bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eating occasions and the contribution of foods to sodium and potassium intakes in adults
Authors: Dickinson Kacie M , Chan Lily , Moores Carly J , Miller Jacqueline , Thomas Jolene , Yaxley Alison , Jackson Kathryn , Mehta Kaye , Matwiejczyk Louisa , Wray Amanda , Miller Michelle
Published: November 2017

Objective

To examine dietary Na and K intake at eating occasions in Australian adults and identify the contribution of major food sources to Na and K at different eating occasions.

Design

Secondary analysis of 24 h recall diet data from the Australian Health Survey (2011–2013).

Setting

Nationally representative survey in Australia.

Subjects

Male and female Australians aged 18–84 years (n7818).

Results

Dinner contributed the greatest proportion to total daily Na intake (33 %) and K intake (35 %). Na density was highest at lunch (380 mg/MJ) and K density highest at between-meal time eating occasions (401 mg/MJ). Between-meal time eating occasions provided 20 % of daily Na intake and 26 % of daily K intake. The major food group sources of Na were different at meal times (breads and mixed dishes) compared with between-meal times (cakes, muffins, scones, cake-type desserts). The top food group sources of K at meal times were potatoes and unprocessed meat products and dishes.

Conclusions

Foods which contributed to Na and K intake differed according to eating occasion. Major food sources of Na were bread and processed foods. Major food sources of K were potatoes and meat products and dishes. Public health messages that emphasise meal-based advice and diet patterns high in vegetables, fruits and unprocessed foods may also aid reduction in dietary Na intake and increase in dietary K intake.
Regulation of Inter-Provincial Establishment in China: Learning from Europe?
Authors: SHEN GUANG
Published: November 2017

With a multilevel governance structure, China and the EU both face the task of preventing lower level political entities from impeding capital mobility. In China, licensing barriers, as the main protectionist measure, are sometimes created by local authorities, leading to restrictions on inter-provincial establishment of companies. Moreover, whether or not to create such barriers depends on various factors. In the EU, a major effort has been undertaken to facilitate cross-border establishment and any remaining barriers mainly arise from national regulatory autonomy in some areas. In terms of further facilitating company mobility, while the strong judicial mechanism in the EU has tackled some of the remaining barriers, China's weak administrative and judicial systems seem unable to prevent the creation of licensing barriers. This paper argues that precise rules defined by the legislative authority offer a better prospect of regulatory effectiveness for China whose administrative capacities are weak and courts are not independent. More specifically, legislative decision making in the setting of inter-provincial establishment should be taken at the central level. Moreover, national legislators should precisely and clearly prescribe which authorities are empowered to control inter-provincial establishment, and under what conditions.
THE PARADOX OF RACE AND CULTURE IN DEWEY'SDEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION
Authors: Fallace Thomas
Published: November 2017

Democracy and Educationwas Dewey's magnum opus on education, the work in which he pulled together decades of research and thinking on schooling in a democratic society. It was also the work in which Dewey explicitly and implicitly affirmed his theories on race and cultural development. In this intellectual history, the author argues thatDemocracy and Educationrepresented a transition in Dewey's thinking on race and culture, away from his previous concerns with psychological-sociological stage theory toward his expanded focus on cultural pluralism as an essential component of democratic life. As a result, Dewey presented a contradictory perspective on race and culture that both depicted nonwhite societies as previous steps in the universal stages of development, but also valued racial and cultural diversity as necessary elements of his theory of cultural pluralism. The juxtaposition of Dewey's pre-1916 concern with genetic stage theories and his post-1916 concern for cultural pluralism created a paradox in his views on race and culture, one with which educators are still struggling today.
An improved method for deceptive jamming against synthetic aperture radar
Authors: Joshi Hem Dutt , Kaur Ravneet , Singh Ashutosh Kumar , Mishra Amit
Published: November 2017

Jamming of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is more difficult than the conventional radars because of its high processing gain. The defocusing of fake or virtual scatterers is the main problem that any jamming technique needs to tackle. An algorithm based on fractional Fourier transform is proposed for the efficient jamming of SAR. The results show that the performance of proposed algorithm is better than conventional Range Doppler Algorithm.
PLCγ-dependent mTOR signalling controls IL-7-mediated early B cell development
Authors: Yu Mei , Chen Yuhong , Zeng Hu , Zheng Yongwei , Fu Guoping , Zhu Wen , Broeckel Ulrich , Aggarwal Praful , Turner Amy , Neale Geoffrey , Guy Cliff , Zhu Nan , Chi Hongbo , Wen Renren , Wang Demin
Published: November 2017

The precise molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of early B cell lymphopoiesis is unclear. The PLCγ signaling pathway is critical for antigen receptor-mediated lymphocyte activation, but its function in cytokine signaling is unknown. Here we show that PLCγ1/PLCγ2 double deficiency in mice blocks early B cell development at the pre-pro-B cell stage and renders B cell progenitors unresponsive to IL-7. PLCγ pathway inhibition blocks IL-7-induced activation of mTOR, but not Stat5. The PLCγ pathway activates mTOR through the DAG/PKC signaling branch, independent of the conventional Akt/TSC/Rheb signaling axis. Inhibition of PLCγ/PKC-induced mTOR activation impairs IL-7-mediated B cell development. PLCγ1/PLCγ2 double-deficient B cell progenitors have reduced expression of genes related to B cell lineage, IL-7 signaling, and cell cycle. Thus, IL-7 receptor controls early B lymphopoiesis through activation of mTOR via PLCγ/DAG/PKC signaling, not via Akt/Rheb signaling.
The vaccinia virus DNA polymerase structure provides insights into the mode of processivity factor binding
Authors: Tarbouriech Nicolas , Ducournau Corinne , Hutin Stephanie , Mas Philippe J. , Man Petr , Forest Eric , Hart Darren J. , Peyrefitte Christophe N. , Burmeister Wim P. , Iseni Frédéric
Published: November 2017

Vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototype member of thePoxviridae, replicates in the cytoplasm of an infected cell. The catalytic subunit of the DNA polymerase E9 binds the heterodimeric processivity factor A20/D4 to form the functional polymerase holoenzyme. Here we present the crystal structure of full-length E9 at 2.7 Å resolution that permits identification of important poxvirus-specific structural insertions. One insertion in the palm domain interacts with C-terminal residues of A20 and thus serves as the processivity factor-binding site. This is in strong contrast to all other family B polymerases that bind their co-factors at the C terminus of the thumb domain. The VACV E9 structure also permits rationalization of polymerase inhibitor resistance mutations when compared with the closely related eukaryotic polymerase delta–DNA complex.
mTOR intersects antibody-inducing signals from TACI in marginal zone B cells
Authors: Sintes Jordi , Gentile Maurizio , Zhang Shuling , Garcia-Carmona Yolanda , Magri Giuliana , Cassis Linda , Segura-Garzón Daniel , Ciociola Alessandra , Grasset Emilie K. , Bascones Sabrina , Comerma Laura , Pybus Marc , Lligé David , Puga Irene , Gutzeit Cindy , He Bing , DuBois Wendy , Crespo Marta , Pascual Julio , Mensa Anna , Aróstegui Juan Ignacio , Juan Manel , Yagüe Jordi , Serrano Sergi , Lloreta Josep , Meffre Eric , Hahne Michael , Cunningham-Rundles Charlotte , Mock Beverly A. , Cerutti Andrea
Published: November 2017

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) enhances immunity in addition to orchestrating metabolism. Here we show that mTOR coordinates immunometabolic reconfiguration of marginal zone (MZ) B cells, a pre-activated lymphocyte subset that mounts antibody responses to T-cell-independent antigens through a Toll-like receptor (TLR)-amplified pathway involving transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI). This receptor interacts with mTOR via the TLR adapter MyD88. The resulting mTOR activation instigates MZ B-cell proliferation, immunoglobulin G (IgG) class switching, and plasmablast differentiation through a rapamycin-sensitive pathway that integrates metabolic and antibody-inducing transcription programs, including NF-κB. Disruption of TACI–mTOR interaction by rapamycin, truncation of the MyD88-binding domain of TACI, or B-cell-conditional mTOR deficiency interrupts TACI signaling via NF-κB and cooperation with TLRs, thereby hampering IgG production to T-cell-independent antigens but not B-cell survival. Thus, mTOR drives innate-like antibody responses by linking proximal TACI signaling events with distal immunometabolic transcription programs.
Self-probing spectroscopy of XUV photo-ionization dynamics in atoms subjected to a strong-field environment
Authors: Azoury Doron , Krüger Michael , Orenstein Gal , Larsson Henrik R. , Bauch Sebastian , Bruner Barry D. , Dudovich Nirit
Published: November 2017

Single-photon ionization is one of the most fundamental light matter interactions in nature, serving as a universal probe of the quantum state of matter. By probing the emitted electron, one can decode the full dynamics of the interaction. When photo-ionization is evolving in the presence of a strong laser field, the fundamental properties of the mechanism can be signicantly altered. Here we demonstrate how the liberated electron can perform a self-probing measurement of such interaction with attosecond precision. Extreme ultraviolet attosecond pulses initiate an electron wavepacket by photo-ionization, a strong infrared field controls its motion, and finally electron–ion collision maps it into re-emission of attosecond radiation bursts. Our measurements resolve the internal clock provided by the self-probing mechanism, obtaining a direct insight into the build-up of photo-ionization in the presence of the strong laser field.
Quantification of flexoelectricity in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattice polar vortices using machine learning and phase-field modeling
Authors: Li Q. , Nelson C. T. , Hsu S.-L. , Damodaran A. R. , Li L.-L. , Yadav A. K. , McCarter M. , Martin L. W. , Ramesh R. , Kalinin S. V.
Published: November 2017

Flexoelectricity refers to electric polarization generated by heterogeneous mechanical strains, namely strain gradients, in materials of arbitrary crystal symmetries. Despite more than 50 years of work on this effect, an accurate identification of its coupling strength remains an experimental challenge for most materials, which impedes its wide recognition. Here, we show the presence of flexoelectricity in the recently discovered polar vortices in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices based on a combination of machine-learning analysis of the atomic-scale electron microscopy imaging data and phenomenological phase-field modeling. By scrutinizing the influence of flexocoupling on the global vortex structure, we match theory and experiment using computer vision methodologies to determine the flexoelectric coefficients for PbTiO3 and SrTiO3. Our findings highlight the inherent, nontrivial role of flexoelectricity in the generation of emergent complex polarization morphologies and demonstrate a viable approach to delineating this effect, conducive to the deeper exploration of both topics.
PDGFR-modulated miR-23b cluster and miR-125a-5p suppress lung tumorigenesis by targeting multiple components of KRAS and NF-kB pathways
Authors: Naidu Srivatsava , Shi Lei , Magee Peter , Middleton Justin D. , Laganá Alessandro , Sahoo Sudhakar , Leong Hui Sun , Galvin Melanie , Frese Kristopher , Dive Caroline , Guzzardo Vincenza , Fassan Matteo , Garofalo Michela
Published: November 2017

