bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovation as Part of Electrical Engineers Education
Authors: Mil’shtein Sam , Tello Steven
Published: February 2019

Unprecedented dynamics of the development of electronics could be easily tracked by comparing market figures for electronics versus steel, chemical and automotive industries in US and across the world. The multifaceted nature of semiconductor technology is clearly visible. Spinoff of such products as solar cells, Micro Electronic Machines, where electric motors of 3 microns in diameter are produced on silicon chip, biological sensors capable to monitor about 26 parameters of human body and extremely intelligent robots, these are based on already existing and future subfields of electronics. We would like to underline that the major factor, which made success of semiconductor electronics possible is the human factor, i.e., existence and participation of highly qualified electronic engineers and scientists. We examine how our electrical engineering education programs teach creativity and innovation. We suggest the ways of how can an innovation theory and practice be integrated into a very full engineering curriculum, so the electronic engineers graduating today, continue to create and innovate. This article examines engineering education trends at University of Massachusetts that reflect a growing commitment to assuring 21st century engineers have the knowledge and skills required to develop innovative technologies and products.
Performance of Cucurbita moschata on Soil and Soilless Media
Authors: Okonwu K. , Onyejanochie M. I. , Ugiomoh I. G.
Published: February 2019

Cucurbita moschata is widely grown in both tropical and temperate region due to its structural adaptability. The study was carried out to assess the performance of C. moschata on soil (humus) and soilless media (NPK 15:15:15 and NPK 20:10:15 growth media). These treatments are designated as TC, TA and TB, respectively. Standard procedures were followed in the assessment of mineral elements, nutritional composition, pigment compositions, and morphological characters (vein length, leaf area and number of leaves) of C. moschata in the three treatments. Among the treatments, C. moschata had the highest vein length, leaf area and number of leaves in TA, while TC recorded the least. Nutritional compositions of C. moschata were: moisture content (80.10%, 87.10% and 69.50%), carbohydrate (5.34%, 3.80% and 15.00%), ash content (3.61%, 1.20% and 4.10%), crude lipid (0.60%, 0.80% and 0.60%), crude protein (8.75%, 6.56% and 8.75%) and crude fiber (1.60%, 0.34% and 2.05%) for the treatments (TA, TB and TC). The mineral composition of C. moschata grown in TA, TB and TC growth media respectively were Mg (138.15 mg/kg, 43.90 mg/kg and 109.15 mg/kg), Mn (73.35 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg and 123.30 mg/kg), K (2,892.30 mg/kg, 3,338.80 mg/kg and 1,950.80 mg/kg), Zn (47.60 mg/kg, 10.55 mg/kg, 34.00 mg/kg), Ca (2,731.50 mg/kg, 337.95 mg/kg and 426.30 mg/kg), Na (89.65 mg/kg, 108.15 mg/kg and 66.60 mg/kg) and Fe (211.25 mg/kg, 0.00 mg/kg and 137.55 mg/kg) while copper was not detected. The pigment contents indicated the presence of chlorophyll a (0.32 mg/g, 0.39 mg/g and 0.24 mg/g), chlorophyll b (0.46 mg/g, 0.64 mg/g and 0.40 mg/g), carotenoid (0.33 mg/g, 0.42 mg/g and 0.30 mg/g), and xanthophyll (0.05 mg/g, 0.10 mg/g and 0.00 mg/g) for the three treatments, respectively. The study recommends the use of NPK 15:15:15 solution in a soilless condition and the inclusion of NPK 15:15:15 to the soil to improve the performance of Cucurbita moschata.
Chemical Soil Attributes, Accumulation of Foliar Macronutrients and Productivity of the 'Vitória' Pineapple Plant Fertilized with Urea and Chicken Manure
Authors: Leonardo Francisco de Assis Pereira , Pereira Walter Esfrain , Dias Thiago Jardelino , Moura Joana Gomes de , Véras Mário Leno Martins , Leal Ygor Henrique
Published: February 2019

The pineapple plant cultivar 'Vitória' is resistant to Fusarium and it presents similar characteristics to the cultivars 'Pérola' and 'Smoot Cayene'. However, the expansion of this new cultivar depends on the development of research on several aspects, among them, fertilization. In this context, the experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating soil fertility, foliar macronutrient contents and productivity in 'Vitória' pineapple plant in function of nitrogen fertilization with urea and chicken manure. The experiment was conducted under randomized block design, with four replications. Treatments consisted of five doses of N, in two sources of organic fertilization (chicken manure ) and mineral (urea), totaling nine combinations generated through the Central Composite Matrix of Box: T1 , 44 and 2.91; T 2 , 152 and 0; T 3 , 0 and 10; T 4, 44 and 17.1; T 5 , 260 and 2.91; T6 , 152 and 10; T7 , 152 and 20; T8 , 304 and 10; and T9, 260 and 17.1 g plant-1. At 6 months after planting the chicken manure decreased H + A1, Mg and CEC levels, and at 23 months after planting increased soil P, SB e CEC levels.  In the two seasons, Urea has reduced pH and it reduced Mg, SB and CEC contents at six months after planting. Doses of urea between 10 and 12 g plant-1 are recommended in order to maximize the productivity of the pineapple plant.
Growth Profile and Catabolic Pathways Involved in Degradation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Marine Bacteria Isolated from Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Uba Bright Obidinma
Published: February 2019

Aims: To determine the growth profile and catabolic pathways involved in degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by marine bacteria isolated from Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Study Design: Nine treatments designs were set up in triplicate in 500 mL conical flask containing 100 mL of sterile modified mineral basal medium supplemented with three aromatic hydrocarbons (100 mg /L each) and nine marine aromatic hydrocarbon degraders. The treatments were kept in the laboratory and incubated at 24 ºC for 24 days degradation period. The nine treatments and control set ups designated as ANT1, XYL2, PYR3, ANT4, PYR5, ANT6, XYL7, XYL8, PYR9 and CTRL were used to determine the growth profile and metabolic pathways involved in degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by marine bacteria.

