bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct Rubidium-Strontium Dating of Hydrocarbon Charge Using Small Authigenic Illitic Clay Aliquots from the Silurian Bituminous Sandstone in the Tarim Basin, NW China
Authors: Li Shaojie , Wang Xuan-Ce , Li Chao-Feng , Wilde Simon A. , Zhang Youyu , Golding Suzanne D. , Liu Keyu , Zhang Yuxiang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIllitic clay is ubiquitous in clastic hydrocarbon reservoirs, and the host for several radiometric isotopes such as the potassium-argon (K-Ar) and rubidium-strontium (Rb-Sr) systems. This study applied the isotope-dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry technique for small samples (3–4 mg) to conduct illite Rb-Sr isotope dating of five illitic clay samples from the Silurian bituminous sandstone (SBS) intersected by five drillholes in the Tarim Basin, NW China. The 87Rb/86Sr ratio of clays is fractionated mainly by the addition of Rb during the illitization of mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S), which is the dominant clay species in the Tarim Basin samples. The subsample-scale Rb/Sr isotope values suggest that each subsample may contain I/S particles of slightly variable degrees of illitization. Three of the analyzed samples (H6, KQ1 and TZ67) generated Rb-Sr isochron ages of 141 ± 61 Ma, 332 ± 32 Ma and 235 ± 8 Ma (errors quoted at 2σ), respectively. These results are similar to the corresponding K-Ar ages (125 Ma, 389 Ma and 234 Ma). The isotopic ages are consistent with the timing of hydrocarbon charge which varies in different drillholes as constrained by basin modelling, indicating that a closed-system behavior is attained by the hydrocarbon charge that inhibits the illitization of I/S. The Rb-Sr isotope analyses of the other two samples (YM35-1 and Q1) that did not yield isochron ages suggest the conditions for producing isochrons were not satisfied, which may be caused by disturbance of the isotope system by a post-charge hydrothermal event. The outcomes of this study show the robust potential of Rb-Sr clay subsample geochronology for cross-checking isotopic ages yielded by other systems (e.g. K-Ar system) and constraining the timing of hydrocarbon charge.
Arterio-venous metabolomics exploration reveals major changes across liver and intestine in the obese Yucatan minipig
Authors: Poupin Nathalie , Tremblay-Franco Marie , Amiel Aurélien , Canlet Cécile , Rémond Didier , Debrauwer Laurent , Dardevet Dominique , Thiele Ines , Aurich Maike K. , Jourdan Fabien , Savary-Auzeloux Isabelle , Polakof Sergio 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBlood circulation mainly aims at distributing the nutrients required for tissue metabolism and collecting safely the by-products of all tissues to be further metabolized or eliminated. The simultaneous study of arterial (A) and venous (V) specific metabolites therefore has appeared to be a more relevant approach to understand and study the metabolism of a given organ. We propose to implement this approach by applying a metabolomics (NMR) strategy on paired AV blood across the intestine and liver on high fat/high sugar (HFHS)-fed minipigs. Our objective was to unravel kinetically and sequentially the metabolic adaptations to early obesity/insulin resistance onset specifically on these two tissues. After two months of HFHS feeding our study of AV ratios of the metabolome highlighted three major features. First, the hepatic metabolism switched from carbohydrate to lipid utilization. Second, the energy demand of the intestine increased, resulting in an enhanced uptake of glutamine, glutamate, and the recruitment of novel energy substrates (choline and creatine). Third, the uptake of methionine and threonine was considered to be driven by an increased intestine turnover to cope with the new high-density diet. Finally, the unique combination of experimental data and modelling predictions suggested that HFHS feeding was associated with changes in tryptophan metabolism and fatty acid β-oxidation, which may play an important role in lipid hepatic accumulation and insulin sensitivity.
