bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Internal limiting membrane insertion technique combined with nerve growth factor injection for large macular hole
Authors: Zhang Luyi , Li Xiaoxia , Yang Xiaoli , Shen Yu , Wu Miaoqin 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Background: The study was proposed to determine whether nerve growth factor (NGF) combined with an internal limiting membrane (ILM) insertion was effective in the large idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (iFTMH) therapy.
Methods: A subset of 18 eyes (July 2015-October 2017) diagnosed as the large iFTMH were enrolled in this study. The subjects were treated using ILM insertion technique alone (ILM group) or ILM combined with NGF injection (NGF group) and the follow-up period was 6 months. Macular hole closure rates, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, improvements using ETDRS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings were analyzed at 1st, 3rd, and 6th months postoperatively.
Results: We found that macular holes in both groups fully closed. In comparison to ILM insertion group, the NGF group had better BCVA at the 3rd month (48.00 ± 2.392 vs 58.22 ± 2.957, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.159 to 18.29). The mean external limiting membrane (ELM, 422.2 ± 96 vs 674.9 ± 103.6, 95% CI: -47.26 to 552.8) and ellipsoid zone (EZ, 496.7 ± 101.6 vs 766.7 ± 111.8, 95% CI: -50.29 to 590.4) defects were significantly smaller in the NGF group at the 6th month in the follow-up examination. Complete recovery of ELM and EZ was observed in the NGF group in one eye of a patient and two eyes of two patients, respectively. In comparison, one eye’s ELM and another eye’s EZ were completely recovered in the ILM insertion group.
Conclusion: Our results indicated that ILM insertion with NGF injection might be an effective technique for the initial surgical treatment of eyes with large MHs. The proposed approach yielded better recovery of the photoreceptor layers and consequently might have superior postoperative visual acuity.
Forecasting hydrologic parameters using linear and nonlinear stochastic models
Authors: Nozari Hamed , Tavakoli Fateme 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
One of the most important bases in the management of catchments and sustainable use of water resources is the prediction of hydrological parameters. In this study, support vector machine (SVM), support vector machine combined with wavelet transform (W-SVM), autoregressive moving average with exogenous variable (ARMAX) model, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to predict monthly values of precipitation, discharge, and evaporation. For this purpose, the monthly time series of rain-gauge, hydrometric, and evaporation-gauge stations located in the catchment area of Hamedan during a 25-year period (1991–2015) were used. Out of this statistical period, 17 years (1991–2007), 4 years (2008–2011), and 4 years (2012–2015) were used for training, calibration, and validation of the models, respectively. The results showed that the ARIMA, SVM, ARMAX, and W-SVM ranked from first to fourth in the monthly precipitation prediction and SVM, ARIMA, ARMAX, and W-SVM were ranked from first to fourth in the monthly discharge and monthly evaporation prediction. It can be said that the SVM has fewer adjustable parameters than other models. Thus, the model is able to predict hydrological changes with greater ease and in less time, because of which it is preferred to other methods.
Expression and Interactions of Kinetoplastid Kinetochore Proteins (KKTs) from Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Shan Fangzhen , Diwu Yating , Yang Xiao , Tu Xiaoming 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Kinetochores are the macromolecular protein complex that drives
chromosome segregation by interacting with centromeric DNA and spindle microtubules in
eukaryotes. Kinetochores in well studied eukaryotes bind DNA through widely conserved
components like Centromere Protein (CENP)-A and bind microtubules through the Ndc80
complex. However, unconventional type of kinetochore proteins (KKT1-20) were identified in
evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastid species such as Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), indicating
that chromosome segregation is driven by a distinct set of proteins. KKT proteins are comprised of
sequential α-helixes that tend to form coiled-coil structures, which will further lead to
polymerization and misfolding of proteins, resulting in the formation of inclusion bodies.

