bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Xu , Hu Xianglin , Hu Weiping , Xiang Guiling , Li Shanqun 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown to produce benefits in the muscle function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The definite effectiveness of NMES, applied in isolation or concurrently with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) or exercise training, remains unclear. This review was to determine the effects of NMES on exercise capacity, functional performance, symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in COPD patients. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library) were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two investigators independently screened the eligible studies up to February 2020 that used NMES as the intervention group. The outcome measures were 6-min walking distance (6MWD), peak rate of oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and symptoms of dyspnoea and fatigue. Data were extracted using a predefined table and papers were appraised using Downs and Black tool. We analyzed 13 RCTs with 447 COPD patients. In the analysis of 6MWD, pooled estimates showed a significant increase in the NMES group, compared with the control group (mean difference (MD) = 27.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.46–45.63, P&lt;0.001). There were also improvements in symptoms of dyspnea or leg fatigue, and reduction in London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) scores. No statistically significant difference was observed in VO2 peak, peak power, and SGRQ. NMES could improve exercise capacity and reduce perceived sensation of dyspnea during exercise in patients with COPD, but not to be recommended as an effective alternative training modality in the rehabilitation of stable COPD patients.
PVP‐mediated galvanic replacement growth of AgNPs on copper foil for SERS sensing
Authors: Xiang Wu Hui , Cong Rong Ming , Ma Yi , Duo Chen Shan 
Published: May 2020

Herein, the authors present a simple and cost‐effective silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)‐based surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on galvanic displacement reaction using AgNO3 and copper foil as precursors. With the mediation of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), AgNPs grow in‐situ on the surface of copper foil at room temperature. AgNPs‐based SERS sensor was prepared with optimised AgNO3 concentration of 50 mM, the mass ratio of AgNO3 to PVP of 2:1 and characterised using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. As‐fabricated SERS sensor exhibited a high Raman signal enhancement factor of 3.5 × 105 in the detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G). Furthermore, a decent linear relationship for methyl parathion sensing was obtained in the range from 1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−4 M, with an actual detection limit of 1 × 10−6 M. Recoveries of methyl parathion‐spiked lake water samples ranging from 93.64 to 106.16% were obtained, suggesting the feasibility of the SERS sensor. These features demonstrated that the AgNPs‐based SERS sensor can potentially be used in sensing a trace amount of chemicals in surface water for environmental protection.
Planetary evolution with atmospheric photoevaporation
Authors: Mordasini C. 
Published: May 2020

Context. Observations have revealed in the Kepler data a depleted region separating smaller super-Earths from larger sub-Neptunes. This can be explained as an evaporation valley between planets with and without H/He that is caused by atmospheric escape.
Aims. We want to analytically derive the valley’s locus and understand how it depends on planetary properties and stellar X-ray and ultraviolet (XUV) luminosity. We also want to derive constraints for planet formation models.
Methods. First, we conducted numerical simulations of the evolution of close-in low-mass planets with H/He undergoing escape. We performed parameter studies with grids in core mass and orbital separation, and we varied the postformation H/He mass, the strength of evaporation, and the atmospheric and core composition. Second, we developed an analytical model for the valley locus.
Results. We find that the bottom of the valley quantified by the radius of the largest stripped core, Rbare, at a given orbital distance depends only weakly on postformation H/He mass. The reason is that a high initial H/He mass means that more gas needs to evaporate, but also that the planet density is lower, increasing mass loss. Regarding the stellar XUV-luminosity, Rbare is found to scale as LXUV0.135. The same weak dependency applies to the efficiency factor ε of energy-limited evaporation. As found numerically and analytically, Rbare varies a function of orbital period P for a constant ε as P−2pc∕3 ≈ P−0.18, where Mc ∝ Rcpc is the mass-radius relation of solid cores. We note that Rbare is about 1.7 R⊕ at a ten-day orbital period for an Earth-like composition.
Conclusions. The numerical results are explained very well with the analytical model where complete evaporation occurs if the temporal integral over the stellar XUV irradiation that is absorbed by the planet is larger than the binding energy of the envelope in the gravitational potential of the core. The weak dependency on the postformation H/He means that the valley does not strongly constrain gas accretion during formation. But the weak dependency on primordial H/He mass, stellar LXUV, and ε could be the reason why the valley is so clearly visible observationally, and why various models find similar results theoretically. At the same time, given the large observed spread of LXUV, the dependency on it is still strong enough to explain why the valley is not completely empty.
Gilles-de-la-Tourette-Syndrom
Authors: Hübl Julius , Ganos Christos 
Published: May 2020

