bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomechanics of the human uterus
Authors: Myers Kristin M. , Elad David
Published: May 2017

The appropriate biomechanical function of the uterus is required for the execution of human reproduction. These functions range from aiding the transport of the embryo to the implantation site, to remodeling its tissue walls to host the placenta, to protecting the fetus during gestation, to contracting forcefully for a safe parturition and postpartum, to remodeling back to its nonpregnant condition to renew the cycle of menstruation. To serve these remarkably diverse functions, the uterus is optimally geared with evolving and contractile muscle and tissue layers that are cued by chemical, hormonal, electrical, and mechanical signals. The relationship between these highly active biological signaling mechanisms and uterine biomechanical function is not completely understood for normal reproductive processes and pathological conditions such as adenomyosis, endometriosis, infertility and preterm labor. Animal studies have illuminated the rich structural function of the uterus, particularly in pregnancy. In humans, medical imaging techniques in ultrasound and magnetic resonance have been combined with computational engineering techniques to characterize the uterusin vivo, and advanced experimental techniques have explored uterine function usingex vivotissue samples. The collective evidence presented in this review gives an overall perspective on uterine biomechanics related to both its nonpregnant and pregnant function, highlighting open research topics in the field. Additionally, uterine disease and infertility are discussed in the context of tissue injury and repair processes and the role of computational modeling in uncovering etiologies of disease.WIREs Syst Biol Med2017, 9:e1388. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1388

This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models

Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine
Educational Attainment, Citizenship, and Black American Women in Elected and Appointed National Leadership Positions
Authors: Kaba Amadu Jacky
Published: May 2017

This article examines the issue of American citizenship and how it is related to Black Americans, especially from the perspectives of educational attainment and national political leadership positions (focusing on the U.S. Senate, office of governor, and the U.S. Supreme Court). The article presents seven interrelated conceptual or theoretical perspectives of American citizenship (Three Citizenships; Gender; Equality; Race; Belonging; Military Service; and Protestant Christianity), and where Black Americans (especially Black women) fit in them. The article claims that while Black American women have made substantial progress in college degree attainment, they have done so at a very high financial cost. The article claims that compared with other groups in the society, the gains in educational attainment made by Black American women have not resulted in them being elected or selected to these national leadership positions. Among the factors presented for this exclusion of Black women are: lack of strong support from Black American male leaders and institutional support; ambition; first occupy public office within the states of the Union; they must become moderate politicians; perception that Black women have more privileges in the society than Black men and other groups; and negative media portrayal of Black female candidates. The article claims that despite being one of the oldest and most native groups in the United States, with over nine out of every 10 of them being native-born citizens, Black American women in particular tend to have the characteristics of non-citizens.
History effects and near equilibrium in adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers
Authors: Bobke A. , Vinuesa R. , Örlü R. , Schlatter P.
Published: May 2017

Turbulent boundary layers under adverse pressure gradients are studied using well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES) with the goal of assessing the influence of the streamwise pressure-gradient development. Near-equilibrium boundary layers were characterized through the Clauser pressure-gradient parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$. In order to fulfil the near-equilibrium conditions, the free stream velocity was prescribed such that it followed a power-law distribution. The turbulence statistics pertaining to cases with a constant value of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ (extending up to approximately 40 boundary-layer thicknesses) were compared with cases with non-constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ distributions at matched values of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and friction Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$. An additional case at matched Reynolds number based on displacement thickness $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }}$ was also considered. It was noticed that non-constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases appear to approach the conditions of equivalent constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases after long streamwise distances (approximately 7 boundary-layer thicknesses). The relevance of the constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases lies in the fact that they define a ‘canonical’ state of the boundary layer, uniquely characterized by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$. The investigations on the flat plate were extended to the flow around a wing section overlapping in terms of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$. Comparisons with the flat-plate cases at matched values of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$ revealed that the different development history of the turbulent boundary layer on the wing section leads to a less pronounced wake in the mean velocity as well as a weaker second peak in the Reynolds stresses. This is due to the weaker accumulated effect of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ history. Furthermore, a scaling law suggested by Kitsios et al. (Intl J. Heat Fluid Flow, vol. 61, 2016, pp. 129–136), proposing the edge velocity and the displacement thickness as scaling parameters, was tested on two constant-pressure-gradient parameter cases. The mean velocity and Reynolds-stress profiles were found to be dependent on the downstream development. The present work is the first step towards assessing history effects in adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers and highlights the fact that the values of the Clauser pressure-gradient parameter and the Reynolds number are not sufficient to characterize the state of the boundary layer.
Religious Instruction, Public Education, and The Dallas High Schools Bible Study Course (1923–1985)
Authors: Chancey Mark A.
Published: May 2017

