bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural Product Chemistry for Nitric Oxide Based Therapeutics
Authors: Bryan Nathan S. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) production is essential for normal human health and physiology. NO controls and regulates blood pressure, nervous and immune function along with numerous other fundamental physiological processes. Loss of NO production is recognized as one of the earliest events in the onset and progression of many if not all chronic diseases. Development of FDA approved NO based therapeutics has been slow and largely unsuccessful. Historically, natural product chemistry has been a primary strategy for development of new drug compounds. Through plant based chemistry and bacterial metabolism, NO can be produced and harnessed for restoration of NO based signaling in humans. This strategy may provide opportunity for development of safe and effective NO based therapies.
Astrakurkurone, a sesquiterpenoid from wild edible mushroom, targets liver cancer cells by modulating Bcl‐2 family proteins
Authors: Dasgupta Adhiraj , Dey Dhritiman , Ghosh Dipanjan , Lai Tapan Kumar , Bhuvanesh Nattamai , Dolui Sandip , Velayutham Ravichandiran , Acharya Krishnendu 
Published: April 2019

AbstractInduction of apoptosis is the target of choice for modern chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer, where lack of potent “target‐specific” drugs has led to extensive research on anticancer compounds from natural sources. In our study, we have used astrakurkurone, a triterpene isolated from wild edible mushroom, Astraeus hygrometricus. We have discussed the structure and stability of astrakurkurone employing single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography and studied its potential apoptogenicity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Our experiments reveal that it is cytotoxic against the HCC cell lines (Hep 3B and Hep G2) at significantly low doses. Further investigations indicated that astrakurkurone acts by inducing apoptosis in the cells, disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and inducing the expression of Bcl‐2 family proteins, for example, Bax, and the downstream effector caspases 3 and 9. A molecular docking study also predicted direct interactions of the drug with antiapoptotic proteins Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL. Thus, astrakurkurone could become a valuable addition to the conventional repertoire of future anticancer drugs. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 1–11, 2019
Acceleration of newborn rats’ development with the use of photobiomodulation and the near possibility of application in human premature babies
Authors: Buzzá Hilde H. , Zangirolami Amanda C. , Kurachi Cristina , Bagnato Vanderlei S. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPhotobiomodulation was explored to find evidence of stimulation during the development of newborn rats. A light chamber device was used, and rat pups were divided into groups after birth. Investigation of the process’ security was performed before the full experiment. Following a protocol of alternating illumination and mother's presence during the first 13 days, we observed that, in the group that received photobiomodulation, the pups opened their eyes faster, indicating earlier achievement of maturity. The rate of weight gain also indicates faster metabolic activity in the group that was photostimulated. This study is the first step toward the use of photobiomodulation for premature newborn human babies.
Safety and biocompatibility of injectable vaccine adjuvants composed of thermogelling block copolymer gels
Authors: Adams Justin R. , Senapati Sujata , Haughney Shannon L. , Wannemuehler Michael J. , Narasimhan Balaji , Mallapragada Surya K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractInjectable thermogelling polymers have been recently investigated as novel adjuvants and delivery systems for next generation vaccines. As research into natural and synthetic biocompatible polymers progresses, the safety and biocompatibility of these compounds is of paramount importance. We have developed cationic pentablock copolymer (PBC) vaccine adjuvants based on Pluronic F127, a thermogelling triblock copolymer that has been approved by the FDA for multiple applications, and methacrylated poly(diethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate outer blocks. These novel materials have been demonstrated to effectively create an antigen depot, minimally impact antigen stability, and enhance the immune response to antigens (i.e., adjuvanticity) in mice. In this work, we investigated the safety and biocompatibility of the parent triblock Pluronic gels and the cationic PBC gels in mice. Histological analysis showed no injection site reactions and no damage to the liver or kidneys was observed upon administering the block copolymer formulations. However, the subcutaneous injection of a thermogelling Pluronic solution induced increased levels of lipids in the blood, with no further deleterious effects observed from the addition of the cationic outer blocks. This hyperlipidemia resolved within 30 days after the administration of the Pluronic formulation. To mitigate this adverse effect, the vaccine adjuvant formulations were modified by adding poly(vinyl alcohol), which allowed gelation, while reducing the amount of Pluronic in the formulation. This modified formulation abrogated the observed hyperlipidemia and no adverse effects were observed in the serum through biomarker analysis or at the injection site (i.e., inflammation) in comparison to the responses induced by administration of saline or incomplete Freund's adjuvant. These studies provide a foundation to developing these gels as adjuvants for next generation vaccines. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1754–1762, 2019.
