bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential Expression of miR-93 and miR-21 in Granulosa Cells and Follicular Fluid of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Associating with Different Phenotypes
Authors: Naji Mohammad , Aleyasin Ashraf , Nekoonam Saeid , Arefian Ehsan , Mahdian Reza , Amidi Fardin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe heterogeneous and multifactorial essence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) renders a remarkable significance to microRNAs (miRNAs). Normo-androgenic (NA) and hyperandrogenic (HA) PCOS patients were compared with matched healthy women. Expression of miRNAs and TGFβ signaling genes was studied by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Effect of androgen on expression of miR-93 and miR-21 and involvement of androgen receptor were appraised. In granulosa cells (GCs), miR-93 and miR-21 showed significantly increased levels in HA patients compared to NA patients. On the contrary, follicular fluid (FF) levels of both miRNAs were significantly decreased in HA group compared to control women. No significant change in the expression of miRNAs in serum samples was detected. Furthermore, mRNA levels of SMAD7 and TGFBR2 were significantly downregulated in GCs of HA group compared to NA and control subjects. TGFBR2 protein level was significantly decreased in HA patients compared to controls. Free testosterone and free androgen index were positively correlated with expression of miR-93 and miR-21 in GCs of PCOS group. Our findings show distinct molecular signature of different subtypes of PCOS. Intermediary position of miRNAs as androgen responsive factors may play critical role in the pathogenesis of PCOS in hyperandrogenic condition.
Lossless quantum data compression with exponential penalization: an operational interpretation of the quantum Rényi entropy
Authors: Bellomo Guido , Bosyk Gustavo M. , Holik Federico , Zozor Steeve 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBased on the problem of quantum data compression in a lossless way, we present here an operational interpretation for the family of quantum Rényi entropies. In order to do this, we appeal to a very general quantum encoding scheme that satisfies a quantum version of the Kraft-McMillan inequality. Then, in the standard situation, where one is intended to minimize the usual average length of the quantum codewords, we recover the known results, namely that the von Neumann entropy of the source bounds the average length of the optimal codes. Otherwise, we show that by invoking an exponential average length, related to an exponential penalization over large codewords, the quantum Rényi entropies arise as the natural quantities relating the optimal encoding schemes with the source description, playing an analogous role to that of von Neumann entropy.
CO2 production, dissolution and pressure dynamics during silage production: multi-sensor-based insight into parameter interactions
Authors: Li Menghua , Shan Guilin , Zhou Haiyang , Buescher Wolfgang , Maack Christian , Jungbluth Kerstin H. , Lipski André , Grantz David A. , Fan Youheng , Ma Daokun , Wang Zhongyi , Cheng Qiang , Sun Yurui 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSilage is a critical global feedstock, but is prone to aerobic deterioration. The dominant mechanism of O2 transport into silage remains unresolved. Here, multiple sensors tracked O2 and CO2, gas pressure (ΔP) between internal silage and ambient air, pH and silage temperature (Tsi) during the ensilage of maize and ryegrass. We report the first observation that CO2 produced from microbial respiration was partially dissolved in silage water, with evidence of negative or positive ΔP depending on the changing balance between CO2 production and dissolution. The ΔP < 0 reflected an apparent respiratory quotient (RQ) < 1. Net CO2 production was much greater in anaerobic fermentation stage than in initial aerobic phase or later aerobic feed-out phase. O2 transport into silage is intimately linked to the dynamics of net CO2, ΔP, microbial activity, pH and Tsi. These results suggested that both gas diffusion (based on Fick’s law) and advective transfer (Darcy’s law) play equally important roles in governing the complex temporal progression of inward and outward gas fluxes to and from the silage interior. Even though low pH suppressed microbial activity and supported aerobic stability, the negative ΔP increased the risk of O2 entry and aerobic deterioration during feed-out phase.
