bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new family of periplasmic-binding proteins that sense arsenic oxyanions
Authors: Badilla Consuelo , Osborne Thomas H. , Cole Ambrose , Watson Cameron , Djordjevic Snezana , Santini Joanne M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractArsenic contamination of drinking water affects more than 140 million people worldwide. While toxic to humans, inorganic forms of arsenic (arsenite and arsenate), can be used as energy sources for microbial respiration. AioX and its orthologues (ArxX and ArrX) represent the first members of a new sub-family of periplasmic-binding proteins that serve as the first component of a signal transduction system, that’s role is to positively regulate expression of arsenic metabolism enzymes. As determined by X-ray crystallography for AioX, arsenite binding only requires subtle conformational changes in protein structure, providing insights into protein-ligand interactions. The binding pocket of all orthologues is conserved but this alone is not sufficient for oxyanion selectivity, with proteins selectively binding either arsenite or arsenate. Phylogenetic evidence, clearly demonstrates that the regulatory proteins evolved together early in prokaryotic evolution and had a separate origin from the metabolic enzymes whose expression they regulate.
Genetic (idiopathic) epilepsy with photosensitive seizures includes features of both focal and generalized seizures
Authors: Xue Jiao , Gong Pan , Yang Haipo , Liu Xiaoyan , Jiang Yuwu , Zhang Yuehua , Yang Zhixian 
Published: April 2018

AbstractClinically, some patients having genetic (idiopathic) epilepsy with photosensitive seizures were difficult to be diagnosed. We aimed to discuss whether the genetic (idiopathic) epilepsy with photosensitive seizures is a focal entity, a generalized entity or a continuum. Twenty-two patients with idiopathic epilepsies and photoconvulsive response (PCR) were retrospectively recruited. In the medical records, the seizure types included “generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS)” in 15, “partial secondarily GTCS (PGTCS)” in 3, partial seizures (PS) in 3, myoclonic seizures in 2, eyelid myoclonus in one, and only febrile seizures in one. Seizure types of PCR included GTCS (1/22), PGTCS (6/22), PS (9/22), electrical seizures (ES) (3/22) and GTCS/PGTCS (3/22). Combined the medical history with PCR results, they were diagnosed as: idiopathic (photosensitive) occipital lobe epilepsy (I(P)OE) in 12, genetic (idiopathic) generalized epilepsy (GGE) in one, GGE/I(P)OE in 5, pure photosensitive seizure in one, and epilepsy with undetermined generalized or focal seizure in 3. So, the dichotomy between generalized and focal seizures might have been out of date regarding to pathophysiological advances in epileptology. To some extent, it would be better to recognize the idiopathic epilepsy with photosensitive seizures as a continuum between focal and generalized seizures.
Spatial reversal learning defect coincides with hypersynchronous telencephalic BOLD functional connectivity in APPNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice
Authors: Shah Disha , Latif-Hernandez Amira , De Strooper Bart , Saito Takashi , Saido Takaomi , Verhoye Marleen , D’Hooge Rudi , Van der Linden Annemie 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAmyloid pathology occurs early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and has therefore been the focus of numerous studies. Transgenic mouse models have been instrumental to study amyloidosis, but observations might have been confounded by APP-overexpression artifacts. The current study investigated early functional defects in an APP knock-in mouse model, which allows assessing the effects of pathological amyloid-beta (Aβ) without interference of APP-artifacts. Female APPNL/NL knock-in mice of 3 and 7 months old were compared to age-matched APPNL-F/NL-F mice with increased Aβ42/40 ratio and initial Aβ-plaque deposition around 6 months of age. Spatial learning was examined using a Morris water maze protocol consisting of acquisition and reversal trials interleaved with reference memory tests. Functional connectivity (FC) of brain networks was assessed using resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI). The Morris water maze data revealed that 3 months old APPNL-F/NL-F mice were unable to reach the same reference memory proficiency as APPNL/NL mice after reversal training. This cognitive defect in 3-month-old APPNL-F/NL-F mice coincided with hypersynchronous FC of the hippocampal, cingulate, caudate-putamen, and default-mode-like networks. The occurrence of these defects in APPNL-F/NL-F mice demonstrates that cognitive flexibility and synchronicity of telencephalic activity are specifically altered by early Aβ pathology without changes in APP neurochemistry.
