bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ca-P compound formed by hydrothermal treatment on biodegradation and biocompatibility of Mg-3Al-1Zn-1.5Ca alloy; in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Kim Yu-Kyoung , Jang Yong-Seok , Lee Young-Hee , Yi Ho-Keun , Bae Tae-Sung , Lee Min-Ho 
Published: March 2017

AbstractChemical combinations of Ca-P produced via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) and a hydrothermal treatment were fabricated to improve the initial corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of a biodegradable Mg-3Al-1Zn-1.5Ca alloy. For the formation of an amorphous calcium phosphate composite layer on the surface of a magnesium alloy, a PEO layer composed of MgO and Mg3(PO4)2 was formed by PEO in electrolytes containing preliminary phosphate ions. During the second stage, a thick and dense Ca layer was formed by Ca electrodeposition after PEO. Finally, a hydrothermal treatment was carried out for chemical incorporation of P ions in the PEO layer and Ca ions in the electrodeposition layer. The amorphous calcium phosphate composite layer formed by the hydrothermal treatment enhanced osteoblast activity and reduced H2O2 production, which is a known stress indicator for cells. As a result of co-culturing osteoblast cells and RAW 264.7 cells, the formation of amorphous calcium phosphate increased osteoblast cell differentiation and decreased osteoclast cell differentiation. Implanting the alloy, which had an amorphous calcium phosphate composite layer that had been added through hydrothermal treatment, in the tibia of rats led to a reduction in initial biodegradation and promoted new bone formation.
Entanglement of superconducting qubits via acceleration radiation
Authors: García-Álvarez L. , Felicetti S. , Rico E. , Solano E. , Sabín C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe show that simulated relativistic motion can generate entanglement between artificial atoms and protect them from spontaneous emission. We consider a pair of superconducting qubits coupled to a resonator mode, where the modulation of the coupling strength can mimic the harmonic motion of the qubits at relativistic speeds, generating acceleration radiation. We find the optimal feasible conditions for generating a stationary entangled state between the qubits when they are initially prepared in their ground state. Furthermore, we analyse the effects of motion on the probability of spontaneous emission in the standard scenarios of single-atom and two-atom superradiance, where one or two excitations are initially present. Finally, we show that relativistic motion induces sub-radiance and can generate a Zeno-like effect, preserving the excitations from radiative decay.
Design and demonstration of an underwater acoustic carpet cloak
Authors: Bi Yafeng , Jia Han , Lu Wenjia , Ji Peifeng , Yang Jun 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe carpet cloak, which is designed to hide the objects placed on a reflecting surface, has become a topic of considerable interest. Inspired by those theoretical works, the experimental realization of acoustic carpet cloak in air host has been reported. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining the unit cell in reality, the underwater carpet cloak still remains in simulation thus far. Here, we design and fabricate a realizable underwater acoustic carpet cloak. By introducing a scaling factor, the structure of the carpet cloak, which is comprised of layered brass plates, is greatly simplified at the cost of some impedance match. The experimental results demonstrate a good performance of the proposed carpet cloak in a wide frequency range. Our work paves the way for future applications in the practical underwater devices.
Quantum detection of wormholes
Authors: Sabín Carlos 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe show how to use quantum metrology to detect a wormhole. A coherent state of the electromagnetic field experiences a phase shift with a slight dependence on the throat radius of a possible distant wormhole. We show that this tiny correction is, in principle, detectable by homodyne measurements after long propagation lengths for a wide range of throat radii and distances to the wormhole, even if the detection takes place very far away from the throat, where the spacetime is very close to a flat geometry. We use realistic parameters from state-of-the-art long-baseline laser interferometry, both Earth-based and space-borne. The scheme is, in principle, robust to optical losses and initial mixedness.
Mechanisms of social buffering of fear in zebrafish
Authors: Faustino Ana I. , Tacão-Monteiro André , Oliveira Rui F. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSome humans thrive whereas others resign when exposed to threatening situations throughout life. Social support has been identified as an important modulator of these discrepancies in human behaviour, and other social animals also exhibit phenomena in which individuals recover better from aversive events when conspecifics are present – aka social buffering. Here we studied social buffering in zebrafish, by exposing focal fish to an aversive stimulus (alarm substance – AS) either in the absence or presence of conspecific cues. When exposed to AS in the presence of both olfactory (shoal water) and visual (sight of shoal) conspecific cues, focal fish exhibited a lower fear response than when tested alone, demonstrating social buffering in zebrafish. When separately testing each cue’s effectiveness, we verified that the visual cue was more effective than the olfactory in reducing freezing in a persistent threat scenario. Finally, we verified that social buffering was independent of shoal size and coincided with a distinct pattern of co-activation of brain regions known to be involved in mammalian social buffering. Thus, this study suggests a shared evolutionary origin for social buffering in vertebrates, bringing new evidence on the behavioural, sensory and neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
Seeing elements by visible-light digital camera
