bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fully-Enclosed Ceramic Micro-burners Using Fugitive Phase and Powder-based Processing
Authors: Do Truong , Shin Changseop , Kwon Patrick , Yeom Junghoon 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCeramic-based microchemical systems (μCSs) are more suitable for operation under harsh environments such as high temperature and corrosive reactants compared to the more conventional μCS materials such as silicon and polymers. With the recent renewed interests in chemical manufacturing and process intensification, simple, inexpensive, and reliable ceramic manufacturing technologies are needed. The main objective of this paper is to introduce a new powder-based fabrication framework, which is a one-pot, cost-effective, and versatile process for ceramic μCS components. The proposed approach employs the compaction of metal-oxide sub-micron powders with a graphite fugitive phase that is burned out to create internal cavities and microchannels before full sintering. Pure alumina powder has been used without any binder phase, enabling more precise dimensional control and less structure shrinkage upon sintering. The key process steps such as powder compaction, graphite burnout during partial sintering, machining in a conventional machine tool, and final densification have been studied to characterize the process. This near-full density ceramic structure with the combustion chamber and various internal channels was fabricated to be used as a micro-burner for gas sensing applications.
Acral Melanoma in Chinese: A Clinicopathological and Prognostic Study of 142 cases
Authors: Lv Jiaojie , Dai Bo , Kong Yunyi , Shen Xuxia , Kong Jincheng 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAcral melanoma (AM), as a peculiar subgroup of melanoma, is rare in Caucasians but has higher incidence in Asians. Large series of study on AM with clinicopathological features and prognostic factors is still limited, especially in Asian population. We retrospectively collected clinical, pathological and follow-up data of 142 AM cases. All patients were Chinese, with the age ranging from 24 to 87 years (mean 62.0; median 62.0). The Breslow thickness of primary lesions ranged from 0.6 to 16.3 mm (mean 4.9; median 3.7). 85.9% of the patients had acral lentiginous histologic subtype. Plantar was the most frequently involved site, followed by heels. Statistically, duration of the lesion before diagnosis (≤2.5 years), Breslow thickness >4.0 mm (T4), high mitotic index (>15 mm−2), presence of vascular invasion, regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis and pathologic stage (II/III/IV) were found to be independent prognostic factors in both univariate and multivariate analyses. The prognosis of AM in Chinese is extremely poor. Our 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 53.3% and 27.4%, respectively. Therefore, AM in Asians represents a more biologically aggressive melanoma subtype and is thought to carry a worse prognosis when compared with other races or cutaneous melanomas in other anatomic sites.
Monitoring Tumor Hypoxia Using 18F-FMISO PET and Pharmacokinetics Modeling after Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Tong Xiao , Srivatsan Avinash , Jacobson Orit , Wang Yu , Wang Zhantong , Yang Xiangyu , Niu Gang , Kiesewetter Dale O. , Zheng Hairong , Chen Xiaoyuan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is an efficacious treatment for some types of cancers. However, PDT-induced tumor hypoxia as a result of oxygen consumption and vascular damage can reduce the efficacy of this therapy. Measuring and monitoring intrinsic and PDT-induced tumor hypoxia in vivo during PDT is of high interest for prognostic and treatment evaluation. In the present study, static and dynamic 18F-FMISO PET were performed with mice bearing either U87MG or MDA-MB-435 tumor xenografts immediately before and after PDT at different time points. Significant difference in tumor hypoxia in response to PDT over time was found between the U87MG and MDA-MB-435 tumors in both static and dynamic PET. Dynamic PET with pharmacokinetics modeling further monitored the kinetics of 18F-FMISO retention to hypoxic sites after treatment. The Ki and k3 parametric analysis provided information on tumor hypoxia by distinction of the specific tracer retention in hypoxic sites from its non-specific distribution in tumor. Dynamic 18F-FMISO PET with pharmacokinetics modeling, complementary to static PET analysis, provides a potential imaging tool for more detailed and more accurate quantification of tumor hypoxia during PDT.
