bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic characterization of thymoma
Authors: Yu Lei , Ke Ji , Du Xin , Yu Zhen , Gao Di 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThymoma represents the most common anterior mediastinal compartment neoplasm, originating from the epithelial cell population in the thymus. Various histological types of thymoma feature different clinical characteristics. Furthermore, thymoma is frequently associated with autoimmune disorders, esp. myasthenia gravis (MG). However, the underlying molecular tumourigenesis of thymoma remains largely unknown. The goal of our current study is to demonstrate the underlying genetic abberations in thymoma, so as to understand the possible cause of MG in thymoma patients. By using CapitalBio mRNA microarray analysis, we analyzed 31 cases of thymoma including 5 cases of type AB thymoma, 6 B1-type cases, 12 B2-type cases, 5 B2B3-type cases and 3 type-B3 cases. 6 cases of thymoma were not associated with myasthenia gravis, while 25 cases were with myasthenia gravis. By comparisons between thymoma and the paratumoral tissues, differentially expressed genes were identified preliminarily. Among them, 292 genes increased more than 2-fold, 2 genes more than 5-fold. On the other hand, 596 genes were decreased more than 2-fold, 6 genes more than 20-fold. Interestingly, among these genes upregulated more than 2-fold, 6 driver genes (FANCI, NCAPD3, NCAPG, OXCT1, EPHA1 and MCM2) were formerly reported as driver oncogenes. This microarray results were further confirmed through real-time PCR. 8 most dysregulated genes were verified: E2F2, EPHA1, CCL25 and MCM2 were upregulated; and IL6, FABP4, CD36 and MYOC were downregulated. Supervised clustering heat map analysis of 2-fold upregulated and 2-fold downregulated genes revealed 6 distinct clusters. Strikingly, we found that cluster 1 was composed of two type-B2 thymoma; and cluster 6 was three type-B2/B3 thymoma. KEGG database analysis revealed possible genetic mechanisms of thymoma and functional process. We further compared gene expression pattern between thymoma with and without MG, and found 5 genes were upregulated more than 2-fold, more than 30 genes were downregulated more than 2-fold. KEGG analysis revealed 2 important signaling pathways with more than 2-fold upregulated genes (TGF- beta signaling pathway and HTLV-I signaling pathway) as differially functioning between MG positive and negative thymomas. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed that CCL25 was upregulated; and MYC, GADD45B, TNFRSF12 downregulated in thymoma with MG. Our study thus provided important genetic information on thymoma. It shed light on the molecular bases for analyzing the functional process of thymoma and finding potential biomarkers for pathological categorizing and treatment. Our work may provide important clues in understanding possible causes of MG in thymoma patients.
Photopic light-mediated down-regulation of local α1A-adrenergic signaling protects blood-retina barrier in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis
Authors: Stofkova Andrea , Kamimura Daisuke , Ohki Takuto , Ota Mitsutoshi , Arima Yasunobu , Murakami Masaaki 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe have reported the gateway reflex, which describes specific neural activations that regulate immune cell gateways at specific blood vessels in the central nervous system (CNS). Four types of gateway reflexes exist, all of which induce alterations in endothelial cells at specific vessels of the blood-brain barrier followed by inflammation in the CNS in the presence of CNS-autoreactive T cells. Here we report a new gateway reflex that suppresses the development of retinal inflammation by using an autoreactive T cell-mediated ocular inflammation model. Exposure to photopic light down-regulated the adrenoceptor pathway to attenuate ocular inflammation by suppressing breaching of the blood-retina barrier. Mechanistic analysis showed that exposure to photopic light down-regulates the expression of α1A-adrenoceptor (α1AAR) due to high levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine, subsequently suppressing inflammation. Surgical ablation of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) did not negate the protective effect of photopic light, suggesting the involvement of retinal noradrenergic neurons rather than sympathetic neurons from the SCG. Blockade of α1AAR signaling under mesopic light recapitulated the protective effect of photopic light. Thus, targeting regional adrenoceptor signaling might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases including those that affect organs separated by barriers such as the CNS and eyes.
