bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Nicotine Dependence and Smoking Cessation Attempts Among Adult Tobacco Users With a Psychiatric Disorder
Authors: Okoli Chizimuzo T. C. , Seng Sarret 
Published: June 2018

Introduction: Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) is predictive of greater nicotine dependence (ND) and poor smoking cessation (SC) outcomes. SHSe and its impact on ND and SC attempts in people with psychiatric disorders (PD) remain poorly understood. Hence, the objectives of this study were to (1) quantify SHSe, (2) examine the association of SHSe with ND, and (3) assess the association between SHSe and SC among tobacco users with PD. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 118 tobacco users in an inpatient psychiatric facility was conducted. Data on demographics, tobacco use and SHSe history, motivation to quit smoking, ND, and SC attempts were obtained. Participants’ environmental and psychosocial sources of and perceived SHSe were described. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between SHSe and ND, while logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between SHSe and SC. Results: The primary sources of environmental SHSe were from the car (63.6%) and home (51.7%); primary sources of psychosocial SHSe were close friends (67.8%) and parents/grandparents (65.3%); and mean perceived SHSe was 6.2 ( SD = 3.5). Although perceived SHSe was significantly associated with ND (β = .39, p < .0001) in multivariate analyses, no SHSe variable was associated with SC. However, scores on items measuring motivation to quit smoking were associated with SC attempts. Discussion: Patients with PD reported high levels of SHSe, which was associated with higher ND. Routine screening for SHSe should be implemented as part of health assessments in this population to address ND treatment options. Moreover, targeted interventions and policies should be considered toward reducing SHSe in this vulnerable population.
Design Lessons From the Analysis of Nurse Journeys in a Hospital Ward
Authors: Nazarian Masoumeh , Price Andrew , Demian Peter , Malekzadeh Masoud 
Published: June 2018

Objective: The objective is to establish design strategies to help minimize nurse journeys and inform future decision-making. The impact of the ward layout was investigated through a case study ward in a multispecialty hospital in Tehran. Background: Nurse teams have the most direct contact with ward patients. Time spent on activities not part of care provision should be minimized. Literature suggests that a significant part of nurses’ time is spent moving between different places within wards, which emphasizes the importance of ward layout. Methods: The ethnographic method was adopted for observing nurses’ actions based on routes that form a significant share of nurses’ daily journeys. Data were collected from 42 nursing staff over 120 hr during different shifts. This provided empirical data on the frequency of each journey which revealed meaningful patterns. Approximately 1,300 room-to-room journeys were made. Conclusions were drawn about the criticality of each route. Results: There is a significant difference between the frequencies of different routes in the case study ward. The distances between origins and destinations of the most frequently used journeys must remain minimal. Awareness of less frequent routes allows for greater flexibility in ward design. Conclusion: Arrangement of ward spaces can minimize journey times. Healthcare planners and designers can explore the implications of chosen systems on walking distance and, consequently, the nursing staff productivity. For existing wards, rearrangement of space utilization can improve staff productivity. The recommendations can be applied wherever productivity is influenced by walking distances.
Serum IFN-γ levels predict the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in active rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yang Yi , He Xiao , Zhao Rongseng , Guo Wei , Zhu Ming , Xing Wei , Jiang Dongpo , Liu Chongyang , Xu Xiang 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Background
To explore the mechanism of the different clinical efficacies of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT) and identify a possible serum biomarker for predicting the therapeutic effect of MSCT in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods
A total of 105 patients with persistently active RA and poor responses to traditional medication were randomly divided into MSCT and control groups. Outcomes were evaluated according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score and Health Assessment Questionnaire, serological indicators, regulatory T cell (Treg) to T helper 17 (Th17) cell ratio, and inflammatory cytokine levels. Twelve weeks after MSCT, the outcomes of the MSCT group were evaluated according to the European League against Rheumatism response criteria. Patients with a good or moderate response were added to the response group, and those with no response were added to the no-response group.

Results
No serious adverse events were reported for either MSCT subgroup (28 in the response group and 24 in the no-response group). The therapeutic effects lasted for 48 weeks without continuous administration. Notably, a transient increase in serum IFN-γ (>2 pg/ml) levels was observed in the response group, but not in the no-response group. Furthermore, an increase in IL-10 levels and the Treg/Th17 ratio and a reduction in IL-6 levels appeared 2–3 weeks after the transient IFN-γ increase.

