bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gut Microbiota Interacts with Markers of Adipose Tissue Browning, Insulin Action and Plasma Acetate in Morbid Obesity
Authors: Moreno‐Navarrete José María , Serino Matteo , Blasco‐Baque Vincent , Azalbert Vincent , Barton Richard H. , Cardellini Marina , Latorre Jèssica , Ortega Francisco , Sabater‐Masdeu Mònica , Burcelin Rémy , Dumas Marc‐Emmanuel , Ricart Wifredo , Federici Massimo , Fernández‐Real José Manuel 
Published: November 2017

ScopeTo examine the potential relationship among gene expression markers of adipose tissue browning, gut microbiota, and insulin sensitivity in humans.Methods and resultsGut microbiota composition and gene markers of browning are analyzed in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue from morbidly obese subjects (n = 34). Plasma acetate is measured through 1H NMR and insulin sensitivity using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Subjects with insulin resistance show an increase in the relative abundance (RA) of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria while RA of Firmicutes is decreased. In all subjects, Firmicutes RA is negatively correlated with HbA1c and fasting triglycerides, whereas Proteobacteria RA was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity. Firmicutes RA is positively associated with markers of brown adipocytes (PRDM16, UCP1, and DIO2) in SAT, but not in VAT. Multivariate regression analysis indicates that Firmicutes RA contributes significantly to SAT PRDM16, UCP1, and DIO2 mRNA variance after controlling for age, BMI, HbA1c, or insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, Firmicutes RA, specifically those bacteria belonging to the Ruminococcaceae family, is positively associated with plasma acetate levels, which are also linked to SAT PRDM16 mRNA and insulin sensitivity.ConclusionGut microbiota composition is linked to adipose tissue browning and insulin action in morbidly obese subjects, possibly through circulating acetate.
Non‐motor manifestations in ALS patients with tracheostomy and invasive ventilation
Authors: Nakayama Yuki , Shimizu Toshio , Matsuda Chiharu , Haraguchi Michiko , Hayashi Kentaro , Mochizuki Yoko , Nagao Masahiro , Kawata Akihiro , Isozaki Eiji 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionThis study aimed to investigate non‐motor manifestations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with tracheostomy and invasive ventilation (TIV) and their relevance to disease progression.MethodsSixty‐seven ALS patients with TIV were enrolled, and followed‐up prospectively. The patients were classified at the final evaluation into two subgroups according to the duration of TIV use or disease stage measured by communication impairment. We identified non‐motor manifestations and investigated their frequencies and differences across the stages.ResultsThe non‐motor manifestations were macroglossia (22.4%), unstable blood pressure (38.8%), hypothermia (26.9%), dysuria (50.7%), and hyperglycemia (12.1%). These manifestations occurred significantly more frequently in patients with TIV ≥5 years than in patients with TIV <5 years, and more in patients with severe communication impairment than in those with preserved communication ability.DiscussionNon‐motor manifestations are observed at a high rate in ALS patients with TIV, and are possibly related to disease progression. Muscle Nerve 57: 735–741, 2018
Influence of seismic motions on behavior of piles in liquefied soils
Authors: Chatterjee Kaustav , Choudhury Deepankar 
Published: November 2017

SummaryIn the present study an analytical procedure based on finite element technique is proposed to investigate the influence of vertical load on deflection and bending moment of a laterally loaded pile embedded in liquefiable soil, subjected to permanent ground displacement. The degradation of subgrade modulus due to soil liquefaction and effect of nonlinearity are also considered. A free headed vertical concrete elastic nonyielding pile with a floating tip subjected to vertical compressive loading, lateral load, and permanent ground displacement due to earthquake motions, in liquefiable soil underlain by nonliquefiable stratum, is considered. The input seismic motions, having varying range of ground motion parameters, considered here include 1989 Loma Gilroy, 1995 Kobe, 2001 Bhuj, and 2011 Sikkim motions. It is calculated that maximum bending moment occurred at the interface of liquefiable and nonliquefiable soil layers and when thickness of liquefiable soil layer is around 60% of total pile length. Maximum bending moment of 1210 kNm and pile head deflection of 110 cm is observed because of 1995 Kobe motion, while 2001 Bhuj and 2011 Sikkim motions amplify the pile head deflection by 14.2 and 14.4 times and bending moment approximately by 4 times, when compared to nonliquefiable soil. Further, the presence of inertial load at the pile head increases bending moment and deflection by approximately 52% when subjected to 1995 Kobe motion. Thus, it is necessary to have a proper assessment of both kinematic and inertial interactions due to free field seismic motions and vertical loads for evaluating pile response in liquefiable soil.
