bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A polyurethane‐based surgical adhesive for sealing blood vessel anastomoses—A feasibility study in pigs
Authors: Schulten Lisanne , Spillner Jan , Kanzler Stephanie , Teubner Andreas , Jockenhoevel Stefan , Apel Christian 
Published: March 2022

AbstractPeri‐ and postoperative anastomotic leakage from blood vessel anastomosis is a common and potentially life‐threatening complication. As an adjunctive therapy providing an additional layer of safety, a new biodegradable, polyurethane‐based adhesive was developed. It consists of two components: an isocyanate‐functionalized prepolymer and an amino‐based curing agent. The adhesive was investigated in a porcine animal model to seal sutured blood vessel anastomoses of arteries, veins, aortas and prosthetic aortic graft replacements. The material‐determined properties of the adhesive like viscosity, processing and polymerization time as well as bonding strength were well suited for this application. The adhesive stopped perioperative suture‐line bleedings and stayed on all anastomoses until sacrifice. Hematological and serological inflammation marker assessments were unobtrusive. The histological evaluation showed a mild to moderate local tissue reaction to the adhesive constituting a physiological, non‐adverse tissue‐biomaterial interaction. The adhesive did not interfere with vascular wound healing. The adhesive demonstrated to be suitable to improve the outcome of cardiovascular surgeries by securing the classical sutured anastomoses in a fast, easy and safe manner. However, further studies are required to quantitatively evaluate efficacy in terms of anastomotic leakage prevention as well as long‐term tissue compatibility and degradation.
miR‐200a‐3p promoted cell proliferation and metastasis by downregulating SOX17 in non‐small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Wu Xu , Liu Haijun , Zhang Mingkang , Ma Jinzhu , Qi Shimei , Tan Qiuyu , Jiang Yuxin , Hong Yeting , Yan Liang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractLung cancer has high mortality and incidence rates in which non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary type of lung cancer that accounts for about 80%–85% of total patients. It has been demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical in the incidence and progression of tumors, while the role and inner mechanism of miR‐200a‐3p, one type of essential miRNAs, in NSCLC have yet to be revealed. Herein, we investigated the in vitro and vivo pro‐/antiproliferative influence of miR‐200a‐3p on NSCLC cells and utilized bioinformatic programs to further predict the SOX17 gene as miR‐200a‐3p's potential target. A double luciferase reporter gene experiment was performed to confirm that miR‐200a‐3p interacts with the SOX17 3ʹ‐UTR region specifically. On the basis of the results of Western blot and quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), miR‐200a‐3p impacted the posttranscriptional levels of SOX17 rather than influencing its mRNA expression. In the end, we found that overexpressed SOX17 can reverse miR‐200a‐3p's impact on NSCLC cell proliferation and metastasis. Therefore, this study demonstrated that miR‐200a‐3p influences NSCLC cell proliferation and metastasis by modulating the levels of SOX17.
KLF8 is activated by TGF‐β1 via Smad2 and contributes to ovarian cancer progression
Authors: Cherukunnath Aparna , Davargaon Ravichandra S. , Ashraf Rahail , Kamdar Urja , Srivastava Amit K. , Tripathi Prem P. , Chatterjee Nabanita , Kumar Sanjay 
Published: March 2022

AbstractKrüppel‐like factor 8 (KLF8) is a transcription factor expressed abnormally in various cancer types and promotes oncogenic transformation. However, the role of KLF8 in ovarian cancer (OC) progression remains unclear. This study reports that transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1)/Smad2/KLF8 axis regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contributes to OC progression. We analyzed the KLF8 expression in OC cells and tissues, wherein a significant overexpression of KLF8 was observed. Increased KLF8 expressions were correlated with higher cell proliferation, EMT, migration, and invasion and conferred poor clinical outcomes in OC patients. Overexpressed KLF8 increases F‐actin polymerization and induces cytoskeleton remodeling of OC cells. Furthermore, a dissection of the molecular mechanism defined that TGF‐β1 triggers KLF8 through the Smad2 pathway and regulates EMT. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Smad2 followed by TGF‐β1 treatment failed to activate KLF8 expression and induction of EMT. Using promoter‐luciferase reporter assays, we defined that upon TGF‐β1 activation, phosphorylated Smad2 binds and promotes the KLF8 promoter activity, and knockdown of Smad2 inhibits KLF8 promoter activation. Together, these results demonstrate that TGF‐β1 activates KLF8 expression by the Smad2 pathway, and KLF8 contributes to OC progression and may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating OC patients.
