bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An accurate and power‐efficient period‐modulator‐based interface for grounded capacitive sensors
Authors: Ahmadpour Bijargah Arash , Heidary Ali , Torkzadeh Pooya , Nihtianov Stoyan 
Published: May 2019

SummaryA low‐power and high‐resolution capacitance‐to‐period converter (CPC) based on period modulation (PM) for subnanometer displacement measurement systems is proposed. The presented circuit employs the interface developed in a previous work, “a grounded capacitance‐to‐voltage converter (CVC) based on a zoom‐in structure,” further improving its performance through a symmetrical design of the applied autocalibration technique. The scheme is based on the use of a relaxation oscillator. To minimize the error contributed by the CPC circuitry, different precision techniques such as chopping, autocalibration, and active shielding are applied. The proposed CPC is realized in a 0.18‐μm complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) technology, occupies an area of 0.5 mm2, and consumes 135 μA from a 2‐V power supply. In order to achieve optimal performance and avoid overdesigning, a noise estimation of various parts of the CPC has been done. Accordingly, for a 10‐pF sensor capacitance, the overall CPC demonstrates a capacitance resolution of 0.5 fF for a latency of 128 microseconds, corresponding to an effective number of bits (ENOB) of 12.5 bits and an energy efficiency of 6 pJ/step. The nonlinearity error has been evaluated as well, resulting in a less than 0.03% full‐scale span (FSS).
Health‐related quality of life after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a single centre's experience
Authors: Ørbo Marte Christine , Karlsen Sidsel Fredheim , Pedersen Ellinor Phillips , Hermansen Stig Eggen , Rønning Per Bjørnerud , Nergaard Kathrine Aas , Næsheim Torvind , Myrmel Truls 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate health‐related quality of life (HRQL) among patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in northern Norway over a period of 27 years (1988–2015) and to identify variables related to HRQL.Methods and resultsA retrospective inquiry of the ECMO registry at the University Hospital of North Norway identified 74 ECMO‐treated patients (mean age 49 years, 65% males). Acute cardiac failure was the dominant indication (58%), and venoarterial ECMO was the dominant mode of treatment (87%). Mortality for discharged patients was recorded on 20 September 2016. Thirty (41%) survivors were identified. Twenty‐three survivors were eligible for the survey and received a set of questionnaires at home. The main outcome measure was HRQL as measured with the 36‐item Short‐Form health survey (SF‐36) (RAND Short Form‐36 v1.2). Other questionnaires covered demographic information, problems with functioning in usual daily activities (such as hobbies, household chores, family, or work), employment status, and psychological distress. The survey was completed by 20 (87%) survivors (mean age = 49 years, 12 men). Indications for ECMO treatment (VA = 90%) had been respiratory failure (25%), cardiac failure (60%), and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (15%). The average time since ECMO treatment was 6.5 years. Seventy‐five percent reported mental HRQL (SF‐36 Mental Component Summary, mean = 43, SD = 5) or physical HRQL (SF‐36 Physical Component Summary, mean = 43, SD = 4.5) within the normal range (T = 50 ± 10) in comparison with age‐matched population data from national norms. Half of the responders reported problems on the SF‐36 subscales general health and role physical. Seventy percent reported problems on the SF‐36 subscale role emotional. All but one responder lived independently without any organized care, and 90% reported no problems related to basic self‐care. Half of those in working age had returned to work after ECMO treatment. Forty percent of the responders reported some degree of restrictions in usual daily activities, problems with mobility (35%), anxiety/depression (35%), or pain/discomfort (55%). Significant univariate associations were observed for poorer HRQL and higher reports of psychological distress, pain, and experiencing restrictions in usual everyday activities. Improved HRQL was significantly related to an extended time since ECMO treatment.ConclusionsOur survey indicates an overall positive long‐term HRQL outcome for our ECMO survivors. A subset reported problems with functioning and HRQL. Future research should focus on identification of the survivors at risk for poor recovery who may benefit from rehabilitation interventions.