Differentiating the histologic grades of gliomas preoperatively using amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion MRI
Authors: Zou Tianyu , Yu Hao , Jiang Chunxiu , Wang Xianlong , Jiang Shanshan , Rui Qihong , Mei Yingjie , Zhou Jinyuan , Wen Zhibo 
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this work was to investigate the diagnostic performance of amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative grading of gliomas. Fifty‐one patients with suspected gliomas were recruited and underwent a preoperative MRI examination that included APTW and IVIM sequences. All cases were confirmed by postsurgical histopathology. APTW signal intensity, true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f) and pseudo‐diffusion coefficient (D*) were applied to assess the solid tumor component and contralateral normal‐appearing white matter. The relative APTW signal intensity (rAPTW) was also used. Independent‐sample and paired‐sample t‐tests were used to compare differences in MRI parameters between low‐grade glioma (LGG) and high‐grade glioma (HGG) groups. The diagnostic performance was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. Twenty‐six patients were pathologically diagnosed with LGG and 25 were diagnosed with HGG. APTW, rAPTW and f values were significantly higher (all p < 0.001), whereas D values were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HGG group than in the LGG group. There was no significant difference between D* values for the two groups. rAPTW had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84.6%, followed by APTW, f, D and D*. The combined use of APTW and IVIM showed the best diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.986. In conclusion, APTW and IVIM, as two promising supplementary sequences for routine MRI, could be valuable in differentiating LGGs from HGGs.
Heterointerface recombination of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2‐based solar cells with different buffer layers
Authors: Chantana Jakapan , Kato Takuya , Sugimoto Hiroki , Minemoto Takashi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 solar cell is high conversion efficiency (η) thin‐film solar cell. One of the methods to further increase the η is to replace traditional CdS/ZnO buffer layers by more transparent materials to enhance carrier generation in spectral region from 330 to 550 nm. Cd0.75Zn0.25S/ZnO, thin CdS/ZnS(O,OH)/ZnO, and thin CdS/ZnS(O,OH)/Zn0.79Mg0.21O buffer layers are therefore developed to replace the traditional CdS/ZnO buffer layers in Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2‐based solar cells. ZnO, Zn0.79Mg0.21O, and ZnO:Al are prepared by sputtering method. Low‐surface carrier recombination, caused by low sputtering damage, is observed in the solar cells with CdS/ZnO or Cd0.75Zn0.25S/ZnO buffer layers, while the highest surface carrier recombination is presented in the solar cell with ZnS(O,OH)/ZnO buffer layer. Therefore, thin CdS/ZnS(O,OH)/ZnO or Zn0.79Mg0.21O buffer layers are applied in the solar cells to decrease surface recombination (reduced sputtering damage). Ultimately, conversion efficiencies of the solar cells with Cd0.75Zn0.25S/ZnO, thin CdS/ZnS(O,OH)/ZnO, and thin CdS/ZnS(O,OH)/Zn0.79Mg0.21O buffer layers are enhanced to 19.61, 18.60, and 18.81%, respectively, which are higher than that of 18.32% for the solar cell with the traditional CdS/ZnO buffer layers.
