bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Fist-and-Phallus Pendants from Roman Catterick
Authors: Parker Adam 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA collection of six fist-and-phallus amulets from excavations at Catterick, North Yorks., is here reconsidered alongside their unique context. The group consists of five amulets from a single infant inhumation and a sixth found separate from the rest. All exhibit features defining them as a clear group of objects; they are all curved with a phallus and a fist making themanus ficajoined in the centre by a scallop shell. There are three left-handed and three right-handed fists. The traditional interpretation of fist-and-phallus type amulets relates to military ideas of strength and virility, but in the context provided by this small group it is clear that their apotropaic function should be given additional credence. No other context in Roman Britain directly associates the fist-and-phallus type and infant inhumation.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES: A SURVEY OF NON-EUROPEAN UNION AGENCIES
Authors: Ciani Oriana , Wilcher Britni , Blankart Carl Rudolf , Hatz Maximilian , Rupel Valentina Prevolnik , Erker Renata Slabe , Varabyova Yauheniya , Taylor Rod S. 
Published: June 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review and compare current health technology assessment (HTA) activities for medical devices across non-European Union HTA agencies.Methods: HTA activities for medical devices were evaluated from three perspectives: organizational structure, processes, and methods. Agencies were primarily selected upon membership of existing HTA networks. The data collection was performed in two stages: stage 1–agency Web-site assessment using a standardized questionnaire, followed by review and validation of the collected data by a representative of the agency; and stage 2–semi-structured telephone interviews with key informants of a sub-sample of agencies.Results: In total, thirty-six HTA agencies across twenty non-EU countries assessing medical devices were included. Twenty-seven of thirty-six (75 percent) agencies were judged at stage 1 to have adopted HTA-specific approaches for medical devices (MD-specific agencies) that were largely organizational or procedural. There appeared to be few differences in the organization, process and methods between MD-specific and non–MD-specific agencies. Although the majority (69 percent) of both categories of agency had specific methods guidance or policy for evidence submission, only one MD-specific agency had developed methodological guidelines specific to medical devices. In stage 2, many MD-specific agencies cited insufficient resources (budget, skilled employees), lack of coordination (between regulator and reimbursement bodies), and the inability to generalize findings from evidence synthesis to be key challenges in the HTA of medical devices.Conclusions: The lack of evidence for differentiation in scientific methods for HTA of devices raises the question of whether HTA needs to develop new methods for medical devices but rather adapt existing methodological approaches. In contrast, organizational and/or procedural adaptation of existing HTA agency frameworks to accommodate medical devices appear relatively commonplace.
Motor skills of 5-year-old children who underwent early cardiac surgery
Authors: Long Suzanne H. , Eldridge Beverley J. , Harris Susan R. , Cheung Michael M. H. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimsTo describe the motor proficiency of 5-year-old children who underwent early infant cardiac surgery and had atypical infant gross motor development. To identify risk factors for motor dysfunction at 5 years of age.MethodsA total of 33 children (80.5% participation rate) were re-assessed by a physiotherapist blinded to the diagnosis and previous clinical course, using standardised motor assessment tools.ResultsMotor proficiency was categorised as below average or well below average in 41% of the study patients. Approximately 30% of the cohort had balance deficits. Motor abilities at 4 months and 2 years of age were associated with motor proficiency at age 5; however, atypical motor development in infancy was not predictive of below-average or well below-average scores at age 5. Risk factors associated with motor ability at age 5 included respiratory support and intensive care length of stay in the 1st year of life, asymmetrical crawling in infancy, and cyanotic CHD at age 5.ConclusionsDespite differences from other reported studies in terms of cohort diagnoses and age at surgery, the rate of motor dysfunction was similar, with rates much higher than expected in typical children. Further assessment is needed in later childhood to determine the significance of these findings.
