bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ancient proteins from ceramic vessels at Çatalhöyük West reveal the hidden cuisine of early farmers
Authors: Hendy Jessica , Colonese Andre C. , Franz Ingmar , Fernandes Ricardo , Fischer Roman , Orton David , Lucquin Alexandre , Spindler Luke , Anvari Jana , Stroud Elizabeth , Biehl Peter F. , Speller Camilla , Boivin Nicole , Mackie Meaghan , Jersie-Christensen Rosa R. , Olsen Jesper V. , Collins Matthew J. , Craig Oliver E. , Rosenstock Eva 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe analysis of lipids (fats, oils and waxes) absorbed within archaeological pottery has revolutionized the study of past diets and culinary practices. However, this technique can lack taxonomic and tissue specificity and is often unable to disentangle signatures resulting from the mixing of different food products. Here, we extract ancient proteins from ceramic vessels from the West Mound of the key early farming site of Çatalhöyük in Anatolia, revealing that this community processed mixes of cereals, pulses, dairy and meat products, and that particular vessels may have been reserved for specialized foods (e.g., cow milk and milk whey). Moreover, we demonstrate that dietary proteins can persist on archaeological artefacts for at least 8000 years, and that this approach can reveal past culinary practices with more taxonomic and tissue-specific clarity than has been possible with previous biomolecular techniques.
Turning a native or corroded Mg alloy surface into an anti-corrosion coating in excited CO2
Authors: Wang Yuecun , Liu Boyu , Zhao Xin’ai , Zhang Xionghu , Miao Yucong , Yang Nan , Yang Bo , Zhang Liqiang , Kuang Wenjun , Li Ju , Ma Evan , Shan Zhiwei 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDespite their energy-efficient merits as promising light-weight structural materials, magnesium (Mg) based alloys suffer from inadequate corrosion resistance. One primary reason is that the native surface film on Mg formed in air mainly consists of Mg(OH)2 and MgO, which is porous and unprotective, especially in humid environments. Here, we demonstrate an environmentally benign method to grow a protective film on the surface of Mg/Mg alloy samples at room temperature, via a direct reaction of already-existing surface film with excited CO2. Moreover, for samples that have been corroded obviously on surface, the corrosion products can be converted directly to create a new protective surface. Mechanical tests show that compared with untreated samples, the protective layer can elevate the yield stress, suppress plastic instability and prolong compressive strains without peeling off from the metal surface. This environmentally friendly surface treatment method is promising to protect Mg alloys, including those already-corroded on the surface.
Coherently driven microcavity-polaritons and the question of superfluidity
Authors: Juggins R. T. , Keeling J. , Szymańska M. H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDue to their driven-dissipative nature, photonic quantum fluids present new challenges in understanding superfluidity. Some associated effects have been observed, and notably the report of nearly dissipationless flow for coherently driven microcavity-polaritons was taken as a smoking gun for superflow. Here, we show that the superfluid response—the difference between responses to longitudinal and transverse forces—is zero for coherently driven polaritons. This is a consequence of the gapped excitation spectrum caused by external phase locking. Furthermore, while a normal component exists at finite pump momentum, the remainder forms a rigid state that is unresponsive to either longitudinal or transverse perturbations. Interestingly, the total response almost vanishes when the real part of the excitation spectrum has a linear dispersion, which was the regime investigated experimentally. This suggests that the observed suppression of scattering should be interpreted as a sign of this new rigid state and not a superfluid.
Voice-selective prediction alterations in nonclinical voice hearers
Authors: Pinheiro Ana P. , Schwartze Michael , Kotz Sonja A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAuditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a cardinal symptom of psychosis but also occur in 6–13% of the general population. Voice perception is thought to engage an internal forward model that generates predictions, preparing the auditory cortex for upcoming sensory feedback. Impaired processing of sensory feedback in vocalization seems to underlie the experience of AVH in psychosis, but whether this is the case in nonclinical voice hearers remains unclear. The current study used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate whether and how hallucination predisposition (HP) modulates the internal forward model in response to self-initiated tones and self-voices. Participants varying in HP (based on the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale) listened to self-generated and externally generated tones or self-voices. HP did not affect responses to self vs. externally generated tones. However, HP altered the processing of the self-generated voice: increased HP was associated with increased pre-stimulus alpha power and increased N1 response to the self-generated voice. HP did not affect the P2 response to voices. These findings confirm that both prediction and comparison of predicted and perceived feedback to a self-generated voice are altered in individuals with AVH predisposition. Specific alterations in the processing of self-generated vocalizations may establish a core feature of the psychosis continuum.
