bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exercise training and physiological responses to acute stress: study protocol and methodological considerations of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Arvidson Elin , Dahlman Anna Sjörs , Börjesson Mats , Gullstrand Lennart , Jonsdottir Ingibjörg H 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundThis paper describes the protocol and methodological prerequisites for a randomised controlled exercise intervention. Selected baseline data from the study are also presented, demonstrating some methodological challenges related to exercise intervention trials. The aim of the trial was to study the effects of exercise training on physiological responses to acute psychosocial stress in untrained individuals.MethodsIndividuals with a low level of physical activity were invited to participate in an exercise intervention lasting for 6 months. A total of 119 participants were included and went through a peak oxygen uptake test and a psychosocial stress test at baseline. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were measured in connection to the stress test to identify the physiological response.ResultsAlmost 90% of the participants reported themselves as untrained, but results from the objectively measured oxygen uptake did not seem to correspond to the reported sedentary lifestyle. The primary outcome measures at baseline varied between individuals. The mean change from pre-test to peak value was 214% for ACTH and 94% for cortisol. Of these, 13 individuals did not respond in ACTH and/or and cortisol.DiscussionSupposedly untrained individuals seeking participation in an exercise intervention might not be as untrained as they report, a methodological consideration of importance when evaluating the effects of training. Another important consideration is related to the primary outcome measure, which should be measurable and possible to affect. Absence of reaction at baseline means that changes can only be detected as an increased reaction.
Performance of college athletes on the 10-item word list of SCAT5
Authors: Norheim Nicole , Kissinger-Knox Alicia , Cheatham Megan , Webbe Frank 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesThe Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT5) was published in 2017; however, normative performance within the college athlete population on the optional 10-item word list has not been described. This study reports normative values for immediate memory trials, total immediate memory score and delayed recall of the 10-item word list.MethodsThe SCAT5 was administered as part of the preparticipation medical testing to 514 collegiate student-athletes, aged 17–23 (M=19.65,SD=1.40; 64% male) prior to the 2017–2018 athletic season.ResultsOn the SCAT5’s optional 10-item word list, with a total possible immediate memory score of 30, participants recalled an average of 20.57 (SD=3.22) words over three learning trials, with an average for trial 3 of 8.13 (SD=1.32). The average delayed memory score was 6.59 (SD=1.85). Small but significant demographic comparisons were found. Women scored higher on both immediate and delayed recall, non-native speakers scored higher on delayed recall, and Black/African-American athletes scored lower than White athletes on immediate, and lower than White and Hispanic/Latino athletes on delayed recall.ConclusionThe 10-item word list on the SCAT5 eliminates the ceiling effect observed on the five-item word list of the SCAT3, therefore, increasing its clinical utility in the diagnosis of sports-related concussions. Significant demographic differences suggest use of category-specific norms for sex, native language and race/ethnicity.
On the Strength of Unambiguous Tree Automata
Authors: Michalewski Henryk , Skrzypczak Michał 
Published: August 2018

This work is a study of the class of non-deterministic automata on infinite trees that are unambiguous i.e. have at most one accepting run on every tree. The motivating question asks if the fact that an automaton is unambiguous implies some drop in the descriptive complexity of the language recognised by the automaton. As it turns out, such a drop occurs for the parity index and does not occur for the weak parity index.More precisely, given an unambiguous parity automaton [Formula: see text] of index [Formula: see text], we show how to construct an alternating automaton [Formula: see text] which accepts the same language, but is simpler in terms of the acceptance condition. In particular, if [Formula: see text] is a Büchi automaton ([Formula: see text]) then [Formula: see text] is a weak alternating automaton. In general, [Formula: see text] belongs to the class [Formula: see text], what implies that it is simultaneously of alternating index [Formula: see text] and of the dual index [Formula: see text]. The transformation algorithm is based on a separation procedure of Arnold and Santocanale (2005).In the case of non-deterministic automata with the weak parity condition, we provide a separation procedure analogous to the one used above. However, as illustrated by examples, this separation procedure cannot be used to prove a complexity drop in the weak case, as there is no such drop.
Acceleration of cosmic expansion through huge cosmological constant progressively reduced by submicroscopic information transfer
Authors: Rebhan E. 
Published: August 2018

