrations of PEG–6000 mediated stress conditions (0, –0.2 and –0.5 MPa) and evaluated for osmotic stress tolerance in vitro. The medium containing PEG–6000 had a detrimental effect on plantlet growth and development while compared with the control. Accumulation of H2O2 was lower in Sreedhara and Subala and higher in Nidhi under PEG stress, which was evident by in situ detection in leaves. Lipid peroxidation product such as malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased due to PEG stress which was more in susceptible genotype than that in tolerant ones. An enhanced ROS–scavenging antioxidant enzyme was observed under stress with respect to the control. The enzymes of ascorbate–glutathione cycle showed an important role in scavenging ROS. The imposition of PEG stress also increased the non–enzymatic antioxidants viz., the ascorbate and reduced glutathione content which was prominent in tolerant genotypes in comparison to susceptible. The present study indicated that, Sreedhara and Subala showed more tolerance to osmotic stress with better ROS scavenging machineries which would be the lines of interest for augmenting future breeding strategies in this climate resilient minor tuber crop.
Dietary intake of bioactive ingredients impacts liver and adipose tissue transcriptomes in a porcine model of prepubertal early obesity
Authors: Ballester Maria , Quintanilla Raquel , Ortega Francisco J. , Serrano José C. E. , Cassanyé Anna , Rodríguez-Palmero Maria , Moreno-Muñoz José A. , Portero-Otin Manuel , Tibau Joan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractGlobal prevalence of obesity has increased to epidemic proportions over the past 40 years, with childhood obesity reaching alarming rates. In this study, we determined changes in liver and adipose tissue transcriptomes of a porcine model for prepubertal early obesity induced by a high-calorie diet and supplemented with bioactive ingredients. A total of 43 nine-weeks-old animals distributed in four pens were fed with four different dietary treatments for 10 weeks: a conventional diet; a western-type diet; and a western-type diet with Bifidobacterium breve and rice hydrolysate, either adding or not omega-3 fatty acids. Animals fed a western-type diet increased body weight and total fat content and exhibited elevated serum concentrations of cholesterol, whereas animals supplemented with bioactive ingredients showed lower body weight gain and tended to accumulate less fat. An RNA-seq experiment was performed with a total of 20 animals (five per group). Differential expression analyses revealed an increase in lipogenesis, cholesterogenesis and inflammatory processes in animals on the western-type diet while the supplementation with bioactive ingredients induced fatty acid oxidation and cholesterol catabolism, and decreased adipogenesis and inflammation. These results reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of bioactive ingredient supplementation in an obese pig model.
Autoselective transport of mammalian cells with a chemotactic droplet
Authors: Holler Silvia , Hanczyc Martin M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLiquid chemical droplets, as models of artificial life, when pushed away from equilibrium possess some life-like behaviors such as fission, fusion, movement and chemotaxis. Chemotaxis, directed motion in response to external gradients, is typically an important process in living systems, but certain artificial systems are also capable of this activity. Previously it was shown that droplet-based chemotactic systems when interfaced with biological systems can act as transporters to move cargo such as hydrogel alginate capsules containing living cells. Here the effectiveness of our system to transport different mammalian cell lines (H460, H1299, A549, HEK293T and HS68) was tested. It was discovered that some lung cancer cell lines release surfactants only when placed in the hydrogel capsules. These surfactants establish the interface between the encapsulated cells and the droplet and also support the chemotaxis of the droplet. Because of this, the droplet-mediated transport system is selective for living cells that produce biosurfactants. This is an example of how the integration of artificial life and biological life could be designed where the systems augment each other and function together as a unit. In this case the living system produces the surfactants that the droplet needs for cargo transport and the artificial system provides the transport for the otherwise sessile mammalian cells. Future applications of droplet-based cell handling that is able to distinguish between cells based not only on viability but cell type, developmental stage or other quantifiable traits are considered.
Transport and kinase activities of CbrA of Pseudomonas putida KT2440
Authors: Wirtz Larissa , Eder Michelle , Schipper Kerstin , Rohrer Stefanie , Jung Heinrich 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe CbrA/CbrB system is a two-component signal transduction system known to participate in the regulation of the cellular carbon/nitrogen balance and to play a central role in carbon catabolite repression in Pseudomonas species. CbrA is composed of a domain with similarity to proteins of the solute/sodium symporter family (SLC5) and domains typically found in bacterial sensor kinases. Here, the functional properties of the sensor kinase CbrA and its domains are analyzed at the molecular level using the system of the soil bacterium P. putida KT2440 as a model. It is demonstrated that CbrA can bind and transport L-histidine. Transport is specific for L-histidine and probably driven by an electrochemical proton gradient. The kinase domain is not required for L-histidine uptake by the SLC5 domain of CbrA, and has no significant impact on transport kinetics. Furthermore, it is shown that the histidine kinase can autophosphorylate and transfer the phosphoryl group to the response regulator CbrB. The SLC5 domain is not essential for these activities but appears to modulate the autokinase activity. A phosphatase activity of CbrA is not detected. None of the activities is significantly affected by L-histidine. The results demonstrate that CbrA functions as a L-histidine transporter and sensor kinase.
