bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Attenuation of Innate Immunity by Andrographolide Derivatives Through NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Nie Xin , Chen Shao-Ru , Wang Kun , Peng Yuran , Wang Yi-Tao , Wang Decai , Wang Ying , Zhou Guo-Chun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAndrographolide derivatives or analogs exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects in several disease models through NF-κB activity. In this study, we synthesized different andrographolide derivatives and investigated their effects on the toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Among these compounds, 3b, 5a, and 5b inhibited both TNF-α/NF-κB and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Treatment with compounds 3b, 5a, and 5b and their structural analogs, 3a and 6b, suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines upon the activation of TLR3 and TLR4 ligands. Compounds 3b and 5a, but not 3a, 5b, or 6b, inhibited the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. Treatment with compounds 3b, 5a, 3a, 5b, and 6b attenuated the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα. Compounds 6b suppressed the expression of the NF-κB p65 subunit. However, these compounds, except for 5b, did not affect the TLR9-induced NF-κB-independent production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, and IFN-β. Compound 3b potentially protected mice from LPS-induced acute pulmonary inflammation through the inhibition of p65 phosphorylation and the decrease of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokine. Our study revealed a functional structure–activity relationship between andrographolide derivatives and innate immunity. We identified compound 3b as a potent immune suppressive agent with the potential to protect acute pulmonary infection.
Whole Mitogenomes Reveal the History of Swamp Buffalo: Initially Shaped by Glacial Periods and Eventually Modelled by Domestication
Authors: Wang S. , Chen N. , Capodiferro M. R. , Zhang T. , Lancioni H. , Zhang H. , Miao Y. , Chanthakhoun V. , Wanapat M. , Yindee M. , Zhang Y. , Lu H. , Caporali L. , Dang R. , Huang Y. , Lan X. , Plath M. , Chen H. , Lenstra J. A. , Achilli A. , Lei C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes of 107 Asian swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis carabensis) allowed the reconstruction of the matrilineal divergence since ~900 Kya. Phylogenetic trees and Bayesian skyline plots suggest a role of the glacial periods in the demographic history of swamp buffalo. The ancestral swamp-buffalo mitogenome is dated ~232 ± 35 Kya. Two major macro-lineages diverged during the 2nd Pleistocene Glacial Period (~200–130 Kya), but most (~99%) of the current matrilines derive from only two ancestors (SA1′2 and SB) that lived around the Last Glacial Maximum (~26–19 Kya). During the late Holocene optimum (11–6 Kya) lineages differentiated further, and at least eight matrilines (SA1, SA2, SB1a, SB1b, SB2a, SB2b, SB3 and SB4) were domesticated around 7–3 Kya. Haplotype distributions support an initial domestication process in Southeast Asia, while subsequent captures of wild females probably introduced some additional rare lineages (SA3, SC, SD and SE). Dispersal of domestic buffaloes created local population bottlenecks and founder events that further differentiated haplogroup distributions. A lack of maternal gene flow between neighboring populations apparently maintained the strong phylogeography of the swamp buffalo matrilines, which is the more remarkable because of an almost complete absence of phenotypic differentiation.
Osteopontin facilitates West Nile virus neuroinvasion via neutrophil “Trojan horse” transport
Authors: Paul Amber M. , Acharya Dhiraj , Duty Laurel , Thompson E. Ashley , Le Linda , Stokic Dobrivoje S. , Leis A. Arturo , Bai Fengwei 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWest Nile virus (WNV) can cause severe human neurological diseases including encephalitis and meningitis. The mechanisms by which WNV enters the central nervous system (CNS) and host-factors that are involved in WNV neuroinvasion are not completely understood. The proinflammatory chemokine osteopontin (OPN) is induced in multiple neuroinflammatory diseases and is responsible for leukocyte recruitment to sites of its expression. In this study, we found that WNV infection induced OPN expression in both human and mouse cells. Interestingly, WNV-infected OPN deficient (Opn−/−) mice exhibited a higher survival rate (70%) than wild type (WT) control mice (30%), suggesting OPN plays a deleterious role in WNV infection. Despite comparable levels of viral load in circulating blood cells and peripheral organs in the two groups, WNV-infected polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration and viral burden in brain of Opn−/− mice were significantly lower than in WT mice. Importantly, intracerebral administration of recombinant OPN into the brains of Opn−/− mice resulted in increased WNV-infected PMN infiltration and viral burden in the brain, which was coupled to increased mortality. The overall results suggest that OPN facilitates WNV neuroinvasion by recruiting WNV-infected PMNs into the brain.
