bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temperature-dependent birefringence of lithium triborate, LBO in the THz regime
Authors: Song Kechao , Tian Zhen , Zhang Weili , Wang Mingwei 
Published: August 2017

AbstractOptical properties of lithium triborate (LBO) in the terahertz regime (0.2–2 THz) were characterized using broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The frequency dependence of refractive index and absorption coefficient of the LBO crystal was experimentally investigated over the temperature range of 77–297 K, which the experimental results indicated that LBO has very low optical absorption coefficient at terahertz frequencies especially for the beam polarization along the crystal’s principal dielectric axis X. Moreover, a giant birefringence was observed, and the refractive index difference between the axis X and Z gradually decreased with decreasing temperature, which is attributed to the behavior of the TO phonon modes of B1 and B2 symmetries at low frequencies at different temperatures. As potential applications, LBO can be exemplarily used as terahertz wave shapers, beam splitters, terahertz wave plates, circular polarizers and other polarization devices.
Differentiating peripheral cholangiocarcinoma in stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 from hepatic hypovascular nodules using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
Authors: Li Shihong , Qian Haizhen , Peng Yu , Jia Huihui , Lin Guangwu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBecause cholangiocarcinoma shows no specific clinical signs or symptoms and presents with non-specific biological and tumor markers in the early stages, MRI findings often lack typical features before this lesion becomes symptomatic and might be mistaken for other liver lesions. An evaluation of relevant radiological findings in nodular cholangiocarcinoma (≤3 cm) in stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 is urgently needed. In our study, we compared two groups of liver hypovascular nodules and found that a distinct margin and enhanced area/nodule size >2/3 in the delayed phase were more frequently observed in cholangiocarcinoma cases than in metastatic nodule cases in which markedly high signal intensity on T2WI was common (p < 0.05). The results also revealed that in the both the portal and delayed phases, an enhanced area/nodule size >2/3 favored cholangiocarcinoma, whereas the presence of regional markedly higher SI on T2WI favored benign nodules. Furthermore, signs of peripheral washout in the delayed phase only appeared in cholangiocarcinoma cases.
Resonance optimization of polychromatic light in disordered structures
Authors: Yin Hongwei , Gbadebo Adenowo , Turitsyna Elena G. , Turitsyn Sergei K. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDisorder offers rich possibilities for manipulating the phase and intensity of light and designing photonic devices for various applications including random lasers, light storage, and speckle-free imaging. Disorder-based optical systems can be implemented in one-dimensional structures based on random or pseudo-random alternating layers with different refractive indices. Such structures can be treated as sequences of scatterers, in which spatial light localization is characterized by random sets of spectral transmission resonances, each accompanied by a relatively high-intensity concentration. The control and manipulation of resonances is the key element in designing disorder-based photonic systems. In this work, we introduce a method of controlling disorder-induced resonances by using the established non-trivial interconnection between the symmetry of bi-directional light propagation properties and the features of the resonant transmissions. Considering a fiber with resonant Bragg gratings as an example, the mechanism of enhancing or suppressing the resonant transmission of polychromatic light and the effectiveness of the method have been demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. The proposed algorithm of controlling disorder-induced resonances is general and applicable to classical waves and quantum particles, for disordered systems both with and without gain.
Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is an essential factor for oocyte maturation and asymmetric division in mice
Authors: Zhou Dongjie , Choi Yun-Jung , Kim Jin-Hoi 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTubastatin A (Tub-A), a highly selective histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor, has been widely used as a cytotoxic anticancer agent, or for the treatment of patients with asthma. However, the potential toxicity of Tub-A on oocyte maturation and asymmetric division is still unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the effect and potential regulatory role of Tub-A on the meiotic maturation of oocytes. We observed that Tub-A treatment induced an increased level of the acetylation of α-tubulin, and a failure of spindle migration and actin cap formation. Based on the spindle structure, most Tub-A treated oocytes were arrested in an MI-like or a GVBD-like stage and exhibited decondensed chromosomes in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, Tub-A treatment decreased the protein expression of mTOR, a factor responsible for spindle formation, and the expression of mDia1, an inhibitor of actin assembly, in an HDAC6 expression-dependent manner. Importantly, following Tub-A supplementation, most oocytes failed to extrude the first polar body, which indicates that these defects are closely linked to abnormal oocyte maturation. Taken together, our data demonstrates that HDAC6 is one of the essential factors for oocyte maturation and asymmetric division via the HDAC6/mTOR or mDia1 pathway in mice.
