bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Broadband and Broad-angle Polarization-independent Metasurface for Radar Cross Section Reduction
Authors: Sun Hengyi , Gu Changqing , Chen Xinlei , Li Zhuo , Liu Liangliang , Xu Bingzheng , Zhou Zicheng 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn this work, a broadband and broad-angle polarization-independent random coding metasurface structure is proposed for radar cross section (RCS) reduction. An efficient genetic algorithm is utilized to obtain the optimal layout of the unit cells of the metasurface to get a uniform backscattering under normal incidence. Excellent agreement between the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed metasurface structure can significantly reduce the radar cross section more than 10 dB from 17 GHz to 42 GHz when the angle of incident waves varies from 10° to 50°. The proposed coding metasurface provides an efficient scheme to reduce the scattering of the electromagnetic waves.
Effect of thermal annealing Super Yellow emissive layer on efficiency of OLEDs
Authors: Burns Samantha , MacLeod Jennifer , Trang Do Thu , Sonar Prashant , Yambem Soniya D. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThermal annealing of the emissive layer of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is a common practice for solution processable emissive layers and reported annealing temperatures varies across a wide range of temperatures. We have investigated the influence of thermal annealing of the emissive layer at different temperatures on the performance of OLEDs. Solution processed polymer Super Yellow emissive layers were annealed at different temperatures and their performances were compared against OLEDs with a non-annealed emissive layer. We found a significant difference in the efficiency of OLEDs with different annealing temperatures. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) reached a maximum of 4.09% with the emissive layer annealed at 50 °C. The EQE dropped by ~35% (to 2.72%) for OLEDs with the emissive layers annealed at 200 °C. The observed performances of OLEDs were found to be closely related to thermal properties of polymer Super Yellow. The results reported here provide an important guideline for processing emissive layers and are significant for OLED and other organic electronics research communities.
Prediction of very late arrhythmia recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: The MB-LATER clinical score
Authors: Mujović Nebojša , Marinković Milan , Marković Nebojša , Shantsila Alena , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Potpara Tatjana S. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractReliable prediction of very late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (VLRAF) occuring >12 months after catheter ablation (CA) in apparently “cured” patients could optimize long-term follow-up and modify decision-making regarding the discontinuation of oral anticoagulant therapy. In a single-centre cohort of consecutive patients post radiofrequency AFCA, we retrospectively derived a novel score for VLRAF prediction. Of 133 consecutive post AFCA patients (mean age 56.9 ± 11.8 years, 63.9% male, 69.2% with paroxysmal AF) who were arrhythmia-free at 12 months (excluding 3-month “blanking period”), 20 patients expirienced a VLRAF during a 29.1 ± 10.1-month follow-up, with a 3-year cumulative VLRAF rate of 31.1%. The MB-LATER score (Male, Bundle brunch block, Left atrium ≥47 mm, Type of AF [paroxysmal, persistent or long-standing persistent], and ER-AF = early recurrent AF), had better predictive ability for VLRAF (AUC 0.782) than the APPLE, ALARMc, BASE-AF2, CHADS2, CHA2DS2VASc or HATCH score (AUC 0.716, 0.671, 0.648, 0.552, 0.519 and 0.583, respectively), resulted in an improved net reclassification index (NRI) of 48.6–95.1% and better identified patients with subsequent VLRAF using decision-curve analysis (DCA). The MB-LATER score provides a readily available VLRAF risk assessment, and performs better than other scores. Validation of the MB-LATER score in other cohorts is underway.
Sham Electroacupuncture Methods in Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Zi-xian , Li Yan , Zhang Xiao-guang , Chen Shuang , Yang Wen-ting , Zheng Xia-wei , Zheng Guo-qing 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSham electroacupuncture (EA) control is commonly used to evaluate the specific effects of EA in randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). However, establishing an inert and concealable sham EA control remains methodologically challenging. Here, we aimed to systematically investigate the sham EA methods. Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2015. Ten out of the 17 sham EA methods were identified from 94 RCTs involving 6134 participants according to three aspects: needle location, depth of needle insertion and electrical stimulation. The top three most frequently used types were sham EA type A, type L and type O ordinally. Only 24 out of the 94 trials reported credibility tests in six types of sham EA methods and the results were mainly as follows: sham EA type A (10/24), type B (5/24) and type Q (5/24). Compared with sham EA controls, EA therapy in 56.2% trials reported the specific effects, of which the highest positive rate was observed in type N (3/4), type F (5/7), type D (4/6) and type M (2/3). In conclusion, several sham EA types were identified as a promising candidate for further application in RCTs. Nonetheless, more evidence for inert and concealable sham EA control methods is needed.
