bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency‐specific age‐related decreased brain network diversity in cognitively healthy elderly: A whole‐brain data‐driven analysis
Authors: Lou Wutao , Wang Defeng , Wong Adrian , Chu Winnie C. W. , Mok Vincent C. T. , Shi Lin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAge‐related changes in functional brain network have been well documented. However, recent studies have suggested the nonstationary properties of the functional connectivity of the brain, and little is known about the changes of functional connectivity dynamics during aging. In this study, a two‐step singular value decomposition was introduced to capture the dynamic patterns of the time‐varying functional connectivity in different frequency intervals, and the whole‐brain and regional brain diversity were quantified by using Shannon entropy. The relationships between age and functional connectivity dynamics were investigated in a relatively large sample cohort of cognitively healthy elderly (N = 188, ages 65–80). The results showed an age‐related decreased diversity in the whole brain as well as in the right inferior frontal gyrus, right amygdala, right hippocampus, left parahippocampal, and left inferior parietal gyrus in the frequency interval of 0.06–0.12 Hz. In addition, the whole‐brain diversity during resting state could also reflect the general mental flexibility. This study provided the first evidence of frequency‐specific age effects on the functional connectivity dynamics in cognitively healthy elderly, and may shed new light on the dynamic functional connectivity analysis of aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Cognitive loading via mental arithmetic modulates effects of blink‐related oscillations on precuneus and ventral attention network regions
Authors: Liu Careesa C. , Hajra Sujoy Ghosh , Song Xiaowei , Doesburg Sam M. , Cheung Teresa P. L. , D'Arcy Ryan C. N. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBlink‐related oscillations (BROs) have been linked with environmental monitoring processes associated with blinking, with cortical activations in the bilateral precuneus. Although BROs have been described under resting and passive fixation conditions, little is known about their characteristics under cognitive loading. To address this, we investigated BRO effects during both mental arithmetic (MA) and passive fixation (PF) tasks using magnetoencephalography (n =20), while maintaining the same sensory environment in both tasks. Our results confirmed the presence of BRO effects in both MA and PF tasks, with similar characteristics including blink‐related increase in global field power and blink‐related activation of the bilateral precuneus. In addition, cognitive loading due to MA also modulated BRO effects by decreasing BRO‐induced cortical activations in key brain regions including the bilateral anterior precuneus. Interestingly, blinking during MA—but not PF—activated regions of the ventral attention network (i.e., right supramarginal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus), suggesting possible recruitment of these areas for blink processing under cognitive loading conditions. Time–frequency analysis revealed a consistent pattern of BRO‐related effects in the precuneus in both tasks, but with task‐related functional segregation within the anterior and posterior subregions. Based on these findings, we postulate a potential neurocognitive mechanism for blink processing in the precuneus. This study is the first investigation of BRO effects under cognitive loading, and our results provide compelling new evidence for the important cognitive implications of blink‐related processing in the human brain.
Reduction in gray matter of cerebellum in schizophrenia and its influence on static and dynamic connectivity
Authors: He Hui , Luo Cheng , Luo Yuling , Duan Mingjun , Yi Qizhong , Biswal Bharat B. , Yao Dezhong 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPathophysiological and atrophic changes in the cerebellum have been well‐documented in schizophrenia. Reduction of gray matter (GM) in the cerebellum was confirmed across cognitive and motor cerebellar modules in schizophrenia. Such abnormalities in the cerebellum could potentially have widespread effects on both sensorimotor and cognitive symptoms. In this study, we investigated how reduction change in the cerebellum affects the static and the dynamic functional connectivity (FC) between the cerebellum and cortical/subcortical networks in schizophrenia. Reduction of GM in the cerebellum was confirmed across the cognitive and motor cerebellar modules in schizophrenic subjects. Results from this study demonstrates that the extent of reduction of GM within cerebellum correlated with increased static FCs between the cerebellum and the cortical/subcortical networks, including frontoparietal network (FPN), and thalamus in patients with schizophrenia. Decreased GM in the cerebellum was also associated with a declined dynamic FC between the cerebellum and the FPN in schizophrenic subjects. The severity of patients' positive symptom was related to these structural‐functional coupling score of cerebellum. These findings identified potential cerebellar driven functional changes associated with positive symptom deficits. A post hoc analysis exploring the effect of changed FC within cerebellum, confirmed that a significant positive relationship, between dynamic FCs of cerebellum–thalamus and intracerebellum existed in patients, but not in controls. The reduction of GM within the cerebellum might be associated with modulation of cerebellum–thalamus, and contributes to the dysfunctional cerebellar‐cortical communication in schizophrenia. Our results provide a new insight into the role of cerebellum in understanding the pathophysiological of schizophrenia.
