bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain relief and quality of life
Authors: Jo Junyoung , Lee Sun Haeng 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPrimary dysmenorrhea, which is menstrual pain without pelvic pathology, is the most common gynecologic condition in women. Heat therapy has been used as a treatment. We assessed the evidence on heat therapy as a treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. We searched 11 databases for studies published through July 2018. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that addressed heat therapy for patients with primary dysmenorrhea were included. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Six RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Two RCTs found favorable effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with unheated placebo therapy. Three RCTs found favorable effects of heating pads on menstrual pain compared with analgesic medication (n = 274; SMD −0.72; 95% confidence interval −0.97 to −0.48; P < 0.001; two studies). One RCT showed beneficial effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with no treatment (n = 132; MD −4.04 VAS; 95% CI −4.88 to −3.20; P < 0.001). However, these results are based on relatively few trials with small sample sizes. Our review provided suggestive evidence of the effectiveness of heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea, but rigorous high-quality trials are still needed to provide robust evidence.
Sweat rate analysis of ivacaftor potentiation of CFTR in non-CF adults
Authors: Kim Jeeyeon , Farahmand Miesha , Dunn Colleen , Milla Carlos E. , Horii Rina I. , Thomas Ewart A. C. , Moss Richard B. , Wine Jeffrey J. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractTo determine if ivacaftor (Kalydeco) influences non-CF human CFTR function in vivo, we measured CFTR-dependent (C-sweat) and CFTR-independent (M-sweat) rates from multiple identified sweat glands in 8 non-CF adults. The two types of sweating were stimulated sequentially with intradermal injections of appropriate reagents; each gland served as its own control via alternating off-on drug tests on both arms, given at weekly intervals with 3 off and 3 on tests per subject. We compared drug effects on C-sweating stimulated by either high or low concentrations of β-adrenergic cocktail, and on methacholine-stimulated M-sweating. For each subject we measured ~700 sweat volumes from ~75 glands per arm (maximum 12 readings per gland), and sweat volumes were log-transformed for statistical analysis. T-tests derived from linear mixed models (LMMs) were more conservative than the familiar paired sample t-tests, and show that ivacaftor significantly increased C-sweating stimulated by both levels of agonist, with a larger effect in the low cocktail condition; ivacaftor did not increase M-sweat. Concurrent sweat chloride tests detected no effect of ivacaftor. We conclude that ivacaftor in vivo increases the open channel probability (PO) of WT CFTR, provided it is not already maximally stimulated.
Hierarchy of quantum correlations using a linear beam splitter
Authors: Qureshi Haleema Sadia , Ullah Shakir , Ghafoor Fazal 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBeam splitters are important components in numerous tasks of quantum information protocols used either in simple or in an interferometric arrangement or together with other quantum systems. This report shows interesting aspects of the quantum correlations of two-mode Gaussian state (TMGS) for the photons retrieved via a linear beam splitter when they are initially employed at the input of either pure or mixed two single-mode Gaussian states (TSMGSs). The quantum correlations obey the boundaries of quantum non-locality, steering, entanglement and discord for pure input states. Though Bell inequality does not violate, quantum steering, entanglement and discord exist in the quantum state evolved by the beam splitter when input states become mixed. Specifically, the quantum steering, entanglement and discord persist to some degrees against the thermal photon number, the Bell inequality is, nonetheless, obeyed by the quantum state except in a very sharp regime.