Authors: Zhao Wenyang , Sakurai Kenji 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA visible-light digital camera is used for taking ordinary photos, but with new operational procedures it can measure the photon energy in the X-ray wavelength region and therefore see chemical elements. This report describes how one can observe X-rays by means of such an ordinary camera - The front cover of the camera is replaced by an opaque X-ray window to block visible light and to allow X-rays to pass; the camera takes many snap shots (called single-photon-counting mode) to record every photon event individually; an integrated-filtering method is newly proposed to correctly retrieve the energy of photons from raw camera images. Finally, the retrieved X-ray energy-dispersive spectra show fine energy resolution and great accuracy in energy calibration, and therefore the visible-light digital camera can be applied to routine X-ray fluorescence measurement to analyze the element composition in unknown samples. In addition, the visible-light digital camera is promising in that it could serve as a position sensitive X-ray energy detector. It may become able to measure the element map or chemical diffusion in a multi-element system if it is fabricated with external X-ray optic devices. Owing to the camera’s low expense and fine pixel size, the present method will be widely applied to the analysis of chemical elements as well as imaging.
Assessing the Dynamics of Organic Aerosols over the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Kasparian Jérôme , Hassler Christel , Ibelings Bas , Berti Nicolas , Bigorre Sébastien , Djambazova Violeta , Gascon-Diez Elena , Giuliani Grégory , Houlmann Raphaël , Kiselev Denis , de Laborie Pierric , Le Anh-Dao , Magouroux Thibaud , Neri Tristan , Palomino Daniel , Pfändler Stéfanie , Ray Nicolas , Sousa Gustavo , Staedler Davide , Tettamanti Federico , Wolf Jean-Pierre , Beniston Martin 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe influence of aerosols on climate is highly dependent on the particle size distribution, concentration, and composition. In particular, the latter influences their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei, whereby they impact cloud coverage and precipitation. Here, we simultaneously measured the concentration of aerosols from sea spray over the North Atlantic on board the exhaust-free solar-powered vessel “PlanetSolar”, and the sea surface physico-chemical parameters. We identified organic-bearing particles based on individual particle fluorescence spectra. Organic-bearing aerosols display specific spatio-temporal distributions as compared to total aerosols. We propose an empirical parameterization of the organic-bearing particle concentration, with a dependence on water salinity and sea-surface temperature only. We also show that a very rich mixture of organic aerosols is emitted from the sea surface. Such data will certainly contribute to providing further insight into the influence of aerosols on cloud formation, and be used as input for the improved modeling of aerosols and their role in global climate processes.
Systemic inflammation and family history in relation to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes based on an alternating decision tree
Authors: Uemura Hirokazu , Ghaibeh A. Ammar , Katsuura-Kamano Sakurako , Yamaguchi Miwa , Bahari Tirani , Ishizu Masashi , Moriguchi Hiroki , Arisawa Kokichi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTo investigate unknown patterns associated with type 2 diabetes in the Japanese population, we first used an alternating decision tree (ADTree) algorithm, a powerful classification algorithm from data mining, for the data from 1,102 subjects aged 35–69 years. On the basis of the investigated patterns, we then evaluated the associations of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a biomarker of systemic inflammation and family history of diabetes (negative, positive or unknown) with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes because their detailed associations have been scarcely reported. Elevated serum hs-CRP levels were proportionally associated with the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes after adjusting for probable covariates, including body mass index and family history of diabetes (P for trend = 0.016). Stratified analyses revealed that elevated serum hs-CRP levels were proportionally associated with increased prevalence of diabetes in subjects without a family history of diabetes (P for trend = 0.020) but not in those with a family history or with an unknown family history of diabetes. Our study demonstrates that systemic inflammation was proportionally associated with increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes even after adjusting for body mass index, especially in subjects without a family history of diabetes.
Changes in temporomandibular joint spaces after arthroscopic disc repositioning: a self-control study
Authors: Hu Ying Kai , Abdelrehem Ahmed , Yang Chi , Cai Xie Yi , Xie Qian Yang , Sah Manoj Kumar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDisc repositioning is a common procedure for patients with anterior disc displacement (ADD). The purpose of this retrospective record-based study was to evaluate changes in the widths of joint spaces and condylar position changes in patients with unilateral ADD following arthroscopic disc repositioning, with the healthy sides as self-control, using magnetic resonance images (MRI).Widths of anterior, superior, and posterior joint spaces (AS, SS, and PS) were measured. The condylar position was described as anterior, centric or posterior, expressed as "Equation missing". Paired-t test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Fifty-four records conformed to the inclusion criteria (mean age of 21.02 years). Widths of SS and PS increased significantly after surgery (P < 0.001) on the operative sides, while joint spaces of healthy sides and AS of operative sides had no significant changes. Dominant location of condyles of operative sides changed from a posterior position to an anterior position, while healthy sides were mostly centric condylar position no matter preoperatively or postoperatively. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that unilateral arthroscopic disc repositioning significantly increases the posterior and superior spaces of the affected joints, without affecting spaces of the healthy sides.
Label-free quantification of calcium-sensor targeting to photoreceptor guanylate cyclase and rhodopsin kinase by backscattering interferometry
Authors: Sulmann Stefan , Kussrow Amanda , Bornhop Darryl J. , Koch Karl-Wilhelm 
Published: March 2017

