bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isoform-specific hyperactivation of calpain-2 occurs presymptomatically at the synapse in Alzheimer’s disease mice and correlates with memory deficits in human subjects
Authors: Ahmad Faraz , Das Debajyoti , Kommaddi Reddy Peera , Diwakar Latha , Gowaikar Ruturaj , Rupanagudi Khader Valli , Bennett David A. , Ravindranath Vijayalakshmi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCalpain hyperactivation is implicated in late-stages of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, calpains are also critical for synaptic function and plasticity, and hence memory formation and learning. Since synaptic deficits appear early in AD pathogenesis prior to appearance of overt disease symptoms, we examined if localized dysregulation of calpain-1 and/or 2 contributes to early synaptic dysfunction in AD. Increased activity of synaptosomal calpain-2, but not calpain-1 was observed in presymptomatic 1 month old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice (a mouse model of AD) which have no evident pathological or behavioural hallmarks of AD and persisted up to 10 months of age. However, total cellular levels of calpain-2 remained unaffected. Moreover, synaptosomal calpain-2 was hyperactivated in frontal neocortical tissue samples of post-mortem brains of AD-dementia subjects and correlated significantly with decline in tests for cognitive and memory functions, and increase in levels of β-amyloid deposits in brain. We conclude that isoform-specific hyperactivation of calpain-2, but not calpain-1 occurs at the synapse early in the pathogenesis of AD potentially contributing to the deregulation of synaptic signaling in AD. Our findings would be important in paving the way for potential therapeutic strategies for amelioration of cognitive deficits observed in ageing-related dementia disorders like AD.
Pathways for mitigating thermal losses in solar photovoltaics
Authors: Vaillon Rodolphe , Dupré Olivier , Cal Raúl Bayoán , Calaf Marc 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTo improve the performance of solar photovoltaic devices one should mitigate three types of losses: optical, electrical and thermal. However, further reducing the optical and electrical losses in modern photovoltaic devices is becoming increasingly costly. Therefore, there is a rising interest in minimizing the thermal losses. These correspond to the reduction in electrical power output resultant of working at temperatures above 25 °C and the associated accelerated aging. Here, we quantify the impact of all possible strategies to mitigate thermal losses in the case of the mainstream crystalline silicon technology. Results indicate that ensuring a minimum level of conductive/convective cooling capabilities is essential. We show that sub-bandgap reflection and radiative cooling are strategies worth pursuing and recommend further field testing in real-time operating conditions. The general method we propose is suitable for every photovoltaic technology to guide the research focused on reducing thermal losses.
Ultra-low noise optical injection locking amplifier with AOM-based coherent detection scheme
Authors: Feng Zitong , Yang Fei , Zhang Xi , Chen Dijun , Wei Fang , Cheng Nan , Sun Yanguang , Gui Youzhen , Cai Haiwen 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA novel optical injection locking amplifier with acousto-optic modulator based phase modulation and a coherent detection scheme for optical frequency transfer applications is experimentally demonstrated in this study. A commercial distributed feedback diode laser is injection-locked to the resonant frequency of the optical signal with an optical fiber path length of hundreds of kilometers. This provides approximately 59 dB gain and ensures that the input carrier frequency fractional stability can be as good as 10−20 at 1000 s. The amplifier was tested for the transfer of a commercial narrow-linewidth laser in a 180 km fiber link to a remote site with only a single amplification step. The transferred frequency at the remote end reached 10−20 at 20000 s, which is suitable for optical frequency distribution and remote comparison between optical atomic clocks.
The neural dynamics of deficient memory control in heavily traumatized refugees
Authors: Waldhauser Gerd T. , Dahl Martin J. , Ruf-Leuschner Martina , Müller-Bamouh Veronika , Schauer Maggie , Axmacher Nikolai , Elbert Thomas , Hanslmayr Simon 
Published: August 2018

