bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Behavioural characterisation of chronic unpredictable stress based on ethologically relevant paradigms in rats
Authors: Sequeira-Cordero A. , Salas-Bastos A. , Fornaguera J. , Brenes J. C. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm is extensively used in preclinical research. However, CUS exhibits translational inconsistencies, some of them resulting from the use of adult rodents, despite the evidence that vulnerability for many psychiatric disorders accumulates during early life. Here, we assessed the validity of the CUS model by including ethologically-relevant paradigms in juvenile rats. Thus, socially-isolated (SI) rats were submitted to CUS and compared with SI (experiment 1) and group-housed controls (experiment 1 and 2). We found that lower body-weight gain and hyperlocomotion, instead of sucrose consumption and preference, were the best parameters to monitor the progression of CUS, which also affected gene expression and neurotransmitter contents associated with that CUS-related phenotype. The behavioural characterisation after CUS placed locomotion and exploratory activity as the best stress predictors. By employing the exploratory factor analysis, we reduced each behavioural paradigm to few latent variables which clustered into two general domains that strongly predicted the CUS condition: (1) hyper-responsivity to novelty and mild threats, and (2) anxiety/depressive-like response. Altogether, the analyses of observable and latent variables indicate that early-life stress impairs the arousal-inhibition system leading to augmented and persistent responses towards novel, rewarding, and mildly-threatening stimuli, accompanied by lower body-weight gain.
A Novel Needle-Injectable Millimeter scale Wireless Electrochemical Glucose Sensing Platform for Artificial Pancreas Applications
Authors: Mujeeb-U-Rahman M. , Nazari Meisam. Honarvar , Sencan M. , Antwerp William Van 
Published: November 2019

AbstractModern healthcare systems are under constant pressure to deliver personalized, effective care to billions of patients suffering from chronic non-communicable disease like diabetes. A closed-loop disease management system is an ideal solution for such patients. An example of this is an artificial pancreas for diabetes management. For safe and effective closed-loop disease management, the cost, size, longevity, warm-up time, and response speed need to match the performance of a healthy biological system (e.g. the pancreas). In this paper, a novel needle-injectable mm-size wireless sensing platform is presented to fulfill these requirements for an artificial pancreas by combining advanced microelectronics, nanotechnology and advanced biomaterial science. The proposed platform utilizes a sensor that is smaller than a sesame seed and provides fundamental advantages in terms of fast response speed, high accuracy, short warm-up time, and low cost of goods. Owing to these features, the system will enable true closed-loop glucose control (without any meal announcements and carbohydrate calculations), especially among infants and toddlers. The system has the potential to significantly improve diabetes management and in general chronic disease management for billions of patients.
Epoxy toughening through high pressure and shear rate preprocessing
Authors: Fernández Zapico G. , Ohtake Naoto , Akasaka Hiroki , Munoz-Guijosa J. M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe have successfully conceived and demonstrated a simple, scalable process for improving the fracture energy of epoxy resins. The process is based on the combined application of high pressures (in the order of GPa) and shear rates (in the order of 106 s−1) in the pre-cured polymer, obtaining mechanical forces sufficiently high to increase the reactivity of the monomers due to the scission of the epoxy groups. To achieve these high values of pressure and shear rate, we take advantage of the elastohydrodynamic phenomena occurring at lubricated higher kinematic pairs as, for example, the rolling element – track pair in ball bearings. Experimental results show that, under certain combinations of pressure and shear rate, a substantial improvement in fracture toughness is obtained. SEM observations, Raman spectroscopies, nanoindentation and GPC and NMR measurements show that the process is able to increase the polymer chain length before curing, reducing the number of potential anchor points during the subsequent curing and hence reducing the crosslinking density. The chain lengths obtained are big enough to guarantee adequate stiffness and strength due to increased chain tangling, hence overcoming the drawbacks associated with other toughness promotion methods, such as stiffness and strength reduction.
