bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical stretch induced transcriptomic profiles in cardiac myocytes
Authors: Rysä Jaana , Tokola Heikki , Ruskoaho Heikki 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMechanical forces are able to activate hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes in the overloaded myocardium. However, the transcriptional profiles triggered by mechanical stretch in cardiac myocytes are not fully understood. Here, we performed the first genome-wide time series study of gene expression changes in stretched cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM)s, resulting in 205, 579, 737, 621, and 1542 differentially expressed (>2-fold, P < 0.05) genes in response to 1, 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours of cyclic mechanical stretch. We used Ingenuity Pathway Analysis to predict functional pathways and upstream regulators of differentially expressed genes in order to identify regulatory networks that may lead to mechanical stretch induced hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes. We also performed micro (miRNA) expression profiling of stretched NRVMs, and identified that a total of 8 and 87 miRNAs were significantly (P < 0.05) altered by 1–12 and 24–48 hours of mechanical stretch, respectively. Finally, through integration of miRNA and mRNA data, we predicted the miRNAs that regulate mRNAs potentially leading to the hypertrophic growth induced by mechanical stretch. These analyses predicted nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2) and interferon regulatory transcription factors as well as the let-7 family of miRNAs as playing roles in the regulation of stretch-regulated genes in cardiomyocytes.
Function-specific and Enhanced Brain Structural Connectivity Mapping via Joint Modeling of Diffusion and Functional MRI
Authors: Chu Shu-Hsien , Parhi Keshab K. , Lenglet Christophe 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA joint structural-functional brain network model is presented, which enables the discovery of function-specific brain circuits, and recovers structural connections that are under-estimated by diffusion MRI (dMRI). Incorporating information from functional MRI (fMRI) into diffusion MRI to estimate brain circuits is a challenging task. Usually, seed regions for tractography are selected from fMRI activation maps to extract the white matter pathways of interest. The proposed method jointly analyzes whole brain dMRI and fMRI data, allowing the estimation of complete function-specific structural networks instead of interactively investigating the connectivity of individual cortical/sub-cortical areas. Additionally, tractography techniques are prone to limitations, which can result in erroneous pathways. The proposed framework explicitly models the interactions between structural and functional connectivity measures thereby improving anatomical circuit estimation. Results on Human Connectome Project (HCP) data demonstrate the benefits of the approach by successfully identifying function-specific anatomical circuits, such as the language and resting-state networks. In contrast to correlation-based or independent component analysis (ICA) functional connectivity mapping, detailed anatomical connectivity patterns are revealed for each functional module. Results on a phantom (Fibercup) also indicate improvements in structural connectivity mapping by rejecting false-positive connections with insufficient support from fMRI, and enhancing under-estimated connectivity with strong functional correlation.
Environmental DNA filtration techniques affect recovered biodiversity
Authors: Majaneva Markus , Diserud Ola H. , Eagle Shannon H. C. , Boström Erik , Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Ekrem Torbjørn 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFreshwater metazoan biodiversity assessment using environmental DNA (eDNA) captured on filters offers new opportunities for water quality management. Filtering of water in the field is a logistical advantage compared to transport of water to the nearest lab, and thus, appropriate filter preservation becomes crucial for maximum DNA recovery. Here, the effect of four different filter preservation strategies, two filter types, and pre-filtration were evaluated by measuring metazoan diversity and community composition, using eDNA collected from a river and a lake ecosystem. The filters were preserved cold on ice, in ethanol, in lysis buffer and dry in silica gel. Our results show that filters preserved either dry or in lysis buffer give the most consistent community composition. In addition, mixed cellulose ester filters yield more consistent community composition than polyethersulfone filters, while the effect of pre-filtration remained ambiguous. Our study facilitates development of guidelines for aquatic community-level eDNA biomonitoring, and we advocate filtering in the field, using mixed cellulose ester filters and preserving the filters either dry or in lysis buffer.
