bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The need to support caregivers during pediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT): A case report
Authors: Mangurian Christina , Packman Wendy , Riano Nicholas S. , Kearney Julia 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTObjective:Pediatric bone marrow transplants represent a medically stressful, potentially traumatic experience for children and caregivers, and psychological support for parental caregivers is paramount to their long-term well-being. However, many medical centers do not have protocols in place to sustain caregiver well-being during these distressing experiences.Method:We report on a case of a 10-month-old infant with Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome who was hospitalized for bone marrow transplantation.Result:We describe the significant burden that fell upon caregivers during and after a bone marrow transplantation.Significance of results:This case helped guide our suggestions to improve care for caregivers. Several logistical hurdles could be overcome to alleviate some of these burdens. We suggest that a child psychologist or psychiatrist should be on patient care teams and be attentive to parental stress, impairments, or impediments to self-care, and signs of emergency of mental illness in this setting of medical trauma. Additionally, promotion of sleep hygiene and linkage to support systems can maximize resiliency. Finally, we believe that hospital administrators should partner with clinicians to facilitate routine support during highly stressful transitions of care.
External validation of risk prediction models for incident colorectal cancer using UK Biobank
Authors: Usher-Smith J A , Harshfield A , Saunders C L , Sharp S J , Emery J , Walter F M , Muir K , Griffin S J 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Background:
This study aimed to compare and externally validate risk scores developed to predict incident colorectal cancer (CRC) that include variables routinely available or easily obtainable via self-completed questionnaire.

Methods:
External validation of fourteen risk models from a previous systematic review in 373 112 men and women within the UK Biobank cohort with 5-year follow-up, no prior history of CRC and data for incidence of CRC through linkage to national cancer registries.

Results:
There were 1719 (0.46%) cases of incident CRC. The performance of the risk models varied substantially. In men, the QCancer10 model and models by Tao, Driver and Ma all had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) between 0.67 and 0.70. Discrimination was lower in women: the QCancer10, Wells, Tao, Guesmi and Ma models were the best performing with AUCs between 0.63 and 0.66. Assessment of calibration was possible for six models in men and women. All would require country-specific recalibration if estimates of absolute risks were to be given to individuals.

Conclusions:
Several risk models based on easily obtainable data have relatively good discrimination in a UK population. Modelling studies are now required to estimate the potential health benefits and cost-effectiveness of implementing stratified risk-based CRC screening.
The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators
Authors: Nowoshilow Sergej , Schloissnig Siegfried , Fei Ji-Feng , Dahl Andreas , Pang Andy W. C. , Pippel Martin , Winkler Sylke , Hastie Alex R. , Young George , Roscito Juliana G. , Falcon Francisco , Knapp Dunja , Powell Sean , Cruz Alfredo , Cao Han , Habermann Bianca , Hiller Michael , Tanaka Elly M. , Myers Eugene W. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSalamanders serve as important tetrapod models for developmental, regeneration and evolutionary studies. An extensive molecular toolkit makes the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) a key representative salamander for molecular investigations. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the 32-gigabase-pair axolotl genome using an approach that combined long-read sequencing, optical mapping and development of a new genome assembler (MARVEL). We observed a size expansion of introns and intergenic regions, largely attributable to multiplication of long terminal repeat retroelements. We provide evidence that intron size in developmental genes is under constraint and that species-restricted genes may contribute to limb regeneration. The axolotl genome assembly does not contain the essential developmental genePax3. However, mutation of the axolotlPax3paraloguePax7resulted in an axolotl phenotype that was similar to those seen inPax3−/−andPax7−/−mutant mice. The axolotl genome provides a rich biological resource for developmental and evolutionary studies.