Despite the voluminous literature on the Supreme Court's famous mid-century decisions on religion and public education, detailed investigations of howMcCollum(1948),Schempp(1963), and related rulings affected particular Bible courses and the communities that offered them are largely absent. This article offers an in-depth retrospective analysis of one such class, the Dallas High Schools Bible Study Course. One of the longest-running Bible programs in the country, it lasted over six decades, likely attracted over 40,000 students, and provided a model for other communities near and far. Indeed, its textbooks remain in occasional use today. This study contextualizes the course within local religious and civic life, the evolving legal landscape, competing notions of church-state relations, differing sensibilities about religious and ethnic diversity, and larger national trends. Despite the program's Protestant nature, until its final days advocates characterized it as a nonsectarian class that separated church and state. That they did so for so long illustrates the deep-rootedness of their commitments to religious education, how contested the implications of the Supreme Court cases were, and how crucial recognition of geographical variation is for exploring the places of religion in American public education.
What kind/sort/type of word are these? Number concord across the species noun phrase in International Academic English
Authors: Stenton Adrian
Published: May 2017

Usage guidance on what Biber et al. (1999) call ‘species nouns’ in English (kind/sort/type + of) has a long history, and has tended to concentrate on number concord between a determiner (e.g. this or these) and kind/sort/type in the singular or plural. Thus we have, from four different centuries.
Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: Clustering and Switching Analyses in Verbal Fluency Test
Authors: Galtier Iván , Nieto Antonieta , Lorenzo Jesús N. , Barroso José
Published: May 2017

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment is common in non-demented Parkinson disease patients (PD-MCI) and is considered as a risk factor for dementia. Executive dysfunction has been widely described in PD and the Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) are often used for executive function assessment in this pathology. The Movement Disorder Society (MDS) published guidelines for PD-MCI diagnosis in 2012. However, no investigation has focused on the qualitative analysis of VFT in PD-MCI. The aim of this work was to study the clustering and switching strategies in VFT in PD-MCI patients. Moreover, these variables are considered as predictors for PD-MCI diagnosis. Methods: Forty-three PD patients and twenty normal controls were evaluated with a neuropsychological protocol and the MDS criteria for PD-MCI were applied. Clustering and switching analysis were conducted for VFT. Results: The percentage of patients diagnosed with PD-MCI was 37.2%. The Mann-Whitney U test analysis showed that PD-MCI performed poorly in different cognitive measures (digit span, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, judgment of line orientation, and comprehension test), compared to PD patients without mild cognitive impairment (PD-nMCI). Phonemic fluency analyses showed that PD-MCI patients produced fewer words and switched significantly less, compared to controls and PD-nMCI. Concerning semantic fluency, the PD-MCI group differed significantly, compared to controls and PD-nMCI, in switches. Discriminant function analyses and logistic regression analyses revealed that switches predicted PD-MCI. Conclusions: PD-MCI patients showed poor performance in VFT related to the deficient use of production strategies. The number of switches is a useful predictor for incident PD-MCI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 511–520)
Imagining by feeling: a case for compassion in legal reasoning
Authors: Del Mar Maksymilian
Published: May 2017

This paper argues that feeling compassion (and other relational emotions) makes an important, beneficial difference in adjudication, as it improves the exercise of the perspectival imagination – that is, it helps a judge to better understand, and to better describe, a situation as another person experienced it. Even where a judge has a highly developed capacity for empathy and sympathy (these being cognitive and evaluative processes that are distinguishable from emotions), there is something to be gained by a judge actually feeling compassion. However, given the potential for the distortion of understanding as a consequence of feeling compassion, any such feeling has to be accompanied by the robust exercise of the perspectival imagination – that is, by imagining multiple perspectives (including sometimes constructing imaginary ones), so as to avoid privileging any one perspective over others. It is further argued that this ‘imagining by feeling’, as I call it in this paper, is not a threat to impartiality or the rule of law, but in fact a condition of it. It is part of the rule of law that people have a right to be heard, especially those whom we may otherwise find it difficult to understand. Imagining by feeling helps judges to better ‘hear’ a greater diversity of those who come before them, and thus helps the judiciary to improve the quality of the rule of law.
Analyse des orthorektischen Ernährungsverhaltens von Patienten mit Essstörungen und mit Zwangsstörungen
Authors: Barthels Friederike , Meyer Frank , Huber Thomas , Pietrowsky Reinhard
Published: May 2017

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Orthorexie bezeichnet eine Fixierung auf den ausschließlichen Verzehr von Lebensmitteln, die nach subjektiven Kriterien als gesund gelten. Fragestellung: Ziel der Studie war die Analyse der strukturellen psychopathologischen Merkmale orthorektischen Ernährungsverhaltens, um Hinweise zur nosologischen Einordnung zu erhalten. Methode: 40 Essstörungspatientinnen, 30 Zwangsstörungspatienten und zwei gematchte Kontrollgruppen (n = 33, n = 30) wurden hinsichtlich Orthorexie, Essstörungs- und Zwangsstörungssymptomatik untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Orthorexie-Prävalenz ist bei Essgestörten mit 30 % deutlich erhöht, in der Zwangsstörungsstichprobe liegt sie im Normbereich. Es zeigen sich deutliche Zusammenhänge zwischen Orthorexie und Essstörungssymptomatik, nicht aber mit ich-dystonem Zwangsverhalten. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Orthorexie weist eine deutliche Nähe zu typischer Essstörungssymptomatik auf und kann demnach als weitere Variante der bisher bekannten Essstörungen verstanden werden.
Neuroscience and Ethics
Authors: Liao S. Matthew
Published: May 2017