Conclusions
Allogeneic MSCT is safe and feasible, and we propose high serum IFN-γ levels as a potent biomarker for predicting MSCT response.
Trial registration chictr.org, ChiCTR-ONC-16008770. Registered 3 July 2016, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=14820
An energy-efficient sleep scheduling mechanism with similarity measure for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Wan Runze , Xiong Naixue , Loc Nguyen The 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn wireless sensor networks, the high density of node’s distribution will result in transmission collision and energy dissipation of redundant data. To resolve the above problems, an energy-efficient sleep scheduling mechanism with similarity measure for wireless sensor networks (ESSM) is proposed, which will schedule the sensors into the active or sleep mode to reduce energy consumption effectively. Firstly, the optimal competition radius is estimated to organize the all sensor nodes into several clusters to balance energy consumption. Secondly, according to the data collected by member nodes, a fuzzy matrix can be obtained to measure the similarity degree, and the correlation function based on fuzzy theory can be defined to divide the sensor nodes into different categories. Next, the redundant nodes will be selected to put into sleep state in the next round under the premise of ensuring the data integrity of the whole network. Simulations and results show that our method can achieve better performances both in proper distribution of clusters and improving the energy efficiency of the networks with prerequisite of guaranteeing the data accuracy.
Clinical trials for treating recurrent head and neck cancer with boron neutron capture therapy using the Tsing‐Hua Open Pool Reactor
Authors: Wang Ling‐Wei , Liu Yen‐Wan Hsueh , Chou Fong‐In , Jiang Shiang‐Huei 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHead and neck (HN) cancer is an endemic disease in Taiwan, China. Locally recurrent HN cancer after full‐dose irradiation poses a therapeutic challenge, and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) may be a solution that could provide durable local control with tolerable toxicity. The Tsing‐Hua Open Pool Reactor (THOR) at National Tsing‐Hua University in Hsin‐Chu, provides a high‐quality epithermal neutron source for basic and clinical BNCT research. Our first clinical trial, entitled “A phase I/II trial of boron neutron capture therapy for recurrent head and neck cancer at THOR”, was carried out between 2010 and 2013. A total of 17 patients with 23 recurrent HN tumors who had received high‐dose photon irradiation were enrolled in the study. The fructose complex of l‐boronophenylalanine was used as a boron carrier, and a two‐fraction BNCT treatment regimen at 28‐day intervals was used for each patient. Toxicity was acceptable, and although the response rate was high (12/17), re‐recurrence within or near the radiation site was common. To obtain better local control, another clinical trial entitled “A phase I/II trial of boron neutron capture therapy combined with image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IG‐IMRT) for locally recurrent HN cancer” was initiated in 2014. The first administration of BNCT was performed according to our previous protocol, and IG‐IMRT was initiated 28 days after BNCT. As of May 2017, seven patients have been treated with this combination. The treatment‐related toxicity was similar to that previously observed with two BNCT applications. Three patients had a complete response, but locoregional recurrence was the major cause of failure despite initially good responses. Future clinical trials combining BNCT with other local or systemic treatments will be carried out for recurrent HN cancer patients at THOR.
Identification of cardioprotective drugs by medium-scale in vivo pharmacological screening on a Drosophila cardiac model of Friedreich's ataxia
Authors: Palandri Amandine , Martin Elodie , Russi Maria , Rera Michael , Tricoire Hervé , Monnier Véronique 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is caused by reduced levels of frataxin, a highly conserved mitochondrial protein. There is currently no effective treatment for this disease, which is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and cardiomyopathy, the latter being the most common cause of death in patients. We previously developed a Drosophila melanogaster cardiac model of FA, in which the fly frataxin is inactivated specifically in the heart, leading to heart dilatation and impaired systolic function. Methylene Blue (MB) was highly efficient to prevent these cardiac dysfunctions. Here, we used this model to screen in vivo the Prestwick Chemical Library, comprising 1280 compounds. Eleven drugs significantly reduced the cardiac dilatation, some of which may possibly lead to therapeutic applications in the future. The one with the strongest protective effects was paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing drug. In parallel, we characterized the histological defects induced by frataxin deficiency in cardiomyocytes and observed strong sarcomere alterations with loss of striation of actin fibers, along with full disruption of the microtubule network. Paclitaxel and MB both improved these structural defects. Therefore, we propose that frataxin inactivation induces cardiac dysfunction through impaired sarcomere assembly or renewal due to microtubule destabilization, without excluding additional mechanisms. This study is the first drug screening of this extent performed in vivo on a Drosophila model of cardiac disease. Thus, it also brings the proof of concept that cardiac functional imaging in adult Drosophila flies is usable for medium-scale in vivo pharmacological screening, with potent identification of cardioprotective drugs in various contexts of cardiac diseases.
Recapitulating muscle disease phenotypes with myotonic dystrophy 1 induced pluripotent stem cells: a tool for disease modeling and drug discovery
Authors: Mondragon-Gonzalez Ricardo , Perlingeiro Rita C. R. 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT
Myotonic dystrophy 1 (DM1) is a multisystem disorder primarily affecting the central nervous system, heart and skeletal muscle. It is caused by an expansion of the CTG trinucleotide repeats in the 3′ untranslated region of the DMPK gene. Although patient myoblasts have been used for studying the disease in vitro, the invasiveness as well as the low accessibility to muscle biopsies motivate the development of alternative reliable myogenic models. Here, we established two DM1 induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines from patient-derived fibroblasts and, using the PAX7 conditional expression system, differentiated these into myogenic progenitors and, subsequently, terminally differentiated myotubes. Both DM1 myogenic progenitors and myotubes were found to express the intranuclear RNA foci exhibiting sequestration of MBNL1. Moreover, we found the DM1-related mis-splicing, namely BIN1 exon 11 in DM1 myotubes. We used this model to test a specific therapy, antisense oligonucleotide treatment, and found that this efficiently abolished RNA foci and rescued BIN1 mis-splicing in DM1 iPS cell-derived myotubes. Together, our results demonstrate that myotubes derived from DM1 iPS cells recapitulate the critical molecular features of DM1 and are sensitive to antisense oligonucleotide treatment, confirming that these cells can be used for in vitro disease modeling and candidate drug testing or screening.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
The effect of gap junction-mediated transfer of miR-200b on osteogenesis and angiogenesis in a co-culture of MSCs and HUVECs
Authors: Fan Xiaoting , Teng Yi , Ye Zhaoyang , Zhou Yan , Tan Wen-Song 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT
For successful engineering of pre-vascularized bone tissue in vitro, understanding the interactions between vasculogenic cells and bone-forming cells is a prerequisite. Mounting evidence indicates that microRNAs can serve as intercellular signals that allow cell–cell communication. Here, the role of the transfer of the microRNA miR-200b between vasculogenic and osteogenic cells was explored in a co-culture system. Rat bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) formed functional gap junctions composed of connexin 43 (Cx43, also known as GJA1) with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), through which miR-200b could transfer from BMSCs to HUVECs to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. As a negative regulator, the decrease in miR-200b level in BMSCs derepressed the expression of VEGF-A, leading to increased osteogenic differentiation. Once inside HUVECs, miR-200b reduced the angiogenic potential of HUVECs through downregulation of ZEB2, ETS1, KDR and GATA2. Additionally, TGF-β was found to trigger the transfer of miR-200b to HUVECs. Upon adding the TGF-β inhibitor SB431542 or TGF-β-neutralizing antibody, the formation of capillary-like structures in co-culture could be partially rescued. These findings may be fundamental to the development of a cell-based bone regeneration strategy.
Development of a national core dataset for the Iranian ICU patients outcome prediction: a comprehensive approach
Authors: Atashi Alireza , Ahmadian Leila , Rahmatinezhad Zahra , Miri Mirmohammad , Nazeri Najmeh , Eslami Saeid 
Published: June 2018

