bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proteomic analysis of giant panda testicular tissue of different age groups
Authors: Peng Jing , Wang Tao , Li Feiping , Wang Shenfei , Zhang Mengshi , Ayala James , Liu Yuliang , Hou Rong , Cai Kailai 
Published: October 2024

Background
The reproductive ability of male giant pandas has been a major complicating factor in the ex-situ conservation of the species. While it is well known that the testis produces sperm and secretes androgens, a process that requires precise regulation of various proteins, at present, there has been no systematic study on the composition of proteins in the testis of the giant pandas. Therefore, this study aims to apply proteomics to explore the regulation of proteins in the testes of giant pandas.

Methods
Samples from the testes of three giant pandas (22 years, 18 years, 8 days) were studied to assess the protein’s function. A label-free quantitative method was used to isolate testicular proteins from each male, 139,039 peptides and 11,435 proteins were obtained.

Results
Gene Ontology (GO) annotates most of the proteins involved in the processes of protein phosphorylation, oxidation-reduction, proteolysis, and signal transduction. KEGG pathway indicated that most of the proteins were involved in the pathway of signal transduction, transport, and catabolism. The protein kinase and WD40 repeats were involved in protein-protein interaction, which in turn regulates gene expression in the testicular tissue of giant pandas.

Conclusions
This study is the first to conduct an in-depth proteomic analysis of testicular tissue in giant pandas. The results revealed the important role of proteins in testicular tissue on spermatogenesis, testosterone production, and testicular microenvironment, providing clues for further research on male giant panda reproduction.
Views of Peidu: Mothers Accompanying Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disorders to School in China
Authors: McCabe Helen , Jiang Tian , Klein Susan M. , Qian Xueqin , Tsao Ling-Ling 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Educational opportunities for children with disabilities in China have increased recently, often due to parent efforts. This qualitative study sought to understand the practice of parents (mothers) accompanying their children with autism and other developmental disabilities to school (peidu), providing individualized support in a variety of school settings. Through interviews with parents of 12 children, and four teachers, four themes emerged from data analysis: 1) lack of formal support resources; 2) building relationships with leaders and teachers; 3) mothers as a bridge with other children; and 4) the essential role of managing behavior. This research shows the important role mothers play in securing and maintaining educational opportunities for their children, by going to school with their children (peidu); yet peidu is not a universal or desirable long-term solution. Challenges of effectively supporting students with disabilities in classrooms are not unique to China, and solutions involve and point to the importance of collaboration in education. We conclude with recommendations for supporting parents and teachers, and directions for future research.
Denitrification in the banks of fluctuating rivers: The effects of river stage amplitude, sediment hydraulic conductivity and dispersivity, and ambient groundwater flow
Authors: Shuai Pin , Cardenas M. Bayani , Knappett Peter S. K. , Bennett Philip C. , Neilson Bethany T. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractHyporheic exchange induced by periodic river fluctuations leads to important biogeochemical processes, particularly nitrogen cycling, in riparian zones (RZs) where chemically distinct surface water and groundwater mix. We developed a two‐dimensional coupled flow, reactive transport model to study the role of bank storage induced by river fluctuations on removing river‐borne nitrate. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to quantify the effects of river amplitude, sediment hydraulic conductivity and dispersivity, and ambient groundwater flow on nitrate removal rate. The simulations showed that nitrification occurred in the shallower zone adjacent to the bank where oxic river water and groundwater interacted while denitrification occurred deeper into the aquifer and in the riverbed sediments where oxygen was depleted. River fluctuations greatly increased the amount of nitrate being removed; the nitrate removal rate increased as river amplitude increased. Similarly, increasing hydraulic conductivity increased overall nitrate removal since it expanded the denitrifying zone but decreased efficiency. In contrast, increasing sediment dispersivity increased the removal efficiency of nitrate because it promoted mixing between electron acceptors and donors. The presence and direction of ambient groundwater flow had a significant impact on nitrate removal rate when compared to neutral conditions. A losing river showed a larger nitrate removal rate, whereas a gaining river showed a smaller nitrate removal rate. Our results demonstrated that daily river fluctuations created denitrification hot spots within the RZ that would not otherwise exist under naturally neutral or gaining conditions.
