bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Myh11 single lysine deletion causes aortic dissection by reducing aortic structural integrity and contractility
Authors: Negishi Keita , Aizawa Kenichi , Shindo Takayuki , Suzuki Toru , Sakurai Takayuki , Saito Yuichiro , Miyakawa Takuya , Tanokura Masaru , Kataoka Yosky , Maeda Mitsuyo , Tomida Shota , Morita Hiroyuki , Takeda Norifumi , Komuro Issei , Kario Kazuomi , Nagai Ryozo , Imai Yasushi 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPathogenic variants in myosin heavy chain (Myh11) cause familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (FTAAD). However, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unclear because of a lack of animal models. In this study, we established a mouse model with Myh11 K1256del, the pathogenic variant we found previously in two FTAAD families. The Myh11∆K/∆K aorta showed increased wall thickness and ultrastructural abnormalities, including weakened cell adhesion. Notably, the Myh11∆K/+ mice developed aortic dissections and intramural haematomas when stimulated with angiotensin II. Mechanistically, integrin subunit alpha2 (Itga2) was downregulated in the Myh11∆K/∆K aortas, and the smooth muscle cell lineage cells that differentiated from Myh11∆K/∆K induced pluripotent stem cells. The contractility of the Myh11∆K/∆K aortas in response to phenylephrine was also reduced. These results imply that the suboptimal cell adhesion indicated by Itga2 downregulation causes a defect in the contraction of the aorta. Consequently, the defective contraction may increase the haemodynamic stress underlying the aortic dissections.
The role of the meningeal lymphatic system in local meningeal inflammation and trigeminal nociception
Authors: Mikhailov Nikita , Virenque Anaïs , Koroleva Kseniia , Eme-Scolan Elisa , Teleman Matei , Abdollahzadeh Ali , Giniatullina Raisa , Gafurov Oleg , Krivoshein Georgii , Malm Tarja , Hämäläinen Riikka H. , Sierra Alejandra , Tohka Jussi , Rua Rejane , Noe Francesco M. , Giniatullin Rashid 
Published: May 2022

AbstractA system of lymphatic vessels has been recently characterized in the meninges, with a postulated role in ‘cleaning’ the brain via cerebral fluid drainage. As meninges are the origin site of migraine pain, we hypothesized that malfunctioning of the lymphatic system should affect the local trigeminal nociception. To test this hypothesis, we studied nociceptive and inflammatory mechanisms in the hemiskull preparations (containing the meninges) of K14-VEGFR3-Ig (K14) mice lacking the meningeal lymphatic system. We recorded the spiking activity of meningeal afferents and estimated the local mast cells population, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and cytokine levels as well as the dural trigeminal innervation in freshly-isolated hemiskull preparations from K14-VEGFR3-Ig (K14) or wild type C57BL/6 mice (WT). Spiking activity data have been confirmed in an acquired model of meningeal lymphatic dysfunction (AAV-mVEGFR3(1–4)Ig induced lymphatic ablation). We found that levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL12-p70 and CGRP, implicated in migraine, were reduced in the meninges of K14 mice, while the levels of the mast cell activator MCP-1 were increased. The other migraine-related pro-inflammatory cytokines (basal and stimulated), did not differ between the two genotypes. The patterns of trigeminal innervation in meninges remained unchanged and we did not observe alterations in basal or ATP-induced nociceptive firing in the meningeal afferents associated with meningeal lymphatic dysfunction. In summary, the lack of meningeal lymphatic system is associated with a new balance between pro- and anti-migraine mediators but does not directly trigger meningeal nociceptive state.