The Value of CBCT-based Tumor Density and Volume Variations in Prediction of Early Response to Chemoradiation Therapy in Advanced NSCLC
Authors: Wen Qiang , Zhu Jian , Meng Xue , Ma Changsheng , Bai Tong , Sun Xindong , Yu Jinming 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe correlations between early responses and the variations in physical density and primary tumor volume (TV) according to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) during chemoradiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were investigated. 54 patients with inoperable and locally advanced NSCLC were included in this study. The CT numbers (CTN) and TV were measured on each of the seven observation points. The changes in the mean CTN values and the variation ratios of TV during the treatment course were analysed and correlated with the clinical outcomes, as evaluated by the RECIST criteria. For patients who responded to treatment, the CTN and TV change ratio decreased by 28.44 ± 13.12 HU and 32.01% (range, 8.46–61.67%); these values were significantly higher than those in the non-responding patients, with 19.63 ± 8.67 HU and 23.20% (range, −15.57–38%) (p = 0.016, p = 0.048), respectively. The area under curve for the combination of CTN and TV was larger than either alone (AUC = 0.751, p = 0.002). The differences between response and non-response were most significant between Fraction 10 and Fraction 15 for CTN changes and between Fraction 5 and Fraction 10 for the TV regression ratio. The changes in CTN and TV obtained from CBCT images have the potential capability to predict an early response of NSCLC.
Precision Targeting of Tumor Macrophages with a CD206 Binding Peptide
Authors: Scodeller Pablo , Simón-Gracia Lorena , Kopanchuk Sergei , Tobi Allan , Kilk Kalle , Säälik Pille , Kurm Kaarel , Squadrito Mario Leonardo , Kotamraju Venkata Ramana , Rinken Ago , De Palma Michele , Ruoslahti Erkki , Teesalu Tambet 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) expressing the multi-ligand endocytic receptor mannose receptor (CD206/MRC1) contribute to tumor immunosuppression, angiogenesis, metastasis, and relapse. Here, we describe a peptide that selectively targets MRC1-expressing TAMs (MEMs). We performed in vivo peptide phage display screens in mice bearing 4T1 metastatic breast tumors to identify peptides that target peritoneal macrophages. Deep sequencing of the peptide-encoding inserts in the selected phage pool revealed enrichment of the peptide CSPGAKVRC (codenamed “UNO”). Intravenously injected FAM-labeled UNO (FAM-UNO) homed to tumor and sentinel lymph node MEMs in different cancer models: 4T1 and MCF-7 breast carcinoma, B16F10 melanoma, WT-GBM glioma and MKN45-P gastric carcinoma. Fluorescence anisotropy assay showed that FAM-UNO interacts with recombinant CD206 when subjected to reducing conditions. Interestingly, the GSPGAK motif is present in all CD206-binding collagens. FAM-UNO was able to transport drug-loaded nanoparticles into MEMs, whereas particles without the peptide were not taken up by MEMs. In ex vivo organ imaging, FAM-UNO showed significantly higher accumulation in sentinel lymph nodes than a control peptide. This study suggests applications for UNO peptide in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic targeting of MEMs in solid tumors.
Zinc enhances the cellular energy supply to improve cell motility and restore impaired energetic metabolism in a toxic environment induced by OTA
Authors: Yang Xuan , Wang Haomiao , Huang Chuchu , He Xiaoyun , Xu Wentao , Luo Yunbo , Huang Kunlun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractExogenous nutrient elements modulate the energetic metabolism responses that are prerequisites for cellular homeostasis and metabolic physiology. Although zinc is important in oxidative stress and cytoprotection processes, its role in the regulation of energetic metabolism remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that zinc stimulated aspect in cell motility and was essential in restoring the Ochratoxin A (OTA)-induced energetic metabolism damage in HEK293 cells. Moreover, using zinc supplementation and zinc deficiency models, we observed that zinc is conducive to mitochondrial pyruvate transport, oxidative phosphorylation, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism and ultimate energy metabolism in both normal and toxic-induced oxidative stress conditions in vitro, and it plays an important role in restoring impaired energetic metabolism. This zinc-mediated energetic metabolism regulation could also be helpful for DNA maintenance, cytoprotection and hereditary cancer traceability. Therefore, zinc can widely adjust energetic metabolism and is essential in restoring the impaired energetic metabolism of cellular physiology.
