bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatty acid transport receptor soluble CD36 and dietary fatty acid pattern in type 2 diabetic patients: a comparative study
Authors: Ekici Merve , Kisa Ucler , Arikan Durmaz Senay , Ugur Elif , Nergiz-Unal Reyhan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRecently, it has been remarked that dietary fatty acids and fatty acid receptors might be involved in the aetiology of diabetes. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between dietary fatty acid pattern, fatty food preferences and soluble CD36 (sCD36) and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was carried out with thirty-eight newly diagnosed type 2 DM patients and thirty-seven healthy volunteers, aged 30–65 years. In the study, socio-demographic characteristics, dietary fat type and fatty acid pattern of individuals were recorded. After anthropometric measurements were taken, blood CD36, glucose, TAG and insulin levels were analysed. The results showed that although the type of fatty acid intake did not differ between the groups (P>0·05), the consumption of olive oil in the type 2 DM group was lower than the control group (P<0·05). Mean blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, TAG and sCD36 levels were determined to be higher in the type 2 DM group (P<0·05). However, there was no correlation between sCD36 levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value, blood insulin and TAG levels, waist circumference, dietary fatty acid pattern and food preferences in the type 2 DM group (P>0·05). Crucially, elevated sCD36 levels increased the type 2 DM risk (OR 1·21, P<0·05). In conclusion, sCD36 level may be a possible biomarker, independent from the dietary fatty acid pattern, for type 2 DM owing to its higher levels in these patients. Therefore, the new insights make CD36 attractive as a therapeutic target for diabetes.
PUFA status at birth and allergy-related phenotypes in childhood: a pooled analysis of the Maastricht Essential Fatty Acid Birth (MEFAB) and RHEA birth cohorts
Authors: Stratakis Nikos , Gielen Marij , Margetaki Katerina , de Groot Renate H. M. , Apostolaki Maria , Chalkiadaki Georgia , Vafeiadi Marina , Leventakou Vasiliki , Godschalk Roger W. , Kogevinas Manolis , Stephanou Euripides G. , Zeegers Maurice P. , Chatzi Leda 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLower prenatal exposure ton-3 PUFA relative ton-6 PUFA has been hypothesised to influence allergy development, but evidence remains largely inconsistent. In the Dutch Maastricht Essential Fatty Acid Birth (MEFAB) (n293) and Greek RHEA Mother–Child (n213) cohorts, we investigated whether cord blood phospholipid PUFA concentrations are associated with symptoms of wheeze, asthma, rhinitis and eczema at the age of 6–7 years. Information on allergy-related phenotypes was collected using validated questionnaires. We estimated relative risks (RR) and 95 % CI for associations of PUFA with child outcomes using multivariable generalised linear regression models. In pooled analyses, higher concentration of then-3 long-chain EPA and DHA and a higher totaln-3:n-6 PUFA ratio were associated with lower risk of current wheeze (RR 0·61; 95 % CI 0·45, 0·82 persdincrease in EPA+DHA and 0·54; 95 % CI 0·39, 0·75 per unit increase in then-3:n-6 ratio) and reduced asthma risk (RR 0·50; 95 % CI 0·31, 0·79 for EPA+DHA and 0·43; 95 % CI 0·26, 0·70 for then-3:n-6 ratio). No associations were observed for other allergy-related phenotypes. The results were similar across cohorts. In conclusion, higher EPA and DHA concentrations and a highern-3:n-6 fatty acid ratio at birth were associated with lower risk of child wheeze and asthma. Our findings suggest that dietary interventions resulting in a marked increase in then-3:n-6 PUFA ratio, and mainly inn-3 long-chain PUFA intake in late gestation, may reduce the risk of asthma symptoms in mid-childhood.
Local Fractal Interpolation on Unbounded Domains
Authors: Massopust Peter R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe define fractal interpolation on unbounded domains for a certain class of topological spaces and construct local fractal functions. In addition, we derive some properties of these local fractal functions, consider their tensor products, and give conditions for local fractal functions on unbounded domains to be elements of Bochner–Lebesgue spaces.
