bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Egg White–Derived Antihypertensive Peptide IRW (Ile‐Arg‐Trp) Reduces Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via the ACE2/Ang (1‐7)/Mas Receptor Axis
Authors: Liao Wang , Fan Hongbing , Davidge Sandra T. , Wu Jianping 
Published: March 2019

ScopeIt is found in the previous study that egg‐white‐derived antihypertensive peptide Ile‐Arg‐Trp (IRW) upregulated angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution of ACE2 activation by IRW to blood‐pressure‐lowering activity in vivo.Methods and resultsAdult male SHRs (13–15 week old) are assigned into four groups: 1) untreated with saline infusion; 2) IRW administration (15 mg per kg body weight) with saline infusion; 3) Mas receptor (MasR) antagonist A779 (48 µg per kg body weight per h) infusion; 4) A779 infusion and IRW. Animals are implanted with telemetry transmitter first, and then an osmotic pump filled with saline or A779 is implanted. A779/saline is infused for 7 days, continued with an additional 7 days of treatments. Results indicate that blocking MasR abolished the blood‐pressure‐lowering effect of IRW. Akt/eNOS signaling in aorta is upregulated by IRW treatment but deactivated by A779 infusion. Circulating levels of interleukin 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, along with cyclooxygenase 2 in aorta are reduced by IRW but restored by A779 infusion.ConclusionIRW reduces blood pressure of SHR via the ACE2/Ang (1‐7)/MasR axis. Mechanisms pertaining to IRW as an ACE2 activator in vivo include enhanced endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation and reduced vascular inflammation.
Attention‐aware fully convolutional neural network with convolutional long short‐term memory network for ultrasound‐based motion tracking
Authors: Huang Pu , Yu Gang , Lu Hua , Liu Danhua , Xing Ligang , Yin Yong , Kovalchuk Nataliya , Xing Lei , Li Dengwang 
Published: March 2019

PurposeOne of the promising options for motion management in radiation therapy (RT) is the use of LINAC‐compatible robotic‐arm‐mounted ultrasound imaging system due to its high soft tissue contrast, real‐time capability, absence of ionizing radiation, and low cost. The purpose of this work is to develop a novel deep learning‐based real‐time motion tracking strategy for ultrasound image‐guided RT.MethodsThe proposed tracker combined the attention‐aware fully convolutional neural network (FCNN) and the convolutional long short‐term memory network (CLSTM) that is end‐to‐end trainable. The glimpse sensor module was built inside the attention‐aware FCNN to discard majority of background by focusing on a region containing the object of interest. FCNN extracted discriminating spatial features of glimpse to facilitate temporal modeling for CLSTM. The saliency mask computed from CLSTM refined the features particular to the tracked landmarks. Moreover, the multitask loss strategy including bounding box loss, localization loss, saliency loss, and adaptive loss weighting term was utilized to facilitate training convergence and avoid over/underfitting. The tracker was tested on the databases provided by MICCAI 2015 challenges, and the ground truth data were obtained with the help of brute force‐based template matching technology.ResultsThe mean tracking error of 0.97 ± 0.52 mm and maximum tracking error of 1.94 mm were observed for 85 point landmarks across 39 ultrasound cases compared to the ground truth annotations. The tracking speed per frame per landmark with the GPU implementation ranged from 66 and 101 frames per second, which largely exceeded the ultrasound imaging rate.ConclusionThe results demonstrated the robustness and accuracy of the proposed deep learning‐based motion estimation, despite the existence of some known shortcomings of ultrasound imaging such as speckle noise. The tracking speed of the system was found to be remarkable, sufficiently fast for real‐time applications in RT environment. The approach provides a valuable tool to guide RT treatment with beam gating or multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking in real time.