A Comparison of mRNA Sequencing with Random Primed and 3′-Directed Libraries
Authors: Xiong Yuguang , Soumillon Magali , Wu Jie , Hansen Jens , Hu Bin , van Hasselt Johan G. C. , Jayaraman Gomathi , Lim Ryan , Bouhaddou Mehdi , Ornelas Loren , Bochicchio Jim , Lenaeus Lindsay , Stocksdale Jennifer , Shim Jaehee , Gomez Emilda , Sareen Dhruv , Svendsen Clive , Thompson Leslie M. , Mahajan Milind , Iyengar Ravi , Sobie Eric A. , Azeloglu Evren U. , Birtwistle Marc R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCreating a cDNA library for deep mRNA sequencing (mRNAseq) is generally done by random priming, creating multiple sequencing fragments along each transcript. A 3′-end-focused library approach cannot detect differential splicing, but has potentially higher throughput at a lower cost, along with the ability to improve quantification by using transcript molecule counting with unique molecular identifiers (UMI) that correct PCR bias. Here, we compare an implementation of such a 3′-digital gene expression (3′-DGE) approach with “conventional” random primed mRNAseq. Given our particular datasets on cultured human cardiomyocyte cell lines, we find that, while conventional mRNAseq detects ~15% more genes and needs ~500,000 fewer reads per sample for equivalent statistical power, the resulting differentially expressed genes, biological conclusions, and gene signatures are highly concordant between two techniques. We also find good quantitative agreement at the level of individual genes between two techniques for both read counts and fold changes between given conditions. We conclude that, for high-throughput applications, the potential cost savings associated with 3′-DGE approach are likely a reasonable tradeoff for modest reduction in sensitivity and inability to observe alternative splicing, and should enable many larger scale studies focusing on not only differential expression analysis, but also quantitative transcriptome profiling.
Monitoring the long term vegetation phenology change in Northeast China from 1982 to 2015
Authors: Yu Lingxue , Liu Tingxiang , Bu Kun , Yan Fengqin , Yang Jiuchun , Chang Liping , Zhang Shuwen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGlobal warming has contributed to the extension of the growing season in North Hemisphere. In this paper, we investigated the spatial characteristics of the date of the start of the season (SOS), the date of the end of the season (EOS) and the length of the season (LOS) and their change trends from 1982 to 2015 in Northeast China. Our results showed that there was a significant advance of SOS and a significant delay of EOS, especially in the north part of Northeast China. For the average change slope of EOS in the study area, the delay trend was 0.25 d/y, which was more obvious than the advance trend of −0.13 d/y from the SOS. In particular, the LOS of deciduous needleleaf forest (DNF) and grassland increased with a trend of 0.63 d/y and 0.66 d/y from 1982 to 2015, indicating the growth season increased 21.42 and 22.44 days in a 34-year period, respectively. However, few negative signals were detected nearby Hulun Lake, suggesting that the continuous climate warming in the future may bring no longer growing periods for the grass in the semiarid areas as the drought caused by climate warming may limit the vegetation growth.
Adhesion and Self-Healing between Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide and Silicon Oxide
Authors: Na Seung Ryul , Kim Youngchan , Lee Changgu , Liechti Kenneth M. , Suk Ji Won 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe adhesion interactions of two-dimensional (2D) materials are of importance in developing flexible electronic devices due to relatively large surface forces. Here, we investigated the adhesion properties of large-area monolayer MoS2 grown on silicon oxide by using chemical vapor deposition. Fracture mechanics concepts using double cantilever beam configuration were used to characterize the adhesion interaction between MoS2 and silicon oxide. While the interface between MoS2 and silicon oxide was fractured under displacement control, force-displacement response was recorded. The separation energy, adhesion strength and range of the interactions between MoS2 and silicon oxide were characterized by analytical and numerical analyses. In addition to the fundamental adhesion properties of MoS2, we found that MoS2 monolayers on silicon oxide had self-healing properties, meaning that when the separated MoS2 and silicon oxide were brought into contact, the interface healed. The self-healing property of MoS2 is potentially applicable to the development of new composites or devices using 2D materials.
