bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Initial experience of dedicated breast PET imaging of ER+ breast cancers using [F-18]fluoroestradiol
Authors: Jones Ella F. , Ray Kimberly M. , Li Wen , Chien Amy J. , Mukhtar Rita A. , Esserman Laura J. , Franc Benjamin L. , Seo Youngho , Pampaloni Miguel H. , Joe Bonnie N. , Hylton Nola M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDedicated breast positron emission tomography (dbPET) is an emerging technology with high sensitivity and spatial resolution that enables detection of sub-centimeter lesions and depiction of intratumoral heterogeneity. In this study, we report our initial experience with dbPET using [F-18]fluoroestradiol (FES) in assessing ER+ primary breast cancers. Six patients with >90% ER+ and HER2− breast cancers were imaged with dbPET and breast MRI. Two patients had ILC, three had IDC, and one had an unknown primary tumor. One ILC patient was treated with letrozole, and another patient with IDC was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy without endocrine treatment. In this small cohort, we observed FES uptake in ER+ primary breast tumors with specificity to ER demonstrated in a case with tamoxifen blockade. FES uptake in ILC had a diffused pattern compared to the distinct circumscribed pattern in IDC. In evaluating treatment response, the reduction of SUVmax was observed with residual disease in an ILC patient treated with letrozole, and an IDC patient treated with chemotherapy. Future study is critical to understand the change in FES SUVmax after endocrine therapy and to consider other tracer uptake metrics with SUVmax to describe ER-rich breast cancer. Limitations include variations of FES uptake in different ER+ breast cancer diseases and exclusion of posterior tissues and axillary regions. However, FES-dbPET has a high potential for clinical utility, especially in measuring response to neoadjuvant endocrine treatment. Further development to improve the field of view and studies with a larger cohort of ER+ breast cancer patients are warranted.
Selective HDAC6 inhibitors improve anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy by decreasing the anti-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages and down-regulation of immunosuppressive proteins in tumor cells
Authors: Knox Tessa , Sahakian Eva , Banik Debarati , Hadley Melissa , Palmer Erica , Noonepalle Satish , Kim Jennifer , Powers John , Gracia-Hernandez Maria , Oliveira Vasco , Cheng Fengdong , Chen Jie , Barinka Cyril , Pinilla-Ibarz Javier , Lee Norman H. , Kozikowski Alan , Villagra Alejandro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHistone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in diverse cellular regulatory mechanisms including non-canonical functions outside the chromatin environment. Several publications have demonstrated that selective HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) can influence tumor immunogenicity and the functional activity of specific immune cells. In particular, the selective inhibition of HDAC6 has been reported to decrease tumor growth in several malignancies. However, there is still no clarity about the cellular components mediating this effect. In this study, we evaluated the HDAC6i Nexturastat A as a priming agent to facilitate the transition of the tumor microenvironment from “cold” to “hot”, and potentially augment immune check-point blockade therapies. This combination modality demonstrated to significantly reduce tumor growth in syngeneic melanoma tumor models. Additionally, we observed a complete neutralization of the up-regulation of PD-L1 and other immunosuppressive pathways induced by the treatment with anti-PD-1 blockade. This combination also showed profound changes in the tumor microenvironment such as enhanced infiltration of immune cells, increased central and effector T cell memory, and a significant reduction of pro-tumorigenic M2 macrophages. The evaluation of individual components of the tumor microenvironment suggested that the in vivo anti-tumor activity of HDAC6i is mediated by its effect on tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages, and not directly over T cells. Overall, our results indicate that selective HDAC6i could be used as immunological priming agents to sensitize immunologically “cold” tumors and subsequently improve ongoing immune check-point blockade therapies.
