bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cell culture-derived influenza vaccines in the severe 2017–2018 epidemic season: a step towards improved influenza vaccine effectiveness
Authors: Barr Ian G. , Donis Ruben O. , Katz Jacqueline M. , McCauley John W. , Odagiri Takato , Trusheim Heidi , Tsai Theodore F. , Wentworth David E. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe 2017–2018 seasonal influenza epidemics were severe in the US and Australia where the A(H3N2) subtype viruses predominated. Although circulating A(H3N2) viruses did not differ antigenically from that recommended by the WHO for vaccine production, overall interim vaccine effectiveness estimates were below historic averages (33%) for A(H3N2) viruses. The majority (US) or all (Australian) vaccine doses contained multiple amino-acid changes in the hemagglutinin protein, resulting from the necessary adaptation of the virus to embryonated hen’s eggs used for most vaccine manufacturing. Previous reports have suggested a potential negative impact of egg-driven substitutions on vaccine performance. With BARDA support, two vaccines licensed in the US are produced in cell culture: recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV, Flublok™) manufactured in insect cells and inactivated mammalian cell-grown vaccine (ccIIV, Flucelvax™). Quadrivalent ccIIV (ccIIV4) vaccine for the 2017–2018 influenza season was produced using an A(H3N2) seed virus propagated exclusively in cell culture and therefore lacking egg adaptative changes. Sufficient ccIIV doses were distributed (but not RIV doses) to enable preliminary estimates of its higher effectiveness relative to the traditional egg-based vaccines, with study details pending. The increased availability of comparative product-specific vaccine effectiveness estimates for cell-based and egg-based vaccines may provide critical clues to inform vaccine product improvements moving forward.
Prospective motor control obeys to idiosyncratic strategies in autism
Authors: Cavallo Andrea , Romeo Luca , Ansuini Caterina , Podda Jessica , Battaglia Francesca , Veneselli Edvige , Pontil Massimiliano , Becchio Cristina 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDisturbance of primary prospective motor control has been proposed to contribute to faults in higher mind functions of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, but little research has been conducted to characterize prospective control strategies in autism. In the current study, we applied pattern-classification analyses to kinematic features to verify whether children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children altered their initial grasp in anticipation of self- and other-actions. Results indicate that children with autism adjusted their behavior to accommodate onward actions. The way they did so, however, varied idiosyncratically from one individual to another, which suggests that previous characterizations of general lack of prospective control strategies may be overly simplistic. These findings link abnormalities in anticipatory control with increased variability and offer insights into the difficulties that individuals with ASD may experience in social interaction.
A comparison of the effectiveness of cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, corticosteroids, or conservative management alone in patients with IgA nephropathy: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Chen Shasha , Yin Qing , Ren Song , Zhong Xiang , Wang Wei , Li Guisen , Wang Li 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTo compare the long-term efficacy of corticosteroids (P) alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX), leflunomide (LEF), or Angiotensin-convertase inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) in treatment for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 311 patients with IgAN were identified. Therapeutic effectiveness (including progression, partial remission, complete remission) and combined renal endpoint (defined as 30% reduction in eGFR or ESRD) were compared based on different therapies. After immunosuppressive and ACEI/ARB treatment, the levels of eGFR, proteinuria and albumin were significantly improved at the last follow-up, the extent of improvement of eGFR, proteinuria, and albumin was more notable in P + CTX group and P + LEF group. 41%, 52.2%, 55.3% and 55.2% in P + CTX, P + LEF, P and ACEI/ARB group achieved complete remission, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that only proteinuria (Relative risk (RR) 0.82(0.72–0.94), P = 0.004) and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (RR 0.26(0.13–0.57), P = 0.001) were predictors for complete remission. The optimal cutoffs of eGFR was 47.085 ml/min/1.73 m2 predicting renal function recovery in P + CTX therapy. In conclusion, tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis and massive proteinuria were poor predictors for complete remission in IgAN, it appears as though patients may have benefited from immunosuppressive treatment but that comparison to a well-matched contemporary control group or, ideally, a randomized controlled clinical trial, would be required to show this.