Mussel adhesive protein fused with VE‐cadherin extracellular domain promotes endothelial‐cell tight junctions and in vivo endothelization recovery of vascular stent
Authors: Yang Dongchuan , Yan Wenhua , Qiu Juhui , Huang Yuhua , Li Tianhan , Wang Yi , Wang Nan , Durkan Colm , Huang Junli , Yin Tieying , Wang Guixue 
Published: April 2019

AbstractImproving the surface properties of vascular stents to accelerate endothelialization in vivo could play an important role in minimizing the risk of late thrombosis. We previously showed that mussel adhesive protein fused with VE‐cadherin extracellular domain (VE‐M) specifically triggered endothelial cell adhesion in vitro. In this study, using stent implants coated with VE‐M, we evaluated the clinical applicability of VE‐M in endothelialization recovery in vivo. First, we explored the effect of VE‐M on hemocompatibility and tight junctions between endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro. VE‐M significantly inhibited platelet adhesion and promoted EC proliferation. Furthermore, VE‐M drastically increased the centralization of F‐actin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) along the cell contacts, reduced fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)—dextran transport across the HUVECs, and elevated expression levels of tight junction proteins (TJPs) in ECs. We then evaluated the effect of VE‐M on endothelialization recovery in vivo through implantation of vascular stents. At 1 day after implantation, stents coated with VE‐M recruited more endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) than bare stents. At 7 days after implantation, VE‐M stents had a greater coverage of ECs than bare stents. At 1 month after implantation, ECs on VE‐M stents were appropriately elliptical in morphology and closely resembled physiological morphology. Hematoxylin‐eosin (HE) staining revealed little in‐stent neointima formation on VE‐M stents, and SEM images revealed that smooth endothelium had formed on VE‐M stents without adherent platelets. Taken together, these findings indicate that VE‐M accelerates in vivo endothelialization of vascular stents via recruitment of EPCs and promotes endothelium formation and could be explored as a potential bioactive coating for vascular implant. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 108B:94–103, 2020.
Kidney cachexia or protein‐energy wasting in chronic kidney disease: facts and numbers
Authors: Koppe Laetitia , Fouque Denis , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundWeight loss and homeostatic disturbances of both energy and protein balances are characteristics of several illnesses including cancer, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Different definitions have been used to describe this deleterious process. The term protein‐energy wasting (PEW) has been proposed for CKD patients by the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism.MethodsWe searched the publication in Medline from February 2008 to September 2018 using PEW or cachexia in their title.ResultsSince its inception, the term PEW has been exceptionally successful, highlighted by 327 original publications referenced in PubMed over 10 years. Using this classification, several studies have confirmed that PEW is among the strongest predictors of mortality in CKD patients [hazard ratio of 3.03; confidence interval of 1.69–5.26 in 1068 haemodialysis patients and 1.40 (1.04–1.89) in 1487 non‐dialysed patients across PEW stages 0 to 4]. Based on this classification, prevalence of PEW is 28% to 54% among 16 434 adults undergoing maintenance dialysis. PEW prevalence increases when renal function declines, that is, from <2% in CKD stages 1–2 to 11–54% in CKD stages 3–5. A more general definition of cachexia for all chronic diseases proposed by the Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders was also published concurrently. In the CKD area, we found 180 publications using ‘cachexia’ underlining that some confusion or overlap may exist. The definitions of PEW and cachexia are somewhat similar, and the main difference is that a loss of body weight >5% is a mandatory criterion for cachexia but supportive for PEW.ConclusionsThe recent understanding of cachexia physiopathology during CKD progression suggests that PEW and cachexia are closely related and that PEW corresponds the initial state of a continuous process that leads to cachexia, implicating the same metabolic pathways as in other chronic diseases. Despite the success of the definition of PEW, using a more uniform term such as ‘kidney disease cachexia’ could be more helpful to design future research through collaborative groups of researchers with focus on cachexia.
