bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Progressive impairment of directional and spatially precise trajectories by TgF344-Alzheimer’s disease rats in the Morris Water Task
Authors: Berkowitz Laura E. , Harvey Ryan E. , Drake Emma , Thompson Shannon M. , Clark Benjamin J. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSpatial navigation is impaired in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and may be a defining behavioral marker of preclinical AD. A new rat model (TgF344-AD) of AD overcomes many limitations of other rodent models, though spatial navigation has not been comprehensively assessed. Using the hidden and cued platform variants of the Morris water task, a longitudinal assessment of spatial navigation was conducted on TgF344-AD (n = 16) and Fischer 344 (n = 12) male and female rats at three age ranges: 4 to 5 months, 7 to 8, and 10 to 11 months of age. TgF344-AD rats exhibited largely intact navigation at 4–5 months, with deficits in the hidden platform task emerging at 7–8 months and becoming significantly pronounced at 10–11 months of age. In general, TgF344-AD rats displayed less accurate swim trajectories to the platform and searched a wider area around the platform region compared to wildtype rats. Impaired navigation occurred in the absence of deficits in acquiring the procedural task demands or navigation to the cued platform location. Together, the results indicate that TgF344-AD rats exhibit comparable navigational deficits to those found in individuals with preclinical-AD.
Eliminating deformation incompatibility in composites by gradient nanolayer architectures
Authors: Li Jianjun , Lu Wenjun , Gibson James , Zhang Siyuan , Chen Tianyu , Korte-Kerzel Sandra , Raabe Dierk 
Published: October 2018

AbstractComposite materials usually possess a severe deformation incompatibility between the soft and hard phases. Here, we show how this incompatibility problem is overcome by a novel composite design. A gradient nanolayer-structured Cu-Zr material has been synthesized by magnetron sputtering and tested by micropillar compression. The interface spacing between the alternating Cu and Zr nanolayers increases gradually by one order of magnitude from 10 nm at the surface to 100 nm in the centre. The interface spacing gradient creates a mechanical gradient in the depth direction, which generates a deformation gradient during loading that accumulates a substantial amount of geometrically necessary dislocations. These dislocations render the component layers of originally high mechanical contrast compatible. As a result, we revealed a synergetic mechanical response in the material, which is characterized by fully compatible deformation between the constituent Cu and Zr nanolayers with different thicknesses, resulting in a maximum uniform layer strain of up to 60% in the composite. The deformed pillars have a smooth surface, validating the absence of deformation incompatibility between the layers. The joint deformation response is discussed in terms of a micromechanical finite element simulation.
Surgical and Functional Outcome after Endoprosthetic Reconstruction in Patients with Osteosarcoma of the Humerus
Authors: Böhler Christoph , Brönimann Stephan , Kaider Alexandra , Puchner Stephan E. , Sigmund Irene K. , Windhager Reinhard , Funovics Philipp T. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEndoprosthetic reconstruction (EPR) is the most widely used reconstruction technique after humeral osteosarcoma (OSA). Complications are common and function is often compromised due to the premise of wide resection. In the current study we evaluated (1) the risk of complications after resection and EPR; (2) the functional outcome and how it is influenced by the preservation/resection of deltoid muscle (DM), rotator cuff (RC), axillary nerve or the type of resection (intra-/extraarticular) and (3) if the preservation/resection of DM, RC, axillary nerve or the type of resection has a negative influence on the oncological outcome. We retrospectively evaluated data of 49 patients with humeral OSA. All patients underwent resection and EPR. Complication-free survival according to the ISOLS classification was estimated by a competing risk model. Functional outcome was evaluated by range of motion (ROM) in abduction and the MSTS score. Eleven patients (22%) had at least one complication. The estimated cumulative incidence for the first complication was 18% at one year, 23% at five years, and 28% at ten years, respectively. Soft tissue failure was the most common complication. ROM and MSTS scores were significantly higher in patients where DM and RC (p = 0.043/p = 0.046) and axillary nerve (p = 0.014/p = 0.021) could be preserved. Preservation of these structures had no negative influence on the surgical margins. In conclusion, EPR is a good treatment method with an acceptable complication rate. Preservation of the abductor mechanism, when possible in the setting of obtaining negative margins, provides superior functional outcome.
