bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traquair's lungfish from Loanhead: dipnoan diversity and tooth plate growth in the late Mississippian
Authors: SMITHSON Timothy R. , CHALLANDS Thomas J. , SMITHSON Ketura Z. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTRamsay Heatley Traquair, the eminent Victorian Scottish palaeoichthyologist and museum curator, procured an extensive collection of Palaeozoic fishes from across Scotland with the help of local miners and quarrymen. One very productive locality near Edinburgh was Loanhead. Traquair described numerous fossil fish from this Serpukhovian site, including four lungfish taxa:Ctenodus interruptus,Sagenodus quinquecostatus,Uronemus splendensandCtenodus angustulus. The first three are now quite well known, but the fourth was only briefly described and never figured. It is based entirely on tooth plates, which are unusual both in their very small size and the arrangement of the tooth ridges. They lack the diagnostic characters ofCtenodustooth plates and are here renamedClackodus angustulus. A further taxon,Conchopomasp., has recently been identified. Represented by a spade-shaped parasphenoid and denticulated jaw elements, it is the earliest known occurrence of the genus, extending its range into the Mississippian. A sixth taxon may be represented by an isolated parasphenoid bearing an anterior process, previously only seen in Devonian lungfish. The presence of up to six lungfish taxa at a single locality is unprecedented in the Carboniferous and indicates that the high level of lungfish diversity encountered in the Tournaisian of the Scottish Borders continued throughout the Mississippian, adding to the growing evidence that post-Devonian lungfish evolution was not as limited as previously proposed. This may have been due to changes in tooth plate growth, enabling greater variation in dentition and diet. In most Devonian taxa, tooth plate growth can be explained by comparison with that in extant forms, but analysis of Carboniferous tooth plates suggest growth was different in many taxa, possibly based on more than one pioneer tooth, allowing for novel patterns of tooth ridges and different types of teeth to develop on the same plate.
A hybrid surface-to-surface transition-based UWB-BPF with multiple in-band interference suppression
Authors: Ghazali Abu Nasar , Hussain Jabir , Pal Srikanta 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA compact ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) based on surface-to-surface transition technology with features of extended stopband and integrated interference mitigation characteristics is proposed. The basic structure consists of a modified multiple-mode resonator (MMR)-based co-planar waveguide in the ground surface and coupled in broadside manner with the microstrip lines on the top surface. Later, two open-circuited stubs are embedded in the feeding lines and two complementary split ring resonators are etched in the MMR to implement multiple in-band transmission zeros so as to circumvent interference. A prototype is fabricated and measured to validate the results obtained in simulation. The proposed UWB-BPF is compact in size with overall dimensions of 17.82 by 11.08 mm2.
Differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into Leydig-like cells with molecular compounds
Authors: Chen Xianwu , Li Chao , Chen Yong , Xi Haitao , Zhao Shenzhi , Ma Leikai , Xu Zhangye , Han Zhao , Zhao Junzhao , Ge Renshan , Guo Xiaoling 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLeydig cells (LCs) play crucial roles in producing testosterone, which is critical in the regulation of male reproduction and development. Low levels of testosterone will lead to male hypogonadism. LC transplantation is a promising alternative therapy for male hypogonadism. However, the source of LCs limits this strategy for clinical applications. Thus far, others have reported that LCs can be derived from stem cells by gene transfection, but the safe and effective induction method has not yet been reported. Here, we report that Leydig-like cells can be derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a novel differentiation protocol based on molecular compounds. The iPSCs-derived Leydig-like cells (iPSC-LCs) acquired testosterone synthesis capabilities, had the similar gene expression profiles with LCs, and positively expressed Leydig cell lineage-specific protein markers LHCGR, STAR, SCARB1, SF-1, CYP11A1, HSD3B1, and HSD17B3 as well as negatively expressed iPSC-specific markers NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2. When iPSC-LCs labeled with lipophilic red dye (PKH26) were transplanted into rat testes that were selectively eliminated endogenous LCs using EDS (75 mg/kg), the transplanted iPSC-LCs could survive and function in the interstitium of testes, and accelerate the recovery of serum testosterone levels and testis weights. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the iPSCs were able to be differentiated into Leydig-like cells by few defined molecular compounds, which may lay the safer groundwork for further clinical application of iPSC-LCs for hypogonadism.