IC-Tagging methodology applied to the expression of viral glycoproteins and the difficult-to-express membrane-bound IGRP autoantigen
Authors: Barreiro-Piñeiro Natalia , Lostalé-Seijo Irene , Varela-Calviño Rubén , Benavente Javier , Martínez-Costas José M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe have previously developed a methodology to produce protein microspheres (MS) that can be loaded with proteins of interest in living cells through their C or N-terminal tagging with the so-called IC-Tag. The IC-Tagging method has many applications ranging from the production of immobilized enzymes for industrial use to the production of subunit vaccines due to its intrinsic adjuvancy. Here we show the adaptation of the IC-Tagging to work inside the endoplasmic reticulum and bacteria, allowing us to produce properly modified viral glycoproteins. Additionally, we were able to express the Islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP), whose expression remained elusive to date possibly due to its toxicity when over-expressed. IGRP is an antigen of enormous pharmaceutical interest as it is specifically targeted during the autoimmune response taking place in both the Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice and type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients leading to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
Dysregulation of Neuronal Cholesterol Homeostasis upon Exposure to HIV-1 Tat and Cocaine Revealed by RNA-Sequencing
Authors: Mohseni Ahooyi Taha , Shekarabi Masoud , Torkzaban Bahareh , Langford T. Dianne , Burdo Tricia H. , Gordon Jennifer , Datta Prasun K. , Amini Shohreh , Khalili Kamel 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHIV-1 Tat protein is released from HIV-1-infected cells and can enter non-permissive cells including neurons. Tat disrupts neuronal homeostasis and may contribute to the neuropathogenesis in people living with HIV (PLWH). The use of cocaine by PLWH exacerbates neuronal dysfunction. Here, we examined the mechanisms by which Tat and cocaine facilitate alterations in neuronal homeostatic processes. Bioinformatic interrogation of the results from RNA deep sequencing of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to Tat alone indicated the dysregulation of several genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Following exposure to Tat and cocaine, the activation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes led to increased levels of free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in rat neurons. Results from lipid metabolism arrays validated upregulation of several processes implicated in the biogenesis of β-amyloid and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including sterol o-acyltransferase 1/acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1/ACAT1), sortilin-related receptor L1 (SORL1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 12 (LRP12). Further studies in Tat-treated primary neuronal cultures and brain tissues from HIV-1 transgenic mice as well as SIV-infected macaques confirmed elevated levels of SOAT1/ACAT 1 proteins. Our results offer novel insights into the molecular events involved in HIV and cocaine-mediated neuronal dysfunction that may also contribute to neuropathogenic events associated with the development of AD.
Combining morpho-taxonomy and metabarcoding enhances the detection of non-indigenous marine pests in biofouling communities
Authors: Ammon Ulla von , Wood Susanna A. , Laroche Olivier , Zaiko Anastasija , Tait Leigh , Lavery Shane , Inglis Graeme J. , Pochon Xavier 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMarine infrastructure can favor the spread of non-indigenous marine biofouling species by providing a suitable habitat for them to proliferate. Cryptic organisms or those in early life stages can be difficult to distinguish by conventional morphological taxonomy. Molecular tools, such as metabarcoding, may improve their detection. In this study, the ability of morpho-taxonomy and metabarcoding (18S rRNA and COI) using three reference databases (PR2, BOLD and NCBI) to characterize biodiversity and detect non-indigenous species (NIS) in biofouling was compared on 60 passive samplers deployed over summer and winter in a New Zealand marina. Highest resolution of metazoan taxa was identified using 18S rRNA assigned to PR2. There were higher assignment rates to NCBI reference sequences, but poorer taxonomic identification. Using all methods, 48 potential NIS were identified. Metabarcoding detected the largest proportion of those NIS: 77% via 18S rRNA/PR2 and NCBI and 35% via COI/BOLD and NCBI. Morpho-taxonomy detected an additional 14% of all identified NIS comprising mainly of bryozoan taxa. The data highlight several on-going challenges, including: differential marker resolution, primer biases, incomplete sequence reference databases, and variations in bioinformatic pipelines. Combining morpho-taxonomy and molecular analysis methods will likely enhance the detection of NIS from complex biofouling.
