bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mesenchymal stem cells instruct a beneficial phenotype in reactive astrocytes
Authors: Vigo Tiziana , Voulgari‐Kokota Androniki , Errede Mariella , Girolamo Francesco , Ortolan Jasmin , Mariani Maria C. , Ferrara Giovanni , Virgintino Daniela , Buffo Annalisa , Kerlero de Rosbo Nicole , Uccelli Antonio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTransplanted mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) ameliorate the clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), reducing inflammation and demyelination. These effects are mediated by instructive cross‐talk between MSC and immune and neural cells. Astroglial reaction to injury is a prominent feature of both EAE and MS. Astrocytes constitute a relevant target to control disease onset and progression and, based on their potential to acquire stem cell properties in situ, to foster recovery in the post‐acute phase of pathology. We have assessed how MSC impact astrocytes in vitro and ex vivo in EAE. Expression of astroglial factors implicated in EAE pathogenesis was quantified by real‐time PCR in astrocytes co‐cultured with MSC or isolated from EAE cerebral cortex; astrocyte morphology and expression of activation markers were analyzed by confocal microscopy. The acquisition of neural stem cell properties by astrocytes was evaluated by neurosphere assay. Our study shows that MSC prevented astrogliosis, reduced mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines that sustain immune cell infiltration in EAE, as well as protein expression of endothelin‐1, an astrocyte‐derived factor that inhibits remyelination and contributes to neurodegeneration and disease progression in MS. Moreover, our data reveal that MSC promoted the acquisition of progenitor traits by astrocytes. These data indicate that MSC attenuate detrimental features of reactive astroglia and, based on the reacquisition of stem cell properties, also suggest that astrocytes may be empowered in their protective and reparative actions by MSC.
A span of continuous trades and liquidity dynamics in foreign exchange markets
Authors: Chien Chih‐Chung , Chen Shikuan , Chang Ming‐Jen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study incorporates the spans of sequences of continuous trades and reversal trades to investigate whether the currency liquidity is varying with the span of continuous trades or reversal trades. We highlight the dependency between the span of continuous trades and the realized bid‐ask spread to explain the currency liquidity dynamics using high‐frequency foreign exchange data. Our findings show that the spans of continuous trades play an important role in determining the market liquidity because a larger span of a continuous sequence puts a drain on the market liquidity and thereby consumes the funding liquidity, eventually increasing the bid‐ask spread.
The crypto‐trade volume, GDP, energy use, and environmental degradation sustainability: An analysis of the top 20 crypto‐trader countries
Authors: Mohsin Muhammad , Naseem Sobia , Zia‐ur‐Rehman Muhammad , Baig Sajjad Ahmad , Salamat Shazia 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe global ecosystem and human life are both endangered due to the amount of CO2 emission discharged into the natural environment. The exponential crypto‐trade growth, high density of modern technology, and rapidly changing technological needs of human beings have experienced an unresolved problem in environmental sustainability and poisonous emissions in the top 20 crypto‐trader countries. This research paper investigates the empirical impact of crypto‐volume, gross domestic product (GDP), and energy use on environmental sustainability. The CO2 emission is considered as a proxy of environmental degradation in the top 20 crypto‐trader countries. The cross‐sectional dependence and data homogeneity are checked by employing panel unit root and cointegration techniques for 2012–2019. The study's empirical findings indicated a long‐run relationship between CO2 emission, crypto‐volume, GDP, and energy use. The long‐run relationship confirmation was also received from the fully modified ordinary least square, dynamic ordinary least square, and vector error correction model (VECM). The VECM verifies bidirectional causality between environmental degradation and crypto‐volume for long‐ and short‐term and unidirectional causality for GDP and energy use. In this modern age, not only crypto‐trading but also energy use and GDP are interlinked with e‐wastage, which significantly disturbed environmental sustainability, leading to emissions and climate change. The adverse effects of crypto‐trade, GDP, and energy use increase inequalities. This research recommends to governments and fiscal policymakers to de‐socialize high energy‐consuming blockchain technology. It replaces it with green and less energy‐consuming technology to reduce the negative environmental impact of externalities. Furthermore, appropriate green fiscal reforms should follow to minimize the impacts of CO2 emission.
