bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac surgery in adults with high-surgical complexity CHD: results of a network collaborative programme
Authors: Gilad Vered , Santoro Francesco , Ribera Elena , Calevo Maria G. , Cipriani Adriano , Pasquè Achille , Chierchia Sergio L. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundAdults with CHD often exhibit complex cardiac abnormalities, whose management requires specific clinical and surgical expertise. To enable easier access of these patients to highly specialised care, we implemented a collaborative programme that incorporates medical and surgical specialists belonging to both paediatric and adult cardiovascular institutions.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to review the experience gained and to analyse the surgical outcome of major cardiac surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients admitted for major cardiac surgery using our network between January, 2010 and December, 2013. Analysis of surgical outcome was performed in patients selected for major cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Early and late outcomes were evaluated.ResultsOut of a total of 433 inward patients, 86 were selected for surgery. The median age was 25.5 years, –64 patients (74.4%) had previously undergone heart surgery, and –55 patients (64%) had been subjected to at least one sternotomy. Abnormalities of the left ventricular and right ventricular outflow tract were the most frequent (37.2% and 30.2%, respectively), and despite high-surgical complexity only one death occurred (in-hospital mortality 1.1%). On a median follow-up time of 4 years no deaths and no heart-failure events have occurred; one patient underwent further cardiac surgery programmed at the time of discharge.ConclusionsLow mortality and morbidity rates can be obtained in high-surgical complexity adults with CHD populations when paediatric and adult cardiac specialists operate in the same multidisciplinary environment.
Asymptomatic atresia of the anomalous pulmonary vein in a patient with scimitar syndrome presenting in childhood
Authors: O’Byrne Michael L. , Cross Russell R. , Martin Gerard R. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAn asymptomatic 6-year-old boy with a history of right lung hypoplasia was referred for cardiology evaluation. Echocardiography demonstrated right pulmonary artery hypoplasia with flow reversal in that vessel. The right pulmonary veins were not visualised in the echocardiogram. Cardiac catheterisation confirmed the diagnosis of scimitar syndrome with a characteristic large vertical vein; however, the right pulmonary veins were found to be atretic with no connection to the heart with decompression through the azygos vein. In all, four systemic to pulmonary arterial collaterals were identified, supplying the right lung, which were occluded using embolization coils. This case demonstrates the potential for progressive stenosis and atresia of the so-called “scimitar vein” without previous surgical instrumentation, and that this can occur without haemodynamic embarrassment or development of pulmonary vascular disease.
Food appearances in children’s television programmes in Iceland
Authors: Olafsdottir Steingerdur , Berg Christina 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectiveExposure to advertisements cannot fully explain the associations between young children’s dietary intake and the time they spend in front of the television. It is therefore of importance to study television content other than advertisements in this aspect. The present study aimed to examine the nature and extent of verbal and visual appearances of foods and beverages in children’s television programmes on Icelandic public service television.DesignA total of 27 h of children’s programmes (domestic and internationally produced) were watched. All verbal and visual appearances of foods and beverages were coded, as well as the context in which the foods/beverages were discussed or appeared.SettingChildren’s programmes on Icelandic public service television.SubjectsTwo food groups were of special interest for their importance from a public health perspective: high-calorie and low-nutrient (HCLN) foods and fruits and vegetables (F&V). The χ2 test and logistic regression were performed to analyse if the occurrence of the two groups was associated with the context where foods/beverages appeared.ResultsOf the 125 different programmes, a food or beverage appeared in 86 %. Of the total food appearances (n 599), HCLN foods accounted for 26 % and F&V for 23 %. HCLN foods were presented as desirable by appearing more frequently with child characters (P<0·01) than F&V.ConclusionsPublic service television has the potential to improve the way food and eating is presented in children’s programmes, as young childhood is a critical period for founding healthy habits for later life.
White light emission from a single organic molecule with dual phosphorescence at room temperature
Authors: He Zikai , Zhao Weijun , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Peng Qian , Ma Huili , Liang Guodong , Shuai Zhigang , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe development of single molecule white light emitters is extremely challenging for pure phosphorescent metal-free system at room temperature. Here we report a single pure organic phosphor, namely 4-chlorobenzoyldibenzothiophene, emitting white room temperature phosphorescence with Commission Internationale de l’Éclair-age coordinates of (0.33, 0.35). Experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the white light emission is emerged from dual phosphorescence, which emit from the first and second excited triplet states. We also demonstrate the validity of the strategy to achieve metal-free pure phosphorescent single molecule white light emitters by intrasystem mixing dual room temperature phosphorescence arising from the low- and high-lying triplet states.
