bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presenilin Regulates Retinotectal Synapse Formation through EphB2 Receptor Processing
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Thakar Amit , Santoro Stephen W. , Pratt Kara G. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAs the catalytic component of γ‐secretase, presenilin (PS) has long been studied in the context of Alzheimer’s disease through cleaving the amyloid precursor protein. PS/γ‐secretase, however, also cleaves a multitude of single‐pass transmembrane proteins that are important during development, including Notch, the netrin receptor DCC, cadherins, drebrin‐A, and the EphB2 receptor. Because transgenic PS‐KO mice do not survive to birth, studies of this molecule during later embryonic or early postnatal stages of development have been carried out using cell cultures or conditional knock‐out mice, respectively. As a result, the function of PS in synapse formation had not been well‐addressed. Here, we study the role of PS in the developing Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit, an in‐vivo model that allows for protein expression to be manipulated specifically during the peak of synapse formation between retinal ganglion cells and tectal neurons. We found that inhibiting PS in the postsynaptic tectal neurons impaired tadpole visual avoidance behavior. Whole cell recordings indicated weaker retinotectal synaptic transmission which was characterized by significant reductions in both NMDA receptor (NMDAR)‐ and AMPA receptor (AMPAR)‐mediated currents. We also found that expression of the C‐tail fragment of the EphB2 receptor, which is normally cleaved by PS/γ‐secretase and which has been shown to upregulate NMDARs at the synapse, rescued the reduced NMDAR‐mediated responses. Our data determine that normal PS function is important for proper formation and strengthening of retinotectal synapses through cleaving the EphB2 receptor.
Decreased Neurogenesis Increases Spatial Reversal Errors in Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)
Authors: Guitar Nicole A. , Sherry David F. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAdult hippocampal neurogenesis has been proposed to both aid memory formation and disrupt memory. We examined the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in spatial working and reference memory in black‐capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), a passerine bird that relies on spatial memory for cache retrieval and foraging. We tested spatial working and spatial reference memory in birds that had received methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM), a neurotoxin that decreases hippocampal neurogenesis. MAM treatment significantly reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus quantified by doublecortin (DCX) labeling of newly divided and migrating neurons. MAM treatment had little effect on the working or reference memory but caused an increase in errors on the reference memory task following reversal. Working memory for recently visited spatial locations and reference memory for familiar spatial locations were thus unaffected by a reduction in neurogenesis. An increase in errors following reference memory reversal may indicate that adult hippocampal neurogenesis aids in pattern separation, the differentiation of similar memories at the time of encoding.
Density‐dependent positive feedbacks buffer aquatic plants from interactive effects of eutrophication and predator loss
Authors: Donadi S. , Austin Å. N. , Svartgren E. , Eriksson B. K. , Hansen J. P. , Eklöf J. S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSelf‐facilitation allows populations to persist under disturbance by ameliorating experienced stress. In coastal ecosystems, eutrophication and declines of large predatory fish are two common disturbances that can synergistically impact habitat‐forming plants by benefitting ephemeral algae. In theory, density‐dependent intraspecific plant facilitation could weaken such effects by ameliorating the amount of experienced stress. Here, we tested whether and how shoot density of a common aquatic plant (Myriophyllum spicatum) alters the response of individual plants to eutrophication and exclusion of large predatory fish, using a 12‐week cage experiment in the field. Results showed that high plant density benefitted individual plant performance, but only when the two stressors were combined. Epiphytic algal biomass per plant more than doubled in cages that excluded large predatory fish, indicative of a trophic cascade. Moreover, in this treatment, individual shoot biomass, as well as number of branches, increased with density when nutrients were added, but decreased with density at ambient nutrient levels. In contrast, in open cages that large predatory fish could access, epiphytic algal biomass was low and individual plant biomass and number of branches were unaffected by plant density and eutrophication. Plant performance generally decreased under fertilization, suggesting stressful conditions. Together, these results suggest that intraspecific plant facilitation occurred only when large fish exclusion (causing high epiphyte load) was accompanied by fertilization, and that intraspecific competition instead prevailed when no nutrients were added. As coastal ecosystems are increasingly exposed to multiple and often interacting stressors such as eutrophication and declines of large predatory fish, maintaining high plant density is important for ecosystem‐based management.
Finite element analysis of multi‐turn magnetoplated coils using homogenization method
Authors: Fujita Shogo , Igarashi Hajime 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMagnetoplated wires (MPW) are effective to reduce eddy current losses in power devices such as converters and contactless power transfer systems. In the conventional finite element analysis (FEA) of MPW, elements must be sufficiently smaller than the skin depth. This results in large number of unknowns. This article proposes a homogenization method using complex permeability for FEA of magnetoplated coils so as to circumvent this problem. The coil impedances obtained by the proposed method with coarse elements are shown to agree well with those computed in the conventional FEA with fine elements.