Abstract. A number of people believe that results from neuroscience have the potential to settle seemingly intractable debates concerning the nature, practice, and reliability of moral judgments. In particular, Joshua Greene has argued that evidence from neuroscience can be used to advance the long-standing debate between consequentialism and deontology. This paper first argues that charitably interpreted, Greene’s neuroscientific evidence can contribute to substantive ethical discussions by being part of an epistemic debunking argument. It then argues that taken as an epistemic debunking argument, Greene’s argument falls short in undermining deontological judgments. Lastly, it proposes that accepting Greene’s methodology at face value, neuroimaging results may in fact call into question the reliability of consequentialist judgments. The upshot is that Greene’s empirical results do not undermine deontology and that Greene’s project points toward a way by which empirical evidence such as neuroscientific evidence can play a role in normative debates.
Moral Severity is Represented as a Domain-General	Magnitude
Authors: Powell Derek , Horne Zachary
Published: May 2017

Abstract. The severity of moral violations can vary by degree. For instance, although both are immoral, murder is a more severe violation than lying. Though this point is well established in Ethics and the law, relatively little research has been directed at examining how moral severity is represented psychologically. Most prominent moral psychological theories are aimed at explaining first-order moral judgments and are silent on second-order metaethical judgments, such as comparisons of severity. Here, the relative severity of 20 moral violations was established in a preliminary study. Then, a second group of participants were asked to decide which of two moral violations was more severe for all possible combinations of these 20 violations. Participant’s response times exhibited two signatures of domain-general magnitude comparisons: we observed both a distance effect and a semantic congruity effect. These findings suggest that moral severity is represented in a similar fashion as other continuous magnitudes.
The Intention-Outcome Asymmetry Effect
Authors: Sarin Arunima , Lagnado David A. , Burgess Paul W.
Published: May 2017

Abstract. Knowledge of intention and outcome is integral to making judgments of responsibility, blame, and causality. Yet, little is known about the effect of conflicting intentions and outcomes on these judgments. In a series of four experiments, we combine good and bad intentions with positive and negative outcomes, presenting these through everyday moral scenarios. Our results demonstrate an asymmetry in responsibility, causality, and blame judgments for the two incongruent conditions: well-intentioned agents are regarded more morally and causally responsible for negative outcomes than ill-intentioned agents are held for positive outcomes. This novel effect of an intention-outcome asymmetry identifies an unexplored aspect of moral judgment and is partially explained by extra inferences that participants make about the actions of the moral agent.
Advancing a Multisphere Approach to Third Pole Research
Authors: Shen Samuel , Zhang Fan
Published: May 2017

The International Workshop on Land Surface Multi-spheres Processes of Tibetan Plateau; Xining, Qinghai Province, China, 8–10 August 2016
New Explanation for “Meandering” Electrons Orbiting Earth
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: May 2017

A new study proposes a simpler theory to explain a class of electrons zipping around Earth, propelled by magnetic explosions.
Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia
Authors: Baker Sarah J. , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Lenton Timothy M. , Duarte Luís V. , Belcher Claire M.
Published: May 2017

The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon(C)-cycle, and depleted oxygen in Earth’s oceans resulting in marine mass extinction. Numerical models predict that increased organic carbon burial should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen (pO2) leading to termination of an OAE after ∼1 Myr. Wildfire is highly responsive to changes in pO2 implying that fire-activity should vary across OAEs. Here we test this hypothesis by tracing variations in the abundance of fossil charcoal across the T-OAE. We report a sustained ∼800 kyr enhancement of fire-activity beginning ∼1 Myr after the onset of the T-OAE and peaking during its termination. This major enhancement of fire occurred across the timescale of predicted pO2 variations, and we argue this was primarily driven by increased pO2. Our study provides the first fossil-based evidence suggesting that fire-feedbacks to rising pO2 may have aided in terminating the T-OAE.
BLISS is a versatile and quantitative method for genome-wide profiling of DNA double-strand breaks
Authors: Yan Winston X. , Mirzazadeh Reza , Garnerone Silvano , Scott David , Schneider Martin W. , Kallas Tomasz , Custodio Joaquin , Wernersson Erik , Li Yinqing , Gao Linyi , Federova Yana , Zetsche Bernd , Zhang Feng , Bienko Magda , Crosetto Nicola
Published: May 2017

Precisely measuring the location and frequency of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) along the genome is instrumental to understanding genomic fragility, but current methods are limited in versatility, sensitivity or practicality. Here we present Breaks Labeling In Situ and Sequencing (BLISS), featuring the following: (1) direct labelling of DSBs in fixed cells or tissue sections on a solid surface; (2) low-input requirement by linear amplification of tagged DSBs by in vitro transcription; (3) quantification of DSBs through unique molecular identifiers; and (4) easy scalability and multiplexing. We apply BLISS to profile endogenous and exogenous DSBs in low-input samples of cancer cells, embryonic stem cells and liver tissue. We demonstrate the sensitivity of BLISS by assessing the genome-wide off-target activity of two CRISPR-associated RNA-guided endonucleases, Cas9 and Cpf1, observing that Cpf1 has higher specificity than Cas9. Our results establish BLISS as a versatile, sensitive and efficient method for genome-wide DSB mapping in many applications.
Structural heterogeneity in the intrinsically disordered RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain
Authors: Portz Bede , Lu Feiyue , Gibbs Eric B. , Mayfield Joshua E. , Rachel Mehaffey M. , Zhang Yan Jessie , Brodbelt Jennifer S. , Showalter Scott A. , Gilmour David S.
Published: May 2017

