bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effects of N,N,N-trimethyl phytosphingosine-iodide on melanogenesis via ERK activation-mediated MITF degradation
Authors: Lee Woo Jin , Bang Seunghyun , Chung Bo Young , Jung Hyejung , Oh Eok Soo , Chang Sung Eun 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
N,N,N-trimethyl phytosphingosine-iodide (TMP) was recently developed as an antitumor agent. We examined the effects of TMP on melanogenesis and its related signaling pathways in normal human melanocytes. Our results showed that melanin is significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in both cells following liposomal TMP treatment. We also investigated changes in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which is related to the degradation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). Our results indicated that liposomal TMP treatment leads to the phosphorylation of ERK, which reduces both MITF and tyrosinase protein levels. Treatment with PD98059, an ERK pathway-specific inhibitor, restored liposomal TMP-induced reductions in melanin, abrogated reductions in tyrosinase activity, and downregulated MITF and tyrosinase protein. In conclusion, these results suggest that the inhibitory effects of TMP on melanogenesis are due to MITF and tyrosinase downregulation via ERK activation.
A hierarchy of respect
Authors: Wilson Doirean 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– Interviews two black minority ethnic (BME) male youths who were raised in high knife and gun-crime areas of London.

Design/methodology/approach
– Considers whether feral youth behavior might have something to do with British youths’ need for respect.

Findings
– Quotes one of the youths as saying it is disrespectful to enter their territory without permission.

Practical implications
– Quotes the other as saying that BME male youths do not get respect from the British police, the politicians or the society and so do not have a voice.

Social implications
– Considers that society might therefore benefit from changing its attitude to BME youth.

Originality/value
– Contains the views of two BME young people who were prepared to be named in an interview that would provide them with the opportunity to air their views without criticism.
Micro/macro fatigue crack growth rate model for 2024-T3 aluminum panel
Authors: Sih George 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– Fatigue crack growth rate data for 2024-T3 aluminum are found using three parameters d*, σ* and μ* for short and long cracks for Regions I-III in conventional fatigue. Asymptotic solution of a line crack with a micro-tip is found to yield a singular stress behavior of order 0.75 in contrast to the 0.50 order known for the macrocrack. The difference is due to the micro-macro interaction effects. The three parameters account for the combined effects of load, material and geometry via the tip region. Data for short and long cracks lie on a straight with a slope of about 3.9-4.8 for R values of 0.286-0.565. The results were based on an initial crack a1 mm where a is the half length for a central crack panel. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– The belief that specimen fatigue data could assist the design of structural components was upended when FAA discovered that the NASGRO FCGD are not valid for short cracks that are tight and may even be closed. The regular ΔK vs da/dN model was limited to long cracks. The issue become critical for short cracks connecting the long ones of a few mm to cm or even m according to da/dN for the same crack history. The danger of short/long fatigue crack growth (SLFCG) prompted FAA to introduce an added test known as Limit of Validity (LOV), a way of setting empirical limits for structural components. The dual scale SLFCG data from ΔK micro/macro provide support for the LOV tests.

Findings
– Data for short and long cracks lie on a straight with a slope of about 3.9-4.8 for R values of 0.286-0.565. The single dual scale relation on ΔK micro/macro can switch from microscopic to macroscopic or vice and versa. The difference is fundamental. Order other than 0.75 can be obtained for simulating different microstructure effects as well as different materials and test conditions.

