bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aspiration pneumonia induces muscle atrophy in the respiratory, skeletal, and swallowing systems
Authors: Komatsu Riyo , Okazaki Tatsuma , Ebihara Satoru , Kobayashi Makoto , Tsukita Yoko , Nihei Mayumi , Sugiura Hisatoshi , Niu Kaijun , Ebihara Takae , Ichinose Masakazu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundRepetition of the onset of aspiration pneumonia in aged patients is common and causes chronic inflammation. The inflammation induces proinflammatory cytokine production and atrophy in the muscles. The proinflammatory cytokines induce muscle proteolysis by activating calpains and caspase‐3, followed by further degradation by the ubiquitin‐proteasome system. Autophagy is another pathway of muscle atrophy. However, little is known about the relationship between aspiration pneumonia and muscle. For swallowing muscles, it is not clear whether they produce cytokines. The main objective of this study was to determine whether aspiration pneumonia induces muscle atrophy in the respiratory (the diaphragm), skeletal (the tibialis anterior, TA), and swallowing (the tongue) systems, and their possible mechanisms.MethodsWe employed a mouse aspiration pneumonia model and computed tomography (CT) scans of aged pneumonia patients. To induce aspiration pneumonia, mice were inoculated with low dose pepsin and lipopolysaccharide solution intra‐nasally 5 days a week. The diaphragm, TA, and tongue were isolated, and total RNA, proteins, and frozen sections were stored. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction determined the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, muscle E3 ubiquitin ligases, and autophagy related genes. Western blot analysis determined the activation of the muscle proteolysis pathway. Frozen sections determined the presence of muscle atrophy. CT scans were used to evaluate the muscle atrophy in aged aspiration pneumonia patients.ResultsThe aspiration challenge enhanced the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the diaphragm, TA, and tongue. Among muscle proteolysis pathways, the aspiration challenge activated caspase‐3 in all the three muscles examined, whereas calpains were activated in the diaphragm and the TA but not in the tongue. Activation of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system was detected in all the three muscles examined. The aspiration challenge activated autophagy in the TA and the tongue, whereas weak or little activation was detected in the diaphragm. The aspiration challenge resulted in a greater proportion of smaller myofibers than in controls in the diaphragm, TA, and tongue, suggesting muscle atrophy. CT scans clearly showed that aspiration pneumonia was followed by muscle atrophy in aged patients.ConclusionsAspiration pneumonia induced muscle atrophy in the respiratory, skeletal, and swallowing systems in a preclinical animal model and in human patients. Diaphragmatic atrophy may weaken the force of cough to expectorate sputum or mis‐swallowed contents. Skeletal muscle atrophy may cause secondary sarcopenia. The atrophy of swallowing muscles may weaken the swallowing function. Thus, muscle atrophy could become a new therapeutic target of aspiration pneumonia.
Plastic rates of development and the effect of thermal extremes on offspring fitness in a cold‐climate viviparous lizard
Authors: Cunningham George D. , Fitzpatrick Luisa J. , While Geoffrey M. , Wapstra Erik 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPopulations at the climatic margins of a species’ distribution can be exposed to conditions that cause developmental stress, resulting in developmental abnormalities. Even within the thermal range of normal development, phenotypes often vary with developmental temperature (i.e., thermal phenotypic plasticity). These effects can have significant consequences for organismal fitness and, thus, population persistence. Reptiles, as ectotherms, are particularly vulnerable to thermal effects on development and are, therefore, considered to be at comparatively high risk from changing climates. Understanding the extent and direction of thermal effects on phenotypes and their fitness consequences is crucial if we are to make meaningful predictions of how populations and species will respond as climates warm. Here, we experimentally manipulated the thermal conditions experienced by females from a high‐altitude, cold‐adapted population of the viviparous skink, Niveoscincus ocellatus, to examine the consequences of thermal conditions at the margins of this population's normal temperature range. We found strong effects of thermal conditions on the development of key phenotypic traits that have implications for fitness. Specifically, we found that offspring born earlier as a result of high temperatures during gestation had increased growth over the first winter of life, but there was no effect on offspring survival, nor was there an effect of developmental temperature on the incidence of developmental abnormalities. Combined, our results suggest that advancing birth dates that result from warming climates may have positive effects in this population via increased growth.
