bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Care for victims of sexual violence, an organization pushed to its limits: The case of Médecins Sans Frontières
Authors: Duroch Françoise , Schulte-Hillen Catrin
Published: March 2015

Over the past ten years, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided medical care to almost 118,000 victims of sexual violence. Integrating related care into MSF general assistance to populations affected by crisis and conflicts has presented a considerable institutional struggle and continues to be a challenge. Tensions regarding the role of MSF in providing care to victims of sexual violence and when facing the multiple challenges inherent in dealing with this crime persist. An overview of MSF's experience and related reflection aims to share with the reader, on the one hand, the complexity of the issue, and on the other, the need to continue fighting for the provision of adequate medical care for victims of sexual violence, which despite the limitations is feasible.
Assistance, direction and control: Untangling international judicial opinion on individual and State responsibility for war crimes by non-State actors
Authors: Darcy Shane
Published: March 2015

Despite the general consistency in the treatment of international humanitarian law by international courts and tribunals, recent decisions have seen significant disagreement regarding the scope of indirect responsibility for individuals and States for the provision of aid or assistance to non-State actors that perpetrate war crimes. The divisions at the international criminal tribunals with regard to the “specific direction” element of aiding and abetting are reminiscent of the divergence between the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on the question of State responsibility for supporting or assisting non-State actors that engage in violations of international law. This article analyzes this jurisprudence on individual and State responsibility for the provision of support to non-State actors that breach international humanitarian law, and considers the interaction and interrelationship between these related but distinct forms of responsibility.
Examination about the Effects of Future Career Choice on Time Perspective in Japanese High School Students
Authors: Tsuzuki Manabu
Published: March 2015

This study investigated types of career choice in high school students and examined the effects of career paths on time perspective development. The participants were 4,756 third grade students from nine public high schools in Tokyo. The high school questionnaire survey was conducted throughout autumn of 2008, 2009, and 2010. One year later, 962 graduates participated in the follow-up questionnaire survey by post. Distinguishing gender difference among career paths was found. Girls tend to choose significantly shorter learning careers (p< .01), for example junior college or vocational school in comparison to boys. Career indecision, i.e. students who could not set a concrete future career in high school, had significantly more negative time perspective than other groups (p< .05), which was caused by a deficiency of their basic cognitive ability. Longitudinal data showed different patterns of fluctuation in time perspective between “school to school transition” and “school to work transition”. It is suggested that the “school to work transition” tends to be more critical for adolescents and has negative effects on time perspective. These results suggest that the goal content in careers may promote or inhibit the formation of time perspectives during the graduation transition.
Cmr1/WDR76 defines a nuclear genotoxic stress body linking genome integrity and protein quality control
Authors: Gallina Irene , Colding Camilla , Henriksen Peter , Beli Petra , Nakamura Kyosuke , Offman Judith , Mathiasen David P. , Silva Sonia , Hoffmann Eva , Groth Anja , Choudhary Chunaram , Lisby Michael
Published: March 2015

DNA replication stress is a source of genomic instability. Here we identify changed mutation rate 1 (Cmr1) as a factor involved in the response to DNA replication stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and show that Cmr1—together with Mrc1/Claspin, Pph3, the chaperonin containing TCP1 (CCT) and 25 other proteins—define a novel intranuclear quality control compartment (INQ) that sequesters misfolded, ubiquitylated and sumoylated proteins in response to genotoxic stress. The diversity of proteins that localize to INQ indicates that other biological processes such as cell cycle progression, chromatin and mitotic spindle organization may also be regulated through INQ. Similar to Cmr1, its human orthologue WDR76 responds to proteasome inhibition and DNA damage by relocalizing to nuclear foci and physically associating with CCT, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved biological function. We propose that Cmr1/WDR76 plays a role in the recovery from genotoxic stress through regulation of the turnover of sumoylated and phosphorylated proteins.
An allosteric photoredox catalyst inspired by photosynthetic machinery
Authors: Lifschitz Alejo M. , Young Ryan M. , Mendez-Arroyo Jose , Stern Charlotte L. , McGuirk C. Michael , Wasielewski Michael R. , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: March 2015

Biological photosynthetic machinery allosterically regulate light harvesting via conformational and electronic changes at the antenna protein complexes as a response to specific chemical inputs. Fundamental limitations in current approaches to regulating inorganic light-harvesting mimics prevent their use in catalysis. Here we show that a light-harvesting antenna/reaction centre mimic can be regulated by utilizing a coordination framework incorporating antenna hemilabile ligands and assembled via a high-yielding, modular approach. As in nature, allosteric regulation is afforded by coupling the conformational changes to the disruptions in the electrochemical landscape of the framework upon recognition of specific coordinating analytes. The hemilabile ligands enable switching using remarkably mild and redox-inactive inputs, allowing one to regulate the photoredox catalytic activity of the photosynthetic mimic reversibly and in situ. Thus, we demonstrate that bioinspired regulatory mechanisms can be applied to inorganic light-harvesting arrays displaying switchable catalytic properties and with potential uses in solar energy conversion and photonic devices.
Enriched environment reduces glioma growth through immune and non-immune mechanisms in mice
Authors: Garofalo Stefano , D’Alessandro Giuseppina , Chece Giuseppina , Brau Frederic , Maggi Laura , Rosa Alessandro , Porzia Alessandra , Mainiero Fabrizio , Esposito Vincenzo , Lauro Clotilde , Benigni Giorgia , Bernardini Giovanni , Santoni Angela , Limatola Cristina
Published: March 2015

