bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antidromic-rectifying gap junctions amplify chemical transmission at functionally mixed electrical-chemical synapses
Authors: Liu Ping , Chen Bojun , Mailler Roger , Wang Zhao-Wen 
Published: March 2017

AbstractNeurons communicate through chemical synapses and electrical synapses (gap junctions). Although these two types of synapses often coexist between neurons, little is known about whether they interact, and whether any interactions between them are important to controlling synaptic strength and circuit functions. By studying chemical and electrical synapses between premotor interneurons (AVA) and downstream motor neurons (A-MNs) in the Caenorhabditis elegans escape circuit, we found that disrupting either the chemical or electrical synapses causes defective escape response. Gap junctions between AVA and A-MNs only allow antidromic current, but, curiously, disrupting them inhibits chemical transmission. In contrast, disrupting chemical synapses has no effect on the electrical coupling. These results demonstrate that gap junctions may serve as an amplifier of chemical transmission between neurons with both electrical and chemical synapses. The use of antidromic-rectifying gap junctions to amplify chemical transmission is potentially a conserved mechanism in circuit functions.
Observation of acoustic Dirac-like cone and double zero refractive index
Authors: Dubois Marc , Shi Chengzhi , Zhu Xuefeng , Wang Yuan , Zhang Xiang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractZero index materials where sound propagates without phase variation, holds a great potential for wavefront and dispersion engineering. Recently explored electromagnetic double zero index metamaterials consist of periodic scatterers whose refractive index is significantly larger than that of the surrounding medium. This requirement is fundamentally challenging for airborne acoustics because the sound speed (inversely proportional to the refractive index) in air is among the slowest. Here, we report the first experimental realization of an impedance matched acoustic double zero refractive index metamaterial induced by a Dirac-like cone at the Brillouin zone centre. This is achieved in a two-dimensional waveguide with periodically varying air channel that modulates the effective phase velocity of a high-order waveguide mode. Using such a zero-index medium, we demonstrated acoustic wave collimation emitted from a point source. For the first time, we experimentally confirm the existence of the Dirac-like cone at the Brillouin zone centre.
Enhanced biennial variability in the Pacific due to Atlantic capacitor effect
Authors: Wang Lei , Yu Jin-Yi , Paek Houk 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the variability in the Pacific subtropical highs (PSHs) have major impacts on social and ecological systems. Here we present an Atlantic capacitor effect mechanism to suggest that the Atlantic is a key pacemaker of the biennial variability in the Pacific including that in ENSO and the PSHs during recent decades. The ‘charging’ (that is, ENSO imprinting the North Tropical Atlantic (NTA) sea surface temperature (SST) via an atmospheric bridge mechanism) and ‘discharging’ (that is, the NTA SST triggering the following ENSO via a subtropical teleconnection mechanism) processes alternate, generating the biennial rhythmic changes in the Pacific. Since the early 1990s, a warmer Atlantic due to the positive phase of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation and global warming trend has provided more favourable background state for the Atlantic capacitor effect, giving rise to enhanced biennial variability in the Pacific that may increase the occurrence frequency of severe natural hazard events.
Microglia activation due to obesity programs metabolic failure leading to type two diabetes
Authors: Maldonado-Ruiz R , Montalvo-Martínez L , Fuentes-Mera L , Camacho A 
Published: March 2017

AbstractObesity is an energy metabolism disorder that increases susceptibility to the development of metabolic diseases. Recently, it has been described that obese subjects have a phenotype of chronic inflammation in organs that are metabolically relevant for glucose homeostasis and energy. Altered expression of immune system molecules such as interleukins IL-1, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), serum amyloid A (SAA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), among others, has been associated with the development of chronic inflammation in obesity. Chronic inflammation modulates the development of metabolic-related comorbidities like metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, hypertension and hyperlipidemia). Recent evidence suggests that microglia activation in the central nervous system (CNS) is a priority in the deregulation of energy homeostasis and promotes increased glucose levels. This review will cover the most significant advances that explore the molecular signals during microglia activation and inflammatory stage in the brain in the context of obesity, and its influence on the development of metabolic syndrome and type two diabetes.
A systematic review on the impact of diabetes mellitus on the ocular surface
Authors: Shih K Co , Lam K S-L , Tong L 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is associated with extensive morbidity and mortality in any human community. It is well understood that the burden of diabetes is attributed to chronic progressive damage in major end-organs, but it is underappreciated that the most superficial and transparent organ affected by diabetes is the cornea. Different corneal components (epithelium, nerves, immune cells and endothelium) underpin specific systemic complications of diabetes. Just as diabetic retinopathy is a marker of more generalized microvascular disease, corneal nerve changes can predict peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, providing a window of opportunity for early treatment. In addition, alterations of immune cells in corneas suggest an inflammatory component in diabetic complications. Furthermore, impaired corneal epithelial wound healing may also imply more widespread disease. The non-invasiveness and improvement in imaging technology facilitates the emergence of new screening tools. Systemic control of diabetes can improve ocular surface health, possibly aided by anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective agents.
