bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel biliary stent coated with silver nanoparticles prolongs the unobstructed period and survival via anti-bacterial activity
Authors: Yang Fuchun , Ren Zhigang , Chai Qinming , Cui Guangying , Jiang Li , Chen Hanjian , Feng Zhiying , Chen Xinhua , Ji Jian , Zhou Lin , Wang Weilin , Zheng Shusen 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSymptomatic biliary stricture causes life-threatening complications, such as jaundice, recurrent cholangitis and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMSs) are gaining acceptance for treatments of benign biliary stricture and palliative management of malignant biliary obstructions. However, the high rate of FCSEMS obstruction limits their clinic use. In this study, we developed a novel biliary stent coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and investigated its efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. We first identified properties of the AgNP complex using ultraviolet detection. The AgNP complex was stable without AgNP agglomeration and Ag abundance was correspondingly increased with an increased bilayer number. The AgNP biliary stent demonstrated good performance in the spin-assembly method based on topographic observation. The AgNP biliary stent also exhibited a long-term anti-coagulation effect and a slow process of Ag+ release. In vitro anti-bacteria experiments indicated that the AgNP biliary stent exhibited high-efficiency anti-bacterial activity for both short- and long-term periods. Importantly, application of the AgNP biliary stent significantly prolonged the unobstructed period of the biliary system and improved survival in preclinical studies as a result of its anti-microbial activity and decreased granular tissue formation on the surface of the anastomotic biliary, providing a novel and effective treatment strategy for symptomatic biliary strictures.
Accurate and molecular-size-tolerant NMR quantitation of diverse components in solution
Authors: Okamura Hideyasu , Nishimura Hiroshi , Nagata Takashi , Kigawa Takanori , Watanabe Takashi , Katahira Masato 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDetermining the amount of each component of interest in a mixture is a fundamental first step in characterizing the nature of the solution and to develop possible means of utilization of its components. Similarly, determining the composition of units in complex polymers, or polymer mixtures, is crucial. Although NMR is recognized as one of the most powerful methods to achieve this and is widely used in many fields, variation in the molecular sizes or the relative mobilities of components skews quantitation due to the size-dependent decay of magnetization. Here, a method to accurately determine the amount of each component by NMR was developed. This method was validated using a solution that contains biomass-related components in which the molecular sizes greatly differ. The method is also tolerant of other factors that skew quantitation such as variation in the one-bond C–H coupling constant. The developed method is the first and only way to reliably overcome the skewed quantitation caused by several different factors to provide basic information on the correct amount of each component in a solution.
Enhanced in vitro angiogenic behaviour of human umbilical vein endothelial cells on thermally oxidized TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces
Authors: Tan Ai Wen , Liau Ling Ling , Chua Kien Hui , Ahmad Roslina , Akbar Sheikh Ali , Pingguan-Murphy Belinda 
Published: February 2016

AbstractOne of the major challenges in bone grafting is the lack of sufficient bone vascularization. A rapid and stable bone vascularization at an early stage of implantation is essential for optimal functioning of the bone graft. To address this, the ability of in situ TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces fabricated via thermal oxidation method to enhance the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated. The cellular responses of HUVECs on TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces were studied through cell adhesion, cell proliferation, capillary-like tube formation, growth factors secretion (VEGF and BFGF) and angiogenic-endogenic-associated gene (VEGF, VEGFR2, BFGF, PGF, HGF, Ang-1, VWF, PECAM-1 and ENOS) expression analysis after 2 weeks of cell seeding. Our results show that TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces significantly enhanced adhesion, proliferation, formation of capillary-like tube networks and growth factors secretion of HUVECs, as well as leading to higher expression level of all angiogenic-endogenic-associated genes, in comparison to unmodified control surfaces. These beneficial effects suggest the potential use of such surface nanostructures to be utilized as an advantageous interface for bone grafts as they can promote angiogenesis, which improves bone vascularization.
Wideband absorber using silver nanowire resistive film
Authors: Lee J. , Lee B. 
Published: February 2016

