bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti‐CD47 antibody suppresses tumour growth and augments the effect of chemotherapy treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lo Jessica , Lau Eunice Yuen Ting , So Francis Tak Yuk , Lu Ping , Chan Vera Sau Fong , Cheung Vincent Chi Ho , Ching Rachel Hiu Ha , Cheng Bowie Yik Ling , Ma Mark Kin Fai , Ng Irene Oi Lin , Lee Terence Kin Wah 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with metastasis and recurrence leading to a poor prognosis. Therefore, development of novel treatment regimens is urgently needed to improve the survival of HCC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of anti‐CD47 antibody alone and in combination with chemotherapy in HCC.MethodsIn this study, we examined the functional effects of anti‐CD47 antibody (B6H12) on cell proliferation, sphere formation, migration and invasion, chemosensitivity, macrophage‐mediated phagocytosis and tumourigenicity both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of anti‐CD47 antibody alone or in combination with doxorubicin was examined in patient‐derived HCC xenograft.ResultsBlocking CD47 with anti‐CD47 monoclonal antibody (B6H12) at 10 μg/ml could suppress self‐renewal, tumourigenicity and migration and invasion abilities of MHCC‐97L and Huh‐7 cells. Interestingly, anti‐CD47 antibody synergized the effect of HCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin and cisplatin. Blockade of CD47 by anti‐CD47 antibody induced macrophage‐mediated phagocytosis. Using a patient‐derived HCC xenograft mouse model, we found that anti‐CD47 antibody (400 μg/mouse) in combination with doxorubicin (2 mg/kg) exerted maximal effects on tumour suppression, as compared with doxorubicin and anti‐CD47 antibody alone.ConclusionsAnti‐CD47 antibody treatment could complement chemotherapy which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC patients.
University Museums as Laboratories for Experiential Learning and Engaged Practice
Authors: Kreps Christina 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis article describes how faculty in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Denver have used collections and exhibitions in the Museum of Anthropology as a pedagogical tool to provide students with experiential and socially engaged learning opportunities and to show how anthropologists use different forms of tangible and intangible culture to investigate and represent topics of anthropological interest. I discuss how the renewal of material and sensory engagement in anthropology as well as anthropologists’ growing interest in the turn in contemporary art practice toward the use of ethnographic fieldwork methods have inspired me to experiment with new pedagogical methods. On the whole, the article highlights not only the things one can do with objects in university museums but also the importance of animating the agency of both objects and exhibitions through experimentation with participatory, multisensory, and dialogical approaches. [museum pedagogy, material culture, public anthropology, social practice art]
Spontaneous genial tubercle fracture: management of a rare condition and literature review
Authors: Bacci C. , Faccioli C. , Cazzador D. , Zanoletti E. , Emanuelli E. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe aim of the study was to report on a case of isolated spontaneous fracture of the genial tubercles, an uncommon pathological condition, the onset of which may be associated with non‐specific but potentially life‐threatening signs and symptoms, such as haematoma or swelling of the oral floor. We conducted a literature review to identify similar cases, focusing on their diagnosis, management and causes. To date, only 15 cases of spontaneous genial tubercle fracture have been described in 14 reports in the English medical literature. Patients were mainly female, with a mean age of 70 years. Only 5/15 cases (33%) were managed surgically, the others (66%) conservatively. A full functional recovery of the tongue movements, swallowing and talking is achievable with conservative therapy in most cases, but surgery is indicated for patients with persistent dysfunction or clinical discomfort. The case described here was treated conservatively, consistently with the literature, with active observation, corticosteroids and prophylactic i.v. antibiotic therapy leading to a complete recovery within a few weeks. Though extremely uncommon, genial tubercle fracture should be included in the differential diagnosis of haematoma and swelling of the oral floor. It is potentially life‐threatening, requiring active monitoring and careful airway management. Conservative procedures and a long‐term follow‐up are needed to control possible functional restrictions and symptoms, and surgical treatment should be considered in refractory cases.
