bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Home-based specialized palliative care in patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Nordly Mie , Vadstrup Eva Soelberg , Sjøgren Per , Kurita Geana Paula 
Published: July 2016

AbstractObjective:Due to an urgent need for specialized palliative care (SPC) for patients with advanced cancer, an overview of available information on organization and outcomes of home-based SPC would be valuable. Our systematic review aims to give an overview of available information on the organization and outcomes of home-based SPC for patients with advanced cancer. Outcomes related to place of death, survival time, quality of life, performance status, and symptom management are included.Method:A PICO process search strategy consisting of terms related to cancer, palliation, and home care was employed. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane from January 1, 2000, to January 27, 2015. A hand search of the reference lists of the included studies was also performed.Results:A total of 5 articles (out of 2080 abstracts) were selected for analysis. Three additional studies were added by the hand search. Six observational and two interventional studies were evaluated. In all of these studies, the description of the SPC service was limited to the composition of the staff—no other organizational aspects were detailed. From 44 to 90% of the patients receiving home-based SPC died at home. Studies including survival and quality of life had divergent outcomes, and overall performance status did not improve. However, symptom control did improve over time.Significance of results:There is a lack of controlled clinical trials and organizational descriptions regarding home-based SPC for patients with advanced cancer, resulting in poor information and a lack of evidence. Generally, home-based SPC seems to have some positive effect on pain and dyspnea, but more high-quality studies are required.
The establishment of apple orchards as temperate forest garden systems and their impact on indigenous bacterial and fungal population abundance in Southern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Wartman P.C. , Dunfield K.E. , Khosla K. , Loucks C. , Van Acker R.C. , Martin R.C. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis research investigated soil microbial abundances affected by different ground management systems in establishing apple (Malus domestica cv. Idared, M9) orchards in Ontario, Canada. Four treatments, including forest garden systems with and without compost (FGSC and FGS), and grass understory systems with and without compost (GC and G), were assessed over two establishment years for gene copy abundance of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, total fungi and total bacteria using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions. Time had a greater effect on all three soil microbial abundances, with total bacterial and AM fungi decreasing and total fungal abundance increasing from spring 2013 to fall 2014. The changes were greatest between the sampling dates of fall 2013 and spring 2014, which is 1 yr after the establishment of the experimental apple plots. There were no significant differences in soil microbial abundances between treatments at any specific sampling date. Apple tree trunk circumference was greatest for FGSC and FGS after 2 yr, but no significant differences in GC and G treatments. In the last sampling period, fall 2014, FGSC plots had significantly greater trunk circumferences compared with G plots. Soil chemical properties neither changed over the 2 yr, nor did they differ between treatments at any one sampling time. We conclude that the apple-based FGS treatments can benefit apple tree growth and there is a basis for future research to explore specific plant–plant, plant–microbe and microbe–microbe relations in FGSs.
The strategic use of epistemological positions in a power-laden arena: anthropological expertise in asylum cases in the UK
Authors: Hoehne Markus Virgil 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper deals with social anthropologists serving as expert witnesses in asylum proceedings in the UK. It argues that it is not a fundamental epistemological divide, but rather massive power differentials that characterise the relationship between social anthropologists and legal practitioners in this context. Within a narrow framework provided by the law, which focuses on ‘true facts’ and ‘objective evidence’, social anthropologists have to position themselves, and they often must do so somewhere along a spectrum from positivist to post-positivist positions (regarding, for example, such concepts as ‘culture’ and ‘identity’). This, as well as their subordinate position in the context of the proceedings, sits uneasily with the professional, moral and ethical standards of their discipline. Engagement as an expert, therefore, comes with certain costs for social anthropologists that range from having to bend one's own epistemological perspective to the risk of being ‘demolished’ as an expert (and beyond) in sometimes implicitly politicised asylum decisions.
Evaluation of techniques for performing cellular isolation and preservation during microgravity conditions
Authors: Rizzardi Lindsay F , Kunz Hawley , Rubins Kathleen , Chouker Alexander , Quiriarte Heather , Sams Clarence , Crucian Brian E , Feinberg Andrew P 
Published: July 2016

