bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel germline mutation of the SFTPA1 gene in familial interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Doubková Martina , Staňo Kozubík Kateřina , Radová Lenka , Pešová Michaela , Trizuljak Jakub , Pál Karol , Svobodová Klára , Réblová Kamila , Svozilová Hana , Vrzalová Zuzana , Pospíšilová Šárka , Doubek Michael
Published: March 2019

Different genes related to alveolar stability have been associated with familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP). Here, we report a novel, rare SFTPA1 variant in a family with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). We performed whole-exome sequencing on germline DNA samples from four members of one family; three of them showed signs of pulmonary fibrosis (idiopathic interstitial pneumonia) with autosomal-dominant inheritance. A heterozygous single nucleotide variant c.532 G > A in the SFTPA1 gene has been identified. This variant encodes the substitution p.(Val178Met), localized within the carbohydrate recognition domain of surfactant protein A and segregates with the genes causing idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. This rare variant has not been previously reported. We also analyzed the detected sequence variant in the protein structure in silico. The replacement of valine by the larger methionine inside the protein may cause a disruption in the protein structure. The c.532 G > A variant was further validated using Sanger sequencing of the amplicons, confirming the diagnosis in all symptomatic family members. Moreover, this variant was also found by Sanger sequencing in one other symptomatic family member and one young asymptomatic family member. The autosomal-dominant inheritance, the family history of IIP, and the evidence of a mutation occurring in part of the SFTPA1 gene all suggest a novel variant that causes FIP.
Stem cell proliferation is induced by apoptotic bodies from dying cells during epithelial tissue maintenance
Authors: Brock Courtney K. , Wallin Stephen T. , Ruiz Oscar E. , Samms Krystin M. , Mandal Amrita , Sumner Elizabeth A. , Eisenhoffer George T.
Published: March 2019

Epithelial tissues require the removal and replacement of damaged cells to sustain a functional barrier. Dying cells provide instructive cues that can influence surrounding cells to proliferate, but how these signals are transmitted to their healthy neighbors to control cellular behaviors during tissue homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here we show that dying stem cells facilitate communication with adjacent stem cells by caspase-dependent production of Wnt8a-containing apoptotic bodies to drive cellular turnover in living epithelia. Basal stem cells engulf apoptotic bodies, activate Wnt signaling, and are stimulated to divide to maintain tissue-wide cell numbers. Inhibition of either cell death or Wnt signaling eliminated the apoptosis-induced cell division, while overexpression of Wnt8a signaling combined with induced cell death led to an expansion of the stem cell population. We conclude that ingestion of apoptotic bodies represents a regulatory mechanism linking death and division to maintain overall stem cell numbers and epithelial tissue homeostasis.
Identification of the laccase-like multicopper oxidase gene family of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and expression analysis in six ancient Tuscan varieties
Authors: Berni Roberto , Piasecki Emilie , Legay Sylvain , Hausman Jean-Francois , Siddiqui Khawar Sohail , Cai Giampiero , Guerriero Gea
Published: March 2019

Laccase-like multicopper oxidases (LMCOs) are versatile enzymes used as biocatalysts performing the oxidation of different substrates of industrial relevance, with or without the intervention of a mediator. They have attracted a lot of interest for biotechnological applications in light of their eco-friendliness: they indeed oxidize the substrate(s) by coupling the four electron reduction of the final acceptor, molecular oxygen (O2), to water. Plant LMCOs represent a still poorly studied, important class of oxidoreductases controlling e.g. the post-harvest quality of fruits and enabling the tailoring of designer energy crops. We here sought to identify the LMCOs inPrunus aviumL., whose fruits are rich in bioactive molecules, but are also highly perishable. The goal was to analyze them using bioinformatics (phylogenetic andin silicostructural analyses) and to perform a targeted expression study on a subset of genes in six ancient varieties from Tuscany, all threatened by genetic erosion. These sweet cherry varieties contain higher amount of bioactive molecules, as compared to commercial counterparts. The results shown demonstrate strikingly different gene expression patterns in the six ancient varieties (‘Benedetta’, ‘Carlotta’, ‘Crognola’, ‘Maggiola’, ‘Morellona’, ‘Moscatella’) belonging to the Tuscan Regional Bank of Germplasm, as compared to a widely used commercial one (‘Durone’). The motivation of this study is the economic importance ofP. aviumand the involvement of LMCOs in post-harvest fruit parameters, like color. The results presented pave the way to follow-up researches on LMCOs of sweet cherry exploring post-harvest fruit parameters (e.g. anthocyanin stability responsible for pericarp browning and the preservation of the appealing red color), as well as developmental processes, like stony pit formation.
Cisplatin shows greater efficacy than gemcitabine when combined with nab-paclitaxel in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Li Yi , Zhao Yannan , Gong Chengcheng , Xie Yizhao , Hu Xichun , Zhang Jian , Wang Leiping , Zhang Sheng , Cao Jun , Tao Zhonghua , Wang Biyun
Published: March 2019

