bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IgG-mediated immune suppression in mice is epitope specific except during high epitope density conditions
Authors: Xu Hui , Zhang Lu , Heyman Birgitta 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSpecific IgG antibodies, passively administered together with erythrocytes, suppress antibody responses against the erythrocytes. Although used to prevent alloimmunization in Rhesus (Rh)D-negative women carrying RhD-positive fetuses, the mechanism behind is not understood. In mice, IgG suppresses efficiently in the absence of Fcγ-receptors and complement, suggesting an Fc-independent mechanism. In line with this, suppression is frequently restricted to the epitopes to which IgG binds. However, suppression of responses against epitopes not recognized by IgG has also been observed thus arguing against Fc-independence. Here, we explored the possibility that non-epitope specific suppression can be explained by steric hindrance when the suppressive IgG binds to an epitope present at high density. Mice were transfused with IgG anti-4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl (NP) together with NP-conjugated sheep red blood cells (SRBC) with high, intermediate, or low NP-density. Antibody titers and the number of single antibody-forming cells were determined. As a rule, IgG suppressed NP- but not SRBC-specific responses (epitope specific suppression). However, there was one exception: suppression of both IgM anti-SRBC and IgM anti-NP responses occurred when high density SRBC-NP was administered (non-epitope specific suppression). These findings answer a longstanding question in antibody feedback regulation and are compatible with the hypothesis that epitope masking explains IgG-mediated immune suppression.
Feature selectivity is stable in primary visual cortex across a range of spatial frequencies
Authors: Jeon Brian B. , Swain Alex D. , Good Jeffrey T. , Chase Steven M. , Kuhlman Sandra J. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractReliable perception of environmental signals is a critical first step to generating appropriate responses and actions in awake behaving animals. The extent to which stimulus features are stably represented at the level of individual neurons is not well understood. To address this issue, we investigated the persistence of stimulus response tuning over the course of 1–2 weeks in the primary visual cortex of awake, adult mice. Using 2-photon calcium imaging, we directly compared tuning stability to two stimulus features (orientation and spatial frequency) within the same neurons, specifically in layer 2/3 excitatory neurons. The majority of neurons that were tracked and tuned on consecutive imaging sessions maintained stable orientation and spatial frequency preferences (83% and 76% of the population, respectively) over a 2-week period. Selectivity, measured as orientation and spatial frequency bandwidth, was also stable. Taking into account all 4 parameters, we found that the proportion of stable neurons was less than two thirds (57%). Thus, a substantial fraction of neurons (43%) were unstable in at least one parameter. Furthermore, we found that instability of orientation preference was not predictive of instability of spatial frequency preference within the same neurons. Population analysis revealed that noise correlation values were stable well beyond the estimated decline in monosynaptic connectivity (~250–300 microns). Our results demonstrate that orientation preference is stable across a range of spatial frequencies and that the tuning of distinct stimulus features can be independently maintained within a single neuron.
Loss of a conserved salt bridge in bacterial glycosyl hydrolase BgIM-G1 improves substrate binding in temperate environments
Authors: Mhaindarkar Dipali , Gasper Raphael , Lupilov Natalie , Hofmann Eckhard , Leichert Lars I. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSalt bridges are the strongest electrostatic interactions in proteins. They substantially contribute to a protein’s structural stability. Thus, mutations of salt bridges are typically selected against. Here, we report on the evolutionary loss of a highly conserved salt bridge in the GH1 family glycosyl hydrolase BglM-G1. BglM-G1’s gene was found in the bacterial metagenome of a temperate, seasonally cold marine habitat. In BglM-G1, arginine 75 is replaced by a histidine. While fully retaining β-glucosidase activity, BglM-G1 is less heat stable than an H75R variant, in which the salt bridge was artificially re-introduced. However, the Km toward its substrates was lower in wild type, leading to an overall higher catalytic efficiency. Our results indicate that this loss of the salt bridge leads to higher flexibility in BglM-G1’s active site, trading structural stability at high temperatures, a trait not needed in a temperate, seasonally cold habitat, for a more effective catalytic activity.
Mesothelial to mesenchyme transition as a major developmental and pathological player in trunk organs and their cavities
Authors: Koopmans Tim , Rinkevich Yuval 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe internal organs embedded in the cavities are lined by an epithelial monolayer termed the mesothelium. The mesothelium is increasingly implicated in driving various internal organ pathologies, as many of the normal embryonic developmental pathways acting in mesothelial cells, such as those regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, also drive disease progression in adult life. Here, we summarize observations from different animal models and organ systems that collectively point toward a central role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in driving tissue fibrosis, acute scarring, and cancer metastasis. Thus, drugs targeting pathways of mesothelium’s transition may have broad therapeutic benefits in patients suffering from these diseases.
Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral trisubstituted heteroaromatic allenes from 1,3-enynes
Authors: Yu Songjie , Sang Hui Leng , Zhang Shuo-Qing , Hong Xin , Ge Shaozhong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractChiral allene and N-heteroaryl motifs are present in an ever-growing list of biologically active natural products and synthetic drugs. Although significant progress has been made in asymmetric syntheses of chiral allenes, general and practical protocols for enantioselective syntheses of chiral N-heteroaryl-substituted allenes from readily available starting materials still remain rare. Here we report a highly enantioselective synthesis of quinolinyl-substituted chiral allenes through a copper-catalyzed asymmetric allenylation of quinoline N-oxides with readily available 1,3-enynes. A variety of 1,3-enynes react with quinoline N-oxides, affording the corresponding quinolinyl-substituted allenes in high yields (up to 95%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This transformation tolerates a variety of functional groups, such as chloro, bromo, trifluoromethyl ether, tertiary amine, siloxy, carboxylic ester, imide, pyridine, and thiophene moieties. DFT calculations suggest a pathway involving an intramolecular nucleophilic addition of an allenyl copper intermediate with a coordinated quinoline N-oxide through a five-membered, rather than seven-membered, transition state.
Impact of gender on the survival of patients with glioblastoma
Authors: Tian Minjie , Ma Wenying , Chen Yueqiu , Yu Yue , Zhu Donglin , Shi Jingping , Zhang Yingdong 
Published: October 2018