Modified Electrodes for Selective Voltammetric Detection of Biomolecules
Authors: Baig Nadeem , Rana Azeem , Kawde Abdel‐Nasser 
Published: September 2018

AbstractElectrochemical sensors for selective analysis of biomolecules got tremendous attention due to their better sensitivity and construction possibility of the portable cost‐effective devices. The individual or simultaneous sensing of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) is challenging due to their close electrooxidation and co‐existing. Recent years, substantial progress is made to develop electrode with smart materials to overcome the issue related to simultaneous sensing. This review is comparatively consolidating the work was done in fabrication of electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous sensing of AA, DA and UA. The various modification materials such as graphene, CNTs, conductive polymers and the ionic liquids characteristics are concisely described with their figure of merits. In the end, the critical analysis, future prospects, and challenges in commercialization are described.
Seismic isolation: Early history
Authors: Makris Nicos 
Published: September 2018

SummarySeismic isolation or “aseismic base isolation” is an earthquake protection strategy that aims to uncouple the motion of a structure from the ground shaking and thereby reduce structural forces. A most effective and successful seismic protection technology, seismic isolation, is by now a mature and viable alternative to traditional capacity design and has been implemented in numerous bridges, buildings, and other special structures worldwide. This paper records the origins and early developments (up to the early 1990s) of seismic isolation.
Approximate solutions for the ignition of a solid as a function of the Biot number
Authors: Quintiere James G. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryThe ignition of a finite planar 1‐dimensional solid is addressed for constant applied radiant heat flux. An ignition temperature criterion is used, with constant properties, and linearized reradiation. An approximate integral analysis leads to analytic formulas to predict the ignition time in terms of Biot (Bi) number and heat flux. The accuracy of the integral solution is found to be good compared to the exact infinite series solution for the conduction equation. The integral model is then used to assess the accuracy of common ideal thick and thin formulas for ignition. There is a domain of heat flux and Bi where the ideal formulas are not accurate. An example is given where the integral model is accurately applied to ignition data to illustrate the range where the ideal formula is not accurate.
Dementia in older people admitted to hospital: An analysis of length of stay and associated costs
Authors: Ahern Susan , Cronin Jodi , Woods Noel , Brady Noeleen M. , O'Regan Niamh A. , Trawley Steven , Timmons Suzanne 
Published: September 2018

ObjectivesPatients with dementia in the acute setting are generally considered to impose higher costs on the health system compared to those without the disease largely due to longer length of stay (LOS). Many studies exploring the economic impact of the disease extrapolate estimates based on the costs of patients diagnosed using routinely collected hospital discharge data only. However, much dementia is undiagnosed, and therefore in limiting the analysis to this cohort, we believe that LOS and the associated costs of dementia may be overestimated. We examined LOS and associated costs in a cohort of patients specifically screened for dementia in the hospital setting.MethodsUsing primary data collected from a prospective observational study of patients aged ≥70 years, we conducted a comparative analysis of LOS and associated hospital costs for patients with and without a diagnosis of dementia.ResultsThere was no significant difference in overall length of stay and total costs between those with (μ = 9.9 days, μ = € 8246) and without (μ = 8.25 days, μ = € 6855) dementia. Categorical data analysis of LOS and costs between the two groups provided mixed results.ConclusionsThe results challenge the basis for estimating the costs of dementia in the acute setting using LOS data from only those patients with a formal dementia diagnosis identified by routinely collected hospital discharge data. Accurate disease prevalence data, encompassing all stages of disease severity, are required to enable an estimation of the true costs of dementia in the acute setting based on LOS.
