bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Te Reo Māori: indigenous language acquisition in the context of New Zealand English
Authors: REESE ELAINE , KEEGAN PETER , MCNAUGHTON STUART , KINGI TE KANI , CARR POLLY ATATOA , SCHMIDT JOHANNA , MOHAL JATENDER , GRANT CAMERON , MORTON SUSAN 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study assessed the status of te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, in the context of New Zealand English. From a broadly representative sample of 6327 two-year-olds (Growing Up in New Zealand), 6090 mothers (96%) reported their children understood English, and 763 mothers (12%) reported their children understood Māori. Parents completed the new MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory short forms for te reo Māori (NZM: CDI sf) and New Zealand English (NZE: CDI sf). Mothers with higher education levels had children with larger vocabularies in both te reo Māori and NZ English. For English speakers, vocabulary advantages also existed for girls, first-borns, monolinguals, those living in areas of lower deprivation, and those whose mothers had no concerns about their speech and language. Because more than 99% of Māori speakers were bilingual, te reo Māori acquisition appears to be occurring in the context of the acquisition of New Zealand English.
Coordinated force generation of skeletal myosins in myofilaments through motor coupling
Authors: Kaya Motoshi , Tani Yoshiaki , Washio Takumi , Hisada Toshiaki , Higuchi Hideo 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn contrast to processive molecular motors, skeletal myosins form a large motor ensemble for contraction of muscles against high loads. Despite numerous information on the molecular properties of skeletal myosin, its ensemble effects on collective force generation have not been rigorously clarified. Here we show 4 nm stepwise actin displacements generated by synthetic myofilaments beyond a load of 30 pN, implying that steps cannot be driven exclusively by single myosins, but potentially by coordinated force generations among multiple myosins. The simulation model shows that stepwise actin displacements are primarily caused by coordinated force generation among myosin molecules. Moreover, the probability of coordinated force generation can be enhanced against high loads by utilizing three factors: strain-dependent kinetics between force-generating states; multiple power stroke steps; and high ATP concentrations. Compared with other molecular motors, our findings reveal how the properties of skeletal myosin are tuned to perform cooperative force generation for efficient muscle contraction.
Empirical interatomic potentials optimized for phonon properties
Authors: Rohskopf Andrew , Seyf Hamid R. , Gordiz Kiarash , Tadano Terumasa , Henry Asegun 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMolecular dynamics simulations have been extensively used to study phonons and gain insight, but direct comparisons to experimental data are often difficult, due to a lack of accurate empirical interatomic potentials for different systems. As a result, this issue has become a major barrier to realizing the promise associated with advanced atomistic-level modeling techniques. Here, we present a general method for specifically optimizing empirical interatomic potentials from ab initio inputs for the study of phonon transport properties, thereby resulting in phonon optimized potentials. The method uses a genetic algorithm to directly fit the empirical parameters of the potential to the key properties that determine whether or not the atomic level dynamics and most notably the phonon transport are described properly.
Amplification mode differs along the length of the mouse cochlea as revealed by connexin 26 deletion from specific gap junctions
Authors: Lukashkina Victoria A. , Yamashita Tetsuji , Zuo Jian , Lukashkin Andrei N. , Russell Ian J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe sharp frequency tuning and exquisite sensitivity of the mammalian cochlea is due to active forces delivered by outer hair cells (OHCs) to the cochlear partition. Force transmission is mediated and modulated by specialized cells, including Deiters’ cells (DCs) and pillar cells (PCs), coupled by gap-junctions composed of connexin 26 (Cx26) and Cx30. We created a mouse with conditional Cx26 knock-out (Cx26 cKO) in DCs and PCs that did not influence sensory transduction, receptor-current-driving-voltage, low-mid-frequency distortion-product-otoacoustic-emissions (DPOAEs), and passive basilar membrane (BM) responses. However, the Cx26 cKO desensitizes mid-high-frequency DPOAEs and active BM responses and sensitizes low-mid-frequency neural excitation. This functional segregation may indicate that the flexible, apical turn cochlear partition facilitates transfer of OHC displacements (isotonic forces) for cochlear amplification and neural excitation. DC and PC Cx26 expression is essential for cochlear amplification in the stiff basal turn, possibly through maintaining cochlear partition mechanical impedance, thereby ensuring effective transfer of OHC isometric forces.
Collective motion of cells crawling on a substrate: roles of cell shape and contact inhibition
Authors: Schnyder Simon K. , Molina John J. , Tanaka Yuki , Yamamoto Ryoichi 
Published: July 2017