Headhunting in ancient China: the history of violence and denial of knowledge
Authors: Milburn Olivia 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHeadhunting has a long and well-documented history in China, but most people are today unaware of this practice, first recorded in Shang oracle bones and regularly mentioned in ancient Chinese texts until the Han dynasty. This ignorance is because headhunting subsequently came to be seen as a barbaric practice and knowledge concerning its long history was destroyed: this was achieved by inventing a new character, guo 聝, which means “to cut the ear of a dead enemy combatant” and using this to replace (and thus confuse meanings with) an older character guo 馘, which refers specifically to headhunting. Ancient texts in which headhunting practices are documented have been misunderstood and misrepresented by imperial era scholars to prevent anyone from seeing that ancient China was a headhunting culture. This study shows how dominant cultural norms can impact on the way in which texts are read.
Demographics of a large paediatric Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Program
Authors: Boris Jeffrey R. , Bernadzikowski Thomas 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify and evaluate demographic and clinical features of paediatric patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in a tertiary hospital speciality clinic.MethodThis is a retrospective review of clinical data obtained during initial outpatient evaluation.ResultsA total of 708 patients met the evaluation criteria. Female patients outnumbered males, 3.45:1. Caucasians were over-represented at 94.1% of patients. Median age at diagnosis was 15.7 years. Joint hypermobility occurred in 57.3% of patients; 22.4% had hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome; and 34.9% had hypermobility spectrum disorder. Median age of onset of symptoms was 12.6 years in patients with hypermobility versus 13.7 years in those without (p=0.0001). Median duration of symptoms was 3.3 years with hypermobility versus 1.5 years without (p<0.00001). Putative triggers included infection in 23.6% of patients, concussion in 11.4%, and surgery/trauma in 2.8%. Concurrent inflammatory disorders were noted in 5.2% of patients. Six symptoms comprised 80% of initial patient complaints. Overall, 66% of patients subsequently had at least 10 symptoms, 50% had at least 14 symptoms, and 30% reported at least 26 symptoms. Symptoms were largely cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological. Paediatric patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome seen in a large speciality clinic are predominantly female, are mostly Caucasian, have onset of symptoms in early adolescence, and have symptoms for over two years before diagnosis. Over half of patients have joint hypermobility. More than one-third of patients have a possible autoimmune or inflammatory trigger, including infection, concussion, or surgery/trauma. Patients experience symptoms that are highly variable and multi-system in origin over the course of illness.
Projecting shortages and surpluses of doctors and nurses in the OECD: what looms ahead
Authors: Scheffler Richard M. , Arnold Daniel R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThere is little debate that the health workforce is a key component of the health care system. Since the training of doctors and nurses takes several years, and the building of new schools even longer, projections are needed to allow for the development of health workforce policies. Our work develops a projection model for the demand of doctors and nurses by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in the year 2030. The model is based on a country’s demand for health services, which includes the following factors: per capita income, out-of-pocket health expenditures and the ageing of its population. The supply of doctors and nurses is projected using country-specific autoregressive integrated moving average models. Our work shows how dramatic imbalances in the number of doctors and nurses will be in OECD countries should current trends continue. For each country in the OECD with sufficient data, we report its demand, supply and shortage or surplus of doctors and nurses for 2030. We project a shortage of nearly 400,000 doctors across 32 OECD countries and shortage of nearly 2.5 million nurses across 23 OECD countries in 2030. We discuss the results and suggest policies that address the shortages.
