bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Eosinophilic and Noneosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Authors: Wang Weiqing , Gao Zhiqiang , Wang Huaishan , Li Taisheng , He Wei , Lv Wei , Zhang Jianmin 
Published: May 2016

AbstractChronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, is characterized by persistent inflammation of sinonasal mucosa. However, the pathogenesis of CRSwNP remains unclear. Here, we performed next-generation RNA sequencing and a comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to characterize the transcriptome profiles, including mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), in patients with eosinophilic and noneosinophilic CRSwNP. A total of 1917 novel lncRNAs and 280 known lncRNAs were identified. We showed eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRSwNP) and noneosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRSwNP) display distinct transcriptome profiles. We identified crucial pathways, including inflammatory, immune response and extracellular microenvironment, connected to the pathogenetic mechanism of CRSwNP. We also discovered key lncRNAs differentially expressed, including lncRNA XLOC_010280, which regulates CCL18 and eosinophilic inflammation. The qRT-PCR and in situ RNA hybridization results verified the key differentially expressed genes. The feature of distinct transcriptomes between ECRSwNP and non-ECRSwNP suggests the necessity to develop specific biomarkers and personalized therapeutic strategies. Our findings lay a solid foundation for subsequent functional studies of mRNAs and lncRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in CRSwNP by providing a candidate reservoir.
Genetically engineered pre-microRNA-34a prodrug suppresses orthotopic osteosarcoma xenograft tumor growth via the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest
Authors: Zhao Yong , Tu Mei-Juan , Wang Wei-Peng , Qiu Jing-Xin , Yu Ai-Xi , Yu Ai-Ming 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOsteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and microRNA-34a (miR-34a) replacement therapy represents a new treatment strategy. This study was to define the effectiveness and safety profiles of a novel bioengineered miR-34a prodrug in orthotopic OS xenograft tumor mouse model. Highly purified pre-miR-34a prodrug significantly inhibited the proliferation of human 143B and MG-63 cells in a dose dependent manner and to much greater degrees than controls, which was attributed to induction of apoptosis and G2 cell cycle arrest. Inhibition of OS cell growth and invasion were associated with release of high levels of mature miR-34a from pre-miR-34a prodrug and consequently reduction of protein levels of many miR-34a target genes including SIRT1, BCL2, c-MET and CDK6. Furthermore, intravenous administration of in vivo-jetPEI formulated miR-34a prodrug significantly reduced OS tumor growth in orthotopic xenograft mouse models. In addition, mouse blood chemistry profiles indicated that therapeutic doses of bioengineered miR-34a prodrug were well tolerated in these animals. The results demonstrated that bioengineered miR-34a prodrug was effective to control OS tumor growth which involved the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, supporting the development of bioengineered RNAs as a novel class of large molecule therapeutic agents.
Identification of chilling-responsive microRNAs and their targets in vegetable soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Xu Shengchun , Liu Na , Mao Weihua , Hu Qizan , Wang Guofu , Gong Yaming 
Published: May 2016

