bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fingolimod-induced decrease in heart rate may predict subsequent decreasing degree of lymphocytes
Authors: Ikeda Tokunori , Kakuma Tatsuyuki , Watari Mari , Ando Yukio 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHere, we determined whether degree of decreased heart rate due to fingolimod treatment correlates with decreasing degree of lymphocytes in relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In total, 30 patients with RRMS were treated with 0.5 mg fingolimod and their heart rate recorded every 30 minutes for 24 hours. Time trends of heart rate were characterised as three individual amplitudes and phase angles from three cosine curves using a mixed-effect model. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to determine the effect of heart rate information on change in lymphocyte count pre- and post-fingolimod treatment. Moreover, the degree of decreased lymphocytes induced by fingolimod treatment on heart rate was compared between low and high influence groups. Positive correlation between amplitude from the second curve and difference in lymphocyte number (p = 0.006) was observed. Regression analysis was also significant (p = 0.002). Moreover, the second curve derived from the high amplitude group exhibited a greater decrease in lymphocyte number after fingolimod treatment than the low amplitude group (p < 0.001). We suggest that the degree of decreased lymphocytes after fingolimod treatment (main effect) may be predicted by estimating the influence of degree in heart rate (side effect).
Influence of irrigation conditions in the germination of plasma treated Nasturtium seeds
Authors: Molina Ricardo , López-Santos Carmen , Gómez-Ramírez Ana , Vílchez Alberto , Espinós Juan Pedro , González-Elipe Agustín R. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPlasma treatments had emerged as a useful technique to improve seed germination. In this work we investigate the influence of different irrigation conditions and plasma treatments on the germination of nasturtium seeds. During plasma treatment, seeds experience a progressive weight loss as a function of treatment time that has been associated to water release, a process that is more pronounced after longer plasma treatment times. Seeds treated for short times (<30 s) are able to germinate more efficiently than untreated specimen under hydric stress (drought conditions), while plasma treatments for longer times (up to 300 s) impaired germination independently on irrigation conditions. Characterization analysis of plasma treated seeds by FTIR-ATR, SEM/EDX and XPS showed that plasma treatment affected the chemical state of pericarp while, simultaneously, induced a considerable increase in the seeds water uptake capacity. The decrease in germination efficiency found after plasma treatment for long times, or for short times under optimum irrigation conditions, has been attributed to that the excess of water accumulated in the pericarp hampers the diffusion up to the embryo of other agents like oxygen which are deemed essential for germination.
Polydisperse Microparticle Transport and Deposition to the Terminal Bronchioles in a Heterogeneous Vasculature Tree
Authors: Islam Mohammad S. , Saha Suvash C. , Gemci Tevfik , Yang Ian A. , Sauret Emilie , Gu Y. T. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe atmospheric particles from different sources, and the therapeutic particles from various drug delivery devices, exhibit a complex size distribution, and the particles are mostly polydisperse. The limited available in vitro, and the wide range of in silico models have improved understanding of the relationship between monodisperse particle deposition and therapeutic aerosol transport. However, comprehensive polydisperse transport and deposition (TD) data for the terminal airways is still unavailable. Therefore, to benefit future drug therapeutics, the present numerical model illustrates detailed polydisperse particle TD in the terminal bronchioles for the first time. Euler-Lagrange approach and Rosin-Rammler diameter distribution is used for polydisperse particles. The numerical results show higher deposition efficiency (DE) in the right lung. Specifically, the larger the particle diameter (dp > 5 μm), the higher the DE at the bifurcation area of the upper airways is, whereas for the smaller particle (dp < 5 μm), the DE is higher at the bifurcation wall. The overall deposition pattern shows a different deposition hot spot for different diameter particle. These comprehensive lobe-specific polydisperse particle deposition studies will increase understanding of actual inhalation for particle TD, which could potentially increase the efficiency of pharmaceutical aerosol delivery at the targeted position of the terminal airways.