Our study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus cisplatin (AP) with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We collected data from two single-arm, phase II MBC studies. In NCT01149798, seventy-three MBC patients received 125 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel on days 1, 8 and 15 followed by 75 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1 of a 28-day cycle. In NCT01550848, eighty-four MBC patients received 125 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel and 800 mg/m2 gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The endpoints were the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety profiles of these regimens. Among the 157 patients included, the ORR were 67.1% and 52.4% for the AP and AG arms, respectively (odds ratio [OR] = 0.246; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.485; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.762–2.985). After median follow-up periods of 26.3 and 23.3 months in the AP and AG arms, the median PFS were 9.8 months (95%CI, 8.1–11.6) and 8.1 months (95%CI, 6.8–9.4), respectively, while the median OS were 26.9 months (95%CI, 22.4–31.4) and 25.5 months (95%CI, 19.3–31.4), respectively. Neither PFS nor OS adjusted for the number of metastases, occurrence of liver metastasis and chemotherapeutic lines differed significantly between the two arms (PFS:HR = 0.769; 95%CI, 0.541–1.092; p = 0.142; OS:HR = 0.686; 95%CI, 0.426–1.104; p = 0.120). However, PFS was significantly better with AP than with AG in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) patients (HR = 0.308; 95%CI, 0.129–0.732; p = 0.008). Adverse events were more common with AP than with AG, except for edema and myalgia. Both regimens showed substantial efficacy and were tolerated well in MBC patients. mTNBC who received AP rather than AG showed longer PFS. However, adverse events were more common with AP. Thus, AP may be worth recommending to mTNBC, while AG may be a better alternative for MBC patients with other subtypes.
Disruption of APOL1-miR193a Axis Induces Disorganization of Podocyte Actin Cytoskeleton
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Paliwal Nitpriya , Ayasolla Kamesh , Vashistha Himanshu , Jha Alok , Chandel Nirupama , Chowdhary Sheetal , Saleem Moin A. , Malhotra Ashwani , Chander Praveen N. , Skorecki Karl , Singhal Pravin C.
Published: March 2019

APOL1-miR193a axis participates in the preservation of molecular phenotype of differentiated podocytes (DPDs). We examined the hypothesis that APOL1 (G0) preserves, but APOL1 risk alleles (G1 and G2) disrupt APOL1-miR193a axis in DPDs. DPDG0s displayed down-regulation of miR193a, but upregulation of nephrin expression. DPDG1s/G2s exhibited an increase in miR193a and down-regulation of the expression of adherens complex’s constituents (CD2AP, nephrin, and dendrin). DPDG0s showed decreased Cathepsin L, enhanced dynamin expressions, and the intact actin cytoskeleton. On the contrary, DPDG1s/G2s displayed an increase in Cathepsin L, but down-regulation of dynamin expressions and disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. APOL1 silencing enhanced miR193a and Cathepsin L, but down-regulated dynamin expressions. DPDG1s/G2s displayed nuclear import of dendrin, indicating an occurrence of destabilization of adherens complexes in APOL1 risk milieu. These findings suggest that DPDG1s and DPDG2s developed disorganized actin cytoskeleton as a consequence of disrupted APOL1-miR193a axis. Interestingly, docking and co-labeling studies suggested an interaction between APOL1 and CD2AP. APOL1G1/G1 and APOL1G1/G2 transgenic mice displayed nuclear import of dendrin indicating destabilization of adherens complexes in podocytes; moreover, these mice showed a four-fold increase in urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and development of focal segmental glomerular lesions.
Degradation of p47 by autophagy contributes to CADM1 overexpression in ATLL cells through the activation of NF-κB
Authors: Sarkar Bidhan , Nishikata Ichiro , Nakahata Shingo , Ichikawa Tomonaga , Shiraga Toshiyuki , Saha Hasi Rani , Fujii Masahiro , Tanaka Yuetsu , Shimoda Kazuya , Morishita Kazuhiro
Published: March 2019

Cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is identified as a novel cell surface marker for human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1)-infected T cells. Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is developed in HTLV-1-infected T-cells after a long infection period. To examine the mechanism of CADM1 overexpression in ATLL, we first identified that CADM1 is transcriptionally up-regulated by a transcriptional enhancer element through NF-κB signaling pathway. In HTLV-1-infected T-cells, CADM1 expression is dependent on HTLV-1/Tax through activation of canonical and non-canonical NF-κB; however, in ATLL cells with frequent loss of Tax expression, the activation of canonical NF-κB only enhances the CADM1 expression. Along with active mutations in signaling molecules under T-cell recepor (TCR) signaling, degradation of p47, a negative regulator of NF-κB, was essential for activation of canonical NF-κB through stabilization of NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator). The mechanism of p47 degradation is primarily dependent on activation of lysosomal-autophagy and the autophagy is activated in most of the HTLV-infected and ATLL cells, suggesting that the p47 degradation may be a first key molecular event during HTLV-1 infection to T-cells as a connector of two important signaling pathways, NF-κB and autophagy.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of Eogammarus possjeticus at different hydrostatic pressure and temperature exposures
Authors: Chen Jiawei , Liu Helu , Cai Shanya , Zhang Haibin
Published: March 2019

