bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pattern and Outcome of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Cohort Study at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Bedry Tuji , Tadele Henok 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major public health problem, is the most common cause of death/disability in children. Glasgow coma scale is used to assess, decide treatment and follow up of TBI. TBI causes and outcome data are scarce from sub-Saharan Africa, non-existent from Ethiopia. We aimed to document pattern and predictors of childhood TBI outcome in a teaching hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2017 to September 2018 among pediatrics TBI presented to Hawassa University Hospital. Data were collected by structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression was carried out and significant associations were declared at p-value of < 0.05.

RESULT

During 1year period there were 4258 emergency room(ER) visits, TBI contributed to 317(7.4%) cases. The mean age of study subjects was 7.66±3.88 years. Boys, predominantly above 5years of age, comprise 218(68.8%) of study subjects with male to female ratio of 2.2:1. Pedestrian RTA 119 (37.5%) and falls 104 (32.8%) were the commonest causes of TBI. Mild, moderate, and severe TBI were documented in 231(72.9%), 61(19.2%), and 25(7.9%) of cases respectively. Most of TBI cases presented within 24hrs of injury 258(81.4%). Recovery with no neurologic deficit, 267(84.2%); focal neurologic deficit, 30(9.5%); depressed mentation, 10(3.2%) and death 10(3.2%) were documented. Presence of increased intracranial pressure(ICP) at admission [AOR: 1.415 (95% CI: 0.458-9.557)], severe TBI [AOR: 2.103 (95% CI: 0.965-4.524)], presence of hyperglycemia [AOR: 2.318 (95% CI: 0.873-7.874)] and head computed tomographic(CT) scans of contusion, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) or intracranial bleeding [AOR: 2.45 (95% CI: 0.811-7.952)] were found to be predictors of TBI outcome.

CONCLUSION

TBI contributed to 7.4% of pediatric ER visits. Boys above 5years of age were highly affected. Pedestrian RTA and falls, early presentation (<24hrs of injury) and mild form of TBI were the common documented patterns. Presence of increased ICP, hyperglycemia, severe TBI and CT findings of contusion, DAI/intracranial bleeding were predictors of poor outcome. Public awareness on road safety, childhood safety in preventing falls/animal injuries, closer follow-up of TBI cases for ICP and glycemic controls are recommended.
Evaluation of High‐Yielding Canadian Soybean Cultivars Suited to Japanese Growing Conditions
Authors: Yamaguchi Naoya , Tsuji Yuho , Suzuki Haruka , Kitabatake Takuya , Yoshihira Taiki 
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas
Five Canadian soybean cultivars achieved high yields in Hokkaido, northern Japan, in screening tests.
OAC Dorado soybean produced a significantly greater yield than a Hokkaido's leading cultivar.
OAC Dorado soybean had six characteristics that were distinct from the Hokkaido cultivars.
OAC Dorado soybean is an important germplasm for high‐yield breeding.
The broadening of genetic diversity is essential to improving soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed yields, and exotic germplasms can be a source of new alleles that improve yield. The stem termination habit is an important trait affecting seed yield in soybean, and this habit can be used to classify soybean into indeterminate, semi‐determinate, and determinate phenotypes. The genetic background and environment determine whether indeterminate phenotypes have a higher yield than determinate phenotypes. Most soybean cultivars developed in high latitude countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and Poland have an indeterminate growth habit, but this is not found in any of the commercial Japanese cultivars. This study investigated high‐yielding Canadian soybean cultivars growing in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Five Canadian cultivars, Haroson, RCAT Angora, Block, RCAT Alliance, and OAC Dorado, produced significantly greater than Hokkaido's leading cultivar Yukihomare in the preliminary screening tests. OAC Dorado also produced a significantly greater yield than Yukihomare in the trials (116%). OAC Dorado had six characteristics that were distinct from the Hokkaido cultivars: an indeterminate growth habit; high pod number, especially on branches; high seed number per pod; long reproductive period; low protein content; and short lower internodes. Our findings indicate that OAC Dorado is an important germplasm for high‐yield breeding and suggest that it may be possible to breed a high‐yielding cultivar with an indeterminate growth habit in Hokkaido.
Extension of the Cylindrical Root Model for Water Uptake to Non‐Regular Root Distributions
Authors: Graefe Jan , Prüfert Uwe , Bitterlich Michael 
Published: February 2019

