bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Confirmation of brain death using optical methods based on tracking of an optical contrast agent: assessment of diagnostic feasibility
Authors: Weigl Wojciech , Milej Daniel , Gerega Anna , Toczyłowska Beata , Sawosz Piotr , Kacprzak Michał , Janusek Dariusz , Wojtkiewicz Stanisław , Maniewski Roman , Liebert Adam 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe aimed to determine whether optical methods based on bolus tracking of an optical contrast agent are useful for the confirmation of cerebral circulation cessation in patients being evaluated for brain death. Different stages of cerebral perfusion disturbance were compared in three groups of subjects: controls, patients with posttraumatic cerebral edema, and patients with brain death. We used a time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy setup and indocyanine green (ICG) as an intravascular flow tracer. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was carried out to build statistical models allowing for group separation. Thirty of 37 subjects (81.1%) were classified correctly (8 of 9 control subjects, 88.9%; 13 of 15 patients with edema, 86.7%; and 9 of 13 patients with brain death, 69.2%; p < 0.0001). Depending on the combination of variables used in the OPLS-DA model, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 66.7–92.9%, 81.8–92.9%, and 77.3–89.3%, respectively. The method was feasible and promising in the demanding intensive care unit environment. However, its accuracy did not reach the level required for brain death confirmation. The potential usefulness of the method may be improved by increasing the depth of light penetration, confirming its accuracy against other methods evaluating cerebral flow cessation, and developing absolute parameters for cerebral perfusion.
The Kindlin-2 regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer metastasis is mediated through miR-200b
Authors: Sossey-Alaoui Khalid , Pluskota Elzbieta , Szpak Dorota , Schiemann William P. , Plow Edward F. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMetastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients, including breast cancer (BC). Despite recent progress in understanding the biological and molecular determinants of BC metastasis, effective therapeutic treatments are yet to be developed. Among the multitude of molecular mechanisms that regulate cancer metastasis, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program plays a key role in the activation of the biological steps leading to the metastatic phenotype. Kindlin-2 has been associated with the pathogenesis of several types of cancers, including BC. The role of Kindlin-2 in the regulation of BC metastasis, and to a lesser extent in EMT is not well understood. In this study, we show that Kindlin-2 is closely associated with the development of the metastatic phenotype in BC. We report that knockout of Kindlin-2 in either human or mouse BC cells, significantly inhibits metastasis in both human and mouse models of BC metastasis. We also report that the Kindlin-2-mediated inhibition of metastasis is the result of inhibition of expression of key molecular markers of the EMT program. Mechanistically, we show that miR-200b, a master regulator of EMT, directly targets and inhibits the expression of Kindlin-2, leading to the subsequent inhibition of EMT and metastasis. Together, our data support the targeting of Kindlin-2 as a therapeutic strategy against BC metastasis.
Complex housing causes a robust increase in dendritic complexity and spine density of medial prefrontal cortical neurons
Authors: Ashokan Archana , Lim Jamien Wee Han , Hang Nicholas , Mitra Rupshi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPrelimbic cortex and infralimbic cortex, parts of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, are critical brain regions for generating a flexible behavioral response to changing environmental contingencies. This includes the role of these brain structures in the extinction of learned fear, decision making and retrieval of remote memories. Dendritic structure of medial prefrontal cortex neurons retains significant structural plasticity in adulthood. This has been mainly demonstrated as dendritic atrophy and loss of dendritic spines due to chronic stress. It remains unknown if housing condition of the animals itself can cause opposing changes in the dendritic organization. In that backdrop, here we report that short-term increase in complexity of the housing causes a robust increase in complexity of dendritic architecture of prelimbic and infralimbic neurons. This is reflected in the dendritic expansion of prelimbic neurons and increase in spine density of prelimbic and infralimbic neurons. These results suggest that non-invasive changes in the housing environment can be harnessed to study brain reserves for the flexible and species-typical behaviors.
Considerations for Performing Level-2 Centiloid Transformations for Amyloid PET SUVR values
Authors: Schwarz Christopher G. , Tosakulwong Nirubol , Senjem Matthew L. , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Therneau Terry M. , Vemuri Prashanthi , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe Centiloid Project describes a post-hoc data transformation to standardize amyloid PET measurements to enable direct data comparisons across sites and studies using differing acquisition/analysis methods. It uses linear regression that transforms values using different measurement scales to match those from a standard Centiloid unit scale. Our group’s measurement method differs from the Centiloid’s standard method in both acquisition and analysis methods. In this work we examine multiple variations for performing these transformations and compare several approaches. We hypothesized that using Deming regression, which accounts for error on both axes, would produce a more optimal transformation than the recommended standard linear regression. We also examined the effects of performing separate regressions for differences in acquisition and analysis methods, rather than a direct single-regression approach. Our results found that all transformation approaches had very similar performance and were within the recommended tolerance thresholds.
