bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repetitive enhancement of serum BDNF subsequent to continuation ECT
Authors: Vanicek T. , Kranz G. S. , Vyssoki B. , Komorowski A. , Fugger G. , Höflich A. , Micskei Z. , Milovic S. , Lanzenberger R. , Eckert A. , Kasper S. , Frey R. 
Published: August 2019

IntroductionContinuation electroconvulsive therapy (c‐ECT) is highly effective for the prevention of depressive symptom relapse. There is a lack of understanding, about how c‐ECT works in humans, particularly with regard to its effects on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations. Here, we aimed to close a gap in the literature by evaluating BDNF levels in patients receiving c‐ECT.MethodsWe included 13 patients with either unipolar or bipolar depression (mean age ± SD: 55.5 ± 17.1; f/m: 10/3; unipolar/bipolar: 10/3) who received between one and four c‐ECT (average per patient: 2.8). Serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels were assessed before and after each c‐ECT sessions. Clinical assessments were also administered both before and after treatment.ResultsOur analysis revealed a significant increase in sBDNF after each treatment (c‐ECT 1‐3: P < 0.001, c‐ECT 4: P = 0.018). The application of multiple c‐ECT treatments was not, however, associated with further sBDNF enhancements. Psychometric scores were not significantly altered following c‐ECT.DiscussionAn increase in sBDNF concentrations subsequent to c‐ECT parallel data from the animal literature, which has linked regularly applied electrical stimulation to neuroplastic processes. This finding suggests a relationship between ECT‐induced sBDNF concentrations and (sustained) remission status, considering a stable clinical condition across c‐ECT.
Delta‐like 3 localizes to neuroendocrine cells and plays a pivotal role in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine malignancy
Authors: Matsuo Kentaro , Taniguchi Kohei , Hamamoto Hiroki , Ito Yuko , Futaki Sugiko , Inomata Yosuke , Shima Takafumi , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Lee Sang‐Woong , Tanaka Keitaro , Okuda Junji , Kondo Yoichi , Uchiyama Kazuhisa 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDelta‐like 3 (DLL3) is a member of the Delta/Serrate/Lag2 (DSL) group of Notch receptor ligands. Five DSL ligands are known in mammals, among which DLL3 has a unique structure. In the last few years, DLL3 has attracted attention as a novel molecular targeting gene in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung due to its high expression. However, the expression pattern and functions of DLL3 in the gastrointestinal tract and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma remain unclear. In this study, we examined the expression and role of DLL3 in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the human normal gastrointestinal tract revealed that DLL3 localized in neuroendocrine cells. DLL3 showed intense staining in chromogranin A‐positive gastric cancer specimens. Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR and western blotting analyses showed considerable upregulation of DLL3 in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma cell lines. Immuno‐electron microscopy demonstrated abundant expression of DLL3 in neurosecretory granules in these cells. Furthermore, gene silencing of DLL3 caused significant growth inhibition through the induction of intrinsic apoptosis. Our findings suggest that DLL3 is expressed in neuroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract and that it has a pivotal role in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma cells. Based on these findings, further investigations are required to achieve a breakthrough in developing therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Optimal sequences of same‐visit bidirectional endoscopy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Laoveeravat Passisd , Thavaraputta Subhanudh , Suchartlikitwong Sakolwan , Vutthikraivit Wasawat , Mingbunjerdsuk Thammasak , Motes Arunee , Nugent Kenneth , Perisetti Abhilash , Tharian Benjamin , Islam Sameer , Rakvit Ariwan 
Published: August 2019

