bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a group WHO trans-diagnostic intervention for women with common mental disorders in rural Pakistan: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial
Authors: Khan M. N. , Hamdani S. U. , Chiumento A. , Dawson K. , Bryant R. A. , Sijbrandij M. , Nazir H. , Akhtar P. , Masood A. , Wang D. , Wang E. , Uddin I. , van Ommeren M. , Rahman A. 
Published: July 2017

Aims:The aim of this feasibility trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the locally adapted Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention for women in the conflict affected settings in Swat, Pakistan.Methods:This mixed-methods study incorporated a quantitative component consisting of a two arm cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial, and qualitative evaluation of the acceptability of the Group PM+ to a range of stakeholder groups. For the quantitative component, on average from each of the 20 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) catchment area (20 clusters), six women were screened and recruited for the trial with score of >2 on the General Health Questionnaire and score of >16 on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. These LHW clusters were randomised on a 1 : 1 allocation ratio using a computer-based software through a simple randomisation method to the Group PM+ intervention or Enhanced Usual Care. The Group PM+ intervention consisted of five weekly sessions of 2 h duration delivered by local non-specialist females under supervision. The primary outcome was individual psychological distress, measured by levels of anxiety and depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 7thweek after baseline. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general psychological profile, levels of functioning and generalised psychological distress. Intervention acceptability was explored through in-depth interviews.Results:The results show that lay-helpers with no prior mental health experience can be trained to achieve the desired competency to successfully deliver the intervention in community settings under supervision. There was a good intervention uptake, with Group PM+ considered useful by participants, their families and lay-helpers. The outcome evaluation, which was not based on a large enough study to identify statistically significant results, indicated statistically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, general psychological profile and functioning. The PTSD symptoms and depressive disorder scores showed a trend in favour of the intervention.Conclusion:This trial showed robust acceptance in the local settings with delivery by non-specialists under supervision by local trained females. The trial paves the way for further adaptation and exploration of the outcomes through larger-scale implementation and definitive randomised controlled trials in the local settings.
Crosstalk and the evolvability of intracellular communication
Authors: Rowland Michael A. , Greenbaum Joseph M. , Deeds Eric J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMetazoan signalling networks are complex, with extensive crosstalk between pathways. It is unclear what pressures drove the evolution of this architecture. We explore the hypothesis that crosstalk allows different cell types, each expressing a specific subset of signalling proteins, to activate different outputs when faced with the same inputs, responding differently to the same environment. We find that the pressure to generate diversity leads to the evolution of networks with extensive crosstalk. Using available data, we find that human tissues exhibit higher levels of diversity between cell types than networks with random expression patterns or networks with no crosstalk. We also find that crosstalk and differential expression can influence drug activity: no protein has the same impact on two tissues when inhibited. In addition to providing a possible explanation for the evolution of crosstalk, our work indicates that consideration of cellular context will likely be crucial for targeting signalling networks.
Unique adjustable UC luminescence pattern and directional radiation of peculiar-shaped NaYF4: Yb3+/Er3+ microcrystal particle
Authors: Han Qingyan , Zhang Chengyun , Wang Chi , Wang Zhaojin , Li Caixia , Gao Wei , Dong Jun , He Enjie , Zhang Zhenglong , Zheng Hairong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA new design of peculiar-shaped β-NaYF4: 20% Yb3+/2% Er3+ hexagonal microcrystal (PSβHM) is proposed and its upconversion (UC) luminescence with adjustable color pattern is studied with near infrared excitation. Flower-like green UC luminescence emission pattern from blooming to withering process and intensive directional red emission are achieved by simply adjusting the focal point position of the excitation light. The mechanism that determines the unique UC luminescence phenomena are investigated systematically. The function of the internal light reflection and waveguide effect with annular microcavity is explored based on the structure characteristic of the hexagonal microplate. The current work may have great significant and potential applications in the development of optoelectronic device, color display, directional light and laser emission of microsystem.
Seed coat thinning during horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) domestication documented through synchrotron tomography of archaeological seeds
Authors: Murphy Charlene , Fuller Dorian Q. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractReduction of seed dormancy mechanisms, allowing for rapid germination after planting, is a recurrent trait in domesticated plants, and can often be linked to changes in seed coat structure, in particular thinning. We report evidence for seed coat thinning between 2,000 BC and 1,200 BC, in southern Indian archaeological horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), which it has been possible to document with high precision and non-destructively, through high resolution x-ray computed tomography using a synchrotron. We find that this trait underwent stepped change, from thick to semi-thin to thin seed coats, and that the rate of change was gradual. This is the first time that the rate of evolution of seed coat thinning in a legume crop has been directly documented from archaeological remains, and it contradicts previous predictions that legume domestication occurred through selection of pre-adapted low dormancy phenotypes from the wild.
