bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Administration of Lactobacillus salivarius LI01 or Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05 prevents CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis by protecting the intestinal barrier in rats
Authors: Shi Ding , Lv Longxian , Fang Daiqiong , Wu Wenrui , Hu Chenxia , Xu Lichen , Chen Yanfei , Guo Jing , Hu Xinjun , Li Ang , Guo Feifei , Ye Jianzhong , Li Yating , Andayani Dewi , Li Lanjuan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlterations in the gut microbiome have been reported in liver cirrhosis, and probiotic interventions are considered a potential treatment strategy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of Lactobacillus salivarius LI01, Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI and Bacillus licheniformis Zhengchangsheng on CCl4-induced cirrhotic rats. Only administration of LI01 or LI05 prevented liver fibrosis and down-regulated the hepatic expression of profibrogenic genes. Serum endotoxins, bacterial translocations (BTs), and destruction of intestinal mucosal ultrastructure were reduced in rats treated with LI01 or LI05, indicating maintenance of the gut barrier as a mechanism; this was further confirmed by the reduction of not only hepatic inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17A, but also hepatic TLR2, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR9. Metagenomic sequencing of 16S rRNA gene showed an increase in potential beneficial bacteria, such as Elusimicrobium and Prevotella, and a decrease in pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia. These alterations in gut microbiome were correlated with profibrogenic genes, gut barrier markers and inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, L. salivarius LI01 and P. pentosaceus LI05 attenuated liver fibrosis by protecting the intestinal barrier and promoting microbiome health. These results suggest novel strategies for the prevention of liver cirrhosis.
Broadband tunable integrated CMOS pulser with 80-ps minimum pulse width for gain-switched semiconductor lasers
Authors: Chen Shaoqiang , Diao Shengxi , Li Pengtao , Nakamura Takahiro , Yoshita Masahiro , Weng Guoen , Hu Xiaobo , Shi Yanling , Liu Yiqing , Akiyama Hidefumi 
Published: July 2017

AbstractHigh power pulsed lasers with tunable pulse widths are highly favored in many applications. When combined with power amplification, gain-switched semiconductor lasers driven by broadband tunable electric pulsers can meet such requirements. For this reason, we designed and produced a low-cost integrated CMOS pulse generator with a minimum pulse width of 80 ps and a wide tuning range of up to 270 ns using a 40-nm microelectronic process technique. We used this pulser to drive a 1.3-µm semiconductor laser diode directly, and thereafter investigated the gain-switching properties of the laser system. The optical pulses consist of a spike followed by a steady state region. Tuning the width of the electrical pulse down to approximately 1.5 ns produces optical pulses consisting only of the spike, which has a minimum pulse-width of 100 ps. Moreover, the duration of the steady state can be tuned continuously by tuning the electrical pulse width, with a peak power of approximately 5 mW. The output voltage of the electric pulser has a tuning range of 0.8–1.5 V that can be used to directly drive semiconductor laser diodes with wavelengths in the near-infrared spectrum, which are suitable for power amplification with rare-earth doped fiber amplifiers.
Substrate and Fano Resonance Effects on the Reversal of Optical Binding Force between Plasmonic Cube Dimers
Authors: Mahdy M. R. C. , Zhang Tianhang , Danesh Md. , Ding Weiqiang 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe behavior of Fano resonance and the reversal of near field optical binding force of dimers over different substrates have not been studied so far. Notably, for particle clustering and aggregation, controlling the near filed binding force can be a key factor. In this work, we observe that if the closely located plasmonic cube homodimers over glass or high permittivity dielectric substrate are illuminated with plane wave, no reversal of lateral optical binding force occurs. But if we apply the same set-up over a plasmonic substrate, stable Fano resonance occurs along with the reversal of near field lateral binding force. It is observed that during such Fano resonance, stronger coupling occurs between the dimers and plasmonic substrate along with the strong enhancement of the substrate current. Such binding force reversals of plasmonic cube dimers have been explained based on the observed unusual behavior of optical Lorentz force during the induced stronger Fano resonance and the dipole-dipole resonance. Although previously reported reversals of near field optical binding forces were highly sensitive to particle size/shape (i.e. for heterodimers) and inter-particle distance, our configuration provides much relaxation of those parameters and hence could be verified experimentally with simpler experimental set-ups.
