bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired HDL Function Amplifies Systemic Inflammation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: Macpherson Magnhild E. , Halvorsen Bente , Yndestad Arne , Ueland Thor , Mollnes Tom E. , Berge Rolf K. , Rashidi Azita , Otterdal Kari , Gregersen Ida , Kong Xiang Y. , Holven Kirsten B. , Aukrust Pål , Fevang Børre , Jørgensen Silje F. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCommon variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency, characterized by inadequate antibody responses and recurrent bacterial infections. Paradoxically, a majority of CVID patients have non-infectious inflammatory and autoimmune complications, associated with systemic immune activation. Our aim was to explore if HDL, known to have anti-inflammatory properties, had impaired function in CVID patients and thereby contributed to their inflammatory phenotype. We found reduced HDL cholesterol levels in plasma of CVID patients compared to healthy controls, particularly in patients with inflammatory and autoimmune complications, correlating negatively with inflammatory markers CRP and sCD25. Reverse cholesterol transport capacity testing showed reduced serum acceptance capacity for cholesterol in CVID patients with inflammatory and autoimmune complications. They also had reduced cholesterol efflux capacity from macrophages to serum and decreased expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1. Human HDL suppressed TLR2-induced TNF release less in blood mononuclear cells from CVID patients, associated with decreased expression of transcriptional factor ATF3. Our data suggest a link between impaired HDL function and systemic inflammation in CVID patients, particularly in those with autoimmune and inflammatory complications. This identifies HDL as a novel therapeutic target in CVID as well as other more common conditions characterized by sterile inflammation or autoimmunity.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-gamma agonists exhibit anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects in an EcoHIV mouse model
Authors: Omeragic Amila , Kara-Yacoubian Nareg , Kelschenbach Jennifer , Sahin Cigdem , Cummins Carolyn L. , Volsky David J. , Bendayan Reina 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has resulted in significantly reduced deaths from HIV-1 associated complications and opportunistic infections. However, it is estimated that up to 50% of HIV-1 infected individuals still develop HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). With no treatment currently available for patients, there is a critical need to identify therapeutic approaches that can treat this disorder. Evidence suggests that targeting Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-gamma (PPARγ) can be anti-inflammatory in neurological disorders. Here we show that treatment with PPARγ agonists (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) in primary cultures of mouse glial cells reversed EcoHIV-induced inflammatory genes (TNFα, IL-1β, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL10) and indicator of oxidative stress (iNOS). Furthermore, in vivo, mice administered with EcoHIV through intracranial injection resulted in upregulation of inflammatory genes (TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL10) and oxidative stress marker (iNOS) in the brain which was reversed through intraperitoneal administration of PPARγ agonists (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone). Finally, we demonstrated that treatment with these compounds in vivo reduced EcoHIV p24 protein burden in the brain. Our results suggest that treatment with PPARγ agonists are anti-inflammatory and antiviral in an in vivo model of EcoHIV infection. These drugs hold promise as potential candidates for HAND treatment in the future.
Late positive complex in event-related potentials tracks memory signals when they are decision relevant
Authors: Yang Haopei , Laforge Geoffrey , Stojanoski Bobby , Nichols Emily S. , McRae Ken , Köhler Stefan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe Late Positive Complex (LPC) is an Event-Related Potential (ERP) consistently observed in recognition-memory paradigms. In the present study, we investigated whether the LPC tracks the strength of multiple types of memory signals, and whether it does so in a decision dependent manner. For this purpose, we employed judgements of cumulative lifetime exposure to object concepts, and judgements of cumulative recent exposure (i.e., frequency judgements) in a study-test paradigm. A comparison of ERP signatures in relation to degree of prior exposure across the two memory tasks and the study phase revealed that the LPC tracks both types of memory signals, but only when they are relevant to the decision at hand. Another ERP component previously implicated in recognition memory, the FN400, showed a distinct pattern of activity across conditions that differed from the LPC; it tracked only recent exposure in a decision-dependent manner. Another similar ERP component typically linked to conceptual processing in past work, the N400, was sensitive to degree of recent and lifetime exposure, but it did not track them in a decision dependent manner. Finally, source localization analyses pointed to a potential source of the LPC in left ventral lateral parietal cortex, which also showed the decision-dependent effect. The current findings highlight the role of decision making in ERP markers of prior exposure in tasks other than those typically used in studies of recognition memory, and provides an initial link between the LPC and the previously suggested role of ventral lateral parietal cortex in memory judgements.
