bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gfi1‐GCE inducible Cre line for hair cell‐specific gene manipulation in mouse inner ear
Authors: Tang Qi , Xu Mei , Xu Jiadong , Xie Xiaoling , Yang Hua , Gan Lin 
Published: May 2019

SummaryTissue‐specific inducible Cre recombinase mouse lines allow precise genetic manipulations in spatiotemporal manners and are pivotal for functional studies of genes during development and in adults. Growth factor independence 1 (GFI1) is an essential transcription factor expressed in the hair cells of mouse inner ear and Gfi1 locus serves as an excellent anchor site to drive the expression of inducible Cre recombinase in mouse inner hair cells. In this study, we have generated Gfi1‐P2A‐GFP‐CreERT2 (Gfi1‐GCE) knock‐in mouse line by in‐frame fusion of a self‐cleaving GCE to the C‐terminus of GFI1. We have shown that as predicted, the expression of GCE and GFI1 was detected specifically in the cytosol and nuclei of hair cells, respectively, of uninduced Gfi1‐GCE mice, suggesting the successful cleavage and simultaneous expression of GFI1 and GCE. In addition, the in‐frame fusion of the self‐cleaving GCE does not interrupt the function of Gfi1 in the inner ear. Administration of tamoxifen leads to nuclear translocation of GCE and results in an efficient activation of tdTomato reporter gene expression specifically in most hair cells throughout development and in adults. Thus, this inducible Gfi1‐GCE mouse line is a highly efficient Cre deleter and is suitable for gene manipulation in developing and adult inner ear hair cells.
Thermal performance of battery thermal management system using composite matrix coupled with mini‐channel
Authors: Rao Zhonghao , Wen Yiping , Zhao Jiateng 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn order to improve cycle life and the working performance of the Li‐ion batteries and the reliability of battery thermal management (BTM) system, a composite matrix coupled with mini‐channel based BTM system is designed in this paper. The thermal performances of the BTM system at different discharge rates under the condition of air natural convection (ANC) and composite matrix (CM) are studied. The results show that the thermal conductivity of the PCMs/EG composites is about 28 times larger than the pure PCMs. Meanwhile, the latent heat is 134.28 J/g after adding EG. The batteries possess larger heat production both at larger state of charge (SOC) and lower SOC. Compared with ANC system, the highest temperature and the ΔTmax of the battery modules with CM system at the discharge rates of 3 C are 40.5°C and 2.4°C, respectively. When the battery modules coupled with mini‐channel, the 6 cooling channels with the inlet mass flow rate at 2 × 10−3 kg/s has the best cooling performance. The highest temperature of the packs could be controlled below 40.1°C and the ΔTmax is no more than 1.4°C during the cycle process at the discharge rate of 3 C(I = 30 Ah).
Neural processing of social interaction: Coordinate‐based meta‐analytic evidence from human neuroimaging studies
Authors: Arioli Maria , Canessa Nicola 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWhile the action observation and mentalizing networks are considered to play complementary roles in understanding others' goals and intentions, they might be concurrently engaged when processing social interactions. We assessed this hypothesis via three activation‐likelihood‐estimation meta‐analyses of neuroimaging studies on the neural processing of: (a) social interactions, (b) individual actions by the action observation network, and (c) mental states by the mentalizing network. Conjunction analyses and direct comparisons unveiled overlapping and specific regions among the resulting maps. We report quantitative meta‐analytic evidence for a “social interaction network” including key nodes of the action observation and mentalizing networks. An action–social interaction‐mentalizing gradient of activity along the posterior temporal cortex highlighted a hierarchical processing of interactions, from visuomotor analyses decoding individual and shared intentions to in‐depth inferences on actors' intentional states. The medial prefrontal cortex, possibly in conjunction with the amygdala, might provide additional information concerning the affective valence of the interaction. This evidence suggests that the functional architecture underlying the neural processing of interactions involves the joint involvement of the action observation and mentalizing networks. These data might inform the design of rehabilitative treatments for social cognition disorders in pathological conditions, and the assessment of their outcome in randomized controlled trials.
