bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards ultrafast dynamics with split-pulse X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy at free electron laser sources
Authors: Roseker W. , Hruszkewycz S. O. , Lehmkühler F. , Walther M. , Schulte-Schrepping H. , Lee S. , Osaka T. , Strüder L. , Hartmann R. , Sikorski M. , Song S. , Robert A. , Fuoss P. H. , Sutton M. , Stephenson G. B. , Grübel G. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOne of the important challenges in condensed matter science is to understand ultrafast, atomic-scale fluctuations that dictate dynamic processes in equilibrium and non-equilibrium materials. Here, we report an important step towards reaching that goal by using a state-of-the-art perfect crystal based split-and-delay system, capable of splitting individual X-ray pulses and introducing femtosecond to nanosecond time delays. We show the results of an ultrafast hard X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy experiment at LCLS where split X-ray pulses were used to measure the dynamics of gold nanoparticles suspended in hexane. We show how reliable speckle contrast values can be extracted even from very low intensity free electron laser (FEL) speckle patterns by applying maximum likelihood fitting, thus demonstrating the potential of a split-and-delay approach for dynamics measurements at FEL sources. This will enable the characterization of equilibrium and, importantly also reversible non-equilibrium processes in atomically disordered materials.
Measurement of the atomic orbital composition of the near-fermi-level electronic states in the lanthanum monopnictides LaBi, LaSb, and LaAs
Authors: Nummy Thomas J. , Waugh Justin A. , Parham Stephen P. , Liu Qihang , Yang Hung-Yu , Li Haoxiang , Zhou Xiaoqing , Plumb Nicholas C. , Tafti Fazel F. , Dessau Daniel S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractRecent debates in the literature over the relationship between topology and Extreme Magnetoresistance (XMR) have drawn attention to the Lanthanum Monopnictide family of binary compounds. Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is used to measure the electronic structure of the XMR topological semimetal candidates LaBi, LaSb, and LaAs. The orbital content of the near-E
F
states in LaBi and LaSb are extracted using varying photon polarizations and both dominant d and p bands are observed near X. The measured bulk bands are shifted in energy when compared to the results of Density Functional Calculations. This disagreement is minor in LaBi, but large in LaSb and LaAs. The measured bulk band structure of LaBi shows a clear band inversion and puts LaBi in the υ = 1 class of Topological Insulators (or semimetals), as predicted by calculations and consistent with the measured Dirac-like surface states. LaSb is on the verge of a band inversion with a less-clear case for any distinctly topological surface states and in disagreement with calculations. Lastly, these same bands in LaAs are clearly non-inverted implying its topological triviality and demonstrating a topological phase transition in the Lanthanum monopnictides. Using a wide range of photon energies the true bulk states are cleanly disentangled from the various types of surface states which are present. These surface states exist due to surface projections of bulk states in LaSb and for topological reasons in LaBi.
Public perception of genetically-modified (GM) food: A Nationwide Chinese Consumer Study
Authors: Cui Kai , Shoemaker Sharon P. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAfter more than 25 years of research and development on the genetic modification of a wide range of crops for food and fodder, China has reached a decision point as to whether it should accept, reject, or go slow with the use of genetically modified (GM) technology to produce the food and feed needed to sustain its population growth and economic renaissance. Here, we report a consumer survey on GM food that includes input from all provinces in China. Chinese consumers were surveyed for their awareness, knowledge, and opinion on GM food. The survey resulted in 11.9, 41.4, and 46.7% of respondents having a positive, neutral, or negative view on GM food, respectively. A minority of respondents (11.7%) claimed they understood the basic principles of GM technology, while most were either “neutral” or “unfamiliar with GM technology”. Most respondents (69.3%) obtained their information on GM food through the Internet and 64.3% of respondents thought that media coverage was predominately negative on GM food. The reasons given by consumers in favor of, or against, the use of GM food, were complex, as seen by the response of 13.8% of respondents who felt GM technology was a form of bioterrorism targeted at China. China’s Ministry of Agriculture and the science community generally expressed a positive attitude toward GM food, but the percentage of respondents that trusted the government and scientists was only 11.7 and 23.2%, respectively. Post-survey comments of respondents made suggestions on how the industrialization of GM technology might impact the future of China’s food supply and value chains. Finally, the impact of emerging technologies like genome editing and genome-edited organisms (GEOs) on the GM food debate is discussed.