Antifungal synergy of a topical triazole, PC945, with a systemic triazole against respiratory Aspergillus fumigatus infection
Authors: Colley Thomas , Sehra Gurpreet , Daly Leah , Kimura Genki , Nakaoki Takahiro , Nishimoto Yuki , Kizawa Yasuo , Strong Pete , Rapeport Garth , Ito Kazuhiro 
Published: July 2019

AbstractInvasive pulmonary Aspergillosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients and treatment outcomes using oral antifungal triazoles remain suboptimal. Here we show that combining topical treatment using PC945, a novel inhaled triazole, with systemic treatment using known triazoles demonstrated synergistic antifungal effects against Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) in an in vitro human alveolus bilayer model and in the lungs of neutropenic immunocompromised mice. Combination treatment with apical PC945 and either basolateral posaconazole or voriconazole resulted in a synergistic interaction with potency improved over either compound as a monotherapy against both azole-susceptible and resistant AF invasion in vitro. Surprisingly there was little, or no synergistic interaction observed when apical and basolateral posaconazole or voriconazole were combined. In addition, repeated prophylactic treatment with PC945, but not posaconazole or voriconazole, showed superior effects to single prophylactic dose, suggesting tissue retention and/or accumulation of PC945. Furthermore, in mice infected with AF intranasally, 83% of animals treated with a combination of intranasal PC945 and oral posaconazole survived until day 7, while little protective effects were observed by either compound alone. Thus, the combination of a highly optimised topical triazole with oral triazoles potentially induces synergistic effects against AF infection.
Exploring Notch Pathway to Elucidate Phenotypic Plasticity and Intra-tumor Heterogeneity in Gliomas
Authors: Chowdhury Saikat , Sarkar Ram Rup 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe phenotypic plasticity and self-renewal of adult neural (aNSCs) and glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are both known to be governed by active Notch pathway. During development, GSCs can establish differential hierarchy to produce heterogeneous groups of tumor cells belong to different grades, which makes the tumor ecosystem more complex. However, the molecular events regulating these entire processes are unknown hitherto. In this work, based on the mechanistic regulations of Notch pathway activities, a novel computational framework is introduced to inspect the intra-cellular reactions behind the development of normal and tumorigenic cells from aNSCs and GSCs, respectively. The developmental dynamics of aNSCs/GSCs are successfully simulated and molecular activities regulating the phenotypic plasticity and self-renewal processes in normal and tumor cells are identified. A novel scoring parameter “Activity Ratio” score is introduced to find out driver molecules responsible for the phenotypic plasticity and development of different grades of tumor. A new quantitative method is also developed to predict the future risk of Glioblastoma tumor of an individual with appropriate grade by using the transcriptomics profile of that individual as input. Also, a novel technique is introduced to screen and rank the potential drug-targets for suppressing the growth and differentiation of tumor cells.