A comprehensive association analysis between homocysteine metabolic pathway gene methylation and ischemic stroke in a Chinese hypertensive population
Authors: Li Bo , Li Yuying , Xu Shan , Chen Hongen , Dai Shudong , Peng Xiaoling , Wang Li , Liang Yaping , Li Cheng , Tang Biwei , Zhu Liqing , Zhang Tao , Lv Chunfang , Wang Changyi , Han Liyuan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundIschemic stroke (IS) is a serious global health burden. In order to improve our understanding of the risk factors associated with IS, we investigated the combined effect of the methylation of five genes related to the metabolism of homocysteine on developing IS.MethodsQuantitative methylation‐specific PCR was used to measure the levels of promoter methylation in hypertensive and stroke patients. The cutoff value calculated by the maximum Youden index was used to classify the levels of gene methylation as hypomethylation and hypermethylation. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between gene methylation and IS.ResultsThe methylation levels of the genes encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 [MTHFD1], cystathionine β‐synthase [CBS], and dihydrofolate reductase [DHFR] in hypertensive patients were higher than those in stroke patients (all p < 0.01). MTHFD1 hypermethylation, CBS hypermethylation, and DHFR hypermethylation were protective factors for stroke after adjustment for confounding factors. Compared with individuals carrying none of the biomarkers, the ORs [95% CIs] for stroke of those with 1 and 2 elevated biomarkers were 4.068 [1.670–9.913] and 15.345 [6.198–37.994] after adjustment for confounding factors. The participants with a larger number of biomarkers had an increased risk of stroke (p for trend <0.001). For the combination biomarkers, the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic was 0.716.ConclusionA significant linear relationship between the number of elevated biomarkers and the risk of stroke has been observed, suggesting that elevations of these biomarkers could be used for potentially predicting the disease.
Pollen morphological assessment of specific selected species of district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan under LM and SEM
Authors: Alam Ayesha , Shaheen Shabnum , Sarwar Samina , Jaffer Mehwish , Saba Malka , Hanif Muhammad , Sajjad Sumera , Khan Farah 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAround 30 pollen samples, 16 families and 25 genera that were gathered, identified and preserved from 6 different localities of District Sheikhupura. Light and scanning electron microscopy was done for all collected flora. Out of the total samples, 43% specie was identified as herbs, 23% as shrubs, and 33% were identified as trees. The flora was both wild and cultivated. Wild plants were 33%, cultivated 40% and 26% of them were both wild and cultivated. Qualitative and Quantitative survey of pollens revealed polar shape of pollens were 37% spheroidal, 20% prolate spheroidal, 17% oblate spheroidal, remaining were rectangular and pecolpate. Sexine and nexine were available in 100% of samples. Thirty‐three percentage of pollen grains were having spines on them. The presence of spines on pollen grains represents the evolutionary relationship amongst the plants. Current study was conducted to record and analyze palynomorphic diversity in district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan.
Developmental evolution of the distal ankle in the dinosaur–bird transition
Authors: Ossa‐Fuentes Luis , Soto‐Acuña Sergio , Bona Paula , Sallaberry Michel , Vargas Alexander O. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe adult ankle of early reptiles had five distal tarsal (dt) bones, but in Dinosauria, these were reduced to only two: dt3 and dt4, articulated to metatarsals (mt) mt3 and mt4. Birds have a single distal tarsal ossification center that fuses to the proximal metatarsals to form a new adult skeletal structure: the composite tarsometatarsus. This ossification center develops within a single large embryonic cartilage, but it is unclear if this cartilage results from fusion of earlier cartilages. We studied embryos in species from four different bird orders, an alligatorid, and an iguanid. In all embryos, cartilages dt2, dt3, and dt4 are formed. In the alligatorid and the iguanid, dt2 failed to ossify: only dt3 and dt4 develop into adult bones. In birds, dt2, dt3, and dt4 fuse to form the large distal tarsal cartilage; the ossification center then develops above mt3, in cartilage presumably derived from dt3. During the entire dinosaur–bird transition, a dt2 embryonic cartilage was always formed, as inferred from the embryology of extant birds and crocodilians. We propose that in the evolution of the avian ankle, fusion of cartilages dt3 and dt2 allowed ossification from dt3 to progress into dt2, which began to contribute bone medially, while fusion of dt3 to dt4 enabled the evolutionary loss of the dt4 ossification center. As a result, a single ossification center expands into a plate‐like unit covering the proximal ends of the metatarsals, that is key to the development of an integrated tarsometatarsus.
