bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal and Mechanical Pain Thresholds of Women With Provoked Localized Vulvodynia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Basha Maureen E. , Kellogg-Spadt Susan , Burrows Lara J. , Ruberu Monique S. , Wallach Andrea S. , Nazar Andrea M. , Whitmore Kristene E. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Context
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition defined as vulvar pain lasting at least 3 months in the absence of gross anatomic or neurologic findings. Provoked, localized vulvodynia (PLV), a subtype of vulvodynia, is characterized by vestibular pain in response to light touch. The cause of PLV remains largely unknown, and triggering events have yet to be determined.

Objective
To evaluate vestibular and peripheral experimental pain thresholds in patients with PLV to further define the somatosensory profile of these patients.

Methods
After informed consent was provided, eligible participants completed a questionnaire and underwent quantitative sensory testing at the forearm and posterior vestibule. Detection and pain thresholds to thermal (cold and heat) and mechanical (pressure) stimuli were measured.

Results
Seventeen participants with PLV and 16 control participants were included. Participants in the PLV group scored lower on the patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) compared with those in the control group (P<.05) and had higher ratings of self-reported genital pain with sex (P<.001) and daily activity (P<.05). Forearm pain thresholds to cold (P<.01) and heat (P<.01) stimuli were also lower in the PLV group compared with those in the control group. Vestibular pain thresholds to cold (P<.05) and pressure (P<.01) stimuli were also lower in the PLV group.

Conclusion
Lower scores on the PHQ-9 and higher self-reported genital pain ratings of patients with PLV highlight the significant impact of this poorly understood condition on quality of life. Quantitative sensory testing results demonstrated that vestibular cold allodynia may be a somatosensory feature of PLV. Reduced forearm pain thresholds in these patients suggest altered sensory processing at extrapelvic sites, although it is unclear whether these measurements are related to central sensitization.
Prior Knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet Is Associated With Dietary Adherence in Cardiac Patients
Authors: Greiner Benjamin , Wheeler Denna , Croff Julie , Miller Bridget 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Context
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and cardiovascular events have been shown to be reduced and prevented when patients follow the Mediterranean diet.

Objective
To understand how familiarity with the Mediterranean diet affects dietary habits in cardiology patients by using social cognitive theory.

Method
This cross-sectional study included patients at a metropolitan outpatient cardiology clinic in Oklahoma. A survey was used to analyze patient knowledge of the Mediterranean diet. Patients were separated into low–, medium–, and high–diet adherence groups based on their daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and nuts. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze patients’ knowledge of Mediterranean diet principles with dietary adherence.

Results
A total of 337 patients were included in the study. Patients with a college education, patients reporting familiarity with the diet, and women were 6.7, 4.0, and 3.2 times as likely, respectively, to have strong adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

Conclusion
The finding that familiarity with the Mediterranean diet was closely associated with adherence to its principles indicates that patient education on heart-healthy diets may improve the eating habits of patients, especially patients at risk for cardiac events.
Aberrantly hydroxymethylated differentially expressed genes and the associated protein pathways in osteoarthritis
Authors: Fang Yang , Wang Pingping , Xia Lin , Bai Suwen , Shen Yonggang , Li Qing , Wang Yang , Zhu Jinhang , Du Juan , Shen Bing 
Published: February 2019

Background
The elderly population is at risk of osteoarthritis (OA), a common, multifactorial, degenerative joint disease. Environmental, genetic, and epigenetic (such as DNA hydroxymethylation) factors may be involved in the etiology, development, and pathogenesis of OA. Here, comprehensive bioinformatic analyses were used to identify aberrantly hydroxymethylated differentially expressed genes and pathways in osteoarthritis to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis and susceptibility-related genes for osteoarthritis inheritance.

Methods
Gene expression microarray data, mRNA expression profile data, and a whole genome 5hmC dataset were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository. Differentially expressed genes with abnormal hydroxymethylation were identified by MATCH function. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the genes differentially expressed in OA were performed using Metascape and the KOBAS online tool, respectively. The protein–protein interaction network was built using STRING and visualized in Cytoscape, and the modular analysis of the network was performed using the Molecular Complex Detection app.

