bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Galactic mass distribution from the LAMOST Galactic spectroscopic surveys
Authors: Huang Y. , Liu X.-W. , Yuan H.-B. , Zhang H.-W. , Xiang M.-S. , Chen B.-Q. , Wang C.
Published: March 2018

Using the data from the LAMOST Galactic spectroscopic surveys and some other surveys, we have started a series of work to measure the mass distribution of our Galaxy. As a result of the first-stage, we have constructed the Galactic rotation curve out to 100 kpc and the Galactic escape velocity curve between 5 and 14 kpc. From the two curves, we have built parametrized mass models for our Galaxy, respectively. Both models yield a similar result for the Milky Way's virial mass: ~ 0.9 × 1012 M⊙.
Multiply imaged quasars in the Gaia DR1
Authors: Ducourant C. , Delchambre L. , Finet F. , Galluccio L. , Krone-Martins A. , Le Campion J.F. , Mignard F. , Slezak E. , Surdej J. , Teixeira R. , Wertz O.
Published: March 2018

Because of to its exceptional resolving power, Gaia should detect a few thousands gravitational lensed systems. These consist in multiple images of background quasars. The estimated number of lens phenomena in the sky, however, depends on the cosmological model considered. By taking into account the observational bias that will restrict the detection of lensed quasars, identification of these up to a given limiting magnitude will constrain the cosmological parameters.

We have investigated the known gravitationally lensed quasars present in the Gaia DR1, and found that a significant number of components of these systems have been measured and are present in the Gaia DR1 catalogue although quasi none of them have all their components detected. We additionally examined the immediate surroundings of QSOs from the large Quasar catalogue, LQAC3, and detected several configurations compatible with gravitational lensing phenomena. A more global strategy to systematically detect the potential candidates in the various releases of the Gaia catalogue is presented.
Detection of spectroscopic binaries: lessons from the Gaia-ESO survey
Authors: Van der Swaelmen Mathieu , Merle Thibault , Van Eck Sophie , Jorissen Alain , Zwitter Tomaž
Published: March 2018

The Gaia-ESO survey (GES; Gilmore et al. (2012), Randich et al. (2013)) is a spectroscopic survey complementing the Gaia mission to bring accurate radial velocities and chemical abundances for 105 stars. Merle et al. (submitted to A&A; see also this volume) developped a tool (DOE) to detect multiple peaks in the cross-correlation functions (CCFs) of GES spectra. Using the GIRAFFE HR10 and HR21 settings, we were able to compare the efficiency of our SB detection tool depending on the wavelength range and resolution. We show that a careful design of CCF masks can improve the detection rate in the HR21 settings. HR21 spectra are similar to the ones produced by the RVS spectrograph of the Gaia mission, though the lower resolution of RVS spectra may result in a lower detection efficiency than the case of HR21. Analysis of RVS spectra in the context of spectroscopic binaries can take advantage of the lessons learnt from the GES to maximize the detection rate.
Meteorological Frontiers: Climate Knowledge, the West, and US Statecraft, 1800–50
Authors: Baker Zeke
Published: March 2018

This article advances an analytic framework for studying climate knowledge, arguing that the dynamics of how scientists construct the category of climate articulate with practices of government by a process I theorize as “meteorological government.” Using diverse primary print sources, analysis in the present article employs this theorization to reconstruct elements of US statecraft in the period from 1800 to 1850 by tracing the governmental significance of meteorological statistics, military-medical meteorology, and what I term “racial climatology.” Historical analysis shows how these components of climate knowledge were coproduced with state efforts to evaluate, calculate, and monitor (1) the military body in a context of bureaucratization of the US Army; (2) western territories in a context of territorial acquisition and providential nationalism; and (3) a stratified population “legible” by biological understandings of racial hierarchy. The analytic framework I employ draws from and informs existing literature, which challenges assumptions that the dynamics of climate knowledge can be separated from developments in social power. I conclude by discussing the implications of the analysis for how we understand science-state coproduction, both in the case of US meteorology throughout the 1800–50 period and for climate knowledge and the state in other contexts and in recent decades.
Swiss Study to Validate the Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS)
Authors: Reichenbach Fabian , Burren Yuliya , Flückiger Christoph , Znoj Hansjörg , Moggi Franz
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Aim: In the research and treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), craving for alcohol, nicotine, and drugs is an important concept associated with addictive processes, including relapse after treatment. The 12-item Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS) has been proved to be an economic, reliable, and valid self-rating instrument across several substances in German samples. The aim of this study was to examine its psychometric characteristics in a Swiss German sample. Method: Overall, 166 patients were recruited from an inpatient SUD treatment program at the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Bern, Switzerland. Results: The internal consistency was high and the test-retest reliability was satisfactory. The total scale and three specific analogue craving measures were highly correlated. Principal component analysis extracted two factors, explaining 62 % of the total variance, and these factors were confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. However, the two factors correlated highly, and several items loaded on both factors, so that the factor structure was inconclusive. Conclusions: The psychometric characteristics of the MaCS in a Swiss German sample are as good as those characteristics of the German version, suggesting that it is a valid and reliable measure. The MaCS factor structure must be examined on a larger sample that integrates a broader range of SUDs and their severities.
Modeling Storm Evolution
Authors: Witman Sarah
Published: March 2018

