bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of language context on executive control in unbalanced bilinguals: An ERPs study
Authors: Jiao Lu , Liu Cong , de Bruin Angela , Chen Baoguo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe influence of the language context on language control has been widely discussed in the bilingualism literature, and there is an increase in studies examining the effect of language context on domain‐general executive control. However, it remains unclear how language contexts affect executive control performance. In the present study, we created single‐ and mixed‐language comprehension contexts. Unbalanced Chinese‐English bilinguals completed a modified flanker task that was interleaved with a single‐language or mixed‐language picture‐word matching task. The effects of language comprehension context on language control were reflected by the N2 and LPC effects. Executive control processes also differed depending on the language comprehension context, with faster behavioral responses and larger N2 but smaller P3 electrophysiological components in the mixed‐language context. Moreover, the LPC amplitude in the mixed‐language context predicted the behavioral performance in the executive control task. These findings suggested that flexible language control during language comprehension altered executive control processes in unbalanced bilinguals.
The influence of soil tillage system on Salsola kali L. emergence during the fallow period within cereal fields
Authors: Santín‐Montanyá María Inés , Gandía María Luisa , Casanova Carlos , Sánchez‐Jiménez Francisco Javier , Tenorio José Luis 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWith the move towards conservation agriculture, we have seen an increase in weeds such as Salsola kali L., well known as Russian thistle, which are wind spread over fallow land. The emergence of this weed species seemed erratic, perhaps connected to climate conditions and management techniques. In order to shed some light on this issue, we carried out a field experiment over 3 years to monitor Russian thistle density in fallow plots, comparing three tillage systems. This study provides an insight about the limitations of assuming no‐tillage techniques within a cropping system that include fallow in the rotation sequence. Our results show that no‐tillage systems are more vulnerable to S. kali. Low spring rain leads to high S. kali density, especially in no‐tillage plots. High spring rainfall reduced the emergence in all tillage systems because of soil water saturation. Minimum tillage technique served to maintain control over this species even in weather conditions that favoured its emergence in other systems. In order to reduce the need for herbicide in fallow lands under conservation systems, we recommend the implementation of minimum tillage to combat Russian thistle infestation.
Recent developments in trichodysplasia spinulosa disease
Authors: Narayanan Deepika , Rady Peter L. , Tyring Stephen K. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTrichodysplasia Spinulosa (TS) is a rare proliferative skin disease that occurs primarily in immunocompromised patients, specifically organ transplant recipients. TS is characterized by uncontrolled inner root sheath cell proliferation and folliculocentric papular eruption that can progress to disfiguring leonine facies when left untreated. TS presents with distinct histological features including the presence of large eosinophilic, trichohyaline granules within hyperproliferating inner root sheath cells of the hair bulb. The discovery of the Trichodysplasia Spinulosa Polyomavirus (TSPyV) and recent studies highlighting the role of TSPyV tumor antigens in cell proliferation pathways have provided new insight into the mechanisms of TS development. In this review, we discuss the expansion of our understanding of TS, specifically over the past 5 years. We summarize novel cases of TS and recent developments in the mechanisms underlying TSPyV‐mediated disease progression. We also evaluate advancements in diagnostic methods and treatment options. As the incidence of TS continues to rise, it is becoming critical for clinicians to understand the clinical features of TS and emerging research regarding pathogenesis and therapeutics for early treatment of this potentially disfiguring disease.
Placenta‐targeted treatment in hypoxic dams improves maturation and growth of fetal cardiomyocytes in vitro via the release of placental factors
Authors: Ganguly Esha , Spaans Floor , Morton Jude S. , Kirschenman Raven , Aljunaidy Mais M. , Phillips Thomas E. J. , Case C. Patrick , Cooke Christy‐Lynn M. , Davidge Sandra T. 