Quaternary sea level change in Scotland
Authors: SMITH David E. , BARLOW Natasha L.M. , BRADLEY Sarah L. , FIRTH Callum R. , HALL Adrian M. , JORDAN Jason T. , LONG David 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTThis paper summarises developments in understanding sea level change during the Quaternary in Scotland since the publication of theQuaternary of ScotlandGeological Conservation Review volume in 1993. We present a review of progress in methodology, particularly in the study of sediments in isolation basins and estuaries as well as in techniques in the field and laboratory, which have together disclosed greater detail in the record of relative sea level (RSL) change than was available in 1993. However, progress in determining the record of RSL change varies in different areas. Studies of sediments and stratigraphy offshore on the continental shelf have increased greatly, but the record of RSL change there remains patchy. Studies onshore have resulted in improvements in the knowledge of rock shorelines, including the processes by which they are formed, but much remains to be understood. Studies of Late Devensian and Holocene RSLs around present coasts have improved knowledge of both the extent and age range of the evidence. The record of RSL change on the W and NW coasts has disclosed a much longer dated RSL record than was available before 1993, possibly with evidence of Meltwater Pulse 1A, while studies in estuaries on the E and SW coasts have disclosed widespread and consistent fluctuations in Holocene RSLs. Evidence for the meltwater pulse associated with the Early Holocene discharge of Lakes Agassiz–Ojibway in N America has been found on both E and W coasts. The effects of the impact of storminess, in particular in cliff-top storm deposits, have been widely identified. Further information on the Holocene Storegga Slide tsunami has enabled a better understanding of the event, but evidence for other tsunami events on Scottish coasts remains uncertain. Methodological developments have led to new reconstructions of RSL change for the last 2000 years, utilising state-of-the-art GIA models and alongside coastal biostratigraphy to determine trends to compare with modern tide gauge and documentary evidence. Developments in GIA modelling have provided valuable information on patterns of land uplift during and following deglaciation. The studies undertaken raise a number of research questions which will require addressing in future work.
Transcriptional regulation of P63 on the apoptosis of male germ cells and three stages of spermatogenesis in mice
Authors: Wang Hong , Yuan Qingqing , Niu Minghui , Zhang Wenhui , Wen Liping , Fu Hongyong , Zhou Fan , He Zuping 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInfertility affects 10–15% of couples worldwide, and male factors account for 50%. Spermatogenesis is precisely regulated by genetic factors, and the mutations of genes result in abnormal spermatogenesis and eventual male infertility. The aim of this study was to explore the role and transcriptional regulation of P63 in the apoptosis and mouse spermatogenesis. P63 protein was decreased in male germ cells of P63(+/−) mice compared with wild-type mice. There was no obvious difference in testis weight, sperm motility, and fecundity between P63(+/−) and wild-type mice. However, abnormal germ cells were frequently observed in P63(+/−) mice at 2 months old. Notably, apoptotic male germ cells and the percentage of abnormal sperm were significantly enhanced in P63(+/−) mice compared to wild-type mice. Spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were isolated from P63(+/−) and wild-type mice using STA-PUT velocity sedimentation, and they were identified phenotypically with high purities. RNA sequencing demonstrated distinct transcription profiles in spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids between P63(+/−) mice and wild-type mice. In total, there were 645 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in spermatogonia, 106 DEGs in pachytene spermatocytes, and 1152 in round spermatids between P63(+/−) mice and wild-type mice. Real time PCR verified a number of DEGs identified by RNA sequencing. Gene ontology annotation and pathway analyzes further indicated that certain key genes, e.g., Ccnd2, Tgfa, Hes5, Insl3, Kit, Lef1, and Jun were involved in apoptosis, while Dazl, Kit, Pld6, Cdkn2d, Stra8, and Ubr2 were associated with regulating spermatogenesis. Collectively, these results implicate that P63 mediates the apoptosis of male germ cells and regulates three stages of spermatogenesis transcriptionally. This study could provide novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