Effective Dispersal of Caribbean Reef Fish is Smaller than Current Spacing Among Marine Protected Areas
Authors: Beltrán Diana M. , Schizas Nikolaos V. , Appeldoorn Richard S. , Prada Carlos 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe oceans are deteriorating at a fast pace. Conservation measures, such as Marine Protected Areas, are being implemented to relieve areas from local stressors and allow populations to restore to natural levels. Successful networks of MPAs operate if the space among MPAs is smaller than the dispersal capacity of the species under protection. We studied connectivity patterns across populations in a series of MPAs in the common yellowhead Jawfish, Opistognathus aurifrons. Using the power of genome-wide variation, we estimated that the maximum effective dispersal is 8.3 km. We found that MPAs exchange migrants likely via intermediate unprotected habitats through stepping stone dispersal. At scales >50 km such connectivity is decreased, particularly across the Mona Passage. The MPA network studied would be unable to maintain connectivity of these small benthic fishes if habitat in between them is extirpated. Our study highlights the power of SNPs to derive effective dispersal distance and the ability of SNPs to make inferences from single individuals. Given that overall reef fish diversity is driven by species with life histories similar to that of the yellowhead jawfish, managers face a challenge to develop strategies that allow connectivity and avoid isolation of populations and their possible extinction.
BRAF and NRAS Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Concordance in BRAF Mutations Between Primary and Corresponding Lymph Node Metastases
Authors: Fakhruddin Najla , Jabbour Mark , Novy Michael , Tamim Hani , Bahmad Hisham , Farhat Fadi , Zaatari Ghazi , Aridi Tarek , Kriegshauser Gernot , Oberkanins Christian , Mahfouz Rami 
Published: June 2017

AbstractConcordance between mutations in the primary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the paired x lymph node metastasis may elucidate the potential role of molecular targeted therapy in advanced stages. BRAF and NRAS mutations in primary PTC (n = 253) with corresponding metastatic lymph node (n = 46) were analyzed utilizing StripAssays (ViennaLab Diagnostics). Statistical analysis was performed using (SPSS, Inc.), version 24.0 with a p-value of <0.05, and concordance via kappa agreement. BRAF mutation frequency in conventional PTC (cPTC): 56.8%, papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC): 36.5%, PTMC-FV: 2.7% and PTC-FV: 4.1%. NRAS mutation frequency in PTC-FV: 28.6%, PTMC: 28.6%, PTMC-FV: 23.8%, and cPTC: 19.0%. BRAF mutation correlation with older age in cPTC (42.6 versus 33.6) years (p < 0.001) was the only significant clinicopathologic parameter. BRAF mutations were concordant in the primary and its corresponding lymph node deposits in PTC with a kappa of 0.77 (p-value < 0.0001). BRAF mutations are predominant in cPTC and PTMC while NRAS mutations in PTC-FV. BRAF mutation is conserved in metastatic lymph node deposits, thus BRAF is an early mutational pathogenetic driver. Therefore, targeted therapy is potential in recurrent and advanced stage disease.
Smart, programmable and responsive injectable hydrogels for controlled release of cargo osteoporosis drugs
Authors: Papathanasiou Konstantinos E. , Turhanen Petri , Brückner Stephan I. , Brunner Eike , Demadis Konstantinos D. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEasy-to-prepare drug delivery systems, based on smart, silica gels have been synthesized, characterized, and studied as hosts in the controlled release of bisphosphonates. They exhibit variable release rates and final % release, depending on the nature of bisphosphonate (side-chain length, hydro-philicity/-phobicity, water-solubility), cations present, pH and temperature. These gels are robust, injectable, re-loadable and re-usable.