Systematic assessment of the clinicopathological prognostic significance of tissue cytokine expression for lung adenocarcinoma based on integrative analysis of TCGA data
Authors: Dong Yuanmei , Liu Yang , Bai Hui , Jiao Shunchang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDysregulated intratumoral immune reactions are shaped by complex networks of cytokines, which coordinate with tumor cells to determine tumor progression and aggressiveness. In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the role of intratumoral cytokine gene expression for stratifying prognosis has not been systematically investigated. Using high-dimensional datasets of cancer specimens from clinical patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we explored the transcript abundance and prognostic impact of 27 clinically evaluable cytokines in 500 LUAD tumor samples according to clinicopathological features and two common driver mutations (EGFR and KRAS). We found that reduced expression of IL12B presented as the single prognostic factor for both poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) with high hazard ratios. Moreover, we identified that elevated expression of IL6, CXCL8 and CSF3 were additional independent predictors of poor RFS in LUAD patients. Their prognostic significance was further strengthened by their ability to stratify within clinicopathological factors. Notably, we prioritized high risk cytokines for patients with or without mutations in EGFR and KRAS. Our results provide integrative associations of cytokine gene expression with patient survival and tumor recurrence and demonstrate the necessity and validity of relating clinicopathological and genetic disposition factors for precise and personalized disease prognosis.
Simple fluorometric-based assay of antibiotic effectiveness for Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms
Authors: Wannigama Dhammika Leshan , Hurst Cameron , Pearson Lachlan , Saethang Thammakorn , Singkham-in Uthaibhorn , Luk-in Sirirat , Storer Robin James , Chatsuwan Tanittha 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDespite strengthened antimicrobial therapy, biofilm infections of Acinetobacter baumannii are associated with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Assessing antibiotics on planktonic bacteria can result in failure against biofilm infections. Currently, antibiotics to treat biofilm infections are administered empirically, usually without considering the susceptibility of the biofilm objectively before beginning treatment. For effective therapy to resolve biofilm infections it is essential to assess the efficacy of commonly used antibiotics against biofilms. Here, we offer a robust and simple assay to assess the efficacy of antibiotics against biofilms. In the present work, we carefully optimized the incubation time, detection range, and fluorescence reading mode for resazurin-based viability staining of biofilms in 96-well-plates and determined minimal biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) for A. baumannii isolates from patients with chronic infection. By applying this assay, we demonstrated that antibiotic response patterns varied uniquely within the biofilm formation of various clinical samples. MBEC-50 and 75 have significant discriminatory power over minimum inhibitory concentrations for planktonic suspensions to differentiate the overall efficiency of an antibiotic to eradicate a biofilm. The present assay is an ideal platform on which to assess the efficacy of antibiotics against biofilms in vitro to pave the way for more effective therapy.
Risks of hydroclimatic regime shifts across the western United States
Authors: Gangopadhyay Subhrendu , McCabe Gregory , Pederson Gregory , Martin Justin , Littell Jeremy S. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPaleohydrologic reconstructions of water-year streamflow for 105 sites across the western United States (West) were used to compute the likelihood (risk) of regime (wet/dry state) shifts given the length of time in a specific regime and for a specified time in the future. The spatial variability of risks was examined and indicates that regime shift risks are variable across the West. The Pacific-Northwest region is associated with low risks of regime shifts, indicating persistence controlled by prevalent low frequency variability in flow (periods above 64 years). Other areas in the West indicate higher risks compared to the Pacific-Northwest due to flow variability in the mid-to-high frequencies (periods of 32 to 16 years). Understanding risks of regime shifts provides critical information for improved management of water supplies, particularly during periods of extended low flows. The method presented here has global applicability as a decision-making framework for risk-based planning and management.
On Behind the Physics of the Thermoelectricity of Topological Insulators
Authors: Baldomir Daniel , Faílde Daniel 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTopological Insulators are the best thermoelectric materials involving a sophisticated physics beyond their solid state and electronic structure. We show that exists a topological contribution to the thermoelectric effect that arises between topological and thermal quantum field theories applied at very low energies. This formalism provides us with a quantized topological mass proportional to the temperature T leading, through an electric potential V, to a Seebeck coefficient where we identify an anomalous contribution that can be associated to the creation of real electron-hole Schwinger’s pairs close to the topological bands. Finally, we find a general expression for the dimensionless figure of merit of these topological materials, considering only the electronic contribution, getting a value of 2.73 that is applicable to the Bi2Te3, for which it was reported a value of 2.4 after reducing its phononic contribution, using only the most basic topological numbers (0 or 1).