Place and Duration of Study: The studied sites were Abonema Wharf Water Front in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Nembe Water-side in Port Harcourt Local Government Area and Onne Light Flow Terminal Seaport located in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria between September, 2015 and June, 2018.

Methodology: A laboratory scale study was carried on six composite samples of the sediment and water samples from the three studied areas using enrichment, screening, selection, molecular characterization, degradation and GC-MS assays.

Results: The findings revealed that the sampling sites harbour a lot of efficient aromatic degrading bacterial strains belonging to the genera: Providencia, Alcaligenes, Brevundimonas, Myroides, Serratia, and Bacillus. The bacterial strains were able to significantly (P =.05) degrade simple, low and high molecular weights aromatic hydrocarbons as source of carbon and energy. These strains utilized 100 mg /L of xylene (one ring), anthracene (three rings), and pyrene (four rings) via two main catabolic pathways and catechol is the major constant product that appeared during the degradation period (24 days).

Conclusion: Thus, the biodegradation capacities and metabolic pathways obtained from these results suggest that these bacteria especially Serratia marcescens XYL7 could be used efficiently to bioremediate aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria.
The Impact of Brand Awareness and Country of Origin on Purchase Intention with Mediation of Self Congruity on Chinese Brand Automotive Products Wuling
Authors: Setiadi Erick , Adiwijaya Michael , Subagio Hartono
Published: February 2019

This study aims to analyze the relationship of Brand Awareness and Country of Origin by using Self Congruity as a mediation for Purchase Intention. This causal study used a questionnaire based survey as a data collection method and was distributed to 200 respondents which is a sample of this study. The selection of this research sample used a purposive sampling technique with criteria determined by the researcher. The results showed that the three hypotheses in this study have a significant influence and two hypotheses were rejected. all indicators on the related variables can be developed using PLS data (Partial Least Square). In addition, this study shows that Self Congruity as the most influential variables affecting respondents Purchase Intention toward Wuling car.
Population‐based identity‐by‐descent mapping combined with exome sequencing to detect rare risk variants for schizophrenia
Authors: Harold Denise , Connolly Siobhan , Riley Brien P. , Kendler Kenneth S. , McCarthy Shane E. , McCombie William R. , Richards Alex , Owen Michael J. , O'Donovan Michael C. , Walters James ,   Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2,   Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Donohoe Gary , Gill Michael , Corvin Aiden , Morris Derek W.
Published: February 2019

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) are highly effective at identifying common risk variants for schizophrenia. Rare risk variants are also important contributors to schizophrenia etiology but, with the exception of large copy number variants, are difficult to detect with GWAS. Exome and genome sequencing, which have accelerated the study of rare variants, are expensive so alternative methods are needed to aid detection of rare variants. Here we re‐analyze an Irish schizophrenia GWAS dataset (n = 3,473) by performing identity‐by‐descent (IBD) mapping followed by exome sequencing of individuals identified as sharing risk haplotypes to search for rare risk variants in coding regions. We identified 45 rare haplotypes (>1 cM) that were significantly more common in cases than controls. By exome sequencing 105 haplotype carriers, we investigated these haplotypes for functional coding variants that could be tested for association in independent GWAS samples. We identified one rare missense variant in PCNT but did not find statistical support for an association with schizophrenia in a replication analysis. However, IBD mapping can prioritize both individual samples and genomic regions for follow‐up analysis but genome rather than exome sequencing may be more effective at detecting risk variants on rare haplotypes.
Correction to: Authors’ Reply: Routine Pathology and Postoperative Follow‐Up are not Cost‐Effective in Cholecystectomy for Benign Gallbladder Disease
Authors: Olthof Pim B. , Metman Madelon J. H. , Roos Daphne , Dekker Jan Willem T.
Published: February 2019

In the original article, Madelon J. H. Metman’s given name is incorrect. It is correct as reflected here.
Duality between p-groups with three characteristic subgroups and semisimple anti-commutative algebras
Authors: Glasby S. P. , Ribeiro Frederico A. M. , Schneider Csaba
Published: February 2019

Let p be an odd prime and let G be a non-abelian finite p-group of exponent p2 with three distinct characteristic subgroups, namely 1, Gp and G. The quotient group G/Gp gives rise to an anti-commutative 𝔽p-algebra L such that the action of Aut (L) is irreducible on L; we call such an algebra IAC. This paper establishes a duality G ↔ L between such groups and such IAC algebras. We prove that IAC algebras are semisimple and we classify the simple IAC algebras of dimension at most 4 over certain fields. We also give other examples of simple IAC algebras, including a family related to the m-th symmetric power of the natural module of SL(2, 𝔽).
Underlying social attitudes towards conservation of threatened carnivores in human-dominated landscapes
Authors: Zorondo-Rodríguez Francisco , Moreira-Arce Darío , Boutin Stan
Published: February 2019

