bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of intraneuronal amyloid beta oligomers in locus coeruleus neurons of Alzheimer’s patients and their potential impact on inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and neuronal excitability
Authors: Kelly Louise , Seifi Mohsen , Ma Ruolin , Mitchell Scott J. , Rudolph Uwe , Viola Kirsten L. , Klein William L. , Lambert Jeremy J. , Swinny Jerome D. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimsAmyloid β‐oligomers (AβO) are potent modulators of Alzheimer's pathology, yet their impact on one of the earliest brain regions to exhibit signs of the condition, the locus coeruleus (LC), remains to be determined. Of particular importance is whether AβO impact the spontaneous excitability of LC neurons. This parameter determines brain‐wide noradrenaline (NA) release, and thus NA‐mediated brain functions, including cognition, emotion and immune function, which are all compromised in Alzheimer's patients. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the expression profile of AβO in the LC of Alzheimer's patients and to probe their potential impact on the molecular and functional correlates of LC excitability, using a mouse model of increased Aβ production (APP‐PSEN1).Methods and resultsImmunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, using AβO‐specific antibodies, confirmed LC AβO expression both intraneuronally and extracellularly in both Alzheimer's and APP‐PSEN1 samples. Patch clamp electrophysiology recordings revealed that APP‐PSEN1 LC neuronal hyperexcitability accompanied this AβO expression profile, arising from a diminished inhibitory effect of GABA due to impaired expression and function of the GABA‐A receptor (GABAAR) α3 subunit. This altered LC α3‐GABAAR expression profile overlapped with AβO expression in samples from both APP‐PSEN1 mice and Alzheimer's patients. Finally, strychnine‐sensitive glycine receptors (GlyRs) remained resilient to Aβ‐induced changes and their activation reversed LC hyperexcitability.ConclusionsThe data suggest a close association between AβO and α3‐GABAARs in the LC of Alzheimer's patients, and their potential to dysregulate LC activity, thereby contributing to the spectrum of pathology of the LC‐NA system in this condition.
Interannual variability of ecosystem iso/anisohydry is regulated by environmental dryness
Authors: Wu Genghong , Guan Kaiyu , Li Yan , Novick Kimberly A. , Feng Xue , McDowell Nate G. , Konings Alexandra G. , Thompson Sally E. , Kimball John S. , De Kauwe Martin G. , Ainsworth Elizabeth A. , Jiang Chongya 
Published: October 2020

Summary

Plants are characterized by the iso/anisohydry continuum depending on how they regulate leaf water potential (ΨL). However, how iso/anisohydry changes over time in response to year‐to‐year variations in environmental dryness and how such responses vary across different regions remains poorly characterized.

We investigated how dryness, represented by aridity index, affects the interannual variability of ecosystem iso/anisohydry at the regional scale, estimated using satellite microwave vegetation optical depth (VOD) observations. This ecosystem‐level analysis was further complemented with published field observations of species‐level ΨL.

We found different behaviors in the directionality and sensitivity of isohydricity (σ) with respect to the interannual variation of dryness in different ecosystems. These behaviors can largely be differentiated by the average dryness of the ecosystem itself: in mesic ecosystems, σ decreases in drier years with a higher sensitivity to dryness; in xeric ecosystems, σ increases in drier years with a lower sensitivity to dryness. These results were supported by the species‐level synthesis.