CalQuo 2 : Automated Fourier-space, population-level quantification of global intracellular calcium responses
Authors: Lee Angela M. , Colin-York Huw , Fritzsche Marco 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntracellular calcium acts as a secondary messenger in a wide variety of crucial biological signaling processes. Advances in fluorescence microscopy and calcium sensitive dyes has led to the routine quantification of calcium responses in non-excitable cells. However, the automatization of global intracellular calcium analysis at the single-cell level within a large population simultaneously remains challenging. One software,CalQuo(Calcium Quantification), offers some automatic features in calcium analysis. Here, we present an advanced version of the software package:CalQuo2.CalQuo2analyzes the calcium response in the Fourier-domain, allowing the number of user-defined filtering parameters to be reduced to one and a greater diversity of calcium responses to be recognized, compared toCalQuothat directly interprets the calcium intensity signal.CalQuo2differentiates cells that release a single calcium response and those that release oscillatory calcium fluxes. We have demonstrated the use ofCalQuo2by measuring the calcium response in genetically modified Jurkat T-cells under varying ligand conditions, in which we show that peptide:MHCs and anti-CD3 antibodies trigger a fraction of T cells to release oscillatory calcium fluxes that increase with increasing koffrates. These results show thatCalQuo2is a robust and user-friendly tool for characterizing global, single cell calcium responses.
Bromodomain factors of BET family are new essential actors of pericentric heterochromatin transcriptional activation in response to heat shock
Authors: Col Edwige , Hoghoughi Neda , Dufour Solenne , Penin Jessica , Koskas Sivan , Faure Virginie , Ouzounova Maria , Hernandez-Vargash Hector , Reynoird Nicolas , Daujat Sylvain , Folco Eric , Vigneron Marc , Schneider Robert , Verdel André , Khochbin Saadi , Herceg Zdenko , Caron Cécile , Vourc’h Claire 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe heat shock response is characterized by the transcriptional activation of both hsp genes and noncoding and repeated satellite III DNA sequences located at pericentric heterochromatin. Both events are under the control of Heat Shock Factor I (HSF1). Here we show that under heat shock, HSF1 recruits major cellular acetyltransferases, GCN5, TIP60 and p300 to pericentric heterochromatin leading to a targeted hyperacetylation of pericentric chromatin. Redistribution of histone acetylation toward pericentric region in turn directs the recruitment of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal (BET) proteins BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, which are required for satellite III transcription by RNAP II. Altogether we uncover here a critical role for HSF1 in stressed cells relying on the restricted use of histone acetylation signaling over pericentric heterochromatin (HC).
Combination therapy for tuberculosis treatment: pulmonary administration of ethionamide and booster co-loaded nanoparticles
Authors: Costa-Gouveia Joana , Pancani Elisabetta , Jouny Samuel , Machelart Arnaud , Delorme Vincent , Salzano Giuseppina , Iantomasi Raffaella , Piveteau Catherine , Queval Christophe J. , Song Ok-Ryul , Flipo Marion , Deprez Benoit , Saint-André Jean-Paul , Hureaux José , Majlessi Laleh , Willand Nicolas , Baulard Alain , Brodin Priscille , Gref Ruxandra 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious cause of death worldwide. The use of ethionamide (ETH), a main second line anti-TB drug, is hampered by its severe side effects. Recently discovered “booster” molecules strongly increase the ETH efficacy, opening new perspectives to improve the current clinical outcome of drug-resistant TB. To investigate the simultaneous delivery of ETH and its booster BDM41906 in the lungs, we co-encapsulated these compounds in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), overcoming the bottlenecks inherent to the strong tendency of ETH to crystallize and the limited water solubility of this Booster. The efficacy of the designed formulations was evaluated in TB infected macrophages using an automated confocal high-content screening platform, showing that the drugs maintained their activity after incorporation in NPs. Among tested formulations, “green” β-cyclodextrin (pCD) based NPs displayed the best physico-chemical characteristics and were selected for in vivo studies. The NPs suspension, administered directly into mouse lungs using a Microsprayer®, was proved to be well-tolerated and led to a 3-log decrease of the pulmonary mycobacterial load after 6 administrations as compared to untreated mice. This study paves the way for a future use of pCD NPs for the pulmonary delivery of the [ETH:Booster] pair in TB chemotherapy.