Ether-compatible sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode with excellent performance enabled by fast kinetics via selenium doping
Authors: Chen Xin , Peng Linfeng , Wang Lihui , Yang Jiaqiang , Hao Zhangxiang , Xiang Jingwei , Yuan Kai , Huang Yunhui , Shan Bin , Yuan Lixia , Xie Jia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSulfurized polyacrylonitrile is suggested to contain Sn (n ≤ 4) and shows good electrochemical performance in carbonate electrolytes for lithium sulfur batteries. However inferior results in ether electrolytes suggest that high solubility of Li2Sn (n ≤ 4) trumps the limited redox conversion, leading to dissolution and shuttling. Here, we introduce a small amount of selenium in sulfurized polyacrylonitrile to accelerate the redox conversion, delivering excellent performance in both carbonate and ether electrolytes, including high reversible capacity (1300 mA h g−1 at 0.2 A g−1), 84% active material utilization and high rate (capacity up to 900 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1). These cathodes can undergo 800 cycles with nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency and ultralow 0.029% capacity decay per cycle. Polysulfide dissolution is successfully suppressed by enhanced reaction kinetics. This work demonstrates an ether compatible sulfur cathode involving intermediate Li2Sn (n ≤ 4), attractive rate and cycling performance, and a promising solution towards applicable lithium-sulfur batteries.
Molecular constraints on CDR3 for thymic selection of MHC-restricted TCRs from a random pre-selection repertoire
Authors: Lu Jinghua , Van Laethem François , Bhattacharya Abhisek , Craveiro Marco , Saba Ingrid , Chu Jonathan , Love Nicholas C. , Tikhonova Anastasia , Radaev Sergei , Sun Xiaoping , Ko Annette , Arnon Tomer , Shifrut Eric , Friedman Nir , Weng Nan-Ping , Singer Alfred , Sun Peter D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe αβ T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire on mature T cells is selected in the thymus, but the basis for thymic selection of MHC-restricted TCRs from a randomly generated pre-selection repertoire is not known. Here we perform comparative repertoire sequence analyses of pre-selection and post-selection TCR from multiple MHC-sufficient and MHC-deficient mouse strains, and find that MHC-restricted and MHC-independent TCRs are primarily distinguished by features in their non-germline CDR3 regions, with many pre-selection CDR3 sequences not compatible with MHC-binding. Thymic selection of MHC-independent TCR is largely unconstrained, but the selection of MHC-specific TCR is restricted by both CDR3 length and specific amino acid usage. MHC-restriction disfavors TCR with CDR3 longer than 13 amino acids, limits positively charged and hydrophobic amino acids in CDR3β, and clonally deletes TCRs with cysteines in their CDR3 peptide-binding regions. Together, these MHC-imposed structural constraints form the basis to shape VDJ recombination sequences into MHC-restricted repertoires.
Pocket similarity identifies selective estrogen receptor modulators as microtubule modulators at the taxane site
Authors: Lo Yu-Chen , Cormier Olga , Liu Tianyun , Nettles Kendall W. , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Stearns Tim , Altman Russ B. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTaxanes are a family of natural products with a broad spectrum of anticancer activity. This activity is mediated by interaction with the taxane site of beta-tubulin, leading to microtubule stabilization and cell death. Although widely used in the treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies, existing taxane-based therapies including paclitaxel and the second-generation docetaxel are currently limited by severe adverse effects and dose-limiting toxicity. To discover taxane site modulators, we employ a computational binding site similarity screen of > 14,000 drug-like pockets from PDB, revealing an unexpected similarity between the estrogen receptor and the beta-tubulin taxane binding pocket. Evaluation of nine selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) via cellular and biochemical assays confirms taxane site interaction, microtubule stabilization, and cell proliferation inhibition. Our study demonstrates that SERMs can modulate microtubule assembly and raises the possibility of an estrogen receptor-independent mechanism for inhibiting cell proliferation.