Comparative Phosphoproteomics Reveals an Important Role of MKK2 in Banana (Musa spp.) Cold Signal Network
Authors: Gao Jie , Zhang Sheng , He Wei-Di , Shao Xiu-Hong , Li Chun-Yu , Wei Yue-Rong , Deng Gui-Ming , Kuang Rui-Bin , Hu Chun-Hua , Yi Gan-Jun , Yang Qiao-Song 
Published: January 2017

AbstractLow temperature is one of the key environmental stresses, which greatly affects global banana production. However, little is known about the global phosphoproteomes inMusa spp. and their regulatory roles in response to cold stress. In this study, we conducted a comparative phosphoproteomic profiling of cold-sensitive Cavendish Banana and relatively cold tolerant Dajiao under cold stress. Phosphopeptide abundances of five phosphoproteins involved in MKK2 interaction network, including MKK2, HY5, CaSR, STN7 and kinesin-like protein, show a remarkable difference between Cavendish Banana and Dajiao in response to cold stress. Western blotting of MKK2 protein and its T31 phosphorylated peptide verified the phosphoproteomic results of increased T31 phosphopeptide abundance with decreased MKK2 abundance in Daojiao for a time course of cold stress. Meanwhile increased expression of MKK2 with no detectable T31 phosphorylation was found in Cavendish Banana. These results suggest that the MKK2 pathway in Dajiao, along with other cold-specific phosphoproteins, appears to be associated with the molecular mechanisms of high tolerance to cold stress in Dajiao. The results also provide new evidence that the signaling pathway of cellular MKK2 phosphorylation plays an important role in abiotic stress tolerance that likely serves as a universal plant cold tolerance mechanism.
Release activity-dependent control of vesicle endocytosis by the synaptic adhesion molecule N-cadherin
Authors: van Stegen Bernd , Dagar Sushma , Gottmann Kurt 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAt synapses in the mammalian brain, continuous information transfer requires the long-term maintenance of homeostatic coupling between exo- and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Because classical endocytosis is orders of magnitude slower than the millisecond-range exocytosis of vesicles, high frequency vesicle fusion could potentially compromise structural stability of synapses. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the tight coupling of exo- and endocytosis are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the transsynaptic adhesion molecules N-cadherin and Neuroligin1 in regulating vesicle exo- and endocytosis by using activity-induced FM4–64 staining and by using synaptophysin-pHluorin fluorescence imaging. The synaptic adhesion molecules N-cadherin and Neuroligin1 had distinct impacts on exo- and endocytosis at mature cortical synapses. Expression of Neuroligin1 enhanced vesicle release in a N-cadherin-dependent way. Most intriguingly, expression of N-cadherin enhanced both vesicle exo- and endocytosis. Further detailed analysis of N-cadherin knockout neurons revealed that the boosting of endocytosis by N-cadherin was largely dependent on preceding high levels of vesicle release activity. In summary, regulation of vesicle endocytosis was mediated at the molecular level by N-cadherin in a release activity-dependent manner. Because of its endocytosis enhancing function, N-cadherin might play an important role in the coupling of vesicle exo- and endocytosis.