Immune cell-specific transcriptional profiling highlights distinct molecular pathways controlled by Tob1 upon experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Didonna Alessandro , Cekanaviciute Egle , Oksenberg Jorge R. , Baranzini Sergio E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by focal lymphocytic infiltration, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Despite the recent advances in understanding MS molecular basis, no reliable biomarkers have been identified yet to monitor disease progression. Our group has previously reported that low levels of TOB1 in CD4+ T cells are strongly associated with a higher risk of MS conversion in individuals experiencing an initial demyelinating event. Consistently, Tob1 ablation in mice exacerbates the clinical phenotype of the MS model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To shed light on Tob1 molecular functions in the immune system, we have conducted the first cell-based transcriptomic analysis in Tob1−/− and wildtype mice upon EAE. Next-generation sequencing was employed to characterize the changes in gene expression in T and B cells at pre- and post-symptomatic EAE stages. Remarkably, we found only modest overlap among the different genetic signatures, suggesting that Tob1 may control distinct genetic programs in the different cytotypes. This hypothesis was corroborated by gene ontology and global interactome analyses, which highlighted specific cellular pathways in each cellular subset before and after EAE induction. In summary, our work pinpoints a multifaceted activity of Tob1 in both homeostasis and disease progression.
Pain modulation by intranasal oxytocin and emotional picture viewing — a randomized double-blind fMRI study
Authors: Zunhammer Matthias , Geis Sandra , Busch Volker , Eichhammer Peter , Greenlee Mark W. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe hormone oxytocin has been hypothesized to influence the emotional dimension of pain. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study explored whether intranasal oxytocin and emotional context can affect heat pain perception in 30 healthy male volunteers. After receiving 36 IU oxytocin or placebo, participants underwent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) during which noxious and non-noxious thermode heat stimuli were applied. Simultaneously, scenes from the International Affective Pictures System (IAPS) with positive, neutral and negative emotional valence were shown. Heat intensity and unpleasantness ratings were obtained. The activity of whole-brain correlates of heat processing was quantified via multi-voxel pattern analysis. We observed no appreciable main effects of oxytocin on ratings or neural pain correlates. Effects of emotional picture valence on ratings were smaller than reported in previous studies. Nevertheless, oxytocin was found to significantly enhance the influence of picture valence on unpleasantness ratings at noxious heat levels. No corresponding changes in whole-brain correlates of heat intensity processing were found. Our study provides evidence that intranasal oxytocin increases the effects of emotional context on the subjective unpleasantness of experimental heat pain. Future studies are needed to determine whether this effect can be utilized in clinical settings.
Identifying the Stern-Gerlach force of classical electron dynamics
Authors: Wen Meng , Bauke Heiko , Keitel Christoph H. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDifferent classical theories are commonly applied in various branches of physics to describe the relativistic dynamics of electrons by coupled equations for the orbital motion and spin precession. Exemplarily, we benchmark the Frenkel model and the classical Foldy-Wouthuysen model with spin-dependent forces (Stern-Gerlach forces) to the quantum dynamics as predicted by the Dirac equation. Both classical theories can lead to different or even contradicting predictions how the Stern-Gerlach forces modify the electron’s orbital motion, when the electron moves in strong electromagnetic field configurations of emerging high-intensity laser facilities. In this way, one may evaluate the validity and identify the limits of these classical theories via a comparison with possible experiments to provide a proper description of spin-induced dynamics. Our results indicate that the Foldy-Wouthuysen model is qualitatively in better agreement with the Dirac theory than the widely used Frenkel model.
