bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retracted: Ligustrazine protects chondrocyte against IL‐1β induced injury by regulation of SOX9/NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Yu Tao , Qu Ji , Wang Yang , Jin Hui 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLigustrazine is extracted from rhizoma ligustici wallichii, is known for its vasodilatory properties in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The study aimed to determine the effect and the underlying mechanism of ligustrazine on interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β)‐induced injury in osteoarthritis (OA). Human articular cartilages and joint effusion were obtained from patients with OA, and the chondrocytes were isolated and treated with IL‐1β. The different inflammatory cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. Cell viability, apoptosis, and apoptosis‐related factors were examined by MTT, flow cytometry, and Western blot. Then, the expressions of COL2A1 and ACAN, and the concentrations of sGAG and MMP‐13 were measured. The level of SOD and MDA and ROS production were then analyzed. Furthermore, the protein levels of SOX9 and NF‐κB pathway were detected by Western blot. Ligustrazine significantly suppressed inflammatory reaction in joint effusion of OA patients. Moreover, ligustrazine attenuated IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes injury and matrx degradation in chondrocytes. Ligustrazine promoted oxidative stress response by increasing SOD level, decreasing MDA level, and inhibiting ROS production in IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes. Besides, ligustrazine increased SOX9 expression, and SOX9 silencing reversed the effect of ligustrazine on matrx degradation in IL‐1β‐injured chondrocytes. Furthermore, ligustrazine blocked NF‐κB pathway in IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes, and PTDC (NF‐κB inhibitor) enhanced the effect of ligustrazine on viability, apoptosis, SOX9 expression, and ROS production in IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes. These results indicated that ligustrazine protected chondrocytes against IL‐1β‐induced injury possibly by regulation of SOX9 and inactivation of NF‐κB signaling pathway. It could act as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA.
The imbalance of circulating T helper subsets and regulatory T cells in patients with LRBA deficiency: Correlation with disease severity
Authors: Azizi Gholamreza , Mirshafiey Abbas , Abolhassani Hassan , Yazdani Reza , Ghanavatinejad Alireza , Noorbakhsh Farshid , Rezaei Nima , Aghamohammadi Asghar 
Published: May 2018

Patients with lipopolysaccharides responsive beige‐like anchor protein (LRBA) deficiency suffer from a variety of immunological abnormalities. In the current study, we investigated the role of T helper (Th) cell subsets and regulatory T (Treg) cells and their related cytokines and transcription factors in the immune dysregulation of LRBA deficiency. The study population comprised of 13 LRBA‐deficient patients and 13 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs). Th subsets and Treg were examined by flow cytometry. The expression of determinant cytokines (interferon‐γ [IFN‐γ], interleukin [IL]‐17, IL‐22, and IL‐10), and cell subset–specific transcription factors were evaluated before and after proliferation and activation stimuli. The frequencies of Th1, Th1‐like Th17 and Th22 cells along with the expression of T‐box transcription factor (TBET) and runt‐related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) were significantly increased in patients with LRBA. Moreover, IFN‐γ and IL‐22 production in LRBA‐deﬁcient CD4+ T cells were elevated after lymphocyte stimulation, particularly in patients with enteropathy. However, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+CD127− cells were significantly decreased in LRBA‐deficient patients compared with those of HCs, particularly in patients with autoimmunity. There was a negative correlation between the frequencies of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+CD127− cells and Th1‐like Th17 cells in LRBA‐deficient patients, and an overlapping phenotype of autoimmunity and enteropathy were observed in ~70% of patients. The frequency of Th17 cells was lower in patients with enteropathy, while Th1‐like Th17 cells were higher than in those without enteropathy. Our findings demonstrated an imbalance in Th subsets, mainly in Th1‐like Th17 and Treg cells and their corresponding cytokines in LRBA deficiency, which might be important in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmunity and enteropathy.
