bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the microbial processes of black band disease in corals through integrated genomics
Authors: Sato Yui , Ling Edmund Y. S. , Turaev Dmitrij , Laffy Patrick , Weynberg Karen D. , Rattei Thomas , Willis Bette L. , Bourne David G.
Published: January 2017

Coral disease outbreaks contribute to the ongoing degradation of reef ecosystems, however, microbial mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of most coral diseases are poorly understood. Black band disease (BBD) manifests as a cyanobacterial-dominated microbial mat that destroys coral tissues as it rapidly spreads over coral colonies. To elucidate BBD pathogenesis, we apply a comparative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approach to identify taxonomic and functional changes within microbial lesions during in-situ development of BBD from a comparatively benign stage termed cyanobacterial patches. Results suggest that photosynthetic CO2-fixation in Cyanobacteria substantially enhances productivity of organic matter within the lesion during disease development. Photosynthates appear to subsequently promote sulfide-production by Deltaproteobacteria, facilitating the major virulence factor of BBD. Interestingly, our metagenome-enabled transcriptomic analysis reveals that BBD-associated cyanobacteria have a putative mechanism that enables them to adapt to higher levels of hydrogen sulfide within lesions, underpinning the pivotal roles of the dominant cyanobacterium within the polymicrobial lesions during the onset of BBD. The current study presents sequence-based evidence derived from whole microbial communities that unravel the mechanism of development and progression of BBD.
Blue Laser Diode Enables Underwater Communication at 12.4 Gbps
Authors: Wu Tsai-Chen , Chi Yu-Chieh , Wang Huai-Yung , Tsai Cheng-Ting , Lin Gong-Ru
Published: January 2017

To enable high-speed underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) in tap-water and seawater environments over long distances, a 450-nm blue GaN laser diode (LD) directly modulated by pre-leveled 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) data was employed to implement its maximal transmission capacity of up to 10 Gbps. The proposed UWOC in tap water provided a maximal allowable communication bit rate increase from 5.2 to 12.4 Gbps with the corresponding underwater transmission distance significantly reduced from 10.2 to 1.7 m, exhibiting a bit rate/distance decaying slope of −0.847 Gbps/m. When conducting the same type of UWOC in seawater, light scattering induced by impurities attenuated the blue laser power, thereby degrading the transmission with a slightly higher decay ratio of 0.941 Gbps/m. The blue LD based UWOC enables a 16-QAM OFDM bit rate of up to 7.2 Gbps for transmission in seawater more than 6.8 m.
The transmission potential of malaria-infected mosquitoes (An.gambiae-Keele, An.arabiensis-Ifakara) is altered by the vertebrate blood type they consume during parasite development
Authors: Emami S. Noushin , Ranford-Cartwright Lisa C. , Ferguson Heather M.
Published: January 2017

The efficiency of malaria parasite development within mosquito vectors (sporogony) is a critical determinant of transmission. Sporogony is thought to be controlled by environmental conditions and mosquito/parasite genetic factors, with minimal contribution from mosquito behaviour during the period of parasite development. We tested this assumption by investigating whether successful sporogony ofPlasmodium falciparumparasites through to human-infectious transmission stages is influenced by the host species upon which infected mosquitoes feed. Studies were conducted on two major African vector species that generally are found to differ in their innate host preferences:Anopheles arabiensisandAn. gambiae sensu stricto. We show that the proportion of vectors developing transmissible infections (sporozoites) was influenced by the source of host blood consumed during sporogony. The direction of this effect was associated with the innate host preference of vectors: higher sporozoite prevalences were generated in the usually human-specialistAn. gambiae s.s.feeding on human compared to cow blood, whereas the more zoophilicAn. arabiensishad significantly higher prevalences after feeding on cow blood. The potential epidemiological implications of these results are discussed.
Accumulation and transformation of inorganic and organic arsenic in rice and role of thiol-complexation to restrict their translocation to shoot
Authors: Mishra Seema , Mattusch Jürgen , Wennrich Rainer
Published: January 2017

Environmental contamination of arsenic (As) and its accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is of serious human health concern. In planta speciation of As is an important tool to understand As metabolism in plants. In the present study, we investigated root to shoot As translocation and speciation in rice exposed to inorganic and methylated As. Arsenate (AsV) and methylarsonate (MAV) were efficiently reduced to arsenite (AsIII) and MAIII, respectively in rice root and shoot but no trivalent form of dimethylarsinate (DMAV) was detected. Further, up to 48 and 83% of root As in AsV and MAV exposed plants, respectively were complexed with various thiols showing up to 20 and 16 As species, respectively. Several mixed As- and MA-complexes with hydroxymethyl-phytochelatin, DesGly-phytochelatin, hydroxymethyl-GSH and cysteine were identified in rice. Despite high complexation in roots, more As was translocated to shoots in MAV exposed plants than AsV, with shoot/root As transfer factor being in order DMAV > MAV > AsV. Moreover, in shoots 78% MAIII and 71% AsIII were present as weakly bound species which is alarming, as MAIII has been found to be more cytotoxic than AsIII for human and it could also be an important factor inducing straighthead (spikelet sterility disorder) in rice.
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) represses MHC II transcription in macrophages by methylating CIITA
Authors: Fan Zhiwen , Li Jianfei , Li Ping , Ye Qing , Xu Huihui , Wu Xiaoyan , Xu Yong
Published: January 2017