Insight into the stable isotopic composition of glacial lakes in a tropical alpine ecosystem: Chirripó, Costa Rica
Authors: Esquivel‐Hernández Germain , Sánchez‐Murillo Ricardo , Quesada‐Román Adolfo , Mosquera Giovanny M. , Birkel Christian , Boll Jan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTropical high‐elevation lakes are considered sentinels of global climate change. This work characterizes the hydrological conditions of tropical alpine glacial lakes located in the highlands of Chirripó, Costa Rica, using a unique data set of water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) in precipitation, stream water, and lake water between September 2015 and July 2017. A combined dataset of bathymetric, hydrometric, and isotope data collected between July 2016 and July 2017 on Lake Ditkevi was used to calculate the annual water balance of the lake. Evaporation to inflow ratios from three lake systems was estimated using a linear resistance model, the experimentally estimated local evaporation line of Chirripó, and the first glacial lake water evaporation lines in the region. The temporal isotopic variations (δ18O, d‐excess, and lc‐excess) confirm variations in the dry and wet season evaporative conditions for the glacial lakes and consistently average annual low evaporation to inflow (E/I) ratios in the range of 2.0 ± 0.8% and 18.1 ± 12.2%. Lake Ditkevi's water balance indicates annual steady‐state conditions, with an estimated evaporation loss of 650 mm/year (10.0 ± 5.0% of inflow), a high‐water contribution to the catchment (90% of inflow), a residence time of 0.53 ± 0.27 years, and a catchment scale (0.289 km2) water yield or depth equivalent run‐off of 278 mm/yr. These results provide novel information about water balance and evaporation losses in tropical alpine glacial lakes, which can serve as baseline information for future isotope‐based hydro‐climate research in high‐elevation regions in the tropics and elsewhere.
Transient potential groundwater recharge under surface irrigation in semiarid environment: An experimental and numerical study
Authors: Altafi Dadgar Majid , Nakhaei Mohammad , Porhemmat Jahangir , Biswas Asim , Rostami Mohammad 
Published: September 2018

AbstractGroundwater recharge, a key component of the global water cycle, is critical in understanding water dynamics in managed and natural ecosystems. In this study, an experimental and numerical method was used to investigate potential groundwater recharge (PGR) in a semiarid region in Iran. A large soil column with four distinct layers was constructed using soil from an agricultural farm in the area. A 140‐day experiment with 10 applications of irrigation was carried out, and soil water was measured at different depths. Deep drainage started around 40 days after the first irrigation and increased with more water applications. The soil water dynamics for different irrigation tests were modelled using the HYDRUS‐1D software package, and the model was calibrated using laboratory collected data. Good agreement was achieved between the HYDRUS‐1D simulated and laboratory measurement data. The calibrated model was used to simulate PGR using meteorological station data between November 2008 and 2012. Three scenarios were applied, including fully cropped land with irrigation and precipitation water (R1), irrigation water (R2), and bare soil with precipitation water (R3) only. Results showed that the average annual PGR rates were 32.42%, 10.8%, and 4.26% for the three scenarios, respectively. Temporal variability of recharge for the R1 showed that recharge increased with a 2‐month delay corresponding to the increased water infiltration during harvest time. Recharge flux started after high precipitation values for R3. A clear relation between monthly precipitation and recharge rate was not found even after a 2‐month shifted recharge, but a relatively high correlation was observed between monthly 2‐month shifted recharge and precipitation after a threshold value cut‐off. Additionally, the results showed that the traditional recharge estimation in semiarid regions with episodic natural precipitation may not be as simplified as generally assumed.
