bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CTAB Surfactant Assisted and High pH Nano-Formulations of CuO Nanoparticles Pose Greater Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects
Authors: Singh Zorawar , Singh Iqbal 
Published: April 2019

AbstractToxicity of synthesized nanoparticles is the area of concern to all the researchers due to their possible health implications. Here we synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) without surfactant at pH value of 2, 7, 10 and with cetyletrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) surfactant at pH 7. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized for various structural parameters including crystallite size, lattice parameters, strain, phase analysis using X-ray diffraction analysis, and morphological aspects have been analyzed using FESEM and HRTEM imaging. All the four nano-formulations were analyzed for their toxic potential using Allium cepa L. at three different concentrations (0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 g/100 ml). Cytological and genetic parameters including mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, aberrant cells, binucleated cells, micronucleated cells, chromosomal bridges, fragmentation, stickiness, laggards, vagrants, c-mitosis and disturbed spindle were analyzed. Our results revealed a dose dependent increase in cytotoxic parameters including decreased total dividing cells, mitotic index, and increased mitotic inhibition. Genotoxic parameters also increased at higher treatment concentrations including chromosomal aberrations and percent aberrant cells. The pH value at the time of particle synthesis has significant influence on the crystallite size and agglomeration as assessed by XRD, FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The NPs synthesized at pH 2 and 10 were found to be of smaller size and posed more toxic effects as compared to particles synthesized at neutral pH. On the other hand, CTAB assisted CuO NPs synthesized at pH 7 revealed even smaller crystallite sizes and thus boost the toxicity in all the parameters as compared to NPs synthesized without CTAB. The present study suggested an increase in toxic parameters of synthesized CuO NPs with respect to crystallite size which is pH dependent. Addition of CTAB at pH 7 decreased the crystallite as well as particle size and enhanced the toxic potential. Further studies are recommended to analyze the effect of surfactant addition in toxicological studies on CuO NPs.
Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with bipolar disorder type II
Authors: Pietruczuk Krzysztof , Lisowska Katarzyna A. , Grabowski Karol , Landowski Jerzy , Cubała Wiesław J. , Witkowski Jacek M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWe investigated the phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with bipolar disorder type II in different phases of the disease in order to check whether there are specific changes in the immune parameters. Lymphocytes subpopulations were analyzed ex vivo with flow cytometry in patients in euthymic, depression or hypomanic phase of the disease and compared with healthy controls. All BD patients were characterized by lower percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells compared with healthy people. But only patients in depression and remission had higher percentage of B cells (CD19+ cells) compared with healthy people. The percentage of CD4+CD25+ and CD8+CD25+ cells was decreased in patients in hypomanic phase compared with healthy control. Patients in remission were characterized by increased concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 and decreased level of TNF in blood serum. Significant correlations between immunologic parameters and the results of Hamilton or Young scale have also been found. Our results demonstrate that there are significant differences in lymphocyte subpopulations which depend on the phase of the disease the patient is currently in.
Therapie der Varikose im Wandel der Zeit
Authors: Korsake K. , Stücker M. , Reich-Schupke S. 
Published: April 2019

ZusammenfassungInsbesondere in den letzten zwei Dekaden hat sich die Therapie der Varikose
rasant entwickelt. Es sind zahlreiche neue Therapiemodalitäten hinzugekommen.
Während zuvor die operative Therapie der Varikose mittels Cross- und
Saphenektomie als Standard galt, empfehlen internationale Leitlinien derzeit
primär eine endoluminale Therapie der Varikose mittels endovenöse Laser-,
Radiofrequenztherapie oder Sklerosierung (NICE, AVF).Bisher fehlt ein Überblick
über die Etablierung der Anwendung dieser neuen Therapieoptionen in Deutschland.
In unserer Studie haben wir eine Befragung von Ärzten, deren Einrichtung als
Venenkompetenzzentrums zertifiziert sind (Stand 4/2017–149), zu ihrem Vorgehen
bei primärer Varikose und Rezidivvarikose vor 20 Jahren, 10 Jahren und heute,
durchgeführt.Die Daten zeigen einer zunehmenden Tendenz zur endovenösen Behandlung der
Varikose. Die Zahlen der klassischen operativen Therapie sind im untersuchten
Kollektiv in den letzten 20 Jahren deutlich gesunken.
Ein Blick in die Werkstätten der rheumatologischen Wissenschaft
Authors: Keyßer Gernot 
Published: April 2019

