bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring spatiotemporal neural dynamics of the human visual cortex
Authors: Yang Ying , Tarr Michael J. , Kass Robert E. , Aminoff Elissa M. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe human visual cortex is organized in a hierarchical manner. Although previous evidence supporting this hypothesis has been accumulated, specific details regarding the spatiotemporal information flow remain open. Here we present detailed spatiotemporal correlation profiles of neural activity with low‐level and high‐level features derived from an eight‐layer neural network pretrained for object recognition. These correlation profiles indicate an early‐to‐late shift from low‐level features to high‐level features and from low‐level regions to higher‐level regions along the visual hierarchy, consistent with feedforward information flow. Additionally, we computed three sets of features from the low‐ and high‐level features provided by the neural network: object‐category‐relevant low‐level features (the common components between low‐level and high‐level features), low‐level features roughly orthogonal to high‐level features (the residual Layer 1 features), and unique high‐level features that were roughly orthogonal to low‐level features (the residual Layer 7 features). Contrasting the correlation effects of the common components and the residual Layer 1 features, we observed that the early visual cortex (EVC) exhibited a similar amount of correlation with the two feature sets early in time, but in a later time window, the EVC exhibited a higher and longer correlation effect with the common components (i.e., the low‐level object‐category‐relevant features) than with the low‐level residual features—an effect unlikely to arise from purely feedforward information flow. Overall, our results indicate that non‐feedforward processes, for example, top‐down influences from mental representations of categories, may facilitate differentiation between these two types of low‐level features within the EVC.
The mortality effects of changing public funding for home health care: An empirical analysis of Medicare home health care in the United States
Authors: Orsini Chiara 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn light of population aging, it is important to understand whether limiting public in‐kind transfers to the elderly affects elderly mortality. I focus on home health care—a popular in‐kind transfer—and I exploit variation in the Medicare home health care reimbursement that arose in 1997 in the United States to study whether cuts to government coverage of home health care affected elderly mortality. Under the identifying assumptions of the DID model, I find that the cuts affected total mortality for some men but not women, suggesting that changes in home health care can affect elderly mortality and differences in mortality between men and women. For men aged between 65 and 74, the Interim Payment System was associated with an increase in mortality equal to 0.6%, an effect in absolute value comparable to the mortality response to a one percentage point change in unemployment rates and within the range of other estimates of the impact of health insurance on elderly mortality.
Surface microrelief changes affect the soil and water conservation benefits of rainwater harvesting tillage operation during rainfall events
Authors: Zhao Longshan , Hou Rui , Wu Faqi 
Published: June 2019

AbstractReservoir tillage (RT) improves the soil rainwater harvesting capacity and reduces soil erosion on cropland, but there is some debate regarding its effectiveness. The objective of this study was to further verify the effect of RT on soil erosion and explore the reasons for this effect by analysing microrelief changes during rainfall. Rainfall intensities of 60, 90, and 120 mm/hr and three slope degrees (5, 15, and 25°, representing gentle, medium, and steep slopes) were considered. A smooth surface (SS) served as the control. The microrelief changes were determined based on digital elevation models, which were measured using a laser scanner with a 2‐cm grid before and after rainfall events. The results showed that compared with the values for the SS, RT reduced both the runoff and sediment by approximately 10‐20% on the gentle slope; on the medium slope, although RT also reduced the runoff in the 90‐ and 120‐mm/hr intensity rainfall events, the sediment increased by 158.90% and 246.08%; on the steep slope, the sediment increased by 92.33 to 296.47%. Overall, when the runoff control benefit of RT was lower than 5%, there was no sediment control benefit. RT was effective at controlling soil loss on the gentle slopes but was not effective on the medium and steep slopes. This is because the surface depressions created by RT were filled in with sediment that eroded from the upslopes, and the surface microrelief became smoother, which then caused greater soil and water loss than that on an SS at the later rainfall stage.
