bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of quantitative observational studies investigating psychological distress in testicular cancer survivors
Authors: Smith Allan “Ben” , Rutherford Claudia , Butow Phyllis , Olver Ian , Luckett Tim , Grimison Peter , Toner Guy , Stockler Martin , King Madeleine 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveTesticular cancer (TC) affects young men and may cause psychological distress despite a good prognosis. This systematic review evaluated the prevalence, severity, and correlates of anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), and distress in TC survivors.MethodsA systematic search of literature published 1977 to 2017 was conducted to find quantitative studies including TC survivor–reported outcomes relevant to review objectives. The quality of included articles was assessed, and a narrative synthesis conducted.ResultsOf 6717 articles identified, 66 (39 good, 20 fair, and 7 poor quality) reporting results from 36 studies were included. Testicular cancer survivors' mean anxiety levels were higher than in the general population, while mean depression and distress were no different. Clinically significant anxiety (≈1 in 5) and to a lesser extent distress (≈1 in 7), but not depression, were more prevalent in TC survivors than the general population. Approximately 1 in 3 TC survivors experienced elevated FCR. Poorer psychological outcomes were more common among TC survivors who were single, unemployed/low socio‐economic status, suffering from co‐morbidities, experiencing worse symptoms/side effects, and using passive coping strategies.ConclusionsMany TC survivors do not experience significant psychological morbidity, but anxiety and FCR are prevalent. Inadequate coping resources (eg, low socio‐economic status and social support) and strategies (eg, avoidance) and greater symptoms/side effects were associated with poorer outcomes. Theoretically driven prospective studies would aid understanding of how outcomes change over time and how to screen for risk. Age and gender appropriate interventions that prevent and manage issues specific to TC survivors are also needed.
Nonfragile asynchronous control for uncertain chaotic Lurie network systems with Bernoulli stochastic process
Authors: Shi Kaibo , Tang Yuanyan , Zhong Shouming , Yin Chun , Huang Xuegang , Wang Wenqin 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThis paper proposes a novel nonfragile robust asynchronous control scheme for master‐slave uncertain chaotic Lurie network systems with randomly occurring time‐varying parameter uncertainties and controller gain fluctuation. The asynchronous phenomenon occurs between the system modes and the controller modes. In order to consider a more realistic situation in designing a reliable proportional‐derivative controller, Bernoulli stochastic process and memory feedback are introduced to the concept of nonlinear control system. First, by taking full advantage of the additional derivative state term and variable multiple integral terms, a newly augmented Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional is constructed via an adjustable parameter. Second, based on new integral inequalities including almost all of the existing integral inequalities, which can produce more accurate bounds with more orthogonal polynomials considered, less conservative synchronization criteria are obtained. Third, a desired nonfragile estimator controller is achieved under the aforementioned methods. Finally, 4 numerical simulation examples of Chua's circuit and 3‐cell cellular neural network with multiscroll chaotic attractors are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed theoretical results.
