bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recurrent Mobility: Urban Conduits for Diffusion of Energy Efficiency
Authors: Mohammadi Neda , Taylor John E. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRecent advances in energy technologies, policies, and practices have accelerated the global rate of improvements in energy efficiency, bringing the energy targets identified in the 2030 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Agenda within reach. However, Target 7.3 requires this rate to double by 2030, demanding a more substantial response to energy interventions. At present, energy interventions are failing to reach optimal levels of adoption in buildings, which are the largest urban energy consumers. This is due to a combination of direct and indirect effects generally referred to as the energy efficiency gap. Here, we compare over 18.8 million positional records of individuals against Greater London’s buildings energy consumption records over the course of one year. We demonstrate that indirect (i.e., spillover) effects, arising fromrecurrent mobility, govern the diffusion of urban buildings’ energy efficiency, far outpacing direct effects. This has been understood as a consequence of underlying spatiotemporal dependencies at the intersection of energy use and social interactions. We add to this the critical role of recurrent mobility (i.e., the mobility of those urban populations who repeatedly visit certain locations, such as home and work) as a diffusion conduit. These findings suggest that in order to improve the current levels of adoption, interventions must target times and locations that function as dense hubs of energy consumption and social interactions. Recurrent mobility thus provides a viable complement to existing targeted intervention approaches aimed at improving energy efficiency, supporting efforts to meet the UN’s 2030 energy targets.
Association of imaging factors derived from convolutional neural network with visual outcomes in age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
Authors: Lee Hyungwoo , Jang Minsu , Kim Hyung Chan , Chung Hyewon 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe investigated the association of visual outcome in typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with or without pachychoroid with lesion areas on optical coherence tomography (OCT) quantified by convolutional neural network (CNN) analysis. Treatment-naïve 132 nAMD and 45 PCV eyes treated with ranibizumab or aflibercept for at least 12 months were retrospectively reviewed. Significant factors, including intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) and subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) area quantified by CNN at baseline and 12 months, were analyzed by logistic regression analyses for 3-line visual gain or maintenance of 20/30 Snellen vision. Visual gain at the final visit in nAMD was associated with a smaller SHRM at baseline (OR 0.167, P = 0.03), greater decrease in SRF and SHRM from baseline to month 12 (OR 1.564, P = 0.02; OR 12.877, P = 0.01, respectively). Visual gain in nAMD without pachychoroid was associated with a greater decrease in SRF and SHRM (OR 1.574, P = 0.03, OR 1.775, P = 0.04). No association was found in nAMD with pachychoroid and any type of PCV. Greater decrease in SRF and SHRM from baseline to month 12 was associated with favorable visual outcomes in nAMD without pachychoroid but not in nAMD with pachychoroid and PCV.
Simulation studies for characterizing ultrashort bunches using novel polarizable X-band transverse deflection structures
Authors: Marx Daniel , Assmann Ralph W. , Craievich Paolo , Floettmann Klaus , Grudiev Alexej , Marchetti Barbara 
Published: December 2019

AbstractTransverse deflection structures are useful devices for characterizing the longitudinal properties of bunches in electron accelerators. With efforts to produce ever-shorter bunches for applications such as external injection into novel accelerator structures, e.g. plasma cells or dielectric structures, the applicability of deflection structures to measuring ultrashort bunches has been considered. In this paper, charge-density and bunch-length measurements of femtosecond and subfemtosecond bunches at the ARES linac at the SINBAD facility at DESY are studied with simulations and the limitations discussed in detail. The novel polarizable X-band transverse deflection structure (PolariX-TDS) will allow the streaking of bunches at all transverse angles, making a 3D charge-density reconstruction of bunches possible, in addition to the standard 1D charge-density reconstruction and bunch-length measurements. These various measurements of the charge-density distributions of bunches have been simulated, and it is shown that useful information about ultrashort bunches down to subfemtosecond lengths may be obtained using the setup planned for the ARES linac.
