bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term use of ceftriaxone sodium induced changes in gut microbiota and immune system
Authors: Guo Yanjie , Yang Xuefei , Qi Yane , Wen Shu , Liu Yinhui , Tang Shaoying , Huang Rongsheng , Tang Li 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAntibiotic administration, while facilitating clearance of targeted infections, also perturbs commensal microbial communities. Previous studies have all focused on the effects of short term use of antibiotics. Here, we focus on the effects of long term use of antibiotic on gut microbiota and immunity. BALB/c mice received saline or different doses of ceftriaxone sodium (100, 200 and 400 mg/mL) via daily gavage for 150 days. Alterations of fecal microbiota, small intestine histopathology, body weight, spleen index, serum IgG, mucus SIgA, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, CD4/CD8 ratio and CD4+CD25+ cells were evaluated. Long term ceftriaxone sodium administration resulted in gut microbiota dysbiosis, intestine histological lesions, growth inhibition, spleen index reducing. The immune defense ability reduced as serum IgG and mucus SIgA decreased significantly. Not only the immune defense, long term ceftriaxone administration also affected immune regulation. The IFN-γ/IL-4 and CD4/CD8 ratios increased, the CD4+CD25+ cells reduced on days 30 and 60 after ceftriaxone administration. However, after 90 days of ceftriaxone administration, the IFN-γ/IL-4, CD4/CD8 ratios and CD4+CD25+ cells restored, which indicated a new balance of immune regulation had been formed. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of long term antibiotic administration influencing gut microbiota and immunity.
Group A Streptococcal M1 Protein Provides Resistance against the Antimicrobial Activity of Histones
Authors: Döhrmann Simon , LaRock Christopher N. , Anderson Ericka L. , Cole Jason N. , Ryali Brinda , Stewart Chelsea , Nonejuie Poochit , Pogliano Joe , Corriden Ross , Ghosh Partho , Nizet Victor 
Published: February 2017

