bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Migration of encephalitogenic CD8 T cells into the central nervous system is dependent on the α4β1‐integrin
Authors: Martin‐Blondel Guillaume , Pignolet Béatrice , Tietz Silvia , Yshii Lidia , Gebauer Christina , Perinat Therese , Van Weddingen Isabelle , Blatti Claudia , Engelhardt Britta , Liblau Roland 
Published: September 2015

Although CD8 T cells are key players in neuroinflammation, little is known about their trafficking cues into the central nervous system (CNS). We used a murine model of CNS autoimmunity to define the molecules involved in cytotoxic CD8 T‐cell migration into the CNS. Using a panel of mAbs, we here show that the α4β1‐integrin is essential for CD8 T‐cell interaction with CNS endothelium. We also investigated which α4β1‐integrin ligands expressed by endothelial cells are implicated. The blockade of VCAM‐1 did not protect against autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and only partly decreased the CD8+ T‐cell infiltration into the CNS. In addition, inhibition of junctional adhesion molecule‐B expressed by CNS endothelial cells also decreases CD8 T‐cell infiltration. CD8 T cells may use additional and possibly unidentified adhesion molecules to gain access to the CNS.
Highly Selective and Sensitive Detection of Picric Acid Explosive by a Bisporphyrin Cleft: Synergistic Effects of Encapsulation, Efficient Electron Transfer, and Hydrogen Bonding
Authors: Mondal Pritam , Rath Sankar Prasad 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA flexible diethylpyrrole‐bridged bisporphyrin (H4DEP) is employed to encapsulate highly explosive picric acid (PA) in its cleft, and information about the chemical environment in the interior of the host–guest assembly is obtained. The synthesis, X‐ray structure, and photophysical properties of the encapsulated host–guest complex (H4DEP·PA) are reported here. The host–guest assembly is also retained in solution with a binding constant (K) of (2.63 ± 0.2) × 105 M–1. Such an efficient complexation is due to the perfect match of the host–guest size, H bonding, and strong π–π interactions between the host and guest, which collectively make the binding of PA rapid and highly selective with a detection limit of 2.4 ppm. The host H4DEP can also discriminate the highly explosive PA from other nitroaromatic compounds. The extremely low HOMO–LUMO gap (HOMO = highest occupied molecular orbital, LUMO = lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) in the host–guest complex leads to an efficient and highly facile electron transfer from the host to the guest, which results in substantial quenching of the emission intensity of H4DEP. Such an efficient electron transfer is only possible if the donor and acceptor moieties are close to each other, as this lowers the reorganization energy. All of the experimental evidence is further substantiated by DFT calculations.
Determinants of physician's office visits and potential effects of co‐payments: evidence from Austria
Authors: Hafner Philipp , Mahlich Jörg C. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryObjectiveThe objective of this study is to analyse determinants of physician office visits and potential effects of co‐payments in Austria.MethodsBased on survey data, the number of annual physician office visits is regressed on a set of explanatory variable such as income, communication behaviour in waiting room, travel time, gender, age, presence of chronic diseases and connectedness to family members. It was then examined how those determinants are affected by hypothetical co‐payments in the range of €5 to €200.ResultsOur results suggest a negative impact of income and family connectedness on doctor's visits. On the other hand, age, morbidity and active communication behaviour in the waiting room are positively associated with office visits. The significant impact of both income and active communication behaviour on the number of doctor's visits disappears when significant co‐payments greater than €50 are introduced.ConclusionsHigher co‐payments would reduce healthcare service utilization in Austria mainly because of a demand reduction of poorer patients. Another key finding of our study is that the desire to chat with peers in the waiting room is another significant driver of physician office visits. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Benzo(a)pyrene inhibits migration and invasion of extravillous trophoblast HTR‐8/SVneo cells via activation of the ERK and JNK pathway
Authors: Liu Liyuan , Wang Yingxiong , Shen Cha , He Junlin , Liu Xueqing , Ding Yubin , Gao Rufei , Chen Xuemei 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBenzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) that is a serious threat to human health. Numerous studies have shown that BaP causes adverse effects in pregnancy, but the mechanism remains unclear. The moderate invasion of trophoblast cells into the endometrium is an important factor during successful embryo implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of BaP on the invasion and migration of trophoblast cells. HTR‐8/SVneo cells were treated with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μM) of BaP. The invasion and migration of HTR‐8/SVneo cells were observed after BaP treatment. The protein levels related to migration and invasion was detected by Western blot. The results confirmed that BaP inhibits the migration and invasion of extravillous trophoblast HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Further investigations indicated that the protein levels of MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and E‐cadherin in HTR‐8/SVneo cells were changed by BaP treatment. Moreover, the data demonstrated that BaP activated the MAPK signaling pathway. Pretreatment with specific inhibitors of MAPK rescued BaP‐induced change in the migration and invasion of HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Taken together, our results indicated that BaP inhibits invasion and the migration of HTR‐8/SVneo cells, which might cause a failure in early pregnancy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Round window electrocochleography before and after cochlear implant electrode insertion
Authors: Adunka Oliver F. , Giardina Christopher K. , Formeister Eric J. , Choudhury Baishakhi , Buchman Craig A. , Fitzpatrick Douglas C. 