Exosomes from metastatic cancer cells transfer amoeboid phenotype to non-metastatic cells and increase endothelial permeability: their emerging role in tumor heterogeneity
Authors: Schillaci Odessa , Fontana Simona , Monteleone Francesca , Taverna Simona , Di Bella Maria Antonietta , Di Vizio Dolores , Alessandro Riccardo 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe goal of this study was to understand if exosomes derived from high-metastatic cells may influence the behavior of less aggressive cancer cells and the properties of the endothelium. We found that metastatic colon cancer cells are able to transfer their amoeboid phenotype to isogenic primary cancer cells through exosomes, and that this morphological transition is associated with the acquisition of a more aggressive behavior. Moreover, exosomes from the metastatic line (SW620Exos) exhibited higher ability to cause endothelial hyperpermeability than exosomes from the non metastatic line (SW480Exos). SWATH-based quantitative proteomic analysis highlighted that SW620Exos are significantly enriched in cytoskeletal-associated proteins including proteins activating the RhoA/ROCK pathway, known to induce amoeboid properties and destabilization of endothelial junctions. In particular, thrombin was identified as a key mediator of the effects induced by SW620Exos in target cells, in which we also found a significant increase of RhoA activity. Overall, our results demonstrate that in a heterogeneous context exosomes released by aggressive sub-clones can contribute to accelerate tumor progression by spreading malignant properties that affect both the tumor cell plasticity and the endothelial cell behavior.
Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model
Authors: Brown Christopher J. , Jupiter Stacy D. , Albert Simon , Klein Carissa J. , Mangubhai Sangeeta , Maina Joseph M. , Mumby Peter , Olley Jon , Stewart-Koster Ben , Tulloch Vivitskaia , Wenger Amelia 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCoastal ecosystems can be degraded by poor water quality. Tracing the causes of poor water quality back to land-use change is necessary to target catchment management for coastal zone management. However, existing models for tracing the sources of pollution require extensive data-sets which are not available for many of the world’s coral reef regions that may have severe water quality issues. Here we develop a hierarchical Bayesian model that uses freely available satellite data to infer the connection between land-uses in catchments and water clarity in coastal oceans. We apply the model to estimate the influence of land-use change on water clarity in Fiji. We tested the model’s predictions against underwater surveys, finding that predictions of poor water quality are consistent with observations of high siltation and low coverage of sediment-sensitive coral genera. The model thus provides a means to link land-use change to declines in coastal water quality.
Inhibition Role of Atherogenic Diet on Ethyl Carbamate Induced Lung Tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Chen Ting , Lu Lei , Xu Cai , Lin Xiaojing , Leung Yuet-kin , Ho Shuk-Mei , Ruan Xiong Z. , Lian Xuemei 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWith emerging evidence connecting cholesterol dysregulation with disturbed pulmonary homeostasis, we are wondering if diet induced hypercholesterolemia would influence the susceptibility to chemical induced lung tumorigenesis in mice. Six to eight week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed with either a high-cholesterol atherogenic diet (HCD) or matching normal diet (ND), respectively. Following 3 weeks diet adapting, a multi-dose intraperitoneal injections of ethyl carbamate (urethane, 1 g/kg body weight) were established and lung tumorigenesis assessments were taken after 15 weeks latency period. Compared to the urethane treated ND-fed mice, the HCD-fed mice exhibited significantly decreased lung tumor multiplicity and attenuated pulmonary inflammation, which including reduced influx of leukocytes and down regulated tumor-promoting cyto-/chemokine profile in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, decreased TLR2/4 expression and NF-κB activation in the lung. As a sensor regulating intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, nuclear receptor LXR-α was up-regulated significantly in the urethane treated HCD-fed mice lungs compared to the ND-fed mice lungs, accompanied with decreased pulmonary free cholesterol content and suppressed tumor cell proliferation. These results suggested that intrapulmonary cholesterol homeostasis, other than systematic cholesterol level, is important in lung tumorigenesis, and LXR activation might partly contribute to the inhibitory role of atherogenic diet on lung tumorigenesis.
Magnetic field sensor based on a combination of a microfiber coupler covered with magnetic fluid and a Sagnac loop
Authors: Wei Fangfang , Mallik Arun Kumar , Liu Dejun , Wu Qiang , Peng Gang-Ding , Farrell Gerald , Semenova Yuliya 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel magnetic field sensor based on a microfiber coupler (MFC) combined with a magnetic fluid (MF) in a Sagnac loop formed from a polarization maintaining fiber (PMF). Thanks to the small (~2.6 μm) waist diameter of the MFC, the resulting interference is strongly influenced by the presence of the MF and this leads to the desirable high sensitivity of the structure to the applied magnetic field. The maximum magnetic field sensitivities of −100 pm/mT and −488 pm/mT have been experimentally demonstrated with the PMF lengths of 75 cm and 20 cm respectively in the range of magnetic field strengths from 0 to 200 mT. The dependence of the magnetic field orientation on the performance of the proposed sensor was also examined. The proposed magnetic field sensor is advantageous for applications requiring higher sensitivity over a wide magnetic field range.