The moderating role of race/ethnicity on associations between insurance status and HPV vaccination among women in the USA
Authors: Marshall Colin , Chavan Bhakti , Haile Zelalem T. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate associations between insurance status and HPV vaccination.MethodsThe present cross‐sectional study analyzed data from women aged 18–26 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys 2009–2012 in the USA.ResultsThe study included 621 women; 424 (68.3%) had some type of insurance and 198 (30.6%) had received the HPV vaccine. In the multivariable model, we found significant interactions between race/ethnicity and insurance status on receiving HPV vaccination. Compared with individuals with no insurance, non‐Hispanic black women with any type of insurance demonstrated increased likelihood of HPV vaccination (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.60–8.21; P=0.002). Among Mexican Americans, there was a negative association between having some insurance and HPV vaccination (aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.81; P=0.007). For non‐Hispanic black women, the association remained significant across all insurance types (private [aOR 4.29, 95% CI 1.67–11.00; P=0.003], Medicaid [aOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.15–7.13; P=0.025], and other [aOR 4.74, 95% CI 1.06–21.15; P=0.042]). Non‐Hispanic white women with insurance other than private or Medicaid had a higher likelihood of HPV vaccination compared with uninsured individuals (aOR 8.36, 95% CI 2.79–25.05; P<0.001).ConclusionThe present findings help to identify at‐risk populations less likely to receive the HPV vaccine.
Challenges in delivery and performance of a cervical cancer prevention program in the Kurdistan Region of the Iraq health system
Authors: Rasul Vian H. , Moghdam Zahra B. , Karim Muaf A. , Cheraghi Mohhammad A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate health‐system challenges responsible for the poor performance of a cervical cancer prevention program in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.MethodA qualitative study was conducted among a purposive sample of healthcare providers and female volunteers in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, between December 10, 2014, and July 23, 2016. Data were collected from participants using in‐depth semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed with an inductive content analysis approach.ResultsIn total, 23 individuals completed the interviews. The participants included 8 (35%) female volunteers; 5 (22%) nurses; 4 (17%) managers; 3 (13%) doctors; and 3 (13%) gynecologists. The health‐system challenges were classified into three main categories: existence of an official reminder system, public information delivery programs, and infrastructures of facilities, which included three subcategories—cervical cancer screening center, material resources, and human resources.ConclusionsThe Kurdistan Region of Iraq health system faced several challenges in delivering a cervical cancer prevention program. These challenges must be addressed to improve the coverage of cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Ascorbic acid supplementation ameliorates testicular hormonal signaling, sperm production and oxidative stress in male rats exposed to rosuvastatin during pre‐puberty
Authors: Leite Gabriel Adan Araujo , de Barros Jorge Willian Franco , Martins Airton da Cunha , Anselmo‐Franci Janete Aparecida , Barbosa Fernando , Kempinas Wilma De Grava 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDyslipidemias are occurring earlier in the population due to the augmentation of obesity. Rosuvastatin reduces cholesterol and triglycerides; however, previous studies have shown that it may affect male reproduction. Ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant compound, plays a protective role in the male reproductive system. This study aimed to evaluate whether pre‐pubertal exposure to rosuvastatin may impair testicular structure and antioxidant status in male rats and if supplementation with AA may alleviate these damages. Male rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups (n = 10) on postnatal day (PND) 23 and received the different treatments by gavage from PND 23 to 53. The experimental groups received vehicle (saline solution 0.9%), 3 or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin diluted in saline solution 0.9%, supplementation with 150 mg/day of AA, 3 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin in association with 150 mg/day of AA or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin associated with 150 mg/day of AA. Testicular parameters were assessed on PND 53 and 110. There were diminished androgen receptors staining in the Sertoli cells and increased germ cell death in rosuvastatin‐exposed groups, in both periods. Spermatids showed lower estrogen alpha‐receptors staining in the group exposed to 10 mg of statin at adulthood. There were androgen depletion and increased lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in statin‐exposed groups. Rosuvastatin exposure during pre‐puberty impaired testicular structure, steroid receptor distribution and increased oxidative stress; however, AA was able to ameliorate the impairment provoked by statin exposure.
