bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can Thyroid Ultrasonography Predict Substernal Extension or Tracheal Compression in Goiters?
Authors: Ziai Hedyeh , Lebo Nicole L. , Kielar Ania Z. , Odell Michael J. 
Published: November 2018

Purpose To determine whether an ultrasonography (US)-defined thyroid volume can accurately predict substernal extension or tracheal narrowing. Methods After research ethics approval, we identified patients with thyroid nodules investigated with both US and computed tomography (CT). Reviewers assigned scores for both substernal extension and tracheal compression on CT using pre-established classification systems. Statistical analysis with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to find the US-determined thyroid volume thresholds that correlated with each substernal extension and tracheal compression. Results This study included 120 patients (mean age 63.4 years; SD ± 15.9; 67% female). Thirty-five patients (29%) had substernal extension. The mean US total thyroid gland volume in patients with and without substernal extension were 92.4 and 37.6 cm3, respectively ( P < .001). 86% of patients with substernal extension had tracheal narrowing vs. 27% of patients without substernal extension ( P < .0001). A cutoff dominant gland volume of ≥37.5 cm3 showed 83% sensitivity and 79% specificity for substernal extension (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.84). A total thyroid gland volume threshold of ≥37.8 cm3 showed 89% sensitivity and 87% specificity for any degree of tracheal narrowing (AUC = 0.90). Conclusions This study suggests that US volumes may be used as a predictor to identify those patients with thyroid enlargement who are most at risk of substernal extension and tracheal compression and who may benefit from preoperative CT imaging for optimal surgical and anesthetic planning.
Image-guided transnasal endoscopic fine needle aspiration or biopsy of parapharyngeal space tumours
Authors: Abbas J R , Abbas J R , Hamlett K E L , de Carpentier J 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundParapharyngeal space biopsy is an important investigation in the management of parapharyngeal space tumours. These tumours are relatively rare and the surgeon is often faced with a wide range of differential diagnoses. There are several ways to access the parapharyngeal space, with varying degrees of associated morbidity.MethodsThis paper describes a seldom used, but a simple and safe, image-guided endoscopic approach to parapharyngeal space biopsy that enables tissue to be obtained transnasally. The procedure is conducted under general anaesthesia using computed tomography image guidance via the LandmarX system, with transnasal access to the parapharyngeal space achieved using a sampling needle.ResultsThis procedure is relatively simple, safe and reproducible. It is a less invasive approach to parapharyngeal space biopsy, and one which has been successfully used by the senior author for years without any significant morbidity.ConclusionTransnasal image-guided endoscopic aspiration or biopsy of the parapharyngeal space is a novel technique that has not been previously described.
Reassessing the Role of the Indo‐Pacific in the Ocean's Global Overturning Circulation
Authors: Newsom Emily R. , Thompson Andrew F. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSurface buoyancy fluxes in the Southern and North Atlantic Oceans are presumed to disproportionately influence the ocean's residual global overturning circulation (GOC) with respect to those in the Indo‐Pacific. Here, this assumption is challenged through an assessment of global buoyancy transport in the Community Earth System Model 1.0, which reveals that the steady state GOC is equally constrained by surface buoyancy flux everywhere. Further, an unacknowledged aspect of the GOC is demonstrated: it transports buoyancy from where it is gained at the surface, predominately in the Indo‐Pacific, to where it is lost, predominately in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. This global buoyancy transport requires zonal structure in the GOC, linking the Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific within the Southern Ocean, asymmetry and interbasin coupling absent from many conceptual descriptions of overturning dynamics. These results compel a more nuanced appreciation for an Indo‐Pacific influence in GOC evolution.