Core IdeasAn equivalent cylinder radius PDF can be derived from a soil to root distance PDF.Simple analytical solutions for random and clustered root systems were obtained.The obtained equations were validated with 2D simulations of soil water flow.The water flow toward a single root is efficiently solved in cylindrical coordinates using the matrix flux potential. The upscaling of single root fluxes to whole root systems is commonly based on the assumption of regularly distributed and parallel aligned roots. To provide more accurate solutions for randomly distributed roots, the point to root distance probability density function (PDF) is transformed to an equivalent cylinder size PDF (fC), which is used for upscaling steady‐state and steady‐rate cylindrical root models while simple analytical solutions are derived. The regular root distribution assumption leads to large overestimations (∼50%) of root water uptake for randomly distributed roots. Several numerical comparisons with simulations of the two‐dimensional (2D) Richards equation for five different soil textures and five root densities show the good performance of the derived solutions under both limiting and non‐limiting soil hydraulic conditions. Moreover, an explicit analytical solution is given for negative‐binomial clustered roots. Under this specific assumption, the solution can be transformed to an equivalent random solution with a modified root length density. Simulation of root water uptake of different 2D root maps generated by a Poisson cluster process shows the effectiveness of the derived approximation for clustered roots.
Áreas naturais particulares em ambientes urbanos: uma revisão bibliográfica
Authors: Weins Niklas Werner , Gomes Luiz Ricardo , Costa de Oliveira Santos Leticia , Agudelo Fernandez Judith Karina , Casagrande Junior Eloy Fassi , Correa da Silva Maclovia , Labiak Junior Silvestre , Luiz da Silva Christian 
Published: February 2019

As áreas naturais urbanas proveem benefícios significativos para o bem-estar humano. Quando a importância dessas áreas é em grande parte reconhecida pelo conhecimento científico, incentivos legais como as Reservas Particulares de Patrimônio Natural Municipal (RPPNM) são uma prova prática de uma tendência de medidas para conservar estes valores. O presente artigo é uma revisão bibliográfica que explora a documentação de seis temas relacionados a estes benefícios considerados emergentes nas políticas públicas urbanas. Os resultados desta análise apontam o reconhecimento geral dos benefícios para o bem-estar humano mediante índices, mas também deixa clara uma necessidade da consideração dos benefícios no planejamento de cidades resilientes e mais biodiversas.
Исследование психологических и генетических различий у представителей разных этносов Юга России
Authors: Vorobyeva Elena V. , Kovsh Ekaterina M. , Ermakov Pavel N. , Abakumova Irina V. , Luchinkina Anzhelika I. , Kol'chik Elena Yu. , Borokhovski Eugene 
Published: February 2019

Introduction. This paper (a) presents the study of psychological differences in manifestations of aggressive attitudes and personal characteristics among representatives of various ethnic groups living in South Russia and (b) concentrates on genetic differences in the COMT Val158Met polymorphism within the study sample. This is the first study that (a) has assessed manifestations of aggressive attitudes and personal characteristics in healthy representatives of various ethnic groups with different COMT genotypes and (b) has offered normative data for the Wagner Hand Test obtained from an investigation in a sample of South Russian individual participants.
Methods. The study used the following techniques: (a) the Spielberger–Hanin anxiety test, (b) the questionnaire of formal-dynamic characteristics of personality by Rusalov, and (c) the Wagner Hand Test (in Kurbatova’s modification). Genetic analysis included the method for DNA extraction from buccal epithelial cells and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The psychological study involved university students (n = 163; mean age, 18.9 years); the psychogenetic study involved residents of Crimea (n = 76; 57 women and 19 men).
Results. The representatives of Russian and Tatar ethnic groups with the Met/Met COMT genotype had significantly higher total scores of aggression and direction, higher level of trait anxiety, and low motor ergicity. Tatar girls from the Val/Val COMT genotype group had high scores in the exhibitionism scale. The Val/Met COMT genotype in Russian girls was associated with manifestations of tension (anxiety) and ‘pathology’ as a total index of ‘personal maladjustment’ and the ‘tendency to escape from reality’.
Discussion. The obtained results can be applied to the practice of individualized socio-pedagogical impacts on representatives of various ethnic groups with the genotypes associated with maladaptive personality traits.
The Role of MAPK's Signaling in Mediating ApoE4-Driven Pathology In Vivo
Authors: Salomon-Zimri Shiran , Koren Amit , Angel Ariel , Ben-Zur Tali , Offen Daniel , Michaelson Daniel M. 
Published: February 2019

