bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between aortic wall oxidative stress/proteolytic enzyme expression and intraluminal thrombus thickness indicates a novel pathomechanism in the progression of human abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Wiernicki Ireneusz , Parafiniuk Miroslaw , Kolasa-Wołosiuk Agnieszka , Gutowska Izabela , Kazimierczak Arkadiusz , Clark Jeremy , Baranowska-Bosiacka Irena , Szumilowicz Pawel , Gutowski Piotr 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTThe possibility that oxidative stress promotes degradation of the extracellular matrix and a relationship between intraluminal thrombus (ILT) thickness and proteolytic activity within the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall has been suggested. In the present study, the hypothesis that thin ILT is correlated with an increase in oxidative stress–related enzymes and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) expression within the human AAA wall was investigated. We also studied the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and thioredoxin within the full‐thickness AAA wall and through fluoroimmunohistochemical staining of catalase and MMP‐9 expression within the inner and outer media, in relation to ILT thickness. Reactive oxygen species control the degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix by up‐regulating proteolytic enzymes, such as MMPs. Results showed that oxidative stress and proteolytic enzyme expression were simultaneously, significantly higher within thin thrombus (≤10 mm)‐covered aneurysm wall when compared with the wall covered by thick thrombus (≥25 mm). These findings provide the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of a causative link between oxidative stress instigating proteolytic enzyme expression at the tissue level and human AAA development. Presence of a thin circumferential thrombus should always be considered as a risk factor for the greatest increase in aneurysm growth rate and rupture, giving an indication for surgery timing.—Wiernicki, I., Parafiniuk, M., Kolasa‐Wołosiuk, A., Gutowska, I., Kazimierczak, A., Clark, J., Baranowska‐Bosiacka, I., Szumilowicz, P., Gutowski, P. Relationship between aortic wall oxidative stress/proteolytic enzyme expression and intraluminal thrombus thickness indicates a novel pathomechanism in the progression of human abdominal aortic aneurysm. FASEB J. 33, 885–895 (2019). www.fasebj.org
Red squirrel territorial vocalizations deter intrusions by conspecific rivals
Authors: Siracusa Erin , Morandini Marina , Boutin Stan , Humphries Murray M. , Dantzer Ben , Lane Jeffrey , McAdam Andrew G. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn many species, territory defense is thought to be one of the primary functions of acoustic communication. North American red squirrels are a territorial species in which ‘rattles’ have long been thought to be the principal signal communicating territory ownership. These vocalizations have been assumed to deter intruders, thus reducing energy costs and the risk of injury associated with direct aggressive interactions. However, this hypothesis has not been directly tested. Here we used a speaker occupation experiment to test whether red squirrel rattles function to deter conspecific rivals. We studied 29 male squirrels and removed each individual from his territory twice in a paired design. During the experimental treatment we simulated the owner’s presence after its removal by broadcasting the owner’s rattle from a loudspeaker at the center of the territory once every seven minutes. During the control treatment the territory was left in silence after the temporary removal of the owner. We found that the presence of a speaker replacement reduced the probability of intrusion by 34% and increased the latency to first intrusion by 7%, providing support for the hypothesis that rattles play an active role in reducing intrusion risk. However, intrusions were not completely averted by the speaker replacement, indicating that vocalizations alone are not sufficient without other cues of the territory owner.
A genetically encoded fluorescent sensor for rapid and specificin vivodetection of norepinephrine
Authors: Feng Jiesi , Zhang Changmei , Lischinsky Julieta , Jing Miao , Zhou Jingheng , Wang Huan , Zhang Yajun , Dong Ao , Wu Zhaofa , Wu Hao , Chen Weiyu , Zhang Peng , Zou Jing , Andrew Hires S. , Julius Zhu J. , Cui Guohong , Lin Dayu , Du Jiulin , Li Yulong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNorepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi), two key biogenic monoamine neurotransmitters, are involved in a wide range of physiological processes. However, their precise dynamics and regulation remain poorly characterized, in part due to limitations of available techniques for measuring these moleculesin vivo. Here, we developed a family ofGPCR Activation-BasedNE/Epi (GRABNE) sensors with a 230% peak ΔF/F0response to NE, good photostability, nanomolar-to-micromolar sensitivities, sub-second rapid kinetics, high specificity to NE vs. dopamine. Viral- or transgenic- mediated expression of GRABNEsensors were able to detect electrical-stimulation evoked NE release in the locus coeruleus (LC) of mouse brain slices, looming-evoked NE release in the midbrain of live zebrafish, as well as optogenetically and behaviorally triggered NE release in the LC and hypothalamus of freely moving mice. Thus, GRABNEsensors are a robust tool for rapid and specific monitoring ofin vivoNE/Epi transmission in both physiological and pathological processes.
Molecular profiles and mutation burden analysis in Chinese patients with gastric carcinoma
Authors: Chen Chao , Shi Chunmei , Huang Xiaochun , Zheng Jianwei , Zhu Zhongyi , Li Qiaolian , Qiu Si , Huang Zhiqing , Zhuang Zhenkun , Wu Riping , Liu Panhong , Wu Fan , Lin Shanyun , Li Bo , Zhang Xiuqing , Chen Qiang 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe goal of this work was to investigate the molecular profiles and mutation burden in Chinese patients with gastric carcinoma (GC). In total, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on 74 GC patients with tumor and adjacent normal formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. The mutation spectrum of these samples showed a high concordance with TCGA and other studies on GC. We found the alterations of 17 DNA repair genes (including BRCA2, POLE and MSH3, etc.) were strongly correlated with the tumor mutation burden (TMB) and tumor neoantigen burden (TNB) of GC patients. Patients with mutations of these genes tend to have high TMB (median of TMB = 12.77, p=2.3e-6) and TNB (median of TNB = 5.97, p= 2.8e-3). In addition, younger GC patients (age < 60) have lower TMB (p = 0.0021) and TNB (p = 0.034) than older patients (age >= 60). Furthermore, we found a list of 18 genes and two genomic regions (1p36.21 and Xq26.3) were associated with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of GC, and patients with amplification of 1p36.21 and Xq26.3 have a worse prognosis (p=0.002, 0.01, respectively). Our analysis provides GC patients with potential markers for single and combination therapies.
Drosophila scribblemutant tumors undergo a transition from a growth arrest state to a proliferative state over time
Authors: Ji Tiantian , Zhang Lina , Huang Shengshuo , Deng Mingxi , Wang Ying , Pham Tri Thanh , Cabernard Clemens , Wang Jiguang , Yan Yan 
Published: October 2018