Doping-induced carrier profiles in organic semiconductors determined from capacitive extraction-current transients
Authors: Nyman Mathias , Sandberg Oskar J. , Dahlström Staffan , Spoltore Donato , Körner Christian , Zhang Yadong , Barlow Stephen , Marder Seth R. , Leo Karl , Vandewal Koen , Österbacka Ronald 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA method to determine the doping induced charge carrier profiles in lightly and moderately doped organic semiconductor thin films is presented. The theory of the method of Charge Extraction by a Linearly Increasing Voltage technique in the doping-induced capacitive regime (doping-CELIV) is extended to the case with non-uniform doping profiles and the analytical description is verified with drift-diffusion simulations. The method is demonstrated experimentally on evaporated organic small-molecule thin films with a controlled doping profile, and solution-processed thin films where the non-uniform doping profile is unintentional, probably induced during the deposition process, and a priori unknown. Furthermore, the method offers a possibility of directly probing charge-density distributions at interfaces between highly doped and lightly doped or undoped layers.
Non-ketogenic combination of nutritional strategies provides robust protection against seizures
Authors: Dallérac Glenn , Moulard Julien , Benoist Jean-François , Rouach Stefan , Auvin Stéphane , Guilbot Angèle , Lenoir Loïc , Rouach Nathalie 
Published: July 2017

AbstractEpilepsy is a neurological condition that affects 1% of the world population. Conventional treatments of epilepsy use drugs targeting neuronal excitability, inhibitory or excitatory transmission. Yet, one third of patients presents an intractable form of epilepsy and fails to respond to pharmacological anti-epileptic strategies. The ketogenic diet is a well-established non-pharmacological treatment that has been proven to be effective in reducing seizure frequency in the pharmaco-resistant patients. This dietary solution is however extremely restrictive and can be associated with complications caused by the high [fat]:[carbohydrate + protein] ratio. Recent advances suggest that the traditional 4:1 ratio of the ketogenic diet is not a requisite for its therapeutic effect. We show here that combining nutritional strategies targeting specific amino-acids, carbohydrates and fatty acids with a low [fat]:[proteins + carbohydrates] ratio also reduces excitatory drive and protects against seizures to the same extent as the ketogenic diet. Similarly, the morphological and molecular correlates of temporal lobe seizures were reduced in animals fed with the combined diet. These results provide evidence that low-fat dietary strategies more palatable than the ketogenic diet could be useful in epilepsy.
miRNAs in the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are not phylogenetically conserved and play a limited role in responses to nutrient deprivation
Authors: Voshall Adam , Kim Eun-Jeong , Ma Xinrong , Yamasaki Tomohito , Moriyama Etsuko N. , Cerutti Heriberto 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains many types of small RNAs (sRNAs) but the biological role(s) of bona fide microRNAs (miRNAs) remains unclear. To address their possible function(s) in responses to nutrient availability, we examined miRNA expression in cells cultured under different trophic conditions (mixotrophic in the presence of acetate or photoautotrophic in the presence or absence of nitrogen). We also reanalyzed miRNA expression data in Chlamydomonas subject to sulfur or phosphate deprivation. Several miRNAs were differentially expressed under the various trophic conditions. However, in transcriptome analyses, the majority of their predicted targets did not show expected changes in transcript abundance, suggesting that they are not subject to miRNA-mediated RNA degradation. Mutant strains, defective in sRNAs or in ARGONAUTE3 (a key component of sRNA-mediated gene silencing), did not display major phenotypic defects when grown under multiple nutritional regimes. Additionally, Chlamydomonas miRNAs were not conserved, even in algae of the closely related Volvocaceae family, and many showed features resembling those of recently evolved, species-specific miRNAs in the genus Arabidopsis. Our results suggest that, in C. reinhardtii, miRNAs might be subject to relatively fast evolution and have only a minor, largely modulatory role in gene regulation under diverse trophic states.
Takotsubo Syndrome – Predictable from brain imaging data
Authors: Klein Carina , Hiestand Thierry , Ghadri Jelena-Rima , Templin Christian , Jäncke Lutz , Hänggi Jürgen 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTakotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by acute left ventricular dysfunction, with a hospital-mortality rate similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the aetiology of TTS is still unknown. In the present study, a multivariate pattern analysis using machine learning with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of the human brain of TTS patients and age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects was performed. We found consistent structural and functional alterations in TTS patients compared to the control group. In particular, anatomical and neurophysiological measures from brain regions constituting the emotional-autonomic control system contributed to a prediction accuracy of more than 82%. Thus, our findings demonstrate homogeneous neuronal alterations in TTS patients and substantiate the importance of the concept of a brain-heart interaction in TTS.