Genomic methylation in plant cell cultures: A barrier to the development of commercial long‐term biofactories
Authors: Sanchez‐Muñoz Raul , Moyano Elisabeth , Khojasteh Abbas , Bonfill Mercedes , Cusido Rosa M. , Palazon Javier 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPlant cell biofactories offer great advantages for the production of plant compounds of interest, although certain limitations still need to be overcome before their maximum potential is reached. One obstacle is the gradual loss of secondary metabolite production during in vitro culture maintenance, which is an important impediment in the development of large‐scale production systems. The relationship between in vitro maintenance and epigenetic changes has been demonstrated in several plant species; in particular, methylation levels have been found to increase in in vitro cultures over time. Higher DNA methylation levels have been correlated with a low yield of secondary metabolites in in vitro plant cell cultures. The longer the period of subculturing, the more methylated cytosines were found throughout the genome, and secondary metabolism decreased significantly. This review summarizes different studies on epigenetic changes during the maintenance of in vitro cell cultures and the insights they provide on the mechanisms involved. It concludes by looking at the perspectives for new approaches designed to avoid declines in metabolite production.
An efficient hybrid WENO scheme with a problem independent discontinuity locator
Authors: Bhise Ashlesha A. , G Naga Raju , Samala Rathan , M Devakar 
Published: May 2019

SummaryIn this paper, we have proposed a new problem independent discontinuity locator for hybridization. Along with this, a new global smoothness indicator is proposed. The hybrid weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) scheme works on the principle of applying linear upwind scheme in smooth regions and WENO algorithm in nonsmooth regions to save computational cost, which is reflected in the time taken for the computation of the numerical solution. A problem independent discontinuity locator has been designed based on the properties of the existing smoothness indicators. In addition, to attain the required order of accuracy, a new global smoothness indicator is proposed, which produces a solution with better resolution at discontinuities. Numerical experiments have been included to demonstrate the application of the proposed theory to some benchmark problems. It has been shown that the newly proposed hybrid WENO scheme works faster and gives a solution of higher resolution than WENO‐JS, WENO‐Z, and few other more recent third‐order WENO schemes.
Duloxetine effects on striatal resting‐state functional connectivity in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Wang Li , An Jing , Gao Hong‐Mei , Zhang Ping , Chen Chao , Li Ke , Mitchell Philip B. , Si Tian‐Mei 
Published: May 2019

AbstractReward deficits and associated striatal circuitry disturbances have been implicated in the onset and progression of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, no studies have been conducted to investigate how the striatal circuitry changes during standard antidepressant, which is important for development of novel and targeted treatments for MDD. We examined the seed‐to‐whole‐brain functional connectivity (FC) for six striatal subregions based on resting‐state fMRI data of 23 MDD patients before and after 8‐week duloxetine, a serotonin, and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. Twenty‐three healthy controls (HCs) were also scanned twice with an 8‐week interval. After the analysis of covariance, we observed significant group‐by‐time interaction on FC of the dorsal caudate (DC), ventral striatum (VS), and putamen seeds. Post hoc analyses revealed that the FC between several right striatal seeds and left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), between right DC and left precuneus, between right superior VS and left inferior parietal lobe, were significantly higher in MDD patients compared to HCs at baseline and were reduced after treatment. Conversely, the FC between right inferior VS and left cerebellum was lower in MDD patients and was increased after treatment. Patients with larger reduction in right superior VS—left SFG FC exhibited larger alleviation of rumination. These findings suggest that duloxetine modulates the striatal FC with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, posterior default mode network, and cerebellum, and partly, these changes underlie symptomatic improvement. This study adds to our understanding of antidepressant mechanism and future therapeutic development might benefit from considering these striatal circuitry as potential targets.
Parenting and toddler self‐regulation in low‐income families: What does sleep have to do with it?
