bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The shallow structure of Solfatara Volcano, Italy, revealed by dense, wide-aperture seismic profiling
Authors: Bruno Pier Paolo G. , Maraio Stefano , Festa Gaetano 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTwo active-source, high-resolution seismic profiles were acquired in the Solfatara tuff cone in May and November 2014, with dense, wide-aperture arrays. Common Receiver Surface processing was crucial in improving signal-to-noise ratio and reflector continuity. These surveys provide, for the first time, high-resolution seismic images of the Solfatara crater, depicting a ~400 m deep asymmetrical crater filled by volcanoclastic sediments and rocks and carved within an overall non-reflective pre-eruptive basement showing features consistent with the emplacement of shallow intrusive bodies. Seismic reflection data were interpreted using the trace complex attributes and clearly display several steep and segmented collapse faults, generally having normal kinematics and dipping toward the crater centre. Fault/fracture planes are imaged as sudden amplitude drops that generate narrow low-similarity and high-dip attributes. Uprising fluids degassed by a magmatic source are the most probable cause of the small-scale amplitude reduction. Seismic data also support the interpretation of the shallow structure of the Solfatara crater as a maar. Our results provides a solid framework to constrain the near-surface geological interpretation of such a complex area, which improves our understanding of the temporal changes of the structure in relation with other geophysical and geochemical measurements.
Impact of treatment on resting cerebral blood flow and metabolism in obsessive compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis
Authors: van der Straten A. L. , Denys D. , van Wingen G. A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNeurobiological models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) posit that its clinical symptoms such as repetitive thoughts and behaviors are related to hyperactivity in the cortico–striato–thalamo–cortical (CSTC) circuit. Small scale neuroimaging studies have shown that treatment of OCD is associated with reduced activity across different brain structures within this circuitry. We performed the first meta-analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies that investigated cerebral blood flow or glucose metabolism in patients with OCD before and after pharmacological or psychological treatment. We calculated standardized mean differences for the regions-of-interest most often reported. The meta-analysis revealed small reductions in activity in the caudate nucleus and orbitofrontal cortex after treatment with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor or cognitive behavioral therapy. Small reductions were also observed in the thalamus when one SPECT study with a large opposite effect was excluded from the analysis. Meta-regression analyses for the caudate nucleus showed no significant effect of the type of treatment, decrease in symptom severity, mean duration until the follow-up scan, or year of publication. These results show that pharmacological and psychological treatments reduce resting CSTC circuit activity, and provide further support for the CSTC circuit model in OCD.
The AP-1 transcription factor JunB is required for Th17 cell differentiation
Authors: Yamazaki Soh , Tanaka Yoshihiko , Araki Hiromitsu , Kohda Akira , Sanematsu Fumiyuki , Arasaki Tomoko , Duan Xuefeng , Miura Fumihito , Katagiri Takaharu , Shindo Ryodai , Nakano Hiroyasu , Ito Takashi , Fukui Yoshinori , Endo Shogo , Sumimoto Hideki 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInterleukin (IL)-17-producing T helper (Th17) cells are crucial for host defense against extracellular microbes and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Here we show that the AP-1 transcription factor JunB is required for Th17 cell development.Junb-deficient CD4+T cells are able to developin vitrointo various helper T subsets except Th17. The RNA-seq transcriptome analysis reveals that JunB is crucial for the Th17-specific gene expression program.Junb-deficient mice are completely resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a Th17-mediated inflammatory disease, and naive T helper cells from such mice fail to differentiate into Th17 cells. JunB appears to activate Th17 signature genes by forming a heterodimer with BATF, another AP-1 factor essential for Th17 differentiation. The mechanism whereby JunB controls Th17 cell development likely involves activation of the genes for the Th17 lineage-specifying orphan receptors RORγt and RORα and reduced expression of Foxp3, a transcription factor known to antagonize RORγt function.