Background: Preclinical models have suggested a role for sex hormones in the development of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, the impact of gender on the survival time of patients with GBM has not been fully understood. The objective of the present study was to clarify the association between gender and survival of patients with GBM by analyzing population-based data.Methods: We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results database who were diagnosed with GBM between 2000 and 2008 and were treated with surgery. Five-year cancer specific survival data were obtained. Kaplan–Meier methods and multivariable Cox regression models were used to analyze long-term survival outcomes and risk factors.Results: A total of 6586 patients were identified; 61.5% were men and 38.5% were women. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates in the male and female groups were 6.8% and 8.3%, respectively (P=0.002 by univariate and P&lt;0.001 by multivariate analysis). A stratified analysis showed that male patients always had the lowest CSS rate across localized cancer stage and different age subgroups.Conclusions: Gender has prognostic value for determining GBM risk. The role of sex hormones in the development of GBM warrants further investigation.
X-shooter and ALMA spectroscopy of GRB 161023A
Authors: de Ugarte Postigo A. , Thöne C. C. , Bolmer J. , Schulze S. , Martín S. , Kann D. A. , D’Elia V. , Selsing J. , Martin-Carrillo A. , Perley D. A. , Kim S. , Izzo L. , Sánchez-Ramírez R. , Guidorzi C. , Klotz A. , Wiersema K. , Bauer F. E. , Bensch K. , Campana S. , Cano Z. , Covino S. , Coward D. , De Cia A. , de Gregorio-Monsalvo I. , De Pasquale M. , Fynbo J. P. U. , Greiner J. , Gomboc A. , Hanlon L. , Hansen M. , Hartmann D. H. , Heintz K. E. , Jakobsson P. , Kobayashi S. , Malesani D. B. , Martone R. , Meintjes P. J. , Michałowski M. J. , Mundell C. G. , Murphy D. , Oates S. , Salmon L. , van Soelen B. , Tanvir N. R. , Turpin D. , Xu D. , Zafar T. 
Published: October 2018