Hydrostatic pressure is an important environmental factor affecting the vertical distribution of marine organisms. Laboratory-based studies have shown that many extant shallow-water marine benthic invertebrates can tolerate hydrostatic pressure outside their known natural distributions. However, only a few studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms of pressure acclimatisation. In the present work, we examined the pressure tolerance of the shallow-water amphipod Eogammarus possjeticus at various temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C) and hydrostatic pressures (0.1–30 MPa) for 16 h. Six of these experimental groups were used for transcriptome analysis. We found that 100% of E. possjeticus survived under 20 MPa at all temperature conditions for 16 h. Sequence assembly resulted in 138, 304 unigenes. Results of differential expression analysis revealed that 94 well-annotated genes were up-regulated under high pressure. All these findings indicated that the pressure tolerance of E. possjeticus was related to temperature. Several biological processes including energy metabolism, antioxidation, immunity, lipid metabolism, membrane-related process, genetic information processing, and DNA repair are probably involved in the acclimatisation in deep-sea environments.
Discovery and Validation of a Novel Neutrophil Activation Marker Associated with Obesity
Authors: Pan Yue , Choi Jeong-Hyeon , Shi Huidong , Zhang Liwen , Su Shaoyong , Wang Xiaoling
Published: March 2019

Obesity is accompanied by low-grade systemic inflammation that etiologically contributes to obesity-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD). Growing evidence supports that neutrophil, the most abundant type of leukocytes in human, is most likely to be the target peripheral leukocyte subtype initiating the inflammatory cascade in obesity. However, few studies have systematically assessed the genome wide changes in neutrophils associated with obesity. In this study, a hypothesis-free OMIC approach (i.e. the discovery phase) and a target approach (i.e. the validation phase) were used to identify obesity related neutrophil activation markers and their roles on CVD risks. In the discovery phase, genome wide DNA methylation, RNA-sequencing and quantitative proteomics were obtained from purified neutrophils (12 obese vs. 12 lean). In the validation phase, gene expression levels of the promising genes from the OMIC platforms were measured in 81 obese cases vs. 83 lean controls, and the association between the expression levels and CVD risks were evaluated. Significant difference was found for one gene, alkaline phosphatase, liver/bone/kidney (ALPL), across 3 OMIC platforms. In the validation phase, the gene expression levels of ALPL in leukocytes were significantly higher in obese compared with lean subjects (p < 0.05). Within the obese population, we observed that ALPL expression level showed significantly positive association with CVD risk factors (p < 0.05) including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, carotid intima–media thickness and borderline significance with fasting insulin (p = 0.08). This study identified one novel marker ALPL of neutrophil activation in response to obesity and provided evidence that obesity induced change in ALPL expression was associated with CVD risk factors.
Visual cortex recruitment during language processing in blind individuals is explained by Hebbian learning
Authors: Tomasello Rosario , Wennekers Thomas , Garagnani Max , Pulvermüller Friedemann
Published: March 2019

In blind people, the visual cortex takes on higher cognitive functions, including language. Why this functional reorganisation mechanistically emerges at the neuronal circuit level is still unclear. Here, we use a biologically constrained network model implementing features of anatomical structure, neurophysiological function and connectivity of fronto-temporal-occipital areas to simulate word-meaning acquisition in visually deprived and undeprived brains. We observed that, only under visual deprivation, distributed word-related neural circuits ‘grew into’ the deprived visual areas, which therefore adopted a linguistic-semantic role. Three factors are crucial for explaining this deprivation-related growth: changes in the network’s activity balance brought about by the absence of uncorrelated sensory input, the connectivity structure of the network, and Hebbian correlation learning. In addition, the blind model revealed long-lasting spiking neural activity compared to the sighted model during word recognition, which is a neural correlate of enhanced verbal working memory. The present neurocomputational model offers a neurobiological account for neural changes following sensory deprivation, thus closing the gap between cellular-level mechanisms, system-level linguistic and semantic function.
Observation of localized modes at effective gauge field interface in synthetic mesh lattice
Authors: Pankov Artem V. , Vatnik Ilya D. , Churkin Dmitry V. , Sukhorukov Andrey A.
Published: March 2019

We predict a generic mechanism of wave localization at an interface between uniform artificial gauge fields, arising due to propagation-dependent phase accumulation similar to Aharonov-Bohm phenomenon. We realize experimentally a synthetic mesh lattice with real-time control over the vector gauge field, and observe robust localization under a broad variation of gauge strength and direction, as well as structural lattice parameters. This suggests new possibilities for confining and guiding waves in diverse physical systems through the synthetic gauge fields.
Categorization of everyday sounds by cochlear implanted children
Authors: Berland Aurore , Collett Edward , Gaillard Pascal , Guidetti Michèle , Strelnikov Kuzma , Cochard Nadine , Barone Pascal , Deguine Olivier
Published: March 2019

Auditory categorization is an important process in the perception and understanding of everyday sounds. The use of cochlear implants (CIs) may affect auditory categorization and result in poor abilities. The current study was designed to compare how children with normal hearing (NH) and children with CIs categorize a set of everyday sounds. We tested 24 NH children and 24 children with CI on a free-sorting task of 18 everyday sounds corresponding to four a priori categories: nonlinguistic human vocalizations, environmental sounds, musical sounds, and animal vocalizations. Multiple correspondence analysis revealed considerable variation within both groups of child listeners, although the human vocalizations and musical sounds were similarly categorized. In contrast to NH children, children with CIs categorized some sounds according to their acoustic content rather than their associated semantic information. These results show that despite identification deficits, children with CIs are able to categorize environmental and vocal sounds in a similar way to NH children, and are able to use categorization as an adaptive process when dealing with everyday sounds.
The gut microbiota composition affects dietary polyphenols-mediated cognitive resilience in mice by modulating the bioavailability of phenolic acids
Authors: Frolinger Tal , Sims Steven , Smith Chad , Wang Jun , Cheng Haoxiang , Faith Jeremiah , Ho Lap , Hao Ke , Pasinetti Giulio M.
Published: March 2019

