bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Curcumol improves cisplatin sensitivity of human gastric cancer cells through inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Huang Xiaofei , Qian Jun , Li Lingchang , Zhang Xiaozhen , Wei Guoli , Lv Jian , Qin Fengxia , Yu Jialin , Xiao Ya , Gong Zhen , Huo Jiege 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundCurcumol was presented to unleash antitumor effects in a variety of cancers, including gastric cancer. However, the relevance between curcumol and cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer still remains unclear. Therefore, the current research was performed to survey the role of curcumol in cisplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer.MethodsFirst, BGC‐823 and BGC‐823/DDP cells were incubated with cisplatin for 48 hr and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis was applied to determine the inhibition rate of cell proliferation and the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin. In addition, BGC‐823 and BGC‐823/DDP cells were treated with curcumol for 48 hr followed with detection of cell viability and apoptosis using MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Moreover, MTT analysis was applied to test the effects of curcumol on cisplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer cells. Lastly, Western blot assay and qRT‐PCR analysis were utilized to check the functions of curcumol on PI3K/AKT pathway‐related markers.ResultsWe found that BGC‐823/DDP cells exhibited stronger resistance to cisplatin compared with BGC‐823 cells. Furthermore, curcumol evidently reduced cell proliferation and facilitated cell apoptosis in BGC‐823/DDP and BGC‐823 cells. Moreover, results from MTT assay demonstrated that curcumol notably promoted the suppression effect of cisplatin and decreased the IC50 of cisplatin in BGC‐823/DDP and BGC‐823 cells. It was also presented that curcumol suppressed the PI3K/AKT pathway dose‐dependently in BGC‐823/DDP and BGC‐823 cells.ConclusionThe findings in the current research demonstrated that curcumol could promote the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to cisplatin‐based chemotherapies via inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (AKT) pathway.
Grand theft hydro? Stemflow interception and redirection by neighbouring Tradescantia ohiensis Raf. (spiderwort) plants
Authors: Rivera Daliza N. , Van Stan John T. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWhen it rains over vegetation, plants have an opportunity to get a limited supply of freshwater. A portion of rain drains directly to the soil down a plant stem in a hydrologic flux called “stemflow.” For short plants with shallow roots, which provide ground cover for most vegetated ecosystems around the globe (including forest understories), stemflow has rarely been examined although it may be ecologically important. This study investigates how much rainwater is funnelled into stemflow for a perennial herb that can densely populate urban environments, Tradescantia ohiensis Raf., spiderwort), in Savannah, Georgia (USA). Given the stem density of spiderworts (19–31 stems m−2), experiments were conducted to assess whether and how much stemflow can be passively intercepted and diverted by leaves in contact with neighbouring plant stems. Spiderworts' stemflow represented a significant portion (20%–60%) of rain and neighbouring plants intercepted and diverted ~50% of another plants' stemflow. This is the first documentation of stemflow interception and redirection by neighbouring plants, to the authors' knowledge. Because physical contact between plants occurs in various vegetated ecosystems (like lianas in forests), future research on this topic may be merited.
