bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strain-specific pathogenicity and subversion of phenoloxidase activity in the mosquito Aedes aegypti by members of the fungal entomopathogenic genus Isaria
Authors: Ramirez José L. , Muturi Ephantus J. , Dunlap Christopher , Rooney Alejandro P. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDevelopment of alternative vector control strategies are becoming more pressing given the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance and the rise of vector borne pathogens affecting public health such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Fungal-based biopesticides are promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides because they are ecofriendly and are highly effective at infecting insects through contact. This study evaluated the susceptibility of the yellow fever mosquito Ae. aegypti to a range of entomopathogenic fungal strains from the genus Isaria. We observed a diverse variation in the virulence of the Isaria strains tested, with two strains showing high pathogenicity towards adult mosquitoes. Mosquito susceptibility to fungal infection was further corroborated through the molecular quantification of fungal loads and the transcript evaluation of a fungal-specific pathogen recognition molecule in the mosquito body. Moreover, quantitative analysis of transcript abundance coupled with enzymatic assays revealed strain-specific subversion of the melanization cascade, an important immune response component. Our study contributes critical insights for a better understanding of fungal-mosquito interactions.
A broadband tunable terahertz negative refractive index metamaterial
Authors: Ling Fang , Zhong Zheqiang , Huang Renshuai , Zhang Bin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA strategy to greatly broaden negative refractive index (NRI) band, reduce loss and ease bi-anisotropy of NRI metamaterials (MMs) has been proposed at terahertz frequencies. Due to the symmetric structure of the MM, the transmission and refractive index are independent to polarizations of incident radiations, and a broadband NRI is obtainable for the range of the incident angle from 0° to 26°. In addition, THz MMs’ properties such as transmission, phase and negative refraction exhibit a real-time response by controlling the temperature. The results indicate that the maximum bands of the negative and double-negative refraction are 1.66 THz and 1.37 THz for the temperature of 40 °C and 63 °C, respectively. The figure of merit of the MMs exceeds 10 (that is, low loss) as the frequency increases from 2.44 THz to 2.56 THz in the working temperature range, and the maximum figure of merit is 83.77 at 2.01 THz where the refractive index is −2.81 for a given temperature of 40 °C. Furthermore, the negative refraction of the MMs at the low loss band is verified by the classical method of the wedge, and the symmetric slab waveguide based on the proposed MM has many unique properties.
Neonatal- maternal separation primes zymogenic cells in the rat gastric mucosa through glucocorticoid receptor activity
Authors: Ogias Daniela , Rattes Isadora C. , Hosoya Larissa Y. M. , Zulian Juliana G. , Yan Chao Yun Irene , Gama Patrícia 
Published: June 2018

AbstractNeonatal- Maternal Separation (NMS) deprives mammals from breastfeeding and maternal care, influencing growth during suckling- weaning transition. In the gastric mucosa, Mist1 (encoded by Bhlha15 gene) and moesin organize the secretory apparatus for pepsinogen C in zymogenic cells. Our current hypothesis was that NMS would change corticosterone activity through receptors (GR), which would modify molecules involved in zymogenic cell differentiation in rats. We found that NMS increased corticosterone levels from 18 days onwards, as GR decreased in the gastric mucosa. However, as nuclear GR was detected, we investigated receptor binding to responsive elements (GRE) and observed an augment in NMS groups. Next, we demonstrated that NMS increased zymogenic population (18 and and 30 days), and targeted Mist1 and moesin. Finally, we searched for evolutionarily conserved sequences that contained GRE in genes involved in pepsinogen C secretion, and found that the genomic regions of Bhlha15 and PgC contained sites highly likely to be responsive to glucocorticoids. We suggest that NMS triggers GR- GRE to enhance the expression and to prime genes that organize cellular architecture in zymogenic population for PgC function. As pepsinogen C- pepsin is essential for digestion, disturbance of parenting through NMS might alter functions of gastric mucosa in a permanent manner.