Mud extrusion and ring-fault gas seepage – upward branching fluid discharge at a deep-sea mud volcano
Authors: Loher M. , Pape T. , Marcon Y. , Römer M. , Wintersteller P. , Praeg D. , Torres M. , Sahling H. , Bohrmann G. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSubmarine mud volcanoes release sediments and gas-rich fluids at the seafloor via deeply-rooted plumbing systems that remain poorly understood. Here the functioning of Venere mud volcano, on the Calabrian accretionary prism in ~1,600 m water depth is investigated, based on multi-parameter hydroacoustic and visual seafloor data obtained using ship-borne methods, ROVs, and AUVs. Two seepage domains are recognized: mud breccia extrusion from a summit, and hydrocarbon venting from peripheral sites, hosting chemosynthetic ecosystems and authigenic carbonates indicative of long-term seepage. Pore fluids in freshly extruded mud breccia (up to 13 °C warmer than background sediments) contained methane concentrations exceeding saturation by 2.7 times and chloride concentrations up to five times lower than ambient seawater. Gas analyses indicate an underlying thermogenic hydrocarbon source with potential admixture of microbial methane during migration along ring faults to the peripheral sites. The gas and pore water analyses point to fluids sourced deep (>3 km) below Venere mud volcano. An upward-branching plumbing system is proposed to account for co-existing mud breccia extrusion and gas seepage via multiple surface vents that influence the distribution of seafloor ecosystems. This model of mud volcanism implies that methane-rich fluids may be released during prolonged phases of moderate activity.
Native collagen hydrogel nanofibres with anisotropic structure using core-shell electrospinning
Authors: Wakuda Yuka , Nishimoto Shohei , Suye Shin-ichiro , Fujita Satoshi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCollagen hydrogel is a popular extracellular matrix (ECM) material in regenerative medicine and has an isotropic structure. In contrast, native ECM has an anisotropic structure. Electrospinning of collagen dissolved in organic solvents is widely used for fabricating anisotropic collagen nanofibres; however, such fibres are water-soluble and require cross-linking before use as scaffolds for cell culture. Herein, electrospinning using a core-shell nozzle was employed to spin an aqueous acidic solution of collagen and encapsulate it within a shell of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Subsequently, the core collagen was gelled, and the shell PVP was washed away using a basic ethanol solution to yield anisotropic collagen hydrogel nanofibres. Immunostaining and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the obtained fibres were composed of collagen, and surface PVP was removed completely. Circular dichroism measurements confirmed that the fibres exhibited the triple helical structure characteristic of collagen. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on the collagen hydrogel fibres were oriented along the fibre direction. Hence, this method is suitable for fabricating fibrous anisotropic collagen hydrogels without chemical and thermal cross-linking, and can facilitate the development of safe medical materials with anisotropy similar to that of native ECM.
A Mixed Periodic Paralysis & Myotonia Mutant, P1158S, Imparts pH-Sensitivity in Skeletal Muscle Voltage-gated Sodium Channels
Authors: Ghovanloo Mohammad-Reza , Abdelsayed Mena , Peters Colin H. , Ruben Peter C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSkeletal muscle channelopathies, many of which are inherited as autosomal dominant mutations, include myotonia and periodic paralysis. Myotonia is defined by a delayed relaxation after muscular contraction, whereas periodic paralysis is defined by episodic attacks of weakness. One sub-type of periodic paralysis, known as hypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP), is associated with low potassium levels. Interestingly, the P1158S missense mutant, located in the third domain S4-S5 linker of the “skeletal muscle”, Nav1.4, has been implicated in causing both myotonia and hypoPP. A common trigger for these conditions is physical activity. We previously reported that Nav1.4 is relatively insensitive to changes in extracellular pH compared to Nav1.2 and Nav1.5. Given that intense exercise is often accompanied by blood acidosis, we decided to test whether changes in pH would push gating in P1158S towards either phenotype. Our results suggest that, unlike in WT-Nav1.4, low pH depolarizes the voltage-dependence of activation and steady-state fast inactivation, decreases current density, and increases late currents in P1185S. Thus, P1185S turns the normally pH-insensitive Nav1.4 into a proton-sensitive channel. Using action potential modeling we predict a pH-to-phenotype correlation in patients with P1158S. We conclude that activities which alter blood pH may trigger the noted phenotypes in P1158S patients.
Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, catalytic application and assessment of toxicity
Authors: Neamtu Mariana , Nadejde Claudia , Hodoroaba Vasile-Dan , Schneider Rudolf J. , Verestiuc Liliana , Panne Ulrich 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCost-effective water cleaning approaches using improved treatment technologies, for instance based on catalytic processes with high activity catalysts, are urgently needed. The aim of our study was to synthesize efficient Fenton-like photo-catalysts for rapid degradation of persistent organic micropollutants in aqueous medium. Iron-based nanomaterials were chemically synthesized through simple procedures by immobilization of either iron(II) oxalate (FeO) or iron(III) citrate (FeC) on magnetite (M) nanoparticles stabilized with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Various investigation techniques were performed in order to characterize the freshly prepared catalysts. By applying advanced oxidation processes, the effect of catalyst dosage, hydrogen peroxide concentration and UV-A light exposure were examined for Bisphenol A (BPA) conversion, at laboratory scale, in mild conditions. The obtained results revealed that BPA degradation was rapidly enhanced in the presence of low-concentration H2O2, as well as under UV-A light, and is highly dependent on the surface characteristics of the catalyst. Complete photo-degradation of BPA was achieved over the M/PEG/FeO catalyst in less than 15 minutes. Based on the catalytic performance, a hierarchy of the tested catalysts was established: M/PEG/FeO > M/PEG/FeC > M/PEG. The results of cytotoxicity assay using MCF-7 cells indicated that the aqueous samples after treatment are less cytotoxic.
Combined control method for grid‐side converter of doubly fed induction generator‐based wind energy conversion systems
Authors: Mohammadi Jafar , Vaez‐Zadeh Sadegh , Ebrahimzadeh Esmaeil , Blaabjerg Frede 
Published: April 2018

This study proposes a combined control method based on vector control (VC) and virtual flux direct power control (VFDPC) for grid‐side converter of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)‐based wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). VC gives lower power ripple with a slower dynamic response, while VFDPC provides a faster dynamic response, but higher power ripple. So, an analogy between VC and VFDPC is proved first and then used to propose a combined control method that takes the advantages of VC and VFDPC in an integrated control system. In the combined control method, the grid currents are directly controlled using hysteresis controllers and optimal switching table. It has several advantages compared to VC including faster power/current dynamic response, robustness to grid filter parameter variation, lower computation, and simple implementation. On the other hand, its advantages compared to VFDPC include less current harmonic distortion, lower power ripple, and robustness to measurement noise. To demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the combined control method, simulation results on a 1.5 MW DFIG‐based WECS are provided and compared with both VC and VFDPC under different steady‐state and transient conditions. The simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed method over either VC or VFDPC.
Design and analysis of hairpin piezoresistive pressure sensor with improved linearity using square and circular diaphragms
Authors: Hayati Mohsen , Fathipour Morteza , Sherafat Vaziri Hamid 
Published: April 2018

A novel structure for piezoresistive pressure sensors is proposed. The structure comprises two piezo‐resistors, one mounted on a flat diaphragm and the other mounted outside of the diaphragm so that a hairpin‐shaped structure is formed. As a result, one of the piezo‐resistors will be affected by the input pressure and the other one will not. Also an inverting Operational Amplifier (OP‐AMP) amplifier is utilised. The proposed pressure sensor can be designed using both square diaphragm or circular diaphragm and it has the advantage of higher linearity for input pressure range of 1 MPa in comparison with conventional structures. The value of nonlinearity (NL) is decreased from 0.5515% full‐scale (FS), for the conventional sensor, to 0.1138% FS (for the proposed sensor with square diaphragm) and 0.0761% FS (for the proposed sensor with circular diaphragm), which shows an improvement in reducing NL about 80% in square diaphragm and about 86% when circular diaphragm is employed. The proposed structure is analysed and simulated using COMSOL multiphysics software.