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDas Gilles-de-la-Tourette-Syndrom (GTS) zählt zu den häufigeren primären Tic-Störungen im klinischen Alltag. Die Diagnose basiert auf der Kombination motorischer und vokaler Tics mit Beginn im Kindes- oder Jugendalter und ist in den meisten Fällen mit hoher Sicherheit möglich. Selten sind Tics die einzigen Symptome bei GTS-Patienten. Bei der Mehrzahl bestehen weitere neuropsychiatrische Komorbiditäten wie ADHS, Zwangs- und affektive Störungen. Störungen aus dem Autismus-Spektrum sind ebenfalls häufig mit Tics assoziiert. Anzahl und Ausmaß der Komorbiditäten können hierbei mit der Intensität und Frequenz der Tics korrelieren und beeinflussen maßgeblich die Lebensqualität. Die Differenzialdiagnose von Tics umfasst zum einen weitere hyperkinetische Bewegungsstörungen wie Myoklonus und Chorea, zum anderen das Spektrum funktioneller Tic-ähnlicher Bewegungen. In dem vorliegenden Artikel beschreiben wir das klinische Spektrum des GTS mit typischen Komorbiditäten und klinische Anhaltspunkte in der Differenzialdiagnose von Tics.
Effects of TNF-α-308G/A Polymorphism on the Risk of Diabetic Nephropathy and Diabetic Retinopathy: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Mengwei , Shang Mengke , Wang Yue , Li Qian , Liu Xiuping , Yang Luping , Zhang Qian , Zhang Kaili , Liu Shan , Nie Fangfang , Zeng Fanxin , Wen Youhan , Liu Wanyang 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDiabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are the major factors of morbidity and mortality in the patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Growing studies have investigated the relationship between the TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism and the susceptibility to DN and DR, without achieving consensus. Thus, we conducted this meta-analysis to reach more comprehensive conclusions for these issues. Eligible studies were retrieved through electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Summary of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated to evaluate the intensity of the associations. Statistical analyses were performed by STATA 11.0 and RevMan 5.2. There are fourteen eligible publications involving nineteen studies in this meta-analysis. TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism was significantly related to increasing risk of DN under recessive model (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.03–1.83) and homozygous model (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.15–2.06). Moreover, the similar results were also obtained in Asian groups for DN (recessive: OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.18–2.42; homozygous: OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.38–2.86; respectively), and significant association was also detected between TNF-α-308G/A and DN susceptibility in type 2 DM in recessive model (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.02–1.89). No significant association was observed between TNF-α-308G/A and DR susceptibility in total analyses and subgroup analyses by ethnicity and type of DM. TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism may enhance the susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy, especially in Asian population and in T2DM patients, but not diabetic retinopathy.
Is Exercise-Induced Fatigue a Problem in Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Authors: Blaschek Astrid , Rodrigues Martin , Ille Lena , Idriess Mohammed , Well Therese , Warken Birgit , Müller Christine , Hannibal Iris , Tacke Moritz , Müller-Felber Wolfgang , Vill Katharina 
Published: May 2020