Couple serostatus patterns in sub-Saharan Africa illuminate the relative roles of transmission rates and sexual network characteristics in HIV epidemiology
Authors: Bellan Steven E. , Champredon David , Dushoff Jonathan , Meyers Lauren Ancel 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHIV prevalence has surpassed 30% in some African countries while peaking at less than 1% in others. The extent to which this variation is driven by biological factors influencing the HIV transmission rate or by variation in sexual network characteristics remains widely debated. Here, we leverage couple serostatus patterns to address this question. HIV prevalence is strongly correlated with couple serostatus patterns across the continent; in particular, high prevalence countries tend to have a lower ratio of serodiscordancy to concordant positivity. To investigate the drivers of this continental pattern, we fit an HIV transmission model to Demographic and Health Survey data from 45,041 cohabiting couples in 25 countries. In doing so, we estimated country-specific HIV transmission rates and sexual network characteristics reflective of pre-couple and extra-couple sexual contact patterns. We found that variation in the transmission rate could parsimoniously explain between-country variation in both couple serostatus patterns and prevalence. In contrast, between-country variation in pre-couple or extra-couple sexual contact rates could not explain the observed patterns. Sensitivity analyses suggest that future work should examine the robustness of this result to between-country variation in how heterogeneous infection risk is within a country, or to assortativity, i.e. the extent to which individuals at higher risk are likely to partner with each other.
A Plasma Biomarker Panel of Four MicroRNAs for the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Matin Farhana , Jeet Varinder , Moya Leire , Selth Luke A. , Chambers Suzanne ,   Australian Prostate Cancer BioResource, Yeadon T. , Saunders P. , Eckert A. , Heathcote P. , Wood G. , Malone G. , Samaratunga H. , Collins A. , Turner M. , Kerr K. , Clements Judith A. , Batra Jyotsna 
Published: April 2018

AbstractProstate cancer is diagnosed in over 1 million men every year globally, yet current diagnostic modalities are inadequate for identification of significant cancer and more reliable early diagnostic biomarkers are necessary for improved clinical management of prostate cancer patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate important cellular processes/pathways contributing to cancer and are stably present in body fluids. In this study we profiled 372 cancer-associated miRNAs in plasma collected before (~60% patients) and after/during commencement of treatment (~40% patients), from age-matched prostate cancer patients and healthy controls, and observed elevated levels of 4 miRNAs - miR-4289, miR-326, miR-152-3p and miR-98-5p, which were validated in an independent cohort. The miRNA panel was able to differentiate between prostate cancer patients and controls (AUC = 0.88). Analysis of published miRNA transcriptomic data from clinical samples demonstrated low expression of miR-152-3p in tumour compared to adjacent non-malignant tissues. Overexpression of miR-152-3p increased proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells, suggesting a role for this miRNA in prostate cancer pathogenesis, a concept that was supported by pathway analysis of predicted miR-152-3p target genes. In summary, a four miRNA panel, including miR-152-3p which likely targets genes with key roles in prostate cancer pathogenesis, has the potential to improve early prostate cancer diagnosis.
Mitochondria-targeted Probes for Imaging Protein Sulfenylation
Authors: Holmila Reetta J. , Vance Stephen A. , Chen Xiaofei , Wu Hanzhi , Shukla Kirtikar , Bharadwaj Manish S. , Mims Jade , Wary Zack , Marrs Glen , Singh Ravi , Molina Anthony J. , Poole Leslie B. , King S. Bruce , Furdui Cristina M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential regulators of cellular signaling, metabolism and epigenetics underlying the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. Despite the critical function of redox regulation in mitochondria, currently there are limited methods available to monitor protein oxidation in this key subcellular organelle. Here, we describe compounds for imaging sulfenylated proteins in mitochondria: DCP-NEt2-Coumarin (DCP-NEt2C) and rhodamine-based DCP-Rho1. Side-by-side comparison studies are presented on the reactivity of DCP-NEt2C and DCP-Rho1 with a model protein sulfenic acid (AhpC-SOH) and mitochondrial localization to identify optimized experimental conditions for labeling and visualization of protein sulfenylation that would be independent of mitochondria membrane potential and would not impact mitochondrial function. These probes are applied to image mitochondrial protein sulfenylation under conditions of serum starvation and in a cell culture model of lung cancer exposed to ionizing radiation and silver nanoparticles, agents serving dual functions as environmental stressors and cancer therapeutics.