Evaluating the ecosystem services and benefits of wetland restoration by use of the rapid benefit indicators approach
Authors: Mazzotta Marisa , Bousquin Justin , Berry Walter , Ojo Claudette , McKinney Rick , Hyckha Kristen , Druschke Caroline Gottschalk 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Wetlands in urban and urbanizing areas are often smaller, more degraded, and subject to more stressors than those in undeveloped locations. Their restored level of functioning may never equal that of a site in an undisturbed landscape. Yet, the social benefits from restoring these wetlands may be significant because of the relative scarcity of wetlands and natural areas in urban settings and also the large number of people who may benefit. In this study, we have outlined a systematic approach to compiling nonmonetary indicators of wetlands restoration benefits: The Rapid Benefit Indicators (RBI) Approach. The RBI approach is grounded in economic theory and compatible with methods used by environmental economists to value ecosystem services. We illustrate the RBI approach with a comparison of 2 sites within the Woonasquatucket River Watershed in Rhode Island. As an urbanizing watershed, the Woonasquatucket illustrates how decisions may differ when based primarily on evaluations of ecological functioning versus those that incorporate benefits to people. It demonstrates how small urban sites with relatively low ecological function can provide large social benefits. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:148–159. Published 2018. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Identifying micro‐level generative mechanisms of ICT‐enabled performance improvement in resource‐constrained healthcare organisations: A critical realist perspective
Authors: Buchana Yasser , Garbutt Malcolm , Seymour Lisa F. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHealthcare studies in the information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) domain have attempted to understand how technology can be used to support healthcare organisations in developing countries; organisations whose performance is negatively impacted by resource constraints. Current studies – predominantly informed by positivist and interpretivist paradigms – produce analyses and prescriptions designed without an in‐depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms influencing performance. The result is limited ability to explain how organisational performance is enabled by ICT.Critical realism as a philosophy of science provides a deeper ontological and broader epistemological approach that makes it possible to theorise the micro‐level mechanisms that hold potential for explaining observed outcomes. The study reported here, informed by the critical realism paradigm, uses interviews, observation and organisational data collected from a single case study to identify the resource optimisation micro‐level generative mechanisms that have improved emergency medical services. The study integrates the technological affordances lens to explain ICT‐enabled organisational performance. Additionally, the paper proposes and tests an understanding of the Bygstad, Munkvold, and Volkoff stepwise framework as a methodology for doing critical realist research using affordances.
Evaluation on the effect of hydrogen sulfide on the NLRP3 signaling pathway and its involvement in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Authors: Yue Li‐Ming , Gao Ya‐Mei , Han Bao‐Hua 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundAs a common disease, the incidence of atherosclerosis (AS) in the world is high. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the involvement of hydrogen sulfide (H
2S)/cystathionine γ‐lyase (CSE) in the pathogenesis of AS as well as their possible signaling pathways.MethodsEnzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis were used to detect the effect of CSE on the expression of inflammatory cytokines, ie, H
2S, thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP), NLRP3, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein (ASC), caspase‐1, and interleukin (IL)‐1β. In addition, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 among different groups.ResultKnockdown of CSE by the transfection of CSE small interfering RNA upregulated the levels of two inflammatory cytokines, ie, IL‐1β and IL‐18. In addition, the downregulation of CSE promoted the expression of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, and IL‐1β in THP‐1 cells. Meanwhile, treating the cells with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) inhibited the productions of IL‐1β and IL‐18. Furthermore, upregulation of H
2S synthesis by treating the cells with NaHS also reduced the protein levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, and IL‐1β. Finally, the protein levels of TXNIP and NLRP3 in the AS group were much higher than those in the AS + H
2S group, which in turn was higher than the sham group. In addition, the AS group displayed the highest protein levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18, while the levels of these proteins in the AS + H
2S group were higher than those in the sham group.ConclusionIn summary, the present finding suggested a possible linkage between H
2S metabolism and AS through the H
2S/CSE‐TXNIP‐NLRP3‐IL‐18/IL‐1β‐nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway.
Recent advances in endotoxin tolerance
Authors: Liu Dan , Cao Shousong , Zhou Yejiang , Xiong Yuxia 
Published: September 2018

AbstractEndotoxin tolerance is defined as a reduced capacity of a cell to respond endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) challenge after an initial encounter with endotoxin in advance. The body becomes tolerant to subsequent challenge with a lethal dose of endotoxin and cytokines release and cell/tissue damage induced by inflammatory reaction are significantly reduced in the state of endotoxin tolerance. The main characteristics of endotoxin tolerance are downregulation of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and C‐X‐C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) and upregulation of anti‐inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐10 and transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β). Therefore, endotoxin tolerance is often regarded as the regulatory mechanism of the host against excessive inflammation. Endotoxin tolerance is a complex pathophysiological process and involved in multiple cellular signal pathways, receptor alterations, and biological molecules. However, the exact mechanism remains elusive up to date. To better understand the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of endotoxin tolerance, it is crucial to investigate the comprehensive cellular signal pathways, signaling proteins, cell surface molecules, proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, and other mediators. Endotoxin tolerance plays an important role in reducing the mortality of sepsis, endotoxin shock, and other endotoxin‐related diseases. Recent reports indicated that endotoxin tolerance is also related to other diseases such as cystic fibrosis, acute coronary syndrome, liver ischemia‐reperfusion injury, and cancer. The aim of this review is to discuss the recent advances in endotoxin tolerance mainly based on the cellular and molecular mechanisms by outline the current state of the knowledge of the involvement of the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathways, negative regulate factor, microRNAs, apoptosis, chromatin modification, and gene reprogramming of immune cells in endotoxin tolerance. We hope to provide a new idea and scientific basis for the rational treatment of endotoxin‐related diseases such as endotoxemia, sepsis, and endotoxin shock clinically.
