bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
EEG may serve as a biomarker in Huntington’s disease using machine learning automatic classification
Authors: Odish Omar F. F. , Johnsen Kristinn , van Someren Paul , Roos Raymund A. C. , van Dijk J. Gert 
Published: October 2018

AbstractReliable markers measuring disease progression in Huntington’s disease (HD), before and after disease manifestation, may guide a therapy aimed at slowing or halting disease progression. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) may provide a quantification method for possible (sub)cortical dysfunction occurring prior to or concomitant with motor or cognitive disturbances observed in HD. In this pilot study we construct an automatic classifier distinguishing healthy controls from HD gene carriers using qEEG and derive qEEG features that correlate with clinical markers known to change with disease progression in HD, with the aim of exploring biomarker potential. We included twenty-six HD gene carriers (49.7 ± 8.5 years) and 25 healthy controls (52.7 ± 8.7 years). EEG was recorded for three minutes with subjects at rest. An EEG index was created by applying statistical pattern recognition to a large set of EEG features, which was subsequently tested using 10-fold cross-validation. The index resulted in a continuous variable ranging from 0 to 1: a low value indicating a state close to normal and a high value pointing to HD. qEEG features that correlate specifically with commonly used clinical markers in HD research were derived. The classification index had a specificity of 83%, a sensitivity of 83% and an accuracy of 83%. The area under the curve of the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.9. qEEG analysis on subsets of electrophysiological features resulted in two highly significant correlations with clinical scores. The results of this pilot study suggest that qEEG may serve as a biomarker in HD. The indices correlating with modalities changing with the progression of the disease may lead to tools based on qEEG that help monitor efficacy in intervention studies.
QCM-based immunosensor for rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium in food
Authors: Fulgione Andrea , Cimafonte Martina , Della Ventura Bartolomeo , Iannaccone Marco , Ambrosino Concetta , Capuano Federico , Proroga Yolande Thérèse Rose , Velotta Raffaele , Capparelli Rosanna 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSalmonella Typhimurium is one of the main causes of outbreaks and sporadic cases of human gastroenteritis. At present, the rapid detection of this pathogen is a major goal of biosensing technology applied to food safety. In fact, ISO standardized culture method takes up to ten days to provide a reliable response. In this paper, we describe a relatively simple protocol for detecting Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken meat based on a Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM), which leads to a limit of detection (LOD) less than of 10° CFU/mL and requires a pre-enrichment step lasting only 2 h at 37 °C. The reliability of the proposed immunosensor has been demonstrated through the validation of the experimental results with ISO standardized culture method. The cost-effectiveness of the procedure and the rapidity of the QCM-based biosensor in providing the qualitative response make the analytical method described here suitable for applications in food inspection laboratory and throughout the chain production of food industry.
Two CONSTANS-LIKE genes jointly control flowering time in beet
Authors: Dally Nadine , Eckel Maike , Batschauer Alfred , Höft Nadine , Jung Christian 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBreeding vegetative crops (e.g. beets, cabbage, forage grasses) is challenged by two conflicting aims. For field production, flowering must be avoided while flowering and seed set is necessary for breeding and seed production. The biennial species sugar beet makes shoot elongation (‘bolting’) followed by flowering after a long period of cold temperatures. Field production in northern geographical regions starts in spring. A thickened storage root is formed only during vegetative growth. It is expected that winter beets, which are sown before winter would have a much higher yield potential. However, field production was not possible so far due to bolting after winter. We propose a strategy to breed winter beets exploiting haplotype variation at two major bolting time loci, B and B2. Both genes encode transcription factors controlling the expression of two orthologs of the Arabidopsis gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). We detected an epistatic interaction between both genes because F2 plants homozygous for two B/B2 mutant alleles did not bolt even after vernalization. Fluorescence complementation studies revealed that both proteins form a heterodimer in vivo. In non-bolting plants, the bolting activator BvFT2 was completely downregulated whereas the repressor BvFT1 was upregulated which suggests that both genes acquire a CONSTANS (CO) like function in beet. Like CO, B and B2 proteins house CCT and BBX domains which, in contrast to CO are split between the two beet genes. We propose an alternative regulation of FT orthologs in beet that can be exploited to breed winter beets.