AbstractGenomic and epigenomic studies require the precise transfer of microliter volumes among different types of tubes in order to purify DNA, RNA, or protein from biological samples and subsequently perform analyses of DNA methylation, RNA expression, and chromatin modifications on a genome-wide scale. Epigenomic and transcriptional analyses of human blood cells, for example, require separation of purified cell types to avoid confounding contributions of altered cellular proportions, and long-term preservation of these cells requires their isolation and transfer into appropriate freezing media. There are currently no protocols for these cellular isolation procedures on the International Space Station (ISS). Currently human blood samples are either frozen as mixed cell populations (within the CPT collection tubes) with poor yield of viable cells required for cell-type isolations, or returned under ambient conditions, which requires timing with Soyuz missions. Here we evaluate the feasibility of translating terrestrial cell purification techniques to the ISS. Our evaluations were performed in microgravity conditions during parabolic atmospheric flight. The pipetting of open liquids in microgravity was evaluated using analog-blood fluids and several types of pipette hardware. The best-performing pipettors were used to evaluate the pipetting steps required for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) isolation following terrestrial density-gradient centrifugation. Evaluation of actual blood products was performed for both the overlay of diluted blood, and the transfer of isolated PBMCs. We also validated magnetic purification of cells. We found that positive-displacement pipettors avoided air bubbles, and the tips allowed the strong surface tension of water, glycerol, and blood to maintain a patent meniscus and withstand robust pipetting in microgravity. These procedures will greatly increase the breadth of research that can be performed on board the ISS, and allow improvised experimentation by astronauts on extraterrestrial missions.
Landscape determinants of fine-scale genetic structure of a small rodent in a heterogeneous landscape (Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa)
Authors: Russo Isa-Rita M. , Sole Catherine L. , Barbato Mario , von Bramann Ullrich , Bruford Michael W. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractSmall mammals provide ecosystem services, acting, for example, as pollinators and seed dispersers. In addition, they are also disease reservoirs that can be detrimental to human health and they can also act as crop pests. Knowledge of their dispersal preferences is therefore useful for population management and landscape planning. Genetic data were used alongside landscape data to examine the influence of the landscape on the demographic connectedness of the Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) and to identify landscape characteristics that influence the genetic structure of this species across a spatially and temporally varying environment. The most significant landscape features shaping gene flow were aspect, vegetation cover, topographic complexity (TC) and rivers, with western facing slopes, topographic complexity and rivers restricting gene flow. In general, thicket vegetation was correlated with increased gene flow. Identifying features of the landscape that facilitate movement/dispersal in M. natalensis potentially has application for other small mammals in similar ecosystems. As the primary reservoir host of the zoonotic Lassa virus, a landscape genetics approach may have applications in determining areas of high disease risk to humans. Identifying these landscape features may also be important in crop management due to damage by rodent pests.
Beyond endoscopic assessment in inflammatory bowel disease: real-time histology of disease activity by non-linear multimodal imaging
Authors: Chernavskaia Olga , Heuke Sandro , Vieth Michael , Friedrich Oliver , Schürmann Sebastian , Atreya Raja , Stallmach Andreas , Neurath Markus F. , Waldner Maximilian , Petersen Iver , Schmitt Michael , Bocklitz Thomas , Popp Jürgen 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAssessing disease activity is a prerequisite for an adequate treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition to endoscopic mucosal healing, histologic remission poses a promising end-point of IBD therapy. However, evaluating histological remission harbors the risk for complications due to the acquisition of biopsies and results in a delay of diagnosis because of tissue processing procedures. In this regard, non-linear multimodal imaging techniques might serve as an unparalleled technique that allows the real-time evaluation of microscopic IBD activity in the endoscopy unit. In this study, tissue sections were investigated using the non-linear multimodal microscopy combination of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), two-photon excited auto fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG). After the measurement a gold-standard assessment of histological indexes was carried out based on a conventional H&E stain. Subsequently, various geometry and intensity related features were extracted from the multimodal images. An optimized feature set was utilized to predict histological index levels based on a linear classifier. Based on the automated prediction, the diagnosis time interval is decreased. Therefore, non-linear multimodal imaging may provide a real-time diagnosis of IBD activity suited to assist clinical decision making within the endoscopy unit.
Influence of Metal Diboride and Dy2O3 Additions on Microstructure and Properties of MgB2 Fabricated at High Temperatures and under Pressure
Authors: Yang Y. , Sumption M. D. , Collings E. W. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractHigh temperatures and under pressure (HTP) processing has been used to study the effects of chemical doping in MgB2. ZrB2, TiB2 and NbB2 were selected as additives since, like MgB2, they have an AlB2-type structure and similar lattice parameters. Dy2O3 was selected as it has been reported to generate nanoscale, secondary intragrain phases in MgB2. While C is known to enter the B-sublattice readily, attempts to dope Zr and other elements onto the Mg site have been less successful due to slow bulk diffusion, low solubility in MgB2, or both. We have used high-temperature, solid-state sintering (1500 °C), as well as excursions through the peritectic temperature (up to 1700 °C), to investigate both of these limitations. Bulk MgB2 samples doped with MB2 (M = Zr, Ti and Nb) and Dy2O3 additions were synthesized and then characterized. Lattice distortion and high densities of crystal defects were observed in the MgB2 grains around nano-sized MB2 inclusions, this highly defected band contributed to a large increase in Bc2 but was not large enough to increase the irreversibility field. In contrast, distributed intragrain precipitates were formed by Dy2O3 additions which did not change the lattice parameters, Tc, Tc distribution or Bc2 of MgB2, but modified the flux pinning.
Methane limit LPS-induced NF-κB/MAPKs signal in macrophages and suppress immune response in mice by enhancing PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β-mediated IL-10 expression
Authors: Zhang Xu , Li Na , Shao Han , Meng Yan , Wang Liping , Wu Qian , Yao Ying , Li Jinbao , Bian Jinjun , Zhang Yan , Deng Xiaoming 
Published: July 2016

