bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Higher plasma betatrophin/ANGPTL8 level in Type 2 Diabetes subjects does not correlate with blood glucose or insulin resistance
Authors: Abu-Farha Mohamed , Abubaker Jehad , Al-Khairi Irina , Cherian Preethi , Noronha Fiona , Hu Frank B. , Behbehani Kazem , Elkum Naser 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBetatrophin/ANGPTL8 is a newly identified hormone produced in liver and adipose tissue that has been shown to be induced as a result of insulin resistance and regulates lipid metabolism. Little is known about betatrophin level in humans and its association with T2D and metabolic risk factors. Plasma level of betatrophin was measured by ELISA in 1603 subjects: 1047 non-diabetic and 556 T2D subjects and its associations with metabolic risk factors in both non-diabetic and T2D were also studied. Our data show a significant difference in betatrophin levels between non-diabetic (731.3 (59.5–10625.0) pg/ml) and T2D (1710.5 (197.4–12361.1) p < 0.001. Betatrophin was positively correlated with age, BMI, waist/hip ratio, FBG, HbA1C, HOMA-IR and TG in the non-diabetic subjects. However, no association was observed with BMI, FBG, HbA1C or HOMA-IR in T2D subjects. TC and LDL showed negative association with betatrophin in T2D subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that subjects in the highest tertile of betatrophin had higher odds of having T2D (odd ratio [OR] = 6.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = (3.15 – 12.01). Our data show strong positive associations between betatrophin and FBG and insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects. However, correlations with FBG and insulin resistance were diminished in T2D subjects.
Nanostructured fuzz growth on tungsten under low-energy and high-flux He irradiation
Authors: Yang Qi , You Yu-Wei , Liu Lu , Fan Hongyu , Ni Weiyuan , Liu Dongping , Liu C. S. , Benstetter Günther , Wang Younian 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe report the formation of wave-like structures and nanostructured fuzzes in the polycrystalline tungsten (W) irradiated with high-flux and low-energy helium (He) ions. From conductive atomic force microscope measurements, we have simultaneously obtained the surface topography and current emission images of the irradiated W materials. Our measurements show that He-enriched and nanostructured strips are formed in W crystal grains when they are exposed to low-energy and high-flux He ions at a temperature of 1400 K. The experimental measurements are confirmed by theoretical calculations, where He atoms in W crystal grains are found to cluster in a close-packed arrangement between {101} planes and form He-enriched strips. The formations of wave-like structures and nanostructured fuzzes on the W surface can be attributed to the surface sputtering and swelling of He-enriched strips, respectively.
18 GHz electromagnetic field induces permeability of Gram-positive cocci
Authors: Nguyen The Hong Phong , Shamis Yury , Croft Rodney J. , Wood Andrew , McIntosh Robert L. , Crawford Russell J. , Ivanova Elena P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures at the microwave (MW) frequency of 18 GHz, on four cocci, Planococcus maritimus KMM 3738, Staphylococcus aureus CIP 65.8T, S. aureus ATCC 25923 and S. epidermidis ATCC 14990T, was investigated. We demonstrate that exposing the bacteria to an EMF induced permeability in the bacterial membranes of all strains studied, as confirmed directly by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and indirectly via the propidium iodide assay and the uptake of silica nanospheres. The cells remained permeable for at least nine minutes after EMF exposure. It was shown that all strains internalized 23.5 nm nanospheres, whereas the internalization of the 46.3 nm nanospheres differed amongst the bacterial strains (S. epidermidis ATCC 14990T~ 0%; Staphylococcus aureus CIP 65.8TS. aureus ATCC 25923, ~40%; Planococcus maritimus KMM 3738, ~80%). Cell viability experiments indicated that up to 84% of the cells exposed to the EMF remained viable. The morphology of the bacterial cells was not altered, as inferred from the scanning electron micrographs, however traces of leaked cytosolic fluids from the EMF exposed cells could be detected. EMF-induced permeabilization may represent an innovative, alternative cell permeability technique for applications in biomedical engineering, cell drug delivery and gene therapy.