Elucidation of the origin of chiral amplification in discrete molecular polyhedra
Authors: Wang Yu , Fang Hongxun , Tranca Ionut , Qu Hang , Wang Xinchang , Markvoort Albert J. , Tian Zhongqun , Cao Xiaoyu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractChiral amplification in molecular self-assembly has profound impact on the recognition and separation of chiroptical materials, biomolecules, and pharmaceuticals. An understanding of how to control this phenomenon is nonetheless restricted by the structural complexity in multicomponent self-assembling systems. Here, we create chiral octahedra incorporating a combination of chiral and achiral vertices and show that their discrete nature makes these octahedra an ideal platform for in-depth investigation of chiral transfer. Through the construction of dynamic combinatorial libraries, the unique possibility to separate and characterise each individual assembly type, density functional theory calculations, and a theoretical equilibrium model, we elucidate that a single chiral unit suffices to control all other units in an octahedron and how this local amplification combined with the distribution of distinct assembly types culminates in the observed overall chiral amplification in the system. Our combined experimental and theoretical strategy can be applied generally to quantify discrete multi-component self-assembling systems.
Excitation of epsilon-near-zero resonance in ultra-thin indium tin oxide shell embedded nanostructured optical fiber
Authors: Minn Khant , Anopchenko Aleksei , Yang Jingyi , Lee Ho Wai Howard 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe report a novel optical waveguide design of a hollow step index fiber modified with a thin layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). We show an excitation of highly confined waveguide mode in the proposed fiber near the wavelength where permittivity of ITO approaches zero. Due to the high field confinement within thin ITO shell inside the fiber, the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) mode can be characterized by a peak in modal loss of the hybrid waveguide. Our results show that such in-fiber excitation of ENZ mode is due to the coupling of the guided core mode to the thin-film ENZ mode. We also show that the phase matching wavelength, where the coupling takes place, varies depending on the refractive index of the constituents inside the central bore of the fiber. These ENZ nanostructured optical fibers have many potential applications, for example, in ENZ nonlinear and magneto-optics, as in-fiber wavelength-dependent filters, and as subwavelength fluid channel for optical and bio-photonic sensing.
Full-Stokes polarization imaging method based on the self-organized grating array in fused silica
Authors: Xu Canhua , Ke Chaozhen , Ma Jing , Huang Yantang , Zeng Zhiping 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA full-Stokes polarization imaging method based on the self-organized grating array was presented. By focusing the ultra-fast laser with moderate fluence into fused silica, the self-organized grating array was fabricated, featuring the optical properties similar to wave plates. A set of four independent polarization measurements were simultaneously acquired with designed grating array mounted in the focal plane of an imaging detector. Experimental results including the device fabrication, calibration and optimization were presented. Finally, a principle verification experiment was implemented for our polarization imaging method.
Conformation of methylated GGQ in the Peptidyl Transferase Center during Translation Termination
Authors: Zeng Fuxing , Jin Hong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe universally conserved Gly-Gly-Gln (GGQ) tripeptide in release factors or release factor-like surveillance proteins is required to catalyze the release of nascent peptide in the ribosome. The glutamine of the GGQ is methylated post-translationally at the N5 position in vivo; this covalent modification is essential for optimal cell growth and efficient translation termination. However, the precise conformation of the methylated-GGQ tripeptide in the ribosome remains unknown. Using cryoEM and X-ray crystallography, we report the conformation of methylated-GGQ in the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome during canonical translational termination and co-translation quality control. It has been suggested that the GGQ motif arose independently through convergent evolution among otherwise unrelated proteins that catalyze peptide release. The requirement for this tripeptide in the highly conserved peptidyl transferase center suggests that the conformation reported here is likely shared during termination of protein synthesis in all domains of life.
