bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deficiency in class III PI3-kinase confers postnatal lethality with IBD-like features in zebrafish
Authors: Zhao Shaoyang , Xia Jianhong , Wu Xiuhua , Zhang Leilei , Wang Pengtao , Wang Haiyun , Li Heying , Wang Xiaoshan , Chen Yan , Agnetti Jean , Li Yinxiong , Pei Duanqing , Shu Xiaodong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe class III PI3-kinase (PIK3C3) is an enzyme responsible for the generation of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P), a critical component of vesicular membrane. Here, we report that PIK3C3 deficiency in zebrafish results in intestinal injury and inflammation. In pik3c3 mutants, gut tube forms but fails to be maintained. Gene expression analysis reveals that barrier-function-related inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) susceptibility genes (e-cadherin, hnf4a, ttc7a) are suppressed, while inflammatory response genes are stimulated in the mutants. Histological analysis shows neutrophil infiltration into mutant intestinal epithelium and the clearance of gut microbiota. Yet, gut microorganisms appear dispensable as mutants cultured under germ-free condition have similar intestinal defects. Mechanistically, we show that PIK3C3 deficiency suppresses the formation of PI3P and disrupts the polarized distribution of cell-junction proteins in intestinal epithelial cells. These results not only reveal a role of PIK3C3 in gut homeostasis, but also provide a zebrafish IBD model.
Computational design of bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles for hot-carrier photocatalysis
Authors: Ranno Luigi , Forno Stefano Dal , Lischner Johannes 
Published: July 2018

AbstractComputational design can accelerate the discovery of new materials with tailored properties, but applying this approach to plasmonic nanoparticles with diameters larger than a few nanometers is challenging as atomistic first-principles calculations are not feasible for such systems. In this paper, we employ a recently developed material-specific approach that combines effective mass theory for electrons with a quasistatic description of the localized surface plasmon to identify promising bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles for hot-electron photocatalysis. Specifically, we calculate hot-carrier generation rates of 100 different core-shell nanoparticles and find that systems with an alkali-metal core and a transition-metal shell exhibit high figures of merit for water splitting and are stable in aqueous environments. Our analysis reveals that the high efficiency of these systems is related to their electronic structure, which features a two-dimensional electron gas in the shell. Our calculations further demonstrate that hot-carrier properties are highly tunable and depend sensitively on core and shell sizes. The design rules resulting from our work can guide experimental progress towards improved solar energy conversion devices.
Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) personality, subjective well-being, hair cortisol level and AVPR1a, OPRM1, and DAT genotypes
Authors: Inoue-Murayama Miho , Yokoyama Chihiro , Yamanashi Yumi , Weiss Alexander 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe studied personality, subjective well-being, and hair cortisol level, in common marmosets Callithrix jacchus, a small, cooperatively breeding New World monkey, by examining their associations with one another and genotypes. Subjects were 68 males and 9 females that lived in the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies. Personality and subjective well-being were assessed by keeper ratings on two questionnaires, hair samples were obtained to assay cortisol level and buccal swabs were used to assess AVPR1a, OPRM1 and DAT genotypes. Three personality domains—Dominance, Sociability, and Neuroticism—were identified. Consistent with findings in other species, Sociability and Neuroticism were related to higher and lower subjective well-being, respectively. Sociability was also associated with higher hair cortisol levels. The personality domains and hair cortisol levels were heritable and associated with genotypes: the short form of AVPR1a was associated with lower Neuroticism and the AA genotype of the A111T SNP of OPRM1 was related to lower Dominance, lower Neuroticism, and higher hair cortisol level. Some genetic associations were not in directions that one would expect given findings in other species. These findings provide insights into the proximate and ultimate bases of personality in common marmosets, other primates and humans.