Published: August 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Does treatment of hypoxic dams with a placenta‐targeted antioxidant prevent the release of placenta‐derived factors that impair maturation or growth of fetal cardiomyocytes in vitro?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Factors released from hypoxic placentae impaired fetal cardiomyocyte maturation (induced terminal differentiation) and growth (increased cell size) in vitro, which was prevented by maternal treatment with a placenta‐targeted antioxidant (nMitoQ). Moreover, there were no sex differences in the effects of placental factors on fetal cardiomyocyte maturation and growth. Overall, our data suggest that treatment targeted against placental oxidative stress could prevent fetal programming of cardiac diseases via the release of placental factors.

AbstractPregnancy complications associated with placental oxidative stress may impair fetal organ development through the release of placenta‐derived factors into the fetal circulation. We assessed the effect of factors secreted from placentae previously exposed to prenatal hypoxia on fetal cardiomyocyte development and developed a treatment strategy that targets placental oxidative stress by encapsulating the antioxidant MitoQ into nanoparticles (nMitoQ). We used a rat model of prenatal hypoxia (gestational day (GD) 15–21), which was treated with saline or nMitoQ on GD15. On GD21, placentae were harvested, placed in culture, and conditioned medium (containing placenta‐derived factors) was collected after 24 h. This conditioned medium was then added to cultured cardiomyocytes from control dam fetuses. Conditioned medium from prenatally hypoxic placentae increased the percentage of binucleated cardiomyocytes (marker of terminal differentiation) and the size of mononucleated and binucleated cardiomyocytes (sign of hypertrophy), effects that were prevented by nMitoQ treatment. Our data suggest that factors derived from placentae previously exposed to prenatal hypoxia lead to abnormal fetal cardiomyocyte development, and show that treatment against placental oxidative stress may prevent fetal programming of cardiac disease.
Numerical Optimization of Key Design Parameters of a Thermoelectric Microfluidic Sensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Biochemical Analytes
Authors: Ishraq Bari Saif Mohammad , Reis Louis G. , Nestorova Gergana G. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The design of highly sensitive thermoelectric microfluidic sensors for the characterization of biochemical processes is an important area of engineering research. This study reports the design and fabrication of a continuous-flow biosensor with an integrated thermopile and three-dimensional numerical analysis of the critical design parameters that significantly increase the detection sensitivity of the platform. The paper discusses the impact of volumetric flowrate, channel height, material thermal properties, and heat sink on the magnitude of the thermoelectric signal. In the platform understudy, the heat generated by the enzymatic reaction between glucose oxidase-conjugated antibody and glucose is converted to an electric output by an antimony-bismuth thin-film thermopile with a theoretical Seebeck coefficient of 7.14 µV mK−1. Since this experimental configuration has been implemented in a various biochemical analysis, particular emphasis in this work is maximizing the detection sensitivity of the device. Computational thermal modeling was performed to investigate the impact of channel height (50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, and 200 µm), the volumetric flow rate of the substrate (25 µL min−1 and 50 µL min−1), and the microdevice material (glass, PMMA, and PDMS) on the output of the thermoelectric sensor. Experimental data validated the model and provided an excellent correlation between the predicted and measured voltage output. Results show that fabricating the calorimeter out of materials with lower thermal diffusivity, reducing the channel height, and eliminating the heat sink at the reference junction of the thermopile increases the sensitivity of the platform by 783%.
