bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skeletal Muscle-specific PGC-1α Overexpression Suppresses Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mice
Authors: Shimba Yuki , Togawa Hanako , Senoo Nanami , Ikeda Masahiko , Miyoshi Noriyuki , Morita Akihito , Miura Shinji 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEndurance exercise training prevents atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) increases myokine secretion from the skeletal muscle, and these myokines have been shown to affect the function of multiple organs. Since endurance exercise training increases PGC-1α expression in skeletal muscles, we investigated whether skeletal muscle-specific PGC-1α overexpression suppresses atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO)/PGC-1α mice, which overexpress PGC-1α in the skeletal muscle of ApoE-KO mice, were sacrificed, and the atherosclerotic plaque area, spontaneous activity, plasma lipid profile, and aortic gene expression were measured. Immunohistochemical analyses were also performed. The atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-KO/PGC-1α mice were 40% smaller than those in ApoE-KO mice, concomitant with the reduction in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein levels in the aorta. Spontaneous activity and plasma lipid profiles were not changed by the overexpression of PGC-1α in the skeletal muscle. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, Irisin and β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), PGC-1α-dependent myokines, inhibited the tumor necrosis factor α-induced VCAM-1 gene and protein expression. BAIBA also inhibited TNFα-induced MCP-1 gene expression. These results showed that the skeletal muscle-specific overexpression of PGC-1α suppresses atherosclerosis and that PGC-1α-dependent myokines may be involved in the preventive effects observed.
Quantum Correlation in Squeezed Generalized Amplitude Damping Channels with Memory
Authors: Jeong Youngmin , Shin Hyundong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA squeezed generalized amplitude damping (SGAD) channel is a quantum channel that models a general noise process incorporating the effects of bath squeezing, dissipation, and decoherence. In this paper, we analyze the dynamics of quantum entanglement and discord in the SGAD channel with memory. By obtaining a stochastic map defining this noisy quantum channel, we derive the concurrence and discord of Werner-like mixed states sent by successive uses of the channel. It is shown that these quantum correlations can be preserved or even generated depending on the initial channel input states, channel parameters, and the degree of channel memory. In particular, the squeezing effect does not contribute to the dynamics of quantum correlation for singlet-like states under correlated noise.
Discovery of NV-5138, the first selective Brain mTORC1 activator
Authors: Sengupta Shomit , Giaime Emilie , Narayan Sridhar , Hahm Seung , Howell Jessica , O’Neill David , Vlasuk George P. , Saiah Eddine 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been linked to several important chronic medical conditions many of which are associated with advancing age. A variety of inputs including the amino acid leucine are required for full mTORC1 activation. The cytoplasmic proteins Sestrin1 and Sestrin2 specifically bind to the multiprotein complex GATOR2 and communicate leucine sufficiency to the mTORC1 pathway activation complex. Herein, we report NV-5138, a novel orally bioavailable compound that binds to Sestrin2 and activates mTORC1 both in vitro and in vivo. NV-5138 like leucine transiently activates mTORC1 in several peripheral tissues, but in contrast to leucine uniquely activates this complex in the brain due lack of metabolism and utilization in protein synthesis. As such, NV-5138 will permit the exploration in areas of unmet medical need including neuropsychiatric conditions and cognition which have been linked to the activation status of mTORC1.
Frequency specific contribution of intrinsic connectivity networks to the integration in brain networks
Authors: Park Yeong-Hun , Cha Jungho , Bourakova Viktoriya , Lee Jong-Min 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBrain networks are integrated and segregated into several intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs). Frequency specificity of ICNs have been studied to show that different ICNs have a unqiue contribution to brain network integration along frequencies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of individual ICN to brain network integration along their frequency. We used 14 ICNs and determined 2 frequency bands (LF1, 0.03~0.08 Hz and LF2, 0.009~0.012 Hz) from the hierarchical clustering of 101 frequency bins. We proposed a novel measure, called ICN efficiency, representing the difference between the global efficiencies of the whole brain network with and without the ICN to evaluate the contribution of the ICN to brain network integration. We found that each ICN had a different ICN efficiency at 2 frequency bands. We also found that the distinct subregions of the same ICN had a frequency specific contribution to brain network integration. Futhermore, the integration with other ICNs of the distinct subregions of the same ICN were different at 2 frequency bands. In conclusion, the contribution of each ICN to brain network integration is frequency specific and distinct subregions of the same ICN have functionally distinct roles with other ICNs at 2 frequency bands.