Quantitative characterization of high temperature oxidation using electron tomography and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
Authors: Zhou Jihan , Taylor Matthew , Melinte Georgian A. , Shahani Ashwin J. , Dharmawardhana Chamila C. , Heinz Hendrik , Voorhees Peter W. , Perepezko John H. , Bustillo Karen , Ercius Peter , Miao Jianwei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe report quantitative characterization of the high temperature oxidation process by using electron tomography and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. As a proof of principle, we performed 3D imaging of the oxidation layer of a model system (Mo3Si) at nanoscale resolution with elemental specificity and probed the oxidation kinetics as a function of the oxidation time and the elevated temperature. Our tomographic reconstructions provide detailed 3D structural information of the surface oxidation layer of the Mo3Si system, revealing the evolution of oxidation behavior of Mo3Si from early stage to mature stage. Based on the relative rate of oxidation of Mo3Si, the volatilization rate of MoO3 and reactive molecular dynamics simulations, we propose a model to explain the mechanism of the formation of the porous silica structure during the oxidation process of Mo3Si. We expect that this 3D quantitative characterization method can be applied to other material systems to probe their structure-property relationships in different environments.
Factors in glucocorticoid regimens associated with treatment response and relapses of IgG4-related disease: a multicentre study
Authors: Shirakashi Mirei , Yoshifuji Hajime , Kodama Yuzo , Chiba Tsutomu , Yamamoto Motohisa , Takahashi Hiroki , Uchida Kazushige , Okazaki Kazuichi , Ito Tetsuya , Kawa Shigeyuki , Yamada Kazunori , Kawano Mitsuhiro , Hirata Shintaro , Tanaka Yoshiya , Moriyama Masafumi , Nakamura Seiji , Kamisawa Terumi , Matsui Shoko , Tsuboi Hiroto , Sumida Takayuki , Shibata Motoko , Goto Hiroshi , Sato Yasuharu , Yoshino Tadashi , Mimori Tsuneyo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGlucocorticoids (GC) are effective for treating IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD); however, relapse is often observed. We conducted a retrospective multicentre study to investigate risk factors in GC regimens associated with relapses of IgG4-RD. Data on 166 patients with definitive IgG4-RD diagnosis were collected from 12 institutions. Comprehensive surveillance of clinical backgrounds and GC regimens as well as multivariate analysis of factors associated with treatment responses and relapses was performed. To determine the initial maximal GC dose, the patients were stratified into three groups depending on the initial prednisolone (PSL) dosage: <0.39, 0.4–0.69 and >0.7 mg/kg/day. The multivariate analysis extracted the disease duration and reduction speed of initial GC dose. Patients treated with initial GC <0.39 or >0.7 mg/kg/day of PSL showed higher relapse rates than those treated with 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day. The relapse rates were significantly higher in patients with fast reduction of the initial dose (>0.4 mg/day) than in patients with slow reduction (<0.4 mg/day). To avoid relapse, 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day of initial PSL with slow reduction speed (<0.4 mg/day) is needed in the early treatment of IgG4-RD.
Automaticity of social cues: The influence of limiting cognitive resources on head orientation cueing
Authors: Visser Troy A. W. , Roberts Ashton 
Published: July 2018

AbstractOur ability to communicate effectively often relies on being able to shift our focus of attention to align with that of another person. This so-called “social attention” reflects the use of cues such as gaze, pointing and head orientation to infer the attentional focus of others. An important, but unresolved, question is whether these socially relevant cues automatically direct attention in observers, or whether cognitive resources shape this process. An additional issue is that existing work has almost exclusively examined eye gaze cues, thus potentially limiting the generalizability of this work across types of social cues. To examine these issues, the present research investigates the influence of limiting resource availability (using a concurrent memory load) on the ability of an oriented head cue to direct attention. The results indicate that reducing resource availability increases the impact of the head cue on attentional orienting – the opposite pattern to that obtained with gaze cues. This outcome suggests that resource availability does not affect all social cues the same, and that caution is warranted in drawing broad conclusions about mechanisms underlying social cueing of attention without appropriate comparisons across multiple types of social cues.