Blockade of ROCK inhibits migration of human primary keratinocytes and malignant epithelial skin cells by regulating actomyosin contractility
Authors: Srinivasan Srisathya , Das Sreya , Surve Vishakha , Srivastava Ankita , Kumar Sushant , Jain Nikita , Sawant Abhijeet , Nayak Chitra , Purwar Rahul 
Published: December 2019

AbstractActomyosin contractility, crucial for several physiological processes including migration, is controlled by the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC). Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) are predominant kinases that phosphorylate MLC. However, the distinct roles of these kinases in regulating actomyosin contractility and their subsequent impact on the migration of healthy and malignant skin cells is poorly understood. We observed that blockade of ROCK in healthy primary keratinocytes (HPKs) and epidermal carcinoma cell line (A-431 cells) resulted in loss of migration, contractility, focal adhesions, stress fibres, and changes in morphology due to reduction in phosphorylated MLC levels. In contrast, blockade of MLCK reduced migration, contractile dynamics, focal adhesions and phosphorylated MLC levels of HPKs alone and had no effect on A-431 cells due to the negligible MLCK expression. Using genetically modified A-431 cells expressing phosphomimetic mutant of p-MLC, we show that ROCK dependent phosphorylated MLC controls the migration, focal adhesion, stress fibre organization and the morphology of the cells. In conclusion, our data indicate that ROCK is the major kinase of MLC phosphorylation in both HPKs and A-431 cells, and regulates the contractility and migration of healthy as well as malignant skin epithelial cells.
Hto, Tritiated Amino Acid Exposure and External Exposure Induce Differential Effects on Hematopoiesis and Iron Metabolism
Authors: Bertho Jean-Marc , Kereselidze Dimitri , Manens Line , Culeux Cécile , Magneron Victor , Surette Joel , Blimkie Melinda , Bertrand Linsdey , Wyatt Heather , Souidi Maâmar , Dublineau Isabelle , Priest Nicholas , Jourdain Jean-René 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe increased potential for tritium releases from either nuclear reactors or from new facilities raises questions about the appropriateness of the current ICRP and WHO recommendations for tritium exposures to human populations. To study the potential toxicity of tritium as a function of dose, including at a regulatory level, mice were chronically exposed to tritium in drinking water at one of three concentrations, 10 kBq.l−1, 1 MBq.l−1 or 20 MBq.l−1. Tritium was administered as either HTO or as tritiated non-essential amino acids (TAA). After one month’s exposure, a dose-dependent decrease in red blood cells (RBC) and iron deprivation was seen in all TAA exposed groups, but not in the HTO exposed groups. After eight months of exposure this RBC decrease was compensated by an increase in mean globular volume - suggesting the occurrence of an iron deficit-associated anemia. The analysis of hematopoiesis, of red blood cell retention in the spleen and of iron metabolism in the liver, the kidneys and the intestine suggested that the iron deficit was due to a decrease in iron absorption from the intestine. In contrast, mice exposed to external gamma irradiation at equivalent dose rates did not show any change in red blood cell numbers, white blood cell numbers or in the plasma iron concentration. These results showed that health effects only appeared following chronic exposure to concentrations of tritium above regulatory levels and the effects seen were dependent upon the speciation of tritium.