Insight into the performance of multi-color InGaN/GaN nanorod light emitting diodes
Authors: Robin Y. , Bae S. Y. , Shubina T. V. , Pristovsek M. , Evropeitsev E. A. , Kirilenko D. A. , Davydov V. Yu. , Smirnov A. N. , Toropov A. A. , Jmerik V. N. , Kushimoto M. , Nitta S. , Ivanov S. V. , Amano H. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe report on the thorough investigation of light emitting diodes (LEDs) made of core-shell nanorods (NRs) with InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) in the outer shell, which are grown on patterned substrates by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. The multi-bands emission of the LEDs covers nearly the whole visible region, including UV, blue, green, and orange ranges. The intensity of each emission is strongly dependent on the current density, however the LEDs demonstrate a rather low color saturation. Based on transmission electron microscopy data and comparing them with electroluminescence and photoluminescence spectra measured at different excitation powers and temperatures, we could identify the spatial origination of each of the emission bands. We show that their wavelengths and intensities are governed by different thicknesses of the QWs grown on different crystal facets of the NRs as well as corresponding polarization-induced electric fields. Also the InGaN incorporation strongly varies along the NRs, increasing at their tips and corners, which provides the red shift of emission. With increasing the current, the different QW regions are activated successively from the NR tips to the side-walls, resulting in different LED colors. Our findings can be used as a guideline to design effectively emitting multi-color NR-LEDs.
Monoaminergic levels at the forebrain and diencephalon signal for the occurrence of mutualistic and conspecific engagement in client reef fish
Authors: Abreu Murilo S. , Messias João P. M. , Thörnqvist Per-Ove , Winberg Svante , Soares Marta C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSocial interactions are commonly found among fish as in mammals and birds. While most animals interact socially with conspecifics some however are also frequently and repeatedly observed to interact with other species (i.e. mutualistic interactions). This is the case of the (so-called) fish clients that seek to be cleaned by other fish (the cleaners). Clients face an interesting challenge: they raise enough motivation to suspend their daily activities as to selectively visit and engage in interactions with cleaners. Here we aimed, for the first time, to investigate the region-specific brain monoaminergic level differences arising from individual client fish when facing a cleaner (interspecific context) compared to those introduced to another conspecific (socio-conspecific context). We show that monoaminergic activity differences occurring at two main brain regions, the diencephalon and the forebrain, are associated with fish clients’ social and mutualistic activities. Our results are the first demonstration that monoaminergic mechanisms underlie client fish mutualistic engagement with cleanerfish. These pathways should function as a pre-requisite for cleaning to occur, providing to clients the cognitive and physiological tools to seek to be cleaned.
Re-exploration of U’s Triangle Brassica Species Based on Chloroplast Genomes and 45S nrDNA Sequences
Authors: Kim Chang-Kug , Seol Young-Joo , Perumal Sampath , Lee Jonghoon , Waminal Nomar Espinosa , Jayakodi Murukarthick , Lee Sang-Choon , Jin Seungwoo , Choi Beom-Soon , Yu Yeisoo , Ko Ho-Cheol , Choi Ji-Weon , Ryu Kyoung-Yul , Sohn Seong-Han , Parkin Isobel , Yang Tae-Jin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe concept of U’s triangle, which revealed the importance of polyploidization in plant genome evolution, described natural allopolyploidization events inBrassicausing three diploids [B.rapa(A genome),B.nigra(B), andB.oleracea(C)] and derived allotetraploids [B.juncea(AB genome),B.napus(AC), andB.carinata(BC)]. However, comprehensive understanding ofBrassicagenome evolution has not been fully achieved. Here, we performed low-coverage (2–6×) whole-genome sequencing of 28 accessions ofBrassicaas well as ofRaphanus sativus[R genome] to explore the evolution of sixBrassicaspecies based on chloroplast genome and ribosomal DNA variations. Our phylogenomic analyses led to two main conclusions. (1) Intra-species-level chloroplast genome variations are low in the three allotetraploids (2~7 SNPs), but rich and variable in each diploid species (7~193 SNPs). (2) Three allotetraploids maintain two 45SnrDNA types derived from both ancestral species with maternal dominance. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the maternal origin of the AC chloroplast genome. Overall, this study clarifies the genetic relationships of U’s triangle species based on a comprehensive genomics approach and provides important genomic resources for correlative and evolutionary studies.
