bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of soya consumption on inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Rezazadegan Mahsa , Mirjalili Fatemeh , Clark Cain C. T. , Rouhani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInflammation is a major cause of chronic diseases. Several studies have investigated the effects of soya intake on inflammatory biomarkers; however, the results are equivocal. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that evaluated the effect of soya consumption on inflammatory biomarkers. Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar were systematically searched, up to and including May 2020, for clinical trials that evaluated the effects of soya and soya products on TNF-α, IL-6, IL-2, IL-1β and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in adults. A random effects method was used to calculate overall effects, and subgroup analyses were performed to discern probable sources of inter-study heterogeneity. A total of twenty-eight clinical trials were included. Although soya consumption reduced TNF-α (Hedges’ g = –0·28; 95 % CI –0·49, –0·07), it had no significant effect on IL-6 (Hedges’ g = 0·07, 95 % CI –0·14, 0·28), IL-2 (mean difference (MD) = –1·38 pg/ml; 95 % CI –3·07, 0·31), IL-1β (MD = –0·02 pg/ml; 95 % CI –0·08, 0·03) and IFN-γ (MD = 1685·82 pg/ml; 95 % CI –1604·86, 4976·50). Subgroup analysis illustrated a reduction in TNF-α in parallel designed studies, at dosages ≥100 mg of isoflavones, and in unhealthy subjects. The present study showed that high doses of isoflavones in unhealthy subjects may yield beneficial effects on TNF-α.
Legislative and Other Selected Challenges Affecting Financial Inclusion for the Poor and Low Income Earners in South Africa
Authors: Chitimira Howard , Ncube Menelisi 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis article discusses the challenges affecting the achievement of financial inclusion for the poor and low-income earners in South Africa. The concept of financial inclusion could be defined as the provision of affordable financial products and services to all members of the society by the government and/or other relevant role-players such as financial services providers. This article identifies unemployment, poverty, financial illiteracy, over-indebtedness, high bank fees, mistrust of the banking system, lack of relevant national identity documentation and poor legislative framework for financial inclusion as some of the challenges affecting the full attainment of financial inclusion for the poor and low-income earners in South Africa. Given these flaws, the article highlights the need for the government, financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to adopt legislative and other measures as an antidote to financial exclusion and poverty challenges affecting the poor and low-income earners in South Africa.
Effects of different sources and levels of tannins on live performance and antioxidant response of Ossimi lambs
Authors: Hassan Tamer M. M. , Ahmed-Farid Omar A. , Abdel-Fattah Fathy A. I. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPomegranate peels (PP) and mango leaves (ML) were analysed for nutrients and tannin contents. In anin vitrotest, ten diets were prepared; six contained 2, 4 and 6% of PP or ML, three diets supplemented with mixed levels of PP and ML (1 + 1%, 2 + 2% and 3 + 3%) and control diet free of them. Gas was measured after 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Methane and rumen parameters were estimated. In anin vivoexperiment, 40 Ossimi lambs were divided into four groups; the first was control, other groups (T1, T2 and T3) fed diets containing 6% PP, 6% ML or mix levels (3% PP + 3%ML), respectively, for 2 months. Results showed that PP and ML were rich in tannins. In thein vitrotest, a maximum reduction in gas, methane and NH3-N was in 6% PP, 6% ML and mixed levels (3% PP + 3% ML). In thein vivoexperiment, there were no differences in growth and digestibility of DM and nutrients between treatment groups. Only a lowered DM intake and protein digestibility in lambs fed 6% PP. Gas and methane emission was decreased significantly in lambs fed 6% PP, compared to other groups. TVFAs and NH3-N were decreased for treatment groups. Also, all treatments did not show any pathological changes in liver function or on oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, PP and ML can be used in sheep diets at inclusion levels of 6% and mixture without detrimental effects on general health of Ossimi lambs.
