bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cell survival controlled by lens‐derived Sema3A–Nrp1 is vital on caffeine‐suppressed corneal innervation during chick organogenesis
Authors: Wang Guang , Jiang Ling‐Min , Tan Bao‐Yi , Li Pei‐Zhi , Zhang Pei‐Ling , Zhang Yu , Cheng Xin , Ma Zheng‐Lai , Li Zhi‐Jie , Brand‐Saberi Beate , Yang Xuesong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effect of caffeine overexposure on corneal innervation in the early chicken embryo. Caffeine administration restricted corneal innervation by affecting trigeminal nerve development. Immunohistochemistry for phospho‐Histone3 (pHIS3) and C‐caspase3 revealed that cell survival was repressed by caffeine administration. Whole‐mount in situ hybridization against semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and neuropilin‐1 (Nrp1) showed that both caffeine and 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH, a free radical generator) administration upregulates the expression of both Sema3A and Nrp1. Next, we demonstrated that lens ablation in the developing chicken embryos significantly affected NF‐labeled periocular nerve fascicles and innervation to the central eye region. Subsequently, we used a neuroblastoma cell line to investigate in vitro whether or not Sema3A–Nrp1 signaling exerts a key role on the caffeine‐suppressed neuron survival. Knocking‐down Sema3A through transfection with Sema3A‐siRNA dramatically decreased the responsiveness of cells to caffeine administration, as well as cell apoptosis. We suggest that Sema3A–Nrp1 signaling regulates Trp53 and Cdkn1a through Slit2–Robo1 and Ephb2. Taken together, we speculate here that caffeine‐enhanced reactive oxygen species upregulates Sema3A–Nrp1 expression in the lens and periocular tissues, resulting in corneal cell apoptosis, accompanied by its chemorepellent role on the invasion of the developing cornea by trigeminal sensory fibers.
Cancer cachexia impairs neural respiratory drive in hypoxia but not hypercapnia
Authors: Fields Daryl P. , Roberts Brandon M. , Simon Alec K. , Judge Andrew R. , Fuller David D. , Mitchell Gordon S. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundCancer cachexia is an insidious process characterized by muscle atrophy with associated motor deficits, including diaphragm weakness and respiratory insufficiency. Although neuropathology contributes to muscle wasting and motor deficits in many clinical disorders, neural involvement in cachexia‐linked respiratory insufficiency has not been explored.MethodsWe first used whole‐body plethysmography to assess ventilatory responses to hypoxic and hypercapnic chemoreflex activation in mice inoculated with the C26 colon adenocarcinoma cell line. Mice were exposed to a sequence of inspired gas mixtures consisting of (i) air, (ii) hypoxia (11% O2) with normocapnia, (iii) hypercapnia (7% CO2) with normoxia, and (iv) combined hypercapnia with hypoxia (i.e. maximal chemoreflex response). We also tested the respiratory neural network directly by recording inspiratory burst output from ligated phrenic nerves, thereby bypassing influences from changes in diaphragm muscle strength, respiratory mechanics, or compensation through recruitment of accessory motor pools.ResultsCachectic mice demonstrated a significant attenuation of the hypoxic tidal volume (0.26mL±0.01mL vs 0.30mL±0.01mL; p<0.05), breathing frequency (317±10bpm vs 344±6bpm; p<0.05) and phrenic nerve (29.5±2.6% vs 78.8±11.8%; p<0.05) responses. On the other hand, the much larger hypercapnic tidal volume (0.46±0.01mL vs 0.46±0.01mL; p>0.05), breathing frequency (392±5bpm vs 408±5bpm; p>0.05) and phrenic nerve (93.1±8.8% vs 111.1±13.2%; p>0.05) responses were not affected. Further, the concurrent hypercapnia/hypoxia tidal volume (0.45±0.01mL vs 0.45±0.01mL; p>0.05), breathing frequency (395±7bpm vs 400±3bpm; p>0.05), and phrenic nerve (106.8±7.1% vs 147.5±38.8%; p>0.05) responses were not different between C26 cachectic and control mice.ConclusionsBreathing deficits associated with cancer cachexia are specific to the hypoxic ventilatory response and, thus, reflect disruptions in the hypoxic chemoafferent neural network. Diagnostic techniques that detect decompensation and therapeutic approaches that support the failing hypoxic respiratory response may benefit patients at risk for cancer cachectic‐associated respiratory failure.
