bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poly-γ-glutamic acid/chitosan nanogel greatly enhances the efficacy and heterosubtypic cross-reactivity of H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine
Authors: Yang Jihyun , Shim Sang-Mu , Nguyen Thi Quyen , Kim Eun-Ha , Kim Kwang , Lim Yong Taik , Sung Moon-Hee , Webby Richard , Poo Haryoung 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn 2009, the global outbreak of an influenza pandemic emphasized the need for an effective vaccine adjuvant. In this study, we examined the efficacy of poly-γ-glutamic acid/chitosan (PC) nanogel as an adjuvant for the influenza vaccine. PC nanogel significantly enhanced antigen-specific cross-presentation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Compared with alum, the protective efficacy of the pandemic H1N1 influenza (pH1N1) vaccine was substantially increased by PC nanogel, with increased hemagglutination-inhibition titers, CTL activity, and earlier virus clearance after homologous and heterosubtypic [A/Philippines/2/82 (H3N2)] virus challenges. However, CD8+T cell-depleted mice displayed no protection against the heterosubtypic virus challenge after immunization with PC nanogel-adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccine. We also observed that using PC nanogel as a vaccine adjuvant had a dose-sparing effect and significantly enhanced the long-lasting protection of the pH1N1 vaccine. Together, these results suggest that PC nanogel is a promising vaccine adjuvant that could broadly prevent influenza virus infection.
Huntington’s disease blood and brain show a common gene expression pattern and share an immune signature with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Hensman Moss Davina J. , Flower Michael D. , Lo Kitty K. , Miller James R. C. , van Ommen Gert-Jan B. , ’t Hoen Peter A. C. , Stone Timothy C. , Guinee Amelia , Langbehn Douglas R. , Jones Lesley , Plagnol Vincent , van Roon-Mom Willeke M. C. , Holmans Peter , Tabrizi Sarah J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThere is widespread transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease (HD) brain, but analysis is inevitably limited by advanced disease and postmortem changes. However, mutant HTT is ubiquitously expressed and acts systemically, meaning blood, which is readily available and contains cells that are dysfunctional in HD, could act as a surrogate for brain tissue. We conducted an RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis using whole blood from two HD cohorts, and performed gene set enrichment analysis using public databases and weighted correlation network analysis modules from HD and control brain datasets. We identified dysregulated gene sets in blood that replicated in the independent cohorts, correlated with disease severity, corresponded to the most significantly dysregulated modules in the HD caudate, the most prominently affected brain region, and significantly overlapped with the transcriptional signature of HD myeloid cells. High-throughput sequencing technologies and use of gene sets likely surmounted the limitations of previously inconsistent HD blood expression studies. Our results suggest transcription is disrupted in peripheral cells in HD through mechanisms that parallel those in brain. Immune upregulation in HD overlapped with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism involving macrophage phagocytosis and microglial synaptic pruning, and raises the potential for shared therapeutic approaches.
Prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and determinants of delayed initiation of breastfeeding: secondary analysis of the WHO Global Survey
Authors: Takahashi Kenzo , Ganchimeg Togoobaatar , Ota Erika , Vogel Joshua P. , Souza João Paulo , Laopaiboon Malinee , Castro Cynthia Pileggi , Jayaratne Kapila , Ortiz-Panozo Eduardo , Lumbiganon Pisake , Mori Rintaro 
Published: March 2017

AbstractEarly initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) within 1 hour of birth can decrease neonatal death. However, the prevalence of EIBF is approximately 50% in many developing countries, and data remains unavailable for some countries. We conducted a secondary analysis using the WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health to identify factors hampering EIBF. We described the coverage of EIBF among 373 health facilities for singleton neonates for whom breastfeeding was initiated after birth. Maternal and facility characteristics of EIBF were compared to those of breastfeeding >1 hour after birth, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. In total, 244,569 singleton live births without severe adverse outcomes were analysed. The EIBF prevalence varied widely among countries and ranged from 17.7% to 98.4% (average, 57.6%). There was less intra-country variation for BFI <24 hours. After adjustment, EIBF was significantly lower among women with complications during pregnancy and caesarean delivery. Globally, EIBF varied considerably across countries. Maternal complications during pregnancy, caesarean delivery and absence of postnatal/neonatal care guidelines at hospitals may affect EIBF. Our findings suggest that to better promote EIBF, special support for breastfeeding promotion is needed for women with complications during pregnancy and those who deliver by caesarean section.
