bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Posttranslational Modifications of CXCL8/Interleukin-8 on CXCR1 and CXCR2 Internalization and Signaling Properties
Authors: Vacchini Alessandro , Mortier Anneleen , Proost Paul , Locati Massimo , Metzemaekers Mieke , Borroni Elena Monica
Published: November 2018

CXCL8 or interleukin (IL)-8 directs neutrophil migration and activation through interaction with CXCR1 and CXCR2 that belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Naturally occurring posttranslational modifications of the NH2-terminal region of CXCL8 affect its biological activities, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are only partially understood. Here, we studied the implications of site-specific citrullination and truncation for the signaling potency of CXCL8. Native CXCL8(1-77), citrullinated [Cit5]CXCL8(1-77) and the major natural isoform CXCL8(6-77) were chemically synthesized and tested in internalization assays using human neutrophils. Citrullinated and truncated isoforms showed a moderately enhanced capacity to induce internalization of CXCR1 and CXCR2. Moreover, CXCL8-mediated activation of Gαi-dependent signaling through CXCR1 and CXCR2 was increased upon modification to [Cit5]CXCL8(1-77) or CXCL8(6-77). All CXCL8 variants promoted recruitment of β-arrestins 1 and 2 to CXCR1 and CXCR2. Compared to CXCL8(1-77), CXCL8(6-77) showed an enhanced potency to recruit β-arrestin 2 to both receptors, while for [Cit5]CXCL8(1-77) only the capacity to induce β-arrestin 2 recruitment to CXCR2 was increased. Both modifications had no biasing effect, i.e., did not alter the preference of CXCL8 to activate either Gαi-protein or β-arrestin-dependent signaling through its receptors. Our results support the concept that specific chemokine activities are fine-tuned by posttranslational modifications.
Characterization of Callose Deposition and Analysis of the Callose Synthase Gene Family of Brassica napus in Response to Leptosphaeria maculans
Authors: Liu Fei , Zou Zhongwei , Fernando W. G. Dilantha
Published: November 2018

Callose plays a critical role in different biological processes including development as well as in the response to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we characterized the callose deposition in cotyledons of different Brassica napus varieties post-inoculated with different Leptosphaeria maculans isolates. Further, members of the callose synthase gene were identified from the whole genome of B. napus using the 12 Arabidopsis thaniana callose synthase protein sequences, and were then classified into three groups based on their phylogenetic relationships. Chromosomal location and duplication patterns indicated uneven distribution and segmental duplication patterns of BnCalS genes in the B. napus genome. Subsequently, gene structures, conserved domains analysis, and protein properties were analyzed for BnCalS genes. In addition, 12 B. napus orthologs of the AtCalS were selected for investigating the tissue expression pattern, indicating diverse expression patterns for these BnCalS genes. Responses of the selected 12 orthologs and all the BnCalS genes were characterized in the different types (AvrLm1-Rlm1, AvrLm4-Rlm4, AvrLepR1-LepR1) of B. napus–L. maculans interactions and B. napus-Leptosphaeria biglobosa interactions, implying their potential roles in response to Leptosphaeria infection.
The Ambivalent Function of YAP in Apoptosis and Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xianbin , Abdelrahman Ahmed , Vollmar Brigitte , Zechner Dietmar
Published: November 2018

Yes-associated protein, a core regulator of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, plays a vital role in inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, several studies and reviews suggest that yes-associated protein is a good target for treating cancer. Unfortunately, more and more evidence demonstrates that this protein is also an essential contributor of p73-mediated apoptosis. This questions the concept that yes-associated protein is always a good target for developing novel anti-cancer drugs. Thus, the aim of this review was to evaluate the clinical relevance of yes-associated protein for cancer pathophysiology. This review also summarized the molecules, processes and drugs, which regulate Hippo-YAP signaling and discusses their effect on apoptosis. In addition, issues are defined, which should be addressed in the future in order to provide a solid basis for targeting the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway in clinical trials.
Autophagic and Apoptotic Pathways as Targets for Chemotherapy in Glioblastoma
Authors: Trejo-Solís Cristina , Serrano-Garcia Norma , Escamilla-Ramírez Ángel , Castillo-Rodríguez Rosa A. , Jimenez-Farfan Dolores , Palencia Guadalupe , Calvillo Minerva , Alvarez-Lemus Mayra A. , Flores-Nájera Athenea , Cruz-Salgado Arturo , Sotelo Julio
Published: November 2018

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and aggressive type of brain tumor, with a mean life expectancy of less than 15 months. This is due in part to the high resistance to apoptosis and moderate resistant to autophagic cell death in glioblastoma cells, and to the poor therapeutic response to conventional therapies. Autophagic cell death represents an alternative mechanism to overcome the resistance of glioblastoma to pro-apoptosis-related therapies. Nevertheless, apoptosis induction plays a major conceptual role in several experimental studies to develop novel therapies against brain tumors. In this review, we outline the different components of the apoptotic and autophagic pathways and explore the mechanisms of resistance to these cell death pathways in glioblastoma cells. Finally, we discuss drugs with clinical and preclinical use that interfere with the mechanisms of survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and cell death of malignant cells, favoring the induction of apoptosis and autophagy, or the inhibition of the latter leading to cell death, as well as their therapeutic potential in glioma, and examine new perspectives in this promising research field.
Multimodal Interaction of Contextual and Non-Contextual Sound and Haptics in Virtual Simulations
Authors: Melaisi Mohammed , Rojas David , Kapralos Bill , Uribe-Quevedo Alvaro , Collins Karen
Published: November 2018