Background:
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is associated with impairments in key brain Mitogen-
Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades including the p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase
(JNK), ERK and Akt pathways. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is the most prevalent genetic risk factor of
AD.

Objectives:
To investigate the extent to which the MAPK signaling pathway plays a role in mediating
the pathological effects of apoE4 and can be reversed by experimental manipulations.
Methods: Measurements of total level and activation of MAPK signaling pathway factors, obtained utilizing
immunoblot assay of hippocampal tissues from naïve and viral-treated apoE3 and apoE4 targeted
replacement mice.

Methods:
Measurements of total level and activation of MAPK signaling pathway factors, obtained utilizing
immunoblot assay of hippocampal tissues from naïve and viral-treated apoE3 and apoE4 targeted
replacement mice.

Results:
ApoE4 mice showed robust activation of the stress related p38 and JNK pathways and a corresponding
decrease in Akt activity, which is coupled to activation of GSK3β and tau hyperphosphorylation.
There was no effect on the ERK pathway. We have previously shown that the apoE4-
related pathology, namely; accumulation of Aβ, hyper-phosphorylated tau, synaptic impairments and
decreased VEGF levels can be reversed by up-regulation of VEGF level utilizing a VEGF-expressing
adeno-associated virus. Utilizing this approach, we assessed the extent to which the AD-hallmark and
synaptic pathologies of apoE4 are related to the corresponding MAPK signaling effects. This revealed
that the reversal of the apoE4-driven pathology via VEGF treatment was associated with a reversal of
the p38 and Akt related effects.

Conclusion:
Taken together, these results suggest that the p38 and Akt pathways play a role in mediating
the AD-related pathological effects of apoE4 in the hippocampus.
Inhibition of the PERK-Dependent Unfolded Protein Response Signaling Pathway Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Rozpędek Wioletta , Pytel Dariusz , Popławski Tomasz , Walczak Anna , Gradzik Kinga , Wawrzynkiewicz Adam , Wojtczak Radosław , Mucha Bartosz , Diehl John Alan , Majsterek Ireneusz 
Published: February 2019

<P>Objectives: There is a body of evidence that neurodegenerative disease entities are directly
correlated with the perturbations on the molecular level. Hence, the ER stress-mediated Unfolded Protein
Response (UPR) is activated resulting in PERK-dependent phosphorylation of the Eukaryotic initiation
factor 2 (eIF2α). Thus, the levels of ATF4 and CHOP proteins are significantly increased, which
subsequently switches the pro-adaptive branch of the UPR into the pro-apoptotic directly leading to neuronal
loss and initiation of the neurodegenerative process. The aim of the presented study was the
evaluation of the biological activity of highly specific, small-molecule inhibitors of the PERKdependent
UPR signaling pathway.

Methods:
The study was conducted on rat astrocytic DI TNC1 cell line. The level of p-eIF2α was measured
by Western blot technique, the cytotoxicity of the investigated compound was assessed by the MTT
assay and using the FITC-conjugated Annexin V (Annexin V-FITC) to indicate apoptosis and propidium
iodide (PI) to indicate necrosis. The effect of tested compound on cell cycle progression was measured
by flow cytometry, where the PI-labelled nuclei were analysed for DNA content.