Adaptive state feedback control for switched stochastic high‐order nonlinear systems under arbitrary switchings
Authors: Li Yafeng , Hua Changchun , Liu Guopin , Guan Xinping 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThis paper studies the adaptive state feedback control for a class of switched time‐varying stochastic high‐order nonlinear systems under arbitrary switchings. Based on the common Lyapunov function and using the inductive method, virtual controllers are designed step by step and the form of the input signal of the system is constructed at the last. The unknown parameters are addressed by the tuning function method. In particular, both the designed state feedback controller and the adaptive law are independent of switching signals. Based on the designed controller, the boundness of the state variables can be guaranteed in probability. Furthermore, without considering the Wiener process or with the known parameter in the assumption, adaptive finite‐time stabilization and finite‐time stabilization in probability can be obtained, respectively. Finally, numerical simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Soybean Sensitivity to Florpyrauxifen-benzyl during Reproductive Growth and the Impact on Subsequent Progeny
Authors: Miller M. Ryan , Norsworthy Jason K. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTo address recent concerns related to auxin herbicide drift onto soybean, a study was developed to understand the susceptibility of the reproductive stage of soybean to a new auxin herbicide compared with dicamba. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is under development as the second herbicide in a new structural class of synthetic auxins, the arylpicolinates. Field studies were conducted to (1) evaluate and compare reproductive soybean injury and yield following applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or dicamba across various concentrations and reproductive growth stages and (2) determine whether low-rate applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or dicamba to soybean in reproductive stages would have similar effect on the progeny of the affected plants. Soybean were treated with 0, 1/20, or 1/160, of the 1X rate of florpyrauxifen-benzyl (30 g ai ha−1) or dicamba (560 g ae ha−1) at R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 growth stage. Soybean plant height and yield was reduced from 1/20X dicamba across all reproductive stages. High drift rates (1/20X) of florpyrauxifen-benzyl also reduced soybean plant height >25% and yield across R1 to R4 stages. Germination, stand, plant height, and yield of the offspring of soybean plants treated with dicamba and florpyrauxifen-benzyl were significantly affected. Dicamba applied at a rate of 1/20X at R4 and R5 resulted in 20% and 35% yield reduction for the offspring, respectively. A similar reduction occurred from florpyrauxifen-benzyl applied at R4 and R5 at the 1/20X rate, resulting in 15% to 24% yield reduction for the offspring, respectively. Based on these findings, it is suggested that growers use caution when applying these herbicides in the vicinity of reproductive soybean.
What intrinsic and extrinsic factors explain the stoichiometric diversity of aquatic heterotrophic bacteria?
Authors: Godwin Casey M , Cotner James B 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
The elemental content of microbial communities is dependent upon the physiology of constituent populations, yet ecological stoichiometry has made slow progress toward identifying predictors of how species and strains change the elemental content of their biomass in response to the stoichiometry of elements in resources. We asked whether the elemental content of aquatic bacteria, especially flexibility in elemental content, could be predicted by their phylogeny, maximum growth rate or lake productivity. We examined 137 isolates using chemostats and found that strains differed substantially in how the carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus ratios (C:N:P) in their biomass responded to P-sufficient and P-limiting conditions. The median strain increased its biomass C:N:P from 68:14:1 to 164:25:1 under P limitation. Patterns in elemental content and ratios were partly explained by phylogeny, yet flexibility in elemental content showed no phylogenetic signal. The growth rate hypothesis predicts that P content is positively related to growth rate, but we found weak correlation between maximum growth rate and P content among the strains. Overall, isolates from highly productive lakes had higher maximum growth rates and less flexible biomass N:P than isolates from unproductive lakes. These results show that bacteria present within lake communities exhibit diverse strategies for responding to elemental imbalance.
The habitability of the Milky Way during the active phase of its central supermassive black hole
Authors: Balbi Amedeo , Tombesi Francesco 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDuring the peak of their accretion phase, supermassive black holes in galactic cores are known to emit very high levels of ionizing radiation, becoming visible over intergalactic distances as quasars or active galactic nuclei (AGN). Here, we quantify the extent to which the activity of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), may have affected the habitability of Earth-like planets in our Galaxy. We focus on the amount of atmospheric loss and on the possible biological damage suffered by planets exposed to X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation produced during the peak of the active phase of Sgr A*. We find that terrestrial planets could lose a total atmospheric mass comparable to that of present day Earth even at large distances (~1 kiloparsec) from the galactic center. Furthermore, we find that the direct biological damage caused by Sgr A* to surface life on planets not properly screened by an atmosphere was probably significant during the AGN phase, possibly hindering the development of complex life within a few kiloparsecs from the galactic center.
