bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-coupling polycondensation via C–O or C–N bond cleavage
Authors: Yang Ze-Kun , Xu Ning-Xin , Takita Ryo , Muranaka Atsuya , Wang Chao , Uchiyama Masanobu
Published: April 2018

π-Conjugated polymers are widely used in optoelectronics for fabrication of organic photovoltaic devices, organic light-emitting diodes, organic field effect transistors, and so on. Here we describe the protocol for polycondensation of bifunctional aryl ethers or aryl ammonium salts with aromatic dimetallic compounds through cleavage of inert C–O/C–N bonds. This reaction proceeds smoothly in the presence of commercially available Ni/Pd catalyst under mild conditions, affording the corresponding π-conjugated polymers with high molecular weight. The method is applicable to monomers that are unreactive in other currently employed polymerization procedures, and opens up the possibility of transforming a range of naturally abundant chemicals into useful functional compounds/polymers.
Targeting GLP-1 receptor trafficking to improve agonist efficacy
Authors: Jones Ben , Buenaventura Teresa , Kanda Nisha , Chabosseau Pauline , Owen Bryn M. , Scott Rebecca , Goldin Robert , Angkathunyakul Napat , Corrêa Jr Ivan R. , Bosco Domenico , Johnson Paul R. , Piemonti Lorenzo , Marchetti Piero , Shapiro A. M. James , Cochran Blake J. , Hanyaloglu Aylin C. , Inoue Asuka , Tan Tricia , Rutter Guy A. , Tomas Alejandra , Bloom Stephen R.
Published: April 2018

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) activation promotes insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, causes weight loss, and is an important pharmacological target in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Like other G protein-coupled receptors, the GLP-1R undergoes agonist-mediated endocytosis, but the functional and therapeutic consequences of modulating GLP-1R endocytic trafficking have not been clearly defined. Here, we investigate a series of biased GLP-1R agonists with variable propensities for GLP-1R internalization and recycling. Compared to a panel of FDA-approved GLP-1 mimetics, compounds that retain GLP-1R at the plasma membrane produce greater long-term insulin release, which is dependent on a reduction in β-arrestin recruitment and faster agonist dissociation rates. Such molecules elicit glycemic benefits in mice without concomitant increases in signs of nausea, a common side effect of GLP-1 therapies. Our study identifies a set of agents with specific GLP-1R trafficking profiles and the potential for greater efficacy and tolerability as T2D treatments.
Tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells are resistant to DNA-damaging chemotherapy because of upregulated BARD1 and BRCA1
Authors: Zhu Yinghua , Liu Yujie , Zhang Chao , Chu Junjun , Wu Yanqing , Li Yudong , Liu Jieqiong , Li Qian , Li Shunying , Shi Qianfeng , Jin Liang , Zhao Jianli , Yin Dong , Efroni Sol , Su Fengxi , Yao Herui , Song Erwei , Liu Qiang
Published: April 2018

Tamoxifen resistance is accountable for relapse in many ER-positive breast cancer patients. Most of these recurrent patients receive chemotherapy, but their chemosensitivity is unknown. Here, we report that tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells express significantly more BARD1 and BRCA1, leading to resistance to DNA-damaging chemotherapy including cisplatin and adriamycin, but not to paclitaxel. Silencing BARD1 or BRCA1 expression or inhibition of BRCA1 phosphorylation by Dinaciclib restores the sensitivity to cisplatin in tamoxifen-resistant cells. Furthermore, we show that activated PI3K/AKT pathway is responsible for the upregulation of BARD1 and BRCA1. PI3K inhibitors decrease the expression of BARD1 and BRCA1 in tamoxifen-resistant cells and re-sensitize them to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. Higher BARD1 and BRCA1 expression is associated with worse prognosis of early breast cancer patients, especially the ones that received radiotherapy, indicating the potential use of PI3K inhibitors to reverse chemoresistance and radioresistance in ER-positive breast cancer patients.
Evidence for prevalent Z = 6 magic number in neutron-rich carbon isotopes
Authors: Tran D. T. , Ong H. J. , Hagen G. , Morris T. D. , Aoi N. , Suzuki T. , Kanada-En’yo Y. , Geng L. S. , Terashima S. , Tanihata I. , Nguyen T. T. , Ayyad Y. , Chan P. Y. , Fukuda M. , Geissel H. , Harakeh M. N. , Hashimoto T. , Hoang T. H. , Ideguchi E. , Inoue A. , Jansen G. R. , Kanungo R. , Kawabata T. , Khiem L. H. , Lin W. P. , Matsuta K. , Mihara M. , Momota S. , Nagae D. , Nguyen N. D. , Nishimura D. , Otsuka T. , Ozawa A. , Ren P. P. , Sakaguchi H. , Scheidenberger C. , Tanaka J. , Takechi M. , Wada R. , Yamamoto T.
Published: April 2018