Efficient presentation of alien antigens triggers activation of T lymphocytes and robust host defense against invading pathogens. This pathophysiological process relies on the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in antigen presenting cells such as macrophages. Aberrant MHC II transactivation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Class II transactivator (CIITA) mediates MHC II induction by interferon gamma (IFN-γ). CIITA activity can be fine-tuned at the post-translational level, but the mechanisms are not fully appreciated. We investigated the role of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) in this process. We report here that CIITA interacted with PRMT1. IFN-γ treatment down-regulated PRMT1 expression and attenuated PRMT1 binding on the MHC II promoter. Over-expression of PRMT1 repressed MHC II promoter activity while PRMT1 depletion enhanced MHC II transactivation. Mechanistically, PRMT1 methylated CIITA and promoted CIITA degradation. Therefore, our data reveal a previously unrecognized role for PRMT1 in suppressing CIITA-mediated MHC II transactivation.
Persistent fibroblast growth factor 23 signalling in the parathyroid glands for secondary hyperparathyroidism in mice with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Kawakami Kazuki , Takeshita Ai , Furushima Kenryo , Miyajima Masayasu , Hatamura Ikuji , Kuro-o Makoto , Furuta Yasuhide , Sakaguchi Kazushige
Published: January 2017

Secondary hyperparathyroidism, in which parathyroid hormone (PTH) is excessively secreted in response to factors such as hyperphosphataemia, hypocalcaemia, and low 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) levels, is commonly observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and is accompanied by high levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). However, the effect of FGF23 on the parathyroid glands (PG) remains controversial. To bind to FGF receptors, FGF23 requires αKlotho, which is highly expressed in the PG. Here, we examined the effects of Fgfr1–3, αKlotho, or Fgfr1–4 ablation specifically in the PG (conditional knockout, cKO). When mice with early to mid-stage CKD with and without cKO were compared, plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphate, FGF23, and 1,25(OH)2D did not change significantly. In contrast, plasma PTH levels, which were elevated in CKD mice, were significantly decreased in cKO mice. PG from CKD mice showed augmentation of cell proliferation, which was significantly suppressed by cKO. Parathyroid tissue cultured for 4 days showed upregulation of PTH secretion and cell proliferation in response to FGF23. Both these effects were inhibited by cKO. These findings suggest that FGF23 is a long-term inducer of parathyroid cell proliferation and PTH secretion, and is one cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD.
Relaxation dynamics in the strong chalcogenide glass-former of Ge22Se78
Authors: Li Pengfei , Zhang Yaqi , Chen Zeming , Gao Peng , Wu Tao , Wang Li-Min
Published: January 2017

The enthalpy relaxation is performed in the glassy Ge22Se78 to understand the dynamic behaviors. The structure of the glass is examined by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. The dynamic parameters such as the fragility, stretching exponent and non-linear factor are determined. A low fragility of m = 27 is exhibited for the chalcogenide, however, the stretching exponent is found not to have a larger value. The enthalpy relaxation spectra are constructed for various glass formers, and a relationship between the fragility and the symmetry of the spectra is demonstrated. The dynamic results are used to evaluate the structure of the Ge22Se78 glass.
Quantitative separation of the anisotropic magnetothermopower and planar Nernst effect by the rotation of an in-plane thermal gradient
Authors: Reimer Oliver , Meier Daniel , Bovender Michel , Helmich Lars , Dreessen Jan-Oliver , Krieft Jan , Shestakov Anatoly S. , Back Christian H. , Schmalhorst Jan-Michael , Hütten Andreas , Reiss Günter , Kuschel Timo
Published: January 2017

A thermal gradient as the driving force for spin currents plays a key role in spin caloritronics. In this field the spin Seebeck effect (SSE) is of major interest and was investigated in terms of in-plane thermal gradients inducing perpendicular spin currents (transverse SSE) and out-of-plane thermal gradients generating parallel spin currents (longitudinal SSE). Up to now all spincaloric experiments employ a spatially fixed thermal gradient. Thus, anisotropic measurements with respect to well defined crystallographic directions were not possible. Here we introduce a new experiment that allows not only the in-plane rotation of the external magnetic field, but also the rotation of an in-plane thermal gradient controlled by optical temperature detection. As a consequence, the anisotropic magnetothermopower and the planar Nernst effect in a permalloy thin film can be measured simultaneously. Thus, the angular dependence of the magnetothermopower with respect to the magnetization direction reveals a phase shift, that allows the quantitative separation of the thermopower, the anisotropic magnetothermopower and the planar Nernst effect.
Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy
Authors: Sakurada Takeshi , Nakajima Takeshi , Morita Mitsuya , Hirai Masahiro , Watanabe Eiju
Published: January 2017