Visualization of solute diffusion into cell walls in solution-impregnated wood under varying relative humidity using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Zheng Peiming , Aoki Dan , Seki Masako , Miki Tsunehisa , Tanaka Soichi , Kanayama Kozo , Matsushita Yasuyuki , Fukushima Kazuhiko 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe purpose of the present study is to clarify the diffusion of non-volatile substances into cell walls during the conditioning procedure under varying relative humidities (RH). In this paper, wood blocks were impregnated using an aqueous solution of melamine formaldehyde (MF), and they were subsequently conditioned under RHs of 11, 43, and 75%. The solute that diffused into the cell walls was visualized using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The volumetric relative swelling of the samples during the conditioning procedure was calculated. The results showed increased cell wall swelling at higher RH, which may have been caused by higher MF diffusion into the cell walls and/or higher moisture content. Cryo-TOF-SIMS measurements showed that more cell cavities were unfilled with MF at higher RH, indicating that most of the MF diffused from the cell cavities into the cell walls. The relative intensity of MF in the cell walls of the cured samples was evaluated from dry-TOF-SIMS images, which showed a higher relative intensity of MF in the cell walls at higher RH. With the ability to visualize and semi-quantitatively evaluate the solute in cell walls, TOF-SIMS will serve as a powerful tool for future studies of solute diffusion mechanisms in solution-impregnated wood.
ETV1 activates a rapid conduction transcriptional program in rodent and human cardiomyocytes
Authors: Shekhar Akshay , Lin Xianming , Lin Bin , Liu Fang-Yu , Zhang Jie , Khodadadi-Jamayran Alireza , Tsirigos Aristotelis , Bu Lei , Fishman Glenn I. , Park David S. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractRapid impulse propagation is a defining attribute of the pectinated atrial myocardium and His-Purkinje system (HPS) that safeguards against atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, conduction block, and myocardial dyssynchrony. The complex transcriptional circuitry that dictates rapid conduction remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that ETV1 (ER81)-dependent gene networks dictate the unique electrophysiological characteristics of atrial and His-Purkinje myocytes. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of ETV1 results in cardiac conduction abnormalities, decreased expression of rapid conduction genes (Nkx2–5, Gja5, and Scn5a), HPS hypoplasia, and ventricularization of the unique sodium channel properties that define Purkinje and atrial myocytes in the adult heart. Forced expression of ETV1 in postnatal ventricular myocytes (VMs) reveals that ETV1 promotes a HPS gene signature while diminishing ventricular and nodal gene networks. Remarkably, ETV1 induction in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes increases rapid conduction gene expression and inward sodium currents, converting them towards a HPS phenotype. Our data identify a cardiomyocyte-autonomous, ETV1-dependent pathway that is responsible for specification of rapid conduction zones in the heart and demonstrate that ETV1 is sufficient to promote a HPS transcriptional and functional program upon VMs.
Clinical Implications of Lysyl Oxidase-Like Protein 2 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Tanaka Nobutake , Yamada Suguru , Sonohara Fuminori , Suenaga Masaya , Hayashi Masamichi , Takami Hideki , Niwa Yukiko , Hattori Norifumi , Iwata Naoki , Kanda Mitsuro , Tanaka Chie , Kobayashi Daisuke , Nakayama Goro , Koike Masahiko , Fujiwara Michitaka , Fujii Tsutomu , Kodera Yasuhiro 
Published: June 2018

AbstractLysyl oxidase (LOX) family genes, particularly lysyl oxidase-like protein 2 (LOXL2), have been implicated in carcinogenesis, metastasis, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancers. This study aimed to explore the clinical implications of LOXL2 expression in pancreatic cancer (PC) in the context of EMT status. LOX family mRNA expression was measured in PC cell lines, and LOXL2 protein levels were examined in surgical specimens resected from 170 patients with PC. Higher LOXL2 expression was observed in cell lines from mesenchymal type PC than in those from epithelial type PC. A significant correlation between LOXL2 expression and the EMT status defined based on the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin was observed in surgical specimens (P < 0.01). The disease-free survival and overall survival rates among patients with low LOXL2 expression were significantly better than those among patients with high LOXL2 expression (P < 0.001). According to the multivariate analysis, high LOXL2 expression (P = 0.03) was a significant independent prognostic factor for patients with PC. Additionally, LOX inhibition significantly decreased PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. In conclusion, LOXL2 expression is potentially associated with PC progression, and LOXL2 expression represents a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with PC who have undergone complete resection.