The nuclear shell structure, which originates in the nearly independent motion of nucleons in an average potential, provides an important guide for our understanding of nuclear structure and the underlying nuclear forces. Its most remarkable fingerprint is the existence of the so-called magic numbers of protons and neutrons associated with extra stability. Although the introduction of a phenomenological spin–orbit (SO) coupling force in 1949 helped in explaining the magic numbers, its origins are still open questions. Here, we present experimental evidence for the smallest SO-originated magic number (subshell closure) at the proton number six in 13–20C obtained from systematic analysis of point-proton distribution radii, electromagnetic transition rates and atomic masses of light nuclei. Performing ab initio calculations on 14,15C, we show that the observed proton distribution radii and subshell closure can be explained by the state-of-the-art nuclear theory with chiral nucleon–nucleon and three-nucleon forces, which are rooted in the quantum chromodynamics.
Quantifying absolute addressability in DNA origami with molecular resolution
Authors: Strauss Maximilian T. , Schueder Florian , Haas Daniel , Nickels Philipp C. , Jungmann Ralf
Published: April 2018

Self-assembled DNA nanostructures feature an unprecedented addressability with sub-nanometer precision and accuracy. This addressability relies on the ability to attach functional entities to single DNA strands in these structures. The efficiency of this attachment depends on two factors: incorporation of the strand of interest and accessibility of this strand for downstream modification. Here we use DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy to quantify both incorporation and accessibility of all individual strands in DNA origami with molecular resolution. We find that strand incorporation strongly correlates with the position in the structure, ranging from a minimum of 48% on the edges to a maximum of 95% in the center. Our method offers a direct feedback for the rational refinement of the design and assembly process of DNA nanostructures and provides a long sought-after quantitative explanation for efficiencies of DNA-based nanomachines.
High-order coherent communications using mode-locked dark-pulse Kerr combs from microresonators
Authors: Fülöp Attila , Mazur Mikael , Lorences-Riesgo Abel , Helgason Óskar B. , Wang Pei-Hsun , Xuan Yi , Leaird Dan E. , Qi Minghao , Andrekson Peter A. , Weiner Andrew M. , Torres-Company Victor
Published: April 2018

Microresonator frequency combs harness the nonlinear Kerr effect in an integrated optical cavity to generate a multitude of phase-locked frequency lines. The line spacing can reach values in the order of 100 GHz, making it an attractive multi-wavelength light source for applications in fiber-optic communications. Depending on the dispersion of the microresonator, different physical dynamics have been observed. A recently discovered comb state corresponds to the formation of mode-locked dark pulses in a normal-dispersion microcavity. Such dark-pulse combs are particularly compelling for advanced coherent communications since they display unusually high power-conversion efficiency. Here, we report the first coherent-transmission experiments using 64-quadrature amplitude modulation encoded onto the frequency lines of a dark-pulse comb. The high conversion efficiency of the comb enables transmitted optical signal-to-noise ratios above 33 dB, while maintaining a laser pump power level compatible with state-of-the-art hybrid silicon lasers.
Identity prediction errors in the human midbrain update reward-identity expectations in the orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Howard James D. , Kahnt Thorsten
Published: April 2018

There is general consensus that dopaminergic midbrain neurons signal reward prediction errors, computed as the difference between expected and received reward value. However, recent work in rodents shows that these neurons also respond to errors related to inferred value and sensory features, indicating an expanded role for dopamine beyond learning cached values. Here we utilize a transreinforcer reversal learning task and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test whether prediction error signals in the human midbrain are evoked when the expected identity of an appetitive food odor reward is violated, while leaving value matched. We found that midbrain fMRI responses to identity and value errors are correlated, suggesting a common neural origin for these error signals. Moreover, changes in reward-identity expectations, encoded in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), are directly related to midbrain activity, demonstrating that identity-based error signals in the midbrain support the formation of outcome identity expectations in OFC.
Relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by a laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab
Authors: Yi Longqing , Shen Baifei , Pukhov Alexander , Fülöp Tünde
Published: April 2018

Magnetic reconnection (MR) is a fundamental plasma process associated with conversion of the magnetic field energy into kinetic plasma energy, which is invoked to explain many non-thermal signatures in astrophysical events. Here we demonstrate that ultrafast relativistic MR in a magnetically dominated regime can be triggered by a readily available (TW-mJ-class) laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab. Three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations show that when the electrons beams excited on both sides of the slab approach the end of the plasma, MR occurs and it gives rise to efficient energy dissipation that leads to the emission of relativistic electron jets with cut-off energy ~12 MeV. The proposed scenario allows for accessing an unprecedented regime of MR in the laboratory, and may lead to experimental studies that can provide insight into open questions such as reconnection rate and particle acceleration in relativistic MR.
Effect of interstitial palladium on plasmon-driven charge transfer in nanoparticle dimers
Authors: Lerch Sarah , Reinhard Björn M.
Published: April 2018

Capacitive plasmon coupling between noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is characterized by an increasing red-shift of the bonding dipolar plasmon mode (BDP) in the classical electromagnetic coupling regime. This model breaks down at short separations where plasmon-driven charge transfer induces a gap current between the NPs with a magnitude and separation dependence that can be modulated if molecules are present in the gap. Here, we use gap contained DNA as a scaffold for the growth of palladium (Pd) NPs in the gap between two gold NPs and investigate the effect of increasing Pd NP concentration on the BDP mode. Consistent with enhanced plasmon-driven charge transfer, the integration of discrete Pd NPs depolarizes the capacitive BDP mode over longer interparticle separations than is possible in only DNA-linked Au NPs. High Pd NP densities in the gap increases the gap conductance and induces the transition from capacitive to conductive coupling.
High spectral resolution of gamma-rays at room temperature by perovskite CsPbBr3 single crystals
Authors: He Yihui , Matei Liviu , Jung Hee Joon , McCall Kyle M. , Chen Michelle , Stoumpos Constantinos C. , Liu Zhifu , Peters John A. , Chung Duck Young , Wessels Bruce W. , Wasielewski Michael R. , Dravid Vinayak P. , Burger Arnold , Kanatzidis Mercouri G.
Published: April 2018