Results
In total, 104 hyperhydroxymethylated highly expressed genes and 14 hypohydroxymethylated genes with low expression were identified. Gene ontology analyses indicated that the biological functions of hyperhydroxymethylated highly expressed genes included skeletal system development, ossification, and bone development; KEGG pathway analysis showed enrichment in protein digestion and absorption, extracellular matrix–receptor interaction, and focal adhesion. The top 10 hub genes in the protein–protein interaction network were COL1A1, COL1A2, COL2A1, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A1, COL8A1, COL11A1, and COL24A1. All the aforementioned results are consistent with changes observed in OA.

Conclusion
After comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we found aberrantly hydroxymethylated differentially expressed genes and pathways in OA. The top 10 hub genes may be useful hydroxymethylation analysis biomarkers to provide more accurate OA diagnoses and target genes for treatment of OA.
Association between maternal pre-delivery body mass index and offspring overweight/obesity at 1 and 2 years of age among residents of a suburb in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Hsien-Kuan , Wu Chien-Yi , Yang Yung-Ning , Wu Pei-Ling , He Zong-Rong , Yang San-Nan , Tey Shu-Leei 
Published: February 2019

Background
Overweight and obesity among children can cause metabolic syndrome in adulthood and are a significant public health issue. Some studies suggest that maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain during pregnancy are associated with overweight and obesity in offspring. However, it is difficult to collect information on accurate pre-pregnancy BMI and pregnancy weight gain for women living in areas where medical resources are scarce. Maternal pre-delivery BMI might be predictive of the risk of overweight and obesity among offspring of pregnant mothers living in suburban areas.

Methods
We retrospectively collected data on term neonates with appropriate weights for their gestational age born between April 2013 and October 2015. We excluded neonates with major congenital anomalies or diseases and incomplete data. Mothers with systemic diseases or drug abuse were also excluded. Offspring body weights and heights at 1- and 2-years-old were recorded. Maternal pre-delivery BMI was divided into following groups: <25, 25–29.9, and ≧30 kg/m2.

Results
We included 261 mother-child pairs in this study. The BMIs of the offspring differed significantly among the three maternal pre-delivery BMI groups at the age of 2 years (15.18 ± 1.04, 15.83 ± 1.28, and 16.29 ± 1.61 kg/m2, p < 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for potential cofounders possibly affecting weight using multivariate linear regression, the children’s BMIs (adjusted 95% CI: 0.71 [0.31–1.11]; p = 0.001) and BMI percentiles (adjusted 95% CI 15.80 [7.32–24.28]; p < 0.001) at the age of 2 years were significantly higher in those born to mothers with pre-delivery BMIs of 25–29.9 kg/m2 compared to mothers with pre-delivery BMIs <25 kg/m2. Maternal pre-delivery BMI ≧30 kg/m2 was significantly associated with increased BMIs (adjusted 95% CI: 1.17 [0.72–1.63]; p < 0.001) and BMI percentiles (adjusted 95% CI: 23.48 [13.87–33.09]; p < 0.001) in their children. A maternal pre-delivery BMI of 27.16 kg/m2 was the optimal cut-off for predicting offspring overweight/obesity at the age of 2 years.

Discussion
Our results indicate that the maternal pre-delivery BMI was significantly associated with offspring BMI and weight gain at the age of 2 years. A maternal pre-delivery BMI of 27.16 kg/m2 might be a useful predictor for estimating the risk of overweight or obesity in offspring at the age of 2 years.
Chemical Soil Attributes, Accumulation of Foliar Macronutrients and Productivity of the 'Vitória' Pineapple Plant Fertilized with Urea and Chicken Manure
Authors: Leonardo Francisco de Assis Pereira , Pereira Walter Esfrain , Dias Thiago Jardelino , Moura Joana Gomes de , Véras Mário Leno Martins , Leal Ygor Henrique 
Published: February 2019