A “moist shell” makes all the difference in how some storms evolve.
A pantropically introduced tree is followed by specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts due to pseudo-vertical transmission
Authors: Séne Seynabou , Selosse Marc-André , Forget Mathieu , Lambourdière Josie , Cissé Khoudia , Diédhiou Abdala Gamby , Rivera-Ocasio Elsie , Kodja Hippolyte , Kameyama Norikazu , Nara Kazuhide , Vincenot Lucie , Mansot Jean-Louis , Weber Jean , Roy Mélanie , Sylla Samba Ndao , Bâ Amadou
Published: March 2018

Global trade increases plant introductions, but joint introduction of associated microbes is overlooked. We analyzed the ectomycorrhizal fungi of a Caribbean beach tree, seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera, Polygonacaeae), introduced pantropically to stabilize coastal soils and produce edible fruits. Seagrape displays a limited symbiont diversity in the Caribbean. In five regions of introduction (Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Réunion and Senegal), molecular barcoding showed that seagrape mostly or exclusively associates with Scleroderma species (Basidiomycota) that were hitherto only known from Caribbean seagrape stands. An unknown Scleroderma species dominates in Brazil, Japan and Malaysia, while Scleroderma bermudense exclusively occurs in Réunion and Senegal. Population genetics analysis of S. bermudense did not detect any demographic bottleneck associated with a possible founder effect, but fungal populations from regions where seagrape is introduced are little differentiated from the Caribbean ones, separated by thousands of kilometers, consistently with relatively recent introduction. Moreover, dry seagrape fruits carry Scleroderma spores, probably because, when drying on beach sand, they aggregate spores from the spore bank accumulated by semi-hypogeous Scleroderma sporocarps. Aggregated spores inoculate seedlings, and their abundance may limit the founder effect after seagrape introduction. This rare pseudo-vertical transmission of mycorrhizal fungi likely contributed to efficient and repeated seagrape/Scleroderma co-introductions.
CRLF1 promotes malignant phenotypes of papillary thyroid carcinoma by activating the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways
Authors: Yu Shi-Tong , Zhong Qian , Chen Ren-Hui , Han Ping , Li Shi-Bing , Zhang Hua , Yuan Li , Xia Tian-Liang , Zeng Mu-Sheng , Huang Xiao-Ming
Published: March 2018

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the one of the most common types of endocrine cancer and has a heterogeneous prognosis. Tumors from patients with poor prognosis may differentially express specific genes. Therefore, an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was performed and revealed that cytokine receptor-like factor 1 (CRLF1) may be a potential novel target for PTC treatment. The objective of the current study was to explore the expression of CRLF1 in PTC and to investigate the main functions and mechanisms of CRLF1 in PTC. PTC tissues exhibited higher CRLF1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels than it did with normal thyroid tissues. High CRLF1 levels were associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor disease-free survival rates. By using loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays, we found that CRLF1 not only increased cell migration and invasion in vitro but also promoted tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CRLF1 induced epithelial–mesenchymal transitions. Overexpression of CRLF1 activated the ERK1/2 and AKT pathways. The oncogenic effects induced by CRLF1 were suppressed by treating the cells with the MEK inhibitor U0126 or the AKT inhibitor MK-2206. These results suggest that CRLF1 enhances cell proliferation and metastasis in PTC and thus may therefore be a potential therapeutic target for PTC.
Galunisertib suppresses the staminal phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating CD44 expression
Authors: Rani Bhavna , Malfettone Andrea , Dituri Francesco , Soukupova Jitka , Lupo Luigi , Mancarella Serena , Fabregat Isabel , Giannelli Gianluigi
Published: March 2018

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) niche in the tumor microenvironment is responsible for cancer recurrence and therapy failure. To better understand its molecular and biological involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, one can design more effective therapies and tailored then to individual patients. While sorafenib is currently the only approved drug for first-line treatment of advanced stage HCC, its role in modulating the CSC niche is estimated to be small. By contrast, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway seems to influence the CSC and thus may impact hallmarks of HCC, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and tumor progression. Therefore, blocking this pathway may offer an appealing and druggable target. In our study, we have used galunisertib (LY2157299), a selective ATP-mimetic inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I (TGFβI/ALK5) activation, currently under clinical investigation in HCC patients. Because the drug resistance is mainly mediated by CSCs, we tested the effects of galunisertib on stemness phenotype in HCC cells to determine whether TGF-β signaling modulates CSC niche and drug resistance. Galunisertib modulated the expression of stemness-related genes only in the invasive (HLE and HLF) HCC cells inducing a decreased expression of CD44 and THY1. Furthermore, galunisertib also reduced the stemness-related functions of invasive HCC cells decreasing the formation of colonies, liver spheroids and invasive growth ability. Interestingly, CD44 loss of function mimicked the galunisertib effects on HCC stemness-related functions. Galunisertib treatment also reduced the expression of stemness-related genes in ex vivo human HCC specimens. Our observations are the first evidence that galunisertib effectiveness overcomes stemness-derived aggressiveness via decreased expression CD44 and THY1.
Alteration of endosomal trafficking is associated with early-onset parkinsonism caused by SYNJ1 mutations
Authors: Fasano Dominga , Parisi Silvia , Pierantoni Giovanna Maria , De Rosa Anna , Picillo Marina , Amodio Giuseppina , Pellecchia Maria Teresa , Barone Paolo , Moltedo Ornella , Bonifati Vincenzo , De Michele Giuseppe , Nitsch Lucio , Remondelli Paolo , Criscuolo Chiara , Paladino Simona
Published: March 2018