Aza‐Michael addition of 1,2‐diazoles to structurally diverse enones: Efficient methods toward β‐amino ketones
Authors: Polina Saibabu , Putta V. P. Rama Kishore , Gujjarappa Raghuram , Pujar Prasad Pralhad , Malakar Chandi C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAn efficient and mild protocol was realized using 1,2‐diazoles and related heterocycles with cyclic and acyclic enones in presence of T3P (2,4,6‐tripropyl‐1,3,5,2,4,6‐trioxatriphosphorinane‐2,4,6‐trioxide) toward the regioselective formation of N‐cycloalkyl heterocycles at room temperature. The developed reaction conditions showcased good selectivity over a wide range of 1,2‐diazoles and enones by delivering N‐cycloalkyl heterocycles in excellent yields.
Multicomponent one‐pot synthesis of novel imidazole‐2‐thione derivatives containing allomaltol fragment
Authors: Komogortsev Andrey N. , Melekhina Valeriya G. , Lichitsky Boris V. , Minyaev Mikhail E. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA convenient method for the synthesis of novel imidazole‐2‐thione derivatives containing allomaltol fragment was elaborated. This approach includes one‐pot multicomponent reaction of allomaltol, arylglyoxals, primary amines followed by addition of alkyl or aryl isothiocyanates. It was shown that the key intermediates of the studied process are substituted α‐aminoketones and the corresponding imidazolidine‐2‐thione. The advantages of this synthesis are mild reaction conditions, atom economy, and easy workup procedure, which can avoid chromatographic purifications. The structures of an intermediate imidazolidine‐2‐thione and one of the final imidazole‐2‐thiones were determined by X‐ray diffraction.
Estimation of fractional myocardial blood volume and water exchange using ferumoxytol‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Colbert Caroline M. , Thomas Michael A. , Yan Ran , Radjenovic Aleksandra , Finn J. Paul , Hu Peng , Nguyen Kim‐Lien 
Published: December 2020

Fractional myocardial blood volume (fMBV) estimated using ferumoxytol‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (FE‐MRI) has the potential to capture a hemodynamic response to myocardial hypoperfusion during contrast steady state without reliance on gadolinium chelates. Ferumoxytol has a long intravascular half‐life and its use for steady‐state MRI is off‐label. The aim of this prospective study was to optimize and evaluate a two‐compartment model for estimation of fMBV based on FE‐MRI. Nine healthy swine and one swine with artificially induced single‐vessel coronary stenosis underwent MRI on a 3.0 T clinical magnet. Myocardial longitudinal spin–lattice relaxation rate (R1) was measured using the 5(3)3(3)3 modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence before and at contrast steady state following seven ferumoxytol infusions (0.125–4.0 mg/kg). fMBV and water exchange were estimated using a two‐compartment model. Model‐fitted fMBV was compared to simple fast‐exchange fMBV approximation and percent change in pre‐ and postferumoxytol R1. Dose undersampling schemes were investigated to reduce acquisition duration. Variation in fMBV was assessed using one‐way analysis of variance. Fast‐exchange fMBV and ferumoxytol dose undersampling were evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis. Healthy normal swine showed a mean mid‐ventricular fMBV of 7.2 ± 1.4% and water exchange rate of 11.3 ± 5.1 s−1. There was intersubject variation in fMBV (p < 0.05) without segmental variation (p = 0.387). fMBV derived from eight‐dose and four‐dose sampling schemes had no significant bias (mean difference = 0.07, p = 0.541, limits of agreement −1.04% [−1.45, −0.62%] to 1.18% [0.77, 1.59%]). Pixel‐wise fMBV in one swine model with coronary artery stenosis showed elevated fMBV in ischemic segments (apical anterior: 11.90 ± 4.00%, apical septum: 16.10 ± 5.71%) relative to remote segments (apical inferior: 9.59 ± 3.35%, apical lateral: 9.38 ± 2.35%). A two‐compartment model based on FE‐MRI using the MOLLI sequence may enable estimation of fMBV in studies of ischemic heart disease.Level of Evidence2.Technical Efficacy Stage2.
