bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α pathway attenuates tumor necrosis factor alpha‐induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells by activating autophagy
Authors: Chen Lu , Liu Lei , Xie Zhi‐Yang , Wang Feng , Zhu Lei , Zhang Cong , Fan Pan , Sinkemani Arjun , Hong Xin , Wu Xiao‐Tao 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCellular loss induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) contributes to the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Cellular stress induced by TNF‐α activates several processes to restore cell homeostasis. These processes include autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and related unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the effect and mechanism of UPR and autophagy regulated by TNF‐α in IVD degeneration (IDD) remain unclear. The effect of autophagy on biological changes in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) also remains elusive. In this study, rat NPCs were cultured with TNF‐α in the presence or absence of the UPR or autophagy pathway small‐interfering RNAs. The associated genes and proteins were evaluated through immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot analyses to monitor UPR and autophagy signaling and identify the regulatory mechanism of autophagy by the UPR pathway. Trypan blue exclusion assay, cell flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, qRT‐PCR, and western blot analyses were performed to examine the apoptosis of NPCs. The results showed that the acute exposure of TNF‐α induced the apoptosis of rat NPCs and activated the protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (PERK/eIF2α) pathway of UPR and initiated autophagy. Silencing the PERK/eIF2α pathway or inhibiting autophagy enhanced the apoptosis of NPCs. Interference of the PERK/eIF2α pathway suppressed the autophagy of rat NPCs under TNF‐α stimulation. Taken together, the PERK/eIF2α pathway reinforces the survival of NPCs under TNF‐α stimulation by activating autophagy. Therefore, PERK/eIF2α‐dependent autophagy could be a novel biological therapeutic target for IDD.
Role of histone modification and DNA methylation in signaling pathways involved in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Shafabakhsh Rana , Aghadavod Esmat , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon , Asemi Zatollah 
Published: December 2018

AbstractRetinopathy, characterized by an alteration of the retinal microvasculature, is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. These changes can cause increased permeability and alter endothelial cell proliferation, edema, and abnormal neovascularization and eventually result in blindness. The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is complicated, involving many factors/mediators such as genetic susceptibility, microRNAs, and cytokines. One of the factors involved in DR pathogenesis is epigenetic changes that can have a key role in the regulation of gene expression; these include microRNAs, histone modifications, and methylation of DNA. The main epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation and posttranslational modifications of the histones. Generally, the studies on epigenetics can provide new opportunities to investigate the molecular basis of diseases with complicated pathogenesis, including DR, and provide essential insights into the potential design of strategies for its treatment. The aim of this study is an investigation of DR pathogenesis and epigenetic modifications that involve in DR development.
Forkhead box O4 transcription factor in human neoplasms: Cannot afford to lose the novel suppressor
Authors: Lu Chenxi , Yang Zhi , Jiang Shuai , Yang Yang , Han Yuehu , Lv Jianjun , Li Tian , Chen Fulin , Yu Yuan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractForkhead box O4 (FOXO4), a member of FOXO family, has been highlighted as an essential transcriptional regulator in many diverse carcinomas. Accumulated studies have demonstrated that FOXO4 is downregulated and associated with tumorigenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis of most human cancer. FOXO4 alteration is also closely linked to the prognosis of various types of cancer. The aim of this review is to comprehensively present the clinical and pathological significance of FOXO4 in human cancer. Additionally, the potential clinical applications of future FOXO4 research are discussed. Collectively, the information reviewed here should increase the potential of FOXO4 as a therapeutic target for cancer.
Hormetic effects of curcumin: What is the evidence?