Originality/value
– Scale shifting from short to long fatigue cracks for 2024-T3 aluminum is new. The crack driving force is found to depend on the crack tightness. The sigmoidal curve based on the regular ΔK plot disappeared. The data from ΔK micro/macro for short cracks may supplement the FAA LOV tests for setting more reliable fatigue safe limits.
Taphonomic Patterning of Cemetery Remains Received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, Massachusetts
Authors: Pokines James T. , Zinni Debra Prince , Crowley Kate 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA sample of 49 cases of cemetery remains received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Massachusetts (OCME‐MA), in Boston was compared with published taphonomic profiles of cemetery remains. The present sample is composed of a cross section of typical cases in this region that ultimately are derived from modern to historical coffin burials and get turned over to or seized by law enforcement. The present sample was composed of a large portion of isolated remains, and most were completely skeletonized. The most prevalent taphonomic characteristics included uniform staining (77.6%), coffin wear (46.9%), and cortical Exfoliation (49.0%). Other taphonomic changes occurring due to later surface exposure of cemetery remains included subaerial weathering, animal gnawing, algae formation, and excavation marks. A case of one set of skeletal remains associated with coffin artifacts and cemetery offerings that was recovered from transported cemetery fill is also presented.
Chronotropic Incompetence and Dynamic Postexercise Autonomic Dysfunction Are Associated with the Presence and Severity of Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Ioakeimidis Nikolaos , Samentzas Alexios , Vlachopoulos Charalambos , Aggelis Athanassios , Stefanadis Christodoulos , Tousoulis Dimitrios 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundExercise stress testing (EST) is crucial to determine cardiovascular (CV) risk in men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Low exercise workload, a slower rate of recovery following exercise, and an impaired capacity to increase heart rate (HR) during exercise testing (chronotropic incompetence) are independent predictors of adverse CV outcomes. Aim of this study was to investigate the association between ED and EST parameters.MethodsA total of 180 ED patients and 50 men without ED underwent maximal EST. Exercise parameters including exercise capacity (metabolic equivalents, METS), peak exercise time, HR at six METS, peak exercise, HR recovery (HRR) at 1 and 2 minutes and chronotropic index (CI) were evaluated in all individuals. Endothelial function was evaluated with flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery.ResultsED patients had lower peak exercise time and thus lower calculated exercise capacity (P < 0.001) and reduced CI (P < 0.01) compared to men without ED. There was a significant association of ED severity with duration of exercise, peak workload, HRR 2 minutes after exercise, and CI (all P < 0.05). There also was a positive relation of HRR and CI with FMD (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study shows interrelationships between exercise capacity, HRR, CI, and ED. Abnormal HRR and CI are associated with systemic endothelial dysfunction. These findings imply pathophysiological links and may have important implications for the estimation of cardiovascular risk in ED patients.
High rate of hematological responses to sorafenib in FLT3‐ITD acute myeloid leukemia relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: De Freitas Tiago , Marktel Sarah , Piemontese Simona , Carrabba Matteo G. , Tresoldi Cristina , Messina Carlo , Lupo Stanghellini Maria Teresa , Assanelli Andrea , Corti Consuelo , Bernardi Massimo , Peccatori Jacopo , Vago Luca , Ciceri Fabio 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRelapse represents the most significant cause of failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for FLT3‐ITD‐positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and available therapies are largely unsatisfactory. In this study, we retrospectively collected data on the off‐label use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib, either alone or in association with hypomethylating agents and adoptive immunotherapy, in 13 patients with post‐transplantation FLT3‐ITD‐positive AML relapses. Hematological response was documented in 12 of 13 patients (92%), and five of 13 (38%) achieved complete bone marrow remission. Treatment was overall manageable in the outpatient setting, although all patients experienced significant adverse events, especially severe cytopenias (requiring a donor stem cell boost in five patients) and typical hand‐foot syndrome. None of the patients developed graft‐vs.‐host disease following sorafenib alone, whereas this was frequently observed when this was given in association with donor T‐cell infusions. Six patients are alive and in remission at the last follow‐up, and four could be bridged to a second allogeneic HSCT, configuring a 65 ± 14% overall survival at 100 d from relapse. Taken together, our data suggest that sorafenib might represent a valid treatment option for patients with FLT3‐ITD‐positive post‐transplantation relapses, manageable also in combination with other therapeutic strategies.
Identification of an RNA element for specific coordination of A‐to‐I RNA editing on HTR2C pre‐mRNA
Authors: Fukuda Masatora , Oyama Yui , Nishitarumizu Azusa , Omura Miki , Nose Kanako , Deshimaru Masanobu 
Published: August 2015

