bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chitosan is a potential inhibitor of ovarian cancer: Molecular aspects
Authors: Chamani Maryam , Maleki Dana Parisa , Chaichian Shahla , Moazzami Bahram , Asemi Zatollah 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAlthough ovarian cancer has a lower prevalence than breast cancer, its mortality rate is three times higher, which is reported to increase in the coming years. As the early stages of ovarian cancer do not have any obvious symptoms, in most of the cases, this cancer is diagnosed at advanced stages with a poor prognosis. Moreover, in many patients who are diagnosed with advanced stage, relapse of the disease and drug resistance are observed. Over the past years, these women have been treated with chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgeries. However, the chemotherapy could affect the healthy tissues in addition to the malignancies. Therefore, discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic options seems to be a crucial need. Unlike the common invasive and/or nonspecific treatments, nanomedicine is trying to find a new way for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and drug delivery method. Nanoparticles (NPs), which has recently drawn attention, can be used in order to reduce the toxicity and frequent dosing of drugs, tumor‐specific delivery, and early diagnosis for malignancies. Chitosan as an NP and product of chitin deacetylation has multiple characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and safety. In this review, we cover the studies concerned with the role of chitosan in finding solutions to overcome the problems faced in ovarian cancer treatments. Furthermore, we highlight how chitosan is being used in delivering chemotherapy drugs, gene therapy, and imaging methods for both detection and image‐guided therapies.
Estimation of a dynamic stochastic frontier model using likelihood‐based approaches
Authors: Lai Hung‐pin , Kumbhakar Subal C. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThis paper considers a panel stochastic production frontier model that allows the dynamic adjustment of technical inefficiency. In particular, we assume that inefficiency follows an AR(1) process. That is, the current year's inefficiency for a firm depends on its past inefficiency plus a transient inefficiency incurred in the current year. Interfirm variations in the transient inefficiency are explained by some firm‐specific covariates. We consider four likelihood‐based approaches to estimate the model: the full maximum likelihood, pairwise composite likelihood, marginal composite likelihood, and quasi‐maximum likelihood approaches. Moreover, we provide Monte Carlo simulation results to examine and compare the finite‐sample performances of the four above‐mentioned likelihood‐based estimators of the parameters. Finally, we provide an empirical application of a panel of 73 Finnish electricity distribution companies observed during 2008–2014 to illustrate the working of our proposed models.
Acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography for evaluating mechanical properties of soft condensed matters and its biological applications
Authors: Liu Hsiao‐Chuan , Kijanka Piotr , Urban Matthew W. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEvaluating mechanical properties of biological soft tissues and viscous mucus is challenging because of complicated dynamic behaviors. Soft condensed matter models have been successfully used to explain a number of dynamical behaviors. Here, we reported that optical coherence elastography (OCE) is capable of quantifying mechanical properties of soft condensed matters, micellar fluids. A 7.5 MHz focused transducer was utilized to generate acoustic radiation force exerted on the surface of soft condensed matters in order to produce Rayleigh waves. The waves were recorded by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The Kelvin‐Voigt model was adopted to evaluate shear modulus and loss modulus of soft condensed matters. The results reported that various concentrations of micellar fluids can provide reasonable ranges of elasticity from 65.71 to 428.78 Pa and viscosity from 0.035 to 0.283 Pa·s, which are close to ranges for actual biological samples, like mucus. OCE might be a promising tool to differentiate pathologic mucus samples from healthy cases as advanced applications in the future.
