bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The difference between ice cream and Nazis: Moral externalization and the evolution of human cooperation
Authors: Stanford P. Kyle
Published: July 2017

A range of empirical findings is first used to more precisely characterize our distinctive tendency to objectify or externalize moral demands and obligations, and it is then argued that this salient feature of our moral cognition represents a profound puzzle for evolutionary approaches to human moral psychology that existing proposals do not help resolve. It is then proposed that such externalization facilitated a broader shift to a vastly more cooperative form of social life by establishing and maintaining a connection between the extent to which an agent is herself motivated by a given moral norm and the extent to which she uses conformity to that same norm as a criterion in evaluating candidate partners in social interaction generally. This connection ensures the correlated interaction necessary to protect those prepared to adopt increasingly cooperative, altruistic, and other prosocial norms of interaction from exploitation, especially as such norms were applied in novel ways and/or to novel circumstances and as the rapid establishment of new norms allowed us to reap still greater rewards from hypercooperation. A wide range of empirical findings is then used to support this hypothesis, showing why the status we ascribe to moral demands and considerations exhibits the otherwise puzzling combination of objective and subjective elements that it does, as well as showing how the need to effectively advertise our externalization of particular moral commitments generates features of our social interaction so familiar that they rarely strike us as standing in need of any explanation in the first place.
Platinum pyrithione induces apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells resistant to imatinib via DUB inhibition-dependent caspase activation and Bcr-Abl downregulation
Authors: Lan Xiaoying , Zhao Chong , Chen Xin , Zhang Peiquan , Zang Dan , Wu Jinjie , Chen Jinghong , Long Huidan , Yang Li , Huang Hongbiao , Wang Xuejun , Shi Xianping , Liu Jinbao
Published: July 2017

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by the chimeric tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl. T315I Bcr-Abl is the most notorious point mutation to elicit acquired resistance to imatinib (IM), leading to poor prognosis. Therefore, it is urgent to search for additional approaches and targeting strategies to overcome IM resistance. We recently reported that platinum pyrithione (PtPT) potently inhibits the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) via targeting the 26 S proteasome-associated deubiquitinases (DUBs), without effecting on the 20 S proteasome. Here we further report that (i) PtPT induces apoptosis in Bcr-Abl wild-type and Bcr-Abl-T315I mutation cells including the primary mononuclear cells from CML patients clinically resistant to IM, as well as inhibits the growth of IM-resistant Bcr-Abl-T315I xenografts in vivo; (ii) PtPT downregulates Bcr-Abl level through restraining Bcr-Abl transcription, and decreasing Bcr-Abl protein mediated by DUBs inhibition-induced caspase activation; (iii) UPS inhibition is required for PtPT-induced caspase activation and cell apoptosis. These findings support that PtPT overcomes IM resistance through both Bcr-Abl-dependent and -independent mechanisms. We conclude that PtPT can be a lead compound for further drug development to overcome imatinib resistance in CML patients.
Sphingosine kinase 2 activates autophagy and protects neurons against ischemic injury through interaction with Bcl-2 via its putative BH3 domain
Authors: Song Dan-Dan , Zhang Tong-Tong , Chen Jia-Li , Xia Yun-Fei , Qin Zheng-Hong , Waeber Christian , Sheng Rui
Published: July 2017

Our previous findings suggest that sphingosine kinase 2 (SPK2) mediates ischemic tolerance and autophagy in cerebral preconditioning. The aim of this study was to determine by which mechanism SPK2 activates autophagy in neural cells. In both primary murine cortical neurons and HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells, overexpression of SPK2 increased LC3II and enhanced the autophagy flux. SPK2 overexpression protected cortical neurons against oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) injury, as evidenced by improvement of neuronal morphology, increased cell viability and reduced lactate dehydrogenase release. The inhibition of autophagy effectively suppressed the neuroprotective effect of SPK2. SPK2 overexpression reduced the co-immunoprecipitation of Beclin-1 and Bcl-2, while Beclin-1 knockdown inhibited SPK2-induced autophagy. Both co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down analysis suggest that SPK2 directly interacts with Bcl-2. SPK2 might interact to Bcl-2 in the cytoplasm. Notably, an SPK2 mutant with L219A substitution in its putative BH3 domain was not able to activate autophagy. A Tat peptide fused to an 18-amino acid peptide encompassing the native, but not the L219A mutated BH3 domain of SPK2 activated autophagy in neural cells. The Tat-SPK2 peptide also protected neurons against OGD injury through autophagy activation. These results suggest that SPK2 interacts with Bcl-2 via its BH3 domain, thereby dissociating it from Beclin-1 and activating autophagy. The observation that Tat-SPK2 peptide designed from the BH3 domain of SPK2 activates autophagy and protects neural cells against OGD injury suggest that this structure may provide the basis for a novel class of therapeutic agents against ischemic stroke.
Conservation and divergence of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas
Authors: Li Yingxiang , Zhang Linlin , Qu Tao , Tang Xueying , Li Li , Zhang Guofan
Published: July 2017

