bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of tolerance to gut immunity protein, glycoprotein 2 (GP2) is associated with progressive disease course in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Tornai Tamas , Tornai David , Sipeki Nora , Tornai Istvan , Alsulaimani Rayan , Fechner Kai , Roggenbuck Dirk , Norman Gary L. , Veres Gabor , Par Gabriella , Par Alajos , Szalay Ferenc , Lakatos Peter Laszlo , Antal-Szalmas Peter , Papp Maria 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGlycoprotein 2[GP2] is a specific target of pancreatic autoantibodies[PAbs] in Crohn’s disease(CD) and is involved in gut innate immunity processes. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic potential of PAbs in primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC). Sixty-five PSC patients were tested for PAbs by indirect immunofluorescence and compared with healthy (n = 100) and chronic liver disease controls(CLD, n = 488). Additionally, a panel of anti-microbial antibodies and secretory (s)IgA levels were measured, as markers of bacterial translocation and immune dysregulation. PAbs were more frequent in PSC(46.2%) compared to controls(healthy:0% and CLD:4.5%), [P < 0.001, for each]. Occurrence of anti-GP2 antibody was 30.8% (20/65) and was exclusively of IgA isotype. Anti-GP2 IgA positive patients had higher sIgA levels (P = 0.021). With flow-cytometry, 68.4% (13/19) of anti-GP2 IgA antibodies were bound with secretory component, suggesting an active retro-transportation of anti-GP2 from the gut lumen to the mucosa. Anti-GP2 IgA was associated with shorter transplant-free survival [PLogRank < 0.01] during the prospective follow-up (median, IQR: 87 [9–99] months) and remained an independent predictor after adjusting for Mayo risk score(HR: 4.69 [1.05–21.04], P = 0.043). These results highlight the significance of gut-liver interactions in PSC. Anti-GP2 IgA might be a valuable tool for risk stratification in PSC and considered as a potential therapeutic target.
Flavin Reductase Contributes to Pneumococcal Virulence by Protecting from Oxidative Stress and Mediating Adhesion and Elicits Protection Against Pneumococcal Challenge
Authors: Morozov Giora I. , Porat Nurith , Kushnir Tatyana , Najmuldeen Hastyar , Adawi Asad , Chalifa-Caspi Vered , Benisty Rachel , Ohayon Ariel , Liron Ofir , Azriel Shalhevet , Malka Itai , Dotan Shahar , Portnoi Maxim , Piotrowski Andrew A. , Kafka Daniel , Hajaj Barak , Fishilevich Tali , Shagan Marilou , Tal Michael , Ellis Ron , Morrison Donald A. , Mitchell Andrea M. , Mitchell Timothy J. , Dagan Ron , Yesilkaya Hasan , Nebenzahl Yaffa Mizrachi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPneumococcal flavin reductase (FlaR) is known to be cell-wall associated and possess age dependent antigenicity in children. This study aimed at characterizing FlaR and elucidating its involvement in pneumococcal physiology and virulence. Bioinformatic analysis of FlaR sequence identified three-conserved cysteine residues, suggesting a transition metal-binding capacity. Recombinant FlaR (rFlaR) bound Fe2+and exhibited FAD-dependent NADP-reductase activity, which increased in the presence of cysteine or excess Fe2+and inhibited by divalent-chelating agents.flaR mutant was highly susceptible to H2O2compared to its wild type (WT) and complemented strains, suggesting a role for FlaR in pneumococcal oxidative stress resistance. Additionally,flaR mutant demonstrated significantly decreased mice mortality following intraperitoneal infection. Interestingly, lack of FlaR did not affect the extent of phagocytosis by primary mouse peritoneal macrophages but reduced adhesion to A549 cells compared to the WT and complemented strains. Noteworthy are the findings that immunization with rFlaR elicited protection in mice against intraperitoneal lethal challenge and anti-FlaR antisera neutralized bacterial virulence. Taken together, FlaR’s roles in pneumococcal physiology and virulence, combined with its lack of significant homology to human proteins, point towards rFlaR as a vaccine candidate.