Dietary geranylgeraniol can limit the activity of pitavastatin as a potential treatment for drug-resistant ovarian cancer
Authors: de Wolf Elizabeth , Abdullah Marwan Ibrahim , Jones Stefanie M. , Menezes Karen , Moss Darren M. , Drijfhout Falko P. , Hart Sarah R. , Hoskins Clare , Stronach Euan A. , Richardson Alan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPre-clinical and retrospective studies of patients using statins to reduce plasma cholesterol have suggested that statins may be useful to treat cancer. However, prospective clinical trials have yet to demonstrate significant efficacy. We have previously shown that this is in part because a hydrophobic statin with a long half-life is necessary. Pitavastatin, the only statin with this profile, has not undergone clinical evaluation in oncology. The target of pitavastatin, hydroxymethylglutarate coenzyme-A reductase (HMGCR), was found to be over-expressed in all ovarian cancer cell lines examined and upregulated by mutated TP53, a gene commonly altered in ovarian cancer. Pitavastatin-induced apoptosis was blocked by geranylgeraniol and mevalonate, products of the HMGCR pathway, confirming that pitavastatin causes cell death through inhibition of HMGCR. Solvent extracts of human and mouse food were also able to block pitavastatin-induced apoptosis, suggesting diet might influence the outcome of clinical trials. When nude mice were maintained on a diet lacking geranylgeraniol, oral pitavastatin caused regression of Ovcar-4 tumour xenografts. However, when the animal diet was supplemented with geranylgeraniol, pitavastatin failed to prevent tumour growth. This suggests that a diet containing geranylgeraniol can limit the anti-tumour activity of pitavastatin and diet should be controlled in clinical trials of statins.
Electric field control of magnetization direction across the antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition
Authors: Zheng Guohui , Ke San-Huang , Miao Maosheng , Kim Jinwoong , Ramesh R. , Kioussis Nicholas 
Published: July 2017

AbstractElectric-field-induced magnetic switching can lead to a new paradigm of ultra-low power nonvolatile magnetoelectric random access memory (MeRAM). To date the realization of MeRAM relies primarily on ferromagnetic (FM) based heterostructures which exhibit low voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) efficiency. On the other hand, manipulation of magnetism in antiferromagnetic (AFM) based nanojunctions by purely electric field means (rather than E-field induced strain) remains unexplored thus far. Ab initio electronic structure calculations reveal that the VCMA of ultrathin FeRh/MgO bilayers exhibits distinct linear or nonlinear behavior across the AFM to FM metamagnetic transition depending on the Fe- or Rh-interface termination. We predict that the AFM Fe-terminated phase undergoes an E-field magnetization switching with large VCMA efficiency and a spin reorientation across the metamagnetic transition. In sharp contrast, while the Rh-terminated interface exhibits large out-of-plane (in-plane) MA in the FM (AFM) phase, its magnetization is more rigid to external E-field. These findings demonstrate that manipulation of the AFM Néel-order magnetization direction via purely E-field means can pave the way toward ultra-low energy AFM-based MeRAM devices.
Gene Network Dysregulation in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Neurons of Humans with Cocaine Use Disorder
Authors: Ribeiro Efrain A. , Scarpa Joseph R. , Garamszegi Susanna P. , Kasarskis Andrew , Mash Deborah C. , Nestler Eric J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMetabolic and functional alterations of neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are thought to contribute to impulsivity, which is a hallmark of addictive behaviors that underlie compulsive drug seeking and taking in humans. To determine if there is a transcriptional signature in dlPFC neurons of humans with cocaine use disorder, we performed total RNA-sequencing on neuronal nuclei isolated from post-mortem dlPFC of cocaine addicts and healthy controls. Our results point toward a transcriptional mechanism whereby cocaine alters specific gene networks in dlPFC neurons. In particular, we identified an AP-1 regulated transcriptional network in dlPFC neurons associated with cocaine use disorder that contains several differentially expressed hub genes. Several of these hub genes are GWAS hits for traits that might involve dysfunction of brain reward circuitry (Body-Mass Index, Obesity) or dlPFC (Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia). Further study is warranted to determine their potential pathophysiological role in cocaine addiction.
Influence of biochar and nitrogen on fine root morphology, physiology, and chemistry of Acer mono
Authors: Razaq Muhammad , Salahuddin  , Shen Hai-long , Sher Hassan , Zhang Peng 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFine roots play an important role in the overall functions of individual plants. Previous studies showed that fertilization and available soil resources have a notably profound effect on fine root, but there is lack of study centered on how fine root morphology, physiology, and chemistry respond to biochar with N additions. Different levels of biochar (0, 10, 15, and 20 g) and N (0, 2, 4 and 6 g) were applied to Acer mono seedling plants in a field nursery. The root system morphology and root chemistry and physiology were evaluated in line with root length, root diameter, SRL, N and N: C and root respiration. Biochar and N significantly affected root morphology, chemistry and root respiration. Morphological, chemical and physiological parameters were found to be at their maximum with 20 g biochar and 6 g N; however, no significant effect was noted on fourth- and fifth-order roots. Furthermore, a significant increase in root respiration was recognized with the increase in root tissue N concentration and the negative relationship of root respiration with higher branch order. Thus, overall, study parameters indicate that biochar and nitrogen positively influence the Acer mono fine root, and therefore should be used to improve fine root health.