Authors: Julian Megan M. , Leung Christy Y. Y. , Rosenblum Katherine L. , LeBourgeois Monique K. , Lumeng Julie C. , Kaciroti Niko , Miller Alison L. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTToddlerhood is a sensitive period in the development of self‐regulation, a set of adaptive skills that are fundamental to mental health and partly shaped by parenting. Healthy sleep is known to be critical for self‐regulation; yet, the degree to which child sleep alters interactive child–parent processes remains understudied. This study examines associations between observed parenting and toddler self‐regulation, with toddler sleep as a moderator of this association. Toddlers in low‐income families (N = 171) and their mothers were videotaped during free play and a self‐regulation challenge task; videos were coded for mothers’ behavior and affect (free play) and toddlers’ self‐regulation (challenge task). Mothers reported their child's nighttime sleep duration via questionnaire. Results revealed significant Sleep × Maternal Negative Affect and Sleep × Maternal Negative Control interactions. Children who did not experience negative parenting had good self‐regulation regardless of their nighttime sleep duration. For children who did experience negative parenting, self‐regulation was intact among those who obtained more nighttime sleep, but significantly poorer among children who were getting less nighttime sleep. Thus, among children who were reported to obtain less nighttime sleep, there were more robust associations between negative parenting and poorer self‐regulation than among toddlers who were reported to obtain more sleep.
DNA methylation of NR3c1 in infancy: Associations between maternal caregiving and infant sex
Authors: Conradt Elisabeth , Ostlund Brendan , Guerin Dylan , Armstrong David A. , Marsit Carmen J. , Tronick Edward , LaGasse Lyn , Lester Barry M. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTCaregivers play a critical role in scaffolding infant stress reactivity and regulation, but the mechanisms by which this scaffolding occurs is unclear. Animal models strongly suggest that epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, are sensitive to caregiving behaviors and, in turn, offspring stress reactivity. We examined the direct effects of caregiving behaviors on DNA methylation in infants and infant stress reactivity. Infants and mothers (N = 128) were assessed during a free play when infants were 5 months old. Maternal responsiveness and appropriate touch were coded. and infant buccal epithelial cells were sampled to assess for DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene, NR3c1 exon 1F. Infant cortisol reactivity was assessed in response to the still‐face paradigm. Greater levels of maternal responsiveness and appropriate touch were related to less DNA methylation of specific regions in NR3c1 exon 1F, but only for females. There was no association with maternal responsiveness and appropriate touch or DNA methylation of NR3c1 exon 1F on prestress cortisol or cortisol reactivity. Our results are discussed in relation to programming models that implicate maternal care as an important factor in programing infant stress reactivity.
Chemoresistance in mesenchymal lung cancer cells is correlated to high regulatory T cell presence in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Zhang Li‐Na , Xin Tong , Chen Mo , Gao Peng 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMost deaths due to lung cancer are a result of metastatic progression. One major problem in treating patients with lung cancer is either the inherent or acquired resistance to chemotherapy. Role of tumor microenvironment in disease progression and resistance to chemotherapy is being increasingly appreciated and reported for various cancers. Hence, the objective of the current study was to define the lung cancer tumor microenvironment. Biopsy tissue specimens and blood samples were collected from stage I–IV lung patients (n = 53). Epithelial and mesenchymal A549 cells were used to test chemosensitivity. CD3+ T cells are the major tumor‐infiltrating T lymphocyte subsets in patients with lung cancer, which were independent of disease stage. Functional analysis indicated high expression of the CD4+ helper T cells and low expression of the CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in lung cancer tissue compared to tumor adjacent normal tissue. Within the CD4+ T cell subset, there seems to be significant increase in the regulator T cells (Tregs) which are known to help the tumor in evading the immune system. CDH1 (encoding the epithelial cell marker E‐cadherin) and IL2RA (encoding the Treg marker CD25) expression in patients with stage IV lung cancer that were resistant to cisplatin treatment showed an inverse correlation between IL2RA (high) and CDH1 (low) expression. Our results indicate that lung tumor is enriched in Tregs which might potentially explain how lung tumors evade the immune system. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019
The role of visiting faculty on the training of clinical pharmacists in Namibia: A qualitative study