Geographic variation and plasticity in climate stress resistance among southern African populations of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Weldon Christopher W. , Nyamukondiwa Casper , Karsten Minette , Chown Steven L. , Terblanche John S. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTraits of thermal sensitivity or performance are typically the focus of species distribution modelling. Among-population trait variation, trait plasticity, population connectedness and the possible climatic covariation thereof are seldom accounted for. Here, we examine multiple climate stress resistance traits, and the plasticity thereof, for a globally invasive agricultural pest insect, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We also accounted for body size and population genetic connectivity among distinct populations from diverse bioclimatic regions across southern Africa. Desiccation resistance, starvation resistance, and critical thermal minimum (CTmin) and maximum (CTmax) of C. capitata varied between populations. For thermal tolerance traits, patterns of flexibility in response to thermal acclimation were suggestive of beneficial acclimation, but this was not the case for desiccation or starvation resistance. Population differences in measured traits were larger than those associated with acclimation, even though gene flow was high. Desiccation resistance was weakly but positively affected by growing degree-days. There was also a weak positive relationship between CTmin and temperature seasonality, but CTmax was weakly but negatively affected by the same bioclimatic variable. Our results suggest that the invasive potential of C. capitata may be supported by adaptation of tolerance traits to local bioclimatic conditions.
A Cosine Similarity Algorithm Method for Fast and Accurate Monitoring of Dynamic Droplet Generation Processes
Authors: Zhu Xiurui , Su Shisheng , Fu Mingzhu , Liu Junyuan , Zhu Lingxiang , Yang Wenjun , Jing Gaoshan , Guo Yong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDroplet microfluidics has attracted significant interests in functional microcapsule synthesis, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, cosmetics and biomedical research. The low variability of performing chemical reactions inside droplets could benefit from improved homogeneity and reproducibility. Therefore, accurate and convenient methods are needed to monitor dynamic droplet generation processes. Here, a novel Cosine Similarity Algorithm (CSA) method was developed to monitor the droplet generation frequency accurately and rapidly. With a microscopic droplet generation video clip captured with a high-speed camera, droplet generation frequency can be computed accurately by calculating the cosine similarities between the frames in the video clip. Four kinds of dynamic droplet generation processes were investigated including (1) a stable condition in a single microfluidic channel, (2) a stable condition in multiple microfluidic channels, (3) a single microfluidic channel with artificial disturbances, and (4) microgel fabrication with or without artificial disturbances. For a video clip with 5,000 frames and a spatial resolution of 512 × 62 pixels, droplet generation frequency up to 4,707.9 Hz can be calculated in less than 1.70 s with an absolute relative calculation error less than 0.08%. Artificial disturbances in droplet generation processes can be precisely determined using the CSA method. This highly effective CSA method could be a powerful tool for further promoting the research of droplet microfluidics.
Surface nanogrooving of carbon microtubes
Authors: Nasri-Nasrabadi Bijan , Kaynak Akif , Komeily-Nia Zahra , Adams Scott D. , Li Jingliang , Kouzani Abbas Z. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractExtrusion processing of carbon tubes can be problematic due to their poor interfacial interactions with polymeric matrices. Surface chemical modification of carbon tubes can be utilized to create bonding sites to form networks with polymer chains. However, chemical reactions resulting in intermolecular primary bonding limit processability of extrudate, since they cause unstable rheological behaviour, and thus decrease the stock holding time, which is determinative in extrusion. This study presents a method for the synthesis of carbon microtubes with physically modified surface area to improve the filler and matrix interfacial interactions. The key concept is the formation of a nanogrooved topography, through acoustic cavitation on the surface of processing fibres. The effect of nanogrooving on roughness parameters is described, along with the role of surface modified carbon tubes on rheological behaviour, homogeneity, and coherency of extrudate. The measurements showed that nanogrooving increases the surface area of carbon microtubes, as a result, die swelling of the extrudate is reduced. Furthermore, after solidification, the mechanical strength of composite is reinforced due to stronger interactions between nanogrooved carbon tubes and polymer matrix.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptide E7/HLA-DRB1 tetramers with different HLA-DR alleles bound CD4+ T cells might share identical CDR3 region
