bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deep brain optical coherence tomography angiography in mice: in vivo, noninvasive imaging of hippocampal formation
Authors: Park Kwan Seob , Shin Jun Geun , Qureshi Muhammad Mohsin , Chung Euiheon , Eom Tae Joong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe hippocampus is associated with memory and navigation, and the rodent hippocampus provides a useful model system for studying neurophysiology such as neural plasticity. Vascular changes at this site are closely related to brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and epilepsy. Vascular imaging around the hippocampus in mice may help to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying these diseases. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an emerging technology that can provide label-free blood flow information. As the hippocampus is a deep structure in the mouse brain, direct in vivo visualisation of the vascular network using OCTA and other microscopic imaging modalities has been challenging. Imaging of blood vessels in the hippocampus has been performed using multiphoton microscopy; however, labelling with fluorescence probes is necessary when using this technique. Here, we report the use of label-free and noninvasive microvascular imaging in the hippocampal formation of mice using a 1.7-μm swept-source OCT system. The imaging results demonstrate that the proposed system can visualise blood flow at different locations of the hippocampus corresponding with deep brain areas.
Cyanobacteria-specific algicidal mechanism of bioinspired naphthoquinone derivative, NQ 2-0
Authors: Lee Heon Woo , Park Bum Soo , Joo Jae-Hyoung , Patidar Shailesh Kumar , Choi Hye Jeong , Jin EonSeon , Han Myung-Soo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo mitigate cyanobacterial blooms, the naphthoquinone derivative, NQ 2-0, which has selective algicidal activity against cyanobacteria, has been developed. However, due to a lack of information on its algicidal mechanisms, there are significant gaps in our understanding of how this substance is capable of selectively killing cyanobacteria. Here, we investigated the selective algicidal mechanisms of NQ 2-0 using target (Microcystis aeruginosa) and non-target (Cyclotella sp. and Selenastrum capricornutum) species. NQ 2-0 showed selective algicidal activity against only M. aeruginosa, and this activity was strongly light-dependent. This NQ compound has selectively reduced the oxygen evolution rate and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency of M. aeruginosa throughout blocking electron transfer from the photosynthetic electron transport system, and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in membrane damage through lipid peroxidation. In ultrastructural observations, thylakoid membranes were disintegrated within 12 h after NQ 2-0 treatment, and cytoplasmic vacuolation and disintegrated cellular membrane were observed at 24 h. These findings suggest that increased ROS levels following NQ 2-0 treatment may induce cell death. Interestingly, compared to non-target eukaryotic cells, M. aeruginosa showed relatively late antioxidant response to reduce the increased ROS level, this may enhance algicidal activity against this cyanobacterium.
Evidence for Host-Bacterial Co-evolution via Genome Sequence Analysis of 480 Thai Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage 1 Isolates
Authors: Palittapongarnpim Prasit , Ajawatanawong Pravech , Viratyosin Wasna , Smittipat Nat , Disratthakit Areeya , Mahasirimongkol Surakameth , Yanai Hideki , Yamada Norio , Nedsuwan Supalert , Imasanguan Worarat , Kantipong Pacharee , Chaiyasirinroje Boonchai , Wongyai Jiraporn , Toyo-oka Licht , Phelan Jody , Parkhill Julian , Clark Taane G. , Hibberd Martin L. , Ruengchai Wuthiwat , Palittapongarnpim Panawun , Juthayothin Tada , Tongsima Sissades , Tokunaga Katsushi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTuberculosis presents a global health challenge. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is divided into several lineages, each with a different geographical distribution. M. tuberculosis lineage 1 (L1) is common in the high-burden areas in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Although the founder effect contributes significantly to the phylogeographic profile, co-evolution between the host and M. tuberculosis may also play a role. Here, we reported the genomic analysis of 480 L1 isolates from patients in northern Thailand. The studied bacterial population was genetically diverse, allowing the identification of a total of 18 sublineages distributed into three major clades. The majority of isolates belonged to L1.1 followed by L1.2.1 and L1.2.2. Comparison of the single nucleotide variant (SNV) phylogenetic tree and the clades defined by spoligotyping revealed some monophyletic clades representing EAI2_MNL, EAI2_NTM and EAI6_BGD1 spoligotypes. Our work demonstrates that ambiguity in spoligotype assignment could be partially resolved if the entire DR region is investigated. Using the information to map L1 diversity across Southeast Asia highlighted differences in the dominant strain-types in each individual country, despite extensive interactions between populations over time. This finding supported the hypothesis that there is co-evolution between the bacteria and the host, and have implications for tuberculosis disease control.