Six domoic acid related compounds from the red alga, Chondria armata, and domoic acid biosynthesis by the diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries
Authors: Maeno Yukari , Kotaki Yuichi , Terada Ryuta , Cho Yuko , Konoki Keiichi , Yotsu-Yamashita Mari 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDomoic acid (DA, 1), a potent neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning, has been found in diatoms and red algae. While biosynthetic pathway towards DA from geranyl diphosphate and l-glutamate has been previously proposed, its late stage is still unclear. Here, six novel DA related compounds, 7′-methyl-isodomoic acid A (2) and B (3), N-geranyl-l-glutamic acid (4), 7′-hydroxymethyl-isodomoic acid A (5) and B (6), and N-geranyl-3(R)-hydroxy-l-glutamic acid (7), were isolated from the red alga, Chondria armata, and their structures were determined. The compounds 4 and 7, linear compounds, are predictable as the precursors to form the DA pyrrolidine ring. The compounds 2 and 3 are thought as the cyclized products of 7; therefore, dehydration and electron transfer from the internal olefin of 7 is a possible mechanism for the pyrrolidine ring formation. One terminal methyl group of the side chain of 2 and 3 is predicted to be oxidized to hydroxymethyl (5, 6), and then to carboxylic acids, forming isodomoic acids A and B. Finally, the terminal olefin of isodomoic acid A would be isomerized to form DA. In addition, [15N, D]-labeled 4 was incorporated into DA using the diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries, demonstrating that 4 is the genuine precursor of DA.
Quantification of silver nanoparticle toxicity to algae in soil via photosynthetic and flow-cytometric analyses
Authors: Nam Sun-Hwa , Il Kwak Jin , An Youn-Joo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSoil algae, which have received attention for their use in a novel bioassay to evaluate soil toxicity, expand the range of terrestrial test species. However, there is no information regarding the toxicity of nanomaterials to soil algae. Thus, we evaluated the effects of silver nanoparticles (0–50 mg AgNPs/kg dry weight soil) on the soil alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii after six days, and assessed changes in biomass, photosynthetic activity, cellular morphology, membrane permeability, esterase activity, and oxidative stress. The parameters measured were markedly affected by AgNP-induced stress at 50 mg AgNPs/kg dry weight soil, where soil algal biomass, three measures of photosynthetic activity (area, reaction center per absorption flux, and reaction center per trapped energy flux), and esterase activity decreased. AgNPs also induced increases in both cell size and membrane permeability at 50 mg AgNPs/kg dry weight soil. In addition to the increase in cell size observed via microscopy, a mucilaginous sheath formed as a protective barrier against AgNPs. Thus, the toxicity of AgNPs can be effectively quantified based on the physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses of soil algae, where quantifying the level of toxicity of AgNPs to soil algae could prove to be a useful method in terrestrial ecotoxicology.
Selective 6H-SiC White Light Emission by Picosecond Laser Direct Writing
Authors: Wang Sicong , Ji Lingfei , Li Lin , Wu Yan , Zhang Yongzhe , Lin Zhenyuan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDisplaying a full or tuneable emission spectrum with highly efficient is significant for luminescent materials used in solid-state lighting. Silicon carbide (SiC) has potential for use in photoelectric devices that operate under extreme conditions. In this paper, we present a method to selectively modify the photoluminescence (PL) properties of SiC by ultrafast laser direct writing. Based on this method, visible white PL could be observed by the naked eye at room temperature under ultraviolet excitation. By increasing the laser power intensity from 40 to 80 MW/cm2, the PL of the irradiated samples increased and pure white sunlight-like emission with controlled colour temperature was realised. The optimised laser power intensity of 65 MW/cm2 achieved a desirable colour temperature similar to that of sunlight (x = 0.33, y = 0.33 and colour temperature of 5500 K) and suppressed blue emission. By direct laser irradiation along designed scanning path, a large-scale and arbitrary pattern white emission was fabricated. The origin of the white luminescence was a mixture of multiple luminescent transitions of oxygen-related centres that turned the Si-C system into silicon oxycarbide. This work sheds light on new luminescent materials and a preparation technique for next-generation lighting devices.