Absence of Parallel Fibre to Purkinje Cell LTD During Eyeblink Conditioning
Authors: Johansson Fredrik , Jirenhed Dan-Anders , Rasmussen Anders , Zucca Riccardo , Hesslow Germund 
Published: September 2018

AbstractLong-term depression (LTD) of parallel fibre/Purkinje cell synapses has been the favoured explanation for cerebellar motor learning such as classical eyeblink conditioning. Previous evidence against this interpretation has been contested. Here we wanted to test whether a classical conditioning protocol causes LTD. We applied a conditioning protocol, using a train of electrical pulses to the parallel fibres as the conditional stimulus. In order to rule out indirect effects caused by antidromic granule cell activation or output from Purkinje cells that might produce changes in Purkinje cell responsiveness, we focused the analysis on the first pulse in the conditional stimulus, that is, before any indirect effects would have time to occur. Purkinje cells learned to respond with a firing pause to the conditional stimulus. Yet, there was no depression of parallel fibre excitation after training.
CLIC1 and CLIC4 complement CA125 as a diagnostic biomarker panel for all subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Singha Bipradeb , Harper Sandra L. , Goldman Aaron R. , Bitler Benjamin G. , Aird Katherine M. , Borowsky Mark E. , Cadungog Mark G. , Liu Qin , Zhang Rugang , Jean Stephanie , Drapkin Ronny , Speicher David W. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractNew plasma and tissue biomarkers of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) could improve early diagnosis and post-diagnosis clinical management. Here we investigated tissue staining and tissue secretion of CLIC1 and CLIC4 across EOC subtypes. CLIC1 and CLIC4 are two promising biomarkers we previously showed were elevated in EOC patient sera. Individually, CLIC1 or CLIC4 stained larger percentages of malignant tumors across all EOC subtypes compared with CA125, particularly early stage and mucinous tumors. CLIC4 also stained benign tumors but staining was limited to nuclei; whereas malignant tumors showed diffuse cellular staining of stromal and tumor cells. Both proteins were shed by all EOC subtypes tumors in short term organ culture at more consistent levels than CA125, supporting their potential as pan-subtype serum and tissue biomarkers. Elevated CLIC4 expression, but not CLIC1 expression, was a negative indicator of patient survival, and CLIC4 knockdown in cultured cells decreased cell proliferation and migration indicating a potential role in tumor progression. These results suggest CLIC1 and CLIC4 are promising serum and tissue biomarkers as well as potential therapeutic targets for all EOC subtypes. This justifies development of high throughput serum/plasma biomarker assays to evaluate utility of a biomarker panel consisting of CLIC1, CLIC4 and CA125.
Complex rice systems to improve rice yield and yield stability in the face of variable weather conditions
Authors: Khumairoh Uma , Lantinga Egbert A. , Schulte Rogier P. O. , Suprayogo Didik , Groot Jeroen C. J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractExtreme weather events and pest outbreaks decrease rice yields and increase their variability, presenting challenges for the agricultural agenda to increase rice productivity and yield stability in Asia. The integration of azolla, fish and ducks has been shown to create robust systems that maintain high yields under heavy rainfall, but no clear evidence exists that rice yields in these systems are stable across locations and throughout time under divergent weather conditions. We show that the introduction of additional elements into the rice cropping system enhanced the adaptive capacity to extreme weather events across four locations and three cropping cycles. The complex system showed both static and dynamic stability, and had the highest reliability index, thereby outperforming the conventional and organic monoculture systems. The complex rice system design provides a promising example for resilience towards the impacts of climate change on rice production and for safeguarding food security in Asia and beyond.