Mice exposed to standard (SE) or enriched environment (EE) were transplanted with murine or human glioma cells and differences in tumour development were evaluated. We report that EE exposure affects: (i) tumour size, increasing mice survival; (ii) glioma establishment, proliferation and invasion; (iii) microglia/macrophage (M/Mφ) activation; (iv) natural killer (NK) cell infiltration and activation; and (v) cerebral levels of IL-15 and BDNF. Direct infusion of IL-15 or BDNF in the brain of mice transplanted with glioma significantly reduces tumour growth. We demonstrate that brain infusion of IL-15 increases the frequency of NK cell infiltrating the tumour and that NK cell depletion reduces the efficacy of EE and IL-15 on tumour size and of EE on mice survival. BDNF infusion reduces M/Mφ infiltration and CD68 immunoreactivity in tumour mass and reduces glioma migration inhibiting the small G protein RhoA through the truncated TrkB.T1 receptor. These results suggest alternative approaches for glioma treatment.
Dirac surface states and nature of superconductivity in Noncentrosymmetric BiPd
Authors: Sun Zhixiang , Enayat Mostafa , Maldonado Ana , Lithgow Calum , Yelland Ed , Peets Darren C. , Yaresko Alexander , Schnyder Andreas P. , Wahl Peter
Published: March 2015

In non-magnetic bulk materials, inversion symmetry protects the spin degeneracy. If the bulk crystal structure lacks a centre of inversion, however, spin–orbit interactions lift the spin degeneracy, leading to a Rashba metal whose Fermi surfaces exhibit an intricate spin texture. In superconducting Rashba metals a pairing wavefunction constructed from these complex spin structures will generally contain both singlet and triplet character. Here we examine the possible triplet components of the order parameter in noncentrosymmetric BiPd, combining for the first time in a noncentrosymmetric superconductor macroscopic characterization, atomic-scale ultra-low-temperature scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, and relativistic first-principles calculations. While the superconducting state of BiPd appears topologically trivial, consistent with Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory with an order parameter governed by a single isotropic s-wave gap, we show that the material exhibits Dirac-cone surface states with a helical spin polarization.
Voltage-dependent gating of KCNH potassium channels lacking a covalent link between voltage-sensing and pore domains
Authors: Lörinczi Éva , Gómez-Posada Juan Camilo , de la Peña Pilar , Tomczak Adam P. , Fernández-Trillo Jorge , Leipscher Ulrike , Stühmer Walter , Barros Francisco , Pardo Luis A.
Published: March 2015

Voltage-gated channels open paths for ion permeation upon changes in membrane potential, but how voltage changes are coupled to gating is not entirely understood. Two modules can be recognized in voltage-gated potassium channels, one responsible for voltage sensing (transmembrane segments S1 to S4), the other for permeation (S5 and S6). It is generally assumed that the conversion of a conformational change in the voltage sensor into channel gating occurs through the intracellular S4–S5 linker that provides physical continuity between the two regions. Using the pathophysiologically relevant KCNH family, we show that truncated proteins interrupted at, or lacking the S4–S5 linker produce voltage-gated channels in a heterologous model that recapitulate both the voltage-sensing and permeation properties of the complete protein. These observations indicate that voltage sensing by the S4 segment is transduced to the channel gate in the absence of physical continuity between the modules.
Ultrafast and reversible control of the exchange interaction in Mott insulators
Authors: Mentink J. H. , Balzer K. , Eckstein M.
Published: March 2015

The strongest interaction between microscopic spins in magnetic materials is the exchange interaction Jex. Therefore, ultrafast control of Jex holds the promise to control spins on ultimately fast timescales. We demonstrate that time-periodic modulation of the electronic structure by electric fields can be used to reversibly control Jex on ultrafast timescales in extended antiferromagnetic Mott insulators. In the regime of weak driving strength, we find that Jex can be enhanced and reduced for frequencies below and above the Mott gap, respectively. Moreover, for strong driving strength, even the sign of Jex can be reversed and we show that this causes time reversal of the associated quantum spin dynamics. These results suggest wide applications, not only to control magnetism in condensed matter systems, for example, via the excitation of spin resonances, but also to assess fundamental questions concerning the reversibility of the quantum many-body dynamics in cold atom systems.
Electride support boosts nitrogen dissociation over ruthenium catalyst and shifts the bottleneck in ammonia synthesis
Authors: Kitano Masaaki , Kanbara Shinji , Inoue Yasunori , Kuganathan Navaratnarajah , Sushko Peter V. , Yokoyama Toshiharu , Hara Michikazu , Hosono Hideo
Published: March 2015