Touch plays a fundamental role in our daily interactions, allowing us to interact with and perceive objects and their spatial properties. Despite its importance in the real-world, touch is often ignored in virtual environments. However, accurately simulating the sense of touch is difficult, requiring the use of high-fidelity haptic devices that are cost-prohibitive. Lower fidelity consumer-level haptic devices are becoming more widespread, yet are generally limited in perceived fidelity and the range of motion (degrees of freedom) required to realistically simulate many tasks. Studies into sound and vision suggest that the presence or absence of sound can influence task performance. Here, we explore whether the presence or absence of contextually relevant sound cues influences the performance of a simple haptic drilling task. Although the results of this study do not show any statistically significant difference in task performance with general (task-irrelevant) sound, we discuss how this is a necessary step in understanding the role of sound on haptic perception.
Association between Cardiovascular Risk and Diabetes with Colorectal Neoplasia: A Site-Specific Analysis
Authors: Niederseer David , Bracher Isabelle , Stadlmayr Andreas , Huber-Schönauer Ursula , Plöderl Martin , Obeid Slayman , Schmied Christian , Hammerl Sabrina , Stickel Felix , Lederer Dieter , Patsch Wolfgang , Aigner Elmar , Datz Christian
Published: November 2018

Several studies have shown site-specific differences in colorectal cancer (CRC) with respect to the risk factors. CRC was shown to be associated with cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors, but site-specific variations have not been investigated so far. This study aimed to assess the associations between the prevalence and subsite-specific differences of colorectal neoplasia and established CVR scores or known coronary artery disease (CAD) in a large asymptomatic European screening cohort (N = 2098). Participants underwent simultaneous screening colonoscopy and CVR evaluation, using the Framingham Risk Score and Heart Score. Lesions found in the colonoscopy were classified by location (proximal/distal colon or rectum). More neoplasias were found in the proximal versus the distal colon (p < 0.001). The Framingham Risk Score and Heart Score showed incremental risk for colorectal adenoma, across the tertiles in the proximal and the distal colon (p < 0.001). The prevalence of adenomas in the rectum was much lower, but also here, incremental risk could be shown for the Framingham Risk but not the Heart Risk Score tertiles. Prevalence of adenomas in the proximal colon was higher in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (p = 0.006), but no association was found between adenomas and T2DM in the distal colon (p = 0.618) and the rectum (p = 0.071). Males had a higher CVR and more findings, in the screening colonoscopy, as compared to females, however, no site-specific differences were noted. Patients with known CAD and high CVR have an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in both the proximal and distal colon. Patients with T2DM have a higher risk for neoplasia in the proximal colon.
Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence in Students Attending West Virginia University
Authors: Olfert Melissa D. , Dent Amanda , Wattick Rachel A.
Published: November 2018

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Few studies have investigated the MetS risk of young adults (18–24 years old). This study aims to determine the prevalence of MetS in Appalachian and non-Appalachian students attending West Virginia University. The prevalence of MetS in this population was 15%. There was no difference in MetS prevalence between male students and female students (18.8% males and 11.1% females, p-value = 0.30), or between Appalachian students and non-Appalachian students (17.7% Appalachian and 10.0% non-Appalachian, p-value = 0.33). Identification of MetS early in life is needed in order to reduce the onset of chronic disease. Therefore, implementing a screening process to identify at-risk young adults will help tailor more effective behavioral interventions.
A Tomograph Prototype for Quantitative Microwave Imaging: Preliminary Experimental Results
Authors: Fedeli Alessandro , Maffongelli Manuela , Monleone Ricardo , Pagnamenta Claudio , Pastorino Matteo , Poretti Samuel , Randazzo Andrea , Salvadè Andrea
Published: November 2018

A new prototype of a tomographic system for microwave imaging is presented in this paper. The target being tested is surrounded by an ad-hoc 3D-printed structure, which supports sixteen custom antenna elements. The transmission measurements between each pair of antennas are acquired through a vector network analyzer connected to a modular switching matrix. The collected data are inverted by a hybrid nonlinear procedure combining qualitative and quantitative reconstruction algorithms. Preliminary experimental results, showing the capabilities of the developed system, are reported.
Recent Advances in the Use of Galleria mellonella Model to Study Immune Responses against Human Pathogens
Authors: Pereira Thais Cristine , De Barros Patrícia Pimentel , Fugisaki Luciana Ruano de Oliveira , Rossoni Rodnei Dennis , Ribeiro Felipe de Camargo , De Menezes Raquel Teles , Junqueira Juliana Campos , Scorzoni Liliana
Published: November 2018