Inhibition of p53 prevents diabetic cardiomyopathy by preventing early-stage apoptosis and cell senescence, reduced glycolysis, and impaired angiogenesis
Authors: Gu Junlian , Wang Shudong , Guo Hua , Tan Yi , Liang Yaqin , Feng Anyun , Liu Qiuju , Damodaran Chendil , Zhang Zhiguo , Keller Bradley B. , Zhang Chi , Cai Lu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractElevated tumor suppressor p53 expression has been associated with heart diseases, including the diabetic heart. However, its precise role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. We hypothesized that the development of DCM is attributed to up-regulated p53-mediated both early cardiac cell death and persistent cell senescence, glycolytic and angiogenetic dysfunctions. The present study investigated the effect of p53 inhibition with its specific inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT-α) on the pathogenesis of DCM and its associated mechanisms. Type 1 diabetes was induced with multiple low doses of streptozotocin. Both hyperglycemic and age-matched control mice were treated with and without PFT-α five times a week for 2 months and then sacrificed at 3 and 6 months post-diabetes. Treatment with PFT-α significantly prevented the progression of diabetes-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction (i.e., DCM). Mechanistically, the inhibition of p53 prevented the cardiac apoptosis during early-stage diabetes (0.5 month), attenuated diabetes-induced cell senescence (3 and 6 months), and improved both glycolytic and angiogenic defects by increasing hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α protein stability and upregulating HIF-1α transcription of specific target genes at 3 and 6 months after diabetes. Therefore, the targeted inhibition of p53 in diabetic individuals may provide a novel approach for the prevention of DCM.
An artificial nociceptor based on a diffusive memristor
Authors: Yoon Jung Ho , Wang Zhongrui , Kim Kyung Min , Wu Huaqiang , Ravichandran Vignesh , Xia Qiangfei , Hwang Cheol Seong , Yang J. Joshua 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA nociceptor is a critical and special receptor of a sensory neuron that is able to detect noxious stimulus and provide a rapid warning to the central nervous system to start the motor response in the human body and humanoid robotics. It differs from other common sensory receptors with its key features and functions, including the “no adaptation” and “sensitization” phenomena. In this study, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an artificial nociceptor based on a diffusive memristor with critical dynamics for the first time. Using this artificial nociceptor, we further built an artificial sensory alarm system to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility and simplicity of integrating such novel artificial nociceptor devices in artificial intelligence systems, such as humanoid robots.
Isolated proton bunch acceleration by a petawatt laser pulse
Authors: Hilz P. , Ostermayr T. M. , Huebl A. , Bagnoud V. , Borm B. , Bussmann M. , Gallei M. , Gebhard J. , Haffa D. , Hartmann J. , Kluge T. , Lindner F. H. , Neumayr P. , Schaefer C. G. , Schramm U. , Thirolf P. G. , Rösch T .F. , Wagner F. , Zielbauer B. , Schreiber J. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOften, the interpretation of experiments concerning the manipulation of the energy distribution of laser-accelerated ion bunches is complicated by the multitude of competing dynamic processes simultaneously contributing to recorded ion signals. Here we demonstrate experimentally the acceleration of a clean proton bunch. This was achieved with a microscopic and three-dimensionally confined near critical density plasma, which evolves from a 1 µm diameter plastic sphere, which is levitated and positioned with micrometer precision in the focus of a Petawatt laser pulse. The emitted proton bunch is reproducibly observed with central energies between 20 and 40 MeV and narrow energy spread (down to 25%) showing almost no low-energetic background. Together with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations we track the complete acceleration process, evidencing the transition from organized acceleration to Coulomb repulsion. This reveals limitations of current high power lasers and viable paths to optimize laser-driven ion sources.
