bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Allogeneic Lung Spheroid Cells in a Mismatched Rat Model of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Cores Jhon , Hensley M. Taylor , Kinlaw Kathryn , Rikard S. Michaela , Dinh Phuong-Uyen , Paudel Dipti , Tang Junnan , Vandergriff Adam C. , Allen Tyler A. , Li Yazhou , Liu Jianhua , Niu Bo , Chi Yuepeng , Caranasos Thomas , Lobo Leonard J. , Cheng Ke 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating interstitial lung disease characterized by the relentless deposition of extracellular matrix causing lung distortions and dysfunctions. The prognosis after detection is merely 3–5 years and the only two Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs treat the symptoms, not the disease, and have numerous side effects. Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment strategy for pulmonary fibrosis. Current animal and clinical studies focus on the use of adipose or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. We, instead, have established adult lung spheroid cells (LSCs) as an intrinsic source of therapeutic lung stem cells. In the present study, we compared the efficacy and safety of syngeneic and allogeneic LSCs in immuno-competent rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation in an effort to mitigate fibrosis development. We found that infusion of allogeneic LSCs reduces the progression of inflammation and fibrotic manifestation and preserves epithelial and endothelial health without eliciting significant immune rejection. Our study sheds light on potential future developments of LSCs as an allogeneic cell therapy for humans with pulmonary fibrosis.
Longitudinal growth assessment for prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in fetuses suspected to be small‐for‐gestational age
Authors: Caradeux J. , Eixarch E. , Mazarico E. , Basuki T. R. , Gratacos E. , Figueras F. 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveFetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome. However, distinguishing this condition from small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) remains elusive. A set of criteria has been proposed recently for such a purpose, including the degree of smallness, Doppler parameters and growth velocity. The aim of this study was to establish whether the use of growth velocity adds value to Doppler assessment in predicting adverse perinatal outcome among SGA‐suspected fetuses.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of consecutive singleton pregnancies with late (diagnosis ≥ 32.0 weeks) SGA (estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10th centile). Longitudinal growth assessment was performed by calculation of EFW z‐velocity between diagnosis and last scan before delivery. Improvement in the association with and predictive performance of EFW z‐velocity for adverse perinatal outcome was compared against standard criteria of FGR evaluated before delivery (EFW < 3rd centile, abnormal uterine Doppler or abnormal cerebroplacental ratio).ResultA total of 472 patients were evaluated prospectively for suspected SGA. Of these, 231 (48.9%) qualified as late FGR. Univariate analysis showed a significant trend towards higher frequency (14.5% vs 8.2%; P = 0.041) of EFW z‐velocity in the lowest decile in pregnancies with adverse perinatal outcome. Nonetheless, the addition of EFW z‐velocity improved neither the association with nor the predictive performance of standard criteria of FGR for adverse perinatal outcome.ConclusionsLongitudinal assessment of fetal growth by means of EFW z‐velocity did not have any independent predictive value for adverse perinatal outcome when used in combination with Doppler in SGA‐suspected fetuses. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Prenatal assessment of cerebellar vermian lobulation: fetal MRI with 3‐Tesla postmortem validation
Authors: Dovjak G. O. , Brugger P. C. , Gruber G. M. , Song J. W. , Weber M. , Langs G. , Bettelheim D. , Prayer D. , Kasprian G. 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo optimize the imaging assessment of fetal hindbrain malformations, this observational magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study aimed to assess whether fetal vermian lobulation can be quantified accurately and whether the relative growth of vermian lobules is uniform.MethodsThis retrospective study included singleton fetuses which underwent T2‐weighted MRI in vivo with a 1.5‐Tesla (T) scanner or within 24 h postmortem with a 3‐T scanner between January 2007 and November 2016 at the Medical University of Vienna. We included only those showing normal structural brain development on ultrasound and MRI and which had image quality appropriate for quantitative analysis, i.e. good image quality and a precise midsagittal slice. Fetal brains were segmented and, for all discernible vermian lobules, we determined the mean relative area contribution (MRAC, the proportion of the lobule relative to the total vermian area, in terms of number of voxels). Inter‐ and intrarater measurement variability of a representative selection (21 cases) was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for voxel‐based differences. A linear regression model was used to assess the correlation between the relative size of each vermian lobule (i.e. MRAC) and gestational age.ResultsA total of 78 fetuses scanned