Authors: Gan Yichuan , Wang Cong , Fang Yimin , Yao Yanan , Tu Xiaoxin , Wang Jiao , Huang Xi , Tan Yaoju , Chen Tao , Zhang Kouxing , Shen Yanming , Zhou Lin , Liu Jianxiong , Lai Xiaomin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHuman CD4+T cells play an important role in the immune response toMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB). However, little is known about the spectratyping characteristics of the CD4+T-cell receptor (TCR) α- and β-chains CDR3 region in tuberculosis (TB) patients. We sorted MTB peptide E7-bound CD4+T cells by using E7/HLA-DR tetramers constructed with different HLA-DRB1 alleles and extracted the CDR3 amino-acid sequences of TCR α- and β-chains. The results showed that the CDR3 sequences of E7-bound CD4+T cells were completely or partially identical in a single patient. The sequences of MTB peptide C5-bound CD4+T cells shared another, and non-peptide bound CD4+T cells, as well as unbound CD4+T cells with tetramers were different from each other. Specifically, diverse CDR3 sequences of E7-bound CD4+T cells displayed similar protein tertiary structure in one TB patient. In summary, the TCR α- and β-chains of CDR3 lineage of CD4+T cells in TB patients apparently drifted, and the predominant CDR3 sequences of TCR α- and β-chains that recognized the MTB antigen exhibited peptide specificity, and certain HLA-DR restriction was also established. This study elucidates the possible causes and mechanisms of peptide-specific CD4+T-cell-related presentation against MTB.
Weak Antilocalization and Quantum Oscillations of Surface States in Topologically Nontrivial DyPdBi(110)Half Heusler alloy
Authors: Bhardwaj Vishal , Pal Satyendra Prakash , Varga Lajos K. , Tomar Monika , Gupta Vinay , Chatterjee Ratnamala 
Published: June 2018

AbstractRecently, a number of ternary half-Heusler compounds have been predicted independently by several research groups as candidates for 3D topological insulators. In this work, we report the observation of a two-dimensional (2D) weak antilocalization (WAL) effect, one of the hall-marks of topological surface states, and Shubnikov-de Hass (SdH) quantum oscillations in <110> oriented DyPdBi (DPB) thin films grown on MgO (100) substrates. The films prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique under the optimized conditions, showed a textured structure with (110) planes parallel to the (100) plane of MgO. The measured WAL effect follows the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka (HLN) model and the extracted values of phase coherence length (lϕ) and α are ~420 nm and ~−0.52 respectively. The power law variation of lϕ (~T−0.46) indicates the presence of the 2D surface states in DPB film. The Dirac nature of the surface states is further confirmed by Landau-level fan diagram analysis of SdH oscillations of the magneto-transport data. This analysis shows a finite Berry phase of 0.90π ± 0.16, reasonably close to the expected π value. Sheet Carrier density, ns ~ 2.56 × 1012 cm−2, calculated from the SdH oscillations (fSdH ~ 106 T) and Hall measurements agree well with each other. These findings demonstrate that the half Heusler DPB thin films (~15–20 nm) can be used as a suitable material for investigating the novel intrinsic quantum transport properties of surface Dirac fermions.
Extremely high strength and work hardening ability in a metastable high entropy alloy
Authors: Nene S. S. , Frank M. , Liu K. , Mishra R. S. , McWilliams B. A. , Cho K. C. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDesign of multi-phase high entropy alloys uses metastability of phases to tune the strain accommodation by favoring transformation and/or twinning during deformation. Inspired by this, here we present Si containing dual phase Fe42Mn28Co10Cr15Si5 high entropy alloy (DP-5Si-HEA) exhibiting very high strength (1.15 GPa) and work hardening (WH) ability. The addition of Si in DP-5Si-HEA decreased the stability of f.c.c. (γ) matrix thereby promoting pronounced transformation induced plastic deformation in both as-cast and grain refined DP-5Si-HEAs. Higher yet sustained WH ability in fine grained DP-5Si-HEA is associated with the uniform strain partitioning among the metastable γ phase and resultant h.c.p. (ε) phase thereby resulting in total elongation of 12%. Hence, design of dual phase HEAs for improved strength and work hardenability can be attained by tuning the metastability of γ matrix through proper choice of alloy chemistry from the abundant compositional space of HEAs.
