bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Room temperature deformation of single crystals of Ti5Si3 with the hexagonal D88 structure investigated by micropillar compression tests
Authors: Kishida Kyosuke , Fukuyama Takayoshi , Maruyama Takuto , Inui Haruyuki 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMicropillar compression tests of Ti5Si3 single crystals were conducted at room temperature as a function of loading axis orientation and specimen size in order to investigate their room temperature plastic deformation behavior. Plastic flow by the operation of three deformation modes, {1$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

00}[0001], {2$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

2} < 2$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

$${\overline{3}}$$

3
¯

> and {1$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

01} < 2$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

$${\overline{3}}$$

3
¯

> slip were observed in [2$${\overline{2}}$$

2
¯

05]-, [0001]- and [4$${\overline{3}}$$

3
¯

$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

0]-oriented micropillar specimens deformed at room temperature, respectively. The CRSS values were evaluated to be very high above 2.7 GPa and were confirmed to increase up to about 6 GPa with the decrease in the specimen size. The fracture toughness values are evaluated to be 0.45 MPa m1/2 (notch plane // (0001)) and 0.73 MPa m1/2 (notch plane //(1$${\overline{1}}$$

1
¯

00)) based on the results of micro-cantilever bend tests of chevron-notched specimens. The fracture toughness values are considerably lower than those for D8l-Mo5SiB2 and D8l-Nb5Si3 evaluated by the same method, indicating the inherent brittleness of binary Ti5Si3 compared to the other transition-metal silicides of the TM5Si3 type (TM: transition-metal).
Characterization of bacterial communities associated with the exotic and heavy metal tolerant wetland plant Spartina alterniflora
Authors: Yang Ying , Ding Jian , Chi Yulang , Yuan Jianjun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHeavy metal pollution has seriously disrupted eco-balance and transformed estuaries into sewage depots. Quanzhou bay is a typical heavy metal-contaminated estuary, in which Spartina alterniflora has widely invaded. Plant-associated microbial communities are crucial for biogeochemical cycles, studies of which would be helpful to demonstrate the invasion mechanisms of plants. Meanwhile, they are indispensable to phytoremediation by enhancing the heavy metal tolerance of plants, facilitating heavy metal absorption rate and promoting growth of plants. In the present study, S. alterniflora-associated rhizo- and endobacterial communities from 3 experimental sites were investigated by 454-pyrosequencing. Heavy metal screening generated 16 culturable isolates, further biochemical assays suggested these clones possess various abilities such as phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production to accelerate heavy metal uptake and growth of the host. This study revealed the bacterial community structures and characterized the predominant resident bacterial strains of S. alterniflora-associated rhizo- and endobacteria under heavy metal stress, and isolated several bacterial species with potential ecological function.
Evidence of wet-dry cycles and mega-droughts in the Eemian climate of southeast Australia
Authors: McGowan Hamish , Campbell Micheline , Callow John Nikolaus , Lowry Andrew , Wong Henri 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUnderstanding past climate variability is critical to informing debate of likely impacts of global warming on weather and climate, and water resources. Here we present a near annual resolution reconstruction of climate developed from a speleothem that spans the Eemian [Marine Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5e)] from 117,500 to 123,500 years BP—the most recent period in the Earth’s history when temperatures were similar to those of today. Using 25 Mg, 88Sr, and 137Ba as proxies, we show the first indication of solar and teleconnection cyclic forcing of Eemian climate in southeast Australia, a region at present often affected by severe drought and bushfires. We find evidence for multi-centennial dry periods interpreted as mega-droughts, and highlight the importance of understanding the causes of these in the context of a rapidly warming world, where temperatures are now, or projected to exceed those of the Eemian.
Multiband linear and circular polarization rotating metasurface based on multiple plasmonic resonances for C, X and K band applications
Authors: Khan M. Ismail , Chen Yixiao , Hu Bin , Ullah Naeem , Bukhari Syed Hashim Raza , Iqbal Shahid 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this work, a multiband polarization converting metasurface is presented which achieves cross-polarization conversion in five frequency bands while linear-to-circular and circular-to-linear polarization transformation in eight frequency bands. The polarization transforming functionality of the structure is spread over an ultra-wide frequency range (5–37 GHz) covering most of X, C, Ku, K and Ka bands. Such an extraordinary ultra-wideband operation originates from multiple plasmonic resonances occurring in the structure based on two coupled rectangular split-ring resonators. Moreover, the polarization transforming capability is stable within the frequency range 5–19 GHz for wide oblique incidence angles, which is up to 60°, both for transverse-electric and transverse-magnetic polarizations. Furthermore, the proposed structure acts as a meta-mirror which preserves handedness of the circular polarization upon reflection. Measurements performed on the fabricated metasurface are found to be consistent with numerical simulation results. The ability to perform three functionalities through a single compact structure with extraordinary wideband, qualifies the proposed design to be a promising candidate for integration with important microwave applications such as satellite, radar, and 5G communication.
Loss of RBMS1 as a regulatory target of miR-106b influences cell growth, gap closing and colony forming in prostate carcinoma
Authors: Dankert Jaroslaw Thomas , Wiesehöfer Marc , Wach Sven , Czyrnik Elena Dilâra , Wennemuth Gunther 
Published: October 2020