Adenosine triphosphate is co-secreted with glucagon-like peptide-1 to modulate intestinal enterocytes and afferent neurons
Authors: Lu Van B. , Rievaj Juraj , O’Flaherty Elisabeth A. , Smith Christopher A. , Pais Ramona , Pattison Luke A. , Tolhurst Gwen , Leiter Andrew B. , Bulmer David C. , Gribble Fiona M. , Reimann Frank 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEnteroendocrine cells are specialised sensory cells located in the intestinal epithelium and generate signals in response to food ingestion. Whilst traditionally considered hormone-producing cells, there is evidence that they also initiate activity in the afferent vagus nerve and thereby signal directly to the brainstem. We investigate whether enteroendocrine L-cells, well known for their production of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), also release other neuro-transmitters/modulators. We demonstrate regulated ATP release by ATP measurements in cell supernatants and by using sniffer patches that generate electrical currents upon ATP exposure. Employing purinergic receptor antagonists, we demonstrate that evoked ATP release from L-cells triggers electrical responses in neighbouring enterocytes through P2Y2 and nodose ganglion neurones in co-cultures through P2X2/3-receptors. We conclude that L-cells co-secrete ATP together with GLP-1 and PYY, and that ATP acts as an additional signal triggering vagal activation and potentially synergising with the actions of locally elevated peptide hormone concentrations.
Past and future spread of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
Authors: Kraemer Moritz U. G. , Reiner Robert C. , Brady Oliver J. , Messina Jane P. , Gilbert Marius , Pigott David M. , Yi Dingdong , Johnson Kimberly , Earl Lucas , Marczak Laurie B. , Shirude Shreya , Davis Weaver Nicole , Bisanzio Donal , Perkins T. Alex , Lai Shengjie , Lu Xin , Jones Peter , Coelho Giovanini E. , Carvalho Roberta G. , Van Bortel Wim , Marsboom Cedric , Hendrickx Guy , Schaffner Francis , Moore Chester G. , Nax Heinrich H. , Bengtsson Linus , Wetter Erik , Tatem Andrew J. , Brownstein John S. , Smith David L. , Lambrechts Louis , Cauchemez Simon , Linard Catherine , Faria Nuno R. , Pybus Oliver G. , Scott Thomas W. , Liu Qiyong , Yu Hongjie , Wint G. R. William , Hay Simon I. , Golding Nick 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe global population at risk from mosquito-borne diseases—including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika—is expanding in concert with changes in the distribution of two key vectors:Aedes aegyptiandAedes albopictus. The distribution of these species is largely driven by both human movement and the presence of suitable climate. Using statistical mapping techniques, we show that human movement patterns explain the spread of both species in Europe and the United States following their introduction. We find that the spread ofAe. aegyptiis characterized by long distance importations, whileAe. albopictushas expanded more along the fringes of its distribution. We describe these processes and predict the future distributions of both species in response to accelerating urbanization, connectivity and climate change. Global surveillance and control efforts that aim to mitigate the spread of chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses must consider the so far unabated spread of these mosquitos. Our maps and predictions offer an opportunity to strategically target surveillance and control programmes and thereby augment efforts to reduce arbovirus burden in human populations globally.
Foundress numbers and the timing of selective events during interactions between figs and fig wasps
Authors: Sun Bao-Fa , Wang Rui-Wu 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn intimate mutualisms between hosts and symbionts, selection can act repeatedly over the development times of the interacting individuals. Although much is now known about the overall ecological conditions that favor the evolution of mutualism, a current challenge is to understand how natural selection acts on the number and kinds of partners to shape the evolution and stability of these interactions. Using the obligate fig-fig wasp mutualism, our experiments showed that the proportion of figs developed to maturity increased quickly to 1.0 as the number of foundresses increased, regardless of whether the foundresses carried pollen. Selection against pollen-free wasps did not occur at this early stage in fig development. Within figs that developed, the proportion of galls producing adult wasps remained high as the number of pollen-carrying foundresses increases. In contrast, the proportion of galls producing adult wasps decreased as the number of pollen-free foundresses increased. Viable seed production increased as the number or proportion of pollen-carrying foundresses increased, but the average number of wasp offspring per pollen-carrying foundress was highest when she was the sole foundress. These results show that figs and their pollinator wasps differ in how fitness effects are distributed throughout the development of the interaction and depend on the number and proportion of pollen-carrying foundresses contributing to the interaction. These results suggest that temporal fluctuations in the local number and proportion of pollen-carrying wasps available to enter figs are likely to have strong but different effects on the figs and the wasps.