Line-Field Optical Coherence Tomography as a tool for In vitro characterization of corneal biomechanics under physiological pressures
Authors: Kazaili Ahmed , Lawman Samuel , Geraghty Brendan , Eliasy Ashkan , Zheng Yalin , Shen Yaochun , Akhtar Riaz 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThere has been a lot of interest in accurately characterising corneal biomechanical properties under intraocular pressure (IOP) to help better understand ocular pathologies that are associated with elevated IOP. This study investigates the novel use of Line-Field Optical Coherence Tomography (LF-OCT) as an elastographic tool for accurately measuring mechanical properties of porcine corneas based on volumetric deformation following varying IOPs. A custom-built LF-OCT was used to measure geometrical and corneal surface displacement changes in porcine corneas under a range of IOPs, from 0–60 mmHg. Corneal thickness, elastic properties and hysteresis were calculated as a function of pressure. In addition, the effects of hydration were explored. We found that the elastic modulus increased in a linear fashion with IOP. Corneal thickness was found to reduce with IOP, decreasing 14% from 0 to 60 mmHg. Prolonged hydration in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was found to significantly increase the elastic modulus and corneal hysteresis. Our study demonstrates that LF-OCT can be used to accurately measure the elastic properties based on volumetric deformation following physiological pressures. Furthermore, we show that prolonged hydration in PBS has a significant effect on the measured corneal properties.
Full-surface emission of graphene-based vertical-type organic light-emitting transistors with high on/off contrast ratios and enhanced efficiencies
Authors: Park Byoungchoo , Lee Won Seok , Na Seo Yeong , Huh Jun Nyeong , Bae In-Gon 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSurface-emitting organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs) could well be a core element in the next generation of active-matrix (AM) displays. We report some of the key characteristics of graphene-based vertical-type organic light-emitting transistors (Gr-VOLETs) composed of a single-layer graphene source and an emissive channel layer. It is shown that FeCl3 doping of the graphene source results in a significant improvement in the device performance of Gr-VOLETs. Using the FeCl3-doped graphene source, it is demonstrated that the full-surface electroluminescent emission of the Gr-VOLET can be effectively modulated by gate voltages with high luminance on/off ratios (~104). Current efficiencies are also observed to be much higher than those of control organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), even at high luminance levels exceeding 500 cd/m2. Moreover, we propose an operating mechanism to explain the improvements in the device performance i.e., the effective gate-bias-induced modulation of the hole tunnelling injection at the doped graphene source electrode. Despite its inherently simple structure, our study highlights the significant improvement in the device performance of OLETs offered by the FeCl3-doped graphene source electrode.
The critical Barkhausen avalanches in thin random-field ferromagnets with an open boundary
Authors: Tadić Bosiljka , Mijatović Svetislav , Janićević Sanja , Spasojević Djordje , Rodgers Geoff J. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe interplay between the critical fluctuations and the sample geometry is investigated numerically using thin random-field ferromagnets exhibiting the field-driven magnetisation reversal on the hysteresis loop. The system is studied along the theoretical critical line in the plane of random-field disorder and thickness. The thickness is varied to consider samples of various geometry between a two-dimensional plane and a complete three-dimensional lattice with an open boundary in the direction of the growing thickness. We perform a multi-fractal analysis of the Barkhausen noise signals and scaling of the critical avalanches of the domain wall motion. Our results reveal that, for sufficiently small thickness, the sample geometry profoundly affects the dynamics by modifying the spectral segments that represent small fluctuations and promoting the time-scale dependent multi-fractality. Meanwhile, the avalanche distributions display two distinct power-law regions, in contrast to those in the two-dimensional limit, and the average avalanche shapes are asymmetric. With increasing thickness, the scaling characteristics and the multi-fractal spectrum in thicker samples gradually approach the hysteresis loop criticality in three-dimensional systems. Thin ferromagnetic films are growing in importance technologically, and our results illustrate some new features of the domain wall dynamics induced by magnetisation reversal in these systems.