Paleoenvironment reconstruction and peat-forming conditions of Neogene paralic coal sequences from Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Zainal Abidin Nor Syazwani , Mustapha Khairul Azlan , Abdullah Wan Hasiah , Konjing Zainey 
Published: May 2022

AbstractEight coal seams containing Neogene paralic coals from the Mukah coalfield, Sarawak, Malaysia, were investigated using petrographical, palynological, and organic geochemical analyses to describe coal-forming vegetation, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironment conditions during peat development and precursor mires, as well as their associations within a sequence-stratigraphic context. The petrographic and geochemical data of the coals imply the existence of oxygen-deficient and water-saturated conditions in the precursor mires. The reducing conditions in the mires were followed by biomass loss. The Mukah coals are suggested to be deposited in freshwater peat swamps, and the rich preservation of angiosperm pollen indicates that the organic matter in dense and lowland forest vegetation was mostly terrigenous. The overwhelming presence of Casuarina and Calamus types suggest the paleomires were closely linked to the Kerapah/Kerangas peat forest and were marginally bordered by rattan, which was supported by biomarker data. Rheotrophic–ombrotrophic mires temporarily formed due to water table fluctuations, which were strongly dependent on ever-wet climate changes and syn-depositional tectonics during the Neogene, and resulted in the balanced to high peat accumulation and preservation. A maximum thickness of 35 m of peat deposits is suggested to form between 10,000 and 175,000 years ago based on the peat:coal ratio. The coals are proposed to be influenced by transgressive to initial highstand cycles within the paralic setting.
In vitro proliferation and long-term preservation of functional primary rat hepatocytes in cell fibers
Authors: Mazari-Arrighi Elsa , Okitsu Teru , Teramae Hiroki , Aoyagi Hoshimi , Kiyosawa Mahiro , Yano Mariko , Chatelain François , Fuchs Alexandra , Takeuchi Shoji 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPrimary hepatocytes are essential cellular resources for drug screening and medical transplantation. While culture systems have already succeeded in reconstituting the biomimetic microenvironment of primary hepatocytes, acquiring additional capabilities to handle them easily as well as to expand them remains unmet needs. This paper describes a culture system for primary rat hepatocytes, based on cell fiber technology, that brings scalability and handleability. Cell fibers are cell-laden core–shell hydrogel microfibers; in the core regions, cells are embedded in extracellular matrix proteins, cultured three-dimensionally, and exposed to soluble growth factors in the culture medium via the hydrogel shells. By encapsulating primary rat hepatocytes within cell fibers, we first demonstrated their proliferation while maintaining their viability and their hepatic specific functions for up to thirty days of subsequent culture. We then demonstrated the efficiency of proliferating primary rat hepatocytes in cell fibers not only as cell-based sensors to detect drugs that damage hepatic functions and hepatocellular processes but also as transplants to improve the plasma albumin concentrations of congenital analbuminemia. Our culture system could therefore be included in innovative strategies and promising developments in applying primary hepatocytes to both pharmaceutical and medical fields.
Proline confers acid stress tolerance to Bacillus megaterium G18
Authors: Goswami Gunajit , Hazarika Dibya Jyoti , Chowdhury Naimisha , Bora Sudipta Sankar , Sarmah Unmona , Naorem Romen Singh , Boro Robin Chandra , Barooah Madhumita 
Published: May 2022

AbstractProline plays a multifunctional role in several organisms including bacteria in conferring protection under stress conditions. In this paper we report the role of proline in conferring acid tolerance to Bacillus megaterium G18. An acid susceptible mutant of B. megaterium G18 which required proline for its growth under acid stress condition was generated through Tn5 mutagenesis. Further, targeted inactivation of proC involved in osmo-adaptive proline synthesis in B. megaterium G18 resulted in the loss of ability of the bacterium to grow at low pH (pH 4.5). Exogenous supply of proline (1 mM) to the growth medium restored the ability of the mutant cells to grow at pH 4.5 which was not the same in case of other osmoprotectants tested. Proline was produced and secreted to extracellular medium by B. megaterium G18 when growing in low pH condition as evidenced by the use of Escherichia coli proline auxotrophs and HPLC analysis. Further, pHT01 vector based expression of full length proC gene in the ∆proC mutant cells restored the survival capacity of the mutant cells in acidic pH, suggesting that proline production is an important strategy employed by B. megaterium G18 to survive under acid stress induced osmotic stress.