Weak localization and small anomalous Hall conductivity in ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal Co2TiGe
Authors: Dulal Rajendra P. , Dahal Bishnu R. , Forbes Andrew , Bhattarai Niraj , Pegg Ian L. , Philip John 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSeveral cobalt-based Heusler alloys have been predicted to exhibit Weyl Semimetal behavior due to time reversal symmetry breaking. Co2TiGe is one of the predicted ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals. In this work, we report weak localization and small anomalous Hall conductivity in half-metallic Co2TiGe thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The longitudinal resistivity shows semimetallic behavior. Elaborate analysis of longitudinal magnetoconductance shows the presence of a weak localization quantum correction present even up to room temperature and reduction in dephasing length at lower temperature. Negative longitudinal magnetoresistance is observed from 5 to 300 K, but at 300 K magnetoresistance becomes positive above 0.5 T magnetic field. The anomalous Hall effect has been investigated in these thin films. The measured anomalous Hall conductivity decreases with increasing temperature, and a small anomalous Hall conductivity has been measured at various temperatures which may be arising due to both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms.
A crystal plasticity FEM study of through-thickness deformation and texture in a {112} <111> aluminium single crystal during accumulative roll-bonding
Authors: Wang Hui , Lu Cheng , Tieu Kiet , Deng Guanyu , Wei Peitang , Liu Yu 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn this study, a crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) model was used to study the deformation behaviour in an aluminium single crystal (1 1 2)[1 1 -1] processed by accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) up to 9 cycles. The simulation followed the real ARB process based on the developed finite element model. The predicted through-thickness texture matches well with the experimental observations. The deformation behaviours, in terms of crystal rotation, shear strain and slip system activation, in the first and second cycles (conventional rolling) were unidirectional, but the deformation was altered after ARB was applied from the third cycle onwards. Such alteration was found to be caused by the thickness position change and deformation discontinuity at interfaces, which were investigated in detail. The role that interfaces play became dominant over thickness position change as increasing ARB cycles.
Effects of aging on corneal parameters measured with Pentacam in healthy subjects
Authors: Vitályos Géza , Kolozsvári Bence Lajos , Németh Gábor , Losonczy Gergely , Hassan Ziad , Pásztor Dorottya , Fodor Mariann 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOur purpose was to prospectively analyze the age-related changes of corneal Scheimpflug parameters in healthy subjects. Thirty-five eyes of 35 volunteers (age 14–67 years) were investigated with an average interval of 3.6 years. Changes of corneal parameters (flattest keratometric reading at anterior (K1F) and posterior surface (K1B), steepest keratometric reading at anterior (K2F) and posterior surface, anterior astigmatism, posterior astigmatism (AstigB), flat axis of anterior and posterior astigmatism (AxisB), thinnest pachymetric value (PachyMin), corneal volume (CV10-mm)) were analyzed. K1F and K2F decreased significantly during observation and showed stronger decrease in younger than in older individuals. Higher values proved to be more stable. K1B decreased significantly and the degree of decrease was dependent on its baseline value and age: in young subjects low values increased, high values decreased. AstigB decreased significantly and showed a baseline-dependent significant increase from lower and a significant decrease from higher initial values. Over time, the mean AxisB shifted significantly. PachyMin and CV decreased significantly with age, especially from higher baseline values in younger subjects. The results of this longitudinal study suggest that both corneal surfaces change significantly with age. We demonstrate for the first time that age and baseline values influence age-related changes of corneal parameters.