Convergent Akt activation drives acquired EGFR inhibitor resistance in lung cancer
Authors: Jacobsen Kirstine , Bertran-Alamillo Jordi , Molina Miguel Angel , Teixidó Cristina , Karachaliou Niki , Pedersen Martin Haar , Castellví Josep , Garzón Mónica , Codony-Servat Carles , Codony-Servat Jordi , Giménez-Capitán Ana , Drozdowskyj Ana , Viteri Santiago , Larsen Martin R. , Lassen Ulrik , Felip Enriqueta , Bivona Trever G. , Ditzel Henrik J. , Rosell Rafael 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNon-small-cell lung cancer patients with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations typically benefit from ﻿EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. However, virtually all patients succumb to acquired EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance that occurs via diverse mechanisms. The diversity and unpredictability of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance mechanisms presents a challenge for developing new treatments to overcome EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance. Here, we show that Akt activation is a convergent feature of acquired EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, across a spectrum of diverse, established upstream resistance mechanisms. Combined treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor and Akt inhibitor causes apoptosis and synergistic growth inhibition in multiple EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer models. Moreover, phospho-Akt levels are increased in most clinical specimens obtained from EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer patients with acquired EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance. Our findings provide a rationale for clinical trials testing Akt and EGFR inhibitor co-treatment in patients with elevated phospho-Akt levels to therapeutically combat the heterogeneity of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance mechanisms.
Stromal and epithelial transcriptional map of initiation progression and metastatic potential of human prostate cancer
Authors: Tyekucheva Svitlana , Bowden Michaela , Bango Clyde , Giunchi Francesca , Huang Ying , Zhou Chensheng , Bondi Arrigo , Lis Rosina , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Andrén Ove , Andersson Sven-Olof , Watson R. William , Pennington Stephen , Finn Stephen P. , Martin Neil E. , Stampfer Meir J. , Parmigiani Giovanni , Penney Kathryn L. , Fiorentino Michelangelo , Mucci Lorelei A. , Loda Massimo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWhile progression from normal prostatic epithelium to invasive cancer is driven by molecular alterations, tumor cells and cells in the cancer microenvironment are co-dependent and co-evolve. Few human studies to date have focused on stroma. Here, we performed gene expression profiling of laser capture microdissected normal non-neoplastic prostate epithelial tissue and compared it to non-transformed and neoplastic low-grade and high-grade prostate epithelial tissue from radical prostatectomies, each with its immediately surrounding stroma. Whereas benign epithelium in prostates with and without tumor were similar in gene expression space, stroma away from tumor was significantly different from that in prostates without cancer. A stromal gene signature reflecting bone remodeling and immune-related pathways was upregulated in high compared to low-Gleason grade cases. In validation data, the signature discriminated cases that developed metastasis from those that did not. These data suggest that the microenvironment may influence prostate cancer initiation, maintenance, and metastatic progression.
The cytoplasmic nuclear receptor RARγ controls RIP1 initiated cell death when cIAP activity is inhibited
Authors: Xu Qing , Jitkaew Siriporn , Choksi Swati , Kadigamuwa Chamila , Qu Jianhui , Choe Moran , Jang Jonathan , Liu Chengyu , Liu Zheng-gang 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTumor necrosis factor (TNF) has a critical role in diverse cellular events including inflammation, apoptosis and necroptosis through different signaling complexes. However, little is known about how the transition from inflammatory signaling to the engagement of death pathways is modulated. Here we report that the cytoplasmic retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARγ) controls receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1)-initiated cell death when cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP) activity is blocked. Through screening a short hairpin RNA library, we found that RARγ was essential for TNF-induced RIP1-initiated apoptosis and necroptosis. Our data suggests that RARγ initiates the formation of death signaling complexes by mediating RIP1 dissociation from TNF receptor 1. We demonstrate that RARγ is released from the nucleus to orchestrate the formation of the cytosolic death complexes. In addition, we demonstrate that RARγ has a similar role in TNF-induced necroptosis in vivo. Thus, our study suggests that nuclear receptor RARγ provides a key checkpoint for the transition from life to death.
Durable and self-hydrating tungsten carbide-based composite polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
Authors: Zheng Weiqing , Wang Liang , Deng Fei , Giles Stephen A. , Prasad Ajay K. , Advani Suresh G. , Yan Yushan , Vlachos Dionisios G. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractProton conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells dictates their performance and requires sufficient water management. Here, we report a simple, scalable method to produce well-dispersed transition metal carbide nanoparticles. We demonstrate that these, when added as an additive to the proton exchange Nafion membrane, provide significant enhancement in power density and durability over 100 hours, surpassing both the baseline Nafion and platinum-containing recast Nafion membranes. Focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope tomography reveals the key membrane degradation mechanism. Density functional theory exposes that OH• and H• radicals adsorb more strongly from solution and reactions producing OH• are significantly more endergonic on tungsten carbide than on platinum. Consequently, tungsten carbide may be a promising catalyst in self-hydrating crossover gases while retarding desorption of and capturing free radicals formed at the cathode, resulting in enhanced membrane durability.