Slippage in stacking of graphene nanofragments induced by spin polarization
Authors: Lei Yanyu , Jiang Wanrun , Dai Xing , Song Ruixia , Wang Bo , Gao Yang , Wang Zhigang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSpin polarization and stacking are interesting effects in complex molecular systems and are both presented in graphene-based materials. Their possible combination may provide a new perspective in understanding the intermolecular force. The nanoscale graphene structures with zigzag edges could possess spin-polarized ground states. However, the mechanical effect of spin polarization in stacking of graphene nanofragments is not clear. Here we demonstrate the displacement between two stacked rhombic graphene nanofragments induced by spin polarization, using first-principles density-functional methods. We found that, in stacking of two rhombic graphene nanofragments, a spin-polarized stacked conformation with zero total spin is energetically more favorable than the closed-shell stacking. The spin-polarized conformation gives a further horizontal interlayer displacement within 1 angstrom compared with the closed-shell structure. This result highlights that, besides the well-known phenomenologically interpreted van der Waals forces, a specific mechanism dependent on the monomeric spin polarization may lead to obvious mechanical effects in some intermolecular interactions.
Resonantly excited precession motion of three-dimensional vortex core in magnetic nanospheres
Authors: Kim Sang-Koog , Yoo Myoung-Woo , Lee Jehyun , Lee Ha-Youn , Lee Jae-Hyeok , Gaididei Yuri , Kravchuk Volodymyr P. , Sheka Denis D. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe found resonantly excited precession motions of a three-dimensional vortex core in soft magnetic nanospheres and controllable precession frequency with the sphere diameter 2R, as studied by micromagnetic numerical and analytical calculations. The precession angular frequency for an applied static field HDC is given as ωMV = γeffHDC, where γeff = γ〈mΓ〉 is the effective gyromagnetic ratio in collective vortex dynamics, with the gyromagnetic ratio γ and the average magnetization component 〈mΓ〉 of the ground-state vortex in the core direction. Fitting to the micromagnetic simulation data for 〈mΓ〉 yields a simple explicit form of 〈mΓ〉 ≈ (73.6 ± 3.4)(lex/2R)2.20±0.14, where lex is the exchange length of a given material. This dynamic behavior might serve as a foundation for potential bio-applications of size-specific resonant excitation of magnetic vortex-state nanoparticles, for example, magnetic particle resonance imaging.
A G-quadruplex-binding compound showing anti-tumour activity in an in vivo model for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Ohnmacht Stephan A , Marchetti Chiara , Gunaratnam Mekala , Besser Rachael J , Haider Shozeb M , Di Vita Gloria , Lowe Helen L , Mellinas-Gomez Maria , Diocou Seckou , Robson Mathew , Šponer Jiri , Islam Barira , Barbara Pedley R , Hartley John A , Neidle Stephen 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe report here that a tetra-substituted naphthalene-diimide derivative (MM41) has significant in vivo anti-tumour activity against the MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer xenograft model. IV administration with a twice-weekly 15 mg/kg dose produces ca 80% tumour growth decrease in a group of tumour-bearing animals. Two animals survived tumour-free after 279 days. High levels of MM41 are rapidly transported into cell nuclei and were found to accumulate in the tumour. MM41 is a quadruplex-interactive compound which binds strongly to the quadruplexes encoded in the promoter sequences of the BCL-2 and k-RAS genes, both of which are dis-regulated in many human pancreatic cancers. Levels of BCL-2 were reduced by ca 40% in tumours from MM41-treated animals relative to controls, consistent with BCL-2 being a target for MM41. Molecular modelling suggests that MM41 binds to a BCL-2 quadruplex in a manner resembling that previously observed in co-crystal structures with human telomeric quadruplexes. This supports the concept that MM41 (and by implication other quadruplex-targeting small molecules) can bind to quadruplex-forming promoter regions in a number of genes and down-regulate their transcription. We suggest that quadruplexes within those master genes that are up-regulated drivers for particular cancers, may be selective targets for compounds such as MM41.