PMA inhibits endothelial cell migration through activating the PKC-δ/Syk/NF-κB-mediated up-regulation of Thy-1
Authors: Wen Heng-Ching , Huo Yen Nien , Chou Chih-Ming , Lee Wen-Sen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe previously showed that overexpression of Thy-1 inhibited and knock-down of Thy-1 enhanced endothelial cell migration. Here, we used phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) as an inducer for Thy-1 expression to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying Thy-1 up-regulation. Our data showed that increased levels of Thy-1 mRNA and protein in endothelial cells were observed at 14–18 hours and 20–28 hours after PMA treatment, respectively. Treatment with PMA for 32 hours induced Thy-1 up-regulation and inhibited capillary-like tube formation and endothelial cell migration. These effects were abolished by Röttlerin (a PKC-δ inhibitor), but not Gö6976 (a PKC-α/β inhibitor). Moreover, pre-treatment with Bay 61–3606 (a Syk inhibitor) or Bay 11-7082 (a NF-κB inhibitor) abolished the PMA-induced Thy-1 up-regulation and migration inhibition in endothelial cells. Using the zebrafish model, we showed that PMA up-regulated Thy-1 and inhibited angiogenesis through the PKC-δ-mediated pathway. Surprisingly, we found that short-term (8–10 hours) PMA treatment enhanced endothelial cell migration. However, this effect was not observed in PMA-treated Thy-1-overexpressed endothelial cells. Taken together, our results suggest that PMA initially enhanced endothelial cell migration, subsequently activating the PKC-δ/Syk/NF-κB-mediated pathway to up-regulate Thy-1, which in turn inhibited endothelial cell migration. Our results also suggest that Thy-1 might play a role in termination of angiogenesis.
N6-Methyladenine DNA modification in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola genome
Authors: Xiao Chuan-Le , Xie Shang-Qian , Xie Qing-Biao , Liu Zhao-Yu , Xing Jian-Feng , Ji Kai-Kai , Tao Jun , Dai Liang-Ying , Luo Feng 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) modifications expand the information capacity of DNA and have long been known to exist in bacterial genomes. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzicola (Xoc) is the causative agent of bacterial leaf streak, an emerging and destructive disease in rice worldwide. However, the genome-wide distribution patterns and potential functions of 6mA in Xoc are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the levels and global distribution patterns of 6mA modification in genomic DNA of seven Xoc strains (BLS256, BLS279, CFBP2286, CFBP7331, CFBP7341, L8 and RS105). The 6mA modification was found to be widely distributed across the seven Xoc genomes, accounting for percent of 3.80, 3.10, 3.70, 4.20, 3.40, 2.10, and 3.10 of the total adenines in BLS256, BLS279, CFBP2286, CFBP7331, CFBP7341, L8, and RS105, respectively. Notably, more than 82% of 6mA sites were located within gene bodies in all seven strains. Two specific motifs for 6 mA modification, ARGT and AVCG, were prevalent in all seven strains. Comparison of putative DNA methylation motifs from the seven strains reveals that Xoc have a specific DNA methylation system. Furthermore, the 6 mA modification of rpfC dramatically decreased during Xoc infection indicates the important role for Xoc adaption to environment.
Forecasting extreme atmospheric events with a recurrence-interval-analysis-based autoregressive conditional duration model
Authors: Dai Yue-Hua , Jiang Zhi-Qiang , Zhou Wei-Xing 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWith most city dwellers in China subjected to air pollution, forecasting extreme air pollution spells is of paramount significance in both scheduling outdoor activities and ameliorating air pollution. In this paper, we integrate the autoregressive conditional duration model (ACD) with the recurrence interval analysis (RIA) and also extend the ACD model to a spatially autoregressive conditional duration (SACD) model by adding a spatially reviewed term to quantitatively explain and predict extreme air pollution recurrence intervals. Using the hourly data of six pollutants and the air quality index (AQI) during 2013–2016 collected from 12 national air quality monitoring stations in Beijing as our test samples, we attest that the spatially reviewed recurrence intervals have some general explanatory power over the recurrence intervals in the neighbouring air quality monitoring stations. We also conduct a one-step forecast using the RIA-ACD(1,1) and RIA-SACD(1,1,1) models and find that 90% of the predicted recurrence intervals are smaller than 72 hours, which justifies the predictive power of the proposed models. When applied to more time lags and neighbouring stations, the models are found to yield results that are consistent with reality, which evinces the feasibility of predicting extreme air pollution events through a recurrence-interval-analysis-based autoregressive conditional duration model. Moreover, the addition of a spatial term has proved effective in enhancing the predictive power.