Siderophore cheating and cheating resistance shape competition for iron in soil and freshwater Pseudomonas communities
Authors: Butaitė Elena , Baumgartner Michael , Wyder Stefan , Kümmerli Rolf 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAll social organisms experience dilemmas between cooperators performing group-beneficial actions and cheats selfishly exploiting these actions. Although bacteria have become model organisms to study social dilemmas in laboratory systems, we know little about their relevance in natural communities. Here, we show that social interactions mediated by a single shareable compound necessary for growth (the iron-scavenging pyoverdine) have important consequences for competitive dynamics in soil and pond communities ofPseudomonasbacteria. We find that pyoverdine non- and low-producers co-occur in many natural communities. While non-producers have genes coding for multiple pyoverdine receptors and are able to exploit compatible heterologous pyoverdines from other community members, producers differ in the pyoverdine types they secrete, offering protection against exploitation from non-producers with incompatible receptors. Our findings indicate that there is both selection for cheating and cheating resistance, which could drive antagonistic co-evolution and diversification in natural bacterial communities.
Engineering a riboswitch-based genetic platform for the self-directed evolution of acid-tolerant phenotypes
Authors: Pham Hoang Long , Wong Adison , Chua Niying , Teo Wei Suong , Yew Wen Shan , Chang Matthew Wook 
Published: August 2017

AbstractEnvironmental pH is a fundamental signal continuously directing the metabolism and behavior of living cells. Programming the precise cellular response toward environmental pH is, therefore, crucial for engineering cells for increasingly sophisticated functions. Herein, we engineer a set of riboswitch-based pH-sensing genetic devices to enable the control of gene expression according to differential environmental pH. We next develop a digital pH-sensing system to utilize the analogue-sensing behavior of these devices for high-resolution recording of host cell exposure to discrete external pH levels. The application of this digital pH-sensing system is demonstrated in a genetic program that autonomously regulated the evolutionary engineering of host cells for improved tolerance to a broad spectrum of organic acids, a valuable phenotype for metabolic engineering and bioremediation applications.
Herbivores rescue diversity in warming tundra by modulating trait-dependent species losses and gains
Authors: Kaarlejärvi Elina , Eskelinen Anu , Olofsson Johan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractClimate warming is altering the diversity of plant communities but it remains unknown which species will be lost or gained under warming, especially considering interactions with other factors such as herbivory and nutrient availability. Here, we experimentally test effects of warming, mammalian herbivory and fertilization on tundra species richness and investigate how plant functional traits affect losses and gains. We show that herbivory reverses the impact of warming on diversity: in the presence of herbivores warming increases species richness through higher species gains and lower losses, while in the absence of herbivores warming causes higher species losses and thus decreases species richness. Herbivores promote gains of short-statured species under warming, while herbivore removal and fertilization increase losses of short-statured and resource-conservative species through light limitation. Our results demonstrate that both rarity and traits forecast species losses and gains, and mammalian herbivores are essential for preventing trait-dependent extinctions and mitigate diversity loss under warming and eutrophication.
Redox-active conducting polymers modulate Salmonella biofilm formation by controlling availability of electron acceptors
Authors: Gomez-Carretero Salvador , Libberton Ben , Svennersten Karl , Persson Kristin , Jager Edwin , Berggren Magnus , Rhen Mikael , Richter-Dahlfors Agneta 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBiofouling is a major problem caused by bacteria colonizing abiotic surfaces, such as medical devices. Biofilms are formed as the bacterial metabolism adapts to an attached growth state. We studied whether bacterial metabolism, hence biofilm formation, can be modulated in electrochemically active surfaces using the conducting conjugated polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). We fabricated composites of PEDOT doped with either heparin, dodecyl benzene sulfonate or chloride, and identified the fabrication parameters so that the electrochemical redox state is the main distinct factor influencing biofilm growth. PEDOT surfaces fitted into a custom-designed culturing device allowed for redox switching in Salmonella cultures, leading to oxidized or reduced electrodes. Similarly large biofilm growth was found on the oxidized anodes and on conventional polyester. In contrast, biofilm was significantly decreased (52–58%) on the reduced cathodes. Quantification of electrochromism in unswitched conducting polymer surfaces revealed a bacteria-driven electrochemical reduction of PEDOT. As a result, unswitched PEDOT acquired an analogous electrochemical state to the externally reduced cathode, explaining the similarly decreased biofilm growth on reduced cathodes and unswitched surfaces. Collectively, our findings reveal two opposing effects affecting biofilm formation. While the oxidized PEDOT anode constitutes a renewable electron sink that promotes biofilm growth, reduction of PEDOT by a power source or by bacteria largely suppresses biofilm formation. Modulating bacterial metabolism using the redox state of electroactive surfaces constitutes an unexplored method with applications spanning from antifouling coatings and microbial fuel cells to the study of the role of bacterial respiration during infection.