An estradiol releasing, proangiogenic hydrogel as a candidate material for use in soft tissue interposition
Authors: Mangır Naşide , Eke Gozde , Hasirci Nesrin , Chapple Christopher R. , Hasirci Vasif , MacNeil Sheila 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroduction and ObjectivesSoft tissue interposition (STI) using local and/or regional flaps is often necessary in urogenital reconstruction to stimulate wound healing and prevent recurrence. Harvesting STI flaps can cause donor site morbidity and may not be available in some patients. In this study, we designed estradiol (E2) releasing hydrogel that could be used as an alternative to a STI flap and to investigate its ability to stimulate tissue production and angiogenesis.Materials and MethodsA hydrogel was constructed by crosslinking a solution of estradiol, methacrylated gelatin (15%, w/v), and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (1%, w/v). The release of estradiol was measured using a UV‐spectrophotometer (λmax = 220 nm). Angiogenesis was evaluated by an ex ovo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.ResultsEstradiol was gradually released from the hydrogel over 21 days. The hydrogels could be easily manipulated with surgical forceps without any deformation. The hydrogels significantly increased collagen production of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Scanning electron microscopic examination demonstrated that HDFs produced significantly more extracellular matrix (ECM) on estradiol releasing hydrogels compared with the controls. Estradiol releasing hydrogels doubled the number of blood vessels growing toward the hydrogel compared with the controls (vasculogenic index, 59.6 [±6.4] and 25.6 [±4.0], respectively; [P < 0.05]).ConclusionWe present a proangiogenic, degradable hydrogel that can be used as an off‐the‐shelf available substitute to traditional STI flaps. This is achieved by using estradiol as a potent stimulator of new tissue production and new blood vessel formation.
Urodynamic factors associated with the large capacity bladder and incomplete emptying after prolapse repair (2009‐2015)
Authors: Dobberfuhl Amy D. , Shaffer Robyn K. , Goodman Steven N. , Chen Bertha H. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimsTo identify the clinical and urodynamic factors associated with the large capacity bladder and incomplete bladder emptying after prolapse repair.MethodsWe identified 592 women who underwent anterior and/or apical prolapse repair at our institution from 2009 to 2015. Women were stratified by urodynamic capacity. The primary outcome was incomplete emptying at the longest follow‐up (postvoid residual [PVR] > 200 mL). Data were analyzed in the Statistical Analysis System software.ResultsTwo hundred and sixty‐six women (mean age, 61 years) had preoperative urodynamic tracings available for review. After surgery, there were 519 PVRs in 239 women recorded at up to 2949 days (mean, 396) and nine time points (median, 2; IQR, 1‐3). The receiver operator curve for predicted probability of longest follow‐up PVR greater than 200 mL (area under curve = 0.67) identified the 600 mL cutpoint which defined large capacity bladder. Large capacity bladders (capacity, >600 mL [n=79] vs ≤600 mL, [n=160]) had a mean: detrusor pressure at maximum flow (21 vs 22 cm H2O; P = 0.717), maximum flow rate (19 vs 17 mL/s; P = 0.148), significantly elevated PVR (202 vs 73 mL; P < 0.001), and significantly lower voiding efficiency (VE) (74 vs 82%, P < 0.05). Following prolapse repair, elevated PVR was associated with large capacity (PVR 101 vs 49 mL, P < 0.05). Large bladders had a two‐ to three‐fold risk of longest follow‐up PVR greater than 200 mL (14.3%‐20.3% [capacity, >600 mL] vs 4.1%‐7.0% [capacity, ≤600 mL]). VE was similar after surgery regardless of the capacity (87% vs 88%, P = 0.772).ConclusionsThe decision to pursue prolapse repair should be individualized and take into account, the bladder capacity and goals for PVR improvement after surgery.