Artificial light at night alters behavior in laboratory and wild animals
Authors: Russart Kathryn L.G. , Nelson Randy J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLife has evolved to internalize and depend upon the daily and seasonal light cycles to synchronize physiology and behavior with environmental conditions. The nightscape has been vastly changed in response to the use of artificial lighting. Wildlife is now often exposed to direct lighting via streetlights or indirect lighting via sky glow at night. Because many activities rely on daily and seasonal light cues, the effects of artificial light at night could be extensive, but remain largely unknown. Laboratory studies suggest exposure to light at night can alter typical timing of daily locomotor activity and shift the timing of foraging/food intake to the daytime in nocturnal rodents. Additionally, nocturnal rodents decrease anxiety‐like behaviors (i.e., spend more time in the open and increase rearing up) in response to even dim light at night. These are all likely maladaptive responses in the wild. Photoperiodic animals rely on seasonal changes in day length as a cue to evoke physiological and behavioral modifications to anticipate favorable and unfavorable conditions for survival and reproduction. Light at night can mask detection of short days, inappropriately signal long days, and thus desynchronize seasonal reproductive activities. We review laboratory and the sparse field studies that address the effects of exposure to artificial light at night to propose that exposure to light at night disrupts circadian and seasonal behavior in wildlife, which potentially decreases individual fitness and modifies ecosystems.
Incubation temperature influences the behavioral traits of a young precocial bird
Authors: Hope Sydney F. , Kennamer Robert A. , Moore Ignacio T. , Hopkins William A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe environment in which animals develop can have important consequences for their phenotype. In reptiles, incubation temperature is a critical aspect of the early developmental environment. Incubation temperature influences morphology, physiology, and behavior of non‐avian reptiles, however, little is known about how incubation temperature influences offspring phenotype and behaviors important to avian survival. To investigate whether incubation temperature influences avian behaviors, we collected wood duck (Aix sponsa) eggs from the field and incubated them at three naturally occurring incubation temperatures (35.0, 35.8, and 37.0°C). We conducted multiple repeated behavioral trials on individual ducklings between 5 and 15 days post‐hatch to assess activity, exploratory, and boldness behaviors, classified along a proactive‐reactive continuum. We measured growth rates and circulating levels of baseline and stress‐induced corticosterone levels to investigate possible physiological correlates of behavior. Ducklings incubated at the lowest temperature displayed more proactive behaviors than those incubated at the two higher temperatures. We also found that younger ducklings exhibited more proactive behavior than older ducklings and males exhibited more proactive behavior than females. Further, duckling behaviors were repeatable across time and contexts, indicative of a proactive–reactive continuum of behavioral tendencies. However, neither corticosterone levels nor growth rates were related to behavior. This provides some of the first evidence that incubation temperature, a critical parental effect, influences avian offspring behaviors that may be important for survival. Our results identify incubation temperature as a mechanism that contributes to the development of behavioral traits and, in part, explains how multiple behavioral types may be maintained within populations.
Does repeated human handling of study animals during the mating season affect their offspring?
Authors: Swierk Lindsey , Langkilde Tracy 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMinimizing disturbance of study animals is a major consideration in ethological and ecological research design. One nearly universal type of disturbance is the handling of study animals as a component of trial setup. Even low to moderate levels of handling can be a substantial stressor to study animals, which may negatively affect their offspring via maternal effects. Understanding how routine human handling and manipulation may affect the outcome of research studies is therefore critical for interpreting study outcomes. We tested whether repeatedly handling and manipulating (i.e., manually disengaging) amplexed pairs of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica [Lithobates sylvaticus]), which have an explosive breeding season, would affect their reproductive output and offspring fitness. Handling and manipulation did not alter any parameter that we measured: reproductive timing, hatching success, and offspring larval duration, survival, and size at metamorphosis. These results suggest that handling and manipulation by researchers may have a negligible effect on wood frog reproduction and offspring fitness. It is possible that many species that are commonly used in reproductive studies because they suppress behavioral and physiological responses during the mating season are likewise unaffected by human handling. Nevertheless, researchers should examine possible consequences of methodological interventions on their study species in order to determine any potential influence on their results. Having a broad understanding of these effects on species that have robust or dampened stress responsiveness during the breeding season would be useful for making generalizations about potential effects.