Implications of the number of years assessment on recommendation of common bean cultivars
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo Augusto Diniz Cabral , Ramalho Magno Antonio Patto , Toledo Fernando Henrique Ribeiro Barrozo , Abreu Angela de Fátima Barbosa 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn the common bean crop in Brazil, the requirement of the value for cultivation and use trials is that these experiments must be conducted over two years in three locations per region. Information in regard to the necessary number of years to ensure precision in cultivar recommendation and the influence of evaluated years in the estimation of the GE interaction are still scarce. Using grain yield of five check varieties assessed over 11 years in three sowing seasons per year, the aims of this study are as follows: to measure the relative contribution of the GE interaction, evaluating the implication of the number of years in the estimates of the GE interaction, and infer how many years are needed to ensure precision in cultivar recommendation. For instances, analysis of variance was carried out involving all environments and also combinations of years. The results showed that the GE interaction was greater than all other cross‐effects involving lines. The use of at least two years allows good coincidence in cultivar recommendation compared to the whole period. Increasing the evaluation time is a good strategy, especially when it is difficult to grow three different sowing seasons.
Interdisciplinary and Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on Explanatory Coexistence
Authors: Watson‐Jones Rachel E. , Busch Justin T. A. , Legare Cristine H. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractNatural and supernatural explanations are used to interpret the same events in a number of predictable and universal ways. Yet little is known about how variation in diverse cultural ecologies influences how people integrate natural and supernatural explanations. Here, we examine explanatory coexistence in three existentially arousing domains of human thought: illness, death, and human origins using qualitative data from interviews conducted in Tanna, Vanuatu. Vanuatu, a Melanesian archipelago, provides a cultural context ideal for examining variation in explanatory coexistence due to the lack of industrialization and the relatively recent introduction of Christianity and Western education. We argue for the integration of interdisciplinary methodologies from cognitive science and anthropology to inform research on explanatory coexistence.
High dendritic expression of Ih in the proximity of the axon origin controls the integrative properties of nigral dopamine neurons
Authors: Engel Dominique , Seutin Vincent 
Published: September 2015

Key points
The hyperpolarization‐activated cation current Ih is expressed in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra, but the subcellular distribution of the current and its role in synaptic integration remain unknown.
We used cell‐attached patch recordings to determine the localization profile of Ih along the somatodendritic axis of nigral dopamine neurons in slices from young rats.
Ih density is higher in axon‐bearing dendrites, in a membrane area close to the axon origin, than in the soma and axon‐lacking dendrites.
Dual current‐clamp recordings revealed a similar contribution of Ih to the waveform of single excitatory postsynaptic potentials throughout the somatodendritic domain.
The Ih blocker ZD 7288 increased the temporal summation in all dendrites with a comparable effect in axon‐ and non‐axon dendrites.
The strategic position of Ih in the proximity of the axon may influence importantly transitions between pacemaker and bursting activities and consequently the downstream release of dopamine.
AbstractDendrites of most neurons express voltage‐gated ion channels in their membrane. In combination with passive properties, active currents confer to dendrites a high computational potential. The hyperpolarization‐activated cation current Ih present in the dendrites of some pyramidal neurons affects their membrane and integration properties, synaptic plasticity and higher functions such as memory. A gradient of increasing h‐channel density towards distal dendrites has been found to be responsible for the location independence of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) waveform and temporal summation in cortical and hippocampal pyramidal cells. However, reports on other cell types revealed that smoother gradients or even linear distributions of Ih can achieve homogeneous temporal summation. Although the existence of a robust, slowly activating Ih current has been repeatedly demonstrated in nigral dopamine neurons, its subcellular distribution and precise role in synaptic integration are unknown. Using cell‐attached patch‐clamp recordings, we find a higher Ih current density in the axon‐bearing dendrite than in the soma or in dendrites without axon in nigral dopamine neurons. Ih is mainly concentrated in the dendritic membrane area surrounding the axon origin and decreases with increasing distances from this site. Single EPSPs and temporal summation are similarly affected by blockade of Ih in axon‐ and non‐axon‐bearing dendrites. The presence of Ih close to the axon is pivotal to control the integrative functions and the output signal of dopamine neurons and may consequently influence the downstream coding of movement.
