bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of methylene blue, pyrimethamine and its combination on anin vitro Neospora caninummodel
Authors: PEREIRA LUIZ MIGUEL , VIGATO-FERREIRA ISABEL CRISTINA , DE LUCA GABRIELA , BRONZON DA COSTA CÁSSIA MARIANA , YATSUDA ANA PATRÍCIA
Published: January 2017

Neospora caninumis an apicomplexan parasite strongly related to reproductive problems in cattle. The neosporosis control is not well established and several fronts are under development, predominantly based on immune protection, immunomodulation and chemotherapy. The use of anti-malarial drugs as therapeutic sources has, in theory, considerable potential for any apicomplexan. Drugs such as methylene blue (MB) and pyrimethamine (Pyr) represent therapeutic options for malaria; thus, their use for neosporosis should be assessed. In this work, we tested the effects of MB and Pyr onN. caninumproliferation and clearance, using LacZ-tagged tachyzoites. The drugs inhibited at nanomolar dosages and its combination demonstrated an antagonistic interaction in proliferation assays, according to the Chou and Talalay method for drug combination index. However, the drug combination significantly improved the parasitein vitroclearance. The repositioning of well-established drugs opens a short-term strategy to obtain low-cost therapeutics approaches against neosporosis.
The cestode parasite Schistocephalus pungitii: castrator or nutrient thief of ninespine stickleback fish?
Authors: HEINS DAVID C.
Published: January 2017

In this investigation, the host–parasite relationship of ninespine stickleback fish Pungitius pungitius and the cestode parasite Schistocephalus pungitii was studied using samples from Dog Bone Lake, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, to test the hypothesis that S. pungitii is a castrator of ninespine stickleback. Infected, adult females of all sizes (ages) were capable of producing clutches of eggs. S. pungitii had a negative effect on the ability of host females to produce a clutch, which was related to increasing parasite:host mass ratio (parasite index, PI). Among infected females with egg clutches, both clutch size and egg size were reduced; and the reduction increased with greater PI. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that S. pungitii causes host sterility as a result of simple nutrient theft and is not a true castrator as hypothesized in earlier reports. The degree of parasite-induced sterility appears to vary among populations of the ninespine stickleback, perhaps reflecting differences in resource availability. Populations of ninespine stickleback appear to show a greater reduction in host reproductive capacity with PI than populations of the threespine stickleback infected by Schistocephalus solidus, possibly owing, in part, to the length-adjusted somatic mass of the threespine stickleback being greater.
Neutron diffraction studies of a double-crystal (+n,-m) setting containing a fully asymmetric diffraction geometry (FAD) of a bent perfect crystal (BPC)
Authors: Mikula P. , Vrána M. , Šaroun J. , Em V.
Published: January 2017

In this paper, some results of neutron diffraction properties of the double-crystal Si(111) + Si(311) setting containing two bent perfect crystals, but with the second one – analyzer in the fully asymmetric diffraction geometry are presented. Both fully asymmetric diffraction geometries, with the output beam compression as well as the output beam expansion, were tested for the sake of possible applications.
The edge also matters: human threats in a rare Mediterranean habitat for Cantabrian Capercaillie
Authors: GONZÁLEZ MANUEL ANTONIO , FUERTES BENITO , BLANCO-FONTAO BEATRIZ , DE FRUTOS ÁNGEL
Published: January 2017

Nature reserves focused on the protection of an endangered species are often restricted to the core of the species’ distribution, leaving peripheral populations unprotected due to a lack of specific knowledge. This study describes the factors that potentially contribute to degradation of habitats of a peripheral population of the endangered Cantabrian CapercaillieTetrao urogallus cantabricus. Using presence/absence data, we compared forest fragmentation, fire risk, and distance from leks to human infrastructure. Forest fragments in which Cantabrian Capercaillie were detected were significantly larger, closer to the nearest occupied fragments, and had a higher proximity index than fragments in which no presence was detected. Eighteen percent of the area of fragments in which Cantabrian Capercaillie presence was detected were placed in the high risk of fire category. Human infrastructure represents a permanent loss of Mediterranean habitat for the Cantabrian Capercaillie. The study area is highly modified by human activities; a priority conservation measure should be inclusion within the Natura 2000 network.
Being, Belief, Comprehension and Confusion: An Exploration of the Assemblages of English Post-Reformation Parochial Religion
Authors: Jones Jude
Published: January 2017

The religious temperature of post-Reformation early modern England was constantly over-heating. Given that Protestant belief was frequently challenged by residual dissent, religious identity of whatever kind was crucial to both individual and parochial cosmological understanding. Hence, the many spatial, sensory, material and performative changes which were visited on parish churches over this period were designed to shape and redirect belief, but could also act to confuse believers. In order to penetrate this mass of religious reaction and response, I employ Assemblage Theory, particularly that of the political theorist, Jane Bennett, whose thinking is currently strongly influential amongst archaeologists. Using her work on the vitality of matter and the importance of the assemblage as a phenomenon containing material, non-material and human components, I apply a selection of her ideas to diagnostic elements of being and belief visible in the religious activities and materiality of the early modern parish church. While I refrain from discussing particular human individuals or groups, my chosen examples are intended to foreground the ontology of early modern parishioners, their perception of their hierarchical status within Anglican cosmology, their territorial conceptions of religious space and the workings of time as seen through the sequential assemblages of monumental tombs. Following Bennett, but departing from the current archaeological concentration on the primacy of materiality, this essay is designed to plug some of the people-shaped holes which are sometimes left unfilled by their surrounding material networks.
Sensorial Assemblages: Affect, Memory and Temporality in Assemblage Thinking
Authors: Hamilakis Yannis
Published: January 2017