Authors: Moghaddam Nazanin Sadat Aghili , Oskouie Mohammad Nosrati , Butler Alexandra E. , Petit Patrice X. , Barreto George E. , Sahebkar Amirhossein 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCurcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the yellow powder prepared from the roots of Curcuma longa or Zingiberaceae (known as turmeric) is not only widely used to color and flavor food but also used as a pharmaceutical agent. Curcumin demonstrates anti‐inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiaging, and antioxidant activity, as well as efficacy in wound healing. Notably, curcumin is a hormetic agent (hormetin), as it is stimulatory at low doses and inhibitory at high doses. Hormesis by curcumin could be also a particular function at low doses (i.e., antioxidant behavior) and another function at high dose (i.e., induction of autophagy and cell death). Recent findings suggest that curcumin exhibits biphasic dose–responses on cells, with low doses having stronger effects than high doses; examples being activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway or antioxidant activity. This indicates that many effects induced by curcumin are dependent on dose and some effects might be greater at lower doses, indicative of a hormetic response. Despite the consistent occurrence of hormetic responses of curcumin in a wide range of biomedical models, epidemiological and clinical trials are needed to assess the nature of curcumin’s dose–response in humans. Fortunately, more than one hundred clinical trials with curcumin and curcumin derivatives are ongoing. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive analysis supportive of the hormetic behavior of curcumin and curcumin derivatives.
Tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐p‐metacirculants
Authors: Zhang Mi‐Mi , Zhou Jin‐Xin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA graph is half‐arc‐transitive if its full automorphism group acts transitively on its vertex set and edge set, but not arc set. A graph is said to be
a bi‐Cayley graph over a group if it admits as a group of automorphisms acting semiregularly and with two orbits on the vertex set. In this paper, a classification is given of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐Cayley graphs over metacyclic ‐groups for each odd prime , and this is then used to give a classification of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive graphs of order twice a prime cube.
Fine structure of the silk gland in the mite Ornithocheyletia sp. (Prostigmata, Cheyletidae)
Authors: Filimonova Svetlana 
Published: December 2018

AbstractSilk spinning is widely‐spread in trombidiform mites, yet scarse information is available on the morphology of their silk glands. Thus this study describes the fine structure of the prosomal silk glands in a small parasitic mite, Ornithocheyletia sp. (Cheyletidae). These are paired acinous glands incorporated into the podocephalic system, as typical of the order. Combined secretion of the coxal and silk glands is released at the tip of the gnathosoma. Data obtained show Ornithocheyletia silk gland belonging to the class 3 arthropod exocrine gland. Each gland is composed of seven pyramidal secretory cells and one ring‐folded intercalary cell, rich in microtubules. The fine structure of the secretory cells points to intensive protein synthesis resulted in the presence of abundant uniform secretory granules. Fibrous content of the granules is always subdivided into several zones of two electron densities. The granules periodically discharge into the acinar cavity by means of exocytosis. The intercalary cell extends from the base of the excretory duct and contributes the wall of the acinar cavity encircling the apical margins of the secretory cells. The distal apical surface of the intercalary cell is covered with a thin cuticle resembling that of the corresponding cells in some acarine and myriapod glands. Axon endings form regular synaptic structures on the body of the intercalary cell implying nerve regulation of the gland activity.
Development of endocrine pancreatic islets in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix (Lepidosauria, Serpentes)
Authors: Kowalska Magdalena , Rupik Weronika 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDifferentiation of the pancreatic islets in grass snake Natrix natrix embryos, was analyzed using light, transmission electron microscopy, and immuno‐gold labeling. The study focuses on the origin of islets, mode of islet formation, and cell arrangement within islets. Two waves of pancreatic islet formation in grass snake embryos were described. The first wave begins just after egg laying when precursors of endocrine cells located within large cell agglomerates in the dorsal pancreatic bud differentiate. The large cell agglomerates were divided by mesenchymal cells thus forming the first islets. This mode of islet formation is described as fission. During the second wave of pancreatic islet formation which is related to the formation of the duct mantle, we observed four phases of islet formation: (a) differentiation of individual endocrine cells from the progenitor layer of duct walls (budding) and their incomplete delamination; (b) formation of two types of small groups of endocrine cells (A/D and B) in the wall of pancreatic ducts; (c) joining groups of cells emerging from neighboring ducts (fusion) and rearrangement of cells within islets; (d) differentiated pancreatic islets with characteristic arrangement of endocrine cells. Mature pancreatic islets of the grass snake contained mainly A endocrine cells. Single B and D or PP–cells were present at the periphery of the islets. This arrangement of endocrine cells within pancreatic islets of the grass snake differs from that reported from most others vertebrate species. Endocrine cells in the pancreas of grass snake embryos were also present in the walls of intralobular and intercalated ducts. At hatching, some endocrine cells were in contact with the lumen of the pancreatic ducts.