In NSCLC alterations in PDGF receptors are markers of worst prognosis and efficient targeting of these receptors is yet to be achieved. In this study, we explored PDGFR-regulated microRNAs demonstrating that miR-23b cluster and miR-125a-5p are downregulated by increased expression of PDGFR-α or PDGFR-β in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, the expression of these microRNAs is positively regulated by p53 and negatively modulated by NF-kB p65. Forced expression of miR-23b cluster or miR-125a-5p enhanced drug sensitivity and suppressed invasiveness of NSCLC cells by silencing several genes involved in oncogenic KRAS and NF-kB pathways, including SOS1, GRB2, IQGAP1, RALA, RAF-1, IKKβ, AKT2, ERK2 and KRAS itself. Of note, an inverse correlation between miR-23b cluster, miR-125a-5p and respective target genes was also found in vivo in a large dataset of lung adenocarcinoma samples. Furthermore, in vivo delivery of miR-23b cluster or miR-125a-5p significantly repressed tumour growth in a highly aggressive NSCLC circulating tumour cell (CTC) patient derived explant (CDX) mouse model. In conclusion, our finding sheds light on the PDGFR signaling and endorses the possibility to employ miR-23b cluster and miR-125a-5p as therapeutic tools to silence simultaneously a range of redundant pathways and main effectors of tumorigenesis in NSCLC.
Nitric oxide mediated inhibition of antigen presentation from DCs to CD4+ T cells in cancer and measurement of STAT1 nitration
Authors: Markowitz Joseph , Wang Jiang , Vangundy Zach , You Jia , Yildiz Vedat , Yu Lianbo , Foote Isaac P. , Branson Owen E. , Stiff Andrew R. , Brooks Taylor R. , Biesiadecki Brandon , Olencki Thomas , Tridandapani Susheela , Freitas Michael A. , Papenfuss Tracey , Phelps Mitch A. , Carson William E.
Published: November 2017

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) produce nitric oxide (NO) and inhibit dendritic cell (DC) immune responses in cancer. DCs present cancer cell antigens to CD4+T cells through Jak-STAT signal transduction. In this study, NO donors (SNAP and DETA-NONOate) inhibited DC antigen presentation. As expected, MDSC isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cancer patients produced high NO levels. We hypothesized that NO producing MDSC in tumor-bearing hosts would inhibit DC antigen presentation. Antigen presentation from DCs to CD4+T cells (T cell receptor transgenic OT-II) was measured via a [3H]-thymidine incorporation proliferation assay. MDSC from melanoma tumor models decreased the levels of proliferation more than pancreatic cancer derived MDSC. T cell proliferation was restored when MDSC were treated with inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME and NCX-4016). A NO donor inhibited OT II T cell receptor recognition of OT II specific tetramers, thus serving as a direct measure of NO inhibition of antigen presentation. Our group has previously demonstrated that STAT1 nitration also mediates MDSC inhibitory effects on immune cells. Therefore, a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay demonstrated that nitration of the STAT1-Tyr701 occurs in PBMC derived from both pancreatic cancer and melanoma patients.
Disruption of diphthamide synthesis genes and resulting toxin resistance as a robust technology for quantifying and optimizing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing
Authors: Killian Tobias , Dickopf Steffen , Haas Alexander K. , Kirstenpfad Claudia , Mayer Klaus , Brinkmann Ulrich
Published: November 2017

We have devised an effective and robust method for the characterization of gene-editing events. The efficacy of editing-mediated mono- and bi-allelic gene inactivation and integration events is quantified based on colony counts. The combination of diphtheria toxin (DT) and puromycin (PM) selection enables analyses of 10,000–100,000 individual cells, assessing hundreds of clones with inactivated genes per experiment. Mono- and bi-allelic gene inactivation is differentiated by DT resistance, which occurs only upon bi-allelic inactivation. PM resistance indicates integration. The robustness and generalizability of the method were demonstrated by quantifying the frequency of gene inactivation and cassette integration under different editing approaches: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated complete inactivation was ~30–50-fold more frequent than cassette integration. Mono-allelic inactivation without integration occurred >100-fold more frequently than integration. Assessment of gRNA length confirmed 20mers to be most effective length for inactivation, while 16–18mers provided the highest overall integration efficacy. The overall efficacy was ~2-fold higher for CRISPR/Cas9 than for zinc-finger nuclease and was significantly increased upon modulation of non-homologous end joining or homology-directed repair. The frequencies and ratios of editing events were similar for two different DPH genes (independent of the target sequence or chromosomal location), which indicates that the optimization parameters identified with this method can be generalized.
Energy neutral: the human foot and ankle subsections combine to produce near zero net mechanical work during walking
Authors: Takahashi Kota Z. , Worster Kate , Bruening Dustin A.
Published: November 2017