Cancer‐driven changes link T cell frequency to muscle strength in people with cancer: a pilot study
Authors: Narsale Aditi , Moya Rosa , Ma Jasmin , Anderson Lindsey J. , Wu Daniel , Garcia Jose M. , Davies Joanna D. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundTumour growth can promote the loss of muscle mass and function. This is particularly disturbing because overall survival is significantly reduced in people with weaker and smaller skeletal muscle. The risk of cancer is also greater in people who are immune deficient. Muscle wasting in mice with cancer can be inhibited by infusion of CD4+ precursor T cells that restore balanced ratios of naïve, memory, and regulatory T cells. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that stronger anti‐cancer T cell immunity leads to improved muscle mass and function. As a first step to testing this hypothesis, we determined whether levels of circulating T cell subsets correlate with levels of muscle strength in people with cancer.MethodsThe frequency of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ naïve, memory, and regulatory T cell subsets was quantified in 11 men with gastrointestinal cancer (aged 59.3 ± 10.1 years) and nine men without cancer (aged 60 ± 13 years), using flow cytometry. T cell marker expression was determined using real‐time PCR and western blot analyses in whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Handgrip strength, one‐repetition maximum chest press, and knee extension tests were used to determine muscle strength. Performance was determined using a stair climb test. Body composition was determined using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan. The Karnofsky and ECOG scales were used to assess functional impairment. Correlations between frequencies of cell subsets with strength, performance, and body composition were determined using regression analyses.ResultsOur data show significant correlations between (i) higher frequencies of CD8+ naïve (P = 0.02) and effector memory (P = 0.003) T cells and lower frequencies of CD8+ central memory T cells (P = 0.002) with stronger handgrip strength, (ii) lower frequency of regulatory cells with greater lean mass index (P = 0.04), (iii) lower frequency of CD8+ T cells that express CD95 with greater stair climb power (P = 0.003), (iv) higher frequency of T cells that co‐express CD197 and CD45RA and greater one‐repetition maximum knee extension strength (P = 0.008), and (iv) higher expression of CD4 in whole blood with greater functional impairment (P = 0.004) in people with cancer.ConclusionsWe have identified significant correlations between levels of T cell populations and muscle strength, performance, and body composition in people with cancer. These data justify a follow‐up study with a larger cohort to test the validity of the findings.
Valorization of Zante currant side‐streams for the production of phenolic‐rich extract and bacterial cellulose: a novel biorefinery concept
Authors: Tsouko Erminda , Papadaki Aikaterini , Papapostolou Harris , Ladakis Dimitris , Natsia Aikaterini , Koutinas Apostolis , Kampioti Adamantia , Eriotou Effimia , Kopsahelis Nikolaos 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDUtilization of renewable resources for the production of added‐value bioeconomy products, within the concept of developing integrated biorefineries, is a crucial step towards the establishment of sustainable processes. In this framework, a novel biorefinery has been proposed based on ‘Zante currant’ side‐stream valorization.RESULTS‘Zante currant’ raisins discarded during the production process were initially treated in order to obtain a sugar‐rich and a phenolic‐rich fraction, implementing wastewaters for all of the extraction and dilution procedures. Total phenolics and antioxidant activity index (AAI) were determined indicating that Zante currants could be considered as a phenolic‐rich source, whereas the fractionated phenolic extract possesses a moderate antioxidant activity (AAI = 0.71). In addition, quantitative analyses using high performance liquid chromatography‐diode array detector revealed that the main phenolics present in Zante currants were caffeic acid, ellagic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, catechin and rutin; homoprotocatechuic acid, epicatechin, vanillic acid and gallic acid also were detected in lower concentrations. Likewise, sugar recovery reached 88% and the sugar‐rich stream was subsequently utilized in batch fermentations for the production of bacterial cellulose (BC), using the bacterial strain Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans DSM 15973. The obtained results showed that BC was produced efficiently, reaching higher concentrations (2.76 g L−1) than previous studies in which synthetic fructose‐ and glucose‐based media were used.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study proposing the development of a novel raisin‐based biorefinery for the production of added‐value products, namely antioxidants and BC. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Lungs nodule detection framework from computed tomography images using support vector machine