Dietary polyphenols promote memory in models of sleep deprivation (SD), stress, and neurodegeneration. The biological properties of dietary polyphenols greatly depend upon the bioavailability of their phenolic metabolites derivatives, which are modulated by gut microbiota. We recently demonstrated that supplementation with grape-derived bioactive dietary polyphenol preparation (BDPP) improves SD-induced cognitive impairment. This study examined the role of the gut microbiota in the ability of BDPP to prevent memory impairment in response to SD. C57BL6/J mice, treated with antibiotics mix (ABX) or BDPP or both, were sleep-deprived at the end of a fear conditioning training session and fear memory was assessed the next day. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed in fecal samples and BDPP-driven phenolic acid metabolites extraction was measured in plasma. We report that the beneficial effect of BDPP on memory in SD is attenuated by ABX-induced dysbiosis. We identified specific communities of fecal microbiota that are associated with the bioavailability of BDPP-derived phenolic acids, which in turn, are associated with memory promotion. These results suggest the gut microbiota composition significantly affects the bioavailability of phenolic acids that drive the dietary polyphenols’ cognitive resilience property. Our findings provide a preclinical model with which to test the causal association of gut microbiota-polyphenols, with the ultimate goal of potential developing dietary polyphenols for the prevention/treatment of cognitive impairment.
Controlled and tuneable drug release from electrospun fibers and a non-invasive approach for cytotoxicity testing
Authors: Piccirillo G. , Carvajal Berrio D. A. , Laurita A. , Pepe A. , Bochicchio B. , Schenke-Layland K. , Hinderer S.
Published: March 2019

Electrospinning is an attractive method to generate drug releasing systems. In this work, we encapsulated the cell death-inducing drug Diclofenac (DCF) in an electrospun poly-L-lactide (PLA) scaffold. The scaffold offers a system for a sustained and controlled delivery of the cytotoxic DCF over time making it clinically favourable by achieving a prolonged therapeutic effect. We exposed human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) to the drug-eluting scaffold and employed multiphoton microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. These methods were suitable for non-invasive and marker-independent assessment of the cytotoxic effects. Released DCF induced changes in cell morphology and glycolytic activity. Furthermore, we showed that drug release can be influenced by adding dimethyl sulfoxide as a co-solvent for electrospinning. Interestingly, without affecting the drug diffusion mechanism, the resulting PLA scaffolds showed altered fibre morphology and enhanced initial DCF burst release. The here described model could represent an interesting way to control the diffusion of encapsulated bio-active molecules and test them using a marker-independent, non-invasive approach.
Calcium Involved Directional Organization of Polymer Chains in Polyester Nanogranules in Bacterial Cells
Authors: Tian Baoxia , Shah Mohsin , Choi Mun Hwan , Rho Jong Kook , Lee Sang Yeol , Yoon Sung Chul
Published: March 2019

Soil bacteria accumulate polyesters (typically poly([R]-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), in which one end of the chain terminates with a carboxyl group) in the form of hydrated, amorphous nanogranules in cells. However, it is not clear what drives the structure of these biomaterials inside bacterial cells. Here, we determined that calcium guides intracellular formation of PHB nanogranules. Our systematic study using the surface zeta potential measurement and the carboxyl-specific SYTO-62 dye binding assay showed that the terminal carboxyl is not exposed to the granule surface but is buried inside native “unit-granules” comprising the mature granule. Extracellular Ca2+ was found to mediate the formation of these PHB unit-granules, with uptaken Ca2+ stored inside the granules. Comparative [Ca2+]-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the native granules in Cupriavidus necator H16 act as a Ca2+ storage system, presumably for the regulation of its cytosolic Ca2+ level, but those from recombinant Escherichia coli do not. This study reveals intimate links between Ca2+ and native granule formation, and establishes a novel mechanism that intracellular PHB granules function as Ca2+ storage in order to relieve soil bacteria from Ca2+ stress.
Evaluation of dose point kernel rescaling methods for nanoscale dose estimation around gold nanoparticles using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Jayarathna Sandun , Manohar Nivedh , Ahmed Md Foiez , Krishnan Sunil , Cho Sang Hyun
Published: March 2019

The absence of proper nanoscale experimental techniques to investigate the dose-enhancing properties of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) interacting with radiation has prompted the development of various Monte Carlo (MC)-based nanodosimetry techniques that generally require considerable computational knowledge, time and specific tools/platforms. Thus, this study investigated a hybrid computational framework, based on the electron dose point kernel (DPK) method, by combining Geant4 MC simulations with an analytical approach. This hybrid framework was applied to estimate the dose distributions around GNPs due to the secondary electrons emitted from GNPs irradiated by various photon sources. Specifically, the equivalent path length approximation was used to rescale the homogeneous DPKs for heterogeneous GNPs embedded in water/tissue. Compared with Geant4 simulations, the hybrid framework halved calculation time while utilizing fewer computer resources, and also resulted in mean discrepancies less than 20 and 5% for Yb-169 and 6 MV photon irradiation, respectively. Its appropriateness and computational efficiency in handling more complex cases were also demonstrated using an example derived from a transmission electron microscopy image of a cancer cell containing internalized GNPs. Overall, the currently proposed hybrid computational framework can be a practical alternative to full-fledged MC simulations, benefiting a wide range of GNP- and radiation-related applications.
New Statistical Methods for Constructing Robust Differential Correlation Networks to characterize the interactions among microRNAs
Authors: Yu Danyang , Zhang Zeyu , Glass Kimberly , Su Jessica , DeMeo Dawn L. , Tantisira Kelan , Weiss Scott T. , Qiu Weiliang
Published: March 2019