The pineapple plant cultivar 'Vitória' is resistant to Fusarium and it presents similar characteristics to the cultivars 'Pérola' and 'Smoot Cayene'. However, the expansion of this new cultivar depends on the development of research on several aspects, among them, fertilization. In this context, the experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating soil fertility, foliar macronutrient contents and productivity in 'Vitória' pineapple plant in function of nitrogen fertilization with urea and chicken manure. The experiment was conducted under randomized block design, with four replications. Treatments consisted of five doses of N, in two sources of organic fertilization (chicken manure ) and mineral (urea), totaling nine combinations generated through the Central Composite Matrix of Box: T1 , 44 and 2.91; T 2 , 152 and 0; T 3 , 0 and 10; T 4, 44 and 17.1; T 5 , 260 and 2.91; T6 , 152 and 10; T7 , 152 and 20; T8 , 304 and 10; and T9, 260 and 17.1 g plant-1. At 6 months after planting the chicken manure decreased H + A1, Mg and CEC levels, and at 23 months after planting increased soil P, SB e CEC levels. In the two seasons, Urea has reduced pH and it reduced Mg, SB and CEC contents at six months after planting. Doses of urea between 10 and 12 g plant-1 are recommended in order to maximize the productivity of the pineapple plant.
Growth Profile and Catabolic Pathways Involved in Degradation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Marine Bacteria Isolated from Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Uba Bright Obidinma 
Published: February 2019

Aims: To determine the growth profile and catabolic pathways involved in degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by marine bacteria isolated from Niger Delta, Nigeria.
Study Design: Nine treatments designs were set up in triplicate in 500 mL conical flask containing 100 mL of sterile modified mineral basal medium supplemented with three aromatic hydrocarbons (100 mg /L each) and nine marine aromatic hydrocarbon degraders. The treatments were kept in the laboratory and incubated at 24 ºC for 24 days degradation period. The nine treatments and control set ups designated as ANT1, XYL2, PYR3, ANT4, PYR5, ANT6, XYL7, XYL8, PYR9 and CTRL were used to determine the growth profile and metabolic pathways involved in degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by marine bacteria.
Place and Duration of Study: The studied sites were Abonema Wharf Water Front in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Nembe Water-side in Port Harcourt Local Government Area and Onne Light Flow Terminal Seaport located in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria between September, 2015 and June, 2018.
Methodology: A laboratory scale study was carried on six composite samples of the sediment and water samples from the three studied areas using enrichment, screening, selection, molecular characterization, degradation and GC-MS assays.
Results: The findings revealed that the sampling sites harbour a lot of efficient aromatic degrading bacterial strains belonging to the genera: Providencia, Alcaligenes, Brevundimonas, Myroides, Serratia, and Bacillus. The bacterial strains were able to significantly (P =.05) degrade simple, low and high molecular weights aromatic hydrocarbons as source of carbon and energy. These strains utilized 100 mg /L of xylene (one ring), anthracene (three rings), and pyrene (four rings) via two main catabolic pathways and catechol is the major constant product that appeared during the degradation period (24 days).
Conclusion: Thus, the biodegradation capacities and metabolic pathways obtained from these results suggest that these bacteria especially Serratia marcescens XYL7 could be used efficiently to bioremediate aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria.
Duality between p-groups with three characteristic subgroups and semisimple anti-commutative algebras
Authors: Glasby S. P. , Ribeiro Frederico A. M. , Schneider Csaba 
Published: February 2019