AbstractProstate carcinoma (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males worldwide. Among hereditary genetic mutations and nutrient factors, a link between the deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression and the development of prostate carcinoma is assumed. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and which are involved in tumour development and progression as oncogenes or tumour suppressors. Although many genes could be confirmed as targets for deregulated miRNAs, the impact of differentially expressed miRNA and their regulatory target genes on prostate tumour development and progression are not fully understood yet. We could validate RBMS1, a barely described RNA-binding protein, as a new target gene for oncogenic miR-106b, which was identified as an induced miRNA in PCa. Further analysis revealed a loss of RBMS1 expression in prostate tumours compared to corresponding normal tissue. Overexpression of RBMS1 in DU145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells resulted in diminished cell proliferation, colony forming ability as well as in retarded gap closing. Our results demonstrate for the first time a miR-106b dependent downregulation of RBMS1 in prostate carcinoma. Additionally, we show new tumour suppressive properties of RBMS1 whose observed loss may further elucidate the development of PCa.
Use of Cap Analysis Gene Expression to detect human papillomavirus promoter activity patterns at different disease stages
Authors: Taguchi Ayumi , Nagasaka Kazunori , Plessy Charles , Nakamura Hiroe , Kawata Yoshiko , Kato Sachi , Hashimoto Kosuke , Nagamatsu Takeshi , Oda Katsutoshi , Kukimoto Iwao , Kawana Kei , Carninci Piero , Osuga Yutaka , Fujii Tomoyuki 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTranscription of human papillomavirus (HPV) genes proceeds unidirectionally from multiple promoters. Direct profiling of transcription start sites (TSSs) by Cap Analysis Gene Expression (CAGE) is a powerful strategy for examining individual HPV promoter activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate alterations of viral promoter activity during infection using CAGE technology. We used CAGE-based sequencing of 46 primary cervical samples, and quantitatively evaluated TSS patterns in the HPV transcriptome at a single-nucleotide resolution. TSS patterns were classified into two types: early promoter-dominant type (Type A) and late promoter-dominant type (Type B). The Type B pattern was more frequently found in CIN1 and CIN2 lesions than in CIN3 and cancer samples. We detected transcriptomes from multiple HPV types in five samples. Interestingly, in each sample, the TSS patterns of both HPV types were the same. The viral gene expression pattern was determined by the differentiation status of the epithelial cells, regardless of HPV type. We performed unbiased analyses of TSSs across the HPV genome in clinical samples. Visualising TSS pattern dynamics, including TSS shifts, provides new insights into how HPV infection status relates to disease state.
Intracellular accumulation capacity of gadoxetate: initial results for a novel biomarker of liver function
Authors: Fahlenkamp Ute Lina , Ziegeler Katharina , Adams Lisa Christine , Böker Sarah Maria , Engel Günther , Makowski Marcus Richard 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPrevious studies have shown gadoxetate disodium’s potential to represent liver function by its retention in the hepatobiliary phase. Additionally, in cardiac imaging, quantitative characterization of altered parenchyma is established by extracellular volume (ECV) calculation with extracellular contrast agents. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate whether intracellular accumulation capacity (IAC) of gadoxetate disodium derived from ECV calculation provides added scientific value in terms of liver function compared to the established parameter reduction rate (RR). After local review board approval, 105 patients undergoing standard MR examination with gadoxetate disodium were included. Modified Look-Locker sequences were obtained before and 20 min after contrast agent administration. RR and IAC were calculated and correlated with serum albumin, as a marker of synthetic liver function. Correlation was higher between IAC and albumin, than between RR and albumin. Additionally, capacity of both RR and IAC to distinguish between patients with or without liver cirrhosis was investigated, and differed significantly in their respective means between patients with cirrhosis and those without. We concluded, that the formula to calculate ECV can be transferred to calculate IAC of gadoxetate disodium in hepatocytes, and, thereby, IAC may possibly qualify as an imaging-based parameter to estimate synthetic liver function.
