bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic effects of isosteviol sodium on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating autophagy via Sirt1/AMPK pathway
Authors: Mei Ying , Hu Hui , Deng Liangjun , Sun Xiaoou , Tan Wen 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIsosteviol sodium (STVNa) is a beyerane diterpene synthesized via acid hydrolysis of stevioside, which can improve glucose and lipid metabolism in animals with diabetes. However, it remains unknown whether STVNa can exhibit a therapeutic effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanism. We hypothesize that autophagic initiation may play a key role in mediating the development of NAFLD. Herein, we assessed the effects of STVNa on NAFLD and its underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that STVNa treatment effectively ameliorated NAFLD in rats fed high-fat diet (HFD). Moreover, STVNa decreased the expression of inflammation-related genes and maintained a balance of pro-inflammatory cytokines in NAFLD rats. STVNa also reduced lipid accumulation in free fatty acid (FFA)-exposed LO2 cells. In addition, STVNa attenuated hepatic oxidative stress and fibrosis in NAFLD rats. Furthermore, STVNa enhanced autophagy and activated Sirtuin 1/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (Sirt1/AMPK) pathway both in vivo and in vitro, thus attenuating intracellular lipid accumulation. In summary, STVNa could improve lipid metabolism in NAFLD by initiating autophagy via Sirt1/AMPK pathway. Therefore, STVNa may be an alternative therapeutic agent for treatment of NAFLD.
Williamson magneto nanofluid flow over partially slip and convective cylinder with thermal radiation and variable conductivity
Authors: Bilal M. , Siddique Imran , Borawski Andrzej , Raza A. , Nadeem M. , Sallah Mohammed 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis article is concerned with the study of MHD non-Newtonian nanofluid flow over a stretching/shrinking cylinder along with thermal radiation effects. Two-component slip mechanism models, namely Brownian motion and thermophoresis of nanofluid for the mass and energy transportation, developed by Buongiorno, are used. Convective heat transfer and nonuniform magnetic field are retained for the expanding/contracting cylinder. Variable thermal conductivity and heat generation effects along with slip boundary conditions are utilized over the cylinder surface. By utilizing the similarity transformation, these governing partial differential equations are converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To obtain numerical results, these ODE’S are solved by the shooting method using MATLAB software. The impact of different parameters like variable thermal conductivity, radiation parameter, magnetic parameter, Prandtl number, Brownian motion parameter, the magnetic parameter, Weissenberg number, the viscosity ratio parameter and mass transfer parameter, on the velocity, temperature and concentration is discussed graphically. Further, the Sherwood number, Nusselt number, the skin friction coefficient are also discussed through figures. It is noted through analysis that the speed of the nanofluid reduces for the higher Weissenberg number and expanding cylinder. For the contracting cylinder, i.e., for the negative unsteadiness parameter, the velocity increases.
The impact of inter-observer variation in delineation on robustness of radiomics features in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kothari Gargi , Woon Beverley , Patrick Cameron J. , Korte James , Wee Leonard , Hanna Gerard G. , Kron Tomas , Hardcastle Nicholas , Siva Shankar 
Published: July 2022

AbstractArtificial intelligence and radiomics have the potential to revolutionise cancer prognostication and personalised treatment. Manual outlining of the tumour volume for extraction of radiomics features (RF) is a subjective process. This study investigates robustness of RF to inter-observer variation (IOV) in contouring in lung cancer. We utilised two public imaging datasets: ‘NSCLC-Radiomics’ and ‘NSCLC-Radiomics-Interobserver1’ (‘Interobserver’). For ‘NSCLC-Radiomics’, we created an additional set of manual contours for 92 patients, and for ‘Interobserver’, there were five manual and five semi-automated contours available for 20 patients. Dice coefficients (DC) were calculated for contours. 1113 RF were extracted including shape, first order and texture features. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed to assess robustness of RF to IOV. Cox regression analysis for overall survival (OS) was performed with a previously published radiomics signature. The median DC ranged from 0.81 (‘NSCLC-Radiomics’) to 0.85 (‘Interobserver’—semi-automated). The median ICC for the ‘NSCLC-Radiomics’, ‘Interobserver’ (manual) and ‘Interobserver’ (semi-automated) were 0.90, 0.88 and 0.93 respectively. The ICC varied by feature type and was lower for first order and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features. Shape features had a lower median ICC in the ‘NSCLC-Radiomics’ dataset compared to the ‘Interobserver’ dataset. Survival analysis showed similar separation of curves for three of four RF apart from ‘original_shape_Compactness2’, a feature with low ICC (0.61). The majority of RF are robust to IOV, with first order, GLCM and shape features being the least robust. Semi-automated contouring improves feature stability. Decreased robustness of a feature is significant as it may impact upon the features’ prognostic capability.