Serum GM3(d18:1-16:0) and GM3(d18:1-24:1) levels may be associated with lymphoma: An exploratory study with haematological diseases
Authors: Nishikawa Masako , Kurano Makoto , Nitta Takahiro , Kanoh Hirotaka , Inokuchi Jin-ichi , Yatomi Yutaka 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGM3 (monosialodihexosylganglioside) is a type of ganglioside, which is a molecule composed of ceramide and oligosaccharide containing one or more sialic acids. Since GM3 is abundantly expressed in blood cells, we investigated the association between GM3 molecular species and haematological diseases. We measured the serum levels of seven GM3 molecular species in subjects with various haematological diseases (n = 52) and healthy subjects (n = 24) using a liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry technique as an exploratory study. In all the subjects with haematological diseases, GM3(d18:1-16:0) were inversely correlated with the erythrocytes counts. Regarding the difference in serum GM3 molecular species levels among each haematological diseases and healthy subjects, the levels of GM3(d18:1-16:0) and GM3(d18:1-24:1) were higher in the lymphoid neoplasm group than healthy subjects. Principal component analyses also revealed that the GM3(d18:1-16:0) and GM3(d18:1-24:1) levels were significant contributing factors for discriminating the lymphoid neoplasm group. Moreover, in the lymphoid neoplasm group, the GM3(d18:1-16:0) levels were significantly and positively correlated with the levels of C-reactive protein, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and lactate dehydrogenase. In conclusion, in our exploratory study with haematological diseases, GM3 molecular species showed different distribution among disease groups, and serum GM3(d18:1-16:0) and GM3(d18:1-24:1) might be associated with lymphoma.
miR-26a prevents neural stem cells from apoptosis via β-catenin signaling pathway in cardiac arrest-induced brain damage
Authors: Li Fang , Wei Hongyan , Li Hengjie , Li Xin , Hu Chunlin , Zhang Jie , Deng Yubin , Liao Xiaoxing 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation is one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of CA-induced brain damage. The transplanted NSCs could differentiate into new neuron and replace the damaged one. However, the poor survival of NSCs in severe hypoxic condition is the limiting step to make the best use of this kind of therapy. In the present study, we investigated whether the overexpression of miR-26a improves the survival of NSCs in hypoxic environment in vitro and in vivo. In vitro hypoxia injury model is established in NSCs by CoCl2 treatment, and in vivo cardiac arrest (CA) model is established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is used to detect the mRNA level and Western blot is used to examine the protein level of indicated genes. TUNEL staining and flow cytometry are applied to evaluate apoptosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay is utilized to analyze the target gene of miR-26a. The expression of miR-26a is reduced in both in vitro and in vivo hypoxic model. MiR-26a directly targets 3′-UTR of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), resulting in increased β-catenin expression and decreased apoptosis of NSCs. Overexpression of miR-26a in transplanted NSCs improves the survival of NSCs and neurological function in CA rats. MiR-26a prevents NSCs from apoptosis by activating β-catenin signaling pathway in CA-induced brain damage model. Modulating miR-26a expression could be a potential strategy to attenuate brain damage induced by CA.