The use of invertebrates for in vivo studies in microbiology is well established in the scientific community. Larvae of Galleria mellonella are a widely used model for studying pathogenesis, the efficacy of new antimicrobial compounds, and immune responses. The immune system of G. mellonella larvae is structurally and functionally similar to the innate immune response of mammals, which makes this model suitable for such studies. In this review, cellular responses (hemocytes activity: phagocytosis, nodulation, and encapsulation) and humoral responses (reactions or soluble molecules released in the hemolymph as antimicrobial peptides, melanization, clotting, free radical production, and primary immunization) are discussed, highlighting the use of G. mellonella as a model of immune response to different human pathogenic microorganisms.
Design and Analysis of Adaptive Hierarchical Low-Power Long-Range Networks
Authors: Amaxilatis Dimitrios , Chatzigiannakis Ioannis
Published: November 2018

A new phase of evolution of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication has started where vertical Internet of Things (IoT) deployments dedicated to a single application domain gradually change to multi-purpose IoT infrastructures that service different applications across multiple industries. New networking technologies are being deployed operating over sub-GHz frequency bands that enable multi-tenant connectivity over long distances and increase network capacity by enforcing low transmission rates to increase network capacity. Such networking technologies allow cloud-based platforms to be connected with large numbers of IoT devices deployed several kilometres from the edges of the network. Despite the rapid uptake of Long-power Wide-area Networks (LPWANs), it remains unclear how to organize the wireless sensor network in a scaleable and adaptive way. This paper introduces a hierarchical communication scheme that utilizes the new capabilities of Long-Range Wireless Sensor Networking technologies by combining them with broadly used 802.11.4-based low-range low-power technologies. The design of the hierarchical scheme is presented in detail along with the technical details on the implementation in real-world hardware platforms. A platform-agnostic software firmware is produced that is evaluated in real-world large-scale testbeds. The performance of the networking scheme is evaluated through a series of experimental scenarios that generate environments with varying channel quality, failing nodes, and mobile nodes. The performance is evaluated in terms of the overall time required to organize the network and setup a hierarchy, the energy consumption and the overall lifetime of the network, as well as the ability to adapt to channel failures. The experimental analysis indicate that the combination of long-range and short-range networking technologies can lead to scalable solutions that can service concurrently multiple applications.
Polyvinyl Alcohol Reinforced Flame-Retardant Polyacrylonitrile Composite Fiber Prepared by Boric Acid Cross-Linking and Phosphorylation
Authors: Ren Yuanlin , Tian Tian , Jiang Lina , Liu Xiaohui , Han Zhenbang
Published: November 2018

To improve the strength and maintain the inherent properties of flame-retardant polyacrylonitrile (FR-PAN) fiber, a commercialized hydrocarbon polymer, i.e., poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), used as an enhancement component, was blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) spinning dope to fabricate a PVA/PAN composite fiber through wet-spun technology. Then, cross-linked PVA/PAN composite fiber (C-PVA/PAN) was acquired via boric acid cross-linking. Finally, flame-retardant C-PVA/PAN fiber (FR-PVA/PAN) was prepared by phosphorylation. The structures of the samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results reveal that the thermal stability of the composite fiber is lower than that of the pristine PAN fiber. However, the char residue of the composite fiber is higher than that of the control sample, wherein, FR-PVA/PAN has the highest char residue of 62.5 wt% at 800 °C. The results regarding the combustion properties of FR-PVA/PAN show that the fire hazard of FR-PVA/PAN is restrained greatly, indicating excellent flame-retardant performance. The corresponding flame-retardant mechanism of FR-PAV/PAN is investigated by Pyrolysis gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis (TG-FTIR). The results indicate the gas-phase and condensed-phase flame-retardant mechanisms.
Synthesis, Structure and Magnetic Study of a Di-Iron Complex Containing N-N Bridges
Authors: Chatterjee Abhishikta , Thompson Laurence K. , Dey Subrata K.
Published: November 2018

The iron (II) coordination compound, {[Fe(3,6 pzdc)](H2O)2}2. (1) has been synthesized from a mixture of FeCl2.4H2O and pyridazinedicarboxylate (3,6 pzdc). The molecular structure of complex 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. It reveals that the dinuclear structure contains a pyridazine bridge in between the two metal centers. The variable temperature magnetic study results in g = 2.496(8), J = −2.50(8) cm−1, Ɵ = −0.1 K values, by fitting the magnetic data in a simple dinuclear Fe-Fe model which indicates that the major exchange pathway through the N-N bridge. Presence of dense H-bonding interaction leads to supramolecular network formation.
Resistance Distance in H-Join of Graphs G1,G2,…,Gk
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhao Jing , Liu Jia-Bao , Arockiaraj Micheal
Published: November 2018

