bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoids increase skeletal muscle NF‐κB inducing kinase (NIK): links to muscle atrophy
Authors: Fry Christopher S. , Nayeem Syed Z. , Dillon Edgar L. , Sarkar Partha S. , Tumurbaatar Batbayar , Urban Randall J. , Wright Traver J. , Sheffield‐Moore Melinda , Tilton Ronald G. , Choudhary Sanjeev 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGlucocorticoids (GC) are a frontline therapy for numerous acute and chronic diseases because of their demonstrated efficacy at reducing systemic inflammation. An unintended side effect of GC therapy is the stimulation of skeletal muscle atrophy. Pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for GC‐induced skeletal muscle atrophy have been extensively investigated, and the ability to treat patients with GC without unintended muscle atrophy has yet to be realized. We have reported that a single, standard‐of‐care dose of Methylprednisolone increases in vivo expression of NF‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK), an important upstream regulatory kinase controlling NF‐κB activation, along with other key muscle catabolic regulators such as Atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 that induce skeletal muscle proteolysis. Here, we provide experimental evidence that overexpressing NIK by intramuscular injection of recombinant human NIK via adenoviral vector in mouse tibialis anterior muscle induces a 30% decrease in the average fiber cross‐sectional area that is associated with increases in mRNA expression of skeletal muscle atrophy biomarkers MuRF1, Atrogin‐1, myostatin and Gadd45. A single injection of GC induced NIK mRNA and protein within 2 h, with the increased NIK localized to nuclear and sarcolemmal locations within muscle fibers. Daily GC injections induced skeletal muscle fore limb weakness as early as 3 days with similar atrophy of muscle fibers as observed with NIK overexpression. NIK overexpression in primary human skeletal muscle myotubes increased skeletal muscle atrophy biomarkers, while NIK knockdown significantly attenuated GC‐induced increases in NIK and Atrogin‐1. These results suggest that NIK may be a novel, previously unrecognized mediator of GC‐induced skeletal muscle atrophy.
Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller and
Feasible Path Planning for Autonomous Robots
Authors: Minh Vu Trieu 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
This paper develops the nonlinear model predictive
control (NMPC) algorithm to control autonomous
robots tracking feasible paths generated directly from the
nonlinear dynamic equations.NMPC algorithm can secure
the stability of this dynamic system by imposing additional
conditions on the open loop NMPC regulator. The
NMPC algorithm maintains a terminal constrained region
to the origin and thus, guarantees the stability of the nonlinear
system. Simulations show that the NMPC algorithm
can minimize the path tracking errors and control the autonomous
robots tracking exactly on the feasible paths
subject to the system’s physical constraints.
Substrate processing in intramembrane proteolysis by γ-secretase – the role of protein dynamics
Authors: Langosch Dieter , Steiner Harald 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Intramembrane proteases comprise a number of different membrane proteins with different types of catalytic sites. Their common denominator is cleavage within the plane of the membrane, which usually results in peptide bond scission within the transmembrane helices of their substrates. Despite recent progress in the determination of high-resolution structures, as illustrated here for the γ-secretase complex and its substrate C99, it is still unknown how these enzymes function and how they distinguish between substrates and non-substrates. In principle, substrate/non-substrate discrimination could occur at the level of substrate binding and/or cleavage. Focusing on the γ-secretase/C99 pair, we will discuss recent observations suggesting that global motions within a substrate transmembrane helix may be much more important for defining a substrate than local unraveling at cleavage sites.
Mechanisms of action of Rab proteins, key regulators of intracellular vesicular transport
Authors: Goody Roger Sidney , Müller Matthias Philipp , Wu Yao-Wen 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Our understanding of the manner in which Rab proteins regulate intracellular vesicular transport has progressed remarkably in the last one or two decades by application of a wide spectrum of biochemical, biophysical and cell biological methods, augmented by the methods of chemical biology. Important additional insights have arisen from examination of the manner in which certain bacteria can manipulate vesicular transport mechanisms. The progress in these areas is summarized here.
Existence of Solutions for Schrödinger–Kirchhoff Type Problems Involving Nonlocal Elliptic Operators
Authors: Xiang Mingqi , Yang Zhengquan 
Published: November 2016