Recently, a new form of autosomal recessive early-onset parkinsonism (PARK20), due to mutations in the gene encoding the phosphoinositide phosphatase, Synaptojanin 1 (Synj1), has been reported. Several genes responsible for hereditary forms of Parkinson’s disease are implicated in distinct steps of the endolysosomal pathway. However, the nature and the degree of endocytic membrane trafficking impairment in early-onset parkinsonism remains elusive. Here, we show that depletion of Synj1 causes drastic alterations of early endosomes, which become enlarged and more numerous, while it does not affect the morphology of late endosomes both in non-neuronal and neuronal cells. Moreover, Synj1 loss impairs the recycling of transferrin, while it does not alter the trafficking of the epidermal growth factor receptor. The ectopic expression of Synj1 restores the functions of early endosomes, and rescues these trafficking defects in depleted cells. Importantly, the same alterations of early endosomal compartments and trafficking defects occur in fibroblasts of PARK20 patients. Our data indicate that Synj1 plays a crucial role in regulating the homeostasis and functions of early endosomal compartments in different cell types, and highlight defective cellular pathways in PARK20. In addition, they strengthen the link between endosomal trafficking and Parkinson’s disease.
Rap1 deficiency-provoked paracrine dysfunction impairs immunosuppressive potency of mesenchymal stem cells in allograft rejection of heart transplantation
Authors: Ding Yue , Liang Xiaoting , Zhang Yuelin , Yi Li , Shum Ho Cheung , Chen Qiulan , Chan Barbara P. , Fan Huimin , Liu Zhongmin , Tergaonkar Vinay , Qi Zhongquan , Tse Hung-fat , Lian Qizhou
Published: March 2018

Immunomodulatory activity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is largely mediated by paracrine factors. Our previous studies showed that activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) regulates cytokine/growth factor secretion by MSCs. This study aimed to elucidate the role of Rap1 (repressor/activator protein), a novel modulator involved in the NF-κB pathway, in regulating the immunomodulatory potency of MSCs in acute allograft rejection of heart transplantation. The immunosuppressive potency of wild-type MSCs (WT-MSCs) or Rap1-deficient MSCs (Rap1−/−-MSCs) was examined in mice with acute allograft rejection following heart transplantation. With a combination of immunosuppressant rapamycin at a dose of 1 mg/kg/d, WT-MSCs notably prolonged the survival of the transplanted heart compared with Rap1−/−-MSCs. Rap1−/−-MSCs displayed a marked insensitivity to inhibit the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) due to impaired cytokine production and a significantly reduced activity of NF-κB signaling in vitro. Finally, transplantation of encapsulated WT-MSCs greatly prolonged the survival of the heart allograft compared with encapsulated Rap1−/−-MSCs. Our results indicate that Rap1 is essential to maintain the immunomodulatory function of MSCs. Deletion of Rap1 results in impaired immunomodulatory function of MSCs.
Raddeanin A suppresses breast cancer-associated osteolysis through inhibiting osteoclasts and breast cancer cells
Authors: Wang Qiang , Mo Jian , Zhao Chenchen , Huang Kangmao , Feng Mingxuan , He Wenxin , Wang Jiying , Chen Shuai , Xie Zi’ang , Ma Jianjun , Fan Shunwu
Published: March 2018

Bone metastasis is a severe complication of advanced breast cancer, resulting in osteolysis and increased mortality in patients. Raddeanin A (RA), isolated from traditional Chinese herbs, is an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin with anticancer potential. In this study, we investigated the effects of RA in breast cancer-induced osteolysis and elucidated the possible mechanisms involved in this process. We first verified that RA could suppress osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro. Next, we confirmed that RA suppressed Ti-particle-induced osteolysis in a mouse calvarial model, possibly through inhibition of the SRC/AKT signaling pathway. A breast cancer-induced osteolysis mouse model further revealed the positive protective effects of RA by micro-computed tomography and histology. Finally, we demonstrated that RA inhibited invasion and AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results indicate that RA is an effective inhibitor of breast cancer-induced osteolysis.
NEAT1_2 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate ATAD2 expression by sponging microRNA-106b-5p in papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Sun Wei , Lan Xiabin , Zhang Hao , Wang Zhihong , Dong Wenwu , He Liang , Zhang Ting , Zhang Ping , Liu Jinhao , Qin Yuan
Published: March 2018

Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is a core structural component of paraspeckles and is essential for paraspeckle formation. NEAT1 comprises two different isoforms: NEAT1_1 (3.7 kb) and NEAT1_2 (23 kb). Recently, NEAT1 has been shown to have oncogenic roles and to facilitate tumorigenesis in various human cancers. However, the function of NEAT1 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is not well understood. The relative expression levels of NEAT1_2, ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 2 (ATAD2), and microRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p) were assessed via quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Four PTC cell lines were used to detect the relative expression of NEAT1_2. The effects of NEAT1_2 on PTC cells were studied by RNA interference approaches in vitro. The effects of NEAT1_2 on downstream proteins were detected by western blotting. The underlying mechanism was clarified by a rescue experiment, and three dual-luciferase reporter assays. NEAT1_2 expression was markedly increased in PTC tissues and the PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC1). The relative expression level of NEAT1_2 was positively associated with TNM stage and tumor size. NEAT1_2 knockdown led to a significant inhibition of growth and metastasis, and induced apoptosis in PTC cells. Knockdown of NEAT1_2 significantly inhibited malignant biological behavior by downregulating the oncogene ATAD2. In addition, NEAT1_2 could act as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate the expression of ATAD2 through downregulating miR-106b-5p. Taken together, our results indicated that NEAT1_2 is overexpressed in PTC. NEAT1_2 could function as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate ATAD2 expression by sponging miR-106b-5p in PTC. Targeting NEAT1_2 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with PTC.
Benchmarking common quantification strategies for large-scale phosphoproteomics
Authors: Hogrebe Alexander , von Stechow Louise , Bekker-Jensen Dorte B. , Weinert Brian T. , Kelstrup Christian D. , Olsen Jesper V.
Published: March 2018

Comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is now feasible, but reproducible quantification remains challenging, especially for post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. Here, we compare the most popular quantification techniques for global phosphoproteomics: label-free quantification (LFQ), stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and MS2- and MS3-measured tandem mass tags (TMT). In a mixed species comparison with fixed phosphopeptide ratios, we find LFQ and SILAC to be the most accurate techniques. MS2-based TMT yields the highest precision but lowest accuracy due to ratio compression, which MS3-based TMT can partly rescue. However, MS2-based TMT outperforms MS3-based TMT when analyzing phosphoproteome changes in the DNA damage response, since its higher precision and larger identification numbers allow detection of a greater number of significantly regulated phosphopeptides. Finally, we utilize the TMT multiplexing capabilities to develop an algorithm for determining phosphorylation site stoichiometry, showing that such applications benefit from the high accuracy of MS3-based TMT.
Scalable WDM phase regeneration in a single phase-sensitive amplifier through optical time lenses
Authors: Guan Pengyu , Da Ros Francesco , Lillieholm Mads , Kjøller Niels-Kristian , Hu Hao , Røge Kasper Meldgaard , Galili Michael , Morioka Toshio , Oxenløwe Leif Katsuo
Published: March 2018

Optical data regeneration is attractive, due to its potential to increase transmission reach and data throughput in communication systems, and several interesting proposals have been made. However, efficient and scalable solutions for regeneration of multiple parallel wavelength channels have been elusive, constituting a key challenge, which must be overcome for optical regeneration to have any prospect of being adapted in actual communication systems. Here we report a scalable wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) regeneration scheme for phase only regeneration, which satisfies the multichannel requirement, using a set of optical time-lens-based Fourier processors combined with a single phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA). We describe the concept theoretically, and experimentally demonstrate simultaneous regeneration of 16 WDM channels with 50-GHz spacing, each carrying 10-Gbit/s DPSK phase-modulated data. The proposed scheme relies on ultrafast broadband optical processing and is inherently scalable in modulation speed and channel number.
Functionally distinct and selectively phosphorylated GPCR subpopulations co-exist in a single cell
Authors: Shen Ao , Nieves-Cintron Madeline , Deng Yawen , Shi Qian , Chowdhury Dhrubajyoti , Qi Jinyi , Hell Johannes W. , Navedo Manuel F. , Xiang Yang K.
Published: March 2018

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce pleiotropic intracellular signals in a broad range of physiological responses and disease states. Activated GPCRs can undergo agonist-induced phosphorylation by G protein receptor kinases (GRKs) and second messenger-dependent protein kinases such as protein kinase A (PKA). Here, we characterize spatially segregated subpopulations of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) undergoing selective phosphorylation by GRKs or PKA in a single cell. GRKs primarily label monomeric β2ARs that undergo endocytosis, whereas PKA modifies dimeric β2ARs that remain at the cell surface. In hippocampal neurons, PKA-phosphorylated β2ARs are enriched in dendrites, whereas GRK-phosphorylated β2ARs accumulate in soma, being excluded from dendrites in a neuron maturation-dependent manner. Moreover, we show that PKA-phosphorylated β2ARs are necessary to augment the activity of L-type calcium channel. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that functionally distinct subpopulations of this prototypical GPCR exist in a single cell.
The entropic cost of quantum generalized measurements
Authors: Mancino Luca , Sbroscia Marco , Roccia Emanuele , Gianani Ilaria , Somma Fabrizia , Mataloni Paolo , Paternostro Mauro , Barbieri Marco
Published: March 2018