In situ full-field measurement of surface oxidation on Ni-based alloy using high temperature scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Li Yan , Fang Xufei , Qu Zhe , Lu Siyuan , Li Haicheng , Zhu Ting , Yu Qingmin , Feng Xue 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe use in situ scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to investigate the high temperature oxidation of Ni-based single crystal alloys at the micro-/nanoscale. SiO2 micro-pillar arrays were pre-fabricated on the alloy surface as markers before the oxidation experiment. The SPM measurement of the oxidized surface in the vicinity of SiO2 micro-pillars was conducted real time at temperatures from 300 °C to 800 °C. The full-field evolution of oxide film thickness is quantitatively characterized by using the height of SiO2 micro-pillars as reference. The results reveal the non-uniform oxide growth featuring the nucleation and coalescence of oxide islands on the alloy surface. The outward diffusion of Ni and Co is responsible for the formation and coalescence of first-stage single-grain oxide islands. The second-stage of oxidation involves the formation and coalescence of poly-grain oxide islands.
Lifestyle index for mortality prediction using multiple ageing cohorts in the USA, UK and Europe
Authors: Liao Jing , Muniz-Terrera Graciela , Scholes Shaun , Hao Yuantao , Chen Yu-ming 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCurrent mortality prediction indexes are mainly based on functional morbidity and comorbidity, with limited information for risk prevention. This study aimed to develop and validate a modifiable lifestyle-based mortality predication index for older adults. Data from 51,688 participants (56% women) aged ≥50 years in 2002 Health and Retirement Study, 2002 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and 2004 Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used to estimate coefficients of the index with cohort-stratified Cox regression. Models were validated across studies and compared to the Lee index (having comorbid and morbidity predictors). Over an average of 11-year follow-up, 10,240 participants died. The lifestyle index includes smoking, drinking, exercising, sleep quality, BMI, sex and age; showing adequate model performance in internal validation (C-statistic 0.79; D-statistic 1.94; calibration slope 1.13) and in all combinations of internal-external cross-validation. It outperformed Lee index (e.g. differences in C-statistic = 0.01, D-statistic = 0.17, P < 0.001) consistently across health status. The lifestyle index stratified participants into varying mortality risk groups, with those in the top quintile having 13.5% excess absolute mortality risk over 10 years than those in the bottom 50th centile. Our lifestyle index with easy-assessable behavioural factors and improved generalizability may maximize its usability for personalized risk management.
Local administration of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles effectively inhibits inflammation and bone resorption associated with experimental periodontal disease
Authors: Zambrano Laura M. G. , Brandao Dayane A. , Rocha Fernanda R. G. , Marsiglio Raquel P. , Longo Ieda B. , Primo Fernando L. , Tedesco Antonio C. , Guimaraes-Stabili Morgana R. , Rossa Junior Carlos 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThere is evidence indicating that curcumin has multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory properties.In vitroandin vivostudies demonstrate that curcumin may attenuate inflammation and the connective tissue destruction associated with periodontal disease. Most of these studies use systemic administration, and considering the site-specific nature of periodontal disease and also the poor pharmacodynamic properties of curcumin, we conducted this proof of principle study to assess the biological effect of the local administration of curcumin in a nanoparticle vehicle on experimental periodontal disease. We used 16 rats divided into two groups of 8 animals according to the induction of experimental periodontal disease by bilateral injections of LPS or of the vehicle control directly into the gingival tissues 3×/week for 4 weeks. The same volume of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles or of nanoparticle vehicle was injected into the same sites 2×/week. µCT analysis showed that local administration of curcumin resulted in a complete inhibition of inflammatory bone resorption and in a significant decrease of both osteoclast counts and of the inflammatory infiltrate; as well as a marked attenuation of p38 MAPK and NF-kB activation. We conclude that local administration of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles effectively inhibited inflammation and bone resorption associated with experimental periodontal disease.