Published: September 2015

Objective/HypothesisPrevious reports have documented the feasibility of utilizing electrocochleographic (ECoG) responses to acoustic signals to assess trauma caused during cochlear implantation. The hypothesis is that intraoperative round window ECoG before and after electrode insertion will help predict postoperative hearing preservation outcomes in cochlear implant recipients.Study DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsIntraoperative round window ECoG responses were collected from 31 cochlear implant recipients (14 children and 17 adults) immediately prior to and just after electrode insertion. Hearing preservation was determined by postoperative changes in behavioral thresholds.ResultsOn average, the postinsertion response was smaller than the preinsertion response by an average of 4 dB across frequencies. However, in some cases (12 of 31) the response increased after insertion. The subsequent hearing loss was greater than the acute loss in the ECoG, averaging 22 dB across the same frequency range (250–1,000 Hz). There was no correlation between the change in the ECoG response and the corresponding change in audiometric threshold.ConclusionsIntraoperative ECoG is a sensitive method for detecting electrophysiologic changes during implantation but had limited prognostic value regarding hearing preservation in the current conventional cochlear implant patient population where hearing preservation was not intended.Level of Evidence2b Laryngoscope, 126:1193–1200, 2016
Relationship between computerized wheeze detection and lung function parameters in young infants
Authors: Fischer Hendrik Stefan , Puder Lia Carlotta , Wilitzki Silke , Usemann Jakob , Bührer Christoph , Godfrey Simon , Schmalisch Gerd 
Published: September 2015

SummaryObjectiveComputerized respiratory sound analysis (CORSA) has been validated in the assessment of wheeze in infants, but it is unknown whether automatically detected wheeze is associated with impaired lung function. This study investigated the relationship between wheeze detection and conventional lung function testing (LFT) parameters.MethodsCORSA was performed using the PulmoTrack® monitor in 110 infants, of median (interquartile range) postmenstrual age 50 (46–56) weeks and median body weight 4,810 (3,980–5,900) g, recovering from neonatal intensive care. In the same session, LFT was performed, including tidal breathing measurements, occlusion tests, body plethysmography, forced expiratory flow by rapid thoracoabdominal compression, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) multiple breath washout (MBW), and capillary blood gas analysis. Infants were classified as wheezers or non‐wheezers using predefined cut‐off values for the duration of inspiratory and expiratory wheeze.ResultsWheezing was detected in 72 (65%) infants, with 43 (39%) having inspiratory and 53 (48%) having expiratory wheezing. Endotracheal mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period for > 24 hr was associated with inspiratory wheeze (P = 0.009). Airway resistance was increased in both inspiratory (P = 0.02) and expiratory (P = 0.004) wheezers and correlated with the duration of expiratory wheeze (r = 0.394, P < 0.001). Expiratory wheezers showed a significant increase in respiratory resistance (P = 0.001), time constant (0.012), and functional residual capacity using SF6 MBW (P = 0.019). There was no association between wheezing and forced expiratory flow or blood gases.ConclusionCORSA can help identify neonates and young infants with subclinical airway obstruction and may prove useful in the follow‐up of high‐risk infants. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:402–410. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On optical polarization and charge carrier statistics of nonpolar InGaN quantum wells
Authors: Schade L. , Wernicke T. , Rass J. , Ploch S. , Weyers M. , Kneissl M. , Schwarz U. T. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAbstractauthoren Optical polarization is a fundamental property of light emission from m‐plane InGaN quantum wells. It is a result of band structure, anisotropic strain, the degree of polarization depending on thermal occupation, and band‐filling of valence subbands. We analyze the optical‐polarized light of nonpolar samples at low and at room temperature over a wide range of excitation density. We observe that the measured energy separation and linewidth of the orthogonally polarized emission depend on carrier density, too. A consistent explanation of these effects is possible in the context of Fermi–Dirac statistics for a degenerate carrier density and inhomogeneously broadened density of states. In addition, pulsed electroluminescence experiments were performed to validate our conclusions for optoelectronic devices based on nonpolar InGaN quantum wells.