In view of the wide application of resistance distance, the computation of resistance distance in various graphs becomes one of the main topics. In this paper, we aim to compute resistance distance in H-join of graphs G 1 , G 2 , … , G k . Recall that H is an arbitrary graph with V ( H ) = { 1 , 2 , … , k } , and G 1 , G 2 , … , G k are disjoint graphs. Then, the H-join of graphs G 1 , G 2 , … , G k , denoted by ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } , is a graph formed by taking G 1 , G 2 , … , G k and joining every vertex of G i to every vertex of G j whenever i is adjacent to j in H. Here, we first give the Laplacian matrix of ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } , and then give a { 1 } -inverse L ( ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } ) { 1 } or group inverse L ( ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } ) # of L ( ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } ) . It is well know that, there exists a relationship between resistance distance and entries of { 1 } -inverse or group inverse. Therefore, we can easily obtain resistance distance in ⋁ H { G 1 , G 2 , … , G k } . In addition, some applications are presented in this paper.
New Refinements and Improvements of Jordan’s Inequality
Authors: Zhang Lina , Ma Xuesi
Published: November 2018

The polynomial bounds of Jordan’s inequality, especially the cubic and quartic polynomial bounds, have been studied and improved in a lot of the literature; however, the linear and quadratic polynomial bounds can not be improved very much. In this paper, new refinements and improvements of Jordan’s inequality are given. We present new lower bounds and upper bounds for strengthened Jordan’s inequality using polynomials of degrees 1 and 2. Our bounds are tighter than the previous results of polynomials of degrees 1 and 2. More importantly, we give new improvements of Jordan’s inequality using polynomials of degree 5, which can achieve much tighter bounds than those previous methods.
Differential Expression of Tissue Transglutaminase Splice Variants in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Sestito Claudia , Brevé John J. P. , Killestein Joep , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Wilhelmus Micha M. M. , Drukarch Benjamin , Van Dam Anne-Marie
Published: November 2018

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation and immune cell infiltration in the brain parenchyma. Tissue transglutaminase (TG2), a calcium-dependent cross-linking enzyme, has been shown to be present in infiltrating MHC-II positive cells in lesions of patients suffering from MS. Moreover, TG2 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-derived from primary progressive (PP)-MS patients correlated with clinical parameters, thus highlighting the importance of TG2 in MS pathology. In the present study, we further characterized TG2 expression by measuring the mRNA levels of full-length TG2 and four TG2 alternative splice variants in PBMCs derived from PP-MS patients and healthy control (HC) subjects. In PP-MS-derived PBMCs, TG2 variant V4b was significantly higher expressed, and both V4a and V4b variants were relatively more expressed in relation to full-length TG2. These observations open new avenues to unravel the importance of TG2 alternative splicing in the pathophysiology of PP-MS.
Preparation of Vanadium Oxides from a Vanadium (IV) Strip Liquor Extracted from Vanadium-Bearing Shale Using an Eco-Friendly Method
Authors: Ma Yiqian , Wang Xuewen , Stopic Srecko , Wang Mingyu , Kremer Dario , Wotruba Hermann , Friedrich Bernd
Published: November 2018

In the traditional vanadium precipitation process, the use of ammonium salts can produce serious pollution problems from the ammonia waste-water and the ammonia gas generated during the processing. In this reported study, an eco-friendly technology was investigated to prepare vanadium oxides from a typical vanadium (IV) strip liquor, obtained after the hydrometallurgical treatment of a vanadium-bearing shale. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that VO(OH)2 could be prepared as a precursor over a suitable solution pH range. Experimental results showed that by adjusting the pH to around 5.6, at room temperature, 98.6% of the vanadium in the strip liquor was formed into hydroxide, in 5 min. After obtaining the VO(OH)2, it was washed with dilute acid to minimize the level of impurities. VO2 and V2O5 were then produced by reacting the VO(OH)2 with air or argon, in a tube furnace. The XRD analyses of the products showed that VO2 had been produced in air and V2O5 had been produced in argon. The purity of the VO2 was 98.82% after calcining for 2 h at 550 °C, in argon flow, at a rate of 50 mL/min. It was found that the purity of the V2O5 was 98.70%, using the same reaction conditions in air. Compared to the traditional precipitation method that uses ammonium salt, followed by calcination, this proposed method is eco-friendly and employs less quantities of reagents and energy, and two types of products can be produced. Consequently, this process could promote the sustainable development of the vanadium chemical industry.
A Fluidic Device for Immunomagnetic Separation of Foodborne Bacteria Using Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanoparticle Chains
Authors: Cai Gaozhe , Wang Siyuan , Zheng Lingyan , Lin Jianhan
Published: November 2018