Gamma-ray detection and spectroscopy is the quantitative determination of their energy spectra, and is of critical value and critically important in diverse technological and scientific fields. Here we report an improved melt growth method for cesium lead bromide and a special detector design with asymmetrical metal electrode configuration that leads to a high performance at room temperature. As-grown centimeter-sized crystals possess extremely low impurity levels (below 10 p.p.m. for total 69 elements) and detectors achieve 3.9% energy resolution for 122 keV 57Co gamma-ray and 3.8% for 662 keV 137Cs gamma-ray. Cesium lead bromide is unique among all gamma-ray detection materials in that its hole transport properties are responsible for the high performance. The superior mobility-lifetime product for holes (1.34 × 10−3 cm2 V−1) derives mainly from the record long hole carrier lifetime (over 25 μs). The easily scalable crystal growth and high-energy resolution, highlight cesium lead bromide as an exceptional next generation material for room temperature radiation detection.
Detecting phenotype-driven transitions in regulatory network structure
Authors: Padi Megha , Quackenbush John
Published: April 2018

Complex traits and diseases like human height or cancer are often not caused by a single mutation or genetic variant, but instead arise from functional changes in the underlying molecular network. Biological networks are known to be highly modular and contain dense “communities” of genes that carry out cellular processes, but these structures change between tissues, during development, and in disease. While many methods exist for inferring networks and analyzing their topologies separately, there is a lack of robust methods for quantifying differences in network structure. Here, we describe ALPACA (ALtered Partitions Across Community Architectures), a method for comparing two genome-scale networks derived from different phenotypic states to identify condition-specific modules. In simulations, ALPACA leads to more nuanced, sensitive, and robust module discovery than currently available network comparison methods. As an application, we use ALPACA to compare transcriptional networks in three contexts: angiogenic and non-angiogenic subtypes of ovarian cancer, human fibroblasts expressing transforming viral oncogenes, and sexual dimorphism in human breast tissue. In each case, ALPACA identifies modules enriched for processes relevant to the phenotype. For example, modules specific to angiogenic ovarian tumors are enriched for genes associated with blood vessel development, and modules found in female breast tissue are enriched for genes involved in estrogen receptor and ERK signaling. The functional relevance of these new modules suggests that not only can ALPACA identify structural changes in complex networks, but also that these changes may be relevant for characterizing biological phenotypes.
Author Correction: Concise N-doped Carbon Nanosheets/Vanadium Nitride Nanoparticles Materials via Intercalative Polymerization for Supercapacitors
Authors: Tan Yongtao , Liu Ying , Tang Zhenghua , Wang Zhe , Kong Lingbin , Kang Long , Liu Zhen , Ran Fen
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Author Correction: Facile emulsion mediated synthesis of phase-pure diopside nanoparticles
Authors: Rodriguez Elena Tajuelo , Anovitz Lawrence M. , Clement Caleb D. , Rondinone Adam J. , Cheshire Michael C.
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Parameterization of the vertical distribution of leaf area index (LAI) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using a plant canopy analyzer
Authors: Hirooka Yoshihiro , Homma Koki , Shiraiwa Tatsuhiko
Published: April 2018

Monitoring the vertical distribution of leaf area index (LAI) is an effective method for evaluating canopy photosynthesis and biomass productivity. In this study, we proposed a novel method to characterize LAI vertical distribution non-destructively by utilizing LAI-2200 plant canopy analyzer, followed by the application of statistical moment equations. Field experiments were conducted with 5 rice cultivars under 2 fertilizer treatments in 2013 and with 3 rice cultivars under 3 plant density treatments in 2014. LAI readings obtained by a plant canopy analyzer for non-destructive stratified measurements were relatively consistent with LAI estimations using the stratified clipping method for every cultivar and treatment. The parameters calculated using the statistical moment equations numerically showed the changes in LAI vertical distribution with plant growth up to the heading stage. The differences in the parameters also quantified the effect of cultivar, fertilizer, and plant density treatments. These results suggest that the non-destructive stratified measurements and the statistical moments evaluated in this study provide quantitative, reliable information on the dynamics of LAI vertical distribution. The method is expected to be utilized by researchers in various research fields sharing common interests.
Anisomycin prevents OGD-induced necroptosis by regulating the E3 ligase CHIP
Authors: Tang Mi-bo , Li Yu-sheng , Li Shao-hua , Cheng Yuan , Zhang Shuo , Luo Hai-yang , Mao Cheng-yuan , Hu Zheng-wei , Schisler Jonathan C. , Shi Chang-he , Xu Yu-ming
Published: April 2018