Soil biota in vineyards are more influenced by plants and soil quality than by tillage intensity or the surrounding landscape
Authors: Buchholz Jacob , Querner Pascal , Paredes Daniel , Bauer Thomas , Strauss Peter , Guernion Muriel , Scimia Jennifer , Cluzeau Daniel , Burel Françoise , Kratschmer Sophie , Winter Silvia , Potthoff Martin , Zaller Johann G. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTillage is known for its adverse effects on soil biota, at least in arable agroecosystems. However, in vineyards effects might differ as tillage is often performed during dry periods or only in every other inter-row allowing species to re-colonise disturbed areas. We examined the response of earthworms (lumbricids), springtails (collembola) and litter decomposition to periodically mechanically disturbed (PMD) and permanently green covered (PGC) vineyard inter-rows and assessed whether site effects are altered by the surrounding landscape. In commercial vineyards in Austria we sampled earthworms by handsorting, springtails by soil coring and pitfall trapping and installed litter decomposition bags. Earthworm species diversity increased with plant biomass under PMD but not under PGC; earthworm density was unaffected by tillage but increased with plant biomass mainly at high soil quality (soil fertility index). Springtail species diversity was unaffected by tillage; springtail densities (mainly larger species) were reduced under PGC. Litter decomposition was little affected by investigated parameters. Landscape heterogeneity affected the functional diversity of surface springtails, but did not influence soil-dwelling springtails, earthworms or litter decomposition. We conclude that effects on soil biota of periodical tillage in vineyards need not necessarily be detrimental and will be modified by plant biomass and soil quality.
Electron nematic effect induced by magnetic field in antiferroquadrupole phase of CeB
6
Authors: Demishev S. V. , Krasnorussky V. N. , Bogach A. V. , Voronov V. V. , Shitsevalova N. Yu. , Filipov V. B. , Glushkov V. V. , Sluchanko N. E. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSpatial anisotropy generated spontaneously in the translationally invariant metallic phase, i.e. electron nematic effect, addresses a great challenge for both experimentalists and theoreticians. An interesting option for the realization of the electron nematic phase is provided by the system with orbital ordering, as long as both orbitally ordered states and electron nematic phases possess broken spatial symmetry. Here we report the detailed study of the angular dependences of the magnetoresistance in the orbitally ordered antiferroquadrupole (AFQ) phase of CeB6. Our data allowed revealing the electron nematic effect, which develops when magnetic field exceeds a critical value of 0.3–0.5T. As a result, new transition inside the AFQ phase corresponding to the change of the symmetry of magnetic scattering on spin fluctuations in CeB6 is discovered.
Genomic diversity and macroecology of the crop wild relatives of domesticated pea
Authors: Smýkal Petr , Hradilová Iveta , Trněný Oldřich , Brus Jan , Rathore Abhishek , Bariotakis Michael , Das Roma Rani , Bhattacharyya Debjyoti , Richards Christopher , Coyne Clarice J. , Pirintsos Stergios 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThere is growing interest in the conservation and utilization of crop wild relatives (CWR) in international food security policy and research. Legumes play an important role in human health, sustainable food production, global food security, and the resilience of current agricultural systems. Pea belongs to the ancient set of cultivated plants of the Near East domestication center and remains an important crop today. Based on genome-wide analysis, P. fulvum was identified as a well-supported species, while the diversity of wild P. sativum subsp. elatius was structured into 5 partly geographically positioned clusters. We explored the spatial and environmental patterns of two progenitor species of domesticated pea in the Mediterranean Basin and in the Fertile Crescent in relation to the past and current climate. This study revealed that isolation by distance does not explain the genetic structure of P. sativum subsp. elatius in its westward expansion from its center of origin. The genetic diversity of wild pea may be driven by Miocene-Pliocene events, while the phylogenetic diversity centers may reflect Pleisto-Holocene climatic changes. These findings help set research and discussion priorities and provide geographical and ecological information for germplasm-collecting missions, as well as for the preservation of extant diversity in ex-situ collections.