Quantitative phosphoproteomics reveals the role of the AMPK plant ortholog SnRK1 as a metabolic master regulator under energy deprivation
Authors: Nukarinen Ella , Nägele Thomas , Pedrotti Lorenzo , Wurzinger Bernhard , Mair Andrea , Landgraf Ramona , Börnke Frederik , Hanson Johannes , Teige Markus , Baena-Gonzalez Elena , Dröge-Laser Wolfgang , Weckwerth Wolfram 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSince years, research on SnRK1, the major cellular energy sensor in plants, has tried to define its role in energy signalling. However, these attempts were notoriously hampered by the lethality of a complete knockout of SnRK1. Therefore, we generated an inducible amiRNA::SnRK1α2 in a snrk1α1 knock out background (snrk1α1/α2) to abolish SnRK1 activity to understand major systemic functions of SnRK1 signalling under energy deprivation triggered by extended night treatment. We analysed the in vivo phosphoproteome, proteome and metabolome and found that activation of SnRK1 is essential for repression of high energy demanding cell processes such as protein synthesis. The most abundant effect was the constitutively high phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) in the snrk1α1/α2 mutant. RPS6 is a major target of TOR signalling and its phosphorylation correlates with translation. Further evidence for an antagonistic SnRK1 and TOR crosstalk comparable to the animal system was demonstrated by the in vivo interaction of SnRK1α1 and RAPTOR1B in the cytosol and by phosphorylation of RAPTOR1B by SnRK1α1 in kinase assays. Moreover, changed levels of phosphorylation states of several chloroplastic proteins in the snrk1α1/α2 mutant indicated an unexpected link to regulation of photosynthesis, the main energy source in plants.
Pruinosanones A-C, anti-inflammatory isoflavone derivatives from Caragana pruinosa
Authors: Zheng Chengjian , Wang Liang , Han Ting , Xin Hailiang , Jiang Yiping , Pan Lan , Jia Xiaoguang , Qin Luping 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPruinosanone A (1), a novel spirochromone, was isolated from the roots of Caragana pruinosa. Two biogenetically related isoflavone intermediates, pruinosanones B and C (2 and 3), were also isolated, together with five known analogs identified as 3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (4), 7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavanol (5), retusin-8-methylether (6), 7,2′-dihydroxy-8,4′-dimethoxy isoflavone (7) and 7,3′-dihydroxy-8,4′-dimethoxy isoflavone (8). The structures of 1–3 were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods. Notably, 1 is the first example of a spirochromone possessing an unprecedented pentacyclic skeleton containing a spiro[benzo[d][1,3]dioxole-2,3′-chroman]-4′-one motif, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 was also proposed. Compounds 1–8 were tested for their ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and compounds 1–3 were the most potent inhibitors of NO production, with IC50 values of 1.96, 1.93 and 1.58 μM, respectively. A structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the fused 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrofuran moiety plays a vital role in the potency of these compounds. Moreover, 1 was found to significantly inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression, which accounts for the potent inhibition of NO production by this spirochromone.
Low molecular weight fucoidan protects renal tubular cells from injury induced by albumin overload
Authors: Jia Yingli , Sun Yi , Weng Lin , Li Yingjie , Zhang Quanbin , Zhou Hong , Yang Baoxue 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAlbuminuria is a causative and aggravating factor for progressive renal damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to determine if low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) could protect renal function and tubular cells from albumin overload caused injury. Treatment with 10 mg/g bovine serum albumin caused renal dysfunction, morphological changes, and overexpression of inflammation and fibrosis associated proteins in 129S2/Sv mice. LMWF (100 mg/kg) protected against kidney injury and renal dysfunction with decreased blood creatinine by 34% and urea nitrogen by 25%, increased creatinine clearance by 48%, and decreased significantly urinary albumin concentration. In vitro proximal tubule epithelial cell (NRK-52E) model showed that LMWF dose-dependently inhibited overexpression of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors, oxidative stress and apoptosis caused by albumin overload. These experimental results indicate that LMWF protects against albumin overload caused renal injury by inhibiting inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress and apoptosis, which suggests that LMWF could be a promising candidate drug for preventing CKD.