X-ray nanoimaging of a transversely embedded carbon fiber in epoxy matrix under static and cyclic loads
Authors: Takahashi Kosuke , Shoya Ryosuke , Matsuo Takuma , Sato Wataru , Nakamura Takashi , Takeuchi Akihisa , Uesugi Masayuki , Uesugi Kentaro 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe initial stage of fatigue failure has not been thoroughly clarified for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). Although the initiation of fatigue cracks has been regarded to be interfacial debonding between the carbon fiber and polymer matrix, their detection among numerous carbon fibers, whose diameter is only 7 µm, is extremely difficult. In this study, a single carbon fiber was transversely embedded in a dumbbell-shaped epoxy sample to focus on the interfacial debonding and was observed using synchrotron radiation (SR) X-ray computed tomography (CT). A tabletop fatigue testing machine driven by a piezoelectric actuator was developed to apply static and cyclic loads along the beamline. SR X-ray multiscale CT imaging was conducted by switching between an absorption-contrast projection method (micro-CT) and a phase-contrast imaging-type X-ray microscopic CT (nano-CT). The carbon fiber was entirely captured by micro-CT and then magnified at both ends on the free surfaces. Nano-CT clearly visualized the interfacial debonding under 30 MPa static tensile load and the implication of the coalescence of nano-voids along the interface under 50 MPa. Under cyclic loads, the interfacial debonding gradually progressed under a 8–40 MPa sinusoidal stress after 10,000 cycles, whereas it did not propagate under a stress below 30 MPa.
Quantitative radiological analysis and clinical outcomes of urgent EC-IC bypass for hemodynamic compromised patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Jo Hyunjun , Seo Dongwook , Kim Young Deok , Ban Seung Pil , Kim Tackeun , Kwon O-Ki , Oh Chang Wan , Sunwoo Leonard , Kim Beom Joon , Han Moon-Ku , Bae Hee-Joon , Lee Si Un , Bang Jae Seung 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of urgent extracranial-to-intracranial bypass (EIB) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through quantitative analysis of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) results using RAPID software. We retrospectively analyzed 41 patients who underwent urgent EIB for AIS under strict operation criteria. The quantitative data from CTP images were reconstructed to analyze changes in pre- and postoperative perfusion status in terms of objective numerical values using RAPID software. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes, including complications and neurological status, were also analyzed. Postoperatively, the volume of time-to-max (Tmax) > 6 s decreased significantly; it continued to improve significantly until 6 months postoperatively (preoperative, 78 ml (median); immediate postoperative, 23 ml; postoperative 6 months, 7 ml; p = 0.000). Ischemic core-penumbra mismatch volumes were also significantly improved until 6 months postoperatively (preoperative, 72 ml (median); immediate postoperative, 23 ml; postoperative 6 months, 5 ml; p = 0.000). In addition, the patients’ neurological condition improved significantly (p < 0.001). Only one patient (2.3%) showed progression of infarction. Urgent EIB using strict indications can be a feasible treatment for IAT-ineligible patients with AIS due to large vessel occlusion or stenosis.
Improving user experience of SSVEP BCI through low amplitude depth and high frequency stimuli design
Authors: Ladouce S. , Darmet L. , Torre Tresols J. J. , Velut S. , Ferraro G. , Dehais F. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSteady-States Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEP) refer to the sustained rhythmic activity observed in surface electroencephalography (EEG) in response to the presentation of repetitive visual stimuli (RVS). Due to their robustness and rapid onset, SSVEP have been widely used in Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI). However, typical SSVEP stimuli are straining to the eyes and present risks of triggering epileptic seizures. Reducing visual stimuli contrast or extending their frequency range both appear as relevant solutions to address these issues. It however remains sparsely documented how BCI performance is impacted by these features and to which extent user experience can be improved. We conducted two studies to systematically characterize the effects of frequency and amplitude depth reduction on SSVEP response. The results revealed that although high frequency stimuli improve visual comfort, their classification performance were not competitive enough to design a reliable/responsive BCI. Importantly, we found that the amplitude depth reduction of low frequency RVS is an effective solution to improve user experience while maintaining high classification performance. These findings were further validated by an online T9 SSVEP-BCI in which stimuli with 40% amplitude depth reduction achieved comparable results (>90% accuracy) to full amplitude stimuli while significantly improving user experience.