AbstractVictims of war, torture and natural catastrophes are prone to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These individuals experience the recurrent, involuntary intrusion of traumatic memories. What neurocognitive mechanisms are driving this memory disorder? Here we show that PTSD symptoms in heavily traumatized refugees are related to deficits in the effective control of memory retrieval. In a think/no-think task, PTSD patients were unable to forget memories that they had previously tried to suppress when compared to control participants with the same trauma history but without PTSD. Deficits in voluntary forgetting were clinically relevant since they correlated with memory intrusions in everyday life. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recorded during suppression attempts revealed that PTSD patients were unable to downregulate signatures of sensory long-term memory traces in the gamma frequency band (70–120 Hz). Thus, our data suggest that the inability to suppress unwanted memories through modulation of gamma activity is related to PTSD symptom severity.
The osteopontin-CD44 axis in hepatic cancer stem cells regulates IFN signaling and HCV replication
Authors: Shirasaki Takayoshi , Honda Masao , Yamashita Taro , Nio Kouki , Shimakami Tetsuro , Shimizu Ryougo , Nakasyo Saki , Murai Kazuhisa , Shirasaki Natsumi , Okada Hikari , Sakai Yoshio , Sato Tokiharu , Suzuki Tetsuro , Yoshioka Katsuji , Kaneko Shuichi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractOsteopontin (OPN) is involved in cell proliferation, migration, inflammation, and tumor progression in various tissues. OPN induces stemness by interacting with CD44, but the functional relevance of OPN-mediated interferon (IFN) signaling and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in stem cell populations remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of OPN on HCV replication and IFN signaling in cancer stem cells (CSCs) positive for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD44. We show that the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs show marked HCV replication when compared to EpCAM−/CD44− cells. In addition, OPN significantly enhances this HCV replication in EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs and markedly suppresses IFN-stimulated gene expression. The GSK-3β inhibitor BIO increases the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSC population and OPN expression and impairs IFN signaling via STAT1 degradation. Taken together, our data suggest that OPN enhances HCV replication in the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs, while it also negatively regulates the IFN signaling pathway via inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation and degradation. Therefore, OPN may represent a novel therapeutic target for treating HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
Ultralong π-phase shift fiber Bragg grating empowered single-longitudinal mode DFB phosphate fiber laser with low-threshold and high-efficiency
Authors: Jiang Man , Zhou Pu , Gu Xijia 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPhosphate glass fiber is one of the candidates for building compact fiber lasers because of its capability of high-concentration of rare-earth ions doping in fiber core. Nevertheless, it is challenging for the integration of UV-written intra-core fiber Bragg gratings into the fiber laser cavity due to the low photosensitivity of phosphate glass fiber. The research presented in this paper will focus on demonstration of UV-written Bragg gratings in phosphate glass fiber and its application in direct-written short monolithic single-frequency fiber lasers. A 5-cm-long strong π-phase shift Bragg grating structure is direct-inscribed into the Er/Yb co-doped gain fiber using an excimer laser. The fiber laser device emits output power of 10.44 mW with a slope efficiency of 21.5% and the threshold power is about 42.8 mW. Single-longitudinal mode operation is validated by radio frequency spectrum measurement. Moreover, the output spectrum at the highest power shows an excellent optical signal to noise ratio of about 70 dB. These results, to the best of our knowledge, show the lowest power threshold and highest efficiency among the reports that using the same structure to achieve single-longitudinal mode laser output.
Class II histone deacetylases require P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and CaMKII to maintain gamma oscillations in the pedunculopontine nucleus
Authors: Urbano Francisco J. , Bisagno Verónica , Mahaffey Susan , Lee Sang-hun , Garcia-Rill Edgar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEpigenetic mechanisms (i.e., histone post-translational modification and DNA methylation) play a role in regulation of gene expression. The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), part of the reticular activating system, manifests intrinsic gamma oscillations generated by voltage-dependent, high threshold N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. We studied whether PPN intrinsic gamma oscillations are affected by inhibition of histone deacetylation. We showed that, a) acute in vitro exposure to the histone deacetylation Class I and II inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA, 1 μM) eliminated oscillations in the gamma range, but not lower frequencies, b) pre-incubation with TSA (1 μM, 90–120 min) also decreased gamma oscillations, c) Ca2+ currents (ICa) were reduced by TSA, especially on cells with P/Q-type channels, d) a HDAC Class I inhibitor MS275 (500 nM), and a Class IIb inhibitor Tubastatin A (150–500 nM), failed to affect gamma oscillations, e) MC1568, a HDAC Class IIa inhibitor (1 μM), blocked gamma oscillations, and f) the effects of both TSA and MC1568 were blunted by blockade of CaMKII with KN-93 (1 μM). These results suggest a cell type specific effect on gamma oscillations when histone deacetylation is blocked, suggesting that gamma oscillations through P/Q-type channels modulated by CaMKII may be linked to processes related to gene transcription.
Negative fluorescence anisotropy of phosphole oxide-based dyes in nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Ohzono Takuya , Yatabe Tetsuo , Wang Chenguang , Fukazawa Aiko , Yamaguchi Shigehiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIt is important to understand how solute molecules align in anisotropic media such as liquid crystals and biological membranes. Alignment of fluorescent probes used in polarised fluorescence microscopy is of interest because anisotropy of the medium is indirectly estimated through the fluorescence intensity originating from the transition dipole moments fixed on the molecule. Here we report fluorescence anisotropies of a series of phosphole oxide-based dyes with an elongatedπ-conjugated system, along which the transition dipole moment lies, in nematic liquid crystals. We observe that as the number, size and rigidity of substituents protruding from theπ-conjugated plane increase, the transition dipole moment tends to tilt away from the nematic director over the magic angle, ~54.7°, showing conspicuous negative fluorescence anisotropy. Analysis of molecular shapes suggests that the substitutions modulate the interaction with the nematic mean field, impacting the direction of the principal molecular axis aligned with the nematic director.
One cycle start‐up time, high linearity relaxation oscillator with capacitor pre‐charge technique
Authors: Lu Yangyang , Zhu Jing , Hu Kongsheng , Yu Siyuan , Sun Weifeng , Zhang Yunwu , Zhang Long 
Published: August 2018