In a previous paper (Ref. 1), the presence of dark energy in our universe was explained as the fingerprint of a comprehensive, much older and expanding multiverse with positive spatial curvature, whose space–time is spanned by this energy, and which was created out of nothing. This concept is expanded by the addition of a model for explaining the decay of the mass density [Formula: see text] of dark energy from its origin until now by a factor of approximately [Formula: see text].Elementary particles contain information about which laws of nature they obey, but not what exactly these are. Most likely, the laws are not followed by obedience to a categorical imperative. Rather, it is assumed, that from the very beginning the information about them is coded in submicroscopic patches of the space–time. The initial density [Formula: see text] is supposed to belong to the unimpaired cosmological constant obtained from elementary particle theory. Due to its huge value, it causes an extremely fast spatial expansion by which continuously new space–time elements are created. To them, the information about the physical laws must be transmitted from the already present space–time. This process needs time which with ever-increasing expansion velocity is getting scarcer and scarcer. It is concluded that this impedes the expansion through a friction-like process which can be described by a term proportional to the expansion velocity. This term is subtracted from the expansion acceleration. It is shown that the solutions thus obtained are also solutions of the cosmological standard equations employing a scalar field [Formula: see text]. In consequence, the present model can be considered as a reinterpretation of results which can be obtained with acknowledged methods.
Fabrication and Field-Emission Properties of Vertically-Aligned Tapered [110]Si Nanowire Arrays Prepared by Nanosphere Lithography and Electroless Ag-Catalyzed Etching
Authors: Feng Z. , Lin K. Q. , Chen Y. C. , Cheng S. L. 
Published: August 2018

In this study, the controllable fabrication of a variety of vertically aligned, single-crystalline [110]-oriented Si nanowire arrays with sharp tips on (110)Si substrates is achieved using a combined self-assembled nanosphere lithography and multiple electroless Ag-catalyzed Si etching processes. All of the experiments were performed at room temperature. The morphological evolution and formation mechanism of long tapered [110]Si nanowire arrays during the multiple tip-sharpening cycle processes have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and water contact angle measurements. Field emission measurements demonstrate that the field-emission behaviors of all nanowire samples produced in this study agree well with the Fowler–Nordheim theory, and the produced long tapered [110]Si nanowire array possesses superior electron emission characteristics, with a very low turn-on field of 1.4[Formula: see text]V/[Formula: see text]m and a high field enhancement factor of 3816. The simple and room temperature fabrication of the well-ordered long tapered [110]Si nanowire array and its excellent electron field emission performance suggest that it can serve as a good candidate for applications in high-performance Si-based vacuum electronic nanodevices.
Many Haken Heegaard splittings
Authors: Sisto Alessandro 
Published: August 2018

We give a simple criterion for a Heegaard splitting to yield a Haken manifold. As a consequence, we construct many Haken manifolds, in particular homology spheres, with prescribed properties, namely Heegaard genus, Heegaard distance and Casson invariant.Along the way we give simpler and shorter proofs of the existence of splittings with specified Heegaard distance, originally proven by Ido–Jang–Kobayashi, of the existence of hyperbolic manifolds with prescribed Casson invariant, originally due to Lubotzky–Maher–Wu, and of a result about subsurface projections of disc sets (for which we even get better constants), originally due to Masur–Schleimer.
Abemaciclib Is Active in Preclinical Models of Ewing Sarcoma via Multipronged Regulation of Cell Cycle, DNA Methylation, and Interferon Pathway Signaling
Authors: Dowless Michele , Lowery Caitlin D. , Shackleford Terry , Renschler Matthew , Stephens Jennifer , Flack Robert , Blosser Wayne , Gupta Simone , Stewart Julie , Webster Yue , Dempsey Jack , VanWye Alle B. , Ebert Philip , Iversen Philip , Olsen Jonathan B. , Gong Xueqian , Buchanan Sean , Houghton Peter , Stancato Louis 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Purpose:
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare and highly malignant cancer that occurs in the bone and surrounding tissue of children and adolescents. The EWS/ETS fusion transcription factor that drives ES pathobiology was previously demonstrated to modulate cyclin D1 expression. In this study, we evaluated abemaciclib, a small-molecule CDK4 and CDK6 (CDK4 and 6) inhibitor currently under clinical investigation in pediatric solid tumors, in preclinical models of ES.