Osteoprotegerin is a significant prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with primary systemic amyloidosis independent of the Mayo staging
Authors: Kastritis E , Gavriatopoulou M , Dimopoulos M A , Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou E , Kanellias N , Roussou M , Pamboucas C , Toumanidis S T , Terpos E 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBone metabolism has not been systematically studied in primary (AL) amyloidosis. Thus we prospectively evaluated bone remodeling indices in 102 patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis, 35 healthy controls, 35 newly diagnosed myeloma and 40 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients. Bone resorption markers (C-telopeptide of type-1 collagen, N-telopeptide of type-1 collagen) and osteoclast regulators (soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG)) were increased in AL patients compared with controls (P<0.01), but bone formation was unaffected. Myeloma patients had increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation compared with AL patients, while sRANKL/OPG ratio was markedly decreased in AL, due to elevated OPG in AL (P<0.001). OPG correlated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (P<0.001) and was higher in patients with cardiac involvement (P=0.028) and advanced Mayo stage (P=0.001). OPG levels above the upper value of healthy controls was associated with shorter survival (34 versus 91 months; P=0.026), while AL patients with OPG levels in the top quartile had very short survival (12 versus 58 months; P=0.024). In Mayo stage 1 disease, OPG identified patients with poor survival (12 versus >60 months; P=0.012). We conclude that increased OPG in AL is not only a compensation to osteoclast activation but may also reflect early cardiac damage and may identify patients at increased risk of death within those with earlier Mayo stage.
Realization of Large-Area Wrinkle-Free Monolayer Graphene Films Transferred to Functional Substrates
Authors: Park Byeong-Ju , Choi Jin-Seok , Kim Hyun-Suk , Kim Hyun-You , Jeong Jong-Ryul , Choi Hyung-Jin , Jung Hyun-June , Jung Min-Wook , An Ki-Seok , Yoon Soon-Gil 
Published: June 2015

AbstractStructural inhomogeneities, such as the wrinkles and ripples within a graphene film after transferring the free-standing graphene layer to a functional substrate, degrade the physical and electrical properties of the corresponding electronic devices. Here, we introduced titanium as a superior adhesion layer for fabricating wrinkle-free graphene films that is highly applicable to flexible and transparent electronic devices. The Ti layer does not influence the electronic performance of the functional substrates. Experimental and theoretical investigations confirm that the strong chemical interactions between Ti and any oxygen atoms unintentionally introduced on/within the graphene are responsible for forming the clean, defect-free graphene layer. Our results accelerate the practical application of graphene-related electronic devices with enhanced functionality. The large-area monolayer graphenes were prepared by a simple attachment of the Ti layer with the multi-layer wrinkle-free graphene films. For the first time, the graphene films were addressed for applications of superior bottom electrode for flexible capacitors instead of the novel metals.
In vivo imaging of CREB phosphorylation in awake-mouse brain
Authors: Ishimoto Tetsuya , Mano Hiroki , Mori Hisashi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) is a phosphorylation-dependent transcription factor that plays important roles in memory consolidation and several neuropsychological disorders. Although analyzing the spatiotemporal pattern of CREB phosphorylation is required for elucidating the mechanism of memory consolidation, imaging of phosphorylation of a particular protein in the brain of live animals is impossible at present. Here, we developed a method for visualizing the CREB phosphorylation in the cerebral cortex of an awake mouse using a split luciferase technique. Using this technique, we demonstrated the correlation between the change in CREB phosphorylation at a particular region in the brain and behavioral consequences induced by the administration of reserpine, a psychotropic agent.
ASK1 is involved in cognitive impairment caused by long-term high-fat diet feeding in mice
Authors: Toyama Kensuke , Koibuchi Nobutaka , Hasegawa Yu , Uekawa Ken , Yasuda Osamu , Sueta Daisuke , Nakagawa Takashi , Ma Mingjie , Kusaka Hiroaki , Lin Bowen , Ogawa Hisao , Ichijo Hidenori , Kim-Mitsuyama Shokei 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAlthough high-fat diet intake is known to cause obesity and diabetes, the effect of high-fat diet itself on cognitive function remains to be clarified. We have previously shown that apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is responsible for cognitive impairment caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. The present work, by using ASK1 deficient mice, was undertaken to explore the influence of chronic high-fat diet intake on cognitive function and the role of ASK1. Cognitive function in wild-type mice fed high-fat diet from 2 to 24 months of age was significantly impaired compared to those fed control diet, which was associated with the significant white matter lesions, reduction of hippocampal capillary density and decrement of hippocampal neuronal cell. However, ASK1 deficiency abolished the development of cognitive impairment and cerebral injury caused by high-fat diet. Our results provided the evidence that high-fat diet itself causes cognitive impairment and ASK1 participates in such cognitive impairment.