Daily QA of linear accelerators using only EPID and OBI
Authors: Sun Baozhou , Goddu S. Murty , Yaddanapudi Sridhar , Noel Camille , Li Hua , Cai Bin , Kavanaugh James , Mutic Sasa 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:As treatment delivery becomes more complex, there is a pressing need for robust quality assurance (QA) tools to improve efficiency and comprehensiveness while simultaneously maintaining high accuracy and sensitivity. This work aims to present the hardware and software tools developed for comprehensive QA of linear accelerator (LINAC) using only electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) and kV flat panel detectors.Methods:A daily QA phantom, which includes two orthogonally positioned phantoms for QA of MV‐beams and kV onboard imaging (OBI) is suspended from the gantry accessory holder to test both geometric and dosimetric components of a LINAC and an OBI. The MV component consists of a 0.5 cm water‐equivalent plastic sheet incorporating 11 circular steel plugs for transmission measurements through multiple thicknesses and one resolution plug for MV‐image quality testing. The kV‐phantom consists of a Leeds phantom (TOR‐18 FG phantom supplied by Varian) for testing low and high contrast resolutions. In the developed process, the existing LINAC tools were used to automate daily acquisition of MV and kV images and software tools were developed for simultaneous analysis of these images. A method was developed to derive and evaluate traditional QA parameters from these images [output, flatness, symmetry, uniformity, TPR20/10, and positional accuracy of the jaws and multileaf collimators (MLCs)]. The EPID‐based daily QA tools were validated by performing measurements on a detuned 6 MV beam to test its effectiveness in detecting errors in output, symmetry, energy, and MLC positions. The developed QA process was clinically commissioned, implemented, and evaluated on a Varian TrueBeam LINAC (Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA) over a period of three months.Results:Machine output constancy measured with an EPID (as compared against a calibrated ion‐chamber) is shown to be within ±0.5%. Beam symmetry and flatness deviations measured using an EPID and a 2D ion‐chamber array agree within ±0.5% and ±1.2% for crossline and inline profiles, respectively. MLC position errors of 0.5 mm can be detected using a picket fence test. The field size and phantom positioning accuracy can be determined within 0.5 mm. The entire daily QA process takes ∼15 min to perform tests for 5 photon beams, MLC tests, and imaging checks.Conclusions:The exclusive use of EPID‐based QA tools, including a QA phantom and simultaneous analysis software tools, has been demonstrated as a viable, efficient, and comprehensive process for daily evaluation of LINAC performance.
Angular dependence of dose sensitivity of nanoDot optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters in different radiation geometries
Authors: Jursinic Paul A. 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:A type of in vivo dosimeter, an optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter, OSLD, may have dose sensitivity that depends on the angle of incidence of radiation. This work measures how angular dependence of a nanoDot changes with the geometry of the phantom in which irradiation occurs and with the intrinsic structure of the nanoDot.Methods:The OSLDs used in this work were nanoDot dosimeters (Landauer, Inc., Glenwood, IL), which were read with a MicroStar reader (Landauer, Inc., Glenwood, IL). Dose to the OSLDs was delivered by 6 MV x‐rays. NanoDots with various intrinsic sensitivities were irradiated in numerous phantoms that had geometric shapes of cylinders, rectangles, and a cube.Results:No angular dependence was seen in cylindrical phantoms, cubic phantoms, or rectangular phantoms with a thickness to width ratio of 0.3 or 1.5. An angular dependence of 1% was observed in rectangular phantoms with a thickness to width of 0.433–0.633. A group of nanoDots had sensitive layers with mass density of 2.42–2.58 g/cm3 and relative sensitivity of 0.92–1.09 and no difference in their angular dependence. Within experimental uncertainty, nanoDot measurements agree with a parallel‐plate ion chamber at a depth of maximum dose.Conclusions:When irradiated in cylindrical, rectangular, and cubic phantoms, nanoDots show a maximum angular dependence of 1% or less at an incidence angle of 90°. For a sample of 78 new nanoDots, the range of their relative intrinsic sensitivity is 0.92–1.09. For a sample of ten nanoDots, on average, the mass in the sensitive layer is 73.1% Al2O3:C and 26.9% polyester. The mass density of the sensitive layer of a nanoDot disc is between 2.42 and 2.58 g/cm3. The angular dependence is not related to Al2O3:C loading of the nanoDot disc. The nanoDot at the depth of maximum dose has no more angular dependence than a parallel‐plate ion chamber.