Spectral variation of suprathermal protons associated with stream interaction regions: STEREO A/PLASTIC observations
Authors: Yu J. , Berger L. , Drews C. , Wimmer-Schweingruber R. , Taut A. 
Published: April 2018

Context. The observation of power-law spectra of suprathermal particles is typically associated with the occurrence of stream interaction regions (SIRs), indicating that these particles are accelerated close to the observer. However, recent observations have identified the existence of sunwards streaming particles at low suprathermal energies following SIRs. In addition, the observational evidence for turnover spectra in the low suprathermal energies has also been presented, suggesting that these particles might be accelerated at remote shocks and travel back to the Sun along the interplanetary magnetic field lines.
Aims. We investigate the spectral evolution and variation of suprathermal protons from SIR to SIR as the observer moves from inside the compression regions of SIRs to the outside undisturbed solar wind regions away from the reverse shocks.
Methods. The spectral analysis in the range from solar wind to suprathermal energies was based on proton data, which are obtained by the Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition instrument (PLASTIC) on the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory mission (STEREO).
Results. All spectra in the compressed fast wind regions (F′ regions) of twelve SIRs exhibit power-law suprathermal tails. Six of them show clear turnover spectra at velocities below 2500 km s−1 in the undisturbed fast solar wind regions (F regions) following the compression regions, while the remaining six events exhibit continuous power-law spectra. Overall, the spectra at velocities higher than 2500 km s−1 harden in the F regions, consistent with previous observations.
Lidar sprectroscopy instrument (LISSI): An infrastructure facility for chemical aerosol profiling at the University of Hertfordshire
Authors: Tesche Matthias , Tatarov Boyan , Noh Youngmin , Müller Detlef 
Published: April 2018

The lidar development at the University of Hertfordshire explores the feasibility of using Raman backscattering for chemical aerosol profiling. This paper provides an overview of the new facility. A high-power Nd:YAG/OPO setup is used to excite Raman backscattering at a wide range of wavelengths. The receiver combines a spectrometer with a 32-channel detector or an ICCD camera to resolve Raman signals of various chemical compounds.
The new facility will open new avenues for chemical profiling of aerosol pollution from measurements of Raman scattering by selected chemical compounds, provide data that allow to close the gap between optical and microphysical aerosol profiling with lidar and enables connecting lidar measurements to parameters used in atmospheric modelling.
Measurements of Water Vapor Profiles with Compact DIAL in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
Authors: Abo Makoto , Sakai Tetsu , Le Hoai Phong Pham , Shibata Yasukuni , Nagasawa Chikao 
Published: April 2018

In recent years, the frequency of occurrence of locally heavy rainfall that can cause extensive damages, has been increasing in Japan. For early prediction of heavy rainfall, it is useful to measure the water vapor vertical distribution upwind cumulus convection beforehand. For that purpose, we have been developing compact water vapor differential absorption lidar (DIAL).
We show the results of the measurements with lidar in summer when the local heavy rainfall frequently occurs in Japan. We also show the preliminary result of the assimilation of the lidar data to the numerical model and impact on the heavy rainfall prediction.
Aerosol profiling during the large scale field campaign CINDI-2
Authors: Apituley Arnoud , Roozendael Michel Van , Richter Andreas , Wagner Thomas , Friess Udo , Hendrick Francois , Kreher Karin , Tirpitz Jan-Lukas 
Published: April 2018

For the validation of space borne observations of NO2 and other trace gases from hyperspectral imagers, ground based instruments based on the MAXDOAS technique are an excellent choice, since they rely on similar retrieval techniques as the observations from orbit. To ensure proper traceability of the MAXDOAS observations, a thorough validation and intercomparison is mandatory. Advanced MAXDOAS observation and retrieval techniques enable inferring vertical structure of trace gases and aerosols. These techniques and their results need validation by e.g. lidar techniques.
For the proper understanding of the results from passive remote sensing techniques, independent observations are needed that include parameters needed to understand the light paths, i.e. in-situ aerosol observations of optical and microphysical properties, and essential are in particular the vertical profiles of aerosol optical properties by (Raman) lidar.