RNA polymerase II contains a repetitive, intrinsically disordered, C-terminal domain (CTD) composed of heptads of the consensus sequence YSPTSPS. The CTD is heavily phosphorylated and serves as a scaffold, interacting with factors involved in transcription initiation, elongation and termination, RNA processing and chromatin modification. Despite being a nexus of eukaryotic gene regulation, the structure of the CTD and the structural implications of phosphorylation are poorly understood. Here we present a biophysical and biochemical interrogation of the structure of the full length CTD ofDrosophila melanogaster, which we conclude is a compact random coil. Surprisingly, we find that the repetitive CTD is structurally heterogeneous. Phosphorylation causes increases in radius, protein accessibility and stiffness, without disrupting local structural heterogeneity. Additionally, we show the human CTD is also structurally heterogeneous and able to substitute for theD. melanogasterCTD in supporting fly development to adulthood. This finding implicates conserved structural organization, not a precise array of heptad motifs, as important to CTD function.
Real-time atomistic observation of structural phase transformations in individual hafnia nanorods
Authors: Hudak Bethany M. , Depner Sean W. , Waetzig Gregory R. , Talapatra Anjana , Arroyave Raymundo , Banerjee Sarbajit , Guiton Beth S.
Published: May 2017

High-temperature phases of hafnium dioxide have exceptionally high dielectric constants and large bandgaps, but quenching them to room temperature remains a challenge. Scaling the bulk form to nanocrystals, while successful in stabilizing the tetragonal phase of isomorphous ZrO2, has produced nanorods with a twinned version of the room temperature monoclinic phase in HfO2. Here we use in situ heating in a scanning transmission electron microscope to observe the transformation of an HfO2 nanorod from monoclinic to tetragonal, with a transformation temperature suppressed by over 1000°C from bulk. When the nanorod is annealed, we observe with atomic-scale resolution the transformation from twinned-monoclinic to tetragonal, starting at a twin boundary and propagating via coherent transformation dislocation; the nanorod is reduced to hafnium on cooling. Unlike the bulk displacive transition, nanoscale size-confinement enables us to manipulate the transformation mechanism, and we observe discrete nucleation events and sigmoidal nucleation and growth kinetics.
Underwater Leidenfrost nanochemistry for creation of size-tailored zinc peroxide cancer nanotherapeutics
Authors: Elbahri Mady , Abdelaziz Ramzy , Disci-Zayed Duygu , Homaeigohar Shahin , Sosna Justyna , Adam Dieter , Kienle Lorenz , Dankwort Torben , Abdelaziz Moheb
Published: May 2017

The dynamic underwater chemistry seen in nature is inspiring for the next generation of eco-friendly nanochemistry. In this context, green synthesis of size-tailored nanoparticles in a facile and scalable manner via a dynamic process is an interesting challenge. Simulating the volcano-induced dynamic chemistry of the deep ocean, here we demonstrate the Leidenfrost dynamic chemistry occurring in an underwater overheated confined zone as a new tool for customized creation of nanoclusters of zinc peroxide. The hydrodynamic nature of the phenomenon ensures eruption of the nanoclusters towards a much colder region, giving rise to growth of monodisperse, size-tailored nanoclusters. Such nanoparticles are investigated in terms of their cytotoxicity on suspension and adherent cells to prove their applicability as cancer nanotherapeutics. Our research can pave the way for employment of the dynamic green nanochemistry in facile, scalable fabrication of size-tailored nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
Mouse Rif1 is a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)
Authors: Sukackaite Rasa , Cornacchia Daniela , Jensen Malene Ringkjøbing , Mas Philippe J. , Blackledge Martin , Enervald Elin , Duan Guangyou , Auchynnikava Tania , Köhn Maja , Hart Darren J. , Buonomo Sara B. C.
Published: May 2017

Rif1 is a conserved protein that plays essential roles in orchestrating DNA replication timing, controlling nuclear architecture, telomere length and DNA repair. However, the relationship between these different roles, as well as the molecular basis of Rif1 function is still unclear. The association of Rif1 with insoluble nuclear lamina has thus far hampered exhaustive characterization of the associated protein complexes. We devised a protocol that overcomes this problem, and were thus able to discover a number of novel Rif1 interactors, involved in chromatin metabolism and phosphorylation. Among them, we focus here on PP1. Data from different systems have suggested that Rif1-PP1 interaction is conserved and has important biological roles. Using mutagenesis, NMR, isothermal calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance we demonstrate that Rif1 is a high-affinity PP1 adaptor, able to out-compete the well-established PP1-inhibitor I2 in vitro. Our conclusions have important implications for understanding Rif1 diverse roles and the relationship between the biological processes controlled by Rif1.
Recombinant BCG Expressing LTAK63 Adjuvant induces Superior Protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Nascimento Ivan P. , Rodriguez Dunia , Santos Carina C. , Amaral Eduardo P. , Rofatto Henrique K. , Junqueira-Kipnis Ana P. , Gonçalves Eduardo D. C. , D’Império-Lima Maria R. , Hirata Mario H. , Silva Celio L. , Winter Nathalie , Gicquel Brigitte , Mills Kingston H. G. , Pizza Mariagrazia , Rappuoli Rino , Leite Luciana C. C.
Published: May 2017