CVD graphene/Ge interface: morphological and electronic characterization of ripples
Authors: Mendoza Cesar D. , Figueroa Neileth S. , Maia da Costa Marcelo E. H. , Freire Fernando L. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractGraphene grown directly on germanium is a possible route for the integration of graphene into nanoelectronic devices as well as it is of great interest for materials science. The morphology of the interface between graphene and germanium influences the electronic properties and has not already been completely elucidated at atomic scale. In this work, we investigated the morphology of the single-layer graphene grown on Ge substrates with different crystallographic orientations. We determined the presence of sinusoidal ripples with a single propagation direction, zig-zag, and could arise due to compressive biaxial strain at the interface generated as a result of the opposite polarity of the thermal expansion coefficient of graphene and germanium. Local density of states measurements on the ripples showed a linear dispersion relation with the Dirac point slightly shifted with respect to the Fermi energy indicating that these out-of-plane deformations were n-doped, while the graphene regions between the highs were undoped.
A new, easily generated mouse model of diabetic kidney fibrosis
Authors: He Xiaolin , Zhang Tianzhou , Tolosa Monica , Goru Santosh Kumar , Chen Xiaolan , Misra Paraish S. , Robinson Lisa A. , Yuen Darren A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractOur understanding of diabetic kidney disease pathogenesis has been hampered by the lack of easily generated pre-clinical animal models that faithfully recapitulate critical features of human disease. While most standard animal models develop manifestations of early stage diabetic injury such as hyperfiltration and mesangial matrix expansion, only a select few develop key late stage features such as interstitial fibrosis and reduced glomerular filtration rate. An underlying theme in these late stage disease models has been the addition of renin-angiotensin system hyperactivation, an important contributor to human disease pathogenesis. Widespread use of these models has been limited, however, as they are either labour intensive to generate, or have been developed in the rat, preventing the use of the many powerful genetic tools developed for mice. Here we describe the Akita+/− Ren+/− mouse, a new, easily generated murine model of diabetic kidney disease that develops many features of late stage human injury, including not only hyperglycemia, hypertension, and albuminuria, but also reduced glomerular filtration rate, glomerulosclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis.
Proteasome dysfunction in alveolar type 2 epithelial cells is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Sitaraman Sneha , Na Cheng-Lun , Yang Li , Filuta Alyssa , Bridges James P. , Weaver Timothy E. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractProteasomes are a critical component of quality control that regulate turnover of short-lived, unfolded, and misfolded proteins. Proteasome activity has been therapeutically targeted and considered as a treatment option for several chronic lung disorders including pulmonary fibrosis. Although pharmacologic inhibition of proteasome activity effectively prevents the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, the effect on alveolar type 2 (AT2) epithelial cells is not clear. To address this knowledge gap, we generated a genetic model in which a proteasome subunit, RPT3, which promotes assembly of active 26S proteasome, was conditionally deleted in AT2 cells of mice. Partial deletion of RPT3 resulted in 26S proteasome dysfunction, leading to augmented cell stress and cell death. Acute loss of AT2 cells resulted in depletion of alveolar surfactant, disruption of the alveolar epithelial barrier and, ultimately, lethal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study underscores importance of proteasome function in maintenance of AT2 cell homeostasis and supports the need to further investigate the role of proteasome dysfunction in ARDS pathogenesis.
Prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Han SongYi , Lee Yeon Joo , Park Jong Sun , Cho Young-Jae , Yoon Ho Il , Lee Jae-Ho , Lee Choon-Taek , Chung Jin-Haeng , Lee Kyung Won , Lee Sang Hoon 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe risk of lung cancer is higher in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) because both conditions share common risk factors. However, no standard treatment modality for LC in IPF exists due to rare incidence, poor prognosis, and acute exacerbation (AE) of IPF during treatment. We aimed to determine the efficacy of LC treatments and the prognosis in LC patients with IPF according to the LC stage and GAP (gender [G], age [A], and two physiology variables [P]) stage. From 2003 to 2016, 160 retrospectively enrolled patients were classified according to the LC clinical stage and GAP stage. The average (±standard deviation) patient age was 70.1 ± 8.2 years; the cohort predominantly comprised men (94.4%). In GAP stage I, surgery was significantly associated with better survival outcomes in LC. In contrast, no treatment modality yielded significant clinical improvement in GAP stage II/III. The incidences of AE in IPF and its mortality during treatment were 13.8% and 6.3%, respectively. AE occurred commonly in advanced GAP stage. Active treatment should be considered in GAP stage I. The performance status and LC stage should be considered when deciding about the necessity of surgery for patients in advanced GAP stage.
