bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protein lysine methylation contributes to modulating the response of sensitive and tolerant Arabidopsis species to cadmium stress
Authors: Serre Nelson B. C. , Sarthou Manon , Gigarel Océane , Figuet Sylvie , Corso Massimiliano , Choulet Justine , Rofidal Valérie , Alban Claude , Santoni Véronique , Bourguignon Jacques , Verbruggen Nathalie , Ravanel Stéphane
Published: November 2019

The mechanisms underlying the response and adaptation of plants to excess of trace elements are not fully described. Here, we analysed the importance of protein lysine methylation for plants to cope with cadmium. We analysed the effect of cadmium on lysine‐methylated proteins and protein lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) in two cadmium‐sensitive species, Arabidopsis thaliana and A. lyrata, and in three populations of A. halleri with contrasting cadmium accumulation and tolerance traits. We showed that some proteins are differentially methylated at lysine residues in response to Cd and that a few genes coding KMTs are regulated by cadmium. Also, we showed that 9 out of 23 A. thaliana mutants disrupted in KMT genes have a tolerance to cadmium that is significantly different from that of wild‐type seedlings. We further characterized two of these mutants, one was knocked out in the calmodulin lysine methyltransferase gene and displayed increased tolerance to cadmium, and the other was interrupted in a KMT gene of unknown function and showed a decreased capacity to cope with cadmium. Together, our results showed that lysine methylation of non‐histone proteins is impacted by cadmium and that several methylation events are important for modulating the response of Arabidopsis plants to cadmium stress.
Adipose tissue‐derived stem cells suppress coronary arteritis of Kawasaki disease in vivo
Authors: Uchimura Ryoichi , Ueda Takahiro , Fukazawa Ryuji , Hayakawa Jun , Ohashi Ryuji , Nagi‐Miura Noriko , Ohno Naohito , Migita Makoto , Itoh Yasuhiko
Published: November 2019

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting in an acute febrile syndrome commonly affecting children younger than 5 years. Coronary arteritis in KD is occasionally non‐responsive to several treatments. Recently, adipose tissue‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been shown to have anti‐inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and tissue‐repair characteristics and are considered a useful treatment for inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to elucidate whether the administration of ADSCs can suppress KD‐associated vasculitis in vivo.

Methods

Candida albicans water‐soluble fraction is often used to model KD via the induction of severe coronary arteritis. Kawasaki disease model mice were intravenously administered ADSCs and phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). On day 29, the mice were sacrificed and hearts from mice in each group were dissected. This was followed by serum collection. Cardiac tissue sections were subjected to histopathological examination to evaluate the inflammatory area. The levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the serum were analyzed at days 15 and 29. The survival rates of both groups were compared.

Results

The mean inflammatory area in coronary arteritis was significantly lower in the ADSC group compared to the PBS group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, such as IL‐1β, IL‐12, IL‐17, RANTES, INF‐γ, and TNF‐α, in the ADSC group were significantly lower than those in the PBS group. Moreover, the ADSC group had a significantly higher survival rate than the PBS group.

Conclusions

These findings highlight that ADSCs have anti‐inflammatory and immune regulatory functions that could provide novel cell‐based therapeutic strategies for severe KD.
Low plasma D‐dimer predicts absence of intracranial injury and skull fracture
Authors: Nozawa Masahiro , Mishina Hiroki , Tsuji Satoshi , Takayama John I
Published: November 2019

Background

Intracranial injury (ICI) is a leading cause of morbidity in children; however, the use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate ICI has significant risks in children. A recent study suggests D‐dimer is associated with ICI. We surveyed the performance of plasma D‐dimer in ruling out ICI or skull fracture (SF) in children with head trauma.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study in the Emergency Department (ED) at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Tokyo, Japan we reviewed the medical records of all children age 0–16 years brought to the ED with head trauma from January 2010 to July 2013, who underwent CT based on established clinical criteria and had plasma D‐dimer measured. We evaluated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of plasma D‐dimer, using abnormal findings on CT (ICI, SF) as the criterion standard. We repeated analysis after stratification by age (<2 years, ≥2 years).

Results

Among 364 eligible children (112 children <2 year of age), abnormal findings on CT were demonstrated in 33.8% (123/364). With the cut‐off set at 0.5 μg/mL, sensitivity was 100.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.6–100.0%), specificity 34.0% (95%CI: 28.1–40.4%), PPV 43.6% (95%CI: 37.7–49.6%), NPV 100.0% (95%CI: 93.5–100%). After stratification by age (<2 years and ≥2 years), sensitivity (100.0% and 100.0%) and NPV (100.0% and 100.0%) remained high in both age groups.

Conclusions

Low plasma D‐dimer (≤0.5 μg/mL) is useful to limit the use of CT in children by excluding traumatic ICI or SF.
Changing water use and adaptive strategies along rainfall gradients in Mediterranean lupins
Authors: Berger J. D. , Ludwig C. , Whisson K.
Published: November 2019

There is growing interest in harnessing the genetic and adaptive diversity of crop wild relatives to improve drought resilience of elite cultivars. Rainfall gradients exert strong selection pressure on both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Understanding plant responses to these facilitates crop improvement.