Background and AimSame‐visit colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have become common. Recent studies showed conflicting results regarding the performance, safety, and efficacy of different sequences. We conducted this meta‐analysis to determine the most favorable performance and discomfort between an EGD followed by colonoscopy (E‐C) and colonoscopy followed by EGD (C‐E).MethodsThe authors searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Outcomes of interest were performance (including cecal intubation time, adenoma detection rate, and polyp detection rate), discomfort score (patients and endoscopists; Likert scale), and sedation uses. Pooled mean differences (MD) or odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsSix randomized controlled trials were included in the meta‐analysis. The authors found that there was significantly lower sedative use including fentanyl (14.70; 95% Cl: 8.20–21.20) and propofol (15.58; 95% Cl: 3.27–27.89) in the E‐C group compared with the C‐E group. There was a significantly better discomfort score in patients and endoscopists after both procedures in the E‐C group than in the C‐E group with pooled MD of 0.64 points (95% Cl: 0.09–1.20) and 0.47 (95% Cl: 0.05–0.90), respectively. There were no differences in cecal intubation time, adenoma detection rate, or polyp detection rate between the two groups.ConclusionThe present study found that the discomfort score was better in the E‐C group. However, there was no difference in polyp and adenoma detection. Therefore, the E‐C group is the optimal sequence.
Cognitive functioning in glioma patients is related to functional connectivity measures of the non‐tumoural hemisphere
Authors: De Baene Wouter , Rutten Geert‐Jan M. , Sitskoorn Margriet M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that cognitive functioning in patients with brain tumour is associated with the functional network characteristics of specific resting‐state networks or with whole‐brain network characteristics. These studies, however, did not acknowledge the functional contribution of areas in the contralesional, non‐tumoural hemisphere, even though these healthy remote areas likely play a critical role in compensating for the loss of function in damaged tissue. In the current study, we examined whether there is an association between cognitive performance and functional network features of the contralesional hemisphere of patients with glioma. We found that local efficiency of the contralesional hemisphere was associated with performance on the reaction time domain, whereas contralesional assortativity was associated with complex attention and cognitive flexibility scores. Our results suggest that a less segregated organization of the contralesional hemisphere is associated with better reaction time scores, whereas a better spread of information over the contralesional hemisphere through mutually interconnected contralesional hubs is associated with better cognitive flexibility and better complex attention scores. These findings urge researchers to recognize the functional contribution of remote, undamaged regions and to focus more on the graph metrics of the contralesional hemisphere in the search for predictors of cognitive functioning in patients with brain tumour.
Soil chemical properties under no‐tillage as affected by agricultural trophic complexity
Authors: Deiss Leonardo , Kleina Georgia B. , Moraes Anibal , Franzluebbers Alan J. , Motta Antonio C. V. , Dieckow Jeferson , Sandini Itacir E. , Anghinoni Ibanor , Carvalho Paulo C. F. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractSoil fertility under no‐tillage farming may be affected by agricultural complexity. By transforming most of the ingested pasture into urine and faeces, ruminants catalyse nutrient cycling by breaking down complex plant molecules, which can help to maintain or even improve soil fertility. We evaluated how integrating annual crops and the ruminant grazing of cover crops in the same land area and at overlapping times affect soil fertility in no‐tillage systems. Soil chemical properties were evaluated at 0–5‐cm and 5–25‐cm depths, in three long‐term cropping experiments (7, 10 and 12 years) with and without ruminant grazing of cover crops. The three sites had contrasting soil and climatic char acteristics, but all sites were managed under no‐tillage, and treatments with livestock were managed with moderate grazing intensity. Ruminant grazing increased soil Na and P concentrations at 0–5‐cm depth, and increased Ca and Mg availability, base saturation and pH in deeper layers (5–25‐cm depth) or across the soil profile (0–25 cm). Land‐use complexity changed the soil exchangeable complex, resulting in soil acidity amelioration and consequently reduced Al toxicity, but it also had a negative impact on K saturation and cationic micronutrient availability (Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe). In general, grazing improved or did not change most soil chemical properties, and any negative effects of animal presence did not limit agroecosystem productivity. Therefore, under appropriate nutrient and grazing management, no‐tillage farming with integrated crop–livestock systems can uphold soil chemical conditions to sustain primary and secondary productivities in agroecosystems.Highlights
Is the soil fertility in no‐tillage systems affected by ruminant grazing of cover crops?
Land‐use complexity increased P, Na, Ca and Mg availability, and pH, and reduced Al toxicity
Soil acidity amelioration decreased K saturation and cationic micronutrient availability
Agriculture complexity under no‐tillage fosters soil fertility to allow sustainable intensification
Sequential infection can decrease virulence in a fish–bacterium–fluke interaction: Implications for aquaculture disease management
Authors: Karvonen Anssi , Fenton Andy , Sundberg Lotta‐Riina 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHosts are typically infected with multiple strains or genotypes of one or several parasite species. These infections can take place simultaneously, but also at different times, i.e. sequentially, when one of the parasites establishes first. Sequential parasite dynamics are common in nature, but also in intensive farming units such as aquaculture. However, knowledge of effects of previous exposures on virulence of current infections in intensive farming is very limited. This is critical as consecutive epidemics and infection history of a host could underlie failures in management practices and medical intervention of diseases. Here, we explored effects of timing of multiple infections on virulence in two common aquaculture parasites, the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare and the fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. We exposed fish hosts first to flukes and then to bacteria in two separate experiments, altering timing between the infections from few hours to several weeks. We found that both short‐term and long‐term differences in timing of the two infections resulted in significant, genotype‐specific decrease in bacterial virulence. Second, we developed a mathematical model, parameterized from our experimental results, to predict the implications of sequential infections for epidemiological progression of the disease, and levels of fish population suppression, in an aquaculture setting. Predictions of the model showed that sequential exposure of hosts can decrease the population‐level impact of the bacterial epidemic, primarily through the increased recovery rate of sequentially infected hosts, thereby substantially protecting the population from the detrimental impact of infection. However, these effects depended on bacterial strain–fluke genotype combinations, suggesting the genetic composition of the parasite populations can greatly influence the degree of host suppression. Overall, these results suggest that host infection history can have significant consequences for the impact of infection at host population level, potentially shaping parasite epidemiology, disease dynamics and evolution of virulence in farming environments.
Factors affecting the decision to undergo abortion in Romania: Experiences at our clinic
Authors: Ples Liana , Popescu Ina , Margarit Iulia , Ionescu Cringu Antoniu , Cazaceanu Anca , Moga Marius Alexandru , Popescu Mihai , Tomescu Dana‐Rodica , Sima Romina‐Marina 
Published: August 2019