Conformational and functional characterization of artificially conjugated non-canonical ubiquitin dimers
Authors: Schneider Tobias , Berg Andrej , Ulusoy Zeynel , Gamerdinger Martin , Peter Christine , Kovermann Michael 
Published: December 2019

AbstractUbiquitylation is an eminent posttranslational modification referring to the covalent attachment of single ubiquitin molecules or polyubiquitin chains to a target protein dictating the fate of such labeled polypeptide chains. Here, we have biochemically produced artificially Lys11-, and Lys27-, and Lys63-linked ubiquitin dimers based on click-chemistry generating milligram quantities in high purity. We show that the artificial linkage used for the conjugation of two ubiquitin moieties represents a fully reliable surrogate of the natural isopeptide bond by acquiring highly resolved nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data including ligand binding studies. Extensive coarse grained and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow to extract structures representing the ensemble of domain-domain conformations used to verify the experimental data. Advantageously, this methodology does not require individual isotopic labeling of both ubiquitin moieties as NMR data have been acquired on the isotopically labeled proximal moiety and complementary MD simulations have been used to fully interpret the experimental data in terms of domain-domain conformation. This combined approach intertwining NMR spectroscopy with MD simulations makes it possible to describe the conformational space non-canonically Lys11-, and Lys27-linked ubiquitin dimers occupy in a solution averaged ensemble by taking atomically resolved information representing all residues in ubiquitin dimers into account.
9-ING-41, a small molecule inhibitor of GSK-3beta, potentiates the effects of anticancer therapeutics in bladder cancer
Authors: Kuroki Hiroo , Anraku Tsutomu , Kazama Akira , Bilim Vladimir , Tasaki Masayuki , Schmitt Daniel , Mazar Andrew P. , Giles Francis J , Ugolkov Andrey , Tomita Yoshihiko 
Published: December 2019

AbstractGlycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), a serine/threonine kinase, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in human bladder cancer. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effect of a small molecule GSK-3β inhibitor, 9-ING-41, currently in clinical studies in patients with advanced cancer, in bladder cancer cell lines. We found that treatment with 9-ING-41 leads to cell cycle arrest, autophagy and apoptosis in bladder cancer cells. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine potentiated the antitumor effects of 9-ING-41 when tested in combination studies. Our findings also demonstrate that 9-ING-41 enhanced the growth inhibitory effects of gemcitabine or cisplatin when used in combination in bladder cancer cells. Finally, we found that 9-ING-41 sensitized bladder cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of human immune effector cells. Our results provide a rationale for the inclusion of patients with advanced bladder cancer in clinical studies of 9-ING-41.
Computational assessment of the retinal vascular tortuosity integrating domain-related information
Authors: Ramos L. , Novo J. , Rouco J. , Romeo S. , Álvarez M. D. , Ortega M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe retinal vascular tortuosity presents a valuable potential as a clinical biomarker of many relevant vascular and systemic diseases. Commonly, the existent approaches face the tortuosity quantification by means of fully mathematical representations of the vessel segments. However, the specialists, based on their diagnostic experience, commonly analyze additional domain-related information that is not represented in these mathematical metrics of reference. In this work, we propose a novel computational tortuosity metric that outperforms the mathematical metrics of reference also incorporating anatomical properties of the fundus image such as the distinction between arteries and veins, the distance to the optic disc, the distance to the fovea, and the vessel caliber. The evaluation of its prognostic performance shows that the integration of the anatomical factors provides an accurate tortuosity assessment that is more adjusted to the specialists’ perception.
Lyse-Reseal Erythrocytes for Transfection of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Govindarajalu Gokulapriya , Rizvi Zeba , Kumar Deepak , Sijwali Puran Singh 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSimple and efficient transfection methods for genetic manipulation of Plasmodium falciparum are desirable to identify, characterize and validate the genes with therapeutic potential and better understand parasite biology. Among the available transfection techniques for P. falciparum, electroporation-based methods, particularly electroporation of ring-infected RBCs is routinely used. Nonetheless, transfection of P. falciparum remains a resource-intensive procedure. Here, we report a simple and economic transfection method for P. falciparum, which is termed as the lyse-reseal erythrocytes for transfection (LyRET). It involved lysis of erythrocytes with a hypotonic RBC lysis buffer containing the desired plasmid DNA, followed by resealing by adding a high salt buffer. These DNA-encapsulated lyse-reseal erythrocytes were mixed with P. falciparum trophozoite/schizont stages and subjected to selection for the plasmid-encoded drug resistance. In parallel, transfections were also done by the methods utilizing electroporation of DNA into uninfected RBCs and parasite-infected RBCs. The LyRET method successfully transfected 3D7 and D10 strains with different plasmids in 63 of the 65 attempts, with success rate similar to transfection by electroporation of DNA into infected RBCs. The cost effectiveness and comparable efficiency of LyRET method makes it an alternative to the existing transfection methods for P. falciparum, particularly in resource-limited settings.
