bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin C mitigates heat damage by reducing oxidative stress, inducing HSP expression in TM4 Sertoli cells
Authors: Sun Jiarui , Yin Bin , Tang Shu , Zhang Xiaohui , Xu Jiao , Bao Endong 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHeat stress is a major stressor that can lead to male reproductive dysfunction. Sertoli cells play a crucial role in spermatogenesis by providing germ cells with structural and nutritional support, and contributing to blood–testis barrier formation. Vitamin C (Vc) is an antioxidant capable of neutralizing reactive oxygen species and preventing lipid peroxidation widely used because it is inexpensive and highly accessible. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Vc on TM4 cells following heat stress. Pretreatment with Vc could effectively inhibit apoptosis (p < 0.01), lipid peroxidation, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. However, a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and LDH activity (p < 0.01) was observed in TM4 cells without Vc‐pretreatment, in conjunction with vacuole degeneration and karyopyknosis. In addition, both the messenger RNA and protein levels of CryAB, Hsp27, Hsp70, and Hsp110 substantially increased in the 3 and 12 hr recovery groups (p < 0.01). Vc also prevented microtubule aggregation following heat stress. These results suggest that pretreatment with Vc‐protected TM4 cells against heat stress by reducing the level of oxidative stress and inducing heat shock protein expression.
Porous medium 3D flow simulation of contrast media washout in cardiac MRI reflects myocardial injury
Authors: Riazy Leili , Schaeffter Tobias , Olbrich Marc , Schueler Johannes , von Knobelsdorff‐Brenkenhoff Florian , Niendorf Thoralf , Schulz‐Menger Jeanette 
Published: April 2019

PurposeMyocardial blood–flow simulation based on laws of fluid mechanics is a valuable tool for understanding tissue behavior. Our aim is to evaluate the ability of a porous‐media flow model approach to reflect disturbed washout of contrast media (CM) from the myocardium as observed by cardiovascular MR.MethodsA coupled advection‐diffusion model is used to describe the CM flow in the vascular and extravascular space as separate compartments. Their exchange of CM is controlled by the exchange rate , which in turn determines the washout behavior. We fitted simulations to CM concentration measurements, derived from T1 maps of the midventricular slice. The CM concentration was extracted from 18 patients with myocarditis in the acute phase and during follow‐up after 6 months. The results were compared with 18 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. For each subject, the measurements were acquired before and during the first 10 minutes at 5 time points after CM administration, representing CM washout. Image registration was applied to compensate for motion between different time points.ResultsEight matched data sets had to be excluded due to low registration quality. Processing was successful in n = 10 matched data sets of acute and healed myocarditis as well as controls. Significant differences in were observed when comparing patients with acute myocarditis to controls (P < .001), to their follow‐up (P < .05), and the follow‐up to controls (P < .05).ConclusionOur study suggests the feasibility of using the proposed porous‐medium flow framework for the simulation of pathologic myocardial tissue.