AbstractInflammatory diseases such as sepsis and autoimmune colitis, characterized by an overwhelming activation of the immune system and the counteracting anti-inflammatory response, remain a major health problem in worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that methane have a protective effect on many animal models, like ischaemia reperfusion injury and diabetes-associated diseases. Whether methane could modulating inflammatory diseases remains largely unknown. Here we show that methane-rich saline (MS) ip treatment (16 ml/kg) alleviated endotoxin shock, bacteria-induced sepsis and dextran-sulfate-sodium-induced colitis in mice via decreased production of TNF-α and IL-6. In MS-treated macrophages, LPS-induced activation of NF-κb/MAPKs was attenuated. Interestingly, MS treatment significantly elevated the levels of IL-10 both in vitro and in vivo. Neutralization of IL-10 abrogated the therapeutic effect of MS. Moreover, anti-IL10 blockade partially restored the MS-mediated attenuation of NF-κb/MAPKs phosphorylation. We further found that MS resulted in markedly enhanced phosphorylation of GSK-3β and AKT, which both mediate the release of Il-10. Additionally, inhibition of PI3K attenuated MS-mediated p-GSK-3β and IL-10 production and reversed the suppressed activation of NF-κb/ MAPKs in response to LPS. Our results reveal a novel effect and mechanisms of methane and support the potential value of MS as a therapeutic approach in innate inflammatory diseases.
DNA replication inhibitor hydroxyurea alters Fe-S centers by producing reactive oxygen species in vivo
Authors: Huang Meng-Er , Facca Céline , Fatmi Zakaria , Baïlle Dorothée , Bénakli Safia , Vernis Laurence 
Published: July 2016