Convergent evolution of the lateral line system in Apogonidae (Teleostei: Percomorpha) determined from innervation
Authors: Sato Mao , Nakae Masanori , Sasaki Kunio 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe lateral line system and its innervation were examined in two species of the family Apogonidae (Cercamia eremia [Apogoninae] and Pseudamia gelatinosa [Pseudamiinae]). Both species were characterized by numerous superficial neuromasts (SNs; total 2,717 in C. eremia; 9,650 in P. gelatinosa), including rows on the dorsal and ventral halves of the trunk, associated with one (in C. eremia) and three (in P. gelatinosa) reduced trunk canals. The pattern of SN innervation clearly demonstrated that the overall pattern of SN distribution had evolved convergently in the two species. In C. eremia, SN rows over the entire trunk were innervated by elongated branches of the dorsal longitudinal collector nerve (DLCN) anteriorly and lateral ramus posteriorly. In P. gelatinosa, the innervation pattern of the DLCN was mirrored on the ventral half of the trunk (ventral longitudinal collector nerve: VLCN). Elongated branches of the DLCN and VLCN innervated SN rows on the dorsal and ventral halves of the trunk, respectively. The reduced trunk canal(s) apparently had no direct relationship with the increase of SNs, because these branches originated deep to the lateral line scales, none innervating canal neuromast (CN) homologues on the surface of the scales. In P. gelatinosa, a CN (or an SN row: CN homologue) occurred on every other one of their small lateral line scales, while congeners (P. hayashii and P. zonata) had an SN row (CN homologue) on every one of their large lateral line scales.
Ungated nonenhanced radial quiescent interval slice‐selective (QISS) magnetic resonance angiography of the neck: Evaluation of image quality
Authors: Koktzoglou Ioannis , Aherne Emily A. , Walker Matthew T. , Meyer Joel R. , Edelman Robert R. 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundStandard‐of‐care time‐of‐flight (TOF) techniques for nonenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (NEMRA) of the carotid bifurcation and other cervical arteries often provide nondiagnostic image quality due to motion and flow artifacts.PurposeTo perform an initial evaluation of an ungated radial quiescent‐interval slice‐selective (QISS) technique for NEMRA of the neck, in comparison with 2D TOF and contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA).Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationSixty patients referred for neck MR angiography.Field Strength/SequenceUngated radial QISS at 3T.AssessmentThree radiologists scored image quality of 18 arterial segments using a 4‐point scale (1, nondiagnostic; 2, fair; 3, good; 4, excellent), and two radiologists graded proximal internal carotid stenosis using five categories (<50%, 50–69%, 70–99%, occlusion, nondiagnostic).Statistical TestsFriedman tests with post‐hoc Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests; unweighted Gwet's AC1 statistic; tests for equality of proportions.ResultsUngated radial QISS provided image quality that significantly exceeded 2D TOF (mean scores of 2.7 vs. 2.0, 2.7 vs. 2.2, and 2.9 vs. 2.3; P < 0.001, all comparisons), while CEMRA provided the best image quality (mean scores of 3.6, 3.7, and 3.5 for the three reviewers). Interrater agreement of image quality scores was substantial for CEMRA (AC1 = 0.70, P < 0.001), and moderate for QISS (AC1 = 0.43, P < 0.001) and TOF (AC1 = 0.41, P < 0.001). Compared with TOF, QISS NEMRA provided a significantly higher percentage of diagnostic segments for all three reviewers (91.0% vs. 71.7%, 93.5% vs. 72.9%, 95.5% vs. 85.2%; P < 0.0001) and demonstrated better agreement with CEMRA for grading of proximal internal carotid stenosis (AC1 = 0.94 vs. 0.73 for reviewer 1, P < 0.05; AC1 = 0.89 vs. 0.68 for reviewer 2, P < 0.05).Data ConclusionIn this initial study, ungated radial QISS significantly outperformed 2D TOF for the evaluation of the neck arteries, with overall better image quality and more diagnostic arterial segments, and improved agreement with CEMRA for grading stenosis of the proximal internal carotid artery.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1798–1807.
Individual differences in science competence among students are associated with ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activation
Authors: Allaire‐Duquette Geneviève , Bélanger Michel , Grabner Roland H. , Koschutnig Karl , Masson Steve 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFunctional neuroimaging studies have revealed that, compared with novices, science experts show increased activation in dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal brain areas associated with inhibitory control mechanisms when providing scientifically valid responses in tasks related to electricity and mechanics. However, no study thus far has explored the relationship between activation of the key brain regions involved in inhibitory control mechanisms, namely the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPC), and individual differences in conceptual science competence, while controlling for scientific training. In the present study, 24 secondary school students (11 female participants, 13 male participants) were selected from a larger pool based on their performance on a conceptual science questionnaire and were divided into groups with low and high conceptual science competence. In an fMRI block design, participants had to verify the correctness (true or false) of congruent and incongruent statements. In congruent statements, both spontaneous and scientific conceptions about given natural phenomena lead to a scientifically appropriate judgment. However, in incongruent statements, commonly held spontaneous conceptions about natural phenomena lead to a scientifically inappropriate judgment. The interaction effect reveals that students with higher conceptual science competence display stronger activation of the left VLPC and DLPC in incongruent trials than in congruent trials. These findings show that activation of the VLPC and DLPC when reasoning in incongruent situations underlies individual differences in conceptual science competence, and suggests stronger recruitment of inhibitory control mechanisms in more competent individuals.