A different vision of dyslexia: Local precedence on global perception
Authors: Franceschini Sandro , Bertoni Sara , Gianesini Tiziana , Gori Simone , Facoetti Andrea 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIndividuals perceive the wor(l)d hierarchically. Firsty, the global visual scene is processed by the right hemisphere, and later, the local features are perceived by the left hemisphere. Based on this hierarchical analysis, humans evolved unique communication ability: reading. However, for about 10% of people reading acquisition is extremely difficult, they are affected by a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder called dyslexia. Differences in perceiving the wor(l)d might be one of the causes of reading disabilities. Here we show multiple causal links between the global before local perception and learning to read. Five behavioral experiments in 353 children reveal that: (i) a local before global perception characterizes three independent groups of unselected children with dyslexia; (ii) two global before local perception trainings improve reading skills in children with dyslexia; and stringently (iii) pre-reading local before global perception longitudinally predicts future poor readers. Challenging the uni-causal and left-lateralized phonological explanation of dyslexia, our results demonstrate that learning to read depends also on an efficient right neural network for the global analysis of the visual scene. These results provide new insights in learning strategies and pave the way for early identification and possible prevention programs.
Non-malignant epithelial cells preferentially proliferate from nasopharyngeal carcinoma biopsy cultured under conditionally reprogrammed conditions
Authors: Yu Fenggang , Lu Yanan , Tao Lin , Jiang Yan-Yi , Lin De-Chen , Wang Lingzhi , Petersson Fredrik , Yoshiyama Hironori , Koeffler Phillip H. , Goh Boon-Cher , Loh Kwok Seng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an invasive cancer with particularly high incidence in Southern China and Southeast Asia. The study of NPC is greatly hampered by the lack of reliable cell lines due to the loss of EBV genome and HeLa cell contamination. Conditional reprogramming (CR) cell culture technique has been reported for rapid and efficient establishment of patient‐derived normal and tumor cell cultures. The purpose of this study was to assess this method to culture NPC patient‐derived primary tumor cells. Using CR protocol, we demonstrated that epithelial cells could be efficiently cultured from normal (70%) and cancerous nasopharyngeal (46%) biopsies. However, by comparing with original tumors in terms of mutation and methylation profiles, epithelial cells derived from cancerous biopsy represented non‐malignant cells. Further, they exhibited stem‐like characteristics based on their cell surface proteins and could differentiate into pseudostratified epithelium in an air–liquid interface culture system. We conclude that CR method is a highly selective and useful method for growing non‐malignant nasopharyngeal epithelial cells.
Macroscopic phase separation of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2−x
Se
x
revealed by μSR
Authors: Nikitin A. M. , Grinenko V. , Sarkar R. , Orain J.-C. , Salis M. V. , Henke J. , Huang Y. K. , Klauss H.-H. , Amato A. , Visser A. de 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe compound Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2 belongs to the intensively studied family of layered BiS2 superconductors. It attracts special attention because superconductivity at T
sc
= 2.8 K was found to coexist with local-moment ferromagnetic order with a Curie temperature T
C
= 7.5 K. Recently it was reported that upon replacing S by Se T
C
drops and ferromagnetism becomes of an itinerant nature. At the same time T
sc
increases and it was argued superconductivity coexists with itinerant ferromagnetism. Here we report a muon spin rotation and relaxation study (μSR) conducted to investigate the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetic order in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2−x
Se
x
with x = 0.5 and 1.0. By inspecting the muon asymmetry function we find that both phases do not coexist on the microscopic scale, but occupy different sample volumes. For x = 0.5 and x = 1.0 we find a ferromagnetic volume fraction of ~8 % and ~30 % at T = 0.25 K, well below T
C
= 3.4 K and T
C
= 3.3 K, respectively. For x = 1.0 (T
sc
= 2.9 K) the superconducting phase occupies most (~64 %) of the remaining sample volume, as shown by transverse field experiments that probe the Gaussian damping due to the vortex lattice. We conclude ferromagnetism and superconductivity are macroscopically phase separated.