AbstractChilling stress is a major factor limiting the yield and quality of vegetable soybean (Glycine max L.) on a global scale. In the present study, systematic identification and functional analysis of miRNAs under chilling stress were carried out to clarify the molecular mechanism of chilling resistance. Two independent small RNA libraries from leaves of soybean were constructed and sequenced with the high-throughput Illumina Solexa system. A total of 434 known miRNAs and 3 novel miRNAs were identified. Thirty-five miRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, their gene targets were identified via high-throughput degradome sequencing. A total of 898 transcripts were targeted by 54 miRNA families attributed to five categories. More importantly, we identified 51 miRNAs differentially expressed between chilling stress and control conditions. The targets of these miRNAs were enriched in oxidation-reduction, signal transduction and metabolic process functional categories. Our qRT-PCR analysis confirmed a negative relationship among the miRNAs and their targets under chilling stress. Our work thus provides comprehensive molecular evidence supporting the involvement of miRNAs in chilling-stress responses in vegetable soybean.
Novel chitosan/diclofenac coatings on medical grade stainless steel for hip replacement applications
Authors: Finšgar Matjaž , Uzunalić Amra Perva , Stergar Janja , Gradišnik Lidija , Maver Uroš 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCorrosion resistance, biocompatibility, improved osteointegration, as well the prevention of inflammation and pain are the most desired characteristics of hip replacement implants. In this study we introduce a novel multi-layered coating on AISI 316LVM stainless steel that shows promise with regard to all mentioned characteristics. The coating is prepared from alternating layers of the biocompatible polysaccharide chitosan and the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac. Electrochemical methods were employed to characterize the corrosion behavior of coated and uncoated samples in physiological solution. It is shown that these coatings improve corrosion resistance. It was also found that these coatings release the incorporated drug in controlled, multi-mechanism manner. Adding additional layers on top of the as-prepared samples, has potential for further tailoring of the release profile and increasing the drug dose. Biocompatibility was proven on human-derived osteoblasts in several experiments. Only viable cells were found on the sample surface after incubation of the samples with the same cell line. This novel coating could prove important for prolongation of the application potential of steel-based hip replacements, which are these days often replaced by more expensive ceramic or other metal alloys.
Neonatal postcrania from Mezmaiskaya, Russia, and Le Moustier, France, and the development of Neandertal body form
Authors: Weaver Timothy D. , Coqueugniot Hélène , Golovanova Liubov V. , Doronichev Vladimir B. , Maureille Bruno , Hublin Jean-Jacques 
Published: May 2016