Monocytes from patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia show enhanced inflammatory properties and produce higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines
Authors: Cockx M. , Gouwy M. , Ruytinx P. , Lodewijckx I. , Van Hout A. , Knoops S. , Pörtner N. , Ronsse I. , Vanbrabant L. , Godding V. , De Boeck K. , Van Damme J. , Boon M. , Struyf S. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPatients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) suffer from recurrent upper and lower airway infections due to defects in the cilia present on the respiratory epithelium. Since chronic inflammatory conditions can cause changes in innate immune responses, we investigated whether monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of pediatric PCD patients respond differently to inflammatory stimuli, compared to monocytes from healthy children and adults. The receptor for C5a (C5aR) was upregulated in PCD, whereas expression levels of the leukocyte chemoattractant receptors CCR1, CCR2, CCR5, BLT1 and FPR1 on PCD monocytes were similar to those on monocytes from healthy individuals. Alsoin vitromigration of PCD monocytes towards the ligands of those receptors (CCL2, fMLP, C5a and LTB4) was normal. Compared to healthy children, PCD patients had a higher percentage of the non-classic monocyte subset (CD14+CD16++) in circulation. Finally, PCD monocytes produced higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL3, CCL5, CCL18 and CCL22) in response to LPS, peptidoglycan and/or dsRNA stimulation. These data suggest that monocytes might exacerbate inflammatory reactions in PCD patients and might maintain a positive feedback-loop feeding the inflammatory process.
Building on Sub-Arctic Soil: Geopolymerization of Muskeg to a Densified Load-Bearing Composite
Authors: Waetzig Gregory R. , Cho Junsang , Lacroix Max , Banerjee Sarbajit 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe marshy water-saturated soil typical of the sub-Arctic represents a considerable impediment to the construction of roads, thereby greatly hindering human habitation and geological excavation. Muskeg, the native water-laden topsoil characteristic of the North American sub-Arctic, represents a particularly vexing challenge for road construction. Muskeg must either be entirely excavated, or for direct construction on muskeg, a mix of partial excavation and gradual compaction with the strategic placement of filling materials must be performed. Here, we demonstrate a novel and entirely reversible geopolymerization method for reinforcing muskeg with wood fibers derived from native vegetation with the addition of inorganic silicate precursors and without the addition of extraneous metal precursors. A continuous siloxane network is formed that links together the muskeg, wood fibers, and added silicates yielding a load-bearing and low-subsidence composite. The geopolymerization approach developed here, based on catalyzed formation of a siloxane network with further incorporation of cellulose, allows for an increase of density as well as compressive strength while reducing the compressibility of the composite.
Self-jumping Mechanism of Melting Frost on Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Authors: Liu Xiaolin , Chen Huawei , Zhao Zehui , Wang Yamei , Liu Hong , Zhang Deyuan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFrost accretion on surfaces may cause severe problems and the high-efficiency defrosting methods are still urgently needed in many application fields like heat transfer, optical and electric power system, etc. In this study, a nano-needle superhydrophobic surface is prepared and the frosting/defrosting experiments are conducted on it. Three steps are found in the defrosting process: melting frost shrinking and splitting, instantaneous self-triggered deforming followed by deformation-induced movements (namely, in-situ shaking, rotating, rolling, and self-jumping). The self-jumping performance of the melting frost is extremely fascinating and worth studying due to its capability of evidently shortening the defrosting process and reducing (even avoiding) residual droplets after defrosting. The study on the melting frost self-jumping phenomena demonstrates that the kinetic energy transformed from instantaneous superficial area change in self-triggered deforming step is the intrinsic reason for various melting frost self-propelled movements, and when the transformed energy reaches a certain amount, the self-jumping phenomena occur. And some facilitating conditions for melting frost self-jumping phenomena are also discussed. This work will provide an efficient way for defrosting or an inspiration for further research on defrosting.
Spexin Suppress Food Intake in Zebrafish: Evidence from Gene Knockout Study
Authors: Zheng Binbin , Li Shuisheng , Liu Yun , Li Yu , Chen Huapu , Tang Haipei , Liu Xiaochun , Lin Haoran , Zhang Yong , Cheng Christopher H. K. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSpexin1 (SPX1) is a newly discovered neuropeptide in vertebrates. Its biological function remains to be elucidated. In this study, we have generated the zebrafish spx1
−/−
mutant lines using transcription activator-like effector nucleases. Phenotypes of the spx1
−/−
mutant zebrafish were analyzed in order to understand the effects on reproduction and food intake. The reproductive capability is not impaired in spx1 mutant zebrafish. However, we found that the spx1
−/−
mutant fish had a higher food intake than the wild type (WT) fish. Real-time PCR revealed that the expression level of agouti-relate protein 1 (AgRP1), a significant appetite stimulant, was significantly higher in spx1
−/−
mutant fish after feeding. Intracranial administration of SPX1 could also reduce the mRNA expression of the AgRP1. These data suggest that SPX1 might decrease the food intake by down regulating the expression level of agrp1. Furthermore, spx1
−/−
mutant fish exhibited higher glucose, triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the serum than WT fish. However, the hyperphagia did not lead to a higher growth rate or body fat percentage. Taken together, our study suggests that SPX1 may serve as a satiety signal molecular by suppressing the AgRP1 in the brain.