Retinal vascular development in an immature retina at 33–34 weeks postmenstrual age predicts retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Jang Ji Hye , Kim Yu Cheol 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn preterm birth, the immature retina can develop a potentially blinding disorder of the eye known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The vaso-proliferative phase of ROP begins at an approximate postmenstrual age (PMA) of 32 weeks. There is little or no evidence of an association between ROP development and retinal status in the early vaso-proliferative phase. We aimed to evaluate the retinal vascular findings of infants at 33–34 weeks PMA to determine their risk of ROP. We reviewed 130 serial wide-field retinal images from 65 preterm infants born before the gestational age of 31 weeks. ROP occurred more frequently in infants having a leading vascular edge within posterior Zone II. This was in contrast to normal infants, who are characterized by complete retinal vascularization up to Zone II at 34 weeks PMA. The probability of ROP development in preterm infants with retinal edge hemorrhage was 24.58 times higher than in preterm infants without retinal edge hemorrhage. Eyes with ROP that required treatment showed significantly delayed retinal vascularization accompanied by pre-plus disease. In conclusion, retinal status in the early vaso-proliferation phase might determine the risk of ROP.
Systems analysis of avascular necrosis of femoral head using integrative data analysis and literature mining delineates pathways associated with disease
Authors: Naik Ashwin Ashok , Narayanan Aswath , Khanchandani Prakash , Sridharan Divya , Sukumar Piruthivi , Srimadh Bhagavatam Sai Krishna , Seshagiri Polani B. , Sivaramakrishnan Venketesh 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAvascular necrosis of femoral head (AVNFH) is a debilitating disease, which affects the middle aged population. Though the disease is managed using bisphosphonate, it eventually leads to total hip replacement due to collapse of femoral head. Studies regarding the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with AVNFH, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, biophysical, ultrastructural and histopathology have been carried out. Functional validation of SNPs was carried out using literature. An integrated systems analysis using the available datasets might help to gain further insights into the disease process. We have carried out an analysis of transcriptomic data from GEO-database, SNPs associated with AVNFH, proteomic and metabolomic data collected from literature. Based on deficiency of vitamins in AVNFH, an enzyme-cofactor network was generated. The datasets are analyzed using ClueGO and the genes are binned into pathways. Metabolomic datasets are analyzed using MetaboAnalyst. Centrality analysis using CytoNCA on the data sets showed cystathionine beta synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA-mutase to be common to 3 out of 4 datasets. Further, the genes common to at least two data sets were analyzed using DisGeNET, which showed their involvement with various diseases, most of which were risk factors associated with AVNFH. Our analysis shows elevated homocysteine, hypoxia, coagulation, Osteoclast differentiation and endochondral ossification as the major pathways associated with disease which correlated with histopathology, IHC, MRI, Micro-Raman spectroscopy etc. The analysis shows AVNFH to be a multi-systemic disease and provides molecular signatures that are characteristic to the disease process.
CUX2, BRAP and ALDH2 are associated with metabolic traits in people with excessive alcohol consumption