Archaeologists are familiar with the concept of assemblage, but in more recent years they have started problematizing it in interesting and innovative ways, beyond its common connotations of aggregation. Sociologists such as Manuel DeLanda and political philosophers such as Jane Bennett have been key influences in this move. These authors had adapted and modified the assemblage thinking of Deleuze and Guattari. In this article, an assemblage of sorts itself, I propose that we need to return to that original Deleuzian body of thinking and explore its richness further. Assemblages, temporary and deliberate heterogeneous arrangements of material and immaterial elements, are about the relationship of in-betweenness. I further suggest that sensoriality and affectivity, memory and multi-temporality are key features of assemblage thinking, and that assemblages also imply certain political effects. The omission of these features in the archaeological treatments of the concept may lead to mechanistic reincarnations of systems thinking, thus depriving the concept of its potential. Finally, I explore these ideas by considering communal eating and feasting events as powerful sensorial assemblages.
Erratum: Constellation: a tool for rapid, automated phenotype assignment of a highly polymorphic pharmacogene, CYP2D6, from whole-genome sequences
Authors: Twist Greyson P , Gaedigk Andrea , Miller Neil A , Farrow Emily G , Willig Laurel K , Dinwiddie Darrell L , Petrikin Josh E , Soden Sarah E , Herd Suzanne , Gibson Margaret , Cakici Julie A , Riffel Amanda K , Leeder J Steven , Dinakarpandian Deendayal , Kingsmore Stephen F
Published: January 2017

Correction to: npj Genomic Medicine (2016) 1, 15007; doi:10.1038/npjgenmed.2015.7; published online 13 January 2016 The tool reported in this article with the name ‘Constellation’, which allows rapid, automated phenotype assignment of a highly polymorphic pharmacogene, CYP2D6, from whole-genome sequences, has been renamed ‘Astrolabe’ to avoid conflict and confusion with another software tool.
The gut-brain axis: is intestinal inflammation a silent driver of Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis?
Authors: Houser Madelyn C. , Tansey Malú G.
Published: January 2017

The state of the intestinal environment can have profound effects on the activity of the central nervous system through the physiological contributions of the microbiota, regulation of intestinal barrier function, and altered activity of peripheral neurons. The common language employed for much of the gut-brain communication is the modulation of immune activity. Chronic proinflammatory immune activity is increasingly being recognized as a fundamental element of neurodegenerative disorders, and in Parkinson’s disease, inflammation in the intestine appears particularly relevant in pathogenesis. We review the evidence that intestinal dysfunction is present in Parkinson’s disease and that it may reflect the earliest manifestations of Parkinson’s disease pathology, and we link these findings to dysregulated immune activity. Based on this, we present a model for Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis in which the disorder originates in the intestine and progresses with inflammation as its underlying mechanism. More in-depth investigations into the physiological mechanisms underlying peripheral pre-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease are expected to lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic measures that can slow or limit progression of the disease to more advanced stages involving debilitating motor and cognitive symptoms.
Local field potentials primarily reflect inhibitory neuron activity in human and monkey cortex
Authors: Teleńczuk Bartosz , Dehghani Nima , Le Van Quyen Michel , Cash Sydney S. , Halgren Eric , Hatsopoulos Nicholas G. , Destexhe Alain
Published: January 2017

The local field potential (LFP) is generated by large populations of neurons, but unitary contribution of spiking neurons to LFP is not well characterised. We investigated this contribution in multi-electrode array recordings from human and monkey neocortex by examining the spike-triggered LFP average (st-LFP). The resulting st-LFPs were dominated by broad spatio-temporal components due to ongoing activity, synaptic inputs and recurrent connectivity. To reduce the spatial reach of the st-LFP and observe the local field related to a single spike we applied a spatial filter, whose weights were adapted to the covariance of ongoing LFP. The filtered st-LFPs were limited to the perimeter of 800 μm around the neuron, and propagated at axonal speed, which is consistent with their unitary nature. In addition, we discriminated between putative inhibitory and excitatory neurons and found that the inhibitory st-LFP peaked at shorter latencies, consistently with previous findings in hippocampal slices. Thus, in human and monkey neocortex, the LFP reflects primarily inhibitory neuron activity.
High-precision, non-invasive anti-microvascular approach via concurrent ultrasound and laser irradiation
Authors: Hu Zizhong , Zhang Haonan , Mordovanakis Aghapi , Paulus Yannis M. , Liu Qinghuai , Wang Xueding , Yang Xinmai
Published: January 2017

