bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of pain and CNS structural changes after spinal cord injury
Authors: Jutzeler Catherine R. , Huber Eveline , Callaghan Martina F. , Luechinger Roger , Curt Armin , Kramer John L. K. , Freund Patrick 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has been shown to trigger structural atrophic changes within the spinal cord and brain. However, the relationship between structural changes and magnitude of neuropathic pain (NP) remains incompletely understood. Voxel-wise analysis of anatomical magnetic resonance imaging data provided information on cross-sectional cervical cord area and volumetric brain changes in 30 individuals with chronic traumatic SCI and 31 healthy controls. Participants were clinically assessed including neurological examination and pain questionnaire. Compared to controls, individuals with SCI exhibited decreased cord area, reduced grey matter (GM) volumes in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), left insula, left secondary somatosensory cortex, bilateral thalamus and decreased white matter volumes in pyramids and left internal capsule. The presence of NP was related with smaller cord area, increased GM in left ACC and right M1 and decreased GM in right primary somatosensory cortex and thalamus. Greater GM volume in M1 was associated with amount of NP. Below-level NP-associated structural changes in the spinal cord and brain can be discerned from trauma-induced consequences of SCI. The directionality of these relationships reveals specific changes across the neuroaxis (i.e., atrophic changes versus increases in volume) and may provide substrates of underlying neural mechanisms in the development of NP.
VIP treatment prevents embryo resorption by modulating efferocytosis and activation profile of maternal macrophages in the CBAxDBA resorption prone model
Authors: Gallino Lucila , Calo Guillermina , Hauk Vanesa , Fraccaroli Laura , Grasso Esteban , Vermeulen Mónica , Leirós Claudia Pérez , Ramhorst Rosanna 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSuccessful embryo implantation occurs followed by a local pro-inflammatory response subsequently shifted toward a tolerogenic one. VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) has embryotrofic, anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic effects. In this sense, we investigated whether the in vivo treatment with VIP contributes to an immunosuppressant local microenvironment associated with an improved pregnancy outcome in the CBA/J × DBA/2 resorption prone model. Pregnancy induced the expression of VIP, VPAC1 and VPAC2 in the uterus from CBA/J × DBA/2 mating females on day 8.5 of gestation compared with non-pregnant mice. VIP treatment (2 nmol/mouse i.p.) on day 6.5 significantly increased the number of viable implantation sites and improved the asymmetric distribution of implanted embryos. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in RORγt and an increase in TGF-β and PPARγ expression at the implantation sites. Moreover, VIP modulated the maternal peritoneal macrophages efferocytosis ability, tested using latex beads-FITC or apoptotic thymocytes, displaying an increased frequency of IL-10-producer F4/80 cells while did not modulate TNF-α and IL-12 secretion. The present data suggest that VIP treatment increases the number of viable embryos associated with an increase in the efferocytic ability of maternal macrophages which is related to an immunosuppressant microenvironment.
RPS23RG1 reduces Aβ oligomer-induced synaptic and cognitive deficits
Authors: Yan Li , Chen Yaomin , Li Wubo , Huang Xiumei , Badie Hedieh , Jian Fan , Huang Timothy , Zhao Yingjun , Cohen Stanley N. , Li Limin , Zhang Yun-wu , Luo Huanmin , Tu Shichun , Xu Huaxi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. It is generally believed that β-amyloidogenesis, tau-hyperphosphorylation and synaptic loss underlie cognitive decline in AD. Rps23rg1, a functional retroposed mouse gene, has been shown to reduce Alzheimer’s β-amyloid (Aβ) production and tau phosphorylation. In this study, we have identified its human homolog and demonstrated that RPS23RG1 regulates synaptic plasticity, thus counteracting Aβ oligomer (oAβ)-induced cognitive deficits in mice. The level of RPS23RG1 mRNA is significantly lower in the brains of AD compared to non-AD patients, suggesting its potential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Similar to its mouse counterpart, human RPS23RG1 interacts with adenylate cyclase, activating PKA/CREB and inhibiting GSK-3. Furthermore, we show that human RPS23RG1 promotes synaptic plasticity and offsets oAβ-induced synaptic loss in a PKA-dependent manner in cultured primary neurons. Overexpression of Rps23rg1 in transgenic mice consistently prevented oAβ-induced PKA inactivation, synaptic deficits, suppression of long-term potentiation and cognitive impairment as compared to wild type littermates. Our study demonstrates that RPS23RG1 may reduce the occurrence of key elements of AD pathology and enhance synaptic functions to counteract oAβ-induced synaptic and cognitive deficits in AD.