Antiviral activity of silymarin against chikungunya virus
Authors: Lani Rafidah , Hassandarvish Pouya , Chiam Chun Wei , Moghaddam Ehsan , Chu Justin Jang Hann , Rausalu Kai , Merits Andres , Higgs Stephen , Vanlandingham Dana , Abu Bakar Sazaly , Zandi Keivan 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes chikungunya fever, with clinical presentations such as severe back and small joint pain and debilitating arthritis associated with crippling pains that persist for weeks and even years. Although there are several studies to evaluate the efficacy of drugs against CHIKV, the treatment for chikungunya fever is mainly symptom-based and no effective licensed vaccine or antiviral are available. Here, we investigated the antiviral activity of three types of flavonoids against CHIKV in vitro replication. Three compounds: silymarin, quercetin and kaempferol were evaluated for their in vitro antiviral activities against CHIKV using a CHIKV replicon cell line and clinical isolate of CHIKV of Central/East African genotype. A cytopathic effect inhibition assay was used to determine their activities on CHIKV viral replication and quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to calculate virus yield. Antiviral activity of effective compound was further investigated by evaluation of CHIKV protein expression using western blotting for CHIKV nsP1, nsP3 and E2E1 proteins. Briefly, silymarin exhibited significant antiviral activity against CHIKV, reducing both CHIKV replication efficiency and down-regulating production of viral proteins involved in replication. This study may have important consequence for broaden the chance of getting the effective antiviral for CHIKV infection.
Acid–base dysregulation and chemosensory mechanisms in panic disorder: a translational update
Authors: Vollmer L L , Strawn J R , Sah R 
Published: June 2015

AbstractPanic disorder (PD), a complex anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks, represents a poorly understood psychiatric condition which is associated with significant morbidity and an increased risk of suicide attempts and completed suicide. Recently however, neuroimaging and panic provocation challenge studies have provided insights into the pathoetiology of panic phenomena and have begun to elucidate potential neural mechanisms that may underlie panic attacks. In this regard, accumulating evidence suggests that acidosis may be a contributing factor in induction of panic. Challenge studies in patients with PD reveal that panic attacks may be reliably provoked by agents that lead to acid–base dysbalance such as CO2 inhalation and sodium lactate infusion. Chemosensory mechanisms that translate pH into panic-relevant fear, autonomic, and respiratory responses are therefore of high relevance to the understanding of panic pathophysiology. Herein, we provide a current update on clinical and preclinical studies supporting how acid–base imbalance and diverse chemosensory mechanisms may be associated with PD and discuss future implications of these findings.
Streptococcus pneumoniaesecretes hydrogen peroxide leading to DNA damage and apoptosis in lung cells
Authors: Rai Prashant , Parrish Marcus , Tay Ian Jun Jie , Li Na , Ackerman Shelley , He Fang , Kwang Jimmy , Chow Vincent T. , Engelward Bevin P. 
Published: June 2015

SignificanceStreptococcus pneumoniaeis the most common cause of pneumonia, a leading cause of death globally. Limitations in antibiotic efficacy and vaccines call attention to the need to develop our understanding of host–pathogen interactions to improve mitigation strategies. Here, we show that lung cells exposed toS. pneumoniaeare subject to DNA damage caused by hydrogen peroxide, which is secreted by strains ofS. pneumoniaethat carry the spxBgene. The observation thatS. pneumoniaesecretes hydrogen peroxide at genotoxic and cytotoxic levels is consistent with a model wherein host DNA damage and repair modulate pneumococcal pathogenicity.
A century of sprawl in the United States
Authors: Barrington-Leigh Christopher , Millard-Ball Adam 
Published: June 2015

Significance
Urban development patterns in the 20th century have been increasingly typified by urban sprawl, which exacerbates climate change, energy and material consumption, and public health challenges. We construct the first long-run, high-resolution time series of street-network sprawl in the United States. We find that even in the absence of a coordinated policy effort, new developments have already turned the corner toward less sprawl. Initial impacts on vehicle travel and greenhouse gas emissions will be modest given that the stock of streets changes slowly, but feedbacks are likely to mean that benefits compound in future years. Our publicly released data provide further opportunities for research on urban development and the social and environmental impacts of different urban forms.