Immunomagnetic separation has been widely used for the separation and concentration of foodborne pathogens from complex food samples, however it can only handle a small volume of samples. In this paper, we presented a novel fluidic device for the specific and efficient separation and concentration of salmonella typhimurium using self-assembled magnetic nanoparticle chains. The laminated sawtooth-shaped iron foils were first mounted in the 3D-printed matrix and magnetized by a strong magnet to generate dot-array high gradient magnetic fields in the fluidic channel, which was simulated using COMSOL (5.3a, Burlington, MA, USA). Then, magnetic nanoparticles with a diameter of 150 nm, which were modified with the anti-salmonella polyclonal antibodies, were injected into the channel, and the magnetic nanoparticle chains were vertically formed at the dots and verified using a fluorescence inverted microscope. Finally, the bacterial sample was continuous-flow injected, and the target bacteria could be captured by the antibodies on the chains, followed by gold standard culture plating to determine the amount of the target bacteria. Under the optimal conditions, the target bacteria could be separated with a separation efficiency of 80% in 45 min. This fluidic device could be further improved using thinner sawtooth-shaped iron foils and stronger magnets to obtain a better dot-array magnetic field with larger magnetic intensity and denser dot distribution, and has the potential to be integrated with the existing biological assays for rapid and sensitive detection of foodborne bacteria.
Meander Designer: Automatically Generating Meander Channel Designs
Authors: Grimmer Andreas , Frank Philipp , Ebner Philipp , Häfner Sebastian , Richter Andreas , Wille Robert
Published: November 2018

Microfluidics continues to bring innovation to the life sciences. It stimulates progress by enabling new ways of research in biology, chemistry, and biotechnology. However, when designing a microfluidic device, designers have to conduct many tasks by hand—resulting in labor-intensive processes. In particular, when drawing the design of the device, designers have to handle re-occurring entities. Meander channels are one example, which are frequently used in different platforms but always have to fit the respective application and design rules. This work presents an online tool which is capable of automatically generating user-defined, two-dimensional designs of fluidic meander channels facilitating fluidic hydrodynamic resistances. The tool implements specific design rules as it considers the user’s needs and fabrication requirements. The compliance of the meanders generated by the proposed tool is confirmed by fabricating the generated designs and comparing whether the resulting devices indeed realize the desired specification. To this end, two case studies are considered: first, the realization of dedicated fluidic resistances and, second, the realization of dedicated mixing ratios of fluids. The results demonstrate the versatility of the tool regarding application and technology. Overall, the freely accessible tool with its flexibility and simplicity renders manual drawing of meanders obsolete and, hence, allows for a faster, more straightforward design process.
Low Concentration of Antibiotics Modulates Gut Microbiota at Different Levels in Pre-Weaning Dairy Calves
Authors: Yousif Mohammed Husien , Li Jing-Hui , Li Zheng-Qian , Maswayi Alugongo Gibson , Ji Shou-Kun , Li Yuan-Xiao , Wang Ya-Jing , Li Sheng-Li , Cao Zhi-Jun
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding milk replacer (MR) with two different antibiotics treatments on the gut microbiota of pre-weaning calves. Twelve (12) Holstein male calves at 1-day-old were randomly assigned to: milk replacer without antibiotics (CON), milk replacer plus low cocktail of antibiotics (LCA) concentration (penicillin 0.024 mg/L, streptomycin 0.025 mg/L, tetracycline 0.1 mg/L, ceftiofur 0.33 mg/L), and milk replacer plus a low concentration of single antibiotic (LSA; ceftiofur 0.33 mg/L). All the calves were harvested at 35-day-old, and the digesta from the ileum and colon was collected in addition to fecal samples. Samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq platform. Results showed that there were significant differences among treatments in the ileum, where LCA significantly reduced the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.02) especially Escherichia-coli (P = 0.02), while LSA significantly reduced the relative abundance of Comamonas (P = 0.02). In the colon and rectum, LSA treatment was significantly enriched with the class Bacilli, whereas the control group was significantly enriched with Alloprevotlla (P = 0.03). However, at the family level in the rectum LCA and LSA significantly reduced the relative abundance of Acidaminococcaceae (P = 0.01). Moreover, at the genera level in the colon, LSA significantly increased Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_ group (P = 0.02), whereas in the rectum both of treatments reduced the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the overall low cocktail of antibiotics concentration induced changes at different taxonomic levels; specifically the decrease in Escherichia-coli which might subsequently reduce the incidences of diarrhea in calves.
l-Quebrachitol Promotes the Proliferation, Differentiation, and Mineralization of MC3T3-E1 Cells: Involvement of the BMP-2/Runx2/MAPK/Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Yodthong Thanintorn , Kedjarune-Leggat Ureporn , Smythe Carl , Wititsuwannakul Rapepun , Pitakpornpreecha Thanawat
Published: November 2018

Osteoporosis is widely recognized as a major health problem caused by an inappropriate rate of bone resorption compared to bone formation. Previously we showed that d-pinitol inhibits osteoclastogenesis but has no effect on osteoblastogenesis. However, the effect on osteoblast differentiation of its isomer, l-quebrachitol, has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate whether l-quebrachitol promotes the osteoblastogenesis of pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, the molecular mechanism of action of l-quebrachitol was further explored. Here, it is shown for the first time that l-quebrachitol significantly promotes proliferation and cell DNA synthesis. It also enhances mineralization accompanied by increases in mRNA expression of bone matrix proteins including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I (ColI), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN). In addition, l-quebrachitol upregulates the mRNA and protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2), while down-regulating the receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) mRNA level. Moreover, the expression of regulatory genes associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathways are also upregulated. These findings indicate that l-quebrachitol may promote osteoblastogenesis by triggering the BMP-2-response as well as the Runx2, MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Effect of Varying Concentrations of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Amyloid Beta (1–42) Aggregation: An Atomic Force Microscopy Study
Authors: Lee Brenda Yasie , Attwood Simon James , Turnbull Stephen , Leonenko Zoya
Published: November 2018