Relative contributions to vergence eye movements of two binocular cues for motion-in-depth
Authors: Giesel Martin , Yakovleva Alexandra , Bloj Marina , Wade Alex R. , Norcia Anthony M. , Harris Julie M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWhen we track an object moving in depth, our eyes rotate in opposite directions. This type of “disjunctive” eye movement is called horizontal vergence. The sensory control signals for vergence arise from multiple visual cues, two of which, changing binocular disparity (CD) and inter-ocular velocity differences (IOVD), are specifically binocular. While it is well known that the CD cue triggers horizontal vergence eye movements, the role of the IOVD cue has only recently been explored. To better understand the relative contribution of CD and IOVD cues in driving horizontal vergence, we recorded vergence eye movements from ten observers in response to four types of stimuli that isolated or combined the two cues to motion-in-depth, using stimulus conditions and CD/IOVD stimuli typical of behavioural motion-in-depth experiments. An analysis of the slopes of the vergence traces and the consistency of the directions of vergence and stimulus movements showed that under our conditions IOVD cues provided very little input to vergence mechanisms. The eye movements that did occur coinciding with the presentation of IOVD stimuli were likely not a response to stimulus motion, but a phoria initiated by the absence of a disparity signal.
Transcription modulation by CDK9 regulates inflammatory genes and RIPK3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis in periodontitis progression
Authors: Li Jiao , Shi Jiahong , Pan Yue , Zhao Yunhe , Yan Fuhua , Li Houxuan , Lei Lang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), one crucial molecule in promoting the transition from transcription pausing to elongation, is a critical modulator of cell survival and death. However, the pathological function of CDK9 in bacterial inflammatory diseases has never been explored. CDK9 inhibition or knock-down attenuated Porphyromonas gingivalis-triggered inflammatory gene expression. Gene-expression microarray analysis of monocytes revealed that knock-down of CDK9 not only affected inflammatory responses, but also impacted cell death network, especially the receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL)-mediated necroptosis after P. gingivalis infection. Inhibition of CDK9 significantly decreased necroptosis with downregulation of both MLKL and phosphorylated MLKL. By regulating caspase-8 and cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (cFLIP), key molecules in regulating cell survival and death, CDK9 affected not only the classic RIPK1-RIPK3-mediated necroptosis, but also the alternate TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β-RIPK3-mediated necroptosis. CDK9 inhibition dampened pro-inflammatory gene production in the acute infection process in the subcutaneous chamber model in vivo. Moreover, CDK9 inhibition contributed to the decreased periodontal bone loss and inflammatory response induced by P. gingivalis in the periodontal micro-environment. In conclusion, by modulating the RIPK3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis, CDK9 inhibition provided a novel mechanism to impact the progress of bacterial infection in the periodontal milieu.
Analysis of mRNA processing at whole transcriptome level, transcriptomic profile and genome sequence refinement of Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Callejas-Hernández Francisco , Gutierrez-Nogues Ángel , Rastrojo Alberto , Gironès Núria , Fresno Manuel 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe genomic sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease was published more than a decade ago. However, due to their complexity, its complete haploid predicted sequence and therefore its genetic repertoire remains unconfirmed. In this work, we have used RNAseq data to improve the previous genome assembly of Sylvio X10 strain and to define the complete transcriptome at trypomastigote stage (mammalian stage). A total of 22,977 transcripts were identified, of which more than half could be considered novel as they did not match previously annotated genes. Moreover, for the first time in T. cruzi, we are providing their relative abundance levels. We have identified that Sylvio X10 trypomastigotes exhibit a predominance of surface protein genes, specifically those encoding trans-sialidase and mucin-like proteins. On the other hand, detailed analysis of the pre-mRNA processing sites revealed some similarities but also some differences in the spliced leader and different polyadenylation addition sites compared to close related kinetoplastid parasites. Our results also confirm that transcription is bidirectional as occur in other kinetoplastids and the proportion of forward-sense and reverse-sense transcripts is almost equivalent, demonstrating that a strand-specificity does not exist.