A capacitor pre‐charge technique based CMOS relaxation oscillator is proposed to improve its linearity adaptively. The effect of comparator offset and delay variation across PVT will be counteracted by the pre‐charge process because it is included both in the effective charge process and the pre‐charge process. Then, the non‐linearity of the oscillator caused by the delay of the control circuit and the offset voltage of the comparator can be eliminated. The proposed relaxation oscillator with a typical frequency of 100 kHz is implemented in 0.5 μm Bipolar‐CMOS‐DMOS process. Measured results show that <0.54% non‐linearity in the current–frequency transfer function from 0 to 5 MHz without trimming.
Fossil group origins
Authors: Corsini E. M. , Morelli L. , Zarattini S. , Aguerri J. A. L. , Costantin L. , D’Onghia E. , Girardi M. , Kundert A. , Méndez-Abreu J. , Thomas J. 
Published: August 2018

Context.Fossil groups (FGs) are galaxy aggregates with an extended and luminous X-ray halo, which are dominated by a very massive early-type galaxy and lack ofL∗objects. FGs are indeed characterized by a large magnitude gap between their central and surrounding galaxies. This is explained by either speculating that FGs are failed groups that formed without bright satellite galaxies and did not suffer any major merger, or by suggesting that FGs are very old systems that had enough time to exhaust their bright satellite galaxies through multiple major mergers.Aims.Since major mergers leave signatures in the stellar populations of the resulting galaxy, we study the stellar population parameters of the brightest central galaxies (BCGs) of FGs as a benchmark against which the formation and evolution scenarios of FGs can be compared.Methods.We present long-slit spectroscopic observations along the major, minor, and diagonal axes of NGC 6482 and NGC 7556, which are the BCGs of two nearby FGs. The measurements include spatially resolved stellar kinematics and radial profiles of line-strength indices, which we converted into stellar population parameters using single stellar-population models.Results.NGC 6482 and NGC 7556 are very massive (M∗≃ 1011.5M⊙) and large (D25≃ 50 kpc) galaxies. They host a centrally concentrated stellar population, which is significantly younger and more metal rich than the rest of the galaxy. The age gradients of both galaxies are somewhat larger than those of the other FG BCGs studied so far, whereas their metallicity gradients are similarly negative and shallow. Moreover, they have negligible gradients ofα-element abundance ratio.Conclusions.The measured metallicity gradients are less steep than those predicted for massive galaxies that formed monolithically and evolved without experiencing any major merger. We conclude that the observed FGs formed through major mergers rather than being failed groups that lacked bright satellite galaxies from the beginning.
Some Properties of the Anticoagulant Factor of Aged Pooled Plasma
Authors: Honig G. R , Abildgaard Ch. F , Forman E. N , Gotoff S. P , Lindley Annabelle , Schulman I 
Published: August 2018