Atomistic Representation of Anomalies in the Failure Behaviour of Nanocrystalline Silicene
Authors: Rakib Tawfiqur , Saha Sourav , Motalab Mohammad , Mojumder Satyajit , Islam Md Mahbubul 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSilicene, a 2D analogue of graphene, has spurred a tremendous research interest in the scientific community for its unique properties essential for next-generation electronic devices. In this work, for the first time, we present a molecular dynamics (MD) investigation to determine the fracture strength and toughness of nanocrystalline silicene (nc-silicene) sheet of varying grain sizes and pre-existing cracks at room temperature. Our results suggest a transition from an inverse pseudo Hall-Petch to a pseudo Hall-Petch behaviour in nc-silicene at a critical grain size of 17.32 nm. This phenomenon is also prevalent in nanocrystalline graphene. However, nc-silicene with pre-existing cracks exhibits anomalous crack propagation and fracture toughness behaviour. We observed two distinct types of failure mechanisms (crack sensitive and insensitive failure) and devised mechano-physical conditions under which they occur. The most striking outcome is: despite the presence of a pre-existing crack, the crack sensitivity of nc-silicene is found to be dependent on the grain size and their orientations. The calculated Fracture toughness from both Griffith’s theory and MD simulations indicate that the former over-predicts the fracture toughness of nc-silicene. Finally, this study is the first direct comparison of atomistic simulations to the continuum theories to predict the anomalous behaviour in deformation and failure mechanisms of nc-silicene.
Evaporation of a sessile water drop and a drop of aqueous salt solution
Authors: Misyura S. Y. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe influence of various factors on the evaporation of drops of water and aqueous salt solution has been experimentally studied. Typically, in the studies of drop evaporation, only the diffusive vapor transfer, radiation and the molecular heat conduction are taken into account. However, vapor-gas convection plays an important role at droplet evaporation. In the absence of droplet boiling, the influence of gas convection turns out to be the prevailing factor. At nucleate boiling, a prevailing role is played by bubbles generation and vapor jet discharge at a bubble collapse. The gas convection behavior for water and aqueous salt solution is substantially different. With a growth of salt concentration over time, the influence of the convective component first increases, reaches an extremum and then significantly decreases. At nucleate boiling in a salt solution it is incorrect to simulate the droplet evaporation and the heat transfer in quasi-stationary approximation. The evaporation at nucleate boiling in a liquid drop is divided into several characteristic time intervals. Each of these intervals is characterized by a noticeable change in both the evaporation rate and the convection role.
Behavioural Differences and Neural Substrates of Altruistic and Spiteful Punishment
Authors: Yamagishi Toshio , Li Yang , Fermin Alan S. R. , Kanai Ryota , Takagishi Haruto , Matsumoto Yoshie , Kiyonari Toko , Sakagami Masamichi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAltruistic punishment following social norm violations promotes human cooperation. However, experimental evidence indicates that some forms of punishment are spiteful rather than altruistic. Using two types of punishment games and seven non-strategic games, we identified strong behavioural differences between altruistic and spiteful punishers. Altruistic punishers who rejected unfair offers in the ultimatum game and punished norm violators in the third-party punishment game behaved pro-socially in various non-strategic games. Spiteful punishers who rejected unfair offers in the ultimatum game but did not punish norm violators in the third-party punishment game behaved selfishly in non-strategic games. In addition, the left caudate nucleus was larger in spiteful punishers than in altruistic punishers. These findings are in contrast to the previous assumption that altruistic punishers derive pleasure from enforcement of fairness norms, and suggest that spiteful punishers derive pleasure from seeing the target experience negative consequences.