Antitumor properties of Coenzyme Q0 against human ovarian carcinoma cells via induction of ROS-mediated apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy
Authors: Hseu You-Cheng , Tsai Tai-Jung , Korivi Mallikarjuna , Liu Jer-Yuh , Chen Hui-Jye , Lin Chung-Ming , Shen Yi-Chun , Yang Hsin-Ling 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCoenzyme Q0 (CoQ0, 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) has been reported to exert anticancer properties against human breast/lung cancer cells. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of CoQ0 on human ovarian carcinoma (SKOV-3) cells and xenografted nude mice, and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism. CoQ0 induced G2/M arrest through downregulation of cyclin B1/A and CDK1/K2 expressions. CoQ0-induced autophagy as a survival mechanism was evidenced by increased accumulation of LC3-II, GFP-LC3 puncta, AVOs formation and Beclin-1/Bcl-2 dysregulation. Increased TUNEL-positive cells and Annexin-V/PI stained cells indicated CoQ0-induced late apoptosis. Both mitochondrial (caspase-3, PARP and Bax/Bcl-2 dysregulation) and ER stress (caspase-12 and Hsp70) signals are involved in execution of apoptosis. Interestingly, CoQ0-induced apoptosis/autophagy is associated with suppression of HER-2/neu and PI3K/AKT signalling cascades. CoQ0 triggered intracellular ROS production, whereas antioxidant N-acetylcysteine prevented CoQ0-induced apoptosis, but not autophagy. Inhibition of apoptosis by Z-VAD-FMK suppressed CoQ0-induced autophagy (diminished LC3-II/AVOs), indicates CoQ0-induced apoptosis led to evoke autophagy. Contrary, inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA/CQ potentiated CoQ0-induced apoptosis (increased DNA fragmentation/PARP cleavage). Furthermore, CoQ0 treatment to SKOV-3 xenografted nude mice reduced tumor incidence and burden. Histopathological analyses confirmed that CoQ0 modulated xenografted tumor progression by apoptosis induction. Our findings emphasize that CoQ0 triggered ROS-mediated apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy.
Krüppel-like factor 6 is a transcriptional activator of autophagy in acute liver injury
Authors: Sydor Svenja , Manka Paul , Best Jan , Jafoui Sami , Sowa Jan-Peter , Zoubek Miguel Eugenio , Hernandez-Gea Virginia , Cubero Francisco Javier , Kälsch Julia , Vetter Diana , Fiel Maria Isabel , Hoshida Yujin , Bian C. Billie , Nelson Leonard J. , Moshage Han , Faber Klaas Nico , Paul Andreas , Baba Hideo A. , Gerken Guido , Friedman Scott L. , Canbay Ali , Bechmann Lars P. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractKrüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is a transcription factor and tumor suppressor. We previously identified KLF6 as mediator of hepatocyte glucose and lipid homeostasis. The loss or reduction of KLF6 is linked to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, but its contribution to liver regeneration and repair in acute liver injury are lacking so far. Here we explore the role of KLF6 in acute liver injury models in mice, and in patients with acute liver failure (ALF). KLF6 was induced in hepatocytes in ALF, and in both acetaminophen (APAP)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated mice. In mice with hepatocyte-specific Klf6 knockout (DeltaKlf6), cell proliferation following partial hepatectomy (PHx) was increased compared to controls. Interestingly, key autophagic markers and mediators LC3-II, Atg7 and Beclin1 were reduced in DeltaKlf6 mice livers. Using luciferase assay and ChIP, KLF6 was established as a direct transcriptional activator of ATG7 and BECLIN1, but was dependent on the presence of p53. Here we show, that KLF6 expression is induced in ALF and in the regenerating liver, where it activates autophagy by transcriptional induction of ATG7 and BECLIN1 in a p53-dependent manner. These findings couple the activity of an important growth inhibitor in liver to the induction of autophagy in hepatocytes.