SignificanceOne of the oldest questions in human evolutionary studies is: why do Neandertals look different from present-day and ancient modern humans? This question can be addressed at different levels, but a critical component of a complete answer is understanding the developmental basis of adult differences. We now know that many skull differences are present by the time of birth. We know less, however, about the developmental basis of differences in the rest of the body. By studying the two most complete Neandertal neonates, we were able to establish that, as for the skull, many differences in body form are present by the time of birth. Neandertals largely look like Neandertals, regardless of age.
Weighted mutual information analysis substantially improves domain-based functional network models
Authors: Shim Jung Eun , Lee Insuk 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Motivation: Functional protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks elucidate molecular pathways underlying complex phenotypes, including those of human diseases. Extrapolation of domain–domain interactions (DDIs) from known PPIs is a major domain-based method for inferring functional PPI networks. However, the protein domain is a functional unit of the protein. Therefore, we should be able to effectively infer functional interactions between proteins based on the co-occurrence of domains.
Results: Here, we present a method for inferring accurate functional PPIs based on the similarity of domain composition between proteins by weighted mutual information (MI) that assigned different weights to the domains based on their genome-wide frequencies. Weighted MI outperforms other domain-based network inference methods and is highly predictive for pathways as well as phenotypes. A genome-scale human functional network determined by our method reveals numerous communities that are significantly associated with known pathways and diseases. Domain-based functional networks may, therefore, have potential applications in mapping domain-to-pathway or domain-to-phenotype associations.
Availability and Implementation: Source code for calculating weighted mutual information based on the domain profile matrix is available from www.netbiolab.org/w/WMI.
Contact: Insuklee@yonsei.ac.kr
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
PM J03338+3320: Long-period superhumps in growing phase following a separate precursor outburst
Authors: Kato Taichi , de Miguel Enrique , Stein William , Maeda Yutaka , Littlefield Colin , Kiyota Seiichiro , Vanmunster Tonny , Dvorak Shawn , Shugarov Sergey Yu. , Kalinicheva Eugenia S. , Pickard Roger D. , Kasai Kiyoshi , Cook Lewis M. , Itoh Hiroshi , Muyllaert Eddy 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe observed the first-ever recorded outburst of PM J03338+3320, the cataclysmic variable selected by proper-motion survey. The outburst was composed of a precursor and the main superoutburst. The precursor outburst occurred at least 5 d before the maximum of the main superoutburst. Despite this separation, long-period superhumps were continuously seen between the precursor and main superoutburst. The period of these superhumps is longer than its orbital period by 6.0(1)% and can be interpreted to reflect the dynamical precession rate at the 3 : 1 resonance for a mass ratio of 0.172(4). These superhumps smoothly evolved into those in the main superoutburst. These observations provide the clearest evidence that the 3 : 1 resonance is triggered by the precursor outburst, even if it is well separated, and the resonance eventually causes the main superoutburst as predicted by the thermaltidal instability model. The presence of superhumps well before the superoutburst cannot be explained by alternative models (the enhanced mass-transfer model and the pure thermal instability one) and the present observations clearly support the thermaltidal instability model.
Pelvic floor muscles training to reduce symptoms and signs of vulvovaginal atrophy: a case study
Authors: Mercier Joanie , Morin Mélanie , Lemieux Marie-Claude , Reichetzer Barbara , Khalifé Samir , Dumoulin Chantale 
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjective:Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), caused by decreased levels of estrogen, is a common problem in aging women. Main symptoms of VVA are vaginal dryness and dyspareunia. First-line treatment consists of the application of local estrogen therapy (ET) or vaginal moisturizer. In some cases however, symptoms and signs persist despite those interventions. This case study describes a 77-year-old woman with severe VVA symptoms despite use of local ET and the addition of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training to her treatment.Methods:A patient with stress urinary incontinence and VVA was referred to a randomized clinical trial on PFM training. On pretreatment evaluation while on local ET, she showed VVA symptoms on the ICIQ Vaginal Symptoms questionnaire and the ICIQ-Female Sexual Matters associated with lower urinary tract Symptoms questionnaire, and also showed VVA signs during the physical and dynamometric evaluation of the PFM. She was treated with a 12-week PFM training program.Results:The patient reported a reduction in vaginal dryness and dyspareunia symptoms, as well as a better quality of sexual life after 12 weeks of PFM training. On posttreatment physical evaluation, the PFMs’ tone and elasticity were improved, although some other VVA signs remained unchanged.Conclusions:Pelvic floor muscle training may improve some VVA symptoms and signs in women taking local ET. Further study is needed to investigate and confirm the present case findings and to explore mechanisms of action of this intervention for VVA.
A cross-cultural comparison of climacteric symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived social support between Mosuo women and Han Chinese women
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhao Xudong , Leonhart Rainer , Nadig Maya , Hasenburg Annette , Wirsching Michael , Fritzsche Kurt 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Objective:
This cross-cultural study aimed to compare climacteric symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived social support between Mosuo and Han Chinese women, and to explore the interaction between culture and climacteric symptoms. Mosuo is a Chinese minority group with a matriarchal structure, and Han Chinese is the majority ethnic group in China with a patriarchal structure.

Methods:
Through convenience sampling, 54 Mosuo women and 52 Han Chinese women between 40 and 60 years of age completed the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Menopause Rating Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale.

Results:
Compared with Han Chinese women, Mosuo women scored lower on the psychological (P < 0.001) and the somato-vegetative (P = 0.047) subscales of the Menopause Rating Scale, but higher on the Self-Esteem Scale (P = 0.006) and the “support from family” subscale of the Perceived Social Support Scale (P = 0.004). Multiple linear regressions indicated that minority ethnicity (β = 0.207, P = 0.016) was one of the predictive variables of psychological symptoms severity. Referring to the severity of all symptoms, predictive variables were: perceived support from family (β = −0.210, P = 0.017); self-esteem (β = 0.320, P < 0.001); previous history of premenstrual syndrome (β = 0.293, P < 0.001); number of family members (β = −0.229, P = 0.003); and family income (β = −0.173, P = 0.028).

