bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observing home‐visiting quality at scale with the home visit rating scales and a supervisor checklist in Peru
Authors: Rubio‐Codina Marta , Dormal Marta , Araujo M. Caridad 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTAs home‐visiting programs expand, there is a need to develop cost‐effective tools to monitor their quality at scale. We compare the Home Visit Rating Scales (HOVRS), an instrument to measure home‐visit process quality widely used in the United States, to a checklist designed for the Peruvian national home‐visiting program, Cuna Mas. Both instruments were administered to a sample of 554 home visits and an equal number of mother–child dyads by their 176 home visitors. While the HOVRS was scored on video recordings of the visits by trained coders, the checklist was scored live by Cuna Mas supervisors. We assessed the validity of both measures in their first application in rural Peru, compared their performance, and selected a subset of items in the checklist to propose a simplified, shorter, and more cost‐efficient instrument. To this end, we reorganized checklist items into constructs that best mapped those covered by the HOVRS and selected the highest performing according to predefined criteria. We found that both the HOVRS and the checklist had high reliability and acceptable levels of validity. We argue that the simplified checklist could prove useful for quality monitoring of service delivery of at‐scale home‐visiting programs and as a tool to support in‐service training.
Polyglycolic acid‐collagen tube combined with collagen‐binding basic fibroblast growth factor accelerates gait recovery in a rat sciatic nerve critical‐size defect model
Authors: Fujimaki Hisako , Uchida Kentaro , Inoue Gen , Matsushita Osamu , Nemoto Noriko , Miyagi Masayuki , Inage Kazuhide , Takano Shotaro , Orita Sumihisa , Ohtori Seiji , Tanaka Keisuke , Sekiguchi Hiroyuki , Takaso Masashi 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSeveral nerve conduits have been investigated for their potential as alternative sources of autografts for bridging neural gaps. However, autologous nerve transplants remain the most effective for nerve repair. We examined clinically approved nerve conduits containing collagen and polyglycolic acid (PGA‐c) combined with collagen‐binding basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) containing a polycystic kidney disease (PKD) domain and collagen binding domain (CBD) (bFGF‐PKD‐CBD) in a rat 15‐mm sciatic nerve critical‐size defect model. The treatment groups were: PGA‐c immersed in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) (PGA‐c/PBS group), bFGF (PGA‐c/bFGF group), or bFGF‐PKD‐CBD (PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD group), and no treatment (Defect group). Gait and histological analyses were performed. Four weeks after treatment, the recovery rate of the paw print area was significantly greater in the PGA‐c/bFGFPKD‐CBD group than the PGA‐c/PBS and PGA‐c/bFGF groups. Mean intensity of paw prints was significantly greater in the PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD group than the PGA‐c/PBS and Defect groups. Swing time was significantly greater in the PGA‐c/PBS, PGA‐c/bFGF, and PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD groups than the Defect group. At 8 weeks, all three parameters were significantly greater in the PGA‐c/PBS, PGA‐c/bFGF, and PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD groups than the Defect group. Regenerated myelinated fibers were observed in 7/8 (87.5%) rats in the PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD group after 8 weeks, and in 1/8 (12.5%) and 3/8 (37.5%) rats in the PGA‐c/PBS and PGA‐c/bFGF groups, respectively. PGA‐c/bFGF‐PKD‐CBD composites may be promising biomaterials for promoting functional recovery of long‐distance peripheral nerve defects in clinical practice.
Gene polymorphisms of SFTPB rs7316, rs9752 and PAOX rs1046175 affect the diagnostic value of plasma Pro‐SFTPB and DAS in Chinese Han non–small‐cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Wang Kun , Huang Qiubo , Zhao Guangqiang , Yang Jiapeng , Yang Kaiyun , Huang Yunchao 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPlasma pro‐surfactant protein B (pro‐SFTPB) and N1,N12‐diacetylspermine (DAS) can be used as markers for the diagnosis of non–small‐cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Whether the genetic diversity affects the application value of Pro‐SFTPB and DAS as a diagnostic marker for NSCLC is still unknown. This study aims to explore the relationship between SFTPB rs7316, rs9752 and PAOX rs1046175 gene polymorphisms and the diagnostic value of plasma Pro‐SFTPB and DAS in patients with Chinese Han lung cancer. SFTPB rs7316, rs9752 and PAOX rs1046175 genotypes were analyzed by direct sequencing in 425 patients with NSCLC and 425 controls, and the levels of Pro‐SFTPB and DAS in plasma were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The area under the curve (AUC) of the SFTPB rs7316 locus TT genotype for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.758, and the AUC of the TC/CC genotype for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.872. The AUC of the SFTPB rs9752 locus GG genotype for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.935, and the AUC of the GC/CC genotype for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.648. The AUC of the PAOX rs1046175 locus GG for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.669, and the AUC of the GC/CC genotype for the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.749. In conclusion, SFTPB rs7316, rs9752, and PAOX rs1046175 gene polymorphisms affect the diagnostic value of plasma Pro‐SFTPB and DAS in patients with Chinese Han NSCLC.