Secure cloud storage using anonymous and blackbox traceable data access control
Authors: Wu Songyang , Zhang Yong 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn cloud storage systems, data outsourcing and untrusted service providers make data‐access control become a challenging issue because traditional technologies always consider service providers as a fully trusted party. Ciphertext‐policy attribute‐based encryption (CP‐ABE) shows particular advantages in this setting because this encryption gives the data owner a direct control on data‐access policies. However, malicious users in traditional CP‐ABE systems may leak their decryption keys in the form of a decryption device/blackbox with little risk of getting caught because no one (including the key authorities) can reveal them. This issue has become a major practicality concern in many data outsourcing applications (e.g., financial and healthcare systems) where the preservation of privacy with regard to sensitive data is critical. To address this problem, blackbox traceable CP‐ABE leveraged the “traitor tracing” property of broadcast encryption to identify these malicious users. However, the size of the keys and ciphertexts in the blackbox traceable CP‐ABE depends on the number of users. In this paper, we introduce an accumulator‐based encryption (ACC‐ENC), which can be integrated with conventional non‐traceable CP‐ABE‐based data‐access control to achieve an additional blackbox traceability feature without sacrificing performance (just adds
elements to the ciphertext and the public key). We first formally define the model of ACC‐ENC and present a concrete construction that is proven fully secure; then, we illustrate applying ACC‐ENC to obtain CP‐ABE‐based data‐access control with blackbox traceability for cloud storage. Performance evaluation shows that additional computation costs of the proposition are very low compared to the original scheme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endofin, a novel BMP-SMAD regulator of the iron-regulatory hormone, hepcidin
Authors: Goh Justin B. , Wallace Daniel F. , Hong Wanjin , Subramaniam V. Nathan 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBMP-SMAD signalling plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes including embryonic development and iron homeostasis. Dysregulation of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is associated with many clinical iron-related disorders. We hypothesised that molecules which mediate BMP-SMAD signalling play important roles in the regulation of iron homeostasis and variants in these proteins may be potential genetic modifiers of iron-related diseases. We examined the role of endofin, a SMAD anchor and show that knockdown of endofin in liver cells inhibits basal and BMP-induced hepcidin expression along with other BMP-regulated genes, ID1 and SMAD7. We show for the first time, the in situ interaction of endofin with SMAD proteins and significantly reduced SMAD phosphorylation with endofin knockdown, suggesting that endofin modulates hepcidin through BMP-SMAD signalling. Characterisation of naturally occurring SNPs show that mutations in the conserved FYVE domain result in mislocalisation of endofin, potentially affecting downstream signalling and modulating hepcidin expression. In conclusion, we have identified a hitherto unrecognised link, endofin, between the BMP-SMAD signalling pathway and the regulation of hepcidin expression and iron homeostasis. This study further defines the molecular network involved in iron regulation and provides potential targets for the treatment of iron-related disorders.
Zwitterionic Nanofibers of Super-Glue for Transparent and Biocompatible Multi-Purpose Coatings
Authors: Mele Elisa , Heredia-Guerrero José A. , Bayer Ilker S. , Ciofani Gianni , Genchi Giada G. , Ceseracciu Luca , Davis Alexander , Papadopoulou Evie L. , Barthel Markus J. , Marini Lara , Ruffilli Roberta , Athanassiou Athanassia 
Published: September 2015

AbstractHere we show that macrozwitterions of poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate), commonly called Super Glue, can easily assemble into long and well defined fibers by electrospinning. The resulting fibrous networks are thermally treated on glass in order to create transparent coatings whose superficial morphology recalls the organization of the initial electrospun mats. These textured coatings are characterized by low liquid adhesion and anti-staining performance. Furthermore, the low friction coefficient and excellent scratch resistance make them attractive as solid lubricants. The inherent texture of the coatings positively affects their biocompatibility. In fact, they are able to promote the proliferation and differentiation of myoblast stem cells. Optically-transparent and biocompatible coatings that simultaneously possess characteristics of low water contact angle hysteresis, low friction and mechanical robustness can find application in a wide range of technological sectors, from the construction and automotive industries to electronic and biomedical devices.
Transcriptome-wide analysis of chromium-stress responsive microRNAs to explore miRNA-mediated regulatory networks in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)
Authors: Liu Wei , Xu Liang , Wang Yan , Shen Hong , Zhu Xianwen , Zhang Keyun , Chen Yinglong , Yu Rugang , Limera Cecilia , Liu Liwang 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play pivotal roles in plant growth, development and stress response. Chromium (Cr) is one of common environmental contaminants possessing potential health hazards to living organisms. To date, little is known about the regulatory roles of miRNAs in response to Cr stress in radish. To systematically identify Cr-responsive miRNAs and their targets in radish, two sRNA libraries derived from Cr-free (CK) and Cr-treated (Cr200) roots were constructed. With Solexa sequencing, 81 known and 72 novel miRNAs were identified, from which 54 known and 16 novel miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed under Cr stress. Several target genes for Cr-responsive miRNAs encode different transcription factor (TF) families, including SPLs, MYBs, ERFs and bZIPs, might regulate corresponding HM-related transcriptional processes in plants. Notably, a few key responsive enzymes or proteins, including HMA, YSL1 and ABC transporter protein were involved in Cr uptake and homeostasis process. Furthermore, the expression patterns of some Cr-responsive miRNAs and their targets were validated by RT-qPCR. This study represents the first characterization of Cr-responsive miRNAs and their targets in radish. The outcomes of this study could provide novel insights into miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying plant response to Cr stress in root vegetable crops.