Effect of shoulder and elbow position on ulnar nerve conduction
Authors: Hsu Kevin , Robinson Lawrence R. 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe aims of this study were to determine the effect of shoulder and elbow position on ulnar nerve conduction studies (NCS), and the length of reserve that asymptomatic individuals have in their ulnar nerves.MethodsHealthy subjects (n = 22) underwent ulnar NCS in 4 positions of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion.ResultsThe mean increase in nerve conduction velocity (NCV) from the slack position of shoulder adducted and elbow extended to the stretch position of shoulder abducted and elbow flexed was 2.9 m/s (P < 0.01). Using this difference, the mean length of reserve in the ulnar nerve along the limb was found to be 28.3 (SD=13.8) mm. Shoulder abduction increased the mean NCV 0.8 m/s (P = 0.03) independent of elbow flexion.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates an ulnar nerve reserve in healthy patients that is taken up with shoulder abduction and elbow flexion and suggests shoulder position should be standardized during ulnar NCS. Muscle Nerve, 2019
Neuregulin‐1‐ErbB signaling promotes microglia activation contributing to mechanical allodynia of cyclophosphamide‐induced cystitis
Authors: Chen Jia‐Liang , Zhou Xin , Ding Hong‐Lu , Zhan Hai‐Lun , Yang Fei , Li Wen‐Biao , Xie Jun‐Cong , Liu Xian‐Guo , Xu Yuan‐Cheng , Su Min‐Zhi , Liu Bo‐Long , Zhou Xiang‐Fu 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAimsCentral sensitization playsimportant roles in cyclophosphamide (CYP)‐induced cystitis. In addition, as a visceral pain, CYP‐induced chronic pain shares common pathophysiological mechanisms with neuropathic pain. Previous studies demonstrated that neuregulin‐1 (Nrg1)‐ErbB signaling contributes to neuropathic pain, but whether and how this signaling influences mechanical allodynia in CYP‐induced cystitis is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether and how Nrg1‐ErbB signaling modulates mechanical allodynia in a CYP‐induced cystitis rat model.MethodsSystemic injection with CYP was used to establish a rat model of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). An irreversible ErbB family receptor inhibitor, PD168393, and exogenous Nrg1 were intrathecally injected to modulate Nrg1‐ErbB signaling. Mechanical allodynia in the lower abdomen was assessed with von‐Frey filaments using the up‐down method. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure the expression of Nrg1‐ErbB signaling, Iba‐1, p‐p38, and IL‐1β in the L6‐S1 spinal dorsal horn (SDH).ResultsWe observed upregulation of Nrg1‐ErbB signaling as well as overexpression of the microglia activation markers Iba‐1 and p‐p38 and the proinflammatory factor, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), in the SDH of the cystitis group. Further, treatment with PD168393 attenuated mechanical allodynia in CYP‐induced cystitis and inhibited microglia activation, leading to decreased production of IL‐1β. The inhibitor PD168393 reversed the algesic effect of exogenous Nrg1 on the cystitis model.ConclusionsNrg1‐ErbB signaling may promote microglia activation, contributing to mechanical allodynia of CYP‐induced cystitis. Our study showed that modulation of Nrg1‐ErbB signaling may have therapeutic value for treating pain symptoms in BPS/IC.
Good nurse–nurse collaboration implies high job satisfaction: A structural equation modelling approach
Authors: Ylitörmänen Tuija , Turunen Hannele , Mikkonen Santtu , Kvist Tarja 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAimsTo explore the relationship between nurse–nurse collaboration and job satisfaction among hospital nurses and to test and refine a model explaining this relationship.DesignA secondary analysis of a cross‐sectional survey.MethodsRegistered nurses (N = 406, female 88%) in one university hospital in Finland and one in Norway completed a self‐administered questionnaire in 2015. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to analyse the relationships between collaboration and job satisfaction subscales.ResultsThe constructed SEM model fit the data well (RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.985, χ2 p‐value > 0.1). The model strongly supported the hypothesized covariance between nurse–nurse collaboration and job satisfaction, while significant and positive relationships were observed between most of the subscales. The results suggest that there is a strong association between nurse–nurse collaboration and job satisfaction such that nurses are more satisfied when there is good collaboration and vice versa.
Knowledge and practice towards care and maintenance of peripheral intravenous cannula among nurses in Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Nepal
Authors: Osti Chadani , Khadka Menuka , Wosti Deepa , Gurung Ganga , Zhao Qinghua 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAimThe study is mainly concerned about the care and maintenance of peripheral intravenous cannulation: to determine the knowledge and practice of nurses towards care and maintenance of IV cannula and to find out the obstacles encountered in caring and maintaining IV cannula. Intravenous cannulation is a common procedure performed by nurses in every hospital and closely associated with the risk of nosocomial infections if standard care is not provided.DesignA descriptive cross‐sectional study design was carried out.MethodsNurses' knowledge and practice towards care and maintenance of peripheral intravenous cannula were assessed using a validated semi‐structured self‐administered questionnaire through the census method. Data were analysed through SPSS program. The comparison was done between knowledge and practice.ResultsThe findings revealed that 84.72% respondents were doing correct practices despite the fact that only 82.47% respondents had proper knowledge. Most nurses have good knowledge of caring and maintaining peripheral intravenous cannulation but there were some without proper knowledge and practice. This could be a potential risk factor for patient safety.
