bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of 3D printed mesofluidic devices to elute and concentrate DNA
Authors: Masters Cody , Dolphin Jocelyn , Maschmann April , McGill Keegan , Moore Matthew , Thompson Drew , Kounovsky‐Shafer Kristy L. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractTo understand structural variation for personal genomics, an extensive ensemble of large DNA molecules will be required to span large structural variations. Nanocoding, a whole‐genome analysis platform, can analyze large DNA molecules for the construction of physical restriction maps of entire genomes. However, handling of large DNA is difficult and a system is needed to concentrate large DNA molecules, while keeping the molecules intact. Insert technology was developed to protect large DNA molecules during routine cell lysis and molecular biology techniques. However, eluting and concentrating DNA molecules has been difficult in the past. Utilizing 3D printed mesofluidic device, a proof of principle system was developed to elute and concentrate lambda DNA molecules at the interface between a solution and a poly‐acrylamide roadblock. The matrix allowed buffer solution to move through the pores in the matrix; however, it slowed down the progression of DNA in the matrix, since the molecules were so large and the pore size was small. Using fluorescence intensity of the insert, 84% of DNA was eluted from the insert and 45% of DNA was recovered in solution from the eluted DNA. DNA recovered was digested with a restriction enzyme to determine that the DNA molecules remained full length during the elution and concentration of DNA.
Developmental origins of depression‐related white matter properties: Findings from a prenatal birth cohort
Authors: Marečková Klára , Klasnja Anja , Andrýsková Lenka , Brázdil Milan , Paus Tomáš 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDepression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability worldwide. Still, the mechanisms underlying its development are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate white‐matter properties associated with depressive symptomatology in young adulthood and their developmental origins. Diffusion tensor imaging and assessment of depressive symptomatology were conducted in 128 young adults (47% male, age 23–24) from a prenatal birth cohort (European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood). For a subset of these individuals, the database included information on prenatal stress (n = 93) and depressive symptoms during adolescence (assessed repeatedly at age 15 and 19). Depressive symptoms in young adulthood were associated with lower fractional anisotropy in the left and right cingulum and higher fractional anisotropy in the right corticospinal tract and superior longitudinal fasciculus. Further analyses revealed that prenatal stress and depressive symptomatology during adolescence were independent predictors of altered white‐matter properties in the cingulum in young adulthood. We conclude that typically developing young adults with more depressive symptoms already exhibit tract‐specific alterations in white‐matter properties and that prenatal stress and depressive symptomatology during adolescence might contribute to their development.
Social facilitation effect in search and decision‐making components of visual inspection
Authors: Liu Na , Yu Ruifeng 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the effect of social presence on the performance of the search and decision‐making components of visual inspection. A within‐subject design experiment was conducted. Participants performed easy and difficult search and decision‐making tasks in alone and audience‐present conditions with search time, decision time, decision accuracy rates, and subjective arousal level in both components measured. Results indicated that the presence of an audience shortened (lengthened) the response time in easy (difficult) search and decision‐making components but did not influence decision accuracy rates. The social facilitation intensity in the search component was stronger than that in the decision‐making component. For both components, the performance impairment in difficult tasks was stronger than the performance improvement in easy tasks, and arousal was greater in the audience‐present condition than when working alone. The findings helped clarify the influential mechanisms of the social facilitation effect in visual inspection tasks.