Abundance of molecular triple ionization by double Auger decay
Authors: Roos A. Hult , Eland J. H. D. , Andersson J. , Squibb R. J. , Koulentianos D. , Talaee O. , Feifel R. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSystematic measurements of electron emission following formation of single 1s or 2p core holes in molecules with C, O, F, Si, S and Cl atoms show that overall triple ionization can make up as much as 20% of the decay. The proportion of triple ionization is observed to follow a linear trend correlated to the number of available valence electrons on the atom bearing the initial core hole and on closest neighbouring atoms, where the interatomic distance is assumed to play a large role. The amounts of triple ionization (double Auger decay) after 1s or 2p core hole formation follow the same linear trend, which indicates that the hole identity is not a crucial determining factor in the number of electrons emitted. The observed linear trend for the percentage of double Auger decay follows a predictive line equation of the form DA = 0.415 · Nve + 5.46.
Compensatory conservation measures for an endangered caribou population under climate change
Authors: Bauduin Sarah , McIntire Eliot , St-Laurent Martin-Hugues , Cumming Steven G. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractFuture human land use and climate change may disrupt movement behaviors of terrestrial animals, thereby altering the ability of individuals to move across a landscape. Some of the expected changes result from processes whose effects will be difficult to alter, such as global climate change. We present a novel framework in which we use models to (1) identify the ecological changes from these difficult-to-alter processes, as well as (2) the potential conservation measures that are best able to compensate for these changes. We illustrated this framework with the case of an endangered caribou population in Québec, Canada. We coupled a spatially explicit individual-based movement model with a range of landscape scenarios to assess the impacts of varying degrees of climate change, and the ability of conservation actions to compensate for such impacts on caribou movement behaviors. We found that (1) climate change impacts reduced movement potential, and that (2) the complete restoration of secondary roads inside protected areas was able to fully offset this reduction, suggesting that road restoration would be an effective compensatory conservation action. By evaluating conservation actions via landscape use simulated by an individual-based model, we were able to identify compensatory conservation options for an endangered species facing climate change.
High volume fly ash mortar containing nano-calcium carbonate as a sustainable cementitious material: microstructure and strength development
Authors: Yang Huashan , Che Yujun , Leng Faguang 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe mechanisms underlying the effects of nano-calcium carbonate (NC) on the strength of high volume fly ash (FA) mortar are discussed. Two NCs are used as 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of cementitious materials. Hydrated products of fly ash mortar containing NC was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal gravity (DTG) analysis. Results indicate that NC could improve strength of FA mortar due to the more rapid growth of hydrated products induced by NC through additional nucleation sites. Corresponding to the highest measured strength of FA mortar, the optimal contents of NC are around 2%. In addition, the presence of 2% NC improved the microstructure of FA mortar after 180 days due to the formation of calcium carbonaluminate hydrate.
PIWI proteins contribute to apoptosis during the UPR in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Gebert Magdalena , Bartoszewska Sylwia , Janaszak-Jasiecka Anna , Moszyńska Adrianna , Cabaj Aleksandra , Króliczewski Jarosław , Madanecki Piotr , Ochocka Renata J. , Crossman David K. , Collawn James F. , Bartoszewski Rafal 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSmall noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate a large portion of the human transcriptome. miRNAs have been shown to play an important role in the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular adaptive mechanism that is important in alleviating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and promoting cell recovery. Another class of small noncoding RNAs, the Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) together with PIWI proteins, was originally shown to play a role as repressors of germline transposable elements. More recent studies, however, indicate that P-element induced WImpy proteins (PIWI proteins) and piRNAs also regulate mRNA levels in somatic tissues. Using genome-wide small RNA next generation sequencing, cell viability assays, and caspase activity assays in human airway epithelial cells, we demonstrate that ER stress specifically up-regulates total piRNA expression profiles, and these changes correlate with UPR-induced apoptosis as shown by up-regulation of two pro-apoptotic factor mRNAs, CHOP and NOXA. Furthermore, siRNA knockdown of PIWIL2 and PIWIL4, two proteins involved in piRNA function, attenuates UPR-related cell death, inhibits piRNA expression, and inhibits the up-regulation of CHOP and NOXA mRNA expression. Hence, we provide evidence that PIWIL2 and PIWIL4 proteins, and potentially the up-regulated piRNAs, constitute a novel epigenetic mechanism that control cellular fate during the UPR.