RCN1 suppresses ER stress-induced apoptosis via calcium homeostasis and PERK–CHOP signaling
Authors: Xu S , Xu Y , Chen L , Fang Q , Song S , Chen J , Teng J 
Published: March 2017

AbstractEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is caused by the disturbance of ER homeostasis and leads to the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which alleviates stress at an early stage and triggers apoptosis if homeostasis fails over a prolonged timeframe. Here, we report that reticulocalbin 1 (RCN1), a member of the CREC family, is transactivated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) during ER stress and inhibits ER stress-induced apoptosis. The depletion of RCN1 increases the UPR during drug-induced ER stress by activating PRKR-like ER kinase–CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (PERK–CHOP) signaling, thus inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that the first two EF-hand calcium-binding motifs of RCN1 specifically interact with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor type 1 (IP3R1) on loop 3 of its ER luminal domain and inhibit ER calcium release and apoptosis. Together, these data indicate that RCN1, a target of NF-κB, suppresses ER calcium release by binding to IP3R1 and decreases the UPR, thereby inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis.
Computationally predicted energies and properties of defects in GaN
Authors: Lyons John L. , Van de Walle Chris G. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRecent developments in theoretical techniques have significantly improved the predictive power of density-functional-based calculations. In this review, we discuss how such advancements have enabled improved understanding of native point defects in GaN. We review the methodologies for the calculation of point defects, and discuss how techniques for overcoming the band-gap problem of density functional theory affect native defect calculations. In particular, we examine to what extent calculations performed with semilocal functionals (such as the generalized gradient approximation), combined with correction schemes, can produce accurate results. The properties of vacancy, interstitial, and antisite defects in GaN are described, as well as their interaction with common impurities. We also connect the first-principles results to experimental observations, and discuss how native defects and their complexes impact the performance of nitride devices. Overall, we find that lower-cost functionals, such as the generalized gradient approximation, combined with band-edge correction schemes can produce results that are qualitatively correct. However, important physics may be missed in some important cases, particularly for optical transitions and when carrier localization occurs.
Middle ear mucosal regeneration by tissue-engineered cell sheet transplantation
Authors: Yamamoto Kazuhisa , Yamato Masayuki , Morino Tsunetaro , Sugiyama Hiroaki , Takagi Ryo , Yaguchi Yuichiro , Okano Teruo , Kojima Hiromi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe recurrence of cholesteatoma after surgical treatment often occurs as a result of poor mucosal regeneration in the middle ear cavity and mastoid cavity and changes, such as granulation tissue formation, which impair gas exchange in the middle ear cavity. Conventional tympanoplasty often results in a lack of mucosal regeneration in the resected area of the mastoid cavity. In particular, mucosal regeneration in a poorly pneumatized mastoid cavity is extremely difficult. If the middle ear mucosa can be preserved or rapid postoperative regeneration of mucosa on the exposed bone surface can be achieved after middle ear surgery, the results of surgical treatment for otitis media, including cholesteatoma, can potentially be improved and the physiological function of the middle ear can be recovered. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel treatment method combining tympanoplasty and autologous nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheet transplantation for postoperative regeneration of the middle ear mucosa. In clinical research, we endoscopically removed an approximately 10 × 10 mm2piece of nasal mucosal tissue. Tissue-engineered autologous nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheets were fabricated by culturing the harvested cells in an aseptic environment in a good manufacturing practice-compliant cell processing facility. The cultivated cell sheets were transplanted, during tympanoplasty, onto the exposed bony surface of the attic of the tympanic and mastoid cavities where the mucosa had been lost. We performed this procedure on four patients with middle ear cholesteatoma and one patient with adhesive otitis media. All patients showed favorable postoperative course with no adverse events or complications and the patients’ hearing ability post-transplantation remained good.
Refractive index variation in a free-standing diamond thin film induced by irradiation with fully transmitted high-energy protons
Authors: Lagomarsino S. , Calusi S. , Massi M. , Gelli N. , Sciortino S. , Taccetti F. , Giuntini L. , Sordini A. , Vannoni M. , Bosia F. , Monticone D. Gatto , Olivero P. , Fairchild B. A. , Kashyap P. , Alves A. D. C. , Strack M. A. , Prawer S. , Greentree A. D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIon irradiation is a widely employed tool to fabricate diamond micro- and nano-structures for applications in integrated photonics and quantum optics. In this context, it is essential to accurately assess the effect of ion-induced damage on the variation of the refractive index of the material, both to control the side effects in the fabrication process and possibly finely tune such variations. Several partially contradictory accounts have been provided on the effect of the ion irradiation on the refractive index of single crystal diamond. These discrepancies may be attributable to the fact that in all cases the ions are implanted in the bulk of the material, thus inducing a series of concurrent effects (volume expansion, stress, doping, etc.). Here we report the systematic characterization of the refractive index variations occurring in a 38 µm thin artificial diamond sample upon irradiation with high-energy (3 MeV and 5 MeV) protons. In this configuration the ions are fully transmitted through the sample, while inducing an almost uniform damage profile with depth. Therefore, our findings conclusively identify and accurately quantify the change in the material polarizability as a function of ion beam damage as the primary cause for the modification of its refractive index.