Does one model fit all in global equity markets? Some insight into market factor based strategies in enhancing alpha
Authors: Mohanty Subhransu S. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe sources of risk in a marketplace are systematic, cross‐sectional, and time varying in nature. Though the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) provides an excellent risk–return framework and the market beta may reflect the risk associated with risky assets, there are opportunities for investors to take advantage of dimensional and time‐varying return anomalies in order to improve their investment returns. In this paper, we restrict our analysis to return variations linked to market factor anomalies or factor or dimensional beta using the Fama–French three‐factor; Carhart four‐factor; Fama‐French five‐factor; and Asness, Frazzini, and Pederson (AFP)'s five‐ and six‐factor models. We find significant variations in explaining sources of risk across 22 developed and 21 emerging markets with data over a long period from 1991 to 2016. Each market is unique in terms of factor risk characteristics, and market risk as explained by the CAPM is not the true risk measure. Hence, contrary to the risk–return efficiency framework, we find that lower market risk results in higher excess return in 19 out of the 22 developed markets, which is a major anomaly. However, although in majority of the markets, the AFP models result in reducing market risk (15 countries) and enhancing alpha (11 countries), it is also very interesting to note that the CAPM is second only in generating excess returns in the developed markets. We are conscious of the fact, however, that each market is unique in its composition and trend even over a long time horizon, and hence, a generalized approach in asset allocation cannot be adopted across all the markets.
Alarm index for institutional bank runs
Authors: Wosnitza Jan Henrik 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSince the insolvency of Lehman Brothers brought the global financial system to the brink of collapse in 2008, there is again a strong interest in properly understanding liquidity risks and the triggers of liquidity crises. Econophysicists recently developed an alarm index for institutional bank runs (IBRs) based on the log‐periodic power law. The key innovation of this alarm index is that it shall measure the speculative interactions among professional creditors that can culminate in IBRs. The paper at hand extends this line of research, in particular, by applying new critical parameter ranges that were recently derived directly from credit default swap (CDS) spreads of defaulted banks. The better performance of the revised alarm index in comparison with the originally proposed alarm index underpins the hypothesis that the CDS market belongs to a different universality class than, for example, the stock market. Furthermore, the refined index outperforms a modification of the bank run probability index that was previously proposed in the financial literature. This result further confirms the hypothesis that—under certain circumstances—financial markets are driven by investors whose investment decisions critically depend on the actions of other investors.
“Referendum on Sunday, working group on Monday”: A success story of implementing abortion services after legalization in Portugal
Authors: Stifani Bianca M. , Vilar Duarte , Vicente Lisa 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA 2007 referendum legalized abortion in Portugal. Physicians played an important role advocating for legal reform and providing services thereafter. Implementers relied on a strong public health system with many gynecologists who required minimal training, and took decisions that allowed for rapid implementation. First, they emphasized medical abortion and integrated abortion into existing hospital obstetrics and gynecologic services, where eventual complications could be managed. They also offered immediate postabortion contraception, helping prevent criticism from abortion opponents who feared women would obtain multiple repeat abortions. Finally, they established referral networks guaranteeing access despite conscientious objection. Media campaigns were not needed as Portuguese women had good access to information. Portugal's success is largely due to key facilitators within a working group established by the Ministry of Health to implement the new law. Remaining challenges are the lack of choice between medical and surgical abortion, and some regions with relatively difficult geographic access to services.
Safe abortion in South Africa: “We have wonderful laws but we don't have people to implement those laws”
Authors: Favier Mary , Greenberg Jamie M.S. , Stevens Marion 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn South Africa, abortion was legalized in 1996, during the nation's transition from apartheid to independence and democracy, under the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA). The law drew from both a public health and rights‐based framework. A coalition of advocates played a key role in passage. In the years after the CTOPA was passed, abortion services were expanded—in part through a 2008 amendment that allowed trained registered nurses to provide abortions—and deaths from unsafe abortions decreased. However, there have been hurdles to implementation, including competing health priorities such as HIV/AIDS, and a high number of conscientious objectors. There is a geographic disparity in accessibility of abortion services between provinces as well as between urban and rural areas. Women seeking legal abortions face a lack of accessible information on where to obtain an abortion, often experience stigma at facilities, and many obtain illegal procedures.