A universal entropy-driven mechanism for thioredoxin–target recognition
Authors: Palde Prakash B. , Carroll Kate S. 
Published: June 2015

Significance
Thioredoxin (Trx) is universally conserved thiol-oxidoreductase that regulates numerous cellular pathways under thiol-based redox control, and its activity is often upregulated in malignant cancer cells. Despite its central importance, the mechanism by which Trx recognizes its target proteins remains unknown. Herein, we address this longstanding question by investigating the noncovalent forces involved in Trx–target interactions. Using a combination of biochemical and quantitative biophysical methods, we identify favorable entropy as the major force in molecular recognition that drives target specificity. These findings, and others reported herein, afford considerable new insight into Trx–target recognition, which is critical to understanding its function in normal metabolism and represents a fundamental step toward the development of new pharmacological strategies to address redox-related disorders.
Mediation of donor–acceptor distance in an enzymatic methyl transfer reaction
Authors: Zhang Jianyu , Kulik Heather J. , Martinez Todd J. , Klinman Judith P. 
Published: June 2015

SignificanceDuring the past 30 years, the methyl transfer community has attempted to find the molecular origin of the methyltransferases’ catalytic power. This report describes a combination of experimental and computational studies of enzymatic methyl transfer catalyzed by catechol-O-methyltransferase and its mutants at position Tyr68. The results show structural and dynamical differences between WT and mutants, as well as a role for substrate ionization in the generation of active site compaction. For the first time, to our knowledge, we are able to show a trend in donor–acceptor distance in the ground state that can be correlated with catalytic efficiency. This work provides an important step forward and a clear new direction for understanding enzymatic methyl transfer.
Influence of support morphology on the bonding of molecules to nanoparticles
Authors: Yim Chi Ming , Pang Chi L. , Hermoso Diego R. , Dover Coinneach M. , Muryn Christopher A. , Maccherozzi Francesco , Dhesi Sarnjeet S. , Pérez Rubén , Thornton Geoff 
Published: June 2015

SignificanceSupported metal nanoparticles often exhibit properties differing from those of their single-crystal counterparts. There have been several suggested explanations for this, including quantum size effects, strong metal support interactions, and some interplay between facets. In this article, we show that the support morphology can also have a decisive role in the nanoparticle properties. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that Pd nanocrystals formed across steps of a TiO2support have a curved top facet, where unusual adsorption behavior of CO is found. Calculations suggest that the different adsorption behavior arises from strain originating in the curved top facet. Our observations open the way for the tailoring of nanoparticle functionality by tuning the morphology of the support.
Amorphous oxide alloys as interfacial layers with broadly tunable electronic structures for organic photovoltaic cells
Authors: Zhou Nanjia , Kim Myung-Gil , Loser Stephen , Smith Jeremy , Yoshida Hiroyuki , Guo Xugang , Song Charles , Jin Hosub , Chen Zhihua , Yoon Seok Min , Freeman Arthur J. , Chang Robert P. H. , Facchetti Antonio , Marks Tobin J. 
Published: June 2015

Significance
The development of system-independent and non–material-specific interfacial layers (IFLs) to facilitate efficient charge collection is of crucial importance for organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell performance. Here we report a broadly applicable IFL design strategy using solution-processed amorphous oxide semiconductors where their energetics can be tuned by varying the elemental composition without varying the surface chemistry. Based on the energetic requirements of specific organic active layers, these oxides can be readily designed with dialed-in energy levels. Using OPV solar cells as a test bed, we use a broad series of photoactive bulk heterojunction materials to demonstrate the effectiveness of these electronically tunable oxides for optimizing the performance of diverse OPV material sets.