The human foot and ankle system is equipped with structures that can produce mechanical work through elastic (e.g., Achilles tendon, plantar fascia) or viscoelastic (e.g., heel pad) mechanisms, or by active muscle contractions. Yet, quantifying the work distribution among various subsections of the foot and ankle can be difficult, in large part due to a lack of objective methods for partitioning the forces acting underneath the stance foot. In this study, we deconstructed the mechanical work production during barefoot walking in a segment-by-segment manner (hallux, forefoot, hindfoot, and shank). This was accomplished by isolating the forces acting within each foot segment through controlling the placement of the participants’ foot as it contacted a ground-mounted force platform. Combined with an analysis that incorporated non-rigid mechanics, we quantified the total work production distal to each of the four isolated segments. We found that various subsections within the foot and ankle showed disparate work distribution, particularly within structures distal to the hindfoot. When accounting for all sources of positive and negative work distal to the shank (i.e., ankle joint and all foot structures), these structures resembled an energy-neutral system that produced net mechanical work close to zero (−0.012 ± 0.054 J/kg).
A Complementary Scale of Biased Agonism for Agonists with Differing Maximal Responses
Authors: Burgueño Javier , Pujol Marta , Monroy Xavier , Roche David , Varela Maria Jose , Merlos Manuel , Giraldo Jesús
Published: November 2017

Compelling data in the literature from the recent years leave no doubt about the pluridimensional nature of G protein-coupled receptor function and the fact that some ligands can couple with different efficacies to the multiple pathways that a receptor can signal through, a phenomenon most commonly known as functional selectivity or biased agonism. Nowadays, transduction coefficients (log(τ/KA)), based on the Black and Leff operational model of agonism, are widely used to calculate bias. Nevertheless, combining both affinity and efficacy in a single parameter can result in compounds showing a defined calculated bias of one pathway over other though displaying varying experimental bias preferences. In this paper, we present a novel scale (log(τ)), that attempts to give extra substance to different compound profiles in order to better classify compounds and quantify their bias. The efficacy-driven log(τ) scale is not proposed as an alternative to the affinity&efficacy-driven log(τ/KA) scale but as a complement in those situations where partial agonism is present. Both theoretical and practical approaches using μ-opioid receptor agonists are presented.
Oral exposure to dibutyl phthalate exacerbates chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis through oxidative stress in female Wistar rats
Authors: Wu Yang , Li Jinquan , Yan Biao , Zhu Yuqing , Liu Xudong , Chen Mingqing , Li Dai , Lee Ching-Chang , Yang Xu , Ma Ping
Published: November 2017

Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) is a common autoimmune disorder. The possible pathogenic role and mechanism of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in CLT is still controversial. Experiments were conducted after 35-days of oral exposure to the three concentrations of DBP or saline, and three immunizations with thyroglobulin (TG). Healthy female Wistar rats were randomly divided into ten exposure groups (n = 8 each): (A) saline control, (B) 0.5 mg/kg/d DBP, (C) 5 mg/kg/d DBP, (D) 50 mg/kg/d DBP, (E) TG-immunized group, (F) TG- combined with 0.5 mg/kg/d DBP, (G) TG- combined with 5 mg/kg/d DBP, (H) TG- combined with 50 mg/kg/d DBP, (I) TG- combined with 50 mg/kg/d DBP plus 100 mg/kg/d vitamin C; (J) 100 mg/kg/d vitamin C. We showed that oral exposure DBP can aggravate CLT in rats. This deterioration was concomitant with increased thyroid auto antibodies, Th1/Th2 imbalance and Th17 immune response, activated pro-inflammatory and apoptosis pathways, and increased thyroid dysfunction in rats. Our results also suggested that DBP could promote oxidative damage. The study also found that vitamin C reduced the levels of oxidative stress and alleviated CLT. In short, the study showed that DBP exacerbated CLT through oxidative stress.
Microbial Diversity of Genital Ulcers of HSV-2 Seropositive Women
Authors: Mehta Supriya D. , Pradhan Ashish K. , Green Stefan J. , Naqib Ankur , Odoyo-June Elijah , Gaydos Charlotte A. , Barry Sheila , Landay Alan , Bailey Robert C.
Published: November 2017

We measured the microbial community structure of genital ulcers in women. Swabs from clinically detected ulcers were tested for HSV-2 and Treponema pallidum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HSV-2 and T. pallidum were detected by serum antibody testing. Microbial community structure was characterized by high-throughput 16 s rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Multiple group testing and Elastic net and Lasso regressions identified taxa associated with differences in factors of interest. Among 49 ulcer specimens from 49 HSV-2 seropositive women, by PCR HSV-2 was recovered from 28 (57%) specimens and T. pallidum from none; one woman showed serologic evidence of syphilis. Overall, 63% of women were HIV-positive and 49% had an uncircumcised male sex partner. By both multiple group testing and regression, Porphyromonas (FDR p-value = 0.02), Prevotella (FDR p-value = 0.03), Anaerococcus (FDR p-value = 0.07), and Dialister (FDR p-value = 0.09) were detected at higher relative abundance in HSV-2 PCR-positive than negative ulcers. The presence of HSV-2 in a lesion was associated with presumed bacterial agents of Bacterial vaginosis. Differences in bacterial communities may contribute to HSV-2 ulcer pathogenesis, severity, or prolonged healing. If these results are confirmed, future studies may consider the influence of BV treatment on women’s GUD and HSV-2 incidence and recurrence.
Protein-Ligand Blind Docking Using QuickVina-W With Inter-Process Spatio-Temporal Integration
Authors: Hassan Nafisa M. , Alhossary Amr A. , Mu Yuguang , Kwoh Chee-Keong
Published: November 2017