VEGF gene polymorphism interactions with dietary trace elements intake in determining the risk of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Hoseini Zohreh , Azimi‐Nezhad Mohsen , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Avan Amir , Eslami Saeed , Nematy Mohsen , Mirhafez Seyed Reza , Ghazavi Hamed , Ferns Gordon A. , Safarian Mohammad 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThere is a complex association among genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors in determining the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the association between the dietary intake of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iodine (assessed by 24 recall) with vascular endothelial growth factor variants (rs6921438, rs4416670, rs6993770, and rs10738760), on the risk of MetS. Two‐hundred and forty‐eight individuals with MetS and 100 individuals without MetS were recruited. The dietary intake and the daily average of energy and nutrient intake were obtained by a questionnaire and quantified using Diet Plan 6 software. DNA was extracted from EDTA anticoagulated whole blood. The SNPs were assessed using using a Sequenom iPLEX Gold assay. Data analysis was undertaken using the Student t test, χ2 test and logistic regression using SPSS 11.5 software. There was a significant association between low dietary iron intake and rs6993770 (β = .10, P < .05), and a low dietary zinc and a high manganese intake with rs6921438 in relation to the presence of MetS (β = −.17, P < .05, β = −.30, P < .05, respectively). Our data showed the association of rs6993770 with iron intake and rs6921438 with zinc and manganese intake, indicating further investigation in a larger population to evaluate their values.
Hydrogen treatment reduces tendon adhesion and inflammatory response
Authors: Meng Jia , Yu Pan , Tong Jian , Sun Wenshuang , Jiang Hui , Wang Yicun , Xue Kaiwen , Xie Farong , Qian Hong , Liu Naicheng , Zhao Jianning , Bao Nirong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA rat model of tendon repair was established to investigate the effects of hydrogen water on tendon adhesion reduction. Thirty‐six Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal saline (NS) group and a hydrogen water (HS) group according to the processing reagents after a tendon repairing operation. Pre‐ and postoperative superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) in subjects’ serum were observed. Skin fibroblasts were grouped into an NS group, H2O2 group, H2 group, and H2O2 H2 group. Expressions of Nrf2, CATA, and γ‐GCS were also tested by Western blot analysis. 8‐OHdG, GSH, MDA, and SOD of the cells were analyzed by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. The postoperative SOD activity and GSH contents were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), whereas the postoperative MDA level was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Similarly, the postoperative HS group showed significantly higher SOD activity and GSH contents (P < 0.05) but lower MDA (P < 0.05) compared with the postoperative NS group. MDA and 8‐OHdG were significantly decreased in hydrogen‐rich medium, while SOD and GSH were increased. The expression of Nrf2, CATA, and γ‐GCS in antioxidant system were reduced after H2O2 processing, which were restored after the application of hydrogen‐rich medium. Hydrogen water can reduce tendon adhesion after tendon repairing and prohibit excessive inflammatory response, which could be associated with the activation of the Nrf2 pathway.
Tumor suppressor miR‐139‐5p targets Tspan3 and regulates the progression of acute myeloid leukemia through the PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Zhang Ronghui , Tang Ping , Wang Fang , Xing Ying , Jiang Zhongxing , Chen Shaoqian , Meng Xiaoli , Liu Linxiang , Cao Weijie , Zhao Huayan , Ma Ping , Chen Yanli , An Chao , Sun Ling 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDysregulation of microRNAs is closely implicated in the initiation and progression of human cancers including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Though miR‐139‐5p was reported to be a potent tumor suppressor in adult AML, its underlying molecular mechanism in AML remains to be further defined. Herein, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expressions of miR‐139‐5p and tetraspanin3 (Tspan3) in AML patients and cells. Luciferase reporter assay, qRT‐PCR, and Western blot analysis were carried out to detect the interaction between miR‐139‐5p and Tspan3. Cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, invasion, and migration were evaluated by cell counting kit‐8, flow cytometry, transwell invasion, and migration assays, respectively. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine phosphorylated‐protein kinase B (Akt) and Akt levels. We found that a significant reduction in miR‐139‐5p expression and a prominent increase in Tspan3 expression were observed in AML patients and cells. Tspan3 was confirmed as a direct target of miR‐139‐5p and was negatively modulated by miR‐139‐5p. Rescue experiments showed that overexpression of miR‐139‐5p constrained cell proliferation, invasion and migration capabilities, and induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase in AML cells, which were partially reversed by Tspan3 overexpression. In addition, we found that miR‐139‐5p suppressed the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in AML cells by targeting Tspan3. In conclusion, our study concluded that miR‐139‐5p suppressed the leukemogenesis in AML cells by targeting Tspan3 through inactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, providing a better understanding of AML progression.