Highly Sensitive and Transparent Strain Sensors with an Ordered Array Structure of AgNWs for Wearable Motion and Health Monitoring
Authors: Yin Fanqi , Lu Huajun , Pan Hao , Ji Hongjun , Pei Shuai , Liu Hao , Huang Jiayi , Gu Jiahui , Li Mingyu , Wei Jun 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSensitivity and transparency are critical properties for flexible and wearable electronic devices, and how to engineer both these properties simultaneously is dramatically essential. Here, for the first time, we report the assembly of ordered array structures of silver nanowires (AgNWs) via a simple water-bath pulling method to align the AgNWs embedded on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Compared with sensors prepared by direct drop-casting or transfer-printing methods, our developed sensor represents a considerable breakthrough in both sensitivity and transparency. The maximum transmittance was 86.3% at a wavelength of 550 nm, and the maximum gauge factor was as high as 84.6 at a strain of 30%. This remarkably sensitive and transparent flexible sensor has strictly stable and reliable responses to motion capture and human body signals; it is also expected to be able to help monitor disabled physical conditions or assist medical therapy while ensuring privacy protection.
Construction of a germline-specific RNAi tool in C. elegans
Authors: Zou Lina , Wu Di , Zang Xiao , Wang Zi , Wu Zixing , Chen Di 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAnalysis of complex biological functions usually requires tissue-specific genetic manipulations in multicellular organisms. The C. elegans germline plays regulatory roles not only in reproduction, but also in metabolism, stress response and ageing. Previous studies have used mutants of rrf-1, which encodes an RNA-directed RNA polymerase, as a germline-specific RNAi tool. However, the rrf-1 mutants showed RNAi activities in somatic tissues. Here we constructed a germline-specific RNAi strain by combining an indel mutation of rde-1, which encodes an Argonaute protein that functions cell autonomously to ensure RNAi efficiency, and a single copy rde-1 transgene driven by the sun-1 germline-specific promoter. The germline RNAi efficiency and specificity are confirmed by RNAi phenocopy of known mutations, knockdown of GFP reporter expression, as well as quantitative RT-PCR measurement of tissue-specific mRNAs upon RNAi knockdown. The germline-specific RNAi strain shows no obvious deficiencies in reproduction, lipid accumulation, thermo-tolerance and life span compared to wild-type animals. By screening an RNAi sub-library of phosphatase genes, we identified novel regulators of thermo-tolerance. Together, we have created a useful tool that can facilitate the genetic analysis of germline-specific functions in C. elegans.
Brain activation during disorder-related script-driven imagery in panic disorder: a pilot study
Authors: Burkhardt Alexander , Buff Christine , Brinkmann Leonie , Feldker Katharina , Gathmann Bettina , Hofmann David , Straube Thomas 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDespite considerable effort, the neural correlates of altered threat-related processing in panic disorder (PD) remain inconclusive. Mental imagery of disorder-specific situations proved to be a powerful tool to investigate dysfunctional threat processing in anxiety disorders. The current functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study aimed at investigating brain activation in PD patients during disorder-related script-driven imagery. Seventeen PD patients and seventeen healthy controls (HC) were exposed to newly developed disorder-related and neutral narrative scripts while brain activation was measured with fMRI. Participants were encouraged to imagine the narrative scripts as vividly as possible and they rated their script-induced emotional states after the scanning session. PD patients rated disorder-related scripts as more arousing, unpleasant and anxiety-inducing as compared to HC. Patients relative to HC showed elevated activity in the right amygdala and the brainstem as well as decreased activity in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, and the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex to disorder-related vs. neutral scripts. The results suggest altered amygdala/ brainstem and prefrontal cortex engagement and point towards the recruitment of brain networks with opposed activation patterns in PD patients during script-driven imagery.