An Exhaustive Search Algorithm to Aid NMR-Based Structure Determination of Rotationally Symmetric Transmembrane Oligomers
Authors: Yang Jing , Piai Alessandro , Shen Hong-Bin , Chou James J. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been an important source of structural restraints for solving structures of oligomeric transmembrane domains (TMDs) of cell surface receptors and viral membrane proteins. In NMR studies, oligomers are assembled using inter-protomer distance restraints. But, for oligomers that are higher than dimer, these distance restraints all have two-fold directional ambiguity, and resolving such ambiguity often requires time-consuming trial-and-error calculations using restrained molecular dynamics (MD) with simulated annealing (SA). We report an Exhaustive Search algorithm for Symmetric Oligomer (ExSSO), which can perform near-complete search of the symmetric conformational space in a very short time. In this approach, the predetermined protomer model is subject to full angular and spatial search within the symmetry space. This approach, which can be applied to any rotationally symmetric oligomers, was validated using the structures of the Fas death receptor, the HIV-1 gp41 fusion protein, the influenza proton channel, and the MCU pore. The algorithm is able to generate approximate oligomer solutions quickly as initial inputs for further refinement using the MD/SA method.
Mother-to-newborn transmission of mycobacterial L-forms and Vδ2 T-cell response in placentobiome of BCG-vaccinated pregnant women
Authors: Dimova T. , Terzieva A. , Djerov L. , Dimitrova V. , Nikolov A. , Grozdanov P. , Markova N. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe ability of bacteria to exist as a population of self-replicating forms with defective or entirely missing cell wall (L-forms) is an adaptive mechanism for their survival and reproduction under unfavorable conditions. Bacterial mother-to-fetus transfer is a universal phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, data about vertical transfer of L bacterial forms are extremely scarce. Bacille Calmette-Guérin is an attenuated strain of M. bovis and the only licensed vaccine used for tuberculosis prevention. We already have shown that filterable L-forms of BCG exist freely in the vaccine and are able to reproduce and to form colonies. The present study was focused on the placental microbiome in the context of mother’s BCG vaccination. Here we report an isolation of filterable mycobacterial L-form cultures from gestational tissues and blood of healthy newborns delivered by healthy BCG-vaccinated mothers after normal pregnancy. Of note, vertically transmitted mycobacterial L-forms as a part of placentobiome of the pregnant women didn’t influence the number of resident pathogen-reactive Vδ2 cells. Placenta colonization with mycobacterial L-forms occurs by maternal blood-to-decidua transfer very early in gestation. Together, these data showed that BCG L-forms have the capacity to pass trans-placental barrier and that maternal BCG vaccination affects the placentobiome.
Facile Fabrication of Porous Conductive Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposite Films via Solution Casting
Authors: Wu Tongfei , Chen Biqiong 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPorous conductive polymers are one of important materials, featuring lightweight, large specific surface area and high porosity. Non-solvent induced phase separation is widely employed to prepare porous polymer sheet materials. Through utilizing water vapor in ambient environment as the non-solvent, a facile approach was developed to produce porous conductive polymer nanocomposites using the conventional solution-casting method. Without using any non-solvent liquids, porous carbon nanofiber/thermoplastic polyurethane (CNF/TPU) nanocomposites were prepared directly by solution casting of their dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions under ambient conditions. The strength of the CNF framework played a key role in preventing the collapse of pores during DMF evaporation. The dependence of porous structures on CNF loading was studied by scanning electron microscopy and porosity measurement. The influence of CNF loading on the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and piezoresistive behavior was explored.
