bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor protects against apoptotic neuronal death and mitochondrial damage in ischemia
Authors: Wang Xiaowan , Li Hailong , Ding Shinghua 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe previously demonstrated that Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in mammalian NAD+ biosynthesis pathway, plays a brain and neuronal protective role in ischemic stroke. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism of its neuroprotective effect after ischemia in the primary cultured mouse cortical neurons. Using apoptotic cell death assay, fluorescent imaging, molecular biology, mitochondrial biogenesis measurements and Western blotting analysis, our results show that the overexpression of PBEF in neurons can significantly promote neuronal survival, reduce the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to nuclei and inhibit the activation of capase-3 after glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. We further found that the overexpression of PBEF can suppress glutamate-induced mitochondrial fragmentation, the loss of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and the reduction of PGC-1 and NRF-1 expressions. Furthermore, these beneficial effects by PBEF are dependent on its enzymatic activity of NAD+ synthesis. In summary, our study demonstrated that PBEF ameliorates ischemia-induced neuronal death through inhibiting caspase-dependent and independent apoptotic signaling pathways and suppressing mitochondrial damage and dysfunction. Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of PBEF and helps to identify potential targets for ischemic stroke therapy.
Proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts induced by β1-adrenoceptor autoantibody and the underlying mechanisms
Authors: Lv Tingting , Du Yunhui , Cao Ning , Zhang Suli , Gong Yulin , Bai Yan , Wang Wen , Liu Huirong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractChronic sustained stimulation of β-adrenoceptor is closely related to cardiac fibrosis which is bad for cardiac function. Growing evidence showed that the high prevalence of β1-adrenoceptor autoantibody (β1-AA) in the sera of patients with various types of cardiovascular diseases decreased cardiac function. In the current study, we demonstrated that β1-AA impaired the cardiac function evaluated by echocardiography and that β1-AA triggered cardiac fibrosis in terms of increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin as the marker of myofibroblast and collagen deposition in a passive β1-AA immunized mice model during 16 weeks. Further, we showed that β1-AA activated β1-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway and promoted proliferation in primary cardiac fibroblasts through specific binding to β1-AR but not to β2-AR. Moreover, β1-AA was also likely to promote proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts through activating p38MAPK and ERK1/2 as p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 partially reversed the proliferative effect. The persistent activating signalling of PKA and P38MAPK in 1 h induced by β1-AA was associated with lacking agonist-induced desensitization phenomena. The conditioned medium from β1-AA-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which indicated that β1-AA changed the secretion of cardiac fibroblasts contributing to cardiac injury. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the pathological mechanisms of β1-AA.
A Synergistic Effect of Surfactant and ZrO2 Underlayer on Photocurrent Enhancement and Cathodic Shift of Nanoporous Fe2O3 Photoanode
Authors: Shinde Pravin S. , Lee Su Yong , Choi Sun Hee , Lee Hyun Hwi , Ryu Jungho , Jang Jum Suk 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAugmenting the donor density and nanostructure engineering are the crucial points to improve solar water oxidation performance of hematite (α-Fe2O3). This work addresses the sluggish water oxidation reaction associated with hematite photoanode by tweaking its internal porosity. The porous hematite photoanodes are fabricated by a novel synthetic strategy via pulse reverse electrodeposition (PRED) method that involves incorporation of a cationic CTAB surfactant in a sulfate electrolyte and spin-coated ZrO2 underlayer (UL) on FTO. CTAB is found to be beneficial in promoting the film growth rate during PRED. Incorporation of Zr4+ ions from ZrO2 UL and Sn4+ ions from FTO into the Fe2O3 lattice via solid-state diffusion reaction during pertinent annihilation of surfactant molecules at 800 °C produced internally porous hematite films with improved carrier concentration. The porous hematite demonstrated a sustained photocurrent enhancement and a significant cathodic shift of 130 mV relative to the planar hematite under standard illumination conditions (AM 1.5G) in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. The absorption, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analyses revealed that the ZrO2 UL and CTAB not only increased the carrier density and light harvesting but also accelerated the surface oxidation reaction kinetics, synergistically boosting the performance of internally porous hematite photoanodes.