Wild and domesticated narrow‐leafed lupin (NLL) collected along Mediterranean terminal drought stress gradients was evaluated under contrasting reproductive phase water supply in controlled field, glasshouse and cabinet studies. Plant phenology, growth and productivity, water use and stress responses were measured over time.

There is an integrated suite of adaptive changes along rainfall gradients in NLL. Low rainfall ecotypes flower earlier, accumulate lower seed numbers, biomass and leaf area, and have larger root:shoot ratios than high rainfall ecotypes. Water‐use is lower and stress onset slower in low compared to high rainfall ecotypes. Water‐use rates and ecotypic differences in stress response (Ψleaf decline, leaf loss) are lower in NLL than yellow lupin (YL). To mitigate the effects of profligate water use, high rainfall YL ecotypes maintain higher leaf water content over declining leaf water potential than low rainfall ecotypes. There is no evidence for such specific adaptation in NLL.

The data suggests that appropriate phenology is the key adaptive trait to rainfall gradients in NLL because of the flow‐on effects on biomass production, fitness, transpiration and stress onset, and the lack of physiological adaptations as in YL. Accordingly, it is essential to match phenology with target environment in order to minimize risk and maximize yield potential.
Maturation of resting spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae continues after host cell death
Authors: Al‐Daoud F. , Gossen B. D. , McDonald M. R.
Published: November 2019

Plasmodiophora brassicae, cause of clubroot on canola (Brassica napus) and other Brassicaceae, is an obligate soilborne pathogen that survives in soil as long‐lived resting spores. Factors that affect the maturation of the resting spores are not well understood. To determine if a living host was required for spore maturation, experiments were conducted under controlled conditions and in field trials. Young plants with clubbed roots containing mostly immature spores had the shoots removed, or clubs were harvested at different times. To kill host cells, clubs were frozen or plants were treated with glyphosate. Clubs were then harvested from treated and non‐treated hosts and stored at low temperature (5 or 10 °C) or room temperature (22 °C). Spore concentration and maturation were assessed 2–4 weeks after treatment using propidium monoazide‐assisted quantitative PCR, and results were validated using bioassays. The state of decay of clubs was also observed to determine if it was an indicator of spore maturity. Spores continued to mature after death of host cells or removal of shoots of plants. This demonstrated that a living host was not required for spore maturation. Interestingly, killing host cells prior to storing the clubs at low temperature produced a higher proportion of mature spores and more severe clubroot in bioassays relative to non‐treated clubs held at low temperature. This indicated that death of host cells accelerates spore maturation. Furthermore, mature spores were recovered from both decayed and less decayed clubs, suggesting that club decay is not an indicator of spore maturation.
Converts, Christians and anthropologists: A critique of Mark Mosko’s partible penitent thesis
Authors: Barker John
Published: November 2019

First advanced in a major essay published in 2010, Mark Mosko's ‘partible penitent’ thesis asserts that Melanesian and Christian cultures are based upon analogous conceptions of dividual personhood. Consequently, conversion in the region has been characterised by continuity rather than rupture, as argued most prominently by Joel Robbins. This essay offers an assessment of Mosko's thesis in terms of his critique of the theoretical and ethnographic literature and his recent application of the model to religious change in the Trobriand Islands. Robbins’ work proves more convincing and provocative on both theoretical and methodological grounds. Yet both approaches, which frame their analysis of Christianity in terms of conversion, appear increasingly out of sync with the experience of the vast majority of Melanesians who are more accurately considered active participants in a diverse global religious tradition rather than recipients of it.
“Making coin” and the networker: Masculine self‐making in the Australian professional managerial class
Authors: McNamara Owen
Published: November 2019

In this article I unpack the labour of “networking” to understand the changes in sociality and worker identity that have occurred in the Australian professional managerial class workforce under post‐Fordism. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken at the interface of the pubic service and private consultancy firms in Canberra, I break from dominant readings of intimacy in post‐Fordism which preference either a downwards imposition of “ways of being” from capital to worker, or a reactive self‐regulation in line with objective external structures. Networking, I argue, is as much about being recognised as patron as it is about any tangible economic benefits. The intimate relations and self‐fashioning of networking constitute attempts to embody particular classed, sexualised, gendered fantasies of the figure of “the networker” in post‐Fordist Australian business culture. This interpretation does not necessitate overlooking the tangible results of networking, and I discuss too, how masculine fantasy structures the topography of workplaces.
Identification of the novel HLA‐DQA1*02:11 allele in a Brazilian candidate donor for bone marrow donation
Authors: Vianna Romulo , Secco Danielle , Santos Angela , Porto Luís Cristóvão
Published: November 2019

Identification of the novel HLA‐DQA1*02:11 allele that differs from HLA‐DQA1*02:01:01:01 in exon 2.
Coverage and adherence of antiretroviral therapy among Chinese HIV‐positive men who have sex with men with high CD4 counts in the era of ‘Treat all’
Authors: Yang Xueying , Wang Zixin , Harrison Sayward , Lau Joseph T. F.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

HIV‐positive men who have sex with men (MSM) with CD4 cell counts> 350 cells/mm3 in China recently became eligible for free antiretroviral therapy (ART) due to updated national guidelines. This study aimed to investigate ART coverage and adherence among a large sample of HIV‐positive MSM in China.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in Chengdu and Hangzhou, China, from February to November 2016. Participants were 277 MSM who had received a confirmatory HIV diagnosis and had CD4 levels of> 350 cells/mm3. Trained staff of collaborating non‐governmental organizations contacted all HIV‐positive MSM listed in their service records and invited them to join the study. The ART initiation, ART adherence and interactions between healthcare professionals and the patients were assessed.