Phenolic acids of modern and ancient grains: Effect on in vitro cell model
Authors: Truzzi Francesca , Dinelli Giovanni , Spisni Enzo , Simonetti Emanuela , Trebbi Grazia , Bosi Sara , Marotti Ilaria 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe gastrointestinal tract establishes a barrier between the external and internal compartments. When this barrier is disrupted, an inflammatory cascade promotes intestinal inflammation and the development of several intestinal diseases. Plant‐derived polyphenols are health‐promoting phytochemicals with a role in the regulation of the intestinal barrier and in the prevention of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Modern wheat‐breeding programs have been focused primarily on yield improvement rather than nutritional and functional proprieties. Research that aims to characterize the phytochemical profile of wheat varieties and their healthy proprieties could therefore provide new prospects for the genetic improvement of the genus Triticum.In the present work, the effects of phenolic compounds extracted from nine soft and seven durum wheat varieties were studied for their polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. Experiments were conducted to study their effects on cell proliferation and wound healing in three different cell lines: mouse fibroblasts (L929), intestinal human cells (Caco2), and human monocytes (U937).RESULTSDiscriminant analysis evidenced differences between soft and durum wheat phenolic compounds. Among the soft varieties, it was possible to identify clusters in which ancient wheat varieties showed different properties from modern ones, whereas no evident clusters were detected among durum varieties.CONCLUSIONTaken together, these results suggest that the selection of specific wheat grains based on their nutritional parameters will help in the design of diets with protective effects against chronic and inflammatory diseases. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Selection of mutants with high linolenic acid contents and characterization of fatty acid desaturase 2 and 3 genes during seed development in soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Hong Min Jeong , Jang Young Eun , Kim Dong‐Gun , Kim Jung Min , Lee Min‐Kyu , Kim Jin‐Baek , Eom Seok Hyun , Ha Bo‐Keun , Lyu Jae Il , Kwon Soon‐Jae 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDSoybean seeds contain 18–24% lipids, which are made up of 85% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Two of these (linoleic and linolenic acids) comprise essential fatty acids that are not synthesized in humans and animals. Linolenic acid plays a vital role in the maintenance of brain function and is a source of docosahexaenoic acid for retinal and nerve tissue, with its physiological functions being a focus of attention.RESULTSWe developed mutant soybean populations via gamma irradiation of Korean cultivars Danbaek and Daepung and evaluated the linolenic acid content of 78 and 154 M9 mutant progenies. We selected the four mutant lines with the highest linolenic acid contents based on 2 years of investigation of fatty acids. The selected mutant lines had linolenic acid contents that were 33.9% to 67.7% higher than those of the original cultivars and exhibited increased fatty acid desaturase (FAD) gene expression levels during seed development. We also identified nucleotide polymorphisms of FAD genes in the four mutant lines.CONCLUSIONThe present study found that linolenic acid content is related to significantly increased expression levels of the FAD3C and FAD3D genes in the endoplasmic reticulum, which was uncovered by radiation mutation breeding of soybean. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in smoked fish in the Global South: a case study of an improved kiln in Ghana
Authors: Bomfeh Kennedy , Jacxsens Liesbeth , Amoa‐Awua Wisdom Kofi , Tandoh Isabella , Afoakwa Emmanuel Ohene , Gamarro Esther Garrido , Ouadi Yvette Diei , De Meulenaer Bruno 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDSmoked fish is a major source of animal protein in developing countries. It is largely produced by hot‐smoking on traditional kilns using fuelwood. This practice is associated with high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in products, with consequences for public health. An improved kiln, comprising the FAO‐Thiaroye Technique (FTT), has been introduced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to address such a concern. The present study investigated the efficacy of the FTT in Ghana through comparative fish smoking experiments with traditional kilns followed by determination of PAH levels [benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and PAH4] in the products by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. For each kiln, the effect of smoking fuel type on PAH contamination was determined. The impact of the design characteristics of the FTT on the levels of the compounds was also determined.RESULTSMean BaP and PAH4 levels in the FTT products were up to 1.8 and 7.6 μg kg–1, respectively, whereas the corresponding levels in traditional kiln products were up to 70 and 395 μg kg–1. PAH levels in FTT products were below European Union regulatory limits, whereas levels in traditional kiln products exceed such limits by up to 33‐fold. Across kiln types, the use of wood fuels caused higher PAH contamination compared to the use of fully‐lit charcoal as an alternative fuel.CONCLUSIONThe improved kiln (FTT) is efficacious in yielding smoked fish with a PAH content lower than the levels in traditional kiln products and also below current regulatory limits. Kiln design and type of processing fuel have significant impacts on PAH contamination during fish smoking. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Habitat selection and spatiotemporal interactions of a reintroduced mesocarnivore
Authors: Parsons Mitchell A. , Lewis Jeffrey C. , Gardner Beth , Chestnut Tara , Ransom Jason I. , Werntz David O. , Prugh Laura R. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTHabitat quality and quantity are key factors in evaluating the potential for success of a wildlife translocation. However, because of the difficulty or cost of evaluating these factors, habitat assessments may not include valuable information on important habitat attributes including the abundance and distribution of prey, predators, and competitors. Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are one of the most commonly reintroduced carnivores in North America, and they are a species of conservation concern in their western range. We examined the relative importance of landscape features and species interactions in determining habitat use of a reintroduced population of fishers in the southern Cascade Mountains, Washington, USA. We used detections of prey and predators at 134 remote camera stations, remotely sensed forest structure data, and telemetry locations of fishers in a resource selection function to assess the relative importance of prey, predators, and forest structure in fisher habitat selection. Fishers selected habitats based on forest conditions and activity levels of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), whereas bobcat (Lynx rufus) and coyote (Canis latrans) activity levels did not directly affect habitat selection. The probability of fisher use increased in older stands, close to recently disturbed stands, and in areas with intermediate levels of hare activity. Bobcat and hare activity levels were positively correlated, and fishers avoided areas with the greatest hare activity, suggesting that fishers may experience a food‐safety tradeoff in the study area. Temporal activity patterns in photo detections indicate that fishers may mediate this danger by avoiding bobcats temporally. Our findings suggest that fishers in Washington prefer habitat mosaics of old and recently disturbed stands where they have greater access to resting structures and hares. Management that maintains mosaics of young and old forest across large landscapes is likely to support fisher recovery. Future reintroduction efforts would benefit from an assessment of prey and predator abundance in proposed reintroduction areas before project initiation. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Nodal and distant metastases in sinonasal mucosal melanoma: A population‐based analysis
Authors: Low Christopher M. , Price Daniel L. , Moore Eric J. , Stokken Janalee K. , Van Abel Kathryn M. , Janus Jeffrey R. , Choby Garret 
Published: May 2019

Objectives/HypothesisSinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare malignant neoplasm. No study to date has analyzed the impact that nodal metastases and distant metastases at diagnosis have on overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS).Study DesignRetrospective database review.MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of SNMM. Descriptive statistics were used analyze patient demographic and clinicopathologic variables. The Kaplan‐Meier model was used to analyze survival, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.ResultsThree hundred twenty‐eight cases of SNMM were identified. The most frequent sinonasal anatomic location was the nasal cavity in 279 (73.0%) patients, followed by the maxillary sinus in 60 (15.7%) patients. Regional nodal metastases at diagnosis occurred in 33 (8.6%) patients, whereas distant metastases at diagnosis occurred in 41 (10.7%) patients. Five‐year OS was 22.7%, and 5‐year DSS was 26.8%. The presence of positive nodes at diagnosis (OS P < .0001, DSS P < .0001), distant metastases at diagnosis (OS P = .0442, DSS P = .0442), primary tumor site (OS P < .0001, DSS P < .0001), and increasing age (OS P = .0012, DSS P = .0016) were found to be significant as negative predictors of OS and DSS.ConclusionsSNMM is a rare pathologic entity with a poor prognosis. The presence of nodal and distant metastases at diagnosis are negative prognostic factors in OS and DSS. These factors can be used in the development of new models of risk stratification and to inform treatment strategies and surveillance patterns.Level of EvidenceNALaryngoscope, 130:622–627, 2020
An empirically validated method for characterizing pelagic habitats in the Gulf of Mexico using ocean model data
Authors: Johnston Matthew W. , Milligan Rosanna J. , Easson Cole G. , deRada Sergio , English David C. , Penta Bradley , Sutton Tracey T. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMesoscale oceanic features such as eddies generate considerable environmental heterogeneity within the pelagic oceans, but their transient nature makes it difficult to identify both their spatial and temporal extent and their effects on the distribution of pelagic fauna. Simplifying these complex features using a biologically meaningful classification system will likely be a useful first step in understanding the extent of their influence in structuring open‐ocean ecosystems. In this study, we present a tool to classify the pelagic environment in the Gulf of Mexico using sea‐surface height and temperature‐at‐depth data from the 1/25° GOM HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Three “water types” were identified: Loop Current‐origin water (LCOW), Gulf common water (CW), and mixed (MIX) water, where the latter represents an intermediate state during the degradation of LCOW to CW. The HYCOM‐derived classifications were validated against in situ CTD data and microbial samples collected through 2015–2016 by the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) consortium. The validation data comprised classifications derived from both temperature‐depth (TD) and temperature‐salinity (TS) profiles and from microbial community analyses from the surface to mesopelagic depths. The HYCOM classifications produced an overall agreement rate of 77% with the TS/TD classifications, and 79% with the microbial classifications. With applicability across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, we believe that the system provides a useful, complementary tool for biological oceanographers and resource managers interested in better understanding the effects of major mesoscale features on the pelagic biota.