Effects of slit width on water permeation through graphene membrane by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Yamada Taro , Matsuzaki Ryosuke 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGraphene membranes can be used for nanoscale filtration to remove atoms and are expected to be used for separation. To realize high-permeability and high-filtration performance, we must understand the flow configuration in the nanochannels. In this study, we investigated the applicability of continuum-dynamics laws to water flow through a graphene slit. We calculated the permeability of the flow through a slit using classical molecular dynamics (MD) and compared the MD simulation results for different Knudsen numbers (Kn) to predictions based on the no-slip model and slip model. Consequently, the flow through the graphene nanoslit was treated as slip flow only in the range of Kn < 0.375. This study provides guidelines for the development of graphene filtration membranes.
Distribution analysis of epertinib in brain metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancer by imaging mass spectrometry and prospect for antitumor activity
Authors: Tanaka Yukari , Hirata Michinari , Shinonome Satomi , Torii Mikinori , Nezasa Ken-ichi , Tanaka Hidekazu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEpertinib (S-222611) is a potent, reversible, and selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human EGFR2 (HER2), and human EGFR4. We developed experimental brain metastasis models by intraventricular injection (intraventricular injection mouse model; IVM) of HER2-positive breast cancer (MDA-MB-361-luc-BR2/BR3) or T790M-EGFR-positive lung cancer (NCI-H1975-luc) cells. After a single oral administration, epertinib and lapatinib concentrations in brain metastatic regions were analyzed by quantitative imaging mass spectrometry. In the NCI-H1975 lung cancer IVM, the concentration of epertinib in brain metastasis was comparable to that of lapatinib. However, in the MDA-MB-361 breast cancer IVM, the concentration of epertinib in brain metastasis was >10 times higher than that of lapatinib. Furthermore, the epertinib tumor-to-normal brain ratio was ~4 times higher than that of lapatinib. Blood-tumor barrier (BTB) permeability was assessed in each brain metastatic region. In the lung cancer model, fluorescently labeled dextran was more highly detected in brain metastatic regions than in brain parenchyma. However, in breast cancer models, dextran fluorescence intensity in brain metastatic regions and brain parenchyma were comparable, suggesting that the BTB remained largely intact. Epertinib would be promised as a therapeutic agent for HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastasis.
Trends and Patterns of Cancer Mortality in North China (Hebei Province), 1973–2013
Authors: Liang Di , Li Daojuan , Liu Jianghui , Jin Jing , Shi Jin , Shan Baoen , He Yutong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLittle was known about the cancer burden for the last 40 years in middle-income province in China. This study aimed to assess the overall, cause-specific mortality cancer trend and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) between 1973–1975 and 2011–2013 in North China (Hebei Province). The collected data were stratified by 5-year age groups, gender and different types of cancer. We found that mortality from cancer showed an upward trend in the 1973–2013. The mortality rate of 0–79 year-old in 2011–2013 was lower than that in other periods. It was about two times higher for the 80+ age group than it was in 1973–1975. The cancer pattern in 4 periods presented differently. Esophagus cancer ranked the first in 1973–1975, whereas in 2011–2013, the most common cancer was lung cancer. DALYs also showed an increasing cancer burden in Hebei Province. This study is the first to analyze cancer burden for the last 40 years in a middle-income province. It could provide a baseline for assessment of effectiveness of cancer prevention and control. Esophagus cancer had a significant declining trend because of endoscopy screening program. Enhancing screening programs in those aged 40–69 year-old is necessary for reducing the cancer burden.