Thickness-dependent photoelectric properties of MoS2/Si heterostructure solar cells
Authors: Zhao Yipeng , Ouyang Gang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn order to obtain the optimal photoelectric properties of vertical stacked MoS2/Si heterostructure solar cells, we propose a theoretical model to address the relationship among film thickness, atomic bond identities and related physical quantities in terms of bond relaxation mechanism and detailed balance principle. We find that the vertical stacked MoS2/Si can form type II band alignment, and its photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) enhances with increasing MoS2 thickness. Moreover, the optimal PCE in MoS2/Si can reach 24.76%, inferring that a possible design way can be achieved based on the layered transition metal dichalcogenides and silicon.
Differential value of brain magnetic resonance imaging in multiple system atrophy cerebellar phenotype and spinocerebellar ataxias
Authors: Kim Minkyeong , Ahn Jong Hyeon , Cho Yoonsu , Kim Ji Sun , Youn Jinyoung , Cho Jin Whan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractClinically differentiating multiple system atrophy cerebellar (MSA-C) phenotype and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) is challenging especially in the early stage. We assessed diagnostic value of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating MSA-C and SCAs based at different disease stages (<3, 3–7, and >7 years of disease duration). Overall, 186 patients with probable MSA-C and 117 with genetically confirmed SCAs were included. Hot cross bun (HCB) signs and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) hyperintensities were exclusively prevalent in MSA-C compared to SCAs at <3 years (HCB, 44.6% versus 0.9%; MCP hyperintensities, 38.3% versus 0.9%, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) for HCB signs to differentiate MSA-C from SCAs were 45%, 99%, and 99% and those for MCP hyperintensities were 68%, 99%, and 99%, respectively; considering both HCB signs and MCP hyperintensities, specificity and PPV were 100%. However, the differential value of MRI signs decreased over time. MCP widths were smaller and showed more significant decrease in MSA-C than in SCAs. In conclusion, pontine and MCP changes were exclusively prominent in early stage MSA-C rather than in SCAs. Therefore, we should consider disease duration when interpreting pontine and MCP changes in brain MRIs, which will help better differentiate MSA-C and SCAs.
Ivermectin induces autophagy-mediated cell death through the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in glioma cells
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Liang Hongsheng , Chen Chen , Wang Xiaoxing , Qu Faling , Wang Haiyang , Yang Kongbin , Wang Qing , Zhao Ning , Meng Jing , Gao Aili 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Glioma is one of the most common types of primary brain tumors. Ivermectin (IVM), a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug, has been identified as a novel anticancer agent due to its inhibitory effects on the proliferation of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the ability of IVM to induce autophagy and its role in glioma cell death remains unclear. The main objective of the present study was to explore autophagy induced by IVM in glioma U251 and C6 cells, and the deep underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, we examined the effects of autophagy on apoptosis in glioma cells. In the present study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate autophagy activated by IVM. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assay. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Meanwhile, autophagy inhibition was achieved by using chloroquine (CQ). U251-derived xenografts were established for examination of IVM-induced autophagy on glioma in vivo. Taken together, the results of the present study showed that autophagy induced by IVM has a protective effect on cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, IVM induced autophagy through AKT/mTOR signaling and induced energy impairment. Our findings show that IVM is a promising anticancer agent and may be a potential effective treatment for glioma cancers.