MRI-based Radiomics nomogram to detect primary rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases
Authors: Shu Zhenyu , Fang Songhua , Ding Zhongxiang , Mao Dewang , Cai Rui , Chen Yuanjun , Pang Peipei , Gong Xiangyang 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSynchronous liver metastasis (SLM) remains a major challenge for rectal cancer. Early detection of SLM is a key factor to improve the survival rate of rectal cancer. In this radiomics study, we predicted the SLM based on the radiomics of primary rectal cancer. A total of 328 radiomics features were extracted from the T2WI images of 194 patients. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to reduce the feature dimension and to construct the radiomics signature. after LASSO, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to sort the features of the surplus characteristics, and selected the features of the total contribution of 85%. Then the prediction model was built by linear regression, and the decision curve analysis was used to judge the net benefit of LASSO and PCA. In addition, we used two independent cohorts for training (n = 135) and validation (n = 159). We found that the model based on LASSO dimensionality construction had the maximum net benefit (in the training set (AUC [95% confidence interval], 0.857 [0.787–0.912]) and in the validation set (0.834 [0.714–0.918]). The radiomics nomogram combined with clinical risk factors and LASSO features showed a good predictive performance in the training set (0.921 [0.862–0.961]) and validation set (0.912 [0.809–0.97]). Our study indicated that radiomics based on primary rectal cancer could provide a non-invasive way to predict the risk of SLM in clinical practice.
Dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein activates toll-like receptors via serum amyloid A in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Schuchardt Mirjam , Prüfer Nicole , Tu Yuexing , Herrmann Jaqueline , Hu Xiu-Ping , Chebli Sarah , Dahlke Katja , Zidek Walter , van der Giet Markus , Tölle Markus 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSerum amyloid A (SAA) is an uremic toxin and acute phase protein. It accumulates under inflammatory conditions associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). SAA is an apolipoprotein of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). SAA accumulation turns HDL from an anti-inflammatory to a pro-inflammatory particle. SAA activates monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the SAA receptor-mediated signaling pathway in vascular cells is poorly understood. Therefore, the SAA-mediated signaling pathway for MCP-1 production was investigated in this study. The SAA-induced MCP-1 production is dependent on the activation of TLR2 and TLR4 as determined by studies with specific receptor antagonists and agonists or siRNA approach. Experiments were confirmed in tissues from TLR2 knockout, TLR4 deficient and TLR2 knock-out/TLR4 deficient mice. The intracellular signaling pathway is IκBα and subsequently NFκB dependent. The MCP-1 production induced by SAA-enriched HDL and HDL isolated from septic patients with high SAA content is also TLR2 and TLR4 dependent. Taken together, the TLR2 and TLR4 receptors are functional SAA receptors mediating MCP-1 release. Furthermore, the TLR2 and TLR4 are receptors for dysfunctional HDL. These results give a further inside in SAA as uremic toxin involved in uremia-related pro-inflammatory response in the vascular wall.
Identification of novel population clusters with different susceptibilities to type 2 diabetes and their impact on the prediction of diabetes
Authors: Cho Seong Beom , Kim Sang Cheol , Chung Myung Guen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractType 2 diabetes is one of the subtypes of diabetes. However, previous studies have revealed its heterogeneous features. Here, we hypothesized that there would be heterogeneity in its development, resulting in higher susceptibility in some populations. We performed risk-factor based clustering (RFC), which is a hierarchical clustering of the population with profiles of five known risk factors for type 2 diabetes (age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, and family history of diabetes). The RFC identified six population clusters with significantly different prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes in the discovery data (N = 10,023), ranging from 0.09 to 0.44 (Chi-square test, P < 0.001). The machine learning method identified six clusters in the validation data (N = 215,083), which also showed the heterogeneity of prevalence between the clusters (P < 0.001). In addition to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, the clusters showed different clinical features including biochemical profiles and prediction performance with the risk factors. SOur results seem to implicate a heterogeneous mechanism in the development of type 2 diabetes. These results will provide new insights for the development of more precise management strategy for type 2 diabetes.