Three‐dimensional reconstruction of a vascular network by dynamic tracking of magnetite nanoparticles
Authors: Olamaei Nina , Cheriet Farida , Deschênes Sylvain , Sharafi Azadeh , Martel Sylvain 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:Visualization of small blood vessels feeding tumor sites provides important information on the tumors and their microenvironment. This information plays an important role in targeted drug therapies using magnetic gradients. However, capabilities of current clinical imaging modalities may be insufficient to resolve complex microvascular networks. The purpose of this study is to map the vascular network, 3D, based on the magnetic susceptibility contrast.Methods:Magnetic particles induce an inhomogeneity in the MRI's magnetic field in an order much larger than their real size. This is an approach to compensate the spatial resolution insufficiency of a clinical MR scanner. Micron‐sized agglomerations of magnetite nanoparticles were injected in a 3D phantom vascular network, and a fast multislice, multiacquisition MR sequence was applied to track the agglomerations along their trajectories. The experiment was performed twice for two different imaging planes: coronal and transversal. The susceptibility artifact in the images indicated the presence and the position of the agglomerations. The calculated positions through multiple images were assembled to build up the 3D distribution of the vascular network.Results:The calculated points were compared with the centerline of the channels, extracted from the 3D reference image, to determine the absolute measurement error. The mean error was measured to be approximately half of the pixel's size. It was found that the positioning error on the axis perpendicular to the imaging slice was nearly twice as high as on the imaging plane axes due to the slice thickness. In order to compensate for the lack of resolution on the perpendicular axis, the reconstruction was performed using a combination of coronal and transversal data. The combination of the coordinates led to a significant decrease in the mean measurement error at each segment in the vascular network (p < 0.001).Conclusions:A method for 3D reconstruction of a microvascular network based on the susceptibility contrast in MRI and using a clinical scanner and a commercial receiver coil was proposed. The method presents a novel approach for reconstruction of vascular networks using the susceptibility effect. The proposed method may be applied to resolve vascular networks at a micrometric scale.
Assessment of Body Composition and Sport Performance of Brazilian Paralympic Swim Team Athletes
Authors: Medeiros Radamés M.V. , Alves Eduardo S. , Lemos Valdir A. , Schwingel Paulo A. , da Silva Andressa , Vital Roberto , Vieira Alexandre S. , Barreto Murilo M. , Rocha Edilson A. , Tufik Sergio , de Mello Marco T. 
Published: September 2015

Context:Body-composition assessments of high-performance athletes are very important for identifying physical performance potential. Although the relationship between the kinanthropometric characteristics and performance abilities of Olympic swimmers is extremely important, this subject is not completely understood for Paralympic swimmers.Objective:To investigate the relationship between body composition and sport performance in Brazilian Paralympic swimmers 6 mo after training.Design:Experimental pre/posttest design.Setting:Research laboratory and field evaluations of swimming were conducted to verify the 50-m freestyle time of each athlete.Participants:17 Brazilian Paralympic swim team athletes (12 men, 5 women).Main Outcome Measures:Body-composition assessments were performed using a BOD POD, and swimming performance was assessed using the 50-m freestyle, which was performed twice: before and after 6 mo of training.Results:Increased lean mass and significantly reduced relative fat mass and swimming time (P < .05) were observed 6 mo after training. Furthermore, a positive correlation between body-fat percentage and performance (r = .66, P < .05) was observed, but there was no significant correlation between body density and performance (r = –.14, P > .05).Conclusions:After a 6-mo training period, Paralympic swimmers presented reduced fat mass and increased lean body mass associated with performance, as measured by 50-m freestyle time. These data suggest that reduced fat-mass percentage was significantly correlated with improved swimming performance in Paralympic athletes.