Emergence of Quantum Critical Behavior in Metallic Quantum-Well States of Strongly Correlated Oxides
Authors: Kobayashi Masaki , Yoshimatsu Kohei , Mitsuhashi Taichi , Kitamura Miho , Sakai Enju , Yukawa Ryu , Minohara Makoto , Fujimori Atsushi , Horiba Koji , Kumigashira Hiroshi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractControlling quantum critical phenomena in strongly correlated electron systems, which emerge in the neighborhood of a quantum phase transition, is a major challenge in modern condensed matter physics. Quantum critical phenomena are generated from the delicate balance between long-range order and its quantum fluctuation. So far, the nature of quantum phase transitions has been investigated by changing a limited number of external parameters such as pressure and magnetic field. We propose a new approach for investigating quantum criticality by changing the strength of quantum fluctuation that is controlled by the dimensional crossover in metallic quantum well (QW) structures of strongly correlated oxides. With reducing layer thickness to the critical thickness of metal-insulator transition, crossover from a Fermi liquid to a non-Fermi liquid has clearly been observed in the metallic QW of SrVO3 by in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Non-Fermi liquid behavior with the critical exponent α = 1 is found to emerge in the two-dimensional limit of the metallic QW states, indicating that a quantum critical point exists in the neighborhood of the thickness-dependent Mott transition. These results suggest that artificial QW structures provide a unique platform for investigating novel quantum phenomena in strongly correlated oxides in a controllable fashion.
MicroRNA-21 regulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells by targeting Smad5
Authors: Wei Fulan , Yang Shuangyan , Guo Qingyuan , Zhang Xin , Ren Dapeng , Lv Tao , Xu Xin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHuman periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental and craniofacial tissues that exhibit high potential for differentiation into osteoblasts. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been established to play important roles in MSC osteogenesis. In the current study, we report that miR-21 was down-regulated in osteogenically differentiated PDLSCs. Overexpression of miR-21 significantly inhibited osteogenesis of hPDLSC, whereas its inhibition demonstrated the opposite effects. Furthermore, SMAD family member 5 (Smad5) was predicted to be a downstream target of miR-21 and was shown to undergo up-regulation in PDLSCs induced toward osteogenesis. Moreover, Smad5 and Runx2, which are the critical transcription factors in osteogenic differentiation, were predicted to be targets of miR-21. Suppression of miR-21 expression increased the level of Smad5 in vitro and during in vivo transplantation experiments. Furthermore, suppression of Smad5 inhibited osteogenic differentiation and decreased the protein level of Runx2. Taken together, these results suggested that miR-21 be mechanistically implicated in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs by targeting Smad5.
Reassessment of fluctuating dental asymmetry in Down syndrome
Authors: Matabuena Rodríguez Marcos , Diz Dios Pedro , Cadarso-Suárez Carmen , Diniz-Freitas Márcio , Outumuro Rial Mercedes , Abeleira Pazos Maria Teresa , Limeres Posse Jacobo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFluctuating dental asymmetry (FDA) is a tool to measure developmental stability that could be increased in gonosomal aneuploidies. The aim of this study was to quantify FDA in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The study group comprised 40 individuals with DS, and a control group matched for age and sex was created. The target teeth were the maxillary central incisors (11,21), maxillary lateral incisors (12,22), maxillary canines (13,23), and maxillary first molars (16,26). Dental morphometric variables measured on CBCT images included tooth length, crown height, root length, mesio-distal diameter, crown-to-root ratio, vestibular-palatine diameter, mid mesio-distal diameter, mid buccal-palatal diameter, maximum buccal-palatal diameter, and cervical circumference. The FA2 fluctuating asymmetry index (Palmer and Strobeck, 1986) was applied. Some discrepancies in crown-to-root ratios and root length asymmetry were significantly lower in the DS individuals than in controls. Combining the crown-to-root ratio of tooth 11 versus 21, tooth 12 versus 22, and tooth 13 versus 23, we developed a predictive model with a discriminatory power between DS and controls of 0.983. Some dental morphometric variables may actually be more stable in DS individuals than in the general population. This offers a new perspective on the relationship between canalization, fluctuating asymmetry, and aneuploidy.