AbstractHistones are essential elements of chromatin structure and gene regulation in eukaryotes. An unexpected attribute of these nuclear proteins is their antimicrobial activity. A framework for histone release and function in host defense in vivo was revealed with the discovery of neutrophil extracellular traps, a specialized cell death process in which DNA-based structures containing histones are extruded to ensnare and kill bacteria. Investigating the susceptibility of various Gram-positive pathogens to histones, we found high-level resistance by one leading human pathogen, group A Streptococcus (GAS). A screen of isogenic mutants revealed that the highly surface-expressed M1 protein, a classical GAS virulence factor, was required for high-level histone resistance. Biochemical and microscopic analyses revealed that the N-terminal domain of M1 protein binds and inactivates histones before they reach their cell wall target of action. This finding illustrates a new pathogenic function for this classic GAS virulence factor, and highlights a potential innate immune evasion strategy that may be employed by other bacterial pathogens.
Waist-to-height ratio is an effective indicator for comprehensive cardiovascular health
Authors: Shen Shiwei , Lu Yun , Qi Huajin , Li Feng , Shen Zhenhai , Wu Liuxin , Yang Chengjian , Wang Ling , Shui Kedong , Yao Weifeng , Qiang Dongchang , Yun Jingting , Zhou Lin 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the associations between cardiovascular health and the waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). A cross-sectional study was performed recruiting 26701 middle-aged Chinese men. Of the seven ideal cardiovascular health metrics, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were found to increase with an elevation of the mean WC and WHtR. The mean WC and WHtR were significantly lower in the subjects with intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health than those with poor or intermediate health. After adjustment for age, the mean WC and WHtR decreased by 1.486 cm and 0.009 per 1-point increase in the cardiovascular health score, and 2.242 cm and 0.013 per 1-point increase in the number of ideal cardiovascular health metrics, respectively. The cardiovascular health score was negatively correlated with the WC (r = −0.387) and WHtR (r = −0.400), while the number of ideal cardiovascular health metrics was negatively associated with the WC (r = −0.384) and WHtR (r = −0.395). The cardiovascular health is correlated negatively with the WC and WHtR, and a stronger correlation existed between the cardiovascular health and WHtR than WC.
Exploration of the role of gene mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes through a sequencing design involving a small number of target genes
Authors: Xu Feng , Wu Ling-Yun , He Qi , Wu Dong , Zhang Zheng , Song Lu-Xi , Zhao You-Shan , Su Ji-Ying , Zhou Li-Yu , Guo Juan , Chang Chun-Kang , Li Xiao 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNovel sequencing designs are necessary to supplement the recognized knowledge of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-related genomic alterations. In this study, we sequenced 28 target genes in 320 Chinese MDS patients but obtained 77.2% of recall factors and 82.8% of genetic abnormalities (including karyotype abnormalities). In addition to known relationships among mutations, some specific chromosomal abnormalities were found to link to specific gene mutations. Trisomy 8 tended to be linked to U2AF1 and ZRSR2 mutations, and 20q- exhibited higher SRSF2/WT1 and U2AF1 mutation frequency. Chromosome 7 involvement accounted for up to 50% of RUNX1 mutations and 37.5% of SETBP1 mutations. Patients carrying a complex karyotype were prone to present TP53 mutations (36.1%). However, individuals with normal karyotypes rarely possessed mutations in the TP53, RUNX1 and U2AF1. Moreover, DNMT3A, TP53, SRSF2, STAG2, ROBO1/2 and WT1 predicted poor survival and high AML transformation. By integrating these predictors into international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) or revised IPSS, we built a set of mutation-based prognostic risk models. These models could layer different degrees of risk in patients more satisfactorily. In summary, this sequencing design was able to detect a number of gene mutations and could be used to stratify patients with varied prognostic risk.
Homozygous carriers of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 T-allele show altered postprandial response in triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins
Authors: Engelbrechtsen L. , Hansen T. H. , Mahendran Y. , Pyl P. , Andersson E. , Jonsson A. , Gjesing A. , Linneberg A. , Jørgensen T. , Hansen T. , Vestergaard H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe TCF7L2 rs7903146 T-allele shows the strongest association with type 2 diabetes (T2D) among common gene variants. The aim of this study was to assess circulating levels of metabolites following a meal test in individuals carrying the high risk rs790346 TT genotype (cases) and low-risk CC genotype (controls). Sixty-two men were recruited based on TCF7L2 genotype, 31 were TT carriers and 31 were age- and BMI-matched CC carriers. All participants consumed a test meal after 12 hours of fasting. Metabolites were measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Metabolomic profiling of TCF7L2 carriers were performed for 141 lipid estimates. TT carriers had lower fasting levels of L-VLDL-L (total lipids in large very low density lipoproteins, p = 0.045), L-VLDL-CE (cholesterol esters in large VLDL, p = 0.03), and L-VLDL-C (total cholesterol in large VLDL, p = 0.045) compared to CC carriers. Additionally, TT carriers had lower postprandial levels of total triglycerides (TG) (q = 0.03), VLDL-TG (q = 0.05, including medium, small and extra small, q = 0.048, q = 0.0009, q = 0.04, respectively), HDL-TG (triglycerides in high density lipoproteins q = 0.037) and S-HDL-TG (q = 0.00003). In conclusion, TT carriers show altered postprandial triglyceride response, mainly influencing VLDL and HDL subclasses suggesting a genotype-mediated effect on hepatic lipid regulation.
Reducing luminance intensity can improve motion perception in noise
Authors: Allard Rémy , Arleo Angelo 
Published: February 2017