De novo Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Differentially Expressed in the Scion of Homografted and Heterografted Tomato Seedlings
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhou Peng , Zhu Wenying , Wang Fu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractTomato is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide. Grafting is an agricultural technique that is used to improve growth, yield, and resistance to diverse stresses in tomato production. Here, we examined the differences between the scion of heterografted (‘Provence’/‘Haomei’) and homografted (‘Provence’/‘Provence’) tomato seedlings. We observed anatomical changes during the graft-union healing process in heterografted and homografted tomato seedlings and conducted transcriptome analyses of the ‘Provence’ scion from both graft combinations. With the development of calli from both graft partners, the isolation layer became thinner at 16 d after grafting (DAG). Compared with that of homografts, the healing in heterografts was slightly delayed, but the graft union had completely healed at 21 DAG. In total, 858 significantly differentially expressed genes were detected between the transcriptomes of heterografts and homografts at 16 DAG. Functional pathways identified by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were associated with primary and secondary metabolism, hormone signalling, transcription factor regulation, transport, and responses to stimuli. Many differentially expressed genes were involved in pathways associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling, plant hormone signalling, and oxidative stress. A number of transcription factors were up-regulated in the scion of heterografted seedlings. The results provide a valuable resource for the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, and candidate genes for functional analyses, of heterograft and homograft systems.
Probing Charge Transport Difference in Parallel and Vertical Layered Electronics with Thin Graphite Source/Drain Contacts
Authors: Li Jiayi , Lee Ko-Chun , Hsieh Meng-Hsun , Yang Shih-Hsien , Chang Yuan-Ming , Chang Jen-Kuei , Lin Che-Yi , Lin Yen-Fu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn the present study, we aim to help improve the design of van der Waals stacking, i.e., vertical 2D electronics, by probing charge transport differences in both parallel and vertical conducting channels of layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), with thin graphite acting as source and drain electrodes. To avoid systematic errors and variable contact contributions to the MoS2 channel, parallel and vertical electronics are all fabricated and measured on the same conducting material. Large differences in the on/off current ratio, mobility, and charge fluctuations, between parallel and vertical electronics are evident in electrical performance as well as in charge transport mechanisms. Further insights are drawn from a well-constrained analysis of both temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics and low-frequency (LF) current fluctuations. This work offers significant insight into the fundamental understanding of charge transport and the development of future layered-materials-based integration technology.
Analogue Orientation Control of a Carbon Fibre in a Nematic Liquid Crystal
Authors: Lee Jun-Yong , Lev Bohdan , Kim Jong-Hyun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA carbon fibre is a rod-like microstructure, the longitudinal axis of which is aligned with the orientation of the director in a nematic liquid crystal. A nematic liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy is mixed with carbon fibres. By applying an electric field perpendicular to the director, the carbon fibres tend to rotate in response to the electric field, and the directors around the carbon fibres tends to suppress the rotation. We control individual carbon fibres to obtain an expected orientation by handling the competition of two actions. The carbon fibre barely reacts in a small electric field. Meanwhile, when the threshold electric field is exceeded, the carbon fibre rotates with a steep gradient in the direction of the electric field. The change in the rotation shows little hysteresis. As the length of the carbon fibre is increased, the threshold electric field decreases. We analysed the above process with a theoretical model considering the response of the carbon fibre and liquid crystal. This study shows the possibility of accurate analogue orientation control of individual rod-like microstructures.