Carnivore conservation depends on people's willingness to implement management practices to reduce threats to carnivores and mitigate conflicts between carnivores and domestic animals. We assessed the willingness of rural communities in central-southern Chile to (1) conserve carnivores, and (2) adopt management practices to reduce predation of domestic animals, a key factor triggering carnivore–human conflicts in rural areas. The study focused on five carnivores: the chilla Lycalopex griseus, the culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus, Darwin's fox Lycalopex fulvipes, the guiña or kodkod Leopardus guigna, and the puma Puma concolor. We found that rural communities perceived that threats towards carnivores rarely occurr in their region, contrary to the literature on this subject; people's attitudes differed depending on the carnivore; and people were willing to adopt management practices to help conserve carnivores (e.g. overnight protection of domestic animals and investment in infrastructure for henhouses and cowsheds), except leashing dogs. The willingness to conserve carnivores and adopt practices that would help do so may be associated with how these measures affect people's well-being. Although rural communities would like carnivores to be conserved, this cannot be achieved unless some pivotal practices, such as management of domestic dogs, are adopted by these communities. For successful biodiversity conservation outcomes in human-dominated landscapes, the social incentives necessary for rural communities to adopt appropriate management practices must be identified and implemented.
Long-term functioning outcomes are predicted by cognitive symptoms in working patients with major depressive disorder treated with vortioxetine: results from the AtWoRC study
Authors: Chokka Pratap , Bougie Joanna , Proulx Jean , Tvistholm Anders Holmegaard , Ettrup Anders
Published: February 2019

Objective

AtWoRC (Assessment in Work productivity and the Relationship with Cognitive symptoms) was an interventional, open-label, Canadian study (NCT02332954) designed to assess the association between cognitive symptoms and workplace productivity in working patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving vortioxetine.

Methods

Eligible patients with MDD received vortioxetine (10–20 mg/day) and were assessed over 52 weeks at visits emulating a real-life setting (n = 199). Partial correlation between changes in patient-reported cognitive symptoms (20-item Perceived Deficits Questionnaire–Depression; PDQ-D-20) and workplace productivity (Work Limitations Questionnaire; WLQ) was assessed at 12 and 52 weeks. Additional assessments included depression severity, cognitive performance, and patient-reported functioning. Structural equations model (SEM) analyses assessed causal relationships between changes in measures of cognition and functioning over time, adjusted for improvements in depressive symptoms.

Results

Statistically significant improvements in all outcomes from baseline to week 52 were seen in the overall population and both subgroups (first treatment and switch). Response and remission rates were 77% and 56%, respectively. Improvements in PDQ-D-20 and WLQ productivity loss scores at weeks 12 and 52 were significantly correlated. SEM analyses found patient-rated cognitive symptoms (PDQ-D-20) at weeks 12 and 26 were significantly predictive (p< 0.05) of patient-reported functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale) at the subsequent visit. Depression severity and objectively measured cognitive performance did not significantly predict functional outcomes at any timepoint.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the long-term benefits of vortioxetine treatment in working patients with MDD and emphasize the strong association between cognitive symptoms and functioning in a real-world setting.
Cleavage of GSDME by caspase-3 determines lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis in colon cancer cells
Authors: Yu Junhui , Li Shan , Qi Jie , Chen Zilu , Wu Yunhua , Guo Jing , Wang Kai , Sun Xuejun , Zheng Jianbao
Published: February 2019

Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death (PCD), has garnered increasing attention as it relates to innate immunity and diseases. However, the involvement of pyroptosis in the mechanism by which lobaplatin acts against colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. Our study revealed that treatment with lobaplatin reduced the viability of HT-29 and HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphologically, HT-29 and HCT116 cells treated with lobaplatin exhibited microscopic features of cell swelling and large bubbles emerging from the plasma membrane, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed multiple pores in the membrane. GSDME, rather than GSDMD, was cleaved in lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis in HT-29 and HCT116 cells due to caspase-3 activation. Knocking out GSDME switched lobaplatin-induced cell death from pyroptosis to apoptosis but did not affect lobaplatin-mediated inhibition of growth and tumour formation of HT-29 and HCT116 cells in vivo and in vitro. Further investigation indicates that lobaplatin induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation and JNK phosphorylation. NAC, a ROS scavenger, completely reversed the pyroptosis of lobaplatin-treated HT-29 and HCT116 and JNK phosphorylation. Activated JNK recruited Bax to mitochondria, and thereby stimulated cytochrome c release to cytosol, followed by caspase-3/-9 cleavage and pyroptosis induction. Therefore, in colon cancer cells, GSDME mediates lobaplatin-induced pyroptosis downstream of the ROS/JNK/Bax-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and caspase-3/-9 activation. Our study indicated that GSDME-dependent pyroptosis is an unrecognized mechanism by which lobaplatin eradicates neoplastic cells, which may have important implications for the clinical application of anticancer therapeutics.
Optical space-time wave packets having arbitrary group velocities in free space
Authors: Kondakci H. Esat , Abouraddy Ayman F.
Published: February 2019