AbstractVisual perception generally improves under brighter environments. For instance, motion sensitivity is known to improve with luminance intensity especially at high temporal frequencies. However, the current study counter-intuitively shows that increasing luminance intensity can impair motion sensitivity in noise. Motion sensitivity was measured with and without noise added to a drifting Gabor patch as a function of the temporal frequency and luminance intensity. As expected, motion sensitivity in absence of noise reached a ceiling performance at a relatively low luminance intensity (about 35 td) for low temporal frequencies and improved with luminance intensity up to the highest luminance intensity tested (353 td) for high temporal frequencies. In noise, reducing mean luminance intensity facilitated motion sensitivity (up to a factor of about 1.7) for temporal frequencies up to 7.5 Hz and impaired sensitivity at higher temporal frequencies (15 and 30 Hz). We conclude that reducing luminance intensity is effectively equivalent to applying a low-pass filter, which can improve motion sensitivity in noise to low and middle temporal frequencies. This counterintuitive facilitation effect can be explained by two known properties of the visual system: decreasing luminance intensity impairs the visibility of high temporal frequencies (equivalent to a low-pass filter) and motion detectors are broadly tuned.
Premature primary tooth eruption in cognitive/motor-delayed ADNP-mutated children
Authors: Gozes I , Van Dijck A , Hacohen-Kleiman G , Grigg I , Karmon G , Giladi E , Eger M , Gabet Y , Pasmanik-Chor M , Cappuyns E , Elpeleg O , Kooy R F , Bedrosian-Sermone S 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA major flaw in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) management is late diagnosis. Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is a most frequent de novo mutated ASD-related gene. Functionally, ADNP protects nerve cells against electrical blockade. In mice, complete Adnp deficiency results in dysregulation of over 400 genes and failure to form a brain. Adnp haploinsufficiency results in cognitive and social deficiencies coupled to sex- and age-dependent deficits in the key microtubule and ion channel pathways. Here, collaborating with parents/caregivers globally, we discovered premature tooth eruption as a potential early diagnostic biomarker for ADNP mutation. The parents of 44/54 ADNP-mutated children reported an almost full erupted dentition by 1 year of age, including molars and only 10 of the children had teeth within the normal developmental time range. Looking at Adnp-deficient mice, by computed tomography, showed significantly smaller dental sacs and tooth buds at 5 days of age in the deficient mice compared to littermate controls. There was only trending at 2 days, implicating age-dependent dysregulation of teething in Adnp-deficient mice. Allen Atlas analysis showed Adnp expression in the jaw area. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and gene array analysis of human ADNP-mutated lymphoblastoids, whole-mouse embryos and mouse brains identified dysregulation of bone/nervous system-controlling genes resulting from ADNP mutation/deficiency (for example, BMP1 and BMP4). AKAP6, discovered here as a major gene regulated by ADNP, also links cognition and bone maintenance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that early primary (deciduous) teething is related to the ADNP syndrome, providing for early/simple diagnosis and paving the path to early intervention/specialized treatment plan.
Wideband transition between rectangular waveguide and microstrip using asymmetric fin line probe
Authors: Li Jian , Huang Yongjun , Li Yi , Wen Guangjun , Xiao Fulin 
Published: February 2017

A novel wideband waveguide‐to‐microstrip transition realised by inserting asymmetric fin line probe into metallic rectangular waveguide is presented. One back‐to‐back transition covering the Ka band is designed, fabricated and tested to show the advantages of such asymmetric fin line‐probe inspired transition structure, and measured results consist well with simulations. An insertion loss less than 0.8 dB and a return loss better than 15 dB over 24–40 GHz are obtained for the back‐to‐back structure. This broadband fin line‐probe transition between rectangular waveguide and microstrip can be used widely in microwave and millimetre‐wave circuit and system.
Design of D‐band frequency doubler with compact power combiner
Authors: Dou Jiangling , Jiang Shu , Xu Jinping , Wang Wenbo 
Published: February 2017

The design and results of a D‐band frequency doubler using two parallelly mounted Schottky dual‐diode chips are presented, which is considered as a unit in the doubler design. The doubler features four Schottky anodes closely located at a compact region, being no need for additional power dividing and combining circuit. The purpose is to verify the feasibility of a simple and compact hybrid microwave integrated circuit (HMIC) circuitry for frequency doubling with a higher power‐handling capability in this band, and an effective fast method for designing the matching networks of the doubler. With an input driving power of about 20 dBm at the E‐band and bias voltage of 0 V, it delivers an output power of 6 ± 1 dBm across the band of 140–152 GHz and 2–4.7 dBm over the bands of 152–160 and 135–140 GHz.
W‐band waveguide filter based on large TM120 resonators to ease CNC milling
Authors: Shang Xiaobang , Lancaster Michael , Dong Yu‐Liang 
Published: February 2017