The vulnerability of developing embryos to simulated climate warming differs between sympatric desert lizards
Authors: Ma Liang , Sun Bao‐Jun , Li Shu‐Ran , Hao Xin , Bi Jun‐Huai , Du Wei‐Guo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe vulnerability of species to climate warming varies along latitudinal and elevational clines, but how sympatric species vary in vulnerability to climate warming remains largely unknown. We experimentally simulated nest temperatures of two sympatric lizards with divergent microhabitat preferences (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Eremias argus), under climate warming senarios, to determine the response of embryos to increased mean temperatures and heat waves. Our study demonstrated that simulated climate warming reduced hatching success and hatchling size and growth in E. argus (that prefers closed microhabitats), but had less effect in P. przewalskii (that occupies open microhabitats). The reduced growth rate of E. argus hatchlings was associated with a decrease in metabolic rate, which was more evident in hatchling E. argus than in P. przewalskii. Our results suggest lizards that prefer closed microhabitats may be more vulnerable to climate warming than those that prefer open microhabitats; further studies are needed to test this hypothesis. More generally, the divergent responses of sympatric species to climate warming highlights the importance of distinguishing the thermal sensitivity of behavior and physiology for each species of a community, in order to make predictions about the impacts of climate warming at regional scales.
Patterns of developmental plasticity in response to incubation temperature in reptiles
Authors: While Geoffrey M. , Noble Daniel W.A. , Uller Tobias , Warner Daniel A. , Riley Julia L. , Du Wei‐Guo , Schwanz Lisa E. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEarly life environments shape phenotypic development in important ways that can lead to long‐lasting effects on phenotype and fitness. In reptiles, one aspect of the early environment that impacts development is temperature (termed ‘thermal developmental plasticity’). Indeed, the thermal environment during incubation is known to influence morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits, some of which have important consequences for many ecological and evolutionary processes. Despite this, few studies have attempted to synthesize and collate data from this expansive and important body of research. Here, we systematically review research into thermal developmental plasticity across reptiles, structured around the key papers and findings that have shaped the field over the past 50 years. From these papers, we introduce a large database (the ‘Reptile Development Database’) consisting of 9,773 trait means across 300 studies examining thermal developmental plasticity. This dataset encompasses data on a range of phenotypes, including morphological, physiological, behavioral, and performance traits along with growth rate, incubation duration, sex ratio, and survival (e.g., hatching success) across all major reptile clades. Finally, from our literature synthesis and data exploration, we identify key research themes associated with thermal developmental plasticity, important gaps in empirical research, and demonstrate how future progress can be made through targeted empirical, meta‐analytic, and comparative work.
Increasing radiology capacity within the lung cancer pathway: centralised work‐based support for trainee chest X‐ray reporting radiographers
Authors: Woznitza Nick , Steele Rebecca , Piper Keith , Burke Stephen , Rowe Susan , Bhowmik Angshu , Maughn Sue , Springett Kate 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionDiagnostic capacity and time to diagnosis are frequently identified as a barrier to improving cancer patient outcomes. Maximising the contribution of the medical imaging workforce, including reporting radiographers, is one way to improve service delivery.MethodsAn efficient and effective centralised model of workplace training support was designed for a cohort of trainee chest X‐ray (CXR) reporting radiographers. A comprehensive schedule of tutorials was planned and aligned with the curriculum of a post‐graduate certificate in CXR reporting. Trainees were supported via a hub and spoke model (centralised training model), with the majority of education provided by a core group of experienced CXR reporting radiographers. Trainee and departmental feedback on the model was obtained using an online survey.ResultsFourteen trainees were recruited from eight National Health Service Trusts across London. Significant efficiencies of scale were possible with centralised support (48 h) compared to traditional workplace support (348 h). Trainee and manager feedback overall was positive. Trainees and managers both reported good trainee support, translation of learning to practice and increased confidence. Logistics, including trainee travel and release, were identified as areas for improvement.ConclusionCentralised workplace training support is an effective and efficient method to create sustainable diagnostic capacity and support improvements in the lung cancer pathway.
Stability of intrinsic rhythm in pacemaker‐dependent patients during pacemaker replacement: Can we predict the need for temporary pacing?
