bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of an AC dielectric barrier single micro-discharge filament over a water film
Authors: Vanraes Patrick , Nikiforov Anton , Bogaerts Annemie , Leys Christophe 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn the last decades, AC powered atmospheric dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in air with a liquid electrode have been proposed as a promising plasma technology with versatile applicability in medicine, agriculture and water treatment. The fundamental features of the micro-discharge filaments that make up this type of plasma have, however, not been studied yet in sufficient detail. In order to address this need, we investigated a single DBD micro-discharge filament over a water film in a sphere-to-sphere electrode configuration, by means of ICCD imaging and optical emission spectroscopy. When the water film temporarily acts as the cathode, the plasma duration is remarkably long and shows a clear similarity with a resistive barrier discharge, which we attribute to the resistive nature of the water film and the formation of a cathode fall. As another striking difference to DBD with solid electrodes, a constant glow-like plasma is observed at the water surface during the entire duration of the applied voltage cycle, indicating continuous plasma treatment of the liquid. We propose several elementary mechanisms that might underlie the observed unique behavior, based on the specific features of a water electrode.
Involvement of Endothelin 1 in Remote Preconditioning-Induced Cardioprotection through connexin 43 and Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Min , Gu Wei Wei , Hong Xing yu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe present study was aimed to explore the role of endothelins in remote preconditioning (RP)-induced myocardial protection in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. RP stimulus was given by subjecting hind limb to four cycles of ischemia and reperfuion (5 minutes each) using blood pressure cuff in male rats. Following RP, hearts were isolated and subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion on Langendorff apparatus. The extent of myocardial injury was determined by measuring the levels of LDH-1, CK-MB and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in coronary effluent; caspase-3 activity and Bcl 2 expression in heart (apoptosis); infarct size by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and contractility parameters including left ventricular developed pressure, dp/dtmax dp/dtmin and heart rate. RP reduced ischemia reperfusion-induced myocardial injury, increased the levels of endothelin 1 (in blood), Akt-P, GSK-3β-P and P-connexin 43 (in hearts). Pretreatment with ETA receptor antagonist, BQ 123 (1 and 2 mg/kg), ETB receptor antagonist, BQ 788 (1 and 3 mg/kg) and dual inhibitor of ETA and ETB receptor, bonsentan (25 and 50 mg/kg) abolished these effects of RP. However, the effects of bonsentan were more pronounced in comparison to BQ 123 and BQ 788. It is concluded that RP stimulus may release endothelin 1 in the blood, which may activate myocardial ETA and ETB receptors to trigger cardioprotection through connexin 43 and Akt/GSK-3β pathway.
Collective resonances near zero energy induced by a point defect in bilayer graphene
Authors: You Jhih-Shih , Tang Jian-Ming , Huang Wen-Min 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntrinsic defects give rise to scattering processes governing the transport properties of mesoscopic systems. We investigate analytically and numerically the local density of states in Bernal stacking bilayer graphene with a point defect. With Bernal stacking structure, there are two types of lattice sites. One corresponds to connected sites, where carbon atoms from each layer stack on top of each other, and the other corresponds to disconnected sites. From our theoretical study, a picture emerges in which the pronounced zero-energy peak in the local density of states does not attribute to zero-energy impurity states associated to two different types of defects but to a collective phenomenon of the low-energy resonant states induced by the defect. To corroborate this description, we numerically show that at small system size N, where N is the number of unit cells, the zero-energy peak near the defect scales as 1/lnN for the quasi-localized zero-energy state and as 1/N for the delocalized zero-energy state. As the system size approaches to the thermodynamic limit, the former zero-energy peak becomes a power-law singularity 1/|E| in low energies, while the latter is broadened into a Lorentzian shape. A striking point is that both types of zero-energy peaks decay as 1/r2 away from the defect, manifesting the quasi-localized character. Based on our results, we propose a general formula for the local density of states in low-energy and in real space. Our study sheds light on this fundamental problem of defects.