Commercial bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) hives under exclusion netting systems for apple pollination in orchards
Authors: Normandeau Bonneau Mélanie , Samson-Robert Olivier , Fournier Valérie , Chouinard Gérald 
Published: August 2020

AbstractExclusion netting systems are effective in various contexts and are increasingly used to control crop pests. However, factors affecting pollination management under nets are poorly known. The pollination effectiveness of commercial bumble bee hives ofBombus impatiensCresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was studied for apple production under exclusion netting systems in a research orchard located in Quebec, Canada during 2016–2017. Sixteen single-row plots of apple trees (plot length: 18.5 m, cultivar GingerGold) were subjected to one of the following four treatments during bloom: (1) introduction of a bumble bee hive placed at the end of the row, under nets; (2) introduction of a bumble bee hive placed in the middle of the row, under nets; (3) negative control with no pollinators, under nets and (4) agronomic control with nearby bee hives (<50 m), without nets. Resulting post-harvest fruit quality (e.g., fruit weight, size, number and distribution of seeds) was evaluated, as well as correlations between bumble bee visitation rates and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. Results suggest that bumble bees provided adequate pollination under exclusion netting systems and that resulting fruit quality was equivalent to that of apple fruit conventionally pollinated by honey bees and wild bees community (bumble bees and other bees) in the orchard environment. Positioning bumble bee hives in the middle of the row provided better fruit load homogeneity in pollinated trees. Additional discussion on bumble bees as apple pollinators and on pollen distribution methods is also included.
The Global Sink of Available Potential Energy by Mesoscale Air‐Sea Interaction
Authors: Bishop Stuart P. , Small R. Justin , Bryan Frank O. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe thermal component of oceanic eddy available potential energy (EPE) generation due to air‐sea interaction is proportional to the product of anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) and net air‐sea heat flux (SHF). In this study we assess EPE generation and its timescale and space‐scale dependence from observations and a high‐resolution coupled climate model. A dichotomy exists in the literature with respect to the sign of this term, that is, whether it is a source or a sink of EPE. We resolve this dichotomy by partitioning the SST and net heat flux into climatological mean, climatological seasonal cycle, and remaining transient contributions, thereby separating the mesoscale eddy variability from the forced seasonal cycle. In this decomposition the mesoscale air‐sea SST‐SHF feedbacks act as a 0.1 TW global sink of EPE. In regions of the ocean with a large seasonal cycle, for example, midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, the EPE generation by the forced seasonal cycle exceeds the mesoscale variability sink, such that the global generation by seasonal plus eddy variability acts as a 0.8 TW source. EPE destruction is largest in the midlatitude western boundary currents due to mesoscale air‐sea interaction and in the tropical Pacific where SST variability is due mainly to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. The EPE sink in western boundary currents is spatially aligned with SST gradients and offset to the poleward side of currents, while the mean and seasonal generation are aligned with the warm core of the current. By successively smoothing the data in space and time we find that half of the EPE sink is confined to timescales less than annual and length scales less than 2°, within the oceanic mesoscale band.
Androgen receptor signaling regulates the transcriptome of prostate cancer cells by modulating global alternative splicing
Authors: Shah Kalpit , Gagliano Teresa , Garland Lisa , O’Hanlon Timothy , Bortolotti Daria , Gentili Valentina , Rizzo Roberta , Giamas Georgios , Dean Michael 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAndrogen receptor (AR), is a transcription factor and a member of a hormone receptor superfamily. AR plays a vital role in the progression of prostate cancer and is a crucial target for therapeutic interventions. While the majority of advanced-stage prostate cancer patients will initially respond to the androgen deprivation, the disease often progresses to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Interestingly, CRPC tumors continue to depend on hyperactive AR signaling and will respond to potent second-line antiandrogen therapies, including bicalutamide (CASODEX®) and enzalutamide (XTANDI®). However, the progression-free survival rate for the CRPC patients on antiandrogen therapies is only 8–19 months. Hence, there is a need to understand the mechanisms underlying CRPC progression and eventual treatment resistance. Here, we have leveraged next-generation sequencing and newly developed analytical methodologies to evaluate the role of AR signaling in regulating the transcriptome of prostate cancer cells. The genomic and pharmacologic stimulation and inhibition of AR activity demonstrates that AR regulates alternative splicing within cancer-relevant genes. Furthermore, by integrating transcriptomic data from in vitro experiments and in prostate cancer patients, we found that a significant number of AR-regulated splicing events are associated with tumor progression. For example, we found evidence for an inadvertent AR-antagonist-mediated switch in IDH1 and PL2G2A isoform expression, which is associated with a decrease in overall survival of patients. Mechanistically, we discovered that the epithelial-specific splicing regulators (ESRP1 and ESRP2), flank many AR-regulated alternatively spliced exons. And, using 2D invasion assays, we show that the inhibition of ESRPs can suppress AR-antagonist-driven tumor invasion. Our work provides evidence for a new mechanism by which AR alters the transcriptome of prostate cancer cells by modulating alternative splicing. As such, our work has important implications for CRPC progression and development of resistance to treatment with bicalutamide and enzalutamide.