Highly efficient single-stack hybrid cool white OLED utilizing blue thermally activated delayed fluorescent and yellow phosphorescent emitters
Authors: Kim Gyeong Woo , Bae Hyeong Woo , Lampande Raju , Ko Ik Jang , Park Jin Hwan , Lee Chae Young , Kwon Jang Hyuk 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHighly efficient single-stack hybrid cool white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) having blue-yellow-blue multiple emitting layers (EMLs) are designed and constructed by utilizing blue thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) and yellow phosphorescent emitters. The out-coupling efficiencies of yellow and blue emissions are maximized by tuning the ITO and total device thickness that satisfies both of antinode positions for yellow and blue emissions in a limited multiple EML thickness. To obtain a cool white emission, the exciton formation ratio in the blue-yellow-blue multiple EML system is controlled by manipulating the recombination zone through charge conductivity variation of host medium in the blue TADF EML. The resulting device exhibits cool white emission with very high maximum external quantum efficiency of 23.1% and CIE color coordinates of (0.324, 0.337). We anticipate that the studied approach will raise the viability of single-stack hybrid cool white OLEDs for high performance display applications.
Crystal Structure of Human Nocturnin Catalytic Domain
Authors: Estrella Michael A. , Du Jin , Korennykh Alexei 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNocturnin (NOCT) helps the circadian clock to adjust metabolism according to day and night activity. NOCT is upregulated in early evening and it has been proposed that NOCT serves as a deadenylase for metabolic enzyme mRNAs. We present a 2.7-Å crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human NOCT. Our structure shows that NOCT has a close overall similarity to CCR4 deadenylase family members, PDE12 and CNOT6L, and to a DNA repair enzyme TDP2. All the key catalytic residues present in PDE12, CNOT6L and TDP2 are conserved in NOCT and have the same conformations. However, we observe substantial differences in the surface properties of NOCT, an unexpectedly narrow active site pocket, and conserved structural elements in the vicinity of the catalytic center, which are unique to NOCT and absent in the deadenylases PDE12/CNOT6L. Moreover, we show that in contrast to human PDE12 and CNOT6L, NOCT is completely inactive against poly-A RNA. Our work thus reveals the structure of an intriguing circadian protein and suggests that NOCT has considerable differences from the related deadenylases, which may point to a unique cellular function of this enzyme.
Olanzapine plus aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone for nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline: A retrospective study
Authors: Kawazoe Hitoshi , Uozumi Ryuji , Murakami Akari , Yamashita Michiko , Kobayashi-Taguchi Kana , Kusakabe Erina , Yamasawa Haruna , Yakushijin Yoshihiro , Nakamura Tomonori , Kamei Yoshiaki 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to compare the antiemetic efficacy and safety of a four-drug combination with those of a standard three-drug combination in Japanese patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline. We retrospectively analyzed data from Japanese patients with breast cancer, who had received their first cycle of anthracycline and were treated with aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone with or without olanzapine. This retrospective observational study was performed at Ehime University Hospital using the electronic medical records. Multivariable and propensity score-adjusted analyses were performed to compare the onset of complete response (CR) failure between the groups. One-hundred and thirty patients were included in this study and the four- and three-drug group had 22 and 108 patients, respectively. Similar to multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that the four-drug group was markedly associated with a decreased odds of CR failure in the overall, acute, and delayed phases (odds ratio [OR]: 0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.73; OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10–0.76; and OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.04–0.57, respectively). Additionally, treatment-related adverse events were well tolerated in both the groups. These findings suggest that the antiemetic efficacy of the four-drug combination is superior to that of the standard three-drug combination.