In‐silico identification of small molecules targeting H‐Ras and in‐vitro cytotoxicity with caspase‐mediated apoptosis in carcinoma cells
Authors: Damani Shah Hetal , Saranath Dhananjaya , Das Soma , Kharkar Prashant , Karande Anjali 
Published: October 2018

AbstractH‐Ras oncogene plays a critical role in the transformation of normal cells to a malignant phenotype through constitutive activation of the GTP bound protein leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation in several human cancers. Thus, H‐Ras oncoprotein serves as an excellent target for anticancer drug discovery. To identify novel H‐Ras inhibitors, we performed structure‐based virtual screening of the Maybridge HitFinder™ library using Schrodinger suite. Thirty ligands from the chemical library were identified as they showed preferential in silico binding initially to H‐Ras proteins with Gly12Val, Gly13Asp, and Gly12Val‐Gly13Asp mutations. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profile confirmed drug‐like properties of the compounds. Three representative molecules were tested for antiproliferative effect on T24 urinary bladder carcinoma cell line, MCF‐7 breast cancer cell line and HDF‐7 normal dermal fibroblast cells using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Two compounds (Cmpds) showed antiproliferative activity exclusively in the cancer cell lines with minimal effect on the control HDF‐7 cells. The effect of compound treatment on cell cycle progression, assessed by propidium iodide (PI) staining, depicted increased arrest of T24 cell line in the sub G1 phase. Further, Annexin‐V PI dual staining and pan caspase inhibitor Z‐VAD‐fmk indicated caspase‐dependent apoptotic activity of Cmpds 1 and 3. Our findings demonstrate caspase‐dependent apoptotic activity of Cmpds 1 and 3 selectively against Gly12Val mutated T24 cancer cell line implicating a potential for treatment of bladder cancer. We envisage that these molecules may be promising candidates with potential therapeutic value in H‐Ras mutation‐associated cancers.
Decomposable super‐simple NRBIBDs with block size 4 and index 6
Authors: Yu Huangsheng , Sun Xianwei , Wu Dianhua , Abel R. Julian R. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNecessary conditions for the existence of a super‐simple, decomposable, near‐resolvable ‐balanced incomplete block design (BIBD) whose 2‐component subdesigns are both near‐resolvable ‐BIBDs are (mod ) and . In this paper, we show that these necessary conditions are sufficient. Using these designs, we also establish that the necessary conditions for the existence of a super‐simple near‐resolvable ‐RBIBD, namely (mod ) and , are sufficient. A few new pairwise balanced designs are also given.
The chemokine system and its role in obesity
Authors: Xue Wenhua , Fan Zhirui , Li Lifeng , Lu Jingli , Zhai Yunkai , Zhao Jie 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe chemokine system is a complex arrangement of molecules that attract leukocytes to the site of injury or inflammation. This chemotactic behavior gives the system the name “Chemokine.” The intricate and redundant nature of the chemokine system has made it a subject of ongoing scientific investigation. Obesity is characterized as low‐grade systemic or chronic inflammation that is responsible for the release of cytokines, adipokines, and chemokines. Excessive tissue fat expansion triggers the release of chemokines, which in turn attract various leukocytes and activate the resident immune surveillance system, eventually leading to worsening of obesity and other related comorbidities. To date, 50 chemokines and 20 chemokine receptors that belong to the G‐protein‐coupled receptor family have been discovered, and over the past two decades, the physiological and pathological roles of many of these chemokines and their receptors have been elucidated. The objective of this review is to present an update on the link between chemokines and obesity under the light of recent knowledge.