Antivascular therapy represents a proven strategy to treat angiogenesis. By applying synchronized ultrasound bursts and nanosecond laser irradiation, we developed a novel, selective, non-invasive, localized antivascular method, termed photo-mediated ultrasound therapy (PUT). PUT takes advantage of the high native optical contrast among biological tissues and can treat microvessels without causing collateral damage to the surrounding tissue. In a chicken yolk sac membrane model, under the same ultrasound parameters (1 MHz at 0.45 MPa and 10 Hz with 10% duty cycle), PUT with 4 mJ/cm2 and 6 mJ/cm2 laser fluence induced 51% (p = 0.001) and 37% (p = 0.018) vessel diameter reductions respectively. With 8 mJ/cm2 laser fluence, PUT would yield vessel disruption (90%, p < 0.01). Selectivity of PUT was demonstrated by utilizing laser wavelengths at 578 nm or 650 nm, where PUT selectively shrank veins or occluded arteries. In a rabbit ear model, PUT induced a 68.5% reduction in blood perfusion after 7 days (p < 0.001) without damaging the surrounding cells. In vitro experiments in human blood suggested that cavitation may play a role in PUT. In conclusion, PUT holds significant promise as a novel non-invasive antivascular method with the capability to precisely target blood vessels.
Quaternary climate change drives allo-peripatric speciation and refugial divergence in the Dysosma versipellis-pleiantha complex from different forest types in China
Authors: Wang Yi-Han , Comes Hans Peter , Cao Ya-Nan , Guo Rui , Mao Yun-Rui , Qiu Ying-Xiong
Published: January 2017

Subtropical China harbours the world’s most diverse temperate flora, but little is known about the roles of geographical and eco-climatic factors underlying the region’s exceptionally high levels of species diversity and endemism. Here we address this key question by investigating the spatio-temporal and ecological processes of divergence within theDysosma versipellis-pleianthaspecies complex, endemic to subtropical China. Our cpDNA phylogeny showed that this monophyletic group of understory herbs is derived from a Late Pliocene ancestor of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP)/Southwest China. Genetic and ENM data in conjunction with niche differentiation analyses support that the early divergence ofD. versipellisandD. pleianthaproceeded through allo-peripatric speciation, possibly triggered by Early Pleistocene climate change, while subsequent climate-induced cycles of range contractions/expansions enhanced the eco-geographical isolation of both taxa. Furthermore, modelling of population-genetic data indicated that major lineage divergences withinD. versipellislikely resulted from long-term allopatric population isolation in multiple localized refugia over the last glacial/interglacial periods, and which in turn fostered endemic species formation (D. difformis, D. majoensis) from withinD. versipellisin Southwest China. These findings point to an overriding role of Quaternary climate change in triggering essentially allopatric (incipient) speciation in this group of forest-restricted plant species in subtropical China.
Evolution of protein N-glycosylation process in Golgi apparatus which shapes diversity of protein N-glycan structures in plants, animals and fungi
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Hong , Gai Jiangtao , Tian Xiaoli , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Lv Yongzhi , Jian Yi
Published: January 2017

Protein N-glycosylation (PNG) is crucial for protein folding and enzymatic activities, and has remarkable diversity among eukaryotic species. Little is known of how unique PNG mechanisms arose and evolved in eukaryotes. Here we demonstrate a picture of onset and evolution of PNG components in Golgi apparatus that shaped diversity of eukaryotic protein N-glycan structures, with an emphasis on roles that domain emergence and combination played on PNG evolution. 23 domains were identified from 24 known PNG genes, most of which could be classified into a single clan, indicating a single evolutionary source for the majority of the genes. From 153 species, 4491 sequences containing the domains were retrieved, based on which we analyzed distribution of domains among eukaryotic species. Two domains in GnTV are restricted to specific eukaryotic domains, while 10 domains distribute not only in species where certain unique PNG reactions occur and thus genes harboring these domains are supoosed to be present, but in other ehkaryotic lineages. Notably, two domains harbored by β-1,3 galactosyltransferase, an essential enzyme in forming plant-specific Lea structure, were present in separated genes in fungi and animals, suggesting its emergence as a result of domain shuffling.
Genetic Variants Identified from Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology in Chinese Children by Targeted Exome Sequencing
Authors: Wang Yimin , Du Xiaonan , Bin Rao , Yu Shanshan , Xia Zhezhi , Zheng Guo , Zhong Jianmin , Zhang Yunjian , Jiang Yong-hui , Wang Yi
Published: January 2017

Genetic factors play a major role in the etiology of epilepsy disorders. Recent genomics studies using next generation sequencing (NGS) technique have identified a large number of genetic variants including copy number (CNV) and single nucleotide variant (SNV) in a small set of genes from individuals with epilepsy. These discoveries have contributed significantly to evaluate the etiology of epilepsy in clinic and lay the foundation to develop molecular specific treatment. However, the molecular basis for a majority of epilepsy patients remains elusive, and furthermore, most of these studies have been conducted in Caucasian children. Here we conducted a targeted exome-sequencing of 63 trios of Chinese epilepsy families using a custom-designed NGS panel that covers 412 known and candidate genes for epilepsy. We identified pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in 15 of 63 (23.8%) families in known epilepsy genes including SCN1A, CDKL5, STXBP1, CHD2, SCN3A, SCN9A, TSC2, MBD5, POLG and EFHC1. More importantly, we identified likely pathologic variants in several novel candidate genes such as GABRE, MYH1, and CLCN6. Our results provide the evidence supporting the application of custom-designed NGS panel in clinic and indicate a conserved genetic susceptibility for epilepsy between Chinese and Caucasian children.
Mapping curved spacetimes into Dirac spinors
Authors: Sabín Carlos
Published: January 2017

