bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beneficial effects of oleuropein on glucose uptake and on parameters relevant to the normal homeostatic mechanisms of glucose regulation in rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Alkhateeb Hakam , Al‐Duais Mohammed , Qnais Esam 
Published: January 2018

Oleuropein, the main constituents of leaves and fruits of the olive tree, has been demonstrated to exert various therapeutic and pharmacological properties including antidiabetic effect. However, the effectiveness of oleuropein on glucose homeostasis in intact rat skeletal muscle ex vivo has never been explored. Therefore, our current study was carried out to investigate and confirm the beneficial effect of oleuropein (1.5 mM) on glucose uptake and on parameters relevant to the normal homeostatic mechanisms of glucose regulation in rat skeletal muscle. For this purpose, soleus muscles were incubated for 12 hr without (control) or with oleuropein, in the presence or absence of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, compound C, or wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol kinase. Oleuropein‐stimulated glucose transport, plasmalemmal glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol kinase and AMPK were examined. We observed that oleuropein treatment enhanced glucose transport, GLUT4 translocation, and AMPK phosphorylation. The oleuropein‐stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation were inhibited by compound C and were not affected by wortmannin. These results suggest that increased glucose uptake induced by oleuropein might be mediated through activation of AMPK and the subsequent increase in GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscles.
Radioprotective effects of dammarane sapogenins against 60Co‐induced myelosuppression in mice
Authors: Dong Liming , Yang Yanyan , Lu Yan , Lu Cong , Lv Jingwei , Jiang Ning , Xu Qiuxia , Gao Yue , Chang Qi , Liu Xinmin 
Published: January 2018

Radiotherapy frequently induces failure of hematopoietic system and leads to myelosuppression. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of dammarane sapogenins (DS), the hydrolysed product of the constituent ginsenosides of Panax ginseng, which are produced by gut metabolism, on radiation‐induced hematopoietic injury. Mice were exposed to 3.5 Gy 60Co γ‐rays of total body radiation at a dose rate of 1.60 Gy per minute and treated with DS or granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor immediately after radiation. The general condition of the mice, the peripheral blood cell counts, multiple colony forming unit (CFU) assays of hematopoietic progenitor cells, hematopoietic stem cell counts, bone marrow histology, and spleen colony forming unit counts were then investigated. Our results indicated that administration with DS could ameliorate 60Co‐irradiation induced damage and significantly increase the number of peripheral blood cells (white blood cells and platelets), 5 types of hematopoietic progenitor cells CFU (CFU‐GM, CFU‐E, BFU‐E, CFU‐Meg, and CFU‐GEMM), hematopoietic stem cell (Lin−c‐kit+Scal‐1+) numbers, and CFUs in the spleen, as well as improved bone marrow histopathology. All together, these results confirmed the enhancement of DS on hematopoiesis.
Curcuma sp.‐derived dehydrocurdione induces heme oxygenase‐1 through a Michael reaction between its α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl and Keap1
Authors: Ohnishi Masatoshi , Urasaki Tomoka , Egusa Kyohei , Kunobu Chihiro , Harada Tomoki , Shinkado Reika , Nishi Hitomi , Maehara Shoji , Kitamura Chinami , Hata Toshiyuki , Ohashi Kazuyoshi , Shibuya Hirotaka , Inoue Atsuko 
Published: January 2018

To elucidate the anti‐inflammatory mechanism of Curcuma sp., we investigated whether dehydrocurdione, a sesquiterpene contained in Curcuma sp., induces heme oxygenase (HO)‐1, an antioxidative enzyme, in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Dehydrocurdione was extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma sp., and its purity was verified by high performance liquid chromatography. Treatment with 10–100 μM dehydrocurdione transiently and concentration‐dependently increased HO‐1 mRNA and protein levels. Docking simulation suggested the presence of the Michael reaction between dehydrocurdione and Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein (Keap)1 keeping nuclear factor‐erythroid2‐related‐factor (Nrf)2, a transcription factor, in the cytoplasm. Nrf2 that was definitely free from Keap1 was detected in the nuclei after dehydrocurdione treatment. Subsequently, the HO‐1 E2 enhancer, a target of Nrf2, was activated, resulting in HO‐1 expression. Also, an investigation using 6‐shogaol and 6‐gingerol supported the concept that the α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl structure plays an important role in the interaction with Keap1. Dehydrocurdione suppressed lipopolysaccharide‐induced NO release, a marker of inflammation. Clarification of the HO‐1 synthesis increase mechanism revealed in this study will help contribute to the development of novel phytotherapeutic strategies against inflammation‐associated diseases.