Progress in photovoltaic performance of organic/inorganic hybrid solar cell based on optimal resistive Si and solvent modified poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) junction
Authors: Seo Hyunwoong , Sakamoto Daisuke , Chou Hakutatsu , Itagaki Naho , Koga Kazunori , Shiratani Masaharu 
Published: November 2017

AbstractOrganic/inorganic hybrid solar cells have attracted much attention with simple fabrication and high performance because the combination of organic and inorganic materials compensates their disadvantages each other. This work tried to realize highly efficient hybrid solar cell based on crystalline Si and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) junction. Performance dependences on the resistivity of Si substrate and the thickness of PEDOT:PSS layers were analyzed. Photocurrent of hybrid solar cells strongly depended on Si substrate, while overall performance depended on total resistance of hybrid solar cells not Si substrate. The charge transfer of PEDOT:PSS layer was varied by its thickness, and the 30‐nm‐thick PEDOT:PSS layer showed the best characteristics of charge transfer. The conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS layer was finally improved by solvent treatment using acetonitrile. As a result, the photovoltaic performance was much enhanced, and it was defined by 0.56 V of VOC, 30.24 mA/cm2 of JSC, 0.68 of FF, and 11.52% of efficiency.
GLP‐1 Analogue, Exendin‐4, Modulates MAPKs Activity but not the Heat Shock Response in Human HepG2 Cells
Authors: Madhu Dhanya , Hammad Maha , Kavalakatt Sina , Khadir Abdelkrim , Tiss Ali 
Published: November 2017

PurposeGlucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogues reduce ER stress and inflammation in key metabolic organs, including the liver. However, their effects on heat shock response (HSR) and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we investigate whether the GLP‐1 analogue, exendin‐4, triggers the expression of HSR and increases MAPK activity under metabolic stress.Experimental designThe effects of exendin‐4 in the presence or absence of palmitic acid (PA; 400 μm) or glucose (30 mm) in the HepG2 liver cell line are assessed using Western blots, quantitative real‐time PCR, and label‐free proteomics.ResultsHeat shock proteins (HSP60, HSP72, HSP90, and GRP78) and other chaperones are not significantly affected by exendin‐4 under the conditions tested. In contrast, the presence of exendin‐4 alone increases the MAPK phosphorylation levels (JNK, ERK1/2, and p38). For short incubation periods, in the presence of PA or glucose, treatment with exendin‐4 exhibits limited effects but significantly attenuates MAPK phosphorylation after a 24‐h incubation. Interestingly, canonical signaling pathways, such as EIF2, ILK, PKA, and Rho, are modulated by exendin‐4.Conclusion and clinical relevanceIdentifying new pathways modulated by GLP‐1 analogues will provide further insights into their benefits beyond their currently recognized roles in glycemic control, such as MAPK activity, energy homeostasis, and body weight decrease.
A Mechanism of Hot‐spots Formation at the Crack Tip of Al‐PTFE under Quasi‐static Compression
Authors: Feng Bin , Li Yu‐chun , Hao Hong , Wang Huai‐xi , Hao Yi‐fei , Fang Xiang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGenerally, the Al‐PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is thought to be inert under quasi‐static or static loads. However, it was found that Al‐PTFE would initiate under quasi‐static compression after a specific heat treatment procedure and the opening fracture plays a crucial role in the initiation. A unique micrographic fracture pattern which showed unstable crack propagation and a ductile‐to‐brittle transition was observed at openning cracks by SEM. Combining the observed microstructure with the stress distribution at the path of crack propagation derived from numerical simulation, a mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of “hot‐spots” at the crack tip. The temperature rise at the crack tip was estimated to be at least 612 °C, which is high enough to ignite the Al‐PTFE composite.
Structural characterization of the catalytic γ and regulatory β subunits of phosphorylase kinase in the context of the hexadecameric enzyme complex
Authors: Rimmer Mary Ashley , Nadeau Owen W. , Artigues Antonio , Carlson Gerald M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn the tightly regulated glycogenolysis cascade, the breakdown of glycogen to glucose‐1‐phosphate, phosphorylase kinase (PhK) plays a key role in regulating the activity of glycogen phosphorylase. PhK is a 1.3 MDa hexadecamer, with four copies each of four different subunits (α, β, γ and δ), making the study of its structure challenging. Using hydrogen‐deuterium exchange, we have analyzed the regulatory β subunit and the catalytic γ subunit in the context of the intact non‐activated PhK complex to study the structure of these subunits and identify regions of surface exposure. Our data suggest that within the non‐activated complex the γ subunit assumes an activated conformation and are consistent with a previous docking model of the β subunit within the cryoelectron microscopy envelope of PhK.