Controlling the group velocity of an optical pulse typically requires traversing a material or structure whose dispersion is judiciously crafted. Alternatively, the group velocity can be modified in free space by spatially structuring the beam profile, but the realizable deviation from the speed of light in vacuum is small. Here we demonstrate precise and versatile control over the group velocity of a propagation-invariant optical wave packet in free space through sculpting its spatio-temporal spectrum. By jointly modulating the spatial and temporal degrees of freedom, arbitrary group velocities are unambiguously observed in free space above or below the speed of light in vacuum, whether in the forward direction propagating away from the source or even traveling backwards towards it.
Both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer in bacterial reaction center
Authors: Ma Fei , Romero Elisabet , Jones Michael R. , Novoderezhkin Vladimir I. , van Grondelle Rienk
Published: February 2019

Understanding the mechanism behind the near-unity efficiency of primary electron transfer in reaction centers is essential for designing performance-enhanced artificial solar conversion systems to fulfill mankind’s growing demands for energy. One of the most important challenges is distinguishing electronic and vibrational coherence and establishing their respective roles during charge separation. In this work we apply two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy to three structurally-modified reaction centers from the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides with different primary electron transfer rates. By comparing dynamics and quantum beats, we reveal that an electronic coherence with dephasing lifetime of ~190 fs connects the initial excited state, P*, and the charge-transfer intermediate $${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$

P

A

+

P

B

-

; this $${\mathrm{P}}^ \ast \to {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$

P

*

→

P

A

+

P

B

-

step is associated with a long-lived quasi-resonant vibrational coherence; and another vibrational coherence is associated with stabilizing the primary photoproduct, $${\mathrm{P}}^ + {\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ -$$

P

+

B

A

-

. The results show that both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer process and they correlate with the super-high efficiency.
Precisely controlling endogenous protein dosage in hPSCs and derivatives to model FOXG1 syndrome
Authors: Zhu Wenliang , Zhang Boya , Li Mengqi , Mo Fan , Mi Tingwei , Wu Yihui , Teng Zhaoqian , Zhou Qi , Li Wei , Hu Baoyang
Published: February 2019

Dosage of key regulators impinge on developmental disorders such as FOXG1 syndrome. Since neither knock-out nor knock-down strategy assures flexible and precise protein abundance control, to study hypomorphic or haploinsufficiency expression remains challenging. We develop a system in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 and SMASh technology, with which we can target endogenous proteins for precise dosage control in hPSCs and at multiple stages of neural differentiation. We also reveal FOXG1 dose-dependently affect the cellular constitution of human brain, with 60% mildly affect GABAergic interneuron development while 30% thresholds the production of MGE derived neurons. Abnormal interneuron differentiation accounts for various neurological defects such as epilepsy or seizures, which stimulates future innovative cures of FOXG1 syndrome. By means of its robustness and easiness, dosage-control of proteins in hPSCs and their derivatives will update the understanding and treatment of additional diseases caused by abnormal protein dosage.
Perceptions of complementary/alternative medicine use and influence on evidence-based asthma medicine adherence in Malaysian children
Authors: Ramdzan Siti Nurkamilla , Pinnock Hilary , Liew Su May , Sukri Nursyuhada , Salim Hani , Hanafi Nik Sherina , Hussein Norita , Suhaimi Julia , Lee Ping Yein , Cheong Ai Theng , Ahad Azainorsuzila Mohd , Cunningham Steve , Khoo Ee Ming
Published: February 2019

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used especially in Asia including for childhood asthma. The use of CAM could influence adherence to evidence-based (E-B) medicine. We explored the views of carers of Malaysian children with asthma regarding the use of CAM for childhood asthma, and its relationship with self-reported adherence to E-B medicine. We used a screening questionnaire to identify children diagnosed with asthma from seven suburban primary schools in Malaysia. Informed consent was obtained prior to the interviews. We conducted the interviews using a semi-structured topic guide in participants’ preferred language (Malay, Mandarin, or Tamil). All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using Nvivo. Analysis was performed thematically, informed by the Necessity-Concerns Framework. A total of 46 carers (16 Malays, 21 Indians, 9 Chinese) contributed to 12 focus groups and one individual interview. We categorised participants’ as ‘Non-CAM’; ‘CAM’; or ‘combination’ user. Cultural practices and beliefs in the efficacy of CAM resulted in widespread use of CAM. Most carers used CAM as ‘complementary’ to E-B medicine. Concerns about dependence on or side effects of E-B treatment influenced carers’ decisions to rely on CAM as an ‘alternative’, with an important minority of accounts describing potentially harmful CAM-use. Healthcare professionals should discuss beliefs about the necessity for and concerns about use of both E-B medicine and CAM, and provide balanced information about effectiveness and safety. The aim is to improve adherence to regular E-B preventer medication and prevent delays in seeking medical advice and harmful practices associated with CAM.
Fibronectin synthesis, but not α-smooth muscle expression, is regulated by periostin in gingival healing through FAK/JNK signaling
Authors: Kim Shawna S. , Nikoloudaki Georgia E. , Michelsons Sarah , Creber Kendal , Hamilton Douglas W.
Published: February 2019

