bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fronts of the Malvinas Current System: Surface and Subsurface Expressions Revealed by Satellite Altimetry, Argo Floats, and Mercator Operational Model Outputs
Authors: Artana Camila , Lellouche Jean‐Michel , Park Young‐Hyang , Garric Gilles , Koenig Zoé , Sennéchael Nathalie , Ferrari Ramiro , Piola Alberto R. , Saraceno Martin , Provost Christine 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe examine the surface and subsurface signature of ocean fronts closely associated with the Malvinas Current dynamics. We first evaluate the performances of the Mercator Ocean eddy permitting (1/12° spatial resolution) global operational system in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean over the last 10 years (2007–2016) using satellite, Argo float and in situ data collected near 41°S. Observations versus model comparisons show that the model correctly reproduces the general circulation and the complex hydrographic features of the study area including the vicinity of the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence. The model outputs accurately match the observations except in June 2015. The causes for the June 2015 mismatch are analyzed. We then used the model and satellite altimetry to identify isolines of absolute dynamic topography (ADT) and potential density at different depths associated with the mean front location and establish their correspondence with specific water mass boundaries. Frontal displacements as depicted in satellite ADT, model ADT, and model potential density at 450 m are in general agreement. The ADT and potential density at 450 m provide nonidentical and complementary information on eddies shed by the Polar Front (PF): while ADT depicts the surface circulation with PF eddies entrained into the energetic circulation over the deep Argentine Basin, potential density at 450 m is more effective at monitoring PF eddies feeding the Malvinas Current.
Coupling bimolecular PARylation biosensors with genetic screens to identify PARylation targets
Authors: Krastev Dragomir B. , Pettitt Stephen J. , Campbell James , Song Feifei , Tanos Barbara E. , Stoynov Stoyno S. , Ashworth Alan , Lord Christopher J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPoly (ADP-ribose)ylation is a dynamic protein modification that regulates multiple cellular processes. Here, we describe a system for identifying and characterizing PARylation events that exploits the ability of a PBZ (PAR-binding zinc finger) protein domain to bind PAR with high-affinity. By linking PBZ domains to bimolecular fluorescent complementation biosensors, we developed fluorescent PAR biosensors that allow the detection of temporal and spatial PARylation events in live cells. Exploiting transposon-mediated recombination, we integrate the PAR biosensor en masse into thousands of protein coding genes in living cells. Using these PAR-biosensor “tagged” cells in a genetic screen we carry out a large-scale identification of PARylation targets. This identifies CTIF (CBP80/CBP20-dependent translation initiation factor) as a novel PARylation target of the tankyrase enzymes in the centrosomal region of cells, which plays a role in the distribution of the centrosomal satellites.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans H-NS promotes biofilm formation and alters protein dynamics of other species within a polymicrobial oral biofilm
Authors: Bao Kai , Bostanci Nagihan , Thurnheer Thomas , Grossmann Jonas , Wolski Witold E. , Thay Bernard , Belibasakis Georgios N. , Oscarsson Jan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram-negative organism, strongly associated with aggressive forms of periodontitis. An important virulence property of A. actinomycetemcomitans is its ability to form tenacious biofilms that can attach to abiotic as well as biotic surfaces. The histone-like (H-NS) family of nucleoid-structuring proteins act as transcriptional silencers in many Gram-negative bacteria. To evaluate the role of H-NS in A. actinomycetemcomitans, hns mutant derivatives of serotype a strain D7S were generated. Characteristics of the hns mutant phenotype included shorter and fewer pili, and substantially lower monospecies biofilm formation relative to the wild type. Furthermore, the D7S hns mutant exhibited significantly reduced growth within a seven-species oral biofilm model. However, no apparent difference was observed regarding the numbers and proportions of the remaining six species regardless of being co-cultivated with D7S hns or its parental strain. Proteomics analysis of the strains grown in monocultures confirmed the role of H-NS as a repressor of gene expression in A. actinomycetemcomitans. Interestingly, proteomics analysis of the multispecies biofilms indicated that the A. actinomycetemcomitans wild type and hns mutant imposed different regulatory effects on the pattern of protein expression in the other species, i.e., mainly Streptococcus spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Veillonella dispar. Gene ontology analysis revealed that a large portion of the differentially regulated proteins was related to translational activity. Taken together, our data suggest that, apart from being a negative regulator of protein expression in A. actinomycetemcomitans, H-NS promotes biofilm formation and may be an important factor for survival of this species within a multispecies biofilm.