Context. Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced during the dramatic deaths of massive stars with very short lifetimes, meaning that they explode close to the birth place of their progenitors. Over a short period they become the most luminous objects observable in the Universe, being perfect beacons to study high-redshift star-forming regions.
Aims. We aim to use the afterglow of GRB 161023A at a redshift z = 2.710 as a background source to study the environment of the explosion and the intervening systems along its line of sight.
Methods. For the first time, we complement ultraviolet (UV), optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with millimetre spectroscopy using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), which allows us to probe the molecular content of the host galaxy. The X-shooter spectrum shows a plethora of absorption features including fine-structure and metastable transitions of Fe, Ni, Si, C, and O. We present photometry ranging from 43 s to over 500 days after the burst.
Results. We infer a host-galaxy metallicity of [Zn/H] = −1.11 ± 0.07, which, corrected for dust depletion, results in [X/H] = −0.94 ± 0.08. We do not detect molecular features in the ALMA data, but we derive limits on the molecular content of log(NCO/cm−2) < 15.7 and log(NHCO+/cm−-12, which are consistent with those that we obtain from the optical spectra, log(NH2/cm−2)< 15.2 and log(NCO/cm−2) < 14.5. Within the host galaxy, we detect three velocity systems through UV, optical and NIR absorption spectroscopy, all with levels that were excited by the GRB afterglow. We determine the distance from these systems to the GRB to be in the range between 0.7 and 1.0 kpc. The sight line to GRB 161023A shows nine independent intervening systems, most of them with multiple components.
Conclusions. Although no molecular absorption was detected for GRB 161023A, we show that GRB millimetre spectroscopy is now feasible and is opening a new window on the study of molecular gas within star-forming galaxies at all redshifts. The most favoured lines of sight for this purpose will be those with high metallicity and dust.
Reconstruction of asteroid spin states from Gaia DR2 photometry
Authors: Ďurech J. , Hanuš J. 
Published: October 2018

Context. In addition to stellar data, Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) also contains accurate astrometry and photometry of about 14 000 asteroids covering 22 months of observations.
Aims. We used Gaia asteroid photometry to reconstruct rotation periods, spin axis directions, and the coarse shapes of a subset of asteroids with enough observations. One of our aims was to test the reliability of the models with respect to the number of data points and to check the consistency of these models with independent data. Another aim was to produce new asteroid models to enlarge the sample of asteroids with known spin and shape.
Methods. We used the lightcurve inversion method to scan the period and pole parameter space to create final shape models that best reproduce the observed data. To search for the sidereal rotation period, we also used a simpler model of a geometrically scattering triaxial ellipsoid.
Results. By processing about 5400 asteroids with at least 10 observations in DR2, we derived models for 173 asteroids, 129 of which are new. Models of the remaining asteroids were already known from the inversion of independent data, and we used them for verification and error estimation. We also compared the formally best rotation periods based on Gaia data with those derived from dense lightcurves.
Conclusions. We show that a correct rotation period can be determined even when the number of observations N is less than 20, but the rate of false solutions is high. For N > 30, the solution of the inverse problem is often successful and the parameters are likely to be correct in most cases. These results are very promising because the final Gaia catalogue should contain photometry for hundreds of thousands of asteroids, typically with several tens of data points per object, which should be sufficient for reliable spin reconstruction.
Strategy of energy efficiency enhancement for sustainable and environmentally balanced development of gold deposits at its final stage
Authors: Ryl’nikova Marina 
Published: October 2018