SummaryTheDrosophilaneoplastic tumor suppressor gene (nTSG) mutant tumors have successfully modeled many aspects of human tumor progression. However, the fly nTSG mutant tumors progress rapidly over days. This is in contrast with most human tumors which develop slowly, harbor heterogeneous cell populations for selection and undergo an evolution-like process. Whether the fast-growing fly nTSG mutant tumors have capacity for evolution remains unclear. Through quantitative analysis of thescribmutant tumor growth, we found that thescribmutant tumors evolve to display different growth rates and cell cycle profiles over time. Multiple growth-regulatory signaling pathways show quantitative differences in early versus latescribmutant tumors. These data suggest that thescribmutant tumors undergo a transition from a growth arrest state to a proliferative state. Through longitudinal single cell RNA (scRNA) data analysis we found that thescribmutant tumors harbor heterogeneous cell populations likely of distinct proliferative states, which are available for potential selection. This study raises the possibility of studying tumor evolution in a genetically accessible and fast-growing invertebrate tumor model.
Emotional Mirrors in the Rat’s Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Carrillo M , Han Y , Migliorati F , Liu M , Gazzola V , Keysers C 
Published: October 2018

Abstract:How do the emotions of others affect us? The human anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds while experiencing pain in the self and witnessing pain in others, but underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we show the ACC (area 24) contains neurons responding when a rat experiences pain and while witnessing another receive footshocks. Most of these do not respond to a fear conditioned tone (CS). Deactivating this region reduces freezing while witnessing footshocks to others but not while hearing the CS. A decoder trained on spike counts while witnessing footshocks can decode the animal’s own pain intensity when experiencing pain. Mirror-like neurons thus exist in ACC that encode the pain of others in a code shared with pain but not fear in the self.One Sentence Summary:ACC contains neurons responding selectively when a rat witnesses another’s pain and experiences pain in the self.
A glimpse at deep brain stimulation mechanisms using subthalamic nucleus optogenetic manipulations
Authors: Tiran-Cappello Alix , Pelloux Yann , Brocard Cécile , Degoulet Mickaël , Baunez Christelle 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAlthough deep brain stimulation (DBS) is now a widely used therapeutic strategy, its precise mechanism remains largely unclear. Since this approach is progressively extended to treat non-motor disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, the comprehension of its effects on motivated behaviors appears of the upmost importance for a possible application for addiction. In intact rats, we used inhibition and high frequency optogenetic activation of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons to test whether or not we could reproduce the effects of electric deep brain stimulation on rats’ motivation for sweet food and cocaine. Rats’ motivation was assessed using fixed-ratio 5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement for both rewards and illumination was applied during behavioral testing. Efficiency of optogenetic manipulations has been validated using in-vitro electrophysiological recordings. Optogenetic inhibition of STN increased motivation for food and reduced motivation for cocaine. In contrast, optogenetic high frequency stimulation reduced the motivation for food without impacting motivation for cocaine. Optical inhibition mimics the effect of electric deep brain stimulation on food and cocaine motivation, confirming that the effects observed under electric DBS result from a specific inactivation of the STN. In contrast, optogenetic high frequency stimulation induces opposite effects to those of electric one, suggesting a stimulation of the STN that only seems to affect food motivation.
Homogenization of capillary flow and oxygenation in deeper cortical layers correlates with increased oxygen extraction