AbstractContact inhibition plays a crucial role in cell motility, wound healing, and tumour formation. By mimicking the mechanical motion of cells crawling on a substrate, we constructed a minimal model of migrating cells that naturally gives rise to contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL). The model cell consists of two disks, a front disk (a pseudopod) and a back disk (cell body), which are connected by a finite extensible spring. Despite the simplicity of the model, the collective behaviour of the cells is highly non-trivial and depends on both the shape of the cells and whether CIL is enabled. Cells with a small front disk (i.e., a narrow pseudopod) form immobile colonies. In contrast, cells with a large front disk (e.g., a lamellipodium) exhibit coherent migration without any explicit alignment mechanism in the model. This result suggests that crawling cells often exhibit broad fronts because this helps facilitate alignment. After increasing the density, the cells develop density waves that propagate against the direction of cell migration and finally stop at higher densities.
Peptidomics of an in vitro digested α-Gal carrying protein revealed IgE-reactive peptides
Authors: Apostolovic D. , Krstic M. , Mihailovic J. , Starkhammar M. , Cirkovic Velickovic T. , Hamsten C. , van Hage M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe mammalian carbohydrate galactose-α1,3-galactose (α-Gal) causes a novel form of food allergy, red meat allergy, where patients experience severe allergic reactions several hours after red meat consumption. Here we explored gastric digestion of α-Gal glycoproteins using an in vitro model. Bovine thyroglobulin (BTG), a typical α-Gal carrying glycoprotein, was digested with pepsin. The resulting peptides were characterised by SDS PAGE, immunoblot and ImmunoCAP using sera from 20 red meat allergic patients. During pepsinolysis of BTG, a wide range of peptide bands was observed of which 14 to 17 kDa peptides remained stable throughout the gastric phase. The presence of the α-Gal epitope on the obtained peptides was demonstrated by an anti-α-Gal antibody and IgE from red meat allergic patients. The α-Gal digests were able to inhibit up to 86% of IgE reactivity to BTG. Importantly, basophil activation test demonstrated that the allergenic activity of BTG was retained after digestion in all four tested patients. Mass spectrometry-based peptidomics revealed that these peptides represent mostly internal and C-terminal parts of the protein, where the most potent IgE-binding α-Gal residues were identified at Asn1756, Asn1850 and Asn2231. Thus allergenic α-Gal epitopes are stable to pepsinolysis, reinforcing their role as clinically relevant food allergens.
Quantitative proteomics reveal the anti-tumour mechanism of the carbohydrate recognition domain of Galectin-3 in Hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Mingchao , Tian Fang , Ying Wantao , Qian Xiaohong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious threat to human health. The carbohydrate recognition domain of Galectin-3 (Gal3C) has been reported to be an anti-tumour molecule. In this study, we aim to explore effects of Gal3C in HCC and its possible molecular mechanism with quantitative proteomics approach. We found that rGal3C stimulation could inhibit cell viability, migration and invasion of HepG2. After rGal3C stimulating, 190 proteins were differentially expressed. Eighty up-regulated proteins located mainly in extracellular exosome and involved in cell adhesion and metabolism, and 110 down-regulated proteins located in mitochondria and extracellular exosome, and related to processes of metabolism and oxidation-reduction. Of the differentially expressed proteins, CLU, NDRG1, CD166, S100A11 and Galectin-1 were carcinoma-related proteins affected by rGal3C. Potential receptors of rGal3C were explored by an UV cross-linking capture strategy. We showed that rGal3C could induce dephosphorylating of FAK/SRC. Blocking of the FAK/SRC pathway resulted in down-regulation of NDRG1. Immunofluorescence suggested that rGal3C could disrupt integrin clustering. Our study provides valuable insight into the anti-tumour mechanism of rGal3C in HCC on a proteomics level and is the first to reveal the possible mechanism involving integrin/FAK/SRC pathway and NDRG1. These results provide useful guidance of developing new therapies for HCC.
Defective CFTR leads to aberrant β-catenin activation and kidney fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Jie Ting , Wang Yan , Chen Jun Jiang , Zhang Xiao Hu , Dong Jian Da , Tsang Lai Ling , Huang Xiao Ru , Cai Zhiming , Lan Hui Yao , Jiang Xiao Hua , Chan Hsiao Chang 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), known as a cAMP-activated Cl− channel, is widely expressed at the apical membrane of epithelial cells in a wide variety of tissues. Of note, despite the abundant expression of CFTR in mammalian kidney, the role of CFTR in kidney disease development is unclear. Here, we report that CFTR expression is downregulated in the UUO (unilateral ureteral obstruction)-induced kidney fibrosis mouse model and human fibrotic kidneys. Dysfunction or downregulation of CFTR in renal epithelial cells leads to alteration of genes involved in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and kidney fibrosis. In addition, dysregulation of CFTR activates canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, whereas the β-catenin inhibitor reverses the effects of CFTR downregulation on EMT marker. More interestingly, CFTR interacts with Dishevelled 2 (Dvl2), a key component of Wnt signaling, thereby suppressing the activation of β-catenin. Compared to wild type, deltaF508 mice with UUO treatment exhibit significantly higher β-catenin activity with aggregated kidney fibrogenesis, which is reduced by forced overexpression of CFTR. Taken together, our study reveals a novel mechanism by which CFTR regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pertinent to progression of kidney fibrosis and indicates a potential treatment target.
Tissue-engineered trachea from a 3D-printed scaffold enhances whole-segment tracheal repair
Authors: Gao Manchen , Zhang Hengyi , Dong Wei , Bai Jie , Gao Botao , Xia Dekai , Feng Bei , Chen Maolin , He Xiaomin , Yin Meng , Xu Zhiwei , Witman Nevin , Fu Wei , Zheng Jinghao 
Published: July 2017