The HamE scaffold positively regulates MpkB phosphorylation to promote development and secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Frawley Dean , Karahoda Betim , Sarikaya Bayram Özlem , Bayram Özgür 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are conserved signalling cascades in eukaryotes which regulate a myriad of processes in fungi from sexual reproduction to stress responses. These pathways rely on recruitment of three kinases on a scaffold protein to facilitate efficient kinase phosphorylation and subsequent downstream signalling to the nucleus. The model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans utilises a MAPK pathway termed the pheromone module to regulate both development and secondary metabolism. This complex consists of the MAP3K (SteC), MAP2K (MkkB), MAPK (MpkB) and adaptor protein SteD. To date, there has been no scaffold protein identified for this MAPK pathway. In this study, we characterised a protein termed HamE, which we propose as a scaffold that regulates kinase phosphorylation and signalling in the pheromone module. Mass spectrometry analysis and BIFC experiments revealed that HamE physically interacts with both MkkB and MpkB and transiently interacts with SteC. Deletion of hamE or any of the pheromone module kinases results in reduced sporulation and complete abolishment of cleistothecia production. Mutants also exhibited reductions in expression of secondary metabolite gene clusters, including the velvet complex and sterigmatocystin genes. HamE acts as a positive regulator of MpkB phosphorylation, allowing for HamE to subsequently regulate development and secondary metabolism.
Causal Evidence for the Dependence of the Magnitude Effect on Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Ballard Ian C. , Aydogan Gökhan , Kim Bokyung , McClure Samuel M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractImpulsivity refers to the tendency to insufficiently consider alternatives or to overvalue rewards that are available immediately. Impulsivity is a hallmark of human decision making with well documented health and financial ramifications. Numerous contextual changes and framing manipulations powerfully influence impulsivity. One of the most robust such phenomenon is the finding that people are more patient as the values of choice options are increased. This magnitude effect has been related to cognitive control mechanisms in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). We used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to transiently disrupt dlPFC neural activity. This manipulation dramatically reduced the magnitude effect, establishing causal evidence that the magnitude effect depends on dlPFC.
Automatic Verification of the Gradient Table in Diffusion-Weighted MRI Based on Fiber Continuity
Authors: Aganj Iman 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), the coordinate systems where the image and the diffusion gradients are represented may be inconsistent, thus impacting the quality of subsequent fiber tracking and connectivity analysis. Empirical verification of the reconstructed fiber orientations and subsequent correction of the gradient table (by permutation and flipping), both time-consuming tasks, are therefore often necessary. To save manual labor in studies involving dMRI, we introduce a new automatic gradient-table verification approach, which we propose to include in the dMRI processing pipeline. To that end, we exploit the concept of fiber continuity – the assumption that, in the fibrous tissue (such as the brain white matter), fiber bundles vary smoothly along their own orientations. Our tractography-free method tries all possible permutation and flip configurations of the gradient table, and in each case, assesses the consistency of the reconstructed fiber orientations with fiber continuity. Our algorithm then suggests the correct gradient table by choosing the configuration with the most consistent fiber orientations. We validated our method in 185 experiments on human brain dMRI data form three public data sources. The proposed algorithm identified the correct permutation and flip configuration for the gradient table in all the experiments.
