bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal betaine supplementation in rats induces intergenerational changes in hepatic IGF‐1 expression and DNA methylation
Authors: Zhao Nannan , Yang Shu , Hu Yun , Dong Haibo , Zhao Ruqian 
Published: February 2017

ScopeBetaine is widely used in animal nutrition to promote growth. Here, we aimed to investigate whether maternal betaine supplementation during pregnancy can exert multigenerational effects on growth across two generations and the possible epigenetic modifications associated to such effects.Methods and resultsIn this study, 3‐month‐old female Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed diet supplemented with 1% betaine throughout the pregnancy and lactation. Betaine‐supplemented dams produced bigger litter but smaller F1 pups at birth and weaning. However, F2 pubs had higher weaning weight. In accordance with the growth performance, serum insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) levels were significantly lower in F1 yet higher in F2 pups, so was hepatic IGF‐1 mRNA expression. Concurrently, dietary betaine supplementation to F0 dams increased hepatic expression of betaine homocysteine methyltransferase, at both mRNA and protein levels, in F1, but not F2 pups. Moreover, hepatic IGF‐1 gene promoter 1 was detected to be significantly hypermethylated in F1 pups, whereas both promoters 1 and 2, together with almost all exons, were found to be hypomethylated in F2 offspring.ConclusionMaternal betaine supplementation during pregnancy and lactation exerts distinct effects on growth of F1 and F2 rat offspring, probably through differential modification of IGF‐1 gene methylation and expression in liver.
Technical Note: Development of a cranial phantom for assessing perfusion, diffusion, and biomechanics
Authors: Ohno Naoki , Miyati Tosiaki , Chigusa Tomohiro , Usui Hikari , Ishida Shota , Hiramatsu Yuki , Kobayashi Satoshi , Gabata Toshifumi , Alperin Noam 
Published: February 2017

PurposeA novel cranial phantom was developed to simulate the relationships among factors such as blood perfusion, water diffusion, and biomechanics in intracranial tissue.MethodsThe cranial phantom consisted of a high‐density polypropylene filter (mimicking brain parenchyma) with intra‐ and extrafilter spaces (mimicking cerebral artery and vein, respectively), and a capacitor space (mimicking the cerebrospinal fluid space). Pulsatile and steady flow with different flow rates were applied to the cranial phantom using a programmable pump. On 3.0‐T MRI, the measurements of the internal pressure in the phantom, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with monoexponential analysis in the filter, and total simulated cerebral blood flow (tSCBF) into the phantom were synchronized with the pulsatile flow. We obtained their maximum changes during the pulsation period (ΔP, ΔADC, and ΔtSCBF, respectively). Then, the compliance index (CI) was calculated by dividing the volume change (ΔV) by the ΔP in the phantom. Moreover, the same measurements were repeated after the compliance of the phantom was reduced by increasing the water volume in the capacitor space. Under steady flow conditions, we determined the regional SCBF (rSCBF) and perfusion‐related and restricted diffusion coefficients (D* and D, respectively) with biexponential analysis in the filter.ResultsThe internal pressure, ADC, and tSCBF varied over the pulsation period depending on the input flow. Moreover, the ΔP, ΔADC, ΔtSCBF, and rSCBF increased with the input flow rate. Compared to the high compliance condition, in the low compliance condition, the ΔP and ΔADC were higher by factors of 2.5 and 1.3, respectively, and the CI was smaller by a factor of 2.7, whereas the ΔV was almost unchanged. The D* was strongly affected by the input flow.ConclusionOur original phantom models the relationships among the blood perfusion, water diffusion, and biomechanics of the intracranial tissue, potentially facilitating the validation of novel MRI techniques and optimization of imaging parameters.