We show how to transform a Dirac equation in a curved static spacetime into a Dirac equation in flat spacetime. In particular, we show that any solution of the free massless Dirac equation in a 1 + 1 dimensional flat spacetime can be transformed via a local phase transformation into a solution of the corresponding Dirac equation in a curved static background, where the spacetime metric is encoded into the phase. In this way, the existing quantum simulators of the Dirac equation can naturally incorporate curved static spacetimes. As a first example we use our technique to obtain solutions of the Dirac equation in a particular family of interesting spacetimes in 1 + 1 dimensions.
First objective evaluation of taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), a paradigm gustatory stimulus in humans
Authors: Sollai Giorgia , Melis Melania , Pani Danilo , Cosseddu Piero , Usai Ilenia , Crnjar Roberto , Bonfiglio Annalisa , Tomassini Barbarossa Iole
Published: January 2017

Practical and reliable methods for the objective measure of taste function are critically important for studying eating behavior and taste function impairment. Here, we present direct measures of human gustatory response to a prototypical bitter compound, 6-n-propyltiouracil (PROP), obtained by electrophysiological recordings from the tongue of subjects who were classified for taster status and genotyped for the specific receptor gene (TAS2R38), and in which taste papilla density was determined. PROP stimulation evoked negative slow potentials that represent the summated depolarization of taste cells. Depolarization amplitude and rate were correlated with papilla density and perceived bitterness, and associated with taster status and TAS2R38. Our study provides a robust and generalizable research tool for the quantitative measure of peripheral taste function, which can greatly help to resolve controversial outcomes on the PROP phenotype role in taste perception and food preferences, and be potentially useful for evaluating nutritional status and health.
Insights into an evolutionary strategy leading to antibiotic resistance
Authors: Hou Chun-Feng D. , Liu Jian-wei , Collyer Charles , Mitić Nataša , Pedroso Marcelo Monteiro , Schenk Gerhard , Ollis David L.
Published: January 2017

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) with activity towards a broad-spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics have become a major threat to public health, not least due to their ability to rapidly adapt their substrate preference. In this study, the capability of the MBL AIM-1 to evade antibiotic pressure by introducing specific mutations was probed by two alternative methods, i.e. site-saturation mutagenesis (SSM) of active site residues and in vitro evolution. Both approaches demonstrated that a single mutation in AIM-1 can greatly enhance a pathogen’s resistance towards broad spectrum antibiotics without significantly compromising the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. Importantly, the evolution experiments demonstrated that relevant amino acids are not necessarily in close proximity to the catalytic centre of the enzyme. This observation is a powerful demonstration that MBLs have a diverse array of possibilities to adapt to new selection pressures, avenues that cannot easily be predicted from a crystal structure alone.
Extreme weather caused by concurrent cyclone, front and thunderstorm occurrences
Authors: Dowdy Andrew J. , Catto Jennifer L.
Published: January 2017

Phenomena such as cyclones, fronts and thunderstorms can cause extreme weather in various regions throughout the world. Although these phenomena have been examined in numerous studies, they have not all been systematically examined in combination with each other, including in relation to extreme precipitation and extreme winds throughout the world. Consequently, the combined influence of these phenomena represents a substantial gap in the current understanding of the causes of extreme weather events. Here we present a systematic analysis of cyclones, fronts and thunderstorms in combination with each other, as represented by seven different types of storm combinations. Our results highlight the storm combinations that most frequently cause extreme weather in various regions of the world. The highest risk of extreme precipitation and extreme wind speeds is found to be associated with a triple storm type characterized by concurrent cyclone, front and thunderstorm occurrences. Our findings reveal new insight on the relationships between cyclones, fronts and thunderstorms and clearly demonstrate the importance of concurrent phenomena in causing extreme weather.
MiR-488 inhibits proliferation and cisplatin sensibility in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by activating the eIF3a-mediated NER signaling pathway
Authors: Fang Chao , Chen Yi-Xin , Wu Na-Yiyuan , Yin Ji-Ye , Li Xiang-Ping , Huang Hsuan-Shun , Zhang Wei , Zhou Hong-Hao , Liu Zhao-Qian
Published: January 2017