Gammaproteobacteria mediating utilization of methyl-, sulfur- and petroleum organic compounds in deep ocean hydrothermal plumes
Authors: Zhou Zhichao , Liu Yang , Pan Jie , Cron Brandi R , Toner Brandy M , Anantharaman Karthik , Breier John A , Dick Gregory J , Li Meng 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Deep-sea hydrothermal plumes are considered natural laboratories for understanding ecological and biogeochemical interactions. Previous studies focused on interactions between microorganisms and inorganic, reduced hydrothermal inputs including sulfur, hydrogen, iron, and manganese. However, little is known about transformations of organic compounds, especially methylated, sulfur-containing compounds, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Here, we reconstructed nine gammaproteobacterial metagenome-assembled genomes, affiliated with Methylococcales, Methylophaga, and Cycloclasticus, from three hydrothermal ecosystems. We present evidence that these three groups have high transcriptional activities of genes encoding cycling of C1-compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, and organic sulfur in hydrothermal plumes. This includes oxidation of methanethiol, the simplest thermochemically-derived organic sulfur, for energy metabolism in Methylococcales and Cycloclasticus. Together with active transcription of genes for thiosulfate and methane oxidation in Methylococcales, these results suggest an adaptive strategy of versatile and simultaneous use of multiple available electron donors. Meanwhile, the first near-complete MAG of hydrothermal Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans and its transcriptional profile point to active chemotaxis targeting small organic compounds. Petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading Cycloclasticus are abundant and active in plumes of oil spills as well as deep-sea vents, suggesting that they are indigenous and effectively respond to stimulus of hydrocarbons in the deep sea. These findings suggest that these three groups of Gammaproteobacteria transform organic carbon and sulfur compounds via versatile and opportunistic metabolism and modulate biogeochemistry in plumes of hydrothermal systems as well as oil spills, thus contributing broad ecological impact to the deep ocean globally.
Resilience, COVID-19-related stress, anxiety and depression during the pandemic in a large population enriched for healthcare providers
Authors: Barzilay Ran , Moore Tyler M. , Greenberg David M. , DiDomenico Grace E. , Brown Lily A. , White Lauren K. , Gur Ruben C. , Gur Raquel E. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 pandemic is a global calamity posing an unprecedented opportunity to study resilience. We developed a brief resilience survey probing self-reliance, emotion-regulation, interpersonal-relationship patterns and neighborhood-environment, and applied it online during the acute COVID-19 outbreak (April 6–15, 2020), on a crowdsourcing research website (www.covid19resilience.org) advertised through social media. We evaluated level of stress (worries) regarding COVID-19: (1) contracting, (2) dying from, (3) currently having, (4) family member contracting, (5) unknowingly infecting others with (6) experiencing significant financial burden following. Anxiety (GAD7) and depression (PHQ2) were measured. Totally, 3042 participants (n = 1964 females, age range 18–79, mean age = 39) completed the resilience and COVID-19-related stress survey and 1350 of them (mean age = 41, SD = 13; n = 997 females) completed GAD7 and PHQ2. Participants significantly endorsed more distress about family contracting COVID-19 (48.5%) and unknowingly infecting others (36%), than getting COVID-19 themselves (19.9%), p < 0.0005 covarying for demographics and proxy COVID-19 exposures like getting tested and knowing infected individuals. Patterns of COVID-19 related worries, rates of anxiety (GAD7 > 10, 22.2%) and depression (PHQ2 > 2, 16.1%) did not differ between healthcare providers and non-healthcare providers. Higher resilience scores were associated with lower COVID-19 related worries (main effect F1,3054 = 134.9; p < 0.00001, covarying for confounders). Increase in 1 SD on resilience score was associated with reduced rate of anxiety (65%) and depression (69%), across healthcare and non-healthcare professionals. Findings provide empirical evidence on mental health associated with COVID-19 outbreak in a large convenience sample, setting a stage for longitudinal studies evaluating mental health trajectories following COVID-19 pandemic.