Implications of bond disorder in a S=1 kagome lattice
Authors: Manson Jamie L. , Brambleby Jamie , Goddard Paul A. , Spurgeon Peter M. , Villa Jacqueline A. , Liu Junjie , Ghannadzadeh Saman , Foronda Francesca , Singleton John , Lancaster Tom , Clark Stewart J. , Thomas Iorwerth O. , Xiao Fan , Williams Robert C. , Pratt Francis L. , Blundell Stephen J. , Topping Craig V. , Baines Christopher , Campana Charles , Noll Bruce 
Published: March 2018

AbstractStrong hydrogen bonds such as F···H···F offer new strategies to fabricate molecular architectures exhibiting novel structures and properties. Along these lines and, to potentially realize hydrogen-bond mediated superexchange interactions in a frustrated material, we synthesized [H2F]2[Ni3F6(Fpy)12][SbF6]2 (Fpy = 3-fluoropyridine). It was found that positionally-disordered H2F+ ions link neutral NiF2(Fpy)4 moieties into a kagome lattice with perfect 3-fold rotational symmetry. Detailed magnetic investigations combined with density-functional theory (DFT) revealed weak antiferromagnetic interactions (J ~ 0.4 K) and a large positive-D of 8.3 K with ms = 0 lying below ms = ±1. The observed weak magnetic coupling is attributed to bond-disorder of the H2F+ ions which leads to disrupted Ni-F···H-F-H···F-Ni exchange pathways. Despite this result, we argue that networks such as this may be a way forward in designing tunable materials with varying degrees of frustration.
The middle-term outcome of carotid endarterectomy and stenting for treatment of ischemic stroke in Chinese patients
Authors: Yang Lin , Liu Jianlin , Qi Guangyu , Li Yanzi , Liu Yamin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the complication and middle-term outcome of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in Chinese patients, which was a retrospective case-control study and perioperative complications and 2-year end points were analyzed. Follow-up was done by a certified doctor, and restenosis was detected by ultrasound. Operation success rate were 100% in two groups. CAS showed the higher incidence rate of all stroke/TIA at 30days post-procedure (7.89% VS 1.85%, P = 0.038), odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval, 4.54 (1.09–18.97), but there was no difference in the incidence rate of stroke subgroups, mortality and myocardial infarction between two groups. The higher incidence of hypertension with CEA (14.42% VS 5.26%, P = 0.012), OR: 2.90 (1.26–6.65) and hypotension with CAS (14.91% VS 1.85%, P = 0.001), OR: 0.11 (0.03–0.42). No difference in all stroke, ipsilateral stroke and mortality between two groups at 24 months post-procedures, however, the total incidence rate of stroke/death was higher in CAS (12.84% VS 4.72%, P = 0.036), OR: 2.98 (1.08,8.23). Higher restenosis rate of CAS was examined (13.76% VS 5.66%, P = 0.045), OR: 2.66 (1.02, 6.74). CAS and CEA showed a similar middle-term outcome, but CAS showed a higher incidence rate of stroke and restenosis after operation.
Parameters influencing the size of chitosan-TPP nano- and microparticles
Authors: Sreekumar Sruthi , Goycoolea Francisco M. , Moerschbacher Bruno M. , Rivera-Rodriguez Gustavo R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractChitosan nanoparticles, produced by ionic gelation, are among the most intensely studied nanosystems for drug delivery. However, a lack of inter-laboratory reproducibility and a poor physicochemical understanding of the process of particle formation have been slowing their potential market applications. To address these shortcomings, the current study presents a systematic analysis of the main polymer factors affecting the nanoparticle formation driven by an initial screening using systematic statistical Design of Experiments (DoE). In summary, we found that for a given chitosan to TPP molar ratio, the average hydrodynamic diameter of the particles formed is strongly dependent on the initial chitosan concentration. The degree of acetylation of the chitosan was found to be the second most important factor involved in the system’s ability to form particles. Interestingly, viscosimetry studies indicated that the particle formation and the average hydrodynamic diameter of the particles formed were highly dependent on the presence or absence of salts in the medium. In conclusion, we found that by controlling two simple factors of the polymer solution, namely its initial concentration and its solvent environment, it is feasible to control in a reproducible manner the production and characteristics of chitosan particles ranging in size from nano- to micrometres.
Films based on crosslinked TEMPO-oxidized cellulose and predictive analysis via machine learning
Authors: Özkan Merve , Borghei Maryam , Karakoç Alp , Rojas Orlando J. , Paltakari Jouni 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe systematically investigated the effect of film-forming polyvinyl alcohol and crosslinkers, glyoxal and ammonium zirconium carbonate, on the optical and surface properties of films produced from TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs). In this regard, UV-light transmittance, surface roughness and wetting behavior of the films were assessed. Optimization was carried out as a function of film composition following the “random forest” machine learning algorithm for regression analysis. As a result, the design of tailor-made TOCNF-based films can be achieved with reduced experimental expenditure. We envision this approach to be useful in facilitating adoption of TOCNF for the design of emerging flexible electronics, and related platforms.
Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in subjects with asymptomatic mild carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Kwon Hyunwook , Kim Hong-Kyu , Kwon Sun U. , Lee Seung-Whan , Kim Min-Ju , Park Jee Won , Noh Minsu , Han Youngjin , Kwon Tae-Won , Cho Yong-Pil 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to test the hypothesis that the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is similar for subjects with asymptomatic mild and moderate carotid artery stenosis (CAS). We enrolled a total of 453 subjects with asymptomatic CAS (30–69%) detected on baseline screening Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination between January 2008 and December 2010. The follow-up DUS findings and MACE occurrence (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke and all-cause mortality) were compared between subjects with mild (30–49%) and moderate (50–69%) CAS during the 8-year follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of MACE between subjects with mild (n = 289) and moderate (n = 164) CAS (13.8% vs. 15.9%, respectively; p = 0.56), although there was a nonsignificant trend toward an increased risk of major ipsilateral stroke in subjects with moderate CAS (1.4% vs. 4.3%; p = 0.06). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that worsening CAS was independently associated with MACE occurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 4.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.65–7.27; p < 0.01), whereas an increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was correlated with a decreased risk of MACE (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23–0.75; p < 0.01). The cumulative risk of MACE in subjects with asymptomatic mild CAS is similar to that in subjects with asymptomatic moderate CAS.
Multi-GeV electron-positron beam generation from laser-electron scattering
Authors: Vranic Marija , Klimo Ondrej , Korn Georg , Weber Stefan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe new generation of laser facilities is expected to deliver short (10 fs–100 fs) laser pulses with 10–100 PW of peak power. This opens an opportunity to study matter at extreme intensities in the laboratory and provides access to new physics. Here we propose to scatter GeV-class electron beams from laser-plasma accelerators with a multi-PW laser at normal incidence. In this configuration, one can both create and accelerate electron-positron pairs. The new particles are generated in the laser focus and gain relativistic momentum in the direction of laser propagation. Short focal length is an advantage, as it allows the particles to be ejected from the focal region with a net energy gain in vacuum. Electron-positron beams obtained in this setup have a low divergence, are quasi-neutral and spatially separated from the initial electron beam. The pairs attain multi-GeV energies which are not limited by the maximum energy of the initial electron beam. We present an analytical model for the expected energy cutoff, supported by 2D and 3D particle-in-cell simulations. The experimental implications, such as the sensitivity to temporal synchronisation and laser duration is assessed to provide guidance for the future experiments.
Non-invasive Estimation of the Intracranial Pressure Waveform from the Central Arterial Blood Pressure Waveform in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Patients
Authors: Evensen Karen Brastad , O’Rourke Michael , Prieur Fabrice , Holm Sverre , Eide Per Kristian 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study explored the hypothesis that the central aortic blood pressure (BP) waveform may be used for non-invasive estimation of the intracranial pressure (ICP) waveform. Simultaneous invasive ICP and radial artery BP waveforms were measured in 29 individuals with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). The central aortic BP waveforms were estimated from the radial artery BP waveforms using the SphygmoCor system. For each individual, a transfer function estimate between the central aortic BP and the invasive ICP waveforms was found (Intra-patient approach). Thereafter, the transfer function estimate that gave the best fit was chosen and applied to the other individuals (Inter-patient approach). To validate the results, ICP waveform parameters were calculated for the estimates and the measured golden standard. For the Intra-patient approach, the mean absolute difference in invasive versus non-invasive mean ICP wave amplitude was 1.9 ± 1.0 mmHg among the 29 individuals. Correspondingly, the Inter-patient approach resulted in a mean absolute difference of 1.6 ± 1.0 mmHg for the 29 individuals. This method gave a fairly good estimate of the wave for about a third of the individuals, but the variability is quite large. This approach is therefore not a reliable method for use in clinical patient management.