Adenosine‐to‐Inosine (A‐to‐I) RNA editing is an intracellular mechanism in which inosine is specifically substituted against adenosine by the action of adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). Serotonin 2C receptor (HTR2C) is encoded through combinatorial A‐to‐I RNA editing at recoding sites (A – E site) on its pre‐mRNA. Although the efficiency of RNA editing at particular sites is known to be critical for modulating the serotonin signaling, the mechanistic details of site‐specific editing on HTR2C pre‐mRNA are not fully understood. Toward complete understanding of this mechanism, we discovered an RNA element, which coordinates site‐specific RNA editing on HTR2C pre‐mRNA by an in vitro editing assay and secondary structural analysis of mutant HTR2C RNA fragments. Our results showed that HTR2C pre‐mRNA forms a characteristic structure, which was restricted by the internal loop and Watson–Crick base‐pair interaction on site E, for intrinsic editing. We suggest that the internal loop would contribute toward adjusting the relative distance and/or geometry between the editing sites and the scaffold for ADAR.
A population management system for improving colorectal cancer screening in a primary care setting
Authors: Wu Charlotte A. , Mulder Amara L. , Zai Adrian H. , Hu Yuanshan , Costa Manuela , Tishler Lori Wiviott , Saltzman John R. , Ellner Andrew L. , Bitton Asaf 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRationaleProvision of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in primary care is suboptimal; failure to observe screening guidelines poses unnecessary risks to patients and doctors.Aims and objectivesImplement a population management system for CRC screening; evaluate impact on compliance with evidence‐based guidelines.MethodsDesignA quasi‐experimental, prospective quality improvement study design using pre‐post‐analyses with concurrent controls.SettingSix suites within an academic primary care practice.Participants5320 adults eligible for CRC screening treated by 70 doctors.InterventionIn three intervention suites, doctors reviewed real‐time rosters of patients due for CRC screening and chose practice delegate outreach or default reminder letter. Delegates tracked overdue patients, made outreach calls, facilitated test ordering, obtained records and documented patient deferral, exclusion or decline. In three control suites, doctors followed usual preventive care practices.Main outcome measuresCRC screening compliance (including documented decline, deferral or exclusion) and CRC screening completion rates over 5 months.ResultsAt baseline, there was no significant difference in CRC screening compliance (I: 80.4% and C: 79.6%, P = 0.439) and CRC screening completion rates (I: 78.3% and C: 77.3%, P = 0.398) between intervention and control groups. Post‐intervention, compliance rates (I: 88.1% and C: 80.5%, P < 0.01) and completion rates (I: 81.0% and C: 78.1%, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the intervention group.ConclusionsA population management system using closed‐loop communication may improve CRC screening compliance and completion rates within academic primary care practices. Team‐based care using well‐designed IT systems can enable sharing of patient care responsibilities and improve patient outcomes.
Heat Resistances of Candida Apicola and Aspergillus Niger Spores Isolated From Date Fruit Surface
Authors: Belbahi Amine , Bohuon Philippe , Leguérinel Ivan , Meot Jean‐Michel , Loiseau Gérard , Madani Khodir 
Published: August 2015

