bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Socially Learned Attitude Change is not reduced in Medicated Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Simonsen Arndis , Fusaroli Riccardo , Skewes Joshua Charles , Roepstorff Andreas , Mors Ole , Bliksted Vibeke , Campbell-Meiklejohn Daniel 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSchizophrenia is often associated with distinctive or odd social behaviours. Previous work suggests this could be due to a general reduction in conformity; however, this work only assessed the tendency to publicly agree with others, which may involve a number of different mechanisms. In this study, we specifically investigated whether patients display a reduced tendency to adopt other people’s opinions (socially learned attitude change). We administered a computerized conformity task, assumed to rely on reinforcement learning circuits, to 32 patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and 39 matched controls. Each participant rated 153 faces for trustworthiness. After each rating, they were immediately shown the opinion of a group. After approximately 1 hour, participants were unexpectedly asked to rate all the faces again. We compared the degree of attitude change towards group opinion in patients and controls. Patients presented equal or more social influence on attitudes than controls. This effect may have been medication induced, as increased conformity was seen with higher antipsychotic dose. The results suggest that there is not a general decline in conformity in medicated patients with schizophrenia and that previous findings of reduced conformity are likely related to mechanisms other than reinforcement based social influence on attitudes.
Molecular mechanisms underpinning transgenerational plasticity in the green sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris
Authors: Clark Melody S. , Suckling Coleen C. , Cavallo Alessandro , Mackenzie Clara L. , Thorne Michael A. S. , Davies Andrew J. , Peck Lloyd S. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe pre-conditioning of adult marine invertebrates to altered conditions, such as low pH, can significantly impact offspring outcomes, a process which is often referred to as transgenerational plasticity (TGP). This study describes for the first time, the gene expression profiles associated with TGP in the green sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris and evaluates the transcriptional contribution to larval resilience. RNA-Seq was used to determine how the expression profiles of larvae spawned into low pH from pre-acclimated adults differed to those of larvae produced from adults cultured under ambient pH. The main findings demonstrated that adult conditioning to low pH critically pre-loads the embryonic transcriptional pool with antioxidants to prepare the larvae for the “new” conditions. In addition, the classic cellular stress response, measured via the production of heat shock proteins (the heat shock response (HSR)), was separately evaluated. None of the early stage larvae either spawned in low pH (produced from both ambient and pre-acclimated adults) or subjected to a separate heat shock experiment were able to activate the full HSR as measured in adults, but the capacity to mount an HSR increased as development proceeded. This compromised ability clearly contributes to the vulnerability of early stage larvae to acute environmental challenge.
An adaptive fall-free rehabilitation mechanism for ischemic stroke rat patients
Authors: Chen Chi-Chun , Chang Ching-Ping , Yang Chin-Lung 
Published: January 2019

AbstractToday’s commercial forced exercise platforms had been validated not as a well-designed rehabilitation environment for rats with a stroke, for the reason that rat with a stroke cannot take exercise at a constant intensity for a long period of time. In light of this, this work presented an adaptive, fall-free ischemic stroke rehabilitation mechanism in an animal model, which was implemented in an infrared-sensing adaptive feedback control running wheel (IAFCRW) platform. Consequently, rats with a stroke can be safely rehabilitated all the time, and particularly at full capacity for approximately one third of a training duration, in a completely fall-free environment according to individual physical differences by repeated use of an acceleration/deceleration mechanism. The performance of this platform was assessed using an animal ischemic stroke model. The IAFCRW therapy regimen was validated to outperform a treadmill and a conventional running wheel counterpart with respect to the reduction in the neurobehavioral deficits caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). IAFCRW is the first adaptive forced exercise training platform short of electrical stimulation-assistance in the literature, and ischemic stroke rats benefit more in terms of the behavioral tests run at the end of a 3-week rehabilitation program after a stroke thereby.