The Emotion Regulation Goals Scale: Advancing its psychometric properties using item response theory analysis
Authors: Brandão Tânia , Brites Rute , Hipólito João , Nunes Odete 
Published: March 2022

AbstractObjectiveEmotion goals are considered paramount for influencing the initiation, maintenance, and cessation of emotion regulation. Recently, some authors developed an instrument to assess emotion goals—the Emotion Regulation Goals Scale (ERGS).MethodThis study included two studies aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the ERGS in two Portuguese samples: 400 adults from the community (76% women; M age = 37.10) (Study 1) and 205 university students (80% women; M age = 21.72) (Study 2).ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) analysis were used to examine the psychometric properties of the ERGS in the two samples. The CFA confirmed the five‐factor structure of the 18‐item ERGS, but the analyses of both studies suggested the elimination of two items given their lower loadings/low discrimination.ConclusionsA five‐factor structure with 16 items was proposed, with good reliability and with evidence of construct validity with relevant constructs.
Rhamnella gilgitica functionalized green synthesis of ZnONPs and their multiple therapeutic properties
Authors: Abbasi Banzeer Ahsan , Iqbal Javed , Israr Muhammad , Yaseen Tabassum , Zahra Syeda Anber , Shahbaz Amir , Rahdar Abbas , Raouf Blqees , Khan Shahid Ullah , Kanwal Sobia , Mahmood Tariq 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn the recent years, green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using plant extracts and phytochemicals has gained significant attention. In present research study, facile, green, and tunable ZnONPs were biosynthesized from Rhamnella gilgitica leaf aqueous extract as a strong reducing and stabilizing agents. The prepared ZnONPs@Rhamnella were characterized and validated using common nanotechnology techniques (UV–Vis, XRD, EDX, FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, DLS, and Raman) and revealed spherical morphology with particle size ~21 nm. The asynthesized ZnONPs were further evaluated for different biological applications. Strong antimicrobial efficacies were reported for ZnONPs using disc‐diffusion method and were capable of rendering significant antimicrobial potential. ZnONPs were evaluated against HepG2 (IC50: 18.40 μg/ml) and HUH7 (IC50: 20.59 μg/ml) cancer cell lines and revealed strong anticancer properties. Dose‐dependent MTT cytotoxicity assay was confirmed using Leishmania tropica “KWH23 strain” (promastigote: IC50: 26.78 μg/ml and amastigote: IC50: 29.57 μg/ml). Antioxidant activities (DPPH: 93.36%, TAC: 72.43%) were performed to evaluate their antioxidant potentials. Further, protein kinase and α‐amylase inhibition assays were determined. Biocompatibility assays were done using human RBCs and macrophages thus revealed biosafe and non‐toxic nature of ZnONPs@Rhamnella. In current experiment, we concluded that greenly orchestrated ZnONPs is an attractive, non‐toxic and ecofriendly candidate and showed potential biological activities. In future, different clinical trials and in vivo studies are necessary for the confirmation of these remedial properties of ZnONPs using different animal models.Research Highlights
Greenly orchestrated ZnONPs were synthesized using Rhamnella gilgitica leaves broth.
Analytical techniques such as UV, SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and Raman confirmed synthesis of ZnONPs.
Green ZnONPs determined strong antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant potentials.
Significant enzyme inhibition and biocompatibility assays were investigated.