Agricultural lands offer seasonal habitats to tigers in a human‐dominated and fragmented landscape in India
Authors: Warrier Rekha , Noon Barry R. , Bailey Larissa 
Published: July 2020

AbstractConserving wide‐ranging large carnivores in human‐dominated landscapes is contingent on acknowledging the conservation value of human‐modified lands. This is particularly true for tigers (Panthera tigris), now largely dependent on small and fragmented habitats, embedded within densely populated agroecosystems in India. Devising a comprehensive conservation strategy for the species requires an understanding of the temporal patterns of space use by tiger within these human‐modified areas. These areas are often characterized by altered prey communities, novel risks resulting from high human densities and seasonally dynamic vegetative cover. Understanding space use within these areas is vital to devising human‐tiger conflict prevention measures and for conserving landscape elements critical to maintain functional connectivity between populations. We documented seasonal space‐use patterns of tigers in agricultural lands surrounding protected areas in the Central Terai Landscape (CTL) in northern India. We estimated the probability of space use and its drivers by applying dynamic occupancy models that correct for false‐positive and false‐negative errors to tiger detection\non‐detection data within agricultural areas. These data were generated by conducting local interviews, sign surveys, and camera trapping within 94 randomly selected 2.5‐km2 grid cells. We found that agricultural areas were used with high probability in the winter (0.64; standard error [SE] 0.08), a period of high vegetative cover availability. The use of agricultural lands was lower in the summer (0.56; SE 0.09) and was lowest in the monsoon season (0.21; SE 0.07), tracking a decline in vegetative cover and available habitat across the landscape. Availability of vegetative cover and drainage features positively influenced space use, whereas use declined with increasing distance to protected areas and the extent of human settlements. These findings highlight the role of agricultural areas in providing seasonal habitats for tigers and offer a basis for understanding where tigers and humans co‐occur in these landscapes. These findings help expand our current understanding of what constitutes large carnivore habitats to include human‐dominated agricultural areas. They underscore the need for greater integration of land‐sharing and land‐sparing initiatives to conserve large carnivores within human‐dominated agroecosystems.
First order derivative spectra to determine caffeine and chlorogenic acids in defective and nondefective coffee beans
Authors: Habtamu Daniel , Belay Abebe 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this research, the application of the first order derivative spectra was employed to determine the levels of caffeine (CAF) and chlorogenic acids (CGA) in defective (immature, black, and sour) and nondefective coffee beans without using extraction or background correction techniques. The extreme points of first order derivate spectra of these compounds were at the wavelength of 260 and 292 nm enable to quantify the contents of CAF and CGA, respectively. The level of CAF and CGA in coffee beans determined by this method is ranged from 1.2 ± 0.12–1.46 ± 0.47% and 4.04 ± 0.44–4.43 ± 0.43%, respectively. The study results also indicated total contents of CAF and CGA levels discriminate the defective and nondefective coffee beans with higher CAF and CGA contents being observed in defective coffee beans. As the method is extremely rapid, easy, and inexpensive and also requires minimal sample preparation for the quantification of CAF and CGA contents in coffee, it could be a valuable quality control technique.
Asymmetric tumor‐related alterations of network‐specific intrinsic functional connectivity in glioma patients
Authors: Jütten Kerstin , Mainz Verena , Delev Daniel , Gauggel Siegfried , Binkofski Ferdinand , Wiesmann Martin , Clusmann Hans , Na Chuh‐Hyoun 
Published: July 2020

AbstractResting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) allows mapping temporally coherent brain networks, and intra‐ and inter‐network alterations have been described in different diseases. This prospective study investigated hemispheric resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) differences in the default‐mode network (DMN) and fronto‐parietal network (FPN) between patients with left‐ and right‐hemispheric gliomas (LH PAT, RH PAT), addressing asymmetry effects the tumor might have on network‐specific intrinsic functional connectivity under consideration of the prognostically relevant isocitrate‐dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status. Twenty‐seven patients (16 LH PAT, 12 IDH‐wildtype) and 27 healthy controls underwent anatomical and rs‐fMRI as well as neuropsychological assessment. Independent component analyses were performed to identify the DMN and FPN. Hemispheric DMN‐ and FPN‐RSFC were computed, compared across groups, and correlated with cognitive performance. Patient groups did not differ in tumor volume, grade or location. RH PAT showed higher contra‐tumoral DMN‐RSFC than controls and LH PAT. With regard to the FPN, contra‐tumoral RSFC was increased in both patient groups as compared to controls. Higher contra‐tumoral RSFC was associated with worse cognitive performance in patients, which, however, seemed to apply mainly to IDH‐wildtype patients. The benefit of RSFC alterations for cognitive performance varied depending on the affected hemisphere, cognitive demand, and seemed to be altered by IDH‐mutation status. At the time of study initiation, a clinical trial registration was not mandatory at our faculty, but it can be applied for if requested.