Species generalization and differences in Hedgehog pathway regulation of fungiform and circumvallate papilla taste function and somatosensation demonstrated with sonidegib
Authors: Kumari A. , Yokota Y. , Li L. , Bradley R. M. , Mistretta C. M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSpecies generalization in the profound, modality-specific effects of Hedgehog pathway inhibition (HPI) in taste organ homeostasis and sensation is shown. With the HPI, cancer drug sonidegib, we demonstrate that the rat taste system, in addition to mouse, is regulated by Hedgehog signaling. After sonidegib treatment for 16–36 days in rat, there is loss of taste buds (TB) in soft palate, in fungiform (FP) and circumvallate papillae (CV), and elimination of taste responses from chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves. The retained innervation in FP and CV during HPI cannot sustain TB. Responses to tactile stimuli are not altered, and temperature responses are reduced only after 28 days treatment, demonstrating modality-specific effects. Rat FP and neural effects are similar to those in mouse whereas TB and neural response effects from the rat CV are much more severe. When recovery is introduced in mouse after prolonged, 48 days HPI, the TB in CV are restored whereas those in FP are not. Overall, Hedgehog signaling regulation is shown to generalize to the rat taste system, and the modality-specific controls in taste organ sensation are affirmed. The reported, debilitating taste disturbances in patients who use HPI drugs can be better understood based on these data.
A rapid quality control test to foster the development of genetic control in mosquitoes
Authors: Culbert Nicole J. , Balestrino Fabrizio , Dor Ariane , Herranz Gustavo S. , Yamada Hanano , Wallner Thomas , Bouyer Jérémy 
Published: October 2018

AbstractVector-borne diseases are responsible for more than one million deaths per year. Alternative methods of mosquito control to insecticides such as genetic control techniques are thus urgently needed. In genetic techniques involving the release of sterile insects, it is critical to release insects of high quality. Sterile males must be able to disperse, survive and compete with wild males in order to inseminate wild females. There is currently no standardized, fast-processing method to assess mosquito male quality. Since male competitiveness is linked to their ability to fly, we developed a flight test device that aimed to measure the quality of sterile male mosquitoes via their capacity to escape a series of flight tubes within two hours and compared it to two other reference methods (survival rate and mating propensity). This comparison was achieved in three different stress treatment settings usually encountered when applying the sterile insect technique, i.e. irradiation, chilling and compaction. In all treatments, survival and insemination rates could be predicted by the results of a flight test, with over 80% of the inertia predicted. This novel tool could become a standardised quality control method to evaluate cumulative stress throughout the processes related to genetic control of mosquitoes.
Endogenous Chemiluminescence from Germinating Arabidopsis Thaliana Seeds
Authors: Saeidfirozeh Homa , Shafiekhani Azizollah , Cifra Michal , Masoudi Amir Ali 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIt is well known that all biological systems which undergo oxidative metabolism or oxidative stress generate a small amount of light. Since the origin of excited states producing this light is generally accepted to come from chemical reactions, the term endogenous biological chemiluminescence is appropriate. Apart from biomedicine, this phenomenon has potential applications also in plant biology and agriculture like monitoring the germination rate of seeds. While chemiluminescence capability to monitor germination has been measured on multiple agriculturally relevant plants, the standard model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has not been analyzed for this process so far. To fill in this gap, we demonstrate here on A. thaliana that the intensity of endogenous chemiluminescence increases during the germination stage. We showed that the chemiluminescence intensity increases since the second day of germination, but reaches a plateau on the third day, in contrast to other plants germinating from larger seeds studied so far. We also showed that intensity increases after topical application of hydrogen peroxide in a dose-dependent manner. Further, we demonstrated that the entropy of the chemiluminescence time series is similar to random Poisson signals. Our results support a notion that metabolism and oxidative reactions are underlying processes which generate endogenous biological chemiluminescence. Our findings contribute to novel methods for non-invasive and label-free sensing of oxidative processes in plant biology and agriculture.