Conclusions:
Differences in climacteric symptoms were found between two groups. Cultural variables such as familial structure, women's self-esteem, and perceived social support were correlated with symptomatology.
Race/Ethnicity and Health Care Communication
Authors: Sweeney Casey F. , Zinner Darren , Rust George , Fryer George E. 
Published: May 2016

Background:
Although many minority patients would prefer a provider of their own race/ethnicity, the influence of this relationship on patient-provider communication remains unknown. This analysis examined the effect of patient-provider race/ethnicity concordance on patient-reported provider communication quality using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey years 2002–2012.

Methods:
Ordinary least squares regressions were executed on communication rating, measured by the Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems.

Results:
Only 13.8% of black, non-Hispanic patients reported their usual source of care provider matched their race/ethnicity, compared with 94.4% of white, non-Hispanic patients and 43.8% of Hispanic patients. Differences in communication ratings were driven by patient race, rather than provider race. Although black, non-Hispanic patients rate their communication significantly higher than their counterparts overall, there was no significant influence of patient-provider racial concordance on ratings of communication when controlling for other sociodemographic variables.

Conclusions:
Minorities may seek the services of minority providers, but they are not more satisfied with patient-provider communication experience than when in race-discordant provider arrangements.
Impact of Cross-level Measurement Noninvariance on Hospital Rankings Based on Patient Experiences With Care in 7 European Countries
Authors: Orindi Benedict O. , Lesaffre Emmanuel , Sermeus Walter , Bruyneel Luk 
Published: May 2016

Background:
Hospital-level findings on patient experiences with care are increasingly reported publicly. A critical aspect left unexamined is the commonality of composite measures of patient experiences across different groups of patients, nursing units, hospitals, and countries. Absence of commonality is termed measurement noninvariance and is hypothesized to have a strong impact on performance assessment.

Aim:
The aim of this study is to examine measurement invariance across groups and levels under study (patients, nursing units, hospitals, and countries) and illustrate the degree to which this method of analysis impacts hospital rankings.

Research Design:
Data were collected from 11,289 patients in 7 European countries, 186 hospitals, and 824 nursing units. Multilevel factor analytic models were applied to evaluate measurement invariance across the hierarchical levels of the study and across groups at specific levels (self-perceived health at patient level; unit speciality at nursing unit level). Hospital rankings for the final multilevel model were compared with those from a single-level factor model that is unsuspecting of measurement invariance.

Results:
Cross-group invariance was shown for levels of self-perceived health and to a large degree also for nursing unit speciality. Patient experience composite measures were, however, not invariant across patient, unit, and hospital levels. Hospital rankings were largely impacted when accounted for this cross-level invariance. The percentage of hospitals with discordant ranks by >10 percentile points varied from 26.7% in Spain to 70% in Poland.

Conclusions:
Leaving unexamined possible noninvariance across groups and hierarchical levels may have far reaching consequences for how the public perceives hospitals’ position relative to other hospitals.
Successful Kidney Transplantation in Children With a Compromised Inferior Vena Cava
Authors: Shishido Seiichiro , Kawamura Takeshi , Hamasaki Yuko , Takahashi Yusuke , Itabashi Yoshihiro , Muramatsu Masaki , Satoh Hiroyuki , Aikawa Atsushi 
Published: May 2016

Background
Children with a compromised inferior vena cava (IVC) were previously considered unsuitable for kidney transplantation because of the technical difficulties and the increased risk of graft thrombosis secondary to inadequate renal venous outflow.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of 11 transplants in 9 patients with end-stage renal disease and thrombosed IVCs who received adult kidney allografts between 2000 and 2015. The mean age at transplantation was 7.5 ± 3.5 years. A pretransplant diagnosis of the IVC thrombosis was made in 7 patients by magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography, whereas there were 2 instances of intraoperative discovery of the IVC thrombosis.