Monetary policy uncertainty, investor sentiment, and US stock market performance: New evidence from nonlinear cointegration analysis
Authors: Ugurlu‐Yildirim Ecenur , Kocaarslan Baris , Ordu‐Akkaya Beyza M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to examine non‐linear and cointegrating relationships between monetary policy uncertainty, investor sentiment, and stock market for the US economy, via controlling for potential macroeconomic risk factors. We mainly utilize non‐linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) approach and findings support an existing cointegration between the aforementioned variables. Our results also suggest that there is a bidirectional and negative relationship between US stock market performance and monetary policy uncertainty in the short‐run. Furthermore, the effect of monetary policy uncertainty on investor sentiment is significantly negative and not strongly asymmetric in the long‐run. On the other hand, in the short‐run, increasing investor sensitivity to macroeconomic shocks strongly increases monetary policy uncertainty, while reducing sensitivity does not have a significant impact on the monetary policy uncertainty. Finally, we find a positive and bi‐directional relationship between stock prices and investor sentiment both in the short‐ and long‐run. In the long‐run, decreasing investor sensitivity to macroeconomic fluctuations (becoming more optimistic) has a greater positive influence on stock prices than a negative influence on stock prices, since investors are becoming more pessimistic. Implications from our analysis are important to policy makers and investors for determining effective economic policy decisions and proper investment strategies.
The response of precious metal futures markets to unconventional monetary surprises in the presence of uncertainty
Authors: Chebbi Tarek 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article examines the relationship between the unconventional monetary policies and precious metal futures markets by employing an asymmetric conditional volatility specification. The results suggest that the Fed announcements that likely induced lower long‐term yields on average led to significant increases in the returns, while the effect of the ECB's unconventional monetary announcements is much weaker. Also, monetary policy surprises from both Fed and ECB have larger effects on gold return volatility. Moreover, while there are no asymmetric return responses to positive and negative surprises embedded in the monetary policy from the Euro zone, the return reactions of price returns to surprises in Fed's announcements exhibit asymmetry. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the volatility reactions are limited to negative surprises. Finally, we find evidence that the response of gold price changes to monetary announcements by the Fed becomes weaker in the presence of monetary policy uncertainty. We show also that the response of precious metal returns hinges on the sign of the unexpected component of Fed announcements.
Relationship Between Obesity and Risk of Major Osteoporotic Fracture in Postmenopausal Women: Taking Frailty Into Consideration
Authors: Li Guowei , Compston Juliet E , Leslie William D , Thabane Lehana , Papaioannou Alexandra , Lau Arthur , Wang Xiaojie , Qin Chenghe , Chen Bo , Chen Maoshui , Adachi Jonathan D 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
The role of obesity in fracture risk remains uncertain and inconclusive in postmenopausal women. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between obesity and risk of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF; ie, a clinical fracture of upper arm or shoulder, hip, spine, or wrist) in postmenopausal women, after taking frailty into consideration. We used the data from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) 5-year Hamilton cohort for this study. Frailty was measured by a frailty index (FI) of deficit accumulation at baseline. We incorporated an interaction term (obesity × FI) in the Cox proportional hazards regression model. We included 3985 women (mean age 69.4 years) for analyses, among which 29% were obese (n = 1118). There were 200 (5.02%) MOF events documented during follow-up: 48 (4.29%) in obese women and 152 (5.65%) in the nonobese group. Significant relationships between obesity, frailty, and MOF risk were found: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–0.78) for those with an FI of zero regarding MOF risk among obese women, and HR = 1.34 (95% CI 1.11–1.62) per SD increase in the