Human Neurospheroid Arrays for In Vitro Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Jorfi Mehdi , D’Avanzo Carla , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Kim Doo Yeon , Irimia Daniel 
Published: January 2018

AbstractNeurospheroids are commonly used for in vitro disease modeling and drug screening. However, the heterogeneity in size of the neurospheroids mixtures available through current methods limits their utility when employed for basic mechanistic studies of neurodegenerative diseases or screening for new interventions. Here, we generate neurospheroids from immortalized neural progenitor cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells that are uniform in size, into large-scale arrays. In proof of concept experiments, we validate the neurospheroids array as a sensitive and robust tool for screening compounds over extended time. We show that when suspended in three-dimensional extracellular matrix up to several weeks, the stem cell-derived neurospheroids display extensive neurite outgrowth and extend thick bundles of dendrites outward. We also cultivate genetically-engineered stem cell-derived neurospheroids with familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations for eight weeks in our microarray system. Interestingly, we observed robust accumulation of amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau, key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, our in vitro model for engineering neurospheroid arrays is a valuable tool for studying complex neurodegenerative diseases and accelerating drug discovery.
Interaction of genotype and diet on small intestine microbiota of Japanese quail fed a cholesterol enriched diet
Authors: Liu Shasha , Tun Hein Min , Leung Frederick C. , Bennett Darin C. , Zhang Hongfu , Cheng Kimberly M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOur previous study has shown that genetic selection for susceptibility/resistance to diet-induced atherosclerosis has affected the Japanese quail’s cecal environment to accommodate distinctly different cecal microbiota. In this study, we fed the Atherosclerosis-resistant (RES) and -susceptable (SUS) quail a regular and a cholesterol enriched diet to examine the interaction of host genotype and diet on the diversity, composition, and metabolic functions of the duodenal and ileal microbiota with relations to atherosclerosis development. In the duodenal content, 9 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were identified whose abundance had significant positive correlations with plasma total cholesterol, LDL level and/or LDL/HDL ratio. In the ileal content, 7 OTUs have significant correlation with plasma HDL. Cholesterol fed RES hosted significantly less Escherichia and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae (possibly pathogenic) in their duodenum than SUS fed the same diet. Dietary cholesterol significantly decreased the duodenal microbiome of SUS’s biosynthesis of Ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone. Cholesterol fed RES had significantly more microbiome genes for Vitamin B6, selenocompound, taurine and hypotaurine, and Linoleic acid metabolism; Bisphenol degradation; primary bile acid, and butirosin and neomycin biosynthesis than SUS on the same diet. Microbiome in the ileum and ceca of RES contributed significantly towards the resistance to diet induced atherosclerosis.
The FGFR4-388arg Variant Promotes Lung Cancer Progression by N-Cadherin Induction
Authors: Quintanal-Villalonga Álvaro , Ojeda-Márquez Laura , Marrugal Ángela , Yagüe Patricia , Ponce-Aix Santiago , Salinas Ana , Carnero Amancio , Ferrer Irene , Molina-Pinelo Sonia , Paz-Ares Luis 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe FGFR4-388Arg variant has been related to poor prognosis in several types of cancer, including lung cancer. The mechanism underlying this association has not been addressed in detail in patients with this pathology. Here, we report that this FGFR4 variant induces MAPK and STAT3 activation and causes pro-oncogenic effects in NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. This variant induces the expression of EMT-related genes, such as N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail1 and Twist1. Indeed, the induction of N-cadherin protein expression by this variant is essential for its pro-tumorigenic role. The presence of the FGFR4-388Arg variant correlates with higher N-cadherin expression levels in clinical NSCLC samples and with poorer outcome in patients with FGFR expression. These results support the prognostic role of this FGFR variant in lung cancer and show that these effects may be mediated by the induction of N-cadherin expression and an EMT phenotype.
