bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Live cell imaging of low- and non-repetitive chromosome loci using CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Qin Peiwu , Parlak Mahmut , Kuscu Cem , Bandaria Jigar , Mir Mustafa , Szlachta Karol , Singh Ritambhara , Darzacq Xavier , Yildiz Ahmet , Adli Mazhar
Published: March 2017

Imaging chromatin dynamics is crucial to understand genome organization and its role in transcriptional regulation. Recently, the RNA-guidable feature of CRISPR-Cas9 has been utilized for imaging of chromatin within live cells. However, these methods are mostly applicable to highly repetitive regions, whereas imaging regions with low or no repeats remains as a challenge. To address this challenge, we design single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) integrated with up to 16 MS2 binding motifs to enable robust fluorescent signal amplification. These engineered sgRNAs enable multicolour labelling of low-repeat-containing regions using a single sgRNA and of non-repetitive regions with as few as four unique sgRNAs. We achieve tracking of native chromatin loci throughout the cell cycle and determine differential positioning of transcriptionally active and inactive regions in the nucleus. These results demonstrate the feasibility of our approach to monitor the position and dynamics of both repetitive and non-repetitive genomic regions in live cells.
Vulnerability of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands to present-day rates of relative sea-level rise
Authors: Jankowski Krista L. , Törnqvist Torbjörn E , Fernandes Anjali M
Published: March 2017

Coastal Louisiana has lost about 5,000 km2 of wetlands over the past century and concern exists whether remaining wetlands will persist while facing some of the world’s highest rates of relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Here we analyse an unprecedented data set derived from 274 rod surface-elevation table-marker horizon stations, to determine present-day surface-elevation change, vertical accretion and shallow subsidence rates. Comparison of vertical accretion rates with RSLR rates at the land surface (present-day RSLR rates are 12±8 mm per year) shows that 65% of wetlands in the Mississippi Delta (SE Louisiana) may keep pace with RSLR, whereas 58% of the sites in the Chenier Plain (SW Louisiana) do not, rendering much of this area highly vulnerable to RLSR. At least 60% of the total subsidence rate occurs within the uppermost 5–10 m, which may account for the higher vulnerability of coastal Louisiana wetlands compared to their counterparts elsewhere.
TLR-exosomes exhibit distinct kinetics and effector function
Authors: Srinivasan Swetha , Su Michelle , Ravishankar Shashidhar , Moore James , Head PamelaSara , Dixon J. Brandon , Vannberg Fredrik
Published: March 2017

The innate immune system is vital to rapidly responding to pathogens and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a critical component of this response. Nanovesicular exosomes play a role in immunity, but to date their exact contribution to the dissemination of the TLR response is unknown. Here we show that exosomes from TLR stimulated cells can largely recapitulate TLR activation in distal cells in vitro. We can abrogate the action-at-a-distance signaling of exosomes by UV irradiation, demonstrating that RNA is crucial for their effector function. We are the first to show that exosomes derived from poly(I:C) stimulated cells induce in vivo macrophage M1-like polarization within murine lymph nodes. These poly(I:C) exosomes demonstrate enhanced trafficking to the node and preferentially recruit neutrophils as compared to control exosomes. This work definitively establishes the differential effector function for exosomes in communicating the TLR activation state of the cell of origin.
Erratum: Inter-Layer Coupling Induced Valence Band Edge Shift in Mono- to Few-Layer MoS2
Authors: Trainer Daniel J. , Putilov Aleksei V. , Di Giorgio Cinzia , Saari Timo , Wang Baokai , Wolak Mattheus , Chandrasena Ravini U. , Lane Christopher , Chang Tay-Rong , Jeng Horng-Tay , Lin Hsin , Kronast Florian , Gray Alexander X. , Xi Xiaoxing , Nieminen Jouko , Bansil Arun , Iavarone Maria
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 40559; published online: 13 January 2017; updated: 14 March 2017 The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Xiaoxing Xi, which was incorrectly given as Xiaoxing X. Xi. In addition, the Article contained a typographical error in the Results section.
Differential Variance Analysis: a direct method to quantify and visualize dynamic heterogeneities
Authors: Pastore Raffaele , Pesce Giuseppe , Caggioni Marco
Published: March 2017

Many amorphous materials show spatially heterogenous dynamics, as different regions of the same system relax at different rates. Such a signature, known as Dynamic Heterogeneity, has been crucial to understand the nature of the jamming transition in simple model systems and is currently considered very promising to characterize more complex fluids of industrial and biological relevance. Unfortunately, measurements of dynamic heterogeneities typically require sophisticated experimental set-ups and are performed by few specialized groups. It is now possible to quantitatively characterize the relaxation process and the emergence of dynamic heterogeneities using a straightforward method, here validated on video microscopy data of hard-sphere colloidal glasses. We call this method Differential Variance Analysis (DVA), since it focuses on the variance of the differential frames, obtained subtracting images at different time-lags. Moreover, direct visualization of dynamic heterogeneities naturally appears in the differential frames, when the time-lag is set to the one corresponding to the maximum dynamic susceptibility. This approach opens the way to effectively characterize and tailor a wide variety of soft materials, from complex formulated products to biological tissues.
Correction: Corrigendum: The hydrogen-bond collective dynamics in liquid methanol
Authors: Bellissima Stefano , De Panfilis Simone , Bafile Ubaldo , Cunsolo Alessandro , González Miguel Angel , Guarini Eleonora , Formisano Ferdinando
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 39533; published online: 20 December 2016; updated: 14 March 2017 This Article contains typographical errors in Equation (4), where should read
Correction: Corrigendum: Evaluation of the Bone-ligament and tendon insertions based on Raman spectrum and its PCA and CLS analysis
Authors: Wu Yang , Dong Yu , Jiang Jia , Li Haiqing , Zhu Tongming , Chen Shiyi
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 38706; published online: 31 January 2017; updated: 14 March 2017 The Acknowledgements section in this Article was omitted. The Acknowledgements should read: “This work was supported by the National 863 Hi-tech Project (2015AA033703), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO.
Continuous-flow DNP polarizer for MRI applications at 1.5 T
Authors: Denysenkov V. , Terekhov M. , Maeder R. , Fischer S. , Zangos S. , Vogl T. , Prisner T. F.
Published: March 2017