Dual growth factor delivery using PLGA nanoparticles in silk fibroin/PEGDMA hydrogels for articular cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Fathi‐Achachelouei Milad , Keskin Dilek , Bat Erhan , Vrana Nihal E. , Tezcaner Aysen 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDegeneration of articular cartilage due to damages, diseases, or age‐related factors can significantly decrease the mobility of the patients. Various tissue engineering approaches which take advantage of stem cells and growth factors in a three‐dimensional constructs have been used for reconstructing articular tissue. Proliferative impact of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and chondrogenic differentiation effect of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) over mesenchymal stem cells have previously been verified. In this study, silk fibroin (SF) and of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) were used to provide a versatile platform for preparing hydrogels with tunable mechanical, swelling and degradation properties through physical and chemical crosslinking as a microenvironment for chondrogenic differentiation in the presence of bFGF and TGF‐β1 releasing nanoparticles (NPs) for the first time. Scaffolds with compressive moduli ranging from 95.70 ± 17.82 to 338.05 ± 38.24 kPa were obtained by changing both concentration PEGDMA and volume ratio of PEGDMA with 8% SF. Highest cell viability was observed in PEGDMA 10%‐SF 8% (1:1) [PEG10‐SF8(1:1)] hydrogel group. Release of bFGF and TGF‐β1 within PEG10‐SF8(1:1) hydrogels resulted in higher DNA and glycosaminoglycans amounts indicating synergistic effect of dual release over proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in hydrogels, respectively. Our results suggested that simultaneous delivery of bFGF and TGF‐β1 through utilization of PLGA NPs within PEG10‐SF8(1:1) hydrogel provided a novel and versatile means for articular cartilage regeneration as they allow for dosage‐ and site‐specific multiple growth factor delivery.
If momma ain't happy with the mentoring relationship, ain't nobody happy with the mentoring relationship: Parental satisfaction as a predictor of mentoring match strength and length
Authors: Shamblen Stephen R. , Courser Matthew W. , Schweinhart April M. , Thompson Kirsten 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMuch evidence exists on whether an individual's perception of a match relationship impacts match strength and length, but relatively less is known about whether parental perceptions of the match (i.e., whether the match is meeting their goals) impacts the length and strength of mentoring relationships. These relationships were examined in a sample of 350 newly formed youth–mentor matches who completed multiple measures of match strength and satisfaction with the match. Parents/guardians were also surveyed about their level of satisfaction with the match. The primary finding of this paper was that parent/guardian dissatisfaction with the match relationships meeting goals was the only significant predictor of a higher likelihood of match closure. Although youth and mentor self‐reports of satisfaction with how match time was spent were the strongest predictors of volunteer and youth match strength ratings, parent/guardian satisfaction with the match relationship also remained a strong predictor of match strength. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Factors associated with perceived containment
Authors: Fite Paula J. , Griffith Rebecca , Tampke Elizabeth C. , Stone Katie J. , Srivastava Vishnupriya 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThere is growing evidence indicating that a lack of perceived containment, or youth's beliefs about whether adults can control their behavior, is associated with problem behavior. However, little research has examined factors that may contribute to perceived containment, which would be helpful in further tailoring prevention and intervention efforts for problem behavior. The current study evaluated associations between callous‐unemotional (C/U) traits, peer delinquency, neighborhood problems, and perceived containment. Associations were examined using a sample of detained youth. Findings indicated that while all three factors were correlated with perceived containment, only C/U traits (particularly the callousness and uncaring subscales) and peer delinquency were uniquely associated with perceived containment. Further, C/U traits did not moderate the links between peer delinquency or neighborhood problems and perceived containment. This study supports the influence of both individual and contextual factors on perceived containment, suggesting multiple factors to target for prevention and intervention.
Health professionals’ practice for young people with, or at risk of, Li–Fraumeni syndrome: An Australasian survey
Authors: Forbes Shepherd Rowan , Keogh Louise A. , Werner‐Lin Allison , Delatycki Martin B. , Forrest Laura E. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLi–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a rare cancer syndrome caused by pathogenic germline variants in TP53, has serious implications for adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–39 years). The early‐onset and multi‐organ cancer risk associated with LFS means health professionals must concurrently contend with the developmental needs of individuals who are diagnosed from a young age, and recent changes in practice due to advances in whole‐body cancer surveillance. To help understand how current practice meets the developmental needs of AYAs with, or at risk of, LFS, we conducted a national online survey to explore the experiences of health professionals who care for this population in Australia and New Zealand. Forty‐three respondents completed the survey (56% genetic counselors), one‐third of whom had facilitated predictive TP53 testing for minors (n = 14/43, 33%). In hypothetical scenarios describing 15‐year‐olds eligible for predictive TP53 testing, respondents were more supportive of testing for emotionally mature compared to immature minors (p = .009); and more supportive of adolescent wishes compared to parental wishes for testing (p = .020) when families held discordant views on testing. Genetic health professionals were more likely than oncology health professionals to address psychological (p = .017) and information needs about reproductive options for LFS during consultations than to refer them on (p = .004). All respondents supported comprehensive risk management for LFS, but noted important medical, logistical, and psychosocial limitations for AYAs. This study offers valuable insight into developmentally appropriate practices of Australasian health professionals who care for AYAs with, or at risk of, LFS. These findings suggest they may foster the autonomy of minors undergoing predictive TP53 genetic testing and be supportive of new whole‐body risk management guidelines.