Fast image‐based mitral valve simulation from individualized geometry
Authors: Villard Pierre‐Frederic , Hammer Peter E. , Perrin Douglas P. , del Nido Pedro J. , Howe Robert D. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground: Common surgical procedures on the mitral valve of the heart include modifications to the chordae tendineae. Such interventions are used when there is extensive leaflet prolapse caused by chordae rupture or elongation. Understanding the role of individual chordae tendineae before operating could be helpful to predict whether the mitral valve will be competent at peak systole. Biomechanical modelling and simulation can achieve this goal.Methods: We present a method to semi‐automatically build a computational model of a mitral valve from micro CT (computed tomography) scans: after manually picking chordae fiducial points, the leaflets are segmented and the boundary conditions as well as the loading conditions are automatically defined. Fast finite element method (FEM) simulation is carried out using Simulation Open Framework Architecture (SOFA) to reproduce leaflet closure at peak systole. We develop three metrics to evaluate simulation results: (i) point‐to‐surface error with the ground truth reference extracted from the CT image, (ii) coaptation surface area of the leaflets and (iii) an indication of whether the simulated closed leaflets leak.Results: We validate our method on three explanted porcine hearts and show that our model predicts the closed valve surface with point‐to‐surface error of approximately 1 mm, a reasonable coaptation surface area, and absence of any leak at peak systole (maximum closed pressure). We also evaluate the sensitivity of our model to changes in various parameters (tissue elasticity, mesh accuracy, and the transformation matrix used for CT scan registration). We also measure the influence of the positions of the chordae tendineae on simulation results and show that marginal chordae have a greater influence on the final shape than intermediate chordae.Conclusions: The mitral valve simulation can help the surgeon understand valve behaviour and anticipate the outcome of a procedure.
Direct Assessment of the Toxicity of Molybdenum Disulfide Atomically Thin Film and Microparticles via Cytotoxicity and Patch Testing
Authors: Chen Weibing , Qi Wenjin , Lu Wei , Chaudhury Nikhil Roy , Yuan Jiangtan , Qin Lidong , Lou Jun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe low toxicity of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) atomically thin film and microparticles is confirmed via cytotoxicity and patch testing in this report. The toxicity of MoS2 thin film and microparticles is extensively studied but is still inconclusive due to potential organic contamination in the preparations of samples. Such contamination is avoided here through preparing MoS2 atomically thin film via direct sulfurization of molybdenum thin film on quartz plate, which permits a direct assessment of its toxicity without any contamination. Six different types of cells, including normal, cancer, and immortal cells, are cultured in the media containing MoS2 thin film on quartz plates or dispersed MoS2 microparticles and their viability is evaluated with respect to the concentrations of samples. Detached thin films from the quartz plates are also investigated to estimate the toxicity of dispersed MoS2 in biological media. Allergy testing on skin of guinea pigs is also conducted to understand their effect on animal skins. By avoiding possible organic contamination, the low toxicity of MoS2 atomically thin film and microparticles to cells and animal skins paves the way for its applications in flexible biosensing/bioimaging devices and biocompatible coatings.
Silicon‐Based Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries: From Fundamentals to Practical Applications
Authors: Feng Kun , Li Matthew , Liu Wenwen , Kashkooli Ali Ghorbani , Xiao Xingcheng , Cai Mei , Chen Zhongwei 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSilicon has been intensively studied as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIB) because of its exceptionally high specific capacity. However, silicon‐based anode materials usually suffer from large volume change during the charge and discharge process, leading to subsequent pulverization of silicon, loss of electric contact, and continuous side reactions. These transformations cause poor cycle life and hinder the wide commercialization of silicon for LIBs. The lithiation and delithiation behaviors, and the interphase reaction mechanisms, are progressively studied and understood. Various nanostructured silicon anodes are reported to exhibit both superior specific capacity and cycle life compared to commercial carbon‐based anodes. However, some practical issues with nanostructured silicon cannot be ignored, and must be addressed if it is to be widely used in commercial LIBs. This Review outlines major impactful work on silicon‐based anodes, and the most recent research directions in this field, specifically, the engineering of silicon architectures, the construction of silicon‐based composites, and other performance‐enhancement studies including electrolytes and binders. The burgeoning research efforts in the development of practical silicon electrodes, and full‐cell silicon‐based LIBs are specially stressed, which are key to the successful commercialization of silicon anodes, and large‐scale deployment of next‐generation high energy density LIBs.