Isozyme-specific comprehensive characterization of transglutaminase-crosslinked substrates in kidney fibrosis
Authors: Tatsukawa Hideki , Otsu Risa , Tani Yuji , Wakita Ryosuke , Hitomi Kiyotaka 
Published: May 2018

AbstractChronic kidney disease is characterized by prolonged decline in renal function, excessive accumulation of ECM, and progressive tissue fibrosis. Transglutaminase (TG) is a crosslinking enzyme that catalyzes the formation of covalent bonds between glutamine and lysine residues, and is involved in the induction of renal fibrosis via the stabilization of ECM and the activation of TGF-β1. Despite the accumulating evidences indicating that TG2 is a key enzyme in fibrosis, genetic knockout of TG2 reduced by only 50% the elevated protein crosslinking and fibrous protein in renal fibrosis model, whereas treatment with TG inhibitor almost completely reduced these levels. Here, we also clarified the distributions of TG isozymes and their in situ activities and identified the isozyme-specific crosslinked substrates for both TG1 and TG2 in fibrotic kidney. We found that TG1 activity was markedly enhanced in renal tubular epithelium and interstitial areas, whereas TG2 activity increased only in the extracellular space. In total, 47 and 67 possible candidates were identified as TG1 and TG2 substrates, respectively, only in fibrotic kidney. Among them, several possible substrates related to renal disease and fibrosis were identified. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of renal fibrosis through the targeting of isozyme-specific TG substrates.
No evidence for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in male humans
Authors: Nowak Judyta , Pawłowski Bogusław , Borkowska Barbara , Augustyniak Daria , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe observations that testosterone might be immunosuppressive, form the basis for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). According to ICHH only high-quality individuals can maintain high levels of testosterone and afford the physiological cost of hormone-derived immunosuppression. The animal and human studies that attempted to support the ICHH by precisely defined impairment of immunity associated with high testosterone levels are inconclusive. Furthermore, human studies have used only selected immune functions and varying testosterone fractions. This is the first study examining the relationship between multiple innate and adaptive immunity and serum levels of free testosterone, total testosterone, DHT and DHEA in ninety-seven healthy men. Free testosterone and marginally DHT levels were positively correlated with the strength of the influenza post-vaccination response. Total testosterone and DHEA showed no immunomodulatory properties. Our findings did not support ICHH assumptions about immunosuppressive function of androgens. In the affluent society studied here, men with higher levels of free testosterone could afford to invest more in adaptive immunity. Since the hormone-immune relationship is complex and may depend on multiple factors, including access to food resources, androgens should be treated as immunomodulators rather than implicit immunosuppressants.
Different rearing conditions alter gut microbiota composition and host physiology in Shaoxing ducks
Authors: Wang Shumei , Chen Li , He Maozhang , Shen Junda , Li Guoqin , Tao Zhengrong , Wu Rurong , Lu Lizhi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEmerging evidences have linked the gut microbiota to poultry physiology. Gut microbiota composition in Shaoxing ducks were profiled under different rearing conditions: raised on the litter floor and the plastic mesh floor. A total of 46 and 39 luminal content samples from the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared under the two conditions were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis. Proteobacteria (48.66%), Proteobacteria (33.38%), and Bacteroidetes (55.35%) were the dominant phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the litter floor respectively, while Firmicutes (30.80%), Firmicutes (66.62%) and Bacteroidetes (47.15%) were the topmost phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the plastic mesh floor. Physiologically, the height of villi and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum and duodenum were significantly greater in the ducks reared on plastic mesh floor. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the gut microbiota was significantly associated with the duck phenotypes, such as chest depth and serum estradiol levels (p < 0.05), which were altered by the different rearing conditions. Collectively, our results showed that the rearing floor types have an important effect on the gastrointestinal microbial composition of ducks.
Genomic epidemiology of Shigella in the United Kingdom shows transmission of pathogen sublineages and determinants of antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Baker Kate S. , Dallman Timothy J. , Field Nigel , Childs Tristan , Mitchell Holly , Day Martin , Weill François-Xavier , Lefèvre Sophie , Tourdjman Mathieu , Hughes Gwenda , Jenkins Claire , Thomson Nicholas 
Published: May 2018

AbstractShigella are globally important diarrhoeal pathogens that are endemic in low-to-middle income nations and also occur in high income nations, typically in travellers or community-based risk-groups. Shigella phylogenetics reveals population structures that are more reliable than those built with traditional typing methods, and has identified sublineages associated with specific geographical regions or patient groups. Genomic analyses reveal temporal increases in Shigella antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene content, which is frequently encoded on mobile genetic elements. Here, we whole genome sequenced representative subsamples of S. flexneri 2a and S. sonnei (n = 366) from the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2014, and analysed these alongside publicly available data to make qualitative insights on the genomic epidemiology of shigellosis and its AMR within the broader global context. Combined phylogenetic, epidemiological and genomic anlayses revealed the presence of domestically-circulating sublineages in patient risk-groups and the importation of travel-related sublineages from both Africa and Asia, including ciprofloxacin-resistant sublineages of both species from Asia. Genomic analyses revealed common AMR determinants among travel-related and domestically-acquired isolates, and the evolution of mutations associated with reduced quinolone susceptibility in domestically-circulating sublineages. Collectively, this study provides unprecedented insights on the contribution and mobility of endemic and travel-imported sublineages and AMR determinants responsible for disease in a high-income nation.