Long noncoding RNA TTN-AS1 facilitates tumorigenesis and metastasis by maintaining TTN expression in skin cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Dongping , Lu Jiqiang , Chen Lin , Zhang Shengnan , Qi Weiyan , Li Weiguang , Xu Hanmei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe antisense transcript, emanating from the opposite strand to a protein-coding or sense strand, has been reported to have critical roles in gene regulation. The perturbation of an antisense RNA can alter the expression of sense messenger RNAs. In this study, a long noncoding RNA TTN-AS1 (lncRNA-TTN-AS1), which is transcribed in the opposite direction of the human titin (TTN) gene, has been identified and explored in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). We found that the expression of TTN and lncRNA-TTN-AS1 had a significantly positive correlation in SKCM cells. Functionally, ectopic expression of TTN and lncRNA-TTN-AS1 promoted SKCM tumorigenesis and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, knockdown of TTN partially abrogated lncRNA-TTN-AS1 induced SKCM tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, hypomethylation of transcription initiation site was responsible for lncRNA-TTN-AS1 high expression levels. LncRNA-TTN-AS1 facilitated SKCM progression by promoting TTN expression at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. As detailed, lncRNA-TTN-AS1 had a significant effect on the increase of TTN promoter activity. Besides, lncRNA-TTN-AS1 also induced the accumulation of TTN in cytoplasm by increasing the stability of TTN mRNA. Clinically, we found that high TTN and lncRNA-TTN-AS1 expression were positively correlated with poor overall survival of SKCM patients, and may be considered as novel biomarkers and drug targets for SKCM patients.
Chemotherapeutic resistance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is mediated by EpCAM induction driven by IL-6/p62 associated Nrf2-antioxidant pathway activation
Authors: Noman Abu Shadat M. , Parag Rashed R. , Rashid Muhammad I. , Islam Shafiqul , Rahman Mohammad Z. , Chowdhury Ali A. , Sultana Afrin , Jerin Chandsultana , Siddiqua Ayesha , Rahman Lutfur , Nayeem Junayed , Akther Sonam , Baidya Sunanda , Shil Rajib K. , Rahman Mizanur , Shirin Afsana , Mahmud Reaz , Hossain S. M. Ikram , Sumi Sharmin A. , Chowdhury Arfina , Basher Shabnam B. , Hasan Abul , Bithy Shammy , Aklima Jannatul , Chowdhury Nabila , Hasan Muhammad N. , Banu Tahmina , Chowdhury Srikanta , Hossain Muhammad M. , Yeger Herman , Farhat Walid A. , Islam Syed S. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractOverexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) has been associated with chemotherapeutic resistance, leads to aggressive tumor behavior, and results in an adverse clinical outcome. The molecular mechanism by which EpCAM enrichment is linked to therapeutic resistance via Nrf2, a key regulator of antioxidant genes is unknown. We have investigated the link between EpCAM and the Nrf2 pathway in light of therapeutic resistance using head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patient tumor samples and cell lines. We report that EpCAM was highly expressed in Nrf2-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC cells. In addition, cisplatin-resistant tumor cells consisted of a higher proportion of EpCAMhigh cells compared to the cisplatin sensitive counterpart. EpCAMhigh populations exhibited resistance to cisplatin, a higher efficiency in colony formation, sphere growth and invasion capacity, and demonstrated reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. Furthermore, Nrf2 expression was significantly higher in EpCAMhigh populations. Mechanistically, expression of Nrf2 and its target genes were most prominently observed in EpCAMhigh populations. Silencing of EpCAM expression resulted in the attenuation of expressions of Nrf2 and SOD1 concomitant with a reduction of Sox2 expression. On the other hand, silencing of Nrf2 expression rendered EpCAMhigh populations sensitive to cisplatin treatment accompanied by the inhibition of colony formation, sphere formation, and invasion efficiency and increased ROS activity. The molecular mechanistic link between EpCAM expression and activation of Nrf2 was found to be a concerted interaction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and p62. Silencing of p62 expression in EpCAMhigh populations resulted in the attenuation of Nrf2 pathway activation suggesting that Nrf2 pathway activation promoted resistance to cisplatin in EpCAMhigh populations. We propose that therapeutic targeting the Nrf2-EpCAM axis might be an excellent approach to modulate stress resistance and thereby survival of HNSCC patients enriched in EpCAMhigh populations.
