bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poly-L-ornithine enhances migration of neural stem/progenitor cells via promoting α-Actinin 4 binding to actin filaments
Authors: Ge Hongfei , Yu Anyong , Chen Jingyu , Yuan Jichao , Yin Yi , Duanmu Wangsheng , Tan Liang , Yang Yang , Lan Chuan , Chen Weixiang , Feng Hua , Hu Rong 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe recruitment of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) for brain restoration after injury is a promising regenerative therapeutic strategy. This strategy involves enhancing proliferation, migration and neuronal differentation of NSPCs. To date, the lack of biomaterials, which facilitate these processes to enhance neural regeneration, is an obstacle for the cell replacement therapies. Our previous study has shown that NSPCs grown on poly-L-ornithine (PO) could proliferate more vigorously and differentiate into more neurons than that on Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) and Fibronectin (FN). Here, we demonstrate that PO could promote migration of NSPCs in vitro, and the underlying mechanism is PO activates α-Actinins 4 (ACTN4), which is firstly certified to be expessed in NSPCs, to promote filopodia formation and therefore enhances NSPCs migration. Taken together, PO might serve as a better candidate for transplanted biomaterials in the regenerative therapeutic strategy, compared with PLL and FN.
Urea, a true uremic toxin: the empire strikes back
Authors: Lau Wei Ling , Vaziri Nosratola D. 
Published: November 2016

Blood levels of urea rise with progressive decline in kidney function. Older studies examining acute urea infusion suggested that urea was well-tolerated at levels 8–10× above normal values. More recent in vitro and in vivo work argue the opposite and demonstrate both direct and indirect toxicities of urea, which probably promote the premature aging phenotype that is pervasive in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Elevated urea at concentrations typically encountered in uremic patients induces disintegration of the gut epithelial barrier, leading to translocation of bacterial toxins into the bloodstream and systemic inflammation. Urea induces apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells as well as endothelial dysfunction, thus directly promoting cardiovascular disease. Further, urea stimulates oxidative stress and dysfunction in adipocytes, leading to insulin resistance. Finally, there are widespread indirect effects of elevated urea as a result of the carbamylation reaction, where isocyanic acid (a product of urea catabolism) alters the structure and function of proteins in the body. Carbamylation has been linked with renal fibrosis, atherosclerosis and anaemia. In summary, urea is a re-emerging Dark Force in CKD pathophysiology. Trials examining low protein diet to minimize accumulation of urea and other toxins suggest a clinical benefit in terms of slowing progression of CKD.
Double Crush Syndrome of the Median Nerve: A Literature Review
Authors: Magalhães Marcelo , Correia Alice , da Cruz Emannuelly , Santos Fernanda , Filho José , Lourdes Lorena , Ferreira Luísa , de Quadros Synara 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDouble crush syndrome (DCS) is defined as the compressive involvement of the same peripheral nerve in different segments. When this syndrome affects the median nerve, a proximal compression of a spinal nerve that will constitute this structure (often the spinal nerve at the C6 vertebra) is usually noted at the cervical spine level as a herniated disc and as a distal compression at the level of the carpal tunnel. Epidemiological data on median nerve compromise by DCS are still very scarce in the medical literature. The diagnosis can be inferred by symptoms and signs occurring proximally and distally in the arm, as well as by alterations revealed by upper limb electromyography and neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine. Nowadays, information on which compressed neuroanatomical point should be initially addressed still depends on further studies. Limited data infer that these patients, when submitted to surgical treatment in only one of the median nerve compression points, evolve with worse functional outcomes than the surgically-treated group with carpal tunnel syndrome without DCS.
Atomistic insight into lipid translocation by a TMEM16 scramblase
Authors: Bethel Neville P. , Grabe Michael 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Lipid scramblases play critical roles in diverse biological events, from cellular apoptosis to coagulation of the blood. The transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family of membrane proteins consists of both ion channels and scramblases, but little is known about how these proteins conduct ions or lipids across the bilayer. Here, we present computational results on a fungal TMEM16 family member that provide insight into how scramblases deform the membrane to facilitate lipid permeation. We identified specific residues on the protein surface that are responsible for scrambling, and homologous positions in the mammalian TMEM16 family members may be promising pharmaceutical targets.
Exon skipping of FcεRIβ eliminates expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor in mast cells with therapeutic potential for allergy
Authors: Cruse Glenn , Yin Yuzhi , Fukuyama Tomoki , Desai Avanti , Arthur Greer K. , Bäumer Wolfgang , Beaven Michael A. , Metcalfe Dean D. 
Published: November 2016