in vivo aged 18–32 gestational weeks and seven fetuses scanned postmortem aged 16–30 weeks had a precise midsagittal slice and image quality sufficient for quantitative analysis. After 22 weeks of gestation, seven of the nine known vermian lobules could be discriminated reliably. The MRAC showed a mean ± SD difference of only 2.89 ± 3.01% between in‐vivo and postmortem measurements. The ICC of voxel‐based interrater differences was mean ± SD, 0.91 ± 0.05 and the intrarater ICC was 0.95 ± 0.03. Growth of cerebellar lobules was non‐uniform: the MRAC of culmen and DFT (declive + folium + tuber) increased with gestational age, whereas that of lingula, centralis, pyramis and nodulus decreased. The growth of the uvula showed no significant correlation with gestational age.ConclusionsFetal vermian lobulation can be assessed accurately and reliably after 22 weeks on precise midsagittal sequences with 1.5‐T T2‐weighted MRI. Fetal vermian lobules show non‐uniform growth, with expansion of DFT and culmen at the expense of the other vermian lobules. Evaluation and elucidation of vermian lobulation in normal fetuses should enable better characterization of fetuses with hindbrain malformations. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Reduced fetal movements and cerebroplacental ratio: evidence for worsening fetal hypoxemia
Authors: Binder J. , Monaghan C. , Thilaganathan B. , Morales‐Roselló J. , Khalil A. 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the fetal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in women presenting with reduced fetal movements (RFM).MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of data collected over an 8‐year period at a fetal medicine unit at a tertiary referral center. The cohort comprised 4500 singleton pregnancies presenting with RFM at or after 36 weeks' gestation and 1527 control pregnancies at a similar gestational age without RFM. Fetal biometry and Doppler parameters were recorded and converted into centiles and multiples of the median (MoM). CPR was defined as the ratio between the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) and the umbilical artery (UA) PI. Subgroup analysis for fetal size and for single vs multiple episodes of RFM was performed.ResultsCompared with controls, pregnancies with RFM had lower MCA‐PI MoM (median, 0.95 vs 0.97; P < 0.001) and CPR MoM (median, 0.97 vs 0.99; P = 0.018). Compared with women presenting with single episodes of RFM, pregnancies with multiple episodes (≥ 2 episodes) had lower CPR MoM (median, 0.94 vs 0.98; P = 0.003). On subgroup analysis for fetal size, compared with controls, appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age fetuses in the RFM group had lower MCA‐PI MoM (median, 0.96 vs 0.97; P = 0.003) and higher rate of CPR below the 5th centile (5.3% vs 3.6%; P = 0.015). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated an association of risk of recurrent RFM with maternal age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93–0.99), non‐Caucasian ethnicity (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53–0.97), estimated fetal weight centile (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02) and CPR MoM (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12–0.47).ConclusionPregnancies complicated by multiple episodes of RFM show significantly lower CPR MoM and MCA‐PI MoM compared with those with single episodes and controls. This is likely to be due to worsening fetal hypoxemia in women presenting with recurrent RFM. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Blue Genes? Understanding and Mitigating Negative Consequences of Personalized Information about Genetic Risk for Depression
Authors: Lebowitz Matthew S. , Ahn Woo‐kyoung 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPersonalized genetic testing for vulnerability to mental disorders is expected to become increasingly common. It is therefore important to understand whether learning about one's genetic risk for a mental disorder has negative clinical implications, and if so, how these might be counteracted. Among participants with depressive symptoms, we administered a sham biochemical test purportedly revealing participants’ level of genetic risk for major depression. Participants told that they carried a genetic predisposition to depression expressed significantly lower confidence in their ability to cope with depressive symptoms than participants told they did not carry this predisposition. A short intervention providing education about the non‐deterministic nature of genes’ effects on depression fully mitigated this negative effect, however. Given the clinical importance of patient expectancies in depression, the notion that pessimism about one's ability to overcome symptoms could be exacerbated by genetic information—which will likely become ever more widely available—represents cause for concern. Education and counseling about the malleability of genetic effects may be an important tool for counteracting clinically deleterious beliefs that can be evoked by genetic test results. Genetic counselors may be able to help patients avoid becoming demoralized by learning they have a genetic predisposition to depression by providing education about the non‐deterministic role of biology in depression, and a brief audiovisual intervention appears to be an effective approach to delivering such education.