The Transition From Eruption Column to Umbrella Cloud
Authors: Devenish B. J. , Cerminara M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWe present a coflowing integral plume model for the transition from an eruption column to an umbrella cloud. This transition occurs above the level of neutral buoyancy where the rising plume is surrounded by a descending annulus. We model this transition by extending the coflowing integral plume model of Bloomfield and Kerr (2000,https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB015841), which was originally developed for Boussinesq fountains, to volcanic plumes. In addition to the transition region, the new model includes the part of the eruption column below the level of neutral buoyancy. The eruption column and the transition to an umbrella cloud are treated as a continuous process from the vent upward. Equations for the variation with height of the mass, momentum, enthalpy, and moisture fluxes are presented for both the upward and downward plumes. The interaction between the upward and downward plumes is accounted for by two entrainment relations: from the upward to the downward plume and vice versa; entrainment from the environment into the downward plume (or the upward plume in the absence of a downward plume) is also accounted for. The model is applied to the two eruptions considered by Costa et al. (2016,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.01.017) for the volcanic‐plume intercomparison study. Profiles of the mass and momentum fluxes are compared with those from an equivalent large‐eddy simulation. The new model captures the order of magnitude of the fluxes, the relative magnitudes of the upward and downward fluxes and aspects of the profiles' shape. In particular, the upward plume reaches a maximum before decreasing toward the top of the plume consistent with the large‐eddy simulation plume.
Sensitivity Studies of the Red Sea Eddies Using Adjoint Method
Authors: Zhan Peng , Gopalakrishnan Ganesh , Subramanian Aneesh C. , Guo Daquan , Hoteit Ibrahim 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAdjoint sensitivity analysis is applied to a set of eddies in the Red Sea using a high‐resolution Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model and its adjoint model. Previous studies have reported several eddy events in the Red Sea, namely, a dipole captured on 17 August 2001 in the southern Red Sea, a cyclonic eddy in November 2011 in the northern Red Sea, and an anticyclonic eddy in April 2010 in the central Red Sea. Sensitivity analysis is applied here to investigate the governing factors that control the intensity and evolution of these eddies. The eddies are first reproduced by running the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model forward and their sensitivities to external atmospheric forcing and previous model states are then computed using the adjoint model. In the experiments, (relative) surface vorticity (curl of horizontal velocity) is defined as the objective function. The contributions of forcings and model states are quantified and investigated. The sensitivities to external forcings are distinct in different eddy events. The dipole in the central Red Sea is dominantly sensitive to the cross‐basin eastward wind jet. The anticyclonic eddy in the central Red Sea is most sensitive to the along‐basin wind stress. The cyclonic eddy in the northern Red Sea is sensitive to the net heat flux and to surface elevation perturbations even from the remote southern Red Sea, which is attributed to the propagation of baroclinic Kelvin waves along the coast. Analysis of the sensitivity to model state variables suggests that these eddies are also modulated by the boundary currents and the temperature profile distributions.
Aquifer Recharge Using a Vadose Zone Infiltration Well
Authors: Liang Xiuyu , Zhan Hongbin , Zhang You‐Kuan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractVadose zone infiltration well (VZW) is an important method to implement managed aquifer recharge (MAR) when groundwater table is relatively deep or sufficiently permeable soils at ground and/or sizable land areas for surface infiltration systems are not available. However, the theoretical model for this kind of artificial recharge has rarely been developed. A mathematical model for the coupled unsaturated‐saturated flow process induced by a VZW is presented in this study with the purpose of understanding the overall hydrodynamics of unsaturated flow and recharge efficiency. Semianalytical solutions for hydraulic heads and recharge rate are derived using Laplace‐Hankel transforms. The solutions are tested using a finite‐element numerical solution built with COMSOL. The performance and capacity of VZW are assessed for different unsaturated zone parameters and well structures. For the case of an unsaturated zone with a small storage capacity, a greater proportion of injected water will be stored in the saturated zone, thus is a favored situation for the implement of MAR using VZWs. Both anisotropy and infiltration well structures have nonnegligible effects on the recharge rate of the saturated zone at early times but have negligible influence at later times. The proposed semianalytical solutions can be used to estimate unsaturated parameters and can also be used to assess the effectiveness of VZWs for the purpose of MAR.