MicroRNA‐203 reinforces stemness properties in melanoma and augments tumorigenesis in vivo
Authors: Sahranavardfard Parisa , Firouzi Javad , Azimi Masoumeh , Khosravani Pardis , Heydari Raheleh , Emami Razavi Amirnader , Dorraj Mahshad , Keighobadi Faezeh , Ebrahimi Marzieh 
Published: April 2019

AbstractOne of the challenges encountered in microRNA (miRNA) studies is to observe their dual role in different conditions and cells. This leads to a tougher prediction of their behavior as gene expression regulators. miR‐203 has been identified to play a negative role in the progression of malignant melanoma; however, it has been reported, with dual effect, as both an oncomiR and tumor suppressor miRNA in some malignancies, such as breast cancer, meanwhile, the role of miR‐203 in melanoma stem cells or even metastatic cells is unclear. In the present study, after observation of upregulation of miR‐203 in melanoma patient's serum and also melanospheres as cancer stem cells model, we examined its overexpression on the stemness potential and migration ability of melanoma cells. Our data demonstrated that the increased miR‐203 level was significantly associated with significant increase in the ability of proliferation, colony and spheres formation, migration, and tumorigenesis in A375 and NA8 cells. All of these changes were associated with enhancement of BRAF, several epithelial to mesenchymal transition factors, and stemness genes. In conclusion, our results clearly determined that miR‐203 could be down‐regulateddownregulated in melanoma tissues but be overexpressed in melanoma stem cells. It has an important role as oncomiR and promote repopulation, tumorigenicity, self‐renewal, and migration. Therefore, we suggested overexpression of miR‐203 as biomarker for early detection of metastasis. However, more studies are needed to validate our data.
Exosomal microRNA‐155‐5p from PDLSCs regulated Th17/Treg balance by targeting sirtuin‐1 in chronic periodontitis
Authors: Zheng Ya , Dong Chen , Yang Junling , Jin Yi , Zheng Wenjie , Zhou Qiao , Liang Yi , Bao Liuliu , Feng Guijuan , Ji Juan , Feng Xingmei , Gu Zhifeng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe mechanism of local inflammation and systemic injury in chronic periodontitis is complicated, in which and exosomes play an important role. In our study, we found that T helper cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) balance is destabilized in the peripheral blood of patients with periodontitis, with upregulated Th17 or downregulated Treg, respectively. Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to simulate the inflammatory microenvironment of chronic periodontitis. The exosomes were extracted from periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in LPS‐induced periodontitis environment, which inversely effected on CD4+ T cells under normal and inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, compared with exosomes from normal PDLSCs, lower expression of microRNA‐155‐5p (miR‐155‐5p) and higher expression of Sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1) were observed in exosomes from LPS‐stimulated PDLSCs. Exosomes from PDLSCs alleviated inflammatory microenvironment through Th17/Treg/miR‐155‐5p/SIRT1 regulatory network. This study aimed to find the “switching” factors that affected the further deterioration of periodontitis to maximally control the multiple downstream damage signal factors to further understand periodontitis and find new targets for its treatment.