Necroptosis is an essential pathophysiological process in cerebral ischemia-related diseases. Therefore, targeting necroptosis may prevent cell death and provide a much-needed therapy. Ansiomycin is an inhibitor of protein synthesis which can also activate c-Jun N-terminal kinases. The present study demonstrated that anisomycin attenuated necroptosis by upregulating CHIP (carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein) leading to the reduced levels of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) proteins in two in vitro models of cerebral ischemia. Further exploration in this research revealed that losing neither the co-chaperone nor the ubiquitin E3 ligase function of CHIP could abolish its ability to reduce necroptosis. Collectively, this study identifies a novel means of preventing necroptosis in two in vitro models of cerebral ischemia injury through activating the expression of CHIP, and it may provide a potential target for the further study of the disease.
Eco-evolutionary Feedbacks from Non-target Species Influence Harvest Yield and Sustainability
Authors: Wood Zachary T. , Palkovacs Eric P. , Kinnison Michael T.
Published: April 2018

Evolution in harvested species has become a major concern for its potential to affect yield, sustainability, and recovery. However, the current singular focus on harvest-mediated evolution in target species overlooks the potential for evolution in non-target members of communities. Here we use an individual-based model to explore the scope and pattern of harvest-mediated evolution at non-target trophic levels and its potential feedbacks on abundance and yield of the harvested species. The model reveals an eco-evolutionary trophic cascade, in which harvest at top trophic levels drives evolution of greater defense or competitiveness at subsequently lower trophic levels, resulting in alternating feedbacks on the abundance and yield of the harvested species. The net abundance and yield effects of these feedbacks depends on the intensity of harvest and attributes of non-target species. Our results provide an impetus and framework to evaluate the role of non-target species evolution in determining fisheries yield and sustainability.
Author Correction: US Power Production at Risk from Water Stress in a Changing Climate
Authors: Ganguli Poulomi , Kumar Devashish , Ganguly Auroop R.
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Spatiotemporal control of DNA-based chemical reaction network via electrochemical activation in microfluidics
Authors: Kurylo Ievgen , Gines Guillaume , Rondelez Yannick , Coffinier Yannick , Vlandas Alexis
Published: April 2018

In recent years, DNA computing frameworks have been developed to create dynamical systems which can be used for information processing. These emerging synthetic biochemistry tools can be leveraged to gain a better understanding of fundamental biology but can also be implemented in biosensors and unconventional computing. Most of the efforts so far have focused on changing the topologies of DNA molecular networks or scaling them up. Several issues have thus received little attention and remain to be solved to turn them into real life technologies. In particular, the ability to easily interact in real-time with them is a key requirement. The previous attempts to achieve this aim have used microfluidic approaches, such as valves, which are cumbersome. We show that electrochemical triggering using DNA-grafted micro-fabricated gold electrodes can be used to give instructions to these molecular systems. We demonstrate how this approach can be used to release at specific times and locations DNA- based instructions. In particular, we trigger reaction-diffusion autocatalytic fronts in microfluidic channels. While limited by the stability of the Au-S bond, this easy to implement, versatile and scalable technique can be used in any biology laboratory to provide new ways to interact with any DNA-based computing framework.
III–V nanowires on black silicon and low-temperature growth of self-catalyzed rectangular InAs NWs
Authors: Haggren Tuomas , Khayrudinov Vladislav , Dhaka Veer , Jiang Hua , Shah Ali , Kim Maria , Lipsanen Harri
Published: April 2018

We report the use of black silicon (bSi) as a growth platform for III–V nanowires (NWs), which enables low reflectance over a broad wavelength range as well as fabrication of optoelectronic devices by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. In addition, a new isolated growth regime is reported for self-catalyzed InAs NWs at record-low temperatures of 280 °C–365 °C, where consistently rectangular [-211]-oriented NWs are obtained. The bSi substrate is shown to support the growth of additionally GaAs and InP NWs, as well as heterostructured NWs. As seed particles, both ex-situ deposited Au nanoparticles and in-situ deposited In droplets are shown feasible. Particularly the InAs NWs with low band gap energy are used to extend low-reflectivity wavelength region into infrared, where the bSi alone remains transparent. Finally, a fabricated prototype device confirms the potential of III–V NWs combined with bSi for optoelectronic devices. Our results highlight the promise of III–V NWs on bSi for enhancing optoelectronic device performance on the low-cost Si substrates, and we believe that the new low-temperature NW growth regime advances the understanding and capabilities of NW growth.
A reference-defining criterion for light focusing through scattering media based on circular Gaussian distribution of speckle background intensity
Authors: Zhang Bin , Zhang Zhenfeng , Feng Qi , Lin Chengyou , Ding Yingchun
Published: April 2018

This paper investigates the reference-defining-criterion problem in the field of light focusing through scattering media. In many analogous light focusing experiments, the enhancement values differ greatly from each other. By analyzing the focusing picture after optimizations, we concluded that the discrepancy in enhancement originates from the unclear definition of reference boundary. By averaging multiple speckle backgrounds, we found that the intensity of speckle background obeys circular Gaussian distribution. Based on the intensity statistics and Gaussian-function fitting to the speckle background, we proposed a clear reference-defining criterion– 1/e2 criterion. With this reference-defining criterion, we have carried out light focusing experiments with the speckle backgrounds possessing different shape and size. The enhancements obtained from the repetitive experiments for both weakly scattering medium and strongly scattering medium were all in the reasonable range, demonstrating its validity and universality. This criterion will provide a comparison standard for light focusing experiments in wavefront-shaping field.
Insular threat associations within taxa worldwide
Authors: Leclerc Camille , Courchamp Franck , Bellard Céline
Published: April 2018