Thrombogenicity assessment of Pipeline Flex, Pipeline Shield, and FRED flow diverters in an in vitro human blood physiological flow loop model
Authors: Girdhar Gaurav , Andersen Arielle , Pangerl Elizabeth , Jahanbekam Reza , Ubl Samantha , Nguyen Kevin , Wainwright John , Wolf Michael F. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractEndovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with endoluminal flow diverters (single or multiple) has proven to be clinically safe and effective, but is associated with a risk of thromboembolic complications. Recently, a novel biomimetic surface modification with covalently bound phosphorylcholine (Shield Technology™) has shown to reduce the material thrombogenicity of the Pipeline flow diverter. Thrombogenicity of Pipeline Flex, Pipeline Shield, and Flow Redirection Endoluminal Device (FRED) in the presence of human blood under physiological flow conditions—in addition to relative increase in thrombogenicity with multiple devices—remains unknown and was investigated here. Thrombin generation (mean ± SD; μg/mL; thrombin–antithrombin complex or TAT) was measured as FRED (30.3 ± 2.9), Pipeline (13.9 ± 4.4), Pipeline Shield (0.4 ± 0.3), and negative control (no device; 0.1 ± 0.0). Platelet activation (mean ± SD; IU/μL; beta‐thromboglobulin or βTG) was measured as FRED (148 ± 45), Pipeline (92.8 ± 41), Pipeline Shield (16.2 ± 3.5), and negative control (2.70 ± 0.16). FRED was significantly more thrombogenic than Pipeline and Pipeline Shield (p < 0.05) for TAT. Additionally, Pipeline Shield had significantly lower TAT and βTG than the other devices tested (p < 0.05) and these were comparable to the negative control (p > 0.05). TAT and βTG scaled proportionately with multiple Pipeline devices (N = 6) but was unaffected by multiple Pipeline Shield (N = 6) devices—the latter being statistically similar to negative control (p > 0.05). © 2018 The Authors. Journal Of Biomedical Materials Research Part A Published By Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3195–3202, 2018.
Injectable hydrogels based on glycyrrhizin, alginate, and calcium for three‐dimensional cell culture in liver tissue engineering
Authors: Tong Xiao‐Fang , Zhao Fa‐Quan , Ren Ying‐Zong , Zhang Yi , Cui Yuan‐Lu , Wang Qiang‐Song 
Published: September 2018

AbstractInjectable hydrogels have been paid more attentions on cell therapy and tissue regeneration resulting from the applications in minimally invasive surgical procedures with ease of handling and complete filling of defect area. Here, a biodegradable and injectable in situ hydrogel formed by glycyrrhizin (GL), alginate (Alg), and calcium (Ca) was developed for three‐dimensional (3D) cell culture. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and rheology analysis were performed to characterize GL‐Alg‐Ca hydrogel and evaluate its formation mechanism, properties, and morphology. The biocompatibility of hydrogel was investigated by cell viability, morphology, and liver specific functions. The results of DSC, XRD, and rheology suggested that hydrogel was homogenous complex with stable structure and well viscoelasticity. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells cultured in hydrogels showed well morphology. Compared with the control group, cells in hydrogels showed good biocompatibility, and could maintain the viability, proliferation and liver function for longer periods of time. Furthermore, the hydrogel improved the mRNA expression of cytochrome P450, which were key enzyme to the metabolization of hepatocytes. The GL‐Alg‐Ca hydrogel could be a potential 3D cells culture system for liver tissue engineering. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3292–3302, 2018.
Antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities of two phospholipase A2s purified from Cerastes cerastes venom: Structure‐function relationship
Authors: Fatah Chérifi , Samah Saoud , Fatima Laraba‐Djebari 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to elucidate anticoagulant/antiplatelet mechanisms of two previously purified PLA2s from Cerastes cerastes venom, here, termed Cc1‐PLA2 and Cc2‐PLA2. Both PLA2s present close molecular weights of 13,534 and 13,430 Da and Isoectric pH (pI) 7.38 and 7.86 respectively, for Cc1‐PLA2 and Cc2‐PLA2. These Ca2+‐dependent enzymes showed a high catalytic activity upon phospholipids, inducing indirect hemolysis, since they conserve the catalytic domain of PLA2s 26CYCGWGGKG34. They exhibited dual inhibition of platelet aggregation by targeting P2Y12 and TPα receptors preventing Adenosine diphosphate/arachidonate binding and blood clotting. These effects are due to the interaction of Cc1‐PLA2s/Cc2‐PLA2s with factor FXa through a noncatalytic PL‐independent mechanism leading to nonreleased thrombin. Both proteins consist of 120 amino acid residues and share similar three‐dimensional structures close to other SV‐PLA2s. Structural data of PLA2s allowed the relevant residues involved in binding to FXa and platelet receptors. These findings may lead to the design of novel noncompetitive FXa inhibitors.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated sheep MSTN gene knockout and promote sSMSCs differentiation
Authors: Zhang Yani , Wang Yingjie , Yulin Bi , Tang Beibei , Wang Man , Zhang Chen , Zhang Wenhui , Jin Jing , Li Tingting , Zhao Ruifeng , Yu Xinjian , Zuo Qisheng , Li Bichun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMyostatin (MSTN) is an important gene involved in the regulation of embryonic muscle cells and adult muscle development; it has a good application prospect in transgenic animal production by improving the yield of muscle. The purpose of this study is to construct
MSTN gene knockout vector using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (
CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (
Cas9). The knockout efficiency was evaluated in sheep ear fibroblasts (SEFs) by cleavage activity of transcription of guide RNA (
gRNA), luciferase‐single‐strand annealing assay, T7 endonuclease I assay (T7E1), and TA clone sequence (10/38); and above all, detection showed that the cleavage activity of
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated
MSTN reached 29%.
MSTN‐Cas9/gRNA4 was transfected into sheep skeletal muscle satellite cell (sSMSC) to confirm the function of
MSTN in myotomes formation induced by starvation in low‐serum medium. The results showed that myotubes formation efficiency were 11.2 ± 1.3% and 19.5 ± 2.1% in the control group and knockout group, respectively. The average length of myotomes was 22 ± 5.3 and 47 ± 3.6 μm, displaying that
MSTN knockout can promote sSMSC differentiation in number and length. The unlabeled
MSTN‐Cas9/gRNA4 was transfected into SEFs and monoclonal positive cells was obtained after 48 hours transfection. The MSTN‐positive cells were used as donor cells to perform somatic cell nuclear transplantation to produce transgenic sheep. A total of 20 embryos were transplanted into surrogate mothers, four of them normally produce offspring. The genomic DNA of surviving lambs were used as a template, three positive individuals were identified by T7E1 digestion. All the results demonstrated that the
CRISPR/Cas9 system has the potential to become an important and applicable gene engineering tool in animal breeding.
Whole transcriptome sequencing reveals biologically significant RNA markers and related regulating biological pathways in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by high glucose
Authors: Meng Zheying , Chen Cui , Cao Hongli , Wang Jingyi , Shen E 
Published: September 2018

AbstractCardiomyocyte hypertrophy is a physiological adaptation used in an attempt to augment or preserve cardiac function for short periods. Long‐term cardiomyocyte hypertrophy often progresses to heart failure. Previous studies have presented comprehensive mechanisms underlying cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, such as signaling pathways, marker genes, and marker miRNAs or lncRNAs. However, the mechanism in RNA level is still unclear. In this study, we used the whole transcriptome technology on cardiomyocety hypertrophy cells, which were cultured with a high concentration of d‐glucose. Many differentially expressed markers, including genes, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs were identified. Further quantitative real‐time PCR verified the highly specific expressed genes, such as Eid1, Timm8b, Mrpl50, Dusp18, Abrc1, Klf13, and Igf1. Moreover, the functional pathways were also enriched with the differentially expressed lncRNA, miRNA, and circRNA. Our study gives new insights into cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and makes great progress in comprehending its mechanism.