A non-cell autonomous mouse model of CNS haemangioblastoma mediated by mutant KRAS
Authors: Bao Leyuan , Al-Assar Osama , Drynan Lesley F. , Arends Mark J. , Tyers Pam , Barker Roger A. , Rabbitts Terence H. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractHaemangioblastoma is a rare malignancy of the CNS where vascular proliferation causes lesions due to endothelial propagation. We found that conditionally expressing mutant Kras, using Rag1-Cre, gave rise to CNS haemangioblastoma in the cortex and cerebellum in mice that present with highly vascular tumours with stromal cells similar to human haemangioblastomas. The aberrant haemangioblastoma endothelial cells do not express mutant Kras but rather the mutant oncogene is expressed in CNS interstitial cells, including neuronal cells and progeny. This demonstrates a non-cell autonomous origin of this disease that is unexpectedly induced via Rag1-Cre expression in CNS interstitial cells. This is the first time that mutant RAS has been shown to stimulate non-cell autonomous proliferation in malignancy and suggests that mutant RAS can control endothelial cell proliferation in neo-vascularisation when expressed in certain cells.
High Temperature Near-Field NanoThermoMechanical Rectification
Authors: Elzouka Mahmoud , Ndao Sidy 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLimited performance and reliability of electronic devices at extreme temperatures, intensive electromagnetic fields, and radiation found in space exploration missions (i.e., Venus & Jupiter planetary exploration, and heliophysics missions) and earth-based applications requires the development of alternative computing technologies. In the pursuit of alternative technologies, research efforts have looked into developing thermal memory and logic devices that use heat instead of electricity to perform computations. However, most of the proposed technologies operate at room or cryogenic temperatures, due to their dependence on material’s temperature-dependent properties. Here in this research, we show experimentally—for the first time—the use of near-field thermal radiation (NFTR) to achieve thermal rectification at high temperatures, which can be used to build high-temperature thermal diodes for performing logic operations in harsh environments. We achieved rectification through the coupling between NFTR and the size of a micro/nano gap separating two terminals, engineered to be a function of heat flow direction. We fabricated and tested a proof-of-concept NanoThermoMechanical device that has shown a maximum rectification of 10.9% at terminals’ temperatures of 375 and 530 K. Experimentally, we operated the microdevice in temperatures as high as about 600 K, demonstrating this technology’s suitability to operate at high temperatures.
The effect of surface texture on the kinetic friction of a nanowire on a substrate
Authors: Xie Hongtao , Mead James , Wang Shiliang , Huang Han 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe friction between Al2O3 nanowires and silicon substrates of different surface textures was characterised by use of optical manipulation. It was found that surface textures had significant effect on both the friction and the effective contact area between a nanowire and a substrate. A genetic algorithm was developed to determine the effective contact area between the nanowire and the textured substrate. The frictional force was found to be nearly proportional to the effective contact area, regardless of width, depth, spacing and orientation of the surface textures. Interlocking caused by textured grooves was not observed in this study.