“Virtual Screening” is a common step of in silico drug design, where researchers screen a large library of small molecules (ligands) for interesting hits, in a process known as “Docking”. However, docking is a computationally intensive and time-consuming process, usually restricted to small size binding sites (pockets) and small number of interacting residues. When the target site is not known (blind docking), researchers split the docking box into multiple boxes, or repeat the search several times using different seeds, and then merge the results manually. Otherwise, the search time becomes impractically long. In this research, we studied the relation between the search progression and Average Sum of Proximity relative Frequencies (ASoF) of searching threads, which is closely related to the search speed and accuracy. A new inter-process spatio-temporal integration method is employed in Quick Vina 2, resulting in a new docking tool, QuickVina-W, a suitable tool for “blind docking”, (not limited in search space size or number of residues). QuickVina-W is faster than Quick Vina 2, yet better than AutoDock Vina. It should allow researchers to screen huge ligand libraries virtually, in practically short time and with high accuracy without the need to define a target pocket beforehand.
Impact of spatial characteristics in the left stenotic coronary artery on the hemodynamics and visualization of 3D replica models
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Xin , Xia Yufa , Liu Xin , Wu Wanqing , Xiong Huahua , Zhang Heye , Xu Lin , Wong Kelvin K. L. , Ouyang Hanbin , Huang Wenhua
Published: November 2017

Cardiovascular disease has been the major cause of death worldwide. Although the initiation and progression mechanism of the atherosclerosis are similar, the stenotic characteristics and the corresponding medical decisions are different between individuals. In the present study, we performed anatomic and hemodynamic analysis on 8 left coronary arterial trees with 10 identified stenoses. A novel boundary condition method had been implemented for fast computational fluid dynamics simulations and patient-specific three-dimensional printed models had been built for visualizations. Our results suggested that the multiple spatial characteristics (curvature of the culprit vessel multiplied by an angle of the culprit’s vessel to the upstream parent branch) could be an index of hemodynamics significance (r = −0.673, P-value = 0.033). and reduction of the maximum velocity from stenosis to downstream was found correlated to the FFRCT (r = 0.480, p = 0.160). In addition, 3D printed models could provide accurate replicas of the patient-specific left coronary arterial trees compare to virtual 3D models (r = 0.987, P-value < 0.001). Therefore, the visualization of the 3D printed models could help understand the spatial distribution of the stenoses and the hand-held experience could potentially benefit the educating and preparing of medical strategies.
Fungal networks serve as novel ecological routes for enrichment and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes as exhibited by microcosm experiments
Authors: Nazir Rashid , Shen Ju-Pei , Wang Jun-Tao , Hu Hang-Wei , He Ji-Zheng
Published: November 2017

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment and their subsequent acquisition by clinically important microorganisms are a serious concern. However, the spread of environmental ARGs remain largely unknown. We report, for the first time, the involvement of soil fungi in the distribution of bacteria with ARGs via soil microcosms. qPCR assay detected unique ARGs specifically found in the mycosphere of different fungi. Interestingly, the taxonomically and ecologically different fungi exerted different selection pressures on ARGs originating from the same source. Test fungi supported different antibiotic resistance bacteria enriched in the mycosphere and even transported to distant places. The relative abundance of the tnpA gene decreased, for manure, along mycelial networks of all fungi. While the fungal strain NFC-5 enriched the intI1 gene more, opposite to two other fungi at the migration front compared with the inoculation point for both sources. Such data indicate the differential effect of different fungi to facilitate horizontal gene transfer potential under fungal selection pressure. Our study provides the evidence that fungi can contribute ARGs, host bacterial diversity and abundance, and such interactive microbial consortia have the potential to disseminate the resistance determinants from one place to another, thus increasing the ARGs exposure risk to humans.
JMJD8 is a novel endoplasmic reticulum protein with a JmjC domain
Authors: Yeo Kok Siong , Tan Ming Cheang , Lim Yat-Yuen , Ea Chee-Kwee
Published: November 2017

Jumonji C (JmjC) domain-containing proteins have been shown to regulate cellular processes by hydroxylating or demethylating histone and non-histone targets. JMJD8 belongs to the JmjC domain-only family that was recently shown to be involved in angiogenesis and TNF-induced NF-κB signaling. Here, we employed bioinformatic analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy to examine the physiological properties of JMJD8. We demonstrated that JMJD8 localizes to the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum and that JMJD8 forms dimers or oligomers in vivo. Furthermore, we identified potential JMJD8-interacting proteins that are known to regulate protein complex assembly and protein folding. Taken together, this work demonstrates that JMJD8 is the first JmjC domain-containing protein found in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum that may function in protein complex assembly and protein folding.
Two-step process for disassembly mechanism of proteasome α7 homo-tetradecamer by α6 revealed by high-speed atomic force microscopy
Authors: Kozai Toshiya , Sekiguchi Taichiro , Satoh Tadashi , Yagi Hirokazu , Kato Koichi , Uchihashi Takayuki
Published: November 2017

