bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ferroelectric thin film acoustic devices with electrical multiband switching ability
Authors: Ptashnik Sergey V. , Mikhailov Anatoliy K. , Yastrebov Alexander V. , Petrov Peter K. , Liu Wei , Alford Neil McN , Hirsch Soeren , Kozyrev Andrey B. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDesign principles of a new class of microwave thin film bulk acoustic resonators with multiband resonance frequency switching ability are presented. The theory of the excitation of acoustic eigenmodes in multilayer ferroelectric structures is considered, and the principle of selectivity for resonator with an arbitrary number of ferroelectric layers is formulated. A so called “criterion function” is suggested that allows to determine the conditions for effective excitation at one selected resonance mode with suppression of other modes. The proposed theoretical approach is verifiedusing thepreexisting experimental data published elsewhere. Finally, the possible application of the two ferroelectric layers structures for switchable microwave overtone resonators, binary and quadrature phase-shift keying modulators are discussed. These devices could play a pivotal role in the miniaturization of microwave front-end antenna circuits.
Three dimensional printed polylactic acid-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for prefabricating vascularized tissue engineered bone: An in vivo bioreactor model
Authors: Zhang Haifeng , Mao Xiyuan , Zhao Danyang , Jiang Wenbo , Du Zijing , Li Qingfeng , Jiang Chaohua , Han Dong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe repair of large bone defects with complex geometries remains a major clinical challenge. Here, we explored the feasibility of fabricating polylactic acid-hydroxyapatite (PLA-HA) composite scaffolds. These scaffolds were constructed from vascularized tissue engineered bone using an in vivo bioreactor (IVB) strategy with three-dimensional printing technology. Specifically, a rabbit model was established to prefabricate vascularized tissue engineered bone in two groups. An experimental group (EG) was designed using a tibial periosteum capsule filled with 3D printed (3DP) PLA-HA composite scaffolds seeded with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and crossed with a vascular bundle. 3DP PLA-HA scaffolds were also combined with autologous BMSCs and transplanted to tibial periosteum without blood vessel as a control group (CG). After four and eight weeks, neovascularisation and bone tissues were analysed by studying related genes, micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) and histological examinations between groups. The results showed that our method capably generated vascularized tissue engineered bone in vivo. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in neovascular and new viable bone formation in the two groups. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of generating large vascularized bone tissues in vivo with 3DP PLA-HA composite scaffolds.
Cis-SNPs Set Testing and PrediXcan Analysis for Gene Expression Data using Linear Mixed Models
Authors: Zeng Ping , Wang Ting , Huang Shuiping 
Published: November 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the functional mechanism of SNPs identified in GWAS on complex diseases is currently a challenging task. The studies of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) have shown that regulatory variants play a crucial role in the function of associated SNPs. Detecting significant genes (called eGenes) in eQTL studies and analyzing the effect sizes of cis-SNPs can offer important implications on the genetic architecture of associated SNPs and interpretations of the molecular basis of diseases. We applied linear mixed models (LMM) to the gene expression level and constructed likelihood ratio tests (LRT) to test for eGene in the Geuvadis data. We identified about 11% genes as eGenes in the Geuvadis data and found some eGenes were enriched in approximately independent linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks (e.g. MHC). We further performed PrediXcan analysis for seven diseases in the WTCCC data with weights estimated using LMM and identified 64, 5, 21 and 1 significant genes (p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction) associated with T1D, CD, RA and T2D. We found most of the significant genes of T1D and RA were also located within the MHC region. Our results provide strong evidence that gene expression plays an intermediate role for the associated variants in GWAS.
