bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of an Electrochromic Azobenzene and 3,4‐Ethylenedioxythiophene‐based Electrochemically Formed Polymeric Semiconductor
Authors: Gicevicius Mindaugas , Bagdziunas Gintautas , Abduloglu Yasin , Ramanaviciene Almira , Gumusay Ogun , Ak Metin , Soganci Tugba , Ramanavicius Arunas 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAn electrochromic material based on azobenzene and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) semiconducting layer was electrochemically deposited on an indium tin oxide coated glass electrode. Chemical synthesis of the azobenzene and EDOT‐based chromophore (DAE) and electrochemical formation of its corresponding polymer (pDAE) are reported. The electrochromic properties of the synthesized polymer pDAE were investigated by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. pDAE exhibited an optical bandgap of 1.82 eV and three distinct colored states in its reduced, neutral, and oxidized forms. The pDAE polymer showed 44 % optical contrast at 710 nm between its reduced and oxidized states and a fast electrochromic switching time of 1.0 s. The frontier molecular orbitals, Raman shifts, and semiconducting properties of this electrochromic polymer were evaluated by density functional theory calculations. The optical absorption bands of the polymer charged states were assigned and investigated.
Catalytic Transformation of Lignocellulosic Biomass into Arenes, 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural, and Furfural
Authors: Guo Tianye , Li Xiangcheng , Liu Xiaohui , Guo Yong , Wang Yanqin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe complete transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable platform chemicals is of great significance. Herein, a catalytic process for the upgrading of lignocellulose to arenes, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and furfural is reported. Firstly, the lignin fraction in lignocellulosic biomass is selectively converted into lignin oil (82.9 mol % yield of lignin monomers from birch wood) over a Pd/C catalyst and then further hydrodeoxygenated to arenes in catalytic hydrogen‐transfer reactions over a Ru/Nb2O5 catalyst. High yields of C7–C9 hydrocarbons (95.6 mol %) with 85.6 wt % selectivity to arenes based on lignin oil are achieved owing to the synergistic effect between Ru and Nb2O5, which enables direct hydrogenolysis of the Caromatic−OH bond in phenolics. Secondly, the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions in the Pd/C‐containing solid residue, as well as methylated C5 sugars produced during the stripping of lignin, are converted into HMF and furfural with a total yield of up to 24.5 wt % (based on the amount of birch wood) in a THF/concentrated seawater (ca. 30 wt % salts) biphasic reaction system. Here, seawater played a key role in the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose into HMF and furfural, respectively; more importantly, it made the separation and reuse of the Pd/C catalyst easier. With this catalytic process, the complete and efficient transformation of lignocellulose into highly value‐added products with recycling of each catalyst and solvent has been realized.
Pharmacological targeting of brain inflammation in epilepsy: Therapeutic perspectives from experimental and clinical studies
Authors: Ravizza Teresa , Vezzani Annamaria 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIncreasing evidence supports a pathogenic role of unabated neuroinflammation in various central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including epilepsy. Neuroinflammation is not a bystander phenomenon of the diseased brain tissue, but it may contribute to neuronal hyperexcitability underlying seizure generation, cell loss, and neurologic comorbidities. Several molecules, which constitute the inflammatory milieu in the epileptogenic area, activate signaling pathways in neurons and glia resulting in pathologic modifications of cell function, which ultimately lead to alterations in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Herein we report the up‐to‐date experimental and clinical evidence that supports the neuromodulatory role of inflammatory mediators, their related signaling pathways, and involvement in epilepsy. We discuss how these mechanisms can be harnessed to discover and validate targets for novel therapeutics, which may prevent or control pharmacoresistant epilepsies.
Indirect and direct measures of striving for perfection moderate body mass index curves in the intensive treatment of anorexia nervosa
Authors: De Cuyper Kathleen , Hermans Dirk , Pieters Guido , Claes Laurence , Vansteelandt Kristof 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether indirectly and directly assessed disorder‐relevant attributes moderate the body mass index (BMI) curves over the course of treatment in anorexia nervosa, as is predicted by dual process models. The moderating role of two Implicit Association Tests (IAT) and of two questionnaires assessing aspects of striving for perfection was examined in 27 patients by means of linear mixed models. The Aiming at Perfection Single Category‐IAT and the directly assessed achievement striving dimension of perfectionism moderated patients' BMI curves over the course of treatment. Moreover, the Single Category‐IAT predicted the outcome variable over and above the directly assessed attribute. Experiencing oneself as more achievement striving compared to others at an automatic level predicted a faster weight gain. These findings show that aspects of multidimensional perfectionism—assessed at the automatic and at the reflective level—predict treatment outcome in anorexia nervosa.