Systemic vascular leakage induced in mice by Russell’s viper venom from Pakistan
Authors: Rucavado Alexandra , Escalante Teresa , Camacho Erika , Gutiérrez José María , Fox Jay W. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnvenomings by some populations of the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) are characterized by a systemic capillary leak syndrome (CLS) which causes hemoconcentration, and is associated with the severity of envenoming. We adapted a model of CLS in mice by assessing hemoconcentration. The venom of D. russelii from Pakistan, but not that of another viperid, Bothrops asper, induced hemoconcentration and an increment in vascular permeability, being devoid of hemorrhagic activity at the doses tested. These findings reveal a dichotomous pattern of vasculotoxicity in viperid snake venoms. This difference might depend on variations in venom composition, especially regarding metalloproteinases (SVMPs), which are low in Pakistani D. russelii and high in B. asper. Inhibition of SVMPs and phospholipases A2 in D. russelii venom did not abrogate hemoconcentration. An hemoconcentration-inducing fraction was obtained by chromatography, which contains vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known potent inducer of increment in vascular permeability. Exudates collected from tissue injected with venom also induced hemoconcentration, and the effect was inhibited by antivenom. However, the amount of venom in exudate required to induce the effect is low, as compared with venom dissolved in saline solution, hence suggesting that endogenous proteins present in the exudate, probably inflammatory mediators, potentiate the effect.
Artificially designed hybrids facilitate efficient generation of high-resolution linkage maps
Authors: Yoshitake Kazutoshi , Igarashi Yoji , Mizukoshi Misaki , Kinoshita Shigeharu , Mitsuyama Susumu , Suzuki Yutaka , Saito Kazuyoshi , Watabe Shugo , Asakawa Shuichi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWhen sequencing eukaryotic genomes, linkage maps are indispensable for building scaffolds to assemble and/or to validate chromosomes. However, current approaches to constructing linkage maps are limited by marker density and cost-effectiveness, especially for wild organisms. We have now devised a new strategy based on artificially generated hybrid organisms to acquire ultrahigh-density genomic markers at reduced cost and build highly accurate linkage maps. We have also developed the novel analysis pipeline Scaffold Extender with Low Depth Linkage Analysis (SELDLA) for data processing to generate linkage maps and draft genomes. Using SELDLA, linkage maps and improved genomes for two species of pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes and Takifugu stictonotus, were obtained simultaneously. The strategy is applicable to a wide range of sexually reproducing organisms, and could, therefore, accelerate the whole genome analysis of various organisms including fish, mollusks, amphibians, insects, plants, and even mammals.
The PDL1-inducible GTPase Arl4d controls T effector function by limiting IL-2 production
Authors: Tolksdorf Felix , Mikulec Julita , Geers Bernd , Endig Jessica , Sprezyna Paulina , Heukamp Lukas C. , Knolle Percy A. , Kolanus Waldemar , Diehl Linda 
Published: October 2018

AbstractInterleukin-2 (IL-2) is a key regulator of adaptive immune responses but its regulation is incompletely understood. We previously found that PDL1-dependent signals were pivotal for liver sinusoidal endothelial cell-mediated priming of CD8 T cells, which have a strongly reduced capacity to produce IL-2. Here, we show that the expression of the ARF-like GTPase Arl4d is PD-L1-dependently induced in such LSEC-primed T cells, and is associated with reduced IL-2 secretion and Akt phosphorylation. Conversely, Arl4d-deficient T cells overproduced IL-2 upon stimulation. Arl4d-deficiency in CD8 T cells also enhanced their expansion and effector function during viral infection in vivo. Consistent with their increased IL-2 production, Arl4d-deficient T cells showed enhanced development into KLRG1+CD127− short-lived effector cells (SLEC), which is dependent on IL-2 availability. Thus, our data reveal a PD-L1-dependent regulatory circuitry that involves the induction of Arl4d for limiting IL-2 production in T cells.