Landauer’s principle introduces a symmetry between computational and physical processes: erasure of information, a logically irreversible operation, must be underlain by an irreversible transformation dissipating energy. Monitoring micro- and nano-systems needs to enter into the energetic balance of their control; hence, finding the ultimate limits is instrumental to the development of future thermal machines operating at the quantum level. We report on the experimental investigation of a lower bound to the irreversible entropy associated to generalized quantum measurements on a quantum bit. We adopted a quantum photonics gate to implement a device interpolating from the weakly disturbing to the fully invasive and maximally informative regime. Our experiment prompted us to introduce a bound taking into account both the classical result of the measurement and the outcoming quantum state; unlike previous investigation, our entropic bound is based uniquely on measurable quantities. Our results highlight what insights the information-theoretic approach provides on building blocks of quantum information processors.
Plasma IL-23 and IL-5 as surrogate markers of lesion metabolic activity in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis
Authors: Tuxun Tuerhongjiang , Apaer Shadike , Ma Hai-Zhang , Zhao Jin-Ming , Lin Ren-Yong , Aji Tuerganaili , Shao Ying-Mei , Wen Hao
Published: March 2018

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake by alveolar echinococcosis (AE) liver lesions is a signal of their metabolic activity and of disease progression. In order to find a surrogate marker for this status, we investigated whether parameters of the peripheral and/or periparasitic immune responses were associated with metabolic activity in a prospective case-control study of 30 AE patients and 22 healthy controls. Levels of 18 cytokines and chemokines, representative of innate and adaptive immune responses, were assessed in plasma and peripheral cells of two groups of patients with (MAAE) and without (MIAE) metabolically active lesions, and in the liver of MAAE patients. Mixed cytokine profile was observed in the peripheral blood of AE patients, with a predominance of Th2, Th17 and Treg responses. Among the detected markers only plasma IL-5 and IL-23, more elevated in MAAE patients, were found discriminant. Discrimination between MAAE and MIAE patients obtained by using IL-23 was improved when IL-5 was used in combination. The combination of elevated levels of IL-5 and IL-23 is significantly associated with FDG uptake at PET scan. It offers a new tool for the follow-up of AE patients which could substitute to FDG-PET whenever non-available to assess disease progression.
Publisher Correction: A Multi-Institutional Comparison of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameter Calculations
Authors:   Joint Head and Neck Radiotherapy-MRI Development Cooperative, Ger Rachel B. , Mohamed Abdallah S. R. , Awan Musaddiq J. , Ding Yao , Li Kimberly , Fave Xenia J. , Beers Andrew L. , Driscoll Brandon , Elhalawani Hesham , Hormuth David A. , Houdt Petra J. van , He Renjie , Zhou Shouhao , Mathieu Kelsey B. , Li Heng , Coolens Catherine , Chung Caroline , Bankson James A. , Huang Wei , Wang Jihong , Sandulache Vlad C. , Lai Stephen Y. , Howell Rebecca M. , Stafford R. Jason , Yankeelov Thomas E. , van der Heide Uulke A. , Frank Steven J. , Barboriak Daniel P. , Hazle John D. , Court Laurence E. , Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Fuller Clifton D.
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Multi-scale X-ray computed tomography to detect and localize metal-based nanomaterials in lung tissues of in vivo exposed mice
Authors: Chaurand Perrine , Liu Wei , Borschneck Daniel , Levard Clément , Auffan Mélanie , Paul Emmanuel , Collin Blanche , Kieffer Isabelle , Lanone Sophie , Rose Jérôme , Perrin Jeanne
Published: March 2018

In this methodological study, we demonstrated the relevance of 3D imaging performed at various scales for the ex vivo detection and location of cerium oxide nanomaterials (CeO2-NMs) in mouse lung. X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with a voxel size from 14 µm to 1 µm (micro-CT) was combined with X-ray nano-computed tomography with a voxel size of 63 nm (nano-CT). An optimized protocol was proposed to facilitate the sample preparation, to minimize the experimental artifacts and to optimize the contrast of soft tissues exposed to metal-based nanomaterials (NMs). 3D imaging of the NMs biodistribution in lung tissues was consolidated by combining a vast variety of techniques in a correlative approach: histological observations, 2D chemical mapping and speciation analysis were performed for an unambiguous detection of NMs. This original methodological approach was developed following a worst-case scenario of exposure, i.e. high dose of exposure with administration via intra-tracheal instillation. Results highlighted both (i) the non-uniform distribution of CeO2-NMs within the entire lung lobe (using large field-of-view micro-CT) and (ii) the detection of CeO2-NMs down to the individual cell scale, e.g. macrophage scale (using nano-CT with a voxel size of 63 nm).
A Unified Approach to Nonlinear Transformation Materials
Authors: Sklan Sophia R. , Li Baowen
Published: March 2018

The advances in geometric approaches to optical devices due to transformation optics has led to the development of cloaks, concentrators, and other devices. It has also been shown that transformation optics can be used to gravitational fields from general relativity. However, the technique is currently constrained to linear devices, as a consistent approach to nonlinearity (including both the case of a nonlinear background medium and a nonlinear transformation) remains an open question. Here we show that nonlinearity can be incorporated into transformation optics in a consistent way. We use this to illustrate a number of novel effects, including cloaking an optical soliton, modeling nonlinear solutions to Einstein’s field equations, controlling transport in a Debye solid, and developing a set of constitutive to relations for relativistic cloaks in arbitrary nonlinear backgrounds.
Renormalization of the critical exponent for the shear modulus of magnetoactive elastomers
Authors: Snarskii Andrei A. , Kalita Viktor M. , Shamonin Mikhail
Published: March 2018

