bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tracking the evolution of intergranular corrosion through twin-related domains in grain boundary networks
Authors: Barr Christopher M. , Thomas Sebastian , Hart James L. , Harlow Wayne , Anber Elaf , Taheri Mitra L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTailoring the grain boundary network is desired to improve grain boundary-dependent phenomena such as intergranular corrosion. An important grain boundary network descriptor in heavily twinned microstructures is the twin-related domain, a cluster of twin-related grains. We indicate the advantages of using twin-related domains and subsequent statistics to provide new insight into how a grain boundary networks respond to intergranular corrosion in a heavily twinned grain boundary engineered 316L stainless steel. The results highlight that intergranular corrosion is typically arrested inside twin-related domains at coherent twins or low-angle grain boundaries. Isolated scenarios exist, however, where intergranular corrosion propagation persists in the grain boundary network through higher-order twin-related boundaries.
Improvement in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following a clinical educational program: results from a prospective cohort study in the Sicilian general practice setting
Authors: Ferrara Rosarita , Ientile Valentina , Piccinni Carlo , Pasqua Alessandro , Pecchioli Serena , Fontana Andrea , Alecci Umberto , Scoglio Riccardo , Magliozzo Francesco , Torrisi Sebastiano Emanuele , Vancheri Carlo , Vitulo Patrizio , Fantaci Giovanna , Ferrajolo Carmen , Cazzola Mario , Cricelli Claudio , Caputi Achille Patrizio , Trifirò Gianluca 
Published: April 2018

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs associated with progressive disability. Although general practitioners (GPs) should play an important role in the COPD management, critical issues have been documented in the primary care setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program for the improvement of the COPD management in a Sicilian general practice setting. The effectiveness of the program, was evaluated by comparing 15 quality-of-care indicators developed from data extracted by 33 GPs, at baseline vs. 12 and 24 months, and compared with data from a national primary care database (HSD). Moreover, data on COPD-related and all-cause hospitalizations over time of COPD patients, was measured. Overall, 1,465 patients (3.2%) had a registered diagnosis of COPD at baseline vs. 1,395 (3.0%) and 1,388 (3.0%) over time (vs. 3.0% in HSD). COPD patients with one spirometry registered increased from 59.7% at baseline to 73.0% after 2 years (vs. 64.8% in HSD). Instead, some quality of care indicators where not modified such as proportion of COPD patients treated with ICS in monotherapy that was almost stable during the study period: 9.6% (baseline) vs. 9.9% (after 2 years), vs. 7.7% in HSD. COPD-related and all-cause hospitalizations of patients affected by COPD decreased during the two observation years (from 6.9% vs. 4.0%; from 23.0% vs. 18.9%, respectively). Our study showed that educational program involving specialists, clinical pharmacologists and GPs based on training events and clinical audit may contribute to partly improve both diagnostic and therapeutic management of COPD in primary care setting, despite this effect may vary across GPs and indicators of COPD quality of care.
Broken symmetries, non-reciprocity, and multiferroicity
Authors: Cheong Sang-Wook , Talbayev Diyar , Kiryukhin Valery , Saxena Avadh 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe interplay of space and time symmetries, ferroic properties, chirality and notions of reciprocity determines many of the technologically important properties of materials such as optical diode effect, e.g., in polar ferromagnet FeZnMo3O8. We illustrate these concepts, including the non-reciprocal directional dichroism, through a number of practical examples. In particular, the conditions for non-reciprocity of ferro-rotational order are discussed and the possible use of linear optical gyration is suggested as a way to detect ferro-rotational domains. In addition, we provide the means to achieve high-temperature optical diode effect and elucidate multiferroic behaviors as a result of helical vs. cycloidal spins. Finally, we identify different entities behaving similarly under all symmetry operations, which are useful to understand non-reciprocity and multiferroicity in various materials intuitively.