Quantum generalisation of feedforward neural networks
Authors: Wan Kwok Ho , Dahlsten Oscar , Kristjánsson Hlér , Gardner Robert , Kim M. S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe propose a quantum generalisation of a classical neural network. The classical neurons are firstly rendered reversible by adding ancillary bits. Then they are generalised to being quantum reversible, i.e., unitary (the classical networks we generalise are called feedforward, and have step-function activation functions). The quantum network can be trained efficiently using gradient descent on a cost function to perform quantum generalisations of classical tasks. We demonstrate numerically that it can: (i) compress quantum states onto a minimal number of qubits, creating a quantum autoencoder, and (ii) discover quantum communication protocols such as teleportation. Our general recipe is theoretical and implementation-independent. The quantum neuron module can naturally be implemented photonically.
Rapid LC-MS Based High-Throughput Screening Method, Affording No False Positives or False Negatives, Identifies a New Inhibitor for Carbonic Anhydrase
Authors: Imaduwage Kasun P. , Lakbub Jude , Go Eden P. , Desaire Heather 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDeveloping effective high-throughput screening (HTS) methods is of paramount importance in the early stage of drug discovery. While rugged and robust assays may be easily developed for certain enzymes, HTS assays designed to identify ligands that block protein binding are much more challenging to develop; attenuating the number of false positives and false negatives under high-throughput screening conditions is particularly difficult. We describe an MS-based HTS workflow that addresses these challenges. The assay mitigates false positives by selectively identifying positive hits exclusively when a ligand at the binding site of interest is displaced; it mitigates false negatives by detecting a reporter compound that ionizes well, not by detecting the ligand binder, which may not ionize. The method was validated by detecting known binders of three proteins, pepsin, maltose binding protein (MBP), and carbonic anhydrase (CA) in the presence of hundreds of non-binders. We also identified a novel CA binder, pifithrin-µ, which could not have been identified by any other MS-based assay because of its poor ionization efficiency. This new method addresses many of the challenges that are currently encountered during high-throughput screening.
Angiotensin II affects inflammation mechanisms via AMPK-related signalling pathways in HL-1 atrial myocytes
Authors: Kim Nami , Jung Youngae , Nam Miso , Sun Kang Mi , Lee Min Kyung , Cho Youngjin , Choi Eue-Keun , Hwang Geum-Sook , Soo Kim Hyeon 
Published: August 2017

AbstractInflammation is a common cause of cardiac arrhythmia. Angiotensin ІІ (Ang ІІ) is a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of cardiac inflammation; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we explored the effect of Ang ІІ on inflammatory mechanisms and oxidative stress using HL-1 atrial myocytes. We showed that Ang ІІ activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and other inflammatory markers, such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Ang ІІ decreased oxygen consumption rate, which resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibition of ROS blocked Ang II-mediated JNK phosphorylation and TGF-β1 induction. Ang ІІ induced the expression of its specific receptor, AT1R. Ang II-induced intracellular calcium production associated with Ang ІІ-mediated signalling pathways. In addition, the generated ROS and calcium stimulated AMPK phosphorylation. Inhibiting AMPK blocked Ang II-mediated JNK and TGF-β signalling pathways. Ang ІІ concentration, along with TGF-β1 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, was slightly increased in plasma of patients with atrial fibrillation. Taken together, these results suggest that Ang ІІ induces inflammation mechanisms through an AMPK-related signalling pathway. Our results provide new molecular targets for the development of therapeutics for inflammation-related conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.
Hub-driven remote synchronization in brain networks
Authors: Vlasov Vladimir , Bifone Angelo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe phenomenon of “remote synchronization” (RS), first observed in a star network of oscillators, involves synchronization of unconnected peripheral nodes through a hub that maintains independent dynamics. In the RS regime the central hub was thought to serve as a passive gate for information transfer between nodes. Here, we investigate the physical origin of this phenomenon. Surprisingly, we find that a hub node can drive remote synchronization of peripheral oscillators even in the presence of a repulsive mean field, thus actively governing network dynamics while remaining asynchronous. We study this novel phenomenon in complex networks endowed with multiple hub-nodes, a ubiquitous feature of many real-world systems, including brain connectivity networks. We show that a change in the natural frequency of a single hub can alone reshape synchronization patterns across the entire network, and switch from direct to remote synchronization, or to hub-driven desynchronization. Hub-driven RS may provide a mechanism to account for the role of structural hubs in the organization of brain functional connectivity networks.