Combining the use of a fetal fraction‐based risk algorithm and probability of an informative redraw in noninvasive prenatal testing for fetal aneuploidy
Authors: Benn Peter , Martin Kimberly , McKanna Trudy , Valenti Elizabeth , Billings Paul , Demko Zachary 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSome women undergoing noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) do not receive an informative result due to low fetal fraction (FF). A proportion of these are at increased risk for fetal trisomy 13, 18, or triploidy, while others have no change from their prior risk. Women with an initial uninformative NIPT need to be counseled about any such change in their risk for fetal abnormality and also the probability that a redraw will be informative. To help in the decision making, we reviewed a dataset of single nucleotide polymorphism‐based NIPT with uninformative results where a redraw was received. Risk for trisomy 13, 18, or triploidy was evaluated using a fetal fraction‐based risk (FFBR) algorithm. Risk‐unchanged women were further analyzed using a regression model to determine the likelihood of an informative redraw. Of 2,644 women with an uninformative NIPT and a redraw, 1,147 (43.4%) were high risk for trisomy 13, 18, or triploidy. 1,497 (56.6%) were risk unchanged and, of these, 975 (65.1%) cases had an informative redraw (i.e., risks were available for 2,122 (80%) of those initially classified as uninformative). The regression model for the risk‐unchanged cases provided a new table for predicting an informative redraw. Likelihood of a successful redraw was significantly (p < .001) dependent on the initial FF, maternal weight, and time between blood draws. We conclude that the FFBR algorithm and the predictive model for an informative redraw provide complementary additions in the management of women presented with an initially uninformative SNP‐based NIPT due to low FF. We suggest approaches for the counseling and follow‐up testing for women with an initially uninformative NIPT.
Water T2 Mapping in Fatty Infiltrated Thigh Muscles of Patients With Neuromuscular Diseases Using a T2‐Prepared 3D Turbo Spin Echo With SPAIR
Authors: Schlaeger Sarah , Weidlich Dominik , Klupp Elisabeth , Montagnese Federica , Deschauer Marcus , Schoser Benedikt , Bublitz Sarah , Ruschke Stefan , Zimmer Claus , Rummeny Ernst J. , Kirschke Jan S. , Karampinos Dimitrios C. 
Published: December 2019

BackgroundMuscle water T2 (T2w) has been proposed as a biomarker to monitor disease activity and therapy effectiveness in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Multi‐echo spin‐echo (MESE) is known to be affected by fatty infiltration. A T2‐prepared 3D turbo spin echo (TSE) is an alternative method for T2 mapping, but has been only applied in healthy muscles.PurposeTo examine the performance of T2‐prepared 3D TSE in combination with spectral adiabatic inversion recovery (SPAIR) in measuring T2w in fatty infiltrated muscles based on simulations and in vivo measurements in thigh muscles of patients with NMD.Study TypeProspective.SubjectsOne healthy volunteer, 34 NMD patients.Field Strength/SequenceT2‐prepared stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), SPAIR STEAM MRS, and SPAIR T2‐prepared STEAM MRS were performed in the subcutaneous fat of a healthy volunteer's thigh. T2 mapping based on SPAIR 2D MESE and SPAIR T2‐prepared 3D TSE was performed in the NMD patients' thigh region. Multi‐TE STEAM MRS was performed for measuring a reference T2w at different thigh locations.AssessmentThe behavior of the fat spectrum in the SPAIR T2‐prepared 3D TSE was simulated using Bloch simulations. The in vivo T2 results of the imaging methods were compared to the in vivo T2w MRS results.Statistical TestsPearson correlation coefficient with slope and intercept, relative error.ResultsThe simulated T2 for the SPAIR T2‐prepared 3D TSE sequence remained constant within a relative error of not more than 4% up to a fat fraction of 80%. In vivo T2 values of SPAIR T2‐prepared 3D TSE were in good agreement with the T2w values of STEAM MRS (R = 0.86; slope = 1.12; intercept = –1.41 ms). In vivo T2 values of SPAIR 2D MESE showed large deviations from the T2w values of STEAM MRS (R = 0.14; slope = 0.32; intercept = 38.83 ms).Data ConclusionThe proposed SPAIR T2‐prepared 3D TSE shows reduced sensitivity to fatty infiltration for T2w mapping in the thigh muscles of NMD patients.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1727–1736.