The relation between global palm distribution and climate
Authors: Reichgelt Tammo , West Christopher K. , Greenwood David R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFossil palms provide qualitative evidence of (sub-) tropical conditions and frost-free winters in the geological past, including modern cold climate regions (e.g., boreal, or polar climates). The freeze intolerance of palms varies across different organs and life stages, with seedlings in particular less tolerant of sub-zero temperatures than adult plants, limiting successful establishment of populations while permitting adult palms to survive in cultivation outside their natural ranges. Quantitatively, palms indicate minimum cold month mean temperature (CMMT) at 2–8 °C in palaeoclimate reconstructions. These data have accentuated model-proxy mismatches for high latitudes during Paleogene hyperthermals when palms expanded poleward in both hemispheres. We constructed a manually filtered dataset of >20,000 georeferenced Arecaceae records, by eliminating cultivars. Statistically derived mean annual temperature, mean annual temperature range, and CMMT thresholds for the Arecaceae and lower rank subfamilies and tribes reveal large differences in temperature sensitivity depending on lower taxonomic classification. Cold tolerant tribes such as the Trachycarpeae produce thresholds as low as CMMT ≥ 2.2 °C. However, within the palm family, CMMT < 5 °C is anomalous. Moreover, palm expansion into temperate biomes is likely a post-Palaeogene event. We recognize a CMMT ≥ 5.2 °C threshold for the palm family, unless a lower taxonomic rank can be assigned.
Characterization of the pgf operon involved in the posttranslational modification of Streptococcus mutans surface proteins
Authors: Avilés-Reyes Alejandro , Freires Irlan Almeida , Besingi Richard , Purushotham Sangeetha , Deivanayagam Champion , Brady L. Jeannine , Abranches Jacqueline , Lemos José A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractProtein glycosylation has been described as the most abundant and complex post-translational modification occurring in nature. Recent studies have enhanced our view of how this modification occurs in bacteria highlighting the role of protein glycosylation in various processes such as biofilm formation, virulence and host-microbe interactions. We recently showed that the collagen- and laminin-binding adhesin Cnm of the dental pathogen Streptococcus mutans is post-translationally modified by the PgfS glycosyltransferase. Following this initial identification of Cnm as a glycoprotein, we have now identified additional genes (pgfM1, pgfE and pgfM2) that are also involved in the posttranslational modification of Cnm. Similar to the previously characterized ΔpgfS strain, inactivation of pgfM1, pgfE or pgfM2 directly impacts Cnm by altering its migration pattern, proteolytic stability and function. In addition, we identified the wall-associated protein A (WapA) as an additional substrate of Pgf-dependent modification. We conclude that the pgS-pgfM1-pgfE-pgfM2 operon encodes for a protein machinery that can modify, likely through the addition of glycans, both core and non-core gene products in S. mutans.
An outflow in the Seyfert ESO 362-G18 revealed by Gemini-GMOS/IFU observations
Authors: Humire Pedro K. , Nagar Neil M. , Finlez Carolina , Firpo Verónica , Slater Roy , Lena Davide , Soto-Pinto Pamela , Muñoz-Vergara Dania , Riffel Rogemar A. , Schmitt Henrique R. , Kraemer Steven B. , Schnorr-Müller Allan , Fischer Travis C. , Robinson Andrew , Storchi-Bergmann Thaisa , Crenshaw Mike , Elvis Martin S. 
Published: March 2018

We present two-dimensional stellar and gaseous kinematics of the inner 0.7 × 1.2 kpc2 of the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy ESO 362-G18, derived from optical (4092–7338 Å) spectra obtained with the GMOS integral field spectrograph on the Gemini South telescope at a spatial resolution of ≈170 pc and spectral resolution of 36 km s−1. ESO 362-G18 is a strongly perturbed galaxy of morphological type Sa or S0/a, with a minor merger approaching along the NE direction. Previous studies have shown that the [O III] emission shows a fan-shaped extension of ≈10′′ to the SE. We detect the [O III] doublet, [N II] and Hα emission lines throughout our field of view.