Automatic x‐ray image contrast enhancement based on parameter auto‐optimization
Authors: Qiu Jianfeng , Harold Li H. , Zhang Tiezhi , Ma Fangfang , Yang Deshan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPurposeInsufficient image contrast associated with radiation therapy daily setup x‐ray images could negatively affect accurate patient treatment setup. We developed a method to perform automatic and user‐independent contrast enhancement on 2D kilo voltage (kV) and megavoltage (MV) x‐ray images. The goal was to provide tissue contrast optimized for each treatment site in order to support accurate patient daily treatment setup and the subsequent offline review.MethodsThe proposed method processes the 2D x‐ray images with an optimized image processing filter chain, which consists of a noise reduction filter and a high‐pass filter followed by a contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) filter. The most important innovation is to optimize the image processing parameters automatically to determine the required image contrast settings per disease site and imaging modality. Three major parameters controlling the image processing chain, i.e., the Gaussian smoothing weighting factor for the high‐pass filter, the block size, and the clip limiting parameter for the CLAHE filter, were determined automatically using an interior‐point constrained optimization algorithm.ResultsFifty‐two kV and MV x‐ray images were included in this study. The results were manually evaluated and ranked with scores from 1 (worst, unacceptable) to 5 (significantly better than adequate and visually praise worthy) by physicians and physicists. The average scores for the images processed by the proposed method, the CLAHE, and the best window‐level adjustment were 3.92, 2.83, and 2.27, respectively. The percentage of the processed images received a score of 5 were 48, 29, and 18%, respectively.ConclusionThe proposed method is able to outperform the standard image contrast adjustment procedures that are currently used in the commercial clinical systems. When the proposed method is implemented in the clinical systems as an automatic image processing filter, it could be useful for allowing quicker and potentially more accurate treatment setup and facilitating the subsequent offline review and verification.
Querkrafttragfähigkeit von Stahlbetonplatten ohne Querkraftbewehrung unter konzentrierten Einzellasten
Authors: Rombach Günter , Henze Lukas 
Published: September 2017

AbstractEine große Anzahl der Fahrbahnplatten von bestehenden Betonbrücken in Europa zeigt nach aktuellen Entwurfsregeln ein rechnerisches Defizit bei der Querkrafttragfähigkeit. Eine bauliche Ertüchtigung ist in den meisten Fällen schwer möglich und sehr teuer. Reale Schadensfälle welche auf ein Querkraftversagen zurückzuführen wären, sind den Autoren nicht bekannt. Dies ist ein Indiz dafür, dass die bestehenden Rechenansätze Reserven aufweisen und das Querkrafttragverhalten von Stahlbetonplatten nicht in ausreichendem Maße verstanden und geklärt ist. Umfangreiche internationale Forschungsaktivitäten zu diesem Thema bestätigen diesen Sachverhalt. Bislang besteht u. a. kein Konsens bezüglich des Nachweisverfahrens (u. a. Querkraft bzw. Durchstanzen), des Nachweisschnitts sowie der Abminderung auflagernaher Einzellasten bei Platten (β‐Faktor).Zur Klärung dieser Fragen wurden 14 Großversuche an auskragenden Stahlbetonplatten (3,25 × 4,5 m, Dicke 0,25 m) ohne Bügelbewehrung sowie umfangreiche numerische Simulationen durchgeführt. Da die rechnerische Querkrafttragfähigkeit von Brückenfahrbahnplatten maßgeblich durch die konzentrierten Radlasten des Lastmodells 1 bestimmt wird, wurden die Versuchskörper durch konzentrierte Blocklasten mit einer Aufstandsfläche von 40 × 40 cm entsprechend dem Lastmodell 1 des Eurocodes 1 [1] bis zum Versagen belastet. Hierbei wurde der Einfluss der Laststellung, der Lastabtrag bei mehreren Blocklasten sowie der Einfluss verschiedener Bewehrungsgehalte auf die Querkrafttragfähigkeit untersucht. Die Versuchsergebnisse zeigen, dass übliche Fahrbahnplatten erheblich größere Tragfähigkeiten aufweisen, als sich nach EC2 [2] rechnerisch ergeben.