Efficacy and safety of favipiravir plus interferon‐beta versus lopinavir/ritonavir plus interferon‐beta in moderately ill patients with COVID‐19: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Hassaniazad Mehdi , Farshidi Hossein , Gharibzadeh Abdollah , Bazram Ali , Khalili Elham , Noormandi Afsaneh , Fathalipour Mohammad 
Published: March 2022

AbstractFavipiravir (FVP), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV), and interferon‐beta (INF‐beta) are considered as potential treatments for COVID‐19. We examined the efficacy and safety of FVP and INF‐beta compared to LPV/RTV and INF‐beta combinations for the treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2. It was a single‐center randomized clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomized to receive FVP plus INF‐beta versus LPV/RTV plus INF‐beta. The primary endpoint was the viral clearance after seven days of randomization. ICU admission, length of stay (LOS) in hospital, in‐hospital mortality, and the incidence of adverse events were also measured. This trial was registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20200506047323N3). Patients were randomly allocated to the FVP (n = 33) and LPV/RTV (n = 33) groups. The viral clearance on Day seven was not significantly different between the FVP (31.1%) and the LPV/RTV groups (16.1%). The rate of ICU admission and likewise the in‐hospital mortality in the FVP group (12.5% and 6.3%, respectively) were similar to the LPV/RTV groups (19.4% and 19.4%, respectively). The median LOS in the hospital was also not different (6.8 days [interquartile range; IQR = 5.0–11.0] in the FVP and (8.0 days [IQR = 5.5–12.5]) in LPV/RTV groups (p = 0.140). Adverse events were observed in 25.0% of FVP and 32.3% of LPV/RTV groups. The combination therapy with FVP did not exert a higher efficacy compared to the combination regimen of LPV/RTV. However, both treatment regimens demonstrated a mild profile of adverse events.
Clinical characteristics, neuroimaging findings, and neuropsychological functioning in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: Sex differences
Authors: Carucci Sara , Narducci Chiara , Bazzoni Marzia , Balia Carla , Donno Federica , Gagliano Antonella , Zuddas Alessandro 
Published: March 2022

AbstractRecent clinical studies, in both children/adolescents and adults, have shown the extreme neuropsychological heterogeneity of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): specific neuropsychological deficits have been found only in a minority of individuals, with no direct correlation between discrete cognitive performances and the trajectory of clinical symptoms. Deficits in specific neuropsychological functions may be common in ADHD, but nevertheless no cognitive or neuropsychological profile may fully explain the disorder. Sex differences in the ADHD presentation, both at a neuropsychological and clinical level, also contribute to this clinical and neuropsychological heterogeneity. At a neuropsychological level, females with ADHD may show greater working memory problems, poorer vocabulary skills and worse visual spatial reasoning. Structural and functional imaging study also show discrete differences across sex; however, the great majority of clinical studies mainly or exclusively include male participants with insufficient data to draw firm conclusions on sex differences within the disorder. Here, we report the recent literature data, discussing still open research questions about the clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, and neuropsychological functioning in ADHD with a focus on the impact of sex differences—a deeper insight in these unresolved issues may have relevant clinical and therapeutic implications for tailored, effective, and long‐lasting interventions.
Ring Homopolymers Prefer Crumpling into Odd‐Length Segments
Authors: Abou‐Jaoude Alexander , Goedde Christopher G. , Lichter Seth 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBy studying the collapse of a simple ring homopolymer devoid of solvent interactions and chemical heterogeneity, it is shown that segments with an odd number of low‐energy dihedral angles are unusually frequent. The prevalence of odd‐size segments is due to the greater decrease in end‐to‐end length as compared with crumpling to even‐size segments. These results suggest that the sizes of some conformational features of polymers may arise, not due to specific chemical interactions, but rather from generic characteristics of polymers.
In vivo and in silico screening for antimicrobial compounds from cyanobacteria
Authors: Strieth Dorina , Lenz Selina , Ulber Roland 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDue to the emerging rise of multi‐drug resistant bacteria, the discovery of novel antibiotics is of high scientific interest. Through their high chemodiversity of bioactive secondary metabolites, cyanobacteria have proven to be promising microorganisms for the discovery of antibacterial compounds. These aspects make appropriate antibacterial screening approaches for cyanobacteria crucial. Up to date, screenings are mostly carried out using a phenotypic methodology, consisting of cyanobacterial cultivation, extraction, and inhibitory assays. However, the parameters of these methods highly vary within the literature. Therefore, the common choices of parameters and inhibitory assays are summarized in this review. Nevertheless, less frequently used method variants are highlighted, which lead to hits from antimicrobial compounds. In addition to the considerations of phenotypic methods, this study provides an overview of developments in the genome‐based screening area, be it in vivo using PCR technique or in silico using the recent genome‐mining method. Though, up to date, these techniques are not applied as much as phenotypic screening.