The stellar kinematics is dominated by circular motions in the galaxy plane, with a kinematic position angle of ≈137° and is centred approximately on the continuum peak. The gas kinematics is also dominated by rotation, with kinematic position angles ranging from 122° to 139°, projected velocity amplitudes of the order of 100 km s−1, and a mean velocity dispersion of 100 km s−1. A double-Gaussian fit to the [O III]λ5007 and Hα lines, which have the highest signal to noise ratios of the emission lines, reveal two kinematic components: (1) a component at lower radial velocities which we interpret as gas rotating in the galactic disk; and (2) a component with line of sight velocities 100–250 km s−1 higher than the systemic velocity, interpreted as originating in the outflowing gas within the AGN ionization cone. We estimate a mass outflow rate of 7.4 × 10−2 M⊙ yr−1 in the SE ionization cone (this rate doubles if we assume a biconical configuration), and a mass accretion rate on the supermassive black hole (SMBH) of 2.2 × 10−2 M⊙ yr−1. The total ionized gas mass within ~84 pc of the nucleus is 3.3 × 105 M⊙; infall velocities of ~34 km s−1 in this gas would be required to feed both the outflow and SMBH accretion.
Les années italiennes du jeune Einstein
Authors: Bracco Christian , Provost Jean-Pierre 
Published: March 2018

Une meilleure compréhension de la genèse des idées d’Einstein de 1905 passe par une reconstruction de l’environnement scientifique et des modes et lieux de travail du jeune Albert en Italie, à Pavie et à Milan, entre 1895 à l’âge de seize ans et 1901.
Nous portons notre attention dans cet article sur l’année 1901 et la thèse sur les forces moléculaires qu’il abandonne, avant de se tourner vers la thermodynamique statistique en 1902.
Gallensteine und „Leberverstopfung“ in den medizinischen Fachschriften der Antike
Authors: Ursin Frank , Steger Florian 
Published: March 2018

Zusammenfassung
Einleitung Gallensteine werden in den medizinischen Fachschriften der Antike selten erwähnt. Der Arzt Alexander von Tralleis nennt erstmals Steine in der Gallenblase als mögliche Ursache für einen obstruktiven Ikterus. Diese Nennung findet sich in seinem Lehrbuch der Heilkunde unter der Überschrift „Leberverstopfung“. Ausgehend von dieser Beobachtung beschreiben wir die antike Geschichte der Leberverstopfung und untersuchen den Zusammenhang mit der seltenen Erwähnung von Gallensteinen in den medizinischen Fachschriften der Antike.
Methoden In einem ersten Schritt haben wir die seit 1900 erschienene medizinhistorische Forschungsliteratur zu Gallensteinen und Leberverstopfung in der Antike ausgewertet. Die dadurch ermittelten antiken Originaltexte haben wir hinsichtlich Ätiologie, Diagnostik und Therapie analysiert. In einem zweiten Schritt haben wir mit einer kombinierten Stichwortsuche in griechischen und lateinischen Textdatenbanken weitere Originaltexte gesucht. Mit den Ergebnissen haben wir die aus der Forschungsliteratur bekannten Erwähnungen von Gallensteinen und Leberverstopfung auf ihre Vollständigkeit hin überprüft.
Ergebnisse Es sind zwei Erwähnungen von Steinen in Leber und Gallenblase belegbar: Aristoteles beschreibt wahrscheinlich Steine in der Leber geschlachteter Opfertiere und der spätantike Arzt Alexander von Tralleis in der Gallenblase eines Menschen. Die mechanische Obstruktion der Gallenwege als Ursache für einen Ikterus ist seit Diokles von Karystos (4. Jh. v. Chr.) bekannt. Das Krankheitsbild einer Leberverstopfung beschreibt erstmals Galen von Pergamon (2. Jh. n. Chr.). Er führte es auf die Koagulation der gelben Galle zurück, eines der vier Säfte der antiken Humoralpathologie.
Schlussfolgerung Obwohl Gallensteine selten genannt wurden, war den antiken Autoren medizinischer Fachschriften das klinische Bild von Gallensteinleiden bekannt und wurde als Leberverstopfung bezeichnet.
Stabilized supralinear network can give rise to bistable, oscillatory, and persistent activity
Authors: Kraynyukova Nataliya , Tchumatchenko Tatjana 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Many fundamental neural computations from normalization to rhythm generation emerge from the same cortical hardware, but they often require dedicated models to explain each phenomenon. Recently, the stabilized supralinear network (SSN) model has been used to explain a variety of nonlinear integration phenomena such as normalization, surround suppression, and contrast invariance. However, cortical circuits are also capable of implementing working memory and oscillations which are often associated with distinct model classes. Here, we show that the SSN motif can serve as a universal circuit model that is sufficient to support not only stimulus integration phenomena but also persistent states, self-sustained network-wide oscillations along with two coexisting stable states that have been linked with working memory.