FI among nonobese women. The interaction term was also significant: HR = 1.16 (95% CI 1.02–1.34) per SD increase in the FI among obese women. Increased HRs were found with higher FIs regarding the relationship between obesity and MOF risk, indicating increasing frailty attenuated the protective effect of obesity. For example, although the HR for obesity and MOF risk among those who were not frail (FI = 0) was 0.72 (95% CI 0.67–0.78), among those who were very frail (FI = 0.70), the HR was 0.91 (95% CI 0.85–0.98). To conclude, after taking frailty into consideration, obesity was significantly associated with decreased risk of MOF in postmenopausal women among those who were not frail; however, increasing frailty attenuated this protective effect of obesity. Evaluating frailty status may aid in understanding of the complex relationship between obesity and fracture risk. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The epidemiology and clinical feature of selective immunoglobulin a deficiency of Zhejiang Province in China
Authors: Zhang Junwu , Kong Wanzhong , Ni Jinyao , Guo Zhen , Yang Xunjun , Cao Qun , Wang Sheliang , Feng Yijun , Zhou Ying , Weng Wei , Liang Shanyan , Li Shuang , Chen Yanxia , Liu Jinlin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundSelective immunoglobulin A deficiency (SIgAD) is the most common primary antibody deficiency disease and frequently reported in the Western countries. However, large‐scale epidemiologic studies on SIgAD in China are still lacking.MethodsThe clinical information of 555 180 subjects (age >4 years) including the outpatient, inpatient, and healthy subjects who had ordered serum immunoglobulin A, G, M in 9 hospitals of Zhejiang Province in China was collected. The SIgAD individuals were defined as IgA level <0.07 g/L with normal levels of serum IgG and IgM, whose age should be over 4 years, and any other secondary diseases causing SIgAD were also excluded. Then, the geographical and prevalence distribution of SIgAD individuals in Zhejiang Province and patients' clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis were also reviewed.ResultAmong these 555 180 subjects who had ordered the immunoglobulin evaluation, the prevalence of SIgAD was 109/555180 (0.02%). The ratio of male to female of these SIgAD individuals was 1:1.37, which also included 87 adults (≥18 years) and 22 children (18 > age >4 years). For adults, the common clinical features were infections (43/87, 49.43%), autoimmune disorders (31/87, 35.63%), allergic cases (5/87, 5.75%), and tumor cases (4/87, 4.60%). Additionally, infectious diseases (20/22, 90.91%), autoimmune disorders (4/22, 18.18%), and allergic cases (1/22, 4.55%) were found in 22 children.ConclusionWe first describe a large cohort of SIgAD individuals of Zhejiang Province in China. The incidence was 0.020%. The common clinical features were infection, autoimmune disorders, tumor, and allergy, and the infection rate was higher in children than the adults.
Garcinia cambogia suppresses adipogenesis in 3T3‐L1 cells by inhibiting p90RSK and Stat3 activation during mitotic clonal expansion
Authors: Han Joo‐Hui , Jang Keun‐Woo , Park Min‐Ho , Myung Chang‐Seon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObesity is associated with an increase in adipose tissue, which is mediated by hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Therefore, inhibiting cell proliferation during mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) is one of the major strategies for preventing obesity. The antagonistic effects of Garcinia cambogia (G. cambogia) on obesity have been studied in animal experimental models. However, the effects of G. cambogia extract on MCE, and the underlying molecular mechanisms, are poorly understood. In this study, 3T3‐L1 cells were used to investigate whether G. cambogia extract affected cell proliferation during MCE and to identify target molecules for any anti‐adipogenic activity. G. cambogia extract suppressed isobutylmethylxanthine and dexamethasone‐and‐insulin (MDI)‐induced adipogenesis at an early stage by attenuating MCE. In G. cambogia extract‐treated preadipocytes, MDI‐induced cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were inhibited by G0/G1 arrest due to an increase in p21 and p27 expression, and inhibition of cyclin‐dependent kinase 2, cyclin E1 expression, and retinoblastoma (Rb) phosphorylation. In addition, the MDI‐induced phosphorylation and subsequent translocation into the nucleus of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3 were suppressed. Specific inhibitors of p90RSK (FMK) and Stat3 (stattic) regulated cell proliferation and adipogenesis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that G. cambogia extract inhibited MCE by regulating p90RSK, Stat3, and cell cycle proteins, leading to G0/G1 arrest. These findings provide new insight into the mechanism by which G. cambogia suppresses adipocyte differentiation and show that p90RSK is critical for adipogenesis as a new molecular target.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of benzimidazole pendant cyanopyrimidine derivatives as anticancer agents