Profiling of different pancreatic cancer cells used as models for metastatic behaviour shows large variation in their N-glycosylation
Authors: Holst Stephanie , Belo Ana I. , Giovannetti Elisa , van Die Irma , Wuhrer Manfred 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTo characterise pancreatic cancer cells from different sources which are used as model systems to study the metastatic behaviour in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we compared the N-glycan imprint of four PDAC cells which were previously shown to differ in their galectin-4 expression and metastatic potential in vivo. Next to the sister cell lines Pa-Tu-8988S and Pa-Tu-8988T, which were isolated from the same liver metastasis of a PDAC, this included two primary PDAC cell cultures, PDAC1 and PDAC2. Additionally, we extended the N-glycan profiling to a normal, immortalized pancreatic duct cell line. Our results revealed major differences in the N-glycosylation of the different PDAC cells as well as compared to the control cell line, suggesting changes of the N-glycosylation in PDAC. The N-glycan profiles of the PDAC cells, however, differed vastly as well and demonstrate the diversity of PDAC model systems, which ultimately affects the interpretation of functional studies. The results from this study form the basis for further biological evaluation of the role of protein glycosylation in PDAC and highlight that conclusions from one cell line cannot be generalised, but should be regarded in the context of the corresponding phenotype.
Kaempferide Prevents Titanium Particle Induced Osteolysis by Suppressing JNK Activation during Osteoclast Formation
Authors: Jiao Zixian , Xu Weifeng , Zheng Jisi , Shen Pei , Qin An , Zhang Shanyong , Yang Chi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractKaempferide (KF) is an O-methylated flavonol, a natural plant extract, which is often found in Kaempferia galanga. It has a variety of effects including anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether KF effectively inhibits titanium particle induced calvarial bone loss via down regulation of the JNK signaling pathway. In the mice with titanium particle induced calvarial osteolysis, the Low dose of KF mildly reduced the resorption pits while in the high dose group, fewer scattered pits were observed on the surface of calvarium. Histological examination showed fewer osteoclasts formation in the KF group. In mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) and RAW264.7 cells, KF significantly inhibited the osteoclast formation and bone resorption at 12.5 μM. However, KF does not affect the mature osteoclast F-actin ring formation. But when being co-treated with KF and anisomycin, BMMs differentiated into mature osteoclasts. At the molecular levels, the JNK phosphorylation was inhibited and the osteoclastogenesis-related specific gene expression including V-ATPase d2, TRAP, calcitonin receptor (CTR), c-Fos and NFATc1 was markedly suppressed. In conclusion, these results indicated that KF is a promising agent in the treatment of osteoclast-related diseases.
Decreased miRNA expression in Klinefelter syndrome
Authors: Cimino Laura , Salemi Michele , Cannarella Rossella , Condorelli Rosita A. , Giurato Giorgio , Marchese Giovanna , La Vignera Sandro , Calogero Aldo E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe widelyvariable phenotypic spectrum and the different severity of symptoms in men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) suggest a role for epigenetic mediators. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the possible involvement of miRNAs in the clinical manifestations of KS. To accomplish this, we performed a transcriptome analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 10 non-mosaic KS patients, 10 aged-matched healthy men and 10 aged-matched healthy female controls with normal karyotype. After RNA extraction from PBMC and the preparation of RNA libraries, the samples were sequenced using next generation high-throughput sequencing technology. Expression profiling analysis revealed a significant differential expression of 2 miRNAs in KS compared to male controls. In particular, MIR3648 resulted significantly (q-value < 0.0001) down-regulated by −19.084- fold, while MIR3687was strongly down-regulated (q-value < 0.0001) considering KS patients. These results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. The functional analysis of the two transcripts showed that they seem to play a role in breast cancer, hemopoietic abnormalities, immune defects and adipocyte differentiation and fat cell maturation. Therefore, we speculate that both miRNAs may play a role in the immune and metabolic disorders and in the risk of breast cancer development in men with KS.