Our previous studied indicated that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3a (eIF3a) increases the sensitive of platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer. MiRNAs play an important role in lung carcinogenesis and drug response. In this study, we aimed to identify potential endogenous miRNAs that inhibit eIF3a expression and determine their influence of this inhibition on cisplatin resistance. Using bioinformatics analysis prediction and confirmation with dual-luciferase reporter assays, we found that miRNA-488 inhibited eIF3a expression by directly binding to the 3’UTR of eIF3a. In addition, the overexpression of miRNA-488 inhibited cell migration and invasion in A549 cells, and also inhibited cell proliferation, cell cycle progression by elevated P27 expression. Compared to the parental cell line, A549/cisplatin (DDP) resistant cells exhibited a higher level of miRNA-488. Moreover, we found that miRNA-488 was associated with cisplatin resistance in three NSCLC cells (A549, H1299 and SK-MES-1). The mechanism of miRNA-488 induced cisplatin resistance was that miRNA-488 activated nucleotide excision repair (NER) by increasing the expression of Replication Protein A (RPA) 14 and Xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that miRNA-488 is a tumor suppressor miRNA that acts by targeting eIF3a. Moreover, miRNA-488 also participates in eIF3a mediated cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cells.
Modeling confirmation bias and polarization
Authors: Del Vicario Michela , Scala Antonio , Caldarelli Guido , Stanley H. Eugene , Quattrociocchi Walter
Published: January 2017

Online users tend to select claims that adhere to their system of beliefs and to ignore dissenting information. Confirmation bias, indeed, plays a pivotal role in viral phenomena. Furthermore, the wide availability of content on the web fosters the aggregation of likeminded people where debates tend to enforce group polarization. Such a configuration might alter the public debate and thus the formation of the public opinion. In this paper we provide a mathematical model to study online social debates and the related polarization dynamics. We assume the basic updating rule of the Bounded Confidence Model (BCM) and we develop two variations a) the Rewire with Bounded Confidence Model (RBCM), in which discordant links are broken until convergence is reached; and b) the Unbounded Confidence Model, under which the interaction among discordant pairs of users is allowed even with a negative feedback, either with the rewiring step (RUCM) or without it (UCM). From numerical simulations we find that the new models (UCM and RUCM), unlike the BCM, are able to explain the coexistence of two stable final opinions, often observed in reality. Lastly, we present a mean field approximation of the newly introduced models.
Correction: Corrigendum: Targeting High Dynamin-2 (DNM2) Expression by Restoring Ikaros Function in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Ge Zheng , Gu Yan , Han Qi , Zhao Gang , Li Min , Li Jianyong , Chen Baoan , Sun Tianyu , Dovat Sinisa , Gale Robert Peter , Song Chunhua
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 38004; published online: 25 November 2016 updated: 11 January 2017. This Article contains an error in Figure 1A, where the y-axis ‘Relative DNM2 level’ is incorrectly labelled as ‘Relative CRLF2 level’. The correct Figure 1A appears below as Figure 1.
EID3 directly associates with DNMT3A during transdifferentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to NPC-like cells
Authors: Luo Liang , Chen Wen-Jin , Yin James Q. , Xu Ru-Xiang
Published: January 2017

There has been recently been increased interest in the plasticity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) and their potential in the treatment of neurological disorders. In this study, UMSCs were transdifferentiated into neural stem-like cells (uNSCL), these cells grow in neurosphere-like structures and express high levels of NSCs markers. Epigenetics-related gene screening was here used to assess the relationship between E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation 3 (EID3), a p300 inhibitor, and DNA methyltransferase 3 A (DNMT3A) during the transdifferentiation of UMSCs into uNSCL in vitro. Before transdifferentiation of UMSCs into uNSCLs, high levels of EID3 and low levels of DNMT3A were detected; after transdifferentiation, low levels of EID3 and high levels of DNMT3A were detected. The current work showed that EID3 and DNMT3A co-localized in cell nuclei and EID3 interacted directly with DNMT3A in uNSCL. In summary, these results suggest that DNMT3A is probably directly regulated by EID3 during UMSC transdifferentiation into uNSCLs. These findings indicated a novel mechanism by which EID3, a p300 acetyltransferase inhibitor, could directly affect DNMT3A, this enzyme possesses dual methylation and demethylation abilities. These studies may be helpful for understanding a complex regulation mode of DNMT3A, which is a unique member of the methyltransferase family.
Circulating T lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with bipolar II or major depression: a preliminary study
Authors: Wu Wei , Zheng Ya-li , Tian Li-ping , Lai Jian-bo , Hu Chan-chan , Zhang Peng , Chen Jing-kai , Hu Jian-bo , Huang Man-li , Wei Ning , Xu Wei-juan , Zhou Wei-hua , Lu Shao-jia , Lu Jing , Qi Hong-li , Wang Dan-dan , Zhou Xiao-yi , Duan Jin-feng , Xu Yi , Hu Shao-hua
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to investigate the less known activation pattern of T lymphocyte populations and immune checkpoint inhibitors on immunocytes in patients with bipolar II disorder depression (BD) or major depression (MD). A total of 23 patients with BD, 22 patients with MD, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The blood cell count of T lymphocyte subsets and the plasma level of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) were selectively investigated. The expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, on T lymphocytes and monocytes, was detected. In results, blood proportion of cytotoxic T cells significantly decreased in BD patients than in either MD patients or HCs. The plasma level of IL-6 increased in patients with BD and MD. The expression of TIM-3 on cytotoxic T cells significantly increased, whereas the expression of PD-L2 on monocytes significantly decreased in patients with BD than in HCs. These findings extended our knowledge of the immune dysfunction in patients with affective disorders.
Erratum: Discovery of a Carbazole-Derived Lead Drug for Human African Trypanosomiasis
Authors: Thomas Sarah M. , Purmal Andrei , Pollastri Michael , Mensa-Wilmot Kojo
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 32083; published online: 26 August 2016; updated: 11 January 2017. In this Article, Andrei Purmal is incorrectly listed as being affiliated with ‘Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., Buffalo, New York 14203, USA’. The correct affiliation is listed below: Incuron LLC, Buffalo, NY, 14203.
Auditory Localisation Biases Increase with Sensory Uncertainty
Authors: Garcia Sara E. , Jones Pete R. , Rubin Gary S. , Nardini Marko
Published: January 2017