Inpatient cost analysis for treatment of myasthenia gravis
Authors: Omorodion Jacklyn O. , Pines Jesse M. , Kaminski Henry J. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionWe explore trends in U.S. inpatient costs of care over a 10‐year period.MethodsWe compare myasthenia gravis (MG) with multiple sclerosis (MS) and overall U.S. hospital admissions using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for 2003–2013.ResultsTotal costs of MG inpatient care rose 13‐fold from 2003 to 2013. This was accounted for by a greater than sixfold increase in discharges and a greater than twofold increase in cost per discharge. The < 17 and >85 years age groups experienced the greatest increases in discharges. Medicare and Medicaid use increased. Regional variations in cost were apparent. There were greater rises in the Midwestern and Southern United States, which is dissimilar to MS and all hospital admissions.DiscussionThere was a dramatic and disproportionate rise in the number of MG discharges, most likely because of changes in practice patterns. Muscle Nerve 56: 1114–1118, 2017
Structural equation modeling of associations among taste‐related risk factors, taste functioning, and adiposity
Authors: Rawal Shristi , Huedo‐Medina Tania B. , Hoffman Howard J. , Swede Helen , Duffy Valerie B. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveVariation in taste perception and exposure to risk factors of taste alterations have been independently linked with elevated adiposity. Using a laboratory database, taste‐adiposity associations were modeled and examined for whether taste functioning mediates the association between taste‐related risk factors and adiposity.MethodsHealthy women (n = 407, 35.5 ± 16.9 y) self‐reported histories of risk factors of altered taste functioning (tonsillectomy, multiple ear infections, head trauma) and were assessed for taste functioning (tongue‐tip and whole‐mouth intensities of quinine and salt) and density of taste papillae. Twenty‐four percent had elevated waist circumferences; thirty‐nine percent had overweight or obesity. Using structural equation modeling, direct and indirect associations between taste‐related risk factors, taste functioning, and adiposity were tested.ResultsIn models with good fit, elevated central adiposity was explained directly by history of risk factors (tonsillectomy, multiple ear infections) and directly by lower taste functioning (lower tongue‐tip taste function, lower papillae density). Risk factors of taste alterations were significantly associated with lower taste functioning, with taste mediating the association between head trauma and reduced adiposity.ConclusionsThis large laboratory‐based study supports associations between taste‐related risk factors, taste functioning, and adiposity. These findings need to be confirmed with other population‐based studies, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013‐2014 taste data.
Oncogenic S1P signalling in EBV‐associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma activates AKT and promotes cell migration through S1P receptor 3
Authors: Lee Hui Min , Lo Kwok‐Wai , Wei Wenbin , Tsao Sai Wah , Chung Grace Tin Yun , Ibrahim Maha Hafez , Dawson Christopher W , Murray Paul G , Paterson Ian C , Yap Lee Fah 
Published: February 2017

AbstractUndifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer with high metastatic potential that is consistently associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. In this study, we have investigated the functional contribution of sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) signalling to the pathogenesis of NPC. We show that EBV infection or ectopic expression of the EBV‐encoded latent genes (EBNA1, LMP1, and LMP2A) can up‐regulate sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), the key enzyme that produces S1P, in NPC cell lines. Exogenous addition of S1P promotes the migration of NPC cells through the activation of AKT; shRNA knockdown of SPHK1 resulted in a reduction in the levels of activated AKT and inhibition of cell migration. We also show that S1P receptor 3 (S1PR3) mRNA is overexpressed in EBV‐positive NPC patient‐derived xenografts and a subset of primary NPC tissues, and that knockdown of S1PR3 suppressed the activation of AKT and the S1P‐induced migration of NPC cells. Taken together, our data point to a central role for EBV in mediating the oncogenic effects of S1P in NPC and identify S1P signalling as a potential therapeutic target in this disease. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid Analysis of Corni fructus Using Paper Spray‐Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Guo Yuan , Gu Zhixin , Liu Xuemei , Liu Jingjing , Ma Ming , Chen Bo , Wang Liping 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIntroductionPaper spray‐mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) is a kind of ambient MS technique for the rapid analysis of samples. Corni fructus has been widely used in traditional Chinese compound preparations and healthy food. However, a number of counterfeits of Corni fructus, such as Crataegi fructus, Lycii fructus, and grape skin are illegally sold in crude herb markets. Therefore, the development of a rapid and high‐throughput quality evaluation method is important for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of the crude materials of Corni fructus.ObjectiveTo develop PS‐MS chemical profiles and a semi‐quantitative method of Corni fructus for quality assessment and control, and species distinction of Corni fructus.MethodologyBoth positive and negative ion PS‐MS chemical profiles were constructed for species distinction. The statistical analysis of the chemical profiles was accomplished by principal component analysis (PCA). Rapid semi‐quantitative analysis of loganin and morroniside in the extracts of Corni fructus were accomplished by PS‐MS.ResultsThe profiles of the Corni fructus and Crataegi fructus samples were clearly clustered into two categories. The limit of quantification (LOQ) in the semi‐quantitative analysis was 6 μg/mL and 5.6 μg/mL for loganin and morroniside, respectively.ConclusionPS‐MS is a simple, rapid, and high‐throughput method for the quality control and species distinction of Corni fructus. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of azobenzene‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers
Authors: Lee Ting‐Lei , Lo Chieh‐Tsung 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTThe effects of solvency and mole fraction of azobenzene moieties (fPAzoMA) on the photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(6‐[4‐(4′‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate) (PAA‐PAzoMA) amphiphilic diblock copolymers were investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The photoresponsive behavior depended strongly on the solvency and fPAzoMA. When dissolved in a PAA‐selective solvent, PAA‐PAzoMA formed micelles with PAzoMA in the micelle core. The confinement of azobenzene moieties caused a steric hindrance, thereby markedly reducing the kinetics of photoisomerization compared with that of the unconfined PAA‐PAzoMA in a nonselective solvent. Additionally, PAA‐PAzoMA dissolved in the PAA‐selective solvent caused a blue shift of the maximum absorbance, suggesting the formation of H‐aggregates of azobenzene mesogens. The high H‐aggregate content substantially reduced the fluorescence emission. Consequently, the fluorescence emission of PAA‐PAzoMA in the nonselective solvent was more intense than that in the PAA‐selective solvent. Upon UV irradiation, the enhanced bent‐shaped cis isomers disturbed the compact packing of azobenzene mesogens, which substantially enhanced the fluorescence emission. Both the photoisomerization rate and fluorescence emission decreased with an increase in fPAzoMA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 793–803
Research on Feasibility of Several High Density Materials for EFP Liner and Material Selection Criteria
Authors: Ding Li , Jiang Jianwei , Men Jianbing , Wang Shuyou , Li Mei 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn order to find new kinds of EFP liner materials with high density, W alloys, Ni, Mo, U, and U alloy were selected to be tested. Both liner test and flyer plate test were carried out in experiment, with existing EFP liner materials being testified as reference. It turned out that among the selected materials only Ni was suitable for EFP liner material, other potential candidates fractured to different extent in experiment. The potential reasons of materials’ fracturing under explosive loading were analyzed through different scales in fracture mechanics. Characteristics of a feasible candidate material for EFP liner were discussed through fracture toughness KIC, impact toughness αk, damage tolerance dy, and microstructure mechanics analysis. Finally material selection criteria of EFP liner were presented. The research results are significant in the material selection of EFP liner especially within high density materials, and it can be important guidelines for the researchers to avoid the blindness in research investments and waste in experiments in EFP research field.
Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate on Diagnostic Needle Biopsy Predicts Prostate Cancer Mortality: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Sæter Thorstein , Vlatkovic Ljiljana , Waaler Gudmund , Servoll Einar , Nesland Jahn M. , Axcrona Karol , Axcrona Ulrika 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDIntraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC‐P) is a distinct histopathologic feature associated with high‐grade, advanced prostate cancer. Although studies have shown that IDC‐P is a predictor of progression following surgical or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, there are sparse data regarding IDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy as a prognosticator of prostate cancer mortality.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a population‐based study of all prostate cancer patients diagnosed using needle biopsy and without evidence of systemic disease between 1991 and 1999 within a defined geographic region of Norway. Patients were identified by cross‐referencing the Norwegian Cancer Registry. Of 318 eligible patients, 283 had biopsy specimens available for central pathology review. Clinical data were obtained from medical charts. We examined whether IDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy was associated with adverse clinicopathological features and prostate cancer mortality.RESULTSPatients with IDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy had a more advanced stage and a higher Gleason score compared to patients without IDC‐P. IDC‐P was also associated with an intensively reactive stroma. The 10‐year prostate cancer‐specific survival was 69% for patients with IDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy and 89% for patients without IDC‐P (Log rank P‐value < 0.005). The presence of IDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy remained an independent predictor of prostate cancer mortality after adjustments for clinical prognostic factors and treatment. After adjustment for the newly implemented Grade Group system of prostate cancer, IDC‐P showed a strong tendency toward statistical significance. However, IDC‐P did not remain a statistically significant predictor in the multivariable analysis.CONCLUSIONIDC‐P on diagnostic needle biopsy is an indicator of prostate cancer with a high risk of mortality. Accordingly, a diagnosis of IDC‐P on needle biopsy should be reported and considered a feature of high‐risk prostate cancer. Moreover, the association between IDC‐P and reactive stroma provides evidence in support of the idea that stromal factors facilitate carcinoma invasion to the prostatic acini and ducts. Prostate 77:859–865, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeting Th17‐IL‐17 Pathway in Prevention of Micro‐Invasive Prostate Cancer in a Mouse Model
Authors: Zhang Qiuyang , Liu Sen , Ge Dongxia , Cunningham David M. , Huang Feng , Ma Lin , Burris Thomas P. , You Zongbing 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDChronic inflammation has been associated with the development and progression of human cancers including prostate cancer. The exact role of the inflammatory Th17‐IL‐17 pathway in prostate cancer remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine the importance of Th17 cells and IL‐17 in a Pten‐null prostate cancer mouse model.METHODSThe Pten‐null mice were treated by Th17 inhibitor SR1001 or anti‐mouse IL‐17 monoclonal antibody from 6 weeks of age up to 12 weeks of age. For SR1001 treatment, the mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) twice a day with vehicle or SR1001, which was dissolved in a dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution. All mice were euthanized for necropsy at 12 weeks of age. For IL‐17 antibody treatment, the mice were injected intravenously (i.v.) once every two weeks with control IgG or rat anti‐mouse IL‐17 monoclonal antibody, which was dissolved in PBS. The injection time points were at 6, 8, and 10 weeks old. All mice were analyzed for the prostate phenotypes at 12 weeks of age.RESULTSWe found that either SR1001 or anti‐IL‐17 antibody treatment decreased the formation of micro‐invasive prostate cancer in Pten‐null mice. The SR1001 or anti‐IL‐17 antibody treated mouse prostates had reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and reduced angiogenesis, as well as reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. By assessing the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, we found that SR1001 or anti‐IL‐17 antibody treated prostate tissues had weaker EMT phenotype compared to the control treated prostates.CONCLUSIONSThese results demonstrated that Th17‐IL‐17 pathway plays a key role in prostate cancer progression in Pten‐null mice. Targeting Th17‐IL‐17 pathway could prevent micro‐invasive prostate cancer formation in mice. Prostate 77:888–899, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantum information entropy of modified Hylleraas plus exponential Rosen Morse potential and squeezed states
Authors: Pooja  , Sharma Aarti , Gupta Rama , Kumar Anil 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this article, some information theoretic concepts are analyzed for modified Hylleraas plus exponential Rosen Morse potential in position and momentum space. The angular and radial contributions of the information density are graphically demonstrated for different states. The entropy densities have asymmetric shape which depends on the values of quantum numbers. The information entropy is analytically obtained for ground state of the potential whereas the numerical calculations have been performed for the higher states and Bialynicki‐Birula and Mycielski inequality is tested for various states using different parameters of the potential. It is shown that the information entropy is reduced, both in position and momentum space, for careful selection of some parameters. Further, it is found that there exist eigenstates exhibiting squeezing in information entropy of modified Hylleraas plus exponential Rosen Morse and Eckart potential. Interestingly, in case of Eckart potential, the squeezed states are obtained in position as well as momentum space and are attempted to saturate for some values of the parameters.