Combinations of Plant Essential Oil Based Terpene Compounds as Larvicidal and Adulticidal Agent against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Sarma Riju , Adhikari Kamal , Mahanta Sudarshana , Khanikor Bulbuli 
Published: July 2019

AbstractInsecticidal plant-based compound(s)in combinations may show synergistic or antagonistic interactions against insect pest. Considering the rapid spread of theAedesborne diseases and increasing resistance amongAedespopulation against conventional insecticides, twenty-eight combinations of plant essential oil-based terpene compounds were prepared and tested against larval and adult stages ofAedes aegypti. Initially five plant essential oils (EOs) were assessed for their larvicidal and adulticidal efficacy and two of their major compounds from each EO were identified from GC-MS results. Identified major compounds namely Diallyldisulfide, Diallyltrisulfide, Carvone, Limonene, Eugenol, Methyl Eugenol, Eucalyptol, Eudesmol and α-pinene were purchased and tested individually againstA.aegypti. Binary combinations of these compounds were then prepared using sub-lethal doses, tested and their synergistic and antagonistic effects were determined. The best larvicidal compositions were obtained while Limonene was mixed with Diallyldisulfide and the best adulticidal composition was obtained while Carvone was mixed with Limonene. Commercially used synthetic larvicide “Temephos” and adulticide “Malathion” were tested individually and in binary combinations with the terpene compounds. The results revealed that the combination of Temephos and Diallyldisulfide and combination of Malathion and Eudesmol were the most effective combination. These effective combinations bear potential prospect to be used againstAedes aegypti.
Systematic discovery about NIR spectral assignment from chemical structural property to natural chemical compounds
Authors: Ma Lijuan , Peng Yanfang , Pei Yanling , Zeng Jingqi , Shen Haoran , Cao Junjie , Qiao Yanjiang , Wu Zhisheng 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSpectra-structure interrelationship is still the weakness of NIR spectral assignment. In this paper, a comprehensive investigation from chemical structural property to natural chemical compounds was carried out for NIR spectral assignment. Surprisingly, we discovered that NIR absorption frequency of the skeleton structure with sp2 hybridization is higher than one with sp3 hybridization. Specifically, substituent was another vital factor to be explored, the first theory discovery demonstrated that the absorption intensity of methyl substituted benzene at 2330 nm has a linear relationship with the number of substituted methyl C-H. The greater the number of electrons given to the substituents, the larger the displacement distance of absorption bands is. In addition, the steric hindrance caused by the substituent could regularly reduce the intensity of NIR absorption bands. Furthermore, the characteristic bands and group attribution of 29 natural chemical compounds from 4 types have been systematic assigned. These meaningful discoveries provide guidance for NIR spectral assignment from chemical structural property to natural chemical compounds.
Association of Sleep Duration with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Seo Sook Hyun , Shim Young Suk 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the relationships between sleep duration and overweight/obesity, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in children and adolescents. A total of 6,048 participants aged 10–18 years were divided into the following four sleep-duration groups based on age-specific sleep duration: i) very short; ii) short; iii) recommended; and iv) long. The participants in the very short sleep-duration group had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 1.76 for overweight/obesity, 1.69 for obesity, and 1.49 for elevated waist circumference (WC) compared with the recommended sleep-duration group. The subjects in the long sleep-duration group had an increased OR of 2.71 for elevated triglyceride (TG) compared with those in the recommended sleep-duration group. In subgroup analyses, boys in the very short sleep-duration group exhibited an increased OR of 1.78 for overweight/obesity compared with those in the recommended sleep-duration group. Compared with girls in the recommended sleep-duration group, those in the very short sleep-duration group exhibited an increased OR of 1.69 for overweight/obesity, 2.28 for obesity, and 1.57 for elevated WC; in contrast, girls in the very short sleep-duration group exhibited a decreased OR of 0.58 for elevated TG. The girls in the long sleep-duration group had an increased OR of 3.86 for elevated TG compared with those with recommended sleep-duration. Our results suggest that shorter sleep durations may be related to overweight/obesity, obesity, and central obesity, and longer sleep durations may be associated with elevated TG. However, the nature of these relationships may be dependent on sex.