Nondestructive Assessment of Growing Rat Tibial Mechanical Properties Under Three-Point Bending: A Microcomputed Tomography Based Finite Element Study
Authors: Zimmermann Yann , Mustafy Tanvir , Villemure Isabelle 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) based finite element models (FEM) are efficient tools to assess bone mechanical properties. Although they have been developed for different animal models, there is still a lack of data for growing rat long bone models. This study aimed at developing and calibrating voxel-based FEMs using micro-CT scans and experimental data. Twenty-four tibiae were extracted from rats aged 28, 56, and 84 days old (d.o.) (n = 8/group), and their stiffness values were evaluated using three-point bending tests. Prior to testing, tibiae were scanned, reconstructed, and converted into FEM composed of heterogeneous bone properties based on pixel grayscales. Three element material laws (one per group) were calibrated using back-calculation process based on experimental bending data. Two additional specimens per group were used for model verification. The calibrated rigidity–density (E-ρ) relationships were different for each group: E28 = 10,320·ρash3.45; E56 = 43,620·ρash4.41; E84 = 20,090·ρash2.0. Obtained correlations between experimental and FEM stiffness values were 0.43, 0.10, and 0.66 with root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 14.4%, 17.4%, and 15.2% for 28, 56, and 84 d.o. groups, respectively. Prediction errors were less than 13.5% for 28 and 84 d.o. groups but reached 57.1% for the 56 d.o. group. Relationships between bone physical and mechanical properties were found to change during the growth, similarly to bending stiffness values, which increased with bone development. The reduced correlation observed for the 56 d.o. group may be related to the pubescent transition at that age group. These FE models will be useful for investigation of bone behavior in growing rats.
Methodological quality of meta-analyses indexed in PsycINFO: leads for enhancements: a meta-epidemiological study
Authors: Leclercq Victoria , Beaudart Charlotte , Ajamieh Sara , Tirelli Ezio , Bruyère Olivier 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesMeta-analyses (MAs) are often used because they are lauded to provide robust evidence that synthesises information from multiple studies. However, the validity of MA conclusions relies on the procedural rigour applied by the authors. Therefore, this meta-research study aims to characterise the methodological quality and meta-analytic practices of MAs indexed in PsycINFO.DesignA meta-epidemiological study.ParticipantsWe evaluated a random sample of 206 MAs indexed in the PsycINFO database in 2016.Primary and secondary outcomesTwo authors independently extracted the methodological characteristics of all MAs and checked their quality according to the 16 items of the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR2) tool for MA critical appraisal. Moreover, we investigated the effect of mentioning Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) on the methodological quality of MAs.ResultsAccording to AMSTAR2 criteria, 95% of the 206 MAs were rated as critically low quality. Statistical methods were appropriate and publication bias was well evaluated in 87% and 70% of the MAs, respectively. However, much improvement is needed in data collection and analysis: only 11% of MAs published a research protocol, 44% had a comprehensive literature search strategy, 37% assessed and 29% interpreted the risk of bias in the individual included studies, and 11% presented a list of excluded studies. Interestingly, the explicit mentioning of PRISMA suggested a positive influence on the methodological quality of MAs.ConclusionThe methodological quality of MAs in our sample was critically low according to the AMSTAR2 criteria. Some efforts to tremendously improve the methodological quality of MAs could increase their robustness and reliability.
Prevalence trends in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at the global, regional and national levels, 1990–2017: a population-based observational study
Authors: Ge Xiaojun , Zheng Limei , Wang Mei , Du Yuxuan , Jiang Junyao 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of end-stage liver diseases worldwide. Understanding NAFLD prevalence and trends over time at the global, regional and national levels is critical to understanding the NAFLD disease burden and creating more tailored prevention strategies.DesignPopulation-based observational study.SettingThe study was global, including 21 regions and 195 countries or territories.Main outcomes measureThe estimated annual percentage change for NAFLD prevalence.ResultsWorldwide, cases of NAFLD have increased from 391.2 million in 1990 to 882.1 million in 2017, with the prevalence rate increasing from 8.2% to 10.9% during the same period. The increasing trends were consistent across sexes. Case numbers were highest in East Asia, followed by South Asia, then North Africa and the Middle East. The highest prevalence of NAFLD was observed in North Africa and the Middle East, while the greatest increase was detected in Western Europe, followed by Tropical Latin America, then high-income North America.ConclusionNearly all countries or territories worldwide have experienced a significant increase in NAFLD prevalence. The greatest increase was observed in Oman. Almost all countries showed a significant increasing trend in NAFLD prevalence over the past three decades. This drastic increase is alarming and suggests that NAFLD has emerged as a new public health concern worldwide. As such, more efficient prevention strategies are urgently needed.