SummaryHematologic studies of an infant who was admitted for shock and was treated with a large volume of pooled aged plasma disclosed striking prolongation of a variety of coagulation tests, including the prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time. The aged plasma produced a marked anticoagulant effect on normal plasma in vitro with the results suggesting inhibition of the thrombin-fibrinogen reaction. Similar results were obtained with 24 different lots of aged plasma from 5 different sources. The inhibitory factor of aged plasma behaved as a competitive inhibitor of the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, as compared with heparin which is a noncompetitive inhibitor. Infusion of aged plasma into rabbits produced a defect similar to that found in the patient. Biochemical and immunologic studies revealed that the plasma was devoid of fibrinogen but contained large amounts of a fibrinogen degradation product. Treatment of the plasmas with protamine or with rabbit IgG anti-human fibrinogen removed the anticoagulant activity. Development of anticoagulant activity during plasma aging did not appear to be related to fibrinolysis, as it was unaffected by addition of a fibrinolytic inhibitor. Because of the anticoagulant activity of aged plasma, it must be used with caution in patients having underlying hemostatic disorders. Coagulation screening tests in patients who have received recent infusions of aged plasma may lead to misinterpretation unless specific coagulation factor assays are performed.
Anticoagulant Circulant Ressemblant à l’Antithrombine VI au cours d’un Lupus Érythémateux Disséminé
Authors: Zywicka H , Kopeć M , Latallo Z , Kowalski E 
Published: August 2018

RésuméNous avons décrit le cas d’une malade atteinte de diathèse hémorragique au cours d’un lupus érythémateux.L’étude de la coagulation sanguine dans ce cas a indiqué aucune anomalie, mis a part une thrombocytopénie modérée, une augmentation de l’activité fibrinolytique et un allongement du temps de thrombine.Nous avons demontré la présence d’un inhibiteur de la thrombine ressemblant à l’antithrombine VI, antithrombine produite au cours de la dégradation protéolytique du fibrinogène.Nous avons comparé cette antithrombine avec les autres inhibiteurs de la coagulation apparissants au cours de LE et décrits dans la littérature. L’influence du traitement par les hormones surrénales sur la fibrinolyse et sur disparition de l’antithrombine VI est discutée.
Microelectrophoresis of Washed and Unwashed Human Blood Platelets, with Additional Studies of Platelets from Patients with von Willebrand’s Disease and Thrombasthenia
Authors: Zucker Marjorie B , Levine Richard U 
Published: August 2018

SummaryMicroelectrophoretic mobility of washed platelets suspended in isotonic saline or citrated plasma was — 0.75 and — 1.03 (µ/sec.)/(volt/cm) respectively. Erythrocytes traveled about one-third faster. There was no difference between the mobility of unwashed and washed platelets. Mobility of platelets was normal in von Willebrand5s disease. Both mobility and isoelectric point were normal in thrombasthenia.
The Value of Capillary Thrombotest Method for the Control of Long Term Anticoagulant Therapy
Authors: Poller L , Woolliff J. S 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThe capillary form of the Thrombotest gives results similar to the venous Thrombotest technique in patients on long term phenindione and nicoumalone, and can be recommended as a reliable laboratory investigation.The Thrombotest range of 10—30% is a much less marked reduction of coagulability than the similar range with the Quick test. The difference in the results does not appear to be due to the sensitivity of Thrombotest to other additional coagulation factors, but simply because saline dilution curves are usually employed in the Quick test.The upper limit of the Thrombotest therapeutic range on the basis of our studies appears to be about 15%. The lower limit of safety assessed from comparison with the Quick test and by clinical experience in the control of long term treatment appears to be in the region of 5%.
Anticoagulant Effect of Sulphated Poly/Vinyl Alcohol-Acrylic Acid/Copolymers
Authors: Machovich Raymund , Nagy Miklós , Györgyi-Edelényi Judit , Csomor Katalin , Horváth István 
Published: August 2018