AbstractQuantification of protein binding to membrane proteins is challenging and a limited set of methods is available to study such systems. Here we employed backscattering interferometry (BSI), a free-solution label-free method with high sensitivity, to quantify the interaction of neuronal Ca2+-Sensor proteins with their targets operating in phototransduction. We tested direct binding of guanylate cyclase–activating proteins (GCAP1 and GCAP2) to their membrane target guanylate cyclase 1. The regulatory mechanism of GCAPs including their binding interface in the target is unresolved. Here we used a label-free, free-solution assay method based on BSI to determine binding constants of GCAP1 and GCAP2 to the full-length membrane-bound guanylate cyclase type 1. GCAP1 and GCAP2 bound to different regions on the target guanylate cyclase with submicromolar affinity (apparent KD-values of 663 ± 121 nM and 231 ± 63 nM for Ca2+-free GCAP1 and GCAP2, respectively). A guanylate cyclase construct containing the juxta-membrane and kinase homology domain harbored an exclusive binding site for GCAP1 with similar affinities as the full-length protein, whereas GCAP2 did not bind to this region. We provide a model in which GCAP1 and GCAP2 do not share a single binding site to the target, thus cannot exchange upon fluctuating Ca2+ levels.
Multi-scale radiomic analysis of sub-cortical regions in MRI related to autism, gender and age
Authors: Chaddad Ahmad , Desrosiers Christian , Toews Matthew 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe propose using multi-scale image textures to investigate links between neuroanatomical regions and clinical variables in MRI. Texture features are derived at multiple scales of resolution based on the Laplacian-of-Gaussian (LoG) filter. Three quantifier functions (Average, Standard Deviation and Entropy) are used to summarize texture statistics within standard, automatically segmented neuroanatomical regions. Significance tests are performed to identify regional texture differences between ASD vs. TDC and male vs. female groups, as well as correlations with age (corrected p < 0.05). The open-access brain imaging data exchange (ABIDE) brain MRI dataset is used to evaluate texture features derived from 31 brain regions from 1112 subjects including 573 typically developing control (TDC, 99 females, 474 males) and 539 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD, 65 female and 474 male) subjects. Statistically significant texture differences between ASD vs. TDC groups are identified asymmetrically in the right hippocampus, left choroid-plexus and corpus callosum (CC), and symmetrically in the cerebellar white matter. Sex-related texture differences in TDC subjects are found in primarily in the left amygdala, left cerebellar white matter, and brain stem. Correlations between age and texture in TDC subjects are found in the thalamus-proper, caudate and pallidum, most exhibiting bilateral symmetry.
MicroRNAs Associated with Caste Determination and Differentiation in a Primitively Eusocial Insect
Authors: Collins David H. , Mohorianu Irina , Beckers Matthew , Moulton Vincent , Dalmay Tamas , Bourke Andrew F. G. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn eusocial Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps), queen and worker adult castes typically arise via environmental influences. A fundamental challenge is to understand how a single genome can thereby produce alternative phenotypes. A powerful approach is to compare the molecular basis of caste determination and differentiation along the evolutionary trajectory between primitively and advanced eusocial species, which have, respectively, relatively undifferentiated and strongly differentiated adult castes. In the advanced eusocial honeybee, Apis mellifera, studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the molecular basis of caste determination and differentiation. To investigate how miRNAs affect caste in eusocial evolution, we used deep sequencing and Northern blots to isolate caste-associated miRNAs in the primitively eusocial bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We found that the miRNAs Bte-miR-6001-5p and -3p are more highly expressed in queen- than in worker-destined late-instar larvae. These are the first caste-associated miRNAs from outside advanced eusocial Hymenoptera, so providing evidence for caste-associated miRNAs occurring relatively early in eusocial evolution. Moreover, we found little evidence that miRNAs previously shown to be associated with caste in A. mellifera were differentially expressed across caste pathways in B. terrestris, suggesting that, in eusocial evolution, the caste-associated role of individual miRNAs is not conserved.
Testis Transcriptome Modulation in Klinefelter Patients with Hypospermatogenesis
Authors: D’Aurora Marco , Ferlin Alberto , Garolla Andrea , Franchi Sara , D’Onofrio Laura , Trubiani Oriana , Palka Giandomenico , Foresta Carlo , Stuppia Liborio , Gatta Valentina 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe main genetic cause of male infertility is represented by the Klinefelter Syndrome (KS), a condition accounting for 3% of all cases of infertility and up to15% of cases of azoospermia. KS is generally characterized by azoospermia; approximately 10% of cases have severe oligozoospermia. Among these, the 30–40% of patients show hypospermatogenesis. The mechanisms leading to adult testis dysfunctions are not completely understood. A microarray transcriptome analysis was performed on testis biopsies obtained from three KS patients with hypospermatogenesis and three control subjects. KS testis showed a differential up- and down-regulation of 303 and 747 transcripts, respectively, as compared to controls. The majority of down-regulated transcripts were involved in spermiogenesis failure and testis morphological defects, whereas up-regulated genes were responsible for testis apoptotic processes. Functional analysis of the transcriptionally altered genes indicated a deregulation in cell death, germ cell function and morphology as well as blood-testis-barrier maintenance and Leydig cells activity. These data support a complex scenario in which spermatogenic impairment is the result of functional and morphological alterations in both germinal and somatic components of KS testis. These findings could represent the basis for evaluating new markers of KS spermatogenesis and potential targets of therapeutic intervention to preserve residual spermatogenesis.
Quasi-stokeslet induced by thermoplasmonic Marangoni effect around a water vapor microbubble
Authors: Namura Kyoko , Nakajima Kaoru , Suzuki Motofumi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRapid Marangoni flows around a water vapor microbubble (WVMB) is investigated using the thermoplasmonic effect of a gold nanoisland film (GNF). By focusing a laser onto the GNF, a stable WVMB with a diameter of ~10 μm is generated in degassed water, while an air bubble generated in non-degassed water is larger than 40 μm. Under continuous heating, the WVMB involves significantly rapid Marangoni flow. This flow is well-described by a stokeslet sat ~10 μm above the surface of GNF, from which the maximum flow speed around the WVMB is estimated to exceed 1 m/s. This rapid flow generation is attributed to the small bubble size, over which the temperature is graded, and the superheat at the bubble surface in contact with the GNF. It is expected to be useful not only for microfluidic mixing but also for fundamental research on viscous flow induced by a single stokeslet.
Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy and Necrotizing Enterocolitis-associated Infant Mortality in Preterm Babies
Authors: Ding Guodong , Yu Jing , Chen Yan , Vinturache Angela , Pang Yu , Zhang Jun 
Published: March 2017