Novel molecular marker-assisted strategy for production of wheat–Leymus mollis chromosome addition lines
Authors: Edet Offiong U. , Gorafi Yasir S. A. , Cho Seong-woo , Kishii Masahiro , Tsujimoto Hisashi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDeveloping wheat–alien chromosome introgression lines to improve bread wheat’s resistance to stresses, such as drought, salinity stress and diseases, requires reliable markers to identify and characterize the alien chromatins.Leymus mollisis a wild relative of bread wheat resistant to salinity and economically important diseases of wheat, but its genome sequence and cytological markers are not available. We devised a molecular marker-assisted strategy forL. mollischromosome identification and applied it to produce 10 wheat–L. mollischromosome addition lines. Using 47 L. racemosusgenome polymorphic PCR markers and DArTseq genotyping, we distinguished theL. mollischromosomes and differentiated disomic and monosomic lines by progeny test. DArTseq genotyping generated 14,530 L. mollisSNP markers and the chromosome-specific SNP markers were used to determine the homoeologous groups ofL. mollischromosomes in the addition lines. To validate the marker-based results, genomicin situhybridization was applied to confirm the presence and cytological status ofL. mollischromosomes in the lines. This study demonstrates that adequate molecular markers allow the production and characterization of wheat–alien addition lines withoutin situhybridization, which saves considerable time and effort.
A novel therapeutic agent, sodium oxybate, improves dystonic symptoms via reduced network-wide activity
Authors: Simonyan Kristina , Frucht Steven J. , Blitzer Andrew , Sichani Azadeh Hamzehei , Rumbach Anna F. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractOral medications for the treatment of dystonia are not established. Currently, symptoms of focal dystonia are managed with botulinum toxin injections into the affected muscles. However, the injection effects are short-lived and not beneficial for all patients. We recently reported significant clinical improvement of symptoms with novel investigational oral drug, sodium oxybate, in patients with the alcohol-responsive form of laryngeal focal dystonia. Understanding the mechanism of action of this promising oral agent holds a strong potential for the development of a scientific rationale for its use in dystonia. Therefore, to determine the neural markers of sodium oxybate effects, which may underlie dystonic symptom improvement, we examined brain activity during symptomatic speech production before and after drug intake in patients with laryngeal dystonia and compared to healthy subjects. We found that sodium oxybate significantly attenuated hyperfunctional activity of cerebellar, thalamic and primary/secondary sensorimotor cortical regions. Drug-induced symptom improvement was correlated with decreased-to-normal levels of activity in the right cerebellum. These findings suggest that sodium oxybate shows direct modulatory effects on disorder pathophysiology by acting upon abnormal neural activity within the dystonic network.
Graphene-based optical waveguide tactile sensor for dynamic response
Authors: Kim Jin Tae , Choi Hongkyw , Shin EunJin , Park Suntak , Kim In Gyoo 
Published: October 2018

AbstractOptical tactile sensors based on a directional coupler have been widely investigated because of their many advantages. However, one important requirement limits their wide application: the refractive index of the upper superstrate must be equal to or larger than that of the optical waveguide core. To overcome this disadvantage, an optical waveguide tactile sensor using graphene is proposed and its operational feasibility was validated experimentally. The pressure-dependent lateral deformation of the low-index prism-like microstructure on an elastomer superstrate has a key role in optically measuring the mechanical pressure. By mechanically varying the lateral deformation area, the waveguide core-graphene-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) interface area was adjusted and the amount of light absorption by graphene became tunable, even when the refractive index of the superstrate was lower than that of the waveguide core. The dynamic response of the sensor was accurately matched to the repeated pressing and release time of the pressure, and exhibited a real-time response to multi-stepped mechanical pressing and releasing using a piezoelectric motor. The proposed graphene-based optical tactile sensor is foundational to the use of a wide range of materials for overcoming the shortcoming of a directional coupler-based optical tactile sensor.