Significance
We identified an innovative use for the technique of antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping to specifically target and down-regulate IgE receptor expression in mast cells. Exon skipping is typically used as part of personalized medicine, where a mutant exon is skipped after sequencing the patients’ affected genes. Our approach, however, targets a nonmutated gene and an exon that is critical for surface IgE receptor expression. It does not require a personalized approach with genetic sequencing or multiple iterations of oligonucleotides that would require clinical trials. Furthermore, the diseases to be treated with this technology are ideal for local delivery of the oligonucleotides by aerosols or topical cream formulations.
Molecular basis for the broad substrate selectivity of a peptide prenyltransferase
Authors: Hao Yue , Pierce Elizabeth , Roe Daniel , Morita Maho , McIntosh John A. , Agarwal Vinayak , Cheatham Thomas E. , Schmidt Eric W. , Nair Satish K. 
Published: November 2016

Significance
The cyanobactin prenyltransferases serve as a tool kit for regioselective and chemoselective peptide and protein modifications, in which each enzyme can catalyze the same chemistry on an enormous number of different substrates. Installation of a minimal motif is sufficient to direct modifications on any peptide substrate, which can alter their properties to be more drug-like.
High-pressure phase of brucite stable at Earth’s mantle transition zone and lower mantle conditions
Authors: Hermann Andreas , Mookherjee Mainak 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Hydrous minerals help transport water deep into Earth’s mantle, and form part of a cycle that regulates the sustained presence of surface water on Earth. To understand the deep-water cycle, it is crucial to study the properties of hydrous minerals under the conditions present in Earth’s mantle. Brucite is one of the simplest hydrous minerals and stores significant amounts of water as hydroxyl groups. It is assumed to decompose in the mantle transition zone, but we show here that a more compact high-pressure phase is stabilized instead that pushes the stability region of brucite into the lower mantle. Brucite might be present in much larger quantities, and play a larger role in water transport and storage, than previously thought.
Linguistic positivity in historical texts reflects dynamic environmental and psychological factors
Authors: Iliev Rumen , Hoover Joe , Dehghani Morteza , Axelrod Robert 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceFor nearly 50 y social scientists have observed that across cultures and languages people use more positive words than negative words, a phenomenon referred to as “linguistic positivity bias” (LPB). Although scientists have proposed multiple explanations for this phenomenon—explanations that hinge on mechanisms ranging from cognitive biases to environmental factors—no consensus on the origins of LPB has been reached. In this research, we derive and test, via natural language processing and data aggregation, divergent predictions from dominant explanations of LPB by examining it across time. We find that LPB varies across time and therefore cannot be explained simply as the product of cognitive biases and, further, that these variations correspond to fluctuations in objective circumstances and subjective mood.
An oligotrophic deep-subsurface community dependent on syntrophy is dominated by sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrifiers
Authors: Lau Maggie C. Y. , Kieft Thomas L. , Kuloyo Olukayode , Linage-Alvarez Borja , van Heerden Esta , Lindsay Melody R. , Magnabosco Cara , Wang Wei , Wiggins Jessica B. , Guo Ling , Perlman David H. , Kyin Saw , Shwe Henry H. , Harris Rachel L. , Oh Youmi , Yi Min Joo , Purtschert Roland , Slater Greg F. , Ono Shuhei , Wei Siwen , Li Long , Sherwood Lollar Barbara , Onstott Tullis C. 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Microorganisms are known to live in the deep subsurface, kilometers below the photic zone, but the community-wide metabolic networks and trophic structures (the organization of their energy and nutritional hierarchy) remain poorly understood. We show that an active subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystem (SLiME) under oligotrophic condition exists. Taxonomically and metabolically diverse microorganisms are supported, with sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrifiers predominating in the community. Denitrification is a highly active process in the deep subsurface that evaded recognition in the past. This study highlights the critical role of metabolic cooperation, via syntrophy between subsurface microbial groups, for the survival of the whole community under the oligotrophic conditions that dominate in the subsurface.
Role of the receptor Mas in macrophage-mediated inflammation in vivo
Authors: Hammer Anna , Yang Guang , Friedrich Juliane , Kovacs Agnes , Lee De-Hyung , Grave Katharina , Jörg Stefanie , Alenina Natalia , Grosch Janina , Winkler Jürgen , Gold Ralf , Bader Michael , Manzel Arndt , Rump Lars C. , Müller Dominik N. , Linker Ralf A. , Stegbauer Johannes 
Published: November 2016