Scaling of major organs in hatchling female American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
Authors: Eme John , Cooper Cassidy J. , Alvo Andrew , Vasquez Juan , Muhtaseb Sara , Rayman Susan , Schmoyer Thomas , Elsey Ruth M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAllometric equations represent relationships between morphological/physiological traits and body mass Y = aMb, where Y is the trait, a is elevation, b is the exponent describing the shape of the line, and M is body mass. We measured visceral organ masses in hatchling alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from five clutches from approximately 45 to 500 g wet body mass. The interaction between initial egg mass and clutch identity was significant for initial hatchling mass, but only egg mass, not clutch, had a significant effect on initial snout–vent and head length. Kidney and liver mass showed biphasic scaling with body mass, as determined by “breakpoint” analyses, with the breakpoint at 120 g wet body mass. Kidney and liver wet mass showed slopes b > 1.0 as animals increased approximately 45–120 g, with significantly lower b approximately 0.8–0.9 for alligators 120–500 g. Within kidney and liver mass, below and above the breakpoint, organ mass slopes tended to be similar across clutches. Lung and heart wet mass did not show biphasic scaling, with b approximately 0.8–0.9. Within lung and heart mass, clutches had statistically identical slopes. Combined clutch data for wet mass showed distinct regressions with b > 1.4 for approximately 45–120 g alligators’ kidney and liver mass, compared with approximately 120–500 g alligators’ kidney, liver, lung, and heart mass b < 1.0. Alligators show rapid kidney and liver growth following hatching, with higher rates than lung or heart tissue. Clutch, egg mass, and hatchling size influence organ size, and each factor should be accounted for in future studies exploring reptile morphology and physiology to assess environmental versus clutch contributions.
Gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of protonated benzofuran‐ and dihydrobenzofuran‐type neolignans investigated by accurate‐mass electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Dias Herbert J. , Baguenard Manon , Crevelin Eduardo J. , Palaretti Vinicius , Gates Paul J. , Vessecchi Ricardo , Crotti Antônio E.M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe have investigated gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of protonated benzofuran neolignans (BNs) and dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (DBNs) by accurate‐mass electrospray ionization tandem and multiple‐stage (MSn) mass spectrometry combined with thermochemical data estimated by Computational Chemistry. Most of the protonated compounds fragment into product ions B ([M + H–MeOH]+), C ([B–MeOH]+), D ([C–CO]+), and E ([D–CO]+) upon collision‐induced dissociation (CID). However, we identified a series of diagnostic ions and associated them with specific structural features. In the case of compounds displaying an acetoxy group at C‐4, product ion C produces diagnostic ions K ([C–C2H2O]+), L ([K–CO]+), and P ([L–CO]+). Formation of product ions H ([D–H2O]+) and M ([H–CO]+) is associated with the hydroxyl group at C‐3 and C‐3′, whereas product ions N ([D–MeOH]+) and O ([N–MeOH]+) indicate a methoxyl group at the same positions. Finally, product ions F ([A–C2H2O]+), Q ([A–C3H6O2]+), I ([A–C6H6O]+), and J ([I–MeOH]+) for DBNs and product ion G ([B–C2H2O]+) for BNs diagnose a saturated bond between C‐7′ and C‐8′. We used these structure‐fragmentation relationships in combination with deuterium exchange experiments, MSn data, and Computational Chemistry to elucidate the gas‐phase fragmentation pathways of these compounds. These results could help to elucidate DBN and BN metabolites in in vivo and in vitro studies on the basis of electrospray ionization ESI‐CID‐MS/MS data only.