N-acetylcysteine modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal dysfunction
Authors: Lee Sang In , Kang Kyung Soo 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe gastrointestinal epithelium functions in nutrient absorption and pathogens barrier and its dysfunction directly affects livestock performance. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) improves mucosal function, but its effects on intestinal functions at the molecular level remain unclear. Here, we performed gene expression profiling of the pig small intestine after dietary NAC treatment under LPS challenge and investigated the effects of NAC on intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. Dietary NAC supplementation under LPS challenge altered the small intestine expression of 959 genes related to immune response, inflammatory response, oxidation-reduction process, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and the cytokine-mediated signalling, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, Jak-STAT signalling pathway, and TNF signalling pathway. We then analysed the expression patterns of the top 10 altered genes, and found that NAC markedly stimulated HMGCS3 and LDHC expression in IPEC-J2 cells. In vitro, NAC pre-treatment significantly reduced TNF-α and NF-κB, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 expression in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells. NAC treatment also significantly reduced oxidative stress in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells and alleviated intestinal barrier function and wound healing. Thus, NAC as a feed additive can enhance livestock intestinal health by modulating intestinal inflammation, permeability, and wound healing under LPS-induced dysfunction, improving our molecular understanding of the effects of NAC on the intestine.
Improvement of mechanical, humidity resistance and thermal properties of heat-treated rubber wood by impregnation of SiO2 precursor
Authors: Zhang Nannan , Xu Min , Cai Liping 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe SiO2 precursor solution was impregnated into heat-treated rubber wood to enhance its mechanical and flame-retarding properties. Test specimens were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., untreated (U), heat-treated (HT), impregnated SiO2 precursor before heat treatment (ISB) and after heat treatment (ISA). Results showed that, compared with HT wood specimens, the modulus of rupture (MOR) and compression strength of ISB and ISA wood specimens were both increased. The hygroscopicity of modified wood was decreased and the dimension stability was consequently improved. Surprisingly, the hardness of ISB specimens increased by 43.65%. The thermogravimetric (TG) examination showed that the incorporation of silicon retarded the thermal decomposition and improved the thermal stability of wood. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) revealed that the SiO2 gel was deposited in the cell wall, The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the formation of Si–O–Si and Si–O–C covalent bonds. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests indicated that the impregnation of SiO2 precursor had slight effect on the crystalline structure of the wood.
New insights into GluT1 mechanics during glucose transfer
Authors: Galochkina Tatiana , Ng Fuk Chong Matthieu , Challali Lylia , Abbar Sonia , Etchebest Catherine 
Published: January 2019

AbstractGlucose plays a crucial role in the mammalian cell metabolism. In the erythrocytes and endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier, glucose uptake is mediated by the glucose transporter type 1 (GluT1). GluT1 deficiency or mutations cause severe physiological disorders. GluT1 is also an important target in cancer therapy as it is overexpressed in tumor cells. Previous studies have suggested that GluT1 mediates solute transfer through a cycle of conformational changes. However, the corresponding 3D structures adopted by the transporter during the transfer process remain elusive. In the present work, we first elucidate the whole conformational landscape of GluT1 in the absence of glucose, using long molecular dynamics simulations and show that the transitions can be accomplished through thermal fluctuations. Importantly, we highlight a strong coupling between intracellular and extracellular domains of the protein that contributes to the transmembrane helices reorientation during the transition. The conformations adopted during the simulations differ from the known 3D bacterial homologs structures resolved in similar states. In holo state simulations, we find that glucose transits along the pathway through significant rotational motions, while maintaining hydrogen bonds with the protein. These persistent motions affect side chains orientation, which impacts protein mechanics and allows glucose progression.