Authors: Kimura Yuki , Sumiyoshi Masataka , Inoue Kenji , Shiozaki Masayuki , Fukuda Kentaro , Fujiwara Yasumasa , Tabuchi Haruna , Hayashi Hidemori , Sekita Gaku , Tokano Takashi , Nakazato Yuji , Daida Hiroyuki 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundIn pacemaker‐dependent patients, the risk of asystole must be managed during device replacement. This study aimed to examine whether we could predict the indication for temporary pacing (TP) during the generator replacement.MethodsWe studied 105 consecutive patients who underwent pacemaker replacement due to battery depletion at Juntendo Nerima Hospital between September 2005 and December 2016. We examined the relationship between the stability of the intrinsic rhythm (IR) during pacemaker replacement and several clinical factors including age, gender, sick sinus syndrome or atrioventricular (AV) block, duration of pacing, structural heart disease, use of anti‐arrhythmic drugs, and the presence/absence of a stable IR (>40 bpm) at the outpatient clinic (OPC) just before pacemaker replacement.ResultsOf the 105 patients, we excluded 1 patient who required TP because of bradycardia‐dependent torsades de points. Therefore, we evaluated 104 patients for the indication for TP. TP was underwent in 19 patients (18%) because of an absence or instability of the IR during pacemaker replacement. The indication for TP was significantly correlated with AV block (84% vs 48%, P = .0044) and the absence of a stable IR at the last OPC visit (89% vs 24%, P < .0001). For predicting the indication for TP, the following values of no stable IR at the last OPC visit were obtained: 89% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 46% positive predictive value, and 97% negative predictive value.ConclusionsThe presence of a stable IR at the last OPC visit was a good predictor (97%) of no indication for TP during pacemaker replacement.
Determination of soil salinity based on WET measurements using the concept of salinity index
Authors: Kargas George , Kerkides Petros 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe evaluated the Malicki and Walczak model (MW) and its appropriately modification (MMW) in the prediction of the electrical conductivity of the soil solution (σp), utilizing the WET dielectric sensor. In the MMW approach, the prediction of σp requires determination of the WET‐based salinity index (Xs) and clay and sand contents of the soil. MMW appears to be more effective than MW in all cases except for the cases of finer soils when σp > 3 dS m−1.
Synthesis and Surface Properties of a Novel Anionic Gemini Surfactant using Dioxaoctane as a Linking Group
Authors: Sun Ruixia , Hong Kwon Ho , Lv Zhenbo , Ding Xiaoguang , Wu Xuedong , Yu Fang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA novel anionic Gemini surfactant containing oxygen atoms in the linking group was designed and synthesized. The surface properties of the anionic Gemini surfactant were investigated by measuring the surface tension and conductivity. The Gemini surfactant showed a low critical micelle concentration value, which decreases with increasing concentration of NaCl. The calculated physicochemical properties indicate that oxygen atoms in the linking group interact with water molecules stronger than CH2.
Alignment materials with controllable anchoring energy
Authors: Bezruchenko Veronika , Muravsky Alexander , Murauski Anatoli , Stankevich Alexander , Mahilny Uladzimir 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNew polymers with photo‐controllable anchoring energy and tunable pretilt angle within 90°–0° range for nematic liquid crystals alignment were developed. The functional properties of polymers are provided by the effect of photoinduced planar alignment and the presence of side hydrocarbon chains in macromolecules that create a homeotropic alignment effect. Applying photosensitive alignment layers based on polymers with side benzaldehyde and hydrocarbon groups, fabrication of optical devices with refractive index gradient, uniform cell gap, and low operation voltage is possible. The developed materials are suitable for simple fabrication of tunable liquid crystal lenses.