AbstractRationale, aims, and objectivesIt is estimated that 25% of pregnancies worldwide end in induced abortion. In Romania, the abortion situation shows a specific pattern. Following the fall of the communist regime, first‐trimester abortions were legalized, and between 1990 and 1992, the country's abortion rate was the highest in the world, with 182 abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age. However, there are currently no statistically reliable data, as some abortions are not reported. The purpose of this study was to identify the main circumstances that determine the choice to undergo abortion with all related potential risks, rather than using contraception.MethodWe conducted a prospective type 1 cohort study based on a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement that included women who presented at Bucur Maternity, Saint John Hospital, Bucharest, for abortion during the first trimester, between July and December 2018. The patients were asked to complete a 21‐item questionnaire based on psychosocial data.ResultsThe study included 119 patients, with a mean age of 29.57 years. Their educational level was average (ie, 51.3%, 4.2%, and 8.4% had completed high school, elementary school, and college or university, respectively). Most women were married (46.2%), and 47.9% were unemployed. The main reason for deciding to undergo an abortion was poverty (P = .014), and guilt was correlated with this decision (P = .004).ConclusionThe profiles of the women who chose to undergo an abortion as a family planning method were as follows: in the third decade of life, resident of urban areas, married, unemployed, and with a low family income. The main reasons for abortion were financial status, advanced maternal age, incompatibility of pregnancy with future plans, and the desire to postpone conception.
Chaperone OsmY facilitates the biogenesis of a major family of autotransporters
Authors: Yan Zhen , Hussain Sunyia , Wang Xu , Bernstein Harris D. , Bardwell James C. A. 
Published: August 2019

SummaryOsmY is a widely conserved but poorly understood 20 kDa periplasmic protein. Using a folding biosensor, we previously obtained evidence that OsmY has molecular chaperone activity. To discover natural OsmY substrates, we screened for proteins that are destabilized and thus present at lower steady‐state levels in an osmY‐null strain. The abundance of an outer membrane protein called antigen 43 was substantially decreased and its β‐barrel domain was undetectable in the outer membrane of an osmY‐null strain. Antigen 43 is a member of the diffuse adherence family of autotransporters. Like strains that are defective in antigen 43 production, osmY‐null mutants failed to undergo cellular autoaggregation. In vitro, OsmY assisted in the refolding of the antigen 43 β‐barrel domain and protected it from added protease. Finally, an osmY‐null strain that expressed two members of the diffuse adherence family of autotransporters that are distantly related to antigen 43, EhaA and TibA, contained reduced levels of the proteins and failed to undergo cellular autoaggregation. Taken together, our results indicate that OsmY is involved in the biogenesis of a major subset of autotransporters, a group of proteins that play key roles in bacterial pathogenesis.
Properties and functions of calcium‐dependent protein kinases and their relatives inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Yip Delormel Tiffany , Boudsocq Marie 
Published: August 2019

SummaryCalcium is a ubiquitous second messenger that mediates plant responses to developmental and environmental cues. Calcium‐dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are key actors of plant signaling that convey calcium signals into physiological responses by phosphorylating various substrates including ion channels, transcription factors and metabolic enzymes. This large diversity of targets confers pivotal roles ofCDPKs in shoot and root development, pollen tube growth, stomatal movements, hormonal signaling, transcriptional reprogramming and stress tolerance. On the one hand, specificity inCDPKsignaling is achieved by differential calcium sensitivities, expression patterns, subcellular localizations and substrates. On the other hand,CDPKs also target some common substrates to ensure key cellular processes indispensable for plant growth and survival in adverse environmental conditions. In addition, theCDPK‐related protein kinases (CRKs) might be closer to someCDPKs than previously anticipated and could contribute to calcium signaling despite their inability to bind calcium. This review highlights the regulatory properties of ArabidopsisCDPKs andCRKs that coordinate their multifaceted functions in development, immunity and abiotic stress responses.
Soothe ourselves in times of need: A qualitative exploration of how the feeling of ‘soothe’ is understood and experienced in everyday life
Authors: Mok Michelle C. L. , Schwannauer Matthias , Chan Stella W. Y. 
Published: August 2019

