bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Biodetection of Anticancer Drug Rituxan with DNA Biosensor Modified PAMAM Dendrimer/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite
Authors: Hatamluyi Behnaz , Es'haghi Zarrin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPAMAM dendrimer/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified pencil graphite electrode (PAMAM/RGO/PGE) was used to fabricate an electrochemical DNA biosensor for determination of Rituxan (RTX) at low concentrations, for the first time. The fabricated biosensor was characterized with FE‐SEM, EIS, and CV techniques. The ds‐DNA/PAMAM/RGO/PGE was used as a working electrode to study the interaction between the RTX and salmon sperm ds‐DNA by DPV technique. Because of the interaction between the drug and DNA leads to a decrease in the guanine oxidation peak current, it was used as an indicator for the determination of the RTX. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a wide linear relationship between RTX concentration and guanine signal was obtained within the range of 7.0 to 60.0 μmol L−1 and 60.0 to 300.0 μmol L−1 with a low detection limit (0.56 μmol L−1). To clarify the interaction mechanism between the RTX and the ds‐DNA, DPV and UV‐Vis measurements were used. The reproducibility, stability, and performance of the constructed biosensor was examined by quantitative measuring RTX in pharmaceutical and human serum samples with good precision (RSD; 2.0–6.0 %) and acceptable recoveries (100.04–101.95 %).
Probing the molecular regulation of lipopolysaccharide stress in piglet liver by comparative proteomics analysis
Authors: Xia Bing , Meng Qingshi , Feng Xiaohui , Tang Xiangfang , Jia Anfeng , Feng Jinghai , Zhang Sheng , Zhang Hongfu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce inflammatory responses in piglets, causing immunological stress and tissue damage. However, chronic LPS infection may lead to LPS‐induced immunological stress resistance. The molecular mechanisms underlying LPS stress have not been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted a global comparative proteomics analysis to investigate the molecular regulation of LPS stress using an immunological stress model of weaned piglets. A shotgun‐based SWATH‐MS workflow was used for global proteomes of the piglet livers after 15‐day LPS treatment. Out of 3700 quantified proteins, 93 proteins showed differential changes under LPS stress. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in inflammatory response, oxidation‐redox processes and defense reactions, and were enriched in a phagosome pathway. Several key proteins associated with oxidative stress (SOD2), inflammation response (STEAP4 and S100 family) and the phagosome pathway were verified by activity and targeted‐MS analyses. The observed responses appear to mitigate hepatic damage due to excessive oxidative stress, inflammation, and repression of the phagosome pathway. Our results reveal that an increased STEAP4 expression in piglets appears involved in cellular regulation by LPS stress and subsequent immunological stress resistance. This study sheds new light on the mechanism of prevention and relieving injury by LPS‐induced immune responses.
Geomorphic response to late Quaternary tectonics in the axial portion of the Southern Apennines (Italy): A case study from the Calore River valley
Authors: Amato V. , Aucelli P.P.C. , Cesarano M. , Filocamo F. , Leone N. , Petrosino P. , Rosskopf C.M. , Valente E. , Casciello E. , Giralt S. , Jicha B.R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe present study focuses on the morphotectonic evolution of the axial portion of the Southern Apennine chain between the lower Calore River valley and the northern Camposauro mountain front (Campania Region). A multidisciplinary approach was used, including geomorphological, field‐geology, stratigraphical, morphotectonic, structural, 40Ar/39Ar and tephrostratigraphical data. Results indicate that, from the Lower Pleistocene onwards, this sector of the chain was affected by extensional tectonics responsible for the onset of the sedimentation of Quaternary fluvial, alluvial fan and slope deposits. Fault systems are mainly composed of NW‐SE, NE–SW and W‐E trending strike‐slip and normal faults, associated to NW‐SE and NE–SW oriented extensions. Fault scarps, stratigraphical and structural data and morphotectonic indicators suggest that these faults affected the wide piedmont area of the northern Camposauro mountain front in the Lower Pleistocene–Upper Pleistocene time span. Faults affected both the oldest Quaternary slope deposits (Laiano Synthem, Lower Pleistocene) and the overlying alluvial fan system deposits constrained between the late Middle Pleistocene and the Holocene. The latter are geomorphologically and chrono‐stratigraphically grouped into four generations, I generation: late Middle Pleistocene–early Upper Pleistocene, with tephra layers 40Ar/39Ar dated to 158±6 and 113±7 ka; II generation: Upper Pleistocene, with tephra layers correlated with the Campanian Ignimbrite (39 ka) and with the slightly older Campi Flegrei activity (40Ar/39Ar age 48±7 ka); III generation: late Upper Pleistocene–Lower Holocene, with tephra layers correlated with the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (~15 ka); IV generation: Holocene in age. The evolution of the first three generations was controlled by Middle Pleistocene extensional tectonics, while Holocene fans do not show evidence of tectonic activity. Nevertheless, considering the moderate to high magnitude historical seismicity of the study area, we cannot rule out that some of the recognized faults may still be active. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of K‐bentonites from the Late Ordovician to the Early Silurian in South China and their geological significance
Authors: Ge Xiangying , Mou Chuanlong , Wang Chengshan , Men Xin , Chen Chao , Hou Qian 
Published: March 2018

There are numerous K‐bentonites interlayered with black shales from the Late Ordovician‐Early Silurian that are widely distributed in South China. In this paper, we carried out mineralogical and geochemical investigations on K‐bentonite samples collected from 6 sections in South China. The petrological features of thin sections, X‐ray diffraction data, and major element results show that in addition to clay minerals, which are dominated by illite/smectite mixed layer and illite, the K‐bentonites also contain quartz, microcline, albite, pyrite, and zircon. Zircon U–Pb dating for two K‐bentonite beds (WXP‐BT2 and LBP‐BT1) by the LA‐ICP‐MS method yielded two weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of 443.5 ± 1.9 and 440.4 ± 5.6 Ma, respectively. The concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) range from 141.28 to 854.44 ppm, chondrite‐normalized REE patterns display a negative Eu anomaly and an enhanced enrichment in light REE. Samples plot in the fields of trachyte, trachyandesite, rhyodacite (dacite), and andesite in a plot of Nb/Y against Zr/TiO2 suggest that the K‐bentonites are most probably derived from felsic magmas with subalkaline to alkaline affinities. The discrimination diagrams (Y‐Nb, Y + Ta‐Rb, Y + Nb‐Rb) show that the tectonic setting of the source volcanoes ranges from a volcanic arc to within‐plate setting. The widely distributed bentonites suggest intensified volcanic ash eruptions in the early Late Ordovician, which released huge amounts of volcanic ash. The SO2 emission and the weathering of the volcanic ashes probably resulted in global climate cooling and indirectly caused the Hirnantian glaciation and the mass extinction at the end of the Ordovician Period.
A voxel‐based asymmetry study of the relationship between hemispheric asymmetry and language dominance in Wada tested patients
Authors: Keller Simon S. , Roberts Neil , Baker Gus , Sluming Vanessa , Cezayirli Enis , Mayes Andrew , Eldridge Paul , Marson Anthony G. , Wieshmann Udo C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDetermining the anatomical basis of hemispheric language dominance (HLD) remains an important scientific endeavor. The Wada test remains the gold standard test for HLD and provides a unique opportunity to determine the relationship between HLD and hemispheric structural asymmetries on MRI. In this study, we applied a whole‐brain voxel‐based asymmetry (VBA) approach to determine the relationship between interhemispheric structural asymmetries and HLD in a large consecutive sample of Wada tested patients. Of 135 patients, 114 (84.4%) had left HLD, 10 (7.4%) right HLD, and 11 (8.2%) bilateral language representation. Fifty‐four controls were also studied. Right‐handed controls and right‐handed patients with left HLD had comparable structural brain asymmetries in cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar regions that have previously been documented in healthy people. However, these patients and controls differed in structural asymmetry of the mesial temporal lobe and a circumscribed region in the superior temporal gyrus, suggesting that only asymmetries of these regions were due to brain alterations caused by epilepsy. Additional comparisons between patients with left and right HLD, matched for type and location of epilepsy, revealed that structural asymmetries of insula, pars triangularis, inferior temporal gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, ventral temporo‐occipital cortex, mesial somatosensory cortex, and mesial cerebellum were significantly associated with the side of HLD. Patients with right HLD and bilateral language representation were significantly less right‐handed. These results suggest that structural asymmetries of an insular‐fronto‐temporal network may be related to HLD.