Association between adolescent pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, a multicenter cross sectional Japanese study
Authors: Ogawa Kohei , Matsushima Sachio , Urayama Kevin Y. , Kikuchi Norihiko , Nakamura Noriyuki , Tanigaki Shinji , Sago Haruhiko , Satoh Shoji , Saito Shigeru , Morisaki Naho 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe aimed to clarify how maternal physical characteristics explains the association between adolescent pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, focusing on their height. We used a national multicenter-based delivery registry among 30,831 women under age 25 years with a singleton pregnancy between 2005 and 2011. Adolescent pregnancy was defined as younger than 20 years of age, and categorized into “junior adolescent” (aged ≤15 years) and “senior adolescent” (aged 16–19 years). We used multivariate Poisson regression and mediation analysis to assess the extent to which maternal height explained the association between adolescent pregnancy and risk of adverse birth outcomes. Risks for preterm birth [(adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.08–1.27], low birthweight (aRR 1.08, 95% CI, 1.01–1.15), and low Apgar score (aRR 1.41 95%CI, 1.15–1.73) were significantly higher among adolescent women compared to women of 20–24 years of age. The mediation effect of maternal height on these outcomes were moderate for low birthweight (45.5%) and preterm birth (10.5%), and smaller for low Apgar score (6.6%). In all analyses, we did not detect significant differences between junior adolescent and senior adolescent. Adolescent women have higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. This association is partially mediated by shorter maternal height.
Improved hole injection for blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes using solution deposited tin oxide nano-particles decorated ITO anodes
Authors: Il Lee Seung , Yun Geum Jae , Kim Jin Wook , Hanta Gregory , Liang Kunyu , Kojvic Lazar , Hui Lok Shu , Turak Ayse , Kim Woo Young 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBlue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) were fabricated with tin oxide (SnOx) nano-particles (NPs) deposited at the ITO anode to improve their electrical and optical performances. SnOx NPs helped ITO to increase the work function enhancing hole injection capability. Charge balance of the device was achieved using p- and n-type mixed host materials in emissive layer and the devices’ luminance and maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) increased about nearly 30%. Tuning the work function using solution processed NPs allows rapid optimization of device efficiency.
Water sports could contribute to the translocation of ranaviruses
Authors: Casais Rosa , Larrinaga Asier R. , Dalton Kevin P. , Domínguez Lapido Paula , Márquez Isabel , Bécares Eloy , Carter E. Davis , Gray Matthew J. , Miller Debra L. , Balseiro Ana 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRanaviruses have been identified as the cause of explosive disease outbreaks in amphibians worldwide and can be transmitted between hosts both via direct and indirect contact, in which humans might contribute to the translocation of contaminated material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of water sports in the human translocation of ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal). A total of 234 boats were sampled during the spring Spanish Canoe Championship which took place in Pontillón de Castro, a reservoir with a history of ranavirosis, in May 2017. Boats were tested for the presence of ranavirus and Batrachochytrium spp. DNA, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques (qPCR). A total of 22 swabs (22/234, 9.40%) yielded qPCR-positive results for Ranavirus DNA while Bd or Bsal were not detected in any of the samples. We provide the first evidence that human-related water sports could be a source of ranavirus contamination, providing justification for public disinfecting stations in key areas where human traffic from water sports is high.
Effects of Manipulating the Amplitude of Consonant Noise Portion on Subcortical Representation of Voice Onset Time and Voicing Perception in Stop Consonants
Authors: Tamura Shunsuke , Ito Kazuhito , Hirose Nobuyuki , Mori Shuji 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether speech perception would reflect small latency changes in subcortical speech representation.