Chandipura virus changes cellular miRNome in human microglial cells
Authors: Agrawal Meghna , Rastogi Meghana , Dogra Smriti , Pandey Neha , Basu Anirban , Singh Sunit K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractChandipura virus (CHPV) is a neurotropic virus, known to cause encephalitis in humans. The microRNAs (miRNA/miR) play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral infection. The present study is focused on the role of miRNAs during CHPV (strain 1653514) infection in human microglial cells. The deep sequencing of CHPV‐infected human microglial cells identified a total of 12 differentially expressed miRNA (DEMs). To elucidate the role of DEMs, the target gene prediction, Gene Ontology term (GO Term), pathway enrichment analysis, and miRNA‐messenger RNA (mRNA) interaction network analysis was performed. The GO terms and pathway enrichment analysis provided 146 enriched genes; which were involved in interferon response, cytokine and chemokine signaling. Further, the WGCNA (weighted gene coexpression network analysis) of the enriched genes were discretely categorized into three modules (blue, brown, and turquoise). The hub genes in the blue module may correlate to CHPV induced neuroinflammation. Altogether, the miRNA‐mRNA interaction network and WGCNA study revealed the following pairs, hsa‐miR‐542‐3p and FAF1, hsa‐miR‐92a‐1‐5p and MYD88, and hsa‐miR‐3187‐3p and TNFRSF21, which may contribute to neuroinflammation during CHPV infection in human microglial cells.
The 30–60‐day northward‐propagating intraseasonal oscillation over South China Sea during pre‐monsoon period in a coupled model
Authors: Zheng Bin , Huang Yanyan , Li Chunhui 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe 50‐year pentad mean simulation outputs of an atmosphere–ocean coupled general circulation model, the Scale INTeraction EXperiment (SINTEX)‐the Frontier Research Center for Global Change (FRCGC) model (SINTEX‐F model), are used to understand processes of the northward‐propagation of intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) over the South China Sea (SCS) during the pre‐monsoon season. A quite different mean state is found in the SCS before the monsoon onset relative to that of summertime, which is consistent with the observations. Then, 18‐year SCS ISOs, with a relatively larger strength and significant northward component, are selected, and the composite and lead–lag correlation analyses are conducted to explore a possible mechanism for the northward propagation of ISOs in the pre‐monsoon period. Two mechanisms contribute to the northward propagation of the SCS ISOs. One is the vorticity advection by the barotropic southerly mean flow. First, a barotropic vorticity is induced by vertical advection inside the convection centre. During the pre‐monsoon period, the west sides of the upper tropospheric high and the western Pacific subtropical high cover the SCS, thus, there are southerly flows both in the upper and lower troposphere over the SCS. Then the barotropic vorticity induced inside the convection centre shifts to the north because of the advection by the barotropic southerly mean flow. The other is the planetary boundary layer (PBL) moisture advection by the mean flow that lead to a meridional phase leading of the ISO humidity. The northward shift of the PBL moisture promotes a convective instability ahead of the convection centre and leads to the northward propagation of ISOs over the SCS.
More realistic land‐use and vegetation parameters in a regional climate model reduce model biases over China
Authors: Gou Jiaojiao , Wang Fei , Jin Kai , Mu Xingmin , Chen Deliang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAccurate vegetation cover data are important for realistic simulation of regional climate. The default vegetation parameters from Global Land Cover 2000, currently incorporated into global climate models and used in regional climate model RegCM, are not realistic for China, which may have contributed to serious bias in surface climate simulation. In this study, a new set of vegetation parameters considering the Plant Functional Type (PFT) fractions and the corresponding monthly leaf area index (PFT_LAI), were developed based on the land cover and MODIS LAI data sets. The regional climate model RegCM4.5 coupled with the land surface model CLM4.5 were utilized to test the performance of the new vegetation parameters by comparing simulations with observations using different surface parameters. The surface energy balance was analysed to examine the effects of changed vegetation parameters on regional climate. The results showed that the new parameters were more accurate than the GLC2000 parameters when describing the distribution of crops, grassland, and forests over China. The improved vegetation parameters reduced model biases for winter air temperature and precipitation over southern China by 0.9°C and 8%, respectively, and reduced the winter temperature and summer precipitation biases over northeastern China by approximately 0.7°C and 8%, respectively. More accurate surface albedo are the main reasons for reductions in model bias. However, certain biases, such as the cold and dry bias over the Tibetan Plateau, still remained in the simulation results using our new vegetation data.
Ten micrometer pixel, quantum dots color conversion layer for high resolution and full color active matrix micro‐LED display
Authors: Kim Hyo‐Min , Ryu Misun , Cha James H.J. , Kim Hyun Soo , Jeong Tak , Jang Jin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA fine patternable quantum dots (QDs) color conversion layer (CCL) for high resolution and full color active matrix (AM) micro‐LED (μ‐LED) display is demonstrated. QDs CCL could be patterned until 10 μm using photolithography process. It is found that multicoatings with red and green QDs (R‐ and G‐QDs) CCLs on LED array can provide full color AM display.