Relativistic motions of spin-zero quantum oscillator field in a global monopole space-time with external potential and AB-effect
Authors: Ahmed Faizuddin 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we analyze a spin-zero relativistic quantum oscillator in the presence of the Aharonov–Bohm magnetic flux in a space-time background produced by a point-like global monopole (PGM). Afterwards, we introduce a static Coulomb-type scalar potential and subsequently with the same type of vector potential in the quantum system. We solve the generalized Klein–Gordon oscillator analytically for different functions (e.g. Coulomb- and Cornell-type functions) and obtain the bound-states solutions in each case. We discuss the effects of topological defects associated with the scalar curvature of the space-time and the Coulomb-type external potentials on the energy profiles and the wave function of these oscillator fields. Furthermore, we show that the obtained energy eigenvalues depend on the magnetic quantum flux which gives rise to the gravitational analogue of the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) effect.
Proteomic profiling of concurrently isolated primary microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells from adult mouse heart
Authors: Cao Zhiping , Minnier Jessica , Liu Lijuan , Scott Kristin L. Lyon , Reddy Ashok P. , Wilmarth Phillip A. , David Larry L. , Barnes Anthony P. , Grafe Marjorie R. , Kaul Sanjiv , Alkayed Nabil J. , Davis Catherine M. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe microcirculation serves crucial functions in adult heart, distinct from those carried out by epicardial vessels. Microvessels are governed by unique regulatory mechanisms, impairment of which leads to microvessel-specific pathology. There are few treatment options for patients with microvascular heart disease, primarily due to limited understanding of underlying pathology. High throughput mRNA sequencing and protein expression profiling in specific cells can improve our understanding of microvessel biology and disease at the molecular level. Understanding responses of individual microvascular cells to the same physiological or pathophysiological stimuli requires the ability to isolate the specific cell types that comprise the functional units of the microcirculation in the heart, preferably from the same heart, to ensure that different cells have been exposed to the same in-vivo conditions. We developed an integrated process for simultaneous isolation and culture of the main cell types comprising the microcirculation in adult mouse heart: endothelial cells, pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells. These cell types were characterized with isobaric labeling quantitative proteomics and mRNA sequencing. We defined microvascular cell proteomes, identified novel protein markers, and confirmed established cell-specific markers. Our results allow identification of unique markers and regulatory proteins that govern microvascular physiology and pathology.
Lake microbiome and trophy fluctuations of the ancient hemp rettery
Authors: Iwańska Olga , Latoch Przemysław , Suchora Magdalena , Pidek Irena A. , Huber Miłosz , Bubak Iwona , Kopik Natalia , Kovalenko Mariia , Gąsiorowski Michał , Armache Jean-Paul , Starosta Agata L. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractLake sediments not only store the long-term ecological information including pollen and microfossils but are also a source of sedimentary DNA (sedDNA). Here, by the combination of traditional multi-proxy paleolimnological methods with the whole-metagenome shotgun-sequencing of sedDNA we were able to paint a comprehensive picture of the fluctuations in trophy and bacterial diversity and metabolism of a small temperate lake in response to hemp retting, across the past 2000 years. Hemp retting (HR), a key step in hemp fibre production, was historically carried out in freshwater reservoirs and had a negative impact on the lake ecosystems. In Lake Slone, we identified two HR events, during the late stage of the Roman and Early Medieval periods and correlated these to the increased trophy and imbalanced lake microbiome. The metagenomic analyses showed a higher abundance of Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes and Bacteroidetes and a functional shift towards anaerobic metabolism, including degradation of complex biopolymers such as pectin and cellulose, during HR episodes. The lake eutrophication during HR was linked to the allochthonous, rather than autochthonous carbon supply—hemp straws. We also showed that the identification of HR based on the palynological analysis of hemp pollen may be inconclusive and we suggest the employment of the fibre count analysis as an additional and independent proxy.