Substitution of linoleic acid with α-linolenic acid or long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid prevents Western diet induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Jeyapal Sugeedha , Kona Suryam Reddy , Mullapudi Surekha Venkata , Putcha Uday Kumar , Gurumurthy Puvaneswari , Ibrahim Ahamed 
Published: July 2018

AbstractImbalance in the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n-3 PUFA in the Western diet may increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigates the impact of substitution of linoleic acid with α-linolenic acid (ALA) or long chain (LC) n-3 PUFA and hence decreasing n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on high fat, high fructose (HFHF) diet induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed control diet, HFHF diet (n-6:n-3 ratio of 200), HFHF diet with ALA (n-6:n-3 ratio of 2) or HFHF diet with LC n-3 PUFA (n-6:n-3 ratio of 5) for 24 weeks. Rats fed HFHF diet with n-6:n-3 ratio of 200 resulted in hepatic steatosis, induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and oxidative stress accompanied by increase in markers of inflammation, plasma lipids and aminotransferase levels. Histopathological examination of liver further confirmed the establishment of NASH. ALA and LC n-3 PUFA supplementation prevented hepatic steatosis and dyslipidemia by inhibiting lipogenesis and increasing insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, n-3 PUFA supplementation attenuated hepatic oxidative stress by restoring antioxidant status, decreased inflammation and preserved hepatic architecture. These finding suggest that decreasing n-6:n-3 ratio prevented HFHF induced NASH by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation.
Uncertainty Quantification of Extratropical Forest Biomass in CMIP5 Models over the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Yang Cheng-En , Mao Jiafu , Hoffman Forrest M. , Ricciuto Daniel M. , Fu Joshua S. , Jones Chris D. , Thurner Martin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSimplified representations of processes influencing forest biomass in Earth system models (ESMs) contribute to large uncertainty in projections. We evaluate forest biomass from eight ESMs outputs archived in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) using the biomass data synthesized from radar remote sensing and ground-based observations across northern extratropical latitudes. ESMs exhibit large biases in the forest distribution, forest fraction, and mass of carbon pools that contribute to uncertainty in forest total biomass (biases range from −20 Pg C to 135 Pg C). Forest total biomass is primarily positively correlated with precipitation variations, with surface temperature becoming equally important at higher latitudes, in both simulations and observations. Relatively small differences in forest biomass between the pre-industrial period and the contemporary period indicate uncertainties in forest biomass were introduced in the pre-industrial model equilibration (spin-up), suggesting parametric or structural model differences are a larger source of uncertainty than differences in transient responses. Our findings emphasize the importance of improved (1) models of carbon allocation to biomass compartments, (2) distribution of vegetation types in models, and (3) reproduction of pre-industrial vegetation conditions, in order to reduce the uncertainty in forest biomass simulated by ESMs.
Response Surface Methodology-Genetic Algorithm Based Medium Optimization, Purification, and Characterization of Cholesterol Oxidase from Streptomyces rimosus
Authors: Srivastava Akanksha , Singh Vineeta , Haque Shafiul , Pandey Smriti , Mishra Manisha , Jawed Arshad , Shukla P. K. , Singh P. K. , Tripathi C. K. M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe applicability of the statistical tools coupled with artificial intelligence techniques was tested to optimize the critical medium components for the production of extracellular cholesterol oxidase (COD; an enzyme of commercial interest) fromStreptomyces rimosusMTCC 10792. The initial medium component screening was performed using Placket-Burman design with yeast extract, dextrose, starch and ammonium carbonate as significant factors. Response surface methodology (RSM) was attempted to develop a statistical model with a significant coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.89847), followed by model optimization using Genetic Algorithm (GA). RSM-GA based optimization approach predicted that the combination of yeast extract, dextrose, starch and ammonium carbonate at concentrations 0.99, 0.8, 0.1, and 0.05 g/100 ml respectively, has resulted in 3.6 folds increase in COD production (5.41 U/ml) in comparison with the un-optimized medium (1.5 U/ml). COD was purified 10.34 folds having specific activity of 12.37 U/mg with molecular mass of 54 kDa. The enzyme was stable at pH 7.0 and 40 °C temperature. The apparent Michaelis constant (Km) and Vmaxvalues of COD were 0.043 mM and 2.21 μmol/min/mg, respectively. This is the first communication reporting RSM-GA based medium optimization, purification and characterization of COD byS. rimosusisolated from the forest soil of eastern India.