During skin healing, periostin facilitates myofibroblast differentiation through a β1 integrin/FAK dependent mechanism and continued expression is associated with scarring. In contrast to skin, gingival tissue does not typically scar upon injury, but the role of periostin in gingival healing has never been investigated. Using a rat gingivectomy model, we show that the gingival architecture is re-established within 14 days of wounding. Periostin mRNA levels peak at day 7 post-wounding, with persistence of periostin protein in the connective tissue through day 14. Collagen type I and lysyl oxidase mRNA levels peak at day 7 post wounding, which corresponded with the peak of fibroblast proliferation. Although α-smooth muscle actin mRNA levels increased 200-fold in the tissue, no myofibroblasts were detected in the regenerating tissue. In vitro, human gingival fibroblast adhesion on periostin, but not collagen, was inhibited by blocking β1 integrins. Fibroblasts cultured on periostin exhibited similar rates of proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation to cells cultured on collagen only. However, human gingival fibroblasts cultured in the presence of periostin exhibited significantly increased fibronectin and collagen mRNA levels. Increases in fibronectin production were attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of FAK and JNK signaling in human gingival fibroblasts. In vivo, mRNA levels for fibronectin peaked at day 3 and 7 post wounding, with protein immunoreactivity highest at day 7, suggesting periostin is a modulator of fibronectin production during gingival healing.
Genome-wide association study revealed that the TaGW8 gene was associated with kernel size in Chinese bread wheat
Authors: Yan Xuefang , Zhao Lei , Ren Yan , Dong Zhongdong , Cui Dangqun , Chen Feng
Published: February 2019

Using Wheat 90 K SNP assay, kernel-related traits of Chinese bread wheat were used to perform association mapping in 14 environments by GWAS. Results indicated that 996 and 953 of 4417 and 3172 significant SNPs for kernel length and thousand-kernel weight were located on the chromosome 7B. Haplotype analysis of these SNPs on 7B generated the block containing the predicted TaGW8-B1 gene. TaGW8-B1 gene was further cloned by sequencing in bread wheat and a 276-bp InDel was found in the first intron. TaGW8-B1 without and with the 276-bp InDel were designated as TaGW8-B1a and TaGW8-B1b, respectively. Analysis of agronomic traits indicated that cultivars with TaGW8-B1a possessed significantly wider kernel width, significantly more kernel number per spike, longer kernel length, higher thousand-kernel weight and more spikelet number per spike than cultivars with TaGW8-B1b. Furthermore, cultivars with TaGW8-B1a possessed significantly higher yield than cultivars with TaGW8-B1b. Therefore, TaGW8-B1a was considered as a potentially superior allele. Meanwhile, TaGW8-B1a possessed a significantly higher expression level than TaGW8-B1b in mature seeds by qRT-PCR. It possibly suggested that the high expression of TaGW8-B1 was positively associated with kernel size in bread wheat. Distribution of TaGW8-B1 allele indicated that TaGW8-B1a has been positively selected in Chinese wheat.
Small Peptide Ligands for Targeting EGFR in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Hossein-Nejad-Ariani Hanieh , Althagafi Emad , Kaur Kamaljit
Published: February 2019

The efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer treatment can be increased by targeted drug delivery to the cancer cells. This is particularly important for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) for which chemotherapy is a major form of treatment. Here we designed and screened a library of 30 peptides starting with a previously reported epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting peptide GE11 (YHWYGYTPQNVI). A direct peptide array-whole cell binding assay, where the peptides are conjugated to a cellulose membrane, was used to identify four peptides with enhanced binding to TNBC cells. Next, the four peptides were synthesized as FITC-labelled soluble peptides to study their direct uptake by TNBC cells using flow cytometry. The results showed that peptide analogue 22 had several fold higher uptake by the TNBC cells compared to the lead peptide GE11. The specific uptake of the peptide analogue 22 was confirmed by competition experiment using pure EGF protein. Further, peptide 22 showed dose dependent uptake by the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells (105) with uptake saturating at around 2 μM peptide concentration. Thus, peptide 22 is a promising EGFR specific TNBC cell binding peptide that can be conjugated directly to a chemotherapeutic drug or to nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy for TNBC treatment.
Reduced caterpillar damage can benefit plant bugs in Bt cotton
Authors: Eisenring Michael , Naranjo Steven E. , Bacher Sven , Abbott Angelique , Meissle Michael , Romeis Jörg
Published: February 2019

Bt cotton was genetically modified to produce insecticidal proteins targeting Lepidopteran pests and is therefore only minimally affected by caterpillar damage. This could lead to reduced levels of inherent, systemically inducible defensive compounds in Bt cotton which might benefit other important cotton herbivores such as plant bugs. We studied the effects of plant defense induction on the performance of the plant bug Lygus hesperus by caging nymphs on different food sources (bolls/squares) of Bt and non-Bt cotton which were either undamaged, damaged by Bt tolerant caterpillars, or treated with jasmonic acid (JA). Terpenoid induction patterns of JA-treated and L. hesperus-damaged plants were characterized for different plant structures and artificial diet assays using purified terpenoids (gossypol/heliocide H1/4) were conducted. Nymphs were negatively affected if kept on plants damaged by caterpillars or sprayed with JA. Performance of nymphs was increased if they fed on squares and by the Bt-trait which had a positive effect on boll quality as food. In general, JA-sprayed plants (but not L. hesperus infested plants) showed increased levels of terpenoids in the plant structures analyzed, which was especially pronounced in Bt cotton. Nymphs were not negatively affected by terpenoids in artificial diet assays indicating that other inducible cotton responses are responsible for the found negative effects on L. hesperus. Overall, genetically engineered plant defenses can benefit plant bugs by releasing them from plant-mediated indirect competition with lepidopterans which might contribute to increasing numbers of hemipterans in Bt cotton.
Blubber transcriptome responses to repeated ACTH administration in a marine mammal
Authors: Deyarmin Jared S. , McCormley Molly C. , Champagne Cory D. , Stephan Alicia P. , Busqueta Laura Pujade , Crocker Daniel E. , Houser Dorian S. , Khudyakov Jane I.
Published: February 2019