Authors: Khan Sajid A. , Nazir Muhammad , Khan Muhammad A. , Saba Tanzila , Javed Kashif , Rehman Amjad , Akram Tallha , Awais Muhammad 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe emergence of cloud infrastructure has the potential to provide significant benefits in a variety of areas in the medical imaging field. The driving force behind the extensive use of cloud infrastructure for medical image processing is the exponential increase in the size of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The size of a single CT/MRI image has increased manifold since the inception of these imagery techniques. This demand for the introduction of effective and efficient frameworks for extracting relevant and most suitable information (features) from these sizeable images. As early detection of lungs cancer can significantly increase the chances of survival of a lung scanner patient, an effective and efficient nodule detection system can play a vital role. In this article, we have proposed a novel classification framework for lungs nodule classification with less false positive rates (FPRs), high accuracy, sensitivity rate, less computationally expensive and uses a small set of features while preserving edge and texture information. The proposed framework comprises multiple phases that include image contrast enhancement, segmentation, feature extraction, followed by an employment of these features for training and testing of a selected classifier. Image preprocessing and feature selection being the primary steps—playing their vital role in achieving improved classification accuracy. We have empirically tested the efficacy of our technique by utilizing the well‐known Lungs Image Consortium Database dataset. The results prove that the technique is highly effective for reducing FPRs with an impressive sensitivity rate of 97.45%.
Frontline Science: Aggregated neutrophil extracellular traps prevent inflammation on the neutrophil-rich ocular surface
Authors: Mahajan Aparna , Grüneboom Anika , Petru Lenka , Podolska Malgorzata J , Kling Lasse , Maueröder Christian , Dahms Florian , Christiansen Silke , Günter Lochnit , Krenn Veit , Jünemann Anselm , Bock Felix , Schauer Christine , Schett Georg , Hohberger Bettina , Herrmann Martin , Muñoz Luis E 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Eye rheum is a physiological discharge, which accumulates at the medial angle of the healthy eye soon after opening in the morning. Microscopic evaluation of eye rheum revealed the presence of viable neutrophils, bacteria, epithelial cells, and particles, aggregated by neutrophil extracellular traps. We observed that in the evening, during eye closure, high C5a recruited neutrophils to the tear film and activated them. In this hypoxic area rich in CO2, neutrophils fight microbial aggressors by degranulation. Immediately after eye opening, the microenvironment of the ocular surface changes, the milieu gets normoxic, and loss of CO2 induces subtle alkalinization of tear film. These conditions favored the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that initially covers the ocular surface and tend to aggregate by eyelid blinking. These aggregated neutrophil extracellular traps (aggNETs) are known as eye rheum and contain several viable neutrophils, epithelial cells, dust particles, and crystals packed together by NETs. Similar to aggNETs induced by monosodium urate crystals, the eye rheum shows a robust proteolytic activity that degraded inflammatory mediators before clinically overt inflammation occur. Finally, the eye rheum passively floats with the tear flow to the medial angle of the eye for disposal. We conclude that the aggNETs-based eye rheum promotes cleaning of the ocular surface and ameliorates the inflammation on the neutrophil-rich ocular surfaces.
Towards normal Siberian winter temperatures?