On the martingale problem for degenerate-parabolic partial differential operators with unbounded coefficients and a mimicking theorem for Itô processes
Authors: Feehan Paul , Pop Camelia 
Published: June 2015

Using results from a companion article by the authors (J. Differential Equations 254 (2013), 4401–4445) on a Schauder approach to existence of solutions to a degenerate-parabolic partial differential equation, we solve three intertwined problems, motivated by probability theory and mathematical finance, concerning degenerate diffusion processes. We show that the martingale problem associated with a degenerate-elliptic differential operator with unbounded, locally Hölder continuous coefficients on a half-space is well-posed in the sense of Stroock and Varadhan. Second, we prove existence, uniqueness, and the strong Markov property for weak solutions to a stochastic differential equation with degenerate diffusion and unbounded coefficients with suitable Hölder continuity properties. Third, for an Itô process with degenerate diffusion and unbounded but appropriately regular coefficients, we prove existence of a strong Markov process, unique in the sense of probability law, whose one-dimensional marginal probability distributions match those of the given Itô process.
m-Health adoption by healthcare professionals: a systematic review
Authors: Gagnon Marie-Pierre , Ngangue Patrice , Payne-Gagnon Julie , Desmartis Marie 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize current knowledge of the factors influencing healthcare professional adoption of mobile health (m-health) applications.
Methods Covering a period from 2000 to 2014, we conducted a systematic literature search on four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo). We also consulted references from included studies. We included studies if they reported the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding barriers and facilitators to m-health utilization, if they were published in English, Spanish, or French and if they presented an empirical study design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods). Two authors independently assessed study quality and performed content analysis using a validated extraction grid with pre-established categorization of barriers and facilitators.
Results The search strategy led to a total of 4223 potentially relevant papers, of which 33 met the inclusion criteria. Main perceived adoption factors to m-health at the individual, organizational, and contextual levels were the following: perceived usefulness and ease of use, design and technical concerns, cost, time, privacy and security issues, familiarity with the technology, risk-benefit assessment, and interaction with others (colleagues, patients, and management).
Conclusion This systematic review provides a set of key elements making it possible to understand the challenges and opportunities for m-health utilization by healthcare providers.
Morphometry of the Greater Palatal Canal in Adult Skulls
Authors: Soto Reinaldo A. , Cáceres Felipe , Vera Cristóbal 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate in dry skulls the length and angle between the greater palatine foramen and the foramen rotundum in both the frontal and sagittal planes. In 50 human skulls from the department of morphology, the distance and angulation required to reach the foramen rotundum through the greater palatine canal were measured in the frontal and sagittal planes. A stylet was introduced up to the foramen rotundum in each greater palatine canal and fixed. The skulls were then photographed from a front and lateral view (both right and left). Finally, the stylets were photographed on graph paper. These images were analyzed with Photoshop software. In the frontal plane, mean angulations of 5.32 degrees on the right side and 6.15 degrees on the left side were obtained. In the sagittal plane, mean angulations of 61.66 degrees on the right side and 61.81 degrees on the left side were obtained. Finally, the mean length required to reach the foramen rotundum was 31.95 mm on the right side and 32.49 mm on the left side. Some of these results differ from those stated in the foreign literature (10 degrees front, 70 degrees sagittal). These differences should be considered for both clinical practice and teaching in Chile.
A Technique for Preoperative Identification of the Facial Nerve Mandibular Branch Using a Nerve Stimulator
Authors: Ijichi Kei , Adachi Makoto , Hamajima Yuki , Murakami Shingo 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
We established the method of preoperative identification to facial nerve marginal mandibular branch (FNMB) identification using a nerve stimulator with bipolar probe for upper-neck surgery. The bipolar electrode is placed on the region while patients were awake; the patient should be in the same position and posture as during the surgery, with the neck skin stretched. A nerve course is confirmed by observing the movement of the lower lip. In this study, 5 upper-neck surgeries were conducted. Preoperative analysis revealed that 4 of the 5 cases had 2 branches of FNMB, and 1 with 3 branches. All FNMB immediately confirmed preoperatively were identified during surgery. We performed this method in much surgery including the surgery of the upper neck. It was easy to identify the facial nerve by this method and came to be able to do it precisely, and an operative time was shortened. We concluded that the preoperative FNMB identification using a nerve stimulator is most useful and benefit for upper-neck surgery patients and lead to avoid lower lip paralysis.