AbstractObjective Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating X-linked muscular disorder. The number of studies investigating new therapeutic approaches is substantially increasing. This study aims to investigate the impact and diagnostic value of exercise-induced fatigue in DMD, which has been proposed as a suitable outcome parameter in other conditions like spinal muscular atrophy.Patients and Methods A cohort of 55 DMD patients (49 of them treated with steroids and 9 with ataluren) underwent a total of 241 6MWT (mean 4.4 tests/patient) which were retrospectively analyzed. Exercise-induced fatigue was assessed by the ratio between the distance achieved in the sixth minute and the distance in the second minute of the 6MWT. In previous studies a quotient above 1 was defined as a sign of fatigue.Results The average fatigue quotient in the whole cohort of patients was 1.0. In a further analysis no impact of age, steroid therapy, ataluren therapy, overall disability, and distance in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) on fatigue in DMD patients could be shown.Conclusion Our data show that fatigue does not play a relevant role in DMD. Analysis of fatigue is not a useful outcome parameter in DMD studies. For this reason we suggest the 2MWT, which is better accepted by the patients, as an alternative to the commonly 6MWT.
In Children with Provoked Venous Thromboembolism, Increasing Plasma Coagulability during the First 3 Months Postdiagnosis is Prognostic of Recurrence
Authors: Betensky Marisol , Mueller M. Gail , Amankwah Ernest K. , Goldenberg Neil A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPrognostic factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence following provoked VTE are largely unknown. Using the Clot Formation and Lysis (CloFAL) assay, single institutional research has shown overall improvement in acute hypercoagulability during the first 3 months postpediatric VTE, yet a rise in plasma coagulability in a subgroup of patients. We sought to define the incidence of rise in coagulability during the first 3 months post-provoked VTE, to investigate its relationship with elevated D-dimer, and to test the hypothesis that a marked rise in coagulability is independently prognostic of VTE recurrence. CloFAL and D-dimer assays were performed on plasma at 4 to 6 weeks and 3 months post-VTE in the Johns Hopkins pediatric VTE cohort and National Institutes of Health-sponsored Kids-DOTT trial. Associations of VTE recurrence with D-dimer and CloFAL assay measures were evaluated via logistic regression. Eighty-seven patients were included. Median follow-up was 1 year. Complete veno-occlusion was determined in 12% at 6 weeks. During the first 3 months post-VTE, a marked rise in coagulability was observed by CloFAL assay in 17% of patients, while D-dimer was elevated in 21%. Recurrent VTE occurred in 10% of patients. CloFAL assay, but not D-dimer, was associated with recurrence (odds ratio [OR] 5.87, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.34–25.8]). After adjustment for veno-occlusion, patients with a marked rise in coagulability by CloFAL assay had a 10-fold increased risk of recurrent VTE (OR 10.33 [95% CI, 1.83–58.19]). Future work should seek to elucidate the mechanisms underlying a rise in plasma coagulability following provoked VTE and to substantiate its prognostic utility for recurrent VTE.
Platelet Integrin αIIbβ3 Activation is Associated with 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Healthy Adults
Authors: Aleva Floor E. , Tunjungputri Rahajeng N. , van der Vorm Lisa N. , Li Yang , Heijdra Yvonne F. , Oosting Marije , Smeekens Sanne P. , Jaeger Martin , Joosten Leo A.B. , de Groot Philip G. , Netea Mihai G. , van der Ven Andre J.A.M. , de Mast Quirijn 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background Cardiovascular events are associated with low circulating vitamin D concentrations, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, platelet function, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes influencing vitamin D biology in the 500 Functional Genomics (500FG) cohort.
Methods In this observational study, platelet activation and function were measured by flow cytometry by binding of fibrinogen to the activated fibrinogen receptor integrin αIIbβ3 and expression of P-selectin, markers of platelet aggregation and degranulation, respectively. These parameters were correlated to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and genotyping was performed to investigate SNPs in genes important for vitamin D biology.
Results Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations correlated inversely with baseline platelet binding of fibrinogen to integrin αIIbβ3 (Pearson's r= –0.172, p = 0.002) and platelet responses to platelet agonist cross-linked collagen-related peptide (CRP-XL) (Pearson's r= –0.196,p = 0.002). This effect was due to circulating vitamin D levels ≤50nmol/L, since no differences in platelet fibrinogen binding were observed between subjects with normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (>75nmol/L) and a 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency (50–75 nmol/L). No correlations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and platelet P-selectin expression were found. Several SNPs in the GC region of the vitamin D binding proteingene were associated with platelet responses to CRP-XL.
Conclusion Low circulating vitamin D concentrations are associated with increased platelet fibrinogen binding to integrin αIIbβ3 in unstimulated samples and after stimulation with CRP-XL. These findings may contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular events in vitamin D deficient adults and its seasonal variation. Further studies are needed to investigate causality.
Targeted inhibition of thrombin attenuates murine neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Namachivayam Kopperuncholan , MohanKumar Krishnan , Shores Darla R. , Jain Sunil K. , Fundora Jennifer , Everett Allen D. , He Ling , Pan Hua , Wickline Samuel A. , Maheshwari Akhil 
Published: May 2020