Significance
The alternative renin–angiotensin system pathway, the angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7)/Mas axis, may counterbalance Ang II-mediated proinflammatory effects. To investigate the role of the Ang-(1–7)/Mas axis in immune cell function and inflammatory diseases in vivo, we used two different chronic inflammatory animal models. Deletion of Mas affects macrophage function and phenotype independently of the underlying phagocyte stimulus and aggravates the clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as well as atherosclerosis in mice by tipping the in vivo balance from M(IL-4+IL-13)- to M(LPS+IFNγ)-like macrophages. Thus, modulation of the Ang-(1–7)/Mas axis counteracts the proinflammatory role of Ang II by regulating the delicate equilibrium between M(LPS+IFNγ)- and M(IL-4+IL-13)-like macrophages, thereby representing a promising pharmacological target for chronic inflammatory diseases.
MIFallele-dependent regulation of the MIF coreceptor CD44 and role in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yoo Seung-Ah , Leng Lin , Kim Bum-Joon , Du Xin , Tilstam Pathricia V. , Kim Kyung Hee , Kong Jin-Sun , Yoon Hyung-Ju , Liu Aihua , Wang Tian , Song Yan , Sauler Maor , Bernhagen Jurgen , Ritchlin Christopher T. , Lee Patty , Cho Chul-Soo , Kim Wan-Uk , Bucala Richard 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceHigh-expression alleles of the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are associated with severe joint destruction in autoimmune arthritis, but the mechanism for this effect is unknown. High-genotypicMIF-expressing joint fibroblasts produce high levels of MIF under inflammatory stimulation to up-regulate the surface expression of the MIF signaling coreceptor CD44 and promote its alternative splicing into invasive, tumor-associated isoforms, which contribute to the invasive and tissue-destructive character of the rheumatoid joint synovium. These findings support a precision medicine approach to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by pharmacologically targeting the MIF pathway in high-genotypicMIF-expressing patients.
Disparities in influenza mortality and transmission related to sociodemographic factors within Chicago in the pandemic of 1918
Authors: Grantz Kyra H. , Rane Madhura S. , Salje Henrik , Glass Gregory E. , Schachterle Stephen E. , Cummings Derek A. T. 
Published: November 2016

Significance
The pervasiveness of influenza among humans and its rapid spread during pandemics create a false sense that all humans are affected equally. In this work, we show that neighborhood-level social determinants were associated with greater burdens of pandemic influenza in 1918 and several other diseases in a major US city. We show that literacy, homeownership, and unemployment were associated with cumulative influenza mortality as well as measures of the speed of transmission using a unique dataset describing the home location and week of death of individuals who died during the influenza pandemic in 1918. Our results suggest that, similar to other infectious diseases, social disparities should be a focus of research and public health response in future pandemics.
Fibrous nonlinear elasticity enables positive mechanical feedback between cells and ECMs
Authors: Hall Matthew S. , Alisafaei Farid , Ban Ehsan , Feng Xinzeng , Hui Chung-Yuen , Shenoy Vivek B. , Wu Mingming 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceMechanical interactions between cells and the ECM critically regulate cell function, including growth and migration. By measuring forces exerted by breast tumor cells embedded within collagen matrices, we reveal a positive mechanical cross-talk between the cell and ECM: cells pulling onto collagen fibers align and stiffen the matrices, and stiffer collagen matrices promote greater cell force generation. Our work highlights the importance of strain-induced fiber alignment in mediating cell–ECM interaction within a 3D architecture. The basic force regulation principle uncovered here can be extended to understand the tissue-stiffening processes occurring in many diseases, such as tumor progression and fibrosis, and better design biomaterial scaffolds to control cell behavior in tissue engineering applications.
Emergence of an abstract categorical code enabling the discrimination of temporally structured tactile stimuli
Authors: Rossi-Pool Román , Salinas Emilio , Zainos Antonio , Alvarez Manuel , Vergara José , Parga Néstor , Romo Ranulfo 
Published: November 2016