A randomized clinical trial of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives in donor site of connective tissue grafts
Authors: Stavropoulou Chrysi , Atout Reem N. , Brownlee Meredith , Schroth Robert J. , Kelekis‐Cholakis Anastasia 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose was to compare patient‐centered outcomes, early wound healing, and postoperative complications at palatal donor area of subepithelial connective tissue grafts (CTG) between cyanoacrylates tissue adhesives and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sutures.MethodsThirty‐six patients who required harvesting of CTG were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial and assigned to one of two groups. In the “suture” group, wound closure was achieved with standardized continuous interlocking 6‐0 PTFE sutures, while in the “cyanoacrylate” group, a high viscosity blend of n‐butyl and 2‐octyl cyanoacrylate was applied until hemostasis was achieved. The primary outcome was the discomfort (eating, speaking, etc.) from the donor site during the first postoperative week; this was self‐reported on a visual analog scale questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were the time required for suture placement or cyanoacrylate application, patient self‐reported pain on the first day and the first week after surgery, the analgesic intake and the modified early‐wound healing index (MEHI).ResultsThe median value of discomfort was 1.49 in the “suture” group and 1.86 in the “cyanoacrylate” (P = 0.56). The mean time required for suture placement was 7.31 minutes and for cyanoacrylate application 2.16 minutes (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found between the two methods in reported pain level, analgesic intake, and MEHI.ConclusionsCyanoacrylate performs similarly to sutures and can be used for wound closure of the donor site of CTG. The application was about 5 minutes faster than conventional suture placement, reducing the total time of the surgical procedure.
Use of Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman scattering for new applications
Authors: Kauffmann Thomas H. , Kokanyan Ninel , Fontana Marc D. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe show the interest in recording both Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman spectra in two peculiar applications. In one case, the comparison between these two parts of the spectrum, measured at one temperature only, allows to distinguish between first‐ and second‐order phonon bands. In the second example, the difference between Stokes and anti‐Stokes spectra provides separation between vibrational and emission lines. We describe the different stages needed in the measurements and data treatment.
Single‐cell Raman microscopy of microengineered cell scaffolds
Authors: Baldock Sara J. , Talari Abdullah C.S. , Smith Rachael , Wright Karen L. , Ashton Lorna 
Published: December 2018

AbstractStudying cells in a three‐dimensional (3D) environment has great potential in understanding cell behaviours such as morphology, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Microengineered 3D cell scaffolds with precise defined geometries have offered a new approach to study cell behaviour and its interactions with scaffolds. The use of Raman spectroscopy to characterise biomolecules is a rapidly expanding area and has been implemented in numerous fields including pharmacology, microbiology, toxicology, and single‐cell studies. However, one area where it remains unexploited despite the vast potential of the technique is in the investigation of 3D cell scaffolds. A combination of Raman microscopy and chemometric approaches have employed to investigate the structure and biochemistry of nanofabricated scaffolds and a cell–scaffold complex. The 3D Raman mapping combined with the use of nanofabricated 3D scaffolds offers a unique opportunity to assess the influence of scaffold architecture on cell body and cell nuclei morphology and biochemistry. For the first time, we have cultured a human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line on OrmoComp scaffolds and determined the structure and biochemistry of nanofabricated scaffolds and a cell–scaffold complex with the use of Raman microscopy combined with appropriate data analysis protocols. The results demonstrate the potential of 3D Raman mapping for identifying biochemical and physical variation within single cells as they grow and adhere to 3D scaffolds.