ObjectiveTo define a core dataset for intensive care unit (ICU) patients outcome prediction in Iran. This core data set will lead us to design ICU outcome prediction models with the most effective parameters.MethodsA combination of literature review, national survey and expert consensus meetings were used. First, a literature review was performed by a general search in PubMed to find the most appropriate models for intensive care mortality prediction and their parameters. Second, in a national survey, experts from a couple of medical centres in all parts of Iran were asked to comment on a list of items retrieved from the earlier literature review study. In the next step, a multi-disciplinary committee of experts was installed. In four meetings, each data item was examined separately and included/excluded by committee consensus.ResultsThe combination of the literature review findings and experts’ consensus resulted in a draft dataset including 26 data items. Ninety-two percent of data items in the draft dataset were retrieved from the literature study and the others were suggested by the experts. The final dataset of 24 data items covers patient history and physical examination, chemistry, vital signs, oxygenations and some more specific parameters.ConclusionsThis dataset was designed to develop a nationwide prognostic model for predicting ICU mortality and length of stay. This dataset opens the door for creating standardised approaches in data collection in the Iranian intensive care unit estimation of resource utility.
Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Induced by SMAD4 Activation in Invasive Growth Hormone-Secreting Adenomas
Authors: Shan Xiaosong , Liu Qian , Li Zhenye , Li Chuzhong , Gao Hua , Zhang Yazhuo 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe detection and treatment of invasive growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) remains challenging. Several transcription factors promoting the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) can act as cofactors for the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß)/SMAD4. The goal of this study was to investigate the association of SMAD4 expression and clinicopathologic features using a tissue microarray analysis (TMA). The levels of SMAD4 and the related genes of EMT in GHPAs were analyzed by q-PCR and western blot. SMAD4 was strongly expressed in 15/19 cases (78.9%) of invasive GHPA and 10/42 cases (23.8%) of noninvasive GHPA (χ2=10.887,p=0.000). In the high SMAD4 group, a headache was reported in 16/25 cases (64%) compared with 13/36 cases (36.1%) in the low SMAD4 group (χ2=4.565,p=0.032). The progression-free survival (PFS) in the high group was lower than that in the low group (p=0.026). qRT-PCR and western blot analysis further revealed a significant downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin in the invasive GHPA group. SMAD4 was associated with increased levels of invasion of GH3 cells, as determined by a transwell test. SMAD4 downregulated E-cadherin levels and increased the levels of N-cadherin and vimentin. Our data provide evidence that SMAD4 is a potential prognosis biomarker and a therapeutic target for patients with invasive GHPA.
A brief review on the erosion-corrosion behavior of engineering materials
Authors: Kuruvila Roshan , Thirumalai Kumaran S. , Khan M. Adam , Uthayakumar M. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The efficiency of industry depends upon the working conditions of the equipment and components used in the industrial process. The biggest problems faced by the industries are the problems of erosion and corrosion. The harmful effects of corrosion will lead to material loss, which results from the degradation of the equipment. The degradation of the equipment will cause the breakdown of the plant; moreover, it is a threat to the safety of people, and also from the point of conservation, it can cause the exploitation of available resources. The cost of replacing equipment increases the expense, and it can also result in the temporary shutdown of the plant. The protection of surfaces from the adverse effects of corrosion and erosion-corrosion is a matter of great concern in most industrial applications. Advancements in technology provides a wide range of techniques to overcome adverse conditions. The selection of appropriate technology must be from the viewpoint of their interaction with the environment. This review paper addresses the adverse effects of erosion-corrosion in the present scenario.
Spectroscopic characterization of the Co-substituted C-terminal domain of rubredoxin-2
Authors: Galle Lisa M. , Cutsail III George E. , Nischwitz Volker , DeBeer Serena , Span Ingrid 
Published: June 2018