Novel antioxidant peptides obtained by alcalase hydrolysis of Erythrina edulis (pajuro) protein
Authors: Intiquilla Arturo , Jiménez‐Aliaga Karim , Guzmán Fanny , Alvarez Claudio A , Zavaleta Amparo I , Izaguirre Víctor , Hernández‐Ledesma Blanca 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOxidative reactions are responsible for the changes in quality during food processing and storage. Oxidative stress is also involved in multiple chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, cancer, and aging. The consumption of dietary antioxidants has been demonstrated to help to reduce the oxidative damage in both the human body and food systems. In this study, the potential of Erythrina edulis (pajuro) protein as source of antioxidant peptides was evaluated.RESULTSPajuro protein concentrate hydrolyzed by alcalase for 120 min showed potent ABTS·+ and peroxyl radical scavenging activity with Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values of 1.37 ± 0.09 µmol TE mg−1 peptide and 2.83 ± 0.07 µmol TE mg−1 peptide, respectively. Fractionation of the hydrolyzate to small peptides resulted in increased antioxidant activity. De novo sequencing of most active fractions collected by chromatographic analysis enabled 30 novel peptides to be identified. Of these, ten were synthesized and their radical activity evaluated, demonstrating their relevant contribution to the antioxidant effects observed for pajuro protein hydrolyzate.CONCLUSIONSThe sequences identified represent an important advance in the molecular characterization of the pajuro protein, demonstrating its potential as a source of antioxidant peptides for food and nutraceutical applications. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Lymphatic‐venous anastomosis in a rat model: A novel exercise for microsurgical training
Authors: Leuzzi Sara , Maruccia Michele , Elia Rossella , Annoscia Paolo , Vestita Michelangelo , Nacchiero Eleonora , Giudice Giuseppe 
Published: October 2018

Background and ObjectivesLymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. Lymphaticovenular anastomoses (LVA) and multiple lymphatic‐venous anastomoses (MLVAs) have been recognized as efficient methods to treat chronic lymphedema. Because few models for lymphatics microsurgical training have been described, the aim of this study is to present a new training model for MLVA in a rat.MethodsTen norvegicus rats were used for this study. After a longitudinal xifo‐pubic incision, lumbar nodes were injected with blue patent violet (BPV) to identify from two to four lymphatic vessels (LVs). MLVAs were carried out inserting lymphatics into the right lumbar vein.ResultsThe mean weight of the rats was 511.4 g. The average diameter of the abdominal LVs used for MLVA was 0.26 mm, and the mean size of the right lumbar vein was 0.84 mm. The average time to perform MLVA was 49.8 minutes. Anastomosis patency rate was 70% based on the passage of BPV from the lymphatics into the vein.ConclusionsThe rat is still a feasible resource to train microsurgeons, and the MLVA model proposed is simple and reliable and could be very useful for microsurgeon training.
Survival and cause‐specific mortality of desert bighorn sheep lambs
Authors: Cain James W. , Karsch Rebekah C. , Goldstein Elise J. , Rominger Eric M. , Gould William R. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTJuvenile recruitment in desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) is highly variable, yet the mechanisms influencing neonate survival are not well understood. Because few studies have equipped desert bighorn sheep lambs with telemetry collars, definitive data on cause‐specific mortality, and lamb survival estimates are lacking. Our objectives were to estimate lamb survival rates and determine cause‐specific mortality for desert bighorn sheep lambs during a period of mountain lion (Puma concolor) and coyote (Canis latrans) removal in southwestern New Mexico, USA. We captured pregnant adult females each fall and fitted them with a telemetry collar and a vaginal implant transmitter to aid with neonate captures. We captured and radio‐collared 12 desert bighorn sheep lambs in 2012 and 14 in 2013 within 48 hours of parturition in the Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico. We estimated lamb survival to 6 months of age. Across both years there were 14 mortalities, 12 of which were due to predation. Mountain lions killed 5 lambs (2 in 2012 and 3 in 2013), coyotes killed 4 lambs (all in 2013), a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) killed 1 lamb in 2012, and 2 lambs were killed by unknown predators in 2013. Staged‐based survival estimates indicated the highest mortality rates occurred in the first week post birth; 5 of 14 lamb mortalities occurred before 7 days of age. Lamb survival to 6 months was substantially lower in 2013 (0.20 ± 0.11 [SE]) than in 2012 (0.71 ± 0.14) with the differences in survival attributed to increased coyote predation in 2013. We did not detect differences in body mass at birth between years or differences in body mass, chest girth, or neck circumference at birth between lambs that were killed by predators and those that survived. Coyotes, mountain lions, and the gray fox killed lambs <8 weeks of age, but only mountain lions killed lambs >8 weeks old. Predator removals focused around the parturition period of desert bighorn sheep may be more likely to influence lamb survival rates than removals outside of the lambing season. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
A study of kinetics and thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption onto the Yellow River bottom sediment
Authors: Kang X. , Chen Z. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this paper, the adsorption process and kinetics of methylene blue onto the Yellow River bottom sediment was investigated. It was found that the equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Toth and Redlich‐Peterson model, with the Langmuir model showing the best fitting result compared to others. The adsorption process attained equilibrium within 60 min, and the adsorption capacity of Yellow River sediment increased with the increase in adsorbent concentration, temperature, and NaNO3 concentration. The adsorption capacity of the Yellow River sediment increases as the adsorbent pH decreases to a certain value and further decreasing the pH value can lead to decreasing adsorption capacity. Moreover, the presence of humic acid in natural concentration range had a minor influence on the adsorption quantity of the Yellow River sediment. Therefore, the Yellow River sediment, an easily available material, can be used for methylene blue removal in wastewater treatment processes.