Systemisers are better at maths
Authors: Bressan Paola 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPeople with superior mathematical abilities turn out to have an autism spectrum disorder more often than others do. The empathising-systemising theory proposes that this link is mediated by these individuals’ stronger tendency to systemise (detect patterns, derive rules), along with the fact that mathematics is the perfect example of a rule-based, lawful system. This account, however, requires that individuals from the general population who are more inclined to systemise be better at maths than those who are less inclined to do so. Based on the scant available evidence, this has been argued not to be the case. The data presented here show, for the first time, that systemising tendencies do predict both self-assessed maths skills (201 participants) and mathematical intelligence (151 participants), before and after controlling for nonmathematical intelligence, sex, and occupation (social sciences vs biological/physical fields). These findings support the empathising-systemising theory and the “hyper-systemising” explanation of autism.
Experimental Evidence of Amplitude Death and Phase-Flip Bifurcation between In-Phase and Anti-Phase Synchronization
Authors: Manoj Krishna , Pawar Samadhan A. , Sujith R. I. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNonlinear phenomena emerging from the coupled behaviour of a pair of oscillators have attracted considerable research attention over the years, of which, amplitude death (AD) and phase-flip bifurcation (PFB) are two noteworthy examples. Although theoretical research has postulated the coexistence of AD and PFB upon variation of different control parameters, such an occurrence has not been reported in practical systems. Here, we provide the first experimental evidence of the coexistence of AD and PFB in a physical system, comprising of a coupled pair of candle-flame oscillators. As the strength of coupling between the oscillators is increased, we report a decrease in the span of AD region between the states of in-phase and anti-phase oscillations, leading up to a point of PFB. Understanding such a switching of phenomena between AD and PFB helps us to evade their undesirable occurrences such as AD in neuron and brain cells, oscillatory state in prey-predator systems, oscillatory spread of epidemics and so forth.
Transcriptome analysis highlights key differentially expressed genes involved in cellulose and lignin biosynthesis of sugarcane genotypes varying in fiber content
Authors: Kasirajan Lakshmi , Hoang Nam V. , Furtado Agnelo , Botha Frederik C. , Henry Robert J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) is a potential lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuel production due to its exceptional biomass accumulation ability, high convertible carbohydrate content and a favorable energy input/output ratio. Genetic modification of biofuel traits to improve biomass conversion requires an understanding of the regulation of carbohydrate and lignin biosynthesis. RNA-Seq was used to investigate the transcripts differentially expressed between the immature and mature tissues of the sugarcane genotypes varying in fiber content. Most of the differentially expressed transcripts were found to be down-regulated during stem maturation, highlighting their roles in active secondary cell-wall development in the younger tissues of both high and low fiber genotypes. Several cellulose synthase genes (including CesA2, CesA4, CesA7 and COBRA-like protein), lignin biosynthesis-related genes (ρ-coumarate 3-hydroxylase, ferulate 5-hydroxylase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and gentiobiase) and transcription regulators for the secondary cell-wall synthesis (including LIM, MYB, PLATZ, IAA24, C2H2 and C2C2 DOF zinc finger gene families) were exclusively differentially expressed between immature and mature tissues of high fiber genotypes. These findings reveal target genes for subsequent research on the regulation of cellulose and lignin metabolism.