The Effectiveness of Cervical Strengthening in Decreasing Neck-Injury Risk in Wrestling
Authors: Lee Katherine , Onate James , McCann Samar , Hunt Tamerah , Turner Wilbert , Merrick Mark 
Published: September 2015

Clinical Scenario:In wrestling, athletes often support a large amount of weight on their heads or are forced into extreme ranges of motion. These suboptimal movement conditions lead to a high prevalence of neck injuries in wrestlers. A large portion of the work done by the cervical musculature in wrestling is theorized to be eccentric or isometric types of contractions. Strengthening of these cervical muscles is clinically considered to play a vital role in being competitive on the wrestling mat. The cervical stability provided by strengthening these muscles may also play a part in injury prevention among wrestlers.Focused Clinical Question:Does increased cervical strength lead to a decreased risk of injury in wrestling?Summary of Search, “Best Evidence” Appraised, and Key Findings:The literature was searched for studies of level 4 evidence or higher using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine level of evidence system that investigated the relationship between cervical strength and injury risk in wrestling. No studies were found comparing cervical strength to injury risk in wrestling, but 2 related studies were found and have been included in this critically appraised topic.Clinical Bottom Line:There is poor evidence to support a relationship between cervical strength and injury risk in wrestling.Strength of Recommendation:There is grade C evidence to indicate that increased cervical strength decreases the risk of injury in wrestling.
Cyclopalladated Compound 7a Induces Apoptosis- and Autophagy-Like Mechanisms in Paracoccidioides and Is a Candidate for Paracoccidioidomycosis Treatment
Authors: Arruda Denise C. , Matsuo Alisson L. , Silva Luiz S. , Real Fernando , Leitão Natanael P. , Pires Jhon H. S. , Caires Antonio Carlos F. , Garcia Daniel M. , Cunha Fernanda F. M. , Puccia Rosana , Longo Larissa V. G. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by
Paracoccidioides
species, is the main cause of death due to systemic mycoses in Brazil and other Latin American countries. Therapeutic options for PCM and other systemic mycoses are limited and time-consuming, and there are high rates of noncompliance, relapses, toxic side effects, and sequelae. Previous work has shown that the cyclopalladated 7a compound is effective in treating several kinds of cancer and parasitic Chagas disease without significant toxicity in animals. Here we show that cyclopalladated 7a inhibited the
in vitro
growth of
Paracoccidioides
lutzii
Pb01 and
P. brasiliensis
isolates Pb18 (highly virulent), Pb2, Pb3, and Pb4 (less virulent) in a dose-response manner. Pb18 was the most resistant. Opportunistic
Candida albicans
and
Cryptococcus neoformans
were also sensitive. BALB/c mice showed significantly lighter lung fungal burdens when treated twice a day for 20 days with a low cyclopalladated 7a dose of 30 μg/ml/day for 30 days after intratracheal infection with Pb18. Electron microscopy images suggested that apoptosis- and autophagy-like mechanisms are involved in the fungal killing mechanism of cyclopalladated 7a. Pb18 yeast cells incubated with the 7a compound showed remarkable chromatin condensation, DNA degradation, superoxide anion production, and increased metacaspase activity suggestive of apoptosis. Autophagy-related killing mechanisms were suggested by increased autophagic vacuole numbers and acidification, as indicated by an increase in LysoTracker and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining in cyclopalladated 7a-treated Pb18 yeast cells. Considering that cyclopalladated 7a is highly tolerated
in vivo
and affects yeast fungal growth through general apoptosis- and autophagy-like mechanisms, it is a novel promising drug for the treatment of PCM and other mycoses.