Gradual reduction in rRNA transcription triggers p53 acetylation and apoptosis via MYBBP1A
Authors: Kumazawa Takuya , Nishimura Kazuho , Katagiri Naohiro , Hashimoto Sayaka , Hayashi Yuki , Kimura Keiji 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe nucleolus, whose primary function is ribosome biogenesis, plays an essential role in p53 activation. Ribosome biogenesis is inhibited in response to cellular stress and several nucleolar proteins translocate from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm, where they activate p53. In this study, we analysed precisely how impaired ribosome biogenesis regulates the activation of p53 by depleting nucleolar factors involved in rRNA transcription or rRNA processing. Nucleolar RNA content decreased when rRNA transcription was inhibited. In parallel with the reduced levels of nucleolar RNA content, the nucleolar protein Myb-binding protein 1 A (MYBBP1A) translocated to the nucleoplasm and increased p53 acetylation. The acetylated p53 enhanced p21 and BAX expression and induced apoptosis. In contrast, when rRNA processing was inhibited, MYBBP1A remained in the nucleolus and nonacetylated p53 accumulated, causing cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase by inducing p21 but not BAX. We propose that the nucleolus functions as a stress sensor to modulate p53 protein levels and its acetylation status, determining cell fate between cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by regulating MYBBP1A translocation.
A comparison of NBI and WLI cystoscopy in detecting non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A prospective, randomized and multi-center study
Authors: Ye Zhangqun , Hu Jia , Song Xiaodong , Li Fan , Zhao Xuetao , Chen Shan , Wang Xiaofeng , He Dalin , Fan Jinhai , Ye Dingwei , Xing Jinchun , Pan Tiejun , Wang Dongwen 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSeveral single-center studies have investigated whether narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy is more effective in detecting primary and recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) compared with white-light imaging (WLI) cystoscopy. In this study, we further evaluated the diagnostic value of NBI cystoscopy compared with WLI cystoscopy for primary NMIBC in a multi-center study. Suspected bladder cancer patients from 8 research centers received both NBI and WLI. Two experienced doctors in each center were responsible for the NBI and WLI assessments, respectively. The number of tumors and position of each tumor were recorded and suspicious tissues were clamped and histologically examined. The sensitivity, specificity and false-positive rate of NBI and WLI were evaluated. Of the 384 patients, 78 had a confirmed urothelial carcinoma (UC). The sensitivities of NBI and WLI were 97.70% and 66.67%, respectively (P < 0.0001); the specificities were 50% and 25%, respectively; and the false positive rates were 50% and 75%, respectively. Based on 300 valid biopsy specimens, the NBI and WLI sensitivities were 98.80% and 75.45%, respectively (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that NBI has a high sensitivity and has superior early bladder tumor and carcinoma in situ (CIS) detection rates compared with WLI cystoscopy.
Noninvasive imaging of sialyltransferase activity in living cells by chemoselective recognition
Authors: Bao Lei , Ding Lin , Yang Min , Ju Huangxian 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTo elucidate the biological and pathological functions of sialyltransferases (STs), intracellular ST activity evaluation is necessary. Focusing on the lack of noninvasive methods for obtaining the dynamic activity information, this work designs a sensing platform for in situ FRET imaging of intracellular ST activity and tracing of sialylation process. The system uses tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate labeled asialofetuin (TRITC-AF) as a ST substrate and fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled 3-aminophenylboronic acid (FITC-APBA) as the chemoselective recognition probe of sialylation product, both of which are encapsulated in a liposome vesicle for cellular delivery. The recognition of FITC-APBA to sialylated TRITC-AF leads to the FRET signal that is analyzed by FRET efficiency images. This strategy has been used to evaluate the correlation of ST activity with malignancy and cell surface sialylation and the sialylation inhibition activity of inhibitors. This work provides a powerful noninvasive tool for glycan biosynthesis mechanism research, cancer diagnostics and drug development.