Quality assessment and traceability study of Angelicae Sinensis Radix via binary chromatography, triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, and multivariate statistical analysis
Authors: Zhao Shuang‐Li , Fu Fei , Jia Yu‐Ran , Yu Xie‐An , Yu Bo‐Yang , Li Ren‐Shi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAngelicae Sinensis Radix is a world‐renowned herbal medicine originating in China. Owing to many environmental and geographical factors, Angelicae Sinensis Radix from various origins may have a difference in the content of ingredients, which made the confusion in the clinical practice and market. Herein, a binary chromatographic fingerprinting analysis method is developed via hydrophilic interaction chromatography and reversed‐phase liquid chromatography to obtain more chemical information. Following that, an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method is furnished to simultaneously detect 17 ingredients of Angelicae Sinensis Radix gathered from six geographic zones in China. Eventually, the principal component analysis is successfully carried out to classify and differentiate the Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different origins, meanwhile the quantitative volcano plots was used to observe the changes of ingredient trends vividly. Accordingly, the proposed binary chromatography and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate statistical analysis can be utilized as a facile and reliable method for origin tracing and quality control of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.
Transoral Robotic Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Dissection in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma With Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Recurrence
Authors: Ding Xi , Lin Qing‐Guang , Zou Xiong , Liu You‐Ping , Hua Yi‐Jun , Xie Yu‐Long , Wang Zhi‐Qiang , Zhang Yi‐Nuan , Gu Yang‐Kui , You Rui , Yang Qi , Zhang Meng‐Xia , Chen Si‐Yuan , Ouyang Yan‐Feng , Yu Zi‐Kun , Sun Rui , Chen Ming‐Yuan 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) recurrence typically undergo reirradiation and experience severe radiotoxicity. Salvage open surgery is challenging because gaining access to the retropharyngeal space is complex and risky. Thus, only several centers can perform this procedure, and complications are common. We applied transoral robotic surgery RPLN dissection (TORS‐RPLND) to NPC patients with RPLN recurrence to address the problem with open surgery.Materials and MethodsFrom March 2017 to October 2020, 10 NPC patients with RPLN recurrence underwent TORS‐RPLND using the da Vinci Si/Xi Surgical System. We applied the balloon occlusion test to protect the internal carotid artery, induction chemotherapy to shrink large tumors preoperatively, and ultrasound positioning to effectively locate unrecognizable RPLNs during surgery. Clinical characteristics, complications, and survival outcome data were retrospectively collected.ResultsOf 10 patients, 8 underwent en bloc resection via TORS‐RPLND, and the remaining 2 patients were converted to open surgery because we failed to identify the RPLN during TORS. After introducing intraoperative ultrasound positioning, no such failure occurred. The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 297 ± 120 min and 40 ± 43 ml, respectively. All surgical margins were negative. TORS‐related complications were mild, and the most severe one was grade 3 dysphagia in one patient who underwent conversion to open surgery (10%). With a median follow‐up of 19 months, only 1 (10%) patient developed cervical recurrence.ConclusionsTORS‐RPLND is feasible, safe, and effective in the treatment of NPC patients with RPLN recurrence, especially with the help of intraoperative ultrasound positioning.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1895–E1902, 2021
Nitrification and nitrous oxide dynamics in the Southern California Bight
Authors: Laperriere Sarah M. , Morando Michael , Capone Douglas G. , Gunderson Troy , Smith Jason M. , Santoro Alyson E. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe amount of primary production fueled by upwelled “new” nitrate can be used to estimate the amount of organic carbon available for export to the deep ocean. Nitrate production in the euphotic zone from the microbial process of nitrification affects these estimates, yet the controls on nitrification in the upper ocean are debated. This study examines how seasonal cycles in primary production influence rates of nitrification fueled by both ammonia and urea‐derived nitrogen (N), and how these processes relate to the distribution of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) using monthly rate measurements from the San Pedro Ocean Time‐series (SPOT) station. Nitrification rates were highest at the onset of upwelling and were correlated with depth‐integrated primary production in the lower euphotic zone. Similar ammonia and urea‐derived N oxidation rates suggest urea is a significant N source fueling nitrification, particularly below the euphotic zone. Nitrification supplied a large proportion of phytoplankton N demand in the lower euphotic zone, implying significant regenerated production. The Southern California Bight was always a source of N2O to the atmosphere, which likely was advected into the system from the eastern tropical North Pacific, rather than produced locally from nitrification, and ventilated to the atmosphere during upwelling. Together, the results suggest the coupling of N remineralization and primary production in the upper ocean have important implications for the amount of organic carbon available for export out of the surface ocean, but that transport may dominate over local production in explaining local N2O dynamics.