Significance
What are the neural codes that allow the discrimination of two vibrotactile stimulus patterns of equal mean frequency? We recorded single-neuron activity in primary somatosensory (S1) and dorsal premotor (DPC) cortex while trained monkeys performed a challenging pattern discrimination task. We found a faithful representation of the stimuli in S1 and a heavily transformed, more abstract, and highly varied set of responses in DPC. Most notably, in addition to memory-related activity and responses encoding the monkeys’ choices, the DPC data included a large set of categorical neurons that code specific combinations of past and present stimuli and, at the same time, are strongly predictive of the monkeys’ behavior.
Gender differences in enumerative series
Authors: Peña Ester Brenes 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
The ‘dominance approach’ (Jespersen 1922, Lakoff 1973, 1975) has associated female discourse with mitigation and politeness, two characteristics not suitable for political discourse. The aim of this chapter is to analyse the enumerative series, a linguistic resource that is characterised by its intensifying action, in 40 oral questions of the Andalusian Parliament. Qualitative and quantitative analyses have been performed to determine whether there is any difference between men and women in their use of the enumerative series and to identify the formal aspects characteristic of the enumerative series. The results obtained indicate that the enumerative series is mainly used by male interlocutors, although there is not a marked difference.
Lexical colloquialisation in commissions of the Andalusian Parliament
Authors: González Sanz Marina 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Through the analysis of parliamentary interventions in the Andalusian Parliament, it is shown how politicians use lexical colloquial features. We assume that there is an expansion of the colloquial employ of the Spanish language, which also reaches formal discursive types such as the parliamentary interaction. To try to confirm this claim, we work with a corpus of 4 commissions in the Andalusian Parliament, focusing on lexical features. We apply both a quantitative and a qualitative approach to prove that, generally speaking, parliamentarians often use colloquial lexical features. Basing on the gender parameter, we show that there is no relevant difference. Finally, we focus on the causes of this tendency, by addressing the interface of media and political discourse.
Time, gender and parliamentary discourse
Authors: Bañón Hernández Antonio M. , Arcos Urrutia Juan Manuel , Requena Romero Samantha 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
The main objective of this chapter is to show the importance of politicians’ time management and its relation to gender. We focus on how men and women manage time through pauses and speech rate. The idea of rhythmic pattern has already been studied (Bañón, Arcos and Requena 2012), and pausative pattern has been discussed in relation to the electoral political debate.
Our hypothesis is that women and men in positions of responsibility in the Andalusian Parliament handle time management differently, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Therefore, we analysed the interventions of several regional ministers of the Andalusian Government to study whether pauses, length and speed of MPs’ speeches have a strategic persuasive or argumentative value.
The semantic motivation of non-canonical predicative relations
Authors: Larjavaara Meri 
Published: November 2016