Method
Twelve native Japanese listeners participated in the experiment. Those listeners participated in speech identification task and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurement using /d/–/t/ continuum stimuli varying in voice onset time (VOT) with manipulation of the amplitude of initial noise (consonant) portion, the duration of which corresponded to VOT.

Results

Increasing the noise portion amplitude lengthened subcortical representation of VOT, which is the latency difference between ABRs synchronizing to the onsets of initial noise and following periodic (vowel) portions (VOT
ABR
) and made listeners likely to perceive the stimuli with ambiguous VOT as a voiceless stop /t/. In addition, the amount of VOT
ABR
lengthening was close to that of the VOT boundary shortening.

Conclusion
A few milliseconds of difference in subcortical speech representation are important for the perception of speech sounds with ambiguous acoustic cues.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7728695
Non‐isolated interleaved bidirectional DC–DC converter with high step voltage ratio and minimum number of switches
Authors: Shaneh Mahdi , Niroomand Mehdi , Adib Ehsan 
Published: February 2019

In this study, a new non‐isolated interleaved bidirectional DC–DC converter with a high step voltage ratio based on coupled inductors (CIs) is introduced. The CIs significantly increase the voltage conversion ratio and provide soft‐switching conditions for the switches at turn‐on instant. Also, employing an interleaved structure combined with the CI in the low‐voltage side noticeably reduces the current ripple and this feature has a vital role in the high‐power applications. Also, this topology provides auto‐current sharing for the two phases of the interleaved structure. The CIs in the high‐voltage side, supply a steep gain in both buck and boost modes with an appropriate duty cycle. The proposed method provides zero current switching (ZCS) turn‐off condition for all diodes and ZCS turn‐on condition for all switches without requiring any auxiliary circuit. So the undesirable reverse recovery effects of diodes are considerably reduced. The proposed converter has the minimum number of switches for two‐phase bidirectional structures. Also, a simple passive clamp circuit is proposed for the converter to limit the voltage spikes of CIs. Finally, a 600 W, 30/300 V laboratory prototype is implemented to verify the performance.
Forschungsvorausverfügungen bei Demenz: Medizinethische Überlegungen zur Aufklärungspflicht
Authors: Gieselmann Astrid , Scholten Matthé , Gather Jakov , Vollmann Jochen 
Published: February 2019

ZusammenfassungDer Deutsche Bundestag hat im November 2016 eine Änderung des Arzneimittelgesetzes beschlossen. Nach dieser Änderung soll gruppennützige Arzneimittelforschung mit nicht-einwilligungsfähigen Erwachsenen unter bestimmten Bedingungen erlaubt sein. Eine dieser Bedingungen ist, dass der Proband eine sogenannte Forschungsvorausverfügung abgefasst hat, in der er in die Studienteilnahme eingewilligt hat. Zudem soll der Proband vor der Abfassung der Forschungsvorausverfügung von einem Arzt über die Forschungsteilnahme aufgeklärt worden sein. Es ist die Auffassung vertreten worden, dass der Gesetzgeber auf eine Aufklärungspflicht hätte verzichten sollen. In diesem Artikel werden Gründe diskutiert, die für eine Aufklärungspflicht bei Forschungsvorausverfügungen sprechen. Zudem wird ein praktisch umsetzbarer Aufklärungsstandard vorgeschlagen, nach dem potentielle Studienteilnehmer nicht über spezifische Studien, sondern über bestimmte Studientypen aufgeklärt würden.
Sphincterotomy plus balloon dilation versus sphincterotomy alone for choledocholithiasis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dong Shou Quan , Singh Tikka Prabhjot , Zhao Qiu , Li Juan Juan , Wang Hong Ling 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Background Endoscopic sphincterotomy plus balloon dilation (ESBD) is considered to be a promising method for the removal of large common bile duct (CBD) stones. However, when compared with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) alone, the efficacy and safety of ESBD remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ESBD vs. EST for the removal of large CBD stones.
Methods Electronic databases were searched up to 15 July 2018 for literature that compared ESBD with EST for the removal of CBD stones. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) of the stone clearance rate and the complication rate were used to compare the efficacy and safety of ESBD vs. EST.
Results A total of 18 studies with 2789 patients were included. The results showed that the stone removal rate was much higher in the ESBD group than in the EST group, both across all endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sessions (OR 2.68, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 4.01) and during the first ERCP session (OR 2.07, 95 %CI 1.37 to 3.12). The ESBD group had fewer complications than EST alone (OR 0.63, 95 %CI 0.47 to 0.85). Moreover, the ESBD group needed less mechanical lithotripsy (OR 0.38, 95 %CI 0.24 to 0.61) and had a shorter procedure time (mean difference – 4.05, 95 %CI – 7.02 to – 1.09) than EST alone.
Conclusion The efficacy and safety of ESBD were superior to those of EST for the removal of large CBD stones. Moreover, less mechanical lithotripsy and shorter procedure times were needed with ESBD to manage large stones.
Regionale Weichteilrekonstruktion an der unteren Extremität
Authors: Schmidt Volker , Kneser Ulrich 
Published: February 2019