Progesterone attenuates temporomandibular joint inflammation through inhibition of NF-κB pathway in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Xue Xin-Tong , Kou Xiao-Xing , Li Chen-Shuang , Bi Rui-Yun , Meng Zhen , Wang Xue-Dong , Zhou Yan-Heng , Gan Ye-Hua 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSex hormones may contribute to the symptomatology of female-predominant temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) inflammatory pain. Pregnant women show less symptoms of TMDs than that of non-pregnant women. Whether progesterone (P4), one of the dominant sex hormones that regulates multiple biological functions, is involved in symptoms of TMDs remains to be explored. Freund’s complete adjuvant were used to induce joint inflammation. We evaluated the behavior-related and histologic effects of P4 and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in the synovial membrane. Primary TMJ synoviocytes were treated with TNF-α or IL-1β with the combination of P4. Progesterone receptor antagonist RU-486 were further applied. We found that P4 replacement attenuated TMJ inflammation and the nociceptive responses in a dose-dependent manner in the ovariectomized rats. Correspondingly, P4 diminished the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB and the transcription of its target genes in a dose-dependent manner in the synovial membrane of TMJ. Furthermore, P4 treatment showed decreased mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and partially reversed TNF-α and IL-1β induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines in the primary synoviocytes. Moreover, progesterone receptor antagonist RU-486 partially reversed the effects of P4 on NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, progesterone ameliorated TMJ inflammation through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
Crystalline Soda Can Metamaterial exhibiting Graphene-like Dispersion at subwavelength scale
Authors: Yves Simon , Lemoult Fabrice , Fink Mathias , Lerosey Geoffroy 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGraphene, a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms ruled by tight-binding interaction, exhibits extraordinary electronic properties due to the presence of Dirac cones within its band structure. These intriguing singularities have naturally motivated the discovery of their classical analogues. In this work, we present a general and direct procedure to reproduce the peculiar physics of graphene within a very simple acoustic metamaterial: a double lattice of soda cans resonating at two different frequencies. The first triangular sub-lattice generates a bandgap at low frequency, which induces a tight-binding coupling between the resonant defects of the second honeycomb one, hence allowing us to obtain a graphene-like band structure. We prove the relevance of this approach by showing that both numerical and experimental dispersion relations exhibit the requested Dirac cone. We also demonstrate the straightforward monitoring of the coupling strength within the crystal of resonant defects. This work shows that crystalline metamaterials are very promising candidates to investigate tantalizing solid-state physics phenomena with classical waves.
Divergent effects of Wnt/β-catenin signaling modifiers on the preservation of human limbal epithelial progenitors according to culture condition
Authors: Lee Hyun Jung , Wolosin J. Mario , Chung So-Hyang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWnt signaling plays an important role in the regulation of self-renewal in stem cells. Here we investigated the effect of CHIR99021, the primary transducer of the Wnt signaling canonical pathway, and IWP2, a wide action Wnt signal blocker, on the growth and differentiation of the limbal epithelial progenitor cells when these cells are cultured in two different, common culture approaches, outgrowth from limbal biopsy explants and isolated cell seeded in low calcium medium. Consistent with their expected effects, irrespective of the culture system, IWP2 decreased total β-catenin while CHIR99021 increased it in nuclear localization. However, IWP2 increased stem/progenitor cell marker (p63α and ABCG2) content and clonogenic capacity in the explants but had opposite effects on isolated cells. CHIR99021 reduced the growth rate, stem/progenitor cell marker content and clonogenic capacity in the explants but also had the opposite effect on the isolated cells. These results show that the outcome of Wnt/β-catenin signaling modification is dependent on the culture systems. Transplantation of limbal epithelial sheets from explant cultures is one of the standard treatments of limbal stem cell deficiency. Our study shows that Wnt-associated activity has a strong negative impact on stem/progenitor cell preservation in limbal explant cultures.