Results

ART coverage was 60.3%. Among those who were on ART (n = 167), no participants reported missing any doses in the last four days, but 25.7% reported non‐compliance to either ART dosing schedule or dosage instructions. After adjusting for background variables and perceived eligibility for ART, two variables were significant factors of higher ART coverage: (i) receiving a recommendation from healthcare professionals for immediate ART initiation and (ii) perceiving having received an adequate explanation of potential harms of ART. Being prescribed> 3 pills per dose and not having a temporary resident permit were associated with non‐compliance.

Conclusions

Significant efforts are needed to increase ART coverage among HIV‐positive MSM with high CD4 counts in China. Although prevalence of missing doses was low, non‐compliance to dosing schedule/instructions should not be neglected. Interactions between healthcare professionals and MSMs play an important role in facilitating ART initiation.
Experimental Study on the Emissions Characteristics of a Premixed Axial-Fuel-Staged Model Combustor
Authors: Zheng Xianglong , Xiong Yan , Lei Fulin , Deng Cong , Zhang Zhedian , Xiao Yunhan
Published: November 2019

Axial-fuel-staged combustion is a promising technology to reduce NOx emission at high turbine inlet temperatures and provide extended gas turbine operational flexibility. To investigate the emissions characteristics of the axial-fuel-staged combustion, a staged model combustor was constructed and a parametric study was performed at atmospheric pressure. Fuel distribution, equivalence ratio, and jet velocity effects on the emissions characteristics have been studied in the present research. Results show that the influence of fuel distribution on emissions is depending on the combustor outlet temperature. The NOx emissions increase with secondary fuel fraction when the combustor outlet temperature is low but decrease when the combustor outlet temperature is high. Investigation of the equivalence ratio on each stage shows that a lower relative NOx increase in secondary combustion zone is achieved at higher first-stage equivalence ratio. Moreover, the secondary stage jet velocity was varied to study the jet mixing influence on the emissions. The results show that a higher jet velocity will enhance the mixing between the secondary jet and the upstream first-stage burnt gases, producing lower NOx emissions. Finally, a simplified axial-fuel-staged combustion chemical reactors network (CRN) model was established to study the mixing of the secondary fresh fuel/air mixture and the first-stage burnt gases. The CRN modeling results show that a poor mixing in the secondary stage will significantly increase the NOx emission, which means that the mixing enhancement at the secondary stage is important for the axial-fuel-staged combustor design.
Blade Arrangement Optimization for Mistuned Bladed Disk Based on Gaussian Process Regression and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Pan Wangbai , Zhang Meiyan , Tang Guoan
Published: November 2019

Mistuning phenomena exist in the bladed disk due to the inevitable deviations among blades' properties, e.g., stiffness, mass, geometry, etc., leading to localization and response amplification. The dynamic performance of mistuned bladed disk is sensitive to the arrangement of blades. The blade arrangement optimization aims to obtain the optimal arrangement that minimizes the influence of mistuning. In this paper, a framework of high efficiency is raised to deal with the challenge of high computational cost this optimization. It comprehensively utilizes mixed-dimensional finite element model (MDFEM), Gaussian process (GP) regression, and genetic algorithm (GA). The MDFEM can perform mistuned modal analysis efficiently and provides the training set of GP regression rapidly. The GP model, as a surrogate model, predicts the desired dynamic performance directly without calculating the numerical model and can function as fitness function in optimization. GA has the capability to deal with combinatorial problems and is a good option for problems with large search domains and several local maxima/minima. The techniques and processes of three methods are illustrated in detail. Case studies, based on a real turbine, are concretely presented in a gradually progressive manner to test and verify the effectiveness, accuracy, and efficiency of methods and entire framework step by step. The results show the satisfactory optimal arrangement for a randomly chosen set of mistuned blades, and the influence of mistuning is reduced indeed. The time cost of the optimization has been reduced several orders of magnitude. This framework can be a promising approach for the blade arrangement optimization problem.
Understanding the Laser-Matter Interaction and Plasma Dynamics in Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Shock Processing: A First Principle Study
Authors: Mao Bo , Liao Yiliang
Published: November 2019

Laser-matter interaction and plasma dynamic during laser shock processing determine the key parameters such as laser shock wave pressure and evolution during laser shock processing (LSP) process. A first-principle based model is critically important for elucidating the underlying mechanism and process optimization of the LSP process. The current study focuses on developing a theoretical model for the fundamental understanding of laser-matter interaction and plasma dynamics. The key physical parameters, such as electron and ion temperature, plasma density and shockwave pressure are predicted by this model and validated by experimental results.
Scheduling of Cellular Manufacturing With Flexible Routes Intercell Moves for Carbon Reduction in a Network Environment
Authors: Liu Jialiang , Liu Qiong , Xu Chenxin , Dong Zhaorui , Zou Mengbang
Published: November 2019