Stiffness of Nanoparticulate Mineralized Collagen Scaffolds Triggers Osteogenesis via Mechanotransduction and Canonical Wnt Signaling
Authors: Zhou Qi , Lyu Shengyu , Bertrand Anthony A. , Hu Allison C. , Chan Candace H. , Ren Xiaoyan , Dewey Marley J. , Tiffany Aleczandria S. , Harley Brendan A. C. , Lee Justine C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe ability of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to instruct progenitor cell differentiation has generated excitement for the development of materials‐based regenerative solutions. Described a nanoparticulate mineralized collagen glycosaminoglycan (MC‐GAG) material capable of inducing in vivo skull regeneration without exogenous growth factors or ex vivo progenitor cell‐priming is described previously. Here, the contribution of titrating stiffness to osteogenicity is evaluated by comparing noncrosslinked (NX‐MC) and crosslinked (MC) forms of MC‐GAG. While both materials are osteogenic, MC demonstrates an increased expression of osteogenic markers and mineralization compared to NX‐MC. Both materials are capable of autogenously activating the canonical BMPR signaling pathway with phosphorylation of Smad1/5. However, unlike NX‐MC, human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on MC demonstrate significant elevations in the major mechanotransduction mediators YAP and TAZ expression, coincident with β‐catenin activation in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Inhibition of YAP/TAZ activation reduces osteogenic expression, mineralization, and β‐catenin activation in MC, with less of an effect on NX‐MC. YAP/TAZ inhibition also results in a reciprocal increase in Smad1/5 phosphorylation and BMP2 expression. The results indicate that increasing MC‐GAG stiffness induces osteogenic differentiation via the mechanotransduction mediators YAP/TAZ and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, whereas the canonical BMPR signaling pathway is activated independent of stiffness.
Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Volumes Predict Gait Decline in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Wilson Joanna , Yarnall Alison J. , Craig Chesney E. , Galna Brook , Lord Sue , Morris Rosie , Lawson Rachael A. , Alcock Lisa , Duncan Gordon W. , Khoo Tien K. , O'Brien John T. , Burn David J. , Taylor John‐Paul , Ray Nicola J. , Rochester Lynn 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundGait disturbance is an early, disabling feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) that is typically refractory to dopaminergic medication. The cortical cholinergic system, originating in the nucleus basalis of Meynert of the basal forebrain, has been implicated. However, it is not known if degeneration in this region relates to a worsening of disease‐specific gait impairment.ObjectiveTo evaluate associations between sub‐regional cholinergic basal forebrain volumes and longitudinal progression of gait impairment in PD.Methods99 PD participants and 47 control participants completed gait assessments via an instrumented walkway during 2 minutes of continuous walking, at baseline and for up to 3 years, from which 16 spatiotemporal characteristics were derived. Sub‐regional cholinergic basal forebrain volumes were measured at baseline via MRI and a regional map derived from post‐mortem histology. Univariate analyses evaluated cross‐sectional associations between sub‐regional volumes and gait. Linear mixed‐effects models assessed whether volumes predicted longitudinal gait changes.ResultsThere were no cross‐sectional, age‐independent relationships between sub‐regional volumes and gait. However, nucleus basalis of Meynert volumes predicted longitudinal gait changes unique to PD. Specifically, smaller nucleus basalis of Meynert volume predicted increasing step time variability (P = 0.019) and shortening swing time (P = 0.015); smaller posterior nucleus portions predicted shortening step length (P = 0.007) and increasing step time variability (P = 0.041).ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that degeneration of the cortical cholinergic system predicts longitudinal progression of gait impairments in PD. Measures of this degeneration may therefore provide a novel biomarker for identifying future mobility loss and falls. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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