Here we describe a new hyperpolarization approach for magnetic resonance imaging applications at 1.5 T. Proton signal enhancements of more than 20 were achieved with a newly designed multimode microwave resonator situated inside the bore of the imager and used for Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization of the water proton signal. Different from other approaches in our setup the hyperpolarization is achieved continuously by liquid water flowing through the polarizer under continuous microwave excitation. With an available flow rate of up to 1.5 ml/min, which should be high enough for DNP MR angiography applications in small animals like mice and rats. The hyperpolarized liquid cooled to physiological temperature can be routed by a mechanical switch to a quartz capillary for injection into the blood vessels of the target object. This new approach allows hyperpolarization of protons without the need of an additional magnet and avoids the losses arising from the transfer of the hyperpolarized solution between magnets. The signal-to-noise improvement of this method is demonstrated on two- and three-dimensional phantoms of blood vessels.
Positive Association between Urinary Concentration of Phthalate Metabolites and Oxidation of DNA and Lipid in Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Lin Chien-Yu , Chen Pau-Chung , Hsieh Chia-Jung , Chen Chao-Yu , Hu Anren , Sung Fung-Chang , Lee Hui-Ling , Su Ta-Chen
Published: March 2017

Phthalate has been used worldwide in various products for years. Little is known about the association between phthalate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress in adolescents and young adults. Among 886 subjects recruited from a population-based cohort during 2006 to 2008, 751 subjects (12–30 years) with complete phthalate metabolites and oxidation stress measurement were enrolled in this study. Nine urine phthalate metabolites, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 8-iso prostaglandin F2α (8-isoPGF2α) were measured in urine to assess exposure and oxidative stress to DNA and lipid, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that an ln-unit increase in mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) concentration in urine was positively associated with an increase in urine biomarkers of oxidative stress (in μg/g; creatinine of 0.098 ± 0.028 in 8-OHdG; and 0.253 ± 0.051 in 8-isoPGF2α). There was no association between other eight phthalate metabolite concentrations and oxidative stress. In conclusion, a higher MMP concentration in urine was associated with an increase in markers of oxidative stress to DNA and lipid in this cohort of adolescents and young adults. Further studies are warranted to clarify the causal relationship between exposure to phthalate and oxidative stress.
Discovery of Cellulose Surface Layer Conformation by Nonlinear Vibrational Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Libing , Fu Li , Wang Hong-fei , Yang Bin
Published: March 2017

Significant questions remain in respect to cellulose’s structure and polymorphs, particularly the cellulose surface layers and the bulk crystalline core as well as the conformational differences. Total Internal Reflection Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy (TIR-SFG-VS) combined with conventional SFG-VS (non-TIR) enables selectively characterizing the molecular structures of surface layers and the crystalline core of cellulose, revealing their differences for the first time. From the SFG spectra in the C-H and O-H regions, we found that the surface layers of Avicel are essentially amorphous while the surface layers of Iβ cellulose are crystalline but with different structural and spectroscopic signatures compared with its crystalline core. The differences between hydrogen bonding networks of cellulose surface and crystalline core were also shown by the SFG signal. The discovery here represents yet another instance of the importance of spectroscopic observations in transformative advances to understand the structure of the cellulosic biomass.
Rare-metal-free high-performance Ga-Sn-O thin film transistor
Authors: Matsuda Tokiyoshi , Umeda Kenta , Kato Yuta , Nishimoto Daiki , Furuta Mamoru , Kimura Mutsumi
Published: March 2017

Oxide semiconductors have been investigated as channel layers for thin film transistors (TFTs) which enable next-generation devices such as high-resolution liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, flexible electronics, and innovative devices. Here, high-performance and stable Ga-Sn-O (GTO) TFTs were demonstrated for the first time without the use of rare metals such as In. The GTO thin films were deposited using radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. A high field effect mobility of 25.6 cm2/Vs was achieved, because the orbital structure of Sn was similar to that of In. The stability of the GTO TFTs was examined under bias, temperature, and light illumination conditions. The electrical behaviour of the GTO TFTs was more stable than that of In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) TFTs, which was attributed to the elimination of weak Zn-O bonds.
Atrial structure, function and arrhythmogenesis in aged and frail mice
Authors: Jansen Hailey J. , Moghtadaei Motahareh , Mackasey Martin , Rafferty Sara A. , Bogachev Oleg , Sapp John L. , Howlett Susan E. , Rose Robert A.
Published: March 2017