Optical nano artifact metrics using silicon random nanostructures
Authors: Matsumoto Tsutomu , Yoshida Naoki , Nishio Shumpei , Hoga Morihisa , Ohyagi Yasuyuki , Tate Naoya , Naruse Makoto 
Published: August 2016

AbstractNano-artifact metrics exploit unique physical attributes of nanostructured matter for authentication and clone resistance, which is vitally important in the age of Internet-of-Things where securing identities is critical. However, expensive and huge experimental apparatuses, such as scanning electron microscopy, have been required in the former studies. Herein, we demonstrate an optical approach to characterise the nanoscale-precision signatures of silicon random structures towards realising low-cost and high-value information security technology. Unique and versatile silicon nanostructures are generated via resist collapse phenomena, which contains dimensions that are well below the diffraction limit of light. We exploit the nanoscale precision ability of confocal laser microscopy in the height dimension; our experimental results demonstrate that the vertical precision of measurement is essential in satisfying the performances required for artifact metrics. Furthermore, by using state-of-the-art nanostructuring technology, we experimentally fabricate clones from the genuine devices. We demonstrate that the statistical properties of the genuine and clone devices are successfully exploited, showing that the liveness-detection-type approach, which is widely deployed in biometrics, is valid in artificially-constructed solid-state nanostructures. These findings pave the way for reasonable and yet sufficiently secure novel principles for information security based on silicon random nanostructures and optical technologies.
Development of functionalized multi-walled carbon-nanotube-based alginate hydrogels for enabling biomimetic technologies
Authors: Joddar Binata , Garcia Eduardo , Casas Atzimba , Stewart Calvin M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAlginate is a hydrogel commonly used for cell culture by ionically crosslinking in the presence of divalent Ca2+ ions. However these alginate gels are mechanically unstable, not permitting their use as scaffolds to engineer robust biological bone, breast, cardiac or tumor tissues. This issue can be addressed via encapsulation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) serving as a reinforcing phase while being dispersed in a continuous phase of alginate. We hypothesized that adding functionalized MWCNT to alginate, would yield composite gels with distinctively different mechanical, physical and biological characteristics in comparison to alginate alone. Resultant MWCNT-alginate gels were porous, and showed significantly less degradation after 14 days compared to alginate alone. In vitro cell-studies showed enhanced HeLa cell adhesion and proliferation on the MWCNT-alginate compared to alginate. The extent of cell proliferation was greater when cultured atop 1 and 3 mg/ml MWCNT-alginate; although all MWCNT-alginates lead to enhanced cell cluster formation compared to alginate alone. Among all the MWCNT-alginates, the 1 mg/ml gels showed significantly greater stiffness compared to all other cases. These results provide an important basis for the development of the MWCNT-alginates as novel substrates for cell culture applications, cell therapy and tissue engineering.
A novel P2X4 receptor-selective antagonist produces anti-allodynic effect in a mouse model of herpetic pain
Authors: Matsumura Yuta , Yamashita Tomohiro , Sasaki Atsushi , Nakata Eriko , Kohno Keita , Masuda Takahiro , Tozaki-Saitoh Hidetoshi , Imai Toshiyasu , Kuraishi Yasushi , Tsuda Makoto , Inoue Kazuhide 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAccumulating evidence indicates that purinergic P2X4 receptors (P2X4R: cation channels activated by extracellular ATP) expressed in spinal microglia are crucial for pathological chronic pain caused by nerve damage, suggesting a potential target for drug discovery. We identified NP-1815-PX (5-[3-(5-thioxo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)phenyl]-1H-naphtho[1, 2-b][1,4]diazepine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione) as a novel antagonist selective for P2X4R with high potency and selectivity compared with other P2XR subtypes. In in vivo assay for acute and chronic pain, intrathecal administration of NP-1815-PX produced an anti-allodynic effect in mice with traumatic nerve damage without affecting acute nociceptive pain and motor function (although its oral administration did not produce the effect). Furthermore, in a mouse model of herpetic pain, P2X4R upregulation in the spinal cord exclusively occurred in microglia and intrathecal NP-1815-PX suppressed induction of mechanical allodynia. This model also showed K+/Cl− cotransporter 2 (KCC2) downregulation, which is implicated in dorsal horn neuron hyperexcitability; this downregulation was restored by intrathecal treatment with NP-1815-PX or by interfering with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, a P2X4R-activated microglial factor implicated in KCC2 downregulation. Taken together, the newly developed P2X4R antagonist NP-1815-PX produces anti-allodynic effects in chronic pain models without altering acute pain sensitivity, suggesting that microglial P2X4R could be an attractive target for treating chronic pain.