A study on annealing‐induced softening in cold drawn Cu−Cr−Sn alloy
Authors: Luo Z. , Luo F. , Xie W. , Chen H. , Wang H. , Yang B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe softening behavior of a 60 % cold‐drawn Cu‐0.48Cr‐0.16Sn alloy during annealing at temperatures between 450 °C and 750 °C was investigated. The mechanical properties and microstructures evolution of the alloy in both as‐drawn and annealed conditions were analyzed using hardness measurement, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron back‐scatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. The results showed that the softening behavior of the alloy was strongly affected by precipitate coarsening, recovery and recrystallization, and was predominant by recrystallization when the temperature higher than 500 °C. The recrystallization kinetics was characterized by measurements of hardness. The obtained experimental data were evaluated in terms of the Johnson‐Mehl‐Avrami‐Kolmogorov model. The values of the Avrami exponent were ranged from 0.87 to 1.36, and the activation energy of recrystallization was about 117.9 kJ mol‐1 for 60 % cold‐drawn Cu−0.48Cr−0.16Sn alloy, which suggested that recrystallization process of the Cu−Cr−Sn alloy was mainly controlled by grain boundary migration. The softening resistance of the Cu−Cr−Sn alloy is stronger than that of the pure copper due to the addition of Chromium (Cr) and Tin (Sn). In addition, the reduction in strain had a positive effect on the improvement of softening resistance.
Licoflavonol Reduces Aβ Secretion by Increasing BACE1 Phosphorylation to Facilitate BACE1 Degradation
Authors: Gu Ming‐Yao , Chun Yoon Sun , Yong Ryu Shi , Yang Hyun Ok 
Published: October 2018

ScopeIn the previous study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch extract (GUE) inhibited Aβ secretion by inhibiting β‐site APP‐cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) transcription, and the active compounds semilicoisoflavone B (SB) and licoflavonol (LF) inhibited Aβ secretion. SB corresponds to the same mechanism as GUE, but LF has a different mechanism. In this study, the mechanism underlying inhibition of Aβ by LF is investigated.Methods and resultsThe effects of LF on Aβ, sAPPα, and sAPPβ secretion are evaluated by ELISA, and the effect of LF on BACE1 expression is detected by western blotting. It is found that the effect of LF on Aβ secretion is due to promotion of BACE1 protein degradation, and that the effect of LF on Aβ and BACE1 expression is attenuated after cotreatment with the lysosome inhibitor chloroquine. In a subsequent mechanistic study, it is found that LF increases BACE1 phosphorylation to increase its interactions with ADP ribosylation factor‐binding proteins 1 and 3 (GGA1 and GGA3, respectively) and eventually facilitate BACE1 delivery to lysosomes for degradation.ConclusionThis study is the first to demonstrate that the BACE1 phosphorylation inducer LF can modulate BACE1 trafficking and lead to facilitating degradation of BACE1, eventually decreasing Aβ secretion.