Fate of nanoparticles in the central nervous system after intrathecal injection in healthy mice
Authors: Householder K. T. , Dharmaraj S. , Sandberg D. I. , Wechsler-Reya R. J. , Sirianni R. W. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the cerebral ventricles and circulates within the subarachnoid space (SAS) of the brain and spinal cord, where it exchanges with interstitial fluid of the parenchyma. The access of CSF to the entire central nervous system (CNS) makes it an attractive medium for drug delivery. However, few intrathecal (IT) therapies have reached the clinic due, in part, to limited distribution and rapid clearance. Given the success of nanoparticle (NP) carriers in prolonging circulation and improving delivery of systemically administered agents, we sought to evaluate the distribution of IT injected NPs within the CNS. We administered fluorescent, 100 nm PEGylated-NPs into the cisterna magna of healthy mice and studied their distribution along the brain and spinal cord. Our data demonstrate that NPs are capable of distributing rapidly through the SAS along the entire neuraxis with reproducible, anatomically defined patterns of delivery. NPs were well retained within the leptomeninges for over 3 weeks, showing preference for ventral surfaces and minimal penetration into the CNS parenchyma. Clearance of NPs occurred across the cribriform plate into the nasal mucosa, with a small fraction of NPs localizing with nerve roots exiting the spinal column. Larger 10 µm particles were also capable of moving through the SAS but did not achieve as widespread distribution. These studies demonstrate the ability of NPs to achieve widespread delivery along the neuraxis and highlight IT administration as a potentially significant route of administration for delivery of nanomedicine to the subarachnoid space.
Bilateral temporal control determines mediolateral margins of stability in symmetric and asymmetric human walking
Authors: Buurke Tom J. W. , Lamoth Claudine J. C. , van der Woude Lucas H. V. , Hof At L. , den Otter Rob 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHuman bipedal gait requires active control of mediolateral dynamic balance to stay upright. The margin of stability is considered a measure of dynamic balance, and larger margins are by many authors assumed to reflect better balance control. The inverted pendulum model of gait indicates that changes in the mediolateral margin of stability are related to changes in bilateral single support times. We propose updated equations for the mediolateral margin of stability in temporally symmetric and asymmetric gait, which now include the single support times of both legs. Based on these equations, we study the relation between bilateral single support times and the mediolateral margin of stability in symmetric, asymmetric, and adaptive human gait. In all conditions, the mediolateral margin of stability during walking followed predictably from bilateral single support times, whereas foot placement co-varied less with the mediolateral margin of stability. Overall, these results demonstrate that the bilateral temporal regulation of gait profoundly affects the mediolateral margin of stability. By exploiting the passive dynamics of bipedal gait, bilateral temporal control may be an efficient mechanism to safeguard dynamic stability during walking, and keep an inherently unstable moving human body upright.
Evidence of CD40L/CD40 pathway involvement in experimental transfusion-related acute lung injury
Authors: Tariket Sofiane , Hamzeh-Cognasse Hind , Laradi Sandrine , Arthaud Charles-Antoine , Eyraud Marie-Ange , Bourlet Thomas , Berthelot Philippe , Garraud Olivier , Cognasse Fabrice 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPlatelet transfusions can cause adverse reactions in their recipients, including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). The pathophysiology of TRALI depends on a number of signaling pathways and the inflammatory role played by blood platelets remains controversial. Platelets are important in inflammation, particularly via the immunomodulator complex CD40/CD40L. We studied the specific function of the CD40/CD40L interaction in regulating an experimental TRALI Two-hit model. A mouse model of immune TRALI was triggered by injection of LPS and an anti-MHC I antibody, and the effect of injection of a neutralizing anti-CD40L antibody before induction of TRALI investigated. The characteristics of TRALI were decreased body temperature, pulmonary lesions, and immune cell infiltration into the alveolar space. Pulmonary infiltration was evaluated by blood counts of specific immune cells and their detection in lung sections. Inhibition of the CD40/CD40L immunomodulator interaction significantly reduced communication between immune and/or endothelial cells and the development of pulmonary edema. Hence, our results indicate that targeting of the CD40/CD40L interaction could be an important method to prevent TRALI. While considering that our work concerned a mouse model, we postulate that improvement of the conditions under which platelet concentrates are prepared/stored would assist in alleviating the risk of TRALI.