Changes in Parkinson’s disease sleep symptoms and daytime somnolence after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kharkar Siddharth , Ellenbogen Jonathan Richard , Samuel Michael , Rizos Alexandra , Silverdale Monty , Chaudhuri K Ray , Ashkan Keyoumars 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) markedly improves motor function in advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), but its effect on sleep is less clear. Patients and methods: Forty PD patients who had subthalamic DBS (STN-DBS) were identified from an on-going non-motor naturalistic longitudinal study (NILS). All patients were followed up for at least 6 months, 26 patients had a 1 year follow-up. A total PDSS score of 100 or less, a score in any PDSS-item of 6 or less, and a Epworth score of 10 or more were classified as being significant. Results: Forty-five percent of patients reported significant improvement in the total PDSS score at 6 months, and 35% at 12 months. In terms of magnitude, the total PDSS score at 6 months was significantly improved from baseline while the improvement at 12 months was not statistically significant. The most frequently reported improvements were overall sleep quality and maintenance of sleep. Some patients reported worsening of the total PDSS score. More than half of the patients reporting daytime sleepiness at baseline had persistent sleepiness at 6 and 12 months. The mean Epworth Score did not improve because a significant number of patients without sleepiness at baseline reported new-onset sleepiness at 6 and 12 months. Neither medication changes nor motor improvement were consistently related to sleep changes after DBS. Conclusion: Subthalamic DBS is associated with a statistically and clinically significant, but variable, improvement in sleep as measured by the PDSS. The most frequent improvements were better overall sleep quality and better sleep maintenance.
Renormalization group theory for percolation in time-varying networks
Authors: Karschau Jens , Zimmerling Marco , Friedrich Benjamin M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMotivated by multi-hop communication in unreliable wireless networks, we present a percolation theory for time-varying networks. We develop a renormalization group theory for a prototypical network on a regular grid, where individual links switch stochastically between active and inactive states. The question whether a given source node can communicate with a destination node along paths of active links is equivalent to a percolation problem. Our theory maps the temporal existence of multi-hop paths on an effective two-state Markov process. We show analytically how this Markov process converges towards a memoryless Bernoulli process as the hop distance between source and destination node increases. Our work extends classical percolation theory to the dynamic case and elucidates temporal correlations of message losses. Quantification of temporal correlations has implications for the design of wireless communication and control protocols, e.g. in cyber-physical systems such as self-organized swarms of drones or smart traffic networks.
Cypripedin diminishes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells through suppression of Akt/GSK-3β signalling
Authors: Treesuwan Surassawadee , Sritularak Boonchoo , Chanvorachote Pithi , Pongrakhananon Varisa 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLung cancer appears to have the highest rate of mortality among cancers due to its metastasis capability. To achieve metastasis, cancer cells acquire the ability to undergo a switch from epithelial to mesenchymal behaviour, termed the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Drug discovery attempts have been made to find potent compounds that will suppress EMT. Cypripedin, a phenanthrenequinone isolated from Thai orchid,Dendrobium densiflorum, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, we found that cypripedin attenuated typical mesenchymal phenotypes, including migratory behaviour, of non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells, with a significant reduction of actin stress fibres and focal adhesion and with weakened anchorage-independent growth. Western blot analysis revealed that the negative activity of this compound on EMT was a result of the down-regulation of the EMT markers Slug, N-Cadherin and Vimentin, which was due to ATP-dependent tyrosine kinase (Akt) inactivation. As a consequence, the increase in the Slug degradation rate via a ubiquitin-proteasomal mechanism was encouraged. The observation in another lung cancer H23 cell line also supported this finding, indicating that cypripedin exhibits a promising pharmacological action on lung cancer metastasis that could provide scientific evidence for the further development of this compound.
Parallel descending dopaminergic connectivity of A13 cells to the brainstem locomotor centers
Authors: Sharma Sandeep , Kim Linda H. , Mayr Kyle A. , Elliott David A. , Whelan Patrick J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is an important integrative area for the initiation and modulation of locomotion. Recently it has been realized that dopamine (DA) projections from the substantia nigra pars compacta project to the MLR. Here we explore DA projections from an area of the medial zona incerta (ZI) known for its role in motor control onto the MLR. We provide evidence that dopaminergic (DAergic) A13 neurons have connectivity to the cuneiform nucleus (CnF) and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) of the MLR. No ascending connectivity to the dorsolateral striatum was observed. On the other hand, DAergic A13 projections to the medullary reticular formation (MRF) and the lumbar spinal cord were sparse. A small number of non-DAergic neurons within the medial ZI projected to the lumbar spinal cord. We then characterized the DA A13 cells and report that these cells differ from canonical DA neurons since they lack the Dopamine Transporter (DAT). The lack of DAT expression, and possibly the lack of a dopamine reuptake mechanism, points to a longer time of action compared to typical dopamine neurons. Collectively our data suggest a parallel descending DAergic pathway from the A13 neurons of the medial ZI to the MLR, which we expect is important for modulating movement.
A Predictive Spatial Distribution Framework for Filovirus-Infected Bats
Authors: Fiorillo Graziano , Bocchini Paolo , Buceta Javier 
Published: May 2018

AbstractTools with predictive capabilities in regards of filovirus outbreaks are mainly anthropocentric and have disregarded the ecological dimension of the problem. Here we contribute to shift the current paradigm by studying the dynamics of the putative main zoonotic niche of filoviruses, bats, and its link to environmental drivers. We propose a framework that combines data analysis, modeling, and the evaluation of sources of variability. We implement a regression analysis using factual data to correlate environmental parameters and the presence of bats to find the distribution of resources. The information inferred by the regression is fed into a compartmental model that describes the infection state. We also account for the lack of knowledge of some parameters using a sampling/averaging technique. As a result we estimate the spatio-temporal densities of bats. Importantly, we show that our approach is able to predict where and when an outbreak is likely to appear when tested against recent epidemic data in the context of Ebola. Our framework highlights the importance of considering the feedback between the ecology and the environment in zoonotic models and sheds light on the mechanisms to propagate filoviruses geographically. We expect that our methodology can help to design prevention policies and be used as a predictive tool in the context of zoonotic diseases associated to filoviruses.
Cigarette smoke promotes HIV infection of primary bronchial epithelium and additively suppresses CFTR function
Authors: Chinnapaiyan S. , Dutta R. , Bala J. , Parira T. , Agudelo M. , Nair M. , Unwalla H. J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRecurrent lung infections are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV and this is exacerbated in smokers even when administered combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The incidence of pneumonia is increased with smoking and treatment interruption and is directly dependent on viral load in patients when adjusted for CD4 counts. CFTR dysfunction plays an important role in aberrant airway innate immunity as it is pivotal in regulating mucociliary clearance (MCC) rates and other antibacterial mechanisms of the airway. In our earlier work, we have demonstrated that bronchial epithelium expresses canonical HIV receptors CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4 and can be infected with HIV. HIV Tat suppresses CFTR mRNA and function via TGF-β signaling. In the present study, we demonstrate that cigarette smoke (CS) potentiates HIV infection of bronchial epithelial cells by upregulating CD4 and CCR5 expression. HIV and CS individually and additively suppress CFTR biogenesis and function, possibly explaining the increased incidence of lung infections in HIV patients and its exacerbation in HIV smokers.
Cervical vagus nerve morphometry and vascularity in the context of nerve stimulation - A cadaveric study
Authors: Hammer Niels , Löffler Sabine , Cakmak Yusuf Ozgur , Ondruschka Benjamin , Planitzer Uwe , Schultz Michael , Winkler Dirk , Weise David 
Published: May 2018

AbstractVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has become a well-established therapy for epilepsy and depression, and is emerging to treat inflammatory disease, with the cervical vagus nerve (CVN) as major stimulation site. CVN morphometries are missing for VNS, considering its variability. Morphometric data were obtained from CVNs in 27 cadavers, including branching patterns and histology. Cross-sectional area, greater and lesser diameters averaged 7.2 ± 3.1 mm2, 5.1 ± 1.5 and 4.1 ± 1.3 mm, and were ≤11.0 mm2, ≤7.0 and ≤5.8 mm in 90% of the specimens, respectively. Midline distance (position lateral to the laryngeal eminence) and skin distance (anterior-posterior from skin) averaged 34.5 ± 6.2 and 36.2 ± 9.4 mm, ≤49.0 and ≤41.0 mm in 90%, respectively. Nerve dimensions and surface topography correlated closely, but without gender-, side- or branching-dependent differences. The nerve fascicle number averaged 5.2 ± 3.5. Vagal arteries were observed in 49% of the cases. Negative correlations were found for age and cross-sectional area, as well as subperineural vessel count. Detailed anatomical data on the CVN and its vascularity are given, forming the morphometric basis for VNS refinement, filling an evident gap in light of the CVN being a structure with variable positions and branching. A 35 × 35-mm rule may apply for the CVN position, irrespective of branching or positional variation.
Distribution of different surface modified carbon dots in pumpkin seedlings
Authors: Qian Kun , Guo Huiyuan , Chen Guangcai , Ma Chuanxin , Xing Baoshan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe distribution of surface modified carbon dots (CDs) in the pumpkin seedlings was studied by visualization techniques and their potential phytotoxicity was investigated at both the physiological and biochemical levels. The average size of carbon dots was approximately 4 nm. The fluorescent peaks of bared CDs, CD-PEI and CD-PAA were between 420 nm and 500 nm, indicating CDs could emit blue and green fluorescence. Fluorescent images showed that all three types of CDs could accumulate in the pumpkin roots and translocate to the shoots, although the distribution pattern of each CDs was obviously different. At the biochemical level, the elevated antioxidant enzymes in pumpkin roots suggest that all the CDs could potentially trigger the antioxidant defense systems in pumpkin seedlings. Additionally, such alteration was greater in the roots than in the shoots. Our study represents a new perspective on CD visualization in plant tissues and provide useful information for the potential toxicity of different types of CDs to terrestrial plants, which is of importance to agricultural application.
On the scattering directionality of a dielectric particle dimer of High Refractive Index
Authors: Barreda Ángela I. , Saleh Hassan , Litman Amélie , González Francisco , Geffrin Jean-Michel , Moreno Fernando 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLow-losses and directionality effects exhibited by High Refractive Index Dielectric particles make them attractive for applications where radiation direction control is relevant. For instance, isolated metallo-dielectric core-shell particles or aggregates (dimers) of High Refractive Index Dielectric particles have been proposed for building operational switching devices. Also, the possibility of using isolated High Refractive Index Dielectric particles for optimizing solar cells performance has been explored. Here, we present experimental evidence in the microwave range, that a High Refractive Index Dielectric dimer of spherical particles is more efficient for redirecting the incident radiation in the forward direction than the isolated case. In fact, we report two spectral regions in the dipolar spectral range where the incident intensity is mostly scattered in the forward direction. They correspond to the Zero-Backward condition (also observed for isolated particles) and to a new condition, denoted as “near Zero-Backward” condition, which comes from the interaction effects between the particles. The proposed configuration has implications in solar energy harvesting devices and in radiation guiding.