Imaging scours in straightened and braided gravel‐bed rivers with ground‐penetrating radar
Authors: Huber Emanuel , Anders Birte , Huggenberger Peter 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTThe genesis of alternate gravel bars in straightened rivers and braided rivers is closely coupled to the formation of scours. Scours can lead to riverbank failure, initiate lateral river dynamics and strongly impact the interaction between surface and subsurface flow and transport. It is, therefore, critical to account for scours in the design of flood protection measures. However, there is still little knowledge on the formation and characteristics of such scours, especially on the dynamic relationship between the riverbed morphology and the scours. Bathymetric riverbed surveys conducted at medium to low discharge may underestimate the real scour sizes and shapes if scours filled with sediments during waning discharge. Furthermore, the literature suggests that gravel bars and scours can jointly migrate on the riverbed, resulting in cut‐and‐fill sedimentary structures in the near subsurface. These cut‐and‐fill structures cannot be observed from the surface. We investigate with ground‐penetrating radar the presence of scour fills below the riverbed of two gravel‐bed rivers and study any indications of bar and scour migration. Thus, two ground‐penetrating radar surveys were conducted, one on the emerged part of an alternate bar of the channelized Alpine Rhine River (Switzerland) and the other on a flat gravel surface in a braided reach of the Tagliamento River (Italy) that is near the pristine state. At both sites, a scour fill could be clearly identified below a 2‐m‐thick sediment layer. The imaged part of the scour of the Alpine Rhine River (30 × 100 × 4.5 m) is located at the front end of the gravel bar next to the riverbank. This scour was only partially imaged by ground‐penetrating radar and is in reality significantly deeper and larger. The scour of the Tagliamento River (20 × 30 × 2.5 m) shows a clear internal structure consisting of inclined, planar cross‐beds that merge tangentially with the lower‐bounding erosional surface of the scour. At the light of the literature, we compare these two scours in terms of sedimentary processes resulting from the complex interplay between scours and gravel bars. The study findings offer a promising research avenue on the dynamic relationship between discharge, sediment transport, scour and bar formation and migration.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ru‐Loaded Anodized Aluminum Oxide for Hydrogenation Catalysis
Authors: Vandekerkhove Annelies , Negahdar Leila , Glas Daan , Stassen Ivo , Matveev Serguei , Meeldijk Johannes D. , Meirer Florian , De Vos Dirk E. , Weckhuysen Bert M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAnodized aluminum oxides (AAOs) are synthesized and used as catalyst support in combination with Ru as metal in hydrogenation catalysis. SEM and TEM analysis of the as‐synthesized AAOs reveal uniform, ordered nanotubes with pore diameters of 18 nm, which are further characterized with Kr physisorption, XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. After impregnation of the AAOs with Ru, the presence of Ru nanoparticles inside the tubular pores is evidenced clearly for the first time via HAADF‐STEM‐EDX. The Ru−AAOs have been tested for catalytic activity, which showed high conversion and selectivity for the hydrogenation of toluene and butanal.
Self‐Suspended Nanoparticles for N‐Alkylation Reactions: A New Concept for Catalysis
Authors: Sarno Maria , Cirillo Claudia , Iuliano Mariagrazia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe catalytic activity of snowman‐like and core‐shell Fe3O4/Au nanoparticles (NPs), obtained through a “wet chemistry” approach which directly restitutes nanocatalysts stable and highly active in the reaction medium, was tested towards N‐alkylation reactions. The nanocatalysts were tested for the synthesis of secondary amines. The core‐shell NPs, thanks to the surface properties, homogeneous dispersion and intimate connection with reagents in the catalyst medium, exhibited an excellent catalytic activity (e. g. >99 % yield and conversion of aniline in very short time and mild conditions). Owing to the magnetic part, the nanoparticles can be easily separated and reused, showing an almost stable activity after 10 cycles.