The article presents the rationale of the concept and defines the principles of keeping the production potential of a mining engineering system at the final stage of development to prevent a mine closure accompanied by a range of social, economic and environmental problems resulting from the disturbance of habitat, as well as lithosphere and hydrosphere parameters, etc. This concept can be implemented due to radically new geotechnology solutions aimed at the alteration of gold ore mining and processing technologies with the eventual disposal of wastes to mined-out areas. At the current stage of mining science advancement, energy efficiency and resource saving are inseparably connected with the sustainable use and conservation of non-renewable natural energy sources and transition to the use of technology-related energy sources regenerated in the course of mining. In this case, energy efficiency is viewed as economically feasible electricity consumption achieved at the current level of mining machinery and technology development and mandatory compliance with environmental safety requirements. Enhancement of energy efficiency envisages the minimization of energy consumption for mining processes while maintaining the scale of production and tackling the accompanying non-production challenges.
For the first time, for gold deposit conditions the author proposes general methodological approaches, in combination with a certain level of details, to the problem of systematization and estimation of opportunities of renewable energy sources use in the course of implementation of mining processes. The importance of the mentioned problem solution for mining sciences is in finding the evidence of the fact that in the course of implementation of mining processes within the framework of a mine various technology-related renewable energy sources are formed, which were not taken into account earlier, while the discovered objective laws of the formation of these energy sources, which, depending on the design and technology parameters of mining operations, provide a choice of preferable technological solutions to minimize the consumption of external energy supply by a mine. Development of new technical and technological solutions on the conversion of technology-related energy sources into electricity, its accumulation and consumption for in-mine needs will significantly minimize the consumption of external power supply, and in general it will enhance energy efficiency of mining operations and involve deposits located in remote and hard-to-reach areas in production.
Management of Facial Nerve Schwannoma: A Multicenter Study of 50 Cases
Authors: Eshraghi Adrien A. , Oker Natalie , Ocak Emre , Verillaud Benjamin , Babcock Thomas , Camous Domitille , Kravietz Adam , Morcos Jacques , Herman Philippe , Kania Romain 
Published: October 2018

Objective In the management of facial nerve schwannoma (FNS), surgical tumor resection is now often being replaced with more conservative approaches, such as observation with serial imaging or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Given the scarcity of these lesions, determining the optimal management of FNS remains challenging and subject of debate with multiple treatment approaches supported in the literature.
Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in two academic centers for patients diagnosed with FNS between 1996 and 2017. The clinical presentation, treatment modalities employed, tumor control rates, and facial nerve function (FNF) outcomes (House–Brackmann system) were assessed and analyzed.
Results The study comprised 50 adult patients. Initial treatment modalities included observation with serial clinicoradiologic review in 27 patients (54%), surgery in 17 patients (34%), and SRS in 6 patients (12%). The FNF were decreased in more than half of the patients who had surgery. Nonetheless, more than 80% of the patients who were initially managed with observation or SRS had stable or improved FNF.
Conclusion A prevailing trend toward more conservative treatment modalities for FNS has evolved over time, providing relatively long-term preservation of FNF. As there are multiple management options available, it is of paramount importance that the treating physician be familiar with all treatment modalities and outcomes and counsel patients appropriately. The surgery should be reserved for large tumors and poor FNF at initial presentation or follow-up while watchful observation with imaging is the treatment of choice for rest of the patients.
Textile Dyes Removal by ZSM-5 from Bangka Kaolin
Authors: Iryani A , Hartanto D 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
The ZSM-5-adsorption capacity, which is synthesized directly from Bangka kaolin, has been thoroughly to remove the basic dye in a textile waste solution. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to analyze and measure the results of experimental adsorption data from the red adsorption of Congo Red (CR), Auramin (Au), Methylen Blue (MB), Azin (Az), Rodamin B (RB) on ZSM-5 at a temperature of 40 °C. The ZSM-5 adsorption capacity of Bangka kaolin showed dye absorption : Congo Red, Auramin, Methylen Blue, Azin and Rodamin B respectively were 129,157, 134, 205 and 210 mg/g. Therefore, ZM-5 of Bangka kaolin is respectively good adsorbent to remove the textile base dye waste.
Association of Previous Measles Infection With Markers of Acute Infectious Disease Among 9- to 59-Month-Old Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Ashbaugh Hayley R , Cherry James D , Hoff Nicole A , Doshi Reena H , Alfonso Vivian H , Gadoth Adva , Mukadi Patrick , Higgins Stephen G , Budd Roger , Randall Christina , Okitolonda-Wemakoy Emile , Muyembe-Tamfum Jean Jacques , Gerber Sue K , Rimoin Anne W 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Background
Transient immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to other infections after measles infection is well known, but recent studies have suggested the occurrence of an “immune amnesia” that could have long-term immunosuppressive effects.