Post-response βγ power predicts the degree of choice-based learning in internally guided decision-making
Authors: Nakao Takashi , Kanayama Noriaki , Katahira Kentaro , Odani Misaki , Ito Yosuke , Hirata Yuki , Nasuno Reika , Ozaki Hanako , Hiramoto Ryosuke , Miyatani Makoto , Northoff Georg 
Published: August 2016

AbstractChoosing an option increases a person’s preference for that option. This phenomenon, called choice-based learning (CBL), has been investigated separately in the contexts of internally guided decision-making (IDM, e.g., preference judgment), for which no objectively correct answer exists and externally guided decision making (EDM, e.g., perceptual decision making), for which one objectively correct answer exists. For the present study, we compared decision making of these two types to examine differences of underlying neural processes of CBL. As IDM and EDM tasks, occupation preference judgment and salary judgment were used, respectively. To compare CBL for the two types of decision making, we developed a novel measurement of CBL: decision consistency. When CBL occurs, decision consistency is higher in the last-half trials than in first-half trials. Electroencephalography (EEG) data have demonstrated that the change of decision consistency is positively correlated with the fronto-central beta–gamma power after response in the first-half trials for IDM, but not for EDM. Those results demonstrate for the first time the difference of CBL between IDM and EDM. The fronto-central beta–gamma power is expected to reflect a key process of CBL, specifically for IDM.
Tracking objects outside the line of sight using 2D intensity images
Authors: Klein Jonathan , Peters Christoph , Martín Jaime , Laurenzis Martin , Hullin Matthias B. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe observation of objects located in inaccessible regions is a recurring challenge in a wide variety of important applications. Recent work has shown that using rare and expensive optical setups, indirect diffuse light reflections can be used to reconstruct objects and two-dimensional (2D) patterns around a corner. Here we show that occluded objects can be tracked in real time using much simpler means, namely a standard 2D camera and a laser pointer. Our method fundamentally differs from previous solutions by approaching the problem in an analysis-by-synthesis sense. By repeatedly simulating light transport through the scene, we determine the set of object parameters that most closely fits the measured intensity distribution. We experimentally demonstrate that this approach is capable of following the translation of unknown objects and translation and orientation of a known object, in real time.
Interspecific comparison of traffic noise effects on dove coo transmission in urban environments
Authors: Shieh Bao-Sen , Liang Shih-Hsiung , Chiu Yuh-Wen , Lin Szu-Ying 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMost previous studies concerning avian adaptation to anthropogenic noise have focused on songbirds, but few have focused on non-songbirds commonly found in urban environments such as doves. We conducted field playback-recording experiments on the perch-coos of five dove species, including four native Taiwan species (the spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis, the oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis, the red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica and the emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica) and one species not native to Taiwan (the zebra dove, Geopelia striata) to evaluate the detection and recognition of dove coos in habitats with differing levels of traffic noise. Our results suggest that traffic noise has selected dominant urban species such as the spotted dove to temporally and spatially adjust cooing to reduce the masking effects of traffic noise and rare urban species such as the emerald dove to avoid areas of high traffic noise. Additionally, although the zebra dove had the highest coo frequency among the study species, its coos showed the highest detection value but not the highest recognition value. We conclude that traffic noise is an important factor in shaping the distribution of rare and dominant dove species in urban environments through its significant effects on coo transmission.
Ultra low overhead error mask flip‐flop in near threshold voltage processor design
Authors: Hao Ziyi , Xiang Xiaoyan , Chen Chen , Meng Jianyi , Yan Xiaolang 
Published: August 2016

Reducing circuit supply voltage to near‐threshold (NT) region is an effective technique for achieving better energy efficiency in current ultra‐low power circuit design. However, circuit variation problem becomes extremely worse in NT region and requires more design margin. Error detection and correction (EDAC) designs can remove circuit margin by solving transient error dynamically, but many of the traditional EDAC designs cause large area overhead and cycle per instruction (CPI) penalty. A compact timing error mask flip‐flop (EMFF) based on error masking with ultra‐low overhead by only adding six transistors (four for error detection and two for error correction) to the conventional flip‐flop with 0 CPI penalty is presented. The proposed EMFF reduces system area overhead significantly. Therefore, the timing error tolerance ability is expanded and higher energy efficiency can be archived. EMFF is realised in an industrial processor in SMIC 40 nm CMOS with only 6.8% area overhead, compared with the original processor. At 0.5 V, the EMFF system gains 18.6% performance increasing than the most compact previous work with 3% higher efficiency.
Cd47-Sirpα interaction and IL-10 constrain inflammation-induced macrophage phagocytosis of healthy self-cells
Authors: Bian Zhen , Shi Lei , Guo Ya-Lan , Lv Zhiyuan , Tang Cong , Niu Shuo , Tremblay Alexandra , Venkataramani Mahathi , Culpepper Courtney , Li Limin , Zhou Zhen , Mansour Ahmed , Zhang Yongliang , Gewirtz Andrew , Kidder Koby , Zen Ke , Liu Yuan 
Published: August 2016

SignificanceThe present study reveals that macrophage phagocytosis toward healthy self-cells is controlled by a two-tier mechanism: a forefront activation mechanism requiring the inflammatory cytokine-stimulated protein kinase C (PKC)-spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) pathway, to which IL-10 conversely regulates, and the subsequent self-target discrimination mechanism controlled by the CD47-signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα)–mediated inhibition. The findings significantly expand our understanding of macrophage phagocytic plasticity and behavior under different conditions and also provide insights into strategies for enhancing transplantation tolerance and macrophage-based cancer eradication, especially for cancers toward which therapeutic antibodies are yet unavailable.
Do Native Pacific Lamprey and Invasive Sea Lamprey Share an Alarm Cue? Implications for Use of a Natural Repellent to Guide Imperiled Pacific Lamprey into Fishways
Authors: Byford Greg J. , Wagner C. Michael , Hume John B. , Moser Mary L. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Instream barriers affect anadromous lampreys worldwide by preventing access to spawning habitat, resulting in the decline of several species. Because lampreys rely heavily on olfactory cues to choose movement paths during upstream migration in rivers, the manipulation of these cues may be used to guide individuals into the vicinity of fish passage devices and thereby mitigate the impacts of barriers during migration. However, because experimentation with imperiled species presents significant legal and ethical challenges, use of a surrogate species that exhibits similar responses may prove very useful. Our laboratory study established that (1) the odor derived from dead Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus elicits an avoidance response from invasive Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus from the Laurentian Great Lakes, and (2) the magnitude of this response does not differ from the conspecific alarm cue present in Sea Lamprey. By presenting the odor on the side of a river channel opposite a lamprey fish passage device, migrating lampreys of conservation concern may be guided to fishways, if the behavioral response to the cue has evolved in these taxa. Due to their availability and well-studied chemical communication system, Sea Lamprey may prove to be a useful surrogate for identifying and producing chemosensory cues for use in guiding Pacific Lampreys towards fish passage devices and away from intakes and screens.