Neuroplasticity Modifications Following a Lower‐Limb Amputation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Molina‐Rueda Francisco , Navarro‐Fernández Cristian , Cuesta‐Gómez Alicia , Alguacil‐Diego Isabel M , Molero‐Sánchez Alberto , Carratalá‐Tejada María 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundAlthough there are studies that have examined brain functional reorganization following upper‐limb amputation, understanding of the brain changes that occur in people with lower‐limb amputation is limited.ObjectiveTo investigate modifications in the brain following lower‐limb amputation.MethodsWe included case‐control studies that evaluate neuroplasticity in the central nervous system using neuroimaging techniques. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane.ResultsEleven articles were included (total n = 204 people with unilateral lower‐limb amputation). These studies showed an increase in cerebellar gray matter volume in prosthesis users, as well as a decrease in thickness of the premotor cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, temporo‐occipital junction, precentral gyrus, visual areas, and somatosensory cortex. Regarding white matter, the trials observed a decrease in the integrity at the corona radiata, the connections between the premotor areas, the fronto‐occipital fasciculus and the corpus callosum. In addition, a decreased functional connectivity between cortical and subcortical areas has been described.ConclusionsLower‐limb amputation causes changes in several brain structures that may occur in the absence of pain and regardless of prosthesis use. The modifications observed include thinning or loss of gray matter volume, decrease in the integrity of the white matter connections between brain structures and changes in the functional connectivity between cortical and subcortical areas.Level of EvidenceI.
Binary Modification of Eucommia ulmoides Gum Toward Elastomer with Tunable Mechanical Properties and Good Compatibility
Authors: Zhao Jie , Zhang Hengchen , Ma Cuihong , Han Huijin , Sun Ruyi , Xie Meiran 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTEucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) was applied in blend rubber with a heavily limited amount because of its duality of rubber and plastic, and an efficient way of triazolinedione (TAD)‐based Alder‐ene reaction was used to improve the elastic properties of EUG. Binary modification of EUG with two TADs containing hexyl and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) groups were conducted to generate the modified EUG elastomers with tunable mechanical properties and good compatibility by varying TAD contents. When the low hexyl (1%) and POSS (0.2%) TADs incorporated, the modified EUGs displayed high tensile strength of 36.57 MPa with the elongation at break of 876%, and thus high toughness of 152.14 MJ m−3. If high contents of hexyl (20%) and POSS (0.2%) TADs employed, the modified EUGs exhibited excellent elongation at break of 1165% and recovery rate of 60%, and especially its loss factor reached up to 0.83‑0.65 at 20‑70°C. Therefore, the modified EUGs containing the polar urazole and POSS groups should be a novel elastomer with good compatibility, wear resistance, and damping properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019
Celastrol inhibits growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer cell MKN45 by down‐regulating microRNA‐21
Authors: Yao Shan‐Shan , Han Lei , Tian Zi‐Bin , Yu Ya‐Nan , Zhang Qi , Li Xiao‐Yu , Mao Tao , Yang Lin 
Published: April 2019

Celastrol could inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro. However, effect(s) of celastrol on gastric cancer is not well studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of celastrol on human gastric cancer cell line MKN45 and the underlying mechanisms. We found that celastrol inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest (p < .05, p < .01, or p < .001). Under celastrol treatment, overexpression of microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) increased cell viability, migration, and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis compared with negative control (p < .05, p < .01, or p < .001). In addition, the phosphorylation of PTEN was significantly up‐regulated, whereas PI3K, AKT, p65, and IκBα phosphorylation was statistically decreased by celastrol (p < .05 or p < .01) and then further reversed by miR‐21 overexpression (p < .05 or p < .01). On the other side, miR‐21 silence showed contrary results (p < .05) as relative to miR‐21 overexpression. In conclusion, celastrol inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and inactivates PTEN/PI3K/AKT and nuclear factor κB signaling pathways in MKN45 cells by down‐regulating miR‐21.