Efficient method for comprehensive computation of agent-level epidemic dissemination in networks
Authors: Nakamura Gilberto M. , Monteiro Ana Carolina P. , Cardoso George C. , Martinez Alexandre S. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSusceptible-infected (SI) and susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) are simple agent-based models often employed in epidemic studies. Both models describe the time evolution of infectious diseases in networks whose vertices are either susceptible (S) or infected (I) agents. Precise estimation for disease spreading is one of the major goals in epidemic studies but often restricted to heavy numerical simulations. Analytic methods using operatorial content are subject to the asymmetric eigenvalue problem, limiting the use of perturbative methods. Numerical methods are limited to small populations, since the vector space increases exponentially with population size N. Here, we propose the use of the squared norm of the probability vector to obtain an algebraic equation, which permits the evaluation of stationary states in Markov processes. The equation requires the eigenvalues of symmetrized time generators and takes full advantage of symmetries, reducing the time evolution to an O(N) sparse problem. The calculation of eigenvalues employs quantum many-body techniques, while the standard perturbation theory accounts for small modifications to the network topology.
Morphological, physiological and anatomical traits of plant functional types in temperate grasslands along a large-scale aridity gradient in northeastern China
Authors: Guo Chengyuan , Ma Linna , Yuan Shan , Wang Renzhong 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAt the species level, plants can respond to climate changes by changing their leaf traits; however, there is scant information regarding the responses of morphological, physiological and anatomical traits of plant functional types (PFTs) to aridity. Herein, the leaf traits of five PFTs representing 17 plant species in temperate grasslands were examined along a large-scale aridity gradient in northeastern China. The results show that leaf thickness in shrubs, perennial grasses and forbs increased with heightened aridity. Trees increased soluble sugar content, but shrubs, perennials and annual grasses enhanced proline accumulation due to increasing aridity. Moreover, vessel diameter and stomatal index in shrubs and perennial grasses decreased with increasing aridity, but stomatal density and vascular diameter of five PFTs were not correlated with water availability. In conclusion, divergences in adaptive strategies to aridity among these PFTs in temperate grasslands were likely caused by differences in their utilization of water resources, which have different temporal and spatial distribution patterns. Leaf traits of shrubs and perennial grasses had the largest responses to variability of aridity through regulation of morphological, physiological and anatomical traits, which was followed by perennial forbs. Trees and annual grasses endured aridity only by adjusting leaf physiological processes.
{225}γ habit planes in martensitic steels: from the PTMC to a continuous model
Authors: Baur Annick P. , Cayron Cyril , Logé Roland E. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractFine twinned microstructures with {225}γhabit planes are commonly observed in martensitic steels. The present study shows that an equibalanced combination of twin-related variants associated to the Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship is equivalent to the Bowles and Mackenzie’s version of the PTMC for this specific {225}γcase. The distortion associated to the Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship results from a continuous modeling of the FCC-BCC transformation. Thus, for the first time, an atomic path can be associated to the PTMC.
CD1− and CD1+ porcine blood dendritic cells are enriched for the orthologues of the two major mammalian conventional subsets
Authors: Edwards Jane C. , Everett Helen E. , Pedrera Miriam , Mokhtar Helen , Marchi Emanuele , Soldevila Ferran , Kaveh Daryan A. , Hogarth Philip J. , Johns Helen L. , Nunez-Garcia Javier , Steinbach Falko , Crooke Helen R. , Graham Simon P. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractConventional dendritic cells (cDC) are professional antigen-presenting cells that induce immune activation or tolerance. Two functionally specialised populations, termed cDC1 and cDC2, have been described in humans, mice, ruminants and recently in pigs. Pigs are an important biomedical model species and a key source of animal protein; therefore further understanding of their immune system will help underpin the development of disease prevention strategies. To characterise cDC populations in porcine blood, DC were enriched from PBMC by CD14 depletion and CD172a enrichment then stained with lineage mAbs (Lin; CD3, CD8α, CD14 and CD21) and mAbs specific for CD172a, CD1 and CD4. Two distinct porcine cDC subpopulations were FACSorted CD1− cDC (Lin−CD172+ CD1−CD4−) and CD1+ cDC (Lin−CD172a+ CD1+ CD4−), and characterised by phenotypic and functional analyses. CD1+ cDC were distinct from CD1− cDC, expressing higher levels of CD172a, MHC class II and CD11b. Following TLR stimulation, CD1+ cDC produced IL-8 and IL-10 while CD1− cDC secreted IFN-α, IL-12 and TNF-α. CD1− cDC were superior in stimulating allogeneic T cell responses and in cross-presenting viral antigens to CD8 T cells. Comparison of transcriptional profiles further suggested that the CD1− and CD1+ populations were enriched for the orthologues of cDC1 and cDC2 subsets respectively.