Tyrosinase-based TLC Autography for anti-melanogenic drug screening
Authors: Hsu Kai-Di , Chan Yu-Hin , Chen Hong-Jhang , Lin Shi-Ping , Cheng Kuan-Chen 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTyrosinase-based TLC (thin layer chromatography) was developed for screening of anti-melanogenic drugs. In particular, this technique enables researchers to identify melanogenic inhibitor(s) in tested mixtures with the naked eye. In comparison with traditional colorimetric screening assays for tyrosinase inhibitor(s), not only is tyrosinase-based TLC a more cost-effective option (nearly one-tenth the enzyme cost of colorimetric methods) but also is a more sensitive detection approach for kojic acid (KA), a standard anti-melanogenic drug. The detection limit of tyrosinase-based TLC and colorimetric tyrosinase assay for KA was 0.0125 and 1.25 μg, respectively, demonstrating that the former was 100-fold more sensitive than the latter to determine the tyrosinase inhibitory rate of KA. Furthermore, the results of this method have demonstrated excellent precision by Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (Gage R&R), with the variation of total Gage R&R being 28.24%. To verify the applicability of tyrosinase-based TLC, this platform was employed to screen melanogenic inhibitor(s) from Ganoderma formosanum extracts and two of all fractions (GFE-EA F4, F5) obtained showed depigmenting activity. It is noteworthy that these two fractions also exerted anti-melanogenesis activity on zebrafish, therefore verifying the credibility of tyrosinase-based TLC. In sum, this technique provides new insight into the discovery of novel melanogenic inhibitor(s).
Responses in shoot elongation, carbohydrate utilization and growth recovery of an invasive species to submergence at different water temperatures
Authors: Ye Xiao qi , Zeng Bo , Meng Jin liu , Wu Ming , Zhang Xiao ping 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWidely distributed amphibious exotic plant species may respond plastically to water temperatures when submerged. Alternanthera philoxeroides, a highly flood-tolerant species, originates from tropical regions and has successfully invaded temperate regions. The wide distribution of this species suggests it can respond to flooding at different water temperatures. In this study, the plastic responses of A. philoxeroides plants to submergence at water temperatures of 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C were investigated. The A. philoxeroides plants had large pools of non-structural carbohydrates, which were readily mobilized upon submergence. Submergence hindered biomass accumulation and decreased the carbohydrate content level and respiration rate (P < 0.05). Water temperature had remarkable effects on shoot elongation, carbohydrate utilization and recovery growth. With decreasing water temperature, the respiration rate was lower and carbohydrate content decreased more slowly, but the post-submergence biomass accumulation was faster (P < 0.05), indicating a beneficial effect of low water temperature for recovery. However, high water temperatures accelerated shoot elongation (P < 0.05), which benefitted the submerged plants more if contact with air was restored. These results suggest that the species can respond to different water temperatures plastically, which may provide hints for its invasion success in regions with diverse climates.
Evidence for energetic tradeoffs between physical activity and childhood growth across the nutritional transition
Authors: Urlacher Samuel S. , Kramer Karen L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDespite broad implications for understanding human life history, energetics, and health, the impact of physical activity on childhood growth remains unclear. Particularly understudied is the effect of secular changes in physical activity on child development. We address these shortcomings using data spanning the transition from traditional to semi-developed economy among Yucatec Maya agriculturalists. Anthropometric and behavioral observation data were collected from children living in a subsistence-based rural community in 1992 and again in 2012 following the introduction of a school and mechanized technologies but minimal overt dietary change. Multiple regression analyses demonstrate dramatic twenty-year transformations in how children spent their time. This behavioral change was associated with large declines in estimated physical activity level (PAL), associated activity energy expenditure savings of several hundred kilocalories/day, and sizable increases in mean height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness. Controlling for observed frequency of market food consumption, PAL was inversely related to child body size and subcutaneous fat stores and significantly mediated the effects of data collection year on anthropometric indices. These findings indicate that physical activity can considerably influence childhood growth, highlighting the role of energy allocation tradeoffs between physical activity and competing life tasks in shaping patterns of human ontogeny and health.
Formation of Two-dimensional Electron Gas at Amorphous/Crystalline Oxide Interfaces
Authors: Li ChengJian , Hong YanPeng , Xue HongXia , Wang XinXin , Li Yongchun , Liu Kejian , Jiang Weimin , Liu Mingrui , He Lin , Dou RuiFen , Xiong ChangMin , Nie JiaCai 
Published: January 2018

AbstractExperimentally, we found the percentage of low valence cations, the ionization energy of cations in film, and the band gap of substrates to be decisive for the formation of two-dimensional electron gas at the interface of amorphous/crystalline oxide (a-2DEG). Considering these findings, we inferred that the charge transfer from the film to the interface should be the main mechanism of a-2DEG formation. This charge transfer is induced by oxygen defects in film and can be eliminated by the electron-absorbing process of cations in the film. Based on this, we propose a simple dipole model that successfully explains the origin of a-2DEG, our experimental findings, and some important properties of a-2DEG.