A Novel Mitochondrial Serine O-Acetyltransferase, OpSAT1, Plays a Critical Role in Sulfur Metabolism in the Thermotolerant Methylotrophic Yeast Ogataea parapolymorpha
Authors: Yeon Ji Yoon , Yoo Su Jin , Takagi Hiroshi , Kang Hyun Ah 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn most bacteria and plants, direct biosynthesis of cysteine from sulfide via O-acetylserine (OAS) is essential to produce sulfur amino acids from inorganic sulfur. Here, we report the functional analysis of a novel mitochondrial serine O-acetyltransferase (SAT), responsible for converting serine into OAS, in the thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Ogataea parapolymorpha. Domain analysis of O. parapolymorpha SAT (OpSat1p) and other fungal SATs revealed that these proteins possess a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) at the N-terminus and an α/β hydrolase 1 domain at the C-terminal region, which is quite different from the classical SATs of bacteria and plants. Noticeably, OpSat1p is functionally interchangeable with Escherichia coli SAT, CysE, despite that it displays much less enzymatic activity, with marginal feedback inhibition by cysteine, compared to CysE. The Opsat1Δ-null mutant showed remarkably reduced intracellular levels of cysteine and glutathione, implying OAS generation defect. The MTS of OpSat1p directs the mitochondrial targeting of a reporter protein, thus, supporting the localization of OpSat1p in the mitochondria. Intriguingly, the OpSat1p variant lacking MTS restores the OAS auxotrophy, but not the cysteine auxotrophy of the Opsat1Δ mutant strain. This is the first study on a mitochondrial SAT with critical function in sulfur assimilatory metabolism in fungal species.
Reduced arctic tundra productivity linked with landform and climate change interactions
Authors: Lara Mark J. , Nitze Ingmar , Grosse Guido , Martin Philip , McGuire A. David 
Published: January 2018

AbstractArctic tundra ecosystems have experienced unprecedented change associated with climate warming over recent decades. Across the Pan-Arctic, vegetation productivity and surface greenness have trended positively over the period of satellite observation. However, since 2011 these trends have slowed considerably, showing signs of browning in many regions. It is unclear what factors are driving this change and which regions/landforms will be most sensitive to future browning. Here we provide evidence linking decadal patterns in arctic greening and browning with regional climate change and local permafrost-driven landscape heterogeneity. We analyzed the spatial variability of decadal-scale trends in surface greenness across the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska (~60,000 km²) using the Landsat archive (1999–2014), in combination with novel 30 m classifications of polygonal tundra and regional watersheds, finding landscape heterogeneity and regional climate change to be the most important factors controlling historical greenness trends. Browning was linked to increased temperature and precipitation, with the exception of young landforms (developed following lake drainage), which will likely continue to green. Spatiotemporal model forecasting suggests carbon uptake potential to be reduced in response to warmer and/or wetter climatic conditions, potentially increasing the net loss of carbon to the atmosphere, at a greater degree than previously expected.
Synthesis of a multifunctional hard monomer from rosin: the relationship of allyl structure in maleopimarate and UV-curing property
Authors: Lu Yanju , Zhao Zhendong , Bi Liangwu , Chen Yuxiang , Wang Jing , Xu Shichao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRosin is an important forestry resource with a specific three-membered phenanthrene ring structure, which can improve the mechanical resistance of polymer coatings. In this paper, a high purity rosin monomer, tri-allyl maleopimarate containing three allyl groups has been synthesized. The yield of the monomer product was 93.2% with the purity of 96.1%. The structure of the synthesized monomer was characterized through gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR) and elemental analysis. Additionally, we present new experimental results regarding the polymerization reaction under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The cured film of tri-allyl maleopimarate exhibited good mechanical properties. The films were also characterized through thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses and a mechanism for polymerization was proposed. Overall, a facile catalytic process for the valorization of rosin in the field of UV polymerization is reported.