Pasting alters glycemic index, antioxidant activities, and starch‐hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitory properties of whole wheat flour
Authors: Adefegha Stephen A. , Olasehinde Tosin A. , Oboh Ganiyu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study was designed to compare the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of raw and paste wheat flour. The raw flour was cooked, dried, and milled to obtain the paste flour. The glycemic index, starch, amylose, and amylopectin contents were determined. The inhibitory effects of the raw and paste flour on α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase activities as well as metal‐induced pancreatic damage were also determined. Pasting reduced the glycemic index (63.15%), starch (22.83 g/100 g), amylose (2.88 g/100 g), and amylopectin (17.74 g/100 g) contents. The raw (IC50 = 0.50 and 1.20 mg/ml) and paste (IC50 = 0.29 and 1.66 mg/ml) flours reduced the activities of α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase, respectively. The paste flour exhibited stronger inhibitory effects against Fe2+‐induced pancreatic damage compared to raw flour. The paste flour exhibited better antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and could be a good processing method to improve the medicinal properties of wheat flour.
Effect of 5‐fluorouracil on excision repair cross‐complementing 1 expression and consequent cytotoxicity regulation in human gastric cancer cells
Authors: Liu Jing‐Lan , Huang Wen‐Shih , Lee Ko‐Chao , Tung Shui‐Yi , Chen Cheng‐Nan , Chang Shun‐Fu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer mortality all over the world. The combination therapy of surgery with chemotherapy, that is, 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and platinum‐containing anticancer drugs, is becoming a current clinical strategy for patients with gastric cancer because of the lower curative rate and higher cancer recurrence rate of patients treated with only surgery. However, the development of drug resistance in cancer cells is still the most challenge in clinical chemotherapy. Excision repair cross‐complementing 1 (ERCC1), an essential member of nucleotide excision repair system, recently has been suggested to be a predictive biomarker of treatment evaluation and might affect the outcomes of chemotherapy. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate whether ERCC1 expression could be regulated, and its role in gastric cancer cells treated with 5‐FU and the underlying mechanism. Human AGS gastric cancer cells were used in this study. It was shown that ERCC1 expression could be upregulated in AGS cells treated with 5‐FU and this upregulation could subsequently attenuate the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU in AGS cells. Moreover, 5‐FU–upregulated ERCC1 expression was regulated by extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 signaling through activating the transcription factor c‐jun/activator protein (AP)‐1. These results indicated the role of ERCC1 in the development of drug resistance to 5‐FU in AGS cells. The mechanism elucidation concerning the ERK1/2 and p38 kinases and transcription factor c‐jun/AP‐1 might contribute another idea to the development of chemotherapy strategy for the gastric cancers in the future.
ST2 regulates bone loss in a site‐dependent and estrogen‐dependent manner
Authors: Macari Soraia , Madeira Mila F. M. , Lima Izabella L. A. , Pereira Thaís S. F. , Dias George J. , Cirelli Joni A. , de Molon Rafael S. , Fukada Sandra Y. , Szawka Raphael E. , Garlet Gustavo P. , Teixeira Mauro M. , Silva Tarcília A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractInterleukin‐33 (IL‐33) and its receptor, ST2, are implicated in bone remodeling. The lack of estrogen after menopause results in an accelerated bone loss. Here we investigated the role of ST2 in the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency. ST2‐deficient mice (ST2−/−) and their littermates (wildtype [WT]) were ovariectomized (OVX), while ovary‐intact mice were used as controls. Bone sites were analyzed by microcomputed tomography, histomorphometry, and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Deletion of IL‐33 or ST2 resulted in a similar bone loss in the femur and maxilla. Ovariectomy in WT mice caused bone loss in the same areas. The lack of ST2 in OVX mice did not alter bone remodeling in the femur but prevented bone loss in the maxilla. Consistently, ovariectomy increased the IL‐33 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the maxilla but not in the femur. Under mechanical stimulation, ovariectomy and ST2 deletion independently increased bone remodeling induced by orthodontic tooth movement, which was also associated with a greater number of osteoclasts and a reduced number of osteoblasts in the maxillary bone. ST2−/− OVX mice, however, displayed twice as many osteoblasts as that of WT OVX mice. Ovariectomy and ST2 deletion differently altered the cytokine mRNA levels in the maxilla. Remarkably, interleukin‐10 expression was decreased in both WT OVX and ST2−/− mice, and this reduction was completely restored in ST2−/− OVX mice. The results demonstrate that estrogen and IL33/ST2 independently protect against bone loss. However, the ovariectomy‐induced bone loss is IL‐33/ST2‐dependent in the maxilla but not in the femur, indicating a bimodal and site‐specific role of ST2 in bone remodeling.