Desquamation takes center stage at the origin of proliferative inflammatory atrophy, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and stromal growth in benign prostate hyperplasia
Authors: Ferrucci Danilo , Biancardi Manoel F. , Nishan Umar , Rosa‐Ribeiro Rafaela , Carvalho Hernandes F. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn this commentary, we propose a relationship between desquamation, initially described as the collective detachment and deletion of epithelial cell in the prostate gland after castration, and proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) and stromal growth in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). First, in response to diverse stimuli, including inflammatory mediators, epithelial cells desquamate and leave a large surface of the luminal side of the basement membrane (BM) exposed. Basal cells are activated into intermediate‐type cells, which change morphology to cover and remodel the exposed BM (simple atrophy) to a new physiological demand (such as in the hypoandrogen environment, simulated by surgical and/or chemical castration) and/or to support re‐epithelialization (under normal androgen levels). In the presence of inflammation (that might be the cause of desquamation), the intermediate‐type cells proliferate and characterize PIA. Second, in other circumstances, desquamation is an early step of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), which contributes to stromal growth, as suggested by some experimental models of BPH. The proposed associations correlate unexplored cell behaviors and reveal the remarkable plasticity of the prostate epithelium that might be at the origin of prostate diseases.
Limiting Assumptions in the Design of Peptidomimetics
Authors: Marshall Garland R. , Ballante Flavio 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT

Preclinical Research

Limiting the flexibility of organic compounds to enhance their affinity and selectivity for targeting a macromolecule involved in molecular recognition has become a well‐developed paradigm in medicinal chemistry. While the role of reverse‐turn motifs as peptidomimetics has received the most attention, β‐sheets and helices are also important motifs for protein/protein interactions. The more complicated problem of mimicking the interacting surface of noncontiguous epitopes will not be considered in this review. This limited overview focuses on efforts to use amino acid synthons as secondary‐structure mimetics as well as providing examples of peptidomimetic design focused on nonpeptide synthetic chemistry in contrast. In particular, the rationale of optimal design criteria for mimicry and the many naïve violations of those criteria made in its pursuit are emphasized. Drug Dev Res 78 : 245–267, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reactive Phase‐Change Materials for Enhanced Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Drake Griffin , Freiberg Lucas , AuYeung Nick 
Published: September 2017

AbstractEffective storage and release of low‐to‐moderate temperature thermal energy (e.g., solar thermal or geothermal) could be transformational for applications such as space heating/cooling, domestic hot water, or off‐grid cooking. Good candidates for thermal energy storage in this temperature range include latent heat storage (LHS) systems and thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems using reversible salt‐hydrate dehydration reactions. Here, we propose that an energy‐storage system by use of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate can potentially improve upon independent TCES or LHS systems by utilizing both the thermochemical hydration reaction and the latent heat available through the solid–liquid phase change of one magnesium nitrate hydrate eutectic. This chemistry is investigated through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and shows a total energy density of approximately 1170±94 kJ kg−1 when dehydrating the material up to 145 °C. Reversible latent heat cycling at a eutectic melting temperature of 130 °C is shown by the DSC signal and estimated to be on the order of 115±9.2 kJ kg−1—a 10 % increase over the thermochemical energy storage alone. Although the latent energy release was found to decrease slightly over several cycles, the mass was found to stabilize near an asymptotic value corresponding to the published eutectic composition. These results suggest the concept of reactive phase‐change materials could be a promising solution to increasing the stored volumetric energy density.
SOFC's Anode Protection by Bias Current Application: First Experimental Results on a Short Stack
Authors: Brunaccini G. , Ferraro M. , Squadrito G. , Di Giovanni L. , Antonucci V. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSolid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are exposed to failures due to thermal and redox cycles, above all in the case of unexpected shut downs. Effects of thermal cycles related to controlled startup and shutdown can be mitigated by appropriate start/stop strategies, but unpredictable shutdowns strongly damage the devices, especially in anode supported cells. On the one hand, the nickel oxidation quickly arises above 250 °C at the anode and usually leads to cells cracks; on the other hand, very fast cooling of the SOFC stack down to 250 °C could lead to the thermal shock breakage as a consequence. Recently, reverse bias current application has been proposed to protect the anode from re‐oxidation. In the presented work, the reverse bias current approach has been applied on a SOFC stack to assess the technique for relevant power devices. The results show that this protection method is promising as a safety approach.