New toxicity testing of PQ grass allergy immunotherapy to support product development
Authors: Baldrick Paul , Hutchings James W. , Heath Matthew D. , Skinner Murray A. , Martin Tom , Gray Chris 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPQ Grass represents an allergen‐specific immunotherapy for pre‐seasonal treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (or rhinoconjunctivitis) with or without mild‐to‐moderate bronchial asthma. It consists of a native pollen extract for 13 grass species, chemically modified with glutaraldehyde, and adsorbed to l‐tyrosine in a microcrystalline form with addition of the adjuvant Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPL®). Previous non‐clinical safety testing, including rat repeat dose toxicity in adult and juvenile animals, rat reproductive toxicity and rabbit local tolerance studies showed no safety findings of concern. A new Good Laboratory Practice compliant rat subcutaneous repeat dose toxicity study to evaluate a higher clinical dose and modified posology (once every 2 weeks for 13 weeks) showed no signs of toxicity. As seen in previous studies, relatively minor, immunostimulatory effects were seen such as reversible increased white cell count (notably neutrophils), increased globulin level (resulting in decreased A/G ratio) and increased fibrinogen as well as minor dose site reaction in the form of inflammatory cell infiltrate. These findings are likely due to the immunostimulatory nature of MPL and/or the presence of l‐tyrosine within the adjuvanted vaccine. This new toxicity study with PQ Grass therefore supports longer posology with higher dose levels.
Silencing of long noncoding RNA HOXD‐AS1 inhibits proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through MEK/ERK pathway
Authors: Sun Jin , Guo Ying , Bie Beibei , Zhu Mengchen , Tian Hongwei , Tian Jing , Li Jun , Yang Yi , Ji Fanpu , Kong Guangyao , Li Zongfang 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAccumulating findings reveal that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as crucial regulatory molecules serve vital functions in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to investigate the biological roles and mechanisms of lncRNA HOXD cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXD‐AS1) in HCC cells based on transcriptome analysis. The Cancer Genome Atlas data analysis and experimental validation showed that HOXD‐AS1 was increased in HCC tissues/cell lines and positively relevant to histologic grade. The subcellular localization results indicated HOXD‐AS1 was dispersed both in the nucleus as well as the cytoplasm of HCC cells. In vitro loss‐of‐function experiments revealed that silencing of HOXD‐AS1 could dramatically suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induce S or/and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest as well as apoptosis of Bel‐7402 and MHCC97H cells accompanying the changes in expression levels of cyclin B1, cyclin D1, BCL‐2, BAX, and MMP2. In vivo assay also showed that HOXD‐AS1 silencing could markedly reduce xenograft tumor volume and weight of HCC cells. Transcriptome and bioinformatic analysis indicated that a total of 1103 genes were significantly altered by HOXD‐AS1 silencing, of which 132 genes exhibited a significant correlation with HOXD‐AS1 expression in HCC tissues. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed differentially expressed genes were remarkably enriched in several cancer‐related biological processes (cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, angiogenesis, and hypoxic response). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that HOXD‐AS1 has the potential to affect p53, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and Western blot results further validated that HOXD‐AS1 silencing could inhibit the MEK/ERK pathway in Bel‐7402 cells. Collectively, HOXD‐AS1, as an oncogenic lncRNA, might exert crucial functions in HCC progression and serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
MicroRNA‐190 alleviates neuronal damage and inhibits neuroinflammation via Nlrp3 in MPTP‐induced Parkinson's disease mouse model
Authors: Sun Qiang , Wang Songlin , Chen Jun , Cai Hongxia , Huang Wei , Zhang Yueliang , Wang Lei , Xing Yu 
Published: June 2019

AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) is neurodegenerative dyskinesia characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Although neuroinflammation is one of the pathological features of PD, its mechanism of promoting PD is still not fully understood. Recently, the microRNA (miR) is considered to play a critical regulatory role in inflammatory responses. In this study, we examined the anti‐inflammatory activity, antineuronal injury, and the underlying target of miR‐190 with MPTP‐induced PD mouse model and BV2 cells. The results showed that miR‐190 is downregulated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced BV2 cells; however, when the miR‐190 overexpressed, the expression of proinflammatory mediators, such as iNOS, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and TGF‐β1, were inhibited and the anti‐inflammatory mediator such IL‐10 was increased. In addition, we predicted the potential target of miR‐190 to be Nlrp3 and verified by luciferase reporter assay. The results also showed that Nlrp3 was upregulated in LPS‐induced BV2 cells, whereas knockdown of Nlrp3 inhibited the LPS‐induced inflammatory response in BV2 cells. Furthermore, upregulation of miR‐190 or knockdown of Nlrp3 inhibited LPS‐induced apoptosis in BV2 cells. However, the apoptosis inhibition effect of miR‐190 was abrogated by overexpression of Nlrp3. Finally, upregulation of miR‐190 inhibited the activation of microglial cells and inflammation and attenuated the tyrosine hydroxylase loss in SNpc in MPTP‐induced PD mice. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR‐190 alleviates neuronal damage and inhibits inflammation via negatively regulating the expression and activation of Nlrp3 in MPTP‐induced PD mouse model.