Chronic physiological stress impacts animal fitness by catabolizing metabolic stores and suppressing reproduction. This can be especially deleterious for capital breeding carnivores such as marine mammals, with potential for ecosystem-wide effects. However, the impacts and indicators of chronic stress in animals are currently poorly understood. To identify downstream mediators of repeated stress responses in marine mammals, we administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) once daily for four days to free-ranging juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) to stimulate endogenous corticosteroid release, and compared blubber tissue transcriptome responses to the first and fourth ACTH administrations. Gene expression profiles were distinct between blubber responses to single and repeated ACTH administration, despite similarities in circulating cortisol profiles. We identified 61 and 12 genes that were differentially expressed (DEGs) in response to the first ACTH and fourth administrations, respectively, 24 DEGs between the first and fourth pre-ACTH samples, and 12 DEGs between ACTH response samples from the first and fourth days. Annotated DEGs were associated with functions in redox and lipid homeostasis, suggesting potential negative impacts of repeated stress on capital breeding, diving mammals. DEGs identified in this study are potential markers of repeated stress in marine mammals, which may not be detectable by endocrine profiles alone.
Genetic variants differentially associated with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus reveal the disease-specific biology
Authors: Lim Jiwoo , Kim Kwangwoo
Published: February 2019

Two rheumatic autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have distinct clinical features despite their genetic similarities. We hypothesized that disease-specific variants exclusively associated with only one disease could contribute to disease-specific phenotypes. We calculated the strength of disease specificity for each variant in each disease against the other disease using summary association statistics reported in the largest genome-wide association studies of RA and SLE. Most of highly disease-specific associations were explained by non-coding variants that were significantly enriched within regulatory regions (enhancers or H3K4me3 histone modification marks) in specific cell or organ types. (e.g., In RA, regulatory T primary cells, CD4+ memory T primary cells, thymus and lung; In SLE, CD19+ B primary cells, mobilized CD34+ primary cells, regulatory T primary cells and monocytes). Consistently, genes in the disease-specific loci were significantly involved in T cell- and B cell-related gene sets in RA and SLE. In summary, this study identified disease-specific variants between RA and SLE, and provided statistical evidence for disease-specific cell types, organ and gene sets that may drive the disease-specific phenotypes.
Dengue virus nonstructural 3 protein interacts directly with human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and reduces its glycolytic activity
Authors: Silva Emiliana M. , Conde Jonas N. , Allonso Diego , Ventura Gustavo T. , Coelho Diego R. , Carneiro Pedro Henrique , Silva Manuela L. , Paes Marciano V. , Rabelo Kíssila , Weissmuller Gilberto , Bisch Paulo Mascarello , Mohana-Borges Ronaldo
Published: February 2019

Dengue is an important mosquito-borne disease and a global public health problem. The disease is caused by dengue virus (DENV), which is a member of the Flaviviridae family and contains a positive single-stranded RNA genome that encodes a single precursor polyprotein that is further cleaved into structural and non-structural proteins. Among these proteins, the non-structural 3 (NS3) protein is very important because it forms a non-covalent complex with the NS2B cofactor, thereby forming the functional viral protease. NS3 also contains a C-terminal ATPase/helicase domain that is essential for RNA replication. Here, we identified 47 NS3-interacting partners using the yeast two-hybrid system. Among those partners, we highlight several proteins involved in host energy metabolism, such as apolipoprotein H, aldolase B, cytochrome C oxidase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). GAPDH directly binds full-length NS3 and its isolated helicase and protease domains. Moreover, we observed an intense colocalization between the GAPDH and NS3 proteins in DENV2-infected Huh7.5.1 cells, in NS3-transfected BHK-21 cells and in hepatic tissue from a fatal dengue case. Taken together, these results suggest that the human GAPDH-DENV NS3 interaction is involved in hepatic metabolic alterations, which may contribute to the appearance of steatosis in dengue-infected patients. The interaction between GAPDH and full-length NS3 or its helicase domain in vitro as well as in NS3-transfected cells resulted in decreased GAPDH glycolytic activity. Reduced GAPDH glycolytic activity may lead to the accumulation of metabolic intermediates, shifting metabolism to alternative, non-glycolytic pathways. This report is the first to identify the interaction of the DENV2 NS3 protein with the GAPDH protein and to demonstrate that this interaction may play an important role in the molecular mechanism that triggers hepatic alterations.
Asymmetric recurrent laryngeal nerve conduction velocities and dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle electromyographic characteristics in clinically normal horses
Authors: Cercone Marta , Hokanson Caitlin M. , Olsen Emil , Ducharme Norm G. , Mitchell Lisa M. , Piercy Richard J. , Cheetham Jon
Published: February 2019