Results and Conclusion:
We expressed and purified the stable KKT proteins with Maltose Binding
Protein (MBP) fusion tag in E. coli or Protein A tag in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293T
cells. Furthermore, we identified interactions among KKT proteins using yeast two-hybrid system.
The study provides an important basis for further better understanding of the structure and function
of KKT proteins.
Substituted Furanocoumarins as Novel Class of Antibacterial Translation Inhibitors
Authors: Ivanenkov Yan A. , Yamidanov Renat S. , Osterman Ilya A. , Sergiev Petr V. , Ayginin Andrey A. , Aladinskiy Vladimir A. , Aladinskaya Anastasia V. , Terentiev Victor A. , Veselov Mark S. , Skvortsov Dmitry A. , Komarova Katerina S. , Chemeris Alexey V. , Zainullina Liana F. , Maximova Marina A. , Zileeva Zulfiya R. , Vakhitova Yulia V. , Baymiev Alexey Kh. , Baymiev Andrey Kh. , Sofronova Alina A. , Machulkin Alexey E. , Petrov Rostislav A. , Bezrukov Dmitry S. , Puchinina Maria M. , Lukianov Dmitrii A. , Dontsova Olga A. 
Published: July 2019

Introduction:
A variety of organic compounds has been reported to have antibacterial activity.
However, antimicrobial resistance is one of the main problems of current anti-infective therapy, and the
development of novel antibacterials is one of the main challenges of current drug discovery.

Methods:
Using our previously developed dual-reporter High-Throughput Screening (HTS) platform, we
identified a series of furanocoumarins as having high antibacterial activity. The construction of the reporter
system allows us to differentiate three mechanisms of action for the active compounds: inhibition of
protein synthesis (induction of Katushka2S), DNA damaging (induction of RFP) or other (inhibition of
bacterial growth without reporter induction).

Results:
Two primary hit-molecules of furanocoumarin series demonstrated relatively low MIC values
comparable to that observed for Erythromycin (Ery) against E. coli and weakly induced both reporters.
Dose-dependent translation inhibition was shown using in vitro luciferase assay, however it was not
confirmed using C14-test. A series of close structure analogs of the identified hits was obtained and
investigated using the same screening platform. Compound 19 was found to have slightly lower MIC value
(15.18 µM) and higher induction of Katushka2S reporter in contrast to the parent structures. Moreover,
translation blockage was clearly identified using both in vitro luciferase assay and C14 test. The standard
cytotoxicity test revealed a relatively low cytotoxicity of the most active molecules.

Conclusion:
High antibacterial activity in combination with low cytotoxicity was demonstrated for a series
of furanocoumarins. Further optimization of the described structures may result in novel and attractive lead
compounds with promising antibacterial efficiency.
High Glucose Affects the Cytotoxic Potential of Rapamycin, Metformin and Hydrogen Peroxide in Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Roohi Azam , Nikougoftar Mahin , Montazeri Hamed , Navabi Shadisadat , Shokri Fazel , Ostad Seyed Nasser , Ghahremani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: July 2019

Background:Oxidative stress and chronic hyperglycemia are two major side effects of type 2 diabetes affecting all cell types including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). As a cell therapy choice, understanding the behavior of MSCs will provide crucial information for efficient treatment.Methods:Placental mesenchymal stem cells were treated with various concentrations of glucose, metformin, rapamycin, and hydrogen peroxide to monitor their viability and cell cycle distribution. Cellular viability was examined via the MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was studied by propidium iodide staining and apoptosis was determined using Annexin Vpropidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Involvement of potential signaling pathways was evaluated by Western blotting for activation of Akt, P70S6K, and AMPK.Results:The results indicated that high glucose augmented cell viability and reduced metformin toxic potential. However, the hydrogen peroxide and rapamycin toxicities were exacerbated.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that high glucose concentration has a major effect on placental mesenchymal stem cell viability in the presence of rapamycin, metformin and hydrogen peroxide in culture.
Methoxychalcones: Effect of Methoxyl Group on the Antifungal, Antibacterial and Antiproliferative Activities
Authors: Marques Beatriz C. , Santos Mariana B. , Anselmo Daiane B. , Monteiro Diego A. , Gomes Eleni , Saiki Marilia F.C. , Rahal Paula , Rosalen Pedro L. , Sardi Janaina C.O. , Regasini Luis O. 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Chalcones substituted by methoxyl groups have presented a broad spectrum
of bioactivities, including antifungal, antibacterial and antiproliferative effects. However, a
clear and unambiguous investigation about the relevance of this substituent on the chalcone
framework has not been described.