microRNA‐448 inhibits stemness maintenance and self‐renewal of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells through the MAGEA6‐mediated AMPK signaling pathway
Authors: Guo Jun‐Cheng , Yang Yi‐Jun , Zhang Jian‐Quan , Guo Min , Xiang Li , Yu Shu‐Feng , Ping Huang , Zhuo Liu 
Published: June 2019

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs mainly in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Increasing evidence has identified the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) acting as essential regulators in the progression of HCC. As predicted by microarray analysis, miR‐448 might potentially affect HCC progression by regulating the melanoma‐associated antigen (MAGEA). Therefore, the present investigation focused on exploring whether or not miR‐448 and MAGEA6 were involved in the self‐renewal and stemness maintenance of HCC stem cells. The interaction among miR‐448, MAGEA6, and the AMPK signaling pathway was evaluated. It was noted that miR‐448 targeted and downregulated MAGEA6, thus activating the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in HCC. Furthermore, for the purpose of exploring the functional relevance of MAGEA6 and miR‐448 on the sphere formation, colony formation, and invasion and migration of HCC stem cells, the CD133+CD44
+ HCC stem cells were sorted and treated with the mimic or inhibitor of miR‐448, small interfering RNA (siRNA) against MAGEA6 or an AMPK activator AICAR. MAGEA6 silencing or miR‐448 overexpression was demonstrated to inhibit the abilities of sphere formation, colony formation, cell migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Afterwards, a rescue experiment was conducted and revealed that MAGEA6 silencing reversed the effects of miR‐448 inhibitor on stemness maintenance and self‐renewal of HCC stem cells. Finally, after the in vivo experiment was carried out, miR‐448 was observed to restrain the tumor formation and stemness in vivo. Altogether, miR‐448 activates the AMPK signaling pathway by downregulating MAGEA6, thus inhibiting the stemness maintenance and self‐renewal of HCC stem cells, which identifies miR‐448 as a new therapeutic strategy for HCC.
Removal of sulfanilic acid from wastewater by thermally activated persulfate process: oxidation performance and kinetic modeling
Authors: Zhou Rui , Li Tingting , Su Yu , Li Chenguang , Jin Xiong , Ren Hejun 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDSulfanilic acid (SA) is a highly typical representative sulfonated aromatic amine widely occurring in chemical and pharmaceutical wastewaters. Its release poses potential threats to the environment and human health. Thermally activated persulfate (TAP) is a promising technology for organic matter removal. In this study, TAP is evaluated using the oxidation of SA as a model reaction.RESULTSThe oxidation performance of TAP on SA removal was investigated initially under different conditions of temperature, solution pH, persulfate dosage and initial SA concentration. Results showed that SA removal was effectively initiated by the TAP process and fitted well with a pseudo‐first‐order reaction model under all environmental conditions in water, and the yield of relatively low activation energy was 80.8 kJ mol−1 under the optimum conditions. The solution pH exerted almost no influence on SA removal. Sulfate radicals () and hydroxyl radicals (HO•) were identified as major predominant free radicals by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum and scavenger tests for removing SA during the TAP process. Non‐target natural water constituents can affect the removal rate of SA, such as the chloride ion (Cl−) and the bicarbonate ion () promote whereas humic acid (HA) reduces the removal. The total organic carbon (TOC) monitoring results indicated that SA was almost completely mineralized into CO2 and H2O during the 9 h reaction time.CONCLUSIONOwing to the generation of highly reactive oxidizing species ( and HO•), TAP oxidation as an environmentally friendly technology is a favorable option for SA‐containing wastewater treatment usage. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Metalated Azolo[1,2,4]triazines. I. Synthesis of 2‐(6‐tert‐Butyl‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ylidene)acetonitriles via Ring Opening Degradation of 3‐tert‐Butyl‐7‐lithio‐4‐oxo‐4H‐pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazin‐1‐ides
Authors: Ivanov Sergey M. , Shestopalov Anatoliy M. 