Sustained and Cost Effective Silver Substrate for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based Biosensing
Authors: Ju Jian , Liu Wei , Perlaki Clint Michael , Chen Keren , Feng Chunhua , Liu Quan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWhile surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based biosensing has demonstrated great potential for point-of-care diagnostics in the laboratory, its application in the field is limited by the short life time of commonly used silver based SERS active substrates. In this work, we report our attempt towards SERS based field biosensing, involving the development of a novel sustained and cost-effective substrate composed of silver nanoparticles protected by small nitrogen-doped Graphene Quantum Dots, i.e. Ag NP@N-GQD, and its systematic evaluation for glucose sensing. The new substrate demonstrated significantly stronger Raman enhancement compared to pure silver nanoparticles. More importantly, the new substrate preserved SERS performance in a normal indoor environment for at least 30 days in both the wet and dry states, in contrast to only 10 days for pure silver nanoparticles. The Ag NP@N-GQD thin film in the dry state was then successfully applied as a SERS substrate for glucose detection in mouse blood samples. The new substrate was synthesized under mild experimental conditions, and the cost increase due to N-GQD was negligible. These results suggest that the Ag NP@N-GQD is a cost-effective and sustained SERS substrate, the development of which represents an important step towards SERS based field biosensing.
Prediction of aboveground grassland biomass on the Loess Plateau, China, using a random forest algorithm
Authors: Wang Yinyin , Wu Gaolin , Deng Lei , Tang Zhuangsheng , Wang Kaibo , Sun Wenyi , Shangguan Zhouping 
Published: July 2017

AbstractGrasslands are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems that play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and climate change. In this study, we collected aboveground biomass (AGB) data from 223 grassland quadrats distributed across the Loess Plateau from 2011 to 2013 and predicted the spatial distribution of the grassland AGB at a 100-m resolution from both meteorological station and remote sensing data (TM and MODIS) using a Random Forest (RF) algorithm. The results showed that the predicted grassland AGB on the Loess Plateau decreased from east to west. Vegetation indexes were positively correlated with grassland AGB, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) acquired from TM data was the most important predictive factor. Tussock and shrub tussock had the highest AGB, and desert steppe had the lowest. Rainfall higher than 400 m might have benefitted the grassland AGB. Compared with those obtained for the bagging, mboost and the support vector machine (SVM) models, higher values for the mean Pearson coefficient (R) and the symmetric index of agreement (λ) were obtained for the RF model, indicating that this RF model could reasonably estimate the grassland AGB (65.01%) on the Loess Plateau.
Single genetic locus improvement of iron, zinc and β-carotene content in rice grains
Authors: Singh Simrat Pal , Gruissem Wilhelm , Bhullar Navreet K. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractNearly half of the world’s population obtains its daily calories from rice grains, which lack or have insufficient levels of essential micronutrients. The deficiency of micronutrients vital for normal growth is a global health problem, and iron, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies are the most prevalent ones. We developed rice lines expressing Arabidopsis NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE 1 (AtNAS1), bean FERRITIN (PvFERRITIN), bacterial CAROTENE DESATURASE (CRTI) and maize PHYTOENE SYNTHASE (ZmPSY) in a single genetic locus in order to increase iron, zinc and β-carotene content in the rice endosperm. NAS catalyzes the synthesis of nicotianamine (NA), which is a precursor of deoxymugeneic acid (DMA) iron and zinc chelators, and also chelate iron and zinc for long distance transport. FERRITIN provides efficient storage of up to 4500 iron ions. PSY catalyzes the conversion of GGDP to phytoene, and CRTI performs the function of desaturases required for the synthesis of β-carotene from phytoene. All transgenic rice lines have significantly increased β-carotene, iron, and zinc content in the polished rice grains. Our results establish a proof-of-concept for multi-nutrient enrichment of rice grains from a single genetic locus, thus offering a sustainable and effective approach to address different micronutrient deficiencies at once.