A retrospective study of the safety of over 100,000 peripherally‐inserted central catheters days for parenteral supportive treatments
Authors: Campagna Sara , Gonella Silvia , Berchialla Paola , Rigo Carla , Morano Giacomo , Zerla Pietro Antonio , Fuzzi Raffaella , Corona Gianvito , Storto Silvana , Dimonte Valerio , Mussa Baudolino 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe type of central vascular access device providers chosen for providing parenteral supportive treatments has evolved over the past years, going from routinely used centrally inserted catheters to a more recent trend of peripherally‐inserted central catheters (PICCs) when expected treatment duration is less than 6 months. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the safety of PICCs in administering parenteral supportive treatments. All adult inpatients and outpatients who had a PICC inserted for the administration of parenteral supportive treatments (i.e., parenteral nutrition, intravenous fluids, blood products, or antibiotics) between September 2007 and December 2014 in four public Italian hospitals were included. The primary outcome was PICC removal because of an adverse event (AE, defined as occlusion, exit‐site infection, or symptomatic thrombosis). Among the 1,250 included patients, 178 PICC‐related removals because of AEs (14.2%; 1.62 AEs per 1,000 PICC days) were reported. Rates of PICC removal because of occlusion, exit‐site infection, and symptomatic thrombosis were 1.08, 0.32, and 0.23 per 1,000 PICC days, respectively. The median dwell‐time between PICC insertion and its removal because of an AE was 67 days (interquartile range 28–180 days). Risk of PICC removal due to AE was higher with open‐system PICCs [hazard ratio = 2.75, 95% confidence interval 1.52–4.96]. In this study, we found preliminary evidence that PICCs can be safely used to administer parenteral supportive treatments lasting up to 6 months. PICCs may be a relevant alternative to centrally inserted catheters for medium‐term parenteral supportive treatments.
Adipose Mitochondrial Respiratory Capacity in Obesity is Impaired Independently of Glycemic Status of Tissue Donors
Authors: Wessels Britta , Honecker Julius , Schöttl Theresa , Stecher Lynne , Klingenspor Martin , Hauner Hans , Skurk Thomas 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate how obesity and glycemic state affect mitochondrial respiration and ATP–generating pathways in mature human adipocytes.MethodsSubcutaneous (sc) and visceral (vc) adipocytes were isolated from patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Respiratory chain function was analyzed by high‐resolution respirometry. Adipocyte ATP levels and lactate release were measured separately in the presence of either glycolysis (2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose) or ATP synthase (oligomycin) inhibitors.ResultsA significant negative correlation between oxidative phosphorylation capacity and the BMI of tissue donors found in sc adipocytes (P < 0.05). Furthermore, respirometry revealed an inverse relationship between BMI and the electron transfer system capacity of sc (P < 0.05) but not vc adipocytes. In both depots, the respiratory capacity was not affected by the glycemic state. A positive correlation between BMI and adipocyte lactate release was measured independently of the tissue origin (sc: P = 0.01; vc: P < 0.05). Direct ATP measurements indicated that energy demands of adipocytes were predominantly fulfilled by glycolytic activity.ConclusionsThe study’s data suggest that obesity is the primary driver of impaired adipocyte mitochondrial respiration because the glycemic state did not further deteriorate this situation. The adipocytes’ energy needs are covered primarily by the glycolytic pathway.
A reflection upon methods to explore timing in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Martin Brice , Franck Nicolas , Giersch Anne 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPhenomenologists have provided a detailed description of the disorders of the subjective experience associated with minimal‐self disorders in patients with schizophrenia. Those patients report a range of distortions of their conscious experiences, including a sense of inner void, confusion between self and others, and, sometimes, a disruption of the sense of time. These reports have been interpreted as distortion of the first‐person perspective and a lack of immersion in the world, associated with a breakdown of the temporal structure of consciousness, and especially a disruption of the sense of time continuity. Further, it has been proposed that these disruptions are based on a difficulty to retain past information and to predict future information, that is, the mechanisms that help to relate events with one another and to reach a sense of time continuity. Experimental psychology results seem to converge to similar conclusions, inasmuch as some results in patients with schizophrenia suggest a deficient ability to predict sequences of events at the millisecond level. Several studies have underlined this convergence. Here we reflect on the limits of both the phenomenological and experimental psychology approaches, and of the convergence of their hypotheses. We think that this reflection is necessary to avoid premature conclusions on the mechanisms underlying the impairments in patients, but also to enrich our understanding of schizophrenia.