It is believed that motor performance improves when individuals direct attention to movement outcome (external focus, EF) rather than to body movement itself (internal focus, IF). However, our previous study found that an optimal individual attentional strategy depended on motor imagery ability. We explored whether the individual motor imagery ability in stroke patients also affected the optimal attentional strategy for motor control. Individual motor imagery ability was determined as either kinesthetic- or visual-dominant by a questionnaire in 28 patients and 28 healthy-controls. Participants then performed a visuomotor task that required tracing a trajectory under three attentional conditions: no instruction (NI), attention to hand movement (IF), or attention to cursor movement (EF). Movement error in the stroke group strongly depended on individual modality dominance of motor imagery. Patients with kinesthetic dominance showed higher motor accuracy under the IF condition but with concomitantly lower velocity. Alternatively, patients with visual dominance showed improvements in both speed and accuracy under the EF condition. These results suggest that the optimal attentional strategy for improving motor accuracy in stroke rehabilitation differs according to the individual dominance of motor imagery. Our findings may contribute to the development of tailor-made pre-assessment and rehabilitation programs optimized for individual cognitive abilities.
The Composition of Human Milk and Infant Faecal Microbiota Over the First Three Months of Life: A Pilot Study
Authors: Murphy Kiera , Curley David , O’Callaghan Tom F. , O’Shea Carol-Anne , Dempsey Eugene M. , O’Toole Paul W. , Ross R. Paul , Ryan C. Anthony , Stanton Catherine
Published: January 2017

Human milk contains a diverse array of bioactives and is also a source of bacteria for the developing infant gut. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial communities in human milk and infant faeces over the first 3 months of life, in 10 mother-infant pairs. The presence of viable Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in human milk was also evaluated. MiSeq sequencing revealed a large diversity of the human milk microbiota, identifying over 207 bacterial genera in milk samples. The phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and the genera Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were the predominant bacterial groups. A core of 12 genera represented 81% of the microbiota relative abundance in milk samples at week 1, 3 and 6, decreasing to 73% at week 12. Genera shared between infant faeces and human milk samples accounted for 70–88% of the total relative abundance in infant faecal samples, supporting the hypothesis of vertical transfer of bacteria from milk to the infant gut. In addition, identical strains of Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus plantarum were isolated from the milk and faeces of one mother-infant pair. Vertical transfer of bacteria via breastfeeding may contribute to the initial establishment of the microbiota in the developing infant intestine.
Massive Effect on LncRNAs in Human Monocytes During Fungal and Bacterial Infections and in Response to Vitamins A and D
Authors: Riege Konstantin , Hölzer Martin , Klassert Tilman E. , Barth Emanuel , Bräuer Julia , Collatz Maximilian , Hufsky Franziska , Mostajo Nelly , Stock Magdalena , Vogel Bertram , Slevogt Hortense , Marz Manja
Published: January 2017

Mycoses induced by C.albicans or A.fumigatus can cause important host damage either by deficient or exaggerated immune response. Regulation of chemokine and cytokine signaling plays a crucial role for an adequate inflammation, which can be modulated by vitamins A and D. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as transcription factors or cis-acting antisense RNAs are known to be involved in gene regulation. However, the processes during fungal infections and treatment with vitamins in terms of therapeutic impact are unknown. We show that in monocytes both vitamins regulate ncRNAs involved in amino acid metabolism and immune system processes using comprehensive RNA-Seq analyses. Compared to protein-coding genes, fungi and bacteria induced an expression change in relatively few ncRNAs, but with massive fold changes of up to 4000. We defined the landscape of long-ncRNAs (lncRNAs) in response to pathogens and observed variation in the isoforms composition for several lncRNA following infection and vitamin treatment. Most of the involved antisense RNAs are regulated and positively correlated with their sense protein-coding genes. We investigated lncRNAs with stimulus specific immunomodulatory activity as potential marker genes: LINC00595, SBF2-AS1 (A.fumigatus) and RP11-588G21.2, RP11-394l13.1 (C.albicans) might be detectable in the early phase of infection and serve as therapeutic targets in the future.
Proteomic and Carbonylation Profile Analysis at the Critical Node of Seed Ageing in Oryza sativa
Authors: Yin Guangkun , Xin Xia , Fu Shenzao , An Mengni , Wu Shuhua , Chen Xiaoling , Zhang Jinmei , He Juanjuan , Whelan James , Lu Xinxiong
Published: January 2017

The critical node (CN), which is the transition from the plateau phase to the rapid decreasing phase of seed ageing, is extremely important for seed conservation. Although numerous studies have investigated the oxidative stress during seed ageing, information on the changes in protein abundance at the CN is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the abundance and carbonylation patterns of proteins at the CN of seed ageing in rice. The results showed that the germination rate of seeds decreased by less than 20% at the CN; however, the abundance of 112 proteins and the carbonylation levels of 68 proteins markedly changed, indicating oxidative damage. The abundance and activity of mitochondrial, glycolytic, and pentose phosphate pathway proteins were reduced; consequently, this negatively affected energy production and germination. Proteins related to defense, including antioxidant system and heat shock proteins, also reduced in abundance. Overall, energy metabolism was reduced at the CN, leading to a decrease in the antioxidant capacity, whereas seed storage proteins were up-regulated and carbonylated, indicating that the seed had a lower ability to utilize seed storage proteins for germination. Thus, the significant decrease in metabolic activities at the CN might accelerate the loss of seed viability.
Loss of PAFR prevents neuroinflammation and brain dysfunction after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Yin Xiang-Jie , Chen Zhen-Yan , Zhu Xiao-Na , Hu Jin-Jia
Published: January 2017