Experimental Design:
Using Western blot, high-content imaging, flow cytometry, ELISA, RNA sequencing, and CpG methylation assays, we characterized the in vitro response of ES cell lines to abemaciclib. We then evaluated abemaciclib in vivo in cell line–derived xenograft (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of ES as either a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy.

Results:
Abemaciclib induced quiescence in ES cell lines via a G1 cell-cycle block, characterized by decreased proliferation and reduction of Ki-67 and FOXM1 expression and retinoblastoma protein (RB) phosphorylation. In addition, abemaciclib reduced DNMT1 expression and promoted an inflammatory immune response as measured by cytokine secretion, antigen presentation, and interferon pathway upregulation. Single-agent abemaciclib reduced ES tumor volume in preclinical mouse models and, when given in combination with doxorubicin or temozolomide plus irinotecan, durable disease control was observed.

Conclusions:
Collectively, our data demonstrate that the antitumor effects of abemaciclib in preclinical ES models are multifaceted and include cell-cycle inhibition, DNA demethylation, and immunogenic changes.
Integrative Epigenetic and Gene Expression Analysis of Renal Tumor Progression to Metastasis
Authors: Nam Hye-Young , Chandrashekar Darshan S. , Kundu Anirban , Shelar Sandeep , Kho Eun-Young , Sonpavde Guru , Naik Gurudatta , Ghatalia Pooja , Livi Carolina B. , Varambally Sooryanarayana , Sudarshan Sunil 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other large-scale genomic data pipelines have been integral to the current understanding of the molecular events underlying renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These data networks have focused mostly on primary RCC, which often demonstrates indolent behavior. However, metastatic disease is the major cause of mortality associated with RCC and data sets examining metastatic tumors are sparse. Therefore, a more comprehensive analysis of gene expression and DNA methylome profiling of metastatic RCC in addition to primary RCC and normal kidney was performed. Integrative analysis of the methylome and transcriptome identified over 30 RCC-specific genes whose mRNA expression inversely correlated with promoter methylation, including several known targets of hypoxia inducible factors. Notably, genes encoding several metabolism-related proteins were identified as differentially regulated via methylation including hexokinase 2, aldolase C, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, and estrogen-related receptor-γ (ESRRG), which has a known role in the regulation of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial metabolism genes. Several gene expression changes could portend prognosis in the TCGA cohort. Mechanistically, ESRRG loss occurs via DNA methylation and histone repressive silencing mediated by the polycomb repressor complex 2. Restoration of ESRRG in RCC lines suppresses migratory and invasive phenotypes independently of its canonical role in mitochondrial metabolism.