Microbial approaches for the assessment of toothpaste efficacy against oral species: A method comparison
Authors: Paqué Pune N. , Karygianni Lamprini , Kneubuehler Julien , Fiscalini Lorenzo , Wiedemeier Daniel B. , Müller Marcel , Attin Thomas , Thurnheer Thomas 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAntibacterial properties of toothpastes enable chemical plaque control in limited‐access tooth regions that are mechanically not sufficiently reached by toothbrushes. Therefore, this study aimed to compare different microbial methods to assess antimicrobial toothpaste properties and evaluate different toothpastes in terms of their antibacterial efficacy against different oral microorganisms in an in vitro setting. Six toothpaste suspensions with varying antibacterial supplements were applied to a multispecies biofilm model (Actinomyces oris, Candida albicans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus oralis, andStreptococcus mutans) as well as to each microorganism. A culture method was used to assess the anti‐biofilm effects and two different agar diffusion assays were performed for testing the antimicrobial effect on each microorganism. The measurements of the culture and diffusion analyses were statistically normalized and compared and toothpastes were ranked according to their antimicrobial efficacy. The results of both agar diffusion assays showed a high correlation across all tested species (Spearman correlation coefficientsρs > 0.95). The results of the multispecies biofilm model, however, substantially differed in its assessment of antibacterial properties (ρsranging from 0.22 to 0.87) compared to the results of both diffusion assays. Toothpastes with amine fluoride (with and without stannous fluoride), and toothpastes with triclosan resulted in the highest antimicrobial efficacy. Activated carbon supplements in toothpastes were comparable in their antimicrobial action to the negative control NaCl. The appropriate selection of a broad range of oral microorganisms seems crucial when testing the chemical impact of toothpaste and toothpaste supplements.
Genetically distant bacteriophages select for unique genomic changes in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Johnson Cydney N. , Palacios Araya Dennise , Schink Viviane , Islam Moutusee , Mangalea Mihnea R. , Decurtis Emily K. , Ngo Tuong‐Vi C. , Palmer Kelli L. , Duerkop Breck A. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe human microbiota harbors diverse bacterial and bacteriophage (phage) communities. Bacteria evolve to overcome phage infection, thereby driving phage evolution to counter bacterial resistance. Understanding how phages select for genetic alterations in medically relevant bacteria is important as phages become established biologics for the treatment of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Before phages can be widely used as standalone or combination antibacterial therapies, we must obtain a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms of phage infection and how host bacteria alter their genomes to become resistant. We performed coevolution experiments using a single Enterococcus faecalis strain and two distantly related phages to determine how phage pressure impacts the evolution of the E. faecalis genome. Whole‐genome sequencing of E. faecalis following continuous exposure to these two phages revealed mutations previously demonstrated to be essential for phage infection. We also identified mutations in genes previously unreported to be associated with phage infection in E. faecalis. Intriguingly, there was only one shared mutation in the E. faecalis genome that was selected by both phages tested, demonstrating that infection by two genetically distinct phages selects for diverse variants. This knowledge serves as the basis for the continued study of E. faecalis genome evolution during phage infection and can be used to inform the design of future therapeutics, such as phage cocktails, intended to target MDR E. faecalis.