The global loss of biodiversity can be attributed to numerous threats. While pioneer studies have investigated their relative importance, the majority of those studies are restricted to specific geographic regions and/or taxonomic groups and only consider a small subset of threats, generally in isolation despite their frequent interaction. Here, we investigated 11 major threats responsible for species decline on islands worldwide. We applied an innovative method of network analyses to disentangle the associations of multiple threats on vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants in 15 insular regions. Biological invasions, wildlife exploitation, and cultivation, either alone or in association, were found to be the three most important drivers of species extinction and decline on islands. Specifically, wildlife exploitation and cultivation are largely associated with the decline of threatened plants and terrestrial vertebrates, whereas biological invasions mostly threaten invertebrates and freshwater fish. Furthermore, biodiversity in the Indian Ocean and near the Asian coasts is mostly affected by wildlife exploitation and cultivation compared to biological invasions in the Pacific and Atlantic insular regions. We highlighted specific associations of threats at different scales, showing that the analysis of each threat in isolation might be inadequate for developing effective conservation policies and managements.
A Printed Organic Circuit System for Wearable Amperometric Electrochemical Sensors
Authors: Shiwaku Rei , Matsui Hiroyuki , Nagamine Kuniaki , Uematsu Mayu , Mano Taisei , Maruyama Yuki , Nomura Ayako , Tsuchiya Kazuhiko , Hayasaka Kazuma , Takeda Yasunori , Fukuda Takashi , Kumaki Daisuke , Tokito Shizuo
Published: April 2018

Wearable sensor device technologies, which enable continuous monitoring of biological information from the human body, are promising in the fields of sports, healthcare, and medical applications. Further thinness, light weight, flexibility and low-cost are significant requirements for making the devices attachable onto human tissues or clothes like a patch. Here we demonstrate a flexible and printed circuit system consisting of an enzyme-based amperometric sensor, feedback control and amplification circuits based on organic thin-film transistors. The feedback control and amplification circuits based on pseudo-CMOS inverters were successfuly integrated by printing methods on a plastic film. This simple system worked very well like a potentiostat for electrochemical measurements, and enabled the quantitative and real-time measurement of lactate concentration with high sensitivity of 1 V/mM and a short response time of a hundred seconds.
High fat diet induces airway hyperresponsiveness in mice
Authors: Fricke Kathrin , Vieira Marcela , Younas Haris , Shin Mi-Kyung , Bevans-Fonti Shannon , Berger Slava , Lee Rachel , D’Alessio Franco R. , Zhong Qiong , Nelson Andrew , Loube Jeff , Sanchez Ian , Hansel Nadia N. , Mitzner Wayne , Polotsky Vsevolod Y.
Published: April 2018

The experiment was conducted to examine the effect of a high fat diet (HFD) on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice. Twenty-three adult male C57BL/6 J mice were fed with HFD or regular chow diet for two weeks. The total respiratory resistance was measured by forced oscillation technique at baseline and after methacholine aerosol challenge at 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/mL. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Lipid levels and lipid peroxidation in lung tissue were measured along with gene expression of multiple cytokines. Lungs were digested, and IL-1β secretion by pulmonary macrophages was determined. HFD feeding resulted in 11% higher body weight compared to chow. HFD did not affect respiratory resistance at baseline, but significantly augmented airway responses to methacholine compared to chow diet (40.5 ± 17.7% increase at 30 mg/ml methacholine, p < 0.05). HFD induced a 3.2 ± 0.6 fold increase in IL-1β gene expression (p < 0.001) and a 38 fold increase in IL-1β secretion in the lungs. There was no change in BAL and no change in any other cytokines, lipid levels or lipid peroxidation. Hence, HFD induced AHR in mice prior to the development of significant obesity which was associated with up-regulation of pulmonary IL-1β.
Micro RNAs from DNA Viruses are Found Widely in Plasma in a Large Observational Human Population
Authors: Koupenova Milka , Mick Eric , Corkrey Heather A. , Huan Tianxiao , Clancy Lauren , Shah Ravi , Benjamin Emelia J. , Levy Daniel , Kurt-Jones Evelyn A. , Tanriverdi Kahraman , Freedman Jane E.
Published: April 2018