Abstract:The aim of this paper is to establish the existence of nonnegative solutions for a class of Schrödinger–Kirchhoff type problems driven by nonlocal integro-differential operators, that is,
$$\begin{align*}&M\left(\mathop{\iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2N}}}|u(x)-u(y)|^pK(x-y)dxdy,\int_{\mathbb{R}^N}V(x)|u|^pdx\right)\\&\kern10pt \left(\mathcal{L}_Ku+V(x)|u|^{p-2}u\right)\\&=G\left(\mathop{\iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2N}}}|u(x)-u(y)|^pK(x-y)dxdy,\int_{\mathbb{R}^N}V(x)|u|^pdx\right)\nonumber\\&\kern11pt f(x,u)+h(x)\ \ \ \ {\rm in}\ \mathbb{R}^N,\end{align*}$$where $\mathcal{L}_K$ is a nonlocal integro-differential operator with singular kernel $K:\mathbb{R}^N\,\backslash\,\{0\}\rightarrow(0,\infty)$, $M,G$ are two nonnegative continuous functions on $(0,\infty)\times(0,\infty)$, $V\in C(\mathbb{R}^N,\mathbb{R}^+)$, $h:\mathbb{R}^N\rightarrow (0,\infty)$ is a measurable function and $f:\mathbb{R}^N\times\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ is a Carathéodory function. Employing several nonvariational techniques, we prove various results of existence of nonnegative solutions. The main feature of this paper is that the Kirchhoff function $M$ can be zero at zero and the problem is not variational in nature.
Antiplasmodial activity of the ethanolic root bark extract of Icacina senegalensis in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Akuodor Godwin C. , Essien David-Oku , Nkorroh Julie A. , Essien Augustine D. , Nkanor Effiong E. , Ezeunala Mercy N. , Chilaka Kingsley C. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract

Background:
The root of Icacina senegalensis is used for the treatment of malaria and related conditions in southeastern Nigeria.

Methods:
To establish its efficacy, the ethanolic root bark extract was investigated as antiplasmodial agent against Plasmodium berghei in mice. A 4-day suppressive test and the curative effect against established infection models of antiplasmodial studies were used.

Results:
The root bark extract of I. senegalensis (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) exhibited a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent activity against the parasite based on suppressive and curative study. The antimalarial effect of I. senegalensis is compared with that of chloroquine (10 mg/kg), the standard drug. The ethanolic root bark extract also prolonged the survival time of infected mice.