Significance
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory bowel necrosis of premature infants and is a leading cause of death in these patients. It is an orphan disease with no specific treatment. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of NEC-related thrombocytopenia, a characteristic feature of this disease. We tested the hypothesis that platelet activation and depletion occur during NEC once mucosal disruption is well established and is secondary to bacterial translocation across the damaged mucosa. Surprisingly, platelet activation turned out to be an early thrombin-mediated pathogenetic event during NEC-like injury. We show that a targeted nanomedicine approach to inhibit thrombin can attenuate NEC-like injury. If confirmed in clinical studies, this would be a specific treatment for NEC.
A myosin-7B–dependent endocytosis pathway mediates cellular entry of α-synuclein fibrils and polycation-bearing cargos
Authors: Zhang Qi , Xu Yue , Lee Juhyung , Jarnik Michal , Wu Xufeng , Bonifacino Juan S. , Shen Jingshi , Ye Yihong 
Published: May 2020

Significance
Direct cell-to-cell spreading of misfolded protein aggregates, such as α-synuclein fibrils (α-Syn), is a pathological hallmark associated with the progression of many neurodegenerative diseases, but it is unclear how mammalian cells take up large protein aggregates to initiate this prion-like protein transmission process. Here we define the endocytosis mechanism of α-Syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and live-cell imaging techniques. Our study shows that α-Syn PFFs enter cells following an entry pathway that is specifically tailored for cargos bearing positive charges. These cargos bind to heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface via charge–charge interactions, which enable cargo internalization by a previously unknown endocytosis mechanism that requires forces generated by myosin-7B and actin filaments.
Direct observation of helicase–topoisomerase coupling within reverse gyrase
Authors: Yang Xi , Garnier Florence , Débat Hélène , Strick Terence R. , Nadal Marc 
Published: May 2020

Significance
Collaboration between RecQ helicase and type IA topoisomerase has been found in organisms representing all levels of complexity, including the well-known BLM helicase–Top3α combination found in humans and capable of dissolving DNA double-Holliday junctions. Uniquely, hyperthermophiles have fused these functional units into a chimeric enzyme known as reverse gyrase (RG), which is capable of positively supercoiling DNA using ATP hydrolysis. Single-molecule experimentation allows us to observe at single-molecule resolution the helicase–topoisomerase coupling in RG that leads to the catalytic transitions that make up a complete ATP cycle. Subunit collaboration in RG serves as an entry point to fully understanding the universal cooperation between RecQ and Top IA.
Mechanism of water extraction from gypsum rock by desert colonizing microorganisms
Authors: Huang Wei , Ertekin Emine , Wang Taifeng , Cruz Luz , Dailey Micah , DiRuggiero Jocelyne , Kisailus David 
Published: May 2020