Bodily self‐disturbance in schizophrenia‐spectrum populations: Introducing the Benson et al. Body Disturbances Inventory (B‐BODI)
Authors: Benson Taylor L. , Brugger Peter , Park Sohee 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAnomalous or weakened sense of self was central to early theories of schizophrenia. Recent studies have also documented disturbances in body ownership and increased susceptibility for dissociative experiences, such as the out‐of‐body experience in individuals with schizophrenia, but further research is necessary to clarify components of bodily self‐disturbances in the schizophrenia spectrum, and the stability of these experiences over time. With respect to methodology, self‐disturbances research in schizophrenia tends to rely exclusively on verbal self‐report questionnaires and interviews. Given that individuals with schizophrenia suffer from language and communication difficulties, verbal self‐report measures may be insufficient. To bridge this gap, we have developed a new picture‐based instrument, the Benson et al. Body Disturbances Inventory (B‐BODI), designed to quantify bodily self‐disturbances with respect to the frequency and vividness of these experiences, as well as the degree of distress associated with them. Drawings that depicted different aspects of aberrant bodily self‐experiences were presented with accompanying captions. Participants were asked to indicate the frequency, vividness, and distressfulness of the experience captured by the picture using a 5‐point scale. Individuals with schizophrenia, older healthy controls, and college students participated in two alternative versions of the B‐BODI. Participants were also asked to complete a battery of established questionnaires that probed psychosis proneness and a range of self, body, and perceptual aberrations. The results suggest that the B‐BODI is a useful tool that accurately captures bodily self‐disturbances and has the potential to predict psychosis risk in healthy young individuals. Furthermore, anomalous self‐disturbances seem to be relatively stable across time in individuals with chronic schizophrenia.
Improved efficiency of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 mini‐module via high‐mobility In2O3:W,H transparent conducting oxide layer
Authors: Koida Takashi , Nishinaga Jiro , Ueno Yuko , Higuchi Hirofumi , Takahashi Hideki , Iioka Masayuki , Kamikawa Yukiko , Shibata Hajime , Niki Shigeru 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPolycrystalline W and H codoped In2O3 (In2O3:W,H) transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers with high electron mobility were found to enhance both the short‐circuit current density (Jsc) and fill factor (FF) of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) modules with glass/Mo/CIGS/CdS/ZnO/TCO structures. An In2O3:W,H TCO layer was formed by reactive plasma deposition without substrate heating, followed by postannealing at 150°C. A phase transition from amorphous to polycrystalline was confirmed during postannealing, and a layer with micrometer‐scale lateral grain sizes evenly covered the rough ZnO surface generated by the naturally textured CIGS. The crystallized In2O3:W,H film showed high electron mobility (apprixmately 80 cm2 V−1 s−1) at a carrier density of approximately 2 to 3 × 1020 cm−3. Therefore, the In2O3:W,H layer achieved lower sheet resistance and lower free carrier absorption than a ZnO:Al layer, which is commonly used in CIGS modules. The CIGS mini‐module employing the In2O3:W,H layer with a designated area of 3.792 cm2 exhibited a higher efficiency (η) of 20.93% (Voc = 3.081 V [translated value per subcell: 0.770 V], short‐circuit current = 33.21 mA [Jsc = 35.03 mA cm−2], FF = 0.775) with improved Jsc and FF, when compared with a mini‐module employing a ZnO:Al layer. The results indicate that polycrystalline In2O3‐based TCOs with high electron mobility are suitable for CIGS solar cells and modules.