A comparative study of a rabbit spinal tuberculosis model constructed by local direct infection via the posterior lateral approach
Authors: Yue Xuefeng , Zhu Xi , Wu Longyun , Shi Jiandang 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe present study aims to establish a method of constructing a New Zealand rabbit spinal tuberculosis model by direct local infusion of M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain into the intervertebral disc space through the posterior lateral approach. Sixty-six New Zealand rabbits were pretreated with complete Freund's adjuvant and randomly divided into 4 group: the posterolateral approach model group (Group A, 25), ventral transverse process approach model group (Group B, 25), control group (Group C, 10), and blank group (Group D, 6). In Groups A and B, the bone holes were filled with gelatin sponge after drilling, and the local area was directly infused with 0.1 ml of M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain suspension. In Group C, the gelatin sponge was filled through the posterolateral approach and the local area was infused with 0.1 ml of normal saline suspension. In Group D, No specific treatment was performed. The general conditions of the experimental rabbits in each group were compared to those of a control group; the degree of vertebral body exposure, incision length, and complications of the two methods were compared; and the tuberculosis models were evaluated by imaging, histopathology, and bacterial culture. In Group A, the lateral side of the vertebral body was well exposed, the damage was mild, and no peritoneal rupture or gastrointestinal complications were observed. In Group B, the ventral side of the vertebral body and the intervertebral disc were exposed, and abdominal complications were more likely to occur. The survival rates of the experimental rabbits at 8 weeks after surgery were 92.0% in Group A, 88.00% in Group B, 90.0% in Group C, and 100% in Group D. MRI examinations showed that in Group A, the positive rate of radiographic bone findings was 86.9% at 4 weeks after surgery and 100% at 8 weeks after surgery; in Group B, the positive rate of radiographic bone findings was 78.2% at 4 weeks after surgery and 95.4% at 8 weeks after surgery. There was no significant difference between Groups A and B in the radiographic bone findings rate detected by the same imaging method at the same time point (P > 0.05). Eight weeks after surgery, bone destruction, paravertebral abscess, and caseous necrosis occurred in the vertebral bodies of surviving rabbits in Groups A and B. The BacT/ALERT 3D rapid culture system was used to culture the pus in the lesion, and the results showed that the positive rate of tuberculosis was 52.17% in Group A and 54.54% in Group B, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). After pretreatment with complete Freund's adjuvant, direct infusion of the H37Rv strain of M. tuberculosis into the intervertebral disc space of New Zealand rabbits via the posterolateral approach and the ventral transverse process approach can successfully establish rabbit spinal tuberculosis models.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-induced inhibitory effects on porcine coronary and cerebral arteries involve inhibition of prostanoid TP receptors
Authors: Yoshioka Kento , Obara Keisuke , Oikawa Shunya , Uemura Kohei , Yamaguchi Akina , Fujisawa Kazuki , Hanazawa Hitomi , Fujiwara Miki , Endoh Taison , Suzuki Taichi , De Dios Regadera Montserrat , Ito Daichi , Saitoh Noboru , Nakagome Yutaka , Yamashita Toma , Kiguchi Mayu , Saito Yuka , Nakao Yuri , Miyaji Hinako , Ou Guanghan , Xu Keyue , Tanaka Yoshio 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis study was performed to elucidate whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) suppresses spasm-prone blood vessel contractions induced by a thromboxane mimetic (U46619) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and determine whether the primary target of EPA is the prostanoid TP receptor. Accordingly, we assessed: (1) the tension changes in porcine basilar and coronary arteries, and (2) changes in the Fura-2 (an intracellular Ca2+ indicator) fluorescence intensity ratio at 510 nm elicited by 340/380 nm excitation (F340/380) in 293T cells expressing the human TP receptor (TP-293T cells) and those expressing the human prostanoid FP receptor (FP-293T cells). EPA inhibited both porcine basilar and coronary artery contractions induced by U46619 and PGF2α in a concentration-dependent manner, but it did not affect the contractions induced by 80 mM KCl. EPA also inhibited the increase in F340/380 induced by U46619 and PGF2α in TP-293T cells. In contrast, EPA showed only a marginal effect on the increase in F340/380 induced by PGF2α in FP-293T cells. These findings indicate that EPA strongly suppresses the porcine basilar and coronary artery contractions mediated by TP receptor and that inhibition of TP receptors partly underlies the EPA-induced inhibitory effects on these arterial contractions.