Osmotic stress induces the phosphorylation of WNK4 Ser575 via the p38MAPK-MK pathway
Authors: Maruyama Junichi , Kobayashi Yumie , Umeda Tsuyoshi , Vandewalle Alain , Takeda Kohsuke , Ichijo Hidenori , Naguro Isao 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe With No lysine [K] (WNK)-Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK)/oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1 (OSR1) pathway has been reported to be a crucial signaling pathway for triggering pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII), an autosomal dominant hereditary disease that is characterized by hypertension. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which the WNK-SPAK/OSR1 pathway is regulated remain unclear. In this report, we identified WNK4 as an interacting partner of a recently identified MAP3K, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 3 (ASK3). We found that WNK4 is phosphorylated in an ASK3 kinase activity-dependent manner. By exploring the ASK3-dependent phosphorylation sites, we identified Ser575 as a novel phosphorylation site in WNK4 by LC-MS/MS analysis. ASK3-dependent WNK4 Ser575 phosphorylation was mediated by the p38MAPK-MAPK-activated protein kinase (MK) pathway. Osmotic stress, as well as hypotonic low-chloride stimulation, increased WNK4 Ser575 phosphorylation via the p38MAPK-MK pathway. ASK3 was required for the p38MAPK activation induced by hypotonic stimulation but was not required for that induced by hypertonic stimulation or hypotonic low-chloride stimulation. Our results suggest that the p38MAPK-MK pathway might regulate WNK4 in an osmotic stress-dependent manner but its upstream regulators might be divergent depending on the types of osmotic stimuli.
Magnetization switching by combining electric field and spin-transfer torque effects in a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction
Authors: Zhang Xiangli , Wang Chengjie , Liu Yaowen , Zhang Zongzhi , Jin Q. Y. , Duan Chun-Gang 
Published: January 2016

AbstractEffective manipulation of magnetization orientation driven by electric field in a perpendicularly magnetized tunnel junction introduces technologically relevant possibility for developing low power magnetic memories. However, the bipolar orientation characteristic of toggle-like magnetization switching possesses intrinsic difficulties for practical applications. By including both the in-plane (T//) and field-like (T⊥) spin-transfer torque terms in the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert simulation, reliable and deterministic magnetization reversal can be achieved at a significantly reduced current density of 5×109 A/m2 under the co-action of electric field and spin-polarized current, provided that the electric-field pulse duration exceeds a certain critical value τc. The required critical τc decreases with the increase of T⊥ strength because stronger T⊥ can make the finally stabilized out-of-plane component of magnetization stay in a larger negative value. The power consumption for such kind of deterministic magnetization switching is found to be two orders of magnitude lower than that of the switching driven by current only.
Intravital imaging of Ca2+ signals in lymphocytes of Ca2+ biosensor transgenic mice: indication of autoimmune diseases before the pathological onset
Authors: Yoshikawa Soichiro , Usami Takako , Kikuta Junichi , Ishii Masaru , Sasano Tetsuo , Sugiyama Koji , Furukawa Tetsushi , Nakasho Eiji , Takayanagi Hiroshi , Tedder Thomas F. , Karasuyama Hajime , Miyawaki Atsushi , Adachi Takahiro 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCalcium ion (Ca2+) signaling is a typical phenomenon mediated through immune receptors, such as the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) and it is important for their biological activities. To analyze the signaling of immune receptors together with their in vivo dynamics, we generated stable transgenic mice with the Föster/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based Ca2+ indicator yellow cameleon 3.60 (YC3.60), based on the Cre/loxP system (YC3.60flox). We successfully obtained mice with specific YC3.60 expression in immune or nerve cells as well as mice with ubiquitous expression of this indicator. We established five-dimensional (5D) (x, y, z, time and Ca2+) intravital imaging of lymphoid tissues, including the bone marrow. Furthermore, in autoimmune-prone models, the CD22−/− and C57BL/6- lymphoproliferation (lpr)/lpr mouse, Ca2+ fluxes were augmented, although they did not induce autoimmune disease. Intravital imaging of Ca2+ signals in lymphocytes may improve assessment of the risk of autoimmune diseases in model animals.