A new treatment strategy for end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: IVC resection without reconstruction
Authors: Du Qiancheng , Wang Yanyan , Zhang Mengzhao , Chen Yichong , Mei Xuepeng , Li Yanfei , Zhou Ying , Fan Haining 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPatients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) infringing on the inferior vena cava (IVC) have a poor prognosis when radical resection cannot be performed because curative resection is limited by IVC reconstruction. There is little information concerning combined resection of the liver and the IVC. This study explored a novel treatment method for HAE infringing on the IVC and evaluated the safety and feasibility of combined resection of the liver and the IVC. A total of 13 patients were treated with liver resection combined with IVC resection for end-stage HAE between January 2016 and July 2018 at the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University. The demographic, clinical, and follow-up data were collected and analysed. The 13 patients underwent resection of the IVC without reconstruction. Of these, 3 exhibited oedema of both lower limbs and the scrotum (23.1%), 2 exhibited pneumothorax (15.4%), 1 exhibited bile leakage (7.7%), 1 exhibited bacteraemia (7.7%), and 1 developed abdominal haemorrhage that was stopped with conservative treatment (7.7%). There was 1 case of operation-related mortality because of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (7.7%), and no patients developed recurrence or had residual lesions. Liver resection combined with IVC resection is effective and feasible for patients with HAE infringing on the IVC.
Direct current-tunable MHz to multi-GHz skyrmion generation and control
Authors: Cheghabouri Arash Mousavi , Onbasli Mehmet C. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSkyrmions offer high density, low power, and nonvolatile memory functionalities due to their nanoscale and topologically-protected chiral spin structures. For integrated high-bandwidth devices, one needs to control skyrmion generation and propagation rates using current. Here, we introduce a skyrmion initialization and control method to generate periodic skyrmions from 114 MHz to 21 GHz using spin-polarized direct current. We first initialize a stable magnetic domain profile that is pinned between a notch and a rectangular constriction using a DC pulse. Next, we pass spin-polarized DC charge current to eject periodic skyrmions at a desired frequency. By changing the DC current density, we demonstrate in micromagnetic simulations that skyrmion generation frequencies can be controlled reversibly over more than seven octaves of frequencies. By using domain pinning and current-driven skyrmion motion, we demonstrate a highly tunable and DC-controlled skyrmion signal source, which pave the way towards ultra wideband, compact and integrated skyrmionic circuits.
Resonance tracking in a micromechanical device using phononic frequency combs
Authors: Ganesan Adarsh , Seshia Ashwin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMicro and nanomechanical resonators have been extensively researched in recent decades for applications to time and frequency references, as well as highly sensitive sensors. Conventionally, the operation of these resonant sensors is implemented using a feedback oscillator to dynamically track variations in the resonant frequency. However, this approach places limitations on the frequency stability of the output response, particularly owing to near-carrier noise shaping, limiting measurement stabilities at short-to-moderate integration times. Here, in this paper, utilizing the recent experimental demonstration of phononic frequency combs, we demonstrate an alternative resonance tracking approach with the potential to provide significant improvements in near-carrier phase noise and long-term stability. In addition, we also showcase comb dynamics mediated resonant frequency modulation which indirectly points to the possible control of inevitable noise processes including thermomechanical fluctuations. This resonant tracking approach may also have general applicability to a number of other physical oscillators.
Event boundaries do not cause the immediate extinction deficit after Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats
Authors: Totty Michael S. , Payne Martin R. , Maren Stephen 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRecent work reveals that the extinction of conditioned fear depends upon the interval between conditioning and extinction. Extinction training that takes place within minutes to hours after fear conditioning fails to produce a long-term extinction memory, a phenomenon known as the immediate extinction deficit (IED). Neurobiological evidence suggests that the IED results from stress-induced dysregulation of prefrontal cortical circuits involved in extinction learning. However, a recent study in humans suggests that an “event boundary” between fear conditioning and extinction protects the conditioning memory from interference by the extinction memory, resulting in high levels of fear during a retrieval test. Here, we contrast these hypotheses in rats by arranging extinction trials to follow conditioning trials with or without an event boundary; in both cases, extinction trials are delivered in proximity to shock-elicited stress. After fear conditioning, rats either received extinction trials 60-sec after the last conditioning trial (continuous, no event boundary) or 15-minutes after conditioning (segmented, a standard “immediate” extinction procedure associated with an event boundary). Both groups of animals showed decreases in conditional freezing to the auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) during extinction and exhibited an equivalent IED relative to non-extinguished controls when tested 48 hours later. Thus, eliminating the event boundary between conditioning and extinction with the continuous extinction procedure did not prevent the IED. These data suggest that the IED is the result of shock-induced stress, rather than boundary-induced reductions in memory interference.