Objective:
The purpose of this work is to assess the antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative
activities of the two series of seventeen synthesized regioisomeric methoxychalcones. Series I and
II were constituted by chalcones substituted by methoxyl groups on rings A (5–12) and B (13–21),
respectively. In addition, the library of methoxychalcones was submitted to in silico drug-likeness
and pharmacokinetics properties predictions.

Methods:
Methoxychalcones were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by NMR spectral
data analyses. Evaluations of antimicrobial activity were performed against five species of
Candida, two Gram-negative and five Gram-positive species. For antiproliferative activity,
methoxychalcones were evaluated against four human tumorigenic cell lines, as well as human
non-tumorigenic keratinocytes. Drug-likeness and pharmacokinetics properties were predicted using
Molinspiration and PreADMET toolkits.

Results:
In general, chalcones of series I are the most potent antifungal, antibacterial and antiproliferative
agents. 3’, 4’, 5’-Trimethoxychalcone (12) demonstrated potent antifungal activity
against Candida krusei (MIC = 3.9 μg/mL), eight times more potent than fluconazole (reference
antifungal drug). 3’-Methoxychalcone (6) displayed anti-Pseudomonas activity (MIC = 7.8
μg/mL). 2’,5’-Dimethoxychalcone (9) displayed potent antiproliferative effect against C-33A
(cervix), A-431 (skin) and MCF-7 (breast), with IC50 values ranging from 7.7 to 9.2 μM. Its potency
was superior to curcumin (reference antiproliferative compound), which exhibited IC50 values
ranging from 10.4 to 19.0 μM.

Conclusion:
Our studies corroborated the relevance of methoxychalcones as antifungal, antibacterial
and antiproliferative agents. In addition, we elucidated influence of the position and number of
methoxyl groups toward bioactivity. In silico predictions indicated good drug-likeness and pharmacokinetics
properties to the library of methoxychalcones.
Leukocyte Image Segmentation Based on Adaptive Histogram Thresholding and Contour Detection
Authors: Zhou Xiaogen , Li Zuoyong , Xie Huosheng , Feng Ting , Lu Yan , Wang Chuansheng , Chen Rongyan 
Published: July 2019

Aims:
The proposed method falls into the category of medical image processing.

Background:
Computer-aided automatic analysis systems for the analysis and cytometry of leukocyte
(White Blood Cells, WBCs) in human blood smear images are a powerful diagnostic tool for
many types of diseases, such as anemia, malaria, syphilis, heavy metal poisoning, and leukemia.
Leukocyte segmentation is a basis of its automatic analysis, and the segmentation accuracy will
directly influence the reliability of image-based automatic leukocyte analysis.

Objective:
This paper aims to present a leukocyte segmentation method, which improves segmentation
accuracy under rapid and standard staining conditions.

Methods:
The proposed method first localizes leukocytes by color component combination and
Adaptive Histogram Thresholding (AHT), and crops sub-image corresponding to each leukocyte.
Then, the proposed method employs AHT to extract the nucleus of leukocyte and utilizes image
color features to remove image backgrounds such as red blood cells and dyeing impurities. Finally,
Canny edge detection is performed to extract the entire leukocyte. Accordingly, cytoplasm is obtained
by subtracting nucleus with leukocyte.

Results:
Experimental results on two datasets containing 160 leukocyte images show that the proposed
method obtains more accurate segmentation results than their counterparts.

Conclusion:
The proposed method obtains more accurate segmentation results than their counterparts
under rapid and standard staining conditions.
Natural Scene Nutrition Information Acquisition and Analysis Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Tianyue , Wei Xu , Li Zhi , Shi Fangzhe , Xia Zhiqiang , Lian Mengru , Chen Ling , Zhang Hao 
Published: July 2019

Background:
In the field of personalized health, it is often difficult for individuals to
obtain professional knowledge to solve their practical problems timely and accurately. While there
are some applications that can get targeted information, they often fail to function properly in nonideal
environments, and they cannot achieve precise answers to individual users. Therefore, how to
establish an information capture model based on big data and combine it with intelligent search is
an important issue in the field of personalized health.