In order to rapidly share manufacturing resources among enterprises in a network environment, reduce carbon emissions and production costs, scheduling of cellular manufacturing with intercell moves is studied. Previous researches on cellular manufacturing with intercell moves either supposed that a part can only move between two cells at most one time or supposed that intercell moves of parts were on fixed paths. However, there might be several manufacturing cells with the same processing function or several same machines in different cells in a network environment. Intercell moves of parts might have flexible routes. To make the cellular manufacturing with intercell moves in a network environment, a scheduling model aiming at minimizing total carbon emissions, makespan and total costs is proposed for intercell moves with flexible routes and no restrictions on the number of intercell moves. An improved artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) is proposed to solve the scheduling model. In order to improve searching ability of ABC, neighborhood search with an adaptive stepsize mechanism is proposed in leader bee phase and onlooker phase of the algorithm. A binary tournament selection method is designed to improve convergence speed in the onlooker bee phase. A case study is used to verify the proposed model and algorithm. The results show that improved algorithm has better performance on convergence speed and searching ability than that of original artificial bee colony algorithm.
In Situ Analysis of Deformation Mechanics of Constrained Cutting Towards Enhanced Material Removal
Authors: Guo Yang , Chen Jisheng , Saleh Amr
Published: November 2019

Chip formation in conventional cutting occurs by deformation that is only partially bounded by the cutting tool. The unconstrained free surface is a complication in determining the deformation of chip formation. The constrained cutting employs a constraining tool in the cutting process to confine the otherwise free surface and enable direct control of the chip formation deformation. A study has been made on the deformation mechanics of plane-strain constrained cutting using high speed imaging and digital image correlation (DIC) methods. For different constrained levels (including unconstrained free cutting), material flow of chip formation is directly observed; strain rate and strain in the chip as well as the subsurface region are quantified; cutting forces are measured; and surface finish are examed. The study shows that chip formation in constrained cutting can occur in two different deformation modes, i.e., simple shear and complex extrusion, depending on the constrained level. Constrained cutting in simple shear regime can reduce strain, reduce cutting force and energy, and improve surface finish compared to free cutting, therefore it is more efficient for material removal than free cutting. Constrained cutting in the complex extrusion regime imposes a significant amount of surface / subsurface deformation and consumes a very high cutting energy, and therefore is not suitable for material removal. Furthermore, the mechanics of chip formation in both free cutting and constrained cutting, especially the roles played by the free surface and the constraining tool, are discussed.
Room acoustic modeling and auralization at an indoor firing range
Authors: Murphy William J. , Xiang Ning
Published: November 2019

Reverberation time measurements were conducted in the 21-lane indoor firing range at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Long reverberation times resulted in poor speech transmission indices (STI) which required acoustical treatments within the range. After treatment, reverberation times were significantly reduced and STI was dramatically enhanced. Standard Sabine and Eyring models failed to accurately predict the reverberation times. A computer simulation of the range was developed to predict room acoustic conditions and auralize speech performance for perceptual evaluation in the range.
Untangling the genomics of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus: Contributions of Mus musculus and Homo sapiens
Authors: Clifford Royce E. , Hertzano Ronna , Ohlemiller Kevin K.
Published: November 2019

Acoustic trauma is a feature of the industrial age, in general, and mechanized warfare, in particular. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus have been the number 1 and number 2 disabilities at U.S. Veterans hospitals since 2006. In a reversal of original protocols to identify candidate genes associated with monogenic deafness disorders, unbiased genome-wide association studies now direct animal experiments in order to explore genetic variants common in Homo sapiens. However, even these approaches must utilize animal studies for validation of function and understanding of mechanisms. Animal research currently focuses on genetic expression profiles since the majority of variants occur in non-coding regions, implying regulatory divergences. Moving forward, it will be important in both human and animal research to define the phenotypes of hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as exposure parameters, in order to extricate genes related to acoustic trauma versus those related to aging. It has become clear that common disorders like acoustic trauma are influenced by large numbers of genes, each with small effects, which cumulatively lead to susceptibility to a disorder. A polygenic risk score, which aggregates these small effect sizes of multiple genes, may offer a more accurate description of risk for NIHL and/or tinnitus.
Machine learning in acoustics: Theory and applications
Authors: Bianco Michael J. , Gerstoft Peter , Traer James , Ozanich Emma , Roch Marie A. , Gannot Sharon , Deledalle Charles-Alban
Published: November 2019

Acoustic data provide scientific and engineering insights in fields ranging from biology and communications to ocean and Earth science. We survey the recent advances and transformative potential of machine learning (ML), including deep learning, in the field of acoustics. ML is a broad family of techniques, which are often based in statistics, for automatically detecting and utilizing patterns in data. Relative to conventional acoustics and signal processing, ML is data-driven. Given sufficient training data, ML can discover complex relationships between features and desired labels or actions, or between features themselves. With large volumes of training data, ML can discover models describing complex acoustic phenomena such as human speech and reverberation. ML in acoustics is rapidly developing with compelling results and significant future promise. We first introduce ML, then highlight ML developments in four acoustics research areas: source localization in speech processing, source localization in ocean acoustics, bioacoustics, and environmental sounds in everyday scenes.
A laser-plasma accelerator driven by two-color relativistic femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Li Song , Li Guangyu , Ain Quratul , Hur Min Sup , Ting Antonio C. , Kulagin Victor V. , Kamperidis Christos , Hafz Nasr A. M.
Published: November 2019