Birth weight and catch up growth are associated with childhood impulsivity in two independent cohorts
Authors: Silveira Patrícia P. , Pokhvisneva Irina , Gaudreau Hélène , Rifkin-Graboi Anne , Broekman Birit F. P. , Steiner Meir , Levitan Robert , Parent Carine , Diorio Josie , Meaney Michael J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIndividuals born after intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are more impulsive towards palatable foods, but it is not clear 1) if IUGR-related impulsivity is specific for foods and solely based on response inhibition and 2) if the development of impulsivity is due to being born IUGR per se or to growing up fast in the first few years of life (catch up growth). Children were classified in the IUGR group if the birth weight ratio was below 0.85. Delta z score for BMI was used as a measure of catch up growth. In MAVAN (N = 274), impulsivity was measured by the Information Sampling Task from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (IST - CANTAB), and in GUSTO using the Sticker Delay Task (N = 327). There is a significant effect of interaction between being born IUGR and the magnitude of catch up growth on the reflection impulsivity from IST-CANTAB at 60 months, in which greater catch up growth associates with greater impulsivity in the IST fixed condition in IUGR children. The finding was reproduced in children from the GUSTO cohort using the Sticker Delay Task. We confirmed that catch up growth interacts with IUGR, having a major role in the development of impulsivity in the first years of life and influencing inhibitory control and decision making processes.
A microfluidic device for isolating intact chromosomes from single mammalian cells and probing their folding stability by controlling solution conditions
Authors: Takahashi Tomohiro , Okeyo Kennedy O. , Ueda Jun , Yamagata Kazuo , Washizu Masao , Oana Hidehiro 
Published: September 2018

AbstractChromatin folding shows spatio-temporal fluctuations in living undifferentiated cells, but fixed spatial heterogeneity in differentiated cells. However, little is known about variation in folding stability along the chromatin fibres during differentiation. In addition, effective methods to investigate folding stability at the single cell level are lacking. In the present study, we developed a microfluidic device that enables non-destructive isolation of chromosomes from single mammalian cells as well as real-time microscopic monitoring of the partial unfolding and stretching of individual chromosomes with increasing salt concentrations under a gentle flow. Using this device, we compared the folding stability of chromosomes between non-differentiated and differentiated cells and found that the salt concentration which induces the chromosome unfolding was lower (≤500 mM NaCl) for chromosomes derived from undifferentiated cells, suggesting that the chromatin folding stability of these cells is lower than that of differentiated cells. In addition, individual unfolded chromosomes, i.e., chromatin fibres, were stretched to 150–800 µm non-destructively under 750 mM NaCl and showed distributions of highly/less folded regions along the fibres. Thus, our technique can provide insights into the aspects of chromatin folding that influence the epigenetic control of cell differentiation.
First evidence of octacalcium phosphate@osteocalcin nanocomplex as skeletal bone component directing collagen triple–helix nanofibril mineralization
Authors: Simon Paul , Grüner Daniel , Worch Hartmut , Pompe Wolfgang , Lichte Hannes , El Khassawna Thaqif , Heiss Christian , Wenisch Sabine , Kniep Rüdiger 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTibia trabeculae and vertebrae of rats as well as human femur were investigated by high-resolution TEM at the atomic scale in order to reveal snapshots of the morphogenetic processes of local bone ultrastructure formation. By taking into account reflections of hydroxyapatite for Fourier filtering the appearance of individual alpha–chains within the triple–helix clearly shows that bone bears the feature of an intergrowth composite structure extending from the atomic to the nanoscale, thus representing a molecular composite of collagen and apatite. Careful Fourier analysis reveals that the non–collagenous protein osteocalcin is present directly combined with octacalcium phosphate. Besides single spherical specimen of about 2 nm in diameter, osteocalcin is spread between and over collagen fibrils and is often observed as pearl necklace strings. In high-resolution TEM, the three binding sites of the γ-carboxylated glutamic acid groups of the mineralized osteocalcin were successfully imaged, which provide the chemical binding to octacalcium phosphate. Osteocalcin is attached to the collagen structure and interacts with the Ca–sites on the (100) dominated hydroxyapatite platelets with Ca-Ca distances of about 9.5 Å. Thus, osteocalcin takes on the functions of Ca–ion transport and suppression of hydroxyapatite expansion.