Increasing methamphetamine doses inhibit glycogen synthase kinase 3β activity by stimulating the insulin signaling pathway in substantia nigra
Authors: Valian Neda , Ahmadiani Abolhassan , Dargahi Leila 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMethamphetamine (MA), a highly abused psychostimulant, exerts neurotoxic effects on the dopaminergic system via several neurotoxicity mechanisms in the long‐term administration. Since the effect of MA on the signaling insulin pathway is less studied, the current study was designed to evaluate the effect of escalating an MA regimen on different insulin signaling elements in substantia nigra (SN) and striatum of a rat. Increasing MA doses (1‐14 mg/kg) were administrated intraperitoneally twice a day for 14 days in rats. In the control group, normal saline was injected in the same volume. On days 1, 14, 28, and 60 after MA discontinuation, molecular assessments were performed. Insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 and 2 gene expression were evaluated using real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate 3‐kinase (PI3K), phospho‐PI3K, Akt, phospho‐Akt, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and phospho‐GSK3β were measured by the Western blot analysis in SN and striatum. Messenger RNA levels of IR and insulin receptor substrate 2 were increased in SN, 1 day after the last injection. Although no changes were observed in PI3K, phospho‐PI3K, Akt, phospho‐Akt, and GSK3β levels, increase in the level of inactive form of GSK3β (phosphorylated on serine 9) was indicated in SN on day 28. In striatum, decreases in IR and phospho‐Akt were demonstrated, without any change in other elements. Repeated escalating regimen of MA activated the insulin signaling pathway and inhibited GSK3β activity in SN. This response, which did not occur in striatum, may act as an adaptive mechanism to prevent MA‐induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic cell bodies.
Role of adenosine signaling in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer
Authors: Khayami Reza , Toroghian Younes , Bahreyni Amirhossein , Bahrami Afsane , Khazaei Majid , Ferns Gordon A. , Ebrahimi Safieh , Soleimani Anvar , Fiuji Hamid , Avan Amir , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe concentrations of adenosine may increase under ischemic conditions in the tumor microenvironment, and then it enters the systemic circulation. Adenosine controls cancer progression and responses to therapy by regulating angiogenesis, cell survival, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and metastases in tumors. Hence, adenosine metabolism, adenosine‐generating enzymes, and adenosine signaling are potentially novel therapeutic targets in a wide range of pathological conditions, including cerebral and cardiac ischemic diseases, inflammatory disorders, immunomodulatory disorders, and, of special interest in this review, cancer. This review summarizes the role of adenosine in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer for a better understanding of how this may be applied to treating this type of cancer.