Driving a laser-plasma accelerator by two-color laser pulses, e.g., 800 and 400 nm, leads to a considerable electron energy boost.
Fast nonadiabatic dynamics of many-body quantum systems
Authors: Larder B. , Gericke D. O. , Richardson S. , Mabey P. , White T. G. , Gregori G.
Published: November 2019

We develop a new approach to modeling many-body systems based on Bohm’s interpretation of quantum mechanics.
The key player problem in complex oscillator networks and electric power grids: Resistance centralities identify local vulnerabilities
Authors: Tyloo M. , Pagnier L. , Jacquod P.
Published: November 2019

Most vulnerable components identified by resistance centralities in electric power grids.
Two-dimensional polymers with versatile functionalities via gemini monomers
Authors: Li Yang , Gao Huimin , Yu Huan , Jiang Ke , Yu Hua , Yang Yang , Song Yu , Zhang Wenke , Shi Hengchong , Lu Zhongyuan , Liu Kun
Published: November 2019

Polymerization of dynamic bilayer of gemini monomers expands the chemistry, morphology, and functionality of 2D polymers.
Self-supported hydrogenolysis of aromatic ethers to arenes
Authors: Meng Qinglei , Yan Jiang , Liu Huizhen , Chen Chunjun , Li Shaopeng , Shen Xiaojun , Song Jinliang , Zheng Lirong , Han Buxing
Published: November 2019

Biomass-derived aromatic ether can be converted into single arene with >99.9% selectivity via self-supported hydrogenolysis.
Fast surface dynamics enabled cold joining of metallic glasses
Authors: Ma Jiang , Yang Can , Liu Xiaodi , Shang Baoshuang , He Quanfeng , Li Fucheng , Wang Tianyu , Wei Dan , Liang Xiong , Wu Xiaoyu , Wang Yunjiang , Gong Feng , Guan Pengfei , Wang Weihua , Yang Yong
Published: November 2019

We developed a facile ultrasonic vibration route is developed to synthesize BMGs and metallic glass-glass composites.
Valence self-regulation of sulfur in nanoclusters
Authors: Kang Xi , Xu Fengqing , Wei Xiao , Wang Shuxin , Zhu Manzhou
Published: November 2019

First observation of the “−1” valent sulfur as a sole sulfide—S
−1
.
Observation of exceptional points in magnonic parity-time symmetry devices
Authors: Liu Haoliang , Sun Dali , Zhang Chuang , Groesbeck Matthew , Mclaughlin Ryan , Vardeny Z. Valy
Published: November 2019

Parity-time symmetry has been theoretically and experimentally demonstrated in magnonics.
Tuning, optimization, and perovskite solar cell device integration of ultrathin poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) films via a single-step all-dry process
Authors: Heydari Gharahcheshmeh Meysam , Tavakoli Mohammad Mahdi , Gleason Edward F. , Robinson Maxwell T. , Kong Jing , Gleason Karen K.
Published: November 2019

Optimizing PEDOT crystallite texture and lattice constants improves conductivity and enhances perovskite solar cell stability.
Electrically driven optical interferometry with spins in silicon carbide
Authors: Miao Kevin C. , Bourassa Alexandre , Anderson Christopher P. , Whiteley Samuel J. , Crook Alexander L. , Bayliss Sam L. , Wolfowicz Gary , Thiering Gergő , Udvarhelyi Péter , Ivády Viktor , Abe Hiroshi , Ohshima Takeshi , Gali Ádám , Awschalom David D.
Published: November 2019

Unexpectedly strong interactions between electric fields and solid-state quantum systems enable novel electro-optic phenomena.
A divergent transcriptional landscape underpins the development and functional branching of MAIT cells
Authors: Koay H.-F. , Su S. , Amann-Zalcenstein D. , Daley S. R. , Comerford I. , Miosge L. , Whyte C. E. , Konstantinov I. E. , d’Udekem Y. , Baldwin T. , Hickey P. F. , Berzins S. P. , Mak J. Y. W. , Sontani Y. , Roots C. M. , Sidwell T. , Kallies A. , Chen Z. , Nüssing S. , Kedzierska K. , Mackay L. K. , McColl S. R. , Deenick E. K. , Fairlie D. P. , McCluskey J. , Goodnow C. C. , Ritchie M. E. , Belz G. T. , Naik S. H. , Pellicci D. G. , Godfrey D. I.
Published: November 2019

Characterizing MAIT cell development led to the identification of key regulators that specify MAIT cell fate in the thymus.
Dysregulation of Dual-Specificity Phosphatases by Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 and Its Impact on Lymphoblastoid Cell Line Survival
Authors: Lin Kai-Min , Lin Sue-Jane , Lin Juin-Han , Lin Pei-Yi , Teng Pu-Lin , Wu Hsueh-Erh , Yeh Te-Huei , Wang Ying-Piao , Chen Mei-Ru , Tsai Ching-Hwa
Published: November 2019