Four‐Variable Model of an Enzymatic Oscillator Based on Trypsin
Authors: Semenov Sergey N. , Ainla Alar , Skorb Ekaterina V. , Postma Sjoerd G. J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper describes a four‐variable model for an enzymatic oscillator based on trypsin. Variables in this model are concentrations of the essential proteins (trypsin and trypsinogen) and small molecules (masked and active inhibitors of trypsin) within the network. Importantly, to simplify the model, non‐essential side reactions are neglected and essential reactions are assumed to follow first or second order kinetics. Numerical solutions of this reduced model semi‐quantitatively reproduce experimentally determined periods, amplitudes, and phase shifts of oscillations in the concentrations of several species in the network. Moreover, linear stability analysis shows that oscillations in the trypsin oscillator emerge and disappear through Hopf bifurcation. The model will be helpful in situations where simplicity is necessary such as detailed analysis of dynamics and modeling of reaction‐diffusion systems.
Mesenchymal stem cell seeded, biomimetic 3D printed scaffolds induce complete bridging of femoral critical sized defects
Authors: Szivek John A. , Gonzales David A. , Wojtanowski Andrew M. , Martinez Michael A. , Smith Jordan L. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNo current clinical treatments provide an ideal long‐term solution for repair of long bone segment defects. Incomplete healing prevents patients from returning to preinjury activity and ultimately requires additional surgery to induce healing. Obtaining autologous graft material is costly, incurs morbidity, requires surgical time, and quality material is finite. In this pilot study, 3D printed biomimetic scaffolds were used to facilitate rapid bone bridging in critical sized defects in a sheep model. An inverse trabecular pattern based on micro‐CT scans of sheep trabecular bone was printed in polybutylene terephthalate. Scaffolds were coated with micron‐sized tricalcium phosphate particles to induce osteoconductivity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from sheep inguinal and tail fat, in one group of sheep and scaffolds were infiltrated with MSCs in a bioreactor. Controls did not undergo surgery for cell extraction. Scaffolds were implanted into two experimental and two control adult sheep, and followed for either 3 or 6 months. Monthly radiographs and post explant micro‐CT scanning demonstrated bone formation on the lateral, anterior, medial, and posterior‐medial aspects along the entire length of the defect. Bone formation was absent on the posterior‐lateral aspect where a muscle is generally attached to the bone. The 3‐month time point showed 15.5% more cortical bone deposition around the scaffold circumference while the 6‐month time point showed 40.9% more bone deposition within scaffold pores. Control sheep failed to unite. Serum collagen type‐1C‐terminus telopeptides (CTX‐1) showed time‐dependent levels of bone resorption, and calcein labeling demonstrated an increase in bone formation rate in treated animals compared with controls. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 242–252, 2019.