Multiplex Reverse-Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Coupled with Cascade Invasive Reaction and Nanoparticle Hybridization for Subtyping of Influenza A Virus
Authors: Chi Ying , Ge Yiyue , Zhao Kangchen , Zou Bingjie , Liu Bin , Qi Xian , Bian Qian , Shi Zhiyang , Zhu Fengcai , Zhou Minghao , Cui Lunbiao , Su Chuan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractConsidering the fatal human victims and economic loss caused by influenza virus infection every year, methodologies for rapid and on-site detection of influenza viruses are urgently needed. LAMP is the most commonly used nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology suitable for on-site use. However, for multiplex LAMP, differentiation of the amplicons derived from multiple targets is still challengeable currently. Here we developed a multiplex RT-LAMP assay for simultaneous amplification of three prominent subtypes of influenza viruses (A/H5, A/H7 and 2009A/H1). The amplicons were further identified by cascade invasive reaction and nanoparticle hybridization in separate target-specific detection tubes (referred to as mRT-LAMP-IRNH). The analytic sensitivities of the assay are 10 copies of RNA for all the three HA subtypes, and the specificity reached 100%. Clinical specimen analysis showed this assay had a combined sensitivity and specificity of 98.1% and 100%, respectively. Overall, the mRT-LAMP-IRNH assay can be used as a cost-saving method that utilizes a simple instrument to detect A/H5, A/H7, and 2009A/H1 influenza viruses, especially in resource-limited settings.
Grid-enhanced X-ray coded aperture microscopy with polycapillary optics
Authors: Sowa Katarzyna M. , Last Arndt , Korecki Paweł 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPolycapillary devices focus X-rays by means of multiple reflections of X-rays in arrays of bent glass capillaries. The size of the focal spot (typically 10–100 μm) limits the resolution of scanning, absorption and phase-contrast X-ray imaging using these devices. At the expense of a moderate resolution, polycapillary elements provide high intensity and are frequently used for X-ray micro-imaging with both synchrotrons and X-ray tubes. Recent studies have shown that the internal microstructure of such an optics can be used as a coded aperture that encodes high-resolution information about objects located inside the focal spot. However, further improvements to this variant of X-ray microscopy will require the challenging fabrication of tailored devices with a well-defined capillary microstructure. Here, we show that submicron coded aperture microscopy can be realized using a periodic grid that is placed at the output surface of a polycapillary optics. Grid-enhanced X-ray coded aperture microscopy with polycapillary optics does not rely on the specific microstructure of the optics but rather takes advantage only of its focusing properties. Hence, submicron X-ray imaging can be realized with standard polycapillary devices and existing set-ups for micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
Anatomy of the retrohepatic tunnel in a Chinese population and its clinical application in liver surgery
Authors: Zheng Wang , Zi-hai Ding , Jie Zhou , Shi-zhen Zhong , Jian-hua Lin , Yi-xiong Lin 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLiver hanging maneuver (LHM) is an important technique in liver surgery. However, applied anatomy of the retrohepatic tunnel for the surgical approach in Chinese population needs further study. In this study, to explore the basic anatomy of retrohepatic tunnel and its clinical application in a Chinese population, a total of 32 formalin-fixed cadavers were dissected, related parameters were measured, and their clinical applications were discussed. The length of the retrohepatic tunnel was (60.6 ± 9.9) mm. The width of the retrohepatic tunnel superior opening was (13.8 ± 3.9) mm. The width of the retrohepatic tunnel inferior opening was (15.2 ± 7.4) mm. The hepatic short vessels were distributed along the middle and lower 1/3 of hepatic inferior vena cava (HIVC), with a slight predominance on its left wall. A few hepatic short vessels were distributed along the upper 1/3 of the HIVC. We concluded: the anatomy of the retrohepatic tunnel provides a basis for use of LHM in liver surgery; more hepatic short vessels from hepatic caudate lobe can be preserved via right approach. The retrohepatic tunnel can be used as a good surgical approach in liver surgery; its application also has important significance in laparoscopic minimally invasive liver surgery.