Feasibility of Point Shear Wave Elastography for Evaluating Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Wei Mei , Ye Xianjun 
Published: December 2019

ObjectivesIn the mode of Virtual Touch quantification (Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany), point shear wave elastography (p‐SWE) is widely used for noninvasive assessments of tissue stiffness, which may be useful in the evaluation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).MethodsThirty patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 control participants (7 with myoma of the uterus and 13 with kidney stones) were enrolled in this prospective study. The 30 patients were further divided into patients with DPN and patients without DPN. Conventional ultrasound examinations and p‐SWE were used to examine the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa.ResultsTibial nerve stiffness values in the overall patient group, patients with DPN, and patients without DPN were all significantly higher than in the control group (P < .05). The cutoff value of p‐SWE for assessing DPN was 2.60 m/s; at that threshold, sensitivity was 63.33%, and specificity was 92.50%.ConclusionsPoint SWE was useful for the noninvasive assessment of DPN and had high specificity. The increased stiffness in patients without DPN indicated that the tibial nerve might be affected by diabetes.
Spatial Motion of Arytenoid Cartilage Using Dynamic Computed Tomography Combined with Euler Angles
Authors: Ma Yanli , Bao Huijing , Wang Xi , Chen Xi , Zhang Zheyi , Wang Jinan , Zhuang Peiyun , Jiang Jack J. , Wilson Azure , Wu Chenxu 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of dynamic computed tomography in recording and describing the spatial motion characteristics of the arytenoid cartilage.MethodsDynamic computed tomography recorded the real‐time motion trajectory of the arytenoid cartilage during inspiration and phonation. A stationary coordinate system was established with the cricoid cartilage as a reference and a motion coordinate system was established using the movement of the arytenoid cartilage. The Euler angles of the arytenoid cartilage movement were calculated by transformation of the two coordinate systems, and the spatial motion characteristics of the arytenoid cartilage were quantitatively studied.ResultsDisplacement of the cricoid cartilage was primarily inferior during inspiration. During phonation, the displacement was mainly superior. When the glottis closed, the superior displacement was about 5–8 mm within 0.56 s. During inspiration, the arytenoid cartilage was displaced superiorly approximately 1–2 mm each 0.56 s. The rotation angle was subtle with slight rotation around the XYZ axis, with a range of 5–10 degrees. During phonation, the displacement of the arytenoid cartilage was mainly inferior (about 4–6 mm), anterior (about 2–4 mm) and medial (about 1–2 mm). The motion of the arytenoid cartilage mainly consisted of medial rolling, and there was an alternating movement of anterior‐posterior tilting. The arytenoid cartilage rolled medially (about 20–40 degrees within 0.56 s), accompanied by anterior‐posterior tilting (about 15–20 degrees within 0.56 s).ConclusionDynamic computed tomography recordings of arytenoid cartilage movement can be combined with Euler transformations as a tool to study the spatial characteristics of laryngeal structures during phonation.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 130:E646–E653, 2020
LncRNA miR143HG suppresses miR‐21 through methylation to inhibit cell invasion and migration
Authors: Xun Wu , Cen Wei , Dahai Yu , Huaqing Wei , Jiping Su , Mengzhu Guo , Ning Meng 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA miR143HG in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).MethodsQuantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and paired t test were used to measure and compare expression levels of miR143HG and miR‐21 in LSCC and nontumor tissues. To analyze the interactions between miR143HG and miR‐21, UM‐SCC‐17A cells were transfected miR143HG expression vector or miR‐21 mimic. The effects of miR143HG and miR‐21 overexpression on UM‐SCC‐17A cell invasion and migration were analyzed by transwell assays.ResultsWe found that miR143HG was downregulated in LSCC and inversely correlated with miR‐21. In LSCC cells, miR143HG overexpression led to the downregulated expression of miR‐21, whereas miR‐21 overexpression failed to affect miR143HG. Methylation‐specific PCR results showed that miR143HG overexpression led to increased methylation of miR‐21. Low expression levels of miR143HG were correlated with poor survival. Overexpression of miR143HG led to decreased, whereas miR‐21 overexpression resulted in increased rate of LSCC cell migration and invasion. In addition, miR‐21 overexpression led to reduced effects of miR143HG on cell invasion and migration.ConclusionTherefore, miR143HG suppresses miR‐21 via methylation to regulate cell behaviors in LSCC.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 130:E640–E645, 2020