Impact of apheresis automation on procedure quality and predictability of CD34+ cell yield
Authors: Besson Nelly , Topholm Bruun Mie , Stauffer Larsen Thomas , Nielsen Christian 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSuccess of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collections depends on patient biological parameters and stable apheresis device performance. We investigated product quality and factors influencing main apheresis procedure outcomes including CD34+ collection efficiency (CE), product volume or platelet CE. We also assessed different CD34+ cell yield prediction algorithms. Autologous PBSC collections by Spectra Optia from myeloma and lymphoma patients were analyzed. Complete blood count (CBC) from patient preprocedure and from collected products were assessed. (1) Product yield was calculated, (2) Product CBC was correlated with patient preprocedure variables, and (3) Predictions of CD34+ yields based on (a) product CD34+ cell concentration in samples after two or four chamber flushes or (b) traditional CE2 benchmark, were compared. 62 procedures in 41 patients were analyzed. 84% of all procedures were run without operator intervention. Median CD34+ CE2 was 56.9% (48.8%‐65.2%) and quite stable irrespective of patient conditions, with minor influence from patient white blood cell (WBC) precounts (rs = –.47; P < .001). Platelet loss correlated with WBC precount (rs = .46; P < .001), product volume (rs = .71; P < .0001) and number of chambers collected (rs = .72; P < .0001). CD34+ cell yield was better predicted based on (a) product CD34+ cell concentration from samples after 2 and 4 chamber flushes, respectively (rs = .969; P < .0001 and rs = .9648; P < .0001) than based on (b) CE2 formula (rs = .8262, P < .0001). Spectra Optia provides good quality PBSC products with stable and predictable yield regardless of starting conditions. CD34+ sampling of product after few chamber flushes could be used to predict CD34+ yield.
Exposing migratory sparrows to Plasmodium suggests costs of resistance, not necessarily of infection itself
Authors: Kelly Tosha Ruth , Bonner Simon Joseph , MacDougall‐Shackleton Scott A. , MacDougall‐Shackleton Elizabeth A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMigratory birds move through multiple habitats and encounter a diverse suite of parasites. This raises concern over migrants’ role in transporting infectious disease between breeding and wintering grounds, and along migratory flyways. Trade‐offs between flight and immune defenses could interfere with infected individuals’ migratory timing and success, potentially affecting infection dynamics. However, experimental evidence that parasitic infection affects migratory preparation or timing remains scant. We hypothesized that birds encountering hematozoan parasites shortly before migration incur physical costs (reduced body condition) and behavioral costs (delayed migration), due to the infection itself and/or to the demands of mounting an immune response. We experimentally inoculated song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) with Plasmodium shortly before fall migration. We monitored infection and body composition for 2 weeks after inoculation, and used radiotelemetry to track timing of migratory departure for another 7 weeks after release. Inoculated individuals that resisted infection had lower lean mass 12 days post exposure, relative to controls and infected individuals. This suggests trade‐offs between body composition and immune defenses that might reduce migration success of resistant individuals. Despite group differences in body composition prior to release, we did not detect significant differences in timing of migration departure several weeks later. Thus, malarial infection did not appear to incur detectable costs to body composition or to migratory timing, at least when exposure occurs several weeks before migration. This study is novel considering not only the costs of infection, but also the costs of resisting infection, in an experimental context.
The prevalence of anemia in Japanese Universiade athletes, detected with longitudinal preparticipation medical examinations
Authors: Komatsu Takayuki , Yamasawa Fumihiro , Dohi Michiko , Akama Takao , Masujima Atsushi , Kono Ichiro , Kawahara Takashi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundNo reports have evaluated the long‐term trends of the prevalence of anemia in Universiade athletes using preparticipation medical examinations (PPMEs). We aimed to investigate the prevalence of anemia among Japanese Universiade athletes, using longitudinal PPMEs.MethodsIn this retrospective, observational study, athletes with published data from official reports of the Japanese delegation of the summer Universiade games between 1977 and 2011 were included, as were similar‐aged nonathletes with published health data, extracted from official national reports from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. PPME data and national health survey data included blood tests for anemia and the age of each participant. We compared the anemia prevalence in both groups using an unpaired t test.ResultsAnemia prevalence among Universiade athletes decreased by 11.6% over the study period (13.3% in 1977 to 1.7% in 2011). Moreover, anemia prevalence between 1991 and 2011 in the total Universiade athlete population was significantly lower than that in the nonathletic population (mean ± standard deviation: 5.2 ± 2.9% vs 9.8 ± 1.5%, respectively; P = .025). In female Universiade athletes, anemia prevalence between 1977 and 1981 was higher than that in the nonathletic populations (48.1% vs 19.7%, respectively). However, in 2003, this value was lower than that in nonathletic female populations (8.5% vs 19.8%, respectively).ConclusionsA decrease in anemia prevalence in Japanese Universiade athletes was revealed with longitudinal PPMEs. Hematological parameters should be evaluated longitudinally in athletes to provide continuous performance support throughout the athlete's career.