Altered motion repulsion in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Li Yan , Guo Shougang , Wang Yongxiang , Chen Huan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractRecent research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) indicates that perceptual impairments may occur before the onset of cognitive declines, and can thus serve as an early noninvasive indicator for AD. In this study, we focused on visual motion processing and explored whether AD induces changes in the properties of direction repulsion between two competing motions. We used random dot kinematograms (RDKs) and measured the magnitudes of direction repulsion between two overlapping RDKs moving different directions in three groups of participants: an AD group, an age-matched old control group, and a young control group. We showed that motion direction repulsion was significantly weaker in AD patients as comparing to both healthy controls. More importantly, we found that the magnitude of motion repulsion was predictive of the assessment of clinical severity in the AD group. Our results implicate that AD pathology is associated with altered neural functions in visual cortical areas and that motion repulsion deficit is a behavioral biomarker for the tracking of AD development.
Development of a nested-PCR assay for the rapid detection of Pilidiella granati in pomegranate fruit
Authors: Yang Xue , Hameed Uzma , Zhang Ai-Fang , Zang Hao-Yu , Gu Chun-Yan , Chen Yu , Xu Yi-Liu 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPilidiella granati, a causal agent of twig blight and crown rot of pomegranate, is an emerging threat that may cause severe risk to the pomegranate industry in the future. Development of a rapid assay for the timely and accurate detection of P. granati will be helpful in the active surveillance and management of the disease caused by this pathogen. In this study, a nested PCR method was established for the detection of P. granati. Comparative analysis of genetic diversity within 5.8S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of P. granati and 21 other selected fungal species was performed to design species-specific primers (S1 and S2). This primer pair successfully amplified a 450 bp product exclusively from the genomic DNA of P. granati. The developed method can detect 10 pg genomic DNA of the pathogen in about 6 h. This technique was successfully applied to detect the natural infection of P. granati in the pomegranate fruit. The designed protocol is rapid and precise with a high degree of sensitivity.
Visceral hyperalgesia caused by peptide YY deletion and Y2 receptor antagonism
Authors: Hassan Ahmed M. , Jain Piyush , Mayerhofer Raphaela , Fröhlich Esther E. , Farzi Aitak , Reichmann Florian , Herzog Herbert , Holzer Peter 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAltered levels of colonic peptide YY (PYY) have been reported in patients suffering from functional and inflammatory bowel disorders. While the involvement of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Y receptors in the regulation of nociception is well established, the physiological role of PYY in somatic and visceral pain is poorly understood. In this work, the role of PYY in pain sensitivity was evaluated using PYY knockout (PYY(−/−)) mice and Y2 receptor ligands. PYY(−/−) mice were more sensitive to somatic thermal pain compared to wild type (WT) mice. Visceral pain was assessed by evaluating pain-related behaviors, mouse grimace scale (MGS) and referred hyperalgesia after intrarectal administration of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, 1 or 2%) or its vehicle, peanut oil. The pain-related behaviors induced by AITC were significantly exaggerated by PYY deletion, whereas the MGS readout and the referred hyperalgesia were not significantly affected. The Y2 receptor antagonist, BII0246, increased pain-related behaviors in response to intrarectal AITC compared to vehicle treatment while the Y2 receptor agonist, PYY(3–36), did not have a significant effect. These results indicate that endogenous PYY has a hypoalgesic effect on somatic thermal and visceral chemical pain. The effect on visceral pain seems to be mediated by peripheral Y2 receptors.