Significance
This research provides an in-depth analysis of how microorganisms are able to survive in the world’s driest non-polar place, the Atacama Desert, Chile. We show that these organisms extract water from gypsum rocks in this desert, enabling these colonizing microorganisms to sustain life in this extreme environment. We believe the results in this work could not only shed light on how microorganisms can obtain water under severe xeric conditions, but also provide insights into potential life in even more extreme environments, such as Mars, as well as offer strategies for advanced water storage methods.
Five enzymes of the Arg/N-degron pathway form a targeting complex: The concept of superchanneling
Authors: Oh Jang-Hyun , Hyun Ju-Yeon , Chen Shun-Jia , Varshavsky Alexander 
Published: May 2020

SignificanceThe Arg/N-degron pathway targets proteins for degradation by recognizing their N-terminal residues. In the present study, we used in vivo and in vitro binding assays to identify specific multienzyme targeting complexes of the Arg/N-degron pathway in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human cells. These targeting complexes contain N-terminal amidases, an arginyltransferase, and specific ubiquitin ligases of the Arg/N-degron pathway. Enzymes or assemblies of enzymes that catalyze sequential reactions have been observed to exhibit substrate channeling, in which a reaction intermediate can be transferred between active sites of interacting enzymes without release of intermediate to the bulk solution. It remains to be determined whether targeting complexes discovered in the present work function to enable substrate channeling.
Numbing the perception of stigma: system justification decreases psychological distress by reducing perceived stigma among gay men and lesbians (Adormeciendo la percepción del estigma: la justificación del sistema disminuye el malestar psicológico mediante la reducción del estigma percibido entre gays y lesbianas)
Authors: Bahamondes Joaquín , Gómez Fabiola , Barrientos Jaime , Cárdenas Manuel , Guzmán-González Mónica 
Published: May 2020

System justification theory posits that perceiving society as fair and legitimate provides palliative benefits to people who endorse such beliefs. Despite mixed evidence among socially disadvantaged groups, recent evidence shows that members of disadvantaged groups minimize perceptions of discrimination in order to reap palliative benefits. We tested this hypothesis in a sample of gay men and lesbians in Chile ( N = 467). Specifically, we examined the effects of system justification on psychological distress, and the mediating role of perceived sexual stigma. As expected, system justification was negatively associated with psychological distress via minimizing perceptions of sexual stigma towards the in-group. Our study replicates previous results, and unveils a soporific mechanism of system-justifying beliefs: that of providing palliative benefits to sexual minorities’ well-being by minimizing perceptions of their in-group as target of sexual stigma. Considerations for the well-being and status of sexual minorities and their unwitting compliance with heteronormativity are further discussed.
Improving wafer-scale Josephson junction resistance variation in superconducting quantum coherent circuits
Authors: Kreikebaum J M , O’Brien K P , Morvan A , Siddiqi I 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Quantum bits, or qubits, are an example of coherent circuits envisioned for next-generation computers and detectors. A robust superconducting qubit with a coherent lifetime of O(100 µs) is the transmon: a Josephson junction functioning as a non-linear inductor shunted with a capacitor to form an anharmonic oscillator. In a complex device with many such transmons, precise control over each qubit frequency is often required, and thus variations of the junction area and tunnel barrier thickness must be sufficiently minimized to achieve optimal performance while avoiding spectral overlap between neighboring circuits. Simply transplanting our recipe optimized for single, stand-alone devices to wafer-scale (producing 64, 1x1 cm dies from a 150 mm wafer) initially resulted in global drifts in room-temperature tunneling resistance of ± 30%. Inferring a critical current

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variation from this resistance distribution, we present an optimized process developed from a systematic 38 wafer study that results in < 3.5% relative standard deviation (RSD) in critical current (

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σ

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) for 3000 Josephson junctions (both single-junctions and asymmetric SQUIDs) across an area of 49 cm2. Looking within a 1x1 cm moving window across the substrate gives an estimate of the variation characteristic of a given qubit chip. Our best process, utilizing ultrasonically assisted development, uniform ashing, and dynamic oxidation has shown

σ

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= 1.8% within 1x1 cm, on average, with a few 1x1 cm areas having

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< 1.0% (equivalent to

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< 0.5%). Such stability would drastically improve the yield of multi-junction chips with strict critical current requirements.