Non-labeling multiphoton excitation microscopy as a novel diagnostic tool for discriminating normal tissue and colorectal cancer lesions
Authors: Matsui Takahiro , Mizuno Hiroki , Sudo Takao , Kikuta Junichi , Haraguchi Naotsugu , Ikeda Jun-ichiro , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Yamamoto Hirofumi , Morii Eiichi , Mori Masaki , Ishii Masaru 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMultiphoton excitation microscopy (MPM) is regarded as an effective tool that enables the visualization of deep regions within living tissues and organs, with little damage. Here, we report novel non-labeling MPM (NL-MPM) imaging of fresh human colorectal mucosa, which is useful for discriminating cancer lesions from normal tissues quantitatively without any need for resection, fixation, or staining. Using NL-MPM, we visualized three components in human colorectal mucosa, epithelial cells, immune cells, and basement membranes, based on their characteristic patterns of fluorescence. These patterns are characterized by the different auto-fluorescence properties of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and flavin adenine dinucleotide and from second harmonic generation (SHG). NL-MPM images were at least as informative to pathologists as were ‘conventional’ images of fixed tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Additionally, two quantitative parameters extracted from NL-MPM images – the nucleus diameter (index N) and the intensity of SHG in the basement membrane (index S) – rendered it possible to diagnose cancer regions effectively. In conclusion, NL-MPM is a novel, promising method for real-time clinical diagnosis of colorectal cancers, and is associated with minimal invasiveness.
Improving cartilage phenotype from differentiated pericytes in tunable peptide hydrogels
Authors: Alakpa Enateri V. , Jayawarna Vineetha , Burgess Karl E. V. , West Christopher C. , Péault Bruno , Ulijn Rein V. , Dalby Matthew J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractDifferentiation of stem cells to chondrocytes in vitro usually results in a heterogeneous phenotype. This is evident in the often detected over expression of type X collagen which, in hyaline cartilage structure is not characteristic of the mid-zone but of the deep-zone ossifying tissue. Methods to better match cartilage developed in vitro to characteristic in vivo features are therefore highly desirable in regenerative medicine. This study compares phenotype characteristics between pericytes, obtained from human adipose tissue, differentiated using diphenylalanine/serine (F2/S) peptide hydrogels with the more widely used chemical induced method for chondrogenesis. Significantly higher levels of type II collagen were noted when pericytes undergo chondrogenesis in the hydrogel in the absence of induction media. There is also a balanced expression of collagen relative to aggrecan production, a feature which was biased toward collagen production when cells were cultured with induction media. Lastly, metabolic profiles of each system show considerable overlap between both differentiation methods but subtle differences which potentially give rise to their resultant phenotype can be ascertained. The study highlights how material and chemical alterations in the cellular microenvironment have wide ranging effects on resultant tissue type.
Wetland salinity induces sex-dependent carry-over effects on the individual performance of a long-distance migrant
Authors: Masero José A. , Abad-Gómez José M. , Gutiérrez Jorge S. , Santiago-Quesada Francisco , Senner Nathan R. , Sánchez-Guzmán Juan M. , Piersma Theunis , Schroeder Julia , Amat Juan A. , Villegas Auxiliadora 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSalinization is having a major impact on wetlands and its biota worldwide. Specifically, many migratory animals that rely on wetlands are increasingly exposed to elevated salinity on their nonbreeding grounds. Experimental evidence suggests that physiological challenges associated with increasing salinity may disrupt self-maintenance processes in these species. Nonetheless, the potential role of salinity as a driver of ecological carry-over effects remains unstudied. Here, we investigated the extent to which the use of saline wetlands during winter – inferred from feather stable isotope values – induces residual effects that carry over and influence physiological traits relevant to fitness in black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa limosa on their northward migration. Overwintering males and females were segregated by wetland salinity in West Africa, with females mostly occupying freshwater wetlands. The use of these wetlands along a gradient of salinities was associated with differences in immune responsiveness to phytohaemagglutinin and sized-corrected body mass in godwits staging in southern Europe during northward migration – 3,000 km from the nonbreeding grounds – but in males only. These findings provide a window onto the processes by which wetland salinity can induce carry-over effects and can help predict how migratory species should respond to future climate-induced increases in salinity.