Frog tendon structure and its relationship with locomotor modes
Authors: Abdala Virginia , Ponssa María Laura , Tulli María José , Fabre Anne‐Claire , Herrel Anthony 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTendon collagen fibrils are the basic force‐transmitting units of the tendon. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the diversity in tendon anatomy and ultrastructure, and the possible relationships between this diversity and locomotor modes utilized. Our main objectives were to investigate: (a) the ultra‐structural anatomy of the tendons in the digits of frogs; (b) the diversity of collagen fibril diameters across frogs with different locomotor modes; (c) the relationship between morphology, as expressed by the morphology of collagen fibrils and tendons, and locomotor modes. To assess the relationship between morphology and the locomotor modes of the sampled taxa we performed a principal component analysis considering body length, fibrillar cross sectional area (CSA) and tendon CSA. A MANOVA showed that differences between species with different locomotor modes were significant with collagen fibril diameter being the discriminating factor. Overall, our data related the greatest collagen fibril diameter to the most demanding locomotor modes, conversely, the smallest collagen fibril CSA and the highest tendon CSA were observed in animals showing a hopping locomotion requiring likely little absorption of landing forces given the short jump distances.
Novel connectivity map normalization procedure for improved quantitative investigation of structural thalamic connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy patients
Authors: Santyr Brendan G. , Lau Jonathan C. , Mirsattari Seyed M. , Burneo Jorge G. , de Ribaupierre Sandrine , Steven David A. , Parrent Andrew G. , MacDougall Keith , Khan Ali R. 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundConnectivity studies targeting the thalamus have revealed patterns of atrophy and deafferentiation in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The thalamus can be parcellated using probabilistic tractography to demonstrate regions of cortical connectivity; however, sensitivity to smaller or less connected regions is low.Purpose/HypothesisTo investigate thalamic structural connectivity in a wider range of cortical and limbic structures in TLE patients using a novel connectivity map normalization procedure.Study TypeRetrospective.Population/SubjectsPatients (N = 23) with medication‐resistant TLE and 34 healthy age‐matched controls.Field Strength/SequenceFor T1 and diffusion weighting a spoiled gradient sequence was used (41 gradient directions [b = 1000]). For T2 mapping balanced steady‐state free precession was used. Images were acquired at 3T.AssessmentProbabilistic tractography and a novel normalization procedure allowed comparison of groups with respect to thalamic connected volume, quantitative MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics.Statistical TestsIndependent samples t‐test, Cohen's d, and Mann–Whitney tests.ResultsFollowing normalization, significant differences in thalamic connected volumes were found in left TLE vs. controls bilaterally within the posterior parahippocampal gyrus (L: P = 0.007, confidence interval [CI]: [173.306,1044.41], effect size [ES] = 1.072; R: P = 0.017, CI: [98.677,947.653], ES = 0.945), and contralaterally in the anterior temporal neocortex (P = 0.01, CI: (–2348.09, –333.719), ES = −1.021). This procedure revealed differences in thalamic connected volumes, where previously published procedures could not, and provided a basis for exploratory analysis of quantitative MRI and DTI metrics.Data ConclusionThe novel connectivity map normalization scheme proposed here successfully allowed comparison between a wider range of cortical and limbic structures. Multiple volumetric and quantitative MRI and DTI‐related differences between TLE patients and controls were revealed following normalization. With validation from a larger cohort, thalamo‐temporal connection aberrancies may become useful biomarkers of disease states and probabilistic tractography as a procedure for identification of thalamic targets in modulatory therapies for TLE.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1529–1539