Improving end-of-life care for adults with cystic fibrosis: an improvement project
Authors: Cathcart Fiona , Wood Jayne , Madge Su 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting disease that results in premature death mainly due to respiratory failure. Literature suggests that for many people with CF end-of-life wishes are discussed too late or not at all, with most dying in hospital. The aim of this project was to improve end-of-life care for adults with CF.DesignThree improvement cycles were carried out over a 2-year period in one of the largest adult CF centres in Europe. The first cycle involved implementing regular multidisciplinary team (MDT) debriefs after a patient death with increased education. The second cycle involved codesigning a CF-specific advance care plan (ACP) with patients, families, bereaved relatives and experts across the UK, then implementing this into our service. The final cycle was designing a CF-specific end of life, online course for clinicians. Success was measured by: use of ACP and whether patients had died in their preferred location, patient feedback via a survey and satisfaction with the online course using a postcourse report.ResultsThe number of patients given the opportunity to discuss their end of life wishes increased from 10% to 85%. The number of patients who died in their preferred location increased from 7% to 85% over the 2-year project time. Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The key barrier has been changing MDT culture, overcoming this required the engagement of the whole team. The online course has been successful with 258 participants to date from 26 countries.ConclusionEducation, staff support and a CF-specific ACP document empowered healthcare professionals to initiate difficult conversations to improve end-of-life care.
Is there a link between very early changes of primary and secondary lymphoid organs in 18F-FDG-PET/MRI and treatment response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy?
Authors: Seith Ferdinand , Forschner Andrea , Weide Benjamin , Gückel Brigitte , Schwartz Martin , Schwenck Johannes , Othman Ahmed E , Fenchel Matthias , Garbe Claus , Nikolaou Konstantin , Schwenzer Nina , la Fougère Christian , Pfannenberg Christina 
Published: August 2020

Response assessment or prediction to checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) is an unsolved problem in current routine diagnostics of patients with melanoma. Here, we evaluated very early changes of primary and secondary lymphoid organs under CIT in multiparametric [18F]-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET)/MRI as possible predictors of treatment response and investigated their correlation with baseline blood immune biomarkers. Between October 2014 and November 2017, 17 patients with unresectable melanoma (8 females; 65±11 years) undergoing CIT were prospectively evaluated using whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/MRI before CIT start (t0), 2 weeks (t1) and 3 months after CIT initiation (t2). At each time point, the volume, the 18F-FDG-uptake and the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the spleen as well as the 18F-FDG uptake of the bone marrow were assessed. Relative lymphocyte count (RLC), relative eosinophil count (REC) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were assessed at baseline. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours modified for immune-based therapeutics (iRECIST) and decisions from an interdisciplinary tumor board were used for treatment response evaluation at t2. iRECIST was compared with PET response criteria in solid tumors for image-based response evaluation at different time points. Comparative analysis was conducted with Mann-Whitney U test with false discovery rate correction for multiple testing and correlation coefficients were computed. In lymphoid organs, significant differences (p<0.05) between responders (9/17) and non-responders were found for the 18F-FDG-uptake in the spleen at t1 and the increase of the uptake t1-t0 (responders/non-responders: standardized uptake value lean body mass 1.19/0.93; +49%/−1%). The best correlation coefficients to baseline biomarkers were found for the 18F-FDG-uptake in the spleen at t1: NLR, r=−0.46; RLC, r=0.43; REC, r=0.58 (p<0.05), respectively. Compared with the non-responder group, the responder group showed marked increases also in the volume of the spleen (+22%/+10%), the 18F-FDG-uptake of bone marrow (+31%/−9%) at t1 and the ADCmean at t2 (+46%/+15%) compared with t0, however, not reaching significance. Our findings indicate that an effective systemic immune response in patients undergoing CIT can be detected as a significantly increased spleen activity in 18F-FDG-PET as early as 2 weeks after treatment initiation.Trial registration numberNCT03132090, DRKS00013925.
Outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-high (≥50%) non–small cell lung cancer and a poor performance status
Authors: Alessi Joao V , Ricciuti Biagio , Jiménez-Aguilar Elizabeth , Hong Fangxin , Wei Zihan , Nishino Mizuki , Plodkowski Andrew J , Sawan Peter , Luo Jia , Rizvi Hira , Carter Brett W , Heymach John V , Altan Mehmet , Hellmann Matthew , Awad Mark 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundPatients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) have been excluded from phase III immunotherapy clinical trials. We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC, a PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) of ≥50%, and an ECOG PS of 2.MethodsWe performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic NSCLC and a PD-L1 TPS of ≥50% (negative for genomic alterations inEGFRandALK) who received treatment with first-line pembrolizumab. Clinical outcomes were compared in patients based on ECOG PS.ResultsAmong the 234 patients, 83.3% (n=195) had an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, and 16.7% (n=39) had an ECOG PS of 2. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics were balanced between the ECOG PS 0–1 vs 2 groups in terms of age, sex, tobacco use, histology,KRASmutation status, presence of other potentially targetable driver mutations (BRAF, MET, HER2, RET), presence of brain metastases, and PD-L1 TPS distribution. Compared with patients with an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 had a significantly lower objective response rate (43.1% vs 25.6%; p=0.04), a numerically shorter median progression-free survival (6.6 months vs 4.0 months; HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.06); p=0.09), and a significantly shorter median overall survival (20.3 months vs 7.4 months; HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.68); p<0.001). On disease progression, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 were significantly less likely to receive second-line systemic therapy compared with patients with an ECOG PS of 0–1 (65% vs 22.2%, p=0.001).ConclusionsA subset of patients with NSCLC and an ECOG PS of 2 can respond to first-line pembrolizumab. However, clinical outcomes in this population are often poor and use of second-line systemic therapy is infrequent.
Predicting Cancer Evolution Using Cell State Dynamics
Authors: Kuijjer Marieke L. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
One of the biggest challenges in cancer is predicting its initiation and course of progression. In this issue of Cancer Research, Rockne and colleagues use state transition theory to predict how peripheral mononuclear blood cells in mice transition from a healthy state to acute myeloid leukemia. They found that critical transcriptomic perturbations could predict initiation and progression of the disease. This is an important step toward accurately predicting cancer evolution, which may eventually facilitate early diagnosis of cancer and disease recurrence, and which could potentially inform on timing of therapeutic interventions.
See related article by Rockne et al., 3157
RNF8 Promotes Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer Cells via Stabilization of Slug
Authors: Kuang Jingyu , Min Lu , Liu Chuanyang , Chen Si , Gao Changsong , Ma Jiaxin , Wu Xiaomin , Li Wenying , Wu Lei , Zhu Lingyun 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

RNF8 (ring finger protein 8), a RING finger E3 ligase best characterized for its role in DNA repair and sperm formation via ubiquitination, has been found to promote tumor metastasis in breast cancer recently. However, whether RNF8 also plays a role in other types of cancer, especially in lung cancer, remains unknown. We show here that RNF8 expression levels are markedly increased in human lung cancer tissues and negatively correlated with the survival time of patients. Overexpression of RNF8 promotes the EMT process and migration ability of lung cancer cells, while knockdown of RNF8 demonstrates the opposite effects. In addition, overexpression of RNF8 activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, knockdown of RNF8 by siRNA inhibits this activation, and pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K/Akt in RNF8-overexpressing cells also reduces the expression of EMT markers and the ability of migration. Furthermore, RNF8 is found to directly interact with Slug and promoted the K63-Ub of Slug, and knockdown of Slug disrupts RNF8-dependent EMT in A549 cells, whereas overexpression of Slug rescues RNF8-dependent MET in H1299 cells, and depletion of RNF8 expression by shRNA inhibits metastasis of lung cancer cells in vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that RNF8 is a key regulator of EMT process in lung cancer and suggest that inhibition of RNF8 could be a useful strategy for lung cancer treatment.

Implications:
This study provides a new mechanistic insight into the novel role of RNF8 and identifies RNF8 as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.