Large‐scale automated function prediction of protein sequences and an experimental case study validation on PTEN transcript variants
Authors: Rifaioglu Ahmet Sureyya , Doğan Tunca , Saraç Ömer Sinan , Ersahin Tulin , Saidi Rabie , Atalay Mehmet Volkan , Martin Maria Jesus , Cetin‐Atalay Rengul 
Published: November 2017

AbstractRecent advances in computing power and machine learning empower functional annotation of protein sequences and their transcript variations. Here, we present an automated prediction system UniGOPred, for GO annotations and a database of GO term predictions for proteomes of several organisms in UniProt Knowledgebase (UniProtKB). UniGOPred provides function predictions for 514 molecular function (MF), 2909 biological process (BP), and 438 cellular component (CC) GO terms for each protein sequence. UniGOPred covers nearly the whole functionality spectrum in Gene Ontology system and it can predict both generic and specific GO terms. UniGOPred was run on CAFA2 challenge target protein sequences and it is categorized within the top 10 best performing methods for the molecular function category. In addition, the performance of UniGOPred is higher compared to the baseline BLAST classifier in all categories of GO. UniGOPred predictions are compared with UniProtKB/TrEMBL database annotations as well. Furthermore, the proposed tool's ability to predict negatively associated GO terms that defines the functions that a protein does not possess, is discussed. UniGOPred annotations were also validated by case studies on PTEN protein variants experimentally and on CHD8 protein variants with literature. UniGOPred protein functional annotation system is available as an open access tool at http://cansyl.metu.edu.tr/UniGOPred.html.
Tembotrione detoxification in 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor‐resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.)
Authors: Küpper Anita , Peter Falco , Zöllner Peter , Lorentz Lothar , Tranel Patrick J , Beffa Roland , Gaines Todd A 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDResistance to the 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)‐inhibiting herbicide tembotrione in an Amaranthus palmeri population from Nebraska (NER) has previously been confirmed to be attributable to enhanced metabolism. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the metabolites formed in Nebraska susceptible (NES) and resistant (NER) biotypes.RESULTSNER and NES formed the same metabolites. Tembotrione metabolism in NER differed from that in NES in that resistant plants showed faster 4‐hydroxylation followed by glycosylation. The T50 value (time for 50% production of the maximum 4‐hydroxylation product) was 4.9 and 11.9 h for NER and NES, respectively. This process is typically catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Metabolism differences between NER and NES were most prominent under 28 °C conditions and herbicide application at the four‐leaf stage.CONCLUSIONFurther research with the aim of identifying the gene or genes responsible for conferring metabolic resistance to HPPD inhibitors should focus on cytochrome P450s. Such research is important because non‐target‐site‐based resistance (NTSR) poses the threat of cross resistance to other chemical classes of HPPD inhibitors, other herbicide modes of action, or even unknown herbicides. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Correlative mass spectrometry imaging, applying time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization to a single tissue section
Authors: Desbenoit N. , Walch A. , Spengler B. , Brunelle A. , Römpp A. 
Published: November 2017

RationaleMass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for mapping the surface of a sample. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) and atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP‐MALDI) offer complementary capabilities. Here, we present a workflow to apply both techniques to a single tissue section and combine the resulting data for the example of human colon cancer tissue.MethodsFollowing cryo‐sectioning, images were acquired using the high spatial resolution (1 μm pixel size) provided by TOF‐SIMS. The same section was then coated with a para‐nitroaniline matrix and images were acquired using AP‐MALDI coupled to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer, offering high mass resolution, high mass accuracy and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) capabilities. Datasets provided by both mass spectrometers were converted into the open and vendor‐independent imzML file format and processed with the open‐source software MSiReader.ResultsThe TOF‐SIMS and AP‐MALDI mass spectra show strong signals of fatty acids, cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. We showed a high correlation between the fatty acid ions detected with TOF‐SIMS in negative ion mode and the phosphatidylcholine ions detected with AP‐MALDI in positive ion mode using a similar setting for visualization. Histological staining on the same section allowed the identification of the anatomical structures and their correlation with the ion images.ConclusionsThis multimodal approach using two MSI platforms shows an excellent complementarity for the localization and identification of lipids. The spatial resolution of both systems is at or close to cellular dimensions, and thus spatial correlation can only be obtained if the same tissue section is analyzed sequentially. Data processing based on imzML allows a real correlation of the imaging datasets provided by these two technologies and opens the way for a more complete molecular view of the anatomical structures of biological tissues.