Proinflammatory macrophages promote degenerative phenotypes in rat nucleus pulpous cells partly through ERK and JNK signaling
Authors: Ni Li , Zheng Yixin , Gong Tingting , Xiu Chunmei , Li Kun , Saijilafu  , Li Bin , Yang Huilin , Chen Jianquan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIntervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is the major contributor to low back pain, a highly prevalent musculoskeletal problem that represents the leading cause of disability. Proinflammatory M1 macrophages were identified in degenerated IVDs. However, their role in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration and the underlying mechanism was largely unknown. In this study, we explored the combined effects of molecules secreted by M1 macrophages on nucleus pulposus cells, by treating rat nucleus pulposus cells (rNP) with the conditioned medium collected from M1‐polarized RAW264.7 cells (MФCM). We found that MФCM caused molecular changes associated with IVD degeneration, including increased expression of key matrix catabolic genes (Adamts4,
Adamts5,
Mmp3, and
Mmp13), reduced the expression of major matrix‐associated anabolic genes (
Sox9,
Acan, and
Col2a1), and upregulated transcription of inflammation‐related genes (
IL‐1b,
IL‐6,
Ccl2, and
Ccl3), in rNP cells. Moreover, we found that MФCM activated both ERK and JNK pathways in these cells, and that inhibition of JNK pathway attenuated MФCM‐induced expression of both catabolic and inflammatory genes, whereas ERK inhibition only suppressed induction of catabolic, but not inflammatory genes. Together, our data demonstrated that proinflammatory macrophages promoted the degenerative phenotypes in rNP cells in part through ERK and JNK signaling, and suggested that inhibition of these pathways may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of IVD degeneration.
PROSTAGLANDIN E2 stimulates cancer‐related phenotypes in prostate cancer PC3 cells through cyclooxygenase‐2
Authors: Madrigal‐Martínez Antonio , Constâncio Vera , Lucio‐Cazaña Francisco J. , Fernández‐Martínez Ana B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractCyclooxygenase (COX)‐derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) affects many mechanisms that have been shown to play roles in carcinogenesis. Recently, we found that, in androgen‐independent prostate cancer PC3 cells, PGE2 acts through an intracrine mechanism by which its uptake by the prostaglandin transporter (PGT) results in increased intracellular PGE2 (iPGE2), leading to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and loss of cell adhesion to collagen I. These iPGE2‐mediated effects were dependent on hypoxia‐inducible factor 1‐α (HIF‐1α), whose expression increased upon epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation by a subset of intracellular PGE2 receptors. Here, we aimed to study the role of COX in PGE2 protumoral effects in PC3 cells and found that the effects were prevented by inhibition of COX‐2, which highlights its crucial role amplifying the levels of iPGE2. Treatment with exogenous PGE2 determined a transcriptional increase in COX‐2 expression, which was abolished by genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of PGT. PGE2‐induced increase in COX‐2 expression and, thereby, in transcriptional increase in HIF‐1α expression was due to EGFR activation, leading to the activation of Phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/Akt, Extracellular signal ‐regulated kinases 1/2, p38 and Mitogen‐ and stress‐activated protein kinase‐1 (PI3K/Akt, Erk1/2, p38 and MSK‐1). Collectively, the data suggest that EGFR‐dependent COX‐2 upregulation by a novel positive feedback loop triggered by iPGE2 underlies the intracrine pro‐tumoral effects of PGE2 in PC3 cells. Therefore, this feedback loop may be relevant in prostate cancer for the maintenance of PGE2‐dependent cancer cell growth through amplifying the activity of the COX‐2 pathway.