Infections by the ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are associated with a wide spectrum of lymphomas and carcinomas. It has been well documented that activation levels of MAPKs are found in cancer cells to translate various external or intrinsic stimuli into cellular responses. Physiologically, the dual-specificity phosphates (DUSPs) exhibit great ability in regulating MAPK activities with respect to their capability of dephosphorylating MAPKs. In this study, we found that DUSPs were generally downregulated after EBV infection. EBV oncogenic latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) suppressed DUSP6 and DUSP8 expression via MAPK pathway. In this way, LMP1-mediated MAPK activation was a continuous process. Furthermore, DUSP downregulation was found to contribute greatly to prevent apoptosis of EBV-infected cells. To sum up, this report sheds light on a novel molecular mechanism explaining how EBV maintains the unlimited proliferation status of the immortalized cells and provides a new link to understand EBV-induced B cell survival.
USP22 promotes hypoxia-induced hepatocellular carcinoma stemness by a HIF1α/USP22 positive feedback loop upon TP53 inactivation
Authors: Ling Sunbin , Shan Qiaonan , Zhan Qifan , Ye Qianwei , Liu Peng , Xu Shengjun , He Xin , Ma Jian , Xiang Jiajia , Jiang Guangjiang , Wen Xue , Feng Zijie , Wu Yuan , Feng Tingting , Xu Li , Chen Kangchen , Zhang Xuanyu , Wei Rongli , Zhang Chenzhi , Cen Beini , Xie Haiyang , Song Penghong , Liu Jimin , Zheng Shusen , Xu Xiao
Published: November 2019

Objective

We aimed to elucidate the mutual regulation mechanism of ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF1α), and the mechanism they promote the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under hypoxic conditions.

Design

Cell counting, migration, self-renewal ability, chemoresistance and expression of stemness genes were established to detect the stemness of HCC cells. Immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were used to elucidate the mutual regulation mechanism of USP22 and HIF1α. HCC patient samples and The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to demonstrate the clinical significance. In vivo USP22-targeting experiment was performed in mice bearing HCC.

Results

USP22 promotes hypoxia-induced HCC stemness and glycolysis by deubiquitinating and stabilising HIF1α. As direct target genes of HIF1α, USP22 and TP53 can be transcriptionally upregulated by HIF1α under hypoxic conditions. In TP53 wild-type HCC cells, HIF1α induced TP53-mediated inhibition of HIF1α-induced USP22 upregulation. In TP53-mutant HCC cells, USP22 and HIF1α formed a positive feedback loop and promote the stemness of HCC. HCC patients with a loss-of-function mutation at TP53 and high USP22 and/or HIF1α expression tend to have a worse prognosis. The USP22-targeting lipopolyplexes caused high tumour inhibition and high sorafenib sensitivity in mice bearing HCC.

Conclusion

USP22 promotes hypoxia-induced HCC stemness by a HIF1α/USP22 positive feedback loop on TP53 inactivation. USP22 is a promising target for the HCC therapy.
Scalar leptoquark effects on $$B \rightarrow \mu \bar{\nu }$$ decay
Authors: Hou Wei-Shu , Modak Tanmoy , Wong Gwo-Guang
Published: November 2019

Purely leptonic B meson decays provide unique probes for physics Beyond the Standard Model. We study the impact of a scalar leptoquark, $$S_1$$S1, on $$B \rightarrow \mu \bar{\nu }$$B→μν¯ decay. We find that, for $$m_{S_1}\sim 1\ \hbox {TeV}$$mS1∼1TeV, the $$S_1$$S1 leptoquark can modify the $$B \rightarrow \mu \bar{\nu }$$B→μν¯ rate significantly. Such a leptoquark can in principle also alter the $$B \rightarrow \tau \bar{\nu }$$B→τν¯ rate. However, current searches from LHC and low energy physics provide some constraints on the parameter space.
Differential Effects of Silibinin A on Mitochondrial Function in Neuronal PC12 and HepG2 Liver Cells
Authors: Esselun Carsten , Bruns Bastian , Hagl Stephanie , Grewal Rekha , Eckert Gunter P.
Published: November 2019

The Mediterranean plant Silybum marianum L., commonly known as milk thistle, has been used for centuries to treat liver disorders. The flavonolignan silibinin represents a natural antioxidant and the main bioactive ingredient of silymarin (silybin), a standard extract of its seeds. Mitochondrial dysfunction and the associated generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) are involved in the development of chronic liver and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Silibinin A (SIL A) is one of two diastereomers found in silymarin and was used to evaluate the effects of silymarin on mitochondrial parameters including mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production with and without sodium nitroprusside- (SNP-) induced nitrosative stress, oxidative phosphorylation, and citrate synthase activity in HepG2 and PC12 cells. Both cell lines were influenced by SIL A, but at different concentrations. SIL A significantly weakened nitrosative stress in both cell lines. Low concentrations not only maintained protective properties but also increased basal mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. However, these effects could not be associated with oxidative phosphorylation. On the other side, high concentrations of SIL A significantly decreased MMP and ATP levels. Although SIL A did not provide a general improvement of the mitochondrial function, our findings show that SIL A protects against SNP-induced nitrosative stress at the level of mitochondria making it potentially beneficial against neurological disorders.
Modification of Immunological Parameters, Oxidative Stress Markers, Mood Symptoms, and Well-Being Status in CFS Patients after Probiotic Intake: Observations from a Pilot Study
Authors: Venturini Letizia , Bacchi Sara , Capelli Enrica , Lorusso Lorenzo , Ricevuti Giovanni , Cusa Chiara
Published: November 2019

The present study discusses about the effects of a combination of probiotics able to stimulate the immune system of patients affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). To this purpose, patients diagnosed according to Fukuda’s criteria and treated with probiotics were analyzed by means of clinical and laboratory evaluations, before and after probiotic administrations. Probiotics were selected considering the possible pathogenic mechanisms of ME/CFS syndrome, which has been associated with an impaired immune response, dysregulation of Th1/Th2 ratio, and high oxidative stress with exhaustion of antioxidant reserve due to severe mitochondrial dysfunction. Immune and oxidative dysfunction could be related with the gastrointestinal (GI) chronic low-grade inflammation in the lamina propria and intestinal mucosal surface associated with dysbiosis, leaky gut, bacterial translocation, and immune and oxidative dysfunction. Literature data demonstrate that bacterial species are able to modulate the functions of the immune and oxidative systems and that the administration of some probiotics can improve mucosal barrier function, modulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines, in CFS/ME patients. This study represents a preliminary investigation to verifying the safety and efficacy of a certain combination of probiotics in CFS/ME patients. The results suggest that probiotics can modify the well-being status as well as inflammatory and oxidative indexes in CFS/ME patients. No adverse effects were observed except for one patient, which displayed a flare-up of symptoms, although all inflammatory parameters (i.e., cytokines, fecal calprotectin, ESR, and immunoglobulins) were reduced after probiotic intake. The reactivation of fatigue symptoms in this patient, whose clinical history reported the onset of CFS/ME following mononucleosis, could be related to an abnormal stimulation of the immune system as suggested by a recent study describing an exaggerated immune activation associated with chronic fatigue.
Evaluation of the Safety of Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy Compared with Surgical Tracheostomy in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Suzuki Yuta , Suzuki Takeshi , Yamamoto Yuko , Teshigawara Ayano , Okuda Jun , Suhara Tomohiro , Ueda Tomomi , Nagata Hiromasa , Yamada Takashige , Morisaki Hiroshi
Published: November 2019

Background. Tracheostomy is a necessary procedure for patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation support. There are two methods for tracheostomy in current use: surgical tracheostomy (ST) and percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT). In the current study, we retrospectively compared the safety of both procedures performed in our intensive care unit (ICU). Methods. In this study, we enrolled subjects who underwent tracheostomy in our ICU between January 2012 and March 2016. We excluded subjects who were <20 years old and underwent tracheostomy in the operating room. As a primary outcome, we evaluated the rate of complications between ST and PDT groups. The length of ICU stay, time to tracheostomy from intubation, and the rate of mechanical ventilation and mortality at 28 postoperative days were also examined as secondary outcomes. Results. Compared with the ST group, the rate of all complications was lower in the PDT group (13.4% vs. 38.8%, p=0.007). Although the rate of intraoperative complications did not differ between the two groups (3.8% vs. 8.1%, p=0.62), relative to the ST procedure, the PDT procedure was associated with fewer postoperative complications (34.6% vs. 9.6%, p=0.003). Among postoperative complications, accidental removal of the tracheostomy tube and an air leak from the tracheostomy fistula were less frequent in the PDT group than the ST group. Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in their secondary outcomes. Conclusion. This retrospective study indicates that relative to ST, PDT is a safer procedure to be performed in the ICU. Fewer postoperative complications following PDT might be attributed to the small skin incision made during this procedure.
Estimating the Relative Speed of RF Jammers in VANETs
Authors: Kosmanos Dimitrios , Argyriou Antonios , Maglaras Leandros
Published: November 2019

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) aim at enhancing road safety and providing a comfortable driving environment by delivering early warning and infotainment messages to the drivers. Jamming attacks, however, pose a significant threat to their performance. In this paper, we propose a novel Relative Speed Estimation Algorithm (RSEA) of a moving vehicle that approaches a transmitter (Tx)-receiver (Rx) pair that interferes with their radio frequency (RF) communication by conducting a denial of service (DoS) attack. Our scheme is completely passive and uses a pilot-based received signal without hardware or computational cost to, firstly, estimate the combined channel between the transmitter-receiver and jammer-receiver and, secondly, to estimate the jamming signal and the relative speed between the jammer-receiver using the RF Doppler shift. Moreover, the relative speed metric exploits the angle of projection (AOP) of the speed vector of the jammer in the axis of its motion in order to form a two-dimensional representation of the geographical area. Our approach can effectively be applied for any form of the jamming signal and is proven to have quite accurate performance, with a mean absolute error (MAE) value of approximately 10% compared to the optimal zero MAE value under different jamming attack scenarios.
Fatty Acid Content in Biomasses: State-of-the-Art and Novel Physical Property Estimation Methods
Authors: Sousa Ana M. , Andrade Thalles A. , Errico Massimiliano , Coelho José P. , Filipe Rui M. , Matos Henrique A.
Published: November 2019