Novel millimeter-wave-based method for in situ cell isolation and other applications
Authors: Boyce Barney , Samsonova Natalia 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAs an alternative to laser-based methods, we developed a novel in situ cell isolation method and instrument based on local water absorption of millimeter wave (MMW) radiation that occurs in cellular material and nearby culture medium while the cultureware materials (plastic and glass) are transparent to MMW frequencies. Unwanted cells within cell population are targeted with MMWs in order to kill them by overheating. The instrument rapidly (within 2–3 seconds) heats a cell culture area of about 500 µm in diameter to 50 °C using a low-power W-band (94 GHz) MMW source. Heated cells in the area detach from the substrate and can be removed by a media change leaving a bare spot. Hence we named the instrument “CellEraser”. Quick, local and non-contact heating with sharp boundaries of the heated area allows elimination of the unwanted cells without affecting the neighboring cells. The instrument is implemented as a compact microscope attachment and the selective hyperthermic treatment can be done manually or in an automated mode. Mammalian cells heated even momentarily above 50 °C will not survive. This “temperature of no return” does not compromise cellular membranes nor does it denature proteins. Using the CellEraser instrument we found that the key event that determines the fate of a cell at elevated temperatures is whether or not the selectivity of its nucleus is compromised. If a cell nucleus becomes “leaky” allowing normally excluded (cytoplasmic) proteins in and normally nuclear-localized proteins out, that cell is destined to die. Quick heating by MMWs to higher temperatures (70 °C) denatures cellular proteins but the cells are not able to detach from the substrate – instead they undergo a phenomenon we called “thermofixation”: such cells look similar to cells fixed with common chemical fixatives. They remain flat and are not washable from the substrate. Interestingly, their membranes become permeable to DNA dyes and even to antibodies. Thermofixation allows the use of western blot antibodies for immunofluorescence imaging.
MR imaging of subaortic and retroesophageal anomalous courses of the left brachiocephalic vein in the fetus
Authors: Dong Su-Zhen , Zhu Ming 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to report fetal cases of subaortic and retroesophageal anomalous courses of the left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) evaluated by fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A retrospective review of 7282 fetal cardiac MRI from June 2006 to March 2017, nine cases of anomalous courses of the LBCV were correctly diagnosed by fetal cardiac MRI, one case of abnormal subaortic left brachiocephalic vein (ASLBV) missed by fetal MRI was identified postnatally during further imaging of the TOF. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally by cardiac CT/MRI. An ASLBV was found in 8 cases, a retroesophageal LBCV was found in 2 additional cases with right aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery. 3 of 8 ASLBV cases were with a right aortic arch, 4 ASLBV cases had additional cardiovascular anomalies with one case isolated. 7 of 8 ASLBV and 2 retroesophageal LBCV were correctly diagnosed by fetal cardiac MRI; however fetal cardiac MRI missed 2 cases of associated pulmonary atresia (PA). Prenatal echocardiography (echo) correctly diagnosed five ASLBV and one retroesophageal LBCV as well as associated intracardiac anomalies. Fetal cardiac MRI can be a useful adjunct in the identification of subaortic and retroesophageal anomalous courses of the LBCV prenatally.