Authors: Chen I-Chun , Kuo Po-Hsiu , Yang Albert C. , Tsai Shih-Jen , Liu Tung-Hsia , Liu Hung-Jen , Lan Tsuo-Hung , Chen Hong-Ming , Huang Huang-Nan , Chung Ren-Hua , Liu Yu-Li 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMolecular mechanisms that prompt or mitigate excessive alcohol consumption could be partly explained by metabolic shifts. This genome-wide association study aims to identify the susceptibility gene loci for excessive alcohol consumption by jointly measuring weekly alcohol consumption and γ-GT levels. We analysed the Taiwan Biobank data of 18,363 Taiwanese people, including 1945 with excessive alcohol use. We found that one or two copies of the G allele in rs671 (ALDH2) increased the risk of excessive alcohol consumption, while one or two copies of the C allele in rs3782886 (BRAP) reduced the risk of excessive alcohol consumption. To minimize the influence of extensive regional linkage disequilibrium, we used the ridge regression. The ridge coefficients of rs7398833, rs671 and rs3782886 were unchanged across different values of the shrinkage parameter. The three variants corresponded to posttranscriptional activity, including cut-like homeobox 2 (a protein coded by CUX2), Glu504Lys of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (a protein encoded by ALDH2) and Glu4Gly of BRCA1-associated protein (a protein encoded by BRAP). We found that Glu504Lys of ALDH2 and Glu4Gly of BRAP are involved in the negative regulation of excessive alcohol consumption. The mechanism underlying the γ-GT-catalytic metabolic reaction in excessive alcohol consumption is associated with ALDH2, BRAP and CUX2. Further study is needed to clarify the roles of ALDH2, BRAP and CUX2 in the liver–brain endocrine axis connecting metabolic shifts with excessive alcohol consumption.
Audio-visual combination of syllables involves time-sensitive dynamics following from fusion failure
Authors: Bouton Sophie , Delgado-Saa Jaime , Olasagasti Itsaso , Giraud Anne-Lise 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn face-to-face communication, audio-visual (AV) stimuli can be fused, combined or perceived as mismatching. While the left superior temporal sulcus (STS) is presumably the locus of AV integration, the process leading to combination is unknown. Based on previous modelling work, we hypothesize that combination results from a complex dynamic originating in a failure to integrate AV inputs, followed by a reconstruction of the most plausible AV sequence. In two different behavioural tasks and one MEG experiment, we observed that combination is more time demanding than fusion. Using time-/source-resolved human MEG analyses with linear and dynamic causal models, we show that both fusion and combination involve early detection of AV incongruence in the STS, whereas combination is further associated with enhanced activity of AV asynchrony-sensitive regions (auditory and inferior frontal cortices). Based on neural signal decoding, we finally show that only combination can be decoded from the IFG activity and that combination is decoded later than fusion in the STS. These results indicate that the AV speech integration outcome primarily depends on whether the STS converges or not onto an existing multimodal syllable representation, and that combination results from subsequent temporal processing, presumably the off-line re-ordering of incongruent AV stimuli.
Overexpression of the third H-NS paralogue H-NS2 compensates fitness loss in hns mutants of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain 042
Authors: Prieto A. , Bernabeu M. , Falgenhauer L. , Chakraborty T. , Hüttener M. , Juárez A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMembers of the H-NS protein family play a role both in the chromosome architecture and in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria. The genomes of the enterobacteria encode an H-NS paralogue, the StpA protein. StpA displays specific regulatory properties and provides a molecular backup for H-NS. Some enterobacteria also encode third H-NS paralogues. This is the case of the enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) strain 042, which encodes the hns, stpA and hns2 genes. We provide in this paper novel information about the role of the H-NS2 protein in strain 042. A C > T transition in the hns2 promoter leading to increased H-NS2 expression is readily selected in hns mutants. Increased H-NS2 expression partially compensates for H-NS loss. H-NS2 levels are critical for the strain 042 fitness. Under some circumstances, high H-NS2 expression levels dictated by the mutant hns2 promoter can be deleterious. The selection of T > C revertants or of clones harboring insertional inactivations of the hns2 gene can then occur. Temperature also plays a relevant role in the H-NS2 regulatory activity. At 37 °C, H-NS2 targets a subset of the H-NS repressed genes contributing to their silencing. When temperature drops to 25 °C, the repressory ability of H-NS2 is significantly reduced. At low temperature, H-NS plays the main repressory role.