Dynamics of changing impacts of tropical Indo-Pacific variability on Indian and Australian rainfall
Authors: Li Ziguang , Cai Wenju , Lin Xiaopei 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and a warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) reduce rainfall over the Indian subcontinent and southern Australia. However, since the 1980s, El Niño’s influence has been decreasing, accompanied by a strengthening in the IOD’s influence on southern Australia but a reversal in the IOD’s influence on the Indian subcontinent. The dynamics are not fully understood. Here we show that a post-1980 weakening in the ENSO-IOD coherence plays a key role. During the pre-1980 high coherence, ENSO drives both the IOD and regional rainfall, and the IOD’s influence cannot manifest itself. During the post-1980 weak coherence, a positive IOD leads to increased Indian rainfall, offsetting the impact from El Niño. Likewise, the post-1980 weak ENSO-IOD coherence means that El Niño’s pathway for influencing southern Australia cannot fully operate, and as positive IOD becomes more independent and more frequent during this period, its influence on southern Australia rainfall strengthens. There is no evidence to support that greenhouse warming plays a part in these decadal fluctuations.
Overexpression of calmodulin-like (ShCML44) stress-responsive gene from Solanum habrochaites enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses
Authors: Munir Shoaib , Liu Hui , Xing Yali , Hussain Saddam , Ouyang Bo , Zhang Yuyang , Li Hanxia , Ye Zhibiao 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCalmodulin-like (CML) proteins are important Ca2+ sensors, which play significant role in mediating plant stress tolerance. In the present study, cold responsive calmodulin-like (ShCML44) gene was isolated from cold tolerant wild tomato (Solanum habrochaites) and functionally characterized. The ShCML44 was differentially expressed in all plant tissues including root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit and was strongly up-regulated under cold, drought and salinity stresses along with plant growth hormones. Under cold stress, progressive increase in the expression of ShCML44 was observed particularly in cold-tolerant S. habrochaites. The ShCML44-overexpressed plants showed greater tolerance to cold, drought and salinity stresses and recorded higher germination and better seedling growth. Transgenic tomato plants demonstrated higher antioxidant enzymes activity, gas exchange and water retention capacity with lower malondialdehyde accumulation and membrane damage under cold and drought stresses compared to wild-type. Moreover, transgenic plants exhibited reduced reactive oxygen species and higher relative water contents under cold and drought stress, respectively. Greater stress tolerance of transgenic plants was further reflected by the up-/down-regulation of stress-related genes including SOD, GST, CAT, POD, LOX, PR and ERD. In crux, these results strengthen the molecular understanding of ShCML44 gene to improve the abiotic stress tolerance in tomato.
Gut microbiota can transfer fiber characteristics and lipid metabolic profiles of skeletal muscle from pigs to germ-free mice
Authors: Yan Honglin , Diao Hui , Xiao Yi , Li Wenxia , Yu Bing , He Jun , Yu Jie , Zheng Ping , Mao Xiangbing , Luo Yuheng , Zeng Benhua , Wei Hong , Chen Daiwen 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObesity causes changes in microbiota composition and an altered gut microbiota can transfer obesity-associated phenotypes from donors to recipients. Obese Rongchang pigs (RP) exhibited distinct fiber characteristics and lipid metabolic profiles in their muscle compared with lean Yorkshire pigs (YP). However, whether RP have a different gut microbiota than YP and whether there is a relationship between the microbiota and muscle properties are poorly understood. The present study was conducted to test whether the muscle properties can be transferred from pigs to germ-free (GF) mice. High-throughput pyrosequencing confirms the presence of distinct core microbiota between pig breeds, with alterations in taxonomic distribution and modulations in β diversity. RP displayed a significant higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and apparent genera differences compared with YP. Transplanting the porcine microbiota into GF mice replicated the phenotypes of the donors. RP and their GF mouse recipients exhibited a higher body fat mass, a higher slow-contracting fiber proportion, a decreased fiber size and fast IIb fiber percentage and enhanced lipogenesis in the gastrocnemius muscle. Furthermore, the gut microbiota composition of colonized mice shared high similarity with their donor pigs. Taken together, the gut microbiota of obese pigs intrinsically influences skeletal muscle development and the lipid metabolic profiles.