The positive effects of Xueshuan Xinmai tablets on brain functional connectivity in acute ischemic stroke: a placebo controlled randomized trial
Authors: Wei Dongfeng , Xie Daojun , Li He , Chen Yaojing , Qi Di , Wang Yujiao , Zhang Yangjun , Chen Kewei , Li Chuanfu , Zhang Zhanjun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThrough a placebo controlled randomized study, the purpose of this report was to investigate the effects of Xueshuan Xinmai tablets (XXMT) on neurologic deficits, quality of life and brain functional connectivity in acute ischemic stroke patients and to explore the mechanism of action of XXMT. In total, 44 acute ischemic stroke patients were randomly divided to the XXMT treatment group (n = 22) or the placebo group (n = 22) in a 2-week trial. Before and after the treatment, the neurological assessment and functional magnetic resonance imaging examinations were carried out. Compared to the placebo group, the scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQOL) significantly improved in the treatment group. In addition, XXMT-treated patients demonstrated significantly enhanced functional connectivity within the default mode, frontal-parietal, and motor control networks. Furthermore, the changed connectivity in the left precuneus was positively correlated to the improvement of NIHSS and SSQOL scores. The present study indicated that XXMT treatment significantly improved the neurologic deficit and quality of life of acute ischemic stroke patients and that the therapeutic effect may be based on the modulation of XXMT on the functional connectivity of brain networks.
Biological assessments of multifunctional hydrogel-decorated implantable neural cuff electrode for clinical neurology application
Authors: Kim Han-Jun , Heo Dong Nyoung , Lee Yi Jae , Lee Sang Jin , Kang Ji Yoon , Lee Soo Hyun , Kwon II Keun , Do Sun Hee 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe implantable cuff electrode is an effective neuroprosthetic device in current nerve tissue engineering. However, biocompatibility and stability are still a serious dispute in terms of in vivo function and continuous monitoring. In this regard, assessing the host’s biological response to biomaterials is one of the key factors of chronic implantation. In this article, we analyzed the peripheral nerve specific-biological responses to the application of multi-functional hydrogel-coated electrodes. The surface of the cuff electrode was modified using a multifunctional hydrogel composed of PEG hydrogel, cyclosporin A(CsA)-microsphere(MS) and electrodeposited PEDOT:PSS. Through our approach, we have found that the multifunctional hydrogel coatings improve the neural electrode function, such as peak-to-peak amplitude increase. Additionally, the multifunctional hydrogel coated electrodes exhibited improved biocompatibility, such as reduced apoptotic properties and increased axonal myelination. Furthermore, 12 genes (BDNF, Gfra1, IL-6, Sox 10, S100B, P75
NTR
, GAP43, MBP, MPZ, NrCAM, NE-FL, CB1) were upregulated at 5 weeks post-implant. Finally, double immunofluorescence revealed the effect of endocannabinoid system on neuroprotective properties and tissue remodeling of peripheral nerves during cuff electrode implantation. These results clearly confirmed that multifunctional hydrogel coatings could improve electrode function and biocompatibility by enhancing neuroprotective properties, which may provide a valuable paradigm for clinical neurology application.
High-brightness laser imaging with tunable speckle reduction enabled by electroactive micro-optic diffusers
Authors: Farrokhi Hamid , Rohith Thazhe Madam , Boonruangkan Jeeranan , Han Seunghwoi , Kim Hyunwoong , Kim Seung-Woo , Kim Young-Jin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHigh coherence of lasers is desirable in high-speed, high-resolution, and wide-field imaging. However, it also causes unavoidable background speckle noise thus degrades the image quality in traditional microscopy and more significantly in interferometric quantitative phase imaging (QPI). QPI utilizes optical interference for high-precision measurement of the optical properties where the speckle can severely distort the information. To overcome this, we demonstrated a light source system having a wide tunability in the spatial coherence over 43% by controlling the illumination angle, scatterer’s size, and the rotational speed of an electroactive-polymer rotational micro-optic diffuser. Spatially random phase modulation was implemented for the lower speckle imaging with over a 50% speckle reduction without a significant degradation in the temporal coherence. Our coherence control technique will provide a unique solution for a low-speckle, full-field, and coherent imaging in optically scattering media in the fields of healthcare sciences, material sciences and high-precision engineering.