Ribosome selectivity and nascent chain context in modulating the incorporation of fluorescent non-canonical amino acid into proteins
Authors: Thommen Michael , Draycheva Albena , Rodnina Marina V. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFluorescence reporter groups are important tools to study the structure and dynamics of proteins. Genetic code reprogramming allows for cotranslational incorporation of non-canonical amino acids at any desired position. However, cotranslational incorporation of bulky fluorescence reporter groups is technically challenging and usually inefficient. Here we analyze the bottlenecks for the cotranslational incorporation of NBD-, BodipyFL- and Atto520-labeled Cys-tRNACys into a model protein using a reconstituted in-vitro translation system. We show that the modified Cys-tRNACys can be rejected during decoding due to the reduced ribosome selectivity for the modified aa-tRNA and the competition with native near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs. Accommodation of the modified Cys-tRNACys in the A site of the ribosome is also impaired, but can be rescued by one or several Gly residues at the positions −1 to −4 upstream of the incorporation site. The incorporation yield depends on the steric properties of the downstream residue and decreases with the distance from the protein N-terminus to the incorporation site. In addition to the full-length translation product, we find protein fragments corresponding to the truncated N-terminal peptide and the C-terminal fragment starting with a fluorescence-labeled Cys arising from a StopGo-like event due to a defect in peptide bond formation. The results are important for understanding the reasons for inefficient cotranslational protein labeling with bulky reporter groups and for designing new approaches to improve the yield of fluorescence-labeled protein.
Hepatokine Fetuin B expression is regulated by leptin-STAT3 signalling and associated with leptin in obesity
Authors: Wang Dongmei , Wu Menghua , Zhang Xiaofang , Li Long , Lin Mingzhu , Shi Xiulin , Zhao Yan , Huang Caoxin , Li Xuejun 
Published: July 2022

AbstractObesity is an expanding global public health problem and a leading cause of metabolic disorders. The hepatokine Fetuin B participates in regulating insulin resistance, glucose metabolism and liver steatosis. However, the mechanism underlying Fetuin B activation remains unclear. Our previous population-based study demonstrated a significant association between serum Fetuin B and body fat mass in an obese population, which indicates its potential in mediating obesity-related metabolic disorders. In the present study, we further revealed a significant correlation between Fetuin B and leptin, the classic adipokine released by expanding adipose tissue, in this obese population. Consistently, elevated Fetuin B and leptin levels were confirmed in diet-induced obese mice. Furthermore, an in vitro study demonstrated that the leptin signalling pathway directly activated the transcription and expression of Fetuin B in primary hepatocytes and AML12 cells in a STAT3-dependent manner. STAT3 binds to the response elements on FetuB promoter to directly activate FetuB transcription. Finally, the mediating effect of Fetuin B in insulin resistance induced by leptin was confirmed according to mediation analysis in this obese population. Therefore, our study identifies leptin-STAT3 as an upstream signalling pathway that activates Fetuin B and provides new insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Infusion of etoposide in the CA1 disrupts hippocampal immediate early gene expression and hippocampus-dependent learning
Authors: Boutros Sydney Weber , Kessler Kat , Unni Vivek K. , Raber Jacob 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTight regulation of immediate early gene (IEG) expression is important for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Recent work has suggested that DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) may have an adaptive role in post-mitotic cells to induce IEG expression. Physiological activity in cultured neurons as well as behavioral training leads to increased DSBs and subsequent IEG expression. Additionally, infusion of etoposide—a common cancer treatment that induces DSBs—impairs trace fear memory. Here, we assessed the effects of hippocampal infusion of 60 ng of etoposide on IEG expression, learning, and memory in 3–4 month-old C57Bl/6J mice. Etoposide altered expression of the immediate early genes cFos and Arc in the hippocampus and impaired hippocampus-dependent contextual fear memory. These data add to the growing evidence that DSBs play an important role in IEG expression, learning, and memory, opening avenues for developing novel treatment strategies for memory-related disorders.