Conclusions:
The results showed that the root bark extract possesses a potential antiplasmodial activity, which can be exploited for the possible development of new antimalarial agent.
Salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, and urea concentration in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Saes Busato Ivana Maria , Antoni Carlos Cesar De , Calcagnotto Thiago , Ignácio Sérgio Aparecido , Azevedo-Alanis Luciana Reis 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackground:The objective of the study was to analyze salivary flow rate, urea concentration, and buffer capacity in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) in two different stages.Methods:This study was performed on adolescents (14–19 years), allocated between two groups: type 1 DM group comprised 32 adolescents with type 1 DM, and non-type 1 DM group comprised 32 nondiabetics. The adolescents in type 1 DM group were evaluated at a baseline (T0) and after 15 months (T1), and those in non-type 1 DM group were only evaluated at T0. Diabetic status was determined by glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and capillary glucose tests. Measurement of salivary flow was performed by means of stimulated saliva (SSFR) collection. The buffer capacity (BC) was determined, and analysis of urea salivary concentration was performed using the colorimetric method.Results:At T0, there were significant differences between diabetics and nondiabetics for SSFR and BC (p<0.05). In diabetics, SSFR was 0.790 mL/min in T0 and 0.881 mL/min in T1 (p>0.05). BC at T0 was 4.8, and at T1, it was 3.9 (p=0.000). Urea concentration mean value had a significant decrease at T1 (28.13) compared with T0 (34.88) (p=0.013). There was a negative correlation between SSFR and urea salivary concentration at both T0 (r=−0.426, p≤0.05) and T1 (r=−0.601, p≤0.01).Conclusions:In adolescents with type 1 DM, hyposalivation at T0 was associated with an increase in urea salivary concentration. At T1, hyposalivation was associated with a reduction in BC, and an increase in salivary urea.
Central diabetes insipidus: clinical profile that suggests organicity in Peruvian children: Lima – Peru 2001–2013
Authors: De los Santos Miguel Angel , Águila Carlos Manuel Del , Rojas Maria Isabel , Falen Juan Manuel , Nuñez Oswaldo , Chávez Eliana Manuela , Espinoza Oscar Antonio , Pinto Paola Marianella , Calagua Martha Rosario 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackground:Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a heterogeneous disease caused by arginine vasopressin deficiency; its management implies a profound understanding of the pathophysiology and the clinical spectrum. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical characteristics that indicate organicity in children and adolescents with central diabetes insipidus treated at the Department of Endocrinology from The Child Health’s Institute during 2001 to 2013.Methods:Cross-sectional, retrospective study. 79 cases of patients diagnosed with CDI (51 males and 28 females) from 1 month to 16 years of age were reviewed. For the descriptive analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used; groups of organic and idiopathic CDI were compared using χResults:The average age of patients was 8.1±4.2 years. Organic causes were intracranial tumors, 44 (55.7%), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), 11 (13.9%) and cerebral malformations in 7 (8.9%) patients, while the idiopathic group was 14 (17.7%) patients. Regarding clinical characteristics suggestive of organicity, headache (p=0.02) and visual disturbances (p=0.01) were found statistically significant. The anterior pituitary hormonal abnormalities were documented in 34 (52.3%) organic CDI patients. Furthermore, we did not find a significant difference in the average daily dose of desmopressin between patients with permanent vs. transitory CDI (0.81±0.65 vs. 0.59±0.62; p=0.363).Conclusions:The main clinical features suggestive of organicity in pediatric patients with central diabetes insipidus were headache and visual disturbances; furthermore, anterior pituitary hormonal abnormalities suggest an underlying organic etiology.
Advanced characterizations of nanoparticles for drug delivery: investigating their properties through the techniques used in their evaluations
Authors: Mahmood Syed , Mandal Uttam Kumar , Chatterjee Bappaditya , Taher Muhammad 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNanomedicine has achieved a huge success in delivering a wide variety of drug molecules into the target site of the body. In this respect, the characterization of nanoformulation is very important to investigate the drug molecule together with its carrier as a nanoform during formulation, storage, and in vivo transport through the body. This review article summarizes important advanced characterization techniques of nanoformulation with respect to their theories, use of required instrumental parameters, sample preparation techniques, data interpretation, etc., to exploit them for the best possible results. This review article also sheds a glimpse to the shortcomings of these techniques together with further advancements required in future.
A review of heavy metals in indoor dust and its human health-risk implications
Authors: Tan Sock Yin , Praveena Sarva Mangala , Abidin Emilia Zainal , Cheema Manraj Singh 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Indoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal concentration in indoor dust is affected by local human activities and atmospheric transport can have harmful effects on human health. Additionally, children are more sensitive to heavy metals due to their hand-to-mouth behaviour and rapid body development. However, limited information on health risks were found in past dust studies as these studies aimed to identify heavy metal concentrations and sources of indoor dust. The objective of this review is to discuss heavy metal concentration and sources influencing its concentration in indoor dust. Accordingly, high lead (Pb) concentration (639.10 μg/g) has been reported in heavy traffic areas. In addition, this review paper aims to estimate the health risk to children from heavy metals in indoor dust via multiple exposure pathways using the health-risk assessment (HRA). Urban areas and industrial sites have revealed high heavy metal concentration in comparison to rural areas. Hazard index (HI) values found in arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and Pb were 21.30, 1.10 and 2.40, respectively, indicate that non-carcinogenic elements are found in children. Furthermore, most of the past studies have found that carcinogenic risks for As, cadmium (Cd), Cr and Pb were below the acceptable total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR) range (1×10−6–1×10−4). The results of health risk assessment in this review show that carcinogenic risk exists among children. Hence, this proves that future studies need to focus on children’s carcinogenic risk in indoor dust studies in order to find out the sources of heavy metals in indoor dust. This review highlights the importance of having the HRA application using bioavailable heavy metal concentration as it provides more accurate health-risk estimation. Moreover, this review is also useful as a reference for policy decision making in protecting children’s health.
Intertextualität und Interritualität als Mimesis
Authors: Kreinath Jens 
Published: November 2016