Authors: Li Baoqiang , Esipova Tatiana V. , Sencan Ikbal , Kilic Kivilcim , Fu Buyin , Desjardins Michele , Moeini Mohammad , Kura Sreekanth , Yaseen Mohammad A. , Lesage Frederic , Østergaard Leif , Devor Anna , Boas David A. , Vinogradov Sergei A. , Sakadžić Sava 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTOur understanding of how capillary blood flow and oxygen distribute across cortical layers to meet the local metabolic demand is incomplete. We addressed this question by using two-photon imaging of microvascular oxygen partial pressure (PO2) and flow in the whisker barrel cortex in awake mice at rest. Our measurements in layers I-V show that the capillary red-blood-cell flux and oxygenation heterogeneity, and the intracapillary resistance to oxygen delivery, all decrease with depth, reaching a minimum around layer IV, while the depth-dependent oxygen extraction fraction is increased in layer IV, where oxygen demand is presumably the highest. Our findings suggest that homogenization of physiological observables relevant to oxygen transport to tissue is an important part of the microvascular network adaptation to a local brain metabolism increase. These results will inform the biophysical models of layer-specific cerebral oxygen delivery and consumption and improve our understanding of diseases that affect the cerebral microcirculation.IMPACT STATEMENTHomogenization of cortical capillary blood flow and oxygenation underpins an important mechanism, by which the microvascular network adapts to an increase in the local brain oxidative metabolism.
RERconverge: an R package for associating evolutionary rates with convergent traits
Authors: Kowalczyk Amanda , Meyer Wynn K , Partha Raghavendran , Mao Weiguang , Clark Nathan L , Chikina Maria 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMotivation: When different lineages of organisms independently adapt to similar environments, selection often acts repeatedly upon the same genes, leading to signatures of convergent evolutionary rate shifts at these genes. With the increasing availability of genome sequences for organisms displaying a variety of convergent traits, the ability to identify genes with such convergent rate signatures would enable new insights into the molecular basis of these traits.Results: Here we present the R package RERconverge, which tests for association between relative evolutionary rates of genes and the evolution of traits across a phylogeny. RERconverge can perform associations with binary and continuous traits, and it contains tools for visualization and enrichment analyses of association results.Availability: RERconverge source code, documentation, and a detailed usage walk-through are freely available at https://github.com/nclark-lab/RERconverge. Datasets for mammals, Drosophila, and yeast are available at https://bit.ly/2J2QBnj.Contact:mchikina@pitt.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary information, containing detailed vignettes for usage of RERconverge, are available at Bioinformatics online.
High-Dimensional Representation of Texture in the Somatosensory Cortex of Primates
Authors: Lieber Justin D. , Bensmaia Sliman J. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryIn the somatosensory nerves, the tactile perception of texture is driven by spatial and temporal patterns of activation distributed across three populations of afferents. These disparate streams of information must then be integrated centrally to achieve a unified percept of texture. To investigate the representation of texture in somatosensory cortex, we scanned a wide range of natural textures across the fingertips of Rhesus macaques and recorded the responses evoked in Brodmann’s areas 3b, 1, and 2. We found that texture identity is reliably encoded in the idiosyncratic responses of populations of cortical neurons, giving rise to a high-dimensional representation of texture. Cortical neurons fall along a continuum in their sensitivity to fine vs. coarse texture, and neurons at the extrema of this continuum seem to receive their major input from different afferent populations. Finally, we show that cortical responses can account for several aspects of texture perception in humans.
Identity, employability and entrepreneurship: the ChANGE framework of graduate attributes
Authors: Maxwell Rachel , Armellini Alejandro 
Published: October 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce an evidence-based, transferable framework of graduate attributes and associated university toolkit to support the writing of level-appropriate learning outcomes that enable the university to achieve its mission to Transform Lives + Inspire Change.