Task-evoked pupil responses reflect internal belief states
Authors: Colizoli Olympia , de Gee Jan Willem , Urai Anne E. , Donner Tobias H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPerceptual decisions about the state of the environment are often made in the face of uncertain evidence. Internal uncertainty signals are considered important regulators of learning and decision-making. A growing body of work has implicated the brain’s arousal systems in uncertainty signaling. Here, we found that two specific computational variables, postulated by recent theoretical work, evoke boosts of arousal at different times during a perceptual decision: decision confidence (the observer’s internally estimated probability that a choice was correct given the evidence) before feedback, and prediction errors (deviations from expected reward) after feedback. We monitored pupil diameter, a peripheral marker of central arousal state, while subjects performed a challenging perceptual choice task with a delayed monetary reward. We quantified evoked pupil responses during decision formation and after reward-linked feedback. During both intervals, decision difficulty and accuracy had interacting effects on pupil responses. Pupil responses negatively scaled with decision confidence prior to feedback and scaled with uncertainty-dependent prediction errors after feedback. This pattern of pupil responses during both intervals was in line with a model using the observer’s graded belief about choice accuracy to anticipate rewards and compute prediction errors. We conclude that pupil-linked arousal systems are modulated by internal belief states.
IL-27 amplifies cytokine responses to Gram-negative bacterial products and Salmonella typhimurium infection
Authors: Petes C. , Odoardi N. , Plater S. M. , Martin N. L. , Gee K. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractCytokine responses from monocytes and macrophages exposed to bacteria are of particular importance in innate immunity. Focusing on the impact of the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-27 on control of innate immune system responses, we examined human immune responses to bacterial products and bacterial infection by E. coli and S. typhimurium. Since the effect of IL-27 treatment in human myeloid cells infected with bacteria is understudied, we treated human monocytes and macrophages with IL-27 and either LPS, flagellin, or bacteria, to investigate the effect on inflammatory signaling and cytokine responses. We determined that simultaneous stimulation with IL-27 and LPS derived from E. coli or S. typhimurium resulted in enhanced IL-12p40, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression compared to that by LPS alone. To elucidate if IL-27 manipulated the cellular response to infection with bacteria, we infected IL-27 treated human macrophages with S. typhimurium. While IL-27 did not affect susceptibility to S. typhimurium infection or S. typhimurium-induced cell death, IL-27 significantly enhanced proinflammatory cytokine production in infected cells. Taken together, we highlight a role for IL-27 in modulating innate immune responses to bacterial infection.
Critical roles of serotonin-oxytocin interaction during the neonatal period in social behavior in 15q dup mice with autistic traits
Authors: Nagano Masatoshi , Takumi Toru , Suzuki Hidenori 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDisturbance of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies of 15q dup mouse models of ASD with human 15q11–13 duplication have revealed that restoring serotonin (5-HT) levels can partially reverse ASD-related symptoms in adults. However, it remains unclear how serotonin contributes to the behavioral symptoms of ASD. In contrast, oxytocin (OXT) has been found to involve social and affiliative behaviors. In this study, we examined whether serotonin-OXT interaction during the early postnatal period plays a critical role in the restoration of social abnormality in 15q dup mice. OXT or the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8OH-DPAT treatment from postnatal day 7 (PD7) to PD21 ameliorated social abnormality in the three-chamber social interaction test in adult 15q dup mice. The effect of 8OH-DPAT was inhibited by blockade of OXT receptors in 15q dup mice. Thus, serotonin-OXT interaction via 5-HT1A receptors plays a critical role in the normal development of social behavior in 15q dup mice. Therefore, targeting serotonin-OXT interaction may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of ASD.