Common and rare variants of WNT16, DKK1 and SOST and their relationship with bone mineral density
Authors: Martínez-Gil Núria , Roca-Ayats Neus , Monistrol-Mula Anna , García-Giralt Natàlia , Díez-Pérez Adolfo , Nogués Xavier , Mellibovsky Leonardo , Grinberg Daniel , Balcells Susana 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNumerous GWAS and candidate gene studies have highlighted the role of the Wnt pathway in bone biology. Our objective has been to study in detail the allelic architecture of three Wnt pathway genes: WNT16, DKK1 and SOST, in the context of osteoporosis. We have resequenced the coding and some regulatory regions of these three genes in two groups with extreme bone mineral density (BMD) (n = ∼50, each) from the BARCOS cohort. No interesting novel variants were identified. Thirteen predicted functional variants have been genotyped in the full cohort (n = 1490), and for ten of them (with MAF > 0.01), the association with BMD has been studied. We have found six variants nominally associated with BMD, of which 2 WNT16 variants predicted to be eQTLs for FAM3C (rs55710688, in the Kozak sequence and rs142005327, within a putative enhancer) withstood multiple-testing correction. In addition, two rare variants in functional regions (rs190011371 in WNT16b 3′UTR and rs570754792 in the SOST TATA box) were found only present in three women each, all with BMD below the mean of the cohort. Our results reinforce the higher importance of regulatory versus coding variants in these Wnt pathway genes and open new ways for functional studies of the relevant variants.
Increased testicular blood flow maintains oxygen delivery and avoids testicular hypoxia in response to reduced oxygen content in inspired air
Authors: Rizzoto G. , Hall C. , Tyberg J. V. , Thundathil J. C. , Caulkett N. A. , Kastelic J. P. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDespite a long-standing assertion that mammalian testes operate near hypoxia and increased testicular temperature causes frank hypoxia, we have preliminary evidence that changes are due to hyperthermia per se. The objective was to determine how variations in inspired oxygen concentration affected testicular blood flow, oxygen delivery and extraction, testicular temperature and lactate production. Eight rams were maintained under general anesthesia, with successive decreases in oxygen concentration in inspired air (100, 21 and 13%, respectively). As oxygen concentration decreased from 100 to 13%, there were increases in testicular blood flow (9.6 ± 1.7 vs 12.9 ± 1.9 ml/min/100 g of testis, P < 0.05; mean ± SEM) and conductance (normalized flow; 0.46 ± 0.07 to 1.28 ± 0.19 ml/min/mm Hg/100 g testis (P < 0.05). Increased testicular blood flow maintained oxygen delivery and increased testicular temperature by ~1 °C; this increase was correlated to increased testicular blood flow (r = 0.35, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, oxygen utilization increased concomitantly and there were no significant differences among oxygen concentrations in blood pH, HCO3− or base excess, and no effects of venous-arterial differences in lactate production. In conclusion, under acute hypoxic conditions, testes maintained oxygen delivery and uptake by increasing blood flow and oxygen extraction, with no evidence of anaerobic metabolism. However, additional studies are needed to determine longer-term responses and potential evidence of anaerobic metabolism at the molecular level.