Authors: Hachey David , Jonkman Lauren , Corkhill Nicola , Rennie Timothy , Lates Jennie , Mubita Mwangana 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe creation of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Namibia in 2011 has led to the rapid growth of educational degrees and programs including the Diploma in Pharmacy, Bachelors of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Internship Support Program, and the Masters of Clinical Pharmacy. Partnerships with external pharmacists have created unique academic opportunities for the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical pharmacy services.ObjectivesTo describe the core roles and responsibilities of visiting faculty in a rapidly expanding Sub‐Saharan School of Pharmacy and the student perspectives of those faculty.MethodsA qualitative approach was used to assess the roles of visiting faculty and the impact on the education and practice of current students in the Masters of Pharmacy program. Independent focus groups were held for second‐ and third‐year students. Data were collected by a University of Namibia faculty member and transcripts were transcribed and analyzed for themes.ResultsThe roles of visiting faculty fell into three main categories: teaching, service, and scholarship. All second‐ and third‐year students participated in the focus groups. The five identified themes included: (1) Students were inspired by new perspectives that visiting faculty offered to their training; (2) Students valued the increased level of feedback from visiting faculty; (3) Students described how their clinical skills grew from the input of the visiting faculty; (4) Students valued the support and opinions of clinician‐educators who practiced regularly in a clinical setting; and (5) Students felt that some additional opportunities existed for visiting faculty to improve student engagement.ConclusionVisiting faculty delivered didactic instruction, clinical teaching, and mentorship to develop and enhance clinical pharmacy services in Namibia. Visiting faculty was perceived as open‐minded, inspirational, and approachable. They also provided a different framework and vision of clinical pharmacy services and a systematic clinical approach to patient care.
Effects of FES‐Rowing Exercise on the Time‐Dependent Changes in Bone Microarchitecture After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross‐Sectional Investigation
Authors: Draghici Adina E , Taylor J Andrew , Bouxsein Mary L , Shefelbine Sandra J 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTDisuse osteoporosis is a serious, secondary consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Numerous pharmacological and exercise therapies have been implemented to mitigate bone loss after SCI. However, these therapies have not been shown to improve bone density, potentially because of insufficient duration and magnitude of loading and/or inability of imaging modalities to capture changes in bone microarchitecture. In this cross‐sectional study, we evaluated bone microstructure of the distal tibia and radius using HR‐pQCT in men with SCI (N = 13) who regularly trained with functional electrical stimulation‐ (FES‐) rowing. We aimed to determine whether the amount of FES‐rowing (total distance rowed and peak foot force) and/or time since injury (TSI) predict bone loss after SCI. We assessed volumetric density of the total, cortical, and trabecular compartments, cortical thickness, and trabecular thickness. Using linear regression analysis, we found that TSI was not associated with any of the tibial bone metrics. In fact, none of the variables (TSI, total distance rowed, and peak foot force) independently predicted bone loss. Using stepwise regression, when all three variables were considered together, we found a strong prediction for trabecular microstructure (trabecular vBMD: R2 = 0.53; p = 0.06; trabecular thickness: R2 = 0.72; p < 0.01), but not cortical bone metrics. In particular, trabecular vBMD and thickness were negatively associated with TSI and positively associated with distance rowed. Foot force contributed markedly less to trabecular bone than distance rowed or TSI. Our results suggest that regular FES‐rowing may have the capacity to alter the time‐dependent bone negative effects of SCI on trabecular bone density and microstructure. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Role of GS28 in sodium nitroprusside‐induced cell death in cervical carcinoma cells
Authors: Rim Do Eun , Yoo Hyung Jae , Lee Jeong‐Hwa , Kwon Oh‐Joo , Jeong Seong‐Whan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractGolgi S‐nitro‐N‐acetylpenicillamine receptor complex 1 (GS28) has been implicated in Golgi vesicle transport. We examined the role of GS28 and its molecular mechanisms in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)‐induced cell death using GS28 siRNA (siGS28)‐transfected HeLa cells. Significant inhibition of cytotoxicity was observed in the cells treated with SNP, and photodegraded SNP showed equal cytotoxicity to SNP. Pretreatment with an ERK inhibitor or siErk1 cotransfection blocked the inhibition in cytotoxicity. Additionally, increased phosphorylation of ERK was maintained in the cells treated with SNP, and Nrf2 level was dependent on ERK phosphorylation. However, pretreatment with a pan‐caspase inhibitor had no effect on cytotoxicity or procaspase‐3 level. Pretreatment with an autophagy inhibitor or siATG5 cotransfection blocked the inhibition of cytotoxicity. The changes of LC3 corresponded to that in siErk1‐cotransfected cells. These data suggest that GS28 has an inductive role in SNP‐induced cell death via inhibition of ERK, leading to inhibition of autophagic processes in HeLa cells.