The interplay among microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in the developments of complex human diseases. Co-expression networks can characterize the interactions among miRNAs. Differential correlation network is a powerful tool to investigate the differences of co-expression networks between cases and controls. To construct a differential correlation network, the Fisher’s Z-transformation test is usually used. However, the Fisher’s Z-transformation test requires the normality assumption, the violation of which would result in inflated Type I error rate. Several bootstrapping-based improvements for Fisher’s Z test have been proposed. However, these methods are too computationally intensive to be used to construct differential correlation networks for high-throughput genomic data. In this article, we proposed six novel robust equal-correlation tests that are computationally efficient. The systematic simulation studies and a real microRNA data analysis showed that one of the six proposed tests (ST5) overall performed better than other methods.
Microwave-induced orbital angular momentum transfer
Authors: Amini Sabegh Zahra , Maleki Mohammad Ali , Mahmoudi Mohammad
Published: March 2019

The microwave-induced orbital angular momentum (OAM) transfer from a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam to a weak plane-wave is studied in a closed-loop four-level ladder-type atomic system. The analytical investigation shows that the generated fourth field is an LG beam with the same OAM of the applied LG field. Moreover, the microwave-induced subluminal generated pulse can be switched to the superluminal one only by changing the relative phase of applied fields. It is shown that the OAM transfer in subluminal regime is accompanied by a slightly absorption, however, it switches to the slightly gain in superluminal regime. The transfer of light’s OAM and control of the group velocity of the generated pulse can prepare a high-dimensional Hilbert space which has a major role in quantum communication and information processing.
Carbon nanoparticles with oligonucleotide probes for a label-free sensitive antibiotic residues detection based on competitive analysis
Authors: Lin Xuexia , Su Jianlong , Lin Honggui , Zhou Shu-Feng , Sun Xiangying , Liu Bin , Zeng Mingrong
Published: March 2019

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have been combined with aptamer, providing a broad application in small molecule. CNPs can be quenched by small molecules and are usually applied as luminescent probes because of their photophysical characteristics. In this work, we developed a competitive analysis for antibiotic residues detection based on carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and oligonucleotide probes. Oligonucleotide probes including oxytetracycline (OTC) aptamer was exploited for recognition OTC and was used to restore the luminescence. Tetracycline (TC), as a competitor of OTC, was utilized to quench the luminescence of CNPs and reduce the sample matrix effect. Under optimal conditions, the linear rang of OTC was 0.010~1.0 ng/mL with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) from 2.91% to 11.3%, and the limit of detection (LOD) was low to 0.002 ng/mL. Moreover, the proposal was successfully applied to analyze OTC from drink water, indicating that this approach has great potential for other small molecule analysis.
Enhanced absorption in all-dielectric metasurfaces due to magnetic dipole excitation
Authors: Terekhov Pavel D. , Baryshnikova Kseniia V. , Greenberg Yakov , Fu Yuan Hsing , Evlyukhin Andrey B. , Shalin Alexander S. , Karabchevsky Alina
Published: March 2019

All-dielectric nanophotonics lies at a forefront of nanoscience and technology as it allows to control light at the nanoscale using its electric and magnetic components. Bulk silicon does not experience any magnetic response, nevertheless, we demonstrate that the metasurface made of silicon parallelepipeds allows to excite the magnetic dipole moment leading to the broadening and enhancement of the absorption. Our investigations are underpinned by the numerical predictions and the experimental verifications. Also surprisingly we found that the resonant electric quadrupole moment leads to the enhancement of reflection. Our results can be applied for a development of absorption based devices from miniature dielectric absorbers, filters to solar cells and energy harvesting devices.
Music synchronizes brainwaves across listeners with strong effects of repetition, familiarity and training
Authors: Madsen Jens , Margulis Elizabeth Hellmuth , Simchy-Gross Rhimmon , Parra Lucas C.
Published: March 2019

Music tends to be highly repetitive, both in terms of musical structure and in terms of listening behavior, yet little is known about how engagement changes with repeated exposure. Here we postulate that engagement with music affects the inter-subject correlation of brain responses during listening. We predict that repeated exposure to music will affect engagement and thus inter-subject correlation. Across repeated exposures to instrumental music, inter-subject correlation decreased for music written in a familiar style. Participants with formal musical training showed more inter-subject correlation, and sustained it across exposures to music in an unfamiliar style. This distinguishes music from other domains, where repetition has consistently been shown to decrease inter-subject correlation. Overall, the study suggests that listener engagement tends to decrease across repeated exposures of familiar music, but that unfamiliar musical styles can sustain an audience’s interest, in particular in individuals with some musical training. Future work needs to validate the link proposed here between music engagement and inter-subject correlation of brain responses during listening.
Phenotypic and transcriptomic characterization of canine myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Goulart Michelle R. , Hlavaty Sabina I. , Chang Yu-Mei , Polton Gerry , Stell Anneliese , Perry James , Wu Ying , Sharma Eshita , Broxholme John , Lee Avery C. , Szladovits Balazs , Turmaine Mark , Gribben John , Xia Dong , Garden Oliver A.
Published: March 2019

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are key players in immune evasion, tumor progression and metastasis. MDSCs accumulate under various pathological states and fall into two functionally and phenotypically distinct subsets that have been identified in humans and mice: polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs and monocytic (M)-MDSCs. As dogs are an excellent model for human tumor development and progression, we set out to identify PMN-MDSCs and M-MDSCs in clinical canine oncology patients. Canine hypodense MHC class II−CD5−CD21−CD11b+ cells can be subdivided into polymorphonuclear (CADO48A+CD14−) and monocytic (CADO48A−CD14+) MDSC subsets. The transcriptomic signatures of PMN-MDSCs and M-MDSCs are distinct, and moreover reveal a statistically significant similarity between canine and previously published human PMN-MDSC gene expression patterns. As in humans, peripheral blood frequencies of canine PMN-MDSCs and M-MDSCs are significantly higher in dogs with cancer compared to healthy control dogs (PMN-MDSCs: p < 0.001; M-MDSCs: p < 0.01). By leveraging the power of evolution, we also identified additional conserved genes in PMN-MDSCs of multiple species that may play a role in MDSC function. Our findings therefore validate the dog as a model for studying MDSCs in the context of cancer.
The landscape of d16HER2 splice variant expression across HER2-positive cancers
Authors: Volpi Chiara Costanza , Pietrantonio Filippo , Gloghini Annunziata , Fucà Giovanni , Giordano Silvia , Corso Simona , Pruneri Giancarlo , Antista Maria , Cremolini Chiara , Fasano Elena , Saggio Serena , Faraci Simona , Di Bartolomeo Maria , de Braud Filippo , Di Nicola Massimo , Tagliabue Elda , Pupa Serenella Maria , Castagnoli Lorenzo
Published: March 2019

The HER2 splice variant characterized by the deletion of exon 16 and denominated as d16HER2, is associated with HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) aggressiveness, stemness, and trastuzumab susceptibility and is considered to be a “flag” of HER2 dependence. However, with the exception of quantitative real-time PCR analysis, easily reproducible assays are still lacking to clinically detect and quantify the d16HER2 expression. Further, no data on d16HER2 expression and its potential role are available in HER2-positive gastrointestinal malignancies. Here, we used a novel RNA in situ hybridization technique (BaseScope) to discriminate d16HER2 variant expression from the wild type isoform (WTHER2) and to assess their levels across different HER2-positive histological samples. Our results demonstrate the existence of outliers, with d16HER2 mRNA high scores restricted to HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) coupled with increased d16HER2 expression compared with BC. Consistent with previously reported data on BC, experiments performed in HER2-positive GC patient-derived xenografts suggest that increased d16HER2 expression is associated with a clinical benefit/response to single-agent trastuzumab. Therefore, d16HER2 may be considered as a “flag” of HER2 dependence in GC and can be clinically investigated as a marker of trastuzumab susceptibility in several other HER2-driven cancers, including CRC. As a clinical proof-of-concept, we indicate that high d16HER2 mRNA scores are exclusively found in patients with a long-term benefit from trastuzumab exceeding 12 months (clinical “outliers”), and that d16HER2 expression is also increased in circulating tumor-released exosomes obtained from baseline plasma samples of long-term responders.
Impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity in epicardial adipose tissue is associated with decreased concentration of adiponectin and severity of coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Nakajima Takayuki , Yokota Takashi , Shingu Yasushige , Yamada Akira , Iba Yutaka , Ujihira Kosuke , Wakasa Satoru , Ooka Tomonori , Takada Shingo , Shirakawa Ryosuke , Katayama Takashi , Furihata Takaaki , Fukushima Arata , Matsuoka Ryosuke , Nishihara Hiroshi , Dela Flemming , Nakanishi Katsuhiko , Matsui Yoshiro , Kinugawa Shintaro
Published: March 2019

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a source of adipokines, is metabolically active, but the role of EAT mitochondria in coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been established. We investigated the association between EAT mitochondrial respiratory capacity, adiponectin concentration in the EAT, and coronary atherosclerosis. EAT samples were obtained from 25 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery. Based on the coronary angiographycal findings, the patients were divided into two groups; coronary artery disease (CAD; n = 14) and non-CAD (n = 11) groups. The mitochondrial respiratory capacities including oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity with non-fatty acid (complex I and complex I + II-linked) substrates and fatty acids in the EAT were significantly lowered in CAD patients. The EAT mitochondrial OXPHOS capacities had a close and inverse correlation with the severity of coronary artery stenosis evaluated by the Gensini score. Intriguingly, the protein level of adiponectin, an anti-atherogenic adipokine, in the EAT was significantly reduced in CAD patients, and it was positively correlated with the mitochondrial OXPHOS capacities in the EAT and inversely correlated with the Gensini score. Our study showed that impaired mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity in the EAT was closely linked to decreased concentration of adiponectin in the EAT and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Thermochemically stable ceramic composite membranes based on Bi2O3 for oxygen separation with high permeability
Authors: Xing Wen , Carvalho Patricia A. , Polfus Jonathan M. , Li Zuoan
Published: March 2019

A novel CO2-stable ceramic composite exhibits high mixed conduction of oxide ions and electron holes within the respective phases.
Structure–function relationship for CO2 methanation over ceria supported Rh and Ni catalysts under atmospheric pressure conditions
Authors: Martin Natalia M. , Hemmingsson Felix , Schaefer Andreas , Ek Martin , Merte Lindsay R. , Hejral Uta , Gustafson Johan , Skoglundh Magnus , Dippel Ann-Christin , Gutowski Olof , Bauer Matthias , Carlsson Per-Anders
Published: March 2019

CO2 methanation over Rh/CeO2 and Ni/CeO2 highlighting the different surface speciation during reaction as deduced from our study.
Modelling carbofuran biotransformation byNovosphingobiumsp. KN65.2 in the presence of coincidental carbon and indigenous microbes
Authors: Liu Li , Helbling Damian E. , Kohler Hans-Peter E. , Smets Barth F.
Published: March 2019

Interference of coincidental carbon and indigenous bacteria on pesticide removal by biodegrading strains differs in lowversushigh AOC waters.
Cooperative iridium complex-catalyzed synthesis of quinoxalines, benzimidazoles and quinazolines in water
Authors: Chakrabarti Kaushik , Maji Milan , Kundu Sabuj
Published: March 2019

A sustainable protocol for the synthesis of various pharmaceutically relevant N-heterocyclic moieties was developed in water. A metal–ligand cooperative mechanism was proposed for this system based on kinetic and DFT studies.
The determination of pesticides in tea samples followed by magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube-based magnetic solid-phase extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu Chu , Ji Yinghe , Jiang Xu , Yuan Xucan , Zhang Xinyue , Zhao Longshan
Published: March 2019

A simple and efficient method regarding ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with magnetic solid-phase extraction (UA-MSPE) by UHPLC-MS/MS was set up for the determination of three pesticides in tea leaf samples.
Restoring self-limited growth of single-layer graphene on copper foil via backside coating
Authors: Reckinger Nicolas , Casa Marcello , Scheerder Jeroen E. , Keijers Wout , Paillet Matthieu , Huntzinger Jean-Roch , Haye Emile , Felten Alexandre , Van de Vondel Joris , Sarno Maria , Henrard Luc , Colomer Jean-François
Published: March 2019

Backside tungsten coating of copper foils allows for the chemical vapor deposition of exclusively single-layer graphene sheets.
Exploring the necessity of an acidic additive for Pd(ii)-catalyzed exclusive C4-fluoroalkylation of 3-acetylindole: a detailed DFT study on the mechanism and regioselectivity
Authors: Li Jin-Feng , Zhao Ru-Fang , Zhou Fu-Qiang , She Meng-Yao , Zhang Jun , Yin Bing , Zhang Sheng-Yong , Li Jian-Li
Published: March 2019

The regioselectivity of Pd(ii)-catalyzed exclusive C4-fluoroalkylation of 3-acetylindole arises from the transfer of electron density from the substrate to the catalyst.
Composition and distribution of internal resistance in an enzymatic fuel cell and its dependence on cell design and operating conditions
Authors: Wu Ranran , Ma Chunling , Yong Yang-Chun , Job Zhang Yi-Heng P. , Zhu Zhiguang
Published: March 2019

This work systematically investigated the impact of operating conditions on the internal resistance of a sugar-based EFC.
Silver-modified porous polystyrene sulfonate derived from Pickering high internal phase emulsions for capturing lithium-ion
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Chen Xueping , Peng Yinxian , Pan Jianming
Published: March 2019

Adsorption separation based on porous polystyrene sulfonate is an important method of extracting lithium ion (Li+).
Advances in solution-processable near-infrared phototransistors
Authors: Li Ning , Lan Zhaojue , Cai Linfeng , Zhu Furong
Published: March 2019

Solution processable near infrared (NIR) photodetectors provide a promising alternative due to their low cost, flexible design, adaptability to various fabrications, and large area manufacturability, removing the limitations of traditional wafer-based inorganic semiconductor techniques. High performing NIR photodetectors offer attractive options for applications in visualizing NIR light, health and safety monitoring.
Ferritin nanocage-based antigen delivery nanoplatforms: epitope engineering for peptide vaccine design
Authors: Wang Zhantong , Xu Longfa , Yu Hai , Lv Peng , Lei Zhao , Zeng Yun , Liu Gang , Cheng Tong
Published: March 2019

The EV71 epitopes fused onto the loop zone of ferritin nanocages could induce strong immune response.
A bendable nickel oxide interfacial layerviapolydopamine crosslinking for flexible perovskite solar cells
Authors: Duan Xiaopeng , Huang Zengqi , Liu Cong , Yang Jia , Tan Licheng , Chen Yiwang
Published: March 2019

Flexible perovskite solar cells based on polydopamine cross-linked NiOxexhibited over 70% efficiency retention after 1000 bending cycles.
Broadening AIEgen application: rapid and portable sensing of foodstuff hazards in deep-frying oil
Authors: Wu Yue , Jin Pengwei , Gu Kaizhi , Shi Chuanxin , Guo Zhiqian , Yu Zhen-Qiang , Zhu Wei-Hong
Published: March 2019

We report the first example of an AIEgen probe, QM-TPA, for sensing of triacylglycerol-based polymers in frying oil.
Nontronite and intercalated nontronite as effective and cheap absorbers of electromagnetic radiation
Authors: Kułacz Karol , Orzechowski Kazimierz
Published: March 2019

Thermal, structural and dielectric properties of natural and chemically modified clay minerals.
A fluorescent probe for sequential sensing of MnO4− and Cr2O72− ions in aqueous medium based on a UCNS/TMB nanosystem
Authors: Liu Haiquan , Rong Jianing , Shen Guoqiong , Song Yao , Gu Wen , Liu Xin
Published: March 2019

Distinguishable and sequential detection of MnO4− and Cr2O72− was realized by the reactions above and IFE between UCNS and oxTMB.
Manganese(ii)-catalysed dehydrogenative annulation involving C–C bond formation: highly regioselective synthesis of quinolines
Authors: Wang Chengniu , Yang Jinfei , Meng Xiao , Sun Yufeng , Man Xuyan , Li Jinxia , Sun Fei
Published: March 2019

An inexpensive nontoxic manganese(ii)-catalysed dehydrogenative annulation was developed for C–C bond formation.
Efficient syntheses and antimicrobial activities of new thiophene containing pyranone and quinolinone derivatives using manganese(iii) acetate: the effect of thiophene on ring closure–opening reactions
Authors: Özgür Mehtap , Yılmaz Mehmet , Nishino Hiroshi , Çinar Avar Eda , Dal Hakan , Pekel A. Tarık , Hökelek Tuncer
Published: March 2019

The syntheses, spectroscopic properties, and antimicrobial activities of new pyranones and quinoline-based dihydrofurans accompanied by 3-alkenyl-substituted structures were investigated.
Facile synthesis of 2-azaspiro[3.4]octane
Authors: Ramesh Subbiah , Balakumar Ramadas , Rizzo John R. , Zhang Tony Y.
Published: March 2019

Synthesis of 2-azaspiro[3.4]octane was achieved by ring annulation of five-membered as well as four-membered rings. The merits and limitations of the three efficient synthetic methodologies developed are discussed.
Correction: The expanding spectrum of diketopiperazine natural product biosynthetic pathways containing cyclodipeptide synthases
Authors: Borgman Paul , Lopez Ryan D. , Lane Amy L.
Published: March 2019

Correction for ‘The expanding spectrum of diketopiperazine natural product biosynthetic pathways containing cyclodipeptide synthases’ by Paul Borgman et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c8ob03063d.
Guest-mediated chirality transfer in the host–guest complexes of an atropisomeric perylene bisimide cyclophane host
Authors: Sapotta Meike , Spenst Peter , Saha-Möller Chantu R. , Würthner Frank
Published: March 2019

Chirality transfer upon preferential binding of homochiral guests to one stereoisomer of a conformationally equilibrated atropisomeric cyclophane is reported.
Pd(ii)/Ag(i)-Cocatalyzed ortho direct arylation of O-phenylcarbamates with pinacol aryl boronates
Authors: Ma Huijun , Wang Tao , Gao Chenying , Li Guangshen , Zhang Minghao , Wang Qifeng
Published: March 2019

Ortho direct arylation of O-phenyl carbamates using aryl boronates as coupling partners has been realized for the first time using Pd(OAc)2 and AgOAc as co-catalyst.
Synergistic bactericide and antibiotic effects of dimeric, tetrameric, or palindromic peptides containing the RWQWR motif against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains
Authors: Vargas-Casanova Yerly , Rodríguez-Mayor Andrea Verónica , Cardenas Karen Johanna , Leal-Castro Aura Lucía , Muñoz-Molina Liliana Constanza , Fierro-Medina Ricardo , Rivera-Monroy Zuly Jenny , García-Castañeda Javier Eduardo
Published: March 2019

Time-kill curve plot. Peptide LfcinB (20–25)4againstS. aureusATCC 25923. The peptide was tested at concentrations corresponding to MIC (blue line), 2 MIC (pink line) and 4 MIC (orange line) values.
A chromenoquinoline-based two-photon fluorescent probe for the highly specific and fast visualization of sulfur dioxide derivatives in living cells and zebrafish
Authors: Cai Fangyuan , Hou Bo , Zhang Shuping , Chen Hua , Ji Shichen , Shen Xing-can , Liang Hong
Published: March 2019

A novel two-photon fluorescent turn-on SO2 derivative probe based on chromenoquinoline derivatives and the improved β-chlorovinyl aldehyde group was developed.
Europium-doped ZnO nanosponges – controlling optical properties and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Marin Riccardo , Oussta Fadi , Katea Sarmad Naim , Prabhudev Sagar , Botton Gianluigi A. , Westin Gunnar , Hemmer Eva
Published: March 2019

Structure–property relationships were established for undoped and europium-doped ZnO nanostructures, correlating their photocatalytic activity with optical and structural material properties.
Caught in the act: LRRK2 in exosomes
Authors: Wang Shijie , West Andrew B.
Published: March 2019

Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are a frequent genetic cause of late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) and a target for therapeutic approaches. LRRK2 protein can influence vesicle trafficking events in the cytosol, with action both in endosomal and lysosomal pathways in different types of cells. A subset of late endosomes harbor intraluminal vesicles that can be secreted into the extracellular milieu. These extracellular vesicles, called exosomes, package LRRK2 protein for transport outside the cell into easily accessed biofluids. Both the cytoplasmic complement of LRRK2 as well as the exosome-associated fraction of protein appears regulated in part by interactions with 14-3-3 proteins. LRRK2 inside exosomes have disease-linked post-translational modifications and are relatively stable compared with unprotected proteins in the extracellular space or disrupted cytosolic compartments. Herein, we review the biology of exosome-associated LRRK2 and the potential for utility in diagnosis, prognosis, and theragnosis in PD and other LRRK2-linked diseases.