A Light-Activated Antimicrobial Surface Is Active Against Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Organisms
Authors: Walker Tim , Canales Melisa , Noimark Sacha , Page Kristopher , Parkin Ivan , Faull Jane , Bhatti Manni , Ciric Lena 
Published: November 2017

AbstractEvidence has shown that environmental surfaces play an important role in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Deploying antimicrobial surfaces in hospital wards could reduce the role environmental surfaces play as reservoirs for pathogens. Herein we show a significant reduction in viable counts ofStaphylococcus epidermidis,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and MS2 Bacteriophage after light treatment of a medical grade silicone incorporating crystal violet, methylene blue and 2 nm gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, a migration assay demonstrated that in the presence of light, growth of the fungus-like organismPythium ultimumand the filamentous fungusBotrytis cinereawas inhibited. Atomic Force Microscopy showed significant alterations to the surface ofS.epidermidis, and electron microscopy showed cellular aggregates connected by discrete surface linkages. We have therefore demonstrated that the embedded surface has a broad antimicrobial activity under white light and that the surface treatment causes bacterial envelope damage and cell aggregation.
Exploration and recency as the main proximate causes of probability matching: a reinforcement learning analysis
Authors: Feher da Silva Carolina , Victorino Camila Gomes , Caticha Nestor , Baldo Marcus Vinícius Chrysóstomo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractResearch has not yet reached a consensus on why humans match probabilities instead of maximise in a probability learning task. The most influential explanation is that they search for patterns in the random sequence of outcomes. Other explanations, such as expectation matching, are plausible, but do not consider how reinforcement learning shapes people’s choices. We aimed to quantify how human performance in a probability learning task is affected by pattern search and reinforcement learning. We collected behavioural data from 84 young adult participants who performed a probability learning task wherein the majority outcome was rewarded with 0.7 probability, and analysed the data using a reinforcement learning model that searches for patterns. Model simulations indicated that pattern search, exploration, recency (discounting early experiences), and forgetting may impair performance. Our analysis estimated that 85% (95% HDI [76, 94]) of participants searched for patterns and believed that each trial outcome depended on one or two previous ones. The estimated impact of pattern search on performance was, however, only 6%, while those of exploration and recency were 19% and 13% respectively. This suggests that probability matching is caused by uncertainty about how outcomes are generated, which leads to pattern search, exploration, and recency.
Characterization of the Optical Properties of Turbid Media by Supervised Learning of Scattering Patterns
Authors: Hassaninia Iman , Bostanabad Ramin , Chen Wei , Mohseni Hooman 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFabricated tissue phantoms are instrumental in optical in-vitro investigations concerning cancer diagnosis, therapeutic applications, and drug efficacy tests. We present a simple non-invasive computational technique that, when coupled with experiments, has the potential for characterization of a wide range of biological tissues. The fundamental idea of our approach is to find a supervised learner that links the scattering pattern of a turbid sample to its thickness and scattering parameters. Once found, this supervised learner is employed in an inverse optimization problem for estimating the scattering parameters of a sample given its thickness and scattering pattern. Multi-response Gaussian processes are used for the supervised learning task and a simple setup is introduced to obtain the scattering pattern of a tissue sample. To increase the predictive power of the supervised learner, the scattering patterns are filtered, enriched by a regressor, and finally characterized with two parameters, namely, transmitted power and scaled Gaussian width. We computationally illustrate that our approach achieves errors of roughly 5% in predicting the scattering properties of many biological tissues. Our method has the potential to facilitate the characterization of tissues and fabrication of phantoms used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes over a wide range of optical spectrum.