Physical activity and gender buffer the association of retirement with functional impairment in Ghana
Authors: Gyasi Razak M. , Amoah Padmore Adusei , Agyemang Seth , Siaw Lawrencia Pokua , Frempong Foster , Rani Ritu , Phillips David R. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFemales on average live longer but with higher rates of functional impairment and lower physical and economic activities than men. However, research linking retirement to functional impairment and the modifying role of gender and physical activity (PA) is limited especially in low- and middle-income countries. This paper examines the association between retirement and functional impairment in Ghana and evaluates the effect modification of the association by gender and PA. The sample included 1201 adults aged ≥ 50 years from a population-based study. Functional impairment was assessed with the activities of daily living scale. Ordinary least squares regression models adjusted for confounding variables and estimated gender-wise and PA heterogeneity effect of retirement on functional impairment. Regressions showed that retirement predicted an increase in functional impairment score in the full sample (β = .76, p < .001) and in men (β = 1.96, p < .001), but not in women. Interestingly, retirement significantly increased functional impairment in ≥ 65 age cohort (full sample: β = .71, p < .005; men: β = 1.86, p < .001) although not in women. However, the effect was significantly moderated by PA such that retirement × PA predicted a decrease in functional impairment in the full sample (β = −.81, p < .005) and the ≥ 65 age group (β = −.43, p < .005). Functional impairment risk of retirement is gender-specific, but PA buffers the relationship. Retirement is generally commonplace, but these findings imply that promoting PA may hold promise for addressing functional impairment in old age. Attending to the physical health needs of men during retirement should be a social policy priority.
Molecular characterization of polyphenol oxidase between small and large leaf tea cultivars
Authors: Chen Chung‑Tse , Yang Chin-Ying , Tzen Jason T. C. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTea is a widely consumed beverage prepared using the fresh leaves of Camellia sinensis L. Tea plants are classified into small- and large-leaf varieties. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), a crucial enzyme in tea manufacturing, catalyzes essential phenolic metabolites into different derivatives. To compare the molecular characteristics of CsPPO between cultivars, we cloned the full-length sequence of CsPPO cDNA from four representative tea cultivars in Taiwan. Amino acid sequence alignment analyses indicated that CsPPO is highly conserved. PPO exhibited similar enzymatic activity in different tea cultivars. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed no significant differences in the CsPPO transcript level between the small- and large-leaf varieties. However, tea harvested in summer and from low-altitude areas had a higher CsPPO transcript level than that harvested in winter and from high-altitude areas. Regulation of CsPPO by temperature was more significant in the small-leaf variety than in the large-leaf variety. The content of flavonoids and the expression of chalcone synthase, anthocyanidin synthase, and anthocyanidin reductase genes involved in the tea flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were higher in the large-leaf than in the small-leaf varieties, suggesting that the large-leaf variety had a higher antioxidative capacity than did the small-leaf variety. Our study compared the molecular properties of CsPPO between two tea varieties and clarified the physiological role of PPO in tea.