Sehr geehrte Leserinnen und Leser der Aktuellen Rheumatologie,unsere Zeitschrift ist einer praxisnahen Medizin verpflichtet. Das Vermitteln von profundem Wissen auf dem Gebiet der internistischen und orthopädischen Rheumatologie und vom aktuellen Stand der Diagnostik und Behandlung relevanter rheumatischer Erkrankungen ist unser erstes Anliegen. Dazu haben wir häufig unsere Schwerpunkthefte den Themen mit besonderer Alltagsrelevanz gewidmet und werden dies auch weiterhin tun.
A1–A2 Fenestration Tube Technique for Clipping a Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm
Authors: González Nicolás , Mosquera John , Ruiz-Aburto Arturo , Morales Manuel , Zapata Rodrigo , Müller José , Díaz Roberto , Vásquez Juan , Zambrano Héctor , Ravera Franco 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA fenestration tube is a clipping reconstruction technique that allows the preservation of critical vessels in aneurysm surgery. A patient with a ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm with a posterior projection was admitted to our neurosurgery unit. A right dominant A1 with rotation of the A2 fork was observed on preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA). During surgery, we observed that the recurrent artery of Heubner branched off the A2 just distal to the neck of the aneurysm. Successful clipping was achieved by building an “A1–A2 fenestration tube,” with preservation of the recurrent artery and of the ACoA perforators. Surgical nuances and the advantages of fenestration tubes are discussed.
A review of electrodeposited composite coatings with Ni–B alloy matrix
Authors: Ünal Ersin , Yaşar Abdulkadir , Karahan İsmail Hakki 
Published: April 2019

AbstractCoating processes are of great importance for protecting the materials used in the industry from the damaging effects of external environments and mechanical forces. There are a wide variety of coating methods, but the electrochemical deposition method within them is one step ahead because of its low cost, easy manufacturability and rapidity. Ni–B coatings have been produced for many years by the electroless deposition method, but electrodeposited Ni–B coatings are a relatively new research topic and attract much attention in recent years. Due to its superior properties Ni–B alloy coatings are successfully used in many industries such as aerospace, automotive, petrochemical, chemical and electronics. Works on reinforcing Ni–B alloys with second phase particles to increase these properties to a better level has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Ni–B alloy and composite coatings were investigated in this study. Furthermore, the bath components, production parameters, contents and properties of Ni–B alloy matrix composite coatings were presented comparatively. It was revealed that reinforcing the Ni–B alloy matrix with ceramic particles affected properties such as crystal structure, morphology, hardness, corrosion and abrasion resistance very seriously.
A framework for space-efficient variable-order Markov models
Authors: Cunial Fabio , Alanko Jarno , Belazzougui Djamal 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Motivation
Markov models with contexts of variable length are widely used in bioinformatics for representing sets of sequences with similar biological properties. When models contain many long contexts, existing implementations are either unable to handle genome-scale training datasets within typical memory budgets, or they are optimized for specific model variants and are thus inflexible.

Results
We provide practical, versatile representations of variable-order Markov models and of interpolated Markov models, that support a large number of context-selection criteria, scoring functions, probability smoothing methods, and interpolations, and that take up to four times less space than previous implementations based on the suffix array, regardless of the number and length of contexts, and up to ten times less space than previous trie-based representations, or more, while matching the size of related, state-of-the-art data structures from Natural Language Processing. We describe how to further compress our indexes to a quantity related to the redundancy of the training data, saving up to 90% of their space on very repetitive datasets, and making them become up to 60 times smaller than previous implementations based on the suffix array. Finally, we show how to exploit constraints on the length and frequency of contexts to further shrink our compressed indexes to half of their size or more, achieving data structures that are a hundred times smaller than previous implementations based on the suffix array, or more. This allows variable-order Markov models to be used with bigger datasets and with longer contexts on the same hardware, thus possibly enabling new applications.