Pinolenic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects in peripheral blood-derived monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Takala Rabaa , Ramji Dipak P. , Andrews Robert , Zhou You , Farhat Mustafa , Elmajee Mohammed , Rundle Shelley , Choy Ernest 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPinolenic acid (PNLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid from pine nuts, has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. We aimed to investigate the direct anti-inflammatory effect and anti-atherogenic effects of PNLA on activated purified CD14 monocytes from peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to assess the proportions of CD14 monocytes expressing TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 in purified monocytes from patients with RA after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation with/without PNLA pre-treatment. The whole genomic transcriptome (WGT) profile of PNLA-treated, and LPS-activated monocytes from patients with active RA was investigated by RNA-sequencing. PNLA reduced percentage of monocytes expressing cytokines: TNF-α by 23% (p = 0.048), IL-6 by 25% (p = 0.011), IL-1β by 23% (p = 0.050), IL-8 by 20% (p = 0.066). Pathway analysis identified upstream activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), sirtuin3, and let7 miRNA, and KLF15, which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidative. In contrast, DAP3, LIF and STAT3, which are involved in TNF-α, and IL-6 signal transduction, were inhibited. Canonical Pathway analysis showed that PNLA inhibited oxidative phosphorylation (p = 9.14E−09) and mitochondrial dysfunction (p = 4.18E−08), while the sirtuin (SIRTs) signalling pathway was activated (p = 8.89E−06) which interfere with the pathophysiological process of atherosclerosis. Many miRNAs were modulated by PNLA suggesting potential post-transcriptional regulation of metabolic and immune response that has not been described previously. Multiple miRNAs target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4), single-immunoglobulin interleukin-1 receptor molecule (SIGIRR), mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase membrane subunit 6 (MT-ATP6) and acetyl-CoA acyltranferase2 (ACAA2); genes implicated in regulation of lipid and cell metabolism, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. PNLA has potential anti-atherogenic and immune-metabolic effects on monocytes that are pathogenic in RA and atherosclerosis. Dietary PNLA supplementation regulates key miRNAs that are involved in metabolic, mitochondrial, and inflammatory pathways.
Association between climate variables and pulmonary tuberculosis incidence in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Chaw Liling , Liew Sabrina Q. R. , Wong Justin 
Published: May 2022

AbstractWe investigated the association between climate variables and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) incidence in Brunei-Muara district, Brunei Darussalam. Weekly PTB case counts and climate variables from January 2001 to December 2018 were analysed using distributed lag non-linear model framework. After adjusting for long-term trend and seasonality, we observed positive but delayed relationship between PTB incidence and minimum temperature, with significant adjusted relative risk (adj.RR) at 25.1 °C (95th percentile) when compared to the median, from lag 30 onwards (adj.RR = 1.17 [95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.01, 1.36]), suggesting effect of minimum temperature on PTB incidence after 30 weeks. Similar results were observed from a sub-analysis on smear-positive PTB case counts from lag 29 onwards (adj.RR = 1.21 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.45]), along with positive and delayed association with total rainfall at 160.7 mm (95th percentile) when compared to the median, from lag 42 onwards (adj.RR = 1.23 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.49]). Our findings reveal evidence of delayed effects of climate on PTB incidence in Brunei, but with varying degrees of magnitude, direction and timing. Though explainable by environmental and social factors, further studies on the relative contribution of recent (through primary human-to-human transmission) and remote (through reactivation of latent TB) TB infection in equatorial settings is warranted.
Exploration for adequate non-diffractive beam generation in dense scattering media
Authors: Xiafukaiti Alifu , Lagrosas Nofel , Shiina Tatsuo 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe propagation methods of a non-diffractive beam (NDB) for optical sensing in scattering media have been extensively studied. However, those methods can realize the high resolution and long depth of focus in the viewpoint of microscopic imaging. In this study, we focus on macroscopic sensing in living tissues with a depth of a few tens centimeters. An experimental approach for generating adequate NDB in dense scattering media based on the linear relationship between propagation distance and transport mean free path is reported. For annular beams with different diameters, the same changes of the center intensity ratio of NDB are obtained from the experiment results. They are discussed with theoretical analysis. As a result, the maximum center intensity ratio of the adequate generated NDB can be estimated at arbitrary propagation distance in the dense scattering media.