A short peptide of the C-terminal class Y helices of apolipoprotein A-I has preserved functions in cholesterol efflux and in vivo metabolic control
Authors: Edmunds Shelley J. , Liébana-García Rebeca , Stenkula Karin G. , Lagerstedt Jens O. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractApolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) induces glucose uptake by muscle tissues and stimulates pancreatic insulin secretion, and also facilitates cholesterol transport in circulation, and is explored for anti-diabetic and anti-atherosclerotic treatments. As the better alternative to complex protein–lipid formulations it was recently established that the C-terminal region of the ApoA-I protein singly improves the metabolic control and prevents formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Additional investigations of peptides based on the ApoA-I structure may lead to novel anti-diabetic drugs. We here investigate a short peptide (33mer, RG33) that corresponds to the two last helical segments (aa 209–241) of the ApoA-I structure (so-called class Y-helices which forms amphipathic helices) for stability and solubility in serum, for in vitro cholesterol efflux capability, and for providing in vivo glucose control in an insulin resistant mouse model. The RG33 peptide efficiently solubilizes lipid-vesicles, and promotes the efflux of cholesterol from cultured macrophages. The efflux capacity is significantly increased in the presence of lipids compared to non-lipidated RG33. Finally, acute treatment with the RG33 peptide significantly improves the glucose clearance capacity of insulin resistant mice. The impact of the RG33 peptide on glucose control and cholesterol transport, as well as the physicochemical properties, makes it a good candidate for translational exploration of its therapeutic potential in diabetes treatment.
Dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinases in human traumatic brain injury
Authors: Minta Karolina , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Al Nimer Faiez , Thelin Eric P. , Piehl Fredrik , Tullberg Mats , Jeppsson Anna , Portelius Erik , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Andreasson Ulf 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Increased expression of MMPs have been described in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may contribute to additional tissue injury and blood–brain barrier damage. The objectives of this study were to determine longitudinal changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of MMPs after acute TBI and in relation to clinical outcomes, with patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) serving as a contrast group. The study included 33 TBI patients with ventricular CSF serially sampled, and 38 iNPH patients in the contrast group. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays were utilized to measure the concentrations of eight MMPs in ventricular human CSF. CSF concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-10 were increased in TBI patients (at baseline) compared with the iNPH group (p < 0.001), while MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-12 did not differ between the groups. MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-10 concentrations decreased with time after trauma (p = 0.001–0.04). Increased concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-10 in CSF at baseline were associated with an unfavourable TBI outcome (p = 0.002–0.02). Observed variable pattern of changes in MMP concentrations indicates that specific MMPs serve different roles in the pathophysiology following TBI, and are in turn associated with clinical outcomes.