Murchison Widefield Array and XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic supernova remnant G5.9+3.1
Authors: Onić D. , Filipović M. D. , Bojičić I. , Hurley-Walker N. , Arbutina B. , Pannuti T. G. , Maitra C. , Urošević D. , Haberl F. , Maxted N. , Wong G. F. , Rowell G. , Bell M. E. , Callingham J. R. , Dwarakanath K. S. , For B.-Q. , Hancock P. J. , Hindson L. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Kapińska A. D. , Lenc E. , McKinley B. , Morgan J. , Offringa A. R. , Porter L. E. , Procopio P. , Staveley-Smith L. , Wayth R. B. , Wu C. , Zheng Q. 
Published: April 2019

Aims. In this paper we discuss the radio continuum and X-ray properties of the so-far poorly studied Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G5.9 + 3.1.
Methods. We present the radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of the Galactic SNR G5.9 + 3.1 obtained with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). Combining these new observations with the surveys at other radio continuum frequencies, we discuss the integrated radio continuum spectrum of this particular remnant. We have also analyzed an archival XMM-Newton observation, which represents the first detection of X-ray emission from this remnant.
Results. The SNR SED is very well explained by a simple power-law relation. The synchrotron radio spectral index of G5.9 + 3.1 is estimated to be 0.42 ± 0.03 and the integrated flux density at 1 GHz to be around 2.7 Jy. Furthermore, we propose that the identified point radio source, located centrally inside the SNR shell, is most probably a compact remnant of the supernova explosion. The shell-like X-ray morphology of G5.9 + 3.1 as revealed by XMM-Newton broadly matches the spatial distribution of the radio emission, where the radio-bright eastern and western rims are also readily detected in the X-ray while the radio-weak northern and southern rims are weak or absent in the X-ray. Extracted MOS1+MOS2+PN spectra from the whole SNR as well as the north, east, and west rims of the SNR are fit successfully with an optically thin thermal plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium with a column density NH ~ 0.80 × 1022 cm−2 and fitted temperatures spanning the range kT ~ 0.14–0.23 keV for all of the regions. The derived electron number densities ne for the whole SNR and the rims are also roughly comparable (ranging from ~0.20f−1∕2 to ~0.40f−1∕2 cm−3, where f is the volume filling factor). We also estimate the swept-up mass of the X-ray emitting plasma associated with G5.9+3.1 to be ~46f−1∕2 M⊙.
Representation learning for automated spectroscopic redshift estimation
Authors: Frontera-Pons J. , Sureau F. , Moraes B. , Bobin J. , Abdalla F. B. 
Published: April 2019

Context. Determining the radial positions of galaxies up to a high accuracy depends on the correct identification of salient features in their spectra. Classical techniques for spectroscopic redshift estimation make use of template matching with cross-correlation. These templates are usually constructed from empirical spectra or simulations based on the modeling of local galaxies.
Aims. We propose two new spectroscopic redshift estimation schemes based on new learning techniques for galaxy spectra representation, using either a dictionary learning technique for sparse representation or denoising autoencoders. We investigate how these representations impact redshift estimation.
Methods. We first explored dictionary learning to obtain a sparse representation of the rest-frame galaxy spectra modeling both the continuum and line emissions. As an alternative, denoising autoencoders were considered to learn non-linear representations from rest-frame emission lines extracted from the data. In both cases, the redshift was then determined by redshifting the learnt representation and selecting the redshift that gave the lowest approximation error among the tested values.
Results. These methods have been tested on realistic simulated galaxy spectra, with photometry modeled after the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and spectroscopy reproducing properties of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). They were compared to Darth Fader, a robust technique extracting line features and estimating redshift through eigentemplates cross-correlations. We show that both dictionary learning and denoising autoencoders provide improved accuracy and reliability across all signal-to-noise (S/N) regimes and galaxy types. Furthermore, the former is more robust at high noise levels; the latter is more accurate on high S/N regimes. Combining both estimators improves results at low S/N.
Conclusions. The representation learning framework for spectroscopic redshift analysis introduced in this work offers high performance in feature extraction and redshift estimation, improving on a classical eigentemplates approach. This is a necessity for next-generation galaxy surveys, and we demonstrate a successful application in realistic simulated survey data.