Healthcare has advanced significantly, bringing with it longer life expectancies and a growing population of elders who suffer from dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide has been implicated in the cause of AD, where the peptides undergo a conformational change and form neurotoxic amyloid oligomers which cause neuronal cell death. While AD has no cure, preventative measures are being designed to either slow down or stop the progression of this neurodegenerative disease. One of these measures involves dietary supplements with polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This omega-3 fatty acid is a key component of brain development and has been suggested to reduce the progression of cognitive decline. However, different studies have yielded different results as to whether DHA has positive, negative, or no effects on Aβ fibril formation. We believe that these discrepancies can be explained with varying concentrations of DHA. Here, we test the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of DHA on amyloid fibril formation using atomic force microscopy. Our results show that DHA has a strong inhibitory effect on Aβ1–42 fibril formation at lower concentrations (50% reduction in fibril length) than higher concentrations above its critical micelle concentration (70% increase in fibril length and three times the length of those at lower concentrations). We provide evidence that various concentrations of DHA can play a role in the inhibitory effects of amyloid fibril formation in vitro and help explain the discrepancies observed in previous studies.
Preparation of 4-Flexible Amino-2-Arylethenyl-Quinoline Derivatives as Multi-Target Agents for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wang Xiao-Qin , Zhao Chu-Ping , Zhong Long-Cheng , Zhu De-Ling , Mai De-Hao , Liang Mei-Gui , He Ming-Hua
Published: November 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder of aged people. The development of multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) to act as multifunctional agents to treat this disease is the mainstream of current research. As a continuation of our previous studies, a series of 4-flexible amino-2-arylethenylquinoline derivatives as multi-target agents was efficiently synthesized and evaluated for the treatment of AD. Among these synthesized derivatives, some compounds exhibited strong self-induced Aβ1–42 aggregation inhibition and antioxidant activity. The structure-activity relationship was summarized, which confirmed that the introduction of a flexible amino group featuring a N,N-dimethylaminoalkylamino moiety at the 4-position increased the Aβ1–42 aggregation inhibition activity, with an inhibition ratio of 95.3% at 20 μM concentration. Compound 6b1, the optimal compound, was able to selectively chelate copper (II), and inhibit Cu2+-induced Aβ aggregation effectively. It also could disassemble the self-induced Aβ1–42 aggregation fibrils with a ratio of 64.3% at 20 μM concentration. Moreover, compound 6b1 showed low toxicity and a good neuroprotective effect against Aβ1–42-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, the step-down passive avoidance test indicated compound 6b1 significantly reversed scopolamine-induced memory deficit in mice. Taken together, these results suggested that compound 6b1 was a promising multi-target compound worthy of further study for AD.
Targeted Lignan Profiling and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Schisandra rubriflora and Schisandra chinensis Extracts
Authors: Szopa Agnieszka , Dziurka Michał , Warzecha Angelika , Kubica Paweł , Klimek-Szczykutowicz Marta , Ekiert Halina
Published: November 2018

Schisandra rubriflora is a dioecious plant of increasing importance due to its lignan composition, and therefore, possible therapeutic properties. The aim of the work was lignan profiling of fruits, leaves and shoots of female (F) and male (M) plants using UHPLC-MS/MS. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts and individual lignans was tested in vitro for the inhibition of 15-lipooxygenase (15-LOX), phospholipases A2 (sPLA2), cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1; COX-2) enzyme activities. The extracts of fruits, leaves and shoots of the pharmacopoeial species, S. chinensis, were tested for comparison. Twenty-four lignans were monitored. Lignan contents in S. rubriflora fruit extracts amounted to 1055.65 mg/100 g DW and the dominant compounds included schisanhenol, aneloylgomisin H, schisantherin B, schisandrin A, gomisin O, angeloylgomisin O and gomisin G. The content of lignan in leaf extracts was 853.33 (F) and 1106.80 (M) mg/100 g DW. Shoot extracts were poorer in lignans—559.97 (F) and 384.80 (M) mg/100 g DW. Schisantherin B, schisantherin A, 6-O-benzoylgomisin O and angeloylgomisin H were the dominant compounds in leaf and shoot extracts. The total content of detected lignans in S. chinensis fruit, leaf and shoot extracts was: 1686.95, 433.59 and 313.83 mg/100 g DW, respectively. Gomisin N, schisandrin A, schisandrin, gomisin D, schisantherin B, gomisin A, angeloylgomisin H and gomisin J were the dominant lignans in S. chinensis fruit extracts were. The results of anti-inflammatory assays revealed higher activity of S. rubriflora extracts. Individual lignans showed significant inhibitory activity against 15-LOX, COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes.
Single-Molecule Studies on a FRET Biosensor: Lessons from a Comparison of Fluorescent Protein Equipped versus Dye-Labeled Species
Authors: Höfig Henning , Cerminara Michele , Ritter Ilona , Schöne Antonie , Pohl Martina , Steffen Victoria , Walter Julia , Vergara Dal Pont Ignacio , Katranidis Alexandros , Fitter Jörg
Published: November 2018