Sensitization of glioblastoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by IAP- and Bcl-2 antagonism
Authors: Lincoln Frank A. , Imig Dirke , Boccellato Chiara , Juric Viktorija , Noonan Janis , Kontermann Roland E. , Allgöwer Frank , Murphy Brona M. , Rehm Markus 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDue to the lack of effective treatments for glioblastoma (GBM), we here studied the responsiveness of GBM cell lines to the combination of death ligand, TRAIL and the IAP antagonist, TL32711 (Birinapant). Responses were highly heterogeneous, with synergistic apoptosis as well as treatment resistance observed. Caspase-8 and Bid, together with caspase-3, form a nonlinear signalling hub that efficiently induced apoptosis in responder cell lines. Cells resistant to TRAIL/TL32711 expressed low amounts of procaspase-8 and Bid and poorly activated caspase-3. We therefore hypothesised that improving caspase-8 activation or sensitising mitochondria to truncated Bid (tBid) could convert non-responder GBM cell lines to responders. Mathematical simulations of both strategies predicted mitochondrial sensitization to tBid would outperform enhancing caspase-8 activation. Indeed, antagonising Bcl-2 by ABT-199 allowed TRAIL/TL32711 response synergies to manifest in otherwise TRAIL resistant cell lines. These findings were further corroborated in experiments with a translationally relevant hexavalent TRAIL variant. Our study therefore demonstrates that a high caspase-8/Bid signature is associated with synergistic TRAIL/TL32711-induced apoptosis in GBM cells and outlines Bcl-2 antagonism as a highly potent intervention to sensitize highly TRAIL-resistant GBM cells to TRAIL/TL32711 combination treatment.
Kauniolide synthase is a P450 with unusual hydroxylation and cyclization-elimination activity
Authors: Liu Qing , Beyraghdar Kashkooli Arman , Manzano David , Pateraki Irini , Richard Lea , Kolkman Pim , Lucas Maria Fátima , Guallar Victor , de Vos Ric C.H. , Franssen Maurice C. R. , van der Krol Alexander , Bouwmeester Harro 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGuaianolides are an important class of sesquiterpene lactones with unique biological and pharmaceutical properties. They have been postulated to be derived from germacranolides, but for years no progress has been made in the elucidation of their biosynthesis that requires an unknown cyclization mechanism. Here we demonstrate the isolation and characterization of a cytochrome P450 from feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), kauniolide synthase. Kauniolide synthase catalyses the formation of the guaianolide kauniolide from the germacranolide substrate costunolide. Unlike most cytochrome P450s, kauniolide synthase combines stereoselective hydroxylation of costunolide at the C3 position, with water elimination, cyclization and regioselective deprotonation. This unique mechanism of action is supported by in silico modelling and docking experiments. The full kauniolide biosynthesis pathway is reconstructed in the heterologous hosts Nicotiana benthamiana and yeast, paving the way for biotechnological production of guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones.
Systems glycomics of adult zebrafish identifies organ-specific sialylation and glycosylation patterns
Authors: Yamakawa Nao , Vanbeselaere Jorick , Chang Lan-Yi , Yu Shin-Yi , Ducrocq Lucie , Harduin-Lepers Anne , Kurata Junichi , Aoki-Kinoshita Kiyoko F. , Sato Chihiro , Khoo Kay-Hooi , Kitajima Ken , Guerardel Yann 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe emergence of zebrafish Danio rerio as a versatile model organism provides the unique opportunity to monitor the functions of glycosylation throughout vertebrate embryogenesis, providing insights into human diseases caused by glycosylation defects. Using a combination of chemical modifications, enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry analyses, we establish here the precise glycomic profiles of eight individual zebrafish organs and demonstrate that the protein glycosylation and glycosphingolipid expression patterns exhibits exquisite specificity. Concomitant expression screening of a wide array of enzymes involved in the synthesis and transfer of sialic acids shows that the presence of organ-specific sialylation motifs correlates with the localized activity of the corresponding glycan biosynthesis pathways. These findings provide a basis for the rational design of zebrafish lines expressing desired glycosylation profiles.
Design and application of volatilizable solid additives in non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Yu Runnan , Yao Huifeng , Hong Ling , Qin Yunpeng , Zhu Jie , Cui Yong , Li Sunsun , Hou Jianhui 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMost of the high-performance organic solar cells are fabricated with the assistance of high-boiling-point solvent additives to optimize their charge transport properties; this has adverse effects on the OSCs’ stability and reproducibility in large-scale production. Here, we design volatilizable solid additives by considering the molecular structure feature of an acceptor–donor–acceptor-type non-fullerene acceptor. The application of solid additives can enhance the intermolecular π–π stacking of the non-fullerene acceptor and thus facilitate the charge transport properties in the active layers, leading to improved efficiencies of OSCs. Importantly, devices fabricated using volatilizable solid additives exhibit higher stability and reproducibility when compared with the OSCs processed with solvent additives. Our results not only demonstrate an approach of applying volatilizable solid additives to benefit the large-scale production of OSCs but also provide a potential direction for designing specific solid additives for different active layers.