The small molecule alpha-synuclein misfolding inhibitor, NPT200-11, produces multiple benefits in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Price Diana L. , Koike Maya A. , Khan Asma , Wrasidlo Wolfgang , Rockenstein Edward , Masliah Eliezer , Bonhaus Douglas 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAccumulation of alpha-synuclein (ASYN) in neurons and other CNS cell types may contribute to the underlying pathology of synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA). In support of this hypothesis for PD, ASYN immunopositive aggregates are a prominent pathological feature of PD, and mutations and gene multiplications of human wild type (WT) ASYN cause rare familial autosomal-dominant forms of PD. Targeted therapeutics that reduce the accumulation of ASYN could prevent or slow the neurodegenerative processes in PD and other synucleinopathies. NPT200-11 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of ASYN misfolding and aggregation. The effects of NPT200-11 on ASYN neuropathology were evaluated in animal models over expressing human alpha synuclein. Longitudinal studies using retinal imaging in mice expressing a hASYN::GFP fusion protein revealed that 2 months of once daily administration of NPT200-11 (5 mg/kg IP) resulted in a time-dependent and progressive reduction in retinal ASYN pathology. The effects of NPT200-11 on ASYN pathology in cerebral cortex and on other disease-relevant endpoints was evaluated in the Line 61 transgenic mouse model overexpressing human wild type ASYN. Results from these studies demonstrated that NPT200-11 reduced alpha-synuclein pathology in cortex, reduced associated neuroinflammation (astrogliosis), normalized striatal levels of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and improved motor function. To gain insight into the relationship between dose, exposure, and therapeutic benefit pharmacokinetic studies were also conducted in mice. These studies demonstrated that NPT200-11 is orally bioavailable and brain penetrating and established target plasma and brain exposures for future studies of potential therapeutic benefit.
Genome-Scale Analysis of Perturbations in Translation Elongation Based on a Computational Model
Authors: Levin Doron , Tuller Tamir 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPerturbations play an important role both in engineered systems and cellular processes. Thus, understanding their effect on protein synthesis should contribute to all biomedical disciplines. Here we describe the first genome-scale analysis of perturbations in translation-related factors in S. cerevisiae. To this end, we used simulations based on a computational model that takes into consideration the fundamental stochastic and bio-physical nature of translation. We found that the initiation rate has a key role in determining the sensitivity to perturbations. For low initiation rates, the first codons of the coding region dominate the sensitivity, which is highly correlated with the ratio between initiation rate and mean elongation rate (r = −0.95), with the open reading frame (ORF) length (r = 0.6) and with protein abundance (r = 0.45). For high initiation rates (that may rise, for example, due to cellular growth), the sensitivity of a gene is dominated by all internal codons and is correlated with the decoding rate. We found that various central intracellular functions are associated with the sensitivity: for example, both genes that are sensitive and genes that are robust to perturbations are over-represented in the group of genes related to translation regulation; this may suggest that robustness to perturbations is a trait that undergoes evolutionary selection in relation to the function of the encoded protein. We believe that the reported results, due to their quantitative value and genome-wide perspective, should contribute to disciplines such as synthetic biology, functional genomics, comparative genomics and molecular evolution.
Protective effect of pre- and post-vitamin C treatments on UVB-irradiation-induced skin damage
Authors: Kawashima Saki , Funakoshi Tomoko , Sato Yasunori , Saito Norikatsu , Ohsawa Hajime , Kurita Katsumi , Nagata Kisaburo , Yoshida Masayuki , Ishigami Akihito 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSeveral studies have reported the effects of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, AA) on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced cell damage using cultured keratinocytes. However, the epidermis consists of multiple cell layers, and the effect of AA on UVB-induced damage to the human epidermis remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of AA on UVB-induced skin damage using reconstituted human epidermis. The reconstituted human epidermal surface was treated with 100 and 500 mM AA and cultured for 3 h before (pre-AA treatment) or after (post-AA treatment) 120 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation. Pre- and post-AA treatments of the epidermal surface suppressed UVB-induced cell death, apoptosis, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the inflammatory response by downregulating tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression and release. Moreover, the pre-AA treatment was more effective at preventing UVB-induced skin damage than the post-AA treatment. In summary, pre- and post-AA treatments of the epidermis prevent UVB-induced damage.