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 signaling-induced decreases in IRX4 inhibits NANOG-mediated cancer stem-like properties and gefitinib resistance in NSCLC cells
Authors: Jia Zhirong , Zhang Yameng , Yan Aiwen , Wang Meisa , Han Qiushuang , Wang Kaiwei , Wang Jie , Qiao Chen , Pan Zhenzhen , Chen Chuansheng , Hu Dong , Ding Xuansheng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRecent studies have demonstrated that acquisition of cancer stem-like properties plays an essential role in promoting epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, how to regulate cancer stem-like properties and EGFR-TKI resistance is largely unclear. In this study, we discovered that increased iroquois-class homeodomain protein 4 (IRX4) was related to gefitinib resistance in NSCLC cells. Knockdown of IRX4 inhibited cell proliferation, sphere formation, and the expression of CD133, ALDH1A1, NANOG, Sox2 and Notch1, and the transcriptional activity of NANOG promoter. IRX4 overexpression increased the protein level of NANOG and CD133 in PC-9 cells. Combination of knocking-down IRX4 with gefitinib increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell viability and the expression of p-EGFR and NANOG in PC-9/GR cells. IRX4 knockdown in a PC-9/GR xenograft tumor model inhibited tumor progression and the expression of NANOG and CD133 more effectively than single treatment alone. Knockdown of NANOG inhibited the expression of CD133 and restored gefitinib cytotoxicity, and NANOG overexpression-induced cancer stem-like properties and gefitinib resistance could be obviously reversed by knocking-down IRX4. Further, we found that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) reduced obviously the expression of IRX4 and NANOG by inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway; moreover, combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and gefitinib decreased cell viability and proliferation or tumor progression and the expression of IRX4 and NANOG compared with single treatment alone both in PC-9/GR cells and in a PC-9/GR xenograft tumor model. These results reveal that inhibition of IRX4-mediated cancer stem-like properties by regulating 1,25(OH)2D3 signaling may increase gefitinib cytotoxicity. Combination therapy of gefitinib and 1,25(OH)2D3 by targeting IRX4 and NANOG, could provide a promising strategy to improve gefitinib cytotoxicity.
Impact of comorbid conditions on asthmatic adults and children
Authors: Kaplan Alan , Szefler Stanley J. , Halpin David M. G. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractComorbid conditions (comorbidities) can complicate the diagnosis and management of asthma. In different age groups, comorbid conditions can present varying challenges, including diagnostic confusion due to mimicking asthma symptoms, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, therapy for comorbid conditions affecting asthma or therapy for asthma affecting these conditions. This review aims to summarise some common comorbid conditions with asthma, such as rhinitis, vocal cord dysfunction, gastro-oesophageal reflux, psychiatric disorders, obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea, and discuss their prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, highlighting any differences in how they impact children and adults. Overall, there is a lack of data on the impact of treating comorbid conditions on asthma outcomes and further studies are needed to guide age-appropriate asthma management in the presence of these conditions.