Anti-inflammatory properties of shikonin contribute to improved early-stage diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Liao Po-Lin , Lin Cheng-Hui , Li Ching-Hao , Tsai Chi-Hao , Ho Jau-Der , Chiou George C. Y. , Kang Jaw-Jou , Cheng Yu-Wen 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy (DR), a major microvascular complication of diabetes, leads to retinal vascular leakage, neuronal dysfunction, and apoptosis within the retina. In this study, we combined STZ with whole-body hypoxia (10% O2) for quicker induction of early-stage retinopathy in C57BL/6 mice. We also compared the effects of a high glucose condition combined with hypoxia (1% O2) to a low glucose condition by using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which are a crucial component of the outer blood-retinal barrier and the damage is related to retinopathy. In the retina of DM/hypoxic C57BL/6 mice, abnormal a-wave and b-wave activity, yellowish-white spots, hyperfluorescence, and reduced retinal thickness were found using electroretinography (ERG), fundus photography (FP), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Shikonin dose-dependently (0.5–50 mg/kg, per os) prevented DM/hypoxia-induced lesions. In eye tissue, administration of shikonin also attenuated DM/hypoxia-induced pre-apoptotic protein BAX expression as well as the production of inflammatory proteins cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We also demonstrated that shikonin administration rescues high glucose/hypoxia (1% O2)-induced inflammation, decreased junction protein expression, and permeability in RPE cells. These results indicate that shikonin treatment may prevent the loss of vision associated with DR.
Resveratrol mitigates lipopolysaccharide-mediated acute inflammation in rats by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κBp65/MAPKs signaling cascade
Authors: Wang Guangxi , Hu Zhiqiang , Fu Qiuting , Song Xu , Cui Qiankun , Jia Renyong , Zou Yuanfeng , He Changliang , Li Lixia , Yin Zhongqiong 
Published: March 2017

AbstractResveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound exhibiting anti-inflammatory effect, but the anti-inflammatory mechanism has not been fully understood. This study is aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of RSV in lipopolysaccharides-induced rats’ model. The visceral wet/dry weight ratios and the changes of hematologic and biochemical indices indicated that LPS- stimulation mainly caused damages to liver and lung, while pretreatment with RSV could alleviate the lesions. The cytokine assays showed that RSV could markedly decrease the production of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines (IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, NO, iNOS and COX-2), and increase the expression of anti-inflammatory mediator (IL-10). RSV could inhibit TLR4 signaling pathway by down-regulating the mRNA levels of MyD88 and TRAF6, and suppressing the TLR4 protein. RSV could inhibit the signaling cascades of NF-κBp65 and MAPKs through down-regulating the mRNA levels of IκBα, p38MAPK, JNK, ERK1, ERK2 and ERK5 in liver and lung, and suppressing the dynamic changes of proteins and phosphorylated proteins including IκBα, NF-κBp65, p38MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2 and ERK5 from tissue’s cytoplasm to nucleus. In conclusion, RSV possessed a therapeutic effect on LPS-induced inflammation in rats and the mechanism mainly attributed to suppressing the signaling cascades of NF-κBp65 and MAPKs by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway.
Nursing staff fluctuation and pathogenic burden in the NICU - effective outbreak management and the underestimated relevance of non-resistant strains
Authors: Hensel Kai O. , van den Bruck Rhea , Klare Ingo , Heldmann Michael , Ghebremedhin Beniam , Jenke Andreas C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn the course of a hospital management takeover, a microbial outbreak took place in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Here, we characterize the outbreak and its management. About 4 months prior to takeover, there was a sharp increase in positive isolates for MSSA and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Simultaneously, the nursing staff sick leave rate increased dramatically which directly correlated with the number of infection/colonization per week (r2 = 0.95, p = 0.02). During the following months we observed several peaks in positive isolates of methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), MDROs and subsequently a vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) outbreak. Interventional outbreak management measures were only successful after substantial recruitment of additional nursing staff. None of the VRE, but 44% (n = 4) of MDRO and 32% (n = 23) of MSSA colonized infants developed symptomatic infections (p = 0.02). Among the latter, 35% suffered from serious consequences such as osteomyelitis. The most important risk factors for colonization-to-infection progression were low gestational age and birth weight. Nursing staff fluctuation poses a substantial risk for both bacterial colonization and infection in neonates. Comprehensive outbreak management measures are only successful if adequate nursing staff is available. Non resistant strains account for most neonatal infections – possibly due to their limited perception as being harmful.