Apoptosis is considered a crucial part of the host defense system in oysters according to previous reports; however, the exact process by which this occurs remains unclear. Besides, mitochondrial apoptosis is the primary method of apoptosis in vertebrate cells, but has been poorly studied in invertebrates and is quite controversial. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial apoptosis in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Notably, we show that most key elements involved in the vertebrate mitochondrial apoptosis pathway – including mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation – are also present in C. gigas. In contrast, the lack of Bcl-2 homology 3-only subfamily members and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (APAF-1) protein revealed evolutionary diversity from other phyla. Our results support that mitochondrial apoptosis in animals predates the emergence of vertebrates, but suggest that an unexpectedly diverse mitochondrial apoptosis pathway may exist in invertebrates. In addition, our work provided new clues for an improved understanding of how bivalve acclimate themselves to an inconstant environment.
MIS-11 duration key to disappearance of the Greenland ice sheet
Authors: Robinson Alexander , Alvarez-Solas Jorge , Calov Reinhard , Ganopolski Andrey , Montoya Marisa
Published: July 2017

Palaeo data suggest that Greenland must have been largely ice free during Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS-11). However, regional summer insolation anomalies were modest during this time compared to MIS-5e, when the Greenland ice sheet likely lost less volume. Thus it remains unclear how such conditions led to an almost complete disappearance of the ice sheet. Here we use transient climate–ice sheet simulations to simultaneously constrain estimates of regional temperature anomalies and Greenland’s contribution to the MIS-11 sea-level highstand. We find that Greenland contributed 6.1 m (3.9–7.0 m, 95% credible interval) to sea level, ∼7 kyr after the peak in regional summer temperature anomalies of 2.8 °C (2.1–3.4 °C). The moderate warming produced a mean rate of mass loss in sea-level equivalent of only around 0.4 m per kyr, which means the long duration of MIS-11 interglacial conditions around Greenland was a necessary condition for the ice sheet to disappear almost completely.
YAP determines the cell fate of injured mouse hepatocytes in vivo
Authors: Miyamura Norio , Hata Shoji , Itoh Tohru , Tanaka Minoru , Nishio Miki , Itoh Michiko , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Terai Shuji , Sakaida Isao , Suzuki Akira , Miyajima Atsushi , Nishina Hiroshi
Published: July 2017

The presence of senescent, transformed or damaged cells can impair tissue function or lead to tumorigenesis; therefore, organisms have evolved quality control mechanisms to eliminate them. Here, we show that YAP activation induced by inactivation of the Hippo pathway specifically in damaged hepatocytes promotes their selective elimination by using in vivo mosaic analysis in mouse liver. These damaged hepatocytes migrate into the hepatic sinusoids, undergo apoptosis and are engulfed by Kupffer cells. In contrast, YAP activation in undamaged hepatocytes leads to proliferation. Cellular stresses such as ethanol that damage both liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes switch cell fate from proliferation to migration/apoptosis in the presence of activated YAP. This involves the activation of CDC42 and Rac that regulate cell migration. Thus, we suggest that YAP acts as a stress sensor that induces elimination of injured cells to maintain tissue and organ homeostasis.
Ballistic superconductivity in semiconductor nanowires
Authors: Zhang Hao , Gül Önder , Conesa-Boj Sonia , Nowak Michał P. , Wimmer Michael , Zuo Kun , Mourik Vincent , de Vries Folkert K. , van Veen Jasper , de Moor Michiel W. A. , Bommer Jouri D. S. , van Woerkom David J. , Car Diana , Plissard Sébastien R , Bakkers Erik P.A.M. , Quintero-Pérez Marina , Cassidy Maja C. , Koelling Sebastian , Goswami Srijit , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Kouwenhoven Leo P.
Published: July 2017

Semiconductor nanowires have opened new research avenues in quantum transport owing to their confined geometry and electrostatic tunability. They have offered an exceptional testbed for superconductivity, leading to the realization of hybrid systems combining the macroscopic quantum properties of superconductors with the possibility to control charges down to a single electron. These advances brought semiconductor nanowires to the forefront of efforts to realize topological superconductivity and Majorana modes. A prime challenge to benefit from the topological properties of Majoranas is to reduce the disorder in hybrid nanowire devices. Here we show ballistic superconductivity in InSb semiconductor nanowires. Our structural and chemical analyses demonstrate a high-quality interface between the nanowire and a NbTiN superconductor that enables ballistic transport. This is manifested by a quantized conductance for normal carriers, a strongly enhanced conductance for Andreev-reflecting carriers, and an induced hard gap with a significantly reduced density of states. These results pave the way for disorder-free Majorana devices.
Near-infrared autofluorescence induced by intraplaque hemorrhage and heme degradation as marker for high-risk atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Htun Nay Min , Chen Yung Chih , Lim Bock , Schiller Tara , Maghzal Ghassan J. , Huang Alex L. , Elgass Kirstin D. , Rivera Jennifer , Schneider Hans G. , Wood Bayden R. , Stocker Roland , Peter Karlheinz
Published: July 2017

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, which is mainly driven by complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. These complications are caused by thrombotic arterial occlusion localized at the site of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques, of which early detection and therapeutic stabilization are urgently needed. Here we show that near-infrared autofluorescence is associated with the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage and heme degradation products, particularly bilirubin by using our recently created mouse model, which uniquely reflects plaque instability as seen in humans, and human carotid endarterectomy samples. Fluorescence emission computed tomography detecting near-infrared autofluorescence allows in vivo monitoring of intraplaque hemorrhage, establishing a preclinical technology to assess and monitor plaque instability and thereby test potential plaque-stabilizing drugs. We suggest that near-infrared autofluorescence imaging is a novel technology that allows identification of atherosclerotic plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage and ultimately holds promise for detection of high-risk plaques in patients.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate affects intestinal immunity against bacterial infection
Authors: Suo Caixia , Fan Zhiqin , Zhou Liang , Qiu Ju
Published: July 2017