Difference of Sagittal Alignment between Adolescents with Symptomatic Lumbar Isthmic Spondylolisthesis and the General Population
Authors: Zhao Jian , Xiao Yongqiang , Zhai Xiao , Chen Ziqiang , Li Ming 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis case-control study aimed to investigate differences in the sagittal spinal parameters between the symptomatic spondylolisthesis patients and the general population. Twenty-nine adolescent patients with symptomatic lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis were included. For each patient, two age-matched, gender-matched and BMI-matched controls were enrolled. Comparison analyses detected higher values in the case group for the following parameters: CL (−22.06 ± 7.552° versus −20.36 ± 7.016°, P < 0.001), T1 Slope (19.84 ± 8.708° versus 13.99 ± 6.537°, P = 0.001), PT (21.54 ± 9.082° versus 8.87 ± 7.863°, P < 0.001), PI (64.45 ± 13.957° versus 43.60 ± 9.669°, P < 0.001), SS (42.90 ± 9.183° versus 34.73 ± 8.265°, P < 0.001), LL (−50.82 ± 21.596° versus −43.78 ± 10.356°, P = 0.042), SVA (16.99 ± 14.625 mm versus 0.32 ± 31.824 mm, P = 0.009), L5 Slope (33.95 ± 13.567° versus 19.03 ± 6.809°, P < 0.001), and L5I (8.90 ± 6.556° versus 1.29 ± 6.726°, P < 0.001). Conversely, TS-CL (6.56 ± 6.716° versus 11.04 ± 7.085°, P = 0.006), cSVA (11.31 ± 6.867 mm versus 17.92 ± 11.832 mm, P = 0.007), and TLK (−2.66 ± 10.101° versus 2.71 ± 7.708°, P = 0.007) were smaller in the case group. Slippage percentage was most correlated with PI (r = 0.530, P = 0.003), followed by PT (r = 0.465, P = 0.011) and L5I (r = 0.433, P = 0.019). Results of binary logistic regression showed that the main risk factor of isthmic spondylolisthesis was PI (OR = 1.145, 95%CI = 1.083–1.210, P < 0.001). Further subgroup analysis also showed that PI was the main risk factor of isthmic spondylolisthesis in the female adolescents (OR = 1.237, 95%CI = 1.086–1.493, P = 0.003) and in the male adolescents (OR = 1.523, 95%CI = 1.093–2.123, P = 0.013). PI was the main risk factor for adolescent symptomatic isthmic spondylolisthesis in the Chinese Han adolescents. The greater PI indicated the higher the progressive risk of spondylolisthesis. In these isthmic spondylolisthesis adolescents, the body always inclined forward and lumbar and cervical lordosis increased.
Comparison between complete genomes of an isolate of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae from Japan and a New Zealand isolate of the pandemic lineage
Authors: Poulter Russell T. M. , Ho Joycelyn , Handley Thomas , Taiaroa George , Butler Margi I. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe modern pandemic of the bacterial kiwifruit pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) is caused by a particular Psa lineage. To better understand the genetic basis of the virulence of this lineage, we compare the completely assembled genome of a pandemic New Zealand strain with that of the Psa type strain first isolated in Japan in 1983. Aligning the two genomes shows numerous translocations, constrained so as to retain the appropriate orientation of the Architecture Imparting Sequences (AIMs). There are several large horizontally acquired regions, some of which include Type I, Type II or Type III restriction systems. The activity of these systems is reflected in the methylation patterns of the two strains. The pandemic strain carries an Integrative Conjugative Element (ICE) located at a tRNA-Lys site. Two other complex elements are also present at tRNA-Lys sites in the genome. These elements are derived from ICE but have now acquired some alternative secretion function. There are numerous types of mobile element in the two genomes. Analysis of these elements reveals no evidence of recombination between the two Psa lineages.
Cytokine Regulation in Human CD4 T Cells by the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Gq-Coupled Receptors
Authors: McAleer Jeremy P. , Fan Jun , Roar Bryanna , Primerano Donald A. , Denvir James 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTh17 cells contribute to host defense on mucosal surfaces but also provoke autoimmune diseases when directed against self-antigens. Identifying therapeutic targets that regulate Th17 cell differentiation and/or cytokine production has considerable value. Here, we study the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent transcriptome in human CD4 T cells treated with Th17-inducing cytokines. We show that the AhR reciprocally regulates IL-17 and IL-22 production in human CD4 T cells. Global gene expression analysis revealed that AhR ligation decreased IL21 expression, correlating with delayed upregulation of RORC during culture with Th17-inducing cytokines. Several of the AhR-dependent genes have known roles in cellular assembly, organization, development, growth and proliferation. We further show that expression of GPR15, GPR55 and GPR68 positively correlates with IL-22 production in the presence of the AhR agonist FICZ. Activation of GPR68 with the lorazepam derivative ogerin resulted in suppression of IL-22 and IL-10 secretion by T cells, with no effect on IL-17. Under neutral Th0 conditions, ogerin and the Gq/11 receptor inhibitor YM254890 blunted IL-22 induction by FICZ. These data reveal the AhR-dependent transcriptome in human CD4 T cells and suggest the mechanism through which the AhR regulates T cell function may be partially dependent on Gq-coupled receptors including GPR68.