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a principal cause of death and disability worldwide, which is a major public health problem. Death caused by TBI accounts for a third of all damage related illnesses, which 75% TBI occurred in low and middle income countries. With the increasing use of motor vehicles, the incidence of TBI has been at a high level. The abnormal brain functions of TBI patients often show the acute and long-term neurological dysfunction, which mainly associated with the pathological process of malignant brain edema and neuroinflammation in the brain. Owing to the neuroinflammation lasts for months or even years after TBI, which is a pivotal causative factor that give rise to neurodegenerative disease at late stage of TBI. Studies have shown that platelet activating factor (PAF) inducing inflammatory reaction after TBI could not be ignored. The morphological and behavioral abnormalities after TBI in wild type mice are rescued by general knockout of PAFR gene that neuroinflammation responses and cognitive ability are improved. Our results thus define a key inflammatory molecule PAF that participates in the neuroinflammation and helps bring about cerebral dysfunction during the TBI acute phase.
Chromatin organization revealed by nanostructure of irradiation induced γH2AX, 53BP1 and Rad51 foci
Authors: Reindl Judith , Girst Stefanie , Walsh Dietrich W. M. , Greubel Christoph , Schwarz Benjamin , Siebenwirth Christian , Drexler Guido A. , Friedl Anna A. , Dollinger Günther
Published: January 2017

The spatial distribution of DSB repair factors γH2AX, 53BP1 and Rad51 in ionizing radiation induced foci (IRIF) in HeLa cells using super resolution STED nanoscopy after low and high linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation was investigated. 53BP1 and γH2AX form IRIF with same mean size of (540 ± 40) nm after high LET irradiation while the size after low LET irradiation is significantly smaller. The IRIF of both repair factors show nanostructures with partial anti-correlation. These structures are related to domains formed within the chromatin territories marked by γH2AX while 53BP1 is mainly situated in the perichromatin region. The nanostructures have a mean size of (129 ± 6) nm and are found to be irrespective of the applied LET and the labelled damage marker. In contrast, Rad51 shows no nanostructure and a mean size of (143 ± 13) nm independent of LET. Although Rad51 is surrounded by 53BP1 it strongly anti-correlates meaning an exclusion of 53BP1 next to DSB when decision for homologous DSB repair happened.
High resolution structural evidence suggests the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum forms microdomains with Acidic Stores (lysosomes) in the heart
Authors: Aston Daniel , Capel Rebecca A. , Ford Kerrie L. , Christian Helen C. , Mirams Gary R. , Rog-Zielinska Eva A. , Kohl Peter , Galione Antony , Burton Rebecca A. B. , Terrar Derek A.
Published: January 2017

Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NAADP) stimulates calcium release from acidic stores such as lysosomes and is a highly potent calcium-mobilising second messenger. NAADP plays an important role in calcium signalling in the heart under basal conditions and following β-adrenergic stress. Nevertheless, the spatial interaction of acidic stores with other parts of the calcium signalling apparatus in cardiac myocytes is unknown. We present evidence that lysosomes are intimately associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in ventricular myocytes; a median separation of 20 nm in 2D electron microscopy and 3.3 nm in 3D electron tomography indicates a genuine signalling microdomain between these organelles. Fourier analysis of immunolabelled lysosomes suggests a sarcomeric pattern (dominant wavelength 1.80 μm). Furthermore, we show that lysosomes form close associations with mitochondria (median separation 6.2 nm in 3D studies) which may provide a basis for the recently-discovered role of NAADP in reperfusion-induced cell death. The trigger hypothesis for NAADP action proposes that calcium release from acidic stores subsequently acts to enhance calcium release from the SR. This work provides structural evidence in cardiac myocytes to indicate the formation of microdomains between acidic and SR calcium stores, supporting emerging interpretations of NAADP physiology and pharmacology in heart.
Suppression of colitis by adoptive transfer of helminth antigen-treated dendritic cells requires interleukin-4 receptor-α signaling
Authors: Matisz C. E. , Faz-López B. , Thomson E. , Al Rajabi A. , Lopes F. , Terrazas L. I. , Wang A. , Sharkey K. A. , McKay D. M.
Published: January 2017

Infection with helminth parasites has been explored as a treatment for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. As helminth antigens have potent immunomodulation properties capable of inducing regulatory programs in a variety of cell types, transferring cells treated with helminth antigens represents a novel extension to helminth therapy. Previous work determined that transfer of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with a crude extract of the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta (HD) can suppress colitis in recipient mice. The present study explored the mechanism of disease suppression and the importance of interleukin (IL)-4 signaling. Transfer of HD-DCs suppressed dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis through activation of recipient IL-4 receptor-α. The transferred HD-DCs required IL-4Rα and the capacity to secrete IL-10 to drive IL-4 and IL-10 production and to suppress colitis in recipient mice. Treatment of DCs with IL-4 evokes an alternatively activated phenotype, but adoptive transfer of these cells did not affect the outcome of colitis. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the complexity between IL-4 and IL-10 in donor cells and recipient, and the requirement for parasite- and host-derived factors in this novel form of cell therapy. Thus IL-4Rα signaling is revealed as a pathway that could be exploited for helminth antigen cell-based therapy.
Ultrastructure of sensilla of antennae and ovipositor of Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and location of female sex pheromone gland
Authors: Ma Min , Chang Meng-Meng , Lu Yan , Lei Chao-Liang , Yang Feng-Lian
Published: January 2017

The Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, is a serious pest of stored grains worldwide. Presently, the best effective control against the moth is to disrupt the sexual communication between sexes. Sexual communication in moths includes two processes in which females produce and release pheromones from the sex pheromone gland and males detect and respond to them with a relatively sophisticated olfactory system in their antennae. To better understand these processes, we studied the ultrastructure of antennal and ovipositor sensilla of S. cerealella and determined the location of the female sex pheromone gland. Seven types of antennal sensilla were identified on both sexes: sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla styloconica, sensilla auricillica, sensilla squamiformia and Bӧhm bristles. Of these sensilla, the sensilla trichodea were significantly more abundant on male antennae than on those of females, suggesting that these sensilla may detect the sex pheromones. On the ovipositor, only sensilla chaetica of various lengths were found. The sexual gland was an eversible sac of glandular epithelium that was situated dorsally in the intersegmental membrane between the 8th and 9th abdominal segments. These results will lead to a better understanding of mate finding with sex pheromones for this worldwide pest species.
Identification of a Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 Recognition Motif in the Apolipoprotein E Variant APOE4 linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Urfer-Buchwalder Anne , Urfer Roman
Published: January 2017

Alzheimer’s disease affects tens of millions of people worldwide and its prevalence continues to rise. It is caused by a combination of a subject’s heredity, environment, lifestyle, and medical condition. The most significant genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s disease is a variant of the apolipoprotein E gene, APOE4. Here we show that the single nucleotide polymorphism rs429358 that defines APOE4 is located in a short sequence motif repeated several times within exon 4 of apolipoprotein E, reminiscent of the structure of transcriptional enhancers. A JASPAR database search predicts that the T to C transition in rs429358 generates a binding motif for nuclear respiratory factor NRF1. This site appears to be part of a binding site cluster for this transcription factor on exon 4 of APOE. This de novo NRF1 binding site has therefore the potential to affect the expression of multiple genes in its genomic vicinity. Our in silico analysis, suggesting a novel function for APOE4 at the DNA level, offers a potential mechanism for the observed tissue specific neurodegeneration and the role of environmental factors in Alzheimer’s disease etiology.
Six Years in the Life of a Mother Bear - The Longest Continuous Heart Rate Recordings from a Free-Ranging Mammal
Authors: Laske Timothy G. , Iaizzo Paul A. , Garshelis David L.
Published: January 2017

Physiological monitoring of free-ranging wild animals is providing new insights into their adaptations to a changing environment. American black bears (Ursus americanus) are highly adaptable mammals, spending up to half the year hibernating, and the remainder of the year attempting to gain weight on a landscape with foods that vary seasonally and year to year. We recorded heart rate (HR) and corresponding activity of an adult female black bear over the course of six years, using an implanted monitor. Despite yearly differences in food, and an every-other year reproductive cycle, this bear exhibited remarkable consistency in HR and activity. HR increased for 12 weeks in spring, from minimal hibernation levels (mean 20–25 beats/minute [bpm]; min 10 bpm) to summer active levels (July daytime: mean 95 bpm). Timing was delayed following one cold winter. In August the bear switched from primarily diurnal to nocturnal, coincident with the availability of baits set by legal hunters. Activity in autumn was higher when the bear was with cubs. Birthing of cubs in January was identified by a transient increase in HR and activity. Long-term physiological and behavioral monitoring is valuable for understanding adaptations of free-ranging animals to climate change, food availability, and human-related stressors.
Mitochondrial protein import - Functional analysis of the highly diverged Tom22 orthologue of Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Mani Jan , Rout Samuel , Desy Silvia , Schneider André
Published: January 2017

The β-barrel protein Tom40 and the α-helically anchored membrane protein Tom22 are the only universally conserved subunits of the protein translocase of the mitochondrial outer membrane (TOM). Tom22 has an N-terminal cytosolic and a C-terminal intermembrane space domain. It occurs in two variants: one typified by the yeast protein which has a cytosolic domain containing a cluster of acidic residues, and a shorter variant typified by the plant protein that lacks this domain. Yeast-type Tom22 functions as a secondary protein import receptor and is also required for the stability of the TOM complex. Much less is known about the more widespread short variant of Tom22, which is also found in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. Here we show that the intermembrane space domain of trypanosomal Tom22 binds mitochondrial precursor proteins and that it is essential for normal growth and mitochondrial protein import. Moreover, complementation experiments indicate that the intermembrane space domain cannot be replaced by the corresponding regions of the yeast or plant Tom22 orthologues. Lack or replacement of the short cytosolic domain, however, does not interfere with protein function. Finally, we show that only the membrane-spanning domain of trypanosomal Tom22 is essential for assembly of the trypanosomal TOM complex analogue.
Does a Strong El Niño Imply a Higher Predictability of Extreme Drought?
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Yuan Xing , Li Yaohui
Published: January 2017

The devastating North China drought in the summer of 2015 was roughly captured by a dynamical seasonal climate forecast model with a good prediction of the 2015/16 big El Niño. This raises a question of whether strong El Niños imply higher predictability of extreme droughts. Here we show that a strong El Niño does not necessarily result in an extreme drought, but it depends on whether the El Niño evolves synergistically with Eurasian spring snow cover reduction to trigger a positive summer Eurasian teleconnection (EU) pattern that favors anomalous northerly and air sinking over North China. The dynamical forecast model that only well represents the El Niño underpredicts the drought severity, while a dynamical-statistical forecasting approach that combines both the low- and high-latitudes precursors is more skillful at long lead. In a warming future, the vanishing cryosphere should be better understood to improve predictability of extreme droughts.
Inhibition of Influenza A Virus Infection by Fucoidan Targeting Viral Neuraminidase and Cellular EGFR Pathway
Authors: Wang Wei , Wu Jiandong , Zhang Xiaoshuang , Hao Cui , Zhao Xiaoliang , Jiao Guangling , Shan Xindi , Tai Wenjing , Yu Guangli
Published: January 2017