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an environmental contaminant that has been manufactured to be used as surfactants and repellents in industry. Due to long half-life for clearance and degradation, PFOS is accumulative in human body and has potential threat to human health. Previous studies have shown the development and function of immune cells can be affected by PFOS. Although PFOS has a high chance of being absorbed through the oral route, whether and how PFOS affects immune cells in the gut is unknown. Using mouse model of Citrobacter rodentium infection, we investigated the role of PFOS on intestinal immunity. We found at early phase of the infection, PFOS inhibited the expansion of the pathogen by promoting IL-22 production from the group 3 innate lymphoid cell (ILC3) in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor dependent manner. Nevertheless, persistent PFOS treatment in mice finally led to a failure to clear the pathogen completely. At late phase of infection, enhanced bacterial counts in PFOS treated mice were accompanied by increased inflammatory cytokines, reduced mucin production and dysbiosis, featured by decreased level of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus johnsonii and increased E. coli. Our study reveals a deleterious consequence in intestinal bacterial infection caused by PFOS accumulation.
Identification for Differential Localization of Putative Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells in Mouse and Human
Authors: Li Jin , Xiao Yangyan , Coursey Terry G. , Chen Xin , Deng Ruzhi , Lu Fan , Pflugfelder Stephen C. , Li De-Quan
Published: July 2017

Human Corneal epithelial stem cells (CESCs) have been identified to reside in limbus for more than 2 decades. However, the precise location of CESCs in other mammalian remains elusive. This study was to identify differential localization of putative CESCs in mice. Through a series of murine corneal cross-sections from different directions, we identified that anatomically and morphologically the murine limbus is composed of the thinnest epithelium and the thinnest stroma without any palisades of Vogt-like niche structure. The cells expressing five of stem/progenitor cell markers are localized in basal layer of entire murine corneal epithelium. BrdU label-retaining cells, a key characteristic of epithelial stem cells, are detected in both limbal and central cornea of mouse eye. Functionally, corneal epithelium can be regenerated in cultures from central and limbal explants of murine cornea. Such a distribution of mouse CESCs is different from human cornea, where limbal stem cell concept has been well established and accepted. We are aware that some new evidence supports limbal stem cell concept in mouse recently. However, it is important to know that central cornea may provide an alternative source of stem cells when one utilizes mice as animal model for corneal research.
The influence of postharvest UV-C treatment on anthocyanin biosynthesis in fresh-cut red cabbage
Authors: Wu Jie , Liu Wen , Yuan Li , Guan Wen-Qiang , Brennan Charles S. , Zhang Yang-Yong , Zhang Jie , Wang Zhi-Dong
Published: July 2017

Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra DC.) is a fresh edible vegetable consumed globally that contains high levels of antioxidant compounds including anthocyanins. In this study, fresh-cut red cabbage was treated with different Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) dosages. Fifteen cyanidin derivatives were observed in UV-C treated fresh-cut red cabbage; four of these were anthocyanins absent in control samples. The optimum dose of UV-C for enhancing total anthocyanin content in fresh-cut red cabbage was 3.0 kJ/m2. Different UV-C irradiation doses resulted in miscellaneous responses for each of the anthocyanin compounds, and these alterations appeared to be dose-dependent. The expression of genes relating to anthocyanin metabolism was altered by UV-C irradiation. For example, genes for biosynthetic enzymes including glycosyltransferase and acyltransferase, as well as R2R3 MYB transcription factors (production of anthocyanin pigment 1 and MYB114), had strongly increased expression following UV-C treatment. These results are in accord with the roles of these gene products in anthocyanin metabolism. This is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first report demonstrating that UV-C treatment can increase the antioxidant activity in fresh-cut red cabbage in storage. Moreover, our detailed phytochemical and gene expression analysis establish specific roles for both anthocyanins and metabolism genes in this process.
HDNetDB: A Molecular Interaction Database for Network-Oriented Investigations into Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Kalathur Ravi Kiran Reddy , Pedro Pinto José , Sahoo Biswanath , Chaurasia Gautam , Futschik Matthias E.
Published: July 2017

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene. Although HD is monogenic, its molecular manifestation appears highly complex and involves multiple cellular processes. The recent application of high throughput platforms such as microarrays and mass-spectrometry has indicated multiple pathogenic routes. The massive data generated by these techniques together with the complexity of the pathogenesis, however, pose considerable challenges to researchers. Network-based methods can provide valuable tools to consolidate newly generated data with existing knowledge, and to decipher the interwoven molecular mechanisms underlying HD. To facilitate research on HD in a network-oriented manner, we have developed HDNetDB, a database that integrates molecular interactions with many HD-relevant datasets. It allows users to obtain, visualize and prioritize molecular interaction networks using HD-relevant gene expression, phenotypic and other types of data obtained from human samples or model organisms. We illustrated several HDNetDB functionalities through a case study and identified proteins that constitute potential cross-talk between HD and the unfolded protein response (UPR). HDNetDB is publicly accessible at http://hdnetdb.sysbiolab.eu.
The temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon decomposition is greater in subsoil than in topsoil during laboratory incubation
Authors: Yan Dong , Li Jinquan , Pei Junmin , Cui Jun , Nie Ming , Fang Changming
Published: July 2017

The turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC) in cropland plays an important role in terrestrial carbon cycling, but little is known about the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOC decomposition below the topsoil layer of arable soil. Here, samples of topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–40 cm) layers were obtained from paddy fields and upland croplands in two regions of China. Using a sequential temperature changing method, soil respiration rates were calculated at different temperatures (8 °C to 28 °C) and fitted to an exponential equation to estimate Q10 values. The average SOC decomposition rate was 59% to 282% higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil layer because of higher labile carbon levels in the topsoil. However, Q10 values in the topsoil layer (5.29 ± 1.47) were significantly lower than those in the subsoil layer (7.52 ± 1.84). The pattern of Q10 values between the topsoil and subsoil was significantly negative to labile carbon content, which is consistent with the carbon quality-temperature hypothesis. These results suggest that the high temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition in the subsoil layer needs to be considered in soil C models to better predict the responses of agricultural SOC pools to global warming.
Mental workload and neural efficiency quantified in the prefrontal cortex using fNIRS
Authors: Causse Mickaël , Chua Zarrin , Peysakhovich Vsevolod , Del Campo Natalia , Matton Nadine
Published: July 2017

An improved understanding of how the brain allocates mental resources as a function of task difficulty is critical for enhancing human performance. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a field-deployable optical brain monitoring technology that provides a direct measure of cerebral blood flow in response to cognitive activity. We found that fNIRS was sensitive to variations in task difficulty in both real-life (flight simulator) and laboratory settings (tests measuring executive functions), showing increased concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and decreased concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) in the prefrontal cortex as the tasks became more complex. Intensity of prefrontal activation (HbO2 concentration) was not clearly correlated to task performance. Rather, activation intensity shed insight on the level of mental effort, i.e., how hard an individual was working to accomplish a task. When combined with performance, fNIRS provided an estimate of the participants’ neural efficiency, and this efficiency was consistent across levels of difficulty of the same task. Overall, our data support the suitability of fNIRS to assess the mental effort related to human operations and represents a promising tool for the measurement of neural efficiency in other contexts such as training programs or the clinical setting.
Long noncoding RNA expression profile changes associated with dietary energy in the sheep testis during sexual maturation
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Yang Hua , Han Le , Li Fengzhe , Zhang Tingting , Pang Jing , Feng Xu , Ren Caifang , Mao Shengyong , Wang Feng
Published: July 2017

Spermatogenesis can be affected by nutrition, which operates through normal physiological processes by changing the testicular mass and hormone levels profoundly. However, little is known regarding how testis development is regulated by long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). In this study, we investigated the effects of high-grain (HG) feeding on testis development during sexual maturation mediated by lncRNA. The HG diet group showed an increase in growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and testosterone (T) levels, and in the number of sperm in the seminiferous tubules compared with the hay-fed group (p 
< 0.05). Moreover, we found 59 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 229 DE mRNAs in sheep testis between the two groups. qRT-PCR results of 20 randomly selected DE lncRNAs and mRNAs were also consistent with the RNA-seq data. Through functional enrichment analysis and lncRNA-mRNA interaction network analysis, we screened several lncRNAs that may be enriched for male reproduction such as spermatogenesis, sperm motility, steroid hormones, MAPK and ErbB signaling pathways. This study provides a first insight into the development of the testis with HG feeding in sheep and shows that these changes are associated with alterations in lncRNA expression.
Intraoperative frozen section can be reduced in thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda categories V and VI
Authors: Huang Jing , Luo Jieli , Chen Jianshe , Sun Yang , Zhang Chao , Xu Kanlun , Ye Qin , Huang Pintong
Published: July 2017

Intraoperative frozen section (FS) can be reduced during thyroid lobectomy according to the results of fine needle aspiration (FNA). We evaluated the role of intraoperative FS in thyroid nodules with different diagnostic categories of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology by FNA. This retrospective study included 1,235 nodules collected via thyroidectomy with both preoperative FNA and intraoperative FS at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from January 2011 to January 2014. FNA cytological diagnosis was classified into six categories, based on the Bethesda system. The diagnostic findings of FNA cytology and FS histology were compared with the final histological results. 189 nodules were benign. The remainder were malignant. FS diagnosis was more accurate than FNA diagnosis for nodules classified as Bethesda Categories II, III, and IV (P < 0.05). However, the accuracy of FNA diagnosis in nodules assigned Bethesda Categories V and VI was significantly higher than that of FS (P < 0.05). FS appears be beneficial for thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda categories I through IV. FS may not be necessary in nodules diagnosed as Bethesda Categories V and VI.
Charge screening strategy for domain pattern control in nano-scale ferroelectric systems
Authors: Yamada Tomoaki , Ito Daisuke , Sluka Tomas , Sakata Osami , Tanaka Hidenori , Funakubo Hiroshi , Namazu Takahiro , Wakiya Naoki , Yoshino Masahito , Nagasaki Takanori , Setter Nava
Published: July 2017