Aggression and courtship differences found in Drosophila melanogaster from two different microclimates at Evolution Canyon, Israel
Authors: Palavicino-Maggio Caroline B. , Trannoy Séverine , Holton Kristina M. , Song Xiaoying , Li Kexin , Nevo Eviatar 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAggression and courtship behavior were examined of wild Drosophila melanogaster flies isolated from two contrasting microclimates found at Evolution Canyon in Mt. Carmel, Israel: an African-like dry tropical Slope (AS) and a European-like humid temperate Slope (ES), separated by 250 meters. Studies were carried out to ask whether behavioral differences existed between the two populations obtained from opposite slopes with divergent microclimates in Israel. First, we measured and compared intraslope aggression between same sex fly pairings collected from the same slope. Both male and female flies displayed similar fighting abilities from both slopes. ES males, however, from the humid biome, showed a tendency to lunge more per aggressive encounter, compared with AS males from the dry biome. Next, we tested interslope aggression by pairing flies from opposite slopes. ES males displayed higher numbers of lunges, and won more fights against their AS opponents. We also observed enhanced courtship performances in ES compared to AS males. The fighting and courtship superiority seen in ES males could reinforce fitness and pre-mating reproductive isolation mechanisms that underlie incipient sympatric speciation. This may support an evolutionary advantage of adaptively divergent fruit fly aggression phenotypes from different environments.
Ordinal Preferential Attachment: A Self-Organizing Principle Generating Dense Scale-Free Networks
Authors: Haruna Taichi , Gunji Yukio-Pegio 
Published: March 2019

AbstractNetworks are useful representations for analyzing and modeling real-world complex systems. They are often both scale-free and dense: their degree distribution follows a power-law and their average degree grows over time. So far, it has been argued that producing such networks is difficult without externally imposing a suitable cutoff for the scale-free regime. Here, we propose a new growing network model that produces dense scale-free networks with dynamically generated cutoffs. The link formation rule is based on a weak form of preferential attachment depending only on order relations between the degrees of nodes. By this mechanism, our model yields scale-free networks whose scaling exponents can take arbitrary values greater than 1. In particular, the resulting networks are dense when scaling exponents are 2 or less. We analytically study network properties such as the degree distribution, the degree correlation function, and the local clustering coefficient. All analytical calculations are in good agreement with numerical simulations. These results show that both sparse and dense scale-free networks can emerge through the same self-organizing process.
Additive manufacturing titanium components with isotropic or graded properties by hybrid electron beam melting/hot isostatic pressing powder processing
Authors: Hernández-Nava E. , Mahoney P. , Smith C. J. , Donoghue J. , Todd I. , Tammas-Williams S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA methodology has been demonstrated to consolidate Ti-6Al-4V powder without taking it to the liquid state by novel combination of the electron beam melting additive manufacture and hot isostatic pressing processes. This results in improved static mechanical properties (both strength and yield) in comparison to standard EBM processed material. In addition, the ability to generate microstructurally graded components has been demonstrated by generating a component with a significant change in both microstructure and mechanical properties. This is revealed by the use of electron backscattered diffraction and micro hardness testing to produce maps showing a clear distinction between materials consolidated in different ways. The variation in microstructure and mechanical properties is attributed to the different thermal history experienced by the material at different locations. In particular, it is found that the rapid cooling experienced during EBM leads to a typical fine α lath structure, whereas a more equiaxed α grains generated by diffusion is found in HIP consolidated powder.