A light‐weight and wideband X‐band absorber employing a resistive silver nanowire (AgNW) film is presented. One unit of the absorber is composed of a cross‐shaped AgNW resistive film and a conducting plane separated by a 7.5 mm (λ0/4 at 10 GHz) Styrofoam (εr = 1.03) layer. The used surface resistance of the film is 42 Ω per square. The 90% absorption bandwidth of the absorber is 80% from 6 to 14 GHz with a near complete absorption at the centre frequency of 10 GHz. Besides, it is also shown to be polarisation‐insensitive.
Hybrid intelligent modelling and simulation for cold tandem rolling process
Authors: Tie Ming , Bi Jing , Ding Jinliang 
Published: February 2016

Dynamics of cold tandem rolling processes are difficult to be simulated with mechanism models due to their high non‐linearities, multivariable and strong couplings, time‐varying distributed parameters and so on. A novel hybrid intelligent dynamic modelling approach is proposed based on the combination of a linearised state space model derived from various mechanism equations, a case‐based reasoning algorithm for multi‐state space models selection, a genetic algorithm for optimisation of case attributes, an adaptive fractal filtering algorithm for the identification of state space model parameters, a neural network‐based simulation error compensation model for the strip exit velocity. With actual data from a 2030 mm five‐stand cold tandem rolling system of a steel plant, simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Furthermore, a rolling simulation system is developed based on the proposed model, and the virtual tandem rolling experiments with the simulation system also validate that the proposed model can accurately simulate the dynamics variation from different types of disturbances of cold tandem rolling processes.
Preparation of hydrophobic magnetite by a simple solvothermal method using oleylamine as reducing and surface modification agent
Authors: Sun Xiaoning , Sun Kangning , Wang Song , Zhang Shupin , Liu Zhaojun , Wang Yaping 
Published: February 2016

Hydrophobic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were prepared by a one‐step solvothermal processing, in which ferric chloride (FeCl3 ·6H2O) was used as the iron source. A systematic characterisation of the obtained samples was performed by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and vibrating sample magnetometer. The experimental results demonstrated that oleylamine not only plays a role as the reducing agent, but also as the surface modification agent. Hydrophobicity of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles therefore, which are covered with oleylamine and long‐chain alkanes, is achieved without any surface modification subsequently. With increasing aging time to 9 h, the average particle size of the product obtained is about 80 nm and its saturation magnetisation can reach a higher value, 89 emu/g.
Marine anoxia and delayed Earth system recovery after the end-Permian extinction
Authors: Lau Kimberly V. , Maher Kate , Altiner Demir , Kelley Brian M. , Kump Lee R. , Lehrmann Daniel J. , Silva-Tamayo Juan Carlos , Weaver Karrie L. , Yu Meiyi , Payne Jonathan L. 
Published: February 2016

Significance
The end-Permian mass extinction not only decimated taxonomic diversity but also disrupted the functioning of global ecosystems and the stability of biogeochemical cycles. Explaining the 5-million-year delay between the mass extinction and Earth system recovery remains a fundamental challenge in both the Earth and biological sciences. We use coupled records of uranium concentrations and isotopic compositions to constrain global marine redox conditions across the end-Permian extinction horizon and through the subsequent 17 million years of Earth system recovery. Our finding that the trajectory of biological and biogeochemical recovery corresponds to variations in an ocean characterized by extensive, shallow marine anoxia provides, to our knowledge, the first unified explanation for these observations.
Consumption of palatable food primes food approach behavior by rapidly increasing synaptic density in the VTA
Authors: Liu Shuai , Globa Andrea K. , Mills Fergil , Naef Lindsay , Qiao Min , Bamji Shernaz X. , Borgland Stephanie L. 
Published: February 2016

Significance
Consumption of palatable food or food-related advertising can prime increased food intake, potentially leading to overeating. We show that short-term exposure to palatable foods induces long-lasting synaptic plasticity in mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Furthermore, short-term exposure to sweetened high-fat food can drive food approach behaviors and consumption days after the initial exposure. Suppressing excitatory synaptic transmission in the ventral tegmental area can reverse increased food approach behaviors and consumption. Targeting this circuit with brain-delivered insulin may provide a strategy to suppress food cravings.
Midbrain auditory selectivity to natural sounds
Authors: Wohlgemuth Melville J. , Moss Cynthia F. 
Published: February 2016