AbstractRedox homeostasis is tightly controlled in cells as it is critical for most cellular functions. Iron-Sulfur centers (Fe-S) are metallic cofactors with electronic properties that are associated with proteins and allow fine redox tuning. Following the observation that altered Fe-S biosynthesis is correlated with a high sensitivity to hydroxyurea (HU), a potent DNA replication blocking agent, we identified that oxidative stress response pathway under the control of the main regulator Yap1 attenuates HU deleterious effects, as it significantly increases resistance to HU, Fe-S biosynthesis and DNA replication kinetics in the presence of HU. Yap1 effect is mediated at least in part through up-regulation of two highly conserved genes controlling cytosolic Fe-S biosynthesis and oxidative stress, Dre2 and Tah18. We next observed that HU produces deleterious effects on cytosolic Fe-S clusters in proteins in vivo but not in vitro, suggesting that HU’s impact on Fe-S in vivo is mediated by cellular metabolism. Finally, we evidenced that HU exposure was accompanied by production of reactive oxygen species intracellularly. Altogether, this study provides mechanistic insight on the initial observation that mutants with altered Fe-S biosynthesis are highly sensitive to HU and uncovers a novel mechanism of action of this widely used DNA replication inhibitor.
Deciphering the function of the CNGB1b subunit in olfactory CNG channels
Authors: Nache Vasilica , Wongsamitkul Nisa , Kusch Jana , Zimmer Thomas , Schwede Frank , Benndorf Klaus 
Published: July 2016

AbstractOlfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels are key players in the signal transduction cascade of olfactory sensory neurons. The second messengers cAMP and cGMP directly activate these channels, generating a depolarizing receptor potential. Olfactory CNG channels are composed of two CNGA2 subunits and two modulatory subunits, CNGA4, and CNGB1b. So far the exact role of the modulatory subunits for channel activation is not fully understood. By measuring ligand binding and channel activation simultaneously, we show that in functional heterotetrameric channels not only the CNGA2 subunits and the CNGA4 subunit but also the CNGB1b subunit binds cyclic nucleotides and, moreover, also alone translates this signal to open the pore. In addition, we show that the CNGB1b subunit is the most sensitive subunit in a heterotetrameric channel to cyclic nucleotides and that it accelerates deactivation to a similar extent as does the CNGA4 subunit. In conclusion, the CNGB1b subunit participates in ligand-gated activation of olfactory CNG channels and, particularly, contributes to rapid termination of odorant signal in an olfactory sensory neuron.
Uncertainty analysis for an effluent trading system in a typical nonpoint-sources-polluted watershed
Authors: Chen Lei , Han Zhaoxing , Wang Guobo , Shen Zhenyao 
Published: July 2016

AbstractConventional effluent trading systems (ETSs) between point sources (PSs) and nonpoint sources (NPSs) are often unreliable because of the uncertain characteristics of NPSs. In this study, a new framework was established for PS-NPS ETSs, and a comprehensive analysis was conducted by quantifying the impacts of the uncertainties associated with the water assimilative capacity (WAC), NPS emissions, and measurement effectiveness. On the basis of these results, the uncertain characteristics of NPSs would result in a less cost-effective PS-NPS ETS during most hydrological periods, and there exists a clear transition occurs from the WAC constraint to the water quality constraint if these stochastic factors are considered. Specifically, the emission uncertainty had a greater impact on PSs, but an increase in the emission or abatement uncertainty caused the abatement efforts to shift from NPSs toward PSs. Moreover, the error transitivity from the WAC to conventional ETS approaches is more obvious than that to the WEFZ-based ETS. When NPSs emissions are relatively high, structural BMPs should be considered for trading, and vice versa. These results are critical to understand the impacts of uncertainty on the functionality of PS-NPS ETSs and to provide a trade-off between the confidence level and abatement efforts.
3′-UTR engineering to improve soluble expression and fine-tuning of activity of cascade enzymes in Escherichia coli
Authors: Song Ji-Won , Woo Ji-Min , Jung Gyoo Yeol , Bornscheuer Uwe T. , Park Jin-Byung 
Published: July 2016