The dorsal cricoarytenoid (DCA) muscles, are a fundamental component of the athletic horse’s respiratory system: as the sole abductors of the airways, they maintain the size of the rima glottis which is essential for enabling maximal air intake during intense exercise. Dysfunction of the DCA muscle leads to arytenoid collapse during exercise, resulting in poor performance. An electrodiagnostic study including electromyography of the dorsal cricoarytenoid muscles and conduction velocity testing of the innervating recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLn) was conducted in horses with normal laryngeal function. We detected reduced nerve conduction velocity of the left RLn, compared to the right, and pathologic spontaneous activity (PSA) of myoelectrical activity within the left DCA muscle in half of this horse population and the horses with the slowest nerve conduction velocities. The findings in this group of horses are consistent with left sided demyelination and axonal loss, consistent with Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN), a highly prevalent degenerative disorder of the RLn in horses that predominantly affects the left side. The detection of electromyographic changes compatible with RLN in clinically unaffected horses is consistent with previous studies that identified “subclinical” subjects, presenting normal laryngeal function despite neuropathologic changes within nerve and muscle confirmed histologically.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Computational Drug Repositioning for Gastric Cancer using Reversal Gene Expression Profiles
Authors: Kim In-Wha , Jang Hayoung , Kim Jae Hyun , Kim Myeong Gyu , Kim Sangsoo , Oh Jung Mi
Published: February 2019

Treatment of gastric cancer (GC) often produces poor outcomes. Moreover, predicting which GC treatments will be effective remains challenging. Computational drug repositioning using public databases is a promising and efficient tool for discovering new uses for existing drugs. Here we used a computational reversal of gene expression approach based on effects on gene expression signatures by GC disease and drugs to explore new GC drug candidates. Gene expression profiles for individual GC tumoral and normal gastric tissue samples were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GC were determined with a meta-signature analysis. Profiles drug activity and drug-induced gene expression were downloaded from the ChEMBL and the LINCS databases, respectively. Candidate drugs to treat GC were predicted using reversal gene expression score (RGES). Drug candidates including sorafenib, olaparib, elesclomol, tanespimycin, selumetinib, and ponatinib were predicted to be active for treatment of GC. Meanwhile, GC-related genes such as PLOD3, COL4A1, UBE2C, MIF, and PRPF5 were identified as having gene expression profiles that can be reversed by drugs. These findings support the use of a computational reversal gene expression approach to identify new drug candidates that can be used to treat GC.
Global monitoring of volcanic SO2 degassing with unprecedented resolution from TROPOMI onboard Sentinel-5 Precursor
Authors: Theys N. , Hedelt P. , De Smedt I. , Lerot C. , Yu H. , Vlietinck J. , Pedergnana M. , Arellano S. , Galle B. , Fernandez D. , Carlito C. J. M. , Barrington C. , Taisne B. , Delgado-Granados H. , Loyola D. , Van Roozendael M.
Published: February 2019

Over the last four decades, space-based nadir observations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) proved to be a key data source for assessing the environmental impacts of volcanic emissions, for monitoring volcanic activity and early signs of eruptions, and ultimately mitigating related hazards on local populations and aviation. Despite its importance, a detailed picture of global SO2 daily degassing is difficult to produce, notably for lower-tropospheric plumes, due largely to the limited spatial resolution and coverage or lack of sensitivity and selectivity to SO2 of current (and previous) nadir sensors. We report here the first volcanic SO2 measurements from the hyperspectral TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) launched in October 2017 onboard the ESA’s Sentinel-5 Precursor platform. Using the operational processing algorithm, we explore the benefit of improved spatial resolution to the monitoring of global volcanic degassing. We find that TROPOMI surpasses any space nadir sensor in its ability to detect weak degassing signals and captures day-to-day changes in SO2 emissions. The detection limit of TROPOMI to SO2 emissions is a factor of 4 better than the heritage Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). Here we show that TROPOMI SO2 daily observations carry a wealth of information on volcanic activity. Provided with adequate wind speed data, temporally resolved SO2 fluxes can be obtained at hourly time steps or shorter. We anticipate that TROPOMI SO2 data will help to monitor global volcanic daily degassing and better understand volcanic processes and impacts.
Role of sea-ice initialization in climate predictability over the Weddell Sea
Authors: Morioka Yushi , Doi Takeshi , Iovino Doroteaciro , Masina Simona , Behera Swadhin K.
Published: February 2019

Potential impact of sea-ice initialization on the interannual climate predictability over the Weddell Sea is investigated using a coupled general circulation model. Climate variability in the Weddell Sea is generally believed to have association with remote forcing such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annual Mode. However, sea-ice variability in the Weddell Sea has been recently suggested to play additional roles in modulating local atmospheric variability through changes in surface air temperature and near-surface baroclinicity. Reforecast experiments from September 1st, in which the model’s sea-surface temperature (SST) and sea-ice concentration (SIC) are initialized with observations using nudging schemes, show improvements in predicting the observed SIC anomalies in the Weddell Sea up to four months ahead, compared to the other experiments in which only the model’s SST is initialized. During austral spring (Oct–Dec) of lower-than-normal sea-ice years in the Weddell Sea, reforecast experiments with the SST and SIC initializations reasonably predict high surface air temperature anomalies in the Weddell Sea and high sea-level pressure anomalies over the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. These results suggest that accurate initialization of sea-ice conditions during austral winter is necessary for skillful prediction of climate variability over the Weddell Sea during austral spring.
The visual geometry of a tool modulates generalization during adaptation
Authors: Sadeghi Mohsen , Sheahan Hannah R. , Ingram James N. , Wolpert Daniel M.
Published: February 2019