Understanding Fundamentals and Reaction Mechanisms of Electrode Materials for Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yu Linghui , Wang Luyuan Paul , Liao Hanbin , Wang Jingxian , Feng Zhenxing , Lev Ovadia , Loo Joachim S. C. , Sougrati Moulay Tahar , Xu Zhichuan J. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDevelopment of efficient, affordable, and sustainable energy storage technologies has become an area of interest due to the worsening environmental issues and rising technological dependence on Li‐ion batteries. Na‐ion batteries (NIBs) have been receiving intensive research efforts during the last few years. Owing to their potentially low cost and relatively high energy density, NIBs are promising energy storage devices, especially for stationary applications. A fundamental understanding of electrode properties during electrochemical reactions is important for the development of low cost, high‐energy density, and long shelf life NIBs. This Review aims to summarize and discuss reaction mechanisms of the major types of NIB electrode materials reported. By appreciating how the material works and the fundamental flaws it possesses, it is hoped that this Review will assist readers in coming up with innovative solutions for designing better materials for NIBs.
Effective Labeling of Primary Somatic Stem Cells with BaTiO3 Nanocrystals for Second Harmonic Generation Imaging
Authors: Sugiyama Nami , Sonay Ali Y. , Tussiwand Roxanne , Cohen Bruce E. , Pantazis Periklis 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWhile nanoparticles are an increasingly popular choice for labeling and tracking stem cells in biomedical applications such as cell therapy, their intracellular fate and subsequent effect on stem cell differentiation remain elusive. To establish an effective stem cell labeling strategy, the intracellular nanocrystal concentration should be minimized to avoid adverse effects, without compromising the intensity and persistence of the signal necessary for long‐term tracking. Here, the use of second‐harmonic generating barium titanate nanocrystals is reported, whose achievable brightness allows for high contrast stem cell labeling with at least one order of magnitude lower intracellular nanocrystals than previously reported. Their long‐term photostability enables to investigate quantitatively at the single cell level their cellular fate in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using both multiphoton and electron microscopy. It is found that the concentration of nanocrystals in proliferative multipotent progenitors is over 2.5‐fold greater compared to quiescent stem cells; this difference vanishes when HSCs enter a nonquiescent, proliferative state, while their potency remains unaffected. Understanding the nanoparticle stem cell interaction allows to establish an effective and safe nanoparticle labeling strategy into somatic stem cells that can critically contribute to an understanding of their in vivo therapeutic potential.
An integrated and dynamic approach to agricultural land‐use change modeling at country‐level to regional scale: Application to Iran
Authors: Mesgari Iman , Jabalameli Mohammad Saeed 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAgricultural land use change is the result of interactions between different driving factors and processes at different scales. Most of models have been proposed for the land use change simulations only consider the suitability of lands and spatial competition between different land uses at microscales. But agricultural land use projection involves assessment of macro‐level socioeconomic variables and driving forces. This paper suggests a dynamic modeling approach that integrates demand‐driven changes in agricultural land area at macro‐level with spatially explicit distribution processes at regional‐scale. This approach is based on combination of two core models with dynamic top‐down and bottom‐up feedback loops between them, dynamic simulation model, and land use change (LUC) model. Without the spatial considerations, the dynamic model is used to project the agricultural land demands influenced by economic, demographic, technologic, and regulatory variables and their interactions at country‐level. In addition, LUC model is used to simulate the downscaling of these demands between country regions based on spatial consideration of land suitability, change elasticity, spatial policies and restrictions, and competitive advantage of agriculture. Sensitivity analysis and empirical validation indicated the reliability and capability of the model for addressing the complexity of current agricultural land use changes and for investigating long‐term scenarios in the future. Finally, the model is used to explore the future dynamics of Iran agricultural land use during 2015–2040 with eight‐year pace. The simulation results for Iran show that the water availability is the most determining factor in the distribution of agricultural lands in a way that a continuing downward trend in agriculture land areas will occur in east and northeast, as well as an upward trend in north and southwest regions of the country. The outcome of this study enhances our capacity to consider approaches from different disciplines in an integrated framework for LUC modeling and provide a decision support tool for land use planning, policy making, and managements of agricultural sector.
Assessing causal claims about complex engineered systems with quantitative data: internal, external, and construct validity
Authors: Broniatowski David A. , Tucker Conrad 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEngineers seek to design systems that will produce an intended change in the state of the world. How are we to know if a system will behave as intended? This article addresses ways that this question can be answered. Specifically, we focus on three types of research validity: (1) internal validity, or whether an observed association between two variables can be attributed to a causal link between them; (2) external validity, or whether a causal link generalizes across contexts; and (3) construct validity, or whether a specific set of metrics corresponds to what they are intended to measure. In each case, we discuss techniques that may be used to establish the corresponding type of validity: namely, quasi‐experimental design, replication, and establishment of convergent‐discriminant validity and reliability. These techniques typically require access to data, which has historically been limited for research on complex engineered systems. This is likely to change in the era of “big data.” Thus, we discuss the continued utility of these validity concepts in the face of advances in machine learning and big data as they pertain to complex engineered sociotechnical systems. Next, we discuss relationships between these validity concepts and other prominent approaches to evaluating research in the field. Finally, we propose a set of criteria by which one may evaluate research utilizing quantitative observation to test causal theory in the field of complex engineered systems.