Bacterial periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) undergo a pronounced ligand-induced conformational change which can be employed to monitor ligand concentrations. The most common strategy to take advantage of this conformational change for a biosensor design is to use a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal. This can be achieved by attaching either two fluorescent proteins (FPs) or two organic fluorescent dyes of different colors to the PBPs in order to obtain an optical readout signal which is closely related to the ligand concentration. In this study we compare a FP-equipped and a dye-labeled version of the glucose/galactose binding protein MglB at the single-molecule level. The comparison demonstrates that changes in the FRET signal upon glucose binding are more pronounced for the FP-equipped sensor construct as compared to the dye-labeled analog. Moreover, the FP-equipped sensor showed a strong increase of the FRET signal under crowding conditions whereas the dye-labeled sensor was not influenced by crowding. The choice of a labeling scheme should therefore be made depending on the application of a FRET-based sensor.
Polarization Controllable Device for Simultaneous Generation of Surface Plasmon Polariton Bessel-Like Beams and Bottle Beams
Authors: Qiu Peizhen , Lv Taiguo , Zhang Yupei , Yu Binbin , Lian Jiqing , Jing Ming , Zhang Dawei
Published: November 2018

Realizing multiple beam shaping functionalities in a single plasmonic device is crucial for photonic integration. Both plasmonic Bessel-like beams and bottle beams have potential applications in nanophotonics, particularly in plasmonic based circuits, near field optical trapping, and micro manipulation. Thus, it is very interesting to find new approaches for simultaneous generation of surface plasmon polariton Bessel-like beams and bottle beams in a single photonic device. Two types of polarization-dependent devices, which consist of arrays of spatially distributed sub-wavelength rectangular slits, are designed. The array of slits are specially arranged to construct an X-shaped or an IXI-shaped array, namely X-shaped device and IXI-shaped devices, respectively. Under illumination of circularly polarized light, plasmonic zero-order and first-order Bessel-like beams can be simultaneously generated on both sides of X-shaped devices. Plasmonic Bessel-like beam and bottle beam can be simultaneously generated on both sides of IXI-shaped devices. By changing the handedness of circularly polarized light, for both X-shaped and IXI-shaped devices, the positions of the generated plasmonic beams on either side of device can be dynamically interchanged.
Microwave-Hydrothermal Rapid Synthesis of Cellulose/Ag Nanocomposites and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Fu Lian-Hua , Gao Qing-Long , Qi Chao , Ma Ming-Guo , Li Jun-Feng
Published: November 2018

Silver-based antimicrobial nanomaterials are considered as the most promising antibacterial agents owing to their outstanding antimicrobial efficacy and their relatively low toxicity to human beings. In this work, we report on a facile and environment-friendly microwave-hydrothermal method to prepare cellulose/Ag nanocomposites using hemicellulose as the reductant. The influences of the microwave-hydrothermal heating time and temperature, as well as the hemicellulose concentration on the formation of cellulose nanocomposites, were investigated in detail. Experimental results indicated that the hemicellulose was an effective reductant for silver ions, with higher temperature and longer heating time favoring the formation of silver with higher crystallinity and mass content in the nanocomposites. Moreover, the antimicrobial properties of the as-prepared cellulose/Ag nanocomposites were explored using Gram-positive S. aureus ATCC 6538 and Gram-negative E. coli HB 101 by both disc diffusion method and agar dilution method, and the nanocomposites showed excellent antibacterial activity. These results demonstrate that the as-prepared cellulose/Ag nanocomposites, as a kind of antibacterial material, are promising for applications in a wide range of biomedical fields.
Relation between Biofilm and Virulence in Vibrio tapetis: A Transcriptomic Study
Authors: Rodrigues Sophie , Paillard Christine , Van Dillen Sabine , Tahrioui Ali , Berjeaud Jean-Marc , Dufour Alain , Bazire Alexis
Published: November 2018

Marine pathogenic bacteria are able to form biofilms on many surfaces, such as mollusc shells, and they can wait for the appropriate opportunity to induce their virulence. Vibrio tapetis can develop such biofilms on the inner surface of shells of the Ruditapes philippinarum clam, leading to the formation of a brown conchiolin deposit in the form of a ring, hence the name of the disease: Brown Ring Disease. The virulence of V. tapetis is presumed to be related to its capacity to form biofilms, but the link has never been clearly established at the physiological or genetic level. In the present study, we used RNA-seq analysis to identify biofilm- and virulence-related genes displaying altered expression in biofilms compared to the planktonic condition. A flow cell system was employed to grow biofilms to obtain both structural and transcriptomic views of the biofilms. We found that 3615 genes were differentially expressed, confirming that biofilm and planktonic lifestyles are very different. As expected, the differentially expressed genes included those involved in biofilm formation, such as motility- and polysaccharide synthesis-related genes. The data show that quorum sensing is probably mediated by the AI-2/LuxO system in V. tapetis biofilms. The expression of genes encoding the Type VI Secretion System and associated exported proteins are strongly induced, suggesting that V. tapetis activates this virulence factor when living in biofilm.
Contemporary Natural Philosophy and Philosophies
Authors: Dodig-Crnkovic Gordana , Schroeder Marcin J.
Published: November 2018