Development of novel anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity is critical for preparedness against influenza outbreaks. Herein, we investigated the anti-IAV activities and mechanisms of fucoidan in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a fucoidan KW derived from brown algae Kjellmaniella crassifolia effectively blocked IAV infection in vitro with low toxicity. KW possessed broad anti-IAV spectrum and low tendency of induction of viral resistance, superior to the anti-IAV drug amantadine. KW was capable of inactivating virus particles before infection and blocked some stages after adsorption. KW could bind to viral neuraminidase (NA) and inhibit the activity of NA to block the release of IAV. KW also interfered with the activation of EGFR, PKCα, NF-κB, and Akt, and inhibited both IAV endocytosis and EGFR internalization in IAV-infected cells, suggesting that KW may also inhibit cellular EGFR pathway. Moreover, intranasal administration of KW markedly improved survival and decreased viral titers in IAV-infected mice. Therefore, fucoidan KW has the potential to be developed into a novel nasal drop or spray for prevention and treatment of influenza in the future.
T Oligo-Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (TOP-PCR): A Robust Method for the Amplification of Minute DNA Fragments in Body Fluids
Authors: Nai Yu-Shin , Chen Tzu-Han , Huang Yu-Feng , Midha Mohit K. , Shiau Hsin-Chieh , Shen Chen-Yang , Chen Chien-Jen , Yu Alice L. , Chiu Kuo Ping
Published: January 2017

Body fluid DNA sequencing is a powerful noninvasive approach for the diagnosis of genetic defects, infectious agents and diseases. The success relies on the quantity and quality of the DNA samples. However, numerous clinical samples are either at low quantity or of poor quality due to various reasons. To overcome these problems, we have developed T oligo-primed polymerase chain reaction (TOP-PCR) for full-length nonselective amplification of minute quantity of DNA fragments. TOP-PCR adopts homogeneous “half adaptor” (HA), generated by annealing P oligo (carrying a phosphate group at the 5′ end) and T oligo (carrying a T-tail at the 3′ end), for efficient ligation to target DNA and subsequent PCR amplification primed by the T oligo alone. Using DNA samples from body fluids, we demonstrate that TOP-PCR recovers minute DNA fragments and maintains the DNA size profile, while enhancing the major molecular populations. Our results also showed that TOP-PCR is a superior method for detecting apoptosis and outperforms the method adopted by Illumina for DNA amplification.
Lifetime prediction for organic coating under alternating hydrostatic pressure by artificial neural network
Authors: Tian Wenliang , Meng Fandi , Liu Li , Li Ying , Wang Fuhui
Published: January 2017

A concept for prediction of organic coatings, based on the alternating hydrostatic pressure (AHP) accelerated tests, has been presented. An AHP accelerated test with different pressure values has been employed to evaluate coating degradation. And a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) has been established to predict the service property and the service lifetime of coatings. The pressure value (P), immersion time (t) and service property (impedance modulus |Z|) are utilized as the parameters of the network. The average accuracies of the predicted service property and immersion time by the established network are 98.6% and 84.8%, respectively. The combination of accelerated test and prediction method by BP-ANN is promising to evaluate and predict coating property used in deep sea.
Putative presynaptic dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia is supported by molecular evidence from post-mortem human midbrain
Authors: Purves-Tyson T D , Owens S J , Rothmond D A , Halliday G M , Double K L , Stevens J , McCrossin T , Shannon Weickert C
Published: January 2017

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that increased subcortical dopamine underpins psychosis. In vivo imaging studies indicate an increased presynaptic dopamine synthesis capacity in striatal terminals and cell bodies in the midbrain in schizophrenia; however, measures of the dopamine-synthesising enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), have not identified consistent changes. We hypothesise that dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia could result from changes in expression of dopamine synthesis enzymes, receptors, transporters or catabolic enzymes. Gene expression of 12 dopamine-related molecules was examined in post-mortem midbrain (28 antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia cases/29 controls) using quantitative PCR. TH and the synaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) proteins were examined in post-mortem midbrain (26 antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia cases per 27 controls) using immunoblotting. TH and aromatic acid decarboxylase (AADC) mRNA and TH protein were unchanged in the midbrain in schizophrenia compared with controls. Dopamine receptor D2 short, vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) and DAT mRNAs were significantly decreased in schizophrenia, with no change in DRD3 mRNA, DRD3nf mRNA and DAT protein between diagnostic groups. However, DAT protein was significantly increased in putatively treatment-resistant cases of schizophrenia compared to putatively treatment-responsive cases. Midbrain monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) mRNA was increased, whereas MAOB and catechol-O-methyl transferase mRNAs were unchanged in schizophrenia. We conclude that, whereas some mRNA changes are consistent with increased dopamine action (decreased DAT mRNA), others suggest reduced dopamine action (increased MAOA mRNA) in the midbrain in schizophrenia. Here, we identify a molecular signature of dopamine dysregulation in the midbrain in schizophrenia that mainly includes gene expression changes of molecules involved in dopamine synthesis and in regulating the time course of dopamine action.
Brain connectivity changes occurring following cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis predict long-term recovery
Authors: Mason L , Peters E , Williams S C , Kumari V
Published: January 2017