Our study suggests that how plants adjust their water use across years – as revealed by their interannual variability in isohydricity – depends on the dryness of plants’ living environment. This finding advances our understanding of plant responses to drought at regional scales.
Acanthamoeba keratitis: a review of biology, pathophysiology and epidemiology
Authors: de Lacerda Ana Gomes , Lira Madalena 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAcanthamoeba keratitis is an infection caused by a unicellular protozoan of the genus Acanthamoeba that is universally widespread. Until now, most cases were reported in contact lens wearers, although it is also a reality for non‐wearers, mostly connected to corneal trauma. There is also a variation in incidence regarding the aetiology of the disease between developed and developing countries.PurposeThis work is based on a literature review, and the main goal is to deepen the knowledge about Acanthamoeba keratitis, presenting the main risk factors and focusing on prevention actions for this type of corneal infection since the treatments are not always effective. It targets specialists in visual health to strengthen their knowledge in this area, as well as to allow them to better inform their patients about hygiene care, appropriate measures of disinfection and ways to minimise the risk of infection. At this stage, it is important to highlight the essential role that practitioners play in fitting, monitoring and following‐up patients to minimise the danger of infection.Recent findingsIt is well recognised that corneal trauma facilitates invasion by leaving an open door for microorganisms to penetrate the cornea. In addition to trauma, risk factors are mostly associated with patients’ behaviours, such as interaction of contact lenses with contaminated water in the shower, swimming pools and beaches, etc., lack of hygiene habits with contact lenses and respective cases, and the use of ineffective disinfecting solutions. The fact that a disinfecting solution is not completely effective against trophozoites and/or cysts, both forms of Acanthamoeba’s lifecycle, can cause the infection since one cyst alone leads to the emergence of a whole new population of Acanthamoeba.SummaryIt is necessary to reduce the risk of infection and, beyond the need to promote patient education to encourage correct CL hygiene behaviours, it should also be highlighted that there is an urgent need to enhance the efficacy of CL disinfection systems against all strains and both stages of Acanthamoeba through the creation of standardised methods. The ease of purchasing CLs without any supervision must also be considered a concern, and, in the near future, it is also important to develop and implement effective diagnostic methods and treatments for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Anatomy of the cardiac conduction system
Authors: Padala Santosh K. , Cabrera José‐Angel , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe specialized cardiomyocytes that constitute the conduction system in the human heart, initiate the electric impulse and result in rhythmic and synchronized contraction of the atria and ventricles. Although the atrioventricular (AV) conduction axis was described more than a century ago by Sunao Tawara, the anatomic pathway for propagation of impulse from atria to the ventricles has been a topic of debate for years. Over the past 2 decades, there has been a resurgence of conduction system pacing (CSP) by implanting pacing leads in the His bundle region in lieu of chronic right ventricular pacing that is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The inherent limitations of implanting the leads in the His bundle region has led to the emergence of left bundle branch area pacing in the past 3 years as an alternative strategy for CSP. The clinical experience from performing CSP has helped electrophysiologists gain deeper insight into the anatomy and physiology of cardiac conduction system. This review details the anatomy of the cardiac conduction system, and highlights some of the recently published articles that aid in better understanding of the AV conduction axis and its variations, the knowledge of which is critical for CSP. The remarkable evolution in technology has led to visualization of the cardiac conduction system using noninvasive, nondestructive high‐resolution contrast‐enhanced micro‐computed tomography imaging that may aid in future CSP. We also discuss from anatomical perspective, the differences seen clinically with His bundle pacing and left bundle branch area pacing.
Risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in patients after pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Eder Beatrix , Melter Michael , Gabler Vanessa , Zant Robert , Knoppke Birgit 
Published: October 2020

AbstractData on cognitive function after pLT are rare, particularly regarding children with cognitive impairment. From 2016 to 2018, we evaluated cognitive function in 36 patients after pLT aged 6‐17 years with the WISC IV (at least 1 year after transplantation) and analyzed potential risk factors for cognitive impairment (IQ < 70) by means of retrospective medical data (peri‐, intra‐, and post‐operative factors, and donor and specific organ data of the primary liver transplant) on an exploratory base. At a median age of 9.6 years (range = 6‐16.9), 22% of patients were cognitive impaired (IQ < 70; including five untestable patients with severe cognitive impairment). Children tested with the WISC IV scored within the lower normal range but differed significantly from normal population. Strongest associations showed infections at pLT, development of severe sepsis requiring intensive care within the first 6 months after pLT, neurological complications within the first 10 days and the occurrence of CPR during or after pLT, and as early laboratory variables pH value on day 0 after pLT. In our analysis, neither intraoperative factors nor donor‐specific factors seemed to influence cognitive outcome. In our small cohort, medical complications before and after pLT but not transplantation itself had an influence on cognitive outcome. As such, children experiencing medical problems before and in the early post‐operative phase after pLT should be closely evaluated in larger samples regarding their neurological and psychomotor development during vulnerable phases and should receive early educational support to improve long‐term cognitive function.
Why does only one embryo sac develop in the Paeonia ovule with multiple archesporium?
Authors: Vinogradova G. Yu. , Zhinkina N. A. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Structure of the multiple archesporium in an ovule, time and place of archesporial cell differentiation and their developmental potential have not been studied in detail. In Paeonia species supernumerary archesporial cells are formed and differentiate as multiple megasporocytes, but only one embryo sac usually develops into an ovule. The reasons leading to development of one gametophyte and the death of most megasporocytes are unknown.

The morphological structure of the multiple archesporium in Paeonia veitchii and P. caucasica was studied using cytoembryological methods. We used staining with aniline blue and fluorescence microscopy for visualization of callose on the megasporocyte walls.

All cells of the ovule in investigated Paeonia species are uniform and meristematic at the earliest development stage. The onset of archesporium differentiation correlates with inner integument initiation. The sporogenous complex includes ten to 25 cells which develop asynchronously. The cell located in the central part of the sporogenous complex is differentiated into a megasporocyte earlier than in neighbouring cells. Only this megasporocyte is enveloped in callose; it develops further through to meiosis and forms a female gametophyte. The other megasporocytes degenerate during ovule development.