It is shown that the critical exponent for the effective shear modulus of a composite medium where a compliant polymer matrix is filled with ferromagnetic particles may significantly depend on the external magnetic field. The physical consequence of this dependence is the critical behavior of the relative magnetorheological effect.
Use of quercetin in animal feed: effects on the P-gp expression and pharmacokinetics of orally administrated enrofloxacin in chicken
Authors: Bhutto Zohaib Ahmed , He Fang , Zloh Mire , Yang Jing , Huang Jinhu , Guo Tingting , Wang Liping
Published: March 2018

Modulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by Mdr1) by xenobiotics plays central role in pharmacokinetics of various drugs. Quercetin has a potential to modulate P-gp in rodents, however, its effects on P-gp modulation in chicken are still unclear. Herein, study reports role of quercetin in modulation of P-gp expression and subsequent effects on the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in broilers. Results show that P-gp expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner following exposure to quercetin in Caco-2 cells and tissues of chicken. Absorption rate constant and apparent permeability coefficient of rhodamine 123 were decreased, reflecting efflux function of P-gp in chicken intestine increased by quercetin. Quercetin altered pharmacokinetic of enrofloxacin by decreasing area under curve, peak concentration, and time to reach peak concentration and by increasing clearance rate. Molecular docking shows quercetin can form favorable interactions with binding pocket of chicken xenobiotic receptor (CXR). Results provide convincing evidence that quercetin induced P-gp expression in tissues by possible interaction with CXR, and consequently reducing bioavailability of orally administered enrofloxacin through restricting its intestinal absorption and liver/kidney clearance in broilers. The results can be further extended to guide reasonable use of quercetin to avoid drug-feed interaction occurred with co-administered enrofloxacin or other similar antimicrobials.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of treatment strategies for asymptomatic carotid disease
Authors: Barkat Mohamed , Roy Iain , Antoniou Stavros A. , Torella Francesco , Antoniou George A.
Published: March 2018

We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate outcomes of treatment strategies for asymptomatic carotid disease. We searched electronic bibliographic sources (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL) to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT) reporting comparative outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA), carotid stenting (CAS) and best medical therapy (BMT) in asymptomatic carotid disease. We performed pairwise meta-analysis applying random or fixed-effects models and reported the results as the odds ratio (OR) or risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We also performed a network meta-analysis and obtained a hierarchy of the competing interventions using rankograms and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve and mean ranks. Stroke and death within 30 days and during follow up were the primary outcome endpoints. Eleven RCTs were identified reporting a total of 8,954 patients. Compared to BMT, CEA reduces the odds of long-term mortality (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.43, 1.12) and ipsilateral stroke (OR 0.59 95% CI 0.50, 0.71). Network meta-analyses league table demonstrated that BMT is superior to CEA and CAS in terms of perioperative stroke risk and mortality. CEA is the preferred method to reduce the long-term risk of ipsilateral stroke and mortality for patients with asymptomatic carotid disease.
Author Correction: Interactions count: plant origin, herbivory and disturbance jointly explain seedling recruitment and community structure
Authors: Korell Lotte , Lang Birgit R. , Hensen Isabell , Auge Harald , Bruelheide Helge
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Atlantic deep water circulation during the last interglacial
Authors: Luo Yiming , Tjiputra Jerry , Guo Chuncheng , Zhang Zhongshi , Lippold Jörg
Published: March 2018

Understanding how the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) evolved during crucial past geological periods is important in order to decipher the interplay between ocean dynamics and global climate change. Previous research, based on geological proxies, has provided invaluable insights into past AMOC changes. However, the causes of the changes in water mass distributions in the Atlantic during different periods remain mostly elusive. Using a state-of-the-art Earth system model, we show that the bulk of NCW in the deep South Atlantic Ocean below 4000 m migrated from the western basins at 125 ka to the eastern basins at 115 ka, though the AMOC strength is only slightly reduced. These changes are consistent with proxy records, and it is mainly due to more penetration of the AABW at depth at 115 ka, as a result of a larger density of AABW formed at 115 ka. Our results show that depth changes in regional deep water pathways can result in large local changes, while the overall AMOC structure hardly changes. Future research should thus be careful when interpreting single proxy records in terms of large-scale AMOC changes, and considering variability of water-mass distributions on sub-basin scale would give more comprehensive interpretations of sediment records.
Effects of root pruning radius and time on yield of tuberous roots and resource allocation in a crop of Helianthus tuberosus L.
Authors: Gao Kai , Zhu Tiexia , Wang Lin , Gao Yang
Published: March 2018