Sexual and somatic development of wood frog tadpoles along a thermal gradient
Authors: Lambert Max R. , Smylie Meredith S. , Roman Amber J. , Freidenburg L. Kealoha , Skelly David K. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAll amphibian species are known to have genetic sex determination. However, a variety of environmental conditions can moderate sexual differentiation, in some cases leading to sex reversal and skewed sex ratios. While there has been a recent focus on chemically‐induced sex reversal in amphibians, temperature can also influence sexual differentiation. Building upon a classic 1929 study by Emil Witschi, we assessed temperature‐mediated sex reversal. Witschi found that the wood frog sex ratio is 100% male at a high temperature (32°C) compared to a 50:50 sex ratio at 20°C. This pattern is consistent with multiple models of environmentally mediated sexual differentiation in vertebrates. To better understand thermally mediated sex reversal, we raised wood frogs at temperature increments of ∼1°C between 19 and 34°C. Mirroring earlier findings, wood frog metamorph sex ratios are indistinguishable from 50:50 at the lowest temperature and entirely male at the highest temperatures. In between, sex ratios become increasingly male‐dominated as temperatures increase, implying a steadily increasing tendency toward female‐to‐male sex reversal in warmer environments. There was no evidence of a threshold temperature effect on reversal patterns. We also show that, compared to males, females metamorphose larger and later in cooler conditions but earlier and smaller under warmer conditions. While the ecological relevance in this species is unknown, these results conform to the Charnov–Bull model of sex determination (in which female‐to‐male sex reversal can increase fitness to genetic females at higher temperatures), suggesting the system would reward further study.
Preclinical evaluation of potential infection‐imaging probe [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 in sterile and infectious inflammation
Authors: Nielsen Karin M. , Jørgensen Nis P. , Kyneb Majbritt H. , Borghammer Per , Meyer Rikke L. , Thomsen Trine R. , Bender Dirk , Jensen Svend B. , Nielsen Ole L. , Alstrup Aage K.O. 
Published: May 2018

The development of bacteria‐specific infection radiotracers is of considerable interest to improve diagnostic accuracy and enabling therapy monitoring. The aim of this study was to determine if the previously reported radiolabelled 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐N,N′,N″,N‴‐tetraacetic acid (DOTA) conjugated peptide [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 could detect a staphylococcal infection in vivo and distinguish it from aseptic inflammation. An optimized [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 synthesis omitting the use of acetone was developed, yielding 93 ± 0.9% radiochemical purity. The in vivo infection binding specificity of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 was evaluated by micro positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of 15 mice with either subcutaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection or turpentine‐induced inflammation and compared with 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18F]fluoro‐D‐glucose ([18F]FDG). The scans showed that [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 accumulated in all the infected mice at injected doses ≥3.6 MBq. However, the tracer was not found to be selective towards infection, since the [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 also accumulated in mice with inflammation. In a concurrent in vitro binding evaluation performed with a 5‐carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) fluorescence analogue of the peptide, TAMRA‐K‐A9, the microscopy results suggested that TAMRA‐K‐A9 bound to an intracellular epitope and therefore preferentially targeted dead bacteria. Thus, the [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐K‐A9 uptake observed in vivo is presumably a combination of local hyperemia, vascular leakiness and/or binding to an epitope present in dead bacteria.