Results:
As a result one of the investigated compound LDN-0060609 triggers a significant inhibition of
the eIF2α phosphorylation in DI TNC1 cell line. Moreover, we showed that compound LDN-0060609 is
non-cytotoxic and has no effect on cell cycle progression.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, LDN-0060609 may constitute a novel, targeted treatment approach against
neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where pathogenesis and progression
are closely associated with the overactivation of the PERK-dependent UPR signaling pathway.
Distinctive Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Modes on Neurocognitive and Biochemical Changes in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Tsai Chia-Liang , Pai Ming-Chyi , Ukropec Jozef , Ukropcová Barbara 
Published: February 2019

Background:Decreased levels of the neuroprotective growth factors, low-grade inflammation, and reduced neurocognitive functions during aging are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Physical exercise modifies these disadvantageous phenomena while a sedentary lifestyle promotes them.Purpose:The purposes of the present study included investigating whether both aerobic and resistance exercise produce divergent effects on the neuroprotective growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, and neurocognitive performance, and further exploring whether changes in the levels of these molecular biomarkers are associated with alterations in neurocognitive performance.Methods:Fifty-five older adults with amnestic MCI (aMCI) were recruited and randomly assigned to an aerobic exercise (AE) group, a resistance exercise (RE) group, or a control group. The assessment included neurocognitive measures [e.g., behavior and event-related potential (ERP)] during a task-switching paradigm, as well as circulating neuroprotective growth factors (e.g., BDNF, IGF-1, VEGF, and FGF-2) and inflammatory cytokine (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15) levels at baseline and after either a 16-week aerobic or resistance exercise intervention program or a control period.Results:Aerobic and resistance exercise could effectively partially facilitate neurocognitive performance [e.g., accuracy rates (ARs), reaction times during the heterogeneous condition, global switching cost, and ERP P3 amplitude] when the participants performed the task switching paradigm although the ERP P2 components and P3 latency could not be changed. In terms of the circulating molecular biomarkers, the 16-week exercise interventions did not change some parameters (e.g., leptin, VEGF, FGF-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8). However, the peripheral serum BDNF level was significantly increased, and the levels of insulin, TNF-α, and IL-15 levels were significantly decreased in the AE group, whereas the RE group showed significantly increased IGF-1 levels and decreased IL-15 levels. The relationships between the changes in neurocognitive performance (AR and P3 amplitudes) and the changes in the levels of neurotrophins (BDNF and IGF-1)/inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) only approached significance.Conclusion:These findings suggested that in older adults with aMCI, not only aerobic but also resistance exercise is effective with regard to increasing neurotrophins, reducing some inflammatory cytokines, and facilitating neurocognitive performance. However, the aerobic and resistance exercise modes likely employed divergent molecular mechanisms on neurocognitive facilitation.
Verbascoside Attenuates Rac-1 and HIF-1α Signaling Cascade in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Seyfi Danial , Behzad Seyed B. , Nabiuni Mohammad , Parivar Kazem , Tahmaseb Mohammad , Amini Elaheh 
Published: February 2019

Objective: Metastasis phenotype is considered as the main challenge in colon cancer therapeutic
methods. Furthermore, the side effects of conventional colorectal cancer treatment methods have attracted a lot
of attention into natural ingredients. The aim of the study was to assess the molecular mechanism of verbascoside
as natural bio-compound in human HT29 colon cancer cells.

Methods:
HT29 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/
streptomycin at 37°C and 5% CO2. HT-29 cells were treated with different concentrations of verbascoside
(10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, 100 µg/ml) for 24 hours, then MTT assay was used to calculate 50% inhibitory concentration.
The migration of the colon cancer cells was evaluated by scratch assay. To evaluate involved antiproliferative
mechanism, Rac-1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) and HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible
factor-1α) related gene expression were evaluated by Real Time PCR.