SummaryCopolymers of poly/vinyl alcohol-acrylic acid/ with various content of sulphate and carboxyl groups have been synthetized and tested for their in vitro effect on blood coagulation. The results indicate that the sulphated copolymers display an inhibitory effect but there is a requirement in the charged groups of about 20% in the molecqle to possess effective anticoagulation. The biochemical mechanism of their actions is complex, i.e. the inhibition of blood clotting is a consequence of both (i) the accelerated inactivation rate of thrombin by antithrombin-III and (ii) a direct inhibitory effect on the thrombin-fibrinogen reaction. Moreover, additional effects may occur on other blood coagulation enzymes than thrombin, depending on the chemical composition of the copolymers.
Nanoparticle Characterisation of Traditional Homeopathically Manufactured Cuprum metallicum and Gelsemium sempervirens Medicines and Controls
Authors: Goyens Martine , Capieaux Etienne , Devos Philippe , Dorfman Pierre , Van Wassenhoven Michel 
Published: August 2018

Background Homeopathy is controversial due to its use of very highly diluted medicines (high potencies/dynamisations).
Methods We used a multi-technology approach to examine dilutions of two commonly used homeopathic medicines: an insoluble metal, Cuprum metallicum, and a soluble plant tincture, Gelsemium sempervirens, for the presence of nanoparticles (NPs) of original substance. The homeopathic medicines tested were specially prepared, according to the European pharmacopoeia standards. We compared the homeopathic dilutions/dynamisations with simple dilutions and controls.
Results Using Mass Spectrometry (Single Particle-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) we could not find the expected copper in the 4cH potentisation and could not confirm the results previously obtained by Chikramane et al (2010). For Gelsemium medicines, using sensitive chromatography (HPLC-UV) up to a dilution level of 6 dH (3cH = dilution 10e-6), there was no significant difference in alkaloid content between a simple dilution and a homeopathic potency.For higher potentisations, however, NP tracking analysis findings revealed the presence of particles in all samples (except for pure water). The measurements showed large differences in particle quantities, mean particle sizes and standard deviations of the mean sizes between manufacturing lines of different starting material.There was always more material in potentised medicines than in potentised pure water. Gelsemium yielded the largest quantity of material (36 times more than that from copper at the same potentisation, 30 cH). The shapes and the chemical composition of the material are differentiable between different medicines and controls.
Conclusion Potentisation influences specifically the nature of NPs detected. This material demonstrates that the step-by-step process (dynamised or not) does not match with the theoretical expectations in a dilution process. The Avogadro/Loschmidt limit is not relevant at all. It was not possible to reproduce the findings of Chikramane et al (2010) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with copper. Copper NPs could not be detected at 4cH and above.
Unclassifiable Infectious Complications after Lobectomy for Cancer: Etiology, Risks, and Outcomes
Authors: Ueda Kazuhiro , Murakami Junichi , Tanaka Toshiki , Hamano Kimikazu 
Published: August 2018

Background Although infectious complications occur occasionally after lung lobectomy, some of them are overlooked if the pathogen or origin is unidentifiable.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed 425 patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer. Infectious complications developed in 61 patients who consequently underwent empiric therapy: 44 had an identifiable focus and 17 did not irrespective of systemic surveillance.
Results The 17 patients without an identifiable focus were predominantly patients with squamous cell carcinoma, a smoking history, large tumor size, and undergoing lower lobectomy. These 17 patients were able to be distinguished from those without infectious complications with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 98% based on the patient's body temperature, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count. The median onset of the 17 patients was 8 days (5–30 days) after operation. None of these 17 patients had air leak for more than 3 days, major cardiopulmonary complications, superficial surgical site infection, organ-specific symptoms (e.g., cough and diarrhea), or increased dead space size. Inflammatory markers were normalized by antibiotics alone in 14 of the 17 patients, while the condition of the remaining 3 worsened to empyema that required some intervention. One patient eventually died after thoracoscopic debridement.
Conclusion Postoperative acute onset of infectious complication without any specific symptoms or any identifiable focus should be included in a separate category of complications. We must clarify the pathology of this complication (e.g., occult bronchopleural fistula), but for now, careful management is mandatory, as therapeutic failure can lead to a fatal outcome.