Little is known about the psychobiological mechanisms of cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp) and which specific processes are key in predicting favourable long-term outcomes. Following theoretical models of psychosis, this proof-of-concept study investigated whether the long-term recovery path of CBTp completers can be predicted by the neural changes in threat-based social affective processing that occur during CBTp. We followed up 22 participants who had undergone a social affective processing task during functional magnetic resonance imaging along with self-report and clinician-administered symptom measures, before and after receiving CBTp. Monthly ratings of psychotic and affective symptoms were obtained retrospectively across 8 years since receiving CBTp, plus self-reported recovery at final follow-up. We investigated whether these long-term outcomes were predicted by CBTp-led changes in functional connections with dorsal prefrontal cortical and amygdala during the processing of threatening and prosocial facial affect. Although long-term psychotic symptoms were predicted by changes in prefrontal connections during prosocial facial affective processing, long-term affective symptoms were predicted by threat-related amygdalo-inferior parietal lobule connectivity. Greater increases in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex connectivity with amygdala following CBTp also predicted higher subjective ratings of recovery at long-term follow-up. These findings show that reorganisation occurring at the neural level following psychological therapy can predict the subsequent recovery path of people with psychosis across 8 years. This novel methodology shows promise for further studies with larger sample size, which are needed to better examine the sensitivity of psychobiological processes, in comparison to existing clinical measures, in predicting long-term outcomes.
A methylome-wide mQTL analysis reveals associations of methylation sites with GAD1 and HDAC3 SNPs and a general psychiatric risk score
Authors: Ciuculete D M , Boström A E , Voisin S , Philipps H , Titova O E , Bandstein M , Nikontovic L , Williams M J , Mwinyi J , Schiöth H B
Published: January 2017

Genome-wide association studies have identified a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with psychiatric diseases. Increasing body of evidence suggests a complex connection of SNPs and the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which is poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the interplay between genetic risk variants, shifts in methylation and mRNA levels in whole blood from 223 adolescents distinguished by a risk for developing psychiatric disorders. We analyzed 37 SNPs previously associated with psychiatric diseases in relation to genome-wide DNA methylation levels using linear models, with Bonferroni correction and adjusting for cell-type composition. Associations between DNA methylation, mRNA levels and psychiatric disease risk evaluated by the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) score were identified by robust linear models, Pearson’s correlations and binary regression models. We detected five SNPs (in HCRTR1, GAD1, HADC3 and FKBP5) that were associated with eight CpG sites, validating five of these SNP–CpG pairs. Three of these CpG sites, that is, cg01089319 (GAD1), cg01089249 (GAD1) and cg24137543 (DIAPH1), manifest in significant gene expression changes and overlap with active regulatory regions in chromatin states of brain tissues. Importantly, methylation levels at cg01089319 were associated with the DAWBA score in the discovery group. These results show how distinct SNPs linked with psychiatric diseases are associated with epigenetic shifts with relevance for gene expression. Our findings give a novel insight on how genetic variants may modulate risks for the development of psychiatric diseases.
A terbium(iii)-based coordination polymer for time-resolved determination of hydrogen sulfide in human serum via displacement of copper(ii)
Authors: Chen Lili , Huang Penghui , Tan Hongliang , Wang Li
Published: January 2017

Lanthanide coordination polymers (LCPs) have attracted great interest because of their special photophysical properties, diverse compositions and architecture.
The development of a graphene oxide-based aptasensor used for the detection of tetracycline in honey
Authors: Tang Yali , Zhang Jichuan , Liu Jia-Hui , Gapparov Ilyar , Wang Sai , Dong Yiyang , Su Haijia , Tan Tianwei
Published: January 2017

The absorption properties of graphene oxide and its aggregation ability in saline were used for detecting antibiotic tetracycline.
Desymmetrization of aziridine with malononitrile using cinchona alkaloid amide/zinc(ii) catalysts
Authors: Shiomi Noriyuki , Kuroda Mami , Nakamura Shuichi
Published: January 2017

The catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of aziridines with malononitrile has been developed.
Photoresponsive, reversible immobilization of virus particles on supramolecular platforms
Authors: Weineisen N. L. , Hommersom C. A. , Voskuhl J. , Sankaran S. , Depauw A. M. A. , Katsonis N. , Jonkheijm P. , Cornelissen J. J. L. M.
Published: January 2017

Covalently attached azobenzene moieties to cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) allow for photoresponsive immobilization on cucurbit[8]uril bearing surfaces.
Synthesis of 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine by traceless C3-selective umpolung of 1-amidopyridin-1-ium salts
Authors: Tang Pingsheng , Xiao Dehai , Wang Bo
Published: January 2017

A natural product inspired rapid access of 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine by one-pot reaction of 1-amidopyridin-1-ium salt with aminal followed by reductive cleavage of the N–N bond is developed.
Solvent effects on ligand binding to a serine protease
Authors: Gopal Srinivasa M. , Klumpers Fabian , Herrmann Christian , Schäfer Lars V.
Published: January 2017