Effect of UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 activity on risk for developing Gilbert's syndrome
Authors: Huang May‐Jen , Chen Yi‐Chun , Huang Yang‐Yang , Yang Sien‐Sing , Chen Pei‐Lain , Huang Ching‐Shan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractVariations at the six nucleotides −3279 (T > G), −53 (A[TA]6TAA > A[TA]7TAA), 211 (G > A), 686 (C > A), 1091 (C > T), and 1456 (T > G) in the UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene were determined in 178 Taiwanese patients with Gilbert's syndrome and in 200 healthy adults. Every subject was classified as a genotype depending on variation status of the six nucleotides in the UGT1A1 gene. The UGT1A1 activity for each genotype was calculated and then those genotypes were divided into 10 subgroups (Q1~Q10) according to their UGT1A1 activities, by using 10% as an interval. There were 24 genotypes observed, with UGT1A1 activity ranged 9%~100% of normal. There were two and six subjects with Gilbert's syndrome and none of healthy controls carrying genotypes in the Q1 and Q2 subgroups, respectively. The odds of developing Gilbert's syndrome were significantly higher for subjects carrying genotypes in the Q3, Q4, and Q5 subgroups than for those with genotype in the Q10 subgroup (odds ratios: 240.22, 59.80, and 14.67, respectively, P < .001 for each). Among the 178 patients of Gilbert's syndrome, serum bilirubin value was inversely correlated with UGT1A1 activity (r = −.306, P < .001). The sensitivity was 72.0% and the specificity was 90.5% by using UGT1A1 activity ≦40% of normal as the cut‐off point to distinguish between healthy subjects and patients of Gilbert's syndrome. Our results demonstrate that UGT1A1 activity is certainly a determinate for serum bilirubin value and UGT1A1 activity ≦40% of normal is a proper risk factor for the development of Gilbert's syndrome.
Phase transitions in (C7H12N2)2[SnCl6]Cl2·1.5H2O crystal, studied by NMR and infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Hajji Rachid , Hlel Faouzi 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe (C7H12N2)2[SnCl6]Cl2·1.5H2O complex is a new member of the family of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite compounds. It exhibits two order–disorder phase transitions with changes in the conformation of aromatic cations at the two transition temperatures 360 and 412 K. Differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy were used to investigate these phase transitions. These transition mechanisms were investigated in terms of the spin–lattice relaxation times T1 for 1H static NMR and the chemical shifts for 13C CP–MAS. The temperature dependence of T1(1H) and 13C chemical shifts are changed near TC1 and TC2. Furthermore, the splitting for 13C NMR signals in Phases (II) and (III) indicated a ferroelastic characteristic of the compound. In addition, FT‐IR results indicate that the ordered conformational structure of aromatic cations undergoes a remarkable disorder with increasing temperature. The NMR and FT‐IR studies suggest that the phase transition mechanisms are related to the reorientational motion of [C7H12N2]2+ cations as a whole. Phase transition was examined in light of the interesting optical properties of this material.
A Heaviside function‐based density representation algorithm for truss‐like buckling‐induced mechanism design
Authors: Deng Hao 
Published: April 2019

SummaryMotivated by key advances in manufacturing techniques, the tailoring of materials to achieve novel properties such as energy dissipation properties has been the focus of active research in engineering and materials science over the past decade. The goal of material design is to determine the optimal spatial layout to achieve a desired macroscopic constitutive response. However, the manufacturing abilities are the key factors to constrain the feasible design space, eg, minimum length and geometry complexity. Traditional density‐based method, where each element works as a variable, always results in complicated geometry with large number of small intricate features. To address the aforementioned challenges, a new density field representation technique, named, Heaviside function‐based geometric representation algorithm, is proposed in this paper, where density field is represented by truss‐like components. Truss‐like components have less control parameters and easier to handle for sensitivities derivation, especially for distance sensitivities. Using bar components to explicitly represent density field can explore design space effectively and generate simple structures without any intricate small features at borders. Furthermore, this density representation method is mesh independent and design variables are reduced significantly so that optimization problem can be solved efficiently using small‐scale optimization algorithm, eg, sequential quadratic programming. However, finding a reasonable initial component distribution is critical to avoid optimization failure. To overcome this difficulty, a jump‐start method is proposed by solving inverse subproblem. The overall optimization progress is divided into three stages, ie, the first stage is obtaining coarse snap‐through material configuration based on traditional density‐based method; the second stage is an inverse optimization problem to fit the geometry component to the solution obtained in stage I; and the stage III is maximizing the energy dissipation capacity. To demonstrate the powerful ability in design buckling‐induced mechanism of the proposed density representation algorithm, buckling‐induced energy dissipation mechanism with snap‐through behavior to achieve the desired energy dissipation capacity considering failure constraint is demonstrated through four numerical examples.