Identification of protein patterns in bovine placenta at early‐mid pregnancy – Pilot studies
Authors: Ner‐Kluza Joanna , Wawrzykowski Jacek , Franczyk Monika , Siberring Jerzy , Kankofer Marta 
Published: March 2019

RationalePlacenta is a crucial tissue for an appropriate development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy. Its composition and structure change dynamically along pregnancy but the full pattern of these changes is not fully described in cows yet. The aim of the present study was to detect qualitative and quantitative protein profiles of bovine placenta during early‐mid pregnancy at the time of placental formation.MethodsPlacental tissues from healthy cows (n = 3) in early pregnancy (3–5 months) were collected at the slaughterhouse. Maternal and fetal parts were manually divided prior to homogenization. Further analysis was done in triplicates on the maternal and fetal parts separately and subjected to one‐dimensional (1D) electrophoretic separation, followed by identification of peptide maps by nanospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC/MS/MS). Proteins were identified by use of the MASCOT software with the SwissProt database.ResultsProteomic analysis showed more than 4000 differentially expressed proteins in maternal and fetal parts of placenta. Each part expressed around 900 proteins, of which ca. 90 were common. The identified proteins were analyzed in accordance to molecular function and their participation in biological processes.ConclusionsThe obtained results provide new insight into the knowledge about biochemical characteristics of placenta (new proteins) and serve for further studies on the possible markers of physiological/pathological pregnancy or function of placenta. Moreover, our data can be a good starting point for further studies on the processes underlying the attachment of placenta.
Managing rivers under changing environmental and societal boundary conditions, Part 1: National trends and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs
Authors: Patterson Lauren A. , Doyle Martin W. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMost major rivers in the United States are managed by a system of reservoirs; many of which were built more than a half century ago. These reservoirs were designed based on environmental, societal, and regulatory assumptions at the time of construction. Since then, we have learned that climate is not stationary, population growth is being decoupled from energy needs and water demand, and new regulations (such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act) affect how river systems are managed. This study explores changing environmental, societal, and regulatory conditions relevant to the design and operation of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs across the conterminous United States. Results demonstrate large geographic variability in how these conditions have changed over time. In the south‐western United States, there is an amplified trend towards drier conditions and less reservoir flexibility with warmer temperatures, less precipitation, high sedimentation rates, and large population growth. In the north‐eastern United States, the impacts of increased temperature on reservoirs may be masked by greater precipitation and lower water demand. Environmental, societal, and regulatory changes can reduce the flexibility of reservoir operations and, in some instances, make it challenging for the reservoir to meet its intended purpose as designed decades ago. This study is the first step towards formalizing a process for monitoring broad trends relevant to water resources management for the purpose of moving towards adaptation of infrastructure. An interactive tool was developed for each condition: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/reservoir‐national‐trends/.
Early Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Exerts a Tissue Source Age-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Neurovascular Integrity and Neurobehavioral Recovery After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Vawda Reaz , Badner Anna , Hong James , Mikhail Mirriam , Lakhani Alam , Dragas Rachel , Xhima Kristiana , Barretto Tanya , Librach Clifford L. , Fehlings Michael G. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLocalized vascular disruption after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a cascade of secondary events, including inflammation, gliosis, and scarring, that can further impact recovery. In addition to immunomodulatory and neurotrophic properties, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess pericytic characteristics. These features make MSCs an ideal candidate for acute cell therapy targeting vascular disruption, which could reduce the severity of secondary injury, enhance tissue preservation and repair, and ultimately promote functional recovery. A moderately severe cervical clip compression/contusion injury was induced at C7-T1 in adult female rats, followed by an intravenous tail vein infusion 1 hour post-SCI of (a) term-birth human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs); (b) first-trimester human umbilical cord perivascular cells (FTM HUCPVCs); (c) adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; or (d) vehicle control. Weekly behavioral testing was performed. Rats were sacrificed at 24 hours or 10 weeks post-SCI and immunohistochemistry and ultrasound imaging were performed. Both term and FTM HUCPVC-infused rats displayed improved (p &lt; .05) grip strength compared with vehicle controls. However, only FTM HUCPVC-infusion led to significant weight gain. All cell infusion treatments resulted in reduced glial scarring (p &lt; .05). Cell infusion also led to increased axonal, myelin, and vascular densities (p &lt; .05). Although post-traumatic cavity volume was reduced with cell infusion, this did not reach significance. Taken together, we demonstrate selective long-term functional recovery alongside histological improvements with HUCPVC infusion in a clinically relevant model of cervical SCI. Our findings highlight the potential of these cells for acute therapeutic intervention after SCI.