Reduced diversity of gut microbiota in two Aedes mosquitoes species in areas of recent invasion
Authors: Rosso Fausta , Tagliapietra Valentina , Albanese Davide , Pindo Massimo , Baldacchino Frédéric , Arnoldi Daniele , Donati Claudio , Rizzoli Annapaola 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAedes mosquitoes are considered highly successful global invasive species and vectors of several pathogens of relevance for public health. Their midgut’s microbiota can play an important role in affecting not only their vectorial competence but also their fitness, physiology, food digestion, metabolism, immunity and adaptation to new environmental conditions. Using high-throughput sequencing we compared the microbiota of Aedes albopictus collected in Italy with those reported in populations from France and Vietnam. We also analysed Aedes koreicus gut microbiota for the first time. We found remarkable individual difference along with common bacterial taxa in both species. Ae. albopictus collected in Italy had a lower richness and a different composition of microbiota in respect to specimens collected in France and Vietnam. It also showed a core microbiota formed mainly of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. Overall, the two Aedes species (Ae. albopictus and Ae. koreicus) collected in Italy, showed a large core microbiota with 75.98% of the identified Operational Taxonomic Units. Furthermore, Ae. albopictus had 2.5% prevalence of Wolbachia and 0.07% of Asaia spp, while Ae. koreicus had 14.42% of Asaia spp. and no Wolbachia. This study provides new informations on the spatial variation of the midgut bacterial communities in mosquitoes of medical relevance within areas of recent invasion and provide the basis for further studies aimed at assessing the effects of such variation on vectorial capacity for a range of pathogens.
Tower Air‐gaps discharge characteristics and insulation coordination for UHV AC double‐circuit line
Authors: Feng Huo , Jing Nan , Qiming Ye , Yeming Ma 
Published: October 2018

In order to give out inverse V‐type insulator tower air‐gaps configuration of double‐circuit UHV AC power transmission line, different distance air‐gaps from high‐voltage electrode to tower frame discharge tests of inverse V‐string are carried out. Discharge characteristics curves of power frequency voltage, 1000 μs long wave‐front switching impulse voltage, and lightning impulse of UHV AC double‐circuit tower are obtained. Results show that the 50% discharge voltage gradient of bottom phase air‐gaps is higher than middle phase. 1000 μs wave‐front switching impulse 50% discharge voltage gradient of bottom phase air‐gaps is 4.6% higher than the middle phase. Based on the test results and the characters of operating voltage and overvoltage of UHV AC power transmission system, the UHV AC double‐circuit tower inverse V‐type insulator air‐gaps configuration is proposed. The air‐gap configurations of power frequency voltage and switching overvoltage are 2.9 and 6.5 m, and the lightning protection air‐gaps are 6.7 and 7.2 m, in mountains and plains.
Simulation calculation of electric field protection for live working on Ultra‐high voltage transmission line
Authors: Zhang Bing , Dai Ruzhang , Ma Wanxun , Wu Huijian , Zhi Li , Chen Yanran , Zhang Yujiao 
Published: October 2018

The current standards related to live working provide no determined path for equal potential working, in which only safety distance is referred, so that the works are often executed relying on the line maintenance experience. As high‐voltage and strong space electrical field intensity exist in 1000 kV ultra‐high voltage transmission lines, the real‐time safe distance measurement is difficult to be conducted and the exhaustive full‐scale experiments are difficult to accomplish due to the varied true tower models and lines. Simulation calculation is aroused for improving the efficiency of safety distance calculation and safety path planning during the process of importing and exporting the potential according to the different kind of tower and the actual line situation. Here, with the cup type iron tower and hanging basket mode, the electrical field intensity in and outside of screening clothes at different part of body while climbing tower and during equal‐potential process are calculated, and then the safety distance, the combination gap, and the optimal path planning are carried out. The simulation results demonstrate that electrical field intensity meet safety requirements using the proposed planning path, which enriches the theoretical basis for the safety operation of ultra‐high voltage live working.