Abstract3′-Untranslated region (3′UTR) engineering was investigated to improve solubility of heterologous proteins (e.g., Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs)) in Escherichia coli. Insertion of gene fragments containing putative RNase E recognition sites into the 3′UTR of the BVMO genes led to the reduction of mRNA levels in E. coli. Importantly, the amounts of soluble BVMOs were remarkably enhanced resulting in a proportional increase of in vivo catalytic activities. Notably, this increase in biocatalytic activity correlated to the number of putative RNase E endonucleolytic cleavage sites in the 3′UTR. For instance, the biotransformation activity of the BVMO BmoF1 (from Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM50106) in E. coli was linear to the number of RNase E cleavage sites in the 3′UTR. In summary, 3′UTR engineering can be used to improve the soluble expression of heterologous enzymes, thereby fine-tuning the enzyme activity in microbial cells.
CHIP−/−-Mouse Liver: Adiponectin-AMPK-FOXO-Activation Overrides CYP2E1-Elicited JNK1-Activation, Delaying Onset of NASH: Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Kim Sung-Mi , Grenert James P. , Patterson Cam , Correia Maria Almira 
Published: July 2016

AbstractGenetic ablation of C-terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) E3 ubiquitin-ligase impairs hepatic cytochrome P450 CYP2E1 degradation. Consequent CYP2E1 gain of function accelerates reactive O2 species (ROS) production, triggering oxidative/proteotoxic stress associated with sustained activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)-signaling cascades, pro-inflammatory effectors/cytokines, insulin resistance, progressive hepatocellular ballooning and microvesicular steatosis. Despite this, little evidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was found in CHIP−/−-mice over the first 8–9-months of life. We herein document that this lack of tissue injury is largely due to the concurrent up-regulation and/or activation of the adiponectin-5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-forkhead box O (FOXO)-signaling axis stemming from at the least three synergistic features: Up-regulated expression of adipose tissue adiponectin and its hepatic adipoR1/adipoR2 receptors, stabilization of hepatic AMPKα1-isoform, identified herein for the first time as a CHIP-ubiquitination substrate (unlike its AMPKα2-isoform), as well as nuclear stabilization of FOXOs, well-known CHIP-ubiquitination targets. Such beneficial predominance of the adiponectin-AMPK-FOXO-signaling axis over the sustained JNK-elevation and injurious insulin resistance in CHIP−/−-livers apparently counteracts/delays rapid progression of the hepatic microvesicular steatosis to the characteristic macrovesicular steatosis observed in clinical NASH and/or rodent NASH-models.
Complete Genome Analysis of an Enterovirus EV-B83 Isolated in China
Authors: Tang Jingjing , Li Qiongfen , Tian Bingjun , Zhang Jie , Li Kai , Ding Zhengrong , Lu Lin 
Published: July 2016

AbstractEnterovirus B83 (EV-B83) is a recently identified member of enterovirus species B. It is a rarely reported serotype and up to date, only the complete genome sequence of the prototype strain from the United States is available. In this study, we describe the complete genomic characterization of an EV-B83 strain 246/YN/CHN/08HC isolated from a healthy child living in border region of Yunnan Province, China in 2008. Compared with the prototype strain, it had 79.6% similarity in the complete genome and 78.9% similarity in the VP1 coding region, reflecting the great genetic divergence among them. VP1-coding region alignment revealed it had 77.2–91.3% with other EV-B83 sequences available in GenBank. Similarity plot analysis revealed it had higher identity with several other EV-B serotypes than the EV-B83 prototype strain in the P2 and P3 coding region, suggesting multiple recombination events might have occurred. The great genetic divergence with previously isolated strains and the extremely rare isolation suggest this serotype has circulated at a low epidemic strength for many years. This is the first report of complete genome of EV-B83 in China.