Temporal quantification of mating system parameters in a coastal Douglas-fir seed orchard under manipulated pollination environment
Authors: Song Jiayin , Ratcliffe Blaise , Kess Tony , Lai Ben S. , Korecký Jiří , El-Kassaby Yousry A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSeed orchards main function is delivering breeding programs’ gains in the form of genetically improved seedlings. They are unique experimental populations, perfectly suited for studying various pollination environments (natural or otherwise), affecting their mating system parameters. Here, under different pollination environment (natural and intrusive (pollen augmentation and/or bloom-delay)), the mating system of a second generation, wind-pollinated, coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seed orchard was evaluated over four years. Using DNA microsatellite markers and bulk seed samples, we conducted pedigree reconstruction to assign each seed’s male and female parents, followed by determining the extent of pollen contamination (external gene flow), selfing rate, and, parental gametic contribution for each year. Overall, external pollen contamination rates ranged between 10 and 28%, selfing rate varied between 12 and 17%, and 80% of the seed crops were produced by 37–64% of the orchard’s parents. Pollination environment and seed crop size substantially influenced the observed results, particularly for small crops as pollen contamination was high in natural (28%) vs. intrusive pollination (10%). Generally, irrespective of the crop size, seed produced under natural pollination had higher pollen contamination, confirming the role of pollination environment manipulation in improving seed crops’ genetic quality.
Postpartum depression among women in Nagoya indirectly exposed to the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Kubota Chika , Okada Takashi , Morikawa Mako , Nakamura Yukako , Yamauchi Aya , Ando Masahiko , Shiino Tomoko , Ohara Masako , Murase Satomi , Goto Setsuko , Kanai Atsuko , Masuda Tomoko , Aleksic Branko , Ozaki Norio 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the situation of postpartum depression and maternal bonding in Nagoya, a city distant from the epicenter of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011. Among the participants at 1 month after childbirth between March 11, 2010 and March 10, 2013 (n = 188), 152 fully responded to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Mother–Infant Bonding Questionnaire (MIBQ). They were divided into pre-quake (n = 58), and 0–6, 6–12, 12–18, and 18–24 months after the earthquake groups (n = 20, 26, 29, and 19, respectively). The rate of mothers who scored above the cutoff point for the EPDS increased from 12.1% in the pre-quake to 35.0% in the 0–6 months group (p = 0.022). The EPDS total and anxiety subscale scores (mean ± standard error) were also significantly different between the pre-quake and 0–6 months after the earthquake groups (4.45 ± 0.50 vs. 7.95 ± 1.47, p = 0.024; 2.16 ± 0.26 vs. 3.65 ± 0.57, p = 0.021, respectively). The EPDS total and anxiety scores were the highest for the 0–6 months group, followed by the 6–12, 12–18, 18–24 months groups (p = 0.019, p = 0.022). MIBQ scores did not differ between the pre-quake and 0–6 months groups. Depressive symptoms, mainly explained by anxiety, increased after the earthquake with no changes in maternal bonding.
Conservation of oncofetal antigens on human embryonic stem cells enables discovery of monoclonal antibodies against cancer
Authors: Tan Heng Liang , Yong Charlene , Tan Bao Zhu , Fong Wey Jia , Padmanabhan Jayanthi , Chin Angela , Ding Vanessa , Lau Ally , Zheng Lu , Bi Xuezhi , Yang Yuansheng , Choo Andre 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMonoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used as targeted therapies against cancers. These mAbs kill cancer cells via various mechanisms of actions. In this study, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) was used as the immunogen to generate a panel of antibodies. From this panel of mAbs, A19 was found to bind both hESC and various cancer cell lines. The antigen target of A19 was identified as Erbb-2 and glycan analysis showed that A19 binds to a N-glycan epitope on the antigen. A19 was elucidated to internalize into cancer cells following binding to Erbb-2 and hence developed as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Using ADC as the mechanism of action, A19 was able to kill cancer cells in vitro and delayed the onset of tumour formation in mice xenograft model. When compared to Herceptin, A19 binds to different isoforms of Erbb-2 and does not compete with Herceptin for the same epitope. Hence, A19 has the potential to be developed as an alternative targeted therapeutic agent for cancers expressing Erbb-2.