Novel approaches to efficient ammonia synthesis at an ambient pressure are actively sought out so as to reduce the cost of ammonia production and to allow for compact production facilities. It is accepted that the key is the development of a high-performance catalyst that significantly enhances dissociation of the nitrogen–nitrogen triple bond, which is generally considered a rate-determining step. Here we examine kinetics of nitrogen and hydrogen isotope exchange and hydrogen adsorption/desorption reactions for a recently discovered efficient catalyst for ammonia synthesis—ruthenium-loaded 12CaO·7Al2O3 electride (Ru/C12A7:e−)—and find that the rate controlling step of ammonia synthesis over Ru/C12A7:e− is not dissociation of the nitrogen–nitrogen triple bond but the subsequent formation of N–Hn species. A mechanism of ammonia synthesis involving reversible storage and release of hydrogen atoms on the Ru/C12A7:e− surface is proposed on the basis of observed hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics.
Rap1 is indispensable for TRF2 function in etoposide-induced DNA damage response in gastric cancer cell line
Authors: Li X , Liu W , Wang H , Yang L , Li Y , Wen H , Ning H , Wang J , Zhang L , Li J , Fan D
Published: March 2015

The telomeric protein TRF2, involving in telomeric and extratelomeric DNA damage response, has been previously reported to facilitate multidrug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells by interfering ATM-dependent DNA damage response induced by anticancer drugs. Rap1 is the TRF2-interacting protein in the shelterin complex. Complex formation between Rap1 and TRF2 is essential for their function in telomere and end protection. Here we focus on the effects of Rap1 on TRF2 function in DNA damage response induced by anticancer drugs. Both Rap1 and TRF2 expression were upregulated in SGC7901 and its MDR variant SGC7901/VCR after etoposide treatment, which was more marked in SGC7901/VCR than in SGC7901. Rap1 silencing by siRNA in SGC7901/VCR partially reversed the etoposide resistance. And Rap1 silencing partially reversed the TRF2-mediated resistance to etoposide in SGC7901. Rap1 silencing did not affect the TRF2 upregulation induced by etoposide, but eliminated the inhibition effect of TRF2 on ATM expression and ATM phosphorylation at serine 1981 (ATM pS1981). Furthermore, phosphorylation of ATM targets, including γH2AX and serine 15 (S15) on p53, were increased in Rap1 silencing cells in response to etoposide. Thus, we confirm that Rap1, interacting with TRF2 in the shelterin complex, also has an important role in TRF2-mediated DNA damage response in gastric cancer cells treated by etoposide.
Inhibiting phosphorylation of the oncogenic PAX3-FOXO1 reduces alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma phenotypes identifying novel therapy options
Authors: Loupe J M , Miller P J , Ruffin D R , Stark M W , Hollenbach A D
Published: March 2015

Patients with translocation-positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), an aggressive childhood tumor primarily characterized by the PAX3-FOXO1 oncogenic fusion protein, have a poor prognosis because of lack of therapies that specifically target ARMS tumors. This fact highlights the need for novel pharmaceutical interventions. Posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation are becoming attractive biological targets for the development of such interventions. Along these lines, we demonstrated that PAX3-FOXO1 is phosphorylated at three specific sites and that its pattern of phosphorylation is altered relative to wild-type Pax3 throughout early myogenesis and in ARMS tumor cells. However, little work has been performed examining the effect of directly inhibiting phosphorylation at these sites on ARMS development. To address this gap in knowledge, we used small molecule inhibitors or mutational analysis to specifically inhibit phosphorylation of PAX3-FOXO1 to investigate how altering phosphorylation of the oncogenic fusion protein affects ARMS phenotypes. We found that inhibiting the phosphorylation of PAX3-FOXO1 at Ser201 significantly reduced migration, invasion and proliferation in two independent ARMS tumor cell lines. Further, we found that inhibition of phosphorylation at Ser205 also decreased proliferation and anchorage-independent growth. Consistent with these in vitro results, we demonstrate for the first time that PAX3-FOXO1 is phosphorylated at Ser201 and Ser205 in a primary tumor sample and in tumor cells actively invading the surrounding normal tissue. This report is the first to demonstrate that the direct inhibition of PAX3-FOXO1 phosphorylation reduces ARMS tumor phenotypes in vitro and that these phosphorylation events are present in primary human ARMS tumors and invading tumor cells. These results identify phosphorylation of PAX3-FOXO1, especially at Ser201, as a novel biological target that can be explored as a promising avenue for ARMS therapies.
A summary of eight traits of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Araneae, occurring in grasslands in Germany
Authors: Gossner Martin M , Simons Nadja K , Achtziger Roland , Blick Theo , Dorow Wolfgang H.O , Dziock Frank , Köhler Frank , Rabitsch Wolfgang , Weisser Wolfgang W
Published: March 2015

Analyses of species traits have increased our understanding of how environmental drivers such as disturbances affect the composition of arthropod communities and related processes. There are, however, few studies on which traits in the arthropod community are affected by environmental changes and which traits affect ecosystem functioning. The assembly of arthropod traits of several taxa is difficult because of the large number of species, limited availability of trait databases and differences in available traits. We sampled arthropod species data from a total of 150 managed grassland plots in three regions of Germany. These plots represent the spectrum from extensively used pastures to mown pastures to intensively managed and fertilized meadows. In this paper, we summarize information on body size, dispersal ability, feeding guild and specialization (within herbivores), feeding mode, feeding tissue (within herbivorous suckers), plant part (within herbivorous chewers), endophagous lifestyle (within herbivores), and vertical stratum use for 1,230 species of Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Heteroptera, Auchenorrhyncha), Orthoptera (Saltatoria: Ensifera, Caelifera), and Araneae, sampled by sweep-netting between 2008 and 2012. We compiled traits from various literature sources and complemented data from reliable internet sources and the authors’ experience.
The UK-DALE dataset, domestic appliance-level electricity demand and whole-house demand from five UK homes
Authors: Kelly Jack , Knottenbelt William
Published: March 2015

Many countries are rolling out smart electricity meters. These measure a home’s total power demand. However, research into consumer behaviour suggests that consumers are best able to improve their energy efficiency when provided with itemised, appliance-by-appliance consumption information. Energy disaggregation is a computational technique for estimating appliance-by-appliance energy consumption from a whole-house meter signal. To conduct research on disaggregation algorithms, researchers require data describing not just the aggregate demand per building but also the ‘ground truth’ demand of individual appliances. In this context, we present UK-DALE: an open-access dataset from the UK recording Domestic Appliance-Level Electricity at a sample rate of 16 kHz for the whole-house and at 1/6 Hz for individual appliances. This is the first open access UK dataset at this temporal resolution. We recorded from five houses, one of which was recorded for 655 days, the longest duration we are aware of for any energy dataset at this sample rate. We also describe the low-cost, open-source, wireless system we built for collecting our dataset.
Inducible VEGF Expression by Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Reduces the Minimal Islet Mass Required to Reverse Diabetes
Authors: Hajizadeh-Saffar E. , Tahamtani Y. , Aghdami N. , Azadmanesh K. , Habibi-Anbouhi M. , Heremans Y. , De Leu N. , Heimberg H. , Ravassard P. , Shokrgozar M. A. , Baharvand H.
Published: March 2015

Islet transplantation has been hampered by loss of function due to poor revascularization. We hypothesize that co-transplantation of islets with human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells that conditionally overexpress VEGF (hESC-MSC:VEGF) may augment islet revascularization and reduce the minimal islet mass required to reverse diabetes in mice. HESC-MSCs were transduced by recombinant lentiviruses that allowed conditional (Dox-regulated) overexpression of VEGF. HESC-MSC:VEGF were characterized by tube formation assay. After co-transplantation of hESC-MSC:VEGF with murine islets in collagen-fibrin hydrogel in the omental pouch of diabetic nude mice, we measured blood glucose, body weight, glucose tolerance and serum C-peptide. As control, islets were transplanted alone or with non-transduced hESC-MSCs. Next, we compared functional parameters of 400 islets alone versus 200 islets co-transplanted with hESC-MSC:VEGF. As control, 200 islets were transplanted alone. Metabolic function of islets transplanted with hESC-MSC:VEGF significantly improved, accompanied by superior graft revascularization, compared with control groups. Transplantation of 200 islets with hESC-MSC:VEGF showed superior function over 400 islets alone. We conclude that co-transplantation of islets with VEGF-expressing hESC-MSCs allowed for at least a 50% reduction in minimal islet mass required to reverse diabetes in mice. This approach may contribute to alleviate the need for multiple donor organs per patient.
PHY906(KD018), an adjuvant based on a 1800-year-old Chinese medicine, enhanced the anti-tumor activity of Sorafenib by changing the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Lam Wing , Jiang Zaoli , Guan Fulan , Huang Xiu , Hu Rong , Wang Jing , Bussom Scott , Liu Shwu-Huey , Zhao Hongyu , Yen Yun , Cheng Yung-Chi
Published: March 2015

PHY906 (KD018) is a four-herb Chinese Medicine Formula. It has been shown to potentially enhance the therapeutic indices of different class anticancer agents in vivo. Here, PHY906 is reported to enhance the anti-tumor activity of Sorafenib in nude mice bearing HepG2 xenografts. Among the four herbal ingredients of PHY906, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (S) and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (P) are required; however, S plays a more important role than P in increasing tumor apoptosis induced by Sorafenib with an increase of mouse(m)FasL and human(h)FasR expression. PHY906 may potentiate Sorafenib action by increasing hMCP1 expression and enhancing infiltration of macrophages into tumors with a higher M1/M2 (tumor rejection) signature expression pattern, as well as affect autophagy by increasing AMPKα-P and ULK1-S555-P of tumors. Depletion of macrophage could counteract PHY906 to potentiate the anti-tumor activity of Sorafenib. It was reported that tumor cells with higher levels of ERK1/2-P are more susceptible to Sorafenib and the S component of PHY906 may increase ERK1/2-P via inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphatase in HepG2 tumors. PHY906 may potentiate the anti-hepatoma activity of Sorafenib by multiple mechanisms targeting on the inflammatory state of microenvironment of tumor tissue through two major ingredients (P and S) of PHY906.
A phylogenetically informed delineation of floristic regions within a biodiversity hotspot in Yunnan, China
Authors: Li Rong , Kraft Nathan J. B. , Yang Jie , Wang Yuhua
Published: March 2015

Traditional attempts to delineate floristic regions typically focus on species distributions, often ignoring the rich context that phylogenetic relationships can provide. In this study, we explore how phylogenetic relatedness, taxonomic composition and regional phylogenetic structure change across a global biodiversity hotspot region, Yunnan, located in southwestern China. We propose a system of floristic regions within Yunnan by combining data on the distributions and phylogenetic relationships of 1,983 genera of native seed plants. We identified eight distinct floristic regions in Yunnan, which were grouped into two larger northern and southern geographical units. Phylogenetic relatedness was well correlated with taxonomic composition between floras in Yunnan. Across the Yunnan region we examined, the central Yunnan region shows the lowest level of spatial turnover in phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic composition of the floristic assemblages. Using null model analyses, we found evidence of nonrandom phylogenetic structure across the region, in which four areas show higher phylogenetic turnover than expected given the underlying taxonomic composition between sites. Our results show that the integration of phylogenetic information can provide valuable insight in floristic assessments and help us to better understand the structure of a global biodiversity hotspot.
In-line phase-contrast and grating-based phase-contrast synchrotron imaging study of brain micrometastasis of breast cancer
Authors: Huang Sheng , Kou Binquan , Chi Yayun , Xi Yan , Cao Yixin , Cui Wenli , Hu Xin , Shao Zhimin , Guo Han , Fu Yanan , Xiao Tiqiao , Sun Jianqi , Zhao Jun , Wang Yujie , Wu Jiong
Published: March 2015

Current bio-medical imaging researches aim to detect brain micrometastasis in early stage for its increasing incidence and high mortality rates. Synchrotron phase-contrast imaging techniques, such as in-line phase-contrast (IPC) and grating-based phase-contrast (GPC) imaging, could provide a high spatial and density imaging study of biological specimens' 3D structures. In this study, we demonstrated the detection efficiencies of these two imaging tools on breast cancer micrometastasis in an ex vivo mouse brain. We found that both IPC and GPC can differentiate abnormal brain structures induced by micrometastasis from the surrounding normal tissues. We also found that GPC was more sensitive in detecting the small metastasis as compared to IPC.
Breakdown of Bose-Einstein Distribution in Photonic Crystals
Authors: Lo Ping-Yuan , Xiong Heng-Na , Zhang Wei-Min
Published: March 2015

In the last two decades, considerable advances have been made in the investigation of nano-photonics in photonic crystals. Previous theoretical investigations of photon dynamics were carried out at zero temperature. Here, we investigate micro/nano cavity photonics in photonic crystals at finite temperature. Due to photonic-band-gap-induced localized long-lived photon dynamics, we discover that cavity photons in photonic crystals do not obey Bose-Einstein statistical distribution. Within the photonic band gap and in the vicinity of the band edge, cavity photons combine the long-lived non-Markovain dynamics with thermal fluctuations together to form photon states that memorize the initial cavity state information. As a result, Bose-Einstein distribution is completely broken down in these regimes, even if the thermal energy is larger or much larger than the cavity detuning energy. In this investigation, a crossover phenomenon from equilibrium to nonequilibrium steady states is also revealed.
Probing the protective mechanism of poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate against vibriosis by using gnotobiotic Artemia franciscana and Vibrio campbellii as host-pathogen model
Authors: Baruah Kartik , Huy Tran T. , Norouzitallab Parisa , Niu Yufeng , Gupta Sanjay K. , De Schryver Peter , Bossier Peter
Published: March 2015

The compound poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a polymer of the short chain fatty acid ß-hydroxybutyrate, was shown to protect experimental animals against a variety of bacterial diseases, (including vibriosis in farmed aquatic animals), albeit through undefined mechanisms. Here we aimed at unraveling the underlying mechanism behind the protective effect of PHB against bacterial disease using gnotobiotically-cultured brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and pathogenic Vibrio campbellii as host-pathogen model. The gnotobiotic model system is crucial for such studies because it eliminates any possible microbial interference (naturally present in any type of aquatic environment) in these mechanistic studies and furthermore facilitates the interpretation of the results in terms of a cause effect relationship. We showed clear evidences indicating that PHB conferred protection to Artemia host against V. campbellii by a mechanism of inducing heat shock protein (Hsp) 70. Additionally, our results also showed that this salutary effect of PHB was associated with the generation of protective innate immune responses, especially the prophenoloxidase and transglutaminase immune systems – phenomena possibly mediated by PHB-induced Hsp70. From overall results, we conclude that PHB induces Hsp70 and this induced Hsp70 might contribute in part to the protection of Artemia against pathogenic V. campbellii.
A novel method for furfural recovery via gas stripping assisted vapor permeation by a polydimethylsiloxane membrane
Authors: Hu Song , Guan Yu , Cai Di , Li Shufeng , Qin Peiyong , Karim M. Nazmul , Tan Tianwei
Published: March 2015

Furfural is an important platform chemical with a wide range of applications. However, due to the low concentration of furfural in the hydrolysate, the conventional methods for furfural recovery are energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly. Considering the disadvantages of pervaporation (PV) and distillation in furfural separation, a novel energy-efficient ‘green technique’, gas stripping assisted vapor permeation (GSVP), was introduced in this work. In this process, the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane was prepared by employing water as solvent. Coking in pipe and membrane fouling was virtually non-existent in this new process. In addition, GSVP was found to achieve the highest pervaporation separation index of 216200 (permeate concentration of 71.1 wt% and furfural flux of 4.09 kgm−2h−1) so far, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that found in pervaporation at 95°C for recovering 6.0 wt% furfural from water. Moreover, the evaporation energy required for GSVP decreased by 35% to 44% relative to that of PV process. Finally, GSVP also displayed more promising potential in industrial application than PV, especially when coupled with the hydrolysis process or fermentation in biorefinery industry.
Multivalent Conjugation of Antibody to Dendrimers for the Enhanced Capture and Regulation on Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Xie Jingjing , Wang Jichuang , Chen Hongning , Shen Weiyu , Sinko Patrick J. , Dong Haiyan , Zhao Rongli , Lu Yusheng , Zhu Yewei , Jia Lee
Published: March 2015

Circulation tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream of early-stage cancer patients carry the important information about valuable biomarkers and biological properties of primary tumor. However, detection and capture of CTCs are challenging owing to their low concentrations. Traditional technologies have the limited detection sensitivity and the low capture efficiency. We, herein, report an effective approach to specifically bind and capture colon cancer HT29 cells by using multiple Sialyl Lewis X antibodies (aSlex)-conjugated PAMAM dendrimers. The conjugation was characterized by using atom force microscope, UV and fluorescence measurements. The capturing and regulating HT29 cells by the aSlex-coated dendrimer conjugate were analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry. The results indicated that the conjugate showed the enhanced capture of HT29 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and the maximum capture efficiency of 77.88% was obtained within 1 h-exposure. G6-5aSlex-FITC conjugate showed capture efficiency better than FITC-G6-COOH-5aSlex conjugate. G6-5aSlex-FITC conjugate could specifically capture HT29 cells even when the target HT29 cells were diluted with the interfering cells (e.g., RBCs) to a low concentration. The capture resulted in a concentration-dependent restraint of the cell activity. In conclusion, the aSlex-coated dendrimer conjugate displayed the great potential in capturing and restraining colorectal CTCs in blood.
Network Catastrophe: Self-Organized Patterns Reveal both the Instability and the Structure of Complex Networks
Authors: Moon Hankyu , Lu Tsai-Ching
Published: March 2015

Critical events in society or biological systems can be understood as large-scale self-emergent phenomena due to deteriorating stability. We often observe peculiar patterns preceding these events, posing a question of—how to interpret the self-organized patterns to know more about the imminent crisis. We start with a very general description — of interacting population giving rise to large-scale emergent behaviors that constitute critical events. Then we pose a key question: is there a quantifiable relation between the network of interactions and the emergent patterns? Our investigation leads to a fundamental understanding to: 1. Detect the system's transition based on the principal mode of the pattern dynamics; 2. Identify its evolving structure based on the observed patterns. The main finding of this study is that while the pattern is distorted by the network of interactions, its principal mode is invariant to the distortion even when the network constantly evolves. Our analysis on real-world markets show common self-organized behavior near the critical transitions, such as housing market collapse and stock market crashes, thus detection of critical events before they are in full effect is possible.
"Turn on" and label-free core−shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles-based metal-enhanced fluorescent (MEF) aptasensor for Hg2+
Authors: Pang Yuanfeng , Rong Zhen , Xiao Rui , Wang Shengqi
Published: March 2015

A turn on and label-free fluorescent apasensor for Hg2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity has been demonstrated in this report. Firstly, core−shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthetized as a Metal-Enhanced Fluorescent (MEF) substrate, T-rich DNA aptamers were immobilized on the surface of Ag@SiO2 NPs and thiazole orange (TO) was selected as fluorescent reporter. After Hg2+ was added to the aptamer-Ag@SiO2 NPs and TO mixture buffer solution, the aptamer strand can bind Hg2+ to form T-Hg2+-T complex with a hairpin structure which TO can insert into. When clamped by the nucleic acid bases, the fluorescence quanta yield of TO will be increased under laser excitation and emitted a fluorescence emission. Furthermore, the fluorescence emission can be amplified largely by the MEF effect of the Ag@SiO2 NPs. The whole experiment can be finished within 30 min and the limit of detection is 0.33 nM even with interference by high concentrations of other metal ions. Finally, the sensor was applied for detecting Hg2+ in different real water samples with satisfying recoveries over 94%.
Re-annotation of presumed noncoding disease/trait-associated genetic variants by integrative analyses
Authors: Chen Geng , Yu Dianke , Chen Jiwei , Cao Ruifang , Yang Juan , Wang Huan , Ji Xiangjun , Ning Baitang , Shi Tieliu
Published: March 2015

Using RefSeq annotations, most disease/trait-associated genetic variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) appear to be located within intronic or intergenic regions, which makes it difficult to interpret their functions. We reassessed GWAS-Associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (herein termed as GASs) for their potential functionalities using integrative approaches. 8834 of 9184 RefSeq “noncoding” GASs were reassessed to have potential regulatory functionalities. As examples, 3 variants (rs3130320, rs3806932 and rs6890853) were shown to have regulatory properties in HepG2, A549 and 293T cells. Except rs3130320 as a known expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), rs3806932 and rs6890853 were not reported as eQTLs in previous reports. 1999 of 9184 “noncoding” GASs were re-annotated to the promoters or intragenic regions using Ensembl, UCSC and AceView gene annotations but they were not annotated into corresponding regions in RefSeq database. Moreover, these GAS-harboring genes were broadly expressed across different tissues and a portion of them was expressed in a tissue-specific manner, suggesting that they could be functional. Collectively, our study demonstrates the benefits of using integrative analyses to interpret genetic variants and may help to predict or explain disease susceptibility more accurately and comprehensively.
Fluorescence-Raman Dual Modal Endoscopic System for Multiplexed Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Jeong Sinyoung , Kim Yong-il , Kang Homan , Kim Gunsung , Cha Myeong Geun , Chang Hyejin , Jung Kyung Oh , Kim Young-Hwa , Jun Bong-Hyun , Hwang Do Won , Lee Yun-Sang , Youn Hyewon , Lee Yoon-Sik , Kang Keon Wook , Lee Dong Soo , Jeong Dae Hong
Published: March 2015

Optical endoscopic imaging, which was recently equipped with bioluminescence, fluorescence and Raman scattering, allows minimally invasive real-time detection of pathologies on the surface of hollow organs. To characterize pathologic lesions in a multiplexed way, we developed a dual modal fluorescence-Raman endomicroscopic system (FRES), which used fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoprobes (F-SERS dots). Real-time, in vivo and multiple target detection of a specific cancer was successful, based on the fast imaging capability of fluorescence signals and the multiplex capability of simultaneously detected SERS signals using an optical fiber bundle for intraoperative endoscopic system. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the breast cancer xenografts in a mouse orthotopic model were successfully detected in a multiplexed way, illustrating the potential of FRES as a molecular diagnostic instrument that enables real-time tumor characterization of receptors during routine endoscopic procedures.
Interactome of the negative regulator of nuclear import BRCA1-binding protein 2
Authors: Fatima Shadma , Wagstaff Kylie M. , Loveland Kate L. , Jans David A.
Published: March 2015

Although the negative regulator of nuclear import (NRNI) BRCA1 binding protein 2 (BRAP2) is highly expressed in testis, its role is largely unknown. Here we address this question by documenting the BRAP2 interactome from human testis, using the yeast 2-hybrid system to identify BRAP2-interacting proteins with roles in diverse cellular processes, including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, ubiquitinylation, cell cycle/apoptosis and transcription. Interaction with BRAP2 in adult mouse testis with three of these, PH domain and leucine rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1), A-Kinase anchor protein (AKAP3) and DNA methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1), was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation assays. BRAP2's ability to inhibit PHLPP1 and DNMT1 nuclear localisation was also confirmed by quantitative confocal microscopy. Importantly, the physiological relevance thereof was implied by the cytoplasmic localisation of PHLPP1, AKAP3 and DNMT1 in pachytene spermatocytes/round spermatids where BRAP2 is present at high levels and nuclear localisation of PHLPP1 and DNMT1 in spermatogonia concomitant with lower levels of BRAP2. Interestingly, BRAP2 was also present in murine spermatozoa, in part colocalised with AKAP3. Together the results indicate for the first time that BRAP2 may play an important NRNI role in germ cells of the testis, with an additional, scaffold/structural role in mature spermatozoa.
A novel PKD2L1 C-terminal domain critical for trimerization and channel function
Authors: Zheng Wang , Hussein Shaimaa , Yang JungWoo , Huang Jun , Zhang Fan , Hernandez-Anzaldo Samuel , Fernandez-Patron Carlos , Cao Ying , Zeng Hongbo , Tang Jingfeng , Chen Xing-Zhen
Published: March 2015

As a transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily member, polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1) is also called TRPP3 and has similar membrane topology as voltage-gated cation channels. PKD2L1 is involved in hedgehog signaling, intestinal development and sour tasting. PKD2L1 and PKD1L3 form heterotetramers with 3:1 stoichiometry. C-terminal coiled-coil-2 (CC2) domain (G699-W743) of PKD2L1 was reported to be important for its trimerization but independent studies showed that CC2 does not affect PKD2L1 channel function. It thus remains unclear how PKD2L1 proteins oligomerize into a functional channel. By SDS-PAGE, blue native PAGE and mutagenesis we here identified a novel C-terminal domain called C1 (K575-T622) involved in stronger homotrimerization than the non-overlapping CC2 and found that the PKD2L1 N-terminus is critical for dimerization. By electrophysiology and Xenopus oocyte expression, we found that C1, but not CC2, is critical for PKD2L1 channel function. Our co-immunoprecipitation and dynamic light scattering experiments further supported involvement of C1 in trimerization. Further, C1 acted as a blocking peptide that inhibits PKD2L1 trimerization as well as PKD2L1 and PKD2L1/PKD1L3 channel function. Thus, our study identified C1 as the first PKD2L1 domain essential for both PKD2L1 trimerization and channel function and suggest that PKD2L1 and PKD2L1/PKD1L3 channels share the PKD2L1 trimerization process.
Pyrosequencing reveals a shift in symbiotic bacteria populations across life stages of Bactrocera dorsalis
Authors: Andongma Awawing A. , Wan Lun , Dong Yong-Cheng , li Ping , Desneux Nicolas , White Jennifer A. , Niu Chang-Ying
Published: March 2015

Bactrocera dorsalis is one of the most economically important fruit flies around the world. In this study, 454 pyrosequencing was used to identify the bacteria associated with different developmental stages of B. dorsalis. At ≥ 97% nucleotide similarity, total reads could be assigned to 172 Operational Taxonomic Units belonging to six phyla. Proteobacteria dominated in immature stages while Firmicutes dominated in adult stages. The most abundant families were Enterococcaceae and Comamondaceae. The genus Comamonas was most abundant in pupae whereas completely absent in adults. Some identified species had low sequence similarity to reported species indicating the possibility of novel taxa. However, a majority sequence reads were similar to sequences previously identified to be associated with Bactrocera correcta, suggesting a characteristic microbial fauna for this insect genus. The type and abundance of different bacterial groups varied across the life stages of B. dorsalis. Selection pressure exerted by the host insect as a result of its habitat and diet choices could be the reason for the observed shift in the bacteria groups. These findings increase our understanding of the intricate symbiotic relationships between bacteria and B. dorsalis and provide clues to develop potential biocontrol techniques against this fruit fly.
Opposite rheological properties of neuronal microcompartments predict axonal vulnerability in brain injury
Authors: Grevesse Thomas , Dabiri Borna E. , Parker Kevin Kit , Gabriele Sylvain
Published: March 2015

Although pathological changes in axonal morphology have emerged as important features of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the mechanical vulnerability of the axonal microcompartment relative to the cell body is not well understood. We hypothesized that soma and neurite microcompartments exhibit distinct mechanical behaviors, rendering axons more sensitive to a mechanical injury. In order to test this assumption, we combined protein micropatterns with magnetic tweezer rheology to probe the viscoelastic properties of neuronal microcompartments. Creep experiments revealed two opposite rheological behaviors within cortical neurons: the cell body was soft and characterized by a solid-like response, whereas the neurite compartment was stiffer and viscous-like. By using pharmacological agents, we demonstrated that the nucleus is responsible for the solid-like behavior and the stress-stiffening response of the soma, whereas neurofilaments have a predominant contribution in the viscous behavior of the neurite. Furthermore, we found that the neurite is a mechanosensitive compartment that becomes softer and adopts a pronounced viscous state on soft matrices. Together, these findings highlight the importance of the regionalization of mechanical and rigidity-sensing properties within neuron microcompartments in the preferential damage of axons during traumatic brain injury and into potential mechanisms of axonal outgrowth after injury.
Contact Effects in thin 3D-Topological Insulators: How does the current flow?
Authors: Gupta Gaurav , Jalil Mansoor Bin Abdul , Liang Gengchiau
Published: March 2015

The effect of different contact configurations (semi-infinite extended-channel, normal metal and ferromagnetic metal) on quantum transport through thin Bi2Se3 three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) slab (channel) has been investigated through Non-Equilibrium Green Function. The issue of contact dependent current flow and distribution across quintuple layers of 3D-TI has been addressed in this work and applied to expound the explanation for recent experimental work on electrical detection of spin-momentum locking on topological surface for long channel device. A theoretical model is propounded to develop a microscopic understanding of transport in 3D-TI in which contact type and magnetization concur with helical surface states of the TI channel to manifest seemingly counter-intuitive current distribution across layers. The quantum transport calculations for short channel devices with magnetic source and drain contacts postulate negative surface current for anti-phase magnetization whose axis is transverse to both current and quintuple layers. For in-phase magnetization at the two terminals, it is shown that observations can change fundamentally to result in anomalous current distribution. Such results are explained to stem from the confinement of 3D-TI between ferromagnetic contacts along the transport direction. A simple mechanism to validate topological insulators via quantum transport experiments has also been suggested.
A novel high light-inducible carotenoid-binding protein complex in the thylakoid membranes of Synechocystis PCC 6803
Authors: Daddy Soumana , Zhan Jiao , Jantaro Saowarath , He Chenliu , He Qingfang , Wang Qiang
Published: March 2015

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a model cyanobacterium extensively used to study photosynthesis. Here we reveal a novel high light-inducible carotenoid-binding protein complex (HLCC) in the thylakoid membranes of Synechocystis PCC 6803 cells exposed to high intensity light. Zeaxanthin and myxoxanthophyll accounted for 29.8% and 54.8%, respectively, of the carotenoids bound to the complex. Using Blue-Native PAGE followed by 2D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry, we showed that the HLCC consisted of Slr1128, IsiA, PsaD and HliA/B. We confirmed these findings by SEAD fluorescence cross-linking and anti-PsaD immuno-coprecipitation analyses. The expression of genes encoding the protein components of the HLCC was enhanced by high light illumination and artificial oxidative stress. Deletion of these proteins resulted in impaired state transition and increased sensitivity to oxidative and/or high light stress, as indicated by increased membrane peroxidation. Therefore, the HLCC protects thylakoid membranes from extensive photooxidative damage, likely via a mechanism involving state transition.
Quantum interference measurement of spin interactions in a bio-organic/semiconductor device structure
Authors: Deo Vincent , Zhang Yao , Soghomonian Victoria , Heremans Jean J.
Published: March 2015

Quantum interference is used to measure the spin interactions between an InAs surface electron system and the iron center in the biomolecule hemin in nanometer proximity in a bio-organic/semiconductor device structure. The interference quantifies the influence of hemin on the spin decoherence properties of the surface electrons. The decoherence times of the electrons serve to characterize the biomolecule, in an electronic complement to the use of spin decoherence times in magnetic resonance. Hemin, prototypical for the heme group in hemoglobin, is used to demonstrate the method, as a representative biomolecule where the spin state of a metal ion affects biological functions. The electronic determination of spin decoherence properties relies on the quantum correction of antilocalization, a result of quantum interference in the electron system. Spin-flip scattering is found to increase with temperature due to hemin, signifying a spin exchange between the iron center and the electrons, thus implying interactions between a biomolecule and a solid-state system in the hemin/InAs hybrid structure. The results also indicate the feasibility of artificial bioinspired materials using tunable carrier systems to mediate interactions between biological entities.