TGF-β1 increases viral burden and promotes HIV-1 latency in primary differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Chinnapaiyan S. , Dutta R. K. , Nair M. , Chand H. S. , Rahman I. , Unwalla H. J. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCombination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has increased the life expectancy of HIV patients. However, the incidence of non-AIDS associated lung comorbidities, such as COPD and asthma, and that of opportunistic lung infections have become more common among this population. HIV proteins secreted by the anatomical HIV reservoirs can have both autocrine and paracrine effects contributing to the HIV-associated comorbidities. HIV has been recovered from cell-free bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, alveolar macrophages, and intrapulmonary lymphocytes. We have recently shown that ex-vivo cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells and the bronchial brushings from human subjects express canonical HIV receptors CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4 and can be infected with HIV. Together these studies suggest that the lung tissue can serve as an important reservoir for HIV. In this report, we show that TGF-β1 promotes HIV latency by upregulating a transcriptional repressor BLIMP-1. Furthermore, we identify miR-9-5p as an important intermediate in TGF-β-mediated BLIMP-1 upregulation and consequent HIV latency. The transcriptionally suppressed HIV can be reactivated by common latency reactivating agents. Together our data suggest that in patients with chronic airway diseases, TGF-β can elevate the HIV viral reservoir load that could further exacerbate the HIV associated lung comorbidities.
Microfluidics Chip for Directional Solvent Extraction Desalination of Seawater
Authors: Abdulbari Hayder A. , Basheer Esmail A. M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDirectional solvent extraction is one of the promising membrane-less seawater desalination method. This technique was not extensively investigated due the poor mixing and separation performances of its bench-scale system. It is believed that, overcoming these drawbacks is possible now with the rapid development of microfluidics technology that enabled high-precession micro mixing and separation. This work presents microfluidics chip for extracting and separating salt from seawater. The chip was designed with two sections for extraction and separation. In both sections, the liquids were separated using capillary channels perpendicular to the main stream. The main channels were designed to be 400 µm in width and 100 µm in height. Two streams inlets were introduced through a Y-junction containing octanoic acid as the organic phase and saltwater as the aqueous phase. The desalination performance was investigated at four different temperatures and five different solvent flow rates. Water product salinity was recorded to be as low as 0.056% (w/w) at 60 °C and 40 mL/h. A maximum water yield of 5.2% was achieved at 65 °C and 40 mL/h with a very low solvent residual (70 ppm). The chip mass transfer efficiency was recorded to be as high as 68% under similar conditions. The fabricated microfluidic desalination system showed a significant improvement in terms of water yield and separation efficiency over the conventional macroscale. The high performance of this microsystem resulted from its ability to achieve a high mixing efficiency and separate phases selectively and that will provide a good platform in the near future to develop small desalination kits for personal use.