We consider that callose participates in the mechanism of ‘lateral inhibition’ during megasporocyte maturation. The cell located in the central part of the Paeonia ovule is the first to receive signals that stimulate the onset of megasporogenesis and formation of the callose wall. It is possible that callose participates in blocking of development signals to neighbouring megasporocytes, leading to the arrest of their development.
Local Government Volunteer Use: A Resource Dependence and Transaction Costs Explanation
Authors: Kang Seong C. , Nesbit Rebecca , Brudney Jeffrey L. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Volunteer use in the United States constitutes a service delivery alternative in which public agencies involve citizens to assist in delivering public services. This article provides a resource dependence and transaction costs explanation for why local governments in the United States may involve volunteers in service delivery. Using a survey of local government service delivery arrangements, we analyze a repeated cross‐sectional dataset derived from four separate years to examine the factors associated with volunteer use. Key findings suggest that fiscal constraints are associated with volunteer use in more municipal government services, while county governments with more resources use volunteers in more services. Contracting out to private organizations is associated with more volunteer use in both municipalities and counties. The findings provide evidence that volunteer use constitutes an effort by local governments in the United States to leverage resources from the environment and to reduce the transaction costs of depending on other organizations.
Evidence for Practice

To capitalize on resources available in the environment, local governments may use volunteers in service delivery.
Local governments confronting fiscal constraints may use volunteers to deliver more services.
Local governments that contract out more services to private organizations may use volunteers in more services to lower administrative costs.
Volunteer use may serve as a strategy for local governments to leverage resources from the environment and to reduce the transaction costs of depending on other organizations.
A fast algorithm for finding K shortest paths using generalized spur path reuse technique
Authors: Chen Bi Yu , Chen Xiao‐Wei , Chen Hui‐Ping , Lam William H. K. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe problem of finding the K shortest paths (KSPs) between a pair of nodes in a road network is an important network optimization problem with broad applications. Yen's algorithm is a classical algorithm for exactly solving the KSP problem. However, it requires numerous shortest path searches, which can be computationally intensive for real large networks. This study proposes a fast algorithm by introducing a generalized spur path reuse technique. Using this technique, shortest paths calculated during the KSP finding process are stored. Accordingly, many shortest path searches can be avoided by reusing these stored paths. The results of computational experiments on several large‐scale road networks show that the introduced generalized spur path reuse technique can avoid more than 98% of shortest path searches in the KSP finding process. The proposed algorithm speeds up Yen's algorithm by up to 98.7 times in experimental networks.
The role of alanine synthesis and nitrate‐induced nitric oxide production during hypoxia stress in Cucurbita pepo nectaries
Authors: Solhaug Erik M. , Roy Rahul , Venterea Rodney T. , Carter Clay J. 
Published: October 2020

SUMMARYFloral nectar is a sugary solution produced by nectaries to attract and reward pollinators. Nectar metabolites, such as sugars, are synthesized within the nectary during secretion from both pre‐stored and direct phloem‐derived precursors. In addition to sugars, nectars contain nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids; however, little is known about the role(s) of nitrogen (N) compounds in nectary function. In this study, we investigated N metabolism in Cucurbita pepo (squash) floral nectaries in order to understand how various N‐containing compounds are produced and determine the role of N metabolism in nectar secretion. The expression and activity of key enzymes involved in primary N assimilation, including nitrate reductase (NR) and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), were induced during secretion in C. pepo nectaries. Alanine (Ala) accumulated to about 35% of total amino acids in nectaries and nectar during peak secretion; however, alteration of vascular nitrate supply had no impact on Ala accumulation during secretion, suggesting that nectar(y) amino acids are produced by precursors other than nitrate. In addition, nitric oxide (NO) is produced from nitrate and nitrite, at least partially by NR, in nectaries and nectar. Hypoxia‐related processes are induced in nectaries during secretion, including lactic acid and ethanolic fermentation. Finally, treatments that alter nitrate supply affect levels of hypoxic metabolites, nectar volume and nectar sugar composition. The induction of N metabolism in C. pepo nectaries thus plays an important role in the synthesis and secretion of nectar sugar.
Ectopic overexpression of a membrane‐tethered transcription factor gene NAC60 from oilseed rape positively modulates programmed cell death and age‐triggered leaf senescence
Authors: Yan Jingli , Chen Qinqin , Cui Xing , Zhao Peiyu , Gao Shidong , Yang Bo , Liu Jian‐Xiang , Tong Tiantian , Deyholos Michael K. , Jiang Yuan‐Qing 
Published: October 2020