AbstractLong segmental repair of trachea stenosis is an intractable condition in the clinic. The reconstruction of an artificial substitute by tissue engineering is a promising approach to solve this unmet clinical need. 3D printing technology provides an infinite possibility for engineering a trachea. Here, we 3D printed a biodegradable reticular polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold with similar morphology to the whole segment of rabbits’ native trachea. The 3D-printed scaffold was suspended in culture with chondrocytes for 2 (Group I) or 4 (Group II) weeks, respectively. This in vitro suspension produced a more successful reconstruction of a tissue-engineered trachea (TET), which enhanced the overall support function of the replaced tracheal segment. After implantation of the chondrocyte-treated scaffold into the subcutaneous tissue of nude mice, the TET presented properties of mature cartilage tissue. To further evaluate the feasibility of repairing whole segment tracheal defects, replacement surgery of rabbits’ native trachea by TET was performed. Following postoperative care, mean survival time in Group I was 14.38 ± 5.42 days, and in Group II was 22.58 ± 16.10 days, with the longest survival time being 10 weeks in Group II. In conclusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of repairing whole segment tracheal defects with 3D printed TET.
3D NiO hollow sphere/reduced graphene oxide composite for high-performance glucose biosensor
Authors: Huang Wei , Ding Shujiang , Chen Yong , Hao Wanjun , Lai Xiaoyong , Peng Juan , Tu Jinchun , Cao Yang , Li Xiaotian 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe 3D NiO hollow sphere/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite was synthesized according to the coordinating etching and precipitating process by using Cu2O nanosphere/graphene oxide (GO) composite as template. The morphology, structure, and composition of the materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and Raman spectra, and the electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and amperometry. Moreover, the electrochemical activity of the composite materials with different morphologies were also investigated, which indicating a better combination of the NiO hollow sphere and the rGO. Used as glucose sensing material, the 3D NiO hollow sphere/rGO composite modified electrode exhibits high sensitivity of ~2.04 mA mM−1 cm−2, quick response time of less than 5 s, good stability, selectivity, and reproducibility. Its application for the detection of glucose in human blood serum sample shows acceptable recovery and R.S.D. values. The outstanding glucose sensing performance should be attributed to the unique 3D hierarchical porous superstructure of the composite, especially for its enhanced electron-transfer kinetic properties.
Suppression of VAMP2 Alters Morphology of the Tegument and Affects Glucose uptake, Development and Reproduction of Schistosoma japonicum
Authors: Han Qian , Jia Bingguang , Hong Yang , Cao Xiaodan , Zhai Qi , Lu Ke , Li Hao , Zhu Chuangang , Fu Zhiqiang , Shi Yonghong , Lin Jiaojiao 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSchistosomiasis caused by schsitosomes is a serious global public health concern. The tegument that surrounds the worm is critical to the schistosomes survival. The tegument apical membrane undergoes a continuous process of rupture and repair owing to membranous vacuoles fusing with the plasma membrane. Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), a member of soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNAREs) is required for membrane fusion. Here, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down the expression of VAMP2 of Schistosoma japonicum (SjVAMP2), and both real-time PCR and western blot analysis confirmed the suppression of this molecule, as well as the suppression of the transcript levels of schistosome glucose transporters (SGTP1 and SGTP4), and insulin receptors (SjIR1 and SjIR2). SjVAMP2-suppressed worms exhibited a lower viability, and phenotypic alterations were also observed in the tegument. Moreover, the glucose consumption of SjVAMP2-suppressed worms decreased significantly in 4 and 6 days, respectively, as well as a significant reduction in egg production. We also observed a significant reduction in worm burden and hepatic eggs burden in two independent RNAi experiment in vivo, and minor pathological changes in mice treated with SjVAMP2 specific small interfering (si)RNA. These findings reveal that SjVAMP2 may play important roles in the maintenance of tegument, glucose uptake, worm development and egg production in schistosomes.
Clinical relevance of reduced decorrelation signals in the diabetic inner choroid on optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Dodo Yoko , Suzuma Kiyoshi , Ishihara Kenji , Yoshitake Shin , Fujimoto Masahiro , Yoshitake Tatsuya , Miwa Yuko , Murakami Tomoaki 
Published: July 2017