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent in aging populations; however not all individuals age at the same rate. Instead, individuals of the same chronological age can vary in health status from fit to frail. Our objective was to determine the impacts of age and frailty on atrial function and arrhythmogenesis in mice using a frailty index (FI). Aged mice were more frail and demonstrated longer lasting AF compared to young mice. Consistent with this, aged mice showed longer P wave duration and PR intervals; however, both parameters showed substantial variability suggesting differences in health status among mice of similar chronological age. In agreement with this, P wave duration and PR interval were highly correlated with FI score. High resolution optical mapping of the atria demonstrated reduced conduction velocity and action potential duration in aged hearts that were also graded by FI score. Furthermore, aged mice had increased interstitial fibrosis along with changes in regulators of extracellular matrix remodelling, which also correlated with frailty. These experiments demonstrate that aging results in changes in atrial structure and function that create a substrate for atrial arrhythmias. Importantly, these changes were heterogeneous due to differences in health status, which could be identified using an FI.
Suggestive evidence of a multi-cytokine resistin pathway in humans and its role on cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals
Authors: Menzaghi Claudia , Marucci Antonella , Antonucci Alessandra , De Bonis Concetta , Ortega Moreno Lorena , Salvemini Lucia , Copetti Massimiliano , Trischitta Vincenzo , Di Paola Rosa
Published: March 2017

In cells and tissues resistin affects IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α expression, thus suggesting the existence of a multi-cytokine “resistin pathway”. We investigated whether such pathway does exist in humans and, if so, if it is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Serum cytokines were measured in 280 healthy subjects from the Gargano Study 2 (GS2) whose BMI, waist circumference, HOMAIR, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure data were available and in 353 patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease from the Gargano Heart Study (GHS)-prospective design (follow-up 5.4 ± 2.5 years; 71 MACE). In GS2, cytokines mRNA levels in white blood cells were also measured. In GS2, resistin mRNA was correlated with all cytokines expression (all p < 0.001), but IL-12B. Consistently, serum resistin was correlated with all serum cytokines (all p < 0.001), but IL-12. Expression (eRPS) and serum (sRPS) resistin pathway scores (excluding IL-12) were each other correlated (p < 0.001) and both associated with cardiovascular risk factors (all p < 0.01). In GHS, sRPS was independently associated with MACE (HR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.10–1.90). Our data indicate the existence of a resistin pathway, which is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and which strongly and independently predicts MACE.
Action observation activates neurons of the monkey ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
Authors: Simone Luciano , Bimbi Marco , Rodà Francesca , Fogassi Leonardo , Rozzi Stefano
Published: March 2017

Prefrontal cortex is crucial for exploiting contextual information for the planning and guidance of behavioral responses. Among contextual cues, those provided by others’ behavior are particularly important, in primates, for selecting appropriate reactions and suppressing the inappropriate ones. These latter functions deeply rely on the ability to understand others’ actions. However, it is largely unknown whether prefrontal neurons are activated by action observation. To address this issue, we recorded the activity of ventrolateral prefrontal (VLPF) neurons of macaque monkeys during the observation of videos depicting biological movements performed by a monkey or a human agent, and object motion. Our results show that a population of VLPF neurons respond to the observation of biological movements, in particular those representing goal directed actions. Many of these neurons also show a preference for the agent performing the action. The neural response is present also when part of the observed movement is obscured, suggesting that these VLPF neurons code a high order representation of the observed action rather than a simple visual description of it.
High Photoresponsivity Ge-dot PhotoMOSFETs for Low-power Monolithically-Integrated Si Optical Interconnects
Authors: Kuo Ming-Hao , Lee Meng-Chun , Lin Horng-Chih , George Tom , Li Pei-Wen
Published: March 2017

We report the demonstration of high-photoresponsivity Ge-dot photoMOSFETs in a standard MOS configuration for the detection of 850–1550 nm illumination. Each device has a self-organized, gate-stacking heterostructure of SiO2/Ge-dot/SiO2/SiGe-channel which is simultaneously fabricated in a single oxidation step. Superior control of the geometrical size and chemical composition for our Ge nanodots/SiO2/Si1-xGex-shell MOS structure enables the practically-achievable, gate-stacking design for our Ge-dot photoMOSFETs. Both the gate oxide thickness and the diameter of the Ge dots are controllable. Large photocurrent enhancement was achieved for our Ge-dot photoMOSFETs when electrically-biased at ON- and OFF-states based on the Ge dot mediating photovoltaic and photoconductive effects, respectively. Both photoelectric conversion efficiency and response speed are significantly improved by reducing the gate-oxide thickness from 38.5 nm to 3.5 nm, and by decreasing Ge-dot size from 90 nm to 50 nm for a given areal density of Ge dots. Photoresponsivity ("Equation missing") values as high as 1.2 × 104 A/W and 300 A/W are measured for 10 nW illumination at 850 nm and 1550 nm, respectively. A response time of 0.48 ns and a 3 dB-frequency of 2 GHz were achieved for 50 nm-Ge-dot photoMOSFETs with channel lengths of 3 μm under pulsed 850 nm illumination.
Inhibitory interneuron circuits at cortical and spinal levels are associated with individual differences in corticomuscular coherence during isometric voluntary contraction
Authors: Matsuya Ryosuke , Ushiyama Junichi , Ushiba Junichi
Published: March 2017

Corticomuscular coherence (CMC) is an oscillatory synchronization of 15–35 Hz (β-band) between electroencephalogram (EEG) of the sensorimotor cortex and electromyogram of contracting muscles. Although we reported that the magnitude of CMC varies among individuals, the physiological mechanisms underlying this variation are still unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the associations between CMC and intracortical inhibition (ICI) in the primary motor cortex (M1)/recurrent inhibition (RI) in the spinal cord, which probably affect oscillatory neural activities. Firstly, we quantified ICI from changes in motor-evoked potentials induced by paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in M1 during tonic isometric voluntary contraction of the first dorsal interosseous. ICI showed a significant, negative correlation with the strength of EEG β-oscillation, but not with the magnitude of CMC across individuals. Next, we quantified RI from changes in H-reflexes induced by paired-pulse electrical nerve stimulation to the posterior tibial nerve during isometric contraction of the soleus muscle. We observed a significant, positive correlation between RI and peak CMC across individuals. These results suggest that the local inhibitory interneuron networks in cortical and spinal levels are associated with the oscillatory activity in corticospinal loop.
An outbreak of severe infections among Australian infants caused by a novel recombinant strain of human parechovirus type 3
Authors: Nelson Tiffanie M. , Vuillermin Peter , Hodge Jason , Druce Julian , Williams David T. , Jasrotia Rekha , Alexandersen Soren
Published: March 2017

Human parechovirus types 1–16 (HPeV1–16) are positive strand RNA viruses in the family Picornaviridae. We investigated a 2015 outbreak of HPeV3 causing illness in infants in Victoria, Australia. Virus genome was extracted from clinical material and isolates and sequenced using a combination of next generation and Sanger sequencing. The HPeV3 outbreak genome was 98.7% similar to the HPeV3 Yamagata 2011 lineage for the region encoding the structural proteins up to nucleotide position 3115, but downstream of that the genome varied from known HPeV sequences with a similarity of 85% or less. Analysis indicated that recombination had occurred, may have involved multiple types of HPeV and that the recombination event/s occurred between March 2012 and November 2013. However the origin of the genome downstream of the recombination site is unknown. Overall, the capsid of this virus is highly conserved, but recombination provided a different non-structural protein coding region that may convey an evolutionary advantage. The indication that the capsid encoding region is highly conserved at the amino acid level may be helpful in directing energy towards the development of a preventive vaccine for expecting mothers or antibody treatment of young infants with severe disease.
Pramipexole restores depressed transmission in the ventral hippocampus following MPTP-lesion
Authors: Castro-Hernández Javier , Adlard Paul A. , Finkelstein David I.
Published: March 2017

The hippocampus has a significant association with memory, cognition and emotions. The dopaminergic projections from both the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra are thought to be involved in hippocampal activity. To date, however, few studies have investigated dopaminergic innervation in the hippocampus or the functional consequences of reduced dopamine in disease models. Further complicating this, the hippocampus exhibits anatomical and functional differentiation along its dorso-ventral axis. In this work we investigated the role of dopamine on hippocampal long term potentiation using D-amphetamine, which stimulates dopamine release, and also examined how a dopaminergic lesion affects the synaptic transmission across the anatomic subdivisions of the hippocampus. Our findings indicate that a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine induced dopaminergic lesion has time-dependent effects and impacts mainly on the ventral region of the hippocampus, consistent with the density of dopaminergic innervation. Treatment with a preferential D3 receptor agonist pramipexole partly restored normal synaptic transmission and Long-Term Potentiation. These data suggest a new mechanism to explain some of the actions of pramipexole in Parkinson´s disease.
Environment-induced changes in selective constraints on social learning during the peopling of the Americas
Authors: Buchanan Briggs , Chao Anne , Chiu Chun-Huo , Colwell Robert K. , O’Brien Michael J. , Werner Angelia , Eren Metin I.
Published: March 2017

The weaponry technology associated with Clovis and related Early Paleoindians represents the earliest well-defined evidence of humans in Pleistocene North America. We assess the technological diversity of these fluted stone points found at archaeological sites in the western and eastern halves of North America by employing statistical tools used in the quantification of ecological biodiversity. Our results demonstrate that the earliest hunters in the environmentally heterogeneous East used a more diverse set of points than those in the environmentally homogenous West. This and other evidence shows that environmental heterogeneity in the East promoted the relaxation of selective constraints on social learning and increased experimentation with point designs.
Steroidal[17,16-d]pyrimidines derived from dehydroepiandrosterone: A convenient synthesis, antiproliferation activity, structure-activity relationships, and role of heterocyclic moiety
Authors: Ke Shaoyong , Shi Liqiao , Zhang Zhigang , Yang Ziwen
Published: March 2017

A series of steroidal[17,16-d]pyrimidines derived from dehydroepiandrosterone were designed and prepared by a convenient heterocyclization reaction. The in vitro anticancer activities for these obtained compounds were evaluated against human cancer cell lines (HepG2, Huh-7, and SGC-7901), which demonstrated that some of these heterocyclic pyrimidine derivatives exhibited significantly good cytotoxic activities against all tested cell lines compared with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), especially, compound 3b exhibited high potential growth inhibitory activities against all tested cell lines with the IC50 values of 5.41 ± 1.34, 5.65 ± 1.02 and 10.64 ± 1.49 μM, respectively, which might be used as promising lead scaffold for discovery of novel anticancer agents.
Ectopic expression of Arabidopsis FD and FD PARALOGUE in rice results in dwarfism with size reduction of spikelets
Authors: Jang Seonghoe , Li Hsing-Yi , Kuo Mei-Lin
Published: March 2017