Design/methodology/approach
An iterative process of co-design and co-development was employed to produce both the framework and the associated learning outcomes toolkit.

Findings
There is tangible benefit in adopting an integrated framework that enables students to develop personal literacy and graduate identity. The toolkit enables staff to write assessable learning outcomes that support student progression and enable achievement of the framework objective.

Research limitations/implications
While the framework has been in use for two years, institutional use of the toolkit is still in its early stages. Phase 2 of the project will explore how effectively the toolkit achieves the framework objective.

Practical implications
The introduction of a consistent, integrated framework enables students to develop and actively increase personal literacy through the deliberate construction of their unique graduate identity.

Social implications
Embedding the institutional Changemaker attributes alongside the agreed employability skills enables students to develop and articulate specifically what it means to be a “Northampton graduate”.

Originality/value
The uniqueness of this project is the student-centred framework and the combination of curricular, extra- and co-curricular initiatives that provide a consistent language around employability across disciplines. This is achieved through use of the learning outcomes toolkit to scaffold student progression.
Antecedents and outcomes of Hungarian nurses’ career adaptability
Authors: Pajic Sofija , Keszler Ádám , Kismihók Gábor , Mol Stefan T. , Den Hartog Deanne N. 
Published: October 2018

Purpose
With the ageing global population the demand for nursing jobs and the requirements for complex care provision are increasing. In consequence, nursing professionals need to be ready to adapt, obtain variety of skills and engage in career self-management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate individual, micro-level, resources and behaviors that can facilitate matching processes between nursing professionals and their jobs.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey-based study was conducted among 314 part-time and full-time nursing professionals in Hungary.

Findings
Consistent with the career construction theory, this study offers evidence on career adaptability as a self-regulatory resource that might stimulate nurses’ adaptation outcomes. Specifically, it demonstrates positive relationships between adaptive readiness (proactive personality and conscientiousness), career adaptability, adapting behaviors (career planning and proactive skill development) and adaptation outcomes (employability and in-role performance).

Research limitations/implications
The cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Relatively small sample of full-time professionals for whom supervisory-ratings were obtained yields the need of further replication.