DNA methylation signatures of educational attainment
Authors: van Dongen Jenny , Bonder Marc Jan , Dekkers Koen F. , Nivard Michel G. , van Iterson Maarten , Willemsen Gonneke , Beekman Marian , van der Spek Ashley , van Meurs Joyce B. J. , Franke Lude , Heijmans Bastiaan T. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Slagboom P. Eline , Boomsma Dorret I. ,   BIOS consortium, Heijmans Bastiaan T. , ’t Hoen Peter A. C. , van Meurs Joyce , Isaacs Aaron , Jansen Rick , Franke Lude , Boomsma Dorret I. , Pool René , van Dongen Jenny , Hottenga Jouke J. , van Greevenbroek Marleen MJ , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Wijmenga Cisca , Franke Lude , Zhernakova Sasha , Tigchelaar Ettje F. , Slagboom P. Eline , Beekman Marian , Deelen Joris , van Heemst Diana , Veldink Jan H. , van den Berg Leonard H. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Hofman Bert A. , Isaacs Aaron , Uitterlinden André G. , van Meurs Joyce , Jhamai P. Mila , Verbiest Michael , Suchiman H. Eka D. , Verkerk Marijn , van der Breggen Ruud , van Rooij Jeroen , Lakenberg Nico , Mei Hailiang , van Iterson Maarten , van Galen Michiel , Bot Jan , Zhernakova Dasha V. , Jansen Rick , van’t Hof Peter , Deelen Patrick , Nooren Irene , ’t Hoen Peter A. C. , Heijmans Bastiaan T. , Moed Matthijs , Franke Lude , Vermaat Martijn , Zhernakova Dasha V. , Luijk René , Bonder Marc Jan , van Iterson Maarten , Deelen Patrick , van Dijk Freerk , van Galen Michiel , Arindrarto Wibowo , Kielbasa Szymon M. , Swertz Morris A. , van Zwet Erik W. , Jansen Rick , Hoen Peter-Bram’t , Heijmans Bastiaan T. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEducational attainment is a key behavioural measure in studies of cognitive and physical health, and socioeconomic status. We measured DNA methylation at 410,746 CpGs (N = 4152) and identified 58 CpGs associated with educational attainment at loci characterized by pleiotropic functions shared with neuronal, immune and developmental processes. Associations overlapped with those for smoking behaviour, but remained after accounting for smoking at many CpGs: Effect sizes were on average 28% smaller and genome-wide significant at 11 CpGs after adjusting for smoking and were 62% smaller in never smokers. We examined sources and biological implications of education-related methylation differences, demonstrating correlations with maternal prenatal folate, smoking and air pollution signatures, and associations with gene expression in cis, dynamic methylation in foetal brain, and correlations between blood and brain. Our findings show that the methylome of lower-educated people resembles that of smokers beyond effects of their own smoking behaviour and shows traces of various other exposures.
The focal alteration and causal connectivity in children with new-onset benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes
Authors: Chen Sihan , Fang Jiajia , An Dongmei , Xiao Fenglai , Chen Deng , Chen Tao , Zhou Dong , Liu Ling 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe aim of the current study was to find the epileptic focus and examine its causal relationship to other brain regions in children with new-onset benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in 66 children with BECTS and 37 matched control children. We compared the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) signals between the two groups to find the potential epileptogenic zone (EZ), then used Granger causality analysis (GCA) to explore the causal effects of EZ on the whole brain. Children with BECTS had significantly increased ALFF in the right Broca’s area, and decreased ALFF in bilateral fusiform gyrus. The patients also showed increased driving effect from the EZ in Broca’s area to the right prefrontal lobe, and decreased effects to the frontal lobe and posterior parts of the language network. The causal effect on left Wernicke’s area negatively correlated with verbal IQ (VIQ) score. Our research on new-onset BECTS patients illustrates a possible compensatory mechanism in the language network at early stages of BECTS, and the negative correlation of GCA and VIQ suggest the disturbance of epileptiform activity on language. These findings shed light on the mechanisms of and language dysfunction in BECTS.
The Scientific Basis and Advantage of Human Experiential Assessment in the quality control of Chinese Herbal Medicines exampling as Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus
Authors: Zhou Yongfeng , Zhang Dingkun , Li Haotian , Zhang Haizhu , Fang Jixiang , Ma Yanqin , Zhang Ping , Wang Jiabo , Xiao Xiaohe 
Published: April 2018

AbstractExperiential quality assessment(EQA) is an important sensory analysis for judging herbal quality grades. Because of the high empirical utility of expert experience, the consistency, science and inheritance of such experience are continuously in dispute. To explore the scientific evidence for this subjective method, we designed a Delphi expert investigation coupled with chemical analysis to evaluate the quality of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF). Initially, 13 experts were invited to independently evaluate the grades of 11 batches of SCF. After screening the consistency and repeatability of the evaluation results, typical samples of all quality levels were identified. Seven significant physical characters were detected; colour and size were found to be the key parameters for identifying SCF quality. Based on this correlation, a decision tree model was ultimately established and converted to a quality evaluation card. Over 80% consistency in a novice test demonstrated the technical advantages and application characteristics of the model. Further correlation analysis revealed that EQA quality grades of SCF were positively correlated to the content of polysaccharides and polyphenols, while negatively correlated to the content of lignans. Biological activities were also approving it. In summary, our study proves that subjective EQA is consistency, repeatability and could be inherited.