Tensor methods and recommender systems
Authors: Frolov Evgeny , Oseledets Ivan 
Published: February 2017

A substantial progress in development of new and efficient tensor factorization techniques has led to an extensive research of their applicability in recommender systems field. Tensor‐based recommender models push the boundaries of traditional collaborative filtering techniques by taking into account a multifaceted nature of real environments, which allows to produce more accurate, situational (e.g., context‐aware and criteria‐driven) recommendations. Despite the promising results, tensor‐based methods are poorly covered in existing recommender systems surveys. This survey aims to complement previous works and provide a comprehensive overview on the subject. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to consolidate studies from various application domains, which helps to get a notion of the current state of the field. We also provide a high level discussion of the future perspectives and directions for further improvement of tensor‐based recommendation systems. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1201. doi: 10.1002/widm.1201This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Structure Discovery
Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Knowledge Representation
Designing a semantic model for a wide-spectrum language with concurrency
Authors: Colvin Robert J. , Hayes Ian J. , Meinicke Larissa A. 
Published: February 2017

Abstract

A wide-spectrum language integrates specification constructs into a programming language in a manner that treats a specification command just like any other command. The primary contribution of this paper is a semantic model for a wide-spectrum language that supports concurrency and a refinement calculus. A distinguishing feature of the language is that steps of the environment are modelled explicitly, alongside steps of the program. From these two types of steps a rich set of specification commands can be constructed, based on operators for nondeterministic choice, and sequential and parallel composition. We also introduce a novel operator,
weak conjunction
, which is used extensively to conjoin separate aspects of specifications, allowing us to take a separation-of-concerns approach to subsequent reasoning. We provide a denotational semantics for the language based on traces, which may be terminating, aborting, infeasible, or infinite. To demonstrate the generality and unifying strength of the language, we use it to express a range of concepts from the concurrency literature, including: a refinement theory for rely/guarantee reasoning; an abstract specification of local variables in a concurrent context; specification of an abstract, linearisable data structure; a partial encoding of temporal logic; and defining the relationships between notions of nonblocking programs. The novelty of the paper is that these diverse concepts build on the same theory. In particular, the
rely
concept from Jones’ rely/guarantee framework, and a stronger
demand
concept that restricts the environment, are reused across the different domains to express assumptions about the environment. The language and model form an instance of an abstract concurrent program algebra, and this facilitates reasoning about properties of the model at a high level of abstraction.
Window Resection for Intraluminal Cricotracheal Invasion by Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Moritani Sueyoshi 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundInvasion of the upper aerodigestive tract by papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) affects both prognosis and quality of life. We assessed the efficacy of window resection for patients with intraluminal cricotracheal invasion.MethodsClinical data were retrospectively reviewed for all patients with PTC undergoing surgery at our institution during 1981–2009. Seventy‐six patients with intraluminal cricotracheal invasion were enrolled, including 34 relapsing patients.ResultsThe 10‐year disease‐specific survival rate of 42 patients with intraluminal invasion who underwent initial surgery was 60.8%. The lesion was located on the laryngo‐trachea in 3 (4%) of 12 patients with locoregional recurrence. No major surgical complications were associated with cricotracheal resection. Stomal closure was achieved in 30 of 76 patients (39%). Twelve patients (16%) had a permanent stoma that was directly related to cricotracheal invasion. Their stomas had been caused by large cricotracheal defects with greater than or equal to 50% circumferential resection of the trachea. Sixty‐seven patients (88%) had PTC invasion into other aerodigestive structures, including the recurrent laryngeal nerve (n = 54), esophagus (n = 38), and thyroid cartilage or intraluminal invasion of the larynx (laryngeal invasion n = 23). Multivariate analysis showed that cricotracheal invasion accompanied by recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion was predictive of permanent stoma (odds ratio 0.32; 95% CI 0.107–0.945; p = 0.039).ConclusionsWindow resection appears to be an effective treatment option for patients with intraluminal cricotracheal invasion. However, this surgical technique may be inappropriate for the treatment of large cricotracheal defects without a supportive hard structure.