High-speed, high-frequency ultrasound, in utero vector-flow imaging of mouse embryos
Authors: Ketterling Jeffrey A. , Aristizábal Orlando , Yiu Billy Y. S. , Turnbull Daniel H. , Phoon Colin K. L. , Yu Alfred C. H. , Silverman Ronald H. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractReal-time imaging of the embryonic murine cardiovascular system is challenging due to the small size of the mouse embryo and rapid heart rate. High-frequency, linear-array ultrasound systems designed for small-animal imaging provide high-frame-rate and Doppler modes but are limited in regards to the field of view that can be imaged at fine-temporal and -spatial resolution. Here, a plane-wave imaging method was used to obtain high-speed image data from in utero mouse embryos and multi-angle, vector-flow algorithms were applied to the data to provide information on blood flow patterns in major organs. An 18-MHz linear array was used to acquire plane-wave data at absolute frame rates ≥10 kHz using a set of fixed transmission angles. After beamforming, vector-flow processing and image compounding, effective frame rates were on the order of 2 kHz. Data were acquired from the embryonic liver, heart and umbilical cord. Vector-flow results clearly revealed the complex nature of blood-flow patterns in the embryo with fine-temporal and -spatial resolution.
Conservation of Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay Complex Components Throughout Eukaryotic Evolution
Authors: Causier Barry , Li Zhen , De Smet Riet , Lloyd James P. B. , Van de Peer Yves , Davies Brendan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractNonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is an essential eukaryotic process regulating transcript quality and abundance, and is involved in diverse processes including brain development and plant defenses. Although some of the NMD machinery is conserved between kingdoms, little is known about its evolution. Phosphorylation of the core NMD component UPF1 is critical for NMD and is regulated in mammals by the SURF complex (UPF1, SMG1 kinase, SMG8, SMG9 and eukaryotic release factors). However, since SMG1 is reportedly missing from the genomes of fungi and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, it remains unclear how UPF1 is activated outside the metazoa. We used comparative genomics to determine the conservation of the NMD pathway across eukaryotic evolution. We show that SURF components are present in all major eukaryotic lineages, including fungi, suggesting that in addition to UPF1 and SMG1, SMG8 and SMG9 also existed in the last eukaryotic common ancestor, 1.8 billion years ago. However, despite the ancient origins of the SURF complex, we also found that SURF factors have been independently lost across the Eukarya, pointing to genetic buffering within the essential NMD pathway. We infer an ancient role for SURF in regulating UPF1, and the intriguing possibility of undiscovered NMD regulatory pathways.
Trehalose significantly enhances the recovery of serum and serum exosomal miRNA from a paper-based matrix
Authors: Neo Shu Hui , Chung Ka Yan , Quek Jia Min , Too Heng-Phon 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe preservation of nucleic acids from clinical samples is critical to facilitate accurate molecular diagnosis. The use of a paper matrix, Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) Elute cards, to archive DNA and viral RNA is well-documented. However, the feasibility of FTA Elute cards for archiving serum and serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) remains unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of FTA Elute cards for miRNA storage and recovery in different pre-analytical conditions. The recovery of serum miRNA dry-spotted on FTA Elute cards by direct elution with water at high temperature was poor. However, serum miRNAs dry-spotted on the cards were isolated with about 40% yield when using QIAzol lysis reagent and recovery was improved remarkably (>80%) upon extraction from cards pre-treated with trehalose. miRNAs stored on the cards remained stable at room temperature and can be kept for prolonged periods. Furthermore, miRNAs could be similarly recovered from serum exosomes dry-spotted on the cards. Importantly, when using sera from gastric cancer (GC) patients, the miRNAs were efficiently recovered from trehalose pre-treated cards without affecting their representation. Collectively, we have demonstrated the potential of FTA Elute cards to archive serum and serum exosomal miRNAs, making it useful for biomarker discovery and diagnostics.