Increased heart rate after exercise facilitates the processing of fearful but not disgusted faces
Authors: Pezzulo G. , Iodice P. , Barca L. , Chausse P. , Monceau S. , Mermillod M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEmbodied theories of emotion assume that emotional processing is grounded in bodily and affective processes. Accordingly, the perception of an emotion re-enacts congruent sensory and affective states; and conversely, bodily states congruent with a specific emotion facilitate emotional processing. This study tests whether the ability to process facial expressions (faces having a neutral expression, expressing fear, or disgust) can be influenced by making the participants’ body state congruent with the expressed emotion (e.g., high heart rate in the case of faces expressing fear). We designed a task requiring participants to categorize pictures of male and female faces that either had a neutral expression (neutral), or expressed emotions whose linkage with high heart rate is strong (fear) or significantly weaker or absent (disgust). Critically, participants were tested in two conditions: with experimentally induced high heart rate (Exercise) and with normal heart rate (Normal). Participants processed fearful faces (but not disgusted or neutral faces) faster when they were in the Exercise condition than in the Normal condition. These results support the idea that an emotionally congruent body state facilitates the automatic processing of emotionally-charged stimuli and this effect is emotion-specific rather than due to generic factors such as arousal.
Defocus and magnification dependent variation of TEM image astigmatism
Authors: Yan Rui , Li Kunpeng , Jiang Wen 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDaily alignment of the microscope is a prerequisite to reaching optimal lens conditions for high resolution imaging in cryo-EM. In this study, we have investigated how image astigmatism varies with the imaging conditions (e.g. defocus, magnification). We have found that the large change of defocus/magnification between visual correction of astigmatism and subsequent data collection tasks, or during data collection, will inevitably result in undesirable astigmatism in the final images. The dependence of astigmatism on the imaging conditions varies significantly from time to time, so that it cannot be reliably compensated by pre-calibration of the microscope. Based on these findings, we recommend that the same magnification and the median defocus of the intended defocus range for final data collection are used in the objective lens astigmatism correction task during microscope alignment and in the focus mode of the iterative low-dose imaging. It is also desirable to develop a fast, accurate method that can perform dynamic correction of the astigmatism for different intended defocuses during automated imaging. Our findings also suggest that the slope of astigmatism changes caused by varying defocuses can be used as a convenient measurement of objective lens rotation symmetry and potentially an acceptance test of new electron microscopes.
A dual layer broadband radar absorber to minimize electromagnetic interference in radomes
Authors: Beeharry Thtreswar , Yahiaoui Riad , Selemani Kamardine , Ouslimani Habiba Hafdallah 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA thin broadband dual-layer radar absorber based on periodic Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) to tackle Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) in radomes is presented in this article. The proposed structure consists of periodically arranged metallic patterns printed on two dielectric substrates separated by an optimized air gap. Under normal incidence, the proposed structure exhibits at least 89.7% of absorption in the whole band of 4.8 GHz to 11.1 GHz for both Transverse Electric (TE) and Magnetic (TM) polarizations. For oblique incidences, a very slight decrease in the bandwidth is observed in the upper frequency band until 30° and the absorption remains very interesting for higher incidences. The structure is λ/7.2 (λ is the wavelength in free space) thin compared to the center frequency (8.2 GHz). In addition, parametric studies have demonstrated that at least 90% of absorption can be produced with our structure by adjusting the thicknesses of the dielectric substrates. Another issue that is presented and discussed in this paper is a new approach for evaluating the performance of absorbers. In fact, studies show that the absorber can compete with other recent broadband absorbers. After fabricating the structure, the measurements were found to be in good agreement with the simulation results.