In line with the growing environmental awareness developed along the last decades, modern societies are urged to evolve into sustainable economics where the reuse of organic wastes represents the key feedstock for a green transaction. The oil phase obtained from different biomasses has the potential to be a source of food supplements, medicines, cosmetics, or feedstock for biofuel production. In the present work, the composition of 104 different biomasses including seeds, peels, flowers, plants, and leaves has been reviewed for the lipid content. Based on the most frequent fatty acids screened, experimental data for normal boiling point temperature, normal melting point, critical properties, and acentric factor were collected and compared with the most common estimation methods, which are functions of the molecular structure and interaction between different functional groups. New predictive equations have been proposed to reduce the estimation deviation and to provide simple correlations to be used in simulation software when dealing with biomass processes. For all the properties, the estimations proposed have an absolute average deviation equal to or lower than 4.6%.
Upregulation of Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Type 3 Channel via AT1R/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 Induces Atrial Fibrosis in Aging and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: He Rongfang , Zhang Juan , Luo Dan , Yu Yiyan , Chen Tangting , Yang Yan , Yu Fengxu , Li Miaoling
Published: November 2019

Fibroblast proliferation and migration are central in atrial fibrillation (AF) promoting structure remodeling, which is strongly associated with aging and hypertension. Transient receptor potential canonical-3 channel (TRPC3) is a key mediator of cardiac fibrosis and the pathogenesis of AF. Here, we have observed the increased TRPC3 expression that induced atrial fibrosis which possibly is either mediated by the aging process or related to hypertensive progression. In this study, we measured the pathological structure remodeling by H&E staining, Masson staining, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The protein expression levels of fibrotic biomarkers and TRPC3 were measured by Western blotting with atrial tissues from normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY 4m-o (4 months old)), old WKY (WKY 24m-o (24 months old)), spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR 4m-o (4 months old)), and old SHR (SHR 24m-o (24 months old)). To illuminate the molecular mechanism of TRPC3 in atrial fibrosis of aging rats and SHR, we detected the inhibited role of TRPC3 selective blocker ethyl-1-(4-(2,3,3-trichloroacrylamide) phenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate,pyrazole-3 (Pyr3) on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced fibrosis in neonatal rat atrial fibroblasts. The pathological examination showed that the extracellular matrix (ECM) and collagen fibrils were markedly increased in atrial tissues from aged and hypertensive rats. The protein expressions of fibrotic biomarkers (collagen I, collagen III, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)) were significantly upregulated in atrial tissues from the WKY 24m-o group, SHR 4m-o group, and SHR 24m-o group compared with the WKY 4m-o group. Meanwhile, the expression level of TRPC3 was significantly upregulated in WKY 24m-o and SHR 4m-o atrial tissues compared to WKY 4m-o rats. In isolated and cultured neonatal rat atrial fibroblasts, Ang II induced the atrial fibroblast migration and proliferation and upregulated the expression levels of TRPC3 and fibrotic biomarkers. TRPC3 selected blocker Pyr3 attenuated the migration and proliferation in neonatal rat atrial fibroblasts. Furthermore, Pyr3 significantly alleviated Ang II-induced upregulation of TRPC3, collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β1 through the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Similarly, knocking down TRPC3 using short hairpin RNA (shTRPC3) also attenuated Ang II-induced upregulation of TGF-β1. Pyr3 preconditioning decreased Ang II-induced intracellular Ca2+ transient amplitude elevation. Furthermore, AT1 receptor was involved in Ang II-induced TRPC3 upregulation. Hence, upregulation of TRPC3 in aging and hypertension is involved in an atrial fibrosis process. Inhibition of TRPC3 contributes to reverse Ang II-induced fibrosis. TRPC3 may be a potential therapeutic target for preventing fibrosis in aging and hypertension.
Alpha-Synuclein Preserves Mitochondrial Fusion and Function in Neuronal Cells
Authors: Faustini Gaia , Marchesan Elena , Zonta Laura , Bono Federica , Bottani Emanuela , Longhena Francesca , Ziviani Elena , Valerio Alessandra , Bellucci Arianna
Published: November 2019

Dysregulations of mitochondria with alterations in trafficking and morphology of these organelles have been related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by brain accumulation of Lewy bodies (LB), intraneuronal inclusions mainly composed of α-synuclein (α-syn) fibrils. Experimental evidence supports that α-syn pathological aggregation can negatively impinge on mitochondrial functions suggesting that this protein may be crucially involved in the control of mitochondrial homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assay this hypothesis by analyzing mitochondrial function and morphology in primary cortical neurons from C57BL/6JOlaHsd α-syn null and C57BL/6J wild-type (wt) mice. Primary cortical neurons from mice lacking α-syn showed decreased respiration capacity measured with a Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. In addition, morphological Airyscan superresolution microscopy showed the presence of fragmented mitochondria while real-time PCR and western blot confirmed altered expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial shape modifications in the primary cortical neurons of α-syn null mice. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed that α-syn null neurons exhibited impaired mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) physical interaction. Specifically, we identified a decreased number of mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) paralleled by a significant increase in ER-mitochondria distance (i.e., MERC length). These findings support that α-syn physiologically preserves mitochondrial functions and homeostasis. Studying α-syn/mitochondria interplay in health and disease is thus pivotal for understanding their involvement in PD and other LB disorders.