Sensitivity of WRF model simulations to parametrizations of depositional growth of ice crystal during the landfall of Typhoon Fitow (2013)
Authors: Xu Huiyan , Li Xiaofan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractUncertainty in the ice nucleation process is still large, yet the torrential precipitation associated with the landfall of a typhoon is strongly contributed by stratiform rainfall, mainly composed of ice‐phase clouds. This study investigates the ice growth parametrization proposed by Zeng et al. under the assumption that the ice crystal concentration is proportional to the mass of ice crystal. Sensitivity tests reveal that simulations with the Zeng scheme are especially sensitive to ice nuclei concentration. Zeng schemes with high ice crystal concentration simulate anomalously large rain rate, weak intensities and abnormal tracks, and this is directly related to the over‐production of ice nuclei concentration propagating into cloud ice and other microphysical fields mainly through the depositional growth of cloud ice from cloud water (PIDW). The Shen et al. scheme works better than the Zeng scheme by changing the radius of base ice crystal from 0 to 40 µm and reducing sensitivity of PIDW to the ice nuclei concentration. But Shen schemes simulate the number of ice crystals as anomalously large as those in Zeng schemes, since both Zeng and Shen schemes use the Fletcher equation in the parametrization of ice crystal concentration. When DeMott et al. ice crystal concentration parametrization is applied to the Zeng scheme, the anomalously large rainfall is significantly weakened, further indicating that Zeng schemes with high ice crystal concentration poorly simulate a typhoon, primarily due to the over‐nucleation of ice in the Fletcher parametrization.
Robust plant by plant control design using model‐error tracking sets
Authors: Pretorius Arnold , Boje Edward 
Published: April 2019

SummaryThis paper presents a method for designing a robust two‐degree‐of‐freedom control scheme, capable of satisfying multiple model‐error specifications on a plant by plant basis. Traditional quantitative feedback theory methods generally use a single model‐error or above‐below magnitude tracking specification, which can result in overdesign for plants located away from the bounding conditions. The performance specifications are also generally hand‐tuned, or iteratively adjusted to keep the underlying time‐domain signals within permissible levels. Our method aims to perform a model‐error design on a per‐plant basis, such that each plant's corresponding model tracking has equal weighting given the plant's inherent feedback requirements and capability. The quantitative feedback theory method allows this per‐plant approach to be undertaken with ease. Additionally, sufficiently low‐order model specifications are designed using simple optimisation, which take into account performance limiting effects, such as non‐minimum phase behaviour and signal constraints. A worked example is presented, showing the viability and transparency of the proposed method.
Regulated state synchronization of homogeneous multiagent systems with partial‐state coupling via low‐gain adaptive protocol
Authors: Stoorvogel Anton A. , Saberi Ali , Liu Zhenwei , Nojavanzadeh Donya 
Published: April 2019

SummaryThis paper studies regulated state synchronization for continuous‐time homogeneous multiagent systems with weakly unstable agents where the reference trajectory is given by a so‐called exosystem. The agents share part of their state over a communication network. We assume that the communication topology is completely unknown and directed. An algebraic Riccati equation–based low‐gain adaptive nonlinear dynamic protocol design is presented to achieve the regulated state synchronizations. Utilizing the adaptive control, our nonlinear dynamic protocol is universal and does not depend on any information about the communication topology or the number of agents.
Transition Decisions: Intersections of Social Class, Gender and Ethnicity
Authors: Keskiner Elif 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe literature on youth transitions generally accepts the prolonged and increasingly complex nature of youth transitions (Furlong A. Handbook of youth and young adulthood. New perspectives and agendas. Routledge, London, 2009), yet we need to scrutinize the factors underlying these processes in order to understand which individuals are able to prolong their transitions (and how), how they cope with complex transitions and what makes for a smooth (or rough) transition. This chapter scrutinizes school-to-work transitions in their full complexity, investigating the prolonged and complex nature of youth transitions among descendants of Turkish migrants in Amsterdam and Strasbourg. Pursuing a mixed methodological approach, that combines secondary data analysis with qualitative interviews, it shows how gendered values in the ethnic community and the resources (especially social capital) of young people in relation to their friends and family are significant in shaping both their (‘subjective’) motivations and their (‘objective’) conditions. Studying social trajectories in detail reveals how young people negotiate structural constraints when trying to achieve their objectives and how, during their transitions, they build different forms of capital in their trajectories across distinct institutional settings. While focusing on the critical decision made at the so-called ‘transition point’, the chapter also illustrates that transitions do not take place at a single point in time.