A Heat and Mass Transfer Model of a Silicon Pilot Furnace
Authors: Sloman Benjamin M. , Please Colin P. , Van Gorder Robert A. , Valderhaug Aasgeir M. , Birkeland Rolf G. , Wegge Harald 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
The most common technological route for metallurgical silicon production is to feed quartz and a carbon source (e.g., coal, coke, or charcoal) into submerged-arc furnaces, which use electrodes as electrical conductors. We develop a mathematical model of a silicon furnace. A continuum approach is taken, and we derive from first principles the equations governing the time evolution of chemical concentrations, gas partial pressures, velocity, and temperature within a one-dimensional vertical section of a furnace. Numerical simulations are obtained for this model and are shown to compare favorably with experimental results obtained using silicon pilot furnaces. A rising interface is shown to exist at the base of the charge, with motion caused by the heating of the pilot furnace. We find that more reactive carbon reduces the silicon monoxide losses, while reducing the carbon content in the raw material mixture causes greater solid and liquid material to build-up in the charge region, indicative of crust formation (which can be detrimental to the silicon production process). We also comment on how the various findings could be relevant for industrial operations.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Ameliorate Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Chen Fengzhi , Zhang Haibo , Wang Zhiqiang , Ding Wei , Zeng Qinyu , Liu Wenbing , Huang Can , He Shuhua , Wei Anyang 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in alleviating erectile dysfunction (ED) of diabetic rats has been demonstrated mainly through a paracrine effect. However, exosomes (EXOs), which are important bioactive substance vectors secreted by ADSCs, have never been associated with ED.AimTo investigate the effect of ADSC-derived EXOs on erectile function in a type 2 diabetic ED rat model.MethodsEXOs were isolated from the supernatants of cultured ADSCs by ultracentrifugation. We constructed a type 2 diabetic rat model using a high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin administered by intraperitoneal injection. In total, 24 diabetic rats were randomly assigned to three groups and were treated with an intracavernous injection of ADSC-derived EXOs, ADSCs, or phosphate buffered saline. Another eight age-matched rats underwent sham operation and composed the normal control group.OutcomesIntracavernous pressure and mean arterial pressure testing and histologic and western blot analyses were performed 4 weeks after the intracavernous injection.ResultsADSC-derived EXOs and ADSCs administered by intracavernous injection led to an increase in the ratio of intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure compared with that for phosphate buffered saline treatment. Histologic and western blot analyses demonstrated an increased ratio of smooth muscle to collagen, increased expression of an endothelial marker (CD31), a smooth muscle marker (α-smooth muscle actin), and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and decreased the expression of the apoptotic protein cleaved caspase-3 and apoptosis of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the corpus cavernosum tissue after EXO or ADSC injection compared with values for the phosphate buffered saline treatment.Clinical TranslationThe present results are expected to provide a scientific foundation for clinical application in the near future.Strengths and LimitationsAlthough the results demonstrated that intracavernous injection of ADSC-derived EXOs could ameliorate ED of diabetic rats, the optimum dose and times of injection remain for further study.ConclusionsADSC-derived EXOs, similarly to ADSCs, were capable of rescuing corpus cavernosum endothelial and smooth muscle cells by inhibiting apoptosis and thus promoting the recovery of erectile function in type 2 diabetic rats.
The Impact of EU Legislation on National Legal Systems: Towards a New Approach to EU – Member State Relations
Authors: VAN DEN BRINK Ton 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHow does EU legislation impact the Member States? Arguably, no other issue is more closely connected to national sovereignty. However, existing research has thus far failed to deliver a univocal answer to this question. Instead, quantitative research – from political scientists and public administration scholars – has resulted in very diverging conclusions. By contrast, the legal perspective on the relationship between the EU and its Member States has been dominated by a focus on the principles of conferral and subsidiarity, as well as on the delineation and use of EU powers. Such an approach makes it equally difficult to identify the actual and concrete impact of EU legislation. Yet, it is contended in this contribution that a legal perspective, focusing on the actual content of EU legislation, is needed to come to a better understanding of the EU’s legislative impact on the Member States.The scope of application and the added value of EU legislation as well as national discretion therein are three key elements for determining the impact of EU legislation. The scope of application concerns the situations covered by EU legislation; added value regards the question of how EU legislation relates to other (pre-existing, overarching and adjacent) EU law. Policy choices and other room for manoeuvre for the Member States included in EU legislation makes for national discretion. Examples may be open norms or non-defined terms and concepts and the possibility to apply exceptions at the national level to general rules of EU legislation. Three areas of EU law are compared, each with a focus on a particular legislative act: migration law (the Family Reunification Directive); freedom to provide services (the Services Directive) and criminal law (the Framework decision on the European Arrest Warrant).