Citrulline prevents age-related LTP decline in old rats
Authors: Ginguay Antonin , Regazzetti Anne , Laprevote Olivier , Moinard Christophe , De Bandt Jean-Pascal , Cynober Luc , Billard Jean-Marie , Allinquant Bernadette , Dutar Patrick 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe prevalence of cognitive decline is increasing as the ageing population is considerably growing. Restricting this age-associated process has become a challenging public health issue. The age-related increase in oxidative stress plays a major role in cognitive decline, because of its harmful effect on functional plasticity of the brain, such as long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we show that citrulline (Cit) has powerful antioxidant properties that can limit ex vivo oxidative stress-induced LTP impairment in the hippocampus. We also illustrate that a three-month Cit supplementation has a protective effect on LTP in aged rats in vivo. The identification of a Cit oxidation byproduct in vitro suggests that the antioxidant properties of Cit could result from its own oxidation. Cit supplementation may be a promising preventive nutritional approach to limit age-related cognitive decline.
Association between Upper-airway Surgery and Ameliorative Risk Markers of Endothelial Function in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Wang Fan , Liu Yuenan , Xu Huajun , Qian Yingjun , Zou Jianyin , Yi Hongliang , Guan Jian , Yin Shankai 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of upper-airway surgery on improvement of endothelial function-related markers in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Subjects with moderate to severe OSA who underwent upper-airway surgery, with a follow-up duration of at least 6 months, were included. Pre- and postoperative polysomnographic variables and endothelial function-related markers were compared. Subgroup and correlation analyses were conducted to find possible indicators for better endothelial function-related markers after upper-airway surgery. In total, 44 patients with OSA were included. The mean follow-up duration was 1.72 ± 0.92 years. Serum VEGFA [−20.29 (CI: −35.27, −5.31), p < 0.05], Ang2 [−0.06 (CI: −0.16, 0.03), p < 0.05], E-selectin [−7.21 (CI: −11.01, −3.41), p < 0.001], VWF [−58.83 (CI: −103.93, −13.73), p < 0.05], VWFCP [−33.52 (CI: −66.34, −0.70), p < 0.05], and TM [−0.06 (CI: −0.09, −0.03), p < 0.05] were significantly lower after upper-airway surgery. However, other risk markers of endothelial function, such as Ang1, ICAM1, VEGFR1, and VCAM, did not change significantly. Correlations between improved endothelial function-related markers and ameliorated oxyhemoglobin saturation and glucolipid metabolism were established. Upper-airway surgery might be associated with an improvement in endothelial function in patients with OSA. These changes may be associated with improved oxygen saturation after upper-airway surgery.
Efficient production and transmission of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutant alleles at the IG-DMR via generation of mosaic mice using a modified 2CC method
Authors: Hara Satoshi , Terao Miho , Muramatsu Akari , Takada Shuji 
Published: December 2019

AbstractGeneration of mutant imprinting control region (ICR) mice using genome editing is an important approach for elucidating ICR functions. IG-DMR is an ICR in the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain that contains functional regions—in both parental alleles—that are essential for embryonic development. One drawback of this approach is that embryonic lethality can occur from aberrant expression of the imprinted genes if IG-DMR gets mutated in either the paternal or maternal allele. To overcome this problem, we generated mosaic mice that contained cells with modified IG-DMR alleles and wild-type cells using the 2CC method that allowed for microinjection of the CRISPR/Cas9 constructs into a blastomere of 2-cell embryos. This method improved the birth rate of the founder pups relative to that obtained using the standard protocol. We also successfully produced mosaic mice in which the tandem repeat array sequence in the IG-DMR had been replaced by homology directed repair. Additionally, paternal transmission of the replaced allele caused aberrant expression of the imprinted genes due to hypomethylation of the IG-DMR, indicating that the replaced allele recapitulated our deletion model. Our results indicate that this method is useful for the generation of mutant mice in which a genomic locus essential for normal development has been genetically edited.