Physical Realization of von Neumann Lattices in Rotating Bose Gases with Dipole Interatomic Interactions
Authors: Cheng Szu-Cheng , Jheng Shih-Da 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis paper reports a novel type of vortex lattice, referred to as a bubble crystal, which was discovered in rapidly rotating Bose gases with long-range interactions. Bubble crystals differ from vortex lattices which possess a single quantum flux per unit cell, while atoms in bubble crystals are clustered periodically and surrounded by vortices. No existing model is able to describe the vortex structure of bubble crystals; however, we identified a mathematical lattice, which is a subset of coherent states and exists periodically in the physical space. This lattice is called a von Neumann lattice, and when it possesses a single vortex per unit cell, it presents the same geometrical structure as an Abrikosov lattice. In this report, we extend the von Neumann lattice to one with an integral number of flux quanta per unit cell and demonstrate that von Neumann lattices well reproduce the translational properties of bubble crystals. Numerical simulations confirm that, as a generalized vortex, a von Neumann lattice can be physically realized using vortex lattices in rapidly rotating Bose gases with dipole interatomic interactions.
The relationship between nuclear factor (NF)-κB family gene expression and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients receiving adjuvant doxorubicin treatment
Authors: Kim Ji-Yeon , Jung Hae Hyun , Ahn Soomin , Bae SooYoun , Lee Se Kyung , Kim Seok Won , Lee Jeong Eon , Nam Seok Jin , Ahn Jin Seok , Im Young-Hyuck , Park Yeon Hee 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe investigated gene expression profiles of the NF-κB pathway in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) receiving adjuvant chemotherapy to determine the prognostic value of NF-κB pathway genes according to chemotherapeutic regimen. We used the nCounter expression assay to measure expression of 11 genes (NFKB1, NFKB2, RELA, RELB, REL, TP53, FOXC1, TBP, SP1, STAT3 and IRF1 genes) belonging to the NF-κB pathway using mRNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 203 patients diagnosed with TNBC. Of the 203 patients, 116 were treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen containing doxorubicin. As revealed by the expression profiles of the 11 genes, increased expression of SP1 was associated with poor prognosis in TNBC patients treated with adjuvant doxorubicin chemotherapy (5-year distant recurrence-free survival [5Y DRFS], low vs. high expression [cut-off: median]: 92.3% vs. 71.6%, P = 0.001). In a multivariate Cox regression model, SP1 expression was a useful marker for predicting long-term prognosis in TNBC patients receiving doxorubicin treatment, and we thus suggest that SP1 expression could serve as a prognostic marker in these patients.
Wideband-Switchable Metamaterial Absorber Using Injected Liquid Metal
Authors: Kim Hyung Ki , Lee Dongju , Lim Sungjoon 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMetamaterial absorbers can provide good solutions for radar-cross-section (RCS) reduction. In spite of their attractive features of thinness, lightness, and low cost, resonant metamaterial absorbers have a drawback of narrow bandwidth. For practical radar applications, wideband absorbers are necessary. In this paper, we propose a wideband-switchable metamaterial absorber using liquid metal. In order to reduce RCS both for X-band and C-band, the switchable Jerusalem cross (JC) resonator is introduced. The JC resonator consists of slotted circular rings, chip resistors, and microfluidic channels. The JC resonator is etched on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and the microfluidic channels are laser-etched on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material. The proposed absorber can switch the absorption frequency band by injecting a liquid metal alloy into the channels. The performance of the absorber was demonstrated through full-wave simulation and through measurements employing prototypes. The experimental results showed absorption ratios of over 90% from 7.43 GHz to 14.34 GHz, and from 5.62 GHz to 7.3 GHz, with empty channels and liquid metal-filled channels, respectively. Therefore, the absorption band was successfully switched between the C-band (4–8 GHz) and the X-band (8–12 GHz) by injecting liquid metal eutectic gallium indium alloy (EGaIn) into the channels.