Suppression of EMI radiation noise by inductor current recoil on boost PFC
Authors: Shen Zhou , Zhao Yang , Yan Wei , Yu Jin , Zhou Mengxia , Chen Tao , Zhu Jiaming 
Published: October 2018

As the development of switching power and power factor correction (PFC) technology in electronic devices, there is strong transient current rate and electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise caused by switching power supply MOSFET, IGBT, and other semiconductor, which can seriously affect the normal operation of electronic devices and the electromagnetic environment. This paper established a radiation EMI model of Boost PFC circuit under critical conduction mode (CRM); extracted the high‐frequency noise current caused by Boost PFC switching device; proposed EMI radiation noise suppression technology by inductor current recoil; discussed the influence of the boost inductor and the parasitic capacitance, the transient current change rate, and the radiation EMI noise; built a Boost PFC hardware circuit; examined on EMI standardisation based on RE 101 (magnetic field radiation) and RE 102 (electric field radiation). It is proved that the boost inductor current recoil method can effectively suppress the radiation EMI noise of the Boost PFC circuit under CRM. Results show that the magnetic field radiation noise can be reduced to 2 dBpT in frequency 25 Hz–100 kHz, the radiation noise can be reduced to 20 dB V/m in frequency 100 kHz–5 MHz.
Thyroid Peroxidase as an Autoantigen in Hashimoto’s Disease: Structure, Function, and Antigenicity
Authors: Williams Daniel , Le Sarah , Godlewska Marlena , Hoke David , Buckle Ashley 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHuman thyroid peroxidase (TPO), is an important enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones and is a major autoantigen in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) such as the destructive Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Although the structure of TPO has yet to be determined, its extracellular domain consists of three regions that exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity to domains of known three-dimensional structure: the myeloperoxidase (MPO)-like domain, complement control protein (CCP)-like domain, and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain. Homology models of TPO can therefore be constructed, providing some structural context to its known function, as well as facilitating the mapping of regions that are responsible for its autoantigenicity. In this review, we highlight recent progress in this area, in particular how a molecular modelling approach has advanced the visualisation and interpretation of epitope mapping studies for TPO, facilitating the dissection of the interplay between TPO protein structure, function, and autoantigenticity.
Computer-aided prediction of polyp histology on white light colonoscopy using surface pattern analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Montes Cristina , Sánchez Francisco , Bernal Jorge , Córdova Henry , López-Cerón María , Cuatrecasas Miriam , Rodríguez de Miguel Cristina , García-Rodríguez Ana , Garcés-Durán Rodrigo , Pellisé María , Llach Josep , Fernández-Esparrach Glòria 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
Background This study aimed to evaluate a new computational histology prediction system based on colorectal polyp textural surface patterns using high definition white light images.
Methods Textural elements (textons) were characterized according to their contrast with respect to the surface, shape, and number of bifurcations, assuming that dysplastic polyps are associated with highly contrasted, large tubular patterns with some degree of bifurcation. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) was compared with pathological diagnosis and the diagnosis made by endoscopists using Kudo and Narrow-Band Imaging International Colorectal Endoscopic classifications.
Results Images of 225 polyps were evaluated (142 dysplastic and 83 nondysplastic). The CAD system correctly classified 205 polyps (91.1 %): 131/142 dysplastic (92.3 %) and 74/83 (89.2 %) nondysplastic. For the subgroup of 100 diminutive polyps (≤ 5 mm), CAD correctly classified 87 polyps (87.0 %): 43/50 (86.0 %) dysplastic and 44/50 (88.0 %) nondysplastic. There were no statistically significant differences in polyp histology prediction between the CAD system and endoscopist assessment.
Conclusion A computer vision system based on the characterization of the polyp surface in white light accurately predicted colorectal polyp histology.