The phase-separation mechanism of a binary mixture in a ring trimer
Authors: Penna Vittorio , Richaud Andrea 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe show that, depending on the ratio between the inter- and the intra-species interactions, a binary mixture trapped in a three-well potential with periodic boundary conditions exhibits three macroscopic ground-state configurations which differ in the degree of mixing. Accordingly, the corresponding quantum states feature either delocalization or a Schrödinger cat-like structure. The two-step phase separation occurring in the system, which is smoothed by the activation of tunnelling processes, is confirmed by the analysis of the energy spectrum that collapses and rearranges at the two critical points. In such points, we show that also Entanglement Entropy, a quantity borrowed from quantum-information theory, features singularities, thus demonstrating its ability to witness the double mixining-demixing phase transition. The developed analysis, which is of interest to both the experimental and theoretical communities, opens the door to the study of the demixing mechanism in complex lattice geometries.
Improving catalytic activity of the Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase-based Escherichia coli biocatalysts for the overproduction of (Z)-11-(heptanoyloxy)undec-9-enoic acid from ricinoleic acid
Authors: Woo Ji-Min , Jeon Eun-Yeong , Seo Eun-Ji , Seo Joo-Hyun , Lee Dong-Yup , Yeon Young Joo , Park Jin-Byung 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBaeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) can be used for the biosynthesis of lactones and esters from ketones. However, the BVMO-based biocatalysts are not so stable under process conditions. Thereby, this study focused on enhancing stability of the BVMO-based biocatalysts. The biotransformation of ricinoleic acid into (Z)-11-(heptanoyloxy)undec-9-enoic acid by the recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the BVMO from Pseudomonas putida and an alcohol dehydrogenase from Micrococcus luteus was used as a model system. After thorough investigation of the key factors to influence stability of the BVMO, Cys302 was identified as an engineering target. The substitution of Cys302 to Leu enabled the engineered enzyme (i.e., E6BVMOC302L) to become more stable toward oxidative and thermal stresses. The catalytic activity of E6BVMOC302L-based E. coli biocatalysts was also greater than the E6BVMO-based biocatalysts. Another factor to influence biocatalytic performance of the BVMO-based whole-cell biocatalysts was availability of carbon and energy source during biotransformations. Glucose feeding into the reaction medium led to a marked increase of final product concentrations. Overall, the bioprocess engineering to improve metabolic stability of host cells in addition to the BVMO engineering allowed us to produce (Z)-11-(heptanoyloxy)undec-9-enoic acid to a concentration of 132 mM (41 g/L) from 150 mM ricinoleic acid within 8 h.
Undilated versus dilated monoscopic smartphone-based fundus photography for optic nerve head evaluation
Authors: Wintergerst Maximilian W. M. , Brinkmann Christian K. , Holz Frank G. , Finger Robert P. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSmartphone-based fundus photography (SBFP) allows for a cheap and mobile fundus examination with the potential to revolutionize eye care especially in low income settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of pupil dilation on image quality in optic nerve head (ONH) imaging and vertical cup-to-disc ratio (vCDR) evaluation with SBFP. Eyes with glaucoma or suspected to have glaucoma were imaged with conventional digital fundus photography (CFP) and SBFP undilated and following dilation, all monoscopically. SBFP was possible in 74% of eyes without dilation and in 98% following dilation. Better image quality on SBFP was achieved with dilation and complete visualization of the optic disc rim was possible in 46% of images without dilation and on 94% of images with dilation. VCDR measurements on images obtained following dilation highly correlated with measurements on CFP (coefficient of correlation r = 0.91, p < 0.001), whereas vCDR on images obtained without dilation correlated less well with CFP (r = 0.70, p < 0.001). SBFP for ONH evaluation is promising, however dilation appears mandatory to achieve results comparable to optic disc evaluation on CFP. ONH imaging with smartphones without dilation might bear the risk of underestimating the CDR and hence overlooking patients at risk for glaucoma.