Viral infections associate with disease risk and select families of viruses encode miRNAs that control an efficient viral cycle. The association of viral miRNA expression with disease in a large human population has not been previously explored. We sequenced plasma RNA from 40 participants of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS, Offspring Cohort, Visit 8) and identified 3 viral miRNAs from 3 different human Herpesviridae. These miRNAs were mostly related to viral latency and have not been previously detected in human plasma. Viral miRNA expression was then screened in the plasma of 2763 participants of the remaining cohort utilizing high-throughput RT-qPCR. All 3 viral miRNAs associated with combinations of inflammatory or prothrombotic circulating biomarkers (sTNFRII, IL-6, sICAM1, OPG, P-selectin) but did not associate with hypertension, coronary heart disease or cancer. Using a large observational population, we demonstrate that the presence of select viral miRNAs in the human circulation associate with inflammatory biomarkers and possibly immune response, but fail to associate with overt disease. This study greatly extends smaller singular observations of viral miRNAs in the human circulation and suggests that select viral miRNAs, such as those for latency, may not impact disease manifestation.
Author Correction: Quantitative Evaluation of Nanosecond Pulsed Laser-Induced Photomodification of Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Fales Andrew M. , Vogt William C. , Pfefer T. Joshua , Ilev Ilko K.
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Transient Light Emitting Devices Based on Soluble Polymer Composites
Authors: Chen Yingying , Lu Hang , Xiu Fei , Sun Tao , Ding Yamei , Liu Juqing , Huang Wei
Published: April 2018

Building transient electronics are promising and emerging strategy to alleviate the pollution issues from electronic waste (e-waste). Although a variety of transient devices comprising organic and inorganic materials have been described, transient light emitting devices are still elusive but highly desirable because of the huge amount of lighting and display related consumer electronics. Here we report a simple and efficient fabrication of large-area flexible transient alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) device through a full-solution processing method. Using transparent flexible AgNW-polymer as both electrodes, the devices exhibit high flexibility and both ends side light emission, with the features of controlled size and patterned structure. By modulating the mass ratio of blue and yellow phosphors, the emission color is changed from white to blue. Impressively, the fabricated ACEL device can be thoroughly dissolved in water within 30 min. Our strategy combining such advances in transient light emitting devices with simple structure, widely used materials, full solution process, and high solubility will demonstrate great potential in resolving the e-waste from abandoned light-emitting products and expand the opportunities for air-stable flexible light emitting devices.
Mitochondrial DNA induces Foley catheter related bladder inflammation via Toll-like receptor 9 activation
Authors: Puyo Carlos A. , Earhart Alexander , Staten Nicholas , Huang Yuan , Desai Alana , Lai Henry , Venkatesh Ramakrishna
Published: April 2018

Bladder instrumentation engages the innate immune system via neutrophil activation, promoting inflammation and pain. Elevated levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been associated with tissue damage and organ dysfunction. We hypothesized that local bladder trauma induced by a Foley catheter (FC) will result in mtDNA release, migration of neutrophils into the bladder lumen, and activation of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway leading to bladder tissue damage. We randomized 10 swine into two groups receiving uncoated, or chloroquine/N-Acetylcysteine (CQ/NAC)-coated FCs. Urine samples were analyzed for mtDNA activation of TLR9/NF-κB as demonstrated by indicators of neutrophil adhesion, migration, and activation. We found that uncoated FCs resulted in a unique active neutrophil phenotype that correlated with bladder epithelial injury, neutrophilia, necrosis, mtDNA release, TLR9/NF-κB activation, transcription and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced respiratory burst. In our study we observed that the high levels of mtDNA and elevated TLR9/NF-κB activity were ameliorated in the CQ/NAC-coated FC group. These findings suggest that post-migrated bladder luminal neutrophils are involved in local tissue damage and amelioration of the mtDNA/TLR9/NF-κB inflammatory axis may represent a therapeutic target to prevent inflammation, and bladder tissue injury.
Mathematical model of ammonium nitrogen transport with overland flow on a slope after polyacrylamide application
Authors: Ao Chang , Yang Peiling , Ren Shumei , Xing Weimin
Published: April 2018

The nutrient loss caused by soil erosion is the main reason for soil degradation and environmental pollution, and polyacrylamide (PAM) as a common soil amendment has a great influence on runoff and erosion processes at the slope. In order to investigate the mechanism of nutrient transport with runoff, a field experiment was conducted and a simple mathematical model was developed in this study. Four PAM application rates (0, 1, 2, and 4 g·m−2) and two rainfall intensities (50 and 80 mm·h−1) were applied in the field experiment. The results revealed that runoff rate of 2 g·m−2 PAM application treatments decreased by 5.3%-10.6% compared with the control groups, but it increased by10.9%-18.7% at 4 g·m−2 PAM application treatments. Polyacrylamide application reduced ammonium nitrogen concentrations of runoff by 10.0% to 44.3% relative to the control groups. The best performance with correlation coefficient (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) showed that the ammonium transport with runoff could be well described by the proposed model. Furthermore, the model parameter of the depth of the mixing layer (hm) linearly increased with an increase in flow velocity, but exponentially decreased with an increase in PAM application rate.
Unexplained interannual oscillations of cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Kahru Mati , Elmgren Ragnar , Di Lorenzo Emanuele , Savchuk Oleg
Published: April 2018

Population oscillations in multi-species or even single species systems are well-known but have rarely been detected at the lower trophic levels in marine systems. Nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria are a major component of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and sometimes form huge surface accumulations covering most of the sea surface. By analysing a satellite-derived 39-year (1979–2017) data archive of surface cyanobacteria concentrations we have found evidence of strikingly regular interannual oscillations in cyanobacteria concentrations in the northern Baltic Sea. These oscillations have a period of ~3 years with a high-concentration year generally followed by one or two low-concentration years. Changes in abiotic factors known to influence the growth and survival of cyanobacteria could not provide an explanation for the oscillations. We therefore assume that these oscillations are intrinsic to the marine system, caused by an unknown, probably mainly biological mechanism that may be triggered by a combination of environmental factors. Interactions between different life cycle stages of cyanobacteria as well as between predator-prey or host-parasite are possible candidates for causing the oscillations.
Nomogram-based prediction of rebleeding in small bowel bleeding patients: the ‘PRSBB’ score
Authors: Uchida Genta , Hirooka Yoshiki , Nakamura Masanao , Watanabe Osamu , Yamamura Takeshi , Matsushita Masanobu , Suhara Hiroki , Ishikawa Takuya , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Funasaka Kohei , Ohno Eizaburo , Kawashima Hiroki , Miyahara Ryoji , Goto Hidemi
Published: April 2018

Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and balloon-assisted endoscopy (BAE) have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel bleeding (SBB), allowing access to the small bowel and identification of specific bleeding lesions. However, some patients experience rebleeding after small bowel investigation, and there are no definitive algorithms for determining the most appropriate follow-up strategy in SBB patients. We developed and validated a nomogram that can predict rebleeding risk and be used to develop a risk-stratified follow-up strategy in SBB patients. A retrospective study was performed using data from 401 SBB patients who underwent SBCE at Nagoya University Hospital. We developed and internally validated a predictive model for rebleeding in the form of a nomogram using Cox regression models and a bootstrap resampling procedure. Optimal risk factors were selected according to the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The LASSO method identified 8 independent predictors of rebleeding that could be assessed to obtain a ‘predicting rebleeding in SBB’, or ‘PRSBB’ score: age, sex, SBB type, transfusion requirement, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, SBCE findings, and treatment. The c-statistic for the predictive model was 0.681. In conclusion, our PRSBB score can help clinicians devise appropriate follow-up plans.
Tilt-structure and high-performance of hierarchical Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar arrays
Authors: Tan Ming , Hao Yanming , Deng Yuan , Yan Dali , Wu Zehua
Published: April 2018

The uniquely tilted nanopillar array favorably influence carrier and phonon transport properties. We present an innovative interfacial design concept and a novel tilt-structure of hierarchical Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array comprising unique interfaces from nano-scaled open gaps to coherent grain boundaries, and tilted nanopillars assembled by high-quality nanowires with well oriented growth, utilizing a simple vacuum thermal evaporation technique. The unusual structure Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array with a tilt angle of 45° exhibits a high thermoelectric performance ZT = 1.61 at room temperature. The relatively high ZT value in contrast to that of previously reported Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 materials and the Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array with a tilt angle of 60° or 90° evidently reveals the crucial role of the unique interface and tilt-structure in favorably influencing carrier and phonon transport properties, resulting in a significantly improved ZT value. This method opens a new approach to optimize nano-structure film materials.
Influence of age on histologic outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia during observational management: results from large cohort, systematic review, meta-analysis
Authors: Bekos Christine , Schwameis Richard , Heinze Georg , Gärner Marina , Grimm Christoph , Joura Elmar , Horvat Reinhard , Polterauer Stephan , Polterauer Mariella
Published: April 2018

Aim of this study was to investigate the histologic outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) during observational management. Consecutive women with histologically verified CIN and observational management were included. Histologic findings of initial and follow-up visits were collected and persistence, progression and regression rates at end of observational period were assessed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was performed. In 783 women CIN I, II, and III was diagnosed by colposcopically guided biopsy in 42.5%, 26.6% and 30.9%, respectively. Younger patients had higher rates of regression (p < 0.001) and complete remission (< 0.001) and lower rates of progression (p = 0.003). Among women aged < 25, 25 < 30, 30 < 35, 35 < 40 years, and > 40 years, regression rates were 44.7%, 33.7%, 30.9%, 27.3%, and 24.9%, respectively. Pooled analysis of published data showed similar results. Multivariable analysis showed that with each five years of age, the odds for regression reduced by 21% (p < 0.001) independently of CIN grade (p < 0.001), and presence of HPV high-risk infection (p < 0.001). Patient’s age has a considerable influence on the natural history of CIN – independent of CIN grade and HPV high-risk infection. Observational management should be considered for selected young patients with CIN.
Determinants of Antibiotic Consumption - Development of a Model using Partial Least Squares Regression based on Data from India
Authors: Tamhankar Ashok J. , Karnik Shreyasee S. , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia
Published: April 2018

Antibiotic resistance, a consequence of antibiotic use, is a threat to health, with severe consequences for resource constrained settings. If determinants for human antibiotic use in India, a lower middle income country, with one of the highest antibiotic consumption in the world could be understood, interventions could be developed, having implications for similar settings. Year wise data for India, for potential determinants and antibiotic consumption, was sourced from publicly available databases for the years 2000–2010. Data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares regression and correlation between determinants and antibiotic consumption was evaluated, formulating ‘Predictors’ and ‘Prediction models’. The ‘prediction model’ with the statistically most significant predictors (root mean square errors of prediction for train set-377.0 and test set-297.0) formulated from a combination of Health infrastructure + Surface transport infrastructure (HISTI), predicted antibiotic consumption within 95% confidence interval and estimated an antibiotic consumption of 11.6 standard units/person (14.37 billion standard units totally; standard units = number of doses sold in the country; a dose being a pill, capsule, or ampoule) for India for 2014. The HISTI model may become useful in predicting antibiotic consumption for countries/regions having circumstances and data similar to India, but without resources to measure actual data of antibiotic consumption.
Origin and evolution of fungal HECT ubiquitin ligases
Authors: Marín Ignacio
Published: April 2018

Ubiquitin ligases (E3s) are basic components of the eukaryotic ubiquitination system. In this work, the emergence and diversification of fungal HECT ubiquitin ligases is described. Phylogenetic and structural data indicate that six HECT subfamilies (RSP5, TOM1, UFD4, HUL4, HUL4A and HUL5) existed in the common ancestor of all fungi. These six subfamilies have evolved very conservatively, with only occasional losses and duplications in particular fungal lineages. However, an early, drastic reduction in the number of HECT genes occurred in microsporidians, in parallel to the reduction of their genomes. A significant correlation between the total number of genes and the number of HECT-encoding genes present in fungi has been observed. However, transitions from unicellularity to multicellularity or vice versa apparently had no effect on the evolution of this family. Likely orthologs or co-orthologs of all fungal HECT genes have been detected in animals. Four genes are deduced to be present in the common ancestor of fungi, animals and plants. Protein-protein interactions detected in both the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans suggest that some ancient functions of HECT proteins have been conserved since the animals/fungi split.
Endocannabinoids in Caenorhabditis elegans are essential for the mobilization of cholesterol from internal reserves
Authors: Galles Celina , Prez Gastón M. , Penkov Sider , Boland Sebastian , Porta Exequiel O. J. , Altabe Silvia G. , Labadie Guillermo R. , Schmidt Ulrike , Knölker Hans-Joachim , Kurzchalia Teymuras V. , de Mendoza Diego
Published: April 2018

Proper cholesterol transport is crucial for the functionality of cells. In C. elegans, certain cholesterol derivatives called dafachronic acids (DAs) govern the entry into diapause. In their absence, worms form a developmentally arrested dauer larva. Thus, cholesterol transport to appropriate places for DA biosynthesis warrants the reproductive growth. Recently, we discovered a novel class of glycosphingolipids, PEGCs, required for cholesterol mobilization/transport from internal storage pools. Here, we identify other components involved in this process. We found that strains lacking polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) undergo increased dauer arrest when grown without cholesterol. This correlates with the depletion of the PUFA-derived endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and anandamide. Feeding of these endocannabinoids inhibits dauer formation caused by PUFAs deficiency or impaired cholesterol trafficking (e.g. in Niemann-Pick C1 or DAF-7/TGF-β mutants). Moreover, in parallel to PEGCs, endocannabinoids abolish the arrest induced by cholesterol depletion. These findings reveal an unsuspected function of endocannabinoids in cholesterol trafficking regulation.
Direct Measurement of the Topological Charge in Elliptical Beams Using Diffraction by a Triangular Aperture
Authors: Melo Leandro A. , Jesus-Silva Alcenísio J. , Chávez-Cerda Sabino , Ribeiro Paulo H. Souto , Soares Willamys C.
Published: April 2018

We introduce a simple method to characterize the topological charge associated with the orbital angular momentum of a m-order elliptic light beam. This method consists in the observation of the far field pattern of the beam carrying orbital angular momentum, diffracted from a triangular aperture. We show numerically and experimentally, for Mathieu, Ince–Gaussian, and vortex Hermite–Gaussian beams, that only isosceles triangular apertures allow us to determine in a precise and direct way, the magnitude m of the order and the number and sign of unitary topological charges of isolated vortices inside the core of these beams.
RUNX1 positively regulates the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway through modulating SOS1 expression in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Mitsuda Yoshihide , Morita Ken , Kashiwazaki Gengo , Taniguchi Junichi , Bando Toshikazu , Obara Moeka , Hirata Masahiro , Kataoka Tatsuki R. , Muto Manabu , Kaneda Yasufumi , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Liu Pu Paul , Adachi Souichi , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Kamikubo Yasuhiko
Published: April 2018

The dual function of runt-related transcriptional factor 1 (RUNX1) as an oncogene or oncosuppressor has been extensively studied in various malignancies, yet its role in gastric cancer remains elusive. Up-regulation of the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway is frequently-encountered in gastric cancer and contributes to the maintenance of these cancer cells. This signaling cascade is partly mediated by son of sevenless homolog (SOS) family, which function as adaptor proteins in the RTK cascades. Herein we report that RUNX1 regulates the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells through transactivating SOS1 expression, rendering itself an ideal target in anti-tumor strategy toward this cancer. Mechanistically, RUNX1 interacts with the RUNX1 binding DNA sequence located in SOS1 promoter and positively regulates it. Knockdown of RUNX1 led to the decreased expression of SOS1 as well as dephosphorylation of ErbB2/HER2, subsequently suppressed the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. We also found that our novel RUNX inhibitor (Chb-M’) consistently led to the deactivation of the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway and was effective against several gastric cancer cell lines. Taken together, our work identified a novel interaction of RUNX1 and the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer, which can potentially be exploited in the management of this malignancy.