Identification, characterization, and functional investigation of circular RNAs in subventricular zone of adult rat brain
Authors: Xie Fang , Zhao Yun , Wang Shi‐Da , Ma Jing , Wang Xue , Qian Ling‐Jia 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAdult neural stem cells (NSCs) are able to self‐renew and generate new neural cells. Identifying regulators of NSCs is significant for the development of NSC‐based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been characterized in various cell lines and brain tissues, and found to participate in multiple biological processes. However, the expression pattern of circRNAs in adult NSCs is still unknown. Here, the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle was isolated as the niche of NSCs in adult rat brain for RNA sequencing and the characteristics of circRNAs profiling in both SVZ and cerebral cortex were also investigated. As a result, 29 049 and 31 975 circRNAs were identified in SVZ and cortex, respectively. Among them, 41 were SVZ‐specific and 48 were cortex‐specific. 467 circRNAs were also found to express predominately in SVZ, while the cortex had other 423 circRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the SVZ‐specific circRNAs have close relationship with the regulation of NSC expansion and NSC‐niche interaction, while the other differentially expressed circRNAs might be involved in neural cellular construction and nerve system function. Furthermore, the interactions between circRNAs and microRNAs were also explored, and the result showed that one SVZ‐specific circRNA was capable to competitively bind miR‐138‐5p as a potential derepressive regulator in NSCs proliferation. Hence, our work has laid the foundations to decipher regulation mechanisms of circRNAs in adult NSCs and to develop circRNAs as novel biomarkers for adult NSCs.
Metastasis suppressor protein 1 regulated by PTEN suppresses invasion, migration, and EMT of gastric carcinoma by inactivating PI3K/AKT signaling
Authors: Wang Honglei , Zhao Yongjie , Cao Lei , Zhang Judong , Wang Yu , Xu Min 
Published: September 2018

AbstractEpithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial event for cancer progression and metastasis. Metastasis suppressor protein 1 (MTSS1) is a metastasis suppressor in several cancers. In this study, we elucidated the potential physiological function of MTSS1 in the invasion and migration of gastric cancer (GC), and its distinct role in EMT and subsequently determined the potential molecular mechanism. We observed that MTSS1 expression was downregulated in GC tissues and several GC cell lines (SGC‐7901, MGC‐803, MKN‐28, MKN‐45, and BGC‐823). Importantly, forced expression of MTSS1 drastically diminished the cell viability in both SGC‐7901 and MKN‐45 cells. Moreover, overexpression of MTSS1 attenuated the invasion ability of these two cell lines. In addition to the invasive capability, introduction of MTSS1 led to a loss of migratory potential. Furthermore, augmentation of MTSS1 exhibited the typical EMT phenotype switch, accompanied by enhanced the expression of vimentin and N‐cadherin and reduced E‐cadherin expression. Interestingly, MTSS1 also repressed transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF‐β1)‐induced EMT. Our mechanistic investigations revealed that MTSS1 was positively regulated by the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and it functioned as a tumor suppressor, possibly by inactivating the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/v‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (AKT) pathway in GC cells. Collectively, our data provide insight into an important role for MTSS1 in suppressing tumor cell invasion, migration and EMT, which indicates that MTSS1 may act as a prospective prognostic biological marker and a promising therapeutic target for GC.
MicroRNA‐21 as a predictor and prognostic factor for trastuzumab therapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Badr Marwa , Said Hebatallah , Louka Manal L. , Elghazaly Hesham A. , Gaballah Ahmed , Atef Abd El Mageed Mai 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBreast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancer represents about 20% to 30% of all breast cancers. Trastuzumab is used in the treatment of HER2‐positive breast cancer. MicroRNA‐21 (miR‐21) is an oncomiR that acts by inhibiting many tumor‐suppressor genes. We analyzed the relative expression levels of serum miR‐21 in 20 HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer patients before and after 3 months of treatment with trastuzumab. miR‐21 levels decreased with a high significant difference after trastuzumab therapy (P = 0.001). Although miR‐21 expression levels were lower in responders than in nonresponders, the difference was not statistically significant (
P = 0.6). Our results demonstrated a significant negative correlation between its basal expression, expression levels after treatment, and time to progression (
P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). These results make miR‐21 a potential prognostic factor for HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer patients. Additionally, it can be an interesting potential target in therapy using antisense oligonucleotides for miR‐21.