Implications:
Collectively, these data provide significant insight into the biology of aggressive RCC and demonstrate a novel role for DNA methylation in the promotion of HIF signaling and invasive phenotypes in renal cancer.
Endothelial Cells Promote Colorectal Cancer Cell Survival by Activating the HER3-AKT Pathway in a Paracrine Fashion
Authors: Wang Rui , Bhattacharya Rajat , Ye Xiangcang , Fan Fan , Boulbes Delphine R. , Ellis Lee M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe regulation of colorectal cancer cell survival pathways remains to be elucidated. Previously, it was demonstrated that endothelial cells (EC) from the liver (liver parenchymal ECs or LPEC), the most common site of colorectal cancer metastases, secrete soluble factors in the conditioned medium (CM) that, in turn, increase the cancer stem cell phenotype in colorectal cancer cells. However, the paracrine effects of LPECs on other colorectal cancer cellular functions have not been investigated. Here, results showed that CM from LPECs increased cell growth and chemoresistance by activating AKT in colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Using an unbiased receptor tyrosine kinase array, it was determined that human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (ERBB3/HER3) was activated by CM from LPECs, and it mediated AKT activation, cell growth, and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells. Inhibition of HER3, either by an inhibitor AZD8931 or an antibody MM-121, blocked LPEC-induced HER3-AKT activation and cell survival in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, CM from LPECs increased in vivo tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Furthermore, inhibiting HER3 with AZD8931 significantly blocked tumor growth induced by EC CM. These results demonstrated a paracrine role of liver ECs in promoting cell growth and chemoresistance via activating HER3-AKT in colorectal cancer cells.Implications:This study suggested a potential of treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with HER3 antibodies/inhibitors that are currently being assessed in clinical trials for various cancer types.
Prevention of Lipid Peroxidation–derived Cyclic DNA Adduct and Mutation in High-Fat Diet–induced Hepatocarcinogenesis by Theaphenon E
Authors: Coia Heidi , Ma Ning , Hou Yanqi , Dyba Marcin D. , Fu Ying , Cruz M. Idalia , Benitez Carlos , Graham Garrett T. , McCutcheon Justine N. , Zheng Yun-Ling , Sun Bing , Kallakury Bhaskar V. , Ma Junfeng , Fang Hong-Bin , Berry Deborah L. , Muralidaran Vinona , Chung Fung-Lung 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Obesity is associated with cancer risk and its link with liver cancer is particularly strong. Obesity causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that could progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Chronic inflammation likely plays a key role. We carried out a bioassay in the high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice to provide insight into the mechanisms of obesity-related HCC by studying γ-OHPdG, a mutagenic DNA adduct derived from lipid peroxidation. In an 80-week bioassay, mice received a low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD with 2% Theaphenon E (TE) (HFD+TE). HFD mice developed a 42% incidence of HCC and LFD mice a 16%. Remarkably, TE, a standardized green tea extract formulation, completely blocked HCC in HFD mice with a 0% incidence. γ-OHPdG measured in the hepatic DNA of mice fed HFD and HFD+TE showed its levels increased during the early stages of NAFLD in HFD mice and the increases were significantly suppressed by TE, correlating with the tumor data. Whole-exome sequencing showed an increased mutation load in the liver tumors of HFD mice with G&gt;A and G&gt;T as the predominant mutations, consistent with the report that γ-OHPdG induces G&gt;A and G&gt;T. Furthermore, the mutation loads were significantly reduced in HFD+TE mice, particularly G&gt;T, the most common mutation in human HCC. These results demonstrate in a relevant model of obesity-induced HCC that γ-OHPdG formation during fatty liver disease may be an initiating event for accumulated mutations that leads to HCC and this process can be effectively inhibited by TE. Cancer Prev Res; 11(10); 665–76. ©2018 AACR.
Detection of elusive fire salamander larvae (Salamandra salamandra) in streams via environmental DNA
Authors: Preißler Kathleen , Watzal Alexander Dennis , Vences Miguel , Steinfartz Sebastian 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, the monitoring of species richness and diversity is experiencing an increased demand entailing a raise in cost and time investment. The analysis of species-specific DNA fragments in environmental samples (eDNA) such as from water or soil, facilitate the molecular detection of species without the specific sampling of individuals. The invasive chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is infecting natural fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra) and causes chytridiomycosis resulting in infrequent regional extinctions of populations across Central Europe. With regard to the expanding distribution of Bsal over the last years, cost-effective monitoring of fire salamanders is important for the conservation of this species. Based on a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay, we developed a new protocol to detect S. salamandra larvae in streams via eDNA, using species-specific primers of the mitochondrial control region (D-loop). We tested the efficiency of qPCR primer sets for six combinations of DNA extraction kits coupled with subsequent PCR inhibitor removal kits for obtaining qPCR-detectable S. salamandra eDNA from water filters, that were taken both from natural streams and artificial water tanks in the laboratory as positive controls. We found that the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit in combination with the DNeasy PowerClean CleanUp Kit performed best for detecting salamander larvae from natural streams. Our experimental protocol paves the way for resource-saving approaches to monitor S. salamandra larvae, but also confirms the limits to this eDNA approach in that it requires optimized laboratory protocols.
The Albedo of the Ground and Atmosphere
Authors: Fritz Sigmund 
Published: August 2018