ZusammenfassungZiel dieses Aufsatzes ist es, den ästhetischen Zusammenhang von Texten und Ritualen und deren Rolle in den interreligiösen Beziehungen unter Juden, Christen und Muslimen zu erforschen. Dabei wird der Schwerpunkt nicht auf Texte, sondern Rituale gelegt. Der Begriff der Mimesis wird eingeführt, um die Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede in interreligiösen Beziehungen zu bestimmen, und dabei in Repräsentation, Imitation und Simulation differenziert, um die verschiedenen Ebenen von interreligiösen Austauchprozessen in historischer wie ethnographischer Perspektive herauszuarbeiten. Interritualität und Intertextualität werden dabei religionsästhetisch aufeinander bezogen, um die Dynamiken interreligiöser Beziehungen für die Gegenwart wie Vergangenheit zu rekonstruieren. Diesem religionsästhetischen Forschungsansatz werden Feldforschungsdaten zu den interreligiösen Beziehungen unter Juden, Christen und Muslimen in Hatay, der südlichsten Provinz der Türkei an der syrischen Grenze, zugrundegelegt.
4‐Aminopyridine promotes functional recovery and remyelination in acute peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Tseng Kuang‐Ching , Li Haiyan , Clark Andrew , Sundem Leigh , Zuscik Michael , Noble Mark , Elfar John 
Published: November 2016