AbstractLet p be an odd prime and let G be a non-abelian finite p-group of exponent p2 with three distinct characteristic subgroups, namely 1, Gp and G. The quotient group G/Gp gives rise to an anti-commutative 𝔽p-algebra L such that the action of Aut (L) is irreducible on L; we call such an algebra IAC. This paper establishes a duality G ↔ L between such groups and such IAC algebras. We prove that IAC algebras are semisimple and we classify the simple IAC algebras of dimension at most 4 over certain fields. We also give other examples of simple IAC algebras, including a family related to the m-th symmetric power of the natural module of SL(2, 𝔽).
Underlying social attitudes towards conservation of threatened carnivores in human-dominated landscapes
Authors: Zorondo-Rodríguez Francisco , Moreira-Arce Darío , Boutin Stan 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCarnivore conservation depends on people's willingness to implement management practices to reduce threats to carnivores and mitigate conflicts between carnivores and domestic animals. We assessed the willingness of rural communities in central-southern Chile to (1) conserve carnivores, and (2) adopt management practices to reduce predation of domestic animals, a key factor triggering carnivore–human conflicts in rural areas. The study focused on five carnivores: the chilla Lycalopex griseus, the culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus, Darwin's fox Lycalopex fulvipes, the guiña or kodkod Leopardus guigna, and the puma Puma concolor. We found that rural communities perceived that threats towards carnivores rarely occurr in their region, contrary to the literature on this subject; people's attitudes differed depending on the carnivore; and people were willing to adopt management practices to help conserve carnivores (e.g. overnight protection of domestic animals and investment in infrastructure for henhouses and cowsheds), except leashing dogs. The willingness to conserve carnivores and adopt practices that would help do so may be associated with how these measures affect people's well-being. Although rural communities would like carnivores to be conserved, this cannot be achieved unless some pivotal practices, such as management of domestic dogs, are adopted by these communities. For successful biodiversity conservation outcomes in human-dominated landscapes, the social incentives necessary for rural communities to adopt appropriate management practices must be identified and implemented.
Long-term functioning outcomes are predicted by cognitive symptoms in working patients with major depressive disorder treated with vortioxetine: results from the AtWoRC study
Authors: Chokka Pratap , Bougie Joanna , Proulx Jean , Tvistholm Anders Holmegaard , Ettrup Anders 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveAtWoRC (Assessment in Work productivity and the Relationship with Cognitive symptoms) was an interventional, open-label, Canadian study (NCT02332954) designed to assess the association between cognitive symptoms and workplace productivity in working patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving vortioxetine.MethodsEligible patients with MDD received vortioxetine (10–20 mg/day) and were assessed over 52 weeks at visits emulating a real-life setting (n = 199). Partial correlation between changes in patient-reported cognitive symptoms (20-item Perceived Deficits Questionnaire–Depression; PDQ-D-20) and workplace productivity (Work Limitations Questionnaire; WLQ) was assessed at 12 and 52 weeks. Additional assessments included depression severity, cognitive performance, and patient-reported functioning. Structural equations model (SEM) analyses assessed causal relationships between changes in measures of cognition and functioning over time, adjusted for improvements in depressive symptoms.ResultsStatistically significant improvements in all outcomes from baseline to week 52 were seen in the overall population and both subgroups (first treatment and switch). Response and remission rates were 77% and 56%, respectively. Improvements in PDQ-D-20 and WLQ productivity loss scores at weeks 12 and 52 were significantly correlated. SEM analyses found patient-rated cognitive symptoms (PDQ-D-20) at weeks 12 and 26 were significantly predictive (p< 0.05) of patient-reported functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale) at the subsequent visit. Depression severity and objectively measured cognitive performance did not significantly predict functional outcomes at any timepoint.ConclusionThese results demonstrate the long-term benefits of vortioxetine treatment in working patients with MDD and emphasize the strong association between cognitive symptoms and functioning in a real-world setting.
Cleavage of GSDME by caspase-3 determines lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis in colon cancer cells
Authors: Yu Junhui , Li Shan , Qi Jie , Chen Zilu , Wu Yunhua , Guo Jing , Wang Kai , Sun Xuejun , Zheng Jianbao 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death (PCD), has garnered increasing attention as it relates to innate immunity and diseases. However, the involvement of pyroptosis in the mechanism by which lobaplatin acts against colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. Our study revealed that treatment with lobaplatin reduced the viability of HT-29 and HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphologically, HT-29 and HCT116 cells treated with lobaplatin exhibited microscopic features of cell swelling and large bubbles emerging from the plasma membrane, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed multiple pores in the membrane. GSDME, rather than GSDMD, was cleaved in lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis in HT-29 and HCT116 cells due to caspase-3 activation. Knocking out GSDME switched lobaplatin-induced cell death from pyroptosis to apoptosis but did not affect lobaplatin-mediated inhibition of growth and tumour formation of HT-29 and HCT116 cells in vivo and in vitro. Further investigation indicates that lobaplatin induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation and JNK phosphorylation. NAC, a ROS scavenger, completely reversed the pyroptosis of lobaplatin-treated HT-29 and HCT116 and JNK phosphorylation. Activated JNK recruited Bax to mitochondria, and thereby stimulated cytochrome c release to cytosol, followed by caspase-3/-9 cleavage and pyroptosis induction. Therefore, in colon cancer cells, GSDME mediates lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis downstream of the ROS/JNK/Bax-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and caspase-3/-9 activation. Our study indicated that GSDME-dependent pyroptosis is an unrecognized mechanism by which lobaplatin eradicates neoplastic cells, which may have important implications for the clinical application of anticancer therapeutics.
Optical space-time wave packets having arbitrary group velocities in free space
Authors: Kondakci H. Esat , Abouraddy Ayman F. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractControlling the group velocity of an optical pulse typically requires traversing a material or structure whose dispersion is judiciously crafted. Alternatively, the group velocity can be modified in free space by spatially structuring the beam profile, but the realizable deviation from the speed of light in vacuum is small. Here we demonstrate precise and versatile control over the group velocity of a propagation-invariant optical wave packet in free space through sculpting its spatio-temporal spectrum. By jointly modulating the spatial and temporal degrees of freedom, arbitrary group velocities are unambiguously observed in free space above or below the speed of light in vacuum, whether in the forward direction propagating away from the source or even traveling backwards towards it.
Both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer in bacterial reaction center
Authors: Ma Fei , Romero Elisabet , Jones Michael R. , Novoderezhkin Vladimir I. , van Grondelle Rienk 
Published: February 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanism behind the near-unity efficiency of primary electron transfer in reaction centers is essential for designing performance-enhanced artificial solar conversion systems to fulfill mankind’s growing demands for energy. One of the most important challenges is distinguishing electronic and vibrational coherence and establishing their respective roles during charge separation. In this work we apply two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy to three structurally-modified reaction centers from the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides with different primary electron transfer rates. By comparing dynamics and quantum beats, we reveal that an electronic coherence with dephasing lifetime of ~190 fs connects the initial excited state, P*, and the charge-transfer intermediate $${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$