SummarySenescence is an integrative final stage of plant development that is governed by internal and external cues. The NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2 (NAC) transcription factor (TF) family is specific to plants and membrane‐tethered NAC TFs (MTTFs) constitute a unique and sophisticated mechanism in stress responses and development. However, the function of MTTFs in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) remains unknown. Here, we report that BnaNAC60 is an MTTF associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Expression of BnaNAC60 was induced during the progression of leaf senescence. Translocation of BnaNAC60 into nuclei was induced by ER stress and oxidative stress treatments. It binds to the NTLBS motif, rather than the canonical NAC recognition site. Overexpression of BnaNAC60 devoid of the transmembrane domain, but not the full‐length BnaNAC60, induces significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and hypersensitive response‐like cell death in both tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and oilseed rape protoplasts. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of BnaNAC60 devoid of the transmembrane domain, but not the full‐length BnaNAC60, in Arabidopsis also induces precocious leaf senescence. Furthermore, screening and expression profiling identified an array of functional genes that are significantly induced by BnaNAC60 expression. Further it was found that BnaNAC60 can activate the promoter activities of BnaNYC1, BnaRbohD, BnaBFN1, BnaZAT12, and multiple BnaVPEs in a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to quantitative PCR assays revealed that BnaNAC60 directly binds to the promoter regions of these downstream target genes. To summarize, our data show that BnaNAC60 is an MTTF that modulates cell death, ROS accumulation, and leaf senescence.
Strigolactone biosynthesis, transport and perception
Authors: Mashiguchi Kiyoshi , Seto Yoshiya , Yamaguchi Shinjiro 
Published: October 2020

SummaryStrigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that regulate diverse developmental processes and environmental responses. They are also known to be root‐derived chemical signals that regulate symbiotic and parasitic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root parasitic plants, respectively. Since the discovery of the hormonal function of SLs in 2008, there has been much progress in the SL research field. In particular, a number of breakthroughs have been achieved in our understanding of SL biosynthesis, transport and perception. The discovery of the hormonal function of SL was quite valuable not only as the identification of a new class of plant hormones, but also as the discovery of the long‐sought‐after SL biosynthetic and response mutants. These mutants in several plant species provided us the genetic resources to address fundamental questions regarding SL biosynthesis and perception. Such mutants were further characterized later, and biochemical analyses of these genetically identified factors have uncovered the outline of SL biosynthesis and perception so far. Moreover, new genes involved in SL transport have been discovered through reverse genetic analyses. In this review, we summarize recent advances in SL research with a focus on biosynthesis, transport and perception.
Modeling and Analysis of Iron Mass Transfer Behaviors in Supercritical Boiler Steam-Water System
Authors: Wang Chao , Li Hongyuan , Chen Can , Zeng Zilun , Khan Hasan Izhar , Xu Hong , Xiao Zhuonan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Iron (Fe) concentration is a crucial parameter for boiler safety. However, as the working fluid circulation circuits cross each other, and the working fluid operational parameters change over a wide range, monitoring the Fe content and evaluating pipeline safety are very difficult. The mass transfer process of Fe in a complex water circulation system was described by constructing a network calculation model of Fe mass transfer in the steam-water circulation system of a supercritical boiler. The distribution of Fe and the corrosion/deposition rate in the system was calculated and analyzed. The influence of a Fe mass disturbance in single or multiple equipment on the mass distribution of Fe in the system is discussed. The results show that model calculation data is close to the operational data. Under the effect of cyclic mass transfer, both the granular and dissolved Fe cannot be ignored. During one cycle, about 36% of Fe was deposited on the system tube; however, the deposition amount in the steam generator and superheater section accounted for 81.2% of the total deposition amount, and the rest was deposited in the low-temperature pipeline. The influence of disturbance on other nodes in the network is quite different, which provides the possibility of discriminating the location of the disturbance node. The research results can provide a theoretical reference for water chemical control and safety during the operation.
Combined-Hole Film Cooling Designs Based on the Construction of Antikidney Vortex Structure: A Review
Authors: Zhu Rui , Zhang Guohua , Li Shulei , Xie Gongnan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Film cooling is one of the most efficient and widely used cooling methods for high-temperature components. The interaction between the film cooling jet and main flow creates the counter-rotating vortex pair (CRVP), which enhances the mixing between coolant and hot stream and lifts the coolant film off the protected surface. The desire to overcome the unfavorable effects of CRVP and thus efficiently improve cooling effectiveness promotes various new combined-hole designs for film cooling. In this review paper, a summary of previous progress on film cooling and a special focus on recent literature related to the combined-hole film cooling designs with less difficulty in machining are provided. The underlying mechanisms of the enhancement in cooling effectiveness and film coverage due to antikidney vortex structure by combined holes are analyzed. Some perspectives on future prospects are finally addressed.