Significance
Nervous systems have evolved to enable processing of complex stimuli that animals encounter in their natural environments, and yet, neurophysiological research has largely investigated responses to simple artificial stimuli. In an attempt to bridge this gap, we characterized response selectivity to natural stimuli in the midbrain superior colliculus (SC) of the echolocating bat, an animal that probes the environment with sonar vocalizations. Using the bat’s dynamic echolocation signals as auditory stimuli, we discovered that SC neurons in the dorsal sensory layers exhibited selectivity that was not predicted by responses to artificial sounds. Our research reveals how response properties of SC auditory neurons may lead to stimulus selection and further shows the importance of biologically relevant stimuli to understand brain function.
Kinetic model of the aggregation of alpha-synuclein provides insights into prion-like spreading
Authors: Iljina Marija , Garcia Gonzalo A. , Horrocks Mathew H. , Tosatto Laura , Choi Minee L. , Ganzinger Kristina A. , Abramov Andrey Y. , Gandhi Sonia , Wood Nicholas W. , Cremades Nunilo , Dobson Christopher M. , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Klenerman David 
Published: February 2016

Significance
Growing experimental evidence suggests that the pathological spreading of alpha-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease is mediated through a process of templated seeding whereby aggregates catalyze the conversion of soluble protein molecules into their aggregated forms. A molecular-level understanding of this process is still lacking. Here, we determine the concentrations and numbers of aggregates necessary for the effective seeding of alpha-synuclein, thus providing a quantitative framework to understand the conditions when its seeded propagation is favorable. We find that high concentrations of aggregates are needed for seeding yet that aggregates cause cytotoxicity at significantly lower concentrations. This suggests that templated seeding is unlikely to be the main mechanism of spreading in Parkinson’s disease but occurs together with oligomer-induced cellular stress.
Illuminating structural proteins in viral “dark matter” with metaproteomics
Authors: Brum Jennifer R. , Ignacio-Espinoza J. Cesar , Kim Eun-Hae , Trubl Gareth , Jones Robert M. , Roux Simon , VerBerkmoes Nathan C. , Rich Virginia I. , Sullivan Matthew B. 
Published: February 2016

Significance
Marine viruses are abundant and have substantial ecosystem impacts, yet their study is hampered by the dominance of unannotated viral genes. Here, we use metaproteomics and metagenomics to examine virion-associated proteins in marine viral communities, providing tentative functions for 677,000 viral genomic sequences and the majority of previously unknown virion-associated proteins in these samples. The five most abundant protein groups comprised 67% of the metaproteomes and were tentatively identified as capsid proteins of predominantly unknown viruses, all of which putatively contain a protein fold that may be the most abundant biological structure on Earth. This methodological approach is thus shown to be a powerful way to increase our knowledge of the most numerous biological entities on the planet.
The adaptive immune system restrains Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis by modulating microglial function
Authors: Marsh Samuel E. , Abud Edsel M. , Lakatos Anita , Karimzadeh Alborz , Yeung Stephen T. , Davtyan Hayk , Fote Gianna M. , Lau Lydia , Weinger Jason G. , Lane Thomas E. , Inlay Matthew A. , Poon Wayne W. , Blurton-Jones Mathew 
Published: February 2016

SignificanceNeuroinflammation and activation of innate immunity are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In contrast, very few studies have examined the impact of the adaptive immune system in AD pathogenesis. Here, we find that genetic ablation of peripheral immune cell populations significantly accelerates amyloid pathogenesis, worsens neuroinflammation, and alters microglial activation state. Critically, it appears that loss of IgG-producing B cells impairs microglial phagocytosis, thereby exacerbating amyloid deposition. Conversely, replacement of IgGs via direct injection or bone marrow transplantation reverses these effects and reduces Aβ pathology. Together, these results highlight the importance of the adaptive immune system and its interactions with microglia in the pathogenesis of AD.
AAVP displaying octreotide for ligand-directed therapeutic transgene delivery in neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas
Authors: Smith Tracey L. , Yuan Ziqiang , Cardó-Vila Marina , Sanchez Claros Carmen , Adem Asha , Cui Min-Hui , Branch Craig A. , Gelovani Juri G. , Libutti Steven K. , Sidman Richard L. , Pasqualini Renata , Arap Wadih 
Published: February 2016