TGFβ‐induced factor homeobox 2 blocks osteoblastic differentiation through targeting pSmad3/HDAC4/H4ac/Runx2 axis
Authors: Yu Xiang , Shen Gengyang , Ren Hui , Zhang Zhida , Shang Qi , Zhao Wenhua , Huang Jinjing , Yang Zhidong , Liang De , Jiang Xiaobing 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTGFβ‐induced factor homeobox 2 (Tgif2) has been reported as a functional role in cell homeostasis and a key activator of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss, as well. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Tgif2 on osteogenic differentiation. Tgif2 expression was assessed during the osteogenic differentiation process of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and primary calvarial osteoblasts (OBs). The expression of Tgif2 in BMSCs and OBs increased by using lentivirus‐mediated gene overexpression (OE). The effect of Tgif2 on osteogenic differentiation was compared between Tgif2 negative control (Tgif2‐NC) and Tgif2‐OE group in BMSCs/OBs via performing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, mineralization assay, and gene expression analysis of some osteogenic markers. To investigate the molecular mechanism, the direct interaction of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and pSmad3, acetylated histone H4 (H4ac), and Runx2‐binding site of the Ocn promoter was confirmed by performing co‐immunoprecipitation (CoIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, respectively. The results showed that Tgif2 abundantly expressed in BMSCs and primary calvarial OBs, but decreased after osteogenic induction. In vitro, osteogenic differentiation was significantly inhibited with Tgif2 overexpression in both BMSCs and OBs, as well as the expression levels of osteogenic markers (Runx2, Sp7, Alp, and Ocn). Moreover, we found that Tgif2 overexpression significantly promoted the interaction of pSmad3 with HDAC4 in differentiated OBs, and sequentially decreased the abundance of H4ac at the Runx2‐binding site of the Ocn promoter. These findings indicated that Tgif2 might block osteoblastic differentiation in vitro through targeting pSmad3/HDAC4/H4ac/Runx2 axis.
Growth/differentiation 5 promotes the differentiation of retinal stem cells into neurons via Atoh8
Authors: Li Yanxiu , Li Haibo , Zhang LuSi , Xiong Siqi , Wen ShiJin , Xia Xiaobo , Zhou Xia 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRetinal diseases are characterized by the degeneration of retinal neural cells, and are the main cause of blindness. Although the development of stem cell including retinal stem cell therapies raises hope for retinal neuron replacement, currently, there is still no efficient method to regenerate retinal neurons. To realize the potential roles of the production of retinal neurons, neurotrophic factor direct the differentiation of retinal stem cells should be extensively identified. In this article, we characterized growth/differentiation 5 (GDF5), which caused the activation of Smad signaling, can induce neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth in retinal stem cell differentiation. Moreover, a bHLH transcription factor, Atoh8 modulates the effects stimulated by GDF5. These data suggested that GDF5 regulates neuron differentiation through mediating Atoh8 and help us to understand the pathophysiological function of GDF5 in retinal regeneration.