Psychophysical studies have frequently found that adults with normal hearing exhibit systematic errors (biases) in their auditory localisation judgments. Here we tested (i) whether systematic localisation errors could reflect reliance on prior knowledge, as has been proposed for other systematic perceptual biases, and (ii) whether auditory localisation biases can be reduced following training with accurate visual feedback. Twenty-four normal hearing participants were asked to localise the position of a noise burst along the azimuth before, during, and after training with visual feedback. Consistent with reliance on prior knowledge to reduce sensory uncertainty, we found that auditory localisation biases increased when auditory localisation uncertainty increased. Specifically, participants mis-localised auditory stimuli as being more eccentric than they were, and did so more when auditory uncertainty was greater. However, biases also increased with eccentricity, despite no corresponding increase in uncertainty, which is not readily explained by use of a simple prior favouring peripheral locations. Localisation biases decreased (improved) following training with visual feedback, but the reliability of the visual feedback stimulus did not change the effects of training. We suggest that further research is needed to identify alternative mechanisms, besides use of prior knowledge, that could account for increased perceptual biases under sensory uncertainty.
Hydroxysafflor yellow A attenuates the expression of inflammatory cytokines in acute soft tissue injury
Authors: Dong Fang , Xue Changjiang , Wang Yu , Peng Yuanyuan , Zhang Yadan , Jin Ming , Zang Baoxia
Published: January 2017

We examined the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on the inflammatory response to strike-induced acute soft tissue injury in rats. Soft tissue injury was induced in rat leg muscles using a strike hammer, followed by intraperitoneal administration of HSYA at 16, 32, or 64 mg/kg. After 24 h, the rats were anaesthetized, blood and muscle samples were taken. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-αwere measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total RNA and protein were isolated from muscle tissue to determine the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and the protein level of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Nuclear factor (NF)-κB expression was determined by muscle histopathology and immunohistochemistry. HSYA attenuated pathologic changes instrike-induced soft tissue inflammation. Treatment with HSYA also alleviated strike-induced increases in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1mRNA levels and inhibited the increased activation of NF-κB and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in muscle tissue. These findings suggest that HSYA effectively inhibits strike-induced inflammatory signal transduction in rats.
Myosin phosphatase and RhoA-activated kinase modulate arginine methylation by the regulation of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Sipos Adrienn , Iván Judit , Bécsi Bálint , Darula Zsuzsanna , Tamás István , Horváth Dániel , Medzihradszky Katalin F. , Erdődi Ferenc , Lontay Beáta
Published: January 2017

Myosin phosphatase (MP) holoenzyme is a protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) type Ser/Thr specific enzyme that consists of a PP1 catalytic (PP1c) and a myosin phosphatase target subunit-1 (MYPT1). MYPT1 is an ubiquitously expressed isoform and it targets PP1c to its substrates. We identified the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) enzyme of the methylosome complex as a MYPT1-binding protein uncovering the nuclear MYPT1-interactome of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. It is shown that PRMT5 is regulated by phosphorylation at Thr80 by RhoA-associated protein kinase and MP. Silencing of MYPT1 increased the level of the PRMT5-specific symmetric dimethylation on arginine residues of histone 2 A/4, a repressing gene expression mark, and it resulted in a global change in the expression of genes affecting cellular processes like growth, proliferation and cell death, also affecting the expression of the retinoblastoma protein and c-Myc. The phosphorylation of the MP inhibitory MYPT1T850 and the regulatory PRMT5T80 residues as well as the symmetric dimethylation of H2A/4 were elevated in human hepatocellular carcinoma and in other types of cancers. These changes correlated positively with the grade and state of the tumors. Our results suggest the tumor suppressor role of MP via inhibition of PRMT5 thereby regulating gene expression through histone arginine dimethylation.
Metal-induced supramolecular chirality inversion of small self-assembled molecules in solution
Authors: Kokan Zoran , Perić Berislav , Vazdar Mario , Marinić Željko , Vikić-Topić Dražen , Meštrović Ernest , Kirin Srećko I.
Published: January 2017

The first example of supramolecular chirality inversion of small self-assembled ligands in solution by complexation to metal ions is presented.
The gold(iii)–CO bond: a missing piece in the gold carbonyl complex landscape
Authors: Gaggioli Carlo Alberto , Belpassi Leonardo , Tarantelli Francesco , Belanzoni Paola
Published: January 2017

Surprisingly, charge-displacement (CD) analysis reveals a significant π back-donation in the gold(iii)–CO bond.
Valence band dispersion measurements of perovskite single crystals using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Congcong , Ecker Benjamin R. , Wei Haotong , Huang Jinsong , Meng Jian-Qiao , Gao Yongli
Published: January 2017