The production of tuberous roots is usually reduced by vigorous vegetative growth because of the competition for resource between the vegetative parts and reproductive organs. In this study, we conducted root pruning to examine the vigorous vegetative growth by regulating root growth, subsequently limiting vegetative growth and improving tuber yield. Compared with the control, stem, tuber, and root biomasses were all improved, whereas both flower and leaf biomasses were increased. Tuber biomass was improved by 23.48% to 50.32%, with the largest tuber biomass obtained at root cutting radius 4/5 R. With delayed root cutting time, tuber and root biomasses increased first and then decreased. The largest tuber biomass was obtained at 65 seedling stage. With a delay in root cutting time, the trend line of aboveground, underground, and total biomasses changed gradually. However, whereas underground and total biomasses showed a gradually increasing, aboveground biomass showed a decreasing. The values of stem-leaf and shoot-root ratios under different root cutting were higher than those of the control. With a delay in root cutting time, stem-leaf ratio showed an initial increase and then decreased with largest value being obtained at 80 seedling stage, whereas the largest shoot-root ratio was obtained at 115 seedling stage.
100- kyr cyclicity in volcanic ash emplacement: evidence from a 1.1 Myr tephra record from the NW Pacific
Authors: Schindlbeck Julie C. , Jegen Marion , Freundt Armin , Kutterolf Steffen , Straub Susanne M. , Mleneck-Vautravers Maryline J. , McManus Jerry F.
Published: March 2018

It is a longstanding observation that the frequency of volcanism periodically changes at times of global climate change. The existence of causal links between volcanism and Earth’s climate remains highly controversial, partly because most related studies only cover one glacial cycle. Longer records are available from marine sediment profiles in which the distribution of tephras records frequency changes of explosive arc volcanism with high resolution and time precision. Here we show that tephras of IODP Hole U1437B (northwest Pacific) record a cyclicity of explosive volcanism within the last 1.1 Myr. A spectral analysis of the dataset yields a statistically significant spectral peak at the ~100 kyr period, which dominates the global climate cycles since the Middle Pleistocene. A time-domain analysis of the entire eruption and δ18O record of benthic foraminifera as climate/sea level proxy shows that volcanism peaks after the glacial maximum and ∼13 ± 2 kyr before the δ18O minimum right at the glacial/interglacial transition. The correlation is especially good for the last 0.7 Myr. For the period 0.7–1.1 Ma, during the Middle Pleistocene Transition (MPT), the correlation is weaker, since the 100 kyr periodicity in the δ18O record diminishes, while the tephra record maintains its strong 100 kyr periodicity.
Author Correction: Effects of biochar, waste water irrigation and fertilization on soil properties in West African urban agriculture
Authors: Häring Volker , Manka’abusi Delphine , Akoto-Danso Edmund K. , Werner Steffen , Atiah Kofi , Steiner Christoph , Lompo Désiré J. P. , Adiku Samuel , Buerkert Andreas , Marschner Bernd
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Combination of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Min Se Hee , Yoon Jeong-Hwa , Moon Sun Joon , Hahn Seokyung , Cho Young Min
Published: March 2018

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors have complementary mode of action. For the meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety between SGLT2 inhibitor plus DPP4 inhibitor (SGLT2i/DPP4i) and placebo plus DPP4 inhibitor (PCB/DPP4i) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we selected randomized controlled trials from electronic databases by predefined criteria. The primary outcome of interest was the change in glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline. Of 605 potentially relevant studies, 7 eligible RCTs comprising 2,082 patients were included.SGLT2i/DPP4i showed a greater reduction in HbA1c (weighted mean difference −0.6%, 95% CI −0.7 to −0.5%), fasting plasma glucose, 2 h postprandial plasma glucose, and body weight compared to PCB/DPP4i. The risk of hypoglycemia increased in SGLT2i/DPP4i compared to that in PCB/DPP4i only when insulin or sulfonylureas were included as a background therapy. The risk of urinary tract infection was not increased in SGLT2i/DPP4i; however, the risk of genital infection increased upon adding SGLT2 inhibitors to pre-existing DPP4 inhibitors. In conclusion, compared to PCB/DPP4i, SGLT2i/DPP4i achieved better glycemic control and greater weight reduction without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia and urinary tract infection in patients with inadequately controlled T2DM.
Trichostatin A inhibits the activation of Hepatic stellate cells by Increasing C/EBP-α Acetylation in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Ding Di , Chen Lin-Lin , Zhai Ying-Zhen , Hou Chen-Jian , Tao Li-Li , Lu Shu-Han , Wu Jian , Liu Xiu-Ping
Published: March 2018

Reversal of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to a quiescent state and apoptosis of activated HSCs are key elements in the reversion of hepatic fibrosis. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBP-α) has been shown to inhibit HSC activation and promote its apoptosis. This study aims to investigate how C/EBP-α acetylation affects the fate of activated HSCs. Effects of a histone deacetylation inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on HSC activation were evaluated in a mouse model of liver fibrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication. TSA was found to ameliorate CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and improve liver function through increasing the protein level and enhancing C/EBP-α acetylation in the mouse liver. C/EBP-α acetylation was determined in HSC lines in the presence or absence of TSA, and the lysine residue K276 was identified as a main acetylation site in C/EBP-α protein. C/EBP-α acetylation increased its stability and protein level, and inhibited HSC activation. The present study demonstrated that C/EBP-α acetylation increases the protein level by inhibiting its ubiquitination-mediated degradation, and may be involved in the fate of activated HSCs. Use of TSA may confer an option in minimizing hepatic fibrosis by suppressing HSC activation, a key process in the initiation and progression of hepatic fibrosis.
Hybrid setup for stable magnetic fields enabling robust quantum control
Authors: Hakelberg Frederick , Kiefer Philip , Wittemer Matthias , Schaetz Tobias , Warring Ulrich
Published: March 2018