NuSAP modulates the dynamics of kinetochore microtubules by attenuating MCAK depolymerisation activity
Authors: Li Chenyu , Zhang Yajun , Yang Qiaoyun , Ye Fan , Sun Stella Ying , Chen Ee Sin , Liou Yih-Cherng 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNucleolar and spindle-associated protein (NuSAP) is a microtubule-associated protein that functions as a microtubule stabiliser. Depletion of NuSAP leads to severe mitotic defects, however the mechanism by which NuSAP regulates mitosis remains elusive. In this study, we identify the microtubule depolymeriser, mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK), as a novel binding partner of NuSAP. We show that NuSAP regulates the dynamics and depolymerisation activity of MCAK. Phosphorylation of MCAK by Aurora B kinase, a component of the chromosomal passenger complex, significantly enhances the interaction of NuSAP with MCAK and modulates the effects of NuSAP on the depolymerisation activity of MCAK. Our results reveal an underlying mechanism by which NuSAP controls kinetochore microtubule dynamics spatially and temporally by modulating the depolymerisation function of MCAK in an Aurora B kinase-dependent manner. Hence, this study provides new insights into the function of NuSAP in spindle formation during mitosis.
Factors controlling soil organic carbon stability along a temperate forest altitudinal gradient
Authors: Tian Qiuxiang , He Hongbo , Cheng Weixin , Bai Zhen , Wang Yang , Zhang Xudong 
Published: January 2016

AbstractChanges in soil organic carbon (SOC) stability may alter carbon release from the soil and, consequently, atmospheric CO2 concentration. The mean annual temperature (MAT) can change the soil physico-chemical characteristics and alter the quality and quantity of litter input into the soil that regulate SOC stability. However, the relationship between climate and SOC stability remains unclear. A 500-day incubation experiment was carried out on soils from an 11 °C-gradient mountainous system on Changbai Mountain in northeast China. Soil respiration during the incubation fitted well to a three-pool (labile, intermediate and stable) SOC decomposition model. A correlation analysis revealed that the MAT only influenced the labile carbon pool size and not the SOC stability. The intermediate carbon pool contributed dominantly to cumulative carbon release. The size of the intermediate pool was strongly related to the percentage of sand particle. The decomposition rate of the intermediate pool was negatively related to soil nitrogen availability. Because both soil texture and nitrogen availability are temperature independent, the stability of SOC was not associated with the MAT, but was heavily influenced by the intrinsic processes of SOC formation and the nutrient status.
Enhancement of Contralesional Motor Control Promotes Locomotor Recovery after Unilateral Brain Lesion
Authors: Hua Xu-Yun , Qiu Yan-Qun , Wang Meng , Zheng Mou-Xiong , Li Tie , Shen Yun-Dong , Jiang Su , Xu Jian-Guang , Gu Yu-Dong , Tsien JoeZ. , Xu Wen-Dong 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThere have been controversies on the contribution of contralesional hemispheric compensation to functional recovery of the upper extremity after a unilateral brain lesion. Some studies have demonstrated that contralesional hemispheric compensation may be an important recovery mechanism. However, in many cases where the hemispheric lesion is large, this form of compensation is relatively limited, potentially due to insufficient connections from the contralesional hemisphere to the paralyzed side. Here, we used a new procedure to increase the effect of contralesional hemispheric compensation by surgically crossing a peripheral nerve at the neck in rats, which may provide a substantial increase in connections between the contralesional hemisphere and the paralyzed limb. This surgical procedure, named cross-neck C7-C7 nerve transfer, involves cutting the C7 nerve on the healthy side and transferring it to the C7 nerve on the paretic side. Intracortical microstimulation, Micro-PET and histological analysis were employed to explore the cortical changes in contralesional hemisphere and to reveal its correlation with behavioral recovery. These results showed that the contralesional hemispheric compensation was markedly strengthened and significantly related to behavioral improvements. The findings also revealed a feasible and effective way to maximize the potential of one hemisphere in controlling both limbs.