The approach used in the CINDI-2 campaign held in Cabauw in 2016 is presented in this paper and the results will be discussed in the presentation at the conference.
Die Erfassung der Paarkommunikation bei Patienten mit einer fortgeschrittenen Krebserkrankung: Validierung einer deutschen Version der Couple Communication Scale (CCS)
Authors: Conrad Martina , Engelmann Dorit , Friedrich Michael , Scheffold Katharina , Philipp Rebecca , Schulz-Kindermann Frank , Härter Martin , Mehnert Anja , Koranyi Susan 
Published: April 2018

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Bisher liegen nur wenig valide Messinstrumente zur Erhebung der Paarkommunikation bei Krebspatienten für den deutschen Sprachraum vor. Die Couple Communication Scale (CCS) stellt ein etabliertes Instrument zur Erfassung der Paarkommunikation dar. Es liegen jedoch noch keine Untersuchungen zu den psychometrischen Eigenschaften der deutschen CCS-Version vor und die bislang angenommene 1-Faktorenlösung wurde bisher nicht an einer Stichprobe von Patienten mit einer fortgeschrittenen Tumorerkrankung überprüft.
Methode Die CCS wurde im Rahmen der Studie „Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully“ (CALM) an N=136 Tumorpatienten (≥18 Jahre, UICC-Stadium III/ IV) validiert. Es wurden die psychometrischen Kennwerte der Skala berechnet (Faktorreliabilität, Itemreliabilitäten, durchschnittlich extrahierte Varianz [DEV]) sowie eine konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse (Maximum-Likelihood-Schätzung) durchgeführt. Die Analyse der Kriteriumsvalidität erfolgte mittels valider Messinstrumente bezüglich Angst (GAD-7), Depressivität (BDI-II) und selbstberichteter Bindungsunsicherheit (ECR-M16).
Ergebnisse Die 1-Faktorenlösung zeigte in der konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalyse einen grenzwertigen, aber noch akzeptablen Modellfit und erklärt 49% der Varianz der Items (DEV). Die CCS weist eine sehr gute Reliabilität auf (Cronbachs α=0,91) und steht im negativen Zusammenhang mit der selbstberichteten Bindungsunsicherheit (ECR-M16: Ängstlichkeit: r=− 0,55, p<0,01; Vermeidung: r=− 0,42, p<0,01) sowie Angstsymptomatik (GAD-7: r=− 0,20, p<0,05) und Depressivität (BDI-II: r=− 0,27, p<0,01).
Schlussfolgerung Die CCS stellt ein reliables und valides Erhebungsinstrument zur Erfassung der Paarkommunikation bei Patienten mit einer fortgeschrittenen Krebserkrankung dar.
Hesperidin Prevents High Glucose-Induced Damage of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Authors: Liu Wayne , Liou Shorong-Shii , Hong Tang-Yao , Liu I-Min 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe present study aimed to determine whether hesperidin, a plant-based active flavanone found in citrus fruits, can prevent high glucose-induced retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell impairment. Cultured human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were exposed to a normal glucose concentration (5.5 mM) for 4 d and then soaked in either normal (5.5 mM) or high (33.3 mM) concentrations of D-glucose with or without different concentrations of hesperidin (10, 20, or 40 µM) for another 48 h. The survival rates of the cells were measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction assay. With the help of a fluorescent probe, the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated. Colorimetric assay kits were used to assess the antioxidant enzyme activities, and western blotting was used to measure the expression of apoptosis-related protein. Hesperidin was effective in inhibiting high glucose-induced ROS production, preventing loss of cell viability, and promoting the endogenous antioxidant defense components, including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, high glucose triggered cell apoptosis via the upregulation of caspase-9/3, enhancement of cytochrome c release into the cytosol, and subsequent interruption of the Bax/Bcl-2 balance. These detrimental effects were ameliorated by hesperidin in a concentration-dependent manner. We conclude that through the scavenging of ROS and modulation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, hesperidin may protect RPE cells from high glucose-induced injury and thus may be a candidate in preventing the visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy.