bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
T-cell egress from the thymus: Should I stay or should I go?
Authors: James Kieran D , Jenkinson William E , Anderson Graham 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
T-cells bearing the αβTCR play a vital role in defending the host against foreign pathogens and malignant transformation of self. Importantly, T-cells are required to remain tolerant to the host’s own cells and tissues in order to prevent self-reactive responses that can lead to autoimmune disease. T-cells achieve the capacity for self/nonself discrimination by undergoing a highly selective and rigorous developmental program during their maturation in the thymus. This organ is unique in its ability to support a program of T-cell development that ensures the establishment of a functionally diverse αβTCR repertoire within the peripheral T-cell pool. The thymus achieves this by virtue of specialized stromal microenvironments that contain heterogeneous cell types, whose organization and function underpins their ability to educate, support, and screen different thymocyte subsets through various stages of development. These stages range from the entry of early T-cell progenitors into the thymus, through to the positive and negative selection of the αβTCR repertoire. The importance of the thymus medulla as a site for T-cell tolerance and the exit of newly generated T-cells into the periphery is well established. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the developmental pathways that take place during αβT-cell development in the thymus. In addition, we focus on the mechanisms that regulate thymic egress and contribute to the seeding of peripheral tissues with newly selected self-tolerant αβT-cells.
Review on thymic microenvironments regulation of thymocyte maturation and egress of mature self-tolerant T cells.
CD64 on monocytes and granulocytes in severe acute bronchiolitis: Pilot study on its usefulness as a bacterial infection biomarker
Authors: García-Salido Alberto , Serrano-González Ana , Casado-Flores Juan , Sierra-Colomina Montserrat , de Azagra-Garde Amelia Martínez , García-Teresa María Ángeles , Melen Gustavo J , Ramírez-Orellana Manuel 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe CD64 receptor has been described as a biomarker of bacterial infection. We speculated that CD64 surface expression on monocytes and granulocytes of children with severe acute bronchiolitis (SAB) could be altered in cases of probable bacterial infection (PBI) determined using classical biomarkers (procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, and radiographic findings). A prospective observational pilot study was conducted from October 2015 to February 2016 in children admitted for pediatric critical care. A blood sample was taken in the first 24 hours of admission, and CD64 was measured by flow cytometry. The values obtained were analyzed and correlated with traditional biomarkers of PBI. Thirty-two children were included; a correlation was found between CD64 expression and the PBI criteria. CD64 surface expression was higher in children with PBI (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73; P = 0.042) and the percentage of CD64+ granulocytes was higher in children with PBI. This is the first study to describe CD64 surface expression on monocytes and granulocytes in SAB, finding CD64 values to be higher in children with PBI. Larger clinical studies are needed to elucidate the real accuracy of CD64 as a biomarker of bacterial infection.
Primary murine mucosal response during cephalosporin‐induced intestinal colonization by Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Hendrickx Antoni P. A. , van de Kamer Denise , Willems Rob J. L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHospitalized patients are often administered antibiotics that perturb the gastrointestinal commensal microbiota, leading to outgrowth of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, like multidrug‐resistant Enterococcus faecium, subsequent spread, and eventually infections. However, the events that occur at the initial stage of intestinal colonization and outgrowth by multidrug‐resistant E. faecium within the antibiotic‐treated host have not been thoroughly studied. Here, we describe and visualize that only 6 hr after cephalosporin treatment of mice, the Muc‐2 mucus layer is reduced and E‐cadherin junctions were altered. In contrast, the cadherin‐17 junctions were unaffected in antibiotic treated mice during E. faecium colonization or in untreated animals. E. faecium was capable to colonize the mouse colon already within 6 hr after inoculation, and agglutinated at the apical side of the intestinal epithelium. During the primary stage of gastrointestinal colonization the number of IgA+ cells and CD11b+IgA+ cells increased in the lamina propria of the colon and mediated an elevated IgA response upon E. faecium colonization.
Single‐scan z‐shim method for reducing susceptibility artifacts in gradient echo myelin water imaging
Authors: Lee Doohee , Lee Jingu , Lee Jongho , Nam Yoonho 
Published: February 2018

PurposeMyelin water imaging (MWI) reportedly corresponds closely to the myelin content in the brain. An MWI technique based on multi‐echo gradient echo (mGRE) has recently been proposed as an alternative to the conventional spin‐echo‐based MWI. However, the mGRE signal is vulnerable to macroscopic field inhomogeneity, which makes MWI unreliable. In the present study, a z‐shim‐based single‐scan correction method is proposed to overcome this limitation.MethodsZ‐shim gradients in the slice‐selection direction were added to an mGRE sequence after an echo time of 12 ms. A 3‐pool model corresponding to the proposed sequence was suggested for fitting the acquired signal. The method was evaluated through a comparison with methods without a correction and with post‐processing only from non‐z‐shimmed data. To do this, numerical simulations and in vivo experiments were conducted.ResultsThe simulation and in vivo experiment results indicated that post‐processing alone was not sufficient to offset the macroscopic field inhomogeneity, particularly in inferior regions of the brain. On the other hand, the proposed method compensated the field inhomogeneity in most brain areas. The estimated in vivo myelin water fraction values were in good agreement with literature values obtained by previously proposed field inhomogeneity correction method.ConclusionThe proposed method showed reliable myelin water fraction in most regions of the brain in vivo, including those with severe field inhomogeneity.
Integrated analytical methodology to investigate bioactive compounds in Crocus sativus L. flowers
Authors: Cusano Erica , Consonni Roberto , Petrakis Eleftherios A. , Astraka Konstantina , Cagliani Laura R. , Polissiou Moschos G. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe increasing interest on Crocus sativus L. over the last decades is caused by its potential employment as a source of biologically active molecules, endowed with antioxidant and nutraceutical properties. These molecules are present mainly in stigmas and tepals, these last generally considered as byproducts.ObjectiveTo characterise bioactive compounds in stigmas, stamens, and tepals of Crocus sativus L. for quality, cross‐contamination of tissues or fraudulent addition, joining spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.MethodologyFourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and Raman spectroscopies were initially employed, being very rapid in response; volatiles were more appropriately investigated by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), while finally nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high‐performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD) were adopted for a more thorough characterisation of secondary metabolites. NMR was also used to investigate the anthocyanins content in tepals upon acid extraction.ResultsThe results obtained highlighted the drying method as the dominant factor affecting the content of volatile constituents and contributing to the quality of saffron, while only slight differences were observed in the most abundant metabolites of stigmas, as well as in the anthocyanin content of tepals. In particular, for the first time, delphinidin and petunidin were detected by NMR in this latter tissue.ConclusionThe integrated analytical methodology here proposed, allowed to achieve a deeper level of compositional and structural details of secondary metabolites in Crocus sativus L. flowers.
Recognition of Melamine by Chromium Tricarbonyl (Thio)barbituric Acid Derivatives: Theoretical Insight into Multiple Hydrogen‐Bond Modes
Authors: Liu Yidan , Yuan Yizhong , Tian Xiaohui , Yuan Jianyong , Sun Jinyu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMelamine‐contaminated milk products continually emerge in recent years and cause disease. Therefore, how to swiftly and efficiently differentiate melamine from protein becomes an urgent issue. In this work, three neutral receptorsp‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde‐barbituric acid chromium tricarbonyl (PBC),p‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde‐2‐thiobarbituric acid chromium tricarbonyl (2‐PTC), andp‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde‐4‐thiobarbituric acid chromium tricarbonyl (4‐PTC) were constructed for recognition of melamine, and their non‐covalent interactions were systematically studied using density functional theory and several theoretical analysis methods. Our results suggest that melamine can be theoretically recognized by receptorsPBCand2‐/4‐PTCdue to the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds upon complexation, indicating the good detecting capability of the Cr(CO)3‐based (thio)barbituric acid moiety. Nevertheless, the IR analysis results show the receptors2‐/4‐PTCcannot distinctly detect melamine by evident frequency shift of metal carbonyl. Therefore, we further proposed a structural modification strategy by introducing the cyano group into the (thio)barbituric acid moiety, and the corresponding IR analysis exhibits large frequency shift of metal carbonyl, indicating the potential of modified receptors in the infrared neutral molecular recognition of melamine. The results reported herein will be very useful in the design of potent receptors distinguishing melamine from protein.
Tailoring the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Peculiar Triplet Ground State Polybenzoid “Triangulene”
Authors: Sharma Vaishali , Som Narayan , Dabhi Shweta D , Jha Prafulla K 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn the present work we have studied the structural and electronic properties of recently synthesized elusive free standing triangulene using density functional theory. Triangulene, which is a type of graphene quantum dot, is a molecule with an even number of electrons and atoms but the structure of molecule is such that it is impossible to pair all these electrons. The spins of these two unpaired electrons have two possible orientations: triplet (ferromagnetic) and singlet (antiferromagnetic) state. From the first principles study of free standing triangulene, we found energetically, by koopman's theory of global reactivity descriptors and frequency calculations that triplet (ferromagnetic) is more stable than singlet (antiferromagnetic) which is in good agreement with the previous results. These elementary studies are technologically compatible as open shell graphene quantum dots could be useful in spintronic and magnetic carbon materials. Further we have also studied the influence of magnetic elements Fe, Co, Ni and Cu on triangulene for their applications in spintronics. Our results suggest that the transitional metal (TM) doped graphene quantum dot is interesting for information readout devices where the TM‐ion spin states can be used to store information.
Antibody response to Influenza booster vaccination in Franches‐Montagnes stallions supplemented with Equi‐Strath®: a randomized trial
Authors: van Dorland Hendrika A. , Zanoni Reto , Gerber Vinzenz , Jeannerat Elise , Wiederkehr Danja , Burger Dominik 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBio‐Strath®is a plasmolyzed yeast product enriched with herbs, malt, honey and orange juice. In this study, the effect of Equi‐Strath®, the adapted product for horses, on the equine immune system was evaluated. A routine influenza booster vaccination was used as a model to study the effects of Equi‐Strath®supplementation on the immune response. Twenty healthy Franches‐Montagnes stallions with pre‐existing antibody levels were randomly divided into a study group (SG,n = 10) receiving 0.06 mL/kg bodyweight of Equi‐Strath®, and a control group (CG,n = 10), receiving the same amount of placebo, daily. The supplement and placebo were given from week 1 until week 14 of the trial. After 10 weeks, the horses were vaccinated with a commercial vaccine containing equine influenza strains of the H3N8 subtype. Antibody titres in blood were measured at day 0 before vaccination, and 14 and 32 days after vaccination. In addition, a complete blood count (CBC) was performed on day 0 and day 32. A linear increase of haemagglutination inhibition titres in both groups was observed after vaccination, but with no difference between treatment groups.CBCcomponents remained unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, daily Equi‐Strath®supplementation did not affect the adaptive immune response in stallions after a routine commercial H3N8 influenza booster vaccination.
A Review of Carbon-Composited Materials as Air-Electrode Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Metal–Air Batteries
Authors: Wang Yan-Jie , Fang Baizeng , Zhang Dan , Li Aijun , Wilkinson David P. , Ignaszak Anna , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jiujun 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMetal–air batteries (MABs), particularly rechargeable MABs, have gained renewed interests as a potential energy storage/conversion solution due to their high specific energy, low cost, and safety. The development of MABs has, however, been considerably hampered by its relatively low rate capability and its lack of efficient and stable air catalysts in which the former stems mainly from the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the latter stems from the corrosion/oxidation of carbon materials in the presence of oxygen and high electrode potentials. In this review, various carbon-composited bifunctional electrocatalysts are reviewed to summarize progresses in the enhancement of ORR/OER and durability induced by the synergistic effects between carbon and other component(s). Catalyst mechanisms of the reaction processes and associated performance enhancements as well as technical challenges hindering commercialization are also analyzed. To facilitate further research and development, several research directions for overcoming these challenges are also proposed.
Role of Hand Hygiene Ambassador and Implementation of Directly Observed Hand Hygiene Among Residents in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Vincent C. C. , Chen Hong , Wong Shuk-Ching , Chen Jonathan H. K. , Ng Wing-Chun , So Simon Y. C. , Chan Tuen-Ching , Wong Sally C. Y. , Ho Pak-Leung , Mody Lona , Chan Felix H. W. , Wong Andrew T. Y. , Yuen Kwok-Yung 
Published: February 2018

OBJECTIVEMultidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are increasingly reported in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs). We assessed whether implementation of directly observed hand hygiene (DOHH) by hand hygiene ambassadors can reduce environmental contamination with MDROs.METHODSFrom July to August 2017, a cluster-randomized controlled study was conducted at 10 RCHEs (5 intervention versus 5 nonintervention controls), where DOHH was performed at two-hourly intervals during daytime, before meals and medication rounds by a one trained nurse in each intervention RCHE. Environmental contamination by MRDOs, such as methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA), carbapenem-resistantAcinetobacter species(CRA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamse (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae, was evaluated using specimens collected from communal areas at baseline, then twice weekly. The volume of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) consumed per resident per week was measured.RESULTSThe overall environmental contamination of communal areas was culture-positive for MRSA in 33 of 100 specimens (33%), CRA in 26 of 100 specimens (26%), and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in 3 of 100 specimens (3%) in intervention and nonintervention RCHEs at baseline. Serial monitoring of environmental specimens revealed a significant reduction in MRSA (79 of 600 [13.2%] vs 197 of 600 [32.8%];P<.001) and CRA (56 of 600 [9.3%] vs 94 of 600 [15.7%];P=.001) contamination in the intervention arm compared with the nonintervention arm during the study period. The volume of ABHR consumed per resident per week was 3 times higher in the intervention arm compared with the baseline (59.3±12.9 mL vs 19.7±12.6 mL;P<.001) and was significantly higher than the nonintervention arm (59.3±12.9 mL vs 23.3±17.2 mL;P=.006).CONCLUSIONSThe direct observation of hand hygiene of residents could reduce environmental contamination by MDROs in RCHEs.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2018;39:571–577
Another perspective on the age and origin of the Berelyokh mammoth site (northeast Siberia)
Authors: Lozhkin Anatoly V. , Anderson Patricia M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe Berelyokh site includes an exceptional bone horizon consisting of 8431 remains of Mammuthus primigenius. Previous investigations, spanning ~40 years, concluded that the deaths and bone concentration were caused by spring flooding, possibly related to wetter Bølling climates. We review work from these studies with emphasis on under-reported palynological data to provide more detail on paleoenvironmental reconstructions and an alternative interpretation for the age and origin of the bone bed. Palynological results suggest the horizon formed under cool conditions of the last glacial maximum, rather than during a Bølling-type oscillation. Presence of permafrost features and associated tundra pollen taxa in the Berelyokh sections suggest that thermokarst processes, unrelated to climate change, could account for the formation of the bone horizon. The penetration of surface waters into frozen sediments of a high floodplain terrace resulted in the formation of hidden thaw sinks. As thaw continued, the pits expanded with surface soils supported by a viscous water-sediment mixture. The weakened surface gave way under the weight of the mammoths, with the hillside collapsing either due to the animals’ struggles or destabilization related to the thaw sinks. This scenario highlights the hazards of thermokarst terrain for present and future populations of northern animals.