Hotspots of dendritic spine turnover facilitate clustered spine addition and learning and memory
Authors: Frank Adam C. , Huang Shan , Zhou Miou , Gdalyahu Amos , Kastellakis George , Silva Tawnie K. , Lu Elaine , Wen Ximiao , Poirazi Panayiota , Trachtenberg Joshua T. , Silva Alcino J. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractModeling studies suggest that clustered structural plasticity of dendritic spines is an efficient mechanism of information storage in cortical circuits. However, why new clustered spines occur in specific locations and how their formation relates to learning and memory (L&M) remain unclear. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy, we track spine dynamics in retrosplenial cortex before, during, and after two forms of episodic-like learning and find that spine turnover before learning predicts future L&M performance, as well as the localization and rates of spine clustering. Consistent with the idea that these measures are causally related, a genetic manipulation that enhances spine turnover also enhances both L&M and spine clustering. Biophysically inspired modeling suggests turnover increases clustering, network sparsity, and memory capacity. These results support a hotspot model where spine turnover is the driver for localization of clustered spine formation, which serves to modulate network function, thus influencing storage capacity and L&M.
The SAM domain of mouse SAMHD1 is critical for its activation and regulation
Authors: Buzovetsky Olga , Tang Chenxiang , Knecht Kirsten M. , Antonucci Jenna M. , Wu Li , Ji Xiaoyun , Xiong Yong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHuman SAMHD1 (hSAMHD1) is a retroviral restriction factor that blocks HIV-1 infection by depleting the cellular nucleotides required for viral reverse transcription. SAMHD1 is allosterically activated by nucleotides that induce assembly of the active tetramer. Although the catalytic core of hSAMHD1 has been studied extensively, previous structures have not captured the regulatory SAM domain. Here we report the crystal structure of full-length SAMHD1 by capturing mouse SAMHD1 (mSAMHD1) structures in three different nucleotide bound states. Although mSAMHD1 and hSAMHD1 are highly similar in sequence and function, we find that mSAMHD1 possesses a more complex nucleotide-induced activation process, highlighting the regulatory role of the SAM domain. Our results provide insights into the regulation of SAMHD1 activity, thereby facilitating the improvement of HIV mouse models and the development of new therapies for certain cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Active sites of copper-complex catalytic materials for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction
Authors: Weng Zhe , Wu Yueshen , Wang Maoyu , Jiang Jianbing , Yang Ke , Huo Shengjuan , Wang Xiao-Feng , Ma Qing , Brudvig Gary W. , Batista Victor S. , Liang Yongye , Feng Zhenxing , Wang Hailiang 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRestructuring-induced catalytic activity is an intriguing phenomenon of fundamental importance to rational design of high-performance catalyst materials. We study three copper-complex materials for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction. Among them, the copper(II) phthalocyanine exhibits by far the highest activity for yielding methane with a Faradaic efficiency of 66% and a partial current density of 13 mA cm−2 at the potential of – 1.06 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Utilizing in-situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we find that under the working conditions copper(II) phthalocyanine undergoes reversible structural and oxidation state changes to form ~ 2 nm metallic copper clusters, which catalyzes the carbon dioxide-to-methane conversion. Density functional calculations rationalize the restructuring behavior and attribute the reversibility to the strong divalent metal ion–ligand coordination in the copper(II) phthalocyanine molecular structure and the small size of the generated copper clusters under the reaction conditions.
In-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy investigation on oriented attachment of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Zhu Chao , Liang Suxia , Song Erhong , Zhou Yuanjun , Wang Wen , Shan Feng , Shi Yantao , Hao Ce , Yin Kuibo , Zhang Tong , Liu Jianjun , Zheng Haimei , Sun Litao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInside a liquid solution, oriented attachment (OA) is now recognized to be as important a pathway to crystal growth as other, more conventional growth mechanisms. However, the driving force that controls the occurrence of OA is still poorly understood. Here, using in-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate the ligand-controlled OA of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles at atomic resolution. Our data reveal that particle pairs rotate randomly at a separation distance greater than twice the layer thickness of adsorbed ligands. In contrast, when the particles get closer, their ligands overlap and guide the rotation into a directional mode until they share a common {111} orientation, when a sudden contact occurs accompanied by the simultaneous expulsion of the ligands on this surface. First-principle calculations confirm that the lower ligand binding energy on {111} surfaces is the intrinsic reason for the preferential attachment at this facet, rather than on other low-index facets.