Received December 10, 2015; accepted May 6, 2016 Published online August 31, 2016
White Crappie Tank Culture and Out-of-Season Spawning
Authors: Culpepper Charlie M , Allen Peter J 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
While extensive crappie culture has been practiced for decades, limited knowledge of crappie aquaculture methods has hampered the production potential of White Crappie Pomoxis annularis to a small time frame during the natural spawning season, which occurs only once annually. Out-of-season spawning of White Crappie could greatly enhance annual production potential. Therefore, White Crappie out-of-season spawning experiments were conducted from November to February in recirculating tank systems. After 2 weeks of simulated winter (10°C, 8 h light), photoperiod and temperature were increased to spring (22°C, 16 h light) conditions over 3 weeks (1°C and 30 min increase every 2 d) and 6 weeks (1°C and 30 min increase every 4 d). Fish were injected with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa; 100% priming dose and 100% resolving dose, 24 and 48 h later) and strip-spawned upon ovulation. The 3-week treatment (11 females : 10 males) induced 1 female to spawn with 11% fertilization rate. The 6-week treatment (12 females : 10 males) induced 2 females to spawn with fertilization rates of 31.5% and 79.2%. Gonads of unspawned females were sampled at 96 h after the resolving dose to assess reproductive maturity. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and egg diameter (ED) from unspawned females (3-week GSI [mean ± SE] = 0.02 ± 0.01, ED = 0.71 ± 0.22; 6-week GSI = 0.03 ± 0.02, ED = 0.72 ± 0.10) were compared with wild females sampled during December (winter; GSI = 0.02 ± 0.01; ED = 0.53 ± 0.07) and April (spring; GSI = 0.04 ± 0.01; ED = 0.90 ± 0.12). No difference between 6-week GSI and spring GSI was detected; however, ED was smaller for 3- and 6-week treatments when compared with spring ED. Therefore, out-of-season spawning of White Crappies, using recirculating tank systems and hormone-induced spawning, is possible, but a longer seasonal shift regime is needed to enhance spawning success.
Effect of the look‐up line on the gaze and head orientation of elite ice hockey players
Authors: Vickers Joan N. , Causer Joe , Stuart Michael , Little Elaine , Dukelow Sean , Lavangie Marc , Nigg Sandro , Arsenault Gina , Morton Barry , Scott Matt , Emery Carolyn 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA “look‐up line” (LUL) has been proposed for ice hockey, which is an orange 1 m (40′) warning line (WL) painted on the ice at the base of the boards. The LUL purports to provide an early warning to players to keep their head up prior to and as they are being checked. We determined if players looked up more on a rink with the LUL compared to a traditional Control rink. Elite offensive (O) and defensive (D) players competed 1 vs. 1, while wearing an eye tracker that recorded their quiet eye (QE) and fixation and tracking (F‐T) and an electrogoniometer that measured head angle. External cameras recorded skate duration during four skate phases: P1 preparation, P2 decision‐making, P3 cut to boards, P4 contact. The QE was the final fixation prior to contact between O and D as they skated towards and across the WL during P3 and P4. Skate phase durations (%) did not differ by rink or rink by position. More QE and F‐T occurred on the WL on the LUL rink than on the Control. The expected increase in head angle on the LUL rink did not occur during P3 or P4. Post‐hoc results also showed O and D skated further from the boards on the LUL rink, suggesting the players preferred to control the puck on white ice, rather than the orange colour of the LUL rink. More research is needed to determine if these results apply to the competitive setting.
FATSLiM: a fast and robust software to analyze MD simulations of membranes
Authors: Buchoux Sébastien 
Published: August 2016

Abstract

Summary
When studying biological membranes, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations reveal to be quite complementary to experimental techniques. Because the simulated systems keep increasing both in size and complexity, the analysis of MD trajectories need to be computationally efficient while being robust enough to perform analysis on membranes that may be curved or deformed due to their size and/or protein-lipid interactions. This work presents a new software named FATSLiM (‘Fast Analysis Toolbox for Simulations of Lipid Membranes’) that can extract physical properties from MD simulations of membranes (with or without interacting proteins). Because it relies on the calculation of local normals, FATSLiM does not depend of the bilayer morphology and thus can handle with the same accuracy vesicles for instance. Thanks to an efficiency-driven development, it is also fast and consumes a rather low amount of memory.

Availability and Implementation
FATSLiM (http://fatslim.github.io) is a stand-alone software written in Python. Source code is released under the GNU GPLv3 and is freely available at https://github.com/FATSLiM/fatslim. A complete online documentation including instructions for platform-independent installation is available at http://pythonhosted.org/fatslim.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.