Calibrating facial morphs for use as stimuli in biological studies of social perception
Authors: Windhager Sonja , Bookstein Fred L. , Mueller Hanna , Zunner Elke , Kirchengast Sylvia , Schaefer Katrin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractStudies of human social perception become more persuasive when the behavior of raters can be separated from the variability of the stimuli they are rating. We prototype such a rigorous analysis for a set of five social ratings of faces varying by body fat percentage (BFP). 274 raters of both sexes in three age groups (adolescent, young adult, senior) rated five morphs of the same averaged facial image warped to the positions of 72 landmarks and semilandmarks predicted by linear regression on BFP at five different levels (the average, ±2 SD, ±5 SD). Each subject rated all five morphs for maturity, dominance, masculinity, attractiveness, and health. The patterns of dependence of ratings on the BFP calibration differ for the different ratings, but not substantially across the six groups of raters. This has implications for theories of social perception, specifically, the relevance of individual rater scale anchoring. The method is also highly relevant for other studies on how biological facial variation affects ratings.
The transcription factor Spores Absent A is a PKA dependent inducer of Dictyostelium sporulation
Authors: Yamada Yoko , Cassidy Andrew , Schaap Pauline 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSporulation in Dictyostelium fruiting bodies evolved from amoebozoan encystation with both being induced by cAMP acting on PKA, but with downstream components still being unknown. Using tagged mutagenesis to find missing pathway components, we identified a sporeless mutant defective in a nuclear protein, SpaA. Expression of prespore genes was strongly reduced in spaA- cells, while expression of many spore stage genes was absent. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of a SpaA-YFP gene fusion showed that (pre)spore gene promoters bind directly to SpaA, identifying SpaA as a transcriptional regulator. SpaA dependent spore gene expression required PKA in vivo and was stimulated in vitro by the membrane-permeant PKA agonist 8Br-cAMP. The PKA agonist also promoted SpaA binding to (pre)spore promoters, placing SpaA downstream of PKA. Sequencing of SpaA-YFP ChIPed DNA fragments revealed that SpaA binds at least 117 (pre)spore promoters, including those of other transcription factors that activate some spore genes. These factors are not in turn required for spaA expression, identifying SpaA as the major trancriptional inducer of sporulation.
Whole exome sequencing reveals rare variants linked to congenital pouch colon
Authors: Mathur Praveen , Medicherla Krishna Mohan , Chaudhary Spandan , Patel Mruduka , Bagali Prashanth , Suravajhala Prashanth 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe demonstrate the application of whole exome sequencing to discover the rare variants for congenital pouch colon, acronymed CPC. For 18 affected individuals in a total of 64 samples, we sequenced coding regions to a mean coverage of 100×. A sufficient depth of ca. 94% of targeted exomes was achieved. Filtering against the public SNP/variant repositories, we identified a host of candidate genes, EPB41L4A and CTC1 associated with colon, neural/brain muscles and Dyskeratosis Congenita maladies. Furthermore, the stop gain mutations in the form of JAG1,OR5AR1,SLC22A24,PEX16,TSPAN32,TAF1B,MAP2K3 and SLC25A19 appears to be localized to Chromosomes 2, 11, 17 and 20 in addition to the three stop lost mutations across three genes, viz. OAS2, GBA3 and PKD1L2 affecting the colon tissue. While our results have paved way for transcendence of monogenic traits in identifying the genes underlying rare genetic disorders, it will provide helpful clues for further investigating genetic factors associated with anorectal anomalies, particularly CPC.