Dynamic control of proinflammatory cytokines Il-1β and Tnf-α by macrophages in zebrafish spinal cord regeneration
Authors: Tsarouchas Themistoklis M. , Wehner Daniel , Cavone Leonardo , Munir Tahimina , Keatinge Marcus , Lambertus Marvin , Underhill Anna , Barrett Thomas , Kassapis Elias , Ogryzko Nikolay , Feng Yi , van Ham Tjakko J. , Becker Thomas , Becker Catherina G. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSpinal cord injury leads to a massive response of innate immune cells in non-regenerating mammals, but also in successfully regenerating zebrafish. However, the role of the immune response in successful regeneration is poorly defined. Here we show that inhibiting inflammation reduces and promoting it accelerates axonal regeneration in spinal-lesioned zebrafish larvae. Mutant analyses show that peripheral macrophages, but not neutrophils or microglia, are necessary for repair. Macrophage-less irf8 mutants show prolonged inflammation with elevated levels of Tnf-α and Il-1β. Inhibiting Tnf-α does not rescue axonal growth in irf8 mutants, but impairs it in wildtype animals, indicating a pro-regenerative role of Tnf-α. In contrast, decreasing Il-1β levels or number of Il-1β+ neutrophils rescue functional regeneration in irf8 mutants. However, during early regeneration, interference with Il-1β function impairs regeneration in irf8 and wildtype animals. Hence, inflammation is dynamically controlled by macrophages to promote functional spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish.
Biological plausibility and stochasticity in scalable VO2 active memristor neurons
Authors: Yi Wei , Tsang Kenneth K. , Lam Stephen K. , Bai Xiwei , Crowell Jack A. , Flores Elias A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractNeuromorphic networks of artificial neurons and synapses can solve computationally hard problems with energy efficiencies unattainable for von Neumann architectures. For image processing, silicon neuromorphic processors outperform graphic processing units in energy efficiency by a large margin, but deliver much lower chip-scale throughput. The performance-efficiency dilemma for silicon processors may not be overcome by Moore’s law scaling of silicon transistors. Scalable and biomimetic active memristor neurons and passive memristor synapses form a self-sufficient basis for a transistorless neural network. However, previous demonstrations of memristor neurons only showed simple integrate-and-fire behaviors and did not reveal the rich dynamics and computational complexity of biological neurons. Here we report that neurons built with nanoscale vanadium dioxide active memristors possess all three classes of excitability and most of the known biological neuronal dynamics, and are intrinsically stochastic. With the favorable size and power scaling, there is a path toward an all-memristor neuromorphic cortical computer.
Chiral domain wall motion in unit-cell thick perpendicularly magnetized Heusler films prepared by chemical templating
Authors: Filippou Panagiotis Ch. , Jeong Jaewoo , Ferrante Yari , Yang See-Hun , Topuria Teya , Samant Mahesh G. , Parkin Stuart S. P. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHeusler alloys are a large family of compounds with complex and tunable magnetic properties, intimately connected to the atomic scale ordering of their constituent elements. We show that using a chemical templating technique of atomically ordered X′Z′ (X′ = Co; Z′ = Al, Ga, Ge, Sn) underlayers, we can achieve near bulk-like magnetic properties in tetragonally distorted Heusler films, even at room temperature. Excellent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is found in ferrimagnetic X3Z (X = Mn; Z = Ge, Sn, Sb) films, just 1 or 2 unit-cells thick. Racetracks formed from these films sustain current-induced domain wall motion with velocities of more than 120 m s−1, at current densities up to six times lower than conventional ferromagnetic materials. We find evidence for a significant bulk chiral Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya exchange interaction, whose field strength can be systematically tuned by an order of magnitude. Our work is an important step towards practical applications of Heusler compounds for spintronic technologies.