Generic sofosbuvir-based interferon-free direct acting antiviral agents for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a real-world multicenter observational study
Authors: Liu Chen-Hua , Huang Yi-Jie , Yang Sien-Sing , Chang Chung-Hsin , Yang Sheng-Shun , Sun Hsin-Yun , Liu Chun-Jen , Liu Wen-Chun , Su Tung-Hung , Yang Hung-Chih , Hong Chun-Ming , Tseng Tai-Chung , Chen Pei-Jer , Chen Ding-Shinn , Hung Chien-Ching , Kao Jia-Horng 
Published: September 2018

AbstractReal-world data regarding the effectiveness and safety of generic sofosbuvir (SOF)-based interferon-free direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remain limited. A total of 517 chronic HCV-infected patients receiving 12 or 24 weeks of SOF-based therapies were retrospectively enrolled in 4 academic centers in Taiwan. The rate of sustained virologic response at week 12 off-therapy (SVR12) and that of treatment completion were assessed. The baseline characteristics and on-treatment HCV viral kinetics to predict SVR12 were analyzed. By evaluable population (EP) analysis, the SVR12 rate was 95.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 93.2–96.9%). The SVR12 was achieved in 29 of 34 patients (85.3%, 95% CI: 69.6–93.6%), 130 of 139 patients (93.5%, 95% CI: 88.2–96.6%), 119 of 124 patients (96.0%, 95% CI: 90.9–98.3%) and 215 of 220 patients (97.7%, 95% CI: 94.8–99.0%) who received SOF in combination with ribavirin (RBV), ledipasvir (LDV), daclatasvir (DCV) and velpatasvir (VEL), respectively. Of 517 patients, 514 (99.4%) completed the scheduled treatment. All 15 patients with true virologic failures were relapsers. Two decompensated cirrhotic patients had on-treatment deaths which were not related to DAAs. All 7 patients who were lost to follow-up had undetectable HCV RNA level at the last visit. The SVR12 rates were comparable in terms of baseline patient characteristics and viral decline at week 4 of treatment. In conclusion, generic SOF-based regimens are well tolerated and provide high SVR12 rates in patients with chronic HCV infection.
Actinobacteria associated with Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. are diverse and have plant growth promoting and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Zhao Ke , Li Jing , Zhang Xiaoyue , Chen Qiang , Liu Maoke , Ao Xiaolin , Gu Yunfu , Liao Decong , Xu Kaiwei , Ma Monggeng , Yu Xiumei , Xiang Quanju , Chen Ji , Zhang Xiaoping , Penttinen Petri 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMany of the plant associated microbes may directly and indirectly contribute to plant growth and stress resistance. Our aim was to assess the plant growth-promoting and antimicrobial activities of actinobacteria isolated from Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. plants to find strains that could be applied in agricultural industry, for example in reclaiming saline soils. We isolated 36 and 52 strains that showed morphological characteristics of actinobacteria from one year old and three year old G. inflata plants, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains represented ten actinobacterial genera. Most of the strains had plant growth promoting characteristics in vitro, tolerated 200 mM NaCl and inhibited the growth of at least one indicator organism. The eight selected Streptomyces strains increased the germination rate of G. inflata seeds under salt stress. In addition, the four best seed germination promoters promoted the growth of G. inflata in vivo. The best promoters of G. inflata growth, strains SCAU5283 and SCAU5215, inhibited a wide range of indicator organisms, and may thus be considered as promising candidates to be applied in inoculating G. inflata.
Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Patients with Intracranial Meningiomas: impact of radiotherapy regimen on local control
Authors: Meniai-Merzouki F. , Bernier-Chastagner V. , Geffrelot J. , Tresch E. , Lacornerie T. , Coche-Dequeant B. , Lartigau E. , Pasquier D. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWe evaluated efficacy and tolerance of hypofractionated stereotactic radiation treatment (hFSRT) in the management of intracranial meningiomas. Between December 2008 and June 2016, 126 patients with 136 intracranial meningiomas were treated with robotic hFSRT. hFSRT was performed as primary irradiation and as a salvage option for the local recurrence after prior radiotherapy. The median prescription dose was 25 Gy (12–40) with a median number of fractions of 5 (3–10). After a median follow-up of 20.3 months (range 1–77 months), the 24-months local control (LC) rate was 81% in the primary hFSRT group and 39% after hFSRT in the re-irradiation group (p=0.002). The clinical control rate of symptoms in the overall population was 95% (95% CI: 89–98%). Progression-free survival (PFS) in the overall population at 24 months was 70% (95% CI: 60%–79%). In the primary hFSRT group, PFS was significantly lower with the most hypofractionated schedules of 21–23 Gy in 3 fractions vs. 25–40 Gy in 5–10 fractions: 62% vs. 92% (p = 0.0006). The incidence of radionecrosis at 24 months was significantly lower in the primary hFSRT group, at 2% vs. 20% in the re-irradiation hFSRT group (p = 0.002).