A fully feathered enantiornithine foot and wing fragment preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber
Authors: Xing Lida , McKellar Ryan C. , O’Connor Jingmai K. , Bai Ming , Tseng Kuowei , Chiappe Luis M. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractOver the last three years, Burmese amber (~99 Ma, from Myanmar) has provided a series of immature enantiornithine skeletal remains preserved in varying developmental stages and degrees of completeness. These specimens have improved our knowledge based on compression fossils in Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, adding details of three-dimensional structure and soft tissues that are rarely preserved elsewhere. Here we describe a remarkably well-preserved foot, accompanied by part of the wing plumage. These body parts were likely dismembered, entering the resin due to predatory or scavenging behaviour by a larger animal. The new specimen preserves contour feathers on the pedal phalanges together with enigmatic scutellae scale filament (SSF) feathers on the foot, providing direct analogies to the plumage patterns observed in modern birds, and those cultivated through developmental manipulation studies. Ultimately, this connection may allow researchers to observe how filamentous dinosaur ‘protofeathers’ developed—testing theories using evolutionary holdovers in modern birds.
Association between viral seasonality and meteorological factors
Authors: Price Rory Henry Macgregor , Graham Catriona , Ramalingam Sandeep 
Published: January 2019

AbstractNumerous viruses can cause upper respiratory tract infections. They often precede serious lower respiratory tract infections. Each virus has a seasonal pattern, with peaks in activity in different seasons. We examined the effects of daily local meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity, “humidity-range” and dew point) from Edinburgh, Scotland on the seasonal variations in viral transmission. We identified the seasonality of rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza A and B viruses, human parainfluenza viruses 1–3 (HPIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) from the 52060 respiratory samples tested between 2009 and 2015 and then confirmed the same by a generalised linear model. We also investigated the relationship between meteorological factors and viral seasonality. Non-enveloped viruses were present throughout the year. Following logistic regression adenovirus, influenza viruses A, B, RSV and HMPV preferred low temperatures; RSV and influenza A virus preferred a narrow “humidity-range” and HPIV type 3 preferred the season with lower humidity. A change (i.e. increase or decrease) in specific meteorological factors is associated with an increase in activity of specific viruses at certain times of the year.
Crystal Correlation Of Heterocyclic Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Analogues and Their Anticholinesterase Potential Evaluation
Authors: Kwong Huey Chong , Chidan Kumar C. S. , Mah Siau Hui , Mah Yew Leng , Chia Tze Shyang , Quah Ching Kheng , Lim Gin Keat , Chandraju Siddegowda 
Published: January 2019

AbstractImidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based compounds are clinically important to the treatments of heart and circulatory failures, while many are under development for pharmaceutical uses. In this study, a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based derivatives 2(a–o) were synthesized by reacting a-haloketones with 2-aminopyridines in a basic media at ambient temperature. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies suggest that with low degree-of-freedom, the introduction of bulky adamantyl or electron-rich biphenyl moiety into the imidazopyridine derivatives will not affect its structural occupancy. Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based derivatives with biphenyl side chain are potential AChE inhibitors. Compound 2h which bears a biphenyl side chain and methyl substituent at the position R4 of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring showed the strongest AChE inhibition with an IC50 value of 79 µM. However, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with phenyl side chain exhibit better BChE inhibition effect among the series. Compound 2j with 3,4-dichlorophenyl side chain and unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring appears to be the strongest BChE inhibitor with an IC50 value of 65 µM and good selectivity. The inhibitory effects of active compounds were further confirmed by computational molecular docking studies. The results unveiled that peripheral anionic sites of AChE and acyl pocket of BChE were the predominated binding sites for the subjected inhibitors.
Synergistic activation of the NEU4 promoter by p73 and AP2 in colon cancer cells
Authors: Cai Bi-He , Wu Po-Han , Chou Chi-Kan , Huang Hsiang-Chi , Chao Chia-Chun , Chung Hsiao-Yu , Lee Hsueh-Yi , Chen Jang-Yi , Kannagi Reiji 
Published: January 2019

AbstractMore than 50% of colon cancers bear mutations in p53, one of the most important tumor suppressors, and its family members p63 or p73 are expected to contribute to inhibiting the progression of colon cancers. The AP2 family also acts as a tumor suppressor. Here we found that p73 and AP2 are able to activate NEU4, a neuraminidase gene, which removes the terminal sialic acid residues from cancer-associated glycans. Under serum starvation, NEU4 was up-regulated and one of the NEU4 target glycans, sialyl Lewis X, was decreased, whereas p73 and AP2 were up-regulated. Sialyl Lewis X levels were not, however, decreased under starvation conditions in p73- or AP2-knockdown cells. p53 and AP2 underwent protein-protein interactions, exerting synergistic effects to activate p21, and interaction of p53 with AP2 was lost in cells expressing the L350P mutation of p53. The homologous residues in p63 and p73 are L423 and L377, respectively. The synergistic effect of p53/p63 with AP2 to activate genes was lost with the L350P/L423P mutation in p53/p63, but p73 bearing the L377P mutation was able to interact with AP2 and exerted its normal synergistic effects. We propose that p73 and AP2 synergistically activate the NEU4 promoter in colon cancer cells.
Safety of resident training in the microsurgical resection of intracranial tumors: Data from a prospective registry of complications and outcome
Authors: Vasella Flavio , Velz Julia , Neidert Marian C. , Henzi Stephanie , Sarnthein Johannes , Krayenbühl Niklaus , Bozinov Oliver , Regli Luca , Stienen Martin N. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to assess the safety of microsurgical resection of intracranial tumors performed by supervised neurosurgical residents. We analyzed prospectively collected data from our institutional patient registry and dichotomized between procedures performed by supervised neurosurgery residents (defined as teaching procedures) or board-certified faculty neurosurgeons (defined as non-teaching procedures). The primary endpoint was morbidity at discharge, defined as a postoperative decrease of ≥10 points on the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). Secondary endpoints included 3-month (M3) morbidity, mortality, the in-hospital complication rate, and complication type and severity. Of 1,446 consecutive procedures, 221 (15.3%) were teaching procedures. Patients in the teaching group were as likely as patients in the non-teaching group to experience discharge morbidity in both uni- (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.60–1.22, p = 0.391) and multivariate analysis (adjusted OR 1.08, 95%CI 0.74–1.58, p = 0.680). The results were consistent at time of the M3 follow-up and in subgroup analyses. In-hospital mortality was equally low (0.24 vs. 0%, p = 0.461) and the likelihood (p = 0.499), type (p = 0.581) and severity of complications (p = 0.373) were similar. These results suggest that microsurgical resection of carefully selected intracranial tumors can be performed safely by supervised neurosurgical residents without increasing the risk of morbidity, mortality or perioperative complications. Appropriate allocation of operations according to case complexity and the resident’s experience level, however, appears essential.
Tyrannosaurid-like osteophagy by a Triassic archosaur
Authors: Qvarnström Martin , Ahlberg Per E. , Niedźwiedzki Grzegorz 
Published: January 2019

AbstractHere we present evidence for osteophagy in the Late Triassic archosaur Smok wawelski Niedźwiedzki, Sulej and Dzik, 2012, a large theropod-like predator from Poland. Ten medium to large-sized coprolites are matched, by their dimensions and by association with body fossils and footprints, to S. wawelski. The coprolites contain fragments of large serrated teeth as well as up to 50 percent by volume of bone fragments, with distinct fragmentation and angularity, from several prey taxa. This suggests pronounced osteophagy. Further evidence for bone-crushing behaviour is provided by isolated worn teeth, bone-rich regurgitalites (fossil regurgitates) and numerous examples of crushed or bite-marked dicynodont bones, all collected from the same bone-bearing beds in the Lipie Śląskie clay-pit. Several of the anatomical characters related to osteophagy, such as a massive head and robust body, seem to be shared by S. wawelski and the tyrannosaurids, despite their wide phylogenetic separation. These large predators thus provide evidence of convergence driven by similar feeding ecology at the beginning and end of the age of dinosaurs.