Supremum of block entanglement for symmetric Gaussian states
Authors: Kao Jhih-Yuan , Chou Chung-Hsien 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFor a system composed of permutationally symmetric Gaussian modes, by identifying the boundary of valid states and making necessary change of variables, the existence and exact value of the supremum of logarithmic negativity (and negativity likewise) between any two blocks can be shown analytically. Involving only the total number of interchangeable modes and the sizes of respective blocks, this result is general and easy to be applied for such a class of states.
Relevance of arginine residues in Cu(II)-induced DNA breakage and Proteinase K resistance of H1 histones
Authors: Piscopo Marina , Trifuoggi Marco , Scarano Carmela , Gori Carla , Giarra Antonella , Febbraio Ferdinando 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis work analyzes the involvement of arginines in copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage. Copper is a highly redox active metal which has been demonstrated to form compounds with arginines. For this aim we used mixtures of pGEM3 DNA plasmid and two types of H1 histones which differ only in their arginine content. The sperm H1 histone from the annelid worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (arginine content 12.6 mol% K/R ratio 2) and the somatic H1 histone from calf thymus (arginine content 1.8 mol% and K/R ratio 15). Copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage was observed only in presence of sperm H1 histones, but it was more relevant for the native molecule than for the deguanidinated derivative (K/R ratio 14), in which 80% of arginine residues were converted to ornithine. Further, copper induced proteinase K resistance and increase of DNA binding affinity on native sperm H1 histones. These observations are consistent with a copper induced reorganization of the side-chains of arginine residues. Copper, instead, did not affect DNA binding affinity of somatic and deguanidinated H1 histones, which show similar K/R ratio and DNA binding mode. These results indicate that arginine residues could affect these H1 histones properties and provide new insights into copper toxicity mechanisms.
A Novel Architecture for Carbon Nanotube Membranes towards Fast and Efficient Oil/water Separation
Authors: Saththasivam Jayaprakash , Yiming Wubulikasimu , Wang Kui , Jin Jian , Liu Zhaoyang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNT) are robust and proven as promising building blocks for oil/water separating membranes. However, according to classic fluid dynamic theory, achieving high permeation flux without sacrificing other membrane properties is a formidable challenge for CNT membranes, because of the trade-off nature among key membrane parameters. Herein, to relieve the trade-off between permeation fluxes, oil rejection rate, and membrane thickness, we present a new concept to engineer CNT membranes with a three-dimensional (3D) architecture. Apart from achieving high oil separation efficiency (>99.9%), these new oil/water separating membranes can achieve water flux as high as 5,500 L/m2.h.bar, which is one order of magnitude higher than pristine CNT membranes. Most importantly, these outstanding properties can be achieved without drastically slashing membrane thickness down to nanoscale. The present study sheds a new light for the adoption of CNT-based membranes in oil/water separation industry.
Inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and c-MET causes synthetic lethality in model systems of glioblastoma
Authors: Zhang Yiru , Ishida Chiaki Tsuge , Shu Chang , Kleiner Giulio , Sanchez-Quintero Maria J. , Bianchetti Elena , Quinzii Catarina M. , Westhoff Mike-Andrew , Karpel-Massler Georg , Siegelin Markus D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRecent data suggest that glioblastomas (GBM) activate the c-MET signaling pathway and display increased levels in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Therefore, targeting these two deregulated pathways for therapy might yield synergistic treatment responses. We applied extracellular flux analysis to assess tumor metabolism. We found that combined treatment with ABT263 and Crizotinib synergistically reduces the proliferation of glioblastoma cells, which was dependent on dual inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The combination treatment led to enhanced apoptosis with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases. On the molecular level, c-MET-inhibition results in significant energy deprivation with a reduction in oxidative phosphorylation, respiratory capacity and a suppression of intracellular energy production (ATP). In turn, loss of energy levels suppresses protein synthesis, causing a decline in anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 levels. Silencing of Mcl-1 enhanced ABT263 and MET-inhibitor mediated apoptosis, but marginally the combination treatment, indicating that Mcl-1 is the central factor for the induction of cell death induced by the combination treatment. Finally, combined treatment with BH3-mimetics and c-MET inhibitors results in significantly smaller tumors than each treatment alone in a PDX model system of glioblastoma. These results suggest that c-MET inhibition causes a selective vulnerability of GBM cells to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition.