bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MAIT be different–persisting dysfunction after DAA‐mediated clearance of chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Hofmann Maike , Thimme Robert 
Published: August 2016

MAIT cells are an abundant innate‐like T‐cell subset that is defined by the invariant T‐cell receptor (iTCR) V‐alpha chain Vα7.2‐Jα33. Little is currently known about their frequency and function in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their fate after therapy‐mediated HCV elimination by direct acting antivirals (DAA). In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Hengst et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2016. 46: 2204‐2210] give important novel insights into the biological role of MAIT cells in a relevant human chronic viral infection by showing that first, MAIT cells are only present at low frequencies in chronic HCV infection; second, circulating MAIT cells in HCV patients also display an altered phenotype; third, they are impaired in their MR‐1‐dependent effector functions and finally, and maybe most importantly, MAIT‐cell frequency and function was not restored after HCV elimination by DAA therapy. These results suggest that MAIT cells are severely affected by a chronic human viral infection in their frequency and function and that this impairment is not reversed after HCV elimination. This is in contrast to rapid DAA‐mediated restorations of NK‐cell and CD8+ T‐cell functions, and indicates a differential impact of chronic infection and clearance on different immune cell subsets.
Defining the floodplain in hydrologically‐variable settings: implications for flood risk management
Authors: Croke Jacky , Fryirs Kirstie , Thompson Chris 
Published: August 2016

AbstractFlood risk management is an essential responsibility of state governments and local councils to ensure the protection of people residing on floodplains. Globally, floodplains are under increasing pressure from growing populations. Typically, the engineering‐type solutions that are used to predict local flood magnitude and frequency based on limited gauging data are inadequate, especially in settings which experience high hydrological variability. This study highlights the importance of incorporating geomorphological understanding into flood risk management in southeast Queensland (SEQ), an area badly affected by extreme flood events in 2011 and 2013. The major aim of this study is to outline the hydrological and sedimentological characteristics of various ‘inundation surfaces’ that are typical of catchments in the sub‐tropics. It identifies four major inundation surfaces; within‐channel bench [Q ~ 2.33 yr average recurrence interval (ARI)]; genetic floodplain (Q = 20 yr ARI); hydraulic floodplain (20 yr < Q ≤ 200 yr ARI) and terrace (Q > 1000 yr ARI). These surfaces are considered typical of inundation areas within, and adjacent to, the large macrochannels common to this region and others of similar hydrological variability. An additional area within genetic floodplains was identified where flood surfaces coalesce and produce an abrupt reduction in channel capacity. This is referred to here as a Spill‐out Zone (SOZ). The associated vulnerability and risk of these surfaces is reviewed and recommendations made based on incorporating this geomorphological understanding into flood risk assessments. These recommendations recognize the importance to manage for risks associated with flow inundation and sediment erosion, delivery and deposition. The increasing availability of high resolution topographic data opens up the possibility of more rapid and spatially extensive assessments of key geomorphic processes which can readily be used to predict flood risk. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural variation in sensory‐motor white matter organization influences manifestations of Huntington's disease
Authors: Orth Michael , Gregory Sarah , Scahill Rachael I , Mayer Isabella SM , Minkova Lora , Klöppel Stefan , Seunarine Kiran K , Boyd Lara , Borowsky Beth , Reilmann Ralf , Bernhard Landwehrmeyer G. , Leavitt Blair R , Roos Raymund AC , Durr Alexandra , Rees Geraint , Rothwell John C , Langbehn Douglas , Tabrizi Sarah J ,   TRACK‐On Investigators
Published: August 2016

AbstractWhile the HTT CAG‐repeat expansion mutation causing Huntington's disease (HD) is highly correlated with the rate of pathogenesis leading to disease onset, considerable variance in age‐at‐onset remains unexplained. Therefore, other factors must influence the pathogenic process. We asked whether these factors were related to natural biological variation in the sensory‐motor system. In 243 participants (96 premanifest and 35 manifest HD; 112 controls), sensory‐motor structural MRI, tractography, resting‐state fMRI, electrophysiology (including SEP amplitudes), motor score ratings, and grip force as sensory‐motor performance were measured. Following individual modality analyses, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify patterns associated with sensory‐motor performance, and manifest versus premanifest HD discrimination. We did not detect longitudinal differences over 12 months. PCA showed a pattern of loss of caudate, grey and white matter volume, cortical thickness in premotor and sensory cortex, and disturbed diffusivity in sensory‐motor white matter tracts that was connected to CAG repeat length. Two further major principal components appeared in controls and HD individuals indicating that they represent natural biological variation unconnected to the HD mutation. One of these components did not influence HD while the other non‐CAG‐driven component of axial versus radial diffusivity contrast in white matter tracts were associated with sensory‐motor performance and manifest HD. The first component reflects the expected CAG expansion effects on HD pathogenesis. One non‐CAG‐driven component reveals an independent influence on pathogenesis of biological variation in white matter tracts and merits further investigation to delineate the underlying mechanism and the potential it offers for disease modification. Hum Brain Mapp 37:4615–4628, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coarse‐grained and All‐atom Simulations towards the Early and Late Steps of Amyloid Fibril Formation
Authors: Chiricotto Mara , Tran Thanh Thuy , Nguyen Phuong H. , Melchionna Simone , Sterpone Fabio , Derreumaux Philippe 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAlzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Experiments and computer simulations can complement one another to provide a full and in‐depth understanding of many aspects in the amyloid field at the atomistic level. Here, we review results of our coarse‐grained and all‐atom simulations in aqueous solution aimed at determining: 1) early aggregation steps of short linear peptides; 2) nucleation size number; 3) solution structure of the Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 wild‐type dimers; 4) impact of FAD (familial forms of Alzheimer's disease) mutations on the structure of Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 dimers; and 5) impact of protective mutations on the structure of Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 dimers.
Situation, Strategies and BMPS to Control Agricultural NPS Pollution In The European Union
Authors: Provolo Giorgio , Sali Guido , Gandolfi Claudio , Jang Jeongryeol , Cho Youngkweon , Magette William 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAlthough significant improvements in water quality have been achieved in Europe over the last two decades, water quality status is still below desirable levels in many locations. As in many other regions around the world, nonpoint source pollution from agricultural landscapes remains the key cause of water quality problems in many parts of Europe due to nitrogen surplus, and, in some countries, losses of phosphorus. A variety of physical, managerial, financial and political tools exist for addressing nonpoint source pollution from agricultural sources. However, water resource managers face difficulties in cajoling landowners to adopt the necessary actions, particularly if the effects of such actions to enhance productivity do not exist (or are not apparent). As shown by trends in groundwater quality data, there may be significant delays in observable water quality improvements after action has been taken. These delays in the response times of natural systems will further challenge the willpower of governments at all levels to provide the financial and human resources necessary to combat diffuse pollution. Consequently, there must be continued close cooperation between researchers seeking new control strategies, government agencies that fund such research and finance implementation and landowners who must adopt the measures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of bats Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae) and Rhynchonycteris naso (Emballonuridae)
Authors: Beguelini Mateus R. , Puga Cintia C. I. , Morielle‐Versute Eliana , Taboga Sebastião R. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTIn eutherian mammals, the male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) comprise the prostate, bulbourethral glands, ampullary glands, and the seminal vesicles. Their composition, anatomy and function vary widely between species. This study aimed to characterize histologically and compare the RAGs of bats. The RAGs of Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae) and Rhynchonycteris naso (Emballonuridae) were studied using anatomical and histological methods, and were reconstructed three dimensionally. The RAGs of N. albiventris and R. naso are composed of a compact glandular complex that surrounds the urethra and a pair of bulbourethral glands, which are extra‐abdominally located in the inguinal region. In both species, the glandular complex is composed of two well‐defined prostatic regions (ventral and dorsal). The ventral region showed an atypical epithelium (holocrine), where no obvious cellular limits were observed, and PAS‐positive secretion. The dorsal region had a pseudostratified cuboidal epithelium, with basal and secretory cells, and PAS‐negative secretion. Noctilio albiventris also had urethral glands (Littre glands) surrounding the urethra, however, R. naso had only muscles. Both species had bulbourethral glands, with simple columnar epithelium and PAS‐positive secretion. In conclusion, the RAGs of N. albiventris and R. naso comprised a pair of bulbourethral glands and an intra‐abdominal complex, composed of a prostate with two different regions (ventral and dorsal), while the ampullary glands and seminal vesicles were missing in both species. This morphology was more closely related between N. albiventris and R. naso, and to species of the family Phyllostomidae than to families Molossidae and Vespertilionidae. J. Morphol. 277:1459–1468, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comprehensive analysis of trends in extreme precipitation over southeastern coast of Brazil
Authors: Zilli Marcia T. , Carvalho Leila M. V. , Liebmann Brant , Silva Dias Maria A. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTSoutheast Brazil (SE Brazil) is the most densely populated region in Brazil. Previous studies have shown evidence of positive trends in average precipitation and extreme events in a few locations, suggesting the increase in rainfall‐related hazards with potential impacts to urbanized areas of SE Brazil. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial variability of trends in extreme precipitation over SE Brazil focusing on regional and local scales. We examine two daily rainfall datasets with more than 70 years of data: individual stations and gridded observed precipitation data. Our results indicate that the frequency of both rainy days and extreme daily precipitation events have increased in Sao Paulo state. Conversely, precipitation has become more concentrated in fewer events in Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo states where both data sets indicate positive trends in the intensity of extreme daily rainfall. The increases in frequency and intensity of extreme events have both contributed to positive trends in total seasonal and average daily precipitation over Sao Paulo. Additionally, the individual stations indicate negative trends in the number of light rainy days over large urbanized areas in the state of Sao Paulo. The spatial patterns of trends indicate that they are influenced by the proximity of large urban centres and topographic features, and also suggest variations and changes in the major climatic systems affecting precipitation regimes over SE.
Synthesis and Properties of GO‐Doped Porous Hydrogel Nanocomposites with Semi‐Interpenetrating Network Structure
Authors: Hong Haizhi , Zhu Zhaoqi , Sun Hanxue , Mu Peng , Liang Weidong , Li An 
Published: August 2016

Superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites (SHN) with semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) are synthesized by the polymerization of acrylamide monomer in a polyethylene glycol aqueous solution in the presence of the octadecylamine (ODA)‐modified graphene oxide (GO‐ODA) nanosheets. The hydrogel composites are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravity analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The water absorbency of the resulting SHN in distilled water and saline solutions are measured. The results show that doping GO‐ODA nanosheets into hydrogel semi‐IPN would enhance both their salt resistance and water retention. Using a simple freezing‐dry method, porous SHN with macroscopically interconnected pores is prepared, which exhibits excellent separation ability for removal of trace water from oils. Based on their better water absorbency, salt resistance, and excellent oil/water separation ability, the resulting SHN has great potentials in a wide range of applications, for example, oil dehydration, absorption, and separation.
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The best medicine? The influence of physical activity and inactivity on Parkinson's disease
Authors: LaHue Sara C. , Comella Cynthia L. , Tanner Caroline M. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThe incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) is expected to increase as our population ages and will likely strain the projected capacity of our health care system. Despite being the most common movement disorder, there have been few noninvasive therapeutic advances for people with PD since the first levodopa clinical trial in 1961. The study of PD pathogenesis, combined with an appreciation for the biochemical mechanisms by which physical activity and exercise may impact physiology, has resulted in emerging hypotheses for new modifiable risk factors for PD. Physical activity and exercise as a means of preventing PD, or maintaining the functionality of people with PD, are a promising area of investigation. Conversely, physical inactivity is implicated in many disease states, some of which are also correlated with the development of PD, such as metabolic syndrome. The primary relationship between these diseases is likely rooted in heightened inflammation and oxidative stress at the cellular level. Physical activity and exercise as a means of attenuating inflammation have led to increased interest in related potential therapeutic targets for PD. Ultimately, these findings may translate into low‐cost, universally available therapies for PD disease modification or prevention. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
NTRK3 kinase fusions in Spitz tumours
Authors: Yeh Iwei , Tee Meng Kian , Botton Thomas , Shain A Hunter , Sparatta Alyssa J , Gagnon Alexander , Vemula Swapna S , Garrido Maria C , Nakamaru Kenji , Isoyama Takeshi , McCalmont Timothy H , LeBoit Philip E , Bastian Boris C 
Published: August 2016

AbstractOncogenic fusions in TRK family receptor tyrosine kinases have been identified in several cancers and can serve as therapeutic targets. We identified ETV6–NTRK3, MYO5A–NTRK3 and MYH9–NTRK3 fusions in Spitz tumours, and demonstrated that NTRK3 fusions constitutively activate the mitogen‐activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase and phospholipase Cγ1 pathways in melanocytes. This signalling was inhibited by DS‐6051a, a small‐molecule inhibitor of NTRK1/2/3 and ROS1. NTRK3 fusions expand the range of oncogenic kinase fusions in melanocytic neoplasms and offer targets for a small subset of melanomas for which no targeted options currently exist. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Underlying chronic inflammation alters the profile and mechanisms of acute neutrophil recruitment
Authors: Ma Bin , Whiteford James R , Nourshargh Sussan , Woodfin Abigail 
Published: August 2016

AbstractChronically inflamed tissues show altered characteristics that include persistent populations of inflammatory leukocytes and remodelling of the vascular network. As the majority of studies on leukocyte recruitment have been carried out in normal healthy tissues, the impact of underlying chronic inflammation on ongoing leukocyte recruitment is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the profile and mechanisms of acute inflammatory responses in chronically inflamed and angiogenic tissues, and consider the implications for chronic inflammatory disorders. We have developed a novel model of chronic ischaemia of the mouse cremaster muscle that is characterized by a persistent population of monocyte‐derived cells (MDCs), and capillary angiogenesis. These tissues also show elevated acute neutrophil recruitment in response to locally administered inflammatory stimuli. We determined that Gr1low MDCs, which are widely considered to have anti‐inflammatory and reparative functions, amplified acute inflammatory reactions via the generation of additional proinflammatory