Archival VLT/NaCo multiplicity investigation of exoplanet host stars
Authors: Dietrich J. , Ginski C. 
Published: September 2018

Context. The influence of stellar multiplicity on planet formation is not yet well determined. Most planets are found using indirect detection methods via the small radial velocity or photometric variations of the primary star. These indirect detection methods are not sensitive to wide stellar companions. High-resolution imaging is thus needed to identify potential (sub)stellar companions to these stars.
Aims. In this study we aim to determine the (sub)stellar multiplicity status of exoplanet host stars, that were not previously investigated for stellar multiplicity in the literature. For systems with non-detections we provide detailed detection limits to make them accessible for further statistical analysis.
Methods. For this purpose we have employed previously unpublished high-resolution imaging data taken with VLT/NACO in a wide variety of different scientific programs and publicly accessible in the ESO archive. We used astrometric and theoretical population synthesis to determine whether detected companion candidates are likely to be bound or are merely chance-projected background objects.
Results. We provide detailed detection limits for 39 systems and investigate 29 previously unknown companion candidates around five systems. In addition, we show for the first time that the previously known companion candidate around HD 204313 is likely a background object. By comparison with secondary epochs of 2MASS data we show that the companion candidates around GJ 176 and HD 40307, as well as two of the sources around HD 85390, are likely background objects. For HD 113538 and HD 190984, as well as multiple further companion candidates around HD 85390, further observational data is required to test common proper motion of the companion candidates.
Effects of resonant scattering of the Si IV doublet near 140 nm in a solar active region
Authors: Gontikakis C. , Vial J.-C. 
Published: September 2018

Aims. In a previous study we analysed the C IV 1548.189 Å and 1550.775 Å lines observed with the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation (SUMER), showing cases where the 1548.189 Å spectral profile was noticeably different from the 1550.775 Å one, profiles that we dubbed differentially shaped profiles. We explained this differential behaviour by an important radiative contribution, affecting multiple plasma motions happening at the instrument sub-resolution scale. In the present study we examine more general cases where radiative effects may contribute to the emission from the transition region of an active region. Here we analyse the lines Si IV 1393.757 Å and 1402.772 Å observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS).
Methods. We study active region NOAA 12529, observed with IRIS on 18 April 2016. Using sorting techniques we selected individual profiles for which the intensity line ratio 1393.757 Å/1402.772 Å is significantly higher or lower than 2 and we also tracked differentially shaped profiles. We analyse the physical conditions that create these profiles and in some cases we estimate electron densities.
Results. We found more than 4000 individual profiles with line ratios higher than 2, about 500 profiles for which the line ratio is in the range 1.3–1.6, and 15 differentially shaped profiles. Line ratios higher than 2, are found along loops, and mostly at the y = 250 to 300″ part of the plage. There, we estimated the incident radiation and derived electron densities that can vary from 109 to a few times 1011 cm−3, depending on the plasma temperature. For the low line ratios, the sources are concentrated at the periphery of the active region plage, mostly along fibrils and present optical depths, τ, between 1.5 and 3. in most cases. The electron densities calculated from these Si IV profiles are comparable with electron densities derived using the O IV 1399.766 Å-1401.163 Å ratios.
Conclusions. We found that about 2.4% of the individual profiles for which we can perform a Gaussian fit present a line ratio higher than 2. In profiles with a high line ratio, the resonant scattering appears to be due to the combination of an average incident radiation field with a relatively low local electron density and not due to the vicinity of an ephemeral strong light source. As far as low intensity ratios are concerned, non-negligible optical depths are found at the edge of the plage, near the footpoints of fibrils that are oriented towards quiet Sun areas, where the electron density can be as high as (7 − 9) × 1011 cm−3 if we assume a plasma in ionization equilibrium.