AbstractFew studies have examined the possible pregnancy-related risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-associated deaths during infancy. Infant death due to NEC in preterm babies was identified from the US Linked Livebirth and Infant Death records between 2000 and 2004. The average number of cigarettes per day reported by the mothers who were smoking during pregnancy was classified in three categories: non-smoking, light smoking (<10 cigarettes/day) and heavy smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day). Logistic regression analyses examined the association between prenatal smoking and NEC-associated infant mortality rates with adjustment for potential confounders. Compared with non-smoking mothers, light and heavy smoking mothers have a higher risk of NEC-associated infant mortality [light smoking: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.43; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.30, 95% CI, 1.12–1.52], respectively. Moreover, the association was stronger among white race (light smoking: aOR = 1.69, 95% CI, 1.34–2.13; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.44, 95% CI, 1.18–1.75) and female babies (light smoking: aOR = 1.31, 95% CI, 1.02–1.69; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.62, 95% CI, 1.29–2.02). Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of infant mortality due to NEC in preterm babies, especially in white race and female babies.
Gesture Production in Language Impairment: It's Quality, Not Quantity, That Matters
Authors: Wray Charlotte , Saunders Natalie , McGuire Rosie , Cousins Georgia , Norbury Courtenay Frazier 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine whether children with language impairment (LI) use gesture to compensate for their language difficulties.

Method

The present study investigated gesture accuracy and frequency in children with LI (
n
= 21) across gesture imitation, gesture elicitation, spontaneous narrative, and interactive problem-solving tasks, relative to typically developing (TD) peers (
n
= 18) and peers with low language and educational concerns (
n
= 21).

Results
Children with LI showed weaknesses in gesture accuracy (imitation and gesture elicitation) in comparison to TD peers, but no differences in gesture rate. Children with low language only showed weaknesses in gesture imitation and used significantly more gestures than TD peers during parent–child interaction. Across the whole sample, motor abilities were significantly related to gesture accuracy but not gesture rate. In addition, children with LI produced proportionately more extending gestures, suggesting that they may use gesture to replace words that they are unable to articulate verbally.

Conclusion
The results support the notion that gesture and language form a tightly linked communication system in which gesture deficits are seen alongside difficulties with spoken communication. Furthermore, it is the quality, not quantity of gestures that distinguish children with LI from typical peers.