Benefits of soil biochar amendments to tomato growth under saline water irrigation
Authors: She Dongli , Sun Xiaoqin , Gamareldawla Agbna H. D. , Nazar Elshaikh A. , Hu Wei , Edith Khaembah , Yu Shuang’en 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBiochar amendments have been used in agriculture to improve soil fertility and enhance crop productivity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that biochar amendment could also enhance the productivity of salt-affected soils. The trial was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons to investigate the effect of biochar amendment (four application rates as: B1 = 0%, B2 = 2%, B3 = 4%, and B4 = 8% by mass of soil) on yield and quality of tomatoes grown in a silt loam soil using non-saline water (I0 = 0.7 dS m−1) and saline water (I1 = 1 dS m−1; I2 = 3 dS m−1) irrigation. Furthermore, the study investigated the mechanism by which biochar addresses the salt stress on plant. The results showed that soil productivity as indicated by the vegetative growth and tomato yield components was adversely and significantly affected by saline water irrigation (P < 0.05). Tomato yield decreased from 689 ± 35.6 to 533 ± 79.0 g per plant as salinity of irrigation water increased from I0 to I2. Then, biochar amendment increased vegetative growth, yield, and quality parameters under saline irrigation water regimes, and ameliorated the salt stresses on crop growth. The highest (8.73 ± 0.15 and 4.10 ± 0.82 g kg−1) and the lowest (8.33 ± 0.08 and 2.42 ± 0.76 g kg−1) values of soil pH and soil organic matter were measured at B4I0 and B1I2 treatments, respectively. Also, the highest rate of biochar amendment combining with non-saline water irrigation (B4I0) produced tomato with the highest plant photosynthetic (17.08 ± 0.19 μmol m−2 s−1) and transpiration rate (8.16 ± 0.18 mmol H2O m−2 s−1). Mechanically, biochar amendment reduced transient sodium ions by adsorption and released mineral nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium into the soil solution. Therefore, biochar amendments have the potential in ameliorating salt stress and enhancing tomato production.
Mucociliary Clearance in Mice Measured by Tracking Trans-tracheal Fluorescence of Nasally Aerosolized Beads
Authors: Rogers Troy D. , Ostrowski Lawrence E. , Livraghi-Butrico Alessandra , Button Brian , Grubb Barbara R. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMucociliary clearance (MCC) is the first line of defense in clearing airways. In genetically engineered mice, each component of this system (ciliary beat, mucus, airway surface hydration) can be studied separately to determine its contribution to MCC. Because MCC is difficult to measure in mice, MCC measurements are often omitted from these studies. We report a simple method to measure MCC in mice involving nasal inhalation of aerosolized fluorescent beads and trans-tracheal bead tracking. This method has a number of advantages over existing methods: (1) a small volume of liquid is deposited thus minimally disturbing the airway surface; (2) bead behavior on airways can be visualized; (3) useful for adult or neonatal mice; (4) the equipment is relatively inexpensive and easily obtainable. The type of anesthetic had no significant effect on the rate of MCC, but overloading the airways with beads significantly decreased MCC. In addition, the rate of bead transport was not different in alive (3.11 mm/min) vs recently euthanized mice (3.10 mm/min). A 5-min aerosolization of beads in a solution containing UTP significantly increased the rate of MCC, demonstrating that our method would be of value in testing the role of various pharmacological agents on MCC.
Human serum albumin alters specific genes that can play a role in survival and persistence in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Quinn Brettni , Rodman Nyah , Jara Eugenio , Fernandez Jennifer S. , Martinez Jasmine , Traglia German M. , Montaña Sabrina , Cantera Virginia , Place Kori , Bonomo Robert A. , Iriarte Andres , Ramírez María Soledad 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn the past few decades Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a notorious nosocomial pathogen because of its ability to acquire genetic material and persist in extreme environments. Recently, human serum albumin (HSA) was shown to significantly increase natural transformation frequency in A. baumannii. This observation led us to perform transcriptomic analysis of strain A118 under HSA induction to identify genes that are altered by HSA. Our results revealed the statistically significant differential expression of 296 protein-coding genes, including those associated with motility, biofilm formation, metabolism, efflux pumps, capsule synthesis, and transcriptional regulation. Phenotypic analysis of these traits showed an increase in surface-associated motility, a decrease in biofilm formation, reduced activity of a citric acid cycle associated enzyme, and increased survival associated with zinc availability. Furthermore, the expression of genes known to play a role in pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance were altered. These genes included those associated with RND-type efflux pumps, the type VI secretion system, iron acquisition/metabolism, and ß-lactam resistance. Together, these results illustrate how human products, in particular HSA, may play a significant role in both survival and persistence of A. baumannii.
