bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Membrane water for probing neuronal membrane potentials and ionic fluxes at the single cell level
Authors: Didier M. E. P. , Tarun O. B. , Jourdain P. , Magistretti P. , Roke S. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractNeurons communicate through electrochemical signaling within a complex network. These signals are composed of changes in membrane potentials and are traditionally measured with the aid of (toxic) fluorescent labels or invasive electrical probes. Here, we demonstrate an improvement in label-free second harmonic neuroimaging sensitivity by ~3 orders of magnitude using a wide-field medium repetition rate illumination. We perform a side-by-side patch-clamp and second harmonic imaging comparison to demonstrate the theoretically predicted linear correlation between whole neuron membrane potential changes and the square root of the second harmonic intensity. We assign the ion induced changes to the second harmonic intensity to changes in the orientation of membrane interfacial water, which is used to image spatiotemporal changes in the membrane potential and K+ ion flux. We observe a non-uniform spatial distribution and temporal activity of ion channels in mouse brain neurons.
Chromatin-mediated feed-forward auxin biosynthesis in floral meristem determinacy
Authors: Yamaguchi Nobutoshi , Huang Jiangbo , Tatsumi Yoshitaka , Abe Masato , Sugano Shigeo S. , Kojima Mikiko , Takebayashi Yumiko , Kiba Takatoshi , Yokoyama Ryusuke , Nishitani Kazuhiko , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Ito Toshiro 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn flowering plants, the switch from floral stem cell maintenance to gynoecium (female structure) formation is a critical developmental transition for reproductive success. In Arabidopsis thaliana, AGAMOUS (AG) terminates floral stem cell activities to trigger this transition. Although CRABS CLAW (CRC) is a direct target of AG, previous research has not identified any common targets. Here, we identify an auxin synthesis gene, YUCCA4 (YUC4) as a common direct target. Ectopic YUC4 expression partially rescues the indeterminate phenotype and cell wall defects that are caused by the crc mutation. The feed-forward YUC4 activation by AG and CRC directs a precise change in chromatin state for the shift from floral stem cell maintenance to gynoecium formation. We also showed that two auxin-related direct CRC targets, YUC4 and TORNADO2, cooperatively contribute to the termination of floral stem cell maintenance. This finding provides new insight into the CRC-mediated auxin homeostasis regulation for proper gynoecium formation.
Cross-Platform Comparison of Untargeted and Targeted Lipidomics Approaches on Aging Mouse Plasma
Authors: Contrepois Kévin , Mahmoudi Salah , Ubhi Baljit K. , Papsdorf Katharina , Hornburg Daniel , Brunet Anne , Snyder Michael 
Published: December 2018