In order to develop an improved BCG vaccine against tuberculosis we have taken advantage of the adjuvant properties of a non-toxic derivative of Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin (LT), LTAK63. We have constructed rBCG strains expressing LTAK63 at different expression levels. Mice immunized with BCG expressing low levels of LTAK63 (rBCG-LTAK63lo) showed higher Th1 cytokines and IL-17 in the lungs, and when challenged intratracheally with Mycobacterium tuberculosis displayed a 2.0–3.0 log reduction in CFU as compared to wild type BCG. Histopathological analysis of lung tissues from protected mice revealed a reduced inflammatory response. Immunization with rBCG-LTAK63lo also protected against a 100-fold higher challenge dose. Mice immunized with rBCG-LTAK63lo produced an increase in TGF-β as compared with BCG after challenge, with a corresponding reduction in Th1 and Th17 cytokines, as determined by Real Time RT-PCR. Furthermore, rBCG-LTAK63lo also displays protection against challenge with a highly virulent Beijing isolate. Our findings suggest that BCG with low-level expression of the LTAK63 adjuvant induces a stronger immune response in the lungs conferring higher levels of protection, and a novel mechanism subsequently triggers a regulatory immune response, which then limits the pathology. The rBCG-LTAK63lo strain can be the basis of an improved vaccine against tuberculosis.
Selection and characterization of a DNA aptamer inhibiting coagulation factor XIa
Authors: Donkor David A. , Bhakta Varsha , Eltringham-Smith Louise J. , Stafford Alan R. , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Sheffield William P.
Published: May 2017

Factor XIa (FXIa) is a serine protease that catalyzes the activation of Factor IX (FIX) in the blood coagulation cascade. FXIa and its precursor FXI are emergent therapeutic targets for the development of safer anticoagulant agents. Here, we sought a novel DNA-based agent to inhibit FXIa. Towards this goal, an 80 base, single-stranded DNA aptamer library (containing a 40 base randomized core) was screened for FXIa-binding candidates, using ten rounds of positive and negative selection. After selection, 6 of 89 different sequences inhibited FXIa-mediated chromogenic substrate S2366 cleavage. The most active anti-FXIa aptamer had a hypervariable central sequence 5′-AACCTATCGGACTATTGTTAGTGATTTTTATAGTGT-3′ and was designated Factor ELeven Inhibitory APtamer (FELIAP). FELIAP, but not a scrambled aptamer control (SCRAPT), competitively inhibited FXIa-catalyzed S2366 cleavage, FIX activation, and complex formation with antithrombin. No effect of FELIAP on FXI activation was observed. FELIAP inhibited plasma clotting and thrombin generation assays to a significantly greater extent than SCRAPT. Immobilized FELIAP bound FXIa with strong affinity and an equilibrium binding constant (KD) in the low nanomolar range determined using surface plasmon resonance. FELIAP is the first FXIa-inhibitory aptamer to be described and constitutes a lead compound to develop related aptamers for in vivo use.
Fast diffusion of domesticated maize to temperate zones
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Jian Yinqiao , Xie Chuanxiao , Wu Jun , Xu Yunbi , Zou Cheng
Published: May 2017

Adaptation to a temperate climate was a prerequisite for the spread of maize across a broad geographical range. To explicitly explore the demographic process underlying maize adaptation, we used a diffusion-based method to model the differentiation between temperate and tropical populations using the Non-Stiff Stalk group as a proxy for temperate maize. Based on multiple sequential Markovian coalescent approaches, we estimate that tropical and temperate maize diverged approximately 3‚000 to 5‚000 years ago and the population size shrank after the split. Using composite likelihood approaches, we identified a distinct tropical-temperate divergence event initiated 4‚958 years ago (95% confidence interval (CI): 4‚877–5‚039) from an ancestral population whose effective size was 24,162 (95% CI: 23,914–24,409). We found that continuous gene flow between tropical and temperate maize accompanied the differentiation of temperate maize. Long identical-by-descent tracts shared by tropical and temperate inbred lines have been identified, which might be the result of gene flow between tropical and temperate maize or artificial selection during domestication and crop improvement. Understanding the demographic history of maize diffusion not only provides evidence for population dynamics of maize, but will also assist the identification of regions under selection and the genetic basis of complex traits of agronomic importance.
Involvement of GATA1 and Sp3 in the activation of the murine STING gene promoter in NIH3T3 cells
Authors: Xu Yan-Yan , Jin Rui , Zhou Guo-Ping , Xu Hua-Guo
Published: May 2017