Trans-β-galactosidase activity of pig enzymes embedded in the small intestinal brush border membrane vesicles
Authors: Julio-Gonzalez Lesbia Cristina , Hernandez-Hernandez Oswaldo , Moreno F. Javier , Olano Agustín , Jimeno Maria Luisa , Corzo Nieves 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThis work highlights the utility of brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from the pig small intestine as a reliable model for gathering information about the reaction mechanisms involved in the human digestion of dietary carbohydrates. Concretely, the elucidation of the transgalactosylation mechanism of pig BBMV to synthesize prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) is provided, unravelling the catalytic activity of mammalian small intestinal β-galactosidase towards the hydrolysis of GOS. This study reveals that pig BBMV preferably synthesizes GOS linked by β-(1 → 3) bonds, since major tri- and disaccharide were produced by the transfer of a galactose unit to the C-3 of the non-reducing moiety of lactose and to the C-3 of glucose, respectively. Therefore, these results point out that dietary GOS having β-(1 → 3) as predominant glycosidic linkages could be more prone to hydrolysis by mammalian intestinal digestive enzymes as compared to those linked by β-(1 → 2), β-(1 → 4), β-(1 ↔ 1) or β-(1 → 6). Given that these data are the first evidence on the transglycosylation activity of mammalian small intestinal glycosidases, findings contained in this work could be crucial for future studies investigating the structure-small intestinal digestibility relationship of a great variety of available prebiotics, as well as for designing tailored fully non-digestible GOS.
A C-terminal cysteine residue is required for peptide-based inhibition of the NGF/TrkA interaction at nM concentrations: implications for peptide-based analgesics
Authors: Poole Andrew J. , Frigotto Laura , Smith Matthew E. , Baar Claudia , Ivanova-Berndt Gabriela , Jaulent Agnes , Stace Catherine , Ullman Christopher G. , Hine Anna V. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractInhibition of the NGF/TrkA interaction presents an interesting alternative to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and/or opioids for the control of inflammatory, chronic and neuropathic pain. Most prominent of the current approaches to this therapy is the antibody Tanezumab, which is a late-stage development humanized monoclonal antibody that targets NGF. We sought to determine whether peptides might similarly inhibit the NGF/TrkA interaction and so serve as future therapeutic leads. Starting from two peptides that inhibit the NGF/TrkA interaction, we sought to eliminate a cysteine residue close to the C-terminal of both sequences, by an approach of mutagenic analysis and saturation mutagenesis of mutable residues. Elimination of cysteine from a therapeutic lead is desirable to circumvent manufacturing difficulties resulting from oxidation. Our analyses determined that the cysteine residue is not required for NGF binding, but is essential for inhibition of the NGF/TrkA interaction at pharmacologically relevant peptide concentrations. We conclude that a cysteine residue is required within potential peptide-based therapeutic leads and hypothesise that these peptides likely act as dimers, mirroring the dimeric structure of the TrkA receptor.
Cloud-fracture networks as a means of accessing superhot geothermal energy
Authors: Watanabe Noriaki , Sakaguchi Kiyotoshi , Goto Ryota , Miura Takahiro , Yamane Kota , Ishibashi Takuya , Chen Youqing , Komai Takeshi , Tsuchiya Noriyoshi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSuperhot geothermal environments (above ca. 400 °C) represent a new geothermal energy frontier. However, the networks of permeable fractures capable of storing and transmitting fluids are likely to be absent in the continental granitic crust. Here we report the first-ever experimental results for well stimulation involving the application of low-viscosity water to granite at temperatures ≥400 °C under true triaxial stress. This work demonstrates the formation of a network of permeable microfractures densely distributed throughout the entire rock body, representing a so-called cloud-fracture network. Fracturing was found to be initiated at a relatively low injection pressure between the intermediate and minimum principal stresses and propagated in accordance with the distribution of preexisting microfractures, independent of the directions of the principal stresses. This study confirms the possibility of well stimulation to create excellent fracture patterns that should allow the effective extraction of thermal energy.