Intermediate-temperature electrolysis of energy grass Miscanthus sinensis for sustainable hydrogen production
Authors: Ito Masaya , Hori Tetsuya , Teranishi Shinya , Nagao Masahiro , Hibino Takashi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBiohydrogen produced from the electrolysis of biomass is promising because the onset voltages are less than 1.0 V and comparable to those of water and alcohol-water electrolysis. The present study focuses on Miscanthus sinensis as a model grass because of its abundance and ease of cultivation in Japan. The electrochemical performance and hydrogen formation properties of electrolysis cells using grass as a biohydrogen source were evaluated at intermediate temperature to achieve electrolysis. The components, such as holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, and extractives, were separated from Miscanthus sinensis to understand the reactions of Miscanthus sinensis in the electrolysis cell. The relatively high resistivity and low current-voltage performance of an electrolysis cell using lignin were responsible for degradation of the electrolysis properties compared to those with pure cellulose or holocellulose as biohydrogen resources. Biohydrogen was formed according to Faraday’s law and evolved continuously at 0.1 A cm−2 for 3,000 seconds.
MMP-1 overexpression selectively alters inhibition in D1 spiny projection neurons in the mouse nucleus accumbens core
Authors: Al-muhtasib Nour , Forcelli Patrick A. , Conant Katherine E. , Vicini Stefano 
Published: October 2018

AbstractProtease activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) and its ligand, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), are altered in several neurodegenerative diseases. PAR-1/MMP-1 signaling impacts neuronal activity in various brain regions, but their role in regulating synaptic physiology in the ventral striatum, which is implicated in motor function, is unknown. The ventral striatum contains two populations of GABAergic spiny projection neurons, D1 and D2 SPNs, which differ with respect to both synaptic inputs and projection targets. To evaluate the role of MMP-1/PAR-1 signaling in the regulation of ventral striatal synaptic function, we performed whole-cell recordings (WCR) from D1 and D2 SPNs in control mice, mice that overexpress MMP-1 (MMP-1OE), and MMP-1OE mice lacking PAR-1 (MMP-1OE/PAR-1KO). WCRs from MMP1-OE mice revealed an increase in spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic current (sIPSC), miniature IPSC, and miniature excitatory PSC frequency in D1 SPNs but not D2 SPNs. This alteration may be partially PAR-1 dependent, as it was not present in MMP-1OE/PAR-1KO mice. Morphological reconstruction of D1 SPNs revealed increased dendritic complexity in the MMP-1OE, but not MMP-1OE/PAR-1KO mice. Moreover, MMP-1OE mice exhibited blunted locomotor responses to amphetamine, a phenotype also observed in MMP-1OE/PAR-1KO mice. Our data suggest PAR-1 dependent and independent MMP-1 signaling may lead to alterations in striatal neuronal function.
Target site specificity and in vivo complexity of the mammalian arginylome
Authors: Wang Junling , Pejaver Vikas Rao , Dann Geoffrey P. , Wolf Max Y. , Kellis Manolis , Huang Yun , Garcia Benjamin A. , Radivojac Predrag , Kashina Anna 
Published: October 2018

AbstractProtein arginylation mediated by arginyltransferase ATE1 is a key regulatory process essential for mammalian embryogenesis, cell migration, and protein regulation. Despite decades of studies, very little is known about the specificity of ATE1-mediated target site recognition. Here, we used in vitro assays and computational analysis to dissect target site specificity of mouse arginyltransferases and gain insights into the complexity of the mammalian arginylome. We found that the four ATE1 isoforms have different, only partially overlapping target site specificity that includes more variability in the target residues than previously believed. Based on all the available data, we generated an algorithm for identifying potential arginylation consensus motif and used this algorithm for global prediction of proteins arginylated in vivo on the N-terminal D and E. Our analysis reveals multiple proteins with potential ATE1 target sites and expand our understanding of the biological complexity of the intracellular arginylome.