Establishment of Novel Murine Model showing Vascular Inflammation-derived Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Hashizume Tsuyoshi , Son Bo-Kyung , Taniguchi Sakiko , Ito Koichi , Noda Yoshihiro , Endo Tamao , Nanao-Hamai Michiko , Ogawa Sumito , Akishita Masahiro 
Published: March 2019

AbstractInflammation is a critical feature of aging and its related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Recent epidemiological studies demonstrated that abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), an aging-related vascular pathological condition, is associated with cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanism, especially the role of vascular inflammation, is largely unknown because of lack of an available animal model. In this study, we examined whether vascular inflammation affects synaptic and cognitive dysfunction, using an AAA mouse model. In young (3 months) and middle-aged (12 months) C57BL/6J mice, AAA was induced by angiotensin II infusion with calcium chloride application. After 4 weeks of induction, aortic diameter was significantly increased and excessive Mac3-positive inflammatory cells infiltrated the destroyed aorta in middle-aged mice. AAA-induced middle-aged mice further exhibited cognitive impairment. Neuronal loss was observed in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. IBA1/MHCII-double-positive microglia activation was also seen in the hippocampus, suggesting that vascular inflammation drives neuroinflammation and subsequent cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, we found that senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 exhibited robust AAA formation and a marked decrease of cognitive and synaptic function in the hippocampus mediated by inflammation. In conclusion, this novel murine model convincingly suggested the occurrence of vascular inflammation-derived cognitive dysfunction.
Early Evolution of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Family in the Plant Kingdom
Authors: Kalapos Balázs , Hlavová Monika , Nádai Tímea V. , Galiba Gábor , Bišová Kateřina , Dóczi Róbert 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are central cellular signalling mechanisms in all eukaryotes. They are key regulators of the cell cycle and stress responses, yet evolution of MAPK families took markedly different paths in the animal and plant kingdoms. Instead of the characteristic divergence of MAPK types in animals, in plants an expanded network of ERK-like MAPKs has emerged. To gain insight into the early evolution of the plant MAPK family we identified and analysed MAPKs in 13 representative species across green algae, a large and diverse early-diverging lineage within the plant kingdom. Our results reveal that the plant MAPK gene family emerged from three types of progenitor kinases, which are ubiquitously present in algae, implying their formation in an early ancestor. Low number of MAPKs is characteristic across algae, the few losses or duplications are associated with genome complexity rather than habitat ecology, despite the importance of MAPKs in environmental signalling in flowering plants. ERK-type MAPKs are associated with cell cycle regulation in opisthokont models, yet in plants their stress-signalling function is more prevalent. Unicellular microalgae offer an excellent experimental system to study the cell cycle, and MAPK gene expression profiles show CDKB-like peaks around S/M phase in synchronised Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultures, suggesting their participation in cell cycle regulation, in line with the notion that the ancestral eukaryotic MAPK was a cell cycle regulator ERK-like kinase. Our work also highlights the scarcity of signalling knowledge in microalgae, in spite of their enormous ecological impact and emerging economic importance.
PKD1 Duplicated regions limit clinical Utility of Whole Exome Sequencing for Genetic Diagnosis of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ali Hamad , Al-Mulla Fahd , Hussain Naser , Naim Medhat , Asbeutah Akram M. , AlSahow Ali , Abu-Farha Mohamed , Abubaker Jehad , Al Madhoun Ashraf , Ahmad Sajjad , Harris Peter C. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited monogenic renal disease characterised by the accumulation of clusters of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys and is caused by mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 genes. ADPKD genetic diagnosis is complicated by PKD1 pseudogenes located proximal to the original gene with a high degree of homology. The next generation sequencing (NGS) technology including whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), is becoming more affordable and its use in the detection of ADPKD mutations for diagnostic and research purposes more widespread. However, how well does NGS technology compare with the Gold standard (Sanger sequencing) in the detection of ADPKD mutations? Is a question that remains to be answered. We have evaluated the efficacy of WES, WGS and targeted enrichment methodologies in detecting ADPKD mutations in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes in patients who were clinically evaluated by ultrasonography and renal function tests. Our results showed that WES detected PKD1 mutations in ADPKD patients with 50% sensitivity, as the reading depth and sequencing quality were low in the duplicated regions of PKD1 (exons 1–32) compared with those of WGS and target enrichment arrays. Our investigation highlights major limitations of WES in ADPKD genetic diagnosis. Enhancing reading depth, quality and sensitivity of WES in the PKD1 duplicated regions (exons 1–32) is crucial for its potential diagnostic or research applications.