Published: June 2019

1,7,8‐Polymetalated 3‐tert‐butyl‐8‐R‐4‐oxo‐4H‐pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazines (M = Li, Na; R = CO2Et, CN, H, D, and Li) have been generated for the first time using acidic NH deprotonation and lithium/bromine exchange method at −112 ÷ −97°C. The rapid pyrazole ring opening degradation of the unstable 7‐lithio‐4‐oxopyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazines at −97°C led to formation of 2‐(6‐tert‐butyl‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ylidene)acetonitriles. Furthermore, lithium, sodium ((6‐tert‐butyl‐5‐oxo‐5H‐1,2,4‐triazin‐2,4‐diid‐3‐ylidene)(cyano)methyl)lithium was successfully generated from 7,8‐dibromo‐3‐tert‐butylpyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazin‐4(6H)‐one, sodium hydride, and tert‐butyl lithium, and an electrophile trapping using H2O, dimethylformamide, t‐BuCOCl, and PhCOCl allowed the selective side‐chain functionalization. Structures of the isolated products have been established on the basis of IR, 1H, 2H, 13C NMR, and high‐resolution mass spectra.
The Creativity Matrix: Spotlights and Blind Spots in Our Understanding of the Phenomenon
Authors: Glăveanu Vlad Petre , Kaufman James C. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we organize past and present theories and models of creativity by using a new conceptual framework—the creativity matrix—with the aim of highlighting the dimensions of creativity we know a lot about and those we tend to either ignore or find difficult to study. This matrix is formed by bringing together a developmental model of creativity (the 4 C's) and a structural one (the 5 A's). We start by briefly describing these two conceptual frameworks, and then, we proceed to exploring the matrix itself by describing how the 5 A's are dynamically organized at each “level” of the 4 C's. Importantly, our overview of the matrix is informed by existing models and concepts that address one of more of the C's and the A's. This gives us a unique opportunity to take stock of what has been studied so far and, toward the end, consider new avenues for the development of theory and research agendas within creativity studies.
Development of a Rapid Ultra High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Analysis of sn‐1 and sn‐2 Lysophosphatidic Acid Regioisomers in Mouse Plasma
Authors: Aristizabal‐Henao Juan J. , Fernandes Maria F. , Duncan Robin E. , Stark Ken D. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractLysophosphatidic acids (lysoPtdOH) are involved in several physiological processes including cell proliferation, inflammation, and glucose metabolism. However, measuring lysoPtdOH is challenging due to inadequate extraction techniques, poor chromatographic resolution, or the inability to discriminate between sn‐1 and sn‐2 regioisomers. In the present work, we developed a high‐throughput (10 min run times) ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method capable of discriminating lysoPtdOH species by their fatty acyl composition and sn‐localization on glycerol backbones. We quantitated sn‐1/sn‐2 regioisomeric pairs of lysoPtdOH with 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 20:4, and 22:6 fatty acyl chains using 50 μL of mouse plasma. The method presented here can be expanded to profile more lysoPtdOH species, and has the potential to be used in clinical settings to quickly screen lysoPtdOH profiles. Finally, the ability to discriminate between sn‐1 and sn‐2 isomers can provide insights regarding the metabolic origins and fates of specific lysoPtdOH molecules.
Evolving Role of Liver Transplantation in Elderly Recipients
Authors: Mousa Omar Y. , Nguyen Justin H. , Ma Yaohua , Rawal Bhupendra , Musto Kaitlyn R. , Dougherty Marjorie K. , Shalev Jefree A. , Harnois Denise M. 