National‐level Indicators of Androgens are Related to the Global Distribution of Scientific Productivity and Science Nobel Prizes
Authors: van der Linden Dimitri , Dutton Edward , Madison Guy 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThere are national differences in scientific activity that are not well accounted for by economic and intellectual factors alone. We examine the novel hypothesis that androgen levels may also play a role. Androgens are often referred to as male hormones, but are present in both men and women, and have been linked to performance in other domains, such as sports and entrepreneurship. National‐level empirical data on scientific productivity, in terms of numbers of publications, and science Nobel laureates were compared to seven national‐level androgen indicators; namely androgenic body hair, the length of theCAGrepeat on the androgen receptor gene, prostate cancer incidence, male and female 2D:4D finger ratio, and sex frequency and number of partners. The majority of these indicators were associated in the expected direction with per capita number of scientific publications and Nobel prizes. Moreover, several indicators significantly interacted with national‐level estimates of intelligence, such that androgen levels are related to measures of the scientific achievement only when the level of intelligence is relatively high. These findings may partly explain the global distribution of scientific productivity, achievements, and Nobel prizes.
Memory T cell subsets in healthy gingiva and periodontitis tissues
Authors: Mahanonda Rangsini , Champaiboon Chantrakorn , Subbalekha Keskanya , Sa‐Ard‐Iam Noppadol , Yongyuth Arsarn , Isaraphithakkul Benjarat , Rerkyen Pimprapa , Charatkulangkun Orawan , Pichyangkul Sathit 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundIn the gingival sulcus, effective and balanced innate and adaptive immune responses against subgingival plaque microbiome are crucial to maintain immune homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the memory T cell subsets in healthy gingiva and periodontitis tissues.MethodsAnatomical localization of T cells (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) in healthy gingiva and periodontitis tissues were examined immunohistochemically. Subsets of memory T cells from isolated gingival cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies (anti‐CD69, anti‐CD103, anti‐CD45RA, anti‐CCR7, anti‐CD28, and anti‐CD95). Intracellular cytokine staining of interleukin (IL)‐17 and interferon (IFN)‐γ expression on memory T cells in periodontitis tissues was also investigated.ResultsWe found that healthy gingiva contains two memory T cell populations; a CD69− recirculating population and a CD69+ gingiva‐resident memory T cell population. CD4+ T cells with transitional memory (TTM) phenotype (CD45RA−CCR7−CD28+CD95+) constitute the major subset within these two populations. A significant increase in the proportion of CD4+CD69+CD103− memory T cells was observed in periodontitis tissues compared with healthy gingiva. CD4+ memory T cells from periodontitis tissues produced either IL‐17 or IFN‐γ whereas CD8+ memory T cells produced only IFN‐γ.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that recirculating and gingiva‐resident memory T cells could represent an important part of the immune surveillance network in the connective tissue, maintaining periodontal homeostasis. Imbalance of subgingival bacterial communities could damage gingival barrier allowing bacterial antigens to get access to the deeper connective tissue where they activate memory T cells leading to deleterious inflammation; a hallmark of periodontitis.
Rheology of Quaternary Ammonium Gemini Surfactant Solutions: Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Counterions
Authors: Yang Xiaojiang , Mao Jincheng , Zhang Zhaoyang , Zhang Heng , Yang Bo , Zhao Jinzhou 
Published: May 2018

AbstractTo prepare high‐performance clean fracturing fluids, cationic surfactants with a Gemini structure were synthesized as thickening agents. Distinct elastic characteristics at a sweep frequency of 0.1–10 Hz and shear resistance at high temperature were shown. Viscosity remained at about 150 mPa s after shearing for 60 min at 140 °C and 170 s−1. Stability investigation on cationic Gemini surfactant solution revealed that both viscosity and viscoelasticity were greatly affected by the surfactant concentration, temperature, and the amount of inorganic salt (potassium chloride). Complete formulation of a surfactant micelle structure in an aqueous solution requires a certain amount of time.