Geometric reduction of dynamical nonlocality in nanoscale quantum circuits
Authors: Strambini E. , Makarenko K. S. , Abulizi G. , de Jong M. P. , van der Wiel W. G. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNonlocality is a key feature discriminating quantum and classical physics. Quantum-interference phenomena, such as Young’s double slit experiment, are one of the clearest manifestations of nonlocality, recently addressed as dynamical to specify its origin in the quantum equations of motion. It is well known that loss of dynamical nonlocality can occur due to (partial) collapse of the wavefunction due to a measurement, such as which-path detection. However, alternative mechanisms affecting dynamical nonlocality have hardly been considered, although of crucial importance in many schemes for quantum information processing. Here, we present a fundamentally different pathway of losing dynamical nonlocality, demonstrating that the detailed geometry of the detection scheme is crucial to preserve nonlocality. By means of a solid-state quantum-interference experiment we quantify this effect in a diffusive system. We show that interference is not only affected by decoherence, but also by a loss of dynamical nonlocality based on a local reduction of the number of quantum conduction channels of the interferometer. With our measurements and theoretical model we demonstrate that this mechanism is an intrinsic property of quantum dynamics. Understanding the geometrical constraints protecting nonlocality is crucial when designing quantum networks for quantum information processing.
Lack of netrin-4 modulates pathologic neovascularization in the eye
Authors: Kociok Norbert , Crespo-Garcia Sergio , Liang Yong , Klein Sabrina V. , Nürnberg Christina , Reichhart Nadine , Skosyrski Sergej , Moritz Eva , Maier Anna-Karina , Brunken William J. , Strauß Olaf , Koch Manuel , Joussen Antonia M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNetrins are a family of matrix-binding proteins that function as guidance signals. Netrin-4 displays pathologic roles in tumorigenesis and neovascularization. To answer the question whether netrin-4 acts either pro- or anti-angiogenic, angiogenesis in the retina was assessed in Ntn-4−/− mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV), mimicking hypoxia-mediated neovascularization and inflammatory mediated angiogenesis. The basement membrane protein netrin-4 was found to be localised to mature retinal blood vessels. Netrin-4, but not netrin-1 mRNA expression, increased in response to relative hypoxia and recovered to normal levels at the end of blood vessel formation. No changes in the retina were found in normoxic Ntn-4−/− mice. In OIR, Ntn-4−/− mice initially displayed larger avascular areas which recovered faster to revascularization. Ganzfeld electroretinography showed faster recovery of retinal function in Ntn-4−/− mice. Expression of netrin receptors, Unc5H2 (Unc-5 homolog B, C. elegans) and DCC (deleted in colorectal carcinoma), was found in Müller cells and astrocytes. Laser-induced neovascularization in Nnt-4−/− mice did not differ to that in the controls. Our results indicate a role for netrin-4 as an angiogenesis modulating factor in O2-dependent vascular homeostasis while being less important during normal retinal developmental angiogenesis or during inflammatory neovascularization.
Qualitation and Quantitation on Microplasma Jet for Bacteria Inactivation
Authors: Du ChangMing , Liu Ya , Huang YaNi , Li ZiMing , Men Rui , Men Yue , Tang Jun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this work, a self-made microplasma jet system was used to conduct the qualitation and quantitation of inactivation with Escherichia coli as the target bacteria. The logarithmic concentration and the size of antimicrobial rings served as the evaluation parameters, respectively. The effect of various parameters on inactivation effect was studied. The results showed that the majority of bacteria had been inactivated in 30 s. The inactivation effect enhanced and then weakened with the increase of air flow rate and receded as the extension of treatment distance. The effect with different carrier gases showed as follows: oxygen > air > nitrogen > argon. Meanwhile, the effect of different components of microplasma was studied in the optimum conditions (The flow rate was 5 L/min; inactivation distance was 2 cm). The results showed that electrically neutral active species was the main factor of inactivation rather than heating effect, ultraviolet radiation and charged particles. Finally the experiments of thallus change proved that microplasma jet had etching effect on cell membrane. It also found that microplasma could degrade organic material like protein. Furthermore, the images of scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the change of cell morphology step by step in the whole process of inactivation.