Dirac Magnon Nodal Loops in Quasi-2D Quantum Magnets
Authors: Owerre S. A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn this report, we propose a new concept of one-dimensional (1D) closed lines of Dirac magnon nodes in two-dimensional (2D) momentum space of quasi-2D quantum magnetic systems. They are termed “2D Dirac magnon nodal-line loops”. We utilize the bilayer honeycomb ferromagnets with intralayer coupling J and interlayer coupling J
L
, which is realizable in the honeycomb chromium compounds CrX3 (X ≡ Br, Cl, and I). However, our results can also exist in other layered quasi-2D quantum magnetic systems. Here, we show that the magnon bands of the bilayer honeycomb ferromagnets overlap for J
L
≠ 0 and form 1D closed lines of Dirac magnon nodes in 2D momentum space. The 2D Dirac magnon nodal-line loops are topologically protected by inversion and time-reversal symmetry. Furthermore, we show that they are robust against weak Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction Δ
DM
< J
L
and possess chiral magnon edge modes.
Evidence for Treatment-by-Biomarker interaction for FDA-approved Oncology Drugs with Required Pharmacogenomic Biomarker Testing
Authors: Vivot Alexandre , Boutron Isabelle , Béraud-Chaulet Geoffroy , Zeitoun Jean-David , Ravaud Philippe , Porcher Raphaël 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFor oncology drugs that were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and required pharmacogenomic biomarker testing, we describe 1) the use of enrichment (biomarker-positive patients) and a randomized controlled design by pre-approval trials and 2) the treatment-by-biomarker interaction. From the 137 drugs included in the FDA table, we selected the 22 oncology drugs with required genetic testing in their labels. These drugs corresponded to 35 approvals supported by 80 clinical studies included in the FDA medical officer reviews of efficacy. For two thirds of approvals (24/35, 69%), all clinical studies were restricted to biomarker-positive patients (enriched). Among the 11 remaining approvals with at least one non-enriched trial, for five approvals, the non-enriched studies were non-randomized. The treatment-by-biomarker interaction was statistically significant for three approvals and missing for two. Among the six approvals with a non-enriched randomized controlled trial, three featured a statistically significant treatment-by-biomarker interaction (p < 0.10), for an enhanced treatment effect in the biomarker-positive subgroup. For two thirds of FDA approvals of anticancer agents, the requirement for predictive biomarker testing was based on clinical development restricted to biomarker-positive patients. We found only few cases with clinical evidence that biomarker-negative patients would not benefit from treatment.
Chronic exposures to fungicide pyrimethanil: multi-organ effects on Italian tree frog (Hyla intermedia)
Authors: Bernabò Ilaria , Guardia Antonello , Macirella Rachele , Tripepi Sandro , Brunelli Elvira 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAmphibian habitats are easily contaminated by several pollutants, and in agricultural landscapes the likely exposure scenario is represented by pesticides. Many of these substances are known or suspected to act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of pyrimethanil, a common-used but also overlooked fungicide, on liver, kidney and gonadal differentiation of Hyla intermedia. Through a multi-organ evaluation, we demonstrated that a long term exposure to two environmentally relevant concentrations of pyrimethanil (5 and 50 µg/L) elicits a range of toxic responses. First we showed that pyrimethanil induces underdevelopment of ovaries and interferes with normal sexual differentiation, thus revealing the endocrine disruption potential of this fungicide. Moreover we revealed that all considered organs are seriously affected by this fungicide and both necrosis and apoptosis contribute to the histological response. This is the first report on the effects of pyrimethanil on gonads, liver and kidney histology of a non-model species and it demonstrates that the hazardous properties of this fungicide can result from several pathological processes affecting different key compartments of amphibian.
Phaeocystis globosa Virus DNA Polymerase X: a “Swiss Army knife”, Multifunctional DNA polymerase-lyase-ligase for Base Excision Repair
Authors: Fernández-García José L. , de Ory Ana , Brussaard Corina P. D. , de Vega Miguel 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPhaeocystis globosa virus 16T is a giant virus that belongs to the so-called nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA virus (NCLDV) group. Its linear dsDNA genome contains an almost full complement of genes required to participate in viral base excision repair (BER). Among them is a gene coding for a bimodular protein consisting of an N-terminal Polβ-like core fused to a C-terminal domain (PgVPolX), which shows homology with NAD+-dependent DNA ligases. Analysis of the biochemical features of the purified enzyme revealed that PgVPolX is a multifunctional protein that could act as a “Swiss army knife” enzyme during BER since it is endowed with: 1) a template-directed DNA polymerization activity, preferentially acting on DNA structures containing gaps; 2) 5′-deoxyribose-5-phosphate (dRP) and abasic (AP) site lyase activities; and 3) an NAD+-dependent DNA ligase activity. We show how the three activities act in concert to efficiently repair BER intermediates, leading us to suggest that PgVPolX may constitute, together with the viral AP-endonuclease, a BER pathway. This is the first time that this type of protein fusion has been demonstrated to be functional.
Internet of animals: characterisation of LoRa sub‐GHz off‐body wireless channel in dairy barns
Authors: Benaissa S. , Plets D. , Tanghe E. , Trogh J. , Martens L. , Vandaele L. , Verloock L. , Tuyttens F.A.M. , Sonck B. , Joseph W. 
Published: July 2017

Advances in wireless sensor technologies and MEMS have made it possible to automatically monitor the health status of dairy cows using Internet of things (IoT) and wireless body area networks. Since on‐cow measuring devices are energy constrained, a proper characterisation of the off‐body wireless channel between the on‐cow sensor nodes and the back‐end base station is required for an optimised deployment of these networks in barns. In this Letter, the long range (LoRa) off‐body wireless channel has been characterised at 868 MHz, a typical IoT frequency. Both path loss and temporal fading were investigated using LoRa motes. Based on this characterisation, network planning and energy consumption optimisation of the on‐body nodes could be performed, which enables the deployment of reliable dairy cow monitoring systems.
Complex Frontal Pneumosinus Dilatans Associated with Meningioma: A Report of Two Cases and Associated Literature Review
Authors: Timms Sara , Lakhani Raj , Connor Steve , Hopkins Claire 
Published: July 2017

Introduction Pneumosinus dilatans (PSD) is a rare phenomenon involving the expansion of the paranasal sinuses, without bony destruction or a mass. Previously documented cases have demonstrated simple expansion of a solitary air cell. We present two unique cases of PSD in the presence of meningioma, in which complex new cells developed within the frontal sinus. One of the two patients developed associated sinus disease.
Case 1 A 28-year-old man presented with facial pain. A computed tomography scan showed an abnormally enlarged, septated right frontal sinus, not present on childhood scans. He underwent a modified endoscopic Lothrop approach to divide the septations, and his symptoms resolved.
Case 2 A 72-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of headaches. Scans revealed a left frontal meningioma and multiple enlarged, dilated left frontal air cells. She had no clinical sinusitis and therefore was managed conservatively.
Conclusions PSD has been widely documented in association with fibrous dysplasia and meningioma. The most prevalent theory of the mechanism of PSD is of obstruction of the sinus ostium causing sinus expansion through a “ball-valve” effect. Our cases, which demonstrate septated PSD, suggest a more complex process involving local mediators and highlight the need to consider underlying meningioma in pneumosinus dilatans.