Practical implications
Stimulating development of nurses’ career adaptability, career planning, and proactive skill development can contribute to sustainable career management. It can facilitate the alignment of nurses to performance requirements of their current jobs, preventing individual person-job mismatch.

Originality/value
Zooming into the context of nursing professionals in Hungary, the study elucidates the understudied link between adaptivity and adapting responses and answers the call for more research that employs other-ratings of adaptation outcomes. It demonstrates the value of career adaptability resources for nurses’ employability and in-role performance.
The effectiveness of Qard-al-Hasan (interest free loan) as a tool of monetary policy
Authors: Selim Mohammad 
Published: October 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the macroeconomic effects of Qard-al-Hasan (QH) as a tool of monetary policy (MP) and its effectiveness in achieving full employment and price stability in the economy.

Design/methodology/approach
QH-based MP and its effects on major macroeconomic variables are examined on theoretical ground by using the standard aggregate output and aggregate expenditure model within the framework of Islamic economic principles.

Findings
QH-based MP positively influences real sectors of the economy and increases output, and the economy returns to full employment. QH provides the lowest possible borrowing costs across the economy and thus triggers rightward shift in aggregate supply curve and thus increases output and lowers price level. In addition, increase in output eliminates excess demand or shortages and thus maintains price stability. Furthermore, QH-based MP also increases exportable surplus and exports, decreases imports as well as increases inflow of funds and foreign currency reserves with the Central Bank and thus makes MP more effective.

Research limitations/implications
QH-based MP is usually expansionary MP, and as such, it can be argued that there is a probability that QH-based MP may lead to higher inflation rate. However, in this study, it has been shown with real world data in Table II, that 23 countries in Group 1 have pursued zero or negative interest rate policy and their experiences mitigate such probability.

Originality/value
This is, perhaps, the first paper that presents a complete model of QH as a tool of MP with fully explained transmission mechanism. This is new contribution in the literature of Islamic finance where theoretical model on QH is systematically developed and applied as an effective tool of MP in attaining full employment and price stability. This model of QH-based MP can unfold a new horizon of uninterrupted economic growth, full employment and price stability by increasing output and employment, as well as by eliminating excess demand or shortages.
The influence of negative publicity on brand equity: attribution, image, attitude and purchase intention
Authors: Yu Mingzhou , Liu Fang , Lee Julie , Soutar Geoff 
Published: October 2018

Purpose
This study aims to understand the influence of negative publicity on brand image, brand attitude and brand purchase intention. Specifically, the study examines the role of attribution (or brand blame) and information characteristics in Chinese consumers’ responses to negative publicity.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used a quasi-experimental approach involving two negative publicity scenarios (mild and high severity) and a sample of 203 young and educated Chinese consumers. Partial least squares was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings
A common assumption is that negative brand information has a negative influence on all aspects of a brand. However, this study finds that brand blame and information severity have differential effects on consumer evaluations of the affected brand. Specifically, brand blame negatively impacted attitudes and purchase intentions, but not brand image. In contrast, information severity negatively impacted brand image, but not attitudes or intentions. Further, the relations between brand image and brand attitudes and intentions depended on the level of information severity. In the mild-severity condition, brand image positively influenced attitudes and intentions, but not in the high-severity condition.

Research limitations/implications
Future research should examine consumer responses to negative publicity across different media and product categories. Cross-cultural studies should also be explored in the future.

Practical implications
When a brand encounters negative publicity, its marketer or brand manager should assess to what extent various brand equity components are influenced by negative publicity before adopting any cognitive-based or imagery-based communication strategies.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to the limited and fragmented literature on consumer response to negative publicity by examining the impact of consumer’s attributions of blame to the brand under conditions of mild and severe negative information on a range of important brand-related outcomes. Specifically, the authors find that negative publicity has a different impact on brand image, brand attitudes and intentions to purchase. The authors suggest that brand managers use this information to guide their marketing communications.