Phenotypic switching in Candida tropicalis alters host-pathogen interactions in a Galleria mellonella infection model
Authors: Perini Hugo F. , Moralez Alane T. P. , Almeida Ricardo S. C. , Panagio Luciano A. , Junior Admilton O. G. , Barcellos Fernando Gomes , Furlaneto-Maia Luciana , Furlaneto Marcia C. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCandida tropicalis is a human pathogen associated with high mortality rates. We have reported a switching system in C. tropicalis consisting of five morphotypes – the parental, switch variant (crepe and rough), and revertant (crepe and rough) strains, which exhibited altered virulence in a Galleria mellonella model. Here, we evaluate whether switching events may alter host-pathogen interactions by comparing the attributes of the innate responses to the various states. All switched strains induced higher melanization in G. mellonella larvae than that induced by the parental strain. The galiomicin expression was higher in the larvae infected with the crepe and rough morphotypes than that in the larvae infected with the parental strain. Hemocytes preferentially phagocytosed crepe variant cells over parental cells in vitro. In contrast, the rough variant cells were less phagocytosed than the parental strain. The hemocyte density was decreased in the larvae infected with the crepe variant compared to that in the larvae infected with the parental strain. Interestingly, larvae infected with the revertant of crepe restored the hemocyte density levels that to those observed for larvae infected with the parental strain. Most of the switched strains were more resistant to hemocyte candidacidal activity than the parental strain. These results indicate that the switch states exhibit similarities as well as important differences during infection in a G. mellonella model.
Permeability enhancement through hydraulic fracturing: laboratory measurements combining a 3D printed jacket and pore fluid over-pressure
Authors: Gehne Stephan , Benson Philip M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe process of hydraulic fracture is well known in both natural (e.g. veining and mineralisation) and engineered environments (e.g. stimulating tight mudrocks and sandstones to boost their hydraulic properties). Here, we report a method and preliminary data that simulates both tensile fracture and fluid flow at elevated pressures. To achieve this we developed a sample assembly consisting of a cylindrical core drilled with an axial borehole encapsulated in a 3D printed jacket permitting fluid from the borehole to move through the freshly generated tensile fracture to a voluometer. The permeability of Nash Point Shale increases from a pre-fracture value of 10−18 to 10−20 m2 (1 microDarcy, μD to 0.01 μD) to 2 × 10−15 m2 (2 milliDarcy, mD) immediately after fracture (at 2.1 MPa confining pressure). Permeability is strongly dependent on confining pressure, decreasing to 0.25 × 10−15 m2 (0.25 mD) at 19 MPa confining pressure (approximately 800 m depth), and does not recover when confinement is removed. Using concomitant measurements of the radial strain as a proxy for fracture aperture, we conclude that the effective permeability is governed solely by the width of the developed cracks, revealed by post-test X-Ray Computed Tomography to be planar, extending radially from the central conduit.
Miltefosine treatment reduces visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model for irritable bowel syndrome via multiple mechanisms
Authors: Botschuijver Sara , van Diest Sophie A. , van Thiel Isabelle A. M. , Saia Rafael S. , Strik Anne S. , Yu Zhumei , Maria-Ferreira Daniele , Welting Olaf , Keszthelyi Daniel , Jennings Gary , Heinsbroek Sigrid E. M. , Elferink Ronald P. Oude , Schuren Frank H. J. , de Jonge Wouter J. , van den Wijngaard René M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a heterogenic, functional gastrointestinal disorder of the gut-brain axis characterized by altered bowel habit and abdominal pain. Preclinical and clinical results suggested that, in part of these patients, pain may result from fungal induced release of mast cell derived histamine, subsequent activation of sensory afferent expressed histamine-1 receptors and related sensitization of the nociceptive transient reporter potential channel V1 (TRPV1)-ion channel. TRPV1 gating properties are regulated in lipid rafts. Miltefosine, an approved drug for the treatment of visceral Leishmaniasis, has fungicidal effects and is a known lipid raft modulator. We anticipated that miltefosine may act on different mechanistic levels of fungal-induced abdominal pain and may be repurposed to IBS. In the IBS-like rat model of maternal separation we assessed the visceromotor response to colonic distension as indirect readout for abdominal pain. Miltefosine reversed post-stress hypersensitivity to distension (i.e. visceral hypersensitivity) and this was associated with differences in the fungal microbiome (i.e. mycobiome). In vitro investigations confirmed fungicidal effects of miltefosine. In addition, miltefosine reduced the effect of TRPV1 activation in TRPV1-transfected cells and prevented TRPV1-dependent visceral hypersensitivity induced by intracolonic-capsaicin in rat. Miltefosine may be an attractive drug to treat abdominal pain in IBS.