An Innovated Application of Reutilize Copper Smelter Slag for Cement-based Electromagnetic Interference Composites
Authors: Fan Yong , Zhang Bo , Song Jianxun , Volski Vladimir , Vandenbosch Guy A. E. , Guo Muxing 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn the present study, it has been attempted an innovated application, i.e., electromagnetic interference shielding material, to reutilize copper smelter slag, aiming at an alternative high value added product. Notably, a proof-of-concept experiment with an addition of a 45 wt.% of copper slag alone to the cement matrix boost the shielding effectiveness (SE) to approximately 7–8 dB in the 500 MHz–1.5 GHz frequency range, highlights the incident electromagnetic wave has been weakened by approximately 60 pct. This phenomenon is attributed to the iron silicate, fayalite, and magnetite embedded in the sample mixture serve as magnetic and dielectric loss absorbent, deriving from the copper slag. Copper slag with low value application, shows its competitive economic and social advantages as candidate infill for electromagnetic interference shielding materials.
Enoxacin and bis-enoxacin stimulate 4T1 murine breast cancer cells to release extracellular vesicles that inhibit osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Vracar Taylor C. , Zuo Jian , Park JeongSu , Azer Demyana , Mikhael Christy , Holliday Sophia A. , Holsey Dontreyl , Han Guanghong , VonMoss Lindsay , Neubert John K. , Rody Wellington J. , Chan Edward K. L. , Holliday L. Shannon 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnoxacin and its bone-seeking bisphosphonate derivative, bis-enoxacin, have recently captured attention as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and bone disease. No differences in growth or survival of 4T1 murine breast cancer cells were detected at a concentration of 50 µM of enoxacin or bis-enoxacin. Growth was perturbed at higher concentrations. Both 50 µM enoxacin and bis-enoxacin stimulated increases in the number of GW/Processing bodies, but there were minimal changes in microRNA levels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from 4T1 cells treated with 50 µM enoxacin or 50 µM bis-enoxacin stimulated proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells, and both significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis in calcitriol-stimulated mouse marrow. EVs from 4T1 cells treated with enoxacin and bis-enoxacin displayed small reductions in the amount of microRNA (miR)-146a-5p and let-7b-5p. In marked contrast, miR-214-3p, which has been shown to regulate bone remodeling, was increased 22-fold and 30-fold respectively. We conclude that enoxacin and bis-enoxacin trigger the release of EVs from 4T1 cancer cells that inhibit osteoclastogenesis.
Fault case analysis and simulation research of neutral‐bus arresters multi‐column parallel connected in converter station
Authors: Wang Dianlang , Li Guogen , Jiang Long , Yang Xiaowei , Pi Tianman , Huang Zhongkang , Li Dong , Zhang Jie , Yaoi Xiangyu , Su Rongyu , Zhang Lihui 
Published: October 2018

High‐voltage DC arrester is one of the key equipment for overvoltage protection of ultra‐high voltage DC (UHVDC) transmission system. This device plays a decisive role in the insulation level of the whole process. The current distribution between resistance pieces of multi‐column parallel arresters is non‐uniform, which affects the overall energy absorption capacity of arresters. First, a real failure case of ±500 kV Xiluodu‐Nuozhadu HVDC project is introduced. Then, the analysis of the specific failure case is proposed. Finally, a corresponding model is built on PSCAD/EMTDC to study the current distribution characteristics.
Realisation of DC/DC high power and large current combined power supply for airborne radar
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Xu Shuiqing , Chen Zhiwei , Li Xiang , Dong Bingbing , Luo Qiwu , Li Bing , He Yiyang 
Published: October 2018

With the development of radar power supply system, the power density of DC/DC power supply is becoming larger and larger, but the volume is becoming smaller and smaller, which makes the power density of the power supply increase, and the combination of power modules needs to be optimised to realise the power supply of the whole system. Here, a modular design scheme is introduced, which adopts a three‐layer combined structure, and finally realises the DC/DC combined power supply with a total power of 15.6 kW in the total height of 105 mm. The heat design of the power supply is reasonable, the rectangular liquid cooling channel is arranged inside the cooling plate of the chassis, the rectangular heat exchanger fin is added inside the liquid cooling channel with concentrated heat source, and the series‐parallel technology is used in the liquid cooling channel inside the plate. The series reliability prediction model can meet the requirements of radar overall design. The project is difficult to implement, and more precise process is needed in practical engineering to strictly control it. The successful implementation of this scheme provides a reference for the realisation of similar radar products.