bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Instability of brain connectivity during nonrapid eye movement sleep reflects altered properties of information integration
Authors: Kung Yi‐Chia , Li Chia‐Wei , Chen Shuo , Chen Sharon Chia‐Ju , Lo Chun‐Yi Z. , Lane Timothy J. , Biswal Bharat , Wu Changwei W. , Lin Ching‐Po 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is associated with fading consciousness in humans. Recent neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the spatiotemporal alterations of the brain functional connectivity (FC) in NREM sleep, suggesting the changes of information integration in the sleeping brain. However, the common stationarity assumption in FC does not satisfactorily explain the dynamic process of information integration during sleep. The dynamic FC (dFC) across brain networks is speculated to better reflect the time‐varying information propagation during sleep. Accordingly, we conducted simultaneous EEG‐fMRI recordings involving 12 healthy men during sleep and observed dFC across sleep stages using the sliding‐window approach. We divided dFC into two aspects: mean dFC (dFCmean) and variance dFC (dFCvar). A high dFCmean indicates stable brain network integrity, whereas a high dFCvar indicates instability of information transfer within and between functional networks. For the network‐based dFC, the dFCvar were negatively correlated with the dFCmean across the waking and three NREM sleep stages. As sleep deepened, the dFCmean decreased (N0~N1 > N2 > N3), whereas the dFCvar peaked during the N2 stage (N0~N1 < N3 < N2). The highest dFCvar during the N2 stage indicated the unstable synchronizations across the entire brain. In the N3 stage, the overall disrupted network integration was observed through the lowest dFCmean and elevated dFCvar, compared with N0 and N1. Conclusively, when the network specificity (dFCmean) breaks down, the consciousness dissipates with increasing variability of information exchange (dFCvar).
Synthesis, Profiling, and Bioactive Conformation of trans‐Cyclopropyl Epothilones
Authors: Kuzniewski Christian N. , Glauser Simon , Gaugaz Fabienne Z. , Schiess Raphael , Rodríguez‐Salarichs Javier , Vetterli Stefan , Horlacher Oliver P. , Gertsch Jürg , Redondo‐Horcajo Mariano , Canales Angeles , Jiménez‐Barbero Jesús , Díaz José Fernando , Altmann Karl‐Heinz 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA series of new 3‐deoxy‐C(12),C(13)‐trans‐cyclopropyl‐epothilones have been prepared, bearing benzothiazole, quinoline, thiazol‐5‐ylvinyl, or isoxazol‐3‐ylvinyl side chains. For analogs with fused aromatic side chains, macrocyclic ring‐closure was based on ring‐closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of a precursor incorporating the fully elaborated heavy atom framework of the target structure (including the side chain moiety), while side chain attachment for the thiazole and isoxazole‐containing 16‐desmethyl analogs was performed only after establishment of the macrolactone core. Two approaches were elaborated for a macrocyclic aldehyde as the common precursor for the latter analogs that involved ring‐closure either by RCM or by macrolactonization. Benzothiazole‐ and quinoline‐based analogs were found to be highly potent antiproliferative agents; the two analogs with a thiazol‐5‐ylvinyl or an isoxazol‐3‐ylvinyl side chain likewise showed good antiproliferative activity but were significantly less potent than the parent epothilone A. Surprisingly, the desaturation of the C(10)−C(11) bond in these analogs was associated with a virtually complete loss in antiproliferative activity, which likely reflects a requirement for a ca. 60 ° C(10)−C(11) torsion angle in the tubulin‐bound conformation of 12,13‐trans‐epothilones.
Health promotion and food insecurity: Exploring environmental sustainability principles to guide practice within Australia
Authors: Nuttman Sonia , Patrick Rebecca , Townsend Mardie , Lawson Justin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIssue addressedThe Australian health promotion sector has made significant advances in food security over the years through recognition of social and economic factors. The incorporation of ecological determinants within health promotion practice to address food insecurity, however, is uncommon. This paper explores the potential of health promotion to use environmental sustainability principles to guide the development of health promotion food security programs in Australia.MethodsA mixed‐methods approach guided by a pragmatic framework was adopted for this study. A national online survey (n = 61) and semi‐structured interviews (n = 16) targeting Australian health promotion practitioners was utilised. Triangulation involved seven stages to develop points of convergence and corroboration of the data.ResultsPractitioners were adopting principles of environmental sustainability such as ecological integrity and biodiversity protection to guide food security practice. The use of such principles demonstrates their compatibility within health promotion practice. This study, however, reveals that environmental sustainability principles were a relatively new area of practice for health promotion practitioners.ConclusionThe possibilities for integrating health promotion and environmental sustainability principles are promising for addressing multifaceted issues inherent within food security practice. At present, a lack of principles exist for guiding the sector to address food security that is cognisant of both human health and the environment.So what?This study indicates a lack of integration between environmental sustainability and health promotion principles to guide food security practice. It would be pertinent for the sector to consider the development of a set of principles that considers both health promotion and environmental sustainability to ensure future food security and planetary health. Capacity building of current practitioners and pre‐service graduates around the use of such principles to guide practice could assist the sector in this process.