Lupus nephritis pathology prediction with clinical indices
Authors: Tang Youzhou , Zhang Weiru , Zhu Minfeng , Zheng Li , Xie Lingli , Yao Zhijiang , Zhang Hao , Cao Dongsheng , Lu Ben 
Published: July 2018

AbstractEffective treatment of lupus nephritis and assessment of patient prognosis depend on accurate pathological classification and careful use of acute and chronic pathological indices. Renal biopsy can provide most reliable predicting power. However, clinicians still need auxiliary tools under certain circumstances. Comprehensive statistical analysis of clinical indices may be an effective support and supplementation for biopsy. In this study, 173 patients with lupus nephritis were classified based on histology and scored on acute and chronic indices. These results were compared against machine learning predictions involving multilinear regression and random forest analysis. For three class random forest analysis, total classification accuracy was 51.3% (class II 53.7%, class III&IV 56.2%, class V 40.1%). For two class random forest analysis, class II accuracy reached 56.2%; class III&IV 63.7%; class V 61%. Additionally, machine learning selected out corresponding important variables for each class prediction. Multiple linear regression predicted the index of chronic pathology (CI) (Q2 = 0.746, R2 = 0.771) and the acute index (AI) (Q2 = 0.516, R2 = 0.576), and each variable’s importance was calculated in AI and CI models. Evaluation of lupus nephritis by machine learning showed potential for assessment of lupus nephritis.
Preparation and Properties of 5-Fluorouracil-Loaded Chitosan Microspheres for the Intranasal Administration
Authors: Li Wanqing , Ba Hongyuan , Huang Peng , Zheng Aiping , Yang Xi 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Objective To study the preparation technique of 5-fluorouracil and the release characteristic of 5-fluorouracil-loaded chitosan microspheres for the intranasal administration.
Methods 5-fluorouracil-loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared by emulsion chemical cross-link technique. The orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize the preparation procedure. Dynamic dialysis method was applied to determine the release characteristic of microspheres in vitro and its influencing factors. Swelling behavior was expressed by swelling ratio. The degree of mucoadhesion was investigated by determining the mucociliary transport rate(MTR) of the microparticle across a frog palate.
Results Microspheres with a good shape and narrow size distribution were prepared. The average diameter was 43±4 μm. The drug loading was (38.5±1.0) %. The entrapment efficiency was (79.0±1.8) %. The drug release profile in vitro could be described by Higuichi eqution as Q=0.1035t1/2+0.0284 (r=0.9965). Chitosan had good mucoadhesive property and caused a significant reduction in MTR(P<0.01).
Conclusion The optimized technique has a good reproducibility and a high entrapment efficiency, so it could be used to prepare 5-fluorouracil-loaded chitosan microspheres for the intranasal administration.Chitosan is a good material for nasal preparation and has prospective development in the pharmaceutical field.
Rehabilitation in Germany 2004–2016 A Multicenter Analysis Over a Period of 13 Years in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Schiel Ralf , Stachow Rainer , Hermann Thomas , Satzke Ina , Büttner Thomas , Koch Sibylle , Enderlein Katja , Bambauer Rolf , Steveling Antje , Bollow Esther , Holl Reinhard W. ,   for the DPVWiss Initiative
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn the treatment of children/adolescents with diabetes medical rehabilitation plays an important role. It was the aim of the survey to analyze trends in the number of patients admitted to rehabilitation, the quality of diabetes care, the incidence of acute complications, risk factors for cardiovascular co-morbidities like lipids and blood pressure and the familial status nationwide and over a period of 13 years. Methods: Currently seven hospitals offer in-patient rehabilitation for children/adolescents with diabetes in Germany. Six hospitals participated in the survey. All children/adolescents (n=7.163) who participated in an in-patient rehabilitation 01/01/2004-31/12/2016 were included. Clinical/familial data were assessed: age, sex, family situation, type/duration of diabetes, insulin dosage, self-monitoring, acute complications, height, body weight, blood pressure and laboratory parameters. For collecting and storage of data the computer software DPV® (Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation, University of Ulm, Germany) was used. Statistical analyses were performed using the programme SAS (Statistical Analysis Software 9.4, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina, USA). Results: During the study period 7.163 patients took part in 10.987 in-patient rehabilitation procedures. The yearly number of patients participating in rehabilitation remained stable. There was no change in the quality of diabetes control (HbA1c: p=0.30, fasting blood glucose: p=0.80). The incidence of severe hypoglycaemia decreased (p<0.001). The incidence of ketacidosis remained stable (p=0.18). The frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring increased (p<0.001). The same was true for patients treated with CSII (p<0.001), whereas the numbers of patients treated with CT or ICT decreased (both p<0.001). There was no change in patients’ total insulin dose (p=0.01). There was a decrease of the number of patients living with both parents (p<0.001), the percentage of children/adolescents living with mother or father alone increased (p<0.001). The percentage of children/adolescents living in mixed cultural families or having a background of immigration increased (p<0.001). Conclusions: There is a change in medical rehabilitation: The number is stable, the proportion of patients using CSII increased, the number of patients living with single parents and the percentage of patients from culturally mixed families increased also.