Key flowering genes, FD and FD PARALOGUE (FDP) encoding bZIP transcription factors that interact with a FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in Arabidopsis were ectopically expressed in rice since we found AtFD and AtFDP also interact with HEADING DATE 3a (Hd3a) and RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1 (RFT1). Transgenic rice plants overexpressing AtFD and AtFDP caused reduction in plant height and spikelet size with decreased expression of genes involved in cell elongation without significant flowering time alteration in spite of increased expression of OsMADS14 and OsMADS15, rice homologues of APETALA1 (AP1) in the leaves. Simultaneous overexpression of AtFD and AtFDP enhanced phenotypes seen with overexpression of either single gene while transgenic rice plants expressing AtFD or AtFDP under the control of phloem-specific Hd3a promoter were indistinguishable from wild-type rice. Candidate genes responsible for the phenotypes were identified by comparison of microarray hybridization and their expression pattern was also examined in WT and transgenic rice plants. It has so far not been reported that AtFD and AtFDP affect cell elongation in plants, and our findings provide novel insight into the possible roles of AtFD and AtFDP in the mesophyll cells of plants, and potential genetic tools for manipulation of crop architecture.
In situ self-assembly of gold nanoparticles on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates for influenza virus-sensing platform
Authors: Ahmed Syed Rahin , Kim Jeonghyo , Tran Van Tan , Suzuki Tetsuro , Neethirajan Suresh , Lee Jaebeom , Park Enoch Y.
Published: March 2017

Nanomaterials without chemical linkers or physical interactions that reside on a two-dimensional surface are attractive because of their electronic, optical and catalytic properties. An in situ method has been developed to fabricate gold nanoparticle (Au NP) films on different substrates, regardless of whether they are hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces, including glass, 96-well polystyrene plates, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A mixture of sodium formate (HCOONa) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) solution was used to prepare Au NP films at room temperature. An experimental study of the mechanism revealed that film formation is dependent on surface wettability and inter particle attraction. The as-fabricated Au NP films were further applied to the colorimetric detection of influenza virus. The response to the commercial target, New Caledonia/H1N1/1999 influenza virus, was linear in the range from 10 pg/ml to 10 μg/ml and limit of detection was 50.5 pg/ml. In the presence of clinically isolated influenza A virus (H3N2), the optical density of developed color was dependent on the virus concentration (10–50,000 PFU/ml). The limit of detection of this study was 24.3 PFU/ml, a limit 116 times lower than that of conventional ELISA (2824.3 PFU/ml). The sensitivity was also 500 times greater than that of commercial immunochromatography kits.
Neuronal ELAVL proteins utilize AUF-1 as a co-partner to induce neuron-specific alternative splicing of APP
Authors: Fragkouli Apostolia , Koukouraki Pelagia , Vlachos Ioannis S. , Paraskevopoulou Maria D. , Hatzigeorgiou Artemis G. , Doxakis Epaminondas
Published: March 2017

Aβ peptide that accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease brain, derives from proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) that exists in three main isoforms derived by alternative splicing. The isoform APP695, lacking exons 7 and 8, is predominately expressed in neurons and abnormal neuronal splicing of APP has been observed in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Herein, we demonstrate that expression of the neuronal members of the ELAVL protein family (nELAVLs) correlate with APP695 levels in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we provide evidence that nELAVLs regulate the production of APP695; by using a series of reporters we show that concurrent binding of nELAVLs to sequences located both upstream and downstream of exon 7 is required for its skipping, whereas nELAVL-binding to a highly conserved U-rich sequence upstream of exon 8, is sufficient for its exclusion. Finally, we report that nELAVLs block APP exon 7 or 8 definition by reducing the binding of the essential splicing factor U2AF65, an effect facilitated by the concurrent binding of AUF-1. Our study provides new insights into the regulation of APP pre-mRNA processing, supports the role for nELAVLs as neuron-specific splicing regulators and reveals a novel function of AUF1 in alternative splicing.
Reduced graphene oxide composites with water soluble copolymers having tailored lower critical solution temperatures and unique tube-like structure
Authors: Namvari Mina , Biswas Chandra S. , Galluzzi Massimiliano , Wang Qiao , Du Bing , Stadler Florian J.
Published: March 2017

Nanohybrids of graphene with water soluble polymer were synthesized using ‘grafting from’ method. GO, prepared by modified Hummers’ method, was first reacted with sodium azide. Alkyne-terminated RAFT-CTA was synthesized by reaction of propargyl alcohol and S-1-dodecyl-S’-(α,α‘-dimethyl-α”-acetic acid) trithiocarbonate. RAFT-CTA was grafted onto the GO sheets by facile click-reaction and subsequently, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N-ethyleacrylamide (NEAM) were polymerized on graphene sheets via RAFT polymerization method. The respective copolymers with different ratios were also prepared. The nanohybrids were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, Raman, SEM, and AFM. Both SEM and AFM clearly showed rod-like structures for rGO-PNEAM. XRD showed a small peak at 2θ = 19.21°, corresponding to d-spacing ≈ 4.6 Å. In addition, the nanohybrids showed a very broad temperature range for the LCST in water between ca. 30 and 70 °C.
Acoustic effects during photosynthesis of aquatic plants enable new research opportunities
Authors: Kratochvil Helmut G. , Pollirer Michael
Published: March 2017