Latest techniques to study DNA methylation
Authors: Gouil Quentin , Keniry Andrew 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Bisulfite sequencing is a powerful technique to detect 5-methylcytosine in DNA that has immensely contributed to our understanding of epigenetic regulation in plants and animals. Meanwhile, research on other base modifications, including 6-methyladenine and 4-methylcytosine that are frequent in prokaryotes, has been impeded by the lack of a comparable technique. Bisulfite sequencing also suffers from a number of drawbacks that are difficult to surmount, among which DNA degradation, lack of specificity, or short reads with low sequence diversity. In this review, we explore the recent refinements to bisulfite sequencing protocols that enable targeting genomic regions of interest, detecting derivatives of 5-methylcytosine, and mapping single-cell methylomes. We then present the unique advantage of long-read sequencing in detecting base modifications in native DNA and highlight the respective strengths and weaknesses of PacBio and Nanopore sequencing for this application. Although analysing epigenetic data from long-read platforms remains challenging, the ability to detect various modified bases from a universal sample preparation, in addition to the mapping and phasing advantages of the longer read lengths, provide long-read sequencing with a decisive edge over short-read bisulfite sequencing for an expanding number of applications across kingdoms.
Quarter cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna with circular polarisation for wideband MIMO systems
Authors: Belazzoug M. , Messaoudene I. , Aidel S. , Denidni T.A. , Kishk A.A. 
Published: November 2019

In this Letter, a quarter cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (Q‐CDRA) with a low profile and circular polarisation (CP) is presented for wideband and multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. The approach used to obtain a reduced wideband CP antenna is realised by deforming the geometry of the CDR to a quarter cylinder and using a quasi‐spiral feedline to excite two resonant modes in phase quadrature (HEM11and HEM12). The proposed design exhibits a wide‐impedance bandwidth (BW) of 34% (4.4–6.2 GHz) with a low measured coupling level<−15 dB, and an axial ratio BW of 24.4% (4.5–5.75 GHz). The antenna gain is stable through the operating BW with a gain peak of 6.4 dBi. In addition, the antenna has a low cross‐polarisation in the boresight direction with low envelope correlation coefficient<0.03. The presented design is suitable for RHCP WLAN applications.
The fate of the interstellar medium in early-type galaxies
Authors: Michałowski M. J. , Hjorth J. , Gall C. , Frayer D. T. , Tsai A.-L. , Hirashita H. , Rowlands K. , Takeuchi T. T. , Leśniewska A. , Behrendt D. , Bourne N. , Hughes D. H. , Spring E. , Zavala J. , Bartczak P. 
Published: November 2019

Context.An important aspect of quenching star formation is the removal of the cold interstellar medium (ISM; non-ionised gas and dust) from a galaxy. In addition, dust grains can be destroyed in a hot or turbulent medium. The adopted timescale of dust removal usually relies on uncertain theoretical estimates. It is tricky to track dust removal because the dust is constantly being replenished by consecutive generations of stars.Aims.Our objective is to carry out an observational measurement of the timescale of dust removal.Methods.We explored an approach to select galaxies that demonstrate detectable amounts of dust and cold ISM coupled with a low current dust production rate. Any decrease of the dust and gas content as a function of the age of such galaxies must, therefore, be attributed to processes governing ISM removal. We used a sample of the galaxies detected byHerschelin the far-infrared with visually assigned early-type morphology or spirals with red colours. We also obtained JCMT/SCUBA-2 observations for five of these galaxies.Results.We discovered an exponential decline of the dust-to-stellar mass ratio with age, which we interpret as an evolutionary trend for the dust removal of these galaxies. For the first time, we have directly measured the dust removal timescale for such galaxies, with a result ofτ = (2.5 ± 0.4) Gyr (the corresponding half-life time is (1.75 ± 0.25) Gyr). This quantity may be applied to models in which it must be assumed a priori and cannot be derived.Conclusions.Any process which removes dust in these galaxies, such as dust grain destruction, cannot happen on shorter timescales. The timescale is comparable to the quenching timescales found in simulations for galaxies with similar stellar masses. The dust is likely of internal, not external origin. It was either formed in the past directly by supernovae (SNe) or from seeds produced by SNe, and with grain growth in the ISM contributing substantially to the dust mass accumulation.