A W‐band waveguide bandpass filter, based on coupled TM120 resonators, fabricated using CNC milling, is presented. TM120 resonators are superior to conventional TE101 resonators, in terms of having a larger size and reduced aspect ratio, which facilitates the fabrication process as well as allowing larger tolerances in the milling process. This type of resonator also offers a high unloaded quality factor, and ultimately yields a small insertion loss for the filter. A W‐band filter, with a centre frequency of 100 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 6%, is designed using four TM120 resonators and constructed from three brass shims which directly fit to the waveguide flanges. This filter is measured to have a median passband insertion loss of 0.5 dB and a return loss better than 13 dB across the whole passband.
Differential substrate integrated waveguide bandpass filter with improved common‐mode suppression utilising complementary split‐ring resonators
Authors: Zhang Hao , Kang Wei , Wu Wen 
Published: February 2017

A novel differential substrate integrated waveguide bandpass filter is proposed. The TE102‐mode cavities arranged on the symmetrical plane could efficiently reduce the common‐mode (CM) signal, meanwhile, transmitting the differential‐mode signal. Additional transmission zeros have been obtained by using cross coupling in the dual‐mode cavities. Moreover, by symmetrically etching complementary split‐ring resonators on the bottom layer of the substrate, the CM could be suppressed whereas differential signals are not affected. To verify the above design concept, a prototype operating at 8.07 GHz has been realised and shows the desired filtering performance.
3D printed 1.1 THz waveguides
Authors: Otter W.J. , Ridler N.M. , Yasukochi H. , Soeda K. , Konishi K. , Yumoto J. , Kuwata‐Gonokami M. , Lucyszyn S. 
Published: February 2017

For the first time, 3D printed metal‐pipe rectangular waveguides (MPRWGs) have been demonstrated in the WM‐380 (500–750 GHz) and WM‐250 (750 GHz–1.1 THz) waveguide bands. The ultra‐high spatial resolution offered by the new RECILS additive manufacturing technology enables the precision fabrication of these prototype MPRWGs at such high frequencies. This enabling technology avoids the need for access to expensive microfabrication resources and, thus, opens up the terahertz spectrum to the low‐cost manufacture of passive components.
Mean arterial pressure‐embedded model for real‐time simulation and controller validation
Authors: Silva S.J. , Scardovelli T.A. , Martucci H.N. , Boschi S.R.M.S. , Silva A.P. 
Published: February 2017

The lack of models for automatic control of mean arterial pressure (MAP), in real‐time, associated with variability in response to sodium nitroprusside infusion, makes it impossible to validate automatic MAP controllers. Therefore, this Letter presents a low‐cost innovative real‐time model to MAP. Therefore, the authors used a variation of the mathematical model of Slate, implemented in MATLAB®. The system was developed with the capabilities of Simulink® and deployed to a single‐board computer. The results showed that the embedded model presented an error <3% for a target MAP of 100 mmHg, allowing the use of this model, in real time, for validation of embedded MAP controllers.
Multiresolution acquisition scheme for the physical layer design of a direct sequence spread spectrum transequatorial HF ionospheric data link
Authors: Alsina‐Pagès Rosa Ma , Socoró Joan Claudi , Salvador Martí , Hervás Marcos 
Published: February 2017

This study presents the final implementation of a multiresolution acquisition structure, designed and tested for a long‐distance ionospheric High Frequency link from Antarctica to Spain. It completes the receiver's physical layer design for this link of 12,760 km, improving the performance of the communications system. The goals of this proposal are to achieve a faster convergence, as well as a more robust and stable acquisition and demodulation. The multiresolution structure is based on least mean square adaptive filters. Acquisition is achieved when a filter converges to a decimated version of the Pseudo‐Noise sequence. Convergence parameters have been adjusted for best performance in the long‐haul time variant ionospheric channel. The information about channel's multipath dispersion is used to improve the direct sequence spread spectrum demodulation at the receiver. The results presented in this study are obtained from real data transmitted through the ionospheric Antarctic channel in the austral summer of 2008 and show the improvements in terms of stability, robustness and Bit Error Rate in the receiver. These improvements led us to choose this multiresolution acquisition structure for the receiver of the Antarctic HF system.
Model‐free predictive current control for three‐phase AC/DC converters
Authors: Lai Yen‐Shin , Lin Cheng‐Kai , Chuang Fu‐Pao , Yu Jen‐te 
Published: February 2017