Measurements of photosynthetic processes in hydrophytes mostly involve photosynthometers, which capture the escaping gas for subsequent analysis The most common method to detect changes in the rate of photosynthetic processes is to count the series of escaping gas bubbles. The emerging bubbles are either simply counted or they are recorded using light barriers, which is very difficult because of their small size and often varying ascent rate. The gas bubbles generated during photosynthesis by aquatic plants produce distinctive sound pulses when leaving the plants. These acoustic side effects enable completely new and highly accurate measurements. The frequency and reaction time changes of the pulses caused by external influences are therefore accurately detectable. The precise time measurements enable registering and evaluating the curves as reactions to changes in physical or chemical environmental conditions. We show that such acoustic analyses open completely new research opportunities for plant physiology.
The receptor-like pseudokinase MRH1 interacts with the voltage-gated potassium channel AKT2
Authors: Sklodowski Kamil , Riedelsberger Janin , Raddatz Natalia , Riadi Gonzalo , Caballero Julio , Chérel Isabelle , Schulze Waltraud , Graf Alexander , Dreyer Ingo
Published: March 2017

The potassium channel AKT2 plays important roles in phloem loading and unloading. It can operate as inward-rectifying channel that allows H+-ATPase-energized K+ uptake. Moreover, through reversible post-translational modifications it can also function as an open, K+-selective channel, which taps a ‘potassium battery’, providing additional energy for transmembrane transport processes. Knowledge about proteins involved in the regulation of the operational mode of AKT2 is very limited. Here, we employed a large-scale yeast two-hybrid screen in combination with fluorescence tagging and null-allele mutant phenotype analysis and identified the plasma membrane localized receptor-like kinase MRH1/MDIS2 (AT4G18640) as interaction partner of AKT2. The phenotype of the mrh1-1 knockout plant mirrors that of akt2 knockout plants in energy limiting conditions. Electrophysiological analyses showed that MRH1/MDIS2 failed to exert any functional regulation on AKT2. Using structural protein modeling approaches, we instead gathered evidence that the putative kinase domain of MRH1/MDIS2 lacks essential sites that are indispensable for a functional kinase suggesting that MRH1/MDIS2 is a pseudokinase. We propose that MRH1/MDIS2 and AKT2 are likely parts of a bigger protein complex. MRH1 might help to recruit other, so far unknown partners, which post-translationally regulate AKT2. Additionally, MRH1 might be involved in the recognition of chemical signals.
TIR/BB-loop mimetic AS-1 attenuates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury via a caveolae and caveolin-3-dependent mechanism
Authors: Hu Yuanping , Zhang Meiling , Shen Xin , Dai Guoliang , Ren Danyang , Que Linli , Ha Tuanzhu , Li Chuanfu , Xu Yong , Ju Wenzheng , Li Yuehua
Published: March 2017

AS-1, the TIR/BB loop mimetic, plays a protective role in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The muscle specific caveolin3 (Cav-3) and the caveolae have been found to be critical for cardioprotection. This study aimed to evaluate our hypothesis that caveolae and Cav-3 are essential for AS-1-induced cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury. To address these issues, we analyzed the involvement of Cav-3 in AS-1 mediated cardioprotection both in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate that AS-1 administration significantly decreased infarct size, improved cardiac function after myocardial I/R and modulated membrane caveolae and Cav-3 expression in the myocardium. For in vitro studies, AS-1 treatment prevented Cav-3 re-distribution induced by H/R injury. In contrast, disruption of caveolae by MCD treatment or Cav-3 knockdown abolished the protection against H/R-induced myocytes injury by AS-1. Our findings reveal that AS-1 attenuates myocardial I/R injury through caveolae and Cav-3 dependent mechanism.
Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 on Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Lung Tumor Malignancy in a Mouse Model of Sleep Apnea
Authors: Campillo Noelia , Torres Marta , Vilaseca Antoni , Nonaka Paula Naomi , Gozal David , Roca-Ferrer Jordi , Picado César , Montserrat Josep Maria , Farré Ramon , Navajas Daniel , Almendros Isaac
Published: March 2017

An adverse role for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cancer epidemiology and outcomes has recently emerged from clinical and animal studies. In animals, intermittent hypoxia (IH) mimicking OSA promotes tumor malignancy both directly and via host immune alterations. We hypothesized that IH could potentiate cancer aggressiveness through activation of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway and the concomitant increases in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The contribution of the COX-2 in IH-induced enhanced tumor malignancy was assessed using celecoxib as a COX-2 specific inhibitor in a murine model of OSA bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) tumors. Exposures to IH accelerated tumor progression with a tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) shift towards a pro-tumoral M2 phenotype. Treatment with celecoxib prevented IH-induced adverse tumor outcomes by inhibiting IH-induced M2 polarization of TAMs. Furthermore, TAMs isolated from IH-exposed mice treated with celecoxib reduced the proliferation of LLC1 naïve cells, while the opposite occurred with placebo-treated IH-exposed mice. Finally,in vitroIH exposures of murine macrophages and LLC1 cells showed that both cell types increased PGE2release in response to IH. These results suggest a crucial role for the COX-2 signaling pathway in the IH-exacerbated malignant processes, and designate macrophages and lung adenocarcinoma cells, as potential sources of PGE2.
Renal Medulla is More Sensitive to Cisplatin than Cortex Revealed by Untargeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics in Rats
Authors: Zhang Pei , Chen Jia-Qing , Huang Wan-Qiu , Li Wei , Huang Yin , Zhang Zun-Jian , Xu Feng-Guo
Published: March 2017