Inducing controlled cell cycle arrest and re-entry during asexual proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites
Authors: van Biljon Riëtte , Niemand Jandeli , van Wyk Roelof , Clark Katherine , Verlinden Bianca , Abrie Clarissa , von Grüning Hilde , Smidt Werner , Smit Annél , Reader Janette , Painter Heather , Llinás Manuel , Doerig Christian , Birkholtz Lyn-Marié 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe life cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is tightly regulated, oscillating between stages of intense proliferation and quiescence. Cyclic 48-hour asexual replication of Plasmodium is markedly different from cell division in higher eukaryotes, and mechanistically poorly understood. Here, we report tight synchronisation of malaria parasites during the early phases of the cell cycle by exposure to DL-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which results in the depletion of polyamines. This induces an inescapable cell cycle arrest in G1 (~15 hours post-invasion) by blocking G1/S transition. Cell cycle-arrested parasites enter a quiescent G0-like state but, upon addition of exogenous polyamines, re-initiate their cell cycle. This ability to halt malaria parasites at a specific point in their cell cycle, and to subsequently trigger re-entry into the cell cycle, provides a valuable framework to investigate cell cycle regulation in these parasites. We subsequently used gene expression analyses to show that re-entry into the cell cycle involves expression of Ca2+-sensitive (cdpk4 and pk2) and mitotic kinases (nima and ark2), with deregulation of the pre-replicative complex associated with expression of pk2. Changes in gene expression could be driven through transcription factors MYB1 and two ApiAP2 family members. This new approach to parasite synchronisation therefore expands our currently limited toolkit to investigate cell cycle regulation in malaria parasites.
Viscosity measurement of Xanthan–Poly(vinyl alcohol) mixture and its effect on the mechanical properties of the hydrogel for 3D modeling
Authors: Shimizu Yasutomo , Tanabe Tadao , Yoshida Hiroshi , Kasuya Motohiro , Matsunaga Tadao , Haga Yoichi , Kurihara Kazue , Ohta Makoto 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBiomodels made of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are demanded because they can represent the geometries and mechanical properties of human tissues realistically. Injecting and molding, commonly used in three-dimensional (3D) modeling, help to represent the blood vessels accurately. However, these techniques sometimes require higher pressures than the upper pressure limit of the dispensers for pouring in high viscosity materials; the material viscosity should therefore be lower. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the biomodels should be reproduced. This study proposes a PVA solution through the addition of xanthan gum (XG) for 3D modeling, which lowers liquid viscosity while maintaining the mechanical properties of biomodels. XG is known to facilitate the achievement of non-Newtonian fluidity; however, the effects of XG on a PVA solution and PVA hydrogel (PVA-H) are not confirmed. The viscosity measurement using 15 wt% PVA with XG solution (PVA/XG) shows that it will provide easier pouring than 17 wt% PVA solution. The tensile test using the PVA-H of PVA(15 wt%)/XG(0.2 wt%) reveals that the gel is comparable in Young’s modulus to 17 wt% PVA-H. X-ray diffraction shows the crystalline structures of the PVA/XG gel and PVA-H are identical. Thus, this PVA/XG would be useful for fabricating biomodels using injection molding techniques.
Depletion of regulatory T cells in ongoing paracoccidioidomycosis rescues protective Th1/Th17 immunity and prevents fatal disease outcome
Authors: Galdino Nayane A. L. , Loures Flávio V. , de Araújo Eliseu F. , da Costa Tania A. , Preite Nycolas W. , Calich Vera Lúcia G. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn human paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a primary fungal infection typically diagnosed when the disease is already established, regulatory T cells (Treg) cells are associated with disease severity. Experimental studies in pulmonary PCM confirmed the detrimental role of these cells, but in most studies, Tregs were depleted prior to or early during infection. These facts led us to study the effects of Treg cell depletion using a model of ongoing PCM. Therefore, Treg cell depletion was achieved by treatment of transgenic C57BL/6DTR/eGFP (DEREG) mice with diphtheria toxin (DT) after 3 weeks of intratracheal infection with 1 × 106Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeasts. At weeks 6 and 10 post-infection, DT-treated DEREG mice showed a reduced number of Treg cells associated with decreased fungal burdens in the lungs, liver and spleen, reduced tissue pathology and mortality. Additionally, an increased influx of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into the lungs and elevated production of Th1/Th17 cytokines was observed in DT-treated mice. Altogether, our data demonstrate for the first time that Treg cell depletion in ongoing PCM rescues infected hosts from progressive and potentially fatal PCM; furthermore, our data indicate that controlling Treg cells could be explored as a novel immunotherapeutic procedure.