Cereal type significantly affects the composition and reconstitution characteristics of dried fermented milk‐cereal composites
Authors: Shevade Ashwini V , O'Callaghan Yvonne C , Kennedy Deirdre , O'Brien Nora M , O'Connor Tom P , Guinee Timothy P 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDDairy and cereal products are frequently combined to create composites with enhanced nutritional benefits. Commercially available dried dairy‐cereal composites are typically reconstituted and cooked to produce porridge or soup.RESULTSDried fermented milk‐cereal composites (FMCC) with ∼193 g kg−1 protein were prepared by blending fermented milk with parboiled oats (FMCCo), wheat (FMCCw), or barley (FMCCb), incubating the blend, drying, and milling. Cereal type significantly affected the composition of the FMCC and the properties of the reconstituted, cooked FMCC (R‐FMCC). The FMCCo had a higher starch and fat content and lower levels of lactose, lactic acid, and amylose than FMCCb. The R‐FMCCo had higher viscosity during cooking at 95 °C and cooling to 35 °C, and higher values of yield stress (σ0), consistency index (K) and viscosity on shearing from 20 to 120 s−1 at 60 °C than R‐FMCCb. The FMCCw had lower levels of fat and β‐glucan than FMCCo or FMCCb, but was otherwise closer to FMMCb with respect to composition, cooking properties and flow behavior.CONCLUSIONDifferences in composition and consistency associated with cereal type are likely to affect the nutritional value of the FMCC. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Differences in video head impulse test gains from right versus left or outward versus inward head impulses
Authors: Park Jun Woo , Kim Tae Su , Cha Eun Hye , Kang Byung Chul , Park Hong Ju 
Published: December 2018

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the right/left and outward/inward head impulses on video head impulse test (vHIT) gains.MethodsVideo head impulse test gains were calculated by recording the right eye movements with an infrared camera in a cohort of 24 healthy subjects (26–39 years old, 30 ± 9 years old). We compared the vHIT gains in four different situations in which the right and left lateral semicircular canals (LSCC) were stimulated through outward or inward head impulses.ResultsThe vHIT gains from stimulating the right LSCC were significantly larger than those stimulating the left LSCC, regardless of whether the head impulse was outward or inward (1.06 ± 0.1 by right outward vs. 0.98 ± 0.08 by left outward, P = 0.003; 1.02 ± 0.1 by right inward vs. 0.92 ± 0.07 by left inward, P < 0.0001). The mean difference in vHIT gain between stimulating the right or left LSCC was 0.09. The gains from outward vHITs were significantly larger than those from the inward tests, regardless of the LSCC side stimulated (1.06 ± 0.1 from right outward vs. 1.02 ± 0.1 from right inward, both stimulating the right LSCC, P = 0.013; 0.98 ± 0.08 from left outward vs. 0.92 ± 0.07 from left inward, both stimulating the left LSCC, P = 0.001). The mean difference in the vHIT gains between the outward and inward tests was 0.05.ConclusionThe right/left vHIT gain difference (0.09) is higher than the outward/inward vHIT gain difference (0.05). These are independently significant differences when using a vHIT system, which records movements in the right eye. An understanding of these differences may be helpful when interpreting vHIT results.Level of Evidence4Laryngoscope, 129:1675–1679, 2019
Engineering of a novel gene from a halophyte: Potential for agriculture in degraded coastal saline soil
Authors: Kumari Anupam , Jha Bhavanath 
Published: December 2018

AbstractTo feed the ever increasing world population, more crops production per hectare has become a necessity. Soil salinity is one of the important factors causing land degradation leading to low soil aeration and water conductance. It adversely impacts plant growth and development. Adaption through modern molecular tools is an important strategy for alternative use for degraded land. To achieve this aim, we have cloned a novel salt responsive gene Salicornia brachiata RNA Poly III Complex 5 Like subunit (SbRPC5L) from an extreme halophyte and transformed it into tobacco for abiotic stress tolerance. The gene is intronless, 1,202 bp long, membrane‐localized, encoding a protein of 196 amino acids and shows upregulation under salt and osmotic stress. Tobacco plants harboring SbRPC5L perform better under stress and have more water content, membrane stability, and stress tolerance indices as compared with control plants. The transgenics exhibited lower electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species (ROS), H2O2, and Na+, more negative value of osmotic potential, higher K+ content, and K+/Na+ ratio. Some of the important antioxidant genes, namely, NtAPX, NtPOX, and NtSOD, get upregulated in transgenic lines. The results suggest that this novel gene has a potential to be used as a promising alternative to impart abiotic stress tolerance for climate resilient agriculture in degraded costal saline areas.