Availability and implementation
https://github.com/jnalanko/VOMM

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fostering researcher identity in STEM distance education: impact of a student-led on-line case study
Authors: Marvasi Massimiliano , Sebastian Galindo , Lorenzo Silva-Lugo Jose 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACT
Researcher identity can be defined as the totality of traits such as confidence, logical thinking and having both the ability to design experiments, interpret results, and the desire to seek and succeed in authentic research. Therefore, the development of students' researcher identity can be supported by authentic research experiences embedded in introductory courses. Distance courses are increasingly more appealing to students and institutions, and there is a need to assess to what extent web-based education can provide opportunities to foster researcher identity. In an attempt to offer authentic research opportunities in a course with partially web-delivered content and to foster a research identity, we developed an outbreak case study—group project (OCS-GP) that is an investigation of a mock outbreak of illness. Participants were divided into groups tasked with conceiving an outbreak scenario and then identifying the cause and the source of the outbreak. The case studies were open-ended and designed to provide students with authentic learning experiences. Development of a researcher identity was evaluated in this exploratory study via reflective tests: participants in the OCS-GP demonstrated more willingness to conduct research, when compared with those who completed a similar outbreak case study but as individual assignment (OCS-IA).
Two lytic transglycosylases of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris associated with cell separation and type III secretion system, respectively
Authors: Wang Lin , Yang Li-Yan , Gan Yong-Liang , Yang Feng , Liang Xue-Lian , Li Wan-Lian , Bo-Le Jiang 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACT
The lytic transglycosylases (LTs) are important enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall and affect many biological functions. We present here that XC_0706 and XC_3001 are annotated as the LTs in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. XC_0706 is associated with virulence and plays a pivotal role in cell division. Mutation on XC_3001 reduced hypersensitive response induction and the translocation of type III effector, but did not affect the function of the type II secretion system. Further studies showed that multiple LTs genes contribute to efficiency of the type III secretory system in X. campestris pv. campestris.
“Now I Write Songs”: Growth and Reciprocity After Long-Term Nursing Home Placement
Authors: Allison Theresa A , Smith Alexander K 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Nursing home residents have a need for activities that are meaningful, yet mandated scheduled activities remain poorly characterized. In order to understand how scheduled activities provide meaning for nursing home residents, we conducted a study of daily life in a nursing home with a robust activities program.

Research Design and Methods
This 2-year, longitudinal ethnographic study embedded an ethnographer into the activities department of a 430-bed, not-for-profit, faith-based nursing home. Forty-three interviews and more than 250 hr of participant-observation were conducted, with a focus on creative arts and religious activities. Thirty-two residents and 15 activities staff were followed more than 12–23 months. Data were coded concurrently, and emerging themes challenged through purposive recruitment until thematic saturation was reached.

Results
Scheduled activities in the nursing home offered opportunities for learning and personal growth regardless of functional or cognitive disability. Three major themes emerged. Artistic development included new self-identification as a musician, painter, or sculptor through arts programming. Intellectual and spiritual growth involved the use of activities to support ongoing practice and study. Reciprocity occurred as residents used the arts to remain contributing members of their institutional society, reciprocating with the institution that housed them.