Objective:
This paper starts with the information acquisition and intelligent recommendation in the
field of personalized health, and proposes a natural scene information acquisition and analysis
model based on deep learning, focusing on improving the recognition rate of text in natural scenes
and achieving targeted smart search to allow users to get more accurate personalized health advice.

Methods:
In this model, natural scene information is processed from four aspects: targeted big data
collection and search, connected text proposal network text detection algorithm and projectionbased
text segmentation, capsule network text recognition and result analysis. The model reduces
recognition bias due to problems such as special filming conditions and photographic techniques
by using deep learning algorithms. At the same time, the data mining has also improved the pertinence
of the results analysis.

Conclusion:
This model combines deep learning and data mining methods to obtain intelligent solutions
at a professional level by uploading target information images in non-ideal environments,
and is suitable for accurate analysis of problems in personalized health area.

Results:
The proposed model is applied to analyze the user's nutrient intake requirements. The results
show that the method achieves 83% prediction accuracy on the nutrient composition table dataset,
and its performance is better than current convolutional neural network applications. And the
model can get accurate personalized data to provide users with dietary advice.
The Effect of a Ferrocene Containing Camphor Sulfonamide DK-164 on Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Schröder Maria , Yusein-Myashkova Shazie , Petrova Maria , Dobrikov Georgi , Kamenova-Nacheva Mariana , Todorova Jordana , Pasheva Evdokia , Ugrinova Iva 
Published: July 2019

Background:Drug resistance is a major cause of cancer treatment failure. Most cancer therapies involve multiple agents, to overcome it. Compounds that exhibit strong anti-tumor effect without damaging normal cells are more and more in the focus of research. Chemotherapeutic drugs, combining different moieties and functional groups in one molecule, can modulate different regulatory pathways in the cell and thus reach the higher efficacy than the agents, which affect only one cellular process.Methods:We tested the effect of recently synthesized ferrocene-containing camphor sulfonamide DK-164 on two breast cancer and one breast non-cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated using the standard MTT-dye reduction and clonogenic assays. The apoptotic or autophagic effects were evaluated by Annexin v binding or LC3 puncta formation assays respectively. Cell cycle arrest was determined using flow cytometry. Western blot and immunofluorescent analyses were used to estimate the localization and cellular distribution of key regulatory factors NFκB and p53.Results:Compound DK-164 has well pronounced cytotoxicity greater to cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) compared to non-cancerous (MCF-10A). IC50 of the substance caused a cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and induced apoptosis up to 24 hours in both tumor cells, although being more pronounced in MCF-7, a functional p53 cell line. Treatment with IC50 concentration of the compound provoked autophagy in both tumor lines but is better pronounced in the more aggressive cancer line (MDA-MB-231).Conclusion:The tested compound DK-164 showed promising properties as a potential therapeutic agent.
The Impact of L-Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 as Protection Against Busulfan-Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Adult Rats
Authors: Abdelrazek Areeg M. , Haredy Shimaa A. 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Busulfan (Bu) is an anticancer drug with a variety of adverse effects for
cancer patients. Oxidative stress has been considered as a common pathological mechanism and it
has a key role in the initiation and progression of liver injury by Bu.

Aim:
The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant impact of L-Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 and
their protective role against oxidative stress damage in liver tissues.

Methods and Material:
Thirty-six albino rats were divided equally into six groups. G1 (con), received
I.P. injection of DMSO plus 1 ml of distilled water daily by oral gavages; G2 (Bu), received
I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of the distilled water daily; G3 (L-Car), received 1 ml of L-Car orally;
G4 (Bu + L-Car) received I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of L-Car, G5 (CoQ10) 1 ml of CoQ10 daily;
and G6 (Bu + CoQ10) received I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of CoQ10 daily.

Results:
The recent data showed that Bu induced significant (P<0.05) elevation in serum ALT,
AST, liver GSSG, NO, MDA and 8-OHDG, while showing significant (P<0.05) decrease in liver
GSH and ATP. On the other hand, L-Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 ameliorated the negative effects
prompted by Bu. Immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3 in liver tissues reported pathological
alterations in Bu group while also showed significant recovery in L-Car more than CoQ10.