The response of asset prices to monetary policy shocks: Stronger than thought
Authors: Alessi Lucia , Kerssenfischer Mark 
Published: April 2019

SummaryStandard macroeconomic theory predicts rapid responses of asset prices to monetary policy shocks. Small‐scale vector autoregressions (VARs), however, often find sluggish and insignificant impact effects. Using the same high‐frequency instrument to identify monetary policy shocks, we show that a large‐scale dynamic factor model finds overall stronger and quicker asset price reactions compared to a benchmark VAR, both on euro area and US data. Our results suggest that incorporating a sufficiently large information set is crucial to estimate monetary policy effects.
CCE in fixed‐T panels
Authors: Westerlund Joakim , Petrova Yana , Norkute Milda 
Published: April 2019

SummaryThe presence of unobserved heterogeneity and its likely detrimental effect on inference has recently motivated the use of factor‐augmented panel regression models. The workhorse of this literature is based on first estimating the unknown factors using the cross‐section averages of the observables, and then applying ordinary least squares conditional on the first‐step factor estimates. This is the common correlated effects (CCE) approach, the existing asymptotic theory for which is based on the requirement that both the number of time series observations, T, and the number of cross‐section units, N, tend to infinity. The obvious implication of this theory for empirical work is that both N and T should be large, which means that CCE is impossible for the typical micro panel where only N is large. In the current paper, we put the existing CCE theory and its implications to a test. This is done by developing a new theory that enables T to be fixed. The results show that many of the previously derived large‐T results hold even if T is fixed. In particular, the pooled CCE estimator is still consistent and asymptotically normal, which means that CCE is more applicable than previously thought. In fact, not only do we allow T to be fixed, but the conditions placed on the time series properties of the factors and idiosyncratic errors are also much more general than those considered previously.
Synergistic antitumor effect of anti‐PD‐L1 combined with oxaliplatin on a mouse tumor model
Authors: Golchin Soheila , Alimohammadi Reza , Rostami Nejad Mohammad , Jalali Seyed Amir 
Published: April 2019

AbstractOxaliplatin (OXP) can change tumor microenvironment from immune‐suppressive toward the immune‐favorable condition. Almost all of the antitumor agents cannot totally cure cancer as monotherapy. So the current focus of cancer research became combining therapy using different treatment regimen, especially chemotherapy with checkpoint blockers. In this study, we assessed the activity of combining regimen using anti‐PD‐L1 with OXP in CT26 tumor‐bearing BALB/c mice. We further analyzed the immune cell phenotypes in tumor site, lymph nodes, and spleen by flow cytometry analysis. Our study showed that combination therapy with OXP and anti‐PD‐L1 significantly increased survival in vivo and inhibited tumor growth of tumor‐bearing mice. Inconsistent with better antitumor activity, our combination therapy led to an increase in tumor‐infiltrating activated CD8+ T cells. In draining lymph nodes and spleen, regulatory T cells decreased significantly. Mice receiving either anti‐PD‐L1 or OXP alone had a larger tumor and lower survival rate in comparison with combination therapy receiving group. The time and order of administration of each component of the combination therapy affected antitumor response.
Fine‐tuning of the automated [18F]PSMA‐1007 radiosynthesis
Authors: Shamni Ofer , Nebeling Bruno , Grievink Hilbert , Mishani Eyal 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRadiolabeled prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting PET‐tracers have become desirable radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging of prostate cancer (PC). Recently, the PET radiotracer [18F]PSMA‐1007 was introduced as an alternative to [68Ga]Ga‐PSMA‐11, for staging and diagnosing biochemically recurrent PC. We incorporated a one‐step procedure for [18F]PSMA‐1007 radiosynthesis, using both Synthra RNplus and GE TRACERlab FxFN automated modules, in accordance with the recently described radiolabeling procedure. Although the adapted [18F]PSMA‐1007 synthesis resulted in repeatable radiochemical yields (55 ± 5%, NDC), suboptimal radiochemical purities of 87 ± 8% were obtained using both modules. As described here, modifications made to the radiolabeling and the solid‐phase extraction purification steps reduced synthesis time to 32 minutes and improved radiochemical purity to 96.10%, using both modules, without shearing the radiochemical yield.