PIK3CA mutation analysis in Chinese patients with surgically resected cervical cancer
Authors: Xiang Libing , Jiang Wei , Li Jiajia , Shen Xuxia , Yang Wentao , Yang Gong , Wu Xiaohua , Yang Huijuan 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic relevance of PIK3CA mutations in Chinese patients with surgically resected cervical cancer. PIK3CA mutations were screened in 771 cervical cancer specimens using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. In total, 13.6% (105 of 771) of patients harbored non-synonymous PIK3CA mutations. Patients harboring PIK3CA mutations were older than patients with wild-type PIK3CA (mean age: 50.7 years vs. 47.0 years, P < 0.01). PIK3CA mutations were more commonly observed in postmenopausal patients than in premenopausal patients (19.6% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.01). PIK3CA mutations were more common in squamous cell carcinomas than in non-squamous cell tumors (15.3% vs 7.3%, of P < 0.01). The 3-year relapse-free survival was 90.2% for PIK3CA mutant patients and 80.9% for PIK3CA wild-type patients (P = 0.03). PIK3CA mutation was confirmed as an independent predictor for better treatment outcome in the multivariate analyses (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.29–0.99, P = 0.048). PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with less distant metastases (mutant-type: 8/105, wild-type: 98/666, p = 0.048). Thus, patients with mutant PIK3CA had distinct characteristics in age, menopausal status and histological subtype and have better treatment outcome and less distant metastasis after surgery-based multimodal therapy.
Experimental study of the protective effects of SYVN1 against diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Yang Shuo , He Heng , Ma Qi Si , Zhang Yong , Zhu Ying , Wan Xing , Wang Feng Wen , Wang Shuai Shuai , Liu Lei , Li Bin 
Published: September 2015

AbstractGenetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). While many studies have focused on genes that increase susceptibility to DR, herein, we aimed to explore genes that confer DR resistance. Previously, we identified Hmg CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (SYVN1) as a putative DR protective gene via gene expression analysis. Transgenic mice overexpressing SYVN1 and wild-type (WT) mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were used in this experiment. Retinal damage and vascular leakage were investigated 6 months after induction of diabetes by histopathological and retinal cell apoptosis analyses and by retinal perfusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran. Compared with diabetic WT mice, diabetic SYVN1 mice had significantly more cells and reduced apoptosis in the retinal ganglion layer. Retinal vascular leakage was significantly lower in diabetic SYVN1 mice than in diabetic WT mice. The expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related, pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic genes were also analyzed. Lower expression levels were observed in diabetic SYVN1 mice than in WT controls, suggesting that SYVN1 may play an important role in inhibiting ER stress, chronic inflammation and vascular overgrowth associated with DR. Thus, these results strongly supported our hypothesis that SYVN1 confers DR resistance.
Age at menarche and endometrial cancer risk: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Gong Ting-Ting , Wang Yong-Lai , Ma Xiao-Xin 
Published: September 2015

AbstractEvidence between age at menarche and endometrial cancer risk have been controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of prospective studies to analyze the aforementioned association. Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases until the end of June 2015. A random-effects model was used to estimate summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between menarcheal age and endometrial cancer risk. Our meta-analysis included eight prospective studies involving 4553 subjects with endometrial cancer. The summarized RRs of endometrial cancer for menarcheal age were 0.68 (95%CI = 0.58–0.81,I2 = 41.9%,P = 0.099, n = 8) when comparing women with oldest category of menarcheal age with women with youngest category of menarcheal age. Notably, there was an 4% reduction in risk for per 2 years delay in menarcheal age (summarized RR = 0.96; 95%CI = 0.94–0.98,I2 = 45.7%,P = 0.101, n = 6). Additionally, significant inverse associations were consistent within all stratified analyses. There was no evidence of publication bias or significant heterogeneity between subgroups detected by meta-regression analyses. Our findings support the hypothesis that late menarcheal age is inversely associated with endometrial cancer risk. Further larger prospective or pooled studies are warranted to fully adjust for potential confounders and distinguish whether the associations differ by histological subtypes of endometrial cancer.