Thermal efficiency of a thermocell made of Prussian blue analogues
Authors: Shibata Takayuki , Fukuzumi Yuya , Moritomo Yutaka 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRecently, it was reported that a thermocell can convert temperature into electric energy by using the difference in the thermal coefficient (α = dV/dT) of the redox potential (V) between the cathode and anode materials. Among battery materials, Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are promising materials for thermocell, because α changes from approximately −0.3 mV/K in NaxMn[Fe(CN)6]0.83 3.5 H2O (NMF83) to approximately 1.3 mV/K in NaxCo[Fe(CN)6]0.92,9H2O (NCF90). In this work, we systematically investigated the thermal efficiency (η) of the NMF83/NCF90 thermocell relative to the difference (ΔT) between low (TL = 282 K) and high (TH = 292–338 K) temperatures. We found that the thermal efficiency (η) increased proportionally with ΔT. The linear increase in η is ascribed to the linear increase in the cell voltage (Vcell) and the charge (QNCF90) extracted from NCF90. Moreover, η reached 3.19% at ΔT = 56 K, which corresponds to 19% of the Carnot efficiency (ηcarnot = 17.0%). We further confirmed that the magnitude of QNCF90 is quantitatively reproduced by the slopes of the discharge curves of NMF83 and NCF90.
Cholesterol is Inefficiently Converted to Cholesteryl Esters in the Blood of Cardiovascular Disease Patients
Authors: Gerl Mathias J. , Vaz Winchil L. C. , Domingues Neuza , Klose Christian , Surma Michal A. , Sampaio Júlio L. , Almeida Manuel S. , Rodrigues Gustavo , Araújo-Gonçalves Pedro , Ferreira Jorge , Borbinha Claudia , Marto João Pedro , Viana-Baptista Miguel , Simons Kai , Vieira Otilia V. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractShotgun lipidomic analysis of 203 lipids in 13 lipid classes performed on blood plasma of donors who had just suffered an acute coronary syndrome (ACS,n = 74), or an ischemic stroke (IS,n = 21), or who suffer from stable angina pectoris (SAP,n = 78), and an age-matched control cohort (n = 52), showed some of the highest inter-lipid class correlations between cholesteryl esters (CE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC) sharing a common fatty acid. The concentration of lysophospatidylcholine (LPC) and ratios of concentrations of CE to free cholesterol (Chol) were also lower in the CVD cohorts than in the control cohort, indicating a deficient conversion of Chol to CE in the blood plasma in the CVD subjects. A non-equilibrium reaction quotient,Q′, describing the global homeostasis of cholesterol as manifested in the blood plasma was shown to have a value in the CVD cohorts (Q′ACS = 0.217 ± 0.084;Q′IS = 0.201 ± 0.084;Q′SAP = 0.220 ± 0.071) that was about one third less than in the control cohort (Q′Control = 0.320 ± 0.095,p < 1 × 10−4), suggesting its potential use as a rapid predictive/diagnostic measure of CVD-related irregularities in cholesterol homeostasis.
The interactions between botulinum-toxin-based facial treatments and embodied emotions
Authors: Lewis Michael B. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBotulinum toxin (BTX) injections reduce muscle mobility and are commonly used to treat the appearance of glabellar frown lines. Research shows that this cosmetic treatment leads to a reduction in depression. This reduction is consistent with the theory of embodied emotions because patients have a reduced ability to frown and so receive less negative feedback associated with this action. The current research explored this effect and three further hypotheses for the effects of cosmetic BTX injections based on embodied emotions. It was hypothesised that treatment of crow’s feet (or laughter lines) would reduce mood as patients’ Duchenne smiles would be impaired. It was hypothesised that facial BTX treatments would impair emotional expression recognition because the ability to mimic emotions would be reduced. Finally, it was hypothesised that, as BTX treatments prevent facial expressions associated with sexual excitement, sexual function would be impaired after treatment. Twenty four BTX-treated and twelve matched participants (all female) were tested before and after treatment. Results found that BTX treatment of laughter lines was associated with increased depression scores. Further, BTX treatment was associated with reduced emotion recognition ability and sexual function. The current results add to our knowledge of the psychological effects of injections of powerful neurotoxins and broaden the scope of the embodiment of emotions.