Stimulator of Interferon Gene (STING) is a key mediator of innate immune signaling. STING plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many diseases including infectious diseases, auto-immune diseases and cancer. Many studies have been carried out recently in the field of STING-regulated pathway, however, rarely of transcriptional mechanisms. To characterize the murine STING (mSTING) promoter, we cloned a series of different nucleotide sequences of the 5′-flanking region of the mSTING gene. Transient transfection of promoter-reporter recombinant plasmids and luciferase assay illustrated the region (−77/+177) relative to the transcription start site (TSS) of the mSTING gene was sufficient for full promoter activity. This region contains GATA1, IK2, Sp1/Sp3 and STAT putative transcription factor binding sites. Mutation of GATA1 or Sp1/Sp3 sites led to obvious decrease of the mSTING promoter activity. Overexpression of GATA1 and Sp3 enhanced the mSTING promoter activity, whereas knockdown of GATA1 and Sp3 by a siRNA strategy significantly reduced the transcription activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that GATA1 and Sp3 interact with the mSTING promoter in vivo. These results provided the first analysis of mSTING promoter and demonstrated that transcription factor GATA1 and Sp3 positively regulate the basal transcription of the mSTING gene.
TRAF3 enhances TCR signaling by regulating the inhibitors Csk and PTPN22
Authors: Wallis Alicia M. , Wallace Ellie C. , Hostager Bruce S. , Yi Zuoan , Houtman Jon C. D. , Bishop Gail A.
Published: May 2017

The adaptor protein TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) 3 is required for effective TCR signaling and normal T cell effector functions, and associates with the CD3/CD28 complex upon activation. To determine how TRAF3 promotes proximal TCR signaling, we studied TRAF3-deficient mouse and human T cells, which showed a marked reduction in activating phosphorylation of the TCR-associated kinase Lck. The impact of TRAF3 on this very early signaling event led to the hypothesis that TRAF3 restrains one or both of two known inhibitors of Lck, C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) and protein tyrosine phosphatase N22 (PTPN22). TRAF3 associated with Csk, promoting the dissociation of Csk from the plasma membrane. TRAF3 also associated with and regulated the TCR/CD28 induced localization of PTPN22. Loss of TRAF3 resulted in increased amounts of both Csk and PTPN22 in T cell membrane fractions and decreased association of PTPN22 with Csk. These findings identify a new role for T cell TRAF3 in promoting T cell activation, by regulating localization and functions of early TCR signaling inhibitors.
Expression Profiling of mRNAs and Long Non-Coding RNAs in Aged Mouse Olfactory Bulb
Authors: Wang Ming , Liu Wei , Jiao Jian , Li Jingyun , Wang Chengshuo , Zhang Luo
Published: May 2017

Age-related decline in olfactory function affects the quality of life in elderly people and also potentially represents an early clinical symptom of neurodegenerative disorder. Olfactory bulb (OB) plays a central role in olfactory information transmitting and signal processing. The mechanisms underlying this impairment remain unclear. In the current study, microarray was used to investigate differentially expressed protein coding genes (PCGs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in OBs from three groups of mice of different ages (2 months-old young adults, 6 months-old mature adults and 20 months-old aged adults), for their potential roles in olfactory impairment. Gene Ontology and pathway analysis results showed that the differentially expressed PCGs in the OBs from aged mice were mainly associated with signal transduction, regulation of gene expression and cellular microenvironment. Similarly, gene set enrichment analysis identified two differentially and inversely expressed lncRNAs (NONMMUT004524 and NONMMUT000384), both of which were significantly associated with neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway in the OBs of aged mice. These findings suggest that a decline of olfactory function in aged mice may be linked to differential expression of specific lncRNAs and their potentially adverse effects on the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway in the OB.
DCE-MRI Background Parenchymal Enhancement Quantified from an Early versus Delayed Post-contrast Sequence: Association with Breast Cancer Presence
Authors: Wu Shandong , Zuley Margarita L. , Berg Wendie A. , Kurland Brenda F. , Jankowitz Rachel C. , Sumkin Jules H. , Gur David
Published: May 2017

We investigated automated quantitative measures of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) derived from an early versus delayed post-contrast sequence in breast dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for association with breast cancer presence in a case-control study. DCE-MRIs were retrospectively analyzed for 51 cancer cases and 51 controls with biopsy-proven benign lesions, matched by age and year-of-MRI. BPE was quantified using fully-automated validated computer algorithms, separately from three sequential DCE-MRI post-contrast-subtracted sequences (SUB1, SUB2, and SUB3). The association of BPE computed from the three SUBs and other known factors with breast cancer were assessed in terms of odds ratio (OR) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The OR of breast cancer for the percentage BPE measure (BPE%) quantified from SUB1 was 3.5 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.3, 9.8; p = 0.015) for 20% increments. Slightly lower and statistically significant ORs were also obtained for BPE quantified from SUB2 and SUB3. There was no significant difference (p > 0.2) in AUC for BPE quantified from the three post-contrast sequences and their combination. Our study showed that quantitative measures of BPE are associated with breast cancer presence and the association was similar across three breast DCE-MRI post-contrast sequences.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exolysin promotes bacterial growth in lungs, alveolar damage and bacterial dissemination
Authors: Bouillot Stéphanie , Munro Patrick , Gallet Benoit , Reboud Emeline , Cretin François , Golovkine Guillaume , Schoehn Guy , Attrée Ina , Lemichez Emmanuel , Huber Philippe
Published: May 2017