Nephrotoxicity has long been the most severe and life-threatening side-effect of cisplatin, whose anticancer effect is therefore restricted. Previous pathological studies have shown that both renal cortex and medulla could be injured by cisplatin. Our TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling) assay results further uncovered that medulla subjected more severe injury than cortex. In order to depict the underlying metabolic mechanism of spatial difference in response to cisplatin, in the present study, mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics approach was applied to profile renal cortex and medulla metabolites of rat after receiving a single dose of cisplatin (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg). Eventually, 53 and 55 differential metabolites in cortex and medulla were screened out, respectively. Random forest, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis and metabolic cumulative fold change analysis revealed that metabolic changes in medulla were more obviously dose-dependent than those in cortex, which confirmed the conclusion that medulla was more sensitive to cisplatin exposure. Furthermore, 29 intermediates were recognized as the most contributive metabolites for the sensitivity difference. Metabolic pathways interrupted by cisplatin mainly included amino acid, energy, lipid, pyrimidine, purine, and creatine metabolism. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism study of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Infant frontal EEG asymmetry in relation with postnatal maternal depression and parenting behavior
Authors: Wen D J , Soe N N , Sim L W , Sanmugam S , Kwek K , Chong Y-S , Gluckman P D , Meaney M J , Rifkin-Graboi A , Qiu A
Published: March 2017

Right frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry associates with negative affect and depressed mood, which, among children, are predicted by maternal depression and poor parenting. This study examined associations of maternal depression and maternal sensitivity with infant frontal EEG asymmetry based on 111 mother-6-month-infant dyads. There were no significant effects of postnatal maternal depression or maternal sensitivity, or their interaction, on infant EEG frontal asymmetry. However, in a subsample for which the infant spent at least 50% of his/her day time hours with his/her mother, both lower maternal sensitivity and higher maternal depression predicted greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry. Our study further showed that greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry of 6-month-old infants predicted their greater negative emotionality at 12 months of age. Our study suggested that among infants with sufficient postnatal maternal exposure, both maternal sensitivity and mental health are important influences on early brain development.
Adult hippocampal neuroplasticity triggers susceptibility to recurrent depression
Authors: Alves N D , Correia J S , Patrício P , Mateus-Pinheiro A , Machado-Santos A R , Loureiro-Campos E , Morais M , Bessa J M , Sousa N , Pinto L
Published: March 2017

Depression is a highly prevalent and recurrent neuropsychiatric disorder associated with alterations in emotional and cognitive domains. Neuroplastic phenomena are increasingly considered central to the etiopathogenesis of and recovery from depression. Nevertheless, a high number of remitted patients experience recurrent episodes of depression, remaining unclear how previous episodes impact on behavior and neuroplasticity and/or whether modulation of neuroplasticity is important to prevent recurrent depression. Through re-exposure to an unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol in rats, we observed the re-appearance of emotional and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, treatment with the antidepressants fluoxetine and imipramine was effective to promote sustained reversion of a depressive-like phenotype; however, their differential impact on adult hippocampal neuroplasticity triggered a distinct response to stress re-exposure: while imipramine re-established hippocampal neurogenesis and neuronal dendritic arborization contributing to resilience to recurrent depressive-like behavior, stress re-exposure in fluoxetine-treated animals resulted in an overproduction of adult-born neurons along with neuronal atrophy of granule neurons, accounting for an increased susceptibility to recurrent behavioral changes typical of depression. Strikingly, cell proliferation arrest compromised the behavior resilience induced by imipramine and buffered the susceptibility to recurrent behavioral changes promoted by fluoxetine. This study shows that previous exposure to a depressive-like episode impacts on the behavioral and neuroanatomical changes triggered by subsequent re-exposure to similar experimental conditions and reveals that the proper control of adult hippocampal neuroplasticity triggered by antidepressants is essential to counteract recurrent depressive-like episodes.
Ultrahigh protein adsorption capacity and sustained release of nanocomposite scaffolds: implication for growth factor delivery systems
Authors: Yoon Ji-Young , Kim Jung-Ju , El-Fiqi Ahmed , Jang Jun-Hyeog , Kim Hae-Won
Published: March 2017

Nanocomposite scaffolds that can load growth factors effectively and release them sustainably are developed for the regeneration of tissues.
Regulating the topology of 2D covalent organic frameworks by the rational introduction of substituents
Authors: Pang Zhong-Fu , Zhou Tian-You , Liang Rong-Ran , Qi Qiao-Yan , Zhao Xin
Published: March 2017

Regulating the topology of 2D COFs has been achieved by introducing alkyl substituents into the skeleton of a parent monomer, which led to the formation of a dual-pore COF or single-pore COFs, depending on the sizes of the substituents.
Zinc oxide nanoparticle induced age dependent immunotoxicity in BALB/c mice
Authors: Senapati Violet Aileen , Gupta Govind Sharan , Pandey Alok Kumar , Shanker Rishi , Dhawan Alok , Kumar Ashutosh
Published: March 2017

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have potential applications in cosmetics, food packaging and biomedicine but concerns regarding their safety need to be addressed.
Discovery of a butyrylcholinesterase-specific probe via a structure-based design strategy
Authors: Yang Shu-Hou , Sun Qi , Xiong Hao , Liu Shi-Yu , Moosavi Behrooz , Yang Wen-Chao , Yang Guang-Fu
Published: March 2017