P

A

+

P

B

-

; this $${\mathrm{P}}^ \ast \to {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$

P

*

→

P

A

+

P

B

-

step is associated with a long-lived quasi-resonant vibrational coherence; and another vibrational coherence is associated with stabilizing the primary photoproduct, $${\mathrm{P}}^ + {\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ -$$

P

+

B

A

-

. The results show that both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer process and they correlate with the super-high efficiency.
Precisely controlling endogenous protein dosage in hPSCs and derivatives to model FOXG1 syndrome
Authors: Zhu Wenliang , Zhang Boya , Li Mengqi , Mo Fan , Mi Tingwei , Wu Yihui , Teng Zhaoqian , Zhou Qi , Li Wei , Hu Baoyang 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDosage of key regulators impinge on developmental disorders such as FOXG1 syndrome. Since neither knock-out nor knock-down strategy assures flexible and precise protein abundance control, to study hypomorphic or haploinsufficiency expression remains challenging. We develop a system in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 and SMASh technology, with which we can target endogenous proteins for precise dosage control in hPSCs and at multiple stages of neural differentiation. We also reveal FOXG1 dose-dependently affect the cellular constitution of human brain, with 60% mildly affect GABAergic interneuron development while 30% thresholds the production of MGE derived neurons. Abnormal interneuron differentiation accounts for various neurological defects such as epilepsy or seizures, which stimulates future innovative cures of FOXG1 syndrome. By means of its robustness and easiness, dosage-control of proteins in hPSCs and their derivatives will update the understanding and treatment of additional diseases caused by abnormal protein dosage.