AbstractDiabetes induces lesions of the retinal and choroidal capillaries, which promote the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The decorrelation signals in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) represent the blood flow and vascular structure, and three-dimensional OCTA images enable individual capillary layers to be evaluated separately. The current study documented that en-face OCTA images revealed spots of flow void in the choriocapillaris layer in eyes with DR. Quantitative investigation demonstrated that non-flow areas within the central subfield (CSF) increased in eyes with more severe DR grades. The non-flow areas in the choriocapillaris layer were also associated with poorer visual acuity (VA) in all 108 eyes. A modest correlation was noted between the areas of flow void and poorer VA in 69 eyes without DME, whereas the non-flow areas were not related to VA or to CSF thickness measured by OCT in 39 eyes with DME. In 12 eyes with ischemic maculopathy, the choriocapillaris layer beneath the disrupted ellipsoid zone of the photoreceptor (EZ) had greater areas of flow void than did the area beneath an intact EZ. These data suggested that disrupted choroidal circulation has clinical relevance and contributes to the pathogenesis of DR.
Effects of Lexical and Somatosensory Feedback on Long-Term Improvements in Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech
Authors: Borrie Stephanie A. , Schäfer Martina C. M. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Intelligibility improvements immediately following perceptual training with dysarthric speech using lexical feedback are comparable to those observed when training uses somatosensory feedback (Borrie & Schäfer, 2015). In this study, we investigated if these lexical and somatosensory guided improvements in listener intelligibility of dysarthric speech remain comparable and stable over the course of 1 month.

Method
Following an intelligibility pretest, 60 participants were trained with dysarthric speech stimuli under one of three conditions: lexical feedback, somatosensory feedback, or no training (control). Participants then completed a series of intelligibility posttests, which took place immediately (immediate posttest), 1 week (1-week posttest) following training, and 1 month (1-month posttest) following training.