Activation of Calcium-Sensing Receptor increases intracellular calcium and decreases cAMP and mTOR in PKD1 deficient cells
Authors: Di Mise Annarita , Tamma Grazia , Ranieri Marianna , Centrone Mariangela , van den Heuvel Lambertus , Mekahli Djalila , Levtchenko Elena N. , Valenti Giovanna 
Published: April 2018

AbstractClinical and fundamental research suggest that altered calcium and cAMP signaling might be the most proximal events in ADPKD pathogenesis. Cells from ADPKD cysts have a reduced resting cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i and increased cAMP levels. CaSR plays an essential role in regulating calcium homeostasis. Its activation is associated with [Ca2+]i increase and cAMP decrease, making CaSR a possible therapeutic target. Human conditionally immortalized Proximal Tubular Epithelial cells (ciPTEC) with stable knockdown of PKD1 (ciPTEC-PC1KD) and ciPTEC generated from an ADPKD1 patient (ciPTEC-PC1Pt) were used as experimental tools. CaSR functional expression was confirmed by studies showing that the calcimimetic NPS-R568 induced a significant increase in [Ca2+]i in ciPTEC-PC1KD and ciPTEC-PC1Pt. Resting [Ca2+]i were significantly lower in ciPTEC-PC1KD with respect to ciPTECwt, confirming calcium dysregulation. As in native cyst cells, significantly higher cAMP levels and mTOR activity were found in ciPTEC-PC1KD compared to ciPTECwt. Of note, NPS-R568 treatment significantly reduced intracellular cAMP and mTOR activity in ciPTEC-PC1KD and ciPTEC-PC1Pt. To conclude, we demonstrated that selective CaSR activation in human ciPTEC carrying PKD1 mutation increases [Ca2+]i, reduces intracellular cAMP and mTOR activity, reversing the principal dysregulations considered the most proximal events in ADPKD pathogenesis, making CaSR a possible candidate as therapeutic target.
Analysis of DNAs associated with coconut foliar decay disease implicates a unique single-stranded DNA virus representing a new taxon
Authors: Gronenborn Bruno , Randles John W. , Knierim Dennis , Barrière Quentin , Vetten H. Josef , Warthmann Norman , Cornu David , Sileye Tiata , Winter Stephan , Timchenko Tatiana 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe unique ecology, pathology and undefined taxonomy of coconut foliar decay virus (CFDV), found associated with coconut foliar decay disease (CFD) in 1986, prompted analyses of old virus samples by modern methods. Rolling circle amplification and deep sequencing applied to nucleic acid extracts from virion preparations and CFD-affected palms identified twelve distinct circular DNAs, eleven of which had a size of about 1.3 kb and one of 641 nt. Mass spectrometry-based protein identification proved that a 24 kDa protein encoded by two 1.3 kb DNAs is the virus capsid protein with highest sequence similarity to that of grabloviruses (family Geminiviridae), even though CFDV particles are not geminate. The nine other 1.3 kb DNAs represent alphasatellites coding for replication initiator proteins that differ clearly from those encoded by nanovirid DNA-R. The 641 nt DNA-gamma is unique and may encode a movement protein. Three DNAs, alphasatellite CFDAR, capsid protein encoding CFDV DNA-S.1 and DNA-gamma share sequence motifs near their replication origins and were consistently present in all samples analysed. These DNAs appear to be integral components of a possibly tripartite CFDV genome, different from those of any Geminiviridae or Nanoviridae family member, implicating CFDV as representative of a new genus and family.