Steroid withdrawal or avoidance is safe in high‐risk kidney transplants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Song Tu‐Run , Jiang Ya‐Mei , Liu Jin‐Peng , Wang Zhi‐Ling , Zeng Jun , Huang Zhong‐Li , Fan Yu , Wang Xian‐Ding , Lin Tao 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe present study is aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of steroid withdrawal or avoidance (SWA) in high‐risk kidney transplant (HRKT). We performed a systematic review of the literature and pooled analysis of the available data concerning SWA following HRKT. HRKT is associated with patients undergoing repeat kidney transplantation, in African American recipients, or in patients with panel‐reactive antibody levels >20%. Seven cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial, involving a total of 22 075 patients, were included. Pooled analysis to estimate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) demonstrated comparable graft loss (RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.76‐1.09) between the SWA and corticosteroid maintenance groups, but with reduced mortality in the SWA group (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98). A subanalysis suggested that SWA was not associated with increased graft loss in patients undergoing steroid withdrawal within 1 week of transplantation, in African American recipients, or in patients with follow‐up >5 years. Additionally, SWA was associated with reduced death in those undergoing withdrawal within 1 week (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98), in African Americans (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.83‐0.98), and in those with follow‐up extended to >5 years (RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98). SWA was not associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.75‐1.21) or cytomegalovirus infection (RR = 1.86, 95% CI 1‐3.47); however, it was associated with a reduced risk of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (RR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37‐0.97). SWA following HRKT is safe in terms of graft survival and rejection, and patients undergoing an SWA regimen had a lower risk of death and posttransplant diabetes mellitus. Future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
Association between polymorphisms of MIR17HG and risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Chen Peng , Bai Yuwei , Li Yaru , Yuan Yuemin , Cheng Yimin , Pang Jianjian , Zhu Hongli , Chen Chao 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundColorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Recently, an increasing number of evidences suggest that genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the occurrence of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to better understand the influence of MIR17HG polymorphisms on colorectal cancer susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.MethodsWe recruited 514 patients with colorectal cancer and 510 healthy controls to investigate the association between polymorphisms of MIR17HG and risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed with the Agena MassARRAY platform. We used the χ2 test to compare the distributions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) allele and genotypes frequencies between cases and controls. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association under genetic models. Linkage disequilibrium between the five SNPs was assessed using the Haploview software.ResultsOverall analysis found that rs7336610 and rs1428 and haplotype CTAGA were significantly associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, we found rs7318578 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer in the dominant model. Stratification analysis showed that rs7336610, rs7318578, and rs1428 were also associated with rectal cancer risk. Gender stratification analysis found that rs7336610, rs7318578, rs17735387, and rs1428 were significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in males.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study indicated that the polymorphisms of MIR17HG were associated with colorectal cancer risk. Therefore, our findings may provide new insights into the development of colorectal cancer. Further association and functional studies are of great importance to confirm these results and to define the potential biological mechanism of colorectal cancer.
Methoxycarbonyl Group as a Conformational Regulator for The Benzene Ring of Triphenylamines
Authors: Ohmura Satoshi D. , Yamana Keisuke , Ueno Masaharu , Miyoshi Norikazu 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA series of triphenylamine derivatives bearing a methoxycarbonyl group at the meta‐position of the benzene ring were synthesized. The structural and physical properties based on the introduction of the methoxycarbonyl group into benzene ring were investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, computational studies, and spectroscopic methods. It was revealed that the methoxycarbonyl group has not only structural regulations but also modifications of the electronic properties of the π‐conjugated moieties.
Twinning as a Guiding Factor in Morphological Anisotropy of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized Over L–DOPA: A Colorimetric Probe for Sulfide in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Sanskriti Isha , Upadhyay Kaushal K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHerein an interesting case study of morphological anisotropy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized over 3,4‐dihydroxy‐L‐phenylalanine (L–DOPA) is presented. The deeper investigation of a variety of shapes of these silver nanoparticles through TEM and HRTEM clearly revealed the definite role of twinning besides the role of multiple structures of L–DOPA prevailing in alkaline medium. These AgNPs were further also exploited as a colorimetric sensor for sulfide (S2−). The same underwent bleaching of their deep yellowish brown color upon their interaction with sulfide in the aqueous medium with an appealing LOD of 65 nM. The probe worked well within the broad pH range 5 to 11. The chemosensing studies were well accomplished by UV‐visible, TEM, EDX and elemental mapping studies.