ITC experiments and MD simulations reveal the mechanism behind enthalpy/entropy compensation upon trypsin-benzamidine binding at different solvation conditions.
Chemically induced topological zero mode at graphene armchair edges
Authors: Ziatdinov M. , Lim H. , Fujii S. , Kusakabe K. , Kiguchi M. , Enoki T. , Kim Y.
Published: January 2017

The electronic and magnetic properties of chemically modified graphene armchair edges are studied using a combination of tight-binding calculations, first-principles modelling, and low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments.
Prediction of low-field nuclear singlet lifetimes with molecular dynamics and quantum-chemical property surface
Authors: Håkansson Pär
Published: January 2017

Molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry methods are implemented to quantify nuclear spin-1/2 pair singlet-state relaxation rates. Illustrated is the relevant spin-internal-motion mechanism (SIM).
A spherical deca-vanadophosphate covalent assembled all-inorganic open framework
Authors: Hu Hailiang , Guo Zhenyu , Li Kaixuan , Lin Xiaoling , Liu Yang , Kang Zhenhui
Published: January 2017

Through covalent connection of phosphate groups, an all-inorganic open framework, [NH4]9[P4V10O34]1.5·3H2O (1), has been prepared by a hydrothermal reduction–condensation method.
Syntheses of transition metal methoxysiloxides
Authors: Richers Casseday P. , Bertke Jeffery A. , Rauchfuss Thomas B.
Published: January 2017

The paper describes three methods for the preparation of methoxysiloxide complexes, a rare class of complexes of relevance to room temperature vulcanization (RTV) of polysiloxanes.
Complexes of (η5-Cp*)Ir(iii) with 1-benzyl-3-phenylthio/selenomethyl-1,3-dihydrobenzoimidazole-2-thione/selenone: catalyst for oxidation and 1,2-substituted benzimidazole synthesis
Authors: Sharma Alpesh K. , Joshi Hemant , Bhaskar Renu , Singh Ajai K.
Published: January 2017

(η5-Cp*)Ir(iii) complexes catalyze at 0.01–0.1 mol%, reactions of 1,2-phenylenediamine with ArCH2OH and oxidation of alcohols.
Sterically directed nitronate complexes of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-nitrophenoxide with Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) and their H-atom transfer reactivity
Authors: Porter Thomas R. , Hayes Ellen C. , Kaminsky Werner , Mayer James M.
Published: January 2017

The bulky 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-nitrophenolate ligand forms complexes with [TptBuCuII]+ and [TptBuZnII]+ binding via the nitro group in an unusual nitronato-quinone resonance form (TptBu = hydro-tris(3-tert-butyl-pyrazol-1-yl)borate).
Trends in the electronic and geometric structure of non-fullerene based acceptors for organic solar cells
Authors: Kuzmich Alina , Padula Daniele , Ma Haibo , Troisi Alessandro
Published: January 2017

High power conversion efficiency are displayed by organic solar cells with small energy gap between LUMO+1 and LUMO orbitals.
Endogenous water-triggered and ultrasound accelerated synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles via a solvent and catalyst-free Ugi-azide reaction
Authors: Pharande Shrikant G. , Corrales Escobosa Alma Rosa , Gámez-Montaño Rocío
Published: January 2017

An ultrasound accelerated, environmentally benign Ugi-azide based method was developed for the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles under solvent and catalyst-free conditions.
Organic synthesis by Twin Screw Extrusion (TSE): continuous, scalable and solvent-free
Authors: Crawford Deborah E. , Miskimmin Clodagh K. G. , Albadarin Ahmad B. , Walker Gavin , James Stuart L.
Published: January 2017

Several organic reactions have been achieved quantitatively without any added solvent, using solid or liquid reagents, on a continuous basis; products are typically obtained directly in analytically pure form, requiring no work-up.
Design, structures and study of non-covalent interactions of mono-, di-, and tetranuclear complexes of a bifurcated quadridentate tripod ligand, N-(aminopropyl)-diethanolamine
Authors: Sama Farasha , Ansari Istikhar A. , Raizada Mukul , Ahmad Musheer , Nagaraja C. M. , Shahid M. , Kumar Abhinav , Khan Kulsum , Siddiqi Zafar A.
Published: January 2017

Supramolecular non-covalent interactions in novel mono-, di- and tetranuclear complexes are explored.
Sandwich-type silicotungstate modified TiO2 microspheres for enhancing light harvesting and reducing electron recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Wang Yi-Jing , Chen Wei-Lin , Chen Li , Zheng Xiao-Tao , Xu Sha-Sha , Wang En-Bo
Published: January 2017

Sandwich-type silicotungstates have been applied in DSSCs where an 0.8% Ni4 modified photoanode exhibited the best performance in enhancing light harvesting and reducing electron recombination.
‘Aggregation induced emission’ active iridium(iii) complexes with applications in mitochondrial staining
Authors: Alam Parvej , Dash Subhra , Climent Claudia , Kaur Gurpreet , Choudhury Angshuman Roy , Casanova David , Alemany Pere , Chowdhury Rajdeep , Laskar Inamur Rahaman
Published: January 2017

Synthesized two new bis-cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes exhibiting strong AIE, studied their luminescence by spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations and applied as a non-toxic bio-imaging probe for mitochondrial staining.