Carbon Nanotube Mode-Locked Thulium Fiber Laser With 200 nm Tuning Range
Authors: Meng Yafei , Li Yao , Xu Yongbing , Wang Fengqiu 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe demonstrated a mode-locked thulium/holmium (Tm/Ho) fiber laser continuously tunable across 200 nm (from 1860 nm to 2060 nm), which to the best of our knowledge represents the widest tuning range ever achieved for a passively mode-locked fiber laser oscillator. The combined use of a broadband carbon nanotube (CNT) saturable absorber and a diffraction grating mirror ensures ultra-broad tuning range, superb stability and repeatability, and makes the demonstrated laser a highly practical source for spectroscopy, imaging and optical communications. The laser emits <5 ps pulses with an optical spectral bandwidth of ∼3 nm across the full tuning range. Our results indicate that carbon nanotubes can be an excellent saturable absorber for achieving gain-bandwidth-limited tunable operation for 2 μm thulium fiber lasers.
The clinical effect of nicorandil on perioperative myocardial protection in patients undergoing elective PCI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ye Ziliang , Su Qiang , Li Lang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMany scholars have studied the effect of nicorandil on perioperative myocardial protection in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but results are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis. Finally, 16 articles, including 1616 patients, were included into this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed that: (1) Nicorandil can reduce the level of CK-MB after PCI, including at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and 24 hours. (2) Nicorandil can reduce the level of TnT after PCI, including at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and 24 hours. (3) Nicorandil can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions after PCI. (4) Nicorandil cannot reduce the level of MVP after PCI, including at 12 hours and 24 hours. (5) Subgroup analysis showed that nicorandil can reduce CK-MB and TnT level at 24 hours after PCI for Chinese’s population (P < 0.05), but can not reduce CK-MB and TnT level at 24 hours after PCI for non Chinese’s population (P > 0.05). Our meta-analysis indicate that nicorandil can reduce myocardial injury and reduce the incidence of adverse reaction caused by PCI for Chinese’s population, but is not obvious for non Chinese’s population. However, this conclusion still needs to be confirmed in the future.
Superoxide dismutase SOD-1 modulates C. elegans pathogen avoidance behavior
Authors: Horspool Alexander M. , Chang Howard C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe C. elegans nervous system mediates protective physiological and behavioral responses amid infection. However, it remains largely unknown how the nervous system responds to reactive oxygen species (ROS) activated by pathogenic microbes during infection. Here, we show superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), an enzyme that converts superoxide into less toxic hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, functions in the gustatory neuron ASER to mediate C. elegans pathogen avoidance response. When C. elegans first encounters pathogenic bacteria P. aeruginosa, SOD-1 is induced in the ASER neuron. After prolonged P. aeruginosa exposure, ASER-specific SOD-1 expression is diminished. In turn, C. elegans starts to vacate the pathogenic bacteria lawn. Genetic knockdown experiments reveal that pathogen-induced ROS activate sod-1 dependent behavioral response non cell-autonomously. We postulate that the delayed aversive response to detrimental microbes may provide survival benefits by allowing C. elegans to temporarily utilize food that is tainted with pathogens as an additional energy source. Our data offer a mechanistic insight into how the nervous system mediates food-seeking behavior amid oxidative stress and suggest that the internal state of redox homeostasis could underlie the behavioral response to harmful microbial species.
High-accuracy current generation in the nanoampere regime from a silicon single-trap electron pump
Authors: Yamahata Gento , Giblin Stephen P. , Kataoka Masaya , Karasawa Takeshi , Fujiwara Akira 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA gigahertz single-electron (SE) pump with a semiconductor charge island is promising for a future quantum current standard. However, high-accuracy current in the nanoampere regime is still difficult to achieve because the performance of SE pumps tends to degrade significantly at frequencies exceeding 1 GHz. Here, we demonstrate robust SE pumping via a single-trap level in silicon up to 7.4 GHz, at which the pumping current exceeds 1 nA. An accuracy test with an uncertainty of about one part per million (ppm) reveals that the pumping current deviates from the ideal value by only about 20 ppm at the flattest part of the current plateau. This value is two orders of magnitude better than the best one reported in the nanoampere regime. In addition, the pumping accuracy is almost unchanged up to 7.4 GHz, probably due to strong electron confinement in the trap. These results indicate that trap-mediated SE pumping is promising for achieving the practical operation of the quantum current standard.