Highly selective determination of some anti‐depressant drugs in complicated matrices by dual emulsification liquid‐phase microextraction based on filtration followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Moradi Peyman , Asghari Alireza 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAn efficient microextraction method is applied for the determination of some anti‐depressant drugs in complex matrices. The method consists of two steps. In the first step, an organic extraction solvent is dispersed into an aqueous sample solution (20 mL, pH 12), and the resulting mixture is subsequently passed through a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene syringe filter that is permeable to aqueous solutions, and thus the organic phase is retained by the membrane. In the second step, the filter is detached from the syringe and attached to another syringe containing an aqueous solution (pH 2, 150 μL). By the in‐syringe dispersion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, the target analytes are ionized and selectively back‐extracted into the aqueous phase. In addition to the preconcentration of the analytes in the aqueous phase, which can cause the elimination of the problem of injection of the organic solvent into the final instrument analyzer as well, the method provides a high sample clean‐up since acidic compounds, large molecules, and neutral components are not extracted into the acceptor phase. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the method provides a good linearity (in the range of 5–2000 ng mL−1) and a low limit of detection (1.5–3.0 ng mL−1).
Intracellular Notch1 Signaling in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Dictates the Plasticity and Stemness of Melanoma Stem/Initiating Cells
Authors: Du Yan , Shao Hongwei , Moller Mecker , Prokupets Rochelle , Tse Yee Ting , Liu Zhao-Jun 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play critical roles in cancer initiation, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance. Recent studies have revealed involvement of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in regulating CSCs. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that determine the regulatory role of CAFs in modulating the plasticity of CSCs remain unknown. Here, we uncovered that intracellular Notch1 signaling in CAFs serves as a molecular switch, which modulates tumor heterogeneity and aggressiveness by inversely controlling stromal regulation of the plasticity and stemness of CSCs. Using mesenchymal stem cell-derived fibroblasts (MSC-DF) harboring reciprocal loss-of-function and gain-of-function Notch1 signaling, we found that MSC-DFNotch1−/− prompted cocultured melanoma cells to form more spheroids and acquire the phenotype (CD271+ and Nestin+) of melanoma stem/initiating cells (MICs), whereas MSC-DFN1IC+/+ suppressed melanoma cell sphere formation and mitigated properties of MICs. MSC-DFNotch1−/− increased stemness of CD271+ MIC, which resultantly exhibited stronger aggressiveness in vitro and in vivo, by upregulating Sox2/Oct4/Nanog expression. Consistently, when cografted with melanoma cells into NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice, MSC-DFNotch1−/− increased, but MSC-DFN1IC+/+ decreased, the amounts of CD271+ MIC in melanoma tissue. The amounts of CD271+ MIC regulated by MSC-DF carrying high or low Notch1 pathway activity is well correlated with capability of melanoma metastasis, supporting that melanoma metastasis is MIC-mediated. Our data demonstrate that intracellular Notch1 signaling in CAFs is a molecular switch dictating the plasticity and stemness of MICs, thereby regulating melanoma aggressiveness, and therefore that targeting the intracellular Notch1 signaling pathway in CAFs may present a new therapeutic strategy for melanoma. Stem Cells 2019;37:865–875
Investigation and proposal for reuse of effluents from beneficiated bentonite products
Authors: Sá Natan Pires , Rocha Elisângela Maria Rodrigues 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis work is intended to show the characterization of three effluents (X, Y, and Z) derived from laboratory analyses conducted in the quality control department of a beneficiated bentonite products factory in order to present alternatives for their treatment and final disposal according to Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos – PNRS, Law 12,305/2010, Brazil). Analyses to identify the characteristics of the effluents revealed that the pH, salinity, electroconductivity, and total dissolved solids were in agreement with the organic and mineral nature of the effluent constituents: solvent, clay minerals, water, and activating agent. To assess reuse proposals, the effluents were subjected to the following tests: (a) swelling characteristic with effluent X, (b) petrochemical characterization of Y, and (c) swelling characteristic using commercial solvent and activated clay produced with effluent Z. Preliminary results indicate that each of these effluents can be reused variously in the laboratory, as a fuel, or in the original analysis/process.
The human icon: Gregory of Nazianzus on being animago Dei
Authors: Thomas Gabrielle 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTheologians have long recognised the significance of theimago Deiin Christian theological anthropology, yet the question of how to construe theimagois not straightforward. This essay offers a fresh reading of Gregory Nazianzen's vision of theimago Dei. Hitherto, historical theologians have attributed to Gregory an essentialist interpretation of theimago, in which it is identified only with the rational soul. I argue that Gregory depicts theimago Deiquite literally as a visible icon of God by weaving together christology, pneumatology and beliefs about images and idols. If interpreted properly, Gregory's vision contributes significantly to contemporary interpretations of theimago Dei, which aim to account for christology, pneumatology and the inclusion of each human person in theimago.