The ARPES study of perovskite single crystals revealed the band structure along theΓXandΓMdirections.
The ferromagnetic [Ln2Co6] heterometallic complexes
Authors: Zhao Xiao-Qing , Wang Jin , Bao Dong-Xu , Xiang Shuo , Liu Ya-Jun , Li Yun-Chun
Published: January 2017

Four 3d–4f [Ln2Co6] complexes were fabricated. [Dy2Co6] (1) and [Ho2Co6] (2) displayed ferromagnetic coupling, and [Dy2Co6] (1) exhibited slow magnetic relaxation.
Aqueous phase homogeneous formic acid disproportionation into methanol
Authors: Sordakis K. , Tsurusaki A. , Iguchi M. , Kawanami H. , Himeda Y. , Laurenczy G.
Published: January 2017

Methanol is produced from the formic acid disproportionation reaction with unprecedented yields under mild conditions.
High precision, localized proton gradients and fluxes generated by a microelectrode device induce differential growth behaviors of pollen tubes
Authors: Hu Chengzhi , Vogler Hannes , Aellen Marianne , Shamsudhin Naveen , Jang Bumjin , Burri Jan T. , Läubli Nino , Grossniklaus Ueli , Pané Salvador , Nelson Bradley J.
Published: January 2017

We developed and characterized a microelectrode device used for studying the cellular repsonse of pollen tubes.
Lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles for synergistic drug delivery to overcome cancer drug resistance
Authors: Zeng Shao-Qi , Chen Yi-Zhen , Chen Yong , Liu Hong
Published: January 2017

Co-delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug and a drug resistance inhibitor by lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles can effectively overcome tumor drug resistance.
Influence of amino acid side chains on the formation of two component self-assembling nanofibrous hydrogels
Authors: Nelli Srinivasa Rao , Lin Jhong-Hua , Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh , Tseng Dion Tzu-Huan , Talloj Satish Kumar , Lin Hsin-Chieh
Published: January 2017

Supramolecular co-assembly of amino acid derivatives capped with NDI and Py moieties undergoing supramolecular hydrogelation was developed.
Chitosan-based magnetic/fluorescent nanocomposites for cell labelling and controlled drug release
Authors: Ding Yongling , Yin Hong , Shen Shirley , Sun Kangning , Liu Futian
Published: January 2017

A novel drug delivery system, containing functional Fe3O4, CdTe@ZnS QDs, doxorubicin and a chitosan matrix, was designed via a polymer crosslinking method.
Synthesis of bright red-emissive dicyanoetheno-bridged hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene dimers
Authors: Oda Kazuma , Hiroto Satoru , Hisaki Ichiro , Shinokubo Hiroshi
Published: January 2017

The introduction of a dicyanomethyl anion group to hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) substantially enhanced the emission properties of HBC due to a large perturbation of its electronic structure.
Sexual dimorphisms in genetic loci linked to body fat distribution
Authors: Pulit Sara L. , Karaderi Tugce , Lindgren Cecilia M.
Published: January 2017

Obesity is a chronic condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is a risk factor for a number of other diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obesity confers an enormous, costly burden on both individuals and public health more broadly. Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes. Body fat distribution is distinct from overall obesity in measurement, but studies of body fat distribution can yield insights into the risk factors for and causes of overall obesity. Sexual dimorphism in body fat distribution is present throughout life. Though sexual dimorphism is subtle in early stages of life, it is attenuated in puberty and during menopause. This phenomenon could be, at least in part, due to the influence of sex hormones on the trait. Findings from recent large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for various measures of body fat distribution (including waist-to-hip ratio, hip or waist circumference, trunk fat percentage and the ratio of android and gynoid fat percentage) emphasize the strong sexual dimorphism in the genetic regulation of fat distribution traits. Importantly, sexual dimorphism is not observed for overall obesity (as assessed by body mass index or total fat percentage). Notably, the genetic loci associated with body fat distribution, which show sexual dimorphism, are located near genes that are expressed in adipose tissues and/or adipose cells. Considering the epidemiological and genetic evidence, sexual dimorphism is a prominent feature of body fat distribution. Research that specifically focuses on sexual dimorphism in fat distribution can provide novel insights into human physiology and into the development of obesity and its comorbidities, as well as yield biological clues that will aid in the improvement of disease prevention and treatment.
UIBF decoding to lower the error floors of high‐rate systematic LDPC codes
Authors: Lim J. , Shin D.‐J.
Published: January 2017

An unreliability‐based information bit flipping (UIBF) decoding using cyclic redundancy check is proposed to lower the error floors of high‐rate systematic low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) codes. Unsuccessfully decoded codeword is redecoded by the UIBF decoding with very low complexity at the end of every iteration of the sum–product (SP) decoding. The proposed scheme is applied to LDPC codes of the IEEE 802.16e standard. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme effectively lowers the error floors of systematic LDPC codes with smaller number of iterations compared with the conventional SP decoding scheme, which leads to the reduced power consumption and increased data throughput.
Simulating the pre‐ and de‐emphasis of drive voltages of silicon‐based micro‐ring ring‐modulators
Authors: Tenenbaum S.
Published: January 2017