Exolysin (ExlA) is a recently-identified pore-forming toxin secreted by a subset of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains identified worldwide and devoid of Type III secretion system (T3SS), a major virulence factor. Here, we characterized at the ultrastructural level the lesions caused by an ExlA-secreting strain, CLJ1, in mouse infected lungs. CLJ1 induced necrotic lesions in pneumocytes and endothelial cells, resulting in alveolo-vascular barrier breakdown. Ectopic expression of ExlA in an exlA-negative strain induced similar tissue injuries. In addition, ExlA conferred on bacteria the capacity to proliferate in lungs and to disseminate in secondary organs, similar to bacteria possessing a functional T3SS. CLJ1 did not promote a strong neutrophil infiltration in the alveoli, owing to the weak pro-inflammatory cytokine reaction engendered by the strain. However, CLJ1 was rapidly eliminated from the blood in a bacteremia model, suggesting that it can be promptly phagocytosed by immune cells. Together, our study ascribes to ExlA-secreting bacteria the capacity to proliferate in the lung and to damage pulmonary tissues, thereby promoting metastatic infections, in absence of substantial immune response exacerbation.
Dynamical dispersion engineering in coupled vertical cavities employing a high-contrast grating
Authors: Taghizadeh Alireza , Chung Il-Sug
Published: May 2017

Photon’s effective mass is an important parameter of an optical cavity mode, which determines the strength of light-matter interaction. Here, we propose a novel method for controlling the photon’s effective mass by using coupled photonic cavities and designing the angular dependence of the coupling strength. This can be implemented by employing a high-contrast grating (HCG) as the coupling reflector in a system of two coupled vertical cavities, and engineering both the HCG reflection phase and amplitude response. Several examples of HCG-based coupled cavities with novel features are discussed, including a case capable of dynamically controlling the photon’s effective mass to a large extent while keeping the resonance frequency same. We believe that full-control and dynamical-tuning of the photon’s effective mass may enable new possibilities for cavity quantum electrodynamics studies or conventional/polariton laser applications. For instance, one can dynamically control the condensate formation in polariton lasers by modifying the polariton mass.
Lactobacillus johnsonii ameliorates intestinal, extra-intestinal and systemic pro-inflammatory immune responses following murine Campylobacter jejuni infection
Authors: Bereswill Stefan , Ekmekciu Ira , Escher Ulrike , Fiebiger Ulrike , Stingl Kerstin , Heimesaat Markus M.
Published: May 2017

Campylobacter jejuni infections are progressively increasing worldwide. Probiotic treatment might open novel therapeutic or even prophylactic approaches to combat campylobacteriosis. In the present study secondary abiotic mice were generated by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment and perorally reassociated with a commensal murine Lactobacillus johnsonii strain either 14 days before (i.e. prophylactic regimen) or 7 days after (i.e. therapeutic regimen) peroral C. jejuni strain 81–176 infection. Following peroral reassociation both C. jejuni and L. johnsonii were able to stably colonize the murine intestinal tract. Neither therapeutic nor prophylactic L. johnsonii application, however, could decrease intestinal C. jejuni burdens. Notably, C. jejuni induced colonic apoptosis could be ameliorated by prophylactic L. johnsonii treatment, whereas co-administration of L. johnsonii impacted adaptive (i.e. T and B lymphocytes, regulatory T cells), but not innate (i.e. macrophages and monocytes) immune cell responses in the intestinal tract. Strikingly, C. jejuni induced intestinal, extra-intestinal and systemic secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators (such as IL-6, MCP-1, TNF and nitric oxide) could be alleviated by peroral L. johnsonii challenge. In conclusion, immunomodulatory probiotic species might offer valuable strategies for prophylaxis and/or treatment of C. jejuni induced intestinal, extra-intestinal as well as systemic pro-inflammatory immune responses in vivo.
Fracture behaviors of monolithic lithium disilicate ceramic crowns with different thicknesses
Authors: Yu Tao , Wang Fu , Liu Yan , Wu Tao , Deng Zaixi , Chen Jihua
Published: May 2017

The present in vitro study assessed the fracture resistance of monolithic ceramic crowns, made from two lithium disilicate glass ceramics with different thicknesses.
Solid-phase extraction of chromium(iii) with an ion-imprinted functionalized attapulgite sorbent prepared by a surface imprinting technique
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Kou Wei , Wu Shang , Wu Lan
Published: May 2017

A new chromium(iii)-imprinted azodicarbonamide-functionalized attapulgite sorbent was synthesized by a surface imprinting technique and was employed as a selective solid-phase extraction material for speciation analysis of chromium(iii) in environmental water samples prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
Complexation of tetraalkyl diglycolamides with trivalent f-cations in a room temperature ionic liquid: extraction and spectroscopic investigations
Authors: Ansari Seraj Ahmad , Gujar Rajesh Bhikaji , Mohapatra Prasanta Kumar
Published: May 2017

This paper reports the complexation of a series of tetraalkyl diglycolamides (TRDGA) with trivalent f-cations in a room temperature ionic liquid,viz. 3-octyl-1-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C8mim][Tf2N]).
Organocatalytic hydroborylation promoted by N-heterocyclic olefins
Authors: Hering-Junghans Christian , Watson Ian C. , Ferguson Michael J. , McDonald Robert , Rivard Eric
Published: May 2017

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHO) effectively catalyze the hydroborylation of selected ketones and aldehydes under mild conditions.
N-Atom transfer via thermal or photolytic activation of a Co-azido complex with a PNP pincer ligand
Authors: Vreeken V. , Baij L. , de Bruin B. , Siegler M. A. , van der Vlugt J. I.
Published: May 2017