Methods
We examined the association between past measles infection and acute episodes of fever, cough, and diarrhea among 2350 children aged 9 to 59 months whose mothers were selected for interview in the 2013–2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Classification of children who had had measles was completed using maternal recall and measles immunoglobulin G serostatus obtained via dried-blood-spot analysis with a multiplex immunoassay. The association with time since measles infection and fever, cough, and diarrhea outcomes was also examined.

Results
The odds of fever in the previous 2 weeks were 1.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–2.60) among children for whom measles was reported compared to children with no history of measles. Measles vaccination demonstrated a protective association against selected clinical markers of acute infectious diseases.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that measles might have a long-term effect on selected clinical markers of acute infectious diseases among children aged 9 to 59 months in the DRC. These findings support the immune-amnesia hypothesis suggested by others and underscore the need for continued evaluation and improvement of the DRC’s measles vaccination program.
Primary and Repeated Respiratory Viral Infections Among Infants in Rural Nepal
Authors: Boonyaratanakornkit Jim , Englund Janet A , Magaret Amalia S , Bu Yunqi , Tielsch James M , Khatry Subarna K , Katz Joanne , Kuypers Jane , Shrestha Laxman , LeClerq Steven C , Steinhoff Mark C , Chu Helen Y 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Background
Respiratory viruses cause significant morbidity and death in infants; 99% of such deaths occur in resource-limited settings. Risk factors for initial and repeated respiratory viral infections in young infants in resource-limited settings have not been well described.

Methods
From 2011 to 2014, a birth cohort of infants in rural Nepal was enrolled and followed with weekly household-based active surveillance for respiratory symptoms until 6 months of age. Respiratory illness was defined as having any of the following: fever, cough, wheeze, difficulty breathing, and/or a draining ear. We tested nasal swabs of infants with respiratory illness for multiple respiratory viruses by using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. The risk of primary and repeated infections with the same virus was evaluated using Poisson regression.

Results
Of 3528 infants, 1726 (49%) had a primary infection, and 419 (12%) had a repeated infection. The incidences of respiratory viral infection in infants were 1816 per 1000 person-years for primary infections and 1204 per 1000 person-years for repeated infection with the same virus. Exposure to other children and male sex were each associated with an increased risk for primary infection (risk ratios, 1.13 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.20] and 1.14 [95% CI, 1.02–1.27], respectively), whereas higher maternal education was associated with a decreased risk for both primary and repeated infections (risk ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.95–0.98]). The incidence of subsequent infection did not change when previous infection with the same or another respiratory virus occurred. Illness duration and severity were not significantly different in the infants between the first and second episodes for any respiratory virus tested.

Conclusions
In infants in rural Nepal, repeated respiratory virus infections were frequent, and we found no decrease in illness severity with repeated infections and no evidence of replacement with another virus. Vaccine strategies and public health interventions that provide durable protection in the first 6 months of life could decrease the burden of repeated infections by multiple respiratory viruses, particularly in low-resource countries.