Strain engineering is a widespread strategy used to enhance performance of devices based on semiconductor thin films. In ferroelectrics strain engineering is used to control the domain pattern: When an epitaxial film is biaxially compressed, e.g. due to lattice mismatch with the substrate, the film displays out-of-plane, often strongly enhanced polarization, while stretching the film on the substrate results in in-plane polarization. However, this strategy is of a limited applicability in nanorods because of the small rod/substrate contact area. Here we demonstrate another strategy, in which the polar axis direction is controlled by charge screening. When charge screening is maintained by bottom and top metallization, the nanorods display an almost pure c-domain configuration (polarization perpendicular to the substrate); when the sidewalls of the nanorods are metallized too, a-domain formation prevails (polarization parallel to the substrate). Simulations of the depolarization fields under various boundary conditions support the experimental observations. The employed approach can be expanded to other low-dimensional nano-scale ferroelectric systems.
Oncolytic measles virus enhances antitumour responses of adoptive CD8+NKG2D+ cells in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment
Authors: Chen Aiping , Zhang Yonghui , Meng Gang , Jiang Dengxu , Zhang Hailin , Zheng Meihong , Xia Mao , Jiang Aiqin , Wu Junhua , Beltinger Christian , Wei Jiwu
Published: July 2017

There is an urgent need for novel effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Oncolytic viruses (OVs) not only directly lyse malignant cells, but also induce potent antitumour immune responses. The potency and precise mechanisms of antitumour immune activation by attenuated measles virus remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the potency of the measles virus vaccine strain Edmonston (MV-Edm) in improving adoptive CD8+NKG2D+ cells for HCC treatment. We show that MV-Edm-infected HCC enhanced the antitumour activity of CD8+NKG2D+ cells, mediated by at least three distinct mechanisms. First, MV-Edm infection compelled HCC cells to express the specific NKG2D ligands MICA/B, which may contribute to the activation of CD8+NKG2D+ cells. Second, MV-Edm-infected HCC cells stimulated CD8+NKG2D+ cells to express high level of FasL resulting in enhanced induction of apoptosis. Third, intratumoural administration of MV-Edm enhanced infiltration of intravenously injected CD8+NKG2D+ cells. Moreover, we found that MV-Edm and adoptive CD8+NKG2D+ cells, either administered alone or combined, upregulated the immune suppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in HCC. Elimination of IDO1 by fludarabine enhanced antitumour responses. Taken together, our data provide a novel and clinically relevant strategy for treatment of HCC.
ConcatSeq: A method for increasing throughput of single molecule sequencing by concatenating short DNA fragments
Authors: Schlecht Ulrich , Mok Janine , Dallett Carolina , Berka Jan
Published: July 2017

Single molecule sequencing (SMS) platforms enable base sequences to be read directly from individual strands of DNA in real-time. Though capable of long read lengths, SMS platforms currently suffer from low throughput compared to competing short-read sequencing technologies. Here, we present a novel strategy for sequencing library preparation, dubbed ConcatSeq, which increases the throughput of SMS platforms by generating long concatenated templates from pools of short DNA molecules. We demonstrate adaptation of this technique to two target enrichment workflows, commonly used for oncology applications, and feasibility using PacBio single molecule real-time (SMRT) technology. Our approach is capable of increasing the sequencing throughput of the PacBio RSII platform by more than five-fold, while maintaining the ability to correctly call allele frequencies of known single nucleotide variants. ConcatSeq provides a versatile new sample preparation tool for long-read sequencing technologies.
Avian reovirus p17 and σA act cooperatively to downregulate Akt by suppressing mTORC2 and CDK2/cyclin A2 and upregulating proteasome PSMB6
Authors: Huang Wei-Ru , Chi Pei-I , Chiu Hung-Chuan , Hsu Jue-Liang , Nielsen Brent L. , Liao Tsai-Ling , Liu Hung-Jen
Published: July 2017

Although we have shown that avian reovirus (ARV) p17-mediated inhibition of Akt leads to induction of autophagy, the precise mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study has identified a specific mechanism by which ARV coordinately regulates the degradation of ribosomal proteins by p17-mediated activation of E3 ligase MDM2 that targets ribosomal proteins and by σA-mediated upregulation of proteasome PSMB6. In addition to downregulating ribosomal proteins, p17 reduces mTORC2 assembly and disrupts mTORC2-robosome association, both of which inactivate mTORC2 leading to inhibition of Akt phosphorylation at S473. Furthermore, we discovered that p17 binds to and inhibits the CDK2/cyclin A2 complex, further inhibiting phosphorylation of Akt S473. The negative effect of p17 on mTORC2 assembly and Akt phosphorylation at S473 is reversed in cells treated with insulin or overexpression of CDK2. The carboxyl terminus of p17 is necessary for interaction with CDK2 and for induction of autophagy. Furthermore, p17-mediated upregulation of LC3-II could be partially reversed by overexpression of CDK2. The present study provides mechanistic insights into cooperation between p17 and σA proteins of ARV to negatively regulate Akt by downregulating complexes of mTORC2 and CDK2/cyclin A2 and upregulating PSMB6, which together induces autophagy and cell cycle arrest and benefits virus replication.
Numerical Simulations of Directed Self-Assembly in Diblock Copolymer Films using Zone Annealing and Pattern Templating
Authors: Hill Joseph D. , Millett Paul C.
Published: July 2017