Resin infusion process monitoring using graphene coated glass fabric sensors and infusible thermoplastic and thermoset matrices
Authors: Khan Tayyab , Ali Muhammad A. , Irfan Muhammad S. , Khan Kamran A. , Liao Kin , Umer Rehan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this study, an online process monitoring system based on rGO coated glass fabric sensors was developed to monitor different stages of the resin infusion process. The developed sensors were able to monitor reinforcement compaction response, resin flow, race tracking, and resin cure when using thermoset resin and a novel low viscosity thermoplastic resin (i.e., Elium®). The coated glass fabric patches and strips were embedded at different locations within the laminate. The electrical resistance changes occurring within the embedded sensors during different stages of the manufacturing process were continuously monitored. The relative drop in overall resistance of the sensors upon contact with the resin systems was different for epoxy resin and Elium® resin due to differences in their electrical conductivity. It was found that the coating quality, dimensions, and spatial position of the sensors within the laminate and the type of resin system affected the performance of the sensors.
Electrically conductive nanocomposites produced by in situ polymerization of pyrrole in pre‐vulcanized natural rubber latex
Authors: Santim Ricardo Hidalgo , Sanches Alex Otávio , da Silva Michael Jonas , McMahan Colleen Marie , Malmonge José Antonio 
Published: March 2022

AbstractFlexible conductive polymeric nanocomposites were produced by in situ polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) in a natural rubber (NR) latex medium. Pre‐vulcanized and non‐pre‐vulcanized NR latex, with varying NR/pyrrole (Py) monomer ratio was studied. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, DC electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties. The electrical conductivity increased as the NR/Py ratio decreased reaching a maximum of 1.0 × 10−2 S/cm for a vulcanized nanocomposite with NR/PY = 4 mass ratio. In terms of mechanical properties, it was observed that tensile strength at break (σatbreak) also increased with decreasing of NR/Py mass ratio, and for the same proportion of Py, the nanocomposites obtained from vulcanized latex presented higher strength. SEM analysis revealed that unlike non‐pre‐vulcanized latex, PPy nanoparticles tend to be distributed in the pre‐vulcanized matrix in circumferential patterns, with an average diameter of 1 micron, indicating that the rubber microparticles have been encapsulated by the conductive polymer. This engineered morphological structure has been shown to significantly influence the final properties of the nanocomposites, compared to those prepared from non‐vulcanized latex, changing not only the distribution of PPy in the matrix, but also changing the coalescence behavior of NR particles, as well as influencing the percolation threshold.
Predictive value of impulse oscillometry and multiple breath washout parameters in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbation
Authors: Wojsyk‐Banaszak Irena , Więckowska Barbara , Stachowiak Zuzanna , Kycler Maciej , Szczepankiewicz Aleksandra 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundPulmonary exacerbations (PE) tend to complicate the course of cystic fibrosis (CF) and worsen the disease prognosis. One of the diagnostic criteria for an exacerbation is the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) decline. Not all children, however, are able to perform spirometry. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate alternative lung function tests in the diagnosis of PE.MethodsWe assessed retrospectively the results of impulse oscillometry (IOS) and lung clearance index in multiple breath washout (MBW) during 259 visits in 47 CF paediatric patients. The differences in the results were compared between patients diagnosed with PE (ΔPE) and those in stable condition (ΔS).ResultsAmong the whole group of patients, we found significant differences between the changes during exacerbation (ΔPEs) and stable condition (ΔSs) values for lung clearance index (LCI), Sacin, R5Hz, R5‐20Hz, X10Hz, AX, and Fres. The predictive values of Fres and X10Hz in IOS (AUCROC 0.71 both parameters) were higher than those of LCI (AUCROC 0.67).There was no difference in the predictive values (AUCROC) of Δ LCI and IOS parameters in the subgroups of patients stratified based on FEV1 z‐score cut‐off value of −1.64. In both groups of patients, predictive values of LCI were slightly lower than of IOS parameters (AUC 0.66 for LCI vs. 0.69 for both ΔX10Hz z‐score and Δ Fres z‐score in patients with FEV1 z‐score ≥−1.64 and AUC 0.67 for LCI vs 0.69 for both ΔX10Hz zscore and Δ Fres zscore in patients with FEV1<1.64.ConclusionsBoth IOS and MBW measurements are useful in the assessment of pediatric CF patients with PE. LCI has a similar predictive value to IOS in children with CF independently of their FEV1 value.