High Plasma Lipid Levels Reduce Efficacy of Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Therapy
Authors: Kivelä A. M. , Huusko J. , Gurzeler E. , Laine A. , Dijkstra M. H. , Dragneva G. , Andersen C. B. F. , Moestrup S. K. , Ylä-Herttuala S. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAdenoviruses are very efficient vectors for delivering therapeutic genes in preclinical and clinical trials. However, randomized controlled human trials have often been lacking clear clinically relevant results. We hypothesized that high lipid levels and specific lipoproteins could significantly decrease adenoviral transduction efficiency in vivo. Here we demonstrate that mice on a high fat diet have lower transgene expression compared to mice on a regular chow. In addition, on a high fat diet, ApoE−/− mice have much higher plasma transgene levels compared to LDLR-deficient mice. We also found that specific lipoprotein receptors play an important role in adenoviral transduction. These findings suggest that high plasma lipid levels, especially apoE-containing lipoproteins, reduce efficacy of adenoviral transduction in mice, which implies that high cholesterol levels in humans could be protective against viral infections and also lead to insufficient transgene expression in clinical trials using adenoviral vectors.
Posterior cingulate cross-hemispheric functional connectivity predicts the level of consciousness in traumatic brain injury
Authors: Zhang Haosu , Dai Rui , Qin Pengmin , Tang Weijun , Hu Jin , Weng Xuchu , Wu Xing , Mao Ying , Wu Xuehai , Northoff Georg 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that altered states of consciousness are related to changes in resting state activity in the default-mode network (DMN). Anatomically, the DMN can be divided into anterior and posterior regions. The anterior DMN includes the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and other medial prefrontal cortical regions, whereas the posterior DMN includes regions such as the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the temporal parietal junction (TPJ). Although differential roles have been attributed to the anterior and posterior DMN regions, their exact contributions to consciousness levels remain unclear. To investigate the specific role of the posterior DMN in consciousness levels, we investigated 20 healthy controls (7 females, mean age = 33.6 years old) and 20 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients (5 females, mean age = 43 years old) whose brain lesions were mainly restricted to the bilateral frontal cortex but retained a well-preserved posterior DMN (e.g., the PCC and the TPJ) and who exhibited varying levels of consciousness. We investigated the intra- and cross-functional connectivity strengths (FCSs) between the right/left PCC and the right/left TPJ and their correlation with consciousness levels. Significant reductions in both the intra- and cross-hemispheric FCSs were observed in patients compared with controls. A significant correlation with consciousness levels was observed only for the cross-hemispheric PCC-TPJ FCS but not for the intra-hemispheric PCC-TPJ FCS. Taken together, our results show that the cross-hemispheric posterior DMN is related to consciousness levels in a specific group of patients without posterior structural lesions. We therefore propose that the PCC may be central in maintaining consciousness through its cross-hemispheric FC with the TPJ.
The feature-specific propagation of orientation and direction adaptation from areas 17 to 21a in cats
Authors: Li Zhong , Meng Jianjun , Li Hongjian , Jin Anqi , Tang Qijun , Zhu Jianbin , Yu Hongbo 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAdaptation plays a key role in visual information processing, and investigations on the adaptation across different visual regions will be helpful to understand how information is processed dynamically along the visual streams. Recent studies have found the enhanced adaptation effects in the early visual system (from LGN to V1) and the dorsal stream (from V1 to MT). However, it remains unclear how adaptation effect propagates along the form/orientation stream in the visual system. In this study, we compared the orientation and direction adaptation evoked by drifting gratings and stationary flashing gratings, as well as moving random dots, in areas 17 and 21a simultaneously of cats. Recorded by single-unit and intrinsic signal optical imaging, induced by both top-up and biased adaptation protocols, the orientation adaptation effect was greater in response decline and preferred orientation shifts in area 21a compared to area 17. However, for the direction adaptation, no difference was observed between these two areas. These results suggest the feature-specific propagation of the adaptation effect along the visual stream.