Wnt11 promotes BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation through BMPs/Smads and p38 MAPK in mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zhu Jia‐Hui , Liao Yun‐Peng , Li Fu‐Shu , Hu Ying , Li Qin , Ma Yan , Wang Han , Zhou Ya , He Bai‐Cheng , Su Yu‐Xi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), as one of the most potent osteogenic factors, is a promising cytokine for bone tissue engineering. Wnt11 can regulate the development of the skeletal system and is related to high bone mass syndrome. However, the effect of Wnt11 on BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Wnt11‐ and BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We recapitulated the osteogenic potential of BMP9 in C3H10T1/2 cells. The messenger RNA expression of Wnt11 is detectable in the available progenitor cells, and BMP9 can obviously increase the protein level of Wnt11 in these cells. Exogenous Wnt11 potentiates the effect of BMP9 on increasing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, the expression of osteopontin (OPN), and Runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), so does matrix mineralization in C3H10T1/2 cells. Although Wnt11 cannot increase the BMP9‐induced ectopic bone formation, it can increase the bone density induced by BMP9 apparently. Wnt11 increases the level of p‐Smad1/5/8, as well as p‐p38. Meanwhile, Wnt11 promotes the effect of BMP9 on increasing the levels of p‐Smad1/5/8 and p‐p38. Inhibition of p38 decreases the BMP9‐induced ALP activities, the expression of OPN, and the mineralization in C3H10T1/2 cells. However, all of these effects of the p38 inhibitor on BMP9‐induced osteogenic markers can be almost reversed by the overexpression of Wnt11. Our findings suggested that Wnt11 can enhance the osteogenic potential of BMP9 in MSCs, and this effect may be partly mediated through enhancing BMPs/Smads and the p38 MAPK signal, which was induced by BMP9.
Targeting glypican‐4 overcomes 5‐FU resistance and attenuates stem cell–like properties via suppression of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Cao Junyu , Ma Jiguang , Sun Liankang , Li Jie , Qin Tao , Zhou Cancan , Cheng Liang , Chen Ke , Qian Weikun , Duan Wanxing , Wang Fengfei , Wu Erxi , Wang Zheng , Ma Qingyong , Han Liang 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe existences of cancer stem cells in patients with pancreatic cancer are considered as pivotal factors contributing to chemoresistance and disease relapse. Glypican‐4 (GPC4) is one of the members of the glypicans family, which underlies human congenital malformations and multiple diseases. However, its potential biological function in pancreatic cancer still remains elusive. In this study, we are the first to demonstrate that GPC4 was involved in 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) resistance and pancreatic cancer stemness through comprehensive bioinformatical analysis. Functional experiments showed that knockdown of GPC4 sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to 5‐FU and attenuated stem cell–like properties. In terms of mechanism research, knockdown of GPC4 suppressed the activation of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway and its downstream targets. Furthermore, the expression of GPC4 was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal tissues and remarkably correlated with patients’ overall survival according to the data derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Taken together, our results suggest that GPC4 is a key regulator in chemoresistance and pancreatic cancer stemness. Thus, targeting GPC4 may serve as a promising strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy.
Diagnostic performance of CA 125, HE4, and risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm for ovarian cancer
Authors: Kim Boyeon , Park Yongjung , Kim Banseok , Ahn Hyo Jun , Lee Kyung‐A , Chung Jae Eun , Han Sang Won 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the diagnostic performance of CA 125, HE4, and ROMA for ovarian cancer in Koreans and set optimal cutoffs.MethodSerum levels of HE4 and CA 125 and the ROMA score were determined in 762 patients with benign gynecological disease and 70 with ovarian cancer. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to calculate the areas under the curve (AUC). CA 125, HE4, and ROMA exhibiting maximum Youden index were determined, respectively, as the optimal cutoffs, and sensitivity and specificity were evaluated by applying those cutoffs.ResultsIn benign diseases, CA 125 significantly increased in patients with uterine myoma, adenomyosis, endometrial pathology, or endometriosis, but HE4 only increased in patients with adenomyosis. For the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the combination of CA 125, HE4, and age showed the highest AUC value of 0.892 in the premenopausal group, and ROMA demonstrated the best diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.935 in postmenopausal patients. When the optimal cutoff values for CA 125 and HE4 were applied, the sensitivities of CA 125, HE4, and ROMA in premenopausal women were all the same at 0.714, while the specificities were 0.841, 0.974, and 0.972, respectively. In the postmenopausal group, the sensitivities of these markers were 0.857, 0.804, and 0.929, and the specificities were 0.836, 0.887, and 0.800, respectively.ConclusionAlthough all markers demonstrated good diagnostic performance, they varied depending on the pathologic types of benign diseases and ovarian cancer. For accurate diagnosis of ovarian cancer, CA 125, HE4, and ROMA should be used complementarily.