Conclusion:
L-Car, as well as CoQ10, can enhance the hepatotoxic effects of Bu by promoting energy
production in oxidative phosphorylation process and by scavenging the free radicals.
Long-Term Outcomes of a Therapist-Supported, Smartphone-Based Intervention for Elevated Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Quasiexperimental, Pre-Postintervention Study
Authors: Economides Marcos , Ranta Kristian , Nazander Albert , Hilgert Outi , Goldin Philippe R , Raevuori Anu , Forman-Hoffman Valerie 
Published: July 2019

Background
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and severely impacts one’s physical, psychological, and social functioning. To address access barriers to care, we developed Ascend—a smartphone-delivered, therapist-supported, 8-week intervention based on several evidence-based psychological treatments for depression and anxiety. A previous feasibility study with 102 adults with elevated depression reported that Ascend is associated with a postintervention reduction in depression symptoms.

Objective
We aimed to examine whether Ascend is associated with a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, and importantly, whether reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety are maintained up to 12-months postintervention.

Methods
We assessed whether the previously reported, end-of-treatment improvements seen in the 102 adults with elevated symptoms of depression extended up to 12 months posttreatment for depression symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]) and up to 6 months posttreatment for anxiety symptoms (added to the intervention later and measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7] scale). We used linear mixed effects models with Tukey contrasts to compare time points and reported intention-to-treat statistics with a sensitivity analysis.

Results
The intervention was associated with reductions in symptoms of depression that were maintained 12 months after the program (6.67-point reduction in PHQ-9 score, 95% CI 5.59-7.75; P<.001; Hedges g=1.14, 95% CI 0.78-1.49). A total of 60% of the participants with PHQ-9 scores above the cutoff for major depression at baseline (PHQ≥10) reported clinically significant improvement at the 12-month follow-up (at least 50% reduction in PHQ-9 score and postprogram score <10). Participants also reported reductions in symptoms of anxiety that were maintained for at least 6 months after the program (4.26-point reduction in GAD-7 score, 95% CI 3.14-5.38; P<.001; Hedges g=0.91, 95% CI 0.54-1.28).

Conclusions
There is limited evidence on whether outcomes associated with smartphone-based interventions for common mental health problems are maintained posttreatment. Participants who enrolled in Ascend experienced clinically significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety that were maintained for up to 1 year and 6 months after the intervention, respectively. Future randomized trials are warranted to test Ascend as a scalable solution to the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Recesiones de México en los albores del siglo XXI
Authors: Mejía Reyes Pablo , Díaz Miguel Ángel , Vergara González Reyna 
Published: July 2019

En el presente documento se utiliza un enfoque episódico para contrastar las causas, los mecanismos de transmisión y las respuestas de política de las recesiones presentadas durante los años 2001-2003 y 2008-2009 en México, y explicar así, sus diferentes características. Ambas recesiones se derivaron de burbujas especulativas de sectores específicos de Estados Unidos y generaron episodios análogos en la economía mexicana como consecuencia de su alto grado de integración. No obstante, la primera fue más larga por los choques exógenos (ataques terroristas e ingreso de China a la Organización Mundial de Comercio (omc)) que agudizaron la caída de la manufactura, y la segunda más profunda debido a los efectos del colapso del crédito. Esta evidencia muestra los límites de la política económica nacional y la alta vulnerabilidad de la economía mexicana a loschoques externos.
Financiarización y sector carretero en México
Authors: Mendoza José Enrique 
Published: July 2019

La financiarización ha transformado al gasto público en garante de rentas financieras. Una de las expresiones de este proceso es el gasto público asociado al capital privado como soporte de la titulación de activos públicos. En el caso del sector carretero, el financiamiento estructurado reduce la disponibilidad de recursos públicos, permite la realización de nuevas fuentes de ganancia para el capital monopólico financiero y encarece el costo de la infraestructura. El objetivo es analizar cómo operan las Asociaciones Público Privadas (APP) en el sector carretero mexicano.