AbstractTraumatic peripheral nerve damage is a major medical problem without effective treatment options. In repurposing studies on 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP), a potassium channel blocker that provides symptomatic relief in some chronic neurological afflictions, we discovered this agent offers significant promise as a small molecule regenerative agent for acute traumatic nerve injury. We found, in a mouse model of sciatic crush injury, that sustained early 4‐AP administration increased the speed and extent of behavioral recovery too rapidly to be explained by axonal regeneration. Further studies demonstrated that 4‐AP also enhanced recovery of nerve conduction velocity, promoted remyelination, and increased axonal area post‐injury. We additionally found that 4‐AP treatment enables distinction between incomplete and complete lesions more rapidly than existing approaches, thereby potentially addressing the critical challenge of more effectively distinguishing injured individuals who may require mutually exclusive treatment approaches. Thus, 4‐AP singularly provides both a new potential therapy to promote durable recovery and remyelination in acute peripheral nerve injury and a means of identifying lesions in which this therapy would be most likely to be of value.
Retinoic acid catabolizing enzyme CYP26C1 is a genetic modifier in SHOX deficiency
Authors: Montalbano Antonino , Juergensen Lonny , Roeth Ralph , Weiss Birgit , Fukami Maki , Fricke‐Otto Susanne , Binder Gerhard , Ogata Tsutomu , Decker Eva , Nuernberg Gudrun , Hassel David , Rappold Gudrun A 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMutations in the homeobox gene SHOX cause SHOX deficiency, a condition with clinical manifestations ranging from short stature without dysmorphic signs to severe mesomelic skeletal dysplasia. In rare cases, individuals with SHOX deficiency are asymptomatic. To elucidate the factors that modify disease severity/penetrance, we studied a three‐generation family with SHOX deficiency. The variant p.Phe508Cys of the retinoic acid catabolizing enzyme CYP26C1 co‐segregated with the SHOX variant p.Val161Ala in the affected individuals, while the SHOX mutant alone was present in asymptomatic individuals. Two further cases with SHOX deficiency and damaging CYP26C1 variants were identified in a cohort of 68 individuals with LWD. The identified CYP26C1 variants affected its catabolic activity, leading to an increased level of retinoic acid. High levels of retinoic acid significantly decrease SHOX expression in human primary chondrocytes and zebrafish embryos. Individual morpholino knockdown of either gene shortens the pectoral fins, whereas depletion of both genes leads to a more severe phenotype. Together, our findings describe CYP26C1 as the first genetic modifier for SHOX deficiency.
The Nucleotide Excision Repair Pathway Limits L1 Retrotransposition
Authors: Servant Geraldine , Streva Vincent A , Derbes Rebecca S , Wijetunge Madushani I , Neeland Marc , White Travis B , Belancio Victoria P , Roy-Engel Astrid M , Deininger Prescott L 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Long interspersed elements 1 (L1) are active mobile elements that constitute almost 17% of the human genome. They amplify through a “copy-and-paste” mechanism termed retrotransposition, and de novo insertions related to these elements have been reported to cause 0.2% of genetic diseases. Our previous data demonstrated that the endonuclease complex ERCC1-XPF, which cleaves a 3′ DNA flap structure, limits L1 retrotransposition. Although the ERCC1-XPF endonuclease participates in several different DNA repair pathways, such as single-strand annealing, or in telomere maintenance, its recruitment to DNA lesions is best characterized in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. To determine if the NER pathway prevents the insertion of retroelements in the genome, we monitored the retrotransposition efficiencies of engineered L1 elements in NER-deficient cells and in their complemented versions. Core proteins of the NER pathway, XPD and XPA, and the lesion binding protein, XPC, are involved in limiting L1 retrotransposition. In addition, sequence analysis of recovered de novo L1 inserts and their genomic locations in NER-deficient cells demonstrated the presence of abnormally large duplications at the site of insertion, suggesting that NER proteins may also play a role in the normal L1 insertion process. Here, we propose new functions for the NER pathway in the maintenance of genome integrity: limitation of insertional mutations caused by retrotransposons and the prevention of potentially mutagenic large genomic duplications at the site of retrotransposon insertion events.
Coordination of Cell Cycle Progression and Mitotic Spindle Assembly Involves Histone H3 Lysine 4 Methylation by Set1/COMPASS
Authors: Beilharz Traude H , Harrison Paul F , Miles Douglas Maya , See Michael Ming , Le Uyen Minh Merry , Kalanon Ming , Curtis Melissa Jane , Hasan Qambar , Saksouk Julie , Margaritis Thanasis , Holstege Frank , Geli Vincent , Dichtl Bernhard 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) by Set1 complex/COMPASS is a hallmark of eukaryotic chromatin, but it remains poorly understood how this post-translational modification contributes to the regulation of biological processes like the cell cycle. Here, we report a H3K4 methylation-dependent pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that governs toxicity toward benomyl, a microtubule destabilizing drug. Benomyl-sensitive growth of wild-type cells required mono- and dimethylation of H3K4 and Pho23, a PHD-containing subunit of the Rpd3L complex. Δset1 and Δpho23 deletions suppressed defects associated with ipl1-2 aurora kinase mutant, an integral component of the spindle assembly checkpoint during mitosis. Benomyl resistance of Δset1 strains was accompanied by deregulation of all four tubulin genes and the phenotype was suppressed by tub2-423 and Δtub3 mutations, establishing a genetic link between H3K4 methylation and microtubule function. Most interestingly, sine wave fitting and clustering of transcript abundance time series in synchronized cells revealed a requirement for Set1 for proper cell-cycle-dependent gene expression and Δset1 cells displayed delayed entry into S phase. Disruption of G1/S regulation in Δmbp1 and Δswi4 transcription factor mutants duplicated both benomyl resistance and suppression of ipl1-2 as was observed with Δset1. Taken together our results support a role for H3K4 methylation in the coordination of cell-cycle progression and proper assembly of the mitotic spindle during mitosis.
An evaluation of the health and wellbeing needs of employees: An organizational case study
Authors: Chetty Laran 
Published: November 2016

Abstract

Introduction
Workplace health and wellbeing is a major public health issue for employers. Wellbeing health initiatives are known to be cost-effective, especially when the programs are targeted and matched to the health problems of the specific population. The aim of this paper is to gather information about the health and wellbeing needs and resources of employees at one British organization.

Subjects and Methods
A crosssectional survey was carried out to explore the health and wellbeing needs and resources of employees at one British organization. All employees were invited to participate in the survey, and, therefore, sampling was not necessary.

Results
838 questionnaires were viable and included in the analysis. Employees reported “feeling happier at work” was the most important factor promoting their health and wellbeing. Physical tasks, such as “moving and handling” were reported to affect employee health and wellbeing the most. The “provision of physiotherapy” was the most useful resource at work. In all, 75% felt that maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the workplace is achievable.

Conclusions
More needs to be done by organizations and occupational health to improve the working conditions and organizational culture so that employees feel that they can function at their optimal and not perceive the workplace as a contributor to ill-health.