Direct Evidence for Vision-based Control of Flight Speed in Budgerigars
Authors: Schiffner Ingo , Srinivasan Mandyam V. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe have investigated whether, and, if so, how birds use vision to regulate the speed of their flight. Budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus, were filmed in 3-D using high-speed video cameras as they flew along a 25 m tunnel in which stationary or moving vertically oriented black and white stripes were projected on the side walls. We found that the birds increased their flight speed when the stripes were moved in the birds’ flight direction, but decreased it only marginally when the stripes were moved in the opposite direction. The results provide the first direct evidence that Budgerigars use cues based on optic flow, to regulate their flight speed. However, unlike the situation in flying insects, it appears that the control of flight speed in Budgerigars is direction-specific. It does not rely solely on cues derived from optic flow, but may also be determined by energy constraints.
The mechanism for exclusion of Pinus massoniana during the succession in subtropical forest ecosystems: light competition or stoichiometric homoeostasis?
Authors: Yan Junhua , Li Kun , Peng Xingju , Huang Zhongliang , Liu Shizhong , Zhang Qianmei 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCompetition for light has traditionally been considered as the main mechanism for exclusion of Pinus massoniana during succession in subtropical forest ecosystems. However, both long-term inventories and a seedling cultivation experiment showed that growth of mature individuals and young seedlings of P. massoniana was not limited by available light, but was strongly influenced by stoichiometric homoeostasis. This is supported by the results of homoeostatic regulation coefficients for nitrogen (HN) and phosphorus (HP) estimated using the measured data from six transitional forests across subtropical China. Among three dominant tree species in subtropical forests, P. massoniana and Castanopsis chinensis had the lowest values of HP and HN, respectively. Therefore P. massoniana cannot survive in the advanced stage due to soil phosphorus limitation and C. chinensis cannot successfully grow in the pioneer stage due to soil nitrogen limitation. Our results support that stoichiometric homeostasis is the main reason for gradual exclusion of P. massoniana from the transitional forest and the eventual elimination from the advanced forest during the subtropical forest succession. Therefore greater attention should be paid to stoichiometric homeostasis as one of the key mechanisms for species exclusion during forest succession.
Demonstration of quantum permutation algorithm with a single photon ququart
Authors: Wang Feiran , Wang Yunlong , Liu Ruifeng , Chen Dongxu , Zhang Pei , Gao Hong , Li Fuli 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe report an experiment to demonstrate a quantum permutation determining algorithm with linear optical system. By employing photon's polarization and spatial mode, we realize the quantum ququart states and all the essential permutation transformations. The quantum permutation determining algorithm displays the speedup of quantum algorithm by determining the parity of the permutation in only one step of evaluation compared with two for classical algorithm. This experiment is accomplished in single photon level and the method exhibits universality in high-dimensional quantum computation.
Targeted disruption of a single sex pheromone receptor gene completely abolishes in vivo pheromone response in the silkmoth
Authors: Sakurai Takeshi , Mitsuno Hidefumi , Mikami Akihisa , Uchino Keiro , Tabuchi Masashi , Zhang Feng , Sezutsu Hideki , Kanzaki Ryohei 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMale moths use species-specific sex pheromones to identify and orientate toward conspecific females. Odorant receptors (ORs) for sex pheromone substances have been identified as sex pheromone receptors in various moth species. However, direct in vivo evidence linking the functional role of these ORs with behavioural responses is lacking. In the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, female moths emit two sex pheromone components, bombykol and bombykal, but only bombykol elicits sexual behaviour in male moths. A sex pheromone receptor BmOR1 is specifically tuned to bombykol and is expressed in specialized olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in the pheromone sensitive long sensilla trichodea of male silkmoth antennae. Here, we show that disruption of the BmOR1 gene, mediated by transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), completely removes ORN sensitivity to bombykol and corresponding pheromone-source searching behaviour in male moths. Furthermore, transgenic rescue of BmOR1 restored normal behavioural responses to bombykol. Our results demonstrate that BmOR1 is required for the physiological and behavioural response to bombykol, demonstrating that it is the receptor that mediates sex pheromone responses in male silkmoths. This study provides the first direct evidence that a member of the sex pheromone receptor family in moth species mediates conspecific sex pheromone information for sexual behaviour.