An Innovative Approach for The Integration of Proteomics and Metabolomics Data In Severe Septic Shock Patients Stratified for Mortality
Authors: Cambiaghi Alice , Díaz Ramón , Martinez Julia Bauzá , Odena Antonia , Brunelli Laura , Caironi Pietro , Masson Serge , Baselli Giuseppe , Ristagno Giuseppe , Gattinoni Luciano , de Oliveira Eliandre , Pastorelli Roberta , Ferrario Manuela 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this work, we examined plasma metabolome, proteome and clinical features in patients with severe septic shock enrolled in the multicenter ALBIOS study. The objective was to identify changes in the levels of metabolites involved in septic shock progression and to integrate this information with the variation occurring in proteins and clinical data. Mass spectrometry-based targeted metabolomics and untargeted proteomics allowed us to quantify absolute metabolites concentration and relative proteins abundance. We computed the ratio D7/D1 to take into account their variation from day 1 (D1) to day 7 (D7) after shock diagnosis. Patients were divided into two groups according to 28-day mortality. Three different elastic net logistic regression models were built: one on metabolites only, one on metabolites and proteins and one to integrate metabolomics and proteomics data with clinical parameters. Linear discriminant analysis and Partial least squares Discriminant Analysis were also implemented. All the obtained models correctly classified the observations in the testing set. By looking at the variable importance (VIP) and the selected features, the integration of metabolomics with proteomics data showed the importance of circulating lipids and coagulation cascade in septic shock progression, thus capturing a further layer of biological information complementary to metabolomics information.
IL-31 is crucial for induction of pruritus, but not inflammation, in contact hypersensitivity
Authors: Takamori Ayako , Nambu Aya , Sato Keiko , Yamaguchi Sachiko , Matsuda Kenshiro , Numata Takafumi , Sugawara Takeru , Yoshizaki Takamichi , Arae Ken , Morita Hideaki , Matsumoto Kenji , Sudo Katsuko , Okumura Ko , Kitaura Jiro , Matsuda Hiroshi , Nakae Susumu 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIL-31, which is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines, is produced mainly by activated CD4+ T cells, in particular activated Th2 cells, suggesting a contribution to development of type-2 immune responses. IL-31 was reported to be increased in specimens from patients with atopic dermatitis, and IL-31-transgenic mice develop atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation, which is involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. However, the role of IL-31 in development of contact dermatitis/contact hypersensitivity (CHS), which is mediated by hapten-specific T cells, including Th2 cells, is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated this using IL-31-deficient (Il31−/−) mice, which we newly generated. We demonstrated that the mice showed normal migration and maturation of skin dendritic cells and induction of hapten-specific T cells in the sensitization phase of FITC-induced CHS, and normal induction of local inflammation in the elicitation phase of FITC- and DNFB-induced CHS. On the other hand, those mice showed reduced scratching frequency and duration during FITC- and/or DNFB-induced CHS. Our findings suggest that IL-31 is responsible for pruritus, but not induction of local skin inflammation, during CHS induced by FITC and DNFB.
Artisanal shark fishing in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea: biomass estimation from genetically identified shark and ray fins
Authors: Appleyard S. A. , White W. T. , Vieira S. , Sabub B. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOur study is the first detailed examination of species composition using DNA COI barcoding of elasmobranchs from an artisanal fishery of Papua New Guinea. The study is the first in the region to provide biomass estimates based on species confirmation following examination of dried fins. Over 20 species of elasmobranchs were identified from 623 fins from the artisanal fishery in Milne Bay Province of PNG, withCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosandCarcharhinus melanopterusthe most abundant species in the catches. Of concern, 21% of fins examined were from IUCN listed threatened species (Vulnerable or Endangered) with 8% of fins from the Endangered scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). Following species identifications and use of species-specific length and weight extrapolations, we estimated over 9 t of elasmobranchs contributed to the fin batch. Importantly, the vast majority of the elasmobranchs in this batch were from immature animals. Genetic identification has an important role to play in the ongoing sustainable management of elasmobranchs in artisanal fisheries in PNG and more widely. However in the absence of ongoing genetic testing, recording the species (if known) at the time of catch is more achievable and would provide more robust data for fisheries managers in PNG over the longer term.