Bulk fabrication of surface patterns with sub-20 nm feature sizes is immensely desirable for many existing and emerging technologies. Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) has been a recently demonstrated approach to achieve such feature resolution over large-scale areas with minimal defect populations. However, much work remains to understand and optimize DSA methods in order to move this field forward. This paper presents large-scale numerical simulations of zone annealing and chemo-epitaxy processing of BCP films to achieve long-range orientational order. The simulations utilize a Time-Dependent Ginzburg-Landau model and parallel processing to elucidate relationships between the magnitude and velocity of a moving thermal gradient and the resulting BCP domain orientations and defect densities. Additional simulations have been conducted to study to what degree orientational order can be further improved by combining zone annealing and chemo-epitaxy techniques. It is found that these two DSA methods do synergistically enhance long-range order with a particular relationship between thermal gradient velocity and chemical template spacing.
Nitrogen-Mediated Graphene Oxide Enables Highly Efficient Proton Transfer
Authors: Chai Guo-Liang , Shevlin Stephen A. , Guo Zhengxiao
Published: July 2017

Two-dimensional (2D) graphene and graphene oxide (GO) offer great potential as a new type of cost-efficient proton-exchange membranes (PEM) for electrochemical devices. However, fundamental issues of proton transfer mechanism via 2D membranes are unclear and the transfer barrier for perfect graphene are too high for practical application. Using ab initio molecular dynamic simulations, we screened the proton transfer barrier for different un-doped and nitrogen doped GO membranes, and clarified the corresponding transfer mechanisms. More significantly, we further identify that N-mediated GO can be built into a highly efficient PEM with a proton transfer rate of seven orders of magnitude higher than an un-doped case via. a proton relay mechanism between a ketone-like oxygen and a pyridine-like nitrogen across the vacancy site. The N-doped 2D GO is also impermeable to small molecules, and hence a highly efficient PEM for practical applications.
Physiological demands of a swimming-based video game: Influence of gender, swimming background, and exergame experience
Authors: Soltani Pooya , Figueiredo Pedro , Ribeiro João , Fernandes Ricardo J. , Vilas-Boas João Paulo
Published: July 2017

Active video games (exergames) may provide short-term increase in energy expenditure. We explored the effects of gender and prior experience on aerobic and anaerobic energy systems contributions, and the activity profiles of 40 participants playing with a swimming exergame. We recorded oxygen consumption and assessed blood lactate after each swimming technique. We also filmed participants’ gameplays, divided them into different phases and tagged them as active or inactive. Anaerobic pathway accounted for 8.9 ± 5.6% of total energy expenditure and although experienced players were less active compared to novice counterparts (η² < 0.15, p < 0.05), physiological measures were not different between performing groups. However, players with real-swimming experience during the first technique had higher heart rate (partial-η² = 0.09, p < 0.05). Our results suggest that short-term increase in physiological measures might happen in the beginning of gameplay because of unfamiliarity with the game mechanics. Despite low levels of activity compared to real sport, both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems should be considered in the evaluation of exergames. Game mechanics (involving the whole body) and strategies to minimize pragmatic play might be used for effective and meaningful game experience.
Myosin 1b and F-actin are involved in the control of secretory granule biogenesis
Authors: Delestre-Delacour Charlène , Carmon Ophélie , Laguerre Fanny , Estay-Ahumada Catherine , Courel Maïté , Elias Salah , Jeandel Lydie , Rayo Margarita Villar , Peinado Juan R. , Sengmanivong Lucie , Gasman Stéphane , Coudrier Evelyne , Anouar Youssef , Montero-Hadjadje Maité
Published: July 2017

Hormone secretion relies on secretory granules which store hormones in endocrine cells and release them upon cell stimulation. The molecular events leading to hormone sorting and secretory granule formation at the level of the TGN are still elusive. Our proteomic analysis of purified whole secretory granules or secretory granule membranes uncovered their association with the actomyosin components myosin 1b, actin and the actin nucleation complex Arp2/3. We found that myosin 1b controls the formation of secretory granules and the associated regulated secretion in both neuroendocrine cells and chromogranin A-expressing COS7 cells used as a simplified model of induced secretion. We show that F-actin is also involved in secretory granule biogenesis and that myosin 1b cooperates with Arp2/3 to recruit F-actin to the Golgi region where secretory granules bud. These results provide the first evidence that components of the actomyosin complex promote the biogenesis of secretory granules and thereby regulate hormone sorting and secretion.
Metabolomic differential analysis of interspecific interactions among white rot fungi Trametes versicolor, Dichomitus squalens and Pleurotus ostreatus
Authors: Luo Feng , Zhong Zixuan , Liu Li , Igarashi Yasuo , Xie Deti , Li Nannan
Published: July 2017

Interspecific fungal antagonism occurred commonly in the interaction zone of different white rot fungi. This competitive interaction could markedly influence the metabolic pathway of intracellular metabolites, which was associated with the fungal morphology change and growth restriction. So far, it remains unknown on intracellular metabolite regulation during fungal competitive interaction. Herein, we performed the metabolomic analysis of thein vivometabolite changes during competitive interaction between each two of the three white rot fungiTrametes versicolor,Pleurotus ostreatusandDichomitus squalensand identified differential metabolites in the interaction zone compared to each two isolates. Many metabolites in the carnitine, lipid, ethylene and trehalose metabolic pathways were significantly up-regulated. These metabolic pathways are all involved in defensive response to abiotic and/or biotic stressful condition.
The ENGases: versatile biocatalysts for the production of homogeneous N-linked glycopeptides and glycoproteins
Authors: Fairbanks Antony J.
Published: July 2017

Synthetic applications of ENGase enzymes allow the production of a wide variety of homogenous glycopeptides and glycoproteins, including therapeutic mAbs.
Immunoassay quantification using surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) tags
Authors: Camacho S. A. , Sobral-Filho R. G. , Aoki P. H. B. , Constantino C. J. L. , Brolo A. G.
Published: July 2017