Results:
The results showed that verbascoside inhibited HT29 colon cancer cell proliferation dose-dependently
and IC50 was evaluated as 50 μg/ml (***P<0.001). The results of wound healing assay demonstrated verbascoside
decreased cell migration in a dose dependent manner. In the IC50 treated HT29 cells metastatic progression
was significantly suppressed as **P<0.01. The results of Real Time PCR showed an attenuating effect of verbascoside
on Rac-1, Zeb-1 (zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1), Arp2 (Actin-Related Proteins), Pak1 (p21
(RAC1) activated kinase 1), VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) and HIF-1α as Epithelial-Mesenchymal
Transition markers. The down regulation of mRNA levels was Rac-1= 15.38, HIF-1 α = 16.66, Pak-1, Arp-2=
6.25, VEGF=24.39, Zeb-1=35.71 in HT29 cells treated with IC50 concentration of verbascoside.

Conclusion:
Colorectal cancer cells induce Rac-1 and HIF-1α overexpression which plays an important role in
the activation and progression of cell motility, angiogenesis and metastasis. Overall results showed that verbascoside
elucidated significant anti-metastatic and anti-invasion activities through suppression of Rac-1, HIF-1α, and
Zeb-1 signaling pathway and it may be a suitable candidate to overwhelm colon cancer metastatic phenotype.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Melatonin Receptor MT1 and Glucose Transporter GLUT1 in Human Breast Cancer
Authors: de Castro Tialfi B. , Mota André L. , Bordin-Junior Newton A. , Neto Dalisio S. , Zuccari Debora A.P.C. 
Published: February 2019

Background:
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and is the leading cause of cancer-related
deaths among women. Even after diagnosis, the prognosis cannot be concluded since patients can develop resistance
to therapy, which favors tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. In recent years, research has focused on
identifying significant markers that can be used to determine the prognosis. Melatonin can act through G protein–
coupled MT1 receptor, which controls selected protein kinases, influences the levels of transcription factor
phosphorylation, specific genes expression, proliferation, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, migration, and indirectly
controls the transport of glucose in cancer cells. It is known that glucose enters the cells by glucose transporters,
such as GLUT1 which shows wide tissue distribution and appears to be altered in human breast carcinoma.
High GLUT1 expression is associated with increased malignant potential, invasiveness and poor prognosis
in some cancers including breast cancer.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of MT1 receptor and GLUT1 in breast tumors
and correlate with molecular subtypes and prognostic characteristics.

Method:
Protein expression was performed by an immunohistochemical procedure with specific antibodies and
positive and negative controls.

Results:
We found that MT1 high expression was associated with good prognosis subtype (Luminal A), while
GLUT1 high expression was related to poor prognosis subtype (triple-negative). In addition, we found high
expression of MT1 in ER+ and the inverse in GLUT1 expression. GLUT1 is also highly expressed in tumor
≥20mm.

Conclusion:
These results indicate MT1 and GLUT1 as potential targets for breast cancer subtypes and prognosis.
Development of Ductile Truss System Using Double Small Buckling-Restrained Braces: Analytical Study
Authors: Sugihardjo Hidajat , Lesmana Yudha , Prasetya Dwi 
Published: February 2019

Introdution:
This paper proposed a Small Buckling-Restrained Brace (SBRB) for the ductile truss moment frames and is called here as the Double Braced Truss Moment Frames (DB-TMF). The braces are located at the edge of the truss girder and are only placed around the building perimeter. The braces work in pair as a weak element (structural fuses) and is expected to effectively absorb the seismic energy. The proposed DB-TMF system is an extended development of the Knee Braced Truss Moment Frames (KB-TMF). The DB-TMF system is expected to carry the whole seismic loads, while the rest of the frame is designed to carry only the gravity loads.

Methods:
To study the performance of the proposed DB-TMF system, non-linear finite element analysis was carried out using the DRAIN-2DX package. From the analysis with various time history records, it was found that the drift ratio of the DB-TMF system is lower than the allowed story drift. The roof-top displacement shows an asymptotic behavior. The shape of the hysteresis curve tends to have a pinching shape. However, the cumulative ductility of the proposed system satisfies the requirements as a hysteretic structure. In the event of an earthquake, only the SBRB and the chords adjacent to the column element are damaged while the rest of the structural elements remain elastic which is expected.

Results and Conclusion:
Based on the performance evaluation of the DB-TMF system, the DB-TMF system is suitable for moderate seismic region and has smaller dimension steel sections compared to the KB-TMF system.