AbstractCandida apicola and Aspergillus niger strains were isolated and identified from Deglet‐Nour dates, and their loads were determined on the fruit surface. The thermal inactivation of their spores was evaluated between 42 and 70C. The estimated D values for C. apicola and A. niger were D50 = 2.3 ± 0.4 min and D50 = 22.1 ± 2.1 min, respectively. The zT values obtained were 9.4 ± 2.6 and 9.6 ± 1.0C for C. apicola and A. niger, respectively. The experimental survival spores obtained on the date surface during non‐isothermal treatment were compared with the simulated data based on the Bigelow method and on pasteurization value calculations. C. apicola and A. niger spores can be inactivated by relatively low temperatures. Validation shows that this model and its parameters can be used to optimize pasteurization of these fungal spores on the surface of fruits using the temperature–time profile data. These thermal treatments can pasteurized date surface while minimizing the color date degradation.Practical ApplicationsThis study contributes to the design and control of an effective heat treatment against the fungi that cause particular safety and spoilage problems during the preservation and packaging of fragile fresh fruits such as fresh dates.
A two‐step optimization approach for nonlocal total variation‐based Rician noise reduction in magnetic resonance images
Authors: Liu Ryan Wen , Shi Lin , Yu Simon C. H. , Wang Defeng 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often suffers from apparent noise during image acquisition and transmission. The degraded data can easily result in nonrobust postprocessing steps in medical image analysis. The purpose of this study is to eliminate noise effects and improve image quality using a nonlocal feature‐preserving denoising method.Methods:From a statistical point of view, the magnitude MR images in the presence of noise are usually modeled using a Rician distribution. In the maximum a posteriori framework, a nonlocal total variation (NLTV)‐based feature‐preserving MRI Rician denoising model is proposed by taking full advantage of high degree of selfsimilarity and redundancy within MR images. However, the nonconvex data‐fidelity term and nonsmooth NLTV regularizer make the denoising problem difficult to solve. To guarantee solution stability, a piecewise convex function is first introduced to approximate the nonconvex version. In what follows, a two‐step optimization approach is developed to solve the resulting convex denoising model. In each step of this approach, the subproblem can be efficiently solved using existing optimization algorithms. The method performance is evaluated using synthetic and clinical MRI data sets as well as one diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) data set. Extensive experiments are conducted to compare the proposed method with several state‐of‐the‐art denoising methods.Results:For the synthetic and clinical MRI data sets, the proposed method considerably outperformed other competing denoising methods in terms of both quantitative and visual quality evaluations. It was capable of effectively removing noise in MR images and enhancing tissue characterization. The advantage of the proposed method became more significant as the noise level increased. For the DTI data set, compared with other denoising methods, the proposed method not only preserved the apparent diffusion coefficient but also generated more regular fractional anisotropy (FA) and color‐coded FA without obvious visual artifacts.Conclusions:This study describes and validates a nonlocal feature‐preserving method for Rician noise reduction on synthetic and real MRI data sets. By exploiting the feature‐preserving capability of NLTV regularizer, the proposed method maintains a good balance between noise reduction and fine detail preservation. The experiments have demonstrated a huge potential of the proposed method for routine clinical practice.
A feasibility study on monitoring the evolution of apparent diffusion coefficient decrease during thermal ablation
Authors: Plata Juan C. , Holbrook Andrew B. , Marx Michael , Salgaonkar Vasant , Jones Peter , Pascal‐Tenorio Aurea , Bouley Donna , Diederich Chris , Sommer Graham , Pauly Kim Butts 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Evaluate whether a decrease in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), associated with loss of tissue viability (LOTV), can be observed during the course of thermal ablation of the prostate.Methods:Thermal ablation was performed in a healthy in vivo canine prostate model (N = 2, ages: 5 yr healthy, mixed breed, weights: 13–14 kg) using a transurethral high‐intensity ultrasound catheter and was monitored using a strategy that interleaves diffusion weighted images and gradient‐echo images. The two sequences were used to measure ADC and changes in temperature during the treatment. Changes in temperature were used to compute expected changes in ADC. The difference between expected and measured ADC, ADCDIFF, was analyzed in regions ranging from moderate hyperthermia to heat fixation. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to select a threshold of detection of LOTV. Time of threshold activation, tLOTV, was compared with time to reach CEM43 = 240,tDOSE.Results:The observed relationship between temperature and ADC in vivo (2.2%/ °C, 1.94%–2.47%/ °C 95% confidence interval) was not significantly different than the previously reported value of 2.4%/ °C in phantom. ADCDIFF changes after correction for temperature showed a mean decrease of 25% in ADC 60 min post‐treatment in regions where sufficient thermal dose (CEM43 > 240) was achieved. Following our ROC analysis, a threshold of 2.25% decrease in ADCDIFF for three consecutive time points was chosen as an indicator of LOTV. The ADCDIFF was found to decrease quickly (1–2 min) after reaching CEM43 = 240 in regions associated with heat fixation and more slowly (10–20 min) in regions that received slower heating.Conclusions:Simultaneous monitoring of ADC and temperature during treatment might allow for a more complete tissue viability assessment of ablative thermal treatments in the prostate. ADCDIFF decreases during the course of treatment may be interpreted as loss of tissue viability.
Estimated 10-year cardiovascular mortality seriously underestimates overall cardiovascular risk
Authors: Jørstad Harald T , Colkesen Ersen B , Boekholdt S Matthijs , Tijssen Jan G , Wareham Nicholas J , Khaw Kay-Tee , Peters Ron J 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe European Society of Cardiology's prevention guideline suggests that the risk of total (fatal plus non-fatal) cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be calculated from the risk of CVD mortality using a fixed multiplier (3×). However, the proposed multiplier has not been validated. We investigated the ratio of total CVD to CVD mortality in a large population-based cohort.MethodsCVD mortality and total CVD (fatal plus non-fatal CVD requiring hospitalisation) were analysed using Kaplan-Meier estimates among 24 014 men and women aged 39–79 years without baseline CVD or diabetes mellitus in the prospective population-based European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk cohort. CVD outcomes included death and hospitalisations for ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease or aortic aneurysm. The main study outcome was the ratio of 10-year total CVD to 10-year CVD mortality stratified by age and sex.ResultsTen year CVD mortality was 3.9% (900 CVD deaths, 95% CI 3.6% to 4.1%); the rate of total CVD outcomes was 21.2% (4978 fatal or non-fatal CVD outcomes, 95% CI 20.7% to 21.8%). The overall ratio of total CVD to CVD mortality was 5.4. However, we found major differences in this ratio when stratified by gender and age. In young women (39–50 years), the ratio of total CVD to CVD mortality was 28.5, in young men (39–50 years) 11.7. In the oldest age group, these ratios were considerably lower (3.2 in women and 2.4 in men aged 75–79 years).ConclusionsThe relationship between 10-year total CVD and CVD mortality is dependent on age and sex, and cannot be estimated using a fixed multiplier. Using CVD mortality to estimate total CVD risk leads to serious underestimation of risk, particularly in younger age groups, and particularly in women.
Morphological and molecular taxonomic analysis of Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae) in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: JÄGER PETER , LI SHUQIANG , KREHENWINKEL HENRIK 
Published: August 2015

The genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 is revised from material collected in Sichuan province. A molecular analysis shows the utility of DNA markers to support taxonomic hypotheses in Sparassidae. Two new species are described: Pseudopoda coenobium spec. nov. from Emeishan (male, female) and Pseudopoda wu spec. nov. from Lugu Lake at the border to Yunnan (male, female). The latter species exhibits a unique reduction of the conductor and a strongly developed embolus. The female of Pseudopoda virgata (Fox, 1936) is described for the first time, the male is redescribed, the known range of the geographical distribution is considerably extended to the East (Baoxing and Tienqiang County), the vertical distribution range is extended from 300 m to slightly more than 2000 m. The male of Pseudopoda signata Jäger, 2001 is described for the first time, the female is redescribed, the known distribution range of this species is extended from Muge Cuo Lake over Kangding town to the valleys of Paomashan, Gonggashan and Yanzi. It shows a strong morphological variation, which may be interpreted as developing subspecies status in different valleys. However, according to results from a molecular analysis it is clearly considered intraspecific variability. Three further species are recorded from Sichuan: Pseudopoda emei Zhang et al., 2013, Pseudopoda sp. cf. yunnanensis (Yang & Hu, 2001) and Pseudopoda rivicola Jäger and Vedel, 2007.