Integrated modulators are being intensely investigated and became potential candidates for the fundamental building blocks of next generation silicon‐based front‐end transceivers. Although suitable optical performance has been demonstrated in several works, theoretical models for the appropriate driving conditions of the micro‐ring modulators are rarely explored. The carrier concentration fundamentally determines the refraction index of the pn junction of the modulator and to accelerate charge injection/extraction a pre‐ and de‐emphasised driving voltage technique has been widely and successfully applied. Here we present a mathematical model where shooting amplitude and duration are considered with an optimised power consumption analysis. The model can be applied for both NRZ and RZ modulation formats.
Facial expression recognition with FRR‐CNN
Authors: Xie Siyue , Hu Haifeng
Published: January 2017

Feature redundancy‐reduced convolutional neural network (FRR‐CNN) is proposed to address the problem of facial expression recognition. Different from traditional CNN, convolutional kernels of FRR‐CNN is induced to be divergent by presenting a more discriminative mutual difference among feature maps of the same layer, which results in generating less redundant features and yields a more compact representation of an image. Furthermore, the transformation‐invariant pooling strategy is used to extract representative features cross‐transformations. Extensive experiments are conducted on two public facial expression databases and the obtained results demonstrate the efficiency of FRR‐CNN comparing with the state‐of‐the‐art expression recognition methods.
Lung vessel segmentation based on random forests
Authors: Zhao Bowen , Cao Zhulou , Wang Sicheng
Published: January 2017

Lung vessel segmentation of computed tomography (CT) images is important in clinical practise and challenging due to difficulties associated with minor size and blurred edges of lung vessels. A vessel segmentation method is proposed for lung images based on a random forest classifier and sparse auto‐encoder features. First, the multi‐scale representations of lung images are obtained using the Gaussian pyramid. Second, a sparse auto‐encoder of three layers is trained using randomly selected patches of these images. Next, the trained weight of the sparse auto‐encoder is used as the convolution kernel to extract features of different scale images. Finally, a random forest classifier is exploited to segment the vessels. The proposed method was evaluated on the original and noise‐added VESSEL12 dataset that is publicly available. Comparison with some classical methods and existing machine learning methods shows that the proposed method reaches the state‐of‐the‐art accuracy. The results also show that a shallow neural network is a powerful feature extraction tool.
Analysis and implementation of 3D bandpass frequency selective structure with high frequency selectivity
Authors: Tao Keya , Li Bo , Tang Yiming , Zhang Ming , Bo Yaming
Published: January 2017

A novel 3D frequency selective structure (FSS), exhibiting bandpass filtering response with high frequency selectivity, is presented. In each unit cell, multiple resonators are constructed to provide multiple transmission zeros/poles. By establishing an equivalent circuit model, it is obtained that the transmission poles in the passband are produced by a short‐circuited resonator and an open‐circuited resonator, and the transmission zeros close to the passband are attributed to the fundamental and spurious resonant frequencies of another short‐circuited resonator. To implement it in high frequencies, multi‐layer printed circuit board technology is introduced, where several replacements are carried out. The measured results show good agreement with simulations. Furthermore, the proposed FSS exhibits stable performance with incident angles increased from 0 to 50°.
Performance of decremental antenna selection algorithms for spatial multiplexing MIMO systems with linear receiver over correlated fading channels
Authors: Kim Sangchoon
Published: January 2017

This study proposes enhanced suboptimal transmit antenna selection algorithms based on eigenvalue decomposition for spatial multiplexing multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems with linear receivers over correlated MIMO flat fading channels. The suboptimal algorithms presented are based on the nth rooting of maximal ratio combined full channel matrix, in which the condition number significantly decreases, and the decremental selection strategy. The first algorithm exploits channel gains obtained by the channel scaling technique, and is further simplified with much lower complexity in the second algorithm. It is shown that they outperform other suboptimal algorithms in terms of bit error rate minimisation under doubly correlated channels. Moreover, their computational complexities are compared with those of other fast antenna selection algorithms. In addressing channel estimation errors on doubly correlated channels, the proposed decremental selection approaches are shown to offer more robustness than other algorithms.
Distributed composite output consensus protocols of higher‐order multi‐agent systems subject to mismatched disturbances
Authors: Li Guipu , Wang Xiangyu , Li Shihua
Published: January 2017

In the existing literatures, most of the anti‐disturbance consensus control methods focus on multi‐agent systems with slow time‐varying matched disturbances. In practise, the multi‐agent systems are usually subject to mismatched disturbances and the disturbances are usually fast time‐varying. This study investigates the output consensus problem of higher‐order multi‐agent systems with mismatched disturbances, which are allowed to be fast time‐varying. Firstly, to estimate the matched disturbances, mismatched disturbances and their higher‐order derivatives, a generalised proportional–integral observer is constructed for each agent. Secondly, by distributedly employing the estimates of the mismatched disturbances and their higher‐order derivatives, for both leaderless and leader–follower cases, two kinds of non‐linear sliding‐mode surfaces are developed, respectively. Thirdly, with the designed surfaces and the disturbances estimation information, feedforward–feedback composite consensus protocols are designed for both cases, which guarantee asymptotical consensus of the agents' outputs. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed consensus algorithms.