We report herein the structure-based design and application of a fluorogenic butyrylcholinesterase probe that could discriminate butyrylcholinesterase from acetylcholinesterase.
Entropic electrolytes for anodic cycloadditions of unactivated alkene nucleophiles
Authors: Imada Yasushi , Yamaguchi Yusuke , Shida Naoki , Okada Yohei , Chiba Kazuhiro
Published: March 2017

Unactivated alkenes were previously found to be effective carbon nucleophiles for anodic cycloadditions in lithium perchlorate/nitromethane electrolyte solution.
Integrating optical tweezers with up-converting luminescence: a non-amplification analytical platform for quantitative detection of microRNA-21 sequences
Authors: Li Cheng-Yu , Cao Di , Song Chong-Yang , Xu Chun-Miao , Ma Xu-Yan , Zhang Zhi-Ling , Pang Dai-Wen , Tang Hong-Wu
Published: March 2017

We report a single-microsphere based imaging assay for detecting microRNA-21 sequences with a detection limit of 12 fM.
Corrugated graphene layers for sea water desalination using capacitive deionization
Authors: Dahanayaka Madhavi , Liu Bo , Hu Zhongqiao , Chen Zhong , Law Adrian Wing-Keung , Zhou Kun
Published: March 2017

Graphene membrane corrugation highly enhances ion adsorption in the capacitive deionization process.
Complexes of Eu(iii)(hfa)3 with a planar chiral P(iii) ligand (Phanephos): solvent-sensitive sign inversion of circularly polarised luminescence
Authors: Kono Yuki , Hara Nobuyuki , Shizuma Motohiro , Fujiki Michiya , Imai Yoshitane
Published: March 2017

Phanephos coordinates with Eu(iii)(hfa)3 in chloroform and acetone, but with the opposite CPL sign.
New insights into the photocatalytic activity of 3-D core–shell P25@silica nanocomposites: impact of mesoporous coating
Authors: Gong Yichao , Wang Dan Ping , Wu Renbing , Gazi Sarifuddin , Soo Han Sen , Sritharan Thirumany , Chen Zhong
Published: March 2017

Core–shell TiO2 (P25)–mesoporous SiO2 nanocomposites was prepared via a surfactant-assisted sol–gel method.
Topochemical synthesis of cation ordered double perovskite oxynitrides
Authors: Ceravola Roberta , Oró-Solé Judith , Black Ashley P. , Ritter Clemens , Puente Orench Inés , Mata Ignasi , Molins Elies , Frontera Carlos , Fuertes Amparo
Published: March 2017

Sr2FeWO6−xNx compounds with nitrogen contents up to x = 1 are prepared by topochemical ammonolysis of Sr2FeWO6. Sr2FeWO5N is antiferromagnetic with TN = 13 K and represents the first double perovskite oxynitride with high cationic order and nitrogen content.
Combination of microfluidic high-throughput production and parameter screening for efficient shaping of gold nanocubes using Dean-flow mixing
Authors: Thiele Matthias , Knauer Andrea , Malsch Daniéll , Csáki Andrea , Henkel Thomas , Köhler J. Michael , Fritzsche Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

We present a microfluidic setup for the reproducible synthesis of AuNPs with tunable shapes and sizes. It increases yield, lowers material consumption and time, and enables an efficient parameter screening.
Enantioselective synthesis of an octahydroindolizine (indolizidine) alcohol using an enzymatic resolution
Authors: Zhang Jing , Kolluri Rao , Alvarez Salvador G. , Irving Mark M. , Singh Rajinder , Duncton Matthew A. J.
Published: March 2017

A homo-chiral synthesis of (7R,8aS)-octahydro-5,5-dimethylindolizin-7-amine 8 and (7S,8aS)-octahydro-5,5-dimethylindolizin-7-ol 9, amine building blocks which have found applications within the pharmaceutical industry, is presented.
Multidrug resistance regulators (MDRs) as scaffolds for the design of artificial metalloenzymes
Authors: Bersellini Manuela , Roelfes Gerard
Published: March 2017

Artificial metalloenzymes were created from multidrug resistance regulator proteins by in vivo incorporation of an unnatural metal binding amino acid.
Expedient synthesis of a phenanthro-imidazo-pyridine fused heteropolynuclear framework via CDC coupling: a new class of luminophores
Authors: Banerji Biswadip , Chatterjee Satadru , Chandrasekhar K. , Bera Suvankar , Majumder Leena , Prodhan Chandraday , Chaudhuri Keya
Published: March 2017

We herein report the design and synthesis of a group of fused phenanthro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives as a new class of luminescent materials through a Pd(ii) catalyzed intramolecular CDC coupling.
Facile and efficient bromination of hydroxyl-containing polymers to synthesize well-defined brominated polymers
Authors: Zhou Houbo , Chen Yi , Plummer Christopher M. , Huang Huahua , Chen Yongming
Published: March 2017

This article demonstrates a new post-modification method to synthesize well-defined brominated polymers based on the bromination of hydroxyl-containing polymers.
Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, physical properties and121Sb and151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy of the alumo-antimonide Zintl-phase Eu5Al2Sb6
Authors: Radzieowski Mathis , Block Theresa , Fickenscher Thomas , Zhang Yuemei , Fokwa Boniface P. T. , Janka Oliver
Published: March 2017

Structural and property investigation of the new Zintl phase Eu5Al2Sb6including121Sb and151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.