The 20S proteasome is a core particle of the eukaryotic proteasome responsible for proteolysis and is composed of layered α and β hetero-heptameric rings. The α7 subunit, which is one of components of the α ring, is known to self-assemble into a double-ringed homo-tetradecamer composed of two layers of the α7 heptameric ring. The α7 tetradecamer is known to disassemble upon the addition of α6 subunit, producing a 1:7 hetero-octameric α6-α7 complex. However, the detailed disassembly mechanism remains unclear. Here, we applied high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to dissect the disassembly process of the α7 double ring caused by interaction with the α6. HS-AFM movies clearly demonstrated two different modes of interaction in which the α6 monomer initially cracks at the interface between the stacked two α7 single rings and the subsequent intercalation of the α6 monomer in the open pore of the α7 single ring blocks the re-association of the single rings into the double ring. This result provides a mechanistic insight about the disassembly process of non-native homo-oligomers formed by proteasome components which is crucial for the initial process for assembly of 20S proteasome.
Non-destructive elemental analysis of a carbonaceous chondrite with direct current Muon beam at MuSIC
Authors: Terada K. , Sato A. , Ninomiya K. , Kawashima Y. , Shimomura K. , Yoshida G. , Kawai Y. , Osawa T. , Tachibana S.
Published: November 2017

Electron- or X-ray-induced characteristic X-ray analysis has been widely used to determine chemical compositions of materials in vast research fields. In recent years, analysis of characteristic X-rays from muonic atoms, in which a muon is captured, has attracted attention because both a muon beam and a muon-induced characteristic X-ray have high transmission abilities. Here we report the first non-destructive elemental analysis of a carbonaceous chondrite using one of the world-leading intense direct current muon beam source (MuSIC; MUon Science Innovative Channel). We successfully detected characteristic muonic X-rays of Mg, Si, Fe, O, S and C from Jbilet Winselwan CM chondrite, of which carbon content is about 2 wt%, and the obtained elemental abundance pattern was consistent with that of CM chondrites. Because of its high sensitivity to carbon, non-destructive elemental analysis with a muon beam can be a novel powerful tool to characterize future retuned samples from carbonaceous asteroids.
Large scale matching of function to the genetic identity of retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Pisano Filippo , Zampaglione Erin , McAlinden Niall , Roebber Jennifer , Dawson Martin D. , Mathieson Keith , Sher Alexander
Published: November 2017

Understanding the role of neurons in encoding and transmitting information is a major goal in neuroscience. This requires insight on the data-rich neuronal spiking patterns combined, ideally, with morphology and genetic identity. Electrophysiologists have long experienced the trade-offs between anatomically-accurate single-cell recording techniques and high-density multi-cellular recording methods with poor anatomical correlations. In this study, we present a novel technique that combines large-scale micro-electrode array recordings with genetic identification and the anatomical location of the retinal ganglion cell soma. This was obtained through optogenetic stimulation and subsequent confocal imaging of genetically targeted retinal ganglion cell sub-populations in the mouse. With the many molecular options available for optogenetic gene expression, we view this method as a versatile tool for matching function to genetic classifications, which can be extended to include morphological information if the density of labelled cells is at the correct level.
Metabolomics identifies metabolite biomarkers associated with acute rejection after heart transplantation in rats
Authors: Lin Feng , Ou Yi , Huang Chuan-Zhong , Lin Sheng-Zhe , Ye Yun-Bin
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study was to identify metabolite biomarkers associated with acute rejection after heart transplantation in rats using a LC-MS-based metabolomics approach. A model of heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation was established in rats, with Wistar rats as donors and SD rats as recipients. Blood and cardiac samples were collected from blank control rats (Group A), rats 5 (Group B) and 7 days (Group C) after heart transplantation, and pretreated rats 5 (Group D) and 7 days (Group E) post-transplantation for pathological and metabolomics analyses. We assessed International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) grades 0, 3B, 4, 1 and 1 rejection in groups A to E. There were 15 differential metabolites between groups A and B, 14 differential metabolites between groups A and C, and 10 differential metabolites between groups B and C. In addition, four common differential metabolites, including D-tagatose, choline, C16 sphinganine and D-glutamine, were identified between on days 5 and 7 post-transplantation. Our findings demonstrate that the panel of D-tagatose, choline, C16 sphinganine and D-glutamine exhibits a high sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of acute rejection after heart transplantation, and LC-MS-based metabolomics approach has a potential value for screening post-transplantation biomarkers.
Reductions in root hydraulic conductivity in response to clay soil and treated waste water are related to PIPs down-regulation in Citrus
Authors: Paudel Indira , Cohen Shabtai , Shlizerman Lyudmila , Jaiswal Amit K. , Shaviv Avi , Sadka Avi
Published: November 2017

Citrus hydraulic physiology and PIP transcript levels were characterized in heavy (clay) and light (sandy loam) soils with and without treated waste water (TWW) irrigation after a summer irrigation season and at the end of a winter rainy season recovery period. Consistent reductions in clay soils compared to sandy loam were found for fresh water (FW) and TWW irrigation, respectively, in root water uptake, as well as in hydraulic conductivity of whole plant (Ksplant), stem (Ksstem) and root (Ksroot). Transcript levels of most PIPs down-regulated following TWW irrigation in both soils, but relative gene expression of three PIPs was significantly higher in summer for sandy soil and FW than for clay soil and TWW; their mRNA levels was significantly correlated to Ksroot. A pot experiment, which compared short term influences of saline and TWW found that both treatments, compared to FW, reduced root water uptake and PIPs mRNA levels by 2-fold after 20 days, and the decreases continued with time until the end of the experiment. These latter data indicated that salinity had an important influence. Our results suggest that plant hydraulic adjustment to soil texture and water quality occurs rapidly, i.e. within days, and is modulated by PIPs expression.
Tactile Frequency-Specific High-Gamma Activities in Human Primary and Secondary Somatosensory Cortices
Authors: Ryun Seokyun , Kim June Sic , Lee Hyeongrae , Chung Chun Kee
Published: November 2017

Humans can easily detect vibrotactile stimuli up to several hundred hertz, but underlying large-scale neuronal processing mechanisms in the cortex are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the macroscopic neural correlates of various vibrotactile stimuli including artificial and naturalistic ones in human primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2, respectively) using electrocorticography (ECoG). We found that tactile frequency-specific high-gamma (HG, 50–140 Hz) activities are seen in both S1 and S2 with different temporal dynamics during vibration (>100 Hz). Stimulus-evoked S1 HG power, which exhibited short-delayed peaks (50–100 ms), was attenuated more quickly in vibration than in flutter (<50 Hz), and their attenuation patterns were frequency-specific within vibration range. In contrast, S2 HG power, which was activated much later than that of S1 (150–250 ms), strikingly increased with increasing stimulus frequencies in vibration range, and their changes were much greater than those in S1. Furthermore, these S1-S2 HG patterns were preserved in naturalistic stimuli such as coarse/fine textures. Our results provide persuasive evidence that S2 is critically involved in neural processing for high-frequency vibrotaction. Therefore, we propose that S1-S2 neuronal co-operation is crucial for full-range, complex vibrotactile perception in human.
Triplex-quadruplex structural scaffold: a new binding structure of aptamer
Authors: Bing Tao , Zheng Wei , Zhang Xin , Shen Luyao , Liu Xiangjun , Wang Fuyi , Cui Jie , Cao Zehui , Shangguan Dihua
Published: November 2017

Apart from the canonical Watson-Crick duplex, nucleic acids can often form other structures, e.g. G-quadruplex and triplex. These structures give nucleic acid additional functions besides coding for genetic information. Aptamers are one type of functional nucleic acids that bind to specific targets with high selectivity and affinity by folding into special tertiary structures. Despite the fact that numerous aptamers have been reported, only a few different types of aptamer structures are identified. Here we report a novel triplex-quadruplex hybrid scaffold formed by a codeine binding aptamer (CBA). CBA and its derivatives are G-rich DNA sequences. Codeine binding can induce the formation of a complex structure for this aptamer containing a G-quadruplex and a G·GC triplex, while codeine is located at the junction of the triplex and quadruplex. When split CBA into two moieties, codeine does not bind either moieties individually, but can bind them together by inducing the formation of the triplex-quadruplex scaffold. This structure formation induced by codeine binding is shown to inhibit polymerase reaction, which shows a potential application of the aptamer sequence in gene regulations.
Astrocyte elevated gene-1 promotes tumour growth and invasion by inducing EMT in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Ting , Sun Yunduan , Sun Wenjing , Wang Xiumei
Published: November 2017

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common human malignancy with a high incidence rate and poor prognosis. Although astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1) expression is up-regulated in various human cancers and plays an important role in carcinogenesis and tumour progression, the impact of AEG-1 on the development and progression of OSCC remains unclear. Accordingly, this study aims to clarify the biological significance of AEG-1 in OSCC. We found AEG-1 to be overexpressed in OSCC tissues compared to normal oral mucosa. Knockdown or overexpression of AEG-1 in OSCC cell lines showed that AEG-1 is important for tumour growth, apoptosis, drug tolerance, and maintaining epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated cell migration and invasion in vitro. Moreover, in a xenograft-mouse model generated by AEG-1-overexpressing SCC15 cells, we found that higher expression of AEG-1 promoted tumour growth, angiogenesis, and EMT in vivo. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the role of AEG-1 in regulating OSCC tumour growth, apoptosis, drug tolerance, and invasion, as well as AEG-1-induced activation of p38 and NF-κB signalling, suggesting that AEG-1 is an important prognostic factor and therapeutic target for OSCC.
Genetic relationships and evolution of old Chinese garden roses based on SSRs and chromosome diversity
Authors: Tan Jiongrui , Wang Jing , Luo Le , Yu Chao , Xu Tingliang , Wu Yuying , Cheng Tangren , Wang Jia , Pan Huitang , Zhang Qixiang
Published: November 2017

Old Chinese garden roses are the foundation of the modern rose, which is one of the best-selling ornamental plants. However, the horticultural grouping and evolution of old Chinese garden roses are unclear. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were employed to survey genetic diversity in old Chinese garden roses and genetic differentiation was estimated among different rose groups. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to study the physical localization of 5 S rDNA genes and a karyotype analysis was performed. The SSR data suggest that old Chinese garden roses could be divided into Old Blush group, Odorata group and Ancient hybrid China group. The Old Blush group had the most primitive karyotype. The Ancient hybrid China group and modern rose had the most evolved karyotypes and the highest genetic diversity. During the evolution of rose cultivars, 5 S rDNA increased in number, partially weakened in signal intensity and exhibited variation in distance from the centromere. In conclusion, rose cultivars evolved from the Old Blush Group to the Odorata group, the Ancient Hybrid China group and the modern rose. This work provides a basis for the collection, identification, conservation and innovation of rose germplasm resources.
Heart function and thoracic aorta gene expression profiling studies of ginseng combined with different herbal medicines in eNOS knockout mice
Authors: Qian Yuchen , Li Pan , Lv Bin , Jiang Xiaoqing , Wang Ting , Zhang Han , Wang Xiaoying , Gao Xiumei
Published: November 2017

Ginseng, a popular herbal remedy, is often used in combination with other drugs to achieve the maximum therapeutic response. Shenfu (SFI) and Shenmai injection (SMI) have been widely used to treat cardiovascular disease in China. Our study explored the cardiovascular protection of SFI and SMI in eNOS knockout mice to investigate the differences and similarities of the two ginseng-combinations. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to evaluate the left ventricular structure and function at baseline and 3, 7, and 14 days after drug administration. Agilent Gene Expression microarrays were used to demonstrate the gene expression profiling of the thoracic aorta. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was performed to evaluate the mechanism improved by SFI and SMI in eNOS knockout mice. Both SFI and SMI could modulate Gadd45 Signaling from TOP15 canonical pathways. Moreover, SFI showed a better effect in the early treatment stage and improved myocardial function via GATA4, GATA6 and COL3A1. Meanwhile, SMI exerted better protective effects at the chronic stage, which may be related to endothelium protection by VEGFA and ACE. The advantage of multi-target by drug combination in progression of complex diseases should be noticed. The appropriate adjustment of drug combination could lead to a better accurate medical care in clinic.
Design of dual-band cold mirrors
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Chen Bo
Published: November 2017

Dual-band cold mirrors are designed based on third-order of 121.6 nm multilayers, and they are only composed of LaF3 and MgF2. The designed mirrors have a high reflectance at 121.6 nm and 280 nm, and a low reflectance in visible waveband; they also have a narrow bandwidth of 4 nm at 121.6 nm, and low sidelobe ripples of two stopbands. A broadband antireflection coating and an asymmetrically Gaussian-apodization of thickness-modulated design method are proposed to eliminate sidelobe ripples of the reflection zone.
Instability in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells due to elemental migration and chemical composition changes
Authors: Ahmad Zubair , Najeeb Mansoor Ani , Shakoor R. A. , Alashraf Abdulla , Al-Muhtaseb Shaheen A. , Soliman Ahmed , Nazeeruddin M. K.
Published: November 2017

Organic-inorganic halide perovskites have rapidly grown as favorable materials for photovoltaic applications, but accomplishing long-term stability is still a major research problem. This work demonstrates a new insight on instability and degradation factors in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells aging with time in open air. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the compositional changes caused by device degradation over the period of 1000 hrs. XPS spectra confirm the migration of metallic ions from the bottom electrode (ITO) as a key factor causing the chemical composition change in the perovskite layer besides the diffusion of oxygen. XPS results are in good agreement with the crystallographic marks. Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) has also been performed on the samples to correlate the XPS results. Based on the experimental results, fundamental features that account for the instability in the perovskite solar cell is discussed.
Cold acclimation causes fiber type-specific responses in glucose and fat metabolism in rat skeletal muscles
Authors: Sepa-Kishi Diane M. , Sotoudeh-Nia Yass , Iqbal Ayesha , Bikopoulos George , Ceddia Rolando B.
Published: November 2017

This study investigated fiber type-specific metabolic responses and the molecular mechanisms that regulate glucose and fat metabolism in oxidative and glycolytic muscles upon cold acclimation. Male Wistar rats were exposed to cold (4 °C) for 7 days, and then glycogen synthesis and content, glucose and palmitate oxidation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these metabolic pathways were assessed in soleus (Sol), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and epitrochlearis (Epit) muscles. Cold acclimation increased glycogen synthesis, glycogen content, glucose oxidation, and reduced glycogen synthase (GS) phosphorylation only in Sol muscles. Protein kinase B (AKT), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation increased in all three muscles upon cold acclimation. Cold acclimation increased palmitate oxidation, gene expression of the transcriptional co-activator Pgc-1α, lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), fatty acid transporter (Cd36), and Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (Serca) in Sol, EDL, and Epit muscles. Sarcolipin was only detected and had its content increased in Sol muscles. In conclusion, cold-induced thermogenesis activated similar signaling pathways in oxidative and glycolytic muscles, but the metabolic fate of glucose differed in skeletal muscles with distinct fiber type composition. Furthermore, only muscles rich in type I fibers appeared to have the capacity for sarcolipin-mediated SERCA uncoupling.
Jaw biodynamic data for 24 patients with chronic unilateral temporomandibular disorder
Authors: López-Cedrún José , Santana-Mora Urbano , Pombo María , Pérez Del Palomar Amaya , Alonso De la Peña Víctor , Mora María Jesús , Santana Urbano
Published: November 2017

This study assessed 24 adult patients, suffering from severe chronic unilateral pain diagnosed as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD). The full dentate patients had normal occlusion and had never received an occlusal therapy, i.e., were with natural dental evolution/maturation. The following functional and dynamic factors were assessed: (1) chewing function; (2) TMJ remodeling or the condylar path (CP); and (3) lateral jaw motion or lateral guidance (LG). CPs were assessed using conventional axiography, and LG was assessed by K7 jaw tracking. Seventeen (71%) of the 24 (100%) patients consistently showed a habitual chewing side. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) of the CP angles was 47.90 (9.24) degrees. The mean (SD) of the LG angles was 42.95 (11.78) degrees. Data collection emerged from the conception of a new TMD paradigm where the affected side could be the habitual chewing side, the side with flatter lateral jaw motion or the side with an increased CP angle. These data may lead to improved diagnosis, therapy plans and evolution in TMD patients.