Well controlled and highly stable magnetic fields are desired for a wide range of applications in physical research, including quantum metrology, sensing, information processing, and simulation. Here we introduce a low-cost hybrid assembly of rare-earth magnets and magnetic field coils to generate a field strength of $$\simeq $$
≃
10.9 mT with a calculated spatial variation of less than 10−6 within a diameter of spherical volume of 150 μm. We characterise its tuneability and stability performance using a single Mg+ atom confined in a radio-frequency surface-electrode trap under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The strength of the field can be tuned with a relative precision of ≤2 × 10−5 and we find a passive temporal stability of our setup of better than 1.0 × 10−4 over the course of one hour. Slow drifts on time scales of a few minutes are actively stabilised by adjusting electric currents in the magnetic field coils. In this way, we observe coherence times of electronic superposition states of greater than six seconds using a first-order field insensitive (clock) transition. In a first application, we demonstrate sensing of magnetic fields with amplitudes of ≥0.2 μT oscillating at $$\simeq $$
≃
2π × 60 MHz. Our approach can be implemented in compact and robust applications with strict power and load requirements.
Organ-specific responses during brain death: increased aerobic metabolism in the liver and anaerobic metabolism with decreased perfusion in the kidneys
Authors: Van Erp A. C. , Rebolledo R. A. , Hoeksma D. , Jespersen N. R. , Ottens P. J. , Nørregaard R. , Pedersen M. , Laustsen C. , Burgerhof J. G. M. , Wolters J. C. , Ciapaite J. , Bøtker H. E. , Leuvenink H. G. D. , Jespersen B.
Published: March 2018

Hepatic and renal energy status prior to transplantation correlates with graft survival. However, effects of brain death (BD) on organ-specific energy status are largely unknown. We studied metabolism, perfusion, oxygen consumption, and mitochondrial function in the liver and kidneys following BD. BD was induced in mechanically-ventilated rats, inflating an epidurally-placed Fogarty-catheter, with sham-operated rats as controls. A 9.4T-preclinical MRI system measured hourly oxygen availability (BOLD-related R2*) and perfusion (T1-weighted). After 4 hrs, tissue was collected, mitochondria isolated and assessed with high-resolution respirometry. Quantitative proteomics, qPCR, and biochemistry was performed on stored tissue/plasma. Following BD, the liver increased glycolytic gene expression (Pfk-1) with decreased glycogen stores, while the kidneys increased anaerobic- (Ldha) and decreased gluconeogenic-related gene expression (Pck-1). Hepatic oxygen consumption increased, while renal perfusion decreased. ATP levels dropped in both organs while mitochondrial respiration and complex I/ATP synthase activity were unaffected. In conclusion, the liver responds to increased metabolic demands during BD, enhancing aerobic metabolism with functional mitochondria. The kidneys shift towards anaerobic energy production while renal perfusion decreases. Our findings highlight the need for an organ-specific approach to assess and optimise graft quality prior to transplantation, to optimise hepatic metabolic conditions and improve renal perfusion while supporting cellular detoxification.
Author Correction: Dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles improves burn wound healing and tissue regeneration through specific interaction with blood serum proteins
Authors: Seisenbaeva Gulaim A. , Fromell Karin , Vinogradov Vasiliy V. , Terekhov Aleksey N. , Pakhomov Andrey V. , Nilsson Bo , Ekdahl Kristina Nilsson , Vinogradov Vladimir V. , Kessler Vadim G.
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
In Vivo Small Molecule Delivery to the Optic Nerve in a Rodent Model
Authors: Tehrani Shandiz , Delf R. Katherine , Cepurna William O. , Davis Lauren , Johnson Elaine C. , Morrison John C.
Published: March 2018

Small molecule delivery to the optic nerve would allow for exploration of molecular and cellular pathways involved in normal physiology and optic neuropathies such as glaucoma, and provide a tool for screening therapeutics in animal models. We report a novel surgical method for small molecule drug delivery to the optic nerve head (ONH) in a rodent model. In proof-of-principle experiments, we delivered cytochalasin D (Cyt D; a filamentous actin inhibitor) to the junction of the superior optic nerve and globe in rats to target the actin-rich astrocytic cytoskeleton of the ONH. Cyt D delivery was quantified by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of isolated optic nerve tissue. One day after Cyt D delivery, anterior ONH filamentous actin bundle content was significantly reduced as assessed by fluorescent-tagged phalloidin labeling, relative to sham delivery. Anterior ONH nuclear counts and axon-specific beta-3 tubulin levels, as well as peripapillary retinal ganglion cell layer nuclear counts were not significantly altered after Cyt D delivery relative to sham delivery. Lastly, the surgical delivery technique caused minimal observable axon degeneration up to 10 days post-surgery. This small molecule delivery technique provides a new approach to studying optic neuropathies in in vivo rodent models.