Novel twin-roll-cast Ti/Al clad sheets with excellent tensile properties
Authors: Kim Dae Woong , Lee Dong Ho , Kim Jung-Su , Sohn Seok Su , Kim Hyoung Seop , Lee Sunghak 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPure Ti or Ti alloys are recently spot-lighted in construction industries because they have excellent resistance to corrosions, chemicals, and climates as well as various coloring characteristics, but their wide applications are postponed by their expensiveness and poor formability. We present a new fabrication process of Ti/Al clad sheets by bonding a thin Ti sheet on to a 5052 Al alloy melt during vertical-twin-roll casting. This process has merits of reduced production costs as well as improved tensile properties. In the as-twin-roll-cast clad sheet, the homogeneously cast microstructure existed in the Al alloy substrate side, while the Ti/Al interface did not contain any reaction products, pores, cracks, or lateral delamination, which indicated the successful twin-roll casting. When this sheet was annealed at 350 °C~600 °C, the metallurgical bonding was expanded by interfacial diffusion, thereby leading to improvement in tensile properties over those calculated by a rule of mixtures. The ductility was also improved over that of 5052-O Al alloy (25%) or pure Ti (25%) by synergic effect of homogeneous deformation due to excellent Ti/Al bonding. This work provides new applications of Ti/Al clad sheets to lightweight-alloy clad sheets requiring excellent formability and corrosion resistance as well as alloy cost saving.
Stress hormone rapidly tunes synaptic NMDA receptor through membrane dynamics and mineralocorticoid signalling
Authors: Mikasova Lenka , Xiong Hui , Kerkhofs Amber , Bouchet Delphine , Krugers Harm J. , Groc Laurent 
Published: August 2017

AbstractStress hormones, such as corticosteroids, modulate the transmission of hippocampal glutamatergic synapses and NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent synaptic plasticity, favouring salient behavioural responses to the environment. The corticosterone-induced synaptic adaptations partly rely on changes in NMDAR signalling, although the cellular pathway underlying this effect remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate, using single molecule imaging and electrophysiological approaches in hippocampal neurons, that corticosterone specifically controls GluN2B-NMDAR surface dynamics and synaptic content through mineralocorticoid signalling. Strikingly, extracellular corticosterone was sufficient to increase the trapping of GluN2B-NMDAR within synapses. Functionally, corticosterone-induced potentiation of AMPA receptor content in synapses required the changes in NMDAR surface dynamics. These high-resolution imaging data unveiled that, in hippocampal networks, corticosterone is a natural, potent, fast and specific regulator of GluN2B-NMDAR membrane trafficking, tuning NMDAR-dependent synaptic adaptations.
Drug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) Serbian Language version: Inter-rater and Test-retest Reliability
Authors: Peljto Ami , Zamurovic Ljubica , Milovancevic Milica Pejovic , Aleksic Branko , Tosevski Dusica Lecic , Inada Toshiya 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDrug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) is developed in the era of second-generation antipsychotics and is suitable for evaluation of the low incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms occurring in the treatment of atypical antipsychotics, as well as the relationship between personal and social functioning. The study was carried out at the Institute of Mental Health in Serbia in 2015 Study used the 127 DIEPSS video clips material, recorded from 1987 till 2015. Four raters performed the assessment simultaneously, individually rating one assigned item immediately after seeing the video clip. For the purpose of evaluating test-retest reliability the second assessment of the same material was performed nine months after the first assessment. Inter-rater reliability was high for each individual item, with ICCs ranging from 0.769 to 0.949. The inter-rater reliability was highest for akathisia item and lowest for dyskinesia. The test-retest reliability was high for each individual item, with ICC ranging from 0.713 to 0.935. The test-retest reliability was highest for bradykinesia item and lowest for dystonia. The Serbian version of DIEPSS has high level of inter-rater and test-retest reliability. High values of concordance rates (ICC > 0.7) for each evaluated individual item suggest that items of DIEPSS are well defined.
Milk microbiome and bacterial load following dry cow therapy without antibiotics in dairy cows with healthy mammary gland
Authors: Bonsaglia Erika C. R. , Gomes Marilia S. , Canisso Igor F. , Zhou Ziyao , Lima Svetlana F. , Rall Vera L. M. , Oikonomou Georgios , Bicalho Rodrigo C. , Lima Fabio S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPreventive infusion of antibiotics in the mammary gland of cows consumes 11 tons/year of medically relevant antimicrobials, yet, this practice might not be critical to prevent new infections in the healthy mammary gland of cows. Here, we used next-generation sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR to determine the impact of dry cow therapy without antibiotics on milk microbiome and bacterial load, respectively. Cows diagnosed as negative for mastitis at dry off were randomly allocated to receive antibiotic (intramammary ceftiofur hydrochloride) and teat sealant or just teat sealant. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, and Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus, often involved in mastitis cases, were the most abundant genera across treatments and time. However, there were no effects of antimicrobial on milk microbiome and bacterial load. Bacterial load was greater at seven days postpartum than at dry off. Dry cow therapy based on teat sealant without antibiotics can be used with no detrimental impacts on milk microbiome and bacterial load in cows with a healthy mammary gland.
Hypothalamic effects of progesterone on regulation of the pulsatile and surge release of luteinising hormone in female rats
Authors: He Wen , Li Xiaofeng , Adekunbi Daniel , Liu Yali , Long Hui , Wang Li , Lyu Qifeng , Kuang Yanping , O’Byrne Kevin T. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractProgesterone can block the oestradiol-induced GnRH/LH surge and inhibit LH pulse frequency. Recent studies reported that progesterone prevented premature LH surges during ovarian hyperstimulation in women. As the most potent stimulator of GnRH/LH release, kisspeptin is believed to mediate the positive and negative feedback effects of oestradiol in the hypothalamic anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei, while the region-specific role of progesterone receptors in these nuclei remains unknown. This study examined the hypothesis that progesterone inhibits LH surge and pulsatile secretion via its receptor in the ARC and/or AVPV nuclei. Adult female rats received a single injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin followed by progesterone or vehicle. Progesterone administration resulted in a significant prolongation of the oestrous cycle and blockade of LH surge. However, microinjection of the progesterone receptor antagonist, RU486, into the AVPV reversed the prolonged cycle length and rescued the progesterone blockade LH surge, while RU486 into the ARC shortened LH pulse interval in the progesterone treated rats. These results demonstrated that progesterone’s inhibitory effect on the GnRH/LH surge and pulsatile secretion is mediated by its receptor in the kisspeptin enriched hypothalamic AVPV and ARC respectively, which are essential for progesterone regulation of oestrous cyclicity in rats.
Molecular MR imaging of fibrosis in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Polasek Miloslav , Yang Yan , Schühle Daniel T. , Yaseen Mohammad A. , Kim Young R. , Sung Yu Sub , Guimaraes Alexander R. , Caravan Peter 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFibrosis with excessive amounts of type I collagen is a hallmark of many solid tumours, and fibrosis is a promising target in cancer therapy, but tools for its non-invasive quantification are missing. Here we used magnetic resonance imaging with a gadolinium-based probe targeted to type I collagen (EP-3533) to image and quantify fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. An orthotopic syngeneic mouse model resulted in tumours with 2.3-fold higher collagen level compared to healthy pancreas. Animals were scanned at 4.7 T before, during and up to 60 min after i.v. injection of EP-3533, or of its non-binding isomer EP-3612. Ex-vivo quantification of gadolinium showed significantly higher uptake of EP-3533 compared to EP-3612 in tumours, but not in surrounding tissue (blood, muscle). Uptake of EP-3533 visualized in T1-weighted MRI correlated well with spatial distribution of collagen determined by second harmonic generation imaging. Differences in the tumour pharmacokinetic profiles of EP-3533 and EP-3612 were utilized to distinguish specific binding to tumour collagen from non-specific uptake. A model-free pharmacokinetic measurement based on area under the curve was identified as a robust imaging biomarker of fibrosis. Collagen-targeted molecular MRI with EP-3533 represents a new tool for non-invasive visualization and quantification of fibrosis in tumour tissue.
Long-term chloride concentrations in North American and European freshwater lakes
Authors: Dugan Hilary A. , Summers Jamie C. , Skaff Nicholas K. , Krivak-Tetley Flora E. , Doubek Jonathan P. , Burke Samantha M. , Bartlett Sarah L. , Arvola Lauri , Jarjanazi Hamdi , Korponai János , Kleeberg Andreas , Monet Ghislaine , Monteith Don , Moore Karen , Rogora Michela , Hanson Paul C. , Weathers Kathleen C. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAnthropogenic sources of chloride in a lake catchment, including road salt, fertilizer, and wastewater, can elevate the chloride concentration in freshwater lakes above background levels. Rising chloride concentrations can impact lake ecology and ecosystem services such as fisheries and the use of lakes as drinking water sources. To analyze the spatial extent and magnitude of increasing chloride concentrations in freshwater lakes, we amassed a database of 529 lakes in Europe and North America that had greater than or equal to ten years of chloride data. For each lake, we calculated climate statistics of mean annual total precipitation and mean monthly air temperatures from gridded global datasets. We also quantified land cover metrics, including road density and impervious surface, in buffer zones of 100 to 1,500 m surrounding the perimeter of each lake. This database represents the largest global collection of lake chloride data. We hope that long-term water quality measurements in areas outside Europe and North America can be added to the database as they become available in the future.
The steroid metabolome in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder during GnRH agonist-induced ovarian suppression: effects of estradiol and progesterone addback
Authors: Nguyen T V , Reuter J M , Gaikwad N W , Rotroff D M , Kucera H R , Motsinger-Reif A , Smith C P , Nieman L K , Rubinow D R , Kaddurah-Daouk R , Schmidt P J 
Published: August 2017

AbstractClinical evidence suggests that symptoms in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) reflect abnormal responsivity to ovarian steroids. This differential steroid sensitivity could be underpinned by abnormal processing of the steroid signal. We used a pharmacometabolomics approach in women with prospectively confirmed PMDD (n=15) and controls without menstrual cycle-related affective symptoms (n=15). All were medication-free with normal menstrual cycle lengths. Notably, women with PMDD were required to show hormone sensitivity in an ovarian suppression protocol. Ovarian suppression was induced for 6 months with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-agonist (Lupron); after 3 months all were randomized to 4 weeks of estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4). After a 2-week washout, a crossover was performed. Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry measured 49 steroid metabolites in serum. Values were excluded if >40% were below the limit of detectability (n=21). Analyses were performed with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests using false-discovery rate (q<0.2) for multiple comparisons. PMDD and controls had similar basal levels of metabolites during Lupron and P4-derived neurosteroids during Lupron or E2/P4 conditions. Both groups had significant increases in several steroid metabolites compared with the Lupron alone condition after treatment with E2 (that is, estrone-SO4 (q=0.039 and q=0.002, respectively) and estradiol-3-SO4 (q=0.166 and q=0.001, respectively)) and after treatment with P4 (that is, allopregnanolone (q=0.001 for both PMDD and controls), pregnanediol (q=0.077 and q=0.030, respectively) and cortexone (q=0.118 and q=0.157, respectively). Only sulfated steroid metabolites showed significant diagnosis-related differences. During Lupron plus E2 treatment, women with PMDD had a significantly attenuated increase in E2-3-sulfate (q=0.035) compared with control women, and during Lupron plus P4 treatment a decrease in DHEA-sulfate (q=0.07) compared with an increase in controls. Significant effects of E2 addback compared with Lupron were observed in women with PMDD who had significant decreases in DHEA-sulfate (q=0.065) and pregnenolone sulfate (q=0.076), whereas controls had nonsignificant increases (however, these differences did not meet statistical significance for a between diagnosis effect). Alterations of sulfotransferase activity could contribute to the differential steroid sensitivity in PMDD. Importantly, no differences in the formation of P4-derived neurosteroids were observed in this otherwise highly selected sample of women studied under controlled hormone exposures.