Strategic Design and Fabrication of Biomimetic 3D Scaffolds: Unique Architectures of Extracellular Matrices for Enhanced Adipogenesis and Soft Tissue Reconstruction
Authors: Unnithan Afeesh Rajan , Sasikala Arathyram Ramachandra Kurup , Thomas Shalom Sara , Nejad Amin Ghavami , Cha Youn Soo , Park Chan Hee , Kim Cheol Sang 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe higher rate of soft tissue impairment due to lumpectomy or other trauma greatly requires the restoration of the irreversibly lost subcutaneous adipose tissues. The nanofibers fabricated by conventional electrospinning provide only a superficial porous structure due to its sheet like 2D structure and thereby hinder the cell infiltration and differentiation throughout the scaffolds. Thus we developed a novel electrospun 3D membrane using the zwitterionic poly (carboxybetaine-co-methyl methacrylate) co-polymer (CMMA) through electrostatic repulsion based electrospinning for soft tissue engineering. The inherent charges in the CMMA will aid the nanofiber to directly transform into a semiconductor and thereby transfer the immense static electricity from the grounded collector and will impart greater fluffiness to the scaffolds. The results suggest that the fabricated 3D nanofiber (CMMA 3NF) scaffolds possess nanofibers with larger inter connected pores and less dense structure compared to the conventional 2D scaffolds. The CMMA 3NF exhibits significant cues of soft tissue engineering such as enhanced biocompatibility as well as the faster regeneration of cells. Moreover the fabricated 3D scaffolds greatly assist the cells to develop into its stereoscopic topographies with an enhanced adipogenic property.
Non-uniform weighting of local motion inputs underlies dendritic computation in the fly visual system
Authors: Dan Ohad , Hopp Elizabeth , Borst Alexander , Segev Idan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe fly visual system offers a unique opportunity to explore computations performed by single neurons. Two previous studies characterized, in vivo, the receptive field (RF) of the vertical system (VS) cells of the blowfly (calliphora vicina), both intracellularly in the axon, and, independently using Ca2+ imaging, in hundreds of distal dendritic branchlets. We integrated this information into detailed passive cable and compartmental models of 3D reconstructed VS cells. Within a given VS cell type, the transfer resistance (TR) from different branchlets to the axon differs substantially, suggesting that they contribute unequally to the shaping of the axonal RF. Weighting the local RFs of all dendritic branchlets by their respective TR yielded a faithful reproduction of the axonal RF. The model also predicted that the various dendritic branchlets are electrically decoupled from each other, thus acting as independent local functional subunits. The study suggests that single neurons in the fly visual system filter dendritic noise and compute the weighted average of their inputs.
Greater mindful eating practice is associated with better reversal learning
Authors: Janssen Lieneke K. , Duif Iris , van Loon Ilke , de Vries Jeanne H. M. , Speckens Anne E. M. , Cools Roshan , Aarts Esther 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMindfulness-based interventions are thought to reduce compulsive behavior such as overeating by promoting behavioral flexibility. Here the main aim was to provide support for mindfulness-mediated improvements in reversal learning, a direct measure of behavioral flexibility. We investigated whether an 8-week mindful eating intervention improved outcome-based reversal learning relative to an educational cooking (i.e., active control) intervention in a non-clinical population. Sixty-five healthy participants with a wide BMI range (19–35 kg/m2), who were motivated to change their eating habits, performed a deterministic reversal learning task that enabled the investigation of reward- and punishment-based reversal learning at baseline and following the intervention. No group differences in reversal learning were observed. However, time invested in the mindful eating, but not the educational cooking intervention correlated positively with changes in reversal learning, in a manner independent of outcome valence. These findings suggest that greater amount of mindfulness practice can lead to increased behavioral flexibility, which, in turn, might help overcome compulsive eating in clinical populations.