A fluorescence immunoassay based on surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) was introduced. The use of SEF tags may provide advantages over regular organic dyes for biomedical assays.
A novel two-photon fluorescent probe for the selective detection of hydrogen peroxide based on a naphthalene derivative
Authors: Ma Qiujuan , li Xian , Zhang Jing , Zhu Xiaoyan , Zhou Liyi , Liu Hongwen
Published: July 2017

In this study, we report a novel two-photon fluorescent probe for monitoring hydrogen peroxide.
Colorimetric assay for the simultaneous detection of Hg2+ and Ag+ based on inhibiting the peroxidase-like activity of core–shell Au@Pt nanoparticles
Authors: Peng Chi-Fang , Zhang Ying-Ying , Wang Li-Ying , Jin Zheng-Yu , Shao Guang
Published: July 2017

A highly sensitive and selective colorimetric assay for Hg2+ and Ag+ was developed using core–shell Au@Pt nanoparticles.
Improving the intrinsic electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of few-layer NiPS3 by cobalt doping
Authors: Li Kai , Rakov Dmitrii , Zhang Wei , Xu Ping
Published: July 2017

Cobalt doping can efficiently improve the intrinsic electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of NiPS3 materials.
NHC-stabilized 1-hydrosilaimine: synthesis, structure and reactivity
Authors: Dhara Debabrata , Vijayakanth Thangavel , Barman Milan Kr. , Naik Khevath Praveen Kumar , Chrysochos Nicolas , Yildiz Cem B. , Boomishankar Ramamoorthy , Schulzke Carola , Chandrasekhar Vadapalli , Jana Anukul
Published: July 2017

Synthesis of NHC-stabilized 1-hydrosilaimine and its catalyst-free addition to a O–H bond of water is reported.
Multipodal dynamic coordination involving cation–π interactions to control the structure of helical polymers
Authors: Alzubi Mohammad , Arias Sandra , Louzao Iria , Quiñoá Emilio , Riguera Ricardo , Freire Félix
Published: July 2017

Dynamic coordination, by means of multipodal metal complexes and cation–π interactions, controls the structure of helical polymers.
Metal-coated thermosalient crystals as electrical fuses
Authors: Khalil Abdullah , Ahmed Ejaz , Naumov Panče
Published: July 2017

Silver-coated 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene crystals, a thermosalient compound, are presented as novel electrical fuse materials.
Zinc-promoted cyclization of tosylhydrazones and 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile: an efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles
Authors: Zhang Bang-Hong , Lei Lin-Sheng , Liu Si-Zhan , Mou Xue-Qing , Liu Wei-Ting , Wang Shao-Hua , Wang Jie , Bao Wen , Zhang Kun
Published: July 2017

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles has been developed through a cyclization reaction of tosylhydrazones with 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile.
Highly efficient photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission characteristics obtained through precise molecular design
Authors: Xu Shidang , Wu Wenbo , Cai Xiaolei , Zhang Chong-Jing , Yuan Youyong , Liang Jing , Feng Guangxue , Manghnani Purnima , Liu Bin
Published: July 2017

Through precise molecular design, predictable properties including photosensitizing efficacy, tunable absorption and emission wavelengths and aggregation-induced emission characteristics were achieved.
Postsynthetic modification of a zirconium metal–organic framework at the inorganic secondary building unit with diphenylphosphinic acid for increased photosensitizing properties and stability
Authors: Hynek J. , Ondrušová S. , Bůžek D. , Kovář P. , Rathouský J. , Demel J.
Published: July 2017

The postsynthetic cluster modification of the zirconium metal–organic framework PCN-222/MOF-545 by diphenylphosphinic acid resulted in enhanced photosensitizing properties and water stability.
A series of transition metal coordination polymers based on a rigid bi-functional carboxylate–triazolate tecton
Authors: Mao Nan-nan , Hu Peng , Yu Fan , Chen Xi , Zhuang Gui-lin , Zhang Tian-le , Li Bao
Published: July 2017

By utilizing a pre-designed bi-functional ligand, five new transition-metal-based coordination polymers have been constructed and structurally characterized, along with their luminescence or magnetic properties.
The influence of heteroatoms on the aromatic character and the current pathways of B2N2-dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes
Authors: Dimitrova Maria , Fliegl Heike , Sundholm Dage
Published: July 2017

Four polycyclic molecules have been investigated at the DFT level of theory using magnetically induced current densities calculated with the GIMIC program as an indicator of their (anti)aromaticity.
Quantitative probing of subtle interactions among H-bonds in alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid complexes
Authors: Gu Quanli , Su Peifeng , Xia Yong , Yang Zhijun , Trindle Carl O. , Knee Joseph L.
Published: July 2017

The alpha OH stretching frequency may be affected upon complexing with water and formic acid.
Effect of substrate concentrations on the aggregation behavior and dynamic oscillatory properties of self-oscillating block copolymers
Authors: Tamate Ryota , Ueki Takeshi , Shibayama Mitsuhiro , Yoshida Ryo
Published: July 2017

The effect of substrate concentrations of the BZ reaction as well as specific salts on the dynamic properties of self-oscillating block copolymers was studied in detail.
Correction: Experimental and theoretical investigations of infrared multiple photon dissociation spectra of glutamic acid complexes with Zn2+ and Cd2+
Authors: Boles Georgia C. , Owen Cameron J. , Berden Giel , Oomens Jos , Armentrout P. B.
Published: July 2017