Published: June 2019

The need for liver transplantation (LT) among older patients is increasing, but the role of LT in the elderly (≥70 years) is not well defined. We retrospectively reviewed all primary LTs from 1998 through 2016 at our center. Survival and associated risk factors were analyzed with Cox regression and Kaplan‐Meier methods for LT recipients in 3 age groups: <60, 60‐69, and ≥70 years. Among 2281 LT recipients, the median age was 56 years (range, 15‐80 years), and 162 were aged ≥70 years. The estimated 5‐ and 10‐year patient survival probabilities for elderly LT recipients were lower (70.8% and 43.6%) than for recipients aged 60‐69 years (77.2% and 64.6%) and <60 years (80.7% and 67.6%). Patient and graft survival rates associated with LT improved over time from the pre–Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease era to Share 15, pre–Share 35, and Share 35 for the cohort overall (P < 0.001), but rates remained relatively stable in septuagenarians throughout the study periods (all P > 0.45). There was no incremental negative effect of age at LT among elderly patients aged 70‐75 years (log‐rank P = 0.32). Among elderly LT recipients, greater requirement for packed red blood cells and longer warm ischemia times were significantly associated with decreased survival (P < 0.05). Survival of LT recipients, regardless of age, markedly surpassed that of patients who were denied LT, but it was persistently 20%‐30% lower than the expected survival of the general US population (P < 0.001). With the aging of the population, select older patients with end‐stage liver diseases can benefit from LT, which largely restores their expected life spans.
A case of de novo splice site variant in SLC35A2 showing developmental delays, spastic paraplegia, and delayed myelination
Authors: Miyamoto Sachiko , Nakashima Mitsuko , Ohashi Tsukasa , Hiraide Takuya , Kurosawa Kenji , Yamamoto Toshiyuki , Takanashi Junichi , Osaka Hitoshi , Inoue Ken , Miyazaki Takehiro , Wada Yoshinao , Okamoto Nobuhiko , Saitsu Hirotomo 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundCongenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are genetic diseases caused by pathogenic variants of genes involved in protein or lipid glycosylation. De novo variants in the SLC35A2 gene, which encodes a UDP‐galactose transporter, are responsible for CDGs with an X‐linked dominant manner. Common symptoms related to SLC35A2 variants include epilepsy, psychomotor developmental delay, hypotonia, abnormal facial and skeletal features, and various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.MethodsWhole‐exome sequencing was performed on the patient's DNA, and candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. cDNA analysis was performed to assess the effect of the splice site variant using peripheral leukocytes. The X‐chromosome inactivation pattern was studied using the human androgen receptor assay.ResultsWe identified a de novo splice site variant in SLC35A2 (NM_005660.2: c.274+1G>A) in a female patient who showed severe developmental delay, spastic paraplegia, mild cerebral atrophy, and delayed myelination on MRI, but no seizures. The variant led to an aberrant splicing resulting in an in‐frame 33‐bp insertion, which caused an 11‐amino acid insertion in the presumptive cytoplasmic loop. X‐inactivation pattern was random. Partial loss of galactose and sialic acid of the N‐linked glycans of serum transferrin was observed.ConclusionThis case would expand the phenotypic spectrum of SLC35A2‐related disorders to delayed myelination with spasticity and no seizures.
Broadband substrate‐integrated waveguide venus‐shaped slot antenna for V‐band applications
Authors: Mungaru Nanda Kumar , Thangavelu Shanmugannatham 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn this article, broadband substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) venus‐shaped slot antenna for V‐band applications was proposed. The size of the antenna is 13 × 9 × 0.381 mm and printed in a 5880 RT‐Duriod substrate with a dielectric constant of 2.2. The antenna is designed, simulated, tested, and validated in terms of reflection coefficient and voltage standing wave ratio. The impedance bandwidths of the simulated and measured results are 5.4 GHz (ranging from 57 GHz to 62.4 GHz) and 5.3 GHz (ranging from 57.15 GHz to 62.45 GHz) and also good bidirectional radiation patterns are obtained. Finally, the Resistor, Inductor, Capacitorleave (RLC) equivalent circuit model is introduced to match the reflection coefficient of an antenna, implemented with the help of MATLAB and validated.