Thrombin Generation in Newborn Plasma Is Critically Dependent on the Concentration of Prothrombin
Authors: Andrew Maureen , Schmidt Barbara , Mitchell Lesley , Paes Bosco , Ofosu Frederick 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe ability to generate thrombin is decreased and delayed in plasma from the healthy newborn infant compared to the adult. Only 30 to 50% of peak adult thrombin activity can be produced in neonatal plasma. To test whether this observation can be explained by the low neonatal levels of the contact or vitamin K dependent factors, we measured neonatal thrombin generation after raising the concentration of these factors to adult values. We also determined whether the addition of a variety of blood products to neonatal plasma improved thrombin generation. An amidolytic method was used to quantitate intrinsic (APTT) and extrinsic (PT) pathway thrombin generation in defibrinated pooled cord plasma from healthy term infants. Added individually, factors VII, IX, X or the contact factors (CF) failed to alter the rate or the total amount of thrombin generated in neonatal plasma. In contrast, the addition of prothrombin increased the total amount of thrombin generated to above adult values in both the APTT and the PT systems but did not alter the rate of thrombin generation. The rate of thrombin generation in cord plasma shortened after a combination of II, IX, X and CF was added to the APTT system or II, VII and X to the PT system. In both systems, the total amount of thrombin generated was linearly related to the initial prothrombin concentration. Each of fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, plasma from platelet concentrates, or factor IX concentrate (in amounts used therapeutically) caused an increase in the total amount of thrombin generated which was related to the increase in prothrombin concentration. Thus, the total amount of thrombin generated in newborn plasma is critically dependent on the prothrombin concentration whereas the rate at which thrombin is generated is dependent on the levels of many other coagulation proteins in combination.
Effect of Protein C and Activated Protein C on Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Normal Human Subjects
Authors: Okajima Kenji , Koga Shin , Kaji Megumi , Inoue Masayasu , Nakagaki Tomohiro , Funatsu Akinobu , Okabe Hiroaki , Takatsuki Kiyoshi , Aoki Nobuo 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAlthough protein C (PC) and activated protein C (APC) have been postulated to be useful for treating patients with thrombosis, their critical effect remains to be studied in human subjects. To examine whether purified PC or APC are useful for treating patients with thrombosis without showing any adverse effect, wc studied effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis in normal human subjects.When highly purified human PC was administered intravenously to healthy subjects, plasma levels of immunoreactive PC decreased with a half-life of 10.9 h. Intravenously administered APC decreased with a half-life of 23 min as measured by prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). However, 1.7 h was obtained for the plasma half-life of APC when it was measured immunologically. These findings suggested that a significant fraction of the administered APC was rapidly inhibited by plasma inhibitor. Upon administration of APC, APTT was prolonged and plasma levels of clotting factor VIII (FVIII) decreased transiently as measured by clotting assay. However, when determined by a chromogenic assay method in which 120-fold diluted plasma samples were used, plasma levels of FVIII remained unchanged. Plasma levels of F-V did not decrease after APC administration. These findings suggested that prolongation of APTT and apparent decrease in plasma F-VIII clotting activity might be due to the in vitro-effect of APC present in plasma samples used. Diurnal fluctuation of plasminogen activator inhibitor in normal subjects was not affected by administration of APC.Thus, PC or APC seems to function selectively at the site of thrombin-formation without lowering plasma levels of coagulation factors.