Selective inhibition of electrical conduction within the pulmonary veins by α1-adrenergic receptors activation in the Rat
Authors: Bredeloux Pierre , Findlay Ian , Pasqualin Côme , Hocini Mélèze , Bernus Olivier , Maupoil Véronique 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPulmonary veins (PV) are involved in the pathophysiology of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In the rat, left atrium (LA) and PV cardiomyocytes have different reactions to α1-adrenergic receptor activation. In freely beating atria-PV preparations, we found that electrical field potential (EFP) originated from the sino-atrial node propagated through the LA and the PV. The α1-adrenergic receptor agonist cirazoline induced a progressive loss of EFP conduction in the PV whereas it was maintained in the LA. This could be reproduced in preparations electrically paced at 5 Hz in LA. During pacing at 10 Hz in the PV where high firing rate ectopic foci can occur, cirazoline stopped EFP conduction from the PV to the LA, which allowed the sino-atrial node to resume its pace-making function. Loss of conduction in the PV was associated with depolarization of the diastolic membrane potential of PV cardiomyocytes. Adenosine, which reversed the cirazoline-induced depolarization of the diastolic membrane potential of PV cardiomyocytes, restored full over-shooting action potentials and EFP conduction in the PV. In conclusion, selective activation of α1-adrenergic receptors results in the abolition of electrical conduction within the PV. These results highlight a potentially novel pharmacological approach to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by targeting directly the PV myocardium.
Differential stromal reprogramming in benign and malignant naturally occurring canine mammary tumours identifies disease-modulating stromal components
Authors: Amini Parisa , Nassiri Sina , Malbon Alexandra , Markkanen Enni 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWhile cancer-associated stroma (CAS) in malignant tumours is well described, stromal changes in benign forms of naturally occurring tumours remain poorly characterized. Spontaneous canine mammary carcinomas (mCA) are viewed as excellent models of human mCA. We have recently reported highly conserved stromal reprogramming between canine and human mCA based on transcriptome analysis of laser-capture-microdissected FFPE specimen. To identify stromal changes between benign and malignant mammary tumours, we have analysed matched normal and adenoma-associated stroma (AAS) from 13 canine mammary adenomas and compared them to previous data from 15 canine mCA. Our analyses reveal distinct stromal reprogramming even in small benign tumours. While similarities between AAS and CAS exist, the stromal signature clearly distinguished adenomas from mCA. The distinction between AAS and CAS is further substantiated by differential enrichment in several hallmark signalling pathways as well as differential abundance in cellular composition. Finally, we identify COL11A1, VIT, CD74, HLA-DRA, STRA6, IGFBP4, PIGR, and TNIP1 as strongly discriminatory stromal genes between adenoma and mCA, and demonstrate their prognostic value for human breast cancer. Given the relevance of canine CAS as a model for the human disease, our approach identifies disease-modulating stromal components with implications for both human and canine breast cancer.
Frequency-domain CBE imaging for ultrasound localization of the HIFU focal spot: a feasibility study
Authors: Yang Kun , Li Qiang , Liu Hao-Li , Chen Chin-Kuo , Huang Cheng-Wei , Chen Jheng-Ru , Tsai Yu-Wei , Zhou Zhuhuang , Tsui Po-Hsiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHigh-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a well-accepted tool for noninvasive thermal therapy. To control the quality of HIFU treatment, the focal spot generated in tissues must be localized. Ultrasound imaging can monitor heated regions; in particular, the change in backscattered energy (CBE) allows parametric imaging to visualize thermal information in the tissue. Conventional CBE imaging constructed in the spatial domain may be easily affected by noises when the HIFU focal spot is visualized. This study proposes frequency-domain CBE imaging to improve noise tolerance and image contrast in HIFU focal spot monitoring. Phantom experiments were performed in a temperature-controlled environment. HIFU of 2.12 MHz was applied to the phantoms, during which a clinical scanner equipped with a 3-MHz convex array transducer was used to collect raw image data consisting of backscattered signals for B-mode, spatial-, and frequency-domain CBE imaging. Concurrently, temperature changes were measured at the focal spot using a thermocouple for comparison with CBE values by calculating the correlation coefficient r. To further analyze CBE image contrast levels, a contrast factor was introduced, and an independent t-test was performed to calculate the probability value p. Experimental results showed that frequency-domain CBE imaging performed well in thermal distribution visualization, enabling quantitative detection of temperature changes. The CBE value calculated in the frequency domain also correlated strongly with that obtained using the conventional spatial-domain approach (r = 0.97). In particular, compared with the image obtained through the conventional method, the contrast of the CBE image obtained using the method based on frequency-domain analysis increased by 2.5-fold (4 dB; p < 0.05). Frequency-domain computations may constitute a new strategy when ultrasound CBE imaging is used to localize the focal spot in HIFU treatment planning.