Authors: Haoran Wang , Akhtar Wasim , Nainwal Lalit Mohan , Kaushik Sumit Kumar , Akhter Mymoona , Shaquiquzzaman Mohammad , Alam Mohammad Mumtaz 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThirteen new benzimidazole pendant cyanopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized. The compounds were synthesized through multistep reaction protocol. The structures of synthesized derivatives were studied by EI‐MS, 1H NMR, FT‐IR and elemental analysis. All the compounds were studied for their anticancer activity at National Cancer Institute. Except compound 7j, all the compounds unveiled cytotoxicity against cancer cells. The most active compound 7a had shown highest value of growth inhibition of 88.44% and 84.19% against HOP‐92 and T‐47D cancer cell lines.
Side lobe level reduction of thinned concentric elliptical array antenna in vertical and horizontal plane for a desired peak directivity
Authors: Misra Bitan , Mahanti Gautam Kumar 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study, describes the design problem of a thinned multiple concentric elliptical arrays of uniformly excited isotropic antennas using meta‐heuristic optimization algorithms; Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO), Crow Search Algorithm (CSA) and Moth Flame Optimization (MFO) algorithm. Two simulations are performed here. In simulation 1, the synthesis of the thinned array structure is presented in the vertical plane at a scanning angle 30° and in simulation 2, the synthesis is performed in the horizontal plane. In both cases, our objective is to minimize side lobe level (SLL) to the extent possible and at the same time maximize the peak directivity to a level higher than the desired value. Here, all the optimization algorithms are applied to obtain the optimum number of switched on and off elements in every concentric ellipse that will meet the above objective. A comparative analysis of all three algorithms is performed using peak directivity, SLL and first null beam width (FNBW) as well as statistical parameters such as mean, SD, best cost function value and run time. To assess the enhanced outcome of the proposed optimization design comparison is also made with the results of a fully populated concentric elliptical array antenna (CEAA) for both the cases separately. This paper shows a measure of effectiveness and potential of all the algorithms mentioned above, for designing a thinned concentric elliptical array.
Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Wang Yueying , Wang Zhaojia , Tse Gary , Zhang Lin , Wan Elaine Y. , Guo Yutao , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Li Guangping , Lu Zhibing , Liu Tong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has become a major global public health concern. Although SARS‐CoV‐2 causes primarily respiratory problems, concurrent cardiac injury cannot be ignored since it may be an independent predictor for adverse outcomes. Cardiac arrhythmias are often observed in patients with COVID‐19, especially in severe cases, and more likely contribute to the high risk of adverse outcomes. Arrhythmias should be regarded as one of the main complications of COVID‐19. Mechanistically, a number of ion channels can be adversely affected in COVID‐19, leading to alterations in cardiac conduction and/or repolarization properties, as well as calcium handling, which can predispose to cardiac arrhythmogenesis. In addition, several antimicrobials that are currently used as potential therapeutic agents for COVID‐19, such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, have uncertain benefit, and yet may induce electrocardiographic QT prolongation with potential ventricular pro‐arrhythmic effects. Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring, accurate and prompt recognition of arrhythmias are important. The present review focuses on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with COVID‐19, its underlying mechanisms, and proposed preventive and therapeutic strategies.