Treatment of selective mutism: a 5-year follow-up study
Authors: Oerbeck Beate , Overgaard Kristin Romvig , Stein Murray B. , Pripp Are Hugo , Kristensen Hanne 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSelective mutism (SM) has been defined as an anxiety disorder in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the recommended approach for SM, but prospective long-term outcome studies are lacking. Reports from the children themselves, and the use of more global quality of life measures, are also missing in the literature. We have developed a school-based CBT intervention previously found to increase speech in a pilot efficacy study and a randomized controlled treatment study. Continued progress was found in our 1-year follow-up studies, where older age and more severe SM had a significant negative effect upon outcome. In the present study, we provide 5-year outcome data for 30 of these 32 children with SM who completed the same CBT for mean 21 weeks (sd 5, range 8–24) at mean age 6 years (10 boys). Mean age at the 5-year follow-up was 11 years (range 8–14). Outcome measures were diagnostic status, the teacher- and parent-rated selective mutism questionnaires, and child rated quality of life and speaking behavior. At the 5-year follow-up, 21 children were in full remission, five were in partial remission and four fulfilled diagnostic criteria for SM. Seven children (23%) fulfilled criteria for social phobia, and separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia and/or enuresis nocturna were found in a total of five children (17%). Older age and severity at baseline and familial SM were significant negative predictors of outcome. Treatment gains were maintained on the teacher- and parent questionnaires. The children rated their overall quality of life as good. Although most of them talked outside of home, 50% still experienced it as somewhat challenging. These results point to the long-term effectiveness of CBT for SM, but also highlight the need to develop more effective interventions for the subset of children with persistent symptoms.Clinical trials registrationNCT01002196
Generating Multivariate Ordinal Data via Entropy Principles
Authors: Lee Yen , Kaplan David 
Published: January 2018

When conducting robustness research where the focus of attention is on the impact of non-normality, the marginal skewness and kurtosis are often used to set the degree of non-normality. Monte Carlo methods are commonly applied to conduct this type of research by simulating data from distributions with skewness and kurtosis constrained to pre-specified values. Although several procedures have been proposed to simulate data from distributions with these constraints, no corresponding procedures have been applied for discrete distributions. In this paper, we present two procedures based on the principles of maximum entropy and minimum cross-entropy to estimate the multivariate observed ordinal distributions with constraints on skewness and kurtosis. For these procedures, the correlation matrix of the observed variables is not specified but depends on the relationships between the latent response variables. With the estimated distributions, researchers can study robustness not only focusing on the levels of non-normality but also on the variations in the distribution shapes. A simulation study demonstrates that these procedures yield excellent agreement between specified parameters and those of estimated distributions. A robustness study concerning the effect of distribution shape in the context of confirmatory factor analysis shows that shape can affect the robust χ2\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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β‐Oxidation of 18∶3n−3 in atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) hepatocytes treated with different fatty acids
Authors: Torstensen Bente E. , Stubhaug Ingunn 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTo study whether Atlantic salmon β‐oxidation was affected by dietary FA composition, an in vitro study with primary hepatocytes was undertaken. Isolated hepatocyte cultures were stimulated with either 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, 18∶2n−6, 18∶3n−3, 20∶5n−3, or 22∶6n−3 in triplicate for 24 h. In addition, a control was included where no FA stimulation was performed, also in triplicate. After stimulation, radiolabeled [1‐14C]18∶3n−3 was added and the cells were incubated for 2 h at 20°C. The cells were then harvested, and radioactivity was determined in the acid‐soluble part of the cells and medium, i.e., the end products of the β‐oxidation pathway. Specific β‐oxidation activity was significantly higher in hepatocytes stimulated with 18∶3n−3. Further, when taking into account the amount of radiolabeled [1‐14C]18∶3n−3 taken up by the cells—the relative amount of β‐oxidized [1‐14C]18∶3n−3 of the total FA taken up by the hepatocytes—no significant differences were found. Thus, the regulation of β‐oxidation activity in the primary Atlantic salmon hepatocytes seems to be at the level of FA uptake and transport into the cell. This in vitro study shows that the catabolism processes in salmon hepatocytes are affected by the FA available and probably already regulated at the level of FA uptake.