Robust stabilization of fractional‐order plant with general interval uncertainties based on a graphical method
Authors: Zheng Shiqi , Li Wenjie 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThis paper concentrates on the robust stabilization of fractional‐order plant suffering from general interval uncertainties by using fractional‐order controllers. General interval uncertainties mean that the coefficients and orders of the denominator and nominator of the fractional‐order plant are all uncertain and lie in specified intervals. Two main contributions are presented, as follows. (i) Based on a graphical method, a necessary and sufficient criterion is proposed for the stabilization of the general interval fractional‐order plant. By adopting some well‐defined multivalue functions, the proposed method can explicitly construct the nonconvex boundary of the value set of the fractional system. (ii) Two alternative methods are presented to improve the computational efficiency of the stabilization test. Based on a newly developed redundancy elimination technique, the first method can avoid computing and plotting many segments, which are in the interior of the value set of the fractional system. The second method utilizes a novel convex polygon bounding approach. It can efficiently construct a convex polygon to bound the nonconvex value set of the general interval fractional system. Examples are followed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Casticin impairs cell growth and induces cell apoptosis via cell cycle arrest in human oral cancer SCC‐4 cells
Authors: Chou Guan‐Ling , Peng Shu‐Fen , Liao Ching‐Lung , Ho Heng‐Chien , Lu Kung‐Wen , Lien Jin‐Cherng , Fan Ming‐Jen , La Kuang‐Chi , Chung Jing‐Gung 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCasticin, a polymethoxyflavone, present in natural plants, has been shown to have biological activities including anti‐cancer activities. Herein, we investigated the anti‐oral cancer activity of casticin on SCC‐4 cells in vitro. Viable cells, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and Ca2+ production, levels of ΔΨm and caspase activity were measured by flow cytometric assay. Cell apoptosis associated protein expressions were examined by Western blotting and confocal laser microscopy. Results indicated that casticin induced cell morphological changes, DNA condensation and damage, decreased the total viable cells, induced G2/M phase arrest in SCC‐4 cells. Casticin promoted ROS and Ca2+ productions, decreases the levels of ΔΨm, promoted caspase‐3, ‐8, and ‐9 activities in SCC‐4 cells. Western blotting assay demonstrated that casticin affect protein level associated with G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Confocal laser microscopy also confirmed that casticin increased the translocation of AIF and cytochrome c in SCC‐4 cells. In conclusion, casticin decreased cell number through G2/M phase arrest and the induction of cell apoptosis through caspase‐ and mitochondria‐dependent pathways in SCC‐4 cells.
Estimating individual fitness in the wild using capture–recapture data
Authors: Gimenez Olivier , Gaillard Jean‐Michel 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe concept of Darwinian fitness is central in evolutionary ecology, and its estimation has motivated the development of several approaches. However, measuring individual fitness remains challenging in empirical case studies in the wild. Measuring fitness requires a continuous monitoring of individuals from birth to death, which is very difficult to get in part because individuals may or may not be controlled at each reproductive event and recovered at death. Imperfect detection hampers keeping track of mortality and reproductive events over the whole lifetime of individuals. We propose a new statistical approach to estimate individual fitness while accounting for imperfect detection. Based on hidden process modelling of longitudinal data on marked animals, we show that standard metrics to quantify fitness, namely lifetime reproductive success, individual growth rate and lifetime individual contribution to population growth, can be extended to cope with imperfect detection inherent to most monitoring programs in the wild. We illustrate our approach using data collected on individual roe deer in an intensively monitored population.