Activation of a cobalt azido species yields a well-defined Co-dimer, which converts to a mononuclear Co-complex upon protonolysis.
Tumor suppressors microRNA-302d and microRNA-16 inhibit human glioblastoma multiforme by targeting NF-κB and FGF2
Authors: Wang Feng , Yang Lijun , Sun Jianping , Zheng Jun , Shi Lin , Zhang Gengshen , Cui Na
Published: May 2017

MicroRNA-302d and microRNA-16 inhibit glioblastoma multiforme by targeting NF-κB p65 and FGF2.
Naphthodipyrrolidone (NDP) based conjugated polymers with high electron mobility and ambipolar transport properties
Authors: Zhang Haichang , Zhang Shuo , Mao Yifan , Liu Kewei , Chen Yu-Ming , Jiang Zhang , Strzalka Joseph , Yang Wenjun , Wang Chien-Lung , Zhu Yu
Published: May 2017

Conjugated polymers based on NDP were synthesized and characterized. The polymer thin film organic field effect transistor exhibited ambipolar transport properties with an electron mobility up to 0.67 cm2 V−1 s−1.
Antagonistic effect of selenium on lead-induced inflammatory injury through inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and stimulating selenoproteins in chicken hearts
Authors: Liu Yanyan , Jiao Xiaoyan , Teng Xiaojie , Gu Xianhong , Teng Xiaohua
Published: May 2017

In the chicken model of Pb and Se, Se alleviated Pb-induced the changes of inflammatory factors, selenoproteins, and histology. Se alleviated Pb-induced inflammatory injury through inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway and stimulating selenoproteins in the chicken hearts.
Amphiphilic copolymer and TPGS mixed magnetic hybrid micelles for stepwise targeted co-delivery of DOX/TPP–DOX and image-guided chemotherapy with enhanced antitumor activity in liver cancer
Authors: Shi Xiaoju , Lv Guoyue , Sun Xiaodong , Cao Dianbo , Wang Guangyi , Chang Yulei
Published: May 2017

Stepwise targeted and image-guided chemotherapy with enhanced antitumor activity in liver cancer.
Investigation into the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model of Zingiberis Rhizoma/Zingiberis Rhizoma Carbonisata and contribution to their therapeutic material basis using artificial neural networks
Authors: Zhou Sujuan , Meng Jiang , Liu Bo
Published: May 2017

A PK/PD model of ZR/ZRC based on ANN was utilized to evaluate relative contribution of concentration to its drug efficacy.
Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of spirofurochromanone derivatives as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents
Authors: Ashok D. , Madhuri E. V. L. , Sarasija M. , Sree Kanth S. , Vijjulatha M. , Alaparthi Malini D. , Sagurthi S. R.
Published: May 2017

A series of 2′-substituted-3′-methylspiro[cyclohexane-1,7′-furo[3,2-g]chroman]-5′(7′H)-one, 5a–i and 7a–u have been synthesized using an eco-friendly approach with good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.
Effect of an external electric field on the electronic properties of SnS2/PbI2 van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Ma Yaqiang , Zhao Xu , Niu Mengmeng , Dai Xianqi , Li Wei , Li Yi , Zhao Mingyu , Wang Tianxing , Tang Yanan
Published: May 2017

The future development of optoelectronic devices will require an advanced control technology in electronic properties, for example by an external electric field (Efield).
Synthesis and adsorption properties of [Cu(L)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(L)2(P2Mo5O23)]·4H2O/Fe3O4 nanocomposites
Authors: Fang Ning , Ji Yu-Mei , Li Chun-Yan , Wu Yuan-Yuan , Ma Chen-Guang , Liu Hong-Ling , Li Ming-Xue
Published: May 2017

Multifunctional [Cu(L)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(L)2(P2Mo5O23)]·4H2O/Fe3O4 (HL = pyridine-2-carboxamide) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by combining [Cu(L)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(L)2(P2Mo5O23)]·4H2O and Fe3O4 nanoparticles.
A turn-on green channel Zn2+ sensor and the resulting zinc(ii) complex as a red channel HPO42− ion sensor: a new approach
Authors: Lohar Somenath , Pal Siddhartha , Mukherjee Manjira , Maji Abhishek , Demitri Nicola , Chattopadhyay Pabitra
Published: May 2017

A turn-on green channel Zn2+ sensor and the resulting zinc(ii) complex as a red channel HPO42− ion sensor: a new approach.
Substituent-tuned structure and luminescence sensitizing towards Al3+ based on phenoxy bridged dinuclear EuIII complexes
Authors: Zhou Jing-Jing , Song Xue-Qin , liu Yuan-Ang , Wang Xiao-Long
Published: May 2017

We present herein a novel luminescent enhanced EuIII complex-supported chemosensor by fine tuning the substitution group on ligands.
Unidirectional anisotropy mediated giant memory effect in antiferromagnetic Cr2O3 nanorods
Authors: Gandhi Ashish Chhaganlal , Wu Sheng Yun
Published: May 2017

Investigating the mechanism of unidirectional anisotropy mediated giant memory effect in antiferromagnetic (AF) transition metal oxide is a matter of importance for its future application in spintronics.