signals, changing both the profile and magnitude of the tissue response. Similar vascular and inflammatory responses, including activation of MDCs by transient ischaemia–reperfusion, were observed in mouse hindlimbs subjected to chronic ischaemia. This response demonstrates the relevance of the findings to peripheral arterial disease, in which patients experience transient exercise‐induced ischaemia known as claudication.These findings demonstrate that chronically inflamed tissues show an altered profile and altered mechanisms of acute inflammatory responses, and identify tissue‐resident MDCs as potential therapeutic targets. © 2016 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Micro‐scale and rapid expression screening of highly expressed and/or stable membrane protein variants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Shiroishi Mitsunori , Moriya Mai , Ueda Tadashi 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPurification of milligram quantities of target proteins is required for structural and biophysical studies. However, mammalian membrane proteins, many of which are important therapeutic targets, are too unstable to be expressed in heterologous hosts and to be solubilized by detergents. One of the most promising ways to overcome these limitations is to stabilize the membrane proteins by generating variants via introduction of truncated flexible regions, fusion partners, and site‐directed mutagenesis. Therefore, an effective screening strategy is a key to obtaining successful protein stabilization. Herein, we report the micro‐scale and high‐throughput screening of stabilized membrane protein variants using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host. All steps of the screening, including cultivation and disruption of cells, solubilization of the target protein, and the pretreatment for fluorescence‐detected size exclusion chromatography (FSEC), could be performed in a 96‐well microplate format. We demonstrated that the dispersion among wells was small, enabling detection of a small but important improvement in the protein stability. We also demonstrated that the thermally stable mutants of a human G protein‐coupled receptor could be distinguished based on an increase of the peak height in the FSEC profile, which was well correlated with increased ligand binding activity of the protein. This strategy represents a significant platform for handling numerous mutants, similar to alanine scanning.
Simplifying and enhancing the use of PyMOL with horizontal scripts
Authors: Mooers Blaine H.M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractScripts are used in PyMOL to exert precise control over the appearance of the output and to ease remaking similar images at a later time. We developed horizontal scripts to ease script development. A horizontal script makes a complete scene in PyMOL like a traditional vertical script. The commands in a horizontal script are separated by semicolons. These scripts are edited interactively on the command line with no need for an external text editor. This simpler workflow accelerates script development. In using PyMOL, the illustration of a molecular scene requires an 18‐element matrix of view port settings. The default format spans several lines and is laborious to manually reformat for one line. This default format prevents the fast assembly of horizontal scripts that can reproduce a molecular scene. We solved this problem by writing a function that displays the settings on one line in a compact format suitable for horizontal scripts. We also demonstrate the mapping of aliases to horizontal scripts. Many aliases can be defined in a single script file, which can be useful for applying costume molecular representations to any structure. We also redefined horizontal scripts as Python functions to enable the use of the help function to print documentation about an alias to the command history window. We discuss how these methods of using horizontal scripts both simplify and enhance the use of PyMOL in research and education.
Ergänzende Betrachtung zur Bemessung von Rollenlagern
Authors: Mensinger Martin , Ganslmeier Sofie , Rengstl Mathias , Karpa Markus 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDer Beitrag thematisiert aktuelle Fragestellungen zum Nachweiskonzept von Rollenlagern im Brückenbau. Auf einen Überblick zur Dimensionierung der Lager folgt eine Darstellung der derzeitigen Normungssituation in DIN EN 1337‐4 und SIA 263. Auf verschiedene Zusammenhänge, die sich aus der Materialwahl ergeben, wird hingewiesen. Dem interessierten Leser soll es so ermöglicht werden, die erforderlichen Nachweise kritisch zu hinterfragen und historische Rollenlager systemerhaltend zu ersetzen.Additional consideration to the design of roller bearings. The paper deals with current issues concerning the design of roller bearings in bridge construction. An overview of current dimensioning using normative standards in DNI EN 1337‐4 and SIA 263 for roller bearings is given. Based on the choice of materials, various relationships are deduced. This article will allow the reader to critically question the current design methods and historic roller bearings can then be replaced using the current structural system.