BMI1 enables interspecies chimerism with human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Huang Ke , Zhu Yanling , Ma Yanlin , Zhao Bentian , Fan Nana , Li Yuhang , Song Hong , Chu Shilong , Ouyang Zhen , Zhang Quanjun , Xing Qi , Lai Chengdan , Li Nan , Zhang Tian , Gu Jiaming , Kang Baoqiang , Shan Yongli , Lai Keyu , Huang Wenhao , Mai Yuchan , Wang Qing , Li Jinbing , Lin Aiping , Zhang Yanqi , Zhong Xiaofen , Liao Baojian , Lai Liangxue , Chen Jiekai , Pei Duanqing , Pan Guangjin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHuman pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) exhibit very limited contribution to interspecies chimeras. One explanation is that the conventional hPSCs are in a primed state and so unable to form chimeras in pre-implantation embryos. Here, we show that the conventional hPSCs undergo rapid apoptosis when injected into mouse pre-implantation embryos. While, forced-expression of BMI1, a polycomb factor in hPSCs overcomes the apoptosis and enables hPSCs to integrate into mouse pre-implantation embryos and subsequently contribute to chimeras with both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. In addition, BMI1 also enables hPSCs to integrate into pre-implantation embryos of other species, such as rabbit and pig. Notably, BMI1 high expression and anti-apoptosis are also indicators for naïve hPSCs to form chimera in mouse embryos. Together, our findings reveal that the apoptosis is an initial barrier in interspecies chimerism using hPSCs and provide a rational to improve it.
Thermostable virus portal proteins as reprogrammable adapters for solid-state nanopore sensors
Authors: Cressiot Benjamin , Greive Sandra J. , Mojtabavi Mehrnaz , Antson Alfred A. , Wanunu Meni 
Published: November 2018

AbstractNanopore-based sensors are advancing the sensitivity and selectivity of single-molecule detection in molecular medicine and biotechnology. Current electrical sensing devices are based on either membrane protein pores supported in planar lipid bilayers or solid-state (SS) pores fabricated in thin metallic membranes. While both types of nanosensors have been used in a variety of applications, each has inherent disadvantages that limit its use. Hybrid nanopores, consisting of a protein pore supported within a SS membrane, combine the robust nature of SS membranes with the precise and simple engineering of protein nanopores. We demonstrate here a novel lipid-free hybrid nanopore comprising a natural DNA pore from a thermostable virus, electrokinetically inserted into a larger nanopore supported in a silicon nitride membrane. The hybrid pore is stable and easy to fabricate, and, most importantly, exhibits low peripheral leakage allowing sensing and discrimination among different types of biomolecules.
Signature of quantum Griffiths singularity state in a layered quasi-one-dimensional superconductor
Authors: Zhang Enze , Zhi Jinhua , Zou Yi-Chao , Ye Zefang , Ai Linfeng , Shi Jiacheng , Huang Ce , Liu Shanshan , Lin Zehao , Zheng Xinyuan , Kang Ning , Xu Hongqi , Wang Wei , He Liang , Zou Jin , Liu Jinyu , Mao Zhiqiang , Xiu Faxian 
Published: November 2018

AbstractQuantum Griffiths singularity was theoretically proposed to interpret the phenomenon of divergent dynamical exponent in quantum phase transitions. It has been discovered experimentally in three-dimensional (3D) magnetic metal systems and two-dimensional (2D) superconductors. But, whether this state exists in lower dimensional systems remains elusive. Here, we report the signature of quantum Griffiths singularity state in quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Ta2PdS5 nanowires. The superconducting critical field shows a strong anisotropic behavior and a violation of the Pauli limit in a parallel magnetic field configuration. Current-voltage measurements exhibit hysteresis loops and a series of multiple voltage steps in transition to the normal state, indicating a quasi-1D nature of the superconductivity. Surprisingly, the nanowire undergoes a superconductor-metal transition when the magnetic field increases. Upon approaching the zero-temperature quantum critical point, the system uncovers the signature of the quantum Griffiths singularity state arising from enhanced quenched disorders, where the dynamical critical exponent becomes diverging rather than being constant.