Measurements of the upward and downward components of solar radiation were measured from a B-29 airplane on March 22, 1947. From these the albedo of the ground has been calculated. In the center of the country along the 39th parallel of latitude, the albedo of the ground, except when covered in part by snow, was found to be between .07 and .10. As the Western Mountains were approached, the albedo increased to .12. In the mountains, where the color of the terrain varies rapidly, the albedo reached a high value of .23, and averaged about .17. For terrain which was partially snow-covered the highest albedo measured was .29.
Computations were made which showed the absorption of solar radiation to be about .06 ly/min in a unit column reaching from the ground to 10,000 feet which by itself would cause a temperature rise of .05C°/hr. in a cloudless smoky atmosphere.
Experiments with Silver Iodide Smokes in the Natural Atmosphere
Authors: Vonnegut Bernard 
Published: August 2018

Preliminary experiments have been made on seeding natural supercooled clouds with silver iodide smokes. It is believed that in many cases positive effects were observed. In a majority of the experiments it is impossible to prove beyond doubt that the effects are the result of the seeding. However, certain of these experiments demonstrate conclusively that modification of natural clouds with silver iodide smokes can be achieved. Areas of supercooled ground fog several hundred feet in diameter have been changed to ice at a temperature of − 5°C by small scale releases of silver iodide smoke from the ground. Similarly areas up to a mile in diameter have been filled with small ice crystals by releasing the smoke at − 20°C when the air is supersaturated with respect to ice.
On December 21, 1948, a supercooled stratus cloud layer approximately 1,000 feet thick at a temperature of − 10° was seeded from an airplane with silver iodide smoke produced by dropping three or four pounds of burning charcoal which had been impregnated with one percent by weight of silver iodide. For purposes of comparison, and in order to definitely establish the position of the seeding, dry ice seedings were made about three miles away on either side. The results of the silver iodide seeding are clearly visible in photographs taken from the airplane. About six square miles of the supercooled cloud layer were transformed into ice crystals as the result of seeding with somewhat less than one ounce of silver iodide.
Nephoscopes (I)
Authors: Fergusson Sterling P. 
Published: August 2018

With small effort and expense, very important information concerning the atmosphere can be obtained by means of studies of clouds; growing awareness of this, within recent years is indicated by the appearance of new techniques and new forms of instruments—nephoscopes—for the measurement of the heights, motions, and other phenomena of clouds. The larger number of these instruments, accompanied by brief descriptions, have been produced in Europe, and few details of new or older nephoscopes have appeared in America since Abbe's “Treatise on Meteorological Apparatus and Methods” in 1888.
In the present paper are comparisons of the more important nephoscopes in use since the beginning of accurate observations, descriptions of installations found satisfactory, and a bibliography of published researches concerning nephoscopes and observations made with them. The nephoscope of the widest range of use and the most economical to produce is of the reflecting form; (1) the mirror is a disk of black glass, both sides of which are reflectors, so that (2) it may be reversed when one side becomes dulled through use; (3) the diameter of the mirror should be at least 20 centimetres, to permit measurement of rapidly-moving or indistinct clouds; (4) the eyepiece—a small disk in which is a hole about 3 mm in diameter through which the cloud-image is followed—is carried at any desired height above or distance from the mirror, on a flexible, adjustable arm extending from the mirror, or on a separate support or stand.