In this Editorial note, Guest Editors introduce the theme of the Special Issue of the journal Philosophies, titled Contemporary Natural Philosophy and Philosophies.
Optimization and Validation of Efficient Models for Predicting Polythiophene Self-Assembly
Authors: Miller Evan D. , Jones Matthew L. , Henry Michael M. , Chery Paul , Miller Kyle , Jankowski Eric
Published: November 2018

We develop an optimized force-field for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and demonstrate its utility for predicting thermodynamic self-assembly. In particular, we consider short oligomer chains, model electrostatics and solvent implicitly, and coarsely model solvent evaporation. We quantify the performance of our model to determine what the optimal system sizes are for exploring self-assembly at combinations of state variables. We perform molecular dynamics simulations to predict the self-assembly of P3HT at ∼350 combinations of temperature and solvent quality. Our structural calculations predict that the highest degrees of order are obtained with good solvents just below the melting temperature. We find our model produces the most accurate structural predictions to date, as measured by agreement with grazing incident X-ray scattering experiments.
MoSe2-GO/rGO Composite Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Guo Wenwu , Le Quyet Van , Hasani Amirhossein , Lee Tae Hyung , Jang Ho Won , Luo Zhengtang , Kim Soo Young
Published: November 2018

There has been considerable research to engineer composites of transition metal dichalcogenides with other materials to improve their catalytic performance. In this work, we present a modified solution-processed method for the formation of molybdenum selenide (MoSe2) nanosheets and a facile method of structuring composites with graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO) at different ratios to prevent aggregation of the MoSe2 nanosheets and hence improve their electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction performance. The prepared GO, rGO, and MoSe2 nanosheets were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic performance results showed that the pure MoSe2 nanosheets exhibited a somewhat high Tafel slope of 80 mV/dec, whereas the MoSe2-GO and MoSe2-rGO composites showed lower Tafel slopes of 57 and 67 mV/dec at ratios of 6:4 and 4:6, respectively. We attribute the improved catalytic effects to the better contact and faster carrier transfer between the edge of MoSe2 and the electrode due to the addition of GO or rGO.
Effect of the Surface Hydrophobicity Degree on the In Vitro Release of Polar and Non-Polar Drugs from Polyelectrolyte Matrix Tablets
Authors: Yarce Cristhian J. , Echeverri Juan D. , Salamanca Constain H.
Published: November 2018

This work is the continuation of a series of studies focused on establishing the relationship between the surface thermodynamic properties of polyelectrolyte matrix tablets and drug release mechanisms. In this case, two model drugs with different polarity features, such as carbamazepine (non-polar) and metoprolol succinate (polar) were used in combination with polymeric material hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (HPMC) and two polyelectrolytes derived from maleic anhydride corresponding to the sodium salts of poly(maleic acid-alt-ethylene) and poly(maleic acid-alt-octadecene) named PAM-0Na and PAM-18Na, respectively. The polymers were obtained and characterized as reported previously. Surface studies were performed by the sessile drop method, whilst the surface free energy was determined through Owens, Wendt, Rable and Kaeble (OWRK) semi-empirical model. By contrast, the drug release studies were performed by in vitro dissolution tests, where data were analyzed through dissolution efficiency. The results showed that, depending on the drug polarity, type and polymer proportion, surface properties and drug release processes are significantly affected.
Special Issue on “Biological Networks”
Authors: Gunawan Rudiyanto , Bagheri Neda
Published: November 2018

Networks of coordinated interactions among biological entities govern a myriad of biological functions that span a wide range of both length and time scales—from ecosystems to individual cells, and from years (e.g., the life cycle of periodical cicadas) to milliseconds (e.g., allosteric enzymeregulation[...]
Journals that Rise from the Fourth Quartile to the First Quartile in Six Years or Less: Mechanisms of Change and the Role of Journal Self-Citations
Authors: Campanario Juan Miguel
Published: November 2018

Journal self-citations may be increased artificially to inflate a journal’s scientometric indicators. The aim of this study was to identify possible mechanisms of change in a cohort of journals that rose from the fourth (Q4) to the first quartile (Q1) over six years or less in Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and the role of journal self-citations in these changes. A total of 51 different journals sampled from all JCR Science Citation Index (SCI) subject categories improved their rank position from Q4 in 2009 to Q1 in any year from 2010 to 2015. I identified changes in the numerator or denominator of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) that were involved in each year-to-year transition. The main mechanism of change was the increase in the number of citations used to compute the JIF. The effect of journal self-citations in the increase of the JIF was studied. The main conclusion is that there was no evidence of widespread JIF manipulation through the overuse of journal self-citations.