Comparison of sentinel lymph node biopsy guided by blue dye with or without indocyanine green in early breast cancer
Authors: Shen Songjie , Xu Qianqian , Zhou Yidong , Mao Feng , Guan Jinghong , Sun Qiang 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundThere were limited data available for a head‐to‐head comparison of the identification rate and survival between the combined method of indocyanine green fluorescence and blue dye versus the traditional blue dye alone method for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy.MethodsFrom January 2013 to December 2015, 523 eligible breast cancer patients were included in this nonrandomized prospective analysis. The identification rates, the number of SLNs identified, and the disease‐free survival (DFS) between the two mapping methods were compared.ResultsThe identification rate of SLNs was significantly higher with the combined method than that with the blue dye alone method (99.2% vs 93.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). The average number of SLNs identified per patient in the combined method group was 3.7 ± 2.4, which was more than that in the blue dye alone group (3.2 ± 1.6; P = 0.004). With a median follow‐up of 29 months, 0.5% patients in the combined group, and 1.3% patients in the blue dye group had axillary recurrences. The DFS between the two groups showed no significant difference (P = 0.161).ConclusionThe combined method achieved a higher identification rate and lower rate of axillary recurrence compared to the blue dye alone method.
Integration of Biomaterials into Sensors Based on Organic Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Wu Xiaohan , Zhou Jiachen , Huang Jia 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSensors based on organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) present various advantages, including high sensitivity and mechanical flexibility, thus possessing potential applications such as wearable devices and biomedical electronics for health monitoring, etc. However, such applications are partially limited by the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sensitivity to target analytes of OTFT‐based sensors, which can be improved by the incorporation of diverse biomaterials. This article presents a brief review from the viewpoint of the type of the integrated biomaterials, including naturally occurring biomacromolecules such as proteins, enzymes, and deoxyribonucleic acid, as well as biocompatible polymers such as polylactide, poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide), poly(ethylene glycol), cellulose, polydimethylsiloxane, parylene, etc. It is believed that future work in this field should be devoted to the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability improvement as well as the high‐level integration and sophistication on the basis of the OTFT‐based sensors for physical, chemical, and biological sensing applications.
Development of a 3D ultrasound guidance system for permanent breast seed implantation
Authors: Michael Justin , Morton Daniel , Batchelar Deidre , Hilts Michelle , Crook Juanita , Fenster Aaron 
Published: May 2018

PurposePermanent breast seed implantation (PBSI) is a promising radiotherapy technique for early‐stage breast cancer, completed in a single visit by permanently implanting 103Pd seeds using needles inserted through a template and guided by two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound (US). However, operator dependence has been highlighted as a limitation of this procedure. Consequently, we propose and have developed an intraoperative guidance system using three‐dimensional (3D) US and an instrumented mechanical arm to provide intraoperative 3D imaging and needle template tracking.MethodsA mechatronic 3D US scanner reconstructs a 3D image from 150 2D images. A tracked mechanical arm mounted to the scanner locates four fiducial points on the template, registering the template to the 3D image. 3D reconstruction was validated for linear and volumetric measurement accuracy using phantoms of known geometry. In vivo breast US image quality was evaluated in a healthy volunteer. The encoded arm was calibrated and validated using a jig with divots at known locations relative to the scanner and the scanner registered to the 3D US image using intersecting strings in a fluid‐filled test jig. Template registration accuracy was assessed using a machined test jig. Tracking accuracy was assessed in a liquid medium by comparing tracked and imaged needle tip positions. Finally, the system was used to guide a mock procedure in a patient‐specific phantom and micro‐CT imaging used to evaluate its accuracy.ResultsGeometric validation showed median distances within ±1.1% of expected values and volumetric validation showed differences of ≤4.1%. Tracking arm point measurements showed an average error of 0.43 mm and 3D US volume registration showed target registration error ≤0.9 mm. Mean template registration accuracy in each axis of translation/rotation was ≤1.3 mm/1.0°. Mean needle‐targeting error was 2.5 mm and 1.6° for needle tips and trajectories, respectively. Mean needle tip and angular errors of the phantom procedure were 2.1 mm and 2.6°. Modeled seed displacement of the phantom procedure showed mean error of 2.6 mm and a maximum of 3.8 mm.ConclusionsA 3D US guidance system for PBSI has been developed. Benchtop performance and image quality in volunteer scans are satisfactory. A phantom PBSI procedure was successfully delivered using the system with maximum seed error within dosimetric benchmarks (<5 mm). Translation of the device into the clinic is forthcoming.