Discussion and Implications
Nursing home scheduled activities can facilitate the transformation of identity from resident or patient to the normalized social roles of artist, Torah scholar, and productive member of society.
Systems in Play: Simon Nicholson’s Design 12 Course, University of California, Berkeley, 1966
Authors: Stott Timothy 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
In 1966, British artist, designer and educator Simon Nicholson (1934–1990) offered a lower division course, Design 12, at the College of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley. Controversially, Nicholson promoted play as the principal method of design and invited children to assess students’ projects on the Berkeley campus and in local schools, parks, playgrounds and hospitals. This article presents Design 12 as an important example of environmental design pedagogy in the USA, which uniquely attempted to synthesize British post-war constructivism with ‘design science’ and adventure play. The result was a course that placed play at the centre of design pedagogy, where it could combine intuition with systems building to promote ‘involved science’ and co-construction.
Clinical trials in end-stage renal disease—priorities and challenges
Authors: Kovesdy Csaba P 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) experience extremely high morbidity and mortality and there are virtually no therapeutic interventions besides dialysis treatment that are proven in properly designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to improve patients’ outcomes. Historically, the number of RCTs performed in the ESRD population has been very low compared with other medical subspecialties, and several of the few large RCTs have yielded inconclusive or negative results, dampening enthusiasm for future investment in similar trials. Recent initiatives promoting a focus on patient-centered outcomes and more active patient and caregiver involvement in the planning and conduct of clinical trials may result in more clinically relevant RCTs and broader participation from patients representing the diversity of the ESRD population. The adoption of novel clinical trial design elements characteristic of pragmatic clinical trials and platform trials could help improve both the internal and external validity of RCTs in ESRD, ultimately resulting in the adoption of therapeutic interventions that can be rapidly translated to clinical practice.
INSTI-Based Triple Regimens in Treatment-Naïve HIV-Infected Patients Are Associated With HIV-RNA Viral Load Suppression at Ultralow Levels
Authors: Lambert-Niclot Sidonie , Boyd Anders , Fofana Djeneba , Valin Nadia , Wirden Marc , Meynard Jean-Luc , Palich Romain , Agher Rachid , Valantin Marc-Antoine , Calvez Vincent , Katlama Christine , Girard Pierre-Marie , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Morand-Joubert Laurence 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundDuring antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1-infected patients may present with ultralow (UL) HIV-RNA viral loads (VLs) below quantification levels of current assays. Reasons for UL-VL detection and its relation to virological rebound (VR) are unclear.MethodsHIV-1-infected, ART-naïve patients followed at 2 university hospitals were included. All participants had an HIV-RNA &gt;200 copies/mL at ART initiation and achieved a VL &lt;50 copies/mL during ART. UL-VL was determined by the presence/absence of polymerase chain reaction signal detected using a commercially available assay (COBAS, TaqMan, Roche). Random-effects Poisson regression was used for assessing determinants of UL-VL not detected overtime and conditional risk set analysis for VR (1 VL &gt; 200 copies/mL or 2 VL &gt; 50 copies/mL) while accounting for frequency of VL measurements.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2013, 717 patients initiated ART containing 2 nucleos(-t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus a non-NRTI (29.4%), a protease inhibitor (58.4%), or an integrase-strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI; 12.1%). During a median (interquartile range) 3.4 (2.3–4.6) years, 676 (94.3%) patients achieved UL-VL not detected. In multivariable analysis, UL-VL not detected overtime was associated with younger age (P &lt; .001), female gender (P = .04), lower baseline VL (P &lt; .001), baseline CD4+ &gt;500 vs &lt;350/mm3 (P &lt; .001), and INSTI-containing ART (P = .009). One hundred thirty-one (18.3%) patients had VR during follow-up, which was independently associated with a CD4/CD8 ratio &lt;0.8 during follow-up (P = .01) and time spent with UL-VL not detected (P &lt; .001). When UL-VL not detected occurred for ≥50% of the follow-up duration (n = 290), faster time to reach UL-VL not detected (P &lt; .001), faster CD4+ T-cell count increase (P = .03), and faster CD4/CD8 ratio increase (P = .001) were observed.ConclusionsVL suppression at an ultralow level is associated with INSTI-class ART initiation. Extensive VL suppression below ultralow detection could improve immune reconstitution.
Relief of Neuropathic Pain Through Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition: A Randomized Proof-of-Concept Trial
Authors: Kersten Christian , Cameron Marte G , Bailey Andrew G , Fallon Marie T , Laird Barry J , Paterson Vicki , Mitchell Rory , Fleetwood-Walker Sue M , Daly Fergus , Mjåland Svein 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Objective
Case reports and a case series have described relief of neuropathic pain (NP) after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR-Is). These observations are supported by preclinical findings. The aim of this trial was to explore a potential clinical signal supporting the therapeutic efficacy of EGFR-Is in NP.