Effect of tube current on computed tomography radiomic features
Authors: Mackin Dennis , Ger Rachel , Dodge Cristina , Fave Xenia , Chi Pai-Chun , Zhang Lifei , Yang Jinzhong , Bache Steve , Dodge Charles , Jones A. Kyle , Court Laurence 
Published: January 2018

AbstractVariability in the x-ray tube current used in computed tomography may affect quantitative features extracted from the images. To investigate these effects, we scanned the Credence Cartridge Radiomics phantom 12 times, varying the tube current from 25 to 300 mA∙s while keeping the other acquisition parameters constant. For each of the scans, we extracted 48 radiomic features from the categories of intensity histogram (n = 10), gray-level run length matrix (n = 11), gray-level co-occurrence matrix (n = 22), and neighborhood gray tone difference matrix (n = 5). To gauge the size of the tube current effects, we scaled the features by the coefficient of variation of the corresponding features extracted from images of non-small cell lung cancer tumors. Variations in the tube current had more effect on features extracted from homogeneous materials (acrylic, sycamore wood) than from materials with more tissue-like textures (cork, rubber particles). Thirty-eight of the 48 features extracted from acrylic were affected by current reductions compared with only 2 of the 48 features extracted from rubber particles. These results indicate that variable x-ray tube current is unlikely to have a large effect on radiomic features extracted from computed tomography images of textured objects such as tumors.
3D Printed Auxetic Mechanical Metamaterial with Chiral Cells and Re-entrant Cores
Authors: Jiang Yunyao , Li Yaning 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBy combining the two basic deformation mechanisms for auxetic open-cell metamaterials, re-entrant angle and chirality, new hybrid chiral mechanical metamaterials are designed and fabricated via a multi-material 3D printer. Results from mechanical experiments on the 3D printed prototypes and systematic Finite Element (FE) simulations show that the new designs can achieve subsequential cell-opening mechanism under a very large range of overall strains (2.91%–52.6%). Also, the effective stiffness, the Poisson’s ratio and the cell-opening rate of the new designs can be tuned in a wide range by tailoring the two independent geometric parameters: the cell size ratio$${{\boldsymbol{c}}}_{{\bf{0}}}{\boldsymbol{/}}{{\boldsymbol{b}}}_{{\bf{0}}}$$c0/b0, and re-entrant angleθ. As an example application, a sequential particle release mechanism of the new designs was also systematically explored. This mechanism has potential application in drug delivery. The present new design concepts can be used to develop new multi-functional smart composites, sensors and/or actuators which are responsive to external load and/or environmental conditions.
Quasi-periodic concave microlens array for liquid refractive index sensing fabricated by femtosecond laser assisted with chemical etching
Authors: Zhang F. , Wang C. , Yin K. , Dong X. R. , Song Y. X. , Tian Y. X. , Duan J. A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn this study, a high-efficiency single-pulsed femtosecond laser assisted with chemical wet etching method has been proposed to obtain large-area concave microlens array (MLA). The quasi-periodic MLA consisting of about two million microlenses with tunable diameter and sag height by adjusting laser scanning speed and etching time is uniformly manufactured on fused silica and sapphire within 30 minutes. Moreover, the fabricated MLA behaves excellent optical focusing and imaging performance, which could be used to sense the change of the liquid refractive index (RI). In addition, it is demonstrated that small period and high RI of MLA could acquire high sensitivity and broad dynamic measurement range, respectively. Furthermore, the theoretical diffraction efficiency is calculated by the finite domain time difference (FDTD) method, which is in good agreement with the experimental results.
Nonlinear dynamics of trions under strong optical excitation in monolayer MoSe2
Authors: Ye Jialiang , Yan Tengfei , Niu Binghui , Li Ying , Zhang Xinhui 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBy employing ultrafast transient reflection measurements based on two-color pump-probe spectroscopy, the population and valley polarization dynamics of trions in monolayer MoSe2 were investigated at relatively high excitation densities under near-resonant excitation. Both the nonlinear dynamic photobleaching of the trion resonance and the redshift of the exciton resonance were found to be responsible for the excitation-energy- and density-dependent transient reflection change as a result of many-body interactions. Furthermore, from the polarization-resolved measurements, it was revealed that the initial fast population and polarization decay process upon strong photoexcitation observed for trions was determined by trion formation, transient phase-space filling and the short valley lifetime of excitons. The results provide a basic understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of population and valley depolarization of trions, as well as exciton-trion correlation in atomically thin MoSe2 and other transition metal dichalcogenide materials.