Results
In the early cases, a kidney was placed intraperitoneally at the right iliac fossa with a venous anastomosis to the patent segment of the suprarenal IVC. After 2008, however, 6 adult-sized kidneys were subsequently placed in the left orthotopic position. Venous drainage was attained to the infrahepatic IVC (n = 3), left native renal vein (n = 2), and ascending lumbar vein (n = 1). Moreover, a venous bypass was created between the graft and the splenic vein in 2 children who showed high return pressure after the vessel was declamped.
The mean glomerular filtration rate of the functioning 8 grafts 1 year posttransplant was 73.4 ± 20.4 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Of note, 6 of the grafts have been functioning well, with a mean follow-up of 66 months. Both 1- and 5-year graft survival were 81.8%.

Conclusions
Transplantation into the left orthotopic position and the revascularization methods are an effective set of surgical techniques that could potentially be adopted as safe and reliable transplant approaches in children with IVC thrombosis.
Injecting ATS/NPS use and drug abjection in Romania
Authors: Alexandrescu Liviu Gabriel 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate a group of Romanian injecting substance users “migrating” from heroin to novel psychoactive substances (NPS) as a counterpublic seeking to escape the stigma of drug abjection.Design/methodology/approach– The findings are drawn from interview and observational data collected mainly at drug services sites in Bucharest, Romania.Findings– The stimulant powders sold by head shops appealed to experienced drug users because they seemed to emulate a consumerist ethos and cultivate a healthy, rational agent that popular discourses of addiction deem incompatible with drug careers. NPS and head shops were thus initially understood as a possibility of escaping “junk identities”. However, they ultimately sealed injectors as abject bodies that obstructed the collaborative goals of rehabilitation and health restoration. A sense of symbolic distance shaped by notions of moral and bodily hygiene separated heroin and NPS users, as the latter increasingly came to be seen and see themselves as flawed consumers of health and freedom.Practical implications– NPS retail spaces could present valuable opportunities to insert harm-reduction resources and harness counterpublic health strategies.Social implications– Dominant definitions of substance use as unavoidable paths into self-destruction push users towards unknown compounds they can attach more fluid meanings to. This suggests that prohibitionist language still obscures rational dialogue about existing and emerging drugs.Originality/value– The paper traces ATS/NPS in an Eastern European context offering an alternative vantage point to harm-focused perspectives.
Revisiting the carry-over effects of advertising in franchise industries
Authors: Park Kwangmin , Jang SooCheong (Shawn) 
Published: May 2016

PurposeDespite prior studies, little has been done to understand the advertising carry-over effect. The purpose of this study is to investigate the heterogeneous attributes of the carry-over effect by focusing on the differences between franchise and non-franchise firms.Design/methodology/approachThe data were retrieved from the Compustat database and annual corporate financial reports (10-K) for five representative franchise industries from 1980 to 2009. Ultimately, 185 firms were included and 1,592 firm-year observations were analysed. This study used a Panel VAR (Vector Autoregression) to examine the effects of advertising on firm performance. We can control endogenous effects using Panel VAR, which also allows us to control unobserved firm-specific heterogeneity.FindingsThis study found that advertising had no effect on sales growth or brand equity in the long run for non-franchise firms and further confirmed that non-franchise firms incur agency costs. In contrast, the effect of advertising on sales growth and brand equity was significant for franchise firms. A carry-over effect of advertising on brand equity was detected for franchise firms, but sales growth rapidly decreased after two years.Practical implicationsEven though franchise firms retain the carry-over effect of advertising on brand equity, franchisors should carefully monitor market trends and their sales growth because sales growth rapidly decreased after two years.Originality/valueThis study incorporated the concepts of the delayed response effect and the customer holdover effect to better understand the advertising carry-over effect. From the results, this study proposed a more detailed concept of carry-over effects for further studies. From this perspective, this study makes both academic and industrial contributions.