Transaminase abnormalities and adaptations of the liver lobule manifest at specific cut-offs of steatosis
Authors: Hall Andrew , Covelli Claudia , Manuguerra Roberta , Luong Tu Vinh , Buzzetti Elena , Tsochatzis Emmanuel , Pinzani Massimo , Dhillon Amar Paul 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThere is little documented evidence suggesting that liver fat is responsible for liver injury in the absence of other disease processes. We investigated the relationships between liver fat, aminotransferases and hepatic architecture in liver biopsies with simple steatosis. We identified 136 biopsies with simple steatosis from the Royal Free Hospital Archives with both clinical data and sufficient material. Digital image analysis was employed to measure fat proportionate area (mFPA). Hepatocyte area (HA) and lobule radius (LR) were also measured. There were significant increases in ALT (p < 0.001) and AST (p = 0.013) with increased fat content and evidence to suggest both 5% and 20% mFPA as a cut-off for raised ALT. In liver with increased fat content there were significant increases in HA (p < 0.001). LR also increased as mFPA increased to 10% (p < 0.001), at which point the lobule ceased to expand further and was counterbalanced with a decrease in the number of hepatocytes per lobule (p = 0.029). Consequently there are mechanisms of adaption in the liver architecture to accommodate the accumulation of fat and these are accompanied by significant increases in transaminases. These results support the generally accepted cut-off of 5% fat for steatosis and indicate 20% as a threshold of more severe liver injury.
Early Secreted Antigenic Target of 6-kDa of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Stimulates IL-6 Production by Macrophages through Activation of STAT3
Authors: Jung Bock-Gie , Wang Xisheng , Yi Na , Ma Justin , Turner Joanne , Samten Buka 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAs early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) ofMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an essential virulence factor and macrophages are critical for tuberculosis infection and immunity, we studied ESAT-6 stimulated IL-6 production by macrophages. ESAT-6 stimulated significantly higher IL-6 secretion by murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) compared to culture filtrate protein 10 kDa (CFP10) and antigen 85A. Polymyxin B, an LPS blocker, did not affect ESAT-6 stimulated macrophage IL-6 production. ESAT-6 but not Pam3CSK4 induced IL-6 by TLR2 knockout BMDM. ESAT-6 induced phosphorylation and DNA binding of STAT3 and this was blocked by STAT3 inhibitors but not by rapamycin. STAT3 inhibitors suppressed ESAT-6-induced IL-6 transcription and secretion without affecting cell viability. This was confirmed by silencing STAT3 in macrophages. Blocking neither IL-6Rα/IL-6 nor IL-10 affected ESAT-6-induced STAT3 activation and IL-6 production. Infection of BMDM and human macrophages withMtbwithesat-6deletion induced diminished STAT3 activation and reduced IL-6 production compared to wild type andesat-6complementedMtbstrains. Administration of ESAT-6 but not CFP10 induced STAT3 phosphorylation and IL-6 expression in the mouse lungs, consistent with expression of ESAT-6, IL-6 and phosphorylated-STAT3 inMtb-infected mouse lungs. We conclude that ESAT-6 stimulates macrophage IL-6 production through STAT3 activation.
Effect of myocyte-fibroblast coupling on the onset of pathological dynamics in a model of ventricular tissue
Authors: Sridhar S. , Vandersickel Nele , Panfilov Alexander V. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractManaging lethal cardiac arrhythmias is one of the biggest challenges in modern cardiology, and hence it is very important to understand the factors underlying such arrhythmias. While early afterdepolarizations (EAD) of cardiac cells is known to be one such arrhythmogenic factor, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of tissue level arrhythmias from cellular level EADs is not fully understood. Another known arrhythmogenic condition is fibrosis of cardiac tissue that occurs both due to aging and in many types of heart diseases. In this paper we describe the results of a systematic in-silico study, using the TNNP model of human cardiac cells and MacCannell model for (myo)fibroblasts, on the possible effects of diffuse fibrosis on arrhythmias occurring via EADs. We find that depending on the resting potential of fibroblasts (VFR), M-F coupling can either increase or decrease the region of parameters showing EADs. Fibrosis increases the probability of occurrence of arrhythmias after a single focal stimulation and this effect increases with the strength of the M-F coupling. While in our simulations, arrhythmias occur due to fibrosis induced ectopic activity, we do not observe any specific fibrotic pattern that promotes the occurrence of these ectopic sources.