SignificanceThere are literally thousands of biologically active, clinically relevant peptide motifs in mammalian species. Surprisingly, however, despite this abundance of potential peptide reagents for ligand-directed delivery, applications for targeted gene therapy are generally lacking. Here we used a hybrid AAV/phage (AAVP) vector for octreotide ligand-directed therapeutic gene delivery to pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in a transgenic mouse model that faithfully recapitulates the cognate human disease. This platform is readily available for a translational clinical trial. In a broader context, this proof-of-concept work establishes a unique targeting paradigm in which existing ligand/receptors may be exploited in nature while minimizing or eliminating several rate-limiting steps of conventional phage display library selection that require cumbersome experimental discovery work.
Membrane-bound MinDE complex acts as a toggle switch that drives Min oscillation coupled to cytoplasmic depletion of MinD
Authors: Vecchiarelli Anthony G. , Li Min , Mizuuchi Michiyo , Hwang Ling Chin , Seol Yeonee , Neuman Keir C. , Mizuuchi Kiyoshi 
Published: February 2016

SignificanceThe Min system ofEscherichia coliuses the proteins MinD and MinE to form a standing wave oscillator on the membrane that prevents cell division at the cell poles. Using purified MinD and MinE, several dynamic patterns have been previously reconstituted on lipid bilayers. However, these dissimilar patterns occur under different reaction settings; therefore, the underlying mechanistic principles are unclear. By using a limiting supply of MinD, we reproduced standing wave oscillation on a flat bilayer. We find that periodic depletion of active MinD from solution is essential for the standing wave. Also, the MinD-to-MinE ratio on the bilayer acts as a toggle switch between membrane-binding and -release by MinD, which drives the oscillation.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy diffusion laws in the presence of moving nanodomains
Authors: Šachl Radek , Bergstrand Jan , Widengren Jerker , Hof Martin 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
It has been shown by means of simulations that spot variation fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (sv-FCS) can be used for the identification and, to some extent, also characterization of immobile lipid nanodomains in model as well as cellular plasma membranes. However, in these simulations, the nanodomains were assumed to be stationary, whereas they actually tend to move like the surrounding lipids. In the present study, we investigated how such domain movement influences the diffusion time/spot-size dependence observed in FCS experiments, usually referred to as ‘diffusion law’ analysis. We show that domain movement might mask the effects of the ‘anomalous’ diffusion characteristics of membrane lipids or proteins predicted for stationary domains, making it difficult to identify such moving nanodomains by sv-FCS. More specifically, our simulations indicate that (i) for domains moving up to a factor of 2.25 slower than the surrounding lipids, such impeded diffusion cannot be observed and the diffusion behaviour of the proteins or lipids is indistinguishable from that of freely diffusing molecules, i.e. nanodomains are not detected; (ii) impeded protein/lipid diffusion behaviour can be observed in experiments where the radii of the detection volume are similar in size to the domain radii, the domain diffusion is about 10 times slower than that of the lipids, and the probes show a high affinity to the domains; and (iii) presence of nanodomains can only be reliably detected by diffraction limited sv-FCS when the domains move very slowly (about 200 times slower than the lipid diffusion). As nanodomains are expected to be in the range of tens of nanometres and most probes show low affinities to such domains, sv-FCS is limited to stationary domains and/or STED-FCS. However, even for that latter technique, diffusing domains smaller than 50 nm in radius are hardly detectable by FCS diffusion time/spot-size dependencies.
Influence of In content in InGaN barriers on crystalline quality and carrier transport of GaN-based light-emitting diodes
Authors: Lin Zhiting , Wang Haiyan , Lin Yunhao , Yang Meijuan , Wang Wenliang , Li Guoqiang 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
The influence of In content in InGaN barriers on the crystalline quality and carrier transport of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is studied by numerical and experimental investigations. The optimal In content of InGaN barriers is hence obtained. It is found that carrier concentration and crystalline quality degradation are a pair of opposite influential factors as In content increases. In content of 1.2% is optimal because it is the balance value at which a huge gain of carrier concentration is achieved without crystalline degradation. In content of 1.2% in InGaN barriers leads to a remarkable enhancement in both the light output power and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of LEDs. In such cases, the LED’s light output power and the EQE increase by 15.4% and 10.3% at a current of 70 mA, respectively. This work demonstrates the possibility of achieving high-performance LEDs with an aggravated efficiency droop, and is of great interest for the commercial development of GaN-based LEDs.
Beyond accuracy: creating interoperable and scalable text-mining web services
Authors: Wei Chih-Hsuan , Leaman Robert , Lu Zhiyong 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Summary: The biomedical literature is a knowledge-rich resource and an important foundation for future research. With over 24 million articles in PubMed and an increasing growth rate, research in automated text processing is becoming increasingly important. We report here our recently developed web-based text mining services for biomedical concept recognition and normalization. Unlike most text-mining software tools, our web services integrate several state-of-the-art entity tagging systems (DNorm, GNormPlus, SR4GN, tmChem and tmVar) and offer a batch-processing mode able to process arbitrary text input (e.g. scholarly publications, patents and medical records) in multiple formats (e.g. BioC). We support multiple standards to make our service interoperable and allow simpler integration with other text-processing pipelines. To maximize scalability, we have preprocessed all PubMed articles, and use a computer cluster for processing large requests of arbitrary text.
Availability and implementation: Our text-mining web service is freely available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Lu/Demo/tmTools/#curl
Contact: Zhiyong.Lu@nih.gov
Having Two Ears Facilitates the Perceptual Separation of Concurrent Talkers for Bilateral and Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implantees
Authors: Bernstein Joshua G. W. , Goupell Matthew J. , Schuchman Gerald I. , Rivera Arnaldo L. , Brungart Douglas S. 
Published: February 2016