Authors: Koenigk Torben , Fuentes‐Franco Ramon 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSiberia is a region where despite global warming a winter cooling trend has been observed over last decades. This cooling trend and its potential linkage to Arctic sea ice loss are controversially discussed. However, recent winters have not been taken into account so far. Here, we analyse ERA‐Interim reanalysis data until 2017 and ERA20C reanalysis to investigate the robustness of the winter surface air temperature trends to updated and extended time periods. Our results show that winter temperatures in Siberia were above normal after 2013 leading to strongly reduced cooling trends since 1980. The trend before 2014 was dominated by four cold winters between 2010 and 2013. These cold winters were mainly caused by strong negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), except for the winter 2011/2012, where the NAO was positive and a strongly negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) in combination with low sea ice in the Barents Sea caused the cold winter. Both NAO and PDO shift from more negative to positive phases in 2014 and contribute to a return to warmer Siberian temperatures. Furthermore, the NAO shows no trend between 1980 and 2017 indicating that the suggested linkage between Arctic sea ice loss and a negative trend in this mode is not robust. However, continuously low Arctic sea ice in recent years and a slightly negative trend in the PDO since 1980 contribute to the remaining observed cold trends over parts of Eurasia between 1980 and 2017.
The diversity of La Niña decay and the corresponding spring and summer precipitation anomalies over eastern China
Authors: Chen Shengjie , Zhu Zhiwei , Ge Zian , Kang Zhiming , He Jinhai 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe present study investigates the diversity of the La Niña decaying phase and the corresponding spring and summer precipitation anomalies over the eastern China. Based on the differences in sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) evolution during the La Niña decaying phase, 18 La Niña events in the period 1961–2016 are classified into three types—namely, the “persistent type” (P‐type), the “re‐intensified type” (R‐type), and the “fast‐decay type” (F‐type). Precipitation responses over eastern China during the decaying spring and summer of the three types of La Niña present significant differences. For the R‐type La Niña decaying spring, the enhanced precipitation appears over northeastern China but significant suppressed precipitation anomalies are observed elsewhere, particularly in Yellow River basin, the Yangtze River basin, and southeastern China. Significant negative precipitation anomaly appears over northeastern China in both P‐type and F‐type La Niña decaying spring. In the decaying summer, for P‐type La Niña, dry anomalies are apparent in southern and northern China. For R‐type La Niña, negative rainfall anomalies are notable in northeastern China, the Hetao region, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River basin. For F‐type La Niña, significant negative rainfall anomalies are found over the Yangtze River basin and parts of northern China. The responses of the large‐scale circulation anomalies to the distinct SSTA patterns of the different types of La Niña are responsible for the diversity of rainfall anomalies over eastern China. The precipitation anomaly pattern in eastern China is closely associated with the different types of La Niña decay, and it is seasonal‐dependent. These two aspects should be taken into account when conducting seasonal predictions of spring and summer rainfall anomalies over eastern China using El Niño–Southern Oscillation as a predictor.
An empirical analysis of supply chain finance adoption
Authors: Wuttke David A. , Rosenzweig Eve D. , Heese Hans Sebastian 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSupply chain finance (SCF) makes the funding of the supply chain more efficient because it extends the financial strengths of buyers to their suppliers. Nevertheless, buyers sometimes struggle to persuade suppliers to adopt SCF quickly. To craft more effective supplier onboarding strategies, buyers need to know which suppliers are likely to adopt SCF faster. Drawing on the theoretical perspective on organizational motivation, we develop a research framework that uncovers the key drivers of supplier adoption speed. Our framework combines efficiency motive drivers, identified by recent analytical studies on SCF, with legitimacy motive drivers, which stem from a supplier's institutional environment and are new to the SCF literature. We test our hypotheses using a unique data set from a leading financial technology platform provider. We find that suppliers with more limited access to financing tend to adopt SCF faster. In addition, suppliers adopt SCF faster if such adoption is associated with more pronounced reductions in their financing costs. Legitimacy motive drivers also impact supplier adoption speed. Specifically, our results suggest that mimetic and normative pressures accelerate the speed at which suppliers adopt SCF, while coercive pressures seem to have such an effect only when the buyer's stakes are high.