Phase‐Selective Nanocrystallization of NaLnF4 in Aluminosilicate Glass for Random Laser and 940 nm LED‐Excitable Upconverted Luminescence
Authors: Li Xinyue , Chen Daqin , Huang Feng , Chang Guangcai , Zhao Junjie , Qiao Xvsheng , Xu Xuhui , Du Jincheng , Yin Min 
Published: May 2018

AbstractYb/Er doped hexagonal β‐NaLnF4 (Ln = Gd, Y, Lu) are regarded as the most efficient green upconversion (UC) materials. Unfortunately, β‐NaLnF4 is quite difficult to grow as monocrystal owing to cubic‐to‐hexagonal phase transition during cooling. As an alternative, herein a nanocrystallization controllable strategy to synthesize monodisperse whole‐family β‐NaLnF4 (from NaLaF4 to NaLuF4) embedded bulky glass ceramics is reported. A series of structural and spectroscopic characterizations indicate that Na content and Al/Si ratio are the most important factors to determine phase‐selective NaLnF4 crystallization in the aluminosilicate oxyfluoride glasses. Impressively, such nanocomposites are evidenced to be ideal hosts for upconversion luminescence of Yb3+/Er3+ dopants and as the proof‐of‐concept experiments, their applications in a random laser and incoherent LED‐excitable upconverting device as emitting media are demonstrated. It is expected that this study will provide a deep understanding for controllable crystallization in glass and extend the practical applications of glass ceramics in optoelectronic fields.
High‐Throughput Miniaturized Screening of Nanoparticle Formation via Inkjet Printing
Authors: Styliari Ioanna D. , Conte Claudia , Pearce Amanda K. , Hüsler Amanda , Cavanagh Robert J. , Limo Marion J. , Gordhan Dipak , Nieto‐Orellana Alejandro , Suksiriworapong Jiraphong , Couturaud Benoit , Williams Phil , Hook Andrew L. , Alexander Morgan R. , Garnett Martin C. , Alexander Cameron , Burley Jonathan C. , Taresco Vincenzo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe self‐assembly of specific polymers into well‐defined nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry as the resultant materials can act as drug delivery vehicles. In this work, a high‐throughput method to screen the ability of polymers to self‐assemble into NPs using a picoliter inkjet printer is presented. By dispensing polymer solutions in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from the printer into the wells of a 96‐well plate, containing water as an antisolvent, 50 suspensions are screened for nanoparticle formation rapidly using only nanoliters to microliters. A variety of polymer classes are used and in situ characterization of the submicroliter nanosuspensions shows that the particle size distributions match those of nanoparticles made from bulk suspensions. Dispensing organic polymer solutions into well plates via the printer is thus shown to be a reproducible and fast method for screening nanoparticle formation which uses two to three orders of magnitude less material than conventional techniques. Finally, a pilot study for a high‐throughput pipeline of nanoparticle production, physical property characterization, and cytocompatibility demonstrates the feasibility of the printing approach for screening of nanodrug delivery formulations. Nanoparticles are produced in the well plates, characterized for size and evaluated for effects on metabolic activity of lung cancer cells.
Sustainable Polymers from Renewable Resources: Polymer Blends of Furan‐Based Polyesters
Authors: Poulopoulou Niki , Kasmi Nejib , Bikiaris Dimitrios N. , Papageorgiou Dimitrios G. , Floudas George , Papageorgiou George Z. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA series of blends of furan‐based green polyesters, for eco‐friendly packaging materials, are synthesized. Poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PEF), poly(propylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PPF), and poly(butylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PBF) are synthesized by applying melt polycondensation. Blends of the above polyesters with 50/50 w/w composition as well as blends of furanoate/terephthalate (PPF/PPT) are also prepared. The glass temperature along with the crystallization and melting behaviors of melt quenched blends are studied aiming at understanding their dynamic state and miscibility. Based on their Tg and crystallization behavior, PEF/PPF shows dynamic homogeneity and miscibility whereas PPF/PBF and PEF/PBF exhibit partial miscibility and immiscibility, respectively. In an effort to dynamically homogenize the compounds, reactive blending is applied and the behavior of the resulting blends is monitored following quenching. A profound improvement in blend homogenization is observed with increasing melt mixing time for the PPF/PPT sample, evidenced by the single glass temperature and by the narrowing in liquid‐to‐glass regime. The obtained single glass temperature together with the suppressed tendency for crystallization with increasing mixing time are taken as evidences of dynamic and thermodynamic homogeneity.