Objectives:
Listening to speech with multiple competing talkers requires the perceptual separation of the target voice from the interfering background. Normal-hearing listeners are able to take advantage of perceived differences in the spatial locations of competing sound sources to facilitate this process. Previous research suggests that bilateral (BI) cochlear-implant (CI) listeners cannot do so, and it is unknown whether single-sided deaf (SSD) CI users (one acoustic and one CI ear) have this ability. This study investigated whether providing a second ear via cochlear implantation can facilitate the perceptual separation of targets and interferers in a listening situation involving multiple competing talkers.

Design:
BI-CI and SSD-CI listeners were required to identify speech from a target talker mixed with one or two interfering talkers. In the baseline monaural condition, the target speech and the interferers were presented to one of the CIs (for the BI-CI listeners) or to the acoustic ear (for the SSD-CI listeners). In the bilateral condition, the target was still presented to the first ear but the interferers were presented to both the target ear and the listener’s second ear (always a CI), thereby testing whether CI listeners could use information about the interferer obtained from a second ear to facilitate perceptual separation of the target and interferer.

Results:
Presenting a copy of the interfering signals to the second ear improved performance, up to 4 to 5 dB (12 to 18 percentage points), but the amount of improvement depended on the type of interferer. For BI-CI listeners, the improvement occurred mainly in conditions involving one interfering talker, regardless of gender. For SSD-CI listeners, the improvement occurred in conditions involving one or two interfering talkers of the same gender as the target. This interaction is consistent with the idea that the SSD-CI listeners had access to pitch cues in their normal-hearing ear to separate the opposite-gender target and interferers, while the BI-CI listeners did not.

Conclusions:
These results suggest that a second auditory input via a CI can facilitate the perceptual separation of competing talkers in situations where monaural cues are insufficient to do so, thus partially restoring a key advantage of having two ears that was previously thought to be inaccessible to CI users.