Automatic stage identification of Drosophila egg chamber based on DAPI images
Authors: Jia Dongyu , Xu Qiuping , Xie Qian , Mio Washington , Deng Wu-Min 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTheDrosophilaegg chamber, whose development is divided into 14 stages, is a well-established model for developmental biology. However, visual stage determination can be a tedious, subjective and time-consuming task prone to errors. Our study presents an objective, reliable and repeatable automated method for quantifying cell features and classifying egg chamber stages based on DAPI images. The proposed approach is composed of two steps: 1) a feature extraction step and 2) a statistical modeling step. The egg chamber features used are egg chamber size, oocyte size, egg chamber ratio and distribution of follicle cells. Methods for determining the on-site of the polytene stage and centripetal migration are also discussed. The statistical model uses linear and ordinal regression to explore the stage-feature relationships and classify egg chamber stages. Combined with machine learning, our method has great potential to enable discovery of hidden developmental mechanisms.
Two kinds of common prenatal screening tests for Down’s syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yao Yuan , Liao Yang , Han Mei , Li Sheng-Lan , Luo Juan , Zhang Bo 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAs the chromosomal examination of foetal cells for the prenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome (DS) carries a risk of inducing miscarriage, serum screening tests are commonly used before invasive procedures. In this study, a total of 374 records from PubMed, EMBASE and the ISI Science Citation Index databases were reviewed. As a result of duplication, insufficient data and inappropriate article types, 18 independent articles containing 183,998 samples were used in the final systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the serum triple screening test (STS) and the integrated screening test (INS). Data extracted from the selected studies were statistically analysed and the presence of heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed using specific software. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and the area under the curve for the STS were 0.77 (95% confidence interval = 0.73–0.81), 0.94 (0.94–0.94), 9.78 (6.87–13.93), 0.26 (0.22–0.31), 44.72 (30.77–65.01) and 0.9064, respectively. For the INS, these values were 0.93 (0.90–0.95), 0.93 (0.93–0.93), 22.38 (12.47–40.14), 0.08 (0.05–0.11), 289.81 (169.08–496.76) and 0.9781, respectively. These results indicate that the INS exhibits better diagnostic value for DS. However, further research is needed to identify other biomarkers to improve prenatal screening tests.
Dirac cone move and bandgap on/off switching of graphene superlattice
Authors: Jia Tian-Tian , Zheng Meng-Meng , Fan Xin-Yu , Su Yan , Li Shu-Juan , Liu Hai-Ying , Chen Gang , Kawazoe Yoshiyuki 
Published: January 2016

AbstractUsing the density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation, we have studied in detail the cooperative effects of degenerate perturbation and uniaxial strain on bandgap opening in graphene. The uniaxial strain could split π bands into πaand πzbands with an energy interval Esto move the Dirac cone. The inversion symmetry preserved antidot would then further split the πa(πz) bands into πa1(πz1) and πa2(πz2) bands with an energy interval Ed, which accounts for the bandgap opening in a kind of superlattices with Dirac cone being folded to Γ point. However, such antidot would not affect the semimetal nature of the other superlattices, showing a novel mechanism for bandstructure engineering as compared to the sublattice-equivalence breaking. For a superlattice with bandgap of ~Edopened at Γ point, the Escould be increased by strengthening strain to close the bandgap, suggesting a reversible switch between the high velocity properties of massless Fermions attributed to the linear dispersion relation around Dirac cone and the high on/off ratio properties associated with the sizable bandgap. Moreover, the gap width actually could be continuously tuned by controlling the strain, showing attractive application potentials.