Nod2 is required for the early innate immune clearance of Acinetobacter baumannii from the lungs
Authors: Kale Sandeep D. , Dikshit Neha , Kumar Pankaj , Balamuralidhar Vanniarajan , Khameneh Hanif Javanmard , Bin Abdul Malik Najib , Koh Tse Hsien , Tan Gladys Gek Yen , Tan Thuan Tong , Mortellaro Alessandra , Sukumaran Bindu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAcinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a significant cause of severe nosocomial pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals world-wide. With limited treatment options available, a better understanding of host immnity to A. baumannii infection is critical to devise alternative control strategies. Our previous study has identified that intracellular Nod1/Nod2 signaling pathway is required for the immune control of A. baumannii in airway epithelial cells in vitro. In the current study, using Nod2−/− mice and an in vivo sublethal model of pulmonary infection, we show that Nod2 contributes to the early lung defense against A. baumannii infection through reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production as Nod2−/− mice showed significantly reduced production of ROS/RNS in the lungs following A. baumannii infection. Consistent with the higher bacterial load, A. baumannii-induced neutrophil recruitment, cytokine/chemokine response and lung pathology was also exacerbated in Nod2−/− mice at early time points post-infection. Finally, we show that administration of Nod2 ligand muramyl dipeptide (MDP) prior to infection protected the wild- type mice from A. baumannii pulmonary challenge. Collectively, Nod2 is an important player in the early lung immunity against A. baumannii and modulating Nod2 pathway could be considered as a viable therapeutic strategy to control A. baumannii pulmonary infection.
Repeatability of corneal elevation maps in keratoconus patients using the tomography matching method
Authors: Zheng YaRu , Huang LiFang , Zhao YiPing , Wang JunJie , Zheng XiaoBo , Huang Wei , Geraghty Brendan , Wang QinMei , Chen ShiHao , Bao FangJun , Elsheikh Ahmed 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTo assess repeatability of corneal tomography in successive measurements by Pentacam in keratoconus (KC) and normal eyes based on the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. The study involved 143 keratoconic and 143 matched normal eyes. ICP algorithm was used to estimate six single and combined misalignment (CM) parameters, the root mean square (RMS) of the difference in elevation data pre (PreICP-RMS) and post (PosICP-RMS) tomography matching. Corneal keratometry, expressed in the form of M, J0 and J45 (power vector analysis parameters), was used to evaluate the effect of misalignment on corneal curvature measurements. The PreICP-RMS and PosICP-RMS were statistically higher (P < 0.01) in KC than normal eyes. CM increased significantly (p = 0.00), more in KC (16.76 ± 20.88 μm) than in normal eyes (5.43 ± 4.08 μm). PreICP-RMS, PosICP-RMS and CM were correlated with keratoconus grade (p < 0.05). Corneal astigmatism J0 was different (p = 0.01) for the second tomography measurements with misalignment consideration (−1.11 ± 2.35 D) or not (−1.18 ± 2.35 D), while M and J45 kept similar. KC corneas consistently show higher misalignments between successive tomography measurements and lower repeatability compared with healthy eyes. The influence of misalignment is evidently clearer in the estimation of astigmatism than spherical curvature. These higher errors appear correlated with KC progression.
In silico modelling to differentiate the contribution of sugar frequency versus total amount in driving biofilm dysbiosis in dental caries
Authors: Head David , A. Devine Deirdre , Marsh P. D. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDental caries is the most prevalent infection globally and a substantial economic burden in developed countries. Dietary sugars are the main risk factor, and drive increased proportions of acid-producing and acid-tolerating (aciduric) bacterial species within dental biofilms. Recent longitudinal studies have suggested that caries is most strongly correlated with total sugar intake, contrasting with the prevailing view that intake frequency is the primary determinant. To explore this possibility, we employed a computational model for supragingival plaque to systematically sample combinations of sugar frequency and total amount, allowing their independent contributions on the ratio of aciduric (i.e. cariogenic) to non-aciduric bacteria to be unambiguously determined. Sugar frequency was found to be irrelevant for either very high or very low daily total amounts as the simulated biofilm was predicted to be always or never cariogenic, respectively. Frequency was a determining factor for intermediate total amounts of sugar, including the estimated average human consumption. An increased risk of caries (i.e. high prevalence of aciduric/non-aciduric species) was predicted for high intake frequencies. Thus, both total amount and frequency of sugar intake may combine to influence plaque cariogenicity. These findings could be employed to support public guidance for dietary change, leading to improved oral healthcare.