Photobiomodulation therapy combined with carvedilol attenuates post-infarction heart failure by suppressing excessive inflammation and oxidative stress in rats
Authors: Grandinetti Vanessa , Carlos Fernando Pereira , Antonio Ednei Luiz , de Oliveira Helenita Antonia , dos Santos Luis Felipe Neves , Yoshizaki Amanda , Mansano Barbara Sampaio Dias Martins , Silva Flávio André , Porte Leslie Andrews , Albuquerque-Pontes Gianna Móes , de Carvalho Paulo de Tarso Camillo , Manchini Martha Trindade , Leal-Junior Ernesto Cesar , Tucci Paulo José Ferreira , Serra Andrey Jorge 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe post-myocardial infarction heart failure (HF) still carries a huge burden since current therapy is unsuccessful to abrogate poor prognosis. Thus, new approaches are needed, and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) may be a way. However, it is not known whether PBMt added to a standard HF therapy provides additional improvement in cardiac remodeling in infarcted rats. This study sought to determine the combined carvedilol-drug and PBMt with low-level laser therapy value in HF. Rats with large infarcts were treated for 30 days. The functional fitness was evaluated using a motorized treadmill. Echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements were used for functional evaluations of left ventricular (LV). ELISA, Western blot and biochemical assays were used to evaluate inflammation and oxidative stress in the myocardium. Carvedilol and PBMt had a similar action in normalizing pulmonary congestion and LV end-diastolic pressure, attenuating LV dilation, and improving LV systolic function. Moreover, the application of PBMt to carvedilol-treated rats inhibited myocardial hypertrophy and improved +dP/dt of LV. PBMt alone prevented inflammation with a superior effect than carvedilol. Carvedilol and PBMt normalized 4-hydroxynonenal (a lipoperoxidation marker) levels in the myocardium. However, importantly, the addition of PBMt to carvedilol attenuated oxidized protein content and triggered a high activity of the anti-oxidant catalase enzyme. In conclusion, these data show that the use of PBMt plus carvedilol therapy results in a significant additional improvement in HF in a rat model of myocardial infarction. These beneficial effects were observed to be due, at least in part, to decreased myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress.
Temperature synchronization of the Drosophila circadian clock protein PERIOD is controlled by the TRPA channel PYREXIA
Authors: Roessingh Sanne , Rosing Mechthild , Marunova Martina , Ogueta Maite , George Rebekah , Lamaze Angelique , Stanewsky Ralf 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCircadian clocks are endogenous molecular oscillators that temporally organize behavioral activity thereby contributing to the fitness of organisms. To synchronize the fly circadian clock with the daily fluctuations of light and temperature, these environmental cues are sensed both via brain clock neurons, and by light and temperature sensors located in the peripheral nervous system. Here we demonstrate that the TRPA channel PYREXIA (PYX) is required for temperature synchronization of the key circadian clock protein PERIOD. We observe a molecular synchronization defect explaining the previously reported defects of pyx mutants in behavioral temperature synchronization. Surprisingly, surgical ablation of pyx-mutant antennae partially rescues behavioral synchronization, indicating that antennal temperature signals are modulated by PYX function to synchronize clock neurons in the brain. Our results suggest that PYX protects antennal neurons from faulty signaling that would otherwise interfere with temperature synchronization of the circadian clock neurons in the brain.