Plac1 Is a Key Regulator of the Inflammatory Response and Immune Tolerance In Mammary Tumorigenesis
Authors: Yuan Hongyan , Wang Xiaoyi , Shi Chunmei , Jin Lu , Hu Jianxia , Zhang Alston , Li James , Vijayendra Nairuthya , Doodala Venkata , Weiss Spencer , Tang Yong , Weiner Louis M. , Glazer Robert I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPlac1 is an X-linked trophoblast gene expressed at high levels in the placenta, but not in adult somatic tissues other than the testis. Plac1 however is re-expressed in several solid tumors and in most human cancer cell lines. To explore the role of Plac1 in cancer progression, Plac1 was reduced by RNA interference in EO771 mammary carcinoma cells. EO771 “knockdown” (KD) resulted in 50% reduction in proliferationin vitroand impaired tumor growth in syngeneic mice; however, tumor growth in SCID mice was equivalent to tumor cells expressing a non-silencing control RNA, suggesting that Plac1 regulated adaptive immunity. Gene expression profiling of Plac1 KD cells indicated reduction in several inflammatory and immune factors, including Cxcl1, Ccl5, Ly6a/Sca-1, Ly6c and Lif. Treatment of mice engrafted with wild-type EO771 cells with a Cxcr2 antagonist impaired tumor growth, reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, while increasing macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells and the penetration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor bed. Cxcl1 KD phenocopied the effects of Plac1 KD on tumor growth, and overexpression of Cxcl1 partially rescued Plac1 KD cells. These results reveal that Plac1 modulates a tolerogenic tumor microenvironment in part by modulating the chemokine axis.
Example-Based Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Jia Shu , Han Boran , Kutz J. Nathan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCapturing biological dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution demands the advancement in imaging technologies. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy offers spatial resolution surpassing the diffraction limit to resolve near-molecular-level details. While various strategies have been reported to improve the temporal resolution of super-resolution imaging, all super-resolution techniques are still fundamentally limited by the trade-off associated with the longer image acquisition time that is needed to achieve higher spatial information. Here, we demonstrated an example-based, computational method that aims to obtain super-resolution images using conventional imaging without increasing the imaging time. With a low-resolution image input, the method provides an estimate of its super-resolution image based on an example database that contains super- and low-resolution image pairs of biological structures of interest. The computational imaging of cellular microtubules agrees approximately with the experimental super-resolution STORM results. This new approach may offer potential improvements in temporal resolution for experimental super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and provide a new path for large-data aided biomedical imaging.
A death pheromone, oleic acid, triggers hygienic behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Authors: McAfee Alison , Chapman Abigail , Iovinella Immacolata , Gallagher-Kurtzke Ylonna , Collins Troy F. , Higo Heather , Madilao Lufiani L. , Pelosi Paolo , Foster Leonard J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEusocial insects live in teeming societies with thousands of their kin. In this crowded environment, workers combat disease by removing or burying their dead or diseased nestmates. For honey bees, we found that hygienic brood-removal behavior is triggered by two odorants – β-ocimene and oleic acid – which are released from brood upon freeze-killing. β-ocimene is a co-opted pheromone that normally signals larval food-begging, whereas oleic acid is a conserved necromone across arthropod taxa. Interestingly, the odorant blend can induce hygienic behavior more consistently than either odorant alone. We suggest that the volatile β-ocimene flags hygienic workers’ attention, while oleic acid is the death cue, triggering removal. Bees with high hygienicity detect and remove brood with these odorants faster than bees with low hygienicity, and both molecules are strong ligands for hygienic behavior-associated odorant binding proteins (OBP16 and OBP18). Odorants that induce low levels of hygienic behavior, however, are weak ligands for these OBPs. We are therefore beginning to paint a picture of the molecular mechanism behind this complex behavior, using odorants associated with freeze-killed brood as a model.
Variability of the Indonesian Throughflow in the Makassar Strait over the Last 30 ka
Authors: Fan Weijia , Jian Zhimin , Chu Zhihui , Dang Haowen , Wang Yue , Bassinot Franck , Han Xiqiu , Bian Yeping 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe hydrological characteristics, including temperatures and salinities, of the upper water over the last 30 ka from two sites connected by the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) across the Makassar Strait are reconstructed and compared. The thermocline hydrological gradient in the strait was larger during 13.4~19 ka BP and 24.2~27 ka BP than that in the Holocene. The weakened ITF during those periods in the last glacial period, corresponding to the decreased trade wind stress under an El Niño-like climate mean state, likely accounts for the increased thermocline gradient. The thermocline water temperature variabilities of the two sites, in particular the highest peaks at ~7 ka BP, are different from the records of the open western Pacific. Reoccurrence of the South China Sea Throughflow and thus a decreased surface throughflow along the Makassar Strait perhaps led to a warmer peak of thermocline temperature at ~7 ka BP than at ~11 ka BP.