Procedures, Products and Pictures
Authors: Harré Rom , Llored Jean-Pierre 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn several recent publications in the philosophy of chemistry we have made use of a repertoire of analytical concepts to guide our investigations. Perhaps studies of other sophisticated knowledge garnering practices could benefit from adopting this analytical scheme if we want to understand their merits and drawbacks. Our suggestions for shaping methodologies for philosophical studies in particular fields of interest includes both the natural sciences, legal systems in action, economies and their management, warfare, preparing the dishes of a cuisine, and so on. Adopting our proposals would encourage philosophers to examine our world seen as fields of material and cultural/social entities affording opportunities for action. At a certain level of analysis, the products of such action, appear to be perfectly identical entities, fungibles. There are no fungibles in nature. They must therefore be thought of as constituents of iconic models. Our scheme for critically examining the practices of investigators is meant to ensure the intelligibility both of the relevant discourse and the trustworthiness of the practices of the discipline in question. The Third Wittgenstein's ‘hinges’ that function as necessities and yet are vulnerable to empirical assessment provide a generic frame for analyses of human practices.
Does thinner right entorhinal cortex underlie genetic liability to cannabis use?
Authors: Paul Subhadip , Bhattacharyya Sagnik 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundAlthough alterations in medial temporal lobe structures have been previously associated with use of cannabis, one of the most widely used illicit drugs, whether such alterations are a cause or effect of cannabis use has been unclear.MethodsIn this cross-sectional observational study involving 404 twins/siblings, we have compared cortical thickness and surface area between groups of gender-matched sibling-pairs (concordant cannabis unexposed, concordant exposed and discordant for cannabis exposure) using permutation tests after controlling for potential confounds. Bi-variate polygenic model was used to assess the genetic and environmental contributions underlying cortical morphological phenotypes and frequency of cannabis use.ResultsCortical thickness of the right entorhinal cortex was significantly lower in the concordant exposed siblings compared to both discordant unexposed and discordant exposed groups [false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected, q < 0.05]. The association between the right entorhinal cortex thickness and frequency of cannabis use is due to the contribution of significant shared additive genetic (ρg = −0.19 ± 0.08; p = 0.02) factors but not unique environment (ρe = 0.05 ± 0.09; p = 0.53). Significantly lower surface area of the right entorhinal cortex in discordant exposed group compared with the discordant unexposed group furnishes preliminary evidence in support of causal effect of cannabis use (FDR-corrected, q < 0.05). However, bi-variate polygenic model-based analysis did not show any significant effect.ConclusionsShared genetic liability may underlie the association between cannabis exposure and thinner right entorhinal cortex. Prospective longitudinal studies are necessary to definitively disentangle the cause–effect relationships of cannabis use.
Is the Binding Pattern of Zinc(II) Equal in Different Bryophyte Species?
Authors: Sabovljević Marko S. , Weidinger Marieluise , Sabovljević Aneta D. , Adlassnig Wolfram , Lang Ingeborg 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBryophytes are usually taken as good bioindicators. However, they represent a large group of terrestrial plants and they express an enormous range of peculiarities within the plant kingdom. With the aim to search for a common pattern of zinc binding, we established axenical in vitro cultures of a dozen bryophyte species that include hornworts, thallose, and leafy liverworts, as well as acrocarp and pleurocarp mosses. The species were grown free of contaminants for many years prior to the application of different treatments, i.e. offering Zn(II) from solid and liquid media and in combination with different anions. The localization and binding of zinc was detected by confocal microscopy using the zinc-specific dye FluoZin™-3. In one of the species, Hypnum cupressiforme (which is widely used for atmospheric heavy metal deposition studies in biomonitoring), semi-quantitative analyses of zinc were performed by energy dispersive X-ray microspectrometry (EDX) in a scanning electron microscope. The results suggest no common pattern of Zn(II) binding in different bryophyte species. Instead, the binding pattern seems to be species specific. Zinc is located in certain areas or cellular compartments, as clearly shown by the EDX measurements in H. cupressiforme.