Chronic exposure to imidacloprid or thiamethoxam neonicotinoid causes oxidative damages and alters carotenoid-retinoid levels in caged honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Gauthier Maxime , Aras Philippe , Paquin Joanne , Boily Monique 
Published: October 2018

AbstractOver the last decade, the persistent dwindling of the populations of honey bees has become a growing concern. While this phenomenon is partly attributed to neonicotinoids (NEOCs), chronic exposures to these insecticides at environmentally-relevant concentrations are needed to fully estimate their implications. In this study, honey bees were orally exposed for 10 days to low field-realistic concentrations of NEOCs known for their effects on the cholinergic system (imidacloprid – IMI or thiamethoxam – THM). Selected biomarkers were measured such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), α-tocopherol as well as several forms of vitamin A (retinoids) and carotenoids. Bees exposed to IMI showed lower levels of two carotenoids (α-carotene and α-cryptoxanthin) and α-tocopherol. The THM exposure increased the oxidized vitamin A metabolites in bees conjointly with the LPO. These results could be the consequence of a pro-oxidant effect of NEOCs and were observed at levels where no effects were recorded for AChE activity. This study reveals that exposure to low levels of NEOCs alters the carotenoid-retinoid system in honey bees. This would merit further investigation as these compounds are important in various aspects of bees’ health. Overall, this study contributes to the development of biomonitoring tools for the health of bees and other pollinators.
Enhanced method for High Spatial Resolution surface imaging and analysis of fungal spores using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Venkatesh Babu Gopal , Perumal Palani , Muthu Sakthivel , Pichai Sridhar , Sankar Narayan Karthik , Malairaj Sathuvan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEfficient, fast and new micro-analytical methods for characterization of ultrastructures of fungal spores with electron microscopy are very much required and essential. SEM analysis of biological materials, especially fungi, requires optimal preparation of the specimen and often requires the usage of dried samples which demands a challenging sample preparation. In the present investigation, we described a fast and improved method for the preparation of fungal specimen for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fungus, Curvularia lunata was grown on the surface of sterile Whatman No.1 filter paper which was overlaid on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium, gold coated immediately after removal from the growth medium and subjected to imaging. Generally, SEM imaging is done with samples that were fixed with chemical fixatives, dehydrated and gold coated specimens, but here we describe an easy and more efficient sample preparation for SEM which enabled enhanced image quality and precision visualization of fungal cells, especially the spores. The developed method has enabled the analysis of even the robust samples like fungal spores that to eliminating special temperature requirement. The ultimate goal was to develop an improved protocol/method applied to analysis of fungal spores with greater coverage about fungal specimen preparation. This method permits the use of rapid sample preparation and will allow us to imaging of individual spore or conidia structures in the context of fungal cell architecture which clarifies our understanding in fungal taxonomy/biology.
UV-shielding and wavelength conversion by centric diatom nanopatterned frustules
Authors: De Tommasi Edoardo , Congestri Roberta , Dardano Principia , De Luca Anna Chiara , Managò Stefano , Rea Ilaria , De Stefano Mario 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDiatoms can represent the major component of phytoplankton and contribute massively to global primary production in the oceans. Over tens of millions of years they developed an intricate porous silica shell, the frustule, which ensures mechanical protection, sorting of nutrients from harmful agents, and optimization of light harvesting. Several groups of microalgae evolved different strategies of protection towards ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is harmful for all living organisms mainly through the formation of dimeric photoproducts between adjacent pyrimidines in DNA. Even in presence of low concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds, several diatoms exhibit significant UVR tolerance. We here investigated the mechanisms involved in UVR screening by diatom silica investments focusing on single frustules of a planktonic centric diatom, Coscinodiscus wailesii, analyzing absorption by the silica matrix, diffraction by frustule ultrastructure and also UV conversion into photosynthetically active radiation exerted by nanostructured silica photoluminescence. We identified the defects and organic residuals incorporated in frustule silica matrix which mainly contribute to absorption; simulated and measured the spatial distribution of UVR transmitted by a single valve, finding that it is confined far away from the diatom valve itself; furthermore, we showed how UV-to-blue radiation conversion (which is particularly significant for photosynthetic productivity) is more efficient than other emission transitions in the visible spectral range.