Optimal control strategy of SEIR endemic model with continuous age‐structure in the exposed and infectious classes
Authors: Khan Asaf , Zaman Gul 
Published: May 2018

SummaryIn this paper, we consider an endemic Susceptible‐Exposed‐Infectious‐Recovered model with continuous age‐structure for exposed and infectious classes. This work is appropriate for those infectious diseases that have exposed period such as tuberculosis and herpes virus infection. Key result is the existence of an optimal control problem. To control the spread of the disease, we use an objective functional with a suitable control and present an optimal control problem. Finally, we present some simulations that support our theoretical findings and show the effectiveness of the model.
Binding Site Transitions Across Strained Oxygenated and Hydroxylated Pt(111)
Authors: Shuttleworth Ian G. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe effects of strain σ on the binding position preference of oxygen atoms and hydroxyl groups adsorbed on Pt(111) have been investigated using density functional theory. A transition between the bridge and FCC binding occurs under compressive strain of the O/Pt(111) surface. A significant reconstruction occurs under compressive strain of the OH/Pt(111) surface, and the surface OH groups preferentially occupy on‐top (bridge) positions at highly compressive (less compressive/tensile) strains. Changes to magnetisation of the O‐ and OH‐populated surfaces are discussed and for O/Pt(111) oxygenation reduces the surface magnetism via a delocalised mechanism. The origins of the surface magnetisation for both O‐ and OH‐bearing systems are discussed in terms of the state‐resolved electronic populations and of the surface charge density.
Thermo‐ and glucose‐sensitive microgels with improved salt tolerance for controlled insulin release in a physiological environment
Authors: Gu Shiling , Yang Liu , Li Shirui , Yang Junjiao , Zhang Bo , Yang Jing 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe response to temperature and glucose, high salt tolerance and self‐regulated drug delivery are simultaneously probable by applying a multifunctional microgel in a rational design by a colloid chemistry method. Such smart microgels were fabricated with thermoresponsive N‐isopropylacrylamide, glucose‐sensitive (2‐phenylboronic esters‐1,3‐dioxane‐5‐ethyl)methyl acrylate (PBDEMA) and water‐soluble crosslinker poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate through a precipitation emulsion method. These colloidal nanoparticles exhibited PBDEMA‐composition‐dependent responsive behavior with changing temperature and ionic strength. Amongst them, the microgel with 20.7 mol% PBDEMA with a narrow size distribution is suitable for diabetes treatment because it can adapt to the surrounding medium of different glucose concentrations over a clinically relevant range (0–2.0 mg mL−1), control the release of preloaded insulin and is highly stable under normal physiological conditions. Preliminary experiments suggest these highly stable microgels have the potential to be used for self‐regulated therapy and monitoring the response to treatment. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Folding with a protein's native shortcut network
Authors: Khor Susan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA complex network approach to protein folding is proposed, wherein a protein's contact map is reconceptualized as a network of shortcut edges, and folding is steered by a structural characteristic of this network. Shortcut networks are generated by a known message passing algorithm operating on protein residue networks. It is found that the shortcut networks of native structures (SCN0s) are relevant graph objects with which to study protein folding at a formal level. The logarithm form of their contact order (SCN0_lnCO) correlates significantly with folding rate of two‐state and nontwo‐state proteins. The clustering coefficient of SCN0s (CSCN0) correlates significantly with folding rate, transition‐state placement and stability of two‐state folders. Reasonable folding pathways for several model proteins are produced when CSCN0 is used to combine protein segments incrementally to form the native structure. The folding bias captured by CSCN0 is detectable in non‐native structures, as evidenced by Molecular Dynamics simulation generated configurations for the fast folding Villin‐headpiece peptide. These results support the use of shortcut networks to investigate the role protein geometry plays in the folding of both small and large globular proteins, and have implications for the design of multibody interaction schemes in folding models. One facet of this geometry is the set of native shortcut triangles, whose attributes are found to be well‐suited to identify dehydrated intraprotein areas in tight turns, or at the interface of different secondary structure elements.