Spin-flip-driven reversal of the angle-dependent magnetic torque in layered antiferromagnetic Ca0.9Sr0.1Co2As2
Authors: Kim Jong Hyuk , Kim Mi Kyung , Jeong Ki Won , Shin Hyun Jun , Hong Jae Min , Kim Jin Seok , Moon Kyungsun , Lee Nara , Choi Young Jai 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSpin-flip transition can occur in antiferromagnets with strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy, inducing a significant modification of the anisotropic magnetic properties through phase conversion. In contrast to ferromagnets, antiferromagnets have not been thoroughly examined in terms of their anisotropic characteristics. We investigated the magnetic-field and angle-dependent magnetic properties of Ising-type antiferromagnetic Ca0.9Sr0.1Co2As2using magnetic torque measurements. An A-type antiferromagnetic order emerges belowTN = 97 K aligned along the magnetically easyc-axis. The reversal of the angle-dependent torque across the spin-flip transition was observed, revealing the strong influence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the magnetic properties. Based on the easy-axis anisotropic spin model, we theoretically generated torque data and identified specific spin configurations associated with the magnetic torque variation in the presence of a rotating magnetic field. Our results enrich fundamental and applied research on diverse antiferromagnetic compounds by shedding new light on the distinct magnetic features of the Ising-type antiferromagnet.
A new approach to broaden the range of eye colour identifiable by IrisPlex in DNA phenotyping
Authors: Paparazzo Ersilia , Gozalishvili Anzor , Lagani Vincenzo , Geracitano Silvana , Bauleo Alessia , Falcone Elena , Passarino Giuseppe , Montesanto Alberto 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIrisPlex system represents the most popular model for eye colour prediction. Based on six polymorphisms this model provides very accurate predictions that strongly depend on the definition of eye colour phenotypes. The aim of the present study was to introduce a new approach to improve eye colour prediction using the well-validated IrisPlex system. A sample of 238 individuals from a Southern Italian population was collected and for each of them a high-resolution image of eye was obtained. By quantifying eye colour variation into CIELAB space several clustering algorithms were applied for eye colour classification. Predictions with the IrisPlex model were obtained using eye colour categories defined by both visual inspection and clustering algorithms. IrisPlex system predicted blue and brown eye colour with high accuracy while it was inefficient in the prediction of intermediate eye colour. Clustering-based eye colour resulted in a significantly increased accuracy of the model especially for brown eyes. Our results confirm the validity of the IrisPlex system for forensic purposes. Although the quantitative approach here proposed for eye colour definition slightly improves its prediction accuracy, further research is still required to improve the model particularly for the intermediate eye colour prediction.
Reliability model of the security subsystem countering to the impact of typed cyber-physical attacks
Authors: Kovtun Viacheslav , Izonin Ivan , Gregus Michal 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe article's main contribution is the description of the process of the security subsystem countering the impact of typed cyber-physical attacks as a model of end states in continuous time. The input parameters of the model are the flow intensities of typed cyber-physical attacks, the flow intensities of possible cyber-immune reactions, and the set of probabilities of neutralization of cyber-physical attacks. The set of admissible states of the info-communication system is described taking into account possible variants of the development of the modeled process. The initial parameters of the model are the probabilities of the studied system in the appropriate states at a particular moment. The dynamics of the info-communication system's life cycle are embodied in the form of a matrix of transient probabilities. The mentioned matrix connects the initial parameters in the form of a system of Chapman's equations. The article presents a computationally efficient concept based on Gershgorin's theorems to solve such a system of equations with given initiating values. Based on the presented scientific results, the article proposes the concept of calculating the time to failure as an indicator of the reliability of the info-communication system operating under the probable impact of typical cyber-physical attacks. The adequacy of the model and concepts presented in the article is proved by comparing a statically representative amount of empirical and simulated data. We emphasize that the main contribution of the research is the description of the process of the security subsystem countering the impact of typed cyber-physical attacks as a model of end states in continuous time. Based on the created model, the concept of computationally efficient solution of Chapman's equation system based on Gershgorin's theorems and calculating time to failure as an indicator of the reliability of the info-communication system operating under the probable impact of typed cyber-physical attacks are formalized. These models and concepts are the highlights of the research.