Temperature-Controlled Asymmetric Transmission of Electromagnetic Waves
Authors: Liu Meng , Xu Quan , Chen Xieyu , Plum Eric , Li Hua , Zhang Xueqian , Zhang Caihong , Zou Chongwen , Han Jiaguang , Zhang Weili 
Published: March 2019

AbstractChiral materials can exhibit different levels of transmission for opposite propagation directions of the same electromagnetic wave. Here we demonstrate thermal switching of asymmetric transmission of linearly polarized terahertz waves. The effect is observed in a terahertz metamaterial containing 3D-chiral metallic inclusions and achiral vanadium dioxide inclusions. The chiral structure exhibits pronounced asymmetric transmission at room temperature when vanadium dioxide is in its insulator phase. As the metamaterial is heated, the insulator-to-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide effectively renders the structure achiral and the transmission asymmetry vanishes. We demonstrate the effect numerically and experimentally, describe it analytically and explain the underlying physical mechanism based on simulated surface current distributions. Potential applications include directionally asymmetric active devices as well as intensity and polarization modulators for electromagnetic waves.
Friction on water sliders
Authors: Pucci Giuseppe , Ho Ian , Harris Daniel M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA body in motion tends to stay in motion but is often slowed by friction. Here we investigate the friction experienced by centimeter-sized bodies sliding on water. We show that their motion is dominated by skin friction due to the boundary layer that forms in the fluid beneath the body. We develop a simple model that considers the boundary layer as quasi-steady, and is able to capture the experimental behaviour for a range of body sizes, masses, shapes and fluid viscosities. Furthermore, we demonstrate that friction can be reduced by modification of the body’s shape or bottom topography. Our results are significant for understanding natural and artificial bodies moving at the air-water interface, and can inform the design of aerial-aquatic microrobots for environmental exploration and monitoring.
A Multicenter Study on Early Outcomes of Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction for Myopia
Authors: Kamiya Kazutaka , Takahashi Masahide , Nakamura Tomoaki , Kojima Takashi , Toda Ikuko , Kariya Maro 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study was aimed to investigate the early clinical outcomes of small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) to correct both myopia and myopic astigmatism at major clinical centers in Japan. This case series consisted of two hundred fifty-two eyes of 130 consecutive patients who underwent SMILE surgery (29.5 ± 6.3 years, mean age ± standard deviation), with spherical equivalents of −4.33 ± 1.61 D. We determined the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability, and adverse events of this procedure. Corrected distance visual acuity significantly improved, from −0.18 ± 0.04 preoperatively to −0.19 ± 0.07 logMAR postoperatively (paired t-test, p < 0.001). Uncorrected distance visual acuity also significantly improved, from 1.05 ± 0.26 preoperatively to −0.15 ± 0.11 logMAR postoperatively (p < 0.001). 88% and 98% of eyes were within ± 0.5 and 1.0 D of the targeted correction, respectively. Changes in manifest spherical equivalent from 1 week postoperatively were 0.02 ± 0.35 D (p = 0.127). No vision-threatening complications were observed in any of the cases. SMILE performed well in the correction of myopic refractive errors, and we experienced no severe complications in this series, indicating its feasibility as a surgical option for the treatment of these eyes.