Dietary Daidzein Supplementation During Pregnancy Facilitates Fetal Growth in Rats
Authors: Zhang Qiqi , Xie Hongmei , Chen Daiwen , Yu Bing , Huang Zhiqing , Zheng Ping , Mao Xiangbing , Yu Jie , Luo Yuheng , Luo Junqiu , He Jun 
Published: October 2018

ScopeDaidzein, a natural isoflavone with estrogen‐like activity, has been implicated in the regulation of reproductive performance in mammals. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. Here, the effects and potential mechanisms of daidzein supplementation on fetal growth in rats have been explored.Methods and resultsThirty‐six pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats are assigned to receive either an AIN‐93M diet or an AIN‐93M diet supplemented with 50 mg kg–1 daidzein. Blood, placental, and fetus samples were collected on day 15 of gestation. It is shown that daidzein significantly improves the rat reproductive performance, which is associated with a higher fetus number, and the weight of the fetus and placenta (p < 0.05). Daidzein also increases the maternal serum estrogen and leptin concentrations, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.05). Notably, the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)‐based proteomics analysis identifies 43 differentially expressed (DE) proteins in the placenta upon daidzein supplementation (p < 0.05). Interestingly, critical proteins involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, embryonic development, ubiquitination processes, and immune responses are upregulated in the daidzein group (p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results not only indicate a beneficial effect of daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance but also offer potential mechanisms behind daidzein‐facilitated fetal growth in rats.
A novel single L‐shaped open slot antenna for octa‐band metal‐framed smartphones
Authors: Chen Chu‐Hui , Jiao Yong‐Chang , Zhang Li , Weng Zi‐Bin , Shen Dong‐Lin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA novel single L‐shaped open‐end slot antenna for octa‐band metallic frame smartphones is presented. The antenna mainly comprises an L‐shaped open slot and a simple LC circuit. The slot is placed at the top of the ground plane which is excited by the 50‐Ω feedline with a band‐stop match circuit. According to the proposed feeding arrangement, the antenna can cover all dual‐wideband LTE/WWAN operations at 698‐960 MHz and 1710‐2690 MHz. A prototype antenna is manufactured and tested. Experimental results such as return loss, radiation patterns, and radiation efficiencies are also presented.
High quality imaging from sparsely sampled computed tomography data with deep learning and wavelet transform in various domains
Authors: Lee Donghoon , Choi Sunghoon , Kim Hee‐Joung 
Published: October 2018

PurposeSparsely sampled computed tomography (CT) has been attracting attention as a technique that can reduce the high radiation dose of conventional CT. In general, iterative reconstruction techniques have been applied to sparsely sampled CT to realize high quality images. These methodologies require high computing power due to the modeling of the system and the trajectory of radiation rays. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to obtain high quality three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructed images with deep learning under sparse sampling conditions.MethodsWe used a deep learning model based on a fully convolutional network and a wavelet transform to predict high quality images. To reduce the spatial resolution loss of predicted images, we replaced the pooling layer with a wavelet transform. Three different domains were evaluated — the sinogram domain, the image domain, and the hybrid domain — to optimize a reconstruction technique based on deep learning. To train and develop a deep learning model, The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) dataset was used.ResultsStreak artifacts, which generally occur under sparse sampling conditions, were effectively removed from deep learning‐based sparsely sampled reconstructed images. However, image characteristics of fine structures varied depending on the application of deep learning technologies. The use of deep learning techniques in the sinogram domain removed streak artifacts well, but some image noise remained. Likewise, when applying deep learning technology to the image domain, a blurring effect occurred. The proposed hybrid domain sparsely sampled reconstruction based on deep learning was able to restore images to a quality similar to fully sampled images. The structural similarity (SSIM) index values of sparsely sampled CT reconstruction based on deep learning technology were 0.85 or higher. Among the three domains studied, the hybrid domain techniques achieved the highest SSIM index values (0.9 or more).ConclusionWe proposed a method of sparsely sampled CT reconstruction from a new perspective — unlike iterative reconstruction. In addition, we developed an optimal deep learning‐based sparse sampling reconstruction technique by evaluating image quality with deep learning technologies.