Growth arrested live-attenuated Leishmania infantum KHARON1 null mutants display cytokinesis defect and protective immunity in mice
Authors: Santi Ana Maria Murta , Lanza Juliane Sousa , Tunes Luiza Guimarães , Fiuza Jacqueline Araújo , Roy Gaétan , Orfanó Alessandra da Silva , de Carvalho Andréa Teixeira , Frézard Frédéric , Barros André Luís Branco de , Murta Silvane Maria Fonseca , do Monte-Neto Rubens Lima 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThere is no safe and efficacious vaccine against human leishmaniasis available and live attenuated vaccines have been used as a prophylactic alternative against the disease. In order to obtain an attenuatedLeishmaniaparasite for vaccine purposes, we generatedL. infantum KHARON1(KH1) null mutants (ΔLikh1). This gene was previously associated with growth defects inL. mexicana. ΔLikh1was obtained and confirmed by PCR, qPCR andSouthern blot. We also generate aKH1complemented line with the introduction of episomal copies ofKH1. Although ΔLikh1promastigote forms exhibited a growth pattern similar to the wild-type line, they differ in morphology without affecting parasite viability.L. infantumKH1-deficient amastigotes were unable to sustain experimental infection in macrophages, forming multinucleate cells which was confirmed byin vivoattenuation phenotype. The cell cycle analysis of ΔLikh1amastigotes showed arrested cells at G2/M phase. ΔLikh1-immunized mice presented reduced parasite burden upon challenging with virulentL. infantum, when compared to naïve mice. An effect associated with increasedLiSLA-specific IgG serum levels and IL-17 production. Thus, ΔLikh1parasites present an infective-attenuated phenotype due to a cytokinesis defect, whereas it induces immunity against visceral leishmaniasis in mouse model, being a candidate for antileishmanial vaccine purposes.
A Novel Semi-Analytical Model for Multi-branched Fractures in Naturally Fractured-Vuggy Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Lei , Chen Xiaoxia , Xia Zunyi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn the past few decades, scholars have made great breakthroughs in the study of well test analysis of carbonate rock. The previous studies are based on horizontal wells, straight wells, fractured wells, and inclined wells. With the development of fracturing technology, acid fracturing technology is considered to be the most effective measure to develop carbonate reservoirs. As the carbonate rock is easily dissolved in carbonic acid, multi-branched fractures will be produced near a vertical well. This article presented a semi-analytical model for multi-branched fractures in naturally fractured-vuggy reservoirs for the first time, which laid a theoretical foundation for solving well test analysis for finite conductivity multi-branched fractures. The model can quantify the wellbore flow pressure and applied to obtain more parameters reflecting comprehensive flow characteristics through using history matching procedure. The results were compared with numerical simulation and the existing analytical solutions of a single fracture model. Then in this paper, flow characteristics are recognized and there are five flow regimes found in the type curves, e.g. bi-linear flow region, linear flow region, inter-porosity flow region between vugs and fractures, inter-porosity region between matrix and fractures, and radial flow region. Finally, the influence factors analysis shows fracture number will mainly affect flow behavior of bi-linear flow and linear flow. The angle analysis showed that as the fractures were closer, their interaction became stronger. The conductivity would seriously affect the flow behavior in the early time. Linear flow cannot be observed when the conductivity is less than 1 and bi-linear flow cannot be observed when the conductivity is more than 20. And the effect of fracture length on flow behavior occurs in the early time. Bi-linear flow and linear flow characteristics cannot be observed when the fracture length is reduced.
Utility of targeted deep sequencing for detecting circulating tumor DNA in pancreatic cancer patients
Authors: Park Gahee , Park Joo Kyung , Son Dae-Soon , Shin Seung-Ho , Kim Yeon Jeong , Jeon Hyo-Jeong , Lee Jae , Park Woong-Yang , Lee Kwang Hyuck , Park Donghyun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTargeted deep sequencing across broad genomic regions has been used to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. However, since most PDACs harbor a mutation in KRAS, sequencing of broad regions needs to be systemically compared to analyzing only KRAS mutations for PDAC. Using capture-based targeted deep sequencing, we detected somatic tumor mutations in 17 fine needle aspiration biopsy and 69 longitudinal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples from 17 PDAC patients. KRAS mutations were detected in 10 out of 17 pretreatment patient plasma samples. Next, interrogation of genetic alterations in matched primary tumor samples detected ctDNA in 12 of 17 pretreatment plasma samples and cfDNA sequencing across the 83 target genes identified ctDNA in 15 of 17 cases (88.2% sensitivity). This improved sensitivity of ctDNA detection resulted in enhanced tumor burden monitoring when we analyzed longitudinal plasma samples. We found that cfDNA sequencing detected the lowest mutant allelic fractions and number of variants when complete response or partial response to chemotherapy was achieved. We demonstrated that ctDNA levels measured by targeted deep sequencing sensitively indicate the presence of cancer and correlate well with clinical responses to therapy and disease progression in PDAC patients.
Magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric coupling and microwave resonator characteristics of Ba0.5Sr0.5Nb2O6/CoCr0.4Fe1.6O4 multiferroic composite
Authors: Tiwari Shivangi , Vitta Satish 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA multiferroic composite consisting of single phases of 30 vol.% magnetostrictive ferrite and 70 vol.% relaxor ferroelectric has been synthesized. The ferrite exhibits a diffuse dielectric phase transition (DPT)with the transition temperature varying from 450 K to 600 K and an activation energy of 0.29 eV. Magnetically, it has a soft behavior with 70 emug−1 saturation magnetization and a Curie transition at ~620 K. The relaxor ferroelectric phase on the other hand exhibits two clear DPTs at 390 K–400 K and 150 K–300 K. The composite of these two shows a soft ferromagnetic behavior reminiscent of the ferrite along with 3 DPTs. There is strong coupling between the two orders – magnetostrictive and piezoelectric in the composite. The capacitance decreases by 45% in the presence of magnetic field corresponding to a sensitivity of 0.9% kOe−1, an extremely large value. The magnetoelectric coupling constant is found to be 20.6 mVcm−1Oe−1, a large value for a bulk composite. Microwave band stop filters of different thicknesses made from the composite have resonant frequencies which upshift in the presence of magnetic field indicating a multiferroic behavior with possibility for electric field tuning of resonant frequency.
Comprehension of Single Versus Combined Modality Information by People With Aphasia
Authors: Brown Jessica A. , Wallace Sarah E. , Knollman-Porter Kelly , Hux Karen 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
Every adult with aphasia displays a unique constellation of language comprehension skills and varies in the benefit derived from different content presentation formats. For many, multiple modality presentation enhances comprehension. This study's purpose was to determine the comprehension benefits for people with mild, moderate, and severe aphasia when hearing, reading, or simultaneously hearing and reading single sentences.

Method
Twenty-seven adults with aphasia performed a repeated-measures experiment across 3 conditions. Participants read and/or listened to sentence stimuli and selected from 4 images the 1 matching the sentence. Participants also indicated condition preference.

Results
Participants demonstrated significantly greatest accuracy during simultaneous written and auditory stimulus presentation. Performance patterns varied within aphasia severity groups. Individuals with mild and moderate aphasia demonstrated minimal performance differences across conditions, and people with severe aphasia were significantly more accurate in the combined modality than the written-only modality. Overall, participants required the longest response time in the written-only condition; however, participants were most efficient with auditory content. Condition preferences did not always mirror accuracy; however, the majority reported a preference for combined content presentation.

Conclusions
Results suggest some people with aphasia may benefit from combined auditory and written modalities to enhance comprehension efforts.