Exploring service innovation and value creation: The critical role of network relationships
Authors: Hsiao Yung-Chang 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study examines the role of service innovation, including service process, Information Technology infrastructure and customer acuity, on customer satisfaction from the network relationships perspective. This study tests the hypotheses in a sample of 136 companies, which is drawn from top 5,000 Taiwanese firms listed in the 2015 yearbook published by the China Credit Information Service Incorporation. The results indicate that service innovation is positively related to network relationships, and that network relationships have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Also, the results provide evidence that network relationships play a mediating role between service innovation and customer satisfaction. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical development of a conceptual model for explaining the interrelationships among service innovation, network relationships, and customer satisfaction. The empirical evidence of the Sobel test, in line with Baron and Kenny’s procedure and bootstrap analysis supports the process-oriented view and indicates that network relationships mediate the effect of service innovation on customer satisfaction. Finally, this study discusses managerial implications and highlights future research directions.
The stalked filter feederSiphusauctum lloydguntherin. sp. from the middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Spence Shale of Utah: its biological affinities and taphonomy
Authors: Kimmig Julien , Strotz Luke C. , Lieberman Bruce S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe describe a new species of enigmatic stalked filter feeder,Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, from the middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) Antimony Canyon locality of the Spence Shale of northern Utah. The described specimen is the only one known from the Spence Shale, represents the first occurrence ofSiphusauctumoutside the Burgess Shale, and is only the second described species from the genus.Siphusauctum lloydguntherin. sp. differs fromS.gregariumO’Brien and Caron, 2012 in the shape of its calyx and the position of the digestive tract. The new species provides some additional information about the possible affinities of enigmatic stalked Cambrian filter feeders, as well as the taphonomic pathways that lead to preservation ofSiphusauctum.
Spectroscopic investigation of plasma evolution induced by double pulse laser in distilled water
Authors: ElRashedy Remah , Imam H. , Elsayed Khaled , Mansour Mohy 
Published: August 2017

Considerable interest has been paid to laser-induced breakdown in liquid because of its wide application to medical issues of the eye and environmental monitoring. Therefore, the present work aims to study the phenomena of LIB in bulk distilled water generated in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) experiment. The effect of experimental parameters such as inter-pulse delay between the two lasers, laser pulse energy and detection time window have been studied to examine the temporal growth of the laser-induced plasma in bulk water. Electron density and plasma temperature have been determined. The Stark broadening profile has been utilized for the electron density determination where the hydrogen lines $H_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}}$ and $H_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}}$ have been used. A deviation between electron density values from the broadening of both lines has been observed and discussed. The electron density values are varied between $10\text{E}+18$ and $10\text{E}+17~\text{cm}^{-3}$ corresponding to the timing experimental parameters. The plasma temperature is varied over a range 16 000 $\text{K}$ to 10 700 $\text{K}$ due to the plasma’s temporal behaviour with experimental parameters.
White matter microstructure predicts longitudinal social cognitive outcomes after paediatric traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor imaging study
Authors: Ryan N. P. , Genc S. , Beauchamp M. H. , Yeates K. O. , Hearps S. , Catroppa C. , Anderson V. A. , Silk T. J. 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundDeficits in social cognition may be among the most profound and disabling sequelae of paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the neuroanatomical correlates of longitudinal outcomes in this domain remain unexplored. This study aimed to characterize social cognitive outcomes longitudinally after paediatric TBI, and to evaluate the use of sub-acute diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to predict these outcomes.MethodsThe sample included 52 children with mild complex-severe TBI who were assessed on cognitive theory of mind (ToM), pragmatic language and affective ToM at 6- and 24-months post-injury. For comparison, 43 typically developing controls (TDCs) of similar age and sex were recruited. DTI data were acquired sub-acutely (mean = 5.5 weeks post-injury) in a subset of 65 children (TBI = 35; TDC = 30) to evaluate longitudinal prospective relationships between white matter microstructure assessed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics and social cognitive outcomes.ResultsWhole brain voxel-wise analysis revealed significantly higher mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the sub-acute TBI group compared with TDC, with differences observed predominantly in the splenium of the corpus callosum (sCC), sagittal stratum (SS), dorsal cingulum (DC), uncinate fasciculus (UF) and middle and superior cerebellar peduncles (MCP & SCP, respectively). Relative to TDCs, children with TBI showed poorer cognitive ToM, affective ToM and pragmatic language at 6-months post-insult, and those deficits were related to abnormal diffusivity of the sCC, SS, DC, UF, MCP and SCP. Moreover, children with TBI showed poorer affective ToM and pragmatic language at 24-months post-injury, and those outcomes were predicted by sub-acute alterations in diffusivity of the DC and MCP.ConclusionsAbnormal microstructure within frontal-temporal, limbic and cerebro-cerebellar white matter may be a risk factor for long-term social difficulties observed in children with TBI. DTI may have potential to unlock early prognostic markers of long-term social outcomes.