Identification and characterization of known and novel microRNAs in strawberry fruits induced by Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Liang Yaoxin , Guan Yuhan , Wang Shaoxi , Li Yanjun , Zhang Zhihong , Li He 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMicroRNAs are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate mRNAs, mainly at the post-transcriptional level, and play an important role in resistance response of plants. To date, there are few reports on resistance response of strawberry miRNAs to pathogens. In this study, using high-throughput sequencing, 134 conserved and 35 novel miRNAs were identified in six libraries within the treatment ofBotrytis cinerea. A total 497 potential target genes were predicted usingFragaria vescagenome. Most of the differential expressed miRNAs in strawberry fruits were up-regulated in early libraries and down-regulated in late libraries.PIRL, the target gene of miR5290a, showed the opposite expressed trend compared with miR5290 from T1 to T3 libraries, and functional analysis of thePIRLgene shows that it has obvious resistance toB.cinereain the strawberry fruits with overexpressedPIRLgene. We speculate that miR5290a negatively regulates its target genePIRLto increase resistance to pathogen infection, and further analysis ofPIRLfunction is meaningful for studying the plant-pathogen relationship and improving strawberry fruit quality and yield.
Enhanced Corrosion Protection Performance by Organic-Inorganic Materials Containing Thiocarbonyl Compounds
Authors: Al Zoubi Wail , Ko Young Gun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn the present study, the synergistic effect on the corrosion protection properties of Mg alloys subjected to plasma electrolytic oxidation and chemically treated with thiourea as an inhibitor is investigated by surface microstructure analysis, evaluation of the electrochemical performance, and chemical quantum calculations. Physical adsorption of thiourea on the inorganic material surface might be due to physical interaction between thiourea with a low ionization potential serving as an electron donor and the inorganic components with high electron affinities acting as acceptors. The results from potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for organic-inorganic coating reveal a clear decrease in the corrosion rate owing to the introduced thiourea.
Runx1-Stat3 signaling regulates the epithelial stem cells in continuously growing incisors
Authors: Sarper Safiye E. , Inubushi Toshihiro , Kurosaka Hiroshi , Ono Minagi Hitomi , Kuremoto Koh-ichi , Sakai Takayoshi , Taniuchi Ichiro , Yamashiro Takashi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRodent incisors grow permanently and the homeostasis of enamel production is maintained by a continuous supply of epithelial progenitors from putative stem cells in the cervical loop. We herein report that Runx1 regulates the Lgr5-expressing epithelial stem cells and their subsequent continuous differentiation into ameloblasts. Mice deficient in epithelial Runx1 demonstrate remarkable shortening of the incisors with underdevelopment of the cervical loop and enamel defects. In this mutant cervical loop, the proliferation of the dental epithelium was significantly disturbed and the expression of Lgr5 and enamel matrix proteins was remarkably downregulated. Interestingly, the expression of Socs3, an inhibitor of Stat3 signaling, was upregulated and Stat3 phosphorylation was suppressed specifically in the mutant cervical loop. The expression of Lgr5 and the enamel matrix protein in the wild-type incisor germs is disturbed by pharmaceutical Stat3 inhibition in vitro., of. Conversely, pharmaceutical activation of Stat3 rescues the defective phenotypes of the Runx1 mutant with upregulated Lgr5 and enamel matrix protein genes. The present results provide the first evidence of the role of Runx1 regulates the Lgr5-expressing epithelial stem cells and differentiation of ameloblast progenitors in the developing incisors. Our study also demonstrates that Stat3 modulates the Runx1-Lgr5 axis in the cervical loop.