Precision laser spectroscopy experiments on antiprotonic helium
Authors: Hori Masaki 
Published: June 2018

At CERN‘s Antiproton Decelerator (AD) facility, the Atomic Spectroscopyand Collisions Using Slow Antiprotons (ASACUSA) collaboration is carrying out precise laser spectroscopy experiments on antiprotonic helium (p̅He+ ≡ p̅+He2++e−) atoms. By employing buffer-gas cooling techniquesin a cryogenic gas target, samples of atoms were cooled to temperatureT = 1.5–1.7 K, thereby reducing the Doppler width in the single-photon resonance lines. By comparing the results with three-body quantum electrodynamics calculations, the antiproton-to-electron mass ratio was determined as Mp̅/me = 1836.1526734(15). This agreed with the known proton-to-electron mass ratio with a precision of 8 . 1010. Further improvements in the experimental precision are currently being attempted. The high-quality antiproton beam provided by the future Extra Low Energy Antiproton Ring (ELENA) facility should further increase the experimental precision.
Influence of the Lower Body on Seated Arm Cranking Performance
Authors: VanSumeren Ashley , Bye Thomas , Kilgas Matthew , Hartvigsen Matthew , Elmer Steven 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDuring upper-body tasks, use of the lower body is important for minimizing physiological strain and maximizing performance. The lower body has an integral role during standing upper-body tasks, however, it is less clear if it is also important during seated upper-body tasks. We determined the extent to which the lower body influenced seated arm cranking performance. Eleven males performed incremental (40+20 W·3 min−1) and short-duration maximal effort (5 s, 120 rpm) arm cranking trials with and without lower-body restriction. The lower body was restricted by securing the legs to the seat and suspending them off the floor. Upper-body peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak) and maximal power were determined. At the end of the incremental protocol, lower-body restriction reduced V̇O2peak by 14±12% (P<0.01) compared to normal arm cranking. At greater submaximal stages (60-100% isotime) heart rate, ventilation, RER, and arm-specific exertion increased to a greater extent (all P<0.05) with lower-body restriction. During short duration maximal arm cranking, lower-body restriction decreased maximal power by 23±9% (P<0.01). Results indicated that lower-body restriction limited aerobic capacity, increased physiological strain during high-intensity submaximal exercise, and compromised maximal power generating capacity. These results imply that use of the lower body is critical when performing seated arm cranking. Our findings have implications for exercise testing, training and rehabilitation.
Antibiotic stewardship-Programme in Akutkrankenhäusern
Authors: Kern Winfried V. 
Published: June 2018

ZusammenfassungDie zunehmende bakterielle Resistenzentwicklung und oft vermeidbare Clostridium difficile-Superinfektionen haben zu einem vermehrten Bedarf an Strategien zur
Sicherstellung einer rationalen Antibiotika-Verordnung geführt. Mögliche Verbesserungen in der Verschreibungspraxis sind vor allem in der kritischen
Indikationsstellung zu erreichen – zusätzlich auch bei der optimierten Substanzauswahl und Verkürzung der Therapiedauer bei einigen Indikationen. „Antibiotic
stewardship“ (abgekürzt ABS)-Programme auf verschiedenen Ebenen bündeln verschiedene Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Antibiotika-Verordnungsqualität. Notwendig
sind dafür Fachpersonal vor Ort und verlässliche Daten zur Infektionsinzidenz, zu Antibiotikaresistenz und zur Antibiotikaverbrauchsdichte. Fachabteilungen für
Infektiologie oder ABS-Teams mit spezifisch geschulten klinischen Experten können auf der Basis solcher Daten lokale angepasste Leitlinien erstellen und
implementieren helfen und mittels Konsiliardiensten und Antibiotika-Visiten den umsichtigen Einsatz von Antibiotika fördern. Viele ABS-Programme scheinen auch
aus der Krankenhausperspektive kosteneffektiv zu sein, können Clostridium difficile-Infektionen, MRSA-Raten, und auch die Häufigkeit von Infektionen durch
ESBL-positiven Bakterien reduzieren und zugleich Behandlungsergebnisse verbessern.