Autoassociative Memory and Pattern Recognition in Micromechanical Oscillator Network
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Mohanty Pritiraj 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTowards practical realization of brain-inspired computing in a scalable physical system, we investigate a network of coupled micromechanical oscillators. We numerically simulate this array of all-to-all coupled nonlinear oscillators in the presence of stochasticity and demonstrate its ability to synchronize and store information in the relative phase differences at synchronization. Sensitivity of behavior to coupling strength, frequency distribution, nonlinearity strength, and noise amplitude is investigated. Our results demonstrate that neurocomputing in a physically realistic network of micromechanical oscillators with silicon-based fabrication process can be robust against noise sources and fabrication process variations. This opens up tantalizing prospects for hardware realization of a low-power brain-inspired computing architecture that captures complexity on a scalable manufacturing platform.
MiR-503 Promotes Bone Formation in Distraction Osteogenesis through Suppressing Smurf1 Expression
Authors: Sun Yuxin , Xu Jia , Xu Liangliang , Zhang Jinfang , Chan Kaiming , Pan Xiaohua , Li Gang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDistraction osteogenesis (DO) is a unique technique for promoting bone formation in clinical practice. However the underlying mechanism remains elusive. As epigenetic mediators, microRNAs have been reported to play important roles in regulating osteogenesis. In this study, after successfully established the DO model of rats, a microRNA microarray was performed to find molecular targets for DO. Total 100 microRNAs were identified as differently expressed, with miR-503 being one of the most significantly up-regulated miRNAs in DO. The further investigation also showed that miR-503 was upregulated during osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells of rats, and overexpression of miR-503 significantly promoted osteogenesis in vitro and accelerated mineralization in DO process in vivo. By using bioinformatic investigations and luciferase activities, we successfully demonstrated that Smurf1, a negative regulator of osteogenesis, was a real target of miR-503. Furthermore, Smurf1 knockdown promoted osteogenesis and antagomir-503 abolished the promotive effect, suggesting that miR-503 mediated osteogenic differentiation via suppressing Smurf1 expression. To sum up, these findings indicated that miR-503 promoted osteogenesis and accelerated bone formation, which may shed light on the development for a potential therapeutic target for bone repair.
Risk factors of post-operative severe hyperlactatemia and lactic acidosis following laparoscopic resection for pheochromocytoma
Authors: Wu Shubin , Chen Weiyun , Shen Le , Xu Li , Zhu Afang , Huang Yuguang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSevere hyperlactatemia (SH)/lactic acidosis (LA) after laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytoma is an infrequently reported complication. The study aims to investigate the incidence of this complication and to determine the clinical risk factors. Patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for pheochromocytoma between 2011 and 2014 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled. LA was defined as pH < 7.35, bicarbonate <20 mmol/L, and serum lactate ≥5 mmol/L; SH as lactate ≥5 mmol/L; and moderate hyperlactatemia (MH) as lactate 2.5–5.0 mmol/L without evidence of acidosis (pH > 7.35 and/or bicarbonate >20 mmol/L). Data concerning patient demographics, clinical history, and laboratory results were collected and statistical analyses were performed. Out of 145 patients, 59 (40.7%) developed post-operative hyperlactatemia. The incidences of MH and SH/LA were 25.5% and 15.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR], 1.204; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.016–1.426), 24-hour urine epinephrine concentration (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.002–1.022), and tumor size (OR, 1.571; 95% CI, 1.102–2.240) were independent predictors of post-operative SH/LA. The data show that post-operative SH/LA is not a rare complication after pheochromocytoma resection and may be closely associated with higher BMI, larger tumor size, and higher levels of urine epinephrine.
Investigation and manipulation of metabolically active methanogen community composition during rumen development in black goats
Authors: Wang Zuo , Elekwachi Chijioke O. , Jiao Jinzhen , Wang Min , Tang Shaoxun , Zhou Chuanshe , Tan Zhiliang , Forster Robert J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis study was performed to investigate the initial colonization of metabolically active methanogens and subsequent changes in four fractions: the rumen solid-phase (RS), liquid-phase (RL), protozoa-associated (RP), and epithelium-associated (RE) from 1 to 60 d after birth, and manipulate methanogen community by early weaning on 40 d and supplementing rhubarb from 40 to 60 d in black goats. The RNA-based real-time quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were employed to indicate the metabolically active methanogens. Results showed that active methanogens colonized in RL and RE on 1 d after birth. RP and RE contained the highest and lowest density of methanogens, respectively. Methanobrevibacter, Candidatus Methanomethylophilus, and Methanosphaera were the top three genera. The methanogen communities before weaning differed from those post weaning and the structure of the methanogen community in RE was distinct from those in the other three fractions. The discrepancies in the distribution of methanogens across four fractions, and various fluctuations in abundances among four fractions according to age were observed. The addition of rhubarb significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the abundances of Methanimicrococcus spp. in four fractions on 50 d, but did not change the methanogen community composition on 60 d.