Übergangsmanagement – Probleme und Optimierungsvorschläge aus den Psychiatrischen Institutsambulanzen (PIA)
Authors: Koch-Stoecker Steffi , Schulze Ulrike 
Published: November 2019

ZusammenfassungPIAs bieten mit ihrer multiprofessionellen Ausstattung für die Behandlung psychisch schwerkranker Patientinnen und Patienten im Übergang zwischen KJP und EP strukturell geeignete Rahmenbedingungen für eine gelingende Transition. In den PIAs, sowohl im KJP-Bereich als auch in der EP, wird das aktuell praktizierte Übergangsmanagement – insbesondere bei schweren psychischen Erkrankungen – als defizitär wahrgenommen. Für eine Verbesserung der Transition werden folgende Maßnahmen empfohlen:▪ strukturierte Überleitungsbögen▪ „runde Tische“▪ gemeinsame KJP-EP-Fortbildungen▪ Aufbau von spezifischen Transitionssprechstunden; Finanzierungsbedingungen müssten mit den Sozialleistungsträgern verhandelt werden
Subchondroplasty for Bone Marrow Lesions in the Arthritic Knee Results in Pain Relief and Improvement in Function
Authors: Chua Kenon , Kang Joseph Yida Benjamin , Ng Favian Ding Jie , Pang Hee Nee , Lie Denny Tjiauw Tjoen , Silva Amila , Chang Paul Chee Cheng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSubchondroplasty is a relatively new joint preserving procedure, which involves the localized injection of calcium pyrophosphate bone substitute into the bone marrow lesion. The advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has greatly facilitated the identification of these bone marrow lesions. We investigated the clinical efficacy of subchondroplasty in the treatment of symptomatic bone marrow lesions in the knee, including knees with preexisting osteoarthritis. This study comprised of 12 patients whose knees were evaluated with standard radiographs and MRI to identify and localize the bone marrow lesions. They then underwent subchondroplasty under intraoperative radiographic guidance. Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, and Knee Injury and Arthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were obtained. VAS scores improved significantly from 7.5 ± 1.8 before surgery to 5.2 ± 2.7 after surgery. This further improved to 2.1 ± 2.4 at the one-year follow-up. KOOS scores improved significantly from 38.5 ± 17.0 before surgery to 73.2 ± 19.0 at the one-year follow-up. WOMAC scores improved significantly from 47.8 ± 20.5 before surgery to 14.3 ± 13.2 at the one-year follow-up. Subchondroplasty offers an effective way to treat subchondral bone marrow lesions in the arthritic knee, resulting in improvement in symptoms and early return to activity. Long-term studies are required to evaluate if these benefits can last. This is a Level II study.
Physiological Intracranial Calcification in Eastern Indian Population-A CT Scan Study
Authors: Som Panchali , Roy Rajarshi , Datta Sumit , Ghosal Asis Kumar , Saha Anubha , Halder Subhajit 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background and Aims:Knowledge of physiological calcification in brain parenchyma is essential to avoid misinterpretation during radiological evaluation. The calcifications are commonly seen in pineal gland, falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli and choroid plexus. Objective:To determine the incidence of physiological intracranial calcification and its relationship to age and sex in eastern Indian population. Materials and Method: A cross sectional descriptive study of CT scan brain was performed in age group between 20-80 yrs in eastern India. The study was conducted on 64 Slice MDCT PHILIPS Brilliance. Bulk of our patients was of road traffic accidents and routine CT scan study revealed these physiological calcifications and did not possess any morphological abnormality. Results: 852 patients of which 503 male and 349 female were studied and overall 1429 separate calcified areas were identified due to co-existent calcifications in most of the patients. The incidence of calcification was in pineal gland (62%), choroid plexus (53%), dura mater (26%), basal ganglia (2.8%), dentate nucleus (1.4%) and Habenular nuclei (6%). Incidence is more in male than in female. Conclusion: Physiological calcifications in some of the intracranial structures are not a very uncommon finding and it should not be confused with a pathological one.