Knowledge about a tool’s dynamics can be acquired from the visual configuration of the tool and through physical interaction. Here, we examine how visual information affects the generalization of dynamic learning during tool use. Subjects rotated a virtual hammer-like object while we varied the object dynamics separately for two rotational directions. This allowed us to quantify the coupling of adaptation between the directions, that is, how adaptation transferred from one direction to the other. Two groups experienced the same dynamics of the object. For one group, the object’s visual configuration was displayed, while for the other, the visual display was uninformative as to the dynamics. We fit a range of context-dependent state-space models to the data, comparing different forms of coupling. We found that when the object’s visual configuration was explicitly provided, there was substantial coupling, such that 31% of learning in one direction transferred to the other. In contrast, when the visual configuration was ambiguous, despite experiencing the same dynamics, the coupling was reduced to 12%. Our results suggest that generalization of dynamic learning of a tool relies, not only on its dynamic behaviour, but also on the visual configuration with which the dynamics is associated.
Allele specific chromatin signals, 3D interactions, and motif predictions for immune and B cell related diseases
Authors: Cavalli Marco , Baltzer Nicholas , Umer Husen M. , Grau Jan , Lemnian Ioana , Pan Gang , Wallerman Ola , Spalinskas Rapolas , Sahlén Pelin , Grosse Ivo , Komorowski Jan , Wadelius Claes
Published: February 2019

Several Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have reported variants associated to immune diseases. However, the identified variants are rarely the drivers of the associations and the molecular mechanisms behind the genetic contributions remain poorly understood. ChIP-seq data for TFs and histone modifications provide snapshots of protein-DNA interactions allowing the identification of heterozygous SNPs showing significant allele specific signals (AS-SNPs). AS-SNPs can change a TF binding site resulting in altered gene regulation and are primary candidates to explain associations observed in GWAS and expression studies. We identified 17,293 unique AS-SNPs across 7 lymphoblastoid cell lines. In this set of cell lines we interrogated 85% of common genetic variants in the population for potential regulatory effect and we identified 237 AS-SNPs associated to immune GWAS traits and 714 to gene expression in B cells. To elucidate possible regulatory mechanisms we integrated long-range 3D interactions data to identify putative target genes and motif predictions to identify TFs whose binding may be affected by AS-SNPs yielding a collection of 173 AS-SNPs associated to gene expression and 60 to B cell related traits. We present a systems strategy to find functional gene regulatory variants, the TFs that bind differentially between alleles and novel strategies to detect the regulated genes.
Molecularly imprinted nanozymes with faster catalytic activity and better specificity
Authors: Zhang Zijie , Li Yuqing , Zhang Xiaohan , Liu Juewen
Published: February 2019

Molecular imprinting accelerates nanozyme catalysis and improves specificity attributable to selective adsorption of imprinted substrate, decreasing activation energy and facilitating product release.
A seed-mediated growth of gold nanoparticles inside carbon nanotube fibers for fabrication of multifunctional nanohybrid fibers with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties
Authors: Kim Young-Jin , Park Junbeom , Jeong Hyeon Su , Park Min , Baik Seulki , Lee Dong Su , Rho Heesuk , Kim Hyungjun , Lee Joong Hee , Kim Seung-Min , Kim Young-Kwan
Published: February 2019

A seed-mediated growth of Au nanoparticle inside carbon nanotube fibers is investigated to enhance their performance.
Multiwalled carbon nanotube/ionic liquid paste electrode for voltammetric determination of sulfachlorpyridazine
Authors: Aleixo Herbert , Okumura Leonardo Luiz , Gurgel Alexandre , Silva Astréa Filomena Souza , Diniz Juliana Aparecida
Published: February 2019

In this study, voltammetric techniques have been applied to rapidly determine residues of sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) in milk samples.
Eradicating uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms with a ciprofloxacin–dinitroxide conjugate
Authors: Verderosa Anthony D. , Harris Jessica , Dhouib Rabeb , Totsika Makrina , Fairfull-Smith Kathryn E.
Published: February 2019

Biofilm-related UTIs are problematic infectious diseases worldwide; here we have developed a novel ciprofloxacin–dinitroxide conjugate with potent UPEC biofilm-eradication activity.
Copolymerization of (meth)acrylates with vinyl aromatic macromonomers: understanding the mechanism of retardation on the kinetics with acrylates
Authors: Bandiera Massimo , Hamzehlou Shaghayegh , Ruipérez Fernando , Aguirre Miren , Balk Roelof , Barandiaran Maria J. , Leiza Jose R.
Published: February 2019

Understanding the differences in the polymerization rate of acrylate and methacrylate monomers with vinyl aromatic containing macromonomers (alkali soluble monomers).
A new water-soluble cavitand with deeper guest binding properties
Authors: Rahman Faiz-Ur , Feng Hai-Na , Yu Yang
Published: February 2019

A new water-soluble cavitand captured hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules in an aqueous solution owing to its deep aromatic pocket.