Genomic and ecological study of two distinctive freshwater bacteriophages infecting a Comamonadaceae bacterium
Authors: Moon Kira , Kang Ilnam , Kim Suhyun , Kim Sang-Jong , Cho Jang-Cheon 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBacteriophages of freshwater environments have not been well studied despite their numerical dominance and ecological importance. Currently, very few phages have been isolated for many abundant freshwater bacterial groups, especially for the family Comamonadaceae that is found ubiquitously in freshwater habitats. In this study, we report two novel phages, P26059A and P26059B, that were isolated from Lake Soyang in South Korea, and lytically infected bacterial strain IMCC26059, a member of the family Comamonadaceae. Morphological observations revealed that phages P26059A and P26059B belonged to the family Siphoviridae and Podoviridae, respectively. Of 12 bacterial strains tested, the two phages infected strain IMCC26059 only, showing a very narrow host range. The genomes of the two phages were different in length and highly distinct from each other with little sequence similarity. A comparison of the phage genome sequences and freshwater viral metagenomes showed that the phage populations represented by P26059A and P26059B exist in the environment with different distribution patterns. Presence of the phages in Lake Soyang and Lake Michigan also indicated a consistent lytic infection of the Comamonadaceae bacterium, which might control the population size of this bacterial group. Taken together, although the two phages shared a host strain, they showed completely distinctive characteristics from each other in morphological, genomic, and ecological analyses. Considering the abundance of the family Comamonadaceae in freshwater habitats and the rarity of phage isolates infecting this family, the two phages and their genomes in this study would be valuable resources for freshwater virus research.
Comparison of Fast-Track Versus Conventional Surgery Protocol for Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Chinese Experience
Authors: Huang Zhichao , Yi Lu , Zhong Zhaohui , Zhu Liang , Zhao Hongqing , Li Yijian , Nian Yeqi , Xu Peng , Wang Yinhuai 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFast-track surgery (FTS), which includes a series of evidence-based adjustments, is expected to reduce complications, relieve surgical stress reaction, accelerate recovery, and shorten hospitalization, as well as improve safety. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate the safety and effectiveness of FTS in Chinese prostate cancer (Pca) patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). A retrospective analysis was performed on 73 consecutive Chinese Pca patients who underwent RALP and who were divided into two groups: conventional surgery (CS) and FTS. Preoperative clinical data, intraoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. No significant differences in preoperative parameters were observed between the two groups. Compared with the CS group, the FTS group showed a significantly shorter time to first flatus, time to regular diet, postoperative hospitalization time, lower incidence of complications, and lower reactions of postoperative stress and pain. Our study demonstrates that FTS is feasible and safe for Chinese Pca patients undergoing RALP and that it accelerates recovery, attenuates surgical stress response, and reduces morbidity compared to CS.
Fertilization shapes a well-organized community of bacterial decomposers for accelerated paddy straw degradation
Authors: Zhan Yushan , Liu Wenjing , Bao Yuanyuan , Zhang Jianwei , Petropoulos Evangelos , Li Zhongpei , Lin Xiangui , Feng Youzhi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractStraw, mainly dry stalks of crops, is an agricultural byproduct. Its incorporation to soils via microbial redistribution is an environment-friendly way to increase fertility. Fertilization influences soil microorganisms and straw degradation. However, our up to date knowledge on the responses of the straw decomposers to fertilization remains elusive. To this end, inoculated with paddy soils with 26-year applications of chemical fertilizers, organic amendments or controls without fertilization, microcosms were anoxically incubated with 13C-labelled rice straw amendment. DNA-based stable isotope probing and molecular ecological network analysis were conducted to unravel how straw degrading bacterial species shift in responses to fertilizations, as well as evaluate what their roles/links in the microbiome are. It was found that only a small percentage of the community ecotypes was participating into straw degradation under both fertilizations. Fertilization, especially with organic amendments decreased the predominance of Firmicutes- and Acidobacteria-like straw decomposers but increased those of the copiotrophs, such as β-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes due to increased soil fertility. For the same reason, fertilization shifted the hub species towards those of high degrading potential and created a more stable and efficient microbial consortium. These findings indicate that fertilization shapes a well-organized community of decomposers for accelerated straw degradation.