Aromatic Nucleophilic Substitution via Chlorinated Nitrated Benzene Derivatives: Four Energetic Ring‐substituted Furazans
Authors: Feng Zhicun , Zhang Yu , Li Jing , Li Yanan , Zhao Fengqi , Xu Kangzhen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAccording to an energetic molecule integration strategy, four energetic ring‐substituted furazans, 3‐amino‐4‐(2,4‐dinitroanilino)furazan (5), 3‐amino‐4‐picrylaminofurazan (6), 3,4‐bis(picrylamino)furazan (7) and 4‐(4‐aminofurazanamino)‐7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (8), were synthesized through a similar aromatic nucleophilic substitution system. Crystal structures of 5–7 as well as that of a raw material 3,4‐diaminofurazan (1) for comparison are first reported and analyzed in detail. Thermal behavior, detonation properties and impact sensitivities of compounds 5–8 are discussed. Compounds 6–8 possess good potential to be used as energetic materials (EMs). Furthermore, compound 7, as the most promising high‐energy compound with high thermal stability and low sensitivity among the four ring‐substituted furazans, has the lowest impact sensitivity (>23.5 J) comparable to that of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (FOX‐7), the highest thermal stability [peak temperatures (Tp)=293.63 °C] close to that of cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the best detonation performance [detonation pressure (P)=28.4 GPa and detonation velocity (vD)=7878 m s−1] superior to that of 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB).
A bypass mechanism of abiraterone‐resistant prostate cancer: Accumulating CYP17A1 substrates activate androgen receptor signaling
Authors: Moll Jan M. , Kumagai Jinpei , van Royen Martin E. , Teubel Wilma J. , van Soest Robert J. , French Pim J. , Homma Yukio , Jenster Guido , de Wit Ronald , van Weerden Wytske M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundIntratumoral steroidogenesis and its potential relevance in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and in cytochrome P450, family 17, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP17A1)‐inhibitor treated hormone‐naïve and patients with CRPC are not well established. In this study, we tested if substrates for de novo steroidogenesis accumulating during CYP17A1 inhibition may drive cell growth in relevant preclinical models.MethodsPCa cell lines and their respective CRPC sublines were used to model CRPC in vitro. Precursor steroids pregnenolone (Preg) and progesterone (Prog) served as substrate for de novo steroid synthesis. TAK700 (orteronel), abiraterone, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against CYP17A1 were used to block CYP17A1 enzyme activity. The antiandrogen RD162 was used to assess androgen receptor (AR) involvement. Cell growth was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. AR‐target gene expression was quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Nuclear import studies using cells with green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged AR were performed to assess the potential of precursor steroids to directly activate AR.ResultsPreg and Prog stimulated cell proliferation and AR target gene expression in VCaP, DuCaP, LNCaP, and their respective CRPC sublines. The antiandrogen RD162, but not CYP17A1 inhibition with TAK700, abiraterone or siRNA, was able to block Preg‐ and Prog‐induced proliferation. In contrast to TAK700, abiraterone also affected dihydrotestosterone‐induced cell growth, indicating direct AR binding. Furthermore, Prog‐induced AR translocation was not affected by treatment with TAK700 or abiraterone, while it was effectively blocked by the AR antagonist enzalutamide, further demonstrating the direct AR activation by Prog.ConclusionActivation of the AR by clinically relevant levels of Preg and Prog accumulating in abiraterone‐treated patients may act as a driver for CRPC. These data provide a scientific rationale for combining CYP17A1 inhibitors with antiandrogens, particularly in patients with overexpressed or mutated‐AR.