Soil organic carbon increment sources and crop yields under long‐term conservation tillage practices in wheat‐maize systems
Authors: Liu Zhen , Gao Tianping , Tian Shenzhong , Hu Hengyu , Li Geng , Ning Tangyuan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLong‐term tillage and straw incorporation significantly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield. However, the studies on the SOC sources under multicropping system are relatively few. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of conservation tillage on SOC and crop yields and distinguish the SOC sources from wheat (C3) and maize (C4). Therefore, the dynamics of SOC, SOC sequestration, and crop yield were evaluated during 15 years of conservation agriculture under conventional tillage (CT), subsoiling (ST), rotary tillage (RT), and zero tillage (ZT) without or with straw incorporation (CTS, STS, RTS, and ZTS, respectively). The results indicated that the highest mean SOC concentration in the 0‐ to 30‐cm soil was found under STS (11.80 g kg−1), which increased by 2.29 g kg−1 than that under CT, whereas RT had the lowest mean SOC concentration (8.10 g kg−1). The increases in annual yield ranged from 0.58 (ZT) to 4.93 (ST) Mg ha−1 during 2005–2017. In comparison with the annual yield of CT, that of STS increased by 2 Mg ha−1 and was significantly higher than other treatments (p < .05) except ZTS and CTS. In comparison with CT, the SOC stock and carbon sequestration rate of STS were the highest and increased by 15.64 Mg ha−1 and 1.05 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively, in the 0‐ to 30‐cm soil. Moreover, the relative contribution of wheat residues to SOC was higher than maize residues under all treatments. Thus, subsoiling combined with C3 straw incorporation was more suitable for restoring degraded land and increasing yields.
Dynamic monitoring of desertification in Naiman Banner based on feature space models with typical surface parameters derived from LANDSAT images
Authors: Guo Bing , Zang Wenqian , Han Baomin , Yang Fei , Luo Wei , He Tianli , Fan Yewen , Yang Xiao , Chen Shuting 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNaiman Banner is one of the most typical semi‐arid vulnerable ecological zones that is characterized by vegetation degradation and severe desertification. Previous studies mostly utilized a single feature space or only the linear correlation model to monitor desertification. In this study, the optimal monitoring model that fully considers the multiple feature spaces and the nonlinear relationship between surface parameters in Naiman Banner was determined, and then the spatial–temporal evolution patterns of the desertification from 1989 to 2017 were analyzed. The results showed that: (a) The albedo–normalized difference vegetation index point‐to‐point model was applicable to areas with high‐vegetation coverage, whereas the albedo–modified soil‐adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) linear model had better applicability in areas with relatively low vegetation coverage. Considering the surface cover, the desertification monitoring index based on albedo‐MSAVI linear model had the best applicability. (b) During 1989–2017, the total desertification area percentage of Naiman County decreased from 90.85% in 1989 to 63.35% in 2017, showing a significant downward trend. (c) During the past 30 years, the desertification process was significantly influenced by human activities, such as ‘Three‐North’ Shelterbelt, Returning Farmland to Forestry, and Returning Farmland to Grassland (d) The desertification levels of unused land and grassland with low coverage was relatively high, whereas the desertification degree of cultivated and forest lands was low. These results can be used as an effective reference for the remote sensing monitoring and evaluation of desertification and can provide data and decision support for the ecological restoration of the region.