Results
As per our previous study, intelligibility improvements at immediate posttest were equivalent between lexical and somatosensory feedback conditions. Condition differences, however, emerged over time. Improvements guided by lexical feedback deteriorated over the month whereas those guided by somatosensory feedback remained robust.

Conclusions
Somatosensory feedback, internally generated by vocal imitation, may be required to affect long-term perceptual gain in processing dysarthric speech. Findings are discussed in relation to underlying learning mechanisms and offer insight into how externally and internally generated feedback may differentially affect perceptual learning of disordered speech.
Low‐power three‐path inductor class‐C VCO without any dynamic bias circuit
Authors: Jang Sheng‐Lyang , Lin Yan‐Cu 
Published: July 2017

A 2.48 GHz class‐C voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) without any dynamic back bias circuit is presented. The VCO uses three‐path high Q‐factor inductor as the low loss resonator and class‐C cross‐coupled nMOSFET pairs for high dc/RF conversion efficiency and direct cross‐coupled pMOSFET for dc current reuse. At the supply voltage of 1.2 V, the core power consumption is 0.24 mW. The phase noise of the VCO is −124 dBc/Hz and the VCO figure of merit is −197.0 dBc/Hz. The VCO was implemented in the TSMC standard 0.18 μm SiGe BiCMOS process and occupies a die area of 0.799 × 0.809 mm2.
Single‐crystalline porous NiO nanobiscuits with prompt adsorption activity for Congo red
Authors: Hu Hanmei , Wang Man , Xuan Han , Zhang Kehua , Xu Juanjuan 
Published: July 2017

Single‐crystalline two‐dimensional (2D) nickel oxide (NiO) porous nanobiscuits with diameters of 100–210 nm, thicknesses of 10–20 nm and pore sizes of <20 nm are fabricated through a low‐cost water bath combined with calcination treatment approach. The composition and morphology of the products are characterised by X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution TEM, selected area electronic diffraction and N2 adsorption/desorption. The possible formation mechanism of single‐crystalline porous NiO nanobiscuits is simply discussed. Served as adsorbent, the as‐prepared single‐crystalline porous NiO nanobiscuits exhibited excellent performance for the fast removal of Congo red from water, which is far beyond the adsorption rate of activated carbon. The results show that the adsorption isotherm fits well with Langmuir adsorption model. The maximum adsorption capacity is calculated to be 193.2 mg g−1, which is larger than that of other reported 2D NiO architectures.
A Peruvian Child with 18p-/18q+ Syndrome and Persistent Microscopic Hematuria
Authors: Poterico Julio , Vásquez Flor , Chávez-Pastor Miguel , Trubnykova Milana , Chavesta Félix , Chirinos Jenny , Salcedo Nancy , Mena Rosmery , Cubas Sulema , González Rocío , Alvariño Rossana , Abarca-Barriga Hugo 
Published: July 2017

AbstractChromosome 18 pericentric inversion carriers could have offspring with recombinant chromosomes, leading to patients with clinical variable manifestations. Patients with 18p-/18q+ rearrangements share some clinical characteristics, while other characteristics differ. Factors for such divergence include the length of the inverted segment, among others. Here, we describe a Peruvian child with dysmorphic features, intellectual disability persistent microscopic hematuria, aortic pseudocoarctation, and descending aorta arteritis, among others. Karyotype analysis of family members determined the mother as the carrier of a pericentric inversion: 18[inv(18)(p11.2q21.3)]. This child carries a recombinant chromosome 18, with chromosomal microarray analysis detecting two genomic imbalances in patient's chromosome 18: one duplicated region and one deleted segment in the large and the short arms, respectively. Persistent microscopic hematuria has not been reported among 18p-/18q+ phenotypes. Our patient elucidates that other factors play significant and yet unknown roles for not fulfilling the proposed genotype–phenotype correlation associated with hemizygosity in this type of recombinant chromosome 18 or presenting these features as the patient ages.