Motivationale Ziele und Partnerschaftsqualität in einer Stichprobe von Personen mit Infertilität
Authors: Yamanaka-Altenstein Misa , Henrich Emanuel , Heinrichs Nina 
Published: June 2017

ZusammenfassungWeltweit leiden 3,5 – 16,6% aller Paare mit Kinderwunsch unter Infertilität, davon sind rund 20% psychisch stark belastet. Inwieweit motivationale Faktoren mit dem subjektiven Leidensdruck bei Infertilität zusammenhängen, ist weitgehend unbekannt. Das Ziel dieser Studie war zum einen die Erfassung der motivationalen Struktur bei infertilen Personen. Zum anderen sollte untersucht werden, inwiefern diese motivationale Struktur als individueller Faktor und die Partnerschaftsqualität als dyadischer Faktor die psychische Belastung vorhersagen. Dazu wurden die subjektive Beeinträchtigung, die Ausprägung motivationaler Ziele und deren Umsetzung, sowie die Partnerschaftszufriedenheit bei 123 infertilen Personen anhand einer Online-Befragung erfasst. Rund die Hälfte aller Personen gaben an, psychisch bedeutsam belastet zu sein. Im Vergleich zu psychisch belasteten Personen ohne explizite Infertilitätsprobleme zeigten Frauen in dieser Studie weniger Annäherungsmotivation, wobei geringe Ausprägungen der Annäherungsmotivation, insbesondere bezüglich Selbstwert und Kontrolle, mit wenig psychischer Belastung zusammenhing. Die motivationale Struktur klärte insgesamt 30% der Varianz der psychischen Belastung auf, während die Partnerschaftsqualität, insbesondere das Streitverhalten, lediglich 4% aufklärte. Die Befunde weisen darauf hin, dass sich infertile Personen bezüglich motivationaler Struktur von unbelasteten und psychisch belasteten Personen ohne Fertilitätsstörungen unterscheiden, und dass sich motivationale Faktoren als Prädiktoren für die psychische Belastung eignen.
Psychosoziale Arbeitsbedingungen und Versorgungsqualität: Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Studie unter Medizinischen Fachangestellten (MFAs)
Authors: Vu-Eickmann Patricia , Loerbroks Adrian 
Published: June 2017

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Ungünstige psychosoziale Arbeitsbedingungen können nicht nur die Gesundheit der Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen, sondern auch die Qualität der von ihnen geleisteten Versorgung beeinträchtigen. Die Befundlage zu Medizinischen Fachangestellten (MFAs) ist begrenzt, obwohl MFAs die größte Berufsgruppe in der ambulanten Versorgung stellen und versorgungsrelevante Aufgaben übernehmen. Das Ziel unserer Studie war es zu eruieren, inwiefern Arbeitsbedingungen aus Sicht von MFAs mit der Versorgungsqualität in einem Zusammenhang stehen.
Methode Über eine randomisierte Stichprobe von Arztpraxen im Düsseldorfer Raum sowie in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V. wurden Studienteilnehmer/innen rekrutiert. Es wurden 26 leitfadengestützte Einzelinterviews durchgeführt (11/2015–02/2016), transkribiert und inhaltsanalytisch mittels MaxQDA ausgewertet.
Ergebnisse Zusammenhänge zwischen den Arbeitsbelastungen und der Versorgungsqualität werden von einer Mehrheit der Befragten gesehen. Demnach wirken sich die Arbeitsbelastungen vorrangig auf die Qualität des Patientenkontaktes und die Häufigkeit „leichter Flüchtigkeitsfehler“ aus.
Schlussfolgerung Die Arbeitsbedingungen von MFAs sind von hohen Arbeitsanforderungen gekennzeichnet. Die in dieser Studie aufgezeigten möglichen Auswirkungen auf soziale Interaktionen mit Patienten sowie Fehlerquoten unterstreichen die Bedeutsamkeit präventiver Maßnahmen. Die Ergebnisse unserer Studie können, ergänzt durch weitere Forschungsvorhaben, einen Beitrag zur Ableitung präventiver Maßnahmen leisten.