ObjectivesEvidence suggests that self‐compassion is linked to psychological benefits. Compassion‐focused therapy emphasizes the importance of developing abilities to self‐soothe in alleviating psychological distress. However, little is known about how the feeling of soothe is understood, experienced, and achieved in everyday life. This study addressed two research questions: (1) How is the feeling of soothe understood? (2) How is the feeling of soothe experienced in everyday life?DesignThis is part of our ongoing research Project Soothe (www.projectsoothe.com), which collects soothing images from the public with the goal to develop a bank of soothing images for psychotherapeutic and research use. We also set up an online survey to explore how individuals understand and experience the feeling of soothe in everyday lives. The current study was based on the qualitative narratives obtained in this survey.MethodsA total of 176 participants were recruited. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged in response to the first research question: (1) a complex interconnected state of feelings, (2) self‐soothe and being soothed, and (3) involvement of physical sensations. Five themes emerged regarding the second research question: (1) venturing out in nature, (2) being in a familiar surrounding, (3) being solitary, (4) being affiliated, and (5) being physically and mentally relaxed.ConclusionsOur study illustrated the importance of affiliations, physical sensations, mindfulness, connection with nature, and solitude on the cultivation of soothe. Results may help develop therapeutic techniques in enhancing self‐soothe by tapping into individuals’ understanding and subjective experience in everyday contexts.Practitioner points

Compassion‐focused therapy and related third wave therapies emphasize the role of cultivating self‐compassion and feelings of self‐soothe in reducing psychological distress and improving mental well‐being.

This study sheds light on how individuals understand and achieve self‐soothe in everyday life contexts.

Individuals’ subjective narratives suggested that both being in solitude and affiliated with others were associated with feelings of self‐soothe, in addition to feeling connected with the nature, being in familiar environments and experiencing physical sensations.

These findings will help practitioners develop different ways to enhance individuals’ self‐compassion by tapping into their understanding and experience of self‐soothe in everyday life.
Effect of thidiazuron on microspore embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica rapa. var. parachinenis)
Authors: Jia JunXiang , Zhang Yun , Cui LianWei , Feng Hui 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTraditional breeding methods require more than 6 years to obtain homozygous inbred lines, while isolated microspore culture (IMC) is an effective way to cultivate double haploid homozygous lines in only 2 years. However, low embryogenesis induction frequency in Chinese flowering cabbage remains a key obstacle to the practical application of this technique. Thidiazuron was added at different concentrations to NLN‐13 medium to estimate its effects on microspore embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration. Results showed that three genotypes responded positively. Optimum thidiazuron concentrations produced embryo yields of up to 14.67 embryos per bud and increased microspore embryogenesis frequency with up to 100% survival. Plantlet regeneration rates were up to 81.67%, and the treatment groups showed lower callus formation. We obtained up to 552 diploid plants from the tested genotypes, and the percentage of doubled haploid at different TDZ concentrations showed slight differences, and doubled haploid rates in the three genotypes were above 70%. They showed a high uniformity and can be directly used for hybrid breeding. This method accelerates microspore application in Chinese flowering cabbage hybrid breeding.
A Computer-Aided Design Based Research Platform for Design Thinking Studies
Authors: Rahman Molla Hafizur , Schimpf Corey , Xie Charles , Sha Zhenghui 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDesign thinking is often hidden and implicit, so empirical approach based on experiments and data-driven methods has been the primary way of doing such research. In support of empirical studies, design behavioral data which reflects design thinking becomes crucial, especially with the recent advances in data mining and machine learning techniques. In this paper, a research platform that supports data-driven design thinking studies is introduced based on a computer-aided design (cad) software for solar energy systems, energy3d, developed by the team. We demonstrate several key features of energy3d including a fine-grained design process logger, embedded design experiment and tutorials, and interactive cad interfaces and dashboard. These features make energy3d a capable testbed for a variety of research related to engineering design thinking and design theory, such as search strategies, design decision-making, artificial intelligent (AI) in design, and design cognition. Using a case study on an energy-plus home design challenge, we demonstrate how such a platform enables a complete research cycle of studying designers” sequential decision-making behaviors based on fine-grained design action data and unsupervised clustering methods. The results validate the utility of energy3d as a research platform and testbed in supporting future design thinking studies and provide domain-specific insights into new ways of integrating clustering methods and design process models (e.g., the function–behavior–structure model) for automatically clustering sequential design behaviors.