The paper discusses the semantic motivation behind the non-standard transitive usage of verbs in contemporary French. An example would be the following: On m’a démissionné hier (‘they fired me yesterday’). In the normative language variety, démissionner is used only in the intransitive construction as in J’ai démissionné (‘I gave in my notice’). The non-canonicity of the predicative relations discussed is of a lexical nature: the verbs in question do not normally appear in the transitive construction. Nevertheless the transitive construction itself belongs to the constructions in frequent use in French, and the novel usage of the verbs can be easily understood.
Speakers use the verbs transitively despite the lack of canonicity of this usage, and the paper proposes a semantic explanation for this: the syntactic choice is semantically motivated. The transitive construction carries in itself – despite its frequency – a semantics that the speaker wants to make use of.
The study takes advantage of the Construction Grammar approach.
The paper starts by presenting definitions of semantic transitivity in a functional, typological perspective (G. Lazard 1994; S. Kittilä 2002; Å. Næss 2007). Then it goes through different cases where a pair of a transitive construction and a non-transitive (oblique) construction can be attested (penser (à), toucher (à), effected objects and others). Many of the examples are from the web where non-normative usage flourishes. The two constructions are compared and it is claimed that more transitive semantic features can be found in the transitive constructions.
Other factors possibly relevant here are also briefly discussed: iconic motivation, semantic generalization in a particular technolect.
The paper shows that the French transitive construction indeed has a semantics and that these novel usages can thus be semantically motivated.
CASTOR3D: linear stability studies for 2D and 3D tokamak equilibria
Authors: Strumberger E. , Günter S. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
The CASTOR3D code, which is currently under development, is able to perform linear stability studies for 2D and 3D, ideal and resistive tokamak equilibria in the presence of ideal and resistive wall structures and coils. For these computations ideal equilibria represented by concentric nested flux surfaces serve as input (e.g. computed with the NEMEC code). Solving an extended eigenvalue problem, the CASTOR3D code takes simultaneously plasma inertia and wall resistivity into account. The code is a hybrid of the CASTOR_3DW stability code and the STARWALL code. The former is an extended version of the CASTOR and CASTOR_FLOW code, respectively. The latter is a linear 3D code computing the growth rates of resistive wall modes in the presence of multiply-connected wall structures. The CASTOR_3DW code, and some parts of the STARWALL code have been reformulated in a general 3D flux coordinate representation that allows to choose between various types of flux coordinates. Furthermore, the implemented many-valued current potentials in the STARWALL part allow a correct treatment of the m  =  0, n  =  0 perturbation. In this paper, we outline the theoretical concept, and present some numerical results which illustrate the present status of the code and demonstrate its numerous application possibilities.
Frequency of Viremic Episodes in HIV-Infected Women Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy During Pregnancy: A Cohort Study
Authors: Myer Landon , Dunning Lorna , Lesosky Maia , Hsiao Nei-Yuan , Phillips Tamsin , Petro Greg , Zerbe Allison , McIntyre James A. , Abrams Elaine J. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract

Background.
The numbers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnancy are increasing rapidly with global policy changes. There are widespread concerns about ART adherence during pregnancy and postpartum but few data on viral suppression (VS) over time in these populations.

Methods.
We followed a cohort of 523 women in Cape Town, South Africa, initiating ART in pregnancy (once-daily tenofovir 300 mg, emtricitabine 200 mg, and efavirenz 600 mg) and achieving VS (&lt;50 copies/mL). Participants provided specimens through 12 months postpartum for batched viral load (VL) testing separate from routine care. Analyses described the incidence of major (&gt;1000 copies/mL) and minor (50–1000 copies/mL) viremic episodes (VEs) and factors associated with major VEs.

Results.
In the cohort (median age, 28 years; median pre-ART VL, 3.99 copies/mL; 3% previously defaulted ART; 24% with previous exposure to short-course antiretrovirals), the median time of follow-up from VS was 322 days. Overall, 70% maintained VS throughout follow-up, 8% experienced minor VEs only, and at least 1 major VE was documented in 22% of women. In women with VEs, peak viremia (median, 3.79 log10 copies/mL) was linearly related to pre-ART VL. The incidence of major VEs after initial VS was independently associated with younger age, ART initiation during the third trimester, previous defaulting on ART, and postpartum follow-up.

Conclusions.
Viremia appears to occur frequently, particularly postpartum, among HIV-infected women after initial VS in this setting. More intensive VL monitoring is warranted in this population; the immediate causes and long-term implications of VE require investigation.