Análisis traductológico de los wellerismos en Las aventuras de Pickwick, de Benito Pérez Galdós
Authors: Ruano San Segundo Pablo 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyze Perez Galdós’s systematic omission of wellerisms in Las Aventuras de Pickwick (1868), the first translation of Dickens’s The Pickwick Papers ever made into Spanish. Wellerisms are without a doubt the best-known phraseological units in Dickens. Apart from their comic and subversive function, they play a role of paramount importance in terms of characterization too. Their rendering in another language is thus fundamental. However, only four examples – out of more than thirty– are preserved in Perez Galdós’s text. This loss is scrutinized here. The analysis is divided into two parts. First, some wellerisms from the original novel are compared to those in both Perez Galdós’s translation and Grolier and Lorain’s Aventures de Monsieur Pickwick, for there exists a suspicion that Perez Galdós used this French version as source text for his translation. As will be shown, this suspicion is confirmed. Next, the omission of some examples is analyzed against the backdrop of both the French translation and the original text, so as to provide some feasible explanations for such a loss. As will be demonstrated, Perez Galdós did not realize the stylistic importance of these phraseological units in The Pickwick Papers.
Metapragmatic perceptions in native language vs. lingua franca settings
Authors: Glaser Karen 
Published: June 2017

AbstractLanguage learning in study abroad is usually analyzed for settings where the target language is the native language, thereby ignoring the growing number of lingua franca contexts in study abroad. To address this gap, this study examined the pragmatic perceptions of 19 English learners studying abroad, comparing students in native-language settings to their peers in lingua franca environments. During their semester abroad following pragmatic instruction, the learners composed essays which elicited their perceptions of the instruction’s usefulness, applicability, gains in pragmatic awareness, and (dis)advantages of including pragmatics in the curriculum. The results indicate that the native-language setting offers more opportunities to apply pragmalinguistic strategies taught in class, but the lingua franca environment provides more room for sociopragmatic awareness and negotiation. The lingua franca students valued the instruction more, and they highlighted the importance of pragmatic consciousness-raising to complement pragmalinguistic strategies. Implications for study abroad research and language teaching are derived.
ProtDec-LTR2.0: an improved method for protein remote homology detection by combining pseudo protein and supervised Learning to Rank
Authors: Chen Junjie , Guo Mingyue , Li Shumin , Liu Bin 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Summary
As one of the most important tasks in protein sequence analysis, protein remote homology detection is critical for both basic research and practical applications. Here, we present an effective web server for protein remote homology detection called ProtDec-LTR2.0 by combining ProtDec-Learning to Rank (LTR) and pseudo protein representation. Experimental results showed that the detection performance is obviously improved. The web server provides a user-friendly interface to explore the sequence and structure information of candidate proteins and find their conserved domains by launching a multiple sequence alignment tool.

Availability and implementation
The web server is free and open to all users with no login requirement at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/ProtDec-LTR2.0/.
“Live Cadaver” Model for Internal Carotid Artery Injury Simulation in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Authors: Pacca Paolo , Jhawar Sukhdeep S , Seclen Daniel V , Wang Eric , Snyderman Carl , Gardner Paul A , Aboud Emad , Fernandez-Miranda Juan C 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Intraoperative injury of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is the most dreaded complication in endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) of skull base. Training for ICA injury is practically impossible in live operative settings.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a pulsatile perfusion-based live cadaveric model for ICA injury simulation in a laboratory setting. The major emphasis of the study was to evaluate various means of controlling acute bleeding and evaluating the practical utility of this model for training purposes.

METHODS
Five embalmed, uninjected cadaveric heads were prepared for study by connecting to a pulsatile perfusion pump system filled with artificial blood solution. EES approaches were used to evaluate different types of ICA injuries similar to operative scenarios. Various methods of managing ICA injuries such as packing, clipping, and trapping, were evaluated. The educational advantages of the live cadaver model were assessed using questionnaires given to participants in a hands-on dissection course.

RESULTS
The trainee was faced with several scenarios similar to those encountered during an actual intraoperative ICA injury. Packing, clipping, and trapping of the ICA injury were successfully achieved in all segments of the ICA. Clip-based reconstruction techniques were successfully developed. All trainees reported gaining new knowledge, learning new techniques. The responses to the questionnaire confirmed the significant educational value of this model.

CONCLUSION
The live cadaver model presented here provides real-life experience with major vessel injury during EES in a laboratory setting. This model could significantly improve current training for the management of intraoperative vascular injuries during EES.