Development of a novel electrochemical coagulant dosing unit for water treatment
Authors: Llanos Javier , Isidro Julia , Sáez Cristina , Cañizares Pablo , Rodrigo Manuel A 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe design of new approaches that help to decrease both the environmental impact of industrial activities and the cost of existing water treatment technologies is becoming a key aspect of research. In the present work, an efficient and easy‐to‐use electrochemical device designed to dose iron coagulants is presented.RESULTSThe proposed device (the Electrochemically‐assisted Coagulant – production & dosing Unit, ECU) exhibits an efficient performance in the dosing of coagulants regardless of the ionic conductivity of the water matrixes tested (within the range 100 to 1000 µS cm−1), covering a wide range of potential real surface waters. The behaviour of the ECU device was compared to that of a conventional chemical dosing of iron, and showed better pH (pH ≈ 8 for ECU but < 4 for equivalent chemical dosing) and conductivity (decrease for ECU but increase up to 60% for equivalent chemical dosing) control. Moreover, the ECU unit produced a noticeable amount of Fe2+ ions, due to the limited access of atmospheric oxygen inside the device.CONLUSIONThe device developed overcomes traditional chemical iron dosing and could be potentially applied in uses different from electrocoagulation, as it is the case of Fenton‐related technologies. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
GC‐MS study of changes in polar/mid‐polar and volatile compounds in Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) during fruit growth
Authors: Ledesma‐Escobar Carlos A , Priego‐Capote Feliciano , Robles‐Olvera Víctor J , García‐Torres Rosalía , Reyes De Corcuera José I , Luque de Castro María D 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDCitrus fruits possess a high content of bioactive compounds whose changes during fruit maturation have not been studied in depth. Fruits were sampled from week 1, after fruit onset (7 days after flowering), to week 14. Volatile compounds isolated by headspace–solid‐phase microextraction and polar extracts from all samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.RESULTSThe relative abundance of 107 identified metabolites allowed differences among samples at different stages of fruit growth to be established. Principal component analysis showed a clear discrimination among samples, and analysis of variance revealed significant differences in 94 out of the 107 metabolites. Among total volatiles, monoterpenes increased their relative abundance from 86% to 94% during fruit growth, d‐limonene, γ‐terpinene and β‐pinene being the most abundant; conversely, sesquiterpenes decreased from 11.5% to 2.8%, β‐bisabolene and α‐bergamotene being the most concentrated. Sugars, in general, exhibited a gradual increase in abundance, reaching a maximum between weeks 9 and 12. Citric and malic acids, representing approximately 90% of the total identified carboxylic acids, reached a maximum concentration at commercial maturity (week 14).CONCLUSIONOf the 107 tentatively identified metabolites during Persian lime growth, sugars, carboxylic acids, and volatiles were those that experienced more significant changes and more clearly created differences among fruit growth stages. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Changes and degradation kinetics of some bioactive compounds in dried Orthosiphon aristatus (Java tea) leaves during elevated temperature storage
Authors: Klungboonkrong Vorapong , Lamsal Buddhi P , Phoungchandang Singhanat 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOrthosiphon aristatus is a traditional medicinal herb mostly used in Southeast Asia and which has many health benefits. Packaging types and storage temperatures were investigated in order to select the best conditions for producing high bioactive compounds (BC) from two kinds of dried O. aristatus leaves.RESULTSBlanched leaves were vacuum packed in polypropylene (PP) and aluminum foil laminated with polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene (PET/Al/PE) and dried in a freeze dryer (B_FD) or heat pump‐assisted dehumidified dryer (B_HPD60) at 60 °C prior to storage at 15, 25 and 35 °C for 6 months. Leaves in PET/Al/PE bags had higher total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AOA) and BC than in PP bags (P ≤ 0.05). Storage at 15 °C retained the highest TPC and AOA in PET/Al/PE bags (P ≤ 0.05). The degradation kinetics for BC, sinensetin and eupatorin followed first‐order kinetics. Half‐lives (t1/2) for BC in PET/Al/PE were higher than in PP and were the highest at 15 °C for both packaging types.CONCLUSIONSLow temperature and PET/Al/PE bags provided the highest bioactive compound retention. The dried leaves from B_HPD60 and packed in PET/Al/PE bags had higher resistance to degradation of sinensetin than B_FD in PP bags. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry