bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovery of genomes from metagenomes via a dereplication, aggregation and scoring strategy
Authors: Sieber Christian M. K. , Probst Alexander J. , Sharrar Allison , Thomas Brian C. , Hess Matthias , Tringe Susannah G. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: May 2018

Microbial communities are critical to ecosystem function. A key objective of metagenomic studies is to analyse organism-specific metabolic pathways and reconstruct community interaction networks. This requires accurate assignment of assembled genome fragments to genomes. Existing binning methods often fail to reconstruct a reasonable number of genomes and report many bins of low quality and completeness. Furthermore, the performance of existing algorithms varies between samples and biotopes. Here, we present a dereplication, aggregation and scoring strategy, DAS Tool, that combines the strengths of a flexible set of established binning algorithms. DAS Tool applied to a constructed community generated more accurate bins than any automated method. Indeed, when applied to environmental and host-associated samples of different complexity, DAS Tool recovered substantially more near-complete genomes, including previously unreported lineages, than any single binning method alone. The ability to reconstruct many near-complete genomes from metagenomics data will greatly advance genome-centric analyses of ecosystems.
Japanese GWAS identifies variants for bust-size, dysmenorrhea, and menstrual fever that are eQTLs for relevant protein-coding or long non-coding RNAs
Authors: Hirata Tetsuya , Koga Kaori , Johnson Todd A. , Morino Ryoko , Nakazono Kazuyuki , Kamitsuji Shigeo , Akita Masanori , Kawajiri Maiko , Kami Azusa , Hoshi Yuria , Tada Asami , Ishikawa Kenichi , Hine Maaya , Kobayashi Miki , Kurume Nami , Fujii Tomoyuki , Kamatani Naoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: May 2018

Traits related to primary and secondary sexual characteristics greatly impact females during puberty and day-to-day adult life. Therefore, we performed a GWAS analysis of 11,348 Japanese female volunteers and 22 gynecology-related phenotypic variables, and identified significant associations for bust-size, menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) severity, and menstrual fever. Bust-size analysis identified significant association signals in CCDC170-ESR1 (rs6557160; P = 1.7 × 10−16) and KCNU1-ZNF703 (rs146992477; P = 6.2 × 10−9) and found that one-third of known European-ancestry associations were also present in Japanese. eQTL data points to CCDC170 and ZNF703 as those signals’ functional targets. For menstrual fever, we identified a novel association in OPRM1 (rs17181171; P = 2.0 × 10−8), for which top variants were eQTLs in multiple tissues. A known dysmenorrhea signal near NGF replicated in our data (rs12030576; P = 1.1 × 10−19) and was associated with RP4-663N10.1 expression, a putative lncRNA enhancer of NGF, while a novel dysmenorrhea signal in the IL1 locus (rs80111889; P = 1.9 × 10−16) contained SNPs previously associated with endometriosis, and GWAS SNPs were most significantly associated with IL1A expression. By combining regional imputation with colocalization analysis of GWAS/eQTL signals along with integrated annotation with epigenomic data, this study further refines the sets of candidate causal variants and target genes for these known and novel gynecology-related trait loci.
Radiation Exposure and Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer in Early NASA Astronauts
Authors: Elgart S. Robin , Little Mark P. , Chappell Lori J. , Milder Cato M. , Shavers Mark R. , Huff Janice L. , Patel Zarana S.
Published: May 2018

Understanding space radiation health effects is critical due to potential increased morbidity and mortality following spaceflight. We evaluated whether there is evidence for excess cardiovascular disease or cancer mortality in early NASA astronauts and if a correlation exists between space radiation exposure and mortality. Astronauts selected from 1959–1969 were included and followed until death or February 2017, with 39 of 73 individuals still alive at that time. Calculated standardized mortality rates for tested outcomes were significantly below U.S. white male population rates, including all-cardiovascular disease (n = 7, SMR = 33; 95% CI, 14–65) and all-cancer (n = 7, SMR = 43; 95% CI, 18–83), as anticipated in a healthy worker population. Space radiation doses for cohort members ranged from 0–78 mGy. No significant associations between space radiation dose and mortality were found using logistic regression with an internal reference group, adjusting for medical radiation. Statistical power of the logistic regression was <6%, remaining <12% even when expected risk level or observed deaths were assumed to be 10 times higher than currently reported. While no excess radiation-associated cardiovascular or cancer mortality risk was observed, findings must be tempered by the statistical limitations of this cohort; notwithstanding, this small unique cohort provides a foundation for assessment of astronaut health.
Changing flood frequencies under opposing late Pleistocene eastern Mediterranean climates
Authors: Ben Dor Yoav , Armon Moshe , Ahlborn Marieke , Morin Efrat , Erel Yigal , Brauer Achim , Schwab Markus Julius , Tjallingii Rik , Enzel Yehouda
Published: May 2018

Floods comprise a dominant hydroclimatic phenomenon in aridlands with significant implications for humans, infrastructure, and landscape evolution worldwide. The study of short-term hydroclimatic variability, such as floods, and its forecasting for episodes of changing climate therefore poses a dominant challenge for the scientific community, and predominantly relies on modeling. Testing the capabilities of climate models to properly describe past and forecast future short-term hydroclimatic phenomena such as floods requires verification against suitable geological archives. However, determining flood frequency during changing climate is rarely achieved, because modern and paleoflood records, especially in arid regions, are often too short or discontinuous. Thus, coeval independent climate reconstructions and paleoflood records are required to further understand the impact of climate change on flood generation. Dead Sea lake levels reflect the mean centennial-millennial hydrological budget in the eastern Mediterranean. In contrast, floods in the large watersheds draining directly into the Dead Sea, are linked to short-term synoptic circulation patterns reflecting hydroclimatic variability. These two very different records are combined in this study to resolve flood frequency during opposing mean climates. Two 700-year-long, seasonally-resolved flood time series constructed from late Pleistocene Dead Sea varved sediments, coeval with significant Dead Sea lake level variations are reported. These series demonstrate that episodes of rising lake levels are characterized by higher frequency of floods, shorter intervals between years of multiple floods, and asignificantly larger number of years that experienced multiple floods. In addition, floods cluster into intervals of intense flooding, characterized by 75% and 20% increased frequency above their respective background frequencies during rising and falling lake-levels, respectively. Mean centennial precipitation in the eastern Mediterranean is therefore coupled with drastic changes in flood frequencies. These drastic changes in flood frequencies are linked to changes in the track, depth, and frequency of mid-latitude eastern Mediterranean cyclones, determining mean climatology resulting in wetter and drier regional climatic episodes.
Ameliorative effect of Sedum sarmentosum Bunge extract on Tilapia fatty liver via the PPAR and P53 signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Lida , Cheng Yuan , Huang Kai , Zhou Yu , Ma Yanqun , Zhang Mengci
Published: May 2018

Fatty liver disease is a growing problem in fish aquaculture and there is an urgent need to identify causes and possible remedies. In the present study, the effects of treating fatty liver disease in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) with an extract derived from a herb, Sedum sarmentosum Bunge (SSB), was investigated. We found that the SSB extract could restore the changes to feed coefficient, immune capacity, and pathological index caused by fatty liver disease, and also prevent apoptosis in hepatocytes. An RNA-seq analysis showed that treatment with SSB extract altered expression of genes in the lipid metabolic process, metabolic process, and oxidation-reduction process. Our results suggest that disorders of the PPAR and p53 signaling pathways may be involved in steatohepatitis development and in the therapeutic mechanism of the SSB extract treatment; these observations shed new light on possible treatment of steatohepatitis.
Phenotypic plasticity in a population of odonates
Authors: Bowman Randi M. , Schmidt Sharol , Weeks Chelsea , Clark Hunter , Brown Christopher , Latta Leigh C. , Edgehouse Michael
Published: May 2018

The maintenance of phenotypic plasticity within a species ensures survival through environmental flux. Plastic strategies are increasingly important given the number and magnitude of modern anthropogenic threats to the environment. We tested for phenotypic plasticity in the odonate Argia vivida in response to resource limitation. By limiting food availability, effectively inducing hunger, we were able to quantify shifts in agonistic behavior during intraspecific interactions. Scoring behavior in one-on-one combat trials after 1 and 4 days without food revealed phenotypic plasticity. Three classes of genotypes were identified, genotypes exhibiting either increased aggression, decreased aggression, or no phenotypic plasticity, in response to resource limitation. The variable plastic strategies in this population of odonates likely aids in maintaining fitness in fluctuating environments.
HDAC1 inhibition by MS-275 in mesothelial cells limits cellular invasion and promotes MMT reversal
Authors: Rossi Lucia , Battistelli Cecilia , de Turris Valeria , Noce Valeria , Zwergel Clemens , Valente Sergio , Moioli Alessandra , Manzione Andrea , Palladino Marco , Bordoni Veronica , Domenici Alessandro , Menè Paolo , Mai Antonello , Tripodi Marco , Strippoli Raffaele
Published: May 2018

Peritoneal fibrosis is a pathological alteration of the peritoneal membrane occurring in a variety of conditions including peritoneal dialysis (PD), post-surgery adhesions and peritoneal metastases. The acquisition of invasive and pro-fibrotic abilities by mesothelial cells (MCs) through induction of MMT, a cell-specific form of EMT, plays a main role in this process. Aim of this study was to evaluate possible effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, key components of the epigenetic machinery, in counteracting MMT observed in MCs isolated from effluent of PD patients. HDAC inhibitors with different class/isoform selectivity have been used for pharmacological inhibition. While the effect of other inhibitors was limited to a partial E-cadherin re-expression, MS-275, a HDAC1-3 inhibitor, promoted: (i) downregulation of mesenchymal markers (MMP2, Col1A1, PAI-1, TGFβ1, TGFβRI) (ii) upregulation of epithelial markers (E-cadherin, Occludin), (iii) reacquisition of an epithelial-like morphology and (iv) marked reduction of cellular invasiveness. Results were confirmed by HDAC1 genetic silencing. Mechanistically, MS-275 causes: (i) increase of nuclear histone H3 acetylation (ii) rescue of the acetylation profile on E-cadherin promoter, (iii) Snail functional impairment. Overall, our study, pinpointing a role for HDAC1, revealed a new player in the regulation of peritoneal fibrosis, providing the rationale for future therapeutic opportunities.
Experimental verification of high energy laser-generated impulse for remote laser control of space debris
Authors: Lorbeer Raoul-Amadeus , Zwilich Michael , Zabic Miroslav , Scharring Stefan , Eisert Lukas , Wilken Jascha , Schumacher Dennis , Roth Markus , Eckel Hans-Albert
Published: May 2018

Walking along a beach one may notice debris being washed ashore from the vast oceans. Then, turning your head up at night you even might noticed a shooting star or a bright spot passing by. Chances are, that you witnessed space debris, endangering future space flight in lower earth orbit. If it was possible to turn cm-sized debris into shooting stars the problem might be averted. Unfortunately, these fragments counting in the 100 thousands are not controllable. To possibly regain control we demonstrate how to exert forces on a free falling debris object from a distance by ablating material with a high energy ns-laser-system. Thrust effects did scale as expected from simulations and led to speed gains above 0.3 m/s per laser pulse in an evacuated micro-gravity environment.
Deltamethrin resistance in the salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer): Maternal inheritance and reduced apoptosis
Authors: Bakke Marit Jørgensen , Agusti Celia , Bruusgaard Jo Christiansen , Sundaram Arvind Y. M. , Horsberg Tor Einar
Published: May 2018

Resistance towards deltamethrin (DMT) in the crustacean ectoparasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Caligidae) is a problem on fish farms lining the North Atlantic Ocean. Two Norwegian strains with different susceptibility towards DMT were crossed in the parental generation (P0), females from a sensitive strain were crossed with males from a resistant strain and vice versa. Individual susceptibility towards DMT was assessed in the second filial generation (F2). DMT resistance was only found in F2 descendants when the P0 females were from the resistant strain, pointing to maternal inheritance. Since maternal inheritance might be linked to the mitochondrial (mt) genome, the nucleotide sequences and the gene expressions of mt-genes were analysed. Twenty non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in mt-transcripts from resistant F2 parasites, including SNPs in two cytochrome C oxidase subunits (COX1 and COX3) and two subunits of the NADH dehydrogenase complex (ND1 and ND5) previously linked to DMT resistance in the salmon louse. Differential expression analysis between the sensitive and resistant strain revealed strain effect in seven out of twelve mt-genes. The current study also show that DNA fragmentation (indicating apoptosis) was affected by DMT exposure in skeletal muscle tissue and that resistant parasites undergo less apoptosis than sensitive parasites.
The role of glycosyltransferase enzyme GCNT3 in colon and ovarian cancer prognosis and chemoresistance
Authors: Fernández Lara P. , Sánchez-Martínez Ruth , Vargas Teodoro , Herranz Jesús , Martín-Hernández Roberto , Mendiola Marta , Hardisson David , Reglero Guillermo , Feliu Jaime , Redondo Andrés , Ramírez de Molina Ana
Published: May 2018

Glycosyltransferase enzyme GCNT3, has been proposed as a biomarker for prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Our study goes in depth into the molecular basis of GCNT3 role in tumorigenesis and drug resistance, and it explores its potential role as biomarker in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). High levels of GCNT3 are associated with increased sensibility to 5-fluoracil in metastatic cells. Accordingly, GCNT3 re-expression leads to the gain of anti-carcinogenic cellular properties by reducing cell growth, invasion and by changing metabolic capacities. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal that GCNT3 is linked to cellular cycle, mitosis and proliferation, response to drugs and metabolism pathways. The vascular epithelial growth factor A (VEGFA) arises as an attractive partner of GCNT3 functions in cell invasion and resistance. Finally, GCNT3 expression was analyzed in a cohort of 56 EOC patients followed by a meta-analysis of more than one thousand patients. This study reveals that GCNT3 might constitute a prognostic factor also in EOC, since its overexpression is associated with better clinical outcome and response to initial therapy. GCNT3 emerges as an essential glycosylation-related molecule in CRC and EOC progression, with potential interest as a predictive biomarker of response to chemotherapy.
Author Correction: Rapid Staining of Circulating Tumor Cells in Three-Dimensional Microwell Dialysis (3D-μDialysis) Chip
Authors: Cho Wanying , Pradhan Rangadhar , Chen Hsin Ying , Weng Yi-Hsuan , Chu Hsueh Yao , Tseng Fan-Gang , Lin Chien-Ping , Jiang Jeng-Kai
Published: May 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
The mitochondrial protease HtrA2 restricts the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes
Authors: Rodrigue-Gervais Ian Gaël , Doiron Karine , Champagne Claudia , Mayes Lindsey , Leiva-Torres Gabriel André , Vanié Paulin , Douglas Todd , Vidal Silvia M. , Alnemri Emad S. , Saleh Maya
Published: May 2018

Activation of the inflammasome pathway is crucial for effective intracellular host defense. The mitochondrial network plays an important role in inflammasome regulation but the mechanisms linking mitochondrial homeostasis to attenuation of inflammasome activation are not fully understood. Here, we report that the Parkinson’s disease-associated mitochondrial serine protease HtrA2 restricts the activation of ASC-dependent NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, in a protease activity-dependent manner. Consistently, disruption of the protease activity of HtrA2 results in exacerbated NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome responses in macrophages ex vivo and systemically in vivo. Mechanistically, we show that the HtrA2 protease activity regulates autophagy and controls the magnitude and duration of inflammasome signaling by preventing prolonged accumulation of the inflammasome adaptor ASC. Our findings identify HtrA2 as a non-redundant mitochondrial quality control effector that keeps NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes in check.
A broad genomic panel of microsatellite loci from Brycon orbignyanus (Characiformes: Bryconidae) an endangered migratory Neotropical fish
Authors: Yazbeck Gabriel M. , Oliveira Rafael Sachetto , Ribeiro José Mauro , Graciano Raíssa D. , Santos Rosiane P. , Carmo Fausto M. S. , Lavenier Dominique
Published: May 2018

A broad panel of tens of thousands of microsatellite loci is unveiled for an endangered piracema (i.e. migratory) South American fish, Brycon orbignyanus. Once one of the main fisheries resources in the Platine Basin, it is now almost extinct in nature and focus of intense aquaculture activity. A total of 178.2 million paired-end reads (90 bases long) were obtained through the use of sequencing-by-synthesis (from a primary genomic library of 500 bp DNA fragments) and is made available through NCBI’s Sequence Read Archive, SRA accession SRX3350440. Short reads were assembled de novo and screening for perfect microsatellite motifs revealed more than 81 thousands unique microsatellite loci, for which primer pairs were proposed. A total of 29 polymorphic microsatellite markers were already previously validated for this panel. A partial genomic assembly is hereby presented and these genomic resources are publicly made available. These data will foster the rapid development of hundreds of new DNA markers for genetic diversity studies, conservation initiatives and management practices for this important and depleted species. The availability of such preliminary genomic data will also be of use in the areas of bioinformatics, ecology, genetics and evolution.
CRISPR/Cas9 mediated targeting of multiple genes in Dictyostelium
Authors: Sekine Ryoya , Kawata Takefumi , Muramoto Tetsuya
Published: May 2018

CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged in various organisms as a powerful technology for targeted gene knockout; however, no reports of editing the Dictyostelium genome efficiently using this system are available. We describe here the application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene modification in Dictyostelium. The endogenous tRNA-processing system for expressing sgRNA was approximately 10 times more effective than the commonly used U6 promoter. The resulting sgRNA affected the sub-nuclear localisation of Cas9, indicating that the expression level of sgRNA was sufficiently high to form Cas9 and sgRNA complexes within the nucleus. The all-in-one vector containing Cas9 and sgRNA was transiently expressed to generate mutants in five PI3K genes. Mutation detective PCR revealed the mutagenesis frequency of the individual genes to be between 72.9% and 100%. We confirmed that all five targeting loci in the four independent clones had insertion/deletion mutations in their target sites. Thus, we show that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used in Dictyostelium cells to enable efficient genome editing of multiple genes. Since this system utilises transient expression of the all-in-one vector, it has the advantage that the drug resistance cassette is not integrated into the genome and simple vector construction, involving annealing two oligo-DNAs.
Chlamydia trachomatis-infected cells and uninfected-bystander cells exhibit diametrically opposed responses to interferon gamma
Authors: Ibana Joyce A. , Sherchand Shardulendra P. , Fontanilla Francis L. , Nagamatsu Takeshi , Schust Danny J. , Quayle Alison J. , Aiyar Ashok
Published: May 2018

The intracellular bacterial pathogen,Chlamydia trachomatis, is a tryptophan auxotroph. Therefore, induction of the host tryptophan catabolizing enzyme, indoleamine-2,3-dioxgenase-1 (IDO1), by interferon gamma (IFNγ) is one of the primary protective responses against chlamydial infection. However, despite the presence of a robust IFNγ response, active and replicatingC. trachomatiscan be detected in cervical secretions of women. We hypothesized that a primaryC. trachomatisinfection may evade the IFNγ response, and that the protective effect of this cytokine results from its activation of tryptophan catabolism in bystander cells. To test this hypothesis, we developed a novel method to separate a pool of cells exposed toC. trachomatisinto pure populations of live infected and bystander cells and applied this technique to distinguish between the effects of IFNγ on infected and bystander cells. Our findings revealed that the protective induction of IDO1 is suppressed specifically within primary infected cells becauseChlamydiaattenuates the nuclear import of activated STAT1 following IFNγ exposure, without affecting STAT1 levels or phosphorylation. Critically, the IFNγ-mediated induction of IDO1 activity is unhindered in bystander cells. Therefore, the IDO1-mediated tryptophan catabolism is functional in these cells, transforming these bystander cells into inhospitable hosts for a secondaryC. trachomatisinfection.
Node property of weighted networks considering connectability to nodes within two degrees of separation
Authors: Amano Shun-ichi , Ogawa Ken-ichiro , Miyake Yoshihiro
Published: May 2018

Weighted networks have been extensively studied because they can represent various phenomena in which the diversity of edges is essential. To investigate the properties of weighted networks, various centrality measures have been proposed, such as strength, weighted clustering coefficients, and weighted betweenness centrality. In such measures, only direct connections or entire network connectivity from arbitrary nodes have been used to calculate the connectivity of each node. However, in weighted networks composed of autonomous elements such as humans, middle ranges from each node are also considered to be meaningful for characterizing each node’s connectability. In this study, we define a new node property in weighted networks to consider connectability to nodes within a range of two degrees of separation, then apply this new centrality to face-to-face human communication networks in corporate organizations. Our results show that the proposed centrality distinguishes inherent communities corresponding to the job types in each organization with a high degree of accuracy. This indicates the possibility that connectability to nodes within two degrees of separation reveals potential trends of weighted networks that are not apparent from conventional measures.
First Radiological Study of a Complete Dental Ontogeny Sequence of an Extinct Equid: Implications for Equidae Life History and Taphonomy
Authors: Domingo M. Soledad , Cantero Enrique , García-Real Isabel , Chamorro Sancho Manuel J. , Martín Perea David M. , Alberdi M. Teresa , Morales Jorge
Published: May 2018

The sequence of cheek teeth mineralization, eruption, and replacement of an extinct horse species is here documented with radiological techniques for the first time thanks to the exceptional preservation of Hipparion sp. mandibles from Cerro de los Batallones (Madrid Basin, Spain). The sequence of dental ontogeny in mammals provides valuable insights about life history traits, such as the pace of growth, and about the mode of formation of fossiliferous assemblages. We have determined that the order of permanent cheek teeth mineralization and eruption of hipparionine horses is m1, m2, (p2, p3), p4, m3. Cheek teeth mineralization timing of hipparionine horses coincides with the one observed in modern equids. In turn, there are differences in the eruption timing of the p4 and m3 between horses belonging to the Anchitheriinae and Hipparionini compared to equids of the Equus genus that might be related to the shorter durability of the deciduous tooth dp4 in anchitheriine and hipparionine horses and, more broadly, to an increased durability of equid teeth through their evolutionary history. Based on the dental eruption sequence, hipparionine horses are slow-growing, long-living mammals. The Hipparion sp. assemblage from Batallones-10 conforms to an attritional model, as individuals more vulnerable to natural mortality predominate.
BMPRIA is required for osteogenic differentiation and RANKL expression in adult bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Biswas Soma , Li Ping , Wu Hongguang , Shafiquzzaman Md , Murakami Shunichi , Schneider Michael D. , Mishina Yuji , Li Baojie , Li Jing
Published: May 2018

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) activate the canonical Smad1/5/8 and non-canonical Tak1-MAPK pathways via BMP receptors I and II to regulate skeletal development and bone remodeling. Specific ablation of Bmpr1a in immature osteoblasts, osteoblasts, or osteocytes results in an increase in cancellous bone mass, yet opposite results have been reported regarding the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, the role for BMPRIA-mediated signaling in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) has not been explored. Here, we specifically ablated Bmpr1a in BM-MSCs in adult mice to study the function of BMPR1A in bone remodeling and found that the mutant mice showed an increase in cancellous and cortical bone mass, which was accompanied by a decrease in bone formation rate and a greater decrease in bone resorption. Decreased bone formation was associated with a defect in BM-MSC osteogenic differentiation whereas decreased bone resorption was associated with a decrease in RANKL production and osteoclastogenesis. However, ablation of Tak1, a critical non-canonical signaling molecule downstream of BMP receptors, in BM-MSCs at adult stage did not affect bone remodeling. These results suggest that BMP signaling through BMPRIA controls BM-MSC osteogenic differentiation/bone formation and RANKL expression/osteoclastogenesis in adult mice independent of Tak1 signaling.
Diametric effects of autism tendencies and psychosis proneness on attention control irrespective of task demands
Authors: Abu-Akel Ahmad , Apperly Ian , Spaniol Mayra Muller , Geng Joy J. , Mevorach Carmel
Published: May 2018

Our capacity to attend a target while ignoring irrelevant distraction impacts our ability to successfully interact with our environment. Previous reports have sometimes identified excessive distractor interference in both autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders and in neurotypical individuals with high subclinical expressions of these conditions. Independent of task, we show that the direction of the effect of autism or psychosis traits on the suppression or rejection of a non-target item is diametrical. In Study 1, in which the presence of a salient non-target item hindered performance, higher autism traits were associated with better performance, while higher psychosis traits were associated with worse performance. In Study 2, in which the presence of a salient non-target item facilitated performance, a complete reversal of effects was observed. Future clinical interventions may be informed by the context-specific advantages we observed for the autism and psychosis spectra, and by the need to consider the diametric effects they yield.
Healthy lifestyle behaviors and control of hypertension among adult hypertensive patients
Authors: Akbarpour Samaneh , Khalili Davood , Zeraati Hojjat , Mansournia Mohammad Ali , Ramezankhani Azra , Fotouhi Akbar
Published: May 2018

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the healthy lifestyle behaviors in hypertensive patients (aware, n = 1364 and not aware, n = 1213) based on 2011 national survey of risk factors of non-communicable disease (SuRFNCD) of Iran. Lifestyle score was calculated based on lifestyle behaviors, including smoking status, nutrition, physical activity status and body mass index separately for each patient. Of all aware patients, 27.79% (22.35–33.64) were adherence to the good lifestyle category. Almost the same percentage 29.24% (23.62–34.86) were observed in patients who were not aware of his/her illness. Moreover, adherence to good lifestyle is significantly higher in those who were aware without using antihypertensive medication (30.52% vs. 27.14%; p-value = 0.033). We also found that the prevalence of good lifestyle among patients with controlled hypertension is significantly higher than those who did not control his/her hypertension (32.54% vs. 27.59; p-value = 0.042). In people who were taking antihypertensive medication, adherence to healthy lifestyle did not have any significant relationship with the control of hypertension. The results of this study showed that awareness of hypertension did not improve people’s lifestyle. However, those who aware, but not using any antihypertensive medications are able to control his/her level of blood pressure better than those using medications.
Simultaneous purification of dihydrotanshinone, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA from Salvia miltiorrhiza and their anti-inflammatory activities investigation
Authors: Gao Hongwei , Huang Liting , Ding Fang , Yang Ke , Feng Yulin , Tang Hongzhen , Xu Qiong-ming , Feng Jianfang , Yang Shilin
Published: May 2018

Dihydrotanshinone, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA are major lipid-soluble constituents isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). In the present study, a systematic method was developed to simultaneously isolate and purify those compounds using macroporous adsorption resins and semi-preparative HPLC with a dynamic axial compress (DAC) system. The Danshen extract (95% alcohol) was divided into three fractions using different concentrations of alcohol (0%, 45%, and 90%) on D101 column. The content of total tanshinones of 90% alcohol eluent (TTS) was over 97%. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of those samples were investigated on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and three animal models. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of TTS in vitro was superior to the one of any other sample including 0% and 45% eluent, and total tanshinones capsules. In addition, TTS exhibited a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than that of dihydrotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone I, respectively. For animal models, TTS could significantly suppress xylene-induced ear oedema and rescue LPS-induced septic death and acute kidney injury in mice. In summary, the separation process developed in the study was high-efficiency, economic, and low-contamination, which was fit to industrial producing. TTS is a potential agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Differential requirement for dimerization partner DP between E2F-dependent activation of tumor suppressor and growth-related genes
Authors: Komori Hideyuki , Goto Yasuko , Kurayoshi Kenta , Ozono Eiko , Iwanaga Ritsuko , Bradford Andrew P. , Araki Keigo , Ohtani Kiyoshi
Published: May 2018

The transcription factor E2F plays crucial roles in cell proliferation and tumor suppression by activating growth-related genes and pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor genes, respectively. It is generally accepted that E2F binds to target sequences with its heterodimeric partner DP. Here we show that, while knockdown of DP1 expression inhibited ectopic E2F1- or adenovirus E1a-induced expression of the CDC6 gene and cell proliferation, knockdown of DP1 and DP2 expression did not affect ectopic E2F1- or E1a-induced expression of the tumor suppressor ARF gene, an upstream activator of the tumor suppressor p53, activation of p53 or apoptosis. These observations suggest that growth related and pro-apoptotic E2F targets are regulated by distinct molecular mechanisms and contradict the threshold model, which postulates that E2F activation of pro-apoptotic genes requires a higher total activity of activator E2Fs, above that necessary for E2F-dependent activation of growth-related genes.
Beta Oscillatory Dynamics in the Prefrontal and Superior Temporal Cortices Predict Spatial Working Memory Performance
Authors: Proskovec Amy L. , Wiesman Alex I. , Heinrichs-Graham Elizabeth , Wilson Tony W.
Published: May 2018

The oscillatory dynamics serving spatial working memory (SWM), and how such dynamics relate to performance, are poorly understood. To address these topics, the present study recruited 22 healthy adults to perform a SWM task during magnetoencephalography (MEG). The resulting MEG data were transformed into the time-frequency domain, and significant oscillatory responses were imaged using a beamformer. Voxel time series data were extracted from the cluster peaks to quantify the dynamics, while whole-brain partial correlation maps were computed to identify regions where oscillatory strength varied with accuracy on the SWM task. The results indicated transient theta oscillations in spatially distinct subregions of the prefrontal cortices at the onset of encoding and maintenance, which may underlie selection of goal-relevant information. Additionally, strong and persistent decreases in alpha and beta oscillations were observed throughout encoding and maintenance in parietal, temporal, and occipital regions, which could serve sustained attention and maintenance processes during SWM performance. The neuro-behavioral correlations revealed that beta activity within left dorsolateral prefrontal control regions and bilateral superior temporal integration regions was negatively correlated with SWM accuracy. Notably, this is the first study to employ a whole-brain approach to significantly link neural oscillations to behavioral performance in the context of SWM.
Diagnosis of atlanto-occipital dissociation: Standardised measurements of normal craniocervical relationship in finless porpoises (genus Neophocaena) using postmortem computed tomography
Authors: Kot Brian C. W. , Chan Derek K. P. , Yuen Adams H. L. , Tsui Henry C. L.
Published: May 2018

Due to the different craniocervical structures in humans and cetaceans, a standardised method assessing the normal craniocervical relationship in cetaceans is lacking, causing difficulties in defining the presence of atlanto-occipital dissociation (AOD) in cetaceans. The present study aimed to 1) describe a novel standardised method of determining the normal craniocervical relationships, and 2) define the 95% accuracy range of the normal craniocervical relationship in finless porpoises (genusNeophocaena), that allowed AOD diagnosis. Fifty-five out 83 stranded or by-caught finless porpoise carcasses were analyzed in term of their craniocervical relationship in dorsal-ventral and medial-lateral dimension, using postmortem computed tomography measurements. The normal craniocervical relationship in both dorsal-ventral (mean BD/OV: 0.87 ± 0.24 [2 SD]) and medial-lateral dimension (mean VR/VL: 0.98 ± 0.17 [2 SD]) was first defined. The 95% accuracy ranges of the normal craniocervical relationship in dorsal-ventral (0.63–1.11) and medial-lateral dimension (0.82–1.15) were proposed. The baseline ranges could facilitate AOD assessment, and provide an objective means of record for AOD related injury and death of cetaceans caused by anthropogenic trauma. The technique developed may be applied to live cetaceans with abnormal craniocervical relationship to aid diagnosis and guide corrective therapy.
3D Printed porous polyamide macrocapsule combined with alginate microcapsules for safer cell-based therapies
Authors: Saenz del Burgo Laura , Ciriza Jesús , Espona-Noguera Albert , Illa Xavi , Cabruja Enric , Orive Gorka , Hernández Rosa María , Villa Rosa , Pedraz Jose Luis , Alvarez Mar
Published: May 2018

Cell microencapsulation is an attractive strategy for cell-based therapies that allows the implantation of genetically engineered cells and the continuous delivery of de novo produced therapeutic products. However, the establishment of a way to retrieve the implanted encapsulated cells in case the treatment needs to be halted or when cells need to be renewed is still a big challenge. The combination of micro and macroencapsulation approaches could provide the requirements to achieve a proper immunoisolation, while maintaining the cells localized into the body. We present the development and characterization of a porous implantable macrocapsule device for the loading of microencapsulated cells. The device was fabricated in polyamide by selective laser sintering (SLS), with controlled porosity defined by the design and the sintering conditions. Two types of microencapsulated cells were tested in order to evaluate the suitability of this device; erythropoietin (EPO) producing C2C12 myoblasts and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) producing BHK fibroblasts. Results showed that, even if the metabolic activity of these cells decreased over time, the levels of therapeutic protein that were produced and, importantly, released to the media were stable.
Soft and Robust Identification of Body Fluid Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometric Strategies for Forensic Analysis
Authors: Takamura Ayari , Watanabe Ken , Akutsu Tomoko , Ozawa Takeaki
Published: May 2018

Body fluid (BF) identification is a critical part of a criminal investigation because of its ability to suggest how the crime was committed and to provide reliable origins of DNA. In contrast to current methods using serological and biochemical techniques, vibrational spectroscopic approaches provide alternative advantages for forensic BF identification, such as non-destructivity and versatility for various BF types and analytical interests. However, unexplored issues remain for its practical application to forensics; for example, a specific BF needs to be discriminated from all other suspicious materials as well as other BFs, and the method should be applicable even to aged BF samples. Herein, we describe an innovative modeling method for discriminating the ATR FT-IR spectra of various BFs, including peripheral blood, saliva, semen, urine and sweat, to meet the practical demands described above. Spectra from unexpected non-BF samples were efficiently excluded as outliers by adopting the Q-statistics technique. The robustness of the models against aged BFs was significantly improved by using the discrimination scheme of a dichotomous classification tree with hierarchical clustering. The present study advances the use of vibrational spectroscopy and a chemometric strategy for forensic BF identification.
Adhesive force measurement of steady-state water nano-meniscus: Effective surface tension at nanoscale
Authors: Kwon Soyoung , Kim Bongsu , An Sangmin , Lee Wanhee , Kwak Ho-Young , Jhe Wonho
Published: May 2018

When the surface of water is curved at nanoscale as a bubble, droplet and meniscus, its surface tension is expected to be smaller than that of planar interface, which still awaits experimental studies. Here, we report static and dynamic force spectroscopy that measures the capillary force of a single nanoscale water meniscus at constant curvature condition. Based on the Young-Laplace equation, the results are used to obtain the effective surface tension (ST) of the meniscus, which decreases to less than 20% of the bulk value at the radius-of-curvature (ROC) below 25 nm, while indicating the bulk behaviour above ~130 nm ROC. Interestingly, such a possibility provides a qualitative resolution of the unsettled discrepancies between experiments and theories in the thermodynamic activation processes for the mentioned three types of nano-curvatured water. Our results may not only lead to development of microscopic theories of ST as well as further experimental investigations, but also help better understanding of the ST-induced nanoscale dynamics such as cluster growth or protein folding, and the ST-controlled design of nano-biomaterials using the nano-meniscus.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) with 2 nm axial resolution using a compact laser plasma soft X-ray source
Authors: Wachulak Przemysław , Bartnik Andrzej , Fiedorowicz Henryk
Published: May 2018

We present optical coherence tomography (OCT) with 2 nm axial resolution using broadband soft X-ray radiation (SXR) from a compact laser plasma light source. The laser plasma was formed by the interaction of nanosecond laser pulses with a gaseous target in a double stream gas puff target approach. The source was optimized for efficient SXR emission from the krypton/helium gas puff target in the 2 to 5 nm spectral range, encompassing the entire “water-window” spectral range from 2.3 nm to 4.4 nm wavelength. The coherence parameters of the SXR radiation allowed for the OCT measurements of a bulk multilayer structure with 10 nm period and 40% bottom layer thickness to period ratio, with an axial resolution of about 2 nm and detect multilayer interfaces up to a depth of about 100 nm. The experimental data are in agreement with OCT simulations performed on ideal multilayer structure. In the paper, detailed information about the source, its optimization, the optical system, OCT measurements and the results are presented and discussed.
The Neurocognitive Architecture of Individual Differences in Math Anxiety in Typical Children
Authors: Hartwright Charlotte E. , Looi Chung Yen , Sella Francesco , Inuggi Alberto , Santos Flávia Heloísa , González-Salinas Carmen , García Santos Jose M. , Kadosh Roi Cohen , Fuentes Luis J.
Published: May 2018

Math Anxiety (MA) is characterized by a negative emotional response when facing math-related situations. MA is distinct from general anxiety and can emerge during primary education. Prior studies typically comprise adults and comparisons between high- versus low-MA, where neuroimaging work has focused on differences in network activation between groups when completing numerical tasks. The present study used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to identify the structural brain correlates of MA in a sample of 79 healthy children aged 7–12 years. Given that MA is thought to develop in later primary education, the study focused on the level of MA, rather than categorically defining its presence. Using a battery of cognitive- and numerical-function tasks, we identified that increased MA was associated with reduced attention, working memory and math achievement. VBM highlighted that increased MA was associated with reduced grey matter in the left anterior intraparietal sulcus. This region was also associated with attention, suggesting that baseline differences in morphology may underpin attentional differences. Future studies should clarify whether poorer attentional capacity due to reduced grey matter density results in the later emergence of MA. Further, our data highlight the role of working memory in propagating reduced math achievement in children with higher MA.
Divergent synthesis of CF3-substituted polycyclic skeletons based on control of activation site of acid catalysts
Authors: Yokoo Kazuma , Mori Keiji
Published: May 2018

We report a divergent synthesis of CF3-substituted fused skeletons based on precise control of the activation site through the selection of acid catalysts.
A π-conjugated inorganic polymer constructed from boron difluoride formazanates and platinum(ii) diynes
Authors: Dhindsa Jasveer S. , Maar Ryan R. , Barbon Stephanie M. , Olivia Avilés María , Powell Zachary K. , Lagugné-Labarthet François , Gilroy Joe B.
Published: May 2018

A π-conjugated inorganic polymer comprised of boron difluoride formazanate and platinum(ii) diyne repeat units with unusual redox properties and a narrow optical band gap ofca.1.4 eV is introduced.
Hetero-assembly of a dual β-amyloid variant peptide system
Authors: Candreva Jason , Chau Edward , Aoraha Edwin , Nanda Vikas , Kim Jin Ryoun
Published: May 2018

Creation of a dual peptide system where beta-amyloid variants hetero-assemble but do not homo-assemble, sharing similarities with typical amyloid self-assemblies.
A mitochondria-targeting hetero-binuclear Ir(iii)–Pt(ii) complex induces necrosis in cisplatin-resistant tumor cells
Authors: Ouyang Cheng , Chen Lei , Rees Thomas W. , Chen Yu , Liu Jiankang , Ji Liangnian , Long Jiangang , Chao Hui
Published: May 2018

A hetero-binuclear Ir(iii)–Pt(ii) complex can selectively accumulate in the mitochondria to induce mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and evoke cellular events consistent with necrosis in A549R cells.
1-Bromoethene-1-sulfonyl fluoride (BESF) is another good connective hub for SuFEx click chemistry
Authors: Smedley Christopher J. , Giel Marie-Claire , Molino Andrew , Barrow Andrew S. , Wilson David J. D. , Moses John E.
Published: May 2018

1,2-Dibromoethane-1-sulfonyl fluoride (DESF): a bench stable and readily accessible precursor to BESF for the synthesis of β-sultams, sulfonyl fluoride substituted isoxazoles, triazoles and Michael adducts with SuFEx-able pendant sulfonyl fluoride handles.
Highly enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of N,N-dialkylanilines with trans-β-nitrostyrene catalyzed by a homochiral metal–organic framework
Authors: Tanaka Koichi , Sakuragi Kenji , Ozaki Hiroto , Takada Yoshiki
Published: May 2018

The first enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of N,N-dialkylanilines with trans-β-nitrostyrene catalyzed by a homochiral MOF afforded the addition products in high yields (∼96%) with excellent ee (∼98%).
Nano-designed semiconductors for electro- and photoelectro-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhao Zhi-Jian , Wang Tuo , Gong Jinlong
Published: May 2018

This review describes a systematic overview on rational design of semiconductor catalysts for electro- and photoelectro-chemical CO2 conversion.
Engineering enzyme microenvironments for enhanced biocatalysis
Authors: Lancaster Louis , Abdallah Walaa , Banta Scott , Wheeldon Ian
Published: May 2018

Protein engineering provides a means to alter protein structure leading to new functions.
Serendipitous discoveries of new coordination modes of the 1,5-regioisomer of 1,2,3-triazoles enroute to the attempted synthesis of a carbon-anchored tri-mesoionic carbene
Authors: Suntrup Lisa , Kleoff Merlin , Sarkar Biprajit
Published: May 2018

Di-, tri-, and tetra-nuclear Ag(i) complexes, a protonated ligand and a hydroxyl–alkyl-substituted triazolium salt with the 1,5-substituted-1,2,3-triazole ligand are presented.
Complexes between neutral oxyacid beryllium salts and dihydrogen: a possible way for hydrogen storage?
Authors: Alkorta Ibon , Montero-Campillo M. Merced , Elguero José , Yáñez Manuel , Mó Otilia
Published: May 2018

Very stable 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes between oxyacid beryllium salts and H2are found.
Hierarchical CoP/Ni5P4/CoP microsheet arrays as a robust pH-universal electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen generation
Authors: Mishra Ishwar Kumar , Zhou Haiqing , Sun Jingying , Qin Fan , Dahal Keshab , Bao Jiming , Chen Shuo , Ren Zhifeng
Published: May 2018

Exceptional Pt-like electrocatalytic activity was achieved in a sandwich-like catalyst of CoP/Ni5P4/CoP microsheet arrays for pH-universal hydrogen evolution through simply wrapping Ni5P4 nanosheet arrays in CoP nanoparticles.