Hydrogen adsorption on doped MoS2 nanostructures
Authors: Hakala Mikko , Kronberg Rasmus , Laasonen Kari 
Published: November 2017

AbstractElectrochemical devices for efficient production of hydrogen as energy carrier rely still largely on rare platinum group metal catalysts. Chemically and structurally modified metal dichalcogenide MoS2 is a promising substitute for these critical raw materials at the cathode side where the hydrogen evolution reaction takes place. For precise understanding of structure and hydrogen adsorption characteristics in chemically modified MoS2 nanostructures, we perform comprehensive density functional theory calculations on transition metal (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) doping at the experimentally relevant MoS2 surfaces at substitutional Mo-sites. Clear benefits of doping the basal plane are found, whereas at the Mo- and S-edges complex modifications at the whole edge are observed. New insight into doping-enhanced activity is obtained and guidance is given for further experiments. We study a machine learning model to facilitate the screening of suitable structures and find a promising level of prediction accuracy with minimal structural input.
Microelectrode implantation in motor cortex causes fine motor deficit: Implications on potential considerations to Brain Computer Interfacing and Human Augmentation
Authors: Goss-Varley Monika , Dona Keith R. , McMahon Justin A. , Shoffstall Andrew J. , Ereifej Evon S. , Lindner Sydney C. , Capadona Jeffrey R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIntracortical microelectrodes have shown great success in enabling locked-in patients to interact with computers, robotic limbs, and their own electrically driven limbs. The recent advances have inspired world-wide enthusiasm resulting in billions of dollars invested in federal and industrial sponsorships to understanding the brain for rehabilitative applications. Additionally, private philanthropists have also demonstrated excitement in the field by investing in the use of brain interfacing technologies as a means to human augmentation. While the promise of incredible technologies is real, caution must be taken as implications regarding optimal performance and unforeseen side effects following device implantation into the brain are not fully characterized. The current study is aimed to quantify any motor deficit caused by microelectrode implantation in the motor cortex of healthy rats compared to non-implanted controls. Following electrode insertion, rats were tested on an open-field grid test to study gross motor function and a ladder test to study fine motor function. It was discovered that rats with chronically indwelling intracortical microelectrodes exhibited up to an incredible 527% increase in time to complete the fine motor task. This initial study defines the need for further and more robust behavioral testing of potential unintentional harm caused by microelectrode implantation.
Frequency of Human CD45+ Target Cells is a Key Determinant of Intravaginal HIV-1 Infection in Humanized Mice
Authors: Nguyen Philip V. , Wessels Jocelyn M. , Mueller Kristen , Vahedi Fatemeh , Anipindi Varun , Verschoor Chris P. , Chew Marianne , Deshiere Alexandre , Karniychuk Uladzimir , Mazzulli Tony , Tremblay Michel J. , Ashkar Ali A. , Kaushic Charu 
Published: November 2017

AbstractApproximately 40% of HIV-1 infections occur in the female genital tract (FGT), primarily through heterosexual transmission. FGT factors determining outcome of HIV-1 exposure are incompletely understood, limiting prevention strategies. Here, humanized NOD-Rag1−/−γc−/−mice differentially reconstituted with human CD34+ -enriched hematopoietic stem cells (Hu-mice), were used to assess target cell frequency and viral inoculation dose as determinants of HIV-1 infection following intravaginal (IVAG) challenge. Results revealed a significant correlation between HIV-1 susceptibility and hCD45+ target cells in the blood, which correlated with presence of target cells in the FGT, in the absence of local inflammation. HIV-1 plasma load was associated with viral dose at inoculation and frequency of target cells. Events following IVAG HIV-1 infection; viral dissemination and CD4 depletion, were not affected by these parameters. Following IVAG inoculation, HIV-1 titres peaked, then declined in vaginal lavage while plasma showed a reciprocal pattern. The greatest frequency of HIV-1-infected (p24+) cells were found one week post-infection in the FGT versus blood and spleen, suggesting local viral amplification. Five weeks post-infection, HIV-1 disseminated into systemic tissues, in a dose-dependent manner, followed by depletion of hCD45+ CD3+ CD4+ cells. Results indicate target cell frequency in the Hu-mouse FGT is a key determinant of HIV-1 infection, which might provide a useful target for prophylaxis in women.