A novel model‐free predictive current control (MFPCC) approach for three‐phase AC/DC converters is proposed, which only measures the input currents and calculates their differences under different switching states. Existing model‐based predictive current control (MBPCC) methods are based on converter models and thus require the knowledge of input current, input and terminal voltages, resistance, and inductance. Compared to the MBPCC, the main advantages of the proposed MFPCC include eliminations of the converter model, multiplication operations, and tuning of system parameters. Simulation results show that the proposed MFPCC controls the input current slightly better than does the MBPCC. Experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, which are obtained from a three‐phase AC/DC converter under the specifications of 380 V output voltage, 220 V/AC input voltage, and 1000 W output power. The measured harmonics orders 2–19 are shown to meet the IEC61000‐3‐2 Class A standard under 1000 W of output power. To the authors’ best knowledge, it is the first MFPCC for such applications.
Method for calculating corona inception voltage of ultra‐high‐voltage direct current transmission lines with frequency‐domain characteristics of corona current
Authors: Liu Yingyi , Zhou Lijuan , Liu Yuanqing , Yuan Haiwen , Ji Liang 
Published: February 2017

Corona inception voltage is of great significance for the design of ultra‐high‐voltage direct current transmission lines. In this study, based on the change rule of frequency‐domain characteristics of corona current, a new method for calculating corona inception voltage is proposed. First, corona current waveforms are collected through experiments and the range of measuring voltages is determined according to the frequency spectrum characteristics of corona current. Then, the curves representing the relationship between the change rate of corona current octave power and the voltage at different centre frequencies (6–20 kHz) are obtained through least‐square fitting. The voltage at which the fitted curve reaches the first peak value with the rise of voltage is identified as corona inception voltage. Finally, with the proposed method, the corona inception voltage for a six bundled conductor system in the biggest outdoor corona cage of the world is obtained. Combined with the experimental results of A‐weighted sound level of audible noise, the comparisons between the obtained corona inception voltage and that calculated with curve fitting method, curve fitting method and an audible noise‐based method prove that the proposed method is reasonable.
Performance assessment of short‐reach multi‐level pulse‐amplitude modulation transmission exploiting least‐mean‐square equalisation
Authors: Khaliq Muhammad Shoaib , Cantono Mattia , Straullu Stefano , Curri Vittorio 
Published: February 2017

The authors study the performance of pulse‐amplitude modulation, with 2, 4 and 8 levels per symbol, for short reach applications with propagation over up to 2 km of standard single mode fibre. They consider the three modulation formats operated both at the same bit‐rate of 25 Gbps and at same symbol rate of 25 Gbaud, supposing 3.125% forward error‐correction overhead and bit error rate threshold of 10‐4. They analyse transmitters (Tx) and receivers (Rx) based on digital signal processing, including a training‐driven finite impulse response (FIR) filter equaliser set through the least‐mean‐square algorithm. They analyse the sensitivity impairments induced by a limited Tx/Rx electrical bandwidth and evaluate the minimum number of taps – and consequent latency – needed by the FIR equaliser to obtain sensitivity benefits.
Preparation and properties of natural rubber/chitosan microsphere blends
Authors: Ming‐zhe Lv , Li‐feng Wang , Lei Fang , Pu‐wang Li , Si‐dong Li 
Published: February 2017

Chitosan microspheres were prepared by ion induction and chemical cross‐linking using water as the medium. Natural rubber/chitosan microsphere blends were then prepared by blending the chitosan microsphere suspension with natural rubber latex. An infrared spectrometer, particle size analyser, scanning electron microscope, surface contact angle analyser, thermogravimetric analyser, and differential scanning calorimeter were employed for structure and property characterisation. The results showed that the average particle diameter and the polydispersity index of chitosan microspheres were 323.8 nm and 0.283, respectively. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of natural rubber/chitosan blends were enhanced by introducing chitosan microspheres into natural rubber latex. The water contact angle was significantly decreased, from 94.64° to 55.47°, indicating improved hydrophilic properties for the natural rubber/chitosan film. The natural rubber/chitosan blends showed excellent antibacterial properties when the chitosan microsphere content was >4.00% w/w.