Reading Disabilities in Adolescents and Adults
Authors: Saletta Meredith 
Published: November 2018

PurposeReading skills continue to develop into adolescence and adulthood. Difficulties in reading have lifelong repercussions. Many speech-language pathologists who work with older individuals in the school setting face significant issues, including those mandated by recent changes in legislation. Theoretical topics related to reading development and disorders include the variety of orthographic systems across languages and the ways in which adults who are literate in an alphabetic orthographic system experience changes to their spoken and written language processing. In addition, older readers with intellectual or developmental disabilities may benefit from the use of leveled books and the inclusion of illustrations or drawings along with text.MethodI completed a focused literature review regarding typical reading skills, dyslexia in adolescence and adulthood, recent changes in legislation, orthography, and the use of leveled books for adolescents and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.ConclusionsFurther study of reading in older individuals may lead to important theoretical and clinical applications. Speech-language pathologists should keep in mind the various components of reading (such as decoding and comprehension), how these factors relate to oral language, and how they may be addressed in therapy.
Investigation of wrapped effects on bow‐tie antenna with and without resistive loading for pulsed radar applications
Authors: Lee D. , Melek W. , Shaker G. 
Published: November 2018

The effects of the wrapped bow‐tie antenna with and without resistive loading are explored for pulsed radar applications. The antenna characteristics such as voltage standing wave ratio, input impedance, reflected pulse of the antennas and radiated electric field are investigated by fully wrapping the planar bow‐tie antenna. The antenna characteristics of the loaded antennas are shown to be robust with respect to the deformation of the planar bow‐tie antenna. The peak‐to‐peak antenna reflected voltages of the conventional bow‐tie planar antenna (PA) and bow‐tie wrapped antenna (WA) are 0.24 and 0.49 V, respectively, whereas those of the resistor‐loaded PA (RPA) and the resistor‐loaded WA (RWA) are 0.23 and 0.25 V, respectively. The calculated figure of merit of the PA and WA are −4.58 and −7.92 dB, respectively, whereas those of the RPA and RWA are −20 and −18.42 dB, respectively. On the basis of the performance evaluation, the pulse radiating performance of the resistively loaded antennas is shown to be stable with respect to the deformation of the planar bow‐tie antenna.
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays mass composition studies with the Telescope Array Surface Detector data
Authors: Zhezher Yana 
Published: October 2018

The results on ultra-high energy cosmic rays’ chemical composition based on the data from the Telescope Array surface detector are reported. The analysis is based the boosted decision tree (BDT) multivariate analysis built upon 14 observables related to both the properties of the shower front and the lateral distribution function. The multivariate classifier is trained with Monte-Carlo sets: proton-induced, which is considered as background events, and ironinduced, considered as signal events. The classifier results in a single variable ξ for data and Monte-Carlo sets, available for one-dimensional analysis. The data to Monte-Carlo comparison results in an average atomic mass of UHECR for energy range 1018:0 - 1020:0 eV. The average atomic mass of primary particles corresponds to 〈ln A〉 = 1:52±	0:08(stat.)±	0:1(syst.). The comparison with TA hybrid composition results and the other experiments is presented.
Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
Authors: Ludolph Albert C. 
Published: October 2018

Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen werden von vielen als schicksalhafte Konsequenz der veränderten Altersstruktur der Gesellschaft gesehen, die zu dem Preis gehören, den
wir für unsere gestiegene Lebenserwartung zahlen müssen. Wenngleich diese Annahme im Kern nicht zu bestreiten ist, haben jedoch einige Erkenntnisse der letzten
20 Jahre gezeigt, dass sie zumindest modifiziert werden muss.