Genetic variants in 3′-UTRs of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) predict colorectal cancer susceptibility in Koreans
Authors: Jeon Young Joo , Kim Jong Woo , Park Hye Mi , Kim Jung O , Jang Hyo Geun , Oh Jisu , Hwang Seong Gyu , Kwon Sung Won , Oh Doyeun , Kim Nam Keun 
Published: June 2015

AbstractPolymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) play important roles in tumor development, progression and metastasis. Moreover, recent studies have reported that a number of 3′-UTR polymorphisms potentially bind to specific microRNAs in a variety of cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of four MTHFR polymorphisms, 2572C>A [rs4846049], 4869C>G [rs1537514], 5488C>T [rs3737967] and 6685T>C [rs4846048] with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Koreans. A total of 850 participants (450 CRC patients and 400 controls) were enrolled in the study. The genotyping of MTHFR 3′-UTR polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. We found that MTHFR 2572C>A, 4869C>G and 5488C>T genotypes were substantially associated with CRC susceptibility. Of the potentially susceptible polymorphisms, MTHFR 2572C>A was associated with increased homocysteine and decreased folate levels in the plasma based on MTHFR 677CC. Our study provides the evidences for 3′-UTR variants in MTHFR gene as potential biomarkers for use in CRC prevention.
Resolving single molecule structures with Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond
Authors: Kost Matthias , Cai Jianming , Plenio Martin B. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe present theoretical proposals for two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy protocols based on Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond that are strongly coupled to the target nuclei. Continuous microwave and radio-frequency driving fields together with magnetic field gradients achieve Hartmann-Hahn resonances between NV spin sensor and selected nuclei for control of nuclear spins and subsequent measurement of their polarization dynamics. The strong coupling between the NV sensor and the nuclei facilitates coherence control of nuclear spins and relaxes the requirement of nuclear spin polarization to achieve strong signals and therefore reduced measurement times. Additionally, we employ a singular value thresholding matrix completion algorithm to further reduce the amount of data required to permit the identification of key features in the spectra of strongly sub-sampled data. We illustrate the potential of this combined approach by applying the protocol to a shallowly implanted NV center addressing a small amino acid, alanine, to target specific hydrogen nuclei and to identify the corresponding peaks in their spectra.
Large expansion of CTG•CAG repeats is exacerbated by MutSβ in human cells
Authors: Nakatani Rie , Nakamori Masayuki , Fujimura Harutoshi , Mochizuki Hideki , Takahashi Masanori P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTrinucleotide repeat expansion disorders (TRED) are caused by genomic expansions of trinucleotide repeats, such as CTG and CAG. These expanded repeats are unstable in germline and somatic cells, with potential consequences for disease severity. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of DNA repair proteins in repeat instability, although the key factors affecting large repeat expansion and contraction are unclear. Here we investigated these factors in a human cell model harboring 800 CTG•CAG repeats by individually knocking down various DNA repair proteins using short interfering RNA. Knockdown of MSH2 and MSH3, which form the MutSβ heterodimer and function in mismatch repair, suppressed large repeat expansions, whereas knockdown of MSH6, which forms the MutSα heterodimer with MSH2, promoted large expansions exceeding 200 repeats by compensatory increases in MSH3 and the MutSβ complex. Knockdown of topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and TDP1, which are involved in single-strand break repair, enhanced large repeat contractions. Furthermore, knockdown of senataxin, an RNA/DNA helicase which affects DNA:RNA hybrid formation and transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair, exacerbated repeat instability in both directions. These results indicate that DNA repair factors, such as MutSβ play important roles in large repeat expansion and contraction and can be an excellent therapeutic target for TRED.