Verhalten von Sand unter zyklischer Beanspruchung mit Änderung der Lastrichtung im Einfachscherversuch
Authors: Le Viet Hung , Rackwitz Frank , Savidis Stavros 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIm vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse experimenteller und numerischer Untersuchungen des Verformungsverhaltens von Sand unter zyklischer Beanspruchung mit Polarisationsänderung vorgestellt. Es ist bekannt, dass bei einem Polarisationswechsel die Akkumulationsrate sprunghaft ansteigt. Mit Fokussierung auf dieses Phänomen wurde ein umfangreiches Versuchsprogramm am Einfachschergerät mit veränderbarer Lastrichtung durchgeführt. Dabei wurde die Abhängigkeit des Verformungsverhaltens von Amplitude, Lagerungsdichte, Normalspannung, Änderungswinkel, Zeitpunkt der Änderung und Variation der Amplitude detailliert untersucht. Anhand der Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung wird ein neuer Ansatz für die Beschreibung des Polarisationswechsels in einem expliziten Akkumulationsmodell formuliert.
Nutrient intake and dietary changes during a 2-year multi-domain lifestyle intervention among older adults: secondary analysis of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lehtisalo Jenni , Ngandu Tiia , Valve Päivi , Antikainen Riitta , Laatikainen Tiina , Strandberg Timo , Soininen Hilkka , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Kivipelto Miia , Lindström Jaana 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAdvancing age increases the risk for diseases and health concerns like cognitive decline, constituting a major public health challenge. Lifestyle, especially healthy diet, affects many risk factors related to chronic diseases, and thus lifestyle interventions among older adults may be beneficial in promoting successful ageing. We completed a randomised 2-year multi-domain lifestyle intervention trial aiming at prevention of cognitive decline among 631 participants in the intervention and 629 in the control group, aged 60–77 years at baseline. Dietary counselling was one of the intervention domains together with strength exercise, cognitive training and management of CVD risk factors. The aim of this paper was to describe success of the intervention – that is, how an intervention based on national dietary recommendations affected dietary habits as a part of multi-intervention. Composite dietary intervention adherence score comprising nine distinct goals (range 0–9 points from none to achieving all goals) was 5·0 at baseline, and increased in the intervention group after the 1st (P<0·001) and 2nd (P=0·005) year. The difference in change compared with the control group was significant at both years (P<0·001 and P=0·018). Intake of several vitamins and minerals decreased in the control group but remained unchanged or increased in the intervention group during the 2 years. Well-targeted dietary counselling may prevent age-related decline in diet quality and help in preventing cognitive decline.
Impact of Comorbidity on Fatality Rate of Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Yang Ya-Min , Hsu Chen-Yang , Lai Chao-Chih , Yen Ming-Fang , Wikramaratna Paul S. , Chen Hsiu-Hsi , Wang Tsung-Hsi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractTo date, 1841 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection have been reported worldwide, with 652 deaths. We used a publically available case line list to explore the effect of relevant factors, notably underlying comorbidities, on fatal outcome of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) cases up to the end of October 2016. A Bayesian Weibull proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the effect of comorbidity, age, epidemic period and sex on the fatality rate of MERS cases and its variation across countries. The crude fatality rate of MERS cases was 32.1% (95% credibility interval (CI): 29.9%, 34.3%). Notably, the incremental change of daily death rate was most prominent during the first week since disease onset with an average increase of 13%, but then stabilized in the remaining two weeks when it only increased 3% on average. Neither sex, nor country of infection were found to have a significant impact on fatality rates after taking into account the age and comorbidity status of patients. After adjusting for age, epidemic period, MERS patients with comorbidity had around 4 times the risk for fatal infection than those without (adjusted hazard ratio of 3.74 (95% CI: 2.57, 5.67)).