ZusammenfassungDieser Artikel beleuchtet den Stellenwert von gestielten Lappenplastiken an der unteren Extremität im Rahmen der regionalen Weichteilrekonstruktion nach Trauma. Die typischen Fallstricke dieser Verfahren sowie Tipps und Tricks zu 5 gängigen gestielten Lappenplastiken werden detailliert dargestellt.
The changing career trajectories of new parents in STEM
Authors: Cech Erin A. , Blair-Loy Mary 
Published: February 2019

Significance
Why are women still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs? Social processes beyond individual preferences may shape the STEM employment trajectories of new mothers and new fathers differently. Using representative US longitudinal survey data, we followed full-time STEM professionals after the birth or adoption of their first child. We found substantial attrition of new parents; nearly one-half of new mothers and nearly one-quarter of new fathers leave full-time STEM employment after having children. Thus, parenthood is an important driver of gender imbalance in STEM employment, and both mothers and fathers appear to encounter difficulties reconciling caregiving with STEM careers. These findings have implications for the vitality of the US science and engineering workforce.
Exceptionally high δ
15
N values in collagen single amino acids confirm Neandertals as high-trophic level carnivores
Authors: Jaouen Klervia , Richards Michael P. , Le Cabec Adeline , Welker Frido , Rendu William , Hublin Jean-Jacques , Soressi Marie , Talamo Sahra 
Published: February 2019

Significance
Identifying past hominin diets is a key to understanding adaptation and biological evolution. Bone collagen isotope studies have added much to the discussion of Neandertal subsistence strategies, providing direct measures of diet. Neandertals consistently show very elevated nitrogen isotope values. These values have been seen as the signature of a top-level carnivore diet, but this interpretation was recently challenged by a number of additional theories. We here apply compound-specific isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen in bone collagen single amino acids of two Neandertals. These Neandertals had the highest nitrogen isotope ratios of bulk collagen measured so far, and our study confirms that these values can be most parsimoniously explained by a carnivorous diet.
Solving matrix equations in one step with cross-point resistive arrays
Authors: Sun Zhong , Pedretti Giacomo , Ambrosi Elia , Bricalli Alessandro , Wang Wei , Ielmini Daniele 
Published: February 2019

SignificanceLinear algebra is involved in virtually all scientific and engineering disciplines, e.g., physics, statistics, machine learning, and signal processing. Solving matrix equations such as a linear system or an eigenvector equation is accomplished by matrix factorizations or iterative matrix multiplications in conventional computers, which is computationally expensive. In-memory computing with analog resistive memories has shown high efficiencies of time and energy, through realizing matrix-vector multiplication in one step with Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s law. However, solving matrix equations in a single operation remains an open challenge. Here, we show that a feedback circuit with cross-point resistive memories can solve algebraic problems such as systems of linear equations, matrix eigenvectors, and differential equations in just one step.
Narrow safety margin in the phyllosphere during thermal extremes
Authors: Pincebourde Sylvain , Casas Jérôme 
Published: February 2019

Significance
The thermal limits of terrestrial ectotherms vary more locally than globally. Local microclimatic variations can explain this pattern, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We show that cryptic microclimatic variations at the scale of a single leaf determine the thermal limit in a community of arthropod herbivores living on the same host plant. Herbivores triggering an increase in transpiration, thereby cooling the leaf, had a lower thermal limit than those decreasing leaf transpiration and causing the leaf to warm up. These subtle mechanisms have major consequences for the safety margin of these herbivores during thermal extremes. Our findings suggest that temperate species may be more vulnerable to heat waves than previously thought.
The social networks and structural variation of Mississippian sociopolitics in the southeastern United States
Authors: Lulewicz Jacob 
Published: February 2019

Significance
An alternative approach to the use of sociotypological models in interpreting sociopolitical organization is presented. The development of analytical and conceptual strategies to compare and describe sociopolitical organizations is a cornerstone of anthropological inquiry. This study contributes to such disciplinary foci by presenting a formal, comparative approach to the study of sociopolitics, particularly contributing to discussions of the evolution and development of organizational complexity in small-scale, nonstate societies. Beyond archaeology however, this study demonstrates the value of a deep, historical perspective on the evolution of human networks more broadly and highlights the value of a productive relationship between contemporary social, economic, and political theory and the historical sciences for the investigation of both past and present societies.