AbstractLipidomics – the global assessment of lipids – can be performed using a variety of mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches. However, choosing the optimal approach in terms of lipid coverage, robustness and throughput can be a challenging task. Here, we compare a novel targeted quantitative lipidomics platform known as the Lipidyzer to a conventional untargeted liquid chromatography (LC)-MS approach. We find that both platforms are efficient in profiling more than 300 lipids across 11 lipid classes in mouse plasma with precision and accuracy below 20% for most lipids. While the untargeted and targeted platforms detect similar numbers of lipids, the former identifies a broader range of lipid classes and can unambiguously identify all three fatty acids in triacylglycerols (TAG). Quantitative measurements from both approaches exhibit a median correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99 using a dilution series of deuterated internal standards and 0.71 using endogenous plasma lipids in the context of aging. Application of both platforms to plasma from aging mouse reveals similar changes in total lipid levels across all major lipid classes and in specific lipid species. Interestingly, TAG is the lipid class that exhibits the most changes with age, suggesting that TAG metabolism is particularly sensitive to the aging process in mice. Collectively, our data show that the Lipidyzer platform provides comprehensive profiling of the most prevalent lipids in plasma in a simple and automated manner.
Potential Disruption of Flood Dynamics in the Lower Mekong River Basin Due to Upstream Flow Regulation
Authors: Pokhrel Yadu , Shin Sanghoon , Lin Zihan , Yamazaki Dai , Qi Jiaguo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe Mekong River Basin (MRB) is undergoing unprecedented changes due to the recent acceleration in large-scale dam construction. While the hydrology of the MRB is well understood and the effects of some of the existing dams have been studied, the potential effects of the planned dams on flood pulse dynamics over the entire Lower Mekong remains unexamined. Here, using hydrodynamic model simulations, we show that the effects of flow regulation on downstream river-floodplain dynamics are relatively predictable along the mainstream Mekong, but flow regulations could potentially disrupt the flood dynamics in the Tonle Sap River (TSR) and small distributaries in the Mekong Delta. Results suggest that TSR flow reversal could cease if the Mekong flood pulse is dampened by 50% and delayed by one-month. While flood occurrence in the vicinity of the Tonle Sap Lake and middle reach of the delta could increase due to enhanced low flow, it could decrease by up to five months in other areas due to dampened high flow, particularly during dry years. Further, areas flooded for less than five months and over six months are likely to be impacted significantly by flow regulations, but those flooded for 5–6 months could be impacted the least.
Ultrasonography of the late-stage knee osteoarthritis prior to total knee arthroplasty: comparison of the ultrasonographic, radiographic and intra-operative findings
Authors: Nevalainen Mika T. , Kauppinen Kyösti , Pylväläinen Juho , Pamilo Konsta , Pesola Maija , Haapea Marianne , Koski Juhani , Saarakkala Simo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the ultrasonography (US) on detecting osteoarthritis of the knee, and compare US and radiographic findings to intraoperative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) findings. Fifty-seven late-stage osteoarthritic knees undergoing TKA were evaluated with US and radiography. Standard knee US assessing femoral cartilage damage, osteophytes, effusion, synovitis, and meniscal extrusion was performed. On radiographs, osteophytes, joint space narrowing, and Kellgren-Lawrence grade were evaluated. Corresponding intra-operative findings were assessed during TKA as the gold standard. On the damage of the medial femoral condyle cartilage, the sensitivity of US was high (92%), whereas on the lateral condyle and sulcus area, sensitivities were 58% and 46%, respectively. On osteophytes, the detection rate of the US was remarkable especially on the medial side yielding sensitivities of 90–95%. The sensitivities for detecting effusion and synovitis were also excellent (97%). US detection rate of femoral cartilage damage was in concordance with the radiographic joint space narrowing. For the detection of osteophytes, US provided superior results to radiography particularly on the medial side. In conclusion, US can reliably assess the late-stage OA changes of the knee especially on the medial side of the knee joint.
Suppression of the coffee-ring effect by sugar-assisted depinning of contact line
Authors: Shimobayashi Shunsuke F. , Tsudome Mikiko , Kurimura Tomo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractInkjet printing is of growing interest due to the attractive technologies for surface patterning. During the printing process, the solutes are transported to the droplet periphery and form a ring-like deposit, which disturbs the fabrication of high-resolution patterns. Thus, controlling the uniformity of particle coating is crucial in the advanced and extensive applications. Here, we find that sweet coffee drops above a threshold sugar concentration leave uniform rather than the ring-like pattern. The evaporative deposit changes from a ring-like pattern to a uniform pattern with an increase in sugar concentration. We moreover observe the particle movements near the contact line during the evaporation, suggesting that the sugar is precipitated from the droplet edge because of the highest evaporation and it causes the depinning of the contact line. By analyzing the following dynamics of the depinning contact line and flow fields and observing the internal structure of the deposit with a FIB-SEM system, we conclude that the depinned contact line recedes due to the solidification of sugar solution without any slip motion while suppressing the capillary flow and homogeneously fixing suspended particles, leading to the uniform coating. Our findings show that suppressing the coffee-ring effect by adding sugar is a cost-effective, easy and nontoxic strategy for improving the pattern resolution.
Evidence for a role of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in proteinuria of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Filha Roberta da Silva , Pinheiro Sérgio Veloso Brant , Macedo e Cordeiro Thiago , Feracin Victor , Vieira Érica Leandro Marciano , Miranda Aline Silva , Simões e Silva Ana Cristina 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Introduction: Renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Most studies investigated only the classical RAS axis. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to evaluate urinary levels of RAS molecules related to classical and to counter-regulatory axes in pediatric patients with INS, to compare the measurements with levels in healthy controls and to search for associations with inflammatory molecules, proteinuria and disease treatment. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study included 31 patients with INS and 19 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. Patients and controls were submitted to urine collection for measurement of RAS molecules [Ang II, Ang-(1-7), ACE and ACE2] by enzyme immunoassay and cytokines by Cytometric Bead Array. Findings in INS patients were compared according to proteinuria: absent (&lt;150 mg/dl, n = 15) and present (≥150 mg/dl, n = 16). Results: In comparison to controls, INS patients had increased Ang II, Ang-(1-7) and ACE, levels while ACE2 was reduced. INS patients with proteinuria had lower levels of ACE2 than those without proteinuria. ACE2 levels were negatively correlated with 24-h-proteinuria. Urinary concentrations of MCP-1/CCL2 were significantly higher in INS patients, positively correlated with Ang II and negatively with Ang-(1-7). ACE2 concentrations were negatively correlated with IP-10/CXCL-10 levels, which, in turn, were positively correlated with 24-h-proteinuria. Conclusion: INS patients exhibited changes in RAS molecules and in chemokines. Proteinuria was associated with low levels of ACE2 and high levels of inflammatory molecules.
Safety and Tolerability of Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry
Authors: Knigge Molly A. , Marvin Stevie , Thibeault Susan L. 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry is an emerging practice for diagnosis of swallowing disorders in the upper aerodigestive tract. Advancement of a catheter through the upper esophageal sphincter may introduce safety considerations. There are no published studies of catheter placement complications, side effects, or tolerability. This study examines patient-reported side effects and tolerability of pharyngeal high-resolution manometry.

Method
Data were collected prospectively from 133 adult patients who underwent pharyngeal high-resolution manometry for the 1st time. Patients rated tolerability specific to “nose” and “throat” using a visual analog scale for 4 procedure time points: catheter passage, during the procedure, catheter removal, and after the procedure. Complications during catheter passage and removal were recorded. A telephone call was placed to the patient within 6 days to survey side effects experienced after the procedure.

Results

The patient sample was composed of 91 males and 42 females with a mean age of 66 years (
SD
= 14.4). Tolerability scores for catheter passage showed no significant difference (
p
= .7288) in the nose versus throat. Tolerability for females was significantly less (
p
= .0144) than that for males. Participants with the shortest procedure duration showed greatest discomfort in the nose (
p
= .0592) and throat (
p
= .0286). Complications included gag response (14%), emesis (2%), and epistaxis (< 1%). Side effects included sore throat (16%), nose discomfort (16%), coughing (11 %), nosebleed (4%), and nausea/vomiting (4%).

Conclusions
High-resolution manometry appears to have high patient tolerability with low incidence of side effects. Rates of complications and side effects are similar to those reported for other transnasal procedures.
Basic Measures of Prosody in Spontaneous Speech of Children With Early and Late Cochlear Implantation
Authors: van de Velde Daan J. , Frijns Johan H. M. , Beers Mieke , van Heuven Vincent J. , Levelt Claartje C. , Briaire Jeroen , Schiller Niels O. 
Published: December 2018

PurposeRelative to normally hearing (NH) peers, the speech of children with cochlear implants (CIs) has been found to have deviations such as a high fundamental frequency, elevated jitter and shimmer, and inadequate intonation. However, two important dimensions of prosody (temporal and spectral) have not been systematically investigated. Given that, in general, the resolution in CI hearing is best for the temporal dimension and worst for the spectral dimension, we expected this hierarchy to be reflected in the amount of CI speech's deviation from NH speech. Deviations, however, were expected to diminish with increasing device experience.MethodOf 9 Dutch early- and late-implanted (division at 2 years of age) children and 12 hearing age-matched NH controls, spontaneous speech was recorded at 18, 24, and 30 months after implantation (CI) or birth (NH). Six spectral and temporal outcome measures were compared between groups, sessions, and genders.ResultsOn most measures, interactions of Group and/or Gender with Session were significant. For CI recipients as compared with controls, performance on temporal measures was not in general more deviant than spectral measures, although differences were found for individual measures. The late-implanted group had a tendency to be closer to the NH group than the early-implanted group. Groups converged over time.ConclusionsResults did not support the phonetic dimension hierarchy hypothesis, suggesting that the appropriateness of the production of basic prosodic measures does not depend on auditory resolution. Rather, it seems to depend on the amount of control necessary for speech production.
Individualized Patient Vocal Priorities for Tailored Therapy
Authors: Titze Ingo R. , Riede Tobias , Palaparthi Anil , Hynan Linda S. , Hamilton Amy , Toles Laura , Mau Ted 
Published: December 2018

PurposeThe purposes of this study are to introduce the concept of vocal priorities based on acoustic correlates, to develop an instrument to determine these vocal priorities, and to analyze the pattern of vocal priorities in patients with voice disorders.MethodQuestions probing the importance of 5 vocal attributes (vocal clarity, loudness, mean speaking pitch, pitch range, vocal endurance) were generated from consensus conference involving speech-language pathologists, laryngologists, and voice scientists, as well as patient feedback. The responses to the preliminary items from 213 subjects were subjected to exploratory factor analysis, which confirmed 4 of the predefined domains. The final instrument consisted of a 16-item Vocal Priority Questionnaire probing the relative importance of clarity, loudness, mean speaking pitch, and pitch range.ResultsThe Vocal Priority Questionnaire had high reliability (Cronbach's α = .824) and good construct validity. A majority of the cohort (61%) ranked vocal clarity as their highest vocal priority, and 20%, 12%, and 7% ranked loudness, mean speaking pitch, and pitch range, respectively, as their highest priority. The frequencies of the highest ranked priorities did not differ by voice diagnosis or by sex. Considerable individual variation in vocal priorities existed within these large trends.ConclusionsA patient's vocal priorities can be identified and taken into consideration in planning behavioral or surgical intervention for a voice disorder. Inclusion of vocal priorities in treatment planning empowers the patient in shared decision making, helps the clinician tailor treatment, and may also improve therapy compliance.
Broadband compact smooth horn with flat‐top radiation pattern
Authors: Wang Junbo , Yao Yuan , Yu Junsheng , Chen Xiaodong 
Published: December 2018

A broadband compact smooth horn with flat‐top radiation pattern is presented in this Letter. Using a large flare angle, the whole length of the horn is reduced to 1.875λc (λc is the wavelength of 95 GHz) and the TE21 mode and higher order electromagnetic modes can be excited to exhibit flat‐top radiation performance. The measured radiation pattern of the presented horn can achieve <1 dB amplitude ripple in a beam width range of ±10° at 85–105 GHz (21%) where the reflection coefficient is below −22 dB. It indicates that the broadband compact smooth horn with flat‐top radiation pattern can be applied in wireless communication and reflector systems in the millimetre‐wave band.
Identification and partial characterization of a novel serpin fromEudiplozoon nipponicum(Monogenea, Polyopisthocotylea)
Authors: Roudnický Pavel , Vorel Jiří , Ilgová Jana , Benovics Michal , Norek Adam , Jedličková Lucie , Mikeš Libor , Potěšil David , Zdráhal Zbyněk , Dvořák Jan , Gelnar Milan , Kašný Martin 
Published: December 2018

Background: Serpins are a superfamily of serine peptidase inhibitors that participate in the regulation of many physiological and cell peptidase-mediated processes in all organisms (e.g. in blood clotting, complement activation, fibrinolysis, inflammation, and programmed cell death). It was postulated that in the blood-feeding members of the monogenean family Diplozoidae, serpins could play an important role in the prevention of thrombus formation, activation of complement, inflammation in the host, and/or in the endogenous regulation of protein degradation.Results:In silicoanalysis showed that the DNA and primary protein structures of serpin fromEudiplozoon nipponicum(EnSerp1) are similar to other members of the serpin superfamily. The inhibitory potential of EnSerp1 on four physiologically-relevant serine peptidases (trypsin, factor Xa, kallikrein, and plasmin) was demonstrated and its presence in the worm’s excretory-secretory products (ESPs) was confirmed.Conclusion: EnSerp1 influences the activity of peptidases that play a role in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and complement activation. This inhibitory potential, together with the serpin’s presence in ESPs, suggests that it is likely involved in host-parasite interactions and could be one of the molecules involved in the control of feeding and prevention of inflammatory responses.
Improvement of Back and Leg Pain after Lumbar Spinal Decompression without Fusion
Authors: Bongartz Nicola , Blume Christian , Clusmann Hans , Müller Christian , Geiger Matthias 
Published: December 2018

Background To evaluate whether decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis without fusion leads to sufficient improvement of back pain and leg pain and whether re-decompression alone is sufficient for recurrent lumbar spinal stenosis for patients without signs of instability.
Material and Methods A successive series of 102 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (with and without previous lumbar surgery) were treated with decompression alone during a 3-year period. Data on pre- and postoperative back pain and leg pain (numerical rating scale [NRS] scale) were retrospectively collected from questionnaires with a return rate of 65% (n = 66). The complete cohort as well as patients with first-time surgery and re-decompression were analyzed separately. Patients were dichotomized to short-term follow-up (< 100 weeks) and long-term follow-up (> 100 weeks) postsurgery.
Results Overall, both back pain (NRS 4.59 postoperative versus 7.89 preoperative; p < 0.0001) and leg pain (NRS 4.09 versus 6.75; p < 0.0001) improved postoperatively. The short-term follow-up subgroup (50%, n = 33) showed a significant reduction in back pain (NRS 4.0 versus 6.88; p < 0.0001) and leg pain (NRS 2.49 versus 6.91: p < 0.0001). Similar results could be observed for the long-term follow-up subgroup (50%, n = 33) with significantly less back pain (NRS 3.94 versus 7.0; p < 0.0001) and leg pain (visual analog scale 3.14 versus 5.39; p < 0.002) postoperatively. Patients with previous decompression surgery benefit significantly regarding back pain (NRS 4.82 versus 7.65; p < 0.0024), especially in the long-term follow-up subgroup (NRS 4.75 versus 7.67; p < 0.0148). There was also a clear trend in favor of leg pain in patients with previous surgery; however, it was not significant.
Conclusions Decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis without fusion led to a significant and similar reduction of back pain and leg pain in a short-term and a long-term follow-up group. Patients without previous surgery benefited significantly better, whereas patients with previous decompression benefited regarding back pain, especially for long-term follow-up with a clear trend in favor of leg pain.
New Insights into Platelet Signalling Pathways by Functional and Proteomic Approaches
Authors: Jurk Kerstin , Walter Ulrich 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAs circulating sentinels of vascular integrity, platelets act as crucial haemostatic cells as well as important inflammatory and immune cells, whereas under pathological conditions platelets drive thrombotic as well as non-thrombotic diseases related to chronic inflammation. In addition, platelets serve as an important cellular model to study the biology and pharmacology of signal transduction pathways. Platelet inhibition and activation responses are mediated by multiple signalling networks, which are tightly regulated by balanced catalysis of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation through protein kinases and protein phosphatases, respectively. However, we are only at the beginning of understanding the complexity of interacting signalling pathways and their impact on platelet function. Here, we review current functional and proteomic approaches that lead to novel concepts of understanding the proteome, kinome and phosphatome of human platelets. A more in-depth understanding of both protein kinases and protein phosphatases using human platelets will contribute to evaluate their further diagnostic and therapeutic potential in inflammation- and immune-mediated diseases.