Correction for ‘Experimental and theoretical investigations of infrared multiple photon dissociation spectra of glutamic acid complexes with Zn2+ and Cd2+’ by Georgia C. Boles et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 12394–12406.
Kinetics of hydrogen adsorption during catalytic reactions on transition metal surfaces
Authors: Dong Yujung , Zaera Francisco
Published: July 2017

A study of the kinetics of the hydrogenation of ethylene promoted by hydrogen was performed by using a high-flux molecular beam in order to probe the intermediate pressure regime between the ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) used in surface-science experiments and the atmospheric conditions used in catalysis, the so-called “pressure gap”.
Protective vascular effects of quercitrin in acute TNBS-colitis in rats: the role of nitric oxide
Authors: Romero Miguel , Vera Beatriz , Galisteo Milagros , Toral Marta , Gálvez Julio , Perez-Vizcaino Francisco , Duarte Juan
Published: July 2017

Quercitrin (quercetin 3-rhamnoside) is a bioflavonoid with anti-inflammatory activity in experimental colitis.
Analytical approaches for the characterization of nickel proteome
Authors: Jiménez-Lamana Javier , Szpunar Joanna
Published: July 2017

Analytical strategies to study the nickel proteome and their advantages and limitations.
Ionic liquids based on bromoxynil for reducing adverse impacts on the environment and human health
Authors: Tang Gang , Liu Yao , Ding Guanglong , Zhang Wenbing , Liang You , Fan Chen , Dong Hongqiang , Yang Jiale , Kong Dandan , Cao Yongsong
Published: July 2017

Many herbicides exhibit some disadvantages such as high water solubility and volatility after application, which lead to potential threats to the aquatic and atmospheric environment and human health.
A polymeric temozolomide nanocomposite against orthotopic glioblastoma xenograft: tumor-specific homing directed by nestin
Authors: Prabhu Suma , Goda Jayant Sastri , Mutalik Srinivas , Mohanty Bhabani Shankar , Chaudhari Pradip , Rai Sharada , Udupa Nayanabhirama , Rao Bola Sadashiva Satish
Published: July 2017

Nanocomposite for comprehensive pharmacokinetic and antitumor potential using transferrin for bypassing BBB and anti-nestin antibody as a homing moiety against glioma.
Decouple electronic and phononic transport in nanotwinned structures: a new strategy for enhancing the figure-of-merit of thermoelectrics
Authors: Zhou Yanguang , Gong Xiaojing , Xu Ben , Hu Ming
Published: July 2017

We propose a new strategy of incorporating nanotwinned structures to decouple electronic and phononic transport, aiming at advancing the innovative development of thermoelectric materials.
Conjugated polymer covalently modified graphene oxide quantum dots for ternary electronic memory devices
Authors: Fan Fei , Zhang Bin , Cao Yaming , Yang Xutong , Gu Junwei , Chen Yu
Published: July 2017

A novel arylamine-based polyazomethine covalently functionalized graphene oxide quantum dots (TPAPAM-GOQDs), which exhibited nonvolatile ternary memory effect with an OFF : ON-1 : ON-2 current ratio of 1 : 60 : 3000, was synthesized.
A series of intrinsically chiral gold nanocage structures
Authors: Liu X. J. , Hamilton I. P.
Published: July 2017

We present a series of intrinsically chiral gold nanocage structures, Au9n+6, which are stable for n ≥ 2.
Influence of microenvironment topography and stiffness on the mechanics and motility of normal and cancer renal cells
Authors: Rianna C. , Radmacher M.
Published: July 2017

Moving from standard culture systems to soft and patterned substrates to study the effect of microenvironment properties on renal cancer cells.
Crab-shell induced synthesis of ordered macroporous carbon nanofiber arrays coupled with MnCo2O4 nanoparticles as bifunctional oxygen catalysts for rechargeable Zn–air batteries
Authors: Bin Duan , Guo Ziyang , Tamirat Andebet Gedamu , Ma Yuanyuan , Wang Yonggang , Xia Yongyao
Published: July 2017

A rechargeable Zn–air batteries using the MnCo2O4/NMCNA catalyst displayed appreciably lower overpotentials, higher power density and better stability than commercial Pt/C catalyst.
Nanoscale clustering of the neurotrophin receptor TrkB revealed by super-resolution STED microscopy
Authors: Angelov Borislav , Angelova Angelina
Published: July 2017

STED nanoscopy provides detection of oligomeric forms of the TrkB membrane receptor target in neuronally derived human cells.
Solid-state molecular organometallic chemistry. Single-crystal to single-crystal reactivity and catalysis with light hydrocarbon substrates
Authors: Chadwick F. Mark , McKay Alasdair I. , Martinez-Martinez Antonio J. , Rees Nicholas H. , Krämer Tobias , Macgregor Stuart A. , Weller Andrew S.
Published: July 2017

Solid-state molecular organometallic catalysis (SMOM-cat): synthetic routes, unique structural motifs, mobility in the solid-state and very active gas/solid isomerization catalysts.
Chevrons, filaments, spinning clusters and phase coexistence: emergent dynamics of 2- and 3-d particle suspensions driven by multiaxial magnetic fields
Authors: Solis Kyle J. , Martin James E.
Published: July 2017

A rich variety of emergent phenomena are reported for dispersed magnetic fluids driven by multiaxial magnetic fields.