Vibrio cholerae autoinducer-1 enhances the virulence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Gorelik Orna , Levy Niva , Shaulov Lihi , Yegodayev Ksenia , Meijler Michael M. , Sal-Man Neta 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDiarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of five. The bacterial species, Vibrio cholerae and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), are among the main pathogens that cause diarrhoeal diseases, which are associated with high mortality rates. These two pathogens have a common infection site—the small intestine. While it is known that both pathogens utilize quorum sensing (QS) to determine their population size, it is not yet clear whether potential bacterial competitors can also use this information. In this study, we examined the ability of EPEC to determine V. cholerae population sizes and to modulate its own virulence mechanisms accordingly. We found that EPEC virulence is enhanced in response to elevated concentrations of cholera autoinducer-1 (CAI-1), even though neither a CAI-1 synthase nor CAI-1 receptors have been reported in E. coli. This CAI-1 sensing and virulence upregulation response may facilitate the ability of EPEC to coordinate successful colonization of a host co-infected with V. cholerae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observed example of ‘eavesdropping’ between two bacterial pathogens that is based on interspecies sensing of a QS molecule.
Early life stress delays hippocampal development and diminishes the adult stem cell pool in mice
Authors: Youssef Mary , Atsak Piray , Cardenas Jovani , Kosmidis Stylianos , Leonardo E. David , Dranovsky Alex 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEarly life stress predisposes to mental illness and behavioral dysfunction in adulthood, but the mechanisms underlying these persistent effects are poorly understood. Stress throughout life impairs the structure and function of the hippocampus, a brain system undergoing considerable development in early life. The long-term behavioral consequences of early life stress may therefore be due in part to interference with hippocampal development, in particular with assembly of the dentate gyrus (DG) region of the hippocampus. We investigated how early life stress produces long-term alterations in DG structure by examining DG assembly and the generation of a stable adult stem cell pool in routine housing and after stress induced by the limited bedding/nesting paradigm in mice. We found that early life stress leads to a more immature, proliferative DG than would be expected for the animal’s age immediately after stress exposure, suggesting that early life stress delays DG development. Adult animals exposed to early life stress exhibited a reduction in the number of DG stem cells, but unchanged neurogenesis suggesting a depletion of the stem cell pool with compensation in the birth and survival of adult-born neurons. These results suggest a developmental mechanism by which early life stress can induce long-term changes in hippocampal function by interfering with DG assembly and ultimately diminishing the adult stem cell pool.
Nutrient-based diet modifications impact on the gut microbiome of the Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus)
Authors: Cabana F. , Clayton J. B. , Nekaris K. A. I. , Wirdateti W. , Knights D. , Seedorf H. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEnvironment and diet are key factors which shape the microbiome of organisms. There is also a disparity between captive and wild animals of the same species, presumably because of the change in diet. Being able to reverse the microbiome to the wild type is thus particularly important for the reintroduction efforts of Critically Endangered animals. The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is a suitable model, being kept in the thousands within rescue centres throughout Southeast Asia. With next-generation sequencing, we show how a naturalistic diet impacts the gut microbiome of captive slow lorises (Primates: Nycticebus). A comparison of the microbiome of wild animals with captive animals that had been fed a standard captive or improved diet reveals strong microbiome differences between wild and captive animals; however, diet changes failed to alter the microbiome of captive populations significantly. Bifidobacterium was the most abundant genus in wild animals (46.7%) while Bacteroides (11.6%) and Prevotella (18.9%) were the most abundant in captive animals fed the captive and improved diets, respectively. Correlation analyses of nutrients with microbial taxa suggest important implications in using nutrition to suppress potential pathogens, with soluble fibre and water-soluble carbohydrates both being associated with opposing microbiome profiles. The improved diet significantly increased microbe diversity, which exemplifies the importance of high fibre diets; however, wild individuals had lower diversity, which contradicts recent studies. Detection of methanogens appeared to be dependent on diet and whether the animals were living in captivity or in the wild. This study highlights the potential of nutrition in modulating the microbiome of animals prior to release. Unexpectedly, the results were not as significant as has been suggested in recent studies.