Methods
In a proof-of-concept trial using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 14 patients with severe, chronic, therapy-resistant NP due to compressed peripheral nerves or complex regional pain syndrome were randomized to receive a single infusion of the EGFR-I cetuximab and placebo in crossover design, followed by a single open-label cetuximab infusion.

Results
The mean reduction in daily average pain scores three to seven days after single-blinded cetuximab infusion was 1.73 points (90% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80 to 2.66), conferring a 1.22-point greater reduction than placebo (90% CI = –0.10 to 2.54). Exploratory analyses suggested that pain reduction might be greater in the 14 days after treatment with blinded cetuximab than after placebo. The proportion of patients who reported ≥50% reduction in average pain three to seven days after cetuximab was 36% (14% after placebo), and comparison of overall pain reduction suggests a trend in favor of cetuximab. Skin rash (grade 1–2) was the most frequent side effect (12/14, 86%).

Conclusions
This small proof-of-concept evaluation of an EGFR-I against NP did not provide statistical evidence of efficacy. However, substantial reductions in pain were reported, and confidence intervals do not rule out a clinically meaningful treatment effect. Evaluation of EGFR-I against NP therefore warrants further investigation.
New diagnosis for Allodaposuchus precedens, the type species of the European Upper Cretaceous clade Allodaposuchidae
Authors: Narváez Iván , Brochu Christopher A , De Celis Ane , Codrea Vlad , Escaso Fernando , Pérez-García Adán , Ortega Francisco 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAllodaposuchus precedens is a basal member of Eusuchia, which was established almost a century ago on a set of cranial and postcranial fragmentary remains from the lower Maastrichtian of Vălioara, Romania. It was the first described member and type species of Allodaposuchidae, a recently described European clade representing one of the nearest outgroups to Crocodylia. Although our understanding of the group has expanded in recent years through the description of new forms, a review of Al. precedens is needed. The detailed revision of the classical material from Vălioara, including cranial and postcranial remains, and a comparison with the nearly complete skull from the Romanian synchronous locality of Oarda de Jos, allows us to emend the diagnosis for Al. precedens.
New logic facilitated identification of novel phage recombinase function units
Authors: Chang Yizhao , Wang Qian , Su Tianyuan , Qi Qingsheng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPhage recombinase function unit (PRFU) contains one single strand annealing protein (SSAP) and one 5’-3’ exonuclease (EXO). Well-known PRFU such as lambda-Red or Rac RecET has been proved to be useful tool in the recombineering ofEscherichia colibut had limited efficiency in distant species. Therefore, PRFUs from closely related species were often searched and developed as specific genetic tools. However, there are still many bacteria with few PRFU identified. Here, we hypothesised that the occurrence of PRFU might be related to specific strains. Based on this assumption, we managed to identify 59 unique sets of PRFUs in over 23 species of the genusCorynebacterium, a taxonomic group that were reported to be lacking in such system. The identified PRFUs were then classified to show their similarities and relation to species based on both sequential and structural information. Representative PRFUs were verified to be highly effective in mediating recombineering using ssDNA or dsDNA substrates. Analysis of the functional PRFUs indicated that they share similar local genome contexts, which might suggest their common origin. Our findings reveal the relation of PRFUs, species and strains and provide novel candidate genetic manipulation tools in genusCorynebacterium.Author SummaryGenusCorynebacteriumis a taxonomic group with highly diversified species that are of medical, veterinary, or biotechnological relevance. However, being lack of genetic tools limits the study of these species. Our new verified phage recombinase function units (PRFUs) in this genus that are highly effective in mediating recombineering will provide new candidate genetic tools in this genus. Besides, reference genomes were often used for genome study and data mining. While for the mobile genetic elements, their transferable characteristic may affect their occurrence among genomes. Here we provide evidence for this idea by showing that the occurrence of PRFU is strain related but not species related. This may be helpful for the functional genomics study of mobile genetic elements among genomes.