Synergy of two low-affinity NLSs determines the high avidity of influenza A virus nucleoprotein NP for human importin α isoforms
Authors: Wu Wei , Sankhala Rajeshwer S. , Florio Tyler J. , Zhou Lixin , Nguyen Nhan L. T. , Lokareddy Ravi K. , Cingolani Gino , Panté Nelly 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) is an essential multifunctional protein that encapsidates the viral genome and functions as an adapter between the virus and the host cell machinery. NPs from all strains of influenza A viruses contain two nuclear localization signals (NLSs): a well-studied monopartite NLS1 and a less-characterized NLS2, thought to be bipartite. Through site-directed mutagenesis and functional analysis, we found that NLS2 is also monopartite and is indispensable for viral infection. Atomic structures of importin α bound to two variants of NLS2 revealed NLS2 primarily binds the major-NLS binding site of importin α, unlike NLS1 that associates with the minor NLS-pocket. Though peptides corresponding to NLS1 and NLS2 bind weakly to importin α, the two NLSs synergize in the context of the full length NP to confer high avidity for importin α7, explaining why the virus efficiently replicates in the respiratory tract that exhibits high levels of this isoform. This study, the first to functionally characterize NLS2, demonstrates NLS2 plays an important and unexpected role in influenza A virus infection. We propose NLS1 and NLS2 form a bipartite NLS in trans, which ensures high avidity for importin α7 while preventing non-specific binding to viral RNA.
Projection Stereolithographic Fabrication of BMP-2 Gene-activated Matrix for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Lin Hang , Tang Ying , Lozito Thomas P. , Oyster Nicholas , Kang Robert B. , Fritch Madalyn R. , Wang Bing , Tuan Rocky S. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCurrently, sustained in vivo delivery of active bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) protein to responsive target cells, such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), remains challenging. Ex vivo gene transfer method, while efficient, requires additional operation for cell culture and therefore, is not compatible with point-of-care treatment. In this study, two lentiviral gene constructs – (1) Lv-BMP/GFP, containing human BMP-2 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene (BMP group); or (2) Lv-GFP, containing GFP gene (GFP group) – were incorporated with human BMSCs into a solution of photocrosslinkable gelatin, which was then subjected to visible light-based projection stereolithographic printing to form a scaffold with desired architectures. Upon in vitro culture, compared to the GFP group, cells from BMP group showed >1,000-fold higher BMP-2 release, and the majority of them stained intensely for alkaline phosphatase activity. Real-time RT-PCR also showed dramatically increased expression of osteogenesis marker genes only in the BMP group. 3.5 months post-implantation into SCID mice, the micro-computed tomography imaging showed detectable mineralized areas only in the BMP group, which was restricted within the scaffolds. Alizarin red staining and immunohistochemistry of GFP and osteocalcin further indicated that the grafted hBMSCs, not host cells, contributed primarily to the newly formed bone.
Recurrent network dynamics reconciles visual motion segmentation and integration
Authors: Medathati N. V. Kartheek , Rankin James , Meso Andrew I. , Kornprobst Pierre , Masson Guillaume S. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn sensory systems, a range of computational rules are presumed to be implemented by neuronal subpopulations with different tuning functions. For instance, in primate cortical area MT, different classes of direction-selective cells have been identified and related either to motion integration, segmentation or transparency. Still, how such different tuning properties are constructed is unclear. The dominant theoretical viewpoint based on ﻿a linear-nonlinear feed-forward cascade does not account for their complex temporal dynamics and their versatility when facing different input statistics. Here, we demonstrate that a recurrent network model of visual motion processing can reconcile these different properties. Using a ring network, we show how excitatory and inhibitory interactions can implement different computational rules such as vector averaging, winner-take-all or superposition. The model also captures ordered temporal transitions between these behaviors. In particular, depending on the inhibition regime the network can switch from motion integration to segmentation, thus being able to compute either a single pattern motion or to superpose multiple inputs as in motion transparency. We thus demonstrate that recurrent architectures can adaptively give rise to different cortical computational regimes depending upon the input statistics, from sensory flow integration to segmentation.