Abstract

Pseudomonas putida rubredoxin-2 (Rxn2) is an essential member of the alkane hydroxylation pathway and transfers electrons from a reductase to the membrane-bound hydroxylase. The regioselective hydroxylation of linear alkanes is a challenging chemical transformation of great interest for the chemical industry. Herein, we report the preparation and spectroscopic characterization of cobalt-substituted P. putida Rxn2 and a truncated version of the protein consisting of the C-terminal domain of the protein. Our spectroscopic data on the Co-substituted C-terminal domain supports a high-spin Co(II) with a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment. Investigation of the two-domain protein Rxn2 provides insights into the metal-binding properties of the N-terminal domain, the role of which is not well understood so far. Circular dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray absorption spectroscopies support an alternative Co-binding site within the N-terminal domain, which appears to not be relevant in nature. We have shown that chemical reconstitution in the presence of Co leads to incorporation of Co(II) into the active site of the C-terminal domain, but not the N-terminal domain of Rxn2 indicating distinct roles for the two rubredoxin domains.
Comparison of Core Muscle Activation Between a Prone Bridge and 6-RM Back Squats
Authors: van den Tillaar Roland , Saeterbakken Atle Hole 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare core muscle activation during a prone bridge (plank) until failure and 6-RM back squats. Twelve resistance-trained males (age 23.5 ± 2.6 years, body mass 87.8 ± 21.3 kg, body height 1.81 ± 0.08 m) participated in this study. Total exercise time and EMG activity of the rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique and erector spinae were measured during 6-RM back squats and a prone bridge with a weight of 20% of participants’ body mass on their lower back. The main findings showed non-significant differences between the exercises in the rectus abdominis or external oblique, but greater erector spinae activation in squatting. Furthermore, in contrast to the prone bridge, the erector spinae and rectus abdominis demonstrated increasing muscle activation throughout the repetitions while squatting, whereas the prone bride demonstrated increasing external oblique activation between the beginning and the middle of the set. It was concluded that since squatting resulted in greater erector spine activation, but similar rectus abdominis and oblique external activation as the prone bridge, high-intensity squats rather than isometric low intensity core exercises for athletes would be recommended.