Minimal volume invariants, topological sphere theorems and biorthogonal curvature on 4‐manifolds
Authors: Costa Ezio , Ribeiro Ernani 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe goal of this article is to establish estimates involving the Yamabe minimal volume, mixed minimal volume and some topological invariants on compact 4‐manifolds. In addition, we provide topological sphere theorems for compact submanifolds of spheres and Euclidean spaces, provided that the full norm of the second fundamental form is suitably bounded.
Ergodicity for the 3D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations perturbed by Lévy noise
Authors: Mohan Manil T. , Sakthivel K. , Sritharan Sivaguru S. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn this work we construct a Markov family of martingale solutions for 3D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations (SNSE) perturbed by Lévy noise with periodic boundary conditions. Using the Kolmogorov equations of integrodifferential type associated with the SNSE perturbed by Lévy noise, we construct a transition semigroup and establish the existence of a unique invariant measure. We also show that it is ergodic and strongly mixing.
The Immunomodulatory Properties of Propyl‐Propane Thiosulfonate Contribute to its Intestinal Anti‐Inflammatory Effect in Experimental Colitis
Authors: Vezza Teresa , Algieri Francesca , Garrido‐Mesa José , Utrilla María Pilar , Rodríguez‐Cabezas María Elena , Baños Alberto , Guillamón Enrique , García Federico , Rodríguez‐Nogales Alba , Gálvez Julio 
Published: December 2018

ScopePropyl‐propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) is a component isolated from garlic (Allium sativum) with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties. In consequence, PTSO can be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.Methods and resultsThe anti‐inflammatory effects of PTSO are studied in two mice models of colitis: 2,4‐dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) (PTSO doses: 0.01–10 mg kg–1) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (PTSO doses: 0.01–0.1 mg kg–1). The immunomodulatory effects of PTSO (0.1–25 µm) are also shown in vitro in Caco‐2 and THP‐1 cells, reducing the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and downregulating mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. This compound displays beneficial effects in both models of mouse colitis by reducing the expression of different pro‐inflammatory mediators and improving the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. Moreover, PTSO ameliorates the altered gut microbiota composition observed in DSS colitic mice.ConclusionPTSO exerts intestinal anti‐inflammatory activity in experimental colitis in mice. This anti‐inflammatory activity can be associated with the immunomodulatory properties of PTSO through the regulation of the activity of cells involved in the inflammatory response. Furthermore, PTSO is able to restore the intestinal epithelial barrier function and to ameliorate the intestinal microbiota homeostasis, thus supporting its future development in human IBD.
Through‐the‐floor localization of a static person by a multistatic UWB radar
Authors: Švecová Mária , Kocur Dušan , Demčák Jakub , Buša Ján , Gamcová Mária , Slovák Stanislav 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA new approach to through‐the‐floor localization of a static person using an ultra‐wide band (UWB) radar is introduced in this article. The proposed solution is based on a multilateration method appropriately modified for target localization by a multistatic UWB radar employing 1 transmitting (Tx) and 4 receiving antennas (Rxi). Due to an appropriate radar antenna array layout, a geometrical interpretation of the considered problem of localization allows finding the target coordinates by a simple computation of 2 intersections of 2 pairs of